Where was that do not disturb sign.
Yeah he was on your left side.
I learned something new.
Learn you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
Happy days.
Call to order.
The city council meeting for February 7th, 2024.
Mr Joseph Richardson.
Here so.
Our Thanks today to Mayor Grenier, the commissioners
and the city staff for this invitation
to do the invocation today.
In this chamber of governance.
Let us unite in the spirit of reason, compassion,
and the pursuit of Justice.
As we gather, may our hearts be open to the diversity
that defines our community.
This morning.
Let us draw inspiration from the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights signed more than 75 years ago, serving as a guidepost,
illuminating the path to equality, dignity and liberty
for all.
May today's meetings decisions reflect the wisdom of reason
and the empathy that binds us as fellow human beings.
In the pursuit of goodwill to all in our County.
May our actions be guided by the principles
of inclusivity, fairness and respect
for the autonomy of every individual.
Let this assembly today be a testament
to the shared values that transcend
creed, culture and conviction.
At the same time, may we be grateful for the progress
we have made in the past 75 years
and the many accomplishments that surely lie ahead.
In closing, let us remember this work is a reflection
of a commitment to the city and that these efforts
will have a lasting impact on the lives of those you serve.
Thank you.
Mr clerk, if you would, please.
Good afternoon.
Thank you for the privilege of allowing
me to work with you all.
And Thank you for the honor of allowing me to pray.
Heavenly father, Thank you for this blessed and glorious day.
Thank you for the folks we work for.
Thank you for the folks we work with.
Thank you for the glorious city that we live in.
Thank you for all the blessings you bestow on us.
Please keep us on a righteous path.
Please forgive us for our sins and bless those less fortunate.
In Jesus Christ's name.
Amen Amen.
Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States
of America to the Republic for which it stands.
One nation under God.
Indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
OK let me go.
All right.
If anybody has anything to say regarding one of the agenda
items today, please fill out one of the forms there
and bring it to Mr Clark over there
on the corner to remind you there
was not going to be any there's never
any discussion on first readings, which is tabs 5 and 6
today.
So if you want to still stick around,
there will be read into the records.
If you still want to stick around and enjoy
the rest of the city council meeting and what we do here,
we'd love to have you to stick around and talk about
and listen to what we have, what we do here in the city
for various American city.
Um, with that, just for clarity.
Heb 5 and 6 is related to the idumaea crossing
rezoning of 19.46 acres.
So what the mayor has said is if you're here
to speak on the item you're crossing rezoning,
there will be no discussion today on that item.
It is first reading.
The next meeting, which is February 21st, full meeting
with the developer.
You want to speak things of that nature.
However, as you said, feel free to stay in the meeting.
There's a lot of exciting things coming
up on budgets and things.
Thank you, Mr Drury, for clarifying
and adding on to that.
Yes tabs 5 and 6 and animal crossings.
Um, is there any changes or any additions?
Mr drury?
None very good.
Changes or additions.
Council anything.
I'll make a motion to approve the agenda.
We got a motion to approve.
Second got a motion and a second.
All in favor?
Aye opposed.
Passes Oh.
Uh, proclamations and presentations.
I see.
None swearing in by city attorney and disclosure of ex
parte communications, Ms Lindsay.
Yes Thank you, mayor.
There are no quasi judicial matters on the agenda today.
Very good.
And reading of all ordinances, resolutions into record.
Miss Susie.
Thank you, mayor.
We have two resolutions and three ordinances.
Resolution 2020 401, a resolution by the city council
of the city of Tavares, Florida, to vacate a portion
of a 16 foot wide alley right of way located at 120 North
Bloxham Avenue to Berry's Florida 32778 line lying
East of lots a, B and C 52.
The Tavares improvement companies subdivision
is recorded in plat book four, page 39 of the public records
of Lake county, Florida.
Subject to the rules and regulations
ordained by the city of Tavares council providing for a date.
Resolution 2020 403.
A resolution of the city of Florida amending
2024 fiscal year adopted budget for the fairies
representing the First Amendment to the adopted budget,
providing for severability and an effective date.
