120 North Essa Street, Lake Park, Georgia 31636  City Hall 229-559-7470 Fax 229-559-7499 City of] Lake Park PUBLICHEARING Minutes October 21, 2024 6:00 pm  Members Present were. MayorJena Sandlin, Mayor Pro Tem Oscar Griffith, Council Members Staff Present: City Clerk Lisa Johnson, Deputy Clerk Christian Crews, Police Chief Ed  Michelle Lane, Carl Spano and Busby Courson.  Yarbrough, Officer Isael Estrada  Mayor Jena Sandlin called the meeting to order.  Mayor Sandlini thanked everyone for coming and stated that this would bei the final ofthree Public Hearings to discuss the millage rate for this year. Because there have been a lot of changes and needs that have come to their attention, the Council has decided to take the time to review the costs associated with those things and hold these Public Hearings to allow members oft the Public to ask questions and give their input. Mayor Sandlin asked if any Member of Council wanted to say anything before the Council opened the floor for Public Comment. She stated that citizens wouldbel limited tot three minutes to speak and asked that members ofthep pablcwhohavespoken at] previous hearings please allow any new comments to come forward first. At a request from Council Member Spano spoke and stated that since the last two Hearings, the Council had taken tol heart the comments heard from the Public and had sat down with the Clerk to review budget cuts, including ai reduction in healthcare benefits for employees and several other line items. This enables him as thel Budget Officer to recommend tonightt tot the Council that theyl hold the existing millage rate of 6.219, rather than raise it to the previously proposed 6.5. What this means for residents is that an existing resident in the City whose property values have not increased would pay City property taxes in the same amount as last year. He noted that the 2023 millage rate was actually a reduction of more than a mil. For new residents in the City, the tax rate will be set to the same rate that wasi inj placel last year ati the assessed amount fori new] properties. This will: make up: most oft the money the City needs, not from existing residents. He stated that he would be glad Mayor Sandlin then announced that the floor would be opened for public comment, asking residents to please limit their comments to three minutes and to speak clearly when they state  Council Member Spano, Mayor Sandlin then led the invocation and pledge.  to answer any questions or public comments.  their name and address.  1    Gloria Luke - 201 4-H Club Rd - asked first ift the Mayor or any Council Member has the authority to fix tickets or to tell the Police to give warnings and not actual tickets. Mayor Sandlin responded that this was not a topic for tonight, and the Council is hearing comments only on tax. Mrs. Luke responded that citations pertain to revenue, and the Mayor responded that comments would bel limited toj propertytaxes. Mrs. Lukes stated that she would move on, and that the question had been presented as a question regarding revenue, because she was interested in revenue, and it was not intended as a slap, but simply a comment. Her next comment was that she had noticed that the Council was rezoning a lot of commercial property to residential, which would ultimately place the Arthur Keckley = 315 4-H Club Rd - was going to mention something but given that Mrs. Luke has been told that this was not a topic of discussion, he would wait until the regular meeting. He thanked the Council for listening to the people and putting in the effort to Susan Keckley-3154-H Club] Rd - Asked ift the Council had yet had any discussions about Hurricane Preparedness in the wake of Helene. The Mayor responded that the City had, and the City Clerk has kept in touch with the County throughout preparedness. Mrs. Keckley clarified that she meant regarding establishing shelters in the community, Patricia Brown - 809 Main St - asked ifi members were not able to speak on anything but taxes; Mayor Sandlin responded that the Council was here for property taxes. It was explained to Mrs. Brown that Public Hearings are generally kept to a specific topic tol be addressed, buti the Council would resume Citizens Concerns at the next regular meeting. Council Member Spano responded to Mrs. Luke's comment, acknowledging that the majority of the property inside the City Limits is residential; Lake Park is what is known as a "Bedroom Community", which is] primarily residential, and in such communities, the burden for paying the taxes that will provide adequate operating expenses does fall on the residents. He explained that continually taking the full rollback each year is the equivalent of planning to operate on the same amount every year, which is simply not possible. Mrs. Keckley asked how much area the City comprised and was told approximately 2.8-mile radius. Mrs. Luke asked if the City has Mutual Aid. Agreements with the County fori fire and police protection, and it was explained that therewas an agreement, but the City fire and police respond primarily at the request of the Council. Mrs. Brown asked what the population of the City of Lake Park is, and Council Member Spano responded that the census reported 976 in 2020, but the current population was closer to 1,300. Mrs. Keckley asked for clarification, noting that the Minutes of one oft the earlier Public Hearings stated thatt the City was) paying $150,000 for Fire Radios and asked ifthat was] perj year. Mr. Spano stated that it was a lease purchase agreement for $15,000 per year, and thati ift the Minutes stated Mayor Sandlin thanked everyone for coming and adjourned the meeting sO the Council could go  burden of] property tax revenues on residents.  respond toi the concerns.  perhaps at the school.  $150,000 per. year it was likely ai typo. into the Called Meeting.  SimBWncn Lisa Johnson, Chty Clerk 5 Noemgon apa4  Aeha  Seal  Date  2