[0:00] Afternoon

[0:10] [music]

[0:12] everybody. It is 3:02 on Wednesday,

[0:15] September 9th. I'd like to call this

[0:17] meeting of Tallahassee City Commission

[0:19] to order. We have full chambers today.

[0:21] It's great to see everybody. we have a

[0:23] full meeting and then we have uh the

[0:25] first of two um public hearings on the

[0:29] budget along with other issues that'll

[0:30] begin at 6 o'clock tonight. So, we have

[0:32] a full agenda today. Without further

[0:35] ado, let's go ahead and get started. It

[0:37] is my honor and privilege to introduce

[0:39] and to invite to the well the Reverend

[0:42] Dr. Gerald Mandrrell, uh the pastor of

[0:44] Life Changers Church of God in Christ.

[0:47] Dr. Mandrel, it's good to see you.

[0:48] Ladies and gentlemen, please stand for

[0:50] the invocation.

[0:54] Father, in the name of Jesus, Lord, we

[0:57] come before you with humble hearts and

[0:59] with humble minds, knowing that without

[1:01] you, we can do nothing. Even as it said

[1:04] in Psalm 1271, that if you don't keep

[1:08] the city,

[1:09] » The wakers, the watchers wake in vain.

[1:12] So God, we seek you today. We seek your

[1:15] presence. We seek your anointing uh to

[1:18] rest with us. We ask that you will bless

[1:20] our leaders that you will bring them

[1:22] into unity and harmony so that they can

[1:26] effectively manage this city, this

[1:29] community of believers. So God, we ask

[1:31] that your glory will rest upon us even

[1:34] as we do the business of the city of

[1:37] Tallahassee that favor come upon these

[1:40] your people so that we will serve them

[1:42] in righteousness and in truth and that

[1:45] your will will be done. And it's in

[1:47] Jesus name we pray. Amen.

[1:50] » Amen.

[1:50] » Ladies and gentlemen, if you will join

[1:52] me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge

[1:54] allegiance to the flag of the United

[1:57] States of America and to the republic

[2:00] for which it stands, one nation under

[2:03] God, indivisible, with liberty and

[2:06] justice for all.

[2:13] » Special shout out. I see my dear friend,

[2:16] former school board member Joy Bowen has

[2:18] joined us today. It's great to see you,

[2:20] Joy. I hope you're doing well. Thanks

[2:22] for joining us in chambers. I hope I

[2:24] haven't missed any uh current or former

[2:27] electeds that might have joined us as

[2:29] well. All right, Mr. Manager, do we have

[2:31] any agenda modifications for today?

[2:34] » Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor.

[2:36] » Okay.

[2:36] » Um item 8.01 has been pulled uh the

[2:40] request of Commissioner Porter. That is

[2:42] your approval of the 2027 city

[2:44] commission meeting schedule.

[2:46] » Okay.

[2:46] » And then item 1001 which is the approval

[2:49] of the city manager employment

[2:51] agreement. The materials were added uh

[2:54] to that item.

[2:55] » All right. Any uh questions colleagues

[2:58] to the manager just simply on the

[3:00] modifications that are before us today.

[3:02] All right. If you all would care to join

[3:04] me down at the well for some

[3:06] presentations I would love to have you.

[3:27] Well, as we like to start all of our

[3:30] meetings off uh with some recognition,

[3:33] uh it is my honor and privilege to

[3:35] invite uh K. Ignatio uh Big Ben 211 and

[3:40] all of our friends that are here, please

[3:42] come join us as well for his special

[3:45] recognition.

[3:50] And as y'all are coming forward, let me

[3:52] just tell you, I think the work that you

[3:53] do is absolutely amazing, so vital to

[3:57] this community, and so proud to have you

[3:59] in chambers and allowing us to recognize

[4:02] you on this allimportant

[4:05] issue. Today,

[4:07] ladies and gentlemen, from the governing

[4:08] body of the city of Tallahassee, a

[4:10] proclamation. Whereas September is

[4:13] recognized nationally as suicide

[4:15] awareness and prevention month to raise

[4:16] awareness about mental health, reduce

[4:18] the stigma surrounding suicide,

[4:20] encouraging open conversations, and

[4:22] connect individuals and families with

[4:24] life-saving resources and support. And

[4:26] whereas millions of Americans experience

[4:29] suicidal thoughts, make suicide plans,

[4:31] or attempt suicide each year,

[4:33] demonstrating the ongoing need for

[4:35] prevention, intervention, compassionate

[4:37] care, and access to mental health

[4:39] services. And whereas suicide remains a

[4:42] significant public health concern,

[4:44] underscoring the importance of expanding

[4:46] access to behavioral health services,

[4:48] crisis intervention, suicide prevention,

[4:51] early intervention, and community

[4:53] education. And whereas suicide affects

[4:55] individuals and families throughout the

[4:57] city of Tallahassee, leaving a lasting

[4:59] impact on loved ones, friends,

[5:01] co-workers, classmates, neighbors, and

[5:04] the entire community. And whereas 211

[5:07] Big Ben, the designated regional

[5:09] provider of the 988 suicide and crisis

[5:11] lifeline, provides 24-hour crisis

[5:14] intervention, emotional support, suicide

[5:17] prevention services, and connections to

[5:19] behavioral health and community

[5:20] resources throughout North Florida. And

[5:22] whereas the city of Tallahassee proudly

[5:24] recognizes the dedicated crisis

[5:26] counselors at 211 Big Ben, who answer

[5:29] some of life's most difficult calls 24

[5:31] hours a day, 365 days a year, alongside

[5:34] volunteers, educators, health care

[5:37] providers, first responders, peer

[5:39] specialists, and community organizations

[5:41] working to prevent suicide, promote

[5:43] hope, reduce stigma, and connect

[5:45] individuals to life-saving support and

[5:47] resources.

[5:49] And whereas every person can make a

[5:50] difference by reaching out, listening

[5:52] with compassion, recognizing the warning

[5:54] signs of emotional distress, and

[5:56] reminding those who are struggling that

[5:58] they are not alone, that help is

[5:59] available, and that recovery is

[6:01] possible. Now therefore, I, John Evans

[6:03] Daily, by the authority vested in me as

[6:05] the mayor of the city of Tallahassee, do

[6:07] hereby recognize September as National

[6:10] Suicide Prevention Month and encourage

[6:12] all residents to promote hope, increase

[6:14] awareness of mental health resources,

[6:16] reduce stigma, and support those

[6:18] affected by suicide. And remember that

[6:21] one conversation can save a life.

[6:24] Written to the record in front of each

[6:25] and every one of you here today, signed

[6:27] with my signature, John E. daily dated

[6:30] September 9th, 2026.

[6:33] K, it is an honor to have you in

[6:36] chambers and present this proclamation.

[6:38] Micro,

[6:44] » Good afternoon everyone. I will make

[6:45] this brief. I know you all are here for

[6:47] all the other goodies on the agenda

[6:49] today, but I just want to say thank you

[6:51] to the city of Tallahassee for

[6:52] supporting 211 Big Ben and our efforts.

[6:55] 988 is nationwide. I don't know if you

[6:57] guys know that or not, but it's

[6:58] nationwide. You don't have to be in

[7:01] mental health crisis to call. You can

[7:03] call for a friend, a family member, a

[7:05] child, anyone that you don't really know

[7:08] how to approach them or talk to them

[7:10] about it. You can call 988. It's here

[7:13] 24/7, 365 days a year for you, your

[7:16] neighbors, and we are honored to answer

[7:18] that the call. Uh last fiscal year, we

[7:21] received about 5,988 calls. in on 211

[7:25] helpline, we received about 38,000

[7:28] calls. Um, so it's important we all talk

[7:30] about it, we get the word out, and make

[7:33] sure that no one faces a crisis alone

[7:35] just to reach out and call 988.

[7:38] » Yeah, I'd love to.

[8:22] All

[8:37] right. I would now love to invite my

[8:40] friend Leslie Powell Budro to please

[8:44] come forward to accept a proclamation on

[8:46] behalf of Legal Services of North

[8:48] Florida. Leslie, how you doing?

[8:56] Come join me. Come join. Ladies and

[8:58] gentlemen, from the governing body of

[9:00] the city of Tallahassee, a proclamation.

[9:02] Whereas Legal Services of North Florida

[9:04] was founded in Tallahassee on August

[9:06] 25th, 1976, advancing access to justice

[9:09] for 50 years by providing civil legal

[9:12] assistance to lowincome and vulnerable

[9:14] residents who otherwise could not afford

[9:16] representation. And whereas from its

[9:18] beginning in Florida's capital city,

[9:20] legal services in North Florida has

[9:22] grown to serve residents across the

[9:23] Florida panhandle, working to ensure

[9:26] that justice is not determined by a

[9:27] person's income, age, disability, or

[9:30] circumstance. And whereas throughout its

[9:32] history, Legal Services of North Florida

[9:35] has helped bridge the gap between the

[9:37] courts and the people they serve by

[9:38] providing critical legal help and

[9:40] matters involving housing stability,

[9:42] family safety, public benefits, consumer

[9:45] protection, healthc care access,

[9:47] veterans issues, and other essential

[9:50] civil legal needs. And whereas through

[9:52] legal advocacy, education, and

[9:54] partnerships with local governments,

[9:56] courts, human service providers, the

[9:58] legal community, volunteers, and

[10:00] supporters, Legal Services of North

[10:02] Florida has promoted fairness,

[10:04] stability, and opportunity for

[10:06] individuals and families. And whereas by

[10:08] serving children, older adults,

[10:10] veterans, survivors of abuse, people

[10:13] with disabilities, and families facing

[10:15] crisis, Legal Services of North Florida

[10:17] has strengthened communities and upheld

[10:19] the promise of equal justice under the

[10:21] law. And whereas the 50th anniversary of

[10:23] Legal Services of North Florida marks a

[10:26] significant milestone recognizing the

[10:28] organization's long-standing commitment

[10:30] to justice, service, and community

[10:32] impact. Now therefore, I, John Evans

[10:34] Daily, by the authority vested in me as

[10:36] the mayor of the city of Tallahassee, do

[10:38] hereby recognize the 50th anniversary of

[10:41] Legal Services of North Florida and

[10:43] commends its enduring dedication to

[10:45] expanding access to civil justice for

[10:47] the residents of Tallahassee and

[10:49] communities across North Florida. Read

[10:51] into the record in front of each and

[10:53] every one of you here today. Signed with

[10:55] my signature, John E. Dailyaly, dated

[10:57] September 9th, 2026. Leslie,

[11:00] congratulations on the 50th anniversary.

[11:04] [applause]

[11:07] » Um, thank you. Thank you, mayor. Um, and

[11:10] thanks, commissioners. Uh, uh, we

[11:13] started here in Tallahassee. And while

[11:15] we cover 16 counties now, this is this

[11:17] is home. This is we are we are woven

[11:20] into the to the to the history of

[11:22] Tallahassee. um having been started in

[11:24] partnership with First Presbyterian

[11:26] Church with a little bit of money that

[11:28] we've been able to really grow and

[11:30] flourish uh in order to support um the

[11:33] most vulnerable people in our community.

[11:35] No one should be worse off just because

[11:38] they get pulled into the court system

[11:40] and don't have a lawyer to help them.

[11:42] And that's what we're here to do. And we

[11:44] we are grateful for the partnership with

[11:45] the city. Um, always love working with

[11:47] the staff um, as we find ways to make

[11:50] sure that all of uh, its citizens are

[11:52] served. Um, want to thank some of our

[11:55] our our team here, Charlotte, our

[11:56] director of communications, and

[11:57] Michelle, our director of proono. Um, it

[12:00] takes a team of us to to do this work

[12:03] and I'm just grateful um, for this

[12:05] opportunity to celebrate this

[12:07] anniversary with y'all. So, thank you so

[12:08] much.

[12:09] » Excellent. May we get a picture? Yeah,

[12:10] absolutely. Please. [applause]

[12:58] ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor and

[13:01] privilege to invite all members

[13:04] Tallahassee Fire Department that is here

[13:06] in chambers or in the sound of my voice

[13:08] to please come join me and my colleagues

[13:11] colleagues at the well.

[13:17] [applause]

[13:18] Come on.

[13:23] [applause]

[13:32] Ladies and gentlemen, we have the best

[13:33] fire department in the nation right here

[13:35] in Tallahassee. It is an honor and a

[13:37] privilege to work with the chief and

[13:38] your dynamic, award-winning team each

[13:41] and every day. I also want you to know

[13:43] how appreciative not only of the best

[13:46] services in the nation that y'all

[13:48] provide. Uh I know that we will be

[13:50] spending time together on September

[13:52] 11th, you always do an incredible

[13:54] ceremony um honoring uh the tragedy that

[13:57] took place on September 11th. And thank

[13:59] you so much for the invitation to

[14:00] participate. And I would like to invite

[14:02] the public to come join us also at

[14:04] station one. and chief if you wouldn't

[14:06] mind in your remarks just reminding

[14:08] everybody the the the time and once

[14:11] again stating station one for the

[14:13] location so that everyone that is

[14:14] watching and listening

[14:16] join us. Ladies and gentlemen, from the

[14:18] governing body of the city of

[14:20] Tallahassee, a proclamation. Whereas the

[14:22] Tallahassee Fire Department is fully

[14:24] committed to ensuring the safety and

[14:25] security of all those living in and

[14:27] visiting Tallahassee. And whereas fire

[14:30] remains a serious public safety concern

[14:32] both locally and nationally and the

[14:34] presence of lithium ion batteries and

[14:36] many household devices introduce fire

[14:38] risks.

[14:40] And whereas most of the rechargeable

[14:42] electronics used in homes daily,

[14:44] including smartphones, tablets, laptops,

[14:46] power tools, ebikes, e- scooters, and

[14:48] toys are powered by lithium-ion

[14:51] batteries, which if mis misused,

[14:53] damaged, or improperly charged can

[14:55] overheat, start a fire, or explode. And

[14:58] whereas the National Fire Protection

[15:00] Association reports an increase in

[15:02] battery related fires, underscoring the

[15:05] need for public education on the safe

[15:07] use of lithium ion batteries and

[15:09] devices. And whereas the way lithium ion

[15:12] batteries devices are charged can make a

[15:14] difference in helping prevent home

[15:15] fires. And whereas safe charging

[15:17] includes using the cord and charger that

[15:19] came with your device or one approved by

[15:21] the manufacturer. And whereas residents

[15:23] are encouraged to understand that safe

[15:25] charging means making smart choices

[15:27] every time they plug in. And whereas

[15:29] Tallahassee Fire Department remains

[15:31] fully committed to reducing the

[15:32] occurrence of fires through prevention,

[15:34] safety education, and community

[15:36] outreach. And whereas the 2026 fire

[15:39] prevention week theme, charge into fire

[15:42] safety, safe charging is a superpower.

[15:45] Serves to remind all residents that safe

[15:47] charging can help reduce the risk of

[15:48] fires in homes and communities. Now

[15:51] therefore, I, John Evans Daily, by the

[15:53] authority vested in me as the mayor of

[15:54] the city of Tallahassee, do hereby

[15:56] proclaim October 4th through the 10th,

[15:59] 2026 as Fire Prevention Week and urge

[16:02] all residents of Tallahassee to practice

[16:04] safe charging habits and support the

[16:06] many public safety activities and

[16:08] efforts of the Tallahassee Fire

[16:09] Department and Emergency Services. Read

[16:12] into the record in front of each and

[16:13] every one of you here today, signed with

[16:15] my signature, John E. daily dated today,

[16:18] September 9th, 2026. Chief, it is truly

[16:21] an honor to present to you and the Talis

[16:23] Fire Department this proclamation. Thank

[16:25] you for all. [applause]

[16:31] So, thank you, Mayor, Commissioners, uh

[16:34] following up on your remarks, 911, this

[16:36] is the 25th year, uh since 911, and let

[16:41] us not forget the great sacrifice that

[16:43] the men and women made on that day. and

[16:46] we ask the public to come out and

[16:47] celebrate uh their efforts with us this

[16:51] Friday at 327 North Adam Street, which

[16:54] is our fire station one at 8:30. Uh it

[16:58] will be a short presentation, a very

[17:00] short walk as well, but we would love

[17:02] for the public to come and be a part of

[17:04] it. I also before I turned the podium

[17:06] over to division chief Anthony Espinosa

[17:09] uh in 1871 was the great Chicago fire

[17:14] and it was became very present that the

[17:17] importance of uniform fire safety

[17:19] standards in this country was necessary.

[17:23] So, fire departments and cities across

[17:27] the country developed uniform standards

[17:30] uh to enhance fire safety in our

[17:33] facilities, in our businesses and also

[17:36] in our homes. So, NFPA started a theme

[17:39] in 1922 and each year they identify a

[17:43] theme and fire departments all across

[17:45] this country, they design campaigns in

[17:48] line with that theme. So now I would

[17:50] like to ask Anthony Espinosa, our newly

[17:53] promoted division chief of fire

[17:55] prevention and fire marshall to come

[17:57] forward to talk about the history, this

[17:59] year's theme and the events we have

[18:01] planned. Thank you ma'am.

[18:05] [applause]

[18:08] » Thank you chief. Uh thank you mayor

[18:10] commission and manager. Um thank you all

[18:13] for recognizing fire prevention week.

[18:14] I'd like to recognize our team, fire

[18:16] prevention team. Captain Terrell Mloud

[18:18] and our inspectors and Captain Robert

[18:20] Clary and our public education team. I

[18:22] work beside these folks every day and

[18:24] it's a it's an honor. So, thank you all.

[18:27] Like Chief had said, since 1922, the

[18:29] NFPA has sponsored the public uh

[18:30] observance of fire prevention week.

[18:32] Three years later, uh President Calvin

[18:34] Kulage proclaimed fire prevention week a

[18:36] national observance. Uh that makes it

[18:38] the longest running public health

[18:41] uh campaign in uh in our country's

[18:44] history. Um public uh fire prevention

[18:47] week is observed each year during the

[18:48] week of October 9th because of the great

[18:50] Chicago fire. That fire resulted in more

[18:52] than 250 people losing their lives,

[18:54] 100,000 people becoming homeless and

[18:56] about 2,000 acres of land that have been

[18:59] burned. Like chief said, each year the

[19:01] NFPA focuses on a new campaign. This

[19:05] year is charge charge in the fire safety

[19:07] uh which focuses on charging habits that

[19:10] can reduce the risk of lithium ion

[19:12] battery fires.

[19:15] Some of the uh helpful tips that we can

[19:18] focus on is making sure that you use a

[19:20] quarter charger that come with your

[19:21] device. When your device is fully

[19:23] charged, unplug it. And uh if you can

[19:26] charge these devices outside as a father

[19:28] of a 14 and 10 year old son, um we've

[19:31] got plenty of these devices at the house

[19:33] and uh it is hard to do outside. And if

[19:35] you can't, make sure you don't block an

[19:36] exit when you're charging.

[19:39] Um more helpful tips can be found at

[19:40] nfpa.org. So, please visit that site.

[19:43] Um, I'd also like to invite everybody uh

[19:45] besides uh the 911 ceremony, we are

[19:48] going to have a touch a truck uh event

[19:49] on October 4th out at Bass Pro uh for

[19:52] during fire prevention week. So, please

[19:54] visit uh us out there. And we're also

[19:56] going to be visiting uh numerous schools

[19:58] um during that week uh to educate the

[20:00] public and and the and the youth out

[20:02] there. So, some of the stuff we got

[20:05] going on. Um, again, the Tallahassy Fire

[20:07] Department uh prevention division is

[20:09] fully committed to educating the public

[20:10] on life safety measures and partnering

[20:11] with the community through our fire

[20:13] prevention practices. Thank you all for

[20:15] allowing us to be here today and

[20:16] recognizing fire prevention week.

[20:19] [applause]

[20:29] Come home.

[21:23] Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor and

[21:24] privilege to recognize former school

[21:26] board member Maggie Lewis Butler who is

[21:28] here with us today. Maggie, it's

[21:29] [applause] great to see you.

[21:32] Thanks for being here. [applause]

[21:35] And for the next presentation, I would

[21:37] like to invite Miss uh Helage Pina to

[21:40] please come join me, the uh principal of

[21:42] Riley Elementary School. Miss Porcina,

[21:44] it's great to see [applause] you.

[21:53] And all members of your team that are

[21:54] here, please come join us. Bring all

[21:57] your members that are here that would

[21:58] like to come up. That'd be great.

[22:01] Oh, it was dismissal time at school.

[22:03] Okay. But got it. Very important. Very

[22:06] important. Very important. Don't want to

[22:08] make the principal mad. That's for sure.

[22:10] You're

[22:10] » Right.

[22:11] » Great to see you. Thanks for being here

[22:12] with us. Ladies and gentlemen, from the

[22:14] governing body of the city of

[22:15] Tallahassee, a proclamation. Whereas

[22:17] John Gilmore Riley, born into slavery in

[22:20] Leyon County on September 24th, 1857,

[22:23] rose to bea to become a respected

[22:26] educator, entrepreneur, and civic leader

[22:28] whose dedication to education and

[22:30] service helped shape the Tallahassee

[22:32] community. And whereas through his

[22:34] leadership and unwavering belief in the

[22:36] power of education, John G. Riley

[22:38] inspired generations of students and

[22:40] left a legacy that continues to

[22:42] influence our community today. And

[22:44] whereas in 1951, John G. Riley

[22:48] Elementary School was established in his

[22:50] honor, ensuring that his lifelong

[22:52] commitment to learning, leadership, and

[22:54] opportunity would continue to inspire

[22:57] future generations. And whereas for 75

[23:00] years, John G. Riley Elementary School

[23:02] has served as a cornerstone of the

[23:04] community, shaping the lives of students

[23:06] while fostering academic excellence,

[23:09] perseverance, and resilience. And

[23:11] whereas generations of students,

[23:13] educators, families, and community

[23:15] members have contributed to the proud

[23:17] legacy of John G. Riley Elementary

[23:19] School, making it a place where history,

[23:21] tradition, and opportunity come

[23:23] together. Now therefore, I, John Evans

[23:26] Daly, by the authority vested in me as

[23:27] the mayor of the city of Tallahassee, do

[23:30] hereby celebrate and recognize the 75th

[23:33] anniversary of John G. Riley Elementary

[23:36] School and honor the enduring legacy of

[23:38] John Gilmore Riley, whose vision and

[23:40] commitment to education continues to

[23:43] inspire and empower future generations.

[23:46] Signed with my signature, John E.

[23:48] Dailyy, read into the record in front of

[23:50] each and every one of you here today.

[23:52] dated September 9th, 2026.

[23:55] Madam principal, congratulations and

[23:57] thanks for joining [applause] us.

[24:05] » Good afternoon everyone.

[24:06] » Good afternoon.

[24:07] » As I serve as the proud new principal of

[24:11] John G. Elementary School, I want to say

[24:13] thank you to the city of Tallahassee and

[24:16] as well as our mayor uh Daly and Mayor

[24:20] Richardson.

[24:22] Pro Tim. [laughter]

[24:24] Okay. So again, as I began this journey

[24:27] in July, my first task given to me by

[24:31] our teacher, Miss Sheila Barnes

[24:33] Williams, who's been at Riley for many

[24:36] years. She grew up in the elementary.

[24:39] She went to Riley Elementary School and

[24:41] she gave me a call and said, "Your first

[24:43] task is to celebrate the 75th year." It

[24:46] was her dream to do so. And I gladly

[24:49] made this dream come true. So, we will

[24:51] be celebrating um with um our our

[24:54] district on September 24th at 100 p.m.

[24:58] and then with the children on the 25th

[25:01] in a festival form on the 20 24th and

[25:04] then the 25th with the children. So, um

[25:07] if you want to be part of making history

[25:09] at Riley Elementary, I I welcome you to

[25:12] volunteer. You know, let's do the forms

[25:15] first through the leyon countychools.net

[25:17] so we can make sure that our children

[25:19] are safe. But we welcome each and every

[25:21] one of you to be part of history and to

[25:23] make dreams come true at John G. Riley

[25:25] Elementary. So, thank you. [applause]

[26:01] » [laughter]

[26:20] » Ladies and gentlemen, for our final

[26:22] presentation today, it is a distinct

[26:24] honor and privilege to welcome

[26:26] representatives

[26:27] of the Latterday Saints Church here in

[26:28] Tallahassee. Please come forward.

[26:31] President Ben Smith, President Mark

[26:32] Llewellyn, President Landon Mueller,

[26:34] Sister Brooke Beaser, Sister Sarah Zern,

[26:38] uh, Bishop Matt McCryus if he was able

[26:40] to join us, Brother Robert Ivy, Brother

[26:43] Greg Oaks, Brother Charlie Bowen, and

[26:45] Sister Claire Bowen as well, and any

[26:48] other members of the church that are

[26:50] here. And as they're coming forward, I

[26:52] have to tell you that uh I had the

[26:54] opportunity to host them in my office

[26:56] prior to the commission meeting. You

[26:58] know, the church is internationally

[27:00] famous um for their strong foundation u

[27:03] based on family and love and their

[27:06] geneal genealogical um uh assistance

[27:09] that they can provide. And as a surprise

[27:12] to me, they surprised me with the

[27:15] research of my family history. And it is

[27:18] absolutely amazing and I'm still

[27:21] speechless. And before I even begin with

[27:23] the proclamation of why we're here, I

[27:26] personally just want to say thank you

[27:27] again from the bottom of my heart. It it

[27:29] is very very meaningful. Thank you.

[27:34] Ladies and gentlemen, from the governing

[27:35] body of the city of Tallahassee, a

[27:37] proclamation. Whereas we firmly believe

[27:40] that the values of compassion, empathy,

[27:42] and community support are the foundation

[27:44] of a united harmonious society and

[27:46] fosters connections that transcend

[27:48] differences. And whereas the strength

[27:50] and prosperity of our cities, towns, and

[27:53] villages are based in the selflessness

[27:55] of its residents to serve and uplift one

[27:57] another. And whereas we acknowledge the

[28:00] profound impact that can be achieved

[28:02] when we extend a helping hand to our

[28:04] neighbors, especially those of diverse

[28:06] backgrounds in lifting them up and

[28:08] collectively working to improve lives.

[28:10] And whereas we nurture a culture of

[28:12] giving within our cities, emphasizing

[28:14] that volunteerism is not just a duty,

[28:17] but a source of personal fulfillment and

[28:19] community strength. And as we work side

[28:21] by side with and learn from each other,

[28:24] mutual understandings increases.

[28:26] misconceptions can be corrected and new

[28:29] friendships are built. And whereas we

[28:31] urge all citizens to care for one

[28:33] another, volunteer and engage in acts of

[28:36] service and kindness that contribute to

[28:38] our city's betterment and its

[28:39] inhabitants well-being, regardless of

[28:42] background or belief. And whereas the

[28:44] city of Tallahassee has joined a growing

[28:46] list of supporters, including the

[28:48] president of the National League of

[28:49] Cities and hundreds of leaders to date

[28:51] and making a commitment to volunteerism.

[28:54] And now therefore, I, John Evans Daily,

[28:56] by the authority vested in me as the

[28:58] mayor of the city of Tallahassee, do

[29:00] hereby recognize Just Serve in the city

[29:03] of Tallahassee and commits to promoting

[29:05] volunteerism, led leveraging

[29:08] justserve.org to make it easier for

[29:10] residents to find and engage in

[29:13] volunteer activities and will regularly

[29:15] acknowledge and celebrate the

[29:17] contribution of volunteers. Ladies and

[29:19] gentlemen, read into the record in front

[29:21] of each and every one of you here today,

[29:23] signed with my signature, John E.

[29:25] Dailyaly, dated September 9th, 2026.

[29:28] Please join me in recognizing the

[29:30] church. [applause]

[29:41] Mayor Daly, commissioners, neighbors,

[29:43] and friends, it's a distinct privilege

[29:46] to be with you today and recognize all

[29:48] of the good that happens in Tallahassee.

[29:50] We are grateful for this distinction of

[29:52] Tallahassee being recognized as a just

[29:55] serve city. A place where we can come,

[29:59] we can serve, we can lift up one

[30:01] another. we can bring our talents, our

[30:03] means, our skills, our time, help lift

[30:07] others and make others better in what we

[30:10] do. So, Mayor Daly, we're grateful for

[30:12] this. We're grateful for the opportunity

[30:13] to recognize just serve in Tallahassee.

[30:15] Justsserve.org

[30:17] contains many opportunities to go forth

[30:19] in the community, serve, and to lift

[30:22] others. Thank you so much.

[30:23] » Thank you. Thank you. It's absolutely

[30:26] gorgeous.

[30:28] Thank you so [applause] much.

[31:40] So ladies and gentlemen, I was telling

[31:41] my colleagues while we were taking the

[31:43] picture what an honor it is to be named

[31:45] a just served community. Out of roughly

[31:48] 19,500

[31:50] communities just in the United States

[31:52] alone, there are only a couple of

[31:55] hundred cities and only a handful in the

[31:58] state of Florida that are recognized as

[32:00] just served communities and we are one

[32:02] of them. So, it is a distinct honor and

[32:04] a privilege to be recognized and we

[32:06] appreciate everyone for coming today to

[32:09] help us celebrate.

[32:11] » Mr. Manager, do we have any

[32:12] announcements to come before the city

[32:14] commission at this time?

[32:15] » No, sir. Do we have any appearances by

[32:16] other governing boards or agencies or

[32:19] governments?

[32:20] » No, sir.

[32:21] » All right. We are on the consent agenda.

[32:23] Mr. Clerk, do we have any public comment

[32:25] on any of the consent items?

[32:27] » Uh, no, sir. Only on the item that was

[32:29] pulled.

[32:30] » Okay. Item that was pulled was

[32:32] previously 8.01. We will take it up as

[32:34] 9.01 in just a second. Colleagues, is

[32:37] there direction on the rest of consent?

[32:39] » Move forward.

[32:39] » Approval. Second.

[32:40] » Second. Mayor Pro Tim has properly moved

[32:42] the consent agenda seconded by

[32:44] Commissioner Williams Cox. Any further

[32:45] discussion? Seeing none, all those in

[32:47] favor signify by saying I.

[32:49] » All those opposed. Passes unanimously.

[32:52] 50. We are on item number 9.01,

[32:55] previously 8.01. Mr. Manager.

[32:59] » Mr. Mayor, this uh seeks the

[33:01] commission's approval for the calendar

[33:03] year 2027 city commission meeting

[33:06] schedule. The schedule the schedule as

[33:09] proposed and attached to your agenda

[33:11] includes one annual retreat as typical

[33:15] 12 regular meetings and three workshops

[33:18] for a total of 16 meetings in 2027.

[33:22] » All right. Uh Commissioner Porter Hold

[33:26] on just a second. Mr. Clerk, do we have

[33:28] public comment on this item?

[33:28] » We do have one speaker on the item.

[33:30] Mayor.

[33:30] » Hi. Uh, Commissioner Porter, do you want

[33:32] to do a quick introduction of why you

[33:34] pulled it and then we'll go to public

[33:35] comment or do you want to just go

[33:36] straight to public comment?

[33:38] » I'll be quick.

[33:39] » Okay.

[33:40] » I pulled it because I want to vote

[33:41] against it. I don't think that one

[33:43] meeting a month, 12 meetings is enough.

[33:46] I think we've we've suffered as a

[33:48] result, especially with the fact that we

[33:50] have limited public comment uh during

[33:53] non-aggenda items. So, that's why I

[33:55] pulled it. I know the city manager said

[33:57] as typical, but it's not what has been

[33:59] typical. We have slowly cut meetings

[34:02] over the years and we took this action a

[34:04] couple years ago, but I just want the

[34:06] public to know it's not necessarily

[34:08] what's typical for the city of

[34:09] Tallahassee.

[34:10] » Okay. So, Commissioner Porter, we will

[34:12] take public comment. When we're done

[34:13] with public comment, I will come back to

[34:15] you for a motion. Why don't you give it

[34:17] some thought of what you think is

[34:18] appropriate and uh we'll go from there.

[34:21] » Public comment, Mr. Clerk.

[34:23] » Thank you, Mayor. We have one speaker on

[34:24] the item, Stanley Sims as our first

[34:27] speaker. He already knows, but for

[34:28] everybody else in the audience, he'll

[34:30] have three minutes for remarks and he'll

[34:32] have a light that turns yellow in front

[34:34] of the mayor at 30 seconds, as well as a

[34:36] reminder from me. Thank you.

[34:38] » My name is Stanley Sims. I'm at 1320

[34:41] Barack Obama way.

[34:45] The ability,

[34:47] the opportunity

[34:50] to communicate with your local

[34:52] government

[34:55] is indeed

[34:58] a treasure.

[35:03] Now, some in America was born with this

[35:05] treasure.

[35:09] Some in America are in certain positions

[35:13] that they don't even need an appointment

[35:15] to meet with

[35:18] their elected officials.

[35:25] But I thank God today that there is

[35:29] something called the Constitution.

[35:34] We

[35:36] we

[35:39] the people

[35:41] that affords us,

[35:46] white, black, rich,

[35:51] or even poor like me,

[35:55] a chance and an opportunity

[35:59] to communicate with their government.

[36:05] And so what we have done today or about

[36:08] to do today is limit

[36:12] those opportunities.

[36:16] And we ask ourselves why people don't

[36:18] vote.

[36:22] We ask ourselves

[36:26] why people walk away with negative

[36:29] outlooks of government.

[36:34] I heard something from you, Commissioner

[36:36] Cox, that just rocked my spirit during

[36:39] the debate

[36:42] at the NEBA.

[36:44] The question was,

[36:48] and I'm summarizing in case Steve is in

[36:51] the audience and may sue me.

[36:55] The question was, "What is the greatest

[36:58] calamity that you think is at city

[37:02] hall?"

[37:06] Your response to that question was, "You

[37:09] didn't think

[37:11] » Local government

[37:13] understood.

[37:15] You didn't think people understood local

[37:18] how local government work."

[37:22] Limited

[37:24] There are opportunities to converse

[37:28] is not a productive step in the right

[37:30] direction.

[37:36] » No other speakers on the

[37:37] » Have no speaker. All right. So,

[37:39] Commissioner Porter, I will come to you.

[37:41] I actually agree that with a new

[37:43] commission, the need to meet and to

[37:46] educate and to familiarize is a very

[37:49] important thing. So, would you care to

[37:52] make a motion to amend this uh proposed

[37:57] schedule?

[37:58] » Sure. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I would like

[38:00] I would um move that we adopt the 20 27

[38:05] city commission meeting schedule um but

[38:08] with two meetings a month as

[38:11] » With two meetings a month. I mean,

[38:12] including our our July break, but

[38:17] with the frequency we met before we made

[38:19] these changes.

[38:20] » Does the uh schedule need to come back

[38:22] in a formal manner or are you just

[38:23] comfortable with having it, you know,

[38:25] letting staff figure out the two

[38:27] meetings a month and then emailing the

[38:28] schedule back out?

[38:30] » I think it can just come back to us on

[38:32] consent

[38:33] » At the next meeting.

[38:35] » All right. So, the motion on the table

[38:36] is to move from one meeting a month to

[38:38] two meetings a month. Uh still observing

[38:41] the summer recess and for it to come

[38:43] back on consent for next uh meeting.

[38:47] Second to the motion.

[38:49] » Second.

[38:50] » All right. Seconded by Commissioner

[38:51] Malow. Any further comment?

[38:53] » See none. All those in favor signify by

[38:55] saying I. I.

[38:56] » All those opposed. Passes unanimously.

[38:58] All right. We are on

[39:00] » Item number 10.01, the approval of the

[39:04] city manager employment agreement with

[39:06] the mayor and city commission. Uh

[39:08] colleagues, I will be presenting this

[39:11] item and then we will have public

[39:14] comment.

[39:15] Then we will enter in a discussion and

[39:18] we will see where it goes from there.

[39:20] Give me two seconds to get set up.

[39:32] Excellent. Okay, let me provide some

[39:34] background. On April 28th, as you

[39:37] recall, our city manager, Reese Go,

[39:39] announced his retirement as the city

[39:42] manager for the city of Tallahassee,

[39:43] which started the process of a national

[39:46] search for a new city manager. Uh, we

[39:49] hired an incredible consulting company

[39:51] that went through the process of

[39:53] advertising nationally, bringing in all

[39:55] the applications, doing the first vet of

[39:58] applications, and bringing us three uh

[40:01] potential candidates for full interview.

[40:03] We then each individually had the

[40:05] opportunity to sit down with those

[40:07] candidates and then the next day last

[40:10] Wednesday we had the opportunity to do a

[40:13] full interview and listen to the

[40:14] presentations of the top three

[40:16] candidates. All three candidates I think

[40:18] uh did a wonderful job and I think once

[40:20] again you will agree that uh we

[40:22] congratulate them all on putting their

[40:24] best foot forward on why they wanted to

[40:26] serve the city of Tallahassee as city

[40:28] manager. As a commission though, we

[40:31] decided to move forward to make an offer

[40:33] to Dr. Karen Jumville to be the next

[40:35] city manager of the city of Tallahassee

[40:37] where then I was given the direction as

[40:39] the mayor of Tallahassee to negotiate

[40:41] the contract. From there, let me tell

[40:43] you that as soon as we left the meeting,

[40:46] I immediately went and sat down with the

[40:48] director of human resources for the city

[40:49] of Tallahassee to discuss the contract

[40:52] negotiation to discuss what are the

[40:54] terms that we need to discuss moving

[40:56] forward to agree upon and what are some

[40:58] of the guidelines. From leaving the

[41:00] director of HR, I went directly to Lou

[41:02] Norll who is the acting city attorney. I

[41:05] asked him the same questions to provide

[41:07] his professional guidance and to provide

[41:09] his uh input on how the process should

[41:13] work and I greatly appreciate both of

[41:15] them. Over the course of the past week,

[41:17] I have been working with Dr. Jumville to

[41:19] come to an agreement on the proposed

[41:21] contract. As of yesterday, we have a

[41:24] verbal agreement that I will walk

[41:25] through in just a second. Once I had

[41:28] that verbal agreement, I immediately

[41:30] went back to the director of human

[41:32] resources, told her of the verbal

[41:34] agreement that we have and outlined the

[41:36] bullet points uh that were to be placed

[41:38] into the contract. I also had a chance

[41:40] to sit down with the city attorney, Amy

[41:42] Toman, allow her to know where we were

[41:45] with the agreement between Dr.

[41:46] Jumanville and myself. And then once uh

[41:50] then I believe the director of HR also

[41:53] got with uh Amy uh Toman, the city

[41:56] attorney. Once they signed off on it, it

[41:58] went to the city manager who then placed

[42:00] it on the agenda for public notice. As

[42:03] we know, I do not have the power to hire

[42:05] and fire myself, but I bring it back for

[42:07] full ratification. I will walk you

[42:10] through the contract, but let me explain

[42:11] the process. The contract is a verbal

[42:14] agreement between Dr. Gentlemenville and

[42:16] myself as mayor but myself I do not

[42:18] carry the weight. It's the ratification

[42:20] of the board. If we do not like the

[42:22] contract and reject the contract as

[42:24] presented then we can do one of two

[42:26] things. Normally as it was explained to

[42:29] me is we go back to the drawing board.

[42:30] You provide direction of negotiation

[42:34] points whether it's salary or or

[42:36] whatever it may be and then we see if we

[42:38] can come to an agreement and then I

[42:39] bring it back for ratification. But do

[42:42] we not necessarily take a vote to amend

[42:44] the contract? Or I guess we could um and

[42:48] then go back and negotiate as well.

[42:50] Correct.

[42:50] » I think we could do that, but it would

[42:52] then it would have to go back to Dr.

[42:53] Jumanville for approval, of course.

[42:55] » Sure. Of course. So, the contract that

[42:58] was uh that was used is our standard

[43:01] contract for appointed officials. And

[43:03] again, I want to thank the director of

[43:04] human resources and the city attorney's

[43:06] office for walking me through. The major

[43:09] points that I want to cover is number

[43:10] one, the start date. Ree, I want to

[43:14] publicly thank you once again for

[43:16] agreeing to stay on as the city manager

[43:18] through September 30th and serving as a

[43:20] city manager to get us through this

[43:22] budget cycle. The proposed start date

[43:24] that was agreed upon is October 1st,

[43:27] which also happens to be the beginning

[43:28] of the fiscal year. It is a clean start.

[43:31] Ree will take us through this budget

[43:33] cycle. Karen will start as city manager

[43:35] on October 1. that has been agreed upon.

[43:38] The starting salary is posted at

[43:41] $317,000.

[43:43] And where $317,000

[43:46] comes from is exactly where the position

[43:49] of city manager of what Rese would be

[43:52] making on October 1. Not a penny more,

[43:55] not a penny less, is the exact same

[43:58] amount. Now, I'm sure there's questions

[43:59] on why, how much, the whole nine yards.

[44:03] And I know that director of human

[44:04] resources is here and fully prepared to

[44:07] talk about where that falls within the

[44:09] professional standard of a city our size

[44:12] of a manager uh that runs all of the

[44:16] utilities. So I know that you're

[44:17] prepared if those questions come up, but

[44:19] is it fair to say that we are nowhere

[44:22] near the top of that professional

[44:24] standard? In fact, we are still in the

[44:27] lower tier, but it is the salary that

[44:29] has been agreed upon with Dr. Jumanville

[44:32] and myself to bring forward before the

[44:34] city commission.

[44:35] Obviously, uh, pretty standard 20 weeks

[44:38] of severance pay as authorized by

[44:39] section 215.425

[44:41] of Florida statutes. She has a, uh, 457

[44:46] retirement account with the city of

[44:49] Tallahassee. There was the question of

[44:52] whether she wanted a car allowance or to

[44:55] be able to drive one of the fleet cars

[44:58] of her choice. I appreciate the fact

[45:00] that she has chosen the route to go with

[45:03] a car allowance. If she went the route

[45:05] with the fleet, the city would be on the

[45:07] hook for car insurance, for fuel, for

[45:10] maintenance of that vehicle by going the

[45:13] route of a car allowance at $1,000 a

[45:15] month. Then that is her responsibility

[45:19] for insurance, for fuel, and for

[45:21] maintenance. But she gets to choose what

[45:23] vehicle she would want to drive versus

[45:25] what is in fleet. Finally, I want to

[45:28] discuss the termination provision in the

[45:30] city manager's contract. It requires an

[45:33] affirmative vote of twothirds majority

[45:35] of the city commission, not a simple

[45:37] majority of the city commission. This is

[45:40] something that I personally will take

[45:42] full ownership of and I strongly believe

[45:44] in. I think it depoliticizes the

[45:47] position of the of the city manager. I

[45:50] think it is needed. I have stood on this

[45:52] position for many many many years. When

[45:55] I served as the chairman of the county

[45:57] commission when Vince Long was hired, I

[46:00] led the charge then to change the county

[46:02] charter to make sure that it was

[46:04] included. And to this day, the

[46:07] termination procedure for the county

[46:09] administrator of Lyon County is a

[46:11] supermajority provision as well. Even to

[46:14] the point to where a couple of years ago

[46:16] when we changed the position and there

[46:18] is precedent here at the city commission

[46:20] when we changed the position of

[46:22] inspector general we put the termination

[46:25] language into the contract requiring a

[46:28] twothirds termination if we decided to

[46:31] separate with Dennis Sutton or whoever

[46:33] holds that position. It was then later

[46:37] added into the city charter. If you

[46:39] recall, I voted against that measure

[46:42] because I stated for the record at the

[46:44] time, and I still believe so today, that

[46:47] all four appointed officials should have

[46:50] a 2/3 majority in their contract for

[46:54] termination, and I still feel strongly

[46:56] about that. So, annual salary of

[47:00] $317,000,

[47:02] 20 weeks of severance pay, $1,000

[47:04] monthly automobile allowance, the city

[47:07] contribution to a 457 retirement

[47:09] account, the termination provision

[47:11] language of a supermajority, and the

[47:14] contract date starting on October 1 and

[47:17] ending on September 30th, 2031 to be

[47:19] ratified by the next commission. It is a

[47:21] five-year contract. That is pretty

[47:23] standard of what we provide as well.

[47:26] Those are the major bullet provisions.

[47:28] If I missed anything, I apologize. I am

[47:31] available for any questions on the

[47:33] points of the contract as proposed.

[47:36] Ultimately, it is the decision of this

[47:38] body to ratify it and whether we move

[47:40] forward in signature with Dr. Gmanville.

[47:43] I know we have public comment on this

[47:45] item. Are there any quick just questions

[47:48] of clarification before I go to public

[47:50] comment? All right, let's go to public

[47:53] comment. How many speakers do we have,

[47:54] Mr. Clerk? Mayor, we've got about 10 or

[47:56] 11 speakers on the item.

[47:57] » Sounds great.

[47:58] » The first speaker is Marcia Rule,

[48:01] followed by Ernie Payne.

[48:03] » Great.

[48:03] » As with Mr. Sims in our earlier

[48:05] comments, you'll have three minutes for

[48:06] your remarks.

[48:07] » Your name and address for the record,

[48:08] please.

[48:09] » Marshia Rule, live in Myers Park. Uh,

[48:12] three things. First, this is premature.

[48:14] There's no reason this has to be filled

[48:16] right away. Uh, mayor, you said you

[48:18] wanted to depoliticize this process. The

[48:20] way to do that is wait until after the

[48:22] election. Second, the expense uh out of

[48:26] line for cities of our size. We're not

[48:28] Tampa. And uh this is exactly the reason

[48:31] why so many of my neighbors are planning

[48:33] to vote three on vote yes on amendment

[48:36] three. I think it's misguided to do so,

[48:39] but this is exactly what people are

[48:41] rebelling against. And finally,

[48:43] regarding the twothirds majority, not

[48:45] only should the commission reject it,

[48:47] but so should the candidate. If a

[48:49] candidate cannot manage to keep three

[48:51] out of five commissioners satisfied that

[48:54] he or she is doing a good job, they

[48:56] should resign. They shouldn't wait to be

[48:57] fired. Thank you.

[48:59] » Thank you. Our next speaker, please.

[49:01] » Ernie Payne is next, followed by Cotton

[49:04] Taylor.

[49:05] » All right. Your name and address for the

[49:07] record, please.

[49:09] » Ernie Payne, uh, 2006 East Indian Head

[49:12] Drive.

[49:14] Two years ago, this body considered a

[49:17] proposal for submitting a charter

[49:19] amendment to the ballot for the creation

[49:20] of the office of inspector general.

[49:23] The most significant part of that

[49:25] amendment according to the inspector

[49:26] general himself in response to a

[49:29] question by commissioner Williams Cox

[49:31] was in order to strengthen the was the

[49:34] requirement for a supermajority vote for

[49:36] removal from office in order to

[49:38] strengthen the necessary independence of

[49:40] that office.

[49:41] It was stated very clearly at that time

[49:44] that a charter amendment was required in

[49:46] order to change the charter language of

[49:49] serving at the pleasure of the city

[49:50] commission to serving to requiring a

[49:53] twothirds vote for removal. This was the

[49:56] same language that the charter used at

[49:57] that time for the city auditor, the

[49:59] treasurer clerk, and the city manager to

[50:02] define the employment terms of their

[50:04] offices.

[50:06] The proposal to send the charter

[50:07] amendment to the ballot was passed by an

[50:09] unusual 4 to1 vote [laughter] and the

[50:12] charter amendment was passed overwhelm

[50:14] overwhelmingly by the voters. The sole

[50:17] desenter among you was the mayor who

[50:20] stated that he opposed the ballot

[50:22] initiative because it was a massive

[50:23] change that should not be done in such a

[50:25] rush manner and there wasn't time to

[50:28] consider such a proposal before it went

[50:29] to the ballot. These words were spoken

[50:32] on April 24th, 2024, 6 months prior to

[50:36] the election.

[50:38] Now, just one week after the new city

[50:41] manager was appointed and the mayor made

[50:44] clear that he would be ne negotiating

[50:45] the employment contract, this contract

[50:48] was posted for public viewing just 24

[50:50] hours ago,

[50:52] providing for removal by a twothirds

[50:54] vote. Also, following the links to the

[50:58] city charter posted on the Talgov

[51:00] website, the language that was in the

[51:02] charter two years ago that the city

[51:03] manager serves at the pleasure of the

[51:05] city commission has been removed.

[51:08] Although there has been no intervening

[51:10] charter amendment,

[51:12] the legality of this is at best

[51:14] questionable, although having been given

[51:16] less than 24 hours to research this,

[51:19] even a qualified attorney, which I am

[51:21] not, would be hardressed to answer.

[51:24] Please delay approval of the employment

[51:26] contract. If this moves forward today in

[51:29] this form, you are not only degrading

[51:31] the public trust of the people of

[51:33] Tallahassee, you would also be doing a

[51:36] disservice to your new city manager who

[51:38] will be entering her new office under a

[51:40] cloud.

[51:42] » A cloud of your own creation

[51:45] for no conceivable purpose other than to

[51:47] politicize an office that the charter

[51:50] explicitly defines as non-political.

[51:53] Thank you.

[51:54] » Thank you. Our next speaker, please.

[51:56] » Next speaker is Cotton Taylor.

[52:00] » Cotton Taylor. And then Yuri Gotchaw.

[52:03] » Your name and address for the record,

[52:05] please.

[52:07] » Yeah. My name is actually Coulson

[52:08] Taylor. I live at 631 East Call Street.

[52:11] » Apologies,

[52:11] » I guess. Uh yeah. Okay. Um so, like you

[52:15] said, I think you you said that it's

[52:17] going to be non it's non-political that

[52:19] the 4 to1 vote that that's why you put

[52:20] it in there. actually think it's very

[52:22] bad faith and actually very political on

[52:24] your part. Um [clears throat]

[52:26] I think that the charter says or at

[52:28] least from what I read is said that the

[52:30] city city manager should serve at the

[52:32] pleasure of the uh city commission and

[52:34] it seems like to me that that al that it

[52:36] implies a simple majority. Um so I'd

[52:38] like to see it keep like to see it kept

[52:40] that way as a show of good faith to the

[52:42] city of Tallahassee to the rest of the

[52:43] commissioners. Um so yeah, thank you

[52:45] very much. Our next speaker, please.

[52:48] » Yuri Gotch, followed by Sha Thomas.

[52:53] » Your name and address for the record,

[52:55] please.

[52:56] » Hello, my name is Uri Gotchock. Uh, the

[52:58] address is 218 Broward Street. Um, so I

[53:02] would like to first uh start by

[53:03] addressing you, Mr. Mayor. um in your

[53:06] discuss of the time that it took to

[53:08] pursue this candidate, at no point did

[53:11] you mention when you were taking input

[53:13] from the public. As somebody who is a

[53:15] member of Tallahassy's society or uh

[53:18] population, I feel very rushed and I

[53:20] felt like I did not get the opportunity

[53:22] to voice my opinion to say what I felt

[53:25] like the direction of the city and to

[53:26] make sure that that was going to be

[53:28] represented by the candidates. That

[53:30] includes go showing up to the event that

[53:32] happened last week which was posted one

[53:35] day before. It seems to be there's a

[53:36] long history of that. Now I wanted to

[53:39] come on and talk to this. I was going to

[53:40] ask you first of all whether or not you

[53:42] felt like you are not representing or

[53:45] you you no longer need the to represent

[53:47] the citizens of the of the public or the

[53:49] the opinions of the public. Whether or

[53:51] not you felt like you needed to listen

[53:53] to them and gather their input since you

[53:54] were not running for reelection. I would

[53:56] ask your your co- counselors if they

[54:00] would be able to stand on approving a

[54:04] contract with fewer votes than it would

[54:07] to eliminate that. That is, I think, the

[54:09] crux and the most important thing is

[54:11] that the reality is that given from what

[54:14] has happened from previous meetings,

[54:16] this it passes is going to pass with a

[54:18] 23 majority. And the reality is that it

[54:21] is a terrible policy to allow a lower

[54:25] burden of proof, a burden of a consent

[54:28] to approve a contract than to reject it.

[54:30] And that handicaps my ability as well as

[54:34] my fellow citizens ability to speak and

[54:38] see some level of repercussion if you

[54:41] guys make a decision that we don't agree

[54:43] with. So I ask very specifically about

[54:46] the requirement for the twothirds

[54:48] majority that you do not approve any

[54:51] contract that has that level of barrier

[54:54] where the barrier to approve it is lower

[54:56] than the barrier to undo it later on

[54:59] because you have handicapped the ability

[55:01] for myself as well as possible future

[55:05] city commissions. One that you will not

[55:06] be a member of and their ability to

[55:10] speak and rule on that. And because of

[55:12] that, I ask that you, if nothing else,

[55:15] strike that, but preferably take longer

[55:18] and provide opportunity for myself to

[55:21] show up to a meeting and actually meet

[55:23] the candidates. Because the reality is

[55:25] when I showed up to that meeting last

[55:26] week, I was in a situation where I felt

[55:28] like I was competing for the time. When

[55:30] I was having a conversation with your

[55:32] candidate, I was actually interrupted

[55:34] and told I had enough time by Mr. Sims

[55:37] because we were all trying to get some

[55:39] time in with the possible chief

[55:42] executive of our city. Thank you for

[55:44] your time.

[55:45] » Thank you. Our next speaker, please

[55:48] Thomas

[55:49] and then Mark Chandler.

[55:59] » Your name and address for the record,

[56:00] please.

[56:01] » John Thomas, 2113 Joiner Drive. Good

[56:04] evening, mayor and commissioners. I'm

[56:06] here to urge you to reconsider the

[56:08] proposed 3 thou 317,000

[56:11] annual salary and contract terms for the

[56:14] city manager. Let's be clear, this is

[56:16] not just a personal decision made by the

[56:18] mayor. It's a major financial and

[56:20] governance decision that could blind and

[56:23] bind Tallahassee for years. Residents

[56:26] deserve more than a lastm minute

[56:28] presentation of a contract with a

[56:30] five-year term severance, extra

[56:33] allowance, automatic renewals, and a

[56:35] provision requiring four or five four

[56:37] out of five commissioners to remove the

[56:39] city manager. Mayor Daly, if this

[56:42] proposal is truly the best interest of

[56:44] Tallahassee, then it should have been

[56:45] able to withstand full public scrutiny,

[56:48] not be rushed through under the radar,

[56:50] or presented as if the public should

[56:52] simply accept it. You would have done it

[56:54] your first term, not while you were not

[56:56] running for reelection if it was that

[56:58] important. The question is not whether

[57:00] the city manager's job matters. It does.

[57:03] The question is whether her pay should

[57:05] be that high. More than five 1.5 million

[57:09] in base pay over 5 years is the right

[57:11] priority when working families are

[57:13] concerned about affordability. when

[57:15] residents expect safe streets and

[57:17] reliable infrastructure and when city

[57:19] employees serving the public everyday

[57:21] need support and need support and

[57:24] competitive wages. This is not about

[57:27] only salary. It's about accountability.

[57:30] Under this proposed agreement, a future

[57:32] commission could have a 3-2 majority, an

[57:35] ordinary majority of an elected body and

[57:37] still be unable to remove the city

[57:40] manager. Four commissioners would have

[57:42] to agree. This is a serious restriction

[57:45] on the authority voters give their

[57:46] elected representatives. Mayor Daly and

[57:49] this commission should not use the final

[57:51] months of an outgoing political era to

[57:54] make it harder for future elected

[57:55] leaders to respond to the people of

[57:57] Tallahassee.

[57:59] If this contract is fair and necessary

[58:01] as it supports claims, then remove the

[58:04] four the four sorry four vote firing

[58:07] requirement, shorten the initial term,

[58:10] publish meaningful performance

[58:12] benchmarks and let a majority- elected

[58:14] commission retain the authority to make

[58:15] leadership changes. Tallassi deserves

[58:18] the transparency, accountability, and

[58:21] leadership that does not treat public

[58:22] trust like a procedure

[58:25] like an obstacle obstacle. Thank you.

[58:29] Thank you. Our next speaker, please.

[58:30] » Mark Chandler is our next speaker,

[58:33] followed by Dot Enman Johnson.

[58:41] » Your name and address for the record,

[58:42] please.

[58:43] » My name is Mark Chandler. I live at 214

[58:45] West 4th Avenue.

[58:48] » So, one of the things that jumped out at

[58:49] me proposed contract was the thousand a

[58:52] month automobile allowance. According to

[58:55] the contract, the automobile allowance

[58:57] is quote intended to compensate the

[58:59] employee for use of her personal vehicle

[59:02] in connection with the performance of

[59:04] the employees work and other related

[59:07] employment duties.

[59:09] So, I'm not actually here to tell you

[59:11] that this needs to change or be stripped

[59:12] out of the contract, but I am here to

[59:14] ask you to just take a moment to

[59:16] consider

[59:19] that what this says about our built

[59:21] environment.

[59:23] Look, I think it's important for our

[59:24] city manager to get around town quickly

[59:26] and efficiently. Consider a scenario

[59:28] where she's got a meeting on campus and

[59:30] then a ribbon cutting ceremony across

[59:32] town and it's got to get back to

[59:34] downtown to the office. How's she going

[59:36] to do that?