Ordinance 20 2020 4-01 first reading ordinance
of the Florida rezoning approximately 19.46 acres
of land located at the Southeast corner of the intersection
of State Road 19 and lane park cut off from Highway commercial
c-2 to Planned development pd, subject to the rules,
regulations and obligations ordained
by the city of Tavares council providing effective date
ordinance 2020 402 first reading an ordinance of the city
of tiberias, Florida amending the Tavares comprehensive plan
future land use map 2040 providing
for a change of future land use designation
approximately 19.46 acres of land located
at the Southeast corner of the intersection
of State Road 19 and lane park.
Cutoff from commercial to mixed use
mu providing for severability and conflicts
in providing for an effective date.
An ordinance 2020 4-03 first reading
and transmittal pursuant to chapter 163 of the Florida
statutes amending the public facilities element
and conservation element of the city of the Tavares
comprehensive plan 2040.
In order for consistency with the city's work
plan and regional water supply planning initiatives
by providing for severability and conflicts,
providing for an effective date and bacteremia.
Thank you, miss Susie.
Take, Council the consent agenda.
Looks like just our city council meeting
minutes from the last meeting.
I'll make a motion to approve.
Second I've got a motion to approve and seconded.
All in favor?
Aye all opposed.
Resolution tab three community development.
Thank you, mayor.
This resolution the Community Development Department
is bringing forward is a resolution
to vacate a certain property.
That was.
Allocated as an alleyway.
The property is located in 120 North block Tavares.
The adjacent property owner, which
is Saint John's independent free Methodist church,
has requested to vacate it.
It's undeveloped and it's not practical
for any future alleyway.
If you can see in the location map,
if you can go a little bit more, it kind of ends
right at the South portion.
So there is no plans to further that any.
City staff has reviewed it.
Other departments like public works and utilities reviewed it
and all of them confirmed that it should be vacated.
There was no conflicts and making the right of way
for drainage, utilities, health, safety,
and welfare of the public.
As a result, the official vacation will remove the city's
public interest in this land.
Our recommendations to approve it.
The planning and zoning board voters
voted unanimously to recommend approval of resolution
24 1 as presented.
And you have our official staff recommendation in the packet.
The resolution has a better picture with the zoning,
with the actual legal description
and sketch description of the property
as legalized by approval.
Have any questions for staff?
I'm here.
I believe the applicant might be here
if he wants to say anything.
you don't have to, but.
Thank you, counsel.
Have a question, Miss Bray.
Is this alleyway is currently named?
No, sir.
No named.
Does the property on the west, the property on the east,
are they owned by the same person?
Yes, they are.
Anyone else.
Would you like to move on?
I'll make a motion to approve.
Second we have a motion to approve in the second.
All in favor?
Opposed?
very good.
Passes on a tab for.
First budget Amendment for fiscal year
2020 for finance department.
Thank you, mayor.
Members of council.
This is a ministerial administrative function
that we do every year, bringing prior year
into the current year.
Resolution 2020 403 amends fiscal year
2023 2024 city of Tavares annual operating budget.
The attached resolution represents increases
and/or decreases to the adopted budget for fiscal year 2024.
Appropriation increases represent
capital projects, ARPA expenditures and prior year
encumbrance rollovers.
In addition, the resolution includes transfers
between individual accounts within the adopted budgets
for all departments.
The options for council is to approve resolution 2020
403 amending 2324 annual operating budget
or not to approve and.
Fiscal impact is bringing things forward from prior year.
So, mayor, back to you.
Thank you.
Very good.
Council I'll make a motion to approve the resolution.
Second we have a motion to approve.
And second.
All in favor?
Aye opposed?
OK once again, tab 5 one item crossing crossings
is only in the first ring, so we'll
move on to tab seven transmittal hearing community development.
Thank you, mayor.
Um, this is.
This is a transmittal ordinance, and that's why it's being read.
Um, it's open to the public as well
because it's a text Amendment to the, to our comprehensive plan.
There's two elements that were changed or added
was the public facilities element
and the conservation element.
And they were all pursuant to the city's 10 year water
supply facility work plan.
And regional water supply planning initiatives.
So it was the basis of two Florida statute conditions
that we had to make some minor changes
to the comprehensive plan.
Um, most notably your packet.
