High Springs commission schedules charter referendum, raises some facility fees, awards sports-field contract and okays SRO vehicle funding

The High Springs City Commission on March 13 approved an ordinance sending proposed charter amendments to a Nov. 4, 2025 referendum, adopted a resolution updating user fees for city rental facilities, awarded a contract for renovation of the sports complex multipurpose fields and authorized payment to finish outfitting three school resource officer vehicles.

The commission passed Ordinance No. 2025-02 to place the Charter Review Board’s proposed amendments on the November general-election ballot. City staff described the ordinance as providing the full text of the proposed amended charter and required ballot language; the motion to adopt the ordinance carried unanimously on a roll-call vote. Commissioners also voted to review the remaining Charter Review Board recommendations at a future meeting in January 2026.

Why it matters: The ordinance sends proposed city charter changes to voters rather than adopting them by ordinance. The commission’s choice to schedule further review of remaining Charter Review Board items means additional possible charter changes will return to the commission before any new questions are referred to voters.

Commissioners spent much of the meeting debating rental rates for city-owned meeting and event spaces, particularly the Santa Fe Room at the Old School community complex. Staff presented a facilities cost analysis showing operations — utilities, insurance allocations and staff time for bookings and refunds — have left rentals operating at a loss; the report excluded capital replacements such as roof or HVAC projects.

After discussion and public comment, the commission passed Resolution 2025-B, which sets updated user fees and application forms for the High Springs Elementary School and Community Center Old School, the High Springs Civic Center, Douglas Community Center, Sports Complex fields and Memorial Park fields. The motion as read by staff set the Santa Fe Room deposit at $150, half‑day rental at $150 and full‑day rental at $250, with other rates adopted as presented. The resolution passed on an affirmative vote.

The Santa Fe Room’s condition and history of damage drew extended remarks from commissioners and members of the public. Resident Linda Jones told the commission, “The Santa Fe room is not a result of normal wear and tear. The carpeting was new… The carpeting was wrecked because paint is flattered everywhere,” and urged the city to hold users accountable or repair the room before raising rates. Commissioners agreed staff may return with cost estimates for refurbishing the room and that rates can be revisited after repairs and additional rental data are available.

Parks and recreation staff asked the commission to award a bid to renovate the High Springs Sports Complex multipurpose fields to prepare them for tournaments. Staff recommended Double B Southern over a lower local bid because Double B Southern had prior experience with similar turf projects and offered replacement and warranty terms staff found preferable. The commission accepted the staff recommendation and authorized the costlier bid, citing experience and warranty as deciding factors. Funding for the work will use previously authorized Wild Spaces / Public Places funds; staff said about $400,000 remains in that account and that $35,000 had been earlier identified toward fields work.

The commission also authorized final funding to complete purchase and outfitting of three school resource officer (SRO) vehicles. Police and finance staff reviewed procurement and equipment costs: vehicle purchases previously budgeted at roughly $143,700 were supplemented by earlier allocations; vehicle equipment and installation totaled about $199,000, producing a shortfall of $16,349.89. Staff identified an insurance-recovery account that had funds available and the commission voted to use those funds to cover the shortfall so the vehicles may be equipped and placed into service.

Finally, the meeting included an extended update and direction on the Bridlewood subdivision. City Manager Jeremy Marshall and planning staff said they will not sign a mylar plat for recording until required pre-construction items in the developer agreement are submitted and certified by the city’s engineer. Marshall said the developer had brought a mylar bearing the mayor’s and the city attorney’s signatures to his office but had not supplied required inspection documentation and surety bonds. The manager arranged a follow-up meeting with the developer’s representatives, their attorney and the city’s engineer to resolve outstanding items and said he would not sign the mylar until the city had the protections described in the developer agreement.

What’s next: Staff said they will return with cost estimates for refurbishing the Santa Fe Room and six months of rental data for newly opened facilities, and that the Bridlewood developer and city staff will meet to provide the inspection documentation and bonds necessary for final plat recording. The charter referendum will appear on the November 4, 2025 ballot if no further legal impediments arise.

(For a concise list of formal actions taken at the meeting see “Votes at a glance” below.)