Good morning and welcome to the September 1st, 2026.

How did it get to be September 1st?

Had that happened?

City Commission Workshop, I want to call the meeting to order.

And before we start, um, and I'll let uh Jen do this.

You're gonna have a moment of silence.

You're gonna do that, okay.

And uh and uh our pledge of allegiance, and so we'll go to Jen.

If we just stand Let us begin this meeting by taking a brief moment of silence and turning our thoughts to the family of former mayor there, uh Bob Hackworth.

Amen.

I pledge allegiance to the flags of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, individuals, liberty and justice for all.

Okay, and uh just to reiterate our thoughts uh continue to go out to uh former mayor Bob Hackworth's wife Gwen and his son Bobby and his daughter Maddie um as they kind of uh you know go a new way and we're with them, and I know a celebration of life has been set, so that'll be out there.

So um okay.

Uh we have uh we're missing two of our comrades today.

Uh and uh one is uh out of town on a contract uh that he had to be at, and then and the other one I think uh is returning from out of the country, so he might be in flight right now.

So um if I could have uh a motion to excuse Vice Mayor Walker and Commissioner DeGuard.

So moved.

I just want some dramatic effect.

Jen, there's actually there's no motions or action taken at work.

Well, that's true.

Okay, so we don't have to say.

We kind of okay.

Well we try to do because can we do it on Thursday?

We guess we can do it on Thursday, because they have to have the excuse or otherwise get ding.

So we'll do it Thursday.

Okay, well, thanks a lot for that then.

And and we and uh the joke was on you, I think.

So yeah.

And uh and uh and uh we don't have our city manager this morning, but we do have our deputy city manager, Jorge Quintus, so we'll try to be brutal on him.

That's you know, kind of that's always our strategy.

Okay, so we got presentations with library cards sign-up month.

And uh Commissioner Sambergen is going to I'm gonna turn that over to him for proclamation and Phyllis, can we bring them up?

Got the whole team here today.

Look at him.

He's got she's got the famous dress on too.

She does.

So you're gonna be by yourself then.

We'll recognize all of them.

Uh yeah, I appreciate the opportunity to uh read today's proclamation.

Um in the last year, the library I knew it was important, but it's even become more important to me personally and as a city commissioner.

On July 30th, I had a chance to read the end of summer with the Dunedin Blue Jays, and I think it went absolutely incredible.

Um, those little kids get to see these pro baseball players and realize.

Uh then August 15th, I got to go to the summer reading challenge at TD Ballpark, and uh again to recognize the kids for what they've done and to you know uh give our uh a real thumbs up to the library.

And then on the 19th of August, Kimberly was uh fortunate uh you know, uh willing to come on uh Toronto Blue Jays podcast with me and to talk about what the library means in the relationship with the Blue Jays and not just baseball on the field, and it's exactly what the city needed.

And lastly, over the weekend, I got to go read again with the juvenile welfare board.

Uh is that what it is, JWB and uh firefighter Joel Ray and I and Kimberly read to the kids.

And uh I appreciate everything that this library and you all do for this community.

So could before you read, so is his writing skills getting better with all this, or is that helping him?

It's getting better.

I have to I have to say thank you to Kimberly because she gives me uh each page has about 10 words on it.

So I do I and I I do I appreciate everything that you do.

And you know, I before I read this, I heard a word mentioned down there this weekend that really stuck with me.

And uh and I believe it was uh said by one of your staff members, and it was to uh Joe and I.

There was a young lady in there that was asking questions, and it was referred to as a spot where she feels safe.

And you know that really landed with me.

And I see it's being discussed back there.

And you know, it really made me it really made me feel something as a as a city commissioner, the the young people of our city can go in there and and be safe.

So with that being said, whereas libraries, librarians and library workers across the country are joining together to celebrate library card sign up month for the month of September, and whereas libraries are foundational to education, imagination, and opportunity, offering everything from early literacy programs to digital tools that support lifelong learning and personal growth.

And whereas libraries welcome all people serving as a community hub that connects individuals across cultures, generations, and experiences.

And whereas libraries contribute to thriving local economies by equipping job seekers, entrepreneurs, students, and creators with tools and training to succeed.