[1. CALL TO ORDER]
          [00:00:03]
          >> WE WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE SPECIAL MEETING TO ORDER. IT IS MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2020. 
          PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD. 
          INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. CALL THE ROLL PLEASE. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIOER ALEXANDER. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. >> ALL RIGHT. THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA'S 
          COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC. >> ANY PERSON THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION? 
          SEEING NO ONE. PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED. >> NEXT WE MOVE ONTO INTERVIEWS 
          [a. Interviews of FPUA Candidates]
          OF THE FPUA CANDIDATES. >> I WOULD LIKE TO REVIEW WHAT I THINK WE AGREED ON IS A THREE MINUTE PRESENTATION. AND THEN A QUESTION FROM EACH COMMISSIONER WITH TWO MINUTES TO ANSWER AND THEN A TWO MINUTE CLOSE. MS. COX IS GOING TO KEEP THE TIMER NOT GIVE A WARNING, BUT JUST THE TIMER WILL BEEP WHEN THE TIME IS UP AND WE WILL LET THE CANDIDATES KNOW AHEAD OF TIME TO WIND UP AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. 
          AND THEY CAN SEE THE TIMER UP THERE. IS THAT AGREEABLE TO EVERYBODY? 
          >> YES. >> WE WILL TAKE THE FIRST CANDIDATE THEN. 
          >> NICHELLE CLEMONS. THE OFFICERS ARE GOING TO HELP US WITH BRINGING THE CANDIDATES 
          IN. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. 
          >> DO WE HAVE STANDARD QUESTIONS, MAYOR? >> WELL, WHAT I THOUGHT I WOULD DO IS:  EACH COMMISSIONER AND ASKED THEM TO GIVE THEIR QUESTIONS. 
          IT IS UP TO YOU, BUT I THINK THE FAIR THING TO DO FOR EACH COMMISSIONER TO ASK THE SAME 
          QUESTION. >> I HAVE ABOUT YOU. >> AM GOING TO GO LAST, I'M GOING TO TRY TO CLEAN UP HERE. 
          WELCOME. THIS IS THE WAY WE ARE GOING TO DO IT. 
          YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO GIVE US AN OPENING STATEMENT, AND THEN WE ARE EACH GOING TO ASK YOU A QUESTION AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO ANSWER THOSE. THEN YOU WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSED OUT FOR TWO MINUTES. SO, NICHELLE, MS. COX, OUR CLERK WILL BE TIMING YOU AND YOU CAN ALSO SEE THE TIME IN FRONT OF YOU. 
          YOU CAN WEAR A MASK, OR NOT WEAR A MASK. WHATEVER YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE. 
          NICHELLE CAN BE MAY BEGIN. WE WANT YOU TO RELAX. JUST PRETEND YOU'RE HAVING A 
          CONVERSATION WITH US. [LAUGHTER] >> WELL, GOOD MORNING FIRST OF ALL. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME THIS MORNING. 
          NICHELLE, I GUESS THE FIRST THING I WANT TO DO IS TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF. 
          MY NAME IS NICHELLE CLEMONS, I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA. 
          AFTER I GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL, FORT PIERCE CENTRAL. I WENT ON TO COLLEGE AT FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY. I GOT A DEGREE IN PHARMACY. I AM A REGISTERED PHARMACIST AND A COUPLE OF STATES. I HAVE A CAREER IN PHARMACY IN BOTH MANAGEMENT, I DID PHARMACEUTICAL SALES AND I ALSO WORKED IN RETAIL AND HOSPITAL. THAT GAVE ME A VAST NUMBER OF SKILLS. I DID WORK IN THE GAMUT IN THAT CAREER. 
          I ALSO DID PHARMACEUTICAL SALES AS WELL AS I DID REAL ESTATE. THOSE THINGS GAVE ME SKILLS, IN BUDGETING, WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC, WORKING WITH ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE. 
          I THINK THOSE ARE SKILLS THAT I CAN USE IN THIS POSITION. I AM EXTREMELY NERVOUS. 
          >> DON'T BE. [LAUGHTER] SO, NICHELLE, ANYTHING ELSE? 
          YOU HAVE A LITTLE MORE TIME. >> I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO QUESTIONS. 
          >> THAT IS FINE. COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER WOULD YOU LIKE TO BEGIN THE FIRST 
          QUESTION. >> I DON'T MIND, AS LONG AS WE'RE GOING TO ROTATE THIS OUT 
          [00:05:02]
          BETWEEN THE COMMISSIONERS. >> WE CAN. AS LONG -- . 
          >> GOOD MORNING. I'M SPEAKING TO YOU BECAUSE I AM IN QUARANTINE, SINCE YOU ARE IN MANAGEMENT, MY QUESTION IS ABOUT MANAGEMENT OF THE FPUA. I HAVE A CONCERN THAT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE HAD CITIZENS WHICH OWN THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES, BUT QUESTION TO ME ABOUT THE HABITS OF THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, I UNDERSTAND, OF THE CITIZENS, THAT FORT PIERCE UTILITIES HAS DONATED CONTRIBUTIONS TO PRESIDENT TRUMP. 
          I HAVE A QUESTION OF CONCERN. MY CONCERN IS, YOU KNOW, IF THEY HAVE DONATED TO BOTH THE DEMOCRAT AND THE REPUBLICANS, THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE IS A NONPARTISAN ELECTION. 
          WHY WOULD IT BE ALLOWED FOR ANY ENTITY OF THE FORT PIERCE TO DONATE TO CERTAIN PARTIES IN 
          THIS ELECTION? >> CLARITY. FORT PIERCE UTILITY AUTHORITY 
          GAVE A CONTRIBUTION TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN? >> YES. 
          $150. IT IS DOCUMENTED. I'M NOT JUST BLOWING HOT AIR. 
          I JUST WANT YOU TO BE, YOU KNOW, IF HE WAS A BOARD MEMBER, WOULD THAT BE A QUESTION FOR YOU AS 
          WELL? >> YES, IT WOULD BE SOMETHING I WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT. 
          WE REPRESENT ALL OF THE PEOPLE HERE IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AS FAR AS THEIR UTILITIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. NICHELLE, HOWEVER, IF I AM CORRECT, THE ONLY THING THAT IS APPROVED BY THE BOARD IS THERE IS ONLY HUNDRED $50,000 THAT NEEDS APPROVAL. 
          I'M NOT SURE IF THAT WOULD BE FUNDS THAT WOULD COME DIRECTLY FROM THE FORT PIERCE UTILITY AUTHORITY OR IF IT HAS TO COME TO THE BOARD TO BE APPROVED? AS A BOARD MEMBER, I WOULD BE CONCERNED. I DON'T SEE WHERE IT WOULD ACTUALLY COME TO US AS A BOARD TO EVALUATE WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE APPROVED? TRAN28 IS GOOD TO SEE YOU IN PERSON. I HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH YOU ON THE PHONE AND I APPRECIATE THAT. AND THE RECENT PANDEMIC WHICH HAS CAUSED AN ECONOMIC ISSUE FOR A LOT OF FOLKS, IN THE WORLD AND THE NATION, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FORT PIERCE TODAY. 
          WITH THAT IN MIND, KNOWING THE FACT THAT FPUA HAS ONE OF ITS STRONGEST OBLIGATIONS TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS TO BE RUN LIKE A WELL RUN BUSINESS. 
          HOW DO YOU BALANCE BETWEEN HELPING THE COMMUNITY AND THOSE THAT ARE SUFFERING RIGHT NOW, 
          AND MAKING SURE THAT THE COMPANY MOVES ON? >> UM, I THINK IT HAS TO BE LOOKED AT ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. IN THE PANDEMIC IF YOU CUT OFF PEOPLES UTILITIES IN THE SITUATION WE HAVE HERE, YOU'RE NOT ONLY JUST CUTTING OFF AN INDIVIDUAL, YOU'RE CUTTING OFF A FAMILY. IF YOU HAVE STUDENTS, THEY DON'T HAVE ELECTRICITY, THEY DON'T HAVE INTERNET, THEY CAN EVEN DO THEIR CLASSWORK. 
          IF YOU HAVE HEALTH CONDITIONS, THEY DON'T HAVE ELECTRICITY, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY RUNNING WATER. I THINK YOU HAVE TO HANDLE ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS KEEPING THOSE PEOPLE UP AND RUNNING. SET UP A PAYMENT PLAN SO THEY CAN PAY IT IN THE END SO THE BUSINESS DOESN'T GO TO FUNK. WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING IN PLACE TO HELP PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE IN NEED, IN GENUINE NEED. WE CAN'T HAVE HAVE FREE LOADERS, OF COURSE, BECAUSE IT IS A BUSINESS. WE HAVE TO HAVE A MEANS TO RECOUP THOSE FUNDS. 
          IF WE HAVE MEANS TO CARRY THOSE PEOPLE WE DO, IF WE DON'T, WE DO HAVE TO SET UP A PAYMENT PLAN. 
          >> WE ASK ONE QUESTION A PIECE. ALL RIGHT. NOW, GOOD MORNING. 
          MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, AS IT RELATES TO THE HISTORY OF THE UTILITY AUTHORITY, I REPRESENT DISTRICT ONE, AND DISTRICT ONE HAS HAD AN ISSUE OF CONVERSATION THAT HAS BEEN A HOT TOPIC 
          [00:10:03]
PROBABLY NOW FOR AT LEAST, I KNOW FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE. 
          AND THAT IS THE UTILITIES RATES OF THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AUTHORITY. 
          NOW, NOT TO SAY THAT IT'S ON THE MAJOR ISSUE FOR DISTRICT TO 2 AS ELL, BUT I COME IN CONTACT WITH IT ALL THE TIME AND DISTRICT ONE. MOST OF THE BUSINESSES COMPLAIN ABOUT IT, TOO, REGARDLESS OF WHAT DISTRICT THEY ARE IN. IT TENDS TO BE IN MY OPINION THE MAINLAND WHERE THE RATES TEND TO DIFFER. HAVE YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, OR ARE YOU FAMILIAR ENOUGH WITH THIS ISSUE TO OFFER AN EXPLANATION, OR TO OFFER WHETHER OR NOT IT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IN YOUR OPINION BASED ON YOUR 
          OBSERVATIONS OF THE UTILITIES AUTHORITY? >> WELL, JUST LISTENING TO YOUR CONVERSATION I WOULD SAY SOMETHING ONGOING WITH THE CITIZENS FOR 20 YEARS, AND IT HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED, I THINK IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED FIRST OF ALL. 
          HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT ADDRESSING IT IF YOU ARE COMPARING THEM APPLES TO APPLES? THEN YOU WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AND SEE IF THERE'S A PROBLEM. BUT IF IT'S APPLES AND ORANGES AND YOU HAVE TO SEE WHAT IS THE VARIATION BETWEEN THE APPLES AND ORANGES? IS AT THE INFRASTRUCTURE? IS THAT THE INDIVIDUAL HOMES OR BUSINESSES, ARE THEY UP TO DATE AND UP TO CODE? BECAUSE OF THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS ARE GOING TO HAVE INCREASED UTILIZATION SIMPLY BECAUSE THE PROPERTY IS NOT PROPERLY WEATHERIZED. 
          THOSE WILL BE THINGS YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT. YOU BASICALLY HAVE TO DO A STUDY. OTHER THAN THAT YOU ARE GIVING ARBITRARY ANSWERS, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TRUE FACTS. YOU HAVE TO HAVE ALL OF THE FACTS IN PLACE OF WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A DISCREPANCY. IF THERE IS A DISCREPANCY THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD AND THE UTILITY AUTHORITIES CAN LOOK TO TO ALLEVIATE THE DISCREPANCY. 
          IF IT'S THESE HOMES AND BUSINESSES ARE NOT UP TO CODE AND THEY NEED TO BE WEATHERIZED, THEN THERE IS A PROGRAM IN PLACE THAT CAN BE UTILIZED. I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT MAKING SURE THAT THE PUBLIC KNOWS THAT THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE TO THEM AND LET THEM KNOW THE PROCESS OF UTILIZING IT I THINK THAT IS PROBABLY A BIGGER ISSUE OF MAKING SURE INDIVIDUALS KNOW THAT THE PROGRAM IS THERE AND HOW TO UTILIZE IT AND WALKING THEM THROUGH THE STEPS, BECAUSE I HAVE LOOKED AT IT PERSONALLY I AM FROM DISTRICT ONE, I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN DISTRICT ONE. OUR OLDER HOME DEFINITELY NEEDS THAT DONE. 
          MY MOTHER WHO IS 89 YEARS OLD SHE WOULD NOT KNOW HOW TO DO THAT. 
          SOMEBODY WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE TO HELP THOSE INDIVIDUALS HOW TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND PROBABLY EVEN TAKE IT TO THEIR DOORSTEP. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO COME IN AND 
          ASK FOR IT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT AWARE IT IS THERE. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. 
          COMMISSIONER JOHNSON? >> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. 
          GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. WE WERE ABLE TO TALK ON ZOOM SO WE ARE ABLE TO SEE EACH OTHER'S FACE. YOU'RE DOING GREAT TODAY. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. IT'S A GOOD CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS. 
          MY QUESTION RELATES TO, AND YOU AND I DISCUSSED THIS A LITTLE BIT, BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS TALK ABOUT TO THE COMMISSION, WHAT KIND OF QUALIFICATIONS YOU HAVE IN ADMINISTRATION, BUDGET. 
          YOU TALKED ABOUT BEING A PHARMACIST AND YOUR OTHER QUALIFICATIONS, OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE. RELATE THAT TO SITTING ON A BOARD AND MAKING BUSINESS TYPE 
          DECISIONS IF YOU COULD? >> I THINK THAT AS A PHARMACIST HE GIVES ME UM TO DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES THAT I CAN WORK TOGETHER. AS A PHARMACIST WE HAVE TO MAKE A SICKLY LIFE AND DEATH JUDGMENT CALLS EVERY DAY. EVERY TIME SOMEONE -- HE MAY HAVE DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT ARE THERE BUT THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS THE BEST OPTIONS I WILL SAY THAT. 
          BUT, IT MAY NOT BE ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL TO DO THE BEST OPTION. 
          YOU HAVE TO WEIGH THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS AND I COME UP WITH WHAT WE LIKE TO SAY THE IDEAL OPTION. EVERY DAY WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE MEDICATION A BIT COST THEM $2000 A MONTH AND THERE'S NO WAY THEY CAN AFFORD IT. BUT WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS, THEY MAY HAVE TO TAKE IT THREE TIMES A DAY AS OPPOSED TO ONCE A DAY BUT THEY CAN AFFORD IT. DO YOU GIVE THEM THE OPTION THEY CAN TAKE ONCE A DAY, OR DO YOU GIVE THEM AN OPTION THEY CAN TAKE THREE TIMES A DAY THAT THEY CAN AFFORD BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD THE OTHER. I THINK WITH THE UTILITIES IT WOULD BE THE SAME SITUATION. 
          WE WOULD HAVE TO WEIGH OUT TO ALL OF DIFFERENT THINGS. I HAVE DEVELOPED THOSE FIELDS AS 
          [00:15:01]
A PHARMACIST TO BALANCE THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS AS A PHARMACIST WE HAVE BUDGETARY THINGS. 
          WE HAD TO ALWAYS GET THINGS IN THE BUDGET. I WORKED IN PHARMACEUTICAL SALES SO I ACTUALLY MANAGED A REGION THAT COVERED FOUR STATES. HAD TO BUDGET MY TIME, I HAD TO BUDGET THE MONTHLY FINANCE ASPECT. I HAD MONTHLY BUDGETS I HAD TO FALL WITHIN. AND WE ALWAYS HAD BUDGETS WE HAD A FALLING QUARTERLY AND FISCALLY. THOSE ARE MY MANAGER SKILLS THAT I HAD TO MANAGE PEOPLE SO THAT WAS ALWAYS A BIG THING. LUCKY ENOUGH FOR ME, WHEN I FIRST GOT OUT OF SCHOOL, DAY ONE I WAS THE MANAGER. [LAUGHTER] I HAD ON-THE-JOB TRAINING. 
          I THINK I DID WELL. MY PEOPLE ENJOYED ME. I DID WELL AS FAR AS MY REPORTS, AND THE THINGS FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WERE OVER ME. I THINK I DID VERY WELL. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> I WILL WRAP THIS UP AND ASK YOU UM, ONE OF THE IMPORTANT JOBS I THINK FOR A FPUA BOARD MEMBER IS EDUCATION OF OUR RATEPAYERS AND EDUCATION OF THIS COMMISSION. THIS COMMISSION CAN SOMETIMES GET THE WRONG IDEAS ABOUT WHAT THE FPUA IS DOING, WHAT THE FPUA BOARD IS DOING. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE GOOD COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATION. I'M WONDERING HOW YOU SEE 
          YOURSELF DOING THAT? >> I THINK THE FIRST THING I WOULD DO IS KEEP MYSELF OR THE PREVIOUS QUESTION I HAD ABOUT THE FINANCE ASPECT OF THE DONATION TO THE DONALD TRUMP CAMPAIGN, I DIDN'T KNOW THE 50,000-DOLLAR LIMIT WAS THERE UNTIL I READ UP ON IT. 
          THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD SAY, EDUCATE MYSELF AND THEN I WILL EDUCATE MY COLLEAGUES AND THEN AS WE COME TO THE COMMISSIONER, MAKE SURE THEY ARE AWARE OF ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE IN PLACE, AND SHARING THAT INFORMATION. 
          I THINK THAT IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST THING, MAKING SURE EVERYBODY HAS THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THEM SO THEY CAN BE APPROPRIATELY EDUCATED. MAKING IT SIMPLE. 
          A LOT OF TIMES THE PUBLIC WILL GET A DOCUMENT THAT IS SEVERAL PAGES BUT YOU NEED TO BREAK IT DOWN TO THEM SO IT IS SOMETHING EASY FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND. THAT USUALLY THE BIGGEST THING IS THAT YOU CAN'T BOMBARD PEOPLE WITH A BOATLOAD OF INFORMATION WHEN IT CAN BE SIMPLY SAID AND 
          IF FEW WORDS. KEEP IT SIMPLE. >> ALL RIGHT. 
          TRAN28 THIS ISN'T A QUESTION, BUT I THINK EVERY CANDIDATE SHOULD BE ASKED, THERE'S A LIST OF REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS POSITION, TALKING ABOUT MEETINGS , THIS COULD GO ON FOR EIGHT YEARS. EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS, HOMEWORK AND ALL OF THIS, YOU 
          HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH ANY OF IT? >> I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD BE ASSET. 
          ACTUALLY WE HAD A COUPLE OF ISSUES ON THE BOARD WHERE PEOPLE COULD JUST NOT SHOW IT FOR MEETINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT BECAUSE OF THE TIME RESTRAINTS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE 
          OKAY WITH IT. >> THAT'S A GOOD POINT. >> I READ THE MEMO. 
          >> THE ISSUE ABOUT THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN, I GOT AN E-MAIL OVER THE WEEKEND THAT ALLEGE THAT. 
          I HAD THE DIRECTOR LOOK INTO THAT. THAT WOULD BE AGAINST A FEDERAL& LAW IF THE FPUA DID THAT. I THINK IT IS A MISTAKE BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING INTO. 
          WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO YOUR CLOSING TWO MINUTES? YOU HAVE DONE A REALLY NICE JOB. 
          >> THANK YOU. CLOSING; I HOPE YOU ALL TAKE THE TIME TO EVALUATE ME IN A VERY EQUAL MEASURE, LOOK AT MY SKILLS THAT I HAVE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE AND HOPEFULLY YOU ALL WILL SELECT ME AS YOUR NEWEST BOARD MEMBER. I REALLY DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN THAT. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY. 
          >> THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME AND GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS. THE FIRST WANT TO GO THROUGH A 
          NEW PROCESS AND I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO DO THAT. >> YOU ARE OUR FAVORITE SO FAR. 
          [LAUGHTER] >> HAD TO THINK ABOUT THAT RIGHT QUICK. 
          THANK YOU. >> WE ARE GOING TO GET READY FOR THE NEXT PERSON. 
          >> YOU DON'T HAVE TO STAY IN THERE YOU ARE FREE TO GO. YOU JUST CAN'T STAY IN CHAMBERS. 
          STEPHEN ENNS? >> MAYOR, I THINK IF WE DO ASK EACH CANDIDATE BEFORE WE START, IF YOU WANT. I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO BE ON RECORD TO SAY THAT THEY HAVE LOOKED AT THE REQUIREMENTS AND THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN SHOW UP TO MEETINGS THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, DO THEIR HOMEWORK, GO TO THE SEMINARS AND ET CETERA. 
          [00:20:05]
          >> ALSO, MAYOR, A QUESTION THAT MAY WARRANT, AT LEAST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION 
          I WANT TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW-UP. >> ALL RIGHT. >> WELCOME. 
          THIS IS HOW WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS TODAY, MR. STEPHEN ENNS, YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE A THREE MINUTE OPENING, AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO EACH ASK YOU A QUESTION YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO ANSWER EACH QUESTION AND THEN YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TWO MINUTES CLOSING. 
          YOU HAVE A TIMER THERE SO YOU CAN SEE IT. ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ON THE RECORD IS THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE JOB AND YOU UNDERSTAND YOU'RE WILLING TO GIVE THE TIME AND THE COMMITMENT TO AND ATTEND THE MEETING SENT TO HOMEWORK AND ET CETERA, ET CETERA. HAVE I COVERED IT ALL? 
          >> YOU GOT IT. TRY ALL RIGHT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO BEGIN? 
          >> MET MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, MORNING. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS STEPHEN ENNS, FORT PIERCE, FOR THE PARADE A FOURTH GENERATION FLORIDIAN, THIRD-GENERATION FT. 
          PIERCE RESIDENT. MY FAMILY'S PUBLIC SERVICE IN FORT PIERCE BEGAN WITH MY GREAT GRANDFATHER WAS THE MAYOR OF FORT PIERCE IN THE EARLY 1900S. HE CONCLUDED HIS PUBLIC SERVICE AS A MAYOR OF TRAN FOR DOCTOR FT. PIERCE PRAY WITH THAT SAID, WHY MEAN AND WHY NOW? I REACHED A POINT IN MY LIFE FOR BOTH MY BANKING CAREER AND AFTER TAKING CARE OF FAMILY OBLIGATIONS WHERE I CAN GET BACK TO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. MY PREVIOUS CIVIC INVOLVEMENT CONSISTED OF BEING A FORMER MEMBER OF THE ROTARY CLUB IN DIFFERENT DECADES. 
          BOTH MEMBERSHIPS ENDED WHEN MY BANKING EMPLOYMENT REQUIRED ME TO WORK IN VERO BEACH. 
          THE FPUA BOARD COMMISSION IS A NATURAL FIT FOR ME GIVEN MY LOVE FOR THE SUNRISE CITY. 
          COUPLED WITH MY BACK GROUND. PAIRING FOR THIS INTERVIEW IS SIMILAR TO A DAY AT WORK FOR ME. 
