CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL

MINUTES CITY OF FORT MYERS CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL SEPTEMBER 3,2025

CALL TO ORDER

The City Council of the City of Fort Myers, Florida, met in a special session at Oscar M. Corbin, Jr. City Hall, 2200 Second Street, its regular meeting place in the City of Fort Myers, Florida, on Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at 5:15 p.m. Present was Mayor Kevin B. Anderson, presiding, present were Council Members Teresa Watkins Brown, Diana Giraldo, Terolyn P. Watson, Liston D. Bochette III, and Fred Burson. Also present were Marty Lawing, City Manager, Grant W. Alley, City Attorney, and Mary Hagemann, City Clerk. Absent: Council Member Darla Bonk (via Zoom)

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS

Mayor Anderson led the Pledge of Allegiance.

City Attorney Alley gave public edification on the opportunity available for citizens to provide public input.

APPROVAL OF WALK-ON AGENDA ITEMS

MOTION: Councilperson Burson moved to approve Walk-On Item No.1 to be placed on the agenda and placed under Section 2, City Manager's Items and heard as Item No. 2.1; seconded by Councilperson Watkins Brown; motion carried unanimously.

MOTION: Councilperson Burson moved to approve Walk-On Item No. 2 to be placed on the agenda and placed under Section 2, City Manager's Items and heard as Item No. 2.2; seconded by Councilperson Giraldo; motion carried unanimously.

3. Presentation to City Council on Deferred Compensation by Paul Murray with Mariner (Marvlyn Scott, Human Resources)

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MOTION: Councilperson Giraldo moved to approve Walk-On Item No. 3 to be placed on the agenda and placed under Section 2, City Manager's Items and heard as Item No. 2.3; seconded by Councilperson Watkins Brown; motion carried unanimously.

PUBLIC INPUT

Sergeant Jari Sanders, president of the local police union, urged City Council not to delay negotiations on officer pay any longer, stressing that officers want fair compensation rather than placement within a specific percentile. Sergeant Sanders emphasized the urgency to begin negotiations immediately to support retention and avoid further delays, especially with nearby agencies, Cape Coral, Lee County and Collier County, moving forward with raises in October.

1. PUBLIC HEARINGS

1.1 Adopt tentative millage rate and grant permission to advertise for the final public hearing on Monday, September 15,2025 (Christine Tenney, Financial Services)

Christine Tenney, Financial Services Director, reported that that the current millage rate of ad valorem taxation for real and tangible personal property 2024 is 6.5255 on every $1,000 of total taxable valuation; the not to exceed millage rate for calendar year 2025 was approved at the August 4, 2025 City Council meeting at 6.5000 mills and was included in the Truth in Millage notifications mailed from the Lee County Property Appraiser's Office during the month of August, 2025 to all property owners; The 2025 rolled-back rate is 6.4475. She asked the Board to consider adopting the tentative rate of 6.5000 mills to move forward in the advertisement for the second public hearing to be held on September 15, 2025 at the regular Council meeting.

Mayor Anderson opened public comments for this public hearing, seeing none, he closed public comments.

MOTION: Councilperson Watkins Brown moved to adopt a tentative millage rate of 6.5000 mills and grant permission for the final public hearing on Monday, September 15, 2025; seconded by Councilperson Giraldo; motion carried unanimously.

Christine Tenney, Financial Services Director, reviewed a summary of the 2026 tentative general fund budget which incorporates using the tentative millage rate of 6.5000 mills. The total budget is $183.2 million, a 6% increase and $10,337,794.00 more than the current adopted budget. She reviewed the general budget components of revenue, expenditures, projected reserves, Capital Improvement Program (CIP) 5-year totals, citywide budget, reserve balances, and taxpayer impact.

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Ms. Tenney stated that the final public hearing on the budget is September 15,2025 at the regular City Council meeting.

Mayor Anderson opened public comments for this public hearing, seeing none, he closed public comments.

Councilperson Watson requested the operating budgets for each department prior to the September 15,2025 public hearing.

MOTION: Councilperson Burson moved to adopt tentative City Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 and grant permission for the final public hearing on Monday, September 15, 2025; seconded by Councilperson Watkins Brown; motion carried unanimously.

1.3 Resolution No. 2025-100 relating to the assessment for the Stormwater Management Program, describing the method of assessing Stormwater management services and facilities costs against assessed property, determining the initial Stormwater assessments, and directing the preparation of an assessment roll (Christine Tenney Financial Services)

City Attorney Alley read the title of the Resolution.

Christine Tenney, Financial Services Director, reported that there are no changes from the current rate for stormwater and the property owners have been noticed.

Mayor Anderson opened public comments for this public hearing, seeing none, he closed public comments.

MOTION: Councilperson Giraldo moved to adopt Resolution No. 2025-100 relating to the assessment for the Stormwater Management Program, describing the method of assessing Stormwater management services and facilities costs against assessed property, determining the initial Stormwater assessments, and directing the preparation of an assessment roll; seconded by Councilperson Burson; motion carried unanimously.

City Attorney Alley read the title of the Resolution.

Christine Tenney, Financial Services Director, reported that there is no recommended change to the solid waste residential assessment.

Mayor Anderson opened public comments for this public hearing, seeing none, he closed public comments.

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MOTION: Councilperson Watkins Brown moved to adopt Resolution No. 2025-101 relating to the collection and disposal of solid waste, describing the method of assessing solid waste costs against assessed property, determining the initial solid waste service assessments and directing the preparation of an assessment roll; seconded by Councilperson Burson; motion carried unanimously.

1.5 Resolution No. 2025-102 relating to the funding and provision of fire rescue services and facilities in the City; establishing the estimated fire rescue assessed cost and assessment rates for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025; directing the preparation of an assessment roll for said fiscal year; approving the assessment roll and confirming preliminary assessment Resolution No. 2025-99 adopted on August 4, 2025 (Christine Tenney, Financial Services)

City Attorney Alley read the title of the Resolution.

Christine Tenney, Financial Services Director, reported that there is no change to the fire assessment rates as there was a Call for Service Assessment completed last year.

Mayor Anderson opened public comments for this public hearing, seeing none, he closed public comments.