[0:00]

[2:37] Where was that do not disturb sign.

[2:42]

[2:56] Yeah he was on your left side.

[3:01]

[3:12] I learned something new.

[3:13] Learn you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

[3:16]

[3:22] Happy days.

[3:24] Call to order.

[3:26] The city council meeting for February 7th, 2024.

[3:33] Mr Joseph Richardson.

[3:35] Here so.

[3:43]

[3:56] Our Thanks today to Mayor Grenier, the commissioners

[3:59] and the city staff for this invitation

[4:02] to do the invocation today.

[4:05] In this chamber of governance.

[4:07] Let us unite in the spirit of reason, compassion,

[4:11] and the pursuit of Justice.

[4:14] As we gather, may our hearts be open to the diversity

[4:18] that defines our community.

[4:21] This morning.

[4:22] Let us draw inspiration from the Universal Declaration of Human

[4:26] Rights signed more than 75 years ago, serving as a guidepost,

[4:32] illuminating the path to equality, dignity and liberty

[4:36] for all.

[4:38] May today's meetings decisions reflect the wisdom of reason

[4:43] and the empathy that binds us as fellow human beings.

[4:48] In the pursuit of goodwill to all in our County.

[4:52] May our actions be guided by the principles

[4:55] of inclusivity, fairness and respect

[4:58] for the autonomy of every individual.

[5:03] Let this assembly today be a testament

[5:06] to the shared values that transcend

[5:08] creed, culture and conviction.

[5:12] At the same time, may we be grateful for the progress

[5:15] we have made in the past 75 years

[5:18] and the many accomplishments that surely lie ahead.

[5:24] In closing, let us remember this work is a reflection

[5:27] of a commitment to the city and that these efforts

[5:30] will have a lasting impact on the lives of those you serve.

[5:36] Thank you.

[5:36]

[5:40] Mr clerk, if you would, please.

[5:41]

[5:46] Good afternoon.

[5:48] Thank you for the privilege of allowing

[5:50] me to work with you all.

[5:52] And Thank you for the honor of allowing me to pray.

[5:55] Heavenly father, Thank you for this blessed and glorious day.

[5:59] Thank you for the folks we work for.

[6:01] Thank you for the folks we work with.

[6:02] Thank you for the glorious city that we live in.

[6:05] Thank you for all the blessings you bestow on us.

[6:08] Please keep us on a righteous path.

[6:10] Please forgive us for our sins and bless those less fortunate.

[6:13] In Jesus Christ's name.

[6:14] Amen Amen.

[6:17] Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States

[6:20] of America to the Republic for which it stands.

[6:24] One nation under God.

[6:26] Indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

[6:29]

[6:37] OK let me go.

[6:42] All right.

[6:43] If anybody has anything to say regarding one of the agenda

[6:49] items today, please fill out one of the forms there

[6:52] and bring it to Mr Clark over there

[6:53] on the corner to remind you there

[6:56] was not going to be any there's never

[6:58] any discussion on first readings, which is tabs 5 and 6

[7:03] today.

[7:04] So if you want to still stick around,

[7:07] there will be read into the records.

[7:09] If you still want to stick around and enjoy

[7:11] the rest of the city council meeting and what we do here,

[7:14] we'd love to have you to stick around and talk about

[7:18] and listen to what we have, what we do here in the city

[7:20] for various American city.

[7:23] Um, with that, just for clarity.

[7:27] Heb 5 and 6 is related to the idumaea crossing

[7:31] rezoning of 19.46 acres.

[7:37] So what the mayor has said is if you're here

[7:40] to speak on the item you're crossing rezoning,

[7:44] there will be no discussion today on that item.

[7:47] It is first reading.

[7:49] The next meeting, which is February 21st, full meeting

[7:55] with the developer.

[7:58] You want to speak things of that nature.

[8:00] However, as you said, feel free to stay in the meeting.

[8:03] There's a lot of exciting things coming

[8:05] up on budgets and things.

[8:08] Thank you, Mr Drury, for clarifying

[8:10] and adding on to that.

[8:11] Yes tabs 5 and 6 and animal crossings.

[8:15] Um, is there any changes or any additions?

[8:18] Mr drury?

[8:19] None very good.

[8:22] Changes or additions.

[8:23] Council anything.

[8:25] I'll make a motion to approve the agenda.

[8:26] We got a motion to approve.

[8:28] Second got a motion and a second.

[8:31] All in favor?

[8:32] Aye opposed.

[8:34] Passes Oh.

[8:37] Uh, proclamations and presentations.

[8:39] I see.

[8:39] None swearing in by city attorney and disclosure of ex

[8:43] parte communications, Ms Lindsay.

[8:45] Yes Thank you, mayor.

[8:46] There are no quasi judicial matters on the agenda today.

[8:49] Very good.

[8:50] And reading of all ordinances, resolutions into record.

[8:53] Miss Susie.

[8:53] Thank you, mayor.

[8:54] We have two resolutions and three ordinances.

[8:57] Resolution 2020 401, a resolution by the city council

[9:02] of the city of Tavares, Florida, to vacate a portion

[9:05] of a 16 foot wide alley right of way located at 120 North

[9:09] Bloxham Avenue to Berry's Florida 32778 line lying

[9:14] East of lots a, B and C 52.

[9:18] The Tavares improvement companies subdivision

[9:21] is recorded in plat book four, page 39 of the public records

[9:26] of Lake county, Florida.

[9:27] Subject to the rules and regulations

[9:29] ordained by the city of Tavares council providing for a date.

[9:34] Resolution 2020 403.

[9:37] A resolution of the city of Florida amending

[9:39] 2024 fiscal year adopted budget for the fairies

[9:44] representing the First Amendment to the adopted budget,

[9:47] providing for severability and an effective date.