          REVIEWING AND RESPONDING TO RFPS, ANALYZING CALIPERS, BUDGETS AND BOND DOCKETS AS A MUNICIPAL UNDERWRITER. A BIT AND THE SPECIALIZED WILL FOR THREE YEARS AND BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC I WORK REMOTELY FROM HOME. IN ADDITION TO THOSE DUTIES I ALSO VOLUNTEERED TO PROCESS AND DECISION PPP LOANS FOR MY EMPLOYER DURING AN EARLIER STRETCH THIS YEAR. THE THREE LEGGED STOOL, I MENTION THIS ANALOGY DURING MY PHONE INTERVIEWS AND IT BEARS REPEATING. RATEPAYER, THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT LAKE. RATEPAYERS DESERVE A RELIABLE PRODUCT AND EXCELLENT SERVICE AT A FAIR PRICE. THIS MEANS THE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE SWITCH IS FLIPPED, CLEAN DRINKING WATER FLOWS FROM THE FAUCET AND WASTE WATERS PROCESS. 
          EXISTING OUTREACH PROJECTS. 
          ENGINE THAT PROVIDES A PRODUCT AND SERVICES. THE CAPITAL-INTENSIVE COMPONENT UNIT IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE IN ADDITION ITS OWN CREDIT RATINGS TO MAINTAIN, BOND COVENANTS AND FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS TO ME. THIS INCLUDES AN ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION TO THE GENERAL FUND TO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. 
          REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE BOTTOM LINE OR NET REVENUES ARE FOR THE YEAR. 
          IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE UA WERE $7.6 MILLION. 
          AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COST SAVING EXISTS WITH THE DEBT OPENING ON OCTOBER 1, 2020. 
          REFINANCING/REFUNDING OF THE STUDY MILLION DOLLARS DEBT AT A LOWER TAX EXEMPT RATE WILL SAVE THE UA SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY. I'M CERTAIN THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF THIS IN A WORKING TO REFINANCE THIS OBLIGATION. THE THIRD AND FINAL DAY, THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, RECIPIENT OF THE $6 MILLION DISTRIBUTION FROM THE UA. 
          THIS DISTRIBUTION REPRESENTS 14% OF THE CITY'S $43 MILLION FISCAL BUDGET IN 2021. 
          IT IS NEEDED TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES IN THE CITY. ALL THREE LEGS ARE DEPENDENT 
          UPON EACH OTHER. >> YOU NEED TO WIND UP. WE WILL HAVE TO STOP YOU THERE. 
          >> ONE SENTENCE. WITHOUT ONE OF THE LEGS THE THREE LEGGED STOOL WILL FALL 
          OVER. >> THINK YOU. -- AND THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. TIME TO RELAX. THE RECENT PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED AN ECONOMIC ISSUE, NOT ONLY IN THE WORLD, IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT MOST IMPORTANT HERE IN FORT PIERCE. THAT ECONOMIC ISSUE HAS AFFECTED A LOT OF OUR FOLKS HERE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE HAVING A HARD TIME MAKING ENDS MEET. UM THERE IS AN IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING FPUA IN THE BUSINESS MOVING FORWARD AND DOING A GREAT JOB AS YOU REFERRED TO IN YOUR 
          [00:25:02]
STATEMENT ABOUT THE TRANSFER AND ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN. 
          HOW DO YOU BALANCE BETWEEN A CORPORATION THAT NEEDS TO THRIVE , AND A COMMUNITY WITH 
          CITIZENS THAT ARE SUFFERING? >> GOOD QUESTION. YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS. YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH THE PUBLIC. 
          YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH THOSE IN NEED. AS A BANKER, I SEE THAT. 
          I SEE PEOPLE STRUGGLING ASKING FOR DEFERMENTS, NEEDING PPP LOANS TO KEEP THINGS GOING IN THESE UNUSUAL TIMES. YOU KNOW, IT'S A CONTINUATION OF THAT OUTREACH. 
          IT'S CONTINUING WITH THE UM THREE PAYMENT PLANS THAT WERE OFFERED, YOU KNOW I BELIEVE THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM WAS UP TO 12 MONTHS. GET CAUGHT UP ON UTILITY BILLS. 
          THE COMMERCIAL, ACCORDING TO THE WEBSITE, A SIX MONTHS OF NO INTEREST, NO LATE FEES AND THAT KIND OF THING. THAT IS THE STUFF THAT HAS GOT TO CONTINUE FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME. YOU KNOW, WITH THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, THE UA DOES HAVE BUSINESS OBLIGATIONS TO MEET. BOND COVENANTS TO MEET TENANT CREDIT RATINGS TO MAINTAIN. 
          WHICH IMPACT PRICING WHEN YOU GO TO BORROW MONEY. SO, AGAIN, IT IS A BALANCING ACT BETWEEN THE THREE LEGS, THE STOOL, AND, YOU KNOW, LOOKING MOSTLY PORTLY FOR THE RATEPAYER 
          TO BEGIN WITH. >> THANK YOU. MR. SESSIONS? 
          >> SITTING HERE, UM THIS SEAT NOW FOR SEVERAL YEARS UM, 20, MATTER OF FACT, IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION ON MOST OCCASIONS THE DISPARITY IN THE MINDS OF A LOT OF THE DISTRICT ONE, AS WELL AS THE BUSINESS OWNERS PARTICULARLY THE SMALLER BUSINESS OWNERS. 
          THE MOM MOM-AND-POP CORPORATIONS. THAT THE RATES ARE EXTREMELY HIGHER IN DISTRICT ONE AS OPPOSED TO HUTCHISON ISLAND, DISTRICT 2. 
          DISTRICT TWO CONTAINS MORE THAN JUST HUTCHISON ISLAND, BUT MORE SPECIFICALLY DISTRICT TWO. 
          HAVE YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, OR HAVE YOU OBSERVED, I HOPE YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH WHAT IS IMPORTANT, AS FAR AS THE UTILITIES ARE CONCERNED. DO YOU FEEL THAT IS AN ISSUE 
          THAT DESERVES SOME ATTENTION, AND TO WHAT EXTENT? >> COMMISSIONER, I BELIEVE THE RATES SHOULD BE THE SAME FOR EVERYBODY, AND I BELIEVE THEY ARE. 
          A LOT OF TIMES IT BOILS DOWN TO USAGE AND EFFICIENCY. AS I MENTIONED IN OUR CONVERSATION, UM, THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ARE REALLY AWARE OF THAT THAT EXISTS. I MEAN,, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO REACH OUT TO PROBABLY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET, THEY PROBABLY DON'T CHECK THE FPUA WEBSITE KIND OF THING. THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT DON'T NEED TO BE LEFT BEHIND, THOSE ARE THE ONES WE HAVE TO CONNECT WITH EITHER THROUGH COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, MAKING THEM AWARE OF WHAT IS AVAILABLE. THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM IS AGAIN, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT FOLKS NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF. IT IS THERE TO BE USED WHERE THEY LEARN MORE ABOUT ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND HOW THEY CAN REDUCE THEIR USAGE. ULTIMATELY REDUCING THEIR UTILITY BILL. TRAN22 FOLLOW UP WITH THAT WITH ALL THINGS BEING SAID AND TAKING WHAT YOU SAID INTO CONSIDERATION , FOR MY OBSERVATIONS AS WELL AS A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS, THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE LINES AND TRANSFORMERS ARE IN A MORE DILAPIDATED STATE IN DISTRICT ONE AND ANYBODY WITH AN ELECTRICAL BACKGROUND NOSE THAT THE GREATEST RESISTANCE BUILDS THE HIGHEST BILL, FLOW OF ELECTRICITY KEEPS THE BILL DOWN AS YOU POINTED OUT. THAT IS A PERSONAL OBSERVATION OF MINE, AS WELL AS OF OTHERS. 
          IN ADDITION TO ALL THE UNDER END OF THE METER WHICH HAPPENS TO BE THE CUSTOMER WHICH MAY IN FACT 
          [00:30:06]
BE TRUE TO SOME DEGREE. BUT, MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, DO YOU FEEL THAT THIS DESERVES SOME INVESTIGATION AND IF SO, WHEN I SAY THE DILAPIDATED STATE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE LINES IN THE TRANSFORMERS, I HEAR TRANSFORMERS BLOWING ALL THE TIME IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD JUST LIKE GUNSHOTS. I KNOW A GUN SHOW A TRANSFORMER. I HEAR THEM. 
          DO YOU FEEL THAT DESERVES SOME ATTENTION AND IF SO HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS THAT ISSUE? 
          >> ALL OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THAT IS WHAT THE CAPITAL BUDGETS ARE FOR. IT'S A CAPITAL-INTENSIVE BUSINESS. 
          IF THERE IS STUFF THAT IS OLDER THAN OTHER THINGS THAT NEED TO BE BROUGHT UP, YOU KNOW. 
          I'M NOT THAT FAMILIAR WITH THE INSIDE OPERATIONS OF THE UA. I'M NOT AN ENGINEER. 
          I DO LISTEN. I DO ASK QUESTIONS, I DO LEARN AND OBSERVE. 
          IF I'M APPOINTED TO THIS POSITION IS GOING TO BE AN OBSERVATION PERIOD FOR ME. 
          IF I SEE SOMETHING THAT IS NOT RIGHT, OR THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED OR NEEDS TO BE APPROVED, I'M GOING TO BRING IT UP. AND IT WILL BE ADDRESSED. 
          >> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON? >> GOOD MORNING, SIR. YOU ANSWERED SOME OF MY QUESTION I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE AND A BUDGET EXPERIENCE, AND FINANCIAL BACKGROUND. AND YOU GAVE ME ANSWERS THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR FOR MY NOTES. 
          BUT, LET'S BUILD ON THE CAPITAL DISCUSSION AND LET'S BUILD ON THE UTILITY SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. THE FPUA IS -- HAS DONE A GOOD JOB AT INVESTING AND IMPROVING CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE AS YOU MENTIONED A MINUTE AGO. WE CAN ALWAYS DO BETTER WE LOOK AT OUR BUDGET IN THE SPENDING RATE VERSUS THE BUDGETED AMOUNTS THEY ARE DIFFERENT. 
          WE DON'T ALWAYS SPEND ALL OF THE MONIES AND IT MIGHT BE A TIMING ISSUE. 
          HOW DO YOU SEE THE UTILITY GROWTH. WHEN THE UTILITY IS STAGNANT THERE'S NOWHERE FOR US TO GO EXCEPT FOR INCREASED RATES AS PRODUCTS OR MATERIAL, OR WATER TREATMENT MATERIALS INCREASE, RIGHT? WE HAVE TO GET THE MONEY FROM SOMEWHERE. HOW DO YOU SEE FROM A BOARD POSITION YOUR EFFORTS IN GROWING 
          THE UTILITY TO MAKE IT A MORE SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS? >> WELL, YOUR PRIMARY AREAS GOING TO BE IN WATER AND WASTEWATER. I KNOW WE SELL A LOT OF BULK WATER SAME AS THE COUNTY. ME PERSONALLY I THINK UA HAS A PRETTY GOOD SYSTEM, IT'S A PRETTY GOOD ASSET THAT DOESN'T GET A WHOLE LOT OF CREDIT. AT THE END OF THE DAY. 
          BUT, WATER, WASTEWATER, BOTH. YOU KNOW, WE ARE SORT OF HAMSTRUNG TO SOME EXTENT ON THE UTILITY SIDE BECAUSE OF CITY BOUNDARIES. THAT REQUIRES ANNEXATION WHICH IS A WHOLE OTHER DISCUSSION IN ITSELF. YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN A BIT OF A 
          BOX, BUT THAT CAN'T BE ADDRESSED >> OKAY, YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF GROWING THE UTILITY IN THOSE 
          AREAS? >> YET. WHERE IT IS POSSIBLE AND APPLICABLE. AND WHERE IT MAKES SENSE AND WHERE WE CAN BE IN A COMPETITIVE POSITION. IT'S MOSTLY GOING TO BE ON THE WATER IN THE WASTEWATER SIDE. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER? >> YES, GOOD MORNING. 
          HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY? >> FINE, SIR, HOW ARE YOU? >> I HAVE A QUESTION OF CONCERN OF YOU BEING A BOARD MEMBER OF THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES. AS YOU ARE IN FINANCES, AND IF, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN ACCUSATION THAT, YOU KNOW, THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES HAS MADE DONATIONS TO THE DONALD TRUMP CAMPAIGN. DO YOU HAVE ANY GAS ON THAT? I MEAN, DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT? THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE IS A NONPARTISAN ELECTION BACK-AND-FORTH COME BACK AND FORTH. YOU KNOW, WHY WOULD ANYONE TAKE SIDES AGAINST THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. EVERYBODY'S NOT A REPUBLICAN. 
          IF YOU HEARD OF THESE ACCUSATIONS WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH QUESTIONING THAT? 
          [00:35:02]
          >> I HAVE NO PROBLEMS REFERRING TO THAT. IF YOU'RE REFERRING TO MY EMPLOYER, I DON'T KEEP UP WITH POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY MY EMPLOYER. 
          I'M SURE THAT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE. >> NOT YOUR EMPLOYER. 
          I'M TALKING ABOUT THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AND I KNOW THE DIRECTOR AND THE COMMISSIONERS ARE BUDDY BUDDY, BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING THEIR OWN THING. I'M SPEAKING OF THE FORT PIERCE 
          UTILITIES. >> I CAN'T SPEAK TO INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS THAT STAFF MEMBERS OR OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE MADE, IF THEY HAVE MADE ANY. I PREFER TO KEEP MY POLITICS TO MYSELF. THIS, TO ME, IS A POLITICAL POSITION. 
          TO BE QUITE HONEST I CAN'T TELL YOU THE LAST TIME I DONATED TO A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN. 
          >> AGAIN, YOU'RE MISSING MY POINT. IT'S NOT THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE MAKING THESE DONATIONS, IS FORT PIERCE UTILITY THAT IS MAKING THESE DONATIONS. 
          DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT? >> I'M NOT AWARE OF THAT. IF THAT IS THE CASE, UM, THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. TO ME THE UA IS A NONPOLITICAL ENTITY. 
          >> OKAY. THAT IS ALL I'M ASKING. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION. FROM THAT SAME QUESTION THAT MRU SAID THERE WOULD NEED TO BE A FOLLOW-UP? IF ALL THINGS ARE CONSIDERED AND FACTUALLY THAT IS IN FACT THE CASE WHERE THERE WAS A CONTRIBUTION MADE BY THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AUTHORITY OF X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS, YOU BEING A FORT PIERCE UTILITY AUTHORITY BOARD MEMBER, WHAT ACTIONS, IF ANY, WOULD YOU TAKE IN YOUR POSITION TO ADDRESS WHAT I JUST INDICATED TO BE FACTUAL? 
          >> FIRST I WOULD NEED TO UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE FACTS. THAT WOULD REQUIRE, YOU YOU KNOW, DISCUSSION, YOU KNOW, IF THAT'S THE CASE, REVIEWING, YOU KNOW, THE CITY CHARTER ANY TYPE OF LEGAL ARRANGEMENT, OR LEGAL AGREEMENT BY WHAT THE UA IS BOUND BY AS FAR AS ITS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND THAT TYPE OF THING. AND IF SO NEEDED, REQUIRING DISCUSSION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL ABOUT IT IN HOUSE AND CITY COUNCIL. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> AM GOING TO WIND IT UP HERE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN IS UM, THERE'S AN EDUCATION ASPECT TO BEING A BOARD MEMBER, NOT JUST COMING TO THE MEETINGS AND ONE OF THE AUDIENCES IS THE RATEPAYER AND YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO CONTINUOUSLY EDUCATE THE RATEPAYER, BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO EDUCATE THIS COMMISSION. THIS COMMISSION CAN SOMETIMES GET CROSSWAYS AND THINK THAT UA IS DOING SOMETHING WRONG, OR THINK WE DO NOT HAVE ALL OF THE FACTS FREEDOM WONDERING HOW YOU WOULD HANDLE THAT ROLE BEING SOMEONE WHO EDUCATES ON THE FPUA 
          BOARD? >> TO LET FOLKS KNOW HERE'S WHAT I'M SEEING, HERE'S WHAT I'M EXPERIENCING COME THESE ARE MY OBSERVATIONS. I AM A STRAIGHT SHOOTER. 
          I'M USED TO DEALING WITH FACTS, DETAILS AND THAT TYPE OF THING, AND MAKING INFORMED DECISIONS. 
          I BELIEVE, I KNOW YOU ARE WELL ENOUGH FROM BEING ON THE COMMISSION AND LIVING IN FORT PIERCE THAT WE CAN HAVE CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE AND CONVERSATION ABOUT THINGS IN THE 
          PROPER SETTINGS. >> THAT WOULD REQUIRE WORK, INITIATING ON YOUR PART FROM THE WAY I'M SEEING IT. SOMETIMES IT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN UNLESS YOU INITIATED. 
          I WOULD HOPE, BECAUSE WE WOULD BE SERVING ON THE FPUA BOARD TOGETHER, AND THAT IS KIND OF WHAT I TRY TO DO HERE AND SOMETIMES IT'S JUST ONE VOICE. IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE OTHER PEOPLE SPEAKING UP AND BEING FACTUAL. I APPRECIATE THAT. 
          >> IN MY ROLE IN SURVIVING 30 PLUS YEARS OF BANKING, I AM USED TO ASKING QUESTIONS. 
          I AM THE BAD GUY COME ON UNDERWRITER. I'M THE ONE ASKING WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN ON A RAINY DAY. WHAT IS THE DOWNSIDE. IN MAKING INFORMED FINANCIAL 
          DECISIONS? >> OKAY. MAYBE YOU CAN WRAP UP FOR YOUR 
          TWO MINUTE WRAP UP. >> YOU ARE LIKELY TO HEAR FROM APPLICANTS THAT THEY ARE SEEKING A POINT ME TO THE BECAUSE FPUA RATES ARE HIGH YOU NEED TO BE REDUCED. 
          [00:40:04]
EASIER SAID THAN DONE. MY FINANCIAL BACKGROUND EXTREMES TEMP PUBLIC FINANCE PROVIDES THE BEST OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS TO OCCUR GIVEN THE FINANCIAL ECONOMIC AND LOCAL CONDITIONS INVOLVED WITH THE THREE-LEGGED STOOL. THAT IS NOT TO SAY I WON'T HAVE A LEARNING CURVE. MY CURVE WILL NOT BE THAT C. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND 
          CONSIDERATION. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING WILLING 
          TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS. [INAUDIBLE] >> GOOD MORNING. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. YOU'RE GOING TO DO A THREE MINUTE OPENER, THERE WERE EACH CAN ASK A QUESTION YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO ANSWER THE QUESTION. 
          AND THEN YOU DO IT TWO MINUTE) WE HAVE A TIMER THERE FOR YOU AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ON THE RECORD IS THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE JOB AND YOU ARE WILLING TO MAKE THE COMMITMENT INTO DO THE HOMEWORK, ET CETERA FOR THE JOB. 
          >> I DO. >> OKAY. I FEEL LIKE I'M A GAME SHOW HOST HERE. [LAUGHTER] DO YOU KNOW THE RULES? 
          YOU MAY BEGIN ON YOUR THREE-MINUTE PRESENTATION. >> THANK YOU, CITY COMMISSIONERS AND MET MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I FIRST WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A MOMENT OF APPLAUSE TO YOU FOR THE WAY THAT YOU CARRIED OUT THIS ELECTION IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS ITSELF, I THINK AS I TOLD YOU, FOR YOU TO KNOW ABOUT THE WAY I THINK, THE WAY I SEE THINGS GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS WAS A TRUE RENDERING OF DEMOCRACY. 
          FOR ME, THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT. TO GIVE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD AND SEE THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE. 
          FROM MY UNDERSTANDING GO THROUGH A LOT MORE THAN WHAT HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE TO SELECT PEOPLE FOR THIS BOARD. I THINK THAT IS WELL DONE. SO, THANK YOU. 
          SPEAKING OF MYSELF, I AM A PRODUCT OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY. I ALSO ATTENDED SCHOOLS OUT-OF-STATE. BUT, I AM STILL HERE, AND I PLAN TO CONTINUE BEING HERE WHICH IS MY MOST IMPORTANT FEATURE IS THAT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE IS NOT JUST THE PLACE I LIVE, IT IS THE PLACE WHERE I TEND TO GET INVOLVED NOT ONLY IN THE EDUCATION, BUT ALSO SOCIALLY, AND WITH DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND, MY STANCE ON THAT IS ALWAYS HER PROGRESS AND TO BETTER WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON. IF YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF FORT PIERCE ALL THE WAY BACK TO BEFORE FLAGLER WAS AROUND, IT TENDED TO ALWAYS PROGRESS WHETHER IT WAS FISHING TOWN, TO AGRICULTURE, LATER ON WITH THE RAILROADS ON THE EXPANSION. NOW WE HAVE FOUND OURSELVES LOOKING A LITTLE SQUARE AND FORT PIERCE IS NOT REALLY GOING TO GET ANY BIGGER, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF CHANGES TO BE DONE. FOR THE SAKE OF THIS DISCUSSION WE ARE HAVING COME I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT SOMEBODY THAT HAS THE RIGHT INTENT AND THE RIGHT CHARACTER IS ELECTED FOR THIS TYPE OF BOARD. IT IS A TEAM, THE DIFFERENT ENTITIES OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. WHERE I STAND WITH HIS TEAM IS TO BE ABLE TO GUIDE THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION IN THE YEARS FORTHCOMING. FPUA IT SEEMS LIKE IT HAS A LOT OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERNT PERSPECTIVES ON THE FPUA AND PERHAPS EVEN THE MEMBERS THAT SERVE ON THE BOARD. I THINK FPUA IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE CITY. WHEN YOU ARE A PART OF SOMETHING IT IMPLIES THAT IT IS A TEAM, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THAT TEAM IS BUILT IN A CORRECT MANNER IN ORDER TO NOT ONLY EXCEL THE COMPANY, BUT ALSO SERVE THE CUSTOMERS. I BELIEVE THAT YOUR POWER, WHICH IS ALMOST LIMITED WITH THE FPUA, THIS BEING PROBABLY THE MOST POWERFUL STEP THAT YOU CAN TAKE IS SELECTING THE PEOPLE THAT WILL CARRY OUT THE DUTY. I BELIEVE THAT IS WHERE I STAND. 
          YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF THE FPUA BEING SUCH AN IMPORTANT PARTY OF THE CITY AND HAVING PEOPLE IN IT THAT ARE NOT ONLY INVESTED IN THE CITY BUT THAT CARE SHOULD BE A VERY CONSIDERABLE PORTION OF 
          YOUR SELECTION. >> THANK YOU, SIR. COMMISSIONER SESSIONS? 
          [00:45:08]
          >> I'VE SAT IN THE SEAT FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW, 20 YEARS, GOING INTO ABOUT MY NINTH TERM. 
          THE ISSUE OF MAJOR CONCERN OF DISTRICT ONE HAS BEEN THE UTILITY RATES. 
          ANTS, INDIVIDUALS SUCH AS THE CUSTOMER AS WELL AS A LOT OF THE BUSINESSES HAVE COME TO ME AND THEY HAVE BEEN VERY VOCAL ABOUT THE RATES BEING HIGHER IN DISTRICT ONE AS OPPOSED TO DISTRICT TO. WITH THAT BEING SAID, IN MY EXPERIENCE, THAT'S A MAJOR ISSUE FOR ME. NOT TO PERSUADE YOU ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, BUT, HAVE YOU MADE ANY OBSERVATIONS, AND IF YOU HAVE DO YOU FEEL THAT THIS WARRANTS SOME LOOKING INTO AND 
          HOW WOULD YOU HANDLE THAT? >> YES, COMMISSIONER SESSIONS, I CAN'T SPEAK OF THE ACTUAL RATES THAT MAY BE DIFFERENT WITHOUT HAVING THE INFORMATION IN FRONT OF ME. 
