e e e e that like computer AG really that's that's what I like that's what I feel like no no no hang on I'm going to show you what you look like look at that that's offensive that is oh my God that hurts me that's like hurtful harsh that's way harsh as they say fo I did Scott isers the other day that is hilarious his I don't I do not age well I do not age well youen done the AI stuff my wife took a picture me passed down my chair the other the night over yeah my kids done that before to their mother and all right come on in re so I can [Applause] start good evening I'd like to call to order the regular City commission meeting for this the 8th day of April 2024 we will have invocation by Pastor Mark Hodes of wi Haven Baptist Church and we'll be led in the pledge by Vanessa Castillo please stand if able do the roll call oh commissioner dollison go ahead call us commissioner dollison here commissioner Mercer here and mayor Birdsong here and um mayor proem Brian Yates will not be here this evening nor commissioner Daner thank you Heavenly Father we come to you in prayer thanking you for your goodness you're such a great God and uh we know the word of God tells us that we should give thanks to you because you are a good God and you give many good gifts Lord we're so thankful today for our community we're we're so blessed we're so blessed to be able ble to be in a community that has peace and prosperity and uh certainly seeing so many things transpire in our community and um really a job to be able to keep up with a growing Community but we're grateful for it and we're thankful for it we ask that you would give us protection and um guidance and then going forward in the days to come Lord we're just so grateful today for our First respon Responders and I pray that um you would be with them uh they are In Harm's Way Every Day in order to protect our community and we're grateful for that and so I pray that you be with them be with their their families we're so thankful for our leaders too Lord I pray that you would uh you would help our our leaders nationally statewise and locally I pray that um these that are leading us would be honorable people and uh Lord we thank especially um this evening of our city council all those that are working here and those that have special needs tonight I pray that you give all these wisdom and knowing what to do that's best for our community and God greatest of all we ask that uh we would follow your word your principles um because we know that they're true greatest of all Lord we're thankful for your son Jesus Christ who loved us and gave himself for us on the cross of Calvary so that we could be forgiven of our sins and have eternal life thank you for Risen savior we celebrated here recently but we do every day for a savior he has risen he is risen indeed and we rejoice and we're thankful bless now in all the work that's done pray that you give wisdom leadership and direction for we ask it all in Jesus name amen United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all that was bizarre yeah C FL yeah okay yes it was we passed that test room yeah so we have some presentations we do um your honor um we have uh some proclamations this evening if You' give me just one second did you all join me so our first Proclamation this evening is um for Donate Life month and we have with us uh London hunter from LifeLink I believe it is so I'll read the proclamation and then give her an opportunity to offer some comments our Proclamation reads as follows whereas one of the most meaningful gifts that a human being can bestow upon another is the gift of life and whereas over 103,000 men women and children are currently on the national waiting list for organ transplantation of which over 5,100 reside in Florida and whereas 46,6 a record number of transplants occurred in the calendar year 2023 thanks to the generosity of 23,28 deceased and living donors of which 3,32 transplant patients and 1,343 deceased and living donors were from Florida and whereas more than 2.5 million people throughout the country and in Florida benefit annually from tissue transplantation thanks to thousands of tissue donors and whereas the need for organ eye and tissue donation remains critical as a new patient is added to the National waiting list for an organ transplant every 8 minutes and every day roughly 17 people die due to the lack of available organs and whereas more than 11.3 million Floridians have already registered their decision to give the gift of life through organ and tissue donation at www.don florida.org or on their driver's license and whereas LifeLink of Florida the nonprofit organization dedicated to the recovery of organs and tissue transplantation therapy and Florida with a mission to honor donors and save lives through organ and tissue donation now therefore Nathaniel J Birdsong Jr does hereby Proclaim April 2024 as Donate Life month in the City of Winter Haven and encourages all residents to consider giving life through organ donation and to sign up on Florida's organ and tissue donor registry by visiting www.dd donatelife florida.org or when renewing their driver's license or state identification card in witness whereof he has here and to set his hand and caused the Seal of the City of Winter Haven Florida to be a fix this 8th day of April 2024 sign Nathaniel J Birdsong Jr mayor a test Vanessa Castillo city clerk um thank you so much um I'm really happy that we're doing our Park Elations you know I drove all the way here from Tampa for this so I appreciate it um like you said April is National Donate Life month um where we really honor our donors and donor families and encourage you know the Florida population to really register um and designate their choices to be organ um donors after they're passing and like