[MEETING TO ORDER]
[00:00:12]
4:00 P.M. AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE FORT PIERCE UTILITY BOARD. JOIN ME FOR STANDING IN THE INDICATION LED BY JASON MIDLER AND THE PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEASE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. WE WANT TO STOP AND ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR FAITHFULNESS WITHIN OUR PERSONAL LIVES AND WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. WE BELIEVE YOU HAVE POSITIONED THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AS A SUNRISE CITY OF THE TREASURE COAST FOR REASON AND WE DECLARE ISAIAH 60. THE RISE, SHINE, YOUR LIGHT HAS COME. SEE DARKNESS COVERS THE EARTH AND THICK DARKNESS IS OVER THE PEOPLES BUT THE LORD RISES UPON YOU AND GLORY APPEARS OVER YOU. NATIONS WILL COME TO HER LIGHT AND KINGS TO THE BRIGHTNESS OF YOUR DAWN. WE ASK THAT YOUR GLORY ARISE AND THAT YOUR LIGHT WOULD SHINE .
THE KINGS WOULD COME TO THE BRIGHTNESS AND THAT EVERYONE WOULD KNOW THAT THERE IS TREASURE IN THE TREASURE COAST.
LORD, WE ASK FOR FAVOR AND ALL OF OUR CONTRACTS AND GRANT APPLICATIONS. WE ASK FOR THE MIND OF CHRIST AND THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO PROCESS INFORMATION IN THE SAME WAY THAT YOU DO. WE PRAY ALL OF THIS IN JESUS'S NAME. 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.
[A. SET THE AGENDA]
>> MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?
>> MR. MARSHALL-BENNETT? MISSES GIBBONS? MR. LAMMERS? MAYOR
HUDSON? MISSES BENNETT? >> PRESENT. THE NEXT ITEM IS SETTING THE AGENDA. WHY THE MOTION? OR -- WITH EMOTION.
>> MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.
[C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
>> MISSES GIBBONS? MR. LAMMERS MAYOR HUDSON? MISSES BENNETT? A COPY OF THE MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING OF FEBRUARY 20TH. ANY CHANGES REQUESTED OR DO I HAVE A MOTION?
>> MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
>> SECOND. >> MADAM CLERK, WE PLEASE CALL
THE ROLE? >> MAYOR HUDSON? MISSES
>> THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS OUR PUBLIC COMMENT. IF THERE IS ANY MEMBER 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. SEEING NO ONE HAS COME FORTH, I
[D. CONSENT AGENDA]
WILL NOW CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND MOVED TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. IS THERE ANY ITEM THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO PULL FOR DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT OR DO I HAVE A MOTION?>> SECOND. >> MADAM CLERK, WE PLEASE CALL
THE ROLE? >> MR. FEE? MRS. GIVENS?
>> YES, MA'AM. >> WE WILL NOW CONVERT TO THE REGULAR AGENDA WITH MISS MICAH PRESIDING.
[E.1. Utilization of 2022A Bond Funding for the Edwards Road & S US 1 FEC Crossing Emergency Force Main Approve the budget transfer for $900,000 from the 2022A Bond Moneys for the Edwards Road & South US 1 Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) Crossing emergency Force Main Repair.]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. THE ONLY NEW BUSINESS ITEM TODAY IS A REQUEST TO UTILIZE BOND FUNDING FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF AN EXISTING FORCE MAIN UNDER THE FLORIDA EAST COAST RAILWAY TRACKS ALONG U.S. 1 AND EDWARDS ROAD. THE NEW PIPE WILL BE UP SIZED TO ACCOMMODATE DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE NEW MW RF CONVEYANCE SYSTEM. SHANE , ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER WILL
PRESENT THIS ITEM. >> THANK YOU, MISS MICAH.
