Apr 08, 2024 City Commission Conference Agenda

[1. Call to Order]

[00:00:12]

TO ORDER. THIS IS A CONFERENCE AND END OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. THIS IS MONDAY, APRIL 8TH. PLEASE STAND FOR THE

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH

LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> CALL THE ROLL PLEASE.

[a. St. Lucie Tourism - 2023 Visitor Tracking & Economic Impact Study Results]

>> HUDSON? >> PRESENT.

>> COMMISSIONER BROJA? >> PRESENT.

>> COMMISSIONER GAINES? >> PRESENT.

>> COMMISSIONER C. JOHNSON? >> --

>> COMMISSIONER J. JOHNSON? MEETING IF WE NEED TO DO THAT. .

>> OKAY. FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ST. LUCIE TOURISM, 2023 VISITOR TRACKING AND ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY RESULTS.

>> MADAME, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, WE HAVE MS. CHARLOTTE BYERLY FROM TOURISM OF ST. LUCIE FOR THE 2023 DRIVING IN TRAFFIC ECONOMIC IMPACT.

>> MS. BYERLY, WELCOME. >> THANK YOU. META MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, I AM CHARLOTTE BYERLY WITH THE ST. LUCIE COUNTY IS THE TOURISM AND MARKETING DIRECTOR. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY NOT KNOW, I HAVE BEEN IN THIS ROLE FOR -- AGING MYSELF -- 15 1/2 YEARS NOW. I STILL ENJOY EVERYDAY. I LOVE OUR DESTINATION. ALL OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, THE ENTIRE COUNTY, AND I LOOK PROMOTING ALL THE WONDERFUL ASSETS THAT WE HAVE TO BRING VISITORS HERE AND SUPPORT OUR BUSINESSES.

WITH THAT, I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A REPORT ON A YEAR-LONG STUDY THAT WE DID INCOME THE YEAR 2023 . JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND, WE DID THE SAME EXACT STUDY IN OFFICE EXCUSE ME THE 2017 -- SO YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOME GREAT GROWTH, BUT PRIOR TO THE DATA I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU -- AND A PROMISE IT IS NOT EIGHT DEATH BY DATA PRESENTATION -- I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE OVERVIEW OF HOW WE -- AS AND VISIT ST. LUCIE NOTICE HOW WE BRING OURSELVES TO MARKET THE AREA -- HOW -- JUST HOW WE'RE STRUCTURED WITHIN COUNTY GOVERNMENT, IF YOU MAY NOT KNOW, AND A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON EACH ONE OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS. I'M GOING TO JUMP RIGHT IN. THIS IS A PHOTO IN FRONT OF YOU OF WHAT IS NOW ON THE COVER OF OUR ANNUAL VISIT ST. LUCIE VISITORS GUIDE , AND I'M SURE THIS ALL LOOKS VERY FAMILIAR TO YOU.

WHAT A GORGEOUS DAY IT IS AT THE STATE PARK . AS I MENTIONED, WE ARE VISIT ST. LUCIE, AND IN THE WORLD OF THE TRADITION TOURISM, WE ARE THE OFFICIAL DESTINATION MARKETING TOURISM FOR ST. LUCIE COUNTY AND THE CITIES. AND WE ALL THE WITH ACRONYMS IN OUR LINE OF WORK. SO, WE'RE CALLED A DMO, DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION. THIS IS THE TEAM WE HAVE, HERE, TO DO ALL THE DAY TODAY ACTIVITIES TO HELP BUILD TOURIST DEVELOPMENT . ALTHOUGH MARKETING PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES, RESEARCH, WHICH I AM PRESENTING TO YOU TODAY, THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE HAVE WITH ALL OF OUR TOURISM PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, HOTELS, ATTRACTIONS, DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ALLIANCE. WE'RE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THAT ORGANIZATION.

AND MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE AREA. ON THE LEFT-HAND OF YOUR SCREEN, TAYLOR HAS -- AND CATHERINE QUARTER USED TO BE WITH THE CHAMBER -- NOW WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE HER ON THE VISIT ST. LUCIE TEAM. MOST OF YOU PROBABLY KNOW THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IS MADE UP OF 5 MEMBERS, BUT UNDER THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, WE DO HAVE AN ADVISORY BOARD KNOWN AS THE TAURUS DEVELOPMENT TOWNSELL. COMMISSIONER J. JOHNSON REPRESENTS THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE ON THAT COUNSEL. THIS COUNSEL REALLY HELPS GUIDE US ON HOW WE SPENT THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX DOLLARS, SPECIFICALLY, FOR WHAT WE DO WITH TOURISM MARKETING. OUR DIVISION REPORTS TO COUNTY ADMINISTRATION , SO HOW ARE WE FUNDED ? THERE IS A COUNTY TAX, 5% TOURIST TAX OR MEDICAL TAX, AS IT IS ALSO KNOWN, AND IT IS A 5% TAX THAT IS LEVIED ON

[00:05:04]

>> SPRAWLING BEACHES, FLOURISHING ECOSYSTEMS AND A DIVERSE HERITAGE. THESE THINGS AREN'T NEW TO ST. LUCIE, IT'S IN OUR DNA. THEY'RE THE ROOTS OF WHO WE ARE.

>> DISCOVER THE ROOTS OF ST. LUCIE ON THE TREASURE COAST .

INTO WHAT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF TOURISM WAS IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY FOR 2023, BUT FIRST, I WANTED TO TAKE A STATE PERSPECTIVE TO EXPLAIN , YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE MAY BE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT, WITH THE VALUE OF TOURISM AND WHAT IT IS TO FLORIDA, THE NUMBER ONE INDUSTRY AND WHAT ARE THE MAIN REASONS FLORIDA HAS NO STATE INCOME TAXES BECAUSE THE ROBUST TOURISM INDUSTRY. IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED, WITHOUT VISITOR SPENDING IN FLORIDA, THE FLORIDA RESIDENTS WOULD HAVE TO PAY APPROXIMATELY $1500 MORE IN STATE AND LOCAL TAXES EACH YEAR JUST TO MAINTAIN THE STATE OF GAMES AND SERVICES THAT WE HAVE. SO, HERE -- AGAIN -- SHIFTING TO ST. LUCIE COUNTY, VISITOR SPENDING IN 2023 GENERATED A TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT OF OVER $1 BILLION IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY, A 16% INCREASE FROM 2017. WE HAD MAJOR GROWTH IN SPENDING, AND HONESTLY, FROM A TOURISM PERSPECTIVE -- FROM MY EXPERIENCE -- PERSONALLY, I WOULD RATHER HAVE LESS VISITORS WITH A HIGHER YIELD THEN MORE VISITORS WITH A LOWER YIELD.

SO, I WOULD RATHER HAVE 1 MILLION VISITORS COMING TO ST.

LUCIE COUNTY FOR A YEAR SPENDING WAY MORE MONEY THAN 2 MILLION VISITORS WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY. IT IS JUST WEAR AND TEAR ON OUR DESTINATION, AND YOU JUST WANT FOLKS -- YOU WANT TO ATTRACT FOLKS THAT ARE MAYBE GOING TO STAY HERE A LITTLE BIT LONGER AND SPEND MORE MONEY. SO, VISITORS WHO CAME TO ST. LUCIE COUNTY IN 2023 SPENT JUST OVER $700 MILLION ON ACCOMMODATIONS, RESTAURANTS, GROCERIES, TRANSPORTATION , ATTRACTIONS, THESE THINGS THAT VISITORS SPEND MONEY ON. THIS WAS A 55% FROM 2017. IN 2023, WE ATTRACTED JUST OVER 1 MILLION VISITORS. OF COURSE, WE'RE ALL ABOUT JOB CREATION , AND TOURISM DOES SUPPORT JOBS.

[00:10:04]

SO, WHEN PEOPLE MOVE TO THE COUNTY -- WHICH WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE MOVE TO ST. LUCIE COUNTY AND FORT PIERCE -- ESPECIALLY TO PORT ST. LUCIE, BUT MAYBE MOST OF THEM DON'T REALIZE THE VALUE THAT TOURISTS BRING TO THEM, AS RESIDENTS, AND THEY SEE IT AS A NEGATIVE IMPACT, MORE TRAFFIC ON THE ROADS, THEY CAN GET INTO THE FAVORITE RESTAURANT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE LOVE TO GIVE THEM THEIR TRIM NOTICE, YOU KNOW, OR THEIR TAX BILL AND SAY, THEY'RE SAVING YOU 400 BUCKS A YEAR.

I'M GOING TO TALK TO THE TAX COLLECTOR AND SEE WE CAN INSERT THAT, MAYBE, INTO THE NOTICES, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET THIS MESSAGE OUT, BECAUSE VISITORS DO HELP KEEP OUR LOCAL TAXES LOW. SO, DELVING INTO THE REASONS THAT THE VISITORS CAME TO ST. LUCIE COUNTY, WE HAD A TIE WITH 42% COMING BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO VISIT FRIENDS AND FAMILY OR RELAX AND UNWIND. THEY SAW THIS AS AN ESCAPE. THEY SAW FORT PIERCE AND PORT ST. LUCIE AS AN ESCAPE. 46, CLOSE SECOND, CAME BECAUSE OF OUR BEAUTIFUL BEACHES. THIS SLIDE, AS A TOURISM MARKETER, IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. TWO IN FIVE VISITORS RECALLED ADVERTISING ABOUT ST. LUCIE COUNTY IN THE TIME PRIOR TO THE TRIP. BASICALLY, 40% NUMBERED SEEING A VISIT ST. LUCIE AND PRIOR TO COMING TO ST. LUCIE COUNTY OR FORT PIERCE. 29% OF ALL THOSE VISITORS WERE INFLUENCED BY THAT ADVERTISING. I AM PROUD OF THIS SLIDE. IT MEANS WE'RE PUTTING THESE ADS IN FRONT OF THE RIGHT PEOPLE AT THE RIGHT TIME, AND THEY'RE REMEMBERING IT, USING IT , YOU KNOW, PERHAPS, AS INFLUENCE FOR THEM TO COME AND VISIT. WHERE ARE THEY COMING FROM? WE HAVE ABOUT 11% COMING FROM INTERNATIONAL MARKETS, BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT MOST OF OUR VISITORS ARE COMING FROM THE NORTHEAST AND WITHIN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

AND HERE ARE THE ORIGIN MARKETS. MOST OF OUR VISITORS , COMING FROM WEST PALM BEACH, 17%. IN LOOKING A LITTLE DEEPER INTO THE DATA, MOST OF THESE FOLKS ARE DAYTRIPPERS.

HOWEVER, I KNOW THE CITY IS WORKING VERY HARD ON GETTING THESE PEOPLE TO BE OVERNIGHT VISITORS, ESPECIALLY WITH SOME OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS IN OUR KEY GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS OF THE CITY. 11% WERE COMING FROM NEW YORK. 5%, HUMMING FROM THE CENTRAL /NORTH-CENTRAL AREA, AND 5% COMING FROM PHILLY. THAT PHILLY INCLUDES PARTS OF NEW JERSEY AND A LOT OF DELAWARE.

THIS IS MY LAST SLIDE . I JUST WANTED TO GET THE CONVERSATION GOING, BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TIME, EVERY YEAR, FOR VISITOR MARKETING, TOURISM MARKETING, THERE'S A LOT OF COMMON MISPERCEPTIONS THAT ARE BROUGHT UP ABOUT TOURISM MARKETING, AND SO, I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE WAYS -- OR HOW -- FLORIDA ATTRACTS VISITORS AND THE ROLE THAT THIS IS ST.

LUCIE PLACE AND THE STATE, VISIT FLORIDA, PLAYS IN ATTRACTING THESE VISITORS, SO THERE'S A COMMON MISPERCEPTION THAT FLORIDA DOESN'T NEED ADVERTISING , AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COME HERE NO MATTER WHAT, BECAUSE THERE'S DISNEY WORLD, AND THERE'S UNIVERSAL, YOU KNOW, AND IS MIAMI, WHICH IS AN INTERNATIONAL MARKET. IT'S TRUE THAT SOME PEOPLE

[00:15:01]

PEOPLE OF THIS ALL DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATIONS ARE FIGHTING FOR MARKET SHARE AROUND THE WORLD. THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS CONSTANTLY COMPETING WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ATTRACT VISITORS. WE'RE TRYING TO GAIN SOME OF CALIFORNIA'S MARKET SHARES, SO KEEPING OUR MESSAGES OUT IN THE MARKETPLACE, I THINK , IS CRUCIAL TO KEEP FLORIDA AND ST. LUCIE COUNTY TOP OF MINE. NUMBER TWO, BUSINESSES CAN MARKET THEMSELVES .HOTELS CAN MARKET THEMSELVES. YOU KNOW, IN MY OPINION, THAT COULDN'T BE MORE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH . WE CAN'T AFFORD ST. LUCIE TO MARKET WITHOUT OUR FRIENDS IN INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, QUICKLY MARKETED AS THE TREASURE COAST. SO, WE NEED TO COLLABORATE TOGETHER AND MARKET OURSELVES. NUMBER THREE , WHY DO WE REALLOCATE TOURISM MARKETING FUNDS TO OTHER CRITICAL NEEDS, SUCH AS LAW ENFORCEMENT OR EDUCATION , LOW CRIME AND GOOD EDUCATION THAT WILL BRING PEOPLE TO FLORIDA? I AGREE. LOW CRIME, EDUCATION, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, BUT IF WE ALLOCATE FUNDING SPECIFICALLY FOR VISITORS TO COME HERE, WE ARE GOING TO REAP THE BENEFITS OF MORE SALES TAX BY THE VISITOR SPENDING, WHICH IS GOING TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EDUCATION.

MISCONCEPTION NUMBER FOUR, TOURISM IS A BUNCH OF LOW-PAYING HOSPITALITY JOBS. MY FIRST JOB WAS BEING A WAITRESS , A SERVER. EVERYBODY STARTS SOMEWHERE. SOFT SKILLS START , A LOT OF TIMES, AT ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS. THEY ARE STILL VERY IMPORTANT JOBS THAT FEED INTO THAT LABOR POOL OF DEVELOPING EMPLOYEES FOR EMPLOYERS. MISCONCEPTION NUMBER FIVE, THAT THE MONEY SPENT ON TOURISM PROMOTION DOES NOT HAVE A DIRECT RELATION TO INCREASED TOURISM. I THINK THIS SLIDE THAT I SHOWED YOU EARLIER ABOUT THE RECOLLECTION OF OUR AND AND HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE INFLUENCED BY THE MARKETING THAT WE DO AND THE PROGRAMS THAT WE DO -- IT'S NOT JUST AN AD WE SEE -- THEY DO A LOT OF PROGRAMS THAT I DIDN'T GET INTO TODAY, BUT IT DOES HAVE A DIRECT CORRELATION TO INCREASED TOURISM, SO WITH THAT, I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT YOU GAVE ME TODAY TO PRESENT THIS INFORMATION TO YOU, AND I HOPE YOU FOUND IT

USEFUL AND INSPIRING. >> COMMISSIONERS? GO AHEAD,

COMMISSIONER BRODERICK. >> QUICKLY, I AM CANDIDLY WAS ONLY SURPRISED ABOUT THE GROSS REVENUE FOR THE COUNTY AND THE NUMBER OF VISITORS. I KNEW IT WAS SIGNIFICANT, BUT I DID NOT KNOW THAT IT WAS IN EXCESS OF $1 BILLION OF REVENUE TO THE COUNTY. THAT IS A VERY PLEASANT SURPRISE. SECONDLY, THE 32ND VIDEO HE PLAYED, WE SHOULD ALL BE THERE RIGHT NOW.

>> WHY ARE WE? >> WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS

PICTURE? >> IMPRESSIVE REPORT VERY CONCISE. YOU ARE RIGHT, IT IS GOOD TAKEAWAYS. THANK YOU.

>> COMMISSIONERS? >> MADAM MAYOR?

>> YES. >> CHARLOTTE, THANK YOU, I WAS INTRIGUED WHEN I FIRST HEARD THE REPORT. THAT'S WHY CHARLOTTE AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT COMING HERE AND SHARING THAT INFORMATION WITH THIS COMMISSION. IT'S VERY EXCITING. OTHER LITTLE THINGS THAT HAPPENED, IF YOU GO TO THE FIRST SLIDE, CHARLOTTE, IT IS A BETTER PICTURE. WE ACTUALLY

UPDATED IT A LITTLE BIT. >> YES.

>> SO, I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT TO YOU ALL, ALSO, YOU KNOW, JUST GOT REFITTED, REVIVED, AND HERE IT IS. LOUD AND PROUD , YOU KNOW, MAKING THE LIST WITH FORT PIERCE, OF COURSE, BUT IT IS ALL THE LITTLE NUANCES AND LITTLE THINGS THAT JUST MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT BETTER. EVEN THE SELFIE STATION AT THE INLET PARK , WHERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE DOING SOMETHING ELSE, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT ANOTHER -- IT IS VERY, VERY POPULAR. THE WEB CAM'S AT THE INLET AND THE CITY ARE VERY POPULAR. WE GET REPORTS EVERY MONTH ON THESE THINGS. JUST TELL YOU THAT FOLKS ARE LOOKING -- ALL THE TIME -- COME VISIT OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY. A LOT OF GREAT INFORMATION. THANK YOU, CHARLOTTE, STAFF, FOR ALL OF

THINGS THAT YOU DO. >> THANK YOU.

>> ANOTHER QUICK TAKEAWAY, ONE THING THAT'S REALLY ATTRACTING VISITORS -- SPECIFICALLY TO FORT PIERCE, THE GROWING CULINARY SCENE AND THE RESTAURANTS. WE'RE SEEING A TON OF THAT, JUST A LOT OF ACTIVITY ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS. WHENEVER WE POST A NEW RESTAURANT, YOU KNOW, CALL OUT SOME SPECIFICALLY -- TREASURE COAST BAGELS, JUST SOME NEW PLACES THAT ARE POPPING UP, IT GOES VIRAL. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE MORE RESTAURANTS -- THERE'S FOOD TRAVEL NOW. IT'S NOT JUST, LET'S GO AND LAY ON THE BEACH

[00:20:05]

>> COMMISSIONER GAINS? >> I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP. WE HAVE HAD SOME MEETINGS WHERE WE HAVE HAD SOME OF OUR LOCAL DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES COME IN, SAYING, YOU KNOW, MIGHT HAVE TO GO OUT OF BUSINESS OR WHATEVER, BUT MY QUESTION IS VERY SIMPLE, HOW CAN THEY CONTACT YOU GUYS, OR HOW CAN THEY GET THEIR LITTLE BOUTIQUES UP, LIKE YOU SAID, THESE FOODS, DIFFERENT FOODS, OTHER PIECES DOWN THERE, WHAT SHOULD THEY DO SO THEY CAN BENEFIT FROM ALL THE HARD WORK YOU GUYS HAVE DONE WITH THIS PRESENTATION, SO THEY CAN GET THE WORD OUT, WE CAN GET THE WORD OUT, HEY, COME ON BY DOWNTOWN , YOU KNOW, TRY ONE OF THESE DELICIOUS CUP OF COFFEE SOMEONE IS -- ALL THESE SHOPS -- OR WHATEVER STUFF. I'M JUST CURIOUS, HOW CAN THE LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS -- IF THEY'RE NOT A PART OF IT -- BECOME A PART OF THE PRESENTATION , OR IF THEY CAN.

CERTAINLY -- WE'RE ALWAYS OPEN TO FEATURING -- OBVIOUSLY -- WE FOCUS VERY MUCH ON LOCALLY-OWNED BUSINESSES, NOT PROMOTING THE NATIONAL CHAINS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> RIGHT. >> SO, WE ARE OPEN TO SPEAKING WITH ANY OF THEM. WE CAN PUT IT ON OUR LIST TO GO OUT, GET SOME FOOTAGE, GET SOME GREAT, YOU KNOW, PHOTOS AND VIDEO OF WHATEVER OFFERINGS AND PRODUCTS THEY OFFER AND PUT IT UP ON OUR CHANNELS, WHICH GET A LOT OF EYES ON IT.

>> AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU DO THAT. ONE OF THE THINGS, MADAM MAYOR, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THESE PRESENTATIONS, YOU KNOW HOW WE HAVE THAT FARMERS MARKET AT THE FARMERS MARKET?

>> I DO. >> THEY, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE A GREAT SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, JUST TO SHOW, HEY, HERE IT IS.

YOU CAN COME OUT TO THE FARMERS MARKET. WHILE YOU HERE, BEFORE YOU GO TO THE BEACH, OR YOU MIGHT GET THE TOWER. LITTLE STUFF LIKE THAT TO LET THE LOCAL BUSINESSES, THE MOM-AND-POP STORES KNOW, HEY, WE DO CARE. SO, THANK YOU.

>> SO, WHEN OTHER THINGS -- I KNOW YOU ARE FOCUSED ON VISITORS, AND WE ARE TOO, BUT WE ALSO ARE FOCUSED ON RESIDENTS. ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVE LEARNED, INTERACTING WITH MANY RESIDENTS, AREN'T THEY STARTED COMING HERE AS SEASONAL , AND CHOSE IT TO RETIRE. AND SO, THAT HAPPENS AT OUR MARINA TOO. SO, HAVING AN ATTRACTIVE PLACE WHERE PEOPLE VISIT FROM SOMEPLACE ELSE IS REALLY A WAY TO BRING NEW RESIDENTS WHO ARE INVESTED IN THE COMMUNITY , AND MANY WANT TO RETIRE AND LAY GOLF, FISH, BUT YOU CAN ONLY DO THAT SO LONG, AND WE WANT THEM TO BE PART OF FORT PIERCE. SO, HAVING AN ACTIVE VISIT ST. LUCIE BRINGS US NEW RESIDENTS THAT KNOW WHAT THEY'RE CHOOSING BEFORE THEY DECIDE TO LIVE HERE PERMANENTLY, WHICH I MET SOMEBODY ON SATURDAY WHO IS FROM SEATTLE AND HAS BEEN COMING HERE FOR YEARS, AND NOW SHE IS REGISTERED TO VOTE. NOW, SHE STILL GOES BACK TO SEATTLE, BUT SHE IS STILL HERE, BOATING, INVESTED IN THIS COMMUNITY.

SO, YOUR EARLIER REMARK ABOUT HOW -- WANTING -- MAYBE FEWER VISITORS TO SPEND MORE MONEY -- ONE OF THE ATTRACTIVE THINGS ABOUT FORT PIERCE IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN AN AFFORDABLE DESTINATION IN THE PAST , AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ATTRACTED BY THAT , AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MEAN, IT IS KIND OF A TRADE-OFF. IF YOU WANT A HIGH-VALUE, EXPENSIVE TOURIST, THEN THEY GO SOMEPLACE ELSE IN FLORIDA. RIGHT?

>> I WASN'T REALLY REFERRING TO LUXURY. IT IS MORE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE WANT THAT SEASONAL RESIDENT STAYING A MONTH VS. THE TOURIST THAT IS COMING HERE FOR 3 DAYS.

>> YEAH. >> YOU KNOW?

>> YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT MAYBE DURATION ?

>> DURATION, YOU KNOW, THE LONGER THEY STAY, THE MORE THEY

SPEND. >> YEAH .

>> YEAH. AND THE MORE THEY LEARN ABOUT US.

>> FORT PIERCE AS AN AFFORDABLE DESTINATION. ONE DISTINCT QUALITY, I THINK, WE HAVE FREE BEACHES. WE HAVE SO MANY ATTRACTIONS THAT ARE NOMINAL. IF THE EVEN HAVE AN

EMISSION FEE. >> AND WE HAVE A LOT OF TOURISTS WHO ARE ACTIVE TOURISTS, WHO WANT TO COME HERE AND DO SOMETHING LIKE KAYAK , FISH.

>> RIDE A HORSE ON THE BEACH. >> RIDE A HORSE ON THE BEACH.

SO, AND THAT'S -- I WOULD THINK -- OUR TOURISTS, IN FORT PIERCE, ARE SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT THAN THE ONES IN PORT ST.

LUCIE, EVEN WITHIN OUR COUNTY, BECAUSE MAYBE PORT ST. LUCIE IS MOSTLY ABOUT THE METS. I DON'T KNOW. THAT'S WHAT

[00:25:04]

>> DEVOLA HAS MORE OF THE ASSETS. THE ABSENTLY PRETTY THE BEACHES, THE INLET, THE WATER, THE CREATION.

