please ma'am please sir secure your cell phones I'm asking that we have the Pledge of Allegiance from The Honorable Mrs alandre Jackson am I saying that right yes ma'am amen would you bring her to the podium please yes bring her to the [Applause] podium invocations invocation will be performed by councilman go because this is one of his former students or players as well and then we will do call so would everyone please rise and secure your cell phones please sir please ma'ams the floor is yours Mrs Jackson make sure that button is turned on on Coach here we go yes sir I pledge of allegiance 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 justice for all right beautiful job let's give a round of applause it takes courage and we're acknowledging ladies women's month amen okay now we're going to do implication um so unti yourself we going to have a prayer Straight from Heaven invocation please invocations prayer if you would bow your head father God thank you for allowing us to be here another day Lord Lord thank you just for watching over us As We Gather in this building today cuz in your word it says with two more are gathered Lord so will you be Lord Lord just be with us as we go through this meeting guide us our minds and thoughts uh that we do the best for the city of Coco Lord bless the families that are represented tonight for for Mr Joan Taylor Lord bless them that they they just nourish this opportunity yes that we have for him and Lord just bless him as he moves forward in his career Lord bless his entire family Lord bless everyone in this building in Jesus name we pray amen amen let give a round of [Applause] [Music] applause to whom much is given much is what all right so we're going to fulfill our agreement because we believe in doing things in decent and in order my grandparents were Pentecostal all right on one side the other side was Methodist but when you put them all together we still got the Holy Ghost [Applause] amen Madam may we do roll calls yes sir mayor Blake pres ma'am Deputy Mayor Hearn pres council member baringer pres council member gos here council member C here City attorney gargan here city manager Whit thank you thank you very much Madam clerk proceeding on to item number two- one chair would like to make a motion to amend March 26 20 24 regular meeting council meeting agenda to add to presentations item number 3-6 a proclamation recognizing Pine Crest Academy Space Coast for the advocacy efforts and promoting the city of Coco as an ideal location for the bright Line Station also to move item number 7-1 considering the approval of the first addendum to the city managers and employment agreement after Awards and presentations and to remove item number 7-7 a donation request for Koko High School's third grade literacy and theater event and I'm looking for a second second okay I have a second on the floor by councilman goes CH gonna call the question all your favor by saying I I and the N eyes have it unanimously proceeding on to tonight's key to the city of Coco a presentation to Mr Johan Taylor I don't know your middle name but you better be glad I don't [Applause] know and I'm asking the wishes of council um councilman goens sir you are going to read Mr Taylor's Proclamation because you have one of the short and eyesight that is Young and able and uh Once you turn surpass the age of 65 you know what happens your eyesight is the second thing you lose when you turn pay uh 65 I won't tell you what the first thing is just just just just just look at me GL to tell you yes ma'am yes sir so Council would you please come down yes ma'am okay yes um Mrs singer thank you ma'am point of clarification um Mrs singer thank you hey you know she's Johnny on the spot or Johnny s on the spot let me see it right if you want to get it right the first time you better include a young lady in your repertoire in your direction because ladies get it right the first time us males we flip and flop but thank you Mrs singer would you call the first individual's name out because he's right there in baby blue would you come to the microphone let's bring this young man on with a round of [Applause] [Music] applause good evening good evening evening thank you for having me on this joyous occasion yes sir I will say I did not realize how powerful this moment was until I heard your voice wow this is big this is a test T to someone's hard work and dedication perseverance and Mr Taylor I have a few words I'd like to share not only to you but to all members here Mr Joan Taylor your accomplishments have been nothing short of amazing and inspiring and we couldn't be happier for you being honored with the key to the city is a testament to your unwavering determination resilience and hard work it's a reflection of your Relentless Pursuit of excellence and your refusal to settle for anything less than your best your dedication and perseverance have paid off in the most remarkable way and you deserve every bit of success that has come your way Joan your achievement is not just significant for you alone it's a Beacon of Hope and inspiration for your family friends and this entire Community amen you've shown everyone not only in Coco not only in bravar County but even those around the world what is possible when you set your sights on a goal and pursue it with passion and conviction your journey serves as a reminder that dreams are within reach for those who dare to chase them and obstacles are simply Stepping Stones on the path to success you've inspired all of us to dream bigger reach higher and never give up on our aspirations you've ignited a spark of hope hope and possibility in the hearts of those who have witnessed your journey reminding them that with prayer hard work dedication and belief in oneself anything is achievable amen at the remarkable age of 26 you've already achieved so much yet your journey is far from over as you continue to pursue your dreams and aspirations I encourage you to keep giving your all just as you've always done your dedication hard work and talent has brought you to where you are today and there's no doubt that you'll continue to reach New Heights in the years to come whether on the field or off you exemplify what it means to strive for excellence in everything you do as you press forward on your journey I have no doubt that you will leave a positive permanent mark on the world and when all is said and done a mustard yellow sports coat will hang in your [Applause] closet exist speak it into existence h y h okay yes sir take your time brother Mr Taylor you are not only an elite athlete you are also an exceptional human being admired and respected by all who have the privilege of knowing you your character your integrity your generosity make you a true role model inspiring others to pursue their dreams and passion with determination so as you continue to chase your dreams and make your mark on the world remember to stay true to yourself and never lose sight of what truly matters your love for your family and your faith in God while you have accomplished so much I can't wait to see all that you accomplished in the years to come congratulations Mr Joan Taylor [Applause] for doctor would you state your name for the record do would you state your name for us for the record yes my name is Dr rayah Christopher gof thank you very much so let's give this young man a round of applause again I out to bber next M singer Kathy Hamilton Brown okay another cot graduate here miss Kathy Hamilton Brown I don't know if I can come behind you but anyway good evening good evening um it's an honor to be here and honor to be asked uh to speak on behalf of Jawan Taylor um Today We Gather here to honor an exceptional individual whose character and personality shine brightly Illumina our community with positivity and inspiration Jaan Taylor a native ofar County embodies the values of Integrity resilience and compassion from his early days out R youth football then to Coco high and now his outstanding career in the NFL Jawan has shown an unwavering commitment to Excellence both on and off the field his actions speak volumes about his character a character built on hard work determination and humility what truly sets your apart is not just his athletic progress but his genuine kindness and generosity he is always quick to lend a helping hand to those in need whether it's through charitable Endeavors or simply being a supportive friend and ment to the youth and adults in our community in J one we see a reflection of the values that Define Us residance in the face of adversity strength and unity and a deep rooted sense of Community his action sered as a Beacon of Hope and inspiration reminded us all of the Power of perseverance most of all faith and the importance of giving back today as we celebrate jwan t let us not recognize his achievements but his character a character that exemplifies the very best of humanity thank you Jaan Taylor for being a shine example of what it means to lead with integrity and compassion thank you [Applause] [Music] [Applause] so okay we're playing baseball next on day okay basketball yes ma'am good evening everyone good evening it is a privilege as well as an honor to stand here before you tonight tonight to speak on behalf of my son Super Bowl champion all right Super Bowl champion Jaan Maris Taylor he is very y'all know his middle name now he is very deserving of this honor his combination of hard work and dedication has afforded him this opportunity he is one of the most strong willed determined individuals that I know he inspires me me right I just want to share a little bit about his journey on tonight and how he faced a lot of adversity to get to this point and every adversity he faced he overcame them all I'm going to go all the way back I'm going to go back to when I was pregnant with him I was about 12 weeks gestational and I had an abnormal Alpha feta protein test which is a strong indication of birth effects I was told that it was a great possibility that Jan was going to be born with either Down syndrome or spinabifida they even begin to speak with me about MTP which is a medical termination of pregnancy my husband and I we were the type of parents that if he was conceived he was going to be birth all right after that when Joan was born the court the umbilical CT was wrapped three times around his neck it was at that time that I knew that Jawan Taylor had a purpose and that God yeah yeah had a [Applause] plan Jan's Journey has by far not been easy but he stayed the course and everything that was designed to break him motivated him he turned every test into a testimony and like I said he overcame every adversity I'm going to just share with you a few adversities that jwan faced I remember when Jan was in the seventh grade and he came home he said Mom the teacher went around well since the age of four he always wanted to play in the NFL he said Mom the teacher came around the class and asked us you know what where our career goes he said Mom I told her I want to go to the NFL he said his teacher looked at him and said the NFL Jawan choose another career do you only know that only 1% makes it to the NFL she said choose something that's obtainable well you see this 1% tonight another adversity that Jawan faced when Jawan was a junior in high school Jawan was now 6'4 382 lbs with a 44 waist on a size 17 shoe I had another man living in my house that wasn't my husband and Jah would go on um his dream school was the University of Florida when he went to a camp there they told him Jawan you're a phenomenal player you had a phenomenal camp but you're a liability you're too big Jan would go home with the help of his uncle coach Marlon and lose 52 lbs in 6 weeks who does thatan Taylor one more adversity and it's the greatest adversity when he lost his father right before his fourth season at the Jacksonville Jaguars Jawan took that adversity he said you know what Mom I'm going to dedicate this season to my dad Jawan would finish that season with 1,097 snaps and only five sex allow where they do that at after losing their father Jawan Taylor and in spite of all the one more adversity a week before the Super Bowl Jawan Taylor would lose his grandmother he said I'm going to take this game and dedicate it to her so now he's on the biggest stage playing his best game against the highest paid defensive end in the NFL Nick boser y'all know Nick Bosa and played his best game yes he did and coming out with a victory yeah yeah I couldn't be more proud yeah all I can say my baby deserves his ring but I will say this in spite of all the adversities I often tell youan it's not can you handle the blessing we know he can handle the blessing he's extremely humble but it's can you handle the persecutions that come with the blessings now when you can handle the persecution that comes with the blessing then that's when you know you've been anointed for this and I can honestly say that jwan Taylor has been anointed for such a time as this [Music] yeah and lastly I would be remiss if I did not mention my angel husband he's the one that paved the way he was the one that was very instrumental in Jan's life taking him back and forth to Camp he started out with me we all often consider him the captain of our ship I could not have asked for a better man to father my children and as I often tell my children the captain of the ship has permanently retired but our ship is still [Applause] sailing and as I stand here tonight yeah as a proud mother of a young man that is extremely passionate consistent resilient and extremely humble as I take my seat I leave you with one of Jan's favorite quotes Victory tastes sweeter when you've conquered every adversity thank [Applause] you hey old ball coach okay okay okay I'm let me sign this cuz I got to get this to my brother right okay uh hey let the congregation say Amen say like you mean mean like you say am let me be first to say do I need a microphone got um let me be first to say there's nothing like the love of a mother right come on now come on come on let me say it again there's nothing like the love of a mother amen okay that's important that we recognize that because today or this month is also which month come on come on say like you mean come on now yeah man and we talking about divine intervention okay the the the second thing to your young man um I'm happy to say through what your mom mother clearly collaborated and elaborated adversity somebody told you it was impossible but when you break down that word impossible what is what are the first two letters I'm what that's right don't you ever forget that cuz we always go after we all go back home I'm just trying to stay calm because there's no other place where we can always go and that is home to a mother's love and the last thing I want to say prayers of the righteousness Avail much so so stay humble brother the world is yours and we're very proud of you so on behalf of the great city of coko we greet you with open arms sir so come on down my friend I will share something with you yeah let's give this tiger graduate Round of [Applause] Applause now now this young man is so sharp even a cat can't even stretch him man I can only dream baby so on behalf of the co uh great city of Coco um we would like to say to coach Coach G my district number one brother he's going to read the key into existence and we're going to present this key to him cuz I believe in teamwork is dream workor and that's all about adversity because it makes us win on the Day of Victory no one is tired on the Day of Victory okay here you go former sir all right so if you look at the screen all right you know I'm always a little different so um so this photo um wow today today is just what you see as a result but this was already put into play on Ferndale a long time ago and and if your granddaddy stand up stand up right quick for me so so he he he is he is a uh certified block Mason all right certified and so but he not just a block Mason he buil builds families he builds people and so before he was born this was already done for you already and and so and so I I went and looked for you can have a SE I know you'll stand up all day I know you so so I went I went um had to go into my stash right so I pulled up a our team photo from 2005 throwback I going to make sure I get this sign too for you um but but This was um uh 2005 and this photo you see is when he was a little bit older but he used to Mis practice sometimes right and I why he always got a Mis practice it's because he was um drumming in church right and so and so he's a drummer certified so certified black Mason you're a certified drummer right here and and so at that time I'm a football coach trying to win games right what his mom and his father was doing was was trying to win life right so so so what you see the humble the The Giver this is what was already destined already all right so so again I I just this photo is another example of him just giving right he don't have to do that I mean it's a lot of athletes that go go do their thing on professional level and don't do anything for the community right so chooses to do this because his family he really has no choice he probably don't even know why he do it but it's because it's instilled in them that's right so next one um so again had a nursing home doing his thing right CU we know they are our precious Jews our seniors next and so uh I I had this up cuz it was another photo from Lally that look just like this right so this was two th this was he was a I believe a senior in high school right there right and so so again 50 pounds losing at 50 lbs allow him to do that destroy people right uh next one next one all right so ju just look how similar this is right from L leag when he was 12 13 years old right so he's TW he's 12 up top all right 12 up top and and and so and and that was I believe might have been in the in the playoffs a regular season on the bottom right but but but again this shows the process of things right sometime sometime we see we see the result of things we see a guy on TV we see a guy doing his thing man it's so much go in between that you wouldn't even understand you got to respect NFL athlet you got to respect anybody who takes that talent to the next level it's not just a game it's a game of life that he playing out every day he's risking his life and so again from from me and my family to your family I love you to death I appreciate all what you do in the community it's not just about football right it's about it's about that that block Mason right because you are a builder as well so again I would read the key to the city go ahead man I was ready to send the hat around man yeah yeah pass the play so on behalf of the city Coco this key to the city is presented to Jawan wnie Taylor and recognition of your exceptional athleticism and unring dedication to Excellence your outstanding contributions both on and off the field embody the spirit of our community and Inspire us all presented by honorable Mayor Michael C Blake and the Coco City Council on this day 26th day of March 2024 amen all right let's get [Applause] this man man we got my tears of joy up man yeah I hold the M man I you bro I work for you uh it's it's truly an honor it's truly honor and a blessing to be here I want to thank uh mayor Blake and all the councilmen uh coko the city of Coco man I would not be here without y'all and Y support I want to thank a few family members in particular my mother my brother my sister uh my uncle Marl Uncle bran y'all were there for me since day one supported me and uh helped M me into the man I am today I want to thank the rest of my family as well uh without y'all y'all love prayer support watching me play come to the games everything I wouldn't be here without y'all um I I can't go with without thanking my dad my late father Reverend Robert F Taylor Jr amen uh he definitely molded and shaped me into the man I am today and I definitely wouldn't be here without him I know he's here in spirit and he he see everything right now um I want to thank my coaches teammates uh you know everybody that that helped me get better and mow me into a better player each and every day I wouldn't be in this position without my teammates and coaches as well um but yeah I really appreciate every one of y'all coming out tonight and supporting and and just supporting me from day one and um I I'll definitely do my best to continue to represent the city of Coco in the best fashion I can thank you all [Applause] right now now now I'm old school now councilman go and summarize it all but you may be seated please I'm old country boy straight out of Coco I'm proud of it home training that's home training and you know the ability to do the right thing when no one is looking when no one is looking still doing the right thing you know and that's the beautiful thing about it so that's all councilman GS bragged about very humble man but don't get his timing wrong amen okay because of the sake of time if I may Mrs Taylor and fames on both sides all former in what babe go ahead ma' okay yes ma'am we going to bring the T come on up Y come on up come on upo come on up city manager how much they I Mye BAC right don't make me cut up in here I see you back there de May wh because of the sensitivity of time two young men I'm asking to come forward because they have been a bridge builder they've paved a way so that we all stand in recognition of this young man um and some of y'all will catch it when I call their names up but the first one from Bard County and a coko high tiger graduate he too all o received the key to the city of Coco the honorable Neely D let's bring [Music] [Applause] in uh Tain Jerome Blake better AR his fat daddy baby come on down he's our NFL a NFL referee now now there would be no train Blake if it wasn't for Neely D because he's the come on come on now some of y'all going to catch it sooner or later justess what knock on wood it's going to catch me also from hot chocolate baby Coco Florida cuz when we in this moment I don't know when will be the next time we will be in this moment James F sen also this man has this football track named in his armor let's give him a round of tiger prize now I'm coming I'm coming I got you I got you I got you come on all right now we're going to take us a photo are any other NFL players here tonight yeah see CJ CJ the DJ right there okay all right we would like to take this photo off real quick and then we would like to bring on the teachers and coaches of Mr Taylor bring them up next yes ma'am Miss Kathy Hamilton you two are an educator administrator and a leader to his well okay amen amen okay thank you now come on all right I took a bath today let's take this photo please y'all come on where yeah y'all come on in man come on in yeah yeah y good y good on my toes anyway I'm good yeah nowy let me give you five of us here I'm missing two more CH who's his cousin right that right and also J and also Mr because of their obligations understand so 1 2 okay say right here all right one more um just us please just us one two 3 4 five real quick on yeah come on Coach stock because of time man now just those five 1 2 3 4ay right here Co right here got chief of police man there not enough is that it now okay teachers come all up all teachers canot brok come on yall come on up good read those long words in the Bible man I still I took [Applause] hook hey good good good real quick coach done referee done Trey Blake do you all coach Fon any one of y'all want to say anything real quick I'm just saying from an NFL perspective anyone well I I would say this it was stated earlier only 1% only 1% of applicants make it to the NFL so what he has done along with all the others is phenomenal and I'm so proud of him and the family had such great things to say about him God bless all of [Applause] you it's a blessing to be standing up in front of you guys I grew up in Allon Apartments mov from Allon the age five his dad grew up in all in apartments so to lick these guys in the face man him and Jeremy whereever you man I they dad all over man and they don't don't have a meane bone any body but he playing the sport that we call organized violence so when the switch goes on it goes on mean it's organized violence so man kudos to you Wendy Kudos you Jeremy and want man appreciate everything you guys have done and are doing much [Applause] respect I just like to say um I really take my hat off to the family right right so I grew up with his family with his mother his uncles Sean Lou Marin Lou you know we grew up playing together at McClaren park right so we grew up all grew up together but he is a reflection of his family he is one of the most respectful young man that I've met anytime that I see him on the field it's all love before the game he makes sure he comes up and he gives me a hug before every game that we have right honestly but during the game whenever there's something that goes on or what and I approach him and I just call him young man right young man and he comes yes sir yes sir he's very respectful honorable young man um and that's the reflection of his family and his upbringing so I just want to take my hat off to him everything that he's accomplished and the family everything that they've accomplished Marlon Lou I've seen videos we know the coaching that you've done with him you know what I mean and just the upbringing that he's had and the family support so I take my hat off to the family and congratulate him on all his [Applause] success next we're going to bring up the family please ma'am please sir but let me Ste a little scripture out of the Bible uh Proverbs 22 says what what is in a good what come on there you go come on say sister what is in a good name is far greater than what all the riches even silver then and gold thank you so y'all a what we know went to BT we know uh uh the mat out of the family Mrs Taylor would you please come and then orchestrate us how you would like for us to do this let's bring on with a round of applause St you want to say something real quick come on stop go come on come on come on bring them on up okay if you don't want me to come to your house raid your refrigerator andss definitely you do not want Joan and I raiding your refrigerator come on up come on up okay yes sir come on hey do you want the microphone come on if you're related to the family right you want to hold this hold this for mother yes sir yes sir what do you want me to say what you want me to say or who else you need to come up here youbody good to see you came up you know what nieces and nephews y'all can come up as well what's going on M my granddaughter I good to see you speak speak in the mic me bar and Aunt a bar Shan aun am uhhuh y'all can come up please and fing Kea as well the whole family everybody few if you family Jaan Taylor all all that's what I'm saying SOA can you fit everybody in okay come onut aunti aun come on yeah I forgot his name no that's tonyy cousin Tony cousin Tony cousin CJ that's that's his name amen amen here you go am to say anybody in the back they they can't see come to the front sh come over what's going on come up here come I get than you so much okay everybody over here I can see if you can see me I can see you all right everybody ready one two three okay everybody good all right we [Music] can see you man right congratulations let me go do so y make that again are take [Applause] care [Music] [Music] you yes sir y I'm beautiful thank [Music] you no I mean if I had something to say I would have said y y y y y yes ma'am how are you [Music] [Applause] com [Applause] you how you doing take it am yes sir [Music] come [Music] on just cut his what's going on [Music] oh my [Applause] God El huh he has one there why why he got why he has it in his hand everybody 29 28 [Music] 27 23 22 [Music] 19 18 [Applause] youan yes [Music] and 1245 number 208 488 208 it was that that five four [Music] [Applause] three [Music] two [Applause] okay next we will proceed for with proclamations or someone left their fob keys they will not be going too far from the the fob they'll be back F Keys as you said in Old School I dream right here little housekeeping okay we will proceed sent uh proclamations please ma'am please s um starting off will be our city manager our illustrous industrial city manager uh stock witon let's give him a round of applause all right thank you Mr Mayor I'm going to ask uh Mrs Bowman to come up I don't know if other staff is here this is a proclamation for uh Florida government Finance officers or government Finance officers uh professional government Finance profession week and it says whereas the Florida the Florida government Finance Officers Association samanth whereas the Florida government Finance Officers Association is a professional association founded in 1937 and serves more than 3,300 professionals from state county and City governments school districts colleges and universities Special Districts and private firms and whereas the fgfoa is dedicated to being your professional resource by providing opportunities through education networking leadership and information and whereas this government Finance professionals week sponsored by the FG foa and all of its member governmental organizations is a weeklong series of activities aimed at recognizing government Finance professionals and the vital services that they provide to our state and our community and whereas during this week government Finance professionals throughout the State of Florida will be acknowledged for their hard work dedication and Leadership now therefore Michael C Blake on behalf of the city council of the city of Coco Florida does hereby Proclaim March 18th through the 22nd 2024 as Government Finance professionals week in the city of coko and extend our appreciation to all government Finance professionals throughout the state and here in the city of coko for their hard work dedication and Leadership all right let's give our city manager