Alrighty, here we go.

It's six o'clock.

Thank you all for being here today.

We will now call this meeting.

Citizens desiring to speak.

Underhear the audience, please submit your request cards to our city clerks to my right.

Forms are available at the door also.

We'll now proceed with a moment of silence and the pledge of allegiance led by Commissioner Martinez.

Would you please join me for the moment of silence?

Please join me for the Pledge of Allegiance.

And to the Republic for which it says one nation under God in the visible with liberty and justice for all.

Thank

you.

Thank you, Commissioner.

We'll proceed now to proclamations and special presentations.

Mike, you will present.

There's several of them.

Florida City Week, then Domestic Violence Awareness Month, followed by Fire Prevention Week.

And

we'll get started.

Thank

you, Madam Mayor, Commissioners.

So

this first proclamation for item 3A is Florida City Week.

And the Commission will be presenting that to the community.

City Week, yeah.

Whereas Florida City Week is celebrated every October in cities across Florida to highlight and engage residents and their local governments.

And where a city government is the closest level of government to the people and has a direct impact on their daily lives, and whereas municipal government provides services, resources, and programs that enhance the quality of life for residents, making their city their home.

And

whereas city government is administered for and by its residents and is dependent upon public commitment to and understanding of its many responsibilities.

And

where a city government officials and employees share the responsibility to promote understanding of public services and their benefits.

And whereas Florida City Week offers an important opportunity for elected officials and city staff to encourage the community to take an active role in their local government.

And whereas the Florida League of Cities and its member cities have united to teach residents about municipal government through a variety of activities.

Now, therefore, the City Commission of the City of Kissimmee hereby proclaims the week of October 19th through the 25th as Florida City Week in the City of Kissimmee.

Our next item is item 3B, which is a proclamation for domestic violence awareness month.

And will Miss Tammy Douglas, Executive Director of Help Now and your team, please approach the Commission.

And

whereas Help Now is the certified domestic violence center that has provided critical services to survivors of domestic violence and their children in Osceola County for the past 43 years.

And whereas 24 acts of domestic violence occur each 60 seconds in the United States, and in 2020, Florida reported more than 106,000 incidents of domestic violence, including over 2200 in Osceola County and 198 murders statewide.

And whereas domestic violence is a widespread issue that transcends economic, racial, gender, educational, religious, and societal boundaries, and addressing it requires increased public understanding, proactive community engagement, and expanded access to support.

And

whereas domestic violence awareness month provides an important opportunity for citizens to learn more about preventing domestic violence and to show support for the many organizations and individuals who provide vital advocacy services and support to survivors.

And

whereas the efforts of help now of Osciola, the Osceola County Domestic Violence Task Force, and their dedicated community partners in combating domestic violence are hereby recognized and commended.

Now, therefore, the City Commission for the City of Kissimmee hereby proclaims the month of October 2026 as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the City of Kissimmee.

Good afternoon, everyone.

And we have the amazing support and partnership of our law enforcement partners here in the City of Committee of Kissimmee who have done a tremendous job for many many decades to meet the safety needs of survivors and partner to bring awareness.

And we'd like to invite you as we round out domestic violence awareness month next week.

And we'd like to invite you as we round out domestic violence awareness month next week who will be hosting our county event here in Kissimmee on the courthouse steps next Thursday evening.

It's a steps of strength event.

There will be a rally and then a walk through downtown Kissimmee, escorted by our law enforcement partners, ending at the Kissimmee Police Department with a candlelight vigil to honor survivors who have lost their lives and those who continue to look for peace and safety.

So invite you to join us.

We have some really inspiring speakers and community leaders that will be joining us for that event.

So thank you so much to everybody who works hard every single day to make sure that survivors are seen and heard and responded to appropriately.

Thank you.

And

whereas the city of Kissimmee is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all those living in and visiting Kissimmee.

And whereas fire is a serious public safety concern both locally and nationally, and the presence of lithium-ion batteries and many household devices and cruise introduces fire risks.

And whereas the National Fire Protection Association reports an increase in battery-related fires, underscoring the need for public education on the safe use of lithium-ion batteries and devices.