>> I CONTINUE , PEOPLE HAVE TO ME PRIVATELY -- AND THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN OFFICE, IN PORT ST. LUCIE -- WHEN THEY HAVE COMPANY COME FROM ANOTHER PLACE, THEY TAKE INTO FORT

PIERCE. >> THAT IS ONE OF OUR GOALS, TO GET MORE RESIDENTS TO DOWNTOWN FORT PIERCE, EVEN DOING A LITTLE BIT OF MARKETING WITHIN THE DESTINATION. YOU KNOW, DO A LOT, BUT WE DO , BUT NOT IN SUCH --

>> THEY COME TO FRIDAY FESTIVAL. THEY COME TO FRIDAY FESTIVAL IN THE FARMERS MARKET, FOR SURE., WE JUST HAD AT THE RIVERWALK, WE HAD THE MANY EVENTS, FROM UP NORTH, FROM CONNECTICUT, AND VINNY IS ASSOCIATED WITH FORT PIERCE, ANOTHER COMPANY, WHICH IS IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA, IS VERY AWARE OF HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO FORT PIERCE. SO, AS A PART OF WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO WITH ALL THE OTHER CULTURAL KIND OF AN HISTORIC THINGS, TOO, WITH VISIT ST. LUCIE, I THINK.

GREAT JOB. >> THANK YOU.

>> YOU JUST WOKE ME UP THIS MORNING. YOU SAID, THE MINI FEST WITH THE CRABS -- IMAGINE IF WE COULD MAKE IT SOME TYPE OF WAY, MARKETED AS THE NEW HURSTON FESTIVAL?

>> ABSOLUTELY. THAT WAS GOING ON FRIDAY, SATURDAY TOO, BUT I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO COME TO FORT PIERCE BECAUSE

OF THE HIGH -- >> CORRECT. SO, LET'S USE

THAT HERE . >> I AGREE.

>> SO WE CAN GET MORE TO COME. THOSE ARE BIGGER FESTIVALS BECAUSE EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT THE PAINTINGS. MIGHT AS WELL

USE IT. >> YEAH. AGREE. YEAH. THANK YOU

VERY MUCH. >> GREAT REPORT.

>> I HEARD YOU AT THE EDC, YOU KNOW, BUT THE THIRD TIME, I WILL HAVE THIS ALL DOWN PAT. THANK YOU.

[b. Parks Advisory Committee Discussion on NW Pioneers Park Plaque Nominations]

>> OKAY. THE NEXT ITEM IS THE PARK'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE DISCUSSION ON NORTHWEST PIONEER PARK PLAT NOMINATIONS.

>> MR. MIMMS? >> MADAM MAYOR, CITY COMMISSION NUMBERS, ARE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVE, MS. CHARLOTTE, GOING TO TALK TO US ABOUT THE PARK AND THE RENAMING OF NORTH 14TH STREET.

>> HELLO, MS. A DARA, WELCOME.

>> GOOD MORNING. I'M HAVING TO MAKE IT AS MY OWN ASSISTANT

TODAY. >> IF THERE WAS EVER A PERSON WHO COULD DO THAT, IT IS YOU. YOU NEED SOME HELP ?

>> I HAVE FORGOTTEN WHERE THIS IS .

>> BOTTOM-RIGHT CORNER . >> THANK YOU. RIGHT THERE.

>> THANK YOU. >> OH, BOY. VERY GOOD.

>> THANK YOU, JEREMIAH. >> RIGHT.

>> HE IS OUR RESIDENT TECHIE .

>> YES. THANK YOU FOR THAT. GOOD MORNING, MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS. PARKS ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS MAKING A REPORT ON THIS DAY, IN APRIL. I THOUGHT I WOULD REMIND YOU WHO THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS WERE. WE HAVE A THAT IS PARKS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND HERE ARE ALL THE NAMES, AND RENAUD MITCHELL IS WITH ME TODAY, SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE HER.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING. >> OF COURSE. WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT FROM LATOYA , RANSON, FROM THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE. SHE IS FABULOUS AS WELL. SO, WE'RE GOING TO DO THE NORTHWEST PIONEER SPARK FIRST, AND THEN THE 14TH STREET RENAMING. WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT. SO, I THOUGHT IT WAS WORTH A LITTLE TRIP, KIND OF DOWN MEMORY LANE, SINCE THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON A LONG TIME, AND SO, WE DECIDED TO GO BACK -- THESE ARE THE ORIGINAL SLIDES THAT WERE PRESENTED TO YOU ON MARCH 8TH, 20 FORT PIERCE. SO, THREE YEARS AGO , BUT THIS HAS ACTUALLY BEEN GOING ON A LOT LONGER. HOW DID WE GET INVOLVED? YOU MIGHT ASK THAT QUESTION. THERE WERE TWO SUBMISSIONS THAT WE RECEIVED TO RENAME THIS PARK AS JUNIOR ALEXANDER JR. THE PARKS COMMITTEE PRESENTED CONCLUSIONS IN 2020, STATING, THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE PARK WAS TO HONOR MANY PIONEERS , AND THAT MR. ALEXANDER COULD BE CONSIDERED AS ONE OF THOSE PIONEERS HONORED. COMMISSION DETERMINED THAT THE NAME FOR THE PARKS AND REMAIN AS IS.

THIS REVIEW LED US TO UNDERSTAND THE INTENT OF THIS PARK WHEN NAMED, DEBORAH 17TH, 1 98 1 HOLE THAT IS NOT A MISPRINT. THAT IS HOW WE GOT INVOLVED. WE WERE LOOKING INTO, WELL, TO WHAT IS AT THE PARK? WHAT IS THE PURPOSE, AND WE WENT BACK , AND WE WERE ABLE TO RETRIEVE ARTICLES ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF THE PARK , AS WELL AS -- SORRY ABOUT THAT. AS WELL AS

[00:30:05]

CONCLUSIONS THAT WERE PRESENTED TO YOU IN 2021, WE SPARKED THE IDEA OF HONORING PIONEERS WHO HELPED DEVELOP AND LINCOLN PARK. WE THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT IDEA, AND MOST OF US, AT LEAST, WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS AT ALL BEFORE OUR RESEARCH . THE PARK DESIGN INCLUDES 22 SPACES IN THE CIRCULAR ENTRANCE FOR PLAQUES, AND MORE TO BE ADDED TO THE WALL.

ORIGINALLY, THE DESIGN CALLED FOR ENGRAVING THE CONCRETE, BUT THAT'S NO LONGER FEASIBLE , THE CONCRETE IS SO OLD, SO, THAT IS NOT THE WAY TO GO. WE RECOMMEND THE PROCESS BE DEVELOPED TO NAME THESE PIONEERS TO HONOR THEM WITH A BRONZE PLAQUE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL PARK TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT .

IT IS NOW, AFTER 43 YEARS -- CAN UPDATE THE SLIDE BY THREE YEARS. AN APPROPRIATE GROUP SHOULD BE ASSIGNED TO MANAGE THIS. LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET IS THE INTEREST. IT HAD PREPARED A DRAFT LIST OF POSSIBLE HONOREES. IT APPEARS THAT GRANTS ME BE AVAILABLE TO HELP THE COST. SO, THIS IS A PHOTO. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVEN'T VISITED THIS BEAUTIFUL PARK, I KNOW, LAST YEAR, WE DID A LOT OF PAINTING, WE PAINTED ALL OF THE WALLS, ALL OF THE CONCRETE AS PART OF THE GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP PROJECT, AND WE'RE REMINDED JUST HOW BEAUTIFUL THIS IS. BEAUTIFUL SHADE TREES, LOTS OF SPACE, AND THE SQUARES WERE ORIGINALLY DESIGNATED TO BE ENGRAVED.

NOW, YOU KNOW, THE SUGGESTION WAS TO DO PLAQUES IN THOSE AREAS, AND ONE ABOUT ASTUTE MEMBERS, MR. BURGE, ACTUALLY WENT OUT AND FOUND A COMPANY THAT COULD DO BRONZE PLAQUES, AND SO, THIS IS WHAT WAS PRESENTED THREE YEARS AGO. I AM SURE PRICES HAVE BEEN UPDATED, ET CETERA, BUT THIS WAS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF THE SORT OF THING THEY COULD DO, MOUNT PLAQUES ON POSTS. YOU COULD ACTUALLY PUT THEM BACK-TO-BACK ON A POST IN THOSE PLACES. THESE WERE JUST SOME IDEAS THAT, OUR TENDENCY, AS THE PARKS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WE GO TO RESEARCH FIRST , AND SO, WE FOUND THOSE AS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. OKAY. THAT BRINGS US UP TO DATE. SO, SINCE MARCH IN 2021 , I ACTUALLY HAD TO DO SOME EXTENSIVE RESEARCH TO FIND ALL OF THOSE STEPS AND ALL THE DATES THAT WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH. THIS HAS BEEN A LONG, LONG PROJECT, AND WE'RE REALLY HOPING IT CAN BE INCLUDED WITH THIS PRESENTATION IN THE COMMISSION MEETING. REAL QUICKLY, IN MAY OF 2020 ONE, THE COMMISSION MEETING, THE PRESENTATION OF LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET'S RECOMMENDATION FOR HONOREES AND PLAQUES, I BELIEVE IT'S ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE ONE THAT YOU RECEIVED IN YOUR PACKETS TODAY , AND MAYBE THERE ARE A COUPLE OF ADDITIONAL ONES. I AM NOT CERTAIN -- I CAN'T GIVE YOU DETAILS ON THAT -- BUT I BELIEVE THAT IS THE CASE. SO, IN JUNE OF 2021, THE COMMISSION MEETING, THOSE 14 NOMINATIONS PRESENTED BY THE LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET'S QUESTIONS ABOUT SOME NOMINATIONS TO BE RESOLVED, PAC, PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE , WHICH IS US, NOT INVOLVED IN THE REVIEW OF THE NOMINATION. SO, THE PROCESS WAS HANDED OFF TO LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET BY YOU AT THAT POINT IN TIME . THE PAC WAS LOOKING FOR UPDATES , AND WE KEPT ASKING, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH PIONEERS PARK. THAT COMES UP YOU WILL SEE THAT IN OUR MINUTES EVERY MEETING, AND IN APRIL OF '22 AND MAY OF '22, WE DID NOT RECEIVE UPDATES AS SCHEDULED. SO, THERE WAS SOME

FRUSTRATION AT THAT. >>> INTO ABOUT, WELL, WHAT IS GOING ON, WHY ISN'T THIS MOVING FORWARD. SO, WE GOT A LITTLE PUSHY, AS WE CAN DO SOMETIMES WITH THAT. YEAH. NO.

YOU NEVER HEARD THAT. >> NEWSFLASH .

>> NEVER HEARD THAT. ALL RIGHT. SO, SEPTEMBER OF 2022 -- AT A COMMISSION MEETING -- LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET PRESENTED NEW GUIDELINES WITH MAJOR QUESTIONS, PLUS 16 NOMINATIONS. THAT'S WHEN THE TWO WERE ADDED TWO YEARS AGO.

AFTER DISCUSSION, CITY MANAGER EXPLAINED THAT A POLICY WAS TO BE ESTABLISHED , INCLUDING WHO RECEIVES AND REVIEWS WALLACE HE

[00:35:03]

OKAY ? SO, WE VETTED THAT 16 SUBMISSIONS, AND THEY WERE ON THE LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET NOMINATIONS . I THINK IT'S A LITTLE UNFORTUNATE WE THINK IT ANYMORE FROM PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY DIDN'T PUT MORE, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY DID HAVE 20 DAYS TO SUBMIT NAMES , CHOSE NOT TO DO SO. SO, WE INTERPRETED FROM THAT, OKAY, IT IS WHAT IT IS. IT IS FOLLOWING THE PROCESS . SO, THAT BRINGS US TO TODAY , AND WE'RE NOW PRESENTING THESE 16 NOMINATIONS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION BY THE COMMISSION AND COMMISSIONER OF COMMERCE AGENDA. THE PAC SPENT A LONG TIME -- BURNELL CONSTANTLY BACK ME UP ON THAT -- WE WENT THROUGH EVERY SINGLE ONE, INDIVIDUALLY, VOTED ON EVERY SINGLE ONE INDIVIDUALLY. REMEMBER, OUR ROLE IS TO MAKE SURE THE APPLICATION IS COMPLETE, WHICH MEANS THAT ALL THE DIFFERENT SPACES ON THE APPLICATION ARE FILLED OUT.

AND THAT IT IS SIGNED , AND THAT THE ACTUAL USE THE FORM, WHICH THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE IS MORE THAN HAPPY TO GIVE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, PRINT IT OUT, OR YOU CAN GET IT ON THE WEBSITE, DO-IT-YOURSELF. SO, EITHER WAY, IT'S FINE. YOU KNOW, IF ANYBODY EVER NEEDS ANYTHING TO PRINT OUT, THEN OUTAGES GO OUT , THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF IT. SO, WE WENT THROUGH THIS IN GREAT DETAIL , AND WE COULD FIND NOTHING IN THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED , NOR THE COMPLETENESS TO BE AN ISSUE AT THAT POINT IN TIME. WE'RE NOW PRESENTING THESE TO YOU FOR CONSIDERATION. OF COURSE , YOU ARE THE ONES TO MAKE THE DECISION, SO I THINK IT'S TIME TO APPROVE THE NOMINATIONS AND PLAN TO CREATE AND INSTALL PLAQUES . THIS WILL PLAN 43 YEARS AGO AT A COMMISSION MEETING. SO, WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO FINALLY BE AT THIS POINT, AND WE THINK IT'S A SOLID PROCESS, AND ONES THAT YOU GUYS CREATED , AND WE WOULD LIKE TO GO FORWARD WITH THAT.

>> YES, SIR. >> DO YOU KNOW -- THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU HAVE DONE ON THE COMMITTEE. LET ME START THERE -- BUT DO YOU KNOW HOW THE OPEN CALL FOR

[00:40:02]

>> COMMISSIONER GAINES , JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER HOME FOR RENAMING, IT WAS A NEWS RELEASE. IT'S IN YOUR PACKET, THE ACTUAL NEWS RELEASE, A COPY OF IT, AND IT WENT OUT --

LINDA, MAYBE YOU CAN -- >> I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY

TIMES. >> BUT IT WAS THE SAME. I SAW

IT IN THE NEWS RELEASES. >> RIGHT.

>> I ACTUALLY GET THEM THREE TIMES. I MUST BE ON A DIFFERENT LIST, BUT IT DID GO OUT ON THE CITY WEBSITE. I KNOW THAT.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF I DID FACEBOOK TOO. I DON'T KNOW.

>> RIGHT. >> USUALLY THE TO THE WHOLE

GIMMICK. >> YES, THEY DO.

>> THE REASON I ASK THE QUESTION, THE REASON I ASKED THE QUESTION, SOMEONE IS LISTENING TO THIS MEETING AND DIDN'T SEE IT. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, HOW DID IT GO OUT. HE SAID, CITY WEBSITE, IT WENT OUT IN

EMAIL BLAST . >> YES. I RECEIVED EMAILS ON IT

. NEWSPAPERS. >> JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT ALL THE WAYS IT WENT OUT SO I WILL BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION WHEN THEY COME TO ME. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

>> YES. I'M SORRY. I CANNOT CONFIRM THE NEWSPAPER OR FACEBOOK, JUST BECAUSE I DON'T FOLLOW THOSE. PARTICULARLY -- PROBABLY -- JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT SAY, WE WANTED TO SERVE ON A BOARD OR WE WANT YOU -- OR THIS STREET IS CLOSED -- WHATEVER. ALL THOSE STANDARD WAYS OF LETTING PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. I WANT TO CLARIFY A COUPLE OF THINGS. ARE YOU DONE? I'M SORRY. IN THE PROCEDURES -- THIS WAS SUBMITTED BY LINCOLN PARK. ALL THESE NAMES SUBMITTED BY LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET. IS THAT CORRECT?

>> CORRECT. >> I'M GLAD YOU CLARIFIED THAT, BECAUSE I THOUGHT I SAW THE TWO ADDITIONAL ONES, BUT THEIR NAMES WERE ALREADY IN THERE. SO --

>> INFORMATION FOR THOSE NAMES WAS INCORRECT IN THE BIG PACKET

SO, INDIVIDUAL ONES CORRECTED. >> OKAY. I DIDN'T COMPARE.

I'M GLAD YOU CLARIFIED FOR THAT. SO, DO YOU KNOW -- AND SO -- SOMEBODY -- REPRESENTED FROM THE MAIN STREET WAS AT THE PARKS COMMITTEE AND SUBMITTED THOSE? IS THAT RIGHT? THAT IS WHAT THE PROCEDURES SAY, SOMEBODY THE LINCOLN PARK MAIN

STREET. >> THEY CEMENTED, AS AN ANSWER TO THIS CALL FOR A NOMINATION .

>> BUT THEY WEREN'T PRESENT AT YOUR COMMITTEE?

>> THEY WERE SOME TIME AGO, BUT NOT AT THAT SUBMISSION, NOR DO WE HAVE OTHER PEOPLE ATTEND IN PERSON.

>> OKAY. >> SUBMITTED TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, THEN THEY'RE PASSED ON.

>> ALL RIGHT. >> DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU

WANT TO ADD? >> THAT'S WHAT I'M TRIED TO GO WITH THIS. TRYING TO GET MY HEAD AROUND WHERE THESE NOMINATIONS CAME FROM. I HAVE SEEN THE NOMINATIONS, SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, THE NOMINATIONS COME TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, OR DID THE NOMINATIONS GO LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET, AND LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET SUBMITTED IT TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE OR TO YOUR COMMITTEE? I'M JUS, I THINK, MR STRUTHERS WAS HERE WITH A BIG PACKET OF NAMES, AND THOSE NAMES -- I DON'T THINK THOSE NAMES HAVE REALLY CHANGED FROM THE BEGINNING . THAT IS THE GROUP THAT CAME THROUGH.

>> THAT IS WHAT I REMEMBER. THAT IS WHY I HAVE A QUESTION.

THAT IS WHY I AM ASKING THE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OPEN CALL, BECAUSE IT IS THE SAME NAMES I SAW THAT THE COMMITTEE PRESENTED. I'M TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.

>> WE GOT NO NEW ONES . >> OKAY.

>> IF I CAN OF THIS MY MEMORY IS, WHEN SHE PRESENTED HER FIRST BATCH, BECAUSE I HAVE A PERSON IN MY FAMILY -- YOU HAVE A PERSON IN YOUR FAMILY WHO KNOWS ABOUT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE PIONEERS OFFICE I SUGGESTED SOME NAMES. I THINK THEY WENT BACK AND ADDED THE NAMES, BUT, WHERE I WAS GOING WAS , AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, THEY WERE VETTED BY A GROUP OF PEOPLE AT LINCOLN PARK . NOT JUST ONE-PERSON, AS FAR AS YOU KNOW?

>> I DON'T KNOW . >> OKAY. THAT'S FINE .

>> I KNOW THE PROCEDURES THAT ARE IN YOUR PACKET WERE FOLLOWED. THE FORM, YOU KNOW, ONCE THEY WERE SUBMITTED -- AND HAD TO HAVE A COPY OF THAT NEWS RELEASE HERE, THEN THEY WERE SENT TO THE WEEKEND PARK MAIN STREET. WE WERE HOPING TO GET SOME MORE FROM THE PUBLIC. RIGHT? SO, THE WAY THE PROCESS WORKS IS THEY LOOK AT THEM, VERIFY FACTS, BACKGROUNDS,

[00:45:01]

>> YEAH. I HAD THE PROCEDURES, TOO, HERE. I WANT TO KNOW, AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, THEY WERE FOLLOWED BY LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET AS FAR AS YOU KNOW? YES? BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE PARK'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE, YOU VET THEM, BUT YOU DON'T SAY, WE RECOMMEND THESE NAMES, YOU SAY, AS FAR AS WE KNOW, THESE APPLICATIONS MEET THE CRITERIA?

>> RIGHT. >> SO, THE NAMES IN THIS ARE NOT BEING RECOMMENDED BY YOU. YOU ARE JUST SAYING THAT NONE OF THESE -- ALL OF THESE LIPIDS MEET THE CRITERIA AS FAR AS WE KNOW, WHAT'S ON PAPER? IS THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING. >> RIGHT. SO, WE CAN ESTABLISH -- RIGHT -- RIGHT -- SO, FOR THE PUBLIC'S INFORMATION, THIS ISN'T JUST A LIST OF NAMES YOU SAY, HERE THEY ARE, THESE

PEOPLE DESERVE WHATEVER. >> NO. WE WENT THROUGH EVERY

APPLICATION IN DETAIL. >> RIGHT. FOR THE PUBLIC'S CLARIFICATION TO KNOW, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS WAS NOT A RECOMMENDATION. THIS IS A LIST OF APPLICATIONS THAT MET THE CRITERIA AS FAR AS YOU KNOW.

>> THAT'S RIGHT. WE HAD THE CRITERIA ON OUR DESK, AND THESE

NAMES. >> RIGHT.RIGHT. SO, I VOICED CONCERNS ABOUT THIS BEFORE. THIS IS NOTHING NEW. I HAVE VERY GREAT CONCERNS ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL LIVING AND ARE ON THE SYLLABUS NOT THESE PEOPLE -- BUT ANYBODY ON THIS LIST WHO IS STILL LIVING, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT , SOMETIMES, FACTS CAN CHANGE, AND SO, ALSO, WE ARE ALSO -- COULD -- SOME PEOPLE COULD BE SUBJECT TO LOBBYING OR, YOU KNOW, KIND OF A FEELING OF PRESSURE TO INCLUDE SOMEBODY, PERHAPS, THAT IF THEY'RE STILL LIVING -- I AM TRYING TO BE DELICATE ABOUT THIS. YES? WANT TO HELP ME OUT HERE,

JEREMIAH? >> I WAS GOING TO SAY, I SUPPORT THAT EFFORT, BECAUSE I HAD THAT SAME CONCERN WHEN WE

VOTED ON THE RESOLUTIONS . >> YEAH.

>> I WILL ALWAYS HAVE THAT CONCERN, FOREVER AND EVER. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A RESERVATION, YOU KNOW, AND I CAN'T SAY THAT I WOULD NOT VOTE FOR A SPECIFIC PERSON , NAME, FOR A SPECIFIC REASON, BUT I JUST -- THERE'S JUST SOMETHING ABOUT IT THAT I HAVE ISSUE WITH. BECAUSE , YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU SAID, THERE'S LOBBYING, YOU KNOW, THE PERSON IS STILL AROUND.

>> COMMITTEE PRESSURE AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT COULD BE SUBJECT TO IT, AND SO, AND THEN, I AM CONCERNED THAT COMMISSIONER CURTIS JOHNSON -- YOUR TIMELINE IS IMPRESSIVE AND SAD, AND I'M SORRY ABOUT THE TIME THAT IT HAS TAKEN, BUT I WANT COMMISSIONER CURTIS JOHNSON TO HAVE SOME INPUT INTO THIS DISCUSSION. SO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'S GOING TO DO , BUT I AM JUST REGISTERING THAT HE IS NOT HERE, AND I THINK HIS VOICE WOULD BE IMPORTANT, BUT THAT'S JUST SOMETHING I WANTED TO PUT OUT THERE. COMMISSIONER

BRODERICK? >> I WILL BE QUICK . FIRST ITEM, 43 YEARS, IT IS GOOD TO SEE THAT THIS PROJECT, WHICH IS ON SCHEDULE -- THE PROJECT, I GET IT . WE ARE A COUPLE OF DECADES AHEAD. SO, GREAT. ALL KIDDING ASIDE, I SHARE COMMISSIONER JOHNSON'S AND THE MAYOR'S CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE STILL LIVING THERE THEIR LIFE'S WORK IS NOT COMPLETE, AND THIS STRIKES ME AS A MEMORIAL TO FOLKS THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE COMMUNITIES THERE, AND THE BOOK'S NOT CLOSE ON FOLKS STILL ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY.

THAT IS JUST KIND OF MY TAKEAWAY ON IT. I GUESS I AM A GREEN. YOU ARE QUITE ELOQUENT IN YOUR POINT. I AM NOT GOING TO REHASH ALL OF THAT. I MISS GOING TO SAY, I AGREE WITH YOU AND COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, THAT IS A POINT THAT IS SOMEWHAT OF

A CONCERN FOR PEOPLE. >> AND I FORGOT ONE POINT.I THINK I VOICED BEFORE. IN MY MIND, PIONEER'S PARK IS PIONEERS WHO FOUNDED THIS, WHO WERE EARLY IN THIS COMMUNITY.

THAT IS MY MIND. I KNOW THE CRITERIA SAYS, MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT -- SO, I AM JUST ONE VOICE, BUT I'M JUST SHARING WHAT EVERYBODY -- HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT -- I LOVE LOCAL HISTORY. I SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN LOCAL HISTORY, SO I KNOW A

[00:50:01]

>> MADAM MAYOR, IF I COULD JUST OFFER ONE OTHER THING THAT WASN'T APPROPRIATE FOR THE PRESENTATION, BUT SOMETHING WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT A LOT, YOU KNOW, THE PAC, FOR THE ENTIRE THREE YEARS, IS IT IS NOT A LUMP SUM, ALL OR NOTHING, THAT YOU ARE BEING ASKED TO DO. SO, YOU COULD JUST SAY, WELL, LET'S JUST DO SIX THIS YEAR, AND YOU COULD PICK SIX THAT AREN'T ALIGNED THAT YOU ABSOLUTELY KNOW THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THERE'S SOMETHING HERE -- EVEN I KNOW -- I DON'T HAVE ANY HISTORICAL BACK -- BUT I KNOW THEY SHOULD BE ON PLAQUES. SO, YOU KNOW, JUST PICK SIX. JUST GET STARTED.

