City Council Workshop - Amended to add item #7b.

City of Dunnellon MASTER City Council Workshop Date: May 05, 2025 Time: 5: 30 p. m. Place: City Hall, 20750 River Dr., Dunnellon, FL 34431 Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance: Mayor Green called the meeting to order at approximately 5: 33 p. m. and led the Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. Opening Prayer/ Moment of Silence Mayor Green invited any citizen wishing to volunteer to open with prayer. William Ary stepped forward and provided the invocation. Roll Call Walter Green, Mayor, Seat 1 Vacant, Councilperson, Seat 2 Tim Inskeep, Vice- Mayor, Seat 3 Valerie Hanchar, Councilwoman, Seat 4 Rex Lehmann, Councilman, Seat 5 Staff Present Mandy Odom, City Clerk Schonna McLean, Finance Officer Chad Ward, Public Works Manager Captain Ron Bray, Police Department Michelle Leonard, Assistant City Clerk Julie Danowski, Records Clerk Legal Counsel Andrew Hand, Shepard, Smith, Kohlmyer& Hand, P. A. Proof of Publication The agenda was posted on the City' s website and City Hall bulletin board on Monday, April 28, 2025. The agenda was amended on Tuesday, April 29 to add Item # 7b. 1) Public Comments Art Jones, 12163 Palmetto Way, shared nine volunteers visiting Dunnellon on a retreat recently helped successfully remove hydrilla from the river by hand among the eelgrass. He also announced Duke Energy volunteered to clean City Beach on May 22nd before Memorial Day weekend. He noted no extra volunteers were needed but a thank you from Council would be appreciated. David Porter, 11835 E. Blue Cove, shared his observations on the new policing efforts, noting more traffic stops, and daily river patrols. He mentioned seeing evening business checks behind

City Council25Workshop Page 2 of 10 stores. He expressed residents now feel protected and are no longer frightened to walk around town. 2) Board Reports There were no board reports. 3) Dunnellon Chamber& Business Association Report Art Jones provided the monthly DCBA report, and read the following into the record: New Members Barr- None Electric Services Harmony Preschool Alcova Mortgage My Piece of Florida Citrus County Dream Team/ Randy Francisco Barbers & Beers The Works Lady Isis Upcoming Events May 1st— DCBA New& Current Member Conversation 5: 30pm— 7: 00 pm. 20500 E. Pennsylvania Ave. May 2nd — Swamp Chickens at Cheers 6: 30pm - 9: 30pm 19330 SW 83rd Place Rd. May 6th, 13th , 20th, & 27th — Greater Dunnellon Historical Society Open 9: 00 am — 12: 00 pm. 12061 S. Williams St. May 27th— Dinner Mixer at Boys & Girls Club Guest Speaker United Way President Bob Haight. Dinners are $ 20 for Members &$ 25 for Future Members. Rainbow Springs Art May Class Schedule May 1st- & May 8th - Basic Pinch Pot Trinket Dish from 1: 00 pm— 3: 00 pm Instructor: Teresa Anthony Class Fee: $ 50. 00 Plus$ 10 Supply fee May 3rd - Beginning Watercolor: Country Road 1: 00 pm — 3: 00 pm Instructor: Rowena Murillo Class Fee: $ 50 Plus$ 10 Supply Fee. May 4th - Cats and Dogs on Rocks 2: 00 pm— 4: 00 pm Instructor: Peggy Evans Hughes $ 20 class Plus$ 10 Supply Fee. May 10th - Oil painting: Morning Glow 10: 00 am— 2: 00 pm Instructor: Sean Mullins Class Fee: $ 60. 00 Plus $ 10 Supply May 16th - Create an Artistic Vision Board that Works! 10: 30 am - 12: 30 pm Instructor: Bridget Hanley: Class Fee: $ 40 Plus 5$ Supply fee. May 16th- May Flowers on Rocks 2: 00 pm— 4: 00 pm Instructor: Peggy Evans Hughes $ 20 class fee Plus$ 10 Supply Fee. May 17th- Fun and Easy Faces 1: 00— 3: 00 pm Instructor: Rowena Murillo Class Fee: $ 50 Plus$ 10 Supply Fee. May 24th - Creative Foundations- Intro to Drawing and Painting Techniques 12: 00— 2: 00 PM

