[00:00:02]
[MUSIC] >> GOOD AFTERNOON TO THE
[Call to Order]
REGULAR MEETING SEPARATE TUESDAY, JULY 19.PLEASE STAND FOR THE PRAYER AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> THE SCRIPTURES FROM ISAIAH APRIL 1, 2010.
DO NOT FEAR ANYTHING FOR I AM WITH YOU.
DO NOT BE AFRAID FOR I AM YOUR GOD.
I WILL STRENGTHEN YOU AND BE ASSURED I WILL HELP YOU.
I WILL CERTAINLY TAKE HOLD OF YOU WITH MY RIGHTEOUS RIGHT HAND. YOUR FATHER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE AND GRACE FOR ALL WHO ARE HERE AND IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AS WE FACE DIFFICULT AND CHALLENGING TIMES.
HELP US TO NOT FEAR. LORD, WORK WITHIN OUR HEARTS SO THAT WHILE WE RECOGNIZE ALL THAT YOU ARE WITH US.
STRENGTH AND ASSURING OUR BOARD MEMBERS, OUR DEPARTMENT HAS RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS OF YOUR HELP IN TIME OF DESPAIR. TAKE HOLD OF YOUR CITY BY RICH'S HAND. CALL THE CITY OF UNITY WITH LOVE AND CARE FOR EACH OTHER. YOUR LOVE IMMENSELY, GRANT US THE ENDURANCE TO WORK FORWARD EACH DAY.
REALIZE THAT YOU CARE US, I'M MUCH MORE YOU CARE ABOUT US.
FURTHERMORE, WITH YOUR PEACE AND COMFORT ÃÃ [INDISCERNIBLE] AMEN.
>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLIGHT, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND TO THE REPUBLIC, FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL, WITH LIBERTY
AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE
[B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
>> HAS THE BOARD REVIEWED THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING? DOES ANYBODY WISH TO MAKE ANY CHANGES?
[C. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC]
IF NOT, CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE?>> MOVE OF APPROVAL. >> SECOND.
>> WE CALL THE ROLL? >> MS. BENNETT?
>> YES MA'AM. MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER C. HOW MANY WISH TO MAKE STATEMENT ON THE BOARD TODAY BY SHOW OF HANDS? OKAY.
WE HAVE GOT A NUMBER OF PERSONS WHO WISH TO MAKE COMMENTS.
DOES THE BOARD WISH TO HEAR THESE COMMENTS NOW? OR DO THEY WISH TO MOVE THIS ITEM TO THE END OF THE AGENDA? I THINK ONE OF THE PRESENTATIONS WOULD BE VERY EDUCATING TO THE RATE PAYERS AND CITIZENS IN THIS ROOM.
I THANKED SOME OF THEIR COMMENTS MIGHT BE RENDERED MOOT BY TODAY'S PRESENTATION. BUT IF THE BOARD WISHES TO HEAR THEM NOW, WE CAN. IF THE BOARD WISHES TO MOVE THE ITEM TO A, LET'S SAY PLACE ITEM H AT THE END OF NEW BUSINESS, CAN I ENTERTAIN THE MOTION TO REMOVE THE ITEM AND MOVE IT TO ITEM H? GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE.
WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
I DO HAVE A LIST OF THOSE WHO HAVE REGISTERED ONLINE.
I WILL TAKE THOSE INDIVIDUALS FIRST.
>> EXCUSE ME, MR. FEE, WE NEGLECTED TO APPROVE THE
MINUTES. >> LET'S GET THE MINUTES
>> SET THE AGENDA. >> SET THE AGENDA.
OKAY, LET'S APPROVE THE MINUTES.
EVERYBODY HAD A CHANCE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
>> I APPROVE THE MINUTES. >> OKAY.
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> MS. BENNETT?
>> THIS IS GIBBONS?> YES MA'AM.
>> MR. LAMBERT? >> MARY HUDSON, MR. FEE?
>> YES-MAN. MOVING ON TO COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC. SO, WE WILL START WITH THE INDIVIDUAL, MISS KEN'S LOVE. ARE YOU PRESENT? OKAY. COME FORWARD, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR STATEMENT. THE RED LIGHT SHOULD BLANK WHEN YOU HAVE REACHED THE END OF THE TIME.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS CHEYENNE KEN'S LOVE.
MY CONCERN IS NOT JUST FOR ME, BUT ALL ST. LUCIE COUNTY.
WHO HAS UTILITIES. WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO SURVIVE. HERE I AM FACED WITH THE BILL AND ALMOST $600. THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE IS NOT JUST IF YOU A AND THERE'S SQL. THE BILL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO SHOULD NOT BE THIS HIGH. THERE IS NO REASON IT SHOULD BE
[00:05:03]
THAT HIGH. YET, EVERYBODY IN HERE IS BEING PAID. NOBODY ELSE'S THINGS ARE GOING UP. I MOVED FROM A HOUSE 2000 SQUARE FEET TO A HOUSE OF 1000 SQUARE FEET AND MY BILL TRIPLED. NOBODY HAS BEEN TO MY HOUSE TO READ MY METERS. MY ELECTRIC METER, MY GAS METER, MY WATER METER. WHEN I CALLED TO VOICE MY CONCERN, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY, AND THEY CHECK AND IF NOT HAS TO STATE THAT YOUR BILL IS ESTIMATED.MY BILL HAS NEVER BEEN ESTIMATED.
I DECREASED MY USAGE OF THE SECOND MONTH IN THE SECOND MONTH OF BEING MANY RESIDENTS BECAUSE OF THE PREVIOUS PRICE OF MY BILL IN JUNE. I STOPPED USING HOT WATER, WHICH RUNS ON GAS. I ONLY USED IT TO WASH DISHES.
WE DON'T WASH CLOSE, WE STOPPED WITH HOT SHOWERS.
I STARTED TAKING COLD SHOWERS TO TRY TO BRING MY BILL DOWN.
AND AS A HUMAN BEING, I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DO THAT.
AND AN ELDERLY MOTHER THAT I TAKE CARE OF.
BY MYSELF. MY BILL REFLECTED THAT I INCREASE MY GAS USAGE. SO, WHO IS COMING TO READ MY METER TO GET THESE ACCURATE READINGS? YET, MY BILL CONTINUES, MY WATER USAGE WENT ON MY ELECTRIC WENT UP. MY GAS USAGE WENT UP.
MY WATER, MY WASTEWATER, MY GARBAGE AND EVERYTHING HAS WENT UP. I'VE NOT SEEN ANY CHANGES IN MY SERVICE. I DON'T HAVE BETTER QUALITY WHEN MY POWER GOES OUT DURING A POWER SURGE.
I DON'T HAVE BETTER QUALITY WHEN IT TAKES 10 MINUTES FOR SOMETHING TO KICK ON. I HAVE TO PUT MY AC UP TO 80 DEGREES DURING THE DAY IN THIS FLORIDA HEAT IN ORDER TO KEEP MY BILL AT THAT MINIMUM OF WHERE IT IS NOW.
AND WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO BE FORCED TO DO THAT BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO DO IT. MY INCOME HAS NOT INCREASED.
I WAS FORCED TO MOVE, WHICH INCREASED MY RENT.
BECAUSE I WAS NOT ABLE TO BUY. I DID NOT APPLY FOR SHIP PROGRAM BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THAT I DID NOT QUALIFY.
A SINGLE MOTHER OF TWO WHO MAKES LESS THAN $30,000 A YEAR DOES NOT QUALIFY AND NOW ENFORCED.
>> THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] >> IS MRS. ROSS PRESENT? OKAY, NOT MRS. ROSS. MS. ROBINSON?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS YOLANDA ROBINSON.
MY ADDRESS IS 2007 AVENUE Q FORT PIERCE.
AFTER LISTENING TO WHAT THE YOUNG LADY SAID, SHE IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.E ARE IN A DEPRESSION IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. MY BILL HAS NOT ONLY DOUBLED, IT HAS TRIPLED. FOR THE LAST MONTH, I'VE BEEN ON VACATION FOR 15 DAYS. I COME HOME TO A $500 ELECTRIC BILL. MY BILL HAS NEVER BEEN OVER 250. I UNDERSTAND THAT FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AS BUILT INTO POWERPOINT.
AND THEY ARE FORCING US TO PAY FOR ELECTRICITY TO PAY FOR THIS POWERPOINT. WE ARE BEING FORCED TO PAY FOR A SMART METER. LIKE SHE SAID, THEY DON'T COME OUT AND READ OUR METER. I'M HOME AND HAVE VIDEO CAMERAS. NONE OF THE READERS COME TO MY HOME AND I DO NOT HAVE A DIGITAL METER.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S FAIR THAT WE ARE BEING SUBSIDIZED TO HAVE TO BE FORCED TO PAY THIS MONEY.
AGRICULTURAL LABOR PROGRAM GIVES FORT PIERCE UTILITIES OVER $5 MILLION A YEAR. I KNOW FOR FACT BECAUSE I SIT ON THE BOARD. THAT COMPANY DONATES $5 MILLION A YEAR TO LOW INCOME HOUSING FOR THOSE THAT CAN CANNOT AFFORD THE PRICES THAT ARE BEING FORCED ON THEM.
POWER COST ADJUSTMENTS. POWER COST ADJUSTMENTS ARE JUST AS MUCH AS THE ELECTRIC PORTION OF THE BILL.
THE CHEAPEST THING ON MY BILL IS MIGHT WATER.
AND I USE MORE WATER THAN ANYTHING.
I HAVE A SWIMMING POOL THAT TAKES OVER 23,000 GALLONS.
AND MY BILL ISN'T THAT HIGH JUST FROM WATER ALONE.
SO, MY CONCERN IS WHY ARE WE BEING FORCED TO PAY FOR THIS? AND I DON'T NEED THE ENTIRE THREE MINUTES.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME.
IN MY HAND, I'VE MY ELECTRIC BILL FOR THIS MONTH.
>> STATE YOUR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS PLEASE.
>> J GREAT, 704 PARKWAY DRIVE FORT PIERCE FLORIDA.
I'VE LIVED IN THIS HOME FOR 32 YEARS, OKAY?WE RAISED CHILDREN IN THIS HOME AND PLANNED ON RETIRING AND DYING IN HIS HOME. MY ELECTRIC BILL FOR THIS MONTH IS $840.OKAY? THAT IS $200 OF POWER ADJUSTMENT COSTS. EVERY MONTH OR TWO MONTHS,
[00:10:01]
WHATEVER THEY DO, WE HAVE A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT THAT I HEAR THE SIRENS. I'M IN THE ZONE OF DEATH IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG WITH THIS POWER PLANT.HOWEVER, I UNDERSTAND WE ARE USING NATURAL GAS FOR THE CITY.
TO RUN A FORT PIERCE UTILITIES. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S BRINGING LARGER PARTS OF PEOPLE INTO THE CITY.
WE'VE ALL THE CONDOS THAT WENT IN OVER THE BRIDGE HERE.
WE SHOULD NOT WRAP THE TEXT SPACE.
IT SHOULD BRING UP UTILITIES AND ALL THAT.
YET, IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE YES, I BOUGHT MY HOUSE IN 1992.
I GOT A GOOD PRICE ON MY HOUSE. IT PROBABLY HAS TRIPLED IN THE AMOUNT THAT I COULD GET FOR NOW.
IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE WE'RE TRYING TO BE FORCED OUT TO WHERE IF WE ARE FORCED ON SOMEBODY BUYS IT FOR 230,000.
EVEN WITH THE HOMESTEAD, THERE CAN BE PAYING TAX ON HUNDRED AND 80,000. TO BRING THE TAX BASE WAY UP.
IT'S MOSTLY TRYING TO GET MIDDLE-CLASS OUT OF HERE.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND AT $200 Ã JUST $200 POWER ADJUSTMENT COSTS. FOR ELECTRICITY.
AND I FIGURED IT OUT RIGHT. THAT'S $0.18 PER KILOWATT HOUR.
17,000 GALLONS OF WATER I WAS CHARGED FOR THIS MONTH.
IN THE 30 YEARS I'VE LIVED THERE, I'VE AVERAGED BETWEEN SEVEN AND NINE. THEY EVEN SHOW YOU THE WHOLE YEAR ON THE BILL. 17,000 GALLONS.
THE EXPLANATION, WE DON'T KNOW, YOU MUST HAVE A LEAK.
THIS MORNING I HAD THEM PUT A NEW METER IN.
IT TOOK ME FIVE GALLONS OF WATER TO WASH MY DISHES.
IT SHOULD BE 11.1 GALLONS OF WATER TO TAKE A SHOWER.
WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT WAS IT? 2000 GALLONS OF WATER PER PERSON PER WEEK.
NO, EVEN MORE PAID 4000 GALLONS PER PERSON PER WEEK TO GET THE 17,000 IN MY HOME. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
NONE OF THIS IS ADDING UP. JUST THAT POWER ADJUSTMENT COST. EVERYTHING IS TO BE GREEN, GREEN, GREEN. LET'S GO GREEN.
WE HAVE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT. NATURAL GAS, THAT IS NOT GREEN.
GO ELECTRIC CARS. OKAY, GAS IS GONE WAY UP.
ELECTRIC CAR. WHAT WOULD MY BILL BE IF I'D ELECTRIC CAR? $840 FOR MY THERMOSTAT TO BE AT 78 DEGREES. NEVER TOUCH IT.
70 DEGREES. IT'S ALWAYS 70 DEGREES.
OKAY? THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT MY THERMOSTAT COMES ON WHEN IT'S 85 ON MY AIR CONDITIONER COMING ON IS 85 DEGREES OR 95 DEGREES. IT IS ABOUT THE SAME.
I'M HOME ALL DAY. I CAN TIME AND DID TIME AND FIGURE IT OUT. YOU CANNOT SAY BECAUSE IT'S HOTTER OUTSIDE. YOU ARE RUNNING THE AIR MORE AND MORE AND MORE. I'M NOT.IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE. OKAY? 5 DEGREES. 85 DEGREES AND 95 DEGREES IS
RUNNING ABOUT THE SAME. >> THANK YOU SIR.
>> THANKS FOR LISTENING TO ME.
[APPLAUSE] >> ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO MAKE COMMENTS, PLEASE STEP FORWARD WITH YOUR NAME AND YOUR
ADDRESS. >> ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS WALK DOWN HERE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO RAISE YOUR HAND. FIRST COME FIRST SERVE HERE.
>> 2625 26 SOUTH ONE. I BECAME INVOLVED IN OUR LOCAL POLITICS BACK DURING THE GREAT DEBACLE OF THE FORT PIERCE UTILITY AUTHORITY. WHEN Y'ALL WERE WITH THE GAS HEDGING. NOW, I SEE THIS.
YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND INFLATION.
I AM A BUSINESS PERSON. I GET IT.
BUT, MY BILL FOR THAT RESTAURANT LAST MONTH WAS $5710.76.Y NEW BILL THAT I OPENED BEFORE YESTERDAY WAS $8448. AND $0.35 ÃÃTHAT IS 2739 SENT ONE MONTH INCREASE. $33,000 HERE.
THAT IS A PLOY. AND BEFORE, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PRICES ARE GOING UP. I GET THAT.
WE ARE ALL LIVING IN THE REAL WORLD.
SOME OF US DO. SOME OF Y'ALL DON'T, BUT WE DO.
AND, WHY DON'T YOU LOOK WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION AND CUT? WE HAD THE MAYOR'S BROTHER-IN-LAW BRING THE ATTORNEY HERE FOR EVERY SHOW AT ABOUT 50 OR 60 PERCENT OF THE MEETINGS. THERE IS JUST ONE RIGHT THERE.
Y'ALL TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES, BUT YOU DON'T TAKE CARE OF US.
AND WE OWN THIS UTILITY AUTHORITY.
IT'S NOT CHARLES PIGGY BANK. HOW IN THE WORLD CAN YOU JUST DO THIS TO PEOPLE AND GET AWAY WITH IT? IT'S CRUEL. YOU KNOW? LOOK, PEOPLE LIVE IN FORT PIERCE, THE WORKING PEOPLE.
MY BUSINESS NOW HAS TO AMEND ITSELF FOR 32 OBSERVED $32,000 A YEAR. THAT'S A NEW PLOY.
AND YOU HAVE NO CONSCIENCE WHATSOEVER.
NO CONSCIENCE WHATSOEVER. I READ THE MAYOR'S STATEMENT
[00:15:01]
THE OTHER DAY. WHAT A CROCK OF SHIP.>> MR. REED, YOUR LANGUAGE. YOUR LANGUAGE SPEECH.
>> FREEDOM OF SPEECH ASSHOLE. CALL YOUR DADDY, NOT REAL SMART.
[APPLAUSE] >> I'M GONNA SIT DOWN AND GO
ALL RIGHT, GOOD AFTERNOON. TO ALL.OKAY,
[INDISCERNIBLE] >> COULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME
AND ADDRESS? >> SANTIAGO LOPEZ AND MY ADDRESS IS 23 ÃÃ [INDISCERNIBLE] OKAY, FOR TWO YEARS, WE'VE BEEN LIVING AT THIS ADDRESS.
I NEVER EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN.
IN MY LIFE UNTIL NOW. AND I HAVE TWO GRANDDAUGHTERS IN MY HOUSE AND A DAUGHTER THAT HAS SMALL CHILDREN.
AND HER HUSBAND THAT IS SICK WITH APNEA.
OKAY, THERE IS SOME KIND OF SOMETHING GOING ON WITH FPU.
I THINK JUSTICE THEY ARE MAKING ERRORS BECAUSE THEY NEVER CHECK THE METER. WOULD HE EVER COMES AND I'M ALWAYS HOME. THEY NEVER CHECK THE METER.
THEY ARE SAYING ONLY BECAUSE IT'S HOT OUTSIDE.
THEY ARE RUNNING THE RATES. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY.
I HAVE A BILL HERE THAT I WENT AND PAID IT ON OKAY, ON THE 27TH. THE LAST MONTH.
I HAVE PAID THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY.
WHEN I WENT OVER THERE TO FPU A, AND PERSON I TOLD THE WHY AM I PAYING SO MUCH MONEY? THEY THREW ME WITH A BILL OF $620 OF MISCELLANEOUS CHARGES OF WATER WASTE SOMETHING.
I DON'T KNOW. AFTER TWO YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN LIVING IN THIS HOUSE. ANYWAYS, I PAID THIS AMOUNT, THE LADY FROM FPU CUSTOMER SERVICE THROUGH ME IN MY FACE.
THIS IS ANOTHER BILL BECAUSE HE JUST CAME IN LATE WITH YOUR AMOUNT OF MONEY. UNDER 27 ÃÃI'M GIVING YOU ANOTHER ONE BUT SHE GAVE ME ANOTHER BILL OF 470 909.
WHICH HAS THE SAME DATE OF THE ONE OF THE PREVIOUS OF 519.
THAT I PAID. OKAY? THEN, THEY SEND ME ONE BY MAIL. THERE IS SOME KIND OF AREA OR SOMEBODY THAT'S BEING CRYPTIC OR SOMEBODY IS OVERCHARGING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT IT NEEDS TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT. THERE HAS TO BE AN INVESTIGATION ON THAT. THE BILL THAT THEY SENT ME BY MAIL IS 791 58. $791.58.
UNLESS THEY WANT ME TO PAY MISCELLANEOUS CHARGES OF WATER WASTE. WHAT WATER WASTE? I PAID THE WATER IS INCLUDED WITH THE WHITE AND THE TRASH.
SO, I DON'T UNDERSTAND AND I WENT OVER THERE AND I SAID WHAT WATER WASTE? I MEAN, THERE IS NO WATER WASTE. WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A PART A
WATER POOL IN OUR BACKYARD. >> MAMA?> A BABY POOL WITH
THE GIRLS. >> YOUR TIME IS UP.
PLEASE LET THEM BE ALSO SPEAK. >> THAT'S IT AND SOMETHING GOING ON AND I ASKED FOR Y'ALL TO PLEASE INVESTIGATE.LEASE INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE] >> FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS MINISTER, MARIO WILCOX. A.K.A., COMMUNITY ACTIVIST.
R. CHAIRMAN, BOARD MEMBERS, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
STAND BEFORE YOU. >> EXCUSE ME, COULD YOU STATE
YOUR ADDRESS PLEASE? >> MY ADDRESS IS 5227 OAKLAND
>> A BEAUTIFUL AND WONDERFUL CITY OF FORT PIERCE.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD BE MINDFUL OF MY TIME AND PEOPLE BEHIND ME. I WOULD ALSO LIKE FOR YOU TO EXTEND RESPECT ME BECAUSE I'M AN HONORABLE VETERAN AND I WOULD NOT WANT MY FREEDOM OF SPEECH SUPPRESSED.
BECAUSE THREE MINUTES IS A SUPPRESSION OF RHYTHM OF
SPEECH. >> THE RULES ARE THE RULES.
>> I GET THAT, BUT THERE ARE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT AND I SERVE
[00:20:03]
AND GOT WINDED FOR YOU. >> I APPRECIATE IT.
>> HOWEVER, MY REASON FOR BEING HERE TODAY IS, SIR, THERE IS NO SECRET THAT EACH OF YOU BOARD MEMBERS KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON.
HOW MANY OF YOU, BECAUSE YOU SERVE AT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. THESE PEOPLE DO NOT SERVE IT YOUR WILL AND PLEASURE. HOW MANY OF YOU NOTIFY YOUR CONSTITUENTS? ALL OF YOU WERE APPOINTED.
YOU HAVE A ZONE AND A DISTRICT. HECK, I GOT A PERSON THAT I RESPECT IS A CITY COMMISSIONER OF DISTRICT NUMBER ONE.
HE IS HERE BECAUSE HE NOTICED IMPACTS HIS CONSTITUENTS.
I CAN RESPECT THAT ALL DAY LONG.
BUT THAT'S WHAT HE SUPPOSED TO DO.
BUT HOW MANY OF YOU GO TO YOUR COMMUNITY AND INFORM THEM OF WHAT'S GOING ON? I'M PRETTY SURE THAT IF YOU HAD A TOWN HALL MEETING BEFORE MOVING ON THESE EXTRA CHARGES, YOU COULD HAVE CAME UP WITH A BETTER PLAN AND A BETTER RESOLUTION THAT WOULD NOT REQUIRE ALL THESE PEOPLE TO COME IN HERE AND COMPLAIN ABOUT THEIR METERS.
WE ALL HAVE BEEN EDUCATED IN HISTORY.
ABOUT GOVERNMENT. WE, THE PEOPLE, WHAT PEOPLE? OR HAVE YOU LOST SIGHT OF THAT? I'M A FORMER ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER OF AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM LABOR PROGRAM INCORPORATED.
MR. YOLANDA IS AWARE OF THAT. I'M AWARE OF HER, HER BODY OF WORK SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. HER KNOWLEDGE IS IMPECCABLE.
I HOPE YOU PAID ATTENTION TO IT, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T RESOLVE THIS ISSUE, I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THE RIGHT PEOPLE WITHIN OUR AGRICULTURAL LABOR PROGRAM IS GONNA CHOKE THE FUNDING. AND I WOULD NOT WANT YOUR FUNDERS TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS.
OR MAYBE WE JUST NEED TO TAKE PETITIONS AND BRING THE FORT PIERCE UTILITY AUTHORITIES UP UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE CITY COMMISSION IS OBVIOUSLY SOMEONE IS NOT CHECKING THE CHECKER. GOD BLESS YOU AND I HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.Y NAME IS ROBERT ADAMS. 908 AND TWO AVENUE, FORT PIERCE FLORIDA 34982.
WHAT WE ARE SEEING HERE IS SEEN ALL TOO OFTEN.
NOT ONLY HERE, BUT IN OTHER COUNTIES AND OTHER STATES AND ALL ACROSS THE NATION. AND IT'S AN EGREGIOUS VIOLATION OF RIGHTS OF WE THE PEOPLE. THERE IS NOTHING IN ANY OF THESE BILLS THAT I HAVE LOOKED THROUGH THAT STATES THAT THE TAXES FOR THERE IS A TEXT TO MOVE THE WATER PLAN.
IT'S JUST A BUNCH OF NUMBERS THAT INCREASE WITH NO EXPLANATION WHATSOEVER. AND THEN AGAIN LIKE THIS GENTLEMAN SAID, THERE IS NO ADVANCED ONE.
THERE IS NO ADVANCED ANYTHING. AND IN THIS ECONOMY, EASY TO GAS PRICES, YOU SEE THE FOOD PRICES.
EVERYTHING IS RISING AND YOU PICK RIGHT NOW TO ADD ALMOST DOUBLE THE UTILITY BILL. WHAT DO YOU EXPECT PEOPLE TO DO? YOU GUYS ARE APPOINTED BY THE PEOPLE AND SERVE THE PEOPLE. YOU SHOULD SERVE THE PEOPLE JUSTLY BY THE CONSTITUTION.
E NEED TO HEAR THE PEOPLE AND YOU NEED TO TAKE ACTION UP THERE CONCERNS. ALANA WHAT YOU PAY AND THAT'S IRRELEVANT AT THIS POINT. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT YOU HAVE HARD-WORKING OTHERS AND FATHERS ALREADY STRUGGLING TO PAY THEIR BILLS AND NOW THIS.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME THEY GET, OR EVERY TIME THEY START TO DEAL WITH THE CURRENT SITUATION, IT BASICALLY JUST BLOWS UP IN THEIR FACE BECAUSE HERE COMES A ANOTHER EGREGIOUS OVER BILLING IS WHAT IT IS. AND WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS HOW IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY BASED ON WHAT IS BEING MOVED AND WHERE IT'S BEEN MOVED AND WHY WE ARE PAYING FOR.
NOT ONLY THAT, IN THESE BILLS, IT SAYS NOTHING ABOUT ANY OF THAT. IT'S JUST DOUBLED.
THIS IS A MAYVILLE. THIS MAY BILL IS FOR 537.
AND THEN THIS JULY BILLS FOR $848.
THAT'S ABSURD AND THERE IS NOTHING IN THERE, BUT NUMBERS LIKE THE WATER USAGE, THE CITY UTILITY TAX AND MOSTLY THE KILOWATT USAGE ALMOST DOUBLES WITH NO EXPLANATION ON WHY.
IT'S NOT THE SUMMER. MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOING EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN TO SAVE EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO CONSERVE AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN OUT OF NOWHERE, THIS COMES. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU SERVE THE PEOPLE AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
YOU NEED TO RECTIFY THIS. ABSOLUTELY.
AND YOU NEED TO GET THIS INTEREST AND NOT ONLY INTEREST.
CHANGE. YOU NEED TO FIX THIS BECAUSE THE CITIZENS OF OUR CITY ARE SUFFERING ALREADY ENOUGH.
[00:25:01]
AND THEN THIS JUST BRINGS UNNECESSARY SUFFERING.IN AN ALREADY DIFFICULT TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I HOPE YOU REALLY TAKE THIS TO HEART.ND I HOPE YOU DO YOUR JOBS.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS JAMES HOLLAND.
ABOUT 420 SUNRISE BOULEVARD. I LIVED THERE FOR 18 YEARS.
THE QUESTION IS THIS. A GENTLEMAN SAID BEFORE.
I AGREE WITH BOTH OF THE PREVIOUS GENTLEMEN.HE GENTLEMAN SAID THE POWER OF ADJUSTMENT COST.
I'M 46 YEARS OLD. CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN TO ME LIKE I'M NUMB TOO, BECAUSE I'VE NO CLUE WHAT IT MEANS.
YOU MAY SUBMIT NUMBER. WHATEVER IT IS EVERY MONTH, WE PAY IT. TWO MONTHS AGO WAS $28.
WHAT HAPPENED JUST AS YOU TELLING ME THAT OIL WENT UP AND NATURAL GAS JUST WENT UP IN TWO MONTHS? WE'VE BEEN SEEING IT SINCE FEBRUARY.
SOMEBODY EXPLAIN HOW GET BROKEN DOWN, THE IMMACULATE RECEPTION, THE IMMACULATE NUMBER, TWO 3258? WHAT IS THAT NUMBER COME FROM? IT'S MADE A NUMBER.
HE CHOSE THIS PERSON THIS AND I CAN'T CHARGE WHAT I COULD TAKE OVER HERE. EXPLAIN TO ME LIKE I'M A CHILD.
I'M HERE TO LISTEN AND LEARN. PLEASE AND THANK YOU.
Y NAME IS TINA LOMAX. I LIVE AT 815 DUSTED.
>> CAN YOU SPEAK UP PLEASE. >> MY NAME IS TINA LOMAX.
ELEVATE 15 ATLANTIC AVENUE. I'M MISSING YOUR MOTHER AND I ADOPTED MY FOUR COUSINS. MY LIGHT BILL WAS 539.
THIS MONTH ÃÃMY LIGHT BILL IS 1000 $269.70.
THERE IS NO WAY. I LITERALLY ALMOST GOT SICK WHEN I LOOKED AT THIS BILL. I DON'T JUSTICE I TOTALLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND. THERE IS NO WAY THAT I CAN PAY A $1200 LIGHT BILL. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S GONNA BE NEXT MONTH LIGHT BILL ALSO. BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
AND I ASSUME THAT THIS MEETING IS TO RECTIFY THIS.
IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. BUT THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY.