[59:38] Well, she's going to drive. It's the

[59:40] obvious answer. It's obvious that she's

[59:44] not going to rent a scooter. Scooters

[59:46] aren't allowed on campus, clean plaza,

[59:49] or anywhere outside of a select

[59:50] centralized boundary. It's obvious to me

[59:53] that she's not going to take a bike

[59:56] while there may be painted bike lanes

[59:58] between all those destinations.

[1:00:01] She probably wouldn't feel comfortable

[1:00:02] riding that close to traffic.

[1:00:05] I doubt she would take Star Metro

[1:00:07] because the next bus doesn't come for

[1:00:10] almost an hour. and the city commission

[1:00:13] meeting that night. What if it lasts

[1:00:14] past 7 o'clock? I don't think the night

[1:00:17] bus takes her anywhere near her house

[1:00:18] probably.

[1:00:20] So, I would ask you to consider that

[1:00:23] we've effectively already made the

[1:00:25] decisions where $1,000 a month

[1:00:27] automobile allowance for the city

[1:00:29] manager is sadly the only obvious

[1:00:32] choice.

[1:00:35] » Thank you. Our next speaker, please. Our

[1:00:38] next speaker is Don Mcman Johnson who

[1:00:40] will be followed by Tiffany Hill.

[1:00:45] » Your name and address for the record,

[1:00:47] please.

[1:00:51] » Don Edinman Johnson, 2121 Trescott

[1:00:54] Drive.

[1:00:56] I congratulate the newly appointed city

[1:00:59] manager for her many years of excellent

[1:01:02] service to the city of Tallahassee.

[1:01:06] However, I strongly disagree with the

[1:01:10] rushed and flawed process that resulted

[1:01:14] in her appointment.

[1:01:17] I further oppose the language in her

[1:01:20] contract requiring a supermajority vote

[1:01:25] to hold her accountable to her contract.

[1:01:30] The only appointed official to date

[1:01:35] with that distinction

[1:01:37] is the inspector general and it required

[1:01:42] a ballot initiative and a vote by the

[1:01:46] public to make that possible.

[1:01:50] To date, there has been no change in the

[1:01:54] city charter that would allow that to be

[1:01:59] extended to the other three appointed

[1:02:03] officials.

[1:02:05] Further,

[1:02:07] the city manager contracts throughout

[1:02:11] Florida

[1:02:13] are at will employees

[1:02:16] requiring only a majority vote to hire

[1:02:21] and terminate.

[1:02:24] I question whether the contract complies

[1:02:28] with the Tallahassee

[1:02:30] city charter.

[1:02:33] This city

[1:02:35] has voted on numerous

[1:02:39] important issues facing the public and

[1:02:43] it only required to this date a majority

[1:02:48] vote of the city commission. It required

[1:02:52] only a majority vote to put her in

[1:02:56] office

[1:02:58] and it should require only a majority

[1:03:02] vote if there is a reason for a

[1:03:06] termination. Thank you.

[1:03:08] » Our next speaker, please.

[1:03:10] » Tiffany Hill is next and then Stanley

[1:03:12] Sims.

[1:03:23] your name and address for the record,

[1:03:25] please.

[1:03:25] » Hi, I am Dr. Tiffany Hill, um 1401 Lola

[1:03:29] Drive. Uh I'm standing before you today

[1:03:33] um to voice my strong opposition to the

[1:03:36] proposed employment agreement for our

[1:03:39] new city manager. Um while I'm going to

[1:03:42] respect um your selection process, um

[1:03:46] the contract before us is fiscally

[1:03:48] irresponsible and lacks the necessary

[1:03:51] safeguards to protect taxpayers of this

[1:03:54] city. First, let's talk about the

[1:03:56] salary. A base of 317,000

[1:04:00] is an incredibly high starting point.

[1:04:03] When we look at this figure, we have to

[1:04:06] ask does it include adjustments for

[1:04:08] rising cost of living and um that our

[1:04:12] residents are struggling

[1:04:15] and that our own re residents are

[1:04:17] struggling with. If this salary is being

[1:04:20] set in a vacuum without a clear

[1:04:22] transparent link to current economic

[1:04:24] realities and the performance

[1:04:26] benchmarks, we are doing a disservice to

[1:04:28] the public. So furthermore, I am deeply

[1:04:32] concerned by the inclusion of the

[1:04:35] thousand monthly automobile allowance.

[1:04:39] If you have a fleet on your property,

[1:04:42] um, and I'm sure, you know, with me

[1:04:44] being an outreach specialist that work

[1:04:46] for the federal government, rather I

[1:04:49] drove that car, not insurance, is

[1:04:51] actually going to be paid regardless.

[1:04:54] So, I don't see why a thousand monthly

[1:04:57] allowance is going to be allowed for

[1:04:59] somebody to drive their own vehicle.

[1:05:02] That is a lot considering that this

[1:05:05] person is already making um more than

[1:05:08] what um the current city manager and a

[1:05:12] lot of other city managers in the state

[1:05:15] of Florida are making. Perhaps most

[1:05:18] alarming, however, is the structure of

[1:05:20] this contract regarding accountability.

[1:05:23] We being asked to approve. You all are

[1:05:25] being asked to approve a five-year term

[1:05:28] that requires a twothird supermajority

[1:05:31] vote just to dismiss the city manager.

[1:05:34] By setting a such a high bar for

[1:05:36] termination, we are effectively

[1:05:39] stripping this comm that commission your

[1:05:42] commission of its ability to hold the

[1:05:45] city manager accountable.

[1:05:47] Finally, there is no mention of a

[1:05:49] probationary period. As a previous

[1:05:53] federal employee, we've always had at

[1:05:56] least a year probationary period because

[1:05:59] just because someone,

[1:06:01] » You're at 30 seconds

[1:06:02] » Worked in the city does not mean that

[1:06:04] they are capable of doing the job. So,

[1:06:07] you don't want to lock yourselves into

[1:06:11] um a contract that you cannot get out if

[1:06:13] this person is not performing. So

[1:06:16] therefore, I really would appreciate you

[1:06:19] all listening to the public at this time

[1:06:23] and tableabling it and taking it back to

[1:06:26] HR to reorganize this contract.

[1:06:29] » You're at three minutes.

[1:06:30] » Thank you.

[1:06:31] » Thank you. Our next speaker, please

[1:06:33] » Stanley Sims and then Jordan Strickland.

[1:06:36] And we have two more speakers following

[1:06:37] that. We've had a couple added.

[1:06:38] » Okay. Your name and address for the

[1:06:40] record, please.

[1:06:40] » Stanley Sims, still hanging out at

[1:06:42] Barack Obama way.

[1:06:49] First off, let me say um you know this

[1:06:54] Reese Well, this won't be our last time.

[1:06:57] We I'll see you October 5th down at

[1:07:00] Federal Building,

[1:07:03] but

[1:07:06] I had a conversation with two of your

[1:07:08] colleagues during the meet and greet.

[1:07:12] I walked I'm not going to give their

[1:07:14] names. I walked up to him and I said, "I

[1:07:17] bet you it really surprised you when I

[1:07:21] supported the pick of Karen."

[1:07:24] Little other stuff was said, but keep it

[1:07:27] there. [clears throat]

[1:07:28] He told me, he said, "In 10 years, I

[1:07:31] have expected the unexpected from you.

[1:07:38] Whatever I do, I stand on it publicly. I

[1:07:42] sign my name to it.

[1:07:46] I got calls. First, Mr. Mel, I had to

[1:07:50] let Miss Ernestine know that you weren't

[1:07:52] the mayor yet cuz she was upset cuz she

[1:07:55] said, "You told me change. This ain't no

[1:07:57] change."

[1:08:01] But I just don't understand, Mr. Mayor

[1:08:03] was after we all speak and if you'll

[1:08:06] write a note, how come the city manager

[1:08:09] gets the entitlement of the base salary

[1:08:12] of the person that she's feeling? Cuz my

[1:08:15] wife didn't get that when she was hired.

[1:08:19] I didn't get that. I didn't find out who

[1:08:22] was before me and how much they were

[1:08:24] paying. The city actually told me, "We

[1:08:27] can, even though you overqualify, we can

[1:08:30] only give you 10%."

[1:08:36] And I've got to withdraw my support for

[1:08:38] Karen because I don't think we can

[1:08:40] afford her.

[1:08:44] We just gave

[1:08:47] 171 city employees a paradise vacation.

[1:08:56] I don't even think Google give out

[1:08:59] $61,000

[1:09:01] pay raises.

[1:09:07] And then the other thing you have really

[1:09:10] placed her in a very peculiar spot. 30

[1:09:14] seconds.

[1:09:15] » And the reason I chose Karen because I

[1:09:18] thought that the least damage would be

[1:09:20] done with her.

[1:09:23] because it would be unfair for you to

[1:09:25] pick a new city manager and in the event

[1:09:29] they would have to undo it, it would be

[1:09:31] greater harm for people that live far

[1:09:33] away

[1:09:35] than someone here.

[1:09:38] You did a very disservice to Karen since

[1:09:41] you want to own negotiating this

[1:09:44] contract. You set her up. Thank you. Our

[1:09:47] next speaker, please.

[1:09:49] » Jordan Strickland, followed by Cheryl

[1:09:51] Collier Brown.

[1:09:57] » Your name and address for the record,

[1:09:58] please.

[1:09:58] » Jordan Strickland, uh, 2204 Altuna

[1:10:01] Drive, 32309.

[1:10:03] So, my name is Jordan Strickland. I was

[1:10:04] born and raised here in Tallahassee. And

[1:10:06] in 2016, I enlisted in the United States

[1:10:08] Air Force. And during that time, uh,

[1:10:11] they instilled three different core

[1:10:12] values in me. Integrity first, service

[1:10:14] before self, and excellence in all we

[1:10:16] do.

[1:10:17] I came back home to Tallahassee

[1:10:19] expecting to find those same values in

[1:10:20] the people who lead the city. But

[1:10:22] instead, I'm looking at a contract that

[1:10:24] would allow the city manager to only be

[1:10:26] removed on a supermajority vote.

[1:10:32] Let's be honest about the timing of

[1:10:33] this. The city is roughly two months

[1:10:35] away from an election that is probably

[1:10:37] going to reshape the look of this

[1:10:39] commission.

[1:10:41] And instead, sorry, instead I'm looking

[1:10:44] Sorry, sorry. Let's voters are about to

[1:10:47] have their say on who leads this city

[1:10:49] going forward. And instead of letting

[1:10:51] that election run its course, the

[1:10:52] majority of this commission is racing to

[1:10:54] lock in a decision that ties the hands

[1:10:56] of whoever comes next. That's not

[1:10:58] service before self. That's self before

[1:11:00] service.

[1:11:02] If this city manager is doing a good

[1:11:04] job, a future commission would have no

[1:11:06] reason to remove her.

[1:11:08] But if she isn't and if there's a real

[1:11:10] problem that comes forth, it would take

[1:11:14] four out of five of you to remove that

[1:11:16] individual. I don't believe that that's

[1:11:18] pro protecting stability. I think that's

[1:11:20] protecting a bad decision from

[1:11:22] accountability.

[1:11:24] You were elected to do a job. Part of

[1:11:26] that job is trusting the voters and

[1:11:28] trusting the people who come after you

[1:11:30] to make their own decisions. tying their

[1:11:32] hands because you're worried about they

[1:11:34] might not make the same decision that

[1:11:36] you would is the opposite of integrity.

[1:11:38] It's the opposite of service and it is

[1:11:41] the opposite of excellence. I ask for

[1:11:43] you to remove that clause, vote no,

[1:11:46] whatever you've got to do to it. Uh and

[1:11:48] let the people of Tallahassee elect a

[1:11:50] commission

[1:11:52] that they want to lead this city. Thank

[1:11:54] you. I yield my time.

[1:11:55] » Thank you. Our next speaker, please,

[1:11:57] » Cheryl Collier Brown,

[1:12:00] and she will be followed by Delila

[1:12:02] Pierre.

[1:12:08] » Name and address for the record, please.

[1:12:10] » West Boulevard Street. I figured you all

[1:12:12] could hear my teacher voice as I

[1:12:13] approach the I've sat here and listened

[1:12:16] through all of this and grant you

[1:12:20] there's some pros and cons

[1:12:22] whatever but it's time personally for me

[1:12:26] to say it's time to move on. The

[1:12:28] selection has been done. Uh we need to

[1:12:31] move on. Yes, the election is coming. It

[1:12:34] may change the diet the look of the city

[1:12:38] commission. All well and good. I think

[1:12:40] Karen will be a great choice being in

[1:12:42] store of the climate that has been going

[1:12:44] on regarding the commission meetings,

[1:12:46] commission elections, the selection of

[1:12:49] the city manager. So, let's move on. We

[1:12:52] got other things in the frying pan need

[1:12:55] to be fried and I'm waiting for us to

[1:12:57] get started with a new diet if it is and

[1:13:01] we'll deal with it then. I didn't have

[1:13:03] come up here to say yay or nay. I just

[1:13:05] come to add that I am happy. I'm ready

[1:13:08] for us to move on. It's time for other

[1:13:10] things to occur. Thank you.

[1:13:12] » Thank you. Our next speaker, please.

[1:13:14] » Next speaker is Delilah Pierre.

[1:13:24] » Your name and address for the record,

[1:13:25] please.

[1:13:26] » Hi, my name is Delilah. I am a member of

[1:13:29] the Taci Alliance Against Racist and

[1:13:31] Political Repression, and my address is

[1:13:33] exempt. Uh, I'm here to talk about the

[1:13:35] new city manager candidate and I think I

[1:13:37] should just be forthright and

[1:13:38] straightforward. Let's think about the

[1:13:40] most cynical uh, way to view this. And I

[1:13:42] think the most cynical way to view this

[1:13:44] is that the reason why they're pushing

[1:13:45] through Karen Jumano, who I really don't

[1:13:48] know anything about, I can't say much

[1:13:49] about her. But the reason why they're

[1:13:50] pushing her in a process that's

[1:13:52] unprecedented is because instead of

[1:13:54] allowing the people of Tallahassee to

[1:13:55] have the time to think about a city

[1:13:57] manager candidate that's best for

[1:13:59] everyone, city commissioner John

[1:14:00] Dailyaly wants to appoint a city manager

[1:14:03] who's best for him before he leaves

[1:14:05] office. Now, unfortunately, due to the

[1:14:09] constant actions you've done, whether

[1:14:12] that's limiting public comment or making

[1:14:14] it more and more difficult for people to

[1:14:16] speak at the city commission meetings or

[1:14:17] using your power as mayor and at the dis

[1:14:20] to silence your fellow commissioners, I

[1:14:22] believe the most cynical option because

[1:14:24] your behavior shows the most cynical

[1:14:25] option is true. The city manager

[1:14:28] position is supposed to be a position

[1:14:29] that answers to the city commissioners.

[1:14:31] But city manager Reese Go during his

[1:14:33] entire appointment has only answered to

[1:14:35] himself and the rich in the city of

[1:14:36] Tallahassee. I can't think of one good

[1:14:39] thing he's done for the city except

[1:14:40] maybe he helped put up a few signs. I

[1:14:42] guess the city manager should not be a

[1:14:45] position that supersedes the rights and

[1:14:47] needs of the majority of people in

[1:14:48] Tallahassee. It should be a position

[1:14:50] that answers to the needs of people in

[1:14:52] Tallahassee. I want a city manager who's

[1:14:54] not getting a vote of 1 something by two

[1:14:56] members of the city commission. The only

[1:14:58] members of the city commission, by the

[1:15:00] way, who are the ones who stand against

[1:15:02] the city manager's constant alliance

[1:15:05] with the worst sectors of Tallahassee

[1:15:07] that prohibit and inhibit its

[1:15:09] development and stop our city from

[1:15:11] having everything that we need. This

[1:15:14] process needs to be more comprehensive.

[1:15:18] When we choose a city manager, there

[1:15:20] should be more public options for people

[1:15:22] to speak to them. And the public should

[1:15:24] have a chance to question the city

[1:15:26] manager candidate. I don't want to just

[1:15:27] see a park meet and greet from 4:00 to

[1:15:29] 6:00 p.m. on a Tuesday. I want to see a

[1:15:31] real process that gives people power

[1:15:34] that lets people have the say over who

[1:15:36] the city manager is. And if Karen is so

[1:15:38] great, then awesome. Let's have her here

[1:15:41] with everyone else so people can ask her

[1:15:44] questions and talk to her and see her

[1:15:46] approach and development for the city.

[1:15:48] But I feel that city commissioner John

[1:15:50] Dailyaly, city commissioner Curtis

[1:15:51] Richardson, and city commissioner Dian

[1:15:53] Williams Cox, who will most likely be

[1:15:54] the three yes votes for this position,

[1:15:57] don't really care that much about that.

[1:15:59] They care more about playing politics.

[1:16:02] They care more about submitting their

[1:16:03] power and they care more about having

[1:16:05] whatever dangerous effect on their city

[1:16:07] they can before inevitably some of them

[1:16:10] are pushed out of office. Thank you.

[1:16:13] » Our next speaker, please.

[1:16:14] » Mayor, that was the last speaker on this

[1:16:16] item.

[1:16:16] » Is there anybody else here in chambers

[1:16:18] that'd like to speak on this item?

[1:16:20] Anybody else that has not had the

[1:16:21] opportunity to speak that'd like to

[1:16:23] speak on this item? All right. We've had

[1:16:25] 11 public

[1:16:28] » Sorry.

[1:16:29] » Oh, sure. Please come join us. And if

[1:16:31] you wouldn't mind, just fill out a card

[1:16:33] after the fact and uh your name and

[1:16:35] address for the record, please.

[1:16:36] » Doug Han, I live at uh uh on Florida

[1:16:40] Avenue here. U just a quick note, uh

[1:16:44] federal mileage for business is 76 cents

[1:16:47] a mile. Uh at $1,000 a month, you're

[1:16:51] expecting your city manager to drive

[1:16:54] 15,789

[1:16:56] miles in performance of your duties

[1:16:58] rather than to be in the office. Thank

[1:17:00] you.

[1:17:00] » Thank you.

[1:17:03] [applause]

[1:17:08] » Any other public comment? Anybody else

[1:17:10] here that would like to speak?

[1:17:12] All right. To begin the uh conversation,

[1:17:15] I will go ahead and make the motion for

[1:17:16] option number one. Is there a second to

[1:17:18] the motion on the table for discussion?

[1:17:21] » Second.

[1:17:22] » Seconded by the mayor pro tent. Let's

[1:17:23] open it up for discussion. Commissioner

[1:17:25] Porter.

[1:17:26] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I'd like to start

[1:17:29] first of all just by saying as far as

[1:17:31] I'm concerned this has absolutely

[1:17:33] nothing to do with Dr. Dumanville. I

[1:17:35] wouldn't support this or any candidate

[1:17:38] even if it was one who I had supported

[1:17:41] um in in the vote in the process that we

[1:17:44] enacted last week. I do want to ask the

[1:17:47] city attorney to weigh in um on some of

[1:17:52] I I spoke to her this morning with with

[1:17:54] questions and concerns about the city

[1:17:56] charter and the contract and I wanted to

[1:17:59] hear I wanted to give her an opportunity

[1:18:02] to address that.

[1:18:03] » Madam Attorney Mor.

[1:18:05] » Thank you, Commissioner. So, as I

[1:18:07] mentioned, um the legal issue that is

[1:18:10] raised here, the guidance that we have

[1:18:13] is somewhat limited. um I'm unable to

[1:18:16] bring any opinions or case law that are

[1:18:19] exactly on point. Um so what I need to

[1:18:21] do is to sort of rely on general

[1:18:23] government concepts and precedent. So I

[1:18:26] think um the issue is is it I think the

[1:18:29] question that you're asking commissioner

[1:18:30] is it legal to require a supermajority

[1:18:34] in this context in this contract? Um and

[1:18:38] I think you know I'll start by saying

[1:18:39] our chart our charter is silent on that

[1:18:42] issue. There is nothing um in the

[1:18:45] charter that specifies when um the the

[1:18:49] city commission has to have a simple

[1:18:51] majority versus a super. It's just not

[1:18:53] addressed. Um and as you know, the the

[1:18:56] city manager serves at the pleasure um

[1:18:59] of the city commission. So I will say

[1:19:03] that you know the default interpretation

[1:19:06] of a charter provision that is silent is

[1:19:09] likely to be a um a simple majority. um

[1:19:12] and and the years of practice here at

[1:19:14] the city would also suggest that that

[1:19:17] the actions of the city commission are

[1:19:19] uh are by city by um simple majority. Um

[1:19:24] so if if that were true then you know

[1:19:27] the charter would prohibit um by

[1:19:30] implication you know a supermajority

[1:19:33] but again the charter is silent. though

[1:19:37] and there is no guidance I I was unable

[1:19:40] to locate any guidance that says with

[1:19:42] absolute certainty that at the pleasure

[1:19:45] means a simple majority. Um so I can't

[1:19:49] speak with uh certainty that there is

[1:19:52] not some some room for other

[1:19:54] interpretation. The other uh way of

[1:19:56] course of looking at it is that because

[1:19:58] there is no explicit prohibition then

[1:20:01] it's not prohibited um as a function of

[1:20:04] home rule uh and that the contract term

[1:20:08] for a supermajority for removal is um is

[1:20:12] simply that it's a it's a term of

[1:20:14] employment. So, um

[1:20:18] I think that argument may rely on the

[1:20:22] idea that the charter is sort of the

[1:20:24] minimum and uh that the city commission

[1:20:27] itself acting as a body has the

[1:20:30] authority to uh to impose different

[1:20:33] requirements on its on itself. Um I will

[1:20:38] say that as to the second point there

[1:20:40] have been recent examples of city

[1:20:44] commissions um Fernandina Beach is one

[1:20:47] and actually just last night Marathon

[1:20:49] Florida uh both passed their city

[1:20:52] councils passed um executive contracts

[1:20:56] with um the supermajority for removal.

[1:21:00] So that suggests to me not necessarily

[1:21:02] that that's right. those have not been

[1:21:05] tested yet. Um, so we don't have I don't

[1:21:08] have a case, you know, I don't have a

[1:21:10] Supreme Court decision that says that

[1:21:12] those were tested and the the court

[1:21:14] decided one way or the other, but they

[1:21:16] are precedent and they are and they are

[1:21:18] out there and I think it's I thought it

[1:21:19] was important to bring that to the

[1:21:21] commission's attention.

[1:21:22] » Commissioner Porter,

[1:21:24] » Thank you. So your legal opinion is that

[1:21:29] we have since

[1:21:32] since the inception of the city charter,

[1:21:34] we have interpreted that to mean a

[1:21:36] simple majority.

[1:21:39] » I don't know if I could say that in

[1:21:40] every case since the inception.

[1:21:42] » Okay. When have we not?

[1:21:44] » I can't identify over the course of

[1:21:46] history. I I don't know.

[1:21:47] » Okay. In the past, since you've been at

[1:21:49] the city of Tallahassee, have we ever

[1:21:50] interpreted that to mean anything but a

[1:21:54] simple majority?

[1:21:56] » I don't think we've ever been faced with

[1:21:57] this specific question, but probably not

[1:22:00] » On point. Two years ago when we changed

[1:22:03] the contract of the inspector general to

[1:22:05] a m uh supermajority based on your legal

[1:22:09] opinion that we could do it. And I was

[1:22:12] the lone descending vote because I

[1:22:13] thought we should do all

[1:22:14] » And was it not also legal? I've got the

[1:22:16] floor. Commissioner Porter Hull in just

[1:22:17] a second. I'm coming back to you in just

[1:22:18] a second.

[1:22:19] » So, yes, we can point to a specific

[1:22:22] example in recent history as of two

[1:22:25] years ago based on your legal opinion

[1:22:27] that we could do it and did do it. And

[1:22:30] then the Citizens Advisory Council for

[1:22:33] the Charter Review Commission then said,

[1:22:35] "We need to take this language and put

[1:22:37] it before the citizens to vote upon put

[1:22:40] it in the charter." And it passed.

[1:22:42] And I'm hoping that a future commission

[1:22:45] will follow the exact same steps and

[1:22:48] take the language of the city manager

[1:22:50] and a future charter review commission

[1:22:53] will put it in the charter as well. But

[1:22:56] to answer your question, yes, we do have

[1:22:58] a very specific example in recent

[1:23:00] history based on your legal opinion of

[1:23:03] the action that we took in regards to

[1:23:05] inspector general.

[1:23:06] » May I respond, Mr. May? Um I I don't

[1:23:09] recall I'm not saying that we didn't

[1:23:11] have a a conversation about this

[1:23:14] particular uh legal issue, but um the

[1:23:18] city uh inspector general's contract was

[1:23:21] not amended until after the um charter

[1:23:24] was passed. There was discussion about

[1:23:28] um his about the twothirds and how he

[1:23:31] considered that to be the the sort of

[1:23:33] best practice for inspector generals,

[1:23:35] but I I do not believe that the contract

[1:23:37] was actually amended until after the

[1:23:39] charter. Well, Madam Attorney, then

[1:23:41] we've got a conflicting opinion and I

[1:23:43] appreciate Commissioner Porter's uh

[1:23:45] position and I appreciate the advice

[1:23:47] that you gave her. The advice that the

[1:23:50] acting city attorney Lou Norell gave me

[1:23:51] a week ago when we met and the advice

[1:23:54] that you gave me yesterday when we met

[1:23:57] uh is contrary to the advice that you

[1:24:00] gave Commissioner Porter. Now, I am

[1:24:02] still of I am still of the opinion that

[1:24:06] we can and we should and I support the

[1:24:08] motion on the table under home rule

[1:24:10] authority in the Florida Constitution,

[1:24:12] anything that is not legislatively

[1:24:14] prohibited is allowed for local

[1:24:17] governments to establish their own

[1:24:18] principles. And under the same theory of

[1:24:21] our charter, unless legislatively

[1:24:24] prohibited in the city charter, we are

[1:24:26] allowed to move forward. Hence again the

[1:24:29] reason why we took action with the

[1:24:30] inspector general the way we did. The

[1:24:32] reason why there is no case law in state

[1:24:34] of Florida that you could find and point

[1:24:36] to. Another example, Bernandina Beach

[1:24:39] recently with their city attorney

[1:24:41] putting in supermajority language. As

[1:24:43] recently as last night with the city of

[1:24:46] Marathon putting in supermajority

[1:24:48] language with the hiring with the firing

[1:24:50] of their city manager contract as well.

[1:24:53] There is precedent. There's precedent

[1:24:55] here. Um, I believe our charter speaks

[1:24:58] to it because it doesn't prohibit it

[1:25:01] under home rule authority and I'm

[1:25:03] prepared to vote and move forward.

[1:25:04] Commissioner Porter, you have been

[1:25:05] generous with your time. You have the

[1:25:06] floor.

[1:25:07] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

[1:25:11] I want to clarify for the public as well

[1:25:13] and for the record the reason that we

[1:25:17] move forward with a supermajority

[1:25:20] requirement for termination for the

[1:25:21] inspector general. The inspector general

[1:25:24] has the authority to investigate elected

[1:25:27] officials. Can you imagine being in the

[1:25:30] position of investigating your bosses?

[1:25:33] That's got to be really tough, right?

[1:25:35] You're probably not going to want to do

[1:25:36] it if you know how easily your bosses

[1:25:38] can fire you. So the best practice as

[1:25:41] recommended by the associations that

[1:25:44] represent inspectors general is not only

[1:25:47] that their termination be a

[1:25:49] supermajority but also that there be a

[1:25:52] cause. They have to be terminated with

[1:25:54] cause and there has to be an appeal

[1:25:56] process. The city manager is not

[1:26:00] designed to be independent. The

[1:26:02] inspector general is the city manager.

[1:26:05] The role is administrative.

[1:26:08] It is to serve at the pleasure of the

[1:26:10] city commission who the voters of

[1:26:12] Tallahassee elect.

[1:26:16] This is not a best practice. It is not

[1:26:18] recommended by the International City

[1:26:21] Managers Association. It is not

[1:26:23] recommended by the National Civic League

[1:26:26] who awarded us the Allameric City Award.

[1:26:30] I recognize that managers need

[1:26:32] protection. They need employment

[1:26:34] protection as does the ICMA. as does

[1:26:37] this National Civic League. That is why

[1:26:39] they are awarded very generous severance

[1:26:42] packages.

[1:26:44] 20 weeks. Do the math. $317,000

[1:26:48] starting salary. 20 weeks severance.

[1:26:52] This is a government. This is not a

[1:26:56] country club. We don't just do favors

[1:26:59] for people like this. No. And I'm not

[1:27:02] talking about anyone in particular. I'm

[1:27:04] genuinely not.

[1:27:06] No one's job is more important than the

[1:27:08] well-being and the voice of this

[1:27:11] community.

[1:27:12] » Amen.

[1:27:12] » Okay.

[1:27:18] I also genuinely believe, you know, we

[1:27:21] talk a lot about our council manager

[1:27:24] form of government that we have. When I

[1:27:27] was in graduate school, I thought I

[1:27:29] wanted to be a city manager. And I was

[1:27:31] given the Bee Herald Farmer Scholarship

[1:27:33] Award by the Florida City County

[1:27:36] Managers Association in recognition of

[1:27:39] of my my p my interest in city

[1:27:41] management and my my academic career up

[1:27:44] to that point. I really feel like this

[1:27:47] violates the spirit of the council

[1:27:50] manager form of government um that is

[1:27:54] intended to be responsive. Everything

[1:27:57] about our government, our system of

[1:27:59] government, Robert's rules of order is

[1:28:02] to to ensure that the minority are heard

[1:28:05] but that the will of the majority

[1:28:08] prevails.

[1:28:10] This does not change that. We already

[1:28:13] and no one in here probably is will come

[1:28:16] as a surprise that I have I have rated

[1:28:18] our current city manager with poor

[1:28:21] scores in his evaluations.

[1:28:25] He's been my city manager for the past

[1:28:27] six years. We already have a system that

[1:28:30] works.

[1:28:32] So, for this to come on the agenda and I

[1:28:36] I would like I I apologize, but I mean I

[1:28:38] feel like I need clarity from the city

[1:28:40] attorney because when I spoke to her

[1:28:42] this morning, you know, it was

[1:28:45] what what she relayed to me was that she

[1:28:47] was not part of this specific

[1:28:49] conversation

[1:28:50] » And that she spent the evening

[1:28:52] researching this herself. I'd also like

[1:28:54] to say to the governments, it is

[1:28:56] extremely rare to require supermajority

[1:29:00] and the city that I saw the cities one

[1:29:03] at least one of them that I researched

[1:29:04] that has that that recently passed it

[1:29:07] they did that because they were having

[1:29:08] trouble keeping city managers

[1:29:12] attracting city managers. So in all of

[1:29:14] this discussion, whether it's salary,

[1:29:16] whether it's the supermajority,

[1:29:19] you want of course to hire the best, to

[1:29:21] retain the best, but the the question

[1:29:24] needs to also be like, what purpose does

[1:29:27] this serve? Is there a problem that

[1:29:30] we're trying to fix here? There's a lot

[1:29:33] of talk about depoliticizing

[1:29:36] this process. On the one hand, I agree.

[1:29:38] On the other hand, this is politics.

[1:29:41] This is what we do. There will always be

[1:29:44] elections and I do think it's entirely

[1:29:46] inappropriate to tie the hands of future

[1:29:49] commissioners. Um, and I'm not even

[1:29:51] talking about in two months. I'm talking

[1:29:53] about in five or 10 years. There is no

[1:29:56] justification that I have heard that

[1:29:59] convinces me that decades of precedent

[1:30:03] that the professional associations that

[1:30:05] govern city managers across this entire

[1:30:09] country.

[1:30:11] There's no gives me no reason to think

[1:30:15] that this is a best practice that this

[1:30:16] is standard. And on top of all of that,

[1:30:19] we have to reckon with the fact that our

[1:30:22] city attorney doesn't really know

[1:30:24] because there is no precedent for this.

[1:30:27] It hasn't been legally tested. That

[1:30:30] opens us up to litigation

[1:30:33] and all kinds of other I don't even know

[1:30:35] why we would go down this direction with

[1:30:38] with that level of uncertainty. Um

[1:30:41] especially given the other concerns. So,

[1:30:45] I would

[1:30:47] I would like to make a a substitute

[1:30:49] motion and I'm I'm willing to compromise

[1:30:52] on everything else. I have said from the

[1:30:54] beginning I don't believe this process

[1:30:56] should have taken place before the

[1:30:58] election. I do not believe that um that

[1:31:02] salary is appropriate,

[1:31:05] but I'm willing to support a contract

[1:31:08] today

[1:31:11] with a simple majority for termination.

[1:31:13] So that would be my motion that we move

[1:31:16] forward with this contract agreement

[1:31:18] with the change that the termination

[1:31:21] does not require a supermajority vote.

[1:31:25] There is a mo a substitute motion on the

[1:31:27] table made by Commissioner Porter simply

[1:31:30] let me make sure I get this correctly

[1:31:32] maintaining all points of the contract

[1:31:34] and changing the termination language to

[1:31:36] a simple majority from a supermajority.

[1:31:39] » Yes.

[1:31:39] » Okay. Is there a second to the motion?

[1:31:41] » Second.

[1:31:41] » Second by Commissioner Melo. Comment

[1:31:45] » Commissioner Melo.

[1:31:45] » Uh thank you Mr. Mayor and um thank you

[1:31:48] for bringing the motion commissioner

[1:31:49] Porter. You know, to me, this entire

[1:31:53] process has been intentionally designed

[1:31:56] by the mayor to divide this commission

[1:31:59] every step of the way. Uh, the community

[1:32:01] spoke loud and clear. They wanted this

[1:32:03] decision to wait until after the

[1:32:05] elections. Five of the six candidates

[1:32:08] for office on the November ballot asked

[1:32:10] for the city commission to wait until uh

[1:32:13] after the election. Nevertheless, a

[1:32:15] majority wanted to move forward uh with

[1:32:17] this selection process. a simple

[1:32:19] majority 3-2. I respect the will of the

[1:32:23] majority of this board. When this came

[1:32:25] back, I requested that we we give a

[1:32:27] one-year contract to Dr. Jimville so the

[1:32:31] next commission could have an

[1:32:33] opportunity to get to know her, work

[1:32:34] with her for an entire year and then

[1:32:37] make a decision uh if they would like to

[1:32:39] move forward or if they'd like to go

[1:32:41] back to a search process. this provide

[1:32:43] continuity and stability for this

[1:32:45] government that is desperately uh

[1:32:47] needed. That compromise was rejected by

[1:32:50] a simple majority, a 3-2 vote of this

[1:32:54] board.

[1:32:56] For 200 years,

[1:32:59] city commission precedent, local code,

[1:33:01] and state law

[1:33:03] have shown that a simple majority is how

[1:33:06] a a city commission expresses its will.

[1:33:10] A contract

[1:33:12] cannot alter

[1:33:15] what's in the city charter. The city

[1:33:17] charter is the constitution of the city

[1:33:18] of Tallahassee. Just like a law that the

[1:33:21] governor passes can't change what's in

[1:33:23] the constitution and they get challenged

[1:33:24] and struck down. This is no different.

[1:33:27] The a contract inserting this into the

[1:33:30] contract can't change what's expressly

[1:33:32] laid out in the city charter. And it is

[1:33:35] not silent. The city charter says the

[1:33:38] city manager serves at the pleasure of

[1:33:41] the city commission. The pleasure of the

[1:33:43] city commission is a 3-2 vote. We have

[1:33:46] 200 years of history knowing what the

[1:33:48] pleasure of the city commission is on

[1:33:50] every item we we've ever discussed. The

[1:33:53] city commission has fired previous city

[1:33:56] managers on a 3 to2 vote, exercising the

[1:34:00] pleasure of the city commission. There's

[1:34:03] a long history in this government of how

[1:34:05] this operates. What this attempts to do

[1:34:08] is circumvent the charter review

[1:34:10] process. Mayor Daly called for a charter

[1:34:12] review process. There was a committee

[1:34:14] that brought forward recommendations.

[1:34:16] Commissioners brought forward individual

[1:34:18] recommendations as as well.

[1:34:21] Silent on whether we should change this

[1:34:23] rule. It was never brought forward for

[1:34:25] discussion. It was never put to the

[1:34:26] border voters which is required by the

[1:34:29] city charter to have changed. That is

[1:34:31] the power of the people. This is not our

[1:34:34] government. It's the people's government

[1:34:35] and that's dictated by uh the city

[1:34:38] charter. So what what what no matter

[1:34:40] what the vote is today, it's invalid.

[1:34:44] You can't add you can't take away powers

[1:34:46] of the city commission by way of

[1:34:48] contract language. It wouldn't stand up.

[1:34:51] So the question would be and and madam

[1:34:53] attorney a year from now if they pass

[1:34:56] this this this contract language and

[1:34:59] three commissioners move to terminate a

[1:35:02] city manager where does that leave the

[1:35:04] city of Tallahassee?

[1:35:06] » Madam Attorney

[1:35:07] » Thank you Mr. Mayor. I believe that um

[1:35:09] again I don't have um these are

[1:35:12] questions that are not you know at

[1:35:15] answered in current law. Um but I

[1:35:18] believe that in that circumstance that

[1:35:20] the city commission could could like

[1:35:23] they could any contract uh well not any

[1:35:25] contract but they could act with a 3-2

[1:35:28] uh majority to um to end the contract.

[1:35:32] But that would be a breach of the

[1:35:34] contract. That would be a breach of the

[1:35:36] provision of the contract that requires

[1:35:38] a supermajority to do so. That would

[1:35:40] mean that the um appointed the official

[1:35:43] who is the subject of the um contract

[1:35:46] would have breach of contract rights.

[1:35:48] Primarily they would be the severance

[1:35:50] pay which they that the contract

[1:35:52] provides to the um appointed official

[1:35:55] upon a termination without cause. But it

[1:35:58] is possible that there could be some

[1:35:59] other um contract uh damages that might

[1:36:03] be um recoverable. I I can't with the

[1:36:08] short notice I can't really give you

[1:36:10] what an example of what that might be,

[1:36:11] but it could cost the city more is is I

[1:36:13] guess my point if there's a breach of

[1:36:15] contract.

[1:36:16] » Sure. Okay. And and the point I'm making

[1:36:19] and confirmed by your opinion is this

[1:36:22] contract cannot change the authority

[1:36:24] expressly given to the city commission

[1:36:26] in the charter when we if that decision

[1:36:28] were made in the the future. The

[1:36:30] authority comes from the charter. It

[1:36:32] does not come from uh the contract. And

[1:36:34] since that authority cannot be changed

[1:36:36] in the contract, this is invalid

[1:36:39] language. And it's not just the city

[1:36:41] that would have to uphold to this. It

[1:36:43] would be up to anybody who enters a

[1:36:45] contract with a mun municipality needs

[1:36:48] to know the limitations of the city's

[1:36:50] contracting authority. We don't have the

[1:36:52] ability to put this into a contract

[1:36:54] because it's counter to our our our

[1:36:56] city's charter. Um so all all that to

[1:36:59] say um this commission will express its

[1:37:02] will. But I believe this has been wholly

[1:37:05] politicized by the mayor. Has never been

[1:37:08] about um an individual. For 200 years,

[1:37:12] this city has maintained the way it

[1:37:14] hires and fires its city manager in 60

[1:37:17] days before an outgoing uh mayor goes

[1:37:19] out, he wants to throw a monkey wrench

[1:37:21] in that whole process. It doesn't make

[1:37:23] any sense. uh the inspector general knew

[1:37:26] the the limitations of a contract in the

[1:37:29] city uh uh the city charter brought it

[1:37:33] forward brought it to the voters and it

[1:37:35] was approved. If this is a change this

[1:37:37] board would like to proceed, put it on

[1:37:39] the ballot, let the voters decide. Thank

[1:37:41] you, Mr. Mayor.

[1:37:42] » There is a substant motion on the table

[1:37:44] made by Commissioner Porter, second by

[1:37:46] Commissioner Matlo changing the termin

[1:37:48] termination language from a

[1:37:49] supermajority to a simple majority. Any

[1:37:52] other comments?

[1:37:54] Are we ready to vote?

[1:37:57] Okay. For the substitute amendment on

[1:37:59] the table, all those in favor signify by

[1:38:02] saying I.

[1:38:03] » I.

[1:38:03] » All those opposed?

[1:38:05] » Nay.

[1:38:06] » Nay.

[1:38:06] » And the substitute motion fails. Three

[1:38:09] to two with commissioner. [music]

[1:38:15] » We can if we can have order please, that

[1:38:17] would be great. Thank you. I appreciate

[1:38:19] it. And we are back on to the original

[1:38:22] motion. Commissioner Williams Cox, you

[1:38:24] are recognized.

[1:38:24] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Let me let me just

[1:38:26] be very clear. This is about Karen.

[1:38:31] It's her contract.

[1:38:32] » It's a contract between

[1:38:34] » Who who do you represent?

[1:38:36] » Okay. I'm going to ask one more time

[1:38:37] that if we could please have some order.

[1:38:40] We allowed the public to speak and we

[1:38:41] listen to everyone and we're under

[1:38:43] commission discussion. And please, if

[1:38:46] you would let us continue with the

[1:38:48] discussion with continue with the vote

[1:38:50] without the interruption from the

[1:38:51] audience, I'd appreciate that. I do not

[1:38:54] want to have to clear the chambers.

[1:38:56] Commissioner Williams Cox.

[1:38:58] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This is about

[1:39:00] Karen. This is a contract that will have

[1:39:03] her name on it. This is a 27year city of

[1:39:07] Tallahassee employee currently serving

[1:39:09] as a deputy city manager. the terms of

[1:39:11] the contract excluding the the

[1:39:13] supermajority

[1:39:15] the money would be the same money that

[1:39:17] if Reese was going to continue to be

[1:39:19] here would be the money that he would

[1:39:21] earn. Point blank. There is a savings

[1:39:25] because Reese actually drives a fleet

[1:39:29] truck. Okay. Karen will be driving her

[1:39:33] own car with her $1,000 a month um u um

[1:39:38] allowance. But the but the the the

[1:39:43] the supermajority

[1:39:46] unfortunately is where we seem to be

[1:39:49] headed in this state and in this country

[1:39:52] because of the the political climate.

[1:39:55] Now what let's let's just be clear.

[1:39:57] Commissioner Matllo,

[1:39:59] you have been very vocal on social media

[1:40:02] about what you would do if you become

[1:40:04] mayor to the city manager that we would

[1:40:07] select. So

[1:40:10] you have put that out there. You said

[1:40:12] what you would do. So that doesn't sound

[1:40:15] like someone who is looking to move in

[1:40:18] this

[1:40:19] » Come to you in just a second.

[1:40:20] » That doesn't look that doesn't look like

[1:40:22] someone who is trying to bring this city

[1:40:24] together.

[1:40:25] » We're trying to stabilize this city by

[1:40:28] making sure we have some folks in place

[1:40:30] who know how to run this city because

[1:40:33] they've worked their way up through the

[1:40:34] city and know the different parts of the

[1:40:36] city. That to me is worth more than um

[1:40:41] any any any you know amount of money.

[1:40:45] Unfortunately, it is during a campaign

[1:40:48] season, but we cannot govern our

[1:40:51] community by campaigns. We've got to

[1:40:54] govern them by the stability of what

[1:40:57] residents expect us to have. This is a

[1:40:59] well-run city. Whatever you think about

[1:41:02] it that it it is a well-run city. I've

[1:41:05] worked with the 411 cities, towns, and

[1:41:07] villages, and folks want to know how are

[1:41:09] we doing what we're doing in

[1:41:10] Tallahassee. It is a great place to

[1:41:12] live, work, and play. And I I want to be

[1:41:14] a part of making sure that it continues

[1:41:17] in that way. And to depoliticize

[1:41:21] this for our appointed officials, all of

[1:41:25] them.

[1:41:26] » I believe this is the way to go. It's

[1:41:28] just that at this moment in time, cuz

[1:41:30] someone said to me, the timing, the

[1:41:32] timing is contract time. It's not

[1:41:34] election time. It's contract. It is time

[1:41:37] for a contract for a city manager. So

[1:41:40] you going in anybody I'm you know I'm

[1:41:43] not an attorney but I've done some

[1:41:46] contracts before and if you're going to

[1:41:47] do a contract you the terms of the

[1:41:48] contract are done at the time of

[1:41:50] negotiation and the negotiation has

[1:41:53] occurred and these are the terms that

[1:41:55] she has agreed to. Now, the other

[1:41:57] candidates may have found themselves in

[1:41:59] the same way because we heard from them

[1:42:01] that they've been watching and watching

[1:42:03] our commission our commission meetings.

[1:42:05] They've been watching what's happening

[1:42:06] in the city and some of them some folks

[1:42:08] decided not to apply. So, you're right,

[1:42:12] Commissioner Porter. Cities are having

[1:42:14] trouble attracting and keeping. Last

[1:42:17] night, someone got fired last night. A

[1:42:18] city manager got fired last night and

[1:42:21] and then they decided to do this. So, I

[1:42:23] I don't have a a problem supporting the

[1:42:27] super majority to keep our city moving

[1:42:31] forward together and to be a stable

[1:42:34] city. We're the capital city of the

[1:42:35] third largest state. We cannot fumble

[1:42:37] the ball on this. We cannot move

[1:42:40] backwards. We've got to go forward.

[1:42:41] Forward ever. Backwards never. And I

[1:42:45] just believe that this is the direction

[1:42:47] that we need to be going. It also not

[1:42:49] only stabilizes

[1:42:51] um the city, it stabilizes the workforce

[1:42:55] because people are working for these

[1:42:57] individuals and they need to know that

[1:42:59] their job is safe and secure no matter

[1:43:01] what who gets be who gets to become

[1:43:03] mayor or gets to become whatever. They

[1:43:05] need to know that their jobs are going

[1:43:07] to be in a safe place. All they got to

[1:43:09] do is do the job and be held

[1:43:10] accountable. And no, no, I don't think

[1:43:12] anyone here has a problem being held

[1:43:15] accountable to their job. Unfortunately,

[1:43:17] we have to now look at safeguards to

[1:43:21] protect people in their jobs so that

[1:43:23] they don't feel intimidated or harassed

[1:43:25] because I've heard that from some of

[1:43:27] them. So, that's where I stand. I

[1:43:30] support the motion on the table. What

[1:43:32] what what whatever happens happens. But

[1:43:35] I just believe that in my heart of

[1:43:37] hearts and in the research that I've

[1:43:39] done with the with around this state

[1:43:41] with people that I work with, mayors and

[1:43:42] commissioners from other cities, this is

[1:43:44] the direction that we're headed. It's

[1:43:46] unfortunate, [clears throat] but that's

[1:43:48] where we're headed. And we can stop it

[1:43:51] by doing what we need to do and not

[1:43:53] making these positions so um adept to

[1:43:57] the campaigns that are currently going

[1:43:58] on the politicization of of what we're

[1:44:02] doing here in our city. Elections and

[1:44:04] campaigns cannot run a city well. We've

[1:44:07] got to run this city professionally and

[1:44:10] so that people get what they need

[1:44:11] regardless of who sits in the mayor's

[1:44:13] seat or who sits in the commission seat.

[1:44:15] And that's where I stand.

[1:44:16] » Commissioner Matlo on point. I'm sorry.

[1:44:18] » Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh

[1:44:19] traditionally, a point of order is when

[1:44:22] another speaker is out of order and it

[1:44:23] gives you the opportunity to rule on

[1:44:25] that. Uh we should not be directing

[1:44:27] individual comments at other

[1:44:28] commissioners. It should be directed to

[1:44:29] the mayor. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. That's

[1:44:31] great advice for the past eight years,

[1:44:32] but we haven't upheld that either.

[1:44:34] Commissioner Porter,

[1:44:37] » You're the mayor, sir.

[1:44:39] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

[1:44:41] Um, I don't know. I don't see Dr.

[1:44:45] Drummondville, but I I want to speak

[1:44:47] directly to you. This is your contract,

[1:44:50] as Commissioner Williams Cox just said.

[1:44:52] Um, I am asking you as a professional in

[1:44:55] your field and as the next res city

[1:44:57] manager who reports to us to reject this

[1:45:01] contract with a supermajority vote.

[1:45:05] So, I can't see you, but that is a

[1:45:07] direct question to Dr. Drummondville.

[1:45:10] » Now, I would like a response.

[1:45:13] » Uh, Dr. Jumanville is not in chambers

[1:45:16] right now.

[1:45:18] So, but I'm I'm sure she is probably

[1:45:21] watching out of chambers and we'll get

[1:45:22] back to you, Mayor Pro Tim.

[1:45:24] » Well, Mr. uh, Mayor, I would just

[1:45:26] suggest that

[1:45:29] if that Commissioner Porter, if that's

[1:45:31] the direction that you would want to go,

[1:45:34] then the negotiations I would think

[1:45:37] because that's what Miss Gilmanville,

[1:45:40] Dr. Gilmanville has agreed to,

[1:45:43] » Right? that it would have to go back to

[1:45:45] the negotiations and she at that point

[1:45:48] » Would have to say I can go forward

[1:45:51] without this provision in the contract.

[1:45:54] We can't sit here today and make that

[1:45:57] determination.

[1:45:58] The contract was agreed to in

[1:46:01] negotiations with the mayor

[1:46:04] » On point.

[1:46:05] » On point, Mr. Porter,

[1:46:07] » Why can't we why can't she just say I

[1:46:09] mean we we could have voted on my

[1:46:11] motion. We could have if that motion had

[1:46:13] passed that would have just been what it

[1:46:15] is and then she it's she still has to

[1:46:17] sign it. We can do whatever we I mean

[1:46:20] doesn't she miss city madam city

[1:46:22] attorney could we not if Dr. Jumville

[1:46:25] were here right now and she said I I

[1:46:28] reject the supermajority contract and I

[1:46:31] would like to ask that that be changed.

[1:46:34] Why couldn't we honor that?

[1:46:35] » Oh, we could but she has agreed to. I

[1:46:38] understand. But that but my point is we

[1:46:40] if she were here we could ask her that.

[1:46:44] » But she's not here so we can't ask her

[1:46:46] that and make that decision.

[1:46:48] » So it's the contract before us

[1:46:49] » For her

[1:46:50] » That she has agreed upon.

[1:46:51] » Right.

[1:46:52] » Mayor Pro Tim, you still have the floor.

[1:46:54] » Yeah. I you know

[1:46:56] it's just amazing to me that this is the

[1:46:59] sticking point in a contract for the

[1:47:03] city commission for the city of

[1:47:05] Tallahassee and the city manager, the

[1:47:08] selection of the city manager, the super

[1:47:11] majority to hire or fire the city. I I I

[1:47:15] just find it unbelievable that that's

[1:47:18] the sticking point. It's not the use of

[1:47:21] an automobile. It's not the salary. It's

[1:47:25] not the severance pay. It is

[1:47:29] a supermajority.

[1:47:32] I I would feel comfortable if if a

[1:47:36] supermajority were required because it

[1:47:40] suggests to this community that four

[1:47:42] people four people out of the five agree

[1:47:47] that this person needs to be removed

[1:47:50] from office. I don't think it's

[1:47:52] unreasonable.

[1:47:54] It says to this community that four

[1:47:57] individuals that we have elected

[1:48:01] agree that this person needs to be

[1:48:02] removed from office. One person

[1:48:06] different than a simple majority. I I I

[1:48:10] just find it unbelievable that this is

[1:48:12] the argument that we're having and can't

[1:48:15] move forward on that one issue. I'm

[1:48:19] going to support the motion. Uh, and if

[1:48:22] a a a commission in the future wants to

[1:48:25] change it, then we can do that. Uh but I

[1:48:29] think for right now we move forward with

[1:48:32] the contract that has been negotiated

[1:48:35] and agreed upon and that we don't sit

[1:48:38] here

[1:48:40] as a commission when we gave the mayor

[1:48:45] the authority to negotiate the contract

[1:48:48] with the person that we selected out of

[1:48:52] this process to be our next city

[1:48:56] commissioner or or city manager. I'm

[1:48:58] sorry. I I just don't feel like we're in

[1:49:00] a position to do that. Uh and like I

[1:49:03] said, I'm going to support the motion on

[1:49:06] the floor.

[1:49:06] » Motion on the tables for option number

[1:49:08] one made by the mayor, seconded by

[1:49:11] Remind me, was it Mayor Pro Tim or Mayor

[1:49:13] Pro Tim uh for the contract that's

[1:49:15] presented. Commissioner Metley, you have

[1:49:16] the floor.

[1:49:17] » Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um interesting

[1:49:19] debate today. I I would say um would it

[1:49:23] be unbelievable to require four votes of

[1:49:26] five to sell a community hospital?

[1:49:29] Would it be unbelievable to require four

[1:49:32] votes of five to sell a municipal uh

[1:49:35] golf course that are the burial grounds

[1:49:37] of former slaves from that plantation?

[1:49:39] Would it be unbelievable to require four

[1:49:43] votes to increase taxes year after year?

[1:49:47] Would it be unbelievable

[1:49:50] to require four votes to hire a city

[1:49:54] manager?

[1:50:00] This city has long been divided on a 3-2

[1:50:03] vote. There has never been an attempt

[1:50:06] for compromise. That's why the public is

[1:50:09] lashing out the way that it is today.

[1:50:12] Now, I want you to imagine a different

[1:50:13] scenario

[1:50:15] where decisions made by the city

[1:50:17] commission were not implemented. If

[1:50:20] three votes sold the hospital, but the

[1:50:22] city manager wouldn't move forward with

[1:50:24] that sale. If three votes sold the golf

[1:50:27] course and the city manager would not

[1:50:29] move forward with that sale.

[1:50:32] If three votes decided to terminate the

[1:50:34] agreement with the county to provide

[1:50:36] fire services, but the city manager

[1:50:39] refused to move forward, would that

[1:50:41] action? What then does the recourse of

[1:50:44] three votes on the city commission have?

[1:50:47] You would have a completely

[1:50:48] unaccountable city management that would

[1:50:51] require four votes to terminate for not

[1:50:54] following the direction of the majority

[1:50:57] of the body. That is wrong and cannot

[1:50:59] stand. We are [applause]

[1:51:05] we already see this action play out

[1:51:07] today as Commissioner Porter has made

[1:51:09] several motions that have passed this

[1:51:11] body that have never been brought

[1:51:12] forward by the city manager. We're still

[1:51:14] waiting to this day, but she has no

[1:51:16] recourse because there's not a majority

[1:51:19] of this body that has been willing to

[1:51:21] hold the city manager accountable. So,

[1:51:23] I'm not going to support the motion on

[1:51:25] the table because I can't support a

[1:51:26] contract that has an invalid language

[1:51:30] that is contrary to our city charter.

[1:51:35] But I will listen to the pleasure of the

[1:51:37] city commission. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

[1:51:39] » Motion on the table for option number

[1:51:40] one made by the mayor, second by the

[1:51:42] mayor pro Tim. All those in favor of the

[1:51:44] motion on table signify by saying I.

[1:51:46] » All those opposed n. And the motion

[1:51:49] passes three to two with the mayor,

[1:51:51] mayor pro Tim and commissioner uh

[1:51:52] Williams Cox in the affirmative with

[1:51:55] commissioner Matlo and Commissioner

[1:51:56] Porter in the negative. Motion passes. I

[1:52:00] will execute the contract in writing

[1:52:03] with uh Dr. Jumville as soon as we can

[1:52:07] get together after this meeting. Uh

[1:52:09] Commissioner Porter for a question.

[1:52:11] » Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. I I meant to do

[1:52:13] this at the beginning of the meeting. I

[1:52:14] wanted to request

[1:52:16] um that we move item 1201

[1:52:20] to the end of policy formation and

[1:52:22] direction. It seems like 1201 might take

[1:52:25] more time and I don't want to keep 1202

[1:52:27] and 123 waiting.

[1:52:29] » Second.

[1:52:30] » Say that one more time. I'm sorry.

[1:52:32] » If we could move 1201.

[1:52:34] » Oh, sure. Yes. Yes. Yes.

[1:52:35] » End.

[1:52:36] » Take it up at the end. Sure. Absolutely.

[1:52:39] Uh without objection. Okay. Uh we are

[1:52:41] now on the introduction of ordinance

[1:52:43] number 11.01. Madame Attorney,

[1:52:45] » Thank you Mr. Mayor. Item number 11.01

[1:52:48] 01 is the introduction of ordinance

[1:52:50] number 26-Z-12,

[1:52:53] an ordinance of the city of Tallahass,

[1:52:55] Florida, amending the official zoning

[1:52:57] map of the city of Tallahassee, located

[1:52:59] on 3.75 acres located on the west side

[1:53:02] of Paul Russell Road, approximately 150

[1:53:05] ft north of the intersection with Paul

[1:53:08] Russell Road and Orange Avenue East. on

[1:53:11] the official zoning map of the city of

[1:53:13] Tallahassee changing the zoning

[1:53:14] classification of land from critical

[1:53:16] planning area to Paul Russell Road

[1:53:20] rightway abandonment planned unit

[1:53:22] development providing for conflicts

[1:53:24] severability and an affected date. The

[1:53:27] recommended action is option one.

