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Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=MTrej0eLjrM

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All right. All right. saying no. >> No. >> You good? >> Is he in here? >> Yeah. So, you see Lorie? >> Yeah. >> And he's trying to get sitt. >> That's good for us.

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>> Yeah. Oh, yeah. It is. Good evening everyone and welcome to USUS City Hall. This is a regular Sunday commission meeting of the US city commission. It is now 6:00 p. p.m. August the 6th, 2026. Please silence all of your phones. Thank

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you. If you would like to join us, the invocation tonight will be presented by Pastor Jay Cooknau of Life Community Church and the pledge of allegian allegiance by our commissioner Willie Hawkins. Let's pray. Father, we thank you for

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this opportunity to come and to seek your guidance. Lord, I would just pray that you would lead and guide each of these council members as they uh vote on things and make decisions for our community. We pray that you would make this a peaceful meeting and that your hand would be upon everything. We ask this in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

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>> Amen. >> Please join me for the pledge. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and

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justice for all. >> Thank you. >> We will officially call this meeting to order. Christine, is there a quorum present and proper notice have been given? >> Yes, Mayor Lee. >> Thank you. Rick, is there an agenda update? >> There is no agenda update. >> Okay. And I think you have a

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presentation. >> Uh yes. So we get started today. We have um representatives from Center Development uh to present information on the Akilo project um a redevelopment

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project downtown [clears throat] community. Good evening. >> Good evening, mayor, commissioners, city manager Garrick, city staff, members of our community, and the Achil team. My name is Danell Hoffer. I'm the CEO of

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Urban Hideway Development and Center Green. Before I begin, I'd like to answer a question I've been asked many times over the past several months. Why Achilo? is the name of the project that we're proposing. Achilo is pronounced

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Ailo. It's the ancient Roman name for the north wind. It's associated with fresh breezes, changing seasons, and renewal. To us, Ikilo reflects boating, sailing, sunsets, and the energy of a vibrant

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waterfront. Most importantly, it represents bringing new life and new opportunity to downtown Eustace. That's the vision behind the name. So now I'd like to turn to why we're here tonight. Commissioners, tonight our request is

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very straightforward. We're requesting your authorization to direct city staff to negotiate a purchase and sale agreement and development agreement with the negotiated document returning to this commission for consideration within 90 days. I want to emphasize one

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important point. Tonight authorizes authorizes negotiations. It does not approve a final project. Tonight begins a structured public process that allows the city and our team to complete the necessary due

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diligence, negotiate the agreements, [snorts] and bring them back to this commission for review and consideration. This slide explains why we believe this opportunity is important. Our vision is to transform the community center site

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into a true waterfront destination for downtown Eustace. We believe this project can serve as a catalyst for continued revitalization by generating tourism, supporting local business, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs,

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encouraging additional private investment in the community, and establishing a long-term economic anchor for downtown. It also represents workforce development. The project is expected to create hundreds of construction jobs during

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development, approximately 175 full-time jobs once complete, creating opportunities across hospitality, dining retail wellness maintenance management, and professional services. Finally, city staff has identified

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alternative community meeting space, allowing this property to be evaluated for its highest and best community use. This slide illustrates the overall vision for the site. The program combines hospitality, residential,

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dining, event space, parking, critical to the success, and public waterfront spaces in one integrated destination. Each use has been planned to support the others, creating activity throughout the day and throughout the year while

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strengthening downtown Eustace as a a truly a destination for residents and visitors alike. This is our current conceptual site plan. It reflects the planning completed to date and illustrates how the various

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program elements work together while maintaining an active public waterfront as negotiations and due diligence continue. This plan will continue to be refined. Let's talk about project scale. This represents approximately 70 million in

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estimated private investment. It reflects the project's current conceptual scope and demonstrates the significance of the opportunity before the city. As with any development of this scale, the final investment in project details will continue to be refined through due

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diligence and negotiations. So, let's talk about what has already been completed. Before requesting authorization to move [clears throat] forward this evening, it's important to recognize the substantial work that's already been finished. Our vision and

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programming are complete. Preliminary planning and massing have been completed. Our professional team has been assembled, many of which are here this evening. They are local as we are. or a local family and they are very very invested and ready to get to work on the

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project. Initial engineering coordination has begun. Hospitality discussions have taken place. Preliminary market evaluation has been completed. We've made significant private investment in bringing the project to

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this point and we've begun initial construction discussions already. This is why we're ready [clears throat] to move to the next phase. So what happens next? It's always the question. If negotiations are authorized this evening, the next phase includes

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the work shown on this slide. Independent appraisals, survey and title review, environmental review, utility and storm water coordination, development agreement and entitlement work, submission of project team

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qualifications, negotiation of the purchase and sale agreement to buy the property, and finally returning everything to this commission for consideration. So, commissioners, our request, this is the action that we're requesting this

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evening. We're asking you to direct city staff [cough] to begin negotiating a purchase and sale agreement for the community center property immediately and proceed diligently towards completion in a 90-day time frame.

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During that process, city staff and our team will coordinate the appraisals, the title information, the surveys, utility and storm water review, the development agreement framework, entitlements and zoning, legal review, and all other

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documents necessary to negotiate a mutually acceptable purchase and sale agreement again for the purchase of the property. We're also requesting that city staff coordinate departments and consultants as needed, identify any issues requiring

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commission policy direction during negotiations, [clears throat] and return the negotiated purchase and sale agreement to this commission for any approvals required under city procedures. Again, tonight authorizes

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negotiation. It does not approve the final project. So, madame mayor and commissioners, I'd like to thank you for your time. I'd like to take thank city staff, city manager for his time. Thank you for the consideration this evening. We

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respectfully request your authorization to begin the purchase and sale agreement and development agreement negotiation process. We truly appreciate the opportunity to continue working collaboratively with the city as this process moves forward.

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and we really look forward to returning to you with a complete agreement for your consideration. Thank you. And I'll be happy to answer questions. >> Thank you. I'll go. You want to go first? Okay. Um I'll go. Um

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you say city staff has identified uh another property for the community center. Um, not necessarily. That's a very, very good question. I think they've identified various uh properties that the city already owns that are meeting

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space related, including the senior center and some other places around the city. So, they they've definitely [cough] hard look at that. >> Would you by chance know what the capacity is for those buildings? >> Um, I don't have it with me. >> Okay. >> We got that in that staff report.

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>> I think city staff held led that effort. >> Yeah. off off the top of my head, I don't know the exact numbers. Um the the senior center is close. It's a little bit smaller >> um than the community center, but we did look at the different events housed at

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the community center in in a one-year period. >> It seemed like all but three or four of the events could be housed at the senior center. >> Okay. Is that uh is that three or four

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only because we don't have the space? And if we do this and we go to the senior city senior citizens building, does that lock us into not [clears throat] being able to grow the community, not being able to to expand?

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Um, I don't I don't see that it would tie us into not being able to expand, but um, you know, there's there were the events, I believe, and I don't have that information with me, but we did a a

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deep dive into it. Um, there were a couple graduations. There was, I think that like an eighth grade graduation. Um [clears throat] so you know we looked at other venues that could be in town but it would be private venues. Um you know Life Point Church could handle that

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size. >> Um you we we had talked about outside um events which is a little more difficult to arrange but it would it would have to go to a third party facility. >> Is that fair to our citizens?

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>> Um I I can't speak to that. >> Okay. Um this was an uh have we had any other uh proposals >> on this? >> No,

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>> you can't. >> I cannot. >> No, no, you cannot do that. You have to have a seat. Please sit down. Please. You can't do that now. You can't do that now. >> She's just asking for us to speak up. That's the speaker. >> Okay. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you were asking

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to speak. I apologize. I apologize. >> Okay, ma'am. Is this better? >> There's a earpiece. Uh, you can get a earpiece from the gentleman right over there if that helps you. >> I apologize. >> Help me. I appreciate it. [clears throat]

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>> Yeah. Did we get any other proposals on this? And no, we did not. >> Okay. Um, so why would we negotiate with just one? >> This um the the

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submitt came in. We have not advertised. This wasn't part of the process. >> So as the opportunity came in, um we presented it over a year ago to you. Um there were some things that were

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identified um at that point I believe they were addressed. One was um can we handle the events that are there? Um I think we have a good good uh game plan for that like a mitigation plan. Um the

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at this point it is um you know you're you're being asked if you want to consider it. Mhm. >> Um it it is it could definitely stimulate part of our our downtown implementation plan. This falls in this

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was identified in the steps um as as being one of the key factors. >> That's actually Rick. That's actually a great point. This is this is consistent with our downtown master plan. It could it fits within that. >> It was one of the items that have been discussed in the workshops

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>> and and and I don't disagree that it fits. Um, but why the rush with one? Why not put it out there and see what else is out there? >> All due respect, Commissioner, we've done the work. We've spent 16 months and

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a considerable private investment into preparing for this point in time as as was indicated in the workshop that you attended. So, we feel like, you know, we're ready to take the next step. We are um have already invested several million dollars into the community over

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the last several years in our developments here and we're committed and ready to do this. Um and it's time for the city to be able to move forward. It's time the the citizens want um security in their future. Children need

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a place to go. People need places to work. the workforce development um that this will create is significant and we've done significant work >> substantial work. Yes, ma'am. >> Um there have been things done and I

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guess there's more things to do. Who's going to invest the finances into this? How you know how much of it are you going to be a part of? >> Yes, mayor. That that's a very good question. There's a significant [clears throat] capital stack of course that that has to exist and take place. We're in the process of looking at that

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now, but we've already made an investment valued at over $800,000 just in the last 18 months. And we did that and everyone sitting on the front row today has done that. They represent legal, architecture, civil planning, um

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economic development, and we've all made the efforts to do that. So, um because we believe in this project and we believe in the city, we believe in the economic value. You know, I I I appreciate that. Uh I appreciate the

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work that you put into it, but it was a gamble, I think, to do that until you got the okay from us. >> Um >> we do that. >> It's an investment. >> We do that all the time. You know, we we invest in projects that we believe in.

