[0:00]

[2:55] Keep an eye on the cameras.

[2:58] Library and recreation.

[3:01] OK is there a box over there.

[3:02] Get the thumbs up there.

[3:06]

[3:10] Good afternoon, everyone.

[3:12] Welcome to the Tavares city council

[3:14] meeting for December 4, 2024.

[3:18] Before we get started, I would like to bring in and introduce

[3:23] the tarvarious high school brass ensemble

[3:25] who have been playing Christmas music for us out in the lobby.

[3:27] If they would come in and be recognized, please.

[3:30] Y'all come on in.

[3:33] It's right there in the middle.

[3:35] Just go in the middle there.

[3:37] Middle left turn.

[3:41] There you go.

[3:43] Turn around and think.

[3:46] You look wonderful, all of you.

[3:47] Sister wants to say something.

[3:49] No, I just was.

[3:51] No, I'm so happy that you all are here again this year.

[3:54] We just love it.

[3:55] It kind of kicks off our.

[3:56] Our Christmas season, so Thank you.

[4:00] Y'all are very, very good.

[4:02] Thank you.

[4:03] Thank you very much.

[4:04] Thank you.

[4:06] Thank you.

[4:09] Now y'all can go get your cake.

[4:10]

[4:17] And if anyone from the public is here

[4:20] to speak on any of our agenda items,

[4:23] please fill out one of the request to speak.

[4:26] They're on the back table by the door

[4:27] there and make sure you give them to Phil Clark

[4:31] and he'll get them up here to us.

[4:34] That's what we're going to start with,

[4:36] an invocation and pledge from Pastor chase Allen of the First

[4:39] Baptist church of Umatilla.

[4:41]

[4:44] Well, good afternoon.

[4:46] As always, every time you guys allow me to come,

[4:47] I'd like to say thank you for allowing

[4:49] me to come and represent first Baptist church of Umatilla.

[4:51] And most importantly, Jesus.

[4:52] Let's pray.

[4:53] Father, we love you.

[4:54] And Thank you so much for this afternoon.

[4:56] God, I Thank you for this great city, for all that

[4:58] it stands for all that it does.

[5:00] And so, Lord, I pray that you would be with today's business,

[5:02] that you would be with today's dealings,

[5:04] that you would be with calm minds and cool hearts.

[5:07] God, that you would just allow business

[5:08] to be taken care of God, and that everything

[5:10] that happens in this room would be

[5:11] honoring and glorifying to you.

[5:13] Thank you so much for your son, Jesus.

[5:14] It's in his name.

[5:15] We pray.

[5:15] Amen Amen.

[5:18] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America

[5:22] and to the Republic for which it stands.

[5:25] One nation under God, indivisible,

[5:28] with liberty and justice for all.

[5:30] Thank you guys so much.

[5:32] Thank you.

[5:33] Thank you.

[5:34]

[5:41] Are there any changes to the agenda from staff.

[5:44] None from staff.

[5:45] Make a motion to approve the agenda.

[5:48] Second OK we have a motion duly seconded to approve the agenda.

[5:53] Any other discussion.

[5:55] All those in favor, signify by saying Aye.

[5:57] Aye Any opposed.

[5:59] OK agenda has been adopted.

[6:02] We have no proclamations or presentations swearing

[6:07] in by the city attorney and disclosure of ex

[6:09] parte communications.

[6:10] Yes Thank you, Mayor.

[6:11] There are no quasi judicial matters on the agenda today.

[6:14] And we have no ordinance or resolutions

[6:20] to read into the record, is that correct.

[6:22] That's correct.

[6:22] Mayor, Thank you.

[6:23] The consent agenda.

[6:28] Council members do I have a motion

[6:31] to approve the consent agenda.

[6:32] Make a motion to approve.

[6:33] Second OK.

[6:35] We have a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda.

[6:37] Any other discussion.

[6:39] All in favor.

[6:40] Signify by saying Aye.

[6:41] Aye no resolutions and no ordinances.

[6:47] OK, so that moves us into tab three.

[6:50] The discussion of removing fluoride from the drinking water

[6:54] into the.

[6:55]

[7:01] If you will, if everyone here will indulge.

[7:05] We're going to start out with a video, a seven minute video that

[7:11] will explain why we're here and why the agenda item is before us

[7:18] today.

[7:18] So, Mark, do you want to go ahead and start that up.

[7:22]

[7:27] Good morning.

[7:28] Thank you very much for joining us here this morning.

[7:30] I'm Dr. Joe Ladipo, the surgeon general of Florida.

[7:34] And I am joined today by Dr. Ashley Mallon, who

[7:39] is a professor at the University of Florida, and Dr.

[7:42] Claire Stagg, who is a dentist.

[7:45] So thank you again for joining us today.

[7:47] I'd like to Thank the Fairfax water

[7:49] treatment plant for hosting us.

[7:52] Water fluoridation has been in the news a lot lately

[7:55] and it started probably a few months ago

[7:58] when a judge ruled that the EPA needed

[8:01] to make some additional rules about safety regarding water

[8:06] fluoridation systems and the policies

[8:09] that communities in the United States

[8:10] follow related to water fluoridation

[8:13] in the United States.

[8:15] In Florida, somewhere around 75% or 80% of Floridians

[8:19] are in communities that have water fluoridation.

[8:23] As a medical physician, I actually have historically

[8:27] supported this practice.

[8:29] It's something that we've learned in medical school,

[8:31] is a public health measure that is helpful

[8:35] and is something that as a physician, we should support.

[8:39] The ruling several months ago prompted me and other people

[8:43] to look more closely at the issue,

[8:45] and that ruling was based on a report

[8:47] that the National Toxicology Program assembled, that they

[8:52] started actually working on it years ago,

[8:54] reviewing data and studies of harms and benefits associated

[9:00] with water fluoridation and increased

[9:02] levels of fluoride in water.

[9:05] And as I started both reading this report

[9:08] and reading the actual studies that the report was based on I

[9:14] was appalled, frankly, to just to be completely Frank with you,

[9:18] while there's no question that fluoride is like other minerals,

[9:24] an important mineral and fluoride absolutely,

[9:26] positively can strengthen teeth, it is also the case

[9:30] that fluoride is neurotoxic and the effects in terms

[9:37] of any neurologic effects or any behavioral effects

[9:40] are actually something that have been in the literature

[9:43] for many years.

[9:45] When this issue has arisen in the past.

[9:47] What you've typically heard from organizations like the American

[9:51] Dental Association, and many of my colleagues,

[9:54] and frankly, you probably would have heard it from me if I had

[9:57] been asked, is that the studies that have found harms related

[10:02] to fluoridation were in communities that

[10:05] had much higher levels of fluoride

[10:07] than what we allow here in the United States.

[10:11] Well, the fact is that not only, first of all,

[10:14] did these studies find really very, very bad outcomes.

[10:18] Specifically, many, many studies have

[10:22] found a relationship between fluoride and fluoride

[10:26] exposure and intelligence.

[10:28] So typically, the relationship is somewhere on the order

[10:33] of a half a standard deviation drop

[10:36] in IQ in areas with higher levels of fluoridation,

[10:39] which is a profound effect on health

[10:42] and has profound implications.

[10:45] But there are also neuropsychiatric risks

[10:48] that have been raised, including things like attention deficit

[10:52] hyperactivity disorder, including things like problems

[10:56] with executive function and decision making

[10:58] and other behavioral problems in children.

[11:01] And so the typical criticism has been that these studies were

[11:05] in countries like China or India where say, the naturally

[11:09] occurring amounts of fluoride are much higher than what we

[11:12] have here in the United States.

[11:15] Well, it turns out that, in fact, that wasn't true.

[11:18] So in the last five or six years,

[11:21] there have been several studies that have been published.

[11:24] Dr. Malin has actually published some of these studies

[11:27] in communities in Canada, also in the United States, where

[11:32] levels of fluoride are actually quite

[11:34] similar to the levels that we have here in this state

[11:38] and in this country.

[11:40] And these studies have actually found the same findings

[11:43] that moms and children exposed to higher levels of fluoride

[11:50] have experienced adverse neurologic and neuropsychiatric

[11:55] effects.

[11:55] I mean, it's appalling, but it's actually been documented

[11:59] in multiple studies now.

[12:01] So based on these findings and in recognition of the fact

[12:07] that there are other sources of fluoride

[12:10] that people in communities have access to whether it's brushing

[12:14] with fluoridated toothpaste or whether it's using a fluoride

[12:19] mouthwash.

[12:20] And there are other sources too.

[12:22] People go to the dentist and receive

[12:23] fluoride there that it is.

[12:26] It is.

[12:26] It is public health malpractice with the information

[12:30] that we have now to continue adding fluoride

[12:34] to water systems in Florida.

[12:37] It is public health malpractice.

[12:39] And so we are issuing guidance to every community,

[12:43] every municipality, every County in Florida

[12:47] to stop adding fluoride to their community water systems.

[12:53] And I will tell you that the data that we have,

[12:57] the studies that we have primarily

[12:59] are focused on pregnant women and children.

[13:02] Those are clearly the most sensitive and vulnerable

[13:04] populations for fluoridation in terms

[13:07] of these adverse neuropsychiatric effects.

[13:10] But I personally in my family, we've

[13:13] pulled back in terms of sources of fluoride

[13:16] because we're concerned about the effects.

[13:19] There's less research there.

[13:21] My sense is that those that research

[13:23] will also show adverse effects and that remains to be seen.

[13:27] But in this day and age, with the additional sources

[13:30] of fluoride that people have access to

[13:32] it is public health malpractice to continue adding fluoride

[13:36] to community water systems that women and pregnant women

[13:40] and children have access to.

[13:43] So that's the announcement that we're making today.

[13:46] We'll be issuing formal guidance that's

[13:49] going to be available for every Floridian

[13:51] to read and to better understand why we're

[13:54] making this recommendation.

[13:55] And we have a tool for Floridians

[13:59] to look up their dresses and see whether their communities

[14:03] add fluoride to the water.

[14:05] And we encourage we encourage municipalities and counties

[14:08] to look at the guidance to make the decision that is in the best

[14:11] interest of your communities here

[14:15] in Florida and your local communities.

[14:17] And we encourage Floridians to look at the guidance

[14:19] and speak to your local leaders, because this

[14:22] is something that has been defended for a long time.

[14:25] And it is public health malpractice

[14:28] to continue doing it.

[14:29] So next, we're going to have.

[14:31]

[14:34] And for those of you that would like

[14:36] to watch the rest of that video in your own time,

[14:39] it's on YouTube.

[14:40] It goes on for about 20 minutes total.

[14:43] The interview is a dentist, a doctor and some other people

[14:47] that are also in favor of removing fluoride

[14:50] from community water systems.

[14:54] So at this point.

[14:56] We're going to start with our public comment.

[14:59]

[15:03] We're I'll start with Dr. Johnny Johnson.

[15:07]

[15:11] Please state your name and address for the record

[15:12] and you have three minutes.

[15:15] 33 3.

[15:17] OK I could fill up for hours, but that's OK.

[15:21] My name is Johnny Johnson.

[15:22] I'm a pediatric dentist.