City Council Workshop May 05, 2025 Page 3 of 10 Instructor: Lauren Nielsen Class Fee: $ 65 Plus$ 15 Supply Fee." Councilman Lehmann asked about the Springs Festival. Mr. Jones replied he has met with Public Works, and it is moving forward. He asked anyone who was interested to loan popup tents for shade. 4) Regular Agenda 4. a) Florida Governmental Utility Authority Will Fontaine, Operations Manager, provided a progress update at Mayor Green' s request. He highlighted the completed Chatmire septic- to- sewer project, which converted about 300 septic tanks at no cost to the residents. He said the grant funded a new lift station, road improvements, and major piping upgrades to protect the river. He discussed the upcoming Rainbow Springs septic-to-sewer conversion, funded by the largest grant of its kind in State history. He mentioned the $ 2. 2 million package plant abatement project, which will connect the State campground wastewater to the main system, with the school lift station already operational. Mr. Fontaine reported the Rainbow Springs decommissioning project finished under budget and now functions as a pumping station, reducing nutrient contamination in the river. He said overall, 28. 5 million in grant funding has been secured to support river protection. He noted 438 repair and replacement projects have been completed since 2020, including major lift station rehabilitations and generator replacements, but challenges with aging meters and leaks in Rainbow Springs persist, with $750, 000 budgeted for repairs. Looking ahead, he emphasized the need for collaboration to handle significant upcoming developments, including Blue Run Ranches. He proposed building a regional sewer plant near the airport to move operations away from the river, suggesting a request for $50 million in funding and announcing a workshop to discuss this plan. Councilwoman Hanchar asked about the location, size, and cost of the proposed regional sewer plant. Mr. Fontaine responded building it near the airport was the best option unless shown otherwise. He explained his main concern was the watershed flow, but the airport site was far enough away to avoid affecting the river. Councilman Lehmann asked about water pressure and system upgrades. Mr. Fontaine explained a project was underway to address the issue, detailing the technical reasons for low pressure. He shared plans to increase pressure by creating two zones, adding another treatment facility for redundancy, and installing a booster station. He noted pressure on the east side was currently inadequate and said the improvement was included in the five- year plan. Vice- Mayor Inskeep asked if pipe thickness standards had changed. Mr. Fontaine confirmed they had, explaining the new pipes were much thicker. Vice- Mayor Inskeep thanked him for the information, said he learned a lot, and it had been incredible working with his team.

City Council Workshop May 05, 2025 Page 4 of 10 Mayor Green added whatever was needed, Mr. Fontaine has a partner in the City of Dunnellon. He stated it was very impressive to have him come to our small City. 4. b) Tobacco Free Parks Ordinance— Tanya Ousley Tanya Ousley from the Tobacco Free Partnership of Marion County followed up on the Council' s interest in the Tobacco Free Parks initiative, asking if they were ready to proceed. Hillary Jackson, also with the partnership, was present. She said they recently cleaned the boat ramp area and highlighted the health risks from tobacco litter and secondhand smoke. Ms. Ousley noted the Marion County Board of County Commissioners was developing a similar policy, Belleview had passed theirs, and there are 107 policies in place across 47 counties. She emphasized signage and public awareness as key to compliance. Councilwoman Hanchar thanked her, saying, " The earth is not an ashtray." Mrs. Odom said the Ordinance was on tonight' s agenda for discussion and, if finalized, could have a first reading next week. 4. c) Florida Friendly Landscape— Mandy Odom, City Clerk Mrs. Odom explained the following presentation meets one of the requirements in maintaining compliance with our FDEP stormwater permit, which is public education. Mrs. Odom explained Florida- Friendly Landscaping' is a science- based method for creating sustainable, attractive yards which conserve water, protect natural resources, and support wildlife. She said it was developed in response to Florida' s rapid population growth which is projected to double by 2070. She stated the program aims to reduce pressure on water quality and availability, which are vital for public health, tourism, and local economies. She added the approach recognizes landscapes are part of a larger natural system, where misuse of fertilizers and pesticides can fuel harmful algae blooms. Mrs. Odom shared the program' s cornerstone is the " right plant, right place" principle, selecting plants suited to local conditions to minimize water, fertilizer, and pesticide needs. She explained the key principles also include efficient watering, responsible fertilizing, using mulch to conserve moisture and improve soil, attracting wildlife with diverse native plants, managing pests with targeted, minimal chemical use, recycling yard waste, reducing stormwater runoff through permeable surfaces and rainwater harvesting, and protecting waterfronts, by establishing a 10- foot vegetative buffer to prevent erosion and nutrient runoff. Mrs. Odom highlighted Florida' s unique climate allows diverse plant choices but stressed the importance of selecting species adapted to the environment. She stated by following these principles, residents can maintain beautiful, sustainable landscapes while enhancing water quality and ecosystem health. She also shared educational resources and training are available through UF/ IFAS and are supported by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. She closed by saying ultimately, Florida- Friendly Landscaping helps preserve the State' s natural beauty for present and future generations.