          I WOULD IMMEDIATELY SAY THAT THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME, BECAUSE IF THIS IS A COMPANY THAT IS PROVIDING A SERVICE, THEN THERE SHOULDN'T BE A REASON WHY THAT IT'S BEING CARRIED OUT THAT WAY. HOWEVER, I THINK WE SHOULD EXPAND ON THAT, BECAUSE ANOTHER WAY THAT THE COMPANY CAN SERVE IS ALSO BY TAKING CARE OF ITS CUSTOMERS ALBEIT THE COMPANY SHOULD BE THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, BECAUSE THE COMPANY ITSELF, AS THE FPUA IS ABLE TO PROGRESS AND BE FINANCIALLY WELL , THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN START ON DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROGRAMS OR EVEN HAVE SOME TYPE OF KICKBACK. IN REGARDS TO YOUR QUESTION, THAT DOESN'T SEEM -- I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT IF IT IS THE CASE THAT THE RATES ARE BEING THIS PROPORTIONATELY GIVEN TO PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE 
          DISTRICT, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. >> YES. 
          NOW, ALSO, WHICH MAKES ME, FROM A FACTUAL STANDPOINT FOLLOW-UP TO TEND TO BELIEVE IN MYSELF IS, I LOOK AT THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND YOU COMPARE APPLES TO ORANGES AND ITS VISUAL, AND YOU LOOK AT THE WIRING, THE TRANSFORMERS. THEY ARE IN A MORE DILAPIDATED STATE IN ONE AREA VERSUS THE OTHER. WITH THAT BEING SAID, IT MAKES SENSE TO ME, BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN, IT STILL DESERVES AGAIN, IN MY OPINION SOME ATTENTION. I'M JUST GIVING YOU A LITTLE FOLLOW-UP. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME EITHER THAT WE ARE ON THE SAME LEVEL PLAYING FIELD. HOWEVER, IF FACTUALLY THAT IS THE CASE, YOU AS A BOARD MEMBER, 
          WHAT ACTIONS, IF ANY DO YOU FEEL YOU WOULD TAKE? >> THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY SHOULD BE TO IMPROVE THE COMPANY. BY DOING SO, YOU ARE INDEED EITHER, YOU KNOW, AS YOU SAY CREATING A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD WHICH IS THE RATES, WHICH I'M NOT SURE HOW DIFFERENT THEY MAY BE. THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS PART OF IMPROVING THE COMPANY ITSELF. I CAN'T TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT DECISIONS WILL BE MADE ON A BOARD THAT IS MADE UP OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE. WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT I AM THE PERSON THAT CAN BRING SENSE AND FACILITATE THE DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEWS THAT ARE GOING TO BENEFIT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. SO, IN TERMS OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE WHEN RETHINKING ABOUT IT FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE. 
          THE INFRASTRUCTURE SHOULD BE IMPROVED. THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON WHY THE DETAILS THAT YOU ARE MENTIONING ARE THAT MUCH DIFFERENT BETWEEN ONE SECTION OR ANOTHER. THAT WOULD COME AS A RESULT OF IMPROVING THE COMPANY AND CONTINUING THE MOVEMENTS OF THE COMPANY FORWARD, BECAUSE IT IS A BUSINESS. 
          I BELIEVE THAT THE COMPANY DOES HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY, NOT ONLY FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE BUT ALSO FOR THE CUSTOMERS. MY DECISIONS WOULD BE SWAYING TOWARDS IMPROVING THOSE AREAS THAT NEED HELP, AND, YOU KNOW, BY DE FACTO OF IMPROVING THE COMPANY AND CONTINUING THE THE 
          MONEY MAKING PROCESS. TRY 20 THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON? 
          >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YOU AND I HAD GOOD CONVERSATION ABOUT THE BUDGETING PROCESS AND 
          [00:50:06]
WHATNOT. TALK TO US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE , WHAT YOU BRING TO THE BOARD, BECAUSE WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT HAVING A DIVERSE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DIFFERENT THOUGHTS AND IDEAS, AND OPINIONS AND WHAT YOU CAN BRING TO THE UTILITIES AUTHORITY 
          BOARD WITH YOUR BACKGROUND? >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, MY SET OF SKILLS THAT I'M BRINGING TO THE BOARD IS REALLY AN TWO ARRAY OF DIFFERENT THINGS. 
          I SPOKE EARLIER OF MY COMMITMENT TO FORT PIERCE AND WHAT IT MEANS TO ME. 
          I ALSO WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT MY DAY TODAY DUTIES WHICH INCLUDE ADDRESSING GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHICH ARE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUND, DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY, DIFFERENT ECONOMICAL STANCES AND BRINGING THEM TOGETHER TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING. IT'S NOT NECESSARILY DECISION-MAKING, BECAUSE THAT IS WHY THERE IS A BOARD FOR THEM TO COME YOU KNOW, DISCUSS DIFFERENT OPTIONS. IN ORDER TO SHINE THE LIGHT ON THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT, AND I BELIEVE THAT ME, AS CONSIDERED A YOUNGER MAN, THAT IS ACTUALLY A VERY GOOD ASSET. 
          I CAN SERVE AS THE TRANSITION BETWEEN THE TYPE OF BOARD MEMBER THAT WE HAVE NOW, AND WHERE WE ARE HEADED FORWARD. YOU KNOW, THAT TOUCHES BASE ON WHAT COMMISSIONER SESSIONS WAS ASKED ME AS WELL. HAVING SOMEBODY WHO'S GOING TO BE A CATALYST IN MAKING A STRONG GROUP, OR EXCUSE ME, A STRONG BOARD THAT WILL GUIDE THE FPUA IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. 
          I WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE IDEAS OF HOW TO USE TECHNOLOGY AND HOW TO USE DATA FOR THE SAME REASONS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. IT'S SO, YOU, I THINK WHAT I DO ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS. 
          WHETHER IT'S WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, THEIR PARENTS, OTHER PROFESSIONALS AND PEOPLE ACROSS THE SCHOOL BOARD OR AT THE SCHOOL COUNTY, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY MY BIGGEST STRENGTH THAT I'M ABLE TO FACILITATE AND ABLE TO PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH A WAY TO GET TOGETHER AND REALLY 
          TALK THINGS OUT. >> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER? 
          >> YES, GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY? >> GOOD, SIR, HOW ABOUT 
          YOURSELF? >> OKAY. MY QUESTION IS A QUESTION OF CONCERN, AND BEING FT. PIERCE UTILITIES PUT US IN A 30 YEAR CONTRACT WITHOUT ANY ALCOHOL SPRAY TO HAVE A QUESTION WHEN, YOU KNOW AUTONOMY BEING ABUSED, JUST ACCUSATION, BUT I JUST WANT YOUR RESPONSE TO IT. I HAVE TO RESPOND TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ASKING ME. 
          THE QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, THEY FOUND A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION TO DONALD TRUMP, THREE OF THEM FOR $250 EACH PRETTY WANT TO KNOW WHAT RIGHT IT IS FOR ANYBODY AT FT. PIERCE UTILITIES UTILITY. 
          IF IT WAS FOR THE REPUBLICANS AND THE DEMOCRATS. I WANT TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, YOUR 
          OPINION ON IT, PLEASE? >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER, THANK YOU FOR FRAMING THAT QUESTION IN SUCH A WAY. I HAVE TO SAY, FIRST, I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IN REGARDS TO THE PEOPLE IN THE MONEY THAT SPENT THAT MONEY. 
          BUT, MY FIRST AND INITIAL REACTION TO THAT IS THAT IT SHOULD NOT OCCUR THAT WAY, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE'S MONEY SHOULD ONLY BE USED FOR ONE PURPOSE. 
          AS A HISTORY EDUCATOR, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT I VERY MUCH GO OVER MANY DIFFERENT STANCES WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE EITHER BETRAYED, OR HELPED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY, STARTING ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1607 WITH JAMESTOWN. THIS IS SOMETHING I SAY ALL OF THE TIME AND I ALWAYS TELL MY STUDENTS, YOU KNOW, I WILL NEVER TEACH YOU OR SAY SOMETHING IN ANY WAY THAT WILL GIVE LIGHT TO MY POLITICAL VIEW. THAT WOULD BE UNFAIR TO EACH INDIVIDUAL. THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH THEIR OWN CONCLUSION BY SEEING THE FACTS AND SEEING WHAT IS GOING ON AND SAY OKAY, I GO THIS WAY, OR I GO THAT WAY OR WHICHEVER WAY. IN TERMS OF YOUR QUESTION, I DON'T FEEL THAT IS TRUE REPRESENTATION OF PEOPLE IF WE ARE USING THEIR MONEY, YOU KNOW, TO DONATE TO A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN EVEN IF IT WAS WITHIN THE LOCAL LEVEL. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN. THAT APPEARS LIKE A PRETTY BIG MOVE THERE. 
          [00:55:03]
COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER, I DO NOT THINK THAT IS APPROPRIATE. I THINK FOR TWO REASONS, YOU ARE SPEAKING FOR PEOPLE WITHOUT THEIR PERMISSION IF YOU ARE USING THEIR MONEY. 
          AND SECONDLY, THERE ARE MANY SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR THAT TYPE OF PURPOSE. 
          IT SHOULD BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF WHATEVER TAXA CAME FROM. 
          >> OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> I FOLLOW-UP AS THE LAST ONE, YOU ARE AN EDUCATOR, SO I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A SOFT BALL HERE. 
          >> SHE FORGOT ME AGAIN. >> I AM NOT GOING TO FOLLOW IT. >> ARE GOING TO GIVE ME THE LAST 
          SHOT. >> THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME THERE. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. THIS RECENT PANDEMIC IS TERRIBLE IN ITSELF BUT IT ALSO CAUSED SOME ECONOMIC BACKLASH TO FOLKS AND FAMILIES IN THE WORLD, THE COMMUNITY, AND OUR COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY. UM, FOLKS ARE HAVING TO DECIDE, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE TRYING TO MANAGE THEIR HOUSEHOLD SCOPE OF THEIR TRYING TO WHATEVER THEY CAN. 
          ONE OF THE BIGGEST EXPENSES THEY HAVE IS THERE UTILITY BILL. UM COME ALSO, IN THINKING THAT THE IMPORTANCE OF FPUA TO THE CITY, IS OVER $100 MILLION PER YEAR, 6% OF THAT GOES TO HELP THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND ITS GENERAL FUND. IN THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE, THESE ARE ALL VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. GOING TO ASK YOU, SIR, BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO COME UP ALL OF THE TIME AS A BOARD MEMBER ON THE UTILITY AUTHORITY, HOW DO YOU BALANCE BETWEEN THE CORPORATION THAT MUST EXIST, MUST GROW THAT HAS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS DOING EVERYTHING IT CAN TO SUSTAIN ITSELF? HOW DO YOU APPEAL, HELP AND RESPOND TO YOUR RATEPAYER THAT IS HAVING ISSUES RIGHT NOW TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET? 
          >> THANK YOU. I UNDERSTAND VERY MUCH THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BUDGET THAT FPUA PROVIDES FOR THE CITY. I UNDERSTAND THE REPAIR AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IS BEING MADE CONTRIBUTES TO THAT PERCENTAGE. IN THESE TIMES, OF COURSE, PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING. I THINK TRYING TO COME AS A COMPANY NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO BE MORE FLEXIBLE WITH THE CURRENT SITUATION. WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG WE ARE IN THIS FOR. I KNOW THINGS HAVE KINDA PROGRESSED OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS AND THINGS HAVE CONTINUED FORWARD. WE ARE NOT SURE EXACTLY, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY KNOWS EXACTLY HOW THIS IS GOING TO PLAY OUT. IN TERMS OF MAY BE DEALING WITH RATE PAYERS, AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE ABLE TO PAY A DURING THESE TIMES. 
          FPUA NEEDS TO BE FLEX WILL TO THAT AND CREATE PLANS THAT ARE ABLE TO GENERATE SOME INCOME FROM THOSE PEOPLE AND THEREBY ASSIST THE CITY WITH THE PERCENTAGE THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR. I THINK IN THE LARGER PERSPECTIVE OF THINGS AND TIMES OF CRISIS, THAT IS WHEN THE PEOPLE ON THE BOARD NEED TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF THE RATEPAYER, BUT ALSO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH THESE ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES AS WELL. IF THERE ARE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT, YOU KNOW, DISCUSS IT WITH US, NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY, OR BEING OUT OF JOB SINCE MARCH AND THAT SORT OF THING. 
          I THINK THE BOARD IN THE FPUA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THAT. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT, SAYING, YOU KNOW, EXACTLY WHAT THE DECISION WOULD BE. I DON'T THINK I CAN MAKE THAT COMMENT ABOUT HAVING THE SITUATION IN FRONT OF US. YOU KNOW, FPUA HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS THOSE ECONOMICAL ISSUES AND HAS A RESPONSIBLE PROVIDING THE BUDGET THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR. IT'S KIND OF LIKE A BIG GAME THERE. 
          YOU HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE. >> THANK YOU. NOW, MY TURN. 
          [LAUGHTER] UM, WE ARE ROTATING. AS AN EDUCATOR, I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A SOFT BALL FOR YOU, IS WHAT I STARTED TO SAY, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK YOUR JOB IS IS TO HAVE AN EDUCATING EDUCATING RATEPAYER AS WELL AS THIS COMMISSION. 
          THE FPUA IS A SEPARATE BOARD AND SOMETIMES IT SEEMS TO BE ISOLATED, I SERVED ON IT, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT THE FPUA BOARD IS TO HELP THE CITY GROW, AND HELP THE CITY. 
          IT'S A PART OF THE CITY. WE WANT IT TO BE -- SO, I SEE BOARD MEMBERS ARE OBVIOUSLY 
          [01:00:02]
EDUCATING THE COMMISSION, THAT TAKES WORK. I WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU SEE 
          YOURSELF DOING THAT? >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I HAVE LEARNED ACTUALLY THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME MISCOMMUNICATION BETWEEN BOTH ENTITIES, THAT MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED TIME OVER THE TYPE OF PEOPLE THAT ARE IN. I'M NOT SURE. 
          I THINK AT LEAST A BETTER COMMUNICATION METHOD MUST BE ESTABLISHED BETWEEN THE CITY COMMISSION AND THE FPUA BOARD. I DO, AND I AM AWARE THAT FPUA IS ITS OWN COMPANY AND MUST BE PROTECTED AS SUCH. THEREFORE THE BYLAWS. ACTUALLY, NOT JUST THE RATEPAYER, BUT ALSO THE WORKER OF THE FPUA, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT THERE DOING ALL OF THE WORK, THESE ARE GREAT PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY. WHEN I SPEAK IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THE BOARD AND THE TRYING TO THAT IS KIND OF LIKE A MISSING LINK IT APPEARS TO ME AS AN OUTSIDER RIGHT NOW. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE BOARD IS IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE CITY COMMISSION. YOU REPRESENT PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT AREAS AND YOU ARE IN TALKS WITH THEM CONSTANTLY. THAT INFORMATION SHOULD BE EITHER SHARED AND CONSIDERED WHEN THE FPUA IS MAKING, YOU KNOW, DECISIONS AND GOING FORWARD. I'M NOT SAYING THAT THE COMMISSION SHOULD HAVE CONTROL OF THOSE DECISIONS, OR SHOULD THEREBY INFLUENCE IN ANY MAJOR WAY THE WHOLE MOVEMENT OF THE FPUA. IT IS ON ITS OWN. IT IS A BOARD ON ITS OWN. 
          IT IS A COMPANY, NOT NECESSARILY THE BOARD, THE COMPANY IS ON ITS OWN. 
          I THINK A CHANNEL OF COMMUNICATION NEEDS TO BE ESTABLISHED IN ORDER TO DISCUSS OTHER MATTERS WHETHER BE WHAT YOU ARE HEARING FROM YOU PEOPLE OR HOW YOU SEE IT AS A COMMISSION OF THE CITY, NOT JUST REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE AND HAVE SOME, YOU KNOW, SOME TYPE OF INSIGHT WITH THE FPUA BOARD FROM AS WELL. FOR YOU, AS A MAYOR, IT COULD BE A BAD DANCE COME BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ON BOTH. YEAH, I WOULD AGREE THAT THE BOARD MEMBERS OF THE FPUA SHOW UM, YOU KNOW, HAVE A BETTER COMMUNICATION WITH THE CITY 
          COMMISSIONERS. >> NOW IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY. >> HAVE A FOLLOW-UP WITH THAT. 
          IN RESPONSE TO THE MAYOR'S QUESTION, I SIT HERE AND I ASSESSED MY SITUATION WITH EVERY BOARD MEMBER ON THAT BOARD. TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I HAVE NO COMMUNICATION LEVEL WITH ANY OF THEM BUT FOR MAYBE ONE. WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS PROBABLY TRUE IN TERMS OF EDUCATION, AND MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT PERHAPS ISSUES OF CONCERN, AND DISTRICT ONE. 
          I THINK A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE POLITICS. WHATEVER REASONS. 
          IN MY OPINION, IT SHOULD NOT BE AN IMPEDIMENT TO WHAT YOU JUST MENTIONED AND THAT IS COMMUNICATIONS. MY CONCERNS, WHAT, IF ANYTHING, DO YOU BRING TO THE TABLE IN LIGHT OF MY OBSERVATIONS ON WHAT I HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THE BOARD IN ITS PRESENT STATE? 
          >> COMMISSIONER SESSIONS, I THINK THE ANSWER IN THE SOLUTION TO THAT PROBLEM IS THE INTENT, AND THE CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU ELECT FOR THIS BOARD. THE PEOPLE THAT WILL FOLLOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THE RIGHT WAY USE COMMON SENSE, BE ABLE TO BRING A GROUP OF PEOPLE TOGETHER WITH INSIGHTS FROM AROUND THE TOWN THAT WE LIVE IN. I DON'T THINK THERE IS A PARTICULAR CARBON COPY THAT WILL SOLVE THAT TYPE OF ISSUE, EXCEPT HAVING THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT PLACES. I BELIEVED TO BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> NOW IT IS YOUR TWO MINUTE SAY ANYTHING YOU WANT FOR TWO 
          MINUTES. >> UM, YOU KNOW, I REALLY APPRECIATE HAVING THIS OPPORTUNITY OF BEING IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY. I THINK IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT STEP FOR THE BOARD, AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS WHICH I UNDERSTAND WE WILL HAVE A CHANGE, BECAUSE YOU ARE ESSENTIALLY IN A POSITION WHERE YOU CAN GUIDE A PART OF THE CITY IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION. I CERTAINLY HOPE TO BE PART OF WHAT THAT IS WHICH IS A TEAM, YOU KNOW? THAT IS WHAT THESE BOARDS ARE. THEY ARE TEAMS OF PEOPLE THAT CAN MAKE RIGHT DECISIONS. YOU GO THROUGH SOME HICCUPS AND RECOVER FROM THOSE AND BE ABLE TO ACCESS FORT PIERCE WHICH IS WHAT THIS BOARD IS ABOUT. TO IMPROVE AND BETTER FORT PIERCE BY MAKING FPUA A SUCCESSFUL COMPANY. THAT IS BY BEING ABLE TO GENERATE THE REVENUE THAT IS NEEDED FOR THE CITY BUDGET, BUT ALSO TO IMPROVE THINGS LIKE 
          [01:05:03]
INFRASTRUCTURE, AND BE ABLE TO CREATE PROGRAMS THAT PERHAPS CAN HELP OUR CUSTOMERS. 
          IN AWAY, THEY ARE THE PEOPLE THAT OWN THIS COMPANY. BE ABLE TO GET BACK WE NEEDED. 
          FOR EXAMPLE, DURING THE PANDEMIC BE FLEXIBLE, AND BE ABLE TO ASSESS THESE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS AS THEY COME. YOU KNOW, I AM SOMEBODY THAT IS CAPABLE OF DOING THESE ACTIONS. 
          I'M ABLE TO BE SOMEBODY THAT CAN BRING CHARACTER IN TO A PORT OF PEOPLE. 
          I HAVE THE RIGHT INTENT WHICH IS TO DO ALL MENTIONED ABOVE. SO, THAT IS WHERE I AM AT. 
          THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING PART OF THAT TEAM. 
          >> THANK YOU, SIR. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING PART OF THIS PROCESS. 
          WE REALIZE IT IS A LOT OF EFFORT FOR YOU. THANK YOU. 
          >> GOOD DAY, EVERYBODY. >> YOU ARE FREE TO GO, BUT YOU CAN WAIT IN THE ROOM IF YOU WANT 
          TO. JAMIEBETH GALINIS IS NEXT. >> ARE YOU COLD? 
          YOU SHOULD KNOW BETTER, RIGHT? >> CAN WE TAKE A QUICK RATE, TO? -- BREAK, TO? 
          >> SURE. >> VERY GOOD, LINDA. >> THANK YOU. 
          DON'T GET USED TO IT. [LAUGHTER] >> GOOD MORNING. 
          WELCOME. >> MAY I TAKE THIS OFF? >> YOU MAY. 
          THE GROUND RULES ARE, YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE IT THREE MINUTE INTRODUCTION, THERE WERE GOING TO EACH ASK A QUESTION, AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO ANSWER EACH QUESTION AND THEN YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES AT THE END TO KIND OF SAY ANYTHIG YOU WANT. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO CLARIFY RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING IS THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IS REQUIRED OF SERVING ON THEIR FPUA, AND WHAT KIND OF COMMITMENT YOU HAVE TO HAVE IN TERMS OF MEETINGS, HOMEWORK, AND ALL OF THE EDUCATIONAL? ALL RIGHT. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE OF THAT. 
          SO, UM, YOU ARE FREE TO GIVE US YOUR THREE MINUTES. >> CAN I JUST ASK, IS THERE 
          ANYBODY ON THE PHONE? >> THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE ON THE PHONE. 
          OUR CITY MANAGER AND OUR COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER. >> HI, GUYS. 
          I AM JAMIEBETH GALINIS. LIKE THE OTHER CANDIDATES, I AM HERE TO TRY AND I MYSELF FOR THE BOARD. BEEN IN FORT PIERCE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, PERHAPS MY HUSBAND AND HOME.L LIKE THIS IS OUR FOREVER- WE ARE VERY HAPPY THAT WE FOUND IT. 
          FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DO NOT KNOW ME, MAYBE YOU'RE MORE FAMILIAR WITH MY CHILDREN, THEY DO MARCH AND THE PARADE WITH THE COMMISSIONERS EVERY YEAR SINCE THEY WERE THREE AND FOUR YEARS OLD. THEY LOVE HANDING OUT THE CANDY. IN TERMS OF MY BACKGROUND, I FEEL LIKE WE REALLY WENT INTO THAT AND A LOT OF GREAT DETAIL IN ALL OF OUR CONVERSATIONS. 
          I DO THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME SO MUCH TIME. I THINK YOU ALL GAVE ME MUCH MORE THAN 20 MINUTES SO I APPRECIATE THAT. I DO HAVE A BACKGROUND IN MEDICAL DEVICES, WORKING WITH THE FDA, WORKING WITH ALL TYPES OF DIFFERENT REGULATIONS AND UM HELPING BALANCE OUT THOSE REGULATIONS WITH REAL PERSONAL NEEDS. 