you said we can do so at the DMV or you can do www.don life.org and you can choose whichever you want um and then last thing I want to touch on is there is no age limit to donation um so don't Ru yourself out depending on your medical conditions or age um that will be decided when the time comes um but if you are a donor to anyone in this room and if anyone's watching I appreciate you and we thank you if not um LifeLink employees are always there to answer any questions you may have um so please feel free to reach out to us thank you London if you want to come forward for a photo uh mayor and Commissioners that is the only presentation we have this evening we did have one for uh lupus as well but they were unable to join us so we will see that that is issued out in mailed to them uh next up on your agenda item 5B is a presentation from uh Lakeland area mass transit district with Tom Phillips general manager may recall when we had our last update would have been uh around the time of our budget proceedings and it was requested by the commission that we uh hear from the uh LTD twice a year so Tom is here to give you an update on what's happening what's moving about within the mass transit world what is moving thank thank you that was a very nice introduction Mr Mayor Commissioners public thank you for having me tonight my name is Tom Phillips and I'm the general manager of the Citrus connection as well as Winter Haven area transit your community's Transit Agency and I'm here to give you your annual state of the transit update I appreciate everyone who's here today even if you don't ride the bus uh 87% of the people in the Winter Haven area who use Winter Haven area transit do not have access to a personal use vehicle it is is one of the highest in the country and I'm happy to say that 56% of the total rides given by Winter Haven area transit are for employment so the number one reason people use the bus service in Winter Haven is to get to and from work uh for economic self-sufficiency so I'm here today to talk about your transit system I'm happy to announce that we have seen the covid rebound uh almost all of our ridership has returned nationally Transit was down approximately 70% from the covid highs we only lost about 40% of our ridership uh in the Winter Haven area and that is largely again due to the transit dependency of the community and you did approximately 328,000 boardings uh in the Winter Haven area you can see your most popular routes that are here uh starting with Legoland at 83,000 uh the route 15 at 60,000 the 22xw at 46 and you can see the others that are on the screen what I would like to highlight here is the massive success and I'd like to thank the staff as well as the commission for its continued leadership of that Legoland uh Cypress Gardens Boulevard Route 30 number Winter Haven Florida is the only city in PT County that has 7-Day a week Transit Service uh and that is on the Route 30 and that is because of a one-of-a-kind Public public private partnership between the citrus connection the City of Winter Haven and Merlin entertainment so just as a bit of history when Merlin entertainment first uh purchased the Cypress Gardens Boulevard property and became uh Legoland when they opened up their first Resort Hotel it was a great success but we had received a phone call uh from Rex who was the general manager at the time if you remember Mr Mayor and he said we've got a problem we can't meet the 3:00 check-in time for our hotel guests because the staff that make up the rooms can't get to work because there's no bus service on Sunday and so we're checking people in at 5 and 6:00 at night do you think that there's a way that we could have bus service so we were able to work with the city manager at the time and T Michael and approached the commission and as Legoland had annexed inside to the City of Winter Haven you all were able to make the investment in the entire Cypress Gardens Boulevard corridor to have 7-Day a week Transit service in that one particular bus line so you are the only community that has 7-Day a week Transit service not only does it move model citizen Legoland employees to and from their work but anyone who lives works or plays within the Cypress Gardens Boulevard Corridor including the elderly or disabled uh benefits from that 7-Day a week Transit service so congratulations on that your most popular stops as not surprising all roads lead to Rome we are imperial P County and that all roads lead to Roman Winter Haven is the terminal Walmart the government center and the others that are there as well Tom can I ask a question if I may sir the Walmart at Cypress Gardens Boulevard do you know if that's the one that is closer into town or the one that is further out that is the one that is closer into town and the Gil Jones Government Center um I'm curious if if there has been a transition of service out to the new East Pole Government Center in Lake Alfred since those offices have already relocated that is an excellent question and I will get you the answer to that by the end of the week so that you're able to share it with the community and with the staff but I will find out uh I would say yes but I want to get you the data that supports that yes Transportation disadvantaged uh in addition to the fixed route and Paratransit services that you fund you also have transportation disadvantaged mayor and Commissioners this is a system of transportation that is unique to the State of Florida no other state in the Union has it and this is a transportation service that is there for those who are at or below the federal poverty line regardless of where they live in P County or the greater Winter Haven area so if you are going to get door-to-door service through the Americans with Disabilities Act which we