>> RIGHT. >> IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ALL OR NOTHING. YOU CAN THEN CHOOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE DECEASED.

>> YEAH. MIKE AND YOU ARE CERTAIN YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT.

THEN, MAYBE NEXT YEAR, THE ADDRESS IT AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU. AND DID YOU ACTUALLY TAKE A LOOK AT MY HOMEWORK? IS THAT -- BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS I DID WAS SPEND SOME TIME RANKING. YOU KNOW, SAYING, THESE ARE PEOPLE I KNOW. ABSOLUTELY. THEY DO FIT MY DEFINITION OF PIONEERS.

THAT IS JUST ME. RIGHT? PEOPLE WHO LIVED A LONG TIME AGO, SETTLED HERE , THEIR FAMILIES, YOU KNOW, MADE A DIFFERENCE HERE. RIGHT? 100 YEARS AGO, OR 50 YEARS AGO, OR 70 YEARS AGO.

>> MADAM MAYOR? >> YES?

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY THE SAME THING. I WENT THROUGH, DID MY OWN EVALUATION BASED ON THE PACKET HERE, AND TO BRING IT BACK TO COMMISSIONER GAINES' FOUR FOR CALL FOR NOMINATION, I THINK THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. RIGHT? IT CAN HAPPEN, IT IS OPEN-ENDED FOREVER AND EVER. NOW THAT IT IS OUT THERE AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT IN THIS MANNER FOR IT TO HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO STRIVE , YOU KNOW, FOR EXCELLENCE AS WE DO THIS. OF COURSE, I LOVE THE IDEAS OF THE PLAQUES, THE STANDS, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, THEN IT IS GOING TO COME DOWN TO HOW ARE WE FUNDING IT. THAT IS MY NEXT QUESTION.

>> OH, YES, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP. I SHOULD HAVE

BROUGHT THAT UP. >> RIGHT.

>> ACTUALLY DO A CALL FOR NOMINATIONS EVERY YEAR, THEN REVISIT IT, TAKE ANOTHER SIX, ANOTHER SIX, THEN KEEP WORKING THAT WAY. THAT IS JUST AN IDEA .

>> OKAY. A LOT OF BALANCING TO DO , IN ADDITION TO HAVING COMMISSIONER C. JOHNON TO BE HERE FOR THE DISCUSSION. HIS RANK WILL BE DIFFERENT THAN YOURS AND YOURS. IT COULD BE

ONLY TWO THAT FLUSH OUT . >> I HAVE RANKED MYSELF ALREADY -- NOT MYSELF -- BUT WE'LL ALL PROBABLY JOIN IN HERE. MR. MIMMS, WE DO HAVE A FUNDING SOURCE FOR THIS DO WE?

>> YES, MA'AM. >> OKAY. FOR 5, 10 --

>> IT IS NOT THAT EXTENSIVE. WE CAN TAKE CARE OF IT.

>> OKAY. SO, ALRIGHTY. YOU GOT SOMETHING TO SAY, MR. GAINES?

>> MADAM MAYOR, I DO. I HAVE SENT HERE AND I HAVE LISTENED TO MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES AND MADAM MAYOR. SO, THE ONE THING THAT THE CONSENSUS THAT I HAVE GOTTEN IS IF WE ARE RELATING PIONEERS TO SOMEONE WHO HAS DONE THE WORK FOR THAT AREA THAT HAS SINCE GONE TO BE MOVED ONTO THE NEXT LIFE , WE MIGHT WANT TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT PUTTING THAT LANGUAGE IN WHENEVER THESE OUTLINES ARE TO SAY, YOU KNOW , DECEASED OR WHATEVER . DON'T WANT TO JUST LOOK AT THAT , LOOKING AT THEM ATTORNEY TO SAY, WE CAN'T DO THAT. NOW, BUT, MY MAIN CONCERN WITH THIS 16 NAMES , I WAS ON THE BOARD DURING THAT TIME , AND THIS TIMELINE -- I AM SITTING HERE, THEY CAN COME TO GET ME, BUT I'M SITTING HERE, I DON'T REMEMBER A CALL.

I DON'T REMEMBER A CALL GOING TO THE PUBLIC TO GET NAMES.

>> YOU REMEMBER DISCUSSING IT AT THE MEETINGS?

>> I DON'T. LIKE I SAID, IT'S MONDAY MORNING. THIS A MONDAY MORNING. I DON'T REMEMBER DISCUSSING THESE NAMES AT A MEETING. I REMEMBER HEARING THESE NAMES WHEN THEY CAME IN FRONT OF US. THE DIRECTOR CAME IN FRONT OF US WITH THAT LIST, SO MAYBE I MISSED ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS, BUT I HAVE IN MY NOTES. I HAVE LOOKED AT MY MINUTES, SO I AM CONCERNED I AM JUST CONCERNED THAT THE PUBLIC DIDN'T REALLY BUILD ON THESE NAMES . OR SUBMIT THESE NAMES. THESE NAMES

[00:55:03]

WITH THAT. >> HE IS NUMBER ONE ON MY LIST.

PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND, SO, BUT, YOU KNOW, BUT THAT IS MY CONCERN, AND LET ME SAY THIS SO I DON'T GET IN TROUBLE IN THE LINCOLN PARK AREA. THERE ARE A LOT OF PIONEERS WHO ARE STILL LIVING KNOW THE REAL PIONEERS OF THAT AREA , AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE TAPPED INTO THAT KNOWLEDGE TO GET THE NAMES OF THE REAL PIONEERS, OR DID WE JUST PULL NAMES THAT WE ALWAYS PULL WHEN WE SAY, LINCOLN PARK AREA ? THAT IS MY CONCERN. SO, I WILL BE QUIET , AND BEFORE I GET ALL THESE EMAILS AND CALLS, THE ONE THING WE GOING TO DO, IF WE GOING TO SAY, REALLY, PIONEERS, AND OUR DEFINITION OF PIONEERS ARE ONE WHO HAS COME AND PAVED THE WAY FOR OTHERS IN FORT PIERCE AND HAVE MOVED ON TO THEIR NEXT LIFE, I THINK THE LANGUAGE NEEDS TO BE CHANGED TO MOVE FORWARD, SO IT WILL NOT BE ANY CONFUSION WITH THE PUBLIC AND US, SITTING UP HERE, THAT'S WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR FOR THIS PART, BUT I DO NOT WANT TO STOP IT. 43 YEARS HAVE BEEN A LONG TIME , SO IF IT IS ONE, TWO, THREE, SIX AS THE CHAIR SAID, THEN WE TRY TO START SOMETHING TODAY, I AM FINE WITH THAT, BUT THE ENTIRE LIST, I

WOULD HAVE A PROBLEM. SO -- >> MR. MIMMS, DID YOU WANT TO

SAY SOMETHING? >> I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU ALL A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION. IN OCTOBER -- I BELIEVE, OCTOBER 10, 2023, OUT OF MEDICATIONS FOLKS SENT OUT A PRESS RELEASE ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN, AN EMAIL BLAST, AND ALSO PLACED ON OUR WEBSITE. I JUST WANT YOU TO BE AWARE THAT WE WENT THROUGH THE ENTIRE ARRAY OF MEDIA AND CHANNELS TO AT THIS OUT TO THE PUBLIC.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT, MR. MANAGER. THANK YOU FOR THAT. MY ONLY QUESTION TO THAT IS, JUST LIKE WE HAVE SAT HERE , ALL THE TIME, WE HAVE HAD ALL THESE BLASTS ON ALL THESE OTHER ISSUES, AND PEOPLE COME IN HERE THE DAY OF OR WHATEVER, SAY, I NEVER HEARD OF IT. I'M JUST -- I NEVER HEARD OF IT -- AND I'M JUST BEING HONEST. ALL THE TIME, SO, MY CONCERN IS WE HAD THIS BLAST. THIS MY ONLY CONCERN. I WILL BE QUIET. WE HAD THIS BLAST. CORRECT? THE NAMES DIDN'T CHANGE. FROM WHAT THE PRESENTATION THAT WE HAD GOTTEN FROM THEM STANDING THERE, SO I AM TRIED TO FIGURE OUT A LITTLE BECAUSE I KNOW PEOPLE THAT SHOULD BE ON THIS LIST THAT I HAVE HEARD ABOUT AND I GREW UP TALKING ABOUT. YOU KNOW, THAT HAD SOMEONE, SOMEONE GOT THIS LIST. NOT NO FAULT OF OURS, BUT SOMEONE GOT THIS LIST. THEY COULD HAVE NAMED SOME NAMES, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME PASTORS AND IN THE LINCOLN PARK AREA, YOU KNOW YOU HAVE DONE YOUR RESEARCH, THEY SHOULD BE ON THIS LIST. THEY CHANGE THAT WHOLE AREA. BEFORE I WAS HERE -- BEFORE MY DAD WAS HERE -- YOU KNOW, SO, THAT IS MY CONCERN. SO, MY ONLY CONCERN IS I JUST DON'T WANT TO RUSH TO PUT NAMES UP JUST TO HAVE NAMES UP, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS RIGHT , AND I HATE TO SAY IT, I HATE TO SAY IT THIS WAY, BUT WE HAVE BEEN WAITING 43 YEARS, SO, CAN WE WAIT A MONTH OR TWO MONTHS TO GET IT RIGHT, OR 15 DAYS TO GET IT RIGHT? I WOULD LOVE YOUR IDEA TODAY ON -- YOU ACTUALLY MAY BE QUIET, TAKE THIS, STRETCH THAT POINT OUT. YOU KNOW ME. I LOVE THE IDEA TODAY.

CAN WE START WITH ONE, TWO, SIX, IF THAT IS WHAT WE WANT, I'M GOOD WITH THAT, BECAUSE AT LEAST WE CAN START THE PROCESS, BUT I THINK THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE MORE INVOLVED, AND I KNOW SOME NAMES THAT SHOULD BE ON THIS LIST, THAT AREN'T ON THIS LIST, AND IT IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM IF WE DON'T GET THIS OUT OF THE WAY. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT, BUT I'M GOING TO SAY THIS, ONE OF THE THINGS WITH SITUATIONS LIKE THIS IN THE LEGAL PART, WE HAVE TO GET IT OUT TO THESE BLACK CHURCHES IN THE LINCOLN PARK AREA . I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DO IT . I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DO IT . I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAY, I DON'T KNOW IF THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY CLERK SAY, OKAY, COMMISSIONER GAINES, SINCE YOU WANT TO DO THAT, HERE GO THE FLYERS, YOU GO NOT ON THE DOORS, YOU GO AND OUT THESE FLYERS OF THE CHURCHES. AND I WILL, BECAUSE THAT IS YOUR HISTORICAL INFORMATION IN THE

LINCOLN PARK AREA. >> SO, DOESN'T CURTIS JOHNSON

[01:00:06]

CITY COMMISSION MEETING >> YES, AND YES.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT CURTIS TALKS TO HIM ABOUT.

>> I DON'T EITHER. >> TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I TRY NOT TO GO TO MANY THINGS WHERE THE TWO OF US ARE THERE, BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME I WAY THAT COMMISSIONER BRODERICK OR MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH COMMISSIONER BRODERICK ON A PROJECT SOMEWHERE, THEN I'M GETTING A CALL FROM ADAM ATTORNEY, SAYING, HEY, I GOT AN EMAIL SAYING, YOUR COMMISSION WAS VIOLATING SUNSHINE LAW BECAUSE GALWAY THAT EACH OTHER.

I KNOW I'M BEING FUNNY, BUT I KNOW I'M BEING FUNNY, BUT YOU KNOW HOW THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. SO, UNFORTUNATELY, I WOULD LOVE TO GO TO HERE, BUT I JUST DON'T WANT THAT ADDITIONAL HEADACHE. SO, I WILL BE QUIET. LET'S MOVE ON. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR RANKINGS, AND THEN WE CAN GO

FROM THERE. >> MAYOR, IF I MAY, TWO QUICK COMMENTS ON THIS ONE, I AM GOING TO DECLARE ON THE OUTSET, I AM UNQUALIFIED TO RANK THESE CANDIDATES.I SIMPLY AM, AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT BODY IS QUALIFIED TO DO THAT, BUT ONE OF THE POINTS COMMISSIONER GAINES JUST BROUGHT UP , I FIND IT SOMEWHAT CONCERNING IN THAT HE WAS ON THE BOARD AT THE TIME THAT THIS WAS TAKING PLACE, AND HE IS NOT RECALLING -- YOU WOULD THINK THIS WOULD BE A MOMENT THAT YOU WOULD RECALL -- NOT QUESTIONING YOUR MEMORY -- BUT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING. WAS THIS NOT DISCUSSED BY THE BOARD? WAS

THIS SUBSEQUENTLY -- >> YES.

>> WAS AT THE STAFF DECISION? I DON'T KNOW. MAYBE THE ESSENCE OF THAT NEEDS TO BE CONFIRMED, AND I'M JUST SAYING, IF THIS WAS BROUGHT TO THE COMMISSION TO DO THE RANKINGS AND MAKE THOSE DETERMINATIONS, I SIMPLY AM NOT QUALIFIED TO DO THAT.

I'M JUST SAYING. >> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK, FOR THE RECORD, SINCE I HAVE PUT IT OUT THERE, WHAT I REMEMBER WAS THE LIST OF NAMES THAT WERE PRESENTED TO US AT THE

COMMISSION MEETING . >> OKAY.

>> THERE WAS A LIST OF NAMES AT THE BOARD MEETING, OR SUMMARY SAID, HERE IS THE LIST, AND HERE IS THE LIST, AND I SAID, OKAY, THAT IS THE LIST. I WILL SEE MONDAY NIGHT .

>> SO, USING MY CONCERN, COMMISSIONER?

>> YES. >> INTRICATELY INVOLVED WITH THAT, BUT YOU WANT ADVISED ON IT.

>> RIGHT. THEN, I SEE THE TERM ON THE TIMELINE AND I SEE THIS.

RIGHT? IT WENT OUT, BUT THE LIST DIDN'T CHANGE. SAME

LIST. >> OKAY. I SHARE YOUR CONCERN HERE , AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO ADDRESS IT. I AM AT A LOSS.

OKAY? I ABSOLUTELY AM. >> COMMISSIONER J. JOHNSON?

>> CAN I MAKE A SUGGESTION? >> PLEASE .

>> I'M NOT SURE IF IT WILL WORK, BUT WE HAVE ONE ENTITY, WHICH YOU HAVE US IN ON THE BOARD TO MAKE NOMINATIONS.

RIGHT? SO, IF I CAN MAKE A REQUEST THAT WE TAKE THIS LIST, KEEP OPEN THE CALL FOR NOMINATIONS , ALWAYS. THE CALL FOR NOMINATIONS ARE ALWAYS -- I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT. I THINK WE SHOULD, AS A CITY. I THINK THAT THIS IS WHERE WE ARE, UNLESS WE SPECIFY DATES, BUT MY.

>>> IN THIS, WHERE WE ARE AT TODAY, TO DIAL THIS IN. IF LINCOLN PARK, MAIN STREET, YOURSELF, AND YOUR BOARD, COULD GO THROUGH -- IF IT WAS ANOTHER MAIN STREET, I WOULD DO THE SAME THING, SO YOU KNOW. IF YOU COULD DOES NARROW THE LIST DOWN TO THREE OR FOUR AND PRIORITIZE THREE OR FOUR, THAT WOULD HELP ME, AS A COMMISSIONER, SITTING IN THIS SEAT, YOU KNOW, AND IF THERE IS ADDED DETAIL OR ADDED DESCRIPTION, IF IT NEEDS TO BE, YOU KNOW, ADDED TO THE APPLICATIONS AFTER THE RANKINGS ARE COMPLETE AND YOU MAKE THE THREE OR FOUR, I THINK THAT WOULD HELP US A LOT, KICKSTART THIS PROCESS , KICK OFF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. IT IS A VERY POSITIVE POGROM, WITHOUT A DOUBT , BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH A FEW OF THE THINGS. YOU HAVE HEARD THE DISCUSSION ON THE DECEASED OR LIVING. I THINK IT IS VERY CLEAR ON WHERE THE COMMISSION IS HEADED WITH THAT. SO, IF YOU THINK THAT'S AN OPTION OF HIS

>> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, I AGREE. FOR THE RECORD, REMEMBER, I SWITCHED BOARDS. I'M NO LONGER ON THE BOARD .

>> YOU ARE NOT. OKAY. >> YOU WEREN'T ON IT THEN,

THEN YOU'LL -- NOW, HE IS. >> RIGHT. WE SWITCHED.

>> THAT EVEN MORE REASON WHY HE SHOULD HAVE SOME --

>> I'M ON THE -- WE SWITCHED -- AND I SWISHED FOR ROUNDTABLE. WE WENT BACK TO THE LINCOLN PARK/MAIN STREET BOARD. HOWEVER, I AGREE WITH THAT WHOLEHEARTEDLY, BUT I'M CURIOUS TO SEE -- AND I WILL NOT PUT THE MAYOR ON THE SPOT -- I'M CURIOUS TO SEE HER RANKINGS, BECAUSE AS ONE PERSON WHO IS A HISTORIAN OF FORT PIERCE, SHE KNOWS A LOT OF THE HISTORY OF FORT PIERCE, BECAUSE THAT IS HER PASSION FOR THE HISTORY OF FORT PIERCE. I'M CURIOUS, NOT TO PUT YOU ON THE

SPOT, MAYOR. >> I DON'T MIND SHARING IT.

>> I'M CURIOUS TO HEAR THE RANKING, AND COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, EAST ON HER RANKING, YOU PROBABLY KNOW SOME THE NAMES LIKE I KNOW SOME OF THE NAMES, AND WE CAN GO FROM

[01:05:01]

THERE. >> YEAH. I ALSO JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT, IN THE PROCEDURES THAT WE APPROVED, WE SAID THAT WE WERE NOT GOING TO INCLUDE NAMES FOR SOMEBODY ELSE ALREADY NAMED THERE. SO, IF SOMETHING LIKE , SAM GAINES, SAM GAINES ACADEMY -- RIGHT? I JUST WANTED TO REMIND YOU.

OKAY, YOU WANT TO HEAR -- I KNOW. I KNOW HE IS, BUT I MAY NOT -- HE WOULD DEFINITELY BE ON THIS LIST IF HE WASN'T

ALREADY ON IT. RIGHT? >> RIGHT .

>> SO, YOU WANT TO HEAR MY TOP-FIVE? SO, ALBERT STONE , FOUNDER OF STONE BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, CAME HERE IN 1932. THAT IS MY NUMBER ONE. SOME OF THESE, I JUST HAD TO MAKE A CHOICE . SOME ARE TIMED. MY NUMBER-TWO IS FRED AND FRANCINA DUVALL. THEY WERE EARLY PIONEERS HERE , AND I KNOW A LOT ABOUT THEM, AND THEN THREE IS THE LINES FAMILY.

I PUT RUFUS ALEXANDER JR. IN WITH THAT, BECAUSE HE IS A DESCENDENT OF THAT. HE IS A PART OF THAT FAMILY, AND THAT IS JR., NOT III. THAT IS OUR FORMER COMMISSIONER'S FATHER.

FOUR, I PUT CE BOHLEN BECAUSE SHE IS A JOURNALIST , NEWSPAPER, THE "CHRONICLED" AND BROUGHT NEALE HURSTON HERE , TO FORT PIERCE, AND NUMBER FIVE, I PUT ROBERT JEFFERSON AND ZENOBIA JEFFERSON BOTH EDUCATORS AT LINCOLN PARK ACADEMY. ALL OF THE MADE A BIG, BIG DIFFERENCE AT FORT

PIERCE. SO -- >> MADAM MAYOR, I CAN STAND RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW, AND SAY, I CAN VOTE ON THOSE FIVE, BECAUSE NOT ONLY DID -- NOT ONLY DID -- AND I GO BACK UP -- I FOLLOW BACK UP FROM THE JEFFERSONS -- COACH JEFFERSON HAS COACHED HALF OF THE BLACK MALES THAT ARE WALKING AROUND, STILL HERE, IN THE '80S OR LATE, GOING INTO THE '90S, HE BROUGHT THEM THROUGH THE TIME OF SEGREGATION , AND HE WAS THE CHOSEN PRINCIPAL WHEN MCCARTY AND LINCOLN PARK MERGED INTO FORT PIERCE CENTRAL. HE WAS THE CHOSEN PRINCIPAL PUT OUT THERE DURING THE TERRIBLE TIME TO KEEP EVERYTHING DOWN , AND HOW HE DID IT WAS HE HAD A SOFT SPOKEN VOICE, BUT COACH JEFFERSON WAS BIG AS YOU KNOW WHAT, NO ONE WANTED TO MESS WITH HIM. I'M JUST BEING HONEST WITH YOU, THAT IS HOW HE WAS, BUT HE WAS THERE AND HE LOVED EVERYBODY. MRS. JEFFERSON, HER HISTORY AS AN EDUCATOR, SHE ALSO TAUGHT THE

HIGHWAY. >> WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD A

METHOD IF YOU WANT FOR HER. >> SO, THAT'S WHY WE HERE.

>> YUP . >> I CAN TALK ON MY GRANDFATHER FOREVER. I CAN TALK ON THE LINES FAMILY, YOU KNOW, FOREVER, BECAUSE THEIR GENERATION -- THE DUVALL FAMILY, BEEN AROUND FOREVER. ONE OF THEIR DESCENDENTS WAS THE FIRST BLACK SHERIFF, FIRST BLACK DEPUTY IN ALL OF ST.

LUCIE COUNTY. SO, THOSE FIVE , IF WE WANT TO MOVE ON, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH IT, BECAUSE I DON'T DOUBT ANYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY WOULD BE UPSET ABOUT THOSE FIVE, BECAUSE EVERYONE KNOWS THOSE FIVE AND WHAT THEY DID WHILE THEY WERE LIVING IN THE LINCOLN PARK . THE ONLY LINCOLN PARK AREA, IN ST.

LUCIE COUNTY, BECAUSE THEY SET UP FOR A LOT DURING THEIR TIME IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY, SO I HAVE NO PROBLEMS IF EMOTIONAL THIS

WE THINK WE NEED A MOTION? >> WE CAN DO THE FINAL LIST. WE SHOULD PROBABLY APPROVE BY RESOLUTION AT A CITY

COMMISSION. >> I HAVE NO PROBLEM IF WE

START WITH THOSE FIVE. >> COMMISSIONER J. JOHNSON?

YOU HAVE YOUR LIST? >> BASICALLY THE SAME, BUT I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT OFFICER BLAKELY.

>> OKAY. >> IS THERE ANOTHER ONE?

>> DETECTIVE BLAKELY, NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE. PERSONALLY, I DON'T KNOW THAT HE IS THE FIRST BLACK POLICE DETECTIVE, BUT I HAVE HEARD THAT IN THE COMMUNITY. DO YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER GAINES? I JUST DON'T KNOW THAT FOR A FACT.

>> THAT'S WHAT I HAVE BEEN TAUGHT ALL MY LIFE .

>> YEAH. BUT I HAVEN'T TOLD ALL MY LIFE I DON'T HAVE ANY -- NO PROVEN THE RECORDS, BUT THAT IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN TAUGHT, THAT IS WHAT I REMEMBER HIM.

>> IT WAS STATED , FIRST AFRICAN AMERICANS EMPLOYED AS A

POLICE OFFICER . >> RIGHT.

>> IT WAS STATED. >> I DON'T MIND.

>> NEVER SEEN ANOTHER MEMORIAL FOR HIM.

>> I DON'T MIND ADDING HIM. >> IT IS A COUPLE OF THINGS.

>> RIGHT . >> SO, I BASICALLY HAD THE

[01:10:05]

>> NOVA HAD A SEPARATE, BUT I FEEL WE CAN PUT THEM TOGETHER.

BOTH THE EDUCATORS HAVE MADE HUGE CONTRIBUTIONS. I FEEL LIKE RUFUS ALEXANDER JR. TO GO WITH THE LIONS -- THAT IS HIS

FAMILY. >> MADAM MAYOR, I AGREE WITH THAT. HE KEPT HIS GRANDMOTHER, EVERYBODY, THE WHOLE FAMILY,

WHAT THEY DID. >> ALREADY NAMED?

>> HE HAS THE AGENDA. >> RIGHT.

