City of Mexico Beach Meeting Minutes TUESDAY MARCH 11, 2025 - 9:00 AM The City of Mexico Beach City Council met in a regular meeting on Tuesday March 11, 2025, at 9:00 am at the Public Works Building in Mexico Beach. Mayor Wolff and the following Councilmembers were present: Linda Hamilton, Jerry Smith, Jason Adams. Tim Linderman was absent. Also present were City Administrator, Chris Truitt, City Clerk, Tammy Brunson and City Attorney Tim Sloan. I. Call to order: Mayor Wolff called the meeting to order at 9:00 am. II. Consent Agenda: Minutes for the January 14, 2025, regular City Council meeting was approved unanimously. III. Staff Reports: Elizabeth Moore from Anchor Engineering provided updates on various projects. Mexico Beach boat launch: Survey and geotech team work ongoing, design expected by mid-April. 15th Street pedestrian bridge: HG Harder is the apparent low bidder. Public works water tank and aeration system: Bids received. Metal building placement issues. Amphitheater and Nanook Road and 14th Street lift station proposals: Bids expected soon. Mike Snyder, Finance Director provides a financial report, noting good revenue and ower-than-expected expenses. Discussion on the development services budget line and the need to account for all expenses. Mayor Wolff and Chris Truitt discuss the categorization of expenses and the use of Tableau for better reporting. Jason Adams questions the expenditures in the city clerk's budget and the need for better tracking. Mayor Wolff brings up the engagement letter with James Moore for the audit. Chris Truitt explains the terms of the engagement letter and the council's request for a one-year contract with options for renewal. Discussion on the need to review the engagement letter and ensure it meets the council's requirements. Mayor Wolff suggests reading the engagement letter and making a decision within 24 hours. IV. Regular Agenda: 1. 15th St Pedestrian Bridge bid and Task Order with Gortemoller Engineers was brought to the table. Chris Truitt discusses the 15th Street Bridge project and the significant cost increase from the initial $350,000 estimate. Open public comment at 9:22 am. No public comments were made. Closed public comment at 9:22 am. Discussion on reallocating funds from the amphitheater project to cover part of the bridge cost. Jason Adams raises concerns about the project's budget and the need for better planning. Elizabeth Moore suggests negotiating with the contractor to reduce costs and explore value engineering options. Discussion on the potential for redesigning the project to reduce costs and the need for additional funding. Comments on the 15th Street Bridge project emphasize the safety concerns and the need for a pedestrian walkway. Mr. Adams motioned, and Mrs. Hamilton seconded to table the item to explore price reduction options and possible additional funding sources. Motion passed unanimously. 2. Ordinance 848 Peddlers (second reading) was brought to the table. Chris Truitt presents the second reading of Ordinance 848, which amends the city code regarding licenses and operational requirements. Mr. Sloan stated this includes the change to paragraph A that was requested after the first reading. Mrs. Hamilton motioned, and Mr. Smith seconded to read Ordinance 848 by title only. Motion passed unanimously. Open public comment at 9:47 am. No public comments were made. Closed public comment at 9:47 am. Mr. Adams motioned, and Mrs. Hamilton seconded to approve Ordinance 848. Motion passed unanimously. City of Mexico Beach Meeting Minutes TUESDAY MARCH 11, 2025 - 9:00 AM IV. Regular Agenda Continued: 3. Ordinance 851 Beach and Dune Protection (first reading) was brought to the table. Chris Truitt presents the first reading of Ordinance 851, which amends the beach and dune protection zone. Mr. Adams motioned, and Mrs. Hamilton seconded to read Ordinance 848 by title only. Motion passed unanimously. Open public comment at 9:52 am. Rock Kries thanked the council for the Ordinance. Closed public comment at 9:53 am. 4. FROC Personnel Policy amendment was brought to the table. Chief Walker presents a policy amendment to allow for the provision of meals to emergency responders during emergencies. Discussion on the need for reimbursement from FEMA for meal costs during emergencies. Mr. Adams motioned, and Mrs. Hamilton seconded to amend the current Personnel Policy to include the meal provisions during a declared emergency. Motion passes unanimously. 5. Mutual Aid Agreement with P.C.F.D. and M.B.F.D. was brought to the table. Chief Walker presents a mutual aid agreement with the Panama City Fire Department. Discussion on the importance of mutual aid agreements for emergency response and the need for proper documentation. Mrs. Hamilton motioned, and Mr. Adams seconded to approve that Mutual Aid agreement with P.C.F.D. with changes to the attorney's name. Motion passes unanimously. 