The most notable issue during the meeting revolved around the timing of public comments. A debate emerged over whether public comments should be placed immediately following presentations or at the end of the meeting. Commissioner Nesta expressed frustration over the change, stating, “not sure why that happened,” and emphasized that it seemed to undermine residents’ ability to participate effectively. Another council member asserted that the council had the authority to dictate the agenda, referencing a resolution that allowed for flexibility in timing. The argument centered on the interpretation of the resolution, procedural norms, and whether a unilateral change had been made without proper discussion.

The council members debated the procedural aspects, with one insisting on maintaining decorum and respecting previously established agreements. Despite the back and forth, a motion was made to conduct public comment immediately following presentations. Context was provided regarding how other municipalities handled public comment, with Apopka being the only one of eight cities to place it at the beginning of the agenda. Ultimately, the council decided to maintain the current agenda structure for public comments as published, with the motion being carried unanimously.

The meeting also included a detailed presentation on the Vision Zero Safety Action Plan, aimed at eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries in the city. Kelly Fon from Kson Associates presented the plan, developed in collaboration with city staff and MetroPlan. The presentation highlighted statistics, noting that within the region, an average of more than five individuals are killed and 35 are seriously injured on roadways every year. An analysis of crash data from 2018 to 2022 revealed that Apopka experienced approximately 116 fatalities or serious injuries during that period, with pedestrians and cyclists being disproportionately affected.

The action plan identified a “High Injury Network,” pinpointing 10 corridors and 30 intersections where serious accidents occurred. Fon explained that the goal is to achieve zero deaths through various safety measures and layers of protection, emphasizing a safe systems approach to transportation. The plan includes proposed projects targeting areas identified within the High Injury Network, linking high-incident locations with evidence-based safety countermeasures. The Safety Action Plan serves as a prerequisite for pursuing federal funding through the Safe Streets for All initiative, which would aid in financing the proposed safety improvements.

Another topic was the approval of a $40,000 deposit related to the Apopka Proud concert. Concerns were raised about the timing of the decision, with one commissioner noting that the contracts had already been signed and a commitment made, implying that the council had limited options at this stage. The commissioner emphasized, “it’s kind of late in the game to do otherwise,” indicating a desire for the council to be more involved in decision-making before contracts are executed. Public commentary questioned the financial implications of the concert, with one individual specifically asking about the anticipated revenue from the event, pointing out the disparity between costs and returns.

The council also approved several development plans, including a development plan for a property on West Kean Road. The proposal encompassed 13 buildings totaling 61,928 square feet, designed for retail, commercial, office, and medical purposes. The Development Review Committee and the Planning Commission both recommended approval of the plan.

Further discussions included a proposal for prepayment of deposits for entertainers for the upcoming Apopka Proud concert scheduled for October 5. The Parks and Recreation Director explained that due to the concert falling into the new fiscal year, authorization was needed to prepay deposits. The amounts requested for two entertainers, John Anderson and Soya Brown, were each $20,000. Concerns were raised regarding the diversity of entertainment, with one member pointing out that the concert series had not represented a variety of genres.

Several ordinances were addressed, including Ordinance Number 3029, which aimed to amend the Apopka Comprehensive Plan by replacing the transportation element in its entirety. Ordinance Number 3056 proposed changing the future land use designation for a property located on Marvin C. Xanders Avenue from commercial to mixed-use. Both motions carried unanimously.

The meeting concluded with discussions about the annexation of properties and a resolution regarding a budget amendment for the fiscal year 2023-2024, which involved significant items such as an impact fee agreement amounting to approximately $1.29 million for a wastewater force main construction project and a $375,000 transfer for additional legal fees.