>> THE FAMILY IN THE COMMUNITY, HE DID A LOT FOR LINCOLN PARK AREA. SO, I HAVE NO PROBLEMS, COMMISSIONERS AND MADAM MAYOR, WITH THE SIX NAMES WE JUST -- DO WE CAN GET THOSE SIX. THE SIX NAMES THAT WE JUST MENTIONED, I THINK THAT IT'S A GREAT START, ALSO, IT WILL BE AN EDUCATIONAL POINT FOR THE KIDS IN THE COMMUNITY TO GO OVER THERE, START READING ON THESE INDIVIDUALS, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE PROJECTS -- AND I KNOW -- AND SO, I HAVE NO PROBLEM SAYING, HEY, DO WE TELL THE CITY MANAGER, HEY, START THESE THINGS?

>> LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION. CAN WE TAKE THE SIX IF WE ADD WHAT IS REALLY FIVE,, CHECK ON THEM CLOSER FOR SERGEANT OR

DETECTIVE? >> THERE'S OTHER GOOD NAMES ON THIS LIST, BUT I THINK WE'RE JUST GOING TO START HERE, THIS

IS GOOD. >> WE GET THE TWO, COMMISSIONER C. JOHNON, I WOULD LIKE HIS INPUT ALSO. IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL BACKUP THEY CAN GO WITH EACH ONE OF THESE NOMINEES, THEN WE CAN ADDRESS THAT, RECEIVE THE ADDITIONAL BACKUP, JUST FOR MY INFORMATION, THEN WE RIDE FOR RESOLUTION, WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT.

>> SECOND. >> ALL RIGHT WITH ME. IS THAT

ALL RIGHT WITH YOU? >> PLEASE.

>> CHARLENE WANTS US TO GET ON THE STICK HERE. IT HAS BEEN 43

YEARS. RIGHT? >> MADAM MAYOR ?

>> NO. >> COMMITTEE HAS WORKED HARD.

I JUST WANT TO DO THIS RIGHT.

>> ME TOO. >> AS YOU SAID, IT RESONATED WITH ME, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT OF PUSH TO NAME THAT PART AFTER COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER .

>> YES. >> WHAT YOU SAID SQUASHED A LOT OF THAT, BECAUSE YES, HE WAS ONE PART OF THE PIONEER PART , BUT HE IS NOT THE WHOLE PIONEER PARK. THERE WAS OTHERS BEFORE HIM BUT HIS FAMILY THERE, TO ME, IS A BIGGER DEAL THAN JUST HIMSELF, TO SAY, HEY, WE THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE, SO I LOVE THE IDEA OF KEEPING IT AS THE PIONEERS OF , YOU KNOW, LINCOLN PARK AREA, AND I'M GOOD WITH THAT

. >> ALL RIGHT. SO, STAFF, PARK'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WE HAVE GOT DIRECTION. WE HAVE A

PLAN. >> I THINK IT'S FABULOUS.

>> DARLENE APPROVES. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD

[c. Parks Advisory Committee Discussion on Renaming 14th Street]

>> WE HAVE THE PARTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE DISCUSSION ON

RENAMING 14TH STREET. >> RIGHT. SO, CONTINUING WITH THIS, WE FOLLOW THE RENAMING GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC FACILITIES , YOU KNOW, WHICH IS THE PIONEERS PART PROCESS THAT WAS TWEAKED A LITTLE BIT FOR THAT PURPOSE , BUT WE HAVE A GENERAL RENAMING THAT YOU HAVE USED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THIS WORKED QUITE WELL AND HAS SPECIFIC CRITERIA, AND A CALL FOR RENAMING DID GO OUT. THERE WAS THE USUAL COMMENT THAT , YOU KNOW, WE NEED YOU TO FILL OUT THE NOMINATION FORM, CLICK HERE FOR IT, AND ANOTHER CITY 'S OFFICE IS HAPPY TO PROVIDE AT ANY POINT THAT THEY'RE REQUESTED TO DO SO, AND WE GOT A FEW EMAILS, WHICH DID NOT SATISFY THE CRITERIA, YOU KNOW, THE PROCESS. WE DID GET ONE FORM THAT WAS AN INCOMPLETE.

THE REASON THE PARTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE SAID IT WAS INCOMPLETE IS THERE WAS NO FILLING OUT OF THE QUESTIONS.

THERE WAS THE NAME IT SUGGESTED , AND I BELIEVE THIS PARTICULAR NOMINEE THE LIVED ON THE STREET FOR 100 YEARS, YOU KNOW, OR A LONG TIME. BUT NO OTHER INFORMATION THAT SATISFY THE CRITERIA, SUCH AS CONTRIBUTIONS, YOU KNOW, HISTORICAL STUFF, SO PARTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE SAID IT WAS INCOMPLETE. YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T VET THIS. IT IS JUST THAT WE NEEDED TO BRING IT TO YOU, SAYING, WE, IN OUR OWN MIND, DID NOT FEEL ANY OF IT PLEAT AS IS. SO, I WROTE THIS EMAIL TO MR. REELS, WHICH IS OUR PROCESS ARTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE . THEY RIGHT UNDER CONCLUSION AND SEND IT TO OUR

[01:15:01]

>> YES ? >> NO SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, BUT I CAN JUST TELL YOU, IN MY MIND, LOGISTICALLY, RENAMING A STREET IS A BIG DEAL, OVERALL, FOR THIS CITY. THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO IT. IT IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE FOR ME , TODAY, AND IN THE FUTURE, FOR ANY NOMINATION OF A STREET RENAMING . IT HAS TO BE VERY BROAD IN ITS SCOPE AND IN ITS BACKING FOR AN OVERWHELMING RESPONSE OF EVERYONE THAT LIVED ON THE STREET AND HAD HISTORY ON THAT STREET. YOU KNOW IT WOULD TAKE HIM UP IN THE PROBABLY HALF THE CITY TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE STREET, IN MY MIND. THERE'S JUST SO MANY DETAILS THAT COME TO PLAY. WHETHER IT'S POSTAL SERVICE, PUBLIC WORKS, OR POLICE, RESCUE , THERE'S JUST SO MANY LEVELS OF DETAIL THAT GO INTO THESE THINGS, AND THAT ARE VERY CRITICAL TO OUR COMMUNITY . SO, AGAIN, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A VERY LARGE RESPONSE FROM OUR COMMUNITY FOR ME TO BE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ON SUCH AN ACTION.

>> I CAN REMEMBER THE LARGE RESPONSE WE GOT IN A NEGATIVE WAY WHEN SOMEBODY WANTED TO CHANGE 13TH STREET

>> YES . >> AND SO, WE LEARNED A LESSON

THERE. >> WE DID. YES .

>> YEAH. TO CHURCH STREET. SO, I AGREE. CHANGE IN THE NAME OF THE STREET IS HUGE, AND YOU DON'T DO IT VERY OFTEN . AND SO, I AM IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT. ANYTHING ELSE?

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK , AS USUAL, AND

THOROUGHNESS. >> THANK YOU, CHARLENE. GREAT WORK. WE WILL BE DISCUSSING AT 43 YEARS FROM TODAY, THAT I CAN

ASSURE YOU. >> WE WANT.

>> CAN'T SAY, IT WON'T BE DISCUSSED, WE WON'T BE

[d. Discussion regarding proposed Certificate of Use Process and existing Business Tax Receipts ]

DISCUSSING IT. >> YET.

>> YES, MA'AM? >> THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS A DISCUSSION REGARDING A PROPOSED CERTIFICATE OF USE PROCESS AND EXISTING BUSINESS TAX RECEIPTS.

>> I THINK THIS MIGHT BE YOU. >> THIS IS ME. I HAVE WITH ME TODAY THIS BERNIE MEREDITH, DEPUTY CITY CLERK, AND SHE IS OUR BUSINESS TAX OFFICIAL EXPERT. SHE IS A CERTIFIED FLORIDA BUSINESS TAX OFFICIAL.

>> CERTIFIED EVEN? NO WAY. >> YES.

>> BASICALLY, WHAT I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT TODAY -- YOU CAN GO ONTO THE FIRST SLIDE, BRITTANY -- IS BUSINESS TAX.

SO, AS YOU ARE ALL AWARE , THE LEGISLATURE CONTINUES TO CREATE THE ANNUAL BUSINESS TAX, AND I THINK IT IS MOST OF US IN THE BUSINESS TAX WORLD WHO BELIEVE THAT IT IS GOING TO GO AWAY EVENTUALLY , AT SOME POINT . SO, WHAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON -- IN OUR OFFICE AND MANY OF THE OFFICES THAT DO THE BUSINESS TAX RECEIPTS, IS FINDING A MECHANISM THAT WILL ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO UNDERSTAND THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE COMING INTO OUR COMMUNITY, BUT IT IS NOT NECESSARILY A TAX, BECAUSE THE IS THIS ACTUALLY IS JUST THAT, A TAX FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF DOING BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. IF YOU WANTED TO GO ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE, THIS IS JUST AN OVERVIEW OF OUR CURRENT BUSINESS TAX PROCESS. YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY WANTS TO OPEN A BUSINESS. THEY COME INTO OUR OFFICE, WE CHECKED THE APPLICATION, MAKE SURE THEY HAVE ALL OF THEIR STATE LICENSES, THE SUN BUSINESS REGISTRATION, THEN IT MOVES ON TO OUR ZONING DEPARTMENT, AND THEY LOOK AT MAKING SURE THAT WHAT SOMEBODY WANTS TO DO IS ALLOWABLE UNDER THE ZONING CODE . AND IF IT IS ALLOWABLE UNDER THE ZONING CODE, IT MOVES ON TO THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT, AND THEY LOOK AT BUILDING THIS COMPLIANCE. THAT IS BASICALLY, WE LOOK AT ZONING AS THE LAND, AND THE BUILDING USE IS THE STRUCTURE, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BUILDINGWAS ACTUALLY STRUCTURED FOR THE PURPOSE, YOU KNOW, FOR WHICH IT IS INTENDED.

OUR BILLING DEPARTMENT HIM GOES OUT, AND THEY DO A BUSINESS TAX INSPECTION. ONCE EVERYTHING CLEARS AND COMES

[01:20:04]

PARTICULARLY, IN A PROFESSIONAL OFFICE SITUATION, EVERY CPA IS REQUIRED TO HAVE A BUSINESS TAX. EVERY ATTORNEY IS REQUIRED TO HAVE A BUSINESS TAX. YOU CAN SEE , BY OUR EXISTING CLASSIFICATION LIST , THIS LIST IS OLD. WE HAVE BLACK BOOT STANDS ON THIS LIST , BECAUSE WE CAN'T UPDATE THE LIST BECAUSE OF THE LIMITATIONS THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS PUT ON US .SO, JUST SOME QUICK FACTS, ANNUAL REVENUE OF APPROXIMATELY $375,000, 2000 UNIQUE BUSINESS LOCATIONS, MORE THAN 300 HOME-BASED BUSINESSES, WE HAVE OUT-OF-TOWN INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A BUSINESS TAX, EVEN THOUGH WE NEVER KNOW WHO THEY ARE, NEVER SEE THEM. WE HAVE EXISTING BUSINESS TAX RECEIPTS THAT HAVE A TAX EXEMPT STATUS, SO UNDER THE STATE STATUTES, THERE'S LOTS AND LOTS OF DIFFERENCE S INTERVENTIONS. IS IT A VETERAN? IS IT SOMEBODY

THAT'S BLIND? >> MINORITY OWNED OR SOMETHING? DIFFERENT LAST LOCATIONS. EVEN THOUGH THEY DON'T NECESSARILY NEED A BUSINESS TAX, SOMETIMES THEY WANT IT. THE BIGGEST WANT FOR US AS NONPROFITS . THE FEES RANGE FROM $12 TO $600, AND LAST YEAR, OUR BUSINESS -- OR THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT -- DID 154 INSPECTIONS, BUT WE HAD ABOUT 800 NEW BUSINESSES AND 214 COMMERCIAL LOCATIONS. WE ALSO HAD AT LEAST 42 APPLICATIONS THAT NEVER COMPLETED THE PROCESS OR WERE DENIED. THE LIKELIHOOD OF THEM -- THAT THEY'RE STILL OPERATING -- IS VERY POSSIBLE. NEXT SLIDE. THESE ARE JUST KIND OF SOME PICTURES. SO, SOME OF OUR EXISTING CHALLENGES WITH BUSINESS FAX IS THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED FOR CHURCHES AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING SCHOOLS. BECAUSE THERE'S NO BTR, THERE'S NO REVIEWS, THERE'S NO INSPECTIONS, AND THEY ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO LOCATING IN UNSAFE OR IMPROPER SPACES, NOT ON PURPOSE, BUT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE APPROVAL PROCESS, SO THEY OPEN UP, AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE SPACE ISN'T PROPER FOR THEIR USE. SO, IT ALSO DOESN'T GIVE US ANY OPPORTUNITY TO EVALUATE THE CURRENT PARKING SITUATION OR ANY OTHER CODE SITUATIONS. NEXT SLIDE. SOME OF OUR OTHER CHALLENGES IS THAT BUSINESS TAX DON'T APPLY TO BUSINESSES WITHOUT A PERMANENT COMMERCIAL LOCATION, SO WE HAVE A LOT OF MOBILE FOOD VENDORS AND PARKING LOTS. WE HAD A LAWSUIT WHERE WE ARE LIMITED IN HOW WE CAN REGULATE MOBILE FOOD TRUCKS, BUT THEY HAVE TO BE IN A COMMERCIAL LOCATION, AND BECAUSE TO LOOK AT THE PARKING INDEX. IF THEY'RE TAKING UP BY PARKING SPOTS BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL , YOU KNOW, SPREAD OUT, THAT IS GOING TO IMPACT THE BUSINESS WHERE THEY ARE, WHICH IS WHY IT LIMITS THE CODE ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES. AGAIN, EVERY YEAR, LEGISLATURE MAKES EFFORTS TO ILLUMINATE BUSINESS TAX OR CAP THE LOCAL REVENUES. THAT IS THE ONE THAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR ME, I THINK, WHEN THE PROPOSALS THIS YEAR WAS IT WOULD CAP OUR LOCAL BUSINESS CAP TO COLLECT ANY MORE IN TAX REVENUE IN THE FUTURE, BUT THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS WE ALL KNOW OUR BUSINESS BASE IS GROWING, GROWING, AND GROWING, SO HOW DO WE ACTUALLY ESTABLISH A MONETARY CAP, I DON'T KNOW. SO, NEXT SLIDE . SO, WHAT A LOT OF CITIES, COUNTIES, OR MUNICIPALITIES, ARE DOING IS LOOKING AT A CERTIFICATE OF USE PROCESS. SO, BASICALLY, THE CERTIFICATE OF USE PROCESS ALLOWS US TO EVALUATE EXISTING PROPERTY CONDITIONS, LIKE PARKING REQUIREMENTS , LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS, CURRENT ZONING CODES , LIGHT HEALTH AND SAFETY CONCERNS, YOU KNOW, HAS THERE BEEN AN ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTION, ARE THEY DOING WORK WITHOUT BUILDING PERMITS, WHAT ABOUT FIRE PREVENTION, BECAUSE CURRENTLY, THERE IS NO FIRE INSPECTIONS . ALSO, LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, IF

[01:25:07]

APPLICATION, PLANNING REVIEW, THE TRADE REVIEWS AND INSPECTIONS , ENVIRONMENT INSPECTION, THEN BASICALLY JUST FINAL APPROVAL AND ISSUANCE OF THE CERTIFICATE OF USE. THEN, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, BASICALLY, IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY COMMISSION IS INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT, THESE ARE KIND OF THE DECISION POINTS THAT, YOU KNOW, A FEEDBACK THAT I NEED FROM YOU IN ORDER TO ALLOW US TO CRAFT -- BECAUSE THIS WILL HAVE TO BE DONE BY ORDINANCE -- IN ORDER FOR US TO CRAFT AN ORDINANCE TO COME BACK TO YOU TO SAY, ARE THESE THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT. MIND YOU, ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT INSPECTIONS OR FREQUENCY, OR WHO THEY APPLY TO IS REALLY ALL UP IN THE AIR . YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY THE DIFFERENT INSPECTIONS AND REVIEWS THAT WE MAY BE ASKING OUR STAFF MEMBERS TO LOOK AT. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE PREPARED TO DO THAT AS WELL. SO, IF WE GO THROUGH THESE DECISION POINTS -- LOCAL BUSINESS TAX ALONE -- WE HAVE THE OPTION OF RETAINING A BUSINESS TAX PROGRAM AND ADDING A CERTIFICATE OF USE, OR WE CAN JUST SAY, WE'RE DONE WITH THIS BUSINESS TAX. W'LL JUST DO A CERTIFICATE OF USE PROGRAM .

WE'RE STILL CAPTURING THE SAME SAFEGUARDS. IT IS JUST NO LONGER A TAX . IT WILL BASICALLY BE A CERTIFICATE OF USE THAT WILL HAVE A FEE ASSOCIATED WITH IT. THEN, THIS IS THAT FAMOUS YEAR WHERE THE LEGISLATURE ALLOWS US TO INCREASE BUSINESS TAX EVERY OTHER YEAR , SO THIS IS THAT YEAR, SO IF WE DECIDE WE WANT TO RETAIN THE BUSINESS TAX RECEIPT PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, ARE WE GOING TO DO AN INCREASE THIS YEAR. THE OTHER IS THE I OF USE PERMIT . OBVIOUSLY, WE WANTED TO APPLY IT TO COMMERCIAL LOCATIONS. WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO REQUIRE A HOME-BASED BUSINESS TO REGISTER WITH THE CITY AND GET THOSE CERTIFICATE OF USE. DO WE WANT

[01:30:01]

SO, THESE ARE JUST KIND OF ALL THE DECISION POINTS. I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WANTED TO TALK ABOUT ANY OF THOSE NOW, OR I COULD KIND OF GO FORWARD AND GIVE YOU A FEW DIFFERENT SCENARIOS, SOME BEES, THAT I HAVE THE SLIDE AT THE END TOO

IF YOU JUST WANT TO -- >> ANYBODY WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THIS NOW OR WANT TO WAIT UNTIL SHE FINISHES THE WHOLE PRESENTATION? THEN, GO. KEEP GOING.

>> OKAY. NEXT SLIDE. OKAY. BASICALLY, THESE ARE THE CENTRAL PROGRAM APPLICABILITY , HE TALKED ABOUT. I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING IS, SINCE WE HAVE AN EXISTING PROGRAM, THIS IS GOING TO -- WHATEVER WE DO -- IF WE DO NOTHING -- THE NEW TYLER BIADASZ PROGRAM , WE DIDN'T BRING OVER ALL THE DATA , SO EVERY BUSINESS IS GOING TO HAVE TO REREGISTER WITH THE CITY. SO, WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IS THAT, ANYBODY THAT HAS AN EXISTING BUSINESS TAX, IF WE GO WITH THE CERTIFICATE OF USE PROGRAM, WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE TO REAPPLY, BUT THEY WON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SAME LEVEL OF INSPECTIONS, BECAUSE THEY'RE BASICALLY GRANDFATHERED IN, AND IF THEY HAVE A BUSINESS TAX, WE'RE GOING TO SAY, YOU ALREADY HAVE CONDITIONAL USE, BUT YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR REGISTRATION IN ON TIME, BECAUSE IT IS NOW APRIL, AND I STILL HAVE SOME THAT ARE NOT PAID SINCE SEPTEMBER 30 WHEN THEY ACTUALLY EXPIRE AND THEN, AGAIN, FOR NEW BUSINESSES, IF THIS ADOPTED, YOU KNOW, ANYBODY COMING IN AFTER THIS GOES INTO EFFECT, THEY WOULD HAVE TO COMPLETE THE BUSINESS TAX, THEY WOULD COMPLETE THE ENTIRE FULL PROCESS. NEXT SLIDE. SO, THIS WAS HALLANDALE BEACH, SOUTH OF US, A PROGRAM THAT, IN ALL OF MY RESEARCH IN LOOKING AT DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS, THEIR PROGRAM, I LOVED. I HAVE TALKED TO THEM. THEY HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL WITH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE PITFALLS OF THE PROGRAMS, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE DONE. THEY BASICALLY, AT THE TIME, BACK IN 2022, THEY DID A BIG SURVEY, AND OF THE 32 CITIES THAT WERE SURVEYED, 25 HAD A CERTIFICATE OF USE PROGRAM, AND OF THOSE 25, 11 REQUIRED ANNUAL RENEWAL. I CONTINUE -- I DID SOME ADDITIONAL RESEARCH, AND THERE ARE DEFINITELY ADDITIONAL CITIES THAT HAVE BEEN MORE IN LINE WITH THE CERTIFICATE OF USE PROGRAM. SOME OF THEM HAVE ONLY A CERTIFICATE OF USE AND NO BUSINESS TAX, BUT A LOT OF THEM, I THINK, ARE ENDING UP THERE. THEY'RE MOVING TOWARDS DROPPING THEIR BUSINESS TAX AGAIN. IF YOU LOOK AT THE NEXT SLIDE, THIS IS JUST KIND OF A SUMMARY OF DIFFERENT CITIES AND WHAT THE COST OF IT IS. YOU KNOW, THERE'S AN INITIAL COST FOR THE CERTIFICATE OF USE, AND THEN THERE'S AN ANNUAL RENEWAL. BASED OFF OF ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS -- THERE WERE SOME THAT WERE REALLY, REALLY HIGH, OTHERS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE A $10 C, BUT ABOUT $199 AVERAGE FOR AN INITIAL COST AND $1 21 FOR THE RENEWAL COST. GOING TO THE NEXT SLIDE. SO, BASED ON THAT, I LOOKED JUST AT, KIND OF, COLLECTING FEES THAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE GOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AGAIN, THAT IS UP TO YOU, BUT BASICALLY, AN APPLICATION FOR IT, A $25 APPLICATION FEE FOR ACROSS THE BOARD. AGAIN, THE SHORT-TERM VACATION RENTALS IS SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT NECESSARILY PROPOSING THAT WE DO NOW, BUT I FACTORED IT IN IN CASE YOU WANTED TO. COMMERCIAL BUSINESS

[01:35:04]

YOU KNOW, WE CAN LOOK AT CODE VIOLATIONS AND OUTSTANDING LIENS AS PART OF THE PROCESS, AND IN GENERAL, JUST SEEING WHAT THEY CAN DO TO BRING THEM UP TO CODE. A LOT OF IT IS -- IN MY VIEW -- IT'S JUST KIND OF A CONTINUATION OF OUR ASSISTING PROGRAMS. NOT A TON OF CHANGES, BUT I THINK IT WILL GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IMPORTANT TO OUR BUSINESSES AND THE WAY THEY LOOK, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE PROPER AND SAFE. IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, I THINK THAT IS OUR DECISION POINTS AGAIN. SO, I AM HAPPY TO

ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> MADAM MAYOR, I GUESS , IN MY LINE OF WORK, I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RUN ACROSS THIS SCENARIO IN MULTIPLE MUNICIPALITIES . SO, NOT FAMILIAR, BECAUSE EVERY MUNICIPALITY IS DIFFERENT .

THERE IS NO STREAMLINED APPROACH, BUT THE OUTLINE THAT YOU ARE PUTTING FORTH HERE IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE CITY OF PORT ST. LUCIE. ONE THING IS FROM A BUSINESS OWNER AND LANDLORD'S PERSPECTIVE IS THAT, I FULLY ENDORSE THE INSPECTIONS ON CHANGE OF USE , CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP , ET CETERA. ANNUAL INSPECTIONS, THOUGH, I AM JUST NOT A BIG FAN OF, AND I WILL EXPLAIN BRIEFLY THE REASONING AND LOGIC BEHIND IT, WE HAVE HAD INSTANCES WHERE WE HAVE BEEN LOCATED IN THE SAME LOCATION FOR MANY, MANY YEARS , AND IN THIS PARTICULAR-VALLEY, THERE ARE ANNUAL INSPECTIONS TO BE DONE , AND WE HAVE A DIFFERENT INSPECTOR THAT COMES IN EVERY YEAR, COMES UP WITH A DIFFERENT LIST OF REQUIREMENTS, AND MY PUSHBACK ON THAT IS , THIS WASN'T REQUIRED LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR BEFORE, ET CETERA, SO NOW, WHAT ARE YOU USING FOR THE GUIDELINES? ARE USING CURRENT CODE? ARE USING CODE WHEN THE BUSINESS WAS ESTABLISHED IN THAT LOCATION? ET CETERA. THE DECISION MADE FOR OPTIONS ARE EXTENSIVE. THIS CAN BE EXTREMELY DAMAGING TO BUSINESSES THAT ARE OPERATING CURRENTLY , AND WE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE OVER , OVER, AND OVER AGAIN TO THE POINT WHERE THEY WERE QUESTIONING THE ZONING OF OUR OPERATION. WE HAVE HAD A TAX RECEIPT OR A CERTIFICATE OF USE FOR YEARS. ALL OF A SUDDEN, NOW, OUR USE IS BEING CALLED INTO QUESTION BECAUSE OF A ZONING CHANGE.