META-MAYOR, MADAM CHAIR, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE BOARD, AN A FAILURE OF AN EXISTING MAIN CROSSING THE RAILROAD OR THE INTERSECTION OF EDWARDS AND US-1 HAS FAILED AND NEEDS IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT. A 24 INCH FORCE MAIN IS REQUIRED TO ACCOMMODATE THE FUTURE NEEDS OF OUR WASTEWATER CONVEYANCE SYSTEM MOVING OUR WASTEWATER FLOWS TO THE NEW MAINLAND RECLAMATION FACILITY. I AM REQUESTING THE APPROVAL OF A BUDGET TRANSFER OF $900,000 FROM THE 2022 BOND MONIES FOR EDWARDS ROAD AND SOUTH U.S. ONE FLORIDA EMERGENCY REPAIR.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE AT THIS
TIME. MADAM CHAIR? >> SO, I DID SPEAK WITH MR. CISNEROS ABOUT THIS EARLIER BUT I WANT TO PUT ON THE RECORD THAT WE ARE ABLE TO USE BOND MONEY FOR THIS PARTICULAR USE,
[00:05:05]
>> YES. >> I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. SOMETHING LIKE THIS, IS IT DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC ON THE RAILWAY NOW? OR IS IT -- DID WE HAVE SOME OLDER PIPES IN THERE THAT WERE STILL CAST-IRON THAT HAD FAILED OR -- IRON 10 INCH MAIN CROSSING THE RAILROAD TRACKS AND IT WAS
INSTALLED IN THE 60S. >> OKAY.
>> IT'S AT US-1 AND, MADAM CHAIR, EXCUSE ME, US-1 AND
EDWARDS? >> JUST NORTH OF EDWARDS ON THE
EAST SIDE OF US-1. >> I DID NOT THINK THAT WAS FEC
TRACKS. >> IT IS A SPUR TRACK. IT GOES
WEST. >> OKAY. I THOUGHT THAT WAS SOME OTHER AREA. ANYWAY. IT DOES NOT MATTER.
>> NOW, WAS AT THE LATTER PART OF THE '60S ARE THE EARLY PART OF THE '60S THAT IT WAS REPLACED?
>> THE LATTER PART. >> IVA MOTION.
>> I MOVE APPROVAL. >> SECOND.
>> MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?
>> MR. FEE? MRS. GIVENS? MR. LAMMERS? MRS. BENNETT?
[F. DIRECTOR COMMENTS]
>> YES, MA'AM. THAT CONCLUDES OUR REGULAR AGENDA. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE DIRECTOR AT THIS TIME?
>> YES, MADAM CHAIR. I JUST WANT TO GIVE A REMINDER TO THE BOARD THAT THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD AT THE ENERGY SERVICES CENTER AND THAT IS GOING TO BE A COMBINED BOARD MEETING WITH THE RATE STABILIZATION , POWER ADJUSTMENT AND DAYS OF CASH WORKSHOP THAT WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT. THE MEETING IS GOING TO START A LITTLE BIT EARLIER AT 1:00 AND WE WILL PROVIDE LUNCH BUT THERE WILL BE MORE DETAILS THAT WILL BE RELEASED. THAT WILL BE ON THE MEETING OF THE 19TH. AND THAT IS ALL THAT I HAVE. MS. BALLANTINE WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE LEGISLATIVE MEETING THAT THEY JUST WENT TO UP IN WASHINGTON.
>> THANK YOU AND GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. THIS PAST WEEK MR. CISNEROS, MR. RUTHERFORD AND I, WE TRAVEL TO D.C. FOR THE APBA LEGISLATIVE RALLY THAT WAS OUR FIRST TIME THAT EITHER ONE OF US HAD ATTENDED THAT IN THAT CAPACITY.
IT WAS A VERY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND IT WAS A VERY GOOD EXPERIENCE. YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW BUT DURING THESE APBA LEGISLATIVE RALLIES MUNICIPAL UTILITIES ACROSS THE NATION COME TOGETHER DURING THIS WEEK AND THEY MEET WITH THEIR STATE AND FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES ON DIFFERENT INDUSTRY ISSUES.
