[00:00:05]
>> WELCOME TO THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AUTHORITY REGULAR MEETING FOR FEBRUARY 21, 2023. LET'S STAND FOR THE PRAYER AND
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.
IF YOU WILL PRAY WITH ME. LORD, WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS AND ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR GOODNESS AND HOW YOU PROVIDE EVERYTHING WE NEED AT THE RIGHT TIME.
WE OFFER YOUR CONTINUED GRACE AND MERCY AS WE TAKE THE JOURNEY OF FAITH TOWARD THE DESTINY OF FORT PIERCE.
WE ASK FOR YOUR WISDOM AND GUIDANCE AS WE LEARN TO NAVIGATE UNCHARTED WATERS. WE PRAY FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF TO HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST AS IMPORTANT DECISIONS ARE DISCUSSED AND MADE. WE PRAY FOR UNITY TO DWELL AMONG OUR COMMUNITY AND PRAY FOR PROTECTION OVER THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. IN JESUS' NAME, WE PRAY.
>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> THANK YOU. MISS CORTEZ, PLEASE CALL THE
[A. SET THE AGENDA]
>> PRESENT. >> EVERYONE HAS A FEW MINUTES TO REVIEW THE AGENDA? ANY MOTIONS FOR APPROVAL?
>> MRS. BENNETT? >> YES, MA'AM.
>> MR. LAMMERS? >> YES, MA'AM.
[B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
>> MAYOR HUDSON? >> YES, MA'AM.
>> MRS. GIBBONS? >> YES, MA'AM.
>> ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO MINUTES.
EVERYBODY HAVE A MINUTE TO REVIEW THAT?
MOTION FOR APPROVAL? >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE MEETING ON FEBRUARY 7, 2023.
>> YES, MA'AM. >> MR. LAMMERS?
>> YES, MA'AM. >> MAYOR HUDSON?
>> YES, MA'AM. >> MRS. GIBBONS?
>> YES, MA'AM. >> ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC TODAY? NO.
[D. CONSENT AGENDA]
ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON.CONSENT AGENDA. ANYTHING ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO PULL OR DISCUSS FURTHER? OR...
LOOKING FOR APPROVAL? >> MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> YES, MA'AM. >> MR. LAMMERS IN.
>> YES, MA'AM. >> MAYOR HUDSON?
[E.1. GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting]
>> YES, MA'AM. >> MRS. GIBBONS?
WE HAVE A RECOGNITION OF EXCELLENCE TODAY.
>> YES, MADAM CHAIR. GOOD AFTERNOON TO THE BOARD MEMBERS AS WELL. THE FIRST ITEM THIS AFTERNOON IS A RECOGNITION OF AN AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING. BARBARA MIKA, DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL SERVICES WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM.
>> THANK YOU. MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO... I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE FOR THIS RECOGNITION.
THIS IS IN REGARD TO OUR ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FROM 2021.
WE ARE WORKING ON 2022 NOW. TO FINALIZE THAT.
THE GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL OFFICE ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN RECOGNIZING STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES FOR OVER 75 YEARS. FPUA'S FISCAL YEAR 2021 ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT HAS BEEN JUDGED BY AN IMPARTIAL PANEL TO MEET THE HIGH STANDARDS OF THE PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDE THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY AND FULL DISCLOSURE.
TO CLEARLY COMMUNICATE ITS FINANCIAL RESULTS AND MOTIVATE POTENTIAL USERS OF THE GROUP TO READ THE RO REPORT.
THE CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF RECOGNITION IN THE AREA OF GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL REPORTING. ATTAINING THIS AWARD REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT BY GOVERNMENT AND ITS MANAGEMENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE OF THE FINANCE STAFF AS WELL AS MANAGEMENT FROM FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AUTHORITY FOR THEIR EFFORTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMPILATION OF THIS REPORT. FPUA IS ONE OF ALMOST 300 FLORIDA GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THAT RECEIVE THIS AWARD FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2021. WE HAVE RECEIVED THIS AWARD EVERY YEAR SINCE 1995, MAKING THIS OUR 27TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR FOR THIS RECOGNITION. AND WE ARE VERY PROUD OF IT.
>> NICE WORK. WAY TO KEEP IT UP.
IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT TO PUT THIS TOGETHER.
>> IT DOES. >> WE APPRECIATE IT.
>> OKAY. >> AT THE END OF THE BOARD
MEETING, WE WILL TAKE A PICTURE. >> OKAY.
>> WITH BARBARA. >> SOUNDS GOOD.
>> CONGRATULATIONS. >> CONGRATULATIONS.
[G.1. December 2022 Bill Comparison Report– For Information Only. ]
MOVING ON. WE HAVE NO OLD BUSINESS.
NEW BUSINESS, WE HAVE OUR BILL COMPARISON.
>> YES, MA'AM. MADAM CHAIR, THE LAST ITEM, THE
[00:05:03]
LAST ITEM THIS AFTERNOON IS A BILL COMPARISON FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, 2022. ANDREA SLOAN, UTILITY ACCOUNTANTWILL PRESENT THIS ITEM. >> THANK YOU.
