Newberry City Commission creates Youth Council, exits solar agreement, reapportions fire assessment fees

BY DAVID LIGHTMAN

NEWBERRY, Fla. – At their July 8 Regular Meeting, the Newberry City Commission heard an update from the Recreation Department, approved the creation of a Youth Council for high school students, passed a reapportioned fire assessment fee schedule for the first time since 2015, and exited one of their two existing agreements to purchase solar power.

Recreation Department update

The meeting began with an update by the new Recreation Director, Rod Clark, who said the Department offers flag football, tackle football, baseball, softball, t-ball, soccer, volleyball, basketball, and cheer for local youth; soccer and volleyball are the most popular sports. Adult leagues include volleyball, softball, and basketball. Registration for fall leagues is currently open. More information is available at www.newberryfl.gov/parksrec .

Clark said youth camps for various sports will be held again next summer, and pickleball court construction is underway at Jimmy Durden and Freddie Warmack Parks. Indoor pickleball courts will be available at a new, larger gym to be constructed next year at the Easton Newberry Sports Complex.

Youth Council

Annah McGehee, a local student with an interest in politics, gave a presentation entitled “Newberry Youth Council Proposal.” McGehee said, “28.9% of Newberry’s population is under 18. That means that nearly 30% of Newberry is going unheard, without the ability to vote or run for office. This leads to a lack of civic engagement and dissatisfaction with the community. Finally, kids in this area have little to no opportunity to explore local government and seriously consider it for their future. I find this disheartening… The solution? An advisory body comprised of local youth that advocate for issues to the City Commission, therefore experiencing the complexities of local government and enhancing the community.”

McGehee said a Youth Council would help the City Commission gain insight from young citizens, and statewide Youth Council gatherings would help Newberry connect and network with people in other parts of the state. High Springs and Destin are among the cities that have successful Youth Councils, she said, and she suggested using the High Springs organizational structure, which has a Chair, Vice Chair, three Members, and one Alternate Member. McGehee proposed requirements for Youth Council membership, such as having a minimum GPA of 3.0, being a high school student, and residing in Newberry.

Mayor Jordan Marlowe responded, “Once again, Miss McGehee, very impressive, and let me say I’m so excited because I’ve been so jealous. Archer has a program that’s run through the elementary school. High Springs just started this. I’m so excited to see this coming up from the student body itself.”

McGehee said there are no anticipated costs. Instead of starting in the 2024-2025 school year, Marlowe recommended waiting a year to “work out exactly all the details of how it’s going to go.”

Commissioner Tony Mazon made a motion to approve the creation of the Youth Council, and Commissioner Tim Marden seconded the motion. It passed 4-0, with Commissioner Mark Clark absent.

New fee structure for fire assessments

Assistant City Manager Dallas Lee introduced a Preliminary Fire Assessment Resolution. He said Fire Assessment funds can be used only for first responders, and this is the first time the fees are being reapportioned since 2015.

Lee showed the following slide, which details the rate changes in the different categories. Lee said residential rates will remain the same, and changes were made based on analysis of the average number of calls in each category and the average time spent at each call.

Responding to a question from Commissioner Marden, Lee said the new fee structure will generate approximately $50,000 more revenue annually, but those funds will go directly toward paying the increased salaries at the fire department.

Marden made a motion to keep the residential rates the same and make the proposed changes to the other categories. Commissioner Rick Coleman seconded the motion. It passed 3-1 during a roll call vote, with Commissioner Monty Farnsworth in dissent and Clark absent.

Annexations approved on first reading

On first readings, Commissioners voted to annex three parcels of land totaling approximately 44 acres.

Newberry Charter School update

City Manager Mike New said there wasn’t much to report concerning the Newberry Charter School. He said the effort to submit the application is underway, and he may begin giving updates every second or third meeting (instead of every meeting) unless something worth discussing comes up.

City Commission votes to exit one of two solar power agreements

City Manager New said the City had entered into an agreement as part of the Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA) to purchase a total of 1.0 megawatts of solar-generated power from two solar farms.

Susan Schumann of FMPA said the two solar farm sites are the Rice Creek Facility and the Whistling Duck Facility; the Rice Creek Facility is expected to be online later this summer, but the Whistling Duck Facility has run into some cost overruns. Schumann said the solar provider, Origis, reached out to the FMPA and said they would need to amend their agreement, increasing the energy cost by $16 per megawatt-hour, and that was the reason for her visit to Newberry.

Schumann said the project may be terminated if enough of the 12 cities participating do not wish to keep the contract with the increased prices. She said, “Some of our members are saying ‘No. We signed up for very cheap solar. It’s not very cheap anymore.’ It’s still reasonable cost.” She explained that the lower-priced agreement to receive 0.5 megawatts of power from the Rice Creek Facility would not be affected by exiting the contract for the other 0.5 megawatts of power from the future Whistling Duck Facility.

Mayor Marlowe said Newberry will have 5% of its energy from the Rice Creek Facility, and the decision was whether to purchase another 5% solar energy at a higher cost. Coleman said he thought the price of natural gas would be lower in the near future.

In response to a question from Commissioner Farnsworth, New said, “[Accepting the contract amendment] would increase the average person’s bill by 2 or 2.5 percent.”

After more discussion, Commissioner Coleman made a motion to exit the agreement to purchase energy from the second solar facility, and Commissioner Mazon seconded the motion. It passed 3-1, with Farnsworth in dissent and Clark absent.

Schumann said they hope to open the Rice Creek Facility at the end of August in Palatka, and there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony. She encouraged everyone to attend.

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