[15:24] I live in Chiefland, Florida.

[15:25] P.o. box 2,450.

[15:27] I'm also the president of the American Fluoridation Society.

[15:30] Like our sister organization in the UK, British Fluoridation

[15:34] Society and in Canada Canadian Fluoridation Society,

[15:37] we disseminate evidence based scientific information

[15:40] from around the world on water fluoridation,

[15:42] good, bad, or otherwise.

[15:44] I will tell you that the benefits of fluoridation

[15:46] are well established.

[15:48] There's no doubt that there are benefits

[15:51] of at least 25% to 50% cavity reductions for everybody.

[15:55] Those that are the most impoverished, those

[15:57] of in your town that are 10% one out of every 10 people you walk

[16:02] by that live in poverty, they have

[16:05] double the number of cavities that all the rest of us do.

[16:08] They don't get to go to the dentist hardly at all.

[16:11] If ever.

[16:11] The only preventive tooth, the only

[16:13] preventive dental protection that they get

[16:16] is fluoridated water.

[16:18] What happens when you remove fluoridated water.

[16:22] Two cities, three cities for Israel.

[16:25] Juneau, Alaska.

[16:27] Calgary, Alberta, Canada and Windsor, Ontario.

[16:30] Remove fluoride from your water fluoridation.

[16:33] In Calgary, they saw a huge, huge increase

[16:37] in cavities from 2011 when they stopped it to 2019

[16:41] when they reinstated it.

[16:43] The rises were so horrible that these kids

[16:47] had to go to the hospital for treatment

[16:49] under operating room with general anesthesia.

[16:51] The increases were skyrocketing.

[16:53] They've reimplemented it.

[16:55] It's going to go back down.

[16:57] Buffalo, New York, stopped in 2015, didn't tell anybody.

[17:01] They were going to move some equipment around.

[17:03] Investigative journalists found out about it in 2022.

[17:07] Revealed it.

[17:09] Class action lawsuit was brought against the city of Buffalo.

[17:12] I'm not threatening lawsuits.

[17:13] I'm just giving you facts.

[17:15] The city of Buffalo.

[17:17] The two attorneys brought a lawsuit, 1 over $160 million

[17:21] just settled.

[17:22] And that money was not for pocket money.

[17:24] That money was to go towards setting up clinics to treat

[17:27] the kids that had been harmed.

[17:29] That's all.

[17:30] That's what happens when you stop fluoridation.

[17:33] Your community saves over $600,000 in dental treatment

[17:37] costs by fluoridating water, $32 per person per

[17:42] person every year, taxable money that

[17:45] they get to spend in your city.

[17:46] They don't get taxed on the money when they

[17:48] go spending at the dentist.

[17:50] Lastly, let me also say that Dr. lopatto.

[17:54] The adipose excuse me is entitled to his own opinions,

[17:57] but not his own facts.

[17:59] He is 100% wrong in what he's saying.

[18:02] We have fantastic research from around the world

[18:04] where we know what people are taking

[18:06] in as far as fluoridated water.

[18:08] And there are no changes.

[18:10] The studies he's referring to they

[18:12] have no clue what the intakes are.

[18:14] They're just measuring it in urine from a biobank.

[18:17] And I can go into that much further if you'd like.

[18:19] All right.

[18:20] Thank you.

[18:20] Keep please keep fluoridation in your water.

[18:22]

[18:27] Dr. Wade Winkler.

[18:30] Please state your name and address for the record.

[18:33] And you have three minutes.

[18:36] Thank you.

[18:37] Good afternoon.

[18:38] I'm Dr. Wade Winker and I live at 728 Boylston

[18:42] Street in Leesburg, Florida.

[18:44] I commend the commissioners for considering

[18:47] this important preventive Healthcare Initiative.

[18:49] I rise in support of community water fluoridation for Tavares.

[18:54] I'm a Leesburg resident and practiced dentistry

[18:57] in Eustis for 29 years.

[18:59] My family resides in Leesburg, where

[19:01] community water fluoridation is scheduled

[19:04] to be reinstated early in 2025.

[19:08] The information I'm about to share with you

[19:11] is from the Center for Disease Control.

[19:13] Community water fluoridation has been identified

[19:16] as the most cost of excuse me.

[19:20] Effective method of delivering fluoride

[19:23] to all members of the community, regardless

[19:25] of age, educational attainment or income level.

[19:29] By preventing tooth decay, community water fluoridation

[19:33] has been shown to save money both for families

[19:35] and for the health care system.

[19:37] Too many of our residents.

[19:40] Too many of our residents present to our hospital

[19:43] emergency departments and urgent care clinics

[19:46] for treatment of dental related emergencies, which put an added

[19:50] strain on a health care system that is already

[19:52] overburdened and understaffed.

[19:55] Hospitals do not provide emergency

[19:58] dental care into various.

[20:00] The return on investment over would be over $26 million over

[20:05] 10 years based on a $75,000 a year annual maintenance cost

[20:11] that as Dr. Johnson just said, that's $30

[20:15] saved for every dollar spent.

[20:17]

[20:21] We can also prevent countless amount of pain, suffering, loss

[20:25] of productivity and improve quality of life.

[20:28] I support community water fluoridation for tavaris.

[20:31] This will be a tremendous health benefit for tavaris residents.

[20:35] Let's give our children a fighting chance for a lifetime

[20:38] of dental health.

[20:40] I leave you with a question.

[20:41] Will we allocate $3.75 per resident per year

[20:47] to protect them from dental decay.

[20:49] Or will we continue to allow our residents

[20:52] to spend an additional $2.6 million a year.

[20:58] In local dentists offices.

[21:01] A couple of points to what the surgeon general had to share.

[21:04] All of the reports that he cited where he's saying that there

[21:08] were adverse effect, we're well aware

[21:10] of that, which is why the recommended percentage

[21:13] is at 0.7 part per million.

[21:17] All of the reports that he references

[21:19] are where it's more than double that.

[21:23] And we know that there concerns when you start raising that you

[21:28] may not in the wrong concentration water

[21:31] can kill you hypokalemia.

[21:34] Look it up.

[21:34] People die from drinking too much water.

[21:37] Nothing in it.

[21:38] I rise in support of fluoridation.

[21:41] Thank you.

[21:44] Dr. Alan Hayes.

[21:45]

[21:48] We state your name and address for the record.

[21:52] Thank you, Mr Mayor, and good afternoon,

[21:54] commissioners and staff.

[21:56] It's good to see you all.

[21:58] I'm Alan Hayes.

[21:59] I practice dentistry in Umatilla for 27 years.

[22:03] I reside on B&B road in Umatilla.

[22:05] For the last 20 years, I've been an elected official in this

[22:08] state and one sort or another.

[22:10] I'm here today completely embarrassed by the four times

[22:14] that Surgeon General stated medical malpractice,

[22:18] public health malpractice.

[22:20] That is one big pile of baloney, pure garbage, to be very candid.

[22:27] And I would tell him that if he were sitting here or standing

[22:30] here today, I vehemently disagree

[22:33] with the characterization that the surgeon

[22:35] general of this great state has put

[22:37] on the wonderful addition of fluoride in the proper dosage

[22:44] to the drinking water.

[22:45] The residents of Tavares are currently

[22:48] blessed with that benefit.

[22:50] You have heard from two other dental professionals.

[22:54] You got to understand, folks, if we were in it for the money,

[22:57] we would say, please don't put fluoride in.

[23:00] It's going to be more money in the dentist pocket

[23:02] and less money in the.

[23:04] And it really doesn't have anything to do with money.

[23:06] It's about the health of those children and the adults

[23:10] that they're going to become to be maximally effective.

[23:15] The fluoride ion must be incorporated in the enamel rod

[23:19] as it's being formed in the jawbone of the infant

[23:23] and the youngster.

[23:25] It's most effective if it happens before the age of 16.

[23:29] He mentioned the application of topical fluoride gels

[23:33] and toothpaste and things that all of that is temporary.

[23:37] That's like your wife putting on some makeup in the morning

[23:42] and the first time she cries, it's

[23:44] going to run down the cheek.

[23:46] And if she doesn't cry all day long, she's going to take it off

[23:49] before she goes to bed at night.

[23:50] The superficial application of topical fluoride

[23:54] is advantageous, but it doesn't do anywhere near the benefit

[23:59] that the incorporation of this is in the formation

[24:03] of that enamel.

[24:04] It's just the best thing to do.

[24:08] If you want to do the right thing, you do nothing.

[24:12] Keep the fluoride in the water as you're doing already.

[24:15] Thank you.

[24:17] Thank you.

[24:17]

[24:20] Justin Harvey.

[24:21]

[24:25] Please state your name and address for the record.

[24:27]

[24:32] My name is Justin Harvey.

[24:34] I live at 103 South Osceola.

[24:35] Orlando 32801.

[24:38] I'm here to speak in full support of removing fluoride

[24:41] from the public's water supply.

[24:42] As you all have noted, the Florida surgeon general

[24:44] has advised all communities to halt the practice of water

[24:47] fluoridation and has called it public health malpractice

[24:50] to continue doing so.

[24:52] The incoming health and Human Services director, Robert F

[24:54] Kennedy jr. is going to oversee all major health

[24:57] agencies said on January 20.

[24:59] They're going to advise all US Water Systems to halt water

[25:02] fluoridation as it is quote, an industrial waste associated

[25:06] with arthritis, bone fractures, bone

[25:08] cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders

[25:12] and thyroid disease.

[25:14] So far, Collier County, Brooksville, Winter Haven

[25:16] and Stuart, Florida have all removed fluoride

[25:18] from the public's water supply, with many more communities,

[25:21] including yourself and Naples, talking about this today

[25:24] and in the coming weeks.

[25:25] Two other important factors to remember with this.

[25:27] We are indeed mass medicating the public

[25:30] without their informed consent.

[25:31] Since when did local officials get

[25:33] tasked with the responsibility of putting

[25:35] medicine in the water.

[25:36] Doesn't really make much sense, does it.

[25:38] We don't put antidepressants or statins in the water.

[25:40] Why are we adding fluoride to treat gum or teeth.

[25:44] This is a mass medication without informed consent.

[25:48] If you also remember RFK jr. called this an industrial waste.

[25:52] Well, he's right.

[25:52] This is not naturally occurring fluoride.

[25:55] It's from the groundwater.

[25:56] As many mainstream media news articles will

[25:58] quote that this is natural.

[25:59] This is hydrofluosilicic acid, something

[26:02] bought from a third party.

[26:04] It is from the phosphate and fertilizer

[26:05] industry, a substance that is so toxic that it

[26:08] can't be dumped anywhere.

[26:09] So they have found what they can do is sell it to municipalities

[26:12] and spread it very thin and put it in the water supply.

[26:15] As a fluoridating agent, there are no safety

[26:17] studies on this substance.

[26:18] It is so dangerous it will eat through steel,

[26:21] glass and concrete.

[26:22] A utility worker once told me they

[26:24] would prefer not to deal with it because it is so dangerous.

[26:26] They don't want the liability on their workers.

