e e e e e e you have to miss Winter Haven stuff [Applause] though I see Drew did I talk through it yeah that's what I think there's multiple practical channels I just need to be able to say like this is the one we're going to do right right okay good evening I'd like to call to order the regular City Commission meeting but this the 25th day of March 2024 we will have the invocation by Pastor Spivey from people's church and we will be led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Vanessa Castillo CMP c cler stand your feet got roll call roll call it's your first radio roll call while we're standing commissioner dollson here commissioner Mercer here commissioner danler here mayor prates here and mayor Birdsong here Mr Mayor and council members thank you so much for continuing this tradition and uh it's our privilege to do this will you join me in prayer Our Father we come to you this evening we thank you that uh we have a forum like this and I pray that this evening Lord that you would Grant your wisdom Your Grace we pray that uh the for the betterment of the community as a result of this meeting we pray that you would touch uh each council member Lord by your spirit and as best we know how we surrender ourselves to you this evening for your influence and we thank you for it all in Christ's name amen amen to the of the United States of America and to the repu for it stands one nation God indivisible with liy and justice for all all right M join Mr presentations Mr Mayor we have a couple presentations this evening I'm going to ask uh Deputy city manager MJ Carnaval to uh provide that this evening good evening mayor and City commissioners our first Proclamation is for Child Abuse Prevention month whereas Florida is committed to provide improving the lives of all Floridians and securing a better future for the citizens of the state and whereas children who have adverse experience childhood experiences are at a higher risk of short and long-term physical psychological and behavioral challenges that can impact the individual child and the Greater Community and parents and caregivers who have resources and support are better equipped to give their children safe and nurturing experiences and whereas children have better mental health and physical health and academic success when they are raised in safe stable and nurturing environment and whereas the Florida Department of Children and Family secretary has a vision for holistic Services by integrating systems and services and whereas the State of Florida has established hope Florida a pathway to Prosperity a personalized approach to helping families overcome barriers to self-sufficiency through Community collaboration and Floridians can call 85300 Hope to speak with a care Navigator to support for support to develop a plan to achieve economic self-sufficiency referrals to local partners and help identifying goals and barriers in their lives and whereas during the month of April prevent child abuse Florida in collaboration with the governor's office of adoption and child protection in the Florida Department of Children and Families Heartland for children and the oun of prevention fund of Florida implements pin wheels for prevention a Statewide coordinated campaign to raise awareness of Child Abuse Prevention efforts by teaching about the healthy child development and positive parenting practices and establishing circle of parents peer support groups and whereas Child Abuse Prevention month provides everyone a chance to learn how they can play a role in preventing abuse and neglect including adverse childhood experiences and whereas Child Abuse Prevention month reminds Floridians of all ages that they can help children increase positive childhood experiences which lead to happier healthier childhoods now therefore Nathaniel J Birdsong mayor of the city of winner Haven Florida does hereby extend my support his support to all observing April 2024 as Child Abuse Prevention month in the City of Winter Haven Florida in witness whereof he is here and to set his hand and caused the Seal of the City of Winter Haven Florida to be affixed this 25th day of March 2024 well you guys all know Winter Haven is my favorite city so I'm going to read a response for those of you who don't know me my name is Katie imp parchment I'm with Harland for children and I work in community relations um thank you City of Winter Haven for proclaiming April as child Abuse Prevention month we appreciate the involvement of P County in the pin pin wheels for prevention campaign each year we are delighted that many cities schools and County municipalities are displaying pin wheels and talking about what we can do to strengthen families and keep children safe pin wheels for prevention uses a simple child's toy a blue and silver pin wheel to to remind us of the happy and healthy childhood that all children deserve and to also remind us that everyone plays a vital role in keeping children safe Heartland for children is proud to be the lead Community Based Care Agency under the Department of Children and Families and we are passionate about children's s child safety and strengthening families through services and resources to give you a better understanding of the families that we serve here's a little bit of um information the total number of children with open child welfare cases throughout pul Highlands and Hardy counties as of March 10th is 1,9 130 the total number of children removed from their homes in the Tri County Area due to abuse or neglect um last fiscal year 2022 2023 was 718 children our greatest need facing our system of care is foster homes um the total current number of traditional foster homes we have in the Tri County Area is 185 out of that we have 10 in Highland County and one in Hardy County the remainder one 73 is in po County for the fiscal year of 2020 and and we need a total of 250 to ensure that kids don't have to continue to be moved over and over again for the fiscal year of 2022 2023 296 children were adopted in circuit 10 which is a blessing we are on track to at least reach that goal for this year and we have already secured 124 forever homes for children in our area so during the month of April we encourage you to display pin wheels and share information with others through conversations and social media about Child Abuse Prevention we ask that you wear pin wheel lapel like I see that um Pro um Yates has on thank you and um and also provide information to others about Child Abuse Prevention we want our community to understand that together we can all play a huge um role in ensuring that kids children are safe thank you [Applause] count three one two three do one more all right have [Music] Two Perfect all right our next Proclamation this evening is water conservation month and I believe there are some members of the city team here to receive that whereas water is a basic and essential need of every living creature and whereas the State of Florida water management districts and the City of Winter Haven are working together to increase awareness about the importance of water conservation and whereas the City of Winter Haven in the State of Florida has designated April typically a dry month when water demands are most acute Florida's water conservation month to educate citizens about how they can help save Florida's precious water resources and whereas the City of Winter Haven has always encouraged and supported water conservation through various educational programs and special events and 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 make can help by saving water and thus promote a healthy economy and community and whereas outdoor irrigation compromises a large portion of water use in the City of Winter Haven will encourage citizens and businesses to focus on improving outdoor irrigation efficiency now therefore be a result olve that by virtue of the authority vested in him as mayor of the City of Winter Haven Florida Nathaniel Birdsong J Birdsong Jr does hereby proclaim the month of April as water conservation month the City of Winter Haven Florida is calling upon each citizen in business to help protect our precious resource by practicing water saving measures and becoming more aware of the need to save water for this the 26th year of water conservation month there will be a special focus on improving outdoor irrigation efficiency in witness whereof he is heing to set his hand and cause the Seal of the City of Winter Haven Florida to be affixed this 25th day of March 2024 thank you tonight I am deeply honored to accept this award for water conservation Proclamation night as a water conservation specialist at the City of Winter Haven it's been an incredible journey starting as an intern in December 2022 and now standing before you just over a year later at the age of 23 as a water conservation specialist in this role I have the privilege of spur heading water conservation education programs and incenses within po County as part of the uh pul Regional water Cooperative over the past four months I have witnessed firsthand the importance of our Collective efforts in preserving our most precious National resource water I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the City of Winter heaven for entrusting me with this resp responsibility to my superviser KY Caron for her guidance and support to Gary Hubbert the winter Heaven water director for his leadership and to Mark bumber the assistant director for his invalu invaluable contributions but most importantly I am thankful for the incredible colleagues at the water department who have welcomed me into their family and made every day a joy to come to work as I stand here tonight I am reminded of the vital role each of us plays in safeguarding our water for future Generations I am committed to continuing to learn grow and work tirelessly towards the future where water conservation is just is not just a priority but a way of life thank you once again for this recognition and let us all continue to strive for all for a sustainable and water conscious future best regards iot Santiago lugaro did you tell Elliot the same thing all right on the count of three one two three and one more if we start them young with conservation hopefully that will stick for future Generations so mayor Commissioners we have two more items under presentations this evening uh next I'd like to uh Welcome to our uh City Hall and City commission Chambers Alex D Ro who is the recently crowned Miss Winter Haven so we just had our um Miss Florida Citrus and Miss Winter Haven pageant a few weeks back and a little background on Alex uh she's a classically trained ballet dancer who graduated from the school of American Ballet in New York City an award-winning choreographer and dancer and founder of two nonprofit corporations the first being the Blue Project in which combines neuros science and the Arts and the second is peace love and leotards Inc which provides dance wear to dancers in need the Blue Project serves as Alex's community service initiative during her year of service in addition Alex is a Premed student at the University of South Florida Judy G shaft Honors College an advocate who has lobbied on Capital Hill in Washington DC for brain injury funding and awareness and best of all a lifelong resident of Winter Haven who's looking forward to serving the community that has supported her I just wanted to say thank you so much for having me here tonight it's such a privilege and an honor to be able to represent the city I've been a resident here since I was eight months old and so to be able to give back to the city that has truly given so much to me and to be able to represent you all on the Miss Florida stage in June and hopefully the Miss America Stage as Miss Florida is so amazing so thank you two [Music] more on one fix his phone for thank you very much thank you plan Commissioners the fu stay up for one more I have one more to present thank you so for as the commission knows and staff but perhaps not the audience the commission has actually three employees that they uh hire under contract myself the City attorney and the city clerk and so this evening I'd like to be a part of the celebration of our city clerk who is celeb ating 10 years of service with the City of Winter Haven this year um hard to believe it's been 10 years but I will say without doubt that we have one of the best city clerks that you could ever find Vanessa has a a heavy lift in terms of managing everything from elections to our records to all of our Public Notices and public all the public records requests that come in so uh she has been with us for 10 years as of this year and is doing a great job um she is being a great mentor to latan Harris our Deputy City