[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6339922,"mediaKeyId","2260578-e1bc3440bba6d769992dcbbc49fd83e3","parentId",2260578,"title","Eustis commission approves minutes and consent agenda; staff briefs on housing agreement, waste contract and downtown activity","audioSeconds",963,"startMs",493930,"endMs",1456990,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2260578-e1bc3440bba6d769992dcbbc49fd83e3&start=493&end=1456","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2260578-e1bc3440bba6d769992dcbbc49fd83e3/thumbnail_493930.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6339922/Florida/Eustis-commission-approves-minutes-and-consent-agenda-staff-briefs-on-housing-agreement-waste-contract-and-downtown-activity","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339922-af75f851b835e0588a1744d439003d23/orig.mp4?Expires=1775899824&Signature=aXSVFheZebLsNhTNmWUw6XKKPqq7AlmjL6m9yJUWkIHoj1DLx4Z4IflQ5eihm0D6jhleo3f3iIVdwi9gD4DI9Ot7o2pskfyDnEFFE~MegZ3CSRw7dmlZonAzPzFKN50bZx06cDLi1iqLB5tE0zKkCGMDNQXFFU~tVqyXIXNYWSaT7zKJC6DeqviHl5umtV1aAqw2j23~nlhrccVsv8GaMDk1rXF5YPy0UPE1uFtpVJWIULtozib3RLFFN5u~h7qwUCxM0mTALXtO-218c2VKjvKYSYIW6kU4QI8RUXNJ59aNEF1LKzBHe8v3GURIkmAtzxKsslZxqQbIp7bNWXR3KA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Eustis, FL","date","2025-02-10T19:58:58Z","article","The City of Eustis City Commission approved two sets of minutes and the consent agenda and heard staff and commissioner updates on several items planned for future agendas.

During roll call votes, the commission approved the Jan. 13, 2025 workshop minutes and the Jan. 16, 2025 commission minutes, then approved the consent agenda by unanimous voice/roll-call vote. The meeting record shows the mayor and four commissioners voting “aye” on both procedural motions.

On future items, commissioners noted they had not all received a copy of an agreement from the Eustis Housing Authority; one commissioner said Horace had given the agreement to the city clerk but others asked staff to confirm receipt. Commissioners also reported a recent meeting with Danielle from Habitat (Habitat for Humanity or local Habitat affiliate) to review the city’s housing rehab program; staff said they would follow up with relevant documents.

Staff said the new waste-management contract will be on the commission agenda for the 20th; commissioners discussed a recent Reworld presentation and expressed interest in touring Reworld, though staff said a tour could not be arranged before the contract consideration. The commission also noted requests for joint workshops with the housing authority and the code board and signaled staff would propose scheduling options.

Downtown updates included a report that the chamber’s first Sips and Sunset event drew 98 participants on the day of the event, with 48 RSVPs beforehand and 16 participating businesses; commissioners praised downtown participation and suggested adding a guided tour element to future events. Commissioners also reported pocket-park improvements, including a butterfly photo installation and related landscaping by public works in time for GeorgeFest.

A lease was signed for the Lollygaggers building with a restaurant owner who operates two other Mexican restaurants in Clermont and DeLand; the owner is contractually obligated to be present about 90% of the time the restaurant is open, commissioners said. City staff said they will circulate scheduling notes and coordinate upcoming busy months — GeorgeFest, African American Heritage events and other community activities.

The commission closed the meeting without further formal action. Several items were identified for staff follow-up and potential placement on future agendas.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Special City Commission Meeting - 11 February, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The City Commission approved meeting minutes and the consent agenda. Commissioners discussed future items including an agreement from the Eustis Housing Authority, an upcoming waste-management contract review (with Reworld concept), coordination with Habitat, downtown events and business leases, and scheduling joint workshops.","taxTitle","City of Eustis, Lake County, Florida","taxId",71128,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6339926,"Eustis commissioners discuss backyard chickens, note $800 conditional-use process",177,539265,716705,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2260578-e1bc3440bba6d769992dcbbc49fd83e3&start=539&end=716","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2260578-e1bc3440bba6d769992dcbbc49fd83e3/thumbnail_539265.jpg","/articles/6339926/Florida/Eustis-commissioners-discuss-backyard-chickens-note-800-conditional-use-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339926-eca698d84806b92a5260fdd061296fd5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775899824&Signature=GnCAD9bwOGcQnoVyHgjIMlh147uik~myZrLBGBUBEZQEpBOWQDzKvI4FU7dVIXZvuRKsm3Q96asAM0aNQifnSKPEyKfR5ZeQqrdZsO88dE~2xA64~GMcsymfFd1n4LH0fwCWPZ0cCKfSjD8ntDJBF4OJsW3BxaxFHuR0XcbbEUjMgEb~20zSXf0UfmfshnV3Mcw2dWRuAiUQq5YIR7Ks8PihRE1tseR66KreQquuAwYL290MMfz4nOBeGEa~bDjC-go31VDqeytl0PflMFwZ2wwUXhBkjXDqTJQpRFAvA6bYI6l2ZkKoSNiwtBYsJ3u~nqNo304Nhn-YpNaQVrNRtw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioners discussed constituent concerns about the cost and regulation of keeping backyard chickens in the City of Eustis, including a frequently cited $800 fee tied to conditional-use review.

