[0:00] 
[0:32] It was mountainous.
[0:34] 
[1:12] So I pull over toward
the cliff and goes over
[1:14] toward the railroad bridge.
[1:16] I can only have
one car with this.
[1:19] Lindsay went out to
get my glasses for me.
[1:22] I went out and looked and
start or wait till she gets it.
[1:25] Yeah Lindsay went out to
the car to get my glasses.
[1:29] 
[1:36] Good afternoon and
welcome to the August 19
[1:40] to very city council meeting.
[1:42] I'd like to remind everyone to
please put your phone on vibrate
[1:46] or silent.
[1:47] If you'd like an agenda
item up here at this table,
[1:52] you'll have the agendas.
[1:53] If you'd like the agenda and
there's some little cards you
[1:55] just fill out your name
and the agenda item
[1:57] you'd like to speak on
and give it there to Mr.
[1:59] Dykes at the end of the table.
[2:02] He'll get it up to me.
[2:03] And when we get to that
item, I'll call you up.
[2:05] And with that, I am going
to invite pastor Greg watts
[2:08] from the Leesburg
church in Tavares
[2:11] to come up and lead
us in our invocation
[2:13] and pledge of Allegiance.
[2:14] 
[2:19] All right let's pray.
[2:20] Lord, thank you so
much for this day.
[2:21] Thank you for this city
that we all live in
[2:24] and do business with.
[2:25] And Lord, I just
pray that you'll
[2:26] just continue to bless it.
[2:28] Thank you for these leaders
in this room that stepped up
[2:30] to serve, and I just pray that
you'll just bless this meeting
[2:32] tonight and give the leaders
discernment and understanding
[2:36] and wisdom from you, Lord.
[2:38] And we ask this in Jesus' name.
[2:39] Amen amen.
[2:41] I pledge allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America,
[2:46] and to the Republic
for which it stands.
[2:49] One nation under
God, indivisible,
[2:52] with liberty and
justice for all.
[2:55] Thank you.
[2:57] Thank you.
[2:58] Thank you.
[2:59] Pastor what.
[3:03] You struck out.
[3:06] I guess I wasn't the
only one who missed then.
[3:09] Are they reading glasses.
[3:12] Yeah maybe I could do those.
[3:14] They're prescription.
[3:16] And so are these.
[3:19] It's just for you.
[3:22] Oh, yeah.
[3:23] Kind of.
[3:24] Kind of.
[3:26] All right.
[3:27] We're going to move on to
the approval of the agenda.
[3:30] Staff, do you have any changes.
[3:31] None from staff council.
[3:36] Move to approve.
[3:37] I'll second it.
[3:38] Motion and second.
[3:39] All those raise a hand.
[3:41] Motion passes 5 to 0.
[3:43] Proclamations and
presentations have two to
[3:47] various governmental advocacy.
[3:49] Representative update Mr. Drury,
previously the city council
[3:54] selected continental strategies
to represent and advocate
[3:58] on behalf of the city on matters
related to federal and state
[4:01] initiatives.
[4:03] Ashley spicola, managing partner
of continental strategies
[4:08] in Tallahassee, will
provide the council
[4:09] with an update on the state
legislative session that
[4:12] concluded in March, as
well as the special session
[4:15] that concluded in June.
[4:18] Come on up.
[4:19] 
[4:25] I will be succinct so we
can get to the real star
[4:28] of the show that's behind me.
[4:30] So, as we last night was
the state primary elections.
[4:35] Byron Donalds will be
the Republican candidate.
[4:38] David jolly will be the
Democratic candidate.
[4:40] We'll be sending all of you.
[4:41] I think it goes out
maybe right as we speak.
[4:45] The elections update.
[4:46] So you guys will
get a full rundown
[4:47] of what's going on statewide.
[4:49] It will definitely
affect what happens here.
[4:52] I'll start with our
federal efforts.
[4:54] We had a really successful
fly in December,
[4:57] where we met with our
Florida delegation,
[5:00] including members outside of
just our local delegation.
[5:04] We met with Representative
Patronis, Senator Scott, Senator
[5:08] Moody's office as
a result of that,
[5:13] while we weren't on
the recommended list,
[5:15] we're still a project of merit,
which means we're still alive.
[5:18] And I have our office has
reached out to us as a result
[5:23] of the newest developments on
the rails to trails program,
[5:26] and we're going to be
looking to set up a meeting,
[5:28] I think, in
September or October,
[5:30] based on the availability of
the folks to rebrief them,
[5:34] and they seemed very
excited about that.
[5:36] I think the biggest holdout
was the property acquisition.
[5:40] And since that piece looks
like it's kind of been handled,
[5:42] I think that it'll
make a lot more
[5:44] competitive on the next
round of the funding.
[5:47] So I look forward to
continuing to work on that.
[5:51] And then for the state
legislative session,
[5:54] it was another wild one.
[5:55] If this is your first one
you've been following.
[5:57] We didn't end on
time and we had two
[5:59] special sessions, one for
budget, one for property tax.
[6:03] I don't want to go into
the downer property tax,
[6:05] so I'll just go
on to the budget.
[6:07] This year's budget was 114.5
billion, which is 300 million
[6:11] than last year with
800 million in vetoes.
[6:14] I think as a result of our
successful fly in guys there
[6:17] to tell the story is impactful.
[6:20] And we saw that in the results.
[6:21] We had one budget veto that was
pretty small compared to what
[6:25] other people experienced.
[6:26] I think we were very successful.
[6:28] We got almost $1 million
for the city of Tavares,
[6:30] including the $600,000
for Golden Triangle
[6:34] and 350,000 for the culvert.
[6:38] We couldn't have done it
without our local delegation.
[6:41] Senator Trudeau, Senator
or representative Bukowski
[6:46] really came through for us.
[6:48] And then we follow through
with the governor's office.
[6:50] And they remember
talking to you guys.
[6:52] So it really does
make a difference.
[6:53] The return on
investment is there.
[6:55] Nobody speaks about
these projects
[6:58] better than the people that
live it every day except for me,
[7:00] who's from this area and loves
it so much and everyone knows.
[7:04] So I'm looking forward to
another successful year.
[7:06] I know that you guys have are
still discussing your budget,
[7:08] but I really I'm actually
will be down in Lake County
[7:11] for the next three weeks.
[7:12] So I talked to James about maybe
getting some time next Wednesday
[7:16] with you guys to hear about
what projects maybe we'd
[7:21] want to work with our delegation
to put forward as budget items.
[7:24] And I think we have a
good story to tell here.
[7:28] And every time I just got
to see James's new building.
[7:30] Amazing like the things
that are going on here
[7:33] are we're so lucky.
[7:35] And I'm lucky to get to tell
that story in Tallahassee.
[7:38] So I don't know if
you guys want me
[7:40] to throw it to the next person
or if anyone has questions.
[7:45] Well, just thank
you for your help
[7:46] because obviously
you were a big one.
[7:48] You did a great job of
getting us around when we were
[7:50] up there because I was lost.
[7:51] I had no idea where I was going.
[7:53] Walking through those buildings.
[7:54] So thank goodness we
had you to get us there.
[7:56] I appreciate getting
to represent a place
[7:59] that shaped me being from here.
[8:01] It's an honor to say great
things about Seabreeze and Lake
[8:06] County.
[8:06] So thank you guys
for the honor and I
[8:08] look forward to keep working.
[8:09] And it's going to be great.
[8:10] We're going to have a
really successful DC
[8:12] meetings coming up.
[8:13] And I think a
really great I just
[8:15] thank you for our Uber driver.
[8:17] Yeah Yes Ubers everywhere.
[8:19] I can't walk in heels
for long distances.
[8:21] Yeah he was great.
[8:22] The guy that drove us
around he was great and gave
[8:26] us a good view of everything.
[8:28] Made sure we was on time.
[8:29] So appreciate it.
[8:30] Awesome well I thank
you guys and I'll let
[8:33] the star of the show go next.
[8:35] Thank you.
[8:35] All right.
[8:36] Thank you so much.
[8:38] And we're going to
move on to tab three
[8:40] the state appropriations
presentation
[8:42] by Representative Nan Cobb.
[8:44] 
[8:51] Good afternoon, everyone.
[8:53] I just want to say this.
[8:54] And you all know this because
you were up in Tallahassee
[8:56] with Ashley.
[8:58] I represent seven cities and
not everybody has the funding,
[9:04] the opportunities, if you will,
that can afford a lobbyist.
[9:07] And you're very blessed
with continental strategies.
[9:12] We work very well together.
[9:14] We tag teamed well together
between the governor's
[9:16] office appropriations chairs.
[9:20] We work very, very
well together.
[9:22] And so you truly, I have
no idea what you're saying.
[9:27] And that's not my business.
[9:29] But I will tell you,
whatever you're paying them,
[9:30] it's well worth it.
[9:31] You've got great representation
in Tallahassee as well.
[9:34] So I am pleased to bring you.
[9:38] We would like to do
a check presentation
[9:40] tonight for and $50,000
to the city of Tavares.
[9:45] And as Ashley spoke before to
the Golden Triangle regional
[9:48] park, $600,000, and for
the ST Clair Abrams culvert
[9:54] replacement at $350,000.
[9:56] So any questions on that at all.
[10:00] Any questions.
[10:02] Thank you for all
the work you did.
[10:04] Yeah that was a heavy lift.
[10:06] And you did it.
[10:09] Thank you.
[10:09] Thank you very much.
[10:10] This session was
dicey, a little dicey,
[10:13] and we went back and forth.
[10:15] We had it in the
house, not the Senate.
[10:17] We had it in the
Senate, not the house.
[10:19] I can remember being
in between sessions
[10:22] and being in Miami texting
the appropriations chairs
[10:25] and saying, here we are.
[10:28] Please don't forget us.
[10:29] Please don't forget us.
[10:30] I mean, it was really
not a fun trip, right.
[10:34] It was a fun trip,
but it wasn't.
[10:35] So we were consistently
working for the city.
[10:39] And I just want to
thank you for allowing
[10:41] me to represent
you all, and I will
[10:44] continue to do the good work.
[10:45] I look forward to actually
meeting with you all next week.
[10:49] And then come to us and let's
talk about the appropriations
[10:52] and what we think we can
get bought, if you will.
[10:55] Make sure we have
skin in the game.
[10:57] And because in
Tallahassee, in the House,
[11:00] the Senate may be
a little different.
[11:01] But in the house
we've got our half.
[11:03] Where's your half.
[11:04] That's how we operate.
[11:06] And I don't see much changing
from this year to last year.
[11:10] So I look forward to seeing
what the projects are.
[11:13] All right.
[11:14] So without further
ado, if we could,
[11:16] would you like to
take a picture with us
[11:17] on the check presentation.
[11:18] Absolutely, Ashley,
I'd like to come up.
[11:20] 
[11:23] And where would you all.
[11:25] You all want to stand up here.
[11:26] OK come with us.
[11:42] OK OK.
[11:46] 
[12:04] One, two three 1.
[12:14] Two three.
[12:15] One two.
[12:16] Three Brandon.
[12:17] 
[12:20] Sorry Brandon.
[12:25] All right.
[12:26] Thank you very much.
[12:28] Very much.
[12:29] Thank you so much.
[12:29] Thank you.
[12:30] 
[12:37] I was hoping.
[12:38] Would you please.
[12:38] 
[12:47] Do that.
[12:48] That's pretty cool.
[12:50] 
[12:52] OK thank you.
[12:55] You're welcome.
[12:58] Oh thank you.
[13:00] Nan thanks, Nan.
[13:01] Thank you.
[13:02] Yeah thank you,
Representative Cobb.
[13:04] And thank you also from
southeastern strategies.
[13:10] Continental strategy.
[13:11] Continental yeah.
[13:12] Thank you so much for all the
work that you put into this.
[13:16] Thank you.
[13:19] All right.
[13:19] We're going to move on to
tab 4 proclamation inaugural
[13:25] in a mi Lake County walk.
[13:27] 
[13:31] Whereas mental health is
an essential component
[13:34] of overall health
and well-being,
[13:36] and millions of Americans,
along with their families
[13:39] and loved ones, are affected
by mental health conditions
[13:43] each year.
[13:44] And whereas the National
Alliance on Mental illness
[13:47] is the nation's largest
grassroots mental Health
[13:50] Organization
dedicated to improving
[13:53] the lives of individuals
and families affected
[13:55] by mental illness through
education, advocacy,
[13:58] support and public awareness.
[14:00] And whereas in Lake County
is launching a new chapter
[14:06] to provide free
educational programs,
[14:08] support groups and resources
for residents throughout Lake
[14:12] County, helping
to reduce stigma,
[14:15] foster understanding, and
encourage hope and recovery.
[14:19] And whereas the inaugural
Lake County walk,
[14:24] to be held on October 10,
2026, will bring together
[14:29] community members in support
of Mental Health Awareness
[14:32] while encouraging compassion,
acceptance, and access
[14:36] to resources for
individuals and families
[14:39] affected by mental illness.
[14:41] Now, therefore, be it proclaimed
by the city council of the city
[14:44] of Tavares, Florida, that they
proudly express their support
[14:47] for the Lake County
inaugural walk
[14:51] and commend the volunteers,
participants, sponsors
[14:56] and community partners
whose dedication helps
[14:59] promote mental health
awareness and support
[15:01] throughout Lake County.
[15:03] Past and duly adopted by
the city council on this
[15:06] 19th day of August 2026.
[15:10] And they're here.
[15:11] So if y'all would like to come
up and we'll present you with
[15:17] this vote on how to vote on it.
[15:22] I would vote.
[15:22] OK yeah.
[15:23] Let's vote.
[15:24] Let's vote on it.
[15:25] Yeah, I'll make the motion.
[15:26] Yeah I moved we have
a motion and a second.
[15:29] All those in favor.
[15:30] Aye Motion passes 5 to 0.
[15:35] All right.
[15:35] 
[15:39] Yeah y'all want to.
[15:40] Y'all have someone you want
to take a picture or anything.
[15:43] OK, OK.
[15:47] You can present to them.
[15:49] OK, sure.
[15:51] 
[15:55] Close to the mirror.
[15:57] 
[16:12] Oh, no.
[16:12] 
[16:17] All right.
[16:17] 
[16:26] All right.
[16:26] And again.
[16:27] 
[16:47] You want to say a few
words about the event.
[16:49] Sure as was in the
proclamation on October 10,
[16:55] Tavares will be hosting
the inaugural Lake
[16:57] County Mental health walk.
[16:59] Because that's October
10 is mental Health Day.
[17:03] So NAMI is always
looking for sponsors.
[17:06] Anybody out there who would
like to sponsor tables or come
[17:09] out and walk because they
do everything for free,
[17:13] they need to raise money for
things so they do not charge
[17:16] families for any services
or all the things
[17:18] that they do to help people who
are dealing with mental illness.
[17:21] So whatever we can do in the
city, get out there and help,
[17:24] that would be really great.
[17:26] It's a great organization
and it's just
[17:28] long overdue coming here now.
[17:30] Luckily, we have people who are
doing a great job of putting it
[17:33] together and making
mental health
[17:35] a priority here in Lake County.
[17:38] Thank you.
[17:41] And thank you all for the
great job that you're doing.
[17:43] I'm excited to see
your organization grow.
[17:47] Thank you.
[17:48] All right.
[17:48] We're going to move
on to tab five.
[17:50] Rails to trails funding
program update Mr. Dillon.
[17:54] 
[18:03] Thank you, Madam Mayor.
[18:04] Vice mayor, members of council.
[18:06] I'm pleased to announce
that last Tuesday, the Board
[18:08] of County Commissioners
unanimously approved our $23.5
[18:12] million public lands and trails
application to acquire the 11
[18:17] mile CSX railroad corridor.
[18:20] A major milestone for the wekiva
trail regional and the city
[18:24] of Tavares.
[18:25] This decision affirms firms to
very long standing commitment
[18:29] and strengthening our
regional connectivity,
[18:31] supporting economic
growth, enhancing
[18:33] the quality of life for our
residents for generations
[18:35] to come.
[18:36] Those who attended the
BCC meeting last week
[18:39] witnessed to various
leadership standing
[18:41] United in support of this
transformational project.
[18:45] Mayor Mr. Vice mayor Bobby
Grenier, council member Walter
[18:50] price, city administrator John
Drury, recreation director Scott
[18:53] Aldridge, sports services
Director Mark O'Keefe were
[18:56] present to demonstrate the
city's commitment to a more
[18:59] connected, vibrant future.