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>> Well, I think I think it's a wonderful it is a wonderful opportunity for us. >> Thank you. >> For for 20 years, there's been no development at all in downtown. So I think this is a very big catalyst to economic development for our city. So

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it's a yes for me. >> Well, it and why can't we do multiple proposals >> if everyone agrees? >> All due respect, you have done that in the past and no one has stepped up to this level. >> I'm sorry. Not for that site.

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>> You have, >> but it's okay. I I think for one thing, we need to move on. I mean, we've got to get started. I made a comment before and I still believe that that we've got to get moving. We can't just keep going. >> Mary, you're right. It's been 20 years.

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It's been 20 years since the hospital left. Nothing has happened in downtown. This is a wonderful and very, very great opportunity for us to change the direction of our town. And you're right, we need to get moving. Madame Mayor, one point that I'd like to

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clarify is that because the property, and this has been discussed before is within the CRA, there needs to be a notice that's provided. And so I would take tonight as authorization for staff to continue discussions and for terms that are sufficient enough for the city

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to be able to provide that notice for the CRA to be made. And then that will be the opportunity for others to make a proposal. And that's a 30-day time period that that we're looking at once that notice is given. So, I want to be clear on that that there would be an

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opportunity for others to have that chance because it's a CRA property. >> Understand, >> George. >> Um, my understanding, and I guess I I guess this is probably a question. Well, Tom

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isn't here anymore, but my understanding from Tom was that he approached them and he brought up the community center and asked them to work on this project. Am I close to anything saying that? >> Yes, sir. >> You never went and said, I want to He

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said I want you to look at this. You can't look at the three lots. I want you to look at Okay, >> that's correct, sir. Thank you. and on the that's a big number of invest a big investment number. I think it's a privilege and an honor for our city to have someone even consider that. Um

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I'm a numbers guy which hopefully all of us are. But when I look at that 70 million, 50 million, 60 million, whatever it ends up being, usually it ends up being more than we think. But if it's 70 million, I think to myself,

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at the taxes that are generated there, we can build a community center every year, pay for cash. So, that's that's important to me. There were a couple things I I did uh asked to meet with her that I wanted and I want

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to make sure that they're included. Uh, one is that you pay for the property. two that if you don't perform, we get the property back. [clears throat] Uh what was the third thing? Um that you would try to use local people and and there was I think there was

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something else much more minor, but those were the two biggest things that you have a timeline to do what it is. Is that still uh something you're okay with? >> Yes, sir. Absolutely. It's important to us. >> That's it. >> If if this was to go back out, Rick, how

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long would it go out for? Well, it's it's as Taylor said, it it we would this could be a could serve as the the public notice and at that point 30 days. >> Anytime, and this is just me, anytime

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anyone comes to me and says I need it immediately, that causes me some concern. >> Um uh I know that there are people that uh uh you know, there are commissioners that

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think this is a good idea. Um, I think citizens first. Um, you know, I don't like the we'll find someplace for him to go. I don't like that idea. Um, I don't like the fact that uh

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pretty much that's the people's house and we're being rushed to make a decision. I guess maybe I missed something. I can you explain more about this it being in the CRA? I didn't recall that being a part of that is in

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>> my understanding is that prior meetings and and workshops and I know there was communication with council for the presenters that discussed and brought up the fact that the property is within the CRA and that that required necessitated under the statute that there's certain

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notice requirements before that that property could be leased sold or dispossessed in any Okay. And that's that's what I'm referring to. >> Okay. >> Commissioner Holland, >> I'd like to introduce Logan Ops.

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>> Commissioner Holland has something to say. Let me hear from him real quick. >> Yeah, thank you. Logan Obsol uh with Lounge Law Firm, land use council on the project. U that's fine. I I the previous council there were discussions back and forth. I think we're aware that it's in

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the CRA and certain things need to go on. The Community Redevelopment Agency is an important part of this. That's what we're we're promoting is is redevelopment of downtown. Um this isn't a rush. It's it's been a you know almost an 18-month process and uh in constant

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communication with your city staff who I applaud has been transparent informational has requested uh on your behalf uh a lot of information from us which has brought us to this point. Um again and this was covered by Dell at the top tonight is a direction to allow

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city staff to engage with us to provide a purchase and sale agreement which will come back before this body. the items that commissioner as body pointed out as relates to some sort of reverter time frame. Those are exactly the items that are going to go into that document and

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again that will come back for your consideration. So tonight is is uh not anywhere near the conclusion. It's the beginning and it's an exciting one uh in line with the city's vision for downtown. >> It sounds to me like this is the perfect time to get someone else in because

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we're at the beginning. We're not in the middle. There's probably only maybe two or three of us that are sitting in this room that knew the Pendletons that owned that property where that building's sitting. Part of me thinks that they would be

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excited to see the city finally moving forward with something. We're sitting on three city blocks behind us that will never be developed unless we have a catalyst to bring people to downtown Eustace.

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This is a project that could probably do that. There's a lot of work to be done and I'm not going to shut it down tonight without us going ahead and exploring the avenues. I think that nothing ever hurts

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with our staff going ahead and talking and bringing stuff back. Since it is in the CRA, you've got that protection where other people are going to see this and they're going to want to jump in. So, I don't see any problem with us

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talking, but we're going to have to do something as a commission that that opens up the rest of the development of downtown. And the way the funding of the CRA works, the more money that is brought in

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by tax money and into the CRA through the development of our commercial corridors, the more money there is to spend in other parts of our CRA. I think if we understand that, that's why this is very important to us as a city. Our

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businesses downtown are struggling and if we don't do something and if we're not proactive, we're going to lose more and more of those businesses. I know there are several restaurants that are hanging by a thread downtown. It's our job to make sure that they're

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able to stay in business. It's our job to make sure that our citizens have a downtown that they're proud of and that we can spend more money in our CRA as we fill those coffers. I'm with I am for at this point moving us forward. We're

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talking. Nothing has said we're selling this property yet or anything like that, but for us to stop talking is a problem. That's my opinion. >> Yeah. Were we Rick? Well, we um [clears throat]

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at one point we talked about uh putting out uh the solicitation. Correct. >> Uh there there was discussion on it and that came back to commission and it was tabled. >> It was tabled.

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>> Yeah. >> Well, I don't think I can make it any clear how I feel about it. It seems like the general consensus of the um commission is to stop moving forward. >> It's a yes for me. >> Yes, for me. >> Yes.

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>> Absolutely not. >> Okay. >> Thank you for your leadership. We look forward to working with you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> mayor and commissioners. Thank you for your time. We appreciate this consideration. And with your permission, we'd respectfully ask that the Achil

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team and our consultants and guests um be allowed to quietly excuse ourselves. >> We'll give you a few minutes to do that. Thank you. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Next, we'll move on to appointments to the Eustus Housing Authority.

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>> Uh, yes, Mayor. Uh, this item is for consideration of the appointment of Kimberly Desawn Jones to the Eustace Housing Authority to fill a vacancy of a 4-year term expiring July 18, 2028.

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Um, as recommended by the Eustace Housing Authority Executive Director Horus Jones and the Eustace Housing Authority Board. >> Madame Mayor, I move appointment of Kimberly Desawn Jones to the Eustace Housing Authority Board. >> Second.

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>> Roll call, please. Commissioner Hawkins, >> I. >> Commissioner Holland, >> I. >> Commissioner Asody, >> I. >> Vice Mayor Ashcraft, >> I. >> Mayor Lee, >> I. It will go on to audience to be heard. [snorts] If you have comments this

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evening, please complete a card from our city clerk. Approach the podium and please speak directly into the mic. State your name and whether or not you live in the um city of EUs. Um keep in mind that we as

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commissioners may not respond, but staff will be directed to get back to you. And most importantly, remember you have three minutes. Thank you. Yes. >> Oh, is she? We've got cards. >> No, we have to wait for the cards to be called.