[1:53:28] Introduce ordinance number 26-Z-12

[1:53:32] and set the first and only public

[1:53:33] hearing for October 21 at 6 pm in the

[1:53:38] city of Tallahassee city commission

[1:53:39] chambers at city hall.

[1:53:41] » All right. So there's no

[1:53:42] » Oh, Mr. Mayor, I'm sorry. Excuse me. If

[1:53:43] I could just make sure I comment that

[1:53:45] any exparte disclosures concerning this

[1:53:47] item are available via the hyperlink

[1:53:49] included in the agenda item as published

[1:53:51] in board docs.

[1:53:52] » Excellent. There's no action that needs

[1:53:53] to be taken. We always take a ceremonial

[1:53:55] vote just to add it into the uh record.

[1:53:58] Do we have any public comment on this

[1:53:59] item?

[1:54:00] » Richard Robbie here is to answer

[1:54:02] questions. So no,

[1:54:03] » I'll make a motion for the introduction.

[1:54:05] Is there a second? Second by Mayor Pro

[1:54:07] Tim. All those in favor signify by

[1:54:08] saying I. I.

[1:54:09] » All those opposed? Passes unanimously.

[1:54:11] 50. We're on item number 11.02. Madame

[1:54:14] Attorney.

[1:54:15] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Item number 11.02

[1:54:17] 902 is the introduction of ordinance

[1:54:19] number 26-15,

[1:54:21] an ordinance of the city of Tallahassee,

[1:54:23] Florida, amending sections 21-66,

[1:54:27] 21-284,

[1:54:29] 21-42,

[1:54:31] and 21-43

[1:54:33] of the code of general ordinances of the

[1:54:35] city of Tallahassee relating to water

[1:54:37] and sewer service, including applicable

[1:54:39] fees, charges, and rates, providing for

[1:54:42] conflicts, providing for severability,

[1:54:44] and providing an effective date. The

[1:54:46] recommended action is option one.

[1:54:48] Introduce ordinance number 26-15

[1:54:51] that reflects changes to water and

[1:54:53] wastewater rates, fees, and charges and

[1:54:56] set the first and only public hearing

[1:54:58] for the city commission meeting on

[1:55:00] September 23, 2026 at 6 p.m. in the city

[1:55:04] of Tallahassee city commission chambers

[1:55:06] at city hall.

[1:55:07] » Excellent. One more time, no formal

[1:55:10] action needs to be taken. We take

[1:55:11] ceremonial vote just added into the

[1:55:13] record. Any public comment on this item?

[1:55:15] » No, sir. I'll make the motion to accept.

[1:55:17] » Second,

[1:55:17] » Seconded by the mayor pro Tim,

[1:55:19] Commissioner Matlo for comment.

[1:55:20] » Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. And I recognize

[1:55:22] this is the introduction, so I'll save

[1:55:24] my comments uh till the the public

[1:55:25] hearing, but I did want to uh request,

[1:55:29] if not already, that the rate study be

[1:55:31] part of the agenda item as well as any

[1:55:34] information on the the sewer expansion

[1:55:36] cost associated with Bannerman Road and

[1:55:39] Meridian that we approved at our our

[1:55:40] last meeting. the the single largest

[1:55:43] thing I hear about utility bills is the

[1:55:45] sewer fees continue uh to increase.

[1:55:48] People are super concerned about this

[1:55:50] and I want to make sure we're we're

[1:55:51] looking to find uh savings in fees

[1:55:53] before increasing their bills yet again.

[1:55:55] Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

[1:55:56] » So noted uh Mayor Pertmp.

[1:55:58] » Thank you uh uh Mayor. What I want the

[1:56:02] public that's here today to understand

[1:56:06] that we as a commission did not make

[1:56:09] those decisions on the increases. They

[1:56:13] were based on rate studies that were

[1:56:15] done by independent organizations.

[1:56:19] they have recommended just so that we

[1:56:22] have the funds so that we don't have to

[1:56:26] go back to the the uh residents who are

[1:56:30] using those services to to increase the

[1:56:33] fees. that it is an objective rating

[1:56:38] uh decision and the recommendation is

[1:56:40] made to us in order to make sure that we

[1:56:43] can still provide quality services to

[1:56:47] our t our fee paying uh public. And so

[1:56:51] that's how those decisions or what those

[1:56:54] decisions are being based on. Not what I

[1:56:57] think or feel, but an actual objective

[1:57:02] rating assessment by objective

[1:57:05] organizations that we use for that

[1:57:07] purpose.

[1:57:09] Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

[1:57:10] » Excellent. Okay. Ceremonial vote. All

[1:57:13] those in favor of the motion on table

[1:57:14] signify by saying I. I.

[1:57:15] » All those opposed. Passes unanimously.

[1:57:17] 5-0. Any other introduction of

[1:57:19] ordinances come before us today?

[1:57:20] » No, Mr. Mayor,

[1:57:21] » We are on item number 12.02.

[1:57:24] Uh, Mr. Manager,

[1:57:25] » Mr. Mayor, our growth management

[1:57:27] director, John Reick, will introduce

[1:57:29] this item.

[1:57:35] » Thank you. Good evening, mayor and

[1:57:37] commissioners. At your direction, we

[1:57:39] brought before you this item requesting

[1:57:41] your approval to permanently rename a

[1:57:43] portion of West Virginia Street to

[1:57:45] recognize Reverend Dr. RB Holmes Jr. and

[1:57:48] his wife Dr. Gloria P. Holmes. Reverend

[1:57:51] Holmes has served for decades as pastor

[1:57:53] of the historic Bethl Missionary Baptist

[1:57:55] Church. Under his leadership, Bethl has

[1:57:58] expanded its role beyond of the church

[1:57:59] through initiatives focused on

[1:58:01] education, housing, economic

[1:58:03] development, financial opportunity, and

[1:58:06] community services. This includes the

[1:58:08] establishment and development of

[1:58:10] numerous community institutions and

[1:58:11] initiatives including Bethl Christian

[1:58:13] Academy, Steel Collins Charter Middle

[1:58:15] School, Steel Collins Allmale Charter

[1:58:18] Academy, Bethl Family Restaurant, Bethl

[1:58:21] Family Counseling Center, Housing for

[1:58:23] Senior Citizens of Bethl Towers, and the

[1:58:25] Carolina Oaks Subdivision for Firsttime

[1:58:27] Homeowners.

[1:58:29] Reverend Holmes' work has also supported

[1:58:31] economic development and financial

[1:58:32] opportunity in Frenchtown, including the

[1:58:34] establishment of the Frenchtown

[1:58:36] Financial Opportunity Center through a

[1:58:37] partnership between Bethl Missionary

[1:58:39] Baptist Church and local credit unions.

[1:58:43] His service has extended beyond

[1:58:44] Tallahassee through leadership in

[1:58:46] faith-based and civic organizations and

[1:58:48] appointments to university boards and

[1:58:50] statewide, excuse me, statewide

[1:58:52] policymaking body bodies by multiple

[1:58:54] Florida governors. His work has focused

[1:58:56] on strengthening families, expanding

[1:58:58] educational and economic opportunities,

[1:59:01] supporting the revitalization of

[1:59:02] Frenchtown community.

[1:59:05] Dr. Gloria P. Holmes has devoted decades

[1:59:08] to education and community service in

[1:59:10] Tallahassee and throughout Florida after

[1:59:12] receiving a doctorate in library and

[1:59:13] information studies from Florida State

[1:59:15] University. Her career has included

[1:59:17] service as an English teacher, library

[1:59:19] media specialist, director of

[1:59:21] educational media for Duvall and Leyon

[1:59:23] County public schools, and assistant

[1:59:25] dean in the college of education at

[1:59:26] Florida&M University. Dr. Holmes has

[1:59:29] also played an integral role at Bethl

[1:59:31] Christian Academy, established in 1992

[1:59:33] as an educational outreach of Bethl

[1:59:35] Missionary Baptist Church and located

[1:59:38] along West Virginia Street. She served

[1:59:40] in an administrative capacity at the

[1:59:42] academy for more than two decades and

[1:59:44] contributed to its administration,

[1:59:46] curriculum development, and educational

[1:59:48] mission. And in 2021, the academy named

[1:59:50] its library be the Dr. Gloria P. Holmes

[1:59:53] Media Center in recognition of her

[1:59:55] long-standing commitment to education,

[1:59:57] leadership, and service.

[1:59:59] Together, Reverend Dr. RB Holmes Jr. and

[2:00:02] Dr. Gloria P. homes have made

[2:00:03] significant contributions to the

[2:00:04] Frenchtown community and Tallahassee at

[2:00:06] large through education, faith-based

[2:00:08] leadership, community and economic

[2:00:10] development, housing, and service to

[2:00:12] families. The recommendation before you

[2:00:15] to rename West Virginia Street between

[2:00:16] North Adam Street to the east and North

[2:00:19] Copeland Street to the west to be

[2:00:20] doctors RB and Gloria P. Holm Street.

[2:00:23] This segment is a prop is approximately

[2:00:25] 2777

[2:00:27] ft in length. Total of 17 property

[2:00:29] owners are adjacent to the proposed

[2:00:30] segment and 282 addresses will be

[2:00:32] updated to reflect the renaming. With

[2:00:34] your approval, the renaming would

[2:00:36] officially go into effect starting

[2:00:37] October 24th this year. Available if you

[2:00:40] have any questions you this is an

[2:00:43] exciting agenda item for us.

[2:00:46] » Mr. Clerk, do we have any public

[2:00:48] comments?

[2:00:49] » Yes, sir. Or

[2:00:50] » Probably about a half dozen. Let me just

[2:00:52] start off by saying if you are here in

[2:00:54] strong support of this agenda item, will

[2:00:56] you please stand to be recognized?

[2:01:02] » Love it. It's great to have everyone

[2:01:03] here.

[2:01:05] [applause]

[2:01:08] [snorts] Uh I I have a feeling this will

[2:01:10] probably be one of the quickest votes

[2:01:12] that we will take, but we will move

[2:01:14] forward with the uh public comment.

[2:01:16] » Thank you, Mayor. Our first speaker is

[2:01:18] Liz Marberry

[2:01:21] and then James Matthews will follow.

[2:01:22] » Your name and address for the record,

[2:01:24] please.

[2:01:25] » Liz Marberry, 1363 East Tennessee

[2:01:28] Street. Good afternoon, Mayor

[2:01:30] Commissioners, and local citizens. On

[2:01:32] behalf of Live Communications, Inc., I'm

[2:01:34] offer I'm honored to offer our

[2:01:36] wholehearted support for Reverend Dr. RB

[2:01:38] Holmes Jr. and Dr. Gloria P. Holmes, two

[2:01:40] extraordinary servant leaders devoted to

[2:01:42] faith, family, community, and empowering

[2:01:44] others. For more than 50 years, the

[2:01:46] Capital Outlook has been more than a

[2:01:48] newspaper. It has been a voice for our

[2:01:50] community, a platform that has informed,

[2:01:52] encouraged, and inspired generations.

[2:01:54] Its pages have told the stories that

[2:01:55] mattered. We celebrated many

[2:01:57] accomplishments, addressed important

[2:01:59] issues, and have given people a place to

[2:02:01] be seen, heard, and valued. That same

[2:02:03] spirit of service is heard on our

[2:02:05] Hallelujah 95.3 FM radio station.

[2:02:08] Through outstanding programming and our

[2:02:10] amazing guest along with Reverend Holmes

[2:02:12] himself, our airways have provided

[2:02:14] meaningful conversations, information,

[2:02:16] encouragement, and connection.

[2:02:19] That is the very essence of Reverend and

[2:02:21] Dr. Holmes herself. God placed them

[2:02:25] placed in their hands to help somebody.

[2:02:28] God placed using what God has placed in

[2:02:30] their hands to help somebody else that

[2:02:32] at their service reaches far beyond the

[2:02:34] newspaper pages and radio microphones

[2:02:37] through Bethl Missionary Baptist Church,

[2:02:39] Christian education, community

[2:02:40] initiatives, advocacy, and their

[2:02:42] unwavering commitment to people. They

[2:02:44] have spent decades opening doors,

[2:02:45] building bridges, speaking to those who

[2:02:47] needed a voice, and creating

[2:02:48] opportunities for others. Their legacy

[2:02:51] is the people they helped, the lives

[2:02:52] they've touched, and the community they

[2:02:54] inspired. Reverend Dr. RB Holmes Jr. and

[2:02:56] Dr. Gloria P. homes more than deserve

[2:02:58] this recognition. We are truly grateful

[2:03:01] for this moment. We admire and respect

[2:03:03] them both. Live Communications, Inc.

[2:03:05] proudly offers its full support. Thank

[2:03:07] you, mayor and city commissioners for

[2:03:09] this opportunity.

[2:03:11] » Thank you. Our next speaker, please.

[2:03:13] » James Matthews is next, followed by

[2:03:15] Sabrina Allen.

[2:03:16] » Your name and address for the record,

[2:03:18] please.

[2:03:18] » I'm James Matthews, 988 Vio Circle,

[2:03:22] Tallahassee 32312.

[2:03:26] Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor and members of

[2:03:29] the commission. It is my distinct

[2:03:31] privilege and honor to read this

[2:03:33] statement on behalf of Reverend Dr. RB

[2:03:35] Holmes, Jr. and Dr. Gloria P. Holmes, as

[2:03:38] they express their humble gratitude for

[2:03:41] this extraordinary recognition.

[2:03:44] On behalf of our family and ourselves,

[2:03:47] we give our deepest and most sincere

[2:03:49] appreciation for this incredible honor.

[2:03:52] Having a street named in honor is

[2:03:55] something we never imagine and we do not

[2:03:58] take it lightly. We receive this

[2:04:00] recognition with gratitude and humility.

[2:04:04] A street is more than a name on a sign.

[2:04:07] It provides a pathway that connects

[2:04:09] people. It is our prayer that our lives

[2:04:12] and service have helped create a pathway

[2:04:16] for others with encouragement to a young

[2:04:19] person, a strengthened family, a lifted

[2:04:22] community, an open door, or help for

[2:04:26] someone to believe tomorrow could be

[2:04:29] better than today. We thank God for the

[2:04:32] privilege of serving. God's gifts were

[2:04:35] never intended for us alone, but so that

[2:04:38] we might use them to bless and serve

[2:04:41] others. While our names may appear on

[2:04:45] this street, this honor does not belong

[2:04:47] to us alone. It belongs to our family,

[2:04:50] our beloved Bethl Missionary Baptist

[2:04:53] Church family, our friends and

[2:04:56] colleagues, and this wonderful community

[2:04:58] that has loved, supported, prayed for

[2:05:01] us, and traveled alongside us during

[2:05:05] this journey. We are extremely grateful

[2:05:08] to everyone who have made this

[2:05:10] recognition possible. Thank you for

[2:05:13] believing that our years of service were

[2:05:15] worth such an amazing tribute. Our

[2:05:19] prayers

[2:05:20] is that when people travel this street,

[2:05:24] they will see more than our names. We

[2:05:26] hope it inspires others to make a

[2:05:29] difference. Scripture reminds us for

[2:05:32] unto whomver much is given. Of him shall

[2:05:37] be much required. We have been blessed

[2:05:39] beyond measure. We desire to continue

[2:05:42] serving, giving, building, and helping

[2:05:45] others as long as God gives us strength.

[2:05:49] Thank you, city commissioners, for your

[2:05:51] consideration.

[2:05:52] And above all, to God be the glory for

[2:05:56] the great things he has done. God bless

[2:06:00] Reverend Dr. RB Holmes, Jr., and Dr.

[2:06:03] Gloria Price Holmes. Thank you,

[2:06:06] Commissioner.

[2:06:07] » Thank you. Our next speaker, please.

[2:06:09] » Sabrina Allen

[2:06:12] is our next speaker. And then uh

[2:06:15] Claudette Herrell,

[2:06:17] » Your name and address for the record,

[2:06:19] please.

[2:06:19] » My name is Miss Sabrina M. Allen. Do you

[2:06:24] see the M on that paper that I signed?

[2:06:25] » Yes, ma'am.

[2:06:27] » You see it?

[2:06:28] » He did not. I did. I

[2:06:30] » Always use my middle initial. I am

[2:06:32] Sabrina M. Allen,

[2:06:35] Schumar Drive, Tallahassee, Florida.

[2:06:39] I was born and raised in the French town

[2:06:43] area when that entire side of town was

[2:06:48] blackowned and operated.

[2:06:52] Let us not lose our roots.

[2:06:56] Let the record show

[2:06:59] that I oppose renaming any more streets

[2:07:04] in French Town,

[2:07:06] uh, that area.

[2:07:09] The Frenchtown community is too

[2:07:11] important

[2:07:13] to the history of Leyon County for you

[2:07:17] all to tamper with renaming its streets.

[2:07:26] Let us not lose our roots.

[2:07:31] » Thank you.

[2:07:31] » Our next speaker, please.

[2:07:33] » Next speaker is Claudet Herrell and then

[2:07:36] Terrence Henson.

[2:07:44] » Your name and address for the record,

[2:07:45] please.

[2:07:47] » Dr. Claudet Herrell, 1017 at Ping Forest

[2:07:50] Drive. Good afternoon. Giving honor to

[2:07:54] God, Mayor Daly, Mayor Pro Tim,

[2:07:57] [clears throat] members of the city

[2:07:59] commission, city officials in the

[2:08:02] absence of Pastor Holmes and Sister

[2:08:05] Holmes, distinguished guest, and members

[2:08:09] of our community.

[2:08:11] I stand before you today with tremendous

[2:08:14] pride to support the renaming of a

[2:08:17] portion of West Virginia Street in honor

[2:08:21] of the Reverend Dr. RB Holmes Jr. and

[2:08:25] Dr. Gloria Price Holmes. For

[2:08:28] approximately 40 years, Dr. and Mrs.

[2:08:32] homes have devoted themselves to Bethl

[2:08:35] Missionary Baptist Church and this

[2:08:38] community not simply through words but

[2:08:41] through service, sacrifice, compassion,

[2:08:44] and action. One of the clearest examples

[2:08:48] of that commitment came during one of

[2:08:50] the most frightening periods our

[2:08:54] community has faced, the coid9 pandemic.

[2:08:59] While churches and communities has faced

[2:09:02] the coid9

[2:09:04] pandemic, while churches and communities

[2:09:06] were determining

[2:09:08] how best to respond, Dr. Holmes

[2:09:11] recognized that many of our most

[2:09:13] vulnerable citizen needed health care

[2:09:18] brought directly to them. He helped lead

[2:09:21] the effort to purchase Bethl's mobile

[2:09:24] medical unit which was launched into

[2:09:27] underserved communities during the

[2:09:29] pandemic.

[2:09:31] The the unit went where the people were

[2:09:35] through partnerships with physicians,

[2:09:38] nurses, universities, health care

[2:09:41] organizations, and community volunteers.

[2:09:45] Bethl brought screenings, vaccinations,

[2:09:49] health education, referrals, and other

[2:09:53] essential service directly to

[2:09:56] individuals and families who too often

[2:10:01] face barriers to health care.

[2:10:04] Recognizing the growing mental and

[2:10:06] emotional needs of our community, Bethl

[2:10:10] helped establish a mental health clinic

[2:10:14] and strengthen its partnerships with

[2:10:17] Appalache Center, mental health

[2:10:20] professionals, and other community

[2:10:23] partners.

[2:10:24] This comm this commitment created

[2:10:27] another doorway through which

[2:10:30] individuals and families could seek

[2:10:33] help, hope, and healing without shame

[2:10:38] and without judgment.

[2:10:40] » You're at about 15 seconds.

[2:10:41] » Through these 40 years of ministry, Dr.

[2:10:45] Gloria Holmes has faithfully stood

[2:10:48] beside him serving, encouraging,

[2:10:50] educating, nourishing, and helping build

[2:10:53] a legacy centered on faith, family,

[2:10:57] children, and community. Three minutes.

[2:11:00] » That is why. Thank you so much.

[2:11:01] » We are not simply honoring two people

[2:11:04] because they have service for 40 years.

[2:11:08] We are honoring what they did. I'm

[2:11:10] afraid your time is up with these

[2:11:12] communities.

[2:11:13] » Thank you,

[2:11:13] » Commissioners. I ask that you consider

[2:11:15] renaming the street. Thank you.

[2:11:17] » Thank you. Our next speaker, please.

[2:11:18] » Next is Terrence Henson. Terrence Henson

[2:11:21] will be followed by Maisha Mitchell.

[2:11:30] » Your name and address for the record,

[2:11:32] please.

[2:11:32] » Terrence Henson, uh 107 Young Street. Uh

[2:11:37] she could have taken a couple of my

[2:11:38] minutes, so not going to be that long.

[2:11:41] Um, I just want to thank you all

[2:11:43] commissioners for your past continued

[2:11:46] partnership with Bethl Baptist Church,

[2:11:49] particularly uh in creating ways to

[2:11:52] reduce the affordable housing gap here

[2:11:55] in Tallahassee.

[2:11:57] Most of you are aware that Bethl's of

[2:12:00] BETHL's efforts to build 44 town homes

[2:12:04] and 10 single family homes on the Tharp

[2:12:08] Street site.

[2:12:10] city has made a huge financial

[2:12:12] commitment to this project. For BETHL's

[2:12:16] part, um they have committed to

[2:12:18] designate at at a minimum 10% of this

[2:12:22] project for affordable housing, not

[2:12:25] rentals, but home ownership. That's an

[2:12:27] important uh distinction.

[2:12:31] We're in a good place uh where we are

[2:12:33] now. Uh we're coming close to securing

[2:12:36] the site uh the permits from the city.

[2:12:39] so this project can move forward.

[2:12:42] Um,

[2:12:44] a heavier lift is coming and as we shift

[2:12:48] from our planning portion of this to the

[2:12:51] construction, Bethl's going to seek to

[2:12:54] re-engage with you as commissioners so

[2:12:56] we can discuss ways to get the

[2:12:58] infrastructure completed on this

[2:13:00] project. If we're success, excuse me, if

[2:13:03] we're successful in the completion of

[2:13:05] this endeavor, as I expect we will be an

[2:13:09] even larger project is

[2:13:12] » On the boards. Yes, sir.

[2:13:14] » Pause the time for a second. You know,

[2:13:15] we're talking about the street renaming.

[2:13:17] We're not

[2:13:17] » I am. Yeah. But I want to share just uh

[2:13:19] some of the thoughts.

[2:13:21] » Okay. With

[2:13:21] » Okay. I just want to make sure we're on

[2:13:23] track.

[2:13:23] » Yes, sir.

[2:13:24] » Okay.

[2:13:24] » I apologize for if it sounds like I'm

[2:13:27] off track, but this is about Dr. Holmes.

[2:13:29] This is about his legacy. This is about

[2:13:31] affordable housing. This is about the

[2:13:34] church's energy to get the affordable

[2:13:36] housing projects completed.

[2:13:39] So, if we're able to complete this Tharp

[2:13:42] Street project, we are going to seek to

[2:13:45] um build even more homes and they all

[2:13:49] are affordable homes. Uh up to 90 to 100

[2:13:52] homes are planned as well. So, again,

[2:13:56] thank you for your support in the past.

[2:14:00] Uh we will seek your support in the

[2:14:01] future for Bethl's missionary Baptist uh

[2:14:06] home affordable uh uh projects. Thank

[2:14:11] you.

[2:14:12] » Thank you. Our next speaker, please.

[2:14:14] » Next speaker is Maisha Mitchell. She'll

[2:14:17] be followed by Daryl Alfred.

[2:14:24] » Your name and address for the record,

[2:14:26] please.

[2:14:26] » Yeah. Good afternoon. I'm Aisha

[2:14:28] Mitchell. 10009 Ellington Court,

[2:14:31] Tallahassee, Florida, and a long-term

[2:14:35] native resident of Frenchtown community.

[2:14:39] I am not here today to argue the point

[2:14:42] about whether this street should be

[2:14:45] named for Dr. Holmes or anyone else.

[2:14:50] What I say today is that it should not

[2:14:52] be named for anyone. It should remain as

[2:14:55] it is. Why would I say that? Because

[2:14:58] this street

[2:15:01] has more history than any of us living

[2:15:04] in this room. It has been his designated

[2:15:07] historically since the 1900s.

[2:15:12] Many of you have heard of the Green

[2:15:13] Book. The Green Book was designed as a

[2:15:17] motorist guide to African-American

[2:15:21] people traveling throughout the South.

[2:15:23] And why was it designed that way?

[2:15:25] because there was not too many places

[2:15:27] where we could go to rest, to get food,

[2:15:30] to have entertainment,

[2:15:32] even to have uh programs and services

[2:15:35] and extinguish people coming into our

[2:15:37] community. But guess what? It was

[2:15:39] Virginia Street that was named in that

[2:15:42] historic book. So when we start talking

[2:15:45] about naming, why should we why should

[2:15:48] we change the name for an individual no

[2:15:52] matter how much esteem we have for that

[2:15:54] person?

[2:15:55] when we should keep it as it is. Now, I

[2:15:58] realize that Commissioner Cox has

[2:16:00] Williams Cox has been uh very active in

[2:16:03] renaming our streets in our community.

[2:16:06] Some of us don't even know where we are

[2:16:07] now. I'm telling you, it's disorienting

[2:16:11] when you're trying to find your place.

[2:16:12] Some people came to the game and could

[2:16:14] not even find where their families lived

[2:16:16] because the names have changed so much.

[2:16:18] We've had three name changes in

[2:16:19] Frenchtown over the past three months.

[2:16:22] you know to the reverends Pharaoh that

[2:16:25] was formerly known as Central Street,

[2:16:28] Reverend Shephard formerly known as Dwey

[2:16:30] Street,

[2:16:32] Reverend Jax,

[2:16:35] Jesse Jackson, formerly known as

[2:16:36] Carolina Street, which now the work that

[2:16:40] Reverend Holmes did for Carolina Oaks

[2:16:43] doesn't exist. The history be written

[2:16:45] away because of that change of that

[2:16:47] name.

[2:16:49] And the other aspect now is we do

[2:16:51] another naming. It's going to wipe out

[2:16:53] Virginia Street's history and all the

[2:16:56] things that were on that street. You

[2:16:58] can't even imagine.

[2:16:59] » You're at 30 seconds remaining.

[2:17:00] » Okay. But I say no to the changing. It's

[2:17:03] nothing personal. It's about this is

[2:17:06] home and it's historic.

[2:17:08] » Thank you.

[2:17:09] » Thank you. Our next speaker, please.

[2:17:11] » Next speaker is Daryl Alfred and then

[2:17:14] Kim Okconor.

[2:17:19] your name and address for the record,

[2:17:20] please.

[2:17:21] » Hey guys, my name is Daryl Alfred. I

[2:17:24] live at 814 West Tharp Street and uh I

[2:17:27] stand here today in opposition. Um

[2:17:31] I stand with I stand before you today in

[2:17:33] solidarity with the residents in

[2:17:35] opposition to the renaming of these

[2:17:36] streets. Virginia Street isn't just

[2:17:38] another street name. It's part of

[2:17:40] Tallahassy's history. During

[2:17:42] segregation, the Negro Motorist Green

[2:17:44] Book helped black travelers find places

[2:17:46] where they could safely eat, sleep, and

[2:17:48] travel without being turned away or

[2:17:49] putting themselves in danger. The Tuks

[2:17:52] Hotel on Virginia Street was part of

[2:17:54] that history. It gave black travelers a

[2:17:56] safe place to stay when something as

[2:17:58] basic as lodging wasn't guaranteed to us

[2:18:01] elsewhere. For that reason, it became a

[2:18:03] point of access with historical

[2:18:04] recognition in our city for black

[2:18:06] residents and visitors alike. that

[2:18:08] matters and I think there's a connection

[2:18:10] between access then and access now. Back

[2:18:12] then the issue was access to a hotel.

[2:18:15] Today it's access to the decisions that

[2:18:17] shape community. People who live in

[2:18:19] Frenchtown, grew up in Frenchtown and

[2:18:21] carry its history should know about a

[2:18:23] change like this before it's already

[2:18:24] headed toward a vote. They should have a

[2:18:27] meaningful opportunity to say whether

[2:18:28] they want it. This doesn't have to be an

[2:18:31] argument against honoring Doc uh

[2:18:33] Reverend RB and Gloria Holmes. We should

[2:18:37] honor them. I think we can all

[2:18:38] appreciate the many contributions the

[2:18:40] Reverend and First Lady have brought to

[2:18:41] our community. It just seems we can

[2:18:43] honor people without erasing or

[2:18:45] replacing another piece of black history

[2:18:46] to do it. Frenchtown has already

[2:18:49] experienced enormous changes in eraser

[2:18:51] in the past 20 years, and too often the

[2:18:53] people most connected to the

[2:18:54] neighborhood are brought into the

[2:18:55] conversation after decisions are already

[2:18:57] moving. That shouldn't happen here. If

[2:19:00] we're considering changing the name of a

[2:19:02] historic street, the community should be

[2:19:04] involved from the beginning. As with any

[2:19:06] decision, not informed at the end of a

[2:19:09] short runway for change, preservation

[2:19:11] and recognition don't have to compete,

[2:19:13] but on something this connected to

[2:19:15] Frenchtown's history, community consent

[2:19:17] should come first. Thanks.

[2:19:20] » Our next speaker, please. Next speaker

[2:19:22] is Kim Okconor.

[2:19:24] And mayor, this is the last speaker I

[2:19:26] have on the item.

[2:19:26] » Okay.

[2:19:39] your name and address for the record,

[2:19:41] please.

[2:19:41] » Kim O'Coner,

[2:19:44] 301 East Carolina Street.

[2:19:50] Um,

[2:19:52] I keep in I signed up for public

[2:19:56] comments way at the end addressed to

[2:19:58] nothing, but I just you all know how

[2:20:01] much I love Reverend Holmes and I just

[2:20:03] had to speak. But then when I heard when

[2:20:06] I heard before those ladies talked, when

[2:20:09] I heard um part of Virginia Street, I

[2:20:13] just thought, why not all of Duvall

[2:20:15] Street? you know, he came here from

[2:20:17] Duvall and that's a big long street and

[2:20:19] it's not Virginia Street. So, but I just

[2:20:22] uh any street any recognition for

[2:20:25] Reverend Holmes and he remembers me. I

[2:20:27] visited the church and when Michael

[2:20:29] Fagen was talking and uh he remembers me

[2:20:33] from 1983 when I was a death penalty

[2:20:36] activist and he came with Jesse Jackson

[2:20:39] and they went to govern when Jackson was

[2:20:42] a was 84 when he was running for

[2:20:46] president to campaign but they brought a

[2:20:49] letter from Scott King to the governor

[2:20:53] asking him to spare the life of a

[2:20:55] convicted did u civil rights civil right

[2:21:00] murderer civil rights activist. So just

[2:21:03] I couldn't miss this opportunity to say

[2:21:06] how much Reverend Holmes means to me of

[2:21:08] all I think

[2:21:13] [applause]

[2:21:16] » Mayor I have been given one additional

[2:21:18] speaker.

[2:21:18] » Okay our next speaker please. Uh,

[2:21:20] Zachary Bell.

[2:21:29] » My name is Zachary Bell. Uh, I believe

[2:21:30] my address is exempt first responder,

[2:21:33] but uh, one consideration I had, I'm not

[2:21:37] really pro or against this particular

[2:21:39] topic, but is this go into effect late

[2:21:41] October? Is this going to potentially

[2:21:43] affect anyone's voter registration right

[2:21:45] before November?

[2:21:47] um

[2:21:48] » That could be a problem for a number of

[2:21:50] residents, especially with their growing

[2:21:52] scrutiny on mail ballots. Thank you.

[2:21:54] » Our next speaker, please.

[2:21:56] » Mayor, that's the last speaker I have.

[2:21:58] » All right. Is there a motion to begin uh

[2:22:01] discussion? Commissioner Williams Cox.

[2:22:02] » Yes, sir. Um Mr. Mayor, I I move very

[2:22:06] proudly that we move forward with the

[2:22:08] renaming of um the portion of Virginia

[2:22:11] Street described for Reverend but for uh

[2:22:14] Drs. RB Holmes Jr. and his wife Gloria

[2:22:18] Price Holmes.

[2:22:19] » I will second it with Commission with

[2:22:21] the Mayor Pro Tim. Uh for comment,

[2:22:24] Commissioner Porter.

[2:22:25] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I um we all may

[2:22:28] have received the email from Deletri

[2:22:30] Hollinger who

[2:22:33] um made I think a great suggestion which

[2:22:35] was that we rename instead a portion of

[2:22:39] North Bernau Street. I think because of

[2:22:42] the concerns

[2:22:43] and and they're not not just because of

[2:22:45] concerns from residents, but because of

[2:22:47] the historic significance. Um I just

[2:22:50] wonder if we would consider moving

[2:22:53] forward with a change to Reno Street

[2:22:55] instead.

[2:22:58] And I want to just say very quickly, I

[2:23:00] want to thank I mean I won't repeat

[2:23:02] what's been said. This is nothing to do

[2:23:04] with um with doctors RB and Gloria

[2:23:08] Holmes, but I I I really think it would

[2:23:12] be a shame to rename

[2:23:14] West Virginia Street given that special

[2:23:17] history.

[2:23:19] » Thank you, Commissioner Williams.

[2:23:21] » On point. Thank you, Commissioner

[2:23:23] Porter. I'm I guess we we we're not

[2:23:27] trying to erase history. History is

[2:23:29] history and it it's well documented. But

[2:23:32] I think what we're doing is we're trying

[2:23:34] to honor honor some folks who've done

[2:23:36] tremendous work in that in that

[2:23:38] community in that area that brought

[2:23:40] great value and even more historic um u

[2:23:43] honor to um that area. So not trying to,

[2:23:48] you know, eliminate history. I I'm a you

[2:23:51] know big supporter of history um and

[2:23:53] love history. Um but um this is the the

[2:24:01] the synergy here is the

[2:24:05] portion of Virginia Street is the

[2:24:07] southern portion around the um family

[2:24:11] life center. On the north end of the

[2:24:14] family life center built by Bethl under

[2:24:16] the leadership of Reverend Holmes and

[2:24:17] his wife. on the north end is um

[2:24:20] Reverend Jesse Jackson Street and to the

[2:24:24] west end of it is um Martin Luther King

[2:24:28] and before it goes on to the others. So

[2:24:30] it's the the synergy of uh folks who

[2:24:33] have um made tremendous impact in our

[2:24:36] community in the world. And I think that

[2:24:38] the children who will continue to grow

[2:24:41] go and grow through the family lifesty

[2:24:46] um will know that history as well. But

[2:24:48] there's nothing to prevent us from

[2:24:50] teaching them the history of Frenchtown

[2:24:53] and other communities um around our our

[2:24:56] our city. So to that point, I'm I I did

[2:25:00] get Deletri's email as well.

[2:25:02] » Yeah.

[2:25:03] » Um but that is not the um that is not

[2:25:07] something that I would support.

[2:25:09] » Okay.

[2:25:09] » Mayor Pimp,

[2:25:10] » Thank you.

[2:25:11] » Okay. I wasn't done, Mr. Mayor.

[2:25:12] » Oh.

[2:25:14] » Uh she wasn't speaking on point. She was

[2:25:16] recognized to speak. You have had a

[2:25:18] chance.

[2:25:18] » I asked a question. She answered. I was

[2:25:20] still I still have

[2:25:21] » I apologize. You are correct. It is your

[2:25:23] time. I'm sorry.

[2:25:24] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, and and I

[2:25:28] understand. I just think that especially

[2:25:29] given

[2:25:32] that Renault Street is named after a

[2:25:35] close confidant of Andrew Jackson, the

[2:25:37] first president of the territorial

[2:25:39] legislation.

[2:25:41] There's a pretty shameful racist history

[2:25:42] there. So, I think it would be just that

[2:25:44] much more befitting to rename that

[2:25:46] street. I I understand. I I I take your

[2:25:48] point. Um but regretfully I just don't

[2:25:51] think that I can support it today given

[2:25:54] given

[2:25:56] what I have learned and also just as a

[2:25:58] bigger message I don't want to be put in

[2:26:00] this position again um this has happened

[2:26:03] in the past where direction was given to

[2:26:06] rename Wish way this if there is

[2:26:09] historical significance

[2:26:11] that should be a part of this item that

[2:26:13] comes back to us so that we are not in

[2:26:15] this position I later found out that

[2:26:18] that street was incredibly significant

[2:26:20] to members of our Jewish community

[2:26:21] because Mayor Wanish was the first

[2:26:24] Jewish mayor of of Tallahassee. So, I

[2:26:28] didn't want to make these comments

[2:26:30] during this discussion, but since

[2:26:31] because I don't want to take away from

[2:26:33] the significance of this of this honor,

[2:26:37] but I do not want to be in this position

[2:26:40] again. If there is historical

[2:26:42] significance that the commission needs

[2:26:44] to know about when making a decision

[2:26:46] like this, including V West Virginia

[2:26:49] Street, it should be part of our agenda

[2:26:52] materials, not only for the commission,

[2:26:54] but for the public, so that we're not in

[2:26:56] this position again. Thank you,

[2:26:58] » Mayor Pim.

[2:26:59] » Thank you. Uh Mr. Mayor, I fully support

[2:27:04] uh the motion on the on the DAZ before

[2:27:09] the DAZ at this point. I fully support

[2:27:11] it apparently based on the comments that

[2:27:16] were presented to us by Mr. Matthews on

[2:27:20] behalf of doctors RB and Gloria Holmes.

[2:27:25] They have agreed to this uh and feel

[2:27:28] comfortable with it. Uh, and I think we

[2:27:30] should move forward with it. Um, to to

[2:27:34] put forth a recommendation at the last

[2:27:37] minute like this that came from one

[2:27:40] person, uh, I don't think is appropriate

[2:27:43] when you've got almost half a room here

[2:27:46] at the city commission chambers in

[2:27:48] support of what's being proposed here

[2:27:51] today. I feel like we should move

[2:27:53] forward with it. Uh, I understand your

[2:27:56] concerns, uh, Commissioner Porter, but

[2:27:59] to come with this at the last minute

[2:28:01] when Commissioner Williams Cox has made

[2:28:04] the motion, uh, there is tremendous

[2:28:06] support for it. Uh, I think we need to

[2:28:09] move forward uh, with what's been

[2:28:11] brought before us here today.

[2:28:14] » Mr. Porter,

[2:28:16] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And I just want to

[2:28:17] say I fully intended to come here

[2:28:19] supporting this item. I was not aware of

[2:28:22] the historical significance of that

[2:28:24] street. So, it was last minute

[2:28:26] information to me as well. So, I want to

[2:28:29] make that clear. It was it was never my

[2:28:31] intent to vote to vote against this. And

[2:28:34] respectfully, Commissioner Richardson, I

[2:28:36] mean, we just heard new we just heard

[2:28:40] not a single person speak in favor of a

[2:28:42] supermajority for the city manager's

[2:28:44] contract. So, [applause] I think it's

[2:28:46] important and I'm sure I'm sure and I I

[2:28:49] I cannot speak for the members here in

[2:28:52] the audience who are here to support

[2:28:53] this item, but I would guess that their

[2:28:56] interest is that that they're that these

[2:29:01] outstanding community leaders are

[2:29:02] recognized and honored and not that it

[2:29:04] be necessarily in in one

[2:29:08] street. I understand the historical

[2:29:09] significance of that of that area to to

[2:29:12] the ministry as well, but you know,

[2:29:15] that's just where I'm at and I

[2:29:16] apologize. Thank you.

[2:29:18] » All right. There is a motion on the

[2:29:19] table to uh accept uh option number one

[2:29:23] made by Commissioner Williams Cox,

[2:29:25] seconded by the mayor and Mayor Pro Tim.

[2:29:28] Uh Commissioner Matlo, you are

[2:29:29] recognized. [clears throat]

[2:29:30] » Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh I don't have

[2:29:33] strong feelings about which road gets

[2:29:35] renamed. Um, I do have strong feelings

[2:29:37] that we we rename a road in honor um of

[2:29:41] Dr. Gloria and RB Holmes. Uh, to me that

[2:29:44] I think Bruno does need to be renamed. I

[2:29:46] think Call Street needs to be renamed. I

[2:29:47] think there's a lot of roads in our

[2:29:48] community that have shameful history uh

[2:29:50] that we should be uh looking at. Um, and

[2:29:53] I understand what's being presented

[2:29:55] today is the will of of the majority.

[2:29:56] And I'm happy uh to support that because

[2:29:58] I do think we do need to make sure uh we

[2:30:01] continue to honor the people who have um

[2:30:04] invested uh their lives in improving uh

[2:30:06] the city of Tallahassee. Thank you, Mr.

[2:30:08] Mayor.

[2:30:09] » All those in favor of the motion on the

[2:30:10] table signify by saying I.

[2:30:12] » I.

[2:30:12] » All those opposed?

[2:30:14] » Nay.

[2:30:14] » And it passes 41 with Commissioner

[2:30:16] Porter in descent. We look forward to

[2:30:18] celebrating with you very soon.

[2:30:21] [applause]

[2:30:24] Colleagues, we have a long meeting ahead

[2:30:26] of us. We're going to go ahead and

[2:30:27] recess. We will come back at 6:00 for

[2:30:29] the public hearing.

[2:30:42] Gentlemen, I'd like to call this public

[2:30:44] hearing to order. It is 6:03 in the

[2:30:47] evening. Uh there are four of us in

[2:30:49] chambers and I know Commissioner

[2:30:50] Williams Cox is in route as we speak.

[2:30:54] Folks, we will take up uh 16.01 of the

[2:30:58] public hearing. 16.02 16.03 16.04.

[2:31:03] Once we are done with the public

[2:31:04] hearing, we will resort back to 12.03

[2:31:09] 12.01.

[2:31:11] Then we will take unagended speakers.

[2:31:13] Then we will have the sharing of ideas.

[2:31:15] Just so that everybody is clear on the

[2:31:17] schedule for this evening. Right now we

[2:31:19] are on 16.01, the first of two public

[2:31:21] hearings on the fiscal year 27 budget

[2:31:24] plan. Mr. Manager, I will turn it over

[2:31:26] to you for the budget presentation.

[2:31:28] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I'd like to

[2:31:30] recognize Robert Wigan. He is our

[2:31:32] director of resource management. He's

[2:31:35] here to provide a presentation and

[2:31:37] overview of this year's budget. He's

[2:31:39] joined by his staff. They've done a good

[2:31:42] job putting this together. U I'm very

[2:31:44] pleased with the budget. It's a

[2:31:46] challenging year. We've talked about

[2:31:47] that. You've given us good direction

[2:31:48] over the course of the year. Um and this

[2:31:52] starts to bring in the final steps as

[2:31:54] you mentioned the first of two public

[2:31:56] hearings that'll occur tonight. So with

[2:31:58] that, Mr. Mayor, I'll ask Robert to

[2:32:00] begin with his presentation.

[2:32:01] » Robert, before we begin, uh for eight

[2:32:04] years now, I've had the opportunity to

[2:32:06] work with you and the budget uh office

[2:32:09] uh on our budget cycles. Every year I am

[2:32:12] absolutely amazed and impressed by the

[2:32:14] level of professionalism and quite

[2:32:17] honestly expertise of you and your team.

[2:32:20] This will be our last budget that we

[2:32:22] have the opportunity to work with on a

[2:32:23] personal level. I want you to know how

[2:32:25] much I appreciate the hard work that you

[2:32:27] and your team does. You all are a

[2:32:30] nationally awardwinning and recognized

[2:32:33] budget office. You do incredible work

[2:32:35] during some very difficult times and I

[2:32:38] just want you to know on a personal note

[2:32:39] how much I appreciate it. go ahead with

[2:32:41] the presentation and uh we'll go from

[2:32:43] there.

[2:32:44] » Thank you very much, Mayor. Uh thank you

[2:32:46] uh for the introduction. Uh Mayor, city

[2:32:48] manager go um [clears throat]

[2:32:50] commissioners, appointed officials and

[2:32:52] members of the public who are here. We

[2:32:54] are here to talk about the city of

[2:32:56] Tallahassee fiscal year 27 uh budget

[2:32:59] adoption. This is our first public

[2:33:01] hearing. We'll have a second public

[2:33:02] hearing on September 23rd uh to to go

[2:33:05] through the final steps of adopting that

[2:33:07] fiscal year 27 budget. We've gotten here

[2:33:10] through um your strategic planning

[2:33:13] workshop, through three workshops of our

[2:33:16] own, as well as these two public

[2:33:18] hearings. Uh we have some very specific

[2:33:20] goals tonight. Um that we're conducting

[2:33:23] the first of the two public hearings. Uh

[2:33:25] the operating budget is $983 million.

[2:33:28] That's across 14 major funds. the

[2:33:31] general fund we pay the most attention

[2:33:33] to uh because it's the most constrained

[2:33:36] with property taxes only making

[2:33:39] [clears throat] 94% of what our police

[2:33:41] budget uh requires. Uh the the other 13

[2:33:45] funds are independent and stand alone

[2:33:47] among themselves. Uh this B budget we're

[2:33:50] bringing to is balanced. Uh some of the

[2:33:53] steps that we'll go through as goals

[2:33:54] will adopt the current mill rate of

[2:33:56] 4.4072.

[2:33:59] um that will ensure us a surplus of $2.5

[2:34:02] million ahead of the November property

[2:34:04] tax amendment vote and I'll get into

[2:34:06] more a little more details of that in

[2:34:08] the presentation. We'll ask you to

[2:34:10] approve new healthc care rates for

[2:34:12] calendar year 2027. Uh we're very

[2:34:15] comfortable where this positions

[2:34:17] employees within the city. As you'll

[2:34:19] remember, your direction was to was to

[2:34:21] mitigate the cost impacts over time. And

[2:34:24] we've maintained that uh uh at 20% paid

[2:34:27] by employees, 80% paid by by by uh the

[2:34:30] city. Um and there was just a minimal

[2:34:33] change of what the healthcare rates were

[2:34:35] from what we assumed and so so no need

[2:34:38] to adjust for the budget. Uh we'll ask

[2:34:40] you to adopt rate resolutions for solid

[2:34:42] waste and parking rates. And then uh and

[2:34:45] that's based on the financing the

[2:34:46] government policy where we want to

[2:34:48] ensure that those who are receiving the

[2:34:50] services are paying for those services

[2:34:53] uh rather than laying it on the feet of

[2:34:54] the uh residential and commercial

[2:34:56] property owners. Uh and then as you all

[2:34:59] know we introduced the water and

[2:35:00] wastewater ordinance for rates, fees and

[2:35:02] charges. Uh Commissioner Matlo uh we

[2:35:05] will bring those documents back that you

[2:35:07] asked for uh in the in the September

[2:35:09] 23rd uh uh uh uh hearing. uh and and

[2:35:14] appreciate that comment and thank you

[2:35:16] Commissioner Richardson for similar

[2:35:18] comments. Um

[2:35:21] as you well know uh the fiscal year 27

[2:35:24] budget highlights our strategic

[2:35:25] investments and high level services. We

[2:35:28] uh fund city services, staff and

[2:35:30] resources in accordance with the

[2:35:32] strategic plan priorities. public safety

[2:35:34] is a a a significant priority and this

[2:35:37] budget includes additional police

[2:35:39] officers and then continues your public

[2:35:41] safety wraparound services that support

[2:35:43] those officers. Uh we also uh are

[2:35:47] recognizing and celebrating this budget

[2:35:50] because it'll be the first time in 10

[2:35:52] years that we're entering a fiscal year

[2:35:54] with a balanced uh with a fully funded

[2:35:56] deficiencies fund. Um, we, as you well

[2:36:00] know, we we went through the housing

[2:36:01] crisis. We went through the pandemic.

[2:36:03] [clears throat] We've been through many

[2:36:04] storms. Uh, this is this has been built

[2:36:07] up over time as we've recovered uh from

[2:36:10] those storms and gotten reimbursed by

[2:36:12] FEMA. Uh, this has been restored as

[2:36:15] we've gone through uh certain land sales

[2:36:17] that have that are by policy go back to

[2:36:20] that deficiencies fund. And so it's very

[2:36:22] uh you know that that that direction

[2:36:25] that you've given us in multiple

[2:36:26] different agenda items where we've

[2:36:28] brought back that plan of how to restore

[2:36:30] the deficiencies fund was intentional

[2:36:33] and um you know uh very fiscally sound

[2:36:37] and we appreciate that direction and and

[2:36:39] uh we we we also want to recognize that

[2:36:42] we're entering this fiscal year in that

[2:36:44] capacity. I'll [clears throat] mention

[2:36:46] also that one of the reasons that we're

[2:36:48] recommending the to maintain the

[2:36:51] millillage at 4.072

[2:36:53] is that then gives us a head start on

[2:36:55] fiscal year 28. uh because of the cost

[2:36:59] savings that we're realizing from VSSI,

[2:37:01] because of the efficiencies and

[2:37:03] effectiveness that you've demanded of us

[2:37:05] on a regular basis, our sharpening of

[2:37:07] the pencil, um we're able to identify a

[2:37:10] surplus in fiscal year 27 because of the

[2:37:14] expenditures being reduced, that

[2:37:16] additional increment of $2.8 8 million

[2:37:19] between the roll back rate on a on a

[2:37:22] super maj on a majority vote versus a

[2:37:25] super majority vote um of the 4.4072

[2:37:28] military enables us to get a head start

[2:37:31] ahead of the um you know what we may see

[2:37:35] uh in in the homestead exemption uh vote

[2:37:38] in November.

[2:37:40] Um, as part of that recognition of what

[2:37:42] we do to be financially sound and

[2:37:45] responsible, Fitch Ratings has

[2:37:47] reaffirmed our city city's doubleA

[2:37:50] credit rating and stable outlook. Uh,

[2:37:52] they also cited the highest possible

[2:37:54] assessment for financial resilience. Uh,

[2:37:56] that takes the team of the 14 funds

[2:37:58] working together uh with the treasur

[2:38:01] clerk's office with your direction and

[2:38:03] uh part of that has to be the

[2:38:05] deficiencies fund being in a good state.

[2:38:08] Uh as you have directed in in the in the

[2:38:11] strategic plan uh we continue investing

[2:38:13] in electric vehicle infrastructure, fast

[2:38:16] charging technology and also across the

[2:38:18] organization uh energy efficient

[2:38:21] operations

[2:38:26] based [snorts] on financial based on the

[2:38:29] financing the government policy uh

[2:38:31] commission policy 224. We also strive to

[2:38:35] fully recover the costs from programs

[2:38:37] and services from those who benefit from

[2:38:39] the services. You know, a lot of our our

[2:38:42] utilities are volume based. They're

[2:38:45] frequency based. Um there are means to

[2:38:48] uh uh conserve and and and and reduce

[2:38:52] your utility bills, but there are

[2:38:54] specific rates and fees and charges that

[2:38:57] are only for certain uh entities within

[2:39:00] within the community. And so we want to

[2:39:02] make so sure that those specialized

[2:39:04] services are not subsidized by either

[2:39:06] residential or or small commercial

[2:39:08] customers. So uh what we're bringing

[2:39:11] forward in this in this fiscal year 27

[2:39:14] budget to balance it is solid waste

[2:39:16] rates that are set to fully recover the

[2:39:18] cost of services. Uh primarily that

[2:39:21] those cost of service increases are

[2:39:24] higher disposal fees charged by Leyon

[2:39:26] County. they're addressing that uh

[2:39:28] increased cost in their agenda item,

[2:39:30] their upcoming budget agenda item and

[2:39:31] and acknowledge that that that's a

[2:39:34] shared cost between the two entities. Uh

[2:39:36] we're also making recommendation to

[2:39:38] adjust fees to align with the rising

[2:39:40] cost of providing parking services. Uh

[2:39:42] it's a very valuable commodity and we

[2:39:44] want to make sure that we're

[2:39:45] representing the market well and that

[2:39:47] applies to city operated garages

[2:39:49] including Clayman Plaza and the East

[2:39:51] Side Garage. And then lastly uh based on

[2:39:54] the independent rate study uh from our

[2:39:56] consultant Lidos engineering we looked

[2:39:59] at fiscal year 26 as the baseline

[2:40:01] evaluated fiscal year 27 28 and 29 the

[2:40:05] cost of operations the cost of

[2:40:07] maintaining our system and then any

[2:40:09] improvements in that infrastructure.

[2:40:12] As such we're bringing forward nominal

[2:40:14] increases uh in the water fund about 25

[2:40:17] cents per month uh in the wastewater

[2:40:19] fund about $2.58. And as you'll well

[2:40:22] remember, we're ahead of the game with

[2:40:24] our advanced wastewater treatment uh

[2:40:27] because we know what how much of a

[2:40:29] valuable commodity our our our water

[2:40:31] system is and and the the aquifer that

[2:40:33] we use. Uh to give you assurance on a

[2:40:37] regular basis, we look at our municipal

[2:40:39] cost across this basket of goods. We

[2:40:43] compare ourselves then to similar

[2:40:45] communities and we see that we're we

[2:40:47] would remain within the third lowest

[2:40:49] among those 12 pure cities even with

[2:40:52] implementing these rate changes. And so

[2:40:54] we're comfortable bringing those

[2:40:55] forward.

[2:40:59] With that, um, I'll bring forward, um,

[2:41:02] uh, that with with with that as

[2:41:04] background, I'll bring forward that

[2:41:05] we'll ask you to take the actions that

[2:41:07] are listed under the public hearing

[2:41:09] steps to approve the tenative millage

[2:41:11] rate of 4.4072,

[2:41:13] the tenative DIA millage rate of 1 mil

[2:41:16] and then both of those by supermajority.

[2:41:19] Uh, we'll ask you to adopt the fiscal

[2:41:21] year to fiscal year 27 proposed

[2:41:24] operating and capital budgets as

[2:41:26] presented. uh uh approve the calendar

[2:41:29] year 27 health plan rates and then op

[2:41:32] adopt the resolutions for solid waste

[2:41:34] and parking rates. And again, just to

[2:41:36] repeat, the the final public hearing to

[2:41:38] consider these items are is in September

[2:41:40] 23rd at at 6:00 p.m. Uh as unless

[2:41:45] there's initial questions as we proceed,

[2:41:48] there's a statutoily direct order to

[2:41:50] ensure the budget is adopted and read

[2:41:52] into the record uh as the legislature

[2:41:55] has directed. Uh the process is

[2:41:57] conducted by the city attorney and we

[2:42:00] can proceed to open the public hearing

[2:42:01] at at your uh at your agreement.

[2:42:03] » Sounds great. Before we get into the

[2:42:05] formalities, are there any questions of

[2:42:09] simply clarification for Robert?

[2:42:13] » Madame Attorney.

[2:42:15] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um Florida statute

[2:42:18] section 200.065

[2:42:20] requires two public hearings to adopt

[2:42:22] the milligen budget. These hearings

[2:42:25] scheduled for today, September 9, and

[2:42:27] September 23rd, 2026, do not conflict

[2:42:30] with the county or school board public

[2:42:32] hearing dates. Specific actions required

[2:42:34] at this first public hearing in the

[2:42:36] required order of execution are

[2:42:38] delineated as follows. The proposed mill

[2:42:41] rate for fiscal year 27 is 4.472

[2:42:45] for the city of Tallahassee and 1.00 000

[2:42:49] for the downtown improvement authority

[2:42:52] which is more than the aggregate rolled

[2:42:54] back rate of 4.2782

[2:42:57] by 3.47%.

[2:43:00] Resolution number 26-R31

[2:43:04] which is provided

[2:43:06] uh to state the percentage and the

[2:43:08] tenative mill rate is above the rolled

[2:43:10] back rate is in attachment A. The title

[2:43:13] to the resolution setting forth the city

[2:43:16] commission's approvals are as follows.

[2:43:18] Resolution number 26-R31,

[2:43:21] a resolution establishing the millage

[2:43:23] rate for the fiscal year beginning

[2:43:25] October 1, 2026 and ending September 30,

[2:43:29] 2027 as 4.472

[2:43:33] mills for the city of Tallahassee and

[2:43:35] 1.0000

[2:43:37] mil for the downtown improvement

[2:43:39] authority. providing that the resulting

[2:43:41] aggregate millage rate of 4.4267

[2:43:44] mills exceeds the aggregate rolled back

[2:43:47] rate of 4.2782

[2:43:50] mills by 3.47%

[2:43:53] and providing an an effective date. The

[2:43:56] city commission will also consider

[2:43:58] resolution number 26R-32,

[2:44:01] a resolution adopting the operating and

[2:44:03] capital budgets for the city of

[2:44:04] Tallahassee and the operating budget for

[2:44:07] the downtown improvement authority for

[2:44:09] the fiscal year beginning October 1,

[2:44:11] 2026 and ending September 30, 2027,

[2:44:15] designating the sources of revenue and

[2:44:17] set appropriations and providing an

[2:44:19] effective date.