call parat Transit you have to live within 3/4 of a mile of one of these bus routes so imagine a bubble around Cypress Gardens Boulevard 3/4 of a mile to the north Southeast or west we will sign send a lift equipped vehicle to pick the elderly and disabled up at their door and then take them to the medical appointments or grocery or other places social outings door too for any reason Transportation disadvantaged as I move forward is a system that truly is open to any Resident of the greater Winter Haven area wherever they live as long as they're at or below the poverty line the Restriction with this service is that it's for medical or medical related only but there are no barriers to the access so any greater Winter Haven area resident can apply for this we've given 113,000 rides during this period it's an amazing number of rides and these are the individuals that live in the greater Winter Haven area that we are taking to their medical appointments door too and bringing them back this is also the only service that goes outside of pulk County so if someone has a pediatric need in Tampa for specifics for for their children that are at or below the poverty line or a veteran who needs to get to the Lake Nona complex or needs to get to the James Haley VA this transit system our your transit system that you help pay for actually takes people to those locations outside of P County everything else stay within P County uh as team Michael had said this is the budgetary presentation as you are well aware and I thank you very much over the last uh few years last seven years we have always asked for more money I'm happy to say that this year we are not asking for any more dollars you have hit your fair share number thank you very much uh and so we are asking for no contract increase in the fiscal year uh 2526 so the total contribution amount that are asking you to budget is $293,200 per state funded and 10% funded by the county but we include those numbers in your presentation as well and I'll stand for any questions and I ALS also have information after this if if people want to discuss the the downtown golf cart squeeze programs I had anticipated that there were some questions I have a slide on that as well but I'll stand for any questions on this presentation any questions for the disadvantage how are how is that uh I guess uh shared with the community uh how do you how is that information disseminated thank you commissioner that is an excellent question so we work with the half cent for Indigent Health Care through P County so if anyone is intak in that program they are automatically enrolled in transportation disadvantaged we also work with our partners at 211 at United Way if people call 211 and they have transportation issues they know how to get them set up on transportation disadvantaged and then the number one way commissioner is through our community outreach we have what is called a transportation disadvantaged mobile bus and we actually come out to the Winter Haven Community we go to churches we go to Smoke on the Water we go to to uh fairs that are downtown and we actually go into the communities and educate individuals on Transportation disadvantaged anyone commissioner who calls 855 pulk bus that's 855 pulk bus that wants information on Transit our callers will get them registered for Ada if they're in the Ada area but then we also ask question questions and we can get them enrolled in transportation disadvantaged as well the frustrating part commissioner because I always believe in talking about the good and the bad is in order to get registered for transportation disadvantage there is a state required very minimally invasive Financial disclosure form where the individual has to just answer a few questions very similar to if you're getting a mortgage just the initial documentation to make sure that that person's at or below the poverty line a lot of people aren't comfortable sharing that information but we let them know it's just a one-step process and it is required by the state in order to ride our fixed route your fixed route buses that pass City Hall every day or to get the Ada service for the elderly or disabled that's the door-to-door service within the corridor there's no Financial assessment we don't care what you make but there is a little bit times of consternation with individuals sharing that but it is required by the state and it's simply to make sure that you're below the poverty line so we can provide the service but an excellent question is that an annual assessment no sir and if we can commissioner the first thing that we do is if we can send out rather than sending out a Paratransit vehicle a smaller door-to-door vehicle if the individuals at or below the poverty line but they live within the fixed route service area we actually provide them with a free monthly bus pass that has an unlimited number of rides on it that has a $47 value and then they can ride the fixed route bus that's pictured on the screen here that does require them commissioner to come to us every month and then we reload that card for them to make sure that they're not abusing the program and we reload the card the picture you see on the screen all of those Vehicles kneel they have positions for Wheelchairs and wheelchair ramps so it's a we're much better stewards of the taxpayer dollars if we can use travel trainers to help individuals with disabilities use the fixed route service we want to send the door-to-door service only when it's absolutely necessary so we have one travel trainer whose full-time job 40 hours a week is just to work with a disabled and elderly Community to travel train to try to get them off of Paratransit and on to fixed route thank you so much anyone else thank you Tom thank you and mayor and Commissioners