Minutes from the City Commission meeting called March 11, 2025, at 9:00 A.M. Page 1 TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2025 CITY COMMISSION MEETING - 9:00 A.M. Present: Jesse Nelson, Mayor Judy Vandergrift, Mayor Pro Tem Sam Peebles, Commissioner Pat Perno, Commissioner Jamie Warrick, Commissioner Vickie Gainer, City Manager Sergeant at Arms Amy Myers, City Legal Counsel Item # 1. Call to order. Mayor Nelson called the meeting to order at 9:01 A.M. Item #2. Invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. The invocation was given by Police Chaplin Frank Stephens followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Item #3. Public Commentary. Ms. Cobb representing E24th Street - want a resolution to the speeding. The previous speed hump was too aggressive, but a resolution is needed. Doesn't want an accident when it could have been prevented. Mr. Jeremiah Cobb - wanted to reiterate the previous speaker. Multiple issues with dogs hit, vehicles ending upin ditches, close brushes to people walking on the sidewalk. Needs the people to somehow be made to slow down to protect the children who may be around the road. Mr. Thomas Steel - also spoke about the speeding issue on E24th. His puppy was the first one hit. Been a problem from day one. Ms. Parker - Rett Place - wanted to talk about the elections that are coming up. Specifically, someone who is running, who is called Marla, who she has never heard of before and who has never attended meetings before. Listed his donors asked if he is a ringer to dilute votes from others running. She went on to speak about some details she had shared previously, saying she feels that Commissioner Warrick has been ostracized by this panel for speaking the truth and wanting to do the right thing. She said that the Mayor had called him a liar and been openly putting him down. She said the City Manager has also disrespected him as a Commissioner. She said the Mayor had thrown the race card. The Mayor disputed this. Ms. Parker asked for the clock to stop, and the Mayor declined. Item # 4. Mavor's Report. The Mayor read and presented the Proclamation for the American Red Cross Month 2025. Mr. Wayland Patterson spoke briefly about the American Red Cross explaining some of the services they offer. The can be reached on 1-800-redcross. The Mayor thanked the residents from E24th Street who came in to express their concerns about speeding and advised that it will be addressed in agenda item 11. The Mayor said that regarding Ms. Parker's comments about ostracizing Commissioner Warrick for speaking his truth, the Mayor asked Commissioner Warrick if he felt ostracized. Commissioner Warrick said he didn't think this was the forum to bring this up and that they have talked about it already. The Mayor asked if he had gone to the public that supported him to let them know that he and the Mayor had already resolved it. Commissioner Warrick said he lets the public decide for themselves and clarified that he doesn't feel all the Commissioners are ostracizing him, just the Minutes from the City Commission meeting called March 11, 2025, at 9:00 A.M. Page 2 Mayor. The Mayor said they often have differences of opinion, that is not ostracizing. Commissioner Warrick said he didn't bring the topic up. The Mayor said his supporters had, which would indicate that he had not shared the fact that they had resolved it. That ifhe wants to be a man ofi integrity, he should call them out and let them know it has been resolved. Commissioner Peebles asked the Mayor to just let Commissioner Warrick talk. They Mayor said he was addressing Commissioner Warrick. There was ongoing dissent. The Mayor said he is bringing this up now publicly because it seems that their private conversations are not getting to his supporters. Commissioner Warrick stated that the Mayor and he have already talked, and those topics are now in the past. Commissioner Warrick said he is no longer going to discuss the issue. The Mayor said he is now: isolating himself and is not being ostracized. Commissioner Vandergrift asked the Mayor if they could move on with the city business. Item #5. Commissioners' Reports. Commissioner Peebles - Attended the opening day ceremony, and his kids enjoyed it. He asked the residents to please give the umpires and coaches some grace as this field is the biggest it has ever been, and they are doing it for free. The League of Cities quarterly dinner was fantastic and thanks to Commissioner Warrick who made it happen. Great information was shared. Met with a wide range of people about various concerns. Commissioner Perno = Attended the opening ceremony. Spoke about the St Andrews Bay program newsletter and highlighted their meeting/discussion on March 13th this month. Asked that the newsletter be put into the minutes SO it will be made public. The program has formed a 501(c). He said his heart goes out to everyone in the city who suffers. Commissioner Warrick = Opening day was a great day and a lot of fun. The BCLOC dinner guest speaker spoke about the sewer plant and LH potentially being connected toit. Commissioner Warrick said he feels it would be a win for Lynn Haven. Citizens are concerned about the stormwater assessment fee. Asked the city attorney about doing a workshop and ifit needs to be notified. She said yes itjust needs to be