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>> Thank you. >> Um, first card received was Gary Winheim. >> Gary Winheim, Unincorporated Lake County. I'm going to play brief audio. >> You came in. You talked to everybody but me because you were told I I didn't need

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to be here because Ron didn't like me. >> Ron did say that. But I hold on. That's not true. But Ron did say that. Which one is >> No, that I didn't want that. I need to talk to you. I talk to you all the time. >> This is the important part. >> And there was never going to be a number, too. Just so you know, this town's too small to have

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>> that was recorded in November of 2024. That's Chief Capri telling me this town is too small for the department to have a deputy chief. a position you just approved in next year's budget. Previously, the department had a deputy chief and two lieutenants. And when the former deputy chief retired in 2014, the third lieutenant position was created,

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and the deputy chief position became unfunded. The three lieutenant positions became captains with no pay adjustment to get the title in line with their job duties. Now, you are again funding the deputy chief, a position that less than two years ago, your chief said was unnecessary in a town this size. What

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changed? Not the number of officers or the overall size of the city. The department budget has certainly changed nearly doubling in five years under Capri in this position. Is this position needed because Capri is by his own admission not an admin guy? Prior police chiefs were able to run the agency without a deputy chief position and the

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cost associated with it. If Capri isn't able to do that, perhaps you have the wrong guy as chief. My guess is he's planning on bringing another Daytona crony to try and insulate himself further, much like he did by bringing Sergeant Barnett. I was hoping to update you on the chaplain program, but I've been unable to get any information.

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People tell us things and then we try to verify them. And we were told by a chaplain and her companion while at a conference paid for paid for by the department had a nearly $1,500 room service bill. I've asked every way I know how to find out how chaplain program is funded. And for some reason,

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there's no documentation on the process, no line item in the budget, no receipts through finance or purchasing, no tracking on spending whatsoever. You're a numbers guy. This makes no sense. Obviously, there's money being spent. You've all seen the shirts and some of

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you have attended the functions they're involved with. How is there no record in regard to what this program with 10 chaplain in a town too small for a deputy chief cost the taxpayers? And talking about money and documentation, whatever happened with the nearly 28,000

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that you all voted to put into the forfeite fund that was or wasn't overdrafted, that subject went away after Capri stood here shaking his fist talking about angry people and fake news, but the questions were never answered. I've watched a lot of body cam footage lately, and I'll tell you, I I

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feel bad for the command staff and the sergeants. They are the only ones with any experience left at EPD. They're so busy trying to mitigate the mistakes these new officers are making with bad tactics and a lack of basic legal knowledge while trying not to incur the wrath of their bully chief. You don't

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need a deputy chief. Save the money for the the impending lawsuits. You need a chief capable of admin duties, not a liar who's busy trying to buy people's loyalty instead of properly running his agency. Thank you for your time. Kelly Guthrie.

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>> I think the clerk has >> yellow. >> I don't want yellow. I got one. >> You want to have one? >> One more. >> One more. >> Yep. [clears throat] >> Emily, >> she has one.

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>> Yes, I >> You ready for her? >> Oh, yes. Go ahead. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Good evening. My name is Kelly Guppy and I'm going to speak very quickly due to a threeminut time limit. I would like to start this evening by saying I'm a lifelong resident of Eustus. I am 50 years old. I lived in the same house on

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East Lake Joanna Drive from the day I was born until the day I got married to my husband of 27 years. Today, my husband and I lived in a house 10 houses down from the exact same house I grew up in. While growing up, I attended elementary, middle, and high school. My mom was a kindergarten teacher at Usus Elementary while I attended. My father,

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Paul Guthrie, was an associate pastor at First Baptist Eustace, now known as LifePoint Church. I graduated from UCF with a teaching degree in 1998 and immediately beca began my teaching career in Eustace schools until 2024. I retired this past May from Tarious Middle just short of 30 years from the

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day I began teaching. My grandfather, Casey Jones, built one of the very first houses on Lake Joanna, and he's responsible for bringing the telephone lines across 441 to Lake Joanna. The home my husband and I built and currently live in is one of a couple properties that my grandfather obtained on Lake Joanna after the Great Depression and the historic US gun and

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golf club closed. My grandfather also owned and began Jones Brothers Feed Benson Oil which is now known as Harris Oil in Mount Dora. Needless to say, I have deep roots and great history in the city of Eustus and I cherish this town that I live in. I am here to express great concern for the future of the US Community Center building. For over a

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year now, the US city commission has been considering turning over this new center to Siner Green owned by Joe and Denell Haer. I have a great concern and in whom the city is potentially partnering with two people whom have extremely questionable business practices in the past and present. This includes an over $200,000 uh unsatisfied

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IRS tax lean levied against them for unpaid taxes. And also looking at Lake County public records, there is a currently $3.38 million in leans against the hoppers for unpaid work. As I say before, I've been a teacher for nearly three decades in the city of USUS. I have an excellent reputation of

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integrity that I built for myself, which include being voted teacher of the year multiple times as well as finalist for Lake County's teacher of the year. I was even awarded you as teacher of the year by the US Chamber of Commerce. I'm honest and I protect my integrity. However, last summer after I publicly stated on Facebook my feelings and thoughts about the huddle development,

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the Hoffers filed a formal written complaint against me containing lies um with Florida's Department of Education. Formal complaints are usually reserved for things such as child and sexual misconduct, child abuse, excuse me. I had to hire a lawyer, Derek Schroth, and defend myself. I was found to have no wrongdoing by both the Florida Department of Education and the Florida

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Lake County School Board. When the Hoppers were notified in retaliation, they refiled a second time against me. The second complaint was also dismissed against me. I have a grave concern with you associating themselves with a company whom is known for not paying their bills to our local business owners

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and the federal government. What does that say about our city? What will happen when the IRS inevitably takes action against the hoofers when they are in the middle of building a hotel for the city of Eustace and is not even in line with the culture of Eustace? We situs will be left with financial disaster and a cleanup that Eustus

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cannot afford. What I provided you with was a copy of a few of the many lawsuits current against the Hoppers. It's a lot of money. >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> No, please. We will not have that. No

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clapping. Please, let's just do this and get it done, please. >> Next. >> Next card. Carrie Shrier. Okay. Good evening, mayor and commissioners. My name is Carrie Shrier. I am not a resident. My son Jordan Ellis lived in Eustace until his passing last

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July. Over the past year, I've spent countless hours obtaining records, reviewing evidence, and investigating not only what happened to Jordan, but the investigation that followed. Today, I'm here because of Chief Capri's leadership and this city's continued failure to to address it. In August of last year, while Jordan's phone was still in law enforcement custody, we

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discovered it had been altered. We went to the department and showed Sergeant Barnett the evidence. He dismissed our concerns and did nothing with the information. Last I checked, evidence tampering is a crime. Or does that not apply to law enforcement? In December, after questioning the records department about missing records, missing reports,

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and more, Chief Capri inter interjected into our emails and asked me to come in so we could work things out. I asked instead to keep our communications in writing and sent him a detailed letter of many of my concerns. After that, Chief Capri told me further discussions would not yield productive outcomes. Yet, public records show that around the

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same time, Sergeant Barnett was emailing Lake County personnel trying to locate the chain of custody for Jordan's phone. If my concerns weren't worth discussing, why were they suddenly trying to reconstruct the evidence trail? After both my son Devon and I filed formal complaints, eventually Chief Capri directed Captain Fanning to conduct an administrative review. It found it found

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policy violations resulted in incident reports and repeatedly states that interviews were needed to determine what actually happened. Instead of opening an internal affairs investigation, then Chief Capri closed the matter. Only after repeated public pressure was an investigation finally open months later. June 24th, Chief Capri gave me an

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internal affairs case number. June 25th, I was told the investigation had been assigned to an outside agency. June 29th, Detective Kenninger submitted his resignation. July 1st, the outside agency confirmed it had received the investigation. July 2nd, after speaking with Chief Capri, Detective Kenninger's remaining notice was waved and his

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employment ended that day. Why does this timely matter? Because under Florida law, there is a 180day limit to complete internal affairs investigations. When investigations are unnecessarily delayed, meaningful administrative discipline can become impossible. This investigation did not get handed over to Claremont until this 180 days was nearly

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up. Chief Capri has described himself as not an admin guy. Respectfully, being an admin guy is the job. And if you're not an administration guy, you probably shouldn't be running a police department. From where I stand, after everything I've laid out, this appears intentional. Delay, delay, delay. Then suddenly, the detective puts in his resignation in just the right amount of

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time so he can go to another department unscathed. My son's case has been a cover up game from the beginning. What's even more troubling is that my family's experience is not the first time concerns have been raised about Chief Capri's leadership. Yet, this city has continued to keep him in charge. Because ultimately this responsibility belongs to the city. For months you were copied

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in on emails documenting these concerns. You were made aware. You remained silent. You hired him. You chose to keep him. When are you going to hold him accountable? >> Next. >> George Warren. >> Oh. Um hello commission. My name is

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George Warren. Sorry about the voice. Um, I don't know what to say not about that subject. Um, I'm sure that's that's a lot of stuff, but the as far as the uh community considered, but I trust you

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guys to do the right thing and uh so I think that's it's going to be a tough tough job. Well, I know where you're coming from. Uh, but if uh I think you did the right decision tonight to go ahead and see what's going to happen, right? And um I don't know I have to

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correct Gary a little bit. Um in the last 20 years there has been investment in downtown but I'm just kidding you. It was $750,000 that we did that building with. So that >> any new any new development >> there you go. Okay.

