TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – The Tallahassee City Commission met Wednesday with recognition, discussion of a new state law and the city’s budget on the agenda.
The meeting included the second and final hearing to adopt the 2027 fiscal year budget.
In a 3-2 vote, commissioners approved an over $900 million budget.
Commissioners voted unanimously to keep the city’s current policy on DEI the way it is.
This comes as, starting Jan. 1, a new Florida law will ban local governments from funding, running or promoting DEI programs under Senate Bill 1134.
Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey made a motion to have the city manager execute a fully funded Oasis Center contract for a 12-month term through September 2027.
“I’m not looking to make any changes tonight to comply with the bill,” Dailey said. “I’m very comfortable with where we are. This is a wonderful community; I stand by this community, I stand by our policy and I will until the last day I’m in office.”
Commissioners also unanimously voted to approve full funding for all nine special events in the city and accept the bylaw changes.
Events include the Veterans Day Parade, Pride in the Park, Experience Asia, Filipino Festival and five others.
Many veterans spoke up at the meeting about why having that full support is so important.
“There’s been a lot of people talking about good reasons for the parade,” said Frank Roycraft, Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3308. “One thing that has never come up is setting example. When I’m in these parades and I look out and I see all these little kids, they need to see a parade; they need to understand what veterans are.”
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Commissioners also heard an informational update on Austin, Texas’ Transparent and Responsible Use of Surveillance Technology, also known as the TRUST Act.
This comes after the last meeting, when commissioners heard an overview of ALPR technology and suspended its use in the city.
Many residents spoke out with concerns.
“Why are we being so indecisive?” Tallahassee resident Tim Stadlmueller asked. “And why aren’t we actually acting in good faith and getting rid of these things and then having a conversation about bringing them back, rather than somehow providing what I’m currently expecting to be some kind of loophole?”
Wednesday night was also the final City Commission meeting for City Manager Reese Goad after eight years on the job.
Dailey read a proclamation recognizing Goad and his efforts in the position and in the city since starting.
The proclamation read that Tallahassee’s economy has grown by 25% since he started in the city manager position, among other highlights.
City commissioners also voted 3-2 to name the city’s power generation near Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare after him. Commissioners Jack Porter and Jeremy Matlow voted against this.
“To everybody who has been talked down to in a briefing or a public setting under Manager Goad, I do not think this honor is worthy of this individual, so respectfully I do not support the motion,” Matlow said.
The commission also voted unanimously to install a historic marker at Columbia Gardens at South City Apartments in honor of Oliver Hill Sr., a longtime housing activist in the city.
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