notified. Commissioner Warrick asked Commissioner Peebles ifhe would be open to doing a forum where information can be shared, and Commissioner Peebles can discuss his ideas. Commissioner Peebles said yes. Commissioner Warrick asked him to let him know a date and time that suits him, and the City Manager can publish it. Commissioner Warrick asked the City Manager when the workshop will bet that will let the city know what the status ofthe rebuild financials is. City Manager said when all the information is available. Commissioner Vandergrift = said she would like to be involved in the workshop. The City Manager advised the commission already directed her to set a workshop which she is working on. She went on to say that she does not agree with the person who bashed a candidate the way she did. She herself has received donations from those same people but they do not influence her decisions and votes because they know she has her own opinions and works for the citizens. The Mayor thanked the City Manager for hosting the International Food Truck day and not allowing the weather to cancel it. The City Manager asked if she is organizing a workshop for everyone or just the two commissioners. Commissioner Perno said he thinks it should be a city workshop. The Mayor asked ifwe would be able to do the public workshop on the 25th at 4pm before the 5.30pm commission meeting, and Commissioners Warrick and Peebles can lead the discussion. Everyone agreed. Item # 6. City Manager's Report. A. Warrant list: There were no queries. The City Manager Gainer said they are looking at putting together something for soccer. Adult Minutes from the City Commission meeting called March 11, 2025, at 9:00 A.M. Page 3 volleyball registration is closing soon. Art in the park is in the works with details on the FB page. Easter hunt is April 12th at 9am. The fountains in Sheffield park are to keep away the algae, and it is pretty. The damaged park playground equipment which will be replaced today. Met with business owners on Florida Avenue who will be directly affected by the revitalization of that area. Next there will be a public workshop held to discuss this grant project further. The city had put a traffic counter out on 17th Street. Encourages people to use the newly created car park on Iowa and 16th for safety reasons. Item # 7. City Attorney's Report. City Attorney - had nothing to report. CONSENT AGENDA Item # 8. Approval of Minutes dd 02/25/25 - Regular meeting minutes. Motion by Commissioner Perno to approve all items on the consent agenda. Second to the Motion: Commissioner Peebles On Vote: Perno aye Peebles aye Vandergrift aye Warrick aye Nelson aye Motion passed: 5-0 OLD BUSINESS Item #9. Discussion and possible approval to appoint Mr. Doolittle to the Planning Commission Board. The Mayor addressed the item. The Mayor opened the floor to the Commission for comments. Commissioner Warrick - talked with other cities to see how they do it and they advertise it. He asked if we had advertised it. The City Manager said we do not advertise this one because we already have people in the waiting list. We will advertise when there are no people in the waiting list. Ms. Richard said there is no policy as iti is something former city managers had always practiced. Back then it was difficult to get people to apply. People did not want to sit on the Board of Adjustment (BoA), SO it was decided to put people who applied for the Planning Board on the BoA while they waited. This is not a policy, simply standard practice. The City Manager said there is a policy in place, and she will provide it to the Commissioners. Commissioner Warrick feels Mr. Clubbs' experience is better suited for the planning board. Motion by Commissioner Warrick to appoint Mr. Clubbs to the Planning Commission Board. Second to the Motion: Commissioner Peebles - for discussion Commissioner Peebles really likes both candidates. Feels the best way forward will be to assign Mr. Doolittle with the understanding the Mr. Clubbs is the person in waiting. Then discuss the process at the next meeting for a new policy. The Mayor knows Mr. Clubbs although he didn'tmeet him this time. He did speak with Mr. Doolittle, and he is very engaged in the process ofthe BoA. Likes what Commissioner Peebles has suggested. Commissioner Perno - he had stated at the last meeting exactly the same thing as Commissioner Peebles has just recommended. He feels Mr. Doolittle is up for this position this time, and Mr. Clubbs Minutes from the City Commission meeting called March 11, 2025, at 9:00 A.M. Page 4 apparently agreed with him when they spoke. On Vote: Warrick aye Peebles no Perno no Vandergrift no Nelson no Motion failed: 4-1 Motion by Commissioner Peebles to appoint Mr. Doolittle to the Planning Commission Board, with Mr. Clubbs to be the "person in waiting", and that the commission add an agenda item for1 the next meeting to establish a policy about applications to the Planning Board. Second to the Motion: Commissioner Perno On Vote: Peebles aye Perno aye Warrick aye Vandergrift aye Nelson aye Motion passed: 5-0 NEW BUSINESS Item # 10. First Reading ofOrdinance 1178 Milestones Inspections. City Manager to read the Ordinance by Title only. The City Attorney, Amy Myers, explained the item. Item # 11. Discussion only of the Traffic Safety Committee's findings on