[19:01] Although council member
Sandy gamble and town
[19:05] were unable to attend
scheduling conflicts,
[19:07] I wanted to acknowledge that
they were very much with us
[19:10] in spirit.
[19:11] Fully supportive and aligned
with the city's vision.
[19:15] I would also like to extend
a special recognition
[19:17] to John Drury, whose
leadership and advocacy
[19:20] were instrumental in
articulating the long term
[19:23] value of this acquisition is.
[19:26] Remarks from the dais
at the BCC meeting
[19:28] underscored that this
corridor represents
[19:31] a once in a generation
opportunity to advance safety,
[19:35] recreation, economic vitality
and regional mobility
[19:40] throughout our community.
[19:42] So what's next with the Board
of County commissioners.
[19:46] Approval of the full $50
million bond issuance
[19:49] anticipated in November.
[19:50] The project is positioned on
a strong financial foundation
[19:55] over the next six months.
[19:56] Lake County.
[19:56] The trust for Public
Land, Mount Dora Tavares,
[19:59] will begin with the
pre-acquisition due diligence
[20:01] work and closely work with
our government relations
[20:04] firm on the upcoming
build application
[20:05] to construct the trail.
[20:07] Congratulations, council!
[20:10] Your shared vision and
steadfast leadership
[20:12] continue to shape
Tavares into a stronger,
[20:14] more vibrant community.
[20:16] This achievement
reflects your dedication
[20:18] and contributes to a brighter
future for our residents.
[20:21] I'm happy to answer any
questions you may have.
[20:23] Back to you, Mayor.
[20:25] Thank you, Mr. Dhillon.
[20:27] Council, do you
have any questions.
[20:30] No, just a great job.
[20:31] Obviously, we've been
working at it for a while
[20:34] and the County was able
to help us out some so.
[20:37] But I know you have things
well in hand and what's next.
[20:40] So it's nice to see a staff that
just doesn't let go of a vision.
[20:45] No I love watching
it and witnessing
[20:48] that great leadership.
[20:52] And Mr. Curry, could you tell us
are people in the audience who
[20:57] maybe would like to Could you
just touch on how long we've
[20:59] been working on this project.
[21:02] I would say we've
been working on.
[21:05] Well, it's been in
the works 20 years,
[21:08] but we've probably been working
very hard with the applications
[21:11] and the studies and the
appraisals and the trips
[21:15] to Washington, DC to get the
money and different places,
[21:19] probably for seven years.
[21:21] Yeah well, thank everyone
for a lot of work.
[21:25] Yeah I want to thank
everyone for their hard work
[21:28] and their due diligence and
not giving up on a project.
[21:32] That's something
that we're good at.
[21:33] We hang with it
until we get it done.
[21:36] So thank you, James,
for your hard work.
[21:39] You've been involved
with this project.
[21:40] Thank you.
[21:41] Thank you.
[21:42] Thanks OK.
[21:50] We're going to move on to
tab 6 to various chamber
[21:52] of Commerce update.
[21:53] 
[21:58] Hi Stephanie Hays from
the Chamber of Commerce.
[22:01] Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor
and members of the city council.
[22:06] So, so far this past month
coming in for our traffic,
[22:10] we had approximately between
100 and 36, 140 people
[22:14] come in as far as
our membership.
[22:16] We're approximately 310 now.
[22:19] So we are building.
[22:20] We actually have
a ribbon cutting.
[22:23] Ribbon cutting coming
up on the 27th.
[22:26] We have 17 businesses
doing a ribbon cutting.
[22:30] So it's going to be held
at the graceway church.
[22:33] We have our luncheon
there as well.
[22:34] Day before.
[22:35] But this is just the honor.
[22:37] 17 businesses include
from Orlando Health
[22:39] all the way down to
small businesses.
[22:41] So we're all they're each going
to get to cut their ribbons
[22:43] and we'll have a luncheon.
[22:45] It's catered.
[22:46] So everybody would love to
have you all here and all come.
[22:49] Other than that, it's pretty
much our gala right now
[22:52] is on a to be determined list.
[22:54] Just waiting.
[22:55] And so other than
that, we're just
[22:57] kind of doing our
lunches right now
[22:58] and our ribbon cuttings
and new memberships.
[23:02] So any questions.
[23:04] Yes question.
[23:05] Sure on Saturdays,
how many people do you
[23:08] normally have come in to visit.
[23:11] Majority of the time one.
[23:15] OK yeah.
[23:17] And there's many times
that we had a girl.
[23:19] Our girl actually worked
there on Saturdays,
[23:21] and now my boards kind of were
taking switching Saturdays,
[23:24] but when they
haven't had anybody.
[23:27] So it's slower on Saturdays.
[23:28] I would say during
events would probably
[23:30] be the biggest when people
come, maybe try to use
[23:33] the bathroom sometimes too.
[23:34] And would the chamber be
interested in trying to do.
[23:39] As years passed, the chamber
did a lot of involvement with
[23:44] the special events
that we had, like
[23:48] 4th of July and things of that
nature there, most definitely.
[23:51] As far as raising
the funding, sure.
[23:54] We would love to.
[23:55] We've been wanting to
partner, especially with you
[23:58] have your Oktoberfest,
you have your trunk
[24:00] or treating all those.
[24:02] So I think it would be a more
beneficial for us to be together
[24:06] doing it rather than
us just on the side
[24:10] promoting it just for you guys.
[24:11] I think it would be
a better situation.
[24:13] OK yes.
[24:15] You're welcome.
[24:15] You're welcome to come in
and ask, because I remember
[24:18] previously, the chamber
was very involved
[24:21] in the majority of our events
that we had, which was great.
[24:24] So yeah, definitely.
[24:25] Absolutely welcome y'all to
come in and take over some
[24:30] of the responsibilities for it.
[24:32] Definitely and let the
notoriety go to you.
[24:35] Hey we'd love to I even
besides participating
[24:39] I mean helping as far as that.
[24:40] I mean we even wanted to do
a float and become involved.
[24:43] I don't know why we never did.
[24:44] So we've been talking a
lot about that as well.
[24:48] So well, in my experience, in
the past year, the chamber was
[24:52] involved with the 4th of July.
[24:53] The city only provided the
police and fire and things
[24:56] of that nature there.
[24:57] But the chamber did all the
fireworks and everything
[25:02] of that nature there.
[25:03] I gotcha.
[25:03] Also light up Tavares.
[25:06] That was done.
[25:07] Originally done by the
junior woman's club
[25:10] and the chamber got involved.
[25:12] But there's other
things as well.
[25:16] Over the past, I'd like to
see the chamber more involved.
[25:19] Yes, sir and help the city
alleviate some of the funding.
[25:23] On that.
[25:24] Definitely I think
it builds a better,
[25:26] stronger together partnership.
[25:28] So yeah.
[25:30] And we're all about
partnership, for sure.
[25:33] Well that's good.
[25:34] You're welcome to
jump in feet first.
[25:35] OK we're there.
[25:37] All right.
[25:38] All right.
[25:39] Thank you guys for having us.
[25:40] Thanks anytime.
[25:44] All right, we're going
to move on to swearing
[25:45] in by City attorney.
[25:46] Disclosure of ex
parte communications.
[25:49] Good afternoon,
Mayor and council.
[25:50] We do have quasi judicial
matters on the agenda today
[25:54] there at tabs 9 through 11,
as our quasi judicial nature
[25:58] of anyone wishing to be
heard on these matters
[26:01] to be considered competent,
testimony will need to be
[26:03] sworn, including city staff.
[26:05] We'll go ahead and
do that at this time.
[26:07] Please raise your right hand.
[26:10] Do you solemnly swear or affirm
that the testimony you will give
[26:12] will be the truth,
the whole truth,
[26:14] and nothing but the truth.
[26:16] Thank you.
[26:16] After city staff presents, if
you do come up to be heard,
[26:19] please make sure you state
your name and your address.
[26:21] The clerk can put it into
the minutes and council.
[26:25] At this time, it would
be proper to disclose
[26:27] any ex parte communications
regarding taps 9 through 11.
[26:31] Have there been any
by council members.
[26:35] Seeing none.
[26:36] Back to you, Mayor.
[26:37] All right.
[26:38] Rating of all ordinances
and resolutions
[26:41] into the record city
clerk, MS Novak.
[26:44] Thank you.
[26:44] Mayor we have three ordinances
for second reading ordinance
[26:48] 2020 604, an ordinance amending
the boundaries of the city
[26:52] of Tavares by annexing
19.18 plus or minus acres
[26:58] of non-contiguous property
located East of County
[27:01] Road 561,
approximately 200 North
[27:04] of Frankie's road intersection.
[27:07] Under terms and conditions of
the interlocal service boundary
[27:10] agreement between the city
of Tavares and Lake County,
[27:13] rezoning the property
from Lake County MP
[27:15] planned industrial district
and heavy industrial to City PD
[27:20] planned development subject
to the rules, regulations,
[27:23] and obligations retained
by the city of council,
[27:26] providing for an effective date.
[27:28] Ordinance 20 2005 an ordinance
of the city of Tavares, Florida,
[27:33] amending the comprehensive
plan future land use
[27:36] map 2040 providing for a
change from Lake County.
[27:39] Future land use designation of
industrial I to City of Tavares.
[27:44] Industrial I for property
located at County Road 561,
[27:49] approximately 200 North of
Frankie's road intersection,
[27:52] providing for severability and
providing for an effective date
[27:56] in 2020 606.
[27:58] An ordinance of the city of
Tavares amending ordinance,
[28:02] 2003 25 2013 21 of
the city of Tavares,
[28:08] generally known as
fisherman's Cove PD,
[28:11] superseding all said ordinances
with a newly stated plan
[28:14] development PD ordinance subject
to the rules, regulations,
[28:18] and obligations ordained by
the city of Tavares council,
[28:21] providing for severability and
providing for an effective date.
[28:24] Back to you, Mayor.
[28:27] Thank you, MS Novak.
[28:29] All right.
[28:30] We're moving on to the
consent agenda council.
[28:33] Would you like to move on that.
[28:35] I'd like to move out of the
consent agenda for discussion.
[28:38] 
[28:42] I hear a motion.
[28:43] Make a motion.
[28:43] We approve seven of
the consent agenda.
[28:46] I'll second it.
[28:47] Motion and second.
[28:48] All those in favor.
[28:49] Aye Motion passes 5 to 0.
[28:52] OK we're going to move
on to tab 8 Mr. Price.
[28:56] Yeah I just didn't know
for sure if we actually
[28:58] needed to vote on this
voting delegate thing
[29:02] because we needed to
get official approval.
[29:04] I just didn't know
if we actually
[29:06] had to carry on a formal vote.
[29:08] Yeah retroactive.
[29:09] Thank you.
[29:09] Yeah Formal vote.
[29:12] Yeah OK.
[29:13] So, do I hear a motion.
[29:16] I move that we had Mr. Price
being the official delegate
[29:19] for the League of cities.
[29:22] Second, second.
[29:24] All those in favor,
raise a hand to also.
[29:28] Also, I just wanted
to let everyone know
[29:30] that city of Tavares
won the local action
[29:35] award at the Florida
league of cities
[29:37] conference for our
public works facility
[29:40] out on Captain Haynes road.
[29:43] The award was featured on the
marquee that ran the whole time
[29:48] of the conference.
[29:50] It was in the agenda program.
[29:53] It was on an easel board, and
it was on a video that was
[29:56] shown to the general session.
[29:58] So everywhere I went
during that conference,
[30:03] people say, where are you from.
[30:04] I'm from.
[30:04] Oh, I love to bury.
[30:07] So you guys are doing
great things up there, so
[30:10] gives you a big head.
[30:11] When you're here.
[30:13] All these people
praising berries.
[30:14] But yes, we did win
the local action award.
[30:17] I just want everyone
to know that.
[30:18] Yeah you figure there's
411 cities in Florida five
[30:21] cities got awards.
[30:22] We were one.
[30:23] Yeah mayor, just real quick.
[30:26] I appreciate Mr.
Price filling in.
[30:29] I'm on call, and I didn't
see if I got there.
[30:34] I would have to leave.
[30:35] So that's why contact with John.
[30:40] I may be here today and
gone tomorrow because of
[30:43] my sister-in-law situation, so.
[30:46] But I appreciate Mr. Price doing
that and being there for us.
[30:50] And I had all intent
to be there because I'm
[30:52] proud of what Tavares has done
and proud of that facility
[30:55] out there.
[30:57] And so I just wanted
to throw that in.
[31:00] 
[31:03] Very understandable.
[31:04] Council Member
gamble, thank you.
[31:06] And thank you.
[31:07] Council Member price,
for standing in
[31:10] and being the one in charge
when I was unable to go
[31:13] at the last minute.
[31:14] So thank you so much.
[31:16] You're welcome.
[31:17] All right.
[31:17] We're going to move on
to resolutions or none.
[31:20] So we're going to
move to tab nine.
[31:23] 
[31:38] Thank you mayor.
[31:39] Good afternoon city
council members.
[31:42] For the record, my
name is Antonio.
[31:44] Everybody most
people the director,
[31:48] we're going to bring
over a couple of items
[31:51] that the city
clerk already read,
[31:53] which is ordinance 2020 604.
[31:57] It is approximately
19.18 acres of land.
[32:01] Non-contiguous
contiguous property
[32:03] located East of County Road
561 and approximately 200 North
[32:08] of Frankie's road intersection.
[32:10] Some people say
junction into Tavares
[32:15] and rezoning the property
from Lake County.
[32:20] Planned industrial and
heavy industrial zoning.
[32:23] We're going to put it
all into one, which
[32:25] is the planned development.
[32:29] In summary, the
land is presently
[32:31] used as light industrial,
warehousing, and vacant land.
[32:36] The subject property is located
within the interlocal service
[32:40] boundary agreement, which allows
for the city to annex land
[32:46] from Lake County, which
from non-contiguous
[32:50] into the city along a certain
conditions are being met.
[32:54] 
[32:58] Go to the next slide.
[33:01] With the PD plan.
[33:03] Development plan development
ordinance comes with a plan
[33:06] development or conceptual plan.
[33:08] The conceptual plan
shows the structures
[33:12] and some additional
structures that are
[33:15] being added along the frontage.
[33:17] So they have one or
two existing structures
[33:19] and they're going to be
expanding, one providing
[33:22] the parking and providing two
more structures in the front
[33:26] as a mixture of commercial and
of professional offices and some
[33:32] recreational commercial use.
[33:34] Can I have the
next slide, please.
[33:36] This is a little bit
better because it's
[33:38] overlaid over the aerial.
[33:40] You can see the changes
that are being proposed.
[33:43] Next slide, please.
[33:48] This is a rendering
of the elevations
[33:50] on the front buildings facades.
[33:54] And next one.
[33:56] All right.
[34:00] The proposed
annexation and rezoning
[34:02] is consistent with our
land development code.
[34:04] It's also consistent with the
interlocal service boundary
[34:07] agreement and supports
the city's long term
[34:09] economic development objectives.
[34:11] And our comprehensive
plan staff recommendation.
[34:16] We always add what
happens in the planning
[34:18] and zoning department.
[34:19] Planning and zoning board
meeting that we have.
[34:22] So on July 16, 2026, the
planning and zoning board
[34:26] met and voted to recommend
approval of the ordinance
[34:31] as presented.
[34:32] There were some questions
from the planning board
[34:34] that was addressed
at the city council.
[34:37] I attached a draft
minutes of what
[34:39] happened in the proceedings,
but it was looked
[34:42] at pretty much favorably.
[34:45] Therefore, this
information staff
[34:47] is recommending that
the city council move
[34:49] to approve ordinance
2020 604, which includes
[34:54] the annexation and
rezoning of the property
[34:57] to Planned development district.
[35:00] This ordinance, of course, was
reviewed by the city attorney
[35:04] and for legal sufficiency.
[35:05] The ordinance is included in
your packet with several maps,
[35:10] including the traffic study.
[35:13] That's the accepted
traffic study
[35:14] that we reviewed and approved,
and the environmental report.
[35:20] That pretty much concludes the
staff report presentation on it.
[35:25] I'm happy to answer
any technical questions
[35:28] on the review process
and how it meets
[35:31] our land development regulations
and our comprehensive plan.
[35:35] We also have the representatives
of the development
[35:40] and the audience as well.
[35:43] All right.
[35:43] Thank you Mr. council questions.