City attorney please come up everyone let me this young lady and her staff preste record no sorry thank you sir no blemishes on her financial records that speaks volumes I think this is number seven or number eight or 28 or 29 I don't know it all sounds good and great to us because through this ladies um Mrs Bowman's leadership and her staff in conjunction with the city manager and the City attorney and all 400 plus employees you know we say thank you very much because teamwork is DreamWork so let's give her a round of apps again you like to say anything all right she's petrified of the microphone I guess so let's give her a round of applause and you may be seated please thank you uh Mr stanet would you come on around this way yes no no no no he think it's going to be light and out of no front row Center attraction yes sir Proclamation whereas the holiday called Arbor Day was first observed with the planting of more than a million trees in Nebraska and whereas Arbor Day is now observed throughout the nation and the world and whereas trees can reduce the erosion of our precious top soil by wind and water lowering our Heating and Cooling cost moderate the temperature clean the air produce oxygen and provide habitat for wildlife and whereas trees are a renewable resource giving us paper wood for our homes fuel for our fires and countless other wood products and whereas trees in our city increase property values enhance the economic Vitality of business areas and beautify our community and whereas trees wherever they are planted are a source of joy and spiritual renewal now therefore I Mayor Michael C Blake on behalf of the city council of the city of Coco Florida do hereby Proclaim April 6 2024 as the Arbor Day event all right let's give Mr stet a round of applause we will always honor and protect Mother Nature if we do not have trees we in a world of trouble as they convert the carbon into oxygen and we're appreciative of that so let's give ourself a round of applause thank you let's give Mr stanet a round of applause to as well for Having the courage to come forward next will be our uh Deputy Mayor Leander Hearn and he's dealing with hoptic yeah yeah homophilia sorry oh see see see CL she with you come on down all right let's give this young lady this charming young lady a round of applause as Deputy Mayor last year and here we are again this year and would you tell us your name please Samantha nario see see so this Proclamation um um comes with uh great appreciation um as a last year I learned my nephew he has a bleeding Disorder so I'm proud that the city of coko is standing strong with those that suffer from uh bleeding disorder ERS yes we going to have to have you and the family come out and join us for some events that's right you go first okay I'll begin whereas hemophilia is a rare disorder in which your blood doesn't clot normally because it lacks sufficient blood clotting proteins clotting factors and whereas if you have hemophilia you may bleed for a longer time after an injury than you would if your blood clotted normally causing weakness of the voluntary muscles and whereas symptoms of Hemophilia may include unexplained and excessive bleeding large or deep bruises pain in joints and those bleeds without a known cause and whereas the bleeding disorder Coalition of Florida bdcf is an advocacy organization founded founded by the H hemophilia Foundation of Greater Florida and the Florida hemophilia association to be the voice of the Florida bleeding disorder community and whereas the bleeding disorders Coalition of Florida has been serving the bleeding disorder Community to improve their Quality of Life by offering programs and services such as medically supervised Camp scholarships advocacy efforts emergency financial assistance and educational programs and Etc to support healthier and more independent lives now therefore the Mayor Michael C Blake on behalf of the city council of the city of Coco Florida do he by proclaimed the month of March 2024 as hemophilia and bleeding disorders Awareness Month all right let's give our Round of Applause hemophilia and blood disorder why because he is a param right sir yes sir sir yes sir and then introduce young ma'am go ahead um hi to to hear from um from this amazing man here and all these amazing Council this is the second year that Koko has honored us with this partnership to hear now that we brought this knowledge forth to him a year ago and now his family is actually dealing with a living day-to-day diagnosis that's what I do this for I do this because it comes from a place of passion my son was diagnosed I don't know what is wrong with this thing today but I got a big enough mouth my son was diagnosed with Von wion's disease which is actually affects 1 to 2% of the American population and it goes undiagnosed until there's an extreme emergency um now as as this amazing man that gives his life not only to his community but also to Emergency Services is going to come across now and he's going to see this disorder From a Different Light because once it affects you with your family it changes the way you see everything my community my bleeding disorder Community kids fight with upwards medical bills of a quarter of a million dollars to two3 million a year one dose of my son's medication is $116,000 he may need that once a month he may need that four times a week that's a lot of money we live in bvar County we know that I know that I don't make six figures so we all know we have deductibles right everybody in this room pays a deductible or a co-pay on their insurance well we have been in January we're at the state level in Tallahassee fighting for um Senate Bill 228 of which I am extremely proud to say that Senator Mayfield has been an extreme advocate in force of nature for us which is nice to live somewhere knowing that you matter to your politicians and also we were just in DC in March and I'm going to say this with a sense of Pride that I never expected in my life in DC in March Congress Mosen Congressman posie became our co-sponsor for the second year in a row on HR Bill 8:30 what that does that makes sure that every single pocket that every single dollar out your pocket that you pay for a co-pay goes towards your out of pocket for the year in my case Pharma gives me $25,000 assistance what were they doing to me oh we took your 25 Grand but guess what it may you still owe me five grand out of your pocket that's illegal it was illegal until 2018 I am extremely proud to stand here as a bardian and say that Congressman Bill posy just signed a letter to the HHR which is the health and re Health and Human Services resource to enforce the Affordable Care Act and to stop PBM stop being pharmacy from saying I cover this medication but I'm not going to cover that one and he is the sole Republican in the United States to sign this letter to Congress and that's big around here because you know we've been very active with him I'm extremely active in the community this the first Council I'm going to say it at I am a filed candidate for the city of melbour city council for this year's election so coko y Got That One exclusive I didn't give that to nobody else my point is he is the reason of why I do what I do and I hope that you come out and start to join us at our programs and start to see your family's not alone in this it is a community like nothing I've ever seen in my life the one thing we all have in common in this room is guess what when we bleed it's the same color and this is the one Universal mission that I've been able to fight and see that it doesn't matter where you come from doesn't matter your economic background it's going to affect us all the same and the key is education education and responsibility parents have to become more involved in your children's day-to-day life and that makes all the difference cuz I know many moms that don't stand here and do what I do but I also wouldn't be able to touch whether it's one person when I walk out this door that tells me wow I didn't know about house bill or Senate Bill I'm going to call my congressman and be like hey I heard this girl and she said this bill affects me that's why I do it so thank you so much to the city of coko for this partnership I look forward to many many more years of joining you all up here and thank you so much for everything you do for the community all right thank you again let's give a round of applause I myself met with Congressman posy just last week I uh two weeks ago at Washington DC on Capitol Hill and at the airport so thank you so there is love and there's support coming from right here out of bvar County thank you proud of you proud of okay next will be bright line all trains and planes and cars run through the city of Coco so let's bring on councilman Matt Beringer please and he will read our next Proclamation let's give him a round of applause you want to hold it you got and the proclamation whereas the bright line rail service has been identified as a catalyst for the growth and advancement of Central Florida and has been specifically recognized for its potential to transform the city of Coco and whereas a dedicated team comp comprising of students and faculty from Pine Crest Academy Space Coast recogniz the transformative impact of a bright line rail stop in Coco and tirelessly advocated for it and whereas the team's advocacy efforts Drew upon the historical precedence such as the development of the Transcontinental Railroad demonstrating a deep understanding of the potential benefits such infrastructure could bring to the city and whereas their unwavering commitment to promoting Coco as the ideal location for a bright Line stop exemplifies their dedication to realizing a shared vision of progress and prosperity for the community and whereas the announcement of Coco as a confirmed stop on the brightline route stands as a testament to the remarkable advocacy efforts of the Pine Crest Academy Space Coast team now therefore mayor Blake on behalf of the city council in the city of coka Florida do hereby recognize Pine Crest Academy Space Coast for their exemplary demonstration of Civic engagement through education which serves as a beacon promising to toine opportunities for Koko's residents for generations to come student staff please come up all right tell us a little history about how this formulated I'd love to yes share with us how this came into existence come on down young man yeah LOL doll could everyone just slide over to the right first lady come on you right heree go ahead yeah go ahead so very briefly very often we talk about all the wonderful things that happen in our community and it's very often how wonderful it is to have a teacher who lives in the community be a part of this solution through her students and through advocacy so sometimes as Leaders we just drop seeds along the way that we go don't know what is going to happen but you know that it can drop you drop something and someone might pick it up and run with it and this is one of those moments it started simply as an idea of how they could teach their students a little bit about history that simple and instead of making them read from a book they took a real problem that we fac as a community and turned that into an opportunity and through their advocacy of reaching out and writing the governor to actually meeting the representatives from Bright line who introduced them and took them on a train to set to to unwavering saying that Coco would be a great stop and then for that to announce that's not bad for fourth grade project by fourth grade so to the to the inspiration that hardworking teachers give every single day to the students who would believe that playing small does not serve the world and the greatest thing that they could fear is the inadequacy no no no it's the power that they have so to that end thank you for the adult leadership thank you for believing that this could happen and thank you for risking the opportunity of something small for something so Grand thank you all right would anybody would anybody like to speak who who sir em Emily okay Emily you been summon I just want to say thank you to the city for recognizing these teachers and these kids um this was a project that they started back in the fall of 2022 um so to see it come full circle for them um we talk about real world application all the time and it's really really beautiful for them to see this come full circle so thank you thank you for this opportunity all right all I'll say one thing um I do want to say one thing I'm Emily Gart and when we were coming up with this idea Together Matt came and joined our meeting and we all kind of brainstormed together so we also want to say thank you to Matt for helping us create this idea thank you L stud here audience bring down here please the pars [Applause] around who Chief Operating Officer would say the greatest investment is are children that's right they are today success but tomorrow's future we believe in our children our greatest natural resource amen principal Cole amen all right we good call you standing by my right please okay thank you yeah all right thank you parents getting ready to get away one more one more sir we talking about Liquid Gold can we give a round of applause from liquid gold it's been the backbone of C uh our utilities director Jack Walsh we'll read into our final Proclamation for tonight all right C High tigers in brother Park okay yes sir thank you hold man hold it let me get everyone no no lot got a little slow sir you okay I want to hear that preaging moment man ready good yes sir yes sir Proclamation whereas water is a basic and essential need for every living creature and whereas the State of Florida water management districts and the City of Coco are working together to increase awareness about the importance of water conservation and whereas the city of Coco and the State of Florida have designated April typically a dry month when water demands are most acute Florida water Florida's water conservation month to educate citizens about how they can help to save Florida's precious water resources and whereas the city of Coco has always encouraged and supported water conservation through various educational programs and special events whereas every business industry school and citizen can make a difference when it comes to conserving water and whereas every business industry school and citizen can help by saving water and thus promote a healthy economy and Community whereas outdoor irrigation comprises a large portion of water use the city in Coco will encourage citizens and businesses to focus on improving outdoor irrigation efficiency and whereas the city of Coco Florida is calling upon each Citizen and business to help protect our precious Resources by practicing water saving measures and becoming more aware of the need to save water for this the 26th year of our conservation month there will be a special focus on improving irrigation efficiency now therefore I Michael C Blake on behalf of the city council of the city of Coco Florida do hereby proclaim the month of April 2024 as water conservation months all right let's give Mr wal a round of applause W yes sirp yeah come on man lol do and everybody Y come on tight get tight [Music] okay okay thank you very much yes the city of Coco provides over 80 plus thousand customers 8,000 and growing strong and we're the only city on the entire Earth to have water to go to the moon and back right here in our great fine City trivia question thank you very much knowledge is power what happened to Joan I thought he was coming back for that one okay said he was coming back need a picture of some drinking water [Applause] yes thank you sir just want to make sure I glasses I would like to say happy early Easter to everyone happy early Easter I'm glad to be from the south and we celebrate that at least I do so I want to say thank you to you all happy Easter yes ma'am yes ma'am are all cards thank you is this okay is that Randy Whitaker is that right sir thank you sir thank you sir thank you sir oh thank you so yes sir okay I really do say thank you to everyone's patience for today it's been quite a phenomenal day I'm happy to say um we are going to proce SE forward with the city manager's contract as I amended the agenda for tonight and I thank everyone for exercising their civic duties and there are a lot of cards here so we did adjust that particular item number 7-1 and brought it um right after the conclusion of a war and presentations so on that note I would like to read the approval of the first addendum to the city manager's employment agreement 24162 if you submitted a card pertaining to this particular item please raise your hand so I can recognize everyone that submitted card okay Mr city manager sir and let me say up front I do support our city manager because he's done a lot of phenomenal things here regardless of what may social media may say I stand with this young man because you can hear some of his accomplishments he facilitated a comprehensive re rewrite of the CD Landscaping ordinance he also utilized arpa funds to assist util customers with paying bills during the covid-19 pandemic yes sir yes ma'am we are our brothers and sisters keeper he successfully completed um the portion of developers agreement with the Walmart Distribution Center for the donation of a one acre parcel of land to the city of coko and that could be used to assist the widening of the State Road 524 he also facilitated a successful expansion of V a space within the city businesses and Industrial Park to keep them from finding an alternate location but let me reminisce and reiterate again all roads lead through Coco train ples and boats and as you all know bright line is the newest member so let's give ourself a round of applause that's yeah yes yes so Mr city manager sir thank you Mr Mayor okay but can I say one more thing if you have any more cards please submit the cards now thank you sir okay sir this item as you mentioned is a a first addendum to uh my uh Employment contract uh two simple changes to the to the contract or two uh simple to explain changes to the contract one is to extend the term of the contract from October 8th uh 2025 to October 8th 2027 and then the second and consideration of those uh of that change is to freeze my salary at the current uh salary level for the next three fiscal years and so it's simply that change let me let me um um make a short presentation um and so this will this will at least put the facts out out there uh as they are um the city manager contract and addendums there in 2020 the city manager's position was uh vacancy was advertised from May uh 15th through June 12th um on November 3rd 2020 there was a city election for the mayor and two Council seats and and and and I present that because uh um the emails have have uh presented their position as this is the principle of not um encumbering future uh City councils with Decisions by current city councils and uh as you know that's done all the time there's a there's a $5 million commitment to Bright line uh there's a capital Improvement plan that spans 5 years um and so there is also under your agenda the multi-year contracts there and so councils actually make decisions that will affect other councils um all the time uh each meeting and and uh and a whole lot of decisions that they that they make there and so again this that process was started in the middle of the year that process actually ended um U towards the end of the year and so if you see on the screen you'll see that um um upon uh with the end of the advertisement period that was 144 days before the election of the next Council and recall that again two of the council members were termed out and so you at least were guaranteed that two of the five members were going to be two me uh new members uh the selection of the city manager actually occurred 81 days before that election and then the approval of the contract occurred 55 uh days before that election and so in 2020 there was a council making decisions before uh the the election that would affect the um the the the council that was seated in mid November and in fact two of the two of the three members that were elected to that new Council sit here today the previous city manager requested and had approved two addendums to his contract and so um information was presented that this is unusual this is new uh again previous city manager had approved two addendums to his contract his original contract ran from February 25th 2013 to February 26 of 2016 and he asked for an amendment or an addendum to that contract on August 26 2014 and that contract was extended to 2017 you'll note in bold that there was a city election November 8th 2016 and so the original contract was expiring before the next city election and the addendum tuck it past that city election again um presenting facts of the matter and if if we're talking about the principle of the matter then these are important um the new contract again was extended to 20 uh September uh 30th of 2017 and there was a second addendum that extended the contract to September 30th of 2020 you'll note that there was another city election November 6th of 2018 and so the second the first addendum didn't take him through the second election but the second addendum did we have emails from uh Titus Ville and unincorporated citizens regarding this requested addendum and so Titusville um citizens um and what appears to be a form email weighed in on the Coco City manager's contract extension request the Titusville city manager signed this agreement on August 7th 2014 and the term of that agreement and I'll read it the term of this agreement shall commence on sep number 2014 and pursuant to sections 16 and 17 of the city Charter of the city of Titusville the city hereby employs the employee for an indefinite term and so you have city of Titusville citizens weighing in on a on a definitive term for my contract and yet for the last almost 10 years their city manager lives under a contract that has no uh definitive term and in fact uh when we talk about uh um performance evaluations and I I think the world of their city manager he's a great guy does a great job in the city when we talk about performance evaluations he's not had one during that time The Bard County manager who had his contract amended and extended last year uh and that was a unanimous in approval of his modified contract that contract has no term date and so again you have unincorporated residents weighing in on city of Coco City manager's contract which has a definitive term date and yet uh the cities and the areas in which they uh live in their City administrators don't and County Administrator don't operate under a definitive term contract those are the the points that I want to cover and certainly will be available for questions if you have them Mr Mayor thank you very much Mr city manager do Council have any questions for the city manager the thing that I would like to say is that I a firm believer in stability and predictability and the reason why I say predictability is because through the consummation and the compromising fair and Equitable compromising we have reached the level of being recognized not only countywide not only Statewide but nationally known even while I was there at our Washington DC with our Congressional leaders the thing that I'm saying the city of coko was recognized and mentioned about the positive success and successful uh situations that we have been under the leadership of our city manager and staff so I'm a firm believer in this and this is the reason why I Stand United with this young man because of even online interaction with permitting for the first time ever in Coco's history I think we even have iBot part of the AI Mrs singer can you validate that as well ma'am yes sir chatot chat thank you so there's a lot of successful things here that's happening in our great City but I understand um I do believe in this man does anyone from Council would like to say anything yeah I think I I would but I really would want to hear yes from the Citizens first before I I speak in my opin I agree okay all right thank you sir councilwoman call your light is on yes so um I thought a lot about this last Tuesday I learned that we were writing the evaluation and I've been very thoughtful in thinking about our city manager strengths and all the good things that that he has brought here and I included those my evaluation I have a value at as this city does a core value for accountability in fact when I ran it was on accountability and transparency those have been issues for me there have been lots of Excellence but there have been issues on developing ways to measure our progress and performance appraisals couple years ago I brought the fact that stipulated in the contract there was supposed to be a performance appraisal every October annually and that had not been done there were accusations made that I was a racist because I did that a year after that was was due stipulated by the contract the contract also stipulates the renewal of the contract to come six months before the contract actually expires I was here as was councilman gos with the former city manager I regret I regret that we let him go the way he did and that went down the way it did that cost the city of Coco citizens more than a quarter of a million dollars built into the contract along with vacation days and sick days but a quarter of a million dollars so it's a great liability I would not do that again and certainly um unless there was a real problem and that again is where accountability comes in now during the last year I felt that there's been some progress working with the city manager so you know I was looking forward to this as an opportunity to say this work this works this doesn't work I need this my constituents need this and um I'm concerned that that's not how this will be used I'm concerned that if uh we vote for this addendum and by the way so many people wrote thinking that we were actually that we were deciding whether Stockton was going to be our city manager and no matter what's decided tonight he is still our city manager because this contract isn't even up for a year and a half I think they're well there're probably reasons it came tonight right after the bright line but at any rate I have it is not my intention to let somebody go to let the city manager go to go through that Havoc again and to um you know sacrifice the the um the citizens and the progress of uh you know our government but I do have this is our Temple of democracy and accountability is a big part of it we are accountable to the citizens every four years we have to be reelected they vote whether we've done our job or not whether we've made the progress they wanted or not the only member of the 400 staff in the city of Coco that is account is a city manager and it's through our um well it'll be through our working with him our determining those goals and satisfaction in reaching them so uh what I'm looking for are measurables accountability and transparency in that and again the appraisal I did I made sure I really thought about all those good things and included them as well but I wanted to be a step forward I want this to be a step forward thank you mayor I'm done thank you councilwoman call councilman go your light is on yeah this is um so I my my goal just thinking about this particular item today um was for us to be open and honest um about how we may feel about city manager um about the progress that we've made or weaknesses that we feel um we feel like the the city manager as a council he needs to do better right and so we did this evaluation um uh we have public scrutiny going on now about this process I keep uh I'm hearing the word about transparency I'm hearing the words about accountability um I want this is for Council woman call because you said all these words and sometimes you you throw out words but don't have what those mean I would like to know because I I I I for me personally we can't speak about these things outside of the diets this is the only opportunity that we have I really want to have a real live conversation not about not throwing out phrases or or just on liners what what things will um cuz you said something you worried about this particular contract extension not maybe not working in your favor or citizens in your District's favor or what can you can you tell us what that is and be direct when I say accountability it is again the stipulation of this contract being annual performance reviews I have met with the city manager weekly and try to get things moving um I often don't get responses to my questions we okay if we're in a meeting he can't answer of course he needs to talk to someone else those responses often take a while take so long that I cannot respond to my constituents in a timely manner but going back to accountability evaluations uh that's evaluations of Department directors as well it is um the whole issue around the Strategic plan and developing performance measurements if you don't have a plan you could easily end up somewhere else um and you certainly need a plan and a way to measure the success of that plan now we've had a lot of successes but coming together as a council we have not been very unified and I you know as I've said before we've had this conversation before so I think we have discussed it actually quite a bit that strategic planning for me was important not only because it lays out a strategic plan for a city but it helps us to unify our vision as a community and um I would really like to see more of that okay all I just Ju Just to let you know again I for me personally um once the citizens come speak about uh how they feel about this particular item I definitely want to come back around um definitely don't want to be too long about it but at the same time this is very important and and I just I just truly want us to be direct and very intentional