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I'll accept your apology. >> Right. [laughter] >> But anyway guys I know you're gonna do the it's a hard job that you've got. sort of thankless sometimes uh because you put in a lot of work. You can't please everybody and I know that. Um so

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I'm on your side. So that's all I got to say. Rick, you're doing a good job, buddy. But you're just going to be here for a little bit. Just kidding. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, George. Daniel Devonza. >> Good evening. [clears throat] My name is Daniel Devonanzo. I'm a local business

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owner. I've been here since uh the early 90s 92 and I will tell you uh with regard to development I had to endure Neil Fischer erra realy who thought he was going to save us. I had to endure Greg Mack who had every idea under the

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sun but never did anything. I had to endure Danny Teams who was going to redevelop Eustace and where is he today? [clears throat] Um and by this way the city had a not too pleasant ending with him. Uh we also had to deal in my opin opinion with uh G3C2

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who provided us basically elementary school conception plans and uh with no background. But you know what? There were those that wanted to push ahead. Let's push ahead. Let's get something done. And now we have a group and we

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hear spirious rumors and uh charges which by the way I have looked into uh the current developers background extensively. I've had very specific questions with them because I've had people come to me and say well you know they did this you know they did that. Let me tell you how development works.

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First of all there will be a bond in place. Second of all, the city will have numerous with through the attorneys that'll use it, which by the way, we'll be spending money on, but it'll be good money spent that will protect the city against any, shall we say, project derailment, delays, or exposure, including potentially bankruptcy. And

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you know that a bond will be in place to asssure that the construction is completed. I don't know how many people in this room understand what a construction bond is. Uh the next thing that I'll also advise you to, let's talk about moving forward. Since 1992 when I came here, I can tell you um I've built,

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designed, and built the last four buildings that were built here. I own numerous buildings. I have over 60 employees. Um I want to thank all of our uh third, second, and third generation business operators who have hung in there. George Warren, Bay Pharmacy, Mary

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Jeweler, Mary uh Judy Mary, Mary Mary Jewelers, the Porters, David uh with Porter Camera, Cards and Gifts, and you know we Oh, how about Kevin and Penny Janess with Peddler's Wagon downtown anchors that have hung in there and you know what's happened downtown? Nothing.

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Nothing. So, we finally got a commission and I want to thank you all for being proactive and for doing something ahead. one. I have a hard time saying to know somebody that wanted to enter into just some discussion to get to a potential agreement that's going to o offer over

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150 jobs. And by the way, I looked at their jobs proposal and I know from what I pay how much money that's going to bring. Do you know I want to explain something else to you. I am estimate that their taxable value will be at minimum 1.4 million a year. Do you know

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how many houses that will cover that are going to go off the tax roll under Dantis's plan? Over a thousand. A thousand houses that are going to go off the tax roll. That one project, one project is going to make up for that. So, you're going to have employment, you're going to have opportunities, and

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it's going to put us on the map. Thank you. >> Thanks, Shane. >> Dedra D. Lewis. Good evening. Thank you, Dear Lewis, 1 1992 Meadowside Drive, Eustace, Florida 32726.

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Few months ago, you guys talked about this same project at that time. You talked about where would the citizens go if you sold the community center. You didn't have an idea. you wanted to get the previous city um attorney to put out

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a RFQ that included putting in their system to pay for a community center for the city of Eustace. Now we're here. I've worked for developers. I work in construction and I work in medical. You are about to give

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an advantage to these people over 30 days for any other developer to come in. That is totally unfair. Now, in most construction, that means there's been some backdoor communication because I don't know anybody who would spend that much money to develop something when

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they don't even have approval. That's that's unreal. That's unheard of. And as Barack used to say, I don't think that was a good waste of good time of spending of your money. Here's the thing. People need an opportunity. The citizens needed an opportunity. Now, you

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told us that you sold the um senior center. Did you sell it or did you not? Someone else is using it and has the control of it. We citizens don't get to always go and use it. The community garden is not big enough. Th that's one thing. The second thing, you're putting

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a hundred or almost $200,000 into grass for a field and you haven't put handicap um tables for the community garden. You can't get to the community garden. You can't do anything with the community garden. No one answers you back when you call about the community garden. Since

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returning to Eustace, I have had a lot of your citizens ask me to please come back and start the community garden. I have tried and I have not been able to get anybody from your um recreation department to talk to me. You also want to put in $200,000 worth of grass and

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you haven't done anything with the promise that you made over there with Miss Lewis when her daughters died. You've put mulch around the fire station, but that section has been buried and you did a whole ceremony. It is time out for ceremonies. It is time

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for you guys to put up what you promised. You haven't done anything with the pavilion down in um east town. You put a gateway to nowhere. You haven't done anything with it. Citizens are getting tired of not getting what you

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promised them. Please consider these things when you decide to spend this kind of money. As far as the library, I think it's a wonderful thing. But I do want to ask you, is it going to be open on Saturday since you're about to spend $160,000 to renovate that?

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Because that was something we talked about as well. Something I know that the librarian had talked about, but it still hasn't been done. How are we supposed to use the library with our kids come for reading sessions if it's only open during the week? Ma'am, >> so as you play that, please consider it.

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Thank you. >> Pam sentence. >> Chief, smile at me. Chief, smile. All right. I'm here to talk about the community center. First of all, don't y'all let them take our community center because that community center got

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memories. It got love. People live down there. We got this man here can't even talk coming here to represent himself. What do we need a hotel for the brao germs in our community when we already got our own germs? They got their own

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money. We is just fine and uses building all these stoages. Take all them places where you building stoages. Go build a hotel what you want. Stop building all these stoages. Ain't that much moving and going on? So me, myself, and a lot of more us here, we stand behind the

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community center. These folks over here got money. Go out there where y'all live at and build whatever y'all want to build. But let us be. Do not get rid of our community center. We got folks live down there. We got folks love down there. Do not do that for us for them

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because they got money. Money is not everything. But money is very important. But still in all again that community center holds too much memories and love. Okay. So now when they take care of the building where we got to go >> in the yard then when you go in the yard

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it's a problem the music too loud or something is wrong. Do not give them folks over there and I wish they was here to hear me. Do not give them folks over there that community center because there's nothing wrong with that community center

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and we need that community center. We have nowhere to go. Just like they say the garden room is too small. So, don't give them what they want. Again, please. And no, I ain't f to sit down. I'm f to talk my minutes out because number one, I don't like it. I don't appreciate I

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got to be down here in the rain cuz this is something we shouldn't even have to be down here for for y'all to even have a thought to get them people that building and all that stuff. This man been here 63 years before I was even born. Now, y'all mean to tell me y'all going to go move him out the spot to

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bring them? No, no, no, no. Stay out there in Lock Haven. Wherever y'all at, build whatever y'all need out there. Do whatever y'all need to do out there. Leave us alone. We're just fine. Okay, now it's time for the George Washington parade. Now you got the motel sitting up

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there. Whatever they trying to do. I don't know, but I'm against it. I don't care what it is. But the main thing, oh, I got some more time. I got plenty of time. >> Nope. >> Oh, I got it on time. >> I know you I know you saw the timer get started late. Your time your time's up. Every time I get up, y'all do it. I got

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sit down. I can get >> Okay. Y'all do me wrong every time I >> Isaac Thomas. Good evening, commissioners.

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city manager and attorney. You all know who I am. I am here on behalf of the Eustace Community Center. Also, I've been sitting up there with you all for three and a half years on the CRA. I was

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your first CRA rep and I am sick and tired of everything being taken away in the CRA. Stop taking away money and put money in the CRA.

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It's wrong. It is so wrong. And that clock is not right. >> It's running here. You're at 45 seconds. >> It is not right. I did not come up here with 3 minutes. >> No. No. But anyway, >> it's running till three. It's going to It's going to go It's going up.

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>> So, Pam, you still had some time. But anyway, like I said last week when I was here two weeks ago to give a $100,000 to American Bloom Eustace Bloom

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out of the CRA fund. Wrong. That's wrong. I don't care how you try to use it for beautifification. Like I said two weeks ago, flowers are not in our CR

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and that is wrong. Now here we are again giving away in the CRA. Wrong. That's wrong. And you all sitting up here, you're not but one person born

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and raised in this city. You don't know about the city of Eustace. You only know about the city of Eustace since you've been here. Born and raised here. That community center as Pam Simmons as you all call

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her. Hild the guard pale Simmons is how I know her. She went to Eustace High School while I was there. Kelly went to Eustace High School while I was there. Many functions have been done in that community center.

