City Council Meeting and Budget Workshop (2025-08-20)

August 20, 2025 – Tavares City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 16 TAVARES CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 20, 2025 – 4:00 PM TAVARES CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 201 EAST MAIN STREET, TAVARES COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT Walter Price, Mayor - Absent Lori Pfister, Vice Mayor Sandy Gamble, Council Member Bob Grenier, Council Member Troy Singer, Council Member STAFF PRESENT John Drury, City Administrator Lindsay Holt, City Attorney Susie Novack, City Clerk Anarquis Frais, City Planner Scott Aldrich, Community Services Director Bob Tweedie, Economic Development Director Lori Houghton, Finance Director Richard Keith, Fire Chief Crissy Bublitz, Human Resources Director Mark O’Keefe, Support Services Director Sarah Coursey, Police Chief Phil Clark, Utilities Director I. CALL TO ORDER Vice Mayor Pfister called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. She asked those who wished to speak on an agenda item to complete and submit a Request to Speak form. II. INVOCATION/PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Tab 1. Deacon Jim Shelley, St. Mary of the Lakes Catholic Church

August 20, 2025 – Tavares City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 16 Deacon Jim Shelley, St. Mary of the Lakes Catholic Church, provided the invocation and led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance. III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Vice Mayor Pfister asked if there were any changes to the Agenda. Mr. Drury said the staff had no changes. MOTION Troy Singer moved to approve the Agenda, seconded by Sandy Gamble. The motion carried unanimously 4-0. IV. PROCLAMATIONS/PRESENTATIONS Tab 2. Chamber of Commerce Update Stephanie Hayes, President and CEO of the Tavares Chamber of Commerce, provided an update on recent Chamber activities. Tab 3. Proclamation – Taiwan 114 th National Day Vice Mayor Pfister read a proclamation in its entirety in observance and recognition of the 114th National Day of the Republic of China (Taiwan). MOTION Troy Singer moved to approve the Proclamation, seconded by Sandy Gamble. The motion carried unanimously 4-0. V. SWEARING IN BY CITY ATTORNEY AND DISCLOSURE OF EXPARTE COMMUNICATIONS Attorney Holt stated there were no quasi-judicial matters before the Council for consideration. VI. READING OF ALL ORDINANCES/RESOLUTIONS INTO THE RECORD Ms. Novack read the following ordinances and resolutions by title only: RESOLUTION 2025-13 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF TAVARES, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ACCEPT AND EXECUTE GRANT AGREEMENTS WITH THE LAKE COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY AND FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TO EXTEND THE END DATE OF THE THREE GRANTS FOR THE NORTH ST. CLAIR

August 20, 2025 – Tavares City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 16 ABRAMS STORMWATER TREATMENT POND PROJECT BY ONE YEAR. ORDINANCE 2025-02 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF TAVARES, FLORIDA AMENDING THE CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES CHAPTER 3 ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, SECTION 3-3 AND AMENDING CHAPTER 14 PARKS AND RECREATION, SECTIONS 14-1 – 14-3 AND ADDING SECTIONS 14-4 – 14-5 & 14-56 – 14-62 INCLUDING ARTICLE IV, SECTIONS 14-63 – 14-65 ADOPT-A-PARK/ADOPT-A-TRAIL PROGRAM; SUBJECT TO THE RULES, REGULATIONS AND OBLIGATIONS ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF TAVARES COUNCIL; PROVIDING SEVERABILITY AND CONFLICTS; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ORDINANCE 2025-05 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF TAVARES, FLORIDA AMENDING THE CITY OF TAVARES LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS CHAPTER 8 ZONING REGULATIONS, TABLE 8-1 FUTURE LAND USE/ZONING MATRIX; AND TABLE 8-3 DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS; SUBJECT TO THE RULES, REGULATIONS AND OBLIGATIONS ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF TAVARES COUNCIL; PROVIDING SEVERABILITY AND CONFLICTS; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ORDINANCE 2025-06 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF TAVARES, FLORIDA AMENDING THE CITY OF TAVARES LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS CHAPTER 16 SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS, SECTION 16-24 FIRE PROTECTION; SUBJECT TO THE RULES, REGULATIONS AND OBLIGATIONS ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF TAVARES COUNCIL; PROVIDING SEVERABILITY AND CONFLICTS; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. VII. CONSENT AGENDA Vice Mayor Pfister asked if anyone wished to pull an item from the Consent Agenda for discussion. There were no requests. MOTION Troy Singer moved to approve the Consent Agenda [Tab 3. Approval of the August 6, 2025, City Council Meeting Minutes], seconded by Bob Grenier. The motion carried unanimously 4-0.

