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Commission opts for FDOT-style open house on Feb. 20 then a March workshop to translate public input into budget priorities
Summary
The commission chose an FDOT-style open house format for a Feb. 20 public meeting to gather input on city services, then a follow-up workshop in March to translate feedback into budget/priorities; the commission agreed to hire a facilitator and proceed with outreach.
The City Commission selected a two-step approach to its strategic priorities and planning process: an FDOT-style open-house public meeting on Feb. 20 to gather broad public input about city services, followed by a March workshop where commissioners and staff will organize feedback and discuss budget implications. The motion passed 5-0.
Commissioner Janice Lucas (first identified on the record as advancing a service-priorities approach) said the intent is to ask residents which city services they value most rather than immediately debating detailed line-item budgets. "What I want to ask the public is, here's all the services that we offer, which ones matter more to you?" Lucas said during discussion. Staff proposed three options and recommended town halls/socials; the FDOT-style open house (Option 2) won support because it allows broad participation and collection of comment cards and one-on-one input.
The commission directed staff to hire an outside facilitator for the Feb. 20 session (staff had a preliminary quote of about $2,000) and to schedule a follow-up commission workshop in March to review the collected input and discuss the numbers that will shape the FY 2026 budget. Staff will coordinate logistics and reported it could identify facilitator funding within existing training or community-engagement budgets.
Commissioners discussed the role of service-based budgeting and acknowledged staff is still developing reporting models; the two-step format is intended to collect public priorities first and then, in a separate meeting, align those priorities with the city’s financial realities and proposed reserve policy. The motion passed on a 5-0 roll call.