[2:44:23] The next steps are to allow public input

[2:44:25] on the city's proposed millillage and

[2:44:27] the city's proposed budget. If anyone

[2:44:29] has signed up to give public comment,

[2:44:30] they can speak on either the proposed

[2:44:32] millillage or the proposed budget for

[2:44:34] the city at this time. In compliance

[2:44:36] with Florida statute section 2200.065,

[2:44:40] the date of this hearing was included in

[2:44:42] the trim notice which was mailed to all

[2:44:44] property owners in August by the Leyon

[2:44:46] County Property Appraiser to advertise

[2:44:48] this hearing.

[2:44:50] » Mr. Clerk, do we have any public input

[2:44:52] on the city's proposed millillage of

[2:44:54] 4.4072

[2:44:55] in proposed budget?

[2:44:57] » Mayor, we have two speakers on 16001.

[2:45:00] Um, I think we should go ahead and call

[2:45:01] them now. They may comment on the budget

[2:45:03] as well as the millillage, but those two

[2:45:05] are Douglas Han and Brandon McIntyre.

[2:45:07] » Excellent.

[2:45:09] Your name and address for the record.

[2:45:11] You have three minutes.

[2:45:15] » My name is Douglas Han. I live at 2072

[2:45:18] Florida Avenue here in Tallahassee. I've

[2:45:20] been a citizen here for nine years.

[2:45:22] Leaving commissioner members, gun

[2:45:24] violence in Tallahassee and Lean County

[2:45:26] not only has a human cost, but it has an

[2:45:28] economic cost. Gun violence in the first

[2:45:31] nine months of this year is trending

[2:45:34] downwards, notably with only one death

[2:45:36] since early June. Although gun injuries

[2:45:38] and shootings are at a more modest

[2:45:40] decline, a good trend, but remember, we

[2:45:43] are looking at small numbers. They do

[2:45:45] seem to be in line with prepandemic

[2:45:47] numbers.

[2:45:50] Based on algorithms for Florida from the

[2:45:53] Pacific Institute for Research and

[2:45:55] Evaluation, gun violence to date this

[2:45:58] year has cost our community, families,

[2:46:01] businesses, and governments nearly $190

[2:46:04] million.

[2:46:07] Of that, almost $9.5 million from

[2:46:10] taxpayers. This includes six and a half

[2:46:13] millions for the criminal justice system

[2:46:16] and $2 million for police.

[2:46:21] What does this cost not include?

[2:46:24] Seven of 10 deaths by gun violence has

[2:46:27] been by suicide. That is not included in

[2:46:29] these figures.

[2:46:31] Shootings without death or injuries,

[2:46:33] like the shooting at the mall this

[2:46:34] weekend, involved the police and the

[2:46:37] courts. Those costs are not included in

[2:46:39] these figures. A 15-year-old is to be

[2:46:42] tried as an adult and this could easily

[2:46:45] have been a another mass shooting in

[2:46:48] Tallahassee who was young persons with

[2:46:52] no impulse control in a crowded mall.

[2:46:57] The cost of protecting you commissioners

[2:47:00] with metal detectors and guards

[2:47:03] downstairs protects you, but it's not in

[2:47:05] the cost. When you go home tonight, you

[2:47:09] may stop at Publix, pick up a gallon of

[2:47:11] milk, you will not be protected.

[2:47:15] Uh, when your children return a book to

[2:47:17] the library, you will not be protected.

[2:47:21] When your wife or your husband goes to

[2:47:24] vote in elections in November, they will

[2:47:27] not be protected.

[2:47:30] The community based violence

[2:47:33] intervention and prevention funds that

[2:47:36] we've had for the last five years have

[2:47:39] been eliminated by the Trump

[2:47:40] administration in April. We had almost

[2:47:44] 150

[2:47:46] one mill one.5 million

[2:47:49] uh grants from the federal government

[2:47:51] over five years.

[2:47:52] » You're at 30 seconds remaining.

[2:47:54] » Please,

[2:47:56] this was for local law enforcement. This

[2:47:58] is for the council for the status of men

[2:48:00] and boys and for the FSU studies. Go to

[2:48:03] the FSU department of uh criminal

[2:48:08] criminology and ask them what we can do.

[2:48:11] They have some answers. Thank you.

[2:48:14] » Thank you. Our next speaker, please.

[2:48:16] » Next speaker is Brandon McIntyre.

[2:48:22] [clears throat]

[2:48:24] » Your name and address for the record,

[2:48:26] please. PO Box 511 Sneeze, Florida. My

[2:48:29] name is Brandon McIntyre and I'm a civil

[2:48:30] right advocate. Um, also a candidate for

[2:48:33] governor for Florida for 2028. Also a

[2:48:36] presidential candidate as well. So

[2:48:37] listen, I'm here to talk about property

[2:48:39] taxes today, guys. Um, good evening,

[2:48:41] council. My name is Brandon McIntyre, a

[2:48:43] citizen and a candidate for governor.

[2:48:44] I'm here tonight to put this on the

[2:48:46] record for the record for Ronda Santz.

[2:48:48] Nobody wants to talk to Let's Go

[2:48:49] Brandon, but guess what? I'm here today

[2:48:51] to talk to you guys. All right. All

[2:48:52] right. The proposal to abolish property

[2:48:54] taxes is unconstitutional, deceptive,

[2:48:56] and voids both the Florida's

[2:48:59] Constitution and United States

[2:49:00] Constitution. Article 7, Section 9 of

[2:49:02] the Florida Constitution requires local

[2:49:04] government to lever property taxes, but

[2:49:07] funds counties, municipalities, and

[2:49:09] schools. Abolishing them without the

[2:49:11] constitutional amendment is unlawful.

[2:49:13] Under the United States Constitution,

[2:49:15] article 1, section 10, the contract

[2:49:17] clause, abolishing property taxes will

[2:49:19] impair and the contract of local

[2:49:21] government that rely on the revenue. And

[2:49:23] the 14th amendment, the equal protection

[2:49:26] clause makes it unconstitutional to

[2:49:28] shift a burden onto working families

[2:49:31] throughout uh regressive taxes. The

[2:49:33] Supreme Court has already ruled this as

[2:49:36] already with Marberry versus Madison

[2:49:38] that any law repudent to the

[2:49:39] Constitution is void. Asking citizens to

[2:49:42] vote on something that is already void

[2:49:44] is a direct violation of public trust.

[2:49:47] Okay. I am submitting this notice for

[2:49:49] the record on the record so it can

[2:49:52] continue to be ignored. So it cannot

[2:49:53] continue to be ignored. You as a public

[2:49:56] officials are now on notice that this

[2:49:58] measure is unconstitutional. the people

[2:50:00] of Florida will not be deceived and we

[2:50:03] will not tolerate leaders who breaks the

[2:50:05] law and to uphold it as a constitutional

[2:50:09] oath. So I'm here to submit this

[2:50:11] constitutional notice for the record. I

[2:50:14] came here once upon a time a while back

[2:50:16] and submitted some constitutional notice

[2:50:18] as well and that also pertained about

[2:50:20] our flock cameras. That's go Brandon

[2:50:22] actually brought notice about the flock

[2:50:23] cameras tried to serve our governor

[2:50:25] Ronda Santz constitutional notice. No

[2:50:28] one wanted to listen. But now we here

[2:50:30] today stand in front of you. My

[2:50:32] administration would not be ignored. I'm

[2:50:33] Let's go Brandon.

[2:50:40] A relief for our Flidians and we deserve

[2:50:43] a relief, but property taxes is not it.

[2:50:47] Who's going to fund our schools? Who's

[2:50:49] going to fund the potholes in our roads?

[2:50:51] Who's going to do take care of our

[2:50:53] police officers? Public safety? who's

[2:50:56] going to pay their their salaries and

[2:50:57] their wages if we get rid of uh property

[2:50:59] taxes. See, it's hidden agendas in this

[2:51:03] whole motive even with the $250,000.

[2:51:06] Uh

[2:51:07] » You're at 30 seconds remaining. I

[2:51:09] accidentally reset the clock, but you're

[2:51:10] at two and a half minutes.

[2:51:11] » I love you, brother. Have a have a very

[2:51:13] blessed day. Thank you.

[2:51:18] » Our next speaker,

[2:51:18] » I don't have any other speakers on this

[2:51:20] item.

[2:51:20] » All right. At this time, I will close

[2:51:21] the public input on city's proposed mill

[2:51:24] and proposed budget. Madam Attorney,

[2:51:25] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The next steps are

[2:51:27] to allow public input and commission

[2:51:29] discussion on the Downtown Improvement

[2:51:30] Authorities's proposed millage of 1.0000

[2:51:34] mill and the downtown improvement

[2:51:36] authorities proposed budget. If anyone

[2:51:38] has signed up to give public comment,

[2:51:40] they can speak on either the DIA's

[2:51:42] proposed millage or the proposed budget

[2:51:44] for the downtown improvement authority

[2:51:46] at this time. In compliance with Florida

[2:51:48] statute section 200.065, 065. The date

[2:51:51] of this hearing was also included in the

[2:51:52] trim notice which was mailed to all

[2:51:54] property owners in August by the Lyon

[2:51:56] County Property Appraiser to advertise

[2:51:58] this hearing.

[2:52:00] » Okay. At this time, Mr. Clerk, do we

[2:52:02] have any public input on the downtown

[2:52:04] improvement authorities DIA proposed

[2:52:06] millage of 1.00?

[2:52:09] » No, sir.

[2:52:11] » Anyone here that would like to speak on

[2:52:12] the DIA's proposed millage rate of 1.00?

[2:52:18] Seeing none, I will close the public

[2:52:20] input on the downtown improvement

[2:52:21] authorities proposed millillage and

[2:52:23] proposed budget commissioners. It is

[2:52:25] time for discussion on the city's

[2:52:27] proposed mill and proposed budget.

[2:52:36] » Go ahead. Yeah, Mayor Pro Tim.

[2:52:37] » Oh, thank sorry.

[2:52:38] » I would move staff recommendation option

[2:52:41] number one.

[2:52:42] » Okay. Option number one has been

[2:52:44] properly moved by the mayor pro Tim. Is

[2:52:46] there a second to the motion on the

[2:52:47] table?

[2:52:47] » Second. Seconded by Commissioner

[2:52:49] Williams Cox. Commissioner Porter,

[2:52:50] you're recognized for discussion.

[2:52:52] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I have a couple of

[2:52:54] questions.

[2:52:55] » Sure.

[2:52:58] » To you, Mr. Mc Yeah. Thank you.

[2:53:03] » Um,

[2:53:06] and thank you for all your work and and

[2:53:08] your staff's work on this budget. So, as

[2:53:11] we've discussed at previous meetings, we

[2:53:14] know that the federal government has

[2:53:16] provided notice to the city that over a

[2:53:18] million dollars in grant funds must be

[2:53:19] reimbursed

[2:53:21] um related to the HUD the lead abatement

[2:53:23] grant. Is this something that we have

[2:53:26] budgeted for

[2:53:28] or not? How do how do we handle that in

[2:53:30] in the budget?

[2:53:32] » Uh

[2:53:33] » Since [clears throat] I know that we're

[2:53:34] appealing, you know, how do we manage

[2:53:36] that?

[2:53:37] » Yes. uh we uh when we budget we we we

[2:53:40] want some certainty in what we're

[2:53:42] budgeting because uh we are so

[2:53:45] constrained in what funding that we

[2:53:47] have. We don't want to be in a position

[2:53:48] of setting aside monies that that uh

[2:53:51] when when we go through a process that's

[2:53:54] that's that we can accomplish and and be

[2:53:57] successful in that we have that money

[2:53:59] tied up. So that is not reflected in the

[2:54:02] budget at this time. But um whenever new

[2:54:05] priorities come along uh we work with

[2:54:08] the departments to make sure that we

[2:54:09] then we can accomplish those priorities.

[2:54:11] So we're we're we'll be fine with

[2:54:13] » Okay. So it's not currently in the

[2:54:15] budget but we are

[2:54:17] » Planning for it.

[2:54:18] » Okay.

[2:54:19] » Again we we want to we want to better

[2:54:21] understand the outcome before we we take

[2:54:23] action.

[2:54:25] » Okay. Thank you.

[2:54:28] the city made the decision to

[2:54:31] terminate or or not renew our fire

[2:54:33] services agreement with the county. Is

[2:54:37] where would I see the financial

[2:54:40] implications of that in our capital

[2:54:42] plan?

[2:54:45] » Um so the um the the interlocal

[2:54:48] agreement expires uh September 30th of

[2:54:51] 2028. Uh as we've worked through this

[2:54:54] pro process, we've identified 26 new

[2:54:58] positions that were focusing on uh the

[2:55:01] busiest stations uh in the department. U

[2:55:04] those eventually then uh with the

[2:55:08] expiration will be focused on city

[2:55:10] facilities. Um as we experience th the

[2:55:14] the placement of those positions, then

[2:55:16] we're also evaluating uh what resources

[2:55:19] are needed from a a station perspective.

[2:55:21] what resources are needed from a um from

[2:55:24] a vehicle perspective. Um you know the

[2:55:27] the focus of those positions was to

[2:55:30] increase safety in the fire department

[2:55:32] uh reduce response times and as you all

[2:55:35] know eventually accomplish an ISO

[2:55:38] improvement. Um uh you'll also recall

[2:55:41] that when the rates were implemented in

[2:55:43] fiscal year 26 uh we participated the

[2:55:47] city city of Tallahassee residents

[2:55:48] participated in that rate increase. Um

[2:55:51] uh we know that as we approach fiscal

[2:55:53] year 27 that will be a balanced budget.

[2:55:56] You would see that in the 5-year

[2:55:58] proforma where uh we are using the last

[2:56:01] of our reserves to balance that fiscal

[2:56:03] year 27 budget. Uh as we enter fiscal

[2:56:06] year 28 and the adoption of that budget.

[2:56:08] uh we'll bring to you at the strategic

[2:56:11] planning meeting at workshops our

[2:56:13] recommendation on how to close any gap

[2:56:15] that's there and then also how to how to

[2:56:18] close out that expiration of that

[2:56:19] contract.

[2:56:21] » Okay, thank you.

[2:56:23] Um

[2:56:26] I meant to actually ask this question.

[2:56:28] This would probably not be a question

[2:56:30] for you about the city manager contract.

[2:56:33] Does

[2:56:35] the $1,000

[2:56:37] a month vehicle allowance is that in

[2:56:41] addition to the the city purchasing a

[2:56:46] car for the city manager, the incoming

[2:56:47] city manager? Does anyone know? No.

[2:56:50] Okay. And the reason for the question is

[2:56:53] there was some reported about the cost

[2:56:55] of vehicles provided to city officials.

[2:56:57] Where is that in the budget?

[2:56:59] » Uh that

[2:57:00] » Where would I find that?

[2:57:00] » That's contained in each of the

[2:57:02] departments. each of the department's

[2:57:03] budget.

[2:57:04] » So when we uh I think uh two days ago we

[2:57:07] when when we p within two days of

[2:57:10] publishing the agenda, we uploaded into

[2:57:13] our online uh budgetary system the

[2:57:15] details of of this fiscal year 27

[2:57:18] budget. Uh as we enter the adoption of

[2:57:20] this, we'll do that again. And then by

[2:57:22] January uh I'm sorry, by December uh

[2:57:25] we're obligated by state statute but

[2:57:28] also by JFOA standards to publish the

[2:57:30] entirety of the budget. and and that's

[2:57:32] the talggov.com site that you see.

[2:57:34] » Okay. Okay. Thank you.

[2:57:38] Um that's all the questions I have for

[2:57:40] now. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

[2:57:42] » Okay. There currently is a motion on the

[2:57:44] table for the approval of the city's

[2:57:45] millage rate of 4.4072

[2:57:47] mills as stated in resolution number

[2:57:49] 26-R31,

[2:57:52] attachment A. Recognizing that the

[2:57:54] proposed aggregate millage rate is more

[2:57:56] than the roll back rate of 4.2782

[2:57:59] by 3.47%.

[2:58:00] The motion was made by the vice mayor

[2:58:02] Curtis Richardson, Mayor Pro Tim Curtis

[2:58:04] Richardson, seconded by Commissioner

[2:58:06] Diane Williams Cox for comment.

[2:58:08] Commissioner Matlo.

[2:58:09] » Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, Robert, I

[2:58:12] have a few questions as well.

[2:58:14] » Where where in the the budget is the

[2:58:17] revenue received from the sale of the

[2:58:19] hospital allocated?

[2:58:21] » Um, it's it's represented in the in the

[2:58:23] general fund.

[2:58:24] » Okay. Yeah.

[2:58:25] » So, in addition to the the tax increase,

[2:58:27] there's also $3 million represented in

[2:58:29] the general fund over what we had last

[2:58:31] year.

[2:58:32] » As you recall, when we began this

[2:58:34] process, we were estimating a 8 to10

[2:58:36] million budget. Um so, yes, that that is

[2:58:40] part of what has enabled us to be at at

[2:58:42] the point where where um we we can bring

[2:58:44] a balanced budget to you. Um the

[2:58:47] additional millage rate enables us to

[2:58:49] provide a surplus.

[2:58:50] » Okay. So the the hospital payments are

[2:58:52] in excess of $3 million and what we're

[2:58:55] putting into the deficiency fund I

[2:58:56] believe is 2.5. So we're actually

[2:58:58] spending $500,000 in excess of the

[2:59:02] millage rate increase just to balance

[2:59:03] the budget with the hospital payment.

[2:59:06] » Um I that I I don't necessarily

[2:59:10] it's not as easy as that inflow and that

[2:59:12] outflow. Um there are uh you know the

[2:59:16] increase in the millage rate um based on

[2:59:18] where we were in in September uh in in

[2:59:22] June um was an increase of $2.8 million.

[2:59:26] Um and so we have identified then what

[2:59:30] where we could trim the budget so that

[2:59:32] we could use that as surplus for the for

[2:59:35] the future.

[2:59:36] » Sure. So we're using the hospital

[2:59:37] revenues to shore up existing

[2:59:39] expenditures in the budget. Uh we're

[2:59:41] using the we're using that to balance

[2:59:44] the general fund. Yes. It's part of the

[2:59:45] revenue sources that we use.

[2:59:47] » Okay. Um can you walk us through the the

[2:59:50] buyout program? Uh my understanding was

[2:59:53] 170 some odd employees took it. Is that

[2:59:55] correct?

[2:59:56] » 171 took the program.

[2:59:58] » 171 took the buyout program. Okay. And

[2:59:59] that was meant to save 3 point or the

[3:00:02] cost of that was $3.9 million. Um the

[3:00:05] the initial cost was a savings of $14

[3:00:08] million. As we applied it to the budget,

[3:00:10] we we discussed that we that services

[3:00:14] could not be impacted. That was your

[3:00:15] direction that we were not reduced

[3:00:17] services um or or take shortcuts on

[3:00:19] services. And so we've gone through the

[3:00:21] process of evaluating or the departments

[3:00:24] have gone through the process of

[3:00:25] evaluating where those positions need to

[3:00:27] be replaced. As we entered the June

[3:00:30] agenda item, I think we quoted a 8.45

[3:00:33] four five million dollar number of what

[3:00:36] we expected the the real savings to be

[3:00:38] so that we wouldn't impact services. Uh

[3:00:41] we are continuing the departments are

[3:00:43] continuing to go undergo and it was

[3:00:45] intended that they would undergo that

[3:00:47] evaluation that management of how to

[3:00:49] operate with those positions that have

[3:00:51] left during all of fiscal year 27. So we

[3:00:54] have represented a reduction in the

[3:00:57] general fund of the $445

[3:01:00] million that you mentioned. Um and

[3:01:02] that's that also has created the surplus

[3:01:05] that we're seeing in fiscal year 27 and

[3:01:08] part of the recommendation of why then

[3:01:09] taking that millage rate uh to to

[3:01:11] balance the budget in fiscal year 28.

[3:01:14] » And so what was the total cost paid out

[3:01:16] to the employees that were bought out in

[3:01:19] addition to any expenses of covering

[3:01:21] health care for them as well? uh the the

[3:01:23] the total expenses were uh $25,000 per

[3:01:28] employee. Uh their salaries uh that they

[3:01:31] would have earned in that period of time

[3:01:34] uh offset that amount. Uh the same was

[3:01:37] true for their health care. Uh their

[3:01:39] health care would have been paid up

[3:01:40] through October uh you know first week

[3:01:43] of October based on how the fiscal years

[3:01:46] closed out. And so that healthc care

[3:01:48] coverage was was, you know, then matched

[3:01:52] what what we would have paid out to

[3:01:53] them.

[3:01:54] » Okay. So you don't have a total dollar

[3:01:56] amount that the buyout program cost us

[3:01:57] including healthare.

[3:01:58] » That was the $14 million that I

[3:02:00] mentioned.

[3:02:01] » 14 million is what it cost the city.

[3:02:04] That's the question.

[3:02:05] » No, the the the buyout per employee.

[3:02:08] Yes. the total the total cost of the

[3:02:10] buyout plus the health

[3:02:10] » The cost was neutral because we would

[3:02:12] have paid those employees over the last

[3:02:14] 6 to 12 weeks of their employment which

[3:02:17] matched the $25,000 payment that we gave

[3:02:19] them and the healthcare coverage that we

[3:02:21] that we that we covered.

[3:02:23] » Okay, then let's start there. Um so I

[3:02:26] know some of the buyout positions

[3:02:28] probably had to be filled immediately.

[3:02:30] We look at the entire command staff of

[3:02:32] TPD. I assume those had to be filled

[3:02:35] immediately. So we want to rely savings

[3:02:37] on those individual uh positions. So out

[3:02:40] of the total 171 positions, how many

[3:02:44] remain vacant?

[3:02:45] » Uh I don't have that number because it's

[3:02:47] a number that's still in in flux and

[3:02:50] still a number that's changing. As we

[3:02:52] identified the budget, we made certain

[3:02:54] assumptions of what we would represent

[3:02:56] in the general fund as a reduction in

[3:02:59] personnel services and and that's what

[3:03:01] you see in that budget. Uh that that

[3:03:03] that 4.4 45 million. That's less in

[3:03:07] personnel services. As far as positions,

[3:03:10] we have not. There's a personnel

[3:03:12] services schedule that shows the changes

[3:03:14] over time. We haven't fixed that at a at

[3:03:17] a absolute point in time. And so, we'll

[3:03:19] do that during fiscal year 27. And that

[3:03:22] was the intention as we proposed this

[3:03:24] program is we wanted to work through

[3:03:26] that process during the upcoming fiscal

[3:03:28] year.

[3:03:29] » So, of the vacant positions, are they

[3:03:31] funded in this budget? um the general

[3:03:34] fund positions are not and so we would

[3:03:36] have to work uh with those. And again,

[3:03:39] let me let me go back. The original

[3:03:41] buyout was 14 million. We assumed 8

[3:03:44] million accounting for some being

[3:03:45] rehired. Um and then um as we filled

[3:03:50] them, then we we're working with

[3:03:51] departments to make sure that we uh uh

[3:03:53] can can accommodate those budgetary

[3:03:56] requests.

[3:03:57] » So, how many of the positions have been

[3:03:58] refilled since the buyout? I'd have to

[3:04:01] turn to our HR director. I'm I'm aware

[3:04:04] of uh a double handful that were

[3:04:07] immediately filled. Uh

[3:04:10] » Can we provide that in please? Uh Mr.

[3:04:12] Manager.

[3:04:14] » Don, you want to come join us?

[3:04:17] » Those requests are are coming through

[3:04:19] HR. They're working with the departments

[3:04:22] and um we are getting the results but

[3:04:24] have not reflected the position changes

[3:04:26] in the budget.

[3:04:29] Commissioner, at this time as Robert

[3:04:30] said, the number is fluctuating, but um

[3:04:33] as we fill positions, we fill them at a

[3:04:35] lower rate. Um and we also reorgan

[3:04:37] organize the departments that they don't

[3:04:39] fill the same amount of positions that

[3:04:41] left. So we don't have a number at this

[3:04:42] time that is a permanent number for you.

[3:04:45] » We don't know the number of positions

[3:04:48] that were made vacant that have now been

[3:04:50] filled.

[3:04:50] » I don't have that number at right at

[3:04:52] this time. Um, I can get you the number

[3:04:54] of how many have been vacated and how

[3:04:57] many how many we have filled at this

[3:04:58] time.

[3:04:59] » Okay. Can we get that information at

[3:05:01] this budget hearing?

[3:05:03] » Okay.

[3:05:03] » Yeah, we'll we'll come with a a inflow

[3:05:07] number and and as a HR director said

[3:05:11] those numbers change a department will

[3:05:13] come to HR and say we want to refill

[3:05:16] this critical position and they'll talk

[3:05:18] through the process of is there another

[3:05:19] position that can be used to fill that

[3:05:21] at a lower rate. Right. And and that's

[3:05:23] the question, how many have been

[3:05:24] refilled, whether they're at a lower

[3:05:25] rate or not?

[3:05:26] » Yeah, I I know there's a double handful

[3:05:28] based on the first month of of the of

[3:05:30] the requests that have come from the

[3:05:32] from the few departments that I'm aware

[3:05:34] of.

[3:05:34] » Can you understand how it's difficult to

[3:05:36] understand if this buyout makes

[3:05:37] financial sense if we can't really

[3:05:39] understand the realized savings and

[3:05:40] positions that have been backfilled?

[3:05:42] Yeah, there I I will say this was an

[3:05:45] initial action and effort to get ahead

[3:05:47] of the of of where we may be in cutting

[3:05:51] programs and people. Um I'm confident

[3:05:54] that as we go through this process and

[3:05:56] we also get the feedback in November of

[3:05:59] what really will happen, we'll we'll

[3:06:01] work towards an absolute number.

[3:06:03] » Robert, let me jump in real quick. Mr.

[3:06:04] Manager,

[3:06:05] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Robert, um I I

[3:06:08] think it it probably should be said so

[3:06:11] you're in the process of approving a

[3:06:14] budget. That budget then cascades down

[3:06:16] into the variety of departments. Robert

[3:06:20] and his team, the directors, HR, u the

[3:06:24] vast majority of the positions that were

[3:06:26] vacated have not been filled and they've

[3:06:29] been zeroed out for budget purpose. They

[3:06:31] have not eliminated the FTE yet. That's

[3:06:33] what Robert's talking about.

[3:06:36] But the departments will not have the

[3:06:38] budget for those positions if they and

[3:06:41] they're we're going through that process

[3:06:42] of saying [clears throat] which ones are

[3:06:44] absolutely necessary. If we're pretty

[3:06:47] much at that point, we know that um

[3:06:50] where we need to be. And so if the

[3:06:52] budget is not available to the

[3:06:54] department, they won't be able to hire

[3:06:55] those positions. It won't be that they

[3:06:58] just continue to hire and overspend. It

[3:07:00] can't work that way. So that's what

[3:07:02] you're really firming up. Um,

[3:07:04] Commissioner, you mentioned the police

[3:07:05] department.

[3:07:07] That's maybe arguably the most critical

[3:07:10] department to make sure you have full

[3:07:12] staffing. Even with those positions that

[3:07:15] we move to immediately refill, it still

[3:07:19] resulted in a net vacancy in the

[3:07:22] department because that's one of the

[3:07:23] unique departments that hires almost

[3:07:26] exclusively from within. So, a promotion

[3:07:29] results in a vacancy as it cascades. And

[3:07:31] so there are net vacancies that now

[3:07:33] exist in the police department. And so

[3:07:37] the the positions as Robert's describing

[3:07:40] are somewhat fluid, but the budget is

[3:07:42] not. The budget will be absolute and the

[3:07:45] positions that haven't been filled have

[3:07:47] been zeroed. So the budget will control

[3:07:50] and constrain what positions are

[3:07:52] available to uh the departments. And so

[3:07:55] that's that's why you're getting the

[3:07:58] answers that you're getting. We've not

[3:08:00] taken an absolute hard approach. It

[3:08:02] never was a program that said any

[3:08:05] position vacated will be deleted

[3:08:08] that because we understand the

[3:08:09] expectation of the commission to

[3:08:11] maintain the levels of service. Uh the

[3:08:13] fact is we've done that because you've

[3:08:15] not heard any reduction in service and

[3:08:17] Robert and his team and all the

[3:08:19] department directors and HR directors

[3:08:21] have done a good job. But we're about to

[3:08:23] firm a budget

[3:08:25] and that budget will be absolute and

[3:08:28] it'll apply to every single department.

[3:08:30] » And truth be told, credit goes to the

[3:08:33] department directors. It goes to these

[3:08:35] individuals that are sitting in the

[3:08:37] audience because they're having to make

[3:08:39] sure they maximize these resources. And

[3:08:41] so that's kind of the art of the

[3:08:44] personnel management and the budget

[3:08:45] management. But the budget ultimately

[3:08:47] passed will constrain how much dollars

[3:08:49] we had to spend on personnel. I hope

[3:08:51] that helps a little bit. Thank you, Mr.

[3:08:53] Mayor.

[3:08:53] » Commissioner Matler.

[3:08:54] » Uh, thank you, Mr. Manager. And yeah,

[3:08:56] there's no confusion on vacancies and

[3:08:57] and the budget expenditures. The

[3:08:59] question is of the money that we've

[3:09:02] already spent for this buyout program,

[3:09:04] how many of those positions had to be

[3:09:06] backfilled. I recognize the budget

[3:09:08] before us also asked for um a a tax

[3:09:10] increase and is larger than the budget

[3:09:12] uh that we had uh uh previously. So, I'm

[3:09:15] trying to ascertain is did it make sense

[3:09:16] to do that buyout program? and I'm not

[3:09:18] really receiving enough information uh

[3:09:20] to be able to determine that. If you

[3:09:22] have a list of all the vacant positions

[3:09:25] that will be unfunded in this budget,

[3:09:27] that would be helpful. Um as well uh and

[3:09:30] I do want to ask a couple more questions

[3:09:32] while I have you Robert. Commissioner

[3:09:34] Porter me mentioned the HUD

[3:09:36] reimbursement. I know the letter we

[3:09:38] received from HUD said this money would

[3:09:40] be required to be reimbursed. So, but

[3:09:43] we're not budgeting to reimburse the

[3:09:45] federal government at this time.

[3:09:47] » No.

[3:09:48] Okay. And so when we get a definitive

[3:09:51] declaration to pay that, where will that

[3:09:53] money come from?

[3:09:54] » We'll we'll talk through that issue at

[3:09:57] that time.

[3:09:59] » But we we have a a budgetary

[3:10:03] um authority across uh multiple

[3:10:06] departments. Uh I imagine uh we'll look

[3:10:09] at uh where we are in the budget at that

[3:10:11] time to see what's been spent, what what

[3:10:13] remains and and what funds can be

[3:10:16] dedicated to that whatever that amount

[3:10:18] is.

[3:10:18] » So you believe at that time we would be

[3:10:20] able to identify midfiscal year a

[3:10:23] million dollars to reimburse federal

[3:10:24] government.

[3:10:25] » It's one of the strengths of the budget

[3:10:26] process is we come back on a quarterly

[3:10:28] basis uh in workshops to talk about

[3:10:30] where we are after the first quarter,

[3:10:32] the second, third quarter.

[3:10:34] » Okay. Thank you. Um it it sounds like to

[3:10:36] me that there's rooms for further

[3:10:38] reduction uh in this budget based on the

[3:10:40] information uh provided today. Um I know

[3:10:43] a lot of people had mentioned uh

[3:10:44] amendment three and this is kind of

[3:10:46] shoring up the accounts in case that

[3:10:49] that passes, but it feels like a bit of

[3:10:51] a self-fulfilling prophecy. uh what the

[3:10:54] people are asking us to do is get our

[3:10:56] fiscal house in order, stop increasing

[3:10:58] taxes at the rates we've seen year after

[3:11:01] year after year to where they think

[3:11:03] they're at a a breaking point. And I

[3:11:05] think the way we do that is a good faith

[3:11:08] effort by local government to reduce

[3:11:10] expenditures uh and to not continue to

[3:11:13] increase taxes uh again after uh again.

[3:11:16] So I did not support this military when

[3:11:18] it was uh proposed. I do support the

[3:11:20] roll back millage rate of 4.27. 2782.

[3:11:23] And so what I would propose is that we

[3:11:25] bring back um a budget that continues to

[3:11:29] tighten uh sharpen the pencil. I mean

[3:11:32] look at half percent across the board,

[3:11:34] 1% across the board by by department to

[3:11:37] bring this align and continue to shore

[3:11:38] up our our deficiencies deficiencies

[3:11:40] fund. So I'd make a substitute motion uh

[3:11:43] to adopt the roll back rate of 4.2782.

[3:11:47] Uh

[3:11:47] » That motion's not recognized. There's a

[3:11:49] very specific formula by Florida statute

[3:11:51] that we have to follow. So, we need to

[3:11:53] deal with the motion on the table first,

[3:11:54] Commissioner Matlo, and we will move

[3:11:56] through the process from there.

[3:11:58] » Commissioner Porter.

[3:11:59] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. [clears throat] I

[3:12:02] understand this is a specific process we

[3:12:04] have to follow. So, my question is,

[3:12:15] and I I know that it takes four to pass.

[3:12:17] My my question is whether

[3:12:20] I guess what I'm getting at frankly is

[3:12:24] I don't support this budget, but I am

[3:12:27] concerned about amendment three and

[3:12:31] frankly wish that we we have made

[3:12:34] motions in the past asking for budget

[3:12:37] options and those motions have never

[3:12:39] been successful. So my question is

[3:12:42] whether there is

[3:12:45] an option to do that at this point.

[3:12:47] » If this motion does not pass by a

[3:12:48] supermajority either 41 or a 50 then we

[3:12:52] will move to the roll back rate and

[3:12:54] there is a formula for that and I will

[3:12:56] entertain a motion on that particular

[3:12:59] uh millage rate and budget.

[3:13:02] » Thank you Mr. Mayor. My question was

[3:13:04] actually well I I guess I would like to

[3:13:06] hear the city attorney's opinion. Is my

[3:13:10] question clear?

[3:13:11] » It is not.

[3:13:12] » Okay. So, my question is

[3:13:19] » I'm sorry. Did you have something to

[3:13:20] say, Commissioner Richardson?

[3:13:21] » No, ma'am.

[3:13:22] » Okay,

[3:13:24] » We got the floor.

[3:13:25] » Um, so my question was in the past we

[3:13:28] have asked for basically budget options.

[3:13:31] Commissioner Matt Matlo has just said

[3:13:33] I'd like to, you know, we could see a 5%

[3:13:35] reduction across the board. My question

[3:13:38] is if those two things can come back to

[3:13:40] us at once for consideration at the next

[3:13:43] public hearing.

[3:13:44] » Not at this point if I'm correct. Right

[3:13:46] madam mayor I mean madam attorney.

[3:13:49] » Um

[3:13:50] so we have to go through this process of

[3:13:53] adopting the millillage and the budget

[3:13:55] » Right?

[3:13:56] » Um

[3:13:58] the so there are separate motions the mo

[3:14:01] the budget is separate. Um, I think it

[3:14:05] has to be I think the budget has to be

[3:14:07] adopted or not at this meeting.

[3:14:10] » Correct.

[3:14:10] » I I think I might rather refer to Robert

[3:14:13] though or or just confer with Robert to

[3:14:14] make sure that I'm correct on that. I

[3:14:17] think Commissioner Porter's question is

[3:14:19] could they come back could we come back

[3:14:21] at the next meeting with any amendments

[3:14:24] to the budget? Is that what you're

[3:14:26] asking?

[3:14:29] My question is, I mean, sort of. My

[3:14:32] question is, we have in the past, it's

[3:14:34] never been successful. It's always been

[3:14:36] a three-2 vote, asked for options to

[3:14:39] review

[3:14:40] um as it relates to the budget. So, my

[3:14:43] question is at this point, is that

[3:14:46] possible at the next hearing to

[3:14:49] accommodate Commissioner Matlo's

[3:14:50] request?

[3:14:53] » No. the the two options that there are

[3:14:57] opportunities for us to discuss programs

[3:14:59] and service levels um and and make

[3:15:02] changes to those programs and service

[3:15:04] levels

[3:15:05] recognizing that there have been

[3:15:07] requests to cut uh executive salaries or

[3:15:10] position uh uh uh certain departments.

[3:15:13] Those departments being allocated

[3:15:16] uh don't even come close to what we need

[3:15:20] in order to balance the budget. And so

[3:15:21] what we're bringing to you is a balanced

[3:15:23] budget with the best options possible

[3:15:25] for the millage rate uh that are

[3:15:28] dictated by the by the new uh state

[3:15:31] statute and and th those voting motions

[3:15:34] that the city attorney is walking

[3:15:35] through.

[3:15:36] » So commissioner, if I could just follow

[3:15:38] up, I I think at this point in the

[3:15:40] process, we're very bound by the

[3:15:43] statutory um steps, the budgetary

[3:15:46] options. Um, to the extent I'm I'm

[3:15:49] understanding what you're asking is

[3:15:51] probably something that has to have been

[3:15:53] done prior to today. Um,

[3:15:56] » And we did try.

[3:15:57] » I understand.

[3:15:58] » On point, Mr. Mayor.

[3:16:00] » Commissioner Matlo on point.

[3:16:01] » Um, Madam Attorney, if this budget gets

[3:16:04] rejected today, what is the next step?

[3:16:07] » The the budget or the millage rate?

[3:16:09] » The millage and the budget get rejected

[3:16:11] today, what is the next step? And what

[3:16:12] is the timeline to adopt a budget for

[3:16:15] the fiscal year?

[3:16:16] » I'll jump in. If this motion fails, I

[3:16:18] wholeheartedly uh plan on entertaining a

[3:16:20] motion for the roll back rate, which I

[3:16:22] think will have a majority. You've

[3:16:24] already [clears throat] stated you're in

[3:16:25] favor of the roll back rate. So, we will

[3:16:26] go through the legal process and the

[3:16:28] mayor uh the um the attorney will walk

[3:16:31] me through that. We have the script. We

[3:16:34] are fully prepared.

[3:16:35] » So, to answer Commissioner Porter's

[3:16:37] question, I understand the mill rate.

[3:16:40] Her question is, can the specifics of

[3:16:42] the budget be amended um at this point?

[3:16:44] And that answer should be yes. We have

[3:16:46] not adopted a final budget yet.

[3:16:49] » What we advertise for the budget and for

[3:16:52] the millillage rate has to be the exact

[3:16:54] same of what passes tonight.

[3:16:55] » Correct.

[3:16:56] » Versus what comes back. What I think to

[3:16:58] answer your question is remember we

[3:17:00] begin our budget process in January. The

[3:17:03] next commission will have plenty of

[3:17:05] opportunity to propose budget amendments

[3:17:06] throughout the fiscal year to address

[3:17:09] the needs as they come up. Whether

[3:17:10] amendment three passes or does not pass.

[3:17:13] I believe that is the appropriate time

[3:17:15] to amend the budget because we're at

[3:17:17] this point in the cycle. So, um you

[3:17:21] know, I intend to take a motion and

[3:17:23] hopefully get some type of consensus uh

[3:17:26] whether it's on the proposed millage

[3:17:27] rate as is or on the roll back rate so

[3:17:30] that we can advertise it and have a

[3:17:32] fully uh balanced budget passed by

[3:17:37] September 30th at the end of the fiscal

[3:17:39] year. Commission

[3:17:40] » And and thank you, Mr. Mayor. And that

[3:17:42] starts to clarify what I'm trying to say

[3:17:44] and answer Commissioner Porter's

[3:17:45] question. If we adopt the roll back

[3:17:47] rate, this city commission will still

[3:17:50] have to decide what that budget looks

[3:17:51] like, what gets removed, or what gets

[3:17:53] refunded. And there's still an

[3:17:54] opportunity to have that conversation or

[3:17:56] put it in part of a motion today of what

[3:17:58] budget would come back at the next. I

[3:18:01] think that those those individual

[3:18:03] whatever those changes are would have to

[3:18:06] be made tonight because we are under the

[3:18:09] deadline of advertising an amend we will

[3:18:13] have an amended budget if we adopt the

[3:18:16] if you adopt the roll back and so then

[3:18:19] we will bring back an amended budget

[3:18:22] » But it has to come back at the 23rd it

[3:18:24] has to be advertised and then it has to

[3:18:26] come back at the 23rd so I guess the

[3:18:28] answer is we don't have another

[3:18:30] opportunity

[3:18:31] at the 23rd is when it has to be uh

[3:18:34] decided. So any amendments would have to

[3:18:36] be done tonight.

[3:18:37] » I I understand that. Does that make

[3:18:38] sense? It makes perfect sense. And what

[3:18:40] what Commissioner Porter asked for, this

[3:18:42] could have been predicted because it was

[3:18:44] always going to require uh four votes to

[3:18:46] pass. She asked for a workshop to take

[3:18:48] place so we could hash out those details

[3:18:51] and make sure we had a balanced budget

[3:18:52] with a roll back rate. because that was

[3:18:54] rejected. City staff didn't even do the

[3:18:56] work to propose an alternative budget

[3:18:59] that fits the roll back rate and that's

[3:19:01] causing the confusion uh today. Thank

[3:19:02] you, Mr. Mayor.

[3:19:03] » Mr. Mayor,

[3:19:04] » Sure. M I need Robert to clarify this. I

[3:19:07] just want to make sure we're on the

[3:19:08] right page.

[3:19:10] » Paired with the adoption of the millage

[3:19:13] rate, you will also have to pass a total

[3:19:17] budget that will be balanced,

[3:19:18] » Right?

[3:19:19] » So there will we don't have to go back

[3:19:21] to the drawing board. Robert and team

[3:19:23] will be prepared tonight to present that

[3:19:25] total budget to coincide with the

[3:19:28] millage rate. So the millage rate we

[3:19:30] won't go back and retool

[3:19:32] at the roll back rate. Robert has a

[3:19:34] budget to present and you would adopt

[3:19:37] that tonight. [clears throat]

[3:19:39] There currently is a motion for approval

[3:19:41] of the city's millage rate of 4.4072

[3:19:44] mills as stated in resolution number

[3:19:46] 26-R31.

[3:19:48] The motion was made by the mayor pro Tim

[3:19:50] Curtis Richardson seconded by

[3:19:52] commissioner Diane Williams Cox.

[3:19:54] Commissioner Porter.

[3:19:55] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And I and I'll be

[3:19:57] brief. I do plan to support the proposed

[3:20:00] millage rate because I am concerned

[3:20:02] about the implications of amendment

[3:20:04] three if it passes. But I do want to

[3:20:07] reiterate again that that I really don't

[3:20:09] support this budget. I appreciate all

[3:20:11] the work that went into it, but I have

[3:20:14] said the same thing every year, every

[3:20:16] budget hearing, basically every budget

[3:20:18] workshop that I really think we need to

[3:20:21] re-evaluate many of our spending

[3:20:24] priorities. We talk about sharpening our

[3:20:26] pencils. Um, but somehow that effort

[3:20:29] still includes spending nearly $100,000

[3:20:32] on an employes's personal vehicle.

[3:20:34] That's the kind of thing that makes

[3:20:36] working people, many of whom are working

[3:20:38] multiple jobs to make end meet ends

[3:20:40] meet, wonder if this government is

[3:20:43] really working to meet their needs. It

[3:20:46] pushes people to support amendments like

[3:20:49] amendment three. Um, you know, and I

[3:20:53] could go on, but that's just the start.

[3:20:55] I I think there's a lot of good in this

[3:20:57] budget, but we continue to miss the

[3:20:58] mark. Just as an example, we gave

[3:21:01] unanimous direction years ago about

[3:21:03] implementing a mun a municipal child

[3:21:05] care system years ago. Where is that in

[3:21:08] this budget? That never even came back

[3:21:10] to us. Nearly one in four residents is

[3:21:13] living in poverty in Tallahassee. And we

[3:21:15] all know this. We've never even had a

[3:21:17] serious discussion about how to address

[3:21:20] that. We have the impact on poverty

[3:21:23] category in our strategic plan. Our

[3:21:25] stated goal isn't even to reduce

[3:21:28] poverty. It's to be a community partner

[3:21:30] that connects residents to resources

[3:21:33] that remove economic and social

[3:21:35] barriers. You know, a resource that can

[3:21:38] remove economic and social barriers, the

[3:21:40] city of Tallahassee.

[3:21:43] So,

[3:21:44] I wish that I were not in this position.

[3:21:47] I wish that there was a greater openness

[3:21:50] to compromise, to receiving input, to

[3:21:54] having a budget workshop. The

[3:21:56] implications here are huge. There's

[3:21:58] still so many questions about this

[3:22:00] budget. I feel very uncomfortable moving

[3:22:03] forward, which is why I will not be

[3:22:05] supporting the budget. Um, but I will I

[3:22:08] will support the proposed millage rate

[3:22:10] because I'm I'm concerned about the

[3:22:12] implications moving forward and feel

[3:22:14] that the residents of Tallahassee will

[3:22:17] want those services to continue and and

[3:22:20] will will need to be there to do that. I

[3:22:22] I think it's possible if we sharpen our

[3:22:24] pencils as well, but that's where I'm

[3:22:25] at. All right, it takes super majority

[3:22:28] to pass the resolution on the table

[3:22:30] according to new state law. There is a

[3:22:31] motion for approval of the city's

[3:22:32] millage rate of 4.4072

[3:22:35] mills as stated in resolution number

[3:22:36] 26-R31.

[3:22:39] Motion was made by the mayor pro Tim

[3:22:40] Curtis Richardson. Second by

[3:22:42] commissioner Diane Williams Cox. All

[3:22:44] those in favor of the mill of the motion

[3:22:47] on the table signify by saying I.

[3:22:49] » I.

[3:22:49] » And those opposed?

[3:22:51] » Nay. And it passes 4 to one with a super

[3:22:54] majority with Commissioner Matlo in

[3:22:57] descent. I would now like to request a

[3:22:59] motion for the approval of the city's

[3:23:00] budget appropriation as set forth in

[3:23:02] resolution number 26-R32.

[3:23:05] » So moved

[3:23:06] » Properly moved by the mayor pro Tim. Is

[3:23:08] there a second?

[3:23:08] » Second.

[3:23:09] » Seconded by Commissioner Williams Cox.

[3:23:12] » All right. All those in favor signify by

[3:23:14] saying I. I.

[3:23:15] » All those opposed

[3:23:18] 5 unanimously. I would now like to

[3:23:20] request a motion for the approval of the

[3:23:22] downtown improvement authorities

[3:23:24] tenative millage rate of 1.0000

[3:23:27] mil as stated in resolution number

[3:23:29] 26-R31

[3:23:31] attachment A in your package recognizing

[3:23:33] that the proposed aggregate mill rate is

[3:23:36] more than the roll back rate of 4.2782

[3:23:39] by 3.47%.

[3:23:42] Is there a motion?

[3:23:43] » So move Mr. Mayor

[3:23:44] » Probably moved by the mayor pro Tim. Is

[3:23:46] there a second?

[3:23:47] » Second.

[3:23:47] » Seconded by Commissioner Williams Cox.

[3:23:49] All those in favor signify by saying I.

[3:23:51] I.

[3:23:52] » All those opposed.

[3:23:53] » Passes unanimously. 5. I would now like

[3:23:56] to request a motion for the approval of

[3:23:58] the downtown improvement authorities

[3:24:00] budget as stated in resolution number

[3:24:02] 26-R32

[3:24:04] attachment B of your packet. Is there a

[3:24:07] motion?

[3:24:07] » So moved, Mr. Mayor.

[3:24:08] » Second.

[3:24:09] » Been properly moved by the mayor pro

[3:24:10] Tim, seconded by Commissioner Williams

[3:24:12] Cox. Any discussion? Seeing none. All

[3:24:14] those in favor signify by saying I. I.

[3:24:17] All those opposed passes unanimously.

[3:24:20] 5-0. I would now like to request a

[3:24:22] motion for the approval of the healthc

[3:24:24] care rapes option one as proposed.

[3:24:28] » Second.

[3:24:29] » Been proudly moved by the mayor pro Tim,

[3:24:31] seconded by Commissioner Williams Cox.

[3:24:32] Any further comment? Seeing none. All

[3:24:35] those in favor signify by saying I.

[3:24:37] » I. All those opposed. Passes

[3:24:39] unanimously. 5-0. Madame Attorney.

[3:24:42] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. To summarize, the

[3:24:43] city commission has tenatively approved

[3:24:44] the millage rate for both the city and

[3:24:46] the DIA and the expenditures and

[3:24:48] obligations of the city of Tallahassee

[3:24:50] and the DIA for the fiscal year

[3:24:52] beginning October 1, 2026 and ending

[3:24:55] September 30, 2027, designating the

[3:24:58] sources of revenue and appropriations. A

[3:25:01] public hearing on the final budget will

[3:25:02] be held on Wednesday, September 23rd,

[3:25:05] 2026 at 6 PM in the city of Tallahassee

[3:25:08] city commission chambers at city hall,

[3:25:10] at which time resolution number 26-R31

[3:25:14] setting the millage rate and resolution

[3:25:16] number 26-R32

[3:25:18] setting the budget will be presented for

[3:25:20] approval. Contingent upon commission

[3:25:23] action, the resolutions and required

[3:25:24] budget summary advertisement would be

[3:25:26] will be adjusted for all issues resolved

[3:25:28] as part of this agenda item. Uh at this

[3:25:31] time, uh Mr. Mayor, the city commission

[3:25:34] is scheduled as part of this agenda item

[3:25:35] to consider two proposed resolutions

[3:25:38] regarding solid waste rates and parking

[3:25:40] rates. If I may,

[3:25:42] » Please. The first of these two

[3:25:44] resolutions, resolution number 26R29

[3:25:47] adopting updated solid waste rates reads

[3:25:51] um a resolution of the city commission

[3:25:53] of the city of Tallahassee, Florida,

[3:25:54] establishing the schedule of residential

[3:25:56] and commercial rates for solid waste

[3:25:58] services pursuant to the general the

[3:26:01] code of general ordinances section

[3:26:02] 21-512

[3:26:04] and providing an effective date.

[3:26:06] » Mr. Clerk, do we have any public

[3:26:08] speakers on this item?

[3:26:10] » No, sir.

[3:26:12] Okay. Uh let's move into uh commission

[3:26:16] discussion. I am looking for a motion to

[3:26:18] approve resolution number 26-R29

[3:26:22] adopting updated solid waste rates. Is

[3:26:25] there a motion on the table?

[3:26:26] » So moved, Mr. Mayor.

[3:26:27] » Properly moved by the mayor pro Tim,

[3:26:29] seconded by Commissioner Williams Cox.

[3:26:31] Discussion.

[3:26:33] » Seeing none, all those in favor signify

[3:26:35] by saying I. I.

[3:26:37] » All those opposed? Passes unanimously.

[3:26:40] 5-0. Madam Attorney,

[3:26:41] » The second resolution is resolution

[3:26:43] number 26-R30

[3:26:45] adopting updated parking rates. The

[3:26:48] title of the resolution is a resolution

[3:26:50] authorizing public parking rates.

[3:26:53] » Are there any public speakers on this

[3:26:55] item, Mr. Clerk?

[3:26:56] » No, sir.

[3:26:57] » Colleagues, I am looking for a motion to

[3:26:59] approve resolution number 26-R30,

[3:27:01] adopting updated parking rates.

[3:27:03] » So move, Mr. Mayor.

[3:27:04] » Probably moved by the mayor pro Tim,

[3:27:06] seconded by Commissioner Williams Cox.

[3:27:08] Any further discussion? Seeing none. All

[3:27:10] those in favor signify by saying I.

[3:27:12] » I.

[3:27:12] » All those opposed.

[3:27:15] » Passes 41 with Commissioner Matlo in

[3:27:17] descent. Uh do we have any other

[3:27:20] business to come before us under the

[3:27:22] budget? Madame Attorney,

[3:27:24] » We do not, Mr.

[3:27:25] » This closes the public hearing on this

[3:27:26] item and once again the final public

[3:27:28] hearing on the budget is scheduled for

[3:27:30] September 23rd, 2026.

[3:27:34] We are now on item,

[3:27:36] » Mr. Mayor. Sure.

[3:27:38] » I didn't want to interrupt. Um, but I

[3:27:41] would like to vote I meant to vote

[3:27:42] against the budget. I thought we were

[3:27:44] voting on the DIA milligrate. I thought

[3:27:45] we were doing the mill rates first. So,

[3:27:47] can the record reflect that?

[3:27:49] » Say that one more time.

[3:27:52] » I intended to vote no on the budget. I

[3:27:55] thought when we voted on the budget that

[3:27:57] I was voting yes on the DIA's millage

[3:27:59] rate. So, I would like to ask that the

[3:28:02] record reflect a no vote on the budget,

[3:28:05] » Which was my intention. uh supermajority

[3:28:08] required simply for the millage rate or

[3:28:10] for the budget as well?

[3:28:11] » Uh not for the budget, just for the

[3:28:14] millage rate. Um but and Commissioner

[3:28:17] Porter would be entitled to change her

[3:28:20] vote with the consent of the body.

[3:28:22] » Do we need a motion to reconsider in

[3:28:24] » It's not really a motion to reconsider.

[3:28:26] It's just a motion to allow her to

[3:28:27] change her vote.

[3:28:28] » Okay. Without objection.

[3:28:29] » So move.

[3:28:30] » Unanimously approved. Uh we will change

[3:28:33] Commissioner Porter's vote to a nay vote

[3:28:35] on the budget. It passes 32 with

[3:28:38] Commissioner Matlo and Commissioner

[3:28:40] Porter in descent. The mayor, the mayor

[3:28:42] pro Tim, and Commissioner Williams Cox

[3:28:45] in favor.

[3:28:46] » I voted for the budget.

[3:28:47] » Oh, you did vote in favor. I'm sorry,

[3:28:48] Commissioner Matlo. Okay, let me

[3:28:50] restate. Commissioner Porter has voted

[3:28:53] against uh Commissioner Matlo,

[3:28:55] Commissioner Williams Cox. The mayor Bro

[3:28:57] Tim and the mayor voted in favor. It

[3:28:59] passes 41. Did I get that correct?

[3:29:01] » Yes.

[3:29:02] » Excellent. We're on item number 16.02.

[3:29:05] Madam Attorney,

[3:29:06] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Item number 16.02

[3:29:08] is the uh public hearing on ordinance

[3:29:11] number 26-11,

[3:29:13] an ordinance of the city of Tallahassee,

[3:29:15] Florida, amending section six of the

[3:29:18] charter of the city of Tallahassee to

[3:29:20] annex within the corporate area of the

[3:29:22] city of Tallahass, Florida, upon

[3:29:23] adoption of set ordinance, property

[3:29:26] being situated in Lyon County, Florida,

[3:29:28] in accordance with the voluntary

[3:29:29] annexation provisions of section 171.044

[3:29:32] 044 Florida statutes providing for

[3:29:35] severability conflicts and an effective

[3:29:37] date. The recommended opt action is

[3:29:39] option one conduct the first and only

[3:29:41] public hearing and accept accept staff

[3:29:43] recommendation to adopt ordinance number

[3:29:46] 26-11.

[3:29:48] » Excellent. Do we have any public comment

[3:29:49] on the saddle Mr. Clerk?

[3:29:51] » Mayor we have one speaker Gary Hunter

[3:29:53] presumably to answer questions. Okay,

[3:29:55] colleagues direction

[3:29:56] » Move staff recommendation option number

[3:29:58] one

[3:29:58] » Properly moved by the mayor pro Tim

[3:30:00] second by commissioner Williams Cox. Any

[3:30:02] further discussion?

[3:30:06] » Seeing none. All those in favor signify

[3:30:08] by saying I.

[3:30:09] » I.

[3:30:09] » All those opposed passes unanimously 40

[3:30:12] with Commissioner Porter out of chambers

[3:30:15] 16.03. Madam Attorney,

[3:30:17] » Thank you. Item number 16.03 is the

[3:30:19] second and final public hearing on the

[3:30:21] development agreement with Dr. Horton

[3:30:23] for portions of property within

[3:30:24] Southwood. The recommended action is

[3:30:26] option one, conduct the second and final

[3:30:28] public hearing on the development

[3:30:29] agreement and approve the agreement. I

[3:30:32] understand John Reddic, growth

[3:30:33] management director, is here um on this

[3:30:35] item if necessary.

[3:30:36] » Excellent. Do we have any public comment

[3:30:38] on this item?

[3:30:39] » Only speaker on this item is Aaron

[3:30:40] Tilton again presumably to answer

[3:30:42] questions.