[35:48] OK can you tell me what a
recreational commercial uses.
[35:56] Yes, they want to build a yes.
[35:58] Actually you can.
[35:59] They want to build
a pickleball court,
[36:02] and that's my understanding.
[36:04] They'll be here.
[36:04] They can elaborate
a little bit more,
[36:06] but it will be an indoor
pickleball facility.
[36:09] That's what they envision that
could happen there as well.
[36:13] So it's not like a machine gun
range or anything like that.
[36:17] Not that I'm aware of.
[36:18] The applicant is here.
[36:19] We can ask them.
[36:21] OK I was just curious
what that might entail.
[36:24] I didn't know if it was
ziplines or who knows
[36:27] what pickleball for right now.
[36:28] All right.
[36:31] I think I'd like to say
the applicant is here.
[36:35] Yeah, I'd like to just
hear, just touch on what
[36:38] they're planning on doing.
[36:42] If they'd like to come
up and just briefly,
[36:45] just briefly touch on it so we
know what to get excited for.
[36:50] Yes good afternoon, Mayor
and council members.
[36:53] My name is Jennifer
stone and it's 4850
[36:56] North highway 19, a Mount Dora.
[36:59] I'm here on behalf of the owner.
[37:01] We appreciate staff's
work on these applications
[37:04] and the planning
and zoning board's
[37:06] recommendation of approval.
[37:09] We are in agreement with
the staff presentation,
[37:11] and we are here to
request these ordinances.
[37:13] And the next one
that's coming up,
[37:15] I do have the owner
here to explain
[37:18] what they would like to do.
[37:19] It is some light retail and
some recreational, commercial,
[37:23] and some industrial uses.
[37:25] And we also have our
engineer here if there's
[37:27] any technical questions.
[37:29] Yeah, I just want to
hear just the overview.
[37:31] Yeah just the
overview on overview
[37:34] of a couple of
minutes worth tell me,
[37:36] tell me what it's all about.
[37:40] Hi, I'm Scott Brock, resident of
Lake County for about 36 years
[37:44] now.
[37:45] We believe I believe I've had
this property since 20 sorry,
[37:50] 2000, in 2001, and
we've been using it
[37:54] for light industrial sort
of refurbishing equipment,
[37:58] machinery, as well as having
a little bit of manufacturing
[38:03] with my product as well.
[38:04] Accu cut for flooring,
cutting and rolling machines.
[38:08] And now seeing the
growth and seeing what's
[38:11] happening in this
area, we're getting
[38:13] a lot of requests for
warehouse space, some
[38:17] light industrial manufacturing.
[38:19] And I've also had
some experience
[38:21] where I built some
strip plazas before
[38:23] in the minneola Clermont area.
[38:25] So I kind of wanted to tie
that theme in the front highway
[38:29] frontage as well.
[38:32] OK council, do you
have any questions.
[38:34] Light commercial.
[38:35] Do you expect or
hope to be in there.
[38:39] 
[38:42] What particular light commercial
are you hoping to attract there.
[38:46] Yeah, I mean, I think the
days are gone where you have
[38:49] a lighting store and
these kind of things where
[38:51] everybody's buying online now.
[38:52] So it could be a lot
of specialty, maybe air
[38:54] conditioning, contract
type of businesses
[38:57] and professional offices, maybe
some medical, dental office,
[39:01] this type of thing.
[39:04] As far as the pickleball, we
had talked about maybe the theme
[39:08] of having a brewery microbrewery
in there as well as pickleball.
[39:11] I know there's other cities that
have done this quite successful.
[39:17] All right.
[39:17] Perfect Anyone else.
[39:20] Well, good luck
with your project.
[39:21] Thank you.
[39:22] Appreciate it.
[39:23] Council how would
you like to move.
[39:25] Move to accept the
ordinance as is.
[39:29] I'll second it.
[39:30] We have motion.
[39:30] And a second.
[39:31] Any more discussion.
[39:32] All those in favor.
[39:34] Raise a hand.
[39:35] Motion passes 5 to 0.
[39:37] Congratulations all
right, moving on to.
[39:43] This is the companion.
[39:44] Yep tab 10.
[39:47] Exactly like the city
administrator pointed out
[39:51] is the companion
ordinance to this item.
[39:55] It is changing the comprehensive
plan future land use
[39:57] map from future land
use designation County
[40:02] to the city's industrial.
[40:05] There isn't really
much to that other
[40:08] than we have to do
this because the state
[40:10] requires comprehensive
planning and we
[40:12] have to change these things.
[40:15] I think that's probably enough.
[40:18] All right.
[40:19] Thank you.
[40:19] Council, how would
you like to move.
[40:21] I'll make a motion to
approve the ordinance.
[40:24] Second Motion, a
second discussion.
[40:27] All those in favor,
raise your hand.
[40:30] Motion passes 5 to 0.
[40:32] Moving on to tab 11.
[40:34] Ordinance 2020 606
fisherman's Cove.
[40:38] Yes the next item
is Fisherman's Cove.
[40:41] This is the
fisherman's Cove that's
[40:43] out there in the RV center.
[40:46] There's different uses in there,
but in summary, the subject
[40:50] property is currently operating
as a recreational vehicle
[40:55] resort, with some supporting
recreational facilities, marinas
[41:02] and the dry bulk facility.
[41:04] The proposed development plan
allows for continued operation
[41:10] of the existing resort and
authorizes additional resort
[41:14] related amenities, including
expansion of the dry boat
[41:19] facility, storage facility,
construction of the resort
[41:23] cottages for short term
rental accommodation,
[41:27] expansion of
recreational facilities
[41:30] and additional RV accommodation.
[41:35] This is what you
see on the screen
[41:38] is the proposed development.
[41:40] The ones that have color
area around the front, that's
[41:44] where they're proposing the
change, which is the expansion
[41:47] of along State Road
19 as the dry dock
[41:50] facility and some
cottages internal
[41:53] and of course, the former
golf course that they have,
[41:57] they want to expand
it into the RV use
[41:59] as well with some cottages.
[42:02] Next slide, please.
[42:03] This is the sample of the
cottages and they're pre prefab
[42:09] and there's just
very little there.
[42:11] It's just not there.
[42:13] They're there for the recreation
of the intent of the short term
[42:18] resort accommodations.
[42:21] The PD OK.
[42:23] And then this one,
that's the one that's
[42:25] along the frontage right now.
[42:26] State route 19.
[42:27] A lot of people go by there.
[42:28] They want to expand that.
[42:31] The last PD that was
done prior to this
[42:34] wouldn't allow them to do it.
[42:37] So we had to combine
this PD and the other PD
[42:41] and make sure that everything
is functioning accordingly.
[42:44] 
[42:51] On July 16, 2026, the
planning and zoning board
[42:55] met and voted to
recommend approval
[42:58] of the ordinance
2020 606 as presented
[43:02] during the public hearing.
[43:05] Neighboring property
owners and representatives
[43:08] expressed concerns
regarding setbacks
[43:11] and buffers issues,
open space, stormwater,
[43:15] and utility infrastructure.
[43:17] These issues were
discussed and addressed
[43:21] during the public meeting.
[43:23] I have attached
the draft minutes.
[43:25] You can go over that
a little bit more
[43:27] in details in your packet.
[43:29] In addition, the applicant
agreed to meet with city staff
[43:33] to review and confirm
the compliance with all
[43:36] the applicable setbacks and
landscape buffer requirements
[43:40] associated with the
proposed future development
[43:43] as depicted in the
master development plan.
[43:48] Because most of the questions
were related to that issue, what
[43:51] is the buffer between
the future development
[43:54] plan before the future
development and this.
[43:58] The PD already established that
we were going to the buffer
[44:03] requirements on the land
development regulation
[44:05] when it comes to site
planning, and we reviewed it.
[44:10] The applicant came to the
staff again on July 31, 2026,
[44:14] and we met and they
acknowledged that they're
[44:16] going to meet the landscape
buffers are there,
[44:20] codified in the land
development regulations,
[44:23] because there was a
question at the meeting
[44:25] that may have vested rights
for smaller landscape buffers.
[44:30] But we looked at it,
we looked at it twice.
[44:33] And the landscape
buffers, as I described
[44:36] on our recommendation part,
is what he's required to do.
[44:43] Staff therefore, staff
recommends that the city council
[44:46] approve the ordinance
2020 606 amending
[44:51] and adopting the proposed
master development plan
[44:54] as presented tonight.
[44:56] We also.
[44:59] The ordinance was,
of course, reviewed
[45:01] by the city attorney's office.
[45:03] It was included in your packet.
[45:05] I also noteworthy
attachments you have 10
[45:10] was the environmental
report, the traffic study.
[45:13] And I also included the abutting
residential opposing letter.
[45:18] And for your
information, I added
[45:20] the old ordinances
that are being replaced
[45:24] just for your edification.
[45:27] We also have the applicant
available on the audience.
[45:31] If you want to elaborate
on any of his proposal,
[45:36] and I'll be happy to answer any
questions in the review process.
[45:41] Thank you.
[45:42] Council any questions.
[45:44] So this is not expanding
the land area at all.
[45:48] They're all within current
land that they own.
[45:51] Correct And of course
replacing a golf course
[45:57] probably makes no
money with RV sites.
[45:59] Make money will improve the
commercial value and therefore
[46:02] the taxable value
of that property.
[46:04] Correct I would assume so.
[46:06] And it's not
functioning right now.
[46:08] So it'd be better than nothing.
[46:12] All right.
[46:12] It's a very nice resort.
[46:15] It's not by my area over there.
[46:17] I go by it all the time.
[46:21] Any more questions.
[46:22] How would you like to move.
[46:24] I'll move to approve
the ordinance.
[46:27] 2020 6-6, fisherman's Cove.
[46:29] Second Motion and a second.
[46:31] Any more discussion.
[46:32] All those in favor,
raise a hand.
[46:35] Motion passes 5 to 0.
[46:36] Thank you.
[46:38] All right.
[46:38] We're going to
move on to tab 12.
[46:41] Discussion and
direction regarding
[46:43] the preferred approach
for addressing data
[46:45] center development.
[46:47] I guess that's
still you, Antonio.
[46:49] That is still me.
[46:51] Thank you.
[46:51] Mayor this item.
[46:53] I did put a little information
about the data centers
[46:57] and how they're being treated,
and how they're currently being
[47:00] approached by Lake County.
[47:02] So it is for city
council to discuss.
[47:06] However, I'll read this first
part of the staff report,
[47:10] I think is so it's
noteworthy as an interest
[47:16] in data center development
and continues to increase.
[47:19] Staff is seeking
policy direction
[47:21] from city council
regarding how the city
[47:24] should address
future applications
[47:26] for these types of facility.
[47:28] While data center can
provide economic development
[47:32] and support critical
digital infrastructure.
[47:35] They may also present unique
land land use consideration
[47:40] related to building scale,
utility demand, backup power
[47:45] generator, noise
aesthetics, compatibility
[47:49] with the surrounding
development.
[47:52] As a general thing
on data center
[47:55] that people watch this
in the news all the time.
[47:58] But on June 23, 2026,
the Lake County board
[48:02] of County Commissioners
discussed a temporary moratorium
[48:07] on data centers facilities
within the unincorporated areas
[48:11] of Lake County.
[48:12] After discussing, the
board collectively
[48:15] agreed to have the Lake
County attorney bring
[48:19] back a proposed moratorium.
[48:23] Ordinance on August 5, 2026.
[48:29] The Lake County
planning and zoning
[48:31] board were presented
the ordinance
[48:34] that I just talked about.
[48:36] So they did draft an
ordinance, and it was presented
[48:38] to the planning and zoning
board on August 5, 2026
[48:42] for a temporary moratorium,
a one year moratorium.
[48:48] The proposed moratorium
was approved by Lake County
[48:51] planning and zoning board.
[48:53] The moratorium is going
to go next to back
[48:57] to BCC on September 1, 2026.
[49:01] At this time, the
city does not have
[49:04] any land development
regulations specifically
[49:07] addressing data centers.
[49:09] As a result, staff requests
that the city council
[49:12] discuss the appropriate
regulations or approach,
[49:17] and provide directions
on whether the amendments
[49:20] to the land development
regulations should be pursued.
[49:24] I have incorporated
some options.
[49:26] There are two potential options
to talk about talking points.
[49:31] This one is adopting a temporary
moratorium on new data centers
[49:35] applications by
the city evaluates
[49:37] the appropriate regulations.
[49:39] That's number one.
[49:40] Number 2 is directing
staff to prepare amendments
[49:44] to the land development
regulations, regulations
[49:46] establishing objective
development standards
[49:49] and for the data centers.
[49:52] And the third one is maintaining
the existing regulations
[49:57] and evaluating future proposals
on a case by case basis
[50:01] through the city's
current development
[50:04] review process right now.
[50:08] I will open it back to city
council for discussion.
[50:14] All right.
[50:15] I have a question
in our city attorney
[50:18] do the same thing that
the County did as far
[50:20] as this temporary moratorium.
[50:22] Bring it back to
us in ordinance.
[50:24] Absolutely can we have
a permanent moratorium?
[50:27] No, no, no.
[50:28] How about three years.
[50:30] Yeah One thing that we did go
when we were at the Florida
[50:35] league of cities is they did a
presentation on data centers,
[50:38] and there was a lot of
misinformation out there.
[50:40] I think there were things
that people have heard
[50:42] that are absolutely not true.
[50:43] But I think what we need to do
is pretty much do the one year
[50:47] kind of what Lake County did
to give us the opportunity
[50:50] to investigate more because
again, what we were told
[50:53] and what we had heard were
completely two different things.
[50:55] And so I think to make sure that
we're fully aware of what we're
[50:58] dealing with, we
need to do the one
[51:00] year moratorium to
give time for the city
[51:02] to look at these things.
[51:05] Well, as Doug was saying,
a lot of misinformation
[51:09] floating around about
data centers out there.
[51:12] First off, they have what are
known as edge data centers,
[51:16] which are only 1,000
to 10,000ft building
[51:20] on a tenth to one acre in land.
[51:23] They have enterprise
corporate data centers,
[51:26] which are 10,000 to 50,000ft
only need one to five acres.
[51:31] They have locations that
have a different size go up
[51:35] to 40 acres.
[51:36] Once you start getting to cloud,
regional or hyperscale, which
[51:41] can take over 100
acres, I don't think
[51:43] that we have any land inside
the city limits of Tavares
[51:48] that would accommodate a
building these big anyhow.
[51:52] So another misconception
was that it was going
[51:55] to hurt our electrical power.
[51:56] But as it turns out, people
from Florida Power were there,
[52:00] and they said that any
data center has to provide
[52:02] their own electrical
infrastructure
[52:03] and they have to pay
for it themselves,
[52:05] and it's added to
what's already there.
[52:07] So it doesn't take away
any capacity in the city.
[52:10] And as far as the water goes,
it's not constantly using water.
[52:14] They fill up their
system one time.
[52:16] It's a closed system and it
recycles that whole time.
[52:20] So they only put
water in it one time.
[52:21] It's not constant
sources of water.
[52:24] So being that there's all
different sizes and scales,
[52:28] we do want some commercial
or industrial type.
[52:32] Business here in Tavares.
[52:34] I don't think we need
to just absolutely
[52:36] slap a moratorium on there.
[52:38] I think that would
be more appropriate
[52:40] would be option number three,
maintaining the existing
[52:43] regulations and evaluating
future proposals on a case
[52:46] by case basis, I think would
be much more appropriate.
[52:48] Because we don't want to turn
away a 10,000 square foot
[52:52] small data center
that might could
[52:54] bring some jobs to the city.
[52:55] I don't think we should do that.
[52:58] Just one point on your
closed water thing.
[53:00] There's no such thing as you
fill it up once, and it's done.
[53:04] No, take it from somebody
who's dealt with closed
[53:07] water systems his whole life.
[53:09] Somewhere there
will be a breakage,
[53:11] somewhere there'll
be something that
[53:13] will happen where that will end
up having to be refilled again.
[53:16] There'll always be
something that it's
[53:18] not going to be one time
something's going to happen.
[53:20] And you will end up
having repair of that.
[53:22] Fill up the water again
and it could happen a lot.
[53:25] I've dealt with cold
water boilers, cold water,
[53:28] chiller systems, cold water.
[53:30] And there's always repairs,
there's always refilling.
[53:32] There's always something
that has to be done.
[53:36] So I just wanted to get
that point out there.
[53:39] So that is not a miss.