MAYOR HUDSON, MADAM CHAIR, AND BOARD MEMBERS, I WILL BE PRESENTING THE MONTHLY UPDATE PUBLISHED BY FMEA AND THE LOCAL TREASURY COAST UTILITY BILLS FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER.
THIS GRAPH DEPICTS FPUA'S RESIDENTIAL RATES FOR 1,000 KILOWATT HOURS OF CONSUMPTION IN RELATION TO THE OTHER 12 MEMBERS. IT LIST IT IS MUNICIPALITIES BY RANK FROM LOWEST TO HIGHEST IN TERMS OF BASE BILL AMOUNT.
FOR DECEMBER, FPUA IS AT $147.48 AS INDICATED BY THE YELLOW BAR.
WE HAVE MOVED UP TWO SPOTS SINCE NOVEMBER.
WE ARE NOW THIRD FROM THE LEFT WHICH INDICATES WE ARE LOWER THAN TEN OF THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
THIS GRAPH DISPLAYS A COMPARISON FOR THAT SAME LEVEL OF CONSUMPTION, BUT INCLUDES ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES IN THE STATE.
AGAIN, FOR DECEMBER, WE ARE AT $147.48, AND OUR TOTAL RATE FOR A THOUSAND KILOWATT HOURS OF CONSUMPTION INCREASED BY 8:00 SINCE DECEMBER DUE TO THE PCA INCREASE.
WE MOVE FIVE SPOTS TO THE RIGHT WHEN COMPARED TO OUR POSITION LAST MONTH. WE CURRENTLY RANK 17TH WHICH IS CLOSE TO THE MIDDLE WHEN COMPARED TO THE OTHER 31 MUNICIPAL UTILITIES. 7 OF THE UTILITIES LISTED IMPLEMENTED INCREASES IN DECEMBER WHILE 7 HAD DECREASES.
18 REMAINED UNCHANGED. THESE CHANGES YIELDED AN INCREASE OF 94 CENTS AND A MUNICIPAL AVERAGE INCREASE OF EIGHT CENTS. IN COMPARISON TO THE ARP-IOU MUNICIPAL AVERAGES, THE RATE IS SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN IOU AND THE MUNICIPAL. THIS GRAPH PREJTS A COMPARISON BETWEEN ALL ELECTRIC PROVIDERS BUT FOR AN INCREASED CONSUMPTION LEVEL OF 2,500 KILOWATT HOURS. FPUA INDICATED AGAIN BY THE YELLOW BAR HAS A DECEMBER BILL AMOUNT OF $371.67.
THIS IS, AGAIN, AN INCREASE OF $20 FROM THE PREVIOUS MONTH DUE TO THE PCA INCREASE. AT THIS CONSUMPTION LEVEL, WE MOVED UP 7 SPOTS, AND WE RANKED 20TH.
THAT PLACES US IN THE UPPER HALF OF THE MUNICIPAL UTILITIES, AND AT THIS LEVEL, FPUA'S BASE RATE IS LOWER THAN THE AVERAGES BUT HIGHER THAN THE MUNICIPAL. THIS SLIDE DISPLAY IT IS COMPARISON OF AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL UTILITY BILLS ON THE TREASURY COAST FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER.
THE COLUMN HIGHLIGHTED IN BLUE SHOWS FPUA'S UTILIT BILL FOR INSIDE CITY LIMIT CUSTOMERS. THE OTHER COLUMNS REPRESENTING NEIGHBORING CITIES HAVE ELECTRIC SERVICE PROVIDE BY FPNL AND WATER WASTE BY THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY.
THIS INCLUDES THE DECEMBER POWER COST ADJUSTMENT INCREASE FOR ELECTRIC AS WELL AS AN INCREASE IN WATER AND WASTEWATER RATES.
THE SMALLER TABLE BELOW DEPICTS FPUA CUSTOMER BILL PRICING USING AVERAGES FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, RATHER THAN THE STANDARD CONSUMPTION RATES. THOSE AVERAGES ARE 4,700 GALLONS FOR WATER. SINCE THIS INFORMATION WAS LAST PRESENTED TO THE BOARD, THERE HAS BEEN NO ADDITIONAL NEWS REGARDING LOCAL RATE CHANGES, BUT THE APPROVED FPNL INCREASES HAVE BEGUN TO ROLL OUT. WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE THEIR IMPACT IN NEXT MONTH'S BILL'S COMPARISON REPORT.
THIS IS PREDICTED TO AMOUNT TO AN APPROXIMATELY 10% INCREASE IN ADDITION TO THE PREVIOUSLY IMPROVED... APPROVED INCREASE THAT IS WENT INTO EFFECT IN JANUARY.
THIS ITEM HAS BEEN PRESENTED FOR YOUR INFORMATION ONLY AND REQUIRES NO ACTION. HOWEVER, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS THEM.
>> THANK YOU. I IMAGINE YOU GUYS HAVE SOME
QUESTIONS. >> DO WE KNOW THE PREDICTION...
DO WE KNOW THE PREDICTION FOR THE FPNL INCREASE?
