City Commission Regular Meeting

1 MINUTES City of Holmes Beach City Commission Regular Meeting July 23, 2024, 2:00 p.m. Patricia A. Geyer Commission Chambers 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach FL 34217 Present: Commissioner Diggins, Commissioner Kerchner, Commissioner Morton, Commissioner Soustek, Chair Schaefer Staff Present: City Clerk Johnston, City Attorney Augello, Chief Tokajer, Director of Development Services Minor, Superintendent of Public Works/City Engineer Kamiya Staff Absent: Mayor Titsworth _____________________________________________________________________ 1. Call to Order; Welcome; Pledge of Allegiance; Moment of Silence Chair Schaefer called the meeting to order at 2:30 p.m. 2. Roll Call Commissioner Diggins was noted arriving at 2:40 p.m. 3. Commission Comments and Ex-Parte Communication Commissioner Kerchner Commissioner Kerchner referred to his written report noting he had attended the July 11 ManaSota League of Cities meeting for Chair Schaefer. Discussion included the upcoming candidate forum, potential consolidation of the Island Cities, and the August Florida League of Cities meeting. Earlier that morning, The Islander Newspaper sponsored a conversation with Manatee County Commission candidate Tal Siddeque. The only other attendees were Commissioner Kerchner and Commissioner Kerchner's wife. A candidate interview with candidate Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse will be held on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at Manatee County's Beach Café. Commissioner Morton Commissioner Morton announced that the Police Department and Code Compliance were currently working with Waste Pro to come up with solutions relating to illegal dumping. Landscapers, small handyman companies, and Real Estate cleaning personnel are dumping their trash in the cans at the beach ends. Director of Development Services Minor stated that multiple email blasts have gone out to the real estate agencies and rental companies requesting they advise their cleaning personnel to not utilize the beach access cans for garbage.

2 Chair Schaefer Chair Schaefer announced that Barbara Ehren, Save Florida Home Rule, has collected 1,060 signatures from on-island and off-island voters opposing the building of a parking garage and the consolidation of the three Island cities. The City will receive additional information after they meet with Representative Robinson and Senator Boyd on August 7 and August 8, 2024. 4. Mayor's Comments None. 5. Minutes Moved by Commissioner Soustek Seconded by Commissioner Kerchner The July 9, 2024, Regular Meeting and Work Session Minutes were approved as amended. Motion Approved 5.a Regular Meeting - July 9, 2024 5.b Budget Work Session - July 9, 2024 6. Comments By The Public None. 7. Unfinished Business None. 8. New Business 8.a Three appointments/reappointments on the Parks & Beautification Committee City Clerk Johnston presented the item noting there were three terms expiring on the Parks & Beautification Committee - Mary Lange, Lorretta Estabrooks, and Alternate member Kim Garguile. Both Ms. Lange and Ms. Garguile have reapplied, but Ms. Estabrooks did not seek reappointment. One new application has been received from Cathy Sue Tobias. Public Comment Applicant Kim Garguile stated she was looking forward to serving an additional two years on the Parks & Beautification Committee. No other applicants were in attendance. Note: Commissioner Diggins was noted arriving. Moved by Commissioner Soustek Seconded by Commissioner Kerchner The City Commission appointed the following to serve on the Parks & Beatification Commission for two-years expiring August 1, 2026:  Re-appointment - Full member Mary Lange  Re-appointment - Full member Kim Garguile  New Appointment - Alternate Cathy Sue Tobias

3 Motion Approved 8.b First Reading - Ordinance 24-10 Director of Development Services Minor read the Ordinance title stating that the Ordinance had been reviewed by the Planning Commission and discussed by the City Commission in a Work Session. The Ordinance amends the Commercial Land Use section of the Land Development Code and adds additional definitions. A review of the various code amendments followed. City Attorney Augello felt that the Ordinance sections had been organized appropriately. Moved by Seconded by Commissioner Morton Ordinance 24-10 was approved for First Reading. Motion Approved 9. Announcements  Wednesday, July 24, 2024 - 5:00 p.m. - Planning Commission Meeting  Tuesday, July 30, 2024 - 10:00 a.m. - Summer Turtle Talk  Wednesday, July 31, 2024 - 10:00 a.m. - Special Magistrate Hearings - Cancelled  Tuesday, August 6, 2024 - 10:00 a.m. - Summer Turtle Talk  Tuesday, August 6, 2024 - 4:00 p.m. - Council of Governments Meeting - Cancelled  Wednesday, August 7, 2024 - 5:00 p.m. - Planning Commission Meeting  Tuesday, August 13, 2024 - 10:00 a.m. - Summer Turtle Talk  Wednesday, August 14, 2024 - 10:00 a.m. - Code Compliance Stakeholders Meeting  Friday, August 16, 2024 - 11:30 a.m. - Police Officers' Pension Board Meeting  Monday, August 19, 2024 - 9:30 a.m. - Manatee County Tourist Development Council Meeting - The Center, 407 Magnolia Avenue, Anna Maria  Tuesday, August 20, 2024 - 10:00 a.m. - Summer Turtle Talk  Tuesday, August 27, 2024 - 2:00 p.m. - City Commission Regular Meeting w/Work Session to Follow 10. Questions and Comments 10.a Questions and Comments from Mayor and City Commission Budget Noting he was absent during discussion at the Budget Work Session, Commissioner Diggins asked what action was taken on the budget. Chair Schaefer stated that the City Commission approved setting the maximum millage at 2.07 mills and that staff will be making changes on the budget between now and the September 11 First Budget Hearing. Water Taxi Update