>> MY NAME IS BRUCE AND WE ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT LOOKING AT THE LABEL 310 TO 526. I MIGHT AS WELL THROW THAT AWAY BECAUSE ON LISTEN TO ALL THESE OTHER PEOPLE AND THERE'S IS REALLY REALLY GOING UP. AND PEOPLE WILL LIFT WHO HAS FOUR-BEDROOM HOME. THREE DOLLARS LIVING IN WITH THEM. $600 BILL AND ALL OF A SUDDEN NEXT MONTH, X 1200. THESE PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD THAT. I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE FDN L? YOU GUYS HAVE FDN L? WE NEED CHOICES. BUT ON CHOICES.
THERE IS NO CHOICES. FORT PIERCE JUSTICE WE'RE STUCK WITH YOU GUYS.
OU GUYS HAVING HELPLESS AT ALL.
WE'RE STUCK WITH YOU. AND I MEAN, WHEN I LOOK AT YOU GUYS IN THE FACE AND EVERYTHING, I REALLY THINK THAT YOU WOULD REALLY WANT TO HELP EVERYBODY.
BUT THAT DOES NOT SHOW IT. WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR VOTING, I HOPE WE ALL TAKE A BIG LOOK AT THAT.
[APPLAUSE] BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET RID OF SOME OF YOU IF YOU'RE NOT COLIC FOR THE PEOPLE.
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE FOR THE PEOPLE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. >> THAT'S RIGHT!
>> I DON'T SEE IT. AND I SURE HOPE THERE ARE CHANGES. I WOULD HATE TO GO IN AND PUT A PUMP IN MY HOME AND GO AHEAD AND USE MY GENERATORS AND EVERYTHING TO SHOW YOU GUYS DOWN.
WHAT YOU LOOK AT IS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT HALF OF FORT PIERCE BEING BLACKED OUT. THAT'S IT YOU'RE A LOOK AT.
AND I FEEL SORRY FOR A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE WHO CANNOT MAKE IT. AND THERE IS A LOT OF THEM.
THERE IS A LOT OF THEM. THE ONLY TO LOOK YOURSELF IN THE FACE AND IN THE MIRROR AND LOOK AT IT.
MY NAME IS DONOVAN HOLDER TWO. I LIVE AT 1607 S. EIGHTH STREET. I FELL FOR ALL OF YOU PEOPLE.
[LAUGHTER] Y BILL FOR THIS MONTH IS $1128.
HERE IS THE KICKER. THE LAST 16 MONTHS THE PRINTED PER MONTH. 2021, 2022.
MY USE MIRRORS EACH OTHER. ON ITS FACE, THIS SHOULD NOT BE
[00:30:07]
A PROBLEM. BUT IN DECEMBER, I GOT A BRAND- BRAND-NEW INSULATION.BLOWING INTO MY ATTIC. AND BRAND-NEW IMPACT WINDOWS AND DOORS. THAT TOLD ME THAT MY HOME SHOULD BE MORE ENERGY-EFFICIENT, CORRECT? EXPLAIN TO ME HOW I'M GETTING THE SAME USAGE.
ME AND MY WIFE GO DOWN AND SAY HEY LOOK, I GOT QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR BILL. I HANDED IT TO THE LADY.
EXCUSE THE FRENCH, SHE SAID SHIPPED.
SHE CANNOT EVEN UNDERSTAND IT. SO SHE GOES AND SAYS WELL, LET ME GO SPEAK TO MY SUPERVISOR. BECAUSE I EXPLAINED TO HER ALL THE EFFICIENCY CHANGES THAT I MADE IN MY HOME.
BRAND-NEW AC UNIT INSIDE AND OUT.
SHE GOES TO HER THE SUPERVISOR WILL COME BACK IN FIVE MINUTES.
SUPERVISORS TELL US WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE USES COULD WE JUST READ YOUR METER.
LAST TIME I CHECKED YOUR METER TELLS YOUR USAGE.
AM I CORRECT? HOW CAN THEY SAY THAT I HAVE THE EXACT SAME USAGE I HAVE A MUCH MORE ENERGY-EFFICIENT HOME? ONE THING I DID NOTICE, I'VE BEEN IN FORT PIERCE 11 YEARS. AND WHAT I HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES COMING IN FORT PIERCE.
IF YOU PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IT. BEFORE THE INFLUX.
THEY DO THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROOF WE ARE GETTING ROADS.
THERE WIDENING THE ROADS. THEY ARE BRINGING BUSINESSES HERE. I HATE TO TELL YOU.
IF YOU PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT GENTRIFICATION IS, YOU BETTER FIND OUT. BECAUSE THERE IS A REASON WHY ALL THIS IS HAPPENING. THEY'RE NOT PRICE YOU OUT.
TAX YOU OUT. ONE WAY OR ANOTHER THEY ARE GONNA GET YOU OUT. THIS TRANSCENDS CALIPER THIS IS ABOUT MONEY. I'VE SEEN IT.
IT'S AN AT HEART. I'VE SEEN IN PHILLY.
EITHER HOLLOW, EVEN IN NORTH PHILADELPHIA RIGHT NOW.
YOU CANNOT GET IN BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THE FINANCIAL MAKE.
ONE THING I HEAR IN FORT PIERCE.
>> A FEW TIMES. >> LOOK, FORT PIERCE 'S WATERFRONT POCKET AND IT'S GONE.
[INDISCERNIBLE] >> ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!
>> GOOD MORNING BOARD. ABSENT APP AFTERNOON BOARD.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY. 1505 AVENUE Q. I WAS HERE LAST NIGHT WHEN WE DISCUSSED THIS MEETING.
I CAME TODAY TO HEAR THE RESIDENTS COMPLAIN.
AND ASK QUESTIONS, THE SAME QUESTIONS ÃÃTHE SAME QUESTIONS THAT I ASKED LAST NIGHT.
EVERYBODY IS FRUSTRATED. I SAID THAT LAST NIGHT.
I HOPE THAT YOU ARE HEARING THE CONCERNS, THE CRIES FOR HELP.
FROM THE RESIDENTS OF FORT PIERCE.
THIS IS NOT A DISTRICT ONE PROBLEM.
THIS IS NOT A DISTRICT 2 PROBLEM.
THIS IS A FORT PIERCE PROBLEM. I UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON HERE WITH THE MOVEMENT OF THE WASTEWATER PRETREATMENT.
I UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING. MY BIGGEST CONCERN SINCE I TOOK OFFICE WAS COMMUNICATION WITH THE CITIZENS AND THE RESIDENTS OF FORT PIERCE. IF YOU HEARD TODAY, SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF IT. SOME KIND OF WAY.
YOU SHOULD OF BEEN MADE AWARE OF IT.
I'M UNTOUCHED OVER HERE HEARING THESE CARS.
I HEARD THEM ALL WEEK. I HAVE THE EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS. I HEARD THEM ALWAYS.
LET'S LISTEN. LET'S PUT ALL OUR HEADS TOGETHER. LET'S TRY TO HELP THE RESIDENTS
OF FORT PIERCE. THANK YOU.>> THANK YOU SIR.
[APPLAUSE] >> MICHELLE, ADDRESS CONFIDENTIAL. BY FIND THIS APPALLING.
I DEALT WITH THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE IN THE CORRUPTION FOR QUITE SOME TIME. I'M FROM PALM BEACH COUNTY.
AND I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY INTERESTING WITH THIS, JUST ABOUT THE WATERFRONT PROPERTY. IF YOU KNEW THE HISTORY OF PALM BEACH COUNTY, YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SLAVES ON THE ISLAND. THE WHITE FOLK BOTTOM OVER TO WEST POND. AND THEN THEY CAME OVER FOR A PARTY AND THEY BURNED ALL THEIR HOUSES DOWN.
SO THEY HAD NOWHERE TO GO. SO THEY COULD OBTAIN WATERFRONT
[00:35:03]
PROPERTY. I FIND FORT PIERCE APPALLING AND IN THE WORDS OF MY LAWYER, HE SAID THAT THIS IS THE BIGGEST JIM CROW CITY HE HAS EVER SEEN IN HIS LIFE.OKAY? YOU GUYS NEED TO GET TOGETHER.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DIVIDE IS HERE.
I WENT TO AN INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE.
I WORK WITH PEOPLE OF EVERY RACE.
I'M SICK OF THIS, I'M A BUSINESS OWNER HERE.
YOU GUYS HAVE DONE EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO MAKE BUSINESS OWNERS FAIL. SO THAT THERE CANNOT BE A PROPHET. THE GREED OF FORT PIERCE IS UNBELIEVABLE. THE FOUR PIERCE COMMISSION.
NOW THE FPU A. ARE YOU GUYS EVEN IN THIS PLANET? WE NEED TO LOOK REALLY LONG AND HARD IN THE MIRROR.
DO YOU CAN SEE REFLECTION? I'M DISGUSTED BY EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN FORT PIERCE. YOU GUYS ARE ALL PART OF THIS COMMUNITY. WE NEED TO VOTE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE PEOPLE OUT OF OFFICE.
OKAY? I'M DISGUSTED AT WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE TO MY FRIENDS, MY FAMILY HERE IN THE CITY PEOPLE I HAVE COME TO LOVE AND NO. THE STUFF THAT YOU HAVE DONE TO PEOPLE. IT'S UNTHINKABLE.
I HAD TO AFRICAN-AMERICAN CLIENTS AND APPLICANTS THAT YOU TREATED LIKE GARBAGE BECAUSE THEY WANTED A SHORT-TERM RENTAL HERE. HOW DARE ALL OF YOU.
[APPLAUSE] >> NO SIR, WE HAVE ANOTHER PERSON RIGHT BEHIND YOU. NO, GO ONCE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON BOARD. MY NAME IS JOSC) DORADO.
I RESIDE AT 11 AND SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME HOW A $600 BILL GOES TO $1600 IN ONE MONTH WITH THE SAME USAGE.
I'VE CALLED FORT PIERCE UTILITIES MULTIPLE TIMES.
I'VE 24 HOUR SURVEILLANCE AT MY HOME.
THEY CLAIM THAT A METER PERSON CAME AND READ THE METER.
NOBODY EVER SHOWED UP AT MY HOUSE.
WHEN I SAY THAT, I WILL COME IN SUGAR FOOTAGE.
NOBODY WANTS TO HEAR ME, THEY SEND ME TO SOMEBODY WHO NEVER ANSWERS THE PHONE. I REQUESTED A SECOND GARBAGE CAN THAT I AM PAYING FOR. GARBAGE CAN HAS NOT BEEN DELIVERED TO MY HOUSE, BUT I'M STILL BEING CHARGED FOR IT.
GARBAGE DOES GET PICKED UP ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAY.
MY HOUSE AND MY NEIGHBORS HOUSE GET MISSED.
I MEAN WHAT'S RIGHT ABOUT THAT? SOMEONE NEEDS TO CHANGE.
>> MY NAME IS TONYA HADDONFIELD, I WOULD BET 38 80 EDWARDS ROAD. I LIVED THERE FOR 32 YEARS AND THEN A CUSTOMER FORT PIERCE UTILITY AUTHORITIES.
AND I LOST MY HOUSE IN 2009 TO HOUSE FIRE.O I HAD TO REBUILD AND GOT MORE MORTGAGE AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
MY GOALS ARE OVER $1000. BUT I AM A SINGLE MOM AND RAISED THREE KIDS. AND I WORK IN THIS HOURS.
MEAN PEOPLE ARE SITTING BACK EATING THE POPCORN AND WATCHING TV. I AM STILL WORKING.
I WORK FULL-TIME JOB I SUPPORT MY KIDS.
I HAVE A MORTGAGE PAYMENT, CAR PAYMENT, ELECTRIC BILL.
I HAVE BASIC NEEDS. AND MY BILL IS $550 THIS MONTH.
UT GOING FROM ABOUT 253 OR $300 TO OVER $550 IS JUST BETWEEN MY MORTGAGE AND EVERYTHING, I MEAN I JUST, IT HAS DOUBLED. I READ FACEBOOK AND I KNEW THIS WAS COMING BECAUSE MY FRIENDS HAVE GOTTEN THEIR BILLS IN THE MAIL. AND THEY WERE JUST LIKE ÃÃ JUST DREADED CHECKING MY MAILBOX.
SO, I HAVE OVER 100 AND SOMETHING COMMENTS ON MY PAGES.
MY NEIGHBOR DOWN THE ROAD, THEIR BILL IS NORMALLY 550 A MONTH. IT'S UP OVER $1000 A MONTH.
T'S DOUBLED AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE REASONING WHY.
ND EVERYBODY PROBABLY WILL NOT AGREE WITH THAT, BUT IT'S JUST ÃÃI HAVE MY SON, YOU KNOW AS A SINGLE HE'S NOT JUST AS HE IS SINGLE. HE'S NOT A SINGLE DAD, BUT HE JUST MOVED INTO HIS OWN PLACE AND IS WORRIED ABOUT HIS ELECTRIC BILL. YOU KNOW? THE RENT IS THROUGH THE ROOF NOW ANYWAY.
YOU PAY $1500 FOR RENT. 1800 FOR RENT FOR 2000 FOR RENT. AND THEN YOU HAVE TO ADD A 500 OR $800,000 FOR THE SINGLE FAMILIES.
EVEN FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MORE THAN ONE INCOME COMING TO
[00:40:03]
THE HOUSEHOLD. THIS IS NOT AFFORDABLE.AND YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE MUCH GAS COST AND FOOD COST. EVERYTHING IS DOUBLE IMPAIRED BUT THE ELECTRIC BILL DOUBLING AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS JUST I MEAN, IT'S CRAZY. AND YOU KNOW, EVERYONE JUST AS I WISH WE HAD ANOTHER CHOICE, BECAUSE I DON'T UNDERSTAND MY FRIENDS. THEY HAD FP AND L. THEIR BILLS ARE HALF OF MY PRICE. SO, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY FORT PIERCE UTILITIES IS DOUBLE THE PRICE.
AND NOW IT'S TRIPLE THEIR PRICE.
SO, WHAT ARE YOU GUYS NOT SAYING THAT FP AND L CAN PROVIDE TO OTHER PEOPLE OTHER THAN US?
>> THANK YOU MA'AM. >> HAVE A GREAT DAY.
>> AND JEAN POWELL. 1117 JAZZMAN AVENUE.
MY BILL WENT FROM 253 UP UNTIL $422.
MY QUESTION IS THAT IF THIS IS JUST THE FIVE PERCENT INCREASE AND OTHER INCREASES COMING IN OCTOBER, WHAT IS MY BILL GONNA BE? IT'S $442 NOW.
WHAT WILL MY BILL BE IN OCTOBER? THAT WAS $185 INCREASE. AND THIS IS A FAMILY WITH JUST ONE PERSON. SO æ DOES ANYBODY KNOW HOW THAT'S GONNA WORK? MUCH INCREASE THAT WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO? MAYBE IT'S NOT A GOOD TIME TO MOVE THE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT.
CATHERINE BAER, 2005 ESPLANADE. SO, I THINK REGARDLESS OF PEOPLE'S SITUATIONS. IF THERE WORKING FULL TIME AND ON DISABILITY, EVERYBODY IS IN THE SAME SITUATION.
MY BILL IS NOW OVER $600 A MONTH.
NOT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE KIDS I HAVE IN COLLEGE.
THE KID I HAVE TO PREPARE TO GO TO SCHOOL IN THREE WEEKS.
SO, I CALLED FPU WAY AND EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM IS UP HERE PLEADING THEIR CASES TO YOU AND FP UA TOLD ME THAT YOU COLLECTIVELY, AS A BOARD AGREED TO THESE INCREASES.
SO, WE ARE PLEADING HELP TO YOU, BUT YOU'VE ALREADY MADE THE DECISION. SO, ARE WE ÃÃIS THIS LIKE PASSING IN THE WIND? BECAUSE I HAVE THREE CHILDREN THAT I PREPARE FOR SCHOOL IN AUGUST.
AND I DON'T GET ANY HELP OR BREAK BECAUSE I WORK FULL TIME.
MY HUSBAND WORKS FULL-TIME. SO, IF YOU PUT THAT INTO YOUR SPREADSHEET, WE ARE WAY ABOVE NEEDING HELP.
BUT THAT IS NOT THE WAY IT IS IN THE REAL WORLD.
NOT THIS $600 ELECTRIC BILL. OT IF YOU HAVE TO HAVE CARS TO GO TO YOUR FULL-TIME JOB. ND NOTE IF YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE FOR YOUR CHILDREN. SO, ALL THESE DECISIONS WERE ALREADY MADE AND WE ARE JUST FEELING THE BRUNT FROM IT.
OR IS SOMETHING GOING TO CHANGE TODAY?
[APPLAUSE] >> SIR, YOU'VE ALREADY SPOKEN.
THERE ARE ALREADY PEOPLE BEHIND YOU WHO WISH TO SPEAK.
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO REMIND EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM, THE FACT THAT WE DON'T SAY ANYTHING IS NOT BECAUSE WE DON'T CARE. THE WAY THIS WORKS IS THAT IT IS YOUR TIME TO SAY WHAT YOU WANT.
THIS IS NOT A DIALOGUE. THIS IS A TIME FOR YOU TO TALK
AND SAY WHAT YOU WANT. >> THANK YOU MRS. MAYOR FOR THAT. NOAH GOMEZ, I LIVE ON 932 FRAME. A BUSINESS OWNER AND ABLATIVE FORT PIERCE FOR 35 YEARS. I JUST WANT TO BRING UP A COUPLE OF THINGS AND I KNOW YOU KIND OF ANSWERED ONE OF THE QUESTIONS BECAUSE I SEE GUYS SITTING HERE AND ALL THESE PEOPLE HERE HAVE NEVER BEEN TO ONE OF THESE MEETINGS BEFORE.
SO, WE DON'T UNDERSTAND. YOU GUYS JUST GONNA STAY THIS WAY PRODUCE THERE TO BE A MOMENT WHERE YOU GUYS SAY LISTEN, WE CAN ANSWER FOR THIS FOR YOU OR NOT.
[00:45:01]
NUMBER ONE AND WHAT YOU THINK YOU GUYS CAN DO? YOU KNOW YOU MEAN? SO, I DON'T OWN WHAT PART OF THE MEETING THAT HAPPENS, BUT IT WOULD BE KIND OF NICE.AND YOU GUYS ARE SAYING THAT YOU'RE GIVING US TIME.
BUT I MEAN YOU'VE A LOT OF FACES HERE TODAY.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THESE MEETINGS WORK A LOT OF THE TIME. A LOT OF THAT.
A LOT OF YOU NOTICE THAT THERE IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT GAMUT OF PEOPLE HERE TODAY. OKAY? A WHOLE DIFFERENT GAMUT OF PEOPLE HERE TODAY.
AND THAT IS BECAUSE THIS BILL IS ÃÃYOU AFFECTED.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT MY HOUSE IS OUT ON FPL.
MY BUSINESS IS IN FPU A. AND WE SAW THE INCREASE.
FP UA INCREASE GUIDELINES. NOTHING COMPARED TO THIS.
NOTHING COMPARED TO THIS, IN ORDER MEAN? BUT MY FPU A BILL FOR MY BUSINESS.
IT WENT UP, I WENT UP ABOUT $200 MORE, IN ORDER MEAN? AND MY BUSINESS IS NOT A SEASONAL BUSINESS.
I'M NOT BUSY RIGHT NOW. SO THE DOORS ARE CLOSED RIGHT NOW REALLY. IN ORDER MEAN? BUT IT STILL WENT UP ABOUT $200 MORE.
AND WE ARE NOT THERE. PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON, IN ORDER MEAN? COME ON.
SOMEBODY TELL ME. YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AT YOUR HOUSE AND YOU SPEND AND SAY MUCH FOR PEOPLE TO COME OVER. BUT I CAN LITERALLY TELL YOU THAT THE DOOR IS CLOSED. SO, WHAT IS GOING ON? IN ORDER MEAN? THE QUESTION IS, MAYBE HOPEFULLY YOU CAN ANSWER THIS. IS THERE ANY TIME DURING TODAY THAT YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS OR WE WILL GET BACK TO YOU WHEN. WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN.
NUMBER TWO, LOOK AT THIS. YOU BROUGHT IN PEOPLE OF ALL RACES. YOU BROUGHT IN PEOPLE OF ALL DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE. AND OBVIOUSLY EVERYBODY IS UPSET. AND I THINK YOU GUYS ÃÃOR WE ALL DESERVE. YOU KNOW IT'S NOT PROTOCOL, BUT I'M HOPING SOMEWHERE IN THIS MEETING.
THAT'S WHY I'M I'M HERE TODAY. I WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU GUYS OR WHAT ARE YOUR INTENTIONS TO TRY AND TAKE CARE OF THIS? THAT IS MY QUESTION.
>> AND MANY MORE INDIVIDUALS WISH TO SPEAK.
>> MY NAME IS ANTONIO AKO. I MET 20 80 11 BOULEVARD AT FORT PIERCE. I HAVE CONCERNS OBVIOUSLY.
OOKING OVER MY BILLS FOR THE PAST YEAR, OBVIOUSLY FP UA HAS STATED THAT BECAUSE IT'S THE SUMMER, OUR BILLS HAVE GONE UP.
USING MORE ELECTRICITY AND WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT YES, LAST YEAR LOOKING OVER MY BILLS, MY BILL DID RAISE.
LAST YEAR AROUND THE SAME TIME. HOWEVER, COMPARING IT TO THIS YEAR, I USED THE SAME AMOUNT OF WATER.
338 KILOWATT HOURS CLASS AND I STILL PAID 102 77 MORE.
MY HEART GOES OUT TO THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE PAYING RIDICULOUS BILLS. LUCKILY MINE IS ONLY IN THE 200S AND IT RAISED TO ALMOST 500 THIS MONTH.
>> MYSELF AND MY FIANCC), WE WORK FULL TIME.
WE GOT TO-YEAR-OLDS AND I'VE GOT ANOTHER ONE ON THE WAY.
MY CONCERN IS WITH THIS INCREASE, IS GONNA STAY THIS HIGH AS IT CAN KEEP GOING UP? APPARENTLY WE ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE ANOTHER FIVE PERCENT INCREASE IN OCTOBER FOR BOTH WATER WASTE AND WASTEWATER AND ELECTRICITY.
SO, I DO A LOT OF MONEY. WE BOTH HAVE TO WORK WHICH IS GONNA HAVE TO TAKE A LOW BIT OF TIME OFF AFTER WE HAVE A CHILD.
I NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT TIME.
HOW MY GONNA DO THAT IF I BILLS GONNA BE OVER $600 OR $700? SO, THOSE ARE MY CONCERNS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> MY NAME IS SARAH LEE ROBERTSON.
AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY DAUGHTER.
SHE HAS A MEDICAL PROBLEM OR. >> WHICH YOU STATE YOUR ADDRESS MA'AM AND SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE.
>> MY NAME IS SARAH LEE ROBERTSON.
I HAVE A DAUGHTER WHO IS A MEDICAL PROBLEM.
SHE HAS NOT LIVED IN THE HOUSE WHOLE YEAR.
SHE JUST WENT BACK HOME TWO WEEKS AGO.
NO ANYTHING WAS RUNNING OVER THERE.NOT NOTHING PITCHING AT A LIGHT BILL FOR 700 AND SOMETHING DOLLARS.
[LAUGHTER] SHE'S NOT EVEN IN THE HOUSE.
FROM MY HOUSE. IN MY HAS BEEN RESETTING THE HOUSE AT 1102 AVENUE K. AND WE SAW THE GUY CAME FROM THE UTILITIES. IF YOU GOT THERE AND READ MY WATER METER, YOU CANNOT EVEN READ IT BECAUSE THE GRASS EVEN GROWING UP IN IT. AND WHEN I CALLED TO THE CITY Ã ÃTHEY HAD SOME KIND OF METER THEME.
HOW CAN THEY READ ONE THERE'S GRASS AND DIRT ALL OVER IT?
SO, I WANT TO KNOW WHY. >> TECHNOLOGY.
HOW DOES A CELL PHONE WORK? >> WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT YOU GOT
[00:50:03]
DIRT AND GRASS GROWING INSIDE OF IT.>> I'VE NOT HAD A DAUGHTER WHO'S BEEN INSIDE THE HOUSE.
NOBODY IS IN THE HOSPITAL SHE JUST WENT HOME TWO WEEKS AGO.
AND SHE'S NOT USING ANYTHING BUT SHE WASN'T USING ANYTHING.
AND I'M THE ONE HELPING HER WITH HER BILLS.
[INDISCERNIBLE] I LIVE AT 517 BEACH COURT.
I WORKED THREE JOBS. I'M TAKING TIME TO BE HERE AND LISTEN TO EVERYBODY. THERE IS A SIGN THAT THAT I THINK CAPTURES WHAT WE HAVE TO DO NOW.
WE HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN PAYING YOU AND EATING.
IT'S A HARD CHOICE TO MAKE. I HOPE EVERYBODY IS TAKING NOTES. I HOPE EVERYBODY IS LISTENING.
IT'S NOT EASY WORKING THREE JOBS TO PAY YOUR BILLS.
I DID HAVE A CHOICE TO PAY MY BILL THIS MONTH BECAUSE I'M ON AUTO PAY. YOU GUYS TOOK THE MONEY.
OTHER BILLS ARE NOT GONNA GET PAID.
OTHER SERVICES ARE GOING TO GET CANCELED.
ANYONE THAT HAS AUTO PAY, I SUGGEST YOU TURN IT OFF.
CANCEL IT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO KEEP INCREASING, I HAVE A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD. HE COMES FIRST.
I CAN TURN A CANDLE ON. I CAN COOK.
I CAN MAKE IT, BUT HE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO.
[APPLAUSE] >> I THOUGHT THERE WAS ONE MORE PERSON TO THE BACK THAT WANTED TO SPEAK.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS GLORIA NELMS. I LIVE AT 1112 AVENUE G FORT PIERCE FLORIDA.
MY LIGHT BILL DOUBLED THIS MONTH.
IT'S ONLY ME IN THE HOUSE. I HAVE NOT CHANGED ANYTHING.
I GOT NEW METAL ROOF. MY WINDOWS ARE GOOD.
BUT MY LIGHT BILL DOUBLES. IT'S JUST ME AND JUSTICE [INDISCERNIBLE] I'M RETIRED AND ON SOCIAL SECURITY. I CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP PAYING LIGHT BULBS THAT ARE DOUBLE. MY THERMOSTAT STAYS THE SAME.
FROM ONE END OF THE YEAR TO THE OTHER END OF THE YEAR.
I DON'T WATER MY GRASS. WHERE MY HUSBAND LIVES, HE WATERED AND THE LIGHT BILL IS MORE NOW THAN IT WAS WHEN HE WAS LIVING. AND HE JUST DIED A FEW MONTHS AGO. SO, I DON'T UNDERSTAND AND CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON AND HOW Y'ALL EXPECT US TO LIVE? MY HEART GOES OUT TO ALL THESE PEOPLE OUT HERE. I DON'T HAVE $1100 LIGHT BILL.
BUT THE DOUBLE IS STILL HURTING.
SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
>> MY NAME IS DALY BARLEY PADILLA BUT 2606 SUNRISE BOULEVARD. ME AND MY WIFE BOUGHT OUR OUR HOUSE THERE ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO NOW.
OUR LIGHT BILL STARTED OUT AT 282 $380.
DEPENDING ON WINTER OR SUMMER. EARLIER 2019, IT WENT UP TO ABOUT $400 WHEN MY IN-LAWS MOVED IN.
STAYED WITH ME FOR A YEAR AND STATED AT $400 PER IT WENT UP TO $500 AT THE LAST FEW MONTHS. IT'S BEEN A $500 FOR LAST YEAR.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXTRA POWER POLE.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXTRA PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE.
AND THEN THIS MONTH MY BILL WENT FROM $500-$800.
EXPLAIN THAT. WHO IS READING THOSE MATERS? WHAT IS CHANGING IN MY HOUSE THAT I'M USING SO MUCH MORE POWER? ANYBODY? NO. WE HAVE AN INCREASE BECAUSE WE ARE SELLING OUT THE CITY.
LET'S MOVE INTO YACHTS AND MOVE INTO BIG MONEY.
WE'RE GONNA CHASE THE LITTLE PEOPLE OUT.
Y'ALL SHOULD BE ASHAMED SITTING UP THERE ON THAT STAND RIGHT NOW. AND SURE COME VOTING DAY, WE WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR YOU.
[APPLAUSE] >> ANYBODY ELSE? SIR, YOU'VE ALREADY SPOKE TO
HAVING YOU? >> I HAVE A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME BECAUSE I LEFT AND I STILL HAD SOME MORE TIME.
I'LL ALLOCATE MORE TIME.M LOOKING AT ÃTHIS WHAT I WANT TO LOOK AT IS IN LOOKING AT THE TIMING OF THIS.
THE TIMING OF THIS.EOPLE ARE HALFWAY DOWN NOW AND NOW THEY
[00:55:01]
PUT THEM ALL AWAY TO THE GROUND.'M LOOKING AT THE TIMING OF IT. BUT I'M ALSO MORE IMPORTANTLY I'M LOOKING AT THE PLANNING. THIS CAME UP ALL OF A SUDDEN.DID YOU NOT PLAN FOR 10 YEARS AGO FOR THIS?HAT'S WHAT SHOULD'VE BEEN DONE. THAT WAY YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND INCREASE INCREMENTS AT A TIME SO THAT WHEN YOU HAVE THE MONEY TO GO AHEAD AND DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
YOU DIDN'T PLAN. I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.
