Feb 20, 2024 Fort Pierce Utilities Authority

[00:00:03]

PLEASE STAND BY FOR REALTIME CAPTIONS.

[MEETING TO ORDER]

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, IT IS NOW 2:00 P.M., AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE FORT PIERCE UTILITY BOARD FOR FEBRUARY 20TH, 2024. WILL YOU PLEASE JOIN US IN STANDING FOR THE INVOCATION, LED BY CAROL WILSON, HUMAN RESOURCES, AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

>> FATHER, WE ASK YOU TO GUIDE OUR BOARD TODAY. LET THEIR DECISIONS BE FAIR TO BOTH THE RESIDENTS OF FORT PIERCE AND THE UTILITIES AUTHORITY. WE ALSO ASK YOU TO BLESS THE BOARD AS THEY SEEK YOUR GUIDANCE AND KEEP ALL EMPLOYEES IN YOUR

CARE. IN JESUS WE PRAY, AMEN. >> AMEN.

>> 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. MADAME CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?

>> MR. FEE. >> PRESENT.

>> MRS. GIBBONS. >> PRESENT.

[A. SET THE AGENDA]

>> MAYOR HUDSON. >> PRESENT.

>> LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT WE HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT. THE NEXT ITEM IS SETTING THE AGENDA. DO I HAVE A MOTION?

>> I MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.

>> I WILL SECOND. >> MADAME CLERK, PLEASE CALL

THE ROLE. >> MR. FEE.

>> MR. KRISTINA GIBBONS. >> MRS. BENNETT.

>> YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. THE MOTION PASSES. THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS PUBLIC COMMENTS. IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK , YOU MAY DO SO NOW. WHEN YOU COME, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD. I AM SEEING THERE IS NO ONE THE

[C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

>> APPROVAL. >> SECOND.

>> MADAME CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.

>> MR. FEE. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> MRS. GIBBONS. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> MRS. BENNETT. >> YES, MA'AM. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO PULL FOR DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, OR DO I HAVE A MOTION?

>> I MOVE APPROVAL. >> SECOND.

>> MADAME CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.

>> MR. FEE PRINT >> ESKIMO MA'AM.

[E.1. GFOA Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting]

>> MRS. GIBBONS. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> MR. TRAN EIGHT. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> WILL NOW CONVERT TO THE REGULAR AGENDA.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. THE FIRST ITEM THIS AFTERNOON IS AN AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING. BARBARA MIKA WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM AND ALSO TELL US HOW MANY CONSECUTIVE YEARS WE HAVE RECEIVED THIS AWARD.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS, MADAM CHAIR. IT IS MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT TO YOU THE AWARD . LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT HAVE GONE BEYOND THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS IN OUR GENERAL ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES AND REPORTING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 . FORT PIERCE UTILITIES HAS BEEN AWARDED BY AN IMPARTIAL PANEL OF JUDGES OR ACCOUNTANTS , THAT WE MET THE STANDARDS OF THE PROGRAM IN THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY AND FULL DISCLOSURE. WHICH, GIVES US THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH ANY OF THE READERS AND MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO READ THROUGH THAT REPORT. WE HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT. IT IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF RECOGNITION IN THE AREA OF GOVERNMENT AND FINANCIAL REPORTING. ATTAINING THIS AWARD IS A SIGNIFICANT, WAS MEANT BY A GOVERNMENT, AND ITS MANAGEMENT. FISCAL YEAR 2022, BECAUSE THEY ARE A YEAR IN THE REAR. MARCH 29TH, THE CONSECUTIVE YEAR THAT WE HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR THIS HONOR.

THIS IS THE HEAVY PLAQUE. THE REASON I BROUGHT IT IS BECAUSE IT'S NEW AND THERE IS LESS DAMAGE THAT IS HAPPENED TO IT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FINANCE STAFF, WHO WORKED VERY HARD TO MAINTAIN THIS STATUS, IMPLEMENTING NEW REPORTING STANDARDS AND REPORTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE TO US, AND FROM THE AWARDING COMMITTEE. I'M ESPECIALLY PROUD OF OUR STAFF, BECAUSE WE HAVE PRODUCED THIS DOCUMENT

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RECEIVED. >> VERY WELL DONE.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MADAM CHAIR, CAN I MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON THAT? SO, HAVING BEEN AT FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AS A DEPARTMENT HEAD AND PART OF THE BUDGETING PROCESS, I CAN SAY A COUPLE THINGS RELATED TO THIS AWARD.

ONE IS, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, NOT ONLY HOLDS THEMSELVES TO A HIGH STANDARD, BUT THEY ALSO HOLD DEPARTMENT HEADS TO A HIGH STANDARD, AND THEY MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE CORRECT INFORMATION IS DETAILED AND WELL LAID OUT, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND WHY DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE. THE OTHER PART TO THAT IS, I DIDN'T REALIZE UNTIL I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE INVOLVED IN THE BUDGETING PROCESS HOW IMPORTANT GOOD ACCOUNTING PRACTICES ARE FOR WELL-INFORMED , GOOD DECISIONS.

THE FACT THAT FPUA IS BEING AWARDED THIS, I DON'T THINK , CAN BE OVERSTATED, HOW VALUABLE IT IS TO THE COMPANY AND THE LEADERSHIP TEAM TO MAKING GOOD DECISIONS. I, FOR

ONE, REALLY APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

>> WELL SAID. THANK YOU. >> A JOB. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[E.2. Post-Budgeted Requests for Wastewater Manhole Replacements]

>> YES, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THE NEXT ITEM IS A REQUEST TO APPROVE WASTEWATER MANHOLE REPAIRS AT THE LIFT STATIONS, SO THEY REQUIRE MORE WORK THAN YOUR TYPICAL REPAIR JOBS. WE WILL BE USING THE INTEREST FROM OUR WASTEWATER BOND PROCEEDS, AS YOU RECALL, WE INVESTED THOSE BOND PROCEEDS WHILE USING THEM IN AN INTEREST-BEARING ACCOUNT, SO WE WILL USE INTEREST FROM THOSE BOND PROCEEDS TO PAY FOR THESE PROJECTS, SO IT WON'T IMPACT THE CURRENT PROJECTS OR DIG INTO ANY CONTINGENCY OR EMERGENCY FUNDS. MARK KOBE, WASTEWATER SUPERINTENDENT, WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM.

>> THANK YOU . CHAIRWOMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, TODAY, LIKE YOU SAID, I'M HERE TO REQUEST TWO POST BUDGET REQUESTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $17,000. THEY WILL ADDRESS TWO SYSTEM FAILURES THAT WE'VE HAD. SPECIFICALLY, MANHOLES AND SEWER MAN LINES. I WILL SEGUE OFF THIS A LITTLE BIT, BUT THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHY WE SELECT TO DO THE MAINLINING THROUGH THE CONTRACT AND THE PRINTS WE HAVE RECEIVED, AND THE ACTUAL LINING OF MANHOLES. IT'S JUST A MUCH MORE EFFICIENT -- IT DOES NOT AFFECT THE PUBLIC. IT'S JUST A MUCH BETTER PRACTICE TO UTILIZE THEN THE THINGS THAT I'M REQUESTING TODAY. WE HAD A FAILURE AT SUNRISE AND CORTEZ, WHICH, THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE. WE HAD IT DOWN FOR MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE MONTHS . WHAT HAD HAPPENED IS, WE ATTEMPTED TO TV THIS LINE TO UTILIZE THE BETTER PRACTICES , AND IT WAS IDENTIFIED THAT APPOINT REPAIR NEEDED TO BE COMPLETED IN ORDER TO PULL THE LINING THROUGH THE SEWER MAIN. WE TV IT . WE HAD TO DO A POINT REPAIR TO REMOVE THE BLOCKAGE. THE PIPE HAD COLLAPSED SO BAD WE WERE UNABLE TO LINE IT. AT THAT POINT, WE CONTRACTED AND HAD A CONTRACTOR DO AN EXCAVATION, DIG DOWN INTO THE MAINLINE, AND AS WE ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE PIPE, THE PIPE WAS IN SUCH POOR CONDITION, WE COULD NOT REPAIR IT. AT THAT POINT, YOU JUST DIG FARTHER AND FARTHER AND FARTHER, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE ENTIRE SECTION OF PIPE, WHICH WAS ABOUT 70 FEET LONG, THERE WAS ABOUT NOTHING WE COULD TIE INTO, SO BASICALLY, WE WENT FROM A WET WELL OF A LIFT STATION TO THE NUMBER ONE MANHOLE. WHEN WE GOT TO THE NUMBER ONE MANHOLE, WE FOUND THAT THE MANHOLE WAS IN THE SAME CONDITION AS THE PIPE. IT WAS AN OLD, BRICK MANHOLE. ALL THE MORTAR JOINTS HAD STARTED TO CRACK , AND AS WE STARTED TO EXCAVATE, IT JUST CAVED IN. AT THAT POINT, WE KNEW WE HAD TO REPLACE THE MANHOLE AND ALL THE PIPE. THIS IS WHERE THE HUGE DELAY CAME IN, AND I'M SURE EVERYBODY HEARD ABOUT THE SUNRISE AND CORTEZ DELAYS. IT TOOK US ABOUT 70 DAYS TO GET THE MANHOLE DELIVERED. WE ORDERED IT, AND WE ORDERED IT WEST OF TOWN. THEY BUILD THEM, BUT WITH THE BOOM GOING ON AND EVERYTHING HAPPENING, IT WAS 70 DAYS BEFORE WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE MANHOLE. ONCE WE RECEIVED THE MANHOLE, THE PROJECT WENT AS COMPLETED. WE REPAIRED EVERYTHING AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER. THE ROAD IS RESTORED, AND IT HAS BEEN OPEN FOR ABOUT TWO AND HALF, THREE WEEKS. BUT, WE ARE REQUESTING -- THE FIRST BUDGET REQUEST IS FOR $367,000, AND BASICALLY,

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WE PROBABLY WOULD'VE BEEN THERE A WEEK WITH NO ROAD CLOSURES AND OUT OF THERE. AND, WE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO BRING THE ROAD BACK UP TO THE NEW STANDARDS WITH CURBS AND GUTTERS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. THAT IS THE FIRST ONE. THE SECOND ONE WE HAVE , THIS IS A PROJECT THAT IS NOT BEEN STARTED. IT IS LOCATED AT 3855 SOUTH U.S. ONE. BREATHE EASY, IT'S NOT IN THE ROAD, BUT IT IS SPECIFICALLY LIFT STATION 68. IT IS MANHOLE 6801 AND 6802 IN THE AMOUNT OF $350,000.