CL cler as well as other city clerks around the state so with that I'd like to present uh Vanessa Castillo with her 10year service award [Music] mayor and Commissioners that concludes our presentations for this evening we have no developments of note Commissioners you have the uh minutes Mr Mayor yes motion to approve the minutes for February 21st 2024 February 26 2024 March 6 2024 4 and March 11th 2024 as our agenda review and City commission meeting minutes thank you I will now close the city commission meeting open the public hearing anyone wishing to speak on the minutes seeing none to close the public hearing reopen City commission meeting any discussion all those in favor of the motion let it be known by saying I I poses by the same sign comments from the audience okay we have four people that have signed up as we get to the item that you signed up for I will call you forward anybody else is there anyone else in the audience that didn't sign up that would like to address this commission all right thank you uh all right ordinance is uh second reading public hearing 0249 would you read by to l City attorney thank you Mr Mayor commission ordinance number 0- 24-9 an ordinance amending ordinance 23-25 the 2035 Winter Haven comprehensive plan 2035 future land use map series by revising the future land use map series by assigning neighborhood Suburban feature land use to one Annex parcel 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 at parcel JY located Southwest of the intersection of old BTO Lake Wales Road and Waters Road the area covered by this request is 19.2 n plus or minus Acres thank you thank you decision manager mayor Commissioners ordinance 040 24-9 is a request by Shelton rice to assign neighborhood Suburban future land use to an annexed parcel totaling 19 29 plus or minus Acres that was annexed on November 27th 2023 uh this is second reading this was discussed at your last City commission meeting as well as the two workshops leading up to this evening Eric Labby is available to answer any questions the commission may have on this item if necessary okay staff recommends approval uh of 2409 on second and final reading thank you Commissioners Mr Mayor yes motion to approve ordinance 0- 24-9 on second reading thank you I will now close the commission meeting open the public hearing anyone from the public wish to speak to this audience may do so at this time state your name and address for the record please commissioner 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 applicant requesting uh this future land use map Amendment this is something that's come before you I sat in the audience and listened uh to some of the comments that the commissioner made at the last round so I have a presentation I I'll spare you the full presentation but I did just want to address the two comments that were made commissioner Yates May prot temp Yates I believe your question was related to concurrency and traffic so we have a traffic study going on I asked if we had the results of those things as of now we don't uh but we recognize kind of the laws and the rules related to Traffic so we anticipate uh addressing those things as they come about through the development process commissioner dancer's comments uh related to Workforce housing certainly kind of caught my Intrigue and so I did a little digging and Analysis on that as well I I think commissioner your comments may have been more focused on the board uh to discuss that of later Retreat Workforce housing and what's being done to to provide Workforce housing in the community so I thought this was a good opportunity to just look at an example of the workforce housing and the types of products that are in anticipated to be put in this development so to do that I looked at a neighboring project to the north about a half a mile away 637 Reggie road is a particular piece is listed for 239,000 so this this is under contract by a friend and client of mine uh it's got three bedrooms two baths it's a little over 1400 Square ft it's it's a very nice home uh at 239,000 that equates with 3% down your monthly payment would be a little over $2,000 so thinking of somebody first-time home buyer that's that's around a $2,000 mortgage payment with some of the additional costs not counting homeowners association dues because I didn't think that was really appropriate those vary so much but everything else kind of 2,000 looking at it from a 20% down payment number that gets you to bear with me about 1,600 83 so a little under $1,700 a month would be the obligation if you put 20% down on that home so equating that back and looking at the most recent census data that was available the median household income in P County through 2018 to 2022 was just over $60,000 so when you look at the annual number you apply the general rule of thumb that I could find which is a 28% kind of amount of your gross income that should be allocated to your housing costs and you back into the annualized income you get to around a $72,000 annual income would be anticipated for if you put 20% down or 87,000 if you put uh 3% down so th I'm no Economist this is kind of back of the napkin type math wages have certainly increased a little bit over the last few years so that data is a little stale from 2018 to 2022 somewhere 10 to 12% so this is very close if not with then kind of the range of what you could Define as Workforce housing so the Urban Land Institute says Workforce housing is between 60 and 120% of your uh median household income in the area so that's kind of the math that we did to get to that so you're ultimately looking at 60% of the average median income with a kind of modest 8% increase since the Census Data would put you around 40,000 the 12% average median income would be around 79,000 so if you look at those numbers kind of with some a little adjustments here there you're 72,000 or at a 3% down payment you're pretty close to kind of being within that Workforce housing definition on the upper end but given interest rates where they are we think you know this is still somewhat affordable uh even though the the costs are really high right now so just a little additional background uh that that I thought may be helpful thank you thank you commission any questions I've got a comment okay Shel I got to tell you um no no stay back there I'm just going to tell you I appreciate your effort that was good and and I followed everything you said I'm not sure if your audience did but what you were trying to tell me is this project that you're proposing potentially could have some affordable Workforce housing that's what I think I glean from what you said at this stage again know it's early but that that's all I just I thank you I thank you for your homework and um I'm not used to that so I do appre I do appreciate you listening to what we said and coming back with some with some comments so Bravo thank you only been about 15 20 more minutes if I done the presentation well we appreciate that is there anyone else Mr Mayor I think that uh that's uh it was good to hear that that that uh there is some effort toward uh Workforce housing we know that uh currently our area is uh experiencing some challenges for a lot of people trying to afford uh just basic housing in Winter Haven and I think uh commissioner was speaking to that that uh we are making an effort to try do our best to make that available as much as possible I am certainly appreciative of the Florence uh Place Apartments that will be opening uh very soon uh actually near the church where I serve and uh I'm hoping that we will continue to move in that uh in that way as relates to uh uh housing that is uh available and affordable for many of our residents who are currently here we know a lot of people are relocating to this area and that's great we're you know certainly happy to see the expansion and the growth but also we're concerned about the people who are here and would like to find a decent place to live thank you I will now close the public hearing reopen the city commission meeting are there any other comments all those in favor of the motion let it be known by saying I I I poses by the same sign ordinance 02410 would you read by title ordinance to the attorney thank you Mr Mayor ordinance number 0- 24-10 an ordinance amending chapter 21 of the code of ordinances of the city of wi Haven Florida by assigning multif family residential-low density R-3 zoning District to an Annex parcel repealing all ordinances in Conflict here with providing for the administrative correction of screeners Errors providing for severability and providing an effective date General location at parcel generaly located Southwest of the intersection of old Bart Lake Wales Road and Waters Road the area covered by this request is 19.2 n plus or minus Acres thank you thank you city manager mayor commissioner ordinance 02 24-10 is a companion ordinance to 2409 this one deals specifically with the residential low density R3 zoning District request staff has no comments other than recommending approval on second and final reading thank you Commissioners Mr Mayor yes a motion to approve 0 2410 public hearing thank you I will now close the city commission meeting and open the public hearing anyone wishing to speak to this audience 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 you know by saying I I opposes by the same sign all right 9 C 02 2413 would you read by title on the City attorney thank you Mr Mayor ordinance number 0- 24-13 ordance amending chapter 21 article Roman numeral 2 Division 5 Section 21- 97 and chapter 21 article Roman numeral 2 Division 2 table 21- 32A for the purpose of addressing pharmacies and medical marijuana dispens in facilities in the mixed use MX zoning District amending chapter 21 article Roman numeral 2 Division 2 table 21-32 a for the purpose of addressing medical clinics amending chapter 21 article Roman nural 9 section 21- 531 for the purpose of amending and adding definitions related to medical offices and medical clinics providing for the administrative correction of sc's errors repealing all ordinances in Conflict here with providing severability providing for codification and providing an effective date thank you thank you city manager mayor Commissioners I'm going to ask Eric Labby our director of economic investment and Community Economic Opportunity Community investment to present this at a very high level yes sir mayor Commissioners um this ordinance has to do with pharmacies within the MX zoning district and by state law therefore also um medical marijuana dispensing facilities um currently they are not allowed in the MX zoning District so um we did notice that there are um two large medical clinics within uh X zoning districts within the City of Winter Haven um so this ordinance would allow for pharmacies and therefore medical marijuana clinics um also by state law um within the MX zoning District only by accessory special use so they have to be accessory to a medical clinic as defined by the code and subject to special use approval at the Planning Commission level staff does recommend approval thank you Commissioners Mr Mayor yes approve motion to approve o 243 all right thank you I will now close the city commission meeting open the public hearing and there's a Ashley scalan that want to speak to this item state your name and address for the record please did I get your name right it was so close Mayor Ashley scanland uh representing Bond Clinic at 500 East Central Avenue uh here in Winter Haven uh we had the opportunity to speak to you guys um at length at the last Commission meeting so we just want to make ourselves available if there were any further questions okay thank you anyone else I'll close the uh public hearing reopen the city commission meeting is there any discussion all those in favor of the motion let it be known by saying I I oppos by the same sign hearing none motion passes I get one one point of I was going to ask just I mean I'm an I but but as well but just one point of clarification so the applicant they we have to throw marijuana dispensary dispensary in there because of state law but this applicant doesn't intend on utilizing their Pharmacy for marijuana purposes the school Rule still trumps all right so if there is a school within X number of yards then that rule still supersedes and would would then deny that entity from moving forward right yes sir absolutely thought so I just wanted to make sure I clarified that so thank you all right and you did said you you voted for right yeah all right you're just too quick for me Commissioners you have the consent agenda can I entertain a motion Mr Mayor yes motion to approve the consent agenda as a whole thank you I will now close the city commission