[9:51] Ordinance 20 2020 4-01 first reading ordinance

[9:56] of the Florida rezoning approximately 19.46 acres

[10:01] of land located at the Southeast corner of the intersection

[10:04] of State Road 19 and lane park cut off from Highway commercial

[10:08] c-2 to Planned development pd, subject to the rules,

[10:12] regulations and obligations ordained

[10:14] by the city of Tavares council providing effective date

[10:18] ordinance 2020 402 first reading an ordinance of the city

[10:23] of tiberias, Florida amending the Tavares comprehensive plan

[10:26] future land use map 2040 providing

[10:29] for a change of future land use designation

[10:31] approximately 19.46 acres of land located

[10:35] at the Southeast corner of the intersection

[10:38] of State Road 19 and lane park.

[10:39] Cutoff from commercial to mixed use

[10:43] mu providing for severability and conflicts

[10:46] in providing for an effective date.

[10:49] An ordinance 2020 4-03 first reading

[10:53] and transmittal pursuant to chapter 163 of the Florida

[10:57] statutes amending the public facilities element

[11:00] and conservation element of the city of the Tavares

[11:03] comprehensive plan 2040.

[11:05] In order for consistency with the city's work

[11:08] plan and regional water supply planning initiatives

[11:11] by providing for severability and conflicts,

[11:14] providing for an effective date and bacteremia.

[11:17] Thank you, miss Susie.

[11:19] Take, Council the consent agenda.

[11:21] Looks like just our city council meeting

[11:23] minutes from the last meeting.

[11:25] I'll make a motion to approve.

[11:27] Second I've got a motion to approve and seconded.

[11:30] All in favor?

[11:31] Aye all opposed.

[11:32]

[11:35] Resolution tab three community development.

[11:41] Thank you, mayor.

[11:42] This resolution the Community Development Department

[11:45] is bringing forward is a resolution

[11:48] to vacate a certain property.

[11:50] That was.

[11:52] Allocated as an alleyway.

[11:55] The property is located in 120 North block Tavares.

[12:02] The adjacent property owner, which

[12:03] is Saint John's independent free Methodist church,

[12:06] has requested to vacate it.

[12:10] It's undeveloped and it's not practical

[12:12] for any future alleyway.

[12:16] If you can see in the location map,

[12:18] if you can go a little bit more, it kind of ends

[12:23] right at the South portion.

[12:25] So there is no plans to further that any.

[12:31] City staff has reviewed it.

[12:32] Other departments like public works and utilities reviewed it

[12:37] and all of them confirmed that it should be vacated.

[12:42] There was no conflicts and making the right of way

[12:44] for drainage, utilities, health, safety,

[12:47] and welfare of the public.

[12:48] As a result, the official vacation will remove the city's

[12:52] public interest in this land.

[12:56] Our recommendations to approve it.

[12:59] The planning and zoning board voters

[13:03] voted unanimously to recommend approval of resolution

[13:07] 24 1 as presented.

[13:09] And you have our official staff recommendation in the packet.

[13:14] The resolution has a better picture with the zoning,

[13:19] with the actual legal description

[13:21] and sketch description of the property

[13:23] as legalized by approval.

[13:28] Have any questions for staff?

[13:29] I'm here.

[13:30] I believe the applicant might be here

[13:33] if he wants to say anything.

[13:36] you don't have to, but.

[13:38]

[13:41] Thank you, counsel.

[13:44] Have a question, Miss Bray.

[13:45] Is this alleyway is currently named?

[13:48] No, sir.

[13:49] No named.

[13:50]

[13:52] Does the property on the west, the property on the east,

[13:56] are they owned by the same person?

[13:59] Yes, they are.

[14:00]

[14:03] Anyone else.

[14:05] Would you like to move on?

[14:06] I'll make a motion to approve.

[14:07] Second we have a motion to approve in the second.

[14:10] All in favor?

[14:11] Opposed?

[14:13] very good.

[14:14] Passes on a tab for.

[14:18] First budget Amendment for fiscal year

[14:20] 2020 for finance department.

[14:24] Thank you, mayor.

[14:25] Members of council.

[14:27] This is a ministerial administrative function

[14:30] that we do every year, bringing prior year

[14:32] into the current year.

[14:34] Resolution 2020 403 amends fiscal year

[14:38] 2023 2024 city of Tavares annual operating budget.

[14:43] The attached resolution represents increases

[14:46] and/or decreases to the adopted budget for fiscal year 2024.

[14:51] Appropriation increases represent

[14:53] capital projects, ARPA expenditures and prior year

[14:57] encumbrance rollovers.

[14:59] In addition, the resolution includes transfers

[15:02] between individual accounts within the adopted budgets

[15:05] for all departments.

[15:07] The options for council is to approve resolution 2020

[15:11] 403 amending 2324 annual operating budget

[15:18] or not to approve and.

[15:21] Fiscal impact is bringing things forward from prior year.

[15:25] So, mayor, back to you.

[15:27] Thank you.

[15:28] Thank you.

[15:28] Very good.

[15:29] Council I'll make a motion to approve the resolution.

[15:33] Second we have a motion to approve.

[15:35] And second.

[15:36] All in favor?

[15:37] Aye opposed?

[15:38]

[15:41] OK once again, tab 5 one item crossing crossings

[15:46] is only in the first ring, so we'll

[15:48] move on to tab seven transmittal hearing community development.

[15:53] Thank you, mayor.

[15:54] Um, this is.

[15:56] This is a transmittal ordinance, and that's why it's being read.

[15:59] Um, it's open to the public as well

[16:02] because it's a text Amendment to the, to our comprehensive plan.

[16:06] There's two elements that were changed or added

[16:10] was the public facilities element

[16:12] and the conservation element.

[16:15] And they were all pursuant to the city's 10 year water

[16:18] supply facility work plan.

[16:21] And regional water supply planning initiatives.

[16:26] So it was the basis of two Florida statute conditions

[16:31] that we had to make some minor changes

[16:34] to the comprehensive plan.