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Why are you all just coming into use this morning to wipe away our memories by giving away? You giving away land out here on 44 to Lake Sumpter when it could have been given to

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somebody right here in this city. Enough is enough. Enough is enough. And if all the citizens get together, and I like each one of you up there, but it's time for you to get down because

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you're not doing right by the citizens of Eustace. You're doing what's best for you. You took that seat because of our votes. And that's all I'mma say. Remember, you're there because of our votes, the

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citizens of Eustace. And you're wrong. Patrice Hatcher. >> Hopefully I can put some smiles on y'all faces now [laughter] after all that. My name is Katrice Hatcher and I'm a resident of Eustace. I come to you

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before to give you good news. Uh first I want to sincerely thank you guys from the last meeting. I was able to um acquire the Eustace Garden Center for

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the Beyond the Backpack and that allowed us to have additional funds to go on uh with the program. I'm happy to share with you uh Orlando Health, whom I've been

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employed with for the last 18 and a half years, decided to meet me halfway on my goal. My goal is to provide 150 kids with the uniforms. My budget is 10,000. So do the math.

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So with that being said, my co-workers have volunteered to assist me with this adventure by volunteering as well as providing some of the funding out of

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their pocket. Okay. Texas Roadhouse did a Christmas in July and contribute all those uh donations to the Beyond the Backpack. As I stated to you, it's my goal is to

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provide 150 kids with the uniforms. So, this is being done by a referral process. I've contacted Eustace Elementary as well as Eustace Heights and also Triangle personally um

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to uh let them know about the referral process which it has already begun. Beyond the Backpack will be held Sunday, September the 13th at 2:00 p.m. at the Eustace Garden Center. And I just

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wanted to personally invite you guys to that event so you can see what we're doing. And that's it. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. If anybody in the building want to contribute, see me. Thank you. Um, Rick, will you u will you will you

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please make contact with her and give her $500 for my uh for my fund for the backpack please? >> We'll do. >> Any more cards? >> Uh, yes, Mayor. Uh, John Labriola. Good evening, uh, council. My name is

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John Labriola. I represent the Christian Family Coalition. We are a statewide organization dedicated to defending religious liberties and, uh, protecting family values in Tallahassee and throughout the state. During the session, we're in Tallahassee lobbying for um, different legislation. and the

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rest of the year we're before uh county school boards and county commissions as well as city commissions like yourself to ask uh you to do different things. I've actually been before your late county commission in the past, but this is my first time at a US city council

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meeting. Um but the reason I'm here today is uh because of something called book page. It's a magazine. It's a national magazine. It's actually available in your library here in Eustace uh as well as a number of libraries throughout the country. And

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it's a very woke uh magazine. It's a book review magazine. It's not like a regular magazine that's up on the rack. It's available in large quantities. It's purchased in large quantities by the city and placed in the lobby. I sent you an email about this with more details, but basically uh this magazine um is

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very woke. It just pushes uh it's a book review magazine that only uh recommends books that are either of the left or a lot of the books in the magazine do not have a political bent, but but when they do, they're invariably from the left. Things like pushing witchcraft, pushing

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LGBT, um pushing hatred for our president. There there are never any best-selling conservative authors presented. And uh so this is really a waste of taxpayer money. And we've been before the Citrus County. I live here in in central Florida. Um, and we've been

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to to the Citrus County Commission asking them to cancel their subscription to it. They cancelled it. Hernando County also canceled it. And here in Lake County, the Leburg City Council recently did so. And yesterday, I was in front of the Tavari City Council and they made a motion right there at that

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meeting to cancel it. Uh, because this particular magazine is also available for free online. There's no reason to pay for a physical subscription. Um, and so I I wanted to just I I brought a few copies um which I I'd like to make available to the clerk and and uh the

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five commissioners, but this is just the current edition, the August edition. And um I'll just give you an example on page 15. Uh there's a book that's recommended. It's called Realm Sweep. And it's listed under the category of for children. Um, and this is a book

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that actually combines witchcraft which with a with transgenderism. Um, it it it's by an author who is described as a I looked her up a radical lesbian. Um, and this particular book actually promotes the idea there. The main

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character is uh called um Rowdy Buckner, the prince of Texas. It's actually a girl and uh it says that she desperately wants a gender affirming transformation tonic which is essentially trying to push transgenderism on children and we

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feel that that's very inappropriate. So please uh ask you to cancel this the subscription. Thank you so much >> mayor. The last card is lawyer Laura Conurs. >> [snorts] >> Good evening. This is a new place. It's

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beautiful, by the way. Your building is beautiful. Um I'm with John with the Christian Family Coalition and also um I would like to ask you to kindly to reduce the um if you can reduce the budget but cancel the subscription that

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would be great. Um uh he gave you some examples of how this magazine really is not teaching, it's indoctrinating and and that is wrong. Um it's already online and it never promote um

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conservative um reviews and books. So to me it's only one-sided. Um so um we're asking you to if you know it will help you reduce your your cost of the city.

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So that is um what I came here to kindly ask you. Um and so if I have a little bit more time um also John was uh talking about um to

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me about um if every city could do a date of remembrance for it's coming the um the time of October 15 coming the assassination of Charlie Kirk. If um we went to the city of Leisburg and they

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listened to us, we are asking um very nice if you can have a day of remembrance for him to um in honor of his birthday, in honor of what he did for our country and um I am thanking you

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for your time. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> I have no more cards. Mayor, >> are there is there anyone else who Yes. >> [clears throat] >> I'm going over here because I guess the video isn't working. That's what I was trying to tell you. So, you guys don't have it captured on video, the public

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speaking. I hope that wasn't on purpose. Stephanie Winheim, unincorporated Lake County. First, I want to talk about some falsified form 61s. This was a problem that was going on during the FDLE investigation into Chief Capri for public corruption and falsifying

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documents. Well, it looks like they're still falsifying documents on the form 61. I want to let you know per car's timeline that Kenninger actually didn't leave until 72, but

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the IIA number came out on June 24th, which means Kenninger was actively under investigation when he resigned. That is not what was put on the form 61, voluntary separation not involving misconduct. So that is falsified to

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FDLE. Once again, I don't know what it's going to take, but this is bad. It's not admin. It's falsifying documents, which is criminal behavior by your chief of police. Next,

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let's go with ECA. It's interesting that ECA, the community Eustace Community Alliance, was formed right after Willie Hawkins became a commissioner. I don't believe I've asked for emails. I've asked for form 8B

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filings of disclosures. It was never publicly disclo ex disclosed that his husband, Ronald Kirk Muscleman, opened up the nonprofit. That is required. That is an ethics violation. Mr. Hawkins.

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Also, it was never disclosed when they received preferential treatment with free leases, paid for utility bills by taxpayers, and whatever else the city is doing with ECA. Those are required disclosures. They're within 15 days.

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That's an ethics violation. Let's go to Corey Rollfield and Win One Ministries, who by the way is taking care of the senior center, which you guys don't have youth for for the lease. So that right there, that money, it was

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$98,000. Gary asked about it. I believe Gail Isaac Thomas asked about it as well. That money was supposed to be going to Corey Rolf Field. Gary received an email from financial that the $125,000

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was part of that 95 $96,000 and now it looks like it's coming on the consent agenda which I'm asking you to pull it that that money is coming from sales tax. So, your finance department is either sending us the incorrect

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public records or this is just another game of shuffling money around instead of being transparent, accountable, and truthful with the public on what's going on. Moving on, let's talk about the combining of the titles so that you guys

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could circumvent the community property being deed for public enjoyment by Thank you. >> Thank you for >> and also please get read a book page. >> Anyone else? Okay, [clears throat] let's move on to

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the consent agenda. >> So move on. Move approval of the consent agenda >> and I'll second it. >> Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Hawkins, >> I. >> Commissioner Holland, >> I. >> Commissioner Asbody, >> I.

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>> Vice Mayor Ashcraft, >> I. >> Mayor Lee, >> Idances, and public hearings. Madame Mayor, we have first tonight for second reading ordinance number 2026-28, an ordinance of the city commission of the city of Eustace, Lake County,

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Florida, approving the annual update of the 5-year capital improvement schedule of the comprehensive plan under Florida statutes 163.31773B providing for conflicting ordinances, severability, and effective date. >> Uh, good evening, Lori Carr, finance

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director. This is the second reading of the five-year CIP plan and we uh the city commission held a workshop on May 22nd and there was only one change between that workshop and the uh first reading on July 16th and that was uh

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additional funding for the EOC improvements and uh asking seeking for approval for the um final adoption of the ordinance. Do you have any questions? questions. Nope.