August 20, 2025 – Tavares City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 16 Tab 4. Approval of the August 6, 2025, City Council Meeting Minutes Approved on the Consent Agenda. VIII. RESOLUTIONS Tab 5. Resolution 2025-13 – Authorize Mayor to Sign LCWA and FDEP Grant Amendments for the North St. Clair Abrams Stormwater Treatment Pond Project Ms. Houghton made the following presentation: At the July 19th, 2023, City Council meeting, the City Council approved the acceptance of a Lake County Water Authority (LCWA) Stormwater grant of $376,955 to design and build a new wet detention stormwater treatment pond on North St. Clair Abrams. At the December 6th, 2023, City Council meeting, the Council approved the acceptance of a State of Florida Direct Appropriation/Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) LPA grant for the same project for $200,000. A second Florida Department of Environmental Protection grant for the same project, amounting to $176,955, was accepted at the March 20, 2024, City Council meeting. LCWA: $376,955 FDEP (LPA): $200,000 FDEP (NS113): $176,955 Total: $753,910 This project is fully grant-funded. However, due to an active eagle nest nearby, permitting and construction have been delayed. Therefore, the Lake County Water Authority has offered to extend the grant agreement end date from August 1, 2025, to August 1, 2026. The one-year extension should provide adequate time for finishing the project. Grant extensions for the two Florida Department of Environmental Protection grants are in progress and are expected to be approved soon. The attached resolution authorizes the Mayor and City Administrator to accept and execute grant agreements with the LCWA and FDEP to extend the end date of all three grants by one year for the North St. Clair Abrams Treatment Pond project. Ms. Houghton said staff recommended Option 1, for the Council to approve Resolution 2025-13 authorizing the Mayor and City Administrator to accept and execute grant agreements with the LCWA and FDEP to extend the end date of all three grants by one year for the North St. Clair Abrams Stormwater Treatment Pond project. Vice Mayor Pfister asked if there were any comments from the Council.

August 20, 2025 – Tavares City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 16 Council Member Singer said he supported the City’s efforts to pursue grant funding and understood the reasons for the delay. He asked for clarification regarding the active eagle’s nest in the project area and what procedures were involved in protecting it. Ms. Houghton stated that environmental protections were in place for the eagles and their nest. She noted that the eagles were expected to return at the end of the month or in early September, and that, in order to obtain the necessary permits, the City had to comply with eagle nesting season timelines and avoid disturbing the nesting period. Council Member Singer asked who regulated those protections. Mr. Drury responded that they were overseen by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. MOTION Troy Singer moved to approve Resolution 2025-13, seconded by Bob Grenier. Council Member Gamble noted that the funding was entirely through grants and there would be no fiscal impact to the City. The motion carried unanimously 4-0. IX. ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING First Reading Second Reading Tab 6. Ordinance 2025-02 – Amending Chapter 3 Alcoholic Beverages, Section 3- 3, and Chapter 14 Parks and Recreation, Sections 14-1 to 14-3 and Adding Sections 14-4 – 14-5 and 14-56 – 14-62, Including Article IV, Sections 14-63 – 14-65 “Adopt-A-Park/Adopt-A-Trail Program” of the Code of Ordinances. Parks Operations Manager Traci Anderson made the following presentation: Over the past thirty years, the city’s park system has evolved into an invaluable community asset, experiencing a substantial increase in both usage and enjoyment that is congruent with the growth of our community. The proposed amendments to the Code of Ordinances, particularly the implementation of the Adopt-A-Park/Adopt-A-Trail Program, aim to further enhance the public's experience by improving safety and enjoyment within these spaces. The proposed amendments to the City of Tavares Code of Ordinances, specifically concerning Chapter 3 (Alcoholic Beverages) and Chapter 14 (Parks and Recreation), along with the introduction of the Adopt-A-Park/Adopt-A-Trail Program, are intended to clarify regulations, enhance the usability of the affected areas, align with established local best practices, and ensure compliance with