[16:36] Um, most notably your packet.

[16:39] It should have been highlighted the changes

[16:42] and underlying most notably, most notably

[16:45] is the actual plan is being adopted

[16:50] in the comprehensive plan.

[16:52] We also caveated that if changes there is or as

[16:58] amended because sometimes there's scrivener's errors

[17:00] and stuff in situations like that,

[17:03] it is still going to be valid and this

[17:05] is what we're going to follow.

[17:07] The other ones are kind of straightforward on that.

[17:10] We're mandated by the regional Planning Council

[17:13] and in your packet also was the whole 10 year

[17:17] water supply facility work plan for your review

[17:20] and consideration.

[17:24] US and on January 18th, 2024, the planning and zoning

[17:30] board voted unanimously to recommend

[17:33] approval of the ordinance.

[17:35] 2020 403 as presented.

[17:39] Staff is recommending the city moves

[17:42] to approve the transmittal to the state for review of 20

[17:46] of 2020 403 comprehensive plan 2040

[17:50] text Amendment to the future facilities element.

[17:54] The conservation element pursuant to the city's 10 year

[17:58] water supply facility, work plan and regional water supply plan.

[18:04]

[18:09] You have any questions on it?

[18:11] It's in the packet or on the staff report.

[18:17] Thank you, Antonio.

[18:18] Any questions or comments regarding.

[18:22] 2403 I'll make a motion then that we

[18:26] approve ordinance 2020 403.

[18:30] I'll second it.

[18:30] Here we have a motion and a second to approve.

[18:33] All in favor?

[18:34] Aye all opposed.

[18:37] All right.

[18:38] So move.

[18:39] There we go.

[18:40] Tab a broad budget.

[18:42] Priorities Mr Drury, as provided for in the prior city council

[18:47] meeting, an opportunity is provided this council meeting

[18:49] to city council develop its 25th October 1 2024

[18:54] to September 30th, 2025 budget goals which the city manager

[18:59] will use as guiding principles and a starting point

[19:03] to build the annual city budget over the next several months.

[19:08] Budget will then be presented back to the city council

[19:10] this summer.

[19:12] Thereafter the council will continue

[19:14] to refine it through July and August

[19:17] and finally finalize it in September

[19:21] with public commentary and input along the way.

[19:25] I've provided prior year budget goals.

[19:29] The current list of projects and initiatives that

[19:32] are underway and then a draft of your council goals

[19:38] for the ensuing year.

[19:42] What I would recommend is we.

[19:47] Go look at the goals and the order

[19:53] and see if anybody has any issue with any of those goals.

[19:55] If you do and three of you do, then they'll be removed.

[19:59] If you don't, then they'll stay.

[20:01] And whatever the collective goals are from all five of you

[20:06] will then be incorporated into the budgeting process.

[20:10] And I think that is the first attachment.

[20:14] Agenda item.

[20:15] Back to you, mayor.

[20:17] Thank you.

[20:19] Um, through the first 5 and see if anyone has any objections.

[20:23]

[20:26] And like can.

[20:28] I'm going to read you like so Bobby Grenier playing the New

[20:33] to various frontier along State Road 19 561 448 corridor with

[20:40] no sprawl and be mindful of economic residential

[20:42] development, land conservation and possible convention center.

[20:49] Any issues with that.

[20:51] Seeing none continue to make sure that the various History

[20:53] Museum and the various library have

[20:55] the resources needed to maintain the high level of service.

[21:01] They purchase the home of the major Saint

[21:03] Clair Abrams, the founder of the and Lake County.

[21:08] Well, we've already met on that, haven't we?

[21:10] It's already been defeated.

[21:12] OK so that's.

[21:16] Out keep streets, alleyways, stormwater improvements going

[21:21] and at a high level of service.

[21:23] Provide for the resources police and fire department

[21:27] need to ensure they maintain their high level of service.

[21:31]

[21:33] Vice mayor Sandy gamble deliver budget at rollback,

[21:37] then allow council to make additions

[21:39] as necessary for the final budget clarification.

[21:45] I talked about this.

[21:47] What my desire that is we keep hearing take us to rollback,

[21:51] take us to rollback would like and I've asked him

[21:54] and he said he could do it.

[21:55] It's not so much that we have a budget.

[21:57] That's right at rollback but that we show if we

[22:01] were to go back to rollback.

[22:03] This is what would have to be cut.

[22:05] Services would have to be cut, employees manpower.

[22:08] And I don't think that's something

[22:09] we want to do when we're increasing manpower, especially

[22:12] in the fire department.

[22:13] But I just want to point this out.

[22:15] So the citizens know if they keep, you

[22:18] know, take us back to rollback.

[22:20] Well, this is what it would lose if we did that.

[22:22] So that's my intent, that it's not so much that I'm saying

[22:25] I want to go to the rollback just

[22:27] to show the public what it would take to do that.

[22:30] Isn't that double work for the staff?

[22:34] I mean, if you're going I don't have an issue with identifying

[22:39] rollback rate and the dollar associated with it

[22:42] and correlating that to.

[22:45] How it correlates to all the services.

[22:49] I think we can do that.

[22:50] You'll have that and I don't have a problem with that.

[22:54] We can add it to our.

[22:55]

[22:58] Maintain the level of service.

[23:02] Continue and finish capital projects.

[23:06] Sidewalk replacement where needed.

[23:08] Adopt new impact fees for residential housing.

[23:11]

[23:14] You know, and that one, what we're

[23:16] going to need to do is probably, Agendize

[23:22] that to get an understanding what the collective wisdom

[23:25] of the board is.

[23:27] Is it increase or decrease?

[23:29] Is it to increase revenues, decrease things of that nature?

[23:33] I would agendize that first to discuss

[23:37] what it is you're looking for.

[23:38] Once you vote on that, then I'll either reduce the budget

[23:42] or increase the budget based on your final vote.