>> THEY ARE CURRENTLY PREDICTING THAT IT IS GOING TO BE AN ADDITIONAL 10% TO THE COST OF THE BILLS.
IN ADDITION TO WHAT THEY HAVE JUST ROLLED OUT FOR JANUARY.
SO THEY WENT AHEAD AND FILED THE PETITION.
THEY ARE AWAITING APPROVAL. FOR THOSE INCREASES TO ROLL OUT.
BUT THEY ARE EXPECTING THEM TO LAST BETWEEN 21 MONTHS FOR THE FUEL RECOVERY AND 12 MONTHS FOR THE STORM FEE RECOUPMENT.
>> WELL, IS THERE A JANUARY INCREASE?
[00:10:01]
IF I REMEMBER... >> THERE WAS A BASE RATE
>> AND A RECOVERY RATE INCREASE. DAN I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER
WHAT THOSE NUMBERS WERE. >> I WAS SCRAMBLING TO TRY TO FIND THEM. I DON'T HAVE THEM AT THE TIPS OF MY FINGERS. WE CAN CERTAINLY PROVIDE THEM.
>> I BELIEVE IT WAS EITHER A 10% OR 12% ALL-INCLUSIVE.
IT WAS CLOSER TO 13% WHEN YOU COMBINE THE BASE RATE AND
I THOUGHT IT WAS CLOSER TO THAT, TOO.
I WAS THINKING 15 IN MY HEAD OVERALL.
SOMETHING AROUND, LIKE, 25 WITH BOTH.
THEY HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH DIFFERENT RANGES.
THEY FINALLY SETTLED ON 12 AND SOME CHANGE.
JUST UNDER 13. THEY HAD A DISCUSSION ALSO ON THE TABLE FOR OCTOBER OR POTENTIALLY ANOTHER ADJUSTMENT IN OCTOBER. OF THIS YEAR.
SO... >> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
ON THE 1,000 KILOWATT HOUR, I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THAT WE WEREN'T A LITTLE BIT LOWER. ALL OF THE MUNICIPALITIES THAT ARE IN... I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO THE SLIDE WITH THE ENTIRE STATE. WITH THE 1,000 KILOWATT.
JUST SO WE CAN HAVE A REFERENCE. ARE THEY ALL BUYING INTO THE HEDGING THING? EVERYBODY ON THIS?
>> THE ONES IN RED ARE THE ARP. >> OKAY.
>> THEY ARE PART OF PRE-PURCHASING GAS.
>> OKAY. >> THERE IS DIFFERENT TERMS FOR PREPAID AND PREPURCHASING. PRE-PURCHASING GAS FOR OUT YEARS. SOME OTHER CITY THAT IS ARE NOT IN RED, THERE IS A COMBINATION OF WHAT THEY DO.
I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT IN RED.
FOR THOSE THAT ARE, THEY ARE ALL PART OF THE ARP WHICH BY ALL THEIR POWER... WHICH BUY ALL OF THEIR POWER FROM FMPA.
>> OKAY. I KNOW FOR SOME OF THEM, THE CITY SUBSIDIZES SOME OF THE LOST OF INCOME OR WHATEVER.
I KNOW THERE ARE SOME OTHER WEIRD THINGS THAT GO ON OUT THERE. I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF THEY WERE ALL PART OF IT OR WHAT... YOU KNOW, IF THERE WAS ANY STRATEGIES THAT YOU KNOW OF THAT HAVE COME UP.
>> NO. THEY ALL OPERATE QUITE DIFFERENT. ACTUALLY, LAST WEEK AT THE STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION, I HAD A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN WITH HOMESTEAD, LAKE WORTH, A COUPLE OF UTILITIES.
THEY OPERATE DIFFERENTLY, FOR SURE.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW, SOME OF THEM MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE DEBT RELATED TO THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE. THEY OPERATE DIFFERENTLY.
THOSE IN RED BUY ALL OF THEIR POWER FROM FMPA.
THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE ABLE TO DO PRE-PURCHASING.
>> CURRENT PRICE OF GAS? DO WE KNOW?
IT IS PRETTY LOW. >> PRETTY LOW, YEAH.
>> WE WILL BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THAT.
AND THERE IS SOME PREDICTIONS THAT IT WILL PROBABLY LAST AT LEAST THROUGH THE END OF SUMMER. YOU NEVER KNOW.
>> RIGHT. >> YOU JUST DON'T KNOW.
>> ANY SPECULATION AS TO WHY IT HAS DROPPED SO LOW?
ANY INFORMATION ON THAT? >> DAN, DAN MIGHT BE ABLE TO
HELP ME OUT A LITTLE BIT HERE. >> A LITTLE BIT.
FROM SOME OF THE PRESENTATION THAT IS FMPA HAS DONE, PART OF IT IS DUE TO THE MILDER WINTER IN THE MIDWEST AND THE EAST.
A LOT OF THOSE GAS PRICES ARE DRIVEN BY COLD WINTERS AND THE USAGE OF GAS IN THOSE AREAS. IT HAS BEEN RELATIVELY MILD THIS YEAR WHICH CAUSED THE GAS PRICES TO DROP A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF DEMAND. IT HAS GONE DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
>> THAT HOLDS TRUE, AND I KNOW THERE IS A BIG WINTER STORM COMING THROUGH NOW, THAT IS WHERE THOSE PREDICTIONS ARE COMING FROM. GAS USAGEMENT.