THAT'S NOT APPROPRIATE. IT'S SIMPLY NOT, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD NOT BE IN FAVOR OF. HOWEVER, THE PROGRAM IN ITS ENTIRETY, I THINK, IS A PHENOMENALLY GREAT MODERNIZATION. I DO. THIS UPGRADE NEEDS TO BE DONE . THE INSPECTION ISSUE, I THINK, NEEDS TO BE LIMITED TO CHANGE OF USE, CHANGE OF OCCUPANCY, SALE OF BUSINESS, ET CETERA.

SOMETHING NEEDS TO TRIGGER IT NOT JUST RANDOM INSPECTIONS. I THINK THAT IS A LITTLE BIT OF GOVERNMENT OVERREACH AT THAT POINT. THAT IS JUST MY CONCLUSION FROM BEING ON THE

[01:40:02]

YOU KNOW, SO, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THE DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS THAT HITTING THE WRONG INSPECTION LEVELS WOULD POTENTIALLY HAVE . AGAIN, CHANGE OF USE, I FULLY SUPPORT.

SALE OF THE BUSINESS, I THINK, NEEDS AN INSPECTION, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE GRANDFATHERED IN SOME CAPACITY, AND OBVIOUSLY, GRANDFATHERED . THEN CAPACITY, FROM A LANDLORD'S PERSPECTIVE, I WOULD BE THE FIRST WANT TO KNOWLEDGE, WE TAKE SPACE BACK ALL THE TIME FROM OUR COMMERCIAL TENANTS, SHOCKINGLY, NON-PERMITTED WORK . WE RUN INTO THIS ISSUE CONSISTENTLY , WHERE WE THEN HAVE TO GO IN AND REMOVE THOSE TEMPERAMENTS TO BRING IT BACK INTO COMPLIANCE. SO, DOES NEED TO CAUTION THAT PORTION OF IT, BUT I SUPPORT IT. I ENDORSE THIS PROGRAM FULLY. I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE UP THE ENTIRE PACKAGE.

>> MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONER, I THANK YOU FOR THAT, BECAUSE LIKE I SAY, SOMETIMES, I LEAN ON OUR ENGINEERS. I SAID BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO THE ENGINEERING PART OF, YOU KNOW, SUBJECT TO COME BEFORE US. MY QUESTION IS THIS.

I AGREE WITH THE MULTIPLE INSPECTIONS AND ALL THAT.

HOWEVER, WHEN SOMETHING CHANGES HANDS, SAY, IT IS A RESTAURANT FOR 20 YEARS, OR THE BUSINESS HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 20 YEARS, AT WHAT POINT -- AT WHAT POINT -- DO WE NEED TO GO IN AND TELL THAT RESTAURANT, OKAY, YOU HAVE HAD 20 YEARS, BUT WITH THESE NEW CODES, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS WHO ARE COMING INTO THESE RESTAURANTS? IF THEY'RE OUT OF CODE -- THAT IS MY HANG UP HERE. SO, WHEN DO WE GO IN WITHOUT TRYING TO PUT THE RESTAURANT OWNER OUT OF BUSINESS , BUT SAY, OKAY, YOU HAD THIS AMOUNT OF TIME TO TRY TO START FIXING SOME OF THESE NEW CODES, THESE NEW CODE REGULATIONS. YOU KNOW, WE CAN WORK WITH YOU SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN A PART OF US FOR 20 YEARS WE WORK WITH YOU . HOWEVER, WE NEED TO START FIXING SOMETHING, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT US TO SAY, GIVE A BLANKET, GRANDFATHERED IN, AND THEN WE KNOW IT IS A CODE VIOLATION IF SOMETHING HAPPENS THAT'S MY HANG UP, AND I GUESS , YOU KNOW, THAT IS MY LAWYER HAT.

THAT IS MY HANG UP, ALWAYS TRY TO PROTECT THE TAXPAYERS AND THE RESIDENTS OF FORT PIERCE, PLUS UNDERSTAND THAT WAS AN OWNERS ARE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND BUSINESS AND MAKE A LIVING. SO, HOW DO WE MEET IN THE MIDDLE WITH THAT PROBLEM ? I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE PROGRAM I HAVE SEEN , IN ESSENCE, WITH CONSISTENCY OF USE. WHEN THE CONSISTENCY OF USE CHAIN IS BROKEN, LET'S SAY, THE SPACE SAT FOUL OVER SIX MONTHS -- IT WAS A RESTAURANT, THEN THE RESTAURANT WENT OUT OF BUSINESS, NOW, THE RESTAURANT WANTS TO COME IN, AND WHEN IT HASN'T BEEN CONSISTENCY OF USE FOR A SPECIFIED PERIOD OF TIME, IT NOW HAS TO BE BROUGHT UP COMPLETELY TO CODE UNDER

[01:45:02]

>> AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. I UNDERSTAND THAT CURRENTLY, BUT AS A PERSON SITTING UP HERE, I HAVE A DUTY TO PROTECT RESIDENTS. I HAVE A DUTY TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT, SO IF WE IN THE RESTAURANT 20 YEARS, AND THEY NEVER CHECK -- YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? THEY NEVER CHECK THE GREASE TRAP -- BUT NOW YOU WANT TO SELL IT, YOU WANT TO SELL IT, AT SOME FOUR, WE GOT TO SAY, HEY, OKAY, WE UNDERSTAND. YOU DON'T HAVE ANOTHER $100,000 TO FIX THIS GREASE TRAP.MY ONLY THING IS,

AT THAT. >>>, DO WE WORK WITH THE NEW BUYER, DO WE WORK WITH THE BUYER, BECAUSE WE WANT THE BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY, OR DO WE LET ANOTHER 20 YEARS GO BY WHERE WE KNOW THERE IS A BAD -- JUST USING IT AS AN EXAMPLE IT IS A BAD RACETRACK, AND THEN WE HAVE THE MENTAL SCENARIO AND EVERYBOD ELSE COMES IN AND YELLS AT US, 40 YEARS AGO, LOOK AT THIS MESS? I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER. I AM ASKING. THAT IS WHAT I'M SAYING. IS IT SOME MIDDLE GROUND, OR IN THIS PROGRAM, CAN WE PUT THIS PROGRAM SOME MIDDLE GROUND THAT WE CAN WORK WITH ENVIRONMENT? BECAUSE WE ALWAYS WANT PEOPLE TO COME IN AND TAKE OVER BUSINESSES, KEEP BUSINESSES GOING, SO I GET THAT POINT. IF I GO IN TO THAT COMPANY USA, WOULDN'T DO THIS, MADAME CHAIR, WOULD INTO THIS, BUT SAY, COME IN, WANT TO BUY YOU BUSINESS, COMMISSIONER BRODERICK, ME AND YOU MAKE A DEAL, AND IN THE CITY COMES IN AND SAYS, OKAY, COMMISSIONER GAINES, WE WILL APPROVE THE DEAL, WE WILL APPROVE THE DEAL, BUT LIKE YOU SAID, YOU DONE DROPPED DOWN $100,000, SINCE THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID, NOW ANOTHER $150,000 IN IMPROVEMENTS , I AGREE. I'M PROBABLY GOING TO WALK AWAY. SO, I GET THAT PART, BUT THE THING ABOUT IT IS , UP HERE, WE GOT TO TAKE OFF OUR LAWYER HATS, WE GOT TO TAKE OFF OUR BUSINESS MINDS, BUT AT THAT POINT, WE BECOME ENVIRONMENT LISTS FOR THE RESIDENTS. WE BECOME PROTECTORS OF THE RESIDENT , BECAUSE WE DON'T DO ANYTHING LETTING THE RESTAURANT OPEN UP WHEN WE KNOW THERE'S NO FIRE INSPECTIONS OR WHATEVER AND A FIREBREAK

HAPPEN. >> YOU HAVE A VALID POINT. THIS IS WHERE THE COMPLICATED PORTION IS DUE HAVE A SUGGESTION, THAT THE PROGRAM IN ITS ENTIRETY, I THINK, IS A PHENOMENAL PROGRAM. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SPEED BUMPS THAT NEED TO BE DEALT WITH IN TRANSITIONING THROUGH THAT. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE -- YOU DID A PHENOMENAL JOB PULLING OUT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ARE HANDLING THAT, BECAUSE THIS IS A BIG

ISSUE. >> I GET IT .

>> YOU KNOW, AND PARKING, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE BEEN SENSITIVE TO CHANGING PARKING REQUIREMENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY BECAUSE ABOUT FISCAL LIMITATIONS, ET CETERA. THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO ANALYZE WHAT OTHER COMMITTEES ARE DOING, BECAUSE THIS IS A SHOTGUN APPROACH. I HAVE SEEN IT DONE SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. THERE'S REALLY NOT A LOT OF CONSISTENCY , AND TO PROTECT THAT BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT, YOU HAVE GOT A SMALL MOM-AND-POP OPERATION. THEY WANT TO RETIRE, THEY WANT TO SELL THE BUSINESS -- WE HAD AN INSTANCE WHERE A BUSINESS WAS BEING SOLD AND DIMINISHED BY THE CAME IN AND SAID, YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EXIT. WELL, WHAT DO YOU WANT US TO DO? THERE'S SPACES SURROUNDED BY OTHER TENANTS.

THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE US COME INTO COMPLIANCE WITH SOMETHING THAT WAS IMPOSSILE TO COMPLY WITH THAT BUSINESS COULD NOT BE

SOLD. >> I GET IT, 100%, AND I CAN USE AN EXAMPLE, BUT EVERYBODY PROBABLY KNOWS, FOR YEARS, 50 PLUS YEARS OR MORE, GRANNY'S KITCHEN WAS OPERATING -- EVERYBODY CAME TO GRANNY'S KITCHEN. WANTED A HOT BREAKFAST OR GOOD LUNCH? CAME TO GRANNY'S KITCHEN. IT WAS SOLD, NOW SITTING THERE BACON. I DON'T KNOW THE REASONS WHY.

MAYBE CHANGE NEEDED TO COME. I DON'T KNOW. I DIDN'T GET INTO THAT. BUT I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, AND I UNDERSTAND, I AM LOOKING OUT FOR A SELLER AND A BUYER. HOWEVER, I FEEL I HAVE A DUTY TO, AT THAT POINT, PROTECT THE RESIDENTS, PROTECT THE TAXPAYERS FROM ANY CLEANUP OR ANYTHING THAT PREVENT ANY

[01:50:02]

>> ALL RIGHT. WE NEED TO GET SOMEBODY ELSE IN HERE.

COMMISSIONER J. JOHNSON, I KNOW YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.

SAY. I UNDERSTAND ANYTHING BEING SAID. I THINK THE IDEA OF CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP HAS TO BE EVALUATED, AND IT GOES BACK TO THE USE. RIGHT? OCCUPANCY USE, CLASSIFICATIONS. I THINK ALL THE PARAMETERS ARE IN PLACE, COMMISSIONERS, ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL , STORMWATER -- THESE ARE LISTED DISCHARGES WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. THERE'S SO MANY RULES, GALATIANS THAT I BELIEVE ARE ON THE BOOKS TO HELP THE PROCESS THAT WE ARE PROTECTED. NOW, WHEN IT COMES TO THE EXAMPLE, WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT, MAYBE, THE TIME PERIOD OF OPERATION, CLOSING , THEN REOPENING, IT'S ALMOST LIKE A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT HAD A HOUSE ON IT WITH A HOMESTEAD EXCEPTION, AND THEN, IT WAS VACANT AND/OR LEFT BEHIND, AND THEN HE GOT TORN DOWN , AND IT'S OVER A YEAR OR TWO YEARS. AFRICA WHAT THE CODE IS. AT SOME POINT, YOU HAVE TO --

>> RIGHT. >> DO IT ALL OVER IN TODAY'S

CODE. >> RIGHT.

>> IN ADDITION TO THAT, IF YOU HAVE SO MANY CHANGES WITHIN THE PARK, BUSINESS, OR BRICK-AND-MORTAR, IT IS THEN GOING TO TRIGGER OTHER PARTS AND PIECES OF THE FLORIDA BUILDING CODE, FOR EXAMPLE, BASED ON EVALUATION. SO, YOU HAVE TO BRING IT UP TO CODE, SO I'M ALWAYS CAUTIOUS ABOUT HOW I USE MY NONLEGAL TERM , BRING UP TO CODE , BECAUSE CODE CHANGE EVERY SINGLE YEAR, AND I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, I CAN.

>>> OUT 150 THINGS IN THIS ROOM THAT VIOLATE TODAY'S CODE BERTH WHEN IT WAS BUILT IN 1990. SO, IT'S NOT SAYING THAT WE'RE IN VIOLATION, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT IN VIOLATION. IF WE WERE TO TURN THIS INTO A RESTAURANT, NOW WE HAVE GOT A PROBLEM. RIGHT? SO, IT'S -- I AM CHALLENGED BY THIS. I THINK WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL ON HOW WE EXPLAIN THOSE PARAMETERS AND THOSE DETAILS. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK, WE GET DOWN TO THE DEEP PARTS OF THE WEEDS ON THAT, IT JUST HAS TO BE VERY CLEAR, BECAUSE, LIKE WE HAVE ALL SAID, LOOKING AT SOME PICTURES ON MY SCREEN -- I WENT BACK TO THE OPPORTUNITIES PICTURE, WHERE THE BACKSIDE BUILDINGS, HERE, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE ALL CHALLENGES. THEY REALLY ARE, AND, YOU KNOW, IF THE CONSENSUS OF THIS OR IF THE BASIS OF THE SALE OR THE BASIS OF ME REQUIRING A BUSINESS -- AND IT DIDN'T CHANGE. I'M SELLING BAIT AND TACKLE AT THE STORE AND I DIDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING, ALL I DID WAS PAY YOU THE MONEY, REQUIRE THE STORM -- I DON'T HAVE A GOVERNMENT-RUN

BUSINESS. >> I THINK MY STAFF WILL

CHANGE. >> I DON'T HAVE A

GOVERNMENT-RUN BUSINESS. >> THE SAME THING.

>> AND I STAND FIRM ON THAT, AND ALL OF US STAND THAT WAY.YOU KNOW, IT JUST IS WHAT IT IS. I AM WONDERING ABOUT OTHER PARAMETERS OF IT , AND LINDA, SINCE THE TIME YOU AND I HAVE TALKED, I WAS THINKING ABOUT -- I DON'T KNOW -- NONPROFITS, FOR EXAMPLE, SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY DEFINITIONS TO BE A NONPROFIT, SO MANY AGENCIES, YOU KNOW, THAT MAIN STREET IS DIFFERENT THAN A CHURCH. CHURCH IS DIFFERENT THAN, YOU KNOW, THE UNITED WAY . ALL THESE THINGS ARE DIFFERENT. SO, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO EVEN TALK ABOUT THAT PART OF IT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE AGENCY, YOU KNOW, SYSTEMS, GROUPS, JUST BASED ON DONORS. RIGHT? IT IS. SO, I

DON'T KNOW IF WE -- >> TO MAKE IT APPLY TO EVERYBODY, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THEY'RE A NONPROFIT OR NOT.

THAT WAS THE WHOLE BASIS OF THIS , IS IT JUST APPLIES TO EVERYBODY. IF YOU ARE GOING TO OPERATE , YOU KNOW, OR HAVE PEOPLE THERE, IT APPLIES TO EVERYBODY.

>> THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS HOW DO YOU ADDRESS ALL OF THIS WHERE YOU GOING TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT NONPROFIT?

>> I WAS, BUT -- >> THAT'S OKAY. I HAVE GOT

ANOTHER THOUGHT. >> YEAH. AND I AM THINKING THIS IS GOING TO BE HUGE FOR NONPROFITS. A HUGE CHANGE.

>> YES. >> SO, IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO THINK THROUGH AND MAKE SURE WE AREN'T

OVERREACHING OR -- >> I WILL GO BACK TO MY EXAMPLES. MEAN STREETS, IN GENERAL, ARE DIFFERENT THAN A CHURCH THAT MEETS WEEKLY OR TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK. IT IS DIFFERENT . THERE IS AN OPERATIONAL UNIT AT A MAIN STREET LOCATION THAT ANSWERS THE PHONE, AND THERE'S TWO OR THREE PEOPLE THERE IS MAYBE JUST ONE PERSON THERE -- AND A

[01:55:01]

ANOTHER BUSINESS? >> THEY DON'T.

>> THEY DON'T? >> NO. A BUSINESS TAX RECEIPT IS ONLY REQUIRED IF YOU ARE --

>> PHYSICAL ADDRESS? >> IF YOU HAVE A PHYSICAL

ADDRESS. >> IS A BIG DEAL IF I HAVE BOTH PLACES? DOES IT MATTER? JUST BASED ON THE-ABOUT IT?

>> YES, MUNICIPALITY. WE WILL NOT GIVE YOU A BUSINESS TAX. IF YOUR BUSINESS IS BASED IN PORT ST. LUCIE, WE WILL NOT ISSUE A

BUSINESS TAX FOR YOU. >> IS THAT CLEAR? I THOUGHT THERE WAS AN EXAMPLE I HAD. ALL RIGHT YOU KNOW, WHAT ABOUT HOME-BASED BUSINESSES? LEGISLATURE HAS CHANGED -- I GUESS THAT'S WHERE I WAS REALLY GOING. LEGISLATURE HAS CHANGED UNDER DEFINITIONS THAT ARE CLEAR, HOME-BASED, OR --

>> YES. OUR CODE STILL NEEDS -- ARTIST AND COAT -- NEEDS TO BE UPDATED TO INCORPORATE THE CHANGES OF THE LEGISLATURE MADE FROM THESE BUSINESSES. SO , PERSONALLY, I WOULD NEVER BE AN ADVOCATE FOR DOING AN INSPECTION OF THE HOME-BASED BUSINESS. IT'S JUST SOMEBODY'S HOME. IF I'M, YOU

KNOW LIPID >> NOT LETTING YOU IN MY HOUSE.

JURISDICTIONS DO AN INSPECTION, THAT IS NOT SOMETHING I WOULD

EVER ADVOCATE. >> RIGHT .

>> OR ADVOCATE, I'M SORRY. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK IT IS HELPFUL IF WE KNOW THAT THE BUSINESS ACTIVITY IS MOVING ON. IF WE DON'T WANT TO DO IT, IF YOU DON'T WANT IT TO APPLY TO HOME-BASED BUSINESS, THEN IT DOESN'T. I MEAN, IT'S --

>> I'M NOT SAYING I DON'T --

>> WE WANT FEEDBACK. >> I'M JUST HAVING A CONVERSATION. THE CONVERSATION --

>> YEAH. >> THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I KIND OF WANTED TO PROPOSE, YOU KNOW, STRATEGICALLY.

>> YEAH. I SHARE YOUR CONCERN ABOUT NONPROFIT. NOT THAT WE WON'T FIND ISSUES. RIGHT? BECAUSE, BUT, I THINK THAT THAT -- I DON'T WANT TO OVERREACH. AND I DON'T WANT -- I DON'T WANT TO BE -- GIVE SMALL BUSINESSES ANY MORE HASSLE THAN THEY ALREADY HAVE.

>> I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. >> AND SO, I THINK I WOULD REALLY WANT TO TAKE A SLOW APPROACH SO THAT THEY WOULD FEEL LIKE , ALL OF A SUDDEN, OH, NOW, THIS, TOO, YOU KNOW? BUT, I UNDERSTAND WHAT IS BEHIND IT , AND FROM THE LEGISLATURE'S POINT OF VIEW OR FROM THE FLORIDA CITY'S POINT OF VIEW, WHEN WE HAVE ADVOCATED IN THE FLORIDA LEGAL CITIES, IT IS NOT SO MUCH ABOUT THE REVENUE AS IT IS ABOUT OUR RESIDENTS LOOKING TO US, AND THEY THINK WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE BUSINESSES THAT ARE OPERATING IN FORT PIERCE ARE OPERATING SAFELY AND AS THEY SHOULD BE.

>> ABSOLUTELY. >> AND THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT, SOMETIMES, SOME BUSINESSES ARE REGULATED BY THE STATE IN SOME OTHER FORM OR FASHION, THAT THEY STILL WANT US TO MAKE SURE THAT, THEY WANT US TO HAVE SOME SORT OF POWER OR REGULATORY -- SOME SORT OF STICK TO BE ABLE TO SAY, WHEN SOMEBODY ISN'T DOING THE RIGHT THING, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE ALSO -- I UNDERSTAND THAT -- THE LEGISLATURE -- IS VERY, VERY PRO-BUSINESS, PRO-PROPERTY RIGHTS, PRO, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ON YOUR PROPERTY KIND OF THING. SO, SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, SO THE CERTIFICATE OF USE GETS IS WOULD YOU SAY, IT IS A SLIGHTLY MORE INTRUSIVE AS A REGULATORY

FUNCTION? >> IT COULD BE, DEPENDING ON HOW WE CRAFT IT. LIKE I SAID, I AM VERY OPEN TO ALL OF THESE THINGS, REALLY DIGGING INTO THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF IT TO SEE HOW. I DON'T WANT TO BE MORE INTRUSIVE ON BUSINESSES. I DO WANT TO HELP OUR CITY, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, ACCOMPLISH ITS GOALS, MAKING THINGS LOOK PRETTY. YOU KNOW WE WANT THE OPPRTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE BUSINESSES ARE SAFE. YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF NONPROFITS. YOU KNOW, MAIN STREET VS. A CHURCH? I DON'T SEE ANYTHING DIFFERENT. ALL IT IS IS MAKING SURE WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN THE LOCATION THAT THEY ARE IS WHAT IT WAS BUILT TO DO. SO, TO ME, THIS IS VERY MUCH MORE OF A REGULATORY OR REGISTRATION PROGRAM. JUST LIKE THE SHORT TERM VACATION, IT IS A DECISION PROGRAM, SO WE KNOW WAS GOING ON IN OUR CITY , AND IN FACT, THAT THE LOCATION ,

[02:00:06]

YEAH. STRUCTURES . >> THAT'S WHAT WE DO WITH A CHANGE OF USE TOO. THAT IS SIMILAR. RIGHT?

>> IT IS. YES. THAT IS THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT FUNCTION .

>> IT HAPPENS ANYWAY . >> SO --

>> THAT HAPPENS ANYWAY, BUT I THINK THAT WE JUST NEED THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE, AND YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, WE ARE NOT REGULATING BUSINESS ACTIVITY . THAT IS WHAT THE STATE DOES. THAT IS NOT WHAT THE CITY DOES, NOR WILL BE

EVER. >> THAT IS A GOOD POINT.

>> WE WILL STILL ASK THEM TO PRODUCE A COPY OF THE STATE LICENSE TO MAKE SURE, BUT A LOT OF THESE, YOU KNOW, SPECIFIC INSPECTIONS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, MAYBE THE HOODS FOR THE RESTAURANTS, YOU KNOW, THAT IS, YOU KNOW, THAT IS THE STATE'S RESPONSIBILITY, NOT NECESSARILY THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY, SO WE JUST HAVE -- I'M WITH YOU. I DON'T WANT TO REACH TOO FAR INTO GETTING INTO WHATEVER IT IS THAT THE STATE DOES. I JUST WANT SOMETHING IN PLACE THAT, AS A CITY, WE KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR CITY, WE KNOW WHO IS DOING IT. WE HAVE CONTACT INFORMATION IF SOMEBODY HAS A PROBLEM. YOU KNOW WHO TO REACH OUT TO, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY SORT OF REGISTRATION AND DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT INFORMATION. AGAIN, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO BE DOING INSPECTIONS. TO ME, THAT IS A CRITICAL PIECE OF THIS PROGRAM THAT DOESN'T EXIST TODAY, WHICH I LIKE , BUT THAT'S THE FIRST TIME. IT'S WHEN THERE'S A CHANGE OF USE IN THIS. WE LET THE FIRE DISTRICT NO, THEY DO THEIR INSPECTION. YOU KNOW, AND THEY

TAKE THE NEXT STEPS. >> ANOTHER THING I WANTED TO BRING UP IS THAT THERE ARE STATE LAWS THAT, IF THE GOVERNOR SIGNS THEM, WILL GO INTO EFFECT IN JULY, AND I THINK ONE OF THEM IS ABOUT STARTING A SCHOOL IN A CHURCH THAT WOULD HELP HIS DOES NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH -- ANY OF OUR PROCESSES. I DON'T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS .

>> WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE DETAILS.

>> WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE DETAILS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS FITS INTO WHATEVER THAT NEW STATE LAW -- AND EVERY YEAR --

YOU KNOW -- >> A CURRENCY, TRAFFIC, THINGS OF THAT NATURE WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT A SCHOOL.

>> AND ZONING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I DON'T KNOW. YEAH.

ANYWAY, THAT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE .

>> I DON'T THINK IT PREVENTS US FROM HAVING THE FIRE DISTRICT TO DO AN INSPECTION TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BUILDING WAS

SAFE. >> THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS IS TO HAVE A PROGRAM IN PLACE TO KNOW WHAT BUSINESSES ARE DOING IN OUR COMMUNITY SO THAT WE -- SO THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN HAVE -- AND THE FACT THAT THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY'RE DOING, AND THAT WE CAN IMPROVE THE LOOK OF OUR UNITY. IT IS ALSO BECAUSE THE BUSINESS TAX IS PROBABLY GOING TO GO AWAY, SO WE NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING PREPARED, IN PLACE, THAT FITS THE BILL, BUT THAT IS NOT OVERREACHING FOR OUR CITY.