August 20, 2025 – Tavares City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 6 of 16 state and federal laws. Furthermore, several Lake County Parks, including Lake Gem and Lake Idamere, are located within the City’s Interlocal Service Boundary Agreement (ISBA) area. City staff conducted a comprehensive review of the Lake County Code of Ordinances, initiating a comparison with the City’s documentation to ensure consistency and uniformity for all parks within the City’s ISBA area. All stakeholders affected by the proposed amendments—including the Tavares Police Department, Community Services, Economic Development, Community Development, Public Works, and the City Attorney—collaborated to review, update, and provide feedback on the proposed ordinance amendments based on their areas of expertise. A strong consensus has been reached that the proposed amendments will significantly contribute to the greater public good. Therefore, staff recommends the approval of all the presented ordinance amendments as depicted in Ordinance 2025-02. The amendments have included numerous areas that were previously unspecified, including, but not limited to, the examples below: 1. Defined recreational spaces such as the addition of trails, museums, arboretums, cemeteries, boat ramps and is inclusive of all public service facilities under the operation of the city of Tavares Parks Management Division, Recreation Department or designee. (Section 14-2.) 2. Consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in parks, except for the “Downtown Waterfront Entertainment District”, as provided in section 10.5-502 of the City Code or Ordinances. (Section 3-3.) 3. Defined parking areas. (Section 14-53.) 4. Defined prohibited activities, such as the use of bicycles, tricycles, skateboards, rollerblades, or similar equipment on boardwalks, nature trails, and sidewalks, unless designated as an approved trail or trail connector. (Section 14- 55.) 5. The addition of Article IV, Sections 14-63 – 14-65 Adopt-A-Park/Adopt-A-Trail Program is a significant step in aligning our city with the "America-in-Bloom" initiative, which is defined as a council priority. This program will not only enhance the beauty of our parks and trails but also foster a sense of community and civic pride among our residents, showcasing our commitment to enhancing the city's esthetics and community engagement. On July 17, 2025, the Planning & Zoning Advisory Board met and voted unanimously (6-0) to recommend approval, subject to some minor clarifications. The City Council packet contains the revised edits as recommended by the P&Z Advisory Board and reviewed by staff and legal counsel. Staff recommends Option 1, that the City Council move to approve Ordinance 2025-02.

August 20, 2025 – Tavares City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 7 of 16 Council Member Grenier inquired about the status of the County parks, specifically Lake Gem and Lake Idamere. Mr. Drury explained that those parks were located within the Interlocal Service Boundary Area (ISBA), which provided that if the properties became contiguous with the City, they would be annexed accordingly. Council Member Singer noted the Council had previously voted to rename Tavares Nature Park as Tavares Nature Preserve and Squibb Park as Squibb Preserve. He asked Attorney Holt if the ordinance should be revised to include “Preserves.” Attorney Holt stated that using the term “Preserve” rather than “Park” would be legally sufficient and would serve as a sound clarification. Council Member Singer added that he appreciated the Planning and Zoning Board’s concerns being incorporated, particularly regarding e-cigarettes, e-bikes, and service animals. Vice Mayor Pfister commended staff and all participants for their work on the proposed amendments and thanked them for their efforts. MOTION Sandy Gamble moved to approve Ordinance 2025-02 with proposed changes, seconded by Bob Grenier. The motion carried unanimously 4-0. Tab 7. Ordinance 2025-05 – Amending Chapter 8, Table 8-1 “Future Land Use/Zoning Matrix” and Tab 8-3 “Development Standards” of the Land Development Regulations Mr. Frais made the following presentation: On September 21, 2022, City Council approved a master revision to the Land Development Regulations in order to be consistent with the adopted 2040 "Taking Flight" Comprehensive Plan. Thereafter, city staff discovered errors in Chapter 8, Table 8-1 "Future Land Use/Zoning Matrix" of the Land Development Regulations. Attached is the revised Table 8-1 which allows for PD (Planned Development) in RE (Residential Estate) zoning district consistent with the City’s adopted Comprehensive Plan. On April 17, 2025, the P&Z Advisory Board recommended City Council to consider 0' setbacks without any conditions in the Downtown Waterfront Entertainment District. On May 7, 2025, the City Council directed staff to implement the recommended text amendment changes into the Land Development Regulations. Attached is the revised Chapter 8, Table 8-3 CD (Commercial Downtown), which permits 0' setbacks without any height conditions in the Downtown Waterfront Entertainment District.