[26:29] So you can by ending fluoridation,

[26:31] you will not only save money, you will prevent your workers

[26:34] from dealing with this hazardous waste

[26:36] chemical, which why are we adding that to the water anyway.

[26:39] You will not be mass medicating the public anymore

[26:41] and we can get the neurotoxin out of the public's water supply

[26:44] that is posing this unreasonable risk that

[26:47] is cited from a federal judge.

[26:49] The individuals before me cite this as Dr. oladipo's opinion,

[26:52] but it is not it is clearly from a federal judge ruling

[26:56] that this is a neurotoxin, something that we have

[26:59] been stating for a decade now.

[27:01] And in case you're wondering how we're

[27:02] going to protect the public's teeth,

[27:04] people can supplement on their own.

[27:05] We've got data from fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities

[27:08] and there is no significant difference.

[27:10] Look at Portland, Oregon, who has never fluoridated.

[27:13] You can match that with other countries overseas.

[27:16] Most of the world does not fluoridate.

[27:18] It's actually America that is heavily

[27:19] fluoridated as 5% of the entire world fluoridated.

[27:23] In closing, I would just like to say Winter Springs

[27:25] and Castleberry have been fluoride free for decades,

[27:27] citing health concerns and informed consent.

[27:29] The public should have the right to choose

[27:31] what goes into their water.

[27:32] Let's end the practice today.

[27:34] Thank you very much.

[27:34] Thank you.

[27:35]

[27:37] Chad Cameron.

[27:38]

[27:43] Please state your name and address for the record.

[27:45]

[27:48] My name is Chad Cameron.

[27:50] I reside at 10:09 Second Avenue, Crescent City.

[27:55] Today I stand before you with a grave concern that

[27:57] should alarm each one of us.

[27:58] The presence of fluoride in our drinking water.

[28:00] This isn't merely a water treatment issue.

[28:04] It's a pressing public health crisis

[28:06] demanding immediate action.

[28:08] Fluoride has been classified as a neurotoxin, a substance that

[28:11] can harm our nervous system.

[28:13] Florida surgeon general.

[28:14] As we saw, said it's a public health

[28:16] malpractice to continue adding fluoride to the water

[28:19] systems in Florida.

[28:21] And he urged every community to ceasefire

[28:23] this practice immediately.

[28:24] Fluoride toxicity is well documented

[28:26] in the science is settled.

[28:28] The National toxicity program conducted

[28:30] a comprehensive review, culminating in a 2024 report.

[28:34] This report concluded that fluoride

[28:36] exposure from drinking water is associated

[28:38] with lower IQ in children.

[28:39] Furthermore, September 27, 2024, federal court

[28:44] has mandated that the EPA strengthen its regulations

[28:47] on fluoride, citing the current level possesses

[28:50] an unreasonable risk, particularly

[28:53] to infants and pregnant women.

[28:54] Toothpaste labels warn us to call poison control

[28:56] if a pea sized amount of if ingested,

[29:00] if a pea sized amount necessitates such caution, why

[29:04] is it in our drinking water.

[29:06] At least with toothpaste, people can choose,

[29:08] but with water they are denied this choice.

[29:09] And that's criminal.

[29:10] In my opinion, the stakes are immense, especially when

[29:13] children with their developing brains

[29:15] are highly susceptible to toxic substances.

[29:18] The consequence the health and future of our next generation.

[29:22] Why should we accept the deliberate addition of such

[29:24] a chemical in our water.

[29:26] Ethically, this is indefensible.

[29:28] We are being medicated, poisoned without our consent,

[29:32] a violation of our fundamental rights

[29:34] to choose what enters our body in a society that

[29:37] cherishes personal freedoms.

[29:39] How is this acceptable.

[29:40] This is not just about public health policy.

[29:43] It's a personal it's about personal autonomy and freedom.

[29:48] Let's also consider the environmental impact.

[29:50] The byproducts of fluoridation can

[29:52] leach into ecosystems, harming aquatic life and biodiversity.

[29:55] Moreover, the economic burden is significant.

[29:58] Maintaining these fluoridation systems is a waste of resources.

[30:01] How can you justify spending money to poison our community.

[30:04] The fact that I need to take time out of my day

[30:06] and come here and educate you on the dangers of a documented

[30:08] neurotoxin is beyond insane.

[30:11] If I could fire all of you, who would even consider supporting

[30:15] neurotoxins in drinking water.

[30:16] I would.

[30:17] In closing, let me reiterate the Surgeon General's words.

[30:20] It is public health malpractice to continue adding

[30:24] fluoride to our water systems.

[30:26] So I ask you, are you going to heed the advice

[30:27] of the Surgeon General.

[30:29] Will you continue to use taxpayer money

[30:31] to poison the community, or will you

[30:33] choose to protect the children.

[30:35] You have the power to change this.

[30:37] I will remind you, with great power

[30:38] comes great responsibility.

[30:40] You are responsible.

[30:41] All of you are responsible.

[30:43] You can either heal or harm.

[30:45] Please make the right choice.

[30:47] Thank you.

[30:48]

[30:51] Is there anyone else.

[30:52]

[30:55] OK, we will close public comment and the remainder

[30:59] will be comments from the council members.

[31:02] Who would like to start.

[31:04] Well, I thought we were going to hear from Mr Clark.

[31:08] The cost factor of this.

[31:10] Sure you're more than welcome to ask them Mr. Clark.

[31:15] What do you want, Sandy.

[31:16] I think it said that you were going to give us an update

[31:20] of how much it costs us.

[31:22] Yes so annually.

[31:27] The chemical itself is around $15,000, about $5 a gallon.

[31:32] OK, back up.

[31:33] Chemical that's the chemical alone.

[31:36] I have a cumulative cost.

[31:38] The water staff, with their sampling and their maintenance

[31:41] of the equipment and their drive time

[31:43] is around 4 to $5,000 a year.

[31:46] That's the water staff.

[31:48] The lab staff who do analysts and doubt

[31:51] prepare reports deal with the regulatory people.

[31:54] Their cost is around 3 to $5,000 a year.

[31:57] Equipment maintenance, which is pumps because it's

[32:00] very, very harsh stuff.

[32:02] So we have to replace the equipment

[32:04] and keep it up and maintain.

[32:05] That's around $5,000 a year.

[32:07] We do $1,000 a year on the poly tank

[32:12] depreciation because about every 12 years

[32:14] we have to buy a $15,000 tank.

[32:17] So add all that up.

[32:18] It's about $30,000 a year.

[32:20] Do we add anything else to our water.

[32:22] Chlorine?

[32:24] no, not chlorine.

[32:26] Yes, sir.

[32:28] OK because, I mean, if you were to ingest chlorine by itself,

[32:31] isn't that harmful.

[32:32] Yes, sir.

[32:33] OK I just.

[32:36] Concern because I went to my personal doctor

[32:39] yesterday for a checkup and which I'm good right now

[32:42] I don't know about after the meeting, but I'm good right now.

[32:45] And he educated me on some things as well.

[32:50] He's been doing physicals for athletics in various high school

[32:55] for many, many years.

[32:57] And his father before him.

[32:58] And he has noticed over a period of times

[33:02] that the students from Tavares itself versus the students

[33:08] from astatula or Bassfield park or somewhere else

[33:11] outside the city limits, that their teeth

[33:14] are stronger than the ones that are outside the city.

[33:17] So I'm like, OK.

[33:21] So what I'm hearing is also and somebody called me today

[33:25] and I don't know if they liked my answer

[33:28] because some of what was presented here today,

[33:31] on one side, if it's not.

[33:36] Taking care of and it's not monitored

[33:38] as far as the proper amount is.

[33:41] Where I understand the harm is where it's at.

[33:45] And if you do also and I pulled up,

[33:48] I don't know how many people like the eye,

[33:51] but I pulled up eye and I asked, how harmful is it if

[33:55] or is there any benefit.

[33:56] Because this one person said, well, kids don't drink

[33:58] water today like they used to.

[34:02] OK So a lot of little kids drink Kool-Aid.

[34:05] So if it's.

[34:06] If they drink Kool-Aid, does the fluoride still benefit them.

[34:10] And they said Yes.

[34:12] Even in the Kool-Aid.

[34:14] So with what I'm hearing today, you got one side that

[34:18] says it's not good for you.

[34:19] You got one side that says it is OK for you.

[34:22] And it's been operating since 95.

[34:25] That's 29 years that we've been in operation going on right

[34:29] at 30 close.

[34:30] And we haven't had that much of a case.

[34:33] And the thing about.

[34:37] Every time something like this comes up, it's cancer related.

[34:41] Cancer this cancer that.

[34:43] Well, you might want to stop breathing

[34:45] the air you're breathing now because you

[34:46] may get cancer from that.

[34:48]

[34:50] But the thing is it beneficial for our children.

[34:55] Yes, it is.

[34:58] As long as it's in the proper amounts

[35:01] and as long as we're monitoring that, I got no problem with it.

[35:07] So, Mr Clark, can you explain how

[35:11] much fluoride we have in our water and how that's taken

[35:15] care of.

[35:16] Yes so naturally we have about 0.07 part per million

[35:22] naturally in the water.

[35:25] The EPA has recommended dosage of 0.7 to 1.3.

[35:30] Their maximum level is 2 to four.

[35:35] If you exceed two part per million,

[35:38] you have to report that to your residents.

[35:40] We've never exceeded two actually,

[35:43] we averaged 0.7, which is the lower

[35:46] end of the residual recommended for public use.

[35:51] So I'm looking at a year's worth of data

[35:54] and our largest residual was 0.72, which is in the lower

[35:59] end of the EPA regulation.

[36:02] OK we have never exceeded 0.73.

[36:07] So we're it's well regulated.

[36:10] We have a very constant water source.

[36:13] So the fluoride is very, very, very constant at about

[36:16] a 0.71 part per million.

[36:19] And we dose about that with chlorine,

[36:22] you may dose four parts per million to get two parts per

[36:25] million residual because it's eaten up by demand and it also

[36:28] dissipates, fluoride doesn't.

[36:30] So if you put 0.7 part per million of fluoride

[36:33] in it, the plant, you're going to get about that

[36:35] anywhere in your system as long as you're low proportion dosage.

[36:40] So very regulated on our dosage, very stringent.

[36:44] It's tested daily, it's tested in monthly in a certified lab.

[36:49] So I have a year's worth of data and

[36:52] we've never gone above 0.72 residual of fluoride

[36:56] in the water.

[36:57] And, I did my own research and by no means

[37:00] do I consider myself an expert at all.

[37:02] I have to rely on the information

[37:04] that I can receive from the experts that have spoken here.

[37:07] Our surgeon general and just have to make

[37:08] a decision based on that.

[37:10] And the things that I've seen is it

[37:12] seems like the studies say that the fluoride in too much

[37:18] quantity is not good for you.

[37:20] But as we're seeing here, the municipalities

[37:23] are able to regulate that, and that's beneficial

[37:27] to our underserved community.

[37:29] And I trust, what our utilities director has just said here,

[37:35] that we're dosing the proper amount

[37:37] that needs to be served to help the individuals

[37:41] in our community.

[37:44] I know you brought this up in the year that I was off counsel

[37:52] and there was a discussion about bringing a workshop.

