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Meetings · Lake Wales

Lake Wales City Commission, September 9, 2026 minutes

City of Lake Wales City Commission: September 9, 2026

Meeting Overview

Type: Regular Meeting (held on a Wednesday) Quorum: Yes (5 of 5 members present) Duration: Approximately 57 minutes (called to order at approximately 6:00 p.m., adjourned at 6:57 p.m.)

The minutes are marked "(APPROVED)." Published agenda: https://www.lakewalesfl.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09092026-1741

Attendance

  • Present: Mayor Jack Hilligoss, Deputy Mayor Keith Thompson, Commissioners Daniel Williams, Carol Gillespie, Terri Miller
  • Absent: None recorded
  • Staff Present: James Slaton (City Manager), Jennifer Nanek (City Clerk), Albert C. Galloway, Jr. (City Attorney)

Agenda Items

Item 10.I: Ordinance 2026-24, Repeal of Section 23-781 (Annual Adjustment of Impact Fees), Second Reading and Public Hearing

  • Type: Land development code amendment
  • Case Number: Ordinance 2026-24
  • Location: Citywide
  • Request: "Request to repeal Section 23-781 Annual adjustment of impact fees."
  • Staff Recommendation: "Adopt Ordinance 2026-24 Repealing Section 23-781 after 2nd reading and Public Hearing"
  • Action: Adopted ("made a motion to adopt ORDINANCE 2026-24 after 2nd Reading and Public Hearing")
  • Vote: 5-0 roll call (Miller moved, Thompson seconded)
  • Notable Discussion: The memo states the repeal is required because Florida law allows impact fees to be increased no more than once every 4 years, ahead of the impact fee study being performed by Raftelis.

Item 10.II: Ordinance 2026-27, Amendment to Section 23-205 (Planning Board), Second Reading

  • Type: Land development code amendment
  • Case Number: Ordinance 2026-27
  • Location: Citywide
  • Request: Amend Section 23-205, reinstating "the provision for Board alternates who may serve a 3-year fixed term"
  • Staff Recommendation: "Adopt Ordinance 2026-27 Amending the Planning board after 2nd Reading and Public Hearing"
  • Action: Adopted after second reading and public hearing
  • Vote: 5-0 roll call (Miller moved, Thompson seconded)

Item 10.IV: Ordinance 2026-28, Section 23-406 Parcel Specific Land Use Conditions, Second Reading (Pulled)

  • Type: Land development code amendment (with site-specific application)
  • Case Number: Ordinance 2026-28
  • Action: Pulled (listed in the minutes as "(Pulled)")

Item 10.V: Ordinance 2026-31, Impact Fees (Pulled)

  • Type: Land development code amendment (impact fees)
  • Case Number: Ordinance 2026-31
  • Action: Pulled (listed in the minutes as "(Pulled)")

Item 11.I: Board Appointments, Planning and Zoning Board Alternate

  • Type: Other (appointment to the Local Planning Agency)
  • Request: Appoint Ralph Marino as an alternate on the Planning and Zoning Board for a term to expire 7/1/2029
  • Staff Recommendation: "The Planning and Zoning Board recommends this appointments"
  • Action: "Mayor Hilligoss appointed Ralph Marino to serve as an alternate to the Planning and Zoning Board to a term ending 7/1/29"; the Commission confirmed the appointment
  • Vote: 5-0 voice vote (Miller moved, Williams seconded)

Public Hearings Summary

  • Number of speakers: Zero at the land-use hearings (Ordinances 2026-24 and 2026-27 are recorded as opened and closed with no speaker between). Elsewhere, one resident spoke against the millage ordinance and two residents spoke on Ordinance 2026-30, one against and one in favor.
  • General sentiment: Under Comments and Petitions, two speakers: a business owner raised concern about a man carrying a large firearm downtown, and a resident raised concerns about the school zone on Burns Avenue.
  • Key concerns:
    • Burns Avenue school zone (resident comment; Commissioners Gillespie and Williams returned to it in their comments)
    • Millage increase (one resident; Commissioner Miller said she had heard similar concerns)

Key Signals

  • Lake Wales repeals automatic impact fee indexing. Ordinance 2026-24 repealing Section 23-781 was adopted 5-0 on second reading; the memo ties the repeal to the four-year limit on impact fee increases and to the pending Raftelis study.
  • The Planning and Zoning Board has an alternate again. Ordinance 2026-27 was adopted 5-0, and the Commission confirmed Ralph Marino as alternate through 7/1/2029 in the same meeting.
  • The SR 60 Industrial conditions ordinance is listed as pulled. Ordinance 2026-28 (Section 23-406 Parcel Specific Land Use Conditions) and Ordinance 2026-31 (Impact Fees) appear in the agenda and the minutes as "(Pulled)," with no reason recorded.

Raw Notes

  • Routine items: Ordinance 2026-18 (FY2026-27 millage of 8.0462 mills, "greater than the rolled-back rate of 7.5304 by 6.85%") and Ordinance 2026-19 (FY2026-27 budget) each approved 4-1 on first reading, Miller voting No; Resolution 2026-14 fire assessments approved 5-0; pension board reappointments approved 5-0; consent agenda approved 5-0 (minutes of August 18 and September 2; PRWC agreement amendment; RFQ 26-14 Water Treatment Plant #1 Market Street Renovations; Schneider Electric audit; eight special event permits); Ordinance 2026-30 candidate residency verification adopted 5-0.
  • Proclamation: September 14-18 proclaimed Redevelopment Week.
  • Commission comments: Commissioner Miller "reaffirmed support for preserving" the Stuart-Dunn-Oliver House, "noting budgeted funds are available"; Commissioner Gillespie reported on the Florida Ridge League of Cities and concerns regarding Proposed Amendment 3; Commissioner Gillespie welcomed Ralph Marino as alternate.
  • City Manager: next week holds a CRA meeting on Tuesday and a work session on Wednesday.

Connected records

2 connected records

Corridors1

Places1