HE PLANNING WAS HORRIBLE. WHAT DO YOU GUYS HAVE TO SAY FOR THAT? WHAT DO YOU SAY FOR THAT? PLANNING. YOU GUYS DID NOT PLAN AT ALL.
THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE ON THE WHOLE THING.
[APPLAUSE] >> REAL QUICK, I APOLOGIZE.
MY NAME IS JAMES BECAUSE IT'S MY FIRST TIME EVER SIGNED.
>> STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. >> 2425 HIGHLAND BOULEVARD.
MY DAUGHTER IS AUTISTIC REQUEST THERAPY.
BUT HER MOTHER JUST SAID. DO ANY OF Y'ALL HAVE A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD? THEY'VE GOT A QUESTION, DO I GET THIS THERAPY? TO GET THE BEHAVIOR THERAPY? SPEECH THERAPY? HOW TO LEARN HAD A SIT DOWN AND STAY SEATED IN SCHOOL? NO.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU DO. MAYBE AND IF YOU DO, MAYBE YOUR HAPPENS AT A LITTLE MORE. YOU WOULD THINK YOU WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY. BECAUSE THOSE THERAPISTS, THEY DON'T SAY IT WELL, I UNDERSTAND.
I'LL MAKE THIS ONE FREE ON THE HOUSE.
THEY SAY F YOU, PENNY. $125 FOR ONE HOUR.
WE GONNA DO? IF YOUR CHILD IS PICKING UP.
THE LADY SAID ALL GO ALIKE. SHE'S CAN GET THE THERAPY.
>> I ONE MORE THING. TO SAY BEFORE, MY NAME IS TONY, A BIT 3084 EDWARDS ROAD FORT PIERCE.
MY LAST THING THAT I WANT TO TELL YOU GUYS IS DURING COVID, THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO DID NOT PAY THEIR ELECTRIC BILLS. IS THIS WHY ÃÃIS THIS THE REASON WHY OUR BILLS NOT THE REASON WHY HE LEFT THE POWER ON FOR A YEAR OR TWO YEARS OR HOWEVER LONG AROUND COVID.
YOU GUYS NEVER SHUT OFF THE POWER ON A LOT OF PEOPLE DURING COVID. ARE WE PAYING ALL OF US IN FORT PIERCE NOW PAYING FOR EVERYONE THAT DID NOT PAY FOR THAT LONG?
[APPLAUSE] >> ONE WITHIN CHAIRMAN.
IT WILL NOT TAKE LONG FOR MY NAME IS ROBERT ADAMS, 908 ANTIQUA AVENUE FORT PIERCE FLORIDA.
I THINK IT'S ABUNDANTLY CLEAR WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.
EVERYBODY IN HERE KNOWS THAT. AND SO, I HIGHLY SUGGEST WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S COMING UP, THIS FALL, EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL IN HERE DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE AND RESEARCH AND DIG INTO THE FUNDING. DIG INTO EVERYTHING SINGLE THING THAT YOU CAN DIG INTO. BECAUSE IF WE DON'T GET ANSWERS, THEN WE WILL GET DIFFERENT REPRESENTATIVES.
>> MY NAME IS EDA ESTES JULY 7, 2003 NORTH BOULEVARD.
FORT PIERCE 34951. I'M NOT LIVING IN THIS AREA ANYMORE. I'M NORTH UNDER THE FDL.
THE MORE $200 A MONTH. FOUR ROOMS, THREE BEDROOMS. THREE PEOPLE LIVING. BUT ICE TO COME HERE TO SUPPORT MY FRIENDS.ECAUSE I HAVE BEEN HERE IN THE COUNTY FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS. AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I SAY THIS. THE ELECTRIC BILL THAT HIGH IS NOT FAIR. PEOPLE ARE WORKING HARD.
SOMETIMES THREE JOBS OR TWO JOBS.
TO PAY BILLS SPECIFICALLY. THERE ELECTRICITY.
I'M SO GLAD I AM UNDER THE FDL. AND I JUST COME HERE TO REMIND YOU THAT ELECTION IS COMING THIS YEAR.
[APPLAUSE] >> MAMA, WE'RE GONNA GONNA
CLOSING TO COMMENTS PUBLICLY. >> THEY WOULD STAND FOR IT AS WELL. YOU F YOU A NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING THAT YOU GUYS HAD SENT OUT AND THAT'S MY NAME, SHANNA KENZO 903 CITRUS AVENUE. YOUR NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING, MOST OF THESE PEOPLE HAD A BILL STARTING AT ABOUT $250.
WHICH IS YOUR COAT ON HERE. THE AVERAGE INCREASE FOR A PROPOSED BILL IN JULY WAS AN INCREASE OF $12 FOR ELECTRIC, WATER, GAS, AND WASTEWATER. $12.17 AVERAGE YOUR PROPOSED JULY BILL $270. YET, NOT ONE PERSON IN THIS ROOM HAS HAD A BILL OF $270 SINCE LAST YEAR PROBABLY.
NOT ONE. A LOT OF US DO NOT HAVE THE CHOICE TO PICK WHETHER WE HAVE LIVED HERE OR ST. LUCIE F P&L
[01:00:01]
AREAS. WE DON'T HAVE THAT CHOICE.ALL OF THIS IS A CROCK OF SHIPPED.
>> WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE. >> THIS WAS JUST ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU GUYS THINK FOR EVERYBODY TO THINK ABOUT IT.
THAT'S NOT BAD. $12 IS NOT BAD AT ALL.
IF IT WAS A $12 INCREASE, I CAN GUARANTEE THAT NONE OF THESE PEOPLE WOULD BE STANDING IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW.
LET ALONE MYSELF. THERE ARE PLENTY OF FACES IN THIS ROOM THAT I KNOW. THERE IS A FACE UP THERE THAT I KNOW. I AM THE QUIETEST ONE IN THE GROUP. SO, FOR ME TO BE STANDING HERE AND VOICING MY OPINION, I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS ARE ALL LISTENING. NOT JUST FOR ME, BUT EVERYONE.
TO THE ONES THAT ARE WORKING RIGHT NOW.
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T PAY THE BILL.
BECAUSE YOU GUYS DON'T ALLOW EXTENSIONS.
ONE A YEAR? [APPLAUSE] SIX DAYS?
>> FOUR DAYS. >> YOU TO HAVE A PINK NOTICE TO GET HELP FROM MUSTARD SEED. ONE WAFTED BAG ON MY KNEES TO PAY MY BILLS? BUT I GUARANTEE EVERYBODY ELSE IN HERE IS GETTING PAID TO THIS MEETING AND ANOTHER BILLS ARE GOING UNPAID THIS MONTH. NONE OF THEM! I'M SURE EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM HAS CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN AND SOMETHING OF SOME SORT GETTING PREPARED FOR SCHOOL IN AUGUST. AS PARENTS HAVE TO PROVIDE A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT TEACHERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PROVIDE.
UT NOW WE ARE FORCED TO CHOOSE.
RIGHT BY MY KIDS SCHOOL CLOTHES OR GROCERIES OR ELECTRIC SO THEY CAN SHOWER BEFORE SCHOOL? ONLY IN THE CITY OF FORT
[APPLAUSE] >> WE'RE GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS. BEFORE WE MOVE ON FOR PRESENTATION, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
THEY ARE APPOINTED AND THEY WERE EMOTIONAL.
I SUPERVISE FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU.
WE ARE LL CITIZENS HERE. WHAT YOU ARE EXPERIENCING IS NOT LOCAL. IT IS NATIONAL.
IT IS NOT LIMITED TO US. AT ALL.
SOME OF YOU HERE WOULD LIKE TO COMPARE WHAT ABOUT FP AND L. F P&L IS A LITTLE BIT BEHIND THE CURVE IN RAISING THEIR RATES.
I HAVE HEARD RUMORS OF SPECULATIONS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO GO UP ON THEIR POWER COSTS AS HIGH AS $100.
THOUSAND KILOWATTS. WE ARE ALREADY ÃÃALL IT WAS RIGHT NOW. I KNOW.
BECAUSE I AM ACTUALLY ON FPM NOW.
SORRY. >> $30 OR THREE $50, WHAT IS
LET'S GO ON AND MOVE FORWARD. WITH OUR PRESENTATION AND
[D. CONSENT AGENDA]
PERHAPS WE WILL ALL LEARN A LITTLE SOMETHING.MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AND THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD WISHES TO CHANGE ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA?> MR. CHAIRMAN, THERE IS AN ITEM ON
G4 THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PULL. >> G4.
BECAUSE? >> IT WAS APPROVED ON THE
RECORD. >> IS THIS NEW BUSINESS.
>> NEW BUSINESS, IT WAS A PULLED RESOLUTION.
FOR PREVIOUS AGENDA. >> ALL RIGHT.
WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA?> SO MOVED.
>> WE HAVE A SECOND? >> THE SECOND.
>> OKAY. PLEASE CALL THE ROPER.
>> MISS BENNETT? MRS. GIBBONS?
[G1. Status Report on Electric Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) for June 2022]
>> YES. >> AND WE HAVE NO RECOGNITIONS OF EXCELLENCE TODAY. SO, WE WILL GO ON AND MOVE ON
TO NEW BUSINESS. >> THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN.
I WOULD LIKE TO START BY SAYING TO SAY THE LEAST, THE JULY BILLS HAVE BEEN TOUGH FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.
THE CURRENT INCREASE IS UNSUSTAINABLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPLAIN THE REQUIRED INCREASE.
SIMPLY PUT, THE VERY STEEP UNFORESEEN INCREASE IN THE NATURAL GAS MARKET IS THE DRIVING FORCE THAT PROMPTED AN UNAVOIDABLE INCREASE TO THE POWER COST ADJUSTMENT.
WHAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING IS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE CONSTRAINTS PLACED ON THE NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. THE REASON WE DO NOT CURRENTLY SEE POWER COST ADJUSTMENTS FOR INVESTOR-OWNED UTILITIES IS THERE PROCESS IS MUCH LONGER PROPOSED RATE INCREASES.
MUST BE APPROVED BY THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION ON A SEMIANNUAL BASIS. THE INCREASES ARE, AND WE WILL KEEP YOU POSTED ON THAT.PA IS IN A UNIQUE POSITION WITH INABILITY TO ADJUST TO THE GAS MARKET EVERY MONTH.
THE JULY ADJUSTMENTS TO ERIC CUSTOMERS HAVE EXPERIENCED ARE
[01:05:01]
NOT SET IN STONE. WE WILL ADJUST THE POWER COST ADJUSTMENT DOWN AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY IN AN EFFORT TO RETURN OUR CUSTOMERS BACK TO NORMALITY.AGAIN, WE REVIEWED THE POWER COST ADJUSTMENT EVERY MONTH.
JUST AS THE MARKET DICTATED EIGHTHS STEEP INCREASE FOR JULY BILLS, DID THE JULY MARKET ALLOWED FOR A DECREASE IN THE NEXT MONTH.
TONIGHT, WE WOULD LIKE PROPOSED COST-SAVING ACTIONS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. THE FIRST IS A RECOMMENDATION TO REDUCE THE POWER COST ADJUSTMENT BY $20 PER THOUSAND KILOWATTS HOURS. THE SECOND IS TO COMMIT $50,000 THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM F MPA FOR MUNICIPAL POWER AGENCY FOR CONSERVATION. TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE LOCAL UTILITY RELIEF FOR QUALIFIED CUSTOMERS BUT WE HAVE INFORMATION ON THE TABLE IN THE LOBBY.ND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO NOW IS ASK MY DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL SERVICES TO PRESENT THE FIRST ITEM FOR THE REDUCTION OF THE POWER COST
CHAIRMAN FEE AND BOARD MEMBERS. GOOD AFTERNOON.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE UPDATED INFORMATION. ON THE STATUS OF THE JUNE POWER COST ADJUSTMENT. ALONG WITH THE UPDATED 12 MONTH PROJECTIONS THROUGH JUNE OF NEXT YEAR.
>> PLEASE SPEAK UP. >> CAN YOU BRING THE MICROPHONE
CLOSER? >> FPO IS COST TO PURCHASE POWER IS RECOVERING IN PART THROUGH CUSTOMER BILLINGS.
POWER COST RECOVERED BETTER IN EXCESS OF OUR $79.52 BASE POWER COST ARE COMMITTED AS AN OVER RECOVERED FOR RATE STABILIZATION FUND.N ORDER TO RETAIN SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO PAY FOR OUR POWER COST, WE STRIVE TO MAINTAIN A POWER COST ADJUSTMENT RESERVE BETWEEN 1 MILLION AND $5 MILLION.
WITH THE EXCESS FUNDS GOING BACK TO THE CUSTOMER WHENEVER POSSIBLE. THE COST OF POWER PURCHASED FROM F MPA FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE WAS BILLED TO FPA AWAY A BRANDED RATE OF $107.36 FOR 1000 KILOWATTS HOURS.
THIS IS AN INCREASE OF $1000 WHEN COMPARED TO THE MAY BILLING FOR F MPA. FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE, FOA EXPENSED AND UNDER RECOVERY OF POWER COSTS.
863 THOUSAND $402. WHICH IS AN INCREASE, WHICH INCREASED THE AMOUNT THAT WE ARE UNDER RECOVERY TO $1 MILLION. 1 MILLION $1 MILLION.S OF JUNE 30. THIS CHART TRACKS THE CUMULATIVE MONTHLY BALANCE OF THE POWER COST ADJUSTMENT OVER RECOVERED. IN RELATION TO THE APPROVED POWER COST LEVELS. THE AMOUNT OF THE POWER COST ADJUSTMENT IS REPRESENTED BY THE DARKER BLUE LINE.
ACROSS THE BOTTOM HERE GOING UP.
WHICH FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE IS $18 FOR 1000 KILOWATTS HOURS.
THE BARS ALONG THE TOP OF THE CHART REPRESENT THE LEVEL OF THE UNDER OR OVER RECOVERED. THE BLUE BARS ARE THE ACTUAL MONTHLY BALANCES. THE ORANGE BARS SHOW WITH THE PROJECTED OVER RECOVERED WOULD BE WITH THE FORECASTED NUMBERS BEING PRESENTED ALONG WITH THE PROPOSED ADJUSTMENTS TO THE PCA. FOA'S GOAL IS TO MAINTAIN A POWER COST LEVEL ABOVE $1 MILLION ALLOWING FOR A FLUCTUATION IN PRICING AND HAVING SUFFICIENT RESERVES TO PAY FOR THE COST OF POWER. TRACKING THE PCA ON THIS CHART SHOWS THAT ABOUT A YEAR AND AND A HALF.
WE WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE COLLECTION BALANCE WHILE CARRYING A NEGATIVE PCA. WHAT WE DON'T SEE ON THIS CHART IS AN F UA HAS CONTINUOUSLY MAINTAINED A NEGATIVE PCA SINCE APRIL 2018. WHILE MAINTAINING OUR RESERVE FUND.
HAT THAT MEANS IS FOR EVERY 1000 KILOWATT HOURS OF POWER CONSUMED, WE WERE ABLE TO CREDIT THE CUSTOMER'S BILL EACH MONTH. BY THE AMOUNT OF THE POWER COST ADJUSTMENT. OUR COSTS WERE LOWER.
WHEN OUR COSTS ARE LOWER JUSTICE TO PASS ON THE SAVINGS TO OUR CUSTOMERS. F UA IS NOT HERE TO MAKE MONEY ON PURCHASING AND SELLING POWER.
[INDISCERNIBLE] >> LOWER PRICES ON THE COST OF
[01:10:01]
NATURAL GAS IN THE PAST HAVE ALLOWED US TO MAINTAIN THIS FAVORABLE POSITION FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2021 WITH A NEGATIVE PCA.
THE COST AND PROJECTIONS OF FUTURE COSTS BEGAN TO RISE AFTER SEPTEMBER 2021. AND SO CAME THE NEED TO ADJUST THE PCA TO MAINTAIN THE POSITIVE RATE STABILIZATION FUND. CURRENT FORECAST WITH PROPOSED $20 REDUCTION TO THE PCA FROM POSITIVE 59 TO A $39 PCA.
THROUGH THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
WE WILL BRING THE RESERVES OF POWER COST INTO THE RATE STABILIZATION FUND LEVEL. REGARDING SAFEGUARDING THE UNRESTRICTED DAYS OF CASH IN OUR COVENANTS.
THIS PROJECTION THAT YOU WILL SEE ON THE SLIDE HS BEEN PROVIDED BY RAQUEL FINANCIAL CONSULTANTS AND DATA FORECAST THAT HAS BEEN PREPARED BY FLORIDA MUNICIPAL POWER AGENCY.
THIS GRAPH REPRESENTS A COMPARISON OF THE UPDATED PROJECTIONS TRENDING THE POWER RECOVERY THROUGH JUNE 2023.
THE RATE STABILIZATION ÃÃ EXCUSE ME, THE RATE STABILIZATION FUND IS SET TO MAINTAIN BETWEEN 1 MILLION AND $5 MILLION. THESE ARE THE FINE LINES HERE.
EACH OF THE ADJUSTMENTS REPRESENTED IN THIS GRAPH .2 IN AUGUST 1 IMPLEMENTATION DATE AND MAINTAINING THROUGH JUNE 2023. WE JUST THE REDLINE ON THE TOP HERE. ADJUST THE CURRENT PCA OF $59 DOWN BY $10-$49. FOR 1000 KILOWATT HOURS.
MAINTAINING THROUGH JUNE OF NEXT YEAR.
THE BLUE LINE IN THE MIDDLE, THE BLUE LINE IN THE MIDDLE SHOWS THE IMPACT OF A $20 ADJUSTMENT TO THE PCA.
BEHIND THE PCA EFFECTIVE AUGUST 3 DOWN TO $39 FOR 1000 KILOWATT HOURS. AND THE GREEN LINE ON THE BOTTOM IS PROVIDING FOR $30 DECREASE TO THE PCA FROM $39-$29 FOR 1000 KILOWATT HOURS.
AND MAINTAINED THAT PCA THROUGH JUNE 2023.
ALL THREE OF THESE REDUCTIONS WILL REMAIN AND MAINTAIN THE PCA AND THE RATE STABILIZATION FUND AREA.
WE HAVE NOT DEMONSTRATED ANY FUTURE DECREASES TO THE PCA SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE VOLATILITY OF THE CURRENT PRICING ON NATURAL GAS. IF THE MARKET IS SO UNSTABLE, HOW ARE WE ABLE TO RECOMMEND A REDUCTION TO THE PCA? F MPA HAS TAKEN STEPS TO ALLEVIATING THE HIGHER IMPACT OF THESE COSTS. BY REFUSING $10 MILLION OF THEIR RESERVES IN AN EFFORT TO LOWER THE COST TO THE ALL REQUIREMENTS PARTICIPANTS MEMBERS.
OVER THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS. THESE SHORT-TERM SAVINGS WILL PROVIDE F UA WITH RELIEF ON THE POWER COST BILL FROM F MPA OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. THAT WILL ALLOW US TO PASS THE COST SAVINGS ON TO THE CUSTOMER NOW.
THIS RECOMMENDATION IS NOT DRIVEN BY THE MARKET FOR NATURAL GAS. AND IT WILL DISSIPATE.
IT IS THE HOPE THAT THE MARKET ADJUSTMENTS WILL HELP EVENTUALLY. IN THE MEANTIME, WE ARE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THIS TOGETHER. I BELIEVE THERE IS A HIGH PROBABILITY THAT THE MARKET AND PROJECTIONS ROLE REMAIN VERY VOLATILE. IN REDUCTIONS TO THE PCA WILL BE DONE WITH THE PCA AND COST OF STABILIZING THE RESERVE IN MIND. THIS GRAPH IS ONE THAT IS PRESENTED AS PART OF THE AGENDA PACKET AND I HAVE BROUGHT HERE TODAY WITH AN UPDATE TO JUNE IS AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE TREND THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS.ETWEEN THE PROJECTED AND ACTUAL COST. I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THESE ARE NOT THE RATES THAT WE SEE IN OUR MONTHLY BILL RATHER THEY ARE THE REQUIREMENTS ALL IN GREAT AVERAGE.
WHEN I'M REALLY TRYING TO DEMONSTRATE AND THIS IS THE TREND OF PROJECTIONS VERSUS ACTUAL.
THE GRAY BARS THAT YOU SEE ACROSS THE CHART ARE THE PROJECTIONS THAT ARE MADE 11 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACTUAL BILLS COMING OUT. IN SEPTEMBER 2020, THE COST PROJECTION WAS $73.45. RIGHT OVER HERE.
7345. IN AUGUST 2021, THE ACTUAL COST CAME IN AT $66. THIS TREND WAS HISTORICALLY TYPICAL OF THE PROJECTION BEING HIGHER THAN THE ACTUAL COST UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2021. OR THE PROJECTION OF THE 11 MONTHS PRIOR WAS $73.11 AND THE ACTUAL BILL CAME IN AT $88.32.
[01:15:05]
MOVING FORWARD TO JUNE 2021, ARE PROJECTION LESS THAN A YEAR AGO WAS THAT OUR BILL WAS GONNA BE $74.57.ACTUALLY, IT'S JANUARY 21, 1936 AS THE ALL GOING RATE.
UR STAFF MONITORS THE COST POWER ADJUSTMENTS AND THE IMPACT ON OUR COST FOR MARKET PRICES AND OTHER OPERATIONS AND DECISIONS ON AN ONGOING BASIS. SO THAT WE CAN REPORT MONTHLY AND RECOMMEND CHANGES ONLY AS THEY ARE NEEDED.
STAFF IS RECOMMENDING REDUCTION TO THE PCA EFFECTIVE AUGUST 1.
$20 BRINGING THE POWER ADJUSTMENT FOR $59 TO 1000 KILOWATTS HOURS. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING THIS RECOMMENDATION, I WILL BE HAPPY
TO ADDRESS THEM. >> DOES THE BOARD HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? >> I DO.>> MS. BENNETT?
>> THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN. COULD YOU TAKE US BACK TO THE SCREEN WITH THE $10 ÃÃYES. I'M LOOKING HERE AND I SEE THAT WE WILL BE BETWEEN ÃÃJUST ABOVE 6 MILLION BY JUNE 2023.
IF WE DECREASE BY $30. I UNDERSTAND THAT WE SAID THAT WE WANT TO DECREASE IT BY $20. YES, IT WILL BRING IT DOWN TO OUR MINIMUM. I UNDERSTAND THAT WE WANT THE PCA TO BE AT A SUBSTANTIAL LEVEL.
HOWEVER I RECOMMEND THAT WE TRY TO HELP OUR RATEPAYERS BY AT LEAST BRINGING IT DOWN ANOTHER $10 INSTEAD OF $20, WE DO 30.
>> RECOMMENDATION THAT I COULD ADDRESS YOUR CONCERN.
THE REASON WE ARE JUST AS WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOWER THE POWER COST ADJUSTMENT EFFECTIVE IN AUGUST IS BECAUSE YOU CAN GO INTO AN INFLOW OF RESERVE MONEY THE F MPA HAS PUT UP TO LOWER THE BILLS TO US. OUR COSTS ARE GOING DOWN.
AND IT'S A TEMPER. IT WILL CARRY US THROUGH FOUR MONTHS. AND THEN THAT RESERVE IS GOING TO DISSIPATE.THE MONIES CAN AGO AND BEGUN.
THEY ARE TRYING TO SOFTEN THE BLOW THROUGH THE SUMMER MONTHS FOR THE COST OF POWER. THAT MONEY WILL DISSIPATE.
IT DOES NOT CHANGE. IT HAS NO DEATH ÃTHERE IS NOT ANY TYPE OF MARKET OR THE REASONING BEHIND THIS ADJUSTMENT. THE MARKET IS STILL VERY VOLATILE. WE COULD GET PROJECTIONS THAT ARE GOING TO THE GASES FLUCTUATION MINUTE BY MINUTE.
THE COST OF GAS. AND WE ARE NOT LOCKED INTO ANY FIRM RATES FOR GAS SO IF THAT COST WERE TO GO UP, OUR COSTS WOULD GO UP AND DUSTED THAT WOULD BUMP UP AGAIN AND BUFFER AGAINST THE AMOUNT THAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR THE $20.
IT'S NOT FIRM. AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WHEN THE CHANGE WILL OCCUR BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.
OUR CONCERN IS NOT SO MUCH AS THE RATE STABILIZATION, WHICH IS A CONCERN.T'S THE DAYS OF CASH THAT WE NEED TO MAINTAIN FOR OUR COVENANTS. AS A POLICE DEPARTMENT TWO.
>> UNDERSTAND THAT. HOWEVER, I'M LOOKING AT ÃÃI'M LOOKING AT THE PUMP AND WHEN I GO TO THE THE PUMP AND THE NO NATURAL GAS AND GAS THAT WE PUT IN OUR CARS ARE DIFFERENT, HOWEVER, WHEN I GO TO THE PUMP, WHEN THEY COME DOWN, I'M THINKING NATURAL GAS WILL BE ABLE TO COME DOWN ALSO.
I FEEL THAT WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS WHAT IN A CRISIS RIGHT NOW.
AND PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AS I HEARD THEIR CONSTITUENTS SAY, THEY ARE LOOKING AT WHETHER OR NOT I PAY MY ELECTRIC BILL OR WHETHER I EAT OR SPEAK ABOUT MY SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN.
WE NEED TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND I JUST THINK IF TO LIGHTEN THE LOAD JUST A LITTLE.30 INSTEAD OF THE $20 AND WHO KNOWS IF IT WILL COME DOWN.
OR IF IT WILL GO UP. BUT RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN THERE RIGHT NOW. HEY ARE NOT LIVING IN THE FUTURE. SO, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT AND THINK ABOUT IT.
[APPLAUSE] >> I DEFINITELY AGREE.
[01:20:02]
I MEAN MY HEART ÃÃWE ALL HAVE FPO A AS WELL.PERSONALLY AND AT MY BUSINESS. SO, I DEFINITELY FEEL IT.HAT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS STABILIZING WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY TO AND THAT CONCERNS ME ON TOP OF IT.SO, IF WE WERE TO HAVE A $30 DECREASE, I'M GOING TO ASK THE DIRECTOR. BECAUSE WE DID HAVE SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THE GAS AT A LOWER RATE IN ORDER TO BRING THE RATE DOWN EVEN FURTHER. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE CASH ON HAND TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
SO, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE AND WHAT IS OUR MAGIC NUMBER
THAT WE NEED TO HAVE ON HAND? >> THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
MADDEN VICE CHAIR.O, THE F MPA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE LAST WEEK GAVE THE DIRECTIVE TO THE F MPA STAFF.
TO FOCUS AND PURCHASE THE NATURAL GAS PER MMBTU BT WAS A TERM THAT YOU HEARD LAST WEEK. AT SIX DOLLARS AND $0.30.
THAT BRINGS THE PURCHASE POWER DELIVERED TO FPE WEIGHT $200 OR LESS. THAT'S WITH THE DIRECTIVE IS FOR THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE GIVE THAT DIRECTION TO THE STAFF AND THEY ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING AT MAKING SURE THAT THEY BLOCKING THOSE PRICES. FOR THE REST OF THAT YEAR.
AS MUCH AS THEY CAN TO MITIGATE THESE FLUCTUATIONS AND NATURAL GAS PRICES. THAT IS THE NUMBER THAT I THINK THEY'RE ASKING FOR. AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE ARE LOOKING TO DO TODAY. NATURAL GAS IS AT $7.25 ADECCO FARM. OBVIOUSLY THAT'S JUST AS WE ARE TRYING TO GET LOWER THAN THAT TO SUSTAIN OUR COMMUNITIES.
>> IN OUR DISCUSSIONS, YOU HAVE MENTIONED THAT WE NEED SOME CASH ON HAND IN ORDER TO PURCHASE THAT LOWER RATE WHEN AND IF IT BECOMES AVAILABLE. WHAT DOES THAT NUMBER?
>> IT DEPENDS ON THE MARKET AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S NOT A NUMBER THAT I WOULD SAY. IT DEPENDS WHATEVER NUMBER IT IS. IF IT FALLS BELOW THE PRICE THAT YOU WILL LOCK IT IN IT. SO, IT'S VERY VOLATILE TO THE MARKET AND ÃÃI WISH I COULD GIVE YOU A BETTER ANSWER THAN THAT. IT DOES FLUCTUATE.
SO, IT ALSO DEPENDS ON WHAT KIND OF RESOURCES YOU ARE LOGGING AND WHETHER THEY ARE FINANCIAL OR PHYSICAL.
>> OKAY. SO, LET'S SAY THAT WE DECIDE TO DO THE $30. OBVIOUSLY IF ALL OF US INCLUDING EVERYONE. LIKE TO GO AS FAR DOWN HERE AS WE CAN. WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IF WE WANT TO REVIEW THIS? IS THERE SOMEWHERE WE COULD MAYBE MONTHLY MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IF NEEDED.? TALK ABOUT THIS AT OUR MEETING? IF THERE'S AN UPDATE AND MAY BE DONE THAT CAN GIVE US SOME TIME TO COMMUNICATED OUT.
AHEAD OF TIME IF SOMETHING IS GOING TO BE ADJUSTED.
WHETHER IT'S GOOD OR BAD. THAT IS DEFINITELY THE BIG THING THAT I HEARD TODAY. COMMUNICATION.