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>> Is there any public comment? >> Yeah. >> Anyone from the public want to speak on this matter? Madame Mayor, seeing none. >> Madam, mayor, move approval of ordinance number 2026-28. >> Second. >> Roll call, please.

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>> Commissioner Hawkins, >> I. >> Commissioner Holland, >> I. Commissioner Azbbody. >> I, >> Vice Mayor Ashcraft, >> I. >> Mayor Lee, >> I. Madame Mayor, next we have for first reading ordinance number 2026-29, an ordinance of the city commission of

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the city of Eustace, Lake County, Florida, amending chapter 66, article 3, regulation of watercraft on Lake Gracie of the city of Eustace code of ordinances repealing section 66-78 entitled no petroleum based fuel watercraft allowed on Lake Gracie,

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providing legislative findings and recital, providing for conflicts, providing for severability, providing for codific ification and providing for an effective date. Madame Mayor, after discussions with staff, I was going to present this item.

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It's a very narrow cleanup of our code as discussed in the staff's report. Uh Tallahassee passed the new law dealing with regulation petroleum based watercraft. We are just striking that provision from our ordinances that dealt

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with that and leaving everything else the same. Happy to answer any other questions. >> Is >> do we have to move approval on that one? >> No, this is just first reading. >> Just Okay. First reading. >> Is there anyone from the public that would like to speak on this?

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>> Thank you. You could please state your name. >> Mary Samario. I live on Lake Gracie Drive. I love Lake Gracie. It's It is home for sure. Um, talking about putting boats on

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there, I don't know. Has anybody in this room been around Lake Gracie lately? It's receding. Even the duck boxes that are supposed to be in the water is now land. Um, there are places that I could walk across Lake

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Gracie and my name isn't Jesus. Um, it's I understand I've only been here six years, but I understand it was springfed at one time and I don't know if that has anything to do with it

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getting drier, but I just thought before we put boats with motors on it, um, might want to consider just how big Lake Tracy has become. >> Mr. attorney. Excuse me. Am I right in

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understanding or am I wrong this is removing or you're allowing them to come back in because the state is requiring unfortunately the state has preempted us once again. But >> what we did leave in place is still the no wake zone on Lake Gracie and there's

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a 5 mph speed limit on Lake Gracie. So, while gas boats are permitted, we don't have an option with that because >> well, right now canoes and kayaks are having a hard time. So, >> yeah, I don't I don't think it's going to materialize to anything, but >> No, I don't think so either. I just

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didn't know if if I know that Lake Gracie used to be a whole lot bigger before people that have grown up here, they talked about how big it was. And I'm not sure when it happened that they filled in so that the spring dead part

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doesn't come into Lake Gracia. I guess they were afraid it was going to get too high, too close to the drive, but um I just didn't know if there was an alternative to get the lake a little healthier. >> Our hands are tied. It's a state

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>> and I I I lived near it and at one time it did get very very low and almost like no lake at all. and then it refilled and hopefully this is like a periodic thing and it'll come back >> but um we have no no control over this

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as far as the state mandate. >> Well, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Is there anyone else that would like to speak on this matter? [clears throat] And Madame Mayor, there's no motion needed tonight. So, I'll turn it back over to >> Okay, >> you.

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>> Okay. So, um, we'll go to other business and discussion of the city commission meeting minutes. >> Uh, yes, mayor. Um, on the June 18th commission meeting this year,

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>> we need to take a vote on that, please. >> Yeah, there has to be a vote taken on that. >> On this >> on the first reading of ordinance number 202629, >> we had the public hearing. Now, we need to take a vote on motion and second. I move approval of ordinance 2026 fast-

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29. >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Commissioner Hawkins, >> I. >> Commissioner Holland, >> I. >> Commissioner Ozbody, >> I. >> Vice Mayor Ashcraft, >> I. >> Mayor Lee, >> I. on um on June 18th um I presented a

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discussion we started a discussion about the preparation of the meeting minutes and kind of laid out some some varied um examples be it just um action brief summary detailed summary transcripts up

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to verbatim the different levels um of information we could provide uh we had some pretty healthy conversation took us a little while. Um and we had agreed to go with a hybrid type option and to try that. Um so in the staff report attached

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to the staff report um we have provided the meeting minutes for the uh June 4th meeting and we did it in this hybrid format. So it gives you an opportunity to look at it. Um staff's recommending that that's the approach we take.

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Hopefully that information is there and it's it's getting you the detail that you're looking for. So, I'm just looking to see if you've had a chance to look at it if if um we're in line um with your with your desires as far as the meeting

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minutes. And um without any change of direction, we'll continue um in this manner um until I receive any any change of direction from you. How long did it take to do this one? Rick

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>> Christine, could you this this method? >> This was much faster, I will say. Much more efficient for us to do. I don't have a time specifically on that. I did try to do several different repetitions just trying to see what would give us the right kind of information >> per your direction.

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>> So, I mean, this was nine pages. Um, so it it still is a significant amount of time. I think we can still rely on the I can't remember the uh amount or the amount of time that we commented on last time per hour of discussion. I can I can check on that and get back to you.

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>> I'm I'm good with what we've been given and it fulfills state law with what we're required to do. So, I'm fine with what we're doing. I if I could comment on that. >> Um, you know what it really comes down to is when when we have

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um high impact important meetings that involve some really specific details. It seems like we, you know, we need more detail than when it's, you know, gets in

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that u um point where it's real close to a fine line. And I think you can handle that, Christine, and help us just get better detail when, you know, it's something that's, you know, uh, could

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potentially be questioned. But I think what what that looks like to me, I'm happy with it. Uh but there will be times where the magnifying glass kind of has to come out. When you know that we're not all in agreement and we're going in different directions, you

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probably have to zoom in a little bit more. And then when it's general stuff, obviously things that that might not require that in there. when we're deciding futures of development and big things like that, I'd ask you to take the magnifying glass maybe a step in, but other than that, I

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personally am happy with it uh where it is knowing that at times it has to be adjusted for detail. >> We did try, if I may, we did try to look back at this given your direction. and I relistened to what you all talked about at the last meeting and really focus on the commission actions, policy direction ordinances resolutions and

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significant discussions recognizing the need to improve the efficiency but yet still present the information that you're requesting. >> Well, good then. I think >> and we have noted that if at any point in time you all say for the record type of thing, then we will give that almost verbatim. >> I think I think it's much better. I

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think it's good and I think the that procedure there you're talking about it but just reassuring to you Christine for the record please. I think I think we're on the right track. At least I'm [clears throat] happy with it. >> Yes. And if at any point in time you all are and you review the packet and review the minutes and there's some issue

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requiring something to to move differently, please reach out to me um and Anna. We're both work we'll work very diligently to give you the product that you're looking for. >> I think one day technology will take this and make it quicker. We might not quite be there, but um I'm happy with

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what you're doing, [snorts] >> commissioners. >> I'm good with that. >> All right, >> I'm good. Yeah, >> there you go. >> Okay. So, so we're okay with with what we have here? >> Mhm. All right. Thank you.

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So, let's go to future agenda items and comments. Start with our city attorney. >> Madame Mayor, a lot of work going on with the city, different issues. The one that I emailed you all about today is just the clarity on the NMTC ordinance

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for I want to make sure that that's something that the commission still wants to move forward on. And I summarize the two points that are in the document that I want to ask direction on at the next meeting. those options are in the ordinance. I think it's it's pretty clear. So,

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just a simple consensus from the commission that that's still something to move forward on is what I'm looking forward tonight. >> Move forward, please. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Agree. >> You okay with it, Commissioner? >> I haven't read it. Um there is some questioning. I don't even know what to

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comment. I haven't read it yet. >> We all just got it though. George, >> yeah, >> I I had sent it before. I wanted to resend it um so that you could review it. It's It's ready to [clears throat] be be filed and move forward on with just a little direction on two items.

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>> So, you want to want us to give you an answer next meeting is what you said. >> I would like that. Yes. >> Okay. >> Sounds fair. >> Okay. >> And happy to talk. Um if there's any questions in between this, please contact me. I'll answer. >> Okay.

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>> City Manager Rick. >> Uh yeah, a couple things. um one the package um that I left on on your seats on your chairs. >> Um that's the receipt of the attorney RFP packages. Um we talked a little bit

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in the couple previous meetings. Um we're out for RFP. Um we received four proposers. At that point with only having four, we had discussed if if we had a larger

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amount that we would do a short list prior. At this point, I'm suggesting we skip the short list, >> look at all four. Um I've gone through them. Uh it seemed qualified, seem to meet the intent of the the RFP and the request. Um so I have attached a copy of

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each of those for you also with an evaluation sheet. And what I'd like to do is have you The commission will be the selection committee as the attorney works you know for you. >> Um you will be the selection committee.