meeting open the public Workshop anyone wishing to speak to the consent agenda may do so at this time seeing n close the uh public Workshop open the city commission meeting in discussion all those in favor let it be known by saying I I opposes by the same time hearing none the consent agenda is adopted resolution R2 2418 would you read about tile the city uh attorney thank you Mr Mayor resolution r-2 4-8 a resolution of the city Commission of the city of M Haven Florida renaming Rialto Road located in the Villar phase 4 subdivision as recorded in PL 190 Pages 16- 21 Villar Phase 5 subdivision as recorded in PL 194 Pages 46 through 51 and Villar Phase 6 is recorded in plat book 203 Pages 7-1 17 of the public records of Pope County Florida to Cunningham Road making findings providing for severability repeal of conflicting resolutions and unaffected date thank you thank you thank you city manager mayor and Commissioners Eric Labby will present this item for your consideration this evening thank you yes sir Rialto Road was platted and named as part of the vamar phase four five and six subdivisions and uh as City attorney mentioned functions as the north south uh extension of current east west running Cunningham Road Rialto roads Northern Terminus is the new Thompson Nursery Road um realignment as no building Lots access Rialto Road no exist or future Residential Properties will be impacted by this request uh once this resolution is approved by the city commission the P County e911 uh addressing office will notify affected emergency response agencies and other government agencies and the affected property owner which is the only property owner is the vamar CDD um there is no Financial impact as a result of this request and staff does recommend City commission approve resolution R 2418 thank you commissioners a quick question yes Eric is this being request by the developer or by staff I Villar CDD okay Mr Mayor yes motion to approve resolution r- 24-18 thank you I will now close the city the commission meeting open the public hearing anyone wishing to speak to this resolution may do so at this time see none I'll close the public hearing we open the city commission meeting any discussion all those in favor let it be known by saying I I oppose by the same sign hearing none it's adopted R 2419 which read by title only uh City attorney thank you Mr Mayor resolution r- 24-19 a resolution of the city commissioner of the city wi from Florida appointing a member to the affordable housing advisory committee affirming the term of the member of the affordable housing advisory committee n prunk to January 1 2024 in providing for severability repeal of conflicting resolutions for the administrative correction of governor aors and providing for an effective date thank you thank you city manager May commissioner is Eric Labby will present this item for your consideration yes sir the Winter Haven City commission appoints members of the affordable housing advisory committee the afford affordable housing advisory committee convened a quum of members on March 18th 2024 and unanimously recommended Andy aanta to serve on the affordable housing advisory committee he is an associate vice president State College he will be representing um he's a citizen representing essential Services personnel as defined in the local housing assistance plan there is no direct Financial impact with this request and staff recommends that the city commission approve resolution R 2419 appointing Mr aanta to the affordable housing advisory committee um for a term commencing January 1 2024 and expiring December 31st 2025 thank you thank you Commissioners Mr Mayor motion approve resolution r- 24-19 all right thank you I will now close the city commission meeting open the public hearing anyone wishing to speak to this resolution may do so at this time seeing none close the public hearing we open the city commission meeting is there any discussion all those in favor of the motion Let It Be knowned by saying I I opposes by the same sign motion carries resolution R 242 would you read by tyone City attorney thank you Mr Mayor resolution r- 24-20 a resolution of the city Commission of the city W here from Florida authorizing participation and litigation seeking a declaration that the provisions of section 112.1 441d Florida Statutes that require Municipal elected officials to file form six Financial disclosure forms is unconstitutional and invalid providing for the incorporation of recital providing for the administrative correction of sc's Errors providing for conflicts providing for severability and providing for an effective date thank you thank you Mr Mayor oh go city manager sorry Mr Mayor and Commissioners um we had a a lengthy discussion on this on Wednesday however for the benefit of all I'll ask uh City Attorney John Murphy to provide an overview for you this evening thank you city manager and as um as the city manager noted you all had a consensus to instruct uh that this resolution be prepared and placed on the agenda for tonight's consideration uh in 2023 the Florida legislature adopted Senate Bill 774 which requires elected Municipal officials and candidates to file a form six Financial disclosure instead of the form One Financial disclosure which was previously required the form six disclosure is a much more intrusive and detailed disclosure requiring specific values of assets and interests be disclosed instead of just their existence following adoption of the requirement over 100 elected officials across the state resigned in protest in mid-February of 2024 the Weiss serota healthman Co in Burman PL Law Firm filed lawsuits on behalf of various cities and elected officials in state court and in the federal court challenging the law and seeking injunctive and declaratory relief that the subject law is unconstitutional resolution r420 sets forth various findings and would authorize the retention of the firm of Weiss soda regarding this matter and authorized the city and its elected officials to participate in the pending actions as parties the law firm likely would need to seek an amendment of the complaint to accomplish this objective I spoke to Mr Jamie Cole the principal attorney with Weiss serota this afternoon who's handling these litig litigation matters as I mentioned at the workshop meeting there are two lawsuits one's pending in the state court up at the uh Second Judicial Circuit in Leon County Tallahassee the other is pending in the southern district of Florida middle uh down in Miami federal court Mr Weiss uh or the what Mr Cole uh indicated to me that there are currently uh 43 cities that have joined as plaintiffs in that those lawsuits and there are approximately 148 individual elected officials who have participated Mr Cole indicated that they just recently amended the complaints on Friday March 22nd but uh that they would also be amending sometime again in mid to late April of this year here and that that he reminded me to to tell you that they are asking for injunctive relief in the federal court system first and um that would be something that if the city were inclined to participate in this litigation the individual Commissioners would need to sign the forms that are provided as part of the agenda to consent to your individual as commissioner capacities um that Mr Cole indicated that that uh if that were to be happening tonight that there would be um enough time for them to include you and the City of Winter Haven in the amendment that they would be processing in either mid to late April of this year certainly before the injunctive relief um would go uh be requested what what happens is they would ask the federal court for an injunction the federal court has to uh confer or allow for a hearing to be held on that those are matters that are argued mainly on legal bases in terms of the standards of review uh and the the gist of the argument is that the uh the filing of requirement of filing form six which this new law requires is uh constitutionally uh invalid because it's an abridgment of the right freedom of speech uh and that it is not the least restrictive means that the legislature could have adopted in order to accomplish the goals that they articulated and they've also alleged in the complaint and the matter setting seeking an injunction that there was no evidence or or other empirical data that was presented at the end of the legislative proceedings that would have supported the the finding that this was the least restrictive means within which to accomplish the governmental objective so this is before you tonight the U to participate in the litigation the law firm of Weiss serota would require the payment of $10,000 that's the requirement that they are requiring for all municipalities the fee would enabled the city as the city to join the the group of plaintiff municipalities as well as the city's individual elected officials to participate in the group of plaintiffs as I mentioned you would need to execute the separate consents in order to participate in the federal lawsuit and the state lawsuit uh the city commission will consider resolution r 2420 which authorizes the retention of the Weiss serota firm and approves joining the state and federal lawsuits against the form six requirement for elected officials I I don't give you any um recommendation on this one way or the other this is an entirely decision up to you all um cannot give any kind of um uh guarantee or any kind of um even uh suggestion of whether they will have uh whether they will prevail or not um I will say if you're not a party to litigation and they were to Prevail it would only impact those parties or those cities that were members of the litigation um and so it's not a class action lawsuit as such um and of course the the other aspect is that it would um you know it's up to the courts ultimately to decide how they would make a decision in this matter so we had a pretty robust discussion of this at our agenda review session and certainly we'll try to answer any questions if there are any thank you Mr Mayor all right thank you Mr Mayor all right yes motion to approve r420 ordinance resolution r420 all right thank you I will now close the city commission meeting open the public hearing anyone wishing to speak to R 2420 may do so at this time seeing none I will close the public hearing we open the city commission meeting is there any discussion I'll I'll Echo kind of my comments from Wednesday you know I do think that form 6 is is invasive I think that a lot of information that form 6 requests is not um relevant to to what we do up here on a on a municipal commission but at the same time I just I struggle with sending 10, 000 bucks to a law firm in Miami um and you know it it's unfortunate that we're even at this stage but um you that's that's what I struggle with I don't like the form any more than anybody else does but kind of part of the deal at this point Unfortunately they changed the rules Midway through the game anyone else I'll say um one of the things you know it wasn't so much it isn't so much it isn't oh okay it isn't so much the form as it is the process that they did they gave no no time to uh prepare for any of this um so that's just my and a lot of times it's um like they pass it and then there's no recourse there's no time there's no anything so that's my that was my concern we like to I like to be informed of things and have time to prepare it's just me so well youall know how I feel about it I won't say much more about it but I will say that um if you're after I'm long off this commission and if you're a CPA and somebody pays you more than $1,000 to prepare their tax return you're going to have to disclose that name if you're up here on this dis or if you're an attorney and you send you somebody more than $1,000 to provide legal services and you're up here on this di you're going to have to disclose that name to me it's an overreach and we have to we have to send a message that they just can't do this anymore we've got to sooner or later we've got to start taking home rule seriously and this is home rule 101 so that's why I made the motion that's why I want to vote for it so anyone else all those in favor of the motion let be known him by saying I I I opposes I I Mr Mr may can we do I mean city clerk do you have a sufficient tally for the vote 32 pardon me who was who were the two that I heard Yates and I oppos okay so the record reflects that mayor uh mayor Birdsong and mayor protm Yates voted no and uh Commissioners dollison Mercer and Daner voted yes is that accurate No thank you just for the record was clear okay all right moving on to a is our first reading the second reading will be uh on April the 8th ordinance 02415 would you