about this process tonight um and not um Step around things let's let's let's be open and honest about how we feel and that's just that's just my opinion I included detail in in the uh performance review okay is that Council MCG yes sir okay um I will say it this way I thought we had unification on our Council I mean um we're moving in the right direction not always a strategic plan will be incured because of the different scenarios a strategic plan does not include bright line a strategic plan does not include framework our strategic plan did not include iBot our strategic plan did not include yes sir our strategic plan did not include we venture our strategic plan did not include online um permits our strategic plan did not include the annual Economic Development breakfast event and this is a host of other things renegotiated agreement of the old fire station one you know our strategic plan did not include VI our strategic plan did not include blue origin our strategic plan did not include SP excuse me SpaceX I'm just saying or even the senses that are required by the city Charter I just believe we give the city manager directions as a whole as a councel and then he acts upon it to me that's strategically predictability and being stable okay um city manager sir yes sir a couple of things there and and I want to um you know I think being a city manager County manager is one of the the most difficult jobs uh you'll ever find um you you have to pleasee five people and there's an expectation that uh you you you'll follow five different sets of uh directives uh your rules say that you follow one directive that's the collective directive of the council and so the difficulty and I and I've given you guys the the uh article by an icma uh city manager by an HR professional on the value of performance uh evaluations there and there are different schools of thought on uh performance evaluations there and so um but but it's a difficult job it's a job where the direction that the city managers is supposed to follow is supposed to be Collective Direction um and so that's difficult that shouldn't be what a a city manager County manager is graded on um and I want to talk about a a couple of things that I that I missed before I I I actually wanted to actually go over the email that I sent Mr gargan AC on August 27th 2020 and it was as we were negotiating and finalizing the contract and it says Anthony please find and close a PDF and a word copy of the draft contract notes and changes are as follows as previously discussed I marked up John's last contract with the council I I struck the language that allowed for an up to 6 and a half% annual increase in salary I believe that I should take the same percentage increase in salary provided to all employees I struck the language that allows the the manager to live outside the city I believe it is is it is extremely important and proper for the manager to live within the city limits I kept the Lifetime Insurance language as I didn't find anything in resolution 20 9-15 that excluded the manager and I said that I have attached both the 20 uh8 and the 209 uh resolutions there and so before day one I've been committed to serving the citizens of Coco um I am um probably the last of the first of the last three city managers that actually has lived in the city again I've given you different thoughts on performance evaluations the last two city managers with their combined tenure of nine years only had three evaluations and so if this is the principle of things then hold me to the same standards that they've been held to um um with regards to evaluations and it's in the contract and and and you're absolutely right it's a contractual obligation it says that the man manager will agree with the Council on what the evaluation form should be and so you have a citizen that will come up and say the form shouldn't be what I gave you it should be what she suggests and that's not what the contract says there and so again I just want to be held to the same standards because I don't want to believe that I'm being treated any differently than the previous two city managers uh than anybody else would be uh treated again I've given you examples of we we literally have Titusville residents weighing in on this issue when they city manager for the last 10 years has not had a term on his contract nor has had an evaluation there and so that doesn't make it the principle of the matter that makes it a personal matter with regards to me and so that's the rub for me um but again I'm happy to answer questions I'm happy to go over the accomplishments because I think they've been there there have been many and when we talk about strategic planning there I think we've prove the point that all cities or at least a whole lot of cities are doing it exactly the way we're doing it and so when you look around the city of Titusville Pascal County the city of Tallahassee have the exact same uh broad goals objectives uh and and again there are measurements in the in the budget for nearly every department and we'll work on fine tuning those but to say that there are no performance metrics within the city of Coco and Coco government is absolutely not factual thank you for that point of clarification Mr city manager councilwoman call uh well I appreciate your commitment to serve um but I just wanted to State quickly that you mentioned a number of the businesses that have come to Coco and things that have changed they're not a part of the Strategic plan in fact they are a part of it under Economic Development um and the like so as far as uh again performance metrics evaluations accountability a way to measure our success and and this is not about race it is that is so divisive it's so divisive and it just gets us nowhere as a community this is If This Were a business that you owned you would would make your you know you would determine when you left but this is not a privately owned business again this is our democracy this is our city this doesn't belong to us it belongs to the citizens and that's why I'm asking for accountability M yes sir have a point of order yes sir um I I heard a council member asked to see if we could have comment from the public yeah I'm just curious Council might entertain or the chair might entertain and that way as we debate it seems like it's going to be a lengthy one so in order to give everybody an opportunity to speak to peace and if they want to stick around great but if they want to go home and put the kids to bed yeah U and so I don't know if the council would be open to that yeah only reason I put my light on because I'm getting old and sometimes I forget and that's the only reason I put my light on so I'll be honest about that prent sir but I'm okay okay F 104 all right thank you very much okay yes sir Mr city manager I'm not sure if the the race comment was directed at me I've never mentioned race no I know you haven't he's talking ma'am um and and I and I've been here in this community uh in October for 30 years 23 years at the county three at Eastern Florida State College I've I've never uh mentioned race but I did see that mentioned today and so out of respect for uh councilman Behringer I will Circle back to uh how the race issue came up and just to say that you you never did say anything about that um I mean you certainly never made it about that but it was insinuated it was done publicly and there was well okay there was an intimidation factor that stopped the conversation hold you got you got it no you can't right that's right so all right thank you I'm g go back to what I said 10 minutes ago we cannot throw out things without without having facts and truth and and so and so I I just and only only only reason only reason I say that because I think people are here U maybe not just for this item but this is a very important item and if there's things that have been said or or by whomever that may be even even if it's me let's have the conversation because we are all adults and let's talk about it let's not just throw different things let's let's talk that's really let's talk about this thing let's what we call Grandma say come to Jesus meeting and so let's talk about it just to say that you just need to go back to that meeting to the video and you'll see where that occurred um and I just want to leave it at that unless you want to get into it more yeah okay let's say from the public as we all basically agreed upon just by shaking of heads okay first on the list will be Clans Whipple Jr after Clans Whipple Jr will be Linda dolphin um I think Kristen L is somewhere here in the audience where is she I can't see her stand up so I can see you please thank you you're speaking for yourself and Lindon dolphin two separate Lind dolphin reading Lind it says man city manager renewal extension I'm reading a statement from Linda dolphin and then I'm making com right that's two that's six minutes thank you ma'am esad Gan I just want to make sure I'm doing things decent in order is that permissible even though I already know the answer I just want to get it official from you as long as she's a has dual du authorization from Linda dolphin to speak on her behalf the council has okay and maybe we have a copy of that letter too as well yes thank you m um former councilman Clarence whle Mr President Deputy Mayor ambassador of Eugene Memorial Hospital sir all of those accolades greetings to you Mr Mayor city council members uh super attorney Mr gargan I would like to compliment you for the many years you've served this community in the capacity that you have and I always joke with you when I say the reason why we need attorneys is because of attorneys and I'm so happy that the city of Coco has a super attorney in Mr B DC yes okay I'm here tonight and support of the city manager's request to extend his employment agreement for two additional years Beyond his original contract I applaud the city council for choosing Mr Whitten to lead our city and the city staff through times that were hard to accept we as Citizens within this community need great leadership we need transparency we need to be able to access our city leaders I'd like to compliment the council in its entirety for having Mr Wht witton as our city manager I believe and speaking from experience 10 years on the council two years deputy mayor for the great city of Coco I believe I qualified to ask councel to do things in a certain way decent and in order I know that you all have issues with each other but you work for for the citizens of this community you've taken oath of office to perform your duties in a certain way and I've seen that displayed in many ways but I also seen it go in a different direction Mr whitten's request for an extension to his employment agreement has its merits one of the things that I jotted down when I seen this on the agenda is that it's not going to cost the citizens any additional funds who freezes their salary for years he's agreed to do that so that tells me he has the citizens best interest at hard I'm counting on council members to make an informed decision based on specific data in regards to his performance over the past three years I encourage coun Council and the mayor to Grant Mr wht's request to extend his employment agreement Beyond 2025 to 2027 the city as a whole will maintain stability and growth and prosperity for going forward in a positive way thank you for listening thank you councilman Deputy Mayor former for your comments okay I am going to call Mrs Christen ly to read her side and also Linda dolphin statement and please make sure you give your documentation to Mrs um arson out thank you certainly mayor thank you Kristen lorte KOCO resident reading a statement on behalf of Linda dolphin Coco resident who is unable unable to be here tonight miss dolphin said dear council members I asking you to vote against agenda item 24-1 162 at the council meeting on 326 because because it is important for a newly elected Council to be allowed to determine what to do with Mr whitten's original contract at the end of its term in 2025 without any cost to the city it would be inappropriate for this Council to make that decision before the upcoming 2024 election residents should be allowed to vote for either the current council members who may seek reelection or vote up to three new council members into office who may have different points of view from the current members as the upcoming election is less than nine months away Mr Whitten could request an early extension of his contract as soon as a new council is sworn in after the 1124 election or he could simply wait for the automatic renewal clause which occurs in April 2025 if a potentially new Council agrees that Mr Whitten is doing a good job his contract will automatically be renewed in April 2025 thus providing continuity of leadership why require the newly elected 2024 Council to wait two additional years to have any option to make a no penalty decision regarding his contract of what benefit could that be to the city as stated in the agenda item Mr Whitten has requested this early contract extension due to the unprecedented growth at C is experiencing and suggesting that Koko needs continuity of leadership during this time if he is effective in his job his contract will continue to renew every three years starting in 2025 without any action required on his or council's part so there will be the continuity of leadership he seeks if he is not effective in his role council members should have the right of no penalty decision-making at the end of his current term in 2025 as far as the benefit to Coco is concerned Mr Whitten stated he would forgo salary increases for 2 years years which would potentially save the city up to $66,000 per year or more if director salaries are increased by more than a cost of living adjustment a reduction of $6,000 to Coco's multi-million dollar annual budget is a rounding error at best and provides no Financial incentive to extend his contract based upon these points I can see no reason to approve agenda item 24162 I hope you agree with me please vote no to preserve the author of the voters of Coco and the decision-making of the 2024 elected representatives I requesting that my statement be included in the 326 meeting minutes as an EC comment and that the clerk confirmed that it has been included thank you for your consideration Linda dolphin 21-year Coco resident okay Christen lorte Coco resident what wait time out ask Gan is this permissible is what permissible the sign here I don't think the rules prohibit it unless it becomes a distraction or or a safety issue it's used at other meetings it's common ma'am I'm talking to the esquad garan apologies apologies accepted sir like I said I don't believe the council's rules prohibit what does he say what does the sign say I have no idea I can't read it I will be covering it and when I when I get to my comment no ma'am but the people in the audience can't see it either and that's what they okay do you want me to show show it to I mean we can't see we can't see the we can't see okay then I can have it lower that's all okay um May I continue you may stop okay and make sure that goes over over this one okay they can't see in the back when you do time because you okay just slide it back over she can't see thank you okay Christen LTE Coco me Coco resident founder of the Coco care citizens Coalition where we have been posting on this I have been posting on this prolifically since I found out about it on Friday night I would like to respond to some of the information that's come up during the meeting and prior to the meeting I have sent you all extensive comments from myself other people have into comments but I'd like to address some of the items that are coming up tonight as far as the witness to the intimidation factor that was referenced by councilwoman cost I'll just go ahead and post that correspondence right into Coco care so that we can get that all out where that I was a witness to the racial accusation against the city manager so we don't have to talk in circles about it I'll go ahead and post that um when it comes to the Titusville City the Titusville city manager his performance evaluations it is complete misinformation that he has had not not had performance reservations performance evaluations I will send you nine of them I have his most recent one from 2023 which I reported to you that I have been going through so that is a fallacy him being indefinite that's uh Superfluous um what and and the fact that people from Titusville write well let me let you know that I write to many other local meetings regularly other local meetings and they never disparage me and say you don't belong and your opinion doesn't matter this is the meeting where that happens so if tit residents want to weigh in on Coco business they have every right to do so next why not share your presentation online before the meeting so that we can all appreciate the slide presentation there was no attachments in the meeting agenda for this item the addendum itself didn't arrive in my email box till 402 despite despite requesting it Mr whitten's presentation wasn't there and as far as the before the election maneuvering that with one of the incidents with the prior city manager was he wanted to extend his contract so that he could complete the 5-year strategic plan for this city which this city currently no longer has a 5-year strategic plan because it is expired and it would be updated if we would only do so so that so his circumstances may be entirely different than ours um the performance reviews so Mr Whitten has offered an exchange for for this unnecessary and by the way let me make sure that I cover this so my uh presentation says please vote no it's too early there's no no reason Mr Whit has already guaranteed uh employment through October 2025 it hamstrings the council that is going to be voted into office in 2024 please wait until the election now he has offered after two and a half year delay that he will do the performance evaluations which I've also extendedly uh commented on I have a copy of the two page uh two-pager that has eight items on it of which the prior city manager had 40 different talking points that were rated on a 1 to five scale so there's nothing to do with race on this and by the way tonight I was about to go up and pick on the Titusville city manager who is the same color as I am so I am not have nothing to do with race when I picking on city government for doing a better job for the residents of this city and this County thank you next Pam sh please I know just stay calm no no ma'am hold on Pam sh please come to the board Pam toite a different Nar good evening good evening ma'am um sometimes um sometimes I would just cor of in the audience just a few quick statements I've had the pleasure of working with our city manager on various project challenges over the past years U even when we disagree we've agreed on a workable solution Stockton uh lives works and eats shops and plays in Coco which is very important to me Mr Whitten has accomplished more in his tenure than the previous city manager did in his entire work time as far as I personally am concerned I had many issues when I first opened my business in downtown Coco and I could not get any attention from anyone in the city and the previous uhu individuals that were sitting in certain seats uh the city manager uh the city planner uh the police chief uh it almost got to be entertaining because I would come in here and some of you remember that you would look at each other and certain people would squirm in their seats because I was coming up to speak and um once uh Stockton Mr Whitten came into C uh came into the city he uh addressed a lot of the concerns I can only speak for myself owning at one time three businesses in the village but now I own two one of them moved but only because we need a bigger space so in closing I would like to say that um I have enjoyed my relationship with the city uh with his staff the staff is very well now um uh opened and available to address any concerns that anyone that I have had in contact with and I always look to the leader because it's the leadership that they follow and so I appreciate that the only thing I need to do with Mr Whitten is to get him to write to to wear the right color of orange and blue okay and he knows what that means okay so I'm always teasing and telling him that his colors are not in the Crayola box so War Eagle and thank you for the time thank you very much okay next uh KT Delany the after KT Delaney will be dick Bank good evening Mr Mayor and Council um I just wanted to start this off by saying um for me this has nothing to do with uh the level of performance good or bad um this is more about the process for me um just because things have done been done a certain way in the past doesn't mean that we can't make certain processes better and um this is this process is something that I'm going to be advocating strongly against um on all levels of government because like previous uh speakers have mentioned if and when a new council is is brought before the city um they should have the right to pick their leadership if they so choose if they should um choose to change that um or renew the contract if if the job is satisfactory uh so that's all I wanted to say thank you very much thank you uh next up Mr Dick Bankhead hey folks how y'all doing doing pretty good good even friends in the room the uh longevity is uh became a huge thing to me when I retired and um I never dreamed that a group like this had to look so far ahead I look back at all the things y' have accomplished uh bright [Music] line y'all must have gone to meetings for what three years um 524 project both of those huge amount of time still one of them still going on the U US1 project uh it was done real pretty fast uh the 520 21 the bank condos you must have been in the bank Condos for what three four years um it puts it a different look to it to me from what I thought when I came uh retired and came back and I'm Coco High School 62 and somewhere somewhere in there in the US Marine Corps with lur with her family uh the police chief it was a big deal it was a big deal to everybody here I'm looking at everybody um 77 qualified candidates uh took what three four months to go through uh and now the police department and the chief decreasing crime U they have more training uh more diversity thank you sir and I hear three new dogs is that right uh the budget process the budget process here is not like a company I'm used to a very large company but nothing like you go through it what half the year and it just they go through every single thing and look at it and relook at it and um all these things take a lot more time than I thought so to me looking at adding two years to him it's like a blink in the eye because things are not happening within a year or two years uh y'all are looking at things in Coco that need to be done all of you and they take time and I look at the progress that's been made and um I I think from deck Bankhead standpoint you you you approve this and approve it and go on with life they bigger issues thank you very much appreciate your time than Mr next will be Lillian Liber hi Lan liour um Coco um I'm glad I don't know Mr Whitten I don't know anything about the people all I know is about the process and as a working for a large corporation for 40 years um I realize the importance of evaluation um prior to continuing employment or continuing an acquisition or continuing whatever large project is being done and um I just think it's proper that things are done in an orderly fashion that a new possibly new people people elected will have the opportunity to determine whether or not a contract I'll use the word contract is extended or whether it's not um it just seems to me that it sets a precedence that this can happen in other areas areas other than with an elected official and um I would just like to see it get back to the basics where evaluations are important and since there's an election coming up that needs to we need to hold off and let them do their the right thing in terms of what they feel and I believe Mr Whitten is probably a great man and we'll continue on but if we just wait I think that will happen thank you very much Mrs Liber next will be Alec Greenwood then after Alec will be Celeste Cado Al Greenwood Bard Avenue Coco Florida thank you for letting me speak um I I really regret the amount of time that is wasted Ed for some of the judgmental statements that are being made uh in reference to how the meetings need to be ran uh whether something's transparent or not these are all legal things that our city manager super attorney that was on there when I was on the council that was involved when yes 1981 when I went before The Bard County Commissioners and asked for the downtown area to be considered a blighted area and then I went back they asked me to go again my point is I don't understand the conuence that um one of the council members has here that continuously makes it look like that we're running around blind we this Council does not take action unless everything is looked upside down and sideways and especially the legal position you all are being talked to that it's in a way that you're not doing something properly and I have a problem with that the previous people that been up here that had been very supportive of the city manager said it well including Clarence Whipple when he remembered I was on the council he said it clear Alex goens also showed the points and these allegations of being called racist that is so low class so low class and the contingencies uh contingence that one of the council members have here is an extension of one council member here the naysayer as the newspaper calls that person you can look it up this continues I'm tired of it point of order he's attacking one M of theing C counil call please refrain from Talking uh this this this group that I'm talking about uh also wrote complaints to other the C City League of city meetings uh the I I just don't understand the negativity I support what the city manager is presenting he's doing an excellent job he's got the credentials that he's received for it I only wish he had a twin I'd take them both thank you okay Celeste corado good evening Mr Mayor my name is Celeste how are you thank you for letting me speak I just want to sort of cool off the temperature a little bit i' would like to express my opposition to the addendum but not for the reasons that you think this isn't about Mr Whitten it's about having the time and the due process to select the best person for the job and so what I'm saying is by curtailing that process and have and forcing us to make that decision today you're not giving us the time to do that and where I'm going with this is we have a pretty darn exciting future we have the bright line you have see there's a lot of growth all requiring very different skill set and requirements for that city manager and that city manager role is really critical to the success of what happens the next five years so why not give us the time to really sort of choose the best person if Mr Whitten is that best person terrific but give us the time to evaluate that and think through what future skills we need to succeed in this next chapter so this really isn't about an individual it's about taking the time and making the right decision for the right person and this is not just looking in the rear viw mirror at past performance or entitlement it's about looking forward at the skills we need to grow the city in these exciting ways and we have the potential we just need to find the right people that's it and have the time to do so um and it may not be you know business as usual what got you here might not get us there but I want all that time to be able to think about that I want us to make a really good decision about this critical role and that's really all I have to say it's about the process not about the person and it's about the city and capitalizing on the exciting things that are happening and making sure we have the right Talent not just in the city manager role but in the planning department and any of the open positions that come up we've got to have the right skill sets to be able to succeed at this next stage of growth so I just want you to make that very clear it's not about an individual it's about doing the right thing thank you very much thank you thank you ma'am all right next will be Miss Miss uh Linda Graham um after that we'll be Randy Whitaker after that we'll be the cards will kind of handed and submitted at the same time Thomas Cole or Kathy Hamilton Brown who would like to go is brown would you surrender defer or do you want um principal Cole to go better go first princip Cole principal Cole okay last will be Mrs Kathy Brown principal Cole thank you Mrs Graham good evening or not good evening good night first I'd like to say uh I am in favor of the approval of the city manager's employment agreement and councilwoman cause I do totally agree with you he has excellent strengths there's a lot of good things that he's done there's an Excellence about him that is out of this world the progress that he's made is exceptional but I want to add to it his ability to lead far exceeds any anything that I have seen and I have been certainly under his leadership he has done an impeccable job as County Manager he's doing an impeccable job as city manager his 30 years plus experience is exceptional and he's accountable and I think you said accountable too so I agree with that also but he's a financial wiiz and to me that means more than anything else that I've said and I feel very comfortable with him running the show so thank you I agree with you there when I'm not going to name all of the things that he has done because a lot of PE not that he's done but that have been done under him because a lot of people have already said it but I do want to say um city