BASICALLY, THE TWO PIPES, FOR WHATEVER REASON, BACK IN THE DAY, THEY DESIGNED TWO MANHOLES RIGHT OUTSIDE THE WET WELL. IF I AM THE WET WELL, YOU HAVE A MANHOLE AT SAY 11:00, AND MANHOLE AT 1:00, AND THAT YOU GOT LINES THAT COME INTO IT AND THEY BOTH HAVE AN INDEPENDENT LINE THAT FLOWS INTO THE LIFT STATION WET WELL, SO THERE ARE TWO HOLES IN THE WET WELL.

THOSE LINES ARE CAST-IRON, AND THEY HAVE FAILED. THEY ARE NOT VIABLE TO BE LINED EITHER. WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IS REPLACE THOSE TWO MANHOLES WITH ONE MANHOLE, AND THAT WE WILL HAVE ONE LINE THAT COMES INTO THE WET WELL. THIS PROJECT HAS NOT STARTED. THE MANHOLE HAS BEEN ORDERED. WE DO HAVE IT IN POSSESSION, SO ONCE THEY ARE ABLE TO START THIS PROJECT, I'M ENVISIONING TO A HALF, THREE WEEKS. WITH THAT, I REQUEST APPROVAL OF THE TWO POST BUDGET REQUESTS AND THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $717,000 TO ADDRESS THE TWO SITUATIONS I HAVE EXPLAINED. I WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE AT

THIS POINT. >> ANY QUESTIONS?

>> I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS. HOW DID WE FIND THESE? I'M IMAGINING CORTEZ WAS PROBABLY AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, AND WE HAD TO GO AND TAKE CARE OF THAT, BUT THE ONE OVER ON SAM'S, OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE HAD SOME TIME TO DIGEST WHAT'S GOING ON AND BE PREPARED TO DO IT. ARE YOU GUYS CHECKING THEM RANDOMLY? WHAT IS THE PROCESS BEHIND THAT?

>> BOTH OF THEM, THE ONE AT SUNRISE AND CORTEZ WAS IDENTIFIED AS A SINKHOLE THROUGH THE PUBLIC, A DIVOT IN THE ASPHALT. WE TELEVISED THAT. AND, IDENTIFIED A SAM'S CLUB WAS ONE OF THE -- THAT WAS ONE OF OUR CRUISE -- CREW MEMBERS.

WE JUST WENT OUT THERE ONE DAY AND THERE WAS A HUGE DEPRESSION, AND THAT'S HOW WE IDENTIFIED IT. WE DO HAVE A CREW OUT THERE TELEVISING SCENARIOS AND SITUATIONS IN AREAS. FRANKLY, WITH ALL THE GRANTS THAT WE HAVE AND THE LINES THAT WE HAVE BEEN -- AREAS WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN, WHERE WE CAN ONLY UTILIZE THE GRANT MONEY, OUR CREWS HAVE BEEN IN THOSE AREAS. NOT TO SAY WE WOULDN'T OF FOUND EITHER OF THESE TWO, BECAUSE TYPICALLY, THEY ARE SHORT RUNS. THEY ARE THE WET WELL AND THE MANHOLE RIGHT OUTSIDE OF IT. WE JUST HAPPENED TO PICK THAT ONE AND HIT IT. WE COULD HAVE FOUND THEM. WE MAY NOT HAVE, BUT OUR CREWS ARE MORE GEARED UP TO IDENTIFY THE GRANT AREAS OF WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON, VERSUS THE SENDING THEM OUT INTO SPECIFIC AREAS AROUND TOWN AND TELEVISING. BUT, THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY WAY WE WOULD

IDENTIFY. >> WE HAVE SOMEBODY THAT GOES AROUND, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, AND THEY CHECK OUR TELEPHONE POLES, OR POLES WHERE ELECTRIC IS COMING IN, RIGHT? BUT, WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY THAT GOES AND CHECKS THE

MANHOLES? >> NO, WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE A CREW, A ONE MAN CREW THAT GOES OUT. GPS . HE IDENTIFIES THE CONDITION OF THE MANHOLE, THE DIRECTION OF THE INVERTS, IS IT DIRTY? IS IT CLEAN? DOES IT NEED TO BE CLEANED? ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES YOU HAVE WITH AN OLD BRICK MANHOLE IS A LOT OF TIMES, THEY LOOK GOOD. THEY ALLOW YOU TO GO IN THERE AND USE THE CODING PROCESS THAT WE USE AND COAT THE INSIDE WITH CONCRETE AND THEY WILL LAST FOREVER, BUT AS SOON AS YOU START WORKING AROUND THEM, DIGGING UP THE OUTSIDE, THEY

JUST COLLAPSE. >> RIGHT, THAT OLD CLAY.

>> WE ACTUALLY SPEND ABOUT $200,000 A YEAR LINING MANHOLES THAT ARE GENERATED FROM THIS GENTLEMAN THAT GOES AROUND AND

INSPECTS THEM FOR US. >> OKAY. COOL.

>> MARK, WE ARE ASKING FOR THESE REPAIRS, BUT I KNOW WE HAVE A FEW MORE THAT WILL BE COMING BACK TO THE BOARD IN THE

NEAR FUTURE. >> THESE TWO, WE WILL HAVE TO AMEND THE CONTRACT BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THEM. THE NEXT BOARD MEMBER -- MEETING, THERE WILL BE AN AMENDMENT , AND ALSO, I HAVE TO GET WITH FINANCE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TWO MORE THAT ARE OUT THERE. THERE IS ONE AT SEVENTH AND B WITH THAT NEW ROADWAY PROJECT, AND I THINK IT IS 27TH AND P WE

[00:15:02]

THIS BUDGET, HAVE NEXT BUDGET. >> WE ARE PLANNING TO BUDGET FOR IT, BUT IT COULD BE BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEW BUDGET SEASON THAT IT MAY BECOME AN EMERGENCY?

>> CORRECT. >> OKAY, I GUESS I WAS JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE WERE BEING PROACTIVE AND LOOKING FOR OTHER ONES THAT WERE OUT THERE.

>> YEAH, IT'S A REALLY GREAT NOTE. WASTEWATER COLLECTIONS IS ONE OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS THAT REALLY TOOK IT HARD THROUGH COVID, EMPLOYEES AND HIRING PEOPLE. I'M FINALLY FULLY STAFFED. THE LAST TIME I WAS FULL STAFFED WAS 2021, AND AT ONE POINT, I WAS DOWN FIVE EMPLOYEES. BUT, WE ARE FULLY STAFFED. THAT'S A GOOD THING, BUT WE HAVE TO BRING THEM UP

TO PAR NOW. >> YES. MADAM CHAIR.

>> YES. >> HOW OLD WERE THESE AND HOW LONG WERE THE ONES THAT YOU REPLACED?

>> I'M GOING TO SAY, THE ONE AT SUNRISE AND CORTEZ, PROBABLY, 50 YEARS OLD. THE ONE AT SAM'S CLUB IS PROBABLY

35 YEARS. >> YEAH, BECAUSE NEITHER ONE OF THOSE ARE THE OLDEST IN FORT PIERCE, I WOULD ASSUME. THE OLDEST ONES IN FORT PIERCE HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPLACED?

>> WE HAVE LINED MOST OF EVERYTHING IN THE OLD SECTION, AND WE HAVE COATED A BUNCH OF MANHOLES IN THE OLDER SECTION, WHICH IS THE LETTERED STREETS, THE BOSTON, CITRUS, DELAWARE, ALL OF THOSE AREAS. THERE ARE AREAS WE HAVEN'T, BUT WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK ON THE LETTERED STREETS AND ALPHABET

STREETS. >> WILL THE REPLACEMENTS LAST

50 YEARS, PERHAPS? >> AT LEAST. WE ARE USING ALL THE NEW, UPGRADED PLASTIC PRODUCTS THAT ARE OUT THERE. IT

WILL DEFINITELY OUTLAST ME. >> IS IMPORTANT TO MENTION, WE TALK ABOUT THIS EVERY YEAR, WE ARE AN OLDER CITY, OLDER UTILITY, IN COMBINATION WITH THE NEW THINGS THAT WE USE TO EXPAND THE SYSTEM. THE OLDER PART OF THE CITY, DEFINITELY, REQUIRES A LOT OF FUNDING. MARK MADE A VERY GOOD POINT.

WHEN WE CAN LINE THE PIPE AND WE CAN LINE THE MANHOLE, THAT IS FAR MORE COST-EFFECTIVE THAN HAVING TO SURE IT AND DO WELL POINTS. IT'S A LOT OF MONEY. THAT'S WHY SOME OF THESE ARE VERY EXPENSIVE. IT REQUIRES A LOT MORE EQUIPMENT

THAN PEOPLE. >> I DIDN'T POINTED OUT, BUT AT SUNRISE AND CORTEZ, THE GRAVITY MAIN WAS 15 FEET DEEP.

IT WAS JUST A BIG JOB. >> DO YOU KNOW HOW LARGE THE ONE AT 27TH AND V -- I MANED SEVENTH AND D.

>> THE ONE ON AVENUE D HAS A 24 INCH LINE THAT RUNS THROUGH, SO THERE WOULD BE A BYPASS AND THINGS THAT GO ALONG THOSE LINES. THE PE 1, SHOULD BE COST WISE, ABOUT THE SAME.

IT'S ABOUT 12 FEET DEEP, BUT IT'S ON ONE OF THOSE BACK STREETS TO WHERE WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THE ROAD CLOSURE.

IT SHOULD BE AS MUCH OF A PROBLEM FOR THE PUBLIC, HOWEVER, WITH BOTH OF THESE, WE WILL HAVE THE MANHOLES ON HAND. WE WILL WORK HAND-IN-HAND WITH THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, TAKE SHOTS OF ELEVATIONS, DIRECTIONS, COORDINATES, AND WE WILL HAVE THE MANHOLES IN POSSESSION BEFORE WE START THE CONSTRUCTION.

>> MADAM CHAIR. >> MARK, YOU MENTIONED A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT. ONE BEING THE DEPTH OF THE MANHOLE AT CORTEZ. YOU SAID THAT FIRST MANHOLE AND THOSE LINES WERE ABOUT 15 FEET DEEP. I WANT TO POINT OUT TO THE BOARD, WE ARE SPENDING $700,000, A LITTLE OVER , ON, WHAT IS IT? TWO OR THREE MANHOLES?

>> IT'S THREE MANHOLES, BUT WE ARE REPLACING THEM WITH TWO.