>> DEFINITELY. IF WE DON'T HAVE THIS IN PLACE, BUSINESS TAX GOES AWAY, THERE'S NO MORE TRIGGER , YOU KNOW, FOR ZONING -- YOU KNOW -- THE ZONING. YOU KNOW, SO, THAT MEANS, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE ZONING IS. YOU CAN JUST DO, YOU KNOW, IT IS BASICALLY A FREE-FOR-ALL. THERE IS NOTHING THAT PREVENTS

YOU FROM DOING THAT. >> RIGHT.

>> THIS IS CREATING THAT TRIGGER THAT JUST ENSURES, YOU KNOW, OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR NEIGHBORS THAT THINGS ARE HAPPENING NEXT TO US THAT ARE PROPER.

>> AND I KNOW THE INSPECTIONS ARE PROBLEMATIC . I HAVE HEARD THAT OVER THE YEARS. INSPECTIONS -- I HAVE HEARD THAT STORY. INSPECTIONS COME UP, SAY, WHY DIDN'T YOU FIND THIS LAST YEAR? NOW, YOU'RE FINDING IT.

>> IT IS AN INTERPRETATION. >> IT IS A HUMAN ACTIVITY.

>> AN ACTIVITY. MADAM MAYOR, IF I CAN ADD ONE MORE THING, IT IS A CHALLENGE, OVERALL, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE PROPER PLANNING AND ZONING AND ENGINEERING OF A COMMUNITY IS VERY CRITICAL, AND IT JUST MAKE ME SMILE SOMETIMES WHEN THE LEGISLATURE IS TALKING ABOUT THESE THINGS, GETTING RID OF CERTAIN PROGRAMS, BECAUSE ON THE OTHER SIDE, THEY'RE SAYING, DON'T FORGET ABOUT YOUR COMP PLAN AND YOUR LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS , BUT YOU ARE TELLING ME IT DOESN'T MATTER FROM SMELTING ALUMINUM

IN THE BACKYARD. >> YEAH, RIGHT.

>> NO ONE CARES ABOUT IT. THEY'VE GOT AN INDUSTRIAL USE IN MY BACKYARD, WHICH IS NOT PROPER, YOU KNOW, OR I HAVE GOT, YOU KNOW, A MEETING OF WHATEVER STYLE AND FORMAT AT A RESIDENCE THAT ENCOMPASSES 250 OR 300 PEOPLE , THEY'RE PARKING EVERYWHERE ON ALL STREETS, AND LAW-ENFORCEMENT OR FIRE SAFETY CAN'T GET THROUGH. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE ALSO ALWAYS CHALLENGES THAT ARE COMMONSENSE ORIENTED, BUT THE CODE DOESN'T ALLOW OR PREVENTS CERTAIN REGULATIONS. IT IS A CHALLENGE, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT, IT IS

[02:05:02]

THE DAY. >> RIGHT.

>> SO, THANK YOU. >> SO, I DON'T KNOW. DID YOU GET ENOUGH FROM US TO KIND OF TAKE THE NEXT STEP?

>> I FEEL AS THOUGH I GOT ENOUGH FEEDBACK. YOU KNOW, I THINK A LOT OF WHAT YOU SAID IS THINGS THAT I PRETTY MUCH ANTICIPATED, AND I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU, YOU KNOW, THAT CHAMBER NEVER LEFT ME. MADE IT VERY SENSITIVE , YOU KNOW, TO REGULATION OF OUR BUSINESSES, BUT I AM ALSO VERY SENSITIVE TO, YOU KNOW, OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO THE RESIDENTS IN OUR COMMITTEE. I THINK I HAVE ENOUGH TO GO BACK I AM DEFINITELY NOT A FAN OF THE ANNUAL INSPECTIONS. I AM 100% WITH YOU ON THAT ONE. YOU KNOW, AND ALSO, I THINK WE NEED TO DO A REALLY HARD LOOK AT GRANDFATHERING REVISIONS, AND AT WHAT TIME , WHAT ARE THE TRUE TRIGGERS TO MAKE SOMETHING COME UP TO CODE .I THINK WE HAVE THINGS IN PLACE NOW. I THINK WE CAN GET A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFIC ON IT. I WILL WORK WITH OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS , YOU KNOW, TO GET THEIR FEEDBACK AS WELL AND SEE WHAT OTHER JURISDICTIONS ARE DOING AND COME BACK TO YOU WITH AN ORDINANCE, IF THAT'S OKAY, AND THEN WE CAN JUST HASH IT OUT AT THAT POINT.

>> AND THEN, AT SOME. >>>, YOU WILL HAVE A FEE SCHEDULE. I, FOR ONE, OBVIOUSLY, DO NOT WANT A FEE SCHEDULE WITH AN OWNER, ESPECIALLY FOR THE NONPROFITS.

THING, BECAUSE I DO HAVE TO GET THIS DONE BEFORE -- SO, TELL ME, ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF DOING AWAY WITH THE BUSINESS TAX PROGRAM AND JUST SWITCHING OVER TO THE CERTIFICATE OF USE? IS

THAT -- >> I AM READY WITH THAT. HOW

ABOUT THE REST OF YOU? >> I CAN AGREE WITH THAT.

>> YEAH. >> MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

>> YEAH., YEP, YEP. >> I JUST HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING IN PLACE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO REBUILD WHAT WE HAVE

GOING NOW. >> YEP, YEP, YEP, AND LET'S ALL ADMIT THAT WE'RE CREATING SOMETHING THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LEARN AS WE GO, AND WE MAY HAVE TO REVISIT, AND WE WILL HAVE TO REVISIT AND MAKE CHANGES.

>> I THINK, THE NUMBER-ONE RECOMMENDATION WILL BE, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE WE DID WITH SHORT-TERM AND VACATION RENTALS, LET'S LET THE PROGRAM RUN ITS COURSE FROM ONE-YEAR, AND THEN WE'LL LOOK AT THE WHOLE THING AGAIN.

>> RIGHT. >> SOONER, AS STAFF, IF WE FIND THAT WE HAVE REAL IMPEDIMENTS TO WHAT WE NEED TO DO. SO -- WE DON'T WANT TO GET IN THE WAY OF BUSINESS IS THE BOTTOM LINE.

[e. Surplus property disposition overview.]

>> YEP. THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE. WE DON'T WANTED TO SAY, WE ARE BUSINESS-FRIENDLY, WE WANT TO BE BUSINESS-FRIENDLY.

RIGHT, OKAY. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SO, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS SURPLUS PROPERTY DISPOSITION

OVERVIEW. >> MR. MIMMS?

>> MADAM MAYOR , MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION WITH US , SPECIALIST MS. MARION GARCIA. WHILE SHE IS GIVING UP AND GETTING READY TO GO OVER A BRIEF PRESENTATION TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW FOR SURPLUS OF PROPERTIES, WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS ISSUE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON SURPLUS PROPERTIES, BUT I THINK, NOW, WE ARE ABOUT TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION -- OR A COUPLE OF ACCOMMODATIONS TO YOU -- THAT AND HOPEFULLY STREAMLINE THE PROCESS, BECAUSE OUR CURRENT PROCESS IS NOT PROVIDING THE OUTCOMES THAT YOU ALL HAVE DESIRED. I BELIEVE THE OUTCOME WAS ALL ABOUT INFIELD REDEVELOP IT , AND CREATING SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CORE OF OUR CITY. THAT IS NOT HAPPENING THE . WE DON'T HAVE ANY VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION. SO, I BELIEVE WE NEED TO PIVOT A LITTLE BIT. WE NEED TO LOOK IN ANOTHER DIRECTION. MARION IS HERE TO PROVIDE YOU THAT INFORMATION AND PROVIDE YOU A COUPLE OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COULD POSSIBLY HELP US WITH THIS TASK .I WILL TURN IT OVER.

>> GOOD MORNING. WE ARE HERE TO DISCUSS THE CURRENT SURPLUS PROPERTY DISPOSITION, AND THEN SOME ALTERNATIVES. I WILL REVIEW OUR CURRENT DISPOSITION PROCESS. CURRENTLY, THE STAFF AND THE DEVICE PROPERTY FOR THE DEPARTMENT, OR WE RECEIVE AN UNSOLICITED BID REQUEST ONCE WE RECEIVE THOSE, WE'LL SEND A SURVEY TO ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT DETERMINE IF THE PROPERTY IS NEEDED FOR ANY MUNICIPAL USE. IF IT IS NOT, THEN WE WENT DECLARED AS SURPLUS, OR IT COULD BE DECLARED AS SURPLUS. WE BRING IT TO CITY COMMISSIONER FRE, THEN IT IS DECLARED AS SURPLUS VIA RESOLUTION . AFTER THAT, WE GO TO THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT, THEY CREATE A BID DOCUMENT AND SOLICIT PROPOSALS FOR AT LEAST 30 DAYS. THEN, ONCE WE RECEIVE THOSE PROPOSALS, THE STAFF EVALUATES PROPOSALS AND PRESENT IT TO THE CRA ADVISORY COMMITTEE OR THE PLANNING BOARD, OR FOR THE RECOMMENDATIONS , AT THAT POINT, IT GETS TURNED OVER TO THE CITY COMMISSIONER TO AWARD AND AUTHORIZE STAFF TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS . THEN, CITY COMMISSIONER FPR APPROVES THE RESOLUTION FOR DISPOSAL, AND THE AGREEMENT WITH THE NEW COMMITTEE STARTED USING LAST YEAR, WITH THE CONSTRUCTION TERMS THAT THE DEVELOPERS AGREED TO . AFTER THAT, THE CITY ATTORNEY AND OUTSIDE

[02:10:05]

THE REQUIREMENT WAS TO UPGRADE THE KITCHEN AND BATH. THOSE UPGRADES WERE COMPLETED . THE NEXT PROPERTY, FOLDER 14 AVENUE D, SOLD FOR $4000, 5-STAR CAR REPAIR. THERE REQUIREMENT S WERE TO INSTALL A FENCE, LANDSCAPING, AND THAT IS COMPLETE. THE NEXT PROPERTY, 708 NORTH 18TH STREET SOLD FOR $2700. THEY RECOMMEND CONTRACTION BY MARCH 9TH, 2026.

AS OF TODAY, THAT HAS -- THE CONSTRUCTION HAS NOT STARTED.

727, SOUTH 11 STREET SOLD FOR $8000. CITY COMMISSION PROVIDED THEM TWO EXTENSIONS. THEY DID POOR THE FOUNDATION ON FEBRUARY 6TH, 2024 . CURRENT STATUS IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT HAS BEEN SITTING THERE SINCE FEBRUARY 6.

NO ADDITIONAL PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE ON THAT FOR NOW.

1409, AVENUE J, $6200. FPR A BOARD PROVIDED THIS PRETTY OWNER TWO EXTENSIONS TO POOR THE FOUNDATION BY MARCH 14TH.

AS OF FRIDAY, THE FOUNDATION HAD NOT BEEN POURED ON THE PROPERTY. 2002, AVENUE 4M, $4000, GRANTED EXTENSIONS BY MARCH 14TH. THAT IS NOT COMPLETED AS OF LAST WEEK.

WONDERS 33 NORTH 10TH STREET SOLD FOR $13,000. YOU APPROVED AN EXTENSION LAST WEEK TO THIS PROPERTY OWNER, AND THEY ARE AGREEING TO POOR THE FOUNDATION BY JULY 30TH, 2024.

>> MS. GARCIA, BEFORE YOU LEAVE THAT, 708, NORTH 18TH COMMENCE

CONSTRUCTION BY 2026? >> THEY WERE GIVEN FIVE YEARS FROM THE TIME IT SOLD TO COMMENCE CONSTRUCTION.

>> OKAY. SO, YOU SAID, RIGHT NOW, THEY HAVEN'T COMMENCED CONSTRUCTION, SO THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE OUT OF COMPLIANCE, JUST WE WERE VERY GENEROUS WITH OUR TIME.

>> CORRECT. >> OKAY. THANK YOU.

>> YES. >> THE NEXT SEVEN PROPERTIES WERE SOLD WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS . FOR THE 24 AND 4 TO 26, DOUGLAS COURT, EACH SOLD FOR $5000. THEY'RE INTENDING TO BUILD A SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE. THEIR APPLICATION SUBMISSION DEADLINE FOR HERMITS IS MAY 22ND, 2024.

THEY'RE AGREEING TO COMMENCE CONSTRUCTION WITHIN 60 DAYS OF THE ISSUE PERMIT AND COMPLETE THE CONSTRUCTION WITHIN 1 YEAR . SIX AND 12 NORTH 25TH STREET IS THE BOTANICAL GARDEN . THE PURCHASE PRICE ON THAT WAS $5000 . THE PERMIT APPLICATION DEADLINE IS AUGUST 20TH . THEY'RE GOING TO COMMENCE INSTRUCTION WITHIN 120 DAYS , AND HE AGREED TO COMPLETE IT WITHIN 6 MONTHS . THEN, THE NEXT 40 PROPERTIES ARE THE ONES YOU APPROVED LAST MONDAY, THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING, 706 NORTH 20TH STREET, BUILD A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, SOLD FOR $3000. THEY'RE GOING TO APPLY FOR PERMITS WITH AN 2 MONTHS OF CONVEYANCE. COMMENTS CONSTRUCT WITHIN 30 DAYS, THEN COMPLETE THE CONSTRUCTION WITHIN 8 MONTHS. 604 SOUTH 6TH-STRAIGHT SOLD FOR $15,000. ALSO, SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE, PERMITS APPLIED WITHIN SIX MONTHS, COMMENCEMENT OF VINCE THE CONSTRUCTION WITHIN 14 MONTHS. 1204 AVENUE E IS A FOUR-PLEX YOU AGREE TO SELL FOR $25,000. APPLY FOR APPLICATIONS WITHIN SIX MONTHS, COMMENTS CONSTRUCTION WITHIN 60 DAYS, THEN PLEADED THE CONSTRUCTION WITHIN 9 MONTHS .

THEN, 620 -- 1620 AVENUE E, ALSO FOR $3000 FOR A SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE YOU ARE GOING TO APPLY FOR PERMITS WITHIN 2 MONTHS, COMMENTS CONSTRUCT WITHIN 30 DAYS, AND COMPLETED WITHIN 8 MONTHS SO, WE HAVE ALL OF THESE PROPERTIES WE HAVE SOLD, 15 PROPERTIES WE HAVE SOLD, AND UNFORTUNATELY, NO VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION AS MR. MIMMS INDICATED . WE HAVE 25 DEVELOPABLE CITY PROPERTIES . THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE REMAINING. 15 ARE RESIDENTIAL, AND 10 ARE COMMERCIAL. THEN, WE HAVE 19 DEVELOPABLE PROPERTIES THAT ARE FPRA, 15

RESIDENTIAL, ONE COMMERCIAL. >> MS. GARCIA, ARE THESE IN

[02:15:01]

ADDITION? >> THESE ARE IN ADDITION TO THE

15 WE HAVE SOLD. >> OKAY.

>> SO, THESE ARE AVAILABLE. YES.

>> OKAY. >> A TOTAL OF 44 WE CURRENTLY ARE SITTING ON BETWEEN CITY AND FPR .

>> OKAY. >> SO, THESE ARE SOME OF THE DISPOSITION STRATEGIES . THE FIRST ONE WOULD BE TO SELL TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER . STAFF WOULD ORDER APPRAISALS, PURCHASING DEPARTMENT WOULD SOLICIT BIDS, THE CITY COMMISSION WOULD AWARD TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER AND APPROVE THE RESOLUTION FOR DISPOSAL, THEN CITY ATTORNEY OUTSIDE COUNSEL WOULD REPAIR A QUICK PLAN B WITHOUT ANY RESTRICTIONS , JUST SELL IT, GET IT BACK ON THE TAX ROLLS. THAT IS OUR STRATEGY NUMBER ONE. OUR PROPOSED DISPOSITION STRATEGIES NUMBER TWO WOULD BE THE CITY OR FPRA WOULD BUILD A HOME TO SELL. SO, THE STAFF SELECTS THE PROPERTY TO BUILD. THE CITY COMMISSION OR FPRA WOULD FUND THE CONSTRUCTION, REALTOR SERVICES, WE WENT HIGHER REALTOR SERVICES TO SELL THE HOME . THE CITY COMMISSION, FPRA, WOULD APPROVE THE RESOLUTION FOR DISPOSAL.

OUTSIDE COUNSEL WILL PREPARE CLOSING DOCUMENTS WITH OR WITHOUT THE RESTRICTIONS, HOWEVER YOU WANTED TO DO THAT , AND THEN THE STAFF WOULD USE THE PROCEEDS OF THE SALE TO BUILD THE NEXT PROPERTY. WE WOULD NOT BE HOLDING ANY MORTGAGES FOR THE CITY OR THE FPRA. WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANY OF THAT . AND, MR. MIMMS AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER

ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE . >> QUESTIONS OF STAFF? WE HAVE

GOT TWO OPTIONS. YES. >> I AGREE THAT THE PROGRAM HAS OBVIOUSLY FAILED. LET'S CALL IT FOR WHAT IT IS. THE COMMUNITY IS ACKNOWLEDGING THAT. IN MY OPINION, THE END GOAL IS DEVELOP ANY FIELD LOCKED WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING , UPGRADE -- WHICH HAS A TENDENCY TO UPGRADE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD -- WHEN NO CONSTRUCTION IS TAKING PLACE.

ON THE FLIPSIDE OF THAT, I AM NOT A HUGE FAN OF GOVERNMENT GIVING INTO CONSTRUCTION AND THINGS OF THIS NATURE. HOWEVER, IN THIS INSTANCE, I'M COMING DOWN ON THE SIDE OF GOVERNMENT BECOMING INVOLVED BECAUSE THE PROFIT SECTOR HAS FAILED. SO, THE CITY HAS THE INVENTORY OF LOTS . THIS COULD BE A FAIRLY COOKIE-CUTTER SCENARIO FROM A DESIGN PERSPECTIVE. BUILD THEM, BRING IN A CONTRACTOR, ET CETERA, DISPOSITION OF THE PROPERTY, CITY MAKES THE REASONABLE RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT , TIME, AND MONEY, AND THOSE FUNDS CAN BE SUBSEQUENTLY -- AS THE MAYOR HAS SUGGESTED -- BE PUT BACK INTO THE NEXT -- IF WE CHOSE TO DO SO -- SO IF THE INITIAL UNDERTAKING WAS SUCCESSFUL, HITTING THE GOAL OF AFFORDABLE INFIELD HOUSING .WELL, I WOULD THINK THAT THE COMMON PROCESS WOULD BE TO MOVE ONTO THE NEXT ONE , AND IN THE NEXT, SUBSEQUENTLY, MAYBE TWO OR THREE AT A TIME, AND I THINK THE COMMISSION KNOWS ME WELL ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT I AM ALWAYS OF THE FRAME OF MIND WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR -- WE'LL FIGURE THIS OUT. THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAS NOT FIGURED OUT , OR WE'RE JUST DOING SOMETHING INCORRECT WITH THE PROPERTY. MAYBE THE MARKET VALUE APPROACH, AND I STILL THINK THOSE PROPERTIES WILL SIMPLY SEE AN INVENTORY. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HIT THE CALL OF THE INFIELD HOUSING. I THINK THAT HAS A CRITICAL NEED MORE SO THAN THE DISPOSITION. THE CITY OBVIOUSLY GENERATED THE REVENUE. THE PARTIES ARE NEGLIGIBLE, IN MY OPINION, COMPARED TO BEING ABLE TO CREATE THAT INFIELD. WHAT WE HAVE GOT, A TOTAL OF 30-PLUS RENTAL PROPERTIES TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS WITH? THAT MAY , THEN, INSPIRE THE PRIVATE SECTOR , SAY, HEY, IF THE CITY IS DOING THIS AND IT IS WORKING, WILDLY, SO IT MAY HAVE SOME EFFECT THAT WE COULD SPEED UP THE PROCESS, BUT FOR A PERSON THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENTAL INTERVENTION FOR THOSE THINGS IN THIS CASE, I DO, BECAUSE IT IS FAIR , AND I THINK WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS INTERNALLY ENOUGH TO SAY, THIS ISN'T A DIFFICULT CHALLENGE.

WE SELECT THE CORRECT BUILDER, DO BIDS, ET CETERA, AND IT WILL TAKE 43 YEARS, I AM ASSUMING. OKAY. THEN, WE CAN KIND MOVE FORWARD. WE HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE MONITORING THIS, ALL THROUGH THE PROCESS SO, I WOULD LIKE TO INVESTIGATE THAT

FURTHER >> MADAM MAYOR?

>> YES. >> , SCHNARR, I HAVE WRESTLED WITH IN MY OWN MIND ABOUT THAT SITUATION. SO, I BROUGHT UP ANOTHER RANDOM SCENARIO. I GUESS I COULD SAY -- THAT THEY COME TO MIND. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE PROPERTY IS NOT PURCHASED? MY OTHER QUESTION IS WHAT ARE WE NOT PROVIDING ENOUGH INCENTIVES THROUGH FOR THE REDUCTION AND/OR ILLUMINATION OF IMPACT FEES , YOU KNOW, IN ADDITION TO PARTNERING WITH

[02:20:03]

>> I THINK THAT IS WHY WE START OFF SLOWLY. WE DO A ONE-OFF, IF IT IS SUCCESSFUL, THEN YOU CAN MOVE ON WE SHARE YOUR CONCERN, BUT I STILL HAVE TO THINK THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THROUGH A DESIGN, SMALL ENVELOPE-TYPE, THREE, TWO, ONE, AFFORDABLE PRICES, IT WILL SELL. THE MARKET WILL DRIVE THAT SALE. BUT I SHARE YOUR CONCERN, COMMISSIONER JOHNSON.

THAT IS WHY I'M NOT SUGGESTING IT AS A WHOLESALE, BUILD 30 HOMES, BUT WE COME IN AND TRY TO STICK OUR TONGUE IN AND SEE

HOW IT FEELS. >> YOU KNOW, THE OTHER OPTION, IS IT BETTER TO PARTNER WITH A GROUP THAT DOES THAT FOR A LIVING , HABITAT, FOR INSTANCE, AND THEY DO IT, THEY HAVE A VETTING PROCESS TO WHERE THEY ARE THEN CONSTRUCTING TO ACCOMPLISH THE SAME MISSION? DOES THIS MAKE SENSE?

>> IT DOES. THAT IS CLEARLY ANOTHER AVENUE TO GET IT GOING. INSTEAD OF JUST SITTING AROUND, MAKING IT OR SELLING VACANT LOTS, JUST INVENTORIED BY THE BUYERS.

>> CAN'T DO NO CONSTRUCTION? >> NO .

>> THEY JUST -- >> THEY DO NO CONSTRUCTION.

>> THEY DO? OKAY. >> I GUESS I'M JUST WORRIED ABOUT THE FINANCIAL ARM OF IT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I MOST FEEL LIKE A BANK INSTITUTION NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED. I AM JUST TRYING TO REDUCE THE RISK TO THE TAXPAYERS, SPECIFICALLY,

AND THAT IS MY WORRY HERE . >> THAT IS A TOUGH BALANCE.

>> IT IS >> SO, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW THAT WOULD HAPPEN , MAYBE IF MS. GARCIA OR MR. MIMMS -- I MEAN -- IF YOU, SAY, HOW WOULD THIS WORK? WHO WOULD SELL IT? WHO WOULD GET THE PROFITS , WHO WOULD ESTABLISH THE PRICE? THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE DO .

>> MADAM MAYOR, I HAVE THE SPECIFIC DETAILS TODAY? ABSOLUTELY NOT. IT IS NOT THAT HARD TO DO THIS. WE HAVE DONE THIS A LONG A COUPLE OF OTHER OCCASIONS IN THE PAST. THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE HAS BEEN THE LEADING HOMEBUILDER IN THE LINCOLN PARK AREA. COIN INTO THE PIONEER PARK SUBDIVISION UP TO MOORE'S CREEK. THE MAJORITY OF THE HOMES IN THE CAN PARK HAVE BEEN BUILT IN SOME SORT OF RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY. SO, WE CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN, WE CAN IDENTIFY A BUILDER.WE CAN IDENTIFY SOME SORT OF A REALTOR, BROKER, AND WE CAN SELL HOMES, IF NEED BE, BUT AGAIN, OPTION ONE WAS JUST TO SELL , WALK AWAY. THAT'S OPTION ONE. OPTION TWO, IF WE FIND A COUPLE OF OPUS TO USE DEVELOPABLE PROPERTIES -- IF WE FIND A COUPLE OF THEM, THEN WE CAN HAVE A PROFITABLE PROJECT AND WE CAN ERECT A HOME. DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ANYTHING LAVISH, BECAUSE I DO KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR POPULATION IS SEEKING ATTAINABLE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING , AND THAT IS A VERY HARD TASK FOR OUR CURRENT POPULATION RIGHT NOW, SO , CAN WE DO IT? ABSOLUTELY. WE CAN MAKE IT WORK OR PUT THE DETAILS TOGETHER IF THIS IS THE ROUTE

THAT YOU ALSO CHOOSE . >> SO, THE FIRST ONE, SELL IT

AND WALK AWAY . >> RIGHT.