>> YES MA'AM, I WILL MAKE SURE TO BRING IT TO THE BOARD'S ATTENTION AND ALSO WE WILL CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE BOARD AS THIS MARKET GOES UP AND DOWN SO THAT YOU ARE INFORMED PRIOR TO THE MEETINGS. I THINK WE HAVE A VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIP THAT WITH ALL THE BOARD MEETINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE COMMUNICATING. TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO MORE OF THAT OR I DO MORE OF THAT WITH YOU.
SPECIFICALLY, WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE GAS MARKET BECAUSE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE BOARD TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS.
YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. AND YES, BY THE WAY, WE DO Ã THIS IS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE DO LOOK AT THE POWER COST ADJUSTMENT AT EVERY BOARD MEETING.
ACTION ITEMS ONLY TYPICALLY TAKEN ONCE A MONTH.
WE DO TRY TO LOOK AT IT AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE.
THAT IS WHAT THE MUNICIPALITY, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVIDES
THE COMMUNITY. >> BASICALLY I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF THE COST IS GOING UP AND WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO PURCHASE ANY AT THAT LOWER RATE THAT WE NEED TO STABILIZE.
WE HAVE AN ACTION PLAN AHEAD OF TIME AND THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT BEFORE IT BECOMES AN ISSUE AGAIN, YOU KNOW?
>> THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE WILL CALL FOR A SPECIAL MEETING, WHICH OBVIOUSLY HAS TO BE NOTICED TO THE PUBLIC AND AS PART OF THAT, IF THEY NEED TO RAISE THAT NUMBER, THE COST WOULD BE HIGHER. IT WOULD LOCK IT IN SO THAT WE COULD AVOID THE SPIKES IN THE NATURAL GAS MARKET.
>> MR. CHAIR? >> WE HEARD A A LOT OF VERY CRITICAL AND IMPORTANT POINTS THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION AS A BOARD. FOLKS FROM THE COMMUNITY WERE MAKING THEIR COMMENTS. IF NOTHING ELSE COMES FROM THIS, THEN SOMEBODY THAT IS CURRENTLY A DECISION-MAKER IS NO LONGER A DECISION-MAKER. BECAUSE FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY DECIDED THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HOLDING OUR
[01:25:03]
LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE. THAT WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD THING. I SOMETIMES AM SADDENED BECAUSE WE ARE UP HERE MAKING CRITICAL DECISIONS AND THERE IS NO ONE FROM THE COMMUNITY HERE TO CHECK US.TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE. TO MAKE SURE ALL THE DISCUSSIONS THAT HAPPENED UP HERE ÃÃTHEY ARE LOOKING AT IT FROM ALL ANGLES. THEY ARE CONSIDERING EVERY SINGLE CITIZEN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
A COUPLE COMMENTS MADE THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.
ONE IS NOT ÃTHIS MULTIPLE REASONS WHY WE ARE WHERE WE ARE. BUT I WANT TO SAY THAT NOT EVERY VOTE WAS UNANIMOUS. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO SAID LOOK, I UNDERSTAND THE BUSINESS REASONS.
I UNDERSTAND THE MATH. 100 PERCENT IT MAKES SENSE.
WE JUST CANNOT RAISE THE RATES ON THE COMMUNITY AGAIN.
WE SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS. NOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE IS UTILITY TO RUN. AND JUST LIKE IF I'M AT HOME AND I DON'T PAY MY FPO A BILL, IT GETS TURNED OFF.
IF WE DON'T PAY OUR BILL TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE TO PAY, THEN BAD THINGS HAPPEN. ALL THAT BEING SAID, WE HEARD OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR BEING HEARD THAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING A $20 DECREASE TO THE PCA.
AND THAT IT DOES NOT MAKE FINANCIAL SENSE FOR US TO DO IT BECAUSE THERE IS SO MANY UNKNOWNS.
BUT THE REASON, THE ONLY REASON IS BEING RECOMMENDED AND MY COWORKER, MS. BENNETT IS SAYING LET'S GO EVEN DEEPER THAN THAT BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH WE CARE. AND AND IT'S HARD.
OBVIOUSLY YOU DO NOT SEE THAT ON YOUR BILL WHATSOEVER.
THESE DECISIONS HAVE NOT BEEN ARRIVED TO BUTTON.
DEFINITELY NOT BY ME. I KNOW THAT MANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD SHALL USE ONE. IT'S NOT EASY.
IT'S HARD AND I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT WE LOWER THE BILL TODAY, BUT WE ARE LIMITED IN THE DECISIONS THAT WE CAN MAKE APPEAR. SO, IT SOUNDS LIKE JUST FROM WHERE THE MARKETS ARE DOING. EVEN THOUGH WE'RE GOING TO LOWER TODAY. WE MIGHT BE FORCED.
WE WILL NOT HAVE AN OPTION. WE MAY HAVE TO RAISE IT AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. BUT I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE THAT'S POSSIBLE. AND I KNOW MANY PEOPLE NEED VERY SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS TO BE HERE BECAUSE OF HOW IMPACTED YOU ARE RIGHT NOW. BUT I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE I CAN TO BE INVOLVED CONSISTENTLY. DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU GET THAT BILL IN THE MAIL. THAT'S A BIG SHOCK.
IF YOU CAN, STOP IT FROM GETTING IN YOUR MAILBOX.
>> WE DID, WE CALLED. THEY DON'T CARE.
THEY HANG UP ON US. THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR NOTHING WE HAVE TO SAY. WHEN WE DON'T PAY OUR BILLS.
WE ARE CRAFTED F YOU OA. >> AMEN.
>> THEY ARE RUDE AS A CUSTOMER SERVICE.
EVERYTHING SUCKS. WE ARE JUST AS WE ARE GOING TO WORK TO MAKE SURE OUR BILLS ARE PAID, BUT WE GET CRAPPY SERVICE FROM YOU GUYS. IT'S NOT FAIR.
>> THESE MEETINGS ARE EVERY FIRST ÃÃTHESE MEETINGS ARE EVERY FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAY. THE ABILITY TO SHOW UP HERE AND THE SAME THING. LET US KNOW MORE.
>> YES. >> SIR! NO MORE PUBLIC COMMENTS. PUBLIC MERIT COMMITTEE OF ANY
SO, WE HEARD A LOT FROM THE AUDIENCE HERE I'M SURE THAT THERE ARE MANY MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE GETTING THEIR BILLS DISTANCE WHEN THE THINGS THAT WE'VE A GREAT IS A BOARD AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT LESLIE AT THE COMMISSION MEETING, WE SHOULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB COMMUNICATING THIS SO THAT IT WAS NOT A SHOCK. WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT.
AND WE ADMIT THAT. WE ADMIT THAT.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE ALSO HEARD WAS THAT THEY WILL NOT UNDERSTAND THE POWER COST ADJUSTMENT.
AND THE POWER COST ADJUSTMENT IS JUST THAT.
IT CAN BE CHANGED. FROM MONTH-TO-MONTH.
[01:30:02]
IT'S BASED ON WHAT THE COST OF THE POWER IS TO US.AND MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT 75 PERCENT OF THE POWER PRODUCED IN FLORIDA IS PRODUCED BY ACTUAL GAS.
AND NATURAL GAS IS A CLEAN SOURCE OF ENERGY.
AS CLEAN AS NUCLEAR, BUT THE POWERS THAT BE HAVE NOT ALLOWED ANY NEW NUCLEAR PLANTS TO BE BUILT.
SO, NATURAL GAS IS THE ONLY SOURCE FOR MOST POWER GENERATION AND FLORIDA. AND SO, THAT IS NOT PRODUCED ENOUGH AND WHAT HAS BEEN PRODUCED IS SOLD OVERSEAS.
SO, THE MARKET HAS TAKEN THE SITUATION AND INCREASED THE COST OF NATURAL GAS AND SOMETHING WAS SAID EARLIER ABOUT PLANNING. AND THE PLANNING OF THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY UNEXPECTED. IT WAS NOT EXPECTED.
THE NATURAL GAS PRICES WERE STARTED RISING EARLIER THIS YEAR. AND THEY DIDN'T.
AND IT WAS JUST AS THEY RAPIDLY INCREASED IN THE LAST MONTH.
ND SO WE ARE ÃTHIS AND WE ARE JUST AS WE ADMIT THAT THIS IS THE HOTTEST TIME OF THE YEAR.
AND THIS IS ÃÃTHIS IS THE WORST TIME FOR THE NATURAL GAS VOLATILITY THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING.
THE POWER COST ADJUSTMENT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO ADJUST BASED ON THE COST OF NATURAL GAS.
AND SO, WHAT I THINK WHAT YOU SAID WAS REALLY RIGHT ON TARGET, WHICH WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN WATCHING THE COST OF NATURAL GAS. AND WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE POWER COST ADJUSTMENT. AND IT WAS NEGATIVE LAST YEAR.
LAST YEAR IT WAS NEGATIVE. 18, WASN'T IT?
>> -12.> -18. SO AT ANY RATE, THAT IS THE WHOLE STATE OF FLORIDA IS GOING TO BE IN THIS SITUATION IF THEY ARE NOT YET. THEY ARE GOING TO BE IN THIS SITUATION. AND SO, WE ARE IN A CRISIS.
I THINK WE ARE IN A CRISIS AND WE HAVE HEARD FROM OUR CUSTOMERS WHO ARE ASKING US TO DO SOMETHING.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO GO WITH THE $30 THIS BENNETT HAS SUGGESTED.
I WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT. WE CAN LOOK AT IT NEXT MONTH.
AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN CERTAIN RESERVES BECAUSE HURRICANES DO HAPPEN THIS TIME OF YEAR.
WE HAVE TO HAVE THE MONEY TO DEAL WITH HURRICANES AND DEAL WITH ANY UNFORESEEN THING THAT COMES ALONG.
SO JUST ÃI THINK ANOTHER POINT THAT WAS RAISED THAT I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT IS THE BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PANDEMIC.
WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PANDEMIC AT ALL IN TERMS OF WHY THIS POWER COST ADUSTMENT IS SUCH.
SO, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE THAT JUSTICE EVERYBODY APPEAR IS ON FPO A. YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE A BOARD MEMBER UNLESS YOU ARE ON FPO WAY. AND SO.
>> REAL QUICK, LET'S GET THAT OUT. DO LOVE OFF OF BELL AVENUE. AND SO, I AM FPO A WATER AND SEWER. BUT I HAVE F P&L POWER.
AND MY F P&L POWER HAS GONE UP ALREADY ABOUT $100 OVER THE LAST MONTH. AND I PLAN FOR TWO DOUBLE THIS MONTH. WHEN IT COMES OUT.
THIS IS NOT LOCALIZED TO FORT PIERCE OR ST. LUCIE COUNTY.
THIS IS A NATIONAL PROBLEM. AND THIS BEGAN, HATE TO SAY IT, IT BEGAN IN THE WHITE HOUSE. WHEN THEY CLOSED DOWN THE PIPELINE. ONE DAY PUT ROADBLOCKS UP FOR DRILLING. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE NATIONAL GAS MAKERS? THEY DECIDED TO SELL IT TO EUROPE FOR NINE TIMES THE COST THAT THEY SELL IT TO US IN THIS STATE. NINE TIMES.ND NOW IT'S HAPPENED? WE ARE ALL TOO SMALL TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT.
THE ONLY THING THAT YOU REALLY CAN DO IS MAKE A CHANGE IN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS. THAT IS ABOUT IT.
RIGHT NOW, WE ALL SUFFER THE BURDEN OF CARRYING THIS WEIGHT.
AND THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT IT HAPPENED.
I THINK MR. REID ALLUDED ABOUT THE HEDGING DEBACLE BACK IN THE
[01:35:01]
EARLY 2000'S. I THINK WE HAD A VERY HIGH POWER COST ADJUSTMENT 10. AND I REMEMBER BEING ON F YOU AND EIGHT WITH THE YOUNG FAMILY.THIS WAS BACK IN 2005. SO, THIS IS NOT A NEW NEW EVENT. IT'S JUST COMING AT A HORRIBLE TIME WITH INFLATION. A HORRIBLE TIME.
AND AT THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER. SO, BE CONFIDENT IN THE MANAGEMENT AND THE BOARD WILL DO EVERYTHING IN ITS POWER TO TRY TO REAL THIS THING IN. UT, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE BEYOND OUR CONTROL. THE COST OF THE MARKET GASES BEYOND OUR CONTROL.E CANNOT CONTROL THAT.
ALL WE CAN DO IS TRY TO PLAN AHEAD AND LOCK IN PRICES TO HELP MINIMIZE ANY TYPE OF FURTHER UNCOMFORTABLENESS TO YOUR FAMILIES GOING FORWARD. NOW, TURNING TO THE DRAFT IN FRONT OF US, I DO SEE YOU ARE RECOMMENDING $20 BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE THAT TO GO ANY STEEPER IS REALLY WOULD NOT BE PRUDENT.
IS THAT WHAT I'M GIVING MISS MICAH? AND THE ONLY REASON WHY WE ARE ABLE TO DO THIS IS BECAUSE WE HAVE A FLOOD OF CASH COMING AND FROM THE FLORIDA MUNICIPAL
POWER AGENCY, CORRECT? >> THEY ARE USING SOME OF THE
RESERVE FUNDS TO BALANCE. >> BEFORE THOSE FUNDS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REDUCE IT TODAY, CORRECT?
>> WE WOULD HAVE A DIFFERENT NUMBER FOR YOU.
YES, WE WOULD A DIFFERENT TECHNICIAN.
>> MAY BE A LITTLE LOWER. NOT AS GREAT.
AND WE THINK THIS WILL LAST US ABOUT 3 TO 4 MONTHS.
>> PROJECTIONS ARE THAT THEY WOULD GET US THROUGH OCTOBER IF
I REMEMBER BARBARA. >> DEPENDING ON.
>> DEPENDING ON THE VOLATILITY IN THE GAS MARKET.
THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT. >> PROJECTIONS AREN'T MAXIMUM.
>> NEXT MONTH PROJECTIONS OR POSSIBLY HIGHER.O, THERE IS NO WAY THAT WE CAN BE AGGRESSIVE IN TRYING TO ROLL THIS THING DOWN TO 25 OR $30 REDUCTION.
AND HOPE THAT WE CAN WRITE AT THE HEAT OF THE YEAR AND PERHAPS THE MARKET MIGHT BE A LITTLE MORE STABLE.
COME OCTOBER AND CONSUMPTION MIGHT BE DOWN.
AS WELL. BECAUSE THE ACS ARE NOT CRACKING AT FULL BLAST. I MEAN, IS THAT A POSSIBILITY OR DO YOU THINK BASED ON THE MARKETING CONDITIONS THAT IT'S HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT WE ARE NOT HAVE ANOTHER ADJUSTMENT EVEN
SOON. >> UNFORTUNATELY SIR, WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT WHEN THE SUMMER, WHEN THE WINTER MONTHS COME TO FLORIDA, THE WINTER MONTHS AND UP DICTATING A LOT OF THE CONSUMPTION IN THE NORTHERN STATES AND THEY USE A
LOT OF GAS FOR THEIR HEATING. >> WE ARE THINKING NOW THAT GAS IS GONNA BE GOBBLED UP BY THE NORTH.
>> SO, IT'S DIFFICULT TO MAKE PROJECTIONS OUTSIDE OF THAT ÃÃ OUTSIDE OF A LONGER WINDOW BECAUSE THE VOLATILITY JUST AS THE VOLATILITY OF THE MARKET. I THINK THE PROJECTION FOR THE $20 DECREASE IS ALLOWING US TO AVOID HAVING TO INCREASE IN THE FUTURE THAT THE VOLATILITY WERE TO GET MORE VOLATILE WITH THE GAS MARKET WILL BE MORE VOLATILE.
BUT IT IS ABSOLUTELY A PLEASURE OF THE BOARD FOR WHATEVER DECISION THEY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE.
THIS IS JUST A RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF.
HAD WE UNDERSTAND. >> WHAT HAS BEEN THE TREND OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS IN THE GAS MARKET?
>> IT WENT ALL OVER THE MAP. IT WENT FROM NINE DOLLARS PER DECCA FARM TO JUST UNDER SIX DOLLARS.
AND GOT TO EAT AND IT GETS A LITTLE BIT NOT TO RENT THE 725
MARK. >> IT'S A HARD DECISION BECAUSE I REALLY LIKE THAT $30 FIGURE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE AT LEAST ENOUGH TIME TO WRITE AT THE SUMMER.
AND IF WE'RE STILL THINKING THAT THE THIRD DOLLAR BRIDGE CAN BE SHORT LIVED ÃÃBECAUSE OF VOLATILITY.
THEN THE $20 NUMBER LOOKS REASONABLE.
AT LEAST THAT KEEPS MUSTACHES NOT TO BE SUCH A STICKER SHOCK WHEN SOMEBODY GOT A RAISE BACK AGAIN THE NEXT MONTH'S MEETING.
>> ARTICLES TO TRY AND REDUCE IF WE CAN.
>> EXACTLY. WE WE WANT TO TREND DOWN ON
THESE. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THE
BOARD? >> MR. CHAIRMAN, WE ARE IN.
>> MR. CHAIR? >> WE DON'T KNOW THAT.
SO I MEAN. >> WE DEFINITELY DON'T KNOW.
WE DON'T KNOW. >> THEREFORE, I MEAN, IT'S A WHAT IF. WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO DROP OR GO UP OR STABILIZE. SO, WE ARE IN THE RIGHT NOW.
AND WE NEED TO ÃÃWE ARE FEELING THE HEAT RIGHT NOW.
AND I UNDERSTAND. >> IS ON PUTTING IT ON.
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU NOT, WE WANT THOSE RESERVES THERE.
THEY MIGHT BE THERE. >> IT MAY BE, BUT MY FEAR WOULD
[01:40:02]
BE IS THAT WE ROLL IT BACK TO 30.THIS IS A WORST-CASE SCENARIO. AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER VOLATILE MONTH LIKE WE DIDN'T HAVE TO RESIDENT $30 WHEN WE DID THAT LAST MONTH. THE REMAKE A VERY STEEP INCLINE AND ALL THE SUDDEN WE HAVE TO RAISE IT UP $30.
$40 AND WE'RE RIGHT BACK TO WHERE WE ARE.
AND OUR CONSUMERS ARE PAYING MORE AT A TIME WHEN THEY ARE SENDING THEIR KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL.
BUT YOU KNOW, I'M JUST GONNA SAY, $20 IS MANAGEABLE.
$20 LOOKS GREAT. BUT IT'S ALSO SCARY.
IT'S ALSO SCARED BETWEEN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER IN THAT RANGE.
ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE STORMS. >> I'M LOOKING AT THE RATE PAYERS THAT ARE NOT WORKING THIS SUMMER.
I AM A SCHOOLTEACHER. AND WHEN YOU'RE NOT WORKING, YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE THE FUNDS TESTIS YOU DON'T HAVE A PAYCHECK OVER THE SUMMER.
SO THEREFORE, YOU ARE ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL OVER THE SUMMER. SOME PEOPLE AND THEY ARE TRYING TO MAKE IT AND THEREFORE IF WE HELP THEM NOW, WHO KNOWS AND OCTOBER FOR SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER OR AUGUST THAT THEY MAY HAVE THE MONEY.UT RIGHT NOW, I'M LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW.
WE ARE IN A CRISIS RIGHT NOW. AND WE NEED TO LET THE PEOPLE KNOW THAT HEY, WE ARE WITH YOU. WE UNDERSTAND.
I AM ON FPU WAY. AND I LOOKED AT MY UTILITY BILL AND I SAID OKAY. BECAUSE IT WENT AND IT DOUBLED.
HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, I CANNOT SIT HERE AND SAY WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO TESTIS I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY IT.
I DO HOWEVER ÃÃI HAVE A HUSBAND THAT PAYS THE BILLS.
SOME PEOPLE ARE SINGLE PARENTS. THEY DON'T HAVE A HUSBAND TO PAY THE BILLS. AND SO, THEY FOR THEY NEED TO
HELP THEM RIGHT NOW. >> WHEN DOES THIS GO INTO EFFECT?
[APPLAUSE] >> THE INDUCTION THAT OCCURS TODAY, WHEN WILL THE RATE BARRIERS FEEL THE BENEFIT?
>> WOULD GO INTO EFFECT AUGUST 1.
>> YES SIR. THEY WOULD GO ON THEIR AUGUST 1
BILL OR THEIR SEPTEMBER BILL. >> THAT WOULD BE THE AUGUST.
THE BILL CYCLE FOR THE AUGUST 1 NATIONAL.
>> OKAY. AND THEN WHEN WE REVIEWED THE
PCA AGAIN? >> SECOND AND THIRD WEEKS?
>> THE SECOND MEETING OF THE MONTH BECAUSE WE GET THE PROJECTED BILL ON THE FIRST COUPLE WEEKS.O, THE MONTH.
I WILL MAKE SURE TO KEEP THE BOARD INFORMED THAT EVERY BOARD MEETING AND ALSO ONE-ON-ONE CALLS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE MARKET IS AT.
HOPE THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE LOCK IN THOSE PRICES ON THE GUEST SO THAT WE CAN MUCH MORE SHIFTY AND REMOVE OURSELVES FROM THE VOLATILITY OF THE MARKET.
>> WHEN WILL WE KNOW ABOUT LOCKING IN THE PRICE PANELS?
>> THE FNP A STAFF ARE LOOKING AT IT EVERY DAY.
I MEAN THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE DOING RIGHT NOW.
>> IN LIBYA,? >> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE ONE COMMENT JUST TO MAKE SURE. WE MADE NO PROFIT WHATSOEVER ON THE PCA. IT IS STRICTLY A PASS-THROUGH FOR US TO PAY FOR THE POWER AND TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ELECTRICITY FOR EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM, THERE IS NO PROFIT INVOLVED IN THAT AT ALL. IT'S STRICTLY A PASS-THROUGH.
>> YES MR. LANDERS? >> I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO THAT. THERE ARE NO TAXES ON THE PCA.
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I DIDN'T KNOW UP UNTIL A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. SO, WHEN HE SAYS IT'S A PASTOR, TRULY PASS-THROUGH. THERE IS NO CITY TAX OR ANY TAX THAT IS ON TOP OF THAT ACTUAL FIGURE THAT HAPPENS.
IT'S LITERALLY JUST A PASS-THROUGH.
>> MR. LAMBERTS? >> MR. CHAIR, I THINK BOTH THE YOU AND MR. FEE AND MS. BENNETT MADE FANTASTIC POINTS.
AND IF IT WERE JUST A NORMAL PSITUATION, MR. FEE, I WOULD PROBABLY AGREE WITH YOU 100 PERCENT.
AS IT IS AND THE SITUATION THAT WE ARE IN, I'M PREPARED TO MAKE A MOTION TO DECREASE BY $30. TO GO $10 ABOVE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION. > I SECOND.
>> EMOTION? >> I MAKE THAT MOTION?
>> SECOND. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
[G2. Bill Comparison for the Month of May 2022 – For Information Only]
>> YES. >> YES MA'AM.> THE NEXT ITEM,, THE MAY 2022 BILL COMPARISON.
[01:45:02]
FINANCE MANAGER WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM.>> THANK YOU MR. SUAREZ. CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS, I'M PRESENTING KEEP TODAY THE MONTHLY UPDATE ON THE COMPARISONS OF FLORIDA MUNICIPAL PUBLISHED BY AT MDA.
IN THE LOCAL TREASURE COAST UTILITY BILLS IN MAY.
MRS. MICAH WAS HERE. SHE IS MORE PROJECTIONS.
THIS IS A HISTORICAL REPORT THAT WE ARE PROJECTING.
THIS IS JUSTICE. >> PLEASE QUIET DOWN IN THE SEATS PLEASE. SORRY.
>> THIS FIRST GRAPH SHOWS THE COMPARISON OF RESIDENTIAL FOR KILOWATTS AND CONSUMPTION FOR THE 13 MUNICIPAL UTILITIES, WHICH MEMBERS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL PROJECTS.
AS MEMBERS OF THE ALL REQUIREMENTS PROJECT, THESE MUNICIPALITIES BENEFIT THROUGH ECONOMY SCALES TO LOWER THE OPERATING COST AND RISK WITH MORE UNITS AND MORE CITIES WORKING TOGETHER. IF YOU HIS MIDDLE AVERAGE BALL AT $134.84 IS SHOWN WITH THE TELEWORK.
WE DID SHIP THREE SPOTS AND EXACTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THE ARK MEMBERS. THIS GRAPH DISPLAYS THE COMPRESSION FOR THE SAME LEVEL CONSUMPTION BUT INCLUDES ALL THE MUNICIPAL UTILITIES IN THE STATE.
AGAIN, OUR ME BILL FOR THIS LEVEL CONSUMPTION AT $134.84 IS SHOWN WITH THE L BAR. WE DID SHIFT FOR SPOTS TO THE LEFT. AND RANKS SLOWER IN COMPARISON TO ONE THIRD OF THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
WHILE WE MAINTAINED OUR RATES FOR ANOTHER MONTH, 15 OF THE OTHER 31 MUNICIPAL GOOD WITH UTILITIES IMPLEMENTING INCREASES PRETTY WELL INCREASE IN THESE IS $4.05 FOR THE ARE BUT AVERAGE. AND THEN INCREASE IN $3.28 FOR THE MUNICIPAL AVERAGE. FOR THE RATES OF A THOUSAND KILOWATTS OF CONSUMPTION, THERE ARE BELOW THE ARK AVERAGE AND I OWE YOU AVERAGES MORE THAN THE MUNICIPAL AVERAGE.
HIS GRAPH PRESENTS A SIMILAR COMPARISON, BUT FOR 25 HOURS OF KILOWATT CONSUMPTION. IF YOU ACED ME BILL IS $339.80 AND IT RANKS AS AT THE HIGHEST AT THE HIGHER CONSUMPTION.E DID SHIFT ONE SPOT TO THE LEFT THIS MONTH.
OUR RATES FOR 2500 KILOWATT HOURS ARE HIGHER THAN MUNICIPAL AND ARE BUT AVERAGE. HERE ARE BELOW THE I/O YOU AVERAGES. THE TABLE DISPLAYED IS THE MAY COMPARISON OF THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL UTILITY BILLS AT THE TREASURE COAST. IF YOU ACED UTILITY BILL FOR ALL THREE SERVICES PROVIDED ARE FOR INSIDE CITY LIMITS.HOWN IN THE FIRST COLUMN IN BLUE. ALL OTHER BILLS IN THIS TABLE HAVE ELECTRIC SERVICES PROVIDED BY FP NL AND WASTEWATER WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES BY THE LOCALITIES PROVIDER.
THE BLUE COLUMN REPRESENTS IF YOU A UTILITY BILL USING THE STANDARD CONSUMPTION. SUCH A THOUSAND KILOWATT HOURS FOR ELECTRIC AND 6000 GALLONS PER WATER.
THE SMALLER TABLE BELOW REPRESENTS THE ACTUAL AVERAGE FOR THE REPORTED MONTH.URING THE MONTH OF MAY, THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL CONSUMPTION FOR ELECTRIC WAS 800 KILOWATT HOURS PER AND 5000 GALLONS FOR WATER. THERE BEEN NO RATE CHANGES TO THE ME BILL SINCE APRIL WAS PRESENTED.
I WILL BE GLAD TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR THE BOARD?
>> I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION, BUT I WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THE MATERIAL THAT IS OUT THERE ON THE TABLE.
SOME OF THAT IS ABOUT CONSERVATION.
IS THAT NOT TRUE? >> YES MA'AM.
WE HAVE CONSERVATION PROJECTS CARE.
AND SEVERAL ITEMS FOR WATER CONSERVATION AND ENERGY CONSERVATION. AND OTHER INFORMATION TO HELP
OUR CUSTOMERS GET THROUGH. >> YOU DO DO ASSESSMENTS IF THERE IS SOMEONE AND THEY WANT TO KNOW WHETHER ELECTRICITY IS RUNNING DEVELOP. OUR COMPANY DOES DO ASSESSMENTS, RIGHT?> WHETHER EDUCATION OUTREACH PROGRAM, OR WE CAN DO AN ASSESSMENT AND THEN THEY GO THROUGH QUALIFICATION PROCESS THROUGH THE CITY.
IF THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENTS, THOSE CAN BE FUNDED THROUGH CONSERVATION FUNDS.F YOU DETECT SOMEONE WHO IS USING A LOT MORE ÃÃ PARTICULARLY WATER, DON'T WE DO THAT PROACTIVELY? AND REACH OUT AND SAY THAT WE
SEE THIS IS HAPPENING? >> YES MA'AM, THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT WILL REACH OUT TO THOSE CUSTOMERS AS THE METER READS AND THEY WILL NOTIFY THE CUSTOMER THAT THEY HAVE AN ISSUE THAT THEY SHOULD ADDRESS A LEAKY TOILET OR WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.
THE CONSUMPTION READS TO HELP US IDENTIFY IF A CUSTOMER IS
[01:50:02]
OUTSIDE OF THEIR AVERAGE CONSUMPTION.>> YES. >> I HAVE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS.