[3:30:43] » All right, colleagues direction.

[3:30:45] » Move staff recommendation on option

[3:30:47] number one. probably move option number

[3:30:49] one by the mayor pro Tim, seconded by

[3:30:51] Commissioner Williams Cox. Any further

[3:30:52] discussion? Commissioner Matlo.

[3:30:54] » Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, so I

[3:30:56] notice on the attachment it says that

[3:30:58] this uh was written by the developers

[3:31:01] attorney. Did the city's attorney's

[3:31:03] office uh write any part of this order?

[3:31:06] » Madam Attorney,

[3:31:08] » The Dr. Horton order?

[3:31:10] » Yeah. Or the agreement?

[3:31:11] » Uh, did we write any part of it?

[3:31:15] Um, no. It was the draft was written by

[3:31:19] uh Aaron Tilton.

[3:31:22] Um

[3:31:24] I'm I'm not sure on this one at what

[3:31:26] point our office was involved in

[3:31:28] reviewing it.

[3:31:29] » Okay. And

[3:31:30] » I'd have to ask

[3:31:31] » Mr. M um

[3:31:32] » Deputy I'd have to ask Deputy City

[3:31:33] attorney L Norval at what point he was.

[3:31:37] » All right, Mr. Matlo.

[3:31:39] » Um so what specifically does this

[3:31:42] agreement do?

[3:31:44] Madam Attorney,

[3:31:46] » So um

[3:31:49] again I guess I would ask uh John Reick

[3:31:52] if he could describe the development

[3:31:54] agreement and then I can follow up with

[3:31:56] any uh legal questions related to it.

[3:31:58] But

[3:31:58] » Mr. Reick, good to see you, sir.

[3:32:01] So this agreement uh was provided to to

[3:32:05] the city for consideration as the city

[3:32:07] attorney stated as written uh by the

[3:32:09] developers representatives. Uh and the

[3:32:12] agreement is essentially to state that

[3:32:15] Dr. Horton who uh as you know is working

[3:32:18] through permitting for development of

[3:32:20] three different tracks on the southern

[3:32:21] part portion of the Southwood uh DRRI.

[3:32:24] Uh they would like to have this where

[3:32:27] they they're assuming the role of the

[3:32:28] developer whereas the DRRI of course has

[3:32:31] St. Joe currently identified as the role

[3:32:33] of developer uh by way of doing that.

[3:32:36] And part of this is they're assuming the

[3:32:38] obligations of u roadway construction

[3:32:41] through these areas that are outlined in

[3:32:43] the Southwood DRRI. So what they are uh

[3:32:47] recognized the familiarity with the

[3:32:49] enforcement action associated with the

[3:32:51] southwood DRRI based on the obligation

[3:32:53] around the obligations to build those

[3:32:55] those roadways. Their proposal through

[3:32:57] this agreement is they'll assume the

[3:32:59] obligations uh that the developer at St.

[3:33:02] Joe would otherwise have had. They will

[3:33:04] commit to building them all in time. um

[3:33:06] they've you know through this would be

[3:33:08] held accountable if there was any uh any

[3:33:13] violation relative to what's outlined in

[3:33:16] the south of DRRI for those specific

[3:33:17] roadway segments. So this is Merchants

[3:33:19] Row and Artemis Way two portions of

[3:33:22] this. Um in return they wouldn't be held

[3:33:25] accountable or or exposed to um any

[3:33:28] enforcement action that may be a result

[3:33:31] of violations occurring outside of these

[3:33:34] tracks that they're developing. Okay.

[3:33:36] And and that's what I my question is

[3:33:37] about. So, uh the developers right to

[3:33:40] proceed said that they can proceed

[3:33:42] development on those specified lots even

[3:33:45] if the internal roads aren't built.

[3:33:48] » So, the the internals roads within what

[3:33:51] they're developing would have to be

[3:33:52] built certainly. And full transparency,

[3:33:55] they're they're they're working through

[3:33:56] that right now. The the development

[3:33:58] plans that they are doing right now um

[3:34:00] as part of their permitting process

[3:34:02] incorporate these roadways right now.

[3:34:04] So, it is dependent. I would I would say

[3:34:06] not only are they required to to build

[3:34:08] them, what they're proposing to do is

[3:34:10] very much dependent from a traffic

[3:34:12] analysis standpoint. It it doesn't

[3:34:14] happen without them building these

[3:34:15] roadways. So, that's all to say they

[3:34:18] would very much still be on the hook for

[3:34:19] what they are incorporating within their

[3:34:21] development scope.

[3:34:22] » And and St. Joe's the current owner and

[3:34:25] they're obligated to build those

[3:34:27] roadways.

[3:34:27] » They are the current owner. I I would

[3:34:30] also some of those questions to the to

[3:34:33] the representative the developer too on

[3:34:35] there any specifics. So I know as much

[3:34:37] as the city is in terms of the

[3:34:38] permitting process.

[3:34:39] » So so what is the benefit to the city?

[3:34:42] » I we would still I would say a net

[3:34:44] neutral in the sense we still are

[3:34:46] getting the the the roadway um the

[3:34:49] roadways built that we intended through

[3:34:52] our agreement with the DR within the

[3:34:53] DRRi. um the you know greater value to

[3:34:59] the home construction that's associated

[3:35:01] with it. Um but certainly from an

[3:35:03] infrastructure priority um the process

[3:35:06] or the progress that's being made right

[3:35:07] now uh towards constructing those

[3:35:09] roadways is in line with and ahead of

[3:35:11] schedule with what's stated in the

[3:35:13] Southwood DRRI.

[3:35:15] » And so have we done this type of

[3:35:16] agreement before? I'm not familiar with

[3:35:19] an agreement like this that would be a

[3:35:21] carval from an existing agreement uh

[3:35:25] with a I'll say a third party involved

[3:35:28] in

[3:35:29] » And so why are we doing this now

[3:35:32] » This this was provided to us and and

[3:35:35] ultimately you for consideration. So I

[3:35:37] think it in that nature we would look

[3:35:39] for your feedback as to whether it's

[3:35:40] appropriate or not.

[3:35:42] » Okay. And so this wasn't directed to be

[3:35:43] brought by the city commission who put

[3:35:44] it on the agenda.

[3:35:46] » Correct. This is the our typical

[3:35:49] procedure on a on a development

[3:35:51] agreement request or even amendment to a

[3:35:53] development agreement would be uh

[3:35:55] submitting a through growth management.

[3:35:56] There's a fee associated with that and

[3:35:58] then from there processing it for for

[3:35:59] the two public hearings for the for the

[3:36:01] city commission to consider.

[3:36:02] » So if I'm hearing you correctly, the

[3:36:04] process is for a developer to submit a

[3:36:07] fully written agreement and then have

[3:36:10] that brought to the city commission.

[3:36:12] » It is often uh produced that way.

[3:36:16] » Another question. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

[3:36:17] » Sure. Absolutely. Um, I let me pipe up

[3:36:21] and say that we're at a point in the

[3:36:23] process as the process is described. No,

[3:36:26] commissioners do not ask for this

[3:36:28] individually. The way how the process is

[3:36:30] structured, it comes to us uh for

[3:36:32] consideration moving forward.

[3:36:34] Commissioner Matlo and um, Madame

[3:36:37] Attorney, I know that your office has

[3:36:38] had eyes on this and have looked at it.

[3:36:40] I know that you've been in and out a

[3:36:42] little bit lately. Uh, but I have full

[3:36:43] confidence in your legal team. Yes, I

[3:36:46] would like to

[3:36:46] » Particular issue and if we need to dive

[3:36:48] in, I know that Mr. Norll is here as

[3:36:50] well. If I can help answer any

[3:36:51] questions. I know you got caught off

[3:36:53] guard there for a second.

[3:36:54] » Oh, yes. Thank you.

[3:36:55] » But but I but I know that you all been

[3:36:57] engaged. So, there is a motion on the

[3:36:59] table made by the mayor prom for

[3:37:00] approval. Second by Commissioner

[3:37:01] Williams Cox. Mayor Pro.

[3:37:03] » Yeah. Just a quick question, Mr. Mayor.

[3:37:05] Is it is it my understanding that this

[3:37:08] helps us avoid the situation that we're

[3:37:10] currently in in Southwood with

[3:37:15] Yes, Commissioner. I believe that this

[3:37:17] development agreement would address that

[3:37:19] type of

[3:37:20] » So, it would behove behoove us then to

[3:37:23] agree to this type of uh agreement with

[3:37:27] the developer.

[3:37:28] » Correct.

[3:37:29] » That's your decision.

[3:37:30] » Okay.

[3:37:30] » On point, Mr. Mayor.

[3:37:32] » Commissioner Matler, then Commissioner

[3:37:33] Porter.

[3:37:34] » Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor, and and

[3:37:35] Commissioner Erdson. My view is it does

[3:37:37] uh the exact opposite. Um, it

[3:37:39] relinquishes uh our ability to use these

[3:37:42] parcels as part of enforcement against

[3:37:44] St. Joe to develop the roadway and

[3:37:46] allows these parcels to be developed uh

[3:37:49] no matter if those roadways get built or

[3:37:51] not. Mr. Mayor,

[3:37:52] » Mr. Porter.

[3:37:53] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. That's my reading

[3:37:55] as well. I would like to hear more from

[3:37:59] our city attorney as to why she believes

[3:38:01] the contrary.

[3:38:02] » Could I ask uh Mr. Noral to

[3:38:04] » Mr. Noral, please come join us for the

[3:38:05] fun.

[3:38:17] And I'll just say while while Mr.

[3:38:19] Norville is walking up, this is from the

[3:38:21] agreement. Under the agreement or from

[3:38:23] the item under the agreement, Dr. Horton

[3:38:24] would be allowed to continue development

[3:38:26] of its property regardless of the

[3:38:28] construction and completion status of

[3:38:30] other roads required by the Southwood

[3:38:32] Development of Regional Impact

[3:38:34] Development Order.

[3:38:36] » Mr. Mayor, if could could I have the

[3:38:38] question restated for me?

[3:38:42] » Commissioner Porter.

[3:38:43] » So, Commissioner Richardson's question

[3:38:45] was, "Do this does this agreement help

[3:38:48] us avoid what we are going through with

[3:38:51] St. Joe?"

[3:38:53] And the city attorney's answer was yes.

[3:38:57] But that's not how I read this

[3:38:59] agreement.

[3:39:01] It seems like it leaves St. Joe fully

[3:39:03] off the hook and the roads being built.

[3:39:07] I mean, I'll just start by asking, was

[3:39:09] this agreement prompted by the

[3:39:11] enforcement action against St. Joe? Is

[3:39:14] that why it's coming to us now?

[3:39:16] » So, Commissioner, I'd have to defer to

[3:39:18] somebody else. What I've understood, and

[3:39:20] I mean, at least what this this office

[3:39:22] saw is is that this uh there was an

[3:39:25] application that was submitted. Uh, it

[3:39:27] did come the draft agreement did come to

[3:39:29] the city attorney's office and it did go

[3:39:31] to growth management.

[3:39:34] » Okay. So, as to Commissioner

[3:39:36] Richardson's question, can you address

[3:39:38] that?

[3:39:39] » So, some of this may be just kind of

[3:39:41] practical application that others may be

[3:39:44] able to speak to better. I mean, as I

[3:39:46] understand it, part of this is to give

[3:39:48] some assurance to uh this developer here

[3:39:51] that they can go forward. Uh John may be

[3:39:54] able to speak to kind of where things

[3:39:55] are on permitting, but I as I understand

[3:39:58] it because of some uncertainty

[3:40:01] uh uh with the the uh enforcement action

[3:40:04] that this does give certainty to this

[3:40:06] developer to go forward with permitting

[3:40:08] to and to build uh homes and there there

[3:40:11] are the asurances that this Artemis Way

[3:40:13] and merchants would be.

[3:40:15] » Okay. Thank you.

[3:40:16] » Order.

[3:40:17] » Okay. Commissioner Williams Cox.

[3:40:19] » Thank you. Uh Mr. Mayor uh Erin Tilton

[3:40:21] is here and I think she's here. We might

[3:40:24] as well give her opportunity to explain

[3:40:25] since she's representing Dr. Horton.

[3:40:28] » Tilton, thank you for joining us.

[3:40:31] » Thank you for having me. Appreciate it.

[3:40:32] Uh Aaron Tilton, 106 East College

[3:40:35] Avenue, uh Sterns Weaver Miller on

[3:40:37] behalf of Dr. Horton. Um you know,

[3:40:39] commissioners, I think there are a

[3:40:40] couple of questions about Chapter 163

[3:40:42] development agreements generally. um

[3:40:45] they are used in pretty much every

[3:40:47] jurisdiction across the state to

[3:40:50] encourage private investment in capital

[3:40:52] infrastructure. And and the the way that

[3:40:56] you do that through a chapter 163

[3:40:57] agreement is you provide the applicant

[3:40:59] with assurances that if it makes these

[3:41:01] very significant investments in

[3:41:03] infrastructure that are going to be

[3:41:04] built out over time that those

[3:41:06] investments are not interrupted by

[3:41:09] changes in the in the status quo during

[3:41:11] the the course of the development. Um,

[3:41:14] sorry, Commissioner Porter.

[3:41:15] » No, I'm just I would like to be

[3:41:16] recognized when you finish. Okay. Thank

[3:41:18] you.

[3:41:19] » Um,

[3:41:21] so that's particularly important in a

[3:41:23] very largecale master plan community

[3:41:25] like Southwood again that has

[3:41:26] significant infrastructure that is built

[3:41:28] out over a long period of time. Um and

[3:41:31] so in protecting that the private

[3:41:34] investment what what the city

[3:41:36] additionally gets through a development

[3:41:37] agreement is another mechanism to

[3:41:40] enforce the applicant's infrastructure

[3:41:42] obligations. So you ask the question

[3:41:44] does this help us avoid a situation like

[3:41:46] we have with St. Joe in the future. You

[3:41:48] would have the same exact um you know

[3:41:50] enforcement capabilities under the DRRI

[3:41:53] development order with regard to the

[3:41:55] roadway obligations that Dr. Horton is

[3:41:57] agreeing to assume. You would also have

[3:41:59] contractual obligations and statutory

[3:42:02] remedies in addition to what's allowed

[3:42:04] in your DRI development order that you

[3:42:06] could enforce if those roadways are not

[3:42:08] completed. Under this agreement, Dr.

[3:42:10] Horton has to complete those

[3:42:11] improvements on the same schedule that

[3:42:13] is currently laid out in exhibit G to

[3:42:16] the DRRI and those are associated with

[3:42:18] MDR19 and 20. So they are in the pods

[3:42:22] that Dr. Horton will be developing. They

[3:42:24] are on the south side of the Southwood

[3:42:26] DRI. They are nowhere near Orange

[3:42:27] Avenue. Um,

[3:42:30] Dr. Horton has multiple, as you, as you

[3:42:32] noted, Commissioner Malo, they have

[3:42:33] multiple properties under contract

[3:42:35] within the Southwood DRRi. They have not

[3:42:37] asked for this development agreement to

[3:42:39] cover all of those properties. They've

[3:42:40] asked for it to cover the properties

[3:42:42] where they are building their own

[3:42:44] infrastructure independent of what St.

[3:42:46] Joe may have obligated in other places

[3:42:47] within the DR.

[3:42:50] » Commission Porter, you're recognized.

[3:42:54] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And I understand

[3:42:55] the point of a development agreement and

[3:42:57] I and I know that the roads are not that

[3:43:01] in question with St. Joe are not here. I

[3:43:03] do have to say it makes me

[3:43:05] uncomfortable. I mean I would prefer to

[3:43:07] hear from our own staff about the public

[3:43:09] benefit of an agreement like this and

[3:43:11] not from the developers attorney. But I

[3:43:13] do appreciate that explanation. But I I

[3:43:16] mean I think it is you know we have been

[3:43:18] through this before. I'll let this go

[3:43:21] because we still have other items to

[3:43:23] hear to hear from. But, you know, the

[3:43:26] way I see this, this is a giveaway to

[3:43:29] St. Joe. We frankly didn't do what we

[3:43:32] needed to do to make sure that that

[3:43:34] development agreement was upheld and now

[3:43:38] we're giving them an out because they

[3:43:40] don't want to develop that area anymore.

[3:43:43] So, I have concerns about this and

[3:43:45] concerns about this process, frankly.

[3:43:48] So, that's where I'm at. Thank you. I'm

[3:43:50] ready to move on.

[3:43:50] » Commissioner Porter, we can spend as

[3:43:52] much time as you'd like on this issue.

[3:43:53] So, I don't want you to feel rushed. If

[3:43:55] you have additional questions or

[3:43:56] comments, right back in. Commissioner

[3:43:58] Williams Cox.

[3:44:00] » Um, I think the net net is out of when

[3:44:02] all of this is said and done, how many

[3:44:03] homes are we're anticipating being

[3:44:05] built?

[3:44:09] » So, LSF11 and MDR20 are single family.

[3:44:12] 19 is both a combination of multif

[3:44:14] family and single family. Number

[3:44:20] » Around 800 units when you include multi.

[3:44:22] » Okay. So, how the city benefits is that

[3:44:25] we have a housing inventory that we're

[3:44:27] trying to

[3:44:27] » You do and it's also at a a price park a

[3:44:30] price point that does not currently

[3:44:32] exist in the market.

[3:44:33] » Right. So, that you know after all of

[3:44:35] this is said and done, the net net is

[3:44:37] that how we how it benefits the city and

[3:44:39] its residents is growing number of

[3:44:41] residents is housing. Um and and to help

[3:44:44] make it affordable because we have more

[3:44:46] housing in the inventory to be

[3:44:48] competitive with other other housing.

[3:44:50] » Absolutely, Commissioner. And I' I'd

[3:44:52] also say the alternative with the

[3:44:54] current situation with Southwood and St.

[3:44:56] Joe and potential non-compliance without

[3:44:58] something like a development agreement

[3:44:59] in place. You're essentially looking at

[3:45:02] no one is coming in to build in

[3:45:03] Southwood.

[3:45:04] » Thank you. Commissioner Matlo, you have

[3:45:06] questions.

[3:45:07] » Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. Yeah, just one.

[3:45:09] So, so what's your understanding of Dr.

[3:45:12] Horton's ability to develop on these

[3:45:14] lots with those other roads not being

[3:45:16] constructed that are not included?

[3:45:18] » With which other roads specifically? uh

[3:45:19] the Orange Avenue extension in

[3:45:21] Builtmore.

[3:45:22] » My understanding of their ability to

[3:45:24] build on these roadways today is that

[3:45:25] they are not covered by the

[3:45:26] non-compliance finding. So they would be

[3:45:28] able to build today. Now whether that

[3:45:30] non-compliance area is expanded in the

[3:45:32] future um is a is a big question mark.

[3:45:35] » Okay. And so I asked John the same

[3:45:37] question. What's the purpose of this

[3:45:39] agreement?

[3:45:39] » The purpose of this agreement is to

[3:45:41] provide stability for the significant

[3:45:42] investment that Dr. Horton is making in

[3:45:44] taking on those infrastructure

[3:45:46] obligations that would not otherwise be

[3:45:47] theirs.

[3:45:48] Okay. Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor.

[3:45:50] » Got a motion on the table made by the

[3:45:52] mayor pro Tim, second by Commissioner

[3:45:54] Williams Cox. All those in favor of the

[3:45:55] motion signify by saying I. I.

[3:45:57] » All those opposed.

[3:45:59] » Passes three to two with Commissioner

[3:46:00] Matloo and Commissioner Porter against.

[3:46:02] We're on item number 16.4. Madame

[3:46:04] Attorney.

[3:46:06] » Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. This is the

[3:46:08] first of two um item number 16.04 is the

[3:46:11] first of two public hearings on the

[3:46:13] third amended and restated canopy

[3:46:15] development agreement. the second public

[3:46:17] hearing scheduled for September 23rd,

[3:46:19] 2026. The recommended action is option

[3:46:22] one, conduct the first public hearing on

[3:46:23] the development agreement and schedule

[3:46:25] the second and final public hearing for

[3:46:26] September 23rd, 2026 at 6 p.m. in the

[3:46:29] City of Tallahassee city commission

[3:46:31] chambers at city hall. Again, John

[3:46:33] Reick, uh, growth management director,

[3:46:35] will present this item or is available

[3:46:36] to answer questions.

[3:46:38] » Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Do we have any

[3:46:39] public comment on this item?

[3:46:40] » Mayor, again, I [clears throat] have two

[3:46:42] speakers on this item. I assume both to

[3:46:43] answer questions. Lynn Adams Takis and

[3:46:46] Aaron Tilton.

[3:46:48] » All right.

[3:46:52] Say that again.

[3:46:54] We're gonna get there in just a second.

[3:46:55] Yes, ma'am. Um, do either one of our

[3:46:58] public speakers want to speak?

[3:47:01] Okay. Excellent. Let's go with the

[3:47:03] presentation.

[3:47:07] » Thank you, mayor. I don't have a

[3:47:09] presentation on this. I am just availed

[3:47:11] for questions if we need to. Similar to

[3:47:13] the pri previous item, this was

[3:47:15] submitted for consideration to staff um

[3:47:17] stated this would be the first of of two

[3:47:19] public hearings. Your your recommended

[3:47:21] action is essentially to hold the per

[3:47:23] first public hearing and schedule the

[3:47:24] second. Um I think at this point the the

[3:47:27] proposal that was submitted to us the

[3:47:28] primary um the the primary uh component

[3:47:33] of of an amendment to the canopy

[3:47:35] development agreement uh would be

[3:47:37] amending the the developer's obligation

[3:47:40] um or or intent I should say to

[3:47:42] construct the roadway connection denso

[3:47:46] um at Mkasuki uh currently terminates

[3:47:49] essentially at the bounds of the Mkasuki

[3:47:51] greenway uh what is contemplated

[3:47:53] certainly the development agreement and

[3:47:55] the plan unit development to extend

[3:47:57] across the greenway and tie in with the

[3:47:59] existing uh where [snorts] Mayo

[3:48:01] currently approaches from the east or

[3:48:03] excuse me from the south into Suki. Uh

[3:48:07] so there are other components that that

[3:48:09] were submitted that have been submitted

[3:48:10] for consideration. Uh I'll say the bulk

[3:48:13] of it in terms of individual items is

[3:48:16] acknowledging a lot of obligations that

[3:48:18] were uh you know expected when this was

[3:48:21] originally drafted but have since been

[3:48:23] fulfilled. Um there's also uh proposed

[3:48:26] revisions to the the bus shelter

[3:48:30] requirements within it. There's a

[3:48:32] recognition of the uh termination of the

[3:48:36] inclusionary housing agreement which

[3:48:37] occurred in 2024. Um so with that I I

[3:48:41] would certainly uh

[3:48:44] hand off any questions of of the

[3:48:46] proposal and the the details behind it

[3:48:48] to the representative uh present for the

[3:48:50] developer. Um but with that from south

[3:48:53] side we would look for your direction uh

[3:48:55] on this proposal. Let's

[3:48:57] » Go back to public comment. Mr. Clerk

[3:49:00] » Two speakers on the item. Mayor uh Lynn

[3:49:02] Adams Takis.

[3:49:09] » Excellent. Your name and address for the

[3:49:10] record.

[3:49:11] » Lyn Adams Tacis 2133 Miller Landing

[3:49:14] Road. And unfortunately I don't have

[3:49:16] prepared comments so I just went ahead

[3:49:18] and brought this with me. Um, some of

[3:49:20] the main components of this developer

[3:49:22] agreement, which again is written by the

[3:49:25] developer in their best interest, is

[3:49:28] that road construction responsibilities

[3:49:30] will shift to taxpayers. And let's just

[3:49:32] all remember Wani Boulevard is already

[3:49:35] being built to help support these luxury

[3:49:38] developments.

[3:49:40] I think the original cost was supposed

[3:49:41] to be $78 million.

[3:49:44] Currently, it's at $22 million. is the

[3:49:47] most expensive of three major roadway

[3:49:49] projects going on for blueprint that all

[3:49:51] combined do about 15 miles of road, a

[3:49:54] little less, and over half a billion

[3:49:57] dollars. So, if we're looking for

[3:49:59] opportunities to help, you know, balance

[3:50:01] our budget. I think one of the main

[3:50:03] things I would look at is not taking

[3:50:05] over responsibilities for the public to

[3:50:08] pay for roads that the developer is

[3:50:10] obligated to do. uh Canopy would get

[3:50:12] reserved road capacity even if the roads

[3:50:15] become congested. The development can

[3:50:18] change without amending the agreement

[3:50:20] which also cuts the public out of making

[3:50:23] comments. The um agreement would lock in

[3:50:26] provisions for 15 years under the

[3:50:29] current development code. And I don't

[3:50:31] know if y'all have noticed, but we've

[3:50:32] had a lot of extreme heat days this

[3:50:34] summer. It is so dadum hot. And a big

[3:50:38] reason for that is because we keep

[3:50:40] taking all the trees out. And I know

[3:50:42] everybody's like, "Oh my gosh, a tree

[3:50:43] hugger." But trees matter and we have

[3:50:46] opportunities to keep more of them in

[3:50:48] what is our open space, green space,

[3:50:51] which right now lets you just clear

[3:50:53] everything out and put sod on it. And so

[3:50:55] we may, Lord willing, change our

[3:50:58] development code in the future to keep

[3:51:00] more of our forested areas in what is

[3:51:03] already set aside space. But under this

[3:51:06] new development code or de developer

[3:51:09] agreement, if we were to change that in

[3:51:11] the next 15 years, it won't matter

[3:51:14] because they won't be obligated to

[3:51:16] follow the new code. So, you're

[3:51:18] handcuffing a future commission. The

[3:51:21] other is that part of Wani Boulevard in

[3:51:24] this development agreement says it'll be

[3:51:28] six lanes. And I don't think a lot of

[3:51:30] people realize that what part of Wani

[3:51:33] Boulevard will be is equal to what we

[3:51:35] have on Thomasville Road. So there's a

[3:51:38] lot of important parts to this that I

[3:51:39] think you know the developers going to

[3:51:42] ride it in their best interest. And what

[3:51:44] we need y'all to do is to look out for

[3:51:46] our best interests.

[3:51:48] » And that is what I'm asking you to do.

[3:51:51] Please do not just vote for this next

[3:51:53] time it's up. actually look out for the

[3:51:56] public because right now Wani Boulevard

[3:51:58] is already a boon doggle. So, let's not

[3:52:02] add to it and let's not add to what

[3:52:05] taxpayers are paying and keep raising

[3:52:08] their taxes while we're giving

[3:52:10] developers a free ride. Thank you.

[3:52:16] » Next speaker is Aaron Tilton.

[3:52:21] » Your name and address for the record,

[3:52:22] please.

[3:52:22] » Thank you, commissioners. Aaron Tilton,

[3:52:24] 106 East College Avenue, Sterns Weaver

[3:52:26] Miller on behalf of the applicant. Um,

[3:52:28] as uh Mr. Reic mentioned, the item

[3:52:30] before you is an amendment to the

[3:52:31] development agreement for Canopy. That

[3:52:33] development agreement was originally

[3:52:34] approved in 2011. It's been amended just

[3:52:37] about once every five or six years since

[3:52:40] 2011. Uh, which again with a large-scale

[3:52:42] master plan community built out over a,

[3:52:45] you know, a decent span of time, that is

[3:52:49] fairly common. Um so the project had the

[3:52:52] development agreement has been amended

[3:52:53] in 2016 2020 and now 2026 you have this

[3:52:57] amendment before you. Um importantly

[3:52:59] there's no changes being proposed to the

[3:53:01] development program here. Uh this is

[3:53:03] really entirely clean up of existing

[3:53:05] obligations and clarification where

[3:53:08] we've realized over time that that was

[3:53:09] needed. I want to talk real quick about

[3:53:11] the roadway. Um, the origin of that

[3:53:14] extension of Dempsey Mayo across the

[3:53:17] greenway to connect to Mkasuki Road

[3:53:19] actually dates back to 1998. Uh, when

[3:53:21] the landowner initially conveyed the

[3:53:23] greenway to the trust for public land, a

[3:53:26] easement across the greenway was

[3:53:28] reserved for future roadway access. Uh

[3:53:30] in 2002 when the city and the county

[3:53:32] adopted the Wani critical area plan uh

[3:53:35] they adopted a policy that provided for

[3:53:37] road access at uh Mkasuki and Dempsey

[3:53:40] Mayo across the greenway within that

[3:53:42] reserved easement if it was determined

[3:53:45] by the local government that a

[3:53:46] connection would have a desirable impact

[3:53:49] on the Mkasuki Canopy Road. That issue

[3:53:52] came in front of your predecessors in

[3:53:54] 2006 that your predecessor commission

[3:53:57] based on an expert report and analysis

[3:53:58] that were submitted by the land owner

[3:54:00] found that that connection point would

[3:54:02] have a desirable impact and that was

[3:54:05] memorialized in a prior agreement we

[3:54:07] refer to as the amended and restated uh

[3:54:09] USA.

[3:54:11] That agreement says the city and owners

[3:54:14] agree that the owners shall be entitled

[3:54:17] to access Mkasuki Road at Dempsey Mayo

[3:54:20] within that reserved access easement. So

[3:54:22] sometime between 2006 and the present

[3:54:25] day, this narrative has has come forward

[3:54:29] that the developer is obligated to build

[3:54:31] that roadway. That was never the case.

[3:54:33] It's never been in the development

[3:54:34] agreement. It's never been in the PUD.

[3:54:37] It's never been in the Wani critical

[3:54:38] area plan. It has always been that the

[3:54:40] de developer is entitled to that access

[3:54:42] point based on a showing that they made

[3:54:44] to a prior commission of a desirable

[3:54:46] impact. Um, this came to a head, you may

[3:54:49] remember, a little bit over a year ago,

[3:54:51] the county commission on its own

[3:54:52] initiative took up an agenda item to

[3:54:54] talk about the the Masuki Canopy Road

[3:54:57] Greenway and this roadway in particular

[3:54:59] and got into a public discussion of

[3:55:01] actually designing that roadway through

[3:55:03] the greenway in which the developer was

[3:55:04] not at the table. There was of course

[3:55:08] quite a bit of public opposition to

[3:55:10] putting that roadway in place. That was

[3:55:12] the point at which we realized this

[3:55:15] narrative was out in the public that we

[3:55:17] were required to build the roadway and

[3:55:18] that we want needed to add this as one

[3:55:20] of the things we would clarify when we

[3:55:22] brought the development agreement

[3:55:23] forward for cleanup as we have done just

[3:55:26] about every 5 years since it was

[3:55:27] developed.

[3:55:28] » Thank you, M. If you'll just stick

[3:55:30] around if there's additional questions.

[3:55:32] » Next speaker, please.

[3:55:33] » Those are the only speakers on the item.

[3:55:35] » All right. All right, we're on

[3:55:36] commission discussion, direction.

[3:55:37] Remember, this is the first of two

[3:55:38] public hearings. Uh, it'll be coming

[3:55:40] back to us in September as well. There a

[3:55:43] motion to move forward. Commissioner

[3:55:45] Porter.

[3:55:46] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I would like to

[3:55:48] ask if Mr. Reic can come back up to

[3:55:51] answer some questions.

[3:55:52] » Reick. So, since the original PUB

[3:55:56] predates my time on the commission,

[3:55:59] can someone just address why the prior

[3:56:02] requirements were put into place

[3:56:04] originally?

[3:56:06] » The the requirements of

[3:56:09] » Of the development agreement. Just all

[3:56:11] of them. I mean, the all of them.

[3:56:12] » Sure. because it was all-encompassing

[3:56:15] and a lot of it predated the current

[3:56:17] developers involvement actually in this

[3:56:20] property and then they amended and

[3:56:21] restated as they assumed those

[3:56:23] obligations. So um I would say chiefly

[3:56:26] the largest was tied to

[3:56:29] um the buildout of Wani Boulevard. The

[3:56:31] developer got a lot of um they

[3:56:34] participated in the construction of that

[3:56:36] and in return got um the currency

[3:56:39] credits. They also um committed to for

[3:56:42] example the the transit facilities. They

[3:56:44] also again there was the inclusionary

[3:56:46] housing component which separately they

[3:56:48] benefited from that was related to our

[3:56:50] at that time it was our inclusionary

[3:56:52] housing ordinance. They benefited from

[3:56:54] density b entitlement bonuses

[3:56:56] essentially. So there the the net

[3:56:59] benefit and why the the city entered

[3:57:01] into the agreement um was was um pretty

[3:57:06] diverse in in reason but I would say the

[3:57:09] largest component of it um certainly

[3:57:11] financially was infrastructure related.

[3:57:13] There was a lot of I think there was

[3:57:15] even underground utilities included that

[3:57:17] as well. So um and then also

[3:57:21] recognized the uh location for the new

[3:57:24] senior center city got in return

[3:57:28] for their participation in this.

[3:57:30] » Okay. Thank you. Are there any cost

[3:57:32] impacts to the city by entering if we

[3:57:36] enter into this agreement or accept the

[3:57:38] amendment amendment agreement for for

[3:57:41] consideration um that we've recognized

[3:57:43] is that the uh city's

[3:57:48] currency certainly recognizing the

[3:57:50] developers you know debating their their

[3:57:53] real obligation to that versus we've

[3:57:56] certainly pro proceeded with the intent

[3:57:58] that it would be uh constructed in the

[3:58:00] sense of uh as part of the build out by

[3:58:03] the developers that our concurrency

[3:58:06] system you know modeling for example has

[3:58:08] assumed that that connection would be

[3:58:12] made case or you know within the the the

[3:58:16] time frame of this development order uh

[3:58:18] or development agreement excuse me. So,

[3:58:20] um that is one where essentially

[3:58:23] assuming a more connected roadway

[3:58:25] network meant for um I'll say a better

[3:58:28] assessment of traffic impacts because

[3:58:30] the the intent stated intent both within

[3:58:33] the the critical area plan and within

[3:58:36] development agreement and um is that

[3:58:39] that connection would be there to

[3:58:41] relieve traffic off of the Canopy roads

[3:58:43] to and improve the broader network. So

[3:58:46] to say since Canopy has been built out

[3:58:49] when we look at you know one let's say

[3:58:52] phase of residential construction we are

[3:58:55] modeling the traffic impacts of that

[3:58:56] based on the assumption that these that

[3:58:58] connection is going to be there um and

[3:59:01] we would have done that moving forward.

[3:59:02] So that is something for consideration

[3:59:04] where um

[3:59:06] the city may have had there may have

[3:59:08] been

[3:59:10] more impact concurrency impacts and

[3:59:12] traffic impacts from things that have

[3:59:13] had occurred already and would be you

[3:59:15] know will occur moving forward for the

[3:59:17] full buildout that the city needs to

[3:59:19] take consideration when looking at this

[3:59:22] proposal.

[3:59:23] » Okay. Thank you. So I want to make sure

[3:59:25] I understand. So

[3:59:30] there is an impact obviously if well let

[3:59:33] me back up for a second. So the

[3:59:35] concurrency calculation

[3:59:38] in the original agreement or the latest

[3:59:41] agreement assumed that Dempsey Mayo

[3:59:43] would be constructed.

[3:59:45] » Correct. So correct

[3:59:46] » We're looking at a let's say 100 homes

[3:59:49] that that may be built in a phase. We're

[3:59:52] assessing the traffic network that the

[3:59:54] demands it'll put on our network. And

[3:59:56] within that model, we have that

[3:59:58] connection made. So, it's assuming that

[4:00:00] cars would be able to exit that larger

[4:00:03] master development and go and access

[4:00:06] Mississippi.

[4:00:07] » Okay. And as far as I could tell, and I

[4:00:10] think you've just addressed this, I

[4:00:12] didn't see anything in this agreement

[4:00:14] that addresses the concurrency

[4:00:16] calculations directly other than

[4:00:18] language that reads to me to say we'll

[4:00:21] handle this later in a separate

[4:00:22] agreement. Is that accurate?

[4:00:24] » The language you're referring to is the

[4:00:25] extent of that. Okay.

[4:00:27] » Provided to us. Yes.

[4:00:28] » And may I ask, why would we do that? Why

[4:00:30] wouldn't we include it in this

[4:00:31] agreement?

[4:00:33] Frank, the commissioner would look at

[4:00:34] your direction on that. We wanted to to

[4:00:37] incorporate that and and assess that in

[4:00:39] more detail rather than evaluating it

[4:00:42] after the fact.

[4:00:44] » Okay.

[4:00:45] What And now just jumping forward a

[4:00:49] little bit to talk about the roundabout

[4:00:52] at the intersection of Wani and Dempsey

[4:00:54] Mayo.

[4:00:56] So this agreement

[4:01:00] would rem eliminate the roundabout or we

[4:01:04] wouldn't move forward with the

[4:01:05] roundabout. Is that correct?

[4:01:07] » I don't know that it necessarily changes

[4:01:09] the type of intersection if it does get

[4:01:11] built. Uh again, I think it's still

[4:01:13] contemplated another of excuse me, a

[4:01:16] number of other areas that it would be a

[4:01:18] roundabout. Um but the I think the

[4:01:21] change is that um essentially it may be

[4:01:26] someone else is stepping in to do that

[4:01:28] at work. It's the developers Not

[4:01:32] intending to do that.

[4:01:33] » Okay.

[4:01:35] I'm seeing shaking heads behind you.

[4:01:39] » Sure.

[4:01:39] » Yes, please.

[4:01:41] » Hilton comment.

[4:01:43] » Thank you. Apologies for interrupting.

[4:01:45] Um, so the way this agreement is

[4:01:47] drafted, we're not saying the developer

[4:01:49] is not going to build this connection.

[4:01:50] We are saying they are not obligated to

[4:01:52] build this connection. If at some point

[4:01:54] in the future it makes sense from a

[4:01:56] traffic standpoint, from a you

[4:01:58] development standpoint, all of all of

[4:01:59] those factors, it it may get built, it

[4:02:03] may get built by this developer. Um

[4:02:05] they're not they're they're simply we're

[4:02:06] simply clarifying because of the

[4:02:09] narrative that is out there in the

[4:02:10] public that this is not an obligation

[4:02:12] associated with this development. Um,

[4:02:14] and then to the concurrency question, I

[4:02:16] think that's one of the reasons we're

[4:02:17] not addressing concurrency now because

[4:02:19] this still may get built. If we're

[4:02:21] concerned about a concur concurrency

[4:02:23] refund, I can tell you this developer is

[4:02:25] also sitting on a couple million dollars

[4:02:26] in concurrency credit right now from

[4:02:27] other infrastructure they've built for

[4:02:29] this community. So, it's really not

[4:02:30] something that I would be concerned with

[4:02:33] at this point.

[4:02:34] » Okay. Thank you. Um,

[4:02:38] I am cons I am concerned about it, but I

[4:02:40] appreciate that response. Um, can you

[4:02:43] speak a little bit to

[4:02:46] why we are eliminating the minimum for

[4:02:48] transit shelters?

[4:02:50] I would like to hear from our staff.

[4:02:53] Thank you.

[4:02:56] » The

[4:02:57] » Why Yeah. Why did we accept that?

[4:03:00] » What is the rationale for the city for

[4:03:03] the public benefit?

[4:03:04] » Commissioner, I've I've

[4:03:06] » Mr. Mayor, I can I can help in

[4:03:07] » Mr. Manager, jump in, please.

[4:03:09] » I think Wayne might be able to help a

[4:03:10] little more. I believe in the original

[4:03:12] agreement it might have been five

[4:03:15] is what it was.

[4:03:16] » Three to five.

[4:03:17] » We now have more information on that

[4:03:19] based on the way the development has

[4:03:20] occurred and what our expectations could

[4:03:23] be in terms of shelters. And so I think

[4:03:25] it's a refinement of what we think could

[4:03:27] be added. That's why the number we're

[4:03:31] comfortable with the change in in the

[4:03:33] commitment. Wayne, do I have anything

[4:03:36] else to add to that? Wayneter.

[4:03:40] Bottom line, commissioner, is that if

[4:03:43] staff sees the need for five, we will

[4:03:45] get five because it's written in a way

[4:03:47] that it's going to be approved by the

[4:03:49] city um regardless of the number, but

[4:03:52] there may not be the need for five

[4:03:54] within that development.

[4:03:57] » Commissioner Porter,

[4:03:58] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

[4:04:01] I think that, you know, we have now just

[4:04:03] gone through this process with St. Joe

[4:04:06] where there was there were questions and

[4:04:09] uncertainty there's so much uncertainty

[4:04:13] and this is an agreement like this as

[4:04:16] Miss Tilton

[4:04:18] explained is that it provides a benefit

[4:04:22] to the public through assurance mutually

[4:04:26] between the public the city and the

[4:04:29] developer. So, you know, these

[4:04:32] concurrency fees, these traffic impact

[4:04:34] fees are hundreds of thousands, if not

[4:04:37] millions of dollars. I'm not comfortable

[4:04:40] leaving that up to chance. Um,

[4:04:45] especially, with all due respect, when

[4:04:47] we've had issues with this developer,

[4:04:50] with I mean, [snorts] the gas the gas

[4:04:52] station issue, you know, this is not it

[4:04:54] is not my job to trust a developer. It

[4:04:57] is my job to put faith in our staff

[4:05:03] to represent the public interest when

[4:05:04] we're having these negotiations and

[4:05:06] these conversations.

[4:05:08] And I don't know, it feels a little bit

[4:05:11] rushed given that there are some

[4:05:13] outstanding questions

[4:05:15] um that I would feel much more

[4:05:17] comfortable

[4:05:20] moving forward with if we if we had

[4:05:23] answers to. So I would like to make

[4:05:27] a substitute motion.

[4:05:29] » There's no motion on the table.

[4:05:30] » Okay, then I'll make a motion. Um

[4:05:34] I also notice is there a staff

[4:05:35] recommendation

[4:05:37] on this item?

[4:05:40] » Commissioner, our only recommendation is

[4:05:42] to was to hold this public hearing

[4:05:44] certainly with the intent of of

[4:05:46] receiving your feedback and direction uh

[4:05:48] in response to what what's been put

[4:05:50] before you. And so our only

[4:05:51] recommendation is to schedule a second

[4:05:52] public hearing. Our recommendation was

[4:05:54] for the next September 23rd.

[4:05:56] » Okay. One other question. What is the

[4:05:59] impact? What what utilities would have

[4:06:01] run in the roadway along Dempsey Mayo?

[4:06:03] And does that impact other city plans?

[4:06:07] » Mr. Mayor, I think I

[4:06:08] » Sure Mr. help with that. The the utility

[4:06:12] easement and location is for the

[4:06:14] electric utility and so this agreement

[4:06:17] would contemplate that the developer

[4:06:19] would provide that access and and that

[4:06:22] that necessary um the easements

[4:06:24] necessary for that. this does clarify

[4:06:26] that is helpful to us as a city in the

[4:06:29] utility system

[4:06:31] um in that in those um easements and and

[4:06:34] placement of those utilities would be

[4:06:36] necessary for the next phase of their

[4:06:38] development. So we're we feel good about

[4:06:41] that because it provides clarity um that

[4:06:44] we can have access we get the rightway

[4:06:47] necessary and we work with the developer

[4:06:48] in the correct way to expand those

[4:06:50] utilities.

[4:06:52] » Okay, thank you. And then one final

[4:06:54] question I promise. So on page 14 under

[4:06:57] utilities

[4:06:59] um the new language says the respective

[4:07:02] obligations of the parties rel relative

[4:07:04] to the provision of natural gas to the

[4:07:06] canopy project including construction of

[4:07:08] the gas line along Wani Boulevard have

[4:07:10] been completed. So, it's my

[4:07:12] understanding from reading this that

[4:07:15] the developer had agreed to pay the city

[4:07:18] $165,000

[4:07:20] to be applied by the city toward the

[4:07:22] cost of installing the gas line along

[4:07:24] Milani Boulevard. So,

[4:07:27] I want clarification on this. [snorts]

[4:07:30] The gas line has been completed.

[4:07:33] The city incurred that expense and the

[4:07:37] developer had agreed to pay the city

[4:07:40] $165,000 to be applied

[4:07:43] for the cost of installing the gas line

[4:07:46] that is stricken. Was that did the

[4:07:50] developer apply? Was that amount applied

[4:07:53] to the city?

[4:07:55] » Mr. Mayor, I can I can answer that.

[4:07:56] » Mr. Manor,

[4:07:57] » Commissioner Porter, so that question

[4:07:59] was posed to the gas utility. That

[4:08:01] provision was an original provision in

[4:08:03] there. The developer did participate as

[4:08:05] needed to add the gas line. The gas

[4:08:08] utility has confirmed that all the work

[4:08:10] is done. I do not believe the money was

[4:08:12] paid because it was not necessary. The

[4:08:14] question was posed to the gas utility.

[4:08:16] Is it necessary? And they said no. So

[4:08:18] the request to remove it is an intent to

[4:08:21] clean it up because that work has been

[4:08:24] satisfied.

[4:08:25] » Okay. And can you just help me

[4:08:27] understand what does it mean that it's

[4:08:28] not necessary?

[4:08:30] Well, I'd have to ask somebody in the

[4:08:32] gas utility that answered it. Right. So,

[4:08:34] but the construction is taking place.

[4:08:36] The rightway was provided. That work is

[4:08:38] done and the gas utility was satisfied

[4:08:41] with that effort. This is now years ago.

[4:08:44] » Okay.

[4:08:46] So, did it not cost us money

[4:08:50] to provide natural gas or the the

[4:08:53] infrastructure? I just want to make sure

[4:08:55] I understand.

[4:08:57] » Yeah, it of course it would have cost

[4:08:58] some money. uh to the gas utilities as

[4:09:02] you might imagine to expand our main and

[4:09:04] when we do these development agreements

[4:09:07] it's providing for access you know other

[4:09:09] means and so that was satisfied by the

[4:09:12] developer um satisfactorily to the gas

[4:09:16] utility I guess is the best way I can

[4:09:18] say it.

[4:09:20] » Okay. Thank you Mr. Mayor. Um

[4:09:25] I I think and I appreciate

[4:09:28] staff's um explanations. I think it

[4:09:34] in the future I would love us to have a

[4:09:36] more comprehensive staff report. You

[4:09:38] know these are amend these are

[4:09:40] agreements that as everyone understands

[4:09:42] now you know go back many years. They're

[4:09:45] complicated agreements. would be really

[4:09:46] helpful if in our agenda materials it

[4:09:49] could just be like side by side here's

[4:09:51] what it did here's what it does. Um I

[4:09:53] understand I can read through the

[4:09:55] agreement as I did and there's

[4:09:56] strikethroughs. Um but this is a lot of

[4:10:00] money. I mean the implications of this

[4:10:01] are pretty significant. I don't like

[4:10:04] making decisions like this without

[4:10:06] having all the the information and

[4:10:08] understanding the the financial impact

[4:10:13] which according to this agenda material

[4:10:15] item says there is none. But it seems to

[4:10:18] me that there is one because we don't

[4:10:20] know at the very least we know there's

[4:10:22] one thing we don't know which is

[4:10:24] hundreds of thousands of dollars

[4:10:25] potentially and that's the concurrency

[4:10:27] fees. So, I'm not comfortable moving

[4:10:30] forward and I would um I would move that

[4:10:34] we do not for option two that we do not

[4:10:36] hold the first public hearing um and

[4:10:38] that you know staff can come back to us

[4:10:40] with this with at the very least the

[4:10:43] concurrency

[4:10:45] um figure factored in. I I'm not

[4:10:47] comfortable saying that that's just

[4:10:49] something we're going to figure out

[4:10:51] later in a separate agreement. So, is

[4:10:53] that is my motion clear? Option number

[4:10:55] two has been probably made by

[4:10:57] Commissioner Porter. Is there a second?

[4:10:59] » Second.

[4:10:59] » Second by Commissioner Matlo. You're

[4:11:01] recognized for comment.

[4:11:02] » Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um and Mr.

[4:11:04] Reick. The same question on the other

[4:11:06] item. The attachment says that this

[4:11:08] agreement was prepared by the developers

[4:11:11] attorneys. Um did your staff work on

[4:11:14] this agreement?

[4:11:15] » We did do a preliminary review of it. Um

[4:11:17] I think some of our feedback was

[4:11:19] pertaining to questions about

[4:11:21] concurrency impacts for this. Certainly

[4:11:24] um uh the city attorney as well was

[4:11:27] provided this agreement. Uh so I I I

[4:11:32] think our our next step in this and

[4:11:35] receiving it and and doing our review of

[4:11:37] it was also to place it in front of you

[4:11:39] and and look for direction on on

[4:11:41] something basically based on what was

[4:11:43] being considered proposed.

[4:11:45] » Okay.

[4:11:45] » And so did you make any edits or

[4:11:46] revisions to what was submitted by the

[4:11:48] developer?

[4:11:49] » We haven't directly made revisions on

[4:11:51] this. is something that was provided to

[4:11:53] us as it is.

[4:11:55] » Okay. Um,

[4:11:59] back to the the underlying question

[4:12:02] which I still wasn't clear. Does this

[4:12:04] eliminate the developer's obligation to

[4:12:06] build the Dempsey Mayo roadway?

[4:12:08] » Uh, I would state it as the developer is

[4:12:13] relinquishing their sole their sole

[4:12:15] entitlement to do it is probably a

[4:12:16] better way to phrase that. is they're

[4:12:18] currently entitled to do it like the

[4:12:20] city doesn't have the easement rights to

[4:12:21] go there and do if we wanted to

[4:12:22] ourselves. What they're proposing is to

[4:12:26] step back and say the city may can have

[4:12:28] easement rights to do so or separately

[4:12:31] um contract with the developer to do it

[4:12:32] or the developer as stated may decide to

[4:12:36] step up and do it their own on their

[4:12:37] own. So their their intent is to clarify

[4:12:42] their obligation on this and not

[4:12:44] necessarily relinquish an obligation.

[4:12:47] Okay. And so I mean I think that that

[4:12:48] makes it more unclear of what

[4:12:51] concurrency will look like, what traffic

[4:12:52] will look like, what utilities to these

[4:12:54] lots um will look like. I mean frankly

[4:12:57] on on first reading to me it looks like

[4:12:59] it's transferring financial

[4:13:01] responsibility away from the developer

[4:13:03] to the city uh government. That's an

[4:13:06] issue for me. It's an issue for me that

[4:13:08] we're operating in a way that developers

[4:13:09] attorneys draft these agreements and

[4:13:11] then we bring them to the city

[4:13:12] commission with no edits. It's makes me

[4:13:15] wonder who's actually looking after the

[4:13:17] city's best interest and I support the

[4:13:19] motion. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you,

[4:13:20] » Commissioner Williams Cox.

[4:13:21] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I guess u Mr. Reic

[4:13:25] and Aaron, city manager, is this any

[4:13:29] different than any other process that

[4:13:31] we've done with with um items like this

[4:13:34] because it sounds like we've been doing

[4:13:37] this for years. Commissioner, if I if I

[4:13:39] can answer that,

[4:13:40] » Man. Andrew,

[4:13:40] » Just for a different voice, this is a

[4:13:43] really old development agreement that

[4:13:47] has been amended from time to time as

[4:13:49] the development has changed. Things are

[4:13:50] new, things have been satisfied, there's

[4:13:53] new information, and I think that's what

[4:13:55] you see. There's a kind of probably a

[4:13:58] natural cycle to that. Development

[4:14:00] agreements rarely are static. And that

[4:14:03] that's what you're seeing. In this case,

[4:14:05] there's clarification in terms of the

[4:14:06] roadway. I would tell you from my point

[4:14:09] of view.

[4:14:11] I'm not sure that road connection is

[4:14:13] ever made. You know, that probably is

[4:14:16] for some time in the future. There's

[4:14:17] been a lot of debate about it. There's a

[4:14:20] considerable amount of public opposition

[4:14:22] to that roadway, notably in the

[4:14:24] Westminster Oaks area. Um, they I think

[4:14:29] it's safe for me to say that they would

[4:14:31] wish that not to happen. So, I think

[4:14:34] this agreement provides that clarity of

[4:14:37] how that could work if the roadway was

[4:14:40] ever developed, which I would venture to

[4:14:42] guess is not likely. Um, but even with

[4:14:46] that, we need clarity on rightway and

[4:14:48] easements for utilities and other things

[4:14:50] because the development is expected to

[4:14:52] continue to go. So this this does

[4:14:55] provide clarity that's helpful to the

[4:14:56] city, that's helpful to the developer

[4:14:58] that is contemporary.

[4:14:59] » And I think that's how these agreements

[4:15:01] typically evolve.

[4:15:03] » I just don't want the public to think

[4:15:04] that the developer can come in and give

[4:15:06] us an agreement and we just go running

[4:15:08] with it without edits or anything like

[4:15:10] that. That's that happens later in the

[4:15:12] process in the in the um planning

[4:15:14] process. And for these like you said

[4:15:16] this this has been around since 1998,

[4:15:19] 2011 and here we are 2026. So, a lot of

[4:15:22] things have evolved and will continue to

[4:15:24] evolve. Um, I I just want to make sure

[4:15:26] that the public knows that we're not

[4:15:27] just taking what developers give us. Our

[4:15:30] staff, you know, very well capable of

[4:15:32] doing what needs to be done to make sure

[4:15:34] that we're following the laws and

[4:15:36] procedures that we follow with every

[4:15:38] development. We don't pick and choose

[4:15:40] who we who we pick on. We we we follow

[4:15:42] for everybody. And uh my my last my

[4:15:46] question is um is this not the public

[4:15:49] hearing? is I I thought this was the

[4:15:52] public hearing

[4:15:53] » And and then there needs there will be a

[4:15:55] second public hearing. So how

[4:15:57] » First

[4:15:58] » So how then could we um do do not hold

[4:16:02] first public hearing and

[4:16:05] » Start over

[4:16:07] » Provide direction to staff.

[4:16:09] » Well the motion on the table is

[4:16:10] basically to suspend action and not move

[4:16:12] forward with the second public.

[4:16:14] » Okay.

[4:16:14] » So that that's that's what's before us

[4:16:16] today. Commissioner Porter has I'm I'm

[4:16:19] summarizing Commissioner Porter that her

[4:16:21] motion is let's put a pause. We don't

[4:16:23] need to move forward with the second

[4:16:25] » The second public hearing.

[4:16:26] » Well well thank you for that

[4:16:28] clarification because I I cannot support

[4:16:31] that because 1998 2011 2026

[4:16:35] when does when does when does this when

[4:16:38] do we when do we when do we get going? I

[4:16:40] think we should proceed with the uh with

[4:16:43] it and get questions answered between

[4:16:44] now and uh September 23rd that from the

[4:16:48] developer, the uh growth management,

[4:16:50] attorney, manager, whomever, we have

[4:16:52] time to get that information before that

[4:16:55] second and final public hearing. So, uh,

[4:16:58] I think we need to we should move

[4:16:59] forward so that we have an opportunity

[4:17:01] to get those very good questions that

[4:17:03] were asked answered so that we are we're

[4:17:06] set then for the second public hearing

[4:17:08] and then we go from there.

[4:17:10] » Commissioner N Williams Cox is making a

[4:17:12] substitute motion for option number one.

[4:17:14] Well, seconded by the mayor pro Tim.

[4:17:17] » Um, on the substitute motion, this is

[4:17:20] the first of two. This development

[4:17:22] agreement has been going on for nearly

[4:17:24] 30 years now. We're over 30 years now.

[4:17:26] We do have some questions that I respect

[4:17:28] from our colleagues. We do need to work

[4:17:30] in the next two weeks to make sure to

[4:17:32] get it, but I'm not ready to pause quite

[4:17:34] yet while we're still in the discussion

[4:17:35] before moving forward to the second

[4:17:37] public. Commissioner Porter.

[4:17:38] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So, yes, I had

[4:17:42] questions, but it's my understanding

[4:17:44] that when this comes back to us, I mean,

[4:17:46] we're approving it. like we're not going

[4:17:50] to the the development agreement coming

[4:17:53] back to us for a second hearing is not

[4:17:54] going to address the concerns that I

[4:17:57] raised.

[4:17:58] » Well, we have a very robust discussion

[4:18:00] and you will have time between now and

[4:18:02] then to work with staff to get all of

[4:18:04] the questions answered that you have.

[4:18:06] » Right. But I just want to clarify that

[4:18:08] the language we approve today is the

[4:18:10] language that will be before us at the

[4:18:13] second public hearing and will not be

[4:18:15] able to be amended then because it would

[4:18:17] be considered I think a substantial

[4:18:19] amendment.

[4:18:20] » Is that accurate?

[4:18:21] » Yes. Madam City and if the uh if the

[4:18:25] answers are not satisfactory to this

[4:18:27] board and still egregious then they will

[4:18:29] be voted down at the time. These are

[4:18:31] serious issues that are being raised and

[4:18:33] discussed and this is a very big

[4:18:35] development agreement that dates over 30

[4:18:37] years. There is always the opportunity

[4:18:39] for it to be defeated at the next public

[4:18:40] hearing. Correct.