>> REPLACING THEM WITH TWO, AND FOR THREE OR FOUR STICKS OF PIE. $700,000 OF LINING WOULD GET US HOW MANY MANHOLES LINED? SEGMENTS, 400 FOOT SEGMENTS, PROBABLY 15 TO 20, DEPENDING ON THE SIZE, THE DYNAMIC ARE -- DIAMETER . IF WE LINE AT 24 INCHES, THE FOOTAGE IS SHORTER BECAUSE THE NUMBER IS BIGGER.

COST-EFFECTIVENESS, AND WHEN WE GO TO LINING, YOU ARE FOUR TO FIVE TIMES MORE COST-EFFECTIVE, EASILY. JUST SOMETHING FOR THE BOARD TO THINK ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO ASKING US FOR MORE MONEY FOR LINING, WHICH I HOPE THIS ENCOURAGES MORE MONEY FOR LINING. WE ARE SAVING THE CUSTOMER A LOT OF MONEY BY DOING THE SEWER LINING AND BEING PROACTIVE , AND AVOIDING ROAD CLOSURES.

>> ABSOLUTELY. >> GOOD POINT.

[00:20:02]

>> AND, TRYING TO STAY WITHIN THE BUDGET.

>> IN THIS INSTANCE, WE HAVE TOLD FAILURES TOO.

>> YOU CAN'T DO IT AFTER THE FACT, ONCE YOU REALIZE IT IS TOO LATE. AS LONG AS WE ARE PROACTIVE, IT'S A REALLY GOOD OPTION, BUT AFTER THE FACT, ONCE IT IS PASSED BEING ABLE TO BE REHABILITATED, BY THEN, IT'S TOO LATE.

>> BY THEN, YOU HAVE TO PUT A NEW CAP ON THE GROUND.

>> THIS PERSON THAT INSPECTS CAN PREVENT THIS, PERHAPS?

>> ABSOLUTELY. THEY CAN IDENTIFY THE FAILURES BEFORE THEY BECOME CATASTROPHIC FAILURES, WHICH GIVES US THE TIME TO ADDRESS IT BEFORE IT FAILS.

>> RIGHT. >> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

>> SECOND. >> MADAM CHAIR, PLEASE CALL THE

ROLL. >> MR. FEE.

[E.3. Totten Substation Expansion]

>> YES, MA'AM. >> MRS. GIBBONS.

>> YES, MA'AM. >> MRS. BENNETT.

>> YES, MA'AM. >> THANK YOU.

>> MOVING TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM PLEASE.

>> THE NEXT ITEM IS A REQUEST TO APPROVE THE EXPANSION OF THE TOTTEN SUBSTATION TO ACCOMMODATE GROWTH. THIS PROJECT IS NOT PART OF THE 2024 BUDGET, BUT WE ARE USING A COMBINATION OF OTHER BUDGETED FUNDS AND REALLOCATING PROCEEDS FROM THE AMI PROJECT. THIS IS KIND OF A HORSE BEFORE THE CART SCENARIO. YOU NEED TO BUILD THE POWER TO GO TO THE METERS TO READ THE CONSUMPTION. AS I MENTIONED, THERE IS A LOT OF GROWTH ON THE WESTERN QUARTER. WE WILL BE USING FUNDING FROM THE ELECTRIC AMI, THE WATER AMI AND GAS AMI FOR FUNDING THIS PROJECT. ERIC MEYER, THE SUPERVISOR WILL

PRESENT THIS ITEM. >> THANK YOU, AND GOOD AFTERNOON. MADAM CHAIR, BENNETT, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. THIS PRESENTATION WILL REVIEW RECENT CUSTOMER REQUESTS THAT PROMPTED FPUA STAFF TO CONSIDER EXPANSION OF THE TOTTEN SUBSTATION.

RECENTLY, FPUA HAS RECEIVED NEW ELECTRIC SERVICE REQUESTS IN THE SOUTHWEST AREA , SHOWN ON THIS SLIDE. THESE REQUESTS HAVE BEEN LARGE AND LOCALIZED WITH AGGRESSIVE SCHEDULES.

BECAUSE OF THIS, THERE HAS BEEN A, SIGNIFICANT BURDEN TO HANDLE THESE CUSTOMERS. SINCE CAPACITY IS LIMITED WITH A MEGAWATT SIZING OF SUBSTATION COMPONENTS, FPUA WILL NEED TO CONSIDER OPTIONS FOR SERVING THESE NEW CUSTOMERS IN ORDER TO REMAIN THE SAFETY AND RELIABILITY OF THE EXISTING POWER GRID. THIS INVOLVES A PROCESS CALLED LOAD SHIFTING, WHICH SHIPS EXISTING CUSTOMERS ELECTRICAL SERVICES ONTO OTHER SUBSTATIONS TO PROVIDE FOR ADDITIONAL CAPACITY ELSEWHERE.

WHICH, IN THIS CASE, IS THE TOTTEN SUBSTATION. HOWEVER, FPUA STAFF HAS COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT LOAD SHIFTING WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ENOUGH CAPACITY FOR THESE NEW CUSTOMERS AND ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE TOTTEN SUBSTATION WILL BE REQUIRED. DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE NEW CUSTOMER REQUESTS, THE ENHANCEMENTS REQUIRED TO THE TOTTEN SUBSTATION AND ITS POWER LINES WILL BE SUBSTANTIAL. A NEW POWER TRANSFORMER IS REQUESTED TO BE ADDED FOR THE NEW LOW. THIS WILL REQUIRE NOT ONLY THE ADDITION OF THE NEW POWER TRANSFORMER, BUT WILL REQUIRE NEW CIRCUIT BREAKERS FOR SYSTEM PROTECTION. NEW ENERGIZED CABLING WILL CONNECT TO THE COMPONENTS TOGETHER, STILL STRUCTURES TO SAFELY ENERGIZE PARTS, AND DIGITAL RELAYS FOR SYSTEM MONITORING AND PROTECTION. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE LOCATION OF THE NEW TRANSFORMER. THE GREENFIELD AREA WILL BE MODIFIED WITH NEW SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE TO PROVIDE FOR EXPANSION OF THE SUBSTATION. ADDITIONALLY, NEW DISTRIBUTION POWER LINES WILL BE BUILT INTO THE SOUTHWEST AREA OF FPUA'S SERVICE TERRITORY TO SERVE THE NEW LOAD. THIS INFRASTRUCTURE WILL CONSIST OF BOTH UNDERGROUND AND OVERHEAD FACILITIES, IN A WAY THAT IS MOST ECONOMICAL FOR MAXIMUM RELIABILITY AND SAFETY.

DUE TO THE LARGE SCOPE OF THIS SYSTEM EXPANSION REQUEST AND THE AGGRESSIVE SCHEDULE REQUIRED, STAFF IS REQUESTING THE FOLLOWING COST AND SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024, STAFF IS REQUESTING TO COMPLETE SUBSTATION ENGINEERING WITH THE CONSULTANT AND BEGIN ORDERING MATERIALS WITH LONG LEAD TIMES. FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025, STAFF IS REQUESTING TO BEGIN AND FINALIZE CONSTRUCTION BY THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2025. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SUBSTATION WILL BE A COMBINATION OF IN-HOUSE AND THIRD-PARTY RESOURCES. FOR DISTRIBUTION POWER LINES, STAFF WILL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT THE LINES USING IN-HOUSE AND THIRD-PARTY RESOURCES AS WELL. THE DOLLAR VALUES SEEN ON THIS SLIDE ARE PROJECTED WORST-CASE SCENARIOS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025. FPUA

[00:25:01]

SINCE GRADUAL GROWTH ON FPUA'S POWER GRID IS EXPECTED IN THE FUTURE, THIS EXPANSION PROJECT WILL ALSO HAVE LASTING EFFECTS FOR THE SYSTEM CAPACITY AS A WHOLE. FPUA STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE POST BUDGETED PROJECT, BUDGET REQUEST FOR THE TOTTEN SUBSTATION EXPANSION IN THE AMOUNT OF $800,000, AND SPECIFIC AUTHORIZATION , SA-56-AE-24-02,, TO PERFORM THE ENGINEERING, DESIGN AND PROCUREMENT SERVICES REQUIRED FOR CONSTRUCTION OF AN ADDITIONAL POWER TRANSFORMER AND FEEDER BAYS WITH ENERCON SERVICES INC. OF LAKE MARY, FLORIDA, IN AN AMOUNT TO NOT EXCEED $498,550. THE INITIAL TERM OF THIS CONTRACT WILL COMMENCE UPON WRITTEN NOTICE TO PROCEED, AND END UPON FINAL COMPLETION AND WRITTEN ACCEPTANCE BY FPUA.

CONTINGENT, ON RECEIPT OF THE REQUIRED CERTIFICATES OF INSURANCE. ALTHOUGH WE ARE NOT REQUESTING THE AMOUNTS LISTED IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE STAFF HAS PRESENTED FOR BOARD CONSIDERATION AS A WHOLE, KNOWING THAT THIS PLAN IS TO BE DONE OVER TWO YEARS. WITH THAT, I CAN TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU

MIGHT HAVE. >> ANY QUESTIONS?

>> MADAM CHAIR, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT THE WORK BEING REQUESTED TODAY WAS IDENTIFIED IN OUR SYSTEMS STUDY, OUR FIVE TENURE SYSTEMS STUDY PLAN FOR THE ELECTRICAL GRID, SO THIS DOES LINE UP WITH OUR OVERALL LONG-TERM SYSTEM PLAN FOR GROWTH IN OUR AREA. WE JUST HAVE SPECIFIC PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING ONLINE VERY SOON AND WE NEED TO MOVE FASTER.

>> SPECIFIC PROJECTS THAT HAVE BECOME AGGRESSIVE IN SCHEDULE.

THESE ARE NEW CUSTOMERS? >> YES, MA'AM.

>> AND COME OUT WEST OF TOWN? >> SOUTHWEST.

>> ALL OF THOSE BUILDINGS ARE BEING BUILT. WE KNEW THAT WAS

GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN, RIGHT? >> YES.

>> MADAM CHAIR, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST BRING UP A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I HAD DISCUSSED PRIOR TO THIS ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC TOPIC. WE WERE TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ROI, AND WHAT THAT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE FOR OUR RETURN ON THIS, AND IT'S NOT THAT WE ARE DOING THIS WITHOUT LOOKING AT HOW LONG TO GET THE REIMBURSEMENT PAID BACK TO US.

