Town of Lake Placid

The meeting commenced with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the call for the role. During public comments on non-agenda items, a resident raised concerns regarding the audio/video transmission quality from the previous meeting and inquired about the assignment of a general contractor for the pickleball court project, learning that two licensed contractors are involved and the matter will be addressed in February. Another resident expressed concerns about inconsistencies in minute taking, noting that some public comments were omitted while others, like the Town Attorney's comments on D grant guidelines, were included. Key discussions also involved addressing rumors about a potential Walmart development, confirming no current plans exist, and clarifying that a recent letter was merely an inquiry for water and sewer capacity. Council members discussed procedural matters, including the removal and later reaffirmation of a discussion item concerning the process for choosing a Town Attorney, and a motion was made to move the Town Administrator employment contract discussion to later in the meeting. Under financial matters, clarification was sought regarding an unbudgeted $25,000 FDLE grant received for a police department drone program, including who signed the related memorandum of understanding, leading to a discussion on proper grant handling procedures requiring council resolution and mayoral signature after attorney review.

The meeting commenced with preliminary technical setup discussions followed by the approval of the consent agenda items A through D. Significant discussion arose regarding proposed modifications to the ARPAC grant scope related to pickleball facilities, specifically concerns over changing from paving to pervious parking and the potential risk to the grant funding. Another major topic involved the potential use of $192,000 from the utility infrastructure reserve, where concerns were raised that this should be a separate project, go out to bid, and possibly be reviewed by the utility commission, contrary to incorporating it into a larger project. The council voted to approve Ordinance 2025-9, amending the 2024-2025 annual budget to reflect actual expenses and revenue, including a budget decrease of approximately $11 million. Finally, the council addressed a request from the purported Lake Placid Public Library board of directors seeking a deed for property at Placid Lakes Industrial Park, with discussions focusing on determining the town's interest in the property and ensuring that any required research or title clearance costs would be borne by the requesting party, not the town.

The meeting commenced with an invocation and pledge of allegiance. Discussions covered the status of CRA mapping, specifically concerning the Hillcrest area being outside the CRA boundary, necessitating fund reallocation. The board requested a prioritized list of the top five projects. An update was provided regarding engagement with Kimley Horn to obtain estimates for project management assistance, addressing staffing limitations. It was confirmed that the Dow Hall building project is complete and has passed inspection, with discussions pending regarding potential space-sharing with the Boys and Girls Club and the YMCA. Further deliberation occurred regarding the status of flower pot circle modifications on Main Street and the installation of flower pots along Inner Lake, where clarification on placement (pavers versus planters) was required. A significant portion of the discussion focused on street lighting improvements, noting the multi-year consideration of the issue, alternatives to leasing lighting from Duke Energy, and the potential need for lighting consultants to provide expert analysis on fixture selection, photometric data, and cost comparisons, favoring ownership over leasing arrangements.

The Town of Lake Placid's strategic planning process aims to guide thoughtful decisions, set priorities, and ensure responsible use of tax dollars for long-term improvements. It will align with existing downtown revitalization and upcoming parks and recreation and utility master plans. The plan seeks to prepare for future growth while preserving the town's unique character, enhance grant opportunities, and foster clear, fair, and transparent decision-making for budgets, capital projects, and policies for many years to come. Community input highlighted key themes such as preserving small town feel, supporting youth and elderly, valuing small businesses, leveraging location, addressing infrastructure (water, wastewater, stormwater, transportation), improving healthcare, enhancing youth engagement, and thoughtful growth planning, alongside concerns for mobility, housing, health and wellness, and economic stability.

This joint workshop convened the Town Council, Local Planning Agency, Regional Utility Advisory Commission, and Community Redevelopment Agency to discuss challenges and future growth for the Town of Lake Placid and the greater area. Key discussion points focused on planning for orderly growth, preserving character, enhancing infrastructure (roads, sidewalks), and ensuring consistency in regulations. Demographic data shared included population statistics, projections for growth to 2050, age distribution, education attainment, housing stock (predominantly single-family detached), and household income. Transportation data indicated that nearly 70% of residents drive alone to work with an average travel time of 32 minutes to Sebring. The meeting involved interactive polling to gauge perceptions on resident service and to gather input on keywords derived from downtown visioning efforts, such as economic diversity and higher-paying wages.