August 20, 2025 – Tavares City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 8 of 16 On July 17, 2025, the Planning & Zoning Advisory Board met and voted unanimously (6-0) to recommend approval of the ordinance as presented. Staff recommends Option 1, that the City Council moves to approve Ordinance 2025-05. Mr. Frais said the staff recommended Option 1, for the City Council to approve Ordinance 2025-05. Vice Mayor Pfister asked for comments from the Council. Council Member Gamble recalled that years ago, the Council had considered allowing zero setbacks for commercial development within the CRA. Mr. Drury confirmed that this had been the case and noted that the policy was later changed. Mr. Frais added that height restrictions had also been imposed and explained that the proposed revision would remove that restriction. Council Member Singer stated that the amendment would simplify the process and make it more streamlined. He noted that the City often received compliments on its permitting process, with many remarking that Tavares was easy to work with. Council Member Singer asked if first responders had been consulted for input and whether they had any concerns. Chief Keith responded that no issues had arisen. Vice Mayor Pfister thanked the Planning and Zoning Advisory Board for their input and thoughtful discussions. MOTION Troy Singer moved to approve Ordinance 2025-05, seconded by Sandy Gamble. The motion carried unanimously 4-0. Tab 8. Ordinance 2025-06 – Implementation of the “Click-2-Enter” System Requirements in Chapter 16, Section 16-24 Fire Protection of the Land Development Regulations Micheal Willis, Division Chief of Life Safety, made the following presentation: City staff is recommending incorporating the "Click-2-Enter" (C2E) system into the City's Land Development Regulations (LDRs) to replace the outdated Siren- Operated Sensor (SOS) system. The C2E system is designed to enhance emergency response by providing seamless access to automatic gates in residential communities. Unlike the SOS system, which relies on audible sirens and a receiving microphone that is known to fail, the C2E system uses secure radio frequency through dispatch, offering a more reliable, quiet, and efficient method for first responders to gain entry during emergencies.

August 20, 2025 – Tavares City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 9 of 16 Adopting this standard will align the city with surrounding jurisdictions, promoting regional consistency and interoperability among public safety agencies. It will also reduce confusion, improve response times, and ensure all new gated developments are built with modern, effective emergency access in mind. On July 17, 2025, the Planning & Zoning Advisory Board met and voted unanimously to recommend approval, subject to some minor clarifications. The City Council packet contains the revised edits as recommended by the P&Z Advisory Board and reviewed by staff and legal counsel. Division Chief Willis said staff recommended Option 1, for the City Council to approve Ordinance 2025-06. Council Member Singer said the proposal would simplify and improve first responder access to gated communities. Chief Willis confirmed this and added that the SOS devices were failing, while the new technology offered a reliable solution. He explained that the recommendation, developed in partnership with Lake County, would apply to new developments and to existing communities when their current systems failed. Council Member Singer asked how other communities that wished to upgrade could proceed. Chief Willis explained that the goal was to meet with those communities, discuss the new technology, and allow them to upgrade at their own expense. He added that under the fire code, it was the responsibility of the community to maintain and upgrade its system. Council Member Singer remarked that it would be beneficial to get all communities on board with the new system. Council Member Singer also inquired about the inspection process. Chief Willis explained that inspections would occur annually, typically in conjunction with clubhouse inspections if a community had one. For communities without a clubhouse, inspections would be scheduled separately. He added that the SOS systems had not proven to be consistently reliable and reinforced that the C2E system would provide a stronger, more dependable alternative. MOTION Bob Grenier moved to approve Ordinance 2025-06, seconded by Troy Singer. The motion carried unanimously 4-0. X. GENERAL GOVERNMENT Tab 9. Update on Golden Triangle Regional Park East and West Campuses from Architectural Team Mr. Aldrich made the following presentation:

August 20, 2025 – Tavares City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 10 of 16 On May 1, 2025, the City of Tavares entered into a Master Agreement with Powell Studio Architecture, LLC for the design and future build-out of the Golden Triangle Regional Park, East and West Campuses in Tavares. Under the Agreement, project initiatives, tasks and milestones would be compiled and submitted for approval under distinct Service Orders. The first, Service Order #01, was reviewed and approved on June 4, 2025 to represent the initial phase of work, focusing on Research and Community Engagement for both campuses. The scope of this phase included: • Conducting background research and analysis of the project sites and surrounding context • Establishing project steering committees to guide visioning and planning efforts • Facilitating community engagement through meetings, workshops, and surveys • Creating and maintaining an online platform to share project updates and gather public input The team from Powell Studio Architecture will present an overview and update on the progress of this Service Order #01. Jeff Powell of Powell Studio Architecture, Ryan Seacrest of RVi, and Joe Abels of AJA provided a PowerPoint presentation on the Golden Triangle Regional Parks. Council Member Gamble asked whether the design team had consulted with the Lake County Recreation Department, noting that in 2019 an architectural sketch had been developed showing what the YMCA and the west campus might look like. Mr. Seacrest confirmed that the county had been very involved and explained that the new plans were intended to build upon what had already been established, rather than erase it. He emphasized that the process was about gauging whether the community still wanted the same vision, and that feedback would be sought before any final changes were made. Council Member Gamble said the roundabout depicted in the plans had not been part of the original concept and expressed concern about the need to widen the road. Vice Mayor Pfister stated that he was excited about the project. City Administrator John Drury recognized Andy Weighill, Golden Triangle YMCA Executive Director, who was in attendance. He invited Mr. Weighill to the podium, noting that the YMCA board had been discussing the project for many years. Mr. Drury remarked that “a vision without implementation is a hallucination” and asked if Mr. Weighill wished to share comments. Mr. Weighill expressed his pleasure in working with Mr. Drury and City staff. He stated that both YMCA members and leadership were enthusiastic about the project and confirmed that Mr. Powell would attend an upcoming board meeting to present. He

August 20, 2025 – Tavares City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 11 of 16 added that the corporate office was already working on integrating marketing efforts and that the YMCA was eager to help bring the vision to life. Mr. Weighill introduced Angela Harrold, Director of the Lake County Parks and Trails Department, who was present in the audience. Ms. Harrold stated that the County was excited about the partnership with the City of Tavares and the YMCA, and believed the collaboration would benefit the entire Golden Triangle area. Mr. Drury emphasized that the City, County, and YMCA all “rowed in the same direction,” and the result would be one of the most significant projects in the region for decades to come. Council Member Grenier remarked that the citizens and the broader community would greatly benefit. He said he was eager to see people come together through this vision and believed the project would be wonderful for both the City of Tavares and the entire region. He also asked Mr. Powell if future meetings would track citizen participation and the ideas they contributed. Mr. Powell confirmed that the design team would be conducting surveys and tracking input at meetings, and that data would be made available. He assured the Council that they intended to keep the momentum moving forward. The Council thanked the architectural team for their presentation. Tab 10. School Resource Officer Agreement with Lake County School Board Chief Coursey made the following presentation: The Lake County School Board (LCSB) provides funding for a police officer to be at Tavares Elementary for security and safety during the school year. This will be the eighth year in which the LCSB and City have entered into this agreement. During the times when there is no school, the SRO will be available for duties within the department. The LCSB will pay the City of Tavares for the salary and benefits directly attributable to the services performed pursuant to the terms of the agreement. The compensation will be invoiced to the school board on a monthly basis. The invoices will be paid within 15 days of receipt. Chief Coursey said staff recommended Option 1, for the Council to approve the agreement between the City of Tavares and Lake County School Board to provide a Police Officer at Tavares Elementary School. Chief Coursey noted this was the eighth year of the program. Vice Mayor Pfister asked for comments from the Council.