[37:54] And first of all, I'm sitting here thinking,

[37:55] why wasn't there an advertised workshop for this.

[37:57] It really is important.

[37:58] This is a safety and health issue.

[38:00] The money aside, it's a safety and health issue.

[38:03] And I wish instead of just coming here at City council

[38:06] meeting and having to respond back and forth as we

[38:10] see great responses on both sides

[38:15] of the aisle on this bad good.

[38:18] And there's bad and good.

[38:20] And you have we're sitting up here having now

[38:21] to make a decision by 5, 6 people coming up here

[38:25] and saying things where we could have had a workshop advertised

[38:28] workshop That could have gone over a few weeks, a few days

[38:32] to talk about this because I know you can't just well, let's

[38:35] do a test on this and take the fluoride out for a month

[38:38] and then see what happens I don't believe you can get

[38:40] a good test from that, especially

[38:43] since fluoride was put in there since 1995

[38:46] here in the city of Tavares.

[38:48] I wish that this is what we would have done.

[38:50] I'm still sitting here studying this

[38:52] and I've been studying this for the last

[38:53] since I got my agenda on Friday.

[38:56] So I'm sitting here doing this self-study on all the stuff

[38:58] and listening to people, but it's even on both sides.

[39:02] So I'm sitting here, what do I do.

[39:04] What decision I make.

[39:04] I see somebody come up.

[39:05] OK We'll take it out.

[39:07] See nobody.

[39:07] OK, we'll leave it in.

[39:09] I still want more data.

[39:12] I still want more information.

[39:13] I still want to hear more.

[39:14] I want workshops.

[39:15] I want.

[39:16] We have 23,000 people in the city of Tavares.

[39:18] I want to hear more advertised workshops

[39:21] to see these people come in here and see what they have to say.

[39:24] I really do.

[39:25] I think this is something that we just can't right here

[39:28] after this is my first time discussing this matter, to have

[39:32] a half a dozen people come up, not even to say Yay or nay

[39:36] on this and what we should do.

[39:37] I really think we should step back here.

[39:41] Step back.

[39:42] Let's set some advertise workshops.

[39:45] I'll even get people out there to come.

[39:48] And we need to discuss this as a community.

[39:51] As a community.

[39:53] We did this years ago when we wanted to have

[39:56] a direction for our town.

[39:57] Which way are we to go.

[39:58] How are we to develop.

[40:00] America's seaplane city was born from that.

[40:02] Now we're sitting here with a health and safety issue.

[40:04] And again, the money I'm putting that aside

[40:06] because it's a health and safety issue

[40:08] that we're discussing here.

[40:10] I say we need to bring in more people to discuss this.

[40:13] I really do, because I'm seeing Yay

[40:15] or nay on both sides of this.

[40:17] I see one person.

[40:18] OK I think maybe we'll take it out.

[40:21] Let's see the next person.

[40:22] Maybe we should leave it in.

[40:23] That's my view at this moment, as I sit here.

[40:27]

[40:30] Vice mayor.

[40:31] OK well, I'm.

[40:35] I'm not really interested in a workshop.

[40:37] This is.

[40:38] It's kind of something medical related to me,

[40:42] and I just don't want to have a workshop.

[40:44] I don't mind putting it off and.

[40:46] And at the next meeting and having a vote and giving

[40:50] me time, because I'm.

[40:52] I'm a little disturbed with what I've heard here tonight.

[40:55] I've heard that it's good.

[40:58] It's good.

[40:59] And then I've heard it's bad.

[41:00] It's bad.

[41:00] And both of them were very I believe both of them.

[41:06] So I'm confused with that.

[41:08] But then the next thing is I have a council member telling me

[41:11] that the guy doing the sports physical is also doing a dental.

[41:16] When do they do dental checkups for a sports physical.

[41:19] I mean, I don't really believe that.

[41:21] And then the water with the.

[41:24] Yeah, but I don't ever remember them.

[41:26] They never looked in my son's mouth

[41:27] when we were doing a sports physical they

[41:30] weren't looking at his teeth.

[41:31] But anyway and then the thing about you

[41:34] mix it with the Kool-Aid because nobody drinks

[41:36] water, which is true.

[41:38] So the fluoride is still in there with the Kool-Aid.

[41:42] It's still water, but yet my doctor

[41:46] tells me to drink more water.

[41:47] And I say, well, I drink tea all day

[41:49] and no, that's not the same thing as water.

[41:52] Or beer.

[41:54] Beer is a lot of water in.

[41:56] But yet they say no, you can't count that,

[41:58] but yet you can count Kool-Aid for fluoride.

[42:01] So I'm confused with that one too.

[42:03] And I know Councilmember gamble, you got your information

[42:07] from wherever, and I just need a little time

[42:09] to get my own information.

[42:11] So I would like to bring this back at the very

[42:14] next council meeting.

[42:16] And as council member Grenier, I just

[42:20] got this information on Friday.

[42:22] It was on the agenda.

[42:23] I'm going to be honest, I didn't look at my agenda

[42:26] until probably Monday, and I saw it on there.

[42:28] And I didn't really think much of it.

[42:30] I really didn't understand why we

[42:32] were bringing it back up because I have failed to watch the news.

[42:36] I did hear RFK jr. just saying that he'd

[42:41] like to take the fluoride out.

[42:43] I didn't really understand why.

[42:46] That anyway, I'm kind of torn with this,

[42:50] and I believe both of y'all, but I wouldn't be doing I

[42:53] wouldn't be doing my job here if I just made a haphazard

[42:57] decision on what I want to do.

[42:59] So I think I want a little bit more information.

[43:02] And I really don't want a study from Australia that

[43:06] really didn't do much for me.

[43:07] I mean, I don't want to look at an Australian dental study

[43:11] that was given to me.

[43:12] So I think I want to get more information.

[43:15] I want real figures on what the fluoride, show me

[43:20] the different cities and you know fluoride so

[43:23] easy to come by they can for $1 they can

[43:25] get a gallon of fluoride water.

[43:27] If you're telling me that it's good,

[43:29] you really need this up till 16 years of age.

[43:31] Well, if they're not going to take their kid to the dentist,

[43:35] well, at least by the gallons or when they get their whatever,

[43:40] food assistance let them get their fluoride water,

[43:46] I think that's a way to still do it.

[43:47] But that's not fair to say.

[43:49] Let's take it out.

[43:50] So I really want to bring this back at our very next meeting

[43:54] that gives each of us two weeks to

[43:57] and I think the city can help us by finding.

[44:02] Some true reports and where we can compare to cities that

[44:07] do have and I know you all have mentioned that but you're here

[44:10] and you're on your side.

[44:12] So of course, if you want the fluoride,

[44:15] you're going to tell me a story about not a story.

[44:17] I don't mean it's not the truth, but you're going to tell me

[44:19] about how it is in this city.

[44:21] But I want to go out and do a generic little research myself

[44:25] and find out exactly what's going on.

[44:27] So that's where I'm going to leave it.

[44:29] So I'd like we're going to hear from you,

[44:32] Mr. price, but go ahead and then I'll make a motion.

[44:36] Well, I have here's my concerns with the fluoride issue.

[44:43] First off, in Lake County, we have 14 cities.

[44:47] And only three of them.

[44:49] Currently have fluoride in their water.

[44:52] That's Tavares, Eustis and Umatilla

[44:54] and Leesburg just voted a few months ago to incorporate

[45:00] fluoride into their water.

[45:02] So you're going to have four cities out of 14 in Lake County

[45:06] that have fluoride, which puts us in a minority amongst

[45:12] and we don't hear any complaints from Claremont or lady

[45:15] lake or Groveland or anywhere about teeth problems

[45:18] for kids because of it.

[45:22] I'm also concerned because a lot of kids these days,

[45:24] they don't drink water out of the tap.

[45:26] They're drinking sodas, they're drinking juices,

[45:29] they're drinking bottled water, all of which

[45:34] do have fluoride in them.

[45:35] But it's actually in my opinion, I'm not a doctor,

[45:39] but all the sugar in those sodas and juice

[45:42] is probably doing a lot of damage to their teeth as well.

[45:46] Our own utilities director just happened to say

[45:50] that it was a harsh chemical.

[45:52] I have been out to where we store the fluoride, where

[45:57] it goes into the water system.

[45:59] And you don't even have to get near it.

[46:02] And all the metal parts and things around it are corroding.

[46:06] They haven't been in contact.

[46:07] They've just been near it like within 10 feet,

[46:08] and they're corroding.

[46:10] It's a very corrosive chemical.

[46:14] And it's bad for if it's bad for metal,

[46:18] it's got to be bad for your body.

[46:21] So our surgeon general, this was his recommendation.

[46:25] He has called it a neurotoxin, that it

[46:28] affects people's intelligence, it affects the ADHD.

[46:32] It's bad for pregnant women and their babies.

[46:34]

[46:37] And not only are we drinking this in our water,

[46:40] but we're cooking with it and we're bathing in it.

[46:43] And every time we take a shower, all that fluoride is getting

[46:46] soaked into our skin as well.

[46:48] So we're getting a lot of fluoride exposure.

[46:51] And I think.

[46:54] We have a lot more seniors in Tarvaris than we do children.

[46:59] And it's been documented the damage to seniors

[47:03] in their brains from fluoride.

[47:06] And personally, I'd like to see us take it out.

[47:10] The phone calls and texts and emails

[47:12] that I've been getting, as you can imagine, have been numerous,

[47:15] and every one I've got has said, please take the fluoride out,

[47:18] please take the fluoride out.

[47:19] These are citizens of Tarvaris, so I'm

[47:22] on the side of removing it once and for all from Tarvaris, so.

[47:31] Well, I'd like to make a motion that we.

[47:35] Put this on the next agenda to vote on it.

[47:39] I second it.

[47:40] And because I think it's just irresponsible on this.

[47:45] Health and safety issue to just go over these four days.

[47:49] I want to next weeks.

[47:50] I really want to dig deep, deep because I

[47:52] think everybody's right.

[47:54] There's something about this that everybody

[47:56] is right about this issue and I know which way I'm leaning,

[48:01] but I still would prefer that.

[48:02] I think it's more responsible to let's take a couple more weeks.

[48:06] Let's study this.

[48:07] Let's do our research, and within two weeks

[48:09] we can make a decision and move forward with this.

[48:13] I to second it.

[48:14] OK council members, we have a motion and a second to.

[48:21] Table this issue until our next city council meeting.

[48:26] Is there any discussion on that motion.

[48:28] Yeah I'd just like to say I know that we brought this up

[48:31] four years ago and there was the talk

[48:33] of getting a workshop together.

[48:35] But yeah, this is not just something I want to make

[48:37] a knee jerk reaction to.

[48:40] We talk about all these studies.

[48:42] I mean, the studies that I see talk more about the benefits

[48:45] and it's been mentioned about the studies

[48:47] that say it's bad for us.

[48:49] I don't see those studies.

[48:50] So I would like to see the studies brought forward both for

[48:54] and against and give this council

[48:56] another two weeks to be able to study both sides.

