CITY OF FREEPORT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES November 12, 2024, 9:00. AM Council Chambers, Freeport City Hall Council Members Present: Mayor Russ Barley, Councilwoman Elizabeth Haffner, Councilman Bud Day, Councilwoman Elizabeth King, and Councilman Tracey City Attorney Clay Adkinson, City Manager Mark Martin, City Clerk Rebecca King, Finance Officer Sara Bowers, Planning Director Latilda Hughes-Neel, Senior Planner Samantha Graves, Parks Director Charles Bartlett, Parks and Recreation Admin Assistant Heidi Manger, HR Director Chris Quinley, Wastewater Supervisor Paul Johnson, and Dickey. Staff Members Present: Utility Billing Supervisor Maya Banks - Fischer City Clerk's Note: Councilman Farris was absent with notice. 1. Meeting called to order The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Mayor Barley in the Council Chambers of Freeport City Hall. 2. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance American Flag was recited. 3. Recognition of Guests 4. Consent Agenda a. Bills Counciwoman Haffner gave the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance to the 1. Dan Curry - County Commissioner Elect b. Regular Council Meeting Minutes - October 24, 2024 C.V Water and Wastewater Capacity Fees 5. Public Comment on Consent Agenda 6. Approval of Consent Agenda Mayor Barley called for public comment and there was none. Moved by: Councilwoman Haffner Seconded by: Councilman Dickey Mayor Barley called for public comment and there was none. To approve the Consent Agenda, as presented. A roll call vote was ordered, and the vote was as follows: Councilwoman Haffner aye REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, NOVEMBER 12, 2024 Councilman Day Councilman Farris: Councilwoman King: Councilman Dickey Carried. aye aye aye aye 7. Consideration of Additions and/or Deletions to Agenda 8. Approval of Agenda with Deletions 9. Staff Reports a. City Clerk b. City Manager c. Engineering d. Finance e. Human Resources f.L Legal 1. Carr III Annexation First Reading Carr Annexation is listed as first reading although you've already done that. Rereading the Ordinance to stay with in the advertising guidelines. There is no motion needed, and Carr Annexation will be up for 2nd reading / adoption in December. City Attorney Adkinson held first reading by title only. AN ORDINANCE ANNEXING TO THE TERRITORIAL LIMITS OF THE CITY OF FREEPORT, FLORIDA, CERTAIN PROPERTY AND REDEFINING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY OF FREEPORT, FLORIDA, sO AS TO INCLUDE THEREIN THE PROPERTY ANNEXED HEREIN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION PROVISIONS OF FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 171.044, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY, CONFLICTS, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. g. Parks 1. Safety Netting @ Sports Complex Baseball Fields 3 & 4 Parks and Recreation Director introduced item explaining that the quote was to have the safety netting replaced. Netting is ripped and old. Budgeted 25,000 for replacement. Quote came in at $22,275.00 Moved by: Councilwoman Haffner Seconded by: Councilman Day 2 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, NOVEMBER 12, 2024 Mayor Barley called for public comment and there was none. To approve the replacement oft the safety netting on Baseball Fields 3 &4in the amount of $22,275.00. Councilwoman Haffner Councilman Day Counciwoman King Councilman Dickey: Carried. Ar roll call vote was ordered, and the vote was as follows: aye aye aye aye 2. USSSA President John Grant has requested the use of the Freeport Regional Sports Complex - 2025 Spring USSSA Baseball World Series Tournament. Parks Director Bartlett introduced item and stated that he would need to have an extra person on staff to help with the tournament. Joe Ribaudo of Walton County Parks and Rec stated that this was initiated by the TDC, and that Walton County was charging for field usage as should we. USSSA President will be paying the amount of the fees listed on the contract. Councilman Dickey asked that Parks make sure that USSSA have insurance, and that there is no conflict with Freeport Little League. Councilwoman Haffner wanted to be sure there was no conflict with 4th ofJuly. Moved by: Councilwoman Haffner Seconded by: Councilman Dickey Mayor Barley called for public comment and there was none. To approve the use of Sports Complex by USSSA. for. Baseball World Series Tournament A: roll call vote was ordered, and the vote was as follows: Councilwoman Haffner Councilman Day Councilwoman King Councilman Dickey: Carried. h. Planning aye aye aye aye 1. Live Oak Cottages Plat Planning Director Hughes-Neel introduced item. Looking for approval and signatures. 3 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, NOVEMBER 12, 2024 Moved by: Councilwoman Haffner Seconded by: Councilman King Mayor Barley called for public comment and there was none. Aroll call vote was ordered, and the vote was as follows: To approve the Live Oak Cottages Plat. Councilwoman Haffner Councilman Day Councilwoman King Councilman Dickey: Carried. aye aye aye aye 2. Senate Bill 1628 Overview Planning Director Hughes-Neel wanted to bring up this item for discussion. This senate bill created new requirements for ordinance adoption by counties and cities, specifically if you are creating an ordinance that is going to create additional costs to businesses in your community you must generate a business impact estimate. This is an unfunded mandate. There is no funding for this. Attorney Adkinson said that the biggest change that went into effect October 1, while business impacts have been required, the legislature previously had it written that any ordinance adopted under part 2 of chapter 163 which dealt with growth policy, planning land development regulation would be exempt from this. Now, they have broken that out and limited it down to private applications SO when we do our annual updates of our Land Development Code, when Planning brings in the rewrites that will require a Business Impact Statement now because it is being issued by the city and not a private developer. i. Sewer j. Utility Billing k. Water 10. Old Business 11. New Business a. Mayor Barley comment regarding unveiling of new monument yesterday in the Veterans Memorial, if you haven't had the opportunity to go see it, please do, it's very nice, very touching. Good turn out yesterday even with the rain. Just before the unveiling it stopped raining, sO everyone was able to go out and see the unveiling. 4 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, NOVEMBER 12, 2024 1.1 Employee of the Quarter Mayor Barley stepped up to present the Employee of the Quarter award to April Nickens in recognition for dedication, passion, and hard work. b. Councilwoman King C. Councilman Farris d. Counciwoman Haffner e. Councilman Dickey C Councilman Day 12. Public Comment Mayor Barley called for public comment and Manny Vital wanted to thank the Parks and Recreation Department for all the hard work that they do. He said that Bayfest and The Veteran's Day Ceremony was sO nice and fitting. Wanted to add a Thank you to Tim Ard, Mayor Barley, and Parks and Recreation Department. Mr. Vital said he was proud of Freeport. 13. Adjournment With no other business, Mayor Barley motioned to adjourn at 9:24 a.m. Minutes were prepared by City Clerk King and approved by the City Council on January 14, 2025. ATTEST: 4 Russ Barley, Mayor Rebecca Ralgalhag King, City Clerk A 5