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So understand the selection committee is governed by sunshine as is your commissioner role. Um so any of that communication would have to be in a public format um and need to follow the the rules that we have associated with the procurement

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policies. Um, where we'll go from here [laughter] is I'd like to set up some meetings. Um, [clears throat] where it can be kind of a roundroin that each of the commissioners can meet one on-one with each of the proposers,

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take that evaluation form and rank out if you can, you know, your one to fours. Um, have your thoughts from your one-on-one meetings. Then we will reconvene in a public meeting and each of you will then take and share your

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rankings with each other. Um Tracy James, our purchasing director will lead the effort. Um she does these for staff all the time. Um and then at that point you'll have your discussions. you can rerank after there, you know, after some some conversation

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and be able to select hopefully a a number one that you would proceed with. Um also though we have been looking at your request of in-house attorney um [clears throat] HR human resources

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when we have a new position um we use a third party firm to to look at the the job responsibilities the education requirements testing requirements and we come up with a price point or a a pay

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band. Um the original information we got um we asked them to relook at it came in really low. Um asked them to relook and and understand that you know you the firm has to pass the bar. There's a a

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lot of education requirements. We're asking for a lot of information and a lot of credentials for each of those. Um the pay band was reooked at. They re-evaluated it. it came in um the

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minimum is uh 159,000 and the max of the pay band is 195,600. So I think that falls a little more realistic where potentially you can get in-house counsel

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um that does not take into account a parallel. um kind of my my thought on it. If if we're bringing an attorney in, they need to be the one that would hire that [laughter] parallegal, not us hiring for them. Um and I think you

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would definitely if we wanted to look at in-house counsel, um you're going to need an attorney and a parallegal. Um there's still going to be holes. You know, there'll still be litigation. Um potentially if if somebody is if that attorney is out, who do we have to

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cover? Um you know, now as as we have an outside firm, there is a a stable of attorneys, if you would, that they can draw from if if the the primary attorney is out. Um so, you know, there's some things we would have to to look at. Um

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right now, we are advertising. It is out being advertised. Um, I don't think we've got anything back yet. I have not seen it. Um, and at that point, if we do proceed with that route, we would ask again that you would

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be the interviewers um, for that. You know, again, as the attorney is primarily working for you. Um, so we're it's kind of a tough spot now right now that we're going down two different paths. one with the RFP and then also

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looking inhouse. Um, so I guess I'm looking for some direction. If if we want to continue to look in house, do we let the the time go to where we're seeking

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the opportunity to get the applicants in and evaluate those and hold on the evaluation of the RFP? or should we look at the RFP and determine

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>> how long >> after that how >> how long how long has the advertising been going on for in house? >> Uh it's just a week when we got the >> price we got to go longer than that. I mean could I Oh yeah, absolutely. I mean it's that's that's what I'm saying. So we I wanted to get you this information

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because there [snorts] is going to be some time involved in going through this package. >> Um so yes ma'am. >> Yeah. May I make a proposal to um the other commissioners? Maybe we should just focus on one direction. We're going two different ones. Number one. Number two, I think

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that we um we're slicing our budget and trying to narrow down everything. And yeah, we're going to take on an in-house attorney along with a parallegal along with a place for them to be. Um, I would

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suggest we focus on these four that we have and go with that. Also, would a large firm who might consider being our attorney really think about do I want to do to this? They're also looking for in-house. So, what are they trying to

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do? So, I I think we should focus on on the um [snorts] getting looking at those four and making a decision from there. If we should feel like that's not what we want, then consider the other. But it seems like we're going so many directions and I'd

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like y'all just think about that. >> I think madame mayor, going back to my thought to share with you from when this all originated, um there are benefits to both of them. Having an in-house attorney gives us

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somebody here all the time and reduces our hourly rate tremendously as a savings. Regardless of that, in in a normal practice when cities do have they also have outside attorneys as well. They're not used as much. They're used

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when needed, but they have both. So both steps are important to the to the process. So the thought that I had shared before and I just wanted to reiterate is if we can get an in-house attorney to take away headaches uh and things that maybe even the city manager

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are dealing with give better service to our the public and to our community and answering and addressing stuff uh then that's would be at a much lower rate for us and then the in-house attorney would be the backup I'm sorry the outsourced attorney

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would be the backup for it and if they're out and And again, you know, really if we found the right person, it it all kind of dictates it and we won't we got to we got to look at these that he just gave us and then we got to look at what comes in from the week and then

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we'll make a I trust that we'll all make a good decision. But we got to see the the see the proposals and and uh and do that. And it it it can and should only be done for an in-house if it saves us money and it gives our staff someone to

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go to right away. and things to move along, especially with what I think we're going to be busy with for the next uh two to four years. >> Commissioner Hen, >> um I want a chance to >> look at this, you know, um and then

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we've only been out a week. Um so ask me at the next meeting and I'll tell you which direction I think we should go. But right now, I want a chance to look at this packet and let's dive in. two weeks. We might have some >> to look at.

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>> Maybe >> Oh, I'm sorry. Were you done? >> No, I'm done. >> Oh, go ahead. Um I mean, maybe we should look at it. Like, do we need to look at Do we need to make a decision right away? Like, what's the timeline on this? I thought it was we were going to maybe look at this towards the end of the

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year. So, there's not really a rush now, right? >> And we and we I mean I I mean, I said it before, too. We don't know what we don't know. Uh, and if if the in-house has only been advertised per week, I think we need a lot more time and then we can

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in the meantime can look at what we just got. >> And I think we're being well served as as we are right now. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I I agree with you actually. Um, you know, I think we need to kind of focus on one avenue

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>> things and you know, and as Gary said, we're looking you know, towards the end of the year anyway. So, you know, focus on this. If we don't see we'll find what we want, then, you know, we look at the >> the in house.

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>> Okay. >> So, at this point, I'd ask I'd ask look at look at the package you have. >> Okay. >> We're still we did not put a a closing time on the applicants. Um I'm thinking we need at least 30 days to be able to

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get stuff in. Um, we're advertising a couple different, um, you know, legal, uh, periodicals, if you would. Um, I noticed like right now in in Florida, I think there were eight different mun municipalities that are looking for for

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uh, legal service for for in-house. >> So, larger larger cities or counties. >> What size are they compared to? >> Yeah, pretty pretty large cities and counties. Um, but you know, we can also reach out and kind of see where those price points are, see what type of

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information we can find from there, >> but we'll go through with the process. You know, the the evaluation time for these RFQS. You need a month anyway to look at that. So, let's >> I'd ask you go ahead and look through that. Um, we won't at this point.

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>> I wanted to make sure there wasn't a sense of urgency of getting these scheduled. I didn't want to be the one holding you back. No. >> Um, so look through then the next meeting maybe the subsequent meeting in in September we'll have a

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feel for what we have for in-house counsel at that point you can have a better idea of where we're building >> okay >> so >> okay um >> anything else >> uh yeah two more I'll be quick um also we had RFP out for revolving line of

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credit um we got two submitters back um you you're aware I hired PFM as a financial a municipal financial management company. They are evaluating those two firms. Um they came in pretty aggressive. It looks pretty good. Um so

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I will have a recommendation um to proceed with that at the next meeting um with a a uh selected firm uh for your approval and then at that point we would start [snorts] preparing the closing documents for that. Um the city

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manager search uh the one on one meetings have been in the uh they're down on the short list. Um I think they cut down to about 10 and right now they're doing the video interviews that'll be taped for you and they're

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also doing a vetting of of that that short list. Um he said the time frame for the next set of interviews is roughly two weeks. So week after next. um it'll give you a point where you can

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start looking at those video interviews and from there the goal would be to cut down to a smaller number that you would bring in and have face to face. >> Okay. Will will will they make those easier to access than the the other

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forms that they sent us the video interviews? >> At what point does the resend? I can give that feedback back to uh to the firm. >> Yeah, it disappeared and then they had to resend [clears throat] it again to start all over again. >> Yeah. >> Um and then last a little bit of good

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news. We talked in the in the capital meetings um about the need for a school bus for park and wreck. Um and we had a pretty big ticket item [snorts] in there. Um I reached out to our um maintenance supervisor, uh Jeff Krider,

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does all of our equipment purchases. and asked him to keep an eye on the Gideon auctions, which is where we take our used in our used uh surplus equipment. And we purchased a bus for park and wreck. Um pretty decent shape,

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uh dual air conditioners, everything works, it runs. Um he's changing out some of the lights um for the stop, painted white. Uh $3,810. >> Wow. >> Wow. >> It's ours. We're getting it titled now. >> Wow.

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>> So, we hit we hit that one good. >> So, uh we let Sam know today and uh >> that is screaming. >> He's going to be pretty happy. So, yeah. Jeff Crowder in our maintenance group. >> He has someone who can drive with the license to drive it. >> Uh Sam,

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>> do you have CDLs on staff now? >> I have four. >> There you go. >> Oh, wow. >> Solves that problem. >> Good to go then. >> And he'll still keep the others, >> the other buses, the smaller buses. He'll still keep those. >> Yeah. Yep. Yeah. This is just this is something we

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>> we have two pieces of equipment. We've got a Bobcat in and we've got a um a bucket truck. So, we will make enough money on the sale of those to be able to purchase those. >> So, and then I'm getting a flag from the city attorney.