manager Whitten that I do appreciate you and I want you to know I'm not going to give you credit for putting Coco on the map because Coco was on the map but I do want to give you credit for enlarging our territory and I do want to say thank you councilwoman C thank you councilman Beringer thank you mayor Blake thank you Leander Hearn thank you Alex goens for hopefully doing what is only right you know the sacrifices that you have mentioned are beyond my belief and I I totally respect you for that for those things that you have done so I said that Coco was already on the map we have been enlarged but we're soon to be the map within Bard County and so I say thank you um to the city manager I thank all of you for doing what I know is the right thing approving his request thank you thank you very much Mrs gram for Having the courage to come forward and speak uh Mr Randy Whitaker and then and uh principal Thomas Cole sir ladies and gentlemen my name is Randy Whitaker and uh my wife and my wife Stevie and I are business owners uh you can read the shirt you know we own tin whiskey um we've owned that for about three years now prior to that we had another restaurant for 20 years in the other Corner uh I just just like to reference the prior City Manager for just a second the guy that had to leave in the dead of night for many for many years I reached out to him probably 12 15 different times never got a response never returned a message nothing we buil at tin whiskey took us about two years over those two years we've had several meetings with city manager contractors the building official etc etc those meetings were at some point some points very contentious but but Stockton Whitten conducted those meetings in a very very professional manner he steered the meetings to in the direction that they needed to be steered and at the end of the day not everybody was happy but everyone understood why the decision was made and it was a fair decision you know when you got a winning quarterback you extend him the man's a winner it's pretty obvious Mr Greenwood and I don't agree on much but I agree with him in this extend this guy before somebody else takes him thank you thank you very much Mr Whitaker good man principal Cole sir I thank you for being a gentleman a southern gentleman at that sir Mrs uh Hamilton Brown good evening everyone good evening my name is Thomas Co I'm the co-founder of Emma je Charter Academy located in the heart of Coco Florida obviously I do apologize I may not necessarily know all of the political nuances in terms of how city government is run I may not necessarily know how some of the Departments are run but one of the things I do know as being an educator for over 25 years is that when our bavard school board sets out a particular date of the first day of school that date is solid there's a lot of variables that go along around that particular date but that date is solid one of those things that has been very important to me is when we're opening new buildings when we're opening up new departments in order to be a to better serve our Scholars our city departments is for as permitting as far as our city manager has set up a system with our wonderful police chief lamb as for as when we need support as it relates to our fire suppression system for those permits we have the support there a lot of things I learned in principal school but opening up a building and permits is something they didn't teach me another thing they didn't teach me about as best those uh mitigation they don't teach me about uh bearing walls those are the things I rely upon the city officials to be able to guide me on under Stockton's leadership I've been able to be guided on those things as it relates to opening up new buildings so we can serve the scholars in the city of Coco with quality under the guidance of our city manager we have a police Department that has provided not just an officer every single day but someone that serves a lot more than an officer under our city manager leadership we have a police force a police chief that believes in community engagement we have a officer that is truly engaged he doesn't just sit in the car throughout the day he's engaged with the scholars he's engaged with the parents anything going on in the community he tells us about it first because he knows what because he is involved in the community per the leadership of Chief C under the direction of our city manager I want to make you all understand how important how those roles are affect our Scholars and having continuity of our leadership I'm going to finish and talk about and it's probably incorrect grammar so bear with me what I call the three abilities okay one of those abilities is the availability that man is phenomenal and he is available for us another one of those abilities is the ability to get the job done he's been able to get the job done for us and get it done consistently that final very very important ability is stability if you can continue to continue the vision that he's already put forth we will provide stability for our Scholars if you provide stability for our schols then they can go out and be leaders in our community later on I implore you to please that is one thing you have control over the stability of our future so do the right thing and provide stability thank you so much thank you principal Cole [Applause] sir and through stability you have it Mrs [Music] Brown assistant principal Kathy Brown okay my second time good evening good evening hey I am advocating for the extension of city manager to stting wion contract until 2027 Mr winon has constantly demonstrated exceptional leadership strategic Vision strategic vision and dedication to advancing the interest of coko and its residents his track record of effective management and fiscal responsibility has been instrumental in driving positive growth and development within our city moreover it's not worthy that that to observe that several city managers across FL Florida not just in this County but Tampa Miami and Orlando have received contract extensions in recognition of their outstanding contributions and achievements these exension serve as a testament to the value in leadership and importance of retaining talented professionals who have proven record of success under Mr Whit's guidance and the city employees um Koko has achieved significant amount Stones including securing the sun I mean the bright line project a pivotal Transportation initiative that promises to enhance connectivity and stimulate economic growth in our region additionally his leadership has facilitated the development of affordable housing projects addressing a pressing need within our community and improving the quality of life for many residents furthermore Mr Whitten has constantly priori prioritized citizens engagement and Welfare implementing programs and initiatives that directly benefit the people of coko from enhancing public service to advoca for Equitable policies his efforts have had a tangible and positive impact on the life of our citizens by extending Mr winton's contract we not only ensure stability and consistency in our City's Administration but also affirm our confidence in his ability to continue guiding Koko toward a prosperous future this decision aligns with the practice of other man municipalities in our state and underscores our commitment to fostering strong effective governance thank you for your attention to this matter I urge the council to support the extension of Mr wht's contract thus securing contined excellence and Leadership for our beloved City I got 26 seconds um I also want to also uh say that um when I call Mr winon or email him it's not for my personal game it's for the children that are a future and not one time has he denied any help to help any child I'm not talking about the SI just in this city I'm talking about around bad County so I want to thank him for that for not uh just uh discriminating against any anybody especially uh kids outside this County cuz I believe the kids are our future and I I believe that's a stronghold helping anybody especially the kids in this County thank you very [Applause] much this concludes this portion to the public because I do not have any other cars in my possession um I know I'm a firm believer I will listen to the council members um Mr city manager I see your light is on councilman goes I see your light is on Deputy Mayor Hearn I see your light is on but I just want the record to reflect I do stand and support of the first addendum to the city manager employment agreement especially when it does not have a budgetary or financial impact his salary annual salary will be capped at the current amount for the next three fiscal years so gentlemen who goes first the city manager Mr Mayor um we reached out to the cities of uh Palm Bay Melbourne um Titusville Rock Ledge with regards to their city manager uh performance evaluations we did that last year year um and I don't know that we received uh anything from Titusville that said that there were evaluations but I will stand corrected on that and apologize if he has um again my issue is not with the city uh manager for Titusville are the uh are The Bard County Manager again um I think they're fine managers it is again the principle and fairness and and holding people to the same state standard so just wanted to make that comment for the record thank you very much Mr city manager sir councilman Go sir yes sir um so there's a few things um setting presedent right so that got throwed out today um so it it's just funny how when we we talk about setting president it's only welcome when that when you would agree with the decision uh of that uh whatever decision or vote that we make so we did this before with our previous city manager um I know I was on the council at the time there wasn't much fight uh at that time because we had election during that season I mean during that uh during that year and so when things don't go in the way that you think it should go that's when those particular individuals um are making bad decisions so I I understand that I understand that sometimes we're going to make decisions that you may not agree with um but as of today set the president is already set uh The Narrative of racism um I don't believe anyone on the DI um has said that um and so uh I think we as adults uh speak for ourselves I know Alex goens does I don't I don't care what anybody says about whoever if I didn't say it it don't pertain to me and so I don't believe anyone sitting here has said that and I don't believe that narrative uh deserve any any Merit at all um things about uh uh I want to know who is us right um give us time to find um a particular city manager so I heard different criterias of what a city manager is I don't think we need to look further he is what that criteria um States um I did not vote for Stockon Whitten I voted for somebody else and now I regret that now is egg on my face years later because he is a jewel right and it wasn't personal so I called him that night I was kind of scared to call him but uh but but it wasn't personal towards him I'm a man that can stand on what I believe and apologize and tell him to his face the night of hey I made a decision I went with a vote um but I'm willing to I'm looking forward to working with you and from then on WE we've hit it off uh fullam ahead um we have bigger issues I heard that tonight too uh Mr Bankhead said that oh yeah we have a lot of bigger issues than this um he's steering the ship but he does not do anything in decision making he tells us from the beginning we are the boss the councel is his boss he understands that okay so any decision that he makes it's at our Direction he understands he works for us because he is a professional now do we have some disagreements of course it happens but he understands his role and as a councel it's our job to sell the car on the dis when we have something that we feel that's supposed to be in our district I fight like hell sitting up here and make sure that they understand I'm passionate about whatever decision that may be no matter if it's a a a basketball net to go on Jolie Smith Center no matter if it's a a a doc or parking issue downtown Coco whatever it is I'm here to fight for that it's not his job to fight for me it's my job to give him Direction but he still can't move until I bring it to the D for a vote and so I just want people to understand what that process is he runs the dayto day but we are the people that gives him Direction and he understands that respectfully collectively as a group not not one person and so um the the process may not be what some people may may feel um I know election is coming but we've done this before I believe we are all elected officials uh one is uh appointed um but I believe I just had to say that you know but I I believe that we are are intelligent enough um and not to make hasty decisions about whatever the decision that we make today and I've had many conversation with him about this this not a quick thing if he Wen doing his job it's the same thing I told the police chief when he came in it's not about some people twist it and turn into something else if he's not doing his job he wouldn't be here either if Stockon went weren doing his job he would not be sitting here we have an interim manager sitting here he he's doing his job and I'm proud to give him an extension I'm not shy about giving an extension I'm not scared thank you to give thank you the extension because I believe in him that's right I believe in what he's he's putting our city in position for and so I get off my Soap Box um but that's just how I feel I'm sure there's people that do not agree uh with me okay I appreciate all the emails no matter if you agree with me or not that's what democracy is people come here and speak how they want to speak and and feel how they feel I appreciate that 100% but in this situation the people that don't agree to move forward with his extension I don't agree today and so I'm done sir thank you very much councilman go uh if council members want to say something please turn your lights on after Deputy Mayor Hearn will be councilwoman callon after councilwoman call will be councilman bearinger all right so one of the things we heard tonight here was a problem with the process um it was spoke that uh some citizens believe that the incoming Council or new Council uh should make certain decisions um I I happen to agree with that uh it's one of my biggest frustrations when you look on the state level and the federal level you we got you know people that's appointed to positions Supreme Court Justices that make decision for years and years to come so I actually agree with that but I also agree with holding people to the same standard uh that others are held to um I can tell you a thing or two about that um if anybody know anything about my recent Endeavors on this Council over the past few years um you know someone mentioned uh if you have a winning quarterback uh why switch them out I actually I understand football better than a lot of things um you know and that's that's completely correct uh when a quarterback is doing a good job first thing they do is offer him extension so they can hold him on that team um I can tell you one thing from attending various meetings around this count or this state um with other cities other municipalities and counties one of the biggest struggles they have and and you can fact check this is finding a good city manager and retaining that city manager we've heard that numerous of times and people have applauded us for choosing uh stocked and with and uh his reputation is known around the state I can tell you that um you know so if we have a good I can guarantee you with his accolades if he was to put his you know resume out on the market right now I guarantee I I have confidence he would have no trouble finding another gig and that would be our loss the city of Coco uh something else I want to uh stay uh it was mentioned we got toddsville uh residents as well as unincorporated uh Coco residents weighing in on on City man city of Coco uh matters I have no problem with that um there's a lot of things I want to say about you know some of the things take place in other cities as well so I have no problem with that however I am elected by the citizens of Coco specifically District 2 that's who holds my feet to the fire and I can tell you when this matter you know first hit the agenda I was in the barber shop I had a number of people come up to me and reference this matter that we're discussing tonight and they believe in stocking um for the first time especially me for the first time you actually can see the works uh of of what council is doing in the uh Community I believe I look around my neighborhood I see the construction I see the bulldozers out there I see soil turning I I I see programs coming around and it's all due to the leadership um and then we I want to reference as well as far as accountability I speak to uh Mr Whitten weekly weekly and not just about matters that's on the agenda I talk to him about concerns that my constituents bring to me from day one I've never had an issue with communicating those issues to Mr Whitten and I never had a problem with those issues being taken care of because he delegated those problems down to the correct department and staff um and that's in all parts of my district and sometimes not even in my district outside of my district which I I try not to overstep other council members but if I see something I'm a Coco resident first so if I see something I communicate it so it's always been an open door policy I see other sta other council members utilize that open door policy um so I can't say that there's a issue from my eyes with accountability or transparency um like I say after hearing his accolades and seeing his Works uh being someone who actually witnessed what he does dayto day I can tell you confident I have no issue with extending his contract for another two years as well I'll leave it at that thank you very much Deputy har Council woman call uh do you want to go first no because I'm the I think that um that's the order in which the lights came on you're next man' okay well um first of all just let me say thank you to everybody that came out and affirmed our city manager and you know showed a lot of love in this community and the things that he's done for this community this you know tonight extending a contract three years out of the contract um versus just waiting a year to renew I it really shouldn't have been this big a deal um um because as you'll see in my evaluation I recognize and acknowledge his strengths as well I want to improve in those areas where we need Improvement and um I know that he's a professional and I trust we'll be able to do that and and I will say this that it's the principle of accountability is our core value it's one of the things that I was elected on it's what my constituents expect from me and um it would be easier just to vote with the group tonight but um I need to I need to stand for that and that doesn't mean that I would be firing her city manager um it doesn't mean that I wouldn't be renewing his contract it means that contract that we're under the renewal dates that it just makes sense to be accountable to that okay thank you councilman bar sir thank you um a couple things one is not to Echo comments that already been made so I do see what I'm hearing is multiple concerns raised uh none of which have to to the exclusion I think of member cost uh addressing specific issues uh as a council member representative I haven't heard one person say why Stockton is doing a bad job I haven't heard one person I've heard people saying great job we're positioned well don't like the process those issues are not Stockton's responsibility those issues are the council's responsibility from one being account and I mean disrespectfully to our my colleagues when I look at the contract and what I keep what I think I'm hearing is three points related to a contract so one is on the evaluation Point well that that's almost being pawned to the to the person being evaluated but that's our accountability so if we're going to talk about accountability what did we do for years and apparently four out of however many I know that in six months not even five months I've been here very open and willing did an evaluation got it and as a professional who works in education I can share with you the absolute destruction horrible evaluations being done with malice can have because that was supposed to fix education right we'll just evaluate the hell out of teachers and then give them a $1,000 bonus if they do good and that's really going to motivate them so when it's done with not constructive and reciprocal exchange of ideas for the benefit of improvement you might as well just you know Screw on a piece of paper and throw it away except for the fact that you meet the letter of something but it misses the point which is Improvement collaboration moving so and forward so I just share from accountability I'll eat the accountability as a council not the person being evaluated that's our fault secondly the uh and even the measuring tool that that's up you know I heard comments about the measuring you know the the the the evaluation tool um I'll be frank uh yeah okay looked one way but when I put my comments and gave it to I I think that they were received well uh gave us a point of discussion and that's kind of where I'm at in the same way way that I would do an ongoing basis throughout the without the the formal but we have those conversations and and equally city manager explains to me and I welcome that in the same way that that that that the City attorney does when I have points and I say you know I I'm embarrassed to even ask this question but from the constituency this is what's coming and I and I would take that opinion so it's a shared responsibility that goes two ways but even from a measuring tool if we haven't acknowledged or adopted what that looks like then how is that his fault it's not I I I don't I don't see how that's right so I I just share from an accountability the other is from a financial standpoint the argument that you know there's there there's really no reason to move now well here's the picture I paint 60 million to get the bright line he quits tomorrow who's got that plan yeah he can quit I mean you know sir I mean you know that's a choice sir so so so so I I I share that with you that that would be sad for me and I'll go further from experience and what that looks like because in North Bard when the Space Center went through its restructuring and you know a very large percentage of homes just got wiped out out of a small zip code it was stocked and Whitten and a few of the County Commissioners who were supportive of the idea of what it would take to rebuild an area when there were tons of people screaming about how horrible it was it'll never happen and they couldn't see it and when I look at North Bard as a whole I see it now so I I just share with you that those complex things that like we're looking at and just one is the bright line but then I say well you know it's not just about the single man I look at there's a a saying in Italian de and that means tell me who you come with and I tell you who you are so I look at our directors as the measurement of the leader I don't think twice about drinking the water that comes out of my tap I don't think twice I just go and I drink it because it's safe and when I flush my toilet it works thank you right that's not easy good good luck protecting those resources in perpetuity right for posterity for the next Generations that's what that's what's happening so that skill set that we're talking about if I ask ask for a manager with 30 plus years experience who will cap a salary who will all of these things good luck and by the way it takes three months to figure out where the coffee pot is so that that's why I'm saying don't wait until the end because here's the other option is we wait until that day I'm telling you if I'm him I'm negotiating like crazy cuz I know I've got you you are not going to pull this off in a consistent bner that offers continuity and the one thing that I have heard from the stakeholders who are vested in some of the larger projects love stability they they love stability and I don't want a city manager who is possibly experience getting briefed on what a bright line is I don't want briefed on that the that the downtown folks have would would prefer a hotel right I I don't want to have another conversation about that right so I I I I I I say all that I I don't want to have a brief about specific areas about why are we investing in our parks and why do we invest in our community and why do we try to make sure that all shifts get I don't I don't have another brief we got somebody who gets it and what I don't want to do is wait till the last moment and I don't know maybe he sticks around maybe I I don't I don't I don't want to be in that position so that being said that those are all reasons the others on precedent uh the the the reality of our governance is that we are a weak side mayor governance there is a reason for that in the State of Florida we get recognized as the Space Coast League of cities that means we don't elect city managers you know we don't have a mayor that runs the whole city from the day-to-day business that is not the role of council we do not run the dayto day that's not our job that's the kind of governance we have and that's somebody when we talk about how does the timing work out with elections I don't I I I don't support that argument simply on two causes one malberg vers Madison yep right it's not like it's a a pocket hire two days before we're cashing out which is the precedent it seems like has been the case we're doing the exact opposite we are saying no not right before we're ahead of it and Pennywise pound fool or you know pound foolish the the the Pennywise portion of this is maybe we get them at the end maybe that that could be a very expensive decision as demonstrated as our previous city manager I I don't want to go through that so from the accountability financially I feel pretty good about it from the skill set I I'm telling you I I have yet to meet a city manager who will you know beat him and I think from the accountability we as Council o uh Clarity to whatever our commitment is within the contract we owe that commitment but for the purpose of intent for what it's meant to be which is improve relationship development of services and and improve city services so thank you all thank you very much let me uh I'm going to hear from Deputy Mayor Hearn but let me say one more other thing um there were two young men that attended the fire academy at KOCO high school and chief lamb clearly denoted that one of the gentleman struggled some and even our paramedic here sitting to my immediate left talked about that test that challenge that that state certification but the important thing that I love most about that sir is that we did not give up on that child that that child experienced success and he brought his family here and that's the Priceless thing that you can't denote with the dollar because as Kathy Hamilton Brown stated the greatest investment are our children in our community that's right and I will always Bank on our children in our community so there again I stand firm it's all been clearly denoted so so so I'm G hear from dep May Hearns so eloquently stated by you all and the audience and it's okay to agree to disagree but I'm standing with you Mr city manager sir yeah I I just wanted to pck piggy off uh council member baringer something he said about uh continuity with a city manager U if you remember back to the selection of uh Stockton Whitten um I wasn't elected at that time but I was certainly attending Council meetings I was here during that process and if I'm correct the final two it was between Mr Whitten and a Gentleman and this is no knock on his resume from Middle Georgia right so imagine if you know things that went to other way and you have someone trying to navigate uh territory that's unfamiliar to him in regards to a bright Line Station or some of the other challenges that we've been having here in the city of Coco that uh Mr Whit has taken us through or got us through so I just want to leave you with that thought and on that note it goes back to what everyone has said stability this gentleman has exemplified this demonstrated this Illustrated this stability through not only just he and his staff for predictability because of his leadership because now we have companies coming knocking Excuse Me Knocking at our door because they see that and this man has a proven track record throughout not only just in the city of coko but throughout all of bouard County and we're nationally recognized and so on that chair would like to make this a motion to approve the first addendum to the city manager's employment agreement and I'm looking for a second second I have a second on the floor by councilman go I thank you all for speaking your heart I thank you all for opening up your thought process I thank you all for being who you are and voting your conviction discussion you want to say something else before I call the question yeah I believe that City manag asked to Circle back around previously so I just want to give that opportunity or you you want to elaborate sir you want no I'm I'm going to take uh the advice I give staff and not unsell the car okay you getting ready to call the watch in all in favor by saying I I any Nays nay thank you Mr city manager welcome aboard to your extension let's give our city manager round of app I thank everyone for the political process of exercising your civic duty that is participating in a democracy and I thank God for you all and I thank you for enduring because not only did we celebrate today with wary Taylor receiving