[23:45] Would that also include the parks impact fees?

[23:49] It include all?

[23:50] Yeah in other words, the residential housing,

[23:54] the impact fees are involved with that.

[23:57] Our impact fees haven't been touched in years

[24:00] and we're losing financing.

[24:03] And what is happening is in a lot of new development,

[24:06] because the impact fees that we're getting

[24:08] is not enough to take care of everything that we need.

[24:11] The people that have been here 30, 40, 50 years

[24:13] are having to make up the difference

[24:15] because we have to get loans.

[24:16] So when we do that agenda, we can discuss that a little bit

[24:21] further.

[24:22] I agree.

[24:23]

[24:27] Finalize the Stover complex.

[24:31] Transfer to the Lake County school board, which that is.

[24:36] Uh, we're in the middle of doing that, so I think that'll be,

[24:41] In time with this budget, continue to lower debt

[24:44] and not go into further debt.

[24:46] And as you know, that's a board decision.

[24:49] When that comes before you.

[24:53] Councilmember Pfister continue improvements and renovations of

[24:56] the Regional Park East Campus.

[24:58] We continue to do that.

[24:59] We're working with the County and we'll incorporate that.

[25:03] Restructure impact fees.

[25:05] Again, we just talked about incentives

[25:08] for economic development.

[25:11] Continue efforts for golf cart crossing at the hospital.

[25:16] Downtown lighting improvements for safety.

[25:20] Improvements and explore possible

[25:21] commercial participation at pontoon promenade.

[25:26] Lobby local lawmakers to legislate

[25:28] the closing of gaming rooms.

[25:30]

[25:32] Increase their family oriented small events and activities.

[25:38] Assure that employee pay and benefits are competitive

[25:40] to attract and retain the best.

[25:42]

[25:46] Council member price try to get to the rollback rate.

[25:50] And if not, continue to lower millage rate.

[25:52]

[25:55] Accelerate city debt repayments.

[25:57] Although current interest rates might postpone this.

[26:02] Continue to pursue grants, provide the same level

[26:04] of service to our residents, increase

[26:07] reserves, accomplish the waste the West Main Street gateway.

[26:12]

[26:14] Convert existing public works facility to surface parking.

[26:21] Repaving our roads.

[26:23] Question about number seven.

[26:26] There Vert two surface parking.

[26:30] Thought we were looking at.

[26:32] Putting it in garage.

[26:33] Yes, I think it'll be in phases.

[26:36] We will not.

[26:37] Have you got a goal not to take any loans out?

[26:41] And obviously putting a multi-million dollar parking

[26:44] garage, you have to take a loan out.

[26:47] You've got a goal to create parking over there.

[26:52] Surface parking.

[26:54] You might be able to get done without the lone garage.

[27:00] You will never get that alone.

[27:03] So this will be phase one.

[27:06] Surface parking.

[27:08] Then in the future.

[27:11] The council.

[27:12] Go ahead and do the garage.

[27:14] Yeah, the my intent there was.

[27:17] To make that surface parking as an interim.

[27:21] Thing Uh, if we see that it's constantly full,

[27:26] constantly overfilled and start looking

[27:29] at the next phase of that.

[27:31] But you said that we may not even have to do that

[27:35] without any debt or anything.

[27:38] Uh, as I recall, our mayor said he

[27:39] was willing to get a bulldozer and start

[27:41] knocking buildings down.

[27:43] So that should ought help, because that

[27:45] will reduce the cost.

[27:46]

[27:49] Hey Councilmember singer continue

[27:53] lowering the millage rate.

[27:55] Maintain recommended reserve levels.

[27:58] Continue to invest in road repaving and infrastructure.

[28:03] Continue to go after grants.

[28:06] Be sure that all departments are properly staffed

[28:10] and every employee is fairly compensated.

[28:14] Look for ways to clean the On gateway

[28:18] drive and North Duncan drive.

[28:20]

[28:23] All righty.

[28:23] So I've got the collective goals for the city council

[28:29] for FY 25 budget department directors,

[28:32] and I will be meeting next week to incorporate those

[28:35] into their work plans and budget plans.

[28:38] Then we will come back with you with a balanced budget

[28:41] this summer for your deliberation and tweaking

[28:45] and adding and doing what you do with public input

[28:49] along the way.

[28:50] Back to you, mayor.

[28:51] Thank you.

[28:52] Something about this on, um, on Mayor Grenier, on number three

[29:01] the purchase of the home.

[29:02] And I know we've already been there.

[29:03] We've already voted no, but I don't

[29:06] think it's fair to say it won't be discussed again

[29:08] because there's a lot of different ways

[29:11] that maybe the money can be found.

[29:13] I, I don't think the mayor was as prepared as he should have

[29:17] been when he presented this.

[29:19] There is a whole lot of different ways to find money.

[29:22] So I don't want us just to close our eyes

[29:24] and say it can't be done or we won't hear it again.

[29:27] This kind of reminds me years and years and years ago,

[29:30] back when we were in one of our worst economic times,

[29:33] I wanted to build a dog park.

[29:35] Tabriz didn't have a dog park, and nobody

[29:37] y'all wouldn't spend money.

[29:38] And I remember the mayor at the time

[29:40] when I brought it back like the third time, and the mayor said,

[29:43] you're not going to have a dog park.

[29:45] And I said, well, if I find the money

[29:47] and I have a dog park any right here on record and said,

[29:51] if you find the money, you can have a dog park.

[29:54] Well, I already had that ammunition in my back pocket

[29:57] and we have a dog park.

[29:58] So I'm just saying that I hate to do that to the mayor

[30:02] when something is near and dear to your heart,

[30:04] give him the opportunity to go out

[30:06] and try to find the funding without the city.

[30:10] That's all I'm asking.

[30:11] If we could do that without saying no.

[30:15] What do y'all think about that?

[30:16] I mean, I'm OK with that, but.

[30:20] I've already talked to some individuals and they.