THERE IS, DEFINITELY, A LOT OF DETAILS THAT HINGE ON THAT BIG NUMBER THAT WE SAW , AND A LOT OF RESEARCH THAT WILL ALSO BE DONE, BUT AS FAR AS THIS, SPECIFIC, AMOUNT OF MONEY, MY ONLY QUESTION IS, WE GET A LOT OF INCREASES. ARE THERE ANY INCREASES BUILT-IN , ESCALATORS INTO THIS NUMBER? OR, ARE WE LOOKING AT YOU COMING BACK AND ASKING FOR ANOTHER $250,000, OR

SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES? >> YES, MA'AM. THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. WE DID. WE TRY TO PROJECTED THIS IS A WORST-CASE SCENARIO. THE WAY WE PUT THESE NUMBERS AND WAS, AS IF IT WAS GOING TO BE WITHIN THE NEXT TWO YEARS THAT WE WOULD SEE THE PRICE INCREASES, BUT ALSO, DOING CONSTRUCTION THAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED MORE THAN NECESSARY, JUST TO ACTUALLY MAKE SURE THAT IF WE DID RUN INTO ANYTHING, THAT WE DIDN'T SEE NOW , OR WE MIGHT SEE DOWN THE LINE , AS SOMETIMES USUALLY HAPPENS, THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE AND GIVE YOU A WORST-CASE SCENARIO OR WORSE CASE NUMBER THAT WE HAVE ESTIMATED AT THIS POINT. WE WILL TRY TO USE A LOT OF OUR EXISTING OVERHEAD INFRASTRUCTURE TO ACCOMMODATE THIS NEW DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, THIS NETWORK WE ARE PUTTING SOUTHWEST OF TOWN. WE DID PUT IT IN AS IF WE HAD TO DO UNDERGROUND THE WHOLE WAY, JUST IN CASE WE COULD NOT DO IT FOR SOME REASON, OR THERE WERE SOME UNFORESEEN ISSUES THAT WOULD POP UP. WE DON'T PROJECT. HOPEFULLY, WE WON'T HAVE TO USE ALL OF THAT, BUT WE

[00:30:03]

>> THE EXISTING TOTTEN SUBSTATION, HOW MUCH CAPACITY AND MEGAWATTS DOES THAT SUBSTATION PROVIDE NOW?

>> IT PROVIDES THE TWO TRANSFORMERS WE HAVE AT TOTTEN.

THEY CAN DO UP TO 40. EACH CAPACITOR HAS THE CAPACITY FOR

20. >> WHAT PERCENTAGE AT PEAK LOAD ARE THOSE TRANSFORMERS LOADED?

>> I THINK WE DID A PROJECTION RECENTLY, AND I THINK THAT WE

ARE AT PEAK LOAD ABOUT 81%. >> ABOUT 81%?

>> EFFORT >> ALREADY THEY ARE LOADED AT 81%? WHAT IS YOUR COMFORTABLE NUMBER THAT YOU LIKE THEM TO BE

LOADED AT OR UNDER? >> TYPICALLY, WE LIKE TO HAVE THEM LOADED AT NO MORE THAN 50%, AND THAT IS SO WE CAN CHANGE LOAD ON THE TRANSFORMERS. EACH TRANSFORMER REALLY HAS THE CAPACITY -- IF ONE OF THE TRANSFORMERS FAILS, WE CAN PUT ALL OF THE LOAD ONTO THE OTHER ONE WHILE WE MAINTAIN MAINTENANCE ON ONE TRANSFORMER. ONCE WE GET IT UP AND RUNNING, WE CAN PUT IT BACK ON TO TWO TRANSFORMERS.

>> THAT IS THE INDUSTRY STANDARD MODE OF OPERATION?

>> CORRECT. WITH THE ADVANCING LOAD THAT WE HAVE SEEN FOR THESE NEW CUSTOMERS, WE WILL MAX THE CAPACITY AT THAT SUBSTATION. THIS EXTRA TRANSFORMER THAT WE ARE PLANNING ON PUTTING IN WILL PROVIDE MORE DIVERSITY OF LOAD ON THOSE TRANSFORMERS , SO THAT IF ONE DOES FAIL, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE TWO AS A BACKUP WHILE WE MAINTAIN ONE, AND ONCE WE GET THAT ONE BACK UP AND RUNNING, WE WILL BE BACK AT

FULL STRENGTH. >> EACH TRANSFORMER HAS THREE FEEDERS THAT SERVICES CUSTOMERS?

>> CORRECT. >> HOW MANY FEEDERS DO YOU PLAN TO BUILD WITH THIS NEW TRANSFORMER?

>> WITH THIS NEW TRANSFORMER, ARE -- OUR BUILDOUT WILL BE THREE, BUT FOR THE INITIAL PHASE, WE ARE DOING TWO.

>> CAN YOU REMIND ME, THE NEW TRANSFORMER WILL BE LARGER THAN THE TWO EXISTING TRANSFORMERS, RIGHT?

>> CORRECT. IT'S GOING TO BE 28 MVA, AND WE ORDERED THESE TRANSFORMERS ON AN EMERGENCY PURCHASE AS A POSSIBLE USE FOR THIS PROJECT. WHAT WE DID IS WE MADE SURE THE TRANSFORMERS COULD BE PARALLELED IN THE EVENT THAT WE NEEDED TO AVOID CIRCULATING CURRENT, THAT SORT OF THING.

>> IS THAT GOING TO BE OUR NEW STANDARD TRANSFORMER POWER

SIZE? 28 MVA? >> I THINK SO. WE HAVE NOT GONE INTO THE DETAILS WITH THAT OF -- WITH STAFF, BUT 28 IS THE INDUSTRY STANDARD LEVEL. JUST SPEAKING OFF THE CUFF, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE SOMETHING WE WOULD CONSIDER, YES. OUR NEW TRANSFORMERS THAT WE PUT IN WERE 25. EVERY TRANSFORMER MANUFACTURER CAN DO THAT, BUT THEY TYPICALLY LIKE TO DO 28 AS THE INDUSTRY STANDARD. I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT NUMBER,

BUT THAT'S THE NUMBER. >> AT PEAK CAPACITY, WE HAVE 40 MVA AT THAT SUBSTATION, AND PEAK LOAD RIGHT NOW IS A LITTLE OVER 80%, THAT PUTS US AT ABOUT 32 MEGAWATTS. HOW MANY MEGAWATTS ARE WE LOOKING TO ADD WITH THESE NEW CUSTOMERS?

>> ANYWHERE BETWEEN 10 TO 20 MEGAWATTS IS WHAT WE ARE

EXPECTING. >> SO THIS IS NOT LIKE EVEN AN OPERATIONAL DECISION ANYMORE. THIS IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO SERVE THOSE NEW CUSTOMERS?

>> YES, SIR. >> OPERATIONALLY, WE SHOULD BE DOING THIS ALREADY. WE SHOULD BE MAKING OUR WAY TOWARDS THAT, BUT WITH THIS LOAD, THE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY OF THE TRANSFORMER, AND THE THIRD TRANSFORMER AT TOTTEN SUBSTATION, THIS IS, AT A MINIMUM --

>> OPERATIONALLY, WE NEED MORE CAPACITY, BUT IF WE EVEN WANT TO CONSIDER SERVING THAT ADDITIONAL LOAD, WE HAVE TO

CARRY MORE CAPACITY. >> CORRECT.

>> I DO BELIEVE, MOST OF THOSE BUILDINGS ARE ALREADY CONSTRUCTED, SO IT'S NOT A MATTER OF IF, IT'S A MATTER OF WHEN THE LOAD COMES ONLINE.

>> WE LIKE NEW CUSTOMERS. >> WE LIKE NEW CUSTOMERS.

MADAM CHAIR. >> IT KEEPS THE LIGHTS ON.

>> ANYMORE QUESTIONS? >> WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE

ADDED A TRANSFORMER? >> LET ME HELP ERIC. WE HAVEN'T DONE IT IN 24 YEARS. AT LEAST, 24 YEARS.

>> IT'S ABOUT TIME. >> THE TWO EXISTING TRANSFORMERS IN OPERATION ARE AT LEAST 24 YEARS OLD?

>> PROBABLY. >> I THINK THAT WE REPLACED

THEM IN 2005, I BELIEVE. >> THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S FAIR

[00:35:03]

>> JUST FOR CLARITY, SHE ASKED, WHEN DID WE ADD A NEW

TRANSFORMER. >> WE ARE ADDING CAPACITY.

>> THE SYSTEM IS HAD THE SAME CAPACITY FOR A LONG TIME. WE HAVE REPLACED TRANSFORMERS DUE TO AGE, BUT NOT UPGRADED.

>> I REMEMBER REPLACING A COUPLE OF THEM, I JUST DON'T KNOW IF WE DID SOMETHING OF THAT SUBSTATION.

>> WE DID A TRANSFORMER REPLACEMENT AT SAVANNAH. WE HAVE REPLACED SOME TRANSFORMERS IN THE PAST, PAST DECADE OR SO, BUT NOT ADDITIONAL TRANSFORMERS. GOOD

MEMORY. >> HOW LONG DO THEY LAST?

>> INDUSTRY STANDARD IS USUALLY ABOUT 25 YEARS, BUT IT'S NOT LIKE A FIRM ENFORCED THING. SOME OF OUR TRANSFORMERS THAT WE HAVE ARE ABOUT 35 PLUS YEARS OLD. WE ARE PLANNING ON REPLACING THOSE. THOSE ARE SCHEDULED FOR REPLACEMENT IN

THE NEXT FEW YEARS. >> I THINK ERIC'S POINT ABOUT THE TRANSFORMERS BEING LOADED AT 80% CAPACITY , THE HIGHER YOU LOAD IT FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME, IT DEGRADES THE LIFESPAN OF THAT UNIT, SO THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WE ALSO KEEP THE TRANSFORMERS AT 50% LOAD CAPACITY, AND FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, WE CAN GO ABOUT THAT TO CARRY THE LOAD FOR THE ENTIRE SUBSTATION. 35 YEARS, WE HAVE GOTTEN OUR MONEY'S WORTH OUT OF ALMOST EVERY TRANSFORMER IN OUR

SYSTEM, FOR SURE. >> MADAM CHAIR, HOW MUCH ARE WE PLANNING ON ADDING CAPACITY FOR ADDITIONAL CHARGING STATIONS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES?