Commissioner George said residents had raised worries that an $800 cost for conditional-use approval deterred would-be backyard chicken owners. “$800 is a lot for somebody who wants to, in the right scenario, have some potential chickens, fresh fresh eggs,” he said.

A city staff member responded that the city treats the request as an agricultural use in a residential district and that the conditional-use application process carries an $800 fee “across the board” for conditional-use requests. The staff member said details such as coop size, setbacks and the handling of deceased animals are typically reviewed on a case-by-case basis under the conditional-use process.

Commissioner George said he did not expect the commission to adopt one-size-fits-all coop standards that night but wanted staff to provide the relevant zoning information for commissioners to review. The commission asked staff to provide the code sections that set which districts allow agricultural uses as conditional uses and to circulate any existing regulations so commissioners could consider whether adjustments or exemptions might be appropriate.

No motion was made at the meeting. The issue was identified as a potential future agenda item for further review and possible policy discussion; commissioners did not adopt any fee change or new regulation during the session.","Commissioners raised constituent concerns about an $800 fee tied to conditional-use applications for keeping chickens; staff said the conditional-use fee applies across uses and that specifics such as coop size and setbacks are handled case by case.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6339930,"Eustis proclaims February 2025 Black History Month, highlights Feb. 15 community festival",241,73635,315465,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2260578-e1bc3440bba6d769992dcbbc49fd83e3&start=73&end=315","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2260578-e1bc3440bba6d769992dcbbc49fd83e3/thumbnail_73635.jpg","/articles/6339930/Florida/Eustis-proclaims-February-2025-Black-History-Month-highlights-Feb-15-community-festival","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339930-4c7d3a7647c5659b261598e515d4fa09/orig.mp4?Expires=1775899824&Signature=D240EZcoabkeCcjqr7V8UW1G4B5s19NH1Gc6yf5ZKwCyH6JmwrJynDOhgENvzgTtDgGuxIfAlFIqQj64ODOQxmo50jjIZMcEE2O2JqT9AU5Rzm341oyFtgvRLIUDZbtBiMXxezSzLMcdJ1XHKgDKjNYoxn~b~OosAGEMv9W~NK0h3atC87WqCHFJQmd39mmODfpjcOcJyHavtdTbJEW9thUTjpIIpEkGEwpc3Ec1xQlJD~H7lrBxS1XWnqjlsS5s9QKCO-aVTkn0sOZ8lDZrkAvlPTl67HvEgi-1Pyc2hxXcw~K0RaxbGmD-f0U5MadWCnyJdCyakRr8AOBrAQu4Ew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Willie Hawkins proclaimed February 2025 as Black History Month for the City of Eustis and invited residents to participate in the Eustis African American Heritage Celebration, including a parade and a daylong festival on Saturday, Feb. 15.

The proclamation cited national observance of Black History Month and called on “all citizens in our city to participate in the 31st annual African American Heritage Celebration.” Hawkins read the document aloud, outlining planned activities that include a parade down Bates Avenue followed by ethnic foods, crafts and entertainment behind the school through about 4 p.m.

The mayor presented the proclamation to members of the Eustis African American Heritage Committee, which the proclamation described as marking 31–32 years of community activity. “Now, therefore, I, Willie Hawkins, mayor of the City of Eustis, Florida, proclaim the month of February 2025 as Black History Month in the City of Eustis,” Hawkins said during the reading.

Commissioners and staff thanked the committee and encouraged community attendance at the parade and festival. The proclamation noted the celebration’s theme as “countless opportunities and reachable possibilities.”

The presentation occurred during the commission’s agenda under “presentations.” No formal action or vote was required for the proclamation; it was issued by the mayor and delivered publicly to the committee. The commission also noted other related events happening during the month, including a kickoff banquet and related GeorgeFest activities.

The African American Heritage Celebration and the parade on Bates Avenue were given as community events the city is promoting; specifics such as vendor permits or street closure approvals were not discussed during the proclamation reading.","Mayor Willie Hawkins issued a proclamation recognizing February 2025 as Black History Month and invited residents to the African American Heritage Celebration, including a parade on Bates Avenue and a daylong festival on Feb. 15.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Eustis commission approves minutes and consent agenda; staff briefs on housing agreement, waste contract and downtown activity

Eustis commissioners discuss backyard chickens, note $800 conditional-use process

Eustis proclaims February 2025 Black History Month, highlights Feb. 15 community festival