[30:24] Like we don't need to be in that business.

[30:27] I understand that, too.

[30:29] And one of them was one that.

[30:32] A breakfast with.

[30:33]

[30:35] On this case, he kind of changed his mind on that statement.

[30:40] But like I say, no, I'm open minded.

[30:44] OK that's all I was asking for.

[30:47] That's all I'm asking, because let's just

[30:48] be open minded and fair here and at least

[30:51] give him the opportunity.

[30:52] I mean, not to come back and ask us for the money,

[30:55] but to come back and say, I found the money.

[30:57] Right absolutely.

[30:59] I mean, that's vision.

[31:01] That's looking forward to the future,

[31:04] seeing what can be done using your imagination.

[31:08] Way of getting things done.

[31:09] Absolutely just don't Chuck it off to the side.

[31:12] Appreciate those thoughts.

[31:13] Thank you.

[31:14] And I easily can find a lot of people

[31:16] as well who would say, why don't we get something like that?

[31:20] Why can't we have something like that?

[31:21] So anyways, yeah, give me the opportunity

[31:22] to see what I can do.

[31:25] Financial impact any of the budget at all,

[31:28] and I appreciate you all allowing me to do that.

[31:31] Thank you very much.

[31:32] Have somebody here.

[31:33] So just to be clear here, three people

[31:36] approving that in the budget to be funded by others

[31:42] if it's funded by others.

[31:43] OK Thank you.

[31:45] Thank you.

[31:46] Thank you.

[31:47] Bear in mind that also means that in the years beyond,

[31:52] we have to staff it and maintain it.

[31:54] So where is that finance?

[31:56] Well, we can discuss that when we get to it.

[31:58] That's fine.

[31:58] Talking about that hadn't spilled yet.

[32:01] So just putting it out there and there's and Thank

[32:07] you for putting it out there.

[32:08] But there's a lot of things everywhere

[32:11] of how to stay up there.

[32:13] We need staffing for so many things.

[32:15] So that's something we'll discuss as we go along there.

[32:18] But I appreciate you mentioning that.

[32:20] So that is a concern.

[32:21] And that's something we'll talk about.

[32:25] this is tab eight, isn't it?

[32:28] Uh, tab eight.

[32:29] Yeah, because somebody here wants to speak

[32:31] on tab Vance Vance Yoakam.

[32:34]

[32:40] Good afternoon.

[32:41] Tavares is Vance Yoakam 1261 Waukee Avenue Tavares.

[32:46] It's been a while.

[32:47] Yeah, just but, you know, I look at the budget, I mean,

[32:51] the agenda budget.

[32:53] And I didn't say, I got to say something.

[32:56] I missed the last one.

[32:57] So and I have not had a chance to look at that.

[33:01] So the comments are going to make are kind of broad brush.

[33:04] You may actually maybe you approved it and it's in there.

[33:07] I don't know.

[33:07] But I will follow up on that as one is that I would like

[33:14] to reiterate the discussion that you had about going

[33:17] to the rollback rate.

[33:18] I really believe that in this economy and the uncertainties

[33:23] that the cap is spending at the rollback rate period,

[33:27] just that, that we're going to live within,

[33:29] that there's a lot of economic indicators

[33:33] that you probably should have a report on.

[33:37] Maybe Mr Murray knows somebody in the industry that

[33:40] can come up with those to show you

[33:42] how good or bad the economy is.

[33:45] For instance, a lot of the press is saying

[33:47] there's all this job growth.

[33:49] Biden is saying it and everything else.

[33:51] Well, there's also a report out that

[33:53] says they studied the last four years of growth and all of it

[33:56] was foreign born people.

[33:58] Nobody no Americans actually got more jobs.

[34:03] So I think you should be aware of that.

[34:06] So that you can assess your decisions in light of how it's

[34:10] going to impact your local residents,

[34:12] whether it's foreclosures and other leading

[34:15] indicators on economics going up or down next is that.

[34:21]

[34:23] I would ask that you set measurable performance

[34:26] benchmarks by department and be included

[34:29] within the budget statistics.

[34:32] I think you still get the kind of benchmark consortium report,

[34:36] but you don't make it public.

[34:38] And I think that we ought to have public benchmarks

[34:41] showing a goal for improvement in operating

[34:45] ratios by department.

[34:47] And then the actual is that probably at least quarterly.

[34:52] Let's, you know, set some goals that show that you're

[34:57] trying to contain cost growth.

[35:02] He to various nature park.

[35:10] Didn't hear discussion of that.

[35:11] I'll have more details during the regular input section,

[35:15] but I think you really need to start planning for rebuilding

[35:19] that fishing dock out there and the boardwalk that's been

[35:22] neglected and not maintained.

[35:24] The County is just entertained and approved

[35:27] a study of citizens to float a $5,050 million

[35:33] bond issue on new public lands because the old one

[35:37] they had for $30 million is expiring in a year or two.

[35:42] And so, of course, the bond salesman is already pushing it.

[35:45] Thank you and great to see you again.

[35:47] Thank you.

[35:50] OK all right.

[35:54] How are we?

[35:55] Any more discussion on tab eight there?

[35:59] We know how to proceed.

[36:01] So good.

[36:03] All righty.

[36:03] Any more discussion on this?

[36:05] No OK.

[36:07] Um, go to Tabnine medical marijuana dispensary.

[36:11] Current city ordinance.

[36:12] Community development.

[36:16] Thank you, Mr Mayor.

[36:18] This is a discussing item at the last council

[36:21] meeting requested by council member Laurie Pfister.

[36:24] The city council voted to discuss the current medical

[36:28] marijuana dispensary ordinance.

[36:30] So I made a report on how it was adopted and a timeline,

[36:35] and I can go over that.

