Sworn ethics complaint and calls for impeachment dominate public comment at Kissimmee City Commission meeting

Alex (Alexander) Alemi filed a sworn ethics complaint with the City Clerk under section 30-25 of the City Code, telling the commission he had reviewed public records and concluded the mayor "spearheaded the Boost 2 grant program, expanded it, loosened its requirements, applied for it, and received $50,000" and alleging additional $45,000 to tenants amounted to improper financial interest.

Alemi said the documents and emails he reviewed "showed a pattern" and asked the commission to trigger the code process that would ask the chief circuit judge of the Ninth Judicial Circuit to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate within 30 days. He said his complaint cites multiple sections of the code of ethics and that the full report is available online.

Other public speakers echoed concerns. Jeremy Fetzer formally requested the censure and impeachment of Commissioner Jeanette Martinez, alleging conflicts of interest and undue influence in a conditional-use permit tied to a close associate; he specifically cited code sections and staff statements he said showed improper pressure. Lillian Evans addressed the mayor directly, saying the community had "enduring patterns of abuse of power," cited undisclosed travel and gifts, and demanded transparency.

Nina Glee Hill, president of the local NAACP, urged civility and said the community deserves leadership that "can rise above" divisive conduct, warning that public trust was eroding if accusations and conflict continued to dominate public meetings.

Commissioner Jeanette Martinez responded later in the meeting, saying she had assembled documentation she called "evidence, proof, documentation of any and every accusation made against myself to be false in black and white" and said packets of travel and expense records were available for distribution. City staff did not announce any immediate investigatory vote or disciplinary action during the meeting.

Where this stands: Alemi asked the commission to follow section 30-25 procedures (which invoke an independent prosecutor appointed by a judge). The commission took public comment and heard denials, but no commissioner moved to initiate the special-prosecutor step or vote on a formal disciplinary measure at this meeting.

What commissioners and staff said: The city manager and city attorney did not announce administrative findings at the dais; the city attorney noted staff is monitoring state legislation and potential legal impacts but did not offer a determination on the ethics claims. The mayor and several commissioners acknowledged the seriousness of the comments and said procedures exist for filing and reviewing sworn complaints.

Next steps: The complaint is on file with the clerk. Under the code section cited by speakers, the filing of a sworn complaint triggers a mandatory referral to the chief circuit judge for appointment of an independent investigator; whether that referral will be made or whether commissioners will ask the city attorney for staff review was not decided at the meeting. The commission did not take any formal vote on impeachment or censure before adjourning.