Two FFA State Officers are students at local schools.
On August 11, Mayor Nate Kilton called to order the Regular Meeting of the City Commission at 6:00 p.m. Vice-Mayor Jason Jones, City Commissioner Mary Mathis, City Commissioner Bill Dodson, City Commissioner Mike Sparkman, City Attorney Kenneth Buchman, City Clerk Kerri Miller, and City Manager Bill McDaniel were all present for the meeting. Michael Fredette, pastor at Liberty Southern Baptist Church, gave an invocation, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Each week, the next item On the agenda is an open mic for comments from residents and interested parties. Three people spoke. Among these, one woman believes trees and undergrowth need to be cleaned out of a retention pond in her neighborhood, and a ditch needs to have rock retention replaced to prevent erosion from her yard. The city manager took notes, and Mayor Kilton told the woman the city’s stormwater team would take a look at the site.
Next, the city commissioners heard presentations from city staff on the following items and voted:
25-365 – A presentation from Planning and Zoning staff regarding an introduction to the process for the update to the Plant City Comprehensive Plan.
25-189 – A resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement with Pritchard Industries for janitorial services for the new Solid Waste and Utilities Maintenance building. Pritchard’s quote came in $5,338 less than the current provider. The proposed annual cost will be $44,245.
25-335 – A resolution adopting the 2025 update to the Hillsborough County Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) and Hillsborough County Program for Public Information (PPI). The federal government requires this natural hazard mitigation plan to be updated every five years to maintain eligibility for FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) funding. The completion of the plan and its adoption by the city commission can improve the area’s community rating, which can help residents get discounts on flood insurance rates.
25-337 – A resolution authorizing the city manager to execute the authorized agent and maintenance agreement forms for the police department Emergency Operations Center standby generator replacement project. The current generator is 20 years old and isn’t capable of fully powering the center. The cost of the project is $600,000. However, the city is working with the office of U.S. Representative Laurel Lee to fund the project through a Florida Department of Emergency Management Grant, which could cover up to $450,000 of the cost.
During the time slotted for commissioners to speak, Commissioner Mathis, impromptu, asked school board member for District 4, Patti Rendon, to update the meeting after the first two days of the school year. Rendon said things went smoothly, and that work on the HVAC at Plant City High School was a success, and the system functioned well. However, the county school system still has 40 open positions for bus drivers. Mayor Kilton praised Rendon for her hard work, dedication, and advocacy for schools in Plant City.
Commissioner Jones introduced two students to address the assembly. Hope Storter, a senior at Strawberry Crest High School, was elected FFA State President. Durant High School senior, Lyla Bent, was elected Area 5 Vice President. Both students updated the meeting on the coming year’s FFA direction and actions. “It is something to have one youth from our Plant City area get elected to the state Future Farmers of America (FFA) board, but to have two elected as state officers is quite amazing,” he said. “It speaks highly of Plant City and the youth of Plant City, which makes me feel great about the future.”
City commissioners then proceeded to vote on items to be addressed at the August 25 city commission meeting.
25-353 – A public hearing on an ordinance amending Chapter 94, Plant City Code, to effectuate recent changes by the legislature related to platting of subdivisions (PB-2025-24).
25-349 – A public hearing on an ordinance to rezone .64 acres from R-1A single family dwelling district to R-2 multiple family dwelling district located on the east side of South Gibbs St, south of West Strickland St, and north of West Grant St. (PB-2025-11).
25-352 – A public hearing on an ordinance for a major modification to the Linder Community Unit District located at the southeast corner of South Frontage Rd and North Maryland Ave (PB-2025-15)
25-344 – A resolution setting a legislative public hearing on an ordinance approving map amendment PC/CPA 25-03 located on the west side of N. Alexander St., north of Cason St. and south of Sam Allen Rd.
25-345 – A resolution setting a quasi-judicial public hearing on an ordinance to rezone approximately 16 acres on the west side of N. Alexander St., north of Cason St. and south of Sam Allen Rd. from Hillsborough County ASC-1 to the Intrac Planned Development District (PB-2025-07).
25-346 – A resolution setting a quasi-judicial public hearing on an ordinance to rezone 3 acres to allow 38 multi-family apartments. The site is on the east side of S. Walker St., south of W. Bates St, and north of W. Grant St. (PB-2024-49).
25-347 – A resolution setting a legislative public hearing on an ordinance relating to a text amendment to Division 3 of Article VII, Chapter 102, Supplemental Regulations regarding service stations (PB-2025-18).
25-348 – A resolution setting a public hearing on an ordinance relating to a text amendment to Division 1 of Article VII Chapter 102, Supplementary Regulations regarding private rail crossings (PB-2025-22).
All of the above resolutions addressed in the meeting were approved. The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