It should have been highlighted the changes
and underlying most notably, most notably
is the actual plan is being adopted
in the comprehensive plan.
We also caveated that if changes there is or as
amended because sometimes there's scrivener's errors
and stuff in situations like that,
it is still going to be valid and this
is what we're going to follow.
The other ones are kind of straightforward on that.
We're mandated by the regional Planning Council
and in your packet also was the whole 10 year
water supply facility work plan for your review
and consideration.
US and on January 18th, 2024, the planning and zoning
board voted unanimously to recommend
approval of the ordinance.
2020 403 as presented.
Staff is recommending the city moves
to approve the transmittal to the state for review of 20
of 2020 403 comprehensive plan 2040
text Amendment to the future facilities element.
The conservation element pursuant to the city's 10 year
water supply facility, work plan and regional water supply plan.
You have any questions on it?
It's in the packet or on the staff report.
Thank you, Antonio.
Any questions or comments regarding.
2403 I'll make a motion then that we
approve ordinance 2020 403.
I'll second it.
Here we have a motion and a second to approve.
All in favor?
Aye all opposed.
All right.
So move.
There we go.
Tab a broad budget.
Priorities Mr Drury, as provided for in the prior city council
meeting, an opportunity is provided this council meeting
to city council develop its 25th October 1 2024
to September 30th, 2025 budget goals which the city manager
will use as guiding principles and a starting point
to build the annual city budget over the next several months.
Budget will then be presented back to the city council
this summer.
Thereafter the council will continue
to refine it through July and August
and finally finalize it in September
with public commentary and input along the way.
I've provided prior year budget goals.
The current list of projects and initiatives that
are underway and then a draft of your council goals
for the ensuing year.
What I would recommend is we.
Go look at the goals and the order
and see if anybody has any issue with any of those goals.
If you do and three of you do, then they'll be removed.
If you don't, then they'll stay.
And whatever the collective goals are from all five of you
will then be incorporated into the budgeting process.
And I think that is the first attachment.
Agenda item.
Back to you, mayor.
Thank you.
Um, through the first 5 and see if anyone has any objections.
And like can.
I'm going to read you like so Bobby Grenier playing the New
to various frontier along State Road 19 561 448 corridor with
no sprawl and be mindful of economic residential
development, land conservation and possible convention center.
Any issues with that.
Seeing none continue to make sure that the various History
Museum and the various library have
the resources needed to maintain the high level of service.
They purchase the home of the major Saint
Clair Abrams, the founder of the and Lake County.
Well, we've already met on that, haven't we?
It's already been defeated.
OK so that's.
Out keep streets, alleyways, stormwater improvements going
and at a high level of service.
Provide for the resources police and fire department
need to ensure they maintain their high level of service.
Vice mayor Sandy gamble deliver budget at rollback,
then allow council to make additions
as necessary for the final budget clarification.
I talked about this.
What my desire that is we keep hearing take us to rollback,
take us to rollback would like and I've asked him
and he said he could do it.
It's not so much that we have a budget.
That's right at rollback but that we show if we
were to go back to rollback.
This is what would have to be cut.
Services would have to be cut, employees manpower.
And I don't think that's something
we want to do when we're increasing manpower, especially
in the fire department.
But I just want to point this out.
So the citizens know if they keep, you
know, take us back to rollback.
Well, this is what it would lose if we did that.
So that's my intent, that it's not so much that I'm saying
I want to go to the rollback just
to show the public what it would take to do that.
Isn't that double work for the staff?
I mean, if you're going I don't have an issue with identifying
rollback rate and the dollar associated with it
and correlating that to.
How it correlates to all the services.
I think we can do that.
You'll have that and I don't have a problem with that.
We can add it to our.
Maintain the level of service.
Continue and finish capital projects.
Sidewalk replacement where needed.
Adopt new impact fees for residential housing.
You know, and that one, what we're
going to need to do is probably, Agendize
that to get an understanding what the collective wisdom
of the board is.
Is it increase or decrease?
Is it to increase revenues, decrease things of that nature?
I would agendize that first to discuss
what it is you're looking for.
Once you vote on that, then I'll either reduce the budget
or increase the budget based on your final vote.