[48:59] And that way we can make a more educated decision

[49:02] and do what's best for the majority of our residents.

[49:05] So I'm in support of bringing this back

[49:07] and voting on it in the next council meeting,

[49:10] and I would appreciate any information that you all

[49:14] have that you all want to send to us,

[49:16] that tells if you probably have more access to that than I do.

[49:22] So if you could send that on through the city

[49:25] and they can get it to all of us,

[49:26] I think that would be a big help to.

[49:29] My question is realistically at the next meeting,

[49:32] is that going to be feasible or should we

[49:34] wait till the meeting in January because of everything

[49:38] happening between now and Christmas.

[49:40] I think I'm good in two weeks because the next two weeks

[49:43] I'm not going to be doing anything.

[49:44] We're going to be going over Christmas and New year,

[49:46] so we might as well just watch fresh on our mind.

[49:49] I just as soon get it over with.

[49:50] That's my opinion.

[49:52] OK, so our motion is to table this until

[49:58] our next city council meeting, which

[50:00] would be December the 18th.

[50:02] Is that correct That is correct.

[50:04] OK all those in favor, signify by saying Aye.

[50:07] Aye All opposed.

[50:09] Aye OK.

[50:11] And one final comment for those of you

[50:13] who will be sending your studies and your links, send them to.

[50:20] USC Novak at Tavares, fl.gov.

[50:27] And if you didn't get that and didn't write it down,

[50:29] just go to our website and look for the clerk's email.

[50:34] You're going to email to the clerk of Tavares.

[50:39] Your information, your studies, your links,

[50:42] your views, your thoughts.

[50:44] The clerk will collect them and disseminate them to each council

[50:47] member and the council members will all

[50:50] be informed with the same information

[50:52] and can absorb the information that you submit to the clerk

[50:58] at two various.org.

[51:01] Thank you.

[51:02] And while it's fresh on our mind Councilmember gamble.

[51:06] Yeah our next meeting, New Year's day.

[51:09] We're not going to have a meeting,

[51:11] so we'd be pushing it all the way back to mid January.

[51:13] I'd rather get it over with while we're.

[51:15] That's what I was thinking, pushing it back to mid January

[51:18] where you have enough time to get all the details.

[51:20] Well, that's too much time for me to forget stuff.

[51:22] OK Yeah.

[51:23] The motion is already passed.

[51:26] OK OK, then we'll move on to the next agenda item.

[51:30] Thank you for everyone who came to speak.

[51:32] Appreciate it.

[51:34] I do have one question, if I may.

[51:37] OK can you go up to the podium and so we

[51:41] can get you on the record.

[51:43] If you look on the periodic table of elements

[51:46] in your chemistry lab, you'll see fluoride

[51:49] is just above chloride.

[51:54] Are you going to take chlorine out of the water next

[51:56] if you decide to take fluoride out.

[51:59] I guarantee you too much chlorine will kill you.

[52:02] Graveyard dead.

[52:03] Too much fluoride will kill you.

[52:06] Graveyard dead.

[52:07] But the proper amount will give you a lifetime of benefits.

[52:13] And there's where the real thing comes in.

[52:17] Your evidence right here of the proper dosage

[52:20] is what you really need.

[52:21] Thank you.

[52:22]

[52:27] All right.

[52:27] We'll move on to tab 4 to various public library happy

[52:32] and healthy holiday series.

[52:35] That's good.

[52:36] We've been talking about health.

[52:37] We're segue right into.

[52:38]

[52:44] Good evening, Mayor.

[52:46] Council, Mr Drury.

[52:48] Let's see.

[52:50] The Tiberias Public Library's happy and healthy holiday series

[52:54] returns for its second year for meditation and karaoke

[52:59] to cooking and budgeting.

[53:00] The Tavares public library team has curated a slate of programs

[53:05] designed to keep us all at our happiest

[53:07] and healthiest this holiday season.

[53:10] The series kicked off in November with programs

[53:13] on budgeting and cooking.

[53:15]

[53:19] And programs such as aroma therapy and Tai Chi

[53:22] are scheduled to take place to keep us at our healthiest.

[53:26] The offline project holiday edition meets Thursday,

[53:30] December, December 19.

[53:32] Patrons will turn in their digital devices,

[53:35] listen to holiday music, and spend time

[53:38] finishing their Christmas cards, working on puzzles or reading,

[53:42] all while listening to holiday music.

[53:45] And the graphics that you see with the red ribbon, those

[53:49] are the graphics that we're using

[53:51] to promote the series on the library's social media pages.

[53:54]

[53:57] The library offered Christmas karaoke last year

[54:00] and it was so much fun.

[54:01] We decided to bring it back for a second year.

[54:03]

[54:06] On Wednesday, December 18, Tori Harris

[54:09] will present a festive concert featuring traditional carols

[54:13] on the saxophone and delight your ears

[54:16] and your soul this winter solstice

[54:18] with violinist Isabelle Palmer.

[54:20]

[54:23] And patrons are welcome to take their photos by the winter

[54:26] themed backdrop and wrap their presents at the free gift

[54:30] wrapping station.

[54:31] All supplies provided.

[54:33]

[54:36] It is a December to remember at the Children's cookie decorating

[54:40] party and Santa's storytime.

[54:42]

[54:45] That's various public library is both

[54:47] an application site and a toy donation site for Toys for Tots.

[54:52] Between October and November, we signed up

[54:54] 349 individuals to receive toys from toys for Tots.

[55:00] We're also a donation site for the Tavares

[55:02] police charity drive.

[55:04]

[55:07] And national Thank you note day is December 26

[55:11] and we will have a Thank you letter writing station

[55:14] available for the entire week.

[55:16] All supplies provided except stamps.

[55:17]

[55:20] And the Tavares public library is happy and healthy.

[55:23] Holiday series was selected as a program model

[55:26] on the American Library Association's

[55:28] programming librarian blog.

[55:31] This blog is a number one resource for library programming

[55:34] and meet Natalia.

[55:38] Natalia is a library operations specialist.

[55:40] She joined us this past August.

[55:43] In addition to her regular duties,

[55:45] she is putting together Christmas book bundles,

[55:48] and she is also managing the Thank you

[55:50] letter station outside of work.

[55:53] She enjoys writing and she's currently

[55:55] writing a book of poetry.

[55:56]

[55:59] So do you have houseguests visiting.

[56:01] If so, send them to the library.

[56:03] All programs and activities are free and open to the public.

[56:07] You only need a library card if you want to borrow something.

[56:12] And from our bookshelf to yours.

[56:14] Thank you.

[56:15] Happy reading.

[56:16] And have a very Merry Christmas.

[56:19] Thank you.

[56:20] Thank you.

[56:21] Merry Christmas to you.

[56:21] Lots of good programs.

[56:22]

[56:30] All right.

[56:30] Tavares recreation department fall program update.

[56:33]

[56:43] I was back there.

[56:44] Can you go ahead and handle the slideshow for me.

[56:47] All right.

[56:49] Mayor council members, Vice mayor, staff.

[56:53] Thanks for coming out tonight.

[56:55] Thank you, everybody.

[56:56] I'd just like to give you all an update on the great fall season

[56:59] that we just had and what we're looking

[57:01] forward to even better spring.

[57:04] It takes a whole team, and that means not just

[57:06] all out here in front of me.

[57:08] It takes a community as well.

[57:09] So all you back here in the back of the locker room and all

[57:12] out you out here watching that weren't

[57:14] able to make it here today.

[57:15] So let's go ahead and get started.

[57:17] I like to hit some of the high points from this past fall

[57:20] that we had.

[57:22] We had some great points.

[57:23] Some great things happen for us.

[57:25] We have some obstacles and some challenges,

[57:27] but we learned from those and go ahead and move forward.

[57:30] So with that being said, let me go out and get some of my tools

[57:34] out here.

[57:34]

[57:38] All right, let's see what we got here.

[57:39] All right, slide one.

[57:41] Slide 1, slide one.

[57:44] That's youth soccer.

[57:45] Youth soccer.

[57:46] We got here.

[57:47] So what we have here in youth soccer.

[57:49] So as you can see, we are out at the regional park.

[57:55] For some of y'all.

[57:56] That was the Golden Triangle shades.

[57:57] Now, the Golden Triangle regional park,

[57:59] we host soccer out there.

[58:00] If you notice, one of the things that nice green,

[58:03] luscious new sod out there.

[58:05] So we have two 45,000 square acres, 45,000 acres

[58:11] of brand new site out there.

[58:12] These kids are playing on.

[58:13] So in our fall season of soccer, they

[58:16] weren't getting dirt stains.

[58:17] They were getting grass stains.

[58:19] So sorry for all your parents out there.

[58:21] That's what you had to take care of.

[58:23] And those uniforms.

[58:24] So with for that fall season, we have

[58:27] future stars, age groups, 5 to six instructional,

[58:30] 7 to 8, juniors, 9 to 11.

[58:32] That brings us to a grand total of 119 participants.

[58:39] Don't mind my spelling.

[58:41] That's a program we're going to probably get on the slate

[58:43] in spring to help us all out.

[58:44] So that's 119 participants for our program,

[58:48] for our fall program.

[58:49] That's pretty excellent.

[58:50] There's a lot of other programs in soccer

[58:52] going on taking place throughout the Golden Triangle area.

[58:56] So we're pretty excited about that.

[58:58] And we look to build on that.

[59:01] All right.

[59:02] Slide 2 to slide two.

[59:03] That's art 92.

[59:05] Why slide two.

[59:07] All right, all right.

[59:09] Gamble all right, gamble.

[59:10] This is right in your wheelhouse.

[59:11] This is right in your wheelhouse, Babe Ruth

[59:14] so we had our fall season of Babe Ruth.

[59:16]

[59:18] All right, Babe Ruth.

[59:20] All right.

[59:21] We all know that.

[59:21] Babe Ruth, baseball and softball.

[59:24] So we had from ages 4 to 15, we had 14 baseball teams.

[59:31] All right.

[59:32] All the way up from 6 ball up to 15.

[59:34] You and we had four softball teams.

[59:38] Yes, you heard that right.

[59:39] We had four softball teams.

[59:42] So we usually always have a challenge

[59:44] of getting the softball teams to participate in our programs.

[59:47] We have four this year.

[59:48] That brings us to a grand total of 189

[59:52] participants for our fall.

[59:54] Babe Ruth.

[59:55] I think that was about a 5% to 7% increase.

[59:58] So we're doing a really fantastic job with our Babe Ruth

[1:00:01] programs, especially with all those Babe Ruth baseball

[1:00:04] softball programs going on around the other cities,

[1:00:07] travel ball and such.

[1:00:08] So we're looking forward to a very exciting spring.

[1:00:12] Again, if you look at those pictures,

[1:00:13] man, them fields are looking amazing.

[1:00:15] That's right there at our Woodley Sports Complex.

[1:00:17] And we also play some of our programs out

[1:00:19] of the Stover Sports Complex.

[1:00:22] Come right on in here, sweetie.

[1:00:23] Come on, grab a seat.

[1:00:25] You're a little late.

[1:00:25] Can we run some wind sprints after this.

[1:00:27] OK, sir.