[53:41] I don't misnomer or something
that has to go off the table as
[53:46] far as it's a one time thing.
[53:48] No, I still want a moratorium.
[53:49] I can get a moratorium
for the next four years.
[53:53] That would be great.
[53:56] I can't see us going.
[53:58] No I think what we do if we do a
moratorium is we do it to allow
[54:03] our staff to be able to
come back and develop
[54:05] some regulations and
things of that nature that
[54:08] will go over for this.
[54:11] Yeah I'm just being I'm
just being the one year.
[54:16] Yeah I'm just being like.
[54:18] And the thing is, by us saying
one year doesn't mean that we
[54:21] have to go the full year.
[54:23] We could actually cancel it
at any time once the staff.
[54:27] But this way it doesn't put
all the burden right now
[54:29] on our staff to try to
come up with something
[54:31] within two weeks or three weeks
and allows them to research it.
[54:35] And, Mr. Price, I
appreciate the information
[54:37] you brought, because that way
they would be able to have
[54:41] more understanding as well.
[54:43] That's what's out there.
[54:44] But I would be in favor of a
moratorium, maybe not a year,
[54:48] maybe six months, but at
least give our staff the time
[54:52] and opportunity to be
able to do the homework
[54:57] and bring back something to us.
[54:58] And how long would it take us.
[55:00] We could get it
done in six months.
[55:01] But what I'm talking
about to get it approved,
[55:03] though once they
bring it back to us,
[55:06] it depends what
you decide to do.
[55:07] If you decide to do it on a case
by case basis is council member,
[55:11] price said, then you're done.
[55:13] If you decide you want
an ordinance to advertise
[55:16] and that takes about
maybe 3060 days.
[55:20] Got to go to p and z.
[55:21] They got to review it.
[55:22] They have to approve it.
[55:23] That's another 3060 days.
[55:25] So you're probably talking.
[55:28] 1234, 5, six months
from the time
[55:31] you say, we want to do this,
to get through the planning
[55:37] and zoning board advertising
twice back to the city council
[55:41] to amend your codes.
[55:43] I mean, what all you're
probably going to do
[55:44] is amend the codes for these
particular types of facilities.
[55:51] I'd hate to see us pass up
an opportunity to not allow
[55:54] a 10,000 square foot building
in an industrial park to not
[55:58] come in here, because of all the
myths surrounding these places.
[56:03] I just don't think we should
limit ourselves like that.
[56:08] And I think that I don't really
know enough about data centers
[56:13] and don't care to.
[56:15] That's not the direction
I want our city to go.
[56:19] And I think we're so
limited on property.
[56:22] We're so limited on what
we can do commercially
[56:25] or I know we have
industrial parks.
[56:27] I don't even know how much
property is left in those.
[56:30] I certainly don't
want them to start
[56:32] encroaching on up
to Highway frontage
[56:36] with these industrial parks.
[56:38] And if we added
we're losing out.
[56:40] We are so limited to what
we can do commercially.
[56:44] I would rather let data
centers go to the other cities.
[56:48] Let us keep our acquaintance,
acquaintance that we have
[56:52] and keep going in the
direction that we're going.
[56:56] I mean, how many
other cities have
[56:58] a Publix on a two lane road.
[57:00] I really haven't been to one.
[57:01] I feel like we're really
fortunate to have.
[57:04] I want to keep growing things
that are good for our residents
[57:09] that we have.
[57:10] I don't really I don't
see a data center
[57:13] as something that would
enhance the quality of life
[57:17] in the city of Tavares.
[57:19] To be honest with you, I see
visually encroaching on up
[57:22] into our commercial space and
I just think we can do better.
[57:28] And I know the data center will
bring in all these tax dollars
[57:31] and they're not going
to use any water in.
[57:33] They're not going to do
anything to our electric
[57:36] and it'll be jobs.
[57:37] But, if you go different
places that I've traveled
[57:42] and watch things
change like up in,
[57:45] up in let's say Georgia
up there and they
[57:47] started with one rug place.
[57:50] And then next thing when
you're driving up there,
[57:53] it's absolutely beautiful.
[57:54] And then all of a sudden, you
have all these buildings just
[57:57] building after
building, after building
[57:59] these huge, huge buildings
and that's all they have.
[58:03] That's what their town is now.
[58:04] They have nothing left.
[58:06] If you go up there
in those areas,
[58:08] there's just nothing left for
quality of life initiatives,
[58:12] quality of life
businesses that can
[58:14] still come into the community
and make a good living.
[58:18] I mean, that's really
what I'm looking for.
[58:21] I don't want to be a
city of industrial parks.
[58:25] I'd rather keep going in the
direction that we're going.
[58:27] Well, I'm saying not.
[58:29] We have existing
industrial parks,
[58:32] existing land now
that could accommodate
[58:34] one of these smaller things.
[58:36] And these are high
paying, high tech
[58:37] jobs that you come to our area.
[58:40] And I just don't think we
should hamper ourselves.
[58:43] If you want to
put a limit, fine.
[58:44] I mean, we limited the
amount of those gaming places
[58:48] that could be to various.
[58:49] We had an ordinance that
limited the number of those.
[58:51] I mean, you could always
limit it if you wanted to
[58:52] at some point,
but I really don't
[58:54] think we're going to be the
hotbed for data centers anyhow.
[58:58] They're out there looking
for 2000 5,000 acres.
[59:01] They're not looking for
one acre and Tavari.
[59:03] I don't really I
think it's all really
[59:05] going to be kind of a moot
point, which is why I'm just
[59:08] soon leave everything alone.
[59:10] And if something comes up and we
can address it when it comes up.
[59:12] I don't think we're going to
have much of a problem with it.
[59:15] Well, I mean, one
thing I would say
[59:16] is that if this is off
subject but not off subject,
[59:21] if we lose on Amendment three
and we lose on property taxes
[59:24] coming in, we need to make up.
[59:26] If we're going to need
to make a revenue.
[59:28] Revenue is going to come from
businesses and places like that.
[59:31] So I think limiting our I
agree with Council price
[59:33] that limiting us from
being absolutely out of it
[59:37] is not a great idea.
[59:38] I support the
moratorium to make sure
[59:40] that we do a thorough study.
[59:42] But I don't think we
should just say no.
[59:45] And I really don't even care
about having a moratorium,
[59:49] to honest with you.
[59:50] If we're going to leave it open,
then let's just leave it open.
[59:53] And whoever suggested
case by case,
[59:56] I mean council member
price just a bit.
[59:59] I think that's a great idea.
[1:00:01] I mean, I'm not so close minded.
[1:00:03] That's not the direction
I saw the city going.
[1:00:05] But as long as we keep
control, if it's just
[1:00:08] not a runaway train,
just dropping buildings
[1:00:11] everywhere within our city.
[1:00:13] I just that that's
not what Tavares is.
[1:00:16] I agree with you.
[1:00:16] So I personally
would just say, let's
[1:00:20] not waste any more time on this,
but that would be option three.
[1:00:25] Yeah well, and
I'm going to ask I
[1:00:28] know that no one
has turned anything,
[1:00:31] but is there anyone
in the audience
[1:00:32] that would like to speak
Mr. Santoro, come on up.
[1:00:38] In my peripheral vision, I could
see you flailing back there,
[1:00:42] so I thought, I better get.
[1:00:43] Mayor members of
council, Mr. Drury,
[1:00:45] city staff MS Holt, Gary's into
our royal harbor every weekend.
[1:00:49] As part of my routine,
I go by a certain.
[1:00:51] I drive-through the city.
[1:00:52] There's one section
of town that continues
[1:00:56] that I continue to watch.
[1:00:57] A for sale sign goes up
and it comes back down.
[1:01:00] It's a large, wide open section
off of 448 near Shirley shores.
[1:01:05] A structure like this would
fit perfectly out there,
[1:01:08] and it's adjacent to
that waterway lake
[1:01:11] that's sitting out there.
[1:01:12] So I. I don't know
when Phil was here,
[1:01:17] a developer talked to him about
water and stuff like that.
[1:01:19] And then they backed out.
[1:01:20] So that's the one big,
large portion of property
[1:01:25] that you have left
that someone's
[1:01:28] going to grab to do something.
[1:01:30] And it's large.
[1:01:32] Thank you, Mayor.
[1:01:33] Thank you, Mr. Santoro.
[1:01:36] All right.
[1:01:36] So any more discussion
or do we have a motion.
[1:01:39] Well, do we want to put a limit,
as Mr. Price may be stipulated?
[1:01:43] as far as how many
of those we allow.
[1:01:46] No someone may come in,
and there's a perfect piece
[1:01:49] of property on the
outside of town
[1:01:50] that could bring in thousands,
hundreds of thousands of dollars
[1:01:55] to the city of Tavares.
[1:01:56] I'm willing to
listen, but I don't.
[1:01:59] What I'm saying is I don't
want to structure wise.
[1:02:01] Are we talking about
one, 2, 3, 4, 10, 20.
[1:02:05] Let them come in and
make us an offer.
[1:02:08] Yeah I mean, why close
the door when someone
[1:02:11] might bring the perfect.
[1:02:12] That's just my thought.
[1:02:13] Someone may bring something.
[1:02:15] I don't want them here, but if
it's on the outskirts of town
[1:02:18] that hardly anyone sees unless
they're actually driving to it.
[1:02:24] As long as it's not taking up
anything more or less in town
[1:02:28] where we want our
commercial frontage
[1:02:30] to remain commercial frontage
with commercial buildings.
[1:02:34] That's my thought.
[1:02:35] I don't want to close
the door on anything that
[1:02:37] could produce good
money for the city,
[1:02:40] but it has to be done our way.
[1:02:43] Well, I'll make a motion
that we approve option three.
[1:02:46] I'll second that.
[1:02:49] Option 3 is the case by case.
[1:02:51] Yes, and I'll agree to that.
[1:02:54] I just want to say again out
loud, this is not Tavari vision.
[1:02:57] This is not Tavari.
[1:03:00] This is not what we want here.
[1:03:02] It's just not with
respect to Mr. Santoro,
[1:03:06] who I have a great
respect for I don't
[1:03:07] want Shirley sauce, a gigantic
piece of a gigantic building
[1:03:11] on this land.
[1:03:11] I just don't want it.
[1:03:14] It's just not our vision.
[1:03:15] These data centers are not
our vision here in Tavares.
[1:03:19] This is not.
[1:03:20] That's Anytown, USA.
[1:03:21] Again, I use that a lot.
[1:03:22] This is not the quaintness.
[1:03:24] The small town charm.
[1:03:25] It's growing unwisely.
[1:03:28] I do not like this at all.
[1:03:29] I will, I'm going to vote with
KDKA so that as they come,
[1:03:33] we'll review them and
see what they want.
[1:03:35] That is what we've always done.
[1:03:36] So I'm going to
continue with that.
[1:03:38] I just wanted to be out here
saying I don't like them.
[1:03:41] That's not Tavares
American seaplanes vision
[1:03:45] to have these things boom.
[1:03:48] Even again, there might
be a industrial park
[1:03:51] that some of these buildings
aren't even being used
[1:03:53] and the place wants to
come in and get rid of them
[1:03:55] and they'll put the building.
[1:03:57] That's why I agreed
to this, because maybe
[1:03:59] if it's an already an
established industrial park
[1:04:01] that's just dying.
[1:04:03] Let's fix it up
with one of these.
[1:04:04] But I just want you to
know that, two, 3, 4.
[1:04:11] Nah, it's just not happening.
[1:04:13] It's not our vision.
[1:04:13] That's not where we want to go.
[1:04:15] No, we could limit these
to industrial zoning only.
[1:04:18] We don't.
[1:04:18] We just say they're not.
[1:04:19] They're not allowed
in commercial.
[1:04:21] Absolutely that's why
we'll go case by case.
[1:04:24] That's what we've always
done, that this council
[1:04:26] has always done that.
[1:04:27] And I agree to that.
[1:04:28] That's what makes us work so
well together that we do that.
[1:04:31] So we have a motion
for option three.
[1:04:34] But I didn't hear
the wording in it.
[1:04:36] We just said make a motion
to accept option three.
[1:04:40] Are we're providing the staff
with an alternate direction of
[1:04:46] we're going to do case by case.
[1:04:48] Correct is that
what the motion was.
[1:04:50] Yeah right.
[1:04:51] So we have a motion
and a second.
[1:04:53] All those in favor.
[1:04:56] Passes 5 to 0 for option
three case by case.
[1:05:01] 
[1:05:07] OK, now we're going
to have Mr. Bob
[1:05:10] tweedy, our economic development
King King of the kingdom.
[1:05:18] Let's hear all that you
got to tell us about.
[1:05:20] Good evening.
[1:05:22] Mayor members of
council, for the record,
[1:05:24] Bob tweedy, your economic
development director.
[1:05:26] The city council has prioritized
commercial and industrial growth
[1:05:30] within the city to enhance
employment opportunities,
[1:05:34] the commercial tax base, and
overall economic, health,
[1:05:38] well-being and prosperity
of our community.
[1:05:41] Although the city has
adopted and implemented
[1:05:43] a well thought out,
comprehensive and successful
[1:05:47] economic development
strategy and that is attached
[1:05:50] in your package, current
financial incentives
[1:05:53] are limited to a waiver
of city impact fees, which
[1:05:56] are applicable only to
large scale seaplane
[1:05:59] plane related businesses.
[1:06:01] And that's ordinance 2024 1511,
which is also in your packet
[1:06:06] as a means of stimulating
further economic growth
[1:06:10] in these areas, council
may wish to consider
[1:06:13] enhancement of this incentive
with the following one.
[1:06:18] Expanding current permanent
waiver of applicable city impact
[1:06:22] fees under ordinance 2024
1511 and removing the seaplane
[1:06:27] related only provisions,
including all manufacturers that
[1:06:31] create 25 or more
full time employees
[1:06:34] or 25 and/or 25 equivalent
residential units or eras.
[1:06:40] Two development of an
additional new ordinance,
[1:06:43] waiving all applicable
city impact fees,
[1:06:46] and/or building permit fees
for new commercial development
[1:06:49] within the city for a limited
period of time, for example, one
[1:06:53] year or 18 months with
a phase in period,
[1:06:56] perhaps of an additional
6 to 12 months at 50%
[1:07:00] A similar program
was put into place
[1:07:02] Citywide for all development
in the 2009 to 2011 time frame.
[1:07:08] During a period of
economic downturn,
[1:07:11] that program resulted in
significant private commercial
[1:07:15] investment in the city
to include projects
[1:07:18] such as the Downtown hotels, the
big house and the osprey lodge,
[1:07:22] to name a few.
[1:07:23] And that was in the tens
of millions of dollars
[1:07:26] worth of investment overall.
[1:07:29] If the city council approves
one or both options,
[1:07:32] staff will work with
the city attorney
[1:07:34] to develop formal ordinances for
presentation and consideration
[1:07:39] by the Council, by the
Council at a future meeting.
[1:07:42] And I'm happy to answer
any questions you may have.
[1:07:46] Back to you, Mayor.
[1:07:47] All right.
[1:07:47] Thank you, Mr. Tweedie.
[1:07:49] Council, do you
have any questions.
[1:07:51] Do we have any seaplane
manufacturers still.
[1:07:54] We do not.
[1:07:55] We had, as you all are
aware, sea ray, which
[1:07:59] was located out on 19 by Lake.
[1:08:04] They went out of business.
[1:08:05] They are in the process of a new
Owners have bought that company
[1:08:10] the license to
produce that aircraft,
[1:08:14] and they actually
are in the process
[1:08:17] of working on a development
actually on the other side
[1:08:21] of Lake Ida mirror.
[1:08:22] They've talked to city staff.
[1:08:24] Their engineers are
working on a site plan
[1:08:26] and coming back with
a new development
[1:08:30] of a new and improved sea ray
and a new and improved sea
[1:08:34] ray manufacturing facility,
potentially on Lake Mirror.
[1:08:41] Figure out is that
on the North side,
[1:08:44] that would be on the East
side of Lake Ida mirror.
[1:08:49] So Southeast Southeast
corner of the lake.
[1:08:52] 448 561 61 intersection area,
across from the County property
[1:09:00] where the.
[1:09:02] Yeah where the Renaissance
animal shelter.
[1:09:05] Yeah, exactly.
[1:09:06] And Mr. Drury, can you.
[1:09:13] This is something
that's very dear to me.
[1:09:16] Is this.
[1:09:19] These waivers.
