A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to addressing gun violence, described by Brother L Muhammad, executive director of the Circle of Brotherhood, as a public health epidemic. Muhammad highlighted the personal and community impacts of gun violence, emphasizing the need for both community and leadership engagement. His presentation stressed the importance of overcoming ignorance and arrogance to make progress. Muhammad urged the commission to utilize the organization’s resources, noting their holistic approach involving a dedicated team working on violence intervention and reentry programs. Several commissioners expressed gratitude for the organization’s efforts and echoed the need for collaborative strategies to address the issue.

The meeting then shifted to discussions on utility rates, specifically the challenges facing the water and wastewater enterprise funds. The current user rates, unchanged since 2015, are insufficient to cover rising operational costs, particularly in the wastewater sector, which faces significant deficits. The presentation on this topic highlighted the need for rate adjustments to ensure the financial health of the utility enterprises. Commissioner Kelly emphasized the importance of community engagement in discussions about these changes, noting residents’ concerns over existing high utility bills. Commissioner Williams also stressed the urgency of addressing these issues, citing instances of exorbitantly high water bills that residents have faced. The commission agreed on the necessity of holding meetings to clarify current utility challenges before proceeding with any rate adjustments.

Infrastructure projects were another focus of the meeting, with discussions on phase two of a canal project and the milling and resurfacing of Northwest 19th Avenue. Commissioner Kelly raised concerns about the impact of the canal project’s first phase on residents’ properties, emphasizing the need for effective communication and notification strategies. The commission unanimously passed resolutions related to these projects, recognizing their importance in addressing the city’s infrastructure needs.

The meeting also addressed staffing issues within the city, particularly in the finance department, which is currently short-staffed. There was a discussion on recruitment challenges and the need for a comprehensive approach to attract suitable candidates. The commission expressed a commitment to resolving these issues to ensure efficient financial operations and oversight.

Public safety was another key topic, with discussions on police presence in parks and the need for a plan to address gun violence. Concerns were raised about the lack of police officers at parks, especially during children’s activities, and the necessity of increasing recruitment and retention efforts within the police department. The commission explored various strategies to enhance police presence and engagement with the community, emphasizing the importance of collaboration to ensure public safety.

Additionally, the commission tackled the issue of power outages in the city, with calls for better communication from Florida Power & Light regarding infrastructure upgrades and maintenance. Commissioner Kelly highlighted the impact of frequent outages on elderly residents, stressing the need for a permanent solution to the problem.