[1:00:28] All right.

[1:00:30] All right, let's go to slide number 3.

[1:00:32] Slide number three.

[1:00:34] All right.

[1:00:34] We got our full steam ahead right here.

[1:00:37] We had some feast or famine smarts out here.

[1:00:39] That program.

[1:00:40] Full steam ahead.

[1:00:41] What does that stand for ask.

[1:00:43] We're a recreation department.

[1:00:46] We want we do treat the athletic inclined,

[1:00:49] but we want to treat everyone in the community.

[1:00:51] So S stands for Science.

[1:00:55] I'm not it might be a little bit nervous,

[1:00:57] so my writing might be a little bit off right here.

[1:01:00] So we got the ST is for technology.

[1:01:04] E is for engineering.

[1:01:06] I'm just going to scribble out like that.

[1:01:07] What that means.

[1:01:08] A is for art and M is for math.

[1:01:11] So six week program, one night a week, we had about 13 kids

[1:01:16] show up each night.

[1:01:17] They did a little something different that's

[1:01:19] related to one of these topics.

[1:01:21] So it was a little bit different for us

[1:01:22] because it wasn't just recreation or sports

[1:01:24] that we are all used to.

[1:01:25] It was going to grab a little bit of something

[1:01:27] different in the community, bring some of these other kids

[1:01:29] out that weren't maybe not interested in the athletics.

[1:01:32] That was a tremendous success.

[1:01:33] Second time we did that.

[1:01:35] So we're a super excited.

[1:01:37] Everyone's excited about that program

[1:01:38] and we're going to be we're very excited

[1:01:39] and we're bringing that back in the spring.

[1:01:41] So you let the grandchildren know it's coming.

[1:01:43]

[1:01:47] All right.

[1:01:48] We're going to move right on to slide number 4.

[1:01:50] Slide number four.

[1:01:51] That's our flip 92 point.

[1:01:52] Remember that.

[1:01:53] OK, slide number 4.

[1:01:55] All right.

[1:01:55] We got our home school programs.

[1:01:57] Now, these are our big hit because we

[1:01:59] do these during the day.

[1:02:01] So all our home homeschool kids, that's usually about 10

[1:02:04] o'clock AM, 11:00 AM during the day,

[1:02:06] we got our home schooled kids.

[1:02:07] We're looking for something educational

[1:02:09] to get out of the house.

[1:02:10] Well, we ran into a little issue with our aquatic invertebrates

[1:02:14] program, had a couple storms come through.

[1:02:17] So that one got canceled on us.

[1:02:18] But we hope to reschedule that one.

[1:02:21] Well, we did do is, hey, we're all the sea plane city.

[1:02:24] So we did we've been working with the Marina Thanks

[1:02:26] for Mr tweedie's the squad over there, they do a great job

[1:02:30] and we do an aviation program.

[1:02:32] That thing, as soon as we put that up for registration

[1:02:35] maxes out at 25, kids get a waiting list of 17 to 20.

[1:02:39] They want more of that aviation.

[1:02:41] So we bring them out there.

[1:02:42] Jones Brothers over there helps us out.

[1:02:44] They walk around with the pilot, pilot Eli.

[1:02:46] He's great.

[1:02:46] He gets up there and shows that kids in the cockpit there how he

[1:02:49] drives that plane around, lands it on the water

[1:02:51] takes off from the water and everything else.

[1:02:54] The kids and parents love that thing.

[1:02:56] So we also have done programs with the wastewater department.

[1:03:00] So clock.

[1:03:00] Your team there and they do great over there.

[1:03:02] The lab, we go over there and sometimes too,

[1:03:04] and it's a great team got over there.

[1:03:06] They do fantastic.

[1:03:07] So our homeschool programs, they're

[1:03:09] a big hit with all the kids.

[1:03:11] We usually do those about once a month

[1:03:12] and we're looking to pick those up and do even more of them.

[1:03:16] So those have been a fantastic hit and they want more of them

[1:03:20] because like I said, every time we

[1:03:22] put one up there with registration,

[1:03:23] there's a waiting list.

[1:03:25] All right.

[1:03:26] Moving right along.

[1:03:28] All right, we got Boo Fest.

[1:03:29] Boo fest.

[1:03:30] That's the next slide.

[1:03:31] Next slide is boo Boo Fest.

[1:03:32] All right this one live.

[1:03:34] Y'all, everyone knows this one.

[1:03:35] It's the Boo Fest.

[1:03:36] OK, so this one was important because we had.

[1:03:39] We had over here.

[1:03:41] Let me draw this up.

[1:03:43] This is a very important one.

[1:03:44] So we have Main Street right here.

[1:03:45] We had price right here dishing out the candy.

[1:03:48] You swing out over here into the event park section over here.

[1:03:53] Even more important, we had singer picking

[1:03:55] winners at the costume contest.

[1:03:57] So we appreciate y'all out here participating, helping

[1:04:00] us out with this big prize.

[1:04:02] Thousands descended to downtown Tavares with this boot fest

[1:04:06] once again.

[1:04:07] So we had a tremendous success.

[1:04:09] Lines everywhere.

[1:04:10] I don't know why they form a line.

[1:04:11] We told them, you don't have to form a line.

[1:04:13] It's just like a buffet style.

[1:04:14] But no matter what, they form a line.

[1:04:17] So we're still working on that, how we do that.

[1:04:19] But we had a great time.

[1:04:20] We moved everything from the square.

[1:04:22] We did it in a Wooten park.

[1:04:23] I think everyone loved the feel and loved the flow.

[1:04:26] Having everything condensed right down there.

[1:04:28] So it was an electric event.

[1:04:30] Fantastic, great weather.

[1:04:31] So we just continue to look forward to building on that

[1:04:34] and seeing what other things we can add to that.

[1:04:38] So we enjoy everyone coming down, down for that.

[1:04:41] All right.

[1:04:41] Next up next up.

[1:04:43] All right.

[1:04:43] We got this is a good one.

[1:04:45] Age 51 solid.

[1:04:46] You ready.

[1:04:47] Next slide.

[1:04:47] Age 51.

[1:04:48] Solid all right, this is our tiny tots.

[1:04:50] This is where it all starts.

[1:04:52] This is.

[1:04:52] This is the fundamentals.

[1:04:54] All right.

[1:04:55] How important the fundamentals they

[1:04:56] talk about the fundamentals in every sport.

[1:04:58] This is where it is.

[1:04:59] OK, tiny tots.

[1:05:00] All right.

[1:05:01] You got.

[1:05:02] Do they start out small.

[1:05:04] They start out small.

[1:05:06] What we want.

[1:05:07] We're trying to execute, get them up to the big leagues

[1:05:11] up here.

[1:05:12] So you got the fields up here.

[1:05:14] So we teach them down here.

[1:05:15] We want to get them up here to the youth soccer program.

[1:05:18] So what we do, we do these tiny tots start small programs.

[1:05:21] We got the 3 to five-year-Olds.

[1:05:23] We did two sessions, as you can see

[1:05:25] there, October, we did August 26 through August or September 30.

[1:05:28] Then we did October 7 through November 18,

[1:05:32] we had about 22 kids in session one and 22, 23 kids

[1:05:35] in session two.

[1:05:36] So that's once a week, every Monday night, 6 to 7.

[1:05:40] Again, look at that graph.

[1:05:41] It's shining.

[1:05:42] We don't spray paint it.

[1:05:43] It's like it comes like that.

[1:05:44] You go out there and look, it looks

[1:05:45] just like that in the picture.

[1:05:47] So once I say one night a week for six weeks last night,

[1:05:51] they do a little scrimmage.

[1:05:52] And as you can see there, we give them some pizza,

[1:05:54] have a nice little pizza party and some metals.

[1:05:56] Fantastic time.

[1:05:57] Next thing they're ready to move on up to the future stars

[1:06:00] program of our youth soccer.

[1:06:02] So that's the way it works.

[1:06:03] We kind get them ready, build those fundamentals,

[1:06:05] and they move on up.

[1:06:06] All right.

[1:06:07] So moving on around, are we going to talk

[1:06:09] about some more fundamentals.

[1:06:10] We can move on to the next slide along the same lines

[1:06:12] as we had a little sluggers program.

[1:06:14] So that's where your baseball and softball comes in,

[1:06:17] your fundamentals.

[1:06:18] It's the same idea here.

[1:06:19] We got our kids one night a week,

[1:06:21] little sluggers, 3 to five years old.

[1:06:23] They meet out at Woodley 6 to 7:00 PM on Monday nights for six

[1:06:27] weeks, teaching the basics and fundamentals

[1:06:30] max out that program.

[1:06:31] 25 kids for each of those programs.

[1:06:33] We're looking to figure out how we can do.

[1:06:35] If we do a session, maybe we can do a Monday

[1:06:37] night and a Wednesday night.

[1:06:38] So we can maximize maybe even more kids out of those programs.

[1:06:43] All right, let's move right along.

[1:06:46] Yeah This is early.

[1:06:47] 42 or early 42 arc.

[1:06:50] All right.

[1:06:50] We're going to go into a TLC of cooks.

[1:06:53] All right.

[1:06:54] This is very important.

[1:06:56] Now, as as a team, we've got to work together.

[1:06:59] So we have a staff of only so many folks.

[1:07:02] So you got to have build what we call relationships.

[1:07:06] We build relationships.

[1:07:09] So we have WREC over here, we have TLC over here.

[1:07:13] So we build our programs and TLC, our programs,

[1:07:17] and then we join forces.

[1:07:19] That's how it works.

[1:07:20] You work together, relationships and what that creates.

[1:07:22] So we can do here and here.

[1:07:25] So then we generate even more programming for the community

[1:07:29] if we build relationships with other organizations

[1:07:32] within our area.

[1:07:33] So TLC, toddlers of Lake County is a perfect example of how we

[1:07:36] build a relationship with them.

[1:07:37] And out of the Civic Center, they've

[1:07:39] been doing a kinder cooks program

[1:07:40] with young kids and toddlers where they

[1:07:42] come in with their parents.

[1:07:44] They learn basic skills of cooking.

[1:07:46] So the kids come in, they mix the ingredients,

[1:07:49] the basic stuff.

[1:07:50] Now we don't let them get into the ovens and the stoves

[1:07:52] and the stuff like that because we don't

[1:07:53] know what's going to happen.

[1:07:54] That's for the adults.

[1:07:57] But they come in there, they learn

[1:07:58] how to mix the ingredients, put them

[1:08:00] together, cook up some meals and with their parents.

[1:08:03] And then the very last day of the month,

[1:08:05] they actually be able to serve it to one

[1:08:08] of their parents or guardians.

[1:08:09] They come in and have a little like a little banquet

[1:08:11] where they come out, take a menu.

[1:08:13] They come out and take down their order,

[1:08:16] fix it up, bring it out and serve it.

[1:08:18] So we do that with them.

[1:08:19] One, they do it one day a week for a month.

[1:08:22] And kinder cooks program has been they've been loving it.

[1:08:26] And we're looking to do more with the toddlers of Lake County

[1:08:29] also.

[1:08:29] So that's one of an idea of a relationship

[1:08:31] that helps us expand our inventory of programs.