>> I MADE A LIST OF THE PEOPLE AND OF ÃÃAND I'M WONDERING IF SOMEONE FROM OUR STAFF I CAN COMPARE MY LIST WITH JILL'S LIST. REACH OUT TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING ON THEIR BILLS. PARTICULARLY WAS THE METER BEING READ OR NOT READ. WHY DID THIS HAPPEN WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? AND I AM JUST WONDERING IF WE CAN'T IDENTIFY THOSE CUSTOMERS AND HAVE OUR STUFF CALL THEM AND TRY TO WALK THEM THROUGH WHAT THEIR QUESTIONS ARE PUT IN A PUBLIC FOR, YOU CANNOT DEAL INDIVIDUALLY WITH THAT.
BUT I WOULD LIKE A FOLLOW-UP ON THAT.
>> YES MA'AM, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT.
I AGREE, I THINK SUMMARY FROM THE F YOU A SHOULD MEET SOME OF THOSE RESIDENTS. ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE BILLS TO GO LOOK BACK AT THE MINUTES. SOME OF THEM SEEM REALLY REALLY UNUSUALLY HIGH. AND THAT SEEMS SUSPECT TO ME.
>> YES MA'AM. >> SOME OF THEM COULD BE COST ADJUSTMENT. SOME OF THEM SHOULD NOT BE THAT EXTREME AND MAYBE SOME OF THEM MORE GOING ON HERE.Y COMMENT TO YOU MA'AM IS LOOKING AT THE TREASURE UTILITY BILL COMPARISON. PAIR FOR US AND PORT ST. LUCIE COUNTY, WHERE LOWER THEM, CORRECT?
>> IN TOTALITY. >> THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE
POWER COST ADJUSTMENT, CORRECT? >> THIS DOES.
THIS IS THE POWER COST ADJUSTMENT IN ME.
WHICH WAS AT $18. ONE MONTH BEHIND.
SO, WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT ONE MONTH UNTIL WE SEE.
TO SEE WHERE WE FEAR AT THAT POINT.
>> JUST BECAUSE FM EIGHT DOESN'T PUBLISH THE DAY.
WE ARE ÃÃTWO MONTHS AND YEARS.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY. TO EVERYBODY THAT IS STILL OUT THERE. WE REVIEW THIS EVERY MONTH.
WE TRY TO EITHER MAINTAIN OR BE LOWER THAN FP NL.
I SPECIFICALLY ÃÃIN THIS SCENARIO HERE.
AND SOMEWHERE ÃJUST YOU KNOW, GENERALLY IN LOWER TO THE PACK OF THE ONE ÃÃTHE GRAFT AT THE YELLOW MARKERS.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE ÃJUST LIKE I SAID LOOK AT EVERY MONTH AND IF YOU ARE HAVING A PROBLEM LIKE MR. LAMMERS SAID, YOU NEED TO BE PART OF IT. WE NEED TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY AND WE CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY HERE.
THIS IS NOT JUST A BOARD SITTING UP THERE MAKING DECISIONS WITHOUT ANY HEART. SO, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU
GET INVOLVED. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? >> SO, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT EACH ONE OF US UP HERE REPRESENTS A DISTRICT.
AND WE ARE ON FPE UAS WEBSITE THAT YOU CAN CALL US IF YOU HAVE A CONCERN. I KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE WERE SAYING THAT CUSTOMER SERVICE IS NOT GIVEN GREAT HOSPITALITY.
AND THAT IS LOOKING INTO DAILY. WE ON THE BOARD AS WELL AS THE DIRECTOR.
E HAVE BEEN ADDRESSING THOSE ISSUES AND WE ARE TRYING TO GET
BETTER. >> THE OTHER COMMENTS FOR THE
[G3. May 2022 Quarterly Financial Operating Results – For Information Only]
PRESENTER. THANK YOU.>> NEXT ITEM. , INFORMATION PRESENTATION FOR THE MAY 2022 QUARTERLY FINANCIAL OPERATING RESULTS.
BARBARA MICAH WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN MR. SCENARIOS.
CHAIRMAN AND BOARD MEMBERS. I WILL BE PRESENTING TO YOU TODAY THE FINANCIAL OPERATING RESULTS FOR MAY 2022.
I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EIGHT MONTHS TO DATE FOR 2022. OUR YEAR TO DATE OPERATING INCOME OF 5,315,000. WAS 1 MILLION AND 18,000 DOLLARS N THE SAME EIGHT MONTHS FOR FISCAL YEAR 21.
WHILE THE INCREASES IN REVENUES FOR THE POWER COST ADJUSTMENT WAS OFFSET BY THE COST OF OUR PURCHASES FOR RESALE.
[01:55:01]
INCREASES IN OPERATIONAL EXPENSES WAS RESULTED IN A LOWER OPERATIONAL INCOME FOR MONTHS TO DATE.UR OPERATING REVENUES INCREASED $10,600,000. IN FISCAL YEAR 22.THE REVENUES FOR THE PCA FOR THE FIRST EIGHT MONTHS ACCOUNTED FOR 88 PERCENT OR $9.3 MILLION OF THAT INCREASE OVER THE LAST YEAR. OUR OPERATING EXPENSES WERE HIGHER BY 11,000,000.6 PERCENT. ABOUT NINE AND HAVE 9 TO 9.6 MILLION OF THE INCREASE WAS DUE TO THE COST OF PURCHASES FOR RESALE.
FTER THE ACCOUNT FOR THE ADJUSTMENT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE CITY, OUR MATE YEAR TO DATE INCREASE IN THAT POSITION WAS $2.8 MILLION. OUR OPERATING DAYS OF CASH AFTER THAT PAYMENT AT THE DISTRIBUTION AT THE END OF MAY IS 54 DAYS OF CASH. OR ELECTRIC OPERATING REVENUES UNLESS THE COST OF POWER AND CONSUMPTION IN COMPARISON TO THE CONSUMPTION. FISCAL YEAR 2021 OPERATING REVENUE OF THAT POWER COST WAS INCREASED THE OPERATING REVENUES WERE HIGHER BY THREE PERCENT FROM 2020 WITH CONSUMPTION HIGHER BY THREE PERCENT.
IN FISCAL YEAR 22, THE OPERATING REVENUES LESS THAT COST OF POWER IS UP LAST YEAR BY ABOUT 488,000 OR 33 PERCENT.
ON THE YEAR-OVER-YEAR COMPARISON.
CONSUMPTION LOWER BY ABOUT TWO PERCENT FROM JUST THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR. THE COST OF THE PURCHASE POWER HAS INCREASED. OVER $8.6 MILLION.
ON AVERAGE, THAT IS A 34.3 PERCENT INCREASE COMPARED TO THE SAME EIGHT MONTHS A YEAR AGO.
OUR WATER OPERATING REVENUE CONSUMPTION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021 REVENUES WERE UP SIX PERCENT FROM 2020.
AND CONSUMPTION WAS HIGHER BY FIVE PERCENT.
AND MOVING TO FISCAL YEAR 2022, OUR WATER OPERATING REVENUES OF 13.3 MILLION WERE UP TWO PERCENT FROM 21 AND ANOTHER TWO PERCENT. AND THE CONSUMPTION WAS BASICALLY FLAT FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.
ON WASTEWATER, THE OPERATING REVENUES FROM 2021 WERE UP SIX PERCENT FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. AND OUR BALANCE WAS UP EIGHT PERCENT. FISCAL YEAR 22, MOVING ON OPERATING REVENUES OF THE 9.6 MILLION WERE UP ÃÃ2021.
WHILE THEY DECLINED IN THE GALLONS BUILT ABOUT FOUR PERCENT. NATURAL GAS OPERATING REVENUES.
AGAIN, LEST THE COST OF OUR PURCHASES.
OF GAS COSTS. IN COMPARISON TO THE CONSUMPTION OF FISCAL YEAR 21. OPERATING REVENUES AND NET GAS COST INCREASED SIX PERCENT ON REVENUES.
WITH AN INCREASED CONSUMPTION OF SEVEN PERCENT.
I'M MOVING INTO NATURAL GAS OPERATING REVENUES LESS THE COST OF OUR LEVEL IN 2022 TO 2021.
WITH THE YEAR TO DATE CONSUMPTION OF LAST YEAR.
SHOWING JUST A ONE PERCENT INCREASE IN PRIOR YEAR.
OUR YEAR TO DATE RESIDENTIAL AND GENERAL SERVICE CONSUMPTION FOR NATURAL GAS WAS LOWER BY 11.3 PERCENT CONSUMPTION.
BUT THE GAS CONTRACT SALES REMAIN STRONG WITH AN INCREASE OF 14.4 PERCENT. AND THE CURRENT EIGHT MONTHS OVER THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR. REGARDING THE COST OF GAS FOR THE EIGHT MONTH PERIOD THAT HAS INCREASED $963,000 FROM THIS POINT. THIS SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.
THIS IS A 28 PERCENT INCREASE OVER 2021.
OUR OPERATING INCOME IN THE SERVICE AND SERVICE COVERAGE RATIO IS THE RATIO OF THE 12 MONTH AVERAGE NET AVAILABLE INCOME TO OUR CURRENT DEBT SERVICE.
FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDING MAY 2022 AND DEBT SERVICE RATIO WAS 3.38. THE RATIO FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDING SEPTEMBER 2021 WAS 3.54. THE COVENANTS REQUIREMENT SAYS THAT WE SHOULD MAINTAIN A RATIO OF 1.25.
WE ARE WITHIN THOSE BOUNDS. THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING
THE FINANCIALS. >> ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE BOARD?
THANK YOU. >> YOU ARE WELCOME.> NEXT
ITEM. >> MR. CHAIRMAN FOR THE NEXT
[02:00:01]
ITEM, THE NEXT ITEM IS AN INFORMATION PRESENTATION ABOUT FP YOU A GRANTS STATUS UPDATE ON THE GRANTS.RACHEL TENANT WILL PRESENT. MR. CHAIRMAN, THE NUMBER FOUR,
[G5. Grants Update: Active, Pending and In Development – For Information Only]
WE DID REMOVE NUMBER FOUR FROM THE AGENDA.RACHEL WILL PRESENT THE NEXT ITEM.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. SISNEROS. CHAIRMAN FITE MAYOR HUDSON AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AGAIN TODAY. AND AS MR. SISNEROS MENTIONED, I WILL BE PROVIDING WHAT IS A LITTLE BIT OF AN INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW FPO A GRANTS PROGRAM FOR THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN DEVELOPING SINCE FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.
IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT WE HAVE NOT HAD GRANTS SINCE BEFORE FEBRUARY. BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT AS A UTILITY, WE ARE COMING TOGETHER TO DEVELOP A DEPARTMENT, WHOSE FUNCTION IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR ALL OF THE MANY GRANTS THAT WE HAVE. AND ALL THE GRANTS THAT ARE COMING AVAILABLE FOR US TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.
SO, THE FPO A GRANTS TEAM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS ALSO EVER EVOLVING. OF COURSE, THERE IS MYSELF AS THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER.
I'VE BEEN MANAGING AND APPLYING FOR GRANTS FOR OVER A DECADE.
WE HAVE ALSO ASHLEY LEVIN, WHO IS THE SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM ASSOCIATE AS OF JULY 1. SO THE TEAM IS GROWING QUICKLY NOW.
MR. BO HUTCHINSON. HE IS OUR PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT. FOR THE WATER WASTE WATER GRANTS CURRENTLY. AND AS YOU WILL SEE IN THIS PRESENTATION, WATER AND WASTEWATER ARE TWO OF THE PRIMARY DIVISIONS THAT ARE RECEIVING GRANTS.
AT THIS TIME. LORI PEBBLE IS THE GRANTS LIAISON FROM WITHIN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE CONTRACTORS WITH WHOM WE ARE WORKING ON. AMY ADAMS AND DEDE AND HAZING AND SAWYER. THESE ARE FOUR PARTICULAR GRANTS PAID WATER AND WASTEWATER GRANTS PARTICULARLY WITH AMY ADAMS. FLORIDA WITH AARON AND THEN THE HASTEN AND SO YOUR TEAM IS OUR WASTEWATER PLANT RELOCATION TEAM TRANCE SPECIALIST. AND THE IDEA HERE IS THAT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER GRANTS AVAILABLE THAT THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED SPECIALIST TEAMS FOR MAKE SURE WE'RE STAYING ON TOP OF EVERYTHING. AND PROVIDING ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE CAN IN ORDER TO EXPOSITION OURSELVES TO RECEIVE THESE GRANTS. AND THEN SO, THESE ARE THE GRANTS TEAMS FOR PULLING THE GRANT APPLICATION TOGETHER AND OF COURSE ADMINISTERING THE GRANTS BUT THERE IS A LOT OF REPORTING THAT GOES ON AFTER THE FACT.
ALSO COMMUNICATED WITH THE GRANTORS.
AND THEN IF WE DO RECEIVE THE GRANTS, THERE IS A PROJECT MANAGER. AND THOSE ARE IN-HOUSE.
THESE ARE COMING FROM OUR DIFFERENT UTILITY DIVISIONS AND THAT WOULD BE STAFF MEMBERS WHO ARE LEADING THE PROJECTS ON THE GROUND AND DEVELOP MY CONSTRUCTIONS WHENEVER IT MIGHT BE. SO, THIS MIGHT BE A QUICK SINGLES SCREEN. I'M GOING TO GO INTO MORE DETAIL OVER THERE. THERE ARE ABOUT $8.2 MILLION OF CURRENT AND FPO A GRANTS. 5.6 MILLION OUR SEWER LINE GRANTS. I WILL GET INTO THAT IN A MOMENT. 2.4 MILLION ARE SEWER CONNECTION AND CONVERSION GRANTS.
ABOUT $152,000 TO THE AMENITY CENTER RIGHT NOW.
SO, THE SEWER LINE GRANTS ARE A CARROT IN PLACE TYPE TECHNOLOGY THAT ALLOWS US TO FORTIFY OUR EXISTING PLATE WASTE WATER PIPES. OUR WASTEWATER PIPES ARE A BIT OLDER. THEY ARE A CLAY MATERIAL.
AND WHAT WE HAVE IS THIS PLASTIC LINER THAT WE CAN PUT INTO THE EXISTING PIPES. WE KEEP THEM UP AND THEY EXPAND SO THAT WE END UP WITH A PIPE INSIDE OF A PIPE.
SO THE PIPEFITTING THE INSIDE IS A MORE SECURE PIPE THAN THE CLAY PIPES THAT ARE ON THE OUTSIDE.THE EXISTING PIPES.
THIS PREVENTS FLOWS OF STORM WATER INTO THE PIPES.
WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT YOU NOT TYPICALLY THINK ABOUT.
WHEN WE HAVE CLAY PIPES, IF THERE ARE CRACKS OR ANYTHING IN THEM, STORM WATER CAN ACTUALLY GET INTO THOSE SEWAGE PIPES.
LSO, OF COURSE IT PREVENTS FLOW OF SEWAGE OUT OF THE PIPES. WE ARE LOOKING AT BOTH DIRECTIONS. SO, THE SEWER LINE GRANTS ARE AN IMPORTANT PIECE TO AN AGING INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE HAVE CURRENTLY, THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY GRANT FOR $3.8 MILLION.
THIS IS ACTUALLY A FEDERAL HUD GRANT THAT WE ARE RECEIVING THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
AND THIS IS A BIG DEAL AS AN ORGANIZATION TO BE RECEIVING
[02:05:01]
DIRECT FEDERAL FUNDS. FEDERAL FUNDS HAVE A BIT MORE AS FAR ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS GO.THEN STATE GRANTS ME. SO, WE ARE CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH THE EARLY PROCESSES. WE HAVE A GRANT AGREEMENT IN PLACE. AND WE ARE SECURE IN OUR RECEIVING THE GRANT. WE ARE GOING THROUGH THIS EARLY STAGES OF GOING THROUGH OUR ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS IN PLACE.
THIS INCLUDES THINGS LIKE FP UA POLICIES.
THAT HAVE TO INCORPORATE FEDERAL POLICIES.
SO THAT WE ARE IN LINE WITH THE AGENCY'S REQUIREMENTS IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THEIR FUNDING. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN GOING THROUGH PRETTY HEAVY PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS.
WE HAD TO DO THREE SEPARATE NOTICES OF THESE PROJECTS IN PARTICULAR PROJECTS INCLUDING THE PUBLIC NOTICE THAT WITH THE REQUEST FUNDS TO BE RELEASED. WE'RE GOING TO THAT THIRD PHASE RIGHT NOW. AND WE ARE WORKING WITH AMY ADAMS ON THIS. WHICH IS A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE FOR US. IT IS SUCH A ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN SOME THINK TO UNDERTAKE AT THE OUTSET FEDERAL GRANTS.
GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS NOW, IT WILL PUT US IN A BETTER POSITION MOVING FORWARD FOR ADDITIONAL FEDERAL GRANTS.
BECAUSE WE WOULD'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS.
THE OTHER GRANTS AND APPROPRIATIONS THAT WE ARE RECEIVING FOR SEWER LINES ARE APPROPRIATIONS.
THESE ARE FLORIDA. THEY ARE SPONSORED BY CENTER OR HARRELL AND SENATOR TRIBBLE SEE.
WE HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED ONE PHASE.
THIS IS $900,000 OF SEWER LINE THAT WAS COMPLETED IN SOUTH BEACH. SOUTH BEACH WAS FIRST BECAUSE OF THE SENSITIVITY OF THE AREA. AS FAR AS INFLUX OF WATER.
AND THEN PHASE 2 WILL BE SOUTH FORT PIERCE.
MORE IN THE PROCESS NOW OF RECEIVING THE FUNDS AND THE AGREEMENTS AND ITEMS TO BEGIN PHASE 2. OUR GOAL HERE IS GOING TO BE A FIVE PHASE PROJECT. T'S $900,000.
HER FIVE PHASES. WE ARE BEGINNING PHASE 2. WE ALSO HAVE SEWER CONNECTION AND CONVERSION GRANTS PRODUCER SEPTIC TO SEWER CONVERSIONS PER THESE ARE PROVIDING FUNDING TO REDUCE FUNDING AND LOCAL RELIANCE ON SEPTIC TANKS.
AND TO BEGIN SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE.
THIS IS A STATEWIDE PRIORITY FOR IN MIND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PURPOSES AS WELL. WE HAVE THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY GRANT THAT IS $1.9 MILLION FOCUSED ON THE TWO SURE SHE'LL ROAD PROGRAM PRODUCES AN INDUSTRIAL ROAD FOCUS PAIRED WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION GRANT FOR $505,000, WHICH IS A LOW INCOME SEWER CONVERSION GRANT AND FLEETWOOD ACRES.
HARRIS. THIS PARTICULAR GRANT FUNDS ALMOST THE ENTIRE CONVERSION. FOR A HOME OWNER.
TO GO FROM SEPTIC TO SEWER. WHICH INCLUDES INSTALLING A GRINDER PUMP AT THE HOUSE AND PROPERLY ABANDONING THE SEPTIC SYSTEM. AMENITY CENTER GRANTS INCLUDES A FLORIDA DIVISION OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS.
THIS IS I BELIEVE OUR FIFTH OR BEGINNING OUR SIXTH ANNUAL GRANT FROM THE FLORIDA DIVISION OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS.
THIS IS AN OPERATING GRANT. WHICH WE TARGET TO SELLERS FOR THE STAFF AT THE AMENITY CENTER.
WE RECEIVED $36,264 LAST YEAR. THIS YEAR WHICH AT THE TIME WAS THE HIGHEST WE'VE EVER RECEIVED AT THIS TIME TO THIS PARTICULAR GRANT. THIS UPCOMING YEAR, WHICH WE ARE DEVELOPING THE GRANT AGREEMENT, WE ARE RECEIVING $69,000 JUST TO ROUTE 69,000. AGAIN TOWARDS SALARIES.
THIS IS ALSO NOW THE HIGHEST WE'VE EVER RECEIVED.
THIS IS TIED DIRECTLY TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA'S BUDGET.
IT HAS TO GO THROUGH THE BUDGET APPROVAL PROCESSES OF THE STATE LEVEL. AND DEPENDING UPON THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT IS ISSUED FOR THE DIVISION OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS FOR THESE PROJECTS, WE WILL GET AS LITTLE AS VERY LITTLE, YOU GET NOTHING 200 PERCENT OF WHAT YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR. FOR NEXT YEAR, WE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR 59,000 AND ALMOST $400. WE COULD RECEIVE ALL OF IT OR WE COULD RECEIVE ALL OF IT. USUALLY WE RECEIVED PART OF IT.
THIS YEAR IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT THEY HAVE EVER FUNDED 100 PERCENT OF WHAT THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED.
WHICH IS WHY WE RECEIVED 69,000 AND $400.
TYPICALLY WE RECEIVED HALF OR LESS.
WHICH IS WHY C6 36,000 OR LESS LAST YEAR.
THIS IS FOR THE AMENITY CENTER JUST TO HELP WITH THE SALARIES OVER THERE. WE ALSO HAVE UPCOMING THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM FOR THIS IS ALMOST $40,000 THAT WAS APPROVED FOR CIGARETTES ENHANCEMENT PROJECT AT THE FORT PIERCE YACHT CLUB.
THIS IS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SEAGRASS RESTORATION EFFORTS THAT WE ARE DOING IN MORRIS CREEK.
THE GRANT AGREEMENT AND SCOPE OF WORK ARE IN DEVELOPMENT.
ND THEN THEY TREASURE COAST COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, WHICH IS THE SISTER 501(C)(3) THAT THIS FUNDRAISING ALONGSIDE THE
[02:10:02]
AMENITY CENTER ISSUED $6250 TO THE AMENITY CENTER EDUCATION PROGRAM. TO LEAD A SEAGRASS EDUCATION AND SAINT UC COUNTY SCHOOLS. THIS IS A DEVELOPMENT PLAN TO BEGIN THIS FALL.CUSTOMÁ CURRENTLY, GAS AND ELECTRIC DO NOT HAVE ACTIVE GRANTS.UT, THEY HAVE AN APPLICATION THAT WAS SUBMITTED ON MAY 6 TO THE PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIAL SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. THIS IS A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT. THE GROUP REQUESTED $21,410 FOR EQUIPMENT. WHICH IS LISTED HERE.
THERE IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW AT THE SAME AGENCY, THAT HAS A NATURAL GAS INFRASTRUCTURE SAFETY AND MODERNIZATION GRANT. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH THAT THERE'S $1 BILLION AVAILABLE AND WE ARE LOOKING INTO THAT.
SO, THAT'S KIND OF THE APPLICATIONS THAT I'VE BEEN SUBMITTED. AND ACTIVE GRANTS THAT ARE ONGOING. THERE ARE TEST AS A MANAGER NOT TO GRANT OPPORTUNITIES. THERE IS A LOT HERE AND OF COURSE THE GRANT PROGRAM FOCUSES ON GRANT OPPORTUNITIES PRETTY QUICKLY, WHAT I WILL COVER IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND INVESTMENT JOBS ACT. ALSO KNOWN AS I IJ EIGHT OR INFRASTRUCTURE BILL. AND THIS IS THE BIG ONE.
THIS IS THE ONE THAT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT WHEN THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT CLIENTS. MUNICIPAL UTILITIES LIKE OURS HAVE NOT TYPICALLY BEEN PREPARED FOR THIS LEVEL OF GRANT MONEY THAT IS BECOMING AVAILABLE.HEY ARE ALL COMING TOGETHER ON PHONE CALLS INTO SIMILAR PROJECTS, WHICH YOU WILL SEE HERE TO POSITION OURSELVES TO BE BETTER ABLE TO TAKE IT FOR THE FUNDS THAT ARE BECOMING AVAILABLE.
HERE IS ALSO RECENTLY IN FLORIDA.
THAT IS FLORIDA ÃÃSOUTH FLORIDA WATER STREET AND WATER APPROPRIATIONS. THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND INVESTMENT JOBS ACT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW NOVEMBER 2021.
THERE ARE $1.2 TRILLION AVAILABLE.
THIS WAS A BIPARTISAN ACT, WHICH WAS A BIG DEAL AND IT IS THE LARGEST INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT IN HISTORY.
IT WILL BE SPREAD OUT THROUGH 3 TO 50 PROGRAMS ACROSS FEDERAL DEPARTMENT AND AGENCIES. AND WILL COVER A MYRIAD OF THINGS INCLUDING WATER, WASTEWATER, BROADBAND, POWER, EV CHARGING STATIONS, CYBERSECURITY, AND MORE.
THIS IS JUST AS I TOOK THIS FROM THE INTERNET BUT WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT HERE IS A PIE CHART OF ALL THE DIFFERENT MONEY THAT IS AVAILABLE. I HIGHLIGHTED THE ONES THAT TARGET US MOSTLY. ENERGY POWER AND ELECTRIC GRID RELIABILITY IS $108 MILLION BROADBAND IS 65 BILLION.
WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE IS 55 BILLION.
NATURAL DISASTER PREVENTION AND MITIGATION, WE MAY QUALIFY GOOD THAT IS 23 BILLION. AND THAT CYBERSECURITY AND OTHER PRINT THAT IS ANOTHER 10 BILLION.
SO THE IMPORTANT THING THAT I NOW HAVE TO CONVEY HERE WITH THE I IJ A IS THAT THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY ACROSS A LOT OF DIFFERENT AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS. AND IN ITSELF IS CHALLENGING TO KEEP UP WITH.
SO, WITH THE FLORIDA MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION HAS DONE IS BANDED TOGETHER WITH THE MEMBERS TO HIRE BAKER TO BE.
AND WHAT BAKER TILLY IS DOING IS SERVING AS A MEMBER OF SUPPORT CONTACT. THEY ARE TRACKING FOR US THE I IJ GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AND USING A FUND MATRIX THAT THE SEND OUT TO US PERIODICALLY. THAT HELPS US TO SEE WHERE SOME OF THESE I IJ FUNDS GOING AND WHAT GRANT APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN WHEN THEY ARE EXPECTED TO BE OPEN AND WHAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND. THEY ARE ARE FOCUSING A LITTLE HEAVIER ON THE BROADBAND AND ELECTRIC.
BUT EVEN IF THAT IS ALL THE FOCUS ON, IT'S AN EXTREMELY HELPFUL THING FOR US. SO FOR EXAMPLE, THIS LIST OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES CAME FROM THE MATRIX THAT THEY PROVIDED TO US LAST MONTH. THE STATE DIGITAL EQUITY GRANT, THERE IS $1.25 BILLION OPEN. WE HAVE A LINK TO IT.
IT WILL BE OPENING SOMETIME THIS YEAR.MART GRID TECHNOLOGIES GRANT AN END OF 2022.
THAT IS $3 BILLION IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION GRANTS. 550 MILLION OPENING IN THE FALL. ENERGY EFFICIENT TRANSFORMER REBATES. THAT'LL BE 10 MILLION OPENING IN THE FALL. IT SEEMED MOST OF THEM ARE OPENING IN THE FALL AND WINTER AND EXPECTED TO OPEN IN THE FALL AND WINTER THIS YEAR. THERE'S PREVENTING ADAGES AND GREAT RESILIENCE GRANTS. EV CHARGING AND FUELING INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS. ADVANCED ENERGY SECURITY PROGRAMS AND VARIOUS CYBERSECURITY GRANTS.
SO, ALL THIS HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO US IN THE FUNDING MATRIX THAT BAKER TILLY PUT TOGETHER. THEY WILL CONTINUE TO SEND THESE OUT TO US AS THE GRANTS BECOME OPEN.
AND WHAT WE DO WHEN WE RECEIVE GRANTS THAT ARE OPEN IS THAT WE TEST THIS FROM WITHIN, THE GRANTS DEPARTMENT WILL READ THROUGH THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES.
[02:15:02]
TAKE OUT THE DETAILS AND TO A ONE OR TWO PAGE SUMMARY CHART WITH A SPECIFIC DEPARTMENT OR DIVISION WITH THE UTILITY DEPARTMENT TO SAY HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO FUND.WE FIT WITHIN THIS OR NOT? ND SO, THIS HAPPENED FOR EXAMPLE TODAY AND JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS, THERE WAS A GRANT THAT OPENED FOR THE MINIMAL BROADBAND, WHICH WAS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS IN NEED FOR US SPECIFICALLY IN FORT PIERCE. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS THE LAST MILE. AND THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT WE ARE HAVING ONGOING WITH OUR FPU A NET DIVISION.ND THAT IS HOW WE WILL MANAGE MOVING FORWARD EVERY TIME A GREAT OPPORTUNITY COMES OPEN. WE WILL OPEN UP TO THE RELEVANT DIVISION AND SAY THIS IS OPEN. THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO FUND. DOES ANYTHING FOR? AND THEN WE WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT TO DO THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND STEP FORWARD. OKAY.
THE LAST SLIDE, THE W RF FOR THE WASTEWATER STEWARD TREATMENT PLANT LOCATION. WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSING VERY HEAVILY ON GRANTS AND APPROPRIATIONS TO HELP US FUND THE RELOCATION OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT AS WE PROMISED TO DO. WE, FOR EXAMPLE ALREADY SUBMITTED ONE APPROPRIATIONS REQUEST FOR $750,000.
TO HELP PAY FOR THE FORCE MAIN IN DOWNTOWN.
THIS WAS SOMETHING WE FOUND OUT ABOUT ON JULY 11.
AND WE SUBMITTED THE APPLICATION ON JULY 12.
WITH MAYOR JUSTICE I'M SORRY, I LOOKED AT THE MAYOR.