August 20, 2025 – Tavares City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 12 of 16 Council Member Gamble stated that approximately five years ago, during the early years of the School Resource Officer (SRO) program, the School Board Superintendent attended a City Council meeting. He recalled that Vice Mayor Pfister made a comment about expanding the program to include both the middle and high schools, and he asked if the City was still pursuing that goal. Chief Coursey responded that the Police Department needed officers on the road and that expanding SRO assignments would be part of a future plan. Council Member Gamble stated that SROs were typically assigned based on a certain student population threshold. He further noted that Tavares High School had been the first school in Lake County to have an SRO through a grant program, and he asked whether the Police Department could look at new grant opportunities to support additional staffing. Vice Mayor Pfister added that the Council had considered fully funding the SRO position at the elementary school, and at the start of the program, the Lake County School Board ultimately assumed responsibility by fully or partially funding the position. Council Member Gamble remarked that the School Board was now in a stronger financial position due to the voter-approved school safety referendum. He noted that some board members expressed concerns about limited funding and inability to contribute more, but with the referendum in place, the School Board had the capacity to expand funding for safety programs. MOTION Sandy Gamble moved to approve the School Resource Officer agreement with the Lake County School Board, seconded by Bob Grenier. The motion carried unanimously 4-0. XI. BUDGET WORKSHOP Tab 11. Budget Workshop – Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan Mr. Drury made the following presentation: The General Fund budget was presented to the Council at the July 16 th budget workshop. The Enterprise and Special Revenue Fund budgets were presented to Council at the August 6th budget workshop. The City Council set the maximum tentative millage rate of 6.6850 mills and the maximum tentative voted debt millage rate of 0.1467 mills at the July 16th budget workshop. At this meeting, the Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan will be presented, after which the Council will have an opportunity to discuss it and the FY 2026 Proposed Budget.

August 20, 2025 – Tavares City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 13 of 16 Ms. Houghton provided a PowerPoint presentation of the Five-Year Capital Plan. Council Member Gamble inquired about the enterprise funds, specifically regarding the water meters and the base read program. He asked if the system operated through fiber optic technology. Ms. Houghton explained that the system utilized radio transmission from a central tower to the individual meters. Council Member Singer asked about the status of the parking garage project. Mr. Drury responded that the design phase was scheduled for the upcoming year, followed by construction in the following year. He explained that the overall project would take three years, with the first year dedicated to design and the following two years to construction. Council Member Gamble observed that no funding for a parking garage appeared to be allocated in the upcoming year’s budget. Brett Jones, Budget Analyst, confirmed that funding for the parking garage was not scheduled to begin until 2027. Council Member Gamble asked whether funds were available in the current budget for a concept plan. Mr. Drury confirmed and said that a plan being completed during the current year would address funding questions. Council Member Gamble clarified that in Fiscal Year 2025–2026 the City would only receive a flat parking area with a mix of gravel and asphalt, with construction of the parking garage beginning in Fiscal Year 2026–2027. Tab 12. Budget Workshop – Continued Deliberations and Updates to FY 2026 Proposed Budget Mr. Drury made the following presentation: The current proposed draft budget is fully balanced, has a lower millage rate, exceeds the GFOA’s recommendation for General Fund reserves, provides a similar level of service, and takes care of employees. At the previous Budget Workshop, Council continued its budget deliberations. An opportunity is provided for the Council to resume budget deliberations and then finalize a draft budget for the first public hearing on September 3rd, 2025, and the second and final public hearing on September 17th, 2025. The proposed Budget has been updated based on current updates from the City’s health and dental insurers, Lake County Property Appraiser, and the State of Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research (EDR) Department. Updates for miscellaneous items are also included (staff vacancies, changes in health insurance coverage, changes in dental insurance coverage, etc.). The attached Exhibit A consists of these updated adjustments to the draft Budget. They reflect additional General Fund revenues of $69,289. It should be noted that the City is still waiting on final revenue estimates from the state for two state shared revenues and the final costs for General Liability and Workers’

August 20, 2025 – Tavares City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 14 of 16 Compensation from the City’s public entity insurer. After the Council deliberates and finalizes the budgets, they will be brought back to the Council along with supporting resolutions at the two upcoming Public Hearings in September for further public input and Council consideration. Mr. Drury stated the City expected to receive state-shared revenue estimates within the next two weeks. Vice Mayor Pfister asked for comments from the Council. Council Member Singer inquired whether the state had a deadline to provide the revenue estimates to the cities. Mr. Drury responded that he was unsure and would report back. He explained that the City’s deadline would be the final public hearing in September. If revenue estimates were not received from the state by that time, staff would insert an estimate. Council Member Singer recommended that the Council not address the additional $60,289 in General Fund revenues until the estimates were received from the state. Council Member Grenier concurred. Council Member Gamble asked if a portion of road paving expenses was being shifted to the General Fund and, if so, whether that would remove another item from the General Fund budget. Ms. Houghton responded that the budget contained just enough to cover the expense and confirmed that it did not change the outcome of the budget. XII. NEW BUSINESS XIII. OLD BUSINESS Council Member Gamble asked Attorney Holt whether there were any restrictions on renaming two City parks from “Park” to “Preserve.” Attorney Holt stated she had reviewed both the grant documentation and the property deeds and found nothing that would legally prohibit the change. She confirmed that the renaming would be legally sufficient. XIV. AUDIENCE TO BE HEARD Joe Fumasi, 2693 Jumping Jack Way, Clermont, discussed Lake County’s interest in becoming a Charter County. He expressed concerns that the City’s powers could be overridden if the measure came to fruition, noting that currently the County must negotiate with the City on matters such as taking over roads. He stated that, as a Charter County, Lake County would not be required to negotiate and could simply turn a road over to the City. Mr. Fumasi said he hoped the City would not support this initiative. Gary Santoro, Chair of the Planning and Zoning Board, addressed the Council regarding the recently approved increase in the stipend for Planning and Zoning Board members. He stated the decision came as a surprise and demonstrated the Council’s commitment and confidence in the Board. Mr. Santoro said he enjoyed working with the

