[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:08]
MEETING TO ORDER. NOW THAT MR. GAINES HAS ARRIVED -- THIS IS THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE CITY COMMISSION. THIS IS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20TH, 2024. PLEASE STAND FOR THE OPENING PRAYER
FROM PASTOR -- >> YOU BLESSED US ALL WITH LIFE THIS MORNING. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL AND THANKFUL FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US THUS FAR. GOD, YOU HAVE KEPT US THROUGH DANGERS SEEN AND UNSEEN. YOU KEPT OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
GOD, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. NOW WE ASK THAT YOU BE IN THE MIDST OF THIS MEETING, GOD. GOD, AS WE GATHER, OH GOD, WE PRAY WE COME TOGETHER IN THE SPIRIT, GOD.
GOD, WE HOPE PLEASE, OH GOD, WE BE ONE WITH FATHER GOD, IN THE NAME OF JESUS, GOD, WE THANK YOU AND WE BLESS YOUR GOD IN
JESUS'S NAME. 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. >> CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.
>> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK? >> MOTION TO APPROVE?
[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
>> CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. >> TREND EIGHT, COMMISSIONER
[a. HUWE1 Awareness Month]
GAINES, MAYOR HUDSON, COMMISSIONER J JOHNSON.>> YES, MA'AM. >> WE HAVE THREE PROCLAMATIONS.
WE WILL START WITH THE HUWE1 AWARENESS MONTH. I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOMEBODY HERE TO RECEIVE THAT IF THEY WANT TO COME FORWARD. WHERE AS HUWE1 IS A GENE LOCATED ON THE X-CHROMOSOME, IT HOLDS THE CHEMICAL INSTRUCTIONS DNA TO CREATE A PROTEIN CALLED E3. IT IS PRESENT IN ALL CELLS IN THE HUMAN BODY, MEANING ANY VARIATIONS OR MUTATIONS IN THE HUWE1 GENE CAN HAVE SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS THROUGHOUT THE BODY.
AND WHEREAS UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF THE HUWE1 GENE IS STILL DEVELOPING, RESEARCH INDICATES IT CONTROLS NEUROTRANSMITTERS IN THE FORMATION OF NEURONS IN THE DEVELOPING BRAIN. IT HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY AS WELL AS A RANGE OF OTHER CONDITIONS. AND WHEREAS THE PLAN IS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT HUWE1 THROUGH PERSONAL STORIES, I.E. THROUGH RIVERS STORY. RIVER IS A JOYFUL BOY BORN IN 2019 IN STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA. THE ONLY CONCERN AT THE TIME WAS HIS FAILING HEARING TEST. AT AROUND THREE MONTHS OLD, HE WAS ADMITTED FOR WEIGHT LOSS AND FEEDING DIFFICULTIES. WHILE THERE, HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH FAILURE TO THRIVE, HEARING LOSS, AND GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS. IN MAY OF 2020, GENETIC TEST RESULTS REVEALED THAT RIVER HAS THE HUWE1 GENE MUTATION . HE WAS A CO-KILLER IMPLANT WHICH HE RECEIVED IN 2021. HE IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON WALKING AND HOLDING A CUP INDEPENDENTLY. WHEREAS AS PART OF THE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, RIVERS FAMILY ORGANIZED A WALK/RUN IN 2023. IT BEGAN AND ENDED IN THE HEART OF FT.
PIERCE, FLORIDA, AND INCORPORATED THE PETER C COBB MEMORIAL BRIDGE. WHEREAS THE CITY PROMOTES AND SUPPORTS NONPROFIT EFFORTS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF OUR CITIZENS AND ENCOURAGES ITS RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES TO CONTINUE THE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN FOR THE HUWE1 . THEREFORE, THE MAYOR OF CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND I HEREBY CLAIM THAT MARCH 1ST SHOULD BEGIN HUWE1 AWARENESS MONTH. WE ASK ALL CITIZENS TO SUPPORT AWARENESS OF THE HUWE1 GENETIC DISEASE WITH A GOAL THAT PROGRESSIVE RESEARCH WILL DISCOVER TREATMENT OPTIONS AND A POSSIBLE CURETO SAY A
FEW WORDS -- >> I WOULD, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. AS DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL INITIATIVES FOR RIVERS AND, IT MAKES ME SO PROUD TO BE A LONG TIME TEACHER
[00:05:05]
AND RESIDENT OF FORT PIERCE. ON BEHALF OF THE LOUISE HUEY BOARD MEMBERS AND ALL HUWE1 BOARD MEMBERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO MAYOR HUDSON, THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, JASON, AND ALL OTHERS WHO MADE THIS RECLAMATION POSSIBLE. WE ARE EXTREMELY EXCITED FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE AWARENESS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY ABOUT RARE HUWE1 GENETIC CONDITIONS, AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE.>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU.
[b. 65th Pearl Anniversary of the Eta Eta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.]
>> OKAY. THE NEXT PROCLAMATION IS THIS, 65TH PEARL ANNIVERSARY OF THE ETA ETA OMEGA CHAPTER OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY INCORPORATED . YOUR SPOKESPERSON WANTS TO COME
UP. >> WHEREAS ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA WAS FOUNDED ON THE CAMPUS OF HOWARD UNIVERSITY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. IN JANUARY 5TH, 1908, AND WHEREAS ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA WAS THE FIRST GREEK LETTER SORORITY THAT WAS ESTABLISHED BY AFRICAN-AMERICAN COLLEGE TRAINED WOMEN WHO TRAIL BLAZED CHANGING PATTERNS OF HUMAN RELATIONS IN AMERICA BY BEING OF SERVICE TO ALL MANKIND, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREAS OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY, SOCIAL INEQUITIES AS WELL AS CULTURAL AND POLITICAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND WHEREAS THE CHAPTER OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA CHAPTER INC. IS THE FIRST GREEK LETTER ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN FT. PIERCE, FLORIDA. IT WAS FORMALLY CHARTERED ON FEBRUARY 28TH, 1959 IN THE FRANCIS K SWEET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL'S CAFETERIA BY 13 DISTINGUISHED WOMEN WHOSE MEMBERSHIP INCLUDED WOMEN FROM THE TREASURE COAST, THE TRI-COUNTY AREA OF SAINT LUCIE, AND MARTIN COUNTY. AND WHEREAS THE CHAPTER HAS REMAAND EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF ITS YOUTH, PARTICULARLY YOUNG WOMEN, HELPING THEM DEVELOP INTO EDUCATED, RESPONSIBLE, SOCIALLY AND POLITICALLY GLOBALLY AWARE LADIES, AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE RECOGNIZES AND COMMENDS THE TIRELESS EFFORTS, DEDICATION AND POSITIVE IMPACTS THAT THEY HAVE HAD ON THE LIVES OF MEMBERS AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, EXEMPLIFYING THE TRUE SPIRIT OF SERVICE. THEREFORE, THE MAYOR OF CITY OF FT. PIERCE FLORIDA GIVES THIS PROCLAMATION FOR THE 65TH PEARL ANNIVERSARY FOR THE CHAPTER. MADE THIS PEARL CELEBRATION BE A TESTAMENT TO THE ENDURING STRENGTH AND THE PROFOUND IMPACT YOU HAVE MADE IN OUR BELOVED CITY.
>> CONGRATULATIONS. >> CONGRATULATIONS.
] >> AS LONG AS EVERYBODY IS STANDING, CAN THEY COME UP HERE AND WE GET A PICTURE? WOULD THAT BE ALL RIGHT WITH EVERYBODY?
>> SURE, COME ON. >> GET ALL IN.
>> I HAD TO MAKE THE COMMISSION. THEY NEVER WOULD
HAVE LET ME LIVE THIS LONG. >>
>> FIRST OF ALL, YOU ARE WEARING THE WRONG COLOR. AT LEAST YOU PUT YOUR PINK LAPEL PIN ON.
>> OH, YEAH. >> WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS FUSSING
AT ME? >> YOU ARE GOING TO NEED SOME
SUPPORT. >> FOUR YEARS, FIVE YEARS.
INAUDIBLE ] >> I GOT YOU COVERED, BUDDY. I
GOT YOU COVERED. >> REALLY? ALL RIGHT, OKAY.
>> -- GOLDEN AND PEARL. >> HOW ARE YOU DOING? LAUGHTER ]
OF WHAT COLOR TO WEAR. >> I WAS GOING TO STAY DOWN
[00:10:05]
THERE. AND I CHANGED MY MIND.>> YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. >> ARE WE IN THE MIDDLE?
>> OKAY. >> EVERYBODY READY? EVERYBODY
>> ONE MORE, ONE MORE. WAIT! WAIT! WAIT! DON'T MOVE.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COOPERATING. SO, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS, YOU ARE WELCOME. OKAY?
>> NOT ME. >> THEY'E GOT A SPOKESPERSON.
>> HE IS WAY IN THE BACK SOMEWHERE. HOW WILL YOU MESS WITH ME WHEN I'VE GOT THIS MICROPHONE? COME ON.
>> YOU SEE HOW IT GOES! >> MADAME MAYOR, LINDA HUDSON, TO ALL THOSE ON THE BOARD, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CAITLIN AND KORMAN. I AM THE PROUD PRESIDENT OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY INCORPORATED. AND WE ARE JUST DELIGHTED TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS DAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ACKNOWLEDGING 65 YEARS OF SERVICE IN THIS CITY. THAT IS 65 YEARS OF COMMUNITY IMPACT, DIXIE FIVE YEARS FOR YOUTH IN THIS COMMUNITY, 65 YEARS OF GETTING OUR HANDS DIRTY IN THE STREETS, PROMOTING HEALTH, PROMOTING VOTER REGISTRATION, DEMOTING ALL OTHER THINGS THAT CONCERN THIS CITY, WE HAVE TODAY THREE OF THOSE BEAUTIFUL CHARTER MEMBERS WHO STARTED THIS FOUNDATION TODAY. THEY STARTED AT FRANCIS K STREET ON FAIRBURY 28TH, 65 YEARS AGO. WE HAVE EMMA LOMAN. THEY ARE THREE OF 10 WHO STARTED OUR CHAPTER. WE ARE NOT DONE. WE ARE STILL OUT THERE SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES. WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL. THANK YOU FOR THINKING OF US. YOU ALL HAVE A BLESSED DAY.
>> THANK YOU, LADIES OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY. THE PROCLAMATION, IT READ THAT THIS CHAPTER HAS SUPPORTED AND DONE A LOT FOR THE FEMALES IN FT. PIERCE. SOME HAVE POPPED ME UPSIDE THE HEAD WHEN I NEEDED TO BE POPPED UPSIDE THE HEAD GROWING UP. I SEE SOME RAISING THEIR HANDS. THEY HAVE ALSO TOUCHED THE LIVES OF MANY MALES IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO I WANTED TO LET THAT BE KNOWN. YES, THEY ARE A FEMALE SORORITY. HOWEVER, THEIR LOVE AND SUPPORT GOES TO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY. SO FOR ALL THE ONES WHEN I TELL MY STORY GROWING UP IN FORT PIERCE , IT'S A VILLAGE. YOU ARE PART OF MY VILLAGE FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. I SAY THANK YOU.
>> COMMISSIONER, I JUST WANT TO ECHO THOSE WORDS. MANY OF THOSE ARE SCHOOLTEACHERS IN THE COMMUNITY. I AM THE CHILD OF A SCHOOLTEACHER. AND MANY I HAVE KNOWN FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING US AND COMING OUT TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THE BEAUTIFUL EXHIBIT YOU PUT IN CITY HALL FOR ALL TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR STEEP HISTORY, AND WHAT I KNOW YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, IN THE COUNTY OF ST. LUCIE, AND ALONG THE TREASURE COAST. KUDOS.
>> THANK YOU. >> AND I APPRECIATE YOU TURNING OUT IN FORCE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS CHAMBER LOOK SO BEAUTIFUL.
I JUST WISH I WOULD HAVE REMEMBERED TO WEAR PINK AND GREEN. I SEE YOU ALL OUT AND ABOUT. I KNOW HOW HARD YOU WORK. AND SOME OF YOU, I KNOW FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, AND I APPRECIATE SUCH A STRONG, STRONG SHOWING FOR STRONG WOMEN IN THE CITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
[00:15:05]
>> MADAME MAYOR, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, TOO. I WILL WEAR MY HEART PROUDLY TO APPRECIATE YOU AND EVERYTHING YOU DO. KEEP SHARING THE LOVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> MAYOR, REAL QUICK, WHEN I CAME IN THIS EVENING, THE GROUP WAS MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH SECURITY. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SECURITY BACKLOGGED. I WAS LOOKING FOR THE TSA PREAPPROVED LANE. BUT, I HAVE TO ADMIT, BEING IN THE LOBBY WITH THIS WONDERFUL GROUP WAS UNBELIEVABLY UPLIFTING. IT MAKES THE SERIOUS BUSINESS OF THE COMMISSION PALE BY COMPARISON TO THAT EXPERIENCE FOR A FEW MINUTES OUT THERE IN THE LOBBY. I, FOR ONE, REALLY APPRECIATED IT . THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE ONE QUESTION. WHO WAS YOUR DISCIPLINARY? I HAVE A CHAIR RIGHT HERE. YOU CAN SIT BESIDE ME.
>> YOU HAVE MORE WORK TO DO, I THINK. YOU HAVE MORE WORK TO DO WITH THESE TWO DOWN AT THE END. SO, THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND TURNING OUT. WE REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO IN THE COMMUNITY. IT IS REALLY, REALLY NOTICED AND APPRECIATED. AND YOUR RESULTS ARE SHOWING. SO,
[c. Engineers Week]
GOOD JOB. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALRIGHTY.>> OKAY. WE HAVE ONE MORE PROCLAMATION FOR ENGINEERS WEEK. WHEREAS, ENGINEERS DESIGN, CONSTRUCT, AND MAINTAIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE; AND WHEREAS, THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE'S GROWTH DEPENDS ON THE ENGINEERS EXECUTING INNOVATIVE, CREATIVE, AND HIGH-QUALITY SOLUTIONS TO TECHNICAL PROBLEMS; AND WHEREAS, THE PURPOSE OF THE FLORIDA ENGINEERING SOCIETY IS TO ADVANCE THE PUBLIC WELFARE, PROMOTE THE PROFESSIONAL, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC INTERESTS OF THE ENGINEERING PROFESSION, AND STIMULATE AND DEVELOP PROFESSIONAL CONCEPTS AMONG ALL ENGINEERS THROUGH EDUCATION AND EXCELLENCE IN PRACTICE; AND WHEREAS, MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA ENGINEERING SOCIETY AND THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING COMPANIES OF FLORIDA ARE MAKING STRIDES TO INTERACT WITH THE ENGINEERING SECTOR TO PREPARE FUTURE ENGINEERS TO MAINTAIN OUR ECONOMIC LEADERSHIP AND QUALITY OF LIFE; AND WHEREAS, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE CONTINUING CONTRIBUTIONS OF AMERICA'S ENGINEERS. NOW, THEREFORE, I, LINDA HUDSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 18-24, 2024 AS: ENGINEERS WEEK IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE COUNTLESS CONTRIBUTIONS OF ENGINEERS. IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
] >> HELLO, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE TREASURE COAST FLORIDA ENGINEERING SOCIETY. JUST RECENTLY, WE COMPLETED OUR MATH COUNTS COMPETITION. WE HAD STUDENTS FROM EIGHT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, 80 STUDENTS IN TOTAL, ALL REPRESENTING OUR TREASURE COAST IN MATH COUNTS.
I CAN TELL YOU THIS. I HAVE NEVER SEEN MORE GENIUS CHILDREN COMING OUT BASICALLY ANYWHERE IN MY LIFE. SOME OF THESE MATH PROBLEMS, I DON'T THINK ANYONE HERE CAN DO IN A COUPLE HOURS.
THESE ONES CAN DO IT IN A COUPLE SECONDS.
>> I SAW HIM POINTING. >> WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT
>> I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE HERE FOR THAT.
ENGINEERS, WE TAKE A CERTAIN KIND OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR WORK. AND IT DOESN'T REALLY COME UP WHEN IT COMES TO ENGINEERS, SOMETHING GOOD. USUALLY, WHEN AN ENGINEER COMES UP, I FEEL SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED, OR SOMETHING COULD GET WORSE. WITH THE ENGINEERING WEEK, I HOPE THE CITY CAN BE SOMETHING GOOD FOR EVERYONE TO BE PART OF.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE
APPRECIATE IT. >> JUST BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT ME TO SAY ANYTHING, I'M GOING TO. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN WE ARE MAKING OUR DECISIONS AND THE KNOWLEDGE WE HAVE TWO EXPLAIN STUFF THAT WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DEAL WITH, TRYING TO DEAL WITH -- SO I WANT TO GIVE A PERSONAL THANK YOU TO THE TWO DIFFERENT ENGINEERS THAT SIT WITH US WHEN WE MAKE THESE DECISIONS. CITY MANAGER AND CITY COMMISSIONER, YOU KNOW? RIGHT HERE, I WILL GIVE YOU A HARD TIME. BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, ENGINEERING FIELD IS A HARD FIELD. AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT IS NOT THAT MUCH HARD -- I'M TRYING TO BE GOOD HERE. YOU
[00:20:03]
SEE? THAT SOMETIMES, IT MAKES DECISIONS A LITTLE EASIER WE HAVE TO MAKE WHEN YOU BREAK DOWN CERTAIN THINGS AND ALWAYS TELL YOU TO USE LAYMAN'S TERMS. YOU BREAK DOWN CERTAIN THINGS. I UNDERSTAND I KNOW WHEN I AM READING SOMETHING, AND IF I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT BEFORE I VOTE ON IT, I'M PRETTY SURE I'M GOING TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE JEREMIAH WILL BREAK IT DOWN FOR US TO SAY WHAT IT IS. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO BOTH OF YOU GUYS FOR YOUR PROFESSION ANDWHAT YOU DO FOR THE CITY. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
>> YEAH, THANK YOU, GUYS. I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS.
CONGRATULATIONS. ARE YOU MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL CHAPTER THAT IS IN FORT PIERCE? THAT IS THE QUESTIO. HE IS LOOKING.
THAT IS THE QUESTION. ALL RIGHT? I HAVE DONE YOUR JOB,
SIR, VERY WELL. >> SOME OTHER ENGINEERS --
>> THERE ARE SOME HIDING IN THE AUDIENCE.
>> ALL ENGINEERS -- THANK YOU. THANK YOU .
[7. LETTERS TO COMMISSION]
>> WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE WONDERFUL THINGS WE HAVE WITHOUT ENGINEERS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALRIGHTY. SHALL WE
MOVE ON? >> OKAY. NEXT WE HAVE LETTERS TO THE COMMISSION THAT WILL BE KEPT ON FILE IN THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE. WE HAVE AN EMAIL FROM LARRY , AN EMAIL FROM MICHAEL EXPRESSING HIS APPRECIATION FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND PARKS AND GROUNDS DIVISION MANAGER FOR RESPONSE AND COMMUNICATION WHICH FACILITATED THE SCHEDULING A REINSPECTION, AND AN EMAIL FROM CHRIS PRAISING
[8. ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO AGENDA AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
BUILDING PERMIT LIST DANIELLE FOR GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND. SO, NEXT WE HAVE ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA ORAPPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. >> ARE THERE ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS? IF NOT, I WILL ENTERTAIN
>> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK? A MOTION.
>> YES. >> THE MOTION IS SECOND. CALL
>> MAYOR HUDSON? THE ROLL, >> YES. PLEASE.
>> COMMISSIONER GAINES? >> YES.
>> COMMISSIONER CURTIS JOHNSON?
[11. CONSENT AGENDA]
>> WE DID NOT HAVE ANYONE SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS. WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THAT SHOULD BE PULLED FROM THE
CONSENT AGENDA? >> I WOULD LIKE TO PULL 11 D.
>> I WILL PULL 11 D. >> ALRIGHTY. IS THERE A MOTION FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE CONSENT AGENDA?
>> THERE IS >> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK?
>> YES. ONE >> MAYOR HUDSON? FOR ITEMS
>> YES. AB AND E. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES?
>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER CURTIS JOHNSON?
[c. Approval of travel for Commissioner Arnold Gaines to attend the Florida Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials 2024 Annual Conference in the amount of $852.37.]
>> THEN WE HAVE 11 C IS THE APPROVAL OF TRAVEL FOR ARNOLD GAINES TO ATTEND THE BLACK CAUCUS OF LOCAL ELECT OFFICIALS, 2024 ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN THE AMOUNT OF
$852.37. >> I PULLED THIS JUST TO GET CLARIFICATION, LIKE I SAY, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, PEOPLE DON'T REALLY READ IT. THIS IS A MEETING WE ATTEND, ME AND OTHER COMMISSIONERS ATTEND TO LEARN DIFFERENT POLICIES, TO LEARN WHAT'S GOING ON IN OTHER CITIES, TO LEARN WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR CITY. SOMETIMES, IT'S EASIER NOT TO RE-CREATE THE WHEEL IF THE WHEEL IS ALREADY WORKING IN OTHER AREAS.
SO I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO THINK THAT MYSELF AND THE COMMISSION GOING TO THESE CONFERENCES ARE JUST GOING TO PUT OUR FEET UP. IT IS REALLY WORK. WE ARE BRINGING BACK RIGHT IDEAS. WITH THAT, I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT IT IS A WORK DAY FOR ME AND THE CITY. I TAKE THAT SERIOUS.
>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION?
[d. Approval of unit price construction contract with The Paving Lady pursuant to Bid No 2023-044 for Annual Street Resurfacing.]
>> I WILL. I MAKE A MOTION WE ACCEPT IT.
>> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK? >> YES.
>> COMMISSIONER GAINES? >> YES.
>> COMMISSIONER CURTIS JOHNSON?
>> YES. >> THEN WE HAVE THE ANNUAL
STREET RESURFACING. >> I HAD THIS ITEM PULLED.
AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS WONDERFUL. ANYTIME WE HAVE A MOMENT TO HIGHLIGHT EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE CITY OF FT. PIERCE, I ALWAYS LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IT. I THINK, WHEN I SAW THIS PIGGYBACK BID AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE ARE EXPANDING, THOSE WHO TOOK THE TIME TO READ IT, IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT. WHEN IT COMES TO PAVING, CONCRETE AND ASPHALT, THINGS ARE EXPENSIVE. BUT STAFF, I DO HAVE A QUESTION -- PROJECT ENGINEER IN THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT TO COME
FORTH AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> MY QUESTIONS THAT ARE HIGHLIGHTED FOR THE COMMUNITY, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WATCH OUR MEETINGS. THEY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON, WHAT IS COMING, AND A LARGE EXPENDITURE PAYMENT. SO
[00:25:01]
CAN YOU GIVE ME A LITTLE BACKGROUND AS TO WHAT THIS ENTITLES AS FAR AS PAVING IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, HOW MANY MILES, ET CETERA, AND DO YOU HAVE THE AMOUNT OF MILES THIS WILL TAKE PLACE FOR THE RESURFACING PROGRAM?>> ABSOLUTELY, COMMISSIONER. AS PART OF THE SALES TAX PROGRAM, WE IDENTIFIED -- FORGIVE ME, I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER. WE IDENTIFIED A LOT OF STREETS THAT NEED TO BE RESURFACED. AND EVERY YEAR SINCE, YOU KNOW, 2019 WHICH IS WHEN THE FIRST YEAR STARTED, WE HAVE ANNUAL AMOUNTS THAT ARE BUDGETED. AND EVERY YEAR, WE GO THROUGH AND LOOK AT THE LIST OF WHAT IS REMAINING, AND WHAT THE NEEDS ARE, AND WE BRING THOSE FORWARD FOR EACH PRIORITY EACH YEAR. LAST YEAR, FOR 2023, WE IDENTIFIED EIGHT STRAITS FOR RESURFACING. THEY WERE PRESENTED TO YOU ALL LAST YEAR. AND WE ARE JUST NOW, WE HAVE PIGGYBACKED CONTRACTS WITH OTHER AGENCIES.
UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE CONTRACTS EXPIRED. WE DECIDED TO GO OUT AND GET OUR OWN RESURFACING CONTRACT. WE HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN 2023, THE RESEARCHING BUDGET WAS $80,000. FOR 2024, IT IS $854,000. THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, IT INCREASES ON THE AVERAGE OF $54,000 PER YEAR. THIS CONTRACT WILL ALLOW US TO EXECUTE THOSE WORK ORDERS TO GET THAT PAVING DONE FASTER AND MORE STREAMLINED, AND UNDER OUR OWN CONTRACT.
>> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. >> I'M SORRY. I DON'T MEAN TO
>> WHAT WE HAVE FOR 2023 IS APPROXIMATELY 3.5 MILES OF ROADWAY TO RESURFACE. THE 2024 LIST IS CURRENTLY BEING DEVELOPED. ONCE IT IS FINALIZED, WE WILL THAT IT THROUGH FPUA. THEN WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU AND ASK YOU TO APPROVE THE LIST FOR THE 2020 FOR RESURFACING.
>> JUST SO I'M CLEAR, THE 2024 LIST HAS BEEN COMPLETED. IT'S
A FOUR MILES FOR 2023? >> IT HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED
YET. >> THIS WILL ALLOW FOR THE LIST TO BE CAUGHT UP. THEN WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER LIST. I WANTED TO BE CLEAR ON WHAT THE PUBLIC WILL HEAR. THIS CONTRACT WILL ALLOW US TO DO WHAT WE IDENTIFIED IN 2023, AND THEN
BRING FORWARD THE LIST IN 2024. >> AND I BELIEVE, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP ME. I BELIEVE IT WAS A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE ABILITY TO RENEW FOR 2 ADDITIONAL YEARS. SO WE WILL HAVE THE CONTRACT AND THE PRICES, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. WE CAN BETTER ESTIMATE WITH THE
COSTS ARE GOING TO BE. >> I APPRECIATE IT. I THINK THAT'S WHAT I WANTED THE PUBLIC TO HEAR. OFTEN TIMES, THE CONSENT AGENDA GOES BY UNLESS YOU PULL IT FOR THIS TYPE OF EXPLANATION SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND -- WHAT IS IT? THE HALF CENT SURTAX GOES TO RESURFACING OUR STREETS. THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IT IS A COORDINATION WITH FPUA SO WE WILL NOT RESURFACE A STREET WE HAVE TARGETED TO DO A MAJOR RECONSTRUCTION. WITH SOMETHING NOT -- GOING UNDERGROUND, IT MAKES NO SENSE. WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS. EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A LOT GOING ON UNDERNEATH THE ROAD, WE CONSIDER IT BEFORE WE PUT NEW ASPHALT ON TOP . THANK YOU. I
AM SATISFIED. >> A FOLLOW-UP COMMENT ON THAT, TOO, A CONTRACT LIKE THAT IN PLACE, WE HAVE A PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED, BASICALLY PUT ON HOLD DUE TO THE LACK OF PRICE CONTINUITY. THE PARKING LOT BEHIND THE BISTRO, FOR EXAMPLE. ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT CAN APPLY THESE NUMBERS IN THAT CAPACITY TO GET SOME ESTIMATES TO THIS BODY. SO THERE IS A LOT MORE FUNCTIONALITY TO IT THAN JUST THE STREET. IT MEANS WE WILL BE ABLE TO DEPLOY THIS INFORMATION ON OTHER PROJECTS
AS WELL. >> IT IS VERY INSTRUCTIVE TO KNOW HOW MUCH -- HOW LITTLE -- HOW MUCH YOU CAN DO WITH $800,000. I MEAN, HOW MANY STREETS DID YOU SAY? HOW MANY
MILES? >> I HAVE THE LIST. 23RD STREET, 24TH STREET, UP FROM GEORGIA AVENUE TO CANAL TERRACE, 26, 27TH AND 28 FROM ORANGE AVENUE TO FOREST CREEK, AVENUE B FROM 33RD TO 27TH, AVENUE B FROM 27 TO 25TH, AND BOSTON AVENUE FROM 25TH TO 13.
>> YEAH. >> DID YOU WANT TO SAY
SOMETHING? >> YES MA'AM. MAKING SURE YOU ARE PIGGYBACKING A CONTRACT OR ENTERING A CONTRACT WITH
[00:30:02]
SOMEONE, YOU KNOW, JUST OUTSIDE THE LOCAL AREA, MAYBE IT'S NOTA PIGGYBACKED -- >> IT IS A STANDALONE CONTRACT.
UTILITY AUTHORITY ABLE TO UTILIZE THIS CONTRACT?
>> WE HAVE ALINA CONTRACT THAT SAYS OTHERS CAN PIGGYBACK OFF
OF THIS AS WELL. >> ALL RIGHT. SO HOW ABOUT THE COMPANY THEMSELVES? THIS IS A COMPETITIVE MARKET, RIGHT? LOCALLY, IT IS TRICKY. THERE'S A LOT OF NEW DEVELOPMENT. THERE ARE A LOT OF COMMITMENTS BY OTHER PAVING CONTRACTORS, JUST SO YOU KNOW, BASED ON WHAT I KNOW IN THE INDUSTRY. SO, YOU HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THES FOLKS. THEY ARE COMMITTED TO GETTING THESE PROJECTS COMPLETED FOR US IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. IS THAT --
>> YES, SIR. I HAVE TALKED WITH THE CONTRACTOR RECENTLY. HE IS CURRENTLY DEVELOPING HIS SCOPE AND FEE PROPOSAL FOR THE 2023 ROADS AND PUTTING TOGETHER THAT PRICE. THEY ARE BASED ON ESTIMATES, MORE OR LESS DESK ESTIMATES. THE FINAL PRICE WILL BE DETERMINED. OR THE FINAL PRICE PAYMENTS WILL BE DETERMINED BASED ON MATERIAL TICKETS. BUT WE HAVE TALKED.
HE KNOWS WHAT IS COMING. HE ALSO -- I DID DO SOME DUE DILIGENCE IN REVIEWING THE CONTRACTOR. THEY ARE FDOT QUALIFIED. I BELIEVE THEY ALSO GOT THE BEACHES CONTRACT. THEY ARE KNOWN TO THE AREA. I THINK THEY ARE FURTHER SOUTH. I WANT TO SAY DELRAY BEACH. THEY ARE KNOWN TO THE AREA. THERE ARE OTHER AGENCIES USING THIS VENDOR. SO I AM CONFIDENT WE ARE GOING TO GET GOOD SERVICES FROM THEM.
>> VERY GOOD . HOPEFULLY, THEY ARE TAPPING OUR LOCAL EMPLOYMENT DEPARTMENT ALSO. THAT'S THE OTHER --
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> IT IS VERY COMPETITIVE. THEY ARE TRAVELING FROM A LONG WAY . I DID SEE ANOTHER CORPORATE OFFICE. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ARE STAGING EQUIPMENT AND DOING THESE PROJECTS, HOPEFULLY, THEY HAVE RESOURCES IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY THEY CAN USE. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. SO, COMMISSIONER C JOHNSON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE
A MOTION? >> I WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE ITEM
COMMISSIONER BRODERICK? 11 D. >>>> YES.
>> COMMISSIONER GAINES? >> YES.
>> COMMISSIONER CURTIS JOHNSON?
>> YES. COMMISSIONER J JOHNSON?
>> YES. >> YOU HAD THE SECOND. WAS THAT
[a. Quasi-Judicial Hearing - Review and approval of an application for an application for a Major Amendment to a site plan at 2011 S. 13th Street, Fort Pierce, submitted by applicant Culpepper and Terpening, Inc on behalf of Trinity Lutheran Church of Fort Pierce. Parcel ID: 2416-504-0750-000-2]
-- THANK YOU. OKAY. NEXT, WE MOVE ON TO PUBLIC HEARINGS. WE HAVE A QUASI-JUDICIAL HEARING FOR THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF AN APPLICATION FOR A MAJOR AMENDMENT TO A SITE PLAN 2011 SOUTH 13TH STREET IN FT. PIERCE, FLORIDA, SUBMITTED BY APPLICANT CULPEPPER AND TURPIN NG ON BEHALF OF TRINITYLUTHERAN CHURCH OF FORT PIERCE. Ú>> ALL RIGHT. THIS IS A QUALIFIED JUDICIAL PROCEDURE. IT'S THE ONLY ONE WE HAVE TONIGHT. SO MADAME, WE READ THE GUIDELINES?
>> IT SERVES A QUASIJUDICIAL ROLE WHEN ACTING AS A LEGISLATIVE BODY. IT CONDITIONS IN LAWMAKING ACTIVITY BY ESTABLISHING LAWS AND POLICIES. WHEN ACTING AS A QUALIFIED JUDICIAL BODY, THE COMMISSION APPLIES THOSE LAWS AND POLICIES AND IS HELD TO STRICTER PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS.
QUASIJUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS ARE BEFORE A CIRCUIT COURT, BUT MORE FORMAL THAN A NORMAL PROCEEDING. THESE MUST FOLLOW STANDARDS OF NOTICE AND DUE PROCESS AND DECISIONS MUST BE MADE BASED ON SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. THEREFORE, COMMISSIONERS HAVE A DUTY TO CONDUCT THE PROCEEDINGS MORE LIKE JUDGES THAN LEGISLATORS. THAT IS WHY THE COMMISSION HAS ESTABLISHED THE PROCEDURES FOR QUASI-JUDICIAL HEARING'S THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED THIS EVENING. FINALLY, NO ONE SHOULD APPROACH ANY MEMBER OF THE CITY COMMISSION, THE ATTORNEY, OR ANYONE ELSE ON THE HEARING. IF DOCUMENTS ARE TO BE GIVEN TO THE CITY CLERK, GIVE THM TO ONE OF THE TWO POLICE OFFICERS
IN THE CHAMBERS. >> THANK YOU. MADAM CLERK, HAVE WE MET THE ADVERTISING AND NOTICE REQUIREMENTS?
>> WE HAVE MET THE REQUIREMENTS.
>> WILL YOU ASK ABOUT EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS?
>> NOTHING TO REPORT. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES?
>> NO, MA'AM. WELL AS 15 COMMISSIONER BRODERICK SHRUBS. SO 30 ADDITIONAL TO LANDSCAPING.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS FOR CITY COMMISSION TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION FOR MAJOR AMENDMENT, ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL WITH ADDITIONAL ADDITIOS, OR RECOMMEND DISAPPROVAL. THANK
YOU. >> QUESTIONS OF STAFF? ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? QUESTIONS OF STAFF? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[00:35:03]
SO, NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD -- FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF.>> TOM TO GRACE, CULPEPPER -- NO QUESTIONS OF STAFF.
>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE ANYTHING WITH US ABOUT YOUR
PLAN? >> OTHER THAN THE APPLICANT LOOKING FORWARD TO PROVIDING ADDITIONAL SERVICES AT THEIR FACILITY TO SUPPORT CHILD DEVELOPMENT?
>> ANY QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? COMMISSIONER
GAINES? >> JUST REAL QUICK , DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY KIDS THEY ARE LOOKING TO HELP, OR HOW MANY
ADDITIONAL KIDS -- >> I DON'T KNOW THE OPPOSED ATTENDANCE. BUT THE STRUCTURE IS RATED FOR 120 OCCUPANCY.
THERE ARE SIX CLASSROOMS INSIDE THE FACILITY.
>> OKAY. >> OTHER QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, PLEASE COME FORWARD. WERE YOU SWORN IN?
>> OKAY. >> DO YOU SWEAR TO TELL THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH? THANK
YOU. >> IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR ME,
PLEASE. >> I APOLOGIZE. MICHELLE DANNA LOG. YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, I APPROVE THIS. I AM SITTING HERE WATCHING THIS QUASIJUDICIAL. IT IS EASY FOR EVERYONE ELSE TO ACCEPT A CERTAIN GROUP. SO, I JUST WANTED TO LET THE PUBLIC BE AWARE OF THAT AS WELL BECAUSE IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT
IS SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. ANYONE ELELELELELELELELELON TO RESOLUT 24-R07 , A FLORIDA MUNICIPAL
[a. Resolution 24-R07 approving the subordination of a utility easement held by the City for the FPUA to FDOT for highway purposes.]
CORPORATION APPROVING THE SUBORDINATION OF THE UTILITY EASEMENT FOR SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR ANEFFECTIVE DATE. >> I BELIEVE OUR CITY ATTORNEY PLACE THIS ON THE AGENDA. I WILL TURN ITOVER TO HER.
>> CITY ATTORNEY, EXCUSE ME. >> META-MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, ESSENTIALLY, WE WERE CONTACTED BY FPUA. THEY WERE IN TOUCH WITH FDOT. THEY APPROVED IT AT A MEETING OF BEARS. THE RESOLUTION IS ATTACHED. THEY ARE ASKING THAT WE BASICALLY AUTHORIZE IT SINCE THE EASEMENT WAS IN THE NAME OF THE CITY FOR USE OF IN A FIT OF THE FPUA.
>> OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? IS THERE A MOTION?
>> I MOVE APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 24-R07.
>> SECOND PERIOD >> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK?
>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES?
>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER C JOHNSON?
[b. Resolution 24-R08 approving UA Resolution setting new rates for FPUANet]
>> YES. COMMISSIONER J JOHNSON?
>> YES. >> NEXT WE HAVE 24-R08 .
>> META-MAYOR, OUR CITY CLERK PLACE THIS ON THE AGENDA. I
WILL TURN IT OVER TO HER. >> I DID THAT ON BEHALF OF JASON WITH FPUA. SIMPLY, HE HAS A PRESENTATION IF YOU WANT ONE. IT IS US APPROVING THE RATE CHANGE BY FPUA. I BELIEVE
THEY ARE REDUCING -- >> REDUCING THE RATES. THAT IS THE THING. YOU DON'T NEED A BIG PRESENTATION UNLESS YOU
WANT TO GIVE ONE. >> I COULD DO WHATEVER YOU WOULD LIKE. GOOD AFTERNOON, META-MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE YOU. THERE ARE A FEW THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS EVEN OUTSIDE OF THE RATES. I THINK THEY REALLY TIE IN. THERE ARE THREE THINGS WE WILL TALK ABOUT QUICKLY. ONE IS A QUICK OVERVIEW OF FPUA. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT EVERY TIME WE COME TO PRESENT BEING A NEW UTILITY, RIGHT? IT'S TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHO WE ARE, WHY WE ARE DOING IT, AND HOW IT IS BENEFITING THE CITY.
I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT. THE SECOND THING IS, WE WILL PRESENT QUICKLY THE CHANGES OF THE RATES. AND THEY ALL ARE POSITIVE, MEANING WE ARE GOING TO BE REDUCING THE RATES AND ADDING NEW TIERS OF SERVICE THAT I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT TALKING ABOUT. THEN LASTLY, I WILL COVER A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE AFFORDALE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE UPDATES AND HOW THAT COULD
[00:40:10]
IMPACT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND OUR RESIDENTS. IS THAT>> ABSOLUTELY. >> I WILL TRY TO SPEED THROUGH THINGS SO EVERYONE CAN GET OUT EARLY. I BELIEVE MANY PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF FPUA, PROVIDER OF ELECTRIC, WATER, WASTEWATER AND NATURAL GAS. NOT EVERYBODY IS AWARE OF THAT FPUA HAS BEEN IN THE FIBER BUSINESS. FPUA HAS OFFERED INTERNET SERVICE TO MANY MUNICIPAL AGENCIES AND INSTITUTIONS SINCE 2004. AND AS PART OF THE PLANNING WORKSHOP, JAVIER, FPUA IS NOW A DIRECTOR. IT IS BECOMING A SMART CITY. SINCE THAT TIME, IT IS WORKING ON DEPLOYING FIBER INTERNET SERVICE TO RESIDENTS AND SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF FT. PIERCE. THERE ARE BENEFITS OF PUTTING FIBER INTO THE COMMUNITY. AS A SERVICE PROVIDER, WE OFFER SMART CITY SERVICES AS PUBLIC WI-FI, THE DEPLOYMENT OVER AMI AND THE SMART GRID PIECES. IT IS A COMPETITIVE BUSINESS UNIT. IT COMPETES WITH THE MOST EFFECTIVE TELECOM BUSINESSES IN THE AREA. AND WE COULD BE ON MANY LEVELS SUCH AS CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, RELIABILITY, SERVICE, AND MARKET PRICING. SO, I'M GOING TO DO A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE DIFFERENT TIERS AND SERVICES WE ARE GOING TO BE CHANGING. ONE, THE SLIDESHOWS, AN OVERVIEW OF THE MARKETING. IT HIGHLIGHTS THE PROPOSED RATES AND COMPETITORS OFFERINGS. SERVICE OFFERING IS STRONG. WE FOUND THE COMMERCIAL RATES WERE A LITTLE BIT ABOVE MARKET. SO STAFF IS PROPOSING THE SUGGESTED CHANGES, SPEEDS AND IN RED WITH THE REDUCTION OF PRICE BETWEEN 20 TO 38% BASED ON EACH TIER. ADDITIONALLY, STAFF IS PROPOSING REMOVING THE 200 MEGABIT TIER AND REPLACING IT WITH A 300 MEGABIT TIER.
I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE WE ARE ADDING A TWO GIGABIT RATE WHICH KEEPS UP WITH COMPETITORS . AS WE INSTALL OUR NETWORK, WE ARE PLANNING TO INCREASE THAT IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE WE NEEDED TO KEEP UP WITH THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS. THIS SLIDE DOES AN OVERVIEW OF THE RESIDENTIAL SERVICE OFFERING. IGHT? IT HIGHLIGHTS PROPOSED RATES AND COMPETITORS OFFERINGS. OUR RESIDENTIAL OFFERING IS EXTREMELY STRONG. AND STAFF IS PROPOSING A FEW CHANGES THAT ARE IN RED. AND ONE OF THOSE CHANGES IS MOVING THE 200 TIER 28 300, AND OFFERING THE TWO GIG RATE. SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WANT TO TALK JUST QUICKLY ABOUT AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAMS, JUST AN OVERVIEW OF IT. MANY PEOPLE KNOW OF THE ACP. IT WAS LAUNCHED BY THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION ON DECEMBER 31ST, 2021 WITH $14.2 BILLION IN INITIAL FUNDING. IT OFFERED A $30 VOUCHER TO ELIGIBLE CONSUMERS AND $75 TO THOSE IN TRIBAL LANDS. OVER 20 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS WITHIN THE U.S. ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED. AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY CONVERSATIONS ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL REGARDING STATUS OF THE PROGRAM. AS OF FEBRUARY 7TH, 2024, NO NEW ENROLLMENTS ARE ALLOWED. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROGRAM IS SCHEDULED TO DEPLETE FUNDING IN THE MONTH OF APRIL, 2024. NOW, THERE IS A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF LAWMAKERS THAT RECENTLY PROPOSED A BILL TO SUSTAIN ACP THROUGH THE END OF 2024 WITH AN ADDITIONAL 7 BILLION IN FUNDING. THERE IS A LOT OF DIVISION ON WHETHER THIS BILL WILL ACTUALLY PASS OR NOT, RIGHT, IN THIS POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT. BUT THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN ESSENTIAL TO BRIDGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE, AND PROMOTE DIGITAL EQUITY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. THE GREAT THING IS, THAT FPUA NET ALONG WITH OTHER PARTNERS HAVE PROVIDED EIGHT LOCATIONS WHERE PUBLIC WI-FI IS AVAILABLE. WITH THE ENDING OF THE ACP PROGRAM, IT WILL INCREASE THE USE OF THESE SITES AND ELEVATE THE IMPORTANCE OF ADDING ADDITIONAL SITES THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
PUBLIC WI-FI CAN BE USED TO HELP RESIDENTS APPLY FOR JOBS, FILL OUT FORMS, AND ALLOW STUDENTS TO DO SCHOOLWORK. AND SO, I FELT LIKE IT WAS IMPORTANT TO GIVE YOU A QUICK UPDATE ABOUT THE ACP, AND IF YOU COULD TALK TO ANY OF YOUR LEGISLATORS ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING, RIGHT, THERE IS OBVIOUSLY -- MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE FIGHTING FOR IT. BUT IT WILL IMPACT, YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF FT. PIERCE BECAUSE MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE PART OF THE PROGRAM THROUGH THE FEDERAL
[00:45:01]
GOVERNMENT. BUT, THE BEAUTIFUL THING IS, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE PARTNERSHIP, WE HAVE THESE PUBLIC WI-FI LOCATIONS. WE ARE PLANNING ON PUTTING MORE OF THEM OUT THERE. WE WANT TO GET THE WORD OUT SO IF INDIVIDUALS LOSE THE VOUCHER, THEY DON'T HAVE INTERNET AT HOME, THEY CAN CONNECT TO FREE PUBLIC WI-FI TO DO THE THINGS THEY NEED. SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I WOULD LOVE TO ANSWER THEM. IF NOT, I AM ASKING FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE REDUCTION OF OUR RATES.>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT WAS VERY GOOD. GLAD YOU WENT
INTO THAT. >> IT'S ALWAYS GOOD. IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE REDUCTIONS. I KNOW THAT HELPS. REAL CURIOUS, THE RADIUS FROM THE WI-FI, CAN YOU GIVE ME AN
APPROXIMATE? >> SURE. EACH ACCESS POINT THAT IS PLACED WITHIN THE INSIDE OF THE PARK WILL BE PLACED -- FOR EXAMPLE, THE COURT CENTER, THEY ARE ON 13TH AND AVENUE E. WE HAD A TESTIMONY OF A YOUNG CHILD AND HER MOTHER THAT IS AUTISTIC. SHE LIVED ACROSS THE STREET. SO IT IS NOT WITHIN THE PLANNED AREA WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE COURT CENTER.
THEY ARE ABLE TO ACCESS IT IN THEIR HOUSE.
>> OKAY. >> YOU KNOW? IT IS BEAUTIFUL.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAP, THE GREEN AREA IS WHERE WE ARE FOCUSED AT. EXCUSE ME. YOU MIGHT GET SIGNAL AT VARIOUS TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY. WE ARE FINDING THAT INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IN THEIR HOME OR IN THEIR BUSINESS CAN CONNECT TO IT. THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS ON THAT. THEY CAN DO IT FREE OF CHARGE. YOU KNOW? THAT IS PART OF OUR INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE DONE TOGETHER WITH THE LINCOLN PARK SMART CITY INITIATIVE, AND THE DOWNTOWN INITIATIVE. WE ARE WORKING CURRENTLY WITH CITY STAFF TO DEPLOY ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS. ONE OF THE NEWEST ONES IS GOING TO BE THE EXTENSION OF THE LINCOLN PARK COMMUNITY CENTER AREA. WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC WI-FI BROUGHT TO ELLIS PARK. WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY SHERIFF TO INSTALL CAMERAS THAT WILL CONNECT TO THE WI-FI. YOU KNOW? THAT IS ALL DONE BASED ON THE TRAGIC EVENT THAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR WITH THE MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY. AND SO THIS WOULD HELP SECURE THESE PARKS. THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A
SMART CITY. >> GREAT. THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, SIR.
>> OF COURSE, I'M ASKING AND THE PUBLIC IS LISTENING. I SAW THE RATES. SO IF ANYONE SAW THESE RATES AND THEY LIVE INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS, HOW WOULD THEY SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW? I WANT TO GIVE FPUA A CHANCE? HOW WOULD THEY CONTACT? WHAT WOULD THEY NEED TO DO TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? I WANT TO BE
PART OF THIS. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. AT THE MOMENT, FPUA ONLY DEPLOYS 2800 PARCELS. IT'S A SMALL PIECE. WE ARE INSTALLING FIBER EVERY DAY. SO THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS TO GO FPUANET.COM. YOU CAN SIGN UP IMMEDIATELY AND SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. IF NOT, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO SHOW INTEREST. BASED ON INTEREST IS WHERE WE BUILD NEXT. RIGHT? THERE ARE A FEW FACTORS WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.
ONE MAJOR ONE IS DRIVEN JUST BY DEMAND.
>> I'M GLAD YOU SAID THAT. THE REASON I ASKED THAT QUESTION, I GET ASKED THIS A LOT. I SAY, HOW CAN I GET IT ? I TOLD HIM TO GO ON THE WEBSITE. I HAVE HEARD, OKAY, MY ADDRESS DIDN'T POP UP. LET THEM KNOW YOU WANT IT. LET THEM KNOW YOU
>> THEY UNDERSTAND AND THEY CAN PUT IT IN THEIR VISION. THAT'S WHY ASKED THAT QUESTION. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOUR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND SHARING THAT WITH
US. THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. >> THANK YOU. SO WE NEED A MOTION FOR THIS RESOLUTION OR DISCUSSION.
>> META-MAYOR, I MOVED TO APPROVE.
>> SECOND. >> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK?
>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES?
>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER C JOHNSON?
>> YES. COMMISSIONER J JOHNSON?
>> YES. THANK YOU. >> OKAY, NEXT WE HAVE
[c. Resolution 24-R09 Authorizing the City to enter into a lease with the United States of America for tenant, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), of the 4th Floor of the Sunrise Center, 310 Orange Avenue.]
RESOLUTION 24-R09 AUTHORIZING THE FOURTH FLOOR AT 310 ORANGE AVENUE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR TENANT, BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES, ATF. DIVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. >> SO, I AM THINKING THIS IS OUR MADAM ATTORNEY . THIS ITEM -- IS THAT WHAT YOU TOLD ME
EARLIER TODAY? >> ACTUALLY, META-MAYOR, THAT
[00:50:01]
WILL BE THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.>> OKAY. I WILL QUIT GUESSING.
>> LAST TIME WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, IT WAS A CLOSE VOTE, I THINK IT WAS 3-2. I HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE LANGUAGE.
I KNOW WE WILL GET A PRESENTATION, PROBABLY, OF SOME LANGUAGE THAT HAS CHANGED. AND KNOWING WHAT I HAVE READ AND EXPERIENCED , I AM NOT REAL HAPPY WITH IT. THAT'S WHERE I AM STANDING. I DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH A LONG ITERATION IF WE WERE ALREADY 3-TO LAST TIME. IF I AM THE VIVID VOTE, IF THERE ARE OTHERS WHO FEEL DIFFERENTLY, I GUESS, I DON'T WANT A LONG PRESENTATION. I'M NOT REAL HAPPY WITH THE OUTCOME
OF WHAT I'M SEEING. >> I DON'T WANT TO WASTE
ANYMORE TIME. >> I THINK ALL WE NEED TO DO IS EXPLAIN FOR THE PUBLIC WHAT WE ARE DOING.
>> META-MAYOR, MADAME , MEMBERS OF CITY COMMISSION, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF INTRODUCTION AS TO WHY WE ARE HERE AGAIN. OF COURSE, WE HAVE A WONDERFUL ATTORNEY THAT CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE PERTAINING TO THE LEASE
LANGUAGE. >> I JUST CUT YOUR PRESENTATION
BY 90%, I THINK. >> HE WAS NOT PLANNING MUCH.
>> YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME?
>> COMMISSIONERS, NICK HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF EXPLAINING WHY WE ARE HERE. THIS CAME BEFORE YOU THE FIRST TIME. IT WAS APPROVED BY A 3-TO VOTE . ONE THING THAT WAS LACKING WAS A SMALL BUSINESS PLAN APPROVAL. THE GSA WOULD NOT SIGN THE LEASE WITHOUT THAT. AND WHILE, YOU KNOW, WE WERE FORMULATING THE PLAN, LANGUAGE CHANGED NOT ONCE BUT TWICE. THAT IS PRESENTED TO YOU TODAY. THE CHANGES ARE THERE. FOR SMALL BUSINESS PLAN IS THERE. ALL MEMOS FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY ARE IN YOUR PACKET. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MYSELF, THE CITY ATTORNEY, WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO ANSWER THEM. AND SHOULD YOU NEED ANY QUESTIONS ANSWERED FROM HIM --
>> DID THE CITY INITIATE THOSE CHANGES, OR DID THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT? >> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, THAT
CAME FROM THE GOVERNMENT. >> THANK YOU.
>> AND YOU SAID THAT THEY -- WE DIDN'T INCLUDE THE PLAN.
HOW DID THAT COME UP? THE SMALL BUSINESS PLAN?
>> THE SMALL BUSINESS PLAN IS REQUIRED BY THE GSA TO HAVE
THE LEASE WITH THEM. >> DID WE KNOW THAT AT THE
TIME? >> WE DID KNOW. SARAH AND I, AND OTHERS, THE PURCHASING TEAM HAD A MEETING WITH COLLIERS AND GSA TO SEE IF WE COULD GET A WAIVER. WE WERE DENIED A WAIVER. THE SMALL BUSINESS PLAN IS REQUIRED. OUR PARTNERS AT COLLIERS IS WHO DEVELOPED THE SMALL BUSINESS PLAN THAT IS THERE THAT HAS TENTATIVELY BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE GSA. SO, SHOULD THIS GO BEFORE YOU TONIGHT AND RECEIVED A FAVOR, WE BELIEVE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION IS THERE THAT IS REQUIRED. BUT THE DOCUMENTS AND THE CHANGES WERE BROUGHT FORTH FROM GSA.
>> OKAY. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD?
>> NO MA'AM. IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER
>> THESE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE -- AND I WILL ASK YOU, MADAM ATTORNEY, WE KNOW WHAT THE CHANGES ARE BECAUSE WE HAVE MET INDIVIDUALLY WITH YOU IN OUR MEETINGS. SO WE UNDERSTAND THE CHANGES. THAT IS WHY YOU HEARD SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT YOU HEARD UP HERE. MY QUESTION IS -- AND I JUST DON'T KNOW -- IS THAT SOMETHING -- THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE -- SHOULD THE PUBLIC OR CAN THE PUBLIC BE MADE AWARE OF THOSE IF THEY DIDN'T READ THESE PACKAGES? OR IS IT A SECRET TYPE -- NOT SECRET -- IS A CONFIDENTIAL TYPE OF CONTRACT WHERE WE CAN -- YOU KNOW -- TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE BEFORE WE MAKE OUR VOTE BASED ON WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW, I THINK THE PUBLIC SHOULD UNDERSTAND WHY SOME OF OUR FACES AND SOME OF OUR TONES HAVE CHANGED. IF THAT CAN'T BE, I UNDERSTAND AND I
AM GOOD WITH IT. >> META-MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THE MEMO I PREPARED AS WELL AS THE AGREEMENT AND MY PRIOR MEMOS ARE ALL ONLINE. ANYONE CAN READ THOSE. THE CHANGES ARE RELATED TO THE DAMAGES THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO PAY. IF THERE IS A DEFAULT RELATED TO THE LEASE -- THAT IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE RELATED TO THE GENERAL
[00:55:02]
CAUSES EXHIBIT THAT THE GSA PROVIDED US.>> AND JUST SO I AM CLEAR, THOSE CHANGES WERE PRESENTED TO US AFTER WE HAD AGREED TO A CONTRACT BEFORE HAND, THEN THEY CAME BACK WITH THESE CHANGES?
>> YES, SIR. >> THAT'S THE QUESTION I
WANTED ANSWERED. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
COMMISSIONER BRODERICK? >> IN YOUR REVIEW OF THIS TRANSACTION, GLOBALLY, IF THE CITY COMMISSION WERE TO NOT APPROVE THIS TONIGHT, DO WE HAVE ANY CONTINGENT LIABILITY FOR ANY PROFESSIONAL FEES, COMMISSIONS TO COLLIERS, ET CETERA? IS THERE ANY CONTINGENT COST WE ARE GOING TO INCUR IF
WE DO NOT APPROVE THIS? >> META-MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, AS IT RELATES TO COLLIERS, I WOULD HAVE TO REFER TO THE CITY MANAGER. I BELIEVE THEY CONTRACTED WITH THEM OR HAVE CONTRACTED WITH THEM. WITH RESPECT TO THE LEASE AGREEMENT WITH GSA, THROUGH MY CONVERSATION AND MIKE'S CONVERSATION WITH THEM, AND IT IS DOCUMENTED IN THE MEMO, THEY CONFIRMED, THEY WOULD NOT SIGN THE LEASE WE ORIGINALLY APPROVED. WE ARE NOT IN CONTRACT WITH THEM. THEY DID
AGREE WE ARE NOT IN CONTRACT. >> SO IF MY ASSESSMENT IS, IN THEORY, THERE IS NO COMMISSIONS PAYABLE, ET CETERA, THE PROPOSED TENANT IN ESSENCE BACKED OUT BY CHANGING THE TERMS. OKAY? THEY WALKED. THEY PRESENTED TERMS THAT WEREN'T ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY. THEY WALK WHEN WE PUSHED BACK ON THAT. THAT WOULD BE MY REAL ESTATE ANALYSIS OF IT, CANDIDLY. BUT I WOULD DEFER TO NICK ON THAT. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S THE CASE THAT WE WOULD HAVE CONTINGENT NO LIABILITY, BUT I WANT TO BE CAUTIOUS WITH THAT BECAUSE THE COMMISSION DOLLARS ON THIS WERE SIGNIFICANT. SO, IF THAT IS THE CASE THEN, IF WE WALK AWAY WITH CLEAN HANDS -- ACTUALLY, I WILL SAVE THAT FOR COMMISSIONER COMMENTS LATER.
THERE IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT CONCEPT HERE THAT I THINK -- WE NEED TO ADDRESS. YOU'VE ANSWERED MY QUESTIONS. NET ZERO, WE HAVE NOT CONTACTED ANY ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERS FROM THE CITY THAT HAVE PUT UP RETAINERS OR DEPOSITS, ET CETERA. SO IT IS A ZERO-SUM GAME AT THIS POINT.
>> MR. -- >> BUT TO BE CLEAR, THE FEES FROM COLYER, CAN I HAVE A COMMENT FOR THAT?
>> WE HAVE A PROFESSIONAL CONTINUING RELATIONSHIP WITH COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL WITH REGARD TO THIS LEASE. THE ACTUAL AGREEMENT, AND THE LEASE CAUSE FOR CERTAIN PERCENTAGE FEES OR A FLAT FEE TO BE PAID TO COLLIERS FOR SERVICES REGARDING THIS LEASE. IF THE LEASE IS NOT EFFECTIVE, THEN THE RELATIONSHIP IS NOT EFFECTIVE.
>> THANK YOU. >> I DO RECALL -- AND I WANTED TO CONFIRM FOR THAT REASON -- I DO RECALL THAT THERE WERE FEES INCURRED UPON EXECUTION, AND UPON OCCUPANCY. THERE ARE TRIGGERS THAT ARE RELATED TO EXECUTION , NOT LETTER OF INTENT. NOT CONCEPT, NOT THEORY OF TRANSACTION , SO I FEEL SAFE THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY LIABILITY THERE. I AM COMFORTABLE. YOU KNOW? IT IS UP TO THE COMMISSION WHAT
DIRECTION THEY ARE GOING. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ANY
OTHER DISCUSSION? YES, SIR. >> SO MY ANGST WITH THIS HAS MULTIPLE LAYERS. WELL BEFORE I WAS IN FAVOR OF THE CONTRACT AS IT SAID , IN FAVOR OF MOVING FORWARD, IN FAVOR OF TALKING ABOUT LEASING SPACE IN OUR GARAGE WHICH WAS TALKED ABOUT FOR MANY YEARS, I WILL SAY THANK YOU TOO CAN FOR WORKING ON THIS. THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR WORKING ON THIS. IT IS PART OF OUR MISSION. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT MANY, MANY TIMES AS A COMMISSION. BUT AS I WAS HESITANT OF -- I HAD HIGH HOPES THAT THE GAME WOULD NOT CHANGE MIDSTREAM. THE GAME IS, AGAIN, CHANGING. I HAD HIGH HOPES THAT IT WOULDN'T. HERE I AM TODAY LOOKING AT ANOTHER CHANGE, ANOTHER LAYER OF ISSUE FOR ME, LOOKING AT THIS CONTRACT AND LOOKING TO THE CITY. YOU KNOW? LOOKING AT WHAT CAN BE WITHIN OUR BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN, LOOKING AT RESERVING PARKING SPACES AND ALL THE OTHER ELEMENTS. YOU KNOW? TAKING CARE OF THE FACILITY, LOOKING AT -- YOU KNOW, ISSUES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, IT IS BECOMING ONE-SIDED. WHEN IT BECOMES ONE-SIDED, I AM OUT.
AND SO, THAT'S WHERE I AM. SO THANK YOU.
>> META-MAYOR, QUICKLY, I WILL ADD TO THAT COMMENT. I WAS NOT
[01:00:22]
AN ADVOCATE OF THIS. I REMEMBER I WAS NOT AN ADVOCATE OF THIS.>> YOU SAID NO. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE YOU SAID.
>> BUT TO ADD TO THE COMMISSIONERS COMMENT, THIS IS NOT ANOT EVEN A DEAL SIGNED YET I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THIS WOULD BE IF WE GOT INTO BUILD OUT ISSUES, ET CETERA, DAMAGES, PROVISION, I READ IT. IT WAS SOMEWHAT SHOCKING TO ME. BUT WE ARE NOT EVEN THERE, COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. WE ARE STILL AT THE TABLE. THE CONCESSIONS ARE ALREADY BEING ASKED FOR. THIS IS A NO DOLLAR INCIDENT CONCESSION NOW. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GET INTO THE MIDDLE OF THIS THING? AND WE'VE GOT REAL MONEY ON THE TABLE TO BUILD OUT THINGS OF THIS NATURE? I AGREE WITH YOUR ANALYSIS. SO, I'M NOT GOING TO CHANGE MY VOTE TO A YES.
>> SAME HERE. THERE COMES A TIME -- I WAS ALREADY A NO BEFORE. I CAN'T STRETCH IT ANYMORE. SO -- WHERE ARE WE IN TERMS OF ANYMORE DISCUSSION? IS THERE A MOTION?
>> COMMISSIONER, DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT? YOU LOOK LIKE YOU WERE
GEARING UP. >> I WOULD MAKE A MOTION NOT TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 24-R09.
>> IS THERE A SECOND? >> CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.
>> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK? >> YES.
>> COMMISSIONER GAINES? >> YES.
>> COMMISSIONER C JOHNSON? >> YES. COMMISSIONER J JOHNSON?
[14. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Any person who wishes to comment on any subject may be heard at this time. Please limit your comments to three (3) minutes or less, as directed by the Mayor, as this section of the Agenda is limited to thirty minutes. The City Commission will not be able to take any official actions under Comments from the Public. Speakers will address the Mayor, Commissioners, and the Public with respect. Inappropriate language will not be tolerated.]
>> NEXT, WE HAVE COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC .
>> ALL RIGHT. THIS IS A TIME FOR ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. AND YOU WILL BE GIVEN A THREE SECOND
WARNING. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS MICHELLE.
MY ADDRESS IS CONFIDENTIAL. I HAVE STEAK ON A COUPLE OF ISSUES. FIRST, I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED TO FIND OUT THAT ANOTHER LOCAL BUSINESS THAT WE SUPPORT AS SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNERS IS GOING OUT OF BUSINESS. I MEAN, WE HAVE GOT TO START SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES. NOT ONLY ARE YOU GUYS NOT SUPPORTING SHORT-TERM RENTALS, YOU ARE NOT SUPPORTING THE LOCAL BUSINESSES. AS A SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNER, I HAVE A BOOK. I AM SUPPORTING THE HORSEBACK RIDING, THE JETTY, ALL THESE RESTAURANTS. YOU KNOW? WE DO OUR VERY BEST. WHEN I GO AND VISIT AND SPEND MONEY IN THESE STORES, AND I FIND THEY ARE GOING OUT OF BUSINESS, I MEAN, THIS IS JUST RIDICULOUS. PSYCHIC AND THE GENIE WENT OUT OF BUSINESS.
WHY? BECAUSE THE RENT WENT UP. IT WAS TWOFOLD. TAXES ARE OUTRAGEOUS. -- IT'S ALL PUBLIC RECORD. MINE ARE 13,000.
YOU KNOW? ON MY OWN THREE PROPERTIES HERE, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY. YOU ARE SAYING THE ROADS AREN'T BEING FIXED, ET CETERA. WE WON'T EVEN GO DOWN THAT ROAD. BUT YOU HAVE GOT ALL THESE OTHER -- YOU BUILT THIS PLAZA. YOU KNOW? NOW THEY ARE ALL GOING OUT OF BUSINESS. AT WHAT POINT IS THE CITY COMMISSION GOING TO START SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES? THAT IS AN ISSUE. AND WHERE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS, YOU HAVE SO MUCH ENFORCEMENT GOING ON WITH SHORT-TERM RENTALS. YET, YOU DON'T ENFORCE ANY OTHER TYPE OF BUSINESS THAT IS SIMILAR. NOT THE HOTELS, YOU KNOW? NOT THE SILVER HOMES. THE SILVER HOMES DON'T EVEN -- THEY GET AWAY WITH LITERALLY MURDER WHEN IT COMES TO LICENSING AND EVERYTHING ELSE. THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING LIKE WE HAVE TO DO. SO, YOU KNOW, I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS. I HAVE BEEN HERE ALMOST 5 YEARS. YOU HAVE SEEN ME A LOT. I HAVE ISSUE WITH THE FACT THAT THESE LOCAL BUSINESSES AND RESTAURANTS KEEP GOING OUT OF BUSINESS. IT IS A PROBLEM. I DON'T THINK ANY CARE OR CONCERN FROM THE COMMISSION'S PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, BUSINESSES THAT ARE LEAVING. THEY ARE LEAVING AND GOING TO STEWART, PORT SALERNO, AND ALL THESE PLACES IN MARTIN COUNTY WHERE THEY CAN DO BUSINESS AND MAKE A PROFIT. WE ARE NOT BUSINESSES THAT ARE TRYING NOT TO MAKE A PROFIT. WE ARE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, HELP THE COMMUNITY , AND PROVIDE SERVICE, GOOD SERVICE, SO PEOPLE WANT TO COME BACK.
AND WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING? I AM SO UPSET THAT THIS STORE IS CLOSING. I MEAN, I SENT ALL MY CLIENTS THERE TO GET HUTCHINSON ISLAND SHIRTS. YOU KNOW? SHOT GLASSES, WINE GLASSES TO PROMOTE OUR CITY. I AM DISGUSTED. EVERY TIME I TURN
[01:05:06]
AROUND, SOMEONE ELSE IS CLOSING. YOU GUYS ARE DEFINITELY TRYING TO CLOSE SHORT-TERM RENTALS.>> ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION, PLEASE
COME FORWARD. >> CHRIS EINSTEIN, 207 ORANGE AVENUE. DO YOU REMEMBER THE OCTOBER 16TH COMMISSIONER MEETING WHERE THERE WERE TWO DIFFERENT APPLICANTS PRESENTING BUBBLE PLAN PD'S? ONE WAS STRONG-ARMED AS COMMISSIONER GAINES STATED INTO WITHDRAWING HIS APPLICATION, THE OTHER WAS SUPPOSED TO BE APPROVED BUT WAS PULLED AT THE LAST MOMENT. YOU STATED YOU WERE GOING TO WORK ON THE CODE, REWRITE IT . THE WORD CONCEPTUAL WOULD BE INCLUDED.
A FEW CONCEPTS HAVE BEEN APPROVED IN THE PAST, CITING PRECEDENTS. THAT WAS FOUR MONTHS AGO . THERE STILL HAS NOT BEEN AN UPDATE. I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE OCTOBER MEETING AGENDA. I AM STILL WAITING. 166.033, I WILL NOT READ BECAUSE IT WILL TAKE MY THREE MINUTES AND THEN SOME.
YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO GIVE AN ANSWER, APPROVE, DENY WITHIN 180 DAYS. I SUBMITTED IN JULY. I AM WELL PAST THE 180 DAYS. I HAVE HEARD CRICKETS . NOT FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING. NOTHING HAS GONE PAST THE CITY ATTORNEY. WE HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THE CONCEPTUAL PLAT, MONTHS AND MONTHS AGO, YOU APPROVE THAT. I SPOKE FROM AN AIRPLANE AND SAID HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO REWRITE YOUR CODE, ESPECIALLY THE PD. YES, YES, YES. NOTHING. YOU ARE THE PERFECT EXAMPLE. YOU KEEP PUTTING YOUR TOE IN THE WATER TO TRY THIS WITHOUT HAVING TO GO BACK. I AM A QUARTER OF $10,000 INSIGHT PLANS FOR GOING BACK AND BEING SET BACK. WE STEPPED BACK AND PUT OUR TOE IN THE WATER UNTIL YOU GOT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT STRAIGHTENED OUT. JENNIFER HOFF MIZER, OTHERS MADE IT A MESS. KEVIN CAME IN, WE FINALLY FELT COMFORTABLE AND SAID LET'S GO FORWAPICK THAT? THE WORD YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PRE-APPLICATION CONFERENCE, ON THE WEBSITE IT STATES, NO MORE PRE-APPLICATION NEEDED. SO YOU BACK AND FORTH. A LOT OF YOUR CODE DOES NOT MAKE SENSE. IT DOES NOT ADD UP. THIS IS WHERE WE ARE. YOU KEEP SAYING YOU WANT DEVELOPMENT OR GROWTH. I HAVE BEEN TRYING THIS PROJECT FOR I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS. WE PUT IN TO DO A HOTEL THEN BACKED OUT BECAUSE OF KING'S LANDING. WE SEE HOW THAT'S GOING. YOU KEEP STIFLING THE LITTLE GUYS HERE.
AND I COME TO YOU TO SAY, HEY, HERE WE ARE. WHAT WE DO? I ALSO CAME TO YOU FOR A.D.A. ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES A MONTH OR SO AGO. NOTHING. I LITERALLY AM OUT OF THE COUNTRY MORE THAN I AM IN THE COUNTRY.I FLEW BACK AND STAYED HERE SO I COULD ADDRESS YOU BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN WE WILL BE BACK IN TOWN HERE. I CAN BARELY GET MEETINGS. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO PLEASE ADDRESS THE CODE. THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN DOING A WONDERFUL JOB. YOU SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ALL AROUND GETTING ALL THESE OTHER CODES AND SURVEYS AND STUDIES DONE, AND YOU SHOULD HAVE SOMEBODY REWRITE YOUR CODE TO HELP THEM.
MUCH. ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION? PLEASE
COME FORWARD. >> RATON. I HAVE A PROJECT TO GET ON THE GREENS. I DON'T REMEMBER. FINALLY, I WILL CITE ATTORNEY AND RETURN IT BACK TO US IN THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY. THEY GIVE SOME CONDITIONS TO MOVE FORWARD ON MY APPLICATION. I BELIEVE WE HAD SEVERAL EMAIL EXCHANGES IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND ME. BY THE WAY, THEY ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. I BELIEVE THE FILE IS ON THE DESK RIGHT NOW. SHE NEEDS TO TYPE SOME -- WE HAVE TO DO CORRECTIONS ON THE AGREEMENT. THAT'S ALL I UNDERSTOOD. AND HE MADE THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WORK TO FIX THE LANGUAGE, TO PUT THE CORRECT LANGUAGE ON THE APPLICATION. I JUST DON'T WANT IT TO TAKE ANOTHER 3 TO 5 MONTHS. WE LOST A LOT OF TIME ALREADY. IF THEY CAN DO WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE, I BELIEVE I WILL COME IN FRONT OF YOU BEFORE YOU, OFFICIALLY, THIS TIME. AND AFTER, IF YOU APPROVE THE PROJECT, WE WILL GO TO NEXT STEP. AND PROBABLY THERE
[01:10:02]
SOMETHING I NEED TO SIGN. THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM THE EMAIL. I JUST WANT TO BE SURE THAT NOTHING IS PENDING ON MY END. I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD AS FAST AS POSSIBLE WITH THE APPLICATION. PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU FOR YOURTIME. >> THANK YOU, SIR. ANYONE ELSE
[15. COMMENTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER]
WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ANYONE ELSE? WITH NO MOVEMENT, WE WILL MOVE ON. MISSCLARA? >> OKAY. THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS, COMMENTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER.
>> YES, MA'AM. MADAME MAYOR AN MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION, IF YOU TAKE A LOOK INSIDE YOUR GENERAL PACKAGE, YOU HAVE A PURCHASE ORDER REPORT AND THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT. IN THAT REPORT, WE ARE HIGHLIGHTING WONDERFUL EVENTS WE HAD OVER THE PAST MONTH. THEY INCLUDE THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY GRAND PARADE, RECENTLY APPROVED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, CURRENT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ARE CURRENTLY HAPPENING, ARE VALUABLE, AMAZING VOLUNTEERS WE HAVE IT GO OUT ON A WEEKLY BASIS AND HELP OUR COMMUNITY TO STAY CLEAN, SAFE AND BEAUTIFUL. AND ALSO, CONTINUED EFFORTS TO FIND HOMES FOR THE ANIMALS THAT ARE CURRENTLY HOUSED AT THE FORT PIERCE ADOPTION CENTER. SO I THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY UPLIFTING REPORT. AND I TELL YOU, OUR CITY WAS JUST BLOSSOMING THIS PAST WEEKEND. WE HAD A FESTIVAL. WE HAD AN EVENT AT THE AE BACKUS MUSEUM. WE HAVE OUR DOWNTOWN EVENTS. OUR BEACH WAS FLOODED AGAIN WITH PEOPLE, VISITORS, AND PEOPLE HAVING A GOOD TIME. SO, FORT PIERCE WAS THE DESTINATION THAT WE HAVE COME TO LOVE THIS PAST WEEKEND. -- AND THIS LONG PRESIDENTS' DAY HOLIDAY. I WANTED TO REPORT
[16. COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION]
THAT AS WELL. >> ANYTHING ELSE?
>> NO MA'AM. ALL IS WELL. >> I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
>> WE WILL MOVE ON. DO WE HAVE COMMENTS FOR THE CITY
COMMISSION? >> WHAT ANY COMMISSION OR LIKE TO GO FIRST? COMMISSIONER GAINES? IT LOOKS LIKE YOU MIGHT
WANT TO. >> NOT TOO MUCH TONIGHT, MADAME MAYOR. I MISS THE HIGHWAY, MA'AM. -- THE FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND. I HAD TO TRAVEL. BUT FOR POSITIVE FEEDBACK, I'M GLAD WE DID THAT. I HEARD SOME OF THE CONCERN FROM THE CITIZENS TONIGHT. I WOULD ASK THAT -- I KNOW IN OUR STRATEGIC MEETING ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE PRIORITIZE WAS LOOKING AT CODES AND CHANGING CODES, AND FIXING CODES. AND I WOULD JUST ASK THAT -- I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS ON ANYONE'S DESK, THIS CONCEPTUAL PLAN, THIS BUBBLE PLAN, I REMEMBER THE CONVERSATION OF THE BUBBLE PLAN AND ANYTHING GOING ON, BUT SOMEHOW, IF WE CAN MOVE IT UP -- WE CAN MOVE IT UP SO WE LOOK AT IT. WE DID SAY WE WERE GOING TO LOOK AT THAT AND FIX IT. WE CAN MOVE IT OUT TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF RESOLUTION. TO THE OTHER PERSON WHO SPOKE ABOUT THE BUSINESS IS GOING OUT OF TOWN -- I MEAN, OUT OF TOWN OR OUT OF BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM OWNERS OF THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES. IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, OR IF THEY ARE INKING SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE OR ANY TYPE OF SOLUTIONS THEY MIGHT HAVE THAT ARE NOT LOOKING AT AS A BUSINESS OWNER DOWNTOWN , TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT . LET'S JUST HAVE A CONVERSATION.
BECAUSE I DON'T SEE EVERYTHING THAT YOU SEE AS A BUSINESS OWNER DOWNTOWN. YOU KNOW? WE TRY TO INCLUDE EVERYTHING. WE TRY TO DO THE BEST. SOMETIMES, STUFF HAPPENS. I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS OF WHY THE CERTAIN BUSINESS MOVED OR IS GOING OUT OF BUSINESS. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE -- YOU KNOW -- THE RATIONALE, AND TALK TO BUSINESS OWNERS IF THEY WANT TO TALK. MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN. THIS IS AN OPEN INVITATION TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AND COME SEE ME. I KNOW MY OFFICE HOURS ARE ON WEDNESDAYS. IF FOR SOME REASON, WEDNESDAY IS BAD FOR YOU, EVEN IF YOU CALL THE CITY CLERK AND HAVE ANOTHER DATE, LET ME BE THE ONE TO SAY NO. YOU CAN SAY I TRIED TO GET IN ON A TUESDAY AND SOMEONE SAID NO. THAT'S ON ME. WE ARE SITTING HERE, TOO.
I WANT TO LISTEN. AND I WANT TO HEAR THE GOOD AND THE BAD. I DON'T ALWAYS WANT TO HEAR THE GOOD. I NEED TO HEAR THE GOOD AND THE BAD. SO I AM ASKING ALL MEETING, IF THERE'S AN ISSUE E- OR YOU THINK WE SHOULD OR COULD DO SOMETHING, LET US KNOW. IT
[01:15:03]
IS SOMETIMES, AS YOU KNOW, OUR HANDS MIGHT BE TIED BY THE STATE . THEY MIGHT BE TIED BY THE FEDS. UNTIL I KNOW YOUR ISSUES OR HEAR YOUR ISSUES, I CAN'T LOOK INTO IT OR ADDRESS IT. WITH THAT, MADAME MAYOR, AGAIN, I SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TWO ENGINEERS ON THE BOARD AND THE ENGINEERS IN THE ROOM ON YOUR PROCLAMATION. TO THE LADIES OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, I USUALLY HAVE SOMETHING GOING ON. I USUALLY COME IN WITH MY PINK TIE ON. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WAS THINKING THIS MORNING WHEN I GOT DRESSED. I DIDN'T PUT THE PINK TIE ON. THAT IS MY FAULT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE RIGHT NOW.>> OKAY. WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO NEXT? MR. BRODRICK?
>> A FEW ITEMS. FIRST, WE HAVE A MEETING TEED UP FOR TOMORROW. NOT YOU, COMMISSIONER GAINES. I HAVE A MEETING TEED UP FOR TOMORROW WITH A HOST OF DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THE GRANT WRITING FOLKS FROM THE CITY OF FT.
PIERCE. I WILL BE MEETING WITH STAFF AND CONGRESSMAN'S OFFICE. THERE HAS BEEN EMAIL EXCHANGES AND DISCUSSION PERTAINING TO THIS, HOW WE CAN BEST UTILIZE OUR TIME AND MAKE THE MOST OF IT. SO I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. I AM THE ONE IN THE ROOM WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF KNOWLEDGE PERTAINING TO THIS. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO AN EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE AMONG EXPERTS IN THIS AREA. IT IS ALL WITH ONE MISSION IN MIND.
SECURING ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCES FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FOR ALL OF OUR FORCES, ET CETERA, AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO LEVERAGE THE CONGRESSMAN'S WEIGHT AND POSITION TO ASSIST THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. SO, NICK HAS ASSEMBLED A CAST.
THERE IS A GROUP. THE CONFERENCE ROOM IS GOING TO BE JUMPING. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PROSPECT OF WORKING FROM A GRASSROOTS LOCAL LEVEL TO THE CONGRESSIONAL LEVEL , AND ACCOMPLISHING SOME THINGS FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE.
WE HAVE NEEDS. MY ONLY COMMENT AT THE MEETING IS, TELL THEM WHAT YOU GOT. TELL THEM WHAT YOU NEED. WHAT AR WE GOING TO DO TO GET THERE? THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE. I'M HOPING THIS IS A START BUILDING A GOOD RAPPORT ON THAT FRONT, AND TO BENEFIT THE CITY. WE WILL REPORT BACK TO THE COMMISSION ON THAT AS TO HOW ALL THAT GOES. HOPEFULLY, ONE OF THOSE
BIG CHECK THINGS. >> WOULDN'T THAT BE NICE?
>> NO, I WILL REPORT BACK AND THANK NICK FOR COORDINATING THE DEPARTMENTS AND ALL THAT WHO WILL BE PRESENT. THE SECOND ITEM THAT I HAD WAS PERTAINING TO COMMISSIONER GAINES'S POINT ON THE PLANNING ISSUES , ZONING ISSUES, ET CETERA. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. YOU KNOW MY ROOTS COMING UPPLANNING BOAR BOARD AND ET CETERA. DIRECTOR FREEMAN -- FIRST OFF -- I THINK HIS DEPARTMENT IS DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB. THEY NEED A LITTLE MORE ASSISTANCE. I BELIEVE THE PROCESS IS COMPLETED ON THIS FOR OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS THAT THEY WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO. SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES. IT IS GOING TO GIVE DIRECTOR FREEMAN THE AMMUNITION HE NEEDS TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS MOVING FORWARD.
I KNOW IT'S A PRIMARY CONCERN FOR THE CITY COMMISSION. I UNDERSTAND THIS PROBLEM IN DEPTH. WE EXPERIENCED IT AT THE PLANNING BOARD LEVEL FOR YEARS. I BELIEVE THE DIRECTOR IS GOING TO HAVE PRECISELY THE ASSETS HE NEEDS IN PLACE TO ADDRESS THIS GLOBALLY. NOT JUST INDIVIDUAL CASES WHICH IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS, BUT ON A GLOBAL SCHEME. I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE WHERE THAT'S GOING TO GO. AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT TO OUR PLANNING PROCESSES, ARE ZONING ISSUES, SOME OF WHICH, WE JUST EXPERIENCED RECENTLY. THEY ARE ANTIQUATED. WE NEED TO UP OUR GAME. WE NEED THE FUNCTIONALITY TO ACCOMPLISH THAT . IT IS COMING AT US LIKE AN AVALANCHE. KEVIN, I AM EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU DO WITH THIS. THIRDLY, MY FINAL POINT, IS THE PARKING GARAGE OFFICE SPACE IS A VERY UNIQUE SITUATION. AND -- YOU KNOW -- THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
[01:20:03]
TRANSACTION -- OKAY. THAT'S IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR. WHAT DO WE DO NOW? IT'S BEEN AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION THAT I HAVE HAD WITH NICK AND OTHER FOLKS AROUND CITY HALL ABOUT TAKING A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PATH WITH THIS. AND TAKING THE SPACE , AND UTILIZING IT POTENTIALLY FOR SOME KIND OF CONFERENCE CENTER THAT WE RENOVATE THE SPACE , BRING IT ONLINE FOR THAT TYPE OF USE, BECAUSE THERE IS NO USE IN THE CITY FOR THAT TYPE OF THING OF THAT SIZE, AND IT IS SHELL CONSTRUCTION. IN OTHER WORDS, WE HAVE ENGINEERS DOWN HERE.IT WILL SPEAK VOLUMES TO THIS. IN ESSENCE, WE ARE PUTTING IN THE HVAC SYSTEMS, ELECTRICAL PLUMBING, ET CETERA. THAT HARDWARE WILL BE INSTALLED NO MATTER WHAT IS GOING TO GO IN THERE. FROM A RISK PERSPECTIVE, I CONSIDER THE RISK TO BE MINIMAL. THOSE DOLLARS WILL HAVE TO BE SPENT REGARDLESS OF USE. BUT THE THOUGHT PROCESS WAS, WELL, WE TAKE 9000 SQUARE FEET OF THE AREA, CONVERT IT INTO SOME TYPE OF CONFERENCING FACILITY, ET CETERA, THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT THAT WOULD DRIVE INTO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND DOWNTOWN IS POTENTIALLY MASSIVE. YOU KNOW? YOU BRING IN A CONFERENCE PEOPLE WANT TO MEET. THEY WILL GO OUT FOR LUNCH. ALL THAT MONEY WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE, WE HAVE PROPERTY, ET CETERA, THIS USE IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED IN THE CITY CURRENTLY. SO IN DISCUSSION, GENERAL DISCUSSION, MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD EXPLORE FURTHER. AND THINKING ABOUT IT FROM THE REAL ESTATE PERSPECTIVE, THE CITY IS NOT IN COMPETITION WITH ANY ENTITY THAT HAS THAT SIZE OR SPACE AVAILABLE. AND IT IS NOT A SERVICE THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE. COMMISSIONER JAY JOHNSON WAS TALKING ABOUT IT WITH THE RIVERWALK CENTER FOR EXAMPLE. THAT IS ANTIQUATED AND IN CAPABLE OF HANDLING THESE TYPES OF NEEDS. YOU GO TO THE FLOOR UP THERE, YOU LOOK AT THE VIEWS. I LOOKED AT IT FROM, WHAT IS THE BENEFIT TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR? IF WE ARE GOING TO SPEND PUBLIC DOLLARS, ARE WE GOING TO SEE AN ADVANTAGE FOR OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES? I JUST THINK THE LAUNDRY LIST IS LONG AS TO THE ADVANTAGES THAT WOULD BRING . THERE IS A BRIGHT LIGHT STATION WITHIN THE WALKING DISTANCE OF THE CONFERENCE FACILITY WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THE ASSETS WE HAVE DOWNTOWN. IT CERTAINLY SEEMS TO ME THATIT WARRANTS ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION TO SAY, YES, THIS IS SOMETHING WE ARE INTERESTED IN EXPLORING. YES, WE CAN GET INTO THE DESIGN PHASES OF THIS. YES, THE DOLLARS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THE BUILDOUT THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REQUIRED. I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO GO FOR HAVE TO BE SPENDING NO MATTER WHAT. WHAT HAPPENED THERE? ALL WE ARE DOING IS INVESTING IN THE FUTURE, POTENTIALLY. WE ALSO COME UP WITH A WIN-WIN PRODUCT THE CITY HAS BEEN UTILIZING SPACE THAT HAS BEEN EMPTY FOR YEARS. -- AND DRIVING THOSE DOLLARS INTO THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES TO BASICALLY HELP ALL THE BUSINESSES LOCALLY DOWNTOWN.
WE NEED HOTEL ROOMS. WE NEED A VARIETY OF THINGS IN THIS NATURE TO SUPPORT THAT FUNCTION AS WELL. SIMPLY PUT, WE ARE MISSING THE VOTE HERE. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY -- AND IF I DIDN'T SEE A PRIVATE-SECTOR BENEFIT TO THIS, NO. THE PUBLIC SECTOR DOES NOT NEED TO BE INVOLVED.
FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR GAMES, I THINK EMMA COULD BE CONSIDERABLE. THIS IS SOMETHING I WILL THROW OUT THERE. THIS WAS NOT MY IDEA. I TAKE NO CREDIT FOR THIS. I AM JUST PUTTING A VOICE TO IT TO SUGGEST I THINK WE WANT TO HAVE STAFF GIVE SOME THOUGHT TO THIS , DISCUSS IT AT A CONFERENCE AGENDA MEETING, AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY INTEREST TO EXPLORE IT FURTHER AS FAR AS DESIGN OF SPACE AND THINGS OF THIS NATURE. WE DIP OUR TOE IN THE WATER. WE SEE HOW IT FEELS.
JUST A CONCEPT. SO I AM DONE -- I AM DONE NOW.
>> JUST REAL QUICK -- SO, FOLLOWING UP TO THAT POINT, I CAN SUPPORT THIS EXPLORATION. I THINK, AS A PERSON WHO ATTENDS CONFERENCES, HOSTS CONFERENCES AS WELL AS THESE TYPES OF INTERACTIONS WITH HIS MISSES, I THINK IT MAKES SENSE THAT WE LOOK AT IT. I THINK THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING BUSINESSES TO DOWNTOWN -- BUSINESS TO DOWNTOWN -- YOU KNOW? JUST THE GROUP THAT WAS HERE EARLIER, ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA, AND I KNOW WHAT THEY HOST IN THE COMMUNITY, MY FRATERNITY, COMMISSIONER GAINES FRATERNITY, ET CETERA, WE NEED THE MEETING SPACE TO HOST WEBINARS, ET CETERA, THAT THIS COULD BE A
[01:25:04]
SITE THAT COULD BE TELECAST THROUGHOUT THE GLOBE, LITERALLY, IT COULD BE A SITE. SO I HAVE A BIG VISION. I WOULD REALLY SUPPORT US LOOKING INTO THIS. MY SECOND POINT TONIGHT, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR BEING THERE FOR THE FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND. I THOUGHT IT WAS WELL ATTENDED.THEY WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND TO EVEN FREE THE TOW TUCK THAT
GOT STUCK TWICE IN THE SAND. >> THE TOW TRUCK GOT STUCK.
>> THEY WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND. IT WAS A GREAT FESTIVAL. I JUST HOPE PEOPLE APPRECIATE IT. THAT IS ALWAYS GREAT. I SAW PEOPLE BUYING ART. ARTISTS SEEMED TO BE HAPPY. IT WAS JUST A GREAT, GREAT DAY. I DIDN'T STAY FOR LONG. I WAS THERE LONG ENOUGH. HOPEFULLY, THE WEATHER HELD UP . MY TRAVELS TOOK ME INTO BAD WEATHER LATER THAT SAME DAY.
HOPEFULLY, WE GOT A VERY SUCCESSFUL VENTURE DONE. THAT IS IT FOR ME TONIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I WILL JUST TALK ABOUT THE SPACE. YOU KNOW? YOU TRY, TRY AGAIN, YOU DON'T SUCCEED, YOU TRY AGAIN. THAT'S WHERE WE ARE AT. WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION FOR MANY MOONS NOW.
KNOWING WHAT IS ON THE HORIZON , THINGS I HAD EARLIER IN TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION WITH THAT AGREEMENT, 183 PAGES LONG BY THE WAY , IF YOU LOOK AT THE DESIGN MANUAL, WE DON'T WANT TO LOOK AT THE DESIGN MANUAL, I HAVE EXPERIENCED IT BEFORE. WE ARE READY. YOU ARE RIGHT, COMMISSIONER. I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT IT UP. I'M GLAD YOU'VE HEARD IT FROM OTHERS WHETHER IT IS EXTERNAL, INTERNAL, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.
LOOKING AT IT THROUGH YOUR LENS AND POINT OF VIEW, YOUR EXPERIENCE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, I EXPERIENCE YOU TALKING ABOUT IT TONIGHT. I THINK IT IS TIME. I THINK ABOUT THE EVENTS. I THINK ABOUT THE WHAT IF'S , WHAT IS ON THE HORIZON FOR OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY, DOWNTOWN, BUSINESSES AND OPPORTUNITIES THEY HAVE IN ADDITION TO CITY SERVICES. AND ABOUT WHAT WE DID FOR OUR STRATEGIC PLAN. WHERE COULD WE BE FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING? WHAT DID WE HAVE TO DO BECAUSE OF THE TRIAL ACROSS THE STREET? WE HAD TO RELOCATE SERVICES BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY SPACE EXCEPT FOR THIS ONE WHICH IS 100 YARDS AWAY FROM THE SPOT THAT WAS SHUT DOWN. SO IF WE HAVE SOME ANCILLARY OPPORTUNITY OR ACCESSORY UNITS OR SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE TERRIBLE ACOUSTICS OF THE RIVERWALK -- THE RIVERWALK IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE, BY THE WAY. IT NEEDS HELP AS WE DISCUSSED. WE DISCUSSED THAT IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN. THAT IS ANOTHER PLAN. THAT IS ANOTHER INITIATIVE AND MOTIVE TO DO SOMETHING ELSE ON OUR WATERFRONTS. SO, AS FAR AS PROFESSIONAL SPACE, 9000 SQUARE FEET, LOOKING AT OPPORTUNITIES THERE, I BELIEVE IT CAN BE DONE. I BELIEVE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. I BELIEVE WE HAVE THE RESOURCES.
AND WE CAN RECOUP THAT AS LONG AS WE ARE STRATEGIC , YOU KNOW, IN A GOOD PLAN, RENTAL PLAN AGREEMENTS, BECAUSE WHAT I DO KNOW FROM MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE SENSE CENTER, IT'S ALWAYS A CHALLENGE FOR THE COMMISSION BECAUSE THEY GIVE SPECIAL
REQUESTS OR ASKS -- >> THE OFFICE CAN'T AFFORD
THE LEASE. >> IT'S A NONSTOP REQUEST.
BUT YOU HAVE TO HOLD THE LINE SOMETIMES. THAT'S BECAUSE THE INVESTMENT, THE TAXPAYERS ARE FOOTING THE BILL. SO, THAT IS THE TRICK OF THE ENTIRE PROCESS OF HAVING A RENTAL SPACE, CONFERENCE CENTER, WHATEVER, WITH OUR GOVERNMENT HAD ON, WITH THE CITY COMMISSION. SO, -- BUT THEY HAD SOME GOOD RULES AND REGULATIONS BUILT IN. SO AS LONG AS WE ARE ON THAT KIND OF A PROGRAM, I THINK THAT THE PUBLIC WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE. I THINK IT -- WELL, I KNOW MANY EVENTS THAT HAPPENED WHETHER NONPROFIT OR NOT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO PAY YOUR WAY WHEN YOU HAVE THESE FACILITIES. THAT IS THE REAL DEAL. AS LONG AS WE ARE HOLDING THAT LINE, WE STRUCTURE IT IN A WAY THAT IS SATISFACTORY , YOU KNOW, TO THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE CITY, THE LEGAL TEAM, THE CITY RESIDENTS. I THINK IT IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY. I REALLY DO.
LOOK AT THE INFRASTRUCTURE. IT IS PARKING. IT IS ACCESSIBLE.
IT IS A.D.A. ACCESSIBLE. IT IS WALKABLE. WITH ALL OF OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING INITIATIVES FOR THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN AND WHAT ORANGE AVENUE HAS COMING, WHAT SECOND STREET HAS COMING, I THINK WE ARE IN THE RIGHT POSITION. I REALLY DO.
INCLUDING BRIGHT LINE. IT'S EVEN BETTER. YOU KNOW? LET'S CONTINUE TO YELL IT FROM THE ROOFTOP ABOUT WRITE LINE. I WILL JUST CLOSE WITH THAT. WE ARE EXCITED FOR THEM TO MAKE THEIR DECISION IN A FEW WEEKS FOR OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY OF FT.
[01:30:02]
PIERCE. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >> ABOUT THE SPACE, JUST TO BUILD ON THAT, WE HAVE THE SAME AMBIVALENCE WITH THE SUNRISE THEATER. A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO USE THE SUNRISE THEATER. THERE ARE FEES BUILT IN. AND I KNOW -- I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE CENTER WHEN HE WAS PROMOTING IT. I KNOW THAT THE CENTER HAS HAD PEOPLE VERY DISAPPOINTED THEY COULDN'T AFFORD THE FEES. THEY GO TO THE COMMISSIONERS.
THEY HAVE TO WALK A FINE LINE BETWEEN SERVING THE PUBLIC AND MAKING SURE THE FACILITY SUPPORTS IT SELF. I THINK THAT'S ALL THE THINGS WE HAVE TO EXPLORE. I DO KNOW THAT SO MANY PEOPLE TOLD ME AFTER THE FIRST VOTE THAT WOULD BE SUCH A WASTE THAT WOULD BE SUCH A WASTE FOR THE WAY WE HAD ORIGINALLY PLANNED IT. I'M GLAD WE ARE LOOKING AT IT AGAIN. I, FOR ONE, AM GOING TO HAVE AN OPEN MIND ABOUT HOW THE SPACE SHOULD BE USED. I WAS AT THE HIGHWAY FESTIVAL. PEOPLE WERE BUYING ART. EVEN THOUGH IT IS A NICE FAMILY EVENT, THAT IS THE IMPORTANT THING TO THE VENDORS THAT WERE THERE. AND I HAD ONE PERSON WHO CAME UP FROM SOUTH FLORIDA. THEY SAID THEY WERE HAPPY WITH THE FAMILY-FRIENDLY FREE EVENT THAT WAS DOABLE. IT HAD A SMALL FEEL. IT WAS A COHESIVE FEEL. THEY WEREN'T OVERWHELMED WITH VENDORS. THE VENDORS -- THE VENDORS WERE WOMEN ARTISTS. THERE WASN'T A LOT OF EXTRANEOUS. I FELT IT WAS WELL DONE. SO I WANT TO BRING UP THAT WE HAVE THIS COMING SATURDAY IS THE 27TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DOWNTOWN FARMERS MARKET. AND WE DO A MARKET BAG EVERY YEAR. WE HAVE ORIGINAL ART ON IT. THIS YEAR, THE ART IS HONORING THE HIGHWAYMAN. IT IS A LOYAL POINCIANA. IT IS ORIGINAL ART. SHE WILL BE THERE, SIGNING THE BAGS. IT WILL BE FOR SALE FOR $7.00. THEN, IT IS ALSO NATURE FEST THIS SATURDAY. THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT -- OH, AND THE CRACKER TRAIL IS GOING TO COME TO DOWNTOWN FORT PIERCE.
IT USUALLY COMES AROUND 9:30 OR 10:00. I THINK , SOMETHING LIKE THAT, LATER? YEAH. JUST SO I GIVE THE CORRECT INFORMATION,
YEAH. YEAH. >> EVENING, COMMISSIONERS, MAYOR. IT BEGINS AT 10:00 THIS YEAR. WE ARE STARTING AT THE AVENUE EXTENSION. WE ARE GOING BACK TO THE AVENUE EXTENSION.
WE ARE GOING TO THE RIGHT LINES, FREQUENT TRAINS, WE TOOK THE TRAIN FEST OUT OF THE EQUATION ALTOGETHER. THEY WILL COME FROM WHERE THEY USED TO COME FROM BACK IN THE DAY FROM THE AVENUE M EXTENSION AREA, COMING UP SECOND STREET INTO THE DOWNTOWN AREA FOR THE USUAL PARADE THROUGH THE FARMERS
MARKET, THEN BACK OVER. >> SO THEY WILL BE EAST OF THE
TRACKS THE WHOLE TIME? >> THEY WILL BE EAST OF THE TRACKS. WE WILL NOT BE NEGOTIATING RIVER CROSSINGS.
>> EXCELLENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT IS A SIGHT TO SEE.
THANK YOU. I WANT TO REMIND YOU MARCH 9TH IS THE GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP. AND THAT WILL BE -- STARTING AT THE MANATEE CENTER . ALTHOUGH, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO THE MANATEE CENTER BECAUSE YOU CAN CLEAN UP ANYWHERE YOU WANT TO IN THE CITY. SO THERE WILL BE THREE AREAS THEY WILL BE WORKING IN.
IT WILL BE AT MORRIS CREEK, THEY WILL BE AT SOUTH BEACH, THE BRIDGE, AND UNDERNEATH THE BRIDGE. AND THE THIRD AREA OF -- AND THERE WILL BE ARBOR DAY AT THE ROUNDABOUT ON THE BEACH.
THAT WILL BE ON THE BEACH. SO, AT ANY RATE, LOTS GOING ON IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. AND I WANT TO SAY, TONIGHT, I HEARD A LOT OF COMPLIMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE ON THE PLANNING
>> YES, YES. >> MADAME MAYOR, SPEAKING ABOUT ROUNDABOUTS, DIDN'T A ROUNDABOUT GET VANDALIZED? I DON'T THINK IT WAS VANDALISM. YOU ARE REFERRING TO 15TH STREET AND AVENUE D. IT IS NOT VANDALISM. IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS
A VEHICULAR CRASH. >> I WAS HOPING IT WAS AN OLD
>> OH, BOY. >> SO, ON THAT NOTE --
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.