>> STORAGE IS UP AS WELL. AND THERE WAS AN EXPORT UNIT THAT WAS OUT THAT I THINK IS BACK ON-LINE NOW.
MAYBE, MAYBE NOT. AND THERE IS ANOTHER EXPORT STATION THAT IS SUPPOSED TO COME ON-LINE LATER THIS YEAR.
YOU JUST DON'T KNOW. I MEAN, IT IS A COMMODITY
>> WHATEVER THE PRICE IS FOR THE PRODUCT IS WHAT YOU WILL HAVE TO
PAY. >> WELL, WILL FMPA TAKE ANY ACTION TO BUY ANY NOW THAT IT HAS DROPPED DOWN BELOW THAT
RANGE? >> AT THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, THEY DID APPROVE A $3 THRESHHOLD. IF IT GETS BELOW $3 FOR SOME OF THE OUT YEARS, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO BU THAT.
THE $2 RANGE IS FOR THE NEXT THREE TO SIX MONTHS MAYBE.
SOMETHING IN THAT RANGE. THE OUT YEARS ARE STILL GENERALLY IN THE $3 TO $4 RANGE. I DON'T THINK THAT IN THE OUT YEARS, IN 12 MONTHS OR 18 MONTHS FROM NOW, THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HIT THAT MARK. THE $3 MARK IS NOT REALISTIC.
THEY HAVE HEDGED AS MUCH AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN.
TO GET DOWN TO THAT BEFORE 3 MARK FOR THAT PERIOD LATER IN THE NEXT 18-24 MONTHS IS PROBABLY UNLIKELY.
THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL HAVE TO DISCUSS AT THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO SEE WHAT THAT NUMBER NEEDS TO BE.
$3 IS WAY TOO LOW. >> AT THE LAST EXECUTIVE
[00:15:02]
COMMITTEE, WERE WE ALREADY EXPERIENCING PRICES LIKE THIS?>> YES. THE PRICES WERE IN THE $2.50 RANGE. YES, SIR.
>> AND WHAT DID THAT DO... I KNOW IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A TOUGH SELL TO GET FOLKS TO HEDGE.
WHAT DID THAT DO FOR THE IDEA OF HEDGING, GENERALLY, FOR THE GROUP? IS IT GOING TO BE THAT MUCH
HARDER? >> SO A LOT GOES INTO THAT BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW MUCH CASH RESERVES THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DEDICATE TO THE MARGIN CALL FOR ANY ADDITIONAL HEDGING. AS SOME OF THE... AS SOME OF THE MONEY BECOMES READILY AVAILABLE, THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO PUT SOME OF THAT BACK INTO THE MIX TO BE ABLE TO HEDGE FURTHER OUT.
THAT PUTS US AT RISK ALSO IN CASE PRICES DO COME BACK UP.
>> I DON'T... I THINK I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION.
(LAUGHTER). >> AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.
CRYSTAL BALL THAT YOU HAVE. >> RIGHT.
>> SOUNDED LIKE YOUR ANSWER WAS MAYBE.
>> MAYBE. THAT IS POSSIBLY ALMOST.
NEXT TIME. >> I KNOW THESE KINDS OF THINGS, THERE ARE SO MANY VARIABLES THAT GO INTO IT.
IT IS HARD TO SAY ANYTHING WITH CONFIDENCE UNLESS YOU WANT TO PRETEND LIKE YOU KNOW SOMETHING YOU DON'T.
RIGHT. THE ONLY OTHER COMMENT I HAD, THERE IS A SLIGHT DISCREPANCY UNLESS I'M MISSING SOMETHING, BETWEEN THE FIGURES WE SEE OR THE FIGURE WE SEE ON THE TREASURY COAST UTILITY BILL COMPARISON AND WHAT WE SEE ON THE RESIDENTIAL ELECTRIC BILL COMPARISON.
SO WHEN YOU HAVE THIS SLIDE THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY SHOWING NOW, AND YOU COMPARE THAT TO TWO SLIDES FORWARD, IT SEEMS LIKE WE
DON'T HAVE THE SAME FIGURE. >> THAT ONE.
>> YEAH. >> SO IF YOU LOOK AT ELECTRIC 1,000. YOU COMPARE THAT TO WHAT WE SHOW ON THE SLIDE, TWO SLIDES PREVIOUS.
IT DOESN'T SEEM TO MATCH UP. SO MAYBE THERE IS SOME FEES OR TAXES THAT ARE IN THIS ONE THAT WE DON'T SHOW ON THE OTHER ONE.
>> I THINK YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE PREVIOUS SLIDE.
IT WAS $1.47 AND SOME CHANGE. YEAH.