Would that also include the parks impact fees?
It include all?
Yeah in other words, the residential housing,
the impact fees are involved with that.
Our impact fees haven't been touched in years
and we're losing financing.
And what is happening is in a lot of new development,
because the impact fees that we're getting
is not enough to take care of everything that we need.
The people that have been here 30, 40, 50 years
are having to make up the difference
because we have to get loans.
So when we do that agenda, we can discuss that a little bit
further.
I agree.
Finalize the Stover complex.
Transfer to the Lake County school board, which that is.
Uh, we're in the middle of doing that, so I think that'll be,
In time with this budget, continue to lower debt
and not go into further debt.
And as you know, that's a board decision.
When that comes before you.
Councilmember Pfister continue improvements and renovations of
the Regional Park East Campus.
We continue to do that.
We're working with the County and we'll incorporate that.
Restructure impact fees.
Again, we just talked about incentives
for economic development.
Continue efforts for golf cart crossing at the hospital.
Downtown lighting improvements for safety.
Improvements and explore possible
commercial participation at pontoon promenade.
Lobby local lawmakers to legislate
the closing of gaming rooms.
Increase their family oriented small events and activities.
Assure that employee pay and benefits are competitive
to attract and retain the best.
Council member price try to get to the rollback rate.
And if not, continue to lower millage rate.
Accelerate city debt repayments.
Although current interest rates might postpone this.
Continue to pursue grants, provide the same level
of service to our residents, increase
reserves, accomplish the waste the West Main Street gateway.
Convert existing public works facility to surface parking.
Repaving our roads.
Question about number seven.
There Vert two surface parking.
Thought we were looking at.
Putting it in garage.
Yes, I think it'll be in phases.
We will not.
Have you got a goal not to take any loans out?
And obviously putting a multi-million dollar parking
garage, you have to take a loan out.
You've got a goal to create parking over there.
Surface parking.
You might be able to get done without the lone garage.
You will never get that alone.
So this will be phase one.
Surface parking.
Then in the future.
The council.
Go ahead and do the garage.
Yeah, the my intent there was.
To make that surface parking as an interim.
Thing Uh, if we see that it's constantly full,
constantly overfilled and start looking
at the next phase of that.
But you said that we may not even have to do that
without any debt or anything.
Uh, as I recall, our mayor said he
was willing to get a bulldozer and start
knocking buildings down.
So that should ought help, because that
will reduce the cost.
Hey Councilmember singer continue
lowering the millage rate.
Maintain recommended reserve levels.
Continue to invest in road repaving and infrastructure.
Continue to go after grants.
Be sure that all departments are properly staffed
and every employee is fairly compensated.
Look for ways to clean the On gateway
drive and North Duncan drive.
All righty.
So I've got the collective goals for the city council
for FY 25 budget department directors,
and I will be meeting next week to incorporate those
into their work plans and budget plans.
Then we will come back with you with a balanced budget
this summer for your deliberation and tweaking
and adding and doing what you do with public input
along the way.
Back to you, mayor.
Thank you.
Something about this on, um, on Mayor Grenier, on number three
the purchase of the home.
And I know we've already been there.
We've already voted no, but I don't
think it's fair to say it won't be discussed again
because there's a lot of different ways
that maybe the money can be found.
I, I don't think the mayor was as prepared as he should have
been when he presented this.
There is a whole lot of different ways to find money.
So I don't want us just to close our eyes
and say it can't be done or we won't hear it again.
This kind of reminds me years and years and years ago,
back when we were in one of our worst economic times,
I wanted to build a dog park.
Tabriz didn't have a dog park, and nobody
y'all wouldn't spend money.
And I remember the mayor at the time
when I brought it back like the third time, and the mayor said,
you're not going to have a dog park.
And I said, well, if I find the money
and I have a dog park any right here on record and said,
if you find the money, you can have a dog park.
Well, I already had that ammunition in my back pocket
and we have a dog park.
So I'm just saying that I hate to do that to the mayor
when something is near and dear to your heart,
give him the opportunity to go out
and try to find the funding without the city.
That's all I'm asking.
If we could do that without saying no.
What do y'all think about that?