City Council Workshop May 05, 2025 Page 5of10 5) Council Agenda Items 5. a) Vice- Mayor Inskeep- Agreement# AGR2021- 23, Marion County Animal Control Services Vice- Mayor Inskeep raised concerns about the City' s $ 12, 000 animal control contract, noting it was based on a formula used to calculate tax revenue the city recieves and unincorporated areas do not pay into it. He said he found residents may be paying twice, once via the City contract and again through their tax bills. He stated Marion County cannot provide services within City limits without a contract, and he requested Council give permission for him to reach out to the County to gather more data. Attorney Hand explained the City must provide essential services and pay the County if it wants them to handle such services, similar to the Sheriff' s Department arrangement. The Council agreed to Vice- Mayor Inskeep' s request to investigate, with Attorney Hand noting County ordinances don' t apply unless adopted by the City. Councilwoman Hanchar emphasized now is a good time to renegotiate given the upcoming budget season. 6) Resolutions 6. a) Resolution # RES2025- 15, Surplus Vehicles and Equipment— Police Department Chief Bray reported the Police Department transition is underway, with plans to surplus patrol vehicles which have attracted interest from other cities. He stated surplus requirements differ based on the buyer, with fewer modifications needed if sold to another city rather than being auctioned. He provided the Blue Book valuations for two 2020 Dodge vehicles, and requested a Resolution to solicit bids, which Council approved. There was further discussion regarding setting a minimum bid. Chief Bray recommended not setting a minimum to better gauge interest. Mrs. Odom mentioned the City' s current office vehicle is in poor shape, and she proposed declaring it surplus while keeping one of the police vehicles for City staff use. Council agreed with both suggestions. 7) Ordinances 7. a) Ordinance # ORD2025- 04, Variance Text Amendments Mrs. Odom stated this Ordinance was initiated by eda Consulting, and they have provided the following staff report. Mrs. Odom read the following into the record: The City is seeking to adopt an ordinance amending the City' s Land Development Regulations( as adopted in the Code of Ordinances) to resolve discrepancies in the application process for variances and the board responsible for processing those applications. Currently, two different sections of the Land Development Regulations address variances: Appendix A, Article XVII ( Conditional Permits and Variances) and Subpart B— Land Development Regulations, Chapter 94 — Planning, Article II, Section 94- 37 ( 12) Variances. Appendix A, Article XVII indicates that the Code Enforcement Board acting as a Board of Adjustment has the power to grant variances and conditional permits. However, the City of Dunnellon does not have either a Code Enforcement Board or Board of Adjustment. In fact, Subpart B — Land Development

City Council Workshop May 05, 2025 Page 6 of 10 Regulations, Chapter 94 — Planning, Article II, Section 94- 37. 5 specifically recognizes that the Board of Adjustment is defunct as stated in the below reference: The City of Dunnellon' s Planning Commission merges the powers and duties of traditional planning boards with additional duties and responsibilities previously handled by the City' s now defunct Board of Adjustment. " Within the powers and duties assigned to the Planning Commission, Subpart B — Land Development Regulations, Chapter 94, Section 94- 37 ( 12), the Code specifically states," ( 12) a. The Commission may recommend to the City Council approval of a request for a variance from the terms of the relevant ordinance as will not be contrary to the public interest... " The Code further provides for review criteria that the Planning Commission must make findings on in order to recommend a variance. There are six review criteria stated in Chapter 94, Section 94- 37( 12) b. It has been the ongoing practice for the Planning Commission to review and make findings on variances. Appendix A, Article XVII ( Conditional Permits and Variances) Section 17.2 ( a) contains five requirements for the issuance of a variance, which vary from the requirements that the Planning Commission must use. Further, Article XVII gives the final authority to grant variances to the Board of Adjustment( or Code Enforcement Board acting as a Board of Adjustment). This is contrary to the current practice of the Dunnellon City Council having the final authority to grant variances. The above- mentioned discrepancies in the Land Development Regulations create confusion and need to be resolved through amendments to the Code of Ordinances. Based on the problematic discrepancies in the Land Development Regulations and the resultant confusion this may cause, consider the revisions proposed in Ordinance# 2025- 04 that resolve the issues by deleting Appendix A, Article XVII ( Conditional Permits and Variances) and further clarifying that the Planning Commission has the responsibility for public hearings and recommendations to the City Council for variances. On this basis, the recommendation is to adopt Ordinance# 2025- 04." Attorney Hand stated there are several areas in the Land Development code which are confusing or conflicting, and this is the first to be brought forward for correction. Mrs. Odom added the Ordinance has already been presented to and approved by the Planning Commission, and the first reading is scheduled for the Wednesday Council meeting. 7. b) Ordinance# ORD2025- 07, Tobacco Free Parks Attorney Hand advised limiting the smoking Ordinance to City parks due to State preemption, clarifying the City could not regulate unfiltered cigars. Mayor Green agreed, noting enforcement on private property could cause conflicts, and it was best to focus on City- controlled spaces. Attorney Hand explained the Ordinance language was based on Belleview' s Ordinance, and included areas where children congregate. He asked if Council wanted monetary penalties or a