>> WANT ME TO GIVE IT A SHOT? IT WAS ACTUALLY PART OF OUR LOAD STUDY. AS PART OF WHAT WE PROJECT FOR THE WORK WE NEED TO GET DONE , FORGIVE ME . I'M TRYING TO USE BASE LANGUAGE, BUT WE DID IT IN A WAY THAT RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS WOULD HAVE CHARGING STATIONS IN THEIR HOMES , AND PROJECTED THAT BASED ON AN AVERAGE VALUE OF WHAT WE SEE AROUND THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AS PART OF OUR LOAD STUDY. WE PUT THAT INTO OUR SYSTEM MODEL IN OUR FIVE AND 10 YEAR STUDY, AND DID PROJECT THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT LOAD, BUT UNDER THE CONDITION THAT WE EXPANDED OUR SYSTEM. PART OF IT WAS, EITHER PUTTING A TRANSFORMER UP ON THE GARDEN CITY CIRCUIT, WHICH IS MORE NORTH OF TOWN, AND THEY DID SPECIFY AS WELL AS OUR TOTTEN SUBSTATION. AS LONG AS WE KEEP EXPANDING WITH THE LOAD WE WERE EXPECTING, THE EV INFRASTRUCTURE, THE SOLAR WE ARE SEEING, A COMBINATION OF EVERYTHING, THOSE WERE THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS, THAT WE WOULD NEED TO EXPAND. THERE MAY BE A LOT OF INFILL WITH THE OF -- ABANDONED BUILDINGS AROUND TOWN, SO MORE OF THEIR CONCERN WAS MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF OUR SUBSTATIONS HAVE THE CAPACITY AND FLEXIBILITY THAT WE NEED TO

SERVE EVERYBODY. >> MADAM MAYOR, WE HAVE ONE EXISTING EV CHARGING STATION AT JENKINS AND OKEECHOBEE .

THAT IS A VERY, VERY GOOD LOAD , AND WE ALSO HAVE A NEW CHARGING STATION THAT COMES ONLINE BY THE END OF THE MONTH.

MONTH AFTER. >> IT IS A 40 VEHICLE STATION TESLA TYPE 3, WHICH IS THE SUPERCHARGER. THAT WILL BE A TREMENDOUS LOAD. THAT IS GOING TO BE -- YOU KNOW WHERE THE

OUTLET SHOPPING PLAZA IS AT? >> THE OLD ONE?

>> THE OLD ONE BY BURGER KING, BETWEEN I-95 IN THE TURNPIKE.

IF YOU DRIVE BY THERE, YOU WILL SEE THAT THEY ARE DIGGING.

THEY ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION NOW.

>> THAT IS ALL GOING TO BE TESLA?

>> THAT IS 40 STATIONS OF TESLA.

>> SO THIS IS GOING TO SERVE THIS NEW AREA?

>> YES, MA'AM. >> GOT IT.

>> MADAM CHAIR, I HAVE A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS, IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT. BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE PAST, FM P.A. AND THE MEMBERS, I KNOW THAT WE TALKED ABOUT HAVING AN ADDITIONAL BACKUP TRANSFORMER FOR OUR GROUP IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENED. IS THIS 28 MVA THAT WE ARE GETTING, DOES THAT FALL IN LINE WITH THAT? IS THAT SOMETHING SIMILAR THAT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES WOULD BE ABLE TO USE? THAT IF WE DO CHOOSE

[00:40:01]

JUST TO US? >> YEAH, THE TRANSFORMERS WE ORDERED, WE ORDERED TWO OF THEM UNDER THE EMERGENCY, WE ORDERED TWO BECAUSE IN ORDER TO PREPARE, IF ONE OF THE TRANSFORMERS WENT DOWN, WE HAVE AN EXTRA, AND ALSO TO PREPARE FOR SYSTEM EXPANSION. AS FAR AS FMPA, AND USING IT FOR SISTER UTILITIES, I IMAGINE IT'S POSSIBLE. I DON'T KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT THAT, BUT I IMAGINE IF ONE OF THEM WAS IN TROUBLE AND WE DID HAVE THE CAPACITY TO HELP THEM --

>> -- WE ACTUALLY LOOK AT THIS A YEAR AGO OR LONGER, OUT OF THE 33 MUNICIPAL CITIES IN THE STATE. I THINK THERE ARE ONLY THREE THAT MATCH OUR VOLTAGE FOR DISTRIBUTION. OF THE 33, WE HAVE A VERY, VERY SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT WE COULD PARTNER WITH FOR POTENTIAL SHARING OF TRANSFORMERS, BUT THE LAST CONVERSATION WAS A REALLY EXPENSIVE VENTURE FOR SOMETHING YOU MAY NEVER USE. BUT, WE CAN DEFINITELY EXPLORE THE CONVERSATION AGAIN. I BELIEVE IT IS HOMESTEAD AND ANOTHER SMALL TOWN IN NORTH FLORIDA. I CAN'T REMEMBER THE

OTHER. >> I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF IT WAS, THE FACT THAT WE HAD DIFFERENT LINES, OR THE ACTUAL TRANSFORMERS THEMSELVES? I WASN'T SURE , BUT IF IT'S THE VOLTAGE, WE ARE KIND OF STUCK. THAT'S A DIFFERENT TOPIC ALTOGETHER. THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO BRING UP, WE DISCUSSED, POTENTIALLY, SEEKING GRANT MONEY TO ASSIST WITH TESLA, BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT IS PUSHING THESE ELECTRIC VEHICLES SO HARD, SO I'M HOPING MAYBE WE WILL FIND

SOMETHING IN THERE. >> YES, I KNOW THAT ERIC AND HIS TEAM HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH RACHEL AND HER TEAM. I THINK WE MAY BE APPLYING FOR ANOTHER GRANT. IT IS A GRIP GRANT, AND THERE MAY BE SOME EV CHARGING IN THAT.

>> I THINK SO, YEAH. >> WE ARE PURSUING A GRANT

RIGHT NOW FOR EXACTLY THAT. >> GREAT. I MOVE APPROVAL .

>> ANY SECOND? >> SECOND.

>> MADAM CHAIR, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> MR. FEE. >> YES, MA'AM.

[E.4. 15KV Circuit Breakers for Inventory]

>> MRS. BENNETT. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> MOVING RIGHT ALONG TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.

>> MRS. CAROLINE IS UP NOW. >> THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS,

NUMBER FOUR. >> OH, I'M SO SORRY. I WAS SO EXCITED. TAKE IT AWAY, CAROLINE.

>> THE NEXT ITEM IS TO REPROVE THE CREST -- EXISTING BREAKERS THAT ARE HARD TO REPAIR, AND ALSO TO FIND REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THOSE UNITS. AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE USING SOME OF THE BREAKERS FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE TOTTEN SUBSTATION, AND ERIC WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM.

>> THANK YOU , AND GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. ON AUGUST 16TH, 2022, THE BOARD APPROVED THE SINGLE SOURCE PURCHASE WITH ABB DE INC. FOR THE PURCHASE OF 15 KV CIRCUIT BREAKERS IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 193,044 . 15 KV CIRCUIT BREAKERS PROVIDE PROTECTION FROM LIGHTNING STRIKES, VEGETATION ENCOURAGEMENT, ANIMAL CONTACT, AND PUBLIC VEHICLE ACCIDENTS BY DEENERGIZING THE LINES SO THAT REPAIRS CAN BE MADE, IF NECESSARY. SINCE THESE ITEMS ARE CRITICAL TO THE FUNCTION OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THAT EXISTING CIRCUIT BREAKERS ARE AGING AND IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT, IT WAS DECIDED TO CLEAR THE STOCK CODE FOR THESE ITEMS AND REORDER WHEN QUANTITY BECOMES LOW. ADDITIONALLY, THESE UNITS ARE PART OF THE EMERGENCY PURCHASE OF GOODS AND SERVICES ITEMS DUE TO THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR MANUFACTURING. DUE TO PRICE INCREASES OF 35% AND EXTENSIVE LEADTIMES REACHING UP TO 18+ MONTHS, WE ARE REQUESTING THAT THE BOARD APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF 15 KV CIRCUIT BREAKERS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $193,044.09. AND, TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT FROM $200,000-$250,000 ANNUALLY FOR INVENTORY PURCHASES, FOR THE PERIOD OF FEBRUARY 20TH, 2024, THROUGH FEBRUARY 19TH, 2025, WITH ANNUAL FUNDING THEREAFTER IN THE NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT OF $250,000.

FOR FUTURE EXPANSION PROJECTS, AND ALSO TO HAVE ON STANDBY,

[00:45:01]

QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME. >> THIS IS ALL BUDGETED,

CORRECT? >> YES, THESE ARE ALL BUDGETED

FOR THIS YEAR, RIGHT? >> YES, THE BREAKERS THAT WE HAVE COMING IN, WE HAVE SCHEDULED FOR REPLACEMENT.

THESE ARE ALSO TO HAVE AS STOCK CODE ITEMS THAT WE WILL USE IN FUTURE PROJECTS. AMONG THEM WILL BE THE TOTTEN EXPANSION PROJECT, FUTURE BREAKERS WE HAD PLANNED ON REPLACING IN THE NEXT FEW FISCAL YEARS, AND ALSO TO HAVE ON STANDBY SHOULD

WE HAVE ANY FAILURES. >> YES, SIR, IT IS BUDGETED.

>> PERFECT. >> MADAM CHAIR. FOR THE AMOUNT REQUESTED, HOW MANY BREAKERS WILL THAT PURCHASE?

>> THIS AMOUNT WILL PURCHASE SIX BREAKERS. THREE FEEDER BREAKERS AND THREE MAIN BREAKERS. MAIN BREAKERS ARE FOR PROTECTING OF THE TRANSFORMER, AND FEEDER BREAKERS PROTECT THE POWER LINES IN THE FIELD.

>> SO THAT ENDS UP BEING -- WHAT IS THAT? A LITTLE OVER

$30,000 PER BREAKER? >> CORRECT. I THINK IT'S ABOUT $35,000 PER BREAKER, I THINK.

>> IS THIS A SOLE-SOURCE ITEM, OR WAS IT COMPETITIVELY BID? WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE WENT OUT AND BID ON THESE?

>> YES, THIS WAS A SOLE-SOURCE ITEM, MADE EXCLUSIVELY BY ABB DE INC.. THE REASON WE CHOSE ABB DE INC. WAS BECAUSE OF THE STAFF FAMILIARITY WITH THE BREAKER, AND ALSO THEIR PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD. WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THEM, AND CONSISTENCY THROUGH OUR SYSTEM, WE ARE REPLACING ALL OF OUR OLD BREAKERS WITH ABB BREAKERS. IT'S ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE DO HAVE QUESTIONS OR WE GET OUT TO THE FIELD, IF THERE IS TROUBLE, WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT KNOWING NEW BREAKERS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. WE HAVE A STANDARD CIRCUIT BREAKER THAT WE CAN USE THROUGHOUT OUR SYSTEM. WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 34 OF THESE BREAKERS ON THE FEEDER SIDE ,

AND 12 ON THE MAIN SIDE. >> NOT ALL OF THEM ARE THE ABB

BREAKER, THOUGH? >> CORRECT. THE NEW ONES THAT WE PUT IN OUR ABB MAG BREAKERS, WHICH ARE THESE BREAKERS. THE OLDER BREAKERS ARE VARIOUS DIFFERENT KINDS OF

BREAKERS. >> OKAY.