the city key but also Mr stock witton a graduate of University of Florida as well as Mr wary Taylor so an historical landmark right here in our city of coko continues to establish a positive president that is throughout the whole entire County the state and this great nation called the United States of America and I love you all thank you proceeding on to the next portion of our meeting item number four delegations I do have CS I thank you all for enduring but don't leave so soon you may need to say something trust me okay I have multiple cards on the delegations under this card of delegations um George Brown yes ma'am y'all want to take a break please our chair entertains a motion for a 7 minute recess some move we have a motion on the floor by councilman baring I'm looking for a second by the chair all in favor by saying I NES eyes have unanimously 7 minute recess okay man at least you're not in the 65 group or even 55 group not even 50 yet man what you talking about Young thank you all and I second it Hamilton e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e Madam clerk are we ready man sir thank you Kye we did uh now we're on delegation CH like to return from the recess and open of this meeting to uh delegations Cher like to make a motion to return to delegations I need a second second second back councilman G all in favor saying I I any N I have it unanimously hey hey proceeding on to item number four delegations please be mindful you have 180 seconds to expound on your particular item okay um I have God bless you okay on the delegations I [Music] have one 2 3 [Music] four 5 six Seven 8 nine 10 cards so I'm saying this for a reason um delegation is only 30 minutes but we can extend it but I will save that last card for my my patriotic brother my great student who served our country well both he and his family okay under delegation Christen LTE state your name you have three minutes push the button okay Coco resident founder of the Coco care citizens group and what I want to talk about tonight is the visibil City processes and I'm going to talk about the consent agenda so I am this is something that I care about I talk about it throughout Bard and I want to talk a little bit about it with uh you guys in relation to this meeting tonight the items that are on the consent agenda the Assistant Attorney General has said are typically non-controversial and do not deviate from pass board direction or policy that is the uh definition that they've given and so on this meeting tonight what I did is I added up the totals of nine of items that I could uh determine the dollar amounts and it was 1.14 one 1,145 180 for nine items and that's a lot of money um first of all but I'd like to share a best practice that happened at another local meeting that makes me feel more comfortable with their meeting than with our meeting at the city of Coco Beach what they do with all of the consent agenda items is they read them out loud at the meeting with the dollar amounts so that all the city business is very visible to the residents so that everybody knows what's about to be voted on that so far is the best practice that I've seen in uh in Co in Bard County at the Coco meeting tonight you guys had 11 items listed is uh Council business one is City business 13 on the consent agenda and once again 1.1 million is decided on that consent agenda so um and of that so I don't um I just made a little sign I don't want to get in anybody's way but I put these 13 items zero Council discussion for people that aren't aware of the consent agenda there's no council discussion um not only is there not Council discussion but if there if even a council member wants to pull an item off of the consent agenda then there's a big scuffle because there was a big scuffle at the 227 meeting which I watched online and I just want to let you all know that they don't do this at other meetings that a member of the public can pull item and speak to three minutes up to three minutes any council member can pull an item that if they want to have a staff discussion they can request it but that is not what happens in Coco so on tonight's uh item a couple items that I highlighted are there's a home agreement that waves competitive bidding I have put in a card on that there's a placem collective for a second planning con planning services consultant that's $106,000 the home agreement was $280,000 there's $158,000 and n18 920 for tri litigation change order number five there's a lot of business that does not appear to meet the typically controversial and do not deviate from past board direction or policy I would like all of the meetings in bvar County to step it up to make sure that they allow residents to speak on the consent agenda items to allow the members to pull them and to to state them at the beginning of the consent agenda item thank you okay next on the delegation will be uh George Brown sir you're up now brother you're up now George come you can do it George yes you can Choo Cho yes sir four five good evening tonight good evening sir it's a good evening isn't it sir it is one thing I got to find out Mayor Mike sir do you have an entertainment license No Sir Mr no sir well you need one I'm telling you and uh we have a new board member don't we sir yes sir yes congratulations yes sir and we have a clerk that's the most best clerk we ever had Monica has stepped up and yes she helps me immensely immensely you do a good job all right yeah maybe we get the pay up a little bit uh let's see what what was I going to I was going to talk about uh first of all you guys get in the train with the station that's the best thing that could ever happen here the best it's going to be beautiful thank you thank you Council now we just got to get it built but you know what I think it's pretty much uh an easy job to put the station up there so if the money's there I think it'll go up and uh the other thing I was going to say please yes sir you know all the property I own there well I got to maintain it and I got palm trees that are real close to the sidewalk so I get to trim them else the palm trees are going to be in people's faces and everything so I trim them I can't get the PM ponds to be picked up because they say I am a residence in and then I am commercial but now wait a minute folks all my land is all contingent it's all it is not on the books as being part of it but it's they all run together and I just try to take it you know take care of it I can't get them to pick it up okay now as you folks probably know I'm on the code enforcement board so we get we get the people to pick up the their property and cut and get rid of it and put it out there in the front and call into the to the um Waste Management whatever and hope they pick it up but if we go and have fines for these people if they don't do what they got to do to keep the property up well what everybody don't have a trailer and a truck to pull everything did a dump so please see what you can do thank you very much we're looking into it uh Mr Brown thank you sir yes sir yeah you're very entertaining tonight thank you sir thank you 30 years of teaching sir when you're teaching youth you better entertain I listen to you all the time I learn something all the time thank you sir Mr board member for 40 years all right uh next is Ed Martinez and Kim Martinez uh The Fat donkey Grand opening sir mayor and council members uh thank you for having us tonight uh y'all are lit man this this city council is lit I need to turn turn turn it on I live in Coco Beach but I need to just watch y on I mean all kinds of stuff going on here I came here to give out free ice cream and y'all got a whole show going on here um but yeah so in all seriousness uh I as a eight-year uh city of cooka Beach council member uh appreciate what y'all do do and I've sat in that chair through meetings like this and I know what it's like and even with the folks that don't get along and all that uh I know what it's like so I appreciate your service um what I did I wasn't going to speak to this but I want what I do want to say is uh that out of all the places and locations that uh that we've opened this has been the easiest transition from from start to finish honestly and I wasn't going to speak to that tonight but um since we were talking about the city manager I can say that it really was a smooth transition and uh you guys were great all the way through um and the shop is not open so like I said we came here just to give y'all free ice cream I know mayor we talked about it and you were like when you open when you open because you like the ice cream so we we're open we'll go give you some free ice cream yes sir so what's up the date yeah yeah so uh we're going to have a we'd like to invite you uh and and the city staff to come out on uh what is it April 6 it's at 12:30 um y'all come if you want free ice cream okay and we got some uh some gift cards for y'all over there waiting for you just say your name and we got them for yall okay thank you very much so and you know what and and and whoever sat through this meeting and the painful process y'all can come too okay just say I sat through the meeting when you come through the window and we'll take care you where you at what's that right down the street right next to Village Idiot yes yeah the old bicycle shop so that's our location address say again 04 Harrison unit 105 okay we talk about free ice cream keep our First Responders in mind as well we always do we take we take care of our our police and and firefighters like we did in Coco Beach uh only ice so so one of the Traditions that we had in Coco Beach uh that we still do occasionally is we take tubs of ice cream to the police department and to the fire department so they just tell us what flavor but if if y'all going to cut me out I might have to cut that down to one gallon but no in all seriousness we're we're really happy to be here uh Kim was going to pass out just some some cards and uh we thank you and the city manager really for for the process everybody in City staff was so great and we're grateful to be here and we're looking forward to it and by the way how amazing is the bright students that were here the bright line and y'all had an NFL player I mean Li thank you appreciate thank you thank you thank you neighbor let's give our neighbor a round of applause my okay next will be Reverend Johnny Dennis I do not see him in the audience okay uh next will be Katie Delaney then after Katie Delaney will be Jennifer Kenny and Denise Hearn okay go ahead good evening again Mr Mayor and council members um my name is Katie Delaney and I'm also a candidate for County Commission district one um I just wanted to start off by saying thank you for recognizing um women's women's month I appreciate that Mr Mayor um I I was coming tonight with a suggestion just because I've been looking at some of the ways that the the county and the different cities have been doing things and I would appreciate it if the council would consider making the instructions for running for Council more accessible to the city um to the city residents um on the website along with making their financial reports more accessible for uh the people for the different candidates um a really great example of this is Cocoa Beach actually has a elections tab on their website um and this is really great because it gives people easy access and transparency um when it comes to our elections which I I know is important to all of us um so that's what I uh wanted to talk about tonight thank you thank you very much ma'am next uh Jennifer KY then after that Mrs Hearn Detroit Wayne County Miss Kenny ma hi Jennifer Kenny um 1917 Quail Ridge Court Unit 1901 Coco Florida 32926 I'm so happy to be here tonight um I've really enjoyed the discussion and definitely the meeting and um you know congratulations to all the awards that that went out tonight was super to be here and see all that so I came because I wanted to actually um thank our uh chief of police Coler and the Coco Police Department on February 14th this was actually my daughter's birthday and we were having just a little celebration in my house eating pizza and giggling and eating cake and when I went to um walk my family outside on our on my gate was a um informational um hand card so the um Coco Police Department had went through our subd Vision Quail Ridge and left the um informational cards on everybody's Gates which was so nice so I'm sorry that I missed them and I didn't get to say hello but um I I was grateful and I spoke to several Neighbors about it and they were grateful also so it was great information we to thank the coko police department for that and then also I um while I'm here and I got a couple I got a minute left I'd like to um congratulate Mr um Whitten for uh the extension of his contract and I also want to say that um my neighbors and I in in District 4 we're all quite happy um with with the city of Orlando and I also like to stay as at constituent of Miss CA that no one ever comes around and ask us what what we think but but I'm happy to come to a meeting and and tell y'all what I think and um also speak on behalf of uh a great majority of my neighbors in quailridge so thank you so much Mrs Jenny keny ma'am just want to make sure did I think did you say city of Coco yes city of Coco oh okay yeah just for record I just want to make sure you sit the city of Coco oh yes yes ma'am okay all right thanks so much yes ma'am is there councilman calls thank you sir yeah I just wanted to say that I do talk with several people in Quail rdge so I'm not completely out of touch with Quail Ridge oh they're probably people you don't know or you don't know that I talk with them oh I I actually do know everybody over there I sit on board so thank you very much and I'll inquire about that appreciate you have a good night thank you bless you God all right thank you very much U Mrs Hearn good evening good evening he would leave when I'm talking you might be family okay let me say this first of all to God be the glory oh God bless you it's a new resident I'm new y'all my family as I told you I talked to my sisters and brothers in the back my law enforcement my dad was a Wayne County Commissioner and a police reservice for the fourth I have much respect for order for enforcement for policy for procedure six degrees I just don't have a life married had children sent them all to college but I really I want to publicly thank you mayor Blake yes sir Deputy Mayor Hearn councilwoman C they I called the office I didn't know anything about your meetings I had this my first time attending and I said I had some concerns and I also had some prophetic dreams about bright line because I like Innovation we stood up in pledge allegiance to that flag of the United States of America we had those children there they learned by example train them up they will dream and innovate I'm so glad that they teachers cuz all of us come out of a public school sector or whatever by way of a educator if not your mother and your father you had to go someplace to learn your basic disciplines and for them to stand up and I hold my future here Coco as being bright because when I saw those young people and we used to say in the church church let that child cry because that gives me promise that my future is alive if you just have a room full of old ideas old stuffiness stifness stagnation then you can swallow a net and choke on a fly so I rather be young at heart and implore all my neighbors to think outside of the r and innovate be contagious the Synergy that is here I don't know how mayor Blake stood me on the phone when I talk to him or brother Hearn but I'm just so excited about Coco and I lived in Coco Beach and married Island for n and a half years Keith Kazi is my pastor over at Zion Club I know Kim them from the ice cream shop because they help us with surf camp when we minister to the kids I don't know if that's my time out but I just want to say mayor Blake yes ma'am and the rest of the constituency and Staffing you all keep doing and serving because we I come from a family of service it's thankless but God sees all Jehovah Rory he sees our motivation and sometime you might not appreciate or understand why why am I doing this god holds all the answers so keep forging on keep being Innovative keep the energy going and you're going to track thousands and hundreds pretty soon this city will be well I ain't going even prophesize that but be that as it may I'm thank thankful you invited me to the meeting I enjoyed all of you meeting you with different opinions in that and thank you for allowing me to be on the record to have comments to all of you God bless you all okay you have a question here from Deputy May Hearns ma'am I just want to say again thank you for coming out we had spoke on the phone it started was a brief conversation ended up we were on the phone probably about an hour and she's been quite modest with her Accolade she has a a vast uh amount of experience and she stressed that she was retired little that she knows she probably don't know we're going to be putting her to work uh we got many boards that we have vacancies on and uh we're happy to have you here in our community so thank you God bless you as long as I'm willing to serve and it's purposeful and intentional cuz I like to get things done so be that as it may I feel that energy in here councilwoman C and and chief of police Evander I really do so be that as it may I'mma take my seat cuz I know my elders are wondering where's Den need to stay out so I got to put my church finger up and say m I gotta leave yes ma'am cuz I'm out too late and you got to still Big A J so God bless you all thank you I Look to walk on that trail with you C across and nice meeting all of you all okay all right John verie thank you very much Miss har John okay thank you very much next on the list um Alec Greenwood delegation and last but not least thank you Alex Greenwood Bard Avenue real quick um I've already had the one issue I was going to present during deleg ations has been solved with our illustrious city manager that's another example of getting things done but while I'm up here I'm tired of hearing about I somebody's saying I I don't like this I think this should be should be changed and all that I am tired of wasting time for people coming up here that are new Beast that are not familiar with the way things work here everything is wrong it needs to be changed and I'm sick of it I'm tired tired of being critiqued here we have professional people here and this group they're all one little small group I'm tired of hearing things are wrong I've been here involved with the city my family years since 1940 50 okay I was in the council uh when I was asked by the city as a deputy mayor by the way uh to go to the council uh uh uh the uh County Commissioners and asked for the uh designation of blighted areas and I went back they sent me back for two more and I did the point I'm making here though is we have professional people representing this city and they are longterm longterm we're talking about 30 years or more and I cannot stand to hear somebody critique and criticize that things should be done different and the suggestions that are made take so much time away from what's important to make decisions you all are doing a beautiful job you need to continue it and I'm going to continue to expose the people that waste time giv me I think this I think that I'm sick of it I'm tired of it thank you thank you next um United States Marine Corps one of my alltime great students he in his lovely wife Wesley Park American Legion Post 22 is it okay to have a crew sir yes sir it's power numbers sir power and numbers all right so I'll just Express uh good evening good evening city council mayor Deputy Mayor sir yes sir city manager team staff my name is Wesley Park I represent uh the American Legion Post 22 I have to announce the most important person here my wife Lydia Park she's uh auxiliary's second Vice Commander all right over at her post but next to that you know cover the important stuff is our is our post commander of post 22 and our first vice commander of post 22 we're all here this evening they were very kind to to to back me up this evening after I talked to you all just a few weeks ago I appreciate it uh first things first we have our be the one walk coming up this Saturday uh the walk starts at 9:00 a.m. please come you know 8:00 a.m. 8:30 something like that make sure you're signed up uh second thing is that uh we're doing really good with it all right we got about 65 people already ready to go they're going to be looking nice and green uh Mr Vince SOI over there has our has our shirt got represent post 22 he made sure it said Coco on there and and uh customized it for that reason um I will say that the uh city clerk provided me with the documentation I've had some a difficult time getting that completed in time uh if if possible I'd like to be able to submit it maybe in the next few weeks we're we're not going to gather all the money until then uh but until then I still invite every one of you you are sponsored by our post to come out walk all right come out there let let us know come to myself any anybody you see up here let us know we'll set you up if we have a shirt we'll be G giving it to you is doing so well that we are running out of shirts that's a blessing so uh last we'll be we brought up our our riters here I'm I'm a part of the writers group of actually most people up here are uh on there we're all proud to have that Coco on the back of that so much so that while we're up in St Augustine we found a gentleman in the bathroom we needed medical attention we helped him out we we provided a service to him and we were proud of that a lot of veterans and Veterans uh you know wives and children were on that ride so that's the kind of thing that we represent uh again everyone here and listening is welcome to stop by uh post 22 down underneath the water tower uh we uh do accept applications from veterans spouses of veterans children of veterans connect it we got it uh but if you like to come as a guest any one of you like to come as a guest just just say the word we do allow guests we love to see you we have uh open open nights where we where we ask uh folks from the public to come out and and get familiar with the post uh when I saw Mr Taylor up here I was telling our commander I want that I said I want us to earn the city key I don't want the city key I want us to earn the city key nice so that's our intention we'll be up here more often we'll be up here more vocal and and more supportive of our city and Community uh but that's that's what we that's what we're here to do so thank you all for your support of this event that walk oh that's right I did talk about it a couple weeks ago this event thank you very much that this event does support uh veteran Suicide Prevention I apologize for skipping over that it's very important so uh if anybody has any questions or concerns I did provide my uh card to everyone including the the Chiefs over there if you guys have a couple people who like to volunteer we're going to have some Road guards and things like that we're going to use some of our own folks but we're trying to get as many people to participate too so yes sir do do uh is there like an online registry or we just give you a call and let you know you be W you all welcome to give me a call right or or or use that email whichever one I'll be looking for both um but uh we do have an online Eventbrite uh we have used we're using Eventbrite for that that item it's been working out really well I mean I I'll just go and throw it out there we have around $4,000 that we've raised uh for this event every nickel is going to go to veteran Suicide Prevention in some form or fashion either directly back to the program or to we've heard of a couple local programs in in rockl and and around the area that we'd like to support if we can so yes sir thank you so much all right thank you all very much thank you Marine cor just thank you post 22 thank you um any other questions for him all right saying this concludes this portion of um delegations we will move forward [Music] to um consent agenda item what are the wishes of councel Mo to approve we have a motion on the floor by Deputy Mayor Hearn second by the chair all in favor by saying I and in N eyes have it unanimously uh proceeding on to item number 6-1 uh public hearing conduct a public hearing to obtain citizens input and comments on Housing and Community Services needed and approve recommendation on the fiscal year 2024 2025 cdbg and home program funding 24149 this is a public hearing so I do have a few cards this is certain standards that we must meet that's been obligated by the federal government government to as well Mrs nman ma'am thank you Mr Mayor ma'am yes ma'am um as you noted tonight is a public hearing to obtain the citizen input on the comments of the cdbg home program funding for fiscal year 2024 25 uh based on last year's allocation the city anticipates to receive $1 128,648 and home investment partnership program funds from HUD as part of The Bard County Home Consortium which is comprised of the cities of Coco Melbourne pal Bay Titusville and Bard County the use of cdbg funds must meet the three National objectives to benefit low moderate income persons eliminate or prevent slums or blight or meet urgent needs cdbg allows a maximum of 15% of the grant to be allocated to a public service agency and a maximum of 20% to be allocated for staff Administration home funds can be used for addressing housing needs such as home purchase Rehabilitation Finance Assistance or to build and rehabilitate housing rent for owner or ownership or for other reasonable uses as necessary and the city must provide uh 25% match for every dollar of Home funds that are used and we have a partnership with Bard County uh 2.57% is retained by Bard County as the lead Agency for the home program all activities carried out with the cdbg and home funds must be consistent with the priorities and needs of the 5-year Consolidated plan our fiscal year 2022 to 2027 5-year Consolidated plan was adopted in 2022 and the one-year FY 2324 action plan was adopted in 202 3 the FY 2425 action plan will be submitted to Bard County by July 23rd 2024 for submission to HUD so staff advertised a funding notice for applications and proposals to be uh received by the city and reviewed at a publicly notice meeting for by a staff committee we had a staff committee that consisted of Tiffany bonedo our public information coordinator David Radford our senior budget analyst Marcia Markham our housing program coordin Ator Florence torbert our housing program coordinator Connor Williams our grant writer Economic Development specialist and myself uh charl neuter Community Services director proposals are reviewed and evaluated in the following criteria um in introduction of each of the public service agencies programs their demonstration of need a description of their targeted clientele the measurable outcomes uh the Consolidated plan consistency and how they meet the Consolidated plan their organizational Capac capacity and capabilities how they are leveraging the funds that they are requesting their financial capacity and past performances the five agencies that requested cdbg Public Service dollars were as follows Family Promise Central bouard Sharing Center Salvation Army aging matters Community Services Council and housing for homeless of the five agencies that requested cdbg Public Service dollars they were ranked by the committee members as follows number one public uh Public Service Agency selected was Family Promise number two was the central bouard Sharing Center number three was the Salvation Army number four aging matters and number five housing for homeless of those five proposals four requested Public Service funds related to the CG cdbg program the total funds of amount requested was 91,5 and the city will have approximately 9,291 35 available to support those Public Services as noted in the of the RFP the minimum funding was listed at $3,000 as is noted we've I've included a chart of all of the different funding sources and where we are going to be expending those dollars uh as I had noted in previous years our the the majority of our funding for cdbg is goes back to the repayment of our section 108 loan which were the funds that were used for the construction of the Dr Jolie Smith's Community Center that opened in 201 20 and so the total amount that we have to contribute to the section 108 loan payment is $ 83,5 19585 so the majority of those funds until the cdbg um until the section 108 loan is paid off will be con uh considered for the section 108 loan payments uh throughout the remainder of our cdbg time housing for homeless was a firsttime applicant uh with the city of Coco over the last 5 years they had not um applied for funding the last time they received funding was in 2017 um as part of the grant it is requirement that they had received um would have received funding uh within the last 5 years to be considered and because of that they did not score any points for that because they did not have any funding within the last five years uh staff provided technical assistance for them to strengthen their application um asked them to reapply again next year in order for them to be considered for funding um as well to uh get them uh situated within their program I I believe that what their programs are funding for is for the Orchid Lake once they have opened up at the Orchid Lake Apartments as required by the citizens participation plan staff is requesting city council hold a public hearing to obtain citizen input and comments on Housing and Community Development needs and to approve the recommendations on the fiscal year 2024 2025 cdbg and home program program funding upon the city council's approval a 30-day public comment notice listing the proposed