>> RIGHT. I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY REASON OR IS IT JUST A LITTLE BIT OF A BLUNDER? OR WHAT MAY BE HAPPENING THERE. ONE THING THAT IS ALWAYS... THAT SLIDE FROM TWO SLIDES AGO, IT IS ALWAYS KIND OF BEEN A LITTLE MISLEADING FOR ME, IF YOU LOOK AT THE IOU AVERAGE, RIGHT? THAT AVERAGE USUALLY INDICATES THAT WE STAY FAIRLY COMPETITIVE WITH IOU'S. THEN WHEN YOU GO TO LOCALLY, FOR THE TREASURE COAST BILL COMPARISON THAT, PAINTS A DIFFERENT PICTURE. SO I THINK THE REASON FOR THAT IS FPNL COMPARED TO OTHER IS IOUS ARE USUALLY A BIT LOWER.
>> YEAH. I THINK PART OF WHAT WE TRY TO DO HERE IS TRY TO USE THE FMEA DATA WHICH COLLECTS ALL OF THAT FOR THE MEMBER CITIES. TRYING TO TRANSLATE THAT OVER.
THEY DO A UTILITY AVERAGE AND MUNICIPAL AVERAGE.
YOU ARE RIGHT. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE LOCAL UTILITY THAT WE COMPETE WITH AND FNL.
>> WHAT WOULD BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE $1.47 AND THE $1.56.
>> IT IS $3ND 78 IN GROSS RECEIPT TAX AND $5.22 CENTS IN
UTILITY TAX. >> IT IS ABOUT $10 CHEAPER.
THOSE ARE WITHOUT TAXES. >> YUP.
>> THOSE DON'T GO INTO THE OTHER...
>> YUP, YUP. WELL, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE EMPHASIZED IMPEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT THAT DIFFERENCE IS... THAT IS NOT FPUA PUTTING O'EN THAT TAX.
>> NO. >> THAT IS THE CITY OF FORT
PIERCE AND WHATEVER ELSE. >> STATE AND... YUP.
>> YUP. >> AND THEN THE OTHER THING THAT I NOTICED QUITE OFTEN IS IF YOU LOOK AT... WE TEND TO BE PRETTY COMPETITIVE, ESPECIALLY ON WASTEWATER FOR HOW WE COMPARE TO OTHER UTILITIES. THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN
ENCOURAGING. >> SO I WAS LOOKING AT THAT ONE, ACTUALLY, TOO. I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.
VERO BEACH HAD THEIR INCREASE. WHEN ARE WE GOING TO SEE THAT?
WILL THAT BE JANUARY MAYBE? >> I'M NOT SURE.
[00:20:04]
VERO, THE CITY OF VERO HAD A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE.IT WAS PUBLICIZED MULTIPLE... 5 AND 5.
THEN THEY HAVE A BIG ONE, LIKE A BIG 18%... I DON'T KNOW IF BO REMEMBERS. PROBABLY NOT.
THEY HAVE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT INCREASES COMING.
>> RIGHT. >> THE COMBINATION OF...
>> MOVING THEIR PLANT AS WELL. YUP.
>> THE PLANT ALSO. THEY DON'T HAVE AN ELECTRIC
THEY HAVE TO SUBSIDIZE. FOR THE CITY.
YEAH. >> THAT IS NO LONGER SUBSIDIZED.
RIGHT? >> THAT WAS MY SUSPICION ALL ALONG. AFTER THEY GOT RID OF THE ELECTRIC UTILITY, THOSE WATER AND WASTEWATER RATES HAVE BEEN KEPT ARTIFICIALLY LOW. THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO
>> THEY HAD A LOW MILLAGE RATE. WHICH THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO
YEAH. THAT WAS DISCUSSED ALSO IN THE
ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS?
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU.
>> YOU ARE WELCOME. ALL RIGHT.
THIS WAS LIKE THE FASTEST MEETING ON THE PLANET.
[J. DIRECTOR]
WAY TO GO, GUYS. WE'VE GOT SOME DIRECT...DIRECTOR, YOU HAVE ANY? >> YES, MA'AM.
THE FMPA STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION WAS HELD ON FEBRUARY 15, AND WE DID HAVE A GREAT SESSION. ALL THE ARP MEMBERS AS WELL.
WE DISCUSSED QUITE A FEW ITEMS THAT WERE VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE ELECTRIC INDUSTRY. THE TOP PRIORITY THAT CAME OUT OF THAT MEETING WAS LOW-COST... DELIVERY AND LOW-COST POWER TO ALL MUNICIPAL UTILITY,. THAT WAS PRETTY ENCOURAGING.
THAT WAS A VOTING SYSTEM THAT WAS DYNAMIC.
I WAS ABLE TO GET SOME IDEAS OUT OF IT.
WE WILL PROBABLY SEE SOME OF THAT DURING OUR STRATEGIC SESSION. THE OBJECTIVE, THE MISSION OF ALL THE UTILITIES WAS PRETTY STRAIGHT FORWARD.
TRIED TO BE AS LOW-COST AS POSSIBLE.
SO IT WAS WELL ORGANIZED. AND AGAIN, I TOOK SOME IDEAS.
SOME GOOD IDEAS FROM THAT MEETING.