          THE FDA SAYS YOU HAVE TO DO THIS, THE BUSINESS SALES AND STAKEHOLDER SAY HOW TO DO THAT. 
          PATIENTS REALLY NEED THE SERVICES. THEY REALLY NEED THE EQUIPMENT WHETHER YOU WANT TO PROVIDE IT OR NOT, OR WHETHER YOU UNDERSTAND IT OR NOT. 
          I FIND THAT MY JOB IS REALLY BRINGING ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE TOGETHER. 
          MAYBE EVERYBODY DOESN'T GET EVERYTHING THEY NEED. EVERYBODY WILL GET A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT THEY NEED. I MAIN JOB IS TO BRING THOSE PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND I WOULD SAY GET PEOPLE TO SEE PEOPLE'S VIEWS FROM SOMEONE ELSE'S PERSPECTIVE. IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD STRENGTH THAT I HAVE IS BEING ABLE TO DO THAT, NOT JUST BEING A SOUNDING BOARD. 
          INSTEAD OF JUST KIND OF YOU KNOW, HEARING YOUR OWN THOUGHTS. >> THAT'S IT? OKAY. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER JOHNSON? 
          >> GOOD MORNING. I'M GLAD YOU ARE HERE. THANKS FOR BEING HERE WITH US IN 
          TAKING THE CHANCE AND DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT. >> I'M A LITTLE DIFFERENT -- 
          NERVOUS. >> DUMPY. WHEN YOU AND I WERE ON SOON, WE WERE JUST TALKING FACE-TO-FACE AND BEING ABLE TO CONVEY INFORMATION ABOUT YOU. 
          YOU AND I HAD A GOOD DISCUSSION ABOUT BUDGET ASPECTS OF THE UTILITIES AUTHORITY BOARD. 
          [01:10:03]
KIND OF WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR FROM A COMMISSION PERSPECTIVE. TELL US HOW YOUR BACKGROUND RELATES TO THOSE ITEMS. THIS IS A BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, AND IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE GROWTH OF OUR CITY THROUGH UTILITY GROWTH. YEARS AGO IN THE 80S AND '90S IT WAS WATER SPORTS, WHO COULD GET THE WATER MAIN DOWN THE STREET FIRST. 
          THOSE ARE OUR CUSTOMERS. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOWLING -- HOW TO GROW AND 
          SUSTAIN WHAT WE DO? >> IN ADDITION TO HAVING A MASTERS IN -- [INAUDIBLE] ACCOUNTING, AND I WOULD SAY A LOT OF DEGREE IN GETTING THINGS DONE. 
          WHICH IS BASICALLY WHAT OPERATIONS IS. IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT THE UTILITY AS A WHOLE, I DEFINITELY SEE IT FROM BOTH SIDES. IT'S ABOUT BALANCING THOSE TWO SITES OUT. BALANCING OUT THE NEEDS AND THE WANTS OF THE CUSTOMER, BUT ALSO THE NEEDS, AND THE WANTS OF THE CITY. UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS THAT TRANSFER OF FUNDS. THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE LIVELIHOOD OF THE CITY. 
          THERE ARE SOME UTILITIES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, CONSIDER NEEDED FOR SUSTAINABLE LIFE, AND SAFETY 
          I THINK WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT IT FROM BOTH PERSPECTIVES. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER? >> DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? >> YES, GOOD MORNING. 
          CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> YES, SIR. >> OKAY. 
          GOOD MORNING, AGAIN. MY QUESTION IS A QUESTION OF CONCERN WHEN, YOU KNOW, A DIRECTOR IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE FPUA COMMISSIONER BOARD IS SEPARATE. 
          THEY'RE NOT BUDDY BUDDIES, THEY'RE NOT FRIENDS. IF THE DIRECTOR WAS TO DO SOMETHING WRONG, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO QUESTION THE COMMISSIONER THAT THEY BE ABLE TO QUESTION THE DIRECTOR. MY QUESTION COMING UP IS, OVER THE WEEKEND, YOU KNOW, I GOT THIS E-MAIL ABOUT FORT PIERCE UTILITIES DONATING CONTRIBUTION TO THE DONALD TRUMP CAMPAIGN AND THEY SHOW THREE OF THEM AT $250 APIECE. THESE ACCUSATIONS YOU DON'T HAVE TO SUBSTANTIATE THEM THIS MORNING. I'M ASKING YOU YOUR OPINION ON 
          HOW THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED? >> SURE, I WOULD SAY IF THEY ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT WORK FOR FPUA AND IT'S THEIR INDIVIDUAL MONEY I THINK THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO DONATE TO WHATEVER POLITICAL 
          BECAUSE THEY FEEL IS MOST APPROPRIATE. >> I'M SORRY. 
          >> AM I NOT TALKING LOUD ENOUGH? I CAN TALK LOUDER. >> NO PAY. 
          [LAUGHTER] MY QUESTION IS WHY WOULD THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES DONATE, 
          NOT THE PEOPLE WORKING? >> I WILL BE HONEST WITH YOU, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RULES ARE SURROUNDING POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS BY UTILITY. IT DOES SEEM STRANGE THAT A UTILITY IN AND OF ITSELF WOULD DONATE TO EITHER POLITICL SPECTRUM. 
          I THINK THEY SHOULD PROBABLY STAY VERY NEUTRAL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LAW IS. 
          IF LEGALLY THEY ARE ALLOWED TO DO IT, WHILE IT MAY BE PERCEPTION ONLY WRONG, AND MAYBE THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, AND THE FPUA BOARD NEED TO GET TOGETHER AND MAKE SOME RULES AROUND THAT IF THERE ARE NOT ALREADY RULES IN PLACE. IF THERE ARE NO RULES IN PLACE TODAY, AND THERE IS NO LAWS IN PLACE TODAY, I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS MUCH WE COULD HAVE DONE TO STOP THEM OTHER THAN TO ASK. PERSONALLY, I DON'T THINK IT'S VERY APPROPRIATE FOR THE UTILITY THERE IS SO MUCH OVERLAP BETWEEN THE UTILITY AND THE CITY, PEOPLE SEE THEM ONE AND THE SAME. 
          I DON'T THINK THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES SHOULD DONATE TO A CAUSE. 
          >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> GOOD MORNING. 
          THIS RECENT PANDEMIC WHICH IS REALLY HAD IT STOLEN THE WORLD, THE NATION, AND OUR COMMUNITY. 
          FOLKS THAT ARE TRYING TO MAINTAIN THEIR FAMILIES, PAY THEIR BILLS. 
          WE HAVE TO KEEP THAT IN MIND. WE HAVE A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR YEAR COMPANY THAT PROVIDES 
          [01:15:07]
PROVIDES ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY, AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT, A 6% TRANSFER TO OUR GENERAL FUND. IT HAS TO BE RUN AS A VERY EFFICIENT BUSINESS. 
          THOSE TWO SOMEWHAT CONTRARY TO EACH OTHER. HOW WOULD YOU BALANCE THOSE? 
          >> FIRST, I LEARNED A LOT IN TERMS OF HOW THEY ARE BALANCING THAT TODAY. 
          IN TERMS OF USING THIRD-PARTY OPTIONS IN ORDER TO GET FUNDS TO PEOPLE WHO NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO PAY THEIR BILLS. THAT BEING SAID, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE BALANCE OUT ALL OF THAT. YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE RUN A PROFITABLE UTILITY. 
          MY NEIGHBORS ARE GIVING MONEY TO FORT PIERCE UTILITY THAT EVENTUALLY HELPS ME HAVE LOWER TAXES. HOW DO I MAKE THE BEST OF MY NEIGHBORS MONEY, DON'T EVEN THINK OF IT AS YOURS. HOW DO WE MAKE SURE, LIKE I KIND OF SUB BEFORE THAT THERE IS NOBODY LIVING IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE THAT DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS TO CLEAN RUNNING WATER, BALANCING ALL OF THAT OUT OF MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS AT LEAST AN OPPORTUNITY, OR AN OPTION TO GET THEIR BILLS PAID, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH SOME THIRD-PARTY SOURCE I THINK OFFERING WEATHERIZATION TO ACTUAL TENANTS, VERSUS LANDLORDS, LETTING THE TENANTS KNOW THAT THERE ARE THINGS THEY CAN BE DOING IN THEIR HOMES THAT CAN HELP REDUCE THEIR BILLS. 
          I KNOW MY HUSBAND AND I DID THAT A LONG TIME AGO WHEN WE HAD FPL. I HAVE SOME IDEAS FOR DIFFERENT WAYS WE CAN SUPPORT THE GREATER GOOD. I THINK THE CITY OF KNOXVILLE HAS WHAT THEY CALL A ROLL OF FUND. I THINK THESE ARE GREAT. 
          AS WELL AS LETTING PEOPLE APPLY TO GET FUNDS TO HELP REDUCE THEIR OVERALL COST OF OWNERSHIP OF THE DIFFERENT UTILITIES, OR ACCESS TO THOSE DIFFERENT UTILITIES. 
          I WENT OVER, SORRY. >> THAT'S ALL RIGHT. I FORGOT TO TELL YOU THAT THE 
          CLOCK WAS THERE. COMMISSIONER SESSIONS? >> I HAVE A QUESTION OR CONCERN BECAUSE IT'S A PRESSING ISSUE PARTICULARLY OF DISTRICT ONE. NOT ONLY DISTRICT ONE, BUT THE CITY AT LARGE HOWEVER THE VICTIMS APPEAR TO BE MORE SO IN DISTRICT ONE THEN DISTRICT TWO. 
          I'VE BEEN HEARING NOW FOR OVER 20 YEARS, THAT IS THE DISPROPORTIONATE RATES FOR THE RATES ARE HIGHER IN DISTRICT ONE VERSUS DISTRICT TO. I'M HEARING THAT FROM CITIZENS AS WELL AS THE SMALL BUSINESSES. SOME WOULD TEND TO SAY IT'S AS A RESULT OF A LACK OF EDUCATION AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. HOWEVER, I WAS JUST INTERVIEWED LAST WEEK, TWO WEEKS AGO BY TC PALM REPORTER, AND SHE BROUGHT TO ME TO MY ATTENTION THAT MY ZIP CODE, DISTRICT ONE, THERE IS A VERY LARGE DISPROPORTIONATE OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALES THAT ARE DYING AS A RESULT OF HEAT STROKES, AND IT STEMS FROM THEIR INABILITY TO BE ABLE TO USE AIR CONDITIONERS BECAUSE OF THE HIGH RATE. WITH THAT BEING SAID, ALONG WITH TC PALM'S REPORTERS INFORMATION TO ME, DO YOU FEEL THAT THIS IS THE ISSUE THAT WARRANTS SOME INVESTIGATION. 
          IF SO, TO WHAT EXTENT? >> WELL, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE, I WILL SAY RELATIVELY EASY, JUST BASED ON WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING TO FIGURE OUT THE CORRELATION BETWEEN THE ZIP CODE, THE HEATSTROKE AND HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THEIR POWER TURNED OFF, LET'S SAY WITHIN A 60 DAY TIME PERIOD, BETWEEN THE TIME THE STROKE TOOK PLACE AT THE TIME THAT THE ELECTRIC WAS TURNED OFF AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT WHEN YOU AND I TALKED 
          [01:20:04]
ON THE PHONE. I DON'T HAVE THE RESEARCH RIGHT AT MY FINGERTIPS TO KNOW. 
          IT CERTAINLY SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS WE CAN HELP EDUCATE PEOPLE IN DISTRICT ONE ABOUT IS A THING CALLED DIMMING. 
          IF SOMEONE IS IN THEIR HOUSE AND THE LIGHTS SEEM TO DIM, THAT USUALLY MEANS ONE OF TWO THINGS. 
          EITHER THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOUR ACTUAL BOARD IN YOUR HOUSE, OR THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE LINE COMING TO YOUR HOUSE. IF THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE LINE COMING TO YOUR HOUSE, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT FPUA WILL THE CATS, AND IN A QUICK TIMEFRAME. I GOT THIS INFORMATION BASED OFF OUR CONVERSATION WHAT HE HAD SAID ABOUT MAYBE THE WIRES ARE TOO OLD, OR THE TRANSFORMERS NEED TO BE REPLACED. 
          JUST CALLING FPUA, ASKING SOME QUESTIONS, DOING A LITTLE BIT OF INDEPENDENT RESEARCH. 
          THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE CAN LOOK TOWARDS IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT THAT. 
          DIMMING CAN CAUSE HIGHER BILLS, BUT IT CAN ALSO CAUSE, YOU KNOW, OUTAGES AND YOUR ELECTRIC NOT TO WORK AS EFFICIENTLY AS I POSSIBLY COULD. THIS IS NEW FOR ME, THIS IS SOME OF THE RESEARCH I FOUND OUT FROM OUR CONVERSATION AFTER WE HUNG UP. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS YOU HAD SAID WAS ABOUT HOMER, IT'S PROBABLY A PROBLEM FOR ME COULD HAS I DO ENJOY RESEARCH, I ENJOY HOMEWORK. MAKES ME SOUND VERY BAD, BUT UM, YES, I DO THINK THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT. 
          I DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, IN OUR CONVERSATION WE DISCUSSED WATER AND HOW IMPORTANT I REALLY FEEL THAT IS. IF THERE IS A VERY HIGH CORRELATION BETWEEN HEATSTROKE 
          AND NO POWER, WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT THAT AS DILIGENTLY. >> TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT, I APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING INTO IT BECAUSE THAT WAS AN ISSUE THAT WAS DEAR TO ME AND WHY YOU MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FAMILIAR WITH THAT AND TOOK IT UPON YOURSELF TO LOOK INTO IT. 
          AT THAT TIME WE LOOKED INTO IT, WE TALKED ABOUT, I HAVE NOT TALKED TO THE REPORTER. 
          SINCE THEN I HAVE. THE FACT REMAINS IS THAT THERE ARE A VAST DISPROPORTIONATE OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALES DYING IN MY DISTRICT. SHE TENDED TO BELIEVE IT WAS FROM THE UTILITIES AND THEIR INABILITY TO BE ABLE TO USE AIR CONDITIONING. 
          COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT I LOOK AT THE INFRASTRUCTURE, AND YOU KIND OF TOUCH BASIS WITHOUT IN DISTRICT ONE WHERE IT APPEARS TO BE IN A MORE DILAPIDATED STATE FOR THE WIRING IN THE TRANSFORMERS, OR. WHICH MAKES SENSE BECAUSE RESISTANCE BRINGS ABOUT RATES. 
          NATURALLY IT IS GOING TO CAUSE THE CHAIN. [INAUDIBLE] BUT, WITH ALL OF THAT BEING SAID , AGAIN, DO YOU FEEL, BASED ON WHAT YOU HAVE OBSERVED WITH A HISTORY OF THIS UTILITIES AUTHORITY TO BE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH IT OR NOT, YOU MAY HAVE NOT EVEN LOOKED INTO THE UTILITIES AUTHORITY UP UNTIL YOU DECIDED TO LOOK INTO IT, BUT BASED ON WHAT YOUR FAMILIARITY IS IN HOW THE UTILITIES UTILITIES AUTHORITY HAS ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE DO YOU FEEL THAT IT HAS BEEN FAIR, IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING IT, IF ANY 
          AT ALL? >> UNFORTUNATELY, I REALLY ONLY HAVE MY OWN EXPERIENCE TO BASE THAT ON. I KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAD DISCUSSED WAS HOW A PIPE GOT BROKEN MY HOUSE AND I DIDN'T KNOW, FORT PIERCE UTILITIES ALERTED ME AND SAID YOUR WATER BILL IS REALLY BIG THIS MONTH, DID SOMETHING HAPPEN? THAT IS HOW WE LEARNED THERE WAS A BROKEN PIPE, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN OUR HOUSE AND WHERE THE CITY TOOK OVER AND WE HAD NO IDEA. 
          UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY. I LOOK AT THIS WHOLE BOARD AS AN OPPORTUNITY. EVERYTHING I HAVE HEARD ABOUT FT. PIERCE UTILITIES OVER MY DECADE PLUS LIVING HERE, I FEEL LIKE THERE ARE SO MANY PLACES AND WAYS THAT WE CAN ALL BE WORKING BETTER TOGETHER. I REALLY THINK THAT I CAN HELP THAT HAPPEN. 
          IN TERMS OF CERTAIN AREAS OF THE CITY BEING LESS EFFICIENT THAN OTHERS, I REALLY DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION. MAYBE SOME OF THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN TARGETED TOARDS LANDLORDS WILL SHIFT THE PURPOSE AND TARGETED MORE TOWARDS TENANTS. 
          DO TENANTS KNOW IF THEY TURN OFF THE FAN WHEN THEY LEAVE THE HOUSE, THE HOUSE IS JUST AS 
          [01:25:05]
COOL, DON'T LEAVE FANS RUNNING WHEN YOU ARE NOT THERE, DOESN'T HELP ANYTHING. 
          LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT THAT MIGHT HELP GET THEIR BILLS DOWN. AND GET THEM TO A PLACE WHERE THEY RUN THEIR COMMISSIONER MORE OFTEN OR MORE EFFICIENTLY. THERE ARE PROGRAMS WHERE YOU CAN GET AIR CONDITIONERS FOR FREE FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA. YOU CAN GET AIR CONDITIONERS FOR FREE IF YOU ARE ON MEDICAID AND MEDICARE AT THE SAME TIME. I KNOW THAT INFORMATION BASED OFF OF THE WORK THAT I DO ON THE FDA SITE. MAYBE THEY NEED A MORE EFFICIENT AIR CONDITIONER OR MAYBE CAN GET THAT FOR FREE IF THEY KNEW THESE RESOURCES WERE OUT THERE. 
          WE NEED TO BE TALKING MORE TO UM THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE HOUSE WHETHER THEY ARE HOMEOWNERS, OR TENANTS, THEY ARE THE ONES THAT NEED THE INFORMATION. LIKE WE DISCUSSED, I DON'T THINK THEY'RE READING THE PAGES AND PAGES IN THE ELECTRIC WILL. NO ONE GETS UTILITY BILL. 
          YES, IT'S HERE, CAN'T WAIT TO READ THE NEWSLETTER. EVERYONE, WHETHER YOU CAN PAY 
          YOUR BILL OR NOT, IS LIKE IT IS HERE. >> I THINK YOUR TWO MINUTES IS 
          UP. >> SORRY. >> FOLLOWING UP ON THAT UM, ONE OF THE JOBS I THINK FOR A FPUA BOARD MEMBER IS EDUCATION AND ITS EDUCATION OF THE REPAIR, AND ALSO EDUCATION OF THE CITY COMMISSION. BY EDUCATION, I MEAN, FOLLOWING, YOU KNOW, KNOWING WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE CITY COMMISSION. 
          ALL OF US BEING ON THE SAME PAGE. WE ALL WANT TO WORK FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE CITY. THAT SHOULD BE OUR GOAL. THAT IS WHAT I TRY TO DO. 
          I SERVE ON THE FPUA BOARD AS WELL AS THE CITY COMMISSION. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THIS COMMISSION UNDERSTAND THE FACTS AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IS FACTUAL ABOUT THE UA, AND SOMETIMES IT'S PERCEPTION AND NOT FACTS. I WOULD BE EXPECTING SOMEBODY WHO IS ON THE BOARD TO HELP WITHOUT EDUCATION. I THINK IT WOULD TAKE WORK. I JUST WOULD LIKE TO HEAR HOW 
          YOU WOULD DO THAT? >> SHARE, UM, AS I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED, I DON'T MIND DOING A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH ON MY OWN. I DEFINITELY FEEL AFTER WATCHING SOME OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS, JUST TO GET MYSELF FAMILIAR WITH IT, THEY DO SKIP OVER A LOT. 
          THEY ARE GETTING THEIR HOLD MEETINGS DONE IN 40-50 MINUTES, AND I THINK THERE IS OPPORTUNITY THERE TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION IN THE MEETINGS. IF PEOPLE ARE WATCHING THE MEETINGS, IF THEY ARE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WE ARE NOT SKIPPING OVER BIG CHUNKS ASSUMING EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT IS GOING ON. I DO THINK INCREASE COMMUNICATION WOULD BE GOOD BETWEEN THE COMMISSION AND THE ACTUAL UTILITY. 
          PERHAPS DURING THE COMMISSION MEETINGS ONCE A MONTH, OR, YOU KNOW, SO MANY WEEKS, SOMEBODY FROM THE FPUA BOARD COMES IN AND GIVES A LITTLE UPDATE SO WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. 
          IF THERE'S SOMETHING BIG GOING ON TO TAKE A MINUTE. DON'T VOTE ON IT THEN, DON'T DISCUSS IT OUTSIDE. LET'S GET TOGETHER AND TALK. I THINK A LOT OF THINGS IN TODAY'S WORLD ARE DONE VIA TEXT, OR VIA E-MAIL THAT ARE SO MUCH BETTER AND MORE EFFICIENTLY DONE IN PERSON OR VIA ZOOM, OR ON THE PHONE. AS A PERSON WHO WORKS PREDOMINANTLY FROM HOME, I WORK FOR MY HOME OFFICE, EVEN BEFORE COVID-19. 
          I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND HAVE THOSE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS. I'M NOT AFRAID TO DO THAT. HE PERSONALLY HAD MENTIONED, I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE. NOBODY DOES. THAT'S GREAT. 
          THAT'S HOW I LIKE TO BE. I THINK THAT ALSO GIVES ME THE RARE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A FRESH PERSON, AND A FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON THE BOARD. I DON'T COME WITH ANY PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS. I REALLY HAVE A STRONG INTEREST IN THINGS THAT ARE HIGHLY REGULATED AND FIGURING OUT WAYS TO GET PEOPLE ON THE SAME PAGE. I MEAN, THAT IS MY MAIN JOB DAY TODAY. IT IS SOMETHING I THINK I CAN BRING TO THE BOARD. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> HAVE A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION. >> YOU LOOK VERY SERIOUS. 
          >> I THINK IT IS SERIOUS. ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS DAYS, IT'S BEEN ONE OF THOSE DAYS FOR ME. I GOT DISMISSED FROM COURT TO BE HERE TODAY, BECAUSE IT IS SERIOUS. THE FOLLOW-UP ON THE MAYOR'S QUESTION, IN ORDER TO EDUCATE THERE HAS TO BE A MEANS OF COMMUNICATING. I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF IT, AND OBVIOUSLY FROM YOUR RESPONSIVE TO HER QUESTION YOU UNDERSTAND. 
          I WANT TO SHARE SOMETHING WITH YOU I DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU CAN BRING TO THE TABLE DIFFERENTLY. RIGHT NOW, OF ALL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE SITTING ON THE BOARD THAT IS COMMUNICATING WITH ME ON A REGULAR BASIS TO EDUCATE ME. 
          AND, THAT IS A PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY FROM YOUR RESPONSE, YOU UNDERSTAND THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE MATTER. ANTS, I THINK IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH POLITICS OF IT BECAUSE 
          [01:30:07]
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THEM THAT USE TO COMMUNICATE WITH ME ON A REGULAR BASIS BEFORE THEY GOT ON THE BOARD. FOR WHATEVER REASONS NOW, THEY ARE NOT DOING IT, MAYBE IT'S MY POSITION THAT I TAKE. BUT, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU CAN BRING TO THE TABLE REALIZING AND UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF YOU AS A BOARDMEMBER TO ADDRESS MY CONCERNS? THERE IS NO SUNSHINE VIOLATION LAW. YOU CAN COMMUNICATE WITH ME. 