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>> Just one thing to update on the presentation we received at the beginning of tonight. My suggestion, madame mayor, commissioners for the staff would be to work out a non-bindingou or term sheet. That would give us all the information we would need for the required notice. Uh the PSA

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is a binding contract and that's going to require a lot more attorney attorney involvement reviewing all the terms and that's going to slow the process down. A term sheet orou would give us everything that we need for the required CRA notice. So that would be my suggestion

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to stop and then if if necessary and if everything works works out then we would negotiate the PSA contract. >> Don't we have it?

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No, we we we we processes. Okay. [snorts] >> Okay. On to our city commission. >> Commissioner Aspati, would you >> um >> do you have anything? >> Yeah. Back to the back to the same thing. I

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got some updates, but we have no resolution to this several hundred,000 we um gave to Spring Ridge that we haven't gotten u gotten back and I think they're giving us the runaround. Um

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so I think we need to look at that. maybe even uh turn turn up some uh heat and try to uh try to see where we go with that. Um I continue to bring this up all the time. Um Duke Energy is in their phases of

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doing their what they do best is which is whatever they want to do. Um, I would like to see us, and I've asked since the day I I got sworn in that day, that we have some type of requirements. Um,

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while they have their easements and they have many rights within their easements, these lines need to be underground uh going forward. And I think to me that's my top priority. Uh, I say it all the time. That's probably the most

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embarrassing thing I could ever have about this city are those power lines out there. And my uh third and final item is the uh awareness of the electric bikes. They continue to escalate and

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knock on wood. None of our kids uh most of them are by kids though adults use them. Um, I don't know if that's what happened to you with the neck thing on electric bike, [laughter] but um, we need to have some guidelines uh to to uh

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keep everybody safe. So, three items. Um, and I'm going to talk with the city manager about some of those and and some ideas. Uh, but uh, those continue to be there. >> That's [snorts] it, ma'am. >> Yeah, I I agree with you on the electric

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bikes. Uh, and I know there's some other cities that are are looking at doing some things and uh the city commission is kind of nervous about making decisions, but but at the very least I think we should look at requiring the

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kids to wear helmets. Uh and I don't know if that's something that we can do. >> Kids only or kids and adults or anybody? Um, I mean the >> I don't think you can require just kids, but >> Yeah. I mean, it'd be good to do uh do them all, but uh

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>> but isn't sorry, isn't the state looking at this as well? >> Yeah. Yeah, that's what we're saying. They're looking >> and how can we pass something more than what the state will allow us to do. So, >> then just be cognizant of it on keep it on the forefront. Yeah. >> And I'll be happy. >> Exactly.

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>> Commissioners, I did forward out some draft ordinances. So, if that's something that if you'd like me to bring forward, we can we can do that. >> I don't think we want to spend money on you doing that quite right now, but we need to keep it in our forefront and keep I'm just going to keep reminding

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everybody about it and let's see what the state's coming out with. Let's talk to our people in the state and see if it's, you know, got a good life to it, kick to it. But um we don't want to go down not saying that we fought for >> No, my my my biggest my biggest fear

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with those things is they hit somebody >> and then >> and no insurance >> and then Yeah. And then who's responsible? So I mean I know the state's really looking at these uh over a certain amount mile per hour. So I hope they come up with something. >> We should start hearing something from

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the legislature within the next two to three months on what's going to be on next year's agenda. So, and from what I understand, it is being pushed heavily. >> Okay. >> Yeah, I see that there are a lot of kids now that are actually doing tricks on these things. So, I expect uh

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>> things to get a lot worse before they get better. Unfortunately, >> are they required [snorts] to have insurance? >> No. >> No. Like a bicycle. >> If they hit you, >> just like a bicycle. Um, one of the things I'd like to bring up is, you know, a couple of years ago,

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um, you know, we, uh, uh, we pushed to have those clothing boxes. >> Uh, we to limit and I think our limit was two. >> For the city, >> two or four, >> was it? >> I don't remember. I'd have to I'd have to dig that back out.

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>> But I know one place where there's at least four in the one parking lot. So, >> really? >> Yeah. Yeah. So, you know, I'd like for us to kind of uh take a look at that. And I don't know if that's something that Eric, >> you know, Eric would do. >> Yes. >> I'll we'll we'll discuss it tomorrow as

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uh lead team meeting. >> Okay. And uh a couple of days ago um Miranda and I uh uh had the fortune of of going to the uh FBI National Academy um

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uh event in Daytona uh where they swore in our Chief Capri as a president uh for the uh the upcoming year. So congratulations to the chief. A job well done. um

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you know to to sit there and to see how the the uh the law enforcement community respects this guy. Um uh you know I it was you know it was um

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it was something to see them uh to to appreciate them. But but congratulations again uh Chief Capri uh on your selection as president and that would be it for me. >> Commissioner Holland

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>> um I just want to uh thank public safety whether it's the police department or the fire department for keeping us so well in the loop uh when there is something going on in this community. Nothing is worse as a commissioner than to us to get calls from folks in our

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community and not hearing and us not knowing about it before um we get that phone call. Um please keep all of our public safety folks in your thoughts and prayers. We had that incident the other night where we had our officer drug um

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and it was all over Fox News. It was all over most of the major news. We need to make sure that we keep them in our thoughts and prayers constantly um as they're out there protecting us on a daily basis. Um so that's all I've got

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tonight. Thank you, Mayor. >> And I'm good. Thank you. >> Okay. Good. I just had a couple of comments. First of all, congratulations, Chief. We should I wasn't aware of it. So, um that would please let us know in the future so that we can congratulate

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him. Um >> I know but that's not the future. [laughter] [gasps] >> Okay. Um I had the opportunity to join Pastor Renee uh Representative Cobb and Chief Capri and other community members um doing prayers at the gates of the

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city. It was for different areas northwest, east and south. And it worked out. It was really nice a very u nice event. Um and I want to say happy third retirement to Mary Montes. Um, and

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hopefully there won't be a fourth unless [clears throat] she's committed this time. And um, this is in bloom. We're I'm looking forward to participating in the uh, August downtown merchants meeting. I I'm really encouraged by that, having

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our retailers come together and start up again. I there was an alliance once upon a time and it's kind of waking up again and um, I think we'll see some really good things downtown. And yes, flowers and decorating and and enhancing our city is important and we will continue

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to do that. Um also, um we are submitting nominations for the American Bloom Conference. We have some really good um nominations that's going forth and uh and we're thankful to for Tim to Tim for all that he's doing. And um the

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community garden is taking shape um with Fountain Outreach, the Fountain Outreach organization. So, it's all been platted out and um I think Sam has plans for it and we're also working with Sean. So, I think we have a really good start on

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that and uh Pocket Park is our next big project. Sam talks to teach. >> Okay. So, I I think that's it uh from me and yes, >> sorry, one more thing. And uh uh we had

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an event in uh in the park um last weekend and I don't know uh what the taste is for the commission on this but you know we have the car show that comes in uh uh the third or fourth Saturday of

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the month. Um I'm going to say it. I don't see them contributing anything to to our downtown. They don't go and they don't shop at our stores, uh, our restaurants.

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Everything that they do, they do there. >> So, I I I'd like for us to to think about that. I mean, we have the surface lot that would be great for them, but I don't know what everybody else is think everyone else thinks, but uh, it's

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just something I want to bring up. So, uh we are using our park more and more um and um I I think we should would look at relocating them >> and really if you'll remember that was a

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challenge we had when we moved them to the park is they were parking in front of our businesses >> and they were never utilizing so it is worth another conversation >> I agree we close the park when they do that no it's open to the public. They're just in

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there doing their thing. >> Yeah, it is open, but they utilize um >> most of the space. >> Anything else for the good, >> you know. Can I just add one thing on that tone? Because otherwise Gary would would [laughter]

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>> Yeah, this is why we got done so early last time. >> See, I knew [laughter] exactly >> and I and honestly, I swear you're doing it on purpose, too. You must have watched the video. [laughter] Madame Mayor, I think he's out of line, but uh the

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>> bet everyone thinks I'm right. >> The uh associate the Daniel and George and uh some of the other key people are working on starting a downtown association. And in that meeting I went to uh their first meeting

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uh there was talk about the car show and and all that. So, I think let the let the downtown community evolve and maybe come give us a thought about that. Let the downtown businesses tell us >> whether they feel it's a a plus or not

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or whatnot. But there's some good things going on with that. We've all wanted them to restart that and and it's in the process. So, I just wanted to tell you all that. >> Thank you. Anything else? >> I'll quit saying that. [laughter] >> Okay. So

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at um what 8 7:48 it's hard this is a glare on that clock. >> We'll call this meeting a journey. All right. All right.