THIS PAST SATURDAY AROUND 1:00 A.M., WE DID HAVE AN AIR RELEASE VALVE THAT BROKE OFF DUE TO SOME CORROSION ON OUR 18-INCH WATER MAIN THAT SERVES NORTH BEACH. I CALLED THE MADAM MAYOR AND MADAM CHAIR TO GIVE THEM AN UPDATE.
THE SADDLE WAS NOT DAMAGED. THANKFULLY, THEY WERE ABLE TO REPAIR IT AND GET THE WATER BACK ON AROUND 1:00 THAT AFTERNOON.
WATER WAS RESTORED. TOMORROW, WE WILL BE TAKING COMMISSIONER BRODERICK ON OUR TOUR OF FACILITIES.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS WORKED REALLY WELL FOR NEW COMMISSIONERS. TO GIVE THEM AN INSIDER LOOK OF HOW FPUA OPERATES. WE LOOK FORWARD TO.
THAT TOMORROW, WE WILL SEND THE TWO APPLICANTS THAT HAVE SUBMITTED FOR THE FPUA BOARD ATTORNEY, WE WILL SEND THAT TO BOARD MEMBERS VIA EMAIL. WE DID SEND IT OUT TO JODI AND DAN TODAY, I THINK. THEY HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO MAKE A COUPLE OBSERVATIONS AND COMMENTS.
AND LAST, YOU SHOULD HAVE A REVISED AGENDA FOR THE CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR THE YEAR. YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THE JULY 4 MEETING WILL LIKELY BE CANCELED. (LAUGHTER).
>> NOBODY WILL BE THERE. >> NOBODY WILL BE THERE.
WE DO HAVE TO HAVE THE JULY 18 MEETING AT 2:00 BECAUSE THAT WEEK IS THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THAT IN EARLY. OTHERWISE, WE WILL HAVE TO TRAVEL KIND OF LATE. THAT IS ALL I HAVE FOR THE
>> YES, MA'AM. >> ARE THE TWO RESUMES... ARE THEY THE ONLY TWO? ARE...
>> THEY GOT FILTERED THROUGH. >> THEY GOT FILTERED.
OKAY. >> I'LL ASK H.R. TO SEE IF THEY CAN GIVE ME THE LIST OF EVERYBODY THAT HAS APPLIED.
THAT IS FINE. I THOUGHT THE WAY YOU SAID IT, THE TWO THAT WE GOT... I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS...
>> YES. >> DAN MENTIONED TODAY THAT HE IS GOING TO POST IT SOMEWHERE ADDITIONALLY.
>> I SUBMITTED A POSTING THROUGH THE FLORIDA BAR.
THEY HAVE A LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAW SECTION, AND IT IS ALL OF THE ATTORNEYS IN FLORIDA THAT ARE INTERESTED IN OR PRACTICE IN THAT AREA. AND THERE IS A LIST OF ALL OF THEM. I SUBMITTED FPU'S POSITION OPENING FOR. THAT HOPEFULLY, THAT TRIGGERS SOME PEOPLE WITH EXPERIENCE IN THIS AREA THAT ARE INTERESTED.
>> THAT IS GREAT. >> ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A CUTOFF PERIOD? DID WE DECIDE ON ONE?
>> I DON'T THINK WE DECIDED ON ONE.
RIGHT NOW THE TWO APPLICANTS, I WOULD SAY, ONE OF THEM LOOKS LIKE MAYBE... HAS POTENTIAL. BUT I'LL LOOK TO JODI AND DAN TO SEE IF THEY CAN SCREEN THEIR BACKGROUND.
TO SEE IF THERE IS SOME... AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US.
WE WILL SEND THEM TO YOU. YOU CAN LOOK AT THEM.
AT SOME POINT, YOU MAY WANT TO TALK TO DAN ABOUT THOSE RESUMES.
TO SEE... YOU KNOW... >> YOU JUST SUBMITTED IT?
WE NEED TO GIVE THAT TIME? >> I SUBMITTED A WEEK AGO.
IT DIDN'T GO THROUGH. I REACHED OUT TO THE BAR AND GOT ASSURANCES THAT THEY WILL DIRECTLY PUSH IT THROUGH.
IT GOT LOCKED UP IN THEIR SYSTEM.
>> WE WILL GIVE IT SOME TIME FOR THAT.
I ALSO HAVE A QUESTION. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE MAIN
[00:25:06]
>> WAS THAT ON A RADAR? WAS THAT ALREADY AN AREA THAT WE THOUGHT MIGHT BE HAVING AN ISSUE?
THAT NEEDED TO BE... >> SO THAT WILL NOT BE REPLACED AS PARTS OF THE BRIDGE REPLACEMENT.
THEY ARE DOING SOME WORK FOR THE NEW BRIDGE.
WE TYPICALLY DON'T INSTALL THOSE KIND OF VALVES ANYMORE.
THAT WAS DONE BACK IN THE DAY FOR FLUSHING THE LINE, FOR TESTING THE LINE. WE TYPICALLY DON'T DO THAT SPECIFIC SETUP ANYMORE. SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD, INTO THE FUTURE, WE HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR QUITE A WHILE.