[1:09:20] And let me explain why.
[1:09:22] 20 years ago, when I
first got on the council
[1:09:25] and Mr. Drury first began as our
city administrator, the taxes
[1:09:34] for the city were 90,
10, 90% of the taxes
[1:09:41] were on the back of the
residents, which is horrible.
[1:09:46] And we went out and
when we first did this
[1:09:49] and there was all this
housing, all this new housing
[1:09:52] built and we just had different
things going on in Mr. Drury.
[1:09:56] We got that down to.
[1:09:58] Was it 60-40.
[1:10:00] Very close to 60/40.
[1:10:02] And then we had all this
housing start and we had.
[1:10:09] We had housing developments
that had been approved,
[1:10:13] 19 years before.
[1:10:15] Which a lot of us
didn't even remember.
[1:10:17] And all of a sudden.
[1:10:18] So now we have all.
[1:10:19] These different developments
built in all this housing.
[1:10:22] And the same thing happened
has happened again.
[1:10:25] We've crept back up to what I
think we're probably in the 70s.
[1:10:31] Yeah, somewhere around there.
[1:10:33] So I felt like we have
lost a lot of traction.
[1:10:35] So to me doing this
for the commercial
[1:10:39] based building build
outs, I think it's
[1:10:43] going to help tremendously.
[1:10:45] I would love the thought
of this just filling up all
[1:10:48] the commercial highway
frontage that we have
[1:10:51] when the word gets out.
[1:10:53] And I like that they put in
here that we can readdress
[1:10:57] it and find out, if we need.
[1:11:01] And we expanded it.
[1:11:02] I remember before
when we had it,
[1:11:04] we went a little bit
longer for whatever reason,
[1:11:07] because people were
not quite ready to come
[1:11:10] in and get their approval,
and we had done that.
[1:11:12] But I think this is great.
[1:11:15] It absolutely worked before,
and I think it will work again,
[1:11:18] because I would love to
see us get those numbers
[1:11:22] back to where we once had them.
[1:11:23] And we were so close.
[1:11:25] And I'm just excited to
see what can become of this
[1:11:31] if we pass this.
[1:11:33] 
[1:11:36] I wasn't aware that we
back during that time
[1:11:38] that we did the
building permit fees.
[1:11:41] I know the impact fees
we did, but I wasn't
[1:11:43] aware the building permit fees.
[1:11:45] Well, we did just impact fees.
[1:11:47] There was a revision.
[1:11:49] So you initially started
you did a revision
[1:11:51] to include for a
limited period, I
[1:11:53] think the building
permit fees you could pay
[1:11:56] after at a later date, I think.
[1:12:00] Yeah, we did do
building permit fees.
[1:12:02] I think you still
have to pay them.
[1:12:05] But instead of paying them
at the time of applicant,
[1:12:08] we moved it at the time of Ko.
[1:12:11] There had to be paid
before, but they had to pay.
[1:12:14] I just didn't remember that we
completely waived is a deferral.
[1:12:19] I believe it was a deferral.
[1:12:21] Yeah we could do that again.
[1:12:25] I know someone put a $1 million
building on an out parcel.
[1:12:32] How much money we would lose if
we weren't collecting the impact
[1:12:35] fees or building fees.
[1:12:38] I would punt over to I think,
community development director.
[1:12:43] Yeah, I think we bring
back an ordinance to you.
[1:12:45] We would answer that question.
[1:12:46] We'd have if you want us
to head in this direction,
[1:12:49] then we would have all of
that information for you.
[1:12:52] Well, how is the
current commercial,
[1:12:57] especially retail interests,
into areas going at the moment.
[1:13:03] It's pretty good.
[1:13:04] We as you're aware,
especially Mr. Price,
[1:13:07] we engaged thanks to
council's appropriation
[1:13:10] in last year's budget
for a retail consultant.
[1:13:14] They've been working hard at
it, developed work with us
[1:13:17] to develop a very well
thought out strategy and plan,
[1:13:21] which they've been
implementing, and they're
[1:13:22] gaining some great traction.
[1:13:24] They've got a couple of
prospects in the hopper
[1:13:27] right now for some
properties out on 19
[1:13:31] that are in negotiation with
potential commercial developers.
[1:13:36] So it's going along pretty well.
[1:13:39] I spoke to them about this
last week in advance of this
[1:13:43] and they're very excited.
[1:13:45] They said it's a very
competitive market.
[1:13:48] These retail
commercial developers
[1:13:50] are looking at they're not
just looking at Tavari.
[1:13:53] They're looking about
around the whole area.
[1:13:55] And it could definitely
give us an edge
[1:13:59] when it comes down to final
selection of those types
[1:14:05] of commercial operations.
[1:14:06] When potential retail
clients come to see you,
[1:14:12] is this something that
they've expressed interest in
[1:14:14] is some kind of a waiver of
impact fees to help them.
[1:14:18] Is that something that would
push them over the top.
[1:14:20] We have had
commercial developers
[1:14:23] that have indicated that it
would be very, very helpful.
[1:14:30] What do you think council.
[1:14:35] How would you like to move.
[1:14:36] 
[1:14:38] I move to approve
the suggestions
[1:14:40] from the economic department
both items one and 2.
[1:14:46] Are we talking about.
[1:14:48] I think so, yes.
[1:14:49] Yeah this is all for commercial.
[1:14:52] This isn't for residential.
[1:14:54] No, this is commercial.
[1:14:55] Industrial I'll
second that motion.
[1:14:59] And second, any more discussion.
[1:15:00] Just a question.
[1:15:01] What was the motion
again to approve
[1:15:05] the above suggested
economic development,
[1:15:07] to remove the industrial plane.
[1:15:10] Related and to whatever it said,
add a new Impact fee waivers
[1:15:18] for a limited time for
commercial development
[1:15:20] and bring that back
to you in ordinance
[1:15:23] form for your second
review and approval
[1:15:27] and just under discussion, if
you would as Mr. Price asked,
[1:15:31] if you could put that together,
a million, dollar, billion,
[1:15:35] million dollar building,
how much revenue would
[1:15:38] be lost from the impact fees.
[1:15:40] Nothing from the
building permit fees.
[1:15:43] Because they're just.
[1:15:44] 
[1:15:47] Deferred deferred.
[1:15:48] Yeah I mean, if we're
going to lose 50 grand,
[1:15:53] but get a million
building on $1 million out
[1:15:56] I think that's a
pretty good trade.
[1:15:59] Yeah we'll give you
the tax revenues
[1:16:02] and the future
contributions to the city.
[1:16:04] Yeah, I'm looking
forward to. right, right.
[1:16:07] Well, and that's where
I think when this
[1:16:08] was done back in that
period, because I
[1:16:12] was here at that time, 2009 11.
[1:16:15] That was the idea was,
yeah, you may lose upfront,
[1:16:20] but you gain over a period
of years of what you lost,
[1:16:24] you're going to gain because
of having that building there.
[1:16:27] So I think it's a
good idea what's
[1:16:30] going to happen to
projects that are already
[1:16:32] in the pipeline, such
as heritage square,
[1:16:36] depends on when they submit,
when this ordinance passed
[1:16:40] and when it's approved.
[1:16:41] I know I've had a couple of
meetings with a couple of people
[1:16:44] and they're basically
well, we're not
[1:16:47] quite ready to move forward.
[1:16:50] And we're looking at it closely.
[1:16:54] And what I like about
an ordinance that says
[1:16:57] got nine months to pull it
together or 12 all of a sudden.
[1:17:02] I mean, that's what
happened in 08.
[1:17:03] I mean, I had a lot of
people who said, yeah,
[1:17:05] we're not quite ready to
move as soon as we pass it.
[1:17:08] And I told the
owner of the hotels,
[1:17:13] 12 months to pull the trigger.
[1:17:15] Within 30 days, he was like,
OK, I'm going to take the risk.
[1:17:18] And it was a big risk.
[1:17:20] And it's Roger Kooser.
[1:17:21] Yeah Because the
economy was tanking.
[1:17:24] But I kept telling
him, you're going
[1:17:26] to get good pricing on your
lumber and your concrete
[1:17:30] and labor, and which they did.
[1:17:34] So it's a very powerful
economic incentive tool
[1:17:39] to get people to not just
sit on property and talk
[1:17:42] about doing projects,
but actually
[1:17:45] do them because they only
have 12 months to get it done.
[1:17:50] OK, yes.
[1:17:52] And I remember the stimulation
the last time when we did.
[1:17:55] I mean, we were the only
city we had people working,
[1:17:58] people were going out
working every day.
[1:17:59] All these houses
were being built.
[1:18:01] I mean, it was when we had
done that back in the whenever
[1:18:04] it was 2009, 8, 9, 10, whenever
it was when things were so bad.
[1:18:08] And I mean, the
people in our city,
[1:18:11] they were going to work every
day and had plenty of work
[1:18:14] to do.
[1:18:14] It was good.
[1:18:15] It definitely was
obvious that it.
[1:18:18] I have one other point.
[1:18:20] I want a question
for clarification.
[1:18:23] Sure we're talking
about commercial.
[1:18:26] OK rental houses.
[1:18:28] 
[1:18:31] I House would be.
[1:18:33] That'd be single
family home, right.
[1:18:35] Commercially zoned.
[1:18:36] You could have
commercial within, say,
[1:18:38] a multifamily such as heritage
square, that sort of thing.
[1:18:44] But yeah, I mean, apartment
buildings, if it's commercially
[1:18:48] zoned, it would be eligible.
[1:18:51] It's not commercially zoned.
[1:18:52] It would not be eligible.
[1:18:53] Because also what we ran
into with what's happening
[1:18:57] on 19 there on that
corner, I don't
[1:19:00] know where they went if
they've even went any further
[1:19:03] where they're trying to build.
[1:19:04] Even though we
turned low income,
[1:19:07] it was where we
turned them down.
[1:19:10] Actually, it was turned down,
but yet they came live, local,
[1:19:15] and that is zoned
commercial industrial there.
[1:19:19] So that would qualify even
though that's apartment if it
[1:19:25] had a commercial component.
[1:19:28] The commercial was going to
be on the frontage of 19.
[1:19:31] The apartments were going to be
six story behind it as I recall.
[1:19:36] Yes so let's make sure the right
commercial gets here, please.
[1:19:43] That's a big thing.
[1:19:45] This is a great board.
[1:19:47] One of the best we've had.
[1:19:49] You all got to remember
that I think of Tavares
[1:19:52] as a blank Canvas,
or that we create
[1:19:54] a Currier and Ives scenario
with the cemetery Arboretum.
[1:19:59] What are we doing here.
[1:20:00] Everything that we do has
to be visually wonderful.
[1:20:03] Beautiful it has to be something
that if I can stand there
[1:20:06] and I'd want to take
a picture of that,
[1:20:08] that's how I visualize Tavares.
[1:20:10] But what makes this
group really good
[1:20:12] is that we can discuss
how we shall grow,
[1:20:14] but at the same
time, let's just not
[1:20:17] grow for the sake of growing.
[1:20:18] Make sure what commercial comes
in here is really worthwhile.
[1:20:22] There was a period
of time there that we
[1:20:23] had some things going in here.
[1:20:26] Like somebody mentioned.
[1:20:28] We don't.
[1:20:28] That's not what we want
when we talk commercial.
[1:20:31] And to give these
incentives to these people.
[1:20:34] We want to make sure that the
right commercials coming in.
[1:20:38] I'm looking forward
down at Publix.
[1:20:40] I'm looking forward
to going down there
[1:20:41] to go to a bonefish or
a Miller's ale house
[1:20:45] or something like that,
going to fight for
[1:20:47] the right commercial cheddars.
[1:20:50] Yeah there you go.
[1:20:51] There you go.
[1:20:52] Something like that.
[1:20:53] The one reason with
now we approved
[1:20:56] that laundromat
there, that eyesore
[1:21:00] has been there for so long.
[1:21:01] And at least the architecture
of that laundromat looked good
[1:21:04] and we needed
something there again.
[1:21:07] But would I rather had
something else there.
[1:21:09] Boy, I sure would have loved
to have something else there
[1:21:11] besides a laundromat there.
[1:21:13] But that the way
they've designed it,
[1:21:16] it's going to be nice looking.
[1:21:17] It's beautiful.
[1:21:18] It does enhance the landscape.
[1:21:19] And we don't have to
look at that eyesore
[1:21:22] that's there anymore.
[1:21:23] But again, at the
same time, I really
[1:21:26] want to watch for the proper
commercial that comes there.
[1:21:31] But we've got a
motion and a second.
[1:21:33] Yes, there was discussion.
[1:21:36] Sandy, when you brought
that up about that property,
[1:21:38] that because of the Live
Local and the low income
[1:21:41] housing that was
going to go there
[1:21:43] along with some commercial.
[1:21:46] How do we stop that.
[1:21:47] Because they're already
getting incentives.
[1:21:49] Still live local, still exist.
[1:21:51] It's still breathing.
[1:21:52] It could happen.
[1:21:54] You can't double dip.
[1:21:56] I mean, they can't come in and
want to do the commercial aspect
[1:22:00] of it within the
low income housing,
[1:22:02] because they're already
getting the break
[1:22:03] on the low income housing.
[1:22:06] They can't double dip.
[1:22:07] Yeah we'll work with
the city attorney
[1:22:08] to have a carve out that
meets statutory requirements
[1:22:11] in the ordinance that
we bring back to you
[1:22:13] to address that,
to the two concerns
[1:22:15] you've just brought forward.
[1:22:16] Yeah y'all understand
what I'm saying.
[1:22:19] Yeah, that's a good point.
[1:22:20] All right.
[1:22:21] We'll do it.
[1:22:22] Have a motion and a second.
[1:22:23] Any more discussion.
[1:22:25] All those in favor,
raise a hand.
[1:22:27] Motion passes 5 to 0.
[1:22:29] Thank you.
[1:22:29] OK thank you for your hard
work there, Mr. tweedy.
[1:22:36] All right.
[1:22:36] We're going to move on to
tab 14 budget workshop.
[1:22:42] The general fund
budget was presented
[1:22:45] to the city council on July
15, had a budget workshop.
[1:22:48] The enterprise and special
revenue fund budgets
[1:22:51] were presented to the council
at the August 5 budget workshop.
[1:22:56] The city council set the
maximum tentative millage rate
[1:23:00] of 7.2 Mills, and
the maximum tentative
[1:23:02] voted debt service
rate of 0.1335 Mills
[1:23:07] at the July 15 budget workshop.
[1:23:09] At this meeting, the five
year capital improvement
[1:23:12] plan will be presented, after
which the council will have
[1:23:15] an opportunity to discuss it
and then the proposed budget
[1:23:20] at the next item, tab 15.
[1:23:24] So with that, I'm going
to ask our finance
[1:23:27] director to present
the five year
[1:23:30] capital improvement program.
[1:23:33] 
[1:23:38] Council I'm here
to present to you
[1:23:41] some highlights of the
capital improvement program.
[1:23:44] Staff has prepared
some extra large copies
[1:23:47] for easy reading of the complete
program at the dais for you.
[1:23:51] Yes This thing if you want to.
[1:23:54] So that should you
have questions,
[1:23:56] it will be easier to read.
[1:24:00] And if you don't mind,
I'm going to read it from.
[1:24:02] I'm going to go through
the presentation from here.
[1:24:05] It is going to be
short and we're just
[1:24:07] going to hit the highlights.
[1:24:09] That way it'll come back to
council for your discussion.
[1:24:12] Sure all right.
[1:24:14] First, let's go over what
does capital assets mean.
[1:24:18] The government finance Officers
Association defines capital
[1:24:21] assets as assets of
significant value
[1:24:25] and having a useful
life of several years.
[1:24:28] City of Tavares.
[1:24:29] Anything with a
useful life of five
[1:24:31] or more years is
capitalized, and our capital
[1:24:35] threshold is $5,000.
[1:24:37] If an item costs that much, it
goes through the capital plan
[1:24:41] capital improvement program.
[1:24:43] The capital improvement
program, or CIP,
[1:24:45] is a plan for
capital expenditures
[1:24:48] to be incurred each year over a
fixed period of several years,
[1:24:53] usually five or six, setting
forth each capital project
[1:24:57] and identifying the
expected beginning
[1:25:00] and ending date
for each project,
[1:25:03] the amount to be
expended in each year,
[1:25:05] and the method for paying
for those expenditures.
[1:25:09] As you know me, I love quotes
that are right on target
[1:25:13] with what we're doing.