          THE FIVE OF US, BY LAW, THERE IS A PROBLEM. THE FIVE OF YOU, BY LAW, THERE WOULD BE A PROBLEM. MY UNDERSTAND IT'S A PROBLEM FOR YOU TO COMMUNICATE WITH ME. 
          WHAT, IF ANYTHING, COULD YOU BRING TO THE TABLE THAT IS DIFFERENT, OR DO YOU EVEN SEE 
          THAT BEING A PROBLEM THAT THEY ARE NOT COMMUNICATING? >> I MEAN, I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD BE COMMUNICATING WITH EVERYONE. ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE EXPRESSED A NEED OR DESIRE TO HAVE INCREASED MUNICATION. IN TERMS OF MY BACKGROUND, MY ROLE, MY STRENGTHS, I WOULD SAY I AM PART CONSENSUS FINDER PART INTERPRETER. 
          I'M REALLY GOOD AT BRINGING, LIKE I SAID, BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER IN -- WITH REALLY DIFFICULT DECISIONS AND THINGS THAT MAY BE MAKE PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE. 
          I'M NOT UNCOMFORTABLE HAVING THOSE HARD CONVERSATIONS. I WOULDN'T BE DISCOURAGED TO GIVE YOU INFORMATION THAT YOU MAY BE DON'T WANT TO HEAR. I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE YOU INFORMATION THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR AND THEN US WORK TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE BEST PROCEED. THIS BAD THING IS GOING TO HAPPEN NO MATTER WHAT, NO MATTER WHAT IT IS. HOW CAN WE WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE IT LESS BAD. 
          HOW CAN WE WORK TOGETHER TO SAY BUT THERE'S THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY AS A RESULT AND HOW DO WE BEST LEVERAGE THAT OPPORTUNITY. THAT IS HOW I WORK. 
          I TRY TO FIGURE OUT A WAY IF NOT GIVE EVERYBODY WHAT THEY WANT, GIVE EVERYBODY A LITTLE SOMETHING THAT THEY NEED. NO ONE IS EVER GOING TO BE 100% HAPPY, I DON'T THINK, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT UTILITIES. IT'S NOT SUPER EXCITING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE EITHER. 
          I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO COMMUNICATE TO YOU, OR ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS, THE MAYOR, OR THE CITY MANAGER ON THE PHONE THERE, AS OFTEN, OR AS FREQUENTLY AS, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD WANT. I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF 9-5 P.M. RESTRICTIONS ON MY TIME, I GET TO SET MY OWN SCHEDULE AT MY OFFICE. IF I NEED TO BE SOMEPLACE DURING THE DAY, OR IF YOU WANT TO COMMUNICATE WITH ME AT CERTAIN TIMES, I CAN MAKE MYSELF 
          AVAILABLE. >> YOU MADE A VERY INTERESTING POINT ABOUT YOUR PERCEPTION OF PEOPLE, IN THIS POSITION. IF YOU TAKE THIS POSITION, BELIEVE IT OR NOT YOU KNOW WHEN TO BE THE MOST LIKE TO PERSON IN FORT PIERCE. I'VE HAD A PROBLEM WITH EVEN TRYING TO FIND BOARD MEMBERS, BECAUSE THEY HAVE UNDERSTOOD THE REPERCUSSIONS OF BEING IN THIS 
          POSITION. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT? >> UM, I HAVE A LOT OF BROTHERS, SO I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO NOT BE LIKE TO. I'M JUST JOKING. 
          I'M NOT TOO CONCERNED, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF BEING A BUSINESS OWNER IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE TARGET MY HUSBAND IS A PROPERTY MANAGER. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR TENANT TO BE A DOOR, BUT, I MEAN, MAYBE I'M BEING NAÏVE, I CAN IMAGINE SOMEONE SHOWING UP AT MY HOUSE AND BE LIKE HEY, LET'S TALK ABOUT FORT PIERCE UTILITIES PAID MAY IT COULD HAPPEN. 
          I WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO THAT HONESTLY. YOU WILL FIND THAT I NEVER OVER SPEAK. I'M NEVER GOING TO SAY SOMETHING THAT I DON'T EITHER 100% NO, OR 100% BELIEVE. I WILL MAKE SURE I HAVE THE RESEARCH ON THE DATA TO BACK IT UP. IF I MAKE CHOICES OR SUPPORT CHOICES THAT PEOPLE ARE UNHAPPY WITH, AT LEAST I KNOW IF THEY GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY, IF THEY REALLY WANT TO LISTEN, NOT JUST A WAY FOR THEIR CHURCH TALK WOULD LIKE TO SHOW THEM THE DATA AS TO WHY HE MADE THAT CHOICE. 
          I WILL GIVE THEM EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO POINT TO THAT DATA AND TELL ME WHY I SHOULD HAVE MADE A DIFFERENT CHOICE. HOPEFULLY ALL OF THOSE TYPES OF CONVERSATIONS I WOULD HOPE WOULD HAPPEN BEFORE WE ARE MAKING FINAL DECISIONS ON THINGS. THAT IS WHY I THINK MORE 
          CONVERSATION NEEDS TO HAPPEN DURING MEETINGS, NOT LESS. >> NOW IT IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SAY ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO TELL US. 
          TRY TO FEEL LIKE I HAVE TALKED A LOT. I DID BRING COPIES OF MY RESUME IF ANYONE NEEDED THAT FOR ANY REASON. I DID ENJOY TALKING TO YOU. 
          IT'S BEEN A FUN EXPERIENCE. I REALLY ENJOYED THAT. THE PERSON I PRESENT MYSELF TO BE IS THE PERSON I AM. I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT BEING LIKED OR DISLIKED. 
          [01:35:04]
A SOLID SUPER HIGH PRIORITY FOR ME. I AM VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN AWAY WHERE I THINK I CAN HELP. I HAD EXPRESSED THIS PROBABLY TO ALL OF YOU. I RECENTLY FINISHED UP PHARMACY SCHOOL, COMBINED WITH COVID-19, COMBINED WITH MY CHILDREN WHO ARE OLDER, I HAVE FREE TIME. I REALLY THINK THIS IS A PLACE WHERE I CAN HELP. I LOVE DEALING WITH COMPLEX THINGS, AND I AM GOOD AT RESEARCH AND DATA AND BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER. HOPEFULLY I CAN LEVERAGE ALL OF 
          THOSE SKILLS ON THIS BOARD. OR ONE IN THE FUTURE. >> WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOU GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS. BEING WILLING TO DO THIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          >> DID COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? >> NO. 
          DID I ASKED MY QUESTION? >> YES, SIR, YOU DID. >> NO FOLLOW UP. 
          I APPRECIATE THE YOUNG LADY COMING IN. AND TAKING THIS CHALLENGE. 
          UP FRONT AND CENTER. TAKES A LITTLE COMMON SENSE TO DO ANYTHING IN THE WORLD. 
          WE'RE JUST A LITTLE BITTY FORT PIERCE. THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> ARE FREE TO GO, OR YOU'RE WELCOME TO WAIT IN THE NEXT 
          ROOM. NEXT, WE HAVE GIBBONS. >> GET YOUR BLOOD FLOWING. 
          [LAUGHTER] >> WHEN THIS IS OVER THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY FINISH LEFT ON THIS. [LAUGHTER] 
          >> YOU BROUGHT YOUR COAT. THAT WAS SMART. >> WELCOME. 
          YOU CAN LEAVE YOUR MASK ON OR TAKE IT OFF. WHATEVER YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH. UM, THIS IS THE WAY WE ARE DOING IT. 
          A THREE-MINUTE OPENING REMARKS BY YOU, THEN WE ARE EAST GOING TO ASK YOU A QUESTION THAT YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO ANSWER. AT THE END YOU HAVE A TWO-MINUTE OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF SAY ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE. AND THEN UM, YOU HAVE A TIMER IN FRONT OF YOU TO GIVE YOU SOME IDEA OF WHAT YOUR TIME IS. AND, UM, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTOOD THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MEETING ATTENDANCE, AND, YOU KNOW, UM DO YOUR RESEARCH AND DOING YOUR HOMEWORK, AND MAKING A BIG COMMITMENT TO THIS. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE. 
          WE ARE ASKING EVERY CANDIDATE TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE JOB? 
          >> ABSOLUTELY. >> GOOD. YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR THREE 
          MINUTES. >> SOUNDS GOOD. GOOD MORNING. 
          I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO REINTRODUCE MYSELF TO YOU GUYS SO YOU KNOW WHO IM AGAIN, WHY I'M HERE. I AM, KRISTINA GIBBONS, I OWN A VARSITY SPORT AROUND THE CORNER. 
          I'M BORN AND RAISED IN FT. PIERCE. FUN LITTLE FACT, MY PARENTS TRAVELED THROUGH FORT PIERCE ON THEIR HONEYMOON, DOWN TO FORT LAUDERDALE. 
          MY DAD DROVE OVER CITRUS AVENUE BRIDGE AND SAID ONE DAY WE ARE GOING TO LIVE HERE, NINE YEARS LATER THEY MOVED, AND A YEAR AFTER THAT THEY HAD ME. I AM BORN AND RAISED HERE. 
          THE ONLY OTHER PLACE I HAVE LIVED IS WEST VIRGINIA WHEN I WENT TO COLLEGE UP THERE IN A LIVE THERE FOR FOUR YEARS. AFTER GRADUATING, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK FOR STAN CRIPPEN AT ATLANTA BUILDING MATERIALS WHICH IS WHERE I LEARNED THE MOST ABOUT INTEGRITY, AND UM, LEADERSHIP. I WORKED AS AS ASSISTANT CONTROLLER WITH DUTIES INCLUDING INVENTORY, PAYROLL, HR, BENEFITS MANAGEMENT AND TRIAL BALANCE REVIEW. 
          IN 2005, WE GOT PURCHASED BY ALLIED BUILDING PRODUCTS WHICH IS WHERE I WAS SCOOPED UP AS AN IT TRAINER, AND WAS IN CHARGE OF HALF OF THE LOCATIONS IN FLORIDA TO TRAIN THEM ON PROCEDURES, AND ANY KIND OF TECHNICAL UM ISSUES THAT THEY HAVE. I ALSO WAS UM CHARGED WITH TRAVELING, ABOUT 50% OF THE YEAR TO BRING ON NEW ACQUISITIONS FOR THAT COMPANY. 
          [01:40:07]
AFTER 2007 I TOOK ON A MANAGEMENT ROLE IN ADMINISTRATION LEADING A TEAM OF 300 PLUS ADMINS THROUGH SEVERAL RESTRUCTURES. IT ALSO HELPED REWRITE SOCKS PROCEDURES. AFTER ENRON, ANY COMPANY THAT WAS PUBLICLY TRADED HAD TO HAVE SEVERAL PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE, DURING THAT TIME THAT WE REWROTE THOSE PROCEDURES WE STREAMLINED EVERYTHING, AND MADE IT EASIER FOR THE BRANCHES TO BE ABLE TO WORK SMOOTHLY, AS WELL AS BEING ABLE TO THIN OUR TEAM DOWN TO MAKE A POSITIVE PROPHET OVERALL FOR THE COMPANY. 
          I'M SURE IT'S NOT EASY TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO MAKE YOURSELF USEFUL AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF RESTRUCTURES I DECIDED I WANTED TO RUN MY OWN COMPANY. I WAS SICK OF FIRING PEOPLE AND I WANTED TO GROW A BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT I LOVE SO MUCH. 
          I'M DEEPLY INVESTED IN OUR SUCCESS OF THE COMMUNITY WHICH IS WHAT BROUGHT ME HERE TODAY. 
          >> GOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER IT IS 
          YOUR TURN TO START AGAIN. >> OKAY, GOOD MORNING. NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN. 
          EVEN THOUGH I'M LOOKING AT YOUR BACK. LISTEN, MY QUESTION IS, I'M GOING TO REDIRECT MYSELF THIS MORNING, THE QUESTION I HAVE BEEN ASKING OTHER ONES, HAVEN'T GOTTEN AN ANSWER TO IT YET. I'M GOING TO REDIRECT MYSELF. I AM CONCERNED WITH THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE CITIZENS OF FORT PIERCE, AND WE HAD A TREATMENT PLAN OVER THERE, AND, YOU KNOW, I'M SERIOUS ABOUT THAT FROM THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES TO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE COMMISSIONER. THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION. WHEN THEY HAVE DEALS OVER THERE, THE LAST BILL THEY SAID THEY HAD WAS BECAUSE THEY HAD TOO MUCH RAIN, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A COUPLE OF DAYS OF RAIN, AND IT WAS TOO MUCH FOR THAT SYSTEM. , JUST SOUTH OF IT, WE HAD JC PARK, THE SWIMMING KIDS, AND ALL OF THAT. IT'S MAYBE A MILE OR SO FROM THIS PLANT. IF WE HAVE HIGH TIDES INCOMING, WHERE DO YOU THINK THOUGH SLUDGE IS GOING? WRITE DOWN THERE WHERE THE KIDS ARE IN THE WATER. 
          THEY DON'T TEST THAT WATER EVERY DAY, OR EVERY WEEK, NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE. 
          AGAIN, THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE TWO COMMISSIONS. WE APPOINT THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THE BOARD. YOU TELL ME BECAUSE THEY HAVE AUTONOMY THAT THEY CAN'T SPEAK, THEY JUST DON'T SPEAK TO CERTAIN COMMISSIONERS. IF YOU HAVE A BAD TASTE IN MY MOUTH, IT'S NOT THAT. IT'S MY SAFETY OF THESE KIDS OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. 
          THAT IS WHAT MY QUESTION IS TO YOU, IF THERE'S A SPILL, WHY WOULD YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE 
          PUBLICIZED? >> THAT'S INTERESTING, THAT YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION, BECAUSE I LIVE RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FROM THE AREA AND I TOO HAVE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH MY WATER. 
          I RECENTLY ASKED FPUA TO COME OUT AND TEST, BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEMINGLY HAD SOME BACKUP IN OUR TUB. MY HOUSE SMELLS LIKE NOTHING, SO I AM DEFINITELY INVESTED IN TRYING TO HELP TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS BETTER COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY CITIZENS AND WITH THE COMMISSIONERS. I FEEL AS THOUGH IT WAS A TWO-PART QUESTION, UM, I DEFINITELY THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME TESTING HAPPENING WHEN THAT OCCURS. 
          BUT ALSO IT SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE THE QUESTION WAS ALSO GEARED& TOWARDS COMMUNICATION. 
          UM WHILE IN THIS PROCESS, THAT WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY PUT MY NAME AND THE HAT FOR THIS POSITION. I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A GAP BETWEEN INFORMATION FLOWING FROM FPUA TO THE CITY, POTENTIALLY, THIS IS AN OUTSIDER LOOKING IN. WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT SOME THINGS ARE GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED BY FPUA, AND HERE I AM ON THE CRA BOARD, AND I'M ON 
          [01:45:01]
THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS COMMITTEE, I'M LIKE WHY DON'T WE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS? I FEEL LIKE THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS THAT I WAS ALREADY IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH THAT MAY THEY ALSO HAD ON THEIR PLATE AS AGENDA ITEMS TO BE COMPLETED AROUND THE SAME TIME THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE GETTING IT. I THINK I TOLD EVERYBODY ON THE PHONE WITH THIS. 
          IF I DO GET THIS POSITION I WOULD HOPE TO TALK TO YOU GUYS AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY AND IF THERE ARE ANY ISSUES. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNICATION UP GETS FILLED. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? 
          >> ES, IT DOES. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          TRAN28 GOOD MORNING, NEIGHBOR. THIS RECENT PANDEMIC HAS AFFECTED US ALL IN ALL DIFFERENT WAYS. NOT ONLY THE WORLD, BUT THE NATION, DEFINITELY OUR COMMUNITY. IT HAS ALSO CAUSED SOME ECONOMIC ISSUES. 
          THE ISSUES HAVE MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE TO MAKE THEIR DECISIONS ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THEIR BILLS, FOOD AND OTHER UTILITIES, AND EVERYTHING ELSE GOING ON. IT'S A CRISIS. IN THE SAME WAY, THE SAME THOUGHT PROCESS YOU HAVE A CORPORATION ON A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IT HAS TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY, IT HAS TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THOSE SERVICES. 
          IT HAS TO MOVE THEIR BUSINESS IN THE SAME WAY HE MOVE YOUR OWN BUSINESS, WE WANTED TO BE PROFITABLE. YOU WANT TO PAY YOUR FAIR SHARE. PART OF YOUR FAIR SHARE IS A CONTRIBUTION TO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, AND THAT BEING VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. 
          HOW WOULD YOU, AS A BOARD MEMBER APPROACH THAT SITUATION? >> SO, YOU MEAN GAINING PROFITS AS WELL AS CARING FOR THE COMMUNITY? OKAY. 
          I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD CORRECTLY. SO, THAT IS A DELICATE BALANCE IN ITSELF. I CAME FROM THIS BUSINESS HERE THAT WE HAD NOTHING, I HAVE GROWN IT FROM ABOUT HALF OF AN EMPLOYEE TO 6 PLUS MYSELF NOW. IN THE SAME SENSE, I THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A HARD LOOK AT OVERHEAD PROCESSES, UM THINGS THAT CAN BE STREAMLINED TO ALLEVIATE THE TIME THAT IT TAKES TO GET FROM THE USA TO THE COMMUNITY, RIGHT? SO THERE IS A LOT OF CONCERN WITH COME, I MEAN,, LET ME BACK IT UP. 
          THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY OUT THERE. THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY THAT IS AVAILABLE TO ALL OF THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING A HARDSHIP. WHETHER IT IS GRANT FUNDS, DONATION BASE, OR WHATEVER IT IS, IT IS FIGURING OUT HOW TO GET THAT INFORMATION INTO THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE. UM, AGAIN, I FEEL AS THAT IS A COMMUNICATION THING UM. 
          I FEEL AS THOUGH, IF THERE IS THIS BOARD THAT IS STRUGGLING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE MONEY, AND THAT THE BILLS ARE PAID, DO WE NEED TO LOOK AT THOSE? IS IT TOO HARD FOR THEM TO GET THE MONEY. IS IT TOO HARD FOR THEM TO USE THE MONEY? HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT WHEN THE MONEY IS GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE THAT NEEDED THAT IT ACTUALLY GOES TO WHAT IT NEEDS TO BE USED FOR NOT JUST SQUANDERED. THESE ARE PROBLEMS THAT ARE OCCURRING OUT THERE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS ONE EASY ANSWER TO IT? ALL I KNOW IS THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CARE ENOUGH TO TAKE THE MINUTE TO HAVE THE PHONE CALL. I FEEL AS THOUGH THEY HAVE AT LEAST TAKEN THAT VERY SERIOUSLY. 
          I WOULD JUST HOPE THAT THERE WOULD BE MORE COMMUNICATION AND MORE OPPORTUNITY, EASIER WAYS 
          FOR THESE PEOPLE TO GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED. >> COMMISSIONER SESSIONS? 
          >> SINCE I HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE I HAVE HAD A MAJOR ISSUE, SPECIFICALLY IN DISTRICT ONE ARISING FROM A LOT OF MY CONSTITUENTS AS WELL AS A LOT OF BUSINESS OWNERS THAT CONCERN HAS BEEN THAT THERE IS UM WEATHERBY MY PERCEPTION OR REALITY, I BELIEVE IS REALITY WHEN I LOOK AT SOME OF THE FACTS. BUT, THAT THERE IS A DISPROPORTIONATE, HIGHER RATE OF UTILITIES IN DISTRICT ONE AS OPPOSED TO DISTRICT TO. I TEND TO BELIEVE THAT IS TRUE 
          [01:50:05]
BECAUSE I HAD A CONDO IN OCEAN VILLAGE, AS WELL AS A HOME IN DISTRICT ONE. 
          WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE CONDO THAT I HAD, AND THE HOME THAT I HAD, IT WASN'T A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENCE HOWEVER, THE LIGHT BILL WAS ALMOST FIVE TIMES AS HIGH. 
          SO I HAVE SOME PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. I ALWAYS TRY TO, AS I SIT HERE, BASE MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES ON THE DECISIONS THAT I MAKE AND THEY HAVE THE IMPACT ON ME. 
          YOU GET WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS. SO, ALSO, I WAS JUST CONTACTED A WEEK AGO BY A TC PALM REPORTER. SHE IS DOING A STORY ON AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALES THAT ARE DYING FROM HEAT TROOPS, OR SUFFERING FROM HEAT STROKES, AT A VERY DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER IN MY ZIP CODE. WITH THAT BEING SAID, DO YOU FEEL I'M NOT TRYING TO PERSUADE YOU ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, TRYING TO FIND OUT YOUR POSITION. DO YOU FEEL THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS SOME LOOKING INTO? IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING UM WITH THE PERCEPTION IS OF A LOT OF PEOPLE AND IN A LOT OF INSTANCES WITH THE FACTS ARE REGARDING THE 
          DISPROPORTIONATE RATES? >> BACK IN MY DAY, WE USED TO BE ABLE TO RUN A REPORT ON THAT. 
          I FEEL AS THOUGH THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT EITHER A SHOULD BE MONITORED, MAYBE EVERY 10 YEARS, OR SOMETHING, I MEAN, I FEEL LIKE IT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE -- THAT MUCH. YES, IF THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DISPARAGE, DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO, I DO THINK, AND IT COULD BE THE AGE OF THE HOME, WERE TALKING GOOFY INSULATION, THERE COULD BE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN DISTRICT ONE COMPARED TO DISTRICT TWO. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT WANT TO HELP. I HAVE ONE THAT IS A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE THAT IS, YOU KNOW, PAINTING AND REFURBISHING A LOT OF HOMES OVER THERE. IF WE CAN RUN A REPORT TO SEE, OKAY, HERE IS THE SQUARE FOOTAGE , HERE IS HOW MUCH THE AVERAGE PER SQUARE FOOT UTILITY BILL IS, AND LET'S SORT THEM. TAKE THE TOP 10. LOOK AT THEM, SHOULDN'T BE HARD ENOUGH TO GO INTO THOSE HOMES AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT I'M SEEING, THIS IS WHY ISSUES ARE SO DIFFERENT, AND IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, THERE MAY BE WE CAN PUT THE HELP IN THEIR HANDS. I DO THINK IF IT IS THAT BIG OF A DIFFERENCE, AND OBVIOUSLY IF THERE ARE PEOPLE DYING, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS ON THE FOREFRONT TO SEE IF THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE CAN HELP WITH. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. 
          >> YES, YOU ANSWERED. THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. 
          >> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YOU AND I HAD GOOD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES, THE BUDGETING TYPE ASPECTS OF THE PHYSICIAN, WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AS A COMMISSIONER OF A FPUA BOARDMEMBER. 
          IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND. 
          I WANT YOU TO ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE. HERE'S WHERE I WANT YOU TO TIGHT END, IF YOU COULD WITH THE BUDGETING ASPECTS, AND GROWING THE UTILITY. 
