At 7:30 p.m. on May 28, Mayor Nate Kilton called the meeting to order. City Commissioners Jason Jones and William Dodson, City Attorney Kenneth Buchman, and City Manager Bill McDaniel were present. Vice Mayor Mary Mathis and Kerri Miller, City Clerk were unable to attend due to illness. Jessie Navarro, Executive Assistant for the City Manager, functioned in the City Clerk role for the meeting.
Brian Stowe, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Plant City prayed for wisdom, direction, and clarity in their decisions for the City Commission to keep Plant City a good and safe place to live. The assembly then stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.
The City Commission offered two proclamations of recognition.
The first proclamation commended the Plant City High School cheerleaders, who won the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 2A Medium, Non-Tumbling Division Competitive Cheerleading State Championship on February 2. On the way to the championship, the cheerleaders won the Western Conference and regional championships. This team also placed third in the national competition. The proclamation lauded the team’s talent, exceptional teamwork, countless hours of practice, and assured the students and coaches Plant City is proud of their spirit and dedication.
The second proclamation, signed by Mayor Nate Kilton, declared May 2024 as Water Safety Month in the City of Plant City. The proclamation reads, in part, “Whereas engaging in swimming and other aquatic-related activities supports the physical and mental health of children and adults alike; and water safety plays an essential role in preventing drownings and recreational water related injuries; advocating water safety education is a collaborative effort among families, neighbors, community groups, first responders, elected officials, businesses and schools, and local organizations; the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County sponsors the Children’s Board Mobile Swim Program, which brings swimming lessons and water safety education to neighborhood pools, and the Children’s Board supports Safe Kids Greater Tampa, which educates children and parents to prevent water related injuries and drowning; providing access to water-safety programs to families and individuals of all ages, whether owners of private pools and spas, users of public swimming facilities, or visitors to water parks, beaches, or lakes, is essential to the safety of children in our community.” The proclamation calls upon citizens, businesses, and organizations to make water safety a top priority and to support activities that advocate for an optimal environment and safe, healthy families and communities. This is an important initiative because according to the CDC the leading cause of death for children ages one to four is drowning.
During Public Comments, one Plant City Resident brought to the attention of the Commission some cemetery headstones are in some disrepair and one is missing. The commission thanked the citizen for pointing this out. During the meeting the City Manager sent an inquiry to Plant City staff and found that someone vandalized the cemetery recently—the damage is in the process of being cleaned up and the headstone was removed for repair.
The meeting then proceeded to regular business. These are routine consent items. One resolution was offered:
24-242 Accepting easement from Redline Property Group, LLC, a Florida Limited Liability Company to maintain meters and backflow preventer assemblies.
In the Commission meetings, the next agenda item is reports of officers, boards, and committees:
City Manager Report resolutions:
24-113 authorizes the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 3 to Agreement No. LPA0038 with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
24-239 Authorizes execution of a contract with Hazen and Sawyer, Inc. for EWO No. 2 for design of the Potable Reuse Project.
24-187 Approves an amendment to the budget for fiscal year ending September 30, 2024.
24-186 Approves an amendment to the CIP budget for fiscal year ending September 30, 2024 and the next four years.
24-255 Authorizes the City Manager to execute a construction work order with Killebrew, Inc. for Utility Adjustment for Florida Department of Transportation Project FPID437789-1-52-01.
24-254 Authorizes the City Manager to purchase two pickup trucks for the Building Department under the Florida Sheriff’s Association Bid FSA23-VEL31.0.
24-236 Approves an amendment to the budget for fiscal year ending September 30, 2024.
Resolutions 24-113 and 24-239 address projects for McIntosh Preserve. The aim of the projects are to improve water supply for the growing population of Plant City. Similar projects are underway in a handful of other locations in Florida, and Plant City is leading the way.
All resolutions passed 3-0.
A late item added to agenda was an update on the new City of Plant City billing portal. For autopay, Plant Citians will need to set up a new account with a new account number. When people log on to pay, a new page will appear with instructions.
An additional item added to the agenda updated the City Commission on a depression that appeared on one lane of Airport Road. Inspectors deemed the depression to be a sinkhole. The City Manager exercised emergency authority to resolve the problem. Steps are being taken to repair the sinkhole.
Public Hearings:
The public attending can ask questions, and give opinions during these public hearings.
24-251 Legislative public hearing on a resolution for an extension of time to commence alcoholic beverage sales at 103 North Palmer Street.
24-253 Legislative public hearing on an ordinance for a text amendment to Division 4, Article VII, Chapter 102, for Sidewalk Cafes. (PB-2024-21).
24-259 Legislative public hearing on an ordinance amending Section 30-63(b) of Plant City Code revising the Notice of Public Nuisance.
24-245 Legislative public hearing on an ordinance amending Article IV of Chapter 66, Plant City Code regarding business taxes. This ordinance will save money for some Plant City small businesses.
24-243 Legislative public hearing on a resolution approving the adoption of the inventory list of real property appropriate for affordable housing.
24-252 Quasi-judicial public hearing on an ordinance to rezone .27± acres located at 713 West Warren Street from R-1 Single Family dwelling district to R-2 Multiple-family dwelling district. (PB-2024-08). This proposal drew the owners of the property and several people from the neighborhood. In respectful discussion and debate citizens voiced their opinions both pro and con. Mayor Nate Kilton explained to the assembly the function of a Quasi-Judicial hearing is for the Commissioners to act as judge apart from their personal opinions. The City Commissioners asked further questions and made observations.
The public hearings all passed 3-0.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:15 p.m.