we are working with as Tom said we're exploring some microtransit options that we'll consider through the CRA we'll be bringing back to you later this summer um and also sharing them with them the development patterns that we're seeing around town as I mentioned the the new East P Government Center uh it's a you know a very active site up in in Lake Alfred that certainly our folks if they need to get to court you know that's a a key destination um as well as some of the new residential developments that come online they may not warrant a stop at this point but as we see a number of those come on uh we remain in contact with Tom and his team all right thank you Tom thank you developments of note we have none Commissioners you have the uh minutes I make a motion to approve the minutes for March 20th 2024 thank you I will now close the commission meeting open public hearing anyone wishing to speak to these minutes may do so at this time seeing none close the public hearing real consider commission meeting all those in favor of the motion let it be known by saying I I poses by the same sign hearing none the minutes are adopted we have um no one that has signed up to make comments however I will if you didn't sign up and you would like to address this commission you may do so at this time all right ordinance's uh second reading 02415 would read by tle City attorney thank you Mr Mayor ordinance number 0- 24-15 an ordinance to extend the corporate limits of the city Winter Haven Florida so as to include therein additional territory lying contiguous and adjacent to the present boundaries of the city Winter Haven Florida describing set additional territory repealing all ordinances in Conflict here with with providing for the administrative correction of scrier errors and providing an effective date General location a parcel generally located north of we Avenue Northeast and south of Lake smart the area covered by this request is 56.74 plus or minus Acres thank you thank you city manager mayor Commissioners I'll ask Eric Labby our director of Economic Opportunity and Community investment to give a high level overview of this item yes sir mayor commissioner smart Ridge uh Park LLC is a petitioner uh requesting the annex one parcel totaling 56.74 Acres um the petitioner is seeking annexation for the purpose of developing uh the subject property current taxable value $68,900 however additional revenue is expected upon development of the property this is a voluntary petition for annexation staff does recommend the city commission approve ordinance 02215 thank you Commissioners Mr Mayor yes make a motion to approve 0245 in public hearing thank you I will now close the commission meeting open the public hearing anyone wishing to speak to this audence may do so at this time would you state your name and address for the record please sir for the record my name is Shelton rice I'm an attorney with the law firm of Peterson and Myers address 225 East Lemon Street Lakeland Florida today I'm here on behalf of the petitioner requesting annexation of the property into the city uh Mr lvy elaborated on this project a little bit I recall this discussion on the first reading when that came before you a few weeks ago the property surrounded by the municipal boundary on the North West and East excuse me Northwest and South sides uh we're here to request annexation and we anticipate coming back before the city commission for assignment of future land use designation and Zoning so if you have any questions we're happy to answer them otherwise we respectfully request a favorable vote thank you thank you anyone else any questions I'll close the public hearing reop the city Commission meeting is there any discussion all those in favor of the motion let it be known by saying I I I oppos by the same sign the ordinance is adopted ordinance 0 2416 would you read by tyon City attorney thank you Mr Mayor ordinance number 0- 24-16 in ordinance amending chapter 21 of the code of ordinance of the city Wan Florida by resoning 115 Parcels from single family residential D small lot r-2 zoning District to single family residential dlarge lot R-1 zoning District repealing all ordinances in Conflict here with providing for the administrative correction of scrier Errors providing for severability and providing an effective date General location the woodpoint phase one and Phase 2 subdivisions gener located east of Lake Daisy Road and Northeast of Lake Daisy the area covered by this request is 41.9 plus or minus Acres thank you thank you s manag mayor Commissioners Mr Labby will yes sir mayor Commissioners uh as you may recall this is Staff request uh to rezone 115 Parcels this is woodpoint Phase One and phase two they were approved and developed under the city's Land Development requirements in 2004 six vacant Lots um remain in these two subdivisions um we had a discussion at this earlier um at our earlier meetings nothing has changed this is to allow those vacant lots to develop with uh similar setbacks to the existing Lots within the subdivision um that would offer the only change we did get a letter of support in favor of the zoning change uh from woodpoint homeowners association and staff does recommend approval of ordinance 0 2416 thank you Commissioners Mr Mayor yes um motion to approve 0 2416 public hearing thank you I'll close the C Commission meeting open the public hearing anyone wishing to speak to this may do so at this time seeing none I close the public hearing we open to the commission meeting is there any discussion all those in favor let it be known by saying I I opposes by the same sign the ordinance is adopted o 2417 City attorney would read by title only please thank you Mr Mayor ordinance number 0- 24-17 in ordinance amending chapter 21 of the code of