[4:18:42] » All those in favor of the substitute

[4:18:44] motion on the table made by Commissioner

[4:18:46] Williams Cox second by the mayor pro Tim

[4:18:47] signify by saying I.

[4:18:49] » I.

[4:18:49] » All those opposed.

[4:18:51] » Passes three to two with Commissioner

[4:18:52] Matlo and Commissioner Porter in

[4:18:54] opposition. Do we have anything else

[4:18:56] come before us at this public hearing?

[4:18:58] » No, Mr. Mayor.

[4:18:59] » Okay. We are on item number uh 12.03

[4:19:03] under policy formation and direction.

[4:19:05] Mr. Manager.

[4:19:07] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Let me introduce

[4:19:09] it. Christique, would you mind coming

[4:19:13] forward if I could ask you to

[4:19:14] participate?

[4:19:16] Commissioners, you'll recall at your

[4:19:18] last meeting, Commissioner Richardson

[4:19:20] actually asked for this item to come

[4:19:22] back. It involves the um Appalache Ridge

[4:19:26] Technology Center that's located at 937

[4:19:29] Kindle Drive. There's been [snorts] a

[4:19:31] request from and Christique, you correct

[4:19:34] me if I say this wrong. The Greater

[4:19:35] Appalache Ridge Estates Neighborhood

[4:19:37] Association.

[4:19:39] And Miss Henry, are you representing

[4:19:40] that group?

[4:19:41] » Yes, sir, I am.

[4:19:42] » And and Miss Henry has made the request.

[4:19:44] Uh we've got a full agenda item that

[4:19:46] talks about the facility, the nature of

[4:19:48] the ownership, the maintenance, the

[4:19:50] participation. as a technology center

[4:19:52] for youth uh in the history of it. Um

[4:19:56] » Mr. Mayor Tim, if I if I may, I think

[4:19:59] it's best to ask Miss Henry just to give

[4:20:01] us a quick summary of the request if you

[4:20:03] don't mind.

[4:20:04] » Okay.

[4:20:04] » And then Wayne Tedar is uh the staff

[4:20:07] member on this item.

[4:20:08] » Did you have a question?

[4:20:09] » My question is will there be a staff

[4:20:11] presentation?

[4:20:13] » Uh Mr. Tedar can summarize any matters

[4:20:16] you you would like um and we'll fill in

[4:20:20] any gaps that that may exist.

[4:20:24] » Miss Henry.

[4:20:26] » Okay.

[4:20:26] » Hey y'all. How y'all doing? [laughter]

[4:20:28] » Um [clears throat] first of all, thank

[4:20:30] you so much commission for taking this

[4:20:32] up as an item for consideration today.

[4:20:34] Um let me just give you a little bit of

[4:20:35] backdrop. Uh this item is the

[4:20:38] culmination of over 20 years of resident

[4:20:41] advocacy, resident engagement, and

[4:20:43] resident leadership within the Appalache

[4:20:45] Ridge and Greater Appalache Ridge, which

[4:20:47] is what we call the 10.02 census tract

[4:20:50] of Lyon County. Um the original

[4:20:53] neighborhood improvement planning

[4:20:54] process, which was adopted by the city,

[4:20:57] did a whole lot of things that created a

[4:21:00] lot of winds for the community. It

[4:21:01] addressed storm water management,

[4:21:03] traffic, and safety. It addressed issues

[4:21:06] related to flooding. Um, it addressed a

[4:21:08] whole lot of things and a whole lot of

[4:21:10] winds that we have seen metriculate into

[4:21:13] factors of value, increase in home

[4:21:15] ownership, increase in economic

[4:21:17] trajectory within that census track.

[4:21:20] Part of that conversation was this

[4:21:22] Appalache Ridge technology and learning

[4:21:25] center. When it was created, it was

[4:21:28] purchased with municipal funds, but it

[4:21:30] was funded through a partnership that

[4:21:33] was facilitated through an organization

[4:21:34] called the Community Renaissance

[4:21:36] Neighborhood Partnership. That community

[4:21:38] renaissance neighborhood partnership had

[4:21:40] over $60,000 of commitments from

[4:21:43] municipal partners, Leyon County, city

[4:21:45] Tallahassee, the state of Florida,

[4:21:47] Florida State University, as well as in

[4:21:49] kind personnel that came to the table

[4:21:51] and said we will fund the programmatic

[4:21:53] mission of this center as it relates and

[4:21:55] as it as it resonates in the voice of

[4:21:57] the residents who wanted it as a

[4:21:59] facility at that time when we used

[4:22:01] floppy discs and phone cords to get on

[4:22:04] the internet. Um so that just lets you

[4:22:06] know the context and the age of this ex

[4:22:09] of this work. Um when the economic

[4:22:12] recession hit the community programs

[4:22:14] were in full swing at the time of um

[4:22:16] launch in 2007 um reached youth within

[4:22:20] our community. We have generations of

[4:22:21] youth that are now employed by city and

[4:22:23] state and local government and

[4:22:24] businesses that went through the

[4:22:25] Appalachin Ridge Technology and Learning

[4:22:27] Center. There were much dollars, much

[4:22:30] grant writing that happened that

[4:22:31] benefited the work. But once the

[4:22:33] economic recession hit the hit the

[4:22:36] center, then we were at a place where we

[4:22:38] could where that CNRP model fell into uh

[4:22:43] decline. And so as a neighborhood

[4:22:45] association, we were faced with one

[4:22:47] option, not two, because we weren't

[4:22:49] going to close it down. That was the

[4:22:51] vision. That was the value. That was the

[4:22:53] voice of the residents resonating

[4:22:54] through the work of that center that

[4:22:56] would impact the generations to come. So

[4:22:59] under the management of uh Nita favors

[4:23:01] at the time she said Christique bring us

[4:23:03] a proposal from the neighborhood engage

[4:23:05] them and see what they want to do which

[4:23:07] is what we did. We came up with a

[4:23:09] resolution for the Gina Greater

[4:23:11] Appalache Ridge Neighborhood Association

[4:23:13] to become its own 501c3.

[4:23:16] In that process we worked very intently

[4:23:18] with the Tallahassee Lenders Consortium

[4:23:20] because we had grant dollars that we

[4:23:22] were attracting to the facility but

[4:23:24] because we weren't a 501c3 at the time

[4:23:26] we could not use them. So they engaged

[4:23:28] as our fiscal agent to fund programming

[4:23:31] to fund resource at that time. Through

[4:23:33] the city's leadership and partnership,

[4:23:35] we were able to arrive at a lease

[4:23:37] agreement during that time that that

[4:23:40] resonated and that spoke of what we

[4:23:42] wanted to do as a neighborhood

[4:23:43] association, how we would raise our

[4:23:45] capability and resources to be able to

[4:23:47] do it. And at the end of that lease,

[4:23:48] which started in 2016 and expired in

[4:23:50] 2019, we would be considered as the

[4:23:54] long-term owner or long-term site

[4:23:56] proprietor for that facility. Um, now

[4:24:00] let's take it from 2019 until now. So,

[4:24:03] we were at will as a tenant and were

[4:24:05] able to get liability insurance because

[4:24:07] you can't function as a center without

[4:24:09] those types of coverages. And so, we had

[4:24:12] those as line items. They were um sent

[4:24:14] forth to the city commission as a part

[4:24:16] of our budget. and how we spent quite

[4:24:18] frankly our facility dollars that we got

[4:24:20] through the city's continued $10,000

[4:24:22] commitment because remember when the

[4:24:24] recession hit all the other money left.

[4:24:26] The only money that remained was the 10

[4:24:28] that the city was given and they

[4:24:29] continued to give it. They also

[4:24:31] continued to work with us to address

[4:24:33] capital needs for the facility. They

[4:24:35] replaced the roof. They replaced the

[4:24:36] HVAC system. They worked with us to

[4:24:39] invest over $53,000 in site improvements

[4:24:43] that we curated grants in order to

[4:24:45] address not just the capital needs

[4:24:47] within the facility but also the

[4:24:49] technological need because we had

[4:24:51] computers with big screens and big

[4:24:53] banks. So we didn't want big back

[4:24:54] computers in our facility. So we were

[4:24:57] able to curate through partnership the

[4:24:59] donation of 24 units in partnership with

[4:25:01] figures communication and they gave us

[4:25:04] web-based platform computers that are

[4:25:06] posted up even now and were serviced in

[4:25:09] partnership again with KERS which is the

[4:25:11] Tallahassee board of realtors their

[4:25:13] technology component they came and did a

[4:25:16] complete assessment rewiring of the

[4:25:19] complete facility they did it at 60% of

[4:25:22] what they would do at value and we had

[4:25:24] written for that 60% in grants. Now,

[4:25:27] keep in mind, we are still operating

[4:25:29] without sight control as it relates to a

[4:25:32] renewed lease. We are functioning with

[4:25:34] insurance. And guess what? They said,

[4:25:37] "Hey, we need to renew. Where's your

[4:25:40] lease?"

[4:25:42] And we didn't have one.

[4:25:45] » This was 2024. This is at the foothills

[4:25:48] of a huge, huge launch of a community

[4:25:50] technology forum in partnership with

[4:25:53] Comcast where they gave us over $75,000.

[4:25:56] The previous year they gave us $50,000

[4:25:58] to implement the um the affordable

[4:26:01] connectivity program through the federal

[4:26:03] government and gave us 50 computers to

[4:26:06] give to residents who were in need. We

[4:26:08] used those funds to be able to do

[4:26:10] community techups. We partner with local

[4:26:12] computer repair companies and we brought

[4:26:14] residents in to bring their computers,

[4:26:16] either get them fixed or assess them for

[4:26:18] replacement with our laptops.

[4:26:21] Lots of great stuff, but we're still at

[4:26:25] will. We would like the history of the

[4:26:28] advocacy of this organization, the

[4:26:30] history of the resident voice as it

[4:26:31] relates to this facility to be heard

[4:26:33] tonight. And we will ask this commission

[4:26:35] to consider transferring the site to the

[4:26:38] neighborhood association gina as a 501c3

[4:26:41] nonprofit organization with deed

[4:26:43] restrictions that would speak to the use

[4:26:45] of the facility in perpetuity for the

[4:26:48] purposes identified within that

[4:26:50] neighborhood improvement plan. Also, we

[4:26:52] would love for y'all to continue to give

[4:26:54] us that $10,000 in partnership. Um, but

[4:26:57] that's not the major thing. The major

[4:26:58] thing is obtaining the site control

[4:27:00] necessary to execute fully our

[4:27:02] programmatic delivery um in the work of

[4:27:05] that center. I think it's important to

[4:27:06] understand also we we don't serve rich

[4:27:09] people.

[4:27:11] We serve people who we our neighborhood

[4:27:13] has a 45% poverty rate. We don't serve

[4:27:16] rich people. Our residents have that per

[4:27:19] capita income of $35,000. We don't serve

[4:27:22] rich people. But guess what? between

[4:27:25] 2008 and now we started out in our NIP

[4:27:29] with a 40 with a 52% home ownership

[4:27:32] rate. It dipped down based on the

[4:27:34] recession to 43%. But through

[4:27:36] programmatic delivery and continued

[4:27:38] engagement that has actually gone up and

[4:27:41] back to 53%. So the work of the

[4:27:44] neighborhood association continues and

[4:27:47] we want to make sure that we get another

[4:27:49] win tonight by getting site control

[4:27:52] access site control of that property so

[4:27:54] that we can fully execute our

[4:27:55] programmatic delivery for our grant our

[4:27:58] partners and seek additional resources

[4:28:00] to continue the vision of the residents

[4:28:02] of the Appalache Ridge Estates

[4:28:04] neighborhood. Thank you.

[4:28:06] » Commissioners are go ahead mayor's back.

[4:28:08] Are there any questions for Miss Henry

[4:28:11] any speaker?

[4:28:13] Is there do we have any speakers on this

[4:28:15] issue?

[4:28:16] » Mr. Mayor, Pro Tim, Mr. Mayor, if if I

[4:28:18] could. Okay. Just to make sure there's

[4:28:20] continuity. And by the way, Miss Henry,

[4:28:22] thank you. That was very clear. I think

[4:28:24] it was a good presentation.

[4:28:26] » If Mr. Tedar could explain the ownership

[4:28:28] that we have today, okay,

[4:28:30] » And how possibly a transfer via our real

[4:28:32] estate policy would work. I think that

[4:28:34] might be helpful to the commission.

[4:28:36] » Okay.

[4:28:37] » Good afternoon, commissioners. Um,

[4:28:41] in terms of if you direct staff to

[4:28:44] transfer this over to uh the the arena,

[4:28:50] um, it it would be just a simple

[4:28:51] direction uh for staff to work with a an

[4:28:55] agreement to do that transfer. I think

[4:28:57] during some of the briefings you had a

[4:28:59] question, have we done this uh somewhere

[4:29:01] before?

[4:29:01] » Uh, one of the places that we have done

[4:29:03] it is the NAACP building.

[4:29:05] » That's right. Uh I think in 2001 we

[4:29:07] purchased a piece of property for about

[4:29:09] $60,000.

[4:29:10] Uh 2004

[4:29:13] we approved a lease uh with the NAACP uh

[4:29:17] for an extended period of time. And then

[4:29:19] in 2020 uh you all directed staff to uh

[4:29:23] transfer the property uh to the NAACP

[4:29:26] uh with certain restrictions and those

[4:29:28] restrictions expire in 2031. Uh, another

[4:29:33] common question I think maybe occurred

[4:29:35] during some of the briefings was, have

[4:29:36] we done an appraisal of the site? We

[4:29:38] have not. Uh, looking at Zyo, uh,

[4:29:41] Zillow, uh, we know that there are some

[4:29:43] homes for sale in the area between

[4:29:46] 150,000 and $230,000.

[4:29:49] I would say this property would be on

[4:29:50] the very low end of that because it's

[4:29:52] not a single family home. So, in other

[4:29:54] words, to put it back into a single

[4:29:56] family home condition, you will need to

[4:29:58] spend a number of dollars to be able to

[4:30:01] do that. Uh, and then I think lastly, a

[4:30:03] question about uh the agreement and why

[4:30:06] we were doing monthtomonth and it really

[4:30:08] allowed the the services to continue out

[4:30:10] there until a situation like this

[4:30:13] occurs. Uh, now we're getting approach

[4:30:15] to say, hey, in order for us to do our

[4:30:17] job and be able to take in money and to

[4:30:19] do a better job out at that facility, we

[4:30:21] need to have long-term ownership. So, if

[4:30:23] it's a long-term lease, you direct me to

[4:30:26] do that and I will have staff write out

[4:30:28] a long-term lease. If it's to transfer

[4:30:30] the property, we can do that as well.

[4:30:32] It' be a simple work through the terms

[4:30:34] of the contract. And I would say like

[4:30:35] the NAACP, there's reverted clause. So,

[4:30:38] I would expect that if we transferred it

[4:30:40] to it, there would be a reverted clause

[4:30:42] to come back to the city if it ever

[4:30:43] exist ceased to exist or the association

[4:30:46] ceased to exist uh to operate this

[4:30:49] facility.

[4:30:55] All right.

[4:30:57] Any other public comment?

[4:30:58] » Yes, sir. We do have speakers on the

[4:31:00] item. Uh about a half dozen, maybe

[4:31:03] eight. Uh the first speaker would be

[4:31:05] Leroy Peek

[4:31:07] and then the second speaker will be

[4:31:08] Gregory James.

[4:31:10] » Your name and address for the record,

[4:31:11] please.

[4:31:12] » Leroy Peek. Public records exempt.

[4:31:16] I will certify this commission that I

[4:31:18] live within the corporate limits of the

[4:31:19] city of Tallahassee and have lived in

[4:31:20] this community since the fall of 1976.

[4:31:25] » Good evening.

[4:31:26] » Good evening.

[4:31:26] » I stand before you this evening as the

[4:31:28] president of the council of neighborhood

[4:31:29] associations of Tallahass Leon County.

[4:31:32] Um and I stand here in full support of

[4:31:35] the request coming from the greater

[4:31:37] Appalach Neighborhood Association.

[4:31:40] Um I'll summarize some of my comments.

[4:31:44] Kona exists

[4:31:46] because this community believes that

[4:31:48] residents organized,

[4:31:51] engaged, and empowered are the best

[4:31:53] stewards of their neighborhoods.

[4:31:56] This is the philosophy behind every

[4:31:58] neighborhood association that this city

[4:32:01] has recognized, partnered with, or

[4:32:03] funded.

[4:32:06] The Greater Appalachia Ridge

[4:32:08] Neighborhood, the state's neighborhood

[4:32:09] association, is put in a lot of work, a

[4:32:12] lot of resources.

[4:32:14] They've marshaled over $100,000 in

[4:32:16] volunteer labor.

[4:32:19] They've

[4:32:21] come up with in excess of $186,000 in

[4:32:24] grants and other funding for the past

[4:32:27] couple of years. They've advocated for

[4:32:29] the for the legislature for additional

[4:32:32] funding and support. This is the kind of

[4:32:35] thing we encourage all of our

[4:32:36] neighborhoods to do. Put in the work.

[4:32:39] seek resources outside of the city,

[4:32:42] outside of government.

[4:32:45] They put in the work.

[4:32:48] You You've heard the vision. It didn't

[4:32:51] come from outside of the neighborhood.

[4:32:53] It came from the neighborhood.

[4:32:55] And they're asking you

[4:32:58] to allow them to continue to do that

[4:33:00] work.

[4:33:02] And I, as the president of the Council

[4:33:04] of Neighborhood Associations, I stand

[4:33:05] here in full support of that. Thank you.

[4:33:08] » Thank you. Our next speaker, please.

[4:33:10] » Next speaker is Gregory James, followed

[4:33:12] by Dodd Enman Johnson.

[4:33:16] Mr. James, then Dodd Enman Johnson.

[4:33:25] Name and address for the record, please.

[4:33:32] » Dinman Johnson, 2121 Trescot Drive.

[4:33:38] Uh I am opposed to

[4:33:42] a lease

[4:33:44] for this property

[4:33:47] because this center

[4:33:50] technology and learning center predates

[4:33:54] almost everybody up there on the dis.

[4:33:58] uh it's been there serving that

[4:34:03] community

[4:34:04] for

[4:34:07] couple of decades

[4:34:10] and uh I don't think you can compare it

[4:34:15] to the NAACP

[4:34:19] because it operates more like a

[4:34:22] community service center for the people

[4:34:26] there.

[4:34:29] A few years ago,

[4:34:32] the two the 32304

[4:34:36] census track

[4:34:39] was determined to be the lowest income

[4:34:43] census track in the state.

[4:34:47] The 32301

[4:34:50] was determined to be second in line.

[4:34:55] The residents of this area deserve

[4:35:00] to have that property and that center

[4:35:05] transferred.

[4:35:07] I would recommend

[4:35:09] or at least introduce

[4:35:12] two options.

[4:35:14] One to transfer it the ownership as the

[4:35:20] neighborhood is requesting.

[4:35:22] The second is to treat it like a

[4:35:25] neighborhood service center

[4:35:28] and the city provide the services for

[4:35:33] that center because there is no

[4:35:38] hope that forever they will be able to

[4:35:43] patch together the grants to keep this

[4:35:47] going.

[4:35:49] And Christic is a very passionate

[4:35:53] supporter.

[4:35:55] But if Christic

[4:35:58] ever decided

[4:36:00] she was not going to do that, who would

[4:36:04] be as passionate to step up and take on

[4:36:08] all of that responsibility

[4:36:11] for that center?

[4:36:12] » You're at 30 seconds. My recommendation

[4:36:15] is either the transfer I support what

[4:36:19] the neighborhood is asking for,

[4:36:22] but I think the city should take on more

[4:36:26] responsibility for the insurance and the

[4:36:30] support of that center. Thank you.

[4:36:33] » Our next speaker, please

[4:36:35] » Joyce Morgan, followed by Elton Thomas.

[4:36:39] » Your name and address for the record.

[4:36:41] Joyce Morgan, 926 Millard Street. As a I

[4:36:47] speak to you as an association member

[4:36:49] since the 1990s, the mid1 1990s, we

[4:36:53] appreciate the city's actions and the

[4:36:55] development and the fulfillment of the

[4:36:57] plans of the southside and also the

[4:37:00] Appalache Ridge estate plans. We

[4:37:03] understand that our current position is

[4:37:04] due in part to a lack of continuity and

[4:37:07] knowledge as to how the center operates

[4:37:11] and continues to operate in what we

[4:37:13] need.

[4:37:15] We have residents that we service from

[4:37:17] Appalache Ridge Estates, Lyn Haven, Fair

[4:37:21] View, Meridian Park, and Council Estates

[4:37:24] who are asking us what are we doing? But

[4:37:28] because we don't have site control and

[4:37:31] because we can't get the insurance, it

[4:37:34] would be irresponsible to open the

[4:37:36] center and have people come in and out.

[4:37:38] So, we're asking

[4:37:41] to please

[4:37:42] um at this point to grant our request

[4:37:47] for a transfer so that we can use the

[4:37:50] facility as it has been intended and as

[4:37:53] it has been used in the past. Thank you.

[4:37:55] Our next speaker, please.

[4:37:58] » Elton Thomas and then James Morgan.

[4:38:02] » Name and address for the record, please.

[4:38:04] » Elton E. Thomas.

[4:38:07] Address 806

[4:38:10] Apache Street. I'm coming to speak to

[4:38:13] you as a resident of Appalache Ridge.

[4:38:16] I've been in Appalache Ridge for about

[4:38:19] 40 something years now. I saw this

[4:38:22] project when it I was there when the

[4:38:24] project was started.

[4:38:26] The amount of um enthusiasm, the it it

[4:38:30] was like a boom when we first got the

[4:38:33] learning center put in the neighborhood.

[4:38:36] We had the children coming there after

[4:38:38] school every day. We had volunteers from

[4:38:40] the uh major universities there every

[4:38:43] day. Eventually, we got had adults

[4:38:45] coming because we were running programs

[4:38:47] not just for the children in technology.

[4:38:50] We were running programs to help adults

[4:38:54] manage or gain better skills for

[4:38:56] employment. A few years ago, it seemed

[4:38:59] like the second coming of the credit of

[4:39:02] the uh building after we had lost the um

[4:39:05] well, the the economy kind of put

[4:39:08] everything on a downside. Um 2024 looked

[4:39:12] like happy days were here again. Um but

[4:39:15] without control of the building those

[4:39:18] things

[4:39:20] have struggled or the things we're

[4:39:21] trying to do we're struggling to do that

[4:39:23] we spent a lot of money and to upgrade

[4:39:26] the building. We would ask you

[4:39:30] to give us the site control so that we

[4:39:32] can have the programs that we want. We

[4:39:34] can have the investment from third

[4:39:35] parties that were willing to assist us.

[4:39:39] So that's why I'm here just to ask you

[4:39:41] to give us control of the building. We

[4:39:43] would appreciate that. Thank you.

[4:39:46] » Our next speaker, please.

[4:39:48] » Next is James Morgan.

[4:39:50] Our last speaker,

[4:39:54] » James Morgan, 926 Philip Street. And I

[4:39:58] would like to yield my time, Mr. Kenry.

[4:40:03] [laughter]

[4:40:04] » Sir, we don't we don't excuse me. We

[4:40:06] don't yield the time. It's your time.

[4:40:09] We've had an opportunity to heard from

[4:40:10] Christique. So, go ahead and say your

[4:40:12] piece.

[4:40:16] » [laughter]

[4:40:18] » Okay. Well, I try to yield my time to

[4:40:20] Chris because she has the most

[4:40:22] information and has put in some

[4:40:24] incredible work and we would generally

[4:40:27] ask you to consider transferring

[4:40:31] the house to arena. Thank you.

[4:40:34] » Thank you. Our next speaker, please.

[4:40:36] » No further speakers on this item.

[4:40:37] » Colleagues, uh, Mayor Pim.

[4:40:40] » Thank you. Uh, Mr. Mayor, I I first of

[4:40:42] all want to thank uh Christique for the

[4:40:45] leadership that she's provided in

[4:40:46] getting us to this point, but all of the

[4:40:50] neighbors and volunteers who have worked

[4:40:53] tirelessly

[4:40:54] » To provide programs and services at that

[4:40:57] technology center. I've watched it uh

[4:41:00] [snorts] succeed and grow over the years

[4:41:03] and uh I I I know that the neighborhood

[4:41:07] association and the volunteers would do

[4:41:10] a tremendous job uh in providing

[4:41:13] services those continued services for

[4:41:16] the children and families uh in the

[4:41:19] Appalachia Ridge neighborhood but in the

[4:41:22] broader air service area that would be

[4:41:27] provided uh uh through that technology

[4:41:30] center. And so, Mr. Mayor, I would uh

[4:41:33] recommend that we work out an agreement

[4:41:36] with the Greater Appalache Ridge

[4:41:38] Neighborhood Association to transfer

[4:41:41] site control of that facility to that

[4:41:44] organization.

[4:41:45] » Second.

[4:41:45] » Second. Uh motion's been made for

[4:41:50] our team to work uh on the transfer

[4:41:53] agreement for site control. Uh seconded

[4:41:57] by Commissioner Williams Cox,

[4:41:58] Commissioner Williams Cox for

[4:42:00] discussion.

[4:42:01] » Thank you. And I I want to echo what

[4:42:03] Commissioner Richardson has said because

[4:42:04] I've watched it. I've visited a time or

[4:42:07] two and um I think it's it's been sorely

[4:42:10] missed

[4:42:10] » In in the in the neighborhood. And I

[4:42:13] think it is high time for you all to be

[4:42:15] able to do what you need to do uh to um

[4:42:18] continue to grow the the the children

[4:42:21] and the adults who uh who come there,

[4:42:24] you know, for educational purposes, job

[4:42:26] training, all of those kinds of things

[4:42:27] because we know that AI is here. Um

[4:42:30] there are opportunities for you to be

[4:42:31] able to do those kinds of things to help

[4:42:33] those students. Um um some of you know

[4:42:36] that my my husband is in the hospital at

[4:42:38] Shans and I'm heading there tonight

[4:42:39] after work after after this. But last

[4:42:43] night his nurse was telling us about her

[4:42:46] son who um is working at Google and he

[4:42:50] makes $30,000 a month.

[4:42:54] » $30,000 a month. Can you imagine how

[4:42:58] life-changing that would be for uh our

[4:43:01] children or our adults who who could get

[4:43:03] that kind of uh education and training?

[4:43:05] So, I see that I see that greatness can

[4:43:07] can happen right here in this facility.

[4:43:10] So, I wholeheartedly support the the

[4:43:12] transfer so that you all can control

[4:43:14] that destiny. But I also agree with um

[4:43:17] um

[4:43:20] Dian Johnson that Christique and and and

[4:43:23] Elton and all of you that you you have a

[4:43:26] you're just a bundle of energy and and

[4:43:28] passion. And I know you got a bench of

[4:43:31] folks coming behind you,

[4:43:33] » But we want to make sure that it

[4:43:34] continues to be that way. So I would I

[4:43:36] would ask for a a a freely amendment

[4:43:40] that we do provide some type of revert

[4:43:43] clause so that if something should

[4:43:45] happen you know 100 years from now

[4:43:47] whatever Christique you know is gone and

[4:43:50] she she's 100 but she's doing something

[4:43:52] else that [laughter] and and others that

[4:43:56] it it it still remain it still can come

[4:43:58] back to um to the city as as as a

[4:44:01] property. But I I wholeheartly support

[4:44:03] this transfer. I've I've seen it at

[4:44:05] work. I've seen the people doing the

[4:44:06] work. They're in very integral per uh

[4:44:09] individuals and go-getters. I also ask

[4:44:12] that u our grant staff also work with

[4:44:15] them to help them identify and be able

[4:44:17] to apply for grants to allow them to be

[4:44:20] able to fund some of the innovative

[4:44:23] things that I know will come out of this

[4:44:24] out of out of this this project.

[4:44:27] » Mayor Mayor Pro Tim,

[4:44:29] » Thank you. I I it was it was my intent

[4:44:31] that that reverter clause be in the

[4:44:34] contract, but if we need to do that as a

[4:44:37] an amendment to my motion, I would

[4:44:40] certainly accept that as a friendly

[4:44:42] amendment.

[4:44:43] » Great. As amended.

[4:44:44] » Okay. Yes,

[4:44:45] » I support it as well. It was a great

[4:44:46] idea.

[4:44:47] » Yeah.

[4:44:47] » For the comment, Commissioner Matlo.

[4:44:49] » Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh thank you

[4:44:50] for all the speakers today. You know, as

[4:44:52] we know, neighborhoods are only as

[4:44:54] strong as the people who care about them

[4:44:55] and are willing to show up for them. and

[4:44:57] I think it's been a great um uh facility

[4:45:00] over the years. I I recognize the need

[4:45:02] for a 2.0 uh so to speak. Um and happy

[4:45:05] to support the motion. Could have also

[4:45:07] gone the other way. There is there's a

[4:45:09] liability transfer. The city currently

[4:45:11] takes care of the roof and the HVAC and

[4:45:12] the plumbing and all those things that

[4:45:14] would get transferred to uh private

[4:45:16] ownership. What's important to me is we

[4:45:18] continue to keep the the public purpose,

[4:45:20] the public facility, which I believe is

[4:45:21] what the reverter clause uh speaks to.

[4:45:24] Uh so so keep up the great work. look

[4:45:26] forward to what it becomes and let us

[4:45:28] know if we can be helpful in the

[4:45:29] process. Thank you.

[4:45:30] » They might need a few pieces. You think

[4:45:32] » We can't talk about that here,

[4:45:34] [laughter]

[4:45:36] » Mr. Porter.

[4:45:38] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And I want to

[4:45:39] thank

[4:45:41] y'all for what you've been doing. Um,

[4:45:46] it sounds like amazing work. I haven't

[4:45:48] had the chance to to tour the facility

[4:45:51] um or meet with you, but it's really I I

[4:45:54] read through the proposal and it's

[4:45:56] really incredible work. Um I'm ready to

[4:46:00] I'll support the motion to see what

[4:46:02] comes back to us. I I I do have to say

[4:46:05] though that it I would like when these

[4:46:08] when we have these conversations

[4:46:10] I don't think the default should be to

[4:46:12] transfer or sell public assets if site

[4:46:16] control and a long-term lease would

[4:46:18] satisfy

[4:46:20] the

[4:46:22] concerns that is my preference to be the

[4:46:26] starting point. So, I'll support the

[4:46:28] motion, but in general,

[4:46:31] we've gone through this before with

[4:46:34] public assets and and I do believe that

[4:46:36] this is unique and different, which is

[4:46:37] why I'll support the motion to see what

[4:46:40] comes back to us. So, I want to

[4:46:41] understand what is coming back to us.

[4:46:43] Will there be when we transfer assets?

[4:46:47] I mean, I want to first of all know what

[4:46:49] we mean when we say transfer because we

[4:46:50] we use that term to mean a sale the last

[4:46:55] time we used that term. I think the um

[4:46:58] the position of the motion is we are

[4:47:00] going to transfer title. They're going

[4:47:01] to get the building and we're not

[4:47:02] selling it.

[4:47:03] » Yes.

[4:47:05] » That's the intent.

[4:47:06] » That's what's coming back.

[4:47:08] All those in favor of the motion on the

[4:47:10] table signify by saying I.

[4:47:12] » All those opposed.

[4:47:13] » Passes 50 unanimously. All right. We're

[4:47:17] on item number 12.01.

[4:47:20] » Mr. Manager.

[4:47:21] » Thank you, sir. Uh this topic came was

[4:47:25] discussed at your last meeting. You

[4:47:26] asked for additional information to come

[4:47:28] back uh regarding license plate reader

[4:47:33] uh technology. Uh Chief Revel and his

[4:47:36] staff including Assistant Chief

[4:47:38] Celeleski,

[4:47:39] Deputy Chief Mahoney and Director Low

[4:47:41] are here to answer any questions you

[4:47:44] have on that. You have a full

[4:47:46] comprehensive agenda item uh in your

[4:47:49] material tonight that covers a lot of

[4:47:51] ground. that covers ground beyond the

[4:47:52] license plate reader technology. And I I

[4:47:55] want to point out so you know whatever

[4:47:57] direction we take tonight that you

[4:48:00] provide tonight that we have two

[4:48:02] companies two brands of fixed uh license

[4:48:05] plate reader uh cameras. One being Flock

[4:48:08] which is very well known. The other one

[4:48:11] is a Motorola brand. They have they look

[4:48:14] different but they for all intents and

[4:48:16] purposes do the same thing. So, we're

[4:48:18] using two different brands of license

[4:48:20] plate reader technology. In your agenda

[4:48:22] material, though, it covers also public

[4:48:24] safety cameras. You'll recall lots of

[4:48:26] discussion about that. We utilize those

[4:48:29] in certain areas of our community. That

[4:48:31] information is available to our

[4:48:33] real-time crime center as well as the

[4:48:35] license plate reader data. We have

[4:48:38] traffic cameras at all of our

[4:48:39] intersections, 300 plus intersections in

[4:48:41] our community. that information is used

[4:48:44] by our traffic management system but

[4:48:46] also available to our real-time crime

[4:48:48] center. Uh as you also know there's been

[4:48:51] an effort to incorporate private cameras

[4:48:53] like ring cameras into that. that

[4:48:55] there's been over the last about six

[4:48:58] years there's been this confluence of

[4:49:01] video information that really has

[4:49:03] propped up our real-time crime center

[4:49:05] that we partner with the sheriff FSU

[4:49:08] FAMU FDLE uh to support the the use of

[4:49:12] that tech that emerging technology and

[4:49:14] crime fighting and discovery and

[4:49:15] locating of people.

[4:49:17] The experts that are here um they're

[4:49:20] here to answer questions. uh they all

[4:49:22] have a different role in this expertise

[4:49:24] about the data the data handling the

[4:49:26] access to the data the policies that we

[4:49:29] use I think in the agenda item you would

[4:49:32] have read u that TPD not unusual by the

[4:49:36] way is ahead of the game because you've

[4:49:39] heard a lot of discussion around the

[4:49:41] country and the state about the

[4:49:44] governance and the use of this

[4:49:46] information the access of the

[4:49:48] information and and TPD has a very

[4:49:50] robust policy I I think it's general

[4:49:52] orders 56 and how their um officers and

[4:49:55] others can access this how that can be

[4:49:57] used and so that's in your agenda

[4:49:59] material as well and then there's some

[4:50:02] anecdotal success stories that are in

[4:50:04] there u where crimes have been solved

[4:50:07] people have been located what we know is

[4:50:11] it's become the license plate reader

[4:50:13] technology and access has become

[4:50:15] fundamental in all of our violent crimes

[4:50:19] all of our homicide investigations s

[4:50:22] whether it ultimately is used or not, it

[4:50:25] is accessed immediately. It's become a

[4:50:28] tool, a standard tool, and it's helped

[4:50:29] us solve lots of crimes. You heard from

[4:50:32] the chief at the last meeting that uh we

[4:50:35] want to make sure that we're using

[4:50:36] things properly, that the the public

[4:50:39] trusts what we're doing, that we've got

[4:50:41] proper rules governing that, and that we

[4:50:44] manage oursel, that we audit and and um

[4:50:47] and govern oursel. And so that's

[4:50:49] happened at TBD. The the inquiries have

[4:50:52] to be noted, they're reviewed, they're

[4:50:54] validated to make sure that nobody's

[4:50:56] misusing this. We've heard stories from

[4:50:58] around the country where this kind of

[4:51:00] access has been misused. And I'm happy

[4:51:03] to say that's not the case here. Um, and

[4:51:06] that's in my estimation, kudos to TBD

[4:51:09] for having good rules and good training

[4:51:11] for the use of it. Uh but commission

[4:51:14] commissioners, we want to provide you

[4:51:15] this information as a followup to the

[4:51:17] discussion you had. We believe it's an

[4:51:19] important community discussion and

[4:51:22] there's been a lot of activity even

[4:51:23] since your last meeting.

[4:51:25] » Um the state of Florida has um issued an

[4:51:28] order to remove

[4:51:31] I believe it's might be limited to

[4:51:32] Flock. There's a little confusion. In

[4:51:34] other words, Flock's not the only brand

[4:51:35] of license plate reader cameras. Uh but

[4:51:39] they've issued an order to remove those.

[4:51:42] We do have some of our cameras in the

[4:51:44] state right away. I think it's in the

[4:51:46] order of six or so of the total 150ish

[4:51:51] that we have. And so that that activity

[4:51:53] is underway. Uh and then the sheriff uh

[4:51:56] Sheriff McNeel locally in Lyon County

[4:51:58] has ordered the suspension of the use of

[4:52:02] their cameras. I'm not sure what brands

[4:52:03] they have. And this the suspension uh

[4:52:07] essentially entails two things. uh

[4:52:09] removing the access and security of the

[4:52:12] users. So think about the ability to log

[4:52:14] into your computer. So that's easily

[4:52:16] suspended for all users and then

[4:52:19] stopping the video and recording of

[4:52:22] those cameras. And so that stops any

[4:52:24] data collection, that stops any access

[4:52:26] to the use of those license plate

[4:52:28] readers. and and clearly we work closely

[4:52:30] with the sheriff. We look work closely

[4:52:33] with FDLE and our university partners

[4:52:35] because of that confluence of

[4:52:37] information and and um uh data and

[4:52:40] intelligence in the real-time crime

[4:52:42] center. So we we wanted to provide you

[4:52:44] this information. Again, you have a full

[4:52:46] thorough report in your agenda. We want

[4:52:49] to be available for questions and then

[4:52:51] look forward to the direction of the

[4:52:53] city commission. Thank you, sir.

[4:52:55] » Thank you. Uh before I get to public

[4:52:57] comment, just point of clarification

[4:52:59] because if I was a betting man, I'd be

[4:53:00] willing to bet that we're going to

[4:53:01] suspend this tonight because of the

[4:53:03] action that's been taking place since

[4:53:05] the last meeting that we had with the

[4:53:06] governor suspending it and state uh

[4:53:09] roads and rideways. And then you got the

[4:53:10] sheriff's action as well and all of our

[4:53:12] community partners seem to not be

[4:53:14] adopting this. Are you looking for our

[4:53:16] direction to suspend this or why haven't

[4:53:19] we just taken the action to suspend it?

[4:53:21] » Mr. Mr. Mayor, let I think I can answer

[4:53:23] it, but I'm going to ask Director Lo to

[4:53:25] help me with this. U the value come

[4:53:29] forward, Jason, if you don't mind. The

[4:53:32] value and the use of the license plate

[4:53:35] reader technology, again, not limited to

[4:53:37] flock.

[4:53:38] » Sure.

[4:53:38] » It goes beyond flock.

[4:53:39] » Sure.

[4:53:40] » Has been the ability crossjurisdictional

[4:53:42] information access and location, which

[4:53:46] extends far beyond the state of Florida.

[4:53:48] Some of the information you saw in your

[4:53:50] agenda packet. And so, uh, while

[4:53:53] valuable, the more information, the

[4:53:54] connections you have, valuable, that in

[4:53:57] itself doesn't limit the value of the

[4:54:00] cameras, even if it was only within the

[4:54:03] city of Tallahassee. We do have the

[4:54:05] ability, it's configurable. We have the

[4:54:07] ability to say the information can only

[4:54:09] be had by the TPD officers, controlled

[4:54:13] by TPD officers, and not not used beyond

[4:54:16] our boundaries. That's still valuable.

[4:54:18] And so, um, we want to make sure that

[4:54:21] we're taking direction from the city

[4:54:23] commission.

[4:54:23] » Got it.

[4:54:24] » That's consistent with what the public

[4:54:26] would desire, but also sharing how we're

[4:54:29] using it, how it's being accessed, how

[4:54:31] it integrates beyond the city, the

[4:54:34] county, the state, and and elsewhere.

[4:54:36] So, I probably answered the question,

[4:54:38] but Director Low, is there anything else

[4:54:40] I should add to that?

[4:54:43] » You did a great job.

[4:54:43] » Oh, thank you. Uh hey, look, it's a

[4:54:46] completely different day since we met

[4:54:48] two weeks ago. There's been a lot of

[4:54:50] action with our community partners.

[4:54:52] First of all, I want to congratulate

[4:54:55] uh all of our agencies locally and

[4:54:57] especially TPD that we have not had one

[4:55:00] recorded case of abuse of what we're

[4:55:02] seeing going on across the country.

[4:55:04] » Nonetheless, this is a big issue out in

[4:55:07] society and we're all hearing about it

[4:55:09] right and left. And so again, if I was a

[4:55:11] betting man, we're we're going to do

[4:55:12] exactly what the sheriff did and we're

[4:55:13] going to suspend uh all action on on the

[4:55:16] flight cameras or those that we use that

[4:55:19] are similar to it. Um but I just want to

[4:55:22] make sure that we clearly identify first

[4:55:24] of all, you all did a great job with

[4:55:26] putting together the policies and

[4:55:27] procedures on how to operate. I'm very

[4:55:29] proud that we have an agency that did

[4:55:31] not have a single complaint of abuse.

[4:55:33] Period. Period. But at the same time, I

[4:55:37] think we need to suspend just because of

[4:55:39] the fact of our community partners and

[4:55:41] where we are in society until we get

[4:55:42] more answers and more comfortable moving

[4:55:44] forward. That's where I am before we

[4:55:45] move forward because I know we got a lot

[4:55:47] of people here that want to speak on

[4:55:49] this issue. And so, um, do we have any

[4:55:52] other questions before we get the public

[4:55:53] comment? Yeah. The the question that I

[4:55:56] have, Mayor, is it is this simply the

[4:56:01] suspension, which I would agree with,

[4:56:04] limited to the license plate readers, or

[4:56:08] would it apply to all of the cameras

[4:56:12] that we have available to us?

[4:56:14] » Specifically, what was the action that

[4:56:16] was taken by the sheriff's office?

[4:56:17] » Yes, sir. Thank you. That's that's a

[4:56:19] really good question, sir, and I

[4:56:21] appreciate that. I think if it's

[4:56:23] consistent with what the sheriff did,

[4:56:25] » Okay,

[4:56:25] » It would be the suspension of our fixed

[4:56:28] LPR cameras, which includes Flock and

[4:56:31] Motorola. Motorola has a different brand

[4:56:33] name, but it's the Motorola product,

[4:56:35] which is approximately

[4:56:37] 150 um LPR cameras.

[4:56:42] » And and Mr. Mayor, the reason I asked

[4:56:44] that question in particular, I I'm I'm

[4:56:46] I'm sure most of us are familiar with

[4:56:49] the fact that in the Bond community,

[4:56:52] » At one point we had an exorbitant uh

[4:56:54] crime rate in that neighborhood,

[4:56:58] » We we put cameras in the neighborhood

[4:57:01] and saw immediately a 30% reduction

[4:57:05] » In crime.

[4:57:07] In my own neighborhood, which is on the

[4:57:09] south side of town, uh we have had some

[4:57:12] issues with crime and my neighbors and I

[4:57:16] agreed to have

[4:57:18] the camera surveillance for our

[4:57:21] neighborhood. And so I just want to make

[4:57:23] sure that where we have

[4:57:28] I just want clarification as to whether

[4:57:31] or not we're we're going to suspend all

[4:57:33] of that surveillance

[4:57:35] uh or if it will be limited to the

[4:57:38] license plate reader.

[4:57:40] » Mr. Mr. Mayor, Mr. Mayor Pro Tim, it

[4:57:42] would be limited

[4:57:44] » If if you're acting consistent with the

[4:57:46] sheriff's actions.

[4:57:47] » Yes. and other similar actions. It would

[4:57:50] be limited to the license plate reader

[4:57:52] cameras.

[4:57:53] » The public safety cameras you

[4:57:55] referenced,

[4:57:56] » Yes,

[4:57:56] » They exist. They're in the they're

[4:57:58] available to the real time crime center.

[4:58:00] U that would we would presume those

[4:58:02] would continue to um operate.

[4:58:05] » Okay.

[4:58:05] » M Mr. Mayor,

[4:58:06] » Before we get Go ahead. Yes,

[4:58:08] Commissioner Williams Cox.

[4:58:09] » I I just I just wanted to um weigh in as

[4:58:12] well. Thanks for that again for that

[4:58:14] clarification. We're not talking about

[4:58:16] all cameras. and talking about flock and

[4:58:18] Motorola. Um there has been a flurry of

[4:58:21] activity. I have spoken to the chief.

[4:58:24] I've spoken to the sheriff. I've spoken

[4:58:26] to our local delegation of legislators.

[4:58:28] I've spoken to uh former um police

[4:58:31] officer. I've spoken to community

[4:58:32] members. I've even consulted chat GBT.

[4:58:36] And I'm telling you that um we're we're

[4:58:40] I think we're going to we're going to

[4:58:41] land in in the in the same place that we

[4:58:43] need to suspend um suspend these um the

[4:58:47] these these um this technology because

[4:58:50] we want to be able to uh provide public

[4:58:54] safety, but we also want to respect the

[4:58:57] civil liberties and and and privacy of

[4:58:59] individuals. But being a technologist,

[4:59:02] I'm looking over here at uh at my man

[4:59:04] Harold Lane and he's sitting there

[4:59:06] listening because I you got your got

[4:59:08] your finger on the switch. As soon as

[4:59:10] soon as a decision is made,

[4:59:13] it's it's shut off. So, thank you all

[4:59:15] for working together to to be ready to

[4:59:18] do what this commission um says to do.

[4:59:20] Thank you, Mr. Mayor, for

[4:59:22] » Sure. I want to get straight into public

[4:59:23] comment. We have 20 speakers. We have an

[4:59:25] hour of public comment on this item. So,

[4:59:27] let's jump right in. Uh Mr. Clerk.

[4:59:30] » Thank you, mayor. First speaker on the

[4:59:32] item, Tim Style Mueller,

[4:59:34] followed by David Derby.

[4:59:44] Thank you for hearing me.

[4:59:47] » Name and address for the record, please.

[4:59:49] » Tim Mueller, 911 Pow Trail. Uh, thank

[4:59:52] you for putting the item back on the

[4:59:53] agenda

[4:59:55] and thank you for considering

[4:59:56] suspension. I want to be very clear

[4:59:58] about the fact that suspension is not

[4:59:59] the same thing as removal. And frankly,

[5:00:01] if we're suspending use, if we're

[5:00:03] suspending use, they need to be covered

[5:00:06] as well because we don't own these. And

[5:00:08] as long as those lenses are exposed and

[5:00:10] those solar panels are working, those

[5:00:12] cameras are still sending information. I

[5:00:14] want to be clear about that.

[5:00:20] To my understanding,

[5:00:22] we are no closer to the revelation who

[5:00:25] exactly made the backroom deal that

[5:00:28] brought flop cameras to our community.

[5:00:33] As the adage goes, if you've done

[5:00:36] nothing wrong,

[5:00:38] you've got nothing to hide.

[5:00:40] So, here's my question.

[5:00:44] Why is this information not public

[5:00:46] record? to my understanding

[5:00:49] and if we're so much safer now,

[5:00:52] you should be standing behind your

[5:00:54] decision proudly.

[5:00:56] Uh and it's telling that to my

[5:00:59] understanding the people who made this

[5:01:00] decision are not.

[5:01:07] I'm finding it difficult to strike a

[5:01:09] measured and composed tone

[5:01:12] uh when you're out here installing what

[5:01:14] amounts to

[5:01:16] police surveillance state police state

[5:01:19] infrastructure.

[5:01:20] » I want to be very clear about the fact

[5:01:22] that I understand that these reduce

[5:01:23] crime that's a positive thing. Mhm.

[5:01:26] » What I'm asking you to consider is how

[5:01:28] this information and that that is being

[5:01:30] collected, this this infrastructure

[5:01:34] when normalized as background

[5:01:36] infrastructure

[5:01:38] essentially provides a potential

[5:01:40] authoritarian shift, authoritarian power

[5:01:44] grab with a turnkey tool to jail and

[5:01:52] neutralize, shall we say, opposition.

[5:01:56] This is not

[5:01:58] far-fetched at all. And I want to be

[5:02:01] clear about the fact that I find the

[5:02:03] fact I find it irresponsible that this

[5:02:06] decision was made behind the backs of

[5:02:08] the entire community. And some of the

[5:02:10] comments that I've heard made

[5:02:14] less so today, but two weeks ago gave me

[5:02:16] the impression that some of the people

[5:02:18] on this commission do not have a full

[5:02:21] understanding of the implication of what

[5:02:23] this technology represents. You're at 30

[5:02:25] seconds.

[5:02:27] » There's a petition and moratorum that uh

[5:02:29] the folks who I've been working with

[5:02:30] have been working on. It is a non vendor

[5:02:34] specific moratorum to be placed in

[5:02:36] perpetuity. Uh the language is currently

[5:02:38] being reviewed by a legislative policy

[5:02:40] expert.

[5:02:42] Please follow our lead on this and show

[5:02:45] respect for the privacy rights of our

[5:02:47] community. Yield my time.

[5:02:49] » Next speaker, please.

[5:02:50] » Next speaker is David Derby. David

[5:02:53] Derby. followed by Zachary Bell.

[5:02:57] » Name and address for the record, please.

[5:03:01] » David Derby, live on Mab Street and Mry

[5:03:04] Manor 32304.

[5:03:07] That's a famous zip code in Italian,

[5:03:10] isn't it?

[5:03:12] » Um, I'm very much against the cameras to

[5:03:14] be getgo. I understand, as one of my

[5:03:18] officers explained to me, it's a tool in

[5:03:19] their tool belt. Um, but the tool is too

[5:03:23] easily abused. It's too easily um

[5:03:26] metamorphed into other things. Not only

[5:03:29] do our police department have access,

[5:03:31] but I can guarantee you somebody can

[5:03:33] hack in there and record everything that

[5:03:35] they've got going on. Um, with AI,

[5:03:38] it's primed to hunt people, hunt your

[5:03:42] citizens. Um, there they have live

[5:03:45] streaming, not just picture taken, but

[5:03:47] live streaming. They identify vehicles,

[5:03:51] not just isoing plates. And then there's

[5:03:53] technology where they go into your

[5:03:55] vehicle and pick up all your electronics

[5:03:56] in your vehicle to ident and who's in

[5:03:58] there. I think this is a little bit of

[5:04:00] overreach.

[5:04:02] Um it's turning us into a surveillance

[5:04:04] state. Uh China started this stuff off.

[5:04:07] I don't know if y'all remember. I think

[5:04:08] it was the Hungar they started hunting

[5:04:11] and it made them really good at hunting

[5:04:14] the people and suppressing. Just like my

[5:04:16] colleague here just elaborated this can

[5:04:18] be used nefariously really really bad.

[5:04:23] Um insurance companies also use this to

[5:04:25] raise rate and deny coverages

[5:04:28] um along with your credit score. U

[5:04:31] vehicle uh profiles occupants what's the

[5:04:35] need for it? Um, it's a tool that's

[5:04:38] great to solve crime, but what are we

[5:04:40] doing all this information gathering on

[5:04:42] on honest citizens? I mean, I'm really

[5:04:45] really disappointed that we got this

[5:04:47] where I also like to know like he asked,

[5:04:49] how did we get here? How was was this

[5:04:53] grant and and our chief just decided to

[5:04:56] go put these cameras out or did he come

[5:04:58] and tell y'all we're going to do this?

[5:05:00] Um, and did you don't know to the extent

[5:05:02] of the surveillance when this came out?

[5:05:05] 150 cameras. That's an awful lot of

[5:05:07] surveillance. Why do I need to know? Why

[5:05:09] do TPD need to know where I'm going all

[5:05:11] around town and how I get home? It's

[5:05:13] none other business. You know, this

[5:05:16] supposed to be a free state, but it's a

[5:05:18] surveillance. It's turning into a

[5:05:19] surveillance state really quick. Uh how

[5:05:22] about false arrest? How do you make that

[5:05:24] up for somebody? How do you undo a

[5:05:26] cavity search?

[5:05:28] Could y'all anybody answer that one for

[5:05:30] me? I don't think you can. Um, I'm I'm

[5:05:32] glad to hear that there's been no abuse,

[5:05:34] but has there been any false arrest in

[5:05:37] Tallahassee?

[5:05:37] » You're at 30 seconds remaining.

[5:05:39] » I would like to see an accountability

[5:05:40] report every year on how this is going,

[5:05:44] how it's been impacted, what the good

[5:05:45] was, and if there's any bad, it needs to

[5:05:47] be highlighted.

[5:05:49] Um, you're losing the respect of your

[5:05:51] constituents. Um, we didn't have an

[5:05:54] opportunity to say we wanted this or

[5:05:56] not. So, I would appreciate y'all

[5:05:59] understanding that. Um the people have

[5:06:02] opinions and we elect you guys but

[5:06:04] somewhere in this it was lost.

[5:06:06] » Thank you very much.

[5:06:08] » Our next speaker please.

[5:06:09] » Next speaker Zachary Bell.

[5:06:14] » Don't see Zachary Bell. So Marsha Rule

[5:06:22] your name and address for the record

[5:06:23] please.

[5:06:23] » Marsha Rule Maple Drive here in

[5:06:25] Tallahassee. like to start out by saying

[5:06:28] you, you know, I'm here to speak against

[5:06:30] the cameras. Let's call them what they

[5:06:32] really are. They're not license plate

[5:06:34] readers. They capture everything that's

[5:06:37] in view. And that's just today's

[5:06:39] technology which can be updated without

[5:06:41] any of your knowledge. Um, one of the

[5:06:44] largest invasions of privacy of American

[5:06:46] citizens ever, and we didn't consent to

[5:06:49] it. There's been some discussion about

[5:06:52] abuses. I think it's abusive to have

[5:06:54] them out there in the first place. But

[5:06:57] even so, there are over, according to

[5:06:59] TPD's portal, over 1,300 organizations

[5:07:03] that can access Tallahassee information

[5:07:06] now. And of course, that can be abused,

[5:07:08] but that's not really the worst of it.

[5:07:11] Um, Flock can build any number Flock and

[5:07:13] other providers can build any number of

[5:07:16] data resale pro uh products. They can

[5:07:20] aggregate it with data from other

[5:07:22] brokers and they're selling our data.

[5:07:24] They're selling our lives. Uh foreign

[5:07:27] governments can track and buy, but you

[5:07:29] just get a subscription and purchase the

[5:07:31] data. And of course, the data can always

[5:07:35] be hacked and stolen and sold. And I'm

[5:07:38] sure some of you have gotten data breach

[5:07:40] notices maybe from um your bank or from

[5:07:45] TMH most recently. And those are only

[5:07:48] only the ones you know about. I

[5:07:50] guarantee you that there have been

[5:07:52] others and you can find out on the dark

[5:07:54] web.

[5:07:55] » But when you allow flock cameras and

[5:07:59] other camera readers into our community,

[5:08:02] you're allowing and encouraging the

[5:08:04] creation of data. Data that can be sold.

[5:08:08] Data that can be misused. Data that

[5:08:10] invades our privacy.

[5:08:13] » Thank you. Our next speaker,

[5:08:15] » Sean Thomas is the next speaker. Then

[5:08:16] Daryl Alfred.

[5:08:27] » Your name and address for the record,

[5:08:28] please.

[5:08:29] » Sean Thomas, 2113 Joiner Drive,

[5:08:32] Tallahassee, Florida. Good evening,

[5:08:34] mayor and commissioners. I urge you to

[5:08:36] end Tallahassee's block camera program

[5:08:38] and stop treating mass vehicle

[5:08:39] surveillance as a normal part of life in

[5:08:41] our city. CPD operates 155 automated

[5:08:46] license plate reader cameras, 80 flock

[5:08:48] cameras, and 75 vigilant cameras. That's

[5:08:51] what the 155 consists of. Someone

[5:08:54] getting paid $317,000

[5:08:56] should know this. Supporters call this a

[5:08:58] public safety tool, but public safety

[5:09:00] cannot cost at cannot come at the cost

[5:09:03] of turning every resident into a data

[5:09:05] point tracked when they go to work,

[5:09:07] attend church, visit a doctor, go to a

[5:09:10] protest, or see family and friends. The

[5:09:13] privacy risk are real. These systems can

[5:09:16] connect local vehicle data to a broader

[5:09:18] law enforcement network and move data is

[5:09:21] deeply personal and movement data is

[5:09:24] deeply personal. Sorry. Once a

[5:09:26] surveillance network exists, the

[5:09:28] question is not only how it is used

[5:09:30] today. The question is how it can be

[5:09:32] expanded, shared, or misused tomorrow.