>> MADAM CHAIR, ARE THESE ALL ON THE -- ARE THEY ALL BASED ON THE EMERGENCY PURCHASE? THEY WERE ALL PURCHASED AS AN

EMERGENCY? >> YES, THEY ARE PART OF THE EMERGENCY PURCHASE OF GOODS AND SERVICES, BUT I THINK THIS IS AN ITEM WE ARE ORDERING AS PART OF OUR REGULAR PROCESS.

>> SO, WE HAVE THE TOTTEN WHICH WOULD BE EMERGENCY PURCHASES, AND WE HAVE OTHER BREAKERS THAT NEED TO BE PROBABLY REPLACED

THAT ARE PART OF THAT. >> THESE ARE ALREADY ORDERED?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE BEEN ORDERED YET. THE TOTTEN

BREAKERS HAVE BEEN ORDERED. >> YES, WE HAVE BREAKERS IN STOCK ALREADY THAT WE PLAN ON USING FOR THOSE. THESE WOULD BE FOR FUTURE PROJECTS, FUTURE REPLACEMENTS AND TO HAVE ON

STANDBY AS WELL. >> MOST OF THOSE BREAKERS ARE ALSO 30 TO 35 YEARS OF AGE, THAT WE ARE REPLACING. WE'VE GOTTEN FAR BEYOND THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THOSE UNITS AS WELL. AND, WE CAN'T FIND REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE EXPERTISE TO REPAIR THEM DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE, OR IS

STARTING TO FADE AWAY. >> YES, SIR, THAT WAS ONE OF THE BREAKERS WE HAD FAILED LAST YEAR THAT WE COULD NOT FIND PARTS FOR, SO WE HAD TO REPLACE IT INSTEAD.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE THE COST OF THESE BREAKERS HAS GONE UP TREMENDOUSLY. I WOULD LIKE TO CS COMPETITIVELY BID THESE

OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS. >> YES, SIR.

>> ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE HAVE A MOTION?

>> I MOVE APPROVAL. >> SECOND.

>> MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> MRS. GIBBONS. >> YES, MA'AM.

[E.5. Board Training Session 4 - Conflicts of Interest]

>> MR. LAMMERS. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> MRS. BENNETT. >> YES, MA'AM. MOVING TO THE

NEXT AGENDA ITEM. >> I'M GOING TO BE SAFE HERE, BUT I THINK THAT CAROLINE IS UP.

>> YES, SHE IS UP NOW. >> DO WE WANT TO SEE IF THE MOUSE WORKS APPEAR CORRECT THE

>> YEAH, SURE.

OF A BREAK FROM TRAINING, AND NOW WE ARE BACK AT IT IN THE

[00:50:01]

TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO START US ON THE TOPIC OF ETHICS, AND IT IS A BIG TOPIC, SO I WILL BREAK IT UP INTO MULTIPLE SESSIONS. THE FIRST ONE BEING TODAY'S SESSION, VOTING CONFLICTS, WHICH IS A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC AND THE TOPIC THAT YOU ALL WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH FREQUENTLY. SIMILAR TO SOME OF THESE OTHER AREAS OF LAW THAT ARE FOUND IN BOTH THE CONSTITUTION AND THE FLORIDA STATUTES, VOTING CONFIDENCE AND ETHICS ARE ALSO ALONG THOSE LINES. THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION WAS REVISED IN 1976 TO ADD ADDITIONAL ETHICS PROVISIONS, AS WELL AS REQUIRED THAT THE LEGISLATURE CREATE A CODE OF ETHICS FOR PUBLIC OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, LOBBYISTS, CANDIDATES, SO EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM IS GOING TO BE SUBJECT TO CHAPTER 112, WHICH PART THREE IS THE CODE OF ETHICS FOR EMPLOYEES AND PUBLIC OFFICERS. PART OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IN 1976 REQUIRED THAT THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS BE CREATED. PRIOR TO THAT TIME, SOME OF THE ETHICS VIOLATIONS WERE PUNISHABLE BY CRIMINAL PENALTIES, SO THEY MOVED AWAY FROM THAT TOWARDS ADMINISTRATIVE ENFORCEMENT , AND THAT WAS TO BALANCE THE ABILITY TO ATTRACT CANDIDATES, NOT TO BE TOO SCARED TO SERVE PUBLIC OFFICE, BUT TO ALSO HAVE A BODY THAT WAS OVERSEEING AND MAKING SURE THAT THE PUBLIC WAS PROTECTED FROM ETHICS VIOLATIONS. THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS, YOU ALL ARE PROBABLY VERY FAMILIAR WITH THEM, BECAUSE YOU ALL UP TO FILL OUT THOSE DISCLOSURE FORMS EVERY YEAR, BUT THEY DO A NUMBER OF THINGS, SOME OF WHICH ARE, THEY INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS, THEY RENDER ADVISORY OPINIONS, WHICH ANYONE CAN GO ON THEIR WEBSITE AND DO A SEARCH AND READ THEM.

THEY PRESCRIBED THE DISCLOSURE FORMS, AND THEY MAINTAIN THE DISCLOSURE FILINGS OF CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS.

SOME OF YOU ALL MAY FILE DIRECTLY ONLINE WITH A QUESTION OF ETHICS, OTHERS MAY SEND IT TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS, WHO THEN SENDS IT TO THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS.

ETHICS LAWS CAN GENERALLY BE DIVIDED INTO TWO DIFFERENT AREAS. THERE ARE PROHIBITIONS ON CERTAIN CONDUCT, AND THEN THERE ARE DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS. LIKE I SAID TODAY, WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT VOTING CONFLICTS, AND THAT IS CODIFIED AT 112.3143 OF THE FLORIDA STATUTES, AND IT'S APPLICABLE TO PUBLIC OFFICERS. WHAT THEY MEAN BY PUBLIC OFFICERS IS, ANY PERSON ELECTED OR APPOINTED , SO THAT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE OUR ADVISORY BOARD OF THE UTILITY. THIS BOARD IS, AS YOU KNOW, APPOINTED. SO, THE ACTUAL PROHIBITION OR THE VOTING CONFLICT LAW STATES THAT NO PUBLIC OFFICER SHALL VOTE ON ANY MEASURE THAT WOULD AND ERR TO HIS OR HER SPECIAL PRIVATE GAIN OR LOSS, OR ANY MEASURE WHICH HE OR SHE KNOWS WOULD AND ERR TO THE PRIVATE GAIN OR LOSS OF A PRINCIPAL, A PARENT ORGANIZATION, OR A SUBSIDIARY OF A CORPORATE PRINCIPLE, RELATIVE, OR A BUSINESS ASSOCIATE. THIS IS THE VOTING CONFLICTS LOT IN A NEAT SUMMARY. TO GO OVER THESE LISTED OUT HERE, I WILL JUST GIVE YOU SOME DEFINITIONS SO YOU CAN GET AN IDEA OF WHAT THAT MEANS. ALL OF THESE ARE DEFINED BY STATUTE, BUT PRINCIPAL , YOU CAN THINK OF IS YOUR EMPLOYER OR CLIENT, OR AFFILIATED COMPANY OF YOUR CLIENT OR EMPLOYER. IF YOU ARE COMING TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF A CLIENT OR EMPLOYER, THAT IS WHAT IS MEANT BY PRINCIPAL RETAINED. A RELATIVE, FOR PURPOSES OF THE VOTING CONFLICT STATUTES, INCLUDE ALL THAT ARE LISTED HERE. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THE ETHICS CODES, AND RELATIVE MAY BE DEFINED DIFFERENTLY. WHEN WE GO OVER OTHER SECTIONS, YOU WILL SEE THAT THE DEFINITION MAY NOT BE THE SAME AS IT IS HERE FOR ANTI-NEPOTISM AND GIFT LAWS. AND THEN, ACTUALLY, I DIDN'T TOUCH ON WHAT A BUSINESS ASSOCIATE IS, WHICH IS ANOTHER ONE OF THE DEFINED TERMS. BASICALLY, YOU CAN THINK OF THAT AS ANYONE YOU ARE CARRYING ON A BUSINESS ENTERPRISE WITH, SO YOU HAVE TO ACTIVELY BE ENGAGED IN A BUSINESS ENTERPRISE WITH THAT PERSON, AND IT DOESN'T MATTER

[00:55:01]

[01:00:01]

SITUATION. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. THE COMMISSIONER THAT DID HAVE THIS ISSUE, IF HE OR SHE HAD RECUSED HIMSELF FROM THAT VOTE, AND IT STILL PAST, HOW DOES

THAT WORK? >> IF IT STILL PAST, THEY COULD GO FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT, BECAUSE THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION, IT WAS MANDATORY. IT WASN'T AN OPTION TO OPT IN OR OPT OUT. THAT VOTE, THERE WERE MULTIPLE VERSIONS OF THE VOTE, BUT THE VOTE WHERE IT WAS FOUND TO BE IN CONFLICT SAID IF WE DID VOTE FOR THIS PROJECT, IF THERE WAS ANY DIFFERENCE, WHICH IT WAS GUARANTEED IT WOULD BE. THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH GRANT FUNDS, SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE DIFFERENCE. THEY WOULD HAVE TO IMPOSE A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT ON THEIR BILL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE DIFFERENCE, AND IN THAT SITUATION, THEY WOULD STILL BE PART OF THE PROGRAM, BUT THEY COULD NOT VOTE ON ANY OF THE MEASURES OR DICTATE HOW THAT WAS TO PROCEED.