[36:37] On August 20th, 2014, the city of Tavares

[36:42] passed ordinance 20 1412, which added the city regulations

[36:47] and definitions of medical marijuana dispensaries

[36:51] and amended the chapter 8 and table 8

[36:54] to permitted and special uses, allowing

[36:57] medical marijuana dispensaries in the c-2 highway

[37:02] commercial district only.

[37:06] However, what happened was on June 23rd, 2017,

[37:11] the Florida legislature passed Senate Bill eight, a amending

[37:17] Florida statute 381986, requiring that local government

[37:23] agencies either ban medical marijuana dispensaries

[37:27] within their boundaries or allow dispensaries to operate

[37:32] within the same zoning districts that would allow

[37:36] pharmacies to be to operate.

[37:41] So on December 20th, 2017.

[37:47] Aveiro city council adopted ordinance 20 1721,

[37:51] which restricted medical marijuana dispensaries.

[37:56] Two only located on the commercial downtown,

[38:00] which is Main Street and some of the zero 19 general commercial.

[38:06] See one again?

[38:08] See that's stable 19 and commercial use.

[38:12] Those are the zonings are.

[38:14] And we already adopted highway commercial two

[38:17] zoning districts.

[38:20] I attach in the report, all the ordinances

[38:24] and the Florida Senate Bill that was approved and full time.

[38:30] So I'm here to just answer questions.

[38:33] Or just to be clear, they adopted an ordinance that was

[38:38] consistent with the statute.

[38:40] Yes, it's as of this date, the city regulations

[38:44] are consistent with state law as they

[38:46] pertain to permitting locations for medical marijuana.

[38:50] They're only permitted where a pharmacy is permitted.

[38:54] Yes Thank you.

[38:57] So the pharmacy permitted in our downtown?

[39:01] Yes so that's what I wanted to clarify,

[39:05] because things have changed since I remember.

[39:09] I was the one that brought this up originally

[39:11] when we first did this back in 2014,

[39:14] I was the one the very concerned about medical marijuana

[39:17] or whatever was going on.

[39:18] Didn't want it in our city.

[39:20] Well, things have changed a whole lot since then,

[39:23] and I think we're losing out on quite a lot of revenue.

[39:27] We are.

[39:28] Probably one of the few cities that don't allow

[39:31] a medical marijuana dispensary.

[39:34] So and.

[39:36] I just think it's important that we

[39:39] discuss this and make a decision on whether or not

[39:42] we want that revenue.

[39:43] If we don't take it, someone else is going to get it.

[39:46] And we've been working so hard to balance our security,

[39:50] we do allow it well, but we haven't allowed it downtown.

[39:54] We do allow it if anyone wants to have it.

[39:58] Then why are we came to y'all with this and thought

[40:01] that's why we were having the discussion

[40:03] because of the ordinance that we had, they couldn't have

[40:06] it in our downtown.

[40:08] That's how I remember it last meeting.

[40:10] It they can.

[40:11] They can have it downtown, have a Main Street

[40:14] miscommunication on my part.

[40:16] I thought you were talking about manufacturing

[40:17] and industrial parks or things of that nature.

[40:19] No, you're talking about the.

[40:22] Yes, we can have one downtown.

[40:24] We can have one on.

[40:25] This is a mute point.

[40:27] Over I apologize.

[40:32] Very good.

[40:33] Strike down.

[40:33] Up as a win.

[40:35] Yeah, absolutely.

[40:38] Got a couple questions.

[40:39] We have any medical marijuana dispensaries in tavaris now?

[40:43] We don't have it in our jurisdiction.

[40:47] OK, so the ordinance is either ban them outright or let

[40:51] them be in a specific zoning.

[40:53] There's no in between.

[40:54] Like saying we can only have three like we do with gangs.

[40:58] No, no.

[40:58]

[41:05] Happy days.

[41:06] Wonderful all right.

[41:07] No more discussion on Tabnine.

[41:09] Very good.

[41:10] New business.

[41:13] So go ahead.

[41:18] Oh, OK.

[41:18] Oh, no.

[41:19] Old business.

[41:21] And y'all remember about the lighting issue and it

[41:23] was on I've got it on mine.

[41:25] And I believe someone else had it.

[41:27] So the other morning it.

[41:31] At 445, I was coming through downtown.

[41:36] I was heading up to North Carolina

[41:38] and I was at the roundabout.

[41:39] 4:45 AM.

[41:42] There were some people in the ground

[41:44] down there by the freedom flag.

[41:48] You can't see him.

[41:49] Don't under don't know what the lighting

[41:50] problem is that we have.

[41:52] Because I told you about other people

[41:53] that have complained downtown here.

[41:55] Um, that's the second time it's happened to me now

[41:58] that just all of a sudden there's people

[42:00] and you just don't see them.

[42:01] And I'm.

[42:03] Alert so that's real important.

[42:05] Guys, we have got to get on this lighting.

[42:07] And I think we've issued a contract.

[42:10] Yes, we did issue a contract and Duke is currently

[42:13] adding additional well, there's eight

[42:15] additional lights for existing and they're adding 8 additional

[42:18] to that area.

[42:19] Isn't that odd how one spots down here?

[42:22] And when you look at it, you feel like it's well lit.

[42:25] But when you're driving, I mean, they just appeared,

[42:28] you know, from the.

[42:32]

[42:36] you know, up there, that was who was their engineer

[42:40] that did this, you know.

[42:41] But that's been a nightmare.

[42:45] It was scary.

[42:46] Yeah but what happens, I think, is when you're driving,

[42:52] it's very, very dark.

[42:54] And then there's light.

[42:55] We have down there.

[42:57] You'll see everything.

[42:58] But when you're driving in a downtown with bright lights

[43:00] everywhere and your pupils change, and then

[43:04] all of a sudden you get a dark spot.

[43:06] Your pupils do not catch up with that change.

[43:08] So you have great lighting on 441 and in the Downtown

[43:14] and all of a sudden dark spots you authorize

[43:17] a study which we did to identify all

[43:20] the dark spots which we have.