projects along with the corresponding action plan will be advertised in the Florida Today newspaper the notice will also inform the public of the date of the second and final public hearing which will be held after June 1st of 2024 I do have representatives from our public service agencies that were uh recommended for funding um we did have one of our members that had to leave U prior to this and I'm going to ask them to come back at the uh next council meeting to uh present and that was the central Bard Sharing Center their board member had to leave early and could not stay due to the the lengthy time that it took for us to get to the public hearing uh but I do have the other three uh public service agencies that are recommended for funding I have Tara pagliarini from Family Promise I have V Marie Monopoly from the community services Council in aging matters and I have Cindy Mitchell from the Salvation Army me and so if I can have terara pagini come on up first you're sitting right there they have to speak on behalf as part of the public hearing comment process okay sorry wait what I you got 30 seconds no way no way no way not hear that easy I have say one thing quickly um I promise it be very quick take your time ma'am the project that we're part of with the city of Coco was recently awarded the Brilliance award for regional Excellence through the East Central Florida planning Council why this is a big deal is it's all of the counties that make up East Central Florida Coco uh in involvement with the firehouse project uh it was actually the number one project Stockton and I went there uh and received the award and at that um at that uh presid presentation uh we received this the highest award we saw interim city manager uh Matt furer there and he asked Stockton and I what we were doing there and we had said we're here because of of the firehouse project and he honestly looked at me like just he goes that actually happened like it actually came to fruition he said I never thought that it would happen there was just so much to work through with the contracts with the precedent set with the funding sources with the ReUse elements there was so much to this project he was so just flabbergasted that it actually came to fruition he was so proud he's working for another County in Central Florida now but um I just it it stuck with me uh for Stockton just how he helped get us through and over that that goal line so I just wanted to say thank you for that and I'm a huge pain so I I wasn't GNA let go of that but uh my name is Tara pagini I'm the executive director of Family Promise of bravard uh we believe that every child regardless of their zip code deserves a home a livelihood and the chance to build a stronger future and so because of that we address the needs of any family facing a housing crisis the majority of our calls are coming from lowincome residents our highest number of calls come from the city of Coco specifically zip code 329 22 where 73% of families face housing instability uh we are best known for the way that we are committed to engaging Community together to address what the community is facing and our best example of that is the firehouse project where we work closely together with the city of Coco specifically uh city manager Stockton Whitten our Continuum of Care and our local Coco uh stakeholders to transform the 50-year-old Firehouse that had a leaky roof as Festus wood termites it was funky we turned that building with your support into a vibrant service Hub where families facing a housing crisis can meet with us and receive Services if they've lost housing and are currently homeless through our shelter program or once they return to housing stabilization for a year uh eviction prevention if they risk of housing loss but our biggest accomplishment is bringing on site needed services for the city of Coco so alongside us are bravard homeless excuse me Bard Health Alliance uh Career Source bravard Early Learning Coalition we just brought on a financial planner through f um financial plan uh future and uh we also have educational opportunities to help people earn a Higher Living wage through elevate bravard uh our city um excuse me our cdbg funding request was specifically for our shelter program our shelter program is run through collaboration of uh congregations who actually donate their space uh their time and their meals while we come alongside them to work with families to return to stable housing the firehouse is the location where families store their belongings engage in the services I just talked about engage with our team to navigate back into housing uh this cdbg cdbg request is actually for 25 families we uh with that we'll ensure that 90% of those families will move from homeless to house within an average of 30 days um we are really uh proud to be uh in the firehouse we see the value it brings to the city of Coco we see the value it brings to Bard County as an example of how municipality can work together with the nonprofit sector to improve the Liv of of its residents happy to answer any questions that you might have it's been a long night you got to have a question thank you thank you for what you do for the community man awesome job appreciate it and I want to say how effective uh when we did the count of the homeless point in time count it started at your office at your facility and I we had to be there at 5:30 or 5:45 and I had happy face in the place with the human race that's right and we went into the Wilderness and I was glad to see that thank you job well done ma'am thank you sir all right continue to Foster that great relationship we have any questions for her sing he's saying none okay next man city manager I'm sorry yeah Mr Mayor on the on the firehouse project um M Mrs uh pagini gave me all the credit but it was it was a committee of myself uh Bryant Smith and Kristen Ike um that actually negotiated the deal there so they they deserve uh probably two-thirds of the credit um on uh negotiating that and bringing that deal home thank you very much Mr city manager uh councilman baringer sir thank you just just a quick comment uh Tara has been doing that work uh for a good amount of time and I I share with you I think on your journey and beginning uh is where our paths crossed and so I've watched what that looks like and uh for every one of the uh agencies that will come up there's never enough resources there's always more need uh and I I that will never change uh I but I appreciate that you address it within the scope that you can as a as a council and I just would ask that as we meet with our local churches mhm as council members if they have the heart to open their door to support families in that 30-day transition please have them connect with terara not asking for money not looking for open door and love that's that's it right so I just share that with you please help that uh because we would be better served as a community thank you thank you very much who's the uh next is our uh friends from the Aging matters Community Services Council V Marie Monopoly I know I know it's a mouthful it is hi um not good evening I guess good night right my name is V Mar Monopoly yes it's a mouthful I'm the director of development for agent matters and Bard so thank you so much for having me here it's my first time time doing this so bear with me um while read a little bit something quick um agent matters has been providing services to this County since 1965 so close to 60 years now um our mission is to serve the agent citizens of barar County supporting their independence their health their safety and their quality of life um you may know some of our services like the Home Care Program which includes housekeeping respit care personal care you may know about our transportation program or home modification program we install ramps wrap bars and things like that so our seniors can be safe we have the sunflower house which is a caregiver support center um where caregivers receive the tools they need to care for their seniors and care for themselves and you probably know about Meals on Wheels and seniors at lunch site right abely so um meals and wheels delivers Hot nutritious meals to homebound seniors Monday to Friday we Prov provide around 230,000 meals every year deliver by more than 600 awesome volunteers um here in Koko we have 29 routes and 138 volunteers that deliver those meals um you may also know of our seniors and launch program we have four sites right here in in Coco you mentioned Jolie Smith that's one of the sites that we use for those Gathering um uh for that Gathering program in these sites seniors can enjoy friendship activities learning opportunities and of course they can share a meal but tonight really quick I want to tell you not about what you know but the who and what you may not know um you may not know James who at only 95 pounds was visibly decaying that was until one of our meals and wheels volunteers initiated the process that provide him with an additional evening meal that secondary meal usually consisting of a swi fruit veggies and milk brought him to 105 lbs in two months those S PBS increased his overall health giving him energy mobility and most importantly he was joyful he was very happy to share with his doctors that it was all thanks to me and wheels imagine that a sandwich cup of Fruit and a glass of milk something that we take for granted sometimes it made a whole difference for James um like James many of our Coco neighbors rely on us for their nutritional needs our 223 client satisfaction survey shows that 87% of the meals of clients uh indicated the meals they receive kept them from being hungry 88% says that when they participate in the meals and wheels program and seniors at lunch reported that participating in those programs help them feel less isolated those clients are the who you might not know but it's the people you're supporting with your help today and then the watt you may not know that um the American Rescue plan which was enacted during covid-19 um to fund organization like ours here tonight um is coming to an end those funds have been vital in the face of inflation and economic challenges so what does that mean to our seniors it means that with less funding yet 25% % increase in food utility and gas costs a current list of 460 69 of those right here in Coco waiting for that meal is going to go up to about 700 by the end of this year it means that the same um meal that James and other received that secondary meal will now be eliminated so we can continue to provide that one daily hot meal actually I got an email yesterday from one of our drivers saying is this true I went to deliver meals and it was only one versus the two that they usually get and I had to say yes that is true we have to cut those meals uh we don't want to but it's it's it's the reality of uh our organization right now or the end of those funds um it means that now more than ever we look to you for support and for the community to support us to drive to Define to spread the word um and let people know that we are fighting hunger and isolation together in this County um it is very simple I know that much we cannot do it without you so I thank you for considering us for being part of the village for our seniors and um for everything you do for this community thank you thank you very much thank you very much ma'am chob well done a good and faithful servant you have you have a question no okay okay Mrs nman next and last but not least is Cindy Mitchell from the Salvation Army y good night and I will be brief um I am Cindy Mitchell I'm the director at the Salvation Army domestic violence program we are U very happy I guess uh this is our 40th year serving um Coco in Bard County uh we were the first domestic violence shelter in Bard and um we bottom line are homicide prevention program that that's what we do and unfortunately there are um people who are are killed um and harmed in Bard County every year and you know we do our best to work with Partners like hook OPD and Sheriff's Office and um Advocates all across this County um to do our best to prevent that and one of the things we offer um besides a whole array of services to people whether they need a place to stay temporarily to be safe or not so people can be out in the community and still access our services but one of the things we do is offer 24-hour um shelter for survivors victims of domestic violence so adults and children and um so we are there we are staffed all the time we are there to listen to them to you know helps create a safety plan so they can be safer um moving on and all sorts of resources some economic help but one of the things we do is provide all the things they need while they stay there and because you know usually people are not leaving in a planned way with money in their pocket right and so one of the things that um that we need is food and so our cdbg cdbg request um is to support some food cost for the shelter and so all of our services are free they are voluntary empowerment based and we're we're here to serve and so we thank you thank you very much too as well any questions yes sir we have a question for you yes ma'am thank you how many how many beds are you at room we have 26 beds but we can kind of massage that yeah yeah make it work okay yes all right thank you you're welcome thank you very much much thank you yes ma'am sir that's all I have for uh public service agencies you can open up for public hearing comments thank you very much do we have any other additional questions for Mrs nman saying none we like to close this portion to couns open to the public I do have one card um and that one card consists of um you know who you are Christian ly good evening Christian LTI Co resident so I'm interest thank you for those great presentations I felt more informed as a result of them could you speak in mic oh sorry oh can you hear me now okay um great presentations I'm appreciative that there's a public hearing on this topic I really appreciate that there's the public participation um plan citizen participation plan and which requires that uh at the two public hearings that the citizens views and responses to questions are obtained so I hope that I will get uh responses to some of my questions uh one of them is I'm more into the administration because I read through the documentation that Community Services had provided and at the publicly noticed meeting to review all of the proposals I have a question of whether or not that is open to the public and how that's noticed uh I was I'm interested in it and would have liked to attend if I had known about it um I noticed on the chart that they they have what they had the scoring there's a few items that are missing for Mara the last uh scorer and I just was checking out those scores and wondered if what you know if there was any anything that got overseen on that one there were five proposals and I'm wondering if those proposals were open for public inspection a few years ago I participated and I was uh when you guys were working on the update of the C of the um Consolidated plan and I requested to see the proposals and I was given a bill an invoice for $240 in order to review the four proposals which are a public record but I was assessed eight hours of redaction time in order to do that and I didn't feel it that's helpful to the public to be able to see if people are interested you can see there's not that many people that are interested in the program but if someone like myself uh wants to get more informed why should we have to pay $240 to do that I did actually receive one of the proposals from the county um because they acknowledge it was a public record and that there wasn't any redaction that was needed so I did put in a complaint at that time on April 1st of 2022 and I never heard back something that was helpful you know to say what the city was doing to make it more accessible to the public if we are curious and want to look at those proposals on the funding itself the $83,000 it said that there's we don't have enough funding you know and I I looked over how it's allocated and it seems like I guess there's no other way than that large payment of $83,000 that's the biggest lion share of the cdbg funds and a curiosity I have is if there was any other way to allocate that it sounds like there might might not be um but nonetheless I appreciate all the documentation that staff uh puts into this so that the public can review it I would appreciate if when I do make take the time to make a complaint if it was responded to and if the city would do more to make the both the hearings the review of it and the um proposals themselves accessible to the public and I would like answers to my questions if they are given tonight or they're emailed to me however I would appreciate that city manager St I'll be happy to answer the question about the section 108 uh payments that was a loan that was previously approved by our previous uh Council for uh probably a 20 plus year period or what was the term of that all 30 40 something so previous Council committed future councils to a to a 20 plus year payment of that of that uh of the C is it paid at the required amount or are you paying it back in in advance could be a minimum we can only pay what we're required to pay so you're paying as a minimum okay and it and it is a payment from the cdb G dollars okay yes so so in order not to take from the services there the the the minimum and required payments are being made so there's not flexibility I just it's good to know that thank you most important point on that is that was approved by our previous Council and can the public attend the meeting where the scores are taken yes and how is that notified like I didn't there was there was an in the paper and then there was the public notice on the in the paper notice when the DAT most people don't read the paper how could I get informed of that I guess I'd be feedback then because I I sign up to all the city alerts so if there's a way that I can be notified the city knew that I was interested from a couple years ago I'd be happy to be on a list because I I am interested uh and then as far as reviewing the proposals are we paying are you still charging redaction fees $240 to review four proposals I would have to charge redaction fees for any personal information that's located in any of those documents and because there may be some private confidential information that each of those public service agencies provided I would have to redact that prior to providing that information to you we received identical information from the county and they acknowledge there there's no redaction and it's even stated on their documents so it that became a mute point they tried to charge me as well and then they just gave it to me because it says right on the forms usually that it's public information as part of our process I would have to review each of the submittals to ensure that there are no requirements for redaction per the public record policy and that will take staff time okay so then it also depends on the agency I object to that go ahead Charlene it also depends on the agency that the young lady from the Salvation Army domestic violence uh uh function may have different information and requirements in terms of redaction and so I don't think you've given a full context of but there sometimes there's like one portion of it Part F that says that there might be some confidentiality but they make as much as they can available to the public and it's typically stated on the form or it could be if the fors were updated well we don't know the full context of how you got the information what agency uh you got the information about from the county was identical information I'm just telling you that that Salvation Army has probably more stringent or more urgent need to protect their information and others and so the point that Mrs Newman is making that in those instances there may be some privileged information that we have to redact and charge you for for doing the redaction so we can just say that there there is it maybe around that but there could be some that is available made readily available to the public if we wanted to come in and look at the documents and I can show you I can share what I got from the county because it was can you elaborate on this public records policy but if there's information that needs to be redacted just to protect that individual well depends on the docum correct these are these are rfps I'm talking to there mean anybody can make a public records request and then the city will review the document to the extent it has uh redactions then the city is authorized by law to make make redactions regarding information that is um not not available for public disclosure city has a policy on it so you know in this particular case I mean I don't I don't have the proposals but you know the staff would follow the city's public records policy thank you very much sir okay okay so then we just agree to disagree on on that part but I could follow via email thank you relax please please first of all to all organizations that participated thank you you know sometimes certain Good Deeds they get punished but I thank you Y and I believe in you all thank you any that was my only card in the public saying no additional cards sure like to close this portion from the public and return it to councel what are the wishes of council motion to approve we have a motion on the floor by Council M second by Deputy Mayor Hearn CH GNA call the question all in favor by saying i i n moving forward to item number 6-2 request to postpone consideration of zoning map Amendment consistent with appendix a zoning article 21 to change the zoning map designation of 11 Parcels totaling 1.39 Acres with the address of 301 South Coco Boulevard from CP commercial commerci Parkway to CN neighborhood commercial to the April 9th 2024 city council meeting 24-1 63 so they're asking that this item be removed to a a later date esquad gargan sir yes applicants asking that uh this proposed resoning be postponed to a date certain of April 9th 2024 uh at the city council regular meeting which commences at um 600 p.m. I I do have cards I have two cards um I have a card from Mrs Bryant Chapman and then I have a card from Kristen lty so seeing that this is postponed can I make a safe assessment that you will be here April 9th yes yes ma'am yeah I didn't put in a card on that one yes you did uh believe you did ma'am you put in several cards multiple cards okay proceeding on to the next item need a vote on that mayor okay I'm sorry thank you all in favor Council go on you have your like can I make a motion and then we open it for discussion okay chair like to make a motion to approve the recommendation stated um for postponing this particular item to April 9th 2024 city council meeting second for discussion okay we have a second on the floor by Deputy Mayor Hearn councilman going sir Mr gar is there was there a um a particular reason for the postponement it just they weren't prepared I believe the applicant requested the the postponement to that uh date April 6 um so I know this item is is going to be a Hot Topic item especially for that corner um yeah be a very hot topic cuz my phone stays getting blown up about this um we Poston I talk to him about it all favor by saying I I I any a i Havey unanimously m Mr Mayor just let me let me um remind the council and it's I think it's on the list of accomplishments there we are we have engaged planning Consultants to go through a visioning um process for that intersection and the properties uh in and around that intersection there so so we're beginning that visioning process okay thank you very much esquad excuse me city manager stockt withon uh councilman going sir would you mind turning your light off thank you very much sir proceeding forward um to item number 7-2 under Council business approve the current code enforcement Lane for the resident located at 1206 Yale Lane be reduced to $15 15,330 50 cents 2024 I have two cards that were submitted to this particular item as well um um the chief of police as you know this was brought in for excuse me in front of the I think it's the code board if I'm not mistaken am I correct in this particular item yes okay sir um you have the documentation on this particular item um let me make sure I hear from um is it Nathan yes yes yes sir okay Nathan now m e l then there's like three letters three circles handwriting is not yes is it melon sir okay CU I had the input from both of my council members but the um okay anything else before I to surrender the floor to Mr Malon sing n Go ahead sir thank you I believe that I handed out a presentation earlier and I believe it made it way down to everybody just a quick PowerPoint to go through the issues I know when a lawyer says that they're going to be brief that's always dangerous but I'm going to to be brief considering it's almost 10:30 I know everybody probably want oh good man um so the first thing is the reason that the code enforcement being acred is due to the excusable neglect of Miss Fuller um Miss Fuller would never provided evidence when she was asked proving the violations um she was never provided service of a certified mail about the violations and at the same time unfortunately that the violations did occur Miss Fuller's husband who was a um a curdle suffered a stroke and he was the one who handled all the property issues and was unable to do that and unable to bring the properties and compliance in a timely manner um this Fuller was also told um by a former code enforcement uh officer that that the issue was closed out um and that was not the case the property is currently in compliance um and one of the issues that came up at the code enforcement board was that there were 29 visits to the property um and part of that is due to the the neighbor who continually continually called and this was due to a quarrel between the tenant who lived in the property at the time and and that neighbor who called in um there were continuous calls to the police and code enforcement um to bring that up we're asking for the fine to be reduced to $3,840 which is the city's costs um there's no harm to the city as the property is in compliance and as I mentioned the extenuating circumstances warrant this lower amount um there were other lean reduction requests that were lowered to cost that you're going to hear after this one tonight um at the code enforcement Board hearing we were not able to there was there was two hearings and at the second hearing where I was attending we were not able to present our full case to the code enforcement board members who were not there at the previous meeting um and because of that the $57,000 F was only cut in half to um just south of $30,000 I apologize the 57 was the wrong number so was there was some confusion about the actual number um so when you look at um at this request and then the other two requests and I have those all in the last three PowerPoint slides if the city acts to where they treat my client differently than the next two they would be acting arbitrarily and capriciously by by having different sets of rules for different people if you look at 633 South bar Avenue that you're going to hear tonight oh I apologize that was the $7,750 fine and the code enforcement board advised that that should be lowered to $1,500 there the costs of the city were higher than $1500 they were 26 5477 this resulted from accessory structure issues outdoor storage issues and weeds um as as you'll see in the later hearing um this in the in your agenda packets the applicant resides to the property there were three violations there were 21 inspections so very close to the 29 the property taxes are paid and there's no other outstanding links um look at 1127 West King Street that was a 93,587 where the code for suggested a reduction to $485 42 which like War requesting is the cost of the city um this 1127 West King Street resulted from violations of accumulating trash and storage of an RV um again very similar stack pattern here whether the current owner resided on the property um I believe this was a commercial building so there was no nobody resided there um two violations 15 inspections performed taxes are paid no outstanding leans and is currently in compliance so finally when you look at my client's property um the reduction would be 30665 to 15, 33250 um the costs are $3,840 128 um this resulted from violations of business tax receipt Renzo business tax and storage of automobile um current owner own the property doesn't reside on the property just like 1127 West King Street three violations 29 inspections property taxes paid no other leans properties and compliance um so in some we're asking to be treated the same as everybody else that you're going to hear after us tonight is going to be treated and was treated by the code enforcement board and for our reduction to be our lean to be reduced to $3,840 128 happy to answer any questions we have any questions for Mr Nathan Malon councilman bearing is it is your take as Council that as a council if we make an independent decision based on each applicant that if we vary and are finding that that is arbitrary and capricious I believe that's what I heard you say correct that we have inability to make differing decisions based on the facts that might be unique to a case so the first issue is that we were not able to present our our case to the code enforcement board and the full code enforcement board that was hearing it we were shut down my second yes I believe similar facts party should be treated um if 633 South bar Avenue is going to be reduced to 1500 which is half of the cost um which also has outdoor storage issues then yes of $15,000 to $1,500 1000% increase yes I believe that's arbitrary inrees okay thank you do we have any other excuse me any other questions for Mr Malon if not what are the wishes of councel I just