I mean, I'm OK with that, but.
I've already talked to some individuals and they.
Like we don't need to be in that business.
I understand that, too.
And one of them was one that.
A breakfast with.
On this case, he kind of changed his mind on that statement.
But like I say, no, I'm open minded.
OK that's all I was asking for.
That's all I'm asking, because let's just
be open minded and fair here and at least
give him the opportunity.
I mean, not to come back and ask us for the money,
but to come back and say, I found the money.
Right absolutely.
I mean, that's vision.
That's looking forward to the future,
seeing what can be done using your imagination.
Way of getting things done.
Absolutely just don't Chuck it off to the side.
Appreciate those thoughts.
Thank you.
And I easily can find a lot of people
as well who would say, why don't we get something like that?
Why can't we have something like that?
So anyways, yeah, give me the opportunity
to see what I can do.
Financial impact any of the budget at all,
and I appreciate you all allowing me to do that.
Thank you very much.
Have somebody here.
So just to be clear here, three people
approving that in the budget to be funded by others
if it's funded by others.
OK Thank you.
Thank you.
Bear in mind that also means that in the years beyond,
we have to staff it and maintain it.
So where is that finance?
Well, we can discuss that when we get to it.
That's fine.
Talking about that hadn't spilled yet.
So just putting it out there and there's and Thank
you for putting it out there.
But there's a lot of things everywhere
of how to stay up there.
We need staffing for so many things.
So that's something we'll discuss as we go along there.
But I appreciate you mentioning that.
So that is a concern.
And that's something we'll talk about.
this is tab eight, isn't it?
Uh, tab eight.
Yeah, because somebody here wants to speak
on tab Vance Vance Yoakam.
Good afternoon.
Tavares is Vance Yoakam 1261 Waukee Avenue Tavares.
It's been a while.
Yeah, just but, you know, I look at the budget, I mean,
the agenda budget.
And I didn't say, I got to say something.
I missed the last one.
So and I have not had a chance to look at that.
So the comments are going to make are kind of broad brush.
You may actually maybe you approved it and it's in there.
I don't know.
But I will follow up on that as one is that I would like
to reiterate the discussion that you had about going
to the rollback rate.
I really believe that in this economy and the uncertainties
that the cap is spending at the rollback rate period,
just that, that we're going to live within,
that there's a lot of economic indicators
that you probably should have a report on.
Maybe Mr Murray knows somebody in the industry that
can come up with those to show you
how good or bad the economy is.
For instance, a lot of the press is saying
there's all this job growth.
Biden is saying it and everything else.
Well, there's also a report out that
says they studied the last four years of growth and all of it
was foreign born people.
Nobody no Americans actually got more jobs.
So I think you should be aware of that.
So that you can assess your decisions in light of how it's
going to impact your local residents,
whether it's foreclosures and other leading
indicators on economics going up or down next is that.
I would ask that you set measurable performance
benchmarks by department and be included
within the budget statistics.
I think you still get the kind of benchmark consortium report,
but you don't make it public.
And I think that we ought to have public benchmarks
showing a goal for improvement in operating
ratios by department.
And then the actual is that probably at least quarterly.
Let's, you know, set some goals that show that you're
trying to contain cost growth.
He to various nature park.
Didn't hear discussion of that.
I'll have more details during the regular input section,
but I think you really need to start planning for rebuilding
that fishing dock out there and the boardwalk that's been
neglected and not maintained.
The County is just entertained and approved
a study of citizens to float a $5,050 million
bond issue on new public lands because the old one
they had for $30 million is expiring in a year or two.
And so, of course, the bond salesman is already pushing it.
Thank you and great to see you again.
Thank you.
OK all right.
How are we?
Any more discussion on tab eight there?
We know how to proceed.
So good.
All righty.
Any more discussion on this?
No OK.
Um, go to Tabnine medical marijuana dispensary.
Current city ordinance.
Community development.
Thank you, Mr Mayor.
This is a discussing item at the last council
meeting requested by council member Laurie Pfister.
The city council voted to discuss the current medical
marijuana dispensary ordinance.
So I made a report on how it was adopted and a timeline,
and I can go over that.