[43:23] When your pupil adjusts to bright lights.

[43:28] Those dark spots, which you cannot

[43:30] adjust quickly, will be lit up and your pupils

[43:34] don't have to go.

[43:35] Large small.

[43:36] Large small.

[43:37] Along the way.

[43:39] Thank you.

[43:39] I just wanted to reiterate.

[43:41] How important was that?

[43:42] Thank you all.

[43:43] Yes any other old business council?

[43:48] OK, so we got the audience to be heard and the reminder.

[43:52] Um, there's no discussion on 5 and 6

[43:55] item air crossing rezoning.

[43:57] So if there's anyone audience to be heard

[43:59] outside of that opportunity now to come up,

[44:02] you have three minutes, come up to the podium.

[44:04]

[44:11] Thank you, Mr Mayor.

[44:13] And council.

[44:15] Name and address or main address for the record.

[44:18] I'm sorry.

[44:19] My name is Donald Kerr.

[44:20] I'm 16833 Deer Island Road.

[44:23] Thanks for the reminder.

[44:24] Um, and I'm very conscious of your Warning.

[44:27] I'm not here to talk about a specific project,

[44:29] but I do want to make some general comments about what

[44:33] I'm observing in our community.

[44:35] Um, you just discussed your budget, and what I heard was

[44:39] we have problems.

[44:40] We don't have enough income, we can't buy firemen, et cetera.

[44:43] What do we do?

[44:44] I think it was Mr Gamble who said 30 to 40 to 50 years,

[44:50] people have been here and they are

[44:52] now having to make up the differences for the losses

[44:55] that we have.

[44:56] So I want to talk for a minute about population growth.

[44:59] Florida is the number one state in the country

[45:01] for growth in population, far outpacing everyone else.

[45:06] People are moving here from New York, Chicago, California.

[45:09] California had a problem a few months ago where

[45:11] U-Haul ran out of equipment.

[45:15] Well, if you follow that, I believe that land

[45:18] is a finite commodity.

[45:20] There's only so much.

[45:21] How many times have you heard that they're

[45:23] not making any more of it?

[45:24] So multiple studies and I can bring that information

[45:27] to the council have shown over time that you lose money

[45:31] every time you approve a residential project,

[45:35] whether it's multifamily, single family, high rise.

[45:37] You lose money.

[45:38] It's a fact.

[45:39] So I'm going to tell you a short story.

[45:42] Um, I've done a fair amount of development.

[45:45] Some of it was in St. Louis in a historic district,

[45:47] and I bought a 100-year-old building

[45:49] and wanted to renovate it, and I made

[45:51] it into a banquet facility.

[45:53] I also had a liquor license.

[45:54] I could be open six days of the year.

[45:56] My first day was Mardi Gras.

[45:57] Saturday we were open all day, but we'd

[46:00] announce some pretty major bands we're

[46:02] going to play at night, including Chuck

[46:05] Berry was going to be there.

[46:06] So we had people coming in and out of the facility all day

[46:09] long.

[46:10] Got to be 6:00, 7:00.

[46:12] And I had a doorman, I had a police officer.

[46:15] We had to put a cover charge on the door

[46:17] to slow down the people coming in

[46:19] because the fire Marshal had said

[46:20] 300 people is your maximum.

[46:22] As we got that became $2 and $3 and $5 when we got to 11:00.

[46:28] The major bands playing.

[46:30] There were people out the driveway and we were full

[46:35] and we had to stop letting people in the building.

[46:38] And what we had to do was go to one person comes out,

[46:42] one person goes in.

[46:44] It's an easy concept.

[46:45] It worked very well.

[46:46] I'm suggesting to you that most people that I talk

[46:50] to suggest that we're full.

[46:53] We've had enough housing.

[46:55] I did a study in 2017, suggested we

[46:57] had 1,200% of what we had forecast

[47:01] for housing into various.

[47:02] Thank you.

[47:04] Anyone else?

[47:05] Vance Yoakam 12619 Milwaukee Avenue.

[47:17] Tavares just quickly want to talk

[47:20] about the Tavares nature park.

[47:22] Not budget issues, but just the condition of the park,

[47:26] that there is no park map on any of the sign posts

[47:32] that they've got there.

[47:33] And there's a really good one that is in the park

[47:36] that's up in Eustis.

[47:38] And I really think that you need a trail

[47:41] map because a lot of people, I talk

[47:43] to them as I walk down there.

[47:44] I go in there about three times a week.

[47:47] Have you ever been in there?

[47:48] No, I don't.

[47:49] I don't even know what's in there.

[47:50] There's no trail maps that show that there's that center

[47:54] with the picnic table.

[47:55] There's a pond that the trails go all over the place,

[47:58] and it's a very nice walk.

[48:01] The and then all the signs that indicate what the tree is

[48:07] or the plants are, probably 80% of them are gone.

[48:11] They've been destroyed or removed.

[48:13] The others have never, ever been cleaned or maintained.

[48:16] The same for the boardwalk that goes down to the fishing pier

[48:20] has not been maintained with any kind of preservative

[48:23] or anything else.

[48:24] And I think that you need to set some guidelines

[48:28] to start maintaining the park.

[48:30] Those things that staff does, I see them

[48:33] every day going down there.

[48:34] They maintain the toilet building there.

[48:37] They mow the lawns and most of the areas on the paths.

[48:42] But beyond that, the condition of a lot of these extra things

[48:45] that were installed when the park was built

[48:49] are really run down.

[48:52] I would suggest that I think a comment was made earlier

[48:55] about engagement and there is nationally

[48:59] and maybe worldwide, there's a movement in cities

[49:01] to have engagement activities rather than a passive thing

[49:06] where you just go to a park and walk around,

[49:09] but you have tours of the park, you schedule them

[49:13] and I've talked a bit to one of the people

[49:17] from Trout lake who can identify all those plants correctly,

[49:21] she says a lot of them were signs that indicated what

[49:26] the plants were, and they have an engagement

[49:30] where you organize some events in there, family events.