6. M.B.F.D. side by side and Fire Chief truck was brought to the table. Chief Walker discusses the need to replace the city's side by side vehicle, which is no longer reliable. Discussion on the use of impact fees to fund the purchase of the side by side and the potential future need for PPE replacement. Jason Adams questions the timing and budgeting of the purchase, suggesting a more structured approach. Mayor Wolff suggests waiting six months to budget for the purchase and addressing the immediate safety concerns with the current vehicle. Chief Walker emphasizes the urgency of replacing the side by side to ensure emergency response capabilities. Discussion on the importance of maintaining reliable emergency vehicles and the potential impact on public safety. All agree on the necessity of1 the proposed purchases for fire department tasks, emphasizing its role in reducing risks. Mr. Adams motioned, and Mrs. Hamilton seconded to use fire department impact fees for the purchase of an SUV for $63,622.40 and UTV for $16,498.00. Motion passes unanimously. 7. Finance positions name change was brought to the table. The proposal includes renaming the Utility Billing Supervisor position to Utility Billing Specialist and the Utility Billing Clerk to Cash Application Specialist. Both positions will now be under the Finance Director. Mrs. Hamilton motioned, and Mr. Smith seconded to approve the finance positions name change and reporting structure to the Finance Director. Motion passes unanimously. 8. City Clerk annual evaluation was brought to the table. The council debates the appropriate salary increase, considering past raises, the current budget, the City Clerk's performance and recommends a 8-13% salary increase and the need for COLA increase each year. Mrs. Hamilton motioned, and Mr. Smith seconded to approve an 8% salary increase and yearly COLA increase for the City Clerk. Motion passes unanimously. 9. Move the April 22, 2025, council meeting due to Election Day is on the same day was brought to the table. The council discusses the timing of the next meeting, considering the upcoming Election Day on April 22nd. All agree to move the council meeting to Wednesday April 23, 2025, at 6pm. City of Mexico Beach Meeting Minutes TUESDAY MARCH 11, 2025 - 9:00 AM V. Citizen Comments: Bobby Pollock praised Tommy Davis for the work he has done for the city. He is disappointed in the choice for City Administrator. He feels the new Public Works Director is not qualified and that Mr. Davis was run off by the current administration and they will do the same thing to Code Enforcement. Gary Woodham thanked Tommy for his service to the city and is concerned why good employees are leaving the city. He also asked why we do not have any movement on the Pier. Rock Kries thanked Council for approving the side-by-side for the Fire Department and asked why it is taking SO long to get hurricane damaged properties cleaned up. Steve Cox passed out an article from the University of Florida about living coastlines that would be a great project for the 8th street canal. He also brought up a nuisance property on 3rd street and businesses operating out of construction trailers on Hwy 98. Lisa Logan asked about the change of use between the liquor store on 5th and 15th streets and the real estate office on Hwy 98. Kwyn Jenkins thanked Tommy for his service to the city and thanked the City Hall team for their hard work. She was happy to announce that the Recall Committee's legal fees are paid in full. Lee Ellzey feels it is a disservice to everyone if you do not have the right information to make a decision. Carol Bonnano said city employees are good will ambassadors. She asked how police experience prepares you for a Public Works Director position. VI. Council Comments: Jason Adams and other council members discuss the handling of the new public works director's arrival and living arrangements. Concerns are raised about the City Administrator's decision-making and the impact on city operations. Mr. Adams motioned, and Mr. Smith seconded to place a letter of reprimand in the city administrator's personnel file. Motion passes unanimously. The council agrees to investigate harassment complaints and to seek outside HR assistance. Mayor Wolff suggests Thursday afternoon for the special meeting for expenditure approval of an HR firm for the investigation. Consensus is Thursday, March 13, at four o'clock for the meeting. VI. Mayors Comments: Mayor Wolff had no additional comments. VII. Staff Comments: Finance Director - Mike Snyder provides an update on the renewal of four CDs, including rates and recommendations for rollover. The council agrees to let the CDs roll over at current rates and to explore other banking options for better rates. Fire Chief - Chief Walker brings up the request to honor Tracy Gaddis's father, whose was the first fire chief in Mexico beach. Tracy's mom is 95 years old and is currently in the hospital. would like permission to honor him with a plaque that could be placed in the day room at the fire station or something placed on the engines. All agreed for Chief Walker to move ahead with the dedication. City Administrator - Mr. Truitt had no additional comments. City Attorney = Mr. Sloan had no additional comments. City of Mexico Beach Meeting Minutes TUESDAY MARCH 11, 2025 - 9:00 AM VIII. Adjournment: Mr. Adams and Mrs. Hamilton motioned to adjourn the meeting at 12:02 pm. By: Attest: 2anonu BINOM Mayor, Richard Wolff City Clerk, Tammy Brunson