[1. CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:11] SCRIVENER. >> THIS IS MONDAY MAY 16, 2022, AND PLEASE STAND FOR THE OPENING PRAYER BY EVANGELIST MARY SERMONS AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE. >> AS WE COME TOGETHER TO PAY FOR OUR CITY COMMISSIONERS THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT RESTS UPON THEM AND WE PRAY THAT SKILLFUL AND GODLY WISDOM HAS ENTERED THE HEARTS OF OUR CITY LEADERS THAT THEY WILL DO THEIR YOUR WILL AND THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE WHO ELECTED THEM. LORD MAKE THEM MEN AND WOMEN OF YOUR INTEGRITY AND MAY WE DECLARE THAT WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERERS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS. WE THINK YOU THAT WE LIVE A LAND WHERE THE FREEDOM OF THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL IS EXPRESSED. WE THANK THAT YOU THE LEADERS COMMIT TO FOSTERING EQUALITY AND INCLUSION IN EVERY AREA OF CITY BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATION. WE PRAY THIS ALL IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER THE SON AND THE HOLY GHOST. AMEN. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND . . . >> CALL ROLL. [5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES] MINUTES FROM THE MAY 2ND. >> MOTION AND SECOND, CALL THE ROLL PLEASE. >> GAINES. >> JOHNSON. >> J. JOHNSON. [a. Public Works Week Proclamation] YES. >> MAYOR HUDSON. >> YES, MA'AM. >> WE HAVE FOR PROCLAMATIONS THIS EVENING AND WE BEGIN WITH THE UPPER COURT SWEEP. [READING] WHEREAS THESE INFRASTRUCTURES FACILITIES AND SERVICES COULD NOT BE PROVIDED WITHOUT THE DEDICATED EFFORTS OF PUBLIC WORK PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE ENGINEERS MANAGERS AND EMPLOYEES AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REBUILDING IMPROVING AND PROTECTING OUR NATION'S TRANSPORTATION WATER SUPPLY WATER TREATMENT AND SOLID WASTE SYSTEMS AN OTHER STRUCK TURNS AN FACILITIES ESSENTIAL FOR OUR CITIZENS AND WHEREAS IT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST FOR CITIZENS CIVIC LEADERS A CHILDREN IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE AND MAINTAIN AN ONGOING INTEREST AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANT OF PUBLIC WORKS AN PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMS IN THEIR REP EXPECTATIVE COMMUNITIES AN WHEREAS THE YEAR 2022 MARKS THE 62ND ANNUAL NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION CANADIAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATES. THEREFORE I LINDA HUDSON PROCLAIM THE MAY 15-21ST, AS NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK IN CITY OF FORT PIERCE AN URGE CITIZENS TO JOIN WITH THE AMERICAN . . . GOVERNMENT AGENCIES DESIGNED TO PAY TRIBUTE TO OUR PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS ENGINEERS MANAGERS AN EMPLOYEES TO RECOGNIZE THE SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS THEY MAKE TO PROTECTING OUR NATIONAL HEALTH SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE. >> THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR RECOGNIZING THE EFFORTS OF THE HARD WORKING MEN AND WOMEN OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. THE LAST TWO YEARS EVERYBODY A REAL CHALLENGE FOR EVERYONE AND YOU KNOW, THE COMMENTARY FROM THIS PODIUM BEFORE HAS BEEN KIND OF THAT OF UNCERTAINTY AND RECOGNITION FOR THESE FOLKS BEING FIRST RESPONDERS. THEY'RE THE UNSUNG HEROES OF THE ORGANIZATION, YOU KNOW. OFTEN NOT SEEN AND NOT THOUGHT OF UNTIL THEY'RE NEEDED BUT I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH ONE OF THE WEST TEAMS I BELIEVE THAT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE HAS EVER HAD, THE THEME FOR THIS YEARERS PUBLIC WORKWEEK IS READY AN RESILIENT. THAT IS WHAT YOU HAVE. YOU HAVE A RESILIENT WORKFORCE THAT FACED THE LAST TWO YEARS HEAD ON WITHOUT HESITATION THEY'VE BEEN OUT THERE ON THE FRONT LINES OF THIS PANDEMIC. [00:05:02] THEY HAVE DELIVERED FOR YOU. WE HAVE EXPERIENCE AHMED CHALLENGES, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT WE FACE CHALLENGES TODAY. NOT ONLY WITH RECRUITMENT OF NEW EMPLOYEES BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE CHALLENGES OF OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE OF THIS ORGANIZATION AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT WE ARE BLESSED THAT WE HAVE THE TEAM THAT WE DO THAT HAS CHOSEN TO STAY WITH US. WE HAVE BROUGHT ON SOME NEW TEAM MEMBERS THE LAST 2-3 YEARS THAT EVERYBODY WONDERFUL ADDITIONS TO OUR TEAM AND THIS PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO GIVE AND PERFORM FOR YOU SO I HOPE THAT THIS EVENING YOU WILL JOIN ME IN SHOWING APPRECIATION TO EACH HAD AND EVERYONE OF THEM HERE TONIGHT AND ALLOW US TO GET A PICTURE. >> I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE YOU AND LOOKS TO ME LIKE YOU HAVE AN ARMY OF FINE FOLKS AND I THINK WE REALLY APPRECIATE BECAUSE BEHALF YOU DID IN THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T WORK FROM HOME, RIGHT, AND ALSO, WE APPRECIATE YOU BECAUSE WE KNOW OF THE CHALLENGES THAT THE COUNTY AND PORT ST. LUCIE ARE EXPERIENCING AN WE ARE GRATEFUL WE HAVE OUR STAFF TO CLEAN UP AND WORK WITH US AND WE WANT THE COMMUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU AND BE A PART NERT IN THAT. ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO SAY ANYTHING. >> NO MA'AM, IF I COULD ADD YOU'RE THE FRONT LINE OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE THE FOLKS SEE YOU OUT THERE EVERY DAY WORKING AND I APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK AN EFFORTS YOU PUT FORTH EVERY SINGLE DAY. THERE WAS A SAYING A WHILE BACK AND IT'S STILL OUT THERE BUT NOT MANY PEOPLE THE WHO DOES THE FIRST RESPONDER CALL WHEN THEY HAVE AN EMERGENCY, IT'S PUBLIC WORKS BECAUSE IF THERE'S A TREE DOWN IN A ROAD THEY CAN'T GET TO A CALL AND GUESS WHO CLEARS IT PUBLIC WORKS SO APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS. THANK YOU. >> MADAM. >> I HAVE ENJOYED WORKING TOGETHER. WE HAVE A GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP AND I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU FOR THE COMMITMENT THAT YOU'VE MADE TO HAVE THIS PLACE BE ONE FORT PIERCE. I KNOW I'VE HAD THAT SKRAFGS WITH YOU AND THE SUPERVISORS AND IT'S NOTICED THROUGH THE COMMUNITY. THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMUNITY ARE NOTICEING THE GOOD WORKS THAT THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS DOING. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESILIENCE AND WORKING THROUGH THE COVID CHALLENGES AND EVERYTHING YOUR STAFF IS DOING, CONTINUE TO UNITE US AS ONE FORT PIERCE BECAUSE THE FIRST THING THEY SEE IS THE ACTION WHAT YOU FINE FOLKS DO IN KEEPING OUR CITY BEAUTIFUL SO THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. >> COMMISSIONER. >> FORT PIERCE DISCOVERED THE SAME FORT PIERCE YOU STARTED WORKING AROUND LAST 5-10 YEARS THINGS HAVE CHANGED. PEOPLE ARE VISITING FORT PIERCE THE FIRST TIME. THEY'RE ALL ALL OVER THE PLACE AN MOST OF THE TIME YOU ARE OUR AMBASSADOR THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT THEY GET TO KNOW AND I'M GOING TO TELL THAT YOU FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AND WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE FOLKS IS THAT WE GET LETTERS ALL THE TIME THANKING AND THE POLITENESS AND HOW HARD YOU GUYS WORK TRYING TO MAKE THIS WORK OUT THAT TELLS FOLKS WHAT KIND OF A CITY WE ARE SO YOU'RE OUR AMBASSADOR AND YOU'RE DOING ONE HECK OF A JOB FOR THAT. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES. >> JUST TO FOLLOW UP WITH WHAT MY COMMISSIONER SAID YOU GUYS ARE OUR A-TEAM. YOU GUYS MAKE THE CITY LOOK BEAUTIFUL SO YOU GUYS ARE THE ONES THAT WE CALL TO DO OUR DIRTY WORK SO WITH THAT WE SAY THANK YOU SO WHEN WE ARE DRIVING TO CITY HALL AND SEE TALL BEAUTIFUL STUFF IT'S FOR YOU GUYS SO JUST A SIMPLE THANK YOU FOR MY DESK. >> I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU SOME APPLAUSE. [APPLAUSE] >> SO LET'S GET A PICTURE. >> YOU HAVE TO WORK FOR THAT. [LAUGHTER]. >> MOVE IN A LITTLE BIT. ACT LIKE WE LIKE EACH OTHER. >> I'LL TRY TO GET YOU CENTERED IN THE MIDDLE. >> THEY GOT TO SQUEEZE IN A LITTLE BIT. [LAUGHTER]. >> THANKS, GUYS. [APPLAUSE] >> GIVE ME A HAND. >> MAYOR COMMISSIONERS THANK YOU AGAIN FOR RECOGNIZING THE EFFORTS OF OUR WORKING MEN AND WOMEN. [b. Proclamation for Trauma Informed Care Month] [00:10:01] WE APPRECIATE IT. >> WELL WE WANT TO DO IT ALL THE TIME. THANK YOU MIKE. SO THE NEXT PROCLAMATION IS FOR TRAUMA INFORMED CARE MONTH. >> OKAY. >> THERE SHE IS. SO, WHAT IS TRAUMA IS NIP EXPERIENCE OR EVENT REAL OR PERCEIVED THAT RESULTS IN LASTING ADVERSE EFFECTS AND IMPACTS AN INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY THEM STUCK IN SURVIVAL MODE AND WHEREAS ININVESTMENT IN ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES FOR OUR COMMUNITY RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT SHOWS THE LINK BETWEEN CHILDHOOD TRAUMA EXPOSURE FROM ABUSE NEGLECT ADVERSE FUNCTION AND OUTCOMES SUCH AS POVERTY POOR HEALTH SUBSTANCE MISUSE AN MENTAL ILLNESS. ADULTS WITH MORE OUR MORESES HAVE THREE TIMES THE RATE OF LUNG DISEASE, TWO TIMES MORE LIVER DAVE VERES FIVE TIMES MORE DEPRESSION, 11 TIMES THE RATE OF IV ABUSES AND 14 TIMES THE RATE OF SUICIDE ATTEMPTS AND WHAT IS THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 35 MILLION CHILD VICTIMS OF TRAUMA BEFORE THE AGE 18 BASED ON A 2020 REPORT FROM FLORIDA SUBSTANCE ABUSE SURVEY 65 PERCENT OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN COUNTY REPORTED AT LEAST ONE ACE AN WHAT IS EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT TO FOSTER A HEALTHY CHILD . . . MUST BE ABLE TO MEANINGFULLY ENGAGE IN GROWING AN UNDERSTAND OF ACES AND HOW TO HEAL THEM FOR OUR COLLECTIVE BENEFIT. AND WHAT IS THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE EMPHASIZES THE NEED FOR INCREASED EDUCATION ACCESS AN CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS TO BUILD POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL AN BUSINESS OUTCOMES THERE. ARE FOUR OTHERS, I DO PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MAY AS TRAUMA INFORMED CARE MONTH AND CITY OF FORE PIERCE AN ENCOURAGE OUR CITIZENS TO JOIN WITH THEIR COMMUNITY IN OBSERVER ADVANCE. >> I'M CRYSTAL MORRIS THE FOUNDER CEO OF ONE CARING ADULT. WE PARTNER WITH NONPROFITS FOR PROFITS FOR CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AS LISTED BY MRS. COX. I THINK FORT PIERCE ST. LUCIE COUNTY IF WE DON'T HAVE CHILDREN GREG INTO ADULTS WHO ARE RESILIENT THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO STAY IN JOBS. 97 PERCENT OF OUR YOUTH IN DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE HAS ACES SO THANK YOU FOR OBSERVING THIS. IT IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH. I'M SURE THAT FLORIDA RANKS 48 OUT OF 50 STATESMEN AT ALL HEALTH QUALITY MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS ESPECIALLY CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE SO THANK YOU FOR THIS. THANK YOU FOR OBSERVING THIS AND THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR YOUTH SO THEY GO INTO RESILIENT YOUTH THAT CAN THRIVE. >> THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. >> THANK YOU. [c. Proclamation for Community Action Month] >> NEXT WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR COMMUNITY ACTION MONTH. WHEREAS COMMUNITY ACTION HAS MADE ESSENTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ACROSS THIS NATION BY CREATING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AN STRENGTHEN THENNING COMMUNITIES AN WHAT IS COMMUNITY ACTION IS A ROBUST STATE AND LOCAL FORCE CONNECTING PEOPLE TO LIFE CHANGING SERVICES AND CREATING PATH WAYS TO PROSPERITY IN 99 PERCENT OF ALL AMERICAN COUNTIES. AN WHEREAS COMMUNITY ACTION BUILDS AND PROMOTES ECONOMIC STABILITY AS AN ESSENTIAL ASPECT OF ENABLING ENHANCING STRONGER COMMUNITIES AND STABLE HOMES AND IS WHEREAS COMMUNITY ACTION PROMOTES COMMUNITY WIDE SOLUTIONS THROUGHOUT OUR CITIES SUBURBS AND RURAL AREAS AND WHEREAS . . . AND WHEREAS COMMUNITY ACTION INSISTS ON COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION INVOLVEMENT INSURING THAT ALL SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY HAVE A VOICE AN WILL BE HEARD AN WHEREAS COMMUNITY ACTION IS CELEBRATING 55 YEARS OF INNOVATIVE IMPACT AND PROVIDING PROVEN RESULTS FOR AMERICANS NOW, THEREFORE I DO PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MAY AS COMMUNITY ACTION MONTH AND RECOGNITION OF THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF THE FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY. >> CONGRATULATIONS. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? [00:15:03] >> SURE. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING COMMUNITY ACTION MONTH. COMMUNITY ACTION, CHANGES PEOPLES LIVES AND BODIES THE SPIRIT OF HOPE IMPROVES COMMUNITIES AND MAKES AMERICANS A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE. WE CARE ABOUT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND WE ARE DEDICATED TO HELPING PEOPLE HELP THEMSELVES AND EACH OTHER. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING COMMUNITY ACTION MONTH. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] [d. Emancipation Day Proclamation] >> NEXT WE HAVE THE EMANCIPATION DAY PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS ON JANUARY 1ST 1963 PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN ISSUED THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION DECLARING THAT ALL PERSONS HELD AS SLAVES WITHIN IN STATE OR DECEMBER NAITD PART OF A STATE THE PEOPLE WHERE OF SHALL BE IN REALE BELL YUN AGAINST THE UNITED STATES SHALL BE FOREVER AND MAY 101865 UNION BRIGADIER GENERAL ED M. MCCOOK ARRIVED IN TALLAHASSEE TO SEIZE THE CITY FROM CONFEDERATE POWERS AND MAY 20, 1965 GENERAL MCCOOK FORMALLY ANNOUNCED THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION FREEING ENSLAVED AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND WHAT IS EMANCIPATION DAY IS TRADITIONALLY CELEBRATED ON MAY 20 IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA . . . TO COMMEMORATE THE KMOOECHLTS TRANS AM HAVE MADE AND WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE IN FORT PIERCE THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND UNITED STATES. I THEREFORE PROCLAIM MAY 20TH AS EMANCIPATION DAY IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND ENCOURAGE OUR CITIZENS TO CELEBRATE THE END OF THE CIVIL WAR AND EMANCIPATION OF BLACK AMERICANS. >> YES SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> ON BEHALF OF NASH PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL NAACP WE WOULD LIKE TO HUMBLELY THANK YOU AN ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION. IF YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED THAT THE NAACP IS BEING REVITALIZED AND WEIRD REBRANDING OUR LOCAL CHAPTER AND GOAL IS TO BUMPED BRIDGES NOT WATTS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU IN HELPING OUR COMMUNITIES IN THE FUTURE. MR. CORONA SAID IT WELL, I CAME HERE TEN YEARS GODADDY AND I NEVER LEFT SO I PLAN ON BEING HERE A LONG TIME REPRESENTING THE CITY AND HINTED ME I WOULD LIKE TO THANK TWO OF THE LOVELIEST LADIES THAT HELPED ME STAY STRAIGHT. >> I HAD THINK THEY HELP US ALL STAY STRAIGHT SO IT'S A BIG JOB. WOULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME MORE THE RECORD. >> WAYNE ALEXANDER HENRY, SR. >> WE ARE SO HAPPY TO HAVE YOU AND GIVE YOU THIS PROCLAMATION. LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SIR. [APPLAUSE] [7. LETTERS TO COMMISSION] >> OKAY, THE FOLLOWING LETTER WILL BE KEPT ON FILE IN THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE AN EMAIL FROM DOLORES TYNDALL KMIM RATING THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC WORKS FOR EXCELLENT JOB CLEANING UP A TREE BRANCH THAT BROKE OFF HER VERY OLD OAK TREE AND COMPLETELY COVERED SOUTH 23RD STREET. STREETS AN DRAINAGE DIVISION JEFF PÉREZ JEFF PETERSON JEROME [READING]. [8. ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO AGENDA AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA] SEE WE MOVE ONTO A DIGS TO DLEEGSZ TO THE AGENDA AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AND MADEIRA, I HAVE A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE SALUTIES CULTURE ALLIANCE FOR THEIR FUNDING REQUEST WHICH I WOULD SUGGEST BE ADDED AS ITEM 11-D. >> ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANY OTHER CHANGES IN I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH THE ADDITION. >> 11-D? >> WHAT ABOUT 13? >> 13. >> 13-D. >> NOT 11-D. >> 13-D. UNDER CITY COMMISSION. BECAUSE IT'S A WALK ON ITEM WE PUT IT UNDERSI COMMISSION. >> MAKE USE OF 11. THEY WERE HELPING US. IT TAKES THIS WHOLE GROUP TO KEEP IT STRAIGHT. >> I MOVE WE SET THE AGENDA WITH THE ADDED ITEM, 13-D. >> SECOND. >> THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND, CALL THE ROLL. [a. Retirement Board Presentation - Keith Stephens, Chairman] [00:20:01] SPEAK SO WE WILL MOVE ON TO MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS AND THE FIRST REPORT WE HAVE IS A RETIREMENT BOARD PRESENTATION WITH MR. KEITH STEPHENS, THE CHAIRMAN OF THAT RETIREMENT BOARD. >> DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY. >> MADAM MAYOR CITY COMMISSION WE HAVE MR. STEPHENS A LONG TIME MEMBER OF THE [INDISTINCT] HE DID A TREMENDOUS JOB PRESENTING TO THE FP WAY BOARD AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE ADEQUATE FOR HIM TO PRESENT TO THIS COMMISSION. >> SMR STEPHENS IS REPRESENTING THE RETIREMENT BOARD AND YOU'RE OF THE. >> THAT IS CORRECT. I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO LOG INTO THIS COMPUTER. THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE SPECIAL EXPERTISE. >> LOWER CASE MANY ALL LOWER CASE. >> THERE WE GO. NOW EVERYBODY KNOWS. >> THANK YOU MS. COX. MR. MA'AMS. MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY THAT MR. MIMS TO DO THE ANNUAL PRESENTATION FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE RETIREMENT AND BENEFIT SYSTEM. SOME OF YOU HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE SO SOME OF IT WILL BE REDUNDANT AND OTHERS YOUR FIRST TIME MAYBE SEEING THIS. RETIREMENT BOARD CONSISTS OF 7 MEMBERS, TWO CITY COMMISSIONERS, A CITY DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND FP WAY APPOINTEE AND THREE MEMBERS ELECTED BY THE MEMBERS IN EACH DIVISION FUA CITY AND POLICE MANY WE HAVE FOUR PENSION TRUSTEES AND THREE IN THE PROCESS. WE HAVE AN ATTORNEY AN INVESTMENT CONSULTANT AND NINE MONEY MANAGERS. IT WAS ESTABLISHED AND OPERATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAP FUR 13 CITY CHARTER. THE PENSION BENEFITS ARE CALCULATED BASED OFF MEMBERS FINAL AVERAGE SALARY AND AS YOU SEE, THE POLICE APU TILL USE THE HIGHEST FIVE YEARS OUT OF THE LAST TEN AND THE GENERAL MEMBERS MAINLY THE CITY MEMBERS USE THE HIGHEST FIVE CONSECUTIVE YEARS OUT OF THE LAST 10. DON'T ASK ME WHY. IT'S JUST IN THE CHARTER. AND THEN WE DO A MULTIPLIER BY THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE TIMES 3 PERCENT. THAT IS IF SOMEBODY DOES 25 YEARS IN OUR RETIREMENT SYSTEM THEY'LL GET 75 PERCENT OF THEIR FINAL AVERAGE SALARY WHICH AS YOU KNOW THAT IS FANTASTIC AS A PENSION WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO TOUT IS WE ARE A DEFINED BENEFIT PLAN, NOT A DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN SUCH AS A 401 (K), 403, 457 AND OTHERS AND THAT MEANS WHEN YOU GO TO RETIRE YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THAT PIECE OF PIE AND DECIDE HOW MUCH OF THAT PIE AM I GOING TO EAT THIS YEAR. HOW MUCH OF MY MONEY AM I GOING TO SPEND SO I STILL HAVE MY PRINCIPAL THAT KEEPS MAKING ME MONEY BEFORE I RUN OUT AND YOU KNOW AS A PENSION PLAN YOU'LL BE GETTING THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY MINUS ANY COST OF LIVING WHICH WE WILL TALK ABOUT IN A LITTLE BIT RAISES FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE DEPENDING ON YOUR CHOICES SO THAT'S A BIG BENEFIT AND A BIG SELLING POINT FOR RETIREMENT PLAN. ELIGIBILITY AND CHANGES THE GENERAL AN UTILITY AUTHORITY MEMBERS MAY RETIRE AFTER 25 YEARS OR AT AGE 60 AS LONG AS THEY'RE VESTED WITH FIVE YEARS MANY POLICE MEMBERS AFTER 25 YEARS BUT THEY CAN RETIRE AT 55 OR FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE WHICH IS THE VESTING. ONE OF THE CHANGES THAT WE MADE NOT TOO MANY YEARS AGO AND WE WILL GET INTO HAD A LITTLE BIT OF THAT IN TWELVE THERE WERE A LOT OF CHANGES MADE BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED IN 2008, 2010, YOU REMEMBER THE BIG DOWN TURN WE HAD IN THE ECONOMY SO TALLAHASSEE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BEST TO COME DOWN WITH A LOT OF RULES PLUS WE TRIED TO DO THINGS BECAUSE WE WERE ALL HURTING DURING THAT TIME AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE DID WAS CHANGE THE VESTING FROM 5 TO 10 YEARS BUT AFTER WE HAD DONE IT FOR SEVERAL YEARS WE REALIZED YES IT DOES SAVE A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY BUT IT HURTS US MORE WITH OUR RECRUITING AND WITH THE MANY PEOPLE THAT HAD COME TO ME AND I EVEN THOUGHT IT AND FINALLY YOU'RE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT CAME TO NEED AND SAID HEY, YOU KNOW THIS WOULD HELP WITH RECRUITING IF WE COULD GO BACK TO FIVE YEARS BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO HIRE PEOPLE AND WHAT IT REALLY DID THAT THEY LIKED IT HOSPITALIZED UP SOMEBODY OLD WEATHER MORE EXPERIENCE THAT MAYBE HAD ALREADY DONE A CAREER, [00:25:03] WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO CHOOSE FROM A WIDE VARIETY OF PEOPLE NOT JUST SOMEBODY 18-25 YEARS OLD READY TO START WORK. WE USE SOME OF THE EXPERIENCE BECAUSE HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE 60 YEARS OLD AND SAY YEAH BUT YOU CAN'T GET VESTED UNTIL 10 YEARS? SO BY CHANGING BACK TO FIVE YEARS WHICH THE CITY COMMISSION APPROVED IT'S REALLY HELPED OUT IN RECRUITING AND BRINGING MORE PEOPLE IN EVEN THOUGH RIGHT NOW IS STILL HAVING PROBLEM HIRING PEOPLE SO THAT WAS A GOOD DECISION THAT THE CITY COMMISSION AGREED TO. AND THAT'S BEEN PROBABLY 2-3 YEARS AGO I BELIEVE. ALSO, THIS YEAR ONE OF THE CHANGES WE HAD ON SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2021 WE HAD A CHANGE FOR THE MAXIMUM HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR FOR PEOPLE THAT WERE HIRED BEFORE 2012 AND ALL WE DID WAS SAY IF YOU WERE HIRED BEFORE THEN, YOU'RE NOT LIMITED TO THE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE IMPACT WAS ON A CRUDE LIABILITY WAS 2.4 MILLION AND CREASED THE ESTIMATED EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS BY $221,000 THAT YEAR. AT THE TIME IT WAS A GOOD CHANGE AND THIS THIS IS THE COMMISSION APPROVED THAT 21-067. SOME OF THE OTHER CHANGES THEY DID WERE THE FINAL AVERAGE SALARY IS HIM TO IT 300 OVERTIME HOURS PER YEAR. AS YOU KNOW, THERE WERE SOME PLACES THAT WERE LETTING PEOPLE NOT NECESSARILY IN OUR PLAN BUT OTHER PLANS WHERE THEY WERE LETTING THEM IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WORK A LOT OF OVERTIME AND THAT WAS PADDING THEIR RETIREMENT BUT IT WAS ALSO PUTTING A BIG BURDEN ON THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM TO STAY FULLY FUNDED SO ONE OF THE CHANGES THE BOARD OF LEGISLATURE DID WAS LIMIT IT TO 300 OVERTIME HOURS PER YEAR. WE HAVE A SELL BACK OF SICK AND VACATION AND WHAT THE UTILITY DID WHATEVER YOUR BALANCE WAS AS OF NO MATTER IN YOU WERE HERE AS OF 6/30/2011 THAT'S THE ONLY YOU CAN SELL BACKS TOWARD RETIREMENT. YOU CAN STILL BACK WHATEVER THE MAX AMOUNT IN THE RULES OF THE INDIVIDUAL DIVISIONS AND NOW BECAUSE OF THE 2012 ANYBODY HIRED AFTER OCTOBER 1ST OF 2012 HAS A MAXIMUM ANNUAL BENEFIT MUCH A HUNDRED THOUSAND ANNUALLY AND 75 PERCENT OF FINAL AVERAGE SALARY. THE PLANNED CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE UTILITIES AUTHORITY. SO, UP UNTIL THE SEPTEMBER 30TH FOR 2021 THE EMPLOYEES CONTRIBUTED $964,000 AND THE EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTED ALMOST 2.6 MILLION. FOR NEXT YEAR, THE EMPLOYEES DIVISIONS FPUA WILL BE 6.16 AND THE EMPLOYER WILL BE AT 17.96. WE DON'T KNOW THAT VALUE AMOUNT OF MONEY BUT THAT'S THE PERCENTAGE. THIS IS THE POLICE, SAME SITUATION. HOW MUCH LAST YEAR THE CONTRIBUTIONS WERE THE EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEES AND YOU SEE THE EMPLOYEES FIXED AT 5.16 AND EMPLOYER AT 14.62. GENERAL MEMBERS CITY EMPLOYEES, EMPLOYEES EMPLOYER 1.7 AND THE FIXED AT 5.16 AND THE EMPLOYER AT 17.13. SO AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH BECAUSE THAT'S THE REPORT I'M DOING FOR THE SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2021 ENDING WE WERE AT 90 PERCENT FUNDED EVALUATION ASSETS. TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE, I ACTUALLY DID A LITTLE RESEARCH SINCE DID I THE FPUA THE ACTUAL FLORIDA FUND IS FUNDED AT 82 PERCENT AND SOME OF THE OTHER PRIVATELY FUNDED LIKE WE ARE WITH THE UTILITY SEPARATE OF THE FRS SYSTEM THEY ARE IN THE 60S SO WE ARE WELL FUNDED AT 90 PERCENT MANY I BELIEVE MY PERSONAL OPINION WE HAD SHOULD BE MUCH HIGHER BUT EVERY TIME A RULE CHANGES MORTALITY CHANGES ANYTHING THAT CHANGES WITH THE STATE IT AFFECTS HOW MUCH WE ARE FUNDED SO THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE THAT. AND AS YOU SEE RECOGNIZEED INVESTMENT RETURN IT WAS 10.15 PERCENT WHICH WAS GREATER THAN OUR 7.5 ASSUMED RETURN. THAT'S WHAT WE BASE STUFF ON. THIS YEAR, WE ACTUALLY LOWERED IT AGAIN TO 7.25 IS WHAT IS GOING TO BE OUR ASSUMED RETURN AND THAT'S AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF OUR ACTUARY AND EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE WORLD BECAUSE THEY JUST DON'T BELIEVE BECAUSE OF LIABILITY THEY DON'T BELIEVE [00:30:02] THAT WE ARE GOING TO KEEP MAKING THE AMOUNT OF OUR RETURNS THAT WE HAVE. I CAN TELL YOU HISTORICALLY WE HAVE ALWAYS MADE OVER 8 PERCENT SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE RETIREMENT BOARD NOW BUT YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY, YOU CAN'T JUDGE NOW BASED OFF HISTORICAL RETURNS, SO THE FUTURE RETURNS BASED OFF HISTORY CAL RETURNS SO WE'RE LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE THAT DO IT EVERY DAY AND THE EXPERTS. RETIREES AS YOU SEE THERE, THAT'S HOW MANY RETIREES ARE ACTUALLY IN THE SYSTEM AND THEIR AVERAGE BENEFITED PER YEAR SO POLICE AT 98, THAT'S THEIR AVERAGE BENEFIT PER AREA AND WE HAVE 554 RETIREES UP 20 FROM LAST YEAR, UP UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30TH. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE BIG ON IN THE RETIREMENT BOARD IS DIVERSITY. WE DIVERSIFY OUR ALLOCATION WHERE WE HAD PUT OUR MONEY AND BY DOING THAT WHAT THAT DOES FOR US, IT LETS US TAKE A HIT HERE GAIN HERE GAIN HERE HIT HERE GAIN HERE BUT ISLAND TELL YOU BECAUSE THE WAY WE DIVERSIFY AND WE FOLLOW THE PLAN, THE PEOPLE BEFORE I EVER GOT ON THE BOARD OR BEFORE COMMISSIONER PERONA GOT ON THE BOARD I CAN ASSURE YOU THEY MADE GOOD DECISIONS BEFORE US AN BECAUSE OF THAT IS WHY WE DO SO WELL. COST OF LIVING. AT THIS POINT, THERE WOULD BE NO COST OF LIVING CAN BE PROVIDED UNTIL WE CALL IT OUR UNFENDED LIABILITY. THAT HAD A LOT TO DO WITH WHAT HAPPENED IN 2008 AND WHEN THEM CHANGED THE RULE THEY KEEP CHANGING RULES LIKE THE MORTAL TIP TABLES OR THEY ADDED THINGS. THE UNFUNDED LIABILITY ONLY WAY IT CAN BE PAID DOWN IF WE HAD A BETTER INFLUNKS OF MONEY. THE BOTTOM LINE TAKES A HIT THERE INSTEAD OF THE BIGGER GAINS WE COULD HAVE GAINED TWO MORE OR THREE MILLION. WE KEEP THE SYSTEM SOUND AND THAT'S A GOOD THING. ONE. THINGS THE BOARD DID LAST MEETING I'LL LET YOU KNOW THERE WAS A DISCUSSION WE HAD SOME RETIREES COME UP AND SAY LISTEN TIMES ARE HARD AND WE KNOW THEY ARE WITH THE INFLATION THE WAY THINGS ARE AND SAID WE HAVEN'T HAD A COST OF LIVING IN A LONG TIME. WE ARE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT, WE ASK THE AGO WAR TOY LOOK AT POSSIBLY HOW WE COULD HELP THEM HAND ONE OF THE WAYS THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT THINGS YOU CAN DO AND WE DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN DO IT AND MAINTAIN THE SOUNDNESS OF IT WAS TO GIVE MAYBE WE ARE LOOKING AT RETIREES THAT EVERYBODY RETIRED OVER 20 YEARS MAYBE A 13TH CHECK. WE HAVE 22 RETIREES OVER 90 YEARS OLD. SO HOW LONG HAVE THEY BEEN RETIRED? I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU THE 70 -- EXCUSE ME SIR. SO YOU IMAGINE WHEN THEY RETIRED WHAT WAS THE COST OF LIVING? SO, I BELIEVE WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE THROUGH THE YEARS BUT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE CHARTER IS WRITTEN WHICH IS A GOOD REASON BECAUSE IF YOU STARTED JUST HANDING OUT MONEY THEN YOU HAVE A FUND THAT DOESN'T HAVE THAT MUCH. I DON'T KNOW IF I MENTIONED ON THE ONE SCREEN I THINK AS OF SEPTEMBER 30 WE WERE $246 MILLION PLAN AND I BELIEVE BY THE ENOF THE YEAR, I THINK WE WERE UP TO 260 MILLION, 263 MILLION BUT WE PAY BILLS OUT OF THAT SO THAT NUMBER FLUCTUATES FROM MONTH TO MONTH AND WHEN I SAY PAYING RETIREES THEY PULL THAT SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE THERE. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FROM COMMISSIONERS. ANY QUESTIONS? ANY STATEMENTS? COMMISSIONER. >> YEAH, DID YOU A GREAT JOB. SO, WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT COLAS THAT SEEMS TO BE THE BIGGEST QUESTION EVERYBODY HAS ABOUT COLAS BUT WE ARE SITTING THERE PROUD OF THE FACT THE FORT PIERCE RETIREMENT SYSTEM IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE HEALTHIEST MUNICIPAL SYSTEMS IN THE UNITED STATES AND WE GET TOLD THAT ALL THE TIME. IT'S BECAUSE WE HOLD THE LINE. WE STAY ON COURSE. WE DON'T ADD A LOT OF FRILLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT BECAUSE WE DIFFICULT FACT THAT WE HAVE MORE THAN THE 550 COMMITMENTS TO THOSE RETIREES EVERY PERSON THAT WILL RETIRE IS A COMMITMENT AND IF WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF THAT MAKE SURE THAT THAT THOSE PEOPLE [00:35:04] ARE COVERED, IN THIS COMMISSION IS GOING TO HAVE TO FIND MONEY TO BE ABLE TO FILL IN THOSE GAPS. BUT FOR THOSE FOLKS THAT RETIRED 30 YEARS AGO, IF THEY RETIRED WITH $15,000 WHICH BACK THEN PROBABLY WAS A LOT OF MONEY, WHAT'S THAT $15,000 IN 2022? NOT WORST A WHOLE LOT. REALLY THAT'S WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT. IT'S PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE RETIREMENT BOARD TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT YOU KNOW, IF THIS ISN'T WORKING AND YEAH WE ARE STICKING TO THE THREE ELEMENTS, THE RETURN, THE LIABILITY, TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT HAS TO FALL INTO LINE BEFORE WE CAN OFFER A COLA. WE ARE LOOKING AT IT FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. THAT IS BENEFIT FOR THE EMPLOYEES. AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T COST THE TAXPAYERS ADDITIONAL MONEY OR A LOT OF ADDITIONAL MONEY WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT SO KEITH HIT IT ON THE HEAD THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE DOING. WE ARE STEPPING OVER THE LINE A LITTLE BIT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT BUT THIS COMMISSION HERE WOULD BE THE ONE TO MAKE THAT FINAL DECISION. >> COMMISSIONER. >> SO IT'S THAT STEPPING OVER THE LINE THAT ALWAYS BEGS THE QUESTION AND I UNDERSTAND THE LOOK AT COLAS, I'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATION WITH RETIREES ABOUT COLAS. SO WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? ZBRUN TO PUT TOGETHER WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE? YOU MENTIONED 13TH CHECK. >> WE TALKED ABOUT IT THE LAST MEETING COMMISSIONER JOHNSON AND YOU KNOW, OUR ACTUARY BASICALLY I BELIEVE AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, I ASKED HIM POINTED BLANK WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO GET THE UNFUNDED LIABILITY DOWN BECAUSE THAT'S THE KEY. >> RIGHT. >> BECAUSE THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN THAT 90 PERCENT NEEDS TO BE A HUNDRED BUT THEY WROTE THAT IN THE CHART FORD A REASON. INFLUX OF MONEY THAT WAS A QUICK ONE AND THERE ARE SOME IDEAS OUT THERE, BUT AT THIS POINT, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD JUST BE THROWING SOMETHING AGAINST THE WALL TO SEE WHAT WOULD STICK BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT IF AND WHEN WE DO COME UP WITH SOMETHING, IT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT AS STEWARDS OF THE PLAN THAT WE CAN LIVE WITH AND SOMETHING THAT THE COMMISSIONERS CAN BACK. THAT'S IN WE COME FORWARD TO YOU, SIR. >> OKAY. VERY WELL. THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES. >> YOU TOOK THE QUESTION I HAD AT THE MEETING SO I'M JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT MEET TO GO SEE WHAT STICKS TO THE WALL BECAUSE THAT DID COME UP IN OUR LAST MEETING AND I HEARD THE RETIREES AND I UNDERSTAND THAT 15,000, 20 YEARS AGO IS NOT 15,000 TODAY. BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND OUR DUTY AS A COMMISSION AN PLUS MY DUET OHIO THE BOARD TO MAINTAIN EVERYBODY'S FUTURE, SO I'M VERY INTERESTED TO SEED WHEN WE GET OUR NEXT MEETING TO SEE WHAT OUR NUMBERS MAN WILL COME BACK AND SAY AND SEED IF WE HAD CAN DO IT BECAUSE IT'S VERY INTERESTING AND PEOPLE SHOULD COME TO THE RETIREMENT BOARD. YOU SHOULD COME TO THE RETIREMENT BOARD. MY FIRST MEETING I SATURDAYS THERE AND THEY WERE LAUGHING AT ME BUT SECOND AND THIRD MEETING I STARTED TO GET IT AND EMPLOYEES OUT THERE, IF YOU CAN COME TO THE MEETINGS, YOU OUGHT TO COME AND SEE HOW HARD THIS BOARD WORKS TO PROTECTS YOUR MONEY AND MAINTAIN YOUR MONEY SO GOOD JOB. >> THANK YOU SIR AND WE ARE GOING TO GET COMMISSIONER GAINES HE'S BEEN ON FOUR MONTHS? >> FOUR MONTHS. >> WE ARE GOING TO GET HIM WILL BE A CERTAIN PUBLIC TRUPENSION TRUSTEE TOO. >> YES, SIR. >> MR. STEPHENS HIT IT ON THE HEAD TOO A LOT OF YOUR MIEPS MUNICIPALITIES RIGHT NOW ARE LOOKING AT THE DEFINED BENEFIT AS NOT BEING SOMETHING THAT REALLY IS YOU WANT -- IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE BECAUSE WE TAKE ALL THE RISK. THE EMPLOYER TAKES ALL'S THE RISKS WHERE DEFINED CONTRIBUTION THE EMPLOYEE TAKES THE RISKS AN HAS MORE CONTROL OVER WHAT'S GOING ON. SO THIS REALLY IF WE WERE IN TROUBLE RIGHT NOW, IF WE WERE DOWN AROUND THE 50 OR 60 PERCENT FUNDED OUR CONVERSATION WOULD BE ABOUT WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THIS AND HOW DO WE SHIFT FROM A DEAD FIND BENEFIT TO DEAD FIND CONTRIBUTION. WE ARE NOT THERE AND IT IS LIKE ALMOST A PLEDGE OF EVERYBODY ON THAT BOARD IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MARCH IN LINED AND KEEP THIS THING MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE IT [00:40:05] IS A TOOL TO HIRE. IT IS A TOLD TO BE ABLE TO GO FORWARD AND NOT WORRY ABOUT A BIG PART OF OUR BUDGET HAS TO GO TO FILL IN THAT GAP IN OUR RETIREMENT SYSTEM. IT DOES NOT HAVE TO DO THAT. SO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THAT AND I WILL SAY THAT IT ISN'T ALL THE FOLKS THAT CAME BEFORE US. WE'VE MADE SOME PRETTY GOOD DECISIONS. WE'VE GOT INTO REAL STATE WE'VE FIRED SOME MANAGERS HOVER THE YEARS. SO, THIS GROUP HERE IS PRETTY DYNAMIC AND I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER HAVE AT ONE TIME WE HAD EVERYBODY CERTIFIED ON OUR BOARD BUT WE'VE LOST OTHERS AND THEY'RE COMING BACK ON BUT IT'S A DIFFERENT CALIBER OF BOARD NOW THAT YOU'VE GOT WHERE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THE MARKET AND HOW TO MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE THIS IS A BIG INTERESTING THING AND WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LONG-TERM MONEY AND THE EFFECTS YOU JUST HAVE TO FORCE YOURSELF TO STAY ONLINE WITH IT ALL. BUT IT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND TO OUR EMPLOYEES. SO WHILE YOUR MAIN DO IS TO HAVE A GOOD RETIREMENT PLAN FOR OUR EMPLOYEES TO RETAIN AN RECRUIT EMPLOYEES YOUR JOB IS ALSO TO PROTECT THE TAXPAYER AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. >> YES, MA'AM AND OUR NEXT MEETING IS THURSDAY AT 2:00. >> IN HERE. >> AND THEY'RE ALWAYS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [b. Parking Committee Recommendations.] >> THANK YOU SIR. >> NEXT ITEM IS MARKING COMMITTEE RECOMMONDATIONS. >> MR. MIMS. >> WE ARE GOING TO HAVE MR. BROAD RICK TO TALK WALK YOU THROUGH SOME IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY'VE HAD GENERATED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MEETINGS. >> WELCOME. WHO IS GOING TO GO FIRST? MR. BROAD RICK? >> YES, MA'AM. >> ALL RIGHT. >> I KNOW IT'S EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE TOPIC SO WE WILL JUST JUMP INTO THE EXCITING STUFF WITH PARKING. THE CITY COMMISSIONED ACTUALLY ASKED THE DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT THE SITUATION OF COMMISSIONER AND MAYOR PARKING IN THE GARAGE CURRENTLY, AND POTENTIALLY RELOCATING THOSE SPACES TO SOMEPLACE NECESSARY THE DRAWBRIDGE. THE COMMITTEE DISCUSSED IT AT LENGTH. THE COMMITTEE IS DETERMINED THAT WE WOULD PREFER TO SEE THE SPACE WHERE THEY ARE CURRENTLY. THE PRIMARY DRIVER BEHIND THAT RECOMMENDATION CITY COMMISSION IS SIMPLY SECURITY AND WE KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU COMMISSIONERS MAYOR ET CETERA ARE HERE WELL INTO THE EVENING AND WE JUST THOUGHT THAT THE LOCATION OF THE EXISTING PARKING WAS PROBABLY THE MOST SECURE AREA OF THE PUBLIC PARKING GARAGE FACILITY SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING THE SPACES STAY PUT WHERE THEY'RE AT. SO. WE DO HAVE SOME POSITIVE NEWS TO REPORT YOU HAD TO TODAY. UNLIKE MANY MEET WHGS I COME IN HERE AND YOU ALL MONEY AND GROAN WHEN YOU HAVE TO DEDUCT OFF PARKING CONTINUOUSLY. TODAY WE HAVE THE OPPOSITE OF THAT DO YOU WANT TO SCROLL THROUGH THAT PORTION FIRST OR JUST GO RIGHT OFF THIS? OH, I SEE. THE OTHER RECOMMENDATION. THE PARKING COMMITTEE ALSO DID LOOK AT THE 30 MINUTE PARKING SPACE TO INCLUDE HOURS OF OPERATION, WE RECOMMENDED THAT BE INSTALLED AND DESIGNATE TWO 30 MINUTE PARKING SPACES. IT'S INTERESTING. I'M IN THE GARAGE A FAIR AMOUNT AND THOSE 30 MINUTE PARKING SPACES ARE BEING UTILIZED SO WE HAVE ONE NOW AND WE WANT TO PUT ONE IN THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HALL AND I THINK THEY'RE IN A GOOD LOCATION THERE. WE TWO LIKE TO POST SIGNS AS FAR AS HOURS OF OPERATION, WE LOOKED AT THE VISITOR PARKING EMPLOYEE PARKING SCENARIO, AND THE PARKING COMMITTEE OPTED TO SAY WE ARE NOT GOING TO TOUCH THAT WE ARE JUST GOING TO KEEP IT PARKING IN COMMON WITH THE ONLY SPACES DESIGNATED FOR CITY COMMISSION HANDICAPPED AND THE 30 MINUTE PARKING SHORT TERM AND THE POLICE PARKING THAT WE HAD APPROVED PREVIOUSLY. SO WE DID NOT WANTING TO FURTHER THAN THAT. WE LOOKED AT THE DESIGNATED EMPLOYEE PARKING. WE OFFERED TO NOT ENGAGE WITH THAT EITHER ONCE AGAIN, KEEPING PARKING IN COMMON AND ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THIS IS SIMPLY PUT WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE VERY PROBLEMATIC TO TRY TO ENFORCE THIS AND SO WE ARE CREATING A PROBLEM THAT WOULD BE THEN SAYING LOOK, WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THIS IN SOME CAPACITY SO WE HAD WE SHED NO, WE ARE GOING TO LEAVE AT THIS TIME WAY IT IS. WE DON'T PERCEIVE IT AS A PROBLEM CURRENTLY SO HAD WE REVISITED WE COULD COME BACK AND [00:45:04] LOOK AT THAT IN THE FUTURE. >> COULD YOU GO BACK TO THAT GENE? DID YOU DISCUSS ON THE COMMISSION PARKING PUTTING HOURS? >> WE DID DISCUSS THAT, AND I THINK AT THE COMMITTEE OPTED NOT TO DO THAT. >> OKAY. >> ONCE AGAIN, I KNOW YOU FOLKS ARE HERE A LOT AND WE THOUGHT ABOUT HOURS AN DAYS OF OPERATION BUT THOSE SPECIFIC SPACES SIMPLY WEREN'T GOING TO BE A BIG ADVANTAGE. WE ARE TALKING 4-5 SPACES UNTIL YOU HAVE DONATED YOUR SPACE TO RECIPIENTS? >> I DONATED IT TO THE 30 MINUTE PARKING AND NOW YOU'RE ADDING ANOTHER ONE WHICH IS GOOD. IT'S A REAL CONVENIENCE FOR WHO JUST WANTS TO RUN IN AND DO SOMETHING QUICKLY IN CITY HOW. >> THAT'S HOW WE SEE IT BEING UTILIZED SO THAT HAS WORKED OUT QUITE WELL BUT AS FAR AS EMPLOYEE PARKING WE SIMPLY SAID THIS IS NOT ENFORCEABLE. FEAR NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE THIS N. ESSENCE WE ARE CREATING A PROBLEM SO WE SAY WE DID NOT WANT TO GO FORWARD WITH THAT. >> OKAY. >> NOW WE DO HAVE SOME REASONABLY GOOD NEWS ON THE PARKING FRONT. THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY IS LOCATED JUST SOUTH OF THE RENAISSANCE BUILDING ON MELODY LANE, AND THE CITY CITY IS IN POSITION TO ENTER IN LEASE AGREEMENT TO LEASE THIS TRACK AND PUT IN SURFACE PARKING LOT LIKE DOWNTOWN. THE CITY PICKS UP 57 REGULAR SPACES FOUR HANDICAP ESTIMATED COST RENOVATION 9322.95 CREATING A SIMILAR LOT THAT WE HAVE IN OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY WITH SHORT TERM LEASE AGREEMENT WITH ONE YEAR LEASE 30 DAY NOTICE TO TERMINATE AND THEN WHAT THE PAYMENT MAMT $5420 SO WE THINK THIS IS A NO BRAINER WE PICKED UP 57 SPACES AND FOUR HANDICAP IN A PRIMARY OF DOWNTOWN. ST. ANDREWS LOT THE VERY MUCH FREQUENTED. FURTHER ON MILES PER HOUR AGENDA TODAY WE HAVE ISSUES THAT WE ARE GOING TO DISCUSS RELATING TO THE COUNTY. WE BELIEVE THIS LOT IS GOING TO GIVE RELIEF FOR THAT SCENARIO AS WELL SO WE STRONGLY URGE IT WAS A UNANIMOUS DECISION BY THE PARKING COMMISSION TO RECOMMEND THE CITY APPROVE THIS. >> NO TIME LIMIT ON THIS? >> AS FAR AS THE LEASE IS CONCERNED? >> AS FAR AS THE HOURS OF PARKING. >> YES. >> NO. THERE'S A SECOND LOCATION ON DEPOD DRIVE. THIS IS ACTUALLY CITY OWNED TRACK LAND. THE PARKING COMMITTEE IS RECOMMENDING THIS BE CONVERTED TO A PERMANENT PARKING LOT WITH CURBING LIGHTING ET CETERA TOTAL COST $245,000. YOU LOOK AT THE COST STRUCTURE HERE IT'S ABOUT $5,000 PER PARKING SPACE KEEPING IN MIND THAT FOR VERTICAL PARKING GARAGE IT'S $30,000. WE THOUGHT THIS IS WELL LOCATED AND GOING TO HELP IN THAT END OF THE CITY TO DEAL WITH THE COUNTY PARKING ISSUES THAT ARE CAPITALIZING THE ENTIRE SOUTHERN END OF THE CITY RIGHT NOW. THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE ABOUT THAT LATER BUT AS I SAID THIS IS ALREADY OWNED BY THE CITY SO WE ARE SUGGESTING IT BE MADE INTO A PERMANENT PARKING FACILITY. INDIAN RIVER DRIVE WE CURRENTLY LEASE THE SECTION SHADED IN BLUE EXISTING 99 SPACES MANY WE ARE LOOKING AT DOING TEMPORARY SHORT TERM LEASE FOR THE ADDITIONAL TRACK WHICH WILL GIVE US ANOTHER 126 REGULAR ZERO HANDICAP ESTIMATED COST OF RENOVATION 11473. ONCE AGAIN THIS LOT IS MAXIMIZED CONTINUOUSLY ESPECIALLY FRIDAY FEST AND SATURDAY EVENTS ET CETERA SO THIS LOT IS UTILIZED HEAVILY SO WE THINK EXPANSION OF THIS LOT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES. SOME OF THE OTHER ITEMS THE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN DEALING WITH AFTER DELIBERATION REGARDING PAID PARKING. WE THOUGHT THAT THE CITY COMMISSION MAY WANT TO COME BACK AN REVISIT THE ADOPTION OF THE BALANCE OF THE MODIFICATIONS TO THE PARK HAD ORDINANCE. NOW, KEEPING IN MIND THAT PARKING ORDINANCE PRESENTED PREVIOUSLY AND I BELIEVE WILL BE PRESENTED AGAIN HAS GONE THROUGH 6 OR 7 DIFFERENT MODIFICATION BY A TEAM OF FOLKS THERE'S A LOT OF HANDS INVOLVED IN THIS WITH THE PARKING COMMITTEE SO WILD WE [00:50:04] RECOGNIZE THE PAID PARKING PORTION OF THE ORDINANCE IS TABLED THE BALANCE OF THE ORDINANCE SHOULD BE ADOPTED AND RESOLVED AS A HOST OF PARKING ISSUES THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN THAT WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY RUNNING INTO SO CODE ENFORCEMENT IS MAKING THE RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE MINUS THE PAID PARKING PROCEEDED VISIONS OF IT WE PROPOSE TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE. >> I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE CITY MANAGER AFTER NEATING THE CONFERENCE GENTLEMAN A ABOUT THAT EXACT ISSUE THAT WE GOT CAUGHT UP INTO THE PAID PARKING ELEMENT OF THAT ORDINANCE. I THINK IT'S A GREAT DOCUMENT. YOU GUYS SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON I. STAFF SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON IT AND I'M IN AGREEMENT WE SHOULD COME BACK REVISIT IT AND TABLE THE PAID PARKING PORTION AN NOT LET THAT MUDDY THE WATER PER SE. >> WE THOUGHT IT WASN'T YOUR INTENTION TO TABLE THE ENTIRE ORDINANCE. >> NO, WE LOST TRACK OF IT I THINK. >> SO WE FIGURED WE WOULD JUST SUGGEST YOU REVISIT THIS AND THERE WASN'T A LOT OF TIME PUT INTO THAT DOCUMENT AND IT'S A PRETTY GOOD WORKING DOCUMENT TO RESOLVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WE ARE EXPERIENCING DOWNTOWN. ONE OF THE ITEMS THE PARKING COMMITTEE CAME UP WITH 18 MONTHS GO AND SUBSEQUENTLY REVISITED IS INSTALLATION OF ACCOUNTING CITY FOR THE CITY GARAGE. AT THE TIME THE CITY HAD THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GREAT THING FOR THE COUNTY TO DO AT THEIR LOCATION BUT THIS IS ONE OF THOSE BOARDS AT THE ENTRANCE WAYS THAT TELL YOU THERE'S A HUNDRED SPACES AVAILABLE IN THE GARAGE. WE THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE A VERY BENEFICIAL SCENARIO ESPECIALLY WITH THE BURDEN THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM CURRENTLY WITH PEOPLE JUST DOING LAPS LOOKING FOR PLACES TO PARK. YOU COME DOWNTOWN IDENTIFY A SPACE IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE IN THE GARAGE, THE COMMITTEE THOUGHT PROCESS IS WE ARE GOING TO PULL A LOT OF THOSE VEHICLES ON SURFACE LOTS FOR MOST OF THE DAY INTO THE GARAGE FACILITY SO WE JUST THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A NATURAL THING TO INCREASE THE USABILITY OF THE GARAGE SO WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN RFT TO SLIT IT QUOTES TO GET FLORIDA DONE. WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE USABILITY OF THE GARAGE AND CAPACITY IT'S RUNNING. WE DON'T KNOW. SO THIS SYSTEM WILL GIVE US THE ABILITY TO TRACK THE USE OF THE GARAGE THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES COMING AND GOING ON A DAILY BASIS, THE CAPACITY ISSUES OF THE GARAGE AS FAR AS 50-70 PERCENT BECAUSE WE ARE SOMETIME REPLY SPECULATING AND BY DEFAULT THE ANSWER TO THE PARKING PROBLEM GO TO THE GARAGE. AT SOME TIME THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ROOM IN THE GARAGE SO WE NEED TO START GENERATING INFORMATION TO DETERMINE WHAT ARE WE USING HOW MUCH ARE WE USING AND WHAT ARE PEAK TIMES FOR USE AND THIS WILL GIVE US ANALYTICAL DATA TO DO SO SO VISITING THIS ISSUES AGAIN I THINK COMMISSIONER JOHNSON SUGGESTED WHEN YOU DISCUSSED THE PAID PARKING SNAREDIO AND WE REVISITED THIS ISSUE AND SAID ABSOLUTELY WE THINK WOULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL AND IT'S GOING TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION HOW MUCH OF THE GARAGE ARE WE USING BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW. PART AND PARCEL OF THAT WE WANT TO TRY TO DISTRICT JURORS THAT ARE COMING INTO THE CITY TO PARK IN THE CITY PARKING GARAGE. WE WANT TO HAVE SIGNAGE INSTALLED INDICATING STRATEGIC LOCATIONS DIRECTING JURORS TO PARK IN THE FREE CITY PARKING GARAGE AN ONCE AGAIN WE ARE TRYING TO REMOVE CARS OFF THE SURFACE PARKING INTO THE GARAGE BECAUSE IN ALL LIKELIHOOD THEY'LL BE THERE THE MAJORITY OF THE DAY IF NOT LONGER SO WE THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL TO DRIVE THOSE VEHICLES TO THE GARAGE AND WE ALSO WANTS TO INSTALL SIGNS IN THE PARKING GARAGE THAT DIDN'T GET THEIR CAMERAS THROUGH THE GARAGE AN THIS IS MORE A SECURITY ISSUE LIKE HEY YOU'RE ON CAMERA SO KEEP THAT IN MIND IF YOU HAVE NEFARIOUS ACTS IN MIND AND IT'S PUBLIC CONSUMPTION BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS PARKING OFFICIALS PEOPLE RESISTING USE OF THE GARAGE BECAUSE IT'S A SECURITY ISSUE SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS SECURITY IN THERE WITH CAMERAS IN PLACE. I BELIEVE THERE ARE SOME IN THERE NOW. ANYWAY WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE SIGNS INSTALLED INTO THE GARAGE QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. NOW THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE LAST MEETING OF THE PARK E-COMMITTEE LAST WEEK WAS MICHELLE MILLER FROM THE CLERK'S OFFICE WAS ON HAND TO DISCUSS THE CURRENT NEEDS OF HER FACILITY, AND INTERESTING COMMENT WAS THAT SHE'S MOVING AN ADDITIONAL 32 EMPLOYEES DOWNTOWN. AND OF COURSE, PRIOR TO COVID, THE JURY POOLS WERE RUNNING MONDAY AND TUESDAY WERE RUNNING [00:55:04] ABOUT 250 PEOPLE ON MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS. NOW THAT'S MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY. SO, ONCE AGAIN OUR PARKING INVENTORY IS BEING PRESSURED WITH ADDITIONAL BODIES BEING BROUGHT DOWNTOWN FOR A JURY POOLS AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO HAVE MORE EMPLOYEES AT THE FACILITY. THE SPECULATION IS THAT GROWTH IN USE OF THE FACILITY IS NOT GOING TO SLOW AND THIS IS GOING TO CONTINUE ON AN UPHILL SLANT ONCE AGAIN PUTTING MORE PRESSURE ON PARKING RESOURCES. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME UP IN THE PARKING COMMITTEE MEETING WAS THE QUESTION HOW MUCH PARKING DOES THE COUNTY NEED. WE DON'T KNOW. SO WE ARE HOPEFUL THERE'S SOME PLACES A STUDS I THAT'S BEEN PUT TOGETHER. KEEP ONE THING IN MIND HERE, PARKING COMMITTEE HAS HAD MEETINGS WITH COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES FOUR TIMES. THREE OF THOSE TIMES WERE ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO MOST RECENTLY MISS MILLER COMING TO THE COMMITTEE MEETING BUT WE FEEL THERE NEEDS TO BE A HIGHER LEVEL DISCUSSION. THE PARKING COMMITTEE IS NOT THE PLACE TO RESOLVE ISSUES RELATING TO COUNTY USE OF DOWN UP TO FACILITY SO WE THINK NEEDS TO BE KICKED UP A NOTCH TO CITY MANAGERS OFFICE POTENTIALLY BUT WHATEVER DIRECTION YOU FOLKS THINK IS GOING TO BE THE BEST WAY TO GET A DIALOGUE GOING WITH THE COUNTY TO SUGGEST THAT PARKING RIRTS OF THE COUNTY ISN'T SOLELY THE BURDEN OF THE CITY TO ADDRESS. WE ARE LOOKING FOR COOPERATIVE SOLU SOLUTIONS, PARKING IS EXPENSIVE SO WE THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE ALLOCATED OF NOT JUST A VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE. WE NEED SOME REAL MUSCLE AT THE TABLE TO DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES SO THAT'S WHAT WE ARE SUGGESTING AND WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS SOME TYPE OF PROJECTED PLAN BE PROVIDED TO THE PARKING COMMITTEE AND THE CITY COMMISSION TO DETERMINE THEIR PARKING NEEDS CURRENTLY, WE HAVE NO CLUE. WHERE ARE THEY LOOKING TO GO TO INCREASE THEIR ON PARKING QUANTITY IN DOWNTOWN. THEY HAVE A ONE GARAGE WITH APPROXIMATELY 180 SPACES IN IT WE ARE GOING TO RECOMMEND TO THEM THEY PUT IN A PARKING COUNTING SYSTEM SO THAT WITH JURORS ONCE AGAIN COMING INTO TOWN WILL SEE THERE'S AN AVAILABILITY OF 50 SPACES THAT THAT GARAGE POTENTIALLY AND THREE BE ROUTED INTO THOSE FACILITIES ALONG WITH THE CITY'S PARKING GARAGE SO JUST LOOKING TO GET MORE USE BUILT OUT OF THE TWO PARKING STRUCTURES AN ONCE GOLDEN TO ENGAGE IN DIALOGUE WITH THEM TO DETERMINE DO YOU HAVE A 5 YEAR PROJECTION, 10 YEAR PROJECTION, 20 YEARS PROJECTION, WHAT THE ARE YOUR INTENTIONS. WE ARE ALL HERE SPECULATION WE ARE GOING TO RELOCATED THE ENTIRE FACILITY TO VIRGINIA AVENUE. I THINK REALITIES NEED TO BE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE IS THAT REALLY A VIABLE SOLUTION OR ARE YOU WORKING TO WORK HAND IN MANNED WITH THE CITY TO CREATE PARKING SOLUTIONS TO YOUR NEEDS SO THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CITY GIVE SOMEBODY DIRECTION TO DOCHLTD I'M NOT CERTAIN WHO THAT WOULD BE. THAT'S JIEND OF THE GIST OF IT. WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE ONCE AGAIN IS THERE AN INVENTORY STORY COMPLETED THAT HAS BENCHMARKS TO DETERMINE WHAT THEY'RE NEEDS ARE GOING TO BE IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE THEY CAN COME BACK AND SAY WE HAVE A 500 CAR PARKING LOT BUT WE KNOW THEY HAVE 250 JURORS ALL THE SHERIFFS ALL THE EMPLOYEES IN THE FACILITY AND WE HAVE NO CLUE AND THAT MISSING PIECE OF INFORMATION HAS BECOME A STRATEGIC HOLE IN OUR OVERALL PLAN AND KEEPING IN MIND WE HAVE THE PARKING STUD TOY INDICATE OUR CURRENT SHORTFALL OF PARKING AND WHAT THEY'RE SUGGESTING AS FAR AS LOCATIONS TO GO VERTICAL AGAIN. LARGEST USER OF PARKING DOWNTOWN WE DON'T HAVE A QUANTITY WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE. MADAM MAYOR. >> YES, SIR. >> AS A PERSON HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH THE COUNTY AND THE OPERATIONS OF THE COURTHOUSE YEARS AGO THIS DEFINITELY NEEDS TO HAPPEN. IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AND THIS IS NO SLIGHT TO THE PARKING COMMITTEE. THEY'VE HEARD PRESENTATIONS. THEY HAVE A LOT OF GOOD DATA. IT'S NOW AT THE POINT OF ADMINISTRATIVE POLITICAL LEVEL TO WHERE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ENGAGED WITH THE COUNTY SPECIFICALLY. THE COUNTY OWNS THAT FACILITY. THE COUNTY IS IN CHARGE OF THAT FACILITY. THE COUNTY HAS TO MAINTAIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE AVAILABLE WITHIN THEIR OWN PARCELS AND CONTROL. THEY WORK OF COURSE WITH THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES TO SUPPLY PARKING OR FOR US TO SUPPLY PARKING OR TO SUPPLY OFFICE SPACE. SO I WAS MR. BROAD RICK ABOUT THAT ONE ON ONE NOT LONG AGO AND I'M GOING TO VOLUNTEER MYSELF TO START THAT PROCESS BUT I THINK AS A FRONTS FIVE WE HAD NEED TO START THAT PROCESS WITH MR. MIMS. MR. MIMS CAN KICK IT OFF WITH [01:00:03] THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR OR THAT TEAM THERE BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE THE DIRECTION. THIS IS A STRATEGIC PLANNING MATTER LONG-TERM FOR DOWNTOWN. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT COMPLEX? I CAN TELL YOU THAT I KNOW THERE'S A REPORT OUT THERE THAT TALKED ABOUT THE EXPANSION AND OR JUST BRINGING THAT COMPLEX INTO 2020 STANDARDS. WHAT IS THE A 2018 REPORT PROBABLY AND THAT WAS AT THE TUNE OF OVER 130 OR 140 MILLION DOLLARS OVER A PHASED APPROACH PROJECT. WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT NEW CONSTRUCTION OR YOU KNOW MAKING AMENDS OR BUILDING NEW COMPLEXES IT'S GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER THAN THAT BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT VISION IS. I KNEW 5-6 YEARS AGO KIND OF WHAT THE IDEA WAS AND THE BACKBONE AND SUPPORT OF THAT OR NO SUPPORT OR WHAT BECAUSE IT'S FOR THE LONG-TERM BENEFIT OF THE DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR IN GENERAL. WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S TO HAPPEN THERE BECAUSE WHAT I GET AS FEEDBACK FROM FOLKS ALL THE TIME I GOT CALLED TO JURY DUTY AND I COULDN'T FIND A PARKING SPACE AND THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE GAVE ME A TICKET. SOME PEOPLE LOVE JURY DUTY AN THAT'S GREAT TOO BUT I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THAT TASTE IN THEIR MOUTH. NOT EVERYONE IS FAMILIAR WITH THE RULES AN REGULATIONS AND THEY THINK THEY'RE DOING THEIR CIVIC DUTY AND ARE HAPPY TO BE DOWNTOWN AND GET PUNISHED IN THEIR MIND. I REMEMBER SOME OF THE OLD NUMBERS. THOSE NUMBERS ARE NOT GOING TO BE IN LINE WITH WHAT YOU JUST REPORTED BECAUSE I HEARD A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE DOCKET AND THE PANDEMIC CHANGED THE COURT OPERATION. THERE'S A BACKLOG OF COURT CASES ALSO THERE'S A BACKLOG OF JURY SUMMONS BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T HOLDING COURT. NOW THEY'RE GOING FROM TWO DAY THREE-DAY A WEEK YOU SAID FOUR-DAY A WEEK I BELIEVE. THAT'S A VAST CHANGE AND THE JUDGES ARE IN CONTROL OF THAT IN ADDITION TO THE CLERK OF COURT SUPPORTING THAT EFFORT. SO, WE NEED TO KNOW THAT THE I'M GLAD TO START THAT PROCESS. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO START SEPARATE FROM ME BUT IT NEEDS TO START HAPPENING SOONER RATHER THAN LATER BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO GO HAND IN HAND WITH THAT PARKING STUDY. >> AND THAT'S WHAT WE CONSIDER TO BE THE PRECIPICE OF THE PROBLEM RIGHT NOW IS THE PARKING STUDY IS IMMINENT BUT THE PARKING STUDY IS MISSING A LARGE PIECE OF INFORMATION SO WE NEED THAT INFORMATION TO MOVE THAT ENTIRE AGENDA FORWARD SO WE WOULD HOPE THE COUNTY WOULD HAVE SOME KIND OF INFORMATION RELATED TO PARKING NEEDS CURRENTLY AND IN THE FUTURE. EVERY TIME WE HAVE ASKED THAT QUESTION TO DEPARTMENT HEADS WE ARE NOT GETTING TO THE RIGHT PERSON. ULTIMATELY WE NEEDS ASSISTANCE TO SEE IF THAT REPORT EXISTS SO WE CAN PLUG THAT INFORMATION INTO THE MATE PREDICTION OF EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE PARK THE PARKING STUDY WILL BE HERE SON. >> COMMISSIONER PERONA. >> WE TALK ABOUT THE COUNTY PARKING GARAGE HAD 189 SPOTS. >> YES. >> AND 50 RESERVED SO YOU HAVE TO TAKE THAT PART OF IT OUT. WHEN YOU START THINKING YOU HAVE ALL THESE GOVERNMENT ENTITIES IN DOWNTOWN FORT PIERCE THAT EXPANDING, EVERYONE OF THEM ARE EXPANDING BRINGING MORE EMPLOYEES HERE, THEY'RE DOING WHATEVER THEY'VE GOT TO DO, THEIR ACTIVITY, THE NUMBER THAT WE WANT TO GET A HOLD OF IS ALL THE BUSINESS OWNERS AND ALL THE GOVERNMENTS BRING ALL THEIR EMPLOYEES TO DOWNTOWN, HOW MANY PARKING SPACES DO YOU NEED JUST FOR THAT? IT'S A NUMBER BIGER THAN I'M THINKING. I GUARANTEE IT. IT'S A NUMBER BIGGER THAN I'M THINKING SO I DON'T THINK THIS IS EVER GOING AWAY AND COMMISSIONER JOHNSON YOU HIT IT ON THE HEAD WE NEED TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNTY AND WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE GOING IN THE 10, 15, 20 YEARS FROM NOW IS, THERE A COMMITMENT TO GROWING DOWNTOWN PIERCE FOR YOUR GOVERNMENTAL NEEDS AND IF THERE ARE WE NEED TO IDENTIFY RIGHT NOW WHERE THOSE PARKING SOLUTIONS ARE GOING TO GO, BECAUSE WE ARE BOTTLED IN. WE HAVE GOT THE RAILROAD TRACK TO THE WEST MANY WE HAVE GOT THE WATER TO THE EAST MANY WE HAVE GOT RESIDENTIAL TO THE SOUTH AND WE HAVE A PORT TO THE NORTH. SO WE CAN'T GROW ON ANY MORE LAND THAN WE HAVE OTHER THAN USE MORE EFFICIENTLY WHAT WE HAVE. THIS CONVERSATION NEEDS TO [01:05:01] HAPPEN NOW. CAN'T HAPPEN TWO YEARS OR EVEN A YEAR FROM NOW. WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND HOW TO PLAN. THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY GOING TO HAVE TO BE SPENT. THERE'S A LOT OF COMMITMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO BACK AN FORTH BETWEEN THE TWO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THE COUNTY AND THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE TO BE ABLE TO WALK THROUGH THIS THING HAND IN HAND. YOU CAN'T JUST EXPAND YOUR GOVERNMENTAL OFFICES IN DOWNTOWN FORT PIERCE AND LOOK TO THE CITY TO HANDLE THE PARKING SOLUTION. YOU JUST CAN'T DO THAT. >> SOUNDS LIKE WE NEED A BUY-IN FROM THE COUNTY TO HELP FIND A SOLUTION. >> AGAIN, WE ARE NOT, THIS IS NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT'S MOVING SLOWLY. THIS IS A FAST MOVING TRAIN AND WE REALLY NEED TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS NOW AS WE GO FORWARD AND THESE TEMPORARY SPOTS AS YOU ALL KNOW, THEY'RE HERE THIS YEAR. THEY MAY NOT BE HERE NEXT YEAR AND MR. BROAD RICK IS GOING TO HAVE TO COME BACK IN SOME CAPACITY AND TELL YOU I'VE GOT BAD NEWS, WE'VE LOST ANOTHER 500 PARKING SPACES. >> THAT'S WHAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT. >> THAT'S WHAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT. >> IN ESSENCE THE NEW SPACES THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING FOR APPROVAL BASICALLY GIVE BACK SOME OF THE INVENTORY THAT'S BEEN LOST THROUGH THE KINGS LANDING DEDUCTION OF PARKING WITH SALE OF THE PROPERTY SO WE ARE BACK TO SCRATCH VIRTUALLY FROM WHERE WE WERE SIX MONTHS AGO. THIS WAS ONE SOLUTION THAT THE PARKING COMMITTEE DID NOT VOTE IN FAVOR OF. THIS WAS A TEMPORARY PARKING LOT IN THE PARKING LOT ACROSS FROM DEPOT DRIVE AND CITY HALL. WE THOUGHT THE AREA WAS TOO REMOTE SO WE SUGGESTED WE DID NOT WANT TO PURSUE THAT. >> SO, WITH THAT, IS THAT ALL? YOU'RE READY FOR QUESTIONS AN DISCUSSIONS? SO, QUESTIONS TO COMMISSIONER GAINES. >> I'LL USE MY NEWNESS TO THE BOARD, GO BACK THIS JOINT MEETING. WHAT'S THE PROCEDURE? WHAT'S THE HOLD UP? WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO GO MEET WITH OUR COUNTERPARTS AT THE COUNTY? I'M JUST SITTING HERE. I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. THEY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND AND KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WHEN THEY COME DOWN TO DOWNTOWN EVERY DAY AND SEE THE PARKING SO I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE IT AS I SIT HERE WHAT PROCEDURE NEEDS TO BE DONE OR WHAT BUTTON NEED TO BE PUSHED SO CAN I GO PUSH IT OR AS MY COMMISSIONER FRIEND HERE COMMISSIONER JOHNSON SAID HE WILL VOLUNTEER BUT I JUST NEED TO KNOW WHAT NEED TO BE DONE SO WE NEED TO GO THERE, DO WE HAD NEED TO DEAL WITH IT HERE? TALKING ABOUT IT IS NOT GOING TO GET IT DONE. >> WE NEED TO GET OVER THERE AND SAY HEY COME HERE, WE WILL GO THERE SO I'M ASKING YOU GUYS I'M ASKING MY FORMER COMMISSIONER WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE SO WE CAN AT LEAD START THIS CONVERSATION. BALLS YOU CAN'T DO THE STUDY WITHOUT THAT PIECE. >> THAT'S CORRECT. WE NEED THAT INFORMATION. IT'S INTEGRAL TO WHAT THE NEXT SET RECOMMENDATIONS WE ARE GOING TO BE MAKING TO YOU FOLKS IS GOING TO BE BASED O'THE WALKER STUDY AND WITHOUT THIS INFORMATION WE ARIN CAPABLE OF DOWN THAT. WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHAT WITH THE COUNTY. WE HAVE HAD FOUR MEETINGS. WE HAVE MADE EFFORTS TO EXTRACT INFORMATION. THERE'S ONE QUESTION I ASK EVERY TIME THESE MEETINGS TIKE PLACE WHEN THERE WAS ALWAYS AN ASK, WITH WE NEED THIS FOR THIS DEPARTMENT, AND MY FIRST QUESTION I ASKED WHERE IS THE COUNTY'S POSITION ON THIS? YOU HAVEN'T TALKED TO ANYBODY IN THE COUNTY? THAT'S THE RESPONSE. SO THERE'S A DISCONNECT HERE, AND COMMISSIONER JOHNSON I THINK COMMISSIONER PERONA SAID THE BURDEN HAS BEEN SHIFT TO THE CITY. THE CITY IS GOING TO RESOLVE THIS ON PART. COUNTY. THIS IS A JOINT EFFORT HERE. WE NEED HELP. >> COMMISSIONER J. JOHNSON. >> THANK YOU MA'AM. ALL I CAN SAY IT'S GOOD TO HAVE A JOINT MEETING. WE ARE GOING TO SCHEDULE ANOTHER ONE. WE ARE GOING TO SCHEDULE THEM ROUTINELY AND TRY TO DO THEM ANNUALLY BUT IT'S GETTING TOGETHER ALL THE STAFF MEMBERS THAT CAN ATTEND AND ADDRESSING ISSUES THAT WE BROUGHT FORWARD. WHEN WE PREPARE THE AGENDA YOU KNOW THIS ONE IS NOT, IT MIGHT MAKE THE LIST BUT IT'S GOING TO [01:10:02] BE GLAZED OVER WITH REPORTS AND OR SOME DATA AND FACTS BUT THAT'S NOT WHERE THE WORK GETS DONE. THE WORK GETS DONE BY YOU AND I INDIVIDUALLY CONTACTING THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SETTING UP TIME WITH MR. MIMS MAYBE TALKING TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE SITTING IN A ROOM AT ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVING A DISCUSSION. I DON'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT THEIR FORESIGHT IS ON THE WHOLE COMPLEX. THIS IS NEW INFORMATION COME FROM A CLERK OF COURT WHICH IS NOT IN CHARGE OF FACILITY PLANNING MORE PARKING. THEY'RE JUST SAYING THIS IS MY OPERATIONAL NEED AND OKAY, I'M HERE NOW. AND I THINK THAT'S GREAT THAT SHE IS GIVEN THAT INFORMATION TO SOMEONE, CLERK MILLER AND I'M GLAD SHE HAS. HOWEVER, THAT THE NOT WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD AN WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO THAT INDIVIDUALLY. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT SOON. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TACKLE THAT AND THEN WE CAN SCHEDULE THE JOINT MEETING OR MAYBE WE HAVE OUR COMMISSIONER MEETING AND TALK ABOUT OPEN PUBLIC BY THE WAY HERD THE CONSENSUS I CAME UP WITH STATD GIST AN PLAN SUPPORTED BY THE AND STAFF AND THIS IS WHERE THEY'RE HEADED TO. WITHOUT THAT KNOWLEDGE WE DON'T REALLY KNOW AND WE CAN'T SUPPORT ALL THE INITIATIVES. WE ARE NOT GOING TO. I DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT THAT WE DO BUT WE WANT TO BE A GOOD PARTNER. >> YES. COMMISSIONER PERONA. >> THE QUESTION WOULD BE BEFORE WE START DOWN THIS ROAD IS TO ASK THE COUNTY FOR THEIR PARKING NEEDS YOU KNOW, JUST DID THEY DO A STUDY, IT SEEMS INDIVIDUALLY THE CLERK THE SHERIFF THE JUDGE EVERYBODY ELTS KNOWS WHAT THEY NEED. SOMEBODY JUST NEED TO GET THAT COLLECTED TOGETHER AND BE ABLE TO SAY HERE IS WHAT OUR NEED ARE SO THAT WHEN THEY DID EXPAND THAT NUMBER CAN GROW AND BE ABLE TO BE A FUNCTIONAL PART OF THIS DISCUSSION. BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO TRANSLATE INTO SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS MAYBE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF PARKING SOLUTIONS WE NEED TO BE DEALING WITH REAL NUMBERS GOING FORWARD. I'M SURE THOSE NUMBERS EXISTS SOMEWHERE. >> THEY WERE FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE FIVE YEARS AGO I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE TODAY BUT THAT INFORMATION IS OUT THERE. >> ONE SUGGESTION REGARDING THAT GROUP MEETING IN SOME CAPACITY IS YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER HAVING A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE PARKING COMMITTEE PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROCESS. JUST FROM AN INFORMATIONAL STANDPOINT YOU MAY WANT SOMEONE FROM THE PARKING COMMITTEE TO LEND AN INFORMATIONAL SOURCE. >> MR. MIMS ANYTHING TO CHIME IN HERE? >> MADAM MAYOR MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION I BELIEVE THE CITY COMMISSION ALONG WITH, THING COMMITTEE YOU ALL HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB PLANNING PREPARING AND RESEARCHING THE PARKING SITUATION IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA BUT HERE'S THE ISSUE. WE HAVE A VERY DISCONNECTED COMMUNICATION WITH ST. LUCIE COUNTY. WHEN ST. LUCIE COUNTY CAME A COUPLE YEARS GODADDY AN TALKED ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT PARKING THEY EXPRESSED A NEED. WE PROVIDED THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PARKING THAT WAS REQUESTED. WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE COMPLEXITIES OF JUROR PARKING WE FOUND SOLUTIONS. I BELIEVE THE PARKING COMMITTEE HAS FOUND SOLUTIONS AN PROVIDED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EVERY DEPARTMENTAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER NEED THAT HAS BEEN EXPRESSED BUT I DO BELIEVE AT THIS TIME WE NEED TO LOOK AT A MORE COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY, I BELIEVE THE COUNTY ST. LUCIE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE THE PARKING NEEDS OF THE EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND I CAN BEGIN THE PROCESS WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO DETERMINE THE ACTUAL NEEDED TO AND LOOKING AT DIVISION WHETHER IT'S 5 OR 20 YEARS OUT. I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO BEGIN SO IF WE CAN STARTED THERE, THEN WE CAN GET THAT FOUNDATIONAL INFORMATION, WE CAN WORK TOGETHER WITH THE COUNTY AND THEN ONCE WE HAVE ALL OF THAT DAD WE CAN COME TOGETHER AS THE TWO BOARDS JOENTDLY AND MAKE DECISIONS STRATEGICALLY. I BELIEVE THAT'S HOW WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN. >> MR. GAINES. SO, I JUST WANTS TO SAY IN THE PAST WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS MEETINGS WITH THE COUNTY HAVE KIND OF BEEN DRIVEN BY NEED OF [01:15:04] ONE OR THE OTHER AND NOT NECESSARILY REGULARLY SCHEDULED, BUT IT'S TIME TO HAVE A JOINT MEETING TO TALK ABOUT X AND SO WE JUST HAVE TO INITIATED IT AND SAY IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND TRY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN SOON. >> AND LIKE I SAID I'M GLAD I ASK A QUESTION. NOW I UNDERSTAND, BUT AGAIN, BY SITTING HERE IN THE FOUR MONTHS I'VE BEEN HERE WE KNOW KINGS LAND IN [INDISTINCT] WE ARE HOPING AND PRAYING, I'M READING YOUR REPORT, NO MINUSES. WE ARE NOT GETING A READING. SO NOW AS AN ATTORNEY, FOUR DAYS NOW, SO THAT'S JURORS, THAT'S EVERYBODY THAT'S COMING IN AND I DON'T SEE THAT CHANGING. I SEE IT GETTING BACK TO FIVE DAYS. >> OKAY. >> I SEE IT GETTING BACK TO FIVE DAYS SO THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER DAY THAT'S GOING TO COME BECAUSE JUDGES ARE PUSHING CASES. I'M IN THE FIELD. I'M TELLING YOU WHAT'S GOING ON. THEY'RE PUSHING CASES SO WE HAVE MAJOR DEVELOPMENT. WE GOT A MAJOR STUDY COMING AND WE DON'T KNOW X SO YOU'RE GOING TO PLUS Y EQUALS WHATEVER BUT WE DON'T KNOW X. SO THAT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM FOR US UP HERE ESPECIALLY MY COLLEAGUE WITH HIS EVENING NEAR BACKGROUND AND HE'S GOING TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT X AND HE'S GOING TO GO CRAZY WHEN YOU I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH NUMBERS AN GO WHICH ONE IS X BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW SO I'M JUST SAYING WHATEVER MR. MIMS WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO IF I NEED TO GO, I'LL JOIN COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. I'M PRETTY SURE THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS WE NEED TO SIT IN THAT ROOM DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. LET'S DO IT BECAUSE BEFORE YOU KNOW IT IT'S BOB TO BE FIVE YEARS AND SOMEBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WILL BE SAYING WHERE IS X. >> OR WHAT IS X. >> YOU JUST TOLD ME FIVE YEARS AGO YOU KNEW IT BUT YOU DON'T KNOW TODAY. >> SO, MAD AM MAYOR WE HAVE HEARD FROM OUR CITY MANAGER. IT SOUNDED LIKE TO KNEE HE WAS DIRECTIONLY ASKING CAN WE BEGIN THE PROCESS OF WRITING THEM MAKING THE REQUEST. I THINK THAT'S WHAT I HEARD. >> YES, SIR I CAN WRITE CALLED TEXT WHATEVER YOU NEED. >> SPEED DIAL. >> I THINK TO MOVE THIS FORWARD BECAUSE I'M WITH COMMISSIONER GAINES TO ME IT SEEMS LIKE A SIMPLE JUST ASKING FOR THE NUMBERS THEY HAVE AND IT PUTS TIME CERTAINTY ON IT WE CAN GET A MEMO OUT END OF THE WEEK ASKING FOR THIS REQUESTED INFORMATION. THAT WAY WE WILL HAVE INFORMATION BEFORE WE START DIALING THAT AT THE COUNTY. I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD ACTION FORWARD. >> COMMISSIONER J. JOHNSON DOES THAT SOUND GOOD. >> ABSOLUTELY WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO THAT AND I'LL BE HONEST AND MAKE HEADS SPIN WITH THIS COMMENT BUT THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE I HAVE TO EVALUATE EVERY SITUATION. WE HAVE TO HAVE A REAL CONVERSATION AS A COMMISSION TO SAY WHAT IF THEIR PLANS DON'T MATCH OUR VISION AND WHAT IF THAT COURT COMPLEX MOVED AWAY? WHAT IF AND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR THE CITY OF FOR THE PIERCE? WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES THAT QUESTION BECAUSE WE MIGHT GET INTO A ROOM AND WE HEAR SOMETHING LIKE OH WHERE DID THAT COME FROM. >> WE'VE HAD ALREADY HEARD THE RUMORS. >> WE HAVEN'T EVER REALLY DIGESTED THAT AND SAY OKAY, I'VE SWALLOWED THAT PIMD AND NOW I'M AT THIS POINT OF HERE WE GO BECAUSE I DO REMEMBER THAT REPORT AND I'M TELLING YOU THERE ARE OTHERS THAT CAN REPORT ON IT. IT WAS UP OVER A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS. TO BRING THAT FACILITY INTO TODAY'S STANDARDS. YOU CAN TELL US MORE ABOUT IT THAN ME JUST TO BRING THAT COURTHOUSE IS OLD. IT'S OLD. IT'S 32 YEARS OLD MAYBE MORE. WELL THE OLD ONE IS OLD OLD. >> THE OLD ONE. >> THE ONE THAT FACES THE RIVER BUT IT WAS RENOVATED. THE EARLY ONE I BELIEVE WAS 90S OR 80S. DOESN'T MEET TODAY'S STANDARD. >> FORTUNATELY I HAVEN'T BEEN THERE. >> YOU BROUGHT UP A POINT ABOUT RUMORS. IF THE RUMORS ARE OUT THERE THERE IS NO LONG-RANGE PLAN. BECAUSE IF THAT'S A POSSIBILITY WHY SHOULD WE PUT IN ASSETS REBUILD EVERYTHING IF WE ARE GOING TO BE PULLING OUT? I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S GOING TO [01:20:03] HAPPEN BUT THESE ARE THE ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT AND HAVE SOME COMFORT WITH GOING FORWARD OUR 20-YEAR PLAN INCLUDES WHAT AND THAT HELPS US OUT TO BE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE GOOD DECISIONS FORWARD THE STUDY AND MOVE THIS FORWARD BECAUSE WITHOUT THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE TEMPORARY PARKING ALL OVER THE PLACE. WE ARE GOING TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN DO AND FEEL GOODS ABOUT OUR TEMPORARY PARKING BUT THOSE ARE NOT LONG-RANGE CHANGES AND CONVENIENT LID YOU'RE GOING TO GET CHOKED OUT WHERE YOU CANNOT PARK YOUR CAR DOWNTOWN FORT PIERCE. >> ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE DEALT WITH FROM COMMITTEE STANDPOINT IS WE HAVE NOT FOUND THE COUNTY TO BE SPEAKING WITH ONE UNIFIED VOICE MANY WE ARE MEETING WITH DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS COMING IN WITH ASK SHEET FROM SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT CLERK'S OFFICE AND WE WANT TO ENTERTAIN THEIR NEEDS. HOWEVER WE HAVE NOT AT ANY MEETING WE HAVE INVITED THE COUNTY TO GIVEN ONE PERSON THE SHOT CALLER GOING TO MAKE THE DECISIONS SO I FIND THAT SOMEWHAT SPLINTERED APPROACH PROBLEMATIC SO I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE TABLE WHO ARE THE DECISION MAKERS ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTY AND GIVING US CONCRETE INFORMATION SO THAT'S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE. >> THE LIST OF THE REPORT DO WE HAD NEED TO GIVE YOU ANY MORE DIRECTION? >> YES, MA'AM, WE HAVE A PLETHORA OF RECOMMENDATIONS, SO PLEASE I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOUR FEEDBACK AND THEN WE CAN BEGIN THE EM PRELIMINARY TAKES PROCESS. >> IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON MAYBE GOING BACK TO THE FIRST PAGE SO WE HAD THAT WE CAN -- YOU WENT THROUGH THAT ANY DISCUSS ON THIS PARTICULAR -- >> MADAM MAYOR, HEADS SPINNING AGAIN NUMBER 1 IT'S MY FEELING THAT WE SHOULD RELOCATE THOSE PARKING SPACES ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC AND I'LL LEAVE IT THERE. >> YEAH, I THINK YOU AND I HAVE SPOKEN UP FOR THAT REPORT BUT. >> I DON'T MIND IF THEY EXIST BECAUSE PEOPLE PARK THERE AND THEY COME DOWNTOWN EVERY DAY. >> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? >> I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH THE SIGNAGE TO INCLUDE HOURS OF OPERATION, INCLUDING THE DIGITAL SIGNAGE ON THAT CORNER OF THE BUILDING OR BOTH CORNERS OF THE BUILDING OR ENTRANCE AREAS THAT SHOW HOW MANY SPOTS ARE AVAILABLE. SOME OF THEM IN BIGGER CITIES I BELIEVE THEY SAY WHAT FLOOR BUT WE HAVE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THAT BUT I THINK THE DATA AND THE BACKGROUND OF HOW OFTEN THE PARKING GARAGE IS BEING USED INCLUDING THE NUMBER OF SPACES AVAILABLE FOR KNOWS SEEKING TO PARK IN DOWNTOWN IS A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY TO THOSE THAT LIVE WORK AND VISIT HERE. >> SO THAT'S THE NEXT PAGE WITH THE COUNTY? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT COUNTING THOSE SPACES? >> MAYBE THAT'S PART OF NUMBER 3. I'M NOT SURE. IT JUST SAYS SIGNAGE. >> AND THIS IS ALL TO THE EXTENT THAT WE HAVE FUNDS TO DO THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS THAT HAVE A PRICE TAG ON THEM AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO IDENTIFY THEM IF THERE ARE FUNDS TO DO IT IN TERMS OF THE NEW PARKING. ANY MORE DISCUSSION ON THIS PAGE? >> MA'AM, SO I LISTENED TO MR. BROAD RICK'S CONCERN AND THEY'VE DONE THEIR DUE DILIGENCE LOOKING AT THE FULL SCOPE OF EVEN SECURITY AN OTHER MEASURES. THERE'S SOMETHING THERE THAT THEY SAW AND HEARD AND HAVE A CONCERN WITH THE PARKING SPACES THE WAY THEY ARE SO I WANT TO DEFER TO THEM AND RESPECT THE WORK THEY DID AND THE RECOMMENDATION THEY'RE CURRENTLY MAKING THOSE SPACES STAY THERE THE WAY THEY CURRENTLY ARE. THE SIGNAGE UP THERE I DID HEAR HIM SAY THERE WOULD BE AN RFP PROCESS TO BEGIN THE SIGNS TO GO THE METER THING THAT READS AND COUNTS. IS THAT WHAT I HEARD? I NEED TO GET AN IDEA WHAT THAT COSTS. >> WE KNOW WHAT WE WANT. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF GETTING A PROPOSAL. >> I'M COMFORTABLE AT LEAST GOING TO MARKET JUST TO SEE WITHOUT AN RFP I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THOSE SYSTEMS COST. I THINK WE NEED TO GET A SENSE OF THAT AND HAVE A CONFERENCE AGENDA WHERE WE HAD CAN LEARN THAT AND COME UP TO SPEED REALLY QUICK. THE OTHER SIGNAGE AND THINGS THEY'RE RECOMMENDING ABOUT THE CAMERAS AND 30 MINUTE PARKING I THINK THOSE ARE A PRETTY EASY FIX WITH PRETTY LOW COST BARRIERS AT THAT POINT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT SO THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION. >> MORE ON THIS PAGE. COULD YOU GO TO THE NEXT PAGE AND SO THIS IS, ANYBODY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS. [01:25:04] NEXT PAGE? GREAT IF WE FIND THE FUNDS, RIGHT? >> YOU SAY THIS IS ADDING ONTO A PIECE WE ALREADY HAVE SO THIS IS THE PIECE THAT'S RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF MANATEE STATION. >> RIGHT. >> SO THERE'S HAD A PIECE BEHIND IT. >> YES, MOVING WEST A LITTLE BIT. >> MAIN STREET BASICALLY. >> OKAY. WE ARE GOOD WITH THAT IF WE EVER FIND THE FUNDS. >> SO IT WOULD BE AVENIDAING HOW MANY SPACES? >> ON THAT PARTICULAR ONE 126. >> GOT IT. >> OKAY. NEXT. HERE'S WHERE I PRESUME THE FIRST BULLET POINT MR. MIMS THAT WILL COME BACK IN FORM OF AN ORDINANCE. >> YES. >> WITH THE REMAINDER. >> YES. >> RIGHT NOW I'M HAVING TROUBLE REMEMBERING WHAT IT WAS. >> PARKING PROVISIONS. >> OKAY, ACCOUNTING SYSTEM WE ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT WITH, RIGHT? AND SIGNAGE THERE. ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS PAGE? AND I'M KIND OF SORRY YOU DON'T LIKE THAT. I KNOW IT'S REMOTE BUT PRETTY SOON WE ARE GOING TO BE CROSSING U.S. 1, WHICH IS ANOTHER KIND OF LIKE CROSSING DELANCEY. >> BASED ON TODAY'S DISCUSSION I WOULD LIKE TO BRING THIS BACK TO THE PARKING COMMITTEE TO REVISIT AT OUR NEXT MEETING THERE. WAS KIND OF A SPLIT DECISION AS FAR AS THIS LOT WAS CONCERNED. BUT WE ALSO HAD DEALT WITH LOSS THAT DAY. LET'S BRING THIS BACK INDEPENDENTLY AND I'LL COME BACK TO YOU WITH THE DECISION. >> I WOULD LIKE TO YOU TAKE ANOTHER LOOK THAT WOULD BE GREAT. I ACTUALLY PARKED THERE. >> CURRENTLY THEY'RE USING IT FOR STAGING. >> STAGING IS CONSTRUCTION OF THAT SECOND RAIL. JUST PUT IF PLUG IN THIS IS THE PROPERTY DOWN TO CITRUS OVERPASS IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR BRIGHT LINE STATION BECAUSE GUESS WHO OWNS THAT PROPERTY, THE SAME GROUP THAT OWNS THE RAILROAD TRACK. EVERY TIME I SEE THAT PROPERTY IT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR BRIGHT LINE STATION. >> RIGHT. IS THAT IT? ALL RIGHT. MR. MIMS YOU'RE CLEAR? >> YES, MA'AM. >> ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY ABOUT PARK SOMETHING THANK YOU MR. BROAD RICK. ONCE AGAIN YOU HELPED US DEAL WITH A DIFFICULT SUBJECT. >> I KNOW IT'S THE MOST EXCITING THING ON YOUR AGENDA. [11. CONSENT AGENDA] >> YOU DON'T THINK THEY'LL PEOPLE ARE ALL HERE FOR PARK SOMETHING. >> NEXT ITEM IS THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO PULL ANYTHING? I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOMENT IF NOT. -- MOTION. >> MA'AM, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE KEEP THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRINTED. >> SECOND. >> SECOND. >> MOTION AND SECOND. CALL THE ROLL. >> ONE QUESTION. >> YES, SIR. >> WE ARE APPROVING THE CONSENT AGENDA? OKAY, THANK YOU. [ROLL] [a. Quasi-Judicial Hearing - Review and approval of an application for a Conditional Use and Site Plan (Development Review and Design Review) to construct a four (4)-story self-storage facility totaling approximately 106,860 square feet and associated site improvements at 1300 S US Highway 1, more specifically located at Parcel Control Number: 2415-602-0002-000-2.] >> OKAY, NEXT WE HAVE A QUASI-JUDICIAL HEARING FOR REVIEW AN APPROVAL OF APPLICATION FOR CONDITIONAL USE AN SITE PLAN DEVELOPMENT REVIEW TO CONSTRUCT A FOUR STORAGE FACILITY . . . AND ASSOCIATED SITE IMPROVEMENTS AT 1300 SOUTH U.S. HIGHWAY 1 MORE SPECIFICALLY LOCATE AT PARCEL -- I'M NOT GOING TO READ THE PARCEL I.D. >> OKAY. SO WE HAVE TWO QUASI-JUDICIAL HEARINGS TONIGHT SO IF YOU ARE HERE FOR EITHER ONE OF THOSE PLEASE LISTEN TO MISS EARLY. >> WHEN ACTING A AS A LEGISLATIVE BODY THE COMMISSION ENGAGES IN LAW MAKING ACTIVITY BYPASSING LAWS AN ESTABLISHING POLICIES. WHEN ACTING A QUASI-JUDICIAL [01:30:01] BODY THE COMMISSION IS HELD TO STRICTER PROBABLY STANDARDS. THEY'RE LESS NORMAL THAN PROCEEDINGS BEFORE A CIRCUIT COURT BUT MORE FORMAL THAN A NORMAL COMMISSION MEETING. THEY MUST FOLLOW BASIC STANDARDS OF NOTICE AN DUE PROCESS AN DESEGSDZ BE MADE ON COMPETENT SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. [READING]. >> MADAM CLERK, HAVE WE MET THE ADVERTISING REQUIREMENT? >> WE HAVE. >> CAN YOU ASK THE COMMERCE ABOUT EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SWEAR IN THE WITNESSES? >> ANYONE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS I ITEM PLEASE STAND AND RAISE YOUR HAND. CONDITIONAL USE APPLICATION LONG WITH SITE PLAN FOR THE SUBJECT PROPERTY. THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO CONSTRUCT A FOUR STORY 106,000830 CUELLAR SFOOT STORAGE BUILDING WITH ASSOCIATED SITE IMPROVEMENTS. THE LOCATION IS APPROXIMATELY 1.38 ACRES AND IS LOCATED AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF OHIO AVENUE AND SOUTH U.S. HIGHWAY 1 NORTH OF THE ALL D GROCERY STORE. ESSENTIAL IT'S OF THE PROPERTY IS GENERAL COMMERCIAL WITH ZONING C-3 GENERAL COMMERCIAL. BEFORE YOU YOU HAVE THE SITE PLAN FOR THE PROPOSED STORAGE FACILITY WITH THE LANDSCAPING, THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING SEVERAL TREES SUCH AS ORANGE GEIGER HOLLY MIERT SOUTHERN LIVE OAK AND CAB AN PALMETTOS AN FLORIDA TATCH PALMS. THIS IS A NORTHEAST ELEVATION OF THE PROPOSED FACILITY A WESTERN ELEVATION OF THE PROPOSED FACILITY PLANNING BOARD AT THEIR APRIL 11, 2022 MEETING VOTING UNANIMOUSLY TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE REQUEST. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL WITH CONDITION CERTIFIED COMPLETION OF . . . SHALL BE REQUIRED BEFORE THE FINAL CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY IS APPROVED FOR THE SITE. POSSIBLE ACTIONS OF THE CITY COMMISSION APPROVAL WITH CHANGES OR DISAPPROVAL OF THE CONDITIONAL USE. THANK YOU. >> ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. GILMORE. >> COULD YOU GO BACK TO THE SITE PLAN AND THE LAY OUT OF THAT AGAIN? I LOOKED AT THAT EARLIER. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE MORE OR LESS THE SCHEMATICS. ENTRY HERE WOULD BE IF I SEE IT NOW, THAT BACK SIDE THERE WHAT'S THAT STREET THERE. >> THIRD. >> IS THERE ANOTHER ENTRYWAY POINT? >> YES, THERE'S A SHARED ACCESS DRIVEWAY. >> WITH ALDEE. >> GOT IT. THAT WILL BE A RIGHT TURN COMING OUT BUT RIGHT TURN GOING IN SHARED DRIVEWAY. GOT IT. >> YES, SIR. >> SO IT'S A SHARED DRIVEWAY ACCESS. IS THIS CONTROLLED BY A GATE AGO -- ACCESS. >> NO. >> SO I WOULD LIKE THE APPLICANT TO COME FORWARD PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. >> MY NAME IS EDWARD MCDONALD. I'M WITH [NAME] GROUP REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT. I'M AT 1502 WEST FLETCHER AVENUE, TAMPA FLORIDA. >> DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF. >> I DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS OF STAFF BUT I WANT TO CLARIFY THE COMMENT ON THE GATE. THERE IS GATED ACCESS LOCATED ON THE PROPERTY. IT'S NOT RIGHT IN RIGHT OUT OF U.S. 1 YOU COME IN THERE'S PARKING THE HANDICAP PARKING OUTSIDE THE GATE AND RIGHT AT THAT FIRST SLAND THERE IS A GATE AND THERE'S ALSO A GATE FOR ACCESS. THE GATE WAS POSITIONED IN SUCH A WAY THE REAR ACCESS TO INSURE THAT CARS COULD STACK IN THERE [01:35:07] WITHOUT WALKING THE STREET BUT THERE IS A GATE IN AN ENCLOSED AREA ON THE REAR NORTH HALF. >> SO, HOW FAR UP ON THE U.S. 1 SIDE BEFORE THEY ENCOUNTER THE GATE, IS THAT IN THE MIDDLE THERE? >> DO YOU SEE THE ADA SPACES? >> JUST NORTH OF THAT. >> OKAY, GOT IT. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? >> AND ANOTHER QUESTION, APPROXIMATELY HOW MANY NEAT ON THE BACK STREET ALLOW FOR STACK SOMETHING. >> APPROXIMATELY FROM THE ROADWAY THE TRAVEL PATH THAT'S ABOUT 40 FEET BUT WE ARE ACTUALLY 20 FEET FROM AN EASEMENT THERE. SO, FROM THE CROSSWALK THAT'S PROBABLY LIKE 30 FEET AND THEN TO THE TRAVEL WAY, WHERE CARS ACTUALLY DRIVE IS ABOUT 40 FEET PLUS OR MINUS. >> OKAY. YEAH, THAT'S ACCURATE. AND THEN THAT GREEN AREA TO THE NORTH THERE THAT'S AN AREA YOU'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH THE STORM WATCH WATER RUNOFF IN THAT AREA? >> OUTSIDE THE PROPERTY THAT'S EXISTING VEGETATION THAT WE ARE NOT TOUCHING. STORM WATER IS BEING MET WITH UNDERGROUND EXTRA TRENCHES. >> JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. ANYBODY ELSE? >> COMMISSIONER J. JOHNSON. >> THE NORTHEAST GATE ACCESS THERE IS THAT SET BACK FROM PROPERTY LINE MEET CITY CODE TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE? >> THERE'S TWO REQUIREMENTS ON THAT DRIVEWAY WE HAD TO MEET. ONE WAS THE PROXIMITY OF THE DRIVEWAY TO THE NORTH PROPERTY LINE WHICH WE HAD AT 25 FEET SO WE HAD TO PUSH IT DOWN AND ALSO WE HAD TO INSURE THAT THERE WAS 20 FEET ACCEPT OPERATION FROM RIGHT OF WAY. THERE'S EASEMENT THERE. WE HAD TO INSURE IT WAS 230 FEET BECAUSE OF THE PEDESTRIAN PARKWAY ENOUGH FOR A CAR TO PULL IN NOT BLOCK THE STREET. >> NEXT QUESTION YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH SELF STORAGE FACILITIES DO FOLKS USE MOVING VEHICLES ON RECURRING REGULAR BASIS OR IS IT SINGLE FOUR DOOR VEHICLE ACCESS LIKE A CAR? >> IT'S A COMBINATION. WE PLAN FOR THE LARGER U-HAUL TYPE TRUCKS TO COME THROUGH THE SITE. THERE'S THREE LARGER LOADING SPACES JUST NORTH OF THAT BUMP OUT IN THE BUILDING WHERE WE RUN AUTOS AND TRUCKS TO MAKE SURE THE TRUCKS CAN GET IN AND THE LARGER TRUCKS CAN GET IN BACK UP AND GO INTO THE ENTRANCE THERE. >> OKAY. SINCE YOU HAVE THIS SECTION OF YOUR STORAGE FACILITY GATED OFF I ASSUME THERE'S GOING TO BE A FENCE COMPONENT ON THE PARKING PERIMETER OR AT THE CURB LINE. >> CORRECT INTO DOES THAT MEET THE CITY CODE FOR SET BACK? I KNOW THERE THERE SPECIFIC ITEMS. THIS IS ONE OF THE CORRIDORS THAT ARE SPECIAL IN FORT PIERCE. I CAN'T TALK TO YOU RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT'S YOUR TESTIMONY. >> AS FAR AS MY UNDERSTANDING WE HAVE MET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF STAFF AND THE CODE AND ADDITIONAL LANDSCAPING THERE AT THE CORNER. WE DID ENHANCE THAT SLIGHTLY WHERE THE PROPOSED SIGN IS GOING TO BE. THERE'S A BIT OF AN ENHANCED LANDSCAPING THERE AS WELL. >> DO WE HAVE A BETTER VIEW OF THAT? I'M PARTICULAR IN THE U.S. 1 CORRIDOR. YOU'VE TESTIFIED THERE'S A SIGN AND ALSO THE FENCING THERE, THE FENCE ELEMENT. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IN TRAVELING NORTH ON U.S. 1 THAT WHOLE ASPECT OF FENCING IS N NOT -- >> IT'S A SIX FOOT PRE-CAST WALL. IT'S MORE THAN JUST A FENCE THAT WAS A REQUIREMENT OF STAFF. THAT WHAT WE SHOW OUR SITE LINE. >> LANDSCAPING INTO TO CODE AND WE BEEFED UP THAT CORNER THERE ADDITIONAL GROUND COVER. >> WE DON'T HAVE IT ON THIS ELEVATION. YOU GUYS PROBABLY PROVIDED THAT. >> THE ELEVATIONS YOU SEE THERE AREN'T HUNDRED PER CENT ACCURATE OF ALL THE LANDSCAPING. THE LANDSCAPE PLANS WERE REVIEWED BY STAFF AND APPROVED. BUT IT HAS SHRUBS AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE FENCE, IT HAS UNDER STORAGE TREES AS WELL. >> SO WHAT ARE WE DOING OR HOW DO YOU ACCOMMODATE THE DRAINAGE FEATURES IF YOU'RE BUILDING A WALL? NOW WE ARE GOING TO HAVE LET'S SAY I'M WALKING NORTH ON U.S. 1 AND I'VE GOT WHATEVER THAT BUFFER ZONE YOU'VE GOT YOUR CONCRETE WALL HOW ARE YOU TAKING CARE OF YOUR DRAINAGE IN THE PROPERTY? >> EVERYTHING ON THE IMPERVIOUS [01:40:03] SURFACE OIL THINGS LIKE THAT COLLECTED GO INTO A GRATE INLET AND INTO THE PIPE. PIPE HAS EXTRA TRENCH I THINK LIKE SIX FOOT BY FOUR, STORES THE WATER, WEIR, DISCHARGES CONTROLLED RATE TO THE EAST. SAME AS AL DEE DID. >> WHAT ABOUT THE GREEN SPACE OUTSIDE THE WALL STILL PART OF YOUR PROPERTY. >> THERE'S A GRADE BACK THERE BUT THE RUNOFF ISN'T GOING TO BE AN ISSUE IN THE GREEN SPACE. IT'S FOR WE NEAT THE EXISTING SO WE HAVE THE CURB. THERE'S A SECTION COMES DOWN SO THE GREEN SPACE IS COMING DOWN TO MEET EXISTING AN GOES BACK BUT IT'S NEGLIGIBLE. >> BUT YOU'RE TAKING CARE OF IT? IT'S NOT COMING TO THE PUBLIC? >> CORRECT. >> WE CAN'T ALLOW THE DRAINAGE FROM YOUR PROPERTY. >> WE ARE CAPTURING ALL OUR RUNOFF AN TREATING ON SITE. >> THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE ELSE? ANYTHING ELSE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SINCE NOBODY ELSE IS COMING UP? >> I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. WE ALSO HAVE A MEMBER OF THE OWNERSHIP. >> I'M CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS HERE. SO, ENTERTAIN A MOTION OR DISCUSSION. >> MADAM MAYOR I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE WITH STAFF'S CONDITION. >> IS THERE SECOND. >> SECOND. >> MOTION OF SECOND CALL THE ROLL PLEASE. [ROLL] NEXT WE HAVE A QUASI-JUDICIAL [b. Quasi-Judicial Hearing - Review and approval of an application for Site Plan (Development and Design Review) approval to develop 1.25 million square feet of warehouse use on six (6) lots that total approximately 108.78-acres generally located on Energy Lane, southeast of Glades Cut Off Road and west of Selvitz Road, more specifically located at Parcel Control Numbers: 2431-800-0002-000-0, 2431-800-0003-000-7, 2431-800-0004-000-4, 2431-800-0005-000-1, 2431-800-0007-000-5, 2431-800-0006-000-8.] HEARING FOR THE REVIEW AN APPROVAL OF AN APPLICATION FOR SITE PLAN DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN REVIEW APPROVAL TO DEVELOP 1.25 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF WAREHOUSE USE ON SIX LOTS THAT TOTAL APPROXIMATELY 108.78 ACRES GENERALLY LOCATED ON ENERGY LANE SOUTHEAST OF GLAIDS CUTOFF ROAD WEST OF SALVAGE ROAD. >> ALL RIGHT SO MISS EARLY HAS TALKED TO US ABOUT THE GROUND RULES MADAM CLERK HAD WE MET THE ADVERTISING REQUIREMENTS. >> THE ADVERTISING REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN MET. >> WOULD YOU ASK COMMERCE ABOUT EX-PARTY COMMUNICATIONS. >> YES, MA'AM. >> JOHNSON, YES, I SPOKE WITH SOLUTIONSY STAFF AS IT RELATED TO THEIR PARCEL IN FRONT OF THIS PARCEL BEING DEVELOPED. >> THANK YOU. >> WOULD YOU LIKE TO SWEAR IN THE WITNESS? >> ANYONE WISH TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM PLEASE STAND AN RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. [OATH]. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MR. GILMORE PLEASE PROCEED >> THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR. BEFORE YOU IS A SITE PLAN DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN REVIEW, APPLICATION, THE APPLICANT IS SEEKING APPROVAL TO CONSTRUCT A 1.25 SQUARE FOOTWEAR HOUSE SPACE, WITH SIX BUILDINGS. THE SUBJECT PROPERTY LAST A FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION OF INDUSTRIAL WITH ZONING CLASSIFICATION OF LIGHT INDUSTRIAL. FOR USE OF THE SITE PLAN WITH THE SIX STRUCTURES THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO BUILD THE TRAFFIC AND PARKING ANALYSIS THE APPLICANT HAS DECIDED TO GO BY THE ITE STANDARDS FOR PARKING REGULATION AND CALCULATION. HERE'S A MAP OF THE TRUCK ROUTE PLAN. BEFORE YOU WE HAVE THE ELEVATIONS OF THE PROPOSED CONCEPTUAL DESIGN FOR THE BUILDINGS. PLANNING BOARD AT THEIR APRIL 11, 2022 VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE REQUEST. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL WITH THE FOLLOW 3 CONDITIONS:PURSUANT TO CITY COAST SECTION 123-66 TREE MITIGATION PLAN SHALL BE APPROVED BY STAFF PRIOR TO ISSUING PERMIT CERTIFIED CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION . . . SHALL BE REQUIRED BEFORE THE FINAL CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY IS APPROVED . . . AND [INDISTINCT] PARCEL COMBINATION WITH ST. LUCIE COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISER SHALL BE CONDUCTED BEFORE ISSUANCE OF A BLINK [01:45:01] PERMIT. POSSIBLE ACTIONS OF THE CITY COMMISSION APPROVAL OF THE SITE PLAN APPROVAL WITH CHANGES OR DISAPPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED SITE MAN. ANY QUESTIONS. >> ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF. >> MADAM MAYOR. >> YES, SIR. >> I GOT TO ASK THE APPLICANT IN QUESTION TOO BUT MAYBE THIS WILL PREP THEN. MR. GILMORE, WAS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITH THIS DEVELOPER ABOUT THEIR PROPOSED ROUTES IF YOU COULD GO BACK TO THAT SLIDE, AND HERE'S WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT, BECAUSE AS MEMBERS OF THE ST. LUCIE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE MIDWAY ROADWAY CORRIDOR. WAS THERE DISCUSSION YOUR END ABOUT ADDITIONAL INTERSECTIONS OR TRAVEL I CAN FLOW THAT MIGHT GO TO THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE? >> NO. NO. >> SO RIGHT NOW THEY'VE PROPOSED THIS ROUTE PLAN, WHICH TAKES A ROUTE FROM SALVAGE ROAD TO THE TRIKE AT OKEECHOBEE ROAD. >> ROAD RNGT YOU'VE DESIGNATED THE [INDISTINCT]. >> OKAY. OKAY, THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF MR. GILMORE. I WOULD LIKE THE APPLICANT TO COME FORWARD PLEASE. STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. >> GOOD EVENING MADAM MAYOR COMMISSIONERS MY NAME IS ALEXANDRA CHU WITH ENGINEERING CLULGTS AT 100 [ADDRESS]. >> DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? >> NO. >> OKAY. SO WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL US? >> I'M HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. >> ANY QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? >> I'M SORRY I DIDN'T CATCH YOUR LAST NAME. >> CHU. >> HAVE YOU HAD ANY COP VER SITUATIONS WITH ANY COUNTY STAFF OR TRANSPORTATION WHEN THEY DID AN EVALUATION OF YOUR TRIPS PER DAY WITH ANY CONNECTIVITY TO THE TRIKE? RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE AN INTERCHANGE BUT WITH 1.2 MILLION SQUARE FEET PROPOSED WAREHOUSE SPACE WHAT DOES YOUR TRIP GENERATION LOOK LIKE AND WHAT DO YOU FEEL LIKE ARE GOING TO BE YOUR PROPOSED ROUTES AND PATHS FOR THIS PROJECT? >> I CAN FIND THE ACTUAL NUMBER HERE. >> GOOD EVENING. >> IF YOU'RE GOING TO SPEAK, IDENTIFY YOURSELF. >> WITH DYNAMIC ENGINEERING, SAFE OFFICE. >> THANK YOU SIR. >> YES WE HAVE HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS AN THE TRAFFIC ANALYSIS IS UNDER REVIEW AT ST. LUCIE COUNTY. WE'VE RESPONDED TO THEIR FIRST ROUND OF COMMENTS AND SO GENERALLY THE THING TO UNDERSTAND WITH THESE WAREHOUSE DEVELOPMENTS IS THE PEAK TRAFFIC THAT IS NORMALLY A CONCERN IS RUSH HOUR TIMES AN FOR WAREHOUSING THEY WANT TO GET THESE TRUCKS ON THE ROAD AT VARIOUS TIMES TO NOT CONFLICT WITH THE TYPICAL TRAFFIC PATTERN SO I THINK RPM IT'S 235 OUR P.M. TRIP ADDITIONS SO AS PART OF THE ANALYSIS OUR TRAFFIC EVENING NEAR LOOKED AT ALL THE SIGNIFICANCE CHECKS AN INTERSECTIONS THAT WERE REQUESTED BY ST. LUCIE COUNTY AND IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE THIS DEVELOPMENT WAS GOING TO MUSH US OVER ANY THRESHOLD REQUIRING ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS BECAUSE OF THIS DEVELOPMENT BUT DID I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? OR AM I IN THE PROCESS OF IT? >> IN THE PROCESS. YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GOING TO WARRANT BUT YOU DON'T KNOW YET UNTIL YOU GET FULL RESPONSE. >> WE AS PART OF THE FIRST COMMENTS FROM ST. LUCIE COUNTY AND OUR RESPONSES NO IMPROVEMENTS WERE IDENTIFIED AS NECESSARY. >> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AN SO WAS, ABOUT THROUGH CITY OR D.O.T. TRAFFIC INFORMATION? I CAN TELL YOU THE OKEECHOBEE ROAMED TURNPIKE INTERCHANGE COME FROM THAT DIRECTION IS A NIGHTMARE. SO ANY RESPONSES THERE? >> SO, AS PART OF THE ANALYSIS, LOOK AT THE GROWTH POTENTIAL ON THE NETWORK. HOWEVER THIS IS A SPECULATIVE WAREHOUSE DEVELOPMENT SO I'M ASSUMING WHEN A TEN AN COMES IN THEY'RE GOING TO EVALUATE THE BEST ROUTE FOR THEIR BUSINESS AND IF THEY ENCOUNTER ISSUES THEY WILL PROPOSE A DIFFERENT ROUTE THAT MAKES THEIR BUSINESS OPERATE MORE EFFECTIVELY AND THUS REDUCES TRAFFIC AT PINCH POINTS SO I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN AND IF YOU LIKE WE CAN LOOK NIGHT A LITTLE BIT MORE BUT AS PART OF OUR ONGOING COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE COUNTY AND LOOKING AT THE OVERALL NETWORK, IT'S NOT PROPOSED TO GO [01:50:03] AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE SOLVED AT THIS TIME FOR THE DEVELOPMENT BUT THEN AGAIN, IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE TENANTS THAT COME INTO THIS SPECULATIVE WAREHOUSE DEVELOPMENT. >> ALL RIGHT, AND I'LL JUST BE -- IT'S YOUR TESTIMONY SO I HAVE GOT TO BE CAREFUL BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEING CONVEYED IN HERE I'M NOT SAYING THERE'S ANYTHING HIDDEN BUT WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THE TRANSPORTATION ORGANIZATION OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY MANY WE HAVE IDENTIFIED CRITICAL PATH AN ARTERIAL ROAD CONNECTION. THIS BEING OUR LIGHT INDUSTRIAL/COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR FORT PIERCE SOUTHWEST SOUTHERNMOST CORRIDOR OF THE CITY THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONVERSATION ON THE PUBLIC RECORD ABOUT THE INTERCHANGE MADE WAY OF THE TRIKE AND THAT ANY ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS WITHIN THIS AREA OR THIS REGION SHOULD BE HEAVILY EVALUATED FOR PARTICIPATON IN AN INTERCHANGE WITH THE TURNPIKE AUTHORITY WITH THE TPO WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. HAVE YOU HAD ANY OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH ANY JURISDICTION THAT I JUST MENTIONED? >> NOT RELATED TO THAT SUBJECT, NO. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. >> YES, SIR. COMMISSIONER PERONA. >> THIS SITE PLAN, YOU'VE GOT SPECULATIVE TENANTS SO YOU'RE ACTUALLY NOT BUILDING UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A TENANT THAT'S UN UNDER A CONTRACT. >> THAT'S NOT ENTIRELY TRUE. THEY PLAN ON THE DEVELOPING THE TRUCKS FIRST AS THEY SECURE TENANTS. OBVIOUSLY IT'S EASIER TO ADVERTISE FOR A TENANT ONCE YOU HAVE A SITE PLAN APPROVED SO THEY PLAN ON SUBMITTING FOR THE PERMITS TO DEVELOP AND INSTALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE EACH ONE OF THESE BUILDINGS PAD READY OUT OF THE GATE. AND THEN THEY'LL GO VERT WAL AS SOON AS THEY HAVE TENANTS INTO RIGHT BECAUSE THERE MAYBE SPECIFIC NEEDS AND MAY HAVE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS BECAUS I WAS WONDERING WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT OVERA MILLION SQUARE FEET OF SPACE YOU BUILD IT AND YOU FIND OUT IT JUST DOESN'T FIT SO EITHER YOU BUILD IT IN PHASES OR YOU DO IT UPON CONTRACTS. OKAY. >> THAT WAS THE QUESTION I WANTED TO GO BUT YOU'VE DONE THIS BEFORE AND BUILT THESE TYPES OF SFEK LA TICH OPPORTUNITIES. CAN YOU GIVE ME IDEAS WHAT THAT IS AND LOOKS LIKE AS FAR AS THE FOOTPRINT WHAT YOU BUILT OUT? >> CAN YOU CLARIFY THE QUESTION? >> YOU BUILT STRUCTURES LIKE THIS SOMEWHERE AROUND THE STATE OF FLORIDA. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> I'M TRYING TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING WHERE HAVE YOU DONE SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THIS THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING IN THE COMMUNITY STATE OF FLORIDA? >> WE'VE LOOKED AT SITES AN DONE SITES IN THE WEST COAST ORLANDO JACKSONVILLE LOOKING AT DOWN IN MIAMI AS WELL. DEMAND IS THERE. >> OKAY. RIGHT. SO AGAINLY WITH THAT YOU'RE GETTING I'M CONCERNED MORE THE TRAFFIC TYPE. ARE YOU GETTING 18-WHEELER TRUCKS CARGO ADVANCE? GIVE ME IDEA WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE. >> SURE. IT'S A MIXTURE. IT IS HEAVY OPEN THE LARGER TRACTOR-TRAILERS FOR THE STANDARD SPEC WAREHOUSE SPACES THE LARGER BUILDINGS. THERE ARE TWO WHAT WE CALL FLEX WAREHOUSE SPACES THAT ARE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF MORE LOCAL CONTRACTOR TYPES WITH THOSE TYPES OF CARGO VANS YOU'RE THINKING OF BUT GENERALLY IT'S HEAVIER TRUCK PHOTOGRAPHING. >> MORE A DID, ACCESS POINT IS THAT WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT? >> RIGHT. >> OKAY. J. JOHNSON. >> ST. LUCIE COUNTY I HEARD YOU HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THEM, COULD YOU FILL US IN ON DETAILS? >> SURE MANY WE HAVE BEEN IN ONGOING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COUNTY RELATED TO TRANSIT OP PARCEL WE ARE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY WHAT MAY UNDER ENDED UP THE BEST RESOLUTION BOTH PARTIES AN THOSE DISCUSSIONS ARE ONGOING. WE UNDERSTAND THEY HAVE A PROPOSED PROJECT ON THAT EASTERN PARCEL AND WE ARE WORKING WITH THEM TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THAT PROJECT AN OURS HARMONIOUS IN GENERAL. >> I WAS AFFORDED THAT CONVERSATION YOU KNOW BASED ON YOUR NEEDS OR YOUR PROPOSED PLAN MORE THE PROPERTY IT LOOKED LIKE A GOOD MATCH SO I'M ENCOURAGED TO HEAR YOU'RE STILL IN CONVERSATION WITH THEM. >> YES, SIR. >> DO YOU KNOW WHAT JURISDICTION -- I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THE TRAFFIC SITUATION. DO YOU KNOW WHAT JURISDICTIONS [01:55:04] HAVE HEARD THIS REQUEST AS FAR AS D.O.T. TURNPIKE AUTHORITY TPO, ST. LUCIE COUNTY? >> FOR THE INTERCHANGE? >> FOR JUST THE PROJECT IN GENERAL. >> ST. LUCIE COUNTY AS FAR AS I KNOW IS JUST THE COUNTY. >> AND HOW MANY RESPONSES HAVE YOU HAD FROM THEM AND HOW MANY MORE DO YOU ANTICIPATE? >> WE'VE HAD ONE ROUND OF COMMENTS AND WE ANTICIPATE OUR TRAFFIC EVENING NEAR HAS SOLVED ALL THE ISSUES BY WORKING WITH THEY'RE RELIEF CONSULTANT SO RESPECT APPROVAL NEXT SUBMISSION. >> THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE PLEASE COME FORWARD. SEEING NO ONE, ANYTHING LAST THING YOU WANT TO SAY, ANYTHING? COMMISSIONERS? LAST CHANCE. OKAY. >> WE APPRECIATE WORKING WITH STAFF. >> THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU MA'AM. I'M CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING AN ENTERTAIN DISCUSSION. >> MADAM MAYOR IF I COULD JUST DISCUSSION POINT BEFORE WE MOVE INTO MOTIONS IF WE DO WE HAVE HAD LOT OF CONVERSATION AT TPO ABOUT THE INTERCHANGES THAT ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED AN THE TRAFFIC UPTICK THAT'S GOING TO BE A PART OF THIS PROJECT. ONE OF THE COMMITMENTS FROM EACH MEMBER OF THE TPO INCLUDING AT LEAST I THINK ONE OR TWO OF US HERE FOR SURE I THINK IT WAS UNANIMOUS WE NEED TO HAVE SOME REAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS OF MIDWAY ROAD AND THE TURNPIKE. THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO TRAVERSE THAT. NOW I'LL SAY THAT ALL THAT TO SAY THAT THE COMMITMENT AND THE CONVERSATIONS RELIED UPON FUNDING OF A NEW INTERCHANGE. WE HAD A PRESENTATION FROM THE TURNPIKE ENTERPRISE IN ADDITION TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TRYING TO LEVERAGE SOME FUNDS AND COME TOGETHER, WHICH HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE THE TURNPIKE ENTERPRISE STANDS LOAN IN ITS BUSINESS AN ITS BUSINESS MODEL BUT THE D.O.T. UNDERSTANDS HOW GROWTH HAS BEEN HAPPENING AND THAT THE TURNPIKE ENTERPRISE IS LIMITED IN WHAT MODUS OPERANDI THEY CAN SECURE THROUGH FEDERAL FUNDING AND OR STATE FUNDING SO THERE'S BEEN A COMMITMENT AMONGST MANY ENTITIES FOR IMPROVING THE INTERCHANGE AND APPROVING MIDWAY ROAD WHICH IS A COUNTY ROAD TO HELP PARCELS TO HELP DEVELOPMENTS LIKE THIS BE VERY SUCCESSFUL AND SO THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BEST AND MOST APPROPRIATE USE WITHIN THEIR OWN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY HERE. SO THE SAME, I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT. I JUST THINK THERE'S MORE TO BE DONE WITH THE TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT ON A FINANCIAL BASIS AND I'M A PROPERTY RIGHTS PERSON AT THE SAME TIME OF A PLANNER AT HEART THAT LIKES TO PLAN AHEAD MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT THE APPROPRIATE INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROHIBIT TRANSPORTATION NETWORK TO ACCOMMODATE 1.2 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF SOMETHING. SO, WHILE I'M READY TO GIVE THEM A GOOD SEND OFF AND LET'S GO BUILD AND BE PRODUCTIVE, AT THE SAME TIME I'M HESITANT FOR JUST YOU KNOW MEETING OR TWO BECAUSE I NEED MORE INFORMATION. I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU. THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION ELEMENTS PAUSE I THINK THAT THERE HAS TO BE A BROADER DISCUSSION. IF WE DON'T START AT SOME POINT AT SOME MEETING WITH SOME DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING OUR PARTNERS WITHIN THE TRANSPORTATION I MEAN THE TURNPIKE ENTERPRISE AND D.O.T. PARTNERS WHICH HAS BEEN GOING ON AT THE PO, THE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION, I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START. I STARTED READING THROUGH THE BACK IT I REMEMBER THAT MEETING AND THE COMMITMENT ME RAISING MY HAND SAYING WE HAVE TO HAVE REAL CONVERSATION ABOUT MIDWAY ROAD TURNPIKE INTERCHANGE AND I BELIEVE THIS IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. SO THAT'S WHERE I AM. >> I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS ON THE TPO, WE PUSHED REALLY HARD FOR THE TURNPIKE AUTHORITY TO APPROVE AN INTERCHANGE AT MIDWAY ROAD BECAUSE WE WANTED THE PRESSURE TAKEN OVER OKEECHOBEE ROAD AND BECAUSE WE KNEW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. WE HAD WILLOW LAKES GOING OUT THERE. THAT'S GOING TO BE A HEAVILY USED CORRIDOR. SO, I KNOW THAT THAT WAS PUSHING AND AT THAT TIME THE TURNPIKE AUTHORITY WAS I FELT LIKE GOING TO EITHER CHOOSE CROSSTOWN EXPRESSWAY OR MIDWAY ROAD BUT NOT BOTH. THAT'S WHAT I FELT THEN. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY MADE THAT DECISION. I WAS READING BETWEEN THE LINES [02:00:01] AND THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS THERE. >> SO THE ANSWER IS THERE'S NO FUNDING DIRECTLY FROM THEM. THEY HAVE NO MONEY SET ASIDE FOR THAT, AND WHAT I GATHERED WAS THAT THEY WERE LEANING FORWARD MIDWAY OVER ANY OTHER IS WHAT I HEARD. THAT'S WHAT I HEARDORT PIERCE, FLO >> THIS WAS BROACHED, I REMEMBER SPECIFICALLY MAKING THE ARGUMENT ABOUT WILLOW LAKES. THEY WERE CLUELESS ABOUT THE 800 OR SO UNITS GOING IN AND THE IMPACT. BECAUSE THE NUMBERS THAT WE WERE TALKING AT THAT POINT DIDN'T IN MY OPINION SEEM TO PHASE THEM AT THAT POINT OF MOVING TOWARDS ANYTHING. YOU'RE RIGHT. IT'S NOT IN THE PLANS. THEY HAVE NO MONEY. WE'VE LEARNED THINGS ABOUT HOW THEY GO ABOUT FUNDING THESE TYPES OF VENTURES. I THINK IT MAYBE WILL WARRANT A CONVERSATION THAT WE MAYBE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH MR. BUCKWALL FROM THE CITY COMMISSION, TO IMPRESS UPON AND HELP HIM HELP US HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE TURNPIKE ASSOCIATION AT THIS POINT. BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A CENTRAL LOCATION OF A FIRE ENGINE. AND I REMEMBER MAKING THE EMPHATIC ARGUMENT OF THE RUN TIMES, LITERALLY RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, THEY WOULD HAVE TO EITHER COME BACK THROUGH AND GO UP TO COME AROUND TO GET TO THE TURNPIKE. OR THEY BRING ANOTHER ENGINE OUT OF ANOTHER PART OF THE COUNTY. BUT CENTRAL IS GOING TO BE LOCATED OUT THERE. WE DO KNOW THAT ARE THE PLANS. CENTRAL OPERATIONS AND HEAVIER UNITS, THEY WERE UNPHASED BY THAT ACTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE WERE TRYING -- AT LEAST WE WERE TRYING TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND. I THINK WE PROBABLY, YOU'RE RIGHT, COMMISSIONER, NEED TO HAVE ANOTHER CONVERSATION HERE, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THEY'VE BEEN HERE. I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND PLUG THIS LAST PIECE IN BECAUSE THIS WAS NOT KNOWN AT THAT TIME THAT WE'RE PUTTING A MILLION SQUARE FEET OUT THERE. WHICH IS MY QUESTION OF WHAT TYPES OF TRUCKS ARE WE RUNNING IN AND OUT HERE. IT MAKES SENSE, INSTEAD OF COMING BACK THROUGH THE CITY TO GO OUT THAT WAY. YOU HAVE OPTIONS OF 95 AND THE TURNPIKE RIGHT THERE. I AGREE WITH YOU, I THINK WE DO NEED TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION. AND I THINK WE NEED TO INVITE THEM IN TO DO THAT. AND I'D RATHER DO THAT SOONER THAN LATER TO START THE PROCESS, BECAUSE I GOT THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY DON'T REAL QUICK AT ALL. SO WE NEED TO START HAVING THAT CONVERSATION AND APPLY THAT PRESSURE BEFORE WE PUT SHOVELS IN THE GROUND ON WILLOW LAKES, WHICH IS COMING PRETTY SOON, I'M ASSUMING. >> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? >> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT TO THE APPLICANT HERE FOR ME THE PROJECT IS VERY FAVORABLE. THERE ARE ELEMENTS WITHIN OUR CITY THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT OF A PROJECT THIS SIZE, I KNOW, YOU'VE PUT ON RECORD THAT THESE ARE THE TRIPS AND ROUTES OF THE TRIPS AND WE UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE WITHIN OUR OWN CITY TODAY. I THINK THERE ARE MISSING ELEMENTS FOR ME. I VOICED THOSE ELEMENTS. I KNOW YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD THEM OR TAKEN NOTES ON THEM. BUT I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO AFTER THAT INFORMATION, AND GET THAT FOR US, SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE. NOT WE. THAT I CAN HAVE A LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE THAT WE ARE FORECASTING AND HAVING A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR THE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK. THAT IS JUST NOT TAXPAYER DRIVEN ONLY. WE'RE ALL PARTNERS IN THIS PROCESS. I KNOW EVENTUALLY YOU WILL BE PAYING TAXES ON THAT LAND, I UNDERSTAND THAT PART. THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR CONCERN, LITERALLY IN THE LAST FOUR MONTHS, THIS HAS BEEN A TOPIC OF GREAT CONVERSATION. SO I DON'T KNOW IF -- WHAT THE ELEMENT IS, MADAM MAYOR. IF ANYONE ELSE IS READY TO TALK ABOUT YOU KNOW, A TABLING OR WHAT ARE THE OTHER COMMISSIONER -- I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM A COUPLE OF THE COMMISSIONERS. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES. >> I'LL CHIME IN. I SAT BACK AND LISTENED. SO THAT I UNDERSTAND, THIS APPLICANT HAS SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL AND ARE WE NOW TRYING TO ASK THAT APPLICANT TO GO BACK WITH THE TURNPIKE OR WHATEVER, TO TRY TO SEE IF THEY CAN GET THAT CHANGED FROM MIDWAY AND THE TURNPIKE? IS THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW? I KNOW WE NEED ONE. ARE WE TRYING TO PUT THAT ON THIS APPLICANT? >> NO. NOT TO EVALUATE WHETHER [02:05:05] WE NEED ONE. BUT WE NEED TO SPEAK TO THE APPROPRIATE AGENCY, WHICH I BELIEVE WOULD BE MR. BUCKWALL, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DIALLED IN ON THE ACTUAL DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION. 9I THINK THERE ARE ELEMENTS OF OUR DIFFERENT SILOS OF GOVERNMENT THAT WE MISS THE OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE THIS UNIFIED AND COLLABORATE. WE DON'T GET ALL OF THE INFORMATION ALWAYS BACK FROM IT AS FAR AS HOW WE DEVELOP OUR COMMUNITY. >> RIGHT. THAT IS WHAT I'M GETTING AT. SO ANY NEW APPLICANT THAT COMES TO THAT AREA, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS WE NEED TO ASK OUR CITY PEOPLE TO SAY HEY, WHAT ABOUT THIS EXCHANGE AT THE TURNPIKE GOING FORWARD? I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT -- >> YES, SIR. FROM MY SEAT, ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY. >> OKAY. SO ANY NEW APPLICANT THAT COMES IN THAT WANTS TO DEVELOP IN THAT PART OF THE CITY, WE'RE TRYING TO NOW TO ASK THEM TO GET AN EXCHANGE TO MIDWAY AND THE TURNPIKE? OR AT LEAST PUT THAT OUT TO THE APPLICANT HEY, IF YOU'RE COMING IN, YOU NEED TO GO TO THE TURNPIKE TOC AND EVERYBODY TO COME IN AND GET THAT -- SEE IF THEY CAN GET IT. >> SOME OTHER PEOPLE WANT TO TALK. CAN WE DO THAT? >> YEAH. >> I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. I'VE READ THE RECOMMENDATION. I READ EVERYTHING THAT HAS COME. BUT NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING OUTSIDE OF WHAT THIS APPLICANT HAS SUBMITTED. >> YEAH. >> HE'S DONE EVERYTHING THEY THINK THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO. >> WHAT THEY'VE BEEN TOLD TO DO. NOW WE'RE TRYING TO THROW ANOTHER PART, I GUESS PART FOUR TO THIS. AND I'M JUST TRYING TO SEE WHERE ARE WE AND WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GO. THAT IS MY QUESTION. >> ALL RIGHT. COMMISSIONER >> THIS CONVERSATION NEEDS TO BE HAD AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT. BECAUSE IT IS MOVING INTO IDENTIFYING SITUATIONS AND PROBLEMS THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE. BUT RIGHT HERE AND NOW, THIS IS A QUASI JUDICIAL HEARING AND I HAVE TO DEPEND ON THE TESTIMONY THAT I HEAR, AND OTHER THAN MY COMMISSIONER WHO SEEMS TO HAVE HAD A LITTLE TESTIMONY DOWN THERE HIMSELF, I AGREE WITH THAT. FROM WHAT I HAVE HEARD, I AM NOW OUTSIDE WHAT I THINK MY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO MAYBE HAVE TO WEIGH INTO THE CITY ATTORNEY. WE ARE ON A DIFFERENT SET OF PLANS. THOSE ISSUES MAY BE RELEVANT. THEY REALLY AREN'T RELEVANT TO THE DECISION WE MAKE TONIGHT. AND THAT IS JUST WHAT I THINK. I'M GOING TO ASK THE ATTORNEY ON THAT ISSUE AS FAR AS QUASI JUDICIAL WHAT IS -- HOW DO WE PROCEED? >> MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONER PERONA. SORRY, THIS CHAIR IS VERY LOW. I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GUYS CAN SEE ME. SO I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING TO WHAT COMMISSIONER PERONA SAID, THIS IS QUASI JUDICIAL. YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER THE EVIDENCE PLACED BEFORE YOU. I WOULD REMIND YOU THAT YOU DON'T HAVE -- OF COURSE YOU CAN USE YOUR COMMON SENSE. BUT YOU DON'T HAVE A TRAFFIC STUDY OR ANY OTHER EXPERT REPORT BEFORE YOU. LAYING THIS DETAIL OUT ON A TABLE. I THINK YOU WANT TO BE CAREFUL TO MAKE YOUR DECISION BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO YOU. AT THIS POINT, I WOULD CERTAINLY, IF IT'S UP TO THE APPLICANT, IF THEY WISH TO CONTINUE IT TO A DATE CERTAIN, TO SEE IF THEY CAN ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES. BUT ABSENT THEM CONSENTING AND STIPULATING TO THAT, YOU WOULD HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION BASED ON THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED TO YOU AND A DENIAL WOULD HAVE TO BE BASED ON COMPETENT SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. >> COMMISSIONER SEA JOHNSON. >> THAT IS MY EARLY LESSON ON COMPETENT SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE, WHICH WE HAVE NONE AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT TO DENY THIS MOVING FORWARD. I THINK IT'S WELL WARRANTED. YOU HEAR OUR CONCERNS. I THINK OUR ACTION PASS ITEM COMMISSIONER JOHNSON IS THAT WE NEED TO GET MR. BUCKWALL IN HERE, BECAUSE WE KNOW THIS IS COMING AS A PROBLEM AND MAYBE WE FIGURE OUT HOW WE DO THAT WITH OUR AGENDA MOVING FORWARD TO BEGIN TO GET SOME COMMUNITY LEVERAGE ON THIS SITUATION. AND WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO [02:10:02] AGAIN, TALK TO OUR COUNTY PARTNERS AS WELL. THERE IS A LOT OF GROWTH GOING ON OUT THERE. MADAM MAYOR, I'M READY TO MAKE A MOTION. >> SOMETIMES WHEN WE SAY WE TALK TO THE COUNTY, ACTUALLY TPO SHOULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THAT DISCUSSION. AND WE CAN'T CONTROL THAT BECAUSE THAT IS A COMMUNICATION GLITCH THAT I THINK THEY NEED TO FIX. BUT IT'S NOT OUR PLACE TO FIX IT. COMMISSIONER J JOHNSON. >> I UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS AND I UNDERSTAND IT WELL. I DIDN'T HEAR SOME EVIDENCE THAT COULD SWAY ME FOR AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE BECAUSE I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION MISSING FROM WHAT I'M SEEING. AND WHAT I WAS SAYING BEFORE IS I'M READY FOR THE PROJECT TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT MAYBE THE APPLICANT IS THE ONE, LIKE MS. EARLY SAID, THAT HAS TO MAKE THE DECISION THAT WE NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE WORK DONE IF THEY'RE WILLING TO DO THAT, TO BRING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO THE PLATE HERE. BUT THIS IS A DEVELOPMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT OR REGIONAL IMPACT ON THE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK SPECIFICALLY, BASED ON WHAT THEY SHOWED IN A DOCUMENT IN THE PUBLIC RECORD. I MEAN, THEY TALK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF TRIPS, BUT THEN AGAIN, WE DIDN'T GET INTO THE SCIENCE OF THE TRIPS. AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT -- I DON'T REMEMBER THE PHRASE. THE WAREHOUSE TYPES AND/OR WHO THE TENANTS WOULD BE. IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, DON'T GET ME WRONG. I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO CAST A VOTE STRONGLY IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. I THINK THERE IS MORE INFORMATION NEEDED. THAT IS WHERE I STAND. >> I JUST DON'T THINK THAT THAT IS THE APPLICANT'S FAULT AT THIS PARTICULAR -- SORRY, ARE YOU WANTING TO SAY SOMETHING? NO. IT LOOKED LIKE YOU DID. OH, GOSH. I THOUGHT YOU WERE -- >> NO. NO. >> JUMPING TO SAY SOMETHING. OKAY. OKAY. SO WHERE ARE WE, COMMISSIONERS? IS SOMEBODY WILLING TO MAKE A MOTION? >> MAKE A MOTION, MADAM MAYOR. JUST SO I'M CLEAR, I UNDERSTAND MY COLLEAGUE, SO I'M CLEAR, I'M LOOKING AT A BOARD RIGHT NOW IN FRONT OF ME, I'VE READ IT AND IT SAYS STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS. IT LISTS, ONE, 2, THREE. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, IN THESE TYPES OF HEARINGS, WHEN I GET HERE, THAT THE STAFF HAS REVIEWED EVERYTHING, ALL OF THE DOCUMENTATIONS AND BEFORE THEY COME TO US, THEY COME TO US AFTER REVIEWING EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED, OR THEY'VE TOLD AN APPLICANT TO DO AND THEY COME AT US WITH RECOMMENDATIONS. >> ALSO, THE PLANNING BOARD. >> PLANNING BOARD. ALL THE STEPS THAT AN APPLICANT HAS TO GO THROUGH BEFORE THEY GET TO US AND THIS HEARING. WHEN THEY GET HERE, MR. GILMORE SAYS SOMETHING, APPLICANTS COME UP AND THEN THERE ARE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS. AND MY UNDERSTANDING OF THIS HEARING, THIS TYPE OF HEARING, IS ALL THE EVIDENCE THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO VOTE ON HAS BEEN SUBMITTED. AND IT'S GONE THROUGH SEVERAL BOARDS AND THERE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM MY STAFF AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE SAYING YAY OR NAY TO. SO TO MAKE AN APPLICANT COME NOW AND TRY TO ADD EVIDENCE THAT WASN'T PRESENTED IN MY PACKAGE OR ANY OTHER PACKAGE, I THINK IS UNFAIR. I AGREE THAT MAYBE THE SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CHANGED AT ANOTHER MEETING, AT ANOTHER MEETING OR WHATEVER. WE NEED TO SAY HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO SEE. BECAUSE I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE NEED. BUT I THINK IN A HEARING THAT WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO CONSIDER EVIDENCE THAT HAS NOT BEEN PRESENTED IN THESE PACKAGES AND BEFORE AN APPLICANT COMES OR NOT IN THIS REPORT. SO AM I -- I'M LOOKING AT THE CITY ATTORNEY. AM I UNDERSTANDING THIS QUASI JUDICIAL HEARING CORRECTLY? >> GOING BACK TO THE INSTRUCTION THAT I READ AT THE BEGINNING OF THE HEARING, YOU'RE TO ACT MORE LIKE JUDGES THAN LEGISLATORS. SO YOU SHOULD BE -- JUST LIKE A JURY THAT CAN USE THEIR COMMON SENSE AND APPLY YOUR COMMON SENSE TO THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED, YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY A TRIER OF FACT. AND USING YOUR COMMON SENSE IN CONJUNCTION WITH WHAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO YOU. >> COMMISSIONERS. >> MADAM MAYOR. I MOVE FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM 12B WITH THE FOLLOWING THREE STAFF CONDITIONS, AS STATED AND SEEN ON THE SCREEN. [02:15:03] >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES. >> YES, MA'AM. >> COMMISSIONER J JOHNSON. >> NO, MA'AM, DUE TO THE LACK OF TRAFFIC IMPACT COMPONENTS. >> MAYOR HUDSON. >> YES, MA'AM. [c. Legislative Hearing - Correction of a scriveners error on the Conditional Use approval from March 1, 2021 for the operation of a 33-machine arcade amusement center at 2051 South US Highway 1 in Fort Pierce, FL. The floor plan presented and approved by the City Commission actually showed 45 machine slots rather than the 33 machines included in the narrative. The property is zoned General Commercial (C-3). Parcel ID: 2415-313-0005-010-9. ] >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT WE HAVE A LEGISLATIVE HEARING WHICH IS A CORRECTION OF SCRIVNERS ERROR ON CONDITIONAL USE APPROVAL FROM MARCH 1ST, 2021, FOR THE OPERATION OF 33-MACHINE ARCADE AMUSEMENT CENTER. THE FLOORPLAN PRESENTED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION SHOWED 45 MACHINE SLOTS RATHER THAN THE 33 MACHINES INCLUDED IN THE NARRATIVE. THIS IS AN ITEM THAT I BROUGHT FORWARD BECAUSE IT CAME TO OUR ATTENTION, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WERE IN THE BUILDING OR THE BUSINESS TAX PROCESS. SO IF YOU CAN GO TO THE FIRST SLIDE, BENNIS. ON MARCH 1ST, YOU GUYS APPROVED A CONDITIONAL USE APPROVAL FOR A 33 MACHINE ARCADE AMUSEMENT CENTER. AS THEY APPLIED FOR THEIR BUSINESS TAX AND ARCADE PERMIT, WE DISCOVERED THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF MACHINES, 31 SINGLE PLAYER MACHINES AND THEN THEY HAD A TABLE OF FOUR PLAYERS AND TABLE OF EIGHT PLAYERS. THOSE MULTI-PLAYER TABLES WERE COUNTED AS SINGLE MACHINES DURING THAT PLANNING APPROVAL PROCESS. WE CHARGE AND ISSUE A PERMIT STICKER FOR EACH COIN SLOT ON THE MACHINE. BECAUSE THAT BASICALLY ACCURATELY REPRESENTS THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS ACCOMMODATED WITHIN THE ARCADE. YOU CAN SEE, THIS IS THE SLIDE THAT WAS INITIALLY SUBMITTED AND APPROVED AS PART OF THEIR ORIGINAL CONDITIONAL USE AND IT WAS TOO LITTLE TO SEE, SO I JUST MARKED IT UP. SO IF YOU'LL RECALL, IT WAS ORIGINALLY IT WAS 31 MACHINES AND THEN WE ADDED THE TWO MORE MACHINES FOR 33 MACHINES. BECAUSE WE WERE ADDING THOSE TWO MULTI-PLAYER MACHINES. SO STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE CITY COMMISSION RECONSIDER AND INCREASE THE ORIGINAL APPROVAL OF 33 MACHINES TO THE 45 MACHINES, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WAS SUBMITTED ON THEIR FLOORPLAN. YOU KNOW, IT'S MY POSITION THAT IT CLEARLY INDICATED THAT THERE WAS 45 PLAYERS WOULD BE ACCOMMODATED ON-SITE AND THAT SHOULD BE THE NUMBER OF MACHINES APPROVED AS OPPOSED TO THE 33. IT WAS JUST SIMPLY A SCRIVNERS ERROR WHEN CLASSIFYING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MACHINES. I TALKED EXTENSIVELY WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT ABOUT THIS. THEY HAVE NO OBJECTION TO THE CORRECTION. WE'RE ALL NOW ON THE SAME PAGE, ON HOW THESE MACHINES, HOW THESE ARE COMING FORWARD. THE MULTI-PLAYER MACHINES, WE'VE APPROVED THEM IN THE PAST, THEY HAVE BEEN APPROVED YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALLY, BUT THEY'RE KIND OF A NEW THING. YOU KNOW, ORIGINALLY IT WAS ALWAYS A SINGLE PLAYER MACHINE. BUT THE THEORY IS, IF YOU DON'T DO IT PER SLOT, SOMEBODY COULD CONCEIVABLY CHANGE OUT EVERY ONE OF THEIR SINGLE PLAYER MACHINES INTO A MULTI-PLAYER MACHINE. I DON'T THINK THAT IS THE INTENT OF ANYTHING THAT YOU'RE LOOKING TO APPROVE. >> SO DOES THIS AFFECT ANYTHING ELSE IN TERMS OF WHAT WE APPROVED? >> NO. AS FAR AS PARKING >> PARKING. OR ANY OTHER -- >> THE PLAZA HAS AMPLE PARKING. SO IT WOULDN'T AFFECT IT. IT WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL SPACES. THE GATEWAY PLAZA HAS TONS OF PARKING. >> BECAUSE YOU CHARGE PER -- >> THEY GET A PER SLOT STICKER. THAT IS WHAT WE CHARGE FOR. AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE REQUIRED. AND ANY TIME, WHEN WE DO THIS ANNUALLY, WE GO IN AND INSPECT, WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE NUMBER OF MACHINES THEY'RE ALLOWED TO HAVE. SO JUST THE ONLY WAY WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW, THE UNIT ISN'T GETTING OVERRUN WITH MORE PEOPLE THAN IT WAS EVER INTENDED TO ACCOMMODATE. >> ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? >> JUST QUICK QUESTION. I HEARD IT CORRECTLY HERE, FROM AN ORDINANCE STANDPOINT, MRS. EARLY, ARE WE WELL WITHIN OUR CONFINES WITH THAT? RIGHT NOW IT'S AMUSEMENT? >> NO, SIR. YOU'RE NOT VIOLATING ANY ORDINANCES. >> AS FAR AS THE ZONING FOR APPROPRIATENESS OF POPULATION INSIDE THE FACILITIES, WE'RE WELL WITHIN THAT AND THE FIRE CODES AND NOTHING AS A RESULT? BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY NOW THERE WILL BE WHAT, 45 PEOPLE IN THERE PERHAPS RIGHT NOW. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CURRENTLY CORRECT. >> THE ONLY REGULATION THAT PROBABLY WOULD CHANGE -- WELL, WILL CHANGE, IS JUST THE NUMBER OF REQUIRED PARKING SPACES. AND AS I STATED, THEY WOULD [02:20:04] HAVE NINE PARKING SPACES IN THAT PLAZA. >> JUST NINE. NO ADDITIONAL LIKE ASSISTED PARKING, HANDICAPPED PARKING, WE HAVE TO PROVIDE ANYMORE THAN THAT, BIKE RACKS OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE? >> NO. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> MR. GILMORE, REMEMBER THE TESTIMONY THAT DAY, THEY TALKED ABOUT SECURITY GUARDS OR HIRING SECURITY GUARDS. THAT IS NOT IN OUR CODE. BUT I'M ASSUMING THAT IS STILL THE PLAN? NOTHING HAS CHANGED WITH THE BUSINESS UNIT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF STAFF BEFORE I OPEN THE PUBLIC? THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, PLEASE COME FORWARD. SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION. >> MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE. >> SECOND >> SECOND. CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. >> ROLL CALL. GAA [d. Legislative Hearing - Ordinance 22-013 amending the Community Development District boundary of the Preserve at Savannah Lakes. SECOND READING] HEARING ON ORDINANCE 22-013, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA AMENDING ORDINANCE 2021-035, FLORIDA STATUTES, AMENDING THE EXTERNAL BOUNDARIES OF THE DISTRICT, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, PROVIDING FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE CORRECTION OF SCRIVNERS ERROR AND EFFECTIVE DATE. SECOND READ. >> ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON THIS ISSUE, PLEASE COME FORWARD. SEEING NO ONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION. >> MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> MOTION AND A SECOND. CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. >> ROLL CALL. >> OKAY. [a. Resolution 22-R19 reappointing Fran Ross as a Special Magistrate for the City of Fort Pierce.] NEXT WE HAVE RESOLUTION 2022-R19, RESOLUTION REAPP REAPPOINTING FRAN HARRIS, PROVIDING FOR EFFECTIVE DATES. >> FRAN ROSS. >> OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION? >> MOVE APPROVAL. >> MOTION AND A SECOND. >> CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. >> ROLL CALL. [b. Resolution 22-R21 directing an election to be held to provide for the placement of a proposition calling for Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemptions for the City of Fort Pierce, Florida on August 23, 2022 Primary Election Ballot.] >> NEXT WE HAVE RESOLUTION 22-R21, CITY COMMISSION, CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA DIRECTING AN ELECTION TO BE HELD TO PROVIDE FOR A REPLACEMENT OF THE PROPOSITION CALLING FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AD VALOREM TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR AUGUST 23RD, 2022, PRIMARY ELECTION BALLOT. >> ANY DISCUSSION? >> THIS OPPORTUNITY BASICALLY CONTINUES OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOL KIT. EVERY TEN YEARS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND PLACE THIS INITIATIVE ON THE BALLOT FOR THE VOTERS OF FT. PIERCE TO DECIDE IF TAX EXEMPTION IS A TOOL THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO USE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES. THIS TIME WE HAVE COME TO THE END OF OUR TEN-YEAR CYCLE AND WE ARE PROPOSING TO PLACE THIS AGAIN ON THE BALLOT FOR AUGUST 23RD, 2022, IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION. TO DETERMINE IF THE VOTERS STILL WOULD LIKE TO UTILIZE THIS AS ONE OF OUR TOOL KIT FUNCTIONS. >> ANY QUESTIONS OF MR. MIMS? THE COUNTY IS ALSO DOING THIS AT THIS TIME. >> YES, MA'AM. WE'RE DOING THIS IN COOPERATION WITH ST. LUCIE COUNTY. PORT ST. LUCIE, THEY EXPIRED LAST YEAR, SO THEY HAD TO MOVE FORWARD A YEAR BEFORE WE DID. THEY WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR PURSUIT TO UTILIZE THIS. AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY. HOPEFULLY THIS CAN BE ANOTHER ONE OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES. YES, MA'AM. >> ANY DISCUSSION OR I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION? >> I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND. CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. >> ROLL CALL. >> NEXT WE HAVE AN APPROVAL OF [c. Approval of Fort Pierce Utilities Authority Rate Increase Resolutions; each Resolution shall be approved as a separate agenda item.] THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AUTHORITY RATE INCREASE RESOLUTION, EACH RESOLUTION SHALL BE APPROVED AS A SEPARATE AGENDA ITEM. FOUR RESOLUTIONS. >> WELCOME. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR SITTING THROUGH ALL OF OUR OTHER BUSINESS TO COME TO THE MAIN EVENT. >> GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS. MRS. EARLY, MR. MIMS. I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY. TODAY I HAVE THE LEADERSHIP [02:25:02] TEAM WITH ME, SPECIFICALLY RACHEL TENANT SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM MANAGER, BARBARA MICA, DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. WE ARE HERE WITH A PROPOSAL TO HELP RESHAPE FPUA AND THE CITY OF FT. PIERCE. THIS PROPOSAL WILL HELP GROW ALL OF OUR BUSINESS UNITS, WATER, WASTE WATER, GAS, ELECTRIC AND FIBER, TO THE ULTIMATE BENEFIT OF OUR RESIDENTS. TODAY WE ARE ASKING FOR RATE ADJUSTMENTS SUCH THAT WE CAN BORROW FUNDING REQUIRED FOR THESE EXPANSION PROJECTS AND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW WASTE WATER PLANT ON ENERGY LANE. IN AN INDUSTRIAL AREA. OUR GOAL IS TO BE PROACTIVE WITH THE RELOCATION OF THE NEW WASTE WATER PLANT. AS THE CURRENT PLANT HAS BEEN PUT ON THE FDUP SHORT LIST OF PLANTS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO NEW REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS OR WE HAVE TO RELOCATE THE PLANT. EXPANDING THE UTILITIES IS IMPORTANT FOR TWO REASONS. THE FIRST IS A BROADER CUSTOMER BASE, WHICH ALLOWS US TO KEEP RATES LOWER. THE SECOND IS EXPANDING OUR UTILITY, EXPAND THE BOUNDARY OF OUR GREAT CITY. WE UNDERSTAND THIS STRATEGIC APPROACH TO GROWTH AND THESE REQUESTS ARE THE FIRST STEP. RECENTLY WE HELD TWO TOWN HALL MEETINGS WITH A PASSIONATE GROUP OF COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS. THIS WAS OUR TEAM'S FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH THESE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS. PROTECTING OUR WATERWAYS AND PROACTIVE APPROACH TOWARDS MOVING THE WASTE WATER PLANT WERE WELL RECEIVED. TODAY WE ARE HEAR BECAUSE CITY COMMISSION, DIRECTED US STAFF, TO FIND A SOLUTION TO MOVE THE WASTE WATER PLANT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. WE ARE ASKING FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE RATE ADJUSTMENTS. AGAIN, WE UNDERSTAND THE MISSION IN FRONT OF US AND WE ARE READY. NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO RACHEL AND BARBARA FOR OUR PRESENTATION. >> THANK YOU. MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, MR. MIMS. THANK YOU ALSO FOR HAVING US HERE TONIGHT. JUST TO REITERATE WHAT MR. SISNERO SAID, WE ARE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT FPUA PROJECTS, MOVING THE WASTE WATER PLANT, TO TALK ABOUT THE SERIES 2022 BOND THAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO PROCEED WITH THESE IMPORTANT PROJECTS. AND TO TALK ABOUT THE RATE SUFFICIENCY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR US TO PROCURE THAT SERIES 2022 BOND. BEFORE WE GET INTO THIS PRESENTATION, I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO LOOK AT THE FORT PIERCE MOMENTUM. THIS WAS ON THE PRESENTATION THAT WE PRESENTED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. I LIKE IT FOR THE CONTEXT THAT IT PROVIDES. ST. LUSSY COUNTY IS THE FIFTH FASTEST GROWING COUNTY IN FLORIDA. TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES LIKE AMI, AND TAKING A LOOK AT FIBER INFRASTRUCTURE TO BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AND PROVIDE INTERNET ACCESS TO ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS. AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE A WASTE WATER PLANT THAT NEEDS TO BE MOVED OFF OF THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON, FIRST, FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PURPOSES, A WATERFRONT UTILITY LIKE OUR WASTE WATER PLANT RISKS FLOODS FROM SEA LEVEL RISE AND NATURAL DISASTERS, SECOND, FOR REGULATORY REASONS, THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION HAS PLACED OUR WASTE WATER PLANT ON A LIST OF TEN PLANTS REQUIRED TO UPDATE AND/OR MOVE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. AND THERE IS RENEWED INTEREST IN THE WATERFRONT PROPERTY FOR DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE OF A WASTE WATER PLANT. THIS PRESENTATION WILL TAKE PLACE IN TWO PARTS. I WILL BEGIN WITH A REVIEW OF FPOA'S POSITIVE FISCAL POSITION TODAY. REVIEW OF OUR FUNDING NEEDS TO CARRY OUT THESE PROJECTS. FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND THE PATHS THAT WE ARE PURSUING. INCLUDING THE SERIES 2022 BOND, AS WELL AS AGGRESSIVE GRANTS AND APPROPRIATIONS EFFORTS. THEN WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE RATE SUFFICIENCY RECOMMENDATIONS NEEDED FOR THE SERIES 2022 BOND. AND A DEEPER DIVE INTO SAMPLE BILLS TO SHOW WHAT DO THESE RATE RECOMMENDATIONS ACTUALLY MEAN FOR US AND OUR RESIDENTS. AND THEN I'LL TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE BEFORE PASSING IT OVER TO BARBARA MICAH, THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. SHE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THE PROJECTED CAPITAL NEEDS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND A MORE FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL LEVEL. A QUICK REVIEW OF THE RATE ADJUSTMENTS FROM FPUA OVER TIME. REVIEW OF THE CUSTOMER NOTIFICATIONS ABOUT TODAY'S PROPOSED RATE ADJUSTMENTS. FINALLY, THE RESOLUTIONS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND VOTE. TODAY, FPUA HAS A VERY STRONG BOND PORTFOLIO. [02:30:05] WE HAVE AN A+RATING. A STRONG BOND PORTFOLIO MEANS LOWER INTEREST RATES ON OUR BOND. WE ALSO HAVE A STRONG AND GROWING GRANT PORTFOLIO. WE HAVE $8.2 MILLION IN AWARDED AND/OR ACTIVE GRANTS FOR VARIOUS NEEDS AT THIS TIME. THIS INCLUDES PROJECTS LIKE SEWER LINING, SEPTIC TO SEWER CONVERSION AND MORE. AT THE SAME TIME WE ARE BUILDING A TEAM OF FPUA GRANT REQUIRES AND ADMINISTRATORS THAT INCLUDE NOT ONLY STAFF MEMBERS BUT ALSO CONTRACTORS THAT ARE HELPING US TO PURSUE MORE AND MANAGE MORE AND MORE GRANTS. FUNDING IS NEEDED FOR THE HEALTHY OPERATIONS OF THE EXISTING UTILITIES. ALWAYS TRUE. WE HAVE AN AGING INFRASTRUCTURE AND A NEED TO GROW. SO WE'RE LOOKING ALSO AT EXPANSION TO ACCOMMODATE THE PROJECTED GROWTH. AND OF COURSE, TO RELOCATE THE WASTE WATER PLANT. WE ARE PURSUING TWO PARALLEL PATHS FOR FUNDING. THE FIRST NEED, WHICH IS THE NEED THAT WE ARE HERE TODAY, IS THE SERIES 2022 BOND. THIS IS A PARTICULARLY LOW INTEREST RATE BECAUSE OF OUR BOND PORTFOLIO. AND THIS BOND IS COVERING SYSTEM EXPANSION FOR WATER, WASTE WATER, GAS AND FPUA NET. ADVANCED METER INFRASTRUCTURE, AMI, AND THE WASTE WATER PLANT RELOCATION. THE RATE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE ARE MAKING TODAY ARE NECESSARY IN ORDER FOR US TO PROCURE THE SERIES 2022 BOND TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE PROJECTS. WE ARE PURSUING GRANT AND APPROPRIATION OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP US OFFSET THE COST OF ESPECIALLY THE WASTE WATER PLANT RELOCATION, BUT ALSO OTHER PROJECTS. WE'RE LOOKING AT LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS AND WE HAVE SCHEDULED MEETINGS WITH THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND RESILIENT FLORIDA. OR THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. WHICH OVERSEES RESILIENT FLORIDA. BASED ON SOME OF THE QUESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE LAST CITY COMMISSION MEETING, WE DID PULL TOGETHER WITH OUR FUND RAISING TEAM A SCHEDULE, A CONCRETE SCHEDULE OF GRANTS AND APPROPRIATIONS FUNDING, BASED ON THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED SO FAR. WE ARE LOOKING AT RESILIENT FLORIDA, SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. THE AIM HERE WITH THIS SLIDE IS TO SHOW YOU THAT THAT THERE ARE CONCRETE DATES FOR PURSUING THESE DIFFERENT GRANTS AND APPROPRIATIONS, DEPENDING UPON WHAT IT IS WE'RE DOING. THE RESILIENT FLORIDA APPLICATION CYCLE STARTS ON JULY 1ST. WE HAVE PLANS TO MEET WITH FDEP IN EARLY JUNE, SO WE CAN BEGIN HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS ENGAGING THEIR INTEREST AND WILLINGNESS TO FUND AND AT WHAT LEVEL. THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, THE NEXT ROUND OPENS IN JANUARY OF 2023. BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY'VE BEEN WANTING TO TALK ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME AND WE HAVE SCHEDULED A MEETING WITH THEM FOR EARLY JUNE. THESE ARE ONLY THE FOUR THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED SO FAR. WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND PURSUE ADDITIONAL FUNDING AS WE MOVE FORWARD. WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF PROCURING A LOBBYIST FOR FPOA TO ASSIST US WITH THESE APPROPRIATIONS MATTERS AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL. THE RATE SUFFICIENCY RECOMMENDATIONS NEEDED FOR THE SERIES 2022 BOND ARE SHOWN ON THE SLIDE NOW. WE ARE LOOKING AT A FIVE PERCENT RATE SUFFICIENCY ON ELECTRIC BASE, ON ALL FOUR UTILITIES, ELECTRIC BASED, GAS BASED, WATER AND WASTE WATER IN JULY. OCTOBER, 4.5 PERCENT ON ELECTRIC AND GAS SPACE. TO INCLUDE THE WASTE WATER PLANT RELOCATION ON THE SERIES 2 2022 BOND, IT'S AN ADDITIONAL FIVE PERCENT EACH ON WATER AND WASTE WATER IN BOTH JULY AND OCTOBER. SO WHAT WE'LL DO NOW IS LOOK AT HOW THESE PERCENTAGES WILL AFFECT CUSTOMER BILLS. WE THINK THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT EXERCISE, NOT ONLY AT THE MACRO LEVEL, BUT AT THE MICRO LEVEL WITH SPECIFIC BILLS, BECAUSE WE ARE A SINGLE UTILITY COMPANY THAT OFFERS FOUR UTILITY SERVICES. AND THE DIFFERENT PERCENTAGES CAN MEAN VERY DIFFERENT THINGS, DEPENDING ON YOUR CONSUMPTION AND ALSO WHICH OF THE FOUR SERVICES YOU ACTUALLY HAVE IN [02:35:01] YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS. SO WE'LL BEGIN WITH A SLIDE THAT REVIEWS A SAMPLE CUSTOMER BILL IMPACT OF AN AVERAGE ALL UTILITY CUSTOMER. ONE PARTICULAR EXAMPLE OF A CUSTOMER WHO HAS ALL FOUR UTILITIES, ELECTRIC, GAS, WATER AND WASTE WATER, WITH THE FOLLOWING MONTHLY USAGE. 1,000 KILOWATT HOURS OF ELECTRIC, 13 OF GAS, 6,000 GALLONS OF BOTH WATER AND WASTE WATER. IN REALITY, MONTHLY USES WILL VARY BY CUSTOMER AND SEASON. WHICH IS WHY AFTER WE REVIEW THIS PARTICULAR AVERAGE CUSTOMER, WE WILL GET INTO A SERIES OF SAMPLE BILLS. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE RATE SUFFICIENCY IMPACT TO THE AVERAGE UTILITY CUSTOMER THAT HAS ALL FOUR UTILITIES AT THE USAGE THAT I MENTIONED ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE. THIS IS ALSO THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED IN OUR CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION INFORMATION. THIS CUSTOMER WILL SEE A 1.86 INCREASE IN ELECTRIC AND 1.77 IN ELECTRIC IN JULY AND OCTOBER. FOR GAS, 1.36 IMPACT AND 1.32 IMPACT IN JULY AND OCTOBER. WATER AND WASTE WATER, ARE 1.3 # 89 AND 1.96 IN JULY. 255 AND 255 IN JULY FOR WASTE WATER. SO IN JULY, THIS ALL UTILITY CUSTOMER WHO USES THE UTILITIES AT THE RATES SHOWN ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, WILL SEE A 12.96 IMPACT IN OCTOBER. OVERALL IMPACT IS 9.74 PERCENT IMPACT TO THEIR OVERALL UTILITY BILL. I'M GOING TO MOVE FORWARD TO FOCUS ON THE SAMPLE SLIDES. THIS IS A VISUAL OF THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, JUST TO SHOW THAT PARTICULAR AVERAGE UTILITY CUSTOMER. THREE HOUSES AND TWO SMALL BUSINESSES OF VARYING UTILITY SERVICE USAGES, THE USAGE LEVEL AND ALSO THE SERVICES THAT THEY RECEIVE. FIRST, JUST TO ORIENT YOU TO THE SLIDE, ON THE TOP YELLOW, WHAT YOU SEE IS THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE HOME OR STRUCTURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. AND A GENERAL IDEA OF THE LOCATION WHERE THEY'RE FOUND. SO THIS IS A HOME THAT IS 1,662 SQUARE FEET, THREE BED, TWO BATH, BUILT IN 1959 AND HAS ENERGY EFFICIENCIES THAT WERE INSTALLED. IT'S LOCATED IN THE LINCOLN PARK AREA. YOU CAN SEE ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE THEY ARE AN ALL UTILITY CUSTOMER. AND THEIR USAGE IS 441 KILOWATT HOURS OF ELECTRIC, 7.9 CCF OF GAS AND 3,000 GALLONS OF WATER AND WASTE WATER EACH. WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON HERE IS THE IMPACT TO THIS INDIVIDUAL'S SINGLE BILL. SO THEIR ELECTRIC BILL WILL BE IMPACTED 2.05. INCLUDING JULY AND OCTOBER RATE SUFFICIENCY RECOMMENDATIONS. GAS WILL BE 2.47. WATER, 6.15. AND WASTE WATER, 7.07. WHAT WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE HERE, IS THAT YOU SEE THE HIGHER IMPACT ON BOTH WATER AND WASTE WATER BECAUSE THE BURDEN OF MOVING THE WASTE WATER PLANT FALLS ON THE WATER AND WASTE WATER RATES. ELECTRIC AND GAS RATE SUFFICIENCY RECOMMENDATIONS ARE SPECIFIC TO ELECTRIC AND GAS EXPANSION AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. AND THOSE ARE NOT IMPACTED BY THE WATER OR WASTE WATER, BY THE RELOCATION OF THE WASTE WATER PLANT. THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT TO THIS HOME'S BILL IS 17.75, WHICH REPRESENTS 11.2 PERCENT. THIS HOME IS JUST UNDER 1800 SQUARE FEET. ALSO THREE BEDS AND TWO BATHS. 1962 BUILD WITH A POOL, LOCATED ON SOUTH BEACH. ELECTRIC CONSUMPTION IS JUST OVER 1200 KILOWATT HOURS AND WATER AND WASTE WATER AT 4,000 GALLONS EACH. THEY ARE NOT A GAS CUSTOMER. THEIR ELECTRIC IMPACT IS 5.09 AFTER JULY AND OCTOBER. WATER, 7.05. AND WASTE WATER, 8.30. FOR A CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF 20.44 OR 8.2 PERCENT. THIS HOME IS A 2400 SQUARE FOOT [02:40:11] HOME, THREE BED, TWO BATH. BUILT IN 1972, TWO STORIES AND A POOL IN THE PARADISE PARK AREA. ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANTED TO DRAW ATTENTION TO HERE WAS THE HIGH WATER CONSUMPTION. THE ELECTRIC IS JUST UNDER 1700 KILOWATT HOURS. THE WATER IS 17,000 GALLONS. ELECTRIC IMPACT IS 6.95 AND THEIR WATER IMPACT IS 20.65. THEY ARE NEITHER A GAS NOR A WASTE WATER SERVICE CUSTOMER. AND THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT IS 27.60, OR 8.2 PERCENT. THE FIRST SMALL BUSINESS IS IN DOWNTOWN FORT PIERCE. ELECTRIC WATER AND WASTE WATER CUSTOMER. ELECTRIC IMPACT IS 7.48. WATER, 6.16. WASTE WATER, 7.07. FOR A CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF 20.71. OR 6.9 PERCENT. THIS IS A SMALL BUSINESS IN COMMERCIAL DISTRICT. ALL UTILITY CUSTOMER. YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY HAVE RELATIVELY HIGH CONSUMPTION FOR ALL FOUR UTILITIES. ELECTRIC IMPACT IS 23.27. GAS, 17.79. WATER, 15.74. AND WASTE WATER, 19.30. FOR A CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF 76.11. THIS REPRESENTS 6.4 PERCENT IMPACT ON THEIR BILL. THEIR BILL ALREADY STARTS OUT PRETTY HIGH BECAUSE THEY ARE CONSUMING ALL FOUR UTILITY SERVICES AT A PRETTY HIGH LEVEL. THE SCHEDULE FOR THE RATE SUFFICIENCY RECOMMENDATIONS BEGAN MAY 3RDRD. WE HAD THE FPUA BOARD PUBLIC HEARING FOR RECOMMENDATIONS WHERE THE BOARD APPROVED. MAY 16TH, TODAY PUBLIC HEARING FOR RECOMMENDATIONS WITH YOU. FOLLOWING THIS, IF APPROVED, THE FPUA BOARD WOULD ADOPT THE BOND RESOLUTION AT TOMORROW'S BOARD MEETING. MAY 24TH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT DATE ON THIS SCREEN BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS THE DATE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO LOCK IN THE INTEREST RATE ON THE SERIES 2022 BOND. AND THE SERIES 2022 BOND INTEREST RATE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECES OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THE ROUTE THAT WE HAVE PLANNED HERE. NEXT, BARBARA MICAH WILL BEGIN REVIEWING FOR THE RESOLUTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION. SHE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE HIGHER LEVEL PROJECTED CAPITAL NEEDS, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, RATE ADJUSTMENTS, CUSTOMER NOTIFICATIONS AND THEN FINALLY, CONCLUDE WITH THE RESOLUTIONS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND VOTE TODAY. >> THANK YOU, RACHEL. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. SORRY FOR MY THROAT HERE. RACHEL HAS PROVIDED YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT FPUA'S FISCAL SITUATION. >> CAN YOU GET YOUR MICROPHONE A LITTLE CLOSER PLEASE. SORRY, WE CAN'T HEAR YOU. DO YOU NEED WATER? >> AND THE NEED OF THE UTILITY TO BETTER SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. THE PURPOSE BEHIND THE PROPOSED RATE ADJUSTMENTS IS NOT TO JUST MAINTAIN, BUT TO EXPAND OUR SYSTEMS. TO BRING NEW CUSTOMERS AND ADDED SERVICES, IN THE LONG-RUN WILL PROVIDE SAVINGS TO THE CUSTOMERS THROUGH EFFICIENCIES AND INCREASED REVENUES TO OFFSET THE DEBT THAT WE ARE ANTICIPATING FOR THIS YEAR. THE TOTAL SIX-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, WHICH IS INCLUSIVE OF CAPITAL FROM ALL FUNDING SOURCES, TOTALS 242 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS. THE PLAN RATE FUNDED PROJECTS OF JUST OVER 70 MILLION, ALLOWS FOR ANNUAL AVERAGE SPENDING ON PROJECTS OF $12 MILLION PER YEAR. THE RATE SPENDING ON THE CIP HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY THE SUSTAINABILITY OF EACH REVENUE AND WILL NOT EXCEED THOSE PROJECTIONS. THE SERIES 2022 BOND PROCEEDS OF 126.9 MILLION WILL BRING TO COMPLETION THE ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROVIDE FOR A SYSTEM EXPANSION OF WATER, WASTE WATER AND [02:45:05] NATURAL GAS. THE FPUA NET SYSTEM EXPANSION AND RELIABILITY AS WELL AND THE RELOCATION OF THE WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY. FUTURE GRANTS OF 18 MILLION WILL BE PURSUED TO THE EXTENT AVAILABLE, ONCE THE CURRENT PROJECT IS UNDERWAY. GRANTS AND OTHER FUNDING SOURCES WILL BE OBTAINED FIRST BEFORE ANY ADDITIONAL DEBT OR LOANS ARE TAKEN. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN IS SHOWN HERE GRAPHICALLY IN THE AMOUNTS DISCUSSED WITH THE PERCENTAGES TO THE TOTAL FOR THE SIX-YEAR PLAN. THE FUNDING FROM THE SERIES 2022 REVENUE BONDS MAKE UP ABOUT 52 PERCENT OF THE CIP. THE BONDS THAT WE ARE PURSUING ARE ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO FUND THE PROJECTS DISCUSSED, INCLUDING THE RELOCATION OF THE WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY. THE APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTIONS BEING PRESENTED THIS EVENING ARE REQUISITE TO THE ISSUANCE OF THE BONDS. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A LITTLE HISTORY OF FPUA'S RATE ADJUSTMENTS. THE BASIS FOR THE ADJUSTMENTS ARE CUSTOMER CHARGE AND USAGE OR CONSUMPTION. FOR ELECTRIC AND GAS, THAT DOES NOT IMPACT THE BASE COST OF THE ELECTRIC AND GAS PURCHASES FOR RESALE. REVENUE RECEIVED SUPPORTS THE OPERATIONAL AND CAPITAL NEEDS OF THE INDIVIDUAL SYSTEM. ELECTRIC SYSTEM RATE ADJUSTMENTS OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS HAVE HAD A CUMULATIVE INCREASE OF LESS THAN ONE PERCENT. WHAT THAT AMOUNTS TO IS THAT THE CURRENT RATES FOR ELECTRIC ARE LESS THAN ONE PERCENT HIGHER THAN THEY WERE IN 2007. HOW THAT OCCURRED, WE HAD INCREASES THAT WE IMPLEMENTED IN 2007 AND 2008, THAT TOTALED ABOUT NINE PERCENT. THOSE RATES WERE REDUCED IN 2011 TO 2014. WITH THE REBALANCING THAT OF THE SYSTEM'S REVENUES, WE WERE WORKING ON SELF-SUFFICIENCY OF EACH SYSTEM, SO AS NOT TO HAVE ANY FINANCIAL IMPACT ON THE CUSTOMER'S BILL, ELECTRIC RATES WERE REDUCED AND THE OTHER SYSTEMS INCREASED. SO BASICALLY OVER THE 15-YEAR TIME, ELECTRIC RATES ARE WHERE THEY WERE BACK IN 2007. WATER WASTE WATER AND NATURAL GAS HAVE HAD STEADIER, ALTHOUGH NOT NECESSARILY CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF ADJUSTMENTS, BETWEEN 2007 AND 2009. THE LAST REQUESTED INCREASES FOR THE OTHER SYSTEMS WERE BETWEEN FIVE AND SEVEN YEARS AGO. IN 2011, AGAIN, WE HAD SET OUR SIGHTS ON MAKING EACH SYSTEM SELF-SUFFICIENT, TO END THE WATER AND WASTE WATER AND NATURAL GAS WERE INCREASED IN OFFSET TO THE NATURAL GAS CHARGES. IN 2015 AND 2016, THE WATER SYSTEM HAD TWO OR THREE PERCENT INCREASES, TO MAINTAIN THEIR SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THE CITY IS GROWING AND WE NEED THE APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED ADJUSTMENTS IN ORDER TO EXPAND AND MEET THE NEEDS OF THE GROWING COMMUNITY. FPUA RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ACTION TO THE CITY AND ITS RESIDENTS. WE FOLLOWED THE REQUIRED NOTIFICATIONS FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT WAS HELD ON MAY 3RDRD. WITH THE LEGAL AND DISPLAY ADS POSTED IN THE ST. LUCIE NEWS TRIBUNE. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE INCLUDED BILL INSERTS WITH CUSTOMER BILLS IN APRIL, AND WE ALSO HAD ONLINE NOTIFICATIONS. WE PUT IT ON THE FPUA WEBSITE. WE PUT IT ON FACEBOOK. WE HAVE HELD TWO COMMUNITY OUTREACH MEETINGS TO HELP EXPLAIN THE REASON AND THE NEED FOR THESE INCREASES. WE ARE HERE TONIGHT AT THIS PUBLIC HEARING TO PRESENT THE RATE RESOLUTIONS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, IN CONCLUSION, IT IS FPUA'S MISSION TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH ECONOMICAL, RELIABLE AND FRIENDLY SERVICE. OUR PLANS FOR EXPANDING UTILITY SERVICES WILL ENHANCE THE LIVES OF MANY. AND THE RELOCATING ISLAND WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY TO THE MAINLAND WILL ADD HEALTH -- ADD TO THE HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON. ALL THE PROPOSED RATE ADJUSTMENTS INCLUDING THE RESOLUTIONS BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING, WERE APPROVED BY THE FPUA BOARD ON MAY 3RD, 2022. STAFF IS RECOMMENDING CITY COMMISSION CONSIDER THE [02:50:01] INDIVIDUAL ADOPTION AND PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS, WHICH WILL BE READ ALOUD TO YOU ONE AT A TIME. >> THAT IT FOR YOU? GREAT. HAVE SOME MORE WATER. >> QUESTIONS OF MR. SISNEROS. >> I'VE BEEN THROUGH THE PRESENTATION A COUPLE OF TIMES, EVERY TIME YOU PRESENT IT TO ME, I LEARN SOMETHING DIFFERENT. SO THERE IS -- OBVIOUSLY THIS IS SOMEWHAT COMPLEX. BUT I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE RATE PAYER OUT THERE WHO IS GOING TO BASICALLY PAY FOR THE MOVING OF THE WASTE WATER PLANT. TRUE? AND THE EXPANSIONS RIGHT? >> YES, SIR. >> SO NOW WE HAVE PROGRAMS LIKE SEPTIC TO SEWER AND ALL OF THESE THINGS. EVENTUALLY FOLKS ARE GOING TO START COMING ONLINE. DOES YOUR IMPACT FEES REFLECT ANY OF THE TYPE OF EFFORTS THAT MOVE -- I MEAN, THOSE RATE PAYERS OWN THE SYSTEM. DOES THE IMPACT -- YOUR FUTURE IMPACT FEES, ARE THEY GOING TO REFLECT SOME OF THAT AS WE GO FORWARD? >> THE ANSWER TO THAT IS NO. I BELIEVE SO. >> IF YOU'RE GOING TO SPEAK, YOU NEED TO COME UP TO THE MIC AND IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU? >> I WOULD SPEAK OF THAT A LITTLE BIT. >> GREAT. >> THE WASTE WATER CICS THAT WE ACCUMULATE EACH MONTH, WE HAVE BEEN SETTING ASIDE A PORTION OF THAT FOR THE PAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS. SPECIFICALLY FOR THE MOVEMENT OF THE WASTE WATER PLANT. SO WE HAVE SET ASIDE MONEY. NOT EVEN SURE THE AMOUNT THAT IS IN THERE NOW. IT MIGHT BE A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND. BUT IT'S JUST A PORTION. SORRY. THE MAJORITY OF OUR CICS, WE RESERVE FOR YOU KNOW, GROWTH IN THE SYSTEM. BUT WE HAVE SET ASIDE A PORTION TO JUST PERTAIN TO THE MAINLAND. >> THERE IS NO CHANGE IN THOSE FEES GOING FORWARD? >> MR. HUTCHINSON >> YES. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. THOSE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT CHARGES ARE LOOKED AT PERIODICALLY, JUST LIKE OUR RATES ARE. MR. HAMILTON'S GROUP LOOKS AT THAT FOR US. AND THEY DO EFFECTIVELY A SUFFICIENCY STUDY ON OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT CHARGES. THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD THEN COME BACK TO THE BOARD IF THERE IS ANY ADJUSTMENTS THAT NEED TO BE MADE EITHER UP OR DOWN. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES. >> THERE HAS BEEN MUCH TALK ABOUT GRANTS. AND LAST MEETING WE HEARD ABOUT SOME OTHER GRANTS THAT I DIDN'T SEE ON YOUR LIST. I KNOW ONE FROM THE STATE WAS TALKING ABOUT 500 MILLION. INCREASED TO 500 MILLION. I CAN'T CALL THE NAME RIGHT NOW. BUT THERE ARE GRANTS. THIS IS MY QUESTION, HELP ME UNDERSTAND GRANTS. YOU'RE ASKING US TONIGHT TO APPROVE THESE RATE INCREASES SO YOU CAN GET THE BOND. CORRECT? >> YES, SIR. >> IN YOUR GRANT WRITING, IS IT A NEED BASE? AND WHERE I'M GOING AT, IF WE APPROVE TONIGHT, YOU'LL HAVE A BOND FOR $100 MILLION, RIGHT? >> SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN THAT >> 127 >> 127 MILLION. AND SO YOU'RE GOING TO THEN WRITE A GRANT AND ASK SOMEBODY FOR ANOTHER 100 MILLION OR 27 MILLION OR WHATEVER. AND WE ALREADY HAVE A BOND FOR 100. AND MY CONCERN IS, DO YOU KNOW IF IT'S LIKE A NEED BASE, WILL ONE OF THESE GRANTS SAY WELL, WHY WOULD WE GIVE ANOTHER 50 MILLION WHEN YOU ALREADY HAVE YOUR TAXPAYERS YOU KNOW, PAYING FOR THE REPAYMENT OF THIS BOND. >> YES, SIR. WITH PROJECTS LIKE THE ONE WE'RE LOOKING AT NOW, TO MOVE THE WASTE WATER PLANT, THE NEED HERE IS MORE ENVIRONMENTAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL COMMUNITY BASED, THAN IT IS TO DEMONSTRATE A FUNDING NEED, TO SAY WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO IT WITHOUT YOU. MORE WE NEED THE SUPPORT TO DO THIS. AND THERE IS A FISCAL BENEFIT FOR THESE ORGANIZATIONS TO FUND US, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE, IF APPROVED A BOND IN PLACE TO PAY FOR IT. IT'S STILL SOMETHING THAT THEN FALLS ON OUR COMMUNITY. RESILIENT FLORIDA, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THE LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS, EITHER AT THE STATE OR FEDERAL LEVEL, THERE IS STILL AN INCENTIVE FOR THEM TO STEP IN AND PROVIDE FUNDS THAT THEY HAVE AVAILABLE FOR PROJECTS LIKE THIS. OTHERWISE IT FALLS ON OUR SHOULDERS ALONE. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT. [02:55:02] I GET THAT WHOLEHEARTEDLY. I'M GOING TO JUST USE EVEN NUMBERS. I KNOW YOU SAID IT'S MORE THAN 100. I'M GOING TO USE EVEN NUMBERS, 100. WE GRANT THIS AND YOU GET THE WITH THE LOW INTEREST RATE. I GET ALL OF THAT. I HAVE SEEN THIS A THOUSAND TIMES. YOU GET THE 100 MILLION. YOU TURN AROUND AND LET'S JUST USE THE FIRST ONE, RESILIENT. AND 50 MILLION. IF THAT IS WHAT YOU'RE ASKING -- IS 50 MILLION WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR? >> OUR PLAN RIGHT NOW IS ASK FOR 50 MILLION. BUT WE NEED TO START THAT RELATIONSHIP. >> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. SO THEN WE'RE LUCKY AND WE'RE BLESSED AND WE GET THE 50 MILLION. RIGHT. SO NOW WE HAVE $150 MILLION. FOR THIS PROJECT. AND MY QUESTION IS, HOW DOES THAT TRANSLATE BACK TO THE CITIZENS AND THE CUSTOMERS OF THESE FACILITIES -- OF THESE UTILITIES. >> SURE. I'M GOING TO JUMP IN BECAUSE I ASKED THAT EARLIER TODAY, AS WELL. SO IF WE RECEIVE FUNDS TO HELP US MOVE THE WASTE WATER PLANT THAT ARE IN ADDITION TO FUNDS THAT SAY WE ALREADY RECEIVED THROUGH THE BOND, WHAT THAT CAN ALLOW US TO DO IS TO USE THE BOND FUNDS TO INVEST IN OTHER THINGS, LIKE EXPANSION SO THAT WE CAN GENERATE MORE REVENUE, MORE QUICKLY, FOR UTILITY SYSTEMS. >> OKAY. AND I GET THAT. SO THERE IS NO -- IS THERE ANY CHANCE FOR THESE RATE INCREASES TO COME BACK DOWN? THAT IS WHAT I'M HEARING, THAT IS WHAT I'M BEING ASKED TO ASK YOU GUYS. SO I'M DOING WHAT I'M ASKED -- >> OUR GOAL IS TO PURSUE AS MANY GRANTS AS POSSIBLE TO OFFSET COSTS. THAT IS OUR GOAL, YES, SIR. >> OKAY. OFFSET COSTS. >> YEAH. >> IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT THE RATES COULD BE REDUCED BECAUSE WE GOT 50 MILLION? I THINK -- IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING? . >> THE ANSWER IS, THAT IS OUR HOPE, YES, TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT HOW WE SAY THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT GRANTS WE'RE GETTING. >> I UNDERSTAND THIS. FILL OUT THE GRANT, SUBMIT IT AND HOPE AND PRAY THAT IT COMES BACK THAT WAY. >> I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THAT PROBLEM. >> I WOULD TOO. BUT I HAVE TO ASK THE QUESTIONS. >> I THINK TOO, IF I MAY, THAT IS PART OF THE REASON FOR THE HISTORY OF THE RATE ADJUSTMENT SLIDE. WE WERE TRYING TO SHOW, IN PART, THAT THERE IS PRECEDENT FOR GOING BACKWARDS ON RATES. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TOOLS TO DO IF WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO IT. >> I'M ASKING THESE QUESTIONS, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I'M SITTING UP HERE TORN. I KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PROTECT THE WATERWAYS AND TO EXPAND FOR THE RESIDENTS OF FORT PIERCE. BUT I ALSO KNOW AND HEAR WHAT IS OUT THERE NOW. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT $5 FOR A GALLON OF GAS. YOU TURN ON THE NEWS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YOU KNOW, POSSIBLE INFLATION OR WHATEVER. AND I WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED, I JUST SAID ON RECORD, THAT THE TURN-OUTS THAT YOU HAD, THAT YOU CAME TO, YOU KNOW, THE AREA AND PRESENTED THIS, I WAS A LITTLE DISCONCERTED ABOUT THE TURN-OUTS FROM THE COMMUNITY. BUT SURPRISINGLY, TODAY, MY E-MAILS AND PHONE WERE BLOWING UP. BUT THEY DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING WHEN I WAS SITTING THERE THAT WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY, YOU KNOW, AFTERNOON. SO I'M CONCERNED ABOUT -- I'M CONCERNED ANY TIME I HEAR RATE INCREASE. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, I KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY AND I KNOW FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING. SO THAT IS WHY I ASKED THE P QUESTION. SO I KNOW IT'S AN I DON'T KNOW, BUT IF WE CAN, SOME KIND OF WAY LOOK AND SEE IF WE GET THE GRANTS, AND LIKE I SAID, IN ONE OF OUR MEETINGS, MAKE SURE THAT IF WE EVER AWARDED A GRANT THAT YOU BLAST IT ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND CITY HALL OR WHEREVER YOU CAN, TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WE GOT IT. BECAUSE THERE IS A SECTION OUT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT I KNOW IT'S NOT TRUE, BECAUSE IT'S OVER EVERYTHING THAT I HAD, THAT THIS WAS KIND OF PUSHED THROUGH AND THE NOTIFICATION DIDN'T GET OUT. I KIND OF DISAGREE WITH THAT. BUT IT'S OUT THERE. I'M CONCERNED THAT IF WE GET THESE GRANTS, APPLY FOR EVERY ONE THAT WE CAN, SOME KIND OF WAY, IF WE CAN, WE CAN TRY TO SHOW THE CUSTOMER, HEY, YES, WE'RE DOING THIS, BUT YES, WE [03:00:03] KNOW ABOUT THE RATES AND WE ARE TRYING TO HELP YOU WITH THE RATES. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WILL DO, WE TALKED ABOUT IT WITH ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS, MAKE SURE WE HAVE A BETTER LINE OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE COMMISSION. IF WE RECEIVE ANY GRANTS, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW ABOUT IT, WE TALK ABOUT IT, WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS. WE WILL ABSOLUTELY FOCUS ON MAKING SURE TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION, IF WE RECEIVE THOSE GRANTS. >> ALSO, WHAT THE PRACTICAL EFFECT OF THAT IS. >> YES, MA'AM. >> BECAUSE IT'S ONE THING TO SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET GRANTS AND WHILE THE CUSTOMER IS FOOTING THE BILL NOW, WILL THE CUSTOMERS HAVE SOME RELIEF AT SOME POINT. SO I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE VERY VERY CLEAR TO THE RATE PAYER. BECAUSE I FOR ONE, NEVER WANTED THE RATE PAYER TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS. BUT SANTA CLAUS NEVER CAME ALONG AND GAVE US THE MONEY TO DO IT. NOW ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO CLARIFY AND EMPHASIZE IS WHAT YOU SAID IS, THAT IF WE DON'T DO THIS OURSELVES, THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS PROBABLY GOING TO MAKE US DO IT AT SOME POINT IN THE NEAR FUTURE. >> IT'S NOT A MATTER IF, IT'S A MATTER OF WHEN. >> RIGHT. SO ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER C JOHNSON. >> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I WANT TO START WITH A FOLLOW-UP ON MY COLLEAGUE OVER THERE, START WITH THE GRANTS AREA. SO I'M CLEAR, I DIDN'T THINK THERE WAS A 50 MILLION ALLOCATION JUST FROM THAT. THAT IS A 50 MILLION TOTAL ALLOCATION FOR RESILIENCY GRANTS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, IS THAT CORRECT? >> NO, SIR. 500 MILLION. THIS SAYS 50 MILLION, THAT IS OUR GOAL TO REQUEST AND WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN MEETING WITH THEM IN EARLY JUNE. BUT THE RESILIENT FLORIDA GRANT PROGRAM HAS ALLOCATED 500 MILLION >> YES, SIR >> A LOT OF NUMBERS. SO WE'RE ASKING FOR 50 MILLION. >> THAT IS OUR GOAL. >> THAT IS OUR PRELIMINARY GOAL. >> FAIR ENOUGH. I HEARD A COUPLE OF THINGS IN HERE, I NEED EXPLANATION ON, PART OF THIS FUNDING WOULD BE TO HELP AMI EXPANSION. I THINK TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $6 MILLION, I THOUGHT I SAW. WE'VE BEEN TALKING AMI BEFORE. I GOT HERE, WE STARTED TALKING AMI WHEN I GOT HERE. I'VE BEEN HERE TWO YEARS NOW. WHEN YOU SAY AMI EXPANSION, ARE WE TALKING THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE COMING UP TO CODE? >> TALKING ABOUT THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM. >> BASICALLY THE BOXES AND THAT TYPE OF THING. >> THAT'S RIGHT. >> WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENTIRE -- I KNOW WE HAD SOME ROLL-OUT PROJECTS. I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT. BUT I WANT TO GET A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING FOR THE PEOPLE LISTENING BECAUSE I'VE HAD CONCERNS ABOUT METER BOXES AND INEFFICIENCIES BECAUSE THEY'RE OLDER AND BEEN ON THE HOUSES FOR A WHILE. DOES THAT INCLUDE THE SIX MILLION THAT YOU WILL GET IN THE FUNDING THAT AMI WILL BE IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. >> YES, SIR. THAT $6 MILLION IS TO FINISH THE PROJECT. >> EVERYBODY WHO HAS FPUA WILL GET A BOX. >> YES. ACTUALLY, IT INCLUDES WATER AND WASTE WATER AS WELL, AND GAS. WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ELECTRIC, IT INCLUDES WATER, WASTE WATER AND GAS. I'M SORRY. NOT WASTE WATER. ELECTRIC, WATER AND GAS. >> METERING, NEW BOXES. $6 MILLION. >> YES, SIR. >> CITY OF FORT PIERCE. >> YES, SIR. >> REALTIME. WITHOUT TOO MUCH DETAIL, WE THROW AROUND FANCY TERMS. GIVE ME THE SMALL LEVEL OF WHAT THAT REALLY IS AND HOW DOES THAT BENEFIT THE CITIZENS OF FORT PIERCE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS AUTOMATIC METERING TYPE SYSTEM. >> AMI WILL HELP REDUCE OUR OWN COSTS, BECAUSE WE WILL BE ABLE TO READ THE METER REMOTELY. AND PROVIDE REALTIME INFORMATION TO OUR CUSTOMERS, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT IMMEDIATELY. AS OPPOSED TO WHEN THEY GET THEIR BILL, THEY WILL SEE THEIR CONSUMPTION. WITH THE AMI PROJECT, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SEE 15-MINUTE INTERVALS, WHATEVER IT IS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE ON THE PORTAL. >> SMARTPHONE CAPABILITY, FOR THOSE OF US THAT USE THOSE TYPES OF DEVICES WILL BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE BILLS, DETECT, SOMETHING IS GOING WRONG HERE, I'M USING A LOT MORE ENERGY OR WATER, AND THIS PROJECT YOU'RE SAYING WILL COVER THAT. THAT IS A POINT I WANTED TO COVER. YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT UTILITY EXPANSION. SO I'M ASSUMING THAT IS A PART OF THAT AMI CONVERSATION. RIGHT? THERE WERE TWO NUMBERS, ONE FOR SIX MILLION. WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE FOR UTILITY? >> 23 MILLION, I BELIEVE. >> WHAT DO WE MEAN BY THAT [03:05:01] SPECIFICALLY? >> THAT WILL INCLUDE EXPANDING WATER OUTSIDE, CONTINUE TO GO INTO NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THERE IS NO WATER AND WASTE WATER. SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO PUT WATER AND WASTE WATER PIPES WITHIN OUR ULTIMATE SERVICE BOUNDARY, TO GET NEW CUSTOMERS. >> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO LET'S GO TO A SLIDE WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ACTUAL RATES HERE THAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR TODAY. I THINK THAT YOU KNOW, I TOO ALONG WITH MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, I WAS THERE FOR THURSDAY NIGHT. WE HAD A SMALLER CROWD THAN APPARENTLY ON SATURDAY. I WAS WATCHING ONLINE A LITTLE BIT ON SATURDAY. AND THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CONCERNS ME WHEN I LOOK AT THIS. THE GAS BASE -- BASICALLY, TWO INCREASES. ONE IN JULY AND ONE IN OCTOBER. >> YES, SIR. >> OKAY. AND BASED ON THIS, THE ASK FOR THIS IS TO GET US THIS BOND, WHICH WILL BE 100 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS WE'RE ASKING FOR. WHAT IS BEYOND THIS? IS THIS IT AS FAR AS RATE? I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU LOOK INTO A CRYSTAL BALL TO ASSURE US. WE NEED TO BE AS TRY TO BE AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE IN SOME CASES. I FURTHER ECHO THE POINT THAT MADAM MAYOR WAS MAKING, AS WELL AS COMMISSIONER GAINES, IN THESE STATEMENTS THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES, THERE ARE NO MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING TO SAY WE WILL PULL BACK RATES. IT'S NOT IN WRITING. WHAT I HEARD HERE TONIGHT WAS IF WE GET GRANTS, WE'LL USE THAT TO EXPAND THE SYSTEM TO TRY TO LEVY OUT AND BRING ON MORE CUSTOMERS. AT THAT POINT MAYBE WE BRING IT DOWN. TWO KNOWS WHERE WE ARE. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THE RATES WILL STILL BE ON THE CUSTOMERS'S BILLS EACH AND EVERY MONTH GOING FORWARD. >> THAT'S RIGHT. SO IF WE GET YOU KNOW, A LOT MORE GRANTS, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO MEET AS THE FPUA BOARD AND COMMISSION TO DISCUSS WHAT TO DO WITH THAT MONEY. BECAUSE EXPANSION IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO MAINTAIN LOWER RATES. ADDING CUSTOMERS IS JUST AS IMPORTANT FOR THE GROWTH OF FPUA AND THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. >> I GUESS THAT IS WHERE MY CHALLENGE IS THAT, WITH THIS, YOU KNOW I ENJOY THE NUMBERS, LOOKING AT THAT, TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THOSE PATHWAYS LOOK LIKE. I'VE BEEN ON THIS PATH WITH THESE MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS AND THANK YOU FOR THOSE FOR SOME TIME NOW. I STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN MY HEAD WRAPPED AROUND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, THAT POSSIBILITY. THAT IS CONCERNING TO ME. BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WHAT IS REAL IS INFLATION IS HERE. THIS WILL GO UP AND PEOPLE'S BILLS WILL GO UP AS A RESULT OF A DECISION WE MADE. WHERE I DO AGREE IS I ABSOLUTELY WANT TO PROTECT OUR WATERWAYS. I ABSOLUTELY WANT THAT PLANT MOVED OFF OF THAT ISLAND. IT'S HOW WE'RE DOING IT. AND IT'S AT WHAT COSTS WE'RE DOING IT THAT CONCERNS ME. YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT A FIVE PERCENT IN ELECTRIC, FIVE PERCENT IN GAS, TEN PERCENT IN WATER AND ANOTHER TEN PERCENT IN WASTE WATER. AND THAT IS CONCERNING. BECAUSE WHEN THE CUMULATIVE BILL COMES UP, IT COMES UP. IT DOESN'T LOOK AT THE PERCENTAGE. IT LOOKS AT DOLLARS AND CENTS. PEOPLE'S BILLS WILL GO UP BY $2, $20, $30. THOSE ARE REAL NUMBERS THAT HAVE TO BE PAID. IF NOT, SERVICES GET SHUT OFF. SO YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THIS, I DON'T TAKE THIS LIGHTLY. I'VE AGONIZED OVER THIS QUITE A BIT. I'VE HAD QUITE A FEW CONVERSATIONS. AND I'VE GOT TO SAY, I'M CHALLENGED. I'M PERPLEXED. QUITE FRANKLY, I WISH WE WOULD HAVE DONE THIS DIFFERENT AND GOTTEN THE GRANTS UPFRONT SO WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE WORKING WITH. BUT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN HERE. WE ARE WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. I UNDERSTAND THE MAGNITUDE OF WHAT THIS HAS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO I'M GOING TO STOP RIGHT THERE. I PROBABLY HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. FOR A COUPLE OF ITEMS. I THINK WE ALL HEAR YOU AND WE FEEL THE DISCOMFORT AS WELL, THE RATES ARE AN UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATION. A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT I HAVE COME UP IN SOME OF THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE THE 30 PERCENT DESIGN. SO IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME OF THESE VERY CONCRETE GRANT CONVERSATIONS, WE HAD TO BE FURTHER ALONG WITH WHAT IT IS WE'RE TRYING TO DO. WHICH HAS BEEN KIND OF A TIMING ISSUE. AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE ANOTHER TIMING OPPORTUNITY OR ISSUE, DEPENDING ON HOW WE LOOK AT IT, WITH THE INTEREST RATES OF THIS BOND. [03:10:02] WE DIDN'T COVER IT IN TODAY'S PREVIOUS PRESENTATION, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE HAVE A UNIQUELY LOW INTEREST RATE ON THIS PARTICULAR BOND AND THAT INTEREST RATES ARE RISING AT ABOUT .2 PERCENT PER WEEK AND I THINK IF THE INTEREST RATE WAS NOT LOW, LIKE IT IS, AND WE WEREN'T LOOKING AT RAISING THOSE RATES GOING UP QUITE THE WAY THAT THEY ARE, WE MAY HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT A DIFFERENT AVENUE HERE. BUT BECAUSE OF THE TIMING OF GETTING TO 30 PERCENT, THEN TO 60 PERCENT AND THEN ALSO THE TIMING OF THE INTEREST RATES, WE ENDED UP IN THE PATH THAT WE'RE IN NOW. AND IN SOME WAYS, I THINK WE ARE LUCKY TO BE HERE, EVEN THOUGH IT IS UNCOMFORTABLE. BECAUSE WHAT MAY OTHERWISE HAPPEN IF WE PAUSE AGAIN, WHICH THIS WOULD BE THE THIRD TIME THAT WE'VE GOTTEN THIS FAR AND PAUSED AGAIN, WHAT MAY HAPPEN IS THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION COULD COME TO US AND SAY NOW IS THE TIME. WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THE INTEREST RATES AND YOUR BOND OR WE DON'T HAVE GRANTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO GUARANTEE YOU. MAYBE YOU'LL GET THEM. MAYBE YOU WON'T. BUT THIS IS YOUR TIMELINE TO MOVE. SO I DO THINK TIME HAS BEEN A BIG BIG FACTOR IN THIS. >> YOU MENTIONED THE FACT THAT WE'RE TEN UTILITIES ON A LIST THAT ARE GOING TO REQUIRE NEW REQUIREMENTS. HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO FORECAST WHAT THOSE EXPENSES ARE GOING FORWARD, BECAUSE REALLY THAT IS ON OFFSET TO WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY. >> SO THAT IS AT A TUNE OF $16 MILLION TO BRING THE EXISTING PLANT UP TO THOSE STANDARDS. AND I THINK YOU MAKE A VERY GOOD POINT, BECAUSE IF WE INVEST INTO THE EXISTING PLANT, WE CAN'T TAKE THAT MONEY WITH US OR THAT ASSET WITH US. SO IT WOULD BECOME A STRANDED SSET. DEP, OR THE STATE HAS SPECIFICALLY ALLOWED US TO DELAY THOSE UPDATES BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THE RELOCATION OF THE PLANT. SO WE WOULD OBVIOUSLY MUCH RATHER TAKE THAT $16 MILLION, PUT IT INTO THE NEW PLANT WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR 15 PERCENT OF THE NEW PLANT COST. >> YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO COME UP NEXT YEAR AND AS WE GO FORWARD. I REMEMBER THE TIME WHERE YOU KNOW, WITH DEEP INJECTION WELL AND EVERYTHING ELSE LIKE THAT, YOU DID A FEW LITTLE THINGS DURING THE YEAR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU COULD RECERTIFY THOSE FOR ANOTHER TEN YEARS AND I REMEMBER WORDS COMING OUT OF THE UTILITIES MOUTH WAS THAT THIS IS INDEFINITE. WE CAN DO THIS INDEFINITELY. THAT ISN'T SO ANYMORE. OBVIOUSLY IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE AND EVERYTHING ELSE. WE'VE HAD PLANS BEFORE, THE UTILITY AUTHORITY HAS HAD PLANS BEFORE TO MOVE THIS. AND I'M SITTING HERE THINKING OF IT, INTEREST RATE WAS A DETERRENT. GOVERNMENT WILL A COUPLE OF TIMES WAS A DETERRENT. AND DEMAND FOR EXPANSION WASN'T THERE. ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAVE KILLED EVERY EFFORT THAT WE TRIED TO DO TO MOVE THIS THING FORWARD. RIGHT NOW, YOU'VE SHOWN US A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY THAT DOES, YOU KNOW, THE INTEREST RATE AT 3.5 PERCENT, AS LONG AS WE PULL THE TRIGGER, IN THE NEXT WEEK, THE ECONOMIC CYCLE, WE'RE OBVIOUSLY RIDING ON A VERY HIGH CYCLE RIGHT NOW. THE GOVERNMENT WILL, I THINK FOR MOST OF US, I MEAN, IT IS KIND OF A TOUGH ONE TO SWALLOW, BUT WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT CAN CHANGE TO MAKE ME JUMP ON THIS RIGHT NOW AND BE HAPPY, OTHER THAN MONEY FROM A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM A GRANT, WHICH DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN. YOU KNOW, IN MY WORLD IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. DEMAND FOR EXPANSION IS HERE RIGHT NOW. SO I THINK WE'VE CROSSED ALL OF THE TS AND DOTTED ALL OF THE IS. AT LEAST MOST OF THEM. WE HAVE A PLAN JUST IN CASE. I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE THE 30 PERCENT BUILD PART HAS TO BE THERE. WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THE PLAN. WE HAVE TO SHOW FOLKS THAT WE ARE NOW IN A MOMENTUM THAT IS NOT GOING TO STOP AND THAT WE MADE THE COMMITMENT TO GO FORWARD BEFORE WE CAN EVEN BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR SOME OF THESE GRANTS. AND I GET THAT. I REALLY THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE PATH THAT WE TOOK TO GET HERE TONIGHT. AND HOW IT HAS MADE SO MANY DIFFERENT TURNS AND HAS GONE FROM YAY TO NAY IN A HEARTBEAT, ONE SMALL LITTLE VARIABLE CHANGES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE'RE BACK TO SQUARE ONE. I'M HAPPY THAT WE'RE HERE AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME. I THINK THAT WE NEED TO PROCEED WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY AT THIS TIME. >> ANYBODY ELSE READY TO ASK QUESTIONS? I HAVE A COUPLE. GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER. SO DESIGN/BUILD AND THE 30 PERCENT AND THE 60 PERCENT. ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT [03:15:03] YOU HAVE ABOUT THE COST OVERRUNS? BECAUSE THAT CAN KILL YOU. SO YOU'VE GOT TO -- YOU NEED TO MAKE -- >> YEAH. I'LL LET MR. HUTCHINSON TACKLED THIS BECAUSE HE AND I SPECIFICALLY DISCUSSED THIS AS IT RELATES TO RISK. >> THANK YOU. SO THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS THAT YOU CAN STRUCTURE THE CONTRACT GOING FORWARD. RISK, THAT IS THE BIG WORD IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS. AND REALLY IN TODAY'S MARKET, IT'S THE MATERIAL PROCUREMENT IS THE BIGGEST RISK. NOW, THE ONE WAY YOU CAN HANDLE IT IS SAY CONTRACTOR, YOU'RE TAKING ALL OF THE RISKS. THEY PRICE RISK. SO AT THAT POINT THEY HAVE TO GET THEIR CRYSTAL BALL OUT AND BE VERY CONSERVATIVE AND BASICALLY PRICE EVERYTHING VERY HIGH. ON THE OTHER SPECTRUM, YOU CAN SAY THAT THE UTILITY IS GOING TO TAKE ALL OF THE RISK. IF PRICES GO UP FOR MATERIALS, IT'S A STRAIGHT PASS-THROUGH, THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE, THAT IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO PAY. THEY DON'T HAVE TO PRICE IT. AND THEN THERE IS A MODEL WHERE THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A BALANCE. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THE REALITY IS PRICES ON THINGS ARE GOING UP. THEY'RE GOING UP BY THE DAY. SO WHAT WE WILL PROBABLY END UP WITH IS A HYBRID BETWEEN THE TWO, WITH AN ESCALATOR AND ANYTHING BEYOND THAT WOULD MOST LIKELY HAVE TO COME BACK TO US. IT'S A STRAIGHT PASS-THROUGH. IT ISN'T ANYTHING THAT THE CONTRACTOR WOULD BE EARNING ON. WE ARE ALSO PLANNING ON DOING A LOT OF OUR OWN PROCUREMENT AS WELL, SO WE'RE ABLE TO PURCHASE THAT TAX EXEMPT. SO THAT SAVES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY RIGHT THEN AS WELL. ALSO, ANY OF THE LONG LEAD-TIME ITEMS OR ANY ITEMS SHOWING A LOT OF COSTS VOLATILITY, IT WOULD BE OUR GOAL TO LOCK THOSE IN AS EARLY AS WE CAN IN THE PROCESS. OUR PLAN IS TO BE ROLLING INTO THE 60 PERCENT DESIGN IN LATE JUNE AND HAVE THAT DONE PRIOR TO THE END OF THE YEAR. AND DURING THAT COURSE, THROUGH THIS NEXT ROUND OF DISCUSSIONS, WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THOSE ITEMS THAT WE NEED TO GET AHEAD OF NOW. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER J JOHNSON. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE HARD WORK AND PRESENTATION TONIGHT. MADAM MAYOR, YOU ASKED A QUESTION I WAS GOING TO ASK. TO MAKE SURE IT WAS REITERATED TO THE PUBLIC OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A GUARANTEE, MOVING FROM DESIGN TO THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS. THERE ARE METHODS WITHIN THE WORLD TODAY THAT ALLOW YOU TO DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT. KNOWING THAT I LIVE AND BREATHE IT EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO I APPRECIATE YOU CONVEYING THAT INFORMATION. A COUPLE OF THE ITEMS BROUGHT FORWARD, AND IT'S REALLY JUST TOUCHING ON SOME COMMENTS IN THE HISTORY OF WHERE WE ARE WITH THIS ENTIRE PROCESS. IT'S TOUGH. IT'S TOUGH. IT'S A TOUGH PILL TO SWALLOW BECAUSE WE'RE HERE TODAY TRYING TO MAKE THE DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT TO MOVE FORWARD. AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD AS A COMMUNITY. OR WE'RE NOT MOVING FORWARD AS A COMMUNITY. AND WHY DO I SAY THAT? I FEEL LIKE WHEN I'VE DONE SOME REVIEW AND EVALUATION OF ALL OF THE NUMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED, INCLUDING THE HISTORICAL DATA, INCLUDING MY OWN UTILITY BILL AT HOME, I FEEL LIKE WE'VE BEEN PAYING A FAIR RATE FOR MANY MANY YEARS, AT THE SAME TIME, I FEEL LIKE MAYBE I WAS SAVING MONEY BECAUSE WE WERE OKAY WITH OUR RATE SYSTEM. AND COMPARED TO OTHER UTILITIES WITHIN THE STATE OF FLORIDA OR WITHIN THE TREASURE COAST. SO WHEN I THINK BACK ON MY HOME EXPENDITURES IN GENERAL, I THINK ABOUT WHERE COULD I HAVE YOU KNOW, PUT AWAY SOME MONEY, WHERE COULD I HAVE SAVED OR SPENT MORE TO PROVIDE A BETTER FUTURE FOR MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. SO I'M AT THAT POINT TONIGHT PERSONALLY, LOOKING AT THIS AND I'M ASKING MYSELF, I TALKED TO MANY FOLKS AND THEY'VE MADE SOME OF THOSE SAME OBSERVATIONS, WELL, WE'VE ENJOYED SOME GOOD THINGS. WE'RE ENJOYING THE USE AND A LONG LIFE OF A WASTE WATER PLANT THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR MANY MANY YEARS. PROBABLY OUT-LIVED ITS OWN DESIGN LIFE. AND FOLKS RECOGNIZE THAT. THE FOLKS THAT YOU KNOW, SOME FOLKS THAT I'VE BEEN TALKING TO RECOGNIZE THAT. AND THEY UNDERSTAND WELL, IT'S A WHAT IF SCENARIO. IF WE DON'T MOVE FORWARD TODAY, WHAT IF. IT'S A QUESTION THAT HAS BEEN ASKED FOR THE LAST 20, 22 YEARS, FOR SURE. PROBABLY BEYOND THAT. WHEN ARE WE GOING TO DO IT IF WE DON'T DO IT NOW. AND WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE. HOW CAN WE INVEST IN OURSELVES. THOSE ARE THE CONVERSATIONS AND THE SITUATIONS THAT ARISE. [03:20:01] SO ON THE BUDGET SIDE, ON THE RATE SIDE SPECIFICALLY, YOU'VE GIVEN US NUMBERS, THE QUESTION THAT I WANT TO ASK LAST TIME, IN THE FINANCIAL FUTURE OF UTILITIES AUTHORITY, WE NEED THESE RATE ADJUSTMENTS TO BE SUSTAINABLE. IS THAT ACCURATE? WITHIN EACH DIVISION OF YOUR AUTHORITY. >> YES, SIR, WE DO. >> TIEING THAT IN, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ADJUSTMENTS NO MATTER WHAT WE'VE GOT, WE HAVE GOT TO LOOK AT WHAT ARE THE ITEMS MOST IN NEED FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, TAKE ELECTRIC FOR EXAMPLE. WHAT CHALLENGES ARE YOU GOING TO TACKLE >> AMI PROJECT WOULD BE THE MAJOR PROJECT FOR THE ELECTRIC INCREASE. FOR THE GAS, IT WOULD BE THE EXPANSION TO THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. AND FOR WASTE WATER WATER, WE HAVE A LONG LIST OF NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO GET INTO TO EXPAND OUR WATER AND WASTE WATER SYSTEM. OBVIOUSLY THE EXPANSION OF THE WASTE WATER PLANT. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? >> IT DOES. ELECTRIC, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AMI. I HEARD YOU SAY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT REDUCING OPERATIONAL EXPENSES BECAUSE OF SUCH OF A PROGRAM. >> SO YOU'RE TRYING TO STABILIZE FUTURE RATE ADJUSTMENTS, IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING TO DO AND RELIABILITY OR TELL ME ABOUT THAT. >> YEAH. ANY RATE ADJUSTMENTS IN THE FUTURE WOULD FOLLOW SOME KIND OF INDEX. WHATEVER THE INDEX IS FOR RISING COSTS, WE WOULD HAVE TO DO THOSE. BUT THIS FUNDING, THE INCREASES WE'RE ASKING FOR TODAY ARE TO PAY FOR THE LOAN TO DO THE WORK. SO I MEAN, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE COSTS IN THE FUTURE, INCREASE IN COSTS IN THE FUTURE. WHATEVER THAT INDEX WOULD BE FOR OUT-YEARS, THOSE WOULD GO TO THE FPUA BOARD FOR APPROVAL. FOR RECOMMENDATION AND APPROVAL. >> GAS, YOU'RE TRYING TO EXPAND THE SYSTEM SO THAT YOU CAN DO WHAT? >> THE INTENTION THERE IS MORE, THE INTENTION THERE IS TO DOUBLE OUR GAS CUSTOMER BASE. THAT ENTIRE CORRIDOR IS PRETTY BIG. WE'RE IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DEVELOPER TO BRING IN GAS INTO THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. AND OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A BUSINESS CORRIDOR THAT IS GOING TO BLOW UP THERE. THEY'RE CALLING IT THE SMALLER TRADITION OR IT'S ANOTHER TRADITION AREA. SO WE WANT TO BE THERE. BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO CLAIM THAT TERRITORY. THIS IS GOING TO DO THAT. >> I WOULD CONSIDER JUST IN RESEARCH AND READING AND LOOKING AT TECHNOLOGIES OF EQUIPMENT OR HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES, THAT NATURAL GAS IS I WOULD SAY, JUST AS EFFICIENT, MORE EFFICIENT THAN THE ELECTRIC APPLIANCE THAT IS WITHIN A HOME OR AT LEAST IT'S MORE, YOU KNOW, ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO PLACE IT, I MEAN, WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THOSE KINDS OF STATEMENTS. >> THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE YOUR ELECTRIC BILL, WHEN YOU GET A GAS DRYER, BECAUSE THEY'RE MORE EFFICIENT. ONE OF THE EXAMPLES WE SHOWED YOU IN ONE OF THE BILLS, THEY DID THAT. THEY HAVE GAS AND THEY'RE ABLE TO, YOU CAN SEE THE REDUCTION IN THEIR ELECTRIC BILL. SO THAT WAS -- WHAT YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE SHOWED IN ONE OF THOSE BILLS THAT RACHEL POINTED OUT THAT HAD EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS. >> RIGHT. BECAUSE IT'S A SERVICE THAT WE OFFER, SO YOU'RE TRYING TO EXPAND THE BASE. AGAIN, THE AGE-OLD DISCUSSION ABOUT WATER EXPANSION AND TRYING TO COVER TERRITORY AND THE MORE CUSTOMERS YOU GET, THE LOWER YOUR BILL, BETTER RELIABILITY, HOPEFULLY, YOU'VE GOT PLENTY OF EXPANSION, LET'S TALK ABOUT WATER, SINCE WE'RE GOING THAT WAY. HOW ABOUT AT THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT? WE HAVE A RELATIVELY NEW EXPANSION, I SAY NEW BECAUSE IT'S BEEN IN THE LAST 20 YEARS. TO THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT THAT GAVE US SOME MORE RELIABILITY AND A BETTER QUALITY OF PRODUCT. SO ANY OF THESE MONEYS GOING TOWARDS THAT? ARE YOU TRYING TO STABILIZE THAT? >> NONE OF THE FUNDING THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR TODAY IS GOING TO THE WASTE WATER PLANT EXPANSION. WATER PLANT EXPANSION. THAT PLANT HAS PLENTY OF CAPACITY FOR OUR GROWTH. THIS IS GOING TO BE FOR WATER PIPES IN NEIGHBORHOODS, TO CONNECT MORE CUSTOMERS. >> EXPANDING THE TERRITORY. EXPANDING THE CITY BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, THAT HELPS OFFSET THIS >> I DO WANT TO HIT ON SOMETHING, WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT GAS, HOW DOES THAT HELP. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, WE'RE GOING TO GET TECHNICAL HERE, HOW DO WE REDUCE SOME OF OUR ELECTRIC LOAD SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO UPGRADE SOME OF THE TRANSFORMERS, LOOKING OUT LONG-TERM. WE CAN DO THAT BY CONNECTING MORE GAS CUSTOMERS. THAT IS PRETTY IMPORTANT FOR US. BECAUSE WE CAN GET MORE LIFE OUT OF OUR SYSTEM, AS THE WAY IT SITS NOW. SO WE'RE ABLE TO GET MORE EFFICIENCIES OUT OF THE EXISTING ELECTRIC SYSTEM. IF WE CAN REDUCE SOME OF THAT LOAD BY CONNECTING GAS CUSTOMERS WITHIN OUR SERVICE [03:25:01] AREA. THAT IS A GOAL OF SOME OF THIS GAS FUNDING. >> I NEVER THOUGHT OF IT FROM AN OPERATIONAL SIDE. BUT THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE. LET'S SEE. WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE I HAD? TALK ABOUT THE GRANT PROCESS. WE'VE TOUCHED ON IT QUITE A BIT TONIGHT. I'M ENCOURAGED BY THE NUMBER OF GRANTS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING INTO. I UNDERSTAND WHEN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE GOES AFTER GRANTS, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO SHOW THE REVENUE SOURCE AND/OR THE COMMITMENT, BECAUSE IT'S A MATCH GRANT OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE. SHOVEL READY PROJECT. AND SOMETIMES THE TOUGHEST PART OF ALL OF THOSE IS JUST COMING UP WITH A PLAN AND SOMETHING ON PAPER THAT SAYS ALL RIGHT, I'VE GOT MY DESIGN IN PLACE, I'M READY TO GO AND I'VE BEEN APPROVED. READY FOR A PERMIT AND A GRANT. AND THOSE ARE BIG UPHILL CHALLENGES. AND I'M ENCOURAGED THAT WE'RE HERE TODAY TALKING ABOUT THIS. THE OTHER CONVERSATIONS THAT COME FORWARD, AND IT'S PROBABLY MORE GOING TO BE ON THE POLITICAL FRONT WITHIN THE CITY COMMISSION, IS THE WHAT IF SCENARIO WITH THE PROPERTY ONCE THE WRF LEAVES. THAT SITE TO GO TO THE MAINLAND. DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION OR THOUGHTS ON THAT? AND IT'S OKAY IF YOU DON'T. BECAUSE IT'S REALLY NOT IN YOUR BASKET THAT WE'VE ASKED OR THAT YOUR BOARD HAS PROBABLY ASKED YOU. DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT, OF FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES THERE? >> WHAT I'M HOPING FOR IS THAT EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THAT PROPERTY WINS. SO I WISH I COULD GIVE YOU A BETTER ANSWER THAN THAT. BUT TAXPAYERS, RATE PAYERS, WE'RE ALL THE SAME PEOPLE. WHATEVER WE DO WITH THAT PROPERTY, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF EVERYBODY INVOLVED, WHICH ARE THE SAME PEOPLE. I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. >> IT ABSOLUTELY DOES. THERE IS NO REAL RIGHT ANSWER TO THAT PROBABLY. BUT WE HAVE TO KEEP EXISTING FACILITIES ON THE SITE, LIKE A SUB-STATION. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PUMP SEWAGE FROM THE ISLAND, BE IT FROM SOME CONVEYANCE SYSTEM. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF FOR THAT PARCEL? >> I DON'T THINK SO. THE SUBSTATION TO PUMP UNDER THE RIVER. BACK TO THE MASTER LIFT STATION. >> THE REASON I ASKED THAT, NOW YOU'VE GOT CONDITIONS OF REVERSAL, IS THERE ANYTHING WE HAVE TO PUT A NEW PIPE IN THE GROUND? >> I DON'T BELIEVE. WE DO AN INTEGRITY TEST ON THE PIPE EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS. SO I DON'T BELIEVE WE -- THAT IS NOT PART OF THIS FUNDING. BUT THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION. WE INSPECT THE PIPE EVERY YEAR TO MAKE SURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE PIPE IS STILL WHOLE. >> MY LAST COMMENT, YOU TALK ABOUT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT CHARGES EARLIER. YOU SAID FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS OR SO, YOU HAVE BEEN RESERVING AN AMOUNT OF MONEY OFF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT CHARGES. THAT WAS SPECIFICALLY FOR WHAT? >> RELOCATION. >> SO I'M ENCOURAGED BY THAT TOO, BECAUSE WITH THE DIRECTION OF THE UA AND YOUR LEADERSHIP, I AM ENCOURAGED BECAUSE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN TALKED ABOUT NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE. MAYBE IT'S HAPPENED IN THE PAST. MAYBE BUDGET WOES OR FUNCTION DOWNTURNS HAVE CREATED SOME OTHER OPPORTUNITY WITHIN THE BUDGET TO USE THE MONEY. IT HIT ME HARD WHEN YOU SAID IT, BECAUSE IF WE WERE TO DO -- OR SET WITHIN THE RATE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT CHARGE REVIEW HALF A PERCENT, IF WE WOULD HAVE DONE THAT 30 YEARS AGO, HALF A PERCENT A YEAR, WE WOULDN'T BE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION. SO I THINK THAT IS JUST IMPORTANT FOR US TO THINK ABOUT. BECAUSE YOUR BUSINESS IS DIFFERENT THAN THIS BUSINESS UP HERE. YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE COMMON PUBLIC. >> LIVELIHOOD OF THE PUBLIC. >> IT REALLY DOES. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SEWAGE TREATMENT HERE. SO OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT STATEMENT. IT GOT ME WHEN YOU SAID IT. I'M ENCOURAGED BY THAT. SO I THANK YOU FOR THAT PART OF IT. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO REMEMBER THAT AND REMEMBER THIS CONVERSATION AND CONTINUE TO SAVE UP FOR THE FUTURE PLANS OR OPPORTUNITIES OR EXPANSION. SO THAT WE'RE NOT MAKING RATE ADJUSTMENTS. >> YEAH. I THINK OVER TIME PEOPLE HAVE WANTED THE FPUA TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE IN TERMS OF EXPANSION. AND PERHAPS WE HAVE BEEN CONSERVATIVE IN THE PAST, IN TERMS OF THAT AND NOT AS AGGRESSIVE. AND BECAUSE WE WERE IN THAT POSTURE AND SO THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WE'VE EVER DONE. NOT ONLY MOVING THE WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT, BUT MAKING A [03:30:02] COMMITMENT AND TELLING EVERYBODY WE'RE MAKING THIS COMMITMENT, THAT WE'RE GOING TO EXPAND OUR SERVICES AND EXPAND -- GET MORE CUSTOMERS, BY GETTING MORE CUSTOMERS, THAT KEEPS THE RATES AT LEAST MORE CONTROLLABLE. AND MORE -- AND I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU JUST SAID WHICH IS THE FUTURE AFTER THESE RATE INCREASES, THE FUTURE ARE ONLY INDEXED -- INDEX MEANS WHAT TO THE PEOPLE LISTENING? >> THE COST OF LIVING, AN INDEX FOR MATERIALS, WHATEVER THE INDEX IS. THE YEARLY INDEX. >> AS FAR AS WE KNOW, THE BIGGEST RATE INCREASES BEYOND THAT, THAT WE PROJECT FOR ANYTHING IN THE FUTURE. >> RIGHT. >> WE'RE TRYING TO PLAN FOR EVERYTHING SO THAT WHAT WE CAN DO IS GROW THE SYSTEM AND THAT REQUIRES US TO COMMIT THESE RATES AND IF WE GROW THE SYSTEM, THEN EVENTUALLY THIS WILL AT LEAST KEEP THE RATES MORE COMPARABLE AND CONTROLLABLE. >> WE'RE LOOKING AT TODAY AND A 50-YEAR HORIZON. >> WHICH WE HAVE TO TAKE THE LONG VIEW WHEN YOU ARE IN YOUR BUSINESS, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE LONG VIEW. >> THAT'S RIGHT. >> AND THE BOND IS 30 YEARS, RIGHT? >> 30 YEARS IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, YES, MA'AM. >> YES, SIR. >> YES, SIR. >> OKAY. I'M SITTING HERE AND I'M LISTENING TO EVERYTHING THAT MY COLLEAGUES AND THE BOARD IS SAYING, I KNOW IT NEEDS TO BE MOVED. I KNOW THE HISTORY. CAN WE GO BACK TO THE GRANT SLIDE. THE ONE THING THAT HAS BEEN CONSTANT SINCE I WON THIS SEAT IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR, THAT I HAVE CONSTANTLY HEARD EVERY DAY, ARE THE HIGH RATES IN THE AREAS WHERE I REPRESENT. I HEAR IT EVERY DAY. GROCERY STORES. WALKING IN THE COURTROOM. EVERY DAY. MY QUESTION IS THIS, I UNDERSTAND RESILIENT FLORIDA GRANT IS UP TO $500 MILLION THIS YEAR. THAT WAS FROM $100 MILLION LAST YEAR. MY QUESTION IS, WHY DIDN'T WE APPLY FOR THE GRANT LAST YEAR, KNOWING THAT WE WERE IN THIS DISCUSSION TALKING ABOUT MOVING FORWARD. TALKING ABOUT A 30 PERCENT DESIGN. TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING. ANY OF THESE GRANTS. BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT JUST DIDN'T POP UP JANUARY OF 2022. SO I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY DIDN'T WE EITHER START THESE APPLICATIONS BEFORE OR WHATEVER. IS IT SOMETHING THAT PREVENTED US FROM DOING IT. OR WHY DIDN'T WE DO IT? >> WE DIDN'T HAVE A PLAN LAST YEAR IN JANUARY. I THINK THE JUNE MEETING THAT WE HAD, THE JOINT MEETING THAT WE HAD FROM THE CITY COMMISSION AND FPUA BOARD, THAT IS THE CATALYST BEHIND WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY. VERY GOOD QUESTION. RACHEL MENTIONED IT A COUPLE OF TIMES, IT'S HARD FOR US TO ASK FOR GRANTS WHEN WE DON'T KNOW THE COST OF WHAT A PROJECT IS. 30 PERCENT DESIGN PLAN ALLOWS US NOW TO HAVE A BETTER PICTURE OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND ASK FOR THAT BETTER PICTURE. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT WE DID KNOW -- LET ME REPHRASE THAT. WHEN DID WE GET THE NOTIFICATION THAT WE WERE ON THE STATE'S LIST? THAT WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING IF WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING, IF WE DIDN'T MOVE THIS PLANT OR WHATEVER. WHEN DID WE GET THAT NOTIFICATION? >> MR. HUTCHINSON. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. YES. LAST SUMMER. >> LAST SUMMER. >> YEAH. I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT MONTH. BUT THAT WAS WHEN THEY VISITED US AND WE STARTED DISCUSSING THIS WITH THEM. >> AND WOULD THAT ALLOWED US TO -- WE KNOW WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING. EVEN IF THEY CAME IN AND SAID THAT IT WOULD TAKE 16 MILLION, 16.9 MILLION TO UPGRADE IT OR WHATEVER THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT, WE KNEW THAT LAST SUMMER. SO WE COULDN'T APPLY FOR THAT GRANT THEN. AT LEAST WE'RE ASKING FOR 17 MILLION. I MEAN, WE COULD HAVE SAID YOU KNOW WHAT, WE APPLIED FOR THAT GRANT. HEY, NOW THAT WE'VE APPLIED FOR IT, WE CAN SAY HEY, GUYS, BEFORE YOU SEND US THAT MONEY, WE'VE GOT A NEW IDEA NOW, THAT WE'RE GOING TO REMOVE THE WHOLE THING. I'M TRYING TO SEE, AFTER WE KNEW THAT, WHY DIDN'T WE APPLY FOR ANY OF THESE GRANTS THEN? >> IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO TIMING. IT REALLY DOES. THERE IS GRANT CYCLES OUT THERE. [03:35:01] WE HAVE GRANT EXPERTS HERE THAT COULD GET INTO THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF IT. YOU KNOW, BASICALLY THE STAFF HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR THIS FOR YEARS AND YEARS. WE'VE DONE A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE. WE DID THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT CHARGES. WE'VE BEEN CONSISTENTLY MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION FOR YEARS. AND IT WAS JUST SUCH AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY WHEN WE WERE IN THAT ROOM WITH THE FPUA BOARD AND THE CITY COMMISSION AND BOTH BOARDS AT THE SAME TIME SAID DO IT. AND DO IT FAST. AND THAT JUST ENERGIZED THE WHOLE PROCESS FROM THERE. OUR NEXT MOVE WAS TO GET US IN A POSITION WHERE WE HAD ENOUGH INFORMATION, WE AREN'T UP THERE, WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE A PLANT. HOW MUCH DO YOU NEED? WE'RE GETTING TO THIS POINT WITH A 30 PERCENT DESIGN. THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DO NOT LIKE THE BACK PROJECTS THAT ARE MAYBE. THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO ATTACH THEIR NAME TO A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT, NOT A WISH. THAT IS THE POINT WE'RE AT NOW. I THINK THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE FROM WHERE WE WERE A YEAR AGO. >> I THINK WE DID, LIKE YOU SAID, WE WERE WORKING ON IT. WE WERE WORKING ON A PLAN IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COUNTY. >> YES, MA'AM >> SO WE WERE GOING DOWN A PATH. AND THAT KIND OF INTERSECTED WITH THE MEETING AND THAT PATH DIDN'T SEEM TO BE MATERIALIZING. BUT YOU HAD SPENT YEARS IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM AND BRIEFED ALL OF US ON THAT. IF I REMEMBER RIGHTLY. SO THERE WAS KIND OF -- THERE WAS A PLAN, BUT IT WASN'T THIS PLAN. >> I ALWAYS SAY THAT A PLAN B MOVES AT THE SAME SPEED AS PLAN A. THIS IS KIND OF A PLAN B. PROBABLY A LITTLE DEEPER IN THE ALPHABET THAN THAT IN ALL REALITY. THAT IS IT. WE HAVE A WORKABLE PLAN HERE. WE HAVE THE FINANCING IN PLACE. WE HAVE A DESIGN. I MEAN, THE STARS ARE LINED UP RIGHT NOW. THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT. >> IT COMES DOWN TO THE FIVE OF US MAKING A DECISION. WHAT I DO KNOW IS YOU'RE ASKING FOR, IT'S A 30-YEAR COMMITMENT ON 120 SOME MILLION DOLLARS. YOU'RE ASKING FOR RATES AT WASTE WATER RATE. AND THEN OVER TIME, THERE MAY BE WHAT YOU CALL, I FORGET THE TERM YOU JUST USED, INDEXES THAT MAY COME IN BUT THAT FIVE PERCENT STILL DOESN'T ROLL BACK TECHNICALLY UNTIL THE 30-YEAR MORTGAGE IS DONE. >> RIGHT. THE INCREASES ARE TO PAY THE LOAN. >> I UNDERSTAND. YET STILL WE'VE GOT TO GET 30 YEARS. MAYBE SOME POSSIBILITIES OF GRANTS, A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS. NOW WE'VE GOT A 30 PERCENT DESIGN BUILD. WAITING ON A 60 PERCENT. MY UNDERSTANDING OF THAT TOO, AS YOU LOOK AT 60 PERCENT, GETS YOU CLOSER TO UNDERSTANDING WHAT THAT ACTUAL COSTS WILL BE FOR BUILDING LIKE MATERIALS AND ET CETERA ET CETERA AND MOVING FORWARD, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. BUT YET WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THAT DECISION TONIGHT BEFORE WE GET 60 PERCENT. I GOT TO TELL YOU, I'M UNEASY WITH THAT. I'M ALL ABOUT MOVING THE PLANT. I'M ALL ABOUT THE FUTURE REALIZATION. I'VE BEEN IN A LOT OF THESE MEETINGS WHEN THE COUNTY WAS ON THE BOARD, WHEN WE HAD UNSOLICITED GRANT BIDS COMING IN. WE HAD A WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF GOING ON HERE. I UNDERSTAND IT. BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE INEFFICIENCIES OF THE AREA THAT I REPRESENT. THAT YOU DID SHOW GREAT EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE THAT HAD EFFICIENCIES IN PLACE. I'LL GO ON RECORD. THAT WAS ME. I INVESTED IN EFFICIENCIES IN MY PLACE. I HAD THE TECHNICAL MEANS AND THE WHEREWITHALL TO DO THAT. BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T. FOR YEARS, WE HAVE HAD THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM, WHICH FOR WHATEVER REASON DIDN'T TAKE. AND THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST STEP TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE'S HOME EFFICIENT. SO THAT THEY'RE UTILIZING THINGS EFFICIENTLY. WE KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF INEFFICIENCIES OVER THERE. SO THESE RATES ARE COMPOUNDING WITH THAT. AND THAT IS WHAT I'M REACTING TO AND THAT IS MY CONCERN BECAUSE I REPRESENT THOSE CONSTITUENTS OVER THERE. I DO HEAR THE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT. AND I'VE SEEN THEIR BILLS. I'VE MET WITH THEM AND LOOKED AT THEIR ELECTRIC BILLS AND WE'VE GOT TO FIX THAT. WE'RE GOING TO GO A PATH TONIGHT. BUT MY CONCERN AND PLEA, BECAUSE I PETITIONED MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS ABOUT FORT PIERCE, IS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION. IT IS REAL. THESE BILLS WILL BE REAL. AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REACT. WE DO. I PAY MINE. I PAY MY BILL. BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY MADAM MAYOR, THAT ARE REALLY HURTING. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE SENSITIVE TO THAT AND WE'RE [03:40:01] GOING TO HAVE TO CHALLENGE OURSELVES, CHALLENGE AUTHORITY TO FIND THESE PROGRAMS AND GET OUR COMMUNITIES INVOLVED WITH THEM. I WAS SO ELATED THAT THE FPUA BOARD CAME TO THAT CENTER ON TWO OCCASIONS AND MET WITH VARIOUS PEOPLE AND GOT REALLY GOOD FEEDBACK. WE CANNOT STOP THERE. WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO GO, YOU HAVE MY COMMITMENT. I'M SURE COMMISSIONER GAINES AND ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS UP HERE, TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ENGAGED IN THIS COMMUNITY. THIS HAS TO HAPPEN NOW FOR PEOPLE TO GET THE RESOURCES TO SURVIVE WHAT MAY OR MAY NOT TAKE PLACE IN THE FEW MINUTES THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO TAKE THIS VOTE. >> WE HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR. I AGREE WITH YOU, THE PROGRAM IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO REVAMP. I THINK THAT YOU'VE SEEN A CHANGE IN THE PARADIGM THAT WE HAVE HERE. I THINK YOU SEE THAT BY THIS GROUP HERE. AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, WE HEAR YOU AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK TOWARDS THAT. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID WITH OUR PROGRAM IS WE HAD 100 PERCENT HOMESTEAD REQUIREMENT THROUGH DISCUSSIONS WITH COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, WE'VE REDUCED THAT TO HELP OPEN UP THAT APPLICATION FORM. SO THAT IS IMPORTANT. THOSE KIND OF THINGS CAN HELP THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY. >> THE POINT YOU MAKE IS WELL TAKEN. THE NUMBERS ARE 66 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE ARE RENTERS. THAT IS THE REAL HARD CORE FACT THAT I HAVE TO DEAL WITH. THEY DON'T EVEN CONTROL THAT PROPERTY. IT'S UP TO THE PROPERTY OWNER AND THEY'RE NOT MOTIVATED TO DO ANYTHING. I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS LISTENING TO THIS. YES, I WANT IT MOVED. BUT I KNOW SOME REAL HURT. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD I'M SURE AT SOME POINT SO I'M DONE COMMENTING FOR TONIGHT ON THAT. >> ANYBODY ELSE? ANYBODY ELSE? ANYTHING ELSE? SO IS THE APPROPRIATE THING TO DO NOW TO READ THE RESOLUTIONS? IS THAT WHAT WE DO, MS. COXE? >> I WASN'T GOING TO READ THE ENTIRE RESOLUTION. I CAN IF THAT IS WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE. IT'S GOING TO BE APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION UA-22-06 FOR ELECTRIC RATES. >> SO WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THESE -- >> I CAN PULL IT UP AND READ IT. >> MS. EARLY, SHOULD WE VOTE ON THESE RESOLUTIONS ONE AT A TIME, RIGHT? >> YES, MA'AM. YOU ALSO NEED TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE GOING TO WAIVE THE 30 DAYS THAT IS IN OUR CHARTER. >> OKAY. SO YOU JUST READ THE TITLE OF UA-2022-06. >> I WILL READ IT IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO. >> THIS IS UA RESOLUTION AMENDING SUPERSEDED AND RESCINDING THE SCHEDULE OF RATES FOR ELECTRIC SERVICES FURNISHED BY FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AUTHORITY, FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA. ARTICLE 12, PROVIDING FOR A FIVE PERCENT AND 4.53 INCREASE IN THE CUSTOMER AND USAGE CHARGES BASED ON THE RATE SUFFICIENCY, DEMONSTRATED IN THE FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY REPORT AND THE 2022 FLORIDA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION ANNUAL PRICE INDEX AND PROVIDING FOR EFFECTIVE DATES. >> IS THERE A MOTION? >> MADAM MAYOR. >> I MOVE FOR THE APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 2022-06 FOR ELECTRIC RATES. AND WAIVE THE 30 DAY WAITING PERIOD. >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES >> NO, MA'AM. >> COMMISSIONER C JOHNSON >> NO, MA'AM. >> COMMISSIONER J JOHNSON. >> YES MA'AM. >> MAYOR HUDSON. >> YES, MA'AM. >> SO ARE WE READY TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE. >> PLEASE. >> SO THE NEXT ONE IS UA RESOLUTION 22-07, RESOLUTION AMENDING, SUPERSEDING AND RESCINDING THE SCHEDULE OF RATES AND SERVICES FOR NATURAL GAS SERVICES, AND RESOLUTION [03:45:05] 2021-07 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE FLORIDA, ARTICLE 12, PROVIDING FOR A FIVE PERCENT AND 4.53 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE CUSTOMER AND COMMODITY CHARGES BASED ON THE RATE SUFFICIENCY DEMONSTRATED IN THE FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY REPORT AND THE 2022 FLORIDA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION ANNUAL PRICE INDEX AND PROVIDING FOR EFFECTIVE DATES HEREOF >> I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE RESOLUTION 2022-07 AND WAIVE THE 30-DAY PERIOD. >> SECOND. >> CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES. >> NO, MA'AM. >> COMMISSIONER C JOHNSON. >> NO, MA'AM. >> COMMISSIONER J JOHNSON. >> YES, MA'AM. >> MAYOR HUDSON. >> YES, MA'AM. >> RESOLUTION UA 2022-08, A RESOLUTION AMENDING SUPERSEDING AND RESCINDING THE SCHEDULE OF RIGHTS AND CHARGES FOR WATER SERVICES FURNISHED BY FORT PIERCE UTILITY AUTHORITY, FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CHARTER, THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA, PROVIDING FOR TWO SEPARATE TEN PERCENT INCREASES IN THE CUSTOMER AND CHARGES AND THE 2022 FLORIDA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION ANNUAL PRICE INDEX AND PROVIDING FOR EFFECTIVE DATES. >> IS THERE A MOTION? >> MADAM MAYOR, I APPROVE FOR RESOLUTION UA-2022-08, AND WAIVE THE 30-DAY WAITING PERIOD. >> SECOND. >> CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES. >> NO, MA'AM. >> COMMISSIONER C JOHNSON. >> NO, MA'AM. >> COMMISSIONER J JOHNSON. >> YES, MA'AM. >> COMMISSIONER PERONA. YES, MA'AM. >> MAYOR HUDSON. YES, MA'AM. >> NEXT WE HAVE UA RESOLUTION 2022-09, A RESOLUTION AMENDING SUPERSEDING AND RESCINDING SCHEDULE OF WASTE WATER SERVICES BY FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA AND RESOLUTION UA 2021-08, ARTICLE 12, PROVIDING FOR TWO SEPARATE TEN PERCENT INCREASES IN THE CUSTOMER AND USAGE CHARGES, BASED ON THE RATE OF SUFFICIENCY, DEMONSTRATED IN THE FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY REPORT AND THE 2022 FLORIDA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION ANNUAL PRICE INDEX. >> IS THERE A MOTION? >> MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE UA-2022-09 FOR WASTE WATER AND WAIVE THE 30 DAYS. >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES. >> NO, MA'AM. >> COMMISSIONER C JOHNSON. >> NO, MA'AM. >> COMMISSIONER J JOHNSON. >> YES, MA'AM. >> MAYOR HUDSON. >> YES, MA'AM. >> GENTLEMEN, LADIES, I JUST TO MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, I - SERVE ON THE FPUA BOARD. I'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS PROCESS. AND IT'S NOW ON US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE LISTENED TO EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY SAID UP HERE AND THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE TREATING OUR RATE PAYERS WITH THE BEST OF ALL POSSIBLE SERVICE AND RESPECT. AND TRYING TO HELP THEM AS MUCH AS WE CAN. THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WE'VE EVER DONE. AND IT'S CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION, BUT IT ALSO IS GOING TO BRING PAIN. SO WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE TO COMMIT TO BEING GOOD TO OUR RATE PAYERS. >> THANK YOU. [d. ADDED ON ITEM: Approval of Letter of Support for St. Lucie Cultural Alliance in their request for 2023-24 grant funding.] >> NEXT WE MOVE ON TO THE ADDED ON ITEM, APPROVAL OF LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE ST. LUCIE CULTURAL ALLIANCE AND REQUEST FOR 2023-24 GRANT FUNDING. >> MR. MIMS, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS? >> NO, MA'AM. >> SOMETHING THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST AND IT WAS A LATE ENTRY. >> IS THERE A MOTION? >> MADAM MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THE ST. LUCIE CULTURAL ALLIANCE GRANT FOR 2023-24. [03:50:01] >> SO WE CAN SEND THE LETTER? IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND >> ALL RIGHT. CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES >> YES, MA'AM. >> COMMISSIONER J JOHNSON. >> YES, MA'AM. >> MAYOR HUDSON. >> YES, MA'AM. >> NEXT WE HAVE COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC. >> ANY MEMBER FROM THE PUBLIC WISH TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION, PLEASE COME FORWARD, AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES AND MS. COXE WILL GIVE YOU A SIGNAL AT THREE SECONDS. ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE. SEEING NO MOVEMENT, I'LL CLOSE [15. COMMENTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER] THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. AND MOVE ON. >> ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE HAVE COMMENTS FROM CITY MANAGER. >> MR. MIMS. >> MADAM MAYOR, I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE GROWTH MANAGEMENT. AS TO CONTINUE WITH THAT THEME, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE A PARKING CONSULTING FIRM THAT HAS BEEN WORKING ON SOME OF OUR PLANNING FOR OUR PARKING SITUATIONS. PECIFICALLY IN OUR DOWNTOWN AREA. THEY HAVE COMPLETED A DRAFT OF THEIR STUDY AND THEIR INVESTIGATION. THAT WILL BE PRESENTED TO OUR PARKING COMMITTEE IN JUNE. AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY, TO YOU IN JULY FOR CONSIDERATION. THAT IS BASICALLY GOING TO DETERMINE WHERE WE FOCUS OUR EFFORTS FOR THE POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT OF A VERTICAL STRUCTURE TO ENHANCE OUR PARKING OFFERINGS IN OUR DOWNTOWN AREA. IN ADDITION, OUR SITE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW IS FORWARDED TO FDOT, ST. LUCIE COUNTY, ENGINEERING AND PLANNING. BUT I DO BELIEVE BEING THAT THE TPO HAS A RESPONSIBLE CHARGE FOR PLANNING, ASSESSING AND STUDYING THE TRAFFIC PATTERNS AND LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION OBJECTIVES OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND ST. LUCIE COUNTY, I DO BELIEVE WE NEED TO SEND THEM EVERY DEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT WE RECEIVE AND THEY SHOULD BE A PART OF THE TRC PROCESS. HOPEFULLY THEY CAN UTILIZE THAT INFORMATION AND THEY CAN PROVIDE US WITH SOME PLANNING ALTERNATIVES FOR THE FUTURE. ALSO, SPEAKING OF GROWTH MANAGEMENT YOU ALL ARE GOING TO BE MEETING WITH ALL OF YOUR WONDERFUL DEPARTMENT HEADS DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE AND THE THEME FOR THEIR MEETING IS GROWTH MANAGEMENT AND HUE WE'RE DEALING WITH THE RAPID GROWTH OF OUR CITY AND HOW WE PROVIDE SERVICES TO OUR BEAUTIFUL RESIDENTS. SO I WANT YOU ALL TO JUST GEAR UP FOR OUR BUDGET PROCESS IT'S GOING TO BE VERY EXCITING AND YOU'RE GOING TO ALSO HAVE QUITE A BIT OF INFORMATION FOR YOU ALL TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS. I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT WITHIN YOUR CONSENT AGENDA, YOU DID APPROVE TWO LABOR UNION CONTRACTS AND IT'S WELL OVERDO. THAT IS FOR OUR OFFICERS AND ALSO FOR OUR SERGEANTS AND LIEUTENANTS AND HOPEFULLY WE'RE DOING A LITTLE SOMETHING TO HELP AND HOPEFULLY RETAIN OUR VERY HIGHLY QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US. AS SOON AS WE IMPLEMENT THE CONTENTS OF THIS CONTRACT, WE'LL GO RIGHT BACK TO THE TABLE AND BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS FOR FY 23. SO I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW ABOUT THAT. AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT IS AGAIN, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DISCUSSING WITH ALL OF OUR RESOURCES TO INCLUDE LABOR AS WELL. THAT IS ALL I HAD TONIGHT >> THANK YOU. MS. COXE [16. COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION] >> NO COMMENTS TONIGHT. >> MS. EARLY. >> COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION >> ANYBODY WANT TO VOLUNTEER TO GO FIRST? COMMISSIONER GAINES. >> I'M ALWAYS VOLUNTEERING TO GO FIRST. >> YES. I APPRECIATE IT. >> COMMISSION AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, THIS WEEKEND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THREE EVENTS. THEY WERE ALL DUE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY. THE FIRST ONE WAS AN EVENT AT ST. PAUL AME CHURCH WHERE I DID DEPUTY GAVE THE SPEECH. I CUT OUT OF THERE AND WENT TO THE OPENING OF THE NEW ST. LUCIE SHERIFF POWELL CENTER ON 2303 ORANGE AVENUE. AND FELLOW COMMISSIONERS AND MADAM MAYOR, IF YOU HAVEN'T DRIVEN BY THERE, GO BY THERE. THEY PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO THAT BUILDING. IT GOES TO WHAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO SAY THAT WHOLE ORANGE AVENUE CORRIDOR, IT LOOKS VERY WELL. AND YOU KNOW, THE MAIN THING ABOUT THE KIDS, THEY ARE HAPPY AND THEY TOLD ME HISTORY ABOUT PAL AND THE CITY. I SAID I DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THAT. BECAUSE I WASN'T HERE. BUT YOU KNOW, THAT ALWAYS IF THEY NEEDED SOMETHING, TO TRY TO LET US KNOW JUST BECAUSE [03:55:01] THEY ARE HELPING A MAJORITY OF THE KIDS FROM FORT PIERCE. THE THIRD THING I WENT TO WAS, I WAS A PART OF THE BLUE ANGEL MOTORCYCLE RIDE YESTERDAY. I MEAN, IT WAS MAYBE 150 MOTORCYCLES THAT CAME FROM WHEREVER THEY CAME FROM. I DO NOT RIDE A MOTORCYCLE. BUT THEY CAME IN AND THANKED US FOR BEING THERE. REPRESENTATIVES THAT WE KNOW FROM FORT PIERCE. THANK YOU FOR THEIR SERVICE. BUT TO HEAR THE ROAR OF MAYBE 150 MOTORCYCLES, AND THE LOUD MUSIC AND EVERYTHING THAT WAS GOING ON, SO IT WAS EYE-OPENING TO ME. IT WAS GOOD TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU KNOW, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRST RESPONDERS FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO. AND THE ONE THING ABOUT THE BLUE ANGELS, IT WAS KIND OF FUNNY, BECAUSE WHEN THEY PULLED UP, THEY WERE LOOKING AT ME. AND I WAS LOOKING AT THEM. I'LL BE HONEST. BUT HEY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I LEFT SHAKING HANDS, HUGGING, AND I KNOW I'M LEARNING GUYS. I'M JUST TELLING YOU WHAT IT WAS. >> THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHERE YOUR MOTORCYCLE WAS. >> MAYBE THAT IS WHAT THEY WANTED TO KNOW. BUT IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND I KNOW -- I DON'T WANT TO LOOK OVER AT MY CITY ATTORNEY. I WILL BE IN THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE WEDNESDAY. BUT I SAID THAT, I GOT TO LAUGH. BUT I SAID IT TO SAY THIS, I'M GLAD I WENT BECAUSE WE REALLY NEED TO GET AWAY FROM THOSE STEREOTYPES. >> ABSOLUTELY. YOU LEARNED SOMETHING, DIDN'T YOU? >> NEED TO GET AWAY FROM THE STEREOTYPES. I MET A LOT OF GREAT INDIVIDUALS THERE IN THE 30 MINUTES I WAS THERE. IT WAS JUST EASY JUST SAYING HELLO. OR THANK YOU. AND LED TO CONVERSATIONS. SO THAT IS WHY I SAID THAT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, CITY ATTORNEY. I'M SORRY. >> I THINK IT'S GREAT. >> THE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY IS I THINK THAT WE HANDLED THE BUSINESS TONIGHT, WHAT WE HAD TO DO. I SINCERELY HOPE THAT WHATEVER, HOWEVER THIS VOTE WENT TONIGHT THAT IT DOESN'T CHANGE WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AS A BOARD. IT DOESN'T CHANGE. AND ANOTHER THING I'LL SAY IS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR LIFE, AND IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD, WE NEED TO STOP AND JUST SAY I DON'T WANT TO USE THE WORD PRAYER, BUT SOME WORDS OF COMFORT TO WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR COUNTRY. I MEAN, I'M ALMOST SCARED TO TURN ON MY -- LOOK ON MY PHONE RIGHT NOW. BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANOTHER SHOOTING SOMEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY. SO YOU KNOW, LET'S JUST STOP AND SOME TIME AND THINK ABOUT IT AND JUST KNOW THAT THE PERSON THAT YOU THINK YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH, A SIMPLE HELLO OR HOW ARE YOU DOING MIGHT CHANGE YOUR WHOLE OUTLOOK ON EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I REINFORCED YESTERDAY WITH THE BLUE ANGELS. THANK YOU. >> GOOD FOR YOU. ANYBODY WANT TO GO NEXT? I'LL CALL ON YOU. COMMISSIONER PERONA KAECHA. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY TO THE FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, I DID HEAR THE RECENT UTILITY VOTE. WE'VE GONE TO INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS. I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH IT SINCE AROUND 2002, AS REPRESENTATIVE ON THE UTILITY AUTHORITY. AND FOR ME, THE TIMING WAS JUST SO PERFECT FOR THAT. BUT I'M GOING TO -- A COUPLE THINGS WERE MENTIONED HERE TOO AND THOUGHTS THAT WE HAVE IS THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP SOFTEN THE BLOW. WEATHERIZATION IS A BIG DEAL. I KNOW THAT WITH 66 PERCENT OF DISTRICT ONE BEING RENTAL PROPERTY, I MEAN, THERE IS WAYS THAT WE CAN STILL GO AHEAD AND GET INVOLVED WITH THAT. AND HELP DO THIS. I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS ON THE UTILITY AUTHORITY AND WE HAD OUR WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM, THAT OUR THAT WE COULD SAVE ONE UTILITY BILL A YEAR. SO IF YOUR BILL WAS A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS, THAT IS $200 THAT YOU SAVED, THAT WOULD GO A LONG WAY TO OFFSET AND MITIGATE [04:00:02] THOSE EXPANSIONS THAT WE'VE DONE TONIGHT. SO I'M NOT SAYING EVERYTHING CAN GET THAT. BUT WE CAN BE PROACTIVE AND HELP REDUCE THAT. I KNOW ALL IT TAKES, THAT HE'S GOING TO HAVE A DYNAMIC GROUP COMING OUT OF THE UTILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REACHING OUT THERE AND DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP SOFTEN THAT BLOW. THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT TIME, IN FACT, BEFORE I GOT HERE TONIGHT, I ASKED THE CLERK TO FIND ME MINUTES. I GO BACK TO FEBRUARY OF 2000, WHEN THIS CITY COMMISSION SAT AND HAD A SPECIAL MEETING, TALKING ABOUT BUYING THE PROPERTY AT THE PORT. THESE ARE BIG TURNS IN OUR CITY'S HISTORY, WHERE EITHER WE GO LEFT OR WE GO RIGHT. AND AT THE TIME THEY KICKED OFF TO THE COUNTY AND DECIDED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO WAIT TO SEE HOW THIS THING ALL MOVES DOWN THE LINE AND SEE IF THE COUNTY COULD GET ON BOARD AND THAT THE TWO GOVERNMENT ENTITIES COULD WORK TOWARDS THAT. WHAT HAPPENED WAS IT SOLD TO A PRIVATE CONCERN. FOR NOT THAT MUCH MONEY. BUT THE REST IS HISTORY, FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS, WE'RE DEALING WITH THIS LARGE TRACK OF LAND OVER THERE THAT WE COULD BE DOING SOMETHING TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY OUT. I'M NOT SAYING IT'S EXACTLY THE SAME THING. BUT THESE ARE THE MOMENTS THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE IN THERE AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT. YOU BOTH VOTED PERFECTLY ON THAT. YOU LISTENED TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS. YOU BROUGHT THAT TO THE TABLE. AND THAT IS THE VOTE THAT HAPPENED. WE UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT I THINK THERE ARE WAYS WE CAN HELP THOSE FOLKS OUT AND WE CAN STILL MOVE THE CITY AT A POINT IN TIME. MAYBE I'M BECOMING PESSIMISTIC IN MY DAYS, BUT I'M TELLING YOU THAT IF WE WOULD HAVE DELAYED THIS VOTE ANYMORE THAN WE DID RIGHT NOW, I THINK MR. HUTCHINSON SAID IT RIGHT, THE STARS ARE ALIGNED, I THINK WE WOULD HAVE MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY. I DO BELIEVE THAT THE RATE PAYER EVENTUALLY WOULD BE PAYING MORE MONEY IN THE LONG-RUN, AS WE WENT AHEAD AND MOVED THE PLANT WHEN WE WERE TOLD TO MOVE THE PLANT AT THE TIME WHERE INTEREST RATES MAY NOT BE FAVORABLE AND AT THE TIME WHERE OUR ECONOMIC CYCLE COULDN'T SUPPORT THAT. SO WE'RE HERE NOW. AND I'M JUST TELLING YOU THAT I HEARD YOU AND I'LL DO WHATEVER I CAN. IF YOU NEED ME TO HELP WORK WITH THE LANDLORDS ON THAT, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO DO THAT. WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A PLAN. I THINK WE ALL NEED TO STAY INVOLVED WITH THIS >> MAKE YOU SHAKE YOUR HEAD. THE ONE THING I LEARNED AT THOSE TOWN HALL MEETINGS, WAS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE AT THOSE MEETINGS DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM. Y'ALL HEARD THEM. THEY DIDN'T KNOW. SO WHATEVER YOU CAN DO TO GET THE WORD OUT, OR MAKE THE LANDLORDS KNOW AND COME IN AND FIX, THERE WERE PEOPLE THERE, THERE WAS A VETERAN THERE. HE WAS LIKE, THEY CAME AND GAVE THE APPLICATION. BUT THERE WERE PEOPLE THERE THAT DIDN'T KNOW. SO WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB. EVERYBODY HAS TO DO A BETTER JOB TO SHOW THAT THE RESOURCES OUT THERE. SO ANYTHING YOU CAN HELP THOSE RESIDENTS, I WILL BE THERE WITH YOU. >> SOUNDS GOOD. >> MADAM MAYOR, TONIGHT WE HAD A PRETTY EXTENSIVE AGENDA. QUITE A FEW THINGS GOT ACCOMPLISHED. NEW DEVELOPMENTS AT FORT PIERCE, NEW BUSINESSES INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY STILL. COMMERCIAL THAT IS. AND THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS GOING THROUGH AND SOME OTHER TECHNOLOGIES WE INVESTED IN. WE'RE CONTINUING TO MAKE THE INVESTMENT INTO FORT PIERCE AND THAT IS GOOD. WHEN I STARTED THIS THING ON ONE FORT PIERCE, I FIRST GOT ON THE COMMISSION, THERE WERE A LOT OF THOSE MEETINGS THAT CAME DOWN TO THE VOTE THAT CAME DOWN. WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT INVESTMENT THAT WE MADE COLLECTIVELY, THE FOUR OF US WHEN WE FIRST GOT STARTED HERE, COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER WASN'T HERE WITH US ON A PERMANENT BASIS. WE MADE THAT COMMITMENT. BECAUSE OF WHERE WE ARE TONIGHT. WE'VE INVESTED A LOT. YOU GUYS HAVE LOOKED AT ONE FORT PIERCE AND WHAT IT IS. IT'S EXACTLY THAT. WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER NOW. NO MATTER HOW THE VOTE WENT, WE'RE IN THIS NOW, BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, WE'RE IN IT. SO ONE FORT PIERCE IS THAT, IT WAS A TOUGH VOTE. BUT IT WAS A VOTE THAT WAS MADE, IT WASN'T -- WE WEREN'T DISAGREEABLE AMONGST EACH OTHER. COMMON RESPECT. BUT YET, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE DECISIONS MADE BASED ON INFORMATION, FACTS AND DATA, BASED ON HOW YOU VIEW IT. AND THAT IS HOW I LOOK AT IT. I WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE MY [04:05:05] MEETINGS WITH FPUA. I'VE BEEN SAYING THIS TO THEM FOR A VERY LONG TIME. EVEN BEFORE I GOT THIS SEAT, WHEN I WAS RUNNING FOR THIS SEAT I WAS MEETING WITH FPUA. I HAD CONCERNS. I HEARD THE SAME COMMENTS THAT YOU HEARD COMMISSIONER GAINES, ABOUT THE RATES. I WENT IN TO UNDERSTAND THEM. I KNEW THAT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE BILLS, HOW TO READ THEM, THE OPPORTUNITIES THERE. IT'S UPON US NOW TO GET THE WORD OUT. I WILL BE CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTING YOU AND MEETING WITH YOU AND CHALLENGING YOU AND YOUR TEAM BECAUSE THE PERCEPTION IS REALITY. PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW, AS GOOD AS WE THINK WE ARE. IT'S NOT GETTING TO THE PEOPLE IN A LEVEL AND INFORMATION POINT THAT THEY UNDERSTAND. AND WE HAVE TO OWN THAT. SO I'M IN THAT BOAT WITH YOU, ROWING JUST AS HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE DO THAT. MY COMMITMENT. WE MUST AND WE WILL MAKE SURE. BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, IT'S ON US TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDS THAT AND WE MOVE ON FROM HERE GOING FORWARD AND ALL OF THE GREAT BENEFITS. IT'S UP TO US ALSO TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND THE TRANSITION AND THE ULTIMATE BENEFIT OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE MAY NOT REALIZE THAT FOR MAYBE FIVE YEARS, TEN YEARS, I DON'T KNOW. BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE GOT TO REMEMBER THIS DAY TO MAKE SURE OUR RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND HOW IT BENEFITTED THEM IN FORT PIERCE ON THE DECISION THAT WAS MADE TODAY. LAST THING I WILL SAY IS THAT IT'S -- SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE DONE, AND I WANT TO GO ON RECORD TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS, I KNOW RECENTLY, I WANT TO CALL IT A CITIZENS ACADEMY, IT'S AN ACADEMY FOR RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE TO LEARN ABOUT FPUA. ADVISORY BOARD. SO I WANT TO GO ON RECORD TO APPLAUD THE FPUA FOR GETTING THAT GOING. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT ADVISORY BOARD BECOMING MORE INFORMED, TO HELP US COMMUNICATE TO OUR CITIZENS AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. I'M SURE OVER TIME THERE WILL BE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO TRANSITION ON AND OFF THAT BOARD. BUT YOU KNOW, AS I SAID, ONE FORT PIERCE WAS STARTED BECAUSE WE KNEW THERE WOULD BE DAYS LIKE THIS THAT WE NEEDED TO MAKE A DECISION. WE ARE MOVING FORWARD AND WE WILL GO ON FROM THERE. THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER J JOHNSON >> I THINK MY MEMBER DROPPED OFF. I HAD TO LEAVE. SO I WILL GET YOU A NEW NAME. I THINK YOU SENT THAT TO ME A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. UTILITY ADVISORY. SOMEBODY SENT IT TO ME. I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME RIGHT THIS SECOND. BUT YOU REMINDED ME. I APPRECIATE THAT, COMMISSIONER. I THINK IT'S A GREAT GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS COMING TOGETHER TO SERVE IN A DIFFERENT CAPACITY THAT WE'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE. A LOT OF DISCUSSION TONIGHT. AND A LOT OF HISTORY MAKING, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. AND MADAM MAYOR REMINDED ME EARLIER TODAY THAT MY THIRD GRADE TEACHER IS LUCILLE WRIGHT, SHE TOLD ME WHEN SHE FOUND OUT I RAN FOR CITY COMMISSION IN 2016, JEREMIAH, YOU'RE MAKING HISTORY. YEAH. WHATEVER. SHE SAID NO, REALLY, IF YOU'RE ELECTED, YOU'RE TRULY MAKING HISTORY. I SHARE THAT WITH YOU ALL BECAUSE I REMEMBER THE MOMENT SHE SAID IT. AND IT MADE AN IMPACT ON ME. SO WE'RE MAKING HISTORY RIGHT NOW. AND EVERY DECISION IS GOING DOWN IN THE HISTORY BOOKS. BUT I APPRECIATED HER WISDOM AND HER FORETHOUGHT ON THAT. BECAUSE SHE TAUGHT ME A LOT OF THINGS IN THIRD GRADE. THINGS THAT HAVE NEVER LEFT ME. RECYCLING BEING ONE OF THOSE. BUT ANYWAY, SO YOU'RE RIGHT. COMMISSIONERS, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE CHALLENGES LIKE TODAY AND THERE ARE DECISIONS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE. IT'S JUST LIKE THE DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION THAT I WENT IN TO SUCH DETAIL ON BEFORE, BECAUSE WE'RE MAKING HISTORY AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DIGEST THAT INFORMATION ON BEHALF OF THE NEXT 30, 40, 50 YEARS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND THESE ARE REAL CHALLENGES THAT I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, WHEN I LEFT THE UTILITIES AUTHORITY AS AN ENGINEER IN 2003, I IMMEDIATELY WANTED TO GET INVOLVED. THIS IS NOT A PERSONAL RESUME. BUT I BECAME A MEMBER OF THE PLANNING BOARD. WHEN I STARTED DIGGING INTO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, AND OUR PLANNING, WE WERE ALWAYS HUNGRY FOR FOLKS TO BE HERE. ALWAYS HUNGRY FOR DEVELOPMENTS TO COME. ALWAYS HUNGRY FOR THAT NEXT STEP OF WHAT IF. WHO WAS GOING TO COME. WHO IS GOING TO NOTICE LITTLE [04:10:02] FORT PIERCE ON THE MAP. WE USED TO TALK ABOUT THAT. AND SO I SHARE THAT WITH YOU BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS PART OF GROWING. I THINK THAT IS PART OF ONE FORT PIERCE. I THINK THAT IS PART OF WISDOM. I REFLECT BACK UPON THOSE TIMES AND REVIEWING DEVELOPMENTS AND I THINK ABOUT HOW WE JUST WERE SO HUNGRY, IT WAS OKAY. WE'RE NOT THERE ANYMORE. WE'RE AT A POINT TO WHERE WE HAVE TO WORK WITH EVERY ENTITY THAT LIKE MR. MIMS TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, MAKE SURE THAT WE COVER ALL OF THE BASES, COVER OBJECTIVES, EVERY APPLICATION THAT COMES WITHIN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. AND MAKE SURE WE'RE SEEING THE FUTURE. AND THEN ALSO ALLOW THEM TO PARTICIPATE WITH US IN THE GROWTH OF OUR COMMUNITY. BECAUSE AS WE SAW TONIGHT, NOT EVERYTHING CAN BE UPON THE TAXPAYERS OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, LIKE TALK ABOUT PARKING FOR EXAMPLE. THE ONUS CAN'T ALL BE ON US. US AS TAXPAYERS IN THE COMMUNITY. SO THAT IS A DIFFERENT LENS TO LOOK THROUGH, IN MY OPINION, THAN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE HAS EVER LOOKED THROUGH. WE'VE DONE A BETTER JOB IN THE LAST FIVE, SIX, EIGHT YEARS, SINCE AFTER THE RECESSION. BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THOSE GOGGLES ARE KIND OF STILL THERE. LIKE I FEEL LIKE THEY'RE STILL THERE. COME ON IN, IT'S OKAY. BECAUSE WHEN YOU START TALKING TO THE COMMUNITY, THEY'RE LIKE WHY DID YOU DO THAT? YOU KNOW THAT MIDWAY ROAD IS FAILING, RIGHT? OR YOU KNOW THAT 33RD STREET HAS GOT POTHOLES FROM ORANGE AVENUE TO OKEECHOBEE ROAD AND NOW WE JUST APPROVED ANOTHER COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT. WHATEVER. I'M USING EXAMPLES. AND I SAY YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU'RE RIGHT. SO THEY GUT CHECK ME. THEY GUT CHECK YOU, RIGHT? AND SO THOSE ARE HARD DECISIONS TO NEGOTIATE WITH FOLKS IN A PUBLIC SETTING OR IN A ONE ON ONE SETTING TO TELL THEM THEY'VE GOT TO PARTICIPATE WITH US OR IT'S GOING TO BE A MESS. AND MOST OF THE TIME, IT'S TO THEIR ECONOMIC BENEFIT OR THEIR INVESTMENT RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT. TO MAKE SOME INVESTMENT WITH US AS A COMMUNITY. SO THAT IS I WANTED TO TOUCH ON THAT TONIGHT BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE I AM. WE MADE AN APPROVAL TONIGHT. I CAN'T RECALL APPROVING 1.25 MILLION SQUARE FEET EVER, HAVE WE? >> WE'VE DONE ONE MILLION. >> WE DID 1.1 MILLION AT CROSSROADS. I DON'T KNOW IF WE EVER HAVE REACHED THAT. SO THAT IS THE OTHER PART THAT HIT ME. SO THAT IS WHY I WAS HESITANT. I DIDN'T THINK THE INFORMATION I HAD, I TOLD YOU ALL ABOUT IT. MOVING FORWARD, AND I'M HERE, WE MADE A DECISION, I SPOKE IN THE FIRST PERSON, AS WE APPROVED BECAUSE THAT IS ONE FORT PIERCE, THAT IS WHAT IT MEANS. YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAVE TO START THINKING ABOUT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE WE ARE HERE, ST. LUCIE COUNTY IS LOOKED AT, THERE ARE TOPPORTUNITIES FOR U TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BETTER WITH OUR PARTNERS COMING IN TO INVEST WITH US. THAT WAS MY LEARNING MOMENT FROM TONIGHT. IT REALLY MADE ME REFLECT BACK ON THE LAST 19, 20 YEARS. AND LOOKING AT THE DEVELOPMENT AND HOW WE'VE GROWN AS A CITY. AND I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE AND I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR WHAT PRIOR COMMISSIONS HAVE DONE AND WHAT WE'RE DOING. THE LAST COUPLE ITEMS IN THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT, BUT I KNEW IF WE DIDN'T PULL IT OFF FOR A SEPARATE VOTE, PROJECT LIFT, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THE FUNDING OF PROJECT LIFT, I THINK THAT IS A PHENOMENAL PROGRAM. THEY'RE MOVING MOUNTAINS IN THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING. OF COURSE, THE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS ON BEHALF OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT WITHIN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND WE'LL ALWAYS BE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AND WE WERE TALKING THE OTHER DAY ABOUT ANOTHER PROJECT AND YOU KNOW, WE JUST GOT TO CONTINUE TO BUILD THOSE FOLKS UP. AND APPRECIATE THEM FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING AT THE SAME TIME, PART OF LIFE IS MAKING A WAGE. SO I'M GLAD WE'RE MOVING THAT FORWARD AND THANK YOU, MR. MIMS FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR WORKING ON THAT. YOU AND I HAVE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THESE CONTRACTS. THE CHIEF AND I HAVE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU TO THE DEPUTY CHIEFS TOO. [04:15:02] AND TO ALL OF THE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES. THAT IS ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU >> YES, SIR. >> I KNOW WE'RE ALREADY LATE. JUST A QUICK QUESTION, SO I UNDERSTAND, WHAT MY COMMISSIONER JUST SAID WE'RE AT THE POINT NOW WHERE WE CAN START DEMANDING CERTAIN THINGS FROM DEVELOPERS OR PEOPLE COMING IN BECAUSE WE'RE AT THE POINT NOW. MY QUESTION IS, WHERE DO WE HAVE THAT DISCUSSION? BECAUSE I CAN'T GO TO JEREMIAH'S OFFICE. I CAN'T GO TO JEREMIAH'S OFFICE AND SAY, YOU KNOW, HEY, JEREMIAH. WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO DO? BECAUSE I WOULD BE IN VIOLATION OF THE SUNSHINE LAW. SO I LOVE THE IDEA. MY LAWYER HAD KICKED IN TONIGHT, BECAUSE -- BUT WHERE DO WE HAVE THAT TYPE OF DISCUSSION AND SAY YOU KNOW WHAT, WE NEED TO GO BACK AND REVAMP THIS PROCESS, WHERE DO WE HAVE THAT DISCUSSION? DO I HAVE IT WITH THE CITY MANAGER? DO WE PUT IT ON THE AGENDA TO HAVE IT? WHERE DO WE HAVE THAT DISCUSSION? BECAUSE I'M IN AN AGREEMENT THAT IT NEEDS TO BE HAVE. I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT MY ROLE. DO I GO TO CITY MANAGER. WHERE DO WE HAVE IT? >> HE'S SMILING. BUT I THINK THAT HAVING -- USING A CONFERENCE AGENDA FOR THAT. AND/OR, WE DO THAT WITH STRATEGIC PLANNING TOO. I THINK MR. MIMS HAS HEARD YOU. AND HE CAN GIVE SOME THOUGHT TO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO TALK ABOUT, WHICH IS BASICALLY GROWTH FROM NOW ON, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE APPROVAL, EVERYBODY ELSE HAS HAD A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN SO THAT WHEN WE ARE VOTING ON SOMETHING, WE DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK AND SAY DID YOU DO THIS OR I DON'T HAVE -- LIKE HE SAID TONIGHT. I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION. SO THAT IS A PROCESS THAT MAYBE WE CAN IMPROVE. BUT ALSO THE COUNTY AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS CAN IMPROVE TOO. I THINK MR. MIMS HAS HEARD US. ARE YOU CLEAR ON THAT? >> WITHOUT A DOUBT. THE THEME DOUBT IS ALL ABOUT GROWTH MANAGEMENT. AS WE MOVE INTO FY 23 AND WE START THE PLANNING PROCESS, I THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT OUR CITY IN VARIOUS PERSPECTIVES. WE HAVE A CORE OF OUR CITY THAT IS OLDER, THAT WE'RE TRYING TO INFILL, SPUR DEVELOPMENT, TO BUILD THE TAX BASE, TO BUILD NEIGHBORHOODS. BUT WE HAVE THE FRINGES OF OUR CITY THAT IS EXPERIENCING GROWTH AND THE PAINS OF GROWTH. AND WE'VE GOT TO ADJUST THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS TO ENSURE THAT THIS GROWTH IS DONE APPROPRIATELY. NOW, WE'VE GOT AN IMPACT FEE STRUCTURE THAT WAS DONE BACK IN 2000 AND SOMETHING. OVER PROBABLY 15 YEARS AGO. I'M GOING TO BE PROPOSING TO YOU THAT WE UPDATE OUR IMPACT FEES TO INCLUDE A LAW ENFORCEMENT IMPACT FEE. TO INCLUDE VARIOUS WAYS TO LOOK AT OUR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AND HAVE DIFFERENT IMPACT FEES FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL. AND SO I THINK IT'S TIME FOR US TO LOOK VERY STRONGLY AT GROWTH MANAGEMENT. WE NEED TO LOOK AT TRANSPORTATION. WE HAVE TO HAVE THE COUNTY AND THE TPO BE OUR PARTNERS, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, ALL OF THESE ROADS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ARE NOT IN OUR CONTROL. THESE ARE ALL COUNTY, STATE AND OTHER ROADS AND THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE ONLY HAS THAT LITTLE CORE. SO IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT COLLABORATION, WE'RE GOING TO FALL BEHIND. RIGHT NOW WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT JENKINS ROAD EXPANSION FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I HAVEN'T HEARD A THING ABOUT IT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ONE OF THE PRIMARY DEVELOPMENT, I'M SORRY, CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS FOR THAT WHOLE SOUTHWESTERN CORE. SO WE'VE GOT TO REALLY GET A STRONGER HOLD ON HOW THE TPO AND ST. LUCIE COUNTY INTERACTS WITH OUR CITY. GROWTH MANAGEMENT IS DEFINITELY A PRIORITY FOR US. THAT IS WHAT WE'LL WORK ON MOVING FORWARD. >> FDOT DOES EVERYTHING IN FIVE-YEAR SEGMENTS. OKAY. ARE YOU GOOD WITH THAT, COMMISSIONER GAINES? OKAY. SO ONE FORT PIERCE ALSO MEANS CITY OF FT. PIERCE AND FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AUTHORITY, IN MY MIND. AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE COME TO THAT TONIGHT. FOR SURE. AND MAYBE WE'VE NEVER SAID IT THAT WAY AND MAYBE WE'VE ALWAYS INTENDED IT THAT WAY. BUT WITH THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HERE FROM FDUA, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I EMPHASIZE THAT. BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE'RE DOING. WE ARE -- AND FPUA IS GOING TO HELP US GROW THE CITY. [04:20:04] I CAN CARRY THAT. I CAN CARRY THAT INFORMATION AND THAT COMMITMENT. AND I WANT TO THANK THE FPUA STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT. IT'S A GOOD BOARD AND THEY'RE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING. AND THEY'RE SERIOUS ABOUT IT AND THEY'VE PUT IN A LOT OF TIME. AND SO I WANT TO THANK THEM. AND I WANT TO REMIND OUR COMMISSION THAT I'VE HEARD THE STORY, THAT PORT ST. LUCIE HAD A VERY PAINFUL TIME IN ITS GROWTH BECAUSE IT WENT TO SEWER. AND EVERY RESIDENT PAID A PRETTY GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THEM TO ALL BE ON SEWER. AND BECAUSE OF THE PAIN THAT THEY WENT THROUGH THEN, THEY ARE NOW 200,000 PERSON CITY. AND GROWING AND CONTINUING TO GROW. IT'S NOT THE ONLY REASON. BUT THAT IS ONE OF THE MAJOR REASONS. BECAUSE THEY WENT THROUGH THAT. AND THAT WAS CERTAINLY A LOT MORE MONEY THAN THIS. I'M NOT TRYING TO COMPARE IT. I'M JUST SAYING THAT TO DO CERTAIN THINGS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF PAIN AND I REALLY -- I'M HOPING THAT THIS WILL, I KNOW THE FPUA TAKES THIS VERY SERIOUSLY AND WE'RE GOING TO BE MINDFUL, BECAUSE WE'RE ALL LIVING WITH INFLATION RIGHT NOW. I KNOW THAT. THAT IS -- WE'RE ALL LIVING WITH HIGH GAS PRICES AND OTHER PRICES. SO I'M VERY MINDFUL OF THAT. SO IS THE FPUA BOARD. SO I JUST WANT TO COMMIT TO YOU THAT THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. THIS IS A BIG BIG PROJECT THAT -- AND TO KEEP OUR RATE PAYERS BENEFIT AT UPPERMOST. THE RATE PAYER IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON. SUNRISE HUMANE SOCIETY IS GOING TO BE SPONSORING COFFEE WITH THE MAYOR ON FRIDAY. I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BRING ANY PETS TO ADOPT. BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADOPT A PET, THEY'RE LOCATED ON SAVANNAH ROAD AND THEY'RE WORKING VERY VERY HARD. AND IN A VERY GOOD WAY. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM, FRIDAY MORNING, EIGHT O'CLOCK AT THE FORT PIERCE YACHT CLUB. AND IF THERE IS NOTHING ELSE, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO ADJOURN. SO IF EVERYBODY WOULD MOVE OUT TO THE FOYER, WE WILL BE PACKING UP OUR STAFF. IF YOU WANT TO TALK TO ANYBODY, YOU CAN TALK TO THEM OUT IN THE FOYER. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.