[1:08:34]

[1:08:37] All right.

[1:08:38] Let's go ahead and move on along to our next one.

[1:08:42]

[1:08:45] Again we're talking about.

[1:08:48] Our senior programs.

[1:08:49]

[1:08:52] OK, so we got our senior series.

[1:08:55] So this.

[1:08:57] So we used to do Tuesdays.

[1:09:00] Tuesdays we used to do Tuesdays 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.

[1:09:04] So what we decided to do to maximize our participation,

[1:09:09] we found out checking schedules around the area

[1:09:12] that Tuesdays from 1 to 3 seems like to be

[1:09:14] very busy activity for seniors.

[1:09:17] So we went ahead and said what, let's go ahead

[1:09:19] and move those programs from an October for one to three PM.

[1:09:24] Once we did that in October, we found

[1:09:25] we got a little bit of an increase in our senior programs

[1:09:28] for our senior series.

[1:09:29] So in October, we started doing our senior series

[1:09:32] every Monday from 1:00 to 3.

[1:09:33] Now one Monday will be bingo, another Monday

[1:09:37] be karaoke and dancing.

[1:09:38] Another Monday is chair yoga and another Monday is

[1:09:41] line dancing, arts and crafts.

[1:09:42] So we average about 18 to 19 seniors

[1:09:46] every time we do one of these programs.

[1:09:48] So it's been going off great.

[1:09:49] And then in January, we're looking to mix it up and refresh

[1:09:52] it and we'll start adding in a little bit more,

[1:09:54] a little bit some new stuff in there.

[1:09:56] Keep them active, entertained and socializing.

[1:10:00] Now take a hike.

[1:10:03] I don't know.

[1:10:04] I try to keep up to take a hike, folks.

[1:10:06] It's pretty tough.

[1:10:08] They meet at Wooten park.

[1:10:10] So you got Wooten.

[1:10:10] They go down here.

[1:10:12] Wooten park.

[1:10:13] We also ought to call.

[1:10:14]

[1:10:17] Pontoon promenade.

[1:10:19] We start teaching them that language.

[1:10:21] They beat their.

[1:10:22] They walk all the way over to Ingraham center.

[1:10:26] Sit down.

[1:10:27] We do some puzzles, suduko.

[1:10:29] Don't if you've ever done those.

[1:10:30] Those are tough.

[1:10:30] I'm almost going.

[1:10:31] Give me an easy one.

[1:10:32] They do that suduko puzzle chat.

[1:10:35] We talk about some health and health and wellness issues

[1:10:37] for the senior community.

[1:10:39] After about 15 or 20 minutes, turn around,

[1:10:42] walk back to Wooten.

[1:10:43] We started off about five or six seniors.

[1:10:46] We're up to about 15 or 16.

[1:10:47] Now that participate, and we're looking

[1:10:49] to continue to build that up.

[1:10:51] So that's going to take a hike program

[1:10:53] in a good way, not a bad way.

[1:10:54]

[1:10:58] All right.

[1:11:00] We're moving right along.

[1:11:01] Slide number 10.

[1:11:02] Slide number 10.

[1:11:04] All right.

[1:11:04] This is another one.

[1:11:05] OK how can we maximize our program inventory.

[1:11:10] Again, would be very important if anybody's watching out

[1:11:13] of the recreation staff that we do

[1:11:15] a writing and spelling program.

[1:11:18] Here we go.

[1:11:19] So, Orlando club sport, there are sports social organization

[1:11:23] out of Orlando.

[1:11:24] We started talking with them not too long ago about expanding

[1:11:27] their inventory of sport.

[1:11:29] Adult sports programs out into this area.

[1:11:32] Help us out because we're a lean, mean fighting

[1:11:35] machine Mr. Drury that's what you always say.

[1:11:38] We take that to heart.

[1:11:39] So, hey, how can they come in and help us and support

[1:11:42] us with some adult programs.

[1:11:44] So they've been very successful doing some kickball programs out

[1:11:47] here for us.

[1:11:48] And they just kicked off an adult softball coed program.

[1:11:52] They had about, I think, five teams for the first time.

[1:11:55] That's pretty good.

[1:11:57] So they just did that in the middle of that,

[1:11:59] wrapping that up soon and we're getting

[1:12:01] ready to meet with them again and start

[1:12:02] looking at doing some adult flag football

[1:12:04] and some more adult kickball.

[1:12:05] So they've been doing very great,

[1:12:08] talked to some of the participants there.

[1:12:10] They've loved it.

[1:12:10] They said it's run great, organized

[1:12:12] and everything like that.

[1:12:13] So we're very happy about that relationship

[1:12:15] and continue to take small steps with them

[1:12:18] and build on that and doing it the right way.

[1:12:22] All right.

[1:12:23] I'm so excited you guys taking the time here.

[1:12:26] I know it's been a long season and we're ready to get some time

[1:12:29] off and stuff like that.

[1:12:31] Just really to recap, we got some great stuff.

[1:12:34] We know we had a great fall.

[1:12:35] We learned from it.

[1:12:36] We had some challenges and obstacles.

[1:12:37] Like I said before, coming up, we have

[1:12:39] some great stuff coming up.

[1:12:40] The spring.

[1:12:41] We got our spring, Babe Ruth, that's our big season

[1:12:43] going into all stars.

[1:12:45] We got our star smart programs.

[1:12:47] I mentioned the tiny tots and little sluggers.

[1:12:50] We got homeschool programs, full steam heads coming back.

[1:12:54] We're going to do adult flag football programs.

[1:12:56] Don't worry, Mr gunner.

[1:12:58] We're going to be doing some historical programs,

[1:13:00] so we'll get you.

[1:13:02] You go in there and go to your historical Research Center,

[1:13:04] make sure you're all readied up for that, because it's going

[1:13:07] to be we're going to be putting the ball in your hand soon, sir.

[1:13:10] So you better be ready for that.

[1:13:12] So we have all kinds of great things coming

[1:13:14] down the pipe for everyone.

[1:13:15] And again, we Thank everyone for being a part of our programs,

[1:13:19] supporting the rec department and everything you do,

[1:13:21] the community.

[1:13:21] We appreciate everything you everyone does.

[1:13:24] And I think that's all I have for now.

[1:13:27] Or remember, we in the offseason stay healthy and safe

[1:13:31] and we'll see you back in the spring.

[1:13:33] All right.

[1:13:34] There you go.

[1:13:34] Thank you.

[1:13:35] Very good.

[1:13:36]

[1:13:39] All right.

[1:13:40] I think I'm going to skip the tab 6

[1:13:43] and then come back to New business and old business.

[1:13:46] So tab six update on rails to trails project public works.

[1:13:50]

[1:13:53] Thank you, Mayor.

[1:13:54] As some of in January 2023, we received unexpected news

[1:13:58] from CSX regarding their decision not

[1:14:00] to sell the 11.5 mile corridor.

[1:14:02] As a result, Lake County, Mount Dora and city of Tavares

[1:14:05] agreed to pause and in grant applications

[1:14:07] until CSX reached a definitive conclusion.

[1:14:10] During this interim period, the unwavering commitment

[1:14:12] of Lake County, Mount Dora and the city of Tavares

[1:14:15] has been vital in keeping this initiative alive.

[1:14:18] Our collaboration efforts have led to successful completion

[1:14:21] of the planning, development and environmental study

[1:14:24] for segment 5, which has been finalized in August 2024.

[1:14:28] Furthermore, the lake Sumter Metropolitan planning

[1:14:31] organization has included both segments of the trail

[1:14:34] in their 2024 list of priority projects,

[1:14:37] reinforcing our projects, progress and potential

[1:14:40] for future success I am also pleased to announce that we have

[1:14:44] received confirmation from the Trust for Public Land, which is

[1:14:47] a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving

[1:14:50] public access to outdoor recreation,

[1:14:52] has confirmed that CSX and Florida Central Railroad has

[1:14:57] expressed their willingness to sell the corridor

[1:14:59] and associated lands.

[1:15:01] At the upcoming meeting on the 18th trust for Public Land,

[1:15:05] along with city staff, will present

[1:15:07] the memorandum of agreement for the council's consideration.

[1:15:10] This agreement will clearly outline the roles

[1:15:12] and responsibilities of all parties

[1:15:14] involved developing the corridor as a Rails to trails project.

[1:15:19] This recent development has strategically

[1:15:21] positioned us to apply for the 2025 race grant.

[1:15:25] In this response to this positive progression,

[1:15:28] Lake County, Mount Dora and Tavares

[1:15:31] have developed a comprehensive scope of work

[1:15:33] with kimley-horn to assist in preparing and submitting

[1:15:37] this year's application and ready to initiate their task

[1:15:40] order.

[1:15:42] If council has no objections to pursuing this year's raise

[1:15:44] grant application.

[1:15:46] Taking advantage of this opportunity will require

[1:15:48] a total investment of $36,000.

[1:15:51] This amount will be shared equally among Lake County,

[1:15:54] Mount Dora and city of Tavares, with each

[1:15:57] entity contributing $12,000.

[1:16:00] The city's proportionate share of $12,000 is budgeted

[1:16:03] and will come from the Department of Public

[1:16:04] works engineering budget.

[1:16:06] Back to you, Mayor.

[1:16:07] And just one thing.

[1:16:08] The grant we're going after is a $25 million

[1:16:12] raise grant to get that trail from downtown

[1:16:15] to various to downtown Mount Dora completed.

[1:16:19] We're very excited.

[1:16:21] I know if Mr Singer wants to add anything.

[1:16:23] He's been in a lot of our meetings.

[1:16:24] In fact, we just had a meeting today on our horizon team.

[1:16:28] Do you want to add anything.

[1:16:29] No I just want to say it's been a pleasure

[1:16:31] to serve on this horizon team for the past several years.

[1:16:33] And I know we hit a little bit of a roadblock a few years back

[1:16:38] when CSX was not willing to relinquish the property.

[1:16:43] But now it's great news understanding

[1:16:45] that they're willing to partner with us, do this project.

[1:16:51] And, this is just going to be a huge thing

[1:16:53] for the city of Tavares.

[1:16:55] And not only the city of Tavares, but the County

[1:16:57] and the YMCA as well.

[1:16:59] So really excited about this project.

[1:17:01] And I know it's been a little while coming.

[1:17:05] Thank you, Mr Dillon, for all your work behind the scenes

[1:17:07] and getting this project continuing to roll forward.

[1:17:10] And I'm fully support of this and it's

[1:17:12] just going to be it's going to be great for our community.

[1:17:14] It's going to be a huge economic driver

[1:17:16] and just can't wait for this project to come to fruition.

[1:17:20] That's all I have.

[1:17:21] Mayor, Thank you.

[1:17:23] Thank you, Jean.

[1:17:24] Thank you, Mr Dillon.

[1:17:25] That's great news.

[1:17:27] OK council.

[1:17:28] Is there any new business.

[1:17:29]

[1:17:32] Do we have any old business we need to bring up.

[1:17:37] All right.

[1:17:38] Just one.

[1:17:39] James the cemetery gate.