WITH REPRESENTATIVE TRIPLE C'S SPONSORSHIP.
FOR US. SO, THIS WAS SUBMITTED TO THE FLORIDA HOUSE. AND WE WILL SEE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING NEW FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA AS FAR AS APPROPRIATIONS FUNDS GO. BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY ATTRACTIVE TO I'VE ALWAYS SAID ABOUT MOVING THE WASTEWATER PLANT. THIS IS A VERY ATTRACTIVE PROJECT FOR DIFFERENT ENTITIES AND DIFFERENT POLITICIANS TO WANT TO SIGN ON TO. BECAUSE WE ARE MOVING A CRITICAL ASSET OFF OF THE ISLAND.
FURTHER WEST INTO THE MAINLAND. SO, WE DID REQUEST $750,000 OF SUPPORT FOR THAT. WE ARE MOVING VERY QUICKLY AS WELL WITH RESILIENT IN FLORIDA. BRILLIANT FLORIDA IS IN THE BAKER GRANT. PUNDITS AVAILABLE FOR THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA FOR SEALEVEL RISE OF VULNERABLE PROJECTS FOR EXAMPLE. SO, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE, WE THINK AND THIS IS IN DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S A PHASED 50 MILLION OR MORE DOLLAR PROJECT.
OVER SEVERAL YEARS. AND WE MET WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ON JUNE 7. ON JUNE 10, WE PRESENTED TO THE CDC STEERING COMMITTEE.
WHICH IS A TIED DIRECTLY TO RESILIENT PARTY.
SAINT LUCY'S COUNTY INITIAL VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT.
VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS ARE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO RECEIVE RESILIENT FLORIDA FUNDING. SO, WE PRESENTED TO THE TEAM.
WE ARE ALSO GOING TO BE PARTICIPATING IN THEIR UPCOMING WORKSHOPS. THEY WILL HAVE THREE THIS YEAR.
JULY 1, THE RESILIENT FLORIDA GRANT OPENED.
AND SO, THE ENTIRE FPO A GREAT TEAM IS ALREADY INVOLVED IN PUTTING THIS PAPERWORK AND MATERIALS TOGETHER.
WE ARE PUTTING TOGETHER AS WELL AS TARGETED VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT. EVEN THOUGH THE ST. LUCIE COUNTY HAS ONE, THAT COVERS THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS HAVING A TARGETED ASSESSMENT THAT WILL FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON OUR WASTEWATER PLANT AND ITS VULNERABILITY TO SEALEVEL RISE. WHICH WILL PUT TOGETHER MORE EVIDENCE AND A STRONGER CASE FOR MORE FUNDING THAT WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE GRANT THAT'S JUST THE GREAT JUDGES.
ALSO, IN THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, RESILIENT FLORIDA TEAM, WE PLAYED A FEW DIFFERENT ITEMS. WHICH INCLUDES THAT THEY HAVE AN INTEREST IN ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION PROJECTS AND EDUCATION. SO, WHAT WE ARE DOING AS WELL IS TACKING ON A SEAGRASS RESTORATION.
OF PROJECT SPREAD WHICH IS EASY FOR US TO DO BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE AN EXISTING RELATIONSHIP WITH SEAGRASS RESTORATION.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE NOW HAVE BECOME FAMILIAR WITH.
AND WE ARE LOOKING AT ADDING 2.23 ACRES OF SEAGRASS RESTORATION WITH THIS PARTICULAR RELOCATION PROJECT.
ND THAT WOULD BE ADDED IN AS A GRANT REQUEST FRONT.
NOT SOMETHING TO FPO A AS BEING TASKED WITH WITH PAYING FOR.
THE MAIN THING THAT I THINK WITH RESILIENT FLORIDA IS THAT WHEN WE MET WITH THE TEAM, WE MET WITH THE DIRECTOR.
WE MET WITH THE GRANT RECIPIENT OR THE GRANT RECEIVER.HAT DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE THE ONES WERE RECEIVING GRANT APPLICATIONS AND REVIEWING THEM AND PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR ENTITIES LIKE OURS TO PUT PROPOSALS TOGETHER.ND THAT ENTIRE TEAM WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT IT IS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO. THEY ARE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT IT.
AND THEY WANT TO SEE AND EXPECT TO SEE AN APPLICATION FROM US.
THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH US IN
[02:20:02]
BETWEEN THESE MEETINGS WHEN WE HAVE QUESTIONS.WE REACH OUT TO THEM. THE SAME APPLIES TO THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.
WE MET WITH THEM AND TOWARD THEM AROUND THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT ON JUNE 13. THIS INCLUDES THE BOARD MEMBER MRS. LEPIC. WHO ALSO THEN OF JUST LAST WEEK SHARED OUR PROJECT AND FEATURED SPECIFICALLY THE WASTEWATER PLANT RELOCATION OUT OF A BOARD MEETING TO ENCOURAGE ALL WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS TO SUPPORT WHAT IT IS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO. THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT IT'S NOT ONLY US WHO ARE ADVOCATING FOR THIS PROJECT AND FOR FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT NOW.
IT'S ALSO OUR PARTNERS AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO WHOM WE ARE SEEKING FUNDING AND SHARING THE MESSAGE AS WELL.
WITH OTHER POTENTIAL FUNDERS. WE DO HAVE ONGOING COMMUNICATIONS WITH THAT GRANT AND LOCAL TEAM FOR NON-GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.
THEY WILL ALSO HAVE FUNDING AVAILABLE AND THEY HAVE TOLD US MULTIPLE TIMES THAT THEY EXPECT TO SEE AN APPLICATION AND IF THEY DON'T SEE AN APPLICATION, SOMEONE OVER THERE IS GONNA CALL US AND SAY WHERE IS YOUR APPLICATION? THIS IS VERY EXCITING FOR US BECAUSE IT'S A POSITIVE THING TO OFFSET. OF COURSE IT DOES NOT GUARANTEE ANYTHING.T JUST SHOWS SUPPORT.
WE ARE ALSO ON JUNE 20, WE MET WITH ST. LUCIE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SADOWSKI. SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT JOINED US FOR THAT MEETING.
WE REVIEWED AND PRESENTED THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT RELOCATION EFFORT AND COMMISSIONERS AS SADOWSKI SITS ON THE BOARD AT THAT NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON AND HAS INVITED US TO PRESENT TWICE IN NOVEMBER TO THE AP MANAGEMENT BOARD AND TO THE MANAGERS.
WHAT WE WILL DO IS PRESENT ABOUT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT AND PART OF OUR PRESENTATION AGAIN IS TO DEVELOPMENT MORE SUPPORT FOR WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO AND ALSO PLANT THE SEED EVERY POSSIBLE PLACE THAT WE CAN THAT WE ARE TRYING TO LOOK FOR FUNDING AND FOR SUPPORT TO HELP MAKE THIS POSSIBLE. AND SO, AT THE NATIONAL PROGRAM HAS FUNDS AVAILABLE, WE WILL HAVE PRESENTED TO THEM ALREADY.
IF THEY KNOW OTHER AGENCIES THAT THEY HAVE AVAILABLE, THEY WILL RECEIVE FUNDS FROM THE APA.HEY CAN HELP US IDENTIFY THOSE FUNDS AND PROCEED. THEY ALSO HAVE A GRANTS TEAM THAT HELPS ENTITIES THAT PUT GRANT PROPOSALS TOGETHER.
AND SO, WE WOULD ABSOLUTELY UTILIZE THOSE RESOURCES AS WELL IF NEEDED. AND THEN FINALLY, WE HAVE TWO, WE RECEIVED TWO PROPOSALS FOR A FEDERAL LOBBYIST.
AND SIX PROPOSALS FOR STATE LOBBYISTS.
WHICH ARE CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW FOR AUGUST SUBMISSION TO THE BOARD. THAT IDEA IT REALLY BEHIND THESE LOBBYISTS IS THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO BE PRESENT AT THESE COMMITTEE MEETINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN TALLAHASSEE AND WASHINGTON. THE IJ IS FEDERAL FUNDING.
HOSE ARE A WASHINGTON DC AT THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
THERE IS AN IMPORTANT NEED FOR FEDERAL LOBBYIST TO BE PRESENT ON OUR BEHALF IN DC TO HELP US FIND AND PROCURE THOSE FUNDS FOR NOT ONLY WASTEWATER PLANT, BUT OTHER UTILITY PROJECTS AS WELL. AND WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA, IT'S THE SAME. THERE ARE FUNDS AVAILABLE IF WE CAN HAVE PRESENCE IN THESE COMMITTEE MEETINGS TO HELP US IDENTIFY WHAT IS AVAILABLE AND WHERE TO APPLY.E CAN PACKAGE OUR PROJECTS. WE KNOW HOW TO SAY WHAT NEEDS TO BE SAID PUT WE DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW WHERE WE NEED TO BE SAYING IT. AND THAT IS ONE OF THE THINK STRENGTHS OF HAVING LOBBYISTS IS THAT IT HAS ASSISTANCE IN IDENTIFYING WHERE TO TARGET OUR MESSAGE AND PROCURE FUNDS.
SO, THAT IS MY INTRODUCTION. OF THE GRANTS PROGRAM.
OUR GRANTS AND GRANTS THAT WE ARE SEEKING JUSTICE FOR INFORMATION ONLY AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU
MAY HAVE. >> IN QUESTIONS FOR THE BOARD?
>> SUMMARY MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT AN AGRICULTURAL LABOR FUNDING. GREAT.
I'M GUESSING. I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY.
[02:26:13]
>> THE ISLAND AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN YOU ARE TALKING TO ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT ENTITIES THAT THEY SEE AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE TWO.
AND MANY OF THEM ALREADY KNOW ABOUT IT ACTUALLY.
IT'S VERY MUCH ON THE RADAR OF OUR STATE LEGISLATURES.> MADAME MAYOR, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT PIT WE ARE ACTUALLY ON THE LIST FOR THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF PROTECTION TO EITHER UPGRADE THE PLANT WERE RELOCATED PIT PART OF THE REASON THEY HAVE NOT FORCED US TO UPDATE THE PLAN IS BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A PLAN OR HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING RELOCATING THE PLAN. YOU SEE NOW WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT AND THAT INVESTMENT WAS ABOUT $16 MILLION. WAS VERY, VERY BIG INVESTMENT TO BRING OUT THE EXISTING POWER PLANT UP TO THE STANDARD REQUIRED FOR BEING THE CURRENT STANDARD REQUIRED.
AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THEY ARE ASKING US TO RELOCATE OR UPGRADE AND THEY ARE ASKING US TO DO THAT PIT WE'RE GONNA
ASK THEM TO HELP US PAY FOR. >> ).
>> THAT'S EXACTLY IT. >> ACROSS THE BOARD WHEN WE HAVE THESE MEETINGS, WITH RESILIENCE IN FLORIDA AND THE DEPARTMENT OF DETECTION SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ACROSS THE BOARD. THERE IS EITHER A SENTIMENT OF FINALLY, WE'VE BEEN WAITING. WE ARE READY.
OR SOME VERSION OF THAT. AND THERE IS MOMENTUM.
AND YOU CAN FILL IN THE MEETINGS THAT WE ARE HAVING WITH THESE THE POLICYMAKERS OR AGENCY EMPLOYEES.
HOWEVER THEY MIGHT BE. THERE IS A SENSE OF MOMENTUM FOR OKAY, LET'S DO THIS. YOU ARE READY AND WE ARE READY.
>> YES. AND HE SAID JACKIE FURLOW LEPIC WAS THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT REPRESENTATIVE? AND SHE IS FROM STUART. SHE'S VERY FAMILIAR WITH OUR AREA. AND AS HER STUFF.
[G6. WEOP Update – For Information Only]
AND HAS BEEN ON SOUTH WATER FLORIDA MANAGEMENT FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I'M GLAD SHE WAS THE ONE.>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT ITEM?
>> VERY NICE PRESENTATION. >> THE NEXT ITEM IS WE WILL LAYOUT THE HISTORY AND EXPENSE TO DATE FOR THE WEATHERIZATION AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAM.
MR. RUTHERFORD WILL PRESENT THE ITEM.
HE WILL ALSO REVEAL A FEW ITEMS THAT WERE UNCOVERED WHILE RESEARCHING THE PROGRAM. SWELLS STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MOVING FORWARD AND LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL CORRECTION FROM
THE MPA BOARD. >> THANK YOU MR. CISNERO.
>> CHAIR MEMBERS AND BOARD MEMBERS.
DANNY RUTHERFORD, DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES BOTH SERVICES.
JUST WANTED THAT A QUICK CONVERSATION WITH YOU ABOUT SOME RECENT CURIOSITIES DUE TO THE RISING PRICES OF EVERYTHING PUT WE START THINKING ABOUT HOW CAN YOU SAVE MONEY? WHY? RECENT CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD WITH BOARD MEMBERS AND CITY BOARD MEMBERS AND COMMISSIONERS AND OUR OWN INTERNAL STAFF ARE LIKE HOW CAN WE DO BETTER THIS? ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE A FPU EIGHT IS CALLED THE EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAM. SO, WE TOOK A GOOD LOOK AT IT AND WE TOOK A DEEP DIVE TO SEE HOW WAS IT ESTABLISHED? WHAT WERE THE RULES WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT UP? WHEN IT WAS BORN. HOW WAS IT INTENDED TO OPERATE? ARE WE DOING TODAY I WAS INTENDED TO OPERATE WHEN THEY THOUGHT ABOUT IT? WE LOOK AT ALL THE RULES AND WE TALKED TO A BUNCH OF PEOPLE. IMAGES GO THROUGH SOME OF THE SLIDES.OPEFULLY IN THE END, WE CAN SEE THE DIRECTION THAT WE ARE TRYING TO HELP WITH THIS AND GET YOUR TEST IS IF YOU CONCUR. WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR YOU TO MAKE A BOAT OR ANYTHING COULD WE ARE LETTING YOU KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING PEOPLE MAY FIND OUT WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THIS AND THAT'S JUST SEE WHERE WE WANT TO GO.
HE BOARD APPROVED THE WE OUT PROGRAM.
BACK IN APRIL 7. APRIL 17 2013. THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM FOR
[02:30:03]
QUALIFIED LOW INCOME HOMEOWNERS.AT THE TIME, WHEN IT WAS BORN, IF YOU A CONTRIBUTED $55,000 A YEAR FROM THE F MPA CONSERVATION FUND IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE.A YEAR. FROM THE HUD.
FEDERAL FUNDING. THE PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO INCLUDE NEW ENERGY-EFFICIENT DOORS, AC SERVICE AND MINOR REPAIRS. AC THERMOSTAT REPLACEMENT.
CEILING INSULATION, GLASS GLAZING AND REPLACEMENT FOR MISSING GLASS PANES. ENERGY-EFFICIENT WATER HEATER WATER REPLACEMENT. LOW FLOW WATER FIXTURES.
AND LED WATER LIGHT EXCHANGE. THAT WAS THE INTENT.
THAT COVERED SOME WEATHERIZATION AND IT COVERED SOME PRETTY EFFICIENCIES IN THE HOME.
TODAY THE EXPENDITURES WERE ABOUT AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS AS YOU CAN SEE THERE. IN 2017, WE DID PRETTY GOOD YEAR. AND 2020, WE SPENT ABOUT $21,000 ON WE UP ON A PROGRAMS. WE ALSO CONTRIBUTED ABOUT $100,000 TOWARDS COVERED RELIEF AND THAT'S THE UTILITY BILL FUNDING. WHEN PEOPLE WERE OUT OF WORK AND CANNOT PAY THE BILLS, RIGHT? SOME RECENT ACTIVITY. THE PORT CITY COMMISSION DIRECTED US TO EXPAND THE REACH OF THE PROGRAM.
LISTEN GUYS, THE PROGRAM IS PRETTY GOOD, BUT THEY ARE GOOD.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WE NEED TO HELP THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO REACH RIGHT NOW. LET'S TAKE A LOOK TO SEE HOW WE CAN REACH THEM. HE TOOK A LOOK AT IT.
WE IDENTIFIED SOME INITIAL LIMITING FACTORS.
REALLY THE HOMES OF EXEMPTION ARE THE HOMEOWNER REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROGRAM. AND IT WAS A PRETTY LOW INCOME THRESHOLD. CAN WE INCREASE THE THRESHOLD AND HOW CAN DO SOME OF THOSE THINGS? IN OUR RESEARCH, WHAT DID WE RESEARCH TO FIND THIS INFORMATION OUT? WE LOOKED AT THE PREVIOUS LEADERSHIP STYLE OF DOCUMENTATION.
THEIR LETTERS, THEIR NOTES, THEIR FILES.
WE INTERVIEWED FPU A STAFF THAT HAS ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM SINCE ITS INCEPTION. STATE PROGRAMS AND SISTER AGENCIES PROTOCOLS TO SEE WHAT THEY DO WITH THEIR PROGRAMS AND HOW THEY ADMINISTER THEM. WE MET WITH CITY OF FORT PIERCE STAFF TO UNDERSTAND THEIR LIMITATIONS.
AND THEIR DESIRES. WERE THEY WANT THIS THING TO GO AND WHAT'S KEEPING THEM FROM DOING IT? AND WE SUBMITTED A CURRENT FDA PROGRAM TO OUR BOND COUNSEL AND TO F MPA FOR COMPLIANCE REVIEW. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING, WE COULD LEGALLY DO.
RIGHT?WE DON'T WANT TO GET IN TROUBLE.
WE WANT TO KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE. WHAT DID WE FIND OUT? WE FIND OUT THAT THE ONLY REAL FUNDING, THE FPU A HAS TO CONTRIBUTE TO A PROGRAM SUCH AS WE OP IS OUR CONSERVATION FUND THAT WE GET FROM F MPA. F MPA COULD ALLOW YOU FOR THAT WE OP. IT SUBMITTED FOR THIS PURPOSE.
THAT FUND COULD ALSO BE USED FOR TIMES LIKE WE ARE IN NOW.
IF WE COULD IF WE CHOSE TO, TAKE THE CONSERVATION FUND UNDER REAL DIRE NEED TIMES AND WE COULD ALLOCATE IT TO LET'S SAY OUR CARE PROJECT. CARE PROGRAM, RIGHT? WE'RE GONNA TAKE THE $50,000 AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO WE OP THIS YEAR. WE'RE GONNA TAKE AND GIVE IT TO THE PROGRAM AND USE IT FOR VOUCHERS.
WHERE PEOPLE COULD USE ENOUGH, TO HELP FUND THE UTILITY BILL.
BUDGET KAREN MUSTARD SEED AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE COULD USE IT THERE OR FOR THE PROGRAM.
IT'S THE ONLY FUNDING WE REALLY HAVE AVAILABLE THROUGH FPU 82 FUND INTO WE OP. IN THE PAST, MOST OF THE FUNDING THAT WE USE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN TRUE THAT WE OP.
IN THE PAST HAVE SPENT A LITTLE MORE ROOM STUDENT PROJECT AND WE NEED TO FINISH IT. GENERALLY SPEAKING, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN FROM THIS FUNDING. WE DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE GENERAL FUNDS FOR RATE FUNDS AND HAVE A 300 THOUSAND 400,000 WE UP PROGRAM. IT'S JUST NOT ALLOWED.
WHY IS IT NOT ALLOWED? ARTIFICIAL BOND STATEMENT IN APPENDIX D ARTICLE 5 OUR COVENANT STATE PRESERVICE OF THE SYSTEM. THE AUTHORITY WILL NOT RENDER OR CAUSE TO RENDER ANY FREE SERVICES OF ANY NATURE BY ITS SYSTEM NEITHER WANTED PREFERENTIAL RATES FOR USERS OF THE SAME CLASS OF SERVICE. SO, THE BONDS THAT SET UP HOW WE BORROW MONEY AND HOW WE USE IT.
CAN WE SERVICE. WE CANNOT GIVE AWAY WE CANNOT KEEP POWER UNTESTABLE. WE CANNOT EXTEND PEOPLE PAST THE ROLE. IF THEY DO, WE DO THAT, WE ARE IN VIOLATION OF OUR OWN POLICIES.
THAT GOVERN OUR WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO.ND WE ALSO CANNOT GIVE AWAY FREE SERVICE, WHICH MEANS WE CANNOT HAVE A $500,000 WE UP PROGRAM. BECAUSE HOW WOULD THAT BE WENDY? THAT MEANS THAT OUR RATEPAYERS WILL BE FUNDED FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S HOMES TO BE IMPROVED.
AND WE ALSO LEARNED THAT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, THAT'S THROUGH FEDERAL GRANT THAT THEY GET OUR FEDERAL FUNDING THAT THEY GET. IT COMES WITH STRINGS ATTACHED.
YOU'RE ONLY ALLOWED TO SPEND THAT CERTAIN WAYS AND THAT'S
[02:35:04]
KIND OF WHY OUR PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE NOW IS LIMITED.BY THOSE RULES. THOSE RULES ARE TO FIND BY HUD.
OWNERSHIP AND EARNING THRESHOLDS AND SPENDING THRESHOLDS. THAT IS A HUD REQUIREMENT.
WE FOLLOWED THE STAPLES AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE KIND OF LIMITED. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WELL, WE COULD SET UP A COUPLE RECOMMENDATIONS, THE WAY THAT WE LOOK AT THIS ON THE STAFF, I'D LIKE TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATION NUMBER ONE WHICH IS THE BEST WAY WE CAN GO ABOUT THIS. RECOMMENDATION NUMBER TWO IS THE SECOND BEST WAY AND REALLY NUMBER THREE IS KEEPING IT THE SAME. WE WOULD RATHER MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS. SO, GIVEN EVERYTHING THAT WE KNOW AND THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CITY HAS AND OUR DESIRE TO WANT TO EXPAND OUR SIDE, AT LEAST FOR THE $15,000 THAT WE GET FROM F MPA WEATHERIZATION, WE COULD EITHER WORK WITH THE CITY AND SEE IF THEY CAN LOOSEN UP SOME OF THE STRINGS ON THE REQUIREMENTS. EITHER THEY COULD REDEFINE WITH HUD HOW THEY COULD SPEND THAT MONEY OR MAYBE THEY COULD USE THAT SOMEWHERE ELSE AND GIVE US ANOTHER $2000 FROM OTHER OPTION THAT DOESN'T HAVE THOSE STRINGS ATTACHED.
SO WE CAN HAVE A $70,000 BUDGET TO SPEEDED UP ANNUALLY.
WHICH GIVES US ABOUT 40 PROJECTS ANNUALLY.
WE CAN MAKE UP OUR OWN RULES ON HOW TO SPEND IT.
WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS WE COULD GET TO MORE PEOPLE.
IF WE COULD LOOSEN UP SOME OF THE CONSTRAINTS LIKE OWNERSHIP, YOU HAVE TO OWN YOUR HOME. IF WE CAN GET RID OF THAT, GET SOME OF THOSE RENTERS THAT REALLY NEED THE HELP.
WELL, WE COULD DO SO. SO, THAT WOULD BE RECOMMENDATION NUMBER ONE. PROVIDE THE PROPERTY OWNER REQUIREMENTS, MAYBE WE TALK TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND AGREED THEM TO HOLD RENT EQUAL TO THE EVALUATION AND IMPROVEMENTS.
THAT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA. RACE HOUSEHOLD AND INCOME THRESHOLDS. MAYBE WE GET OFF THE $21,000 DOLLARS A YEAR FOR THE THRESHOLD.
IF YOU MAKE MORE THAN THAT, YOU CANNOT BE IN THIS OPTION.
IF YOU'RE AT THE SHIP LEVEL, THAT'S ABOUT THREE TIMES THAT THRESHOLD. RIGHT? WE COULD USE THE SHIP RULES IF YOU WANTED TO.
THAT WILL GET US MORE PEOPLE IN THE PROGRAM.
BUT OUR BUDGET IS NOT CHANGING. IT'S ONLY GONNA BE ABOUT $70,000 A YEAR PER THAT'S ALL WE HAVE ACCESS TO.
AS RECOMMENDATION NUMBER ONE. RECOMMENDATION NUMBER TWO IS THAT THE CITY CANNOT CREATE THAT MONEY ANY OTHER WAY.
IT CANNOT LOOSEN THE CONSTRAINTS.
GUYS, THOSE ARE THE RULES WE HAVE TO PLAY BY.WE CAN RUN A DUAL PROGRAM. WE CAN STILL WORK WITH THE CITY AND THE $20,000 AND SPEND THE $20,000 WHEN THEY NEED TO SPEND IT. WE CAN ONE JOINT PROGRAM FOR $50,000. LOOSEN OUR STRINGS TO GET AWAY FROM THE RULES AGAIN SO WE CAN REACH SOME OF THE RENTERS.
WE CAN INCREASE OUR THRESHOLD A LITTLE BIT.
IT'S NOT AS GOOD AS SCENARIO NUMBER ONE MARIA ONE PROGRAM TO ADMINISTER. IN THIS CASE, WE WOULD BE ADMINISTERING TO SUFFER ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE.
IT STILL WOULD ALLOW US TO SPEND THE FUNDING AND GET TO THE PEOPLE AND GET IT TO THE PEOPLE WE NEED TO TODAY.
RECOMMENDATION NUMBER THREE. IF WE CHOSE TO IS TO MAKE NO CHANGES AT ALL. KEEP THE PROGRAM THE SAME.
WITH AN UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAVE ABOUT 70,000 DOLLARS ANNUALLY TO SPEND AND LIVE WITH THE RULES THAT WE HAD.
SO, THAT IS WHAT WE LEARNED IN THE PAST MONTH.
TAKING A GOOD LOOK AT THIS. THAT IS THE RULES WE HAVE TO LIVE WITH.
E THINK WE'RE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WE WANT TO WORK WITH THE CITY AND SEE THE CONDITION OF THE STRINGS A LITTLE BIT ON THEIR OWN REQUIREMENTS.
THAT IS WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO.
IF YOU LIKE THE DIRECTION WE'RE GOING AND, I GUESS THERE IS NOTHING TO DO. THIS IS HOW WE WILL PROCEED.
THIS IS THE DIRECTION YOU HAVE GIVEN US.
IF YOU HAVE SOME OTHER IDEAS OR SOME OTHER DIRECTION OR THAT WOULD BE THE TIME TO DISCUSS IT.> ANY COMMENTS FROM THE
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE AND IT LOOKED TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE HUD? I DON'T KNOW.
IT FEELS LIKE THAT IS GOING TO TAKE A YEAR.
SO, VICE CHAIRMAN, I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE STRINGS ARE WITH THEM. CURRENTLY WE WERE MET WITH THE CITY. THEY ARE LOOKING INTO THOSE REQUIREMENTS AND THEY TRYING TO SEE IF THEY CAN SOMEHOW LOOSEN THAT UP OR WE CAN DO SOMETHING ELSE JUST AS WE ARE TAKING A LOOK AT WHAT THE CITY IS DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW.
THE CITY IS. THEY'RE GONNA TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE TO THEM AND HOW MUCH WORK IT IS AND CAN THEY DO IT AND WE HAVE ANOTHER MEETING COMING UP ACTUALLY.
A MEETING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IF THEY'RE ABLE TO LOOSEN IT UP, WE WILL DO IT.
IF NOT, WE STILL WANT TO BE ABLE TO LOOSEN UP THE RULES ON OUR SIDE OF THE GAME. AND STILL MAKE OUR OWN RULES.
IKE WE'VE SAID HERE. GET TO SOME OF THE RENTERS AND TRY TO INCREASE THE THRESHOLDS. IF WE COULD DO THAT, THAT IS STILL $50,000. COULD SPEND MORE LIBERALLY THAN
WE WERE ABLE TO IN THE PAST. >> I LIKE THE ACTION PLAN.
OBVIOUSLY I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE MONEY TO UTILIZE. HOPEFULLY THAT COULD COME IN AND GETTING MORE GRANTS IN THE FUTURE.
SO. >> NOW, IF WE THROW AROUND GRANTS A LOT, GRANTS FOR THE BIG ANSWER.
IF WE WERE ABLE TO FIND SOME OTHER FUNDING, WE COULD POSSIBLY LIKELY APPLY IT HERE. LIKELY WITH THE CURRENT FOOTING
[02:40:03]
THAT WE HAVE. 70,000 IS JUSTICE UNLESS THE CITY FINDS A WAY TO GIVE US MORE.THE F USA ONLY HAS $50,000 TO CONTRIBUTE AND THAT WOULD BE THE TOTALITY OF OUR CONSERVATION FUND THAT WE HAVE FROM THE FDA ANNUALLY.
O, THIS YEAR FOR INSTANCE, LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS YEAR REAL QUICK. THIS YEAR, I THINK WHAT WE HAVE DECIDED TO DO IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO TAKE ABOUT 80 OR $70,000 AND THAT CONSERVATION FUNDING.
HE ROLLS OVER. ABOUT 50 GRAND A YEAR IF WE DON'T SPEND IT ALL.T KIND OF SAVES COULD WRITE ABOUT 70 OR 55 73 GRAND. I THINK WHAT WE DECIDED IS TO TAKE 50 GRAND OF THAT. CONSERVATION FUND AND PUSH OFF INTO THE CARES PROGRAM WORK THE PROGRAM THAT WILL HELP PEOPLE WITH UTILITY BILLS RIGHT NOW. AS GONNA LEAVE US 20 OR $30,000. WE'VE GOT A COUPLE PROGRAMS IN THE HOPPER THAT WILL KEEP US BUSY THAT WE CAN STILL SPEND AND STILL PAY FOR THROUGH OCTOBER.