[1:25:15] Louis Pasteur said chance
favors the prepared mind.
[1:25:21] Our Ci plan SIP plan land
gives us that preparation
[1:25:26] for a prepared mind.
[1:25:29] Let's look at an overview of the
categories within the SIP plan.
[1:25:35] The total amount is $99,655,806.
[1:25:41] From fiscal year 2026
through fiscal year 2031.
[1:25:48] As you can see, we
have beautification,
[1:25:50] economic development, public
buildings and facilities,
[1:25:54] parks and recreation,
transportation, water facilities
[1:25:58] and improvements, wastewater
facilities and improvements,
[1:26:02] water reuse and reclamation,
solid waste, stormwater
[1:26:07] and general government.
[1:26:09] And as you can see, some
of the largest categories
[1:26:14] is the water, transportation
and wastewater
[1:26:18] sectors, as well as the public
buildings and facilities.
[1:26:22] Abilities OK, let's take
a look at the five year
[1:26:29] CIP categories in a
graphical perspective.
[1:26:32] And as you can see, potable
water, public buildings,
[1:26:37] wastewater, our parts of the
largest parts of our capital
[1:26:42] plan with
transportation and parks
[1:26:44] and recreation and
general government
[1:26:47] coming in right behind.
[1:26:48] 
[1:26:53] And then if you look
at the proposed funding
[1:26:55] on a graphical
pie chart, you can
[1:26:58] see that most of your funding is
going to come from general fund.
[1:27:03] This is the proposed funding,
state revolving loan funds
[1:27:07] for those capital
projects for water
[1:27:09] and wastewater and stormwater.
[1:27:12] And then we have
wastewater impacts
[1:27:16] that are going to
fund and strategically
[1:27:19] offset some of the SRF funding.
[1:27:22] And we have water wastewater
operations, general fund
[1:27:27] operations, operating revenue.
[1:27:29] 27% is proposed.
[1:27:30] That's pay as you go.
[1:27:32] There's 0 amount in
the proposed plan
[1:27:35] for general government debt.
[1:27:37] 
[1:27:40] Now this is a favorite
quote that Bret loves.
[1:27:44] Give me six hours
to chop down a tree.
[1:27:47] And I will spend the
first four sharpening
[1:27:49] the x Abraham Lincoln.
[1:27:51] 
[1:27:54] Now let's look at
some of the highlights
[1:27:56] for the general government CIP.
[1:27:59] This does not include
all of the capital items,
[1:28:02] but it's just intended to
highlight those that are.
[1:28:07] In fiscal year 2027,
total $1,566,682.
[1:28:14] As you can see, we've
got police vehicles.
[1:28:17] We've got breathing apparatus
for the fire department.
[1:28:20] We've got alleyway
improvements, road paving.
[1:28:23] We've got the West Main
Street streetscape.
[1:28:27] We've got signs to
define the waterfront,
[1:28:29] we've got the Veterans
Memorial plan and columbarium,
[1:28:33] and we've got cemetery,
laboratory, Arboretum
[1:28:36] and irrigation repair.
[1:28:38] And then we've got new vehicles
for parks and recreation,
[1:28:42] and then we've got
the Golden Triangle
[1:28:45] regional park, West
parking, restrooms,
[1:28:48] and sidewalk construction.
[1:28:49] 
[1:28:53] Now let's look at
some of the highlights
[1:28:55] for the enterprise fund.
$22,655,000 you've got
[1:29:01] several projects here.
[1:29:03] The largest one I'll
draw your attention to
[1:29:05] is the Citywide improvements
to drinking water system design
[1:29:08] and construction
that is anticipated
[1:29:13] to be all loan forgiveness.
[1:29:16] We will apply for an SRF loan.
[1:29:18] We meet all the requirements
as we go through the process.
[1:29:22] And then the loan is forgiven.
[1:29:23] That is, we think that is
just absolutely awesome.
[1:29:27] We have a base read phase 9.
[1:29:31] That's our antenna
program for me to read.
[1:29:34] Wastewater treatment
pump station.
[1:29:36] Upgrade their lift station.
[1:29:38] Install a bypass
for lift station 38.
[1:29:41] Pipelining wastewater
upgrade panel for pumps.
[1:29:45] Low pressure for
the sewer system.
[1:29:48] Hundreds kilowatt portable
generator and then some storm
[1:29:51] line repairs.
[1:29:54] Now let's take a look forward
for some of our locked projects.
[1:29:58] And if you look on
the screen above,
[1:30:01] you can see some of the
largest ones of the pavilion AC
[1:30:04] in design.
[1:30:05] We've got a fire engine
replacement there.
[1:30:08] We've got a senior
center on the long range
[1:30:11] planning for 1,000,008 50.
[1:30:13] We've got 9 million can plan
for SRF or wastewater treatment
[1:30:17] plant expansions and upgrades.
[1:30:21] We've got a million
725 on the plan
[1:30:24] for reclaimed water in
2028, and then more in 2029.
[1:30:29] And we have let's see.
[1:30:33] We've got several
for the recreation.
[1:30:38] We've got the dock pier.
[1:30:39] Well I won't go there.
[1:30:41] The ST Clair Abrams
project, which
[1:30:44] should that we're
currently working on
[1:30:46] should finish this year.
[1:30:49] But there's several there.
[1:30:51] And I encourage
you to take a look.
[1:30:53] And as we go through the
budget process each year,
[1:30:57] we take a look at all
of these projects,
[1:30:59] look at the priority for
them, and they may move up.
[1:31:03] They may move further out
into the future depending
[1:31:06] on the expected
funding opportunity
[1:31:11] to offset the needed projects.
[1:31:15] And that pretty much is a high
level view of your CIP plan.
[1:31:20] And we're here to answer any
questions that you may have.
[1:31:25] Mayor, back to you.
[1:31:26] Thank you.
[1:31:28] All right.
[1:31:29] Council, have any
questions for MS
[1:31:31] Houghton or discussion questions
for Mr. Questions anywhere.
[1:31:36] Comments hello.
[1:31:43] No thank you on this.
[1:31:50] Once again great job.
[1:31:53] Thank you.
[1:31:55] As you're reviewing it this
through the budget process.
[1:31:59] Should you have any
questions Brett and I
[1:32:00] will be happy to assist you.
[1:32:02] 
[1:32:05] All right.
[1:32:06] 
[1:32:08] How would you like to move.
[1:32:09] 
[1:32:13] I think the next item is I think
this was to receive the budget.
[1:32:20] I don't think there's a
vote required on this.
[1:32:22] All right.
[1:32:24] So we're moving on to continued
deliberations and updates Mr.
[1:32:30] Drury, and opportunities
provided the council to resume
[1:32:34] budget deliberations and
then finalize a draft budget
[1:32:38] for the first public hearing,
which is on Thursday,
[1:32:41] September the 3, 2026, at 5:05
PM and the second and final
[1:32:46] public hearing, which
is on Wednesday,
[1:32:48] September 16, 2026 at 5:05 PM.
[1:32:53] Based on discussions at
the last budget workshop,
[1:32:58] the proposed budget has
been updated to include
[1:33:01] two additional police officers.
[1:33:03] Starting on 7, 127 and
two new police vehicles.
[1:33:07] Additionally, the
proposed budget
[1:33:09] has been updated based on
current updates from the city's
[1:33:12] health and dental staff
vacancies, changes in health,
[1:33:15] dental insurance
coverage, et cetera.
[1:33:18] Exhibit A contains
the adjustments
[1:33:20] to the proposed budget.
[1:33:21] Should be noted that the city is
still waiting on final revenue
[1:33:24] estimates from the state
for state shared revenues
[1:33:28] and final costs for
general liability
[1:33:29] and workers' compensation
from the city's
[1:33:32] public entity insurer.
[1:33:34] It is anticipated
that these figures
[1:33:36] should be available before
the first public hearing.
[1:33:41] The original proposed budget
had in it 158,884, to be added
[1:33:49] into general fund reserves.
[1:33:52] The updated proposed budget,
reflecting the changes above,
[1:33:56] resulted in a $245,242
more in expenditures
[1:34:04] than in budgeted revenues.
[1:34:06] The changes we
did have increased
[1:34:10] what I recommended by 245.
[1:34:13] 242 therefore, in order
to have a balanced budget,
[1:34:17] it's recommended to reduce.
[1:34:20] The amount provided for general
fund reserves from 158 894 down
[1:34:26] to 0.
[1:34:28] This still maintains three
months of general fund
[1:34:30] reserves and the budget.
[1:34:33] And results in a lowering
of the 7.2 tentative millage
[1:34:38] rate down to a
millage rate of 6.992,
[1:34:45] to have a balanced budget
based on the changes
[1:34:48] you made at your last meeting.
[1:34:52] After the council deliberates
and finalizes the budget millage
[1:34:54] rates, they will be
brought back to the council
[1:34:57] with any final adjustments
from the state,
[1:34:59] along with supporting
resolutions for the two
[1:35:03] public hearings in September
for further public input
[1:35:10] on the council.
[1:35:13] So at this point, you have an
opportunity to instruct staff
[1:35:18] to move forward and bring
back the resolutions
[1:35:20] for the public hearings, as
is to make further adjustments
[1:35:27] to the budget and deliberate
anything you want pulled out,
[1:35:32] put in.
[1:35:34] We'll take notes and then we
would bring back any changes
[1:35:37] you have in the final, at the
next, at the next meeting,
[1:35:42] back to you.
[1:35:44] I have a change.
[1:35:45] So I know at the last meeting
we had discussed the opportunity
[1:35:54] to give over 20
years, five years
[1:35:57] health insurance going forward.
[1:36:01] I thought about that.
[1:36:03] I heard countless and I
mean countless responses
[1:36:08] from constituents, and no
one was in favor of that.
[1:36:13] I heard a lot of and I listened
to a lot of people's reasoning
[1:36:16] wise on that, and I have come
to agree with what they told me,
[1:36:21] so I am voting against that.
[1:36:24] 
[1:36:27] So you're saying you want
to pull that back out.
[1:36:30] It's back in OK.
[1:36:31] Correct all right.
[1:36:38] I have and I could
not go with that
[1:36:42] because to me that's telling our
staff that is not a director.
[1:36:49] You really don't
mean anything to us
[1:36:52] deal that we're only concerned
about the upper echelon.
[1:36:57] And that's not I don't think
this council's viewpoint.
[1:37:01] What I asked Mr.
Drury, was what could
[1:37:04] we do similar to what Leesburg
did with their employees
[1:37:08] over there to help out.
[1:37:11] And they came up with a
longevity plan over 20 years
[1:37:17] that we would contribute so much
money into that on our budget
[1:37:22] hearing this year.
[1:37:24] 
[1:37:28] I would love to do it this year.
[1:37:30] But if we did it this year, we
would have to go into reserves
[1:37:34] to be able to do it.
[1:37:35] And I'm not for going
into our reserves
[1:37:37] until I know what
happens in November.
[1:37:39] But if we were able to do
it, fund it, and the funding
[1:37:44] to do this would be $66,658.
[1:37:50] And they came up with a plan
that starts at five years
[1:37:55] and goes all the
way up to 20 years.
[1:37:59] But I would ask Mr. Drury
to share this with everyone,
[1:38:02] but I just.
[1:38:03] If you're interested in
something of this nature
[1:38:06] that it allows gives
them an incentive.
[1:38:08] It also what it does.
[1:38:10] It puts money in and is
paid out each December.
[1:38:13] But he can give that.
[1:38:15] And you can get what
MS Lori about it.
[1:38:17] Get more information that way.
[1:38:19] I'm not giving second hand and
mixing it up, but to me this way
[1:38:24] it gives every
employee something.
[1:38:28] And technically
what it comes out to
[1:38:29] is like a bonus at December,
that they could even keep it
[1:38:33] in there or roll it over
however they want to do,
[1:38:36] or they could do
something else with it.
[1:38:38] But it's something that
tells our employees.
[1:38:41] 
[1:38:43] We care about you.
[1:38:45] We may not be able to
give them a raise per se,
[1:38:49] but if we could do
something like this,
[1:38:51] it would be something there.
[1:38:54] But I talked to
another individual
[1:38:56] and they said it sounded like
this is a great way to do it,
[1:39:00] but I would prefer that you
gave the employees more money.
[1:39:03] If what you're telling me
their average salary is we
[1:39:05] need to increase their pay.
[1:39:09] And this would be an incentive.
[1:39:11] But like I say,
this is something
[1:39:13] that Mr. Drury can share
with you between now
[1:39:15] and the next meeting.
[1:39:16] And you can review it
and see and if you've
[1:39:18] got any questions about it.
[1:39:20] But this tells every employee
that you matter to us.
[1:39:25] We care about you and I. I
just I can't just nail down
[1:39:31] just one group of
people and say, OK,
[1:39:34] we're just going to do this.
[1:39:35] And I appreciate Mr. Collins
pulling back his vote on that
[1:39:40] because it does set a precedent.
[1:39:45] But if we could come
up with a 66,000,
[1:39:47] I have an idea for this
year, but I don't think Mr.
[1:39:50] Bernier would like it.
[1:39:51] 
[1:39:54] And that would be the $50,000
for that special event.
[1:39:57] I have a question
about that too.
[1:39:59] The 50,000.
[1:40:00] What does that cover.
[1:40:03] We would go out for proposals.
[1:40:06] They would submit a
proposal to this council,
[1:40:10] and then you would be given what
they're going to use it for.
[1:40:15] It would be various costs
associated with putting
[1:40:18] on an event of this caliber.
[1:40:21] So you'll get to see that in
the proposal process, probably
[1:40:25] in the October,
November time frame.
[1:40:28] They'll be making the
presentations to you
[1:40:31] on what that money
would be spent on,
[1:40:33] and it would be
legitimate event costs.
[1:40:37] Because that covers police
fire and clean up afterwards.
[1:40:43] I would assume everything
would be included in there.
[1:40:46] OK Mr. Mr. Grenier, the reason
I asked chamber what I did
[1:40:50] was because of this.
[1:40:52] If they would get on board
and they would come up
[1:40:54] with the funding
for that themselves
[1:40:57] because it benefits them and
the businesses around more than
[1:41:00] it does the city of Tavares.
[1:41:02] This is not a chamber
type of thing.
[1:41:04] Well, I'm just saying
chamber type of thing.
[1:41:07] It is an event that they
could do and promote and go,
[1:41:11] but I would be more apt to put
that $50,000 toward helping
[1:41:15] our employees on something there
that goes over a 20 year period.
[1:41:20] I think his event will generate
a lot of income for our city.
[1:41:25] A lot of income
for our businesses.
[1:41:27] It's projected to fill every
hotel room that we have.
[1:41:32] It's huge.
[1:41:33] We have people coming nationwide
or coming to the city of Tavares
[1:41:40] for this grand finale of
rival rails and history.
[1:41:44] It surprised me.
[1:41:45] I've never been interested
in it, but I'll be honest.
[1:41:49] Every time they did it before.
[1:41:51] What?
[1:41:51] you did it a couple
of years before.
[1:41:53] Five years.
[1:41:54] However long it was.
[1:41:55] And I just remember
it was very, very
[1:41:58] lucrative to the businesses.
[1:42:00] It truly was.
[1:42:01] I think we have to
have things like this.
[1:42:03] We have to promote
things like this
[1:42:06] to make sure that our
businesses here in the city
[1:42:10] remain and grow, which they
should be entitled to do.
[1:42:14] I darn sure would not take
that $50,000 from that.
[1:42:18] I love your idea.
[1:42:19] I mean, if you feel
like we need to do
[1:42:23] something more for the
employees, I understand that.
[1:42:26] I mean, I like to do a
whole lot more than we're
[1:42:28] doing for all of our employees.
[1:42:30] It's just.
[1:42:31] What can you do.
[1:42:32] Well, my interest is
keeping them here.
[1:42:34] That's what I want to do.
[1:42:35] We invest in them, and
I want them to stay.
[1:42:37] And I think something like
this would more likely
[1:42:43] keep them here versus us.
[1:42:45] Become a training ground,
and they go somewhere else.
[1:42:47] That's what I'm saying.
[1:42:48] Because years ago our thing was
with the police department when
[1:42:53] Stoney was when I was on council
years ago and we were hiring
[1:42:59] policemen, they were
here for maybe two years,
[1:43:01] and then they went elsewhere
because they got two years
[1:43:05] of training here and they
went elsewhere making maybe
[1:43:08] $10,000 or $15,000
more a year than
[1:43:10] what we could pay them here.
