Votes at a glance: ordinances, CRA lease and utility contracts approved

At its March meeting the Lakeland City Commission took formal action on a series of zoning ordinances, a resolution, a community-redevelopment lease and multiple utility contracts and task orders. Items below summarize the actions and key conditions.

Ordinances and resolutions - Ordinance 25-03: Conditional use approval for a research-and-development facility at 4040 Kidron Road. The commission adopted the ordinance on roll-call vote; action recorded as unanimous. - Ordinance 25-04: Major modification to allow expansion of the Rec Room at 202 N. Massachusetts Ave. (detailed coverage in a separate article). Approved as amended; amendment moved required off-duty law-enforcement detail hours to 10:30 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Thursdays-Fridays-Saturdays. - Ordinance 25-05: Modification to an existing conditional use for the Dream Center of Lakeland to include adjacent properties on West 4th and West 5th streets. Adopted by unanimous vote. - Resolution 20518 (Vision Zero Action Plan): The commission adopted the Vision Zero Action Plan supporting transportation-safety initiatives; staff will forward presentation materials to commissioners.

Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) - CRA lease with Well Done Development, 114 East Parker Street: The commission (acting as the CRA) approved a successor lease effective April 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2027. Material terms: base rent uses the prior lease structure with a 2.5% annual increase and year-one base at $4.20 per square foot; the lessee is responsible for prorated property insurance, and interior/nonstructural maintenance; CRA remains responsible for structural repairs. The lease contains a right-of-first-refusal/purchase process for the lessee that requires a $10,000 refundable deposit and a public-notice process if the CRA pursues sale; CRA advisory board had previously recommended approval.

Utilities, contracting and procurement actions - Construction manager-at-risk (CMAR) agreement with Kimmins Contracting for the Lindcrest Road and Sylvester Road wastewater pipeline upgrade: initial preconstruction services fee $69,260; a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) amendment will return to the commission when ready. Funds are available in FY25 Water Utilities budget. - Change order/task authorization with Tetra Tech for continued monitoring services at the Northeast Wellfield related to Duke Energy's transmission-line installation: lump-sum $154,290 for designing and constructing monitoring wells and assisting with installation of water-level monitoring devices; funded from a 2023 settlement with Duke Energy; expected completion July 30, 2025. - Agreements for annual installation of underground electrical conduit (Lakeland Electric): two contractors were recommended for award to accommodate demand; estimated FY25 cost $700,000 with four optional one-year renewals (five-year estimate $4,000,000, subject to future budgets). - Agreements for annual emissions-monitoring services (stack testing) at Lakeland Electric plants: four vendors were approved for as-needed services; estimated FY25 cost $85,000 and a five-year estimate of $485,000 subject to future budgets.

Votes and outcomes Most actions were adopted by unanimous voice or roll-call votes as recorded in the meeting minutes. Where applicable, staff provided written attachments and conditions (for example, the Rec Room conditional use included noise mitigation, off-duty law-enforcement requirements and ownership conditions; the CRA lease includes purchase-notice procedures). Several items will return to the commission with contract amendments (for example, the CMAR guaranteed maximum price).