>> MADAM CHAIR, THE CORRECT COURSE OF ACTION FOR THAT COUNCILMEMBER WOULD HAVE BEEN TO RECUSE HIMSELF FROM VOTING? FROM VOTING. THE LAST SLIDE I WILL TALK ABOUT THE PROCEDURES FOR DOING THAT, BUT IN ESSENCE, BASICALLY, YOU WOULD NOT VOTE ON THE MATTER. YOU WOULD NOT HAVE A SAY ON THE MATTER. YOU COULD PARTICIPATE IN DISCUSSION, BUT I WILL GET TO THAT ON THE LAST SLIDE. ALL RIGHT, A COUPLE OF THE FACTORS RELATED TO WHAT WAS THE RELATIVE BENEFIT OR HARM WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE AFFECTED CLASS? WHAT THE OPINIONS SEEMED TO SAY IS, IF A CLASS IS LARGE, A SPECIAL GAIN MAY STILL EXIST IF THE OFFICER STANDS TO GAIN MORE OR LESS THAN OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CLASS. ON THAT LAST EXAMPLE I GAVE, THAT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT, EVEN THOUGH THE CLASS WAS 88, WHICH IS, ARGUABLY, PRETTY LARGE. THEY WERE IN A SMALLER TIER, WHICH ENDED UP GIVING THEM MORE GAIN OR LOSS IN COMPARISON TO THE REST OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. ANOTHER EXAMPLE -- I'M SORRY, THAT IS ONE OF THE ETHICS OPINIONS THAT SAYS THIS VERY WELL. 18 -14, WHICH I PUT ON THE SCREEN. THIS RELATES TO FACTORS THREE AND FOUR I HAD SHOWN ON A PREVIOUS SLIDE, AND YOU CAN SEE HERE. IN ONE EXAMPLE, I TOLD YOU ABOUT THE MAYOR'S HUSBAND. EVERY OFFICER UNDER THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WAS TREATED THE SAME, AND AS I JUST MENTIONED, UNDER THE OPPOSITE SCENARIO, EVEN THOUGH IT IS ONE CLASS, MEMBERS WERE TREATED DIFFERENTLY WITHIN THAT CLASS. OKAY, ANOTHER FACTOR TO CONSIDER IS WHETHER OR NOT THE POTENTIAL GAIN OR LOSS IS REMOTE OR SPECULATIVE, AND IN GENERAL, THE ETHICS OPINIONS HOLD THERE IS NO SPECIAL PRIVATE GAIN OR LOSS, WHERE THERE IS UNCERTAINTY AT THE TIME OF THE VOTE AS TO WHETHER THERE WOULD BE ANY ECONOMIC BENEFIT OR HARM. REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE OF THE CLASS AFFECTED . SOME EXAMPLES WHERE THIS COMES UP OFTEN IS, LIKE A CITY

[01:05:06]

SHE ALSO READS THEM OUT LOUD AT THE MEETING, AND SHE PROVIDES A COPY TO ALL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS. IF YOU DO NOT DO THIS BEFORE THE BOARD MEETING, THEN YOU MUST DO IT AT THE MEETING. YOU HAVE TO THOROUGHLY DISCLOSE AND FILE IT. BUT, WHAT'S IMPORTANT FOR APPOINTED BOARD MEMBERS, YOU CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN THE MATTER UNTIL THE FORM IS FILLED OUT, SO WITH ELECTED MEMBERS, THEY CAN ACTUALLY GO TO THE MEETINGS, DISCUSS, AND THEN DISCLOSE RIGHT BEFORE THE VOTE IS TAKEN. APPOINTED MEMBERS ARE DIFFERENT. YOU HAVE TO FILL OUT THE FORM PRIOR TO THE MEETING, AND DO NOT PARTICIPATE . WHAT IT MEANS BY PARTICIPATE IS ATTEMPTS TO INFLUENCE, ORALLY, BY WRITTEN COMMUNICATION, THE DECISION, BEFORE YOU DO THAT, YOU MUST FILL OUT THE FORM AND FILE IT WITH GRISEL. YOU MUST STILL DISCLOSE THE CONFLICT EARLY PRIOR TO TAKING THE VOTE, AND THEN YOU WOULD ABSTAIN FROM VOTING. HOPEFULLY, THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE PROCEDURES. AND, ONE THING I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, WHICH MANY DON'T KNOW, IS THAT IF YOU ARE EVER IN DOUBT, THE BEST PRACTICE IS WELL BEFORE THE MEETING OR AS SOON AS YOU HAVE ANY INKLING OF DOUBT, COME TO ME AND ASK ME, AND WE CAN LOOK AT THE FACTORS, BUT THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS IS KIND OF THE GOLD STANDARD OF DECISIONS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE A FORMAL OPINION. YOU CAN ACTUALLY CALL THEM UP AND SPEAK TO THE ATTORNEY ON CALL THAT DAY, AND THEY ARE GOOD ABOUT RESPONDING THAT SAME DAY OR THE NEXT, AND GIVING YOU SOME GUIDANCE AS TO HOW THE COMMISSION MIGHT RULE ON THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION. NOW, THE GOLDEN TICKET TO INSULATE YOURSELF AS A FORMAL OPINION, BUT A LOT OF TIMES, IF YOU GET THE INFORMAL OPINION, AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST, MOST PEOPLE WILL ABSTAIN AT THAT POINT. AND, THAT'S ALL I HAVE ON VOTING CONFLICTS. ARE

THERE ANY QUESTIONS? >> I HAVE A QUESTION. I THINK YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS. THIS BOARD, THE APPOINTED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD CONTINUE TO FILL OUT FORM ONE, BUT THE ELECTED NOW FILL OUT FORM SIX? IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YES. >> JEFF IS CAUSING QUITE A

[01:10:03]

STIR. >> YES, FORM SIX IS VERY UNPOPULAR. WHAT WE USED TO DO WAS FILE WITH THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS. THE ELECTED NOW FILES WITH THE COMMISSION ON

ETHICS? >> CORRECT. I THINK THAT IS ACTUALLY APPLICABLE TO EVERYONE NOW. THEY HAVE TRIED TO GET MORE TOWARDS THIS ONLINE PLATFORM. I BELIEVE THAT IS THE CASE. BUT, PRIOR TO OUR NEXT DISCLOSURE DEADLINE, I WILL MAKE SURE TO GET YOU ALL THE INFORMATION ON WHERE TO

FILE. >> ALSO, IN THE FINAL DECISION, EVEN IF WE CONSULT YOU AND THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS, THE FINAL DECISION IS THE PERSON THEMSELVES? THEY HAVE TO TAKE THE CONSEQUENCES WITH WHATEVER DECISION THEY MAKE?

>> THAT'S CORRECT. WE WILL GO OVER PENALTIES IN THE NEXT

SESSION. >> PART OF THE DECISION IS, PART OF THE CONSIDERATION IS, WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES ARE IF YOU DO SOMETHING AGAINST ADVICE, BECAUSE THE ADVICE, THAT IS PART OF THE INVESTIGATION , WHETHER YOU SOUGHT AN OPINION? IS THAT CORRECT TOO?

>> YES, THEY WILL PROBABLY LOOK AT ALL OF THE FACTORS AND DETERMINE YOUR CULPABILITY, INTENT, KNOWLEDGE, THAT SORT OF THING, AND IF YOU SOUGHT AN OPINION, AND THE ETHICS COMMISSION SAID, OH, IT'S LIKELY TO BE A VIOLATION, AND THEN YOU SAID, WELL, I STILL WANT TO DO IT ANYWAYS, I THINK THAT WOULD LOOK MUCH WORSE THAN IF YOU HAD GONE ALONG WITH

IT. >> THEN, SOMEBODY HAS TO FILE A COMPLAINT, AND ALL OF THAT BECOMES PART OF THE

INVESTIGATION. >> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> MADAM CHAIR, I HAVE A QUESTION. A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION TODAY , AND I MAY BE JUMPING AHEAD, SO TELL ME IF I NEED TO WAIT, WAS ABOUT PERSONAL GAIN FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY AND WHATNOT. WHAT IF YOU WORK FOR A BUSINESS THAT WE ARE VOTING ON A CONTRACT FOR, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> THIS DOES TOUCH ON THAT. THERE ARE OVERLAPPING TOPICS.

THIS DOES COVER BOTH PERSONAL GAIN AS WELL AS GAIN TO THE BUSINESS ASSOCIATES AND MEMBERS . IT WOULD COVER THOSE SITUATIONS, BUT SOME OF WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IS DOING BUSINESS WITH YOUR OWN AGENCY , PROHIBITED DUAL EMPLOYMENT, THINGS LIKE THAT, WHICH WE WILL GO OVER. BUT, THERE ARE PROHIBITIONS ON THAT, AND THERE ARE WAYS TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT YOU MEET THAT SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP THAT WOULD

PROHIBIT YOU FROM VOTING. >> ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. THANK

[F. DIRECTOR COMMENTS]

>> YES, MA'AM, MADAM CHAIR. JUST A FEW NOTES. AS OF TODAY, NATURAL GAS IS AROUND $1.55, PER BTU, WHICH IS A HISTORICAL LOW. FOR THE SHORT TERM, WE ARE SITTING IN A VERY COMFORTABLE POSITION TO HAVE VERY LOW COST POWER FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR. THAT'S BECAUSE OF A COMBINATION OF THE 75% OF LOCKED-IN FUEL PRICES THAT WE HAVE THROUGH OCTOBER, AND THE PROJECTIONS BEING UNDER TWO DOLLARS OR AROUND THE TWO DOLLAR RANGE FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR. THE PRICES HAVE FALLEN DUE TO NEAR RECORD PRODUCTION NUMBERS , ABUNDANT FUEL STORAGE, THE FUEL STORAGE LEVELS ARE OFF THE CHARTS, MEANING THEY ARE ABOVE THE HIGHER LIMIT , THE FUEL STORAGE NUMBERS, SO THAT MEANS THEY HAVE TO GET RID OF SOME OF THAT FUEL. WHICH MEANS, THEY WILL SELL IT AT A LOW PRICE. ANOTHER FACTOR IS THE ABOVE AVERAGE TEMPERATURES FOR THE CURRENT WINTER SEASON OF NORTH HAS REALLY IMPACTED HEATING NEEDS FOR THOSE FOLKS UP NORTH. ADDITIONALLY, THEY HAVE HAD SOME TECHNICAL ISSUES WITH SHREVEPORT IN TEXAS , THE STATION HAS LIMITED THE AMOUNT OF EXPORTS THEY HAVE ON NATURAL GAS, SO THOSE FACTORS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE VERY LOW PRICE FOR NATURAL GAS. THAT LEADS ME TO MY NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS RELATED. THE SECOND BOARD MEETING IN MARCH, MARCH 19TH, WILL LIKELY BE A COMBINED BOARD MEETING , AND I'M GOING TO CALL IT PCA, ESF, COST ADJUSTMENT. DAYS ON CASH ON HAND. THE WORKSHOP WILL BE AT THE ENERGY SERVICES CENTER. WE WILL LIKELY START AT 1:00, AND I WILL GIVE US PLENTY OF TIME TO ADDRESS THE AGENDA ITEMS AND BREAK OFF INTO THE WORKSHOP.