August 20, 2025 – Tavares City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 15 of 16 Planning and Zoning Board, City staff, Mr. Drury, and Attorney Holt, adding that everyone worked together as a great team. XV. REPORTS Tab 13. City Administrator Report Mr. Drury said he was excited about the YMCA Golden Triangle project. He noted that Vice Mayor Pfister served as the Council liaison to the Horizon Team and attended many of the discussions and planning sessions. He stated that Lake County was funding the project and that it would be a legacy project for each Council Member. Chief Keith thanked and commended Division Chief Willis for his work on Ordinance 2025-06 and expressed appreciation to the City Council for their questions and support. Chief Keith noted that Council Member Singer had not sought reelection and said he had enjoyed serving with him, describing him as a strong supporter of public safety and the City of Tavares. He recognized Council Member Gamble’s unopposed reelection to Seat 2 and offered his congratulations. Tab 14. City Council Member Reports Council Member Gamble reported on the completion of Camp Road leading to Lane Park. He explained that the road had not been built to the City’s standards because the adjacent landowner had refused to provide right-of-way for expansion. He suggested that the City consider purchasing property in the future to ensure adequate width for roadway projects. Council Member Gamble also reported on the following: • Discussed the City’s financial audits, noting that the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) conducted the City’s audits. He said that, unlike other situations reported in the news, Tavares' audits had always been open and transparent. He commended Ms. Houghton and her staff for their hard work, preparing the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and the budget book. He noted that the City consistently had great audits because of its outstanding finance team. • Highlighted the City’s awards and recognition from the GFOA, explaining that while reviewers often commented on the large size of the City’s budget documents, the goal was to provide comprehensive and detailed financial information. • Recognized the upcoming retirement of Mr. Clark at the end of October. He expressed sadness to see him go and praised him for his many years of dedicated service to the City. Council Member Singer expressed his appreciation for the City of Tavares, stating how much he loved the community and how frequently residents expressed the same sentiment. Council Member Singer also reported on the following:

August 20, 2025 – Tavares City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page 16 of 16 • Reported on attending the Phantom Skydive Team event, where a group of veterans parachuted into Lake Dora. He emphasized that while it was not a City- sponsored event, the team loved coming to Tavares because of the City’s success. Council Member Grenier expressed appreciation for working with Council Member Singer through the years. Council Member Grenier also reported on the following: • Spoke about the Mechanized Cavalry event, noting that some attendees were considering moving to Tavares and were returning to book with a local hotel and the Dora Queen for next year’s event. • Commented on the Story Walk project, reporting that the plates would be installed on poles the following day and that the feature would connect to Ridge Park. He expressed excitement that the community would enjoy such a unique amenity. Vice Mayor Pfister congratulated Mr. Dillon on winning an award, which City Administrator Drury confirmed would be brought forward at the next meeting. Vice Mayor Pfister also reported on the following: • Recognized the upcoming retirement of Mr. Clark’s and said he would be missed. • Reflected on the YMCA East Campus project and discussed how Mr. Drury motivated and encouraged the groups involved, generating positive reactions throughout the process. XVI. ADJOURNMENT There was no further business, and Vice Mayor Pfister adjourned the meeting at 5:38 p.m. Respectfully, ______________________________ Susie Novack, MMC, FCRM City Clerk