City Council Workshop May 05, 2025 Page 7 of 10 warning system, mentioning Blue Run Park' s current$ 50 fine and questioning whether to include that park. Vice- Mayor Inskeep raised concerns about enforceability, asking if police would be called for violations. Attorney Hand confirmed they would. Councilwoman Hanchar compared it to enforcing dog leash laws. Vice- Mayor Inskeep emphasized the need for a realistic, enforceable policy. Attorney Hand stated Belleview' s penalty language- does not specify a fine. Mayor Green supported an approach focused on education and warnings rather than fines, and Vice- Mayor Inskeep agreed. Mayor Green stressed encouraging compliance through reminders and assisting those unwilling to comply to go elsewhere. The Council unanimously agreed. Mr. Ward asked about signage, and Mrs. Odom read the following into the record: The City' Public Works Director or their designee shall post at least one clear, conspicuous, and unambiguous " No Smoking or Vaping" sign at each point of ingress to the area, and in at least one other conspicuous location where individuals congregate in City parks. Notwithstanding this provision, the presence or absence of signs shall not be a defense to a charge of smoking or vaping in violation of any other provision of this ordinance." 8) Agreements 8. a) Agreement# AGR2025- 10, Special Magistrate Mrs. Odom presented a renewal contract for Audrie M. Harris, P. A., Special Magistrate, noting it was a four- year agreement. The Council had no questions and agreed to place it on the consent agenda. Mr. Ward asked if she would be used for anything beyond Code Enforcement, and whether anything needed to be added to the contract to allow for future needs. Attorney Hand explained she would also be used for the Redspeed school zone enforcement program, and clarified it is an at- will contract, making it easy to adjust if needed in the future. 9) Department Reports Mrs. Odom announced she is recommending the appointment of William Ary to fill the vacant Community Development Manager position and invited Mr. Ary to speak. William Ary shared he currently serves as the Town Manager for Yankeetown but lives in Dunnellon and wishes to serve his hometown. He stated he has already met individually with each Council member. Councilwoman Hanchar asked about his experience addressing community concerns and bringing forward ideas to help the City. Mr. Ary explained he had not yet reviewed Dunnellon' s Comprehensive Plan but had extensive experience with Yankeetown' s, which was considered the most complex in the State. Councilwoman Hanchar asked about his experience with CRA

City Council Workshop May 05, 2025 Page 8 of 10 programs. Mr. Ary replied Yankeetown did not have one, but he had worked with other communities who did, and he was willing to learn and assist. Councilman Lehmann asked about the position, his future with Yankeetown, and why he wanted to join Dunnellon. Mr. Ary confirmed he would resign from Yankeetown, and shared he wanted to focus on one role rather than wearing many hats. Mr. Ary described his projected day- to- day responsibilities with Dunnellon which included reviewing the Comprehensive Plan, working with the Planning Commission, addressing codes, assisting with Ordinances, and serving as a liaison between the community and the State. Councilwoman Hanchar asked about his grant writing skills. Mr. Ary responded he had experience with HUD, CDBG, and several other grants and felt confident in this area. Mayor Green expressed appreciation for his presentation and believed Mr. Ary was what the City needed. Vice- Mayor Inskeep noted the importance of someone committed to long-term service. Mrs. Odom supported his appointment and felt he would be a good fit. Council thanked Mr. Ary for attending. Vice- Mayor Inskeep raised concerns about the timeline, noting if they waited for a formal vote next Wednesday, there would be no overlap with outgoing staff. He suggested reaching consensus now so Mr. Ary would feel secure giving notice to his current employer the next day. Attorney Hand confirmed this approach was allowed by Ordinance. Mayor Green and the rest of the Council agreed, emphasizing the importance of moving quickly. Mrs. Odom explained she could hire Mr. Ary on a 90- day temporary basis immediately, then finalize the full- time appointment after Wednesday' s vote. Council members expressed confidence in the plan, and Mrs. Odom said she would move forward with a conditional offer and include formal approval on the consent agenda. Chief Bray reported progress on the Police Department transition, noting evidence would be moved to the Sheriff' s Department the next day, moving them closer to fully vacating the building. He said he attended a Florida Police Chiefs training, connecting with other chiefs and gathering useful information, and planned to continue training that week. Mayor Green mentioned an upcoming memorial service at the County Commission complex. Mr. Ward requested a list of Sheriff Deputy contacts, and Chief Bray agreed to provide it, reminding everyone to use the non- emergency number when needed. Mr. Ward suggested closing the Ernie Mills restrooms except during events due to ongoing vandalism and misuse by the homeless. Vice- Mayor Inskeep agreed, describing escalating damage and misuse, including demands for power restoration and frequent complaints. Mr. Ward noted many offenders were not City residents, and they had stolen or destroyed signage.