>> NOT LABOR-INTENSIVE, GETS IT BACK ON THE TAX ROLLS, MAY

OR MAY NOT BE BUILT. >> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> SECOND OPTION , STAFF, LABOR-INTENSIVE , YOU KNOW, BUT, ENSURING THAT WE HAVE CONSTRUCTION --

>> MARIAM IS READY. SHE IS READY. SHE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> NO. HOMEBUILDER, THE NEW HOMEBUILDER.

>> THAT'S RIGHT. GARCIA BUILDERS.

[02:25:01]

>> YOU ARE RIGHT . >> WE GOT IT.

>> SO, -- >> MADAM MAYOR, I HAVE ANOTHER

QUESTION. >> SURE.

>> WHEN THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN SOLD AND DISPOSED OF -- SINCE 2021 -- SO, I AM ASSUMING, WITHOUT LOOKING AT EACH INDIVIDUAL ADDRESS, THAT THE TAXES ARE BEING PAID ON THESE

PROPERTIES? >> YES.

>> ORALS, THERE WILL BE SOME OTHER MECHANISM BEING IMPLEMENTED BY ONE OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, I IMAGINE. SO, OKAY, THERE'S GOOD NEWS, RIGHT THERE.

THERE'S GOOD NEWS, RIGHT OFF THE TOP , AND I GUESS I'M IN FAVOR OF, NUMBER ONE, NUMBER TWO. I'M JUST HESITANT ON NUMBER TWO. I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION ON THAT OPTION TWO CURRENTLY. I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE DONE ENOUGH DUE DILIGENCE MYSELF WITHOUT COUNTY PARTNERS TO SAY, LISTEN, YOU GUYS ARE SITTING IN MEETINGS, TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THINGS WE ARE. WE ARE ALL HAVING THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT ATTAINABLE HOUSING AND ISSUES,BUT WE'RE NOT REALLY COMING TO THE PLATE, SINCE IT IS BASEBALL SEASON AND SOFTBALL SEASON, WITH ALL OF OUR TOOLS TO HIT A HOME RUN. I JUST DON'T THINK WE'RE THERE YET. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE CHECKED ALL THE BOXES THAT IT IS GOING TO NEED, COMMISSIONER, RIGHT? THEY WILL HIT ONE OUT OF

THE PARK. SO, -- >> WE JUST WENT TO THE BLUE SKY OPENING, AND THAT WAS A COUNTY PARTNERSHIP.

>> RIGHT. >> THE COUNTY BROUGHT THAT TO

FORT PIERCE. >> THEY DID. YEAH, DIANA. YEP.

ATTAINABLE HOUSING , AND SO, WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS , MAYBE WE NEED TO HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY, IN TERMS OF , YOU KNOW, PLANNING THIS. THAT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING?

>> US, AS IF PRA, HAS SAID, LISTEN, WE'RE GOING TO EXEMPT YOU FROM IMPACT FEES FOR INFIELD DEVELOPMENT , RIGHT, AND WE DEPARTMENT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING TO THE CITY. HASN'T GONE VERY FAR. RIGHT? SO, BUT, BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BILL AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN YOU ARE DEVELOPING A PIECE OF PROPERTY, GOING TO BUILD A HOUSE, WHEN YOU GET THE BILL , IT SAYS, $22,000 WORTH OF IMPACT FEES, YOU ARE LIKE, I HAVEN'T EVEN PUT A STAKE IN THE GROUND YET, BUT THAT IS WHAT I HAVE TO PAY , THAT HURTS.

>> THE CONTRACTOR SEES THAT . >> RIGHT. BUT THE HOMEOWNER IS BUYING IT. THEY'RE PAYING FOR A.

>> YEAH. >> AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY'RE PAYING FOR IT. WE ARE TRYING TO HELP THAT CAUSE. I JUST DON'T KNOW IF, PERSONALLY, I HAVE FULFILLED EVERY OPTION AND AVENUE FOR MYSELF, FOR US TO COMMIT TO BUILDING HOMES. I'M JUST NOT THERE YET. BECAUSE WE'RE OING TO HAVE TO PAY THE IMPACT FEES, JUST SO YOU KNOW. THAT IS A REAL NUMBER. WE'RE NOT EXEMPT. BACK TO THE COUNTY?

>> YEAH. UNTIL WE EXEMPT THE PARTS AND PIECES OF IT. YOU

KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? >> I AM NOT FOR THAT SECTION.

>> STILL ON THE HOOK FOR THOSE FEES.

>> YEP. >> I JUST THINK THAT THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE TO BE -- THEY HAVE TO KOPELMAN AN OPTION OR TWO. SO, WE'RE RECEIVING TAX REVENUE. THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON THERE. THEY'RE NOT RECEIVING, OBVIOUSLY, NOT RECEIVING HOMESTEAD EXCEPTIONS OR EXTRA EXEMPTIONS FOR THE VACANT PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT IS HOPEFULLY BEING MAINTAINED.

HOPEFULLY. MEGAN WAS IN THE ROOM, BUT SHE IS NOT HERE.

>> COMMISSIONER GAINES? YOU NEED TO SPEAK UP HERE.

>> I AM. HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION, GUYS . DO WE WANT VACANT PROPERTIES TO COLLECT TAXES, OR DO WE WANT HOUSES ENOUGH TO PUT PEOPLE IN FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING? IT IS EITHER/OR. WHAT WE'RE DOING, WHAT WE WERE OFFERING, ALL THE INCENTIVES FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING. SHE JUST SHOWED YOU A LIST , AND ON THAT LIST, WE SAW, WHAT, TWO FOUNDATIONS? ONE FOUNDATION? SO, THEY POURED A FOUNDATION, WANT TO COME BACK IN HERE SOMETIME DOWN THE ROAD, SAY, HEY, I POURED A FOUNDATION TWO YEARS AGO, GIVE ME ANOTHER EXTENSION. I KNOW IT IS COMMON TO GO OUT AND POOR THE FOUNDATION. SO, I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THE BUSINESS OF BEING ABLE TO OR SELLING HOMES, BUT WHATEVER WE'RE DOING, WHATEVER WE'RE DOING, WHATEVER, NOT OPPOSED, A POST, BUT WHATEVER OTHER LITTLE THINGS YOU HAVE TO GO LOOK AT TO SEE, COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, WE NEED TO SEE IT, BECAUSE AS OF RIGHT NOW, WHATEVER WE'RE DOING, WHATEVER OUR PURPOSE IS, IT'S NOT WORKING . ARE WE GOING TO DO IS COME BACK NEXT YEAR THIS TIME, MS. GARCIA IS GOING TO BE SITTING THERE, AND SHE IS GOING TO HAVE MAYBE FIVE, SIX MORE FOUNDATIONS MORE?

>> FOUNDATIONS FOR THE HOUSE.

>> BIG CHANGES . >> BIG CHANGES. LIKE YOU SAID,

[02:30:04]

THAT'S JUST ME , BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OUT HERE LOOKING FOR HOUSES ALL THE TIME , AND AN AFFORDABLE HOUSE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE SELL AFFORDABLE HOUSE. WE ALWAYS GOT TO SAY, DISTINGUISH, BECAUSE PEOPLE STILL BELIEVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING MEANS SECTION 8 AND ALL THIS. I'M LOOKING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THESE YOUNG FIREMEN, YOUNG POLICE OFFICERS, YOUNG TEACHERS WHO ARE OUT HERE PUTTING OURSELVES OUT FOR OUR KIDS, OUR COMMUNITY , AND CAN'T AFFORD A HOUSE, SO THAT IS WHAT I'M LOOKING AT. YOU KNOW, SINGLE MOMS WORKING THREE OR FOUR JOBS, SAY, I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO GET INTO SOMETHING, TO PROVIDE SOMETHING FOR MY FAMILY . SO, I DON'T SEE US BEING STUCK WITH A HOUSE ALSO, I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM, JIM. I DON'T WANT TO BE DEALING WITH NO MORTGAGES, NO . I DON'T WANT TO BE A LANDLORD.

I HEARD THAT FROM MY FIRST TO APPEAR, SITTING BY YOU . I REMEMBER THAT. I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? I AGREE. I DON'T WANT TO BE NO LANDLORD, YOU KNOW, WITH THESE TENANTS. HOWEVER, WHAT WE HAVE IN PLACE IS NOT WORKING. THE SYSTEM WE HAVE IN PLACE IS NOT WORKING. SO, INSTEAD OF JUST SAYING, HEY, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GO MEET WITH THE COUNTY -- WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO ME WITH THE COUNTY AND GET THOSE $22,000, WHATEVER THE FEE HAS BEEN REDUCED FOREVER. OKAY? THEY HAVE BEEN -- WHEN WE HAVE OUR MEETING -- THEY MIGHT LIKE US TO THEN, OF YOU WITH US, SAY, OKAY, WE GOING TO DO IT, BUT I'M NOT TO HOLD MY BREATH ON THAT. I'M JUST BEING REALISTIC. SO, LET'S TRY THIS PROGRAM. LET'S TRY ONE. LET'S TRY TAIWAN AND SEE IT WORK, BECAUSE ONE THING THAT COMMISSIONER BRODERICK SAID -- AND YOU HIT IT RIGHT ON THE HEAD -- IF WE TRY AND IT WORKS , IT'S ALMOST FOR CERTAIN THAT SOME PRIVATE ENTITY IS GOING TO LOOK AT IT AND SAY, WAIT A MINUTE, THEY DID IT.

LET ME GO IN AND DO IT. BECAUSE THEY GOING TO SEE IT WORKS. SO, BUT AGAIN, I AGREE WITH EVERYBODY. $22,000, THE FEE FOR THE TAXPAYER, I SEE IT, AND I FEEL YOUR PAIN, COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. I UNDERSTAND. I DON'T WANT TO BE A LANDLORD. I DON'T WANT TO BE -- I LOVE THE NAME, GARCIA CONTRITION COMPANY. I LOVE IT. I DON'T WANT TO BE -- I DON'T WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT. HOWEVER, SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE WHEN THAT MAP THAT YOU JUST PUT UP WITH ALL OF THOSE LITTLE PURPLE AND RED DOTS -- I THINK IT WAS PURPLE AND ORANGE, THAT IS A LOT OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES THAT WE COULD BE HELPING SOLVE OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT . A WHOLE OTHER ISSUE -- AND I JUST GOT THAT I WOULD SAY THIS AND BE QUIET -- AND TO THESE PROPERTIES, AND ANY OF THEM BE USED FOR SOME TYPE OF HOMELESS ? SOME TYPE OF HOMELESS FACILITY? WE HAVE GOT THE PROPERTY , WE HAD A PROBLEM. I'M JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE, SOMETHING OUT THERE THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO, BUT ME, PERSONALLY, I WOULD SAY, PICK ONE OF THESE PROPERTIES, THE BEST PROPERTIES LOCATED, LET'S TRY TO SEE IF WE CAN THROW SOMETHING TOGETHER. WE'RE NOT TRYING TO BUILD, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING ON THE BREAKERS. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? NOT TRYING TO DO THAT, BUT A DECENT HOUSE, SEE IF WE CAN DO IT, ASSIST IN THREE OR FOUR MONTHS, I SAY, HEY, LOOK AT EVERYBODY SAY, GUYS, JUMP ON ME. I DID IT. BUT I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING, BECAUSE, THAT PROPERTY , WHAT IS IT? SECOND PHASE OF MORSE CREEK?

>> YES, SIR. MORSE CREEK. >> THEM HOUSES WENT, LIKE,

WHAT? >> THEY HAVEN'T SOLD YET.

>> THEY HAVE PEOPLE READY? >> YES, YES.

>> THEY HAVE PEOPLE READY TO TRY TO GET ON THAT LIST TO GET ONE OF THOSE HOUSES . SO, I SAY, LET'S ROLLED THE DICE.

THAT WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION, BUT YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND, TAXPAYERS , NOT TRY TO PUT ANYMORE BURDEN ON YOU . I GET IT. 22,000 IS THERE. THAT IS WHAT WE SEE. 22,000. I THINK WE CAN RECRUIT THAT MONEY, AND WE CAN SOLVE A COUPLE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CITY IF WE TRY THE PROGRAM. SO, IF WE GO WITH OPTION ONE , COLLECT THE TAXES, THAT'S FINE, BUT THEN

[02:35:01]

>> CAN I ASK A QUESTION OF MR. MIMMS?

>> SURE. >> DID YOU OFFICE AT THE STAFF

LEVEL -- CONSIDER HABITAT? >> SEVERAL TIMES. WE MET WITH THEM ON A FEW OCCASIONS. THAT ENTITY HAS NOT DECIDED TO INVEST IN THESE PROPERTIES AS OF YET .

>> OKAY. THANK YOU. YES, SIR? >> I WANT TO BE CLEAR. I THREW OUT A NUMBER THERE, BUT I THINK, 322,000. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST THINKING COST OF CONSTRUCTION, ALL OF THE A WHOLE PACKAGE OF , YOU KNOW, DEVELOPING. IT IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE LESS THAN THAT, BUT --

>> MUCH LESS. >> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OR 1500 SQUARE FEET TIMES 170 A SQUARE FOOT.

INNOVATIVE, CREATIVE, AFFORDABLE. IT IS NOT GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, A TYPICAL GARCIA DEPARTMENT HOUSE. IT IS GOING

TO BE, YOU KNOW -- >> NO LUXURY? NO LUXURY

BALANCE? >> ON A SERIES TO, COMMISSIONER, I'M BEING SERIOUS . LET THE PUBLIC KNOW, I'M TIRED OF THIS, MAN. BY BEING SERIOUS, I DEFER TO YOU BECAUSE THIS IS YOUR EXPERTISE AS FAR AS CONSTRUCTION. RIGHT? I LOOK AT COMMISSIONER BRODERICK, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT HE DOES FOR THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES AND EVERYTHING , SO , ARE YOU SAYING -- IF THIS IS WHAT YOU SAID, THEN I NEED TO GO BACK AND RETHINK THIS. ARE YOU SAYING THAT WE CAN'T PRODUCE SOMETHING THAT WILL PUT -- IT WOULD PUT -- COST SO MUCH -- IT WOULD PUT IT OUT OF THE PRICE RANGE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ATTRACT? IF YOU TELL ME THAT, THAT CHANGES MY WHOLE

LOOK ON THIS . >> I THINK WE HAVE TO BE REAL ABOUT THAT, COMMISSIONER. REMEMBER, THE DEVELOPER , HE TRANSFERRED THE RESPONSIBILITY OVER . YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE ARE HOME PRICES, IF I REMEMBER, EVEN PACKETS, I FEEL LIKE THERE WERE UPWARDS AND OVER EXCEEDED $250,000 EACH , OR $350,000.

SO, WHILE YOU CAN BUILD A PRODUCT THAT IS MAYBE A LITTLE LESS, CONCRETE IS STILL A REQUIREMENT. RIGHT? SO, WINDOWS OR WINDOWS. HURRICANE PROTECTION, SUBSTANTIATED ROOF STRUCTURE, TRUSSES. THERE IS A VERY MINIMAL COST THAT WILL EXCEED $250,000. $225,000. I DON'T KNOW. WE JUST TALKING

ABOUT CODES. SO, >> THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

>> JUST TO MEET THE MINIMUM CODES, THAT'S WHAT IT WILL

REQUIRE OF US. >> SO, THAT'S WHY, AGAIN, FINDING OUT -- LET'S TALK ABOUT STUFF -- BECAUSE WE CAN BUILD OFF OF THIS RIGHT NOW. SO, TALKING ABOUT HERE , WITH THAT BEING SAID, SO, YOU DON'T SEE ANY TYPE OF PRODUCT -- YOU KNOW, A PRODUCT WILL BE PROUD OF? I KNOW WE CAN HAVE THOSE OUT THERE WE'RE NOT PROUD OF, BUT A PRODUCT WE ARE PROUD OF -- IN YOUR LINE, WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY , TAKING A MINIMUM , THE CITY HAS TO PAY OUT 250 OR $50,000 AT THE MINIMUM OR MORE JUST TO GET A PRODUCT THAT WE WOULD BE COMFORTABLE WITH. THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING.

>> FEEL VERY CONFIDENT IN THOSE NUMBERS. UNLESS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 900-SQUARE-FOOT HEADROOM STUDIOS.

>> OKAY. >> RIGHT?

>> JEREMIAH IS ON A TRACK HERE. I'LL GIVE YOU AN INTERESTING PERSON. $175,000 HOPE THIS $WONDER 75 SQUARE-FOOT BUILDING, $275,000 FOR AN ACQUISITION PRICE, $1734 A MONTH . DOWN THE STREET, WHERE GETTING 20 $20 A MONTH FOR 2

APARTMENTS. >> RENTAL ?

>> RENTAL. SO, THE ACQUISITION COST FOR THE STANDARD MORTGAGE PAY OR WHATEVER IS GOING TO BE A KIN TO PAYING

[02:41:51]

GET HIT HARD ON THIS. >> I WILL COME BACK AND SAY,

HEY, APRIL 8TH, 2024. >> YEAH .

>> I WILL BE ARM-IN-ARM WITH YOU ON THAT .

>> PUT IN ON ME. >> STAND UP AND ADMITTED.

>> PUT IT ON ME, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING. NOT WORKING, WHATEVER, NOT WORKING, I AM WILLING TO TRY IT TO SEE, BECAUSE SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE, AND IF IT DOES WORK , THEN WE UNDERSTAND, THEN WE CAN DO A HABITAT TO SAY, THE CITY DID AN AMAZING JOB OR EVEN THE DEVELOPER THAT WE DID THE CONTRACT WITH AMOROS CREEK OR I DON'T KNOW, BUT ALL I KNOW IS ALL I SAW ON THIS SIDE TODAY WAS 3 FOUNDATIONS. THAT

IS ALL I SAW. >> ALSO PRIVATE SECTOR, GARCIA CONSTRUCTION WILL WANT 20% OR 25% AND AS THE MARGINS, ET CETERA, NOT IN A POSITION TO HAVE TO DO THAT .

>> WE DON'T HAVE TO BUY THE PROPERTY?

>> WE ALREADY ARE ON THAT. >> EXACTLY.

>> THERE'S ADVANTAGES ACROSS.

>> THAT'S THE EASY PART . >> MAKE YOU AN OFFER ON THE

DIRT RIGHT NOW. >> RIGHT, YEAH.

>> WE TRIED IT ONCE. >> I THINK WE NEED TO COME TO GRIPS WITH THIS.AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE SAY, LET'S TRY ONE.

I'M OKAY WITH TRYING ONE. COMMISSIONER J. JOHNSON?

>> STRUGGLE. >> YOU WILL ALWAYS STRUGGLE

WITH THAT. >> IS ONE OF THE COMMENT.I FEEL LIKE IS VALUE IN THE PURPLE DOTS AND OTHER STREAM WITH THE OTHER DOTS ON IT. IF YOU TAKE THE REVENUE FROM THE TAXES BROUGHT INTO THE CITY , YOU PINPOINT CERTAIN PROJECTS, JUST TAKE THE MONEY AND SAY, YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF IT GOING UP AS IT WILL GO TO THE GENERAL FUND ANYWAY, BUT IF WE WERE TO SELL ALL OF THESE BEASTS THE PROPERTY TODAY AND SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? I WILL TAKE THAT LITTLE NEST EGG -- BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T REALIZED IT -- IT IS NOT IN OUR BUDGET -- GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT A MISTAKE THAT IS COMING IN ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, PUT IT INTO PRESSURE WASHING SIDEWALKS ALONG AVENUE D, THAT IS A MAPPING ZONE. I'M BEING VERY SPECIFIC, BUT DOES THAT HAVE A BONUS BENEFIT WE ARE NOT REALIZING TODAY? THAT

EMPTY LOTS. >> HAVE EMPTY LOTS, BUT DOES THAT SPUR A DIFFERENCE IN THE THINKING OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR?

THAT'S WHERE MY MIND GOES. >> YEAH.

>> I SHARE THAT WITH YOU. THAT IS WHERE MY MIND GOES.

>> WE COULD ONLY GO TO SELLING THE LOTS, BUILD A HOUSE, AND THEY DON'T COME. YOU KNOW, BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME?

>> WE CAN SELL IT. PUT IT THAT WAY.

>> COMMISSIONER GAINES AND I ARE ON THE HOOK, SO --

>> WE'RE ALL ON THE HOOK. IT'S OKAY. WE'RE A TEAM. HE IS GOING TO MAKE THE PAYMENTS.

>> YEAH, YEAH. REAL QUICK -- HAVE WE TRIED -- TO YOUR POINT

[02:45:04]

BEEN UP FOR SALE? >> ON SURPLUS, BUT MR. MIMMS ? 25 IN THE 19 LOTS? NO, BUT WE HAVE SOLD LOTS WHERE THEY HAVE CERTAIN STIPULATIONS ON THEM WITH REGARD TO A DEPARTMENT AGREEMENT. WE'RE SAYING, HERE, WITH THESE REMAINING TWO ELEMENT PROPERTIES, WE SELDOM ALL RIGHT, WE FIND ONE OR TWO , POSSIBLY TO LOOK AT RECONSTRUCTION AND SELLING TO

A DESERVING FAMILY. >> YEAH. WE DIDN'T PUT THE

FOR SALE SIGN UP. >> NOT ON THESE .

>> AGAIN, GOES BACK TO AGAIN, SO THE LOTS , THEN WE COME BACK AND DEAL WITH -- AS WE SELL THE LOTS -- WE COME BACK AGAIN WITH THESE VACANT LOTS, AND WHAT WE GOING TO DO WITH THEM, AND IT IS SITTING THERE VACANT. I MEAN, I KNOW YOU SAY, IT IS NOT A PROBLEM, BECAUSE IT WOULD BE THE OWNER'S PROBLEM, BUT IT IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM, BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T SIT THERE, WE GOT CODE ENFORCEMENT GOING ON, WE HAVE GOT LOOKING ALL OF THE CITY INSTEAD OF TRYING TO DO SOMETHING, I HEAR YOU, YOU KIND OF PERSUADED ME ON THAT LAST ONE. NOT ALWAYS ON YOUR SIDE, BUT I STILL HOLD THE MICROPHONE AND SAY, I WOULD RATHER TRY ONE, SEE WHERE IT GOES . I'M NOT SAYING, GO OUT AND BUILD HOUSES ON ALL THESE LOTS. I WOULD NEVER SAY THAT.

TRY ONE, SEE WHERE IT GOES, AND THEN WE GO FROM THERE, AND IF NOT, WE GO BACK INTO JEREMIAH'S SELLING HARDWARE POWER WASHING, BUT THAT IS WHERE I MET WITH THAT. WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US, WHAT IS IN HERE, I'M HEARING ABOUT IT TOMORROW NIGHT AND I WORK AND I KNOW THAT THERE IS A NEED

FOR HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY. >> MR. MIMMS? FELT LIKE YOU

WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING. >> NO. NO.

>> I THINK WE ARE BROAD TRY ONE. MR. MIMMS?

>> BASED ON THE INPUT I RECEIVED, WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH OPTION ONE AND OPTION TWO TO TRY ONE FOR OPTION TWO, BUT THE REMAINDER WILL BE OPTION ONE, AND WE'LL PRESS AHEAD.

>> THE REMAINDER OF IT WILL BE FOR SALE.

>> YES. >> I THINK THAT'S TWO-PRONGED, AND THAT SATISFIES US ALL. HOW ABOUT YOU, J.

JOHNSON? DOES THAT SATISFY YOU? NO? I DON'T THINK IT

WILL.NEVERMIND. >> ONE, COMMISSIONER OFFICE

>> NOT EVEN ONE? NOT EVEN ONE? EVEN THOUGH WE'RE GOING TO PUT

ALL THE OTHER ONES -- >> IS THAT THE ONE? IS THAT

OKAY? >> OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. I

JUST -- >> YEARS AGO, LEARNED TO COUNT

TO THREE. >> JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF WE HAD GONE ANYWHERE NEAR A TERRITORY WHERE YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED BUT NO, YOU ARE NOT.

>> I THINK IT WILL BE A PHENOMENAL EXPERIMENT.

>> GOOD. ALRIGHTY. THE CONSTRUCTION IS COMING UP.

OKAY. ARE YOU CLEAR ON HOW WE THINK, MR. MIMMS?