had a question for city manager you will you turn your light on please Council woman call Mr City attorney what were you going to say sir no I would just wanted to ask the chief um as I understand the um agenda item staff's recommendation is to reduce the uh lean to $3,840 28 is that correct yes and and that actually I met with um austo about this case and um I was wondering why the cold board just reduced it to 15, 332 and he said that just something that that they want to do but there our recommendation was to do the 3,800 so if you if you just look at the case as a whole that it that it started um in August of 21 and then starting 1016 or 21 $75 a day up until 1129 22 which gave you that $3,665 and then when they went to the code board kind of presented a similar case they just reduced it to 15,000 not in concert with what the U colde boy recommended which was our actual cost okay es squ Gan is that it sir yes thank you for now for now yes sir that's why respect you immensely okay uh Council woman cuse you turn your light on and then you turn your light off I will I I think it pretty much answered it but I'm just why did so the length of time it took to fixed this was almost a year I'll let my client will answer that hello my name is Risa Fuller um my husband had a stroke in 2018 a massive stroke left him paralyzed and he took care of the rental properties I had absolutely no idea that we even had a violation the minute I found out and I'm not sure if my husband knew or not I couldn't find any paperwork or anything that said we did but the minute I found out I talked to Mr banor and him and I were matter of fact he he would come over to the property and actually help me uh that's another reason there was so many visits because I I asked for them and the minute I want you to know that the minute I found out that there was a lean I tried very hard to be in compliance do everything I could do I even put a new fence in and the permit took a little bit of time but the minute I found out I tried to get that house in com compliance it Mr Mr Brown the co-chair he he really him and a couple of more people on the board really argued for a long time that it should be what the um what the uh code enforcement recommended so I I tried to explain that when I when I got the notice and when I found out that I did everything I can to be in compliance because I believe in in doing that I just wanted you to know it wasn't because I just said oh well forget it it was because I didn't know thank you is that it Council woman call yeah thank you councilman G and after councilman G will be councilman bar so the 15, 33250 that was decided at the code enforcement board meeting by the board members and then the 38428 was changed by staff cuz that was more applicable based on the amount of days for the violations am I am I correct recation oh or was it the same night no there's a there's a staff recommendation that is is either accepted or or not or altered by the code board make sure I got that right Chief yes the code board makes a recommendation so the cost is already there they make a recommendation what our cost is and so now it's up to the cold board to make a decision if they going to go with that or go with with whatever the fines are the actual fines okay so originally it was for 15,000 then they reduced it down to 3,800 3,840 it was $1,332 let me let me let me make sure I understand Chief you staff presents the staff cost right and that is the always the recommendation to the code board yes okay and then the code board decides if they're going to accept or modify the staff cost which is primarily the recommendation to the code and the amount according to the agenda item the amount of the lean was 30,000 or is $3,665 so they went to the code board the code Code Enforcement staff as I understand it recommended it be reduced to $3,840 128 and then the code board's recommendation to the council is that um the um lean be reduced to $1 15,33 to.5 and the city just for the record the city code uh requires that the code enforcement board city council consider six factors in determining the reduction and that's the gravity of the violation the time it took the violation to come into compliance the acred amount of the lean any previous or subsequent violation any financial hardship and any other mitigating circumstances uh which warrant a reduction or satisfaction so those those are the six criteria under which both the recommendation of the code enforcement board and a decision of the council must be made so I I think as a councel we've been consistent um and not saying this this is you as a property owner but we've been consistent with with attempting to hold um landlords accountable for their properties no matter if it's the the tenant that lives in the building building the owner of the the address is the person that is held responsible and so I'm all me personally I'm always conflicted on on reductions um and I I'm going ask this question you don't have to answer it or not but I'm just going to ask anyway as far as receiving the rentals payments do y'all go to the addresses to receive those payments or do they send those payments in the mail to what whatever he he usually Z zels it to me okay so so it's not really a frequent thing for you or your husband at that time to visit those properties to see the what what that property may look like well the the the reason for the um for the uh violations was they said my my renter was running a business out of his house uh we said my renter said no I'm not and the bir of proof was on us we tried very hard to prove that he wasn't um and then they saidwell there's a bunch of cars parked there and he did I told him do not park cars there anymore as far as my house is concerned even Mr Brown said it's one of the nicest looking houses in the neighborhood because my house never did look horrible ever so the the reason for the that was because they said he was running a business and he was parking cars there it wasn't because my house was you know dilapidated or something like that so so the violation what you're saying is the violation that was sent never came to your official home address correct it went to the address of I don't know if it went to the tenant because they they never said anything to me so I don't know that that's a problem for me so um so what you're saying as far as the code enforcement board she saying this what she got in in in these papers that she gave us is that she was not given proper notice um for violations and so as a council we don't know if that's fact or not um as far as far as us sitting here right now to make a decision we don't know that and so I'm not comfortable making a decision based on the recommendations and just for me cuz again it's not not talking about her as a landlord but we've seen people who own properties in other places um not necessarily to take care of their property again not saying that's you but we've been consistent on um challenging those reductions and so I'm I'm not comfortable with with doing that based on not not really having enough information you know who received the violations she saying she didn't receive any or didn't receive in a timely manner and how do we hold her accountable to that I don't have any facts yeah that information is not in the um package regarding notice I mean that was something that would have been uh brought up at the code enforcement heing right you know the the law requires the staff to um send out the notice of violations and to the address of record on the property Praises website while the site address with violation occurred is 1206 Yale Lane I just pulled up the property appraises website the mail address would have been 4345 James Road yeah Florida and and that and that is the the current Homestead and I'm presuming that's where the notice would have been sent by staff is is well I don't know if this proper or not either but is is that the actual home is that your home address you I guess your lawyers here probably tell you not to answer that one but is that your current home address for James Road yes yes for 28 years I've lived there okay so for in our documentation it shows that address being the address of record for that par for Yale Lane yes that's the address of record that the property owner gave the property appraising oh boy if I we were we attempted to to elicit this testimony in front of the code enforcement board we were shut down and not given our due process in order to provide Our Testimony to the code enforcement board and as Mr gargany said one of the factors is the amount of the lean the other two that you have tonight are much higher than the $30,000 number two is mitigating factors Miss Miss Fuller's husband unfortunately had a stroke and unfortunately succed to a stroke and what what more of a mitigating Factor he was the person that dealt with the property and the only testimony that we have here tonight we do not have the we don't have the city has not presented any testimony tonight about the actual delivery of the notice the only testimony is that Miss Fuller did not receive the notice she looked through all of her husband papers after she um figured out to find it and never found it and when I found out I I got everything on that house exactly like they they wanted it motion out right now this no sir we have a few more lights okay U well I want to make a motion to table with the item um if I get a second I get a second if I don't I don't I think we need some more information I think you need to share to in my opinion share that information with our code enforcement to see what that disc connect deals as far as those letters being sent for me okay right uh and there's no proof in this packet but when I discussed this case with Augusto uh that the board was comfortable that the notifications were made to her home or to her and so that's why instead of the 3,000 the 30,000 it was a 15 they reduced it to half I got you I got you I got you that's my motion on if it dies it dies and if I if I could I understand that wait a minute sorry let me give him ample time for his motion there's a motion on the floor by Council mcor to table this is this my correct information yes sir now let me ask you this um um what happens if austo shows where the information was submitted at James Street yeah for for for me if it was submitted to to James Ro in a proper manner in a proper form then I'm going with a 15,000 that's me personally he would know this because the do he and Miss car Crow would have that information if that if that if that if that violation was actually sent from us and more than likely cuz I've I've getting I've gotten violation myself and when they when they sent it they sent it multiple violation it's not a one-time thing they're just sending it one time and it's done no it's consistently being sent to whatever that address may be so um that would be me but I'm only one person on that for discuss I would just like to have more information right I got you a second for discussion tabling this particular item correct okay let me ask one more other question um Chief corer um when you collaborate with uh um code enforcement officer Gonzalez sir he would have that documentation to show us the various addresses or or a address and address rather that yes so I'm reading a text from Augusto now CU he's watching he's keeping me up to date so in his text he just sent me is that it's been shown I apologize but for the record I just want to object to the fact that I'm not able to question this the W the testimony that's being provided through text message I just I need to do that for the record okay thank okay that's fine we got still get facts right so the fact that Aug said all statutory requirements were made as far as notification what dates and uh that they had provided certified mail chair Mr chair sir yes sir go ahead sir excuse me point point of order can um can you get Augusto on the phone to testify okay would that be acceptable the council just hold the mic cement officer see yes yes yes yes yes yes yes were they certified or were they just WR okay austo can you hear us yes sir all right go ahead okay esquad present your question no G can you state your name uh for the record as well as your position with the city I I can't hear you sir he say state your name and your position with the city gust Gonzalez acting COC okay okay our Council has some questions for you regarding this um so you enforcement lean reduction yeah so so the question I have for him as far as this um particular case where did the violations um be sent to by mail what address did they get sent to okay you hear that question no sir okay the question uh from councilman go is when you sent the notices for the violations what was the address that you sent it to I don't have that on hand um but all the information that there were're discussing here now discussed the hearing was already discussed in the code board the City attorney has I already looked at that and it was it already been confirmed that we met the statutory requirements by sending it to what was on the property appraiser at the time and it was also posted to the property for the uh initial code Board hearing uh and for the non-compliance hearing okay con y that's that's offici that is sufficing still need them on the phone no now do you have any questions for how long have you been employed by the city what's your name sir Nathan maloon attorney maloon you just call me Nathan Nathan want to ask you a couple of questions this question was how long have you been employed with the city how long have I worked for the city yes uh about four uh four years now so since 2020 yes correct so you wouldn't have personal knowledge of anything that occurred prior to 2020 with the city's mailings I do because I've had access to the case File the documents that were sent to certifi mail and okay so but you didn't personally send out the the letters or oversee the letters prior to 2020 correct I did not personally send in no okay I got you doation yeah I have no further questions thank you for for for for me for me personally and I think I just heard the mayor say the same thing it's still documentation that we have inside of our system for for addresses that go back probably for decades of violations um but but I I still keep the same motion um I think we need to receive that information maybe before next meeting council meeting and just so that we can have documentation because I'm pretty sure um Esquire probably be here am I correct well two points so first my my my guess as a my client would like to say something because she did start receiving notices in 2021 which is when she brought the property into compliance but we're unfortunately and I mean very exciting interesting Council meetings tonight you started off with the excitement of of and we've been here since 5:45 yeah unfortunately I'm not free my mean my client like my client there's is I don't want to say she's being punished by paying me but nobody comes to me because they're having great day so would she rather pay 15,000 right now I don't so so what what I'm attempting to do is possibly have you still at the 3,000 at the next meeting with as long as the documentation so I mean she may not uh desire to pay you whatever that may be um but I'm pretty sure she don't want to pay $115,000 either so I mean you got to wait that that's something y'all have to talk about that's not my decision can I can I say something yes ma'am thank you um make sure that you pay attention to the dates because I did start receiving them after the fact so that so you say you start receiving the violations certified mail started coming after I said I had no idea uh and then when I started coming into compliance and started talking to the code enforcement uh officer who is no longer with the city now um when I started talking to him then all of a sudden that's when I started getting them but prior to that when they said you have a lead on your property you have and and and I was just caught uh blindsided I was like what I had no clue okay so that's what so the dates are very important okay I appreciate that thank you appreciate it uh that that's that's my motion um okay we have a motion but we still discuss yes sir and a second by councilman okay um next will be Councilman Baron and then Council waran calls oh no I I'm sorry question for chief uh a couple questions one the notable visits for calls of service to the property it's explained as a quarl you know between neighbors or something like that can you give any context was there any citations or you know with that with that many calls going out uh I'm trying to get some kind of context yeah I I can get that for you I don't have that in front of me U as far as the calls for services at that particular residence while she had it R rent it out okay so I don't have that but I can get it and then the storage of junk Autos uh to to rectify you know if the discrepancy was somebody's running a business out of their yard or something like that you know and how long that went on for before it was addressed that would be my two questions and and as far as the photos counsilman those those should be in the case File right of the junk Vehicles so and and for from a discussion or perspective uh there's there's two things um I'm trying to be mindful uh first from the circumstances of a major health event to a family uh to somebody who is dedicated a lifetime of service to the country I acknowledge that that can't be the Catalyst of the decision making though that that that would be capricious and arbitrary to your council's uh you know affirmation to our ability to decide things so I unfortunately uh you might have had me there until it was arbitrary or capricious uh fired no the the the the second uh there there's an allegation that was there's a a lack of due process and to you know the City attorney uh if you if you told me that there was a lack of due process then I I I would be willing to acknowledge that but I I I didn't hear anything from Council I didn't I there's assertion that you know it's in it's in the minute it's in your packet I I understand your interpretation but I'm I'm I'm questioning our councel so our I apologize I I apologize for my my attorney but it's the same as you can't uh count you know what my husband did for 26 years as your decision don't don't count count what my attorney said to offend you with for my decision on no ma'am loud and clear on that thank you ma'am but I mean I you know I'm just looking at what you're looking at in the agenda package and there are various correspondence notice of violation right uh inspection letter um the order I mean so they are addressed the 43 45 James Road to a Harold Fuller and a Risa Fuller I mean whe whether or not uh they were received I you know I I can't tell you from the record here and to be clear what I'm not arguing they sir sir I so so so to that end for for council's perspective the the one thing is I do listen to The Code Enforcement board uh and and and I would share with you that there is not a decision that they make lightly and it is a robust debate uh and so the other concern that I have is that our code enforcement has spent a significant amount of time for this the board came and gave their recommendation for a reason uh and why we are in that is a recommendation and no more no less but at what point does the code enforcement board say why bother can I can I say that the code speak Sor M thank you and thank you for your patience but for for Council that that that is a concern of mine I I I would agree with the uh I I I think I have a pro well I have a a concern so I'm I'm I'm willing to go get more information uh but I know where I'm sitting right now and and my concern is that we have a uh arguably a nuisance property looks fine but police are showing up a lot you're running a business you're not doing what you should be doing out the front and I understand what that means if that's going on for a year or so and I understand the frustration as a neighbor that when you call and you can't get it fixed that what that has and and I from from the abiding properties So to that end uh I know where I where I sit right now uh but I'm open to council if if we would like to seek more information but I'm going to be supportive to the code enforcements recommendation uh but I'm open to discussion is that it that's it sir thank you now you can vot against your own our second for discussion um after hearing that is sufficient evidence that uh information was delivered to the address um I'm going to withdraw my motion on my second okay so um seeing I just want to make sure I'm within protocol based on Robert rules of Law and Order well as you know your rules that since a motion was made and seconded if only way to withdraw it is with unanimous consent of the council if unless there's an you know if there's an objection to withdrawing um the second then um then you have to vote the motion to table and then just so you know it's clear I yeah there's nothing in the the council agenda indicating that they've received the notice I'm not sure whether that's even available um there would be a certified mail uh return receipt perhaps in the staff's file that might be something that um the chief can go back and talk to code enforcement to see if that return receipt is in the file oh so all you have right now in in in your record is just the uh the plain correspondence which show an address of James James rad so you might want to get a little bit more information okay um just for the benefit of Doubt especially circumstances uh I think it it'll be appropriate if we just come back to this I'll keep my motion if everyone agree um and we'll seek further information if that's okay okay how the woman C you have your light on I was just going to say I want and I would just my question would be to the applicant what I'm hearing is a motion to the table which means that would be coming back but I also heard uh that there was a concern with doing so so I I qu you know I question to you where are you as the applicant open to coming back or and because what I was hearing before was that that was not something that seemed like it [Music] was I would also if uh I'm sorry to go ahead man you have your light is on minut step away step away from the podium so I I if if the council is open we're open to meeting in the middle between the the city the staff recommendation of 3840 and the code board recommendation which I think we put 9,000 I don't know if the council is amendable to that but I think splitting the baby we're we're open to that as kind of a let's get it resolve tonight not and not come back how much is that sir right this down ladies and write this down gentlemen and young lady what is your amendable um compromise what was that price figure sir go ahead sir what what the question is is from $33,000 to $115,000 what is the the the the average of the two that's what what did you get99 okay 39 okay but you have okay so we have a motion on floor to table it let's vote on it if you say no then we can come back and make a motion for the 9586 decimal 39 okay now I I I I Matt what you were had the floor at the time excuse me councilman baringer then councilwoman your light is off go ahead thank you I said counsel to counsel from a table I would be very open to also making it time certain so that the folks don't have to wait for nine hours so you know you put it if table if it's table we go time certain so in short you walk in at whatever time that's when we would pick up the issue okay i' respect the applicant wa make sure you put that in your motion if you decide to make a motion to reflect that time certain I would take that's is that councilman barington yes sir thank you thank you sir Council M I guess I'll just call the question at this point well I was trying to give everybody the opportunity to elaborate on this particular item okay we have a motion on the floor by councilman gos to table this and ass second by Deputy Mayor Hearn this particular item is that correct esar gargan there is a motion to table on the floor yeah yes sir okay and if you vote Yes we can table it if we vote no then we can come to 9586 decimal 39 is that the correct interpretation Esquire garanes that's my uh understanding so far of the discussion okay you can't consider any counter offer by the app until you dispense with the motion to table because if you motion if the motion to table passes then debate ceases and you move on to your next agenda item right okay so we have a motion on the four all in favor by saying I to table this excuse me all in favor of tabling this say I I all oppose say Nay Nay Nay I make a motion to hold hold hold hold let me get let me get Mrs um Monica arson out squared away please let the record reflect that we have to table this item one yes that is Deputy Mayor Hearns and there there's four by council member councilman GES councilwoman cost councilman baringer and myself now we're open the floor to the next request now council mges is your light on can can I go ahead sir as Square I'm sorry I hate to keep interjecting but I I just want to make get clarity is that the applicants request that the city council consider accepting $958 and 39 cents yeah that as a as a way to split the baby that correct okay so the applicant's making a counter offer and it's up to the council whether you want to uh consider approving it i' make a motion to approve Council M go has his light on okay just a motion to approve the counter offer of 9586 39 okay we have a motion on the floor to accept the payment of 9,586 decimal 39 Cents by Council cost and the second by councilman go all in favor by saying I and N I have it unanimously thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you Council proceeding on to item number 7-3 approve the current code enforcement Lane for the commercial property located at 1127 West King Street God bless you be reduced to $4,085 42 as you all can see on page one of two um there are the six criteria that was met um um staff asked that it be reduced down to $4,085 42 the code board also promoted this endorsement to as well on February the 15 2024 word of The Wishes wait a minute let me make sure I have no cards I do have one card she said yes I have one card I have Mrs Elena Elena is it Sweden swen swen thank you very much ma'am and I I I am grateful for what the code enforcement board ruled for us and I I'm grateful and would be honored to have that it's a blessing and so I I can tell the whole story again but I will take it it was a blessing okay all right so you approve of the 4,000 okay what are the wishes of council motion to approve the 485 42 okay and we have a second by councilman Deputy Mayor Hearn we have a motion on the floor by councilwoman cost to approve $485 decimal 42 and a second by Deputy Mayor ch's GNA call the question all in favor by saying i i i n eyes have it unanimously thank you very much you appreciate it thank you all all right moving on to item number four approve the current code enforcement lean for residential property located at 633 South VAR Avenue be reduced to $1,500 also this two had an inspection of 21 inspections um the taxes are paid this two staff recommended $2,654 77 um then the board reduced it to $1,500 $1,500 is do we have any Representatives here from this particular item for 633 South VAR Avenue yes sir would you come to the podium and state your name sir my name is Rufus Murphy I live at 633 South VAR Avenue in Coco and I'm I'm here for an Ask uh I would like to have this amount eliminated I'd like it to go away like it to be forgiven the extenuating circumstances in this case are I spent almost eight years in the United Arab Emirates as a Contractor Building nuclear plants during my time away I never got a letter uh my wife was an MS patient and she was bedridden uh ultimately uh succumbing to her illness and covid in January of 2013 I'm sorry January 2023 I received the first letter in December of 2023 saying that I had an a of some amount uh it's the first letter I ever received I got back to the United States in December of 2022 and my wife sub subsequently died in January of 2023 so during that time frame I took it upon myself to clean up my residence my property to my standard which was grass cut bushes cut everything in in a in a orderly manner and I did that before I ever got the first letter saying I was even in the rears or or had a lean uh because that's my standard so accountability wise I took the accountability to get the property in the proper order and there were pictures given to the code board um and they said it was exceptionally clean exceptionally uh well put together and since then I've continued to make improvements uh there was a question about a fence so I replaced the fence completely there was uh several questions about the grass and in the lawn being mowed so I brought a brand new lawn mower and I've been cutting it religiously since I since I've been home but since my wife passed away I I have uh I've encountered significant financial issues because she was the one that managed the property and getting back home and finding out things weren't the way they were supposed to be uh was an emotional trauma so I'm still trying to recover from that and uh I'd like to have a clean slate so I can prove that you know being a retired army officer being a retired nuclear professional our standards are are significant I'd like to be able to prove that to this Council to the city of Coco I've been very impressed with what I've listened to all all evening um about getting things done and holding people accountable and and that kind of thing so my character says I can maintain this that's on me that's my request do we have any questions for Mr Mr uh Rufus Murphy saying none um what are the wishes of council sorry sir I have one question okay go ahead sir okay then you yes that's fine councilman