read by title only uh City attorney thank you Mr Mayor ordinance number 0-24 D15 in ordance extending the corporate limits of the city of wi Haven Florida so as to include therein additional territory lying contiguous and adjacent to the present boundaries of the City of Winter Haven Florida describing such additional territory repealing all ordinances in Conflict here with providing for the administrative correction of scers erors 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 s manager May Commissioners Eric Labby will present 2415 2416 2417 those are your first three uh under first readings thank you yes sir mayor commissioner smart smart Ridge Park LLC is a petitioner they're requesting the city commission to Annex one parcel that totals 56.74 Acres the petitioner is seeking annexation for the purpose of developing the subject parcel it is contiguous to the city uh to the north west and south uh the annexation of this parcel will not create an encl enclave its current taxable value is68 68,9 additional revenue is expected upon development of the property this is a voluntary petition for annexation staff does recommend City commission approve ordinance 02415 thank you second reading as I said will be on April the 8th however I will allow anyone that would like to speak to this ordinance to do so tonight all right seeing on ordinance 0 2416 would you read about title Lo the City attorney thank you Mr Mayor ordinance number 0- 24-16 an ordinance amending chapter 21 of the code of ordinances of the city of w from 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 sc's Errors providing for severability and providing an effective date General location the woodpoint phasee 1 and Phase 2 subdivisions generally 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 city manager Mr lab you will present thank Commissioners ordinance 0 2416 is an administrative request to rezone 115 Parcels from single family residential small lot R2 to single family residential large lot R1 zoning District this is commonly known as woodpoint Phase 1 and two subdivisions um the the basic request here is that these several years ago in the R2 and R3 zoning District we established maximum setbacks in the R2 zoning District which is currently on the property that maximum setback is 20 feet these homes were developed before those regulations were put in place um and the homes are set back at 25 ft um or greater a rezoning to the R1 uh large lot zoning District would allow future homes on vacant lots to be set back at similar setbacks to the homes that are already constructed within the subdivision staff does recommend approval all right as I said there will be a second reading on April the 8th however if anyone would like to speak to this you can do so at this time Mr May if you would actually close this uh commission meeting and open a public hearing this is one of those ordinances requires two public hearings so okay we now close the city commission meeting open the public hearing anyone from the public wishing to speak can do so at this time seeing none close the public hearing reopen the city commission meeting we will have uh second reading on April 8th ask a quick question yes just those seven eight lots that were to the north those are I assume are already R1 because those were added to the development after yep those were uh Zone R1 uh not too long ago actually yeah originally ended like there was an original little circle there and now they pushed through that now okay all right 02 2417 would you read about tile on the City attorney thank you Mr May ordinance number 0-2 24-17 an ordinance amending chapter 21 of the code of ordinances of the city of win Haven Florida by resoning 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 sceners areas providing for severability and providing an effective date the general location of the Cypresswood Palace subdivision generally located west of Palace Road approximately 400 ft west of Sand Hill Lane the area covered by this request is 24.4 plus or minus Acres thank you thank you Mr lbby yes sir again mayor Commissioners this is an administrative request to rezone 41 Parcels uh in a portion of another parcel from single family residential small lot R2 zoning District to single family residential large lot R1 uh in the subdivision commonly known as Cypresswood palmaia subdivision again it is the same situation as the case that we had just heard previously uh the Lots in this particular subdivision that the existing homes were developed prior to us establishing a maximum setback within the R2 zoning District um rezoning to R1 would allow the future homes on the vacant lots to be set set back at similar setbacks to the existing homes within the subdivision and again staff does recommend approval okay thank you I will close the city commission meeting open the public hearing anyone wishing to speak to this audience may do so at this time close the public hearing we open the city commission meeting we will have the second reading on April 8th ordinance 02421 will be read by title on to the attorney thank you Mr Mayor ordinance number 0-2 24-21 and ordinance of the City of Winter Haven Florida amending ordinance number 0- 23-54 regarding appropriation of funds for defraying expenses of the municipal government of the City of Winter Haven for the fiscal year commencing October 1 2023 providing for severability and providing for an effective date thank you thank you Mr Labby actually city manager U we don't let Mr Labby handle too much with finances so we're going to ask our CFO Scott to which is a budget that was a good one so uh we just finished our fiscal year 2023 with the general fund reflecting a surplus where revenues ex exceeded expenditures of 4,3 2016, 1976 this increased the fund balance to 26,5 54 263 um the city's fiscal policy requires a minimum of of 177% of the general funds operating expenditures to be retained in the unassigned fund balance any unassigned fund balance in excess of 30% may be transferred to the construction fund to defay costs and cover contingencies as recommended by the city manager and approved by the city commission the 30% unassigned fund balance is 21,1 168 244 providing a total surplus of 5 million 386 19 uh it is recommended that this balance be transferred to the two 2021 construction fund with 1, 6642 dedicated to Lake conine Project as construction costs have exceeded appropriated funds and staff recommends approval of the ordinance Commissioners we had a a good discussion on this the other evening as well um again is uh CFO has pointed out this is uh budget surplus in excess of the 30% goal that was set and transferring that into the Gen into the construction fund offset some costs there the initial project which we had discussed for uh quite some time now is the the completion of Lake conine Nature Park and with the recreation elements uh following that there will uh be a request to apply some of those funds to the Future development of fire station number five on Lake harridge okay thank you I will close the city Commission meeting open public hearing anyone wishing to speak to this audence may do so at this time close the public hearing we open the city commission meeting we will have a second reading on April 8th new business item 13A city manager mayor and Commissioners I'm going to go through this presentation again from Wednesday um just to reiterate the significant points of it since 2004 uh our calculations as far as what the city has contributed to the historic Ritz Theater from the city have totaled over $515,000 dating back into the 1990s there were other contributions that were made to the historic Ritz Theater and the Ritz 100 for certain Capital campaigns to restore that building and fiscal years 22 23 and 24 the city's contribution was paid from both the general fund and the downtown CRA fund and totaled $80,000 for each of those three years combined between the the two funds earlier this year in January representatives of the historic Ritz Theater board of directors met with myself to discuss the future of the Ritz despite the contributions of the city and others and the the noble efforts the current programming of the facility um with the Ritz uh it just isn't sufficient and the the Ritz is in a a dire financial position with respect to maintaining its operations as well as meeting its uh forthcoming mortgage obligations in light of that situation the board Representatives inquired as to any willingness or interest from the city in permanently acquiring the facility and assuming the ongoing operation hence the presentation of this issue uh for the commission to give consideration to so I had done uh quite a bit of research into the financial condition of the rits and um the board was very forthcoming as was their accounting firm and providing their statements of activities and their cash flows keeping in mind that this information was gleaned in February in January of this year so there may be more updated information since the writing of this but for the operational year ending December 31st of 23 the Ritz had revenues totaling just over 241,000 and expens is totaling just over 302,000 which resulted in an operational loss of just over 61,000 there is a current mortgage for the building that is held by Citizens Bank and Trust that has a maturity date of August 1st 2024 so just about 6 months away from us five months away the current outstanding principle on that mortgage as of the 1 of February of this year was uh just shy of $497,000 in reviewing the past three months of operation particularly November of 23 through January of 24 the average monthly expense to staff and operate the facility was approximately $21,000 per month revenues during that same period were Min minimal being direct revenues with the uh the highest month being November which was uh just over $6,800 inclusive of events rentals and contributions keep in mind that the city makes that contribution to the Ritz they also get funds that come to them and that kind of offsets their spending month over month and then they supplement that with the rental uh rates that they receive as well as program Direct revenues the um total revenues in January of this year were negative due to the direct cost Associated of the events being held which were greater than the actual revenues received from those events so looking at the building in general I had assigned staff from our City's uh facility maintenance division as well as our general contractor that we have under continuing contract to conduct a walk through of the building in late February in general that building is just shot of 100 years old and it is in relatively good repair that team did note some minor cosmetic Plumbing electrical and structural items that could be addressed over a few years nothing that was an eminent oh gosh we've got to do this right now before we can do anything the staff that inspected the building suggested a total budget towards General uh maintenance minor repairs of $100,000 spread over a two-year period to address those items they did however identified two uh larger long-term needs which include the replacement of a membrane roof and the three uh existing 30ton air conditioning units uh giv given the condition of that roof replacement would need to occur within the next 3 to 5 years it is a membrane roof and you cannot put more than than two membranes on there so the expectation is that that roof will have to be torn down to the original uh decking there and then a new membrane put on you can't just apply it to what's already there um because of the disruption associated with that roof in in in consideration of the age of the current air conditioning units it's advisable to do both the air conditioning and roof projects at the same time that would minimize disruption uh to ongoing programs and events making you know you want to make sure the building can be used as much as possible but also minimize the impacts to the adjacent downtown businesses current estimate for the work on the roof and air conditioning is $495,000 300,000 for the roof and approximately $65,000 for each of the air conditioning units operationally the rich is a very unique building uh requires highly specialized programming and has very uh specialized operational needs as well it's not something city staff have extra expertise in nor does the city presently have the bandwidth to effectively take on such responsibilities so and and just you know kind of thinking how would you even handle the operation of this if the if the commission were favorable to engaging in this uh I had reached out to theater Winter Haven uh staff which presently provides similar services at the city's Chain of Lakes Park you may recall