AND, WE CAN DISCUSS THE OPTIONS WE ARE PROPOSING FOR THE BOARD

[01:15:01]

EVERY YEAR. >> THAT IS AT 1:00 P.M.?

>> YES, 1:00 P.M. WE WILL MAKE SURE TO SEND OUT AN INVITE. THE SECOND BOARD MEETING IN MARCH.

>> ARE WE NOT THINKING OF HAVING THAT AT 4:00?

>> NO, SIR. IT WILL BE EARLIER IN THE DAY. WE WILL WORK AROUND EVERYBODY SCHEDULE. WE MAY HAVE TO DO IT ON WEDNESDAY. WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO MAKE AROUND THAT TIMEFRAME. SINCE IT'S ALREADY A BOARD MEETING DAY, WE FIGURED WE ALREADY HAD YOU LOCKED IN FOR THAT TIMEFRAME, WE WOULD JUST START A LITTLE SOONER.

>> MAYBE SOMETHING IN THE AFTERNOON?

>> YES, SIR, IT WOULD EITHER BE 1:00 OR 2:00 START TIME, WHATEVER WOULD WORK BEST FOR THE BOARD. NEXT WEEK, DANIEL, CAROLINE AND MYSELF WILL BE ATTENDING THE APP A LEGISLATIVE RALLY IN WASHINGTON. IT'S THE FIRST TIME EITHER ONE OF US HAVE ATTENDED, SO I'M SURE WE WILL BE LEARNING QUITE A BIT, GETTING OUR FEET WET AND COLD, AS IT'S COLD UP THERE RIGHT NOW. AND, NOT TO TAKE THE SPOTLIGHT AWAY FROM 29 YEARS OF FINANCIAL REPORTING EXCELLENCE, BUT THIS WEEK IS THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, WHICH CELEBRATES ENGINEERS WEEK, AND WE HAVE FIVE SEASONED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS ON STAFF, THREE ENGINEERS WHO WILL BECOME PROFESSIONALLY LICENSED ENGINEERS IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE, AND WE ALSO HAVE ONE VERY SEASONED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER ON THE BOARD, SO HAPPY ENGINEERS WEEK TO ALL.

[G. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE

BOARD AT THIS TIME? >> MADAM CHAIR, MR. CISNEROS WAS WITH US FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING, FOR ALL OF THE PLANNING TIME, AND I REALLY APPRECIATED THAT. AND, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THAT INVOLVES FPUA, THAT I WOULD LIKE THE BOARD TO KNOW ABOUT SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE, IS THE WHOLE STREETLIGHT PROCESS, AND HOW THE CITY AND FPUA WORK TOGETHER, AND HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK, BECAUSE THAT HAS BEEN SOMETHING -- IT HAS BEEN A WORK IN PROGRESS FOR A LONG TIME. I'M NOT IN ANY HURRY, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA FOR EVERYBODY TO KNOW.

>> YOU SAID THE STREETLIGHT PROCESS?

>> REPLACEMENT. >> I SAW THE MOTHER THIS MORNING ON THE BEACH FIXING SOME LIGHTS.

>> WE'VE HAD SOME BACK ORDER PROBLEMS, AND WE'VE HAD SOME STREETLIGHT FIXTURES THAT DIDN'T WORK WITH -- I MEAN, WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF ISSUES. THANKFULLY, THE CITY AND THE FPUA ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO HAVE A SMOOTH PROCESS FOR THE

FUTURE. >> YES, MA'AM, WE WILL DEFINITELY PRESENT YOU IN THE FUTURE. WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD TEAM WORKING WITH THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, AND FPUA. DEREK AND THE TND GUYS HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER REALLY WELL TO MAKE SURE WE STAY ON TOP OF THE LIGHTS. IT IS A PROGRAM THAT WE, ESSENTIALLY, DEVELOPED OVER THE LAST YEAR TO HELP REPAIR THE LIGHTS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE THERE WAS A WARRANTY PERIOD FOR WHEN THE CITY CONVERTED TO L.E.D.S. WE ARE TRANSITIONING FROM THAT WARRANTY PERIOD INTO STAFF DOING IT. THAT WAS A VERY BIG TOPIC OF DISCUSSION.

>> IT WAS. WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF OTHER BIG THINGS, BUT STREETLIGHTS -- RIGHT, IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT BE MUCH DISCUSSION , BUT THERE WAS , AND EVERYBODY IS WORKING ON IT. I THINK THAT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT IT TOO.

>> YES, MA'AM. >> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, SPECIFICALLY, GOING ONLINE AND MARKING THE STREETLIGHTS THAT

ARE DOWN? >> WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD PROGRAM FOR REPAIRING STREETLIGHTS THAT ARE NOT DECORATED OR SPECIALTY LIGHTS. THERE ARE SPECIALTY LIGHTS -- THAT, BECAUSE I HAD A RATEPAYER CONTACT ME ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO ABOUT A LIGHT THAT WAS OUT, AND SHE SAID THAT SHE TRIED TO FOLLOW THROUGH AND CALL THE LANDLINE

[01:20:04]

WITHIN TWO DAYS. >> ACTUALLY, WE HAVE HAD THAT

PROCESS FOR A WHILE. >> I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

>> I HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH STREETLIGHTS QUITE A BIT LATELY, SO I'M LEARNING SOME OF THOSE THINGS TOO, BUT WE DO HAVE A GOOD PROGRAM RIGHT NOW AND THOSE GUYS ARE ON TOP OF IT. IF IT'S NOT FIXED WITHIN A FEW DAYS, IT'S FIXED BY THE END OF THE WEEK. I'M TALKING ABOUT REGULAR STREETLIGHTS, NOT THE DECORATIVE ONES. THOSE ARE DIFFERENT ANIMAL.

>> TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT, THE STREETLIGHTS ARE VERY, HIGHLY VISIBLE TO OUR CUSTOMERS. I WOULD SAY, 50% OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT I HAVE WITH NEIGHBORS OR CUSTOMERS ARE

RELATED TO STREETLIGHTS. >> YEAH, WE HAVE A PERCENTAGE WISE, WE HAVE A VERY LOW PERCENTAGE OF LIGHTS THAT ARE OUT, BUT WHEN THEY ARE IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS, IT TAKES UP A LOT OF ATTENTION. IF YOU HAVE ONE OR TWO IN A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA -- BUT, WE DO HAVE A REALLY GOOD MAINTENANCE PROGRAM AND A VERY LOW PERCENTAGE OF LIGHTS THAT ARE OUT, JUST FOR CLARITY, FOR THOSE WATCHING ONLINE, OR FOR THE BOARD'S OWN

KNOWLEDGE. >> JUST TO ADD TO THAT, ONE OF THE THINGS -- THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT STREETLIGHTS, PERIOD. ONE OF THE THINGS IS, THEY WERE BACKORDERED. CERTAIN ONES ONLY FIT CERTAIN FIXTURES WERE HARD TO GET BECAUSE OF SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES, ET CETERA. THERE IS A LOT THAT GOES INTO IT. YOU WOULD THINK IT'S A SIMPLE THING, BUT THERE IS A LOT THAT GOES INTO IT, AND ONE OF THE THINGS IS, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A WAY OF DETECTING IT WITHOUT THE CUSTOMERS TELLING US, RIGHT? SO, YOU HAVE TO SEE IT IN THE DARK. THERE IS A VOLUNTEER FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, WHO DOES GO AROUND AT NIGHT AND LOGS WHAT STREETLIGHTS ARE OUT AND REPORTS THEM , FOR WHICH WE ARE

VERY GRATEFUL. >> WE DO HAVE CUSTOMERS THAT REPORT LIKE THAT, BUT OVER THE PAST YEAR, ON THE THIRD OR FOURTH CYCLE OF OUR OWN EMPLOYEES WORKING WITH THE CITY, FPUA EMPLOYEES ARE GOING OUT AT NIGHT TO BLITZ THE SYSTEM TO SEE WHICH LIGHTS ARE OUT AND REPAIR THEM WITHIN A SHORT TIMEFRAME. WE ARE ALSO DOING AN INSPECTION AND WE ALSO HAVE CUSTOMERS THAT WILL NOTIFY US, AND WE ALSO HAVE CITIZENS THAT ARE VERY INVOLVED AND HAVE GIVEN US INFORMATION.

SAFETY, FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, FOR TRAFFIC, FOR EVERYTHING.

>> THEY ARE THE SAME AS THE TRAFFIC LEADS, WHERE THE CITY OWNS THEM, BUT WE MAINTAIN THEM?

>> SO, THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS HAVE A NEW WRINKLE, BECAUSE THE ONES THAT MAINTAIN -- THE COMPANY THAT MAINTAINED THEM DOES NOT WANT TO DO THAT ANYMORE, SO WE ARE HAVING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE OF OUR TRAFFIC

SIGNALS. >> OKAY. INTERESTING.

>> FPUA PROVIDES POWER TO THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS, BUT WE DO NOT MAINTAIN THOSE. THOSE ARE A SPECIALTY LIGHT.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE STREETLIGHTS? SAME THING?

>> THE CITY STREETLIGHTS ARE OWNED BY THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, AND FPUA PROVIDES POWER AND MAINTAINS THE LIGHTS FOR THE CITY, BUT WE ALSO HAVE RENTAL LIGHTS THAT GO ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, AND WE DO OWN AND MAINTAIN THOSE FOR THE

CUSTOMER. >> OKAY. I'VE GOT IT. SO MANY

QUESTIONS. SORRY. >> MOST LIKELY, I'M SURE THAT MR. RETHERFORD'S EARS ARE RINGING RIGHT NOW. I'M SURE THAT HE AND MR. CRAWFORD WILL GIVE US SOMETHING WE CAN PRESENT TO THE BOARD ON OUR PROGRAM AND MAINTENANCE.

>> REALLY, WHAT YOU WANT TO KNOW IS, I WANT THIS STREETLIGHT TO WORK, SO HOW DO WE DO IT? THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

RIGHT. STREETLIGHTS IS A GREAT TOPIC, AND WE WILL GIVE YOU A PRESENTATION. IT IS INVOLVED, AND IT IS IMPORTANT.

>> ALL RIGHT, ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS? I WOULD LIKE TO JUST GIVE KUDOS ONCE AGAIN TO THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT FOR THE AWARD THEY HAVE BEEN GRANTED . ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE ATTORNEYS? NONE. SEEING THERE AR

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.