On August 20th, 2014, the city of Tavares
passed ordinance 20 1412, which added the city regulations
and definitions of medical marijuana dispensaries
and amended the chapter 8 and table 8
to permitted and special uses, allowing
medical marijuana dispensaries in the c-2 highway
commercial district only.
However, what happened was on June 23rd, 2017,
the Florida legislature passed Senate Bill eight, a amending
Florida statute 381986, requiring that local government
agencies either ban medical marijuana dispensaries
within their boundaries or allow dispensaries to operate
within the same zoning districts that would allow
pharmacies to be to operate.
So on December 20th, 2017.
Aveiro city council adopted ordinance 20 1721,
which restricted medical marijuana dispensaries.
Two only located on the commercial downtown,
which is Main Street and some of the zero 19 general commercial.
See one again?
See that's stable 19 and commercial use.
Those are the zonings are.
And we already adopted highway commercial two
zoning districts.
I attach in the report, all the ordinances
and the Florida Senate Bill that was approved and full time.
So I'm here to just answer questions.
Or just to be clear, they adopted an ordinance that was
consistent with the statute.
Yes, it's as of this date, the city regulations
are consistent with state law as they
pertain to permitting locations for medical marijuana.
They're only permitted where a pharmacy is permitted.
Yes Thank you.
So the pharmacy permitted in our downtown?
Yes so that's what I wanted to clarify,
because things have changed since I remember.
I was the one that brought this up originally
when we first did this back in 2014,
I was the one the very concerned about medical marijuana
or whatever was going on.
Didn't want it in our city.
Well, things have changed a whole lot since then,
and I think we're losing out on quite a lot of revenue.
We are.
Probably one of the few cities that don't allow
a medical marijuana dispensary.
So and.
I just think it's important that we
discuss this and make a decision on whether or not
we want that revenue.
If we don't take it, someone else is going to get it.
And we've been working so hard to balance our security,
we do allow it well, but we haven't allowed it downtown.
We do allow it if anyone wants to have it.
Then why are we came to y'all with this and thought
that's why we were having the discussion
because of the ordinance that we had, they couldn't have
it in our downtown.
That's how I remember it last meeting.
It they can.
They can have it downtown, have a Main Street
miscommunication on my part.
I thought you were talking about manufacturing
and industrial parks or things of that nature.
No, you're talking about the.
Yes, we can have one downtown.
We can have one on.
This is a mute point.
Over I apologize.
Very good.
Strike down.
Up as a win.
Yeah, absolutely.
Got a couple questions.
We have any medical marijuana dispensaries in tavaris now?
We don't have it in our jurisdiction.
OK, so the ordinance is either ban them outright or let
them be in a specific zoning.
There's no in between.
Like saying we can only have three like we do with gangs.
No, no.
Happy days.
Wonderful all right.
No more discussion on Tabnine.
Very good.
New business.
So go ahead.
Oh, OK.
Oh, no.
Old business.
And y'all remember about the lighting issue and it
was on I've got it on mine.
And I believe someone else had it.
So the other morning it.
At 445, I was coming through downtown.
I was heading up to North Carolina
and I was at the roundabout.
4:45 AM.
There were some people in the ground
down there by the freedom flag.
You can't see him.
Don't under don't know what the lighting
problem is that we have.
Because I told you about other people
that have complained downtown here.
Um, that's the second time it's happened to me now
that just all of a sudden there's people
and you just don't see them.
And I'm.
Alert so that's real important.
Guys, we have got to get on this lighting.
And I think we've issued a contract.
Yes, we did issue a contract and Duke is currently
adding additional well, there's eight
additional lights for existing and they're adding 8 additional
to that area.
Isn't that odd how one spots down here?
And when you look at it, you feel like it's well lit.
But when you're driving, I mean, they just appeared,
you know, from the.
you know, up there, that was who was their engineer
that did this, you know.
But that's been a nightmare.
It was scary.
Yeah but what happens, I think, is when you're driving,
it's very, very dark.
And then there's light.
We have down there.
You'll see everything.
But when you're driving in a downtown with bright lights
everywhere and your pupils change, and then
all of a sudden you get a dark spot.
Your pupils do not catch up with that change.