[5:09:35] The state of Florida has already

[5:09:37] recognized that these cameras raised

[5:09:39] serious concerns. On August 31st, FDOT

[5:09:42] revoked permits for license plate

[5:09:44] readers and state highway rightways,

[5:09:46] ordered agencies to remove them within

[5:09:48] 30 days, and said it would stop stop

[5:09:51] approving new installation in those

[5:09:53] areas. Soon after, Sheriff Walt McNeel

[5:09:56] also followed suit. Tallahassee should

[5:09:58] not respond by looking for ways to

[5:10:00] preserve surveillance on every remaining

[5:10:02] city street. It should lead by

[5:10:04] protecting civil liberties. If police

[5:10:07] believe a vehicle is connected to a

[5:10:08] serious crime, they have investigative

[5:10:11] tools, witnesses, warrants, detectives,

[5:10:13] traditional camera footage, and target

[5:10:16] targeted searches. We don't not we do

[5:10:18] not need a permanent permanent citywide

[5:10:21] system that collects information on

[5:10:23] everyone's first and ask question later.

[5:10:26] I asked this commission to remove the

[5:10:28] cameras and in the city participation in

[5:10:30] the flock network, prevent future

[5:10:31] expansion and require deletion of data

[5:10:33] that is not tied to an active criminal

[5:10:36] investigation. We can support effective

[5:10:38] policing without accepting

[5:10:40] indiscriminate surveillance. Tallassi

[5:10:42] should choose safety with privacy, not

[5:10:44] safety at the expense of privacy.

[5:10:47] Commissioners, mayor, I recommend taking

[5:10:49] a look at the app quote unquote God's

[5:10:52] eye view and take a look at what the

[5:10:54] capabilities are when we talk about

[5:10:55] surveillance. Thank you.

[5:10:58] » Next speaker, please.

[5:10:59] » Daryl Alfred is our next speaker. Then

[5:11:01] Colton Taylor.

[5:11:10] » Your name and address for the record,

[5:11:11] please.

[5:11:12] » Good evening again. and I'm Dar Alfred

[5:11:14] of 814 West Tharp Street. Uh I'm

[5:11:17] standing here tonight in opposition to

[5:11:19] Flock ALPRs and mass surveillance at

[5:11:21] large. This technology got ahead of the

[5:11:23] public fast. Flock cameras were dis or

[5:11:26] deployed before most people or even many

[5:11:28] legislators had any real awareness of

[5:11:30] what these systems could become, how

[5:11:32] much information they could collect, or

[5:11:34] how easily that information could be

[5:11:36] shared. For that reason alone, automated

[5:11:38] license plate readers deserve a

[5:11:40] moratorum no different than the pause

[5:11:42] the community has called on large data

[5:11:44] centers. This week, a former openi open

[5:11:47] AI researcher just resigned from

[5:11:49] anthropic warned that even warned that

[5:11:53] even the people building these

[5:11:54] technologies believe they're moving

[5:11:56] dangerously fast. And yes, these cameras

[5:11:58] can help solve crimes. Of course they

[5:12:00] can. If we put a GPS tracker on every

[5:12:03] car in town, that'd probably help solve

[5:12:05] crime, too. We don't do that because

[5:12:07] public safety is not the only value of a

[5:12:09] free society it's supposed to protect.

[5:12:12] We have a fourth amendment for a reason

[5:12:14] and surveillance technology now being

[5:12:16] sold for civilian policing has already

[5:12:18] been deployed in Gaza. I don't want

[5:12:20] Tallahassee becoming another testing

[5:12:22] ground for technology moving from war

[5:12:24] zones into civilian life. There is a

[5:12:27] practical problem here too. Why keep

[5:12:30] spending public money building

[5:12:31] surveillance infrastructure whose

[5:12:32] constitutional and regulatory future is

[5:12:34] increasingly uncertain? Every one of

[5:12:37] these cameras represents public money,

[5:12:39] labor, materials, installation, and

[5:12:41] maintenance. If these systems are

[5:12:42] ultimately found to go too far, we've

[5:12:45] wasted all of this time. Get flock and

[5:12:47] surveillance technology out of

[5:12:49] Tallahassee and put our resources into

[5:12:50] things that actually prevent crime.

[5:12:53] young people, mental health services,

[5:12:55] housing stability, community activities,

[5:12:58] job creation, and business ownership.

[5:13:00] Build infrastructure that gives people

[5:13:02] lives worth living, and you prevent the

[5:13:04] violence that before it happens. Give

[5:13:06] neighbors pathways to ownership and

[5:13:08] stake, and you'll get stronger

[5:13:09] neighborhoods. A camera can tell you

[5:13:11] where something has gone wrong after

[5:13:13] it's already happened. It can't stop

[5:13:15] desperation and pain before it comes

[5:13:17] violence, or crime created through

[5:13:20] necessity or boredom. We have limited

[5:13:22] money, limited labor, and limited

[5:13:24] attention. We should stop spending all

[5:13:26] three teaching government how to watch

[5:13:28] us better and actually try to serve the

[5:13:29] public. Let's build a city that has less

[5:13:32] reason to watch us in the first place.

[5:13:34] Put a moratorium on these systems. Get

[5:13:35] them out of Tallahassee because we have

[5:13:38] far larger problems to solve. Thanks.

[5:13:42] » Next speaker, please.

[5:13:43] » Colton Taylor and then Simone Hickman.

[5:13:46] » Great name and address for the record,

[5:13:47] please.

[5:13:49] » Appreciate it. My name is Colton Taylor.

[5:13:51] I live at 631 East Call Street. Uh so

[5:13:54] communities across the country have seen

[5:13:56] our rights be violated on numerous

[5:13:57] fronts and these flaw cameras are

[5:13:59] especially concerning because not only

[5:14:00] do they infringe upon our rights, the

[5:14:02] technology can be used to track our

[5:14:03] every move. They say it's just for

[5:14:05] public safety, but we've seen the

[5:14:06] terrible consequences of how they've

[5:14:08] been exploited. Uh mass surveillance

[5:14:10] begets uh suppression and oppression. So

[5:14:13] my question is is do we want to live in

[5:14:14] a city under mass surveillance? Uh my

[5:14:16] answer is no, and yours should be too.

[5:14:18] Thanks. Our next speaker, please.

[5:14:20] » Simone Hickman.

[5:14:23] And then the next speaker will be

[5:14:24] Jonathan Gardner.

[5:14:28] » Name and address for the record, please.

[5:14:31] » Uh, it's Simone Hickman, 10154

[5:14:34] Rose Road. Uh, I live in a more rural

[5:14:37] area and every single road from my house

[5:14:40] is covered by flaw cameras. Uh my family

[5:14:43] and I can't even buy gas or groceries

[5:14:47] without the system recording our

[5:14:48] vehicles. So I was very glad to hear the

[5:14:51] governor announced that the cameras

[5:14:53] would be coming down. I'm grateful to

[5:14:56] Sheriff Walt McNeel for doing the same.

[5:14:59] I'm especially grateful to Jefferson

[5:15:01] County Sheriff M. McNeel for going above

[5:15:03] and beyond because when I drove to

[5:15:05] Monaceel this weekend, the cameras were

[5:15:08] covered with black trash bags.

[5:15:10] Interestingly,

[5:15:12] [applause]

[5:15:13] the cameras, from what I understand,

[5:15:15] can't actually be removed because they

[5:15:18] are still the property of the Flock

[5:15:20] Corporation, but they covered them with

[5:15:22] trash bags to reassure drivers that they

[5:15:25] weren't being tracked. That's how you

[5:15:27] build public trust with the community,

[5:15:29] not with a transparency portal written

[5:15:32] by Flock that honestly has very little

[5:15:35] useful information. Uh, Wakulla County

[5:15:38] is also getting rid of their cameras.

[5:15:41] I'm not sure why Tallahassee Police

[5:15:44] Department is holding out on this issue.

[5:15:47] The city of Berkeley, California, has

[5:15:49] been in the news lately because a memo

[5:15:51] was leaked where city attorneys

[5:15:54] discussed how the city may be liable in

[5:15:57] court for issues related to Flock.

[5:16:00] An independent study in Roseville,

[5:16:02] California, found that 71% of all

[5:16:05] license plates read by flock were read

[5:16:07] inaccurately. 71% failure rate. So, not

[5:16:11] only are these cameras a privacy

[5:16:13] nightmare, they are a liability

[5:16:15] nightmare, too. Innocent people are

[5:16:17] going to be hurt by these things and

[5:16:19] they are probably going to sue.

[5:16:22] Flock is now facing a class action

[5:16:25] lawsuit in Georgia. And let me just read

[5:16:28] you the charges they are facing. Count

[5:16:31] one, invasion of privacy. Count two,

[5:16:35] negligence.

[5:16:36] Count three, negligent design. Count

[5:16:39] four, failure to warn. And count five,

[5:16:42] emotional distress.

[5:16:44] The lawsuit also reveals that the

[5:16:46] cameras can actually photograph the

[5:16:48] occupants of vehicles.

[5:16:50] Block's newest model called the Condor

[5:16:53] is specifically designed to track human

[5:16:55] beings. It uses AI to identify people

[5:16:59] down to their tattoos and can even read

[5:17:01] their phone screens over their shoulder.

[5:17:04] » You're at 30 seconds remaining.

[5:17:05] » So that's what's coming next most

[5:17:07] likely. I think we're hitting an

[5:17:10] inflection point on surveillance in our

[5:17:12] society and you guys are really the

[5:17:14] frontline defenders of our privacy. So,

[5:17:17] thank you for listening.

[5:17:19] » Our next speaker, please,

[5:17:22] » Jonathan Gardner.

[5:17:24] And Matt Burke will then follow.

[5:17:28] » Your name and address for the record,

[5:17:29] please.

[5:17:31] » Hi there, Jonathan Gardner. Uh, 32309,

[5:17:33] uh, 3687 Donovan Drive. I do have some

[5:17:36] handouts. I'm a handout person. I don't

[5:17:37] know who who I should hand this to.

[5:17:38] » To the officer right there.

[5:17:44] » All right. So, that's a long set of

[5:17:46] documents, but I have prepared for the

[5:17:48] county and for you guys a personal

[5:17:50] report on some of this. And it's more

[5:17:52] than just flock cameras. Um, we're

[5:17:54] talking about surveillance tools in

[5:17:56] general. There is a market that is being

[5:17:58] built um for civilian domestic espionage

[5:18:03] that you can't put another name on it.

[5:18:05] Um, and with AI tools coming up on the

[5:18:07] last set of pages of that handout, um,

[5:18:09] there's an article by Wired of Flock's

[5:18:12] own um, what they have a AI chatbot that

[5:18:15] takes in all of this data from your

[5:18:18] license plate readers, um, from your

[5:18:20] drone cameras, from social media pieces,

[5:18:23] uh, and puts it all together and creates

[5:18:25] you a list of suspects based on what

[5:18:27] kind of information you're looking for.

[5:18:29] Um, I would definitely recommend looking

[5:18:31] into that. I think is the most striking

[5:18:33] and and forefront um portion of what

[5:18:36] this looks like. Um on the local level,

[5:18:39] I want to thank you guys for considering

[5:18:41] suspension. I think that we need to move

[5:18:43] towards something bigger than that. Um a

[5:18:46] previous speaker uh mentioned looking

[5:18:48] back and saying how did how was this set

[5:18:50] up? How was this done without real

[5:18:52] public input or public knowledge? Um I

[5:18:55] believe that these were set up last

[5:18:57] summer. I mean that's when the real

[5:18:58] explosion of them were and then it

[5:19:00] didn't get to you guys until December

[5:19:02] and there was a conversation in January.

[5:19:04] So I mean six months of of time where

[5:19:06] this is a big deal that now that

[5:19:08] everybody knows. Uh so I would like a a

[5:19:12] backwards look at that and then a

[5:19:13] forward look. I at a previous commission

[5:19:16] meeting put forward uh what Austin,

[5:19:18] Texas did and set forth a policy, a

[5:19:20] local policy um focusing on AI

[5:19:23] surveillance technologies and what the

[5:19:26] commission locally can set forth on

[5:19:28] policies for review before they're

[5:19:30] enacted um to do privacy impact

[5:19:34] assessments on what these technologies

[5:19:37] are doing and if they're effective. And

[5:19:39] really none of those questions have been

[5:19:41] asked at this commission until this

[5:19:43] became a big public outcrage over this

[5:19:45] year, maybe the past several months. Um,

[5:19:47] it looks very bad in terms of public

[5:19:50] trust when you have a year of this kind

[5:19:54] of level of surveillance just being

[5:19:55] enacted with nobody knowing and not

[5:19:58] having any public input. If we want

[5:20:00] this, sure, we can argue that they're

[5:20:02] great for solving crimes. As somebody

[5:20:05] previously said, GPS readers would be

[5:20:07] great for that, too. There's a reason

[5:20:09] that the Supreme Court made that a

[5:20:11] warrant warrantable search.

[5:20:13] » 30 seconds remaining.

[5:20:14] » And what Flock is and all these other

[5:20:16] people are really selling is a database

[5:20:18] that the police can access. It's not the

[5:20:20] cameras. I mean, the cameras are a big

[5:20:21] deal, but they've been around for a

[5:20:22] while. It's the database. It's the

[5:20:24] profiling. It's being able to track

[5:20:26] people. And that is what I think most

[5:20:28] people are really upset about. It's not

[5:20:30] the cameras that can help solve crimes.

[5:20:32] It is the database that profiles people.

[5:20:35] Thank you for considering suspension.

[5:20:36] Let's keep this conversation going.

[5:20:38] Thanks.

[5:20:38] » Our next speaker, please,

[5:20:39] » Matt Burke. [applause]

[5:20:43] Matt Burke.

[5:20:46] That Burke three times. Moving to PJ

[5:20:48] Perez.

[5:20:55] » Name and address for the record, please.

[5:20:59] » Good evening. PJ Perez, 32301.

[5:21:04] All right.

[5:21:08] So opposition to mass surveillance uh

[5:21:10] has bipartisan support nationwide,

[5:21:12] right? Flock is the poster child, but

[5:21:14] it's not the only threat. Our community

[5:21:17] has been expressing concern over these

[5:21:18] things for the better part of a year as

[5:21:20] we've been talking about. This invasive

[5:21:22] technology has been woven into our lives

[5:21:25] and we've taken it as the reality that

[5:21:27] we're just forced to accept. It's time

[5:21:29] for this commission to finally listen to

[5:21:31] the voices of the people.

[5:21:33] Over the past year, this commission has

[5:21:35] given away the hospital, given away

[5:21:37] Capital City Country Club, slashed

[5:21:40] unagended public speakers to 30 minutes,

[5:21:42] and now hot off the presses, some city

[5:21:44] manager contract hijinks to add to a

[5:21:47] pretty rough resume over the course of a

[5:21:48] year.

[5:21:51] It's time this commission, the

[5:21:52] government closest to the people, began

[5:21:53] to vote like it, right? As a high school

[5:21:56] social sciences teacher, I press on upon

[5:21:58] my students every day to get active in

[5:22:00] their community, especially in politics

[5:22:02] here at the local level. It's an

[5:22:05] essential project that we're all working

[5:22:06] on here together.

[5:22:09] Here, we can actually touch the

[5:22:10] government. It's not federal. It's not

[5:22:13] state. It's not disconnect. It's not

[5:22:14] abstract. It's here. It's everyone in

[5:22:16] this room. People coming around sharing

[5:22:19] each other's thoughts, signing

[5:22:21] petitions, gathering information. We're

[5:22:23] living amongst each other. We need to be

[5:22:25] listening to each other.

[5:22:27] We need to be able to show the next

[5:22:28] generation that their voice matters.

[5:22:31] Show them there's still hope in this

[5:22:32] city and in public service instead of

[5:22:35] pulling up the rear on this issue. I

[5:22:36] mean, we were behind the governor on

[5:22:38] this guys. The governor behind him.

[5:22:42] Strange. Nothing changed in two weeks.

[5:22:44] Mr. Mayor, y'all just weren't

[5:22:46] responsive. We had to wait for it to

[5:22:48] become a safe issue politically for us

[5:22:50] to act on this thing.

[5:22:53] This is not the way that our capital

[5:22:54] city needs to be acting, right? We need

[5:22:56] to be nimble and responsive. We're all

[5:22:59] right here. We see each other. We're all

[5:23:00] in flesh and blood. We can't wait for

[5:23:02] things to feel safe or be politically

[5:23:04] expedient. We need to do what's

[5:23:07] responsive to the community, to the

[5:23:08] people.

[5:23:10] So, I assure you, we need to be voting

[5:23:13] to cancel this contract with Flock and

[5:23:16] make it clear that no other vendor's

[5:23:18] camera should be able to fill that void.

[5:23:20] Thank you.

[5:23:23] » [applause]

[5:23:23] » Next speaker is Abdila Shakir

[5:23:36] and then the next speaker after this

[5:23:37] will be Dala Pierre.

[5:23:40] » Your name and address for the record,

[5:23:41] please.

[5:23:42] » Good evening, commissioners. My name is

[5:23:43] Abdil Skier, 1951 North Meridian Road.

[5:23:46] I'm here representing the ACLU of

[5:23:47] Florida. Our mission is to protect,

[5:23:49] promote, uh, sorry, to protect, defend,

[5:23:52] uh, uh, promote and expand the

[5:23:54] constitutional rights and civil

[5:23:55] liberties of all people in this country.

[5:23:58] We all deserve to be safe in our

[5:24:00] communities. But surveillance does not

[5:24:02] make us safe, and Americans don't

[5:24:04] surrender our privacy rights when we

[5:24:05] drive to work, drop the kids off at

[5:24:07] school, or go to church. Automatic

[5:24:09] license plate reader, ALPR, companies

[5:24:11] like Flock Safety, sell cameras that

[5:24:13] record and digitize license plate

[5:24:15] numbers and run them against hot lists.

[5:24:17] But that data can be stored and shared.

[5:24:19] And by doing so, it allows people to be

[5:24:21] tracked for as long as that data is

[5:24:22] retained. By the way, uh the TPD policy

[5:24:25] that you all have says that that data is

[5:24:26] retained for at least 30 days, even

[5:24:28] though Flock recently uh changed their

[5:24:30] default retention settings to 7 days.

[5:24:32] So, uh this can reveal very intimate and

[5:24:34] private details of a person's life.

[5:24:36] Every time we drive to a doctor's

[5:24:38] office, a place of worship, or a

[5:24:39] friend's home, we leave a trail. And the

[5:24:42] issue isn't just one snapshot. It's that

[5:24:43] enough snapshots can create a map of

[5:24:46] your life. They can record where we were

[5:24:48] and when we were there. And that can

[5:24:50] reveal our religious practices, our

[5:24:52] medical visits, political activities,

[5:24:54] personal relationships, our daily

[5:24:56] routines. This inescapable network of

[5:24:58] surveillance gives police around the

[5:25:00] country new power to track our movements

[5:25:02] without a warrant. By the way, putting

[5:25:04] our freedom to move freely in danger.

[5:25:06] This technology can be very easily

[5:25:08] abused. In Kansas, police used them to

[5:25:10] pursue a man who wrote a newspaper op-ed

[5:25:12] that was critical of the department.

[5:25:14] Here in Florida, in Pulk County, an

[5:25:16] officer was recently suspended after

[5:25:17] allegedly accessing the flock database

[5:25:19] 717 times over nearly two years to track

[5:25:23] his aranged wife. But we are not

[5:25:25] powerless. Communities across the

[5:25:27] country are rejecting these creepy

[5:25:29] cameras and winning. Cities and police

[5:25:31] departments are canceling their

[5:25:32] contracts with flock in response to

[5:25:34] public pressure, and Tallahassee must

[5:25:35] join that list. Everyday Americans are

[5:25:38] coming together across the political

[5:25:39] spectrum to reject this mass

[5:25:41] surveillance. We don't have to hold the

[5:25:43] same political beliefs to agree that

[5:25:45] it's wrong for the government to track

[5:25:47] everyone's movements just in case they

[5:25:49] may someday be suspected of something.

[5:25:51] And let's be clear, while Flock provides

[5:25:54] the most widely used ALPRs, they're not

[5:25:56] the only company trying to make a buck

[5:25:58] off of spying off of us. Axon, Vigilant

[5:26:01] Solutions, Genetic, Platesmart,

[5:26:02] Perceptics, those are just a few of the

[5:26:05] other major companies selling ALPRs to

[5:26:07] police, private companies, and others.

[5:26:09] It doesn't matter which creepy which

[5:26:10] company has its creepy cameras in our

[5:26:12] neighborhood. They all have the same

[5:26:14] problem. A lack of transparency and

[5:26:16] oversight into how they collect, store,

[5:26:18] and share our data and how to hold

[5:26:20] public and private actors accountable if

[5:26:21] they abuse it.

[5:26:22] » You're at 30 seconds.

[5:26:23] » Thank you. Uh we must protect our

[5:26:25] communities from these invasive cameras.

[5:26:27] Uh if the government suspects us of

[5:26:29] wrongdoing, they also need to get a

[5:26:31] warrant. Everyone in America has the

[5:26:33] right to move freely without being

[5:26:34] surveiled. No flock, no ALPRs, no

[5:26:38] exceptions, no excuses. Get these creepy

[5:26:41] cameras out of our communities now and

[5:26:42] tell these ALPR companies to get the

[5:26:45] flock out of Tallahassee.

[5:26:47] [applause]

[5:26:49] » Our next speaker, please.

[5:26:51] » Delila Pierre is next. Uh, followed by

[5:26:54] Robert Lee.

[5:26:55] » Your name and address for the record,

[5:26:56] please.

[5:26:57] » My name is Delila Pierre. My address is

[5:26:59] exempt. I'm a member of the Tallahassee

[5:27:01] Alliance Against Racist and Political

[5:27:02] Repression. And I want to say that

[5:27:04] police chief Lawrence Revel sitting

[5:27:06] right over there. Um, and the TSI Police

[5:27:08] Department are the last people we want

[5:27:10] possible to have access to flawed

[5:27:12] cameras because the TSI Police

[5:27:13] Department has again and again shown

[5:27:15] that they have a history of using

[5:27:16] surveillance technology to harass and

[5:27:19] spy on black and brown people in our

[5:27:20] city and TV has always responded

[5:27:22] negatively when asked to hold to take

[5:27:24] accountability for their actions. So TD

[5:27:27] says that um flock will be expanded to

[5:27:29] areas, at least it says in your agenda

[5:27:30] item, that flock will be expanded to

[5:27:32] areas that have historically experienced

[5:27:34] higher levels of criminal activity.

[5:27:36] That's a nice way for you to say black

[5:27:38] people. Um TBD has been caught using

[5:27:41] stingray technology in 2015 to spy on

[5:27:44] thousands of innocent bystanders. And

[5:27:47] all these investigations TPD made, they

[5:27:49] made no mention of using Stingray

[5:27:51] technology in any of their court filings

[5:27:52] or the judicial to the judicial

[5:27:54] authorities. Um, TBD also has a history

[5:27:58] of using his technology for things like

[5:28:00] the 287G agreement. The TY Police

[5:28:02] Department, although not having to,

[5:28:04] decide to sign on to the 287g agreement

[5:28:06] and work with them. Let's talk more

[5:28:08] about what TBD has done because TBD also

[5:28:10] was responsible for the conviction of

[5:28:12] Calvin Riley, a black man falsely

[5:28:14] convicted of a DUI when there was direct

[5:28:17] evidence that he was being set up by

[5:28:19] officer Kirstston Oliver who literally

[5:28:22] who took an alcohol bottle from his car,

[5:28:24] opened it, and then put it back in so

[5:28:26] she had the pretext to arrest him. So, I

[5:28:29] don't understand why you would think

[5:28:32] that an organization that barks against

[5:28:34] transparency, that an organization that

[5:28:36] fought for the removal of a citizens

[5:28:38] police review board, that openly

[5:28:40] celebrated working with war criminal

[5:28:42] Eddie Gallagher, who posed with a corpse

[5:28:45] and was convicted for it, that an

[5:28:47] organization where our police chief,

[5:28:49] Lawrence Revel, went to an anti-LGBTQ

[5:28:52] plus conference with a Tati police

[5:28:54] department shirt, and then y'all, city

[5:28:56] commissioners Dy Williams, Cox, Curtis

[5:28:58] Richardson John Dailyaly defended him. I

[5:29:00] have no idea why you would think that

[5:29:02] you have the right to surveil people in

[5:29:03] our community when time and time again

[5:29:05] when we ask for justice for victims of

[5:29:07] police brutality for immigrants and for

[5:29:09] people who are affected by your actions,

[5:29:11] you go through an internal investigation

[5:29:13] process that finds it that TBD is not in

[5:29:16] trouble. What kind of system is this

[5:29:19] where we already spend onethird of our

[5:29:21] budget on policing and you already have

[5:29:23] the real time crime center and a

[5:29:25] thousand other ways to surveil people to

[5:29:28] criminalize people to to detain people.

[5:29:32] As an organizer fighting for black

[5:29:33] liberation, I know these flaw cameras

[5:29:35] are damage to black communities in

[5:29:37] Tallahassee, to brown communities in

[5:29:38] Tallahassee. Our police department has

[5:29:40] shown time and time again that they

[5:29:42] don't care about accountability. And I

[5:29:44] Williams Cox, your time is coming up.

[5:29:45] Your seat is not secure, so you better

[5:29:47] be thoughtful when you make that vote

[5:29:49] today. Thank you.

[5:29:51] » Our next speaker, please,

[5:29:53] » Robert Lee.

[5:29:55] » And the next will be Lily Anderson

[5:29:56] Messing.

[5:29:57] » Your name and address for the record,

[5:29:58] please.

[5:30:00] » Uh, my name is Robert Lee. Uh,

[5:30:01] Tallahass, Florida 32303.

[5:30:04] Um, so I'm going to read off a few

[5:30:06] things uh from some recent news

[5:30:07] articles. Um, Brandon Upurch was just

[5:30:11] driving his Dodge Ram through Toledo

[5:30:13] when an AI camera changed his life

[5:30:15] forever. A Flock safety surveillance

[5:30:17] system misread a seven as a two on his

[5:30:19] license plate, trigger triggering a

[5:30:22] stolen vehicle alert that ended up with

[5:30:23] a police K9 tearing into his arm and

[5:30:25] dreadlocks. What should have been a

[5:30:27] routine drive became a nightmare of John

[5:30:29] Guns, dog bites, hospital visits, and

[5:30:32] jail time. All because a computer

[5:30:34] couldn't tell the difference between two

[5:30:35] numbers. On October 4th, 2025, Hakeim

[5:30:39] Dino attended his granddaughter's

[5:30:40] birthday party in Sanford, Florida. At

[5:30:42] the end of the night, he headed to his

[5:30:43] daughter's house. 8 miles down

[5:30:45] Interstate 4, a speeding car swerved

[5:30:46] across multiple lanes at over 100 miles

[5:30:48] an hour. It swiped Dino's motorcycle,

[5:30:51] then hit a Ford Focus, causing a pileup

[5:30:53] before driving away. Dino died at the

[5:30:55] scene, as did a county official and his

[5:30:58] wife. Witnesses said the speeding car

[5:31:00] was a Dodge Durango. Police found that a

[5:31:03] a flot camera, a type of automated

[5:31:05] license plate reader, had spotted a

[5:31:06] Durango nearby at the time. They

[5:31:08] arrested the owner, 23-year-old Lindseay

[5:31:10] Issacs. But Isaac wasn't involved in the

[5:31:12] crash, and officers had enough

[5:31:13] information at the time to exclude her

[5:31:15] as a suspect. Yet, she still spent two

[5:31:17] weeks in jail and faced the threat of

[5:31:19] life behind bars for months because

[5:31:21] police didn't use basic scrutiny and,

[5:31:23] you know, like just regular police work

[5:31:25] to be sure their cameras didn't

[5:31:26] implicate an innocent person. In 2020,

[5:31:30] Aurora, Colorado, notoriously held a

[5:31:32] black family, including small children,

[5:31:34] face down at gunpoint after an ALPR

[5:31:37] misidentified their SUV as a stolen

[5:31:39] motorcycle from another state. So, these

[5:31:42] cameras can't tell the difference

[5:31:43] between a car and a motorcycle or

[5:31:44] between two different state license

[5:31:45] plates.

[5:31:47] [clears throat]

[5:31:48] These cameras are not compatible with a

[5:31:51] free society.

[5:31:52] I understand the desire for safety, but

[5:31:55] creating a panopticon that surveils us

[5:31:58] at all times and all our of our

[5:31:59] movements is not safety. What creates

[5:32:02] safety is providing community resources,

[5:32:05] giving people the help that they need so

[5:32:07] that they're not desperate to, you know,

[5:32:09] figure out how to survive any way that

[5:32:11] they can. These cameras are security

[5:32:14] theater at best. Um, now obviously we've

[5:32:17] heard quite a bit about all the misuse

[5:32:19] of the cameras. officers all over the

[5:32:21] country stalking their ex-girlfriends,

[5:32:24] stalking their ex-wives, um stalking

[5:32:26] random women that they met who didn't go

[5:32:28] on a date with them. Um really weird

[5:32:30] stuff. Um but even beyond the misuse,

[5:32:34] the stories I said before,

[5:32:35] » 30 seconds remaining.

[5:32:36] » Just the simple existence of them is a

[5:32:39] problem. They make mistakes. This is not

[5:32:42] something that we should be acceptable

[5:32:44] accepting of. We shouldn't be surveiled

[5:32:46] at all times. We should be able to go

[5:32:47] about our movements. If we haven't done

[5:32:49] anything wrong, we shouldn't have to be

[5:32:51] worried about are we constantly being

[5:32:52] filmed by the city trying to, you know,

[5:32:55] track our movements everywhere that we

[5:32:56] go. So, please end this contract. I

[5:32:59] mean, don't be in conflict with the

[5:33:01] state and the county and countless other

[5:33:03] cities across Florida and the country

[5:33:05] that are suspending their contracts.

[5:33:06] Thank you.

[5:33:07] » Our next speaker, please.

[5:33:08] » Next speaker is Lily Anderson Messik,

[5:33:10] then Stanley Sims.

[5:33:13] » Your name and address for the record,

[5:33:14] please.

[5:33:14] » Lily Anderson Messics. Um, I live on

[5:33:18] West 6th Avenue, Tales 32303.

[5:33:21] And hi, I was Thank you guys for staying

[5:33:23] late and listening to us. I appreciate

[5:33:25] it. I was born here in Tallahassee at

[5:33:27] TMH and um, grew up here. Your u, Mayor

[5:33:30] Dailyaly, your mom, was one of my grade

[5:33:32] school teachers here in town and I'm

[5:33:35] just really frightened by these cameras

[5:33:38] that are going that are all over town.

[5:33:40] Um, I'm also a victim of sexual assault

[5:33:43] and I'm every time I leave my house now

[5:33:46] and I drive past these cameras at every

[5:33:49] street light, I don't know how many men

[5:33:51] are tracking my whereabouts. It's really

[5:33:55] concerning to me. This is a a stalker's

[5:33:59] and a domestic abuser's dream to have

[5:34:02] access to this type of information and

[5:34:05] they are using it that way. We're seeing

[5:34:07] cases in Florida and across the nation

[5:34:09] of these cameras being used to stalk and

[5:34:11] abuse women. Um I'm also a botonist and

[5:34:15] an ecologist and I spend a lot of time

[5:34:16] in, you know, secluded areas and I drove

[5:34:20] out to uh the Appalachic National Forest

[5:34:23] this week past um the Talas airport and

[5:34:26] I passed so many cameras. My entire

[5:34:29] route was tracked out there and it made

[5:34:32] me realize I'm in these secluded areas

[5:34:34] which I have historically always felt

[5:34:36] very safe in because I know how to

[5:34:38] handle myself in nature. But to know

[5:34:40] that I don't know how many strange men

[5:34:43] know where I am at all times and know

[5:34:45] that I'm in a secluded area that's scary

[5:34:48] to me. That's really frightening. Um

[5:34:51] it's also a roll out of mass

[5:34:53] surveillance across the nation that is

[5:34:55] happening in has been mentioned. This is

[5:34:57] data that is being stolen from us and

[5:35:00] being sold to we don't know who. It's

[5:35:03] just very scary. It's a tool that has

[5:35:07] too many. It's just too ripe for abuse.

[5:35:10] And we have rights. I have I believe I

[5:35:12] have a right to privacy in public. You

[5:35:15] know, I would like to have a reasonable

[5:35:17] right to privacy and not know that my

[5:35:18] data is being sold. I was really I

[5:35:21] wasn't able to attend the last

[5:35:22] commission meeting, but I was really

[5:35:23] dismayed at what happened at that

[5:35:25] commission meeting. I think it's really

[5:35:27] embarrassing that Dantis came out and

[5:35:30] and is against flock before our own

[5:35:32] commission is that's shocking to me. I

[5:35:36] never thought that would happen. And I

[5:35:38] also was really shocked and dismayed at

[5:35:41] uh Chief Rebel's attitude in that

[5:35:44] meeting and how he treated Commissioner

[5:35:45] Porter. I thought that was

[5:35:46] » You have 30 seconds remaining. So, um, I

[5:35:49] just wanted to express my concern. Thank

[5:35:50] you for listening. Have a good night.

[5:35:53] [applause]

[5:35:54] » The next speaker, please,

[5:35:55] » Stanley Sims. And then Lisa Sears.

[5:35:57] » My name is Stanley Sims. I'm still at

[5:36:00] 1320 Barack Obama way.

[5:36:05] First of all, let me say this because I

[5:36:06] don't get a chance to say, matter of

[5:36:08] fact, I've never had the opportunity to

[5:36:10] say it. I want to thank the governor,

[5:36:16] man.

[5:36:18] I want to thank him

[5:36:20] because if he can come to common sense

[5:36:22] on this, everyone should.

[5:36:27] But in my heart, I believe that if the

[5:36:29] governor would not have done what I've

[5:36:31] done, we would not be here today.

[5:36:36] The second thing I have a problem with,

[5:36:38] we keep using the word suspend.

[5:36:44] So that's for a time period. So, does

[5:36:47] that mean that this can come back?

[5:36:51] I also have heard some distortions.

[5:36:56] These flock them up cameras

[5:37:00] do not do facial recognition.

[5:37:03] They read license plates.

[5:37:08] Also, another distortion I want to clear

[5:37:10] up with with you, my good favorite

[5:37:12] friend, Mr. Curtis Richardson.

[5:37:15] Those cameras

[5:37:18] that we put up in neighborhoods

[5:37:22] are nothing compared to these flock

[5:37:25] cameras.

[5:37:25] » I never said there were

[5:37:27] » I didn't say you did. I didn't say you

[5:37:29] did.

[5:37:30] » Okay.

[5:37:32] » They operate

[5:37:34] totally different.

[5:37:37] This flock camera can track me from

[5:37:40] place to place. If I go to Wind Dixie,

[5:37:44] it could catch me. If I go to Publix, it

[5:37:47] could catch me. The cameras are

[5:37:50] stationary.

[5:37:53] So, I know I'm in a survey area, and

[5:37:56] those people in that area wanted that

[5:37:59] camera. So, I'm cool with that.

[5:38:02] Here's the other problem I have.

[5:38:08] You keep bragging about transparency,

[5:38:11] mayor.

[5:38:15] Why understand what's the hell is going

[5:38:17] on around here? Nobody

[5:38:21] Nobody

[5:38:23] explained to us.

[5:38:26] This is different also, Chief, our good

[5:38:29] friend, Chief,

[5:38:30] » 30 seconds, than pulling somebody's

[5:38:32] driving license.

[5:38:34] It is not the same.

[5:38:37] This is an invasion

[5:38:40] that is not really justified or

[5:38:45] been explained to the public.

[5:38:48] You have a right to be upset. And can I

[5:38:50] say this one more time? I want to thank

[5:38:52] the governor

[5:38:55] for making this move.

[5:38:58] I'm going home.

[5:39:00] » Our next speaker, please.

[5:39:01] » Lisa Sears is our next speaker.

[5:39:04] followed by Thomas Spears.

[5:39:09] » Your name and address for the record,

[5:39:10] please.

[5:39:12] » My name is Lisa Sears, zip code 32303.

[5:39:17] First, I want to thank the commissioners

[5:39:19] and the mayor for taking the stance that

[5:39:22] you are on this camera situation.

[5:39:25] Um, my major reasons for opposition are

[5:39:28] Fourth Amendment concerns, police

[5:39:30] misuse, immigration data sharing, mass

[5:39:34] immigration data sharing, and creeping

[5:39:36] mass surveillance and lack of

[5:39:38] transparency.

[5:39:40] Block cameras build national databases,

[5:39:42] perhaps even international,

[5:39:46] tracking the daily moves of just

[5:39:48] ordinary citizens without a warrant,

[5:39:52] which is actually const in

[5:39:53] unconstitutional.

[5:39:57] If you all insist

[5:39:59] on keeping the flock cameras, then let's

[5:40:05] use them on our public citizens, on our

[5:40:07] public servants.

[5:40:09] put them on the driveways, put them in

[5:40:11] their offices to ensure transparency and

[5:40:14] integrity.

[5:40:17] We have a pedto predatory administration

[5:40:20] and possibly the majority of the

[5:40:22] leadership in this world

[5:40:26] and we already seem to be implementing

[5:40:28] the Nazi playbook.

[5:40:30] So this is just another thing to

[5:40:32] weaponize against we the people.

[5:40:36] As an two simple examples, a woman was

[5:40:39] tracked in two different states in

[5:40:40] several states to criminally charge her

[5:40:43] for having an abortion.

[5:40:46] There was another older lady who was

[5:40:48] tracked in several states to go get pain

[5:40:51] medication at a dispensary that was not

[5:40:53] legal in her own state. Yet, not one of

[5:40:56] these flock cameras have helped track

[5:40:58] down one, not one predator in the

[5:41:00] Epstein files.

[5:41:04] as a mother and grandmother and

[5:41:06] volunteer of Tira and Grace Alliance in

[5:41:08] action which helps which helps humanity

[5:41:11] our human families that are in crisis

[5:41:13] which of course immigrant families are

[5:41:16] high on that list right now.

[5:41:19] I have seen our constitution being

[5:41:21] walked all over our rights being eroded

[5:41:24] the American dream going up in smoke

[5:41:27] that our immigrant ancestors believed in

[5:41:29] and were very grateful for. I see

[5:41:33] families being torn apart and people

[5:41:34] being imprisoned without due process,

[5:41:37] moved from prison to prison for profit.

[5:41:40] The misspelling of names, whether it's

[5:41:42] on purpose or poorly trained or

[5:41:45] incompetence by these poorly trained ICE

[5:41:48] agents.

[5:41:51] » Lord have mercy. I have so much to say.

[5:41:54] Well,

[5:41:57] as a mom and a grandmother and volunteer

[5:42:00] helping fellow humans, I am disappointed

[5:42:03] and baffled and even angry that you want

[5:42:06] to keep flockers in our city. Normally,

[5:42:09] I wouldn't say this. However, please

[5:42:11] follow the Santa's example and take them

[5:42:13] down.

[5:42:15] The next speaker, please Thomas Spears,

[5:42:19] followed by Brandon McIntyre.

[5:42:22] [snorts]

[5:42:27] name address for the record, please. Uh

[5:42:29] » Thomas Spears in 32303.

[5:42:32] It's very interesting that the

[5:42:33] conservative majority of the board are

[5:42:34] suddenly supporting suspending the flock

[5:42:37] cameras. They mention the actions of

[5:42:39] community partners. Why is the city

[5:42:41] commission following and not leading?

[5:42:44] And why is that the city is only moving

[5:42:45] after those community partners move? The

[5:42:48] community was out here at the last

[5:42:50] meeting. Why not listen to us?

[5:42:54] This issue was brought to a vote already

[5:42:57] and it was declined by the conservative

[5:42:58] majority 3 to2. I'm thinking a lot about

[5:43:01] a lot about 3 to2 votes. Selling the

[5:43:03] golf course with unmarked graves of

[5:43:05] enslaved black people on it and selling

[5:43:07] it for a song was done 3 to2. Selling

[5:43:10] the city's hospital without a full

[5:43:12] appraisal to the school with a billion

[5:43:14] dollar endor endowment done 3 to2.

[5:43:17] dozens of other votes, all done at the

[5:43:19] behest of the conservative majority of

[5:43:21] this commission, three to two, and that

[5:43:23] includes to stay on the contract with

[5:43:24] Flock, to continue to expand

[5:43:26] surveillance of all people of

[5:43:27] Tallahassee, despite the significant

[5:43:29] issues that that kind of surveillance

[5:43:30] has in general, despite the dozens of

[5:43:32] reports of police around the country

[5:43:34] abusing these systems to track their

[5:43:35] ex-girlfriends and ex-wives, and despite

[5:43:37] the ACLU saying that these surveillance

[5:43:40] programs do violate our constitutional

[5:43:42] right to privacy.

[5:43:44] The mayor keeps saying he doesn't want

[5:43:46] things in the dis to be political.

[5:43:49] When he or the conservative majority

[5:43:51] votes, whether it's on this board or as

[5:43:53] members of blueprint, not to support

[5:43:55] affordable housing, is that not

[5:43:56] political?

[5:43:58] When poverty is a poverty a policy

[5:44:00] choice and poverty is the source of

[5:44:02] crime, why does the mayor and the

[5:44:04] conservative majority support flot

[5:44:06] cameras to empower the badge and the gun

[5:44:08] over supporting the people?

[5:44:10] The truth of the matter is his

[5:44:12] statements of not wanting things to be

[5:44:13] political are a plain, insultingly

[5:44:15] obvious farce. This is the city

[5:44:18] commission, your five elected officials.

[5:44:19] Of course, it's political. It can't be

[5:44:21] anything else. The Tallahassee Alliance

[5:44:23] against racist and political repression

[5:44:25] stands with the people of Tallahassee

[5:44:27] against these flock cameras and demands

[5:44:29] that these surveillance systems be under

[5:44:30] the control of the people of

[5:44:31] Tallahassee, not just the police. We

[5:44:34] demand that all flot cameras be removed

[5:44:35] from the city. We demand that every

[5:44:37] instance of any department pulling in

[5:44:39] from a camera in Tallahassee be listed

[5:44:41] in a public database accessible without

[5:44:43] an explicit pull request. And we demand

[5:44:45] that when TPD misuses this system, they

[5:44:48] are held accountable by us, the people.

[5:44:50] All power to the people.

[5:44:53] [applause]

[5:44:54] » Our next speaker, please,

[5:44:55] » Brandon McIntyre. And then uh Yuri

[5:44:59] Gutshaw

[5:45:02] Box 511 Sneeze, Florida. My name is

[5:45:05] Brandon McIntyre. All right. Now, what

[5:45:07] now? Where do I need to start? Now,

[5:45:09] first and foremost, this is what I would

[5:45:10] like to say. The God that I serve is not

[5:45:14] Muslim. God that I serve is not a

[5:45:17] Christian. The God that I serve is not

[5:45:20] part of no denomination.

[5:45:22] He is love. He is unity. He's every

[5:45:26] fruit of every spirit. Okay? So, where

[5:45:29] we get division from? [snorts] why we've

[5:45:31] been so divided and want to watch one

[5:45:33] another when we're all full of sin

[5:45:35] guilt.

[5:45:37] So what I also want to say is this right

[5:45:39] here as your future governor for Florida

[5:45:42] when Brandon brought attention to these

[5:45:43] flock cameras when global worldwide

[5:45:46] known cuz I use it as my platform. I

[5:45:48] served you guys a constitutional notice

[5:45:49] about these actual things. You don't

[5:45:52] believe it? Go back and public record

[5:45:54] requested. So what I'm telling you all

[5:45:56] is this right here, right? for all the

[5:45:58] police officers. Y'all may say we don't

[5:46:00] have no crime yet in here. Have you been

[5:46:02] using the flock cameras? But once my

[5:46:04] team come here to the panhandle, we

[5:46:06] already been in Georgia. Once we come to

[5:46:08] the panhandle, there's a lot going to

[5:46:09] happen. Okay? If you haven't checked

[5:46:12] your tags yet, go to have I been

[5:46:14] flocked.com. They'll give you public

[5:46:16] records request as well. But listen, but

[5:46:18] they say it's a third party site. It's

[5:46:20] not accurate. That is wrong. This this

[5:46:22] is what I'm here to say because most of

[5:46:24] you officers

[5:46:25] want to go back and red redact the

[5:46:28] information and try to change your

[5:46:29] purpose of your investigation. It's not

[5:46:31] going to work. It's not going to work

[5:46:34] because the system has a mechanism that

[5:46:36] actually

[5:46:38] tracks the people and also put in the

[5:46:41] system where the officer put in a

[5:46:43] certain investigation, it automatically

[5:46:45] saves it. So if they go back and try to

[5:46:47] redact the information, guess what

[5:46:49] happens? It also saves that as well. So

[5:46:52] covering your tracks is not going to

[5:46:53] help you. Covering your ass, excuse my

[5:46:55] French, it's not going to help you

[5:46:57] because I've been tracked is for doing

[5:46:59] the right thing two plus years for no

[5:47:02] reason. Said because I ran for president

[5:47:04] of the United States, that's why you

[5:47:05] want to track me and investigate me.

[5:47:07] Well, guess what? We come to the

[5:47:08] panhandle and a lot of you going to go

[5:47:10] to jail. Not saying you guys, but

[5:47:12] listen, I'm going tell you something too

[5:47:13] as well. A lot of you sign uh NDAs,

[5:47:16] non-disclosurable agreements.

[5:47:18] That's going to hit the fan, too. our

[5:47:21] executive branch that allowed you guys

[5:47:23] to come in with this unlawful policy. It

[5:47:26] was unconstitutional. But we have a

[5:47:28] governor, right, that want to get rid of

[5:47:30] it. But I thought he was a lawyer. This

[5:47:33] isn't go past his desk. He signed off on

[5:47:36] it, too.

[5:47:37] » He know what's right to do for the

[5:47:40] better good of Florida. You think so?

[5:47:42] Guess what? He knew his time is coming

[5:47:45] to an end as well. Okay. So, guess what?

[5:47:48] A lot of people going to go to jail

[5:47:51] behind these flocks. Let's go Brandon on

[5:47:53] the ground. Fight for you guys. Thank

[5:47:55] you.

[5:47:57] » Y gotch. And this is the last speaker I

[5:48:00] have at this time.

[5:48:01] » Uh hello Gotchuk. Uh 3231 01

[5:48:04] Tallahassee, Florida. Uh I am not going

[5:48:07] to seek to try and enumerate all of the

[5:48:10] issues that have been laid out before

[5:48:12] me. What I am going to ask you guys to

[5:48:14] do is to take action because as it has

[5:48:16] been pointed out previously a suspension

[5:48:20] is not covering these and furthermore

[5:48:23] when it comes to Flock as well as the

[5:48:24] Motorola these are not the only cameras

[5:48:27] that are gathering data. This is my

[5:48:29] issue. My issue is that it's not just

[5:48:31] gathering data it's gathering data and

[5:48:33] then being put in the hands of private

[5:48:35] companies. And what I'm asking for you

[5:48:36] as my city commission is for you to not

[5:48:39] only monitor the the contracts with

[5:48:41] Flock as well as whatever the Motorola

[5:48:43] company is, but also look at the body

[5:48:46] cam footage. That's a service. My

[5:48:48] question to you all, and I don't know

[5:48:49] the answer, this is probably a question

[5:48:51] to our to our attorney, is

[5:48:54] when we pay for a service from that, is

[5:48:57] there something that prevents as well as

[5:48:59] any other cameras any third-party non

[5:49:03] non uh regulated

[5:49:05] age of private entities from using that

[5:49:08] information, that data. I don't know. I

[5:49:10] don't I think that that is something

[5:49:12] that the city commission should take up.

[5:49:14] And that is, I think, the utmost

[5:49:16] importance for me as a citizen. The idea

[5:49:19] that we need to have rights to the data

[5:49:23] that is collected on us and that those

[5:49:26] that data is also limited and restricted

[5:49:31] by the same laws that our law

[5:49:34] enforcement are required to follow when

[5:49:36] they serve a search and seizure on

[5:49:38] private property. I the the reality is

[5:49:41] that like I I I you know I give an

[5:49:44] address. I used to live at what was

[5:49:46] formerly 909 Central Street. uh for

[5:49:49] several years. While I was there, a new

[5:49:52] a new a new tenant moved in next door

[5:49:53] and they were selling drugs. I know this

[5:49:55] because they would try to sell drugs to

[5:49:57] people who were coming to visit me. That

[5:49:59] was reported by my landlord at multiple

[5:50:01] times. It got to the point where they

[5:50:02] had their power turned off and we they

[5:50:05] my landlord called the cops or called

[5:50:07] the TPD on that. As a result, they went

[5:50:09] over and they said, "Yeah, they're

[5:50:10] running a generator. We know it's loud.

[5:50:13] You got to call the code enforcement."

[5:50:14] And a week later, the place burned down.

[5:50:17] You know who was there in five minutes?

[5:50:20] The fire service.

[5:50:23] And and ultimately, I personally I feel

[5:50:25] like there was a missed opportunity that

[5:50:28] it doesn't see like putting cameras were

[5:50:30] going to do that because ultimately that

[5:50:32] house was raided during that time. It

[5:50:33] was done by the sheriff's department.

[5:50:35] » They arrested

[5:50:36] » 30 seconds remaining.

[5:50:37] » And during that time I it seems like the

[5:50:41] adage came true of if you want to call

[5:50:43] response, call the sheriff's department,

[5:50:45] not TPD. that ultimately that the the

[5:50:47] the the the signs were put out, people

[5:50:50] were warned, they were said, "Hey,

[5:50:52] there's some bad stuff going on here."

[5:50:53] It was very clear. And ultimately when

[5:50:56] there were police, there's such bad

[5:50:58] relations that the people in the

[5:51:00] neighborhood started yelling and

[5:51:01] screaming at the cops and there was

[5:51:03] conflict just by passers by and TPD

[5:51:06] needs to work on fixing that opposed to

[5:51:08] erecting new cameras to watch people.

[5:51:09] Thank you.

[5:51:10] » Our next speaker, please.

[5:51:12] » I have no other speakers on this item.

[5:51:14] Mayor.

[5:51:14] » All right. Commissioner Williams Cox.

[5:51:16] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and thank you all

[5:51:19] for your for your conversation. As I

[5:51:21] said earlier, I've done a lot of um

[5:51:23] research and homework as well. And so,

[5:51:25] at this point, I am ready to move

[5:51:27] forward with making the motion that we

[5:51:29] suspend um the use of Flock and Motorola

[5:51:33] cameras um in the city of Tallahassee to

[5:51:36] follow suit with um what our our

[5:51:38] partner, the sheriff, is is already

[5:51:41] doing. And at the last meeting, I

[5:51:43] mentioned that I didn't like the hodge

[5:51:45] podge of us um some doing this and some

[5:51:48] doing that, but to provide some

[5:51:49] consistency and what we're doing that we

[5:51:52] u move to suspend um the use of uh flock

[5:51:56] cameras as well as Motorola cameras.

[5:51:58] » I would second that motion, Mayor.

[5:52:00] » All right. Motion in a second. Motion

[5:52:02] made by Commissioner Williams, seconded

[5:52:04] by uh the mayor, Pro Tim. Further

[5:52:07] comment,

[5:52:10] Mr. Maloo.

[5:52:11] » Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, I also

[5:52:14] drove to St. George Island this weekend

[5:52:16] and probably passed 25 bagged cameras.

[5:52:21] Um, it was great to see them bagged, but

[5:52:23] it was insane to see how many were in my

[5:52:26] drive between Tallahassee through a very

[5:52:28] rural community. I mean, you talk about

[5:52:31] mass surveillance. This is mass

[5:52:32] surveillance. Uh, I do want to, you

[5:52:36] know, we just took this item up two

[5:52:38] weeks ago. uh we didn't have the votes

[5:52:40] to get it passed. Sometimes leadership

[5:52:42] is going first. We brought this item up

[5:52:45] last December. Have been discussing it

[5:52:47] um as a a city uh commission, but I just

[5:52:50] to everybody who came out and spoke

[5:52:51] today who's been advocating on this

[5:52:53] issue, this decision is only changing

[5:52:56] because of you. Uh if you weren't

[5:52:59] advocating for this, you would not see a

[5:53:01] change on this commission today. And I

[5:53:03] know the majority of this commission

[5:53:05] tends to uh reject what the public is

[5:53:08] asking for time after time again, but

[5:53:11] you showed that the power of advocacy uh

[5:53:14] still works and if you continue to show

[5:53:16] up, you can see real change uh for your

[5:53:18] impacts. So, thank you. Thank you for

[5:53:21] that. I do have a couple questions or a

[5:53:24] question, Mr. Manager. the the budget

[5:53:27] today allocated $150,000 for ALPRS and

[5:53:32] the capital improvement plan. How will

[5:53:34] this decision impact that allocation?

[5:53:38] » Mr. Manager,

[5:53:41] » I'm not sure that level of detail, but

[5:53:44] um we clearly would not be spending

[5:53:47] additional money on ALPRs.

[5:53:49] It's entirely possible we could

[5:53:51] reprogram that for other technology,

[5:53:54] but if the commission moves forward with

[5:53:57] the decision that seems to be at hand,

[5:53:59] we would not spend money on ALPRs.

[5:54:03] » Okay. Thank you,

[5:54:04] » Mr. Mat.

[5:54:05] » Thank you. And is it still the city's

[5:54:07] position and the chief's position that

[5:54:09] they should remain?

[5:54:12] » Mr. Mayor,

[5:54:15] » I I think the TPD has has been very

[5:54:19] clear in terms of the value of the

[5:54:20] information,

[5:54:22] but at the same time, you heard the

[5:54:24] words from the chief

[5:54:26] last meeting and there was a request for

[5:54:29] this to come back that so there was

[5:54:32] quite a bit of effort put into the

[5:54:33] agenda item and you see no

[5:54:35] recommendation. We're seeking commission

[5:54:37] direction. TPD and myself and others, we

[5:54:41] believe this to be a policy issue.

[5:54:44] This update on LPRs and cameras and

[5:54:47] other technology has been provided over

[5:54:50] the years a dozen times. There's been

[5:54:53] investment added and and so TBD and law

[5:54:57] enforcement does believe in technology,

[5:55:00] but we believe this this rises to the

[5:55:03] level of public policy which is provided

[5:55:06] by the commission. So, you don't see a

[5:55:07] recommendation

[5:55:09] um other than seeking the direction of

[5:55:11] the commission?

[5:55:13] » Commissioner Metlo.

[5:55:14] » Uh thank you, Mr. Manager. I I know

[5:55:15] there was a lot of discussion at the

[5:55:17] last meeting about the right to privacy

[5:55:19] in public, but we really didn't uh ever

[5:55:21] really get to get into the issue of this

[5:55:24] being completely different. It doesn't

[5:55:26] give you the right to go back in time

[5:55:28] and trace the whereabouts of somebody uh

[5:55:30] for the past 30 days. That has nothing

[5:55:32] to do with what's clearly visible uh in

[5:55:34] in public. But going forward, I've heard

[5:55:36] the speaker's concerns. I've heard the

[5:55:38] motion. And I do think whether you can

[5:55:40] let me know if these are friendly

[5:55:41] amendments or um a substitute motion is

[5:55:44] required. But I think we need to be

[5:55:45] aggressive about this. I think that

[5:55:47] means black trash bags covering them by

[5:55:49] tomorrow within 24 hours.

[5:55:52] [applause]

[5:55:56] I think that means issuing the directive

[5:55:58] to move them from all city rightaways

[5:56:00] within 30 days as consistent with uh the

[5:56:02] governor's orders on state rightaways or

[5:56:04] the city will remove them if they're not

[5:56:06] removed by the owner within 30 days. And

[5:56:08] I think we need a policy to come back to

[5:56:11] the city commission that requires

[5:56:14] explicit city commission approval on any

[5:56:17] future uh surveillance technology moving

[5:56:19] forward. [applause] Is

[5:56:24] » That a friendly amendment uh

[5:56:26] Commissioner Williams Cox that we can

[5:56:28] support or do you want to have a

[5:56:30] separate uh substitute motion?

[5:56:32] » Um

[5:56:34] I for one am not in favor of riding

[5:56:37] around town seeing black bags all over

[5:56:40] the this city of Tallahassee.

[5:56:43] » When

[5:56:43] » Excuse us. Hey everybody, calm down.

[5:56:46] Just please. All right. I mean that

[5:56:48] that's just that's that's just where I

[5:56:50] am what I believe now knowing how

[5:56:53] technology works. When we say suspend

[5:56:56] that means it is turned off. It's not

[5:56:57] transmitting. It's not doing any of

[5:56:59] that. Um

[5:57:04] this is the second warning before I

[5:57:06] clear chambers for the rest of the

[5:57:07] evening. Okay.

[5:57:09] » Thank you.

[5:57:10] » So um is it's the why don't we why don't

[5:57:13] we do this? Why don't we react on the

[5:57:15] motion that I I have on the table and

[5:57:17] then if Commissioner Matlo wants to do a

[5:57:19] separate motion and he can do that

[5:57:21] » But he will be making a substitute

[5:57:23] motion that will be taken up first

[5:57:25] » And then if it fails then we will take

[5:57:27] up uh the original motion on the table.

