Milton council approves consent items, two ordinances, two resolutions and a land purchase; votes unanimous

The City of Milton Council unanimously approved multiple routine and substantive items at its July 8 meeting, including the general consent agenda, two ordinances on second reading, two resolutions and a land purchase needed for a wastewater spray-field project.

What the council approved
- General consent agenda (unanimous): Items included the Milton High School Homecoming Parade permit (item 2025-3433), GrayRobinson engagement letter (2025-3367), Florida League of Cities annual conference voting delegate (2025-3425), change order for pre-camera inspection of sewer lines (2025-3393), Russell Harbor dock repair/replacement (2025-3427), Santa Rosa County Sheriff narcotics task force letter (2025-3408), police training initiative grant (2025-3421) and a 2025 Dodge Durango vehicle purchase (2025-3434). The council voted to approve the consent agenda unanimously.

- Ordinances adopted on second reading (unanimous): Ordinance No. 6-25 (amending stormwater waiver standards, previous payment systems and adding alternative parking exemptions in the Unified Development Code) and Ordinance No. 7-25 (revising mobile-vendor language and standards) were both approved on second reading and adopted by unanimous vote.

- Resolutions (unanimous): Resolution 25-12, establishing a special assessment to fund fire-protection-related services, was approved after staff described how the assessment is calculated (a four-year rolling average of non-personnel fire department costs). Budget director staff estimated the assessment would average roughly $5.58 per parcel based on the most recent numbers discussed. Council members asked about alternatives to the assessment (for example, using changes in the millage rate) and were told the council may set the assessment rate.

Resolution 25-13 amended the fiscal year 2025 budget to change estimated revenues and expenditures for various funds; the vote to adopt the amendment was unanimous.

- Land purchase authorized (unanimous): The council approved the purchase of land for a spray-field wastewater project (agenda item 2025-3438). The approved contract language will be adjusted so the purchase price is increased by an amount equal to documentary stamps (the seller was expected to accept the net adjustment).

Votes and procedure
All recorded motions on the consent agenda, ordinance adoptions, resolutions and the land-purchase authorization were approved unanimously by the council members present. The council confirmed the next steps for the spray-field purchase were administrative (documentary-stamp adjustment and closing steps) and that the rezoning item discussed elsewhere on the agenda will return for a second public hearing.

Quotes and context
City staff noted the fire-assessment resolution uses a four-year rolling average of non-personnel fire expenses to set the assessment base; staff and council discussed that, if the city chooses not to levy the full assessed rate in a future year, the council may set a lower rate at its discretion. “It’s based on the 4 year rolling average of expenses outside of personnel for the fire department,” a staff member said during discussion on the assessment formula.

What to expect next
The council set a special meeting for July 17 to review the FY2026 millage rate and scheduled a budget workshop for July 19 at 9:00 a.m. to discuss budget priorities. The spray-field land purchase will move forward to closing subject to the agreed contract adjustment for documentary stamps.