          YOU SAID ON THE CRA BOARD. MANY TIMES US CONVEYING MESSAGES TO THE PUBLIC, WE TALK ABOUT REDEVELOPMENT. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THOSE ARE POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS THAT ARE MAYBE ADJACENT TO, OR NEXT TO THE SYSTEMS THAT ARE IN PLACE ALREADY. 
          HOW DO WE GROW THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE IN ADDITION TO THE UTILITIES AUTHORITY FROM YOUR 
          PERSPECTIVE? >> ANNEXATIONS, I WAS LOOKING IN THAT ROOM ACROSS THE HALL, THERE IS A PERFECTLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF POCKETS WHERE WE COULD BE GROWING THE CITY RIGHT NOW. 
          I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT GREENWOOD. THERE'S ALSO, THERE IS A POCKET THAT IS JUST OFF OF THE ROGERS ROAD AREA. I USED TO LIVE OUT THERE. I KNOW. 
          I HAD CITY UTILITIES, AND SEWER AND SEPTIC. YOU KNOW, WITH THAT ALSO COMES THE HOW TO. YOU'RE GOING TO BE TRYING TO TALK PEOPLE INTO GETTING CITY 
          [01:55:02]
WATER, AND SEWER. BUT WITH THAT COMES A BILL. YOU CAN'T JUST SIGN PEOPLE UP FOR FREE, YOU KNOW? AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, THERE ARE SOME OPTIONS TO DO THAT. 
          WHETHER IT IS SPREADING THAT COST OUTS OVER 10 YEARS, OR IF YOU HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT PAYS, YOU KNOW, AN ANNUAL FEE TO BE INCOME OR WHATEVER, IT IS MORE, I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO TARGET THOSE AREAS. AND THEN WE NEED TO START HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS. 
          THERE NO REASON WHY WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE FPUA FOR ELECTRIC, AND WE DON'T HAVE THEM TIED TO WATER AND SEWER. ESPECIALLY WITH SOME OF THE UM EXTRAS THAT ARE HOPEFULLY GOING TO BE COMING DOWN THE PIPE FROM FPUA. WERE TALKING ABOUT FIBER AND ALL OF THAT STUFF. THEY WOULD POTENTIALLY BE AN ALL-INCLUSIVE. 
          WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE TARGETING THOSE MARKETS AND HELPING GROW IN THOSE AREAS. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> ONE OF THE THINGS, YOU TOUCH ON THE EARLIER REALLY IMPORTANT IS A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FPUA BOARD, AND THE CITY COMMISSION. 
          I THINK THERE ARE PRETTY GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WORKING WITH THE STAFF, BUT MAYBE NOT SO MUCH GOOD COMMUNICATION FLOWING. YOU TOUCHED ON IT BEFORE, BUT, ALSO, I THINK THE RATEPAYER NEEDS GOOD COMMUNICATION FROM FPUA BOARD, AS WELL AS THE STAFF. 
          HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT DOING THAT? >> GOSH, I MEAN, IMMEDIATELY A BRAINS HAS A LETTER. IF WE HAD SOME KIND OF A MONTHLY LETTER AS TO WHAT IS GOING ON, I MEAN, CLEARLY THEY HAVE A NEW WEBSITE. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE KNOW THEY HAVE A WEBSITE. I WAS ON THERE THIS WEEKEND, YOU KNOW. 
          I FEEL LIKE EVEN IF IT WAS JUST A FRONT AND BACK, YOU KNOW, MAILER THAT KIND OF GAVE THEM AN IDEA OF WHAT WE MET ABOUT, AND SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE COMING IN PLACE, OR LOOKING FOR FEEDBACK, RIGHT? THE WHOLE PART OF THAT BOARD AND MOST BOARDS IS TO GAIN THE FEEDBACK, AND THEN TRY TO HELP GUIDE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SO PROFITABLE, AND THAT WE ARE MEETING THE NEEDS OF EVERYBODY. UM, I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, E-MAIL, FACEBOOK, AND YOU KNOW, ALSO A LETTER I THINK WOULD BE A GREAT WAY TO DO IT, SHOULDN'T COST TOO MUCH TO KEEP UP, YOU 
          KNOW? >> OKAY. THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO WRAP 
          UP AND GIVE US ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY IN TWO MINUTES? >> MY GOODNESS, THEY'RE SO MUCH. 
          UM, HOPEFULLY I HIT ON MOST THINGS. I BOUGHT VARSITY BECAUSE I WANTED TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY. I KNEW SO MUCH MORE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON IN NEW JERSEY THAN I DID HERE. WHEN I BOUGHT THAT BUSINESS, I DECIDED IT WAS GOING TO, YOU KNOW, PLEDGE MY ALLEGIANCE TO THE CITY, TO MY BUSINESS, TO MY FAMILY. WITH THOSE THREE THINGS IS KIND OF WHAT HELPS GUIDE WHAT I'M GOING TO DO TO ASSIST IN THE CITY. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS NOT ALWAYS A GOOD HAND THINGS. I TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT I AM VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT THE BOARDS THAT I WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN. SO, UM, IF I AM ELECTED, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, SELECTED, I WOULD DO MY BEST, I WILL BE THERE AT EVERY MEETING. I WILL MAKE SURE I DO THE RESEARCH, AND YOU CAN GUARANTEE THAT WHEN THE DECISIONS ARE MADE BY ME, IT'S GOING TO BE FROM A 
          PLACE OF LOVE, AUNT FUTURE THOUGHT FOR OUR CITY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING PART OF THE PROCESS. IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT PROCESS. 
          IT WAS ASKING A LOT OF OUR CANDIDATES. WE APPRECIATE YOU MAKING THAT EFFORT. FAILS SURE. THANKS. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> JANNIFER LEE. >> YOU GAVE UP YOUR MORNING FOR 
          YOUR BUSINESS. >> I DID, FOR SURE. I WAS ALREADY DEALING WITH THE 
          AIR CONDITIONING. >> ENTREPRENEUR, RATE? -- RIGHT? YOU CAN KEEP YOUR MASK ON OR TAKE IT OFF. HOWEVER YOU FEEL MOST 
          [02:00:03]
COMFORTABLE. THAT WAS JUST WIPED OUT. BUT IT'S UP TO YOU. 
          HOW WE ARE DOING THIS IS UM, WE ARE STARTING WITH YOU AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO START A PRESENT YOURSELF, AND THEN WE ARE EACH GOING TO ASK A QUESTION AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS. AND THEN YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES AT THE END TO KIND OF WRAP UP. 
          ALSO, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ACQUAINTED WITH AND UNDERSTAND WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE JOB ARE, TWO MEETINGS A MONTH, AND ALL OF THE RESEARCH ON HOMEWORK THAT YOU HAVE TO DO. I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE GOOD WITH THAT? OKAY. GOOD. ALL RIGHT. 
          SO, UM, THERE IS A CLOCK THERE THAT WILL GUIDE YOU WITH YOUR TIME THERE. 
          YOU MAY BEGIN. >> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING. I WAS VERY ON EDGE FOR THE SCREENING. 
          ESPECIALLY THE ZOOM MEETING WITH COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. AFTER THE SECOND ONE I WAS COMFORTABLE. IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE THIS MORNING. 
          I THINK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE INTERVIEW. I AM MARRIED, TWO CHILDREN, MY FORMAL EDUCATION AT SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY. I'M A BUSINESS OWNER HERE IN FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA FOR 18 YEARS, ACROSS THE STREET ON U.S. ONE AT 145. 
          I HAVE SERVED IN VARIOUS UM ADVISORY BOARDS. I'M A PARTICIPANT AT CHURCH. 
          I VOLUNTEER AT THE NURSING HOME. I TAKE CARE OF MY 92-YEAR-OLD MOTHER. 
          I GUESS THAT ABOUT SUMS IT UP ABOUT ME. I AM ONE OF 12. 
          I HAVE A TWIN SISTER. I'M AN ARMY VETERAN. I DID RESERVE IN THE NATIONL 
          GUARD. I AM DONE. >> ALL RIGHT. 
          >> THANK YOU. IT IS NICE TO SEE YOU IN PERSON. >> LIKEWISE. 
          >> THIS RECENT PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED A LOT OF ISSUES IN THE WORLD, NATION, DEFINITELY IN OUR LITTLE COMMUNITY HERE IN FORT PIERCE. PART OF THOSE IMPACTS WERE THE ECONOMIC ISSUES THAT HAVE HAPPENED. FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS ARE STRUGGLING TO TRY TO MAKE ENDS MEET UM, THEIR UTILITY BILL COMES EVERY MONTH WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, AND, YOU KNOW, WITH SOMETIMES VERY DIFFICULT THING'S TO BE ABLE TO PAY. 
          ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN YOU HAVE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES WHICH IS A 100 MILLION-DOLLAR A YEAR CORPORATION, OR COMPANY THAT PROVIDES ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO COMMUNITIES. 
          IT RUNS ITSELF LIKE A VERY GOOD AND EFFICIENT BUSINESS, AND TRANSFERS TO THE BOTTOM LINE OF THE CITY, THE GENERAL FUND, 6% OF ITS EARNINGS. IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN A BUSINESS BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP ITS MANY OBLIGATIONS. 
          REALLY YOU HAVE TWO POINTS THERE. YOU HAVE THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AS INDIVIDUALS, SUFFERING ECONOMICALLY. AND YOU HAVE THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING THE BUSINESS GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE TWO IF 
          YOU ARE A BOARD DIRECTOR? >> THE FIRST THING I HAVE TO DO IS LISTEN. 
          UM, UPON LISTENING, AT SOME.IT WILL COME TOGETHER AS THE UA AND THE CITY. 
          >> COULD YOU SPEAK A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE >> AT SOME POINT TO COME TOGETHER AND BE A BRIDGE TO OFFSET SOME COSTS. AT THE END OF THE DAY THE RATEPAYER IS THE ONE THAT NEEDS TO HELP. IT'S NOT SO MUCH ABOUT THE $100 MILLION THAT THE UA HAS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY THE RATEPAYER IS THE ONE NEEDING THE HELP. NEEDED TO BE A BRIDGE TO BE ABLE TO GET THE PRICE DOWN WHERE THEY CAN CONTINUE TO PAY THE BILLS. COVID-19, UM, HAS TOUCHED EVERYBODY. 
          RIGHT NOW I DO KNOW THE UA HAS THE CARES ACT WAS GOING ON. WITH PAINT THE LIGHT BILLS, ALONG WITH THE CARES ACT THEY ARE DOING UM, THEY'RE HAVING IT WHERE PEOPLE CAN READ THE APPLICATION FOR THE INDIVIDUALS THAT DON'T HAVE COMPUTER ACCESS. I FEEL LIKE, IF SELECTED, ON THE UA BOARD I FEEL LIKE IT WILL BE A BRIDGE. FIRST LISTEN AND TRY TO BE A 
          [02:05:01]
BRIDGE TO BRING THE TWO UNITS TOGETHER AND THAT THE RATEPAYER BE ABLE TO PAY THEIR PREMIUM, 
          FOR THE UTILITIES EVERY MONTH. >> FOLLOW-UP, YOU SPOKE ABOUT THE RATEPAYER AND THE SENSITIVITY TO THAT AND THAT'S REALLY GOOD,, BUT I REALLY NEED TO HEAR ALSO, AS FAR AS THE SUSTAINABILITY, AND PROMOTION O& THE BUSINESS AS A WHOLE, AS THE PROVIDER TO THE CITY FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND ALSO IMPORTANT IS THE FINAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO BRING TO THE 
          TABLE. >> FORT PIERCE HAS A CONGLOMERATE OF MONEY WHICH PULLED AWAY FROM SEPARATING THAT THERE WAS KINKS POWER BACK IN THE 70S. 
          NOW THERE'S A SEPARATE ENTITY. I STILL FEEL LIKE THERE IS MORE. THERE IS MONEY ALLOCATED. 
          SOMETIMES I THINK HE HAS A CONSUMER AND A CITIZEN, SOMETIMES WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT GETTING THE FUNDING THAT WE NEED BY THE WAY THE UTILITY BOARD MAY OFFER AS WELL AS THE CITY. TRY TURNING UP AND SITTING NOW FOR 20 PLUS YEARS IN THIS CAPACITY OF CITY COMMISSION. ONE OF THE HOTTEST TOPICS OF CONVERSATION HAS BEEN THE UTILITY RATES FROM THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES BOARD. THERE IS A PERCEPTION OUT THERE THAT THE RATES ARE SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER IN DISTRICT ONE VERSUS DISTRICT TWO. 
          AND WITH THAT BEING SAID. IT DESERVES, IN MY OPINION SOME IMMEDIATE ATTENTION BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD. IF IT'S GOING TO BE HIGH IT SHOULD BE HIGH FOR EVERYBODY. IF IT'S GOING TO BE LOW IT SHOULD FOR EVERYBODY. 
          I WOULDN'T TOLERATE IF IT WAS HIGH ON THE BEACH ALONE DISTRICT ONE. 
          ALSO THE FACT THAT I HAVE GOTTEN INFORMATION FROM A TC PALM REPORTER, A WEEK AGO SAYING THAT COMMISSIONER, THAT YOUR DISTRICT SUFFERS TREMENDOUSLY BECAUSE IN TERMS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALES SUFFERING FROM, AND DYING FROM HEATSTROKE'S. AND, SHE DREW AN INFERENCE THAT HAD TO DO WITH IT BEING ABLE TO RUN AN AIR CONDITIONER IN DISTRICT ONE WHERE PEOPLE WERE SUFFERING, BLACK, AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN WERE SUFFERING BECAUSE OF THEIR INABILITY TO BE ABLE TO TURN THE AIR CONDITIONERS ON BECAUSE OF THE HIGH UTILITY RATE. 
          ALONG WITH THE FACT THAT I KNOW PERSONALLY, I HAD A CONDO AT ONE POINT IN TIME IN OCEAN VILLAGE BACK IN MY PREMARITAL DAYS WHERE MY FIANCÉ COME AT THAT TIME, HAD A CONDO IN OCEAN VILLAGE, AND I HAD A HOME ON 22ND STREET. I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT IT WAS VERY DISPROPORTIONATE, BECAUSE I WAS PAYING THE BILL. WITH ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, THE AND THE FACT OF THEIR PERCEPTION, WHATEVER IT IS IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IN MY OPINION. 
          YOU, AS A BOARD MEMBER, HOW DO YOU FEEL BASED ON YOUR HISTORY, AND YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE UTILITIES AUTHORITY IN ITS HISTORY AS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF ADDRESSING THAT ISSUE, IF IN FACT IT DESERVES TO BE ADDRESSED, AND HOW WOULD YOU DO IT? 
          >> I WOULD ADDRESS THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TWO DISTRICTS, THE RATES FOR THE UTILITIES? 
          >> YES. >> AS A WHOLE WE ALREADY KNOW WHERE THE UTILITIES ARE COMING FROM AND WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE PAYING. MAYBE WITH THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAMS AND DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT WILL BE OFFERED UM THE HOMES BEING OLDER, THINGS COULD BE BROUGHT UP TO CODE BY WAY OF UM WAIVERS SO THAT THE HOMEOWNER , THE FAMILY, THE PAY 
          OR WOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO OFFSET THE COST. >> OKAY. 
          [02:10:14]
NOW, BASED ON -- LET ME ASK YOU THE QUESTION, HAVE YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO OBSERVE THE FPUA 
          MEETINGS? >> YES, I HAVE. >> HOW FAR BACK HAVE YOU GONE? 
          >> MAYBE FOR-6 MONTHS. >> DO YOU FEEL THAT THE PRESENT BOARD IN ITS CURRENT STATE IS 
          ADEQUATE IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE? >> SOMEWHAT. 
          SOMETIMES. >> HAVE THE FLOOR TODAY. TELL ME WHY YOU FEEL THAT WAY? 
          IF IN FACT THAT IS THE CASE, HOW COME? >> SOMETIMES WE DON'T UTILIZE ALL OF THE OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US AS CONSUMERS. I'M GOING BACK TO WEATHERIZATION, THIS COME TO MY HEAD. THAT'S ONE PROGRAM THAT IS SET ASIDE TO OFFSET SOME THINGS AND IT WILL BRING THE HOUSE UP TO CODE. 
          I THINK SOMETIMES, WE HAS THE RATEPAYER, THE CONSUMER, WE ARE NOT UTILIZING ALL OF THOSE ASPECTS. BUT, WATCHING THE MEETINGS, I THINK THE TWO NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND MAKE A BRIDGE OF HOW TO BE ABLE TO HELP THE HIGHER-PAYING DISTRICT, AS 
          OPPOSED TO THE ONE THAT HAS A LOWER RATE. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. >> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND THANK YOU FOR GETTING THROUGH THE PROCESS. I REALLY ENJOYED OUR TIME TOGETHER TALKING AND LEARNING ABOUT EACH OTHER. WE TALKED ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES, THE BUDGETING, YOU KNOW, I ASK YOU WHY, YOU KNOW, WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO SERVE ON THE BOARD. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO TELL ASCETIC GROUP, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ARE? YOU SEEN SOME MEETINGS AND YOU HAVE SEEN SO -- HOW THE BOARD RUNS COME IF YOU COULD TELL US ABOUT YOU AND WHAT EXPERIENCES YOU GOING TO BRING TO THAT? 
          >> I AM, UM, 18 YEARS RUNNING MY OWN BUSINESS. I HAVE A BACHELORS IN ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT. I THINK FORMAL EDUCATION HAS PREPARED ME TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE BOOKS, PAY THE TAXES, DO THE TARGET MARGINS ALONG WITH THE BOOKKEEPING, THE BUDGETING, THE STRATEGIC PLANNING, FOR THE NEXT YEAR. MY OBJECTIVE IS TO BRING WHAT I ALREADY KNOW AND TO LEARN MORE ONCE I AM APPOINTED, AND TO LEARN MORE TO MOVE FORWARD. 
          AS A CONSUMER, AND A CUSTOMER OF THE UA BOARD, AS A CONSUMER AND THE CUSTOMER OF FPUA, THEY PROVIDE SERVICES FOR ME AS WELL AS MY FAMILY. I FEEL LIKE, ALONG THE WAY, I HAVE LEARNED, AND I HAVE SAW SOMETHING STRAIGHT I HAVE WHAT YOU NEED TO OFFER. 
          WHEN I SAY "OFFER". I'VE HAD DIFFERENT UM COMMUNITY NOT BOARD POSITIONS, I'VE BEEN 
          ON -- CAN I START OVER AGAIN? >> YOU ARE DOING GREAT. KEEP GOING. 
          I WAS JUST SAYING, -- . >> WERE SAYING WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT VOLUNTEERING, THE FORMAL EDUCATION UM, THE WORK EXPERIENCE, AND BEING WILLING TO LEARN MORE, I HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO MOVE THE BOARD FORWARD. IT WOULD BE A PLEASURE TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY. 
          >> I APPRECIATE THAT. PART OF THIS BUSINESS UNIT, YOU KNOW, AS WITH ANY BUSINESS YOU WANT TO GROW THE BUSINESS, RIGHT? AND I HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE, YOU KNOW, TO OTHER CANDIDATES, AND I JUST MENTIONED IN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT THEY USED TO CALL WATER WARS. IF YOU WERE THE FIRST WANT TO PUT A WATER MAIN AND THEN YOU GOT ALL OF THE CUSTOMERS IF YOU WENT DOWN THE STREET. IN YOUR MIND, YOU KNOW, I DID MY PERSPECTIVE BEING A UA BOARD MEMBER IT'S IMPORTANT WE GROW OUR SYSTEM SO WE CAN, YOU KNOW, REDUCE THE BURDEN ON THE EXISTING CUSTOMERS, THE UTILITY RATE PAYERS. 
          YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS ON HOW TO GROW THE SYSTEM OR ANY THOUGHTS ON WHAT WE CAN DO AS A UTILITY 
          AUTHORITY TO DO BETTER? >> I WAS JUST THINKING WE COULD COME AT SOME POINT, WITH THE 
          [02:15:06]
WEATHERIZATION, MAYBE SOME POINT THE UNDERGROUND WIRING TO OFFSET SOME THINGS. 
          YOU HAVE A LOT OF CUSTOMERS LIVING IN OLD, OLD, HOMES THAT ARE NOT BROUGHT UP TO CODE. 
          THE OLD WINDOWS. HERE AGAIN, BEING ABLE TO UTILIZE THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE ALREADY OUT. MAYBE GOING DOOR TO DOOR AND MAKING IT UM KNOWN TO THEM. 
          >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER, HE IS 
          ON THE PHONE. >> S, GOOD MORNING. IT'S GOOD TO SPEAK TO YOU AGAIN. 
          I'M COMING WITH A QUESTION OF CONCERN, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MANAGEMENT, AND, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW WE HAVE A COMMISSIONER BOARD OVER THERE, FORT PIERCE UTILITIES THERE NO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE TWO COMMISSIONS. YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST ME, BUT WHEN I GET CALLS FROM THE PUBLIC FROM THE CITIZENS ABOUT THEM ASKING ME QUESTIONS, I'M GOING TO ASK THE INDIVIDUALS, OR THE PEOPLE, OR THE ORGANIZATIONS, OR THE BOARD THEMSELVES. 
          SO THAT THERE NO MISCOMMUNICATION. IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THIS WEEKEND THAT FORT PIERCE UTILITIES HAVE MADE DONATIONS TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT. ITS ALLEGATIONS, BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SUBSTANTIATE THOSE THIS MORNING. I AM ASKING YOU, YOUR INPUT ON 
          THAT. >> WAS THE DONATION WITH A BOARD PERMISSION OR WITHOUT? 
          >> WITHOUT THE BOARD PERMISSION. I DON'T KNOW WHO MADE THESE DONATIONS. 
          IT IS SIGNED OFF AS FORT PIERCE UTILITY. >> DID THEY DONATE ALSO TO THE 
          DEMOCRATIC PARTY? >> NO. JUST PRESIDENT TRUMP'S. 
          >> I THINK THAT WOULD BE A NO GO. IF YOU HAVE A BOARD, THAT IS 
          WHAT THE BOARD IS USED FOR. >> I HEARD EARLIER TODAY, YOU KNOW, THAT THE DIRECTOR HAS A $50,000, HEADS-UP FUND THAT HE CAN DO TO HIS DISCRETION. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS HIS DIRECTOR THAT DID THIS, BUT I KNOW THE PREVIOUS DIRECTOR, OR WHATEVER PUT US IN A 30 YEAR CONTRACT WITHOUT NO CAUSE OF GETTING OUT OF IT. I WOULDN'T SAY WHO WOULD DO WET. 
          I JUST KNOW THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED. >> WELL, I WOULD SAY HE NEEDS TO USE THE BOARD BEFORE HE, OR SHE, WOULD MAKE SUCH A CONTRIBUTION IF THEY HADN'T CONTRIBUTED TO 
          BOTH PARTIES. >> OKAY. THAT'S A GOOD ANSWER. 
          JUST ONE OTHER THING. WE HAVE A TREATMENT PLANT OVER ON THE BEACH, AND WE HAVE JC PARKS WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH A KIDS PARK, OR A WATERPARK AND THAT IS WHERE THE KIDS PLAY, AND SWIM, SAILBOAT AND ALL. WE RECENTLY HAD A SPILL AT THE TREATMENT CENTER, AND NO NOTIFICATION WAS GIVEN, YOU KNOW , I GUESS IF THE OCEAN WOULD FILTER IT, OVER 600,000 GALLONS OF SPILL, YOU KNOW, NO REPORT TO THE COMMISSIONERS ABOUT IT. WE HAD A HIGH INCOMING TIDE. 