[f. 2024 Strategic Plan Action Items]

>> YES. >> WE ARE GOING TO BREAK AROUND

THIS. LET'S GO. >> ALL RIGHT. LET'S MOVE ON,

PLEASE . >> NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS A 2024

STRATEGIC PLAN ACTION ITEM . >> YES, SIR, MR. MIMMS.

>> MARIAM, WOULD YOU TELL ME OUT SINCE YOU ARE THERE? YES, MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION, AGAIN, I'M SORRY. JENERA 22ND OF 2024, WE EMBARK ON THE STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR, AND THAT CARRIED FORTH THROUGH MID FEBRUARY OF 2024. IN YOUR ATTACHMENT, YOUR BACKUP DOCUMENTATION, YOU WILL SEE THE ANNUAL ACTION ITEMS FOR THIS STRATEGIC PLAN YEAR, AND IT IS QUITE AN EXTENSIVE LIST . WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SIMPLY IT TODAY ARE THE TOP ORTIZ. GO OVER THEM WEEKLY. WHOEVER IS THE HIGHER PRIORITIES -- IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, WE'LL DISCUSS IT AT THAT TIME.

>> GREAT. >> ONE OF THE FIRST OF THE TOP RARITIES IS OUR REUNIFICATION. TO ENHANCE OUR AESTHETICS THE STREET LET'S GIVE AND PUBLIC ART INSTALLATIONS, ALSO PARKING REVITALIZATION, HOPEFULLY, WE CAN GET SOME COMMUNITY PRIDE AND ATTRACT BUSINESSES. SO, AS YOU SEE, WITH EACH ONE OF THESE TOP RARITIES, THERE'S A SCHEDULE OF WHAT HAS BEEN DONE AND WHAT HAS BEEN PLANNED TO DO . OKAY? NEXT, HOMELESSNESS. I THINK WE HAVE ACTUALLY MADE SOME GREAT STRIDES WITH THIS, BECAUSE THEY'RE WORKING WITH THE TREASURE COVE'S ALMOST SERVICES COALITION, AND THEY HAVE ACTUALLY IDENTIFIED A PERSPECTIVE LOCATION FOR A HOMELESS RESOURCE CENTER IN CONJUNCTION WITH NEW HORIZONS.

IF THIS HAPPENS, THIS IS A WIN/WIN FOR EVERYBODY. THE

[02:50:01]

. >> MIMMS, CAN INTERRUPT YOU FOR

A SECOND? >> YES, MA'AM.

>> THE TREASURE COVE ALMOST SERVICES HAS A NEW EMPLOYEE

STARTING TODAY . >> YES.

>> GWEN MACLEOD. >> AND WE LOVE HER.

>> I KNOW. AND I SAW HER AT THE GROCERY STORE, AND SHE WAS VERY EXCITED AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS WHAT YOU HADN'T HEARD FROM HER, BUT YOU WILL BE HEARING FROM HER.

>> AS A MATTER OF FACT, I WAS TOLD -- I BELIEVE -- BY THE CEO OF THE ORGANIZATION -- WHEN WILL BE RUNNING THE OPERATIONS WITHIN ST. LUCIE COUNTY. THAT IS A WIN/WIN FOR US, BECAUSE GWEN HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS PARTNER FOR OUR CITY FOR

SEVERAL YEARS . >> YUP, YUP, OKAY.

>> THEN, OUR COMPANY AND SUBORDINATES REVIEW. WE WILL BE DOING A THOROUGH REVIEW OF OUR EXISTING OUTDATED ORDINANCES, IN THE AREAS OF PLANNING, PARKS, NUISANCE ABATEMENT, ANIMAL CONTROL AND NOISE TO STREAMLINE OUR REGULATIONS, FACILITATE GROWTH AND FILAMENT, AND CREATE A BUSINESS-FAMILY ENVIRONMENT . THEN, WE HAVE SERVICES AND STAFFING FOR GROWTH MANAGEMENT PLANS. WE HAVE TO ANALYZE OUR STAFFING NEEDS. WE HAVE TO ADDRESS OUR SKILL GAPS. WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED STRATEGIES TO RECRUIT, TRAIN, AND RETAIN QUALIFIED PERSONNEL. LORE CITY-AFFECTED OPERATIONS. IN ADDITION, ANALYZE EXISTING CONDITIONS AND PROJECT OUR FUTURE WITH GROWTH. ALSO, IDENTIFY OUR COMMUNITY GOALS AND ADDRESS THE POLICIES RELATED TO LAND-USE, CHEST PREDATION, STRUCTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES. THIS IS A BIG ONE. IT IS GOING TO TAKE QUITE A COLLABORATION WITH ST.

LUCIE COUNTY, WITH STATE AGENCIES, AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS A VERY HIGH BIRDIE AND TOP PRIORITY FOR YOU AS WELL.

>> THIS IS A BIG ONE. THIS IS IMPORTANT ABOUT HOW OUR CITY

GROWS. >> YES, MA'AM. YES, MA'AM.

ALSO, NATURE ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS . DUE TO OUR GROWTH AND INCREASING TRAFFIC, STRATEGIC AREAS FOR ST. LUCIE COUNTY AND F-D.O.T., IT BECOMES IMPERATIVE THAT WE ADDRESS NEEDS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING LAMENTING NECESSARY PERMITS ON THE ROAD, AS WELL AS OTHER COMPONENTS FOR THIS INITIATIVE.I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS ANOTHER OF THE VERY HIGH PRIORITY TASKS, AND I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER JEREMIAH JOHNSON VERY INCIDENTAL IN MOVING THIS ALONG, AS HAVE YOU ALL HAVE BEEN, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES, JUST RECENTLY, WITH OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATION GROUP, AND I BELIEVE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING, BECAUSE WE SEE WHAT GROWTH IS DOING TO US. WE HAVE GOT A MEGA-CITY JUST SOUTH OF US. YOU HEARD FROM THE BARLEY TODAY TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THESE PEOPLE COMING IN AND THROUGH OUR CITY ON A DAILY BASIS. SO, WE HAVE TO PREPARE, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT , AGAIN, IT IS A TOP PRIORITY.

>> OKAY. THIS IS COMMISSIONER BRODERICK . STREETLIGHT SERVICES. SO, WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF STREETLIGHTING IN FORT PIERCE. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE SOME DARK AREAS, BUT WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ELIMINATED AREAS IN STREETS OF OUR COMMITTEE FOR SAFETY AND ALSO ATHLETICS. I BELIEVE WE DID MAKE A BIG IMPROVEMENT ALONG STATE ROAD 81A , REPAIRING STREET LIGHTS. ONE OF THE KEYS IS PROCUREMENT OF THE ACTUAL A COMMENT AND PARTS THAT WE NEED TO DO THESE REPAIRS, BUT SOME YEARS AGO, WE DID AN ENERGY SERVICE CONTRACT WHERE WE REPLACED MOST OF OUR LIGHTING WITH L.E.D. LIGHTING, AND THAT HE STILL SUSTAINED, BUT THERE ARE STILL AREAS THAT NEED UPGRADE AND MAINTENANCE , AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP TRACK OF THAT. WE HAVE A FANTASTIC VOLUNTEER, MR. BARBARA GRESH GOES OUT, AND HE INSPECTS THE STREETLIGHTING , AND WE GREATLY APPRECIATE HIM FOR DOING THAT AS WELL.

>> AND THE FPRA HAS A WHOLE SECTION ON THE WEBSITE ABOUT

STREETLIGHTING. >> YES. WE ARE VERY HAPPY WITH OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH FPOA, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THEY JUST NOW UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS FOR UPKEEP, MAINTENANCE OF

OUR CITY. >> RIGHT.

>> ALSO, OUR ANNEXATION STRATEGY. AND OUR ANNEXATION

[02:55:01]

>> YES, GARCIA . >> YES.

>> AND GARCIA CONSTRUCTION IS HERE .

>> OUT ENTIRE CONSTRUCTION DIVISION.

>> RIGHT. >> YEAH. THAT'S A LOT.

THAT'S A LOT. EVERYTHING IS IMPORTANT.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF TOP RARITIES, BUT THEY'RE ALL NEEDED, ESPECIALLY THE GROWTH IN SCHMITT, ROADWAYS IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNTY. IT IS NEEDED THERE.

>> YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE HOMELESS INITIATIVE IN CONJUNCTION WITH NEW HORIZONS. DOES THAT MEAN END IS NEAR NEW HORIZONS OR JUST IN COLLABORATION WITH THEM?

>> AT NEW HORIZONS. >> AT, OKAY.

>> I BELIEVE THERE IS A PORTION OF THE FACILITY CURRENTLY BEING CONTEMPLATED FOR THE HOMELESS DADE RESOURCE CENTER.

>> OKAY. >> IF IT DOES OCCUR, WE CAN HAVE THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS WORKING TOGETHER, AND THERE IS TRANSPORTATION TO THE AREA. WE ALSO HAVE DISCUSSED US, CITY AND COUNTY, PROVIDING PREDATION FOR FIRST ORRICK -- FOUR HISTORIC FACILITIES, BUT WE ARE VERY HAPPY WITH THE TREASURE COVE SERVICES COALITION.

>> OF THING I HEAR IS POSITIVE.

>> YES. >> ANYTHING ELSE? ANYTHING ELSE? GOOD JOB. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> WE'LL KEEP THAT UPDATED FOR YOU ON A MONTHLY BASIS, AND I KNOW WE DO GET DISTRACTED EVERY TWO WEEKS EVERY TIME WE

HAVE A MEETING, BUT THIS -- >> YOU HAVE A NEW PRIORITY

EVERY TIME. >> WE HAVE A NEW RARITY, BUT

[5. 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.]

THIS IS THE BASELINE. >> YES. OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. GARCIA. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE ON. NEXT, COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC AT ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION, PLEASE COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS, AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. MS. COX WILL GIVE YOU A WARNING. MS. MARJORIE?

>> DATE AND NAME. YOU'RE DOING IT. I STOPPED WHEN THEY AT 14 STREET, AND THEY WERE REALLY COMING UP ON PEOPLE, THEY WERE UPSET BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE MOVED UP SEATS, BUT IT IS WORKING , SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU GOING TO DO WITH IT, BUT THAT IS WORKING. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

>> SUSAN POWER, -- I SAW, TODAY, ON YOUR AGENDA ABOUT THE CREATION OF THE CLINIC, THE SHELTER CLINIC, THE ANIMAL CLINIC, AS ONE OF YOUR UPCOMING PROJECTS, AND I'M STILL WAITING TO MEET WITH YOUR STAFF REGARDING THE 30%

[03:00:04]

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR STAYING AND SHARING THAT WITH US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, MADAME MAYOR, 411 NORTH 9TH-STRAIGHT , UNIT 7 -- COUPLE OF THINGS WITH THE CERTIFICATE OF USAGE STAFF WANTED A WAY TO MAKE IT MORE PALATABLE . YOU KNOW, MAKE IT LIKE NEW YORK'S GRADING SYSTEM WHERE THEY DO RESTAURANTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, A SYMBOL OF HONOR THAT YOU GOT THE CITY TO COME IN, LOOKED AT EVERYTHING , AND YOUR PLACES UP TO STANDARDS. WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A NICE PLAQUE, PEOPLE PUT IT UP, AND WHEN I GO THERE AS A CONSUMER , LIKE OH, YEAH, THE CITY HAS BEEN HERE. THE COMMISSION AND EVERYTHING IS OKAY. I'M NOT WALKING INTO DANGER ZONES. THEN, MOVING ON TO THE SURPLUS PROPERTY, I'M SURE YOU ALL REMEMBER ME TALKING ABOUT SURPLUS PROPERTIES, HOW THAT CURRENT SYSTEM THAT WE ARE USING TO DO THE BIDDING PROCESS WASN'T WORKING . THE IDEA OF THE CITY BUILDING A LOT OF HOUSES, TO ME, IN MY MIND, WITH LEAD TO THE SAME KIND OF RESULT. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING, NOW, FOR ABOUT FOR YEARS . ON TRYING TO REDEVELOP THE IDEA OF HOUSING IN LINCOLN PARK, RECENTLY, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE KEVIN FREEMAN AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT, ABOUT HOW TO RECONCEPTUALIZE THE IDEA OF MAKING LINCOLN PARK A WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOOD. I WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE ANYTHING HAPPEN HERE THAT WILL KIND OF TAKE AWAY FROM THE ABILITY TO SEE WHAT THOSE NEW IDEAS WILL LOOK LIKE ON SOME OF THESE LOTS. SO, IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON SELLING THEM OFF, WE WOULD ALL WANT THE ABILITY TO BID ON THEM AND NOT HAVE THEM SOLD OFF IN SOME LARGE PACKAGE, WHICH WOULD PROBABLY BE BUT BY HEDGE FUNDS SOMEWHERE, AND THEY WOULD BE RENTING OUR HOUSES OUT TO US. AND AS FAR AS WE MENTIONED, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY'S, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY'S , SOMEBODY WHO COMES IN AND ROMS MIGRANT PEOPLE OUT OF OUR

[03:05:08]

>> THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE? >> MADAME MAYOR, I HAVE TO EXCUSE MYSELF. I HAVE A MEETING AT 12:30 TO GET TO. MY

APOLOGIES TO EVERYBODY. >> I THINK WE'RE WINDING UP

[6. City Commission Boards and Committees Updates]

ANYWAY. SO -- WE'LL MOVE ON. >> NEXT, CITY COMMISSION BOARDING COMMITTEE UPDATES. COMMISSIONER GAINES, WANT TO

START? >> YEAH, MADAME MAYOR, I WILL START CITY MANAGER MIMMS HAS ALREADY TALKED ABOUT HOMELESSNESS , GAVE US THAT BIT . THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. THAT'S WHERE WE ARE ON THAT ONE. AFFORDABLE HOUSING, I THINK WE HAVE A MEETING COMING UP, AND WE NOW HAVE OUR FULL ALL OF THE I THINK -- WE HAVE EIGHT NOW THAT WE VOTED ON. WE HAVE THE 8 MEMBERS, SO WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON YOU GUYS RECOMMENDED OF THIS WE RECOMMENDED 5, YOU GUYS APPROVED -- THE COMMISSION -- APPROVED THREE, SO WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK AND WORK ON THE ONES THAT WERE NOT APPROVED TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET AN APPROVAL FROM THIS BOARD.RETIREMENT BOARD MET, HAD A MAKEUP CALL, MAKE UP MEETING LAST WEEK, OUR ADVISOR WAS THERE, THE TALK OF HOMELESS CAME UP AGAIN. WE ASKED THEM TO DO THE RESEARCH SO WE CAN BRING THE NUMBER THAT IT WOULD COST BACK TO THIS BOARD, AND LET US DECIDE ON THAT, SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A NUMBER

>> THIS WAY , AND I WILL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE NOT

GOING TO LIKE THE NUMBER. >> DON'T LIKE IT ALREADY.

>> OKAY? YOU ARE NOT GOING TO LIKE THE NUMBER, BUT WE DID ASK THAT, BECAUSETHE RETIREES ARE ASKING, SO THAT IS WHAT WE DID. COUNCIL OF AGING, WE DIDN'T HAVE A QUORUM, SO THE COUNCIL -- I DID MAKE THE ROUNDTABLE, AS I TOLD EVERYBODY THAT WHEN I WAS OUT-OF-STATE , AGAIN, SO, THAT COMMITTEE IS OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE A PROBLEM. YOU WILL PROBABLY GET A LETTER, SAYING, THIS IS SHOWING UP, BUT I AM HERE, I WILL MAKE IT, AND TREASURE COAST COUNSEL, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS ME, OR JUST DIDN'T WANT ME TO THE MEETING, YOU KNOW, BUT IT HAS ITS OWN LINK, AND SO, I LITERALLY STAYED IN THE WAITING ROOM. I LITERALLY STAYED IN THE WAITING ROOM FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES .

>> NEVER LET YOU IN? >> THEY NEVER LET ME IN. I WAS EMAILING EVERYBODY, AND THIS, LIKE, THEY APOLOGIZE AND SAY, HEY, WE NEVER WENT BACK. LOOK IN THE WAITING ROOM. SO, I WOULD GIVE AN UPDATE. I WOULD GIVE AN UPDATE THE NEXT CONFERENCE FOR BOTH MEETINGS. I KNOW IT WAS, BUT I WAS UPSET BECAUSE THERE WAS A PERSON IN THE RIVER COUNTY DOING SOMETHING HISTORICAL, SO I WAS GOING TO COME IN. I THINK I HAVE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT STORMS.

>> GOING TO SHOW UP FOR JEREMIAH?

>> I HAVE QUITE THE ABILITY TO GO BACK AND READ THE PRESENTATION, BUT I THINK IT I HAVE COVERED EVERYTHING. THOSE ARE MY SIX, IF I DO REMEMBER. YEAH. THOSE ONLINE. OTHER THAN THAT, NEXT THING, THE COMMITTEES FROM THE BOARD , AGAIN , I AM JUST BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION, THE MOTORCYCLES THAT ARE RIDING AROUND OUR COMMUNITY, UP-AND-DOWN U.S. 1, 25TH STREET, WORK, DOING WHEELIES, RUNNING STOP SIGNS AND EVERYTHING, AGAIN, MS. MANAGER, I'M NOT ASKING THE POLICE TO CHASE NOBODY ON MOTORCYCLES OR WHATEVER, BUT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING, BECAUSE AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE HAD A TRAGEDY THIS WEEKEND FROM A

[03:10:01]

EVERY DAY. >> THIS WAS A 14-YEAR-OLD .

>> 14. I HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN SOME KIDS YOUNGER THAN 14 ON THE STREETS RIDING THESE DIRT BIKES UP-AND-DOWN MAJOR STREETS , AND SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, CARS DON'T LOOK WITH THE LESSONS MOTORCYCLE DRIVERS ON THE HIGHWAY. SO, I JUST WANT TO BRING THAT TO THE ATTENTION AND LET US KNOW THAT , YOU KNOW, SOONER OR LATER, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT SOME TYPE OF SOLUTION TO THAT PROBLEM. SO, THANK YOU.

>> J. JOHNSON? >> COMMISSIONER, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SOLUTION IS. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A SOLUTION. I REMEMBER BEING SCARED IN A RURAL NEIGHBORHOOD OF A SHERIFF DEPUTY BEING AROUND WITH ME AND A FRIEND ON FOR-WHEELERS.

THERE WAS A FEAR FACTOR THERE, AND THERE'S NO FEAR FACTOR ANYMORE, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHY. THERE IS NO FEAR FACTOR.

OF COURSE, YOU JUST ADD TO THAT, YOU KNOW, THE COURT HAVE MADE SOME RULINGS IN RECENT YEARS THAT CHALLENGE THAT,

EVEN FOR -- >> I THINK WE GREW UP IN THE

SANCTUARY -- >> I THINK WE DID TOO YOU KNOW,

I WAS TERRIFIED BY THAT. >> ME TOO.

>> IT IS WHAT IT IS. MADAME MAYOR, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE A TPL REPORT, BUT THANK YOU FOR SITTING IN . IF YOU

WERE ABLE TO -- >> I JUST HAVE A BRIEF ONE.

WASN'T A BIG AGENDA. >> ONLY WHEN I HAVE IS MAIN STREET, AND THERE ARE SOME VERY FINE EVENTS COMING UP IN THE NEXT WEEK AND A HALF-TWO WEEKS ON BEHALF OF MAIN STREET AND ALL THE GOOD THINGS HAPPENING THERE. YOU HEARD FROM TOURISM TODAY . LET'S SEE. WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE I WANTED TO SPEAK ON? THE DBA. DBA IS VRY INTERESTED IN THE CONVERSATION OF HOMELESSNESS , AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY . I APPRECIATE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BEING AT THE MEETINGS AND CITY STAFF BEING AT THOSE MEETINGS. THEY ARE VERY INTERESTED, AND THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW TO KIND OF GET THE DOWNTOWN AREA A LITTLE BETTER FACELIFT , YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT IS, YOU KNOW, PARTNERING TOGETHER WITHIN THE PRIVATE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO, YOU KNOW, PRESSURE WASH SIDEWALKS , BUT THE REQUEST WAS SPECIFIC TO CITY STAFF ABOUT PRESSURE WASHING, SO , I'M NOT SURE WE'LL BE ABLE TO ADDRESS OR NOT, BUT JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT THE CONVERSATION IS OUT THERE. IN ADDITION TO THAT , THERE WAS SOME PARKING CONVERSATION. A LITTLE CONVERSATION ABOUT PARKING RELATED TO THE GARAGE, AND THAT HAS ALL BEEN SOLD. BUT I

THINK THAT'S IT FOR THE DBA. >> THE DBA CAME IN HERE, AND MEETING IN-HOUSE WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> I MET WITH THEM ALSO. >> I KNOW.

>> YEAH. >> THE CHIEF WAS THERE THE COMMAND STAFF WAS THERE, THEY WERE LISTENING, AND I THINK WE GOT A LOT OF THINGS ACCOMPLISHED. I THINK WE DID A LOT STARTED. THERE WAS SOME EDUCATION THAT HADN'T HAPPENED. PEOPLE NEEDED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHO TO CALL WHEN, AND , YOU KNOW, JUST SOME BASICS. I THINK SOMEBODY FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO TRY TO BE AT THE DBA MEETINGS, AT

LEAST LET US >> IN THAT SEASON?

>> YEAH, YEAH. >> AND THEY'RE VERY

APPRECIATIVE. >> THEY WANT TO WORK WITH THAT. THEY ARE NOT THERE. THEY ARE THERE TO HELP WITH THE SOLUTION AGAIN. SO, ON THE TPL , THE MOST DISCUSSED ITEM WAS AN ITEM THAT TALKED ABOUT AN ANALYSIS OF CENSUS DATA FOR THE TPO AREA THAT AND FORMS AND GUYS THAT TPO'S PUBLIC OUTREACH TO DISADVANTAGED AMENITIES. THE DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES ARE LISTED AS SENIORS , POPULATIONS 20 TO 64 WITH DISABILITIES . HOUSEHOLD WITHOUT A VEHICLE , POPULATION WITH INCOME BELOW THE POVERTY LINE, LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY , AND MINORITY POPULATIONS, AND THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE DISCUSSION BECAUSE THE INTUITIVE REACTION OF THE BOARD WAS THIS MAP DIDN'T LOOK RIGHT. PEOPLE WERE SURPRISED -- WAIT A SECOND, NO, SOUTH BEACH IS A

[03:15:12]

ALSO, THE TURNPIKE IS GOING TO BE HAVING TWO MEETINGS . ONE, PORT ST. LUCIE, THE OTHER, FORT PIERCE. THIS WILL BE ABOUT THEIR WORK ON THE INTERCHANGE'S SWITCH, WHICH I THINK IS GOING TO BE -- TWO INTERCHANGES IN THE NORTH PART OF THIS SERVICE AREA. AT LEAST ONE IS OKEECHOBEE ROAD. ANYWAY, I CAN REMEMBER. THEY'RE HAVING PUBLIC MEETINGS. SO, FOR PEOPLE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT IT, THOSE WILL BE PUBLICIZED FOR PEOPLE. AND, I ATTENDED THE MEETING FOR FMIT. WE WILL KNOW, VERY SOON, ABOUT WHAT OUR NEW RATES WILL BE, BUT OF COURSE, THE REASSURANCE IS ALWAYS THE LAST THING THAT GETS NAILED DOWN, AND THAT WAS GOING TO BE NAILED DOWN AFTER OUR MEETING, BUT INCREASES WILL NOT BE AS BIG AS LAST YEAR. THE FLORIDA IS ALWAYS IN THE CROSSHAIRS BECAUSE WE ARE SURROUNDED ON THREE SIDES BY WATER, AND HAVE HURRICANES, AND WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE THAT PROBLEM. ON APRIL 19, THE TREASURE COAST REGIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES IS HOLDING ITS ETHICS EDUCATION , 9:30 AT IRSC. I BELIEVE MS. COX MAY HAVE SIGNED US UP EVERYBODY IS SIGNED UP. THAT IS A REQUIRED 4 HOURS ON MAY 21ST. THE FPOA WILL HAVE A MEETING WITH THIS COMMISSION . WHOEVER WANTS TO ATTEND, OUR BUDGET AND OUR KIND A PLANNING SESSION IS MAY 20 ONE, 1:00, AT IRSC. MAY 15, THE TREASURE COAST REGIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES WILL HAVE ITS LEGISLATIVE LUNCHEON , AND WE'LL BE AT THE FORT PIERCE CLUB EVERYBODY IS INVITED. USUALLY, WE HAVE LEGISLATORS COME AND , ALSO, THE ST. LUCIE COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT IS LOOKING FOR A NEW CLERK TREASURER. SO, THAT COMPLETE MY REPORT FOR MY COMMITTEES, AND UNLESS THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE , MS. COX OR MS. HEDGES OR MR. MIMMS , FROM STAFF , THAT I THINK WE SHALL ADJOURN. ADJOURN.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.