WE HOPEFULLY WON'T EXPERIENCE THAT SPECIFIC ISSUE.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT... >> DO WE HAVE A TARGET OF THOSE VALVES WHERE THEY MAY BE SO WE HAVE A LIST?
. >> I KNOW THEY ARE KIND OF HIT OR MISS. RIGHT?
>> IT IS A REALLY OLDER SYSTEM. >> WE MAY HAVE MORE LIKE THAT OUT THERE. WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE.
WE KNOW FOR SURE BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE?
>> WE MAINTAIN THE VALVES THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE ON THE MAPS.
YES. >> ABOUT HOW OLD ARE THOSE
VALVES? >> WELL, IT DEPENDS ON... THAT ONE SPECIFICALLY, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU KNEW HOW OLD IT WAS.
I MEAN, PROBABLY OLDER THAN... I DON'T KNOW.
(LAUGHTER). >> SO, THESE QUESTIONS ARE GOING TO GET HARDER. MAYBE BO SHOULD COME UP.
I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION. AS WE ARE DISCUSSING THIS, I'M THINKING OH, MY GOSH. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE FLIP THE FLOW? LIKE, EVERYTHING HAS BEEN FLOWING THIS WAY FOR SO LONG. AND NOW WHEN WE TURN IT AROUND, IS THERE GOING TO BE SOME KIND OF DEGRADATION ON SOME OF THESE? IF SOME OF IT HAS BEEN BROKEN DOWN, BUT IT IS STILL NOW GOING WITH THE VIBE. RIGHT? THEN WHEN IT TURNS AROUND, IT IS GOING TO PICK UP ALL THOSE FLAPS AND FLIPPING THEM IN A DIFFERENT... HAS THAT BEEN DISCUSSED? YOU GUYS?
>> I'M SURE WE HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.
SO SOME OF THOSE NEWER PIPES THAT WILL BE TAKING A LOT OF THAT WILL BE PLASTIC PIPE. HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, WE WON'T EXPERIENCE ANY OF. THAT YOU HAVE SOME OLDER PIPES THAT MAY EXPERIENCE SOME OF. THAT WE WILL TACKLE THOSE AS
THOSE ISSUES COME UP. >> RIGHT.
>> ALL THE NEW STUFF THAT WE ARE USING TO REDIRECT IT THE OTHER
WAY ARE GOING TO BE PLASTIC. >> RIGHT.
>> NOT TO GIVE US A LITTLE STRESS.
CATCH THE FLAP AND GO THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
[K. ATTORNEY]
I DON'T KNOW. OKAY.SO WE WERE ON TO ATTORNEY? >> THANKS.
I HAVE TWO QUICK ITEMS. THE FIRST IS A FOLLOW-UP FROM LAST MEETING. I MENTIONED THERE WAS SOME TALK AT THE LEGISLATURE AND SOME OF THE SUBCOMMITTEES ABOUT SOME OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION JURISDICTION OVER MUNICIPAL UTILITIES. FMPA'S GENERAL COUNSEL JODI FINKLEY, HE SPOKE ON FEBRUARY 9 AT ONE OF THOSE COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND DID AN EXCELLENT JOB EXPLAINING A LOT OF THE ISSUES IN SIMPLE... HE TOOK SOME COMPLICATED LEGAL ISSUES ABOUT THE JURISDICTION OVER MUNICIPALITIES AND THE RATE ISSUES AND THE INSIDE AND THE OUTSIDE, THE COUNTY... JUST PROBLEMS. EXPLAINED IT IN A VERY SIMPLE MATTER-OF-FACT MANNER. FORECAST IT IS A GREAT WATCH.
THERE WAS A LINK SENT OUT TO ALL OF YOU TODAY.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO WATCH IT. IT IS NOT THAT LONG.
WHEN YOU GET THOSE QUESTIONS, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ANSWER THEM.
YOU KNOW? IN SIMPLE TERMS. IT IS A GREAT WATCH. THE BOTTOM LINE WITH SOME OF THAT ISSUE IS THAT IT IS A LOCAL ISSUE.
IT IS REALLY KIND OF COMING OUT OF GAINESVILLE.
THERE IS SOME... GAINESVILLE IS A POLITICAL HOTBED.
THERE IS SOME ISSUES WITH THE GAINESVILLE REGIONAL UTILITIES.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE WANTED ARE FOCUSED ON ISSUING...
ON ISSUES HAPPENING HERE. WE ARE MAKING SURE THE LOCAL ISSUES ARE ADDRESSED LOCALLY. I THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE THE SHIFT FROM NOW. NOW THAT IT HAS BEEN EXPLAINED.
SOME OF THE ISSUES AND SOME OF THE LEGISLATORS UNDERSTANDING EXACTLY, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE CASE IS AND WITH LOCAL GOVERNING OF MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC UTILITIES. BUT AGAIN, WE WILL KEEP YOU POSTED ON THOSE AS THEY COME OUT.
AGAIN, NO LEGISLATION HAS BEEN PROPOSED.
THIS IS STILL HAPPENING IN THE ECONOMY TEES.
WE ARE DOING A GOOD JOB OF GETTING OUR STORY OUT THERE.
LY STOP THERE IF THERE IS ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT ONE.