          IT WOULD BE COMING RIGHT DOWN TO JC PARK WHERE THE KIDS PLAY AND SWIM. 
          HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT. THAT IS A HEALTH ISSUE. >> WAS AUTHORIZED, OR DID YOU GO 
          TO THE BOARD? >> WE HAD A COUPLE OF DAYS WITH HARD RAIN, 2-3 WEEKS AGO, AND I 
          THINK WE JUST HAD TOO MUCH RAIN. >> OKAY. >> WHO AUTHORIZED IT? 
          [02:20:15]
          >> IT WAS NATURE. TOO MUCH RAIN. BUT WE HAD A HURRICANE COME THROUGH HERE LIKE WE DID IN 2004, WE HAD TWO HURRICANES COME BACK TO BACK, THE SAME WEEK. 
          THEY COME BACK TO BACK. WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY TROUBLE THEN. >> WOULD THERE BE MONIES IN THE 
          RESERVE TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE SOMETHING LIKE THAT? >> WELL, MY QUESTION IS, WHY IS THEIR LACK OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN TWO COMMISSIONERS, THE CITY COMMISSIONER AND THE FORT PIERCE COMMUNITY COMMISSIONER. THEY HAD TO BE MADE AWARE OF IT, BUT THEY DIDN'T CHOOSE TO MAKE 
          THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AWARE OF IT. >> AS SOME POINT WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AND GET ON ONE PAGE. AT SOME POINT. AT THE END OF THE DATE IS FOR THE PEOPLE. IT'S NOT ABOUT THE BOARD, OR THE COMMISSIONERS. 
          IT'S ALL ABOUT THE CITIZENS. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> MAYBE THERE NEEDS TO BE SET MEDIATION, OR SOME FORM OF SIT DOWN, AND COME TO TERMS WITH WHAT OUR OBJECT THOSE ARE, THE 
          JOB DESCRIPTION. >> YOU KNOW, FORT PIERCE UTILITY THEY HAVE AUTONOMY WITH THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE COMMISSION. I GUESS THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO DISCUSS ANYTHING WITH US. I THINK THAT IS A BAD PRESIDENT, YOU KNOW? WE ARE ALL HERE FOR THE CITIZENS THE CITIZENS OWN FORT PIERCE UTILITIES. 
          I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT ACTIVITY LIKE THAT. THUS AT THE FIRST TIME WE HAD A SPILL, YOU KNOW? BUT MY QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, THERE SHOULD BE LIKE AND ALERT, AN AMBER ALERT. WHEN KIDS GO MISSING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT THERE'S AN AMBER ALERT. WHEN KIDS HEALTH ARE IN PLACE, AS ADULTS, THERE IN THE WATER WITH THE KIDS. THERE'S AN UNKNOWN. MOST OF THEM ARE MAN-MADE. 
          MY QUESTION WOULD BE, AGAIN, WHY WOULD YOU BE A SECRET TO THE UTILITY BOARDS NOT TO PASS THAT 
          INFORMATION ON? >> THERE SHOULD BE NO SECRECY. IF WERE ALL SERVING THE SAME 
          PEOPLE, THE CITIZENS, IT SHOULD BE AN OPEN POLICY. >> OKAY. 
          >> WE SHOULD ALL HAVE THE SAME MISSION. >> THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME. 
          THAT IS ME AS FAR AS MY QUESTION. >> OKAY, IT'S BACK TO ME. 
          TO COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER IS CONCERNED, THEY DID ISSUE A PRESS RELEASE AND IT WAS FULLY TREATED WATER THAT WAS -- IT WAS A LOT TO HANDLE IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. 
          BUT, WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT IT TO DEP AND THEY ARE REQUIRED TO TEST. 
          SO, UM, THAT IS A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT YOU FIND OUT WHEN YOU ARE SITTING ON THE BOARD COMING UNDERSTAND, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT FPUA CAN ALWAYS DO, WE CAN ALWAYS DO A BETTER JOB OF COMMUNICATING THE FACTS, WHAT IS REQUIRED. THERE IS A LOT OF REGULATION GOING ON FOR TRYING TO CONSTANTLY. THE BENEFIT THAT THE REPAIR GETS IS WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WATERS ALWAYS CLEAN AND THAT THE ELECTRICITY IS ALWAYS THERE. 
          AND THEN IT IS RELIABLE. THAT BRINGS ME TO MY QUESTION WHICH IS, EDUCATING THIS COMMISSION ON THE FACTS ABOUT FPUA, THE FACTS ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING AND ALSO THE RATEPAYER 
          HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS THAT? >> THE RATEPAYER, FPUA? WELL, WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL OF IT 
          [02:25:05]
WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO LEARNING, READING, DELVING INTO THE MATERIALS TO MOVE FORWARD. 
          WHETHER IT'S NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE. YOU KIND OF GET INTO THE NOW. 
          KNOW THIS SKILL SET. >> FOLLOWING UP ON THAT. YOU KNOWING THAT YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE COMMUNICATING TO THIS COMMISSION, OR COMMUNICATED TO THE RATEPAYER, THIS IS THE FACTS, THIS IS HOW THIS HAPPENED AND BEING ABLE TO CARRY CONCERNS FROM THE RATEPAYER TO THE FPUA, AND FROM THE FPUA NOT ONLY TO THE RATEPAYER BUT TO THIS COMMISSION. 
          IN THE END WHAT WE ALL WANT IS WE ALL WANT TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE I BELIEVE. 
          THAT IS WHAT I BELIEVE. EVERYBODY MAYBE HAS A DIFFERENT WAY OF GOING ABOUT IT. 
          BUT THAT'S WHAT WE WANT. >> THAT SHOULD BE THE ULTIMATE. $250 EXACTLY. 
          TAKE YOU VERY MUCH. NOW IT IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY -- >> FOLLOW-UP QUESTION. 
          THE MAYOR, AS WELL AS COMMISSION ALEXANDER, AND TRYING TO TIE IT ALL INTO ONE EVEN WITH MY CONCERNS, UM -- THIS POSITION AS A FPUA BOARD MEMBER, FOR THE PRESENT MAKEUP OF THE BOARD THERE IS NOT MUCH COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ME AND THE PRESENT BOARD MEMBERS. 
          BEFORE THE EXCEPTION OF ONE INDIVIDUAL. I'M NOT GOING TO CALL HIS NAME. 
          , OR HER NAME FOR THAT MATTER. BUT, THAT IN AND OF ITSELF IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO, AT LEAST EDUCATE THIS COMMISSION, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IS VERY VITAL. PERHAPS TO SOME DEGREE IT MAY BE MY FAULT, BUT I FEEL IT IS A CONTRIBUTIVE FAULT ON BOTH PARTIES' BEHALF. 
          I ALWAYS LIKE TO COME TO THE TABLE BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S DOING IT WITHIN THE BEST INTEREST OF PEOPLE. PUTTING OUR PERSONAL DIFFERENCES ASIDE. 
          NOBODY IS COMMUNICATING WITH ME. THEY CAN'T SAY IT IS BECAUSE OF THE SUNSHINE LAW. 
          I CAN COMMUNICATE WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS, SUCH AS YOURSELF. YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS. HOWEVER, YOU CAN COMMUNICATE WITH ME. 
          WE CAN'T COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER. THAT IS WHY I HAVE TO ASK QUESTIONS, OR CONCERN OF MINE WHEN THE MAYORS HERE, BECAUSE THERE ARE MAJOR CONCERNS THAT SHE IS THE BOARD REPRESENTATIVE. I NEED SOME ANSWERS. I DON'T LIKE TO PICK ON HER, WHAT -- BUT MY CONSTITUENTS WANT ANSWERS. THERE IS IN AUTONOMY OUT THERE THAT IF YOU ARE PICKED AS A BOARD MEMBER, FIRST OF ALL, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE THE MOST LIKED PERSON IN THE CITY. AS THE UTILITIES AUTHORITY BOARD MEMBER, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T CARE FOR IT. MATTER FACT, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH FINDING SOMEBODY BECAUSE PEOPLE KNEW THAT. ESPECIALLY BUSINESS OWNERS LIKE YOURSELF. IT MAY EVEN IMPACT YOUR BUSINESS FOR THAT MATTER. 
          YOU HAVE TO MAKE SOME HARD DECISIONS. IT MAY NOT BE THE MOST POPULAR ONES, YOU CONSTITUENTS. THAT IS AN AUTONOMY WHERE I FEEL THERE IS NO COMMUNICATION. 
          IN TERMS OF EDUCATING. I CAN VOUCH, FOR ME PERSONALLY COME OUT OF MY CONCERNS THAT I JUST TOLD YOU, THERE IS NO COMMUNICATIONS FOR WHATEVER REASONS. 
          YOU, IF YOU ARE CHOSEN HERE TODAY, OR WHENEVER WE MAKE THAT DECISION, WHAT CAN YOU BRING TO THE TABLE TO ADDRESS THE BREAK IN COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE CITIZENS, WHICH I BELIEVE, AND BOARD MEMBERS, SUCH AS MYSELF, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE REST OF THEM UP HERE BUT I KNOW WHAT I HAVE. 
          WHAT CAN YOU BRING TO THE TABLE TO ADDRESS THAT, IF ANYTHING AT ALL? 
          >> WELL, IF IT'S NOT AGAINST THE LAW, WHAT IS WRONG WITH LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE, TALKING 
          TO THE PEOPLE? >> OKAY. HOW ABOUT ME PERSONALLY? I AM A CITY COMMISSIONER. THAT'S AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS UNDER THE CHARTER OF THIS COMMISSION. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THIS USED TO BE THE UTILITIES AUTHORITY'S BOARD. BACK I THINK IN 73-76 THERE WAS A DECISION MADE BY THIS BOARD TO 
          [02:30:06]
ORCHESTRATE A BOARD TO TAKE POLITICAL PRESSURE OFF OF THIS COMMISSION IS TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE HISTORY. HOW ABOUT THE COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN MYSELF, AND YOU AS A BOARD MEMBER? DO YOU FEEL THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT? 
          >> YEAH WE NEED SOME TYPE OF COMMUNICATION. HOW ARE WE GOING TO KEEP THE CLIENTS HAPPY? THE CUSTOMER HAPPY? THIS IS ABOUT THE CUSTOMER, 
          RIGHT? >> IT'S ABOUT THE CONSTITUENTS, YOU ARE RIGHT, THAT HE LIKED ME, 
          AND IT'S ABOUT YOUR CUSTOMERS. YOU ARE RIGHT. >> AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU 
          STOPPED US COMEDIC EIGHT -- -- YOU STILL HAVE TO COMMUNICATE. >> WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO DO 
          THAT? >> YES. >> EVEN THOUGH I MAY COME DOWN ON YOU ON RAISING THAT ELECTRICITY, IF YOU DO IT, ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM CALLING SESSIONS TALKING TO THEM AND EXPLAIN TO THEM WHAT'S GOING ON? 
          >> NO PRAYED I WOULD BE WITH YOU. IF CHOSEN, I'M WILLING TO LEARN. 
          >> OKAY. THANK YOU. I'M NO FURTHER QUESTIONS. 
          >> NOW IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY, AS THE LAST TWO MINUTES TO TELL US ANYTHING YOU WANT ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO STOP, OR ANYTHING YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEED TO CLEAR THE AIR ABOUT ANYTHING THAT WAS 
          SAID. >> I FEEL BETTER THAT IT'S OVER. [LAUGHTER] LIKE I SAID I HAVE TWO CHILDREN THERE NOW HIGH SCHOOLERS. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN DOING VARIOUS THINGS, BUT I'VE BEEN LIMITED BETWEEN TAKING CARE OF MY MOM AND RAISING FAMILY. 
          THEY ARE HIGH SCHOOL IS, I THINK IT WOULD BE MY CIVIC DUTY TO DELVE INTO SOME THINGS. 
          IT WOULD BE GREAT TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY. IF GIVEN THE OPTION, GIVEN THE 
          CHANCE. >> WE APPRECIATE YOU GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS, IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT ON A LITTLE BIT MORE THEY WERE ASKING AT THIS TIME. 
          I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO DO THIS. I HOPE YOU WEREN'T NERVOUS, BECAUSE WERE JUST -- [LAUGHTER] THIS IS JUST A MEETING. 
          WE ARE ALL FAMILY BECAUSE WE ARE ALL FORT PIERCE, RIGHT? >> YES. 
          >> THINK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. >> NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS 
          [b.  Discussion and Selection of the FPUA Board member via Resolution 20-R50.]
          DISCUSSION AND SELECTION OF THE CANDIDATE. >> ALL RIGHT. 
          SO, I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT. I THINK WE HAVE SIX EXCELLENT CANDIDATES. I AM TELLING YOU THAT EACH CANDIDATE BRINGS A DIFFERENT SKILL, AND A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF COMMITMENT. I JUST REALLY FEEL THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE A MISTAKE. ALL OF THE CANDIDATES ARE REALLY, REALLY UM QUALIFIED, INTERESTED, COMMITTED. I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE AGREED TO DO THIS PROCESS. 
          I THINK THAT UM, I AM VERY PLEASED. I'M NOT PLEASED ABOUT HAVING TO MAKE A CHOICE. [LAUGHTER] I JUST WANT TO CLOSE MY EYES AND 
          PUT A DOT ON IT. >> WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY FROM JUST MAKING A MOTION, SECOND, AND PASSING AND PUTTING SOMEONE IN NOT SEE. I APPRECIATE THAT. 
          I APPRECIATE THE TIME WE ARE GIVEN TO THIS. I, TOO, THOUGHT ANYONE OF THEM CAN DO THAT JOB. OH, MY GOD, YOU HIT IT ON THE HEAD END IT HAPPENED SIX TIMES. 
          ONE OF THE THINGS I'M LOOKING AT , UM, AS A PAST BOARD MEMBER OF THE UTILITY, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT THE CHARGE IS GOING TO BE OVER THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS? IT DOES CHANGE A LITTLE BIT. IT CYCLES IN AND OUT SOMETIMES. UTILITIES ARE UTILITY AUTHORITY, IS IN A MAINTENANCE FORMAT WHICH INDOORS, STRAIGHT LINES, HOLDING PATTERN, AND A STRAIGHT LINES IN ITS GROWTH. SOMETIMES THAT IS GOOD, SOMETIMES YOU JUST SPEND SOME TIME IN RENEWALS AND REPLACEMENT. THEY SPENT SOME TIME WITH THEIR CAPITAL BUDGET ITEMS. SO I START THINKING ABOUT IT, AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, IN THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS, THAT IS WITH THIS TERM WILL BE. THERE IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP, MAJOR CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP. I'M NOT KICKING YOU OUT, JOHN PECK. I'M JUST SAYING, YOU'RE ABOUT MY AGE I DIDN'T KNOW EIGHT YEARS SEEMS A LONG TIME AWAY FOR NOW. I KNOW THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. UM, I BELIEVE, FOR THE FIRST 
          [02:35:03]
TIME IN MY LIFE THAT I BELIEVE REGIONALIZATION IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT COULD HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY WITH THE WASTEWATER PLANT THAT IS HERE. THE COUNTY AND THE CITY IS WORKING REALLY HARD ON TRYING TO COME UP WITH A FORMATIVE PLAN THAT WILL DEMONSTRATE EFFICIENCIES, AND HAVE SOME SUSTAINABILITY TO THAT UM UTILITY AS WE GO FORWARD IN TIME. I THINK THERE IS A MOVEMENT RIGHT NOW. 
          HOPEFULLY THERE IS A MOVEMENT. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT EXTENDING WATER LINES, SO BUILDING THE WASTEWATER UTILITY. I THINK THAT IS ALL GOOD STUFF. UM, THIS IS A NEW WORLD WE LIVE IN RIGHT NOW. THIS PANDEMIC IS NOT GOING TO BE OVER TOMORROW. 
          IT WILL BE WITH US FOR A LONG TIME. I THINK THE RESPONSE TO IT, AND THE SOLUTIONS THAT ARE GOING TO COME DOWN THE LINE ARE GOING TO BE PART OF THE TASK THIS PORT HAS TO DEAL WITH. WHEN I LOOK AT THESE CANDIDATES I PUT THE IN A BOARD THERE AND TRY TO COME UP WITH THE BEST. I AGREE WITH YOU, MAYOR, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE CREAM OF THE CROP. I WILL MAKE ONE OTHER COMMENT THAT A YEAR FROM NOW WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING THIS SAME THING. I'M TELLING YOU, IN MY MIND, I'M KIND OF DOING BOTH OF THEM RIGHT NOW. I REALLY AM. 
          IF WE CAN IDENTIFY FOLKS, I MEAN, I'M NOT SAYING, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT I WOULD PUSH OUT ANYBODY THAT UM, YOU KNOW, COULD SHOW UP IN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO, BUT I'M TELLING YOU THAT IN MY MIND I WILL END UP WITH TWO CANDIDATES WHEN THIS IS ALL OVER WITH. 
          IF NOT THIS YEAR, NEXT YEAR. THAT IS MY COMMENT. >> ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO DISCUSS? 
          >> I AGREE. EACH, LIKE YOU SAID, EACH ONE CAME FORWARD TODAY WAS SOMETHING EXCITING THAT JUST SO, YOU KNOW WHAT, WOW, YOU HIT THAT ON THE HEAD. 
          I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT IT THAT WAY, OR I DIDN'T, YOU KNOW, ASK THAT QUESTION IN SUCH A WAY BUT YOU GIVE ME THAT ANSWER. I GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT. THE SAME DISCUSSIONS THAT I HAD ON A PRIVATE NOTE IN THIS PUBLIC FORUM WAS THAT FILTER, THAT IDEA OF WHAT IS THE NEXT YEAR GOING TO LOOK LIKE? WHAT IS THE NEXT 5-10 YEARS WERE TO LOOK LIKE? EACH ONE OF THESE CANDIDATES, WE DID A GOOD JOB PICKING. WE DID A GOOD JOB FROM NARROWING FROM 14. I'M NOT SAYING THE OTHER EIGHT WOULD NOT HAVE KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK EITHER, BECAUSE I GUESS THEY WOULD HAVE. BUT, WE MADE GOOD DECISIONS AND WE HAVE SIX THAT ARE JUST GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THE JOB AND HANDLE BUSINESS. 
          NOW WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, NARROW IT DOWN. I AM IMPRESSED WITH EACH ONE OF THE CANDIDATES AND THE APPLICANT'S PRIDE I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THEIR SERVICE, I'M APPRECIATIVE OF THEM BEING HERE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND CARING ENOUGH TO GET INVOLVED. 
          ONE OF THE THING I TOLD EACH ONE OF THEM, AS I JUST WANTED TO LOOK AT, LOOK THEM IN THE EYE, I WANT TO TELL YOU THIS PERSONALLY, I WISH SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE DONE THIS WITH ME 20 YEARS AGO. I'M GIVING THIS TO YOU. I FEEL LIKE I'M GIVING IT BECAUSE, BECAUSE I HAD IT, BUT I ONLY HAD A SMALL PART OF IT. NOW WE HAVE ZOOM, AND COMPUTER, WE ARE LOOKING AT EACH OF THEM WERE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION AND UM, THEY APPRECIATED THAT. 
          I APPRECIATED THAT. I APPRECIATED SHARING THAT INFORMATION. 
          WE HAVE A HARD TASK. GREAT CANDIDATES, AND GREAT IDEAS. 
          THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT. THE NEXT STEPS. I ALWAYS THINK THOSE FORWARD THINKING MOVES IS WHAT HAS TO BE AT THE FRONT. WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN, OF COURSE, WHAT WE ARE DOING. WITH A NEW PERSON TAKING THE WISDOM, EXPERIENCE, IN WHAT THEY GAIN PERSONALLY, WHAT THEY GAIN FROM THEIR OTHER YOU A MEMBERS IS GOING TO BE VALUABLE FOR SUSTAINING WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE BUSINESS. THAT PERSON HAS TO BE THAT FORWARD THINKING, CREATIVE, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT, AND HOW CAN I BE THE CONDUIT OF CHANGE AND THE CONDUIT OF MAKING THOSE VAST IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR? 
          THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER SESSIONS? >> FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY 
          [02:40:06]
TO COMMISSIONER PERRONE, THAT HIS UM DECISION AND BOLDNESS WAS TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE AND GO TO THIS EXTENT. I APPRECIATE HIM, AND HIS EFFORTS. I THINK IT WAS A PERFECT IDEA. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE. SO, I WANT TO SAY TO HIM, THAT I APPRECIATE HIM. 
          AND I THINK UM IT WAS SOMETHING THAT BRINGS IN A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE AND IT GIVES US ALL AN OPPORTUNITY TO, I BELIEVE, BE ABLE TO HAVE INPUT ON WHAT HAS GOTTEN AWAY FROM WHAT THIS BOARD WAS ORCHESTRATED TO DO. THAT IS, UNDERSTAND, APPRECIATE, WHAT IT IS TO BE A UTILITIES AUTHORITY'S BOARD, NOT INDEPENDENT OF THE CITY, BUT WORKING WITH THE CITY. 
          THIS IS ALSO STRONG MESSAGE TO IF NOT THE PRESENT BOARD MEMBERS, THE ONES TO COME IN THE FUTURE. I HOPE AND TRUST THAT EACH AND EVERY BOARD MEMBER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THIS MEETING, AND I WOULD ADVISE THEM ALL TOO. 
          THAT LETS THEM KNOW WHERE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US STAND IN THE POSITION THAT THE CITY IS TAKING AS IT RELATES TO THEIR JOB, AND WHAT WE FEEL THEY SHOULD BE DOING BASED ON OUR QUESTIONING, AND EVEN OUR DECISION TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHOEVER GETS THIS JOB. 
          THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. UM, THE DECISION IS DIFFICULT. WE HAD FIVE INDIVIDUALS UM, AND I THINK THAT UM ALL OF THEM WERE GOOD, AT LEAST IN MY PERSPECTIVE SIX TOTAL? ALL SIX OF THEM WERE VERY GOOD. SORT OF LIKE I'M REMINISCING HERE WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO WAS GOING TO BE OUR CITY ATTORNEY. I'M HAVING FLASHBACKS. 
          WE HAD SOME VERY GOOD CANDIDATES WE MADE A DECISION TO HIRE ATTORNEY SWEENEY. 
          I'M HAVING FLASHBACKS WITHOUT AGAIN. SOMETIMES ONLY MAKE DECISIONS PEOPLE CAN WALK IN, TWO MINUTES OF CONVERSATION, IN MY MIND I KNOW THEY -- IF THEY ARE A GOOD FIT FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, VERSUS NOT. UNFORTUNATELY, FOR ME, MAKING THE DECISION THAT WASN'T THE CASE. FORTUNATELY, FOR THE CITY, WE HAVE SOME GOOD PEOPLE. SOME PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE ABREAST OF THE ISSUES. 
          WE HAVE A GENUINE LOVE FOR THE CITY, AND THEY WANT TO BE A PART OF THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS. 
          THEY SEE THE VISION OF THE CITY, AND THAT IS WHY THEY ARE HERE. THAT IS THE GOOD NEWS. 
          YOU HAVE THE BAD NEWS IN THE GOOD NEWS. THE BAD NEWS AGAIN IS TRYING TO MAKE A DECISION. WHILE I KNOW ULTIMATELY IT HAS TO COME DOWN TO ONE PERSON, I AM JUST SITTING HERE NOW TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT OTHER BOARDS I CAN GET THEM ON. 
