City of Lake Wales City Commission Workshop: September 2, 2026

Meeting Overview

Type: Workshop Meeting (agenda time 2:00 p.m. "or after the CRA Meeting") Quorum: Yes (5 of 5 members present) Duration: Approximately 36 minutes (called to order at 2:10 p.m., adjourned at 2:46 p.m.)

The minutes are marked "(APPROVED)." Workshop items are recorded as reviewed by staff; the minutes carry no motions or votes. The September 9 regular meeting agenda lists these items for action, with Ordinances 2026-28 and 2026-31 again marked "(Pulled)." Published agenda: https://www.lakewalesfl.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09022026-1740

Attendance

• Present: Mayor Hilligoss, Keith Thompson, 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); Autumn Cochella (Growth Management) reviewed the land development items

Agenda Items

Item 10: 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." The memo notes approval at first reading on August 18, 2026.
• Action: Reviewed ("Autumn Cochella, Growth Management, reviewed this item.")
• Notable Discussion: The memo repeats the City Attorney's statement that Florida law allows impact fees to be increased no more than once every 4 years, so Section 23-781 must be repealed at or before adoption of the impact fee study being performed by Raftelis.

Item 11: 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: "Request to amend Section 23-205 Planning Board," reinstating 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." The memo notes approval at first reading on August 18, 2026.
• Action: Reviewed ("Autumn Cochella, Growth Management, reviewed this item.")

Item 12: 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 ("This item was pulled")

Item 13: Ordinance 2026-31, Impact Fees (Pulled)

• Type: Land development code amendment (impact fees)
• Case Number: Ordinance 2026-31
• Action: Pulled (the minutes carry the item title "ORDINANCE 2026-31 Impact Fees (Pulled)")
• Notable Discussion: The record gives the title only.

Item 23: Board Appointments, Planning and Zoning Board Alternate

• Type: Other (appointment to the Local Planning Agency)
• Request: "Appoint Ralph Marino to serve as an alternate on the Planning and Zoning Board for a term to expire 7/1/2029."
• Staff Recommendation: The memo states the Planning and Zoning Board recommends the appointment; the memo cites City Code Sec. 23-205.2: "The board consists of seven (7) members and one (1) alternate."
• Action: Reviewed ("Jennifer Nanek, City Clerk, reviewed this item.")

Public Hearings Summary

No public comment is recorded in the workshop minutes.

Key Signals

• Ordinances 2026-28 and 2026-31 came off the agenda. Ordinance 2026-28, the Parcel Specific Land Use Conditions tied to the 193-acre SR 60 Industrial request, and Ordinance 2026-31, Impact Fees, are both recorded as "pulled." The minutes give no reason.
• Impact fee indexing is on its way out ahead of a new fee study. Ordinance 2026-24, repealing the annual automatic adjustment, came to workshop review ahead of second reading with a staff recommendation to adopt.
• The Planning and Zoning Board's alternate seat moves toward filling. With Ordinance 2026-27 at second reading, the Clerk reviewed Ralph Marino's appointment as alternate, which the Planning and Zoning Board recommends.

Raw Notes

• City Manager: the next regular meeting falls on Wednesday, September 9; Code Compliance staff "has started enforcing the new minimum maintenance standards"; missed bulk solid waste areas to be addressed during the week.
• Routine items reviewed: Ordinance 2026-18 (FY2026-27 millage, 8.0462 mills, above the rolled-back rate of 7.5304 by 6.85%) and Ordinance 2026-19 (FY2026-27 budget); Resolution 2026-14 fire assessments; pension board reappointments; PRWC Combined Projects Implementation Agreement Amendment #2; RFQ 26-14 Water Treatment Plant #1 Market Street Renovations to SEMCO Construction, Inc.; Schneider Electric investment grade audit; Ordinance 2026-30 candidate residency verification; eight special event permits.
• Commission comments: the ACE District "is operational, though no individual vendor applications have been submitted to date" (City Manager Slaton); downtown holiday lighting budget increased.