the traffic study for Dundee and 24th Street speeding issues in Mowat] Highlands. The City Manager explained the item, giving 3 options: Do nothing, install radar - $21k, install speed humps - $5k - that are less aggressive. The Mayor opened the floor to the Commissioners for comment. Commissioner Perno asked ift the radar was the same as the one at one ofthe city's other streets. The City Manager confirmed. Commissioner Perno likes those and sees that it works, but did we need to get four? The Mayor said they were for 24th Street as well as Dundee Street. The City Manager read out the data from the report. The Mayor asked if vehicles carrying trailers might corrupt the data. Mr. Baker said the way it works is that it identifies axels and semis. Commissioner Perno SO speed humps won't be as aggressive as the last ones? Mr. Baker said the last ones were bumps and these are humps SO not as aggressive. The Mayor asked if they were concrete. Mr. Baker said no they are the ones that are bolted down. Commissioner Peebles - he is happy that data has been used to bring them to a decision. One trend he noticed in the data is E24th was worse than Mowat Highlands. Dundee has speeding quite obviously. Average speed is about 27/28 mph, and he did some research with USDOT, and they recommend humps to slow speed down to 15mph. He read about Speeding Tables that are lower and wider than a hump and specifically for reducing speeds to 25mph. From a risk management Minutes from the City Commission meeting called March 11, 2025, at 9:00 A.M. Page 5 standpoint, the radar is not a strict deterrent because if someone wants to speed they will still speed. He feels the humps would be better. Commissioner Perno - Feels installing the humps is better and less of an expenditure. Then we can discover the impact after. Commissioner Peebles - the Speed Tables are more expensive SO the speed humps are probably better for now and we can review it later. Commissioner Warrick feels there are different types of speed humps to achieve specific speeds. We have a policy in place that he feels is not being followed. He asked if they wanted to follow the procedure or change it. The way it is written right now on page 5 is considered minor and requires no specific remedial action. Commissioner Warrick proceeded to read the policy. The Mayor asked Chief Ramie to speak. Chief Ramie advised the software is set at 35mph and the speed is 25mph. We cannot set the software back, SO the true data is probably higher in percentages. Commissioner Warrick - then the next step should be a petition according to our policy. Commissioner Perno - SO we have to wait for the citizens to do a petition? Commissioner Warrick - the five people who complained and initiated the request need to do the petition and submit it to the city. The City Manager -it also says it can be initiated by the Mayor, or city staffifwe see there is danger, then the city can initiate it and bring it to the commission. Chief Ramie made a formal request based on the data they have and for the safety ofthe community. Commissioner Perno - would like to hear how the residents who spoke earlier feel about doing a petition. Mr. Cobb wants to separate 24th street from Mowat Highlands as they are our own street of only about 20 houses. Whatever petition they do needs to be just their road, their residents, their names. The mayor confirmed that will be the case, and the petitions will be kept separate. Mr. Cobb said they will do whatever the city requires. The Mayor said the city will communicate with them soon. Resident from Mowat Highlands against the humps or bumps because ofher back issues. She is all for the police coming and giving tickets. The Mayor reiterated that the areas will be separated. Chief Ramie said they had worked that area, but the proof is now here that there is still speeding since the last study. Resident from Dundee - Asked for a comparison of the speeding between the two studies. Her observation from living on Dundee is that people speed between the bumps. Doesn't feels the humps will be effective in changing behaviors. She would like them to poll the neighborhood and follow the policy. Commissioner Warrick - our policy says the speed humps should be space a specific distance apart to keep them efficient and effective. Austin - Resident of Mowat Highlands majority of vehicles he sees speeding belong to delivery vehicles. Ifthey put speed calming devices in, they must meet FDOT guidelines. He said he had read the FDOT policy, and they don't recommend putting a speed bump in. He feels enforcement is the best method. They Mayor asked the City Manager to follow up with 24th Street and Dundee Street as two separate petitions and provide them a map of who they need to collect petition signatures from. The commission will discuss the petitions as they come in. Commissioner Warrick sought clarity about neighborhood petition versus city initiated for safety reasons. The Mayor clarified that ift the city initiates it, they do not require a petition. Minutes from the City Commission meeting called March 11, 2025, at 9:00 A.M. Page 6 Item # 12. Adiournment. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:38 A.M. APPROVED THIS 25MDAY OF. MARLH 2025. -A a Jesse Nelsgn, Mayor ATTEST: 24 Teche Vickie Gainer, City Manager prepared by Cicelia Rushing