that prior to the onset of the covid-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020 theater Winter Haven had a assisted with programming at the Ritz for a period of time that ended when obviously everything went dark in in March of 2020 and when the uh theater reopened they focused their attention primarily at chain Lakes Park so as mentioned I did reach out to Dan chzn I see that Mr chzn is with us here this evening um to discuss theater winter Haven's bandwidth and potential interest in programming the rits uh in the event the city were the owner and operator of the rits and subject to approval by his board of directors theater Winter Haven would be willing to program them and manage the space similar to their programming and management of the theatrical spaces at Chain of Lakes Park again the city owns that building um provides for the insurance of the space as well as the operational occupancy cost for utilities but the operation of the programming the costs associated with that all falls back to theater Winter Haven um in this scenario they would uh they would be responsible for the scheduling procuring marketing ticketing and delivery of all activities within the space and likewise all expenses associated with these activities would be the responsibility of theater Winter Haven in exchange for them receiving the direct revenues associated with those events so it's pay for the programs to go in but receive the revenues to offset those costs preliminary menu of events and programs could include things such as tribute concerts game nights um which would be like Community Gatherings as well as the recreation on stage of historic live TV games variety shows tied to the Vaudeville history of the Ritz themed public dances weekday brunch Productions watch parties for major sporting events and award programs and professional professional Productions and traveling shows use of the space for nonprofit events that lend themselves to a theater environment could also be accommodated those might include some of the city functions such as the state of the city uh the Symphony Guild events and concerts fundraisers for local uh nonprofits such as what the public education partnership used to do as well as Chamber of Commerce presentations in similar functions guiding goal of any programming at the RIT is to is to maximize the activation and exposure of the facility while creating an ancillary economic benefit for the downtown and the surrounding Community programming decisions would have to contemplate the days time audiences competing events and program format and titles that will yield the greatest return on investment for the RIT and for downtown from a financial side and considering the impact for the city to acquire the Ritz three key expenses need to be considered first is the immediate one-time Capital as I mentioned there's a present mortgage with Citizens Bank and Trust that matures in August of 2024 and has a current outstanding Principle as of February 1st of Jia 49 $7,000 if the city were to acquire the physical building and land this mortgage would need to be paid off immediately at the closing of the um fiscal year 23 books as you just heard from our CFO our fund balance uh in my fact sheet I note 37% it's actually 38% is what the fund balance is so those additional fund balance um to the additional fund balance to be transferred back into the construction fund for contingency is approximately 5.1 million a portion of those funds could be utilized to satisfy the mortgage obligation of the Ritz if the city acquired uh the building in land the ongoing operations of the building again if the city were to acquire it would need we would need to contract with a third party to program and manage the space most appropriate party to engage for those Services would be theater Winter Haven under such Arrangement they would be responsible for the direct expenses of the program and would take receipt of program related direct revenues City would be responsible for maintaining the building Insurance General Repair and utilities annual expenses for water sewer electric and garbage are currently estimated at $224,000 annually the annual Insurance uh specific to the building replacement value and current and uh content value is estimated at just shy of $177,000 in reviewing the building inspection from City facility maintenance staff it was estimated that approximately 50,000 would need to be set aside for each of the first two years to address items noted in that report uh I will note that the city has made an annual contribution to the Ritz of $80,000 for each of the past several years obviously if the city were to take ownership of the facility the grant n contribution would no longer be necessary and said funds could be retained and specifically appropriated to help with the ongoing expenses and routine maintenance the long-term maintenance is a is a bigger item as I mentioned the roof and the air conditioning uh to be addressed within the next five uh 3 to five years uh hopefully more so on the on the fiveyear window um current estimated cost for that at uh for the air conditioning units at 195,000 total for the three and 300,000 for the roof it is there is potential um and this has to be further explored but the as I mentioned during our Workshop the P County tourist Development Council has a uh separate appropriation tied that they uh assign funds out to arts and culture events some of that goes towards programming in in the form of Grants some of it goes towards Capital Improvements so there is potential for the city to pursue Capital funding via the TDC um that that still has some vetting to to take place there would also be the potential for uh whatever state grants may be used to offset some costs there my conclusion is that fully activating the space can have a direct economic benefit to other downtown businesses by creating an arts and culture destination that results in residual and ancillary spending at restaurants bars and Retail establishments by the same token an inactivated space of this nature could negatively impact those same businesses as a result of losing the same customers who may not otherwise seek to visit downtown that may not be a destination that they have otherwise than to per but foro to attend an event there um decision to buy the Ritz or or leave it on the open market is ultimately a matter of risk and reward if the city were to acquire the building it gains an asset of value but would incur a significant direct expense associated with the mortgage annual operations and long-term maintenance that's estimated to or forecast to be approximately $1.29 million over 5-year period the only direct Financial offset to this is the elimination of the current Grant and a funding approved uh provided to the Ritz which would total $400,000 over that same five years um acquiring the RIT does provide the city control as well as responsibility that's the the sidebar with it for the activation of the space uh while the city doesn't presently have the expertise or available bandwidth for that responsibility it does have a willing partner uh in the theater in theater Winter Haven which is appropriately suited to develop a program that could e could enhance the economic benefit to the downtown overall if the city were to decline the acquisition of the Ritz and if the board of directors were not able to fulfill its Financial Obligations to the morger the uh facility could go dark bank would likely foreclose on the mortgage and either via judicial sale and a foreclosure action or a sale on the open market it would be reasonable reasonable to believe that the facility would be sold incident to a satisfaction of the bank's lean on the property under this scenario the building would have no economic benefit to the downtown while dark and any potential future benefit would depend on the property being acquired by an outside party and any subsequent use thereafter um under that scenario City would uh the city would be eliminating any ongoing financial support for the facility again a conceivable saving saing of $80,000 per year as well as any direct capital or operational expenses um so we had a a very lengthy discussion on this the other evening um want to thank Tom Westbury I see that he's here again this evening members of his board uh that met with me in in January or here that certainly have more expertise and insights on this than I I see we have Representatives also from theater Winter Haven who were engaged in the conversation Wednesday evening as well uh so I don't have a recommendation for the commission I present this for informational purposes requesting um direction from the from the commission as to how you would like to proceed uh in responding to the inquiry that would came from the uh the Ritz Theater yeah the Ritz Theater board of directors I will say that ultimately what happens with that facility is not up to this commission it's just are you willing to entertain taking on that that is is a potential pathway ultimately the decision of what to do comes down to the board of directors of the uh Ritz Theater yes and we had talked about uh the Ritz is a 501c3 and the sale the assets supposed to I don't know how that would work I I think that that's some of the what has to to shake out in the in the details of a transaction what that would look like um whatever you know assets there are Financial assets uh if that could be um provided to the city whatever is there is a city also is a nonprofit not in a 501c3 status but that's something that um needs to be explored far further and the uh the value of the you know whatever Financial reserves there are um has to be factored in well Mr Mayor as was mentioned Wednesday at your Workshop agenda review the very threshold question that needs to be answered assuming that you all are in you know consensus to move forward in in a in that direction would be whether or not the um and it Bears on the 501c3 issue the Articles of Incorporation the bylaws and the rules and regulations whether they would permit a a a transfer of ownership of whatever assets may be under their control so that would have to be looked at I understand um that Mark Turner is the attorney who represents the Ritz Theater board and certainly he and I could would in conjunction with City staff we could analyze that if that was the direction that um you know commission wants to take but those are matters that would need to be looked at you know right up front and make sure that we could see a pathway forward um as it relates to that part of the transaction the rest for it as city manager not is in the details one thing I I do want to point out um and I failed to mention this before uh I started my com my presentation Mr Mayor um commissioner or mayor protm Yates will need to uh abstain or not participate in this discussion or vote as he is an employee of uh Citizens Bank and Trust which holds the mortgage so as a conflict of interest he'll need to uh not engage in the discuss or in the vote and would need to file the form8 I think the city clerk probably has that form available for him not knowing what what action may or may not be entertained tonight we just put that out there um t two questions have you had any discussions with any of the parties since our um Lively discussion Wednesday night no sir and what you're looking for tonight is for us to vote on whether to even entertain having this we're not looking for anything other than just to try to have a meeting of the minds that's what we're really looking for tonight yeah I think if if the commission says we're we're interested in this I think the the direction well I think what that sends a message to the board of directors is okay is that the path you want to go or is there some other you know magic scenario to to to make this all work as it is and if um if it is there their desire to to pursue that is the the viable solution then myself uh my senior staff and in working in concert with City attorney would be to craft that Arrangement those those transfer documents that all those pieces that come with that and bring that back to the city commission for final action and if memory serves both of the chief executives are here have said it has to go to their board still yet which not they've not done so what we would be voting on tonight is just to further have discussions and then we finally come to some sort of meeting of the minds then we'll actually have something to vote on up or down but tonight we're talking about just voting on The Next Step yes okay yeah I think the best way to say it is um do we want to engage in the in the dance per se to bring something back or do we just want to sit out okay all right thank you um