Garry Millender

The workshop focused on two primary topics. First, the commission discussed inconsistencies in the Planning & Zoning Board's term limits and composition, with the City Attorney identifying issues regarding the number of appointees, the school board's role, and the lack of provisions for alternates. The commission directed the attorney to draft an ordinance to address these concerns. Second, the commission held an extensive discussion regarding the Apalachicola Water & Sewer District, covering legal challenges, potential nominees, the transfer of the utility system, interlocal negotiation terms, public communications, and the potential for a referendum on the November ballot.

The commission addressed multiple items, including the swearing-in of a new Police Chief and presentations on strategic planning goals, which were tabled for future review. Significant actions included approving compensatory time payouts for employees, authorizing an easement agreement for 400 Kevin Road, and approving various grant applications for infrastructure projects such as drainage improvements, flood mitigation, and building renovations. The commission discussed the upcoming transfer of utility systems to a new district per House Bill 4103, deciding against a referendum on the matter and outlining priority negotiation points. Additionally, the commission approved a contract for a code enforcement hearing officer, appointed a representative to the Apalachicola Water and Sewer District Board, and tabled a parking waiver request for the historic Demo George Building.

The City Commission held a special meeting to review the FY 24/25 audit report presented by the city auditor, which covered financial highlights, the OPED report, and specific audit findings. Discussion items included potential updates to the employee manual, asset management, property tax amendments, and necessary budget corrections. The Commission officially approved the FY 24/25 audit report along with budget corrections. Additionally, the Commission awarded primary and secondary standby contracts for disaster debris monitoring services to Rostan Solutions, LLC and Debris Tech, respectively, and awarded disaster debris removal and disposal services to ROADS, Inc. with DRC Emergency Services and LoadMasters as backups.

The commission held a public hearing regarding Ordinance 2026-02 concerning election dates and commissioner seating. New business topics included a comprehensive review and reform plan for the Planning and Zoning Board, the denial of two specific encroachment requests, the appointment of an alternate to the Library Board, and the submission of a recommendation to designate the Apalachicola Airport census tract as a federal Opportunity Zone. Furthermore, the commission received briefings on the fiscal impact of the Apalachicola Stewardship Act, reviewed upcoming city projects, discussed the transition to an independent water district, and held a recognition ceremony for retiring city staff.

This document is a project update report detailing the progress of the City of Apalachicola's Two-Year Action Plan development. It outlines the three main phases of the project: Research & Discovery, Commission Kickoff, and Strategic Goal Development. The report provides status updates on completed tasks, highlights adjusted timelines due to external factors, and tracks milestones leading to the final adoption of the Two-Year Strategic Plan by July 21, 2026.