[5:57:30] » Um okay so you do not want to accept it

[5:57:33] as a friendly amendment.

[5:57:34] » Okay. So Commissioner Matlo back to you.

[5:57:37] » Uh thank you Mr. Mayor. Uh, I make a

[5:57:39] substitute motion uh that we bag the

[5:57:41] cameras uh in the city within 24 hours.

[5:57:45] Uh, give 30 days for them to be removed

[5:57:47] or have the city remove them and bring

[5:57:49] back a city commission policy at the

[5:57:51] September 23rd meeting uh that requires

[5:57:54] explicit uh city commission approval for

[5:57:56] any new surveillance technology.

[5:57:59] » I'll second that. I have two questions.

[5:58:02] » Motion and a second. Commissioner

[5:58:03] Porter,

[5:58:04] » Thank you. And I'm not sure exactly who

[5:58:07] this question is for, but I think uh

[5:58:09] Commissioner Williams Cox for the

[5:58:11] original motion.

[5:58:13] I want to make sure that I understand.

[5:58:15] So, is it all ALPR

[5:58:18] cameras

[5:58:20] » Lock and Motorola?

[5:58:21] » Does that encompass all the

[5:58:24] ALPR cameras that we have?

[5:58:26] » That that's the entirety. There's

[5:58:29] there's 150ish

[5:58:31] a little over 150 fixed ALPR cameras

[5:58:35] made up of Flock and a Motorola brand.

[5:58:38] » Okay.

[5:58:38] » And they look different, different form

[5:58:40] factors. They all don't look the same,

[5:58:42] but that would be the entirety.

[5:58:45] » Okay. I I would ask if you would accept

[5:58:47] the friendly amendment to extend it to

[5:58:50] all ALPR cameras because I think that

[5:58:52] what we don't want is to just not that

[5:58:54] I'm assuming this would happen, but I

[5:58:56] think everyone would like the

[5:58:57] reassurance that we're not going to just

[5:58:59] sign a contract with another company

[5:59:01] with another provider.

[5:59:06] My question is, will the original

[5:59:09] amendment can it be amended to just say

[5:59:12] that we are suspending all ALPR cameras?

[5:59:16] » But we're on a substitute motion right

[5:59:17] now, not the original motion.

[5:59:19] » I understand that. I was just want to

[5:59:21] make sure that both he Commissioner

[5:59:23] Matlo did not speak to that.

[5:59:25] » Got it.

[5:59:25] » So I want to make sure what's included

[5:59:27] both in his motion and in the original

[5:59:29] motion. Got it.

[5:59:31] » Yes. My motion encompasses all LPRs.

[5:59:34] Thank you. Um, and then I also wanted to

[5:59:37] ask the city manager. This commission

[5:59:38] took action on June 10th to

[5:59:42] ask that Amnadam come back um with

[5:59:45] information about the Austin City

[5:59:48] Council Trust Act that they passed that

[5:59:51] had a framework

[5:59:53] um for how to deal with these kinds of

[5:59:57] surveillance tools. Is that item still

[5:59:59] coming back to us?

[6:00:01] Yeah, I believe that topic which has

[6:00:04] been consistent would be a retreat item

[6:00:06] topic. So I would I would expect that

[6:00:09] you can have that item back.

[6:00:11] » Okay. The intent was not that it come

[6:00:13] back to us at a retreat. The intent the

[6:00:15] direction was that it just come back to

[6:00:17] us at a regular meeting. So can it come

[6:00:19] back? I mean do I the motion should the

[6:00:22] » I'll amend my motion to include that

[6:00:23] information at the September 23rd

[6:00:25] meeting.

[6:00:25] » Okay. Okay. That's

[6:00:26] » I just want to make sure that we're not

[6:00:28] » Friendly amendment commission.

[6:00:29] » Okay. Thank you. Atlas's motion. Okay.

[6:00:34] » Mr. Mayor, may I

[6:00:36] » Sure.

[6:00:36] » I just just for clarity, um the the way

[6:00:40] we would immediately disable these is by

[6:00:43] turning the systems off

[6:00:46] and turning the cameras off. So, the

[6:00:48] access to the system,

[6:00:50] access to the data and the cameras,

[6:00:53] » Right?

[6:00:54] » To just just be clear, that's how we do.

[6:00:56] I haven't heard that action.

[6:00:58] Commissioner Williams Cox said that, but

[6:00:59] that's how we would do that very

[6:01:01] rapidly.

[6:01:01] » Sure.

[6:01:03] » I mean, that would be, you know, how we

[6:01:04] would disable that technology so it

[6:01:06] couldn't be accessed by us or anybody

[6:01:08] else.

[6:01:08] » And and is that is that the way the

[6:01:11] sheriff is doing it?

[6:01:12] » Yes.

[6:01:13] » And is that the way that the governor is

[6:01:17] state is doing it?

[6:01:18] » Yes.

[6:01:18] » Okay.

[6:01:19] » Yeah, that's the mo that's the fastest

[6:01:20] way to stop this technology.

[6:01:23] » Sounds good. All right. So, we got a

[6:01:24] substitute motion on the table that

[6:01:25] Commissioner Matlo has made that has

[6:01:27] been amended uh with friendly

[6:01:29] suggestions from Commissioner Porter and

[6:01:31] seconded by Commissioner Porter. Uh I am

[6:01:33] respectfully going to support the

[6:01:34] original motion on the table and not

[6:01:36] support the substitute motion. Uh all

[6:01:38] those in favor signify by saying I.

[6:01:40] » I.

[6:01:41] » All those opposed I.

[6:01:42] » And it fails 32 with the mayor, Mayor

[6:01:44] Pro Tim and Commissioner Williams Cox

[6:01:46] and descent with Commissioner Matlo and

[6:01:47] Commissioner Porter in favor. We are on

[6:01:49] the original motion made by Commissioner

[6:01:51] Williams Cox, seconded by the mayor pro

[6:01:53] Tim. All those in favor signify. Mr.

[6:01:55] Mayor,

[6:01:55] » Uh, Commissioner Matlo.

[6:01:57] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Just for

[6:01:58] clarification on the motion, um,

[6:02:00] suspension until which point and who has

[6:02:03] the authority to remove the suspension?

[6:02:05] » I could I could not hear you.

[6:02:07] » A suspension until when? And who has the

[6:02:09] authority to then remove the suspension

[6:02:10] and put them back into play?

[6:02:12] » Sure. It is my understanding that the

[6:02:14] action that is being proposed is the

[6:02:16] exact same action taken by the Leyon

[6:02:18] County Sheriff's Office. Correct.

[6:02:19] Exactly. So the question is, and I don't

[6:02:22] have the answer off the top of my head,

[6:02:23] but it's a suspension in per perpetuity.

[6:02:26] Chief, do you uh can you come and and

[6:02:28] help clarify

[6:02:30] the sheriff's actions so that as a

[6:02:32] community we are moving forward together

[6:02:35] uh with the suspension that he has put

[6:02:37] in place? Um

[6:02:40] » Yes, sir. Thank you, mayor, for the

[6:02:42] opportunity. Um the the suspension that

[6:02:45] the sheriff has done and that that I

[6:02:47] believe is where uh we're getting the

[6:02:49] direction here tonight um would be until

[6:02:52] such time as and and again, if I might

[6:02:55] take a little bit just of extra time, we

[6:02:58] just spent two days with the Florida

[6:03:00] police chiefs um discussing this exact

[6:03:02] issue. And there is a model statement

[6:03:05] coming. There's a model policy coming.

[6:03:07] And that information will be then used

[6:03:09] with the Florida Sheriff's Association

[6:03:12] and our legislators to bring forward

[6:03:14] legislation which will if in fact this

[6:03:17] moves forward direct how that is moved

[6:03:20] forward, how it's used, how it's

[6:03:21] protected, anything if it in fact goes

[6:03:23] forward at all. So what the sheriff has

[6:03:25] done and what what I assume you would be

[6:03:28] in agreement with doing would be to

[6:03:29] suspend this until such time is those

[6:03:32] those legislative efforts and those

[6:03:35] efforts of the FPCA and the FSA um come

[6:03:40] and set that national standard that we

[6:03:41] talked about two weeks ago um that we

[6:03:43] believe we're already very close to but

[6:03:46] it would formalize all that and put it

[6:03:49] in formal policy with IECP International

[6:03:51] Association of Chiefs of Police with the

[6:03:54] Florida Sheriff's Association, Florida

[6:03:55] Police Chief's Association, and create

[6:03:57] that national standard that everybody's

[6:03:59] looking forward to direct if and when

[6:04:01] this this technology can be used. So,

[6:04:04] you would be suspending it until such

[6:04:06] time as those guidelines were in place.

[6:04:08] » Understood. And the difference between

[6:04:10] the sheriff's office and this

[6:04:11] legislative body, sheriff being a

[6:04:13] constitutional officer that can make

[6:04:14] decision on his own. If we as a body

[6:04:17] decide to put in suspension, we cannot

[6:04:20] reinstate that program unless that item

[6:04:22] comes back before this commission with a

[6:04:24] positive vote unless directed otherwise.

[6:04:26] So to answer your question, Commissioner

[6:04:28] Matlo, if we take action tonight to

[6:04:30] suspend in order to reinstate,

[6:04:35] excuse me, it would have to take an

[6:04:36] affirmative vote of a future commission

[6:04:39] because I don't see this coming back in

[6:04:40] the next month and a half before the

[6:04:42] election.

[6:04:43] » Commissioner Matloo. Thanks, Chief.

[6:04:45] » Thank you, Chief. Yeah, and thank you

[6:04:46] for that clarification. Um,

[6:04:49] I can't believe I'm gonna say this, but

[6:04:50] I believe I'm more in line with what the

[6:04:52] governor ordered, which was uh must be

[6:04:56] removed by the permittee within 30 days

[6:04:59] of this date. If such removal has not

[6:05:01] occurred within the 30-day period, the

[6:05:03] department will remove any remaining

[6:05:04] devices subject to this memorandum. The

[6:05:07] governor has ordered them to come down,

[6:05:09] at least on state state highways. And so

[6:05:11] we are we are I don't know where that

[6:05:13] puts us politically in relationship to

[6:05:15] to the governor, but it seems like the

[6:05:17] governor has a lot more common sense

[6:05:18] about the threat um of this surveillance

[6:05:21] uh technology. But look, incremental

[6:05:23] progress is progress. I'll support the

[6:05:25] motion on the table, but I don't think

[6:05:27] um it's a total victory for people who

[6:05:29] don't want to see this come back in a

[6:05:30] year uh and go through this same process

[6:05:33] again. Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

[6:05:35] » Commissioner Porter, with the question.

[6:05:37] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and I intend to

[6:05:39] support the motion as well. I I would

[6:05:41] like to have the question answered. How

[6:05:43] did we get here

[6:05:46] since this did not come to a vote for

[6:05:48] the commission?

[6:05:50] » Uh Mr. Manager.

[6:05:51] » Yeah. Actually, Commissioner, there's

[6:05:54] been numerous votes by the commission.

[6:05:57] Okay.

[6:05:58] » On the video technology, license plate

[6:06:00] reader technology updates to the

[6:06:02] commission dating back till

[6:06:05] 2020.

[6:06:09] So all of the action has been done by

[6:06:11] the commission.

[6:06:11] » Correct.

[6:06:12] » Did we vote on entering into a flock

[6:06:15] contract?

[6:06:16] » Uh we did not enter into a flock

[6:06:18] contract.

[6:06:19] » That's right.

[6:06:20] » Contract. It's a derivative of the

[6:06:22] redspeed contract. Yes, you did.

[6:06:24] » We did.

[6:06:25] » Okay. So

[6:06:28] I don't understand

[6:06:30] » That that was legislative action. We did

[6:06:32] vote on that.

[6:06:32] » I know the red speed was. But so are you

[6:06:35] telling me that that is that red speed

[6:06:39] is

[6:06:40] » There's a relationship between red speed

[6:06:42] the availability of flock and you you

[6:06:44] acted on that contract then

[6:06:46] » Okay I know we acted on that contract I

[6:06:48] reviewed those items before we got here

[6:06:49] there's no mention of flock there's no

[6:06:51] mention of alprs

[6:06:53] » That that's the contract that's the

[6:06:55] contract that that

[6:06:58] is for the flock and then you've had

[6:07:00] other motor with updates so this

[6:07:02] commission's provided the ction. It's

[6:07:05] not been

[6:07:07] a few times, it's been numerous times.

[6:07:10] » All right, we got a motion on the table.

[6:07:11] We're going to take a vote. All those in

[6:07:12] favor of the motion made by Commissioner

[6:07:14] Diane Williams Cox, seconded by the

[6:07:16] mayor, Pro Tim, signify by saying I.

[6:07:18] » All those opposed and it passes

[6:07:21] unanimously. 50-0. We have nothing else

[6:07:23] to come before us. We are on agenda

[6:07:25] speakers. Mr.

[6:07:26] » Mr. Mayor,

[6:07:28] » Can we address Can I just take care of

[6:07:29] that item that we were going to take

[6:07:31] care of earlier? Do you want me to Mr.

[6:07:33] » Porter? You're recognized.

[6:07:34] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I would just

[6:07:37] like to the record to reflect my vote on

[6:07:41] the street renaming to be unanimous.

[6:07:44] » Well, I think we have to uh she wants to

[6:07:46] change her position and change the

[6:07:47] official vote on the street renaming for

[6:07:50] doctors.

[6:07:51] So, do I need to I need to take a motion

[6:07:54] to reconsider?

[6:07:55] » It's not again, it's Robert's rules

[6:07:57] refers to it as a if it's within the

[6:07:59] same meeting, it's not really a motion

[6:08:01] to reconsider. It does require um

[6:08:03] unanimous consent of the body to allow

[6:08:07] the commissioner to change her vote.

[6:08:08] » Commissioner Porter wants to change her

[6:08:10] vote on the renaming so that the vote

[6:08:11] reflects not a 41 but a 50 unanimous

[6:08:14] vote. Is there any objection? Seeing

[6:08:17] none, let the record reflect a 50

[6:08:19] unanimous vote in the renaming of the

[6:08:21] street in favor of the doctor's homes.

[6:08:23] We are on unagended speakers. Mr. Clerk,

[6:08:26] how many speakers do we have?

[6:08:27] » Have nine.

[6:08:28] » Nine speakers. Let's go.

[6:08:29] » First speaker, Bobby Nahome.

[6:08:33] followed by

[6:08:35] Michael Roano

[6:08:40] » Bobby, 576 East Call Street. I'm

[6:08:43] [clears throat] speaking to you all

[6:08:44] today about the need in our community

[6:08:45] for public access to tracks for running

[6:08:47] and exercise. Uh for many decades,

[6:08:50] Tallahassee residents had access to the

[6:08:52] tracks at our public high schools during

[6:08:54] evenings, weekends, and holidays when

[6:08:56] they're not being used for school

[6:08:57] activities, practices, or games. In

[6:09:00] 2020, the school district completely

[6:09:01] closed public access to these tracks.

[6:09:03] After lobbying the district, we got them

[6:09:05] to reopen the tracks in a limited

[6:09:08] capacity in 2023 and for a few months

[6:09:11] again in 2025. For almost an entire

[6:09:14] year, uh we had them reopened in 2025.

[6:09:17] However, this past June, the district

[6:09:19] once again closed public access. Our

[6:09:21] community now has no access to these

[6:09:23] tracks. This deprivives residents of

[6:09:25] safe places to exercise and young

[6:09:28] athletes of places to train for sports

[6:09:30] and athletic competitions outside of

[6:09:32] school hours. I along with others am

[6:09:34] once again working with the school board

[6:09:36] to find a permanent solution to reopen

[6:09:38] the tracks. The school board and

[6:09:40] superintendent have been receptive, but

[6:09:42] they have expressed that they could use

[6:09:44] help maintaining the tracks and

[6:09:45] bathrooms to accommodate public use. I

[6:09:48] believe it's time for the city of

[6:09:49] Tallahassee to partner with Leyon County

[6:09:51] Schools through a shared use agreement

[6:09:53] to help maintain these facilities and

[6:09:55] restore public access during designated

[6:09:58] hours when the tracks are not being used

[6:10:00] by the schools. Several schoolboard

[6:10:02] members and the superintendent are open

[6:10:03] to this idea and there is precedent for

[6:10:06] these shared use agreements. Florida

[6:10:08] statute 1013.101 101 passed in 2018 was

[6:10:12] specifically intended to encourage

[6:10:14] school districts and local governments

[6:10:16] to create shared use agreements to make

[6:10:18] outdoor school recreational facilities

[6:10:19] available to the public. Before the law

[6:10:22] was passed, a shared use task force was

[6:10:24] create was created to explore the

[6:10:26] benefits of local governments and school

[6:10:28] districts combining resources

[6:10:31] uh to make school facilities available

[6:10:32] to the public. The report became the

[6:10:34] basis for Florida statute 1013.101 101

[6:10:38] task force found that public access to

[6:10:40] the track can improve public health,

[6:10:42] help prevent vandalism by putting more

[6:10:44] people on school grounds during off

[6:10:46] hours, and conserve taxpayer dollars by

[6:10:49] preventing unnecessary duplication of

[6:10:51] facilities. This is relevant in our city

[6:10:54] here because we don't need to spend tax

[6:10:56] dollars on building more public tracks

[6:10:58] when we already have five high school

[6:10:59] tracks that sit vacant much of the time.

[6:11:02] It makes more sense for the city to work

[6:11:04] with the school district to make these

[6:11:05] existing facilities available to the

[6:11:07] public at designated hours. Florida

[6:11:10] statute 375.251

[6:11:12] provides liability protection for local

[6:11:14] governments and school districts that

[6:11:16] make recreational facilities available

[6:11:18] for public use. So liability associated

[6:11:20] with public use of these tracks is not

[6:11:22] an obstacle.

[6:11:23] » You're at 20 seconds remaining.

[6:11:24] » We had access to these tracks for

[6:11:26] decades and it worked. Presumably the

[6:11:28] city never built new tracks because we

[6:11:30] always had access. I'm asking for you

[6:11:32] all to work with Lyon County Schools to

[6:11:33] help restore public access to these

[6:11:35] tracks. Let's use the facilities we

[6:11:37] already have, save taxpayer dollars,

[6:11:39] promote public health, and give our

[6:11:41] community back the tracks that we were

[6:11:42] able to use for decades. Thank you.

[6:11:44] » Our next speaker, please.

[6:11:46] » Michael Roano.

[6:11:48] He'll be followed by uh Kim Okconor.

[6:11:50] » Name and address for the record, please.

[6:11:51] » My name is Michael Robano. Um 1325 West

[6:11:54] Thurp Street. Um hello. I came here to

[6:11:57] talk about football. um specifically

[6:11:59] game day traffic management by TPD.

[6:12:03] Um I'm a ride share driver, have been

[6:12:05] for a decade. I am in the trenches

[6:12:07] during game day when all this stuff

[6:12:09] happens.

[6:12:11] Um

[6:12:12] I'm specifically referring to traffic on

[6:12:14] game days and other events where TPD

[6:12:16] controls the flow of traffic. Currently,

[6:12:17] the game day's traffic situation is an

[6:12:19] unmititigated disaster. Closing roads

[6:12:22] down does not get people where they need

[6:12:24] to go. The same song and dance has been

[6:12:27] done for decades despite changing

[6:12:30] demographics. There are now thousands of

[6:12:31] people, thousands of people that live in

[6:12:33] that area in College Town. Shuffling

[6:12:36] everyone out to Appalache Parkway and

[6:12:38] closing all those roads makes no sense

[6:12:40] at all. People go to and from the game

[6:12:44] and cross

[6:12:46] the roads regularly and need to. The

[6:12:49] policy needs to be changed. It needs to

[6:12:50] be changed to where the roads are opened

[6:12:52] up and people are allowed to come in and

[6:12:54] out where they need to go. This would

[6:12:56] make it easier to get to and from the

[6:12:57] games. It would allow transportation. It

[6:12:59] would reduce the congestion that's

[6:13:01] created by TPD. It's it it's it's a

[6:13:05] problem that creates itself. There's a

[6:13:07] traffic jam that's coming into town from

[6:13:10] the people that are shuffled out to

[6:13:12] Appalache Parkway because they didn't

[6:13:13] get where they needed to go, right? They

[6:13:15] shut all these roads down. So now they

[6:13:16] go up. Well, now I'm out out on

[6:13:18] Appalachic Parkway, but I needed to

[6:13:19] really go to this hotel down here or

[6:13:20] whatever it is. So, we have a traffic

[6:13:23] jam coming into town and a traffic jam

[6:13:25] leaving town during game day because it

[6:13:28] makes no sense. And I go, "No, nobody

[6:13:30] talks about this. It's one of those

[6:13:31] things that's it's existed so long. I

[6:13:33] think people just do it because it's the

[6:13:35] thing that happens on game day, but it

[6:13:36] makes no sense. It makes no sense at

[6:13:38] all." Right? Right. So, it's just

[6:13:40] something I just wanted to bring up and

[6:13:42] hopefully, you know, people can just

[6:13:44] start talking about it because I don't

[6:13:46] think anybody talks about it. I think

[6:13:47] it's just something that's been done for

[6:13:48] so long and it makes no sense. Um,

[6:13:54] yeah. Yeah, that's pretty much it. I

[6:13:55] just wanted to see a re-evaluation and

[6:13:56] and again I mean I'm not even sure that

[6:13:58] you guys are the guys that talk about it

[6:14:00] but I think that you know it's a it's a

[6:14:02] partnership between the city TBD FSU

[6:14:05] um during game days um as part of a

[6:14:08] potential solution. I would think that

[6:14:11] um the real answer would not to be

[6:14:14] reduce the police presence but to

[6:14:16] instead of blocking roads off have

[6:14:18] police officers direct traffic as to

[6:14:21] where it needs to go. So instead of

[6:14:23] closing off lanes and arteries,

[6:14:25] » 30 seconds remain,

[6:14:26] » You have people shuffling that traffic

[6:14:28] to where it needs to go. Um,

[6:14:33] and again, I think you could do that

[6:14:35] with the exact same number of officers.

[6:14:36] I know you pull officers from literally

[6:14:38] counties from all over the place.

[6:14:39] Liberty Poke, Wacola, you name it. They

[6:14:41] come from all over just so they can

[6:14:43] stand on a road, twiddle their thumbs,

[6:14:44] and and nobody gets to go anywhere.

[6:14:47] » Um, hey, thanks a lot, guys. Our next

[6:14:50] speaker, please Kim O' Conor and then

[6:14:53] FA.

[6:15:04] Your name and address for the record,

[6:15:05] please.

[6:15:07] My name is Kim Okconor. I live at George

[6:15:11] Bell Dickinson. Uh here people giving

[6:15:15] their addresses, their zip code. I I

[6:15:17] didn't know that was sufficient, but I'm

[6:15:19] going to give my whole address because

[6:15:20] it's George Bell Dickinson, uh, 301 East

[6:15:24] Carolina Street, and I'm very proud to

[6:15:27] live there. I'm not as prepared as the

[6:15:30] two unagended speakers, but I will do my

[6:15:33] best, and it'll be over in three

[6:15:34] minutes. Um

[6:15:37] tomorrow,

[6:15:39] um Governor DeSantis has uh scheduled

[6:15:42] the uh 15th execution for 2026 of Daniel

[6:15:48] Conahan.

[6:15:50] Um in his first three years, he had zero

[6:15:54] executions. His next year, he had six.

[6:15:57] Next year after that, 2024, election

[6:16:00] year, had one. but he's been on a pair

[6:16:03] this last uh two years. 2025 as a record

[6:16:08] 19 and 2026. This will be number uh 15

[6:16:11] and it's only uh August. Um they on on

[6:16:17] September 1st they executed Harold Lucas

[6:16:22] and at the same time the governor was in

[6:16:27] Tampa at the Pepin Institute having a

[6:16:30] Republican fundraiser. I tried to find

[6:16:33] out what the cost they said it's similar

[6:16:35] to what they just had in Texas was

[6:16:37] 20,000 up but none of that is

[6:16:39] information. But while the execution is

[6:16:42] scheduled at 6 PM, he has a fundraiser

[6:16:44] in Tampa. Dantis, Byron Donald, Will

[6:16:47] Simpson,

[6:16:49] James Umeire, and Bla1 in Gouia. And so

[6:16:53] I just I have to just mostly speaking to

[6:16:56] the public out there, you know, that we

[6:16:59] do some things here at the Tallahassee

[6:17:00] Citizens Against the Death Penalty. Um

[6:17:03] at Good Sheeperd Church in the morning

[6:17:05] at 9:00 a.m. We'll have a program.

[6:17:08] That's 4665 Thomasville Road and then at

[6:17:11] 6 PM we gather at the governor's

[6:17:13] mansion. Um and he wasn't there on

[6:17:15] September 1st. We gather um so um and um

[6:17:21] we ring the bell. Beth brings the first

[6:17:23] Presbyterian bell and we bring it on

[6:17:25] every every name the um for the

[6:17:28] governor. So this be number 44.

[6:17:31] And um just this fundraiser thing in

[6:17:34] 2013, 13 years ago, September 10th, the

[6:17:38] same day, the anniversary of the day, I

[6:17:40] mean uh tomorrow's execution, the

[6:17:42] anniversary of the day that Pam Bondi

[6:17:44] got Rick Scott,

[6:17:46] » You have

[6:17:47] to um to reschedu u the execution of

[6:17:51] Marshall Lee Graves so she could have a

[6:17:53] fundraiser in Tampa. It's the only one

[6:17:55] I'm asking the commission but I am uh

[6:17:57] ask and then uh the next day September

[6:18:00] 11th citizens against Tallahassy

[6:18:02] citizens against death penalty will have

[6:18:04] a service of remembrance around the

[6:18:06] rotunda. I hope anybody out there

[6:18:09] anybody out there who would come and

[6:18:11] join us. I appreciate it so much. Thank

[6:18:13] you. Thank you and to be here to 10

[6:18:15] o'clock. I really appreciate you uh

[6:18:17] commissioners to the max.

[6:18:18] » Thank you. Our next speaker, please

[6:18:20] finet

[6:18:24] once, twice, uh,

[6:18:28] Carol.

[6:18:34] » Name and address for the record, please.

[6:18:37] » Uh, you already know. Uh, hey, this is

[6:18:39] Dar Alfred. I'm a resident at 814 West

[6:18:42] Tharp Street. I'm also a ride share

[6:18:44] driver, and I have some policy for that

[6:18:46] if you guys are interested in talking

[6:18:47] about it. It's on my site. Um, so

[6:18:50] Tallahassee has effectively created a

[6:18:52] charging desert for residents who drive

[6:18:54] Chattamo electric vehicles. You all got

[6:18:56] an email about it this past week. Uh, if

[6:18:59] you don't know what Chattamo is, it's

[6:19:00] one of the major DC fast charging plugs,

[6:19:02] most commonly used by Nissan Leafs and

[6:19:04] some earlier EVs. It's how my car fast

[6:19:07] charges. I've been driving mine since

[6:19:09] 2022. At the time, there was the promise

[6:19:12] of federal nevi funding that could cover

[6:19:13] up to 80% of new charging

[6:19:15] infrastructure. The Santis blocked it.

[6:19:18] Florida never really got it. So for four

[6:19:21] years, people like me have learned to

[6:19:23] walk or work around a limited network.

[6:19:25] Today, Tallahassee has roughly 40 CCS

[6:19:28] charging connections, about 52 Knax

[6:19:31] connections, and effectively one active

[6:19:33] Chattamo fast charger. I've driven 10

[6:19:36] hours, gotten back to Tallahassee, or

[6:19:38] gotten back gotten done at 4 in the

[6:19:40] morning and still couldn't go home

[6:19:42] because somebody else was charging. I've

[6:19:44] fallen asleep waiting. What should have

[6:19:46] been a 40-minute stop can turn into

[6:19:47] hours. Then recently, you guys opened

[6:19:50] the Cascades

[6:19:51] charging station with four fast chargers

[6:19:53] that work for my car. That was awesome.

[6:19:56] Leaf drivers cried tears of joy. I saw

[6:19:58] them because they were in my rearview

[6:20:00] mirror.

[6:20:02] Then just this past month, a maintenance

[6:20:04] crew came out. When they left, all four

[6:20:06] Chattamo connections were suddenly gone.

[6:20:08] Meanwhile, the state charger near the

[6:20:10] capital has been out because of

[6:20:11] construction and will be for the

[6:20:12] foreseeable future. Southwood is done.

[6:20:15] Uh Craft Nissan is the only single

[6:20:17] charger and it's private, so after hours

[6:20:19] you can't access it. So, someone coming

[6:20:22] in in Tallahassee late at night, working

[6:20:24] overnight like I have for years or

[6:20:26] living in an apartment without home

[6:20:27] charging can realistically find

[6:20:29] themselves with nowhere to go and

[6:20:30] stranded on the side of the road. This

[6:20:32] is what and what makes this worse is how

[6:20:35] the transition was handled. For a

[6:20:37] Chattamo driver, the answer is now

[6:20:38] basically go buy an adapter that costs

[6:20:40] around 800 bucks. A used, excuse me,

[6:20:43] that's backwards. A used Nissan Leaf is

[6:20:45] one of the most affordable ways for a

[6:20:46] working person to get into an electric

[6:20:48] car. Most people buying one don't have

[6:20:51] $800 sitting around to fix a problem

[6:20:53] they didn't create. I'm lucky to enough

[6:20:56] to have a regular outlet at home

[6:20:57] charging for 24 hours to get a full

[6:20:59] charge, guys. U but plenty of apartment

[6:21:02] residents don't even have that. So, my

[6:21:04] remedy is straightforward. restored

[6:21:06] Chattamo access at Cascades, whether

[6:21:08] that means restoring the Chattamo

[6:21:09] connections or providing compatible CCS

[6:21:11] to Chattamo adapters at the station. I'm

[6:21:14] not asking Tallahassee to stop

[6:21:15] modernizing. I'm asking to modernize

[6:21:17] without stranding people. If we're

[6:21:19] spending public money on transportation

[6:21:21] infrastructure, more people should be

[6:21:22] able to use it when we're done, not

[6:21:24] fewer. Um, the Tesla adapter to Cado is

[6:21:27] like 50 bucks. My adapter is 800 bucks

[6:21:30] and people like me can't afford it. Um,

[6:21:33] as far as while I have the little bit of

[6:21:34] time, 10 seconds, uh, we should have

[6:21:37] stations away from events, uh, you know,

[6:21:40] where Bajas is, at the fairgrounds, uh,

[6:21:44] the Governor's Square Mall where people

[6:21:45] can be diverted after events and not

[6:21:48] congest the center of town and create

[6:21:50] emergency problems.

[6:21:51] » Your time is up

[6:21:51] » In the center of town. Thank you. You

[6:21:53] two,

[6:21:53] » Next speaker, please.

[6:21:54] » Sean Thomas,

[6:21:57] then Lisa Sears.

[6:22:01] Name and address for the record, please.

[6:22:02] » Sean Thomas, 2113 Joiner Drive. Um, when

[6:22:06] I first wrote this, it was afternoon is

[6:22:08] now evening. Sorry for We've been here

[6:22:11] since now 10, so I know we're all tired.

[6:22:15] Um,

[6:22:17] my I I first wasn't going to do a agenda

[6:22:20] speaking item until I saw behavior on

[6:22:23] the commission that I thought I needed

[6:22:25] to point out. Um, so, Mayor Daly, let's

[6:22:28] start with you. Year after year, your

[6:22:31] colleagues, your colleagues on this very

[6:22:34] commission and outside groups have

[6:22:36] described the same pattern. Talking over

[6:22:38] women, belittling them in the chambers

[6:22:41] concerning the or cornering them in a

[6:22:43] hallway. You earned the nickname from

[6:22:45] me, and I hope it sticks. Daily, the

[6:22:47] king of mansplaining. That's not a

[6:22:50] punchline. It's what happens when

[6:22:52] someone with power treats with the woman

[6:22:54] on this commission like they're they're

[6:22:57] here to be managed instead of heard.

[6:22:59] That behavior doesn't play in this room.

[6:23:01] It sets the tone of how every

[6:23:03] department, every board, and every

[6:23:05] resident watching at home learns to

[6:23:07] treat each other and is the direct

[6:23:09] driver of the division in this city.

[6:23:12] Commissioner Williams Cox, first time in

[6:23:15] 8 years on this commission, you have

[6:23:16] achieved a runoff election that doesn't

[6:23:19] happen to someone the community feels is

[6:23:21] listening. You can rename Wanish Way,

[6:23:23] Pasco Street, West Carolina Street, and

[6:23:26] now push the four Virginia Street to

[6:23:29] four streets. And not one of those

[6:23:31] ribbon cutings fixes a pro a pothole,

[6:23:34] lowers a utility bill, or returns a

[6:23:36] resident's phone call. Streets are

[6:23:38] symbols. People need substance, and this

[6:23:41] runoff is the community telling you

[6:23:43] they've noticed the difference. You say

[6:23:45] we need to move forward about the city

[6:23:47] manager and that we have seen the city

[6:23:49] move forward. But under Mayor Daly,

[6:23:51] under your tenure and under Reese Code,

[6:23:53] we have seen a rise in robberies at gas

[6:23:55] stations. Block parties have to have TPD

[6:23:57] officers and drones to protect them from

[6:23:59] shootings. And city commission at city

[6:24:02] commission is urging churches to do a

[6:24:04] city hall's job. And commissioner

[6:24:08] Richardson, we've all heard it, quote

[6:24:10] unquote, I was born and raised on the

[6:24:12] south side. It's become a meme in this

[6:24:14] town because you reach for it every time

[6:24:16] your record gets questioned. As if

[6:24:18] geography excuses policy. It doesn't.

[6:24:21] The southside deserves a commissioner

[6:24:23] who fights for it with votes, not a

[6:24:25] hometown line recycled for cover while

[6:24:28] the public loses out.

[6:24:30] » You have 30 seconds.

[6:24:31] » Thank you. This dis sets the tone for

[6:24:33] the whole city. When residents watch a

[6:24:35] mayor talk down to his colleagues and

[6:24:37] commissioner dodge accountability

[6:24:39] accountability with a slogan and streets

[6:24:41] renamed while real problems sit

[6:24:42] untouched, they stop trusting each other

[6:24:45] and they stop trusting you. And that is

[6:24:47] how division gets manufactured in

[6:24:49] Tallahassee. Not by outsiders, not by

[6:24:52] Matlo, but by the conduct in this very

[6:24:55] room. We're asking you, or at least I

[6:24:57] am, treat each other with treat each

[6:24:59] other and with respect.

[6:25:01] » Thank you very much. Thank you so much.

[6:25:02] Take a seat. Our next speaker, please,

[6:25:04] » Lisa Sears.

[6:25:06] » Lisa Sears will be followed by Adila

[6:25:09] Pierre.

[6:25:12] » My name is Lisa Sears. 32303.

[6:25:16] Um, due to work, I wasn't able to arrive

[6:25:18] here until after the city manager topic.

[6:25:22] And when I got here and I was told what

[6:25:25] happened, I was in shock.

[6:25:28] I was like, "No, that can't be. That's

[6:25:30] ridiculous. what do they make up a new

[6:25:32] rule? And honestly, it is mind-boggling

[6:25:36] to me. And I was explained really

[6:25:40] briefly with the reason why y'all use

[6:25:42] that. It It doesn't make sense still.

[6:25:46] And to me,

[6:25:48] I am my truth is that to me that was

[6:25:53] very weak. That was like trying to hold

[6:25:56] on to power and make sure that the 32

[6:25:59] didn't go the other way on that

[6:26:01] particular person that you're putting

[6:26:03] there. And I'm not saying I don't like

[6:26:06] her. I don't know her. I hope that she's

[6:26:08] great, you know, and I hope that they

[6:26:10] work good with the new dynamics coming

[6:26:13] into town. But seriously, I I felt I

[6:26:18] needed to express my feelings as a

[6:26:20] citizen. That was disappointing. Our

[6:26:25] next speaker, please.

[6:26:26] » Delila Pierre is our final speaker.

[6:26:29] » Name and address for the record, please.

[6:26:32] » Delila Pierre, member of the Tahassee

[6:26:34] Alliance Against Racism Political

[6:26:35] Repression. Address exempt. I'm here to

[6:26:38] speak on behalf of the Tallahassee

[6:26:40] Students for a Democratic Society, a

[6:26:42] local organization um at FSU um that is

[6:26:46] being repressed by Florida State

[6:26:48] University um and has continued to be

[6:26:50] repressed by Florida State University

[6:26:52] for using their First Amendment rights.

[6:26:54] Um organizing is not a crime. The right

[6:26:57] to protest is not a crime. The right to

[6:27:00] speak out against injustice is not a

[6:27:01] crime, no matter how much you like it or

[6:27:03] don't like it. And time and time again,

[6:27:05] Florida State University has proven that

[6:27:07] they do see the right to organize as a

[6:27:10] crime. They criminalize and repress

[6:27:11] protesters. And now Florida State

[6:27:14] University students JJ Gluick and Kaden

[6:27:17] Rosa face the potential of having, you

[6:27:20] know, of being kicked off their own

[6:27:22] campus for doing nothing more than

[6:27:23] organizing against rape culture on

[6:27:25] campus. Florida State University claims

[6:27:28] that the real reason that this is

[6:27:29] happening is because they quote unquote

[6:27:33] harassed a member of campus, but this

[6:27:34] isn't what's happened. Florida State

[6:27:36] University students JJ Glue and Kaden

[6:27:39] Rosa are fighting for justice. They are

[6:27:42] organizers in our community who have

[6:27:45] fought side by side to see improvements

[6:27:47] in their school, in the lives of people

[6:27:49] in their schools. Meanwhile, Florida

[6:27:51] State University continues to suck up

[6:27:53] more of the resources, energy, and life

[6:27:56] of our city. They act like there's

[6:27:58] nothing that can get them in trouble.

[6:28:00] They act like they're invincible. And

[6:28:01] that's because they are treated like

[6:28:03] they are invincible. That's because our

[6:28:04] city commission constantly bends over

[6:28:06] backwards to give more funding, more

[6:28:08] money, and more resources to Florida

[6:28:11] State University. While Tallahassee

[6:28:14] students and Tallahassee residents

[6:28:15] starve, we lack access to the same

[6:28:17] qualities, the same health care, the

[6:28:20] same affordable rights, the same things

[6:28:22] that can essentially help people in the

[6:28:24] city live and thrive. So, I'm going to

[6:28:26] say specifically to commissioners Porter

[6:28:28] and Matt Low as commissioners who I

[6:28:30] think are on a more progressive trend in

[6:28:33] the city who have shown that they're

[6:28:34] more willing to stand for more

[6:28:36] substantive policy in the city. Speak

[6:28:38] out publicly in favor of these two

[6:28:41] students who are being repressed by

[6:28:42] Florida State University. This

[6:28:44] repression of the right to organize

[6:28:45] affects all of us and affects you as

[6:28:47] well because we know that Ronda Santz,

[6:28:50] that Trump, that the other reactionaries

[6:28:52] in power in our country are not just

[6:28:54] going to start with targeting student

[6:28:56] activism and end there. They're not just

[6:28:58] going to target community activists.

[6:28:59] They're not just going to target people

[6:29:00] who are fighting on the streets. They're

[6:29:02] going to target politicians as well.

[6:29:04] They're going to use their power to

[6:29:05] partisanly attack whoever they can. And

[6:29:08] if you don't stand with JJ and Kaden,

[6:29:11] they can't stand with you. But if you do

[6:29:13] stand with the people and stand against

[6:29:16] the attacks that we're seeing from

[6:29:17] Dantis and the Trump administration and

[6:29:19] Florida State University against

[6:29:21] students doing nothing more than

[6:29:23] fighting for their right to free speech,

[6:29:24] then we will stand with you. For the

[6:29:26] rest of you, I expect nothing. Let's

[6:29:29] continue to organize and fight for

[6:29:30] justice in our city and our community.

[6:29:32] Florida State University does not

[6:29:34] determine who has the right to speak.

[6:29:36] The students do.

[6:29:39] » The [applause] next speaker, please. I

[6:29:41] have no further speakers.

[6:29:42] » All right, we're on sharing of ideas. I

[6:29:44] got nothing. Mayor Pro Tim, Commissioner

[6:29:47] William Cox, Commissioner Matlo.

[6:29:49] » Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. If I can just

[6:29:50] address the three issues uh from public

[6:29:53] speakers um on the track uses uh with

[6:29:57] Leyon County Schools. It was mentioned I

[6:29:59] guess the tracks have been shut down to

[6:30:00] the general public. Uh my personal

[6:30:03] opinion is the school board and

[6:30:05] superintendent are asking us to renew a

[6:30:07] property tax to go into infrastructure.

[6:30:09] we all pay into that and those should be

[6:30:11] accessible to the public within reason,

[6:30:13] but I'm open to the idea of a shared use

[6:30:15] agreement within reason to allow access

[6:30:17] to the tracks again um for for city

[6:30:20] residents. Uh so I'd like to move we

[6:30:22] bring back an item um just contemplating

[6:30:24] the idea of a shared use agreement with

[6:30:26] Leyon County Schools to open the tracks.

[6:30:28] » Motion on the table uh to enter into an

[6:30:32] agreement with Leyon County Schools um

[6:30:36] for shared use agreement for their

[6:30:37] track. Is there a second to the motion?

[6:30:39] » I'll second the motion, but a point of

[6:30:41] clarification. It was I understood the

[6:30:43] motion to be to have an item come back,

[6:30:45] not to enter into a joint use agreement.

[6:30:47] » Yeah. To have an item come back. Okay. I

[6:30:49] I will respectfully definitely not be

[6:30:51] supporting this motion. That is Leon

[6:30:53] County School property. It should be

[6:30:55] open to the public and the fact that

[6:30:57] they are coming to us and they want us

[6:30:59] to pay to have their track open for

[6:31:02] public use.

[6:31:03] » Uh we concentrate on our parks and

[6:31:06] recreation. We have a joint use

[6:31:07] agreement for when we operate like Taly

[6:31:10] Parks and Recreation for like football

[6:31:11] and stuff and that's a very successful

[6:31:14] agreement at work. But for the shared

[6:31:16] use of just maintaining their facility

[6:31:19] for the track, I I can't go there. I I'm

[6:31:21] not interested. That's their

[6:31:23] responsibility and they need to take

[6:31:25] care of business. Uh Commissioner

[6:31:27] Williams Cox.

[6:31:29] » Um and I I'll say this, I've said this

[6:31:33] many times before. We have an agreement

[6:31:35] with Leon with Leyon County Schools for

[6:31:37] utilities. They owe us a million

[6:31:39] dollars. We haven't gotten it. So, I

[6:31:42] don't see how

[6:31:43] » Yeah, for fire. I don't see how um doing

[6:31:47] this type of agreement or having staff

[6:31:48] spend time with this knowing that we've

[6:31:51] got something with some real money on

[6:31:52] the line and they have not they told us

[6:31:55] they're not going to do it. So, I don't

[6:31:57] I just don't see where we have leeway to

[6:32:00] do to to do that. and having um gone to

[6:32:03] the school board in the past many many

[6:32:05] times to try to get a new high school

[6:32:06] built on the south side of Tallahassee

[6:32:09] um and it it didn't happen and and for

[6:32:11] many reasons. I just don't see where

[6:32:14] energy needs to be spent in doing that.

[6:32:16] Now, of course, if we have the city has

[6:32:19] u some facilities that can that are open

[6:32:22] to the public, we can direct folks there

[6:32:24] to to to get their exercise in. But I

[6:32:27] just don't think we need to be dipping

[6:32:29] into another uh governmental entity's uh

[6:32:31] business, especially owe us a million

[6:32:33] dollars.

[6:32:34] » So uh motion on the table made by

[6:32:36] Commissioner Matlo, second by

[6:32:37] Commissioner Porter to bring back an

[6:32:38] agenda item exploring the expansion of

[6:32:40] the shared use agreement to include

[6:32:42] public school tracks. All those in favor

[6:32:45] signify by I'm sorry, Mayor Pro Tim.

[6:32:48] Yeah. You know, just earlier tonight, we

[6:32:51] passed an increase in our millage rate

[6:32:54] and and a budget for the next fiscal

[6:32:57] year.

[6:32:58] » Nope. We

[6:32:59] » Level millage rate, but it was an

[6:33:01] increase in the budget

[6:33:02] » In in the budget. And so now we're

[6:33:05] talking about additional expense when we

[6:33:09] don't know what amendment three is going

[6:33:11] to look like. Correct. That

[6:33:13] » Could could cost us money. schools are

[6:33:16] exempt from the provisions of that

[6:33:18] amendment.

[6:33:20] » And uh I I just can't see us at this

[6:33:23] point agreeing to pay the expenses

[6:33:27] um to to have those facilities available

[6:33:31] to the public. I I think it's a

[6:33:33] responsibility of the school district

[6:33:36] and they should find the funds to uh to

[6:33:42] make those facilities available to the

[6:33:45] public as they have in the past.

[6:33:48] » Yeah. All those in favor of the motion

[6:33:49] on the table. Uh Commissioner Porter.

[6:33:51] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I I'll just add

[6:33:53] that we don't really know what it would

[6:33:55] cost and so that's why I support support

[6:33:59] this motion. I for it to come back to

[6:34:01] us.

[6:34:02] » All those in favor of something.

[6:34:04] » Commissioner Matlo.

[6:34:05] » Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor. And so just for

[6:34:06] clarification, what public tracks are

[6:34:09] available through the city of

[6:34:11] Tallahassee to city of Tallahassee

[6:34:12] residents? Mr. Mander,

[6:34:15] Mr.

[6:34:16] » Mayor, I don't I don't know. I I'd have

[6:34:18] to get information on that. I could

[6:34:20] » I I don't believe there are any city

[6:34:21] tracks.

[6:34:22] » Uh well, we got Cascades Park, which is

[6:34:24] a 3.2 mile track around the holding

[6:34:26] facility. It's not the traditional track

[6:34:28] of what you're thinking of of track and

[6:34:30] field. We also maintain how many

[6:34:33] hundreds of miles of greenways and

[6:34:35] trails and

[6:34:36] » In the city it's over 70 miles

[6:34:38] » 70 miles and then including with the

[6:34:40] county

[6:34:41] » We have more much more

[6:34:43] » And we have and we have parks. I mean,

[6:34:45] you are correct. We do not uh to my

[6:34:47] knowledge operate the traditional track

[6:34:50] » That a high school does, but we do offer

[6:34:54] plenty of municipal facilities to be

[6:34:56] able to get out, run, and get exercise.

[6:34:58] Again, I strongly believe it is a county

[6:35:00] facility. The the I mean the schoolboard

[6:35:03] facility, the school board needs to find

[6:35:05] a way through their budget to keep their

[6:35:08] facility open and we do not need to be

[6:35:11] maintaining their tracks. Period. Okay,

[6:35:14] motion on the table. All those in favor

[6:35:16] of the motion signify by saying I. I. I.

[6:35:18] » All those opposed. I. And it fails. Two

[6:35:20] to three. With the mayor, mayor pro Tim

[6:35:22] and commissioner Williams Cox and

[6:35:24] descent. Commissioner Matlo and

[6:35:25] Commissioner Porter in favor.

[6:35:26] Commissioner Matlo, you have the floor.

[6:35:28] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So then I'd like

[6:35:29] to move that we bring back an agenda

[6:35:31] item uh outlining the public facilities

[6:35:34] available for track and field to the

[6:35:37] city Tallahassee residents.

[6:35:39] » Second.

[6:35:40] » Sure. Uh, isn't that part of the annual

[6:35:43] report that we produce every year

[6:35:45] through parks and recreation? What we

[6:35:46] maintain?

[6:35:50] » Yeah, I I believe the commissioner just

[6:35:52] said track and field and I think I think

[6:35:54] y'all just established that we don't do

[6:35:56] track and field. Maybe I'm

[6:35:57] misunderstanding the question.

[6:35:59] » We have walking and track and field

[6:36:02] being distinct, I guess.

[6:36:04] » Is that the question?

[6:36:05] » Yeah. I mean, the mayor's assertion was

[6:36:06] that there's plenty of ways to engage in

[6:36:08] that activity. So, I mean, we can

[6:36:10] outline the difference between track and

[6:36:11] field tracks that are available, what it

[6:36:13] would take to create a track for the

[6:36:15] cost to create a track for city of

[6:36:16] Tallahassee residents. Um, an idea of

[6:36:19] what that would cost if we wanted to add

[6:36:21] that into the budget.

[6:36:24] Okay. motion on the table to uh bring

[6:36:27] back an item to explore the opportunity

[6:36:28] of I I don't even want to go down this

[6:36:30] road to be quite honest with you at this

[6:36:32] point with uh trying to build a tracking

[6:36:35] facility

[6:36:37] when we have such a tight budget and

[6:36:38] amendment three is coming down the pipe.

[6:36:41] I just don't know if it's

[6:36:43] worth using staff time to track that. If

[6:36:46] you if you want just a list of the parks

[6:36:48] and recck facilities, we have that on

[6:36:50] the website and then the annual report.

[6:36:52] We do not have a traditional track in

[6:36:56] the sense of what the schools are

[6:36:58] operating. So outside of exploring the

[6:37:01] creation of a track that is municipally

[6:37:04] owned and operated,

[6:37:06] the information's there. Commissioner

[6:37:08] Matlo, it could all be provided in

[6:37:11] agenda item. That's the motion.

[6:37:12] » Okay.

[6:37:13] » What was the motion? Could you restate

[6:37:14] the motion? uh to bring back an uh

[6:37:17] agenda item illustrating track and field

[6:37:20] opportunities for city of Tallahassee uh

[6:37:23] residents and field facilities that are

[6:37:24] operated for that.

[6:37:26] » Okay, that activity.

[6:37:27] » All those in favor of the motion on the

[6:37:28] table signify by saying I

[6:37:29] » I.

[6:37:30] » All those opposed. I

[6:37:31] » Motion fails two to three with the

[6:37:33] mayor, mayor proim and commissioner

[6:37:34] Williams Cox and descent commissioner

[6:37:36] Williams Cox point. I I I think it's an

[6:37:38] easy list to provide.

[6:37:40] » Yeah. I mean online

[6:37:42] » I wouldn't want to spend staff time

[6:37:44] doing what we could do.

[6:37:45] » Correct. Correct. Commissioner Matley,

[6:37:47] you have the floor.

[6:37:48] » Uh thank you. Um I know game day traffic

[6:37:51] routes was mentioned and it's changed a

[6:37:53] million times over over my life. I don't

[6:37:56] pretend to understand the different

[6:37:57] reasonings for that, but if staff could

[6:37:58] just provide an update um by email of

[6:38:01] the traffic patterns, how they're

[6:38:03] measured, their efficiencies are are are

[6:38:06] measured just for better understanding.

[6:38:09] So, um, am I correct in assuming that

[6:38:13] it's actually Florida State University

[6:38:14] that contracts with Talis Police

[6:38:17] Department and all the other agencies

[6:38:19] for game day traffic because every year

[6:38:22] that's a big contract negotiation that

[6:38:24] goes through. So, Florida State would be

[6:38:26] the point person on the traffic patterns

[6:38:30] per se. I

[6:38:31] » No, I I Mr. Mayor, you're right. So the

[6:38:34] TPD provides a little over 100 officers,

[6:38:37] but it takes much more than that.

[6:38:39] » Sure.

[6:38:39] » So FSU contracts with TPD and the other

[6:38:42] agencies. Sheriff's office does

[6:38:44] different functions.

[6:38:46] » Um the traffic management I do believe

[6:38:49] TPD um can provide the details that of

[6:38:52] the flow of traffic kind of where the

[6:38:54] streets are blocked and those kind of

[6:38:56] things. It's manned and operated by a

[6:38:58] collection of officers, you know, that's

[6:39:02] through FSU. But but I I do believe that

[6:39:05] TPD could provide the the flow of

[6:39:06] traffic pattern.

[6:39:08] » Okay. If that helps.

[6:39:11] » For the record, I am comfortable with my

[6:39:13] pattern in and out and I park at the

[6:39:15] Southern Scholarship Foundation. I don't

[6:39:17] have any special parking or anything. Uh

[6:39:19] but you want to have a briefing on the

[6:39:22] traffic pattern of game day. Yeah, it

[6:39:24] can just be an email of

[6:39:25] » Oh, an email or how it was decided uh

[6:39:29] what the implications are, the

[6:39:30] efficiencies of it. Just those

[6:39:32] questions.

[6:39:32] » That'd be helpful. I'm not familiar with

[6:39:34] the ride share spots and and how they

[6:39:36] coordinate that. I'd be curious on that

[6:39:38] as well. Commissioner Williams,

[6:39:39] » On that on point there, I think it needs

[6:39:41] to be also considered by everybody that

[6:39:45] it is not a good idea to have two games

[6:39:49] on the same day at the same time.

[6:39:52] That is where the problem is. Many times

[6:39:55] it stretches our law enforcement. I

[6:39:58] don't care what kind of traffic plans

[6:39:59] you may have. But when you're trying to

[6:40:01] manage FAMU and FSU uh football games at

[6:40:04] the same time and understand it's going

[6:40:05] to happen another time this this season.

[6:40:08] » So if we just buckle up buttercup

[6:40:10] » And because it's it's it's it's not

[6:40:13] good. It's really not good. So getting

[6:40:15] that information would be good, but I

[6:40:16] don't know how what it's going to do.

[6:40:19] » We will have it. Do do do do do do do do

[6:40:21] do do do do do do do do do do do do do

[6:40:21] do do do do do do do do you need an

[6:40:21] email I mean do you need motion for an

[6:40:23] email we'll we'll email

[6:40:26] » Send us Yeah.

[6:40:27] » Okay. All right. Sounds good.

[6:40:28] Commissioner Mer you have the floor.

[6:40:29] » Uh thank you. And and the final speaker

[6:40:31] mentioned the change in the chargers for

[6:40:33] Nissan Leafs.

[6:40:35] Have we changed those or how?

[6:40:38] We'll we'll look at that. That was an

[6:40:40] interesting comment he had. He has an

[6:40:42] old style charger. I think that was

[6:40:44] understood from his description.

[6:40:47] the chargers we put in at Cascades had

[6:40:49] that older plug and had been upgraded to

[6:40:51] the more current plug

[6:40:53] » Because of demand.

[6:40:54] » We just the way the cars are. I think I

[6:40:57] think what you heard him describe was he

[6:40:59] has a Nissan Leaf that has a very

[6:41:00] specific one, but we'll take a look at

[6:41:02] it. I think that was a good comment in

[6:41:03] terms of availability in terms of the

[6:41:05] stations we have because we've got the

[6:41:07] one um uh at Van Beern and we're

[6:41:11] building the one on Orange Avenue. So,

[6:41:13] um we'll see what we can do. I don't I

[6:41:16] don't know how that works, right? The

[6:41:17] adapter, but we'll certainly look into

[6:41:20] that. Okay. Uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor.

[6:41:22] Nothing further,

[6:41:23] » Mr. Porter.

[6:41:24] » Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just have one

[6:41:26] item.

[6:41:28] Um,

[6:41:29] I would like to make a motion, and I'm

[6:41:31] not sure exactly

[6:41:34] the best way to do this, but that we I

[6:41:36] think it's important that we do

[6:41:38] something to recognize the historic

[6:41:40] significance of West Virginia Street um,

[6:41:44] and Frenchtown as a safe haven for black

[6:41:46] travelers. I think that was something

[6:41:47] that seemed important to the people

[6:41:49] there. Um, and for the record, I spoke

[6:41:51] to Reverend Holmes and he would have

[6:41:54] happily accepted the Bernau Street

[6:41:55] renaming. Um but since we didn't go in

[6:41:59] that direction, I think it would be

[6:42:00] important um if there is a way to to

[6:42:04] preserve that history that we that we

[6:42:07] do. So so whether I don't know what what

[6:42:10] options there are, but that would

[6:42:12] » I don't know if there's any insight from

[6:42:14] the the manager.

[6:42:16] » I would second that motion. that I did

[6:42:17] have some follow-up conversation um with

[6:42:20] u Miss Miss Daryl Scott and with Miss

[6:42:23] Maisha Mitchell

[6:42:24] » And uh offered the possibility of having

[6:42:27] um um something that that says formerly

[6:42:31] known as as well as having a marker that

[6:42:34] would identify all of the those

[6:42:36] historical uh businesses or entities

[6:42:39] that were there on on that on those

[6:42:41] streets.

[6:42:42] » All those in favor of the motion on the

[6:42:43] table signify by saying I. All those

[6:42:46] opposed passes unanimously. Commissioner

[6:42:48] Porter, you have the floor.

[6:42:49] » Thank you. That's all for me.

[6:42:50] » We stand ajourned.

City Commission Meeting

Agenda

Transcript