before we have a vote there three people in the audience we need a motion no I'm saying before we do the motion oh okay I'm going to allow the people in the audience to speak so the first person is demetric Phillips state your name and address for the record demetric Phillips 328 Country Walk Club Circle uh Winter Haven Florida 33881 right on well hey so I'm demetric Phillips a local Pastor here um and we currently uh rent out rent the theater at Ritz and uh my family and I moved here from Hawaii three years ago because we love Winter Haven so much you know I mean so we left Paradise to come to another paradise right yeah good save good save D yeah but um uh we we one want to say thank you to the city and and to your leadership and then to those the board members at the RIT um just for the opportunity uh we planted the church two years two and a half years ago and uh we just want to say thank you for them for allowing us to rent out that space on Sunday morning as a pay intended and um it's been great it's been a great partnership with us helping them set up helping with volunteering with uh setup and events and all that type stuff and um we're a new church in the area but it's some amazing things happened in these last two years um where we've been able to reach uh well over 600 or so people and over average of 200 people weekly coming to our services um on a Sunday morning in the RIT um that we're renting out and we're not only just providing a service um where people can express their faith we're also reaching our community um through programs where we bring in Youth and we bring in adults and we've been training them in areas of financial literacy um and different Technologies dealing with AV uh Audio Visual and uh just other stem type stuff that we're communicating that is not just a Sunday morning but we thank the Ritz for the ability to also do things um throughout the week um and then one of my main things is just all I ask is in this decision that's being made um is that we have time to find a place to meet because I understand I you know we support whatever decision you make because we love our city and we love what's going to happen with the rich um you mentioned theater wi Haven they do great work and we're excited about that we're we're all for what's whatever's going to make our city uh better but in that I just ask that you would give us time um to find a place cuz it's kind of hard to move several hundred people at the drop of a dime into uh a facility here in Winter Haven um but we do thank you guys for the opportunity and we look forward to whatever decision you make and uh yeah that's it all right thank you Jess scubba state your name and address for the record and you have five minutes good evening my name is Jesse SCA 1183 Street Southwest Winter Haven 33880 you have to excuse me I'm not too prepared for tonight because I was kind of caught off guard by this agenda item I want to say that I fully support the city purchasing the rits I think that it would be it could be a great asset for the city and I believe that it would be good for you to kind of have a little more control over what does happen in there however when it comes to the operations I do think the theater of Winter Haven could do a great job however I do believe an RFP for the operations might be a little more appropriate since you are talking about a lot of tax money going into it and you never know you might get a proposal that um that could benefit the city and rather than it being a liability financially it could be an asset that could bring in some some money for the city so I just I just think that there should be a little more discussion on that part and perhaps the the theater would be the best option but we won't know that unless you put that RFP out there and allow other people to put in a proposal so I thank you for your time and consideration thank you ter Kristen state your name and address for the record and you have five minutes good evening everyone Terry Christian 11:53 West Lake Hamilton Drive Winter Haven Florida I am here to speak on behalf of Bridge Church and the great work that they do within the City of Winter Haven um specifically in my former role as principal of Dennis and middle school I met Pastor Phillips a couple years ago where he came and through Bridge Church they provided financial support for our Scholars as well as our teachers um and he currently comes weekly and mentors five male youth there at Dennison middle school so I believe with Bridge Church being located where is at the rich theater they do a lot of great work Pastor Phillips has shared his vision to be Central in Winter Haven to continue to serve the youth as well as the adults of Winter Haven thank you thank you okay that's everyone Commissioners Mr Mayor yes motion to approve uh further discussions with uh City staff and the boards from the theater Winter Haven and the britz theater board to see if there's might be some common ground we can meet and potentially explore the possibility of the city owning that building okay in the future all right all right I we will close the city commission meeting and open the public hearing is there anyone from the public public that would like to speak to this item you can do so at this time St your name and address for the record you have five minutes hello my name is Dakota Richardson 2356 Street Northwest unit 109 33881 um I do apologize for my lack of preparation I had to type out my message but I want to thank you all so much for being here and having your patience to hear our hearts um my husband and I have been attending Bridge Church Faithfully since July 24 of 2022 after God had continuously nudged me in many ways through many people that this might just become my new church home after a long year of church hopping as it is called since the moment of walking through the very unique entryway of an old historical movie theater with the idea of calling this church this a church right away I knew that the Ritz Movie Theater would be a Cornerstone for diversity and it is in the most beautiful and unique and authentic way the Ritz has provided not only beautiful unity and not through uniformity but where the heart of God can reach its City through this church I believe that the city for Bridge Church to have the opportunity of being blessed with this building I believe this city will not only be aiding the heart growth in family essence of Winter Haven but planting a seed of Faith within this city that is is bound to grow transforming not only the residents within the City of Winter Haven but all those who pass through it I hope you all will consider the interest of this decision and effect and the effect that it will have not only on the historical movie theater and all the entertaining entertain it entertainment it may or may not bring but the effects of this church plan that has not only blessed me and my walk with the Lord but has also done the same with those here being represented as Bridge Church and those to come to their faith in Jesus Christ Lord willing and by his grace of God his will be done thank you you anyone else station your name address for the record is Jacob palson and my address is 235 6 Street Northwest unit 109 um winner hav Florida 33881 um kind of an informal and personal approach I'm going to State my experience with Bridge Church I'm originally from Missouri born and raised of over two decades and I moved here uh in the summer of 2022 to the State of Florida and upon also looking for a church home I stumbled across Bridge Church and in my time and experience of Bridge Church I have been developed in my leadership skills um I have met my then girlfriend and now wife who previously spoke um and personally being very hesitant upon staying in the State of Florida and involving myself in the community too much I now am a public school teacher here in the city um at Garner Academy and my heart is here in Winter Haven and Bridge Church Pastor demetric Phillips and the rest of the members there um and just the utilization of that space has developed me as a young man um from being on the fence and representing my generation uh being hesitant to step into the workforce and make an impact on my community I now have a heart for this city and have a heart for um changing young men and young athletes um in in this area so that's my personal testimony and I just wanted to share word with that so thank you for your consideration thank you anyone else state your name and address for the record Kim Davis 354 teranova bouevard Winter Haven Florida 33884 um doc Pastor Phillips I've heard really good things about your church so thank you for your contribution to the city um so I think as a part of this we also need to make sure that we're considering how long the city would participate in owning this property um it's going to go through a lot of transitioning through the bylaws and the all of the details of unwinding this 501c3 and I think that we need to make sure that the city does not become a transition location for this property just to be sold down the road to somebody that did not want to go through the process so I think if you consider taking on this project I think you should put in a minimum amount of time that the city would be willing to own it and manage it and take care of it that's all thank you anyone else state your name and address for the rec hello everyone um my name is MIL love Desta address 900 East Bell vist Street Lakeland Florida 33805 apartment 40409 sorry um yes I am a member of Bridge Church and I've been there for some time and as um Pastor jota said stated um about the whole church popping thing I was church hopping myself and luckily I was able to to step into this place that I felt was very very different um I made the the decision to actually get baptized at this church and it um I think it's been about a year over a year that I've been baptized and ever since then I've been just reformed just based off of my walk with God and getting the just the the inform just just God given information in regards like how and how to just move forward as best you can um in in the midst of that um with this with this this church through this church I was actually um gifted um um transportation which I at the time when I was going before I was going at the church I was um ubering and also uh taking my mother's car she didn't really like that too much but we still did that um and and in the midst of getting the car I made the decision after baptizing to really um really go in pursuit of God and like what he wants me to do with my lifetime really the remainder of my lifetime um I through brid church I was um I met uh Sarah Chase and she introduced me uh to um Youth for Christ Youth for Christ is a Ministry that that actually is a part of that goes to the girl attention Center and they um speak the gospel to them and before this I never done that and so something in my heart made me go to that you know just continue just to move forward as best I can kind of bandi it until I started getting my my spine together together and like doing all the right things in there um I've been ministering there every other Sunday and in the midst of that um what is it I also got myself and my son actually moved out of my brother's home that we were at at the time to Lakeland so like I'm here I was here in the city um picking my son up and it made sense to just come through and just like see what's going on because um Bri church is doing a lot of great things and I'm you know one of the huge one of the testimonies to say that um my soul has definitely been set free from whatever it was Shackled to and I really feel like my capabilities that um I just kind of didn't so much entertain or really um push forward with um has been developed here um it hasn't been um the most easiest walk but I but I'm committed and I definitely see the commitment that they gave me in the midst of my my start there and um I just hope that you know and I thank you for all that you're doing in the city there's a lot of great things oh my God I went to the essence of a woman event um the other on one weekend and I'm telling you like I've never actually experienced the the development as I am now but there like a lot of great things so I thank you um for what you're doing seen and unseen I believe that all of us here are believers of God in some form of fashion and um I believe that you know um wherever brid is meant to be they're going to definitely continue to do the great work that they're doing and if it's there at the at the rich theater um so be it if not I'm sure they're going to get a building soon and I thank you um just for your time for hearing my ramble and I hope that you got something out