4 Commissioner Diggins announced that Executive Director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Falcione had called him earlier that morning from London to inform that the County will not be utilizing Waterline for their Water Taxi stop. Manatee County - Skimmer Boats Commissioner Diggins stated that Manatee County has two skimmer boats for that have been used only a few times over the last few years for skimming canals over. They are not as extensive as the one the City Commission has been discussing. Commissioner Diggins will be looking at the boats to see if they could be utilized in Holmes Beach. Chair Schaefer did not feel they would work on the canals and reminded the City Commission that purchase of a new Harvester boat was in the City's budget. He asked that Commissioner Diggins follow up with Supt. of Public Works/City Engineer Kamiya. Police Department Appreciation Commissioner Morton reminded that he recently suggested something special be held that shows appreciation to the City's Police Department. He did not feel the public knew what all the officers go through daily. He suggested pizza be provided or something like that to show appreciation. Chair Schaefer suggested Commissioner Morton work with Mayor Titsworth and Chief Tokajer to get something organized. Commissioner Morton recommended the City Commissioners and citizens wanting to get involved, donate to purchase pizza for the officers. City Attorney Arguello cautioned that Florida Statutes Chapter 112 set forth implementations relating to donations made by a City Commissioner. The City, however, can sponsor something but she would need additional information to advise relating to the City Commissioners contributing. Consolidation City Attorney Augello announced that additional information handled by City Clerk Johnston was recently requested from the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA). She was unsure if any report will ever be disclosed or disseminated and reminded that OPPAGA is not required to provide any specific documentation to the City. The OPPAGA report will not be in the form of any recommendations but rather data collected by them. Chair Schaefer stated that Senator Boyd has indicated he does plan to release the information once received. City Attorney Augello agreed that OPPAGA is an independent arm of the legislation, and the report will include pros and cons and not any recommendations. Commissioner Kerchner said when he was running statistical numbers on the different cities, the size of the City is not the sole determinant of the size of a City's budget. Chair Schaefer noted the assessed valuation and millage rates are a function of each individual City. There were originally comments that consolidation would be a savings to each of the Island Cities. He reminded there has been an effort where each of the three Island Cities continue to reduce their millage rates. The County's millage rate is higher than any of the Island Cities and if the Cities were to be consolidated into Manatee County, the County may want to increase their millage even higher. He noted that the City of Bradenton has no interest in consolidating the Island Cities into their City.

5 Commissioner Diggins will be meeting with Representative Robinson on August 6 and Representatives of Save Florida Home Rule will be meeting with him on August 7. 10.b Questions and Comments from City Attorney None. 10.c Questions and Comments from Staff Vacation Rental Certification 1,649 Vacation Rental Certificates have been issued. Commissioner Diggins asked that the number of vacation rentals for Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach be obtained. Special Magistrate The next Special Magistrate Hearing is scheduled for July 31, 2024. Director of Development Services Minor announced that Special Magistrate Connolly will be officially retiring in February 2025 and the Assistant Special Magistrate is no longer available. As a result, a replacement is needed. City Attorney Augello is assisting staff with issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a new Special Magistrate. Code Compliance Stakeholders Meeting A Code Compliance Stakeholders Meeting will be held on August 14, 2024, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Topics will include turtles, new pool code information, trash collection, etc. Turtle Nests There are currently over 100 sea turtle nests which is double the nest county over last year. Waste Pro Director of Development Services Minor, Code Compliance Supervisor Thomas, and City Commissioner Morton have been working with Waste Pro to address issues after the holiday and additional cans needed on beach accesses. Vacation Rental Software Director of Development Services Minor reported that three properties were recently found through Code Compliance's Vacation Rental software and were each issued citations that were paid earlier that day. He felt the software has been a good investment for the City. Tree House Update The City has approved a demolition permit for the Tree House. It has been reviewed and approved by staff and is currently pending payment. After Hours Construction Chair Schaefer noted that there was a recent after-hours construction violation the Police Department attended to. The contractor was notified and issued a violation. Chief Tokajer stated they were also working on the July 4 holiday.

6 Director of Development Services Minor stated that someone was reported to be moving into a home without a Certificate of Occupancy. Code Compliance Supervisor Thomas came out that evening to make sure no one was inhabiting that unit. 10.d Questions and Comments from The Public and Press None. 11. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 3:32 p.m. _________________________ Stacey Johnston, MMC, City Clerk _________________________ Minutes Approved