[1:43:12] And so what we got
to do to correct it.
[1:43:14] Well, we did over
a period of time,
[1:43:16] the council approved,
we increased the pay
[1:43:19] for the police officers,
and we did the same thing
[1:43:20] with the fire department.
[1:43:22] And we've tried to
do it with everybody.
[1:43:24] So I think we're
on the right track
[1:43:27] to try to create some type of
incentive to keep our employees
[1:43:30] so that they don't go elsewhere.
[1:43:32] Well, my thing on this,
what I wanted to do,
[1:43:36] I definitely was not trying to
wipe out the other employees.
[1:43:41] When you think about
it, general employees,
[1:43:45] they provide daily
services every day.
[1:43:47] Our general employees
are out there.
[1:43:50] They provide services
for our residents
[1:43:53] like police protection and fire
protection and parks and water
[1:43:57] and sewer and roads and
they're paid by the taxes
[1:44:01] that we bring in
the resident taxes.
[1:44:04] And if they work extra,
all of our employees,
[1:44:06] if they work extra, they get
paid time and a half overtime.
[1:44:10] They have ways to make extra
money by volunteering to do this
[1:44:15] where your department heads,
they manage the people
[1:44:20] and of course,
they get paid more.
[1:44:22] They're have much
more experience.
[1:44:24] They have much more education.
[1:44:27] They're out there they have
to be qualified to do this.
[1:44:32] But they manage the people,
they manage the budgets.
[1:44:36] They schedule the services,
daily services that we
[1:44:40] provide for our residents.
[1:44:42] They're also paid
by taxes and fees
[1:44:44] that we get by the residents.
[1:44:50] But they work extra to
they work extra applying
[1:44:56] for grants, securing
grants, and they
[1:45:00] don't get anything for that.
[1:45:02] They don't get anything.
[1:45:03] Their day is spent
managing their employees
[1:45:06] and their schedule and
doing logistics and getting
[1:45:09] people where they belong.
[1:45:12] It's the night time.
[1:45:13] It's the midnight
oil that they're
[1:45:14] burning most of the time
trying to get these grants,
[1:45:19] and they get a Pat on the back.
[1:45:20] I mean, that's all they get.
[1:45:22] And the city manager
and all the Department
[1:45:26] heads they have secured.
[1:45:29] And I want you to
hear this number.
[1:45:30] They have secured over
$100 million in grants.
[1:45:36] Our department heads, Mr.
Drury, and our department heads,
[1:45:40] have secured over $100 million
in grants for infrastructure
[1:45:46] and for the
residents of Tavares.
[1:45:51] So they get a Pat on the
back for all this extra work.
[1:45:59] And we are huge with
what we're doing.
[1:46:01] We have some of the best.
[1:46:02] I tell them all the time.
[1:46:03] Our department heads
are 1 in a million.
[1:46:06] I mean, I don't want
them to go anywhere.
[1:46:09] I don't feel like we're
not as competitive
[1:46:11] as we could be with their pay.
[1:46:13] So I'm back again wanting
to fight for this insurance.
[1:46:17] And I've just learned
different things.
[1:46:19] And to me, of all the things
that we could give them,
[1:46:24] this was one of the most
economical but meaningful.
[1:46:28] That would help a lot of
them in different situations.
[1:46:33] I'm not sure of the
exact money, but how many
[1:46:36] department heads do we have.
[1:46:38] John, and how many department
heads do we have that
[1:46:40] are even close to 20
years at this moment.
[1:46:43] I think there are 10
department directors,
[1:46:46] and we probably have
two or three that are.
[1:46:50] Yeah so it's minimal.
[1:46:52] It's absolutely minimal.
[1:46:53] But it's meaningful.
[1:46:55] So it's minimal.
[1:46:56] It's minimal but
it's meaningful.
[1:46:59] So I suggested it because
it's to provide health
[1:47:05] and wellness longevity benefit.
[1:47:07] That's what I want to
call it who have worked
[1:47:10] here for over 20 years
securing the grants
[1:47:13] and doing what they do.
[1:47:15] So I really want y'all to think
a little bit more about this
[1:47:20] and let's find out the cost.
[1:47:24] It we'll get no cost this year.
[1:47:27] Is that correct.
[1:47:28] This won't affect
this budget this year.
[1:47:30] No no it will not affect
the budget this year.
[1:47:34] If for some reason things
change, you can always come back
[1:47:38] and readdress this.
[1:47:39] You hate to take things away,
but if the economy tanks,
[1:47:42] then you have to do
what you have to do.
[1:47:44] And then as far
as the employees,
[1:47:46] and I'd be real excited
to hear what you
[1:47:48] have to say of
something we could also
[1:47:51] do for the general employees.
[1:47:53] We have good people here.
[1:47:55] I want to take care of them.
[1:47:57] And you're right.
[1:47:58] I was wrong to single out.
[1:48:01] I was more or less thinking
about what our department heads
[1:48:04] bring in, and that they
don't have the ability
[1:48:07] to make extra money.
[1:48:08] There is no time.
[1:48:09] At the end of the day.
[1:48:10] They've been here since some
of them o'clock this morning
[1:48:14] and they're still here now.
[1:48:15] This is what happens.
[1:48:16] They don't get paid
any more for this.
[1:48:18] They get paid X
amount of dollars.
[1:48:20] That's the point
I'm trying to make.
[1:48:22] I don't want to lose
them to another city
[1:48:24] because they get more benefits.
[1:48:26] I'm not.
[1:48:27] And the residents, every
resident I've talked to that
[1:48:30] has asked me about this.
[1:48:32] They completely understand
as long as it doesn't
[1:48:35] really affect them, they
understand and said,
[1:48:38] well, that's nice.
[1:48:39] I haven't had any.
[1:48:41] I had one person who
told me, a person
[1:48:44] who's not reasonable
to begin with told me,
[1:48:47] oh, well, I still don't
like it, so I'm willing.
[1:48:51] I mean, I really want
to keep this in here
[1:48:53] for so many reasons.
[1:48:55] Again, it's meaningful
but minimal cost.
[1:49:00] So let's talk to see
what we can figure out.
[1:49:05] Let's talk now, Sandy.
[1:49:06] What you're thinking
for the employees.
[1:49:09] What are you thinking
for the employees.
[1:49:11] Is there a way that we can
work this out where again,
[1:49:13] it's minimal to our budget.
[1:49:17] Well, like I say, the total for
this year, if we were to do it
[1:49:21] and go forward with it.
[1:49:22] But I really don't think this is
the year to do it with November
[1:49:27] hanging on us right now.
[1:49:28] As much as I want to do it,
the total would be 66 5565.
[1:49:33] I'm sorry.
[1:49:33] Yeah, 66,006 58.
[1:49:36] What this does is it
puts this in there
[1:49:39] and it gives them like
I said in December,
[1:49:41] it gives them like a bonus
and all it is deprived of $50
[1:49:46] a month for everything.
[1:49:50] Is that all employees or is it.
[1:49:52] Yeah, that would be employees or
employees or department heads,
[1:49:56] not Department heads.
[1:49:57] Every employee.
[1:50:00] Everybody includes
department heads.
[1:50:02] Every employee.
[1:50:04] And what it does is
the first five years
[1:50:10] would be a payment of $250.
[1:50:12] They've been here.
[1:50:15] Yeah the first five years
or after five years,
[1:50:18] the employee with
five years of service
[1:50:20] would receive $250 at December.
[1:50:23] And then it goes each
year after that at $50,
[1:50:28] all the way up to
20 years, where they
[1:50:30] would be eligible for $1,000.
[1:50:33] And this turns
out to be a bonus,
[1:50:37] but it gives them an incentive.
[1:50:39] What I can do is bring it
to you at your next meeting.
[1:50:43] We're going to be
doing a budget,
[1:50:45] and I can give you the effect on
if you want to do it this year,
[1:50:49] I'll give you the effect
on this year's budget.
[1:50:51] And then you can
at that meeting,
[1:50:54] I'll give you the whole plan
that he's been working on
[1:50:59] and present it to
you the next meeting
[1:51:01] and show you what the impact
of the two things are.
[1:51:06] Well, and I just see
right here in this email
[1:51:12] that we got director's health
proposal isn't with no impact
[1:51:15] on city administrator
recommended budget and no impact
[1:51:19] on the millage
there for this year.
[1:51:21] For this year.
[1:51:23] We discuss it next year,
but it has to go away.
[1:51:25] It goes away.
[1:51:26] I mean, at the following year
and again, then we could also
[1:51:32] talk about what you would like
for the rest of the city staff
[1:51:35] there.
[1:51:36] I think this is a great
incentive for directors who
[1:51:39] are here for that
extra work that they do
[1:51:41] that now keeps directors in
a nice, great administrative
[1:51:44] position.
[1:51:45] We continue to get all the
wonderful things they do
[1:51:47] that these not JustGrants,
but a lot of things
[1:51:50] that are done here.
[1:51:52] But at the same
time, I'd still like
[1:51:53] to come because we do give
raises to our staff members
[1:51:56] each year.
[1:51:57] But what other incentives.
[1:51:59] Yeah, that's right,
that's right.
[1:52:01] But it's usually pretty good.
[1:52:04] And to see what we can do to
make it even better is Cola.
[1:52:09] That's the cost of living.
[1:52:11] I mean, it doesn't make sense.
[1:52:12] Yeah, but I've had
others say, well,
[1:52:14] you're giving your
staff that much where
[1:52:16] others not even given the Cola.
[1:52:18] So anyways.
[1:52:18] But that's besides the point.
[1:52:19] What I'm saying is
that we can come up
[1:52:22] with something, some incentives
for the rest of the staff
[1:52:26] as well.
[1:52:27] Well, before y'all
say no to any of this,
[1:52:30] I would really like
for John to bring
[1:52:33] us back something to give us an
idea of what the cost will be.
[1:52:37] I Sandy, you figured it out.
[1:52:39] I want to hear from John.
[1:52:40] We started it.
[1:52:41] They figured it out.
[1:52:42] OK, well, they
figured that much out,
[1:52:44] but I want to know about this.
[1:52:46] For the directors,
the insurance.
[1:52:50] I still want to know about it.
[1:52:51] I haven't seen
the exact figures.
[1:52:53] I'd like to know
the expectations
[1:52:55] of where it would take us.
[1:52:56] And again, you can
always go back.
[1:52:58] And if it has to go
away, it has to go away.
[1:53:00] If you get in tight
times, I think
[1:53:02] everyone, when you're in your
home and times get tight,
[1:53:08] things go away.
[1:53:09] You do away with Netflix
or do you make adjustments,
[1:53:13] and I feel like and
I don't want to live.
[1:53:16] I've never been one to live.
[1:53:19] And this is because
I'm not like y'all.
[1:53:22] I'm not going to oh, we better
not spend any money because we
[1:53:24] might have a hurricane or we
better not spend any money
[1:53:28] because we might get a flood.
[1:53:30] I mean, I just
can't live that way.
[1:53:32] We'll make the adjustment
if this happens and if this
[1:53:35] happens, I don't
know how they think
[1:53:37] we're supposed to figure it out,
but I guarantee you we will.
[1:53:39] One way or another.
[1:53:40] We've figured out
worse times than to me
[1:53:43] than you saying about
the property taxes,
[1:53:46] I mean, 2029 or when was that.
[1:53:50] I mean, those were
horrible, horrible years.
[1:53:52] Every other house was
being foreclosed on.
[1:53:55] People were homeless.
[1:53:56] I mean, it was really sad times.
[1:53:57] And somehow the city
made it through.
[1:53:59] And I have complete confidence
that we will see through again.
[1:54:04] We have Walter, the
number cruncher here,
[1:54:06] who will make sure that if
something needs to go away,
[1:54:10] it will go away.
[1:54:11] There's no doubt about that.
[1:54:12] And I wouldn't vote
to keep something
[1:54:14] that we couldn't make work.
[1:54:17] I wouldn't but this
just seems so workable.
[1:54:21] And, Sandy, even what you're
saying, that seems fair.
[1:54:24] That seems very fair to do.
[1:54:26] But I'm not so
sure I'd want that.
[1:54:28] I mean, I don't think
the directors need both,
[1:54:31] I would rather divide it up.
[1:54:33] I'm more interested in trying
to keep my directors here for 20
[1:54:37] years because they're good.
[1:54:39] They bring in money,
they're familiar,
[1:54:41] they get things done, they know
where not to waste their time,
[1:54:45] where to put their efforts.
[1:54:46] They find us money.
[1:54:48] I don't think, but.
[1:54:50] But the employees would
much more the employees,
[1:54:53] not the directors.
[1:54:54] Let's divide that up.
[1:54:55] Now we have employees
and we have directors.
[1:54:57] I know they're all
employees, but just
[1:54:59] for the sake of conversation,
I would like to divide that up
[1:55:03] and say our directors,
I think, would
[1:55:05] appreciate more having
that insurance at the end,
[1:55:11] I really do.
[1:55:13] I'm finding with Meta, whatever
you call that stuff right now.
[1:55:17] So I just told my age
and it's horrible.
[1:55:19] I've never had so
many deductibles,
[1:55:21] and I have all these different
parts that everybody said,
[1:55:24] I pay more for insurance
than if I had a city policy.
[1:55:28] I pay more this matter.
[1:55:31] Something or other.
[1:55:31] You gotta get one for pharmacy.
[1:55:33] You have to get one
a different plan.
[1:55:35] You need this plan you need.
[1:55:36] That gives me a headache.
[1:55:38] But anyway, can I make a couple.
[1:55:41] You make.
[1:55:43] OK let's see.
[1:55:50] As far as Sandy's plan, I
don't think I'd want to look
[1:55:53] at that this year again.
[1:55:55] For the same reason.
[1:55:57] We don't know what's
happening in November
[1:55:59] with the property tax thing.
[1:56:01] If it's fine and we still
have a budget next year,
[1:56:04] let's take a look at it then.
[1:56:06] As I was against the extending
the health insurance for
[1:56:10] the directors for five years.
[1:56:12] I was a no on that
from the beginning.
[1:56:14] And I too have
received several phone
[1:56:17] calls this week from Citizens
saying, no, no, no, no, no.
[1:56:22] The problem is, if our
department heads were CEOs
[1:56:26] of their own
corporations, and they
[1:56:28] wanted to arrange for their
own golden parachutes.
[1:56:31] For their retirement.
[1:56:33] Great fantastic.
[1:56:35] But as far as the taxpayers
paying for additional.
[1:56:39] Health care for
insurance, for directors.
[1:56:43] No, I don't think
that's a taxpayer thing.
[1:56:46] So I would still be a
no on doing the five
[1:56:48] year extended health care.
[1:56:50] Plus, if they retire
before age 65,
[1:56:54] they can still continue
to buy insurance
[1:56:56] through the city at that rate.
[1:56:58] Is that correct.
[1:56:59] She's gone up.
[1:57:01] Or they can switch to Medicare
once they're at that age.
[1:57:04] But I can answer that.
[1:57:05] I'm still the answer
is yes, but keep going.
[1:57:07] So I'm still against that.
[1:57:12] I do, though, after hearing
about the potential economic
[1:57:19] impact of the rails
program that councilman
[1:57:24] Bernier has brought up.
[1:57:25] I'm still in favor of going
ahead with that event.
[1:57:28] I think the benefit to the
hotels, the restaurants
[1:57:33] and everything else
around here will way
[1:57:36] come in way more than 50 grand.
[1:57:38] I think it's a good
return on the investment
[1:57:39] for that particular event.
[1:57:42] You want to get the steam
train here for four days.
[1:57:44] I think that's going to bring
a lot of people into town just
[1:57:46] to want to see that,
if nothing else.
[1:57:48] So I'm still a no on
the health insurance,
[1:57:53] and I don't want to
start with either.
[1:57:54] Any other new plans
right now, because I'm
[1:57:56] very concerned about November 3
and the property tax Amendment.
[1:58:01] 
[1:58:03] Anyone else.
[1:58:05] Just as a point of
clarification, Bob,
[1:58:08] I am not against the
rails and rifles.
[1:58:10] I'm just against the
way the funding is.
[1:58:14] OK I still think the chamber
could get involved and help
[1:58:17] with the funding,
but to youth for them
[1:58:21] way out of their league.
[1:58:23] Well, way hey, they used
to do more than that.
[1:58:26] Way out of their league.
[1:58:27] I'm sorry.
