One item at the meeting was the Winter Haven Police Department’s reaccreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). This notable achievement was presented by Assistant City Manager for Public Safety Charlie Bird, who emphasized the significance of receiving international accreditation with zero deficiencies, a rare accomplishment. Bird attributed the success to the collective effort of the entire city team, stating, “It’s not just the police department; it is the entire city team.”

Chief Brandon provided further details on the rigorous accreditation process, crediting Carla Neil, the accreditation manager, for ensuring the department met all required standards. He noted that the assessors were particularly impressed with the department’s community relations and demographic alignment with the community it serves. Additionally, the Chief mentioned that the assessors encouraged the department to pursue advanced accreditation.

The meeting also included a significant presentation honoring Dave Carter for his retirement from Carter K Engineering. Deputy City Manager MJ Carnavali outlined Carter’s extensive career, highlighting his tenure as city engineer for Winter Haven, which began in 1979. Carter oversaw major projects such as the 21st Street Northwest extension and numerous utility expansions. The proclamation celebrating Carter detailed his many contributions, including improvements to septic systems and sustainable building practices. Carter expressed his gratitude, stating, “I’ve come to feel it’s a very special place… I think the people are what makes it a special place.”

In another presentation, the Commission recognized recent graduates from the Certified Public Manager (CPM) program, a two-year educational initiative aimed at enhancing the skills of municipal, county, and state government employees. Among the recent graduates were notable city personnel such as Lieutenant Garrett Boyd from the Winter Haven Police Department, Carlos Deus, the assistant superintendent for parks, recreation, and culture, Sunny Emery, the fire chief, Dustin Everett, the natural resources manager, and Katrina Hill, the director of public affairs and communication.

The meeting proceeded with a discussion on several significant land use and zoning ordinances. Ordinance 02430, concerning the future land use designation of a 56.74-acre parcel recently annexed into the city, was a key focus. The ordinance proposes assigning a “Neighborhood Suburban” future land use designation to the parcel, allowing for the development of single-family residential units at a density of 3.7 units per acre. The Planning Commission had reviewed this proposal and recommended approval, despite public concerns about traffic, noise impacts to Lake Smart, density, and safety. The staff concluded that the proposed designation is consistent with surrounding uses and that there is sufficient public infrastructure to support the development.

During the public comment period, Shelton Rice, an attorney representing the developer, supported the request and emphasized that the development aims to maintain a substantial separation from existing residential areas due to a Duke Energy easement along the southern and western boundaries of the parcel. A commissioner raised concerns about the range of densities permitted under the R3 zoning designation, questioning whether it would be possible to cap the density at a lower level to mitigate future development pressures. The response clarified that a more restrictive cap could only be implemented through a Planned Unit Development (PUD) process, which is not applicable in this case.

The Commission also discussed Ordinance 02432, aimed at amending the city code to support affordable housing development. This ordinance proposes reducing the parking requirement for affordable housing developments to 1.5 spaces per unit and capping the maximum number of required bicycle spaces. It also seeks to update procedural language regarding the appointment of members to development boards and facilitate expedited reviews and fee waivers for affordable housing projects. The Planning Commission had reviewed this ordinance and unanimously voted in favor of it, with staff recommending approval.

In addition to these discussions, the Commission addressed the consolidation of the 2015 and 2021 construction funds into a single capital project fund through Resolution R-24-36. The city manager explained that this consolidation aims to improve operational efficiency, streamline the budget process, and enhance transparency in financial reporting. The motion to adopt this resolution was approved unanimously.

The meeting concluded with routine approvals of previous minutes and the consent agenda, along with updates from commission members and the city manager. Mayor Nathaniel J. Birdsong, Jr. noted his upcoming participation in the Florida League of Cities conference, where he would collaborate with other municipalities on legislative agendas. The city manager also provided updates on the ongoing improvements at the Ritz Theater.