of this um that bridg is doing great things and I hope you really just you know just help us out cuz we helping God out youan that's it all right thank you I'm impress that that young child stayed asleep through all that I I want you all to know though I want you all to know that the vote that we are taking here tonight is not making ineter any determination is to us really buying that it's just a pursuit of it and the board of directors of the rits I mean all of that they have to come back to us if we vote to even pursue it so I'm just telling you all y'all probably need to be talking to that that Ritz board as well I just want make sure you understand that all right okay state your name and address for the record you have five minutes good evening my name is Suma Felix and I live at 61 Temple Circle here in Winter Haven and wow now that I get up here I get the deal Okay so so let me just re I wear a lot of hats I'm a pop County Public School teacher and as I look around the room I see so many faces like Katrina my daughter went to um the monu school um my daughter is in her ninth year theater Winter Haven so I know Dan and um I really hope that as you consider down the line not tonight okay that you will remember that um I fully support theater winter even taken over that um location because they've done some amazing things I mean my daughter has like blossomed you know she has straight A but let me tell you she is well-rounded because of every year that she's gone through the winter a program and I'm sorry for being emotional but I'm also the community director at Brit's church and first of all I've never been at a church that has prayed for every Church in Winter Haven every single Sunday so it's not just about us and I love the fact that anybody is welcome you know one lady said I'm just going to say it was a white lady said to me you need to come to Bridge Church because that's what heaven looks like because we have everybody there so we welcome everybody in the city and so I just say to you that um as you think about the Winter Haven taking over hopefully there'll be some space to allow bridge to stay I mean I know Pastor D said give us time but I'm hoping that we can stay there because I feel like um we do so much in the community that the downtown is blessed community members are blessed and we want to continue to bless the community because we love it and so I thank you and down the line make that vote all right is there anyone else all right we'll close the public hearing we open the city commission meeting Commissioners we have a motion all those in favor of the motion let it be known by saying I I oppose this by the same sign hearing none you have your March in allice thank you sir and Vanessa if you would make sure that that reflects a 40 vote not a 5 vote full thank you Commissioners appreciate the dialogue all right Le on reports commissioner danler okay um had a TDC Arts meeting and um we did talk about the rits at the TDC Arts meeting and what you were referring to is Sticks and Bricks type of a grant and uh that is usually type grants that we use when we have excess money right now we don't have any excess money but we might but um I also talked to him about the $40,000 grant that was already approved for the rits uh understand these grants that TDC uh off offers are are reimbursement grants you have to spend the money to get the money and there uh we all at the TDC had confidence in Dan and his ability to maybe pull a rabbit out of the hat and save that money but we're not sure so um but it's been the TDC has been noticed that this is something that's important to Winter Haven so um they are going to consider it when it comes time if there's some sort of Sticks and Bricks type grants that we can apply for so uh that was last week also went to an fmit meeting the Florida Municipal Insurance trust and commissioner our city manager stav was talking about $17,000 for insurance on the rits the good news is insurance rates have peaked in the state and they're starting to come down for municipality so maybe we get a little bit of break on that things if we could get a better rate on all of our insurance that would do wers it's coming down at Peak last year and we're seeing we're seeing more carriers coming to the commercial market so uh had an off the clock uh event at the uh for the FSU doctors which is pretty neat down there on the First Street you know wheel core building right next to uh Max Meat um there's a whole slew of doctors down there and you can go down there and get treated they're looking for new patient so all young uh people right out of right out of mid school so um had lunch at the Martin Luther King Park with City Clerks delicious lunch took some back to my staff very good thank you Vanessa thank you and then we had an a ahck meeting and uh ah Haack meeting was very good our staff was well prepared in fact one of the comments made by one of the members with ah Haack was that I've never gotten so much information as we got today so everybody was stoked and ah Haack is now clicking on all cylinders and I'm happy to see it and uh hats off to the staff for being so prepared and having our committee fired up and moving fired up and doing their thing now so everybody's in moving in the same direction so that's it all right commissioner Mercer okay um also attended the clerk's lunching at MLK Park and it was a very good lunch uh did the ridge league in Barto um that had a Irish theme to that one um attended the governor um I guess his uh recent legislation uh legislation um at the sheriff's um office Press Room we were all crowded in there so um a lot of people had to stand I got a seat so but at the back of the very back of the room so um also attended the symphony Guild um the champagne and Shamrocks uh very very nice um also attended the FSU Residency program with Winter Haven hospital um that um uh commissioner Brad told you about and then I attended the public safety awards banquet and I just want to say that you have uh they have all my respect and it's a tough job and when you revive kids from drownings and things like that so um we certainly um support you and all that you do whether it be police Fire EMS um all of that so thank you very much s commission V well thank you mayor I uh I you know I'm sitting here with a lot of emotions tonight uh because you know when I hear uh uh people's lives being changed and transformed um you can't help but be moved by that and uh I have a pastor's heart that's what I do I've done for the past 40 years and uh listening to the great work that uh The Bridge Church is doing in our city uh is just truly amazing and uh but I could not help but uh think about uh the fact that where I serve is perhaps the oldest church in Winter Haven and uh we'll celebrate 143 years apply soon and um the significance of that is that uh the church started uh downtown near Downtown Winter Haven and only five families started the church and uh as I was listening tonight about this young ministry that's that's doing great work in our downtown area and uh young people that are being uh affected I I look at our own church and we're experiencing uh some some amazing things happening in our community and uh but I'm just so excited to hear that and to know that you know many years ago when we started our church started uh the people who came uh were former uh enslaved people and uh you know we've come a long way and to be here to sit where I'm sitting it's certainly a privilege and an honor to do so and to know that Winter Haven is a progressive place and I think that uh uh that is moving forward in a positive way and impacting uh I think this area like we've never perhaps believe it would so I'm I'm encouraged to hear that I know that bridge will be all right because I believe that the Lord certainly has his hand on that work and uh we'll hear greater things from them but uh also I I had the privilege to uh participate in several things The Ridge of League uh dinner in BTO I was uh enjoyed that fellowship and the networking of uh being a part of the ridge league and also the uh was able to go to the governor's press conference and uh I did get a seat and uh and it was quite interesting to uh experience that uh our Sheriff never never ceases to uh not entertain us in many ways uh he has a very unique way and flare of doing that uh I was able to attend the sany gild champagne and Shamrocks uh I wanted that was some amazing music I mean just beautiful you know I I was uh enjoyed every aspect of that to see the kind of culture and the wonderful things that we have in Winter Haven uh that's just so rewarding I was able to attend the uh the uh safety awards banquet uh to give recognition and and to those who who serve our city uh many serve selflessly and we thank God for them and the great work that they continue to do I was able to also attend the give well foundation toast uh in Lakeland and uh that uh give well I think many of you are aware of the foundation that's been around for a very very long time but but the work that the give well foundation does and the impact that it has um I had some idea but attending that uh toast uh certainly made my awareness even much greater uh as a ministry as a church we received some funds from givewell and if nothing else I wanted to go there and say thank you for what contribution they had made but to hear that uh in the past year was the largest contribution they have made uh ever and uh I was just impressed with that and just to know that we have that philanthropic type of spirit in this area and uh how many lives are being impacted by it is truly amazing was also able to attend the ribbon cutting uh to upgrade the um uh Dennison stadium and uh I tell you the new field is uh beautiful I mean it's it's just amazing and uh we stepped out onto the uh track the new track and uh we thought about trying to get down and get information to make a run but better judgment and older bodies told us that probably would not be a great idea uh but it was just wonderful to see that happened I had two children who graduated from Winter aen High School uh son who uh had been a class president and who also was a teacher win aen high school and so I have a lot of love for for the uh uh the Blue Devils and I have a hard time saying that uh cuz I'm my son was a football player and he had a sign and he said he put out in the front of the yard said a blue devil lives here I said well no not really not I'm not I'm going to give the devil any any justice in that regard uh but nevertheless uh we were just able to uh enjoy just just seeing that happen in Winter Haven only three the third in Poke County uh to know that we have that kind of facility that young uh athletes will come out and and be able to perform and use their athletic prowess and abilities to the best of their uh best that they can so we're excited about that so that's kind of overrun of where I've been handling things where I've been thank you have Pro well first of all I got to commend everyone that's still here cuz we never have this many in the audience at this stage of the game so this is impressive so thank you all for staying I'll try to be be brief on it on just a few items uh so I had an opportunity to um be on the Florida League of City's post legislative call um you know it it is pretty evident that those in Tallahassee um as mentioned earlier this evening really have thrown home roll out the window and there's so many things that continues to limit us up here as to what we do and the decisions that we make everything from concurrency and adjacent concurrency if you ever want to have a class on adjacent concurrency I can get our chamber president back there Sarah Beth Wyatt who's also on the school board and we will have a good little Powell because adjacent concurrency is a problem and um only the state legislature can go in and fix that so if you ever want to learn more about that call me up we'll we'll have coffee one morning but that that pet peeve of a mine if you can't tell um but you know there were a lot of items on this year's agenda that I I felt should have been on there and weren't on there and there were a lot of items that were that probably shouldn't and they passed and continuing to put forth challenges for municipalities across the state and it seems like they making these rules up for one municipality you know in one area of of Florida where they're they're causing these rule changes and you've got municipalities like Winter Haven and and others throughout P County who are doing it right um so that that's frustrating up here but we'll continue to go up there and fight and um speak the the truth and and the positiveness that is happening in Winter Haven so with