          >> ME, TOO. [LAUGHTER] >> IF THIS DOESN'T FIT, THEN I KNOW THERE IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN FIND FOR THEM TO DO. IF NOT THAT, WE HAVE SOME MORE POSITIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE OPENING UP AS COMMISSIONER PERRONE POINTED OUT, WE MAY GET THE SAME APPLICANTS. IF IT'S NOT ONE OF THE ONES THAT WE CHOOSE TO GET ON THE BOARD THIS TIME. IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE SUPREME COURT, YOU WANT TO TRY TO GET A MIDDLE GROUND. YOU HAVE AN ULTRACONSERVATIVE, AND ULTRA LIBERAL, AND HOPEFULLY SOMETIMES THE TRUTH WILL COME OUT IN THE MIDDLE. THAT IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR PART IN MY DECISION-MAKING IS LOOKING AT THE PRESENT MAKEUP OF THIS BOARD, AND WHERE I FEEL WE NEED TO GET. IN TERMS OF WHERE WE ARE NOW, HAVING SOMEONE ON THE OPPOSITE END WILL GIVE US THAT BALANCE SO THAT THEY WILL MAKE DECISIONS THAT WILL BE IN THE BEST INTEREST, NOT OF THE CITY COMMISSION. NOT OF THE UTILITIES BOARD, BUT 
          [02:45:07]
OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT OWN THIS COMPANY. THAT IS MY POSITION. 
          I DON'T KNOW HOW WERE GOING TO DO THIS NOW IF YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE, OR WHATEVER? 
          >> COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER, DO YOU WANT TO ENTER IN THIS DISCUSSION? 
          >> YES. I'M WAITING ON MY TURN, YOU KNOW THIS COMMISSION IS AND ALWAYS SMILING FACES. PEOPLE IN NATURE OF PEOPLE. I'M A PERSON THAT COMES BACK OVER HALF OF MY LIFETIME, IT'S BEEN DIVERSE. IT'S MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN KNOWING EACH OTHER FOR GOOD REASON. 
          THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME RATTLE IN THE CAGE. BECAUSE, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW, RIGHT THIS DAY, TO MAKE HISTORY. IF IT'S UNTRUE, THAT'S BEFORE MY TIME. BUT, THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN, ON THIS BOARD. 
          WE HAVE HAD WOMEN ON THE BOARD, TRUE ENOUGH, BEFORE AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN, THAT IS ALMOST LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE TEACHERS, WHO EDUCATED YOU? YOUR TEACHERS, WHO THEY WERE, AFRICAN-AMERICANS. WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THAT LIGHTLY. 
          EDUCATION IS JUST A MATTER OF HOW YOU WANT TO PURSUE, WHAT YOU WANT TO PURSUE? AGAIN, I TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN BEING PART OF THE SELECTION. I HOPE THE INDIVIDUAL THAT WE CHOOSE IS FOR THE BEST COMMUNITY FOR A WHOLE. THANK YOU. 
          >> UNLESS THERE IS FURTHER DISCUSSION, I SAY WE HAVE THE BALLOTS AND START VOTING. 
          >> WHAT WE DID WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY, MR. SWEENEY AND I TALKED EXTENSIVELY ON FRIDAY TO MAKE SURE WE WERE DOING THE PROCESS JUST LIKE THE CITY ATTORNEY SELECTION, THAT IS WHAT YOU DIRECTED. I HAVE BALLOTS WHERE I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO SELECT YOUR TOP THREE IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER, THESE ARE NOT WEIGHTED BALLOTS, AND WE WILL TALLY UP AND SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FROM THERE, AND THEN WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO DO ANOTHER ROUND. 
          >> BEFORE WE DO THIS, DO WE INVITE ANYBODY REMAINING BACK INTO THE CHAMBER? IS THERE ANY CANDIDATE OUT THERE THAT WANTS TO COME BACK AND AT THIS POINT? 
          WE ARE AT THAT POINT WE CAN INVITE THEM BACK IN. >> AND THING, TOO, MADAME MAYOR, JUST TO CLEAR THIS UP, YOU DON'T WANT THEM TO PUT US IN PRIORITY, BUT YOU JUST WANT OUR TOP THREE 
          WITHOUT A PRIORITY FIRST, IS THAT WHAT WE ARE VOTING ON NOW? >> WE DIDN'T DO ANY PRIORITIZATION OF THE CITY ATTORNEY. WE JUST HAD YOU SELECT THREE, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, BASED ON THE NUMBERS, YOU KNOW, YOU SELECTED YOUR TOP TWO, OR YOUR TOP ONE 
          AND IT JUST DEPENDED ON HOW THE NUMBERS TURNED OUT. >> ARE GOING TO BASE THAT ON HOW 
          [02:50:05]
MANY OF US VOTE FOR THE TOP THREE AND MAKE THAT DETERMINATION FOR US? OR, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE SOME DECISION-MAKING WITH REGARDS TO ONE, TWO, AND THREE TRY FIVE OR, 
          IS IT GOING TO BE BASED ON THE CALCULATION. >> JUSTIFYING YOUR TOP THREE. 
          >> THEN WE WILL GET ANOTHER CHANCE. >> IT'S WHATEVER YOU DECIDE TO 
          DO. >> I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE PROPOSING, AND THEN I CAN SAY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER I LIKE IT OR DISLIKE IT. I'M NOT TRYING TO COME DOWN ON 
          YOU I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND IT SO I KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. >> THE WAY WE DIRECTED IT IS TO DO IT SIMILAR TO THE WAY WE CHOSE THE CITY ATTORNEY, THIS IS HOW WE DID IT WHEN WE CHOSE THE CITY ATTORNEY. IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, WE CAN DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. THAT IS THE WAY WE ARE PROCEEDING ON THIS PARTICULAR 
          THING. >> WHEN WE PUT THESE THREE DOWN, WE WILL HAVE A SECOND 
          OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE? >> UNLESS EVERYBODY VOTES NUMBER ONE. 
          >> MADAME MAYOR, AGAIN, WE SPOKE EXTENSIVELY ABOUT THAT. WHEN I WAS GOING TO THE PROCESS, THE WAY WE DID IT, WE WERE AT THIS POINT AND THERE WAS FIVE CANDIDATES. 
          HE SAID PLEASE PUT DOWN A CHECK NEXT TO YOUR TOP TWO. BASED ON THAT, YOU ENDED UP GETTING A TALLY, IF YOU WILL. YOU DIDN'T RANK, NUMBER ONE, NUMBER TWO, IT WAS JUST TWO CHECKS. AND THEN HE READ OUT THE RESULTS, AND WAS ONE CANDIDATE THAT HAD ONE VOTE, ONE CANDIDATE THAT HAD TO VOTES, SO ON AND SO FORTH. 
          SUCH THEN HE SAID THERE IS TWO FRONT RUNNERS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE ANOTHER VOTE? AND I THINK THE PLEASURE OF THE COMMISSION AT THAT TIME WAS TAKE ONE MORE VOTE. 
          HE SUGGESTED NARROWING IT DOWN TO THE TOP TWO VOTE GETTERS, GIVE ONE VOTE AND AT THAT POINT IT WAS A 5-0 VOTE. THANKFULLY. THAT IS HOW IT PLAYED OUT. 
          AGAIN, THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO READDRESS THIS AFTER YOU VOTE. 
          NOW, IT WOULD JUST SIMPLY BE A CHECK OR AN X NEXT TO THREE NAMES THAT YOU HAVE SELECTED RIGHT NOW. I'M SORRY, I HAVE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TALLY SHEET. 
          >> I DID NOT GIVE HIM THE BALLOT. >> WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO 
          RECONSIDER YOU NOW. >> SO THEN WE SHOULD ALL FILL IT OUT. 
          YOU HAVE ENOUGH BALLOTS FOR A SECOND ROUND? ALL RIGHT. 
          >> I HAVE EXTRA PAPER, JUST BLANK PAPER. >> MAYOR, IF I MAY JUST A 
          COMMENT? >> YOU KNOW, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HOW WE GOT TO HEAR, BUT OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING WE TALKED ABOUT SOME FRUSTRATIONS WE HAD WITH THE UTILITY AUTHORITY. 
          THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN AFFECT CHANGE AT THE UTILITY. THAT IS WHY I THINK WE TOOK THE PROCESS, I'M GOING TO THROW IT BACK TO YOU, COMMISSIONER SESSIONS, YOU ARE THE ONE THAT BOUGHT THE CLEAR AND STRATEGIC PLAN. IT'S BEEN ECHOING IN MY MIND UNTIL NOW. I'M HAPPY TO SEE THIS IS HOW OUR COMMISSION WORKS TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION PROCESS. AND, WE WILL HAVE A CHANCE, FOR YOUR SO NOW, BECAUSE THE TERM GOES FOR FOUR YEARS I COULD BE RENEWED ONE MORE TIME. I THINK WE NEED TO MEASURE OUT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAID TODAY, AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WERE ASSERTED BY THE CANDIDATES TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAS BEEN FOLLOWED IN FORM. IF NOT, WE NEED TO MAKE A CHANGE, WHOEVER'S HERE TO MAKE THAT CHANGE. THAT IS THE PROCESS. 
          I THINK THE PROCESS WILL REALLY WORK NOW. HOPEFULLY WE HAVE SOME CONNECTION BETWEEN THE UTILITY AUTHORITY, OTHER THAN THE MAYOR WHO SITS ON BOTH BOARDS. 
          [02:55:31]
          CONSTITUTION. HERE. >> IT IS COLD, BUT IT IS NICE. 
          [LAUGHTER] 
          >> YOU ARE PROBABLY RIGHT. I WILL BE CALLING AND JUST LIKE YOU, COMMISSIONER. 
          >> HEY, I TELL YOU, MAN. >> WRAP UP IN A BLANKET, NOBODY WILL KNOW, RIGHT? 
          >> I AM NOT WRAPPED UP IN A BLANKET. >> I MEAN, I WOULD BE RIGHT NOW. 
          >> YES, SIR. >> WE MISS YOU HERE IN PERSON. >> I KNOW IT. 
          YOU KNOW, AGAIN -- >> YOU ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING. 
          >> COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER, WE ARE READY FOR YOUR THREE NOW. >> YOU ARE READY FOR THREE? 
          >> YES, SIR. >> ALL RIGHT, LEE, GIBBONS, AND CLEMENTS. 
          >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> OKAY, SO, I'M GOING TO READ ALL OF THE BALLOTS. 
          COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER HAS GIVEN HIS OUT LOUD. COMMISSIONER JOHNSON VOTED FOR STEPHEN ENNS, LUCA FONTAINE BRADLEY, AND KRISTINA GIBBONS. COMMISSIONER KRONE VOTED FOR NICHELLE CLEMONS, STEPHEN ENNS, AND JAMIEBETH GALINIS. COMMISSIONER SESSIONS VOTED FOR NICHELLE CLEMONS, LUCA FONTAINE BRADLEY, JANNIFER LEE. MAYOR HUDSON VOTED FOR JAMIEBETH GALINIS, KRISTINA GIBBONS AND JANNIFER LEE. BASED ON THAT, WE HAVE THREE INDIVIDUALS THAT RECEIVED TWO VOTES, AND THREE INDIVIDUALS THAT RECEIVED THREE VOTES. 
          THOSE RECEIVING THREE VOTES WAS NICHELLE CLEMONS, KRISTINA GIBBONS, AND JANNIFER LEE. 
          >> GOOD THING I LEAD OFF. >> WANT TO ADD TO THE DISCUSSION. 
          BEFORE YOU MAKE A DECISION HERE. AGAIN, ALL OF THESE CANDIDATES WERE PERFECT FOR THE POSITION. 
          AND, I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, YOU KNOW I TEND TO BE THAT WAY. MY CANDOR GETS ME IN TROUBLE, BUT SOMETIMES IT IS WHAT IT IS. WE WILL PROBABLY REPLACE THE EXISTING BOARD WITH THE PEOPLE 
          THEY CAME HERE TODAY. >> I THOUGHT THE SAME THING. I'M SORRY. 
          [LAUGHTER] >> A COUPLE OF THEM. REPLACE THE WHOLE ENTIRE BOARD 
          WITH WHAT CAME IN TODAY. >> EXCEPT THE MAYOR, OF COURSE. >> YEAH, WE CAN'T DO THAT. 
          >> YOU WOULD IF YOU COULD, MAY. [LAUGHTER] >> I TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION OF WHAT COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER SAID, IT'S TIME FOR UM TO MAKE HISTORY, OF A MINORITY COMING IN , ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW SO THAT WE CAN GET A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE THAT WE'VE NEVER HAD , FEMALE MINORITY TO SIT ON THE BOARD. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THAT PERSON HAS TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT IS BEING VICTIMIZED. IT WOULD BE HONEST WITH YOU, JUST A PERSON'S SKIN COLOR ALONE DOES NOT MEET THAT CRITERIA ALL OF THE TIME. A LOT OF TIMES IT DOES, BECAUSE THEY ARE BROUGHT UP IN THE COMMUNITY. I HEARD SOME INDIVIDUALS HERE 
          [03:00:01]
TODAY THAT I FELT WERE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEIR SKIN COLOR WAS, THEY HAD A RELATIONSHIP CLOSE ENOUGH WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S WHY UM THAT IS WHY JAMIEBETH GALINIS REALLY STOOD OUT OF MY MIND FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE. WITH BEING ABLE TO TOSS IN THE COMMUNITY. MS. LEE WAS SHORT AND STRAIGHT TO THE POINT. 
          HOWEVER, WHEN I LOOK AT THE MAKEUP OF THAT BOARD TODAY, I THINK THAT, AND I LIKE COMMISSIONER PERON'S QUESTION, BECAUSE IT HELP ME OUT A LOT. WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR IS AN HONEST ANSWER, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF A UTILITIES AUTHORITY'S BOARD AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO RUN EFFICIENTLY FROM A BUSINESS STANDPOINT, THERE SEEMS TO BE A HIGH PRIORITY AND BE MORE BUSINESS EFFICIENT THAN BEING MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CUSTOMERS. AND, THEN HE FOLLOWED UP WITH THE SECOND QUESTION AND SHE DIDN'T BEND. SHE TOOK THE POSITION THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING OTHER CUSTOMERS. UNTRUE ENOUGH, IT IS A BUSINESS, IT'S NOT AN INDY 500 BUSINESS LIKE SOME OF US THINK IT IS. IT'S NOT CORPORATE AMERICA. I LOOK AT IT AS BEING A 5013 C. 
          THEIR BUSINESSES TO NOT SIT ON TOP OF A RESERVE, ANYTHING SHORT OF THE BOND REQUIREMENTS THAT IS MONEY THAT THEY CAN SIT ON. OTHER THAN THAT NUMBER ONE.LIKE IS NOT TO MAKE MONEY, BUT TO SERVE THE PUBLIC. IN HIS FOLLOW-UP QUESTION I LIKE THAT SHE DID NOT BEND, SHE WAS FIRM. I JUST THINK THAT IS A MISSING ELEMENT RIGHT NOW THAT THE BOARD DOES NOT HAVE IN TERMS OF AN INDIVIDUAL PUTTING A HIGHER PRIORITY ON THE CUSTOMER, AS OPPOSED TO RUNNING A BUSINESS EFFICIENTLY, AND HAVING BRAGGING RIGHTS ABOUT WHAT WE'VE GOT OVER HERE AND WE'RE DOING. IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT. IT'S ABOUT SERVING THE PUBLIC WITH A PUBLIC SERVICE. IF YOU MAKE A FEW DOLLARS TO PAY YOUR SALARIES AND RIDE AROUND IN A DECENT CAR, THAT'S ALL I'M LOOKING FOR. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE, BUT TO SIT ON TOP OF THE MONEY OVER THERE LIKE IT IS A CORPORATION, AND EVERYBODY HAS A PERSONAL INTEREST, AND THE RATES ARE GOING TO BE DETERMINED BASED ON WHAT IS ACROSS-THE-BOARD, AND MAKING SURE THAT THE BUSINESSES RAN EFFICIENTLY, WHICH IS IMPORTANT, BUT NOT IMPORTANT ON MY PRIORITY LIST. I BASE THAT ON HER RESPONSES FROM THE COMMUNITY. 
          IF WE WANTED TO HIRE THAT TYPE OF BUSINESS, THEN WE SHOULD ENGAGE IN FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT BUSINESS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITIZENS OWN. 
          IN THE CITIZENS SHOULD BE THE PRIORITY. TRUE ENOUGH, WE DON'T WANT TO GO BANKRUPT. BY NO MEANS DO WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW THAT BUSINESS TO BE RAN LIKE A CORPORATION THAT IS BASED ON THEIR SUCCESS GIVEN THE MONEY THAT THEY MAKE. 
          I WANT THE BARE MINIMUM IN THE BANK, I WANT HAPPY CUSTOMERS. THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR. 
          FOR THESE RAYS TO CONTINUE TO GO ON LIKE THEY ARE, JUSTIFICATION IS WE HAVE TO SATISFY THE BOND, WE HAVE TO HAVE SO MUCH FOR THIS. THERE'S MORE SACRIFICES THAT WE COULD GET TO TO ELIMINATE. AGAIN, THAT IS WHY I LIKE MS. LEE. 
          [03:05:02]
I THINK SHE BRINGS TO THE TABLE SOMETHING DIFFERENT. I THINK SHE'S GOING TO BE VERY PRO, EVEN MORE SO THAN THE ONE -- THE ONES THAT ARE UP THERE NOW, I WILL SAY THAT. 
          BUT AGAIN, I JUST THINK THAT HER POSITION REGARDING BEING ABLE TO BRING THE BOARD TOGETHER WITH THE UTILITIES AUTHORITY, AND UM IS NOT ABOUT THE UA BOARD. IT'S NOT ABOUT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE COMMISSION. IT IS ABOUT THE CUSTOMERS. THAT IS WHAT STOOD OUT IN MY MIND WITH HER. I TELL YOU UM UM MR. BRADLEY, I WAS IMPRESSED, I THINK HE BRINGS A LOT TO THE TABLE, TOO. HE'S NOT A POLITICIAN. HE HAS A GENUINE LOVE IN HIS HEART FOR PEOPLE. HIS FIELD AND EXPERTISE IN TERMS OF WHAT HE DOES FOR A LIVING, WHAT HE EXPRESSED TO US TODAY HE SHOWS THAT HE IS -- HE PROBABLY HAS A GREAT FUTURE IN POLITICS. 
          I DON'T KNOW. >> WE WANT HIM FOR ANOTHER BOARD. 
          >> DEFINITELY. HE HAS A GENUINE LOVE FOR THE PEOPLE. 
          I LIKE THAT ABOUT HIM. AND, AUNTS, AUNTS, YOU KNOW, THE REST OF THEM HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT QUALITIES. MS. CLEMONS I LIKE TO, SHE DIDN'T TAKE A STRONG OF A POSITION AS I WANTED IN TERMS OF STANDING UP FOR THAT PRIORITY LIKE I FELT MS. LEE DID. 
          PUTTING THE CUSTOMER FIRST. ALL OF THAT OTHER STUFF COMES SECONDARY. 
          SO, THAT IS MY POSITION. WHETHER OR NOT IT IMPACTS YOU ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, I HOPE IT DOES. THAT'S WHY I DECIDED TO DO THIS. THAT IS MY POSITION. 
          THANK YOU. >> ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO DISCUSS ANYTHING? 
          >> NOW, WE HAVE A SECOND ROUND. WE ARE CHOOSING FROM THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE? 
          >> MADAME MAYOR, IF WE COULD, LIKE I SAID BEFORE I LEVEL SIX. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE COMFORTABLE AS A COMMISSION WITH THE RANKING SYSTEM AND THERE WERE GOING TO NARROW IT DOWN THE 
          TOP THREE THEY CAME BACK OUT? >> WE ARE GOING TO CHOOSE FROM THE TOP THREE. 
          THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING? >> THAT IS MY QUESTION. >> YOU WILL CHOOSE ONE FROM THE 
          THREE THAT REMAIN. >> THE WAY THAT THE PEOPLE VOTED BEFORE DO YOU WANT TO HAVE THAT RIGHT AGAIN? NO. GREAT. 
          >> NICHELLE CLEMONS, KRISTINA GIBBONS AND JANNIFER LEE. I MARKED OFF THE ONES THAT ARE NOT IN IT. MR. ALEXANDER DOESN'T HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THAT. 
          WE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN. >> WE ARE VOTING ON ONE. >> SELECTING ONE. 
          YOU CAN JUST CIRCLE IT. 
          ARE NOW READY FOR YOUR SELECTION. >> OKAY. 
          JANNIFER LEE. DO YOU AGREE? OKAY. 
          [03:10:07]
WE HAVE KRISTINA GIBBONS, NICHELLE CLEMONS, JANNIFER LEE, KRISTINA GIBBONS, AND AS YOU HEARD COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER SELECTED JANNIFER LEE. WHICH LEAVES US WITH A TIE 
          BETWEEN KRISTINA GIBBONS AND JANNIFER LEE. >> SO, WE DO ONE MORE BALLOT. 
          >> WAITING FOR THE BALLOTS TO COME IN. I KNOW THERE'S THREE COMMISSIONERS APPEAR THAT WOULD DO THE SAME THING IN THREE WEEKS. 
          [LAUGHTER] YOU NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO ZOOM THAT ONE, COMMISSIONER. 
          >> WHAT CAN I DO? >> I THOUGHT ABOUT DOING ZOOM, TWO. 
          I FIGURED THERE WOULD BE A TECHNICAL ISSUE AND IT WOULD BE FRUSTRATING TO ME. 
          I'M SORRY. >> AGAIN, THIS IS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS THAT WE HAVE EVER DONE. EVERYBODY IS QUALIFIED. THIS IS JUST TOUGH. 
          >> WE CAN'T GET IT WRONG, RIGHT? >> WE CAN'T GET IT WRONG WE WANT EVERYBODY TO BE THERE NEXT YEAR. 
          >> I THINK THERE IS SOME OPENINGS IN THE BOARD NOW. >> I JUST SAW A BLANK LINE. 
          BETWEEN KRISTINA GIBBONS AND JANNIFER LEE? >> JANNIFER LEE. 
          >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER JOHNSON SELECTED, KRISTINA GIBBONS. 
          COMMISSIONER CORONA SELECTED, KRISTINA GIBBONS. COMMISSIONER SESSIONS SELECTED, JANNIFER LEE. AND MAYOR HUDSON SELECTED KRISTINA GIBBONS. 
          SO, IT IS KRISTINA GIBBONS. >> OKAY, SO NOW WE NEED TO VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION 20R-50. 
          >> IT IS A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE CERTIFYING THE APPOINTMENT OF A MEMBER, OF THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AUTHORITY BOARD PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE, THROUGH THE BALLOTING PROCESS YOU HAVE SELECTED, KRISTINA GIBBONS, TO SERVE A 
          FOUR-YEAR TERM ON THE FPUA BOARD. >> IS THERE A MOTION? 
          >> MOVED FOR THE APPROVAL. >> CALL THE ROLE PLEASE? 
          [APPLAUSE] >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS, INCLUDING THE COMMISSION. I APPRECIATE THE COMMISSIONERS, BETWEEN THE INTERVIEWS, AND THIS DAY TODAY. SO, IF THERE IS NO OTHER FOR BUSINESS
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.