So you have great lighting on 441 and in the Downtown
and all of a sudden dark spots you authorize
a study which we did to identify all
the dark spots which we have.
When your pupil adjusts to bright lights.
Those dark spots, which you cannot
adjust quickly, will be lit up and your pupils
don't have to go.
Large small.
Along the way.
Thank you.
I just wanted to reiterate.
How important was that?
Thank you all.
Yes any other old business council?
OK, so we got the audience to be heard and the reminder.
Um, there's no discussion on 5 and 6
item air crossing rezoning.
So if there's anyone audience to be heard
outside of that opportunity now to come up,
you have three minutes, come up to the podium.
Thank you, Mr Mayor.
And council.
Name and address or main address for the record.
I'm sorry.
My name is Donald Kerr.
I'm 16833 Deer Island Road.
Thanks for the reminder.
Um, and I'm very conscious of your Warning.
I'm not here to talk about a specific project,
but I do want to make some general comments about what
I'm observing in our community.
Um, you just discussed your budget, and what I heard was
we have problems.
We don't have enough income, we can't buy firemen, et cetera.
What do we do?
I think it was Mr Gamble who said 30 to 40 to 50 years,
people have been here and they are
now having to make up the differences for the losses
that we have.
So I want to talk for a minute about population growth.
Florida is the number one state in the country
for growth in population, far outpacing everyone else.
People are moving here from New York, Chicago, California.
California had a problem a few months ago where
U-Haul ran out of equipment.
Well, if you follow that, I believe that land
is a finite commodity.
There's only so much.
How many times have you heard that they're
not making any more of it?
So multiple studies and I can bring that information
to the council have shown over time that you lose money
every time you approve a residential project,
whether it's multifamily, single family, high rise.
You lose money.
It's a fact.
So I'm going to tell you a short story.
Um, I've done a fair amount of development.
Some of it was in St. Louis in a historic district,
and I bought a 100-year-old building
and wanted to renovate it, and I made
it into a banquet facility.
I also had a liquor license.
I could be open six days of the year.
My first day was Mardi Gras.
Saturday we were open all day, but we'd
announce some pretty major bands we're
going to play at night, including Chuck
Berry was going to be there.
So we had people coming in and out of the facility all day
long.
Got to be 6:00, 7:00.
And I had a doorman, I had a police officer.
We had to put a cover charge on the door
to slow down the people coming in
because the fire Marshal had said
300 people is your maximum.
As we got that became $2 and $3 and $5 when we got to 11:00.
The major bands playing.
There were people out the driveway and we were full
and we had to stop letting people in the building.
And what we had to do was go to one person comes out,
one person goes in.
It's an easy concept.
It worked very well.
I'm suggesting to you that most people that I talk
to suggest that we're full.
We've had enough housing.
I did a study in 2017, suggested we
had 1,200% of what we had forecast
for housing into various.
Thank you.
Anyone else?
Vance Yoakam 12619 Milwaukee Avenue.
Tavares just quickly want to talk
about the Tavares nature park.
Not budget issues, but just the condition of the park,
that there is no park map on any of the sign posts
that they've got there.
And there's a really good one that is in the park
that's up in Eustis.
And I really think that you need a trail
map because a lot of people, I talk
to them as I walk down there.
I go in there about three times a week.
Have you ever been in there?
No, I don't.
I don't even know what's in there.
There's no trail maps that show that there's that center
with the picnic table.
There's a pond that the trails go all over the place,
and it's a very nice walk.
The and then all the signs that indicate what the tree is
or the plants are, probably 80% of them are gone.
They've been destroyed or removed.
The others have never, ever been cleaned or maintained.
The same for the boardwalk that goes down to the fishing pier
has not been maintained with any kind of preservative
or anything else.
And I think that you need to set some guidelines
to start maintaining the park.
Those things that staff does, I see them
every day going down there.
They maintain the toilet building there.
They mow the lawns and most of the areas on the paths.
But beyond that, the condition of a lot of these extra things
that were installed when the park was built
are really run down.
