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Fort Meade approves Retail Strategies partnership, schedules ordinance second readings and introduces new senior staff
Summary
The City Commission voted 4-1 to approve a partnership with Retail Strategies for economic development, set second readings for three ordinances on Sept. 10, and heard introductions of key new staff from City Manager Edward Dean.
FORT MEADE, Fla. — The Fort Meade City Commission on Aug. 13 approved a proposal to partner with Retail Strategies for economic development and advanced three ordinances to second readings, while City Manager Edward Dean introduced new senior staff.
Council action: The commission approved Resolution R2024-65, authorizing a partnership with Retail Strategies, by a 4–1 vote. Commissioner Jaret Williams cast the lone dissenting vote. Sara Beth Stewart joined via Zoom and presented a PowerPoint explaining Retail Strategies’ calculations and services before the vote.
Several residents questioned the timing and cost of new hires and consulting arrangements. Resident Tina Leach asked whether the city planned to hire a part-time or full-time city manager and questioned hiring plans and consultant costs when residents report difficulties paying utility and assessment bills. City Manager Edward Dean introduced three new key employees and asked the community to give them time: Lekia Johnson as CRA Director, Amy Wheeler as Assistant City Manager and Veronica Hairston as Chief Operations Officer. Mayor Petrina McCutchen welcomed the new staff and suggested a commission team-building session.
The commission also approved three ordinances on first reading and set each for a second reading on Sept. 10, 2024: Ordinance 2024-16 (repeal of Ordinance 2024-12 amending Floodplain Management), Ordinance 2024-17 (amend Floodplain Management) and Ordinance 2024-18 (update Fort Meade Fire Prevention Code). Chief Matthew Zahara provided an overview of the fire prevention code changes before the vote on Ordinance 2024-18.
Other business: The commission rescheduled budget workshops to Aug. 19–21 from 3:00–6:00 p.m. Vice Mayor Samuel Berrien asked the commission to consider a five-year planning workshop in addition to team-building. Commissioner James Watts requested updates on the SRF sewer project and on pending litigation at a future meeting.
What’s next: The Retail Strategies partnership will move to implementation steps with the city manager and CRA staff; the three ordinances return for second readings on Sept. 10, 2024. The approved budget-workshop dates offer the public a chance to review spending and staffing questions raised at this meeting.