ordinances of the city of Wen Florida by res zoning 41 parcels and a portion of another parcel from single family residential D small lot r-2 zoning District to single family residential D large lot R-1 zoning District repealing all ordinances in Conflict here with providing for the administrative correction of scers Errors providing for severability and providing an effective date General location the Cypresswood Palace subdivision generally located west of pomacea Road approximately 400 ft west of Sand Hill Lane the area covered by this request is 24.4 plus or minus Acres thank thank you thank you Mr Labby again sure mayor Commissioners um again nothing has changed um with ordinance 2417 this is a staff initiated request to reone 41 Parcels from R2 to R1 is the same situation as the ordinance you just heard uh this would allow the uh vacant Lots within the subdivision to develop with similar setbacks to the lots that are already developed within the subdivision um all public not app ation uh requirements were were met and staff does recommend approval of O 2417 thank you Commissioners Mr Mayor motion to approve o 2417 in public hearing thank you I will now close the commission meeting open the public hearing anyone wishing to speak to this audience may do so at this time seeing none and close the public hearing we open the city commission meeting all those in favor of the motion let it be known by saying I I I poses by the same sign all right ordinance so 2421 which read by title on the City attorney thank you Mr Mayor ordinance number 0-24 D21 an ordinance of the city of wi Haven Florida amending ordinance number 0-23 d54 regarding appropriation of funds for defraying expenses of the municipal government of the city Winter Haven for the fiscal year commencing October 1 2023 providing for severability and providing for an effective date thank you thank you s manager are you going to defer to Scott I am sir thank you our CFO will present this item so in fiscal year 2023 the general fund reflected a surplus so revenues exceeded expenditures of 4.3 million increasing the available fund balance to 26.5 million the city's fiscal policy requires a minimum of 177% of the general funds upating expenditures to be retained in the unassigned fund balance uh which is the available fund balance any available available fund balance in excess of 30% may be transferred to the construction fund to defay the costs and cover contingencies as recommended by the city manager and approved by the city commission the 30% unassigned fund balance is 21.1 million providing a surplus of 5,386 and9 it is recommended that this balance be transferred to the 2021 construction fund with 1.6 million dedicated to the lake con9 project as construction costs has exceeded appropriated funds thank you Commissioners Mr Mayor yes motion to approve 02421 in public hearing thank you I will now close the commission meeting open the public hearing anyone wishing to speak to this audence may do so at this time seeing none I close the public hearing we open the city commission meeting is there any discussion all those in favor of the motion let it be known by saying I I opposes by the same sign hearing none the ordinance is adopted Commissioners you have the consent agenda Mr Mayor yes I move for approval of the consent agenda in its entirety thank you I will now close the city commission meeting and open the public hearing hearing is there anyone from the public that would like to speak to the consent agenda seeing none I close the public hearing reop the city commission meeting any discussion all those in favor of the motion let it be known by saying I I opposes by the same sign the consent agenda is adopted all right resolutions resolution r421 would you read about title on the City attorney thank you Mr Mayor resolution r- 24-21 a resolution approving that certain plat entitled Harmony in Lake Eloise phase two for filing and acceptance of dedications in accordance with chapter 177 Florida Statutes with specific conditions providing for the administrative correction of scri erors and establishing an effective date the general location subdivision is generally located west of West Lake Eloise Drive North of Harmony on Lake Eloise Phase 1 subdivision and Eloise Loop Road thank you thank you C manager mayor Commissioners fourstar USA Real Estate Group is requesting final approval for Harmony on Lake Eloise Phase 2 this is a 47.72 acre subdivision containing 144 building lots and 10 Common Lots consisting of storm water retention and Open Spaces the internal roads will be dedicated to the Harmony on Lake Eloise Community Development District the um uh drainage conveyances and storm Water Management areas will also be own and maintained by the CDD all the water and sewer lines will be owned and maintained by the city performance bond in the amount of 77,6 has been submitted to the city to cover the cost of remaining infrastructure items which at this time include earthw work sanitary sewer potable water storm water management and Engineering certification uh Harmony on Lake Elise Phase 2 was developed according to the re requirements contained in PUD ordinance 0612 Water Service to the subdivision will be from the Winter Haven water system and Wastewater will be treated at wastewater treatment plant three there is adequate capacity in these systems to serve the subdivision access to the subdivision is from Eloise Loop Road and West Lake Eloise drive both of these roadways have sufficient capacity to serve this subdivision upon buildout estimated tax will using an estimated tax will value of $250,000 per lot the subdivision will have an estimated taxable value of $36 million and will generate approximately $237,200 per year in city and adalum revenues proposed subdivision is