I would suggest that I think a comment was made earlier
about engagement and there is nationally
and maybe worldwide, there's a movement in cities
to have engagement activities rather than a passive thing
where you just go to a park and walk around,
but you have tours of the park, you schedule them
and I've talked a bit to one of the people
from Trout lake who can identify all those plants correctly,
she says a lot of them were signs that indicated what
the plants were, and they have an engagement
where you organize some events in there, family events.
You're talking earlier, and to go for walks in there,
I may try and do that on my own, but I don't know.
You know, an old guy with a walking cane
is going to attract a crowd versus get,
you know, Walter price or Bob garner near Toledo
walk out all of the things that are in.
I would suggest you add benches along some of the paths.
There's no place at all to sit down.
There's nothing.
And for people that go in there, they get part way in
and then they kind of lose the oomph
and they need to sit down.
And so I would suggest that.
Thank you.
Serious nature park.
All righty.
Anyone else in the audience?
Thank you.
We'll close the audience to be heard and we'll go to Reports.
Mr Drury just a reminder, our next meeting
is February 21st, 4:00 PM here.
You folks were interested in.
And then great event this past weekend and the weekend
before, and that's all I have.
Thank you, mayor.
Thank you.
OK, we'll go down the line.
Your chief was busy today.
He had a busy day.
Anything from the tree?
Nothing from the tree.
OK no report today.
Thank you, Mr Dylan.
Nothing to report.
Thank you.
OK on the line, mayor.
Thank you.
Good evening, council.
I do have one thing, and I'm going to purposely keep
this vague and void of details, and you'll understand why
we have a retirement coming up.
The fire department and we just inviting
you all to come by and give your best wishes to that employee.
It's a 12, 12.5 year employee and we're
going to miss that person.
So if you need details, by all means,
call me or just see me after the meeting.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
That's tomorrow.
Exclusive to 0.
I'll nothing.
No report, mayor.
OK Happy Valentine's Day.
Just a couple of quick things.
We had some great events in the Downtown area,
the community out, one of which was the Arbor Day festivities.
Mr Dylan, you and your team did a great job.
It was nice to see everybody out there getting their free trees
and getting an education on Arbor day.
So thank you.
And everybody that had a hand in putting that together.
And then we had a rhythm on Ruby.
Mr tweedy, your staff did an amazing job.
As always.
It's great to see what an economic driver that event is.
It brings a lot of people to our downtown area.
And I just want to Thank everybody that, you know,
was there to support that and everybody
that didn't put that together.
And then also we had the African-American
Heritage Festival.
I think Pastor Mike Watkins, who's in the audience today,
had a hand in putting that together.
Very nice to see the attendance there as well.
And on that note, we had our better meeting
weeks ago and that was in the Civic Center
and it was very nice to see the refurbishment
of the Civic Center.
First thing I noticed when we drove up was painting outside
and the inside was very nice as well.
So Mr Dylan, Thank you and your team handled that.
It looks great.
So thank you all very much for everything you do.
And last but not least, just want to wish everybody
a Happy Valentine's Day.
I think we have, Mr Vice mayor.
Yes, we had the better meeting also last week.
And I urge you.
Uh, because I was educated on something
that I never thought about in that fashion,
I guess you might say.
But look up what grandfather clause where it originated.
And it was brought out in that meeting
and it was very, very educational to find out
how it all initiated from that.
We utilize that phrase a lot.
Well, I'm under the grandfather clause.
Well, do you really know what it is and where it started from?
Maybe you need to look at it.
So it was very interesting how it was brought out.
Also, we were at the League of cities meeting
here a couple Fridays ago and.
And this next one I won't be able to go to.
No the League of cities I can go to as the
MPO I can't go to because I'm a conflict that day.
But there's a lot happening.
And we're going forward every day.
And where are we on Babe Ruth signups.
They're doing that now.
The signups are.
We formed all the teams.
Everything is all signed up.
So we're doing good.
We're doing pretty well.
have an increase.
Be that's great.
So we're getting back into where we used to be.
We'll get up to 400.
I'll be real happy.
Yeah so but no, this is something
that we provide here at the city for our youth
and we want to continue as the y.
So once again, as others have said, Happy Valentine's Day.
It's not tomorrow.
Go ahead.
Happy Valentine's day, everyone.
God bless us, everyone.
Meeting adjourned.