>> I HAVE DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
I HAVE A COMMENT. THAT THAT'S BEEN OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE LEGISLATURE. IS, LIKE, THE COUNTY DOES SOMETHING GOOFY. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE LEGISLATURE. WE HAVE TO PASS A LAW.
BECAUSE THE COUNTY HAS DONE SOMETHING GOOFY.
>> RIGHT. >> THAT HAPPENS A LOT.
ONE JURISDICTION GOES OUTSIDE OF WHAT THE LEGISLATURE THINKS IS WHAT THEY SHOULD DO. THEN THEY WANT TO PASS A LAW FOR EVERYBODY. SO...
>> RIGHT. >> I DON'T WANT TO POINT A FINGER AT GAINESVILLE. IT IS INDIAN RIVER COUNTY WITH SOME WATER ISSUES AND SOME INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CITY CUSTOMERS. AND YOU HAVE TWO LEGISLATORS THAT ARE TRYING TO PASS STATEWIDE LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS
[00:30:03]
>> IT IS REALLY AN EDUCATION EFFORT.
>> RIGHT. >> THE SECOND ITEM IS ON MARCH 30, FMPA IS GOING TO HOST A PHYSICAL SECURITY WORKSHOP? YOU HAVE SEEN THE HEADLINES ON SOME ATTACKS ON SUB-STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND SOME EFFORTS TO SABOTAGE THE GRID THROUGH, YOU KNOW, GUNFIRE OR WHATEVER AT ELECTRIC SUBSTATIONS. WE HAD SOME DISCUSSION ON THAT AT ONE OF OUR BOARD MEETINGS. WE DECIDED TO REACH OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. THEY BROUGHT IN THE F.B.I. AND FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WE ARE GOING TO HOST A WORKSHOP ON 3450R7B8G FOR ALL OF THE MEMBERS TO KIND OF WORKSHOP AND TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.
DOING VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS AND RESPONSES TO PHYSICAL ATTACKS, THINGS LIKE. THAT WE SENT OUT A LINK.
JAVIER IS AWARE OF IT. WE WILL TRY TO GET AS MANY MEMBERS AS WE CAN TO ATTEND THAT AND KEEP THAT DISCUSSION ON THE
>> IT WILL BE IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL.
WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO RECORD IT. THERE WILL BE A VIRTUAL OPTION
FOR IT AS WELL. >> I'M GLAD YOU GUYS HAVE THAT GOING ON. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT ABOUT
>> THANK YOU. >> WHAT TIME WILL THAT BE?
>> FROM 10:00 A.M. TO 2:00 P.M. >> WE WILL HAVE A COUPLE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS THERE AS WELL. OUR I.T. GROUP AND MAYBE SOME FACILITIES GROUPS AND SOME OPERATIONAL GROUPS WILL BE THERE
FROM THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM. >> WE WILL PROBABLY BE ABLE TO WATCH IT LATER IF YOU CANNOT WATCH IT LIVE.
AND F.B.I. IF YOU ASK THEM TO RECORD
SOMETHING, THEY SAY NO. >> ONE SHOT.
[L. COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS]
ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? >> SO I THOUGHT WE HAD A GREAT CEREMONY. HAVE WE MET SINCE WE HAD OUR CEREMONY? I DON'T KNOW.
I WANT TO THANK MR. SIS NEAR ROSS AND MR. RUTHERFORD WHO CAME TO THE CITY'S STRATEGIC PLANNING AND SAT THROUGH ALL OF IT. THEY WERE EXTREMELY HELPFUL.
IT WAS HELPFUL FOR THE CITY. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE HELPFUL
ABSOLUTELY. >> THERE IS A LOT OF REAL GOOD COMMENTS ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AUTHORITY.
EVERYBODY FEELS LIKE IT IS REALLY GOING VERY WELL STAFF-WISE AND WITH THIS BOARD AND THE CITY COMMISSION.
I WANTED TO SHARE THAT. AND ALSO THE GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP IS SATURDAY, MARCH 4. AND FPUA IS COOKING LUNCH FOR THE WORKERS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THE BOARD MEMBERS AND ANYBODY ELSE ON THIS STAFF, IF YOU WANT TO PICK A PROJECT A AND... YOU CAN GO WHERE THE MAIN PROJECT IS OR YOU CAN GO IN YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD AND BE A PART OF THE GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP.
SO TRYING TO KEEP FORT PIERCE CLEAN AND BEAUTIFUL.
THANK YOU. >> ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MS. MIKA AND MR. CISNEROS FOR COMING OUT FOR OUR BLACK HISTORY CELEBRATION AT FRANCIS K SWEET. THEY WERE READERS FOR OUR CHILDREN AND SUPPORTING CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
>> GOOD. >> THE MAYOR WILL BE THERE
>> I DON'T HAVE AN INTERESTING STORY LIKE JAKE.
AND ANOTHER PERSON WAS JACOB WILLIAMS. HE CAME, AND HE AND HIS WIFE HAD AN INTERESTING STORY.
YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS STORY. IT WAS FASCINATING.
ALL RIGHT. I GUESS IF THERE IS NOTHING ELSE, WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.