that um also attended the uh um FSU residency program I like did you like saying that commissioner Dan FSU Residency program shoes tell you what they uh the garnet and gold and the torches on the seal that you know that special things but all jokes aside uh they've got it going on up there they they're graduating their second class here in June there's over 20 new uh residents that have signed up to attend the program this is when residences residents programs through throughout the nation there there's many that are falling short and not filling their their capacity and the FSU Residency program in winter Winter Haven Florida is filling their capacity so that's great news for the City of Winter Haven and the surrounding area because a lot of these residents are choosing to stay here and stay local and uh become physicians in the local area so that's a great thing um also attended the public safety awards banquet and and unfortunately and fortunately I guess you look at it both ways I hate that tragedies happen in our community but I am so thankful that we've got the First Responders that we have in Winter Haven to um come in our time of need and one of the videos that was shown you know shown a victim who was unresponsive and they just continue to work and work and work and work and and that um little boy was there the other night um because those First Responders action and their dedication to the job so thank you so much to every first responder um out there and it was a great program and I'm glad that we continue to recognize our First Responders each and every year at that event also attended the ribbon cutting at didon Stadium it was I graduated on that field um I've got a student now a student athlete who will be playing on that field next year uh when the soccer matches return back out there and I'm I'm super excited to hopefully see him graduate on that field as well as I've said before I mean lakeland's great and you know it's nice over there but it's not Winter Haven and that's where it's at so look forward to hopefully having the graduations back at at Dennison Stadium uh where they belong and uh with that that's it all right thank you well I'm going to be brief I'll tend at the uh ribbon cutting for uh the win haven field the public service awards banquet the bay care off the clock with FSU and the good thing about those doctors they say that over 80% of them are relocating to pop County so we're getting doctors attended the uh tpz uh disadvantage committee meeting um simpathy Gil and a women's prayer breakfast and that's it City attorney nothing this evening thank you mayor commission city manager couple things this evening if I could Mr Mayor um I'm going to ask uh the clerk to share with you I think there's enough copies here you know I provide you a a update every cour order um to help just kind of document and memorialize things that that happened certainly not everything that happens within the city manager's office but some items of significance so this is the my quarterly report for the first quarter of uh the calendar year 20124 so a couple things I just want to point out um that I think were very significant for Winter Haven in this period uh first being the selection of our Deputy Chief of Police I think deputy chief Vance Monroe is in the back of the room Vance if you wouldn't mind standing up so the fine people can see who you are um so we had looked high and low for a deputy chief and went through the process twice because I wasn't satisfied the first time and boy am I satisfied the second time so Vance joined our team in February has hit the ground running is having a very positive impact not just within our Workforce but within the community and working alongside our great Chief uh David Brandon um also about that same time we were looking for over the past year actually a uh assistant director for Economic Opportunity and Community investment uh with that said in late fall of 23 we interviewed Mr Cedric Cox and he ultimately joined our team on February 5th the same day as Vance so Cedric Cox I point that out because uh Cedric comes to us he he comes to us from the county is with their um housing and neighborhoods Development Division he has extensive background in ship and cdbg affordable housing and he has been just a a breath of fresh air and and bringing some new life into to those programs for us and really helping us get up to speed uh you mentioned the legislative session I think that that's a highlight for us during the last quarter um number of bills that were were targeting municipal government operations policy services and finances uh my office this year I think we worked harder than ever to try and vet out those bills and take an aggressive and assertive approach to trying to defeat those which were not good for us um Regular communication with the league of cities the our legislative Consultants as well as our local legislative uh elected officials that was that was the priority for really November December January February we had our trip to Tallahassee in February um the session is over not all the bills have been signed yet but a lot of the ones that we were very concerned with I will happily say that we helped get those defeated through communic ations through letter writing campaigns through sharing facts about the impacts of those um we're still waiting for the governor to sign off on some bills as well as on the budget I am very proud to to state that um for the first time in in my career uh this was the first year that I was recognized by the Florida League of cities as a home rule hero um so that is uh something that I just found out about within the past couple days and excited about that commissioner Yates is also one that was is being recognized ized this year by the Florida League of cities as a home roll hero that's noted on their website so I expect some communication coming forward on that um we are in the midst of our uh strategic planning Retreat one of the things we launched in February of this year was a SWAT analysis or an environmental scan so we have been Gathering data uh really for the past 15 16 months now but in February we did a very specific environmental scan calling on some of our local business partners Community Partners various disciplines of professions throughout our community to try and get some feedback on some uh some aspects of what they see in their world is those things that are going to be impactful to Winter Haven over the next 5 years I look forward to sharing that information with you uh later this week um new commissioner orientation proud to say that commissioner doson has successfully graduated uh orientation um so he has completed a rigorous uh eight session orientation uh that really helped us establish what that program needs to look like going forward so thank you for being our uh most recent guinea pig in that process and we will revamp and revise and further add to that as we look to Future elections and and potential new folks joining the uh the city commission last thing I want to point out and commissioner dancer you comment on this and that is extremely proud of of what's happening with our affordable housing advisory committee um I like you I think that this is uh probably some of the most impactful work that that group has has ever been involved in uh I do want to give a uh special word of appreciation to Eric Labby and and Cedric Cox as well as Diane dur they have you know they saw what needed to happen there Cedric certainly brings that Insight in um they have identified what their strategies need to be and how they want look at that over the next two meetings they've got their annual report done they have filled every seat available on the aack our intent is that they will utilize every incentive of the 11 incentives um to have a an action under all of those to further Advance what we're doing for affordable housing um really impressed with what's happening there I think it's getting the attention that it deserves and it needs and uh look forward to seeing how Eric and and Cedric and Diane continue to Champion that going forward the thing I'll tell you is that I believe it will be for your next city commission Workshop um Katrina hill our director of public affairs and communication Eric lbby and I need to still meet on this but we have Katrina has put together a phenomenal marketing program for our ship program uh that really gets that word out through a number of different platforms that we look forward to sharing that with you of how do we further make sure the community knows what we do in ship and what they can Avail themselves to this is unlike anything I've ever seen Winter Haven do before and I have not seen anything of this quality with any of the other cities that I'm familiar with so I look forward to sharing that with you hopefully at your next workshop and using that to further Avail uh for our our community to Avail itself of the the ship dollars that we have to go forward uh and that is the the gist of what is within this um quarterly report and I'll be happy to answer any other questions that you may have regarding ongoing operations that's all I have thank you thank you Deputy city manager I do have something this evening [Music] mayor good evening mayor and City commissioners I know it's late here I will uh try to keep it brief uh but I come before you tonight with the distinct honor of sharing a recognition recent recently bestowed on a member of a City team by the American public works Association uh the West Coast branch of the Florida chap an individual whose dedication and expertise have made a significant impact on our community and someone I consider myself fortunate to get to work with our Public Works director Britney Hart and I will ask Britney to come up while I tell you a little bit about the award the community involvement award is given to recognize a member who is actively involved in their Community either where they work or where they live this award acknowledges outstanding involvement to enhance quality of life and to be a positive role model Britney's a graduate of pulk State College holding dual bachelor in business and public administration a graduate of leadership Winter Haven leadership Hulk and the apwa emerging leaders program in addition to the way she serves the community through her various Endeavors in her personal life she put her skills to work leading transformation within the city's public works department implementing a wide variety of new technology um the work order program that where residents can submit work orders and all of the things that happened behind the scenes to actually get that done is a really great example of that um she's helped to mold leaders both more and less experience than self and constantly Works to Sol problems with creative ideas believe I once called her our process Improvement Queen within Public Works uh the impact of these Endeavors on the community is significant ensuring a timely and professional delivery of a wide variety of community services lastly she's gotten the department on track for its first accreditation review again ensuring efficient and effective services to the community and is a sh a shining example of the kind of people we want to see in public service so congratulations Mr Mayor the the way that that read was getting the committee getting the department ready for accreditation we look forward to bringing that accreditation back to this commission uh for formal presentation relatively soon uh that's one of only I believe two in the county that are accredited 11 uh maybe of 11 in the State of Florida so that is a major major accomplishment all right anything else that's it sir thank you C the clerk I do actually I cannot believe I've been here for 10 years wow time has passed by so quickly team Michael I just want to thank you for your kind words um it's been a pleasure working with you all of these years also John Murphy um and all of your phenomenal staff to Michael and uh City commissioners I am just so blessed to be here um I just want to thank you for all your support all these years all the anything I've ever w wanted to do from getting my degree going to the different conferences you've always allowed for me to do that it's helped me to grow immensely and um I don't take it for granted and um you know so every day for me is a blessing um not all clerks are this blessed and I appreciate all that you've done for me and for keeping me all these years most of all so thank you very much everyone for their support all right you have to Mother htown Heroes Brad was one last year so I picked up this thing and I was yeah emergency matter is not received for the agenda motion to ad join We join you know