City Council Workshop May 05, 2025 Page 9 of 10 Councilwoman Hanchar suggested adding cameras, and Mr. Ward recommended revisiting a parking kiosk system to help offset maintenance costs. Vice- Mayor lnskeep supported closing the restrooms to encourage problem individuals to move on, with the option to reopen later. Mayor Green agreed, emphasizing protecting public property and safety. Council briefly discussed impacts on pickleball players. Mayor Green also suggested considering longer City beach hours, but Vice- Mayor lnskeep raised concerns about unruly crowds and alligator activity after 6: 00 p. m. Mr. Ward noted it was alligator breeding season. Council discussed the risks and benefits of evening access and decided to make no changes at this time. Mrs. McLean shared the auditors' preliminary report would be ready soon, and FEMA approvals were complete, though they were still awaiting action from the Department of Emergency Management. She said she is also working on cleaning up the BS& A system, finding many miscoded entries in miscellaneous revenue accounts. Vice- Mayor lnskeep noted the second- quarter results suggested many residents might not be paying their garbage bills, and he questioned whether this was a reporting error or if taxpayers were covering these unpaid costs. 10) Council comments Mayor Green and Councilwoman Hanchar attended the FDOT Transportation Planning Summit on April 29th, though not in their district, they found very informative. Mayor Green described learning how FDOT organizes and supports counties during disaster, and noted it was eye- opening to consider what could happen if Dunnellon were directly impacted. Councilwoman Hanchar added there were many grant opportunities discussed, and they highlighted the use of drones to assess bridge erosion and other infrastructure issues. Vice- Mayor lnskeep shared he and staff are making ' good ' progress on. the CRA roads. and firehouse parking lot project, and he anticipated staff would be advertising forbids within a week. Mayor Green asked about timing. Vice- Mayor lnskeep said it takes a few months to finalize a contract and emphasized finishing before school starts, with a deadline being included in the contract. Councilwoman Hanchar asked about the project' s duration. Vice- Mayor Inskeep said based on the progress that was made when reclaiming the Granada, he believes each section of road could be done in about a week. Councilwoman Hanchar suggested doing it during Christmas break, but Mayor Green noted winter conditions could cause limitations. Mayor Green announced that Wally Dunn had submitted his resignation effective immediately. Mrs. Odom advised avoiding contact with Mr. Dunn until the resignation was formally accepted

City Council Workshop May 05, 2025 Page 10 of 10 to prevent potential Sunshine Law violations. Mayor Green confirmed he had only contacted Mr. Dunn to acknowledge receipt of the resignation. Vice- Mayor Inskeep asked about posting the vacant position, and Mrs. Odom explained if Council chose to fill it outside a formal election, they would need to advertise it first. 11) City Attorney Comments Attorney Hand reported the legislative session had been extended until June 6th. He explained any bill not sent to the Governor by May 3rd was no longer in play. He stated there were only two bills of interest to local government still active: the Live Local opt- out bill, and the Communities bill. He noted the House had attempted to insert CRA- related language into one of these bills, but it had been rejected by the Senate. However, he cautioned it was still possible for it to be added back in before the session ended. Attorney Hand anticipated any CRA- related legislation which passed this year would likely be revisited during the next legislative session. 12) Public Comment There were no public comments. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8: 33 p. m. Penned signature of: Walter L. Green, Mayor Attest: kifY0 Penned signature of: Amanda Odom, CMC, City Clerk