Commission Meeting

23718 W US HWY 27 Telephone: (386) 454-1416 High Springs, Florida 32643 Facsimile: (386) 454-2126 Web: highsprings.gov HIGH SPRINGS CITY COMMISSION MEETING MARCH 12, 2026 CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Mayor Miller called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM. ROLL CALL CITY COMMISSION: Mayor Andrew Miller – Present Vice Mayor Wayne Bloodsworth – Present Commissioner Katherine Weitz - Present Commissioner Tristan Grunder – Present Commissioner Chad Howell – Present STAFF PRESENT: Angela Stone, City Clerk Danielle Adams, City Attorney Jeremy Marshall, City Manager Ashley Mauldin, Executive Assistant Antoine Sheppard, Police Chief Joseph Peters, Fire Chief Kevin Mangan, PIO Kristyn Adkins, Planning Technician Jennifer Applebee, Parks & Rec Director INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Invocation by Vice Mayor Bloodsworth. Pledge of Allegiance APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Mayor Miller removes items 8 and 9 from Agenda. Commissioner Weitz motions to approve the amended agenda as presented. Commissioner Howell seconded. Motion carried 5-0. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA: 1. MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 26, 2026 COMMISSION MEETING. 2. MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 26, 2026 COMMISSION WORKSHOP. COMMISSION AGENDA MARCH 12, 2026 PAGE 2 of 7 Commissioner Howell motioned to approve the consent agenda for the February 26th Commission Meeting and the February 26th Commission Workshop. Vice Mayor Bloodsworth seconded. Motion carried 5-0. (E) SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS (F) UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1. DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND ACT ON ORDINANCE 2026-01. Attorney Adams reads and discusses Ordinance 2026-01. The Commission, Attorney Adams, and Planning Technician Adkins have in depth discussions. Commissioner Grunder motioned to approve Ordinance 2026-01. Commissioner Howell seconded. Vice Mayor Bloodsworth – Yes Commissioner Grunder – Yes Commissioner Howell - Yes Commissioner Weitz – Yes Mayor Miller - Yes Motion carried 5-0. (G) CITIZEN REQUESTS AND COMMENTS – FOR ISSUES NOT ON AGENDA (PLEASE STATE NAME FOR THE RECORD – LIMIT COMMENTS TO 5 MINUTES) David Linch begs the Commission and City Manager not to sell the Boy Scout building also not to pave over the concrete streets. High Springs Brewing is using the High Springs name to promote a product that kills 7,000 people each day. Alcoholic beverages cause divorce. Discusses being approached at a high rate of speed by a child on a scooter while walking. COMMISSIONER RESPONSE: City Manager Marshall informs David Linch that the Boy Scout Building is not currently in discussions about being sold. (H) NEW BUSINESS 1. DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND ACT ON APPOINTING A NEW MEMBER TO THE MAYOR’S YOUTH COUNCIL ALTERNATE POSITION. COMMISSION AGENDA MARCH 12, 2026 PAGE 3 of 7 Mayor Miller informs the Commission of an opening and an application being received. Commissioner Weitz motioned to approve appointing a new member to the Mayor’s Youth Council. Commissioner Howell seconded. Motion carried 5-0. Mayor Miller asks Commissioner Weitz to take over the Mayor’s Youth Council. Attorney Adams is asked to update the language in the Ordinance to say the Mayor or the designee. Commissioner Howell motioned to allow Commissioner Weitz to be the designee over the Mayor’s Youth Council. Vice Mayor Bloodsworth seconded. Motion carried 5-0. 2. DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND ACT ON ORDINANCE 2026-03, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HIGH SPRINGS, FLORIDA CALLING FOR TWO (2) REFERENDUM QUESTIONS TO BE PLACED BEFORE THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE CITY OF HIGH SPRINGS AT THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026; PROVIDING CHARTER REFERENDUM QUESTIONS DETERMINING WHETHER TO ADOPT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CHARTER FOR THE CITY OF HIGH SPRINGS; PROVIDING FOR THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED AMENDED CHARTER FOR THE CITY OF HIGH SPRINGS; PROVIDING FOR REQUISITE BALLOT LANGUAGE; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF ALL CONFLICTING ORDINANCES; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS, SEVERABILITY, AND EFFECTIVE DATE. Attorney Adams reads Ordinance 2026-03. Vice Mayor Bloodsworth expresses concerns financially motions not to place the Amendments on the ballot without having the cost. The Commission discusses moving the Charter Amendments to next year. Attorney Adams for legal purposes, I would sooner let it fail and instruct staff to bring it back this time next year, opposed to locking in next year’s Commission into putting something on the ballot. So, I wouldn’t amend it to say 2027 I would just say let it fail and then instruct staff to bring it back would be the legal perspective if that is the desire of the Commission. Vice Mayor Bloodsworth motioned to fail Ordinance 2026-01 tonight. Commissioner Weitz seconded. Vice Mayor Bloodsworth – Yes Commissioner Grunder – No Commissioner Howell - Yes COMMISSION AGENDA MARCH 12, 2026 PAGE 4 of 7 Commissioner Weitz – Yes Mayor Miller - Yes Motion carried 4-1. 3. DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND ACT ON DECLARING PARKS AND RECREATION MOWER AS SURPLUS. Parks Director Applebee provides short details on the mower. Commissioner Howell motions to declare Parks and Recreation Mower as surplus. Commissioner Grunder seconds the motion. Motion passes 5-0 4. DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND ACT ON DECLARING POLICE VEHICLES AS SURPLUS. Chief Sheppard recommends the Commission to declare police vehicles as surplus. Commissioner Grunder motions to declare police vehicles as surplus. Commissioner Howell seconds the motion. Motion passes 5-0 5. DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND ACT ON AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH HIGH SPRINGS PARKS & R.E.C. AND ALACHUA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR USE OF THE HIGH SPRINGS COMMUNITY SCHOOL GYM FOR RECREATIONAL VOLLEYBALL PROGRAMMING. Parks Director Applebee discusses/explains the Interlocal Agreement with the Commission. Commissioners and Applebee have further discussions on the city’s responsibility. Commissioner Grunder motioned to accept the Interlocal Agreement. Vice Mayor Bloodsworth seconded. Motion carried 5-0. 6. DISCUSS, CONSIDER, AND ACT ON TEMPORARILY SUSPENDING THE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION ORDINANCE FOR THE HOT RODDING FOR HEROES ONE DAY ONLY EVENT. Commissioner Howell motioned to temporarily suspend the alcohol consumption ordinance. Commissioner Weitz seconded. Motion carried 5-0. 7. DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND ACT ON CHOOSING A VENDOR FOR DRONE ITQ 2026- 01. COMMISSION AGENDA MARCH 12, 2026 PAGE 5 of 7 Police Chief Sheppard discusses and explains the Drone Grant. Vice Mayor Bloodsworth asks If the current drones being replaced can be surplused. Police Chief answered that they are intending to give them to the Fire Department so they can work with them. Commissioners and Chief Sheppard have further discussions. Commissioner Howell motioned to choose Skydio as the drone replacement. Commissioner Grunder seconded. Motion carried 5-0. 8. DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND ACT ON RESOLUTION 2026-E, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF HIGH SPRINGS, FLORIDA APPROVING THAT CERTAIN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND FRED FOX ENTERPRISES, INC. FOR GRANT ADMINISTRATION SERVICES IN CONNECTION TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION CATEGORY, GRANT #25DB-N07; MAKING CERTAIN FINDINGS OF FACT IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY APPROVING SAID AGREEMENT; RECOGNIZING THE AUTHORITY OF THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AND BIND THE CITY TO SAID AGREEMENT; DIRECTING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AND BIND THE CITY TO SAID AGREEMENT; REPEALING ALL PRIOR RESOLUTIONS IN CONFLICT; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ITEM REMOVED FROM AGENDA 9. DISCUSS, CONSIDER AND ACT ON RESOLUTION 2026-F, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF HIGH SPRINGS, FLORIDA APPROVING THAT CERTAIN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND CPH CONSULTING, LLC. FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES IN CONNECTION TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION CATEGORY, GRANT #25DB-N07; MAKING CERTAIN FINDINGS OF FACT IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY APPROVING SAID AGREEMENT; RECOGNIZING THE AUTHORITY OF THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AND BIND THE CITY TO SAID AGREEMENT; DIRECTING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AND BIND THE CITY TO SAID AGREEMENT; REPEALING ALL PRIOR RESOLUTIONS IN CONFLICT; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. ITEM REMOVED FROM AGENDA CITY ATTORNEY REPORT/UPDATE: Attorney Adams – Doesn’t have anything this week. COMMISSION AGENDA MARCH 12, 2026 PAGE 6 of 7 CITY MANAGER REPORT/UPDATE: Marshall – Erica Hernandez email to set up meetings. Priest Theatre update. Next meeting Wastepro addendum, debris contracts. STAFF UPDATE: COMMISSIONERS: Commissioner Howell – Discusses privatizing Public Works. Further discusses the projects and city debts. Fire Assessment is too low. Makes a motion for the City Manager to put together the numbers as far as the Fire Department. Commission Grunder seconded the motion. Vice Mayor Bloodsworth believes other departments such as Police and Public works also need to be included. Commissioner Howell amends his motion to public safety. Commissioner Grunder seconded the motion. Commissioner Grunder in agreement with Commissioner Howell. Further discussion between the Commission and City Manager about holding a workshop. City Manager Marshall a breakdown of public safety and what it costs to each household and what they get service wise. Commission, Attorney and City Manager have further discussions on public safety. City Manager Marshall will be gathering information and possibly setting a date for a workshop at the next meeting. Motion passes 5-0 Commissioner Grunder discusses having the same meeting as Commissioner Howell to privatize Public Works and recommends the commission to do the same. Discusses the livestock fair and gives a shout out to the kids. Commissioner Weitz requests an update on the CR236 project. Attorney Adams believes the issues have been resolved but there is not yet an agreement signed with the property owner. VICE MAYOR: Bloodsworth – Asks about the Priest Theatre completion. COMMISSION AGENDA MARCH 12, 2026 PAGE 7 of 7 City Manager Marshall discusses a tour once the building is complete. His direction was to sell the building unless otherwise directed by the Commission. Vice Mayor Bloodsworth asks about selling/funding of the canoe outpost. Attorney Adams informs the Commission of the processes of selling the canoe outpost and the funding used. The Commission and Attorney have further discussions on facilities. MAYOR: Miller – Asks about a Finance Director. City Manager Marshall discusses possible consultants to help part-time. Mayor Miller asks for updates on the Catholic Charities building and the waterworks building. Wants a line removed from the rental form stating over 40 people using the building need to sweep and mop. Would like that removed and everyone cleaning up after themselves. Employee of the week is Danielle from utility billing. MOTION TO ADJOURN. Mayor Miller at 8:06 PM.