[1:58:28] Yeah OK, well, can
we at least have
[1:58:32] Mr. Drury bring
back the information
[1:58:35] that I'd like to see or.
[1:58:38] And I'd also like to
see the information
[1:58:40] for the Department heads
if we brought them up
[1:58:42] to a more competitive salary.
[1:58:45] How much would that cost.
[1:58:48] So I want to see
what comes out of.
[1:58:52] The thing to understand is, I
think also is that the military.
[1:59:00] Has to be approved by all
five, I think for four.
[1:59:05] Yeah OK.
[1:59:07] So the 6.95 was the original.
[1:59:12] And from what I'm seeing now
it's Yes And so got to make sure
[1:59:20] we can justify that difference.
[1:59:25] Well, could still
go down a little
[1:59:28] depending upon
when we get actual.
[1:59:30] Yeah, our costs will be
in probably in two weeks.
[1:59:32] Yeah we'll have the
updated numbers.
[1:59:34] It could be worse.
[1:59:36] Yeah, well, but it
could be better.
[1:59:37] I like your positive attitude.
[1:59:40] Yeah, it could be better.
[1:59:42] Well, you're lowering
the tentative
[1:59:43] from 7.2 down to 6.9 right now.
[1:59:45] And if we can get
it lower, we will.
[1:59:47] There you go.
[1:59:48] All right.
[1:59:51] That's all I got on that.
[1:59:53] So what are we asking.
[1:59:55] So I think what I'm going
to do, what I'm going to do
[1:59:58] is leave the budget the way it
is with no under these changes
[2:00:02] that we heard today, we're going
to bring it forward to you.
[2:00:05] And in the meantime,
I'm going to put
[2:00:07] together more information
on the two proposals
[2:00:10] and the fiscal impact.
[2:00:12] And I will get that all
to you, and you'll have
[2:00:14] it before the next meeting.
[2:00:15] And then you can either
say, we're putting it in
[2:00:17] or we're not putting it in.
[2:00:19] Is that fair with everyone.
[2:00:21] Absolutely I don't mind
looking at actual numbers.
[2:00:25] Yeah, I'll get it to you.
[2:00:27] What was the thing that we said.
[2:00:29] The data that those
data buildings.
[2:00:33] So we're going to allow Mr.
Drury to put together the data.
[2:00:36] Yes the data pull up.
[2:00:39] You will have the data.
[2:00:40] 
[2:00:44] All right.
[2:00:45] So what else do we
need to talk about.
[2:00:49] Budget anything.
[2:00:50] No, I think we're good.
[2:00:51] We're going to put together
the resolutions, the budget.
[2:00:56] I'll give you the
data and then you'll
[2:00:59] make a final decision,
a semi-final decision
[2:01:04] at your September meeting.
[2:01:05] And then you'll make
a final decision
[2:01:07] at your two September meeting.
[2:01:09] And that's where it all.
[2:01:10] That's where the rubber comes.
[2:01:12] The rubber hits the road.
[2:01:15] All right.
[2:01:16] Perfect OK.
[2:01:17] We're going to move on
to New business council.
[2:01:19] Any new business about
any old business.
[2:01:25] About new old business.
[2:01:27] New old business in between.
[2:01:29] Normally she has the
new old business.
[2:01:31] But I just have been a
hard couple of weeks.
[2:01:35] I have my thought process
has been elsewhere,
[2:01:38] to be honest with you.
[2:01:39] OK we're going to go to
audience to be heard.
[2:01:44] I guess our only choice Mr.
Santoro, you and your wife
[2:01:47] are it.
[2:01:48] And we appreciate you
staying for all of this.
[2:01:51] Yeah, right down to the end.
[2:01:54] Mayor and members of
council Mr. Drury.
[2:01:58] City staff MS Holt, Gary
Santoro, Royal harbor.
[2:02:02] First and foremost,
I'm a proactive person.
[2:02:05] When I brought to you
about the property on 448,
[2:02:08] it was not because
I wanted to see
[2:02:09] the data processes out there.
[2:02:12] I'm concerned what's
going to happen out there.
[2:02:16] We ought to be proactive
on what we're going to do.
[2:02:18] If you go back into the minutes,
maybe three, four years ago,
[2:02:21] I brought before this council,
the city ought to consider
[2:02:24] buying a sliver of
property out there to put
[2:02:26] a remote pumping
station, because the way
[2:02:28] they're building out
there, and I don't want
[2:02:31] to speak for his department,
it's got to reach
[2:02:33] its maximum sooner or later.
[2:02:35] And what's going to happen.
[2:02:36] So that's my concern is what's
going to happen out there.
[2:02:40] I agonize with you
on your discussion
[2:02:43] on the salaries and
stuff like that.
[2:02:45] God knows I've sat through
them and there's nothing
[2:02:48] more demoralizing than sitting
in their seat listening
[2:02:50] to what you have to say.
[2:02:52] Whether they're worth it or not
has nothing to do with that's
[2:02:55] what it is.
[2:02:56] But that's the perception.
[2:02:57] And I can say that because
I sat in their seat
[2:03:00] and I went through
it for 25 years,
[2:03:02] I listened to that
during budget season.
[2:03:05] So I understand you have to
look out for the constituents.
[2:03:09] But I can also
tell you, I've sat
[2:03:10] in this audience where I've
heard people say, don't do this,
[2:03:13] don't do that.
[2:03:14] And those people have
moved out of Tavares.
[2:03:16] Guess what.
[2:03:17] I'm still here and I
still support this city.
[2:03:20] And I'll pay whatever you
want because I understand
[2:03:23] where it's coming from.
[2:03:25] And the last thing I
want to leave you with
[2:03:27] is I got something from this.
[2:03:29] This from somebody in
this room many years ago.
[2:03:33] Have a lot of admiration
for this person.
[2:03:36] Vision without implementation
is an illusion.
[2:03:39] Is that not right, Mr. drury?
[2:03:41] Yep continue the vision that
the city has been going.
[2:03:46] It's working.
[2:03:47] Yeah it may cost us
a few more dollars,
[2:03:50] but look at what it's got us.
[2:03:52] Thank you very much.
[2:03:54] Thank you, Mr.
Santoro MS Santoro.
[2:03:57] Would you like to come up.
[2:03:59] All right.
[2:04:01] He's the spokesperson.
[2:04:03] All right, so I guess
we're going to close.
[2:04:06] Audience to be heard, Mr. Drury.
[2:04:09] I guess I want to first of
all, congratulate the mayor
[2:04:13] for being re-elected unopposed.
[2:04:16] Congratulations on that.
[2:04:18] Vice mayor re-elected unopposed.
[2:04:21] Congratulations on that.
[2:04:24] Walter price has qualified.
[2:04:27] Congratulations on that.
[2:04:30] And with that, I will just
ask that the clerk read
[2:04:36] into the record the formal thing
that occurred in your office
[2:04:42] recently.
[2:04:44] Thank you, Mr. Drury.
[2:04:46] Qualifying closed on
August 17 because the 15th
[2:04:52] was on a Saturday
at o'clock o'clock
[2:04:54] o'clock o'clock o'clock noon.
[2:04:55] And the following people
are fully qualified.
[2:05:00] Seat one.
[2:05:01] Bob Grenier is a qualified
incumbent with no opposition
[2:05:04] for Tavares city
council seat one,
[2:05:06] and will not be
placed on the ballot
[2:05:08] and is elected
without opposition.
[2:05:11] Seat three.
[2:05:12] Amir Asghar and Walter
price have qualified
[2:05:16] and will be placed on
the ballot and seat five.
[2:05:19] Lawrie foster is a qualified
incumbent with no opposition
[2:05:22] for Tavares city council.
[2:05:24] Seat 5 will not be
placed on the ballot
[2:05:26] and is elected
without opposition.
[2:05:29] Congratulations Thank
you, thank you, thank you.
[2:05:33] Susie is that all
you have to say.
[2:05:37] Sorry back to you.
[2:05:38] OK, Chief.
[2:05:41] I have nothing to report, Mayor.
[2:05:42] Thank you, Mr. tweedy.
[2:05:45] Nothing further this evening.
[2:05:46] Thank you.
[2:05:47] Mayor Mr. O'Keefe, as we look
outside and see the dark skies,
[2:05:52] the National Weather Service
has just issued a severe weather
[2:05:55] statement for Tavares.
[2:05:57] So, are you telling
me to hurry up.
[2:06:02] I think he is.
[2:06:03] Hang on to your
hat as you leave.
[2:06:04] 
[2:06:07] Nothing further.
[2:06:08] Mayor, thank you.
[2:06:09] 
[2:06:15] They're looking at the clouds.
[2:06:16] I'm just looking at everybody.
[2:06:18] Scott nothing to miss Houghton.
[2:06:22] Thank you.
[2:06:24] Antonio thank you.
[2:06:28] No report.
[2:06:28] Mayor, thank you.
[2:06:30] Couple of things.
[2:06:33] The retention pond.
[2:06:34] The park going on.
[2:06:36] ST Clair is moving along.
[2:06:38] That's good.
[2:06:38] And I've had contacts
with individuals
[2:06:41] from Lake Francis there, and
they're asking questions.
[2:06:44] And I've told them
and they're like, wow,
[2:06:46] that'd be great to get rid of
some of that water over there.
[2:06:50] Those that are into
sports, little League
[2:06:54] World Series baseball is
going on as we speak now.
[2:06:58] Alabama was playing whenever
I left to come here,
[2:07:01] and I recorded it so I
could watch it later.
[2:07:04] But also.
[2:07:08] Arch of various police
department has been conducting.
[2:07:13] 
[2:07:15] What do you want to say.
[2:07:17] Speed control on ST Clair Abrams
in the morning and afternoons.
[2:07:22] And I appreciate
their attendance
[2:07:26] as I was there speaking with one
of the officers. there he goes.
[2:07:31] Because somebody going through
there about 25 miles an hour
[2:07:34] and I'm like, oh, no.
[2:07:36] But the thing that I
understand at the time,
[2:07:38] they were just issuing
warnings to slow down
[2:07:41] that school has started back.
[2:07:43] And also we've
received, I'm sure you
[2:07:45] have some emails
from some residents
[2:07:48] about the traffic and things.
[2:07:51] And as I was telling
our chief, this
[2:07:53] is something that's been
going on since she was
[2:07:56] in elementary school and that
we've had traffic every year,
[2:08:04] the first two weeks of
school, and sometimes it
[2:08:06] runs into the third.
[2:08:08] But by the time the
parents get to the place
[2:08:09] where they feel confident that
their children can ride the bus
[2:08:13] or walk or something
of that nature there,
[2:08:15] then the traffic dies down
and it's back to normal.
[2:08:18] But our police
department has been
[2:08:20] doing a great job there,
overseeing that and trying
[2:08:24] to ensure the safety.
[2:08:25] And as I mentioned
earlier, I'm maybe
[2:08:31] here tonight and gone tomorrow.
[2:08:33] I don't because of my situation
with my wife's oldest sister,
[2:08:37] but if we have to go, I plan to
be back before the next council
[2:08:43] meeting.
[2:08:44] But just be in prayer
for us for safe journey,
[2:08:49] because you never know what we
saw so many accidents happening
[2:08:52] as we were coming back from
Tennessee a couple weeks ago,
[2:08:56] and one was real severe.
[2:08:58] It had the whole I-95
intersection, all four lanes
[2:09:02] tied up, one car on the
side, so be safe out there
[2:09:07] and please observe
the school zones.
[2:09:10] Be safe there in
the school zones.
[2:09:12] Thank you.
[2:09:15] All right.
[2:09:16] A couple quick things.
[2:09:17] I think I know we kind of
touched on the Florida league
[2:09:20] of cities, but I think there was
some good information put out
[2:09:22] there.
[2:09:23] I know I learned a lot of
things during that time.
[2:09:25] So I appreciate the
opportunity to go
[2:09:27] and hopefully I can bring some
of those back Mr. Santoli,
[2:09:30] I appreciate what you said.
[2:09:32] I see your perspective
without a doubt.
[2:09:35] I think it's a tough situation.
[2:09:39] I hate to think that
I would be a lower
[2:09:42] morale for our directors.
[2:09:44] I try to be as considerate
of them as possible.
[2:09:48] But I can understand
what you were saying.
[2:09:50] So I certainly see
that but I will.
[2:09:54] I'm going to start doing
my whatever you want
[2:09:57] to call open house Thursdays,
the third Thursday of the month,
[2:10:00] from o'clock to o'clock.
[2:10:01] That would be tomorrow, but
I just did one a week ago.
[2:10:04] So I will start that next
month and not instead
[2:10:07] of tomorrow, just because I've
already done one this month
[2:10:10] and I have to take
the dog to the vet.
[2:10:11] So I already had that kind
of dog, had to go to the vet.
[2:10:15] And then the last thing I
had is just great job again.
[2:10:19] Public works and us
getting that award
[2:10:21] I think that was like I said,
Walter and I were beaming
[2:10:25] as we were standing there and
one of the only names coming up
[2:10:29] across the thing, I mean,
again, five names coming across,
[2:10:33] and here's Tavari one of
them's like Tallahassee.
[2:10:35] They were ones
everybody heard of.
[2:10:37] Nobody had really heard
that much of us by the time
[2:10:39] they were done.
[2:10:40] They knew who we were.
[2:10:41] So that's a great thing.
[2:10:42] So good job.
[2:10:44] Yeah, I mainly was just going
to talk about the Florida
[2:10:46] league of cities
conference we went
[2:10:49] and to various
winning the award.
[2:10:51] Like I say, it's
very good for you
[2:10:54] to hear when other people say,
oh, I know where Tavares is.
[2:10:56] I love Tavares, I go
through there all the time.
[2:10:59] You got a great thing
going on and I'd
[2:11:01] just love to hear that and keep
up the good work, everybody.
[2:11:05] It's great.
[2:11:06] It really is great
to hear all of that.
[2:11:08] God bless Tavares and happy
days and be careful out there.
[2:11:14] Mayor oh.
[2:11:15] It's me Mr. Santoro, you
talked about what John says,
[2:11:19] and I love that statement
that he makes all the time.
[2:11:22] It's a great one.
[2:11:23] You said something
that resonated with me.
[2:11:26] The very first email you
ever sent me at the bottom.
[2:11:29] And I use it today when I
send letters out to people.
[2:11:34] You said, when it's all over,
it's not who you were, it's
[2:11:38] whether you made a difference.
[2:11:39] And I have lived by that from
the day you sent it to me.
[2:11:43] I always think about that when
I'm trying to make decisions.
[2:11:47] The right decision.
[2:11:49] But somehow now
you've changed it.
[2:11:53] So now we have those that
fail to learn from history
[2:11:58] are doomed to repeat it.
[2:12:01] I hadn't really gotten into
that one yet, I like it.
[2:12:05] I'm still stuck
on that other one.
[2:12:07] But I want to tell you,
I really appreciate
[2:12:09] you sending those out
to me because they
[2:12:11] do make a difference to me.
[2:12:13] But thank you.
[2:12:15] And I really have
nothing else to say other
[2:12:17] than it was a good meeting.
[2:12:19] I love how we discuss things.
[2:12:21] Other councils will be
screaming at each other
[2:12:24] and throwing their budget
books and blowing up.
[2:12:30] And we just always
seem to get through it.
[2:12:32] And we still like each other
when we leave here, regardless
[2:12:35] if we disagree or not.
[2:12:38] And that's something we've
always been able to do.
[2:12:41] And I'm going to have to just
give Mr. Drury a little promo
[2:12:47] here, because of him.
[2:12:50] Because I am a little out there.
[2:12:52] I mean, I'd like to
jump into a conversation
[2:12:56] and get loud and get my way.
[2:12:58] But he's taught me how
to be better at this.
[2:13:03] How to be respectful to
all the other members,
[2:13:06] how to be respectful
to the audience.
[2:13:08] And he's a great, great teacher.
[2:13:11] That's why you've got
such a great council.
[2:13:13] I would put our council
up against any council
[2:13:16] in this whole state of Florida.
[2:13:18] That's how good
that I think we are.
[2:13:20] We're the best.
[2:13:23] But, Mr. jury, thank you
for you've trained us
[2:13:30] even though you
really didn't train,
[2:13:32] but just the way
that you lead us it.
[2:13:35] I think it makes us all want
to be as good as we can be.
[2:13:38] And without further objection,
this meeting is adjourned.
[2:13:44] Y'all be safe.
[2:13:46]