IT RENEWS. WE ALSO HAVE IN OUR GUEST APARTMENT. WE ALSO HAVE A WHOLE CONDOMINIUM THAT'S GOING UP. WE WOULD DEAL WITH.
IT'S PAYING OUT OF THIS FUND FOR GAS HEATERS.
PART OF THE REBATE PROGRAM. THAT'S AN INCENTIVE FOR GAS.
WE'VE GOT THAT GOING ON. WE CANNOT GET THAT ALL.
EVERY SINGLE DIME WE CAN'T BUT 50 GRAND.
YOU CAN COMMIT TO THE PROGRAM FOR THAT'S THE FORMER WE OPS THIS YEAR. THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS.
NEXT YEAR, YOU KNOW? HOPEFULLY OUR BILLS ARE ALL BACK IN ORDER AND OUR PROGRAM CAN GET BACK IN LINE AND WE CAN PLAY LESSON NEW RULES AND REALLY REACH OUR CONSTITUENTS.
>> I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT THE $50,000 ÃJUST ANNUAL BUDGET STARTS IN OCTOBER FOR THE FM PA.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS $50,000 THAT WE CAN USE THE END OF OCTOBER TO HELP WITH THE UTILITY BELT ASSISTANCE.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM EVERYBODY SITTING IN THE SEATS.
WHETHER OR NOT THAT CARES PROGRAM IS IMPACTING OR ABLE TO HELP THEM. I KNOW YOU GUYS CANNOT GET RIGHT NOW. BUT IF YOU CAN TALK TO US AFTER THIS OR EVEN GET OUR NUMBER OFF OF THE INTERNET, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION WITH YOU GUYS AND SEE IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS IMPACTFUL AND HELPFUL.
>> MS. BENNETT? >> IS THERE ANY WAY THAT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR IF WE HAVE NOT USED THAT MONEY, WE COULD JUST AUTOMATICALLY PUT IT INTO THE CARES PROGRAM?
>> IS REALLY UP TO JUSTICE THAT WOULD DEPEND ON JUSTICE WE WOULD HAVE TO DISCUSS THAT WITH THE FM PA.
REASON THEY ARE ALLOWING US TO DO THAT FOR THE REMAINDER YEAR IS BECAUSE OF THE NATURAL GAS PRICES.
SO, IT'S BASED ON A SITUATION. IT'S BASED ON A CRISIS SITUATION. WITH INTENTION, THE WAY THAT THE FUNDS WERE DESIGNED TO BE USED OR TO BE USED FOR WEATHERIZATION AND EDUCATION. TO INCLUDE IMPROVEMENTS ON THE HOUSE AND LOWER THE CONSUMPTION OF THE HOMES.
>> ALSO, PICS OF THE SITUATIONS THAT WE ARE AND, IS THERE ANY WAY WE COULD EXPEDITE THE CARE PROGRAM TO HELP SOME OF THE CONSTITUENTS BE ABLE TO AFFORD THESE UTILITY BILLS THAT THEY
E ACTUALLY, BECAUSE I HAVE THE AUTHORITY LEVEL FOR THE 50,000, THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WE WILL BE DOING IMMEDIATELY. ACTUALLY, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT TODAY. AND WE LOOK TO HAVE THOSE FUNDS AND THAT PROJECT PROJECT CARE ACCOUNT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
AND TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH OUR CUSTOMERS CURRENTLY NEED SOME
ASSISTANCE. >> AND HOW WILL WE GET THE INFORMATION OUT TO OUR CONSTITUENTS TO LET THEM KNOW.
TO APPLY. >> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.
AS SOON AS WE'RE DONE TELLS, WE WILL TRY TO POST IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. BORN WITH CITY COMMISSION.
THE FUND ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROGRAM.
>> WHAT WITH COMMUNICATION ARENA PUT THAT OUT?
PUT THAT ONFACEBOOK? >> IF POA'S FACEBOOK, CITY APPEARS FACEBOOK. WE TRIED TO DO AS MANY OUTREACH
PLATFORMS AS WE CAN. >> HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT ACTUALLY HAVING A FLYER AND DOING THE WORK TO DO WORK I ONLY TOLD ME THAT HE IS ONE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN BE MORE FAMILIAR WITH. IF YOU WOULD ACTUALLY GO DOOR-TO-DOOR AND ACTUALLY PASSED OUT THE FLYERS.
>> THAT IS SOMETHING WE CONSIDERED IN THE PAST.
IT REQUIRES A LOT OF TIME. RESOURCE TO GO TO DO THAT.
WE CAN BE MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE BY DOING THE MAILER AND GETTING A COPY OF THE INFORMATION TO ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS.
WE HAVE DONE THAT BEFORE. WE DO MATTERS EVERY MONTH.
SO, THAT IS A WAY TO DO THAT. WE CAN ALSO SPECIFICALLY FOCUS
[02:45:03]
ON DOING A MAILER FOR THE PROJECT HERE.HE FLYER FOR NOW. >> ALSO, CAN WE GET LETTERS AND PUT THEM IN BUSINESSES AND WELL-KNOWN BUSINESSES THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY GO TO AND THE DIFFERENT STORES FOR THE CORNERSTONES THAT ARE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO ACTUALLY ASK THEM TO POST IT SO THAT PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO KNOW ABOUT IT
I CAN MAKE SURE WE LOOK INTO THAT.
>> I KNOW IS A BOARD THAT WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM. AND I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT WE ARE ALL LITTLE DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THAT WE DON'T HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY ON HOW MUCH FUNDING WE COULD PUT INTO THIS PROGRAM. I THINK THERE IS A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME STATISTICS AND FIGURES ON THIS CARES PROGRAM AND HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY ARE HELPING. AND WHAT CAN WE DO AS A UTILITY TO MARKET THAT PROGRAM A LITTLE BIT MORE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE COULD POTENTIALLY GET HELP ARE GETTING IT.
WHAT? AND THE OTHER THING IS THAT THE SELF PROGRAM IS RIGHT HERE IN OUR PROGRAM AND COUNTY.EOPLE ALL OVER THE SOUTHEAST. AND I THINK IT WOULD BE ABOUT TIME ÃÃTHE TIME IS RIGHT TO HAVE SOMEONE FROM THE ORGANIZATION TO COME IN AND GIVE A PRESENTATION TO US.OR US TO DO AS MUCH MARKETING AS WE COULD.
WE BASICALLY HAVE THE SAME GOAL AND MISSION AS OUR PROGRAM.
JUST TO HELP YOU HAVE SAFE AND COMFORTABLE HOMES.
AS ENERGY EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE.
SO, I DEFINITELY LIKE TO LOOK AT THAT AND SO FOR RECOMMENDATION ONE, MR. RUTHERFORD.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE WAITING FOR ON THE CITY TO SEE WHAT WE CAN COME UP WITH RIGHT NOW, RIGHT?
>> YES. IF THE CITY CAN BECOME MORE FLEXIBLE WITH THOSE RULES, WE CAN CUT SOME OF THOSE STRINGS.
THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE WILL GO.
IF THEY CAN'T, WE WILL SLIDE DOWN TO RECOMMENDATION NUMBER TWO. WE'RE STILL THE HOPE THE CITY WORK WITH THEM AND ADMINISTER THEIR SIDE OF THINGS.
BUT, WE WILL IS NOT HOW WE CAN SPEND OUR SIDE OF THE FUNDING.
>> AND THEN WE CAN REACH MENTORS.
>> I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA, RIGHT? SOMETHING LIKE 60 TO 70 PERCENT OF OUR COMMUNITY AND MENTORS.
IF WE ARE MISSING THE WHOLE SEGMENT, THEN WE ARE VERY LIMITED ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE COULD TO HELP, RIGHT?
>> SO, THE NEXT THING IS THAT WE HAD A YOUNG LADY DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PROCESS THAT MENTIONED THAT SHE IS NOW IN A SMALLER HOME. PAINT MUCH LARGER BILLS.
>> WE HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION IN OUR DATABASES TO BE ABLE TO FIND THOSE SPECIFIC CUSTOMERS. AND TARGET THEM WITH FLYERS.
THERE ARE MISPRINTED AS TALKING ABOUT.
SO THAT WE ARE NOT TRYING TO GO TO ALL 30,000 CUSTOMERS.
THEY WERE FINDING THOSE MOST HEAVILY IMPACTED.
TOMORROW SPECIFICALLY TARGETING THOSE CUSTOMERS.
IN THAT WAY IT'S NOT A HUGE COST OF UTILITY FINANCE THIS CHRISTMAS. MOSTLY USE THE HELP.
>> THAT IS VERY GOOD POINT. AND A VERY DIRECT OUTREACH TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS. ACTUALLY DID THAT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. WE HAD AN INTERN WHO ACTUALLY DID SOME OF THAT. AND SO, WITH THE PLATFORM AND FOOTPRINT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AGAIN AND WHAT YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO THAT WELL. AND EFFECTIVE.
MEDICARE? >> SO IT'S VERY DIFFERENT TO GET HUD TO CHANGE ITS RULES, RIGHT? SO, HUD IS VERY FEDERALLY DRIVEN.
SO, YOU PROBABLY ÃÃTHE CITY OF FORT PIERCE WOULD GET HUD TO CHANGE AND BE CREATIVE HOW THEY CAN BE MORE FLEXIBLE.
YOU MENTIONED THAT THE THRESHOLD WAS LOW.
AND THAT WE NEED TO AT LEAST CONSIDER RAISING THE THRESHOLD OF ELIGIBILITY. HE THINKS THE LOW THRESHOLD ÃÃ WE DID NOT ALWAYS SPEND THOSE FUNDS EVERY YEAR BECAUSE WE WERE TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT AND TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO DO THIS. WE DID NOT DO THAT.
DO YOU THINK THAT WAS THE PROBLEM?
THAT THE THRESHOLD WAS TOO LOW? >> THERE IS A COMBINATION OF THE THRESHOLD BEING LOW. AND ALSO THERE WAS YEARS THAT WE HAD VERY LOW OR VERY FEW APPLICATIONS.
AND THEN THERE ARE YEARS THAT WE HAVE APPLICATIONS AND THRESHOLDS THEY WERE LOW. THE COMBINATION OF THOSE THINGS REALLY CONTRIBUTED TO NOT BEING ABLE TO SPEND ALL THE FUNDS.
>> BECAUSE OUR MEMBER WHEN THIS WAS CREATED AND DARRELL BUT WAS ON THE BOARD AND DARRELL BUT IT WAS VERY, VERY INSTRUMENTAL AND
[02:50:05]
DATA AND WANTED THIS TO HAPPEN. THEN WE WOULD HAVE REPORTS ANNUAL REPORTS ABOUT WHAT WE HAD DONE.NET WHILE WE REACHED LIMITED CUSTOMERS, WHAT WE DID FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS WAS REALLY TO MAKE THEM BE ABLE TO STAY IN THEIR OWN HOMES OR BE ABLE TO HAVE ENERGY-EFFICIENT HOUSE.
IT WAS TO ME, WITH A LOW AMOUNT OF DOLLARS WAS REAL NOT A WINDFALL, BUT A REAL PLUS FOR THE COMPANY AND REAL PLUS FOR THAT SECULAR CUSTOMER. SO, I THINK THAT THIS IS A REAL IMPORTANT AND IMPACTFUL PROGRAM.
EVEN THOUGH IT REACHES A LIMITED NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
AND IT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS FELT CONSTRAINED, BECAUSE WE HAD TEST ÃWE HAD TO HAVE JUSTICE HE HAD TO OWN YOUR PROPERTY.
SO WE HAVE SUCH A HIGH NUMBER OF RENTERS THAT WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO HELP THE RENTERS. WE DID NOT NECESSARILY WANT TO HELP THE LANDLORD. BECAUSE REALLY WHAT WE WOULD BE DOING IS IMPROVING THE LANDLORD'S PROPERTY.
? AND I THINK THAT WHATEVER WE DEVISED TO HELP RENTERS, WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT
THE LANDLORD IS NOT. >> THE ONE BENEFITING.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THAT.
[LAUGHTER] >> WE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS ALREADY WITH THE LANDLORD GROUP.
>> WE HAVE POLLUTED THE IDEA BY THEN.
WHAT WE ASKED THEM TO HAVE SOME SKIN IN THE GAME? WHAT IF WE GOT THIS DISGUISE, MAYBE DON'T RAISE YOUR RENT FOR A YEAR OR TWO? WHATEVER THAT WILL BE COMPARED TO THE VALUE OF WHAT WE PUT INTO THE HOME, RIGHT? SOME SKIN IN THE GAME AND IT SOUNDED LIKE THAT THEY MIGHT
>> SOME WORK TO DO THERE. I THINK THEY ARE OPEN TO THE CONVERSATION, WHICH I THINK IS IMPORTANT.
NOT ONE THAT WE HAD YET. I THINK IF EVERYONE IS OKAY WITH THIS, WE'RE GONNA START HAVING THOSE MORE SERIOUS
CONVERSATIONS. >> I THINK IT'S MORE DESIRABLE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HELPING THE RENTER AND
NOT HELPING THE LANDLORD. >> WE UNDERSTAND.
>> I WILL SAY THAT MADAM MAYOR, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
WE DO HAVE A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF RENTERS AND TYPICALLY THEY ARE IN SOME OF THE OLDER HOMES THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM. AND PART OF THE RESTRICTION THERE HAS BEEN IN MAKING IMPROVEMENTS ON THE PROPERTY FOR THE PERSON WHO LIVES THERE DOES NOT OWN IT.
THAT IS A FINE LINE TO CHALLENGE.
>> A BIG CHALLENGE.> RIGHT. >> UNDER THE CURRENT GUIDELINES FOR ANY OF THE FUNDS ALLOWED TO BE USED TO FRY A CUSTOMER POWER
BILL? >> WE ARE USING BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT HIGH PRICE CRISIS, I WILL CALL IT, WE ARE USING $50,000 OF THOSE FUNDS TO PUT THE PROJECT CARE TO HELP OUR CUSTOMERS OFFSET THOSE COSTS. > IF WE MONITOR RISE, CAN WE BUILD IN A RULE AND CASES OF EXTREME EMERGENCIES? LIKE THIS THAT THE FUNDS CAN ACTUALLY UTILIZE AND FREIGHT THE CUSTOMER'S BILL? THAT IS KIND OF A HAPPY MEDIUM IMPROVING THE LANDLORD'S PROPERTY.
I MEAN, THIS WOULD BE AN IDEAL SITUATION.
EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO HAVE A WILL WE PUT THE MONEY DOWN TO CARE.
æ >> ABILITY WHEN TIMES ARE EMERGENT. POWER COSTS.
TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THAT MONEY.
GIVE THEM IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE. WE DO HAVE RULES IN PLACE WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY DO THAT. IT DOES REQUIRE GOING THROUGH AN AUTHORIZATION PROCESS IN THE NPA WHICH WE'VE DONE.
WE'VE ALREADY GOT THE APPROVAL. JACOB AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT IT LAST NIGHT AND SQUARED AWAY THE DETAILS.
GOT A COUPLE OF EMAILS CONFIRMING HOW WE CAN DO THAT.
CLEARLY COMMUNICATE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
EFFECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE. >> A SIT STAY THE COURSE.
CONTINUE THE RESEARCH AND LEFT RECOMMENDATION ONE BETTER THAN TWO AND DOWN. I WOULD STAY AWAY FROM THREE ALL COSTS. THANKSGIVING HUD TO BACK OFF THEIR GUIDELINES IS GOING TO BE NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE.
MAKE SOME CHANGES. >> ANY OF THE QUESTIONS?
[02:55:01]
>> I HAD TO AUDIT THE PROGRAM SO THAT THEY NOT IF YOU DON'T SPEND IT RIGHT YOU DON'T MESS AROUND THAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> WHAT IS THE TIMEFRAME THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO ACTUALLY PUT
THIS INTO PLAY? >> I THINK WE ARE WAITING ON
>> MA'AM, PUT WHAT INTO PLAY? >> PUT THIS 50,000 INTO THE
CARES PROGRAM. >> WE ARE LOOKING TO PUT THAT INTO THE PROGRAM TOMORROW. AND THEN TRIED TO EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE THAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
AND I WILL MAKE SURE TO COMMUNICATE WITH ALL OF YOU
[G7. Budget Workshop Presentation for the O&M and Capital Budgets – For Information Only]
ONCE WE START COMMUNICATING THAT INFORMATION.WE STILL TO WORK ON SOME DETAILS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S DONE PROPERLY. ADMINISTRATIVELY DONE PROPERLY.
CUSTOMÁ THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE TIME, THANK
YOU. >> NEXT ITEM?> MR. CHAIRMAN, THE LAST ITEM THIS EVENING IS AN INFORMATION PRESENTATION ON IF YOU ACE OUT AND AMP UPCOMING BUDGETS FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.
LORI PEBBLE AND KEITH TRAN WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM.
>> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU MR. SCENARIOS.
MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
WE ARE THERE TONIGHT TO LOOK AT THE CAPITOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN WHICH IS A FIVE YEAR PLAN. AND KEITH TRAN WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE BUDGETS.
JUST FOR A ONE YEAR PERIOD. WE ARE LOOKING TO AMEND THE FISCAL YEAR 2022. AND PRESENT FISCAL YEAR 2023.
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE BUDGET.
WE FIRST WANTED TO DISCUSS WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THE BUDGET IS.
THE BUDGET IS A POLICY DOCUMENT THAT REFLECTS GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND PLANS OF THE ORGANIZATION.
IT IS AN OPERATIONAL TOOL AND ACTIVITY FOR EACH DEPARTMENT FOR OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE AND HOW THEY INTERACT ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. FINANCIAL PLANNING IS ALSO FINANCIAL PLANNING TOOL. BALANCED WITH COST-SAVING MEASUREMENTS IN PLACE. THERE ARE AT LEAST A HALF-DOZEN COST SAVINGS MEASURES IN PLACE LISTED BELOW.AVE AVERY STRICT PURCHASING PROCUREMENT POLICY.URRENT PURCHASING POLICY INDICATES REQUIREMENTS FOR ANYTHING PARTICIPATING BETWEEN 1500 AND $9999. WE GO THROUGH AN INFORMAL BID PROCESS THROUGH 5000 TO 50,000 AND OVER 50,000 REQUIRES FORMAL BID PROCESS. THE CITY CHARTER REQUIRES THAT ALL PURCHASES FOR SERVICES CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL ÃJUST EXCEEDING $5000 MUST COMPETITIVELY BID AN APPETIZER.
THESE BIDS COMING IN AND TAKING A LOOK AT THE BID PROCESS DOES HELP PROTECT OUR RATE. TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING THINGS IN THE MOST ECONOMICAL FASHION THAT WE ARE GETTING THE
BEST QUALITY. >> WE GO THROUGH MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR MAINTENANCE ANALYSIS.
BOTH PREVENTATIVE AND EMERGENCY.
TO PREVENT, TO REPAIR, OR TO REPLACE.
AN ANALYSIS IS CONSTANTLY UNDER REVIEW TO MAKE SURE OUR CUSTOMERS ARE THE MOST RELIABLE AND BEST SERVICES.
E ATTEMPT TO STREAMLINE PROCESSES AND ELIMINATE UNNECESSARY STEPS. AS RACHEL MENTIONED BEFORE, WE HAVE THE GRANT FUNDING CAME IN PLACE TO MAXIMIZE POTENTIAL GRANT FUNDING. FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023, THE ORIGINAL BUDGET CONTAINS $2.1 MILLION OF ANTICIPATED GRANT FUNDING REIMBURSEMENTS. MEDICAL WELLNESS PROGRAM IN PLACE AND NOTING THAT THE HEALTH INSURANCE BETWEEN THE TWO YEARS IS GOING TO REMAIN RELATIVELY FLAT.
THE WELLNESS PROGRAM ENCOURAGES HEALTHY LIFE CHOICES AND IS CONTRIBUTING TO THESE INSURANCE EXPENSES FORECASTED TO REMAIN FLAT. WE HAVE A SAFETY PROGRAM IN PLACE. PREVENTION PRODUCES LOW EXPERIENCE RATE, WHICH REDUCES PREMIUM INCREASES AND CLEANING EXPENSE. NEW SAFETY OFFICER IS STRENGTHENING THE SAFETY TRAINING PREVENTION PRODUCES SAFER WORK ENVIRONMENTS, HIGHER MOREL, LOWER INSURANCE RATES AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ABSENTEEISM.
THE BUDGET IS A LINK TO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
O BUILD AND EXPAND THE UTILITY.O ENHANCE RELIABILITY AND PROVIDE COMPETITIVE RATES AND ENSURE CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE BUDGET IS ALSO A TO THE
[03:00:02]
COMMUNITY. IT ENCOURAGES THE COMMUNITY TO REVIEW AND UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL POLICY WITH THE NEXT DAY. AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, THE BUDGET PLANS ARE FOR ONE YEAR OF TIME.THE REVENUE BUDGETS LISTED ABOVE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022, THE AMENDED BUDGET IS 136,539,000 $551.
WHILE THE ORIGINAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 23 REVENUES TOTAL 40 $806,835,166. BOTH OF THESE BUDGETS INCLUDE INCREASES BY THE FLORIDA SERVICE COMMISSION OF WASTEWATER AND NATURAL GAS. ELECTRIC WATER AND WASTEWATER AND NATURAL GAS ALSO INCLUDE THE SUFFICIENCY INCREASES SO THE FPO IT CAN'T MAINTAIN THE APPROPRIATE AND UNRESTRICTED CASH LEVELS. ADDITIONALLY, ONE WAS ONE INCLUDE THE APPROVED SEWER TREATMENT PLANT FOR LOCATION.
THE NEXT SLIDE CONTAINS THE OPERATING MAINTENANCE EXPENSES.
FOR THE AMENDED 2022 ÃÃTHE EXPENSES ARE $138,210,000-$170.
FOR FISCAL YEAR 23, THE ORIGINAL, 144,000.
700 AND THAT'S JUST $144,723,783.
AS WE NOTEDIN PREVIOUS BOARD MEETINGS, THE COST OF PURCHASE POWER HAS INCREASED HAS BEEN A BIG TOPIC TODAY.
BOTH THE 22 AMENDED AND 23 ORIGINAL ARE ÃÃCOST OF PURCHASE POWER. OF THE HUNDRED AND $44 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 23, PURCHASE POWER IS $46 MILLION OF THE TOTAL. THAT BUDGET.
SALARIES AND WAGES HAVE DECREASED 5.2 PERCENT IN THE AMENDED 22 BUDGET IMPAIRED TO THE ORIGINAL.
WE SHOULD NOTE THAT THE FY 22 BUDGET DOES CONTAIN A FOUR PERCENT AVERAGE INCREASE IN THE AFFECTED THE OVERALL BUDGET IS 3.2 PERCENT TOTAL WAGE INCREASE.
THIS IS THE RESULT OF CONSTANT EVALUATION OF WORKFLOWS AND PERSONAL MANAGEMENT. WHEN AN EMPLOYEE LEAVES FPO I, POSITIONS ARE ADDED WHEN NEEDED AND ARISES AND UNLIMITED WHEN POSSIBLE. AGAIN, JUST NOTING THE FACT BECAUSE HEALTH INSURANCE IS COSTLY.
HEALTH INSURANCE IS BUDGETED TO STAY FLAT.
AND INTEREST EXPENSES HAVE RISEN PROPORTIONATELY AS A RESULT OF THE RESTRUCTURING. THE LAST SLIDE IS THE DISTRIBUTION TO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE.
WHICH IS REINVESTMENT BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY.ANTICIPATED DISTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE OF $6 MILLION 519,000 FOR FISCAL YEAR 22, WHICH WILL BE PAYABLE IN 23.
AND $7,005,000 FOR FISCAL YEAR 23.
WHICH WILL BE PAYABLE IN 24. AND THEN WE ARE OPEN FOR ANY
QUESTIONS. >> ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE BOARD?
>> SO, AS I UNDERSTAND THAT THE COST OF POWER IS RECOGNIZING THE VOLATILITY AND CURRENT SITUATION.
OF NOT USING OLD NUMBERS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO USE CORRECT NUMBERS UP TO DATE NUMBERS. IF THERE IS SUCH A THING.
EXCUSE ME. IF I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION CORRECTLY, BECAUSE OF THE FUEL COST OF THE CURRENT COST OF FUEL, OUR BUDGET NUMBERS ARE DIFFERENT, YES.
DID I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION? >> I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHY THEY ARE SELECTING THE REALITY AS WE KNOW IT NOW AS BEST AS WE KNOW
AND IT'S REALLY TOUGH BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE BUDGET NOW, WE ARE PROJECTING INTO NEXT YEAR AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT IT WILL OUR GOAL WILL BE TO FIX AND FIND SOME OF THOSE FIXED COSTS BUYING GAS AT A FIXED COST TO HELP CONTROL THOSE COSTS IN THE FUTURE. AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL ALLOW US TO STAY CLOSER TO THE ACTUAL BUDGET OR THE PROJECTED BUDGET.
>> THANK YOU. >> YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
AN YOU REITERATE FOR US? WHAT EXACT HAS HAPPENED TO THE
BUDGET FOR WAGES AND SALARIES? >> THE ORIGINAL BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, WE HAVE SHOWN THE DECREASE OF 5.2 PERCENT.
LARGE IN PART BECAUSE IT'S PLANNED HAVE A POSITION AT THE END OF THE YEAR. WE PUT THAT OFF WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT. PERSONAL MANAGEMENT.
SO, IT IS DOWN 5.2 PERCENT. FROM THE ORIGINAL ÃÃEXCUSE
[03:05:09]
ME. FROM THE ORIGINAL BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR. AND THEN WE ADDED IN THE FOUR PERCENT COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT, WHICH WOULD HAVE TO BE ORDERED APPROVED TO BE PASSED ALONG.WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NET DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO, 3.2
PERCENT, YEAR-OVER-YEAR. >> 3.2 PERCENT.
THE MEAN THE ACTUAL COST IS GOING TO BE 3.2 PERCENT LESS THAN WHAT WE ANTICIPATED? 3.2 PROVES HIS ABATED?
>> YOU'RE SHOWING YOU THAT ÃÃ IF YOU CHOOSE TO LOOK AT PAGE 17 UP AT THE TOP, YOU CAN SEE THE SALARIES AND WAGES WHEN WE ARE COMPARING THE ORIGINAL BUDGET FOR 22 TO THE AMENDED BUDGET FOR 22. I SHOW DECREASE ÃÃWHEN WE ARE COMPARING THE ORIGINAL BUDGET FOR 23, WE ARE SHOWING A 3.2 PERCENT INCREASE. THERE HAVE BEEN POSITION CHANGES IN THE WAY THAT EVERYTHING IS MANAGED ÃÃ STREAMLINING OF PROCESSES INSTEAD OF SHOWING A FOUR PERCENT, WHICH WAS ADDED IN FOR COST OF LIVING.
THAT'S AT THE 3.2 PERCENT. >> OKAY.
IT'S ACTUALLY BETTER. IT'S A HUMAN RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT. >> THAT IS GREAT AND THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT I HEARD. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT I WAS THINKING WAS ACCURATE.
AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHETHER OR NOT WE ADD OR REMOVE EMPLOYEES.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT ALWAYS FEELS LIKE THAT YOU NEED MORE PEOPLE. GET A JOB AND IT'S IMPRESSIVE
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
[INDISCERNIBLE] >> THANK YOU LORI.
GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS IS SCENARIO, CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
[INDISCERNIBLE] PLANNING OUR FISCAL YEAR 2023, ÃÃ [INDISCERNIBLE] UPDATES FIVE YOUR CAPITOL PLAN CIP.
IT REQUIRES EVERY DEPARTMENT TO LOOK AHEAD AND ANTICIPATE THE CAPITOL NEEDS SEPARATE AND APART FROM OPERATING BUDGET.
THIS SUBMIT THE REQUEST TO MARCH IN THE ESTIMATE JUSTIFICATION AND PRIORITIES TIME TO COMPLETE AND OTHER INFORMATION. IN BUDGET COMMITTEE COMPOSITE IN THE DIRECTORY UTILITY FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATIONS AND STAFF. EVALUATE EACH SUBMISSION AGAINST CRITERIA. SUCH AS IS THE CONSTRUCTION AND POTENTIAL REVENUE. NEARBY INFRASTRUCTURE.
NEWLY THE COST OF THE BUDGET SHOWS FEA'S ABILITY TO FINANCE THEM OVER THE FIVE-YEAR. THEY MUST PRIORITIZE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GRANTS, DEBT, CIA AND CIC AND OTHER RESOURCES CONSTANTLY EVALUATED TO ASSIST AND ADJUST IN THE AREA OF THE BUDGET. THE FIVE YOU CIP TOTALS 219 MILLION. OF WHICH 56 PERCENT OR 123 IS LOOKING AT THE WASTEWATER PLANT.
THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 CAPITOL BUDGET FOR 63 MILLION INCLUDES CONTINGENCY OF $500,000 AND UNFUNDED PROJECT OF 3.7 MILLION. SEVERAL FACTORS ARE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN YOU FIGURE OUT WHICH PROJECT IS IN DEMAND IN THE FISCAL YEAR OF 2023. SUCH AS PROJECTS THAT WE SEE PREVIOUS FUNDING. PROJECTS THAT ARE READY FOR THE NEXT STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT FOR PROJECTS THAT WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. PROJECTS THAT PRESERVE INFRASTRUCTURE COMPONENT OF OUR SYSTEM.