um baringer then councilman G sir thank you uh two questions one I'm noticing that the residence during the entirety of the time was that the primary residence for your wife while you you were overseas yes so it wasn't a rental no this was a I'm she's at home health issue is the primary resident you come back and immediately are addressing those issues yes is that a fair statement yes sir and uh one other Factor there was I survived the entire pandemic um not being able to come back as frequently as I would like to because of uh things like travel restrictions from the United States to the UAE uh restrictions from the UAE back to the United States that they put in place during 2018 19 and 2020 so uh I paid people to come and take care of the yard found out later that they did not do it um one guy went to jail had no idea so I come back and immediately take charge and start doing the things that needed to be accomplished okay thank you okay councilman Go sir okay what councilwoman calls ma'am um uh if we're done with discussion I'd like to make a motion that we wave the fine in this case due the due to the extenuating circumstances we have a motion on the floor by councilwoman cost to wave the $1,500 fee that was levied by the code enforcement board we're looking for a second actually sir just to clarify there's a there's a lean of 57,7 as I understand it the um the motion would be to um issue a satisfaction of lean and wave the lean amount staff's recommendation is 1500 be it reduced to 1500 but she wants to wave the $1,500 is that my correct interpretation councilwoman cost yeah okay thank you escort gargan sir yes you're right it is that the original fine was 57,7 $50 and then staff sub men their cost sheet I guess for administrative cost which was 26 $ 26547 and then um The Code Enforcement lean was reduced to $1,500 and we have a call excuse me councilwoman C has made a motion and have for a second second we have a second by councilman baringer for discussion councilman GES wait a minute councilwoman call you ready completed ma'am I'm sorry yes want to be fair and Equitable okay councilman go on Sir um so the question I have for you are are you are you able to um move around as far as going from place to place um traveling at all tra travel wise yeah around Coco around Coco yes so question for you m Mr Mr gargan is there legally um because I I can see who you are as a person I think we might be able to use him OT like our Coco pal right is there any way to have a caveat of waving but volunteer at community garden at cocoa pal is that legal to do to your motion yeah is that legal um I that is that has not been done before I would well I'm different I'm just a little weird you know interesting suggestion I would suggest that U do you not impose that as a okay all right so um I'm asking you then um would you consider a volunteering at our Coco pal um because I can see you was in the military you traveled I think the kids at um you could be a great asset in our community cuz the pal Center is probably probably 2 minutes from you um and that could be something that I would ask for I get you my number as well and I think that might be a good partnership um that you possibly can help with yeah we don't have to connect the two I will volunteer there we go readily I that's they don't have to be connected I'll just go do that I'm home alone all right I don't have a wife anymore all right can we call got' let him finish yeah we good I'm good thank you for your Expediting your B motion on the floor by councilwoman cost and the second by councilman bearanger now chair's gonna call the question all in favor by saying I I I have it unanimously thank you for serving go forward young man thank you councilman go if we could discuss that I'd yeah be glad to okay we proceeding forward to item number five approve the interlocal agreement with bavar County transferring to the city of coko the road RightWay of Maintenance Associated functional responsibilities for James Road West of Friday Road also this inter excuse me interlocal agreement requires that James Road segment be used as a RightWay for public Highway purpose and the county DED transfer in the RightWay contains a corresponding reverter Clause esar gargan okay the next two items are related U the first item is the interlocal agreement as you mentioned with bravard County uh this has to do with the Windwood preserve uh subdivision that the city council approved about a month ago one of the conditions is the um the transfer of James Road Extension which is going to be the access road um for the Winwood Reserve project and that's step one is to do the interlocal agreement with Bard County where bavar County would transfer uh the road the James Road Extension to the city and then the next item um is an agreement between the city and the CDD uh that was created uh by the city council for the windward project where the CDD would be responsible for um um constructing the James Road Extension and maintaining it so while the this interlocal agreement does transfer jurisdiction and convey the road to the city of Coco and then the city of Coco would take on operation and maintenance responsibilities the next item would transfer those maintenance and operational UH responsibilities to the CDD so we're asking that you first approve the inter local agreement and then consider the agreement with the CDD on your next item mayor thank you very much esquad um I do have have a card in the audience you know who you are Miss Delaney do we have any questions for esquad gagan from Council before I turn it over to the public please state your name ma'am thank you my name is Katie Delaney um my one of my concerns with this uh project and with the with the road development is um the access issues as far as our fire and EMT and I uh I was told that Bard County does the transport for medical um medical needs and uh so I'm asking going forward that if the city the developer the county and rard County um fire if you guys could all work together to ensure that as we're developing these roads um that we are that accessibility for our Medical Transport is at the Forefront so we don't um translate that into loss of life thank you cool thank you very much excuse me y may just point of order just need a motion to extend the city council meeting okay because Sur passing 11 right retroactively we went a little past 11 but if you could okay lost track of time here yes sir okay chair would like to make a motion to extend council meeting for another hour please ma'am please sir oh I don't we have a second on the floor chair gonna call the question all in favor by saying I I many a eyes have it unanimously thank you very much Esquire gargan thank the city manager thank you go ahead um Mr baringer Sir Sir just city manager oh um second by Deputy Mayor Hearn sorry to to city manager I I would welcome us to take over ambulance service from The Bard County if we can get that certificate I would welcome that so I just I'm sure they not to give that up no you know they're not yeah go ahead you know that yes sir all right this appears to be the only card in the audience so let me return this portion to council chair like to make the recommendation to approve the interlocal agreement transferring the city of coko and roadway maintenance and Associated functional responsibility for James Road West of Friday road to I 95 and chair is looking for a second second have a second on the floor by Deputy Mayor Hearn just gonna call the question on in favor by saying I any n eyes have it unanimously uh this is the second portion to consider the approval of the interlocal agreement regarding James Road segment with the Winwood preserved Community Development District CDD for the perpetual uh maintenance of the James Road segment um esad gargan because I do have a card um I have Katie Delany and Delany excuse me and Gerald speding as well Esquire do you want to say anything before even though I know you elaborated on it already I've already elaborated other than just to say that um you know once the uh the RightWay is conveyed to the city then uh the jurisdiction per this local agreement would transfer the road operation of Maintenance responsibilities to the CDD mayor thank you very much do we have any questions for esar GES seeing none um Mrs Delaney and then Mr Gerald speding I'll Yi my time thank you okay Mr Gerald is Mr Gerald speding in the audience no he's a constituent and I don't know why he'd be I'm not sure why he would be speaking on this but are you sure it was that it says okay he's not here I know but I'm just saying yeah Matt what does this say right here is that do not say s-6 thank you sir range Ro development clearing to dismay okay do you want to see the card no no that's fine okay I'll speak with him okay what are the wishes of council Mo approve I'll second it we have a motion on the floor by councilman go and a second by the chair CH is GNA call the question all in favor by saying I N eyes have it unanimously this particular item was approved by Diamond square at their last meeting request Council approval of an interlocal agreement I la for affordable housing construction related cost up to $800 ,000 in the micc Blake subdivision between Diamond Square CRA and the City of Coco approve a resolution amending fiscal year budget 2024 bath 24- 066 D if2 in the amount of $800,000 transferring this amount to the city's general fund to complete the construction of the five affordable homes and bf 24-7 z-t in the amount of $92,500 elaborate too much further except that the diamond square board did approve this interlocal agreement and to work with the city council and City on the five homes that are being constructed we anticipate this the five homes to be completed uh mid to late May we're excited that we have uh applicants who are going through the approval process and we would like to uh make all of these uh budgetary transfers uh final tonight so that we can make the completion of the homes final okay is that it ma'am yes sir any questions if you have any more than happy to answer thank you I have one card in the audience that the record reflect I I this is a no-brainer to me so and I think we should get unanimous votes on this floor is yours ma'am okay thank you so um this isn't a a for or against comment but the comment that I have is basically a question that this particular item it ties back to an item that was on the consent agenda earlier uh regarding the soul source to the chi so the soul sourcing and the approval to wave the um competitive selection competitive bid on this and in the background documents there's a document on that item that says that supporting documentation has been provided toward justification of the waiver based on soul source as an exception to the sealed bidding process and based on this document I Mr Whitten support approval of this resolution and I would have liked to have seen that documentation that was not available on the website and then this earlier item got put onto the consent agenda and there's $279,000 in bundled into that one and now this one has an $800,000 item for these five houses and I feel that the ear one my speaker card was denied on the first one because I wanted to speak on the first item under consent and now that this is being approved I just say that it just you know I don't like having an item on a consent agenda that doesn't have all the documentation that is saying that we're soul sourcing something it's tied to two items on the actual agenda this one and then 24-16 the documentation wasn't all there and I had questions on it and I just wanted to make that observation I'm not against the project I I mean it it this can be a great project but when you're dealing with affordable housing a high-profile project it seems like it would be better to have all the documentation available and to have done it as a regular agenda item so I wanted to make those observations I would welcome that item being provided to me even if it was sent via an email so that I could look at the reasoning for it and that's my comment on it thank you second I have a motion FL by Council mgon second by chair we're GNA call the question all in favor saying I I I have it unanimously proceeding on to item number nine request Council approval of the waiver of the utility impact fees for the affordable housing con Construction in the Michael SE Blake subdivision we have several State statutes that will allow us to address this particular item and this is under item number nine correct yes yes correct y okay thank you and I just want to make sure under State statal Section 163 3181 the city is permitted to provide an exception of waiver for an impact fee for the development construction of housing that is Affordable as defined in Florida State Statute 420 Dash or decimal 901 under Flor orders um state statute 801 parentheses 11 okay Mrs nman another no brainer yes Mr Mayor as you noted the we are requesting Council to approve the waiver of the utility impact fees for the five affordable housing constructions at the Michael SE Blake subdivision the total cost of those uh utility impact fees is $ 33,2 11078 and U upon request approval of the wave that fund those funds will be put back into the affordable housing development project for the completion of the homes thank you very much um what are the wishes of council motion to approve I'll second it we have a motion on the floor by Deputy Mayor Hearns and a second by the chair we're going to call the question all in favor by saying I I and N eyes have it unanimously proceeding on to item number 10 approved resolution # 24-30 establishing the vacant property registration fee for forclosed vacant properties within the city of Coco this is a Code Enforcement issue um I do not have a card on this this is item number 10 and I do support this um so chair like to make a motion to approve I mean excuse me let me hear from you Mrs nman if you have anything you would like to share with us we're just cleaning up the uh there was a resolution or an ordinance passed 20 in 2009 20-2 2009 that established the registration and maintenance of properties and foreclosure uh the city contracted with a company called pramps who um abruptly went out of business in 2023 and ceased the registration of these foreclosed properties uh throughout the city uh as a Act of responsibility for this the city is going to take over the application of the forclosed closed properties and uh the payment of the foreclosed property so this resolution establishes the fee of $200 that will be paid to the city of Coco through code enforcement as revenue for the purposes of managing the program as it is the responsibility of Code Enforcement to uh monitor homes that are in foreclosure to ensure compliance with code thank you very much we have any questions from Mrs N saying that chairman made a makes a motion to approve staff recommendation second I have a second on the floor by councilman go she GNA call the question all in favor by saying I I I eyes have you unanimously item number 11 consider the appointment of first alternate member Melissa aosta Bonia to fill the regular member vacancy on the code enforcement board approve have a motion on the floor by councilman G second second by councilman baringer sure going to call the question all in favor by saying I N I have it unanimously proceeding on to City business approval of the 2023 avt exemption for Walmart based on the Fulfillment of all requirements of the ad vorm tax abatement economic incentive agreement by maintaining 239 jobs at an average Ann annual salary above $ 42,4 21 um Mr city manager I thank kudos to you for maintaining providing jobs here at above um um um average income standards with overtime we've toured this facility once before in our meetings with new businesses in the city of Coco and established businesses in the city of Coco Mr city manager um actually s stay all night so the air time no if you have any questions this is I just want to make note this is the last year of their five-year exemption okay and that's all I have what are the wishes of councel poos to approve have a motion on the floor by Deputy Mayor Hearn second second by councilwoman C she was going to call the question all in favor by saying I hi any NS hi have it unanimously proceeding on to um reports seeing no reports um proceed to city manager Mr Mayor also in addition to being the last year of the abatement we should be receiving soon the one acre land donation that was a part of the original uh development agreement so so we've gone back and asked them to give us our land and they have agreed to that and that land will support uh the widening project the 524 widening project and the only report we have uh Mr Mayan council members is is that uh the financial statements have been issued and once again Mrs Bowman and staff have come back with a clean audit a clean audit simply means there were no material misstatements within the financial statements and so that is always a goal of hers and that's a a great thing to have thank you very much cleanliness is next to Holiness so I appreciate that and this clean and presstine esquad super attorney esquad garanes no report thank you very much Mr lawyer no report okay sir may we have the remote remote for reports for councel which one who's going first I am sir I'm good I'm good I don't want to I don't want to report anything thank you thank you sir would you like the PDF you presented or the pictures first um let's do the PDF first please okay if not we one moment okay cool be all right well it's not actually in the presentation do you need to go to just whatever you like sir I'm flexible for the sake of time because I can bring it back again we're staying here until tomorrow delay all of the reports it's in a PDF not an actual PowerPoint so it's kind of going first okay um as you all know last week I attended the uh TPO meeting uh the advancing of transportation for the year 2023 annual report I'm happy to say um under the leadership of Mrs Gillette that the phenomenal job it talked about how transportation in bavar County will be funded also there was a PowerPoint presentation by Mr Ramirez I think I'm um Gil Ramirez Gil Ramirez he did a phenomenal job he talked about Automation and the advancement of bavari County here um next slide sir can you hit it for me or it it's not really a slide because it's a PDF okay move down yeah we talked about electric vehicles under electrification on how the going Tri now is to convert from gas efficient uh engines to electric and the state of the future is to do eventually away with gas vehicles actually to do away with all vehicles and and come totally and completely automated next sir yeah it's being slow I'm going talks about the charging stations as I think uh a lot of people are converting over to electric vehicles and as you can see how the expansion is becoming prominent here in the State of Florida please slide down some more EV do talked about how this program will be approached and the multiple sites that has been selected by this fot program next slide please this is where they connect to the vehicle through technology and the advancement of Technologies next slide please you can see the safety benefits from this from um crash avoidance intersection conflicts emergency alerts to traffic flow organization optimization um predict their maintenance through these electric vehicles so they will inform you when you need to do proper maintenance for your vehicle being pro active next one please um these are the automated areas and projects as you can see in Central Florida from Orlando to Tampa next one please this is the future drone travel this is the future ladies and gentlemen prepare yourself because now we will catch an Uber using drone as as a way to be transported along with automated buses as well next one please Urban Air Mobility Regional Air Mobility Public Service cargo and private Recreation you can see these various modes of transportation next one please yes indeed you can see the implementation of air mobility and this coordination United States Department of Transportation talking about awig where it interfaces with the national strategy next one please um you can see the reducer of automobile trips reduce of conjection road rage enhanced safety environmental sustainability next please um as you can see the airports are coming right here in our own backyard right here in Orlando Airport the Executive Airport you can see it's we're just only a few years away from this a aircraft certification and aircraft integration next please this is the automated bus that they use right now in downtown Orlando was it is automated by itself it increases efficiency accessibility and lowers the cost eventually no more car insurance amen yes indeed here are the multiple cities from Altimont Springs to Orlando Florida to one stop all right here in Florida next one please I think we down to the N grey Miami is also involved in the transportation of air Mobility Orlando Tampa and also other parts throughout the State of Florida Amar a law we tend to overestimate the effect of a technological no it's not technology in the short run and underestimate the effect in the long run so get prepared for the future because it's right around the corner I'm talking about less than a decade these um very slides you've scene is in the motion now as we speak now can I go to my photos please sir now you all understand these are my reports here you should be able to use yes sir here at the National League of cities I met several of the vendors and prominent individuals members on the board with us on the national board of directors myself here um at Washington DC our Congressman posy who was fighting for us in reference of transportation and the whing of um Highway 524 also 528 um Chuck who's in charge of the dot is also instrumental in that um we had the ability to meet uh um Jason still the chairman of the board where they had this dedication this Saturday for his brother where they converted the coconut uh Park to Val steel Park located in Melbourne Beach at a great time myself you can see judge Roberts in the background Linda Weatherman in the background um we rocking the purple Shades this is M uh commissioner Steele here a um former state legislators uh George Roberts and myself um at the clock dedication with Chris we and Donna we donate excuse me don't they the rotarians donated the clock but also celebrated the 100th anniversary in the city of Coco this is the report that we just shared this coming on Saturday you can see from 8:00 am to 1 pm we will be doing the trash bash something we've won several years in a row and I look forward for God bless you for complete uh participation and this concludes my portion of my presentation thank you um who's next on the list uh Deputy Mayor Hearn sir I'll go ahead and go just to be quick uh I'm just going to elaborate out the mayor's uh announcement of the trash bash uh there will be multiple teams but I'm advocating for volunteers to come out to braco Pond and join me in District 2 it's going to be a good time and you get to view a beautiful Park and some nice weather hopefully um April 20th also uh April 20th we will be having the mayor's fitness challenge uh we're going to do a day at braco Pond um it's going to be filled with uh uh vendors uh different events or uh amenities for the kids to come out and have a good time um come out again that's at braco pun on April 20th District 2 um if anybody's interested in being a vendor or just volunteering please please reach out to me um and look forward to it thank you very much send this down to council War calls and then Council woman call I'll make this real quick but well how do I get give me one second Mr lawyer is gonna do it for you okay so this was all good news and coko was a sponsor so um enjoyed the state of the economy we're looking at less than a well 3% inflation at best but overall I felt pretty positive by the information we received there um I also enjoyed the presentation the only thing I'd add to what the mayor said is that they talked about solid state batteries coming online next four to five years that's a game Cher only 10 minutes to recharge um and it has twice the uh the range so it's now 250 miles would be 500 miles and the uh think tank for the museum that group that's um been meeting and looking at um ways that um they could raise monies and enhance the museum took a trip to uh Daytona just a look at everything from how they do the fundraising to the way some of the things are displayed for example the um the theuh top right they only have a few of the fossils but they're able to make this really neat exhibit by um by laying it out that way they even have a train which is an Interactive something the kids can enjoy and um just took a good look at the lighting and the way the ceiling's done that sort of thing um I love these projects U the Cirus the um Orchid Lakes they're architecturally interesting um I also love them because they're you know the very definition of smart growth and that they're INF Phill we're not having to clearcut to do them and and I'm looking forward to the bright Line Station being here and just having more opportunities to start to tackle that infill um rather than um clear cutting that's iter I don't know who went first between you and Alex last time go ahead we'll work our way down Mr baringer Please Mr lawyer sir wow all right uh so I brought greetings to the Orange County Commission today uh this morning actually for the city of Coco uh and I brought back an agenda from them 65 items on consent 65 and they still had a full day meeting to go and it was well over millions me it was a lot of money uh and I I just thought you know I'm open to going and checking it out so just to give it scope and context 65 uh and ultimately I think that everyone that I read uh there's an opportunity to flush it out but their efficiency of being able to do to the scale of what's required is why the consent is a useful tool it is the efficiency to the scale required uh in contrast to maybe our friends down in Palm maybe a little bit smaller City less items you know so but I thought that was good uh this is Kudos uh Chief this was I was in a neighborhood uh saw this great vehicle and it was actually uh you know parked there I think the officer lives in the in the residency and what I loved was that the feedback from the neighbors was we love having the officer there he listens to us and that wasn't because he was working so and then that thing is uh parked in a very uh conspicuous area and so I think that probably helps with some traffic issues as well within Community uh these are some great folks that I met you might might recognize them or not but uh a little bit but I just I walked up and say hey how you doing how's it going uh and part of that was wonderful and they just talked about the growth in ADM uh and that third phase and what that look and the thing I love what I heard him say was I love Coco I love it uh and there were some extra opportunities and so may I'll discuss that later but uh that was really good uh this is uh over at Camping World I went to go check on the flag uh you know hey where we at with the flag uh and so I'm waiting on some feedback from them but um every camping world that I passed on 95 on the way down had a big old American flag in front of it so just to let you know uh those are the the oh uh Chief uh this was uh some feedback that I got when it seems like people are just kind of running through that thing so it's right at the entrance of the neb right at the entrance of the neighborhood and it's the stop sign that it is like uh they said folks are blowing through there and because the development of the area it seems like they're just a little bit more I'll get that one for you that's it uh and then four four questions maybe councel but very quickly uh first the social media law that went into effect or is going into effect uh I just know as a council member I I could use some guidance on that about what does that mean for enforcement what does that mean my nine-year-old has it figured out that you go to juvie if you you know so I am looking for some guidance and maybe as a counsel and what does that mean at the high school for our SRO you know what what does that mean so I just I I don't know as councel if you would like some information about that but I I know I would uh the OT take time oh uh maybe about a month ago I had mentioned the council closing remarks that the there was a during our economic event uh Community event a school board member was there superintendent was there talked about Hey listen we'll come talk to you about how the schools are doing I happen to show Council that Hey listen our schools locally uh to be frank that disappointing at best how long is it going to take as a courtesy I think appropriately so I didn't speak for the body I just said hey I reached out to our representative uh representative Trent and I also reached out to the board uh chair the existing board chair of which I got zero response back from I mean zero so for whatever representation that we have that's great but as a single council member I asked to say hey would you do what maybe one of your other members said that you do and I got nothing so my question to the council is would you all would we as a council be interested in getting brief from the school district about the schools that serve our children in these Chambers and if so uh the city manager if if if we are in agreement I I was wondering if we may officially be able to reach out as a body to to to say hey can you give us 10 minutes to tell you how we're not going to have a d school do it is that all right super yeah I'll leave that to the the the superintendent's discretion thank you and thank you that's all great job to you all thank quick quick it's going to be quick e e e e e e e e e e