Sweetwater commission approves zoning changes, a charter-referral update, Crown Castle internet contract and stormwater bid

The City of Sweetwater commission approved a package of land-use measures, a five-year internet-services contract, a charter amendment referral and a stormwater construction award during its Feb. 2025 meeting.

Key votes and outcomes

- Zoning map amendment (Staff Item A): The commission approved on second reading an ordinance amending the official zoning map from University District (UD) to Special Commercial District (C-2) for properties identified by folios ending in 10700 and 10720 West Flagler Street. The applicant said the change restores the property to its prior commercial tax classification; the applicant said there is no plan to redevelop vertically.

- Comprehensive-plan amendment (Item B): The commission approved on first reading an amendment to the city’s comprehensive plan (future land-use element, policy 1.2) to revise medium-density multifamily/mixed-use and dolphin community/urban-center land-use categories; the item will be submitted to the state for the required review under Florida’s comprehensive-plan amendment process.

- City code clarification (Item C): The commission approved on first reading amendments to the city code clarifying deadline calculations and mayoral authority where holidays fall on deadlines; the draft cites federal holidays as the usual list to be included and will return for a second reading.

- Zoning map amendment (Item D): The commission approved on first reading an ordinance rezoning several folio parcels (listed in the record) from Interim/Industrial (IU) to Commercial C-3 for property at 10751 NW 18th Street; the applicant was not present at the hearing.

- Crown Castle purchase orders (Item E): The commission approved purchase orders with Crown Castle to provide internet services for City Hall and several remote sites, moving selected locations to higher-speed service under a five-year agreement. Finance reported the new five-year pricing is below the amount budgeted: the city budgeted $57,000 for four off-site locations and the contract will be $47,000; City Hall was budgeted at $31,000 and the contract will be $23,950. Staff said multiple bids were solicited, and Crown Castle’s proposal balanced price and required throughput for cameras and other devices.

- Charter amendment referral (Item F): The commission voted to place a proposed amendment to Section 5.07(b) of the City Charter on the May 13, 2025 ballot. The change as amended at the meeting increases the minimum general-fund reserve from 10% to 20% (the mayor and finance director described the 20% figure as roughly equivalent to two to three months of operations and consistent with Government Finance Officers Association guidance). The commission approved the referral as amended; the item will appear on the regular city election ballot for voter approval.

- Stormwater and roadway reconstruction (Item G): The commission selected the successful bidder for a state-funded stormwater drainage and roadway reconstruction project along NW 108 Avenue, including stormwater collection and transmission systems, catch basins, junction boxes, reconstruction of the right-of-way, and sidewalks and street trees as described in the project scope. Staff said the procurement followed the federal/state grant-required selection criteria and scoring.

Votes and procedure notes

Most roll-call votes recorded by the clerk showed consensus support and items were passed as presented or as amended. Where the record notes a roll call, commissioners recorded “yes” for the motion; no recorded “nays” appeared in the transcript for the items presented.

What the city said about implementation

- Crown Castle contract: City staff said the contractor will provide higher throughput at remote parks, the building department, public works and City Hall; Mario Diaz, director of technology, testified the city needs more stable throughput to serve additional computers and cameras at remote sites.

- Charter amendment: Mayor Diaz and the finance director said the amendment limits the calculation to the general fund and excludes enterprise or restricted reserves such as impact-fee or building-department funds; the amendment was presented to ensure a two- to three-month operating reserve.

Next steps

- Items that passed on first reading will return for second readings where required. The charter amendment will appear on the May 13, 2025 ballot if finalized pursuant to state and city certification procedures.

The commission also handled consent and routine reports during the meeting. No final city action was taken at the meeting on the Little Abner public-comment matters; litigation was reported as pending.