OBJECTS THAT HAVE OUTSIDE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO OFFSET THE COST.HE PROJECTS THAT HAVE IMPORTANT PUBLIC SAFETY COMPONENTS. HIGHLIGHTED HERE ARE FIVE PROJECTS THAT COUNT FOR 66 PERCENT OF FIVE YEARS CIP.
123 MEN ARE RELOCATING THE WASTEWATER PLANT AWAY FROM THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON AND CLEARING THE PROPERTIES AVAILABLE FOR REDEVELOPMENT. THEREBY CREATING PERMANENT JOBS AND A STRONG TAX SPACE. USTOMER BASE EXPANSION PROJECT. 9.2 MILLION.
INSTALLING WATER AND SANITARY SEWER FORCE MAINS TO INCREASE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PRIVATE RESIDENT SEPTIC TANK OWNERS TO SWITCH TO CITY WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICE.TORM HONEY. IN THE FCC.
4.8 MEN UPGRADING AND MODIFYING OUR ELECTRIC SYSTEM TO MAKE IT MORE RESISTANT TO STORM DAMAGE AND CUSTOMER QUICKLY AFTER STORMING EVENTS. THEY REQUIRE 4.2 MILLION.
[03:10:08]
REVIEWING AND REPLACING AND RELOCATING AND IMPROVING NEW CASSETTE CAPACITY WILL WAIT AND IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.INCLUDING PROJECT FOR FDO T, CITY, COUNTY, STORM MANAGEMENT AGENCY. WASTEWATER MAINLINE.
F YOU A WAS AWARDED A GRANT IN RECONSTRUCTION DECORATED SANITARY SYSTEM. THE PROJECT WILL BE UTILIZING THE LINING PROCESS. IN PLACE PIPE TECHNOLOGY.
2028 AND 2020 B WILL FIND 50 PERCENT OF THE CIP.EVENUE FROM THE UTILITY RATES ARE PROJECTED TO FUND 26 MILLION OF CIP. IF YOU A MA ISSUED DEBT SERIES 2024 TO FUND 11 PERCENT OF THE CIP GRANT AWARD INSUFFICIENT.
TO COMPLETE THE WASTEWATER RELOCATION.
THE REMAINING FUNDING SOURCE FROM CONTRIBUTION TO THE OUTSIDE SOURCE. SUCH AS CIA AND CIC.
ABOUT FIVE PERCENT. GRANTS WILL BE THREE PERCENT.
LEADING TWO PERCENT TO UNFUNDED AND CONTINGENCY.
DEBT FUNDS. SERIES 2020 A OF 144 MEN WAS ISSUED MAINLY FOR WASTEWATER PLANT.
COMPLETION OF THE METERING INFRASTRUCTURE AND RELIABILITY AND EXPANSION FOR ALL SYSTEMS. SERIES 2020 B OF 2.6 MILLION Ã ÃRELIABILITY AND EXPANSION. SERIES 2024 FUTURE OF 25 MILLION IF NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE WASTEWATER PLANT INSUFFICIENT TO COVER THE COST. GRANTS.
GRANT AWARDED TO THE FPA TOTALS OF 7.1 MILLION TODAY.
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 21.4 FOR LOW INCOME SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES OF 5.7 FOR DIGIORGIO ROAD GRANT SEWER LINE CONNECTION AND SEPTIC TANK CLOSURE.
REQUIRED. FDA BUDGET CAPITOL INCLUDES FUNDING THE PROJECT BUT OVER GOVERNMENT AND OTHER REGULATORY AGENCY AND REQUIRE FOR SYSTEM GROWTH, RELIABILITY AND EFFICIENCY AND SAFETY AS ALWAYS RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT.
CUSTOMÁ SORRY ABOUT THAT. THEY WENT BACK TO.
>> THE PROJECT GOT MANDATED BY STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT REGULATORY AGENCIES REPRESENTING 71 PERCENT OR 157 MILLION AT THE CIP OR FIVE YEARS CIP.
EXAMPLE OF REGULATORY AGENCIES REQUIRED PROJECT ARE AS FOLLOWS. CITY OF FORT PIERCE OF 128 MILLION. BE THE NORTHWEST RF AND COULD BE CONSISTENT PROJECT. 123 MILLION.
F DEP 9.8 MILLION WASTEWATER MAINLINE PROJECT 3.8 MILLION.
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, 5.2 MILLION.
REPLACEMENT PULL PROJECT AND CONSTRUCTION RESIDENTIAL IS 2.9 MILLION. FIVE YEAR TREND.
IF YOU A SPENT ABOUT 49 PERCENT ON AVERAGE OF THE BOARD APPROVED BUDGET. WHICH INCLUDES CARRYOVER AND CONTINGENCY. THIS TREND DOES NOT EXPECT TO CONTINUE ACCELERATING DUE TO THE ABIDING REQUIREMENTS.
THIS STEP IS REQUIRED IN REQUESTING APPROVAL OF ALL AND AND AND FISCAL YEAR 22 AMENDED BUDGET REVENUES 137 MILLION.
AND EXPENSES OF 138 MILLION. IN FISCAL YEAR 2023 ORIGINAL BUDGET REVENUES OF 147 MILLION EXPENSES OF 145 MILLION.
CIP, THE PROJECT APPROVAL OF FISCAL YEAR 2023 CAPITOL BUDGET FOR 63 MILLION, THE PROJECT LISTED IN FIVE YEARS CIP AND TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO PERFORM BUDGET TRANSFER WITHIN PROJECT LISTED IN THE CIP. WE WOULD ALSO QUARTERLY UPDATE YOU ON CAPITOL SPENDING ALONG WITH BUDGET TRANSFER REQUEST PROVIDED TO THE BOARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS PICK.
>> ANY QUESTIONS? >> I HAVE A QUESTION.
[03:15:03]
EARLIER, THE DIRECTOR AND I WILL TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE CUTS THAT WERE TAKEN. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO TALK ABOUT AND MONETIZE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO CURTAIL TO KEEP OUR RATES IN OUR OVERHEAD COSTS DOWN, CONSIDERING THE CURRENT MARKET. > RIGHT.YES MA'AM. THAT'S APPROXIMATELY 2.8 MILLION THAT WE CUT FROM THE FIVE YOUR SPENDING.
OST OF THAT WAS IN THE FRONT YEARS OR THE EARLIER YEARS.
AND THAT WAS TO ÃÃIN ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MEET THE 45 DAY REQUIREMENT FOR CASH ON HAND.
WE DID MAKE SIGNIFICANT CUTS AND WE LOOK AT THAT CONSTANTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE IS OPPORTUNITY THERE, WE HAVE CUT IT PRETTY THIN. SO, WE ARE RUNNING ON A RAZOR
THIN MARGIN THERE. >> I ALSO LIKE THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO ADD THE BUDGET TRANSFERS AS FREQUENTLY BROUGHT HERE AND ESPECIALLY IF IT'S WITHIN THE SAME LINE ITEM.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, SOME OF IT IS A LITTLE æ
[LAUGHTER] THE IDEA THERE IS TO DO LESS PAPERWORK AND DO MORE CONSTRUCTION.
AND I DID A VERY POOR JOB OF INTRODUCING THIS ITEM.
TYPICALLY WE DO A FULL-BLOWN BUDGET WORKSHOP.
YOU KNOW? FOR BUDGET DAY WORKSHOP.
BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE WORKSHOPS THAT WE HAD THAT WE HAVE HAD THIS YEAR FOR BOND REFINANCING AND BOTH WITH THE COMMISSION AND THE FDA BOARD, WE DID NOT FEEL IT WAS NECESSARY TO DO A FULL-BLOWN WORKSHOP BECAUSE WE THIS INFORMATION MULTIPLE TIMES. THAT IS THE REASON WHY WE ARE DOING A MUCH SMALLER VERSION OF THIS.
BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A TIMELINE IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THE CITY COMMISSION FOR APPROVAL.
>> WE MET ON THIS EARLIER, RIGHT? WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS SINCE MAY.
I REMEMBER. >> SOONER THAN THAT.
>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE SEEN IT.
>> NO MA'AM IT'S NOT. MRS. GIBBONS, I BELIEVE YOU JOINED US THIS YEAR FOR A COUPLE OF THE BUDGET MEETINGS.
MR. LAMBERT HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN SOME OF THOSE IN THE PAST.
IT'S A PRETTY RIGOROUS PROCESS. THE TEAM GOES OUT FOR THE GROUPS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE SPENDING THE MONEY THE WAY THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SPENDING IT.
>> I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND IT FOR ANYBODY THAT HAS NOT SAT IN THERE AS WELL.
T WAS VERY DETAILED IN BYLINE.
YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH WE CAN AFFORD TO PUT UP NEW POLLS.
HOW MUCH OF THE UNIT COST? HOW MUCH ARE WE ALLOTTING FOR THIS YEAR? CAN WE BUY THEM CHEAPER? I MEAN, IT'S VERY, VERY DETAILED DISCUSSION.
AND I APPRECIATED IT A LOT. >> THANK YOU.> ANY OTHER
COMMENTS? >> WHEN WILL THE NEXT ÃÃTHE
NEXT MEETING BE? >> FOR THE FPA BOARD IN
REFERENCE TO THE BUDGET? >> YES.
>> WE ARE LOOKING FOR APPROVAL. >> A DETAILED MEETING.
>> 'SOUT WE DID NOT DO THE BUDGET WORKSHOP THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE HAD ALL THOSE OTHER MEETINGS THAT WE DETAILED ALL OF THIS INFORMATION. SO, THE INTENT THERE WAS NOT TO HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL MEETINGS. WE TALKED ABOUT A COUPLE OF BOARD MEETINGS AGO BECAUSE WE HAVE EARLY GONE THROUGH THIS SEVERAL TIMES THIS YEAR. THE IDEA WAS TO PRESENT IT.
WE DO HAVE THE PRESENT AND GET APPROVAL FOR THE BOARD IN ORDER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO APPROVE IT AND PRESENTED TO THE CITY
COMMISSION FOR APPROVAL. >> I THINK SHE'S ASKING WHEN SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO YES. SO, NEXT YEAR.
YET NEXT YEAR. ONLY DO OUR BUDGET REVIEW PROCESS, I WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP YOU IN THAT BUDGET
REVIEW PROCESS. >> WE NORMALLY HOLD THIS MEETING AT AROUND APRIL. WE GO THROUGH EACH DEPARTMENT AND SO FORTH AS WE GET OUR BUDGET BACK AND EVALUATE EACH PROJECT AND SO FORTH. WE START OFF IN FEBRUARY WITH THE KICKOFF. APRIL IS WHEN WE GO LINE BY LINE WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND SO FORTH.
>> I'M SORRY, I MISUNDERSTOOD YOU.
>> NO PROBLEM. >> THIS HAS BEEN A DAY.
[LAUGHTER] > IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING TO THAT AUGUST 2 I BELIEVE IS THESE ARE GOING TO BE PROPOSED FOR APPROVAL UNDER
RESOLUTION I BELIEVE. >> AT THE FPA BOARD MEETING?
>> I BELIEVE. >> YOU WILL SEE THIS AGAIN FOR APPROVAL AND RESOLUTION AND AFTER THAT RESOLUTION WE APPROVE AND TAKE IT TO THE CITY COMMISSION.
>> SO, WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR APPROVAL ON THIS TODAY?
>> THAT IS RIGHT. WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR APPROVAL
ON THIS TODAY. >> WE ARE LOOKING FOR APPROVAL ON THE O AND N TO AMEND THE O AND N 2022 AMENDED BUDGET.
>> 37 MILLION EXPRESSED AT 138 MILLION AS WELL AS THE FISCAL YEAR OF 2023 ORIGINAL BUDGET REVENUE OF 147 MILLION.
EXPENSES OF 145 MILLION. AND THE APPROVAL OF THE FISCAL
[03:20:05]
YEAR 2023 CAPITOL BUDGET FOR 63 MILLION.AND THE PROJECT LIST IN THE CAPITOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023 AND 27 AND ALSO THE PROCESS TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO AUTHORIZE THE TRANSFER WITHIN THE PROJECT LIST IN THE
AS MR. KEE SAID, THIS IS THE REGISTRATION WE ARE LOOKING
>> THE MOVE OF APPROVAL. >> SECOND.
>> YOU WANT TO DO THEM SEPARATELY?
>> I DON'T BELIEVE WE NEED TO DO THEM SEPARATELY.
>> CALL ROLE PER.> MS. BENNETT, MRS. GIBBONS, MR.
LAMMERS, MAYOR HUDSON, MR. FEE? >> YES.
[J. DIRECTOR]
>> MOVING ON TO THE DIRECTORS REPORT.
>> JUST A FEW NOTES. TODAY MR. CHAIRMAN.
GAS PRICES, I TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER TODAY.
I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE IT. GAS PRICES HAVE BEEN OVER ABOUT SEVEN DOLLARS PER DECCA TIME AND AS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER LAST WEEK, THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR MPA DIRECTED THE F MPA STAFF. TO PURCHASE GAS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR AND IF AND WHEN THE PRICES AT 640 ONCE WE GET TO THAT MARKET WOULD BE TO PROVIDE AND DELIVER POWER TO THE FPE YOU A FOR HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR THOUSAND KILOWATT
PER HOUR. >> ADDITIONAL ITEMS AND ITEMS AT THE EXECUTIVE F MPA STAFF COULD TAKE OR ANY ADDITIONAL REQUESTS FROM THE F MPA STAFF TO TAKE ACTION TO MITIGATE THESE COSTS. THAT MAY INCLUDE BUYING GAS AT A HIGHER RATE THAN THE 640 BECAUSE OF THE VOLATILITY OF THE MARKET. THE GOAL IS TO STAY UNDER $100 PER DECCA TERM OR HUNDRED DOLLARS PER THOUSAND KILOWATT HOUR. IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO ATTEND SOME OF THOSE MEETINGS.
THOSE MEETINGS LATELY HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED WITH PRETTY FAST-PACED. BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF THE CURVE. MOST OF THE MEETINGS HAVE BEEN VIA TEAMS. IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN ME, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO JOIN ME BECAUSE IT IS A LOT OF INFORMATION MOVING VERY FAST AND IT GIVES YOU A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW VOLATILE THAT MARKET IS.
>> HAD A WE GET THE INFORMATION ON THAT?
>> I WILL FORWARD TO MEETING TO YOU AND I WILL CALL YOU TO LET
THE MEETING IS. >> IF YOU CAN ATTEND, THAT'S GREAT. IF YOU CANNOT, WE WILL HAVE PLENTY OF THOSE MEETINGS TO DISCUSS THOSE ITEMS. SPECIFICALLY LOCKING IN THIS PRICES FOR GAS.
>> WERE TALKING ABOUT, THAT IS THE F MPA MEETING?
>> REGULAR BOARD MEETING OR THE EXECUTIVE MEETING?
>> THE F MPA EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING ARE ON THE THIRD THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH. WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOUR ATTENDANCE AT THAT MEETING.
BUT THEY ARE ALSO HAVING SPECIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS TO TACKLE THE GAS PRICES RIGHT NOW.
>> THEY ARE AVAILABLE IN TEAMS? THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE ON TEAMS.HEN I GET THEM, I WILL SEND THEM TO YOU SO YOU CAN ATTEND WITH ME. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT WE ARE COMMITTEE 50 HAS NO FROM THE CONSERVATION FUND THAT WE GET FROM F MPA AND THAT IS TO HELP OUR ORGANIZATION DISTRIBUTE TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.
TO HELP OUR UTILITY CUSTOMERS TO PROVIDE SOME RELIEF FOR THOSE QUALIFIED CUSTOMERS. WE WILL SHOW THE INFORMATION WITH YOU AS SOON AS WE GET THE INFORMATION SQUARED AWAY.
AND ASSURE THAT WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC.HE LAST ITEM TYPICALLY STAFF WILL PREPARE ITEMS FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING.
I WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME INPUT FROM THE BOARD ON TOPICS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HEARD ABOUT THE NETWORK THAT MAKES STABILIZATION FUND.N OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO LOOK AT THAT INTO THE FUTURE TO SEE IF THAT NUMBER COULD BE HIGHER SO THAT WE CAN TRY TO WEATHER THE STORM AND GO THROUGH SOME OF THESE THINGS.
JUST ONE TOPIC THAT I THINK WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER. SO, WHAT I WILL DO IS SCHEDULE SOME TIME TO MEET WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS INDIVIDUALLY SO THAT I CAN COLLECT YOUR IDEAS ON WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE DURING THIS STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION.
OST LIKELY WHAT WILL END UP HAPPENING IT WILL BE IN
[L. COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS]
SEPTEMBER. BECAUSE WE STILL TO TAKE THE BUDGET TO THE CITY COMMISSION. A LOT OF TIME TO GET THAT DELIVERED TO THE CITY COMMISSION.BUT AGAIN, STRATEGIC PLANNING SOMETIME IN SEPTEMBER.
AND I WILL SCHEDULE SOME TIME INDIVIDUALLY WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS TO GET YOUR IDEAS. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR THE
ATTORNEYS REPORT? >> NO REPORT AT THIS TIME.
>> OKAY, MOVING ON TO COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD MEMBERS.
IT'S PRETTY POLARIZING MEETING TODAY.
SOMETHING THAT NONE OF US WERE NOT EXPECTING FOR CERTAIN.
[03:25:04]
I AM VERY PLEASED WITH THE BOARD HANDLE ITSELF.EING PATIENT WITH THE SPEAKERS TODAY AND LISTENING TO STORIES THAT ARE DISHEARTENING AND DISTURBING.
AND IT IS TRUE THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE BELIEVED FIGHTING A BATTLE WHEN IT COMES TO PAYING THEIR BILLS.
BUT ALL AND ALL, I THINK I AM PLEASED THAT THE BOARD DID LOWER THE PCA TO THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT.0.
I KNOW WE CROSSED THAT LINE THERE, BUT STILL, I TRUST THAT WE HAVE INCLUDED THAT LINE.F IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE, WE COULD EXECUTE IT AND KEEP US ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
SO, I AM PLEASED THERE AND I KNOW IT'S GONNA BE A SHORT-TERM RELIEF. BUT, LET'S ALL GO AND PRAY AND MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT WE WILL DO AN ABOUT-FACE IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS. WE WILL BE IN A BETTER POSITION. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE
I JUST WANTED TO ÃÃA COUPLE OF THOUGHTS SEEING THE BUDGETS TODAY. FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LISTENING IN THE AUDIENCE OR AT HOME.
WHAT YOU SEE IS THAT THIS IS A VERY CAPITAL-INTENSIVE BUSINESS. IT'S VERY EASY TO TURN ON YOUR LIGHTS AND ALWAYS EXPECT THE LOCAL COME ON.
THE WATER COMES OUT CLEAR AND PURE AND THE DELIVERY AND PEOPLE TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED. BUT IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN AND HAPPEN AT ALL THE TIME AND SAFE, IT TAKES A LOT OF CAPITALS SPENDING AND LABOR-INTENSIVE JUSTICE IT'S A BUSINESS. IT'S A BUSINESS AND TODAY, IT'S ALL HUNDRED AND $44 MILLION BUSINESS.
AND SO, WE WANT AND BECAUSE WE ARE PUBLIC DEFINITION MUNICIPAL UTILITY PUBLIC PUBLIC POWER, WE WANT TO BE AS RESPONSIVE TO OUR CUSTOMERS AS POSSIBLE AND SO I WANT TO REITERATE THAT THERE IS NO PROFIT. ANY MONEY THAT IS OVER AND ABOVE WHAT WE HAVE IT'S PLOWED RIGHT BACK INTO THAT SYSTEM AND GIVEN BACK TO OUR CUSTOMERS. AND I THINK THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. TO REMEMBER.
AND ALSO THAT THE PRICE OF ELECTRICITY IS BASED ON THE PRICE OF A NATURAL GAS. IT'S NOT THE GAS THAT YOU GET AT YOUR PUMP. IT'S NOT THE GUEST THAT YOU PUT IN YOUR CAR. IT'S A TOTALLY DIFFERENT THING.
AND THE AVERAGE PERSON DOES NOT WATCH THOSE PRICES.
AND SO, THEY DO NOT REALIZE WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND IN THAT MARKET HAS REALLY ONLY EXCEEDED WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE CATALAN MARKET. GOING FORWARD, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ÃÃWE ARE AT THE MERCY OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE NATION AND IN THE WHOLE WORLD. WE ARE AT THE MERCY OF THOSE COSTS. AND WE HAVE TO MANAGE AS BEST AS WE CAN. AND ALSO, IF THE PUT IN A PROJECT CARE. WE ARE ALL SIGNING UP FOR PROJECT CARE. WE ARE ALL ELIGIBLE TO DO THAT.
AND SO, WE CAN FUND THAT SAID THAT WE CAN HELP OUR CUSTOMERS
PAY THEIR UTILITY BILLS. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS?ISS
I THINK THE MAIN THING THAT I TOOK OUT OF TODAY WAS COMMUNICATION AND I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN HARPING ON THIS.
I'M SORRY RACHEL. IT HAS BEEN MONTHS.
THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO GET IT OUT TO THEM. GET OUT TO THE PEOPLE THAT NEED TO HEAR IT. I DO FEEL THAT WE HAVE AN EXTENSIVE LIST NOW OF PEOPLE THAT WE CAN SURVEY TO FIND OUT HOW WE COULD COMMUNICATE WITH THEM BEST.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT A AND I WAS.
THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THEY CAN READ IT IN THE OFFICE ON 35TH STREET I BELIEVE IT IS. 37TH STREET.
THEY DON'T KNOW THE PCA IS. DO NOT KNOW WHO WE ARE.
I THINK WE ARE VOTED ON AND HERE WE ARE.
PEOPLE RUNNING OUR OWN BUSINESS.
WE DON'T MAKE A LOT OF MONEY. MAKE VERY LITTLE MONEY AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THIS. BUT IT'S MORE OF A DONATION OF OUR TIME TO HELP THE YOUR VOICE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY KNOW THAT ABOUT US EITHER.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THEIR BILL.
F POE VERSUS FP AND L. HOW MANY TIMES I MOVED INTO THIS HOUSE. IT'S MUCH SMALLER.
IT'S MY BILL HAS TRIPLED. YOU ARE ALSO PAYING FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER. AND TRASH.
AND KEEP FORT PIERCE BEAUTIFUL AND ALL THE OTHER STUFF THAT'S ON THERE AND NOT ON YOUR FP IN A BILL.
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT I DON'T THINK THE AVERAGE PERSON KNOWS.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY PUT OUT THERE IS THAT PEOPLE WE WERE TALKING BUT THE RATE INCREASES FROM F P&L COMING. I WILL BE VERY INTERESTED PERSONALLY TO SEE HOW THAT GETS IMPACTED NEXT MONTH.
AND I KNOW YOU SAID THAT'S ON A BIANNUAL BASIS.
THAT IS FROM WHAT WE LEARNED LAST WEEK 75 PERCENT OF F P&L IS ALSO RAN OFF OF NATURAL GAS. AND NOW THEY REALLY HAVE NOT HAD THIS JUST IF IT INCREASES. I THINK THAT IS LIKELY BECAUSE OF THE COST OF GAS.HERE GONNA HAVE A HUGE IMPACT.
AND JUST LIKE MR. CHAIR SAID. HE IS LOOKING AT MAYBE IT'S CAN
[03:30:05]
BE TRIPLED NEXT MONTH. I'LL BE REALLY CURIOUS AS TOHOW THAT CATCHES UP. >> WE STARTED THIS A LONG TIME AGO AND I DON'T KNOW THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT EITHER. WE WERE A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF THE CURVE. IN RAISING THE PCA LAST NOVEMBER. AND GOSH, I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'D BE HAD WE NOT BEEN SO READY TO MAKE THAT DECISION THEN. AS FAR AS PLANNING GOES, I FEEL LIKE WE TRIED TO MITIGATE THIS AS BEST WE COULD.
I PERSONALLY DID NOT WANT TO MAKE THAT DECISION TO RAISE IT $40. A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO.
WHEN THERE IS A BALANCE OF RUNNING A BUSINESS AND NOT YOU NOW, AND BEING ABLE TO FUTURE EMPLOYEES AS WELL IS KEEPING THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY FED.
HAT IS A DELICATE BALANCE AND HERE WE ARE IN A NEGATIVE MILLION RIGHT NOW. THERE IS A LOT OF FACETS TO THIS ENTIRE ORGANIZATION AND THE DECISIONS THAT WE ARE MAKING.SO, I BEG EVERYBODY TO WATCH US ON TV.
IF YOU WANT TO REACH OUT, WE ARE HERE.
AND PLEASE DON'T BE AFRAID TO SHOW UP TO THE MEETING AND SHARE YOUR OPINION WITH US. THAT IS WHAT WE WANT.
I ÃÃTHEY ACTUALLY MADE ME FEEL REALLY GOOD TO SEE THAT MANY PEOPLE THAT CARED. SO WE CAN ACTUALLY HEAR WHAT
THEY HAD TO SAY. >> WE LEARNED A LOT TODAY FROM THE FEEDBACK. YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GROW FROM THEM.
[INDISCERNIBLE] >> I THINK WHATEVER PEOPLE SHOULD UNDERSTAND IS THAT WHENEVER YOU VOTE ON AND PACKS EACH OF YOU ALSO. BECAUSE EVERYONE IT DOES IS A CITIZEN OF FORT PIERCE. YOU ARE NOT SINGLING PEOPLE OUT. IT'S A GROUP MISERY.
[LAUGHTER] >> I STILL NOT LOOKED AT MY OFFICE POWER BILL FROM THE AD. I KNOW THAT UP THERE.
YES. IT'S GOING TO BE A TRYING TIME.
WE ARE GOING TO WEATHER THE STORM AND WE'RE GONNA COME OUT THE OTHER END. WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HUNKER DOWN A LITTLE BIT. GET THROUGH THIS HOT SUMMER.
WHICH IS JUST EXACERBATING EVERYTHING.
AND HOPEFULLY THE BEGINNING OF FALL WE WILL SEE EVERYBODY'S BILLS TRICKLE DOWN LITTLE BIT. HOPEFULLY GAS PRODUCTION WILL START TO GEAR UP AND WE WILL BE ON THE OTHER END SOONER THAN LATER. THAT'S ME JUST BEING OPTIMISTIC OF COURSE. MRS. LAMMERS.
BECAUSE I WANT TO AND BECAUSE I'M GOOD AT MATH, I WANT TO 125 PERCENT ECHO WHAT'S GOOD AND SAID.
HE COMMUNICATION. I KNOW THAT WE ARE SO MUCH BETTER THAN WE WERE, BUT SOMETIMES IT'S MUCH BETTER IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH AND I THINK WE HEARD THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MAKE STRIDES THERE AND THEN WHEN RACHEL WAS GIVING THE PRESENTATION ABOUT GETTING GRANTS.
SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT WE WERE PACKAGING THE INFORMATION TOGETHER. BUT THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF A LOBBYIST IS THAT WE NOT WE ARE TO DELIVER THEM THE INFORMATION SO GETS IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO HEAR IT.
RIGHT? SO, WE NEED A BIT OF AN FP YOU A LOBBYING TO THE CUSTOMERS WHO RIGHTLY POINTED OUT OUR OWNERS.
E HAVE MADE A COMPASSIONATE AND EMOTIONAL DECISION TODAY.
TO LOWER THE RATE. IT WAS NOT THE BEST BUSINESS DECISION. SO, I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED AND I WOULD HOPE, LIKE YOU MR. FEE, AND A COUPLE OF MONTHS, I HOPE WE DON'T HAVE TO RAISE THE PCA.
BUT I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF WE ARE FORCED TO.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE THAT CHOICE. SO, AND BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, WE NEED TO DO THE BEST JOB THAT WE'VE EVER DONE AT COMMUNICATING WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND WHAT MAY HAPPEN IN A ANOTHER MONTH OR TWO. AND I DO I WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO YOU JAVIER AND THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
WE MAY YOU GUYS JOB A LOT HARDER.
WE ENSURE THAT THIS CAN BE SOME SLEEPLESSNESS AND HEARTBURN IN
THE FIRST CASE IS ON ME. >> WE HAVE ALL BUT THE
CONFIDENCE IN YOU. >> I WILL SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THOSE KIND WORDS AND THE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE OF THE BOARD THAT THE STEP IS DESIGNED FOR. THIS IS WHAT WE DO.
WE ARE READY FOR WHATEVER THE TASK IS.
AND THOSE COMMENTS YOU MADE OR DULY NOTED.
>> AND UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE ON THE CUTTING EDGE.
[03:35:01]
NOBODY WANTS THE TIP OF THE SPEAR, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THATIS WHERE WE ARE. >> I ALSO APPRECIATE THAT WE ARE TAUGHT OF THE CONSTITUENTS. AND I KNOW THAT IT'S JUST ÃI KNOW IT'S A TOUGH DECISION THAT WE HAD TO MAKE.
BUT WE ALL DID AND WE DID IT COLLABORATIVELY.
AND I APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE RATEPAYERS FIRST.
I'M GONNA GO HOME AND READ ABOUT THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.