[49:34] You're talking earlier, and to go for walks in there,

[49:39] I may try and do that on my own, but I don't know.

[49:43] You know, an old guy with a walking cane

[49:45] is going to attract a crowd versus get,

[49:49] you know, Walter price or Bob garner near Toledo

[49:53] walk out all of the things that are in.

[49:56]

[49:58] I would suggest you add benches along some of the paths.

[50:02] There's no place at all to sit down.

[50:04] There's nothing.

[50:05] And for people that go in there, they get part way in

[50:08] and then they kind of lose the oomph

[50:11] and they need to sit down.

[50:12] And so I would suggest that.

[50:14] Thank you.

[50:15] Thank you.

[50:17] Serious nature park.

[50:18] All righty.

[50:19] Anyone else in the audience?

[50:23] Thank you.

[50:23] We'll close the audience to be heard and we'll go to Reports.

[50:27] Mr Drury just a reminder, our next meeting

[50:29] is February 21st, 4:00 PM here.

[50:33] You folks were interested in.

[50:36] And then great event this past weekend and the weekend

[50:40] before, and that's all I have.

[50:43] Thank you, mayor.

[50:45] Thank you.

[50:45] OK, we'll go down the line.

[50:47]

[50:50] Your chief was busy today.

[50:51] He had a busy day.

[50:53] Anything from the tree?

[50:55] Nothing from the tree.

[50:56] OK no report today.

[50:59] Thank you, Mr Dylan.

[51:00] Nothing to report.

[51:01] Thank you.

[51:03] OK on the line, mayor.

[51:07] Thank you.

[51:07] Good evening, council.

[51:09] I do have one thing, and I'm going to purposely keep

[51:11] this vague and void of details, and you'll understand why

[51:14] we have a retirement coming up.

[51:16] The fire department and we just inviting

[51:19] you all to come by and give your best wishes to that employee.

[51:23] It's a 12, 12.5 year employee and we're

[51:27] going to miss that person.

[51:28] So if you need details, by all means,

[51:31] call me or just see me after the meeting.

[51:32] Thank you very much.

[51:34] Thank you.

[51:35] That's tomorrow.

[51:37] Exclusive to 0.

[51:39] I'll nothing.

[51:46] No report, mayor.

[51:47]

[51:49] OK Happy Valentine's Day.

[51:53]

[51:56] Just a couple of quick things.

[51:57] We had some great events in the Downtown area,

[52:00] the community out, one of which was the Arbor Day festivities.

[52:04] Mr Dylan, you and your team did a great job.

[52:07] It was nice to see everybody out there getting their free trees

[52:09] and getting an education on Arbor day.

[52:12] So thank you.

[52:12] And everybody that had a hand in putting that together.

[52:15] And then we had a rhythm on Ruby.

[52:17] Mr tweedy, your staff did an amazing job.

[52:20] As always.

[52:21] It's great to see what an economic driver that event is.

[52:24] It brings a lot of people to our downtown area.

[52:26] And I just want to Thank everybody that, you know,

[52:29] was there to support that and everybody

[52:30] that didn't put that together.

[52:32] And then also we had the African-American

[52:34] Heritage Festival.

[52:35] I think Pastor Mike Watkins, who's in the audience today,

[52:38] had a hand in putting that together.

[52:40] Very nice to see the attendance there as well.

[52:43] And on that note, we had our better meeting

[52:46] weeks ago and that was in the Civic Center

[52:48] and it was very nice to see the refurbishment

[52:51] of the Civic Center.

[52:52] First thing I noticed when we drove up was painting outside

[52:57] and the inside was very nice as well.

[53:00] So Mr Dylan, Thank you and your team handled that.

[53:03]

[53:08] It looks great.

[53:09] So thank you all very much for everything you do.

[53:12] And last but not least, just want to wish everybody

[53:14] a Happy Valentine's Day.

[53:15] I think we have, Mr Vice mayor.

[53:18] Yes, we had the better meeting also last week.

[53:22] And I urge you.

[53:26] Uh, because I was educated on something

[53:28] that I never thought about in that fashion,

[53:32] I guess you might say.

[53:33] But look up what grandfather clause where it originated.

[53:38] And it was brought out in that meeting

[53:40] and it was very, very educational to find out

[53:43] how it all initiated from that.

[53:45] We utilize that phrase a lot.

[53:48] Well, I'm under the grandfather clause.

[53:50] Well, do you really know what it is and where it started from?

[53:53] Maybe you need to look at it.

[53:54] So it was very interesting how it was brought out.

[53:58] Also, we were at the League of cities meeting

[54:00] here a couple Fridays ago and.

[54:04] And this next one I won't be able to go to.

[54:06] No the League of cities I can go to as the

[54:08] MPO I can't go to because I'm a conflict that day.

[54:12] But there's a lot happening.

[54:16] And we're going forward every day.

[54:20] And where are we on Babe Ruth signups.

[54:23] They're doing that now.

[54:24]

[54:30] The signups are.

[54:31] We formed all the teams.

[54:32] Everything is all signed up.

[54:34] So we're doing good.

[54:36] We're doing pretty well.

[54:37] have an increase.

[54:39] Be that's great.

[54:42] So we're getting back into where we used to be.

[54:45] We'll get up to 400.

[54:46] I'll be real happy.

[54:48] Yeah so but no, this is something

[54:51] that we provide here at the city for our youth

[54:53] and we want to continue as the y.

[54:55] So once again, as others have said, Happy Valentine's Day.

[55:02] It's not tomorrow.

[55:03]

[55:06] Go ahead.

[55:07] Happy Valentine's day, everyone.

[55:10] God bless us, everyone.

[55:12] Meeting adjourned.

[55:14]

City Council Meeting

Agenda

Transcript