Jun 17, 2024 City Commission Regular Meeting

[00:00:10]

>> I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. THIS IS MONDAY JUNE 17. STAFFORD FISHER WITH NEW COVENANT PRAYER CENTER AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE .

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. LET US PRAY. OUR FATHER, OUR GOD, WE CANNOT SAY THANK YOU, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR MERCY. WE REALIZE GOD WITHOUT YOU, GOD, THAT WE ARE NOTHING. O GOD WE REALIZE YOU RULE SUPREME IN ALL THINGS GOD.

WE ASK YOUR BLESSINGS UPON THIS MEETING, ON OUR MAYOR O GOD, OUR COMMISSIONERS, O GOD ALL THE CITY THAT'S BEING CONDUCTED TODAY. IN ALL OUR WAYS YOU WILL DIRECT OUR PATH AND FOR THAT WE GIVE YOU GLORY. WE GIVE YOU PRAISE. EVERYBODY

SAY AMEN. >> AMEN.

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

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

[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

]. >> FIRST ITEM IS APPROVAL OF

THE MINUTES FROM JUNE 3. >> APPROVAL.

>> SECOND. >> THERE IS APPROVAL AND A SECOND. CALL THE ROLE PLEASE

>> WE HAVE NO PROCLAMATIONS THIS EVENING. WE HAD ONE FOR

[a. Email from Susan Parry, United for Animals, praising City of Fort Pierce Fleet Maintenance, especially Gil Arbelo and his team, for their exceptional service maintaining the City Van since 2010, which has safely transported thousands of pets, supplies, and donated food with minimal breakdowns and continues to serve the community reliably.]

[8. ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO AGENDA AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

THAT 11A BE PULLED. >> ARE THERE ANY OTHER CHANGES? IF NOT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

>> MOVE TO ACCEPT THE AGENDA WITH MODIFICATION.

>> THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND. CALL THE ROLE PLEASE.

[9. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING PUBLIC HEARINGS Any person who wishes to comment on an agenda item which is not under Public Hearings on the Agenda may be heard at this time and must sign up to speak in advance. 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.]

ROLE ]. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> WE HAVE COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS NOT

REQUIRING PUBLIC HEARINGS. >> WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE SIGNED UP. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. YOU WILL GET A THREE SECOND WARNING. STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS .

>> RICK REED, 2425 SOUTH U.S. ONE. I AM INTERESTED IN ONCE AGAIN, IT IS BEFORE YOU ALL, THE LEASE TO TERMINATE FROM THE LINCOLN PARK YOUNG PROFESSIONALS. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IT'S COME BEFORE Y'ALL. EACH TIME IT IS TWEAKED OR CHANGED JUST A LITTLE BIT. THE THING THAT AMAZES ME IS IT DIDN'T TAKE MUCH DUE DILIGENCE TO LOOK AT THIS. THE LEASE WAS SIGNED IN 2020, AND IT WAS SIGNED IN THE NAME OF LINCOLN PARK YOUNG PROFESSIONALS. SO I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THE OFFICERS OR PARTNERS. IT'S AN LLC. THE LETTER IS BEING WRITTEN BY THE MAYOR ON BEHALF OF THE CITY TO LASHONDA HENDERSON AS VICE PRESIDENT OF LINCOLN PARK PROFESSIONALS.

WELL IT IS LLC. THEY DON'T HAVE A VICE PRESIDENT. SECOND OF ALL, SHE'S NO LONGER A MEMBER OF THAT LLC. SHE WAS REPLACED IN 2023. I HAVE THE CURRENT FILING WITH SUN BIZ AND SHE'S NOT A MEMBER OF THAT LLC. THE REGISTERED AGENT AS OF MARCH 22, 2024, IS VENICE GILMORE, A CITY EMPLOYEE. HE IS REGISTERED

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I DOUBT VERY SERIOUSLY YOU MET WITH HER. I WISH YOU HAD. I'D LIKE AN ANSWER AGAIN TO WHERE DID THE MONEY GO? NONPROFIT.

THEY HAVEN'T FILED WITH DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO SOLICIT FUNDS. I HAVE TRACKED NOW OVER A HALF MILLION DOLLARS. WHERE IS THE M■ONEY? AND EVERYBODY JUST SITS WITH THEIR HEAD DOWN. I AM LOOKING AT EVERY ONE OF Y'ALL. YOU ARE EITHER ASLEEP OR PRAYING THAT I WILL GO AWAY. I WILL TAKE NOTICE. IF Y'ALL WANT TO JUST SERVE ME. WHY ARE WE SERVING NOTICE TO TERMINATE A LEASE ON PUBLIC PROPERTY THAT BELONGS TO US TO A PERSON THAT'S NOT INVOLVED IN THIS ENTITY?

>> THANK YOU, SIR. >> I HAVE 2:49 ACCORDING TO

THAT. >> YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> YEAH, SO IS YOURS. >> AARON O'BRIEN.

>> I AMER INO'BRIEN. 708 SOUTH NINTH STREET. IT IS A COINCIDENCE. I AM HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE SAME SUBJECT AS THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER. 11D ON CONSENT AGENDA. BUT WITH A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, MUCH DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. I FIRST HEARD ABOUT THIS PROJECT IN THE FALL 2022. WHEN IT WAS DESCRIBED AND I SAW THE RENDERINGS I WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN. I WITH EL WENT TO WORK AND TOLD MY CO-WORKERS. THEY WERE EXCITED. EXCUSE MY LACK OF PUBLIC SPEAKING PLEASE. THEY ARE RESIDENTS OF FORT PIERCE. WE WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO A SPACE LIKE THIS IN FORT PIERCE AND WE WANTED TO KNOW WHEN IT WAS GOING TO BE DONE. I LOOKED AT THE RENDERINGS, THE PROTOTYPE. I THINK IT IS IN MIAMI WHERE THEY HAVE THE SIMILAR SPACE. IT'S JUST A GREAT MULTI FACETED IDEA THAT CAN BE USED FOR A DIFFERENT NUMBER OF REASONS HERE. I AM GOING TO ASSUME MOST OF YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN CONSTRUCTION ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, SOME MORE THAN OTHERS. JUST TAKE A REMODEL OF A BATHROOM OR KITCHEN FOR EXAMPLE, IT WILL PROVE MY POINT. I STARTED MAKING A LIST OF THE DELAYS THAT CAN OCCUR. COMPILING A LIST, IT GOT PRETTY LONG. I DON'T THINK THIS IS A FULL LIST OF EVERYTHING THAT CAN GO WRONG. BUT AS YOU KNOW, CONSTRUCTION TAKES A LONG TIME, ESPECIALLY IN THE CITY. I IMAGINE THIS PROJECT ALSO SUFFERED SEVERAL OF THESE DELAYS. I WON'T PRETEND TO KNOW PROCEDURES OF THE COMMISSION. I KNOW WHERE WE ARE AT, CONSENT AGENDA, THIS IS VOTED ON ALREADY. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, I DIDN'T SEE THE AGENDA TWO WEEKS AGO SO I COULDN'T SPEAK. I AM HERE TO PUT A CHALLENGE FORWARD TO COMMISSIONERS THAT REPRESENT DISTRICT ONE AND THE MAYOR TO FIND A PATH FORWARD FOR THIS PROJECT. THERE IS ALWAYS A PATH FORWARD. WHERE THERE IS A WILL, THERE IS A WAY. I KNOW I MIGHT BE JUST NOT HAVING ANYTHING COME OF WHAT I SAY, BUT THERE IS SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE CHALLENGES. BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE EXPERIENCE AND CELEBRATE ART, CULTURE, DIVERSITY IN THE CITY, ESPECIALLY LINCOLN PARK. THAT'S WHAT THIS PROJECT REPRESENTS. IT TAKES TIME AND UNFORTUNATELY TAKES MONEY TO GET IT DONE. I THINK IF ALL THE PARTIES WERE BROUGHT TOGETHER, EVERYBODY INVOLVED WOULD FIND A PATH FORWARD. THERE IS COMPROMISE. THERE ARE CHALLENGES TO IDENTIFY. THERE ARE SOLUTIONS. BUT I REALLY THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PROJECT, FIRST STEP FORWARD FOR THE CITY AND FOR LINCOLN PARK SPECIFICALLY. SO THAT'S MY CHALLENGE. WE ARE A SUPPORTER OF THE PROJECT AND WE LIKE TO SEE IT, NOT THE LEASE TERMINATED, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PROJECT COMPLETED.

[11. CONSENT AGENDA]

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU MA'AM. THAT'S

THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENT. >> SO WE MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO PULL ANY ITEM ON

THE CONSENT AGENDA? >> NEED TO PULL C AND D.

>> ANYTHING ELSE? IF NOT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THE

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REST. >> MOVE TO APPROVE.

>> SECOND. >> THERE IS A MOTION AND SECOND. FOR REMAINDER OF THE AGENDA. CALL THE ROLE PLEASE

[c. Approval to continue consideration of Second Amendment to the Amended and Restated Agreement for Development of King's Landing for 45 days from June 11, 2024 in order to provide Audubon Development and Harbert Realty Services the opportunity to agree to a joint venture agreement subject to all conditions approved by the Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency Board on June 11, 2024.]

ROLE ]. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> WE HAVE ITEM 11C WHICH IS APPROVAL TO CONTINUE CONSIDERATION OF SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDED RESTATED AGREEMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF KING'S LANDING FOR 45 DAYS FROM JUNE 11, 2024, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE AUDUBON DEVELOPMENT AND HARBERT REALTY SERVICES THE OPPORTUNITY TO AGREE TO A JOINT VENTURE AGREEMENT SUBJECT TO ALL CONDITIONS APPROVED BY FORT PIERCE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY

BOARD ON JUNE 11, 2024. >> I ASKED THAT C AND D BE PULLED BECAUSE IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS I HAD A NO VOTE ON ALL AGENDA ITEMS. I WANTED TO BE CONSISTENT WITH NO VOTE. I AM ASKING FOR C THAT A MOTION BE MADE.

>> THAT YOU CAN VOTE INDIVIDUALLY ON IT. ALL RIGHT.

IS THERE SOMEONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION?

>> I WAS GOING TO PULL 11C AS WELL FOR A DIFFERENT REASON.

NOT TO GET BACK IN A THAT WHOLE DISCUSSION BUT I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT REPRESENTATIVES OF HARBERT REALTY SERVICES GROUP OR COMPANY WILL BE IN TOWN SOMETIME IN THE NEXT WEEKS. IF THEY DESIRE, AND THEY INDICATE BY PHONE THAT THEY WISH TO, IS TO MAKE INTRODUCTIONS WHILE THEY'RE HERE. I THINK BASED ON THE SENSITIVITY OF THIS WHOLE ISSUE, ONE ON ONE COMMUNICATION I THINK WOULD HELP TO ESTABLISH SOME CONFIDENCE LEVEL AND YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE DEALING WITH TYPE SCENARIO. ONCE I GET MORE INFORMATION, I WILL GET WITH SARAH. I KNOW THERE ARE E-MAILS FLOATING AROUND BUT I WILL ALSO MAKE A PHONE CALL AND SEE WHAT'S UP WITH THAT. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE THAT WE EXTEND AN OLIVE BRANCH TO THESE FOLKS AND WELCOME THEM TO THE CITY AND LOOK TO SEE IF WE CAN FACILITATE HELPING TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD ON NOT GETTING INVOLVED IN THEIR TRANSACTION, MIND YOU, BUT FROM THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE TO BE WELCOMING AND ACCOMMODATING IN ANY CAPACITY THAT WE CAN FROM OUR POSITION.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION ON THAT?