[1:17:41] What's the update on our gate.

[1:17:43] Something happened Yes, it was damaged during Hurricane.

[1:17:47] We do have a contractor lined up,

[1:17:48] and the repairs should be completed

[1:17:50] by the end of next week.

[1:17:51] OK, great question.

[1:17:52]

[1:17:55] Any other old business.

[1:17:57] All right, audience to be heard.

[1:17:59] Is anyone in the audience that wants

[1:18:01] to come up and say anything.

[1:18:02] OK come on up Mr. Santoro, state your name

[1:18:04] and address for the record.

[1:18:05]

[1:18:09] Speak softly.

[1:18:11] Mayor members of council Mr. Drury.

[1:18:13] City staff.

[1:18:13] Miss Holt. Gary Santoro, Royal Harbor.

[1:18:16] I don't have a dog in a fight on the floor.

[1:18:18] I really don't.

[1:18:19] But let me tell you something.

[1:18:20] His report tonight was spot on.

[1:18:22] He was able to give you the information that you needed.

[1:18:25] Any chemical is bad for you if you

[1:18:27] don't follow the manufacturer's instructions.

[1:18:29] It is a corrosive.

[1:18:30] I know that from being in the fire service,

[1:18:32] these guys know it too.

[1:18:33] But if you don't use it correctly, Yes, it is harmful.

[1:18:37] But Mr Clark, Thank you for your information.

[1:18:39] It was very informative to be able to give them exactly

[1:18:42] what the staff is doing.

[1:18:43] Thank you very much.

[1:18:44]

[1:18:47] Anyone else.

[1:18:48]

[1:18:50] OK we'll close public comment.

[1:18:55] City administrator report.

[1:18:57] I just want to highlight that the next two meetings

[1:18:59] for the city council are December the 18th

[1:19:03] and then January the 15th and no meeting

[1:19:08] on the first Wednesday of.

[1:19:12] January that's it for me.

[1:19:15] There's no bag.

[1:19:17] Nothing Thank you, Mayor.

[1:19:19] You're not Sarah.

[1:19:22] OK, sweetie.

[1:19:25] Thank you, Mr Dylan.

[1:19:26] Nothing to report today.

[1:19:27] Thank you, Mr Clark.

[1:19:28]

[1:19:32] Thank you, Mayor.

[1:19:33] Thank you, Gary.

[1:19:35] All the information that I spewed tonight

[1:19:37] was given to me by my staff.

[1:19:39] So they did a great job of making me look like I

[1:19:42] know what I'm talking about.

[1:19:44] So thank you.

[1:19:45] Thank you Mr. O'Keefe.

[1:19:47]

[1:19:50] Captain Yes.

[1:19:52] Thank you, Mayor.

[1:19:53] Council, Mr Drury.

[1:19:54] Department directors.

[1:19:56] I am not Richard Keith, the fire chief.

[1:19:59] He had to step out today, so I stepped in for him.

[1:20:03] We wanted to give you a little update of what

[1:20:04] is going on in the Prevention Department

[1:20:06] with Tavares fire department.

[1:20:08] Lee, will you go ahead and stand for me.

[1:20:10] So after you this year's budget, we increased a little staffing

[1:20:16] in the Prevention Department.

[1:20:17] As we've grown as a city, time on task has grown a little bit,

[1:20:21] so I needed a little bit of help there.

[1:20:23] We have decided and hired Lee Chaney, new employee,

[1:20:27] started on December 2, and he's very excited to be here.

[1:20:32] He's with me now.

[1:20:33] He's cross training a little bit.

[1:20:34] We're getting out into the city and I'll

[1:20:35] give you a little bit of information

[1:20:36] about his background.

[1:20:38] Lee started in the fire service as an Explorer at the age of 14

[1:20:43] with the town of Allenstown fire department.

[1:20:45] In 1997, New Hampshire, Lee worked

[1:20:49] as a full time fire Lieutenant and EMT

[1:20:51] with Allenstown department.

[1:20:53] From 2004 to 2010.

[1:20:56] He moved to Florida in 2018 from New Hampshire, worked

[1:20:59] for Orange County Public schools as a fire inspector

[1:21:02] from 2022 to 2024.

[1:21:04] He's currently certified as a fire inspector to.

[1:21:08] With the state of Florida, and he's

[1:21:09] currently working on his fire investigator license, too.

[1:21:12] Lee is excited to be here and just wanted to welcome

[1:21:14] him to the Tavares family.

[1:21:16] Thank you.

[1:21:17]

[1:21:22] Welcome Mr Aldrich, welcome in.

[1:21:27] Lee, just a quick reminder, this coming Saturday

[1:21:31] is our tavaris Candyland Christmas

[1:21:33] parade and celebration.

[1:21:34] The parade starts at 5:00 down Ruby street and Main Street,

[1:21:38] followed by the festivities in the park

[1:21:40] afterwards with ice skating, music,

[1:21:42] and all kinds of activities.

[1:21:43] So hope to see you there.

[1:21:45] Thank you.

[1:21:45] OK Thank you, Ms. Thank you, Mayor.

[1:21:49] I have no business tonight, but I do want to say

[1:21:51] welcome aboard to Mr Cheney.

[1:21:54] Proud to have you on our team.

[1:21:56] Thanks, Mr Faber.

[1:22:01] I have nothing to report.

[1:22:03] Welcome aboard.

[1:22:04] We already met already in one of our pre-application meetings.

[1:22:08] So you already have a little taste of Tiberius.

[1:22:11] All right, Mrs. Holt. Thank you, Mayor.

[1:22:13] No report.

[1:22:15] Vice mayor.

[1:22:18] I wanted to ask y'all.

[1:22:20] We've got some projects going on,

[1:22:23] some really good projects such as the regional park

[1:22:26] and the rails to trails project.

[1:22:28] And years ago, we had a lobbying firm that we used.

[1:22:34] But the stars weren't quite aligned for us

[1:22:37] because just the difference of a Republican governor,

[1:22:41] maybe in a Democratic president, I mean,

[1:22:43] that does make a difference.

[1:22:45] It does.

[1:22:46] And right now things are aligned very well.

[1:22:49] So my thoughts are, could we entertain,

[1:22:53] put it on the agenda for the next meeting.

[1:22:56] To talk about hiring a lobbying firm because that they get

[1:23:02] one grant for us and they're paid for plus

[1:23:07] and I think things are lined up right now perfectly.

[1:23:12] So would y'all be willing to entertain this.

[1:23:14] Can we.

[1:23:14] But it's on the agenda next time and discuss this

[1:23:19] about a lobbying firm because we're

[1:23:20] going to need more money than what

[1:23:21] we've got for these projects.

[1:23:23] Well, I think with the $25 million raise rent

[1:23:25] that we're looking at and I just I think we're so close.

[1:23:29] I know we've applied for that a couple of times.

[1:23:32] And I just think, we're almost over the finish line.

[1:23:35] And I think a lobbying firm would

[1:23:37] definitely help us possibly get over that last hurdle.

[1:23:41] And $25 million, I think the investment

[1:23:44] would be well worth it.

[1:23:45] So I'd be fully in support of putting that on our next agenda.

[1:23:49] OK Yeah, because those are just two big projects that we

[1:23:52] need to move forward with.

[1:23:54] I mean, once the property and everything comes through,

[1:23:57] we've got to move on those.

[1:23:59] So OK.

[1:24:00] And the regional parks going to need money

[1:24:02] and just this is the perfect opportunity with the way things

[1:24:06] are set up as far as in the legislature

[1:24:10] and through the state and through the federal government.

[1:24:12] I think it's a perfect time for us to do this.

[1:24:15] OK I don't see any objection from the council.

[1:24:17] So Mr Drury, can you put that on the agenda.

[1:24:20] We'll do OK.

[1:24:22] Councilman that was all, by the way.

[1:24:25] That was all other than.

[1:24:27] Hi, Mr Cheney.

[1:24:29] Welcome no, no report today.

[1:24:32] Great job, Steve.

[1:24:33] Thank you.

[1:24:35] Councilman singer.

[1:24:36] Welcome, Mr Cheney.

[1:24:37] Glad to have you on board.

[1:24:38] Thank you for your service.

[1:24:40] Looking forward to this year's Christmas parade.

[1:24:43] Always a good time.

[1:24:45] Miss Clark, I think I might be riding with you so excited

[1:24:48] about that.

[1:24:49] I know we had a good time last year, so it's

[1:24:52] a great event seeing all the families

[1:24:54] and the community come out.

[1:24:56] So I'm really excited about that.

[1:24:58] And one thing I just Mr. Tweedy, I

[1:25:00] think we have our new boardwalk set up

[1:25:05] and that's fully completed.

[1:25:06] Is that my understanding.

[1:25:08] Yes, sir.

[1:25:09] Yes the trail bypass around the seaplane base

[1:25:12] is now fully complete.

[1:25:14] We have our final walk through tomorrow with the contractors

[1:25:17] and engineers.

[1:25:18] Just a few punch list items to complete in the next few weeks.

[1:25:21] But it is open and being used and it

[1:25:24] seems to be well received.

[1:25:26] Great new safety feature for sure.

[1:25:29] Thank you for all you did to get that up and running.

[1:25:31] Really appreciate it.

[1:25:32] Thank you for all your support.

[1:25:36] That's all I have, Mayor.

[1:25:37] OK Thank you.

[1:25:38] I forgot something because y'all rush me.

[1:25:42] Well Well, I was doing business and didn't get to talk.

[1:25:45] I just wanted to make sure that you.

[1:25:48] We have some of our mayor's Youth Council here tonight.

[1:25:52] I just wanted to recognize them.

[1:25:55] Yeah good seeing y'all here tonight.

[1:25:57] Yes Thank you for coming.

[1:25:59] And they've picked their.

[1:26:01] You all have picked your departments.

[1:26:03] Two departments that you'll be touring

[1:26:06] over the next couple of weeks.

[1:26:07] So thank you for doing that.

[1:26:10] They'll be paired up with two departments

[1:26:13] that they've picked over the next couple of weeks.

[1:26:17] Nice good.

[1:26:19] And we're going to get that information of what

[1:26:22] each of our candidates picked and what they did.

[1:26:26] Yes Yep.

[1:26:26] You'll get an email that when they did it,

[1:26:29] what department they picked and what they got from it.

[1:26:32] Good Thank you.

[1:26:34] Great Thank you.

[1:26:35] Councilmember gamble.

[1:26:37] Welcome aboard.

[1:26:39] And that's all I got.

[1:26:41] That was quick.

[1:26:43] OK, well, too, want to welcome our new inspector

[1:26:48] on board there.

[1:26:51] My son's a firefighter.

[1:26:53] Captain right up, Captain.

[1:26:55] So I'm very sensitive to all you guys, so congratulations.

[1:27:01] I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving,

[1:27:03] and I, too, am looking forward to our Christmas

[1:27:06] parade on Saturday night.

[1:27:08] I think it will be a great event, as everything always is,

[1:27:11] in Tabriz.

[1:27:12] So with that, this meeting is adjourned.

[1:27:17] Happy days.

[1:27:18]

City Council Meeting

Agenda

Transcript