consistent with Comprehensive plan and all requirements of chapter 177 Florida statutes for the platting of land staff recommends City commission approve resolution R 24-21 thank you thank you Commissioners um Mr Mayor motion to approve R 2421 thank you I will now close the commission meeting open the public hearing anyone wishing to speak to this resolution may do so at this time seeing none I close the public hearing we open the city commission meeting all those in favor of the motion let it be known by saying I I I opposes same sign hearing none the resolution is adopted audiances first reading the second reading will be on 4:22 and we will not vote on the this ordinance at this time C attorney would you read by title only please thank you Mr Mayor ordinance number 0-24 D20 an ordinance extending the corporate limits of the City of Winter Haven Florida so as to include therein additional territory line contiguous and adjacent to the present boundaries of the City win Haven Florida describing set additional territory repealing all ordinances in Conflict herewith providing for the administrative correction of scers erors and providing an effective date General location 250 Cypress Gardens Boulevard the covered by this request is 0.89 plus or minus Acres thank you thank you manager Mr lbby would you like to take this one please sir ABC properties limited is a petitioner requesting the city commission nx1 parcel located at 250 Cyprus Gardens Boulevard they are requesting annexation for the purpose of operating under the city of winter Haven's alcohol hours as you may recall we um amended our alcohol ordinance some time ago to allow for Sunday service Serv um current taxable value of the subject property is uh $893,000 in ad of alarm Revenue to the city staff this is a voluntary petition for annexation and staff does recommend the city commission approve ordinance 02420 thank you is there anyone that would like to speak to this audiance from the public all right we will review this on 422 new business is it the manager or you this I'm G to have Eric Labby present this one this is pertaining to the first amendment of developers agreement regarding some property that we had previously um uh contributed to the dudney plaza LLC and in consideration of a more recent uh transfer of property as well yes sir mayor Commissioners uh parcel number 2628 21- 58100 00170 was recently authorized by the city commission to transfer ownership to dudney Plaza LLC uh this First Amendment to the developers agreement uh would incorporate the above referenced parcel into that developers agreement that is entered into on April 10th 2023 between the city of winner Haven and dudney Plaza LLC uh it would also authorize the city manager to execute the first Amendment and authorize the mayor and all other appropriate officials to execute all documents necessary to facilitate that transfer of the property um to the dudney plaza LLC by quick claim deed and it also amends the time allotments for redevelopment giving uh dudney Plaza LLC approximately one year to receive site plan approval and commence development upon the property nothing else in the developers agreement uh changes and it all remains in full force and effect staff does recommend the city commission approve the the First Amendment to the developers agreement and authorize the city manager to execute and authorize the mayor and all other appropriate City officials to execute the quick claim deed and anything else necessary to facilitate the transfer of the property between uh the city and dudney Plaza LLC all right thank you Commissioners U Mr Mayor make a motion to approve um the First Amendment to the developers agreement thank you I will close the city Commission meeting open the public hearing anyone wishing to speak to this item may do so at this time seeing none I close the public hearing we open the city commission meeting in discussion all those in favor of the motion let it be known by saying I I opposes by the same sign hearing none the First Amendment to the developers agreement is adopted commission Lon reports commissioner merca okay all right um we all attended I think for two days this strategic uh planning session it was a very good uh session um uh we got a lot to look forward to on that and um a lot more work to put into it I should say too um I did the Main Street Bark in the Park but I'm going to save that for for the mayor to talk about I I watch the races and um I did uh also the uh chamber legislation wrap up in which we have um two of our legislators who are not returning um I guess uh this year or next year or the next um year and um so that means we only have one and we'll probably have two new ones so um and then um we did the fmbc the First Missionary Baptist Church Heritage day on Saturday and there was celebrating 29 years and I'm going to let um the pastor tell you all about that so that's all I have I left one of my phones at home so I don't have both of them to compare all right wel doson doson thank you sir good evening I uh even certainly had opportunity to uh attend and be a part of the strategic planning Retreat uh which was in fact uh just a stellar Stellar Retreat I I really enjoyed that I learned a lot um it's just wonderful to see a city with such a forward uh looking um approach to uh the challenges that we Face uh recognizing you know that we have some issues that need to be addressed and uh I think we are appropriately doing that so it just really helps you to see that we're moving in a very Progressive direction that I think that will serve the citizens of the city for years to come and certainly hats off to the staff and those who planned The Retreat uh the presentations were excellent um I think I particularly enjoy the one also as we look to the Future and understanding just the changes that we're seeing happening uh around us and uh within the State of Florida and around the country also was able to be at the uh chamber wrapup just interesting to hear uh certainly we uh congratulate Sam kilu and Melanie Bell for the outstanding work that they have done over the years uh representing uh this area and just good to hear about some of the issues that uh they had fought for uh over the uh the past few years some that I'm very passionate about of course affordable housing was one of them also uh was able to attend the uh planning board um commission meeting and uh it's interesting you know getting back to that uh hearing some of the things that are happening or changing in our city things are becoming I think the the exciting part is that um we're seeing uh small businesses that you know people are are really uh looking to establish here in Winter Haven uh of All Sorts I I might say uh some of them were quite quite amazing uh but I think will be an enhancement to to the city also had the opportunity and I certainly appreciate the privilege to attend what is called the FBC uh Leo which is really the uh Florida Black Caucus uh Florida league and uh that was uh that was my first time uh going to this event I think it's been existence about 40 years um my takea away from that was just outstanding speakers but meeting some amazing people across the State of Florida uh many who like myself you know for the first time uh wanted to serve at at a certain level within our city and actually you know ran for an office and was successful in in been able to uh serve and to hear some of the African-American women uh who actually ran in cities and some of them have never had uh an African-American woman to serve in 150 years and uh so you know the pride they must feel uh being able to serve their cities and to be able to offer uh that kind of service to the cities there was a presentation on uh serving leadership uh that was really insightful for me because I ran on that same thing and uh so I really appreciated just the presentations that were made they brought in outstanding speakers uh but I think most of all just having the opportunity to meet some wonderful and amazing people uh giving service all across the State of Florida so I thank you for the opportunity to attend also as mentioned that uh we were um we've been having an event it's called celebrating Heritage day unity in our community it actually was born out of the church uh but we decided to take it to the community several years ago started on in our parking lot and moved to the uh Northeast complex from the complex uh Lake mod was built and we decided to expand and uh and actually use that space I think we were the first ones to use it in that in that capacity um then of course Fields were being uh put in here recently so we couldn't go back to Lake M so we had to make a choice and the choices were MLK Park but there was a ski show there and then we decided well we'll do downtown with her Haven that's kind of providential in a way I think it was really a great choice we were actually ringed out in February and uh we decided that we would cancel and then we would move it to another date I want to say to the city uh for just being so understanding about that whole process uh I cannot tell you just the wonderful working relationship ship and the camaraderie that we had with officials who uh understood what we were trying to do and my you know where I serve as as a church they like to be Trail Blazers and and they don't do things always in a conventional way and uh but the city is so flexible and understanding about those things and uh so that was really a win for everyone but the event was held this past um this past Saturday and uh I'll tell you uh we were kind of concerned we thought well being Downtown Winter Haven the reason I said it's providential because I thought about the fact that just about a block and a half the church where I serve has was actually established the first building was built and uh I'd gotten from our city manager one of the books that uh history of Winter Haven one of the things that shares in in that was uh was a miss m gathers miss m gathers I think was limo's mother she was born in 1900 and uh she shares with uh uh the writer uh about her experience she says from where we lived she said that we could look from our from our porch and look right into little old First Baptist now I got to tell you that's interesting because that's over 143 years ago so there was no Winter Haven you know uh even Florence Villa didn't even exist at that time many of the African-Americans actually around third third street in central where many African-Americans actually lived during that time and I can just imagine her looking across and looking into because we don't have any pictures of the old the original Church of course and it said that uh the key drugstore was built there after the church I guess moved because ultimately we moved over to the uh Florence Villa area around 1908 and so coming back Downtown Winter Haven was just amazing because lit is just a block away from where the church started with five families under an oak tree and so it was almost like a coming home for us so we enjoyed just the wonderful day uh great crowd uh a lot of people came to celebrate and we're about celebrating unity in our community because we think that's most important it's not about the church itself it's really about the fact that we need to be unified as a community and I think any way we can promote that and in fact we're looking at ways that we can do that in a way that is so inclusive to every Heritage and everyone that would like to come out and celebrate so uh look for even greater things next year will be our 30th year and we're excited about that we hope to bring in uh some amazing talent that will help draw so downtown if we come back uh it's going to be all on like popcorn just so you know so again thank you very much appreciate the city and all those who work with us to make it a wonderful and wonderful event that's it well there's been so much been said I guess uh I just need to uh say dittoe and uh move on but no the the the strategic planning uh te and staff was uh was really a great event I've been here over 20 years and we've never had anything like that so hats off to you you all did a great job now the Bark in the Park the famous winner dog race with grand stands and everything we had 40 plus dogs weener dogs some little bitt ones like that and I mean the owners are really we had to have photo finish with the cameras to make sure that we picked the winners and uh the actual dog that won won last year as well so we had a two-time winner so and you know I mean there were over 2,000 people out there in the park which it was a just a great time so I thoroughly enjoyed that uh attended the sunrise service and uh always enjoy that went to the uh legislative update from for that the chamber put on and the uh the black caucus of local elected officials Reverend Allison has given a good good description of that but they had one session that really left an impression on me and it was about mental health for elected officials and some things that we can do when there are some difficult sit situations and so it was good I thoroughly enjoyed that and one of the things they said is you know you usually uh the old adage is that when you get angry or something you count to 10 no they say you need to count to 100 plus 10 may not do it and another one is that when you really get in an angry place to Just Breathe hold your breath and let the air out like it's coming out of a flat tire that has just been run you know that you ran over a nail so that's a good technique and I tried that and it it it works um the F uh First Missionary Baptist Heritage day Reverend dollson has given a great description of what took place and I thoroughly enjoyed the event and it's just good to see our Parks really being utilized and by all of the communities so it was a great day and the staff of win haven outstanding outstanding is not the word exceptionally outstanding is the way I would uh classify you all it's just was uh it was great and even not only at that event but also at the Sunrise Service I mean staff were there the city manager was moving chairs about I mean so was the mayor so I mean this is a uh it's a great City and I'm just so proud to be a part of it so with that c attorney thank you Mr Mayor commission and I uh share those sentiments about proud to be a part of the city Winter Haven nothing else tonight thank you all right city manager Mr May Commissioners I'm thinking perhaps we need to start checking for performance enhancing drugs within the wiener dog races when you start having repeat winners and a little suspicious there I do want to just thank the commission on behalf of myself and the entire team for your support and uh commitment of time energy brain power um during the two-day Retreat that we had Mr Mayor I did not see you having to hold your breath at any point during that or count to a 100 so we must have done something pretty well um I do want to again publicly thank all of our team that was a part of that um Katrina Hill has done an amazing job of of facilitating that information tell you that on Friday following the retreat we this uh your your leadership team came together for three hours the next morning they weren't done and their goal was to their objective let me use the right words here so I don't get people confused their objective and their mission for that morning was to take all of the goals that you had crafted the P prior two days and begin creating actions that would support the accomplishment of those U this afternoon those were sent out to project leaders that we have for each one of our strategic pillars and they will begin really culling those into um very time sensitive measurable objectives action strategies that we will be bringing back to you but that effort is underway and we are are grateful for uh to see that happening so again thank you for your time and your your energy for that your support of it I think that when it's all said and done um regardless of who is at the helm and in what capacities Winter Haven will have a very clear plan for how to move forward with some of the things that are on our Horizon um I also want to just extend uh some appreciation for two of those events one one that you didn't mention but the first Friday event was Friday evening again just incredible weather downtown and it was great to see Central Avenue fully activated the sidewalk CAF going all the way down to uh Avenue SE where where the Grove Roots Brewery is and all around the parks just great to see our community out celebrating what makes Downtown special and to commissioner dollson and those that that put on the uh event on S on Saturday um had a chance to visit with u Katie and parchment and some of the other other volunteers and just a fantastic event to see what truly is unity in our community of bringing all people together in the middle of our the heart of down town is a is a special thing and U the comments that you all bestow upon staff for their exceptional service that does not fall on deaf ears they take great pride in that and nothing means more to them than to see their customers happy and to hear the favorable comments from the elected body so thank you s clerk as John said I'm also glad to be a part that's all I have all right emergency MS not receed for the agenda motion to adjin I'll make a motion Mr an