>> I WOULD MOVE TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.

>> A MOTION AND A SECOND. CALL THE ROLE PLEASE.

[d. Approve Notice to terminate Agreement dated October 27, 2020 to Lease and Improve the 1134 and 1138 Avenue D with Lincoln Park Young Professionals in accordance with Section 16(a) of the lease agreement.]

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

>> NO, MA'AM. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> APPROVE NOTICE TO TERMINATE AGREEMENT DATED OCTOBER 27, 2020 TO LEASE AND IMPROVE THE 1134 AND 1138 AVENUE D WITH LINCOLN PARK YOUNG PROFESSIONALS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 16A OF THE LEASE AGREEMENT.

>> SAME. I HAD A NO VOTE. >> MOVE TO APPROVE.

>> SECOND WITH COMMENT. I SECOND IT. WE HAVE HEARD, YOU KNOW, FROM A CONSTITUENT THAT BASICALLY BROUGHT UP THE FACT OF THIS PROJECT. I THINK THAT IN LIGHT OF HER COMMENTS OF WANTING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS TYPE OF OPPORTUNITY THAT FIRST THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME TYPE OF SEVERANCE BETWEEN WHAT IS CURRENTLY CONTRACTED AND WAS AWARDED AND WON BY A THEN FUNCTIONING GROUP OF PEOPLE. SO AS A RESULT OF THE LACK OF FUNCTIONING AND LACK OF COMMUNICATION FROM THIS PARTICULAR ENTITY, WE WERE ADVISED BY THE MANAGER THAT THESE ARE STEPS AND ACTIONS THAT NEEDED TO BE TAKEN SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD WITH A DEVELOP TYPE OPPORTUNITY PERHAPS IN THAT SPACE. SO I AM CONCERNED NOW ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SECURING THE SITE BECAUSE IT'S NOT SECURE MEANING THAT THERE ARE PIPES STICKING OUT THE GROUND, WIRES STICKING OUT THE GROUND, ET CETERA. ALTHOUGH IT IS FENCED IN, IT'S STILL NOT SECURE IN MY MANNER. SO I THINK FOR THE PUBLIC THAT'S WATCHING THIS AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS GOING ON IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT AGREEMENT WITH AN ENTITY THAT DID NOT FULFILL THE CONTRACT AGREEMENT. SO WE ARE AT A PLACE NOW THAT FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ANY TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT AND BRINGING ANYTHING TO FRUITION THAT WE NEED TO SEVER THAT. THAT'S MY COMMENT AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT. THIS ENTITY, LINCOLN PARK YOUNG

[00:15:04]

>> ONE QUICK COMMENT IF I COULD TOO. COMMISSIONER GAINS, YOU HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT WITH YOUR VOTES IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS. I AM CURIOUS AS TO THE NO VOTE IF YOU COULD HELP ME UNDERSTAND IN CASE I AM MISSING SOMETHING OR IF YOU COULD, GIVE ME PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE I CAN'T CALL YOU.

>> AS I SAID PREVIOUS IN THE OTHER TWO VOTES, THERE WERE SEVERAL QUESTIONS RAISED ABOUT THIS PROJECT. AND WHEN IT FIRST CAME UP, IT CAME BEFORE THE BOARD BECAUSE IT WAS THE INDIVIDUALS, THE GROUP, THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS THAT GAVE US A VERBAL THAT THEY WANTED TO STOP THE PROCESS. I DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS PROPER BECAUSE WE HAD A WRITTEN CONTRACT.

DURING THE MEETINGS WE LOOKED AT THE CONTRACT AND WE SAID OKAY, WE ARE GOING TO USE THE VERBAL BUT WE ARE GOING TO TAKE OUT OF THE CONTRACT THAT THEY FAILED TO DO CERTAIN THINGS.

THAT'S WHAT WAS VOTED ON. ABANDONMENT I THINK IS WHAT IT WAS, PROJECT STOPPED ABANDONMENT. I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT WAS. ABANDONMENT. A MOTION WAS MADE TO TERMINATE BASED ON LANGUAGE IN THE CONTRACT DEALING WITH ABANDONMENT OF THE PROPERTY. TO ME, IT DIDN'T SIT RIGHT WITH ME. I VOTED NO AT THE FIRST FPRA MEETING AND I VOTED AGAIN AT THE CITY MEETING BECAUSE I FELT THEY SHOULD HAVE COME IN FRONT OF US AND ASKED US AND SAID WHY DIDN'T THEY DO WHATEVER. WE READ THE CONTRACT AND THE MOTION WAS MADE BASED ON THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT THAT WAS WITH US AND IT CAME DOWN TO ABANDONMENT OF THE PROPERTY. BUT MY FIRST VOTE WAS BECAUSE IT WAS A VERBAL WE DON'T WANT TO DO IT. I ASKED WAS IT IN WRITING? THEY SAID WE WILL TRY TO GET IT IN WRITING.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN IT IN WRITING. THEN WE SAID ABANDON THE PROJECT AND THAT'S WHEN THE VOTE CAME. I HOPE THAT

ANSWERED. >> IT ABSOLUTELY DOES. THANK YOU FOR THAT. YOU BROUGHT ME TO WHERE I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IN THE CONTRACT SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THE PROJECT IS A VERY WORTHY PROJECT. BUT IT LOOKS TO ME THAT IT'S BEEN ABANDONED. IF I START DEVELOPING A PROPERTY OF THIS NATURE AND LEAVE IT IN THAT CONDITION, TO ME IT IS ABANDONED. IT IS AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY BECAUSE WE ARE DEALING WITH IT, TWO PARTIES, AND ONE PARTY TO ME HAS NOT HELD UP THEIR END OF THE DEAL. I THINK IT'S GOT GREAT VISION.

I THINK IT'S GOT GREAT OPPORTUNITY. I THINK OUR CITY CAN DO GREAT THINGS WITH IT WHEN IT IS TIME. WITHIN THE CONTRACT ALSO IT IDENTIFIES TERMINATION PROCEDURES. IT SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIES WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE NOTICED WHEN WE ARE SUPPOSED TO SEND CORRESPONDENCE AND THAT CORRESPONDENCE IS ADDRESSED TO AS TO THE TENANT LASHONDA HENDERSON VICE PRESIDENT. WE ARE ABIDING BY THE CONTRACT AND SIGNED THE CONTRACT. READY TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> A COUPLE COMMENTS. COMMISSIONER GAINS RAISES AN INTERESTING POINT. WHEN THE POINT WAS BROUGHT UP, I HAD SUGGESTED, AND IT DIDN'T GET TRACTION, THAT WE ENTER INTO A GENERAL RELEASE BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES INSTEAD OF THE WHOLE ABANDONMENT THING WHICH TO ME POTENTIALLY LEADS YOU DOWN THE ROAD OF DISPUTE AND LITIGATION. SO I HAD SUGGESTED A GENERAL LEASE BUT THAT DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE. SO BE IT. YOU KNOW, WE'LL SEE IF THERE ARE PROBLEMS THAT ARISE BECAUSE WE ARE EXERCISING ABANDONMENT PROVISION WHICH I THINK IS SOMEWHAT OBVIOUS. BUT IT IS A LITTLE MORE CHALLENGING TO MOVE IN A COURT. I THOUGHT GENERAL RELEASE WAS CLEANER METHODOLOGY TO RESOLVE THIS. I WANT TO REITERATE COMMISSIONER C

[00:20:03]

THAT DOES NOT INVOLVE THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. WE SIMPLY ARE A BYSTANDER TO THAT ARRANGEMENT. I WANT THAT CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD.

COMMISSIONER C JOHNSON TOUCHED ON IT, EXPANDED ON IT. THERE IS THIS PERCEPTION THAT A HALF MILLION DOLLARS INTO THIS AND IT WENT POOF. THAT SIMPLY ISN'T TRUE. THAT THE BE ARTICULATED HOPEFULLY CORRECTLY MOVING FORWARD AND IN THE MEDIA WHERE REPORTS AND CLAIMS ARE SPROUTING LIKE WEEDS CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. THAT'S MY COMMENTARY.

>> YOU SAID IT PRETTY CLEARLY. >> MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, BASED ON COMMISSIONER GAINES COMMENT AS WELL AS COMMISSIONER BRODERICK, THERE IS A PROVISION UNDER PARAGRAPH 17 THAT ALLOWS TERMINATION FOR ANY REASON. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE DEFAULT.

FOR ANY REASON BY EITHER PARTY WITH 120 DAYS NOTICE. SO THAT IS AN OPTION THAT DOES EXIST FOR YOU IF YOU DID NOT WANT TO CONTINUE DOWN THE DEFAULT ROUTE. THE CONTRACT DOES ALLOW FOR TERMINATION FOR ANY REASON WITH 120 DAYS' NOTICE.

>> ALL RIGHT. DO WE WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THIS PARTICULAR VOTE? THERE IS A MOTION AND SECOND.

>> MOTION AND SECOND ON THE FLOOR.

>> SHALL WE JUST VOTE? >> SURE.

>> YES. >> NO, MA'AM.

[a. Legislative Hearing - Ordinance 24-015: Amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Fort Pierce Chapter 125 - Zoning, Article IV - Basic Zoning Districts, Section 125-212 Planned Development Zone (PD) and deleting existing Section 125-213 CHAPTER 125-213 - Planned Unit Redevelopment Zone (PUR). SECOND READING]

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

>> YES, MA'AM. >> THANK YOU. WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS. SO WE HAVE A LEGISLATIVE HEARING ON ORDINANCE 24-015, ORDINANCE ENDING CITY OF FORT PIERCE FOR INSERTING AMENDED AND REVISED SECTION ZONING ARTICLE 4, BASIC ZONING DISTRICT SECTION 125- 212 PROVIDING FOR CLAUSE REPEALING ORDINANCES, PROVIDING FOR EFFECTIVE DATE. THIS IS THE

SECOND READING. >> THIS IS SECOND READING.

ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, PLEADS COME FORWARD.

SEEING NO MOVEMENT, I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING AND

ENTERTAIN A MOTION. >> MADAM MAYOR, MOTION TO

APPROVE 24-015. >> SECOND.

>> A MOTION AND A SECOND. >> YES.

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

[b. Legislative Hearing - Ordinance No. 24-018 an ordinance by the City Commission of the City of Fort Pierce, Florida; amending the City's zoning atlas and rezoning one(1) parcel generally located at or near 301 Florida Ave, containing approximately 0.38 Acres of land, more or less, from General Commercial (C-3) to Planned Development (PD); Parcel ID: 2410-711-0041-000-7. SECOND READING]

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

>> NEXT WE HAVE ORDINANCE 24/018 ORDINANCE BY CITY OF COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE FLORIDA AMENDING CITY'S ZONING ATLAS AND REZONING ONE PARCEL GENERALLY LOCATED AT OR NEAR 301 FLORIDA AVENUE CONTAINING APPROXIMATELY .38 ACRES OF LAND MORE OR LESS FROM GENERAL COMMERCIAL C3 TO PLANNED DEVELOPMENT. D PROVIDING FOR EFFECTIVE DATE.