FROM FLORIDA WE WERE JOINED BY THE FM EA AND THE FM P.A. AS WELL AS 12 OTHER INVISIBLE UTILITIES AND WITH THE FM EA WE WERE ABLE TO MEET WITH SENATOR RUBIO AND SENATOR SCOTT STAFF AS WELL AS MEET WITH CONGRESSMAN AND HIS STAFF. I PASSED OUT FOR ALL OF YOU A HANDOUT WHICH , KIND OF, HIGHLIGHTS THE MAIN LEGISLATIVE ISSUES THAT WERE DISCUSSED BUT TO THAT I WILL JUST TOUCH BRIEFLY ON THAT WE ARE REALLY EMPHASIZING THE MEETINGS AND IT'S GOING TO BE THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES. THAT IS A SECOND ISSUE ON PAGE TWO AS WELL AS THE FEMA REFORM. AND THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES Y'ALL ARE VERY AWARE OF, THIS ONE SPECIFICALLY RELATES TO TRANSFORMERS . IN THE PAST THERE WAS THREE TO SIX MONTHS LEAD TIME TO GET THESE TRANSFORMERS BUT NOW SOME ARE REPORTING THREE YEARS LEAD TIME. THE EPA HAD INTRODUCED SOME REGULATIONS THAT WERE EFFICIENCY STANDARDS THAT WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE BECAUSE THE TYPE OF STEEL AMONG OTHER REGULATIONS THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED WAS ONLY MANUFACTURED BY ONE COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES. SO, WITH THOSE STRICT STANDARDS, IT WOULD ONLY INCREASE THE LEAD TIMES. SO, WHAT WE ASKED SOME OF THE REPRESENTATIVES TO SUPPORT WAS A MEASURE THAT WOULD BASICALLY BE MORE REALISTIC EFFICIENCY STANDARDS AND WOULD ALSO PUT THE EPA REGULATIONS ON HOLD FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE MANUFACTURERS TO COME UP TO SPEED WITH THE NEW REGULATIONS AND GET THE NECESSARY PROCEDURES IN PLACE TO BE ABLE TO MEET THEM. THE FEMA REFORM, YOU MAY RECALL WE DISCUSSED THIS BRIEFLY BEFORE BUT THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE IT TAKES A LONG TIME BETWEEN A NATURAL DISASTER AND ACTUAL RECEIPT OF
[00:10:04]
REIMBURSEMENTS. MANY OF Y'ALL KNOW THAT IT TAKES SOMETIMES MANY YEARS BEFORE WE ARE ACTUALLY FULLY REIMBURSED.BETWEEN THAT TIME, SOME MUNICIPAL UTILITIES HAVE TO TAKE OUT LOANS TO BE ABLE TO COVER THE REPAIRS, THE EMERGENCY REPAIRS. ONE EXAMPLE THAT WAS HIGHLIGHTED WAS THE KEYS ENERGY. THEY, FOLLOWING ONE NATURAL DISASTER, HAD TO TAKE OUT A $41 MILLION LINE OF CREDIT AND IN THAT FIRST YEAR ALONE, ANCHORED $1.6 MILLION IN INTEREST WHICH WAS NOT REIMBURSABLE BY FEMA. WHAT THIS MEASURE WOULD DO IS TO MAKE THOSE EXPENSES REIMBURSABLE. SOME OTHER ITEMS RELATING TO FEMA THAT WE HOPE TO GET REFORM ON IS CURRENTLY IF WE ARE STAGING FOR AND IN ANTICIPATION OF A HURRICANE OR SOME OTHER EMERGENCY, THOSE COSTS ARE NOT REIMBURSABLE BY FEMA. SO, THEY ARE TRYING TO GET AT LEAST A PORTION, IF NOT ALL OF THEM TO BE REIMBURSABLE. WHILE WE WERE THERE, MISS TENANT WAS ABLE TO GET US MEETINGS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SO IT WAS VERY NICE. I THINK IT WAS SIX OR SEVEN INDIVIDUALS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY THAT MET WITH US.
SHE JOINED US VIRTUALLY AND WE UPDATED THEM ON OUR CURRENT GRANT AS WELL AS SOME EXCITING PROJECTS THAT WERE TO COME AND WE THANK THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT. WE ALSO -- MS. TENANT IS ABLE TO GET US A MEETING WITH FLORIDA'S CHIEF RESILIENCY OFFICER, DR. WES BROOKS AND WE DISCUSSED THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT RELOCATION PROJECT UPDATES TOO.
, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S CURRENTLY GOING ON. THEY WERE VERY EXCITED TO HEAR MORE ABOUT IT THERE IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH RACHEL'S GROUP AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO COME VISIT AT SOME POINT WHEN THERE IS A GOOD MILESTONE TO INVITE THEM OUT HERE. BUT WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT SOME OTHER REALLY GOOD PROGRAMS THAT F UA HAS GOING SUCH AS THE SEPTIC TO SEWER PROGRAMS, THE SEWER LINING AND ELECTRIC GRID HARDENING. SO, THEY WERE VERY EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT THOSE ITEMS. AND WE ARE VERY THANKFUL FOR THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE WITH THESE OFFICES AS WELL AS THE SUPPORT WE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING FROM OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT TEACHER COLLABORATIONS THAT WE ARE HAVING IN THE WORKS. ONE THING THAT WAS NOT REALLY TOUCHED ON AT THE LEGISLATIVE RALLY THAT I WANTED TO UPDATE Y'ALL ABOUT IS , YOU WILL RECALL THE PENDING BILL SIMILAR TO LAST YEAR'S LEGISLATION ABOUT THE SURCHARGES AND THE CITY TRANSFER. AS OF NOW, IT HAS NOT MOVED. SO, FEMA PREDICTS THAT IT IS PROBABLY DEAD THIS SESSION. SO, THAT IS OBVIOUSLY GOOD NEWS. THAT TOPIC WAS NOT REALLY DISCUSSED ON THIS TRIP. ALL IN ALL, IT WAS A VERY GOOD TRIP AND I WAS THANKFUL THAT FPUA ALLOWED ME TO GO OUT THERE AND EXPERIENCE IT. I WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS Y'ALL HAVE.
>> WAS CLEAR WAS GOING TO GO -- NOT GOING TO GO FURTHER IN THE SENATE. AS EXPLAINED TO ME, IT WOULD HAVE TO HAVE TRACTION IN BOTH PLACES , THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, FOR IT TO BE PUT ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK. AT THAT POINT, I THINK THERE WASN'T THE CONCERN THAT IT MIGHT ACTUALLY COME TO FRUITION. AS OF NOW, IT DEFINITELY HAS NOT MOVED AT ALL.
>> MADAM CHAIR, IT IS STATE , THOUGH. YOU WERE IN WASHINGTON,
>> IT WOULD HAVE -- THEY -- YOU -- I MEAN -- IT WOULD'VE BEEN MORE SENSIBLE IF YOU ARE IN TALLAHASSEE. I WAS ON THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES CONFERENCE CALL THIS MORNING AND THEY DID NOT MENTION IT AT ALL. SO, I ASSUME, PROBABLY I SHOULD NOT HAVE BUT I ASSUMED THAT IT WAS GOING NOWHERE.
>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT. >> IF THEY DID NOT MENTION IT.
THAT IS BEEN A HIGH PRIORITY FOR THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES ON EVERY CONFERENCE CALL WE HAVE HAD UNTIL TODAY.
>> RIGHT. >> YES, I THINK THAT IS RIGHT.
IT IS NOT MOVING. DOES THAT MEAN IT WON'T COME BACK?
>> THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING. WE HAVE TO BE AWARE OF IT. THIS YEAR WE WON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT.
>> RIGHT. REPRESENTATIVE BRACKETT SAID OF TALLAHASSEE WHEN WE WERE UP THERE THAT HE KNEW IT WASN'T GOING TO PASS THIS TIME BUT HE WAS HOPING NEXT TIME IT WOULD. HE WAS ALREADY PLANNING. HE INTRODUCED IT IN THE HOUSE.
>> OKAY. YES. SO, SOMETHING TO ALWAYS BE AWARE OF AND KEEP OUR EYE ON AND I BELIEVE THIS BOARD IS VERY WELL-EDUCATED IN WHAT THOSE BILLS ARE TRYING TO GET AT AND OUR ARGUMENTS AS OPPOSED TO WHY WE WOULD NOT SUPPORT THEM AND WE WILL BE
[00:15:05]
PREPARED SHOULD THEY ARISE AGAIN.[G. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]
>> ANYTHING ELSE? >> I DON'T KNOW. NOTHING MORE
FOR ME. THAT WILL BE ALL. >> ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM
THE BOARD MEMBERS? >> I JUST WANT TO MENTION THE GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP THIS SATURDAY. FPUA IS VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN IT AND I APPRECIATE THAT. THEY ARE PROVIDING BREAKFAST. WE ARE STARTING AT 8:00. WE WILL BE WORKING ALL OVER THE CITY CLEANING UP THE CITY.
>> WE WILL START WHERE? >> THE MANATEE CENTER. BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO. YOU CAN CLEAN UP ANYPLACE. BUT IF YOU WANT BREAKFAST AND TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON , COME DOWN. AT 10:00 WE HAVE A CEREMONY OVER AT THE SEAWAY ROUNDABOUT -- THE JETTY ROUNDABOUT AND WE ARE PLANTING A NEW TREE THERE FOR ARBOR DAY.
SO, 10:00. ARBOR DAY CEREMONIES.
>> ANYONE ELSE?
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.