THIS IS THE SECOND READING. >> SECOND READING. ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION, PLEASE COME FORWARD. I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ENTERTAIN A

MOTION. >> APPROVAL.

>> SECOND. >> YES.

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

[c. Legislative Hearing - Ordinance No. 24-012 amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Fort Pierce, Chapter 24 - Nuisances. FIRST READING]

>> NEXT WE ANOTHER LEGISLATIVE HEARING FOR ORDINANCE 24/012, CODE OF ORDINANCES OF CITY OF FORT PIERCE FLORIDA AMENDING CHAPTER 4 ARTICLE ONE BY CREATING TO

[00:25:03]

>> THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING MAD MA'AM MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS. ERS. WE DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS AT A CONFERENCE AGENDA PRIOR. IT'S BEEN 25 YEARS SINCE THIS ORDINANCE WAS UPDATED SO THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK PUT INTO THIS. SO A QUICK SUMMARY, DEFINITIONS HAVE BEEN SEVERELY REDUCED FOR JUS CLARIFICATION AND OLD DEFINITIONS WERE ACTUALLY BROUGHT INTO THE ORDINANCE. I WILL EXPLAIN IT A LITTLE BIT MORE. CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN KNOWN AS SEP TED WAS ADOPTED BY RESOLUTION AND PUT INTO THE ORDINANCE. IT CREATES A NUISANCE ABATEMENT PROGRAM AND CHANGES THE PENALTIES AND LIENS FROM BEING A SEPARATE TYPE OF LIEN TO BE CONSISTENT WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT LIENS. I WILL EXPLAIN EACH IN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL. CONDITIONS PREVIOUSLY LISTED AS DEFINITION ARE INCORPORATED INTO CODE AS A VIOLATION. ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS ITCH WAS TAUGHT WHEN I STARTED HERE YEARS AGO WAS YOU CANNOT BE IN VIOLATION OF A DEFINITION. YOU HAD TO LIST WHAT THE VIOLATION WAS AND YOU HAD TO LIST THE DEFINITIONS THAT WENT WITH IT. IT GOT COMPLICATED AND CONFUSING. THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS. WE TOOK ALL THE ITEMS CONSIDERED A NUISANCE AND PUT THEM INTO THE CODE. SO IT'S NOT JUST A DEFINITION ANYMORE. IT'S ITEMS THAT YOU CAN BE IN VIOLATION OF. AS I MENTIONED, SEP TED GUIDELINES BECAUSE WHICH DIDN'T WANT THE FULL RERATE AT THE TIME, WE ADOPTED THEM BY RESOLUTION AND NOW THAT WE ARE DOING REWRITE THEY HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED. IT'S A RULE WE HAVE BEEN USING BY RESOLUTIONS.

NOW IT IS JUST PUT INTO CODE. ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHANGES, IT IS CREATING NUISANCE ABATEMENT PROGRAM AND IT IS CHANGING MY PROCESS ON HOW WE HANDLE NUISANCE CONDITIONS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO IS THROUGH THIS NEW PROGRAM ALL NEW AS SOON AS CONDITION CASES WILL GO IN FRONT OF THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE WHO WILL DECLARE THE CONDITION A NUISANCE AND ORDER IT BE ABATED. IT IS FLIP-FLOPPING HOW WE DO IT. WE ARE JUST KIND OF CHANGING HOW WE DO THINGS. IT PROVIDES WRITTEN ORDER FROM THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE. IT DOES PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT MORE CLARITY TO HOW WE DO THINGS. IT'S STANDARDIZING HOW LIENS ARE IMPOSED AND ENFORCED. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE SAT IN FRONT OF DIFFERENT COMMISSIONS AND SAID THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CODE ENFORCEMENT LIEN, DEMOLITION LIEN, THIS DOES AWAY WITH IT ALL. IT IS ONE TYPE OF LIEN AND ONLY ONE TYPE OF LIEN. I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT AS WELL. AS FAR AS ARTICLE FOUR BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES, REALLY JUST MINOR AMENDMENTS TO MOST OF THE WORDING BUT AGAIN IT TAKES AWAY DEMOLITION LIEN AND MAKES IT ONE TYPE OF LIEN.

WE ARE ESTABLISHING A LOT IN THIS REWRITE. THAT'S ALL I HAVE UNLESS ANYBODY HAS QUESTIONS.

>> I WANT TO CLARIFY AND EMPHASIZE THAT WE IN ALL THIS DISCUSSION, WE ARE STILL WANTING COMPLIANCE RATHER THAN

LIENS. >> CORRECT.

>> WE PREFER COMPLIANCE. >> CORRECT.

>> YOU CAN WORK WITH YOUR OFFICE AND PEOPLE IF THEY GET ANY NOTICE, THEY NEED TO COMMUNICATE AND NOT JUST IGNORE

IT. >> ABSOLUTELY. THERE ARE TWO OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. SO WE WILL BE SENDING THE NOTICE OUT WITH THE POSTING AT THE BEGINNING ADVISING OF THE HEARING AND THEN YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AT THE HEARING AND SPECIAL MAGISTRATE ALWAYS GIVES TIME AS WELL. THERE ARE TWO OPPORTUNITIES TO COMMEND TO COMPLIANCE BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING. ACTUALLY IT IS NOW MORE THAN WHAT IT WAS.

>> YEAH. >> THERE IS ALWAYS OPPORTUNITY

TO COMPLY. >> THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD

PREFER. >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ANY QUESTIONS? >> THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR. I UNDERSTAND WE TOOK ALL THE TYPE OF LIENS AND MADE ONE LIEN. MY QUESTION WHEN IT COMES TO LIENS IS MOST RESIDENTS OR MAJORITY

[00:30:03]

>> COMMISSIONER IF I COULD POLITELY REQUEST THAT YOU HOLD THAT FOR CHAPTER ONE. THIS IS JUST ABOUT THE NUISANCE ABATEMENT AND DEMOLITION DOING AWAY WITH THE TYPES OF LIENS TO MAKE THEM CODE ENFORCEMENT LIENS. THAT'S WHY WE DID

CHAPTER ONE AND 24 TOGETHER. >> IT IS THE NEXT ITEM.

>> I UNDERSTAND. BUT WHEN WE ARE DOING THIS LIKE THIS AND WE DO SOMETHING REAL QUICK AND SAY WE ARE CHANGING FROM DEMOLITION LIENS AND ABATEMENT, ALL THESE LIENS AND SAY LIENS, WE GET IT AND SOME OF THE RESIDENTS GET IT BUT NOT ALL THE RESIDENTS GET IT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT, BECAUSE NOW YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET A DEMOLITION LIEN, IT'S GOING TO BE WHATEVER THE LIEN IS CALLED AND YOU STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. I WILL SIT BACK AND WAIT UNTIL CHAPTER ONE

AND I WILL COME BACK. >> CORRECT. HOW WE IMPOSE THE

LIEN IS THE NEXT DISCUSSION. >> ALL RIGHT.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, PLEASE COME FORWARD. SEEING NO MOVEMENT, I WILL BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION. IS THERE

DISCUSSION OR A MOTION? >> I MOVE APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE

24-012. >> SECOND.

>> YES. >> YES.

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

[d. Legislative Hearing - Ordinance No. 24-013 - An ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Fort Pierce, Chapter 1, Article II - Code Enforcement. FIRST READING]

>> YES, MA'AM. >> NEXT WE MOVE ON TO ORDINANCE 24-013, BEHINDING CODE OF OF ORDINANCES OF CITY OF FORT PIERCE FLORIDA, GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE 2 CODE ENFORCEMENT AMENDING CHAPTER ONE BY CREATING ONE-41 TO ONE-47 TO PROVIDE FOR A TITLE, ESTABLISH PROCEDURES FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT HEARINGS AND PROVIDE POWERS AND DUTIES BY DELETING SECTIONS ONE DASH 69 THROUGH ONE DASH 76 ADDED TO DIVISION ONE AMENDING CHAPTER ONE ARTICLE TWO DIVISION TWO BY TITLE AMENDING CHAPTER ONE BY AMENDING ADDING 1-77 THROUGH 1-81 TO ADD REGULATIONS FOR IMPOSING FINES AND ASSESSING LIENS PROVIDE FOR UNENFORCEABLE LIENS AMENDING BY TITLE, AMENDING BY DELETING SECTION ONE-99 DEFINITIONS AMENDING HOW CITATIONS ARE PROCESSED AND AMENDING CLASSES OF VIOLATION PROVIDING FOR SEVER ABILITY CLAUSE AND FOR EFFECTIVE DATE.

THIS IS FIRST READING. >> GOOD EVENING MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS. THIS IS A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER ONE ARTICLE TWO CODE ENFORCEMENT. I WILL GET INTO MORE DETAIL ON THIS ONE BUT A QUICK SUMMARY OF THE CHANGES.

AGAIN WORKING WITH DEFINITIONS, THEY WERE SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE OLD ORDINANCE AND WE HAVE BROUGHT THEM INTO ONE SECTION AND CONDENSED THEM. THERE ARE MINOR AMENDMENTS THAT MAKE THE CODE CONSISTENT WITH OTHER SECTIONS OF CODE AND ALSO INCORPORATE CURRENT PROCESSES. THE CODE IS AMENDED TO INCLUDE HOW CITY INITIATES FINES AND HANDLES LIENS. I WILL GET

THROUGH DETAIL ABOUT THAT. >> THANK YOU.

>> THERE ARE ADDITIONAL ON HOW THE CITY DOES VIOLATIONS. I UPDATED THE CLASS, TWO NEW CHANGES WHICH I WILL EXPLAIN, AND THE REST WE MADE SURE THE RENUMBERING WAS CORRECT WITH THE OLD AMENDMENT. MY OCD GOT IN THE WAY BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT IN ORDER. SO WE CORRECTED THAT. DIVISION ONE GENERALLY.

CURRENTLY IT'S EMPTY. SO WE CREATED, ADDED STUFF HERE. THEY INCLUDED DEFINITIONS, THE AUTHORITY AND POWER OF THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE. WE ADOPTED CHAPTER 162 WHICH IS OUR STATE STATUTE BY REFERENCE AND CONDUCT OF HEARING. THAT'S NOW ALL IN DIVISION ONE WHICH USED TO BE BLANK SO NOW WE PUT THE

[00:35:02]

WE ADOPTED 162 BY REFERENCE BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT WE ALSO MAKE IT SPECIFIC TO OUR CODE. SO IT'S VERY CLEAR FOR ANYBODY. WE HAVE PLENTY PEOPLE WHO WANT TO KNOW HOW, WHERE, WHY INSTEAD OF SENDING THEM TO THE STATE STATUTE WE CAN SEND THEM STRAIGHT TO OUR CODE. TO BE SPECIFIC, THE WAY THAT WE HANDLE LIENS IS IT'S NINE TIMES OUT OF TEN THE PROPERTY OWNER IS THE ONE WHO RECEIVES THE NOTICE AND IS THE ONE WHO IS HELD RESPONSIBLE. IT IS GOING TO BE THE LANDLORD, NOT NECESSARILY THE TENANT. WE TEND TO USE CITATIONS TO ADDRESS VERY SPECIFIC ITEMS TO AN OCCUPANT VERSES THE PROPERTY OWNER. ONCE THE MATTER HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE SHE ALWAYS GIVES TIME TO CORRECT UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY. ONCE THAT'S DONE, AND THIS IS ALL OUTLINED IN THIS NEW SECTION, WE SEND WHAT'S CALLED A MASSY NOTICE.

THAT IS A LETTER THAT SAYS FINES ARE RUNNING AND YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO DISPUTE THIS BEFORE A LIEN IS FILED. WE SEND THAT EVERY WAY WE CAN SEND IT. SO WE SEND THAT TO THE PROPERTY OWNER, IF THERE IS A REGISTERED AGENT, IF THERE IS A TENANT, WE SEND IT TO WHOEVER NEEDS TO KNOW THAT. BARRING THAT, A LIEN IS FILED. THEN WE SEND A COPY OF THE LIEN TO WHOEVER NEEDS TO DO IT. FORECLOSURES ARE HANDLED BY A SECOND BIG NOTICE. SO AGAIN WE CAN ONLY FORECLOSE ON PROPERTIES THAT ARE NOT HOMESTEADED. WE WILL BE SENDING THAT BY A SERVICE PROCESSOR.

DURING THAT TIME, WE HAVE RECEIVED, I WAS VERY SURPRISED AT HOW WELL THE SERVICE PROCESSOR WORKED ON KICKING SOME PEOPLE INTO ACTION. QUESTIONED A LANDLORD ON MULTIPLE PROPERTIES. I STARTED FORECLOSURE ACTION ON EVERY SINGLE ONE. SUDDENLY ALL OF HIS PROPERTIES ARE IN COMPLIANCE AND LIENS ARE ADDRESSED BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE ALL HIS PROPERTIES. THAT WAS JUST FROM THE SERVICE, THE PROCESS SERVER. WE GIVE AS MANY OPPORTUNITIES AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN TO HAVE A HEARING OR TO ADDRESS THE PROPERTIES. UNTIL THIS ORDINANCEWE DO SAY THAT WE CAN REDUCE LIENS BUT IT'S NOT A GUARANTEE. IT'S NOT A RIGHT. BUT WE HAVE THE OPTION OF REDUCING LIENS. IT PROVIDES ABILITY OF CITY MANAGER TO ADDRESS UNENFORCEABLE. WE HAVE RUN INTO BANKRUPTCY OR WHERE IT'S FORECLOSED AND WE WIPE THEM OUT. THERE ARE QUITE A FEW ISSUES WITH THAT. I WILL BE HAPPY TO PULL UP THE ORDINANCE IF ANYBODY WANTS TO SEE THE ORDINANCE ITSELF. THEN THE CITATION PROCEDURE, AGAIN IT REALLY JUST CLEANED UP A LOT OF STUFF, PUT THE PROPER NUMBERING IN PLACE. WHAT I DID ADD RECENT THE FIREWORKS ORDINANCE AS A CITATION AND I ADDED REFRIGERATOR AND ICE BOX SAFETY REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE THAT'S LIFE HELD SAFETY ISSUE. THOSE WERE THE ONLY TWO ADDITIONS.

THE REST WERE JUST CLEANED UP. I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER

QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. THIS IS MY SIMPLE QUESTION AGAIN. YOU HAVE HEARD IT BEFORE. SO I AM GOING TO LEAVE OUT THE OUT OF TOWN OWNERS. HERE I HAVE AN ELDERLY PERSON. YOU SERVE THEM A LIEN. YOU KNOW, NO ONE IS HELPING GRANDMA AND GRANDDAD. THEY'RE TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING BY THEMSELVES. MY ONLY QUESTION IS ONCE THEY GET THAT FIRST NOTICE AND THE CITY DETERMINES OR YOUR OFFICE OR

[00:40:04]

YOU HAVE HEARD MY STORY. I HAVE SEEN THIS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, AN 80-YEAR-OLD MAN TRYING TO PAINT HIS HOUSE WITH A RAG BECAUSE HE GOT TIRED OF THE LIENS. THAT'S MY FIRST QUESTION. DO WE HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT? OR BY STATE LAW, CAN WE PUT THE PEOPLE IN CONTACT WITH SOMEBODY AT LEAST TO SAY WE ARE NOT TRYING TO TAKE YOUR HOUSE. WHEN CERTAIN PEOPLE SEE THIS, SEE THAT LIEN, YOU ARE TRYING TO HELP AND TRYING TO DO YOUR JOB BUT THE FIRST THING THEY'RE LOOKING AT IS THE CITY IS COMING TO TAKE MY HOUSE. SO I AM TRYING TO STOP THAT FEAR.

DO WE HAVE ANYTHING IN THE CODE OR WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR OFFICE OR THEY CALL ME AND I E-MAIL YOU, YOU KNOW I WILL, DO WE HAVE ANY PLACE TO SEND THE PEOPLE SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO SEND THE SECOND LETTER? THE SECOND LETTER IS WHAT REALLY TRIGGERS. WE DON'T WANT TO SEND THE SECOND LETTER. WE

TRYING TO STOP AT THE FIRST. >> I HAVE MULTIPLE ANSWERS TO THAT. FOLLOWING THE SECOND READING OF THIS ON JULY 1, IT WILL ALSO BE RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR SPECIAL MAGISTRATE. WE REVISED CLAP TER 24, CHAPTER 1, AND RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR SPECIAL MAGISTRATE AT THE SAME TIME BECAUSE THEY TIE INTO EACH OTHER. WHAT I PULLED UP HERE IS WHEN SPECIAL MAGISTRATE DETERMINES A FINE, THERE ARE THREE CRITERIA BY STATE STATUTE THAT HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED. ANY ACTIONS TAKEN BY VIOLATOR TO CORRECT THE VIOLATION. SAY WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO HAS DONE A LITTLE BIT, I HAVE SOME REAL LIFE EXAMPLES I CAN GIVE YOU, AND IT WAS A SHAME WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GIVE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE ROSS HER PROCLAMATION TODAY BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN A STAPLE TO OUR DEPARTMENT FOR 20 YEARS. I HAVE SEEN HER, SHE HEARS THE STORY. SHE HAS CONTINUED AND CONTINUED AND CONTINUED. WE HAD SOMEONE. SHE LIVED BY THE GOLF COURSE. SHE WAS AN ELDERLY WOMAN. IT WAS A LANDSCAPING ISSUE. IT WAS COMPLETELY OVER GROWN. SHE DID A LITTLE BIT EACH WEEK. SHE CAME BACK SIX TIMES. ANY ACTIONS TO CORRECT THE VIOLATION, THERE WAS MORE CLEANED UP EACH TIME. IT GOT TO THE END AND SHE SAID OKAY AND SHE WAVED THE FINES. SHE FINALLY BROUGHT IT TO COMPLIANCE. IT TOOK PROBABLY NINE MONTHS. IN RULES OF PROCEDURE, IT SAYS ARE THERE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES? THAT'S NOT IN THE ORDINANCE BUT IT IS IN THE RULES OF PROCEDURE. I DON'T WANT TO SAY THEY'RE ELDERLY OR ANYTHING, I JUST WANT TO SAY IF THERE IS EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES.

THAT'S BROUGHT INTO CONSIDERATION. WE HAVE MULTIPLE EXAMPLES LIKE THT. WE DO NOT LIVE IN A BUBBLE. IN ADDITION WHEN SOMETHING IS BROUGHT TO OUR CONDITION, IF THEY CAN REFER THEM TO THE GRANTS DEPARTMENT, WE DO THAT AS SOON AS WE ARE MADE AWARE OF CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. WE WORK WITH OUR GRANTS DEPARTMENT ALL THE TIME. SPECIAL MAGISTRATE ROSS WAS A BIG PART OF IT AND SHE REALLY DID TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY. ANY ACTIONS TAKEN BY VIOLATOR TO CORRECT IT, ARE THERE OBSERVATIONS TEN ATING EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO HEAR THAT. ME PERSONALLY I WANT TO GO FURTHER. I WILL USE YOUR EXAMPLE. YOU SAID SHE CAME BACK NINE TIMES OR SIX TIMES IN NINE

[00:45:02]

ELDERLY ARE VERY, VERY PROUD. >> CORRECT.

>> IF YOU SEND THEM TO THE GRANTS DEPARTMENT, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO COME TO THE GRANTS DEPARTMENT. ONE, THEY THINK IT'S GOING TO BE ADDITIONAL LIEN ON THEIR HOUSE OR PROPERTY OR SOMETHING IS GOING ON. I DON'T WANT ANYBODY COMING BACK IN FRONT OF MAGISTRATE, ESPECIALLY THE ELDERLY PERSON SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT TIMES. WE PARTNER WITH EVERYBODY IN THE CITY. LET'S TRY TO GET A LIST OR FIND SOME THAT'S WILLING TO HELP SOME OF THE ELDERLIES GO OUT AND CUT SOME GRASS. I MEAN, I CAN NAME 20 YOUTH RIGHT NOW. LET'S GET SOME LAWNMOWERS. I WILL BE HONEST. LET'S GET SOME LAWNMOWERS AND CUT GRASS. THEY NEED TO LEARN THE SKILL ANYWAY. CUT SOME GRASS. I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER. I AM JUST TRYING TO THROW IT OUT THERE. BECAUSE IF WE CAN STOP YOU FROM SAYING, HAVING TO ATTEND ANOTHER CONTINUANCE BECAUSE I CUT A CORNER, ANOTHER CONTINUOUS BECAUSE I CUT THIS CORNER AND WE KNOW SHE'S TRYING. THEY'RE TRYING AND WE KNOW THEY'RE ELDERLY AND BY THEMSELVES, I DON'T KNOW HOW, BUT SOME WAY WE HAVE TO HELP THESE ELDERLY PEOPLE. LET'S HELP THESE ELDERLY PEOPLE. YOU KNOW A LOT OF EXAMPLES. I CAN SAY SINGLE MOM, HANDICAPPED. BUT ONCE WE UNDERSTAND IT, WE PARTNER WITH GROUPS ALL THE TIME TO DO EVERYTHING. MAYBE I WILL HAVE TO TALK TO MAGISTRATES AND SIT DOWN IN ONE OF THE HEARINGS. IT HAS TO BE MORE ANSWERS TO STOP PEOPLE FROM COMING BACK IN FRONT OF YOU SIX, SEVEN TIMES.

I AM JUST TRYING TO THROW IT OUT. SINCE WE ARE DOING THIS AND WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT, BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF ELDERLY IN DISTRICT ONE. I AM PRETTY SURE THERE ARE A LOT OF ELDERLY IN DISTRICT TWO. MOST OF THE TIME IN DISTRICT TWO, AND THIS IS NOT A KNOCK ON DISTRICT TWO, GUYS, THE GRASS GETS CUT. I WILL BE HONEST WITH YOU. THE GRASS GETS CUT AND MOST OF OUR LIENS ARE GRASS. I UNDERSTAND THEY CAN'T DO IT.

THAT'S ALL I AM SAYING. MY SECOND QUESTION IS ABOUT THE LETTERS. WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE HAVE LANGUAGE

BARRIERS. >> OH, YES.

>> WE HAVE SOME LANGUAGE BARRIERS. SOME HISPANIC RESIDENTS ARE LISTENING, SOME CREOLE LISTENING, DO WE SEND

LETTERS OUT IN EVERYTHING? >> EVERY ONE OF MY NOTICES AT THE BOTTOM IN SPANISH AND CREOLE AND IT SAYS THIS IS AN IMPORTANT DOCUMENT. IF YOU CANNOT READ IT, PLEASE FIND SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP YOU. IT'S ON EVERY ONE OF THE NOTICES. WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT. WE DON'T KNOW WHICH LANGUAGE TO SEND THEM IN. SO WE HAVE THAT ON THE BOTTOM OF EVERY NOTICE IN SPANISH AND CREOLE THAT THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT DOCUMENT. IF YOU CAN'T READ IT, PLEASE FIND SOMEONE LOWER BLOSSOM CAN HELP

YOU. >> THE REASON I AM ASKING IS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE LISTENING, PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE. PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S ON THERE. WHEN THEY CALL, BECAUSE I HAVE GOTTEN SOME, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE, COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, I HAVE GOTTEN SOME OF THE CREOLE CALLERS. I KNOW A FEW WORDS. I WILL BE HONEST. I KNOW A FEW WORDS. I DIDN'T KNOW ALL THE WORDS. IF I GET THAT CALL, WHO DO I DIRECT THAT TO AT CITY HALL?

>> FIRST, WE DO HAVE OWEN WHO SPEAKS CREOLE. HE IS OUR FIRST GO TO. I ALSO HAVE A PAID SERVICE. WE CAN DO IT IN PERSON OR ON THE PHONE. I HAVE A FADE SERVICE THAT HAS LIKE 20 LANGUAGES. EVEN DURING SPECIAL MAGISTRATE, THERE IS A SCREEN, A POWERPOINT THAT PLAYS AT THE BEGINNING THAT SAYS IF YOU NEED INTERPRETER, PLEASE SEE THE CLERK. IT SAYS IT IN THREE LANGUAGES. THAT'S AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERY SPECIAL MAGISTRATE HEARING. WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE LANGUAGE BARRIERS. WE HAVE A PAID SERVICE. THEY HAVE IT AT THE ADOPTION CENTER. EVERY ONE OF THE OFFICERS HAVE IT WITH THEM AND THEY CAN USE IT IN THE FIELD ON THEIR CELL PHONES EVEN. WE DO TRY AND OVERCOME THAT BARRIER BECAUSE IT IS A

CHALLENGE. >> I THANK YOU FOR THAT. THE REASON I AM ASKING IS THERE ARE PEOPLE LISTENING TO THIS RIGHT

[00:50:02]

FINE. >> THAT'S GOOD INFORMATION FOR

THE PUBLIC. THANK YOU. >> I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS. I JUST WANT TO BE SURE I AM CLEAR. COMMISSIONER GAINS WENT DOWN THE PATH OF TALKING ABOUT A PERSON EITHER A CITATION OR A LIEN AGAINST SOMETHING. DID I HEAR YOU CORRECTLY TO SAY THAT TEN OUT OF TEN TIMES THAT WHEN YOU PULL A LIEN ON A PROPERTY, WHO IS THAT GOING TO? WHO WILL BE SERVED WITH THIS PARTICULAR DOCUMENT THAT THERE IS A LIEN OR A PENDING ISSUE THAT'S

CAUSING THE LIEN? >> THE PROPERTY OWNER.

>> YOU ASSESS THAT BY GOING TO THE PROPERTY APPRAISER'S SITE.

>> CORRECT. >> HOW IS THAT PERSON SERVED? IS THAT A PROCESS SERVER THAT GOES TO SERVE THE PERSON THAT

OWNS THE PROPERTY? >> NOT FOR THE LIEN. THE STATE STATUTE IS CLEAR. FIRST HEARING NOTICE WHICH IS OFFICIAL NOTICE MUST BE SENT BY CERTIFIED MAIL. WE SEND BY CERTIFIED MAIL. IF IT IS RETURNED UNCLAIMED OR UNSIGNED WE SEND BY REGULAR MAIL. WE POST THE PROPERTY AND WE PUT A POSTING IN CITY HALL.

SO THAT'S THE REQUIRED NOTICES. IF WE RECEIVE MAIL BACK WITH A FORWARDING ADDRESS, WE DO THAT. IF WE EVER GET EXTRA ADDRESS, E-MAIL ADDRESSES. WE LOVE E-MAIL ADDRESSES BECAUSE YOU CAN TRACK THEM, DO RETURN RECEIPTS. IF WE GET A FORWARDING ADDRESS, RESEND IT THAT WAY. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS I TASK OUT. LIENS ARE NOT ONE OF THEM. THAT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY. WE HAVE THE CASE GOES THROUGH THE PROCESS, TO THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE, SENT OUT REGULAR MAIL, ALL THE FOLLOWING NOTICES ARE SEPTEMBER BY U.S. POSTAL UNLESS WE HAVE E-MAIL, IN THAT CASE WE'LL DO BOTH, IT COMES TO MY DESK. I DO A FULL SEARCH. I MAKE SURE EVERY NOTICE WAS SENT PROPERLY.

I WILL DO LITTLE SEARCHES. I WILL GOOD TO THE COUNTY COURT AND SEE IF I CAN FIND ANOTHER ADDRESS. BEFORE THAT LIEN GETS FILED, THAT IS NOT TASKED OUT. THAT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY. I TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. I DON'T IMPOSE UNLESS THEY'RE READY TO

GO. PROCESS SERVER IS. >> I GUESS THE QUESTION LIKE WE SAID IS TO EVEN GET TO A LIEN PROCESS, IF I AM UNDERSTANDING RIGHT, THERE HAS BEEN A VISIT BY A CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF SOME TYPE TO AT LEAST MAKE CONTACT WITH THE PERSON UP FRONT TO SAY HEY MR. SUCH AND SUCH THIS IS UP TO THE ROOF, WE ARE HEARING. AM I UNDERSTANDING HOW IT IS DONE?

>> YES, SIR. BEFORE THIS HEARING I WAS MIGHTING WITH MY SECRETARY. WE HAVE A HEARING TOMORROW MORNING. WE RECEIVED A CALL FROM SOMEBODY WHO WAS ON THE AGENDA. SHE DID NOT GET NOTICES. WE POSTED THE PROPERTY.

>> YOU STUCK A SIGN OUT FRONT? >> IT'S A PIECE OF PAPER. WE USUALLY HANG IT ON THE DOOR. HER NEIGHBOR TOOK A PICTURE.

SHE CALLED AND SAID I HAVE A PICTURE OF A POSTING SAYING WE HAVE A HEARING TOMORROW. WE ARE CONTINUING. THE WHOLE PURPOSE AS THE MAYOR SAID IS COMMUNICATION. THE POSTINGS WORK. A NEIGHBOR TOOK A PICTURE AND FORWARDED IT TO HER. SHE'S IN TEXAS. SHE CALLED US TODAY. WE HAVE PULLED IT FROM THE ACKNOWLEDGE INTODAY TOMORROW SO NOW WICK TRY AND WORK WITH HER ON GETTING PROPERTY IN COMPLIANCE. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THE HEARING. I DON'T WANT TO DO FINES. COMPLIANCE IS OUR GOAL. WE PULLED IT FROM THE AGENDA BECAUSE SHE CALLED TODAY AND WE ARE LITERALLY 12 HOURS AWAY FROM A HEARING.

>> I HAVE GUESS THE CONCERN TOO, I APPRECIATE YOU ADDRESSING THE LANGUAGE BARRIER, BUT I GUESS ALSO IT'S ALSO -- I GUESS IF I HEAR YOU RIGHT, IF SOMEONE IS MAKING PHYSICAL CONTACT TO TALK TO THE PERSON, WHERE ARE WE IN THE PROCESS TO UNDERSTAND? I THINK THAT GOES TO YOUR POINT MAYBE PERHAPS COMMISSIONER GAINS, I CAN'T PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH, BUT CERTAINLY THERE ARE CONDITIONS OUT THERE THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF, RIGHT, AND HOW WE SOLVE THOSE ISSUES WITH THAT IS ANOTHER PIECE THAT WE WILL NEED THE COMMUNITY'S HELP WITH THAT. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL NEED COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT CAN HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WITH THOSE THAT CANNOT DO IT, DON'T HAVE SUPPORT.

[00:55:03]

>> I WANT TO CLARIFY. MAYBE I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND. WE DON'T KNOCK ON EVERY DOOR. WHICH TRY. EVEN THROUGH THE MAILING IT HAS THE OFFICER'S PHONE NUMBER, E-MAIL. YOU CAN WALK IN OUR DOOR. WE DO EVERY EFFORT TO REACH OUT AND GET THE INFORMATION TO THEM BUT WE DON'T KNOCK ON EVERY DOOR. WE DON'T GET THE NOTICE, POST THE PROPERTY.

>> I SEE. THAT CAUSES JUST SOME HEART BURN A LITTLE BIT. I KNOW WE CAN'T KNOCK AT EVERY DOOR. YOU SEE THE VIOLATION. YOU WRITE IT UP, LOOK IT UP. YOU SEND IT VIA CHANNELS, MAIL, E-MAIL, ET CETERA. DO YOU HAVE A SYSTEM THAT CALLS? DO YOU

HAVE A ROBO CALL? >> WHEN WE FIND A PROPERTY AND WE NOTICE A VIOLATION, WE GO TO THE PROPERTY APPRAISER AND GET

AN ADDRESS. >> GOT IT.

>> THAT'S HOW WE CONTACT. WE DON'T HAVE A PHONE NUMBER FOR EVERYBODY. THERE IS NO WAY TO REACH OUT AND MAKE THE CALLS.

WE HAVE PLENTY PROPERTIES THAT ARE JUST LAND SO THERE IS NOT A DOOR TO KNOCK ON. THAT'S MY STATE STATUTE. IT REQUIRES US TO USE THE ADDRESS AND SEND BY CERTIFIED MAIL. IF WE SEE SOMEBODY, WE HAVE NO PROBLEM STOPPING AND TALKING AND

COMMUNICATING. >> I THINK THE THING OF IT IS IS THAT I HEAR BOTH SIDES. THERE ARE PROPERTY OWNERS LIVING NEXT DOOR OR ACROSS FROM PEOPLE THAT DON'T TAKE CARE OF IT. IT CAUSES ISSUE, RIGHT? THEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT DO TAKE CARE OF THE PROPERTIES BUT MAYBE CAN ASSIST IN A CASE WHERE WE HAVE ELDERLY THAT JUST CAN'T. SO I THINK WE TRY TO FIND THAT BALANCE. I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER RIGHT NOW. BUT I THINK AS WE WORK THROUGH HOW DO WE TRY TO UPHOLD A STANDARD THROUGHOUT ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES SO THAT PEOPLE ARE COMFORTABLE AND LIKE THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ABUSE THEM TOO. I THINK WHEN YOU HEAR BOTH SIDES IT'S HOW DO WE STRIKE THE BALANCE TO SAY THIS IS FORT PIERCE. YOU HAVE YOUR PROPERTY AND RIGHT. SOMETIMES IT BECOMES A NUISANCE, AN ISSUE. IT CREATES BLIGHT, RODENTS, RATS, AND EVERYTHING FROM UNKEPT PROPERTIES. THAT'S SOMETHING WE ARE TRYING TO FIND A BALANCE ON. HOW DO WE DO THAT BUT NOT OVER PENALIZE AND MAKE THIS SUCH A PUNITIVE THING? THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE IT MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING OUR VERY BEST TO NOT DO THAT AND OVER PENALIZE. I KNOW WE HAVE REDUCED LIENS THAT HAVE COME BEFORE THIS COMMISSION NUMEROUS TIMES. I DON'T KNOW IF WE WILL RESOLVE IT ALL BUT THIS IS A STEP IN A DIRECTION TO TRY TO FIRST OF ALL STANDARDIZE SOME OF THE STUFF THAT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE AND TAKE STUFF OUT THAT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE AND CLEAR FI SOME THINGS. I THINK THE TEST THAT YOU ARE ASKING IS AS WE MOVE FORWARD, THIS WILL BE THE RULE

BOOK THAT WE PLAY BY. >> COMMISSIONER, IF THERE IS A MESSAGE TO PUT OUT THERE, IT'S THAT COMMUNICATION. WE LITERALLY RECEIVED A CALL AT 4:30 TODAY FOR A HEARING TOMORROW MORNING. SHE JUST RECEIVED THE NOTICE. WE PULLED IT SO WE CAN WORK WITH HER AND FIND OUT IF THERE IS A WAY TO ADDRESS THIS WITHOUT GOING ANOTHER STEP FURTHER. SO

COMMUNICATION IS THE KEY. >> OKAY.

>> SOMETIMES YOU CAN ONLY COMMUNICATE SO FAR AND YOU SAY WE'VE HAD ENOUGH. WE HAVE TO CONTINUE WITH OUR PROSIS. IF THERE IS A MESSAGE TO GET OUT, IT'S TO COMMUNICATE.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> A COUPLE COMMENTS. THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION. I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS A LONG TIME. I AM GLAD IT IS MOVING FORWARD WITH A PRESENTATION AND WE'LL SEE HOW THE VOTE GOES. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. COMMISSIONER C JOHNSON, I DON'T THINK GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE THE ANSWER. WE WON'T. GOVERNMENT IS NOT ESTABLISHED TO DO CERTAIN TYPES OF THINGS. BUT COMMUNITY AND CHURCHES ARE ESTABLISHED TO TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER AND TO HELP EACH OTHER. GOVERNMENT, I BELIEVE, IS JUST GOING TO CONTINUE ON WITH THE BUSINESS AND THEN ALSO COMMUNICATE BUT ALSO IT'S ESTABLISHED BY US AS A HOLISTIC COMMUNITY WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS SITTING AT THE HEAD.

I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU A FEW PERSONAL EVENTS THAT OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS. PEGGY KNOWS MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY CHURCH AND THE ORGANIZATION OR THE STAFF MEMBERS WITHIN THE CHURCH THAT HAVE PEER GROUPS THAT GO OUT. THEY'LL TAKE TEEN GROUPS.

THEY'LL TAKE A MEN'S GROUP, COUPLES, WHATEVER. THEY HELP IN

[01:00:02]

CHRIST FELLOWSHIP DOES IT. OTHER CHURCHES DO IT. THEY GO OUT AND SERVE. I HAVE SEEN THAT TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL. IT IS ABOUT COMMUNICATION. IT IS ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES TO JUST TAKE A HALF STEP TO MAKE THE PROCESS MORE EFFICIENT. THAT'S WHAT I SEE IT BEING. IT ALLOWS CODE STAFF TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNICATION. THERE IS ONLY ONE LEGAL METHOD.

IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE THE PROPERTY OWNERS FIGURE OUT A WAY TO PAY TAXES OR THEY GET A REAL, TRUE DOOR KNOCK IF THEY DON'T PAY THEIR TAXES. THE PROPERTY OWNERS COME AND THEY FIGURE OUT A WAY TO FIND THE ANSWER. THEY DON'T ALWAYS LIKE TO GET THE NOTICE. I HAVE HAD MANY CALLS LIKE YOU, SIR. I AM JUST LIKE WELL HOW CAN I HELP? AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S WHAT I CAN DO. JUST HOW CAN WE HELP AS A COMMUNITY? WICK TRY TO MAKE THE PROCESS MORE EFFICIENT. I DON'T KNOW IF GOVERNMENT WILL EVER MAKE IT AS EFFICIENT AS IT NEEDS TO BE.

BUT WE SURE ARE TRYING HARD. THANK YOU.

>> WE ARE BOUND BY THE GOVERNMENT, OUR OWN RULES, THE VERY NATURE OF GOVERNMENT THAT WE CAN'T PROVIDE THE HELP OURSELVES. WE CAN POINT THEM TO THE HELP. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. ANYONE WHO WISHES TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

>> STATED YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. YOU WILL HAVE THREE

MINUTES. >> ALBERT SMITH. 1912 HAND CIRCLE ORLANDO FLORIDA. FORT PIERCE IS MY HOME BORN AND RAISED. THE PEOPLE IN THE CROWD, LISTEN TO WHAT SHE'S SAYING. IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE PASSING BY ADDRESSES AND SELECTING HOMES THAT LOOK RUN DOWN OR THE GRASS IS TOO HIGH AND THEN THEY'RE PUTTING LIENS ON THE PROPERTY. WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE DIDN'T FORCE ANYONE OUT OF FORT PIERCE. MOST PEOPLE THAT LEFT FORT PIERCE, WENT BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT IT WAS BETTER THERE THAN TO BE WITH US. EVERYBODY RAN TO PORT ST.

LUCIE. ONCE YOU REALIZE YOU INHERITED SWAMP LAND NOW YOU WANT FORT PIERCE BACK. THAT'S WHERE THE LIENS ARE COMING FROM. THAT'S WHERE RUNNING ELDERLY OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE COMING FROM. THIS IS WHAT IT IS COMING FROM, SO YOU CAN GET BACK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> ADDRESS US. DON'T ADDRESS THE STAFF. YOU ARE FINE.

>> THE GENTLEMAN ON THE BOARD SPOKE ABOUT EXTENDING AN OLIVE BRANCH TO OUT OF TOWNERS. THAT'S COMING BY PROPERTY IN FORT PIERCE INSTEAD OF DOING FOR THE PEOPLE IN FORT PIERCE.

YOU RATHER EXTEND TO OUT OF TOWNERS. THIS IS OUR CITY. I DON'T APPRECIATE WHAT SHE'S SAYING ABOUT THE LIENS BECAUSE THE LOANS THEY'RE PUTTING ON ARE ILLEGAL. IT'S LIKE YOU ARE ROBBING US. OUR PEOPLE GET OLD AND CAN'T WORK AND YOU GOING TO TAKE THEIR PROPERTY THEY WORKED FOR THEIR WHOLE LIFE.

THAT'S WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE TO US. I AM TALKING TO YOU. BUT I AM TELLING YOU THIS IS WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE TO US. I HAVE MORE TO TALK ABOUT AT A LATER DATE ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. ANYONE ELSE?

>> ANYONE ELSE? >> REED 2625 SOUTH U.S. ONE.

MR. REED SAID WE DON'T LIVE IN A BUBBLE. NO WE LIVE IN FORT PIERCE. THE HAVES AND THE HAVE NOTES. I MADE A FEW NOTES. CODE ENFORCEMENT SHOULD BE AN EQUITABLE ENFORCEMENT. IT'S LIFE AND SAFETY. OURS ARE NOT ALWAYS DONE THAT WAY. WE KNOW THAT. OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT LIKE OUR POLICE ARE USED PUNITIVELY TO PUNISH SOME PEOPLE AND OTHER PEOPLE IF CODE ENFORCEMENT IS USED PROPERLY ESPECIALLY IN DISTRICT ONE WHERE A LARGE SHARE AS COMMISSIONER GAINS SAID ARE RENTAL PROPERTY THEN YOU WOULD MARSHALL THE LANDLORDS. WE KNOW DEPENDING WHO THE LANDLORD IS AND HOW GENEROUS THEY ARE AT POLITICAL

[01:05:06]

YOU NO HE THAT. CODE ENFORCEMENT AND POLICE SHOULD NOT BE USED TO PUNISH PEOPLE THAT GET ON YOUR BAD SIDE. YOU USE IT ALL THE TIME. WE ARE KILLING ONE ANOTHER IN THE COMMUNITY AND NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. I THINK THE ONLY REASON WE DID THIS TO BE FAIR AND EQUITABLE BECAUSE CONGRESSMAN MASS' WIFE'S TIRES GOT STOLEN AND SHE CALLED FOR YOUR RESIGNATION. NOW Y'ALL DECIDED TO REDO CODE ENFORCEMENT. YOU KNOW, Y'ALL ARE FULL OF [BLEEP].

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE, NO APPLAUSE. THIS IS A BUSINESS MEETING. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO ADDRESS THIS COMMISSION, PLEASE COME FORWARD. OKAY.

BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

GENTLEMEN, I APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS. I KNOW WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE THIS SPEAKING TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT TRYING TO TAKE ANYBODY'S HOME. THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS TAKE ANYBODY'S HOME AWAY FROM THEM. WE DON'T WANT TO OWN ANYBODY'S HOME. WE WANT THEM TO STAY AND LIVE IN OUR CITY. SO I THINK THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THAT IS THE ABSOLUTE POSITIVELY LAST RESORT AND WE HAVE DONE IT VERY, VERY RARELY AND VERY, VERY EXTREME CASES. I THINK I HAVE SEEN SPECIAL MAGISTRATE OPERATE AND I KNOW THEY DO IT WITH GREAT COMPASSION. I KNOW THAT YOUR OFFICE STAFF HAS A JOB TO DO AND TRIES TO GET TO WORK WITH OUR CITIZENS. I THINK WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH THIS IS TRYING TO CLEAN THIS UP AND ACTUALLY REALLY HELP PEOPLE COME INTO COMPLIANCE. THAT'S WHAT WE WANT. WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANYBODY'S MONEY. AND WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE THEIR HOME. WE

WANT OUR CITY TO LOOK NICE. >> A COUPLE COMMENTS. CODE ENFORCEMENT, ENFORCEMENT BEING THE KEY TERM, IS SADDLED WITH A VERY CHALLENGING JOB TO DO. YOU ARE BALANCING A PROPERTY OWNER WITH A VIOLATION WITH A PROPERTY OWNER NEXT DOOR WHO IS FILING COMPLAINT ABOUT THE PROPERTY NEXT DOOR TO THEM.

THIS ISN'T NECESSARILY GENERATED FROM CITY. THE MECHANISMS IN PLACE I BELIEVE ARE BEING STREAMLINED IN THE PROPOSAL. BUT THE FUNCTION CAN'T BE DISMISSED. ARE THERE CHECKS AND BALANCES? I HAVE NOTICED, MY COMPANY DOES BUSINESS IN MULTIPLE MUNICIPALITIES. WE HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT.

>> ON THE RECEIVING END. >> ON THE RECEIVING END, YES. I AM GOING TO SUGGEST THAT SPECIAL MAGISTRATE HERE HAS BEEN IN MANY CASES, SHE BENDS OVER BACKWARDS TO BE ACCOMMODATING. THAT'S THE BEST WAY I CAN PUT IT. OTHER THAN I

[01:10:03]

WITHOUT THAT MECHANISM IN PLACE, BLIGHT AND THINGS OF THIS NIGHT HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO RUN UNCHECKED. SO I CERTAINLY RESPECT THE OPINIONS BEING GENERATED HERE RELATIVE TO IS CODE ENFORCEMENT A BAD THING? I RESPECT THOSE OPINIONS. I DON'T HAVE A BETTER SOLUTION. I THINK THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT, PEGGY HAS DONE A GOOD JOB TO TRY TO ENCAPSULATE THIS, STREAMLINE THIS, AND BE COMPASSIONATE ABOUT IT AND CANDIDLY I APPLAUD YOU FOR THAT EFFORT KNOWING THE HIGH LEVEL OF CHALLENGE HERE. THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT TOPIC. AND THE SOLUTIONS NOT OFF THE SHELF SOLUTIONS WE CAN DEPLOY TO MAKE THIS BETTER. BUT I DO RESPECT COMMISSIONER GAINS, COMMISSIONER JAY JOHNSON, C JOHNSON, RELATIVE TO HELPING FOLKS THAT NEED HELP. AT 80 YEARS OLD, I WILL PROBABLY NOT BE PAINTING THE SIDING ON MY HOUSE. I WILL BE HONEST.

THAT'S SOMETHING I WILL GIVE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO MOVING

FORWARD. >> ME TOO. I AM THINKING OF SOME ORGANIZATIONS AND WAYS TO MAYBE BUILD.

>> IF WE HAVE THAT AVAILABLE AND CODE ENFORCEMENT CAN SAY WE

UNDERSTAND. >> HERE IS A LIST OF

ORGANIZATIONS. >> THAT CAN BE A POTENTIAL WAY TO BRIDGE THIS. I WILL GIVE THAT VERY SERIOUS

CONSIDERATION. >> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION?

>> REAL QUICK AND THEN WE CAN VOTE. MY CONCERN IS THIS AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THIS. CODE ENFORCEMENT, I UNDERSTAND WHAT CODE ENFORCEMENT IS. I KNOW WHY A CITY NEEDS CODE ENFORCEMENT.

IF I HAD A HOUSE AND MY TWO NEIGHBORS HAD SOME PROPERTIES AND DIDN'T TAKE CARE OF THEIR PROPERTIES, DIDN'T TAKE CARE OF THEIR PROPERTIES WHERE IT WAS CREATING RODENTS OR PROBLEMS TO MY HOUSE AS COMMISSIONER JOHNSON SAID, I WOULD BE UPSET. I WOULD PROBABLY CALL AND SAY HEY CAN SOMEBODY CUT THE YARD? I UNDERSTAND THAT PART OF CODE ENFORCEMENT. THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING HEART BURN UP HERE IS THAT RIGHT NOW FROM WHAT I HEAR, WHEN I AM OUT, FROM WHAT I AM BEING TOLD IS THAT PEOPLE IN OUR CITY IS LOOKING AT CODE ENFORCEMENT AS A WAY TO TAKE HOMES IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY. I AM JUST TELLING YOU WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS SAYING. I'VE GOT SEVERAL CALLS WHERE PEOPLE ARE RIDING BY IN THE COMMUNITY AND TAKING PICTURES OF LOTS, HOUSES, WHATEVER, AND THAT'S HOW IT IS GETTING REPORTED TO CODE ENFORCEMENT . THE PEOPLE DOING IT, FROM THE PERCEPTION OF THE RESIDENTS, PEOPLE ARE REPORTING IT AND WANT THE LIENS ENFORCED BECAUSE THEY WANT TO GET FORECLOSURE BECAUSE SOMEBODY WANTS THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY. THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT CODE ENFORCEMENT IS. I GET WHAT CODE ENFORCEMENT IS. I UNDERSTAND WHY A CITY NEEDS IT. BUT WE HAVE A DISCONNECT RIGHT NOW IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE CITY WHEN THEY SEE CODE ENFORCEMENT AND WHAT IT MEANS. THAT'S WHY I AM ASKING THE QUESTIONS. I CAN'T TALK TO

[01:15:02]

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT IF YOU JUST START TALKING ABOUT CODE ENFORCEMENT, THAT'S WHAT YOU WILL HEAR. IT'S NOT GOOD.

I AM NOT TRYING TO START PROBLEMS. I AM JUST TELLING YOU THE PERCEPTION THAT'S OUT THERE. COMMISSIONER JEREMIAH JOHNSON IS RIGHT. GOVERNMENT IS NEVER GOING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT. THE REASON I BROUGHT IT UP WAS THE FIVE OF US ARE SMART ENOUGH TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT A PROBLEM TO HELP ELDERLY BUT ALSO TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT SOME TYPE OF SITUATION TO HELP THE OFFICE ALSO TO GET THE RESIDENTS TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE REALLY NOT TRYING TO DO THIS. WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO PROTECT FORT PIERCE. WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP THE PEOPLE. THIS IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO. AS OF TODAY, A COUPLE YEARS THEY DON'T WANT TO BELIEVE IT'S A DISCONNECT. I SAY TOO MUCH ANYWAY. IT'S TRUE. THERE IS A DISCONNECT. I UNDERSTAND. PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE SAY THE SAME THING. IF THEY HAVE A PROPERTY OR PROPERTY ACROSS THE STREET IS LOOKING BAD AND CAUSING PROBLEMS FOR THEIR PROPERTY, THEY WANT THAT PROPERTY CLEANED UP TOO.

THAT'S ONE SITUATION. ALL THESE OTHER SITUATIONS THAT THEY'VE SEEN OR HAVE HEARD OF OR HAVE BEEN TOLD, THIS IS WHERE THE ANGER IS COMING FROM TO CODE ENFORCEMENT. I AM TELLING YOU WHAT THEY TELL ME. IT'S THE ONLY TIME I CAN TELL YOU. I AM JUST TELLING YOU WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD. THAT'S MY

CONCERN. >> COMMISSIONER, I GET THE CALLS TOO. I GOT A CALL YESTERDAY LITERALLY ABOUT A SITUATION IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WAS A NUISANCE, STUFF THROWN EVERYWHERE. I GET THE CALLS ABOUT LOTS NOT CUT AND KEPT AND THEY ATTRACT PAPER AND BOTTLES AND EVERYTHING THAT'S THROWN. IT BECOMES A BLIGHTED SIGHT. YOU ARE RIGHT. IT'S A COMMUNICATION ISSUE AND IT'S A PERCEPTION, THAT WE ARE UTILIZING THIS TO TAKE PEOPLE'S PROPERTY. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE PROPERTY WE ARE TRYING TO GIVE AWAY FOR THE CITY. WE DON'T WANT MORE PROPERTY. THAT'S THE LAST THING. LIKE I SAID MY QUESTIONING WAS ABOUT THE LIEN PROCESS VERSES THE CITATION AND HOW DO WE GET TO THAT LIEN PROCESS IN THE SITUATION? IF A PERSON HAS A PROPERTY THAT'S UNKEPT THAT STARTS A PROCESS THAT THEY WILL BE NOTIFIED BASED ON WHATEVER THE SITUATION IS. YOU BROUGHT UP A VERY QUICK POINT ABOUT SOME IN THE COMMUNITY THAT MAY BE CHALLENGED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IS. I GET THAT PART. THERE IS ALWAYS COMPASSION AND HOW DO WE DEAL. THAT'S MY QUESTION ABOUT DO WE MAKE CONTACT WITH THE SITUATION, PARTICULARLY IF THERE IS A PROPERTY AND SOMEONE IS LIVING THERE. THERE IS A STRUCTURE THERE AND SOMEONE IS LIVING THERE.

>> NOT TALKING ABOUT VACANT LOTS. TELL ME WHAT YOU ARE

TALKING ABOUT. >> WE KNOW IT'S A HOUSE AND

SOMEBODY IS IN THE HOUSE. >> RIGHT.

>> WE CAN KNOCK ON THE DOOR. WE CAN TRY TO GET SOME TYPE OF INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON SO WE CAN DETERMINE. EMPTY LOTS, VACANT LOTS THAT GOT THESE CARS AND ALL THIS STUFF PARKED AND TRASH AND WHATEVER, I WILL BE FIRST TO SAY GO AFTER THESE PROPERTY OWNERS. IF THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THEIR LOT, I KNOW THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT FORT PIERCE.

>> WE AGREE ON THAT. THAT'S WHAT I AM SAYING.

>> I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT VIA CAN'T ABOUT VACANT LOTS. I AM TALKING YOU DRIVE BY A HOUSE. YOU SEE LIGHT, ACTIVITY. BEFORE THIS PROCESS, LET'S FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON. I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE STATUTE SAYS. I KNOW WE HAVE TO FOLLOW STATE STATUTE. AS A CITY WE WILL CLAIM WE WANT FORT PIERCE, SOMEBODY CAN MAKE THE EXTRA STEP. DRIVE BY AND CATCH THEM WHILE THEY HOME. LET'S TRY TO SAY HERE IS THIS LETTER. LET'S DO SOMETHING. BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, WE DON'T WANT NO MORE PROPERTY. BUT THE PUBLIC DOESN'T

[01:20:01]

I AM TRYING. ALSO SOME OF THE SAME PEOPLE THAT ARE SAYING THAT DO NOT WANT TO LIVE NEXT TO A LOT THAT IS BLIGHTED BECAUSE THEY WANT THEIR KIDS AND FAMILIES TO ENJOY THEIR YARD. SO THEY GET THAT. THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY'RE FUSSING ABOUT.

THEY'RE FUSSING ABOUT LIENS THAT GO TO THE PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE ARE IN THERE. THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. I UNDERSTAND WHAT CODE ENFORCEMENT IS AND I KNOW THE CITY NEEDS IT. WE HAVE

TO HAVE IT. I GET THAT PART. >> RIGHT.

>> I THINK WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS WHAT CODE ENFORCEMENT HAS DONE IS TRY TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS. AND TRY TO AND SHOW THE STEPS. SO WE ARE KIND OF GETTING FAR AFIELD. YOU ARE MAKING THE PROCESS BETTER FOR THE CITIZENS AND FOR THE CITY.

AM I NOT RIGHT? >> YES, MA'AM.

>> HAS ANYBODY TOLD YOU WE WANT TO TAKE ANYBODY'S PROPERTY FROM THEM, FROM THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE?

>> NO, MA'AM. THERE IS A LIMITED NUMBER OF PROPERTIES THAT ARE BEING FORECLOSED NOW. I PROVIDED THE LIST TO THE CITY

MANAGER. >> THAT'S AFTER A LONG, LONG

PROCESS. >> YES. THERE IS RIGHT NOW I BELIEVE SIX PROPERTIES OUT OF ALL THE LIENS THAT WE HAVE, THERE ARE ONLY SIX PROPERTIES ACTIVELY BEING FORECLOSED ON AND THEY ARE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE CITY, DISTRICT ONE AND DISTRICT TWO. WE DO WITH THE PROCESS SERVER, WE HAVE RECEIVED . WE HAD ONE ISSUE AND IT WAS OCCUPIED. THEY HAD TO BE EVICTED BECAUSE THEY WERE SQUATTER DOLLARS. THEY WEREN'T OWNERS, WEREN'T EVEN TENANTS. THEY WERE SQUATTERS. WE HAVE ONLY FORECLOSED ON ONE PROPERTY THAT HAD ANYBODY IN THE HOUSE AND THEY WERE ILLEGALLY THERE. WE DON'T FORECLOSE ON PROPERTIES. ON JULY 1, I KNOW WE WILL HAVE THIS DISCUSSION AGAIN BECAUSE RULES AND PROCEDURE WILL COME IN FRONT OF YOU, ONE OF THE ITEMS, IS IT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY? SO I COULD HAVE ALL THESE RULES IN PLACE THAT SAYS WHEN A LIEN REACHES THIS AMOUNT OR THIS LONG TO DO FORECLOSURE BUT THERE HAS TO BE IS IT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY? IT'S NOT BASED ON ARE THEY ELDERLY. IT'S NOT BASED ON ARE THEY SINGLE FAMILY. IS IT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY? WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES EXIST SO WE CAN PUT A REAL LIFE PROCESS TO IT AND REALLY LOOK AT IT. HAVE I RECEIVED COMPLAINTS WHEN THEY'VE RECEIVED THE FORECLOSURE NOTICE? YES. BUT WE HAVE NOT FORECLOSED ON A PROPERTY THAT'S BEEN OCCUPIED.

YOU CAN'T ON A HOMESTEAD. IT'S JUST ILLEGAL. EXCEPT FOR

THE ONE THAT HAD SQUATTERS. >> MY POINT IS THERE IS NOBODY THAT HAS THIS GRAND SCHEME OF TAKING PEOPLE'S PROPERTY. WE

DON'T WANT PEOPLE'S PROPERTY. >> NO, MA'AM.

>> I HOPE THAT'S ON THE RECORD BECAUSE I HAVE HEARD OF THAT PERCEPTION SEVERAL TIMES TONIGHT. IT'S BEYOND ME BECAUSE LIKE WE SAID, WE'VE GOT PROPERTIES THAT THE CITY SOMEHOW CAME WITH AND WE WANT TO SELL. WE DON'T -- THE CITY DOES NOT ACQUIRE PROPERTY. WE DON'T WANT PROPERTY.

>> NO, MA'AM. NO ONE HAS CONTACTED ME AND SAID WILL YOU FORECLOSE ON THIS PROPERTY? I HAVE NOT RECEIVED THAT CALL.

>> WE ARE VOTING ON THIS ORDINANCE. IF YOU WANT SOMETHING CHANGED OR DON'T WANT TO VOTE ON THE ORDINANCE BUT I THINK WHAT SHE'S TRYING TO DO IS FOLLOW STATE LAW AND

IMPROVE THE PROCESS. >> I AGREE.

>> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD?

>> I WILL REITERATE WHAT I SAID FOR THE RECORD. WE HAVE TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS

[01:25:07]

>> WE SHOULD BE DOING. AND I HAVE HAD MY OWN FAMILY TELLING ME WHAT I SHOULD BE DOING AND HOW TO DO IT. I RESPECT THAT INFORMATION. THE DATA DOES NOT SAY THAT WE ARE OUT TAKING PROPERTY BECAUSE THAT IS NOT WHAT IS HAPPENING.

WE JUST HEARD THAT FIRSTHAND. THAT IS NOT HAPPENING. AND IN ADDITION TO THAT WE ARE JUDGING, NOT THE COMMISSION, WE THE CITY, RESIDENTS, MADE UP OF 48,000 STRONG ARE TAKING CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER. KNOW IF THERE ARE FOLKS THAT HAVE SITUATIONS WHERE THEY CANNOT TAKE CARE OF THEIR PROPERTY, I REITERATE I HAVE BEEN PERSONALLY A PART OF CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS, NONPROFITS, THAT HAVE PARTICIPATED IN HELPING THEIR NEIGHBOR. I BELIEVE IN THAT STRONGLY. I BELIEVE ALL THIS GOES AWAY IF THAT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN AND WE DO A BETTER JOB LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER. IT IS A NONISSUE IF THAT HAPPENS. THANK YOU.

>> COMMISSIONER GAINES. >> I AM NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUE TONIGHT. AND THIS IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS. IT HAS TO COME BACK IN FRONT OF US AGAIN FOR ANOTHER READING. I HOPE EVERYBODY LISTEN TO ALL FIVE OF US AND WHAT WE SAID TONIGHT. TO MOVE THE MEETING ON AND TO NOTE THAT FOR THE AUDIENCE TO KNOW AND THE PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THIS HAS TO COME IN FRONT OF US AGAIN FOR A SECOND READING. AT THIS TIME AT A MAYOR I WILL GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 24-0 13.

[e. Legislative Hearing - Ordinance 24-019 - amending Code of Ordinances, Chapter 22 to delete Business Tax Receipts and replace with Certificate of Use. FIRST READING]

>> CALL THE ROLL PLEASE. >>

>> OKAY, NEXT WE HAVE ANOTHER LEGISLATIVE HEARING, FOR ORDINANCE 24-019. AMENDING CODE OF ORDINANCES CHAPTER 22 TO DELETE BUSINESS TAX RECEIPTS AND REPLACE WITH A NEW CERTIFICATE OF USE PROGRAM. ESTABLISHING DEFINITIONS, REQUIREMENTS, APPLICATIONS, TERMS, RENEWAL, OTHER CERTIFICATES REQUIRED, RENEWS, INSPECTIONS, FEES, AND PENALTIES. AND ENFORCEMENT. AND PROVIDING FOR THE EFFECTIVE DATE, THIS IS THE FIRST READING.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND THIS IS YOU?

>> THIS IS ME WITH MY TRUSTEE ASSISTANT PEGGY , TONIGHT. SHE AGREED TO HELP. BASICALLY WE TALKED IN GREAT DETAIL AT A CONFERENCE AGENDA ABOUT BASICALLY DOING AWAY WITH DISNEY'S TAX AND USING TRANSITIONING TO A CERTIFICATE OF USE PROGRAM. BASICALLY THIS IS GOING TO BE CORRESPONDING WITH OUR LAUNCH OF TYLER. IN THE EXISTING BUSINESS THAT HAS A BUSINESS TAX SHALL BE DEEMED HAVING CERTIFICATE OF USE AND INSTEAD OF RENEWING A BUSINESS TAX THEY WILL APPLY FOR CERTIFICATE OF USE. IT WILL BE A SIMPLE AND EASY PROCESS, LIKE IF THEY WERE RENEWING BUSINESS TAX. WE WILL RENEW THE STATE LICENSE. THAT IS BASICALLY A. THE DIFFERENCE WITH THE CERTIFICATE OF USE IS THAT IT IS ONE CERTIFICATE OF USE PER LOCATION. AS OPPOSED TO WHEN YOU HAD ATTORNEY OFFICES, EVERY ATTORNEY IN OFFICE HAD TO BE , HAD TO HAVE CERTIFICATE OF USE.

EVERY MEDICAL DOCTOR HAD TO HAVE A BUSINESS TAX. NOW IT IS 124 ONE CERTIFICATE OF USE FOR ONE LOCATION. NEXT WE HAVE ANY BUSINESS TAX HOLDER THAT DOES NOT OBTAIN THEIR CERTIFICATE OF USE BY NOVEMBER 30. IF THEY HAVE A BUSINESS TAX AND FAILED TO RENEW BY NOVEMBER 30 OF 2024, IT WILL START THE PROCESS OVER AGAIN AS IF IT WERE A NEW CERTIFICATE OF USE. AND THEN WE ALSO SAID THAT HOME OCCUPATIONS WILL ALSO REQUIRE CERTIFICATE OF USE BUT WE WILL NOT BE CONDUCTING ANY INSPECTIONS. SO ONE OF THE BIG CHANGES IS THAT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE REQUIRED TO HAVE A TRAIN 24 FOR THEIR LOCATION. UNIT THAT IS IF

[01:30:08]

FAILING TO RENEW THE CERTIFICATE OF USE WITHIN 60 DAYS OF THE EXPIRATION JUST RENDERS IT VOID. THERE IS NO MORE, BUSINESS TAXES ARE DUE SEPTEMBER 30 AND HERE IT IS ON JUNE 17 THEN PEOPLE HAVE STILL NOT RENEWED. THAT IS A LABORIOUS PROCESS THAT TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT. AFTER 60 DAYS IT IS VOID. IF YOU GET CAUGHT THEN YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AGAIN. AND THEN WE ALSO INCLUDED THE PENALTY FOR THE AFTER-THE-FACT APPLICATION. THAT SHOULD BE EQUAL TO TWO TIMES THE CERTIFICATE OF USE FEE. THE PROCESS WILL BE JUST LIKE WHAT WE DO FOR BUSINESS TAX. YOU KNOW, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROPERTY IS ZONED FOR THE USE THAT IS INTENDED. THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO DO THE INSPECTION AND MAKE SURE THAT THE BUILDING IS CONSTRUCTED FOR THE TYPE OF OCCUPANCY THAT IT IS GOING -- THAT IS GOING TO BE CONDUCTED THERE. AGAIN MAKING SURE THAT IT MEETS FIRE REGULATIONS, WE WILL STILL DOUBLE CHECK AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THEIR PROPER STATE LICENSES. SO WE ARE NOT GIVING A BUSINESS TAX OR A CERTIFICATE OF USE TO A PHYSICIAN THAT DOES NOT HAVE A PHYSICIAN'S LICENSE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS IN PLACE. AND AGAIN THE LANDLORD AND PROPERTY OWNER IS AWARE OF WHAT IS BEING APPROVED AND INTENDED FOR THE PROPERTY. THAT IS JUST A QUICK OUTLINE OF THE PROCESS. THE ONLY NEW STEP IN THE WHOLE THING IS THE FIRE INSPECTION. AND THEN THESE ARE THE FEES THAT I RECOMMENDED WHEN WE TALKED AT THE CONFERENCE

[01:35:01]

>> WOULD IT BE FAIR TO SAY THAT THE BUSINESS TAXES TURNING INTO

THE CERTIFICATE OF USE? >> YES, IT IS BEING REPLACED

WITH THE CERTIFICATE OF USE. >> FOR EVERYONE LISTENING, WHY DO WE DO THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE?

>> WHY DO WE -- >> DO THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE?

>> THE TRANSITION? >> NO, WHY DO WE HAVE A

BUSINESS TAX? >> THE PROGRAM IS BASICALLY THE CITY'S OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT A BUSINESS BEING CONDUCTED THE CITY IS BEING DONE WITH THE PROPER STATE LICENSES IN AN AREA THAT IT IS PROPERLY ZONED FOR AND IN A BUILDING THAT IT IS CONSTRUCTED FOR AND SAFE. IT IS REALLY TO MAKE SURE OUR BUSINESSES ARE OPERATING SAFELY IN OUR CITY FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ALL OF OUR CITIZENS.

>> DON'T ALL CITIZENS HAVE A VARIATION OF THIS SO THEY KNOW WHAT BUSINESSES ARE OPERATING IN THEIR CITY? AND THEY KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN CASE THERE IS A PROBLEM? OR AN ACCUSATION?

>> I AM NOT 100% SURE. I FEEL CONFIDENT SAYING THAT EVERY CITY HAS SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THIS. WHATEVER IT IS CALLED AND HOWEVER MUCH IT COST. I THINK IT IS INCUMBENT UPON THE CITY TO MAKE SURE THAT BUSINESSES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY IN OUR

CITY. >> IN OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES KIND OF EXPECT US TO SAY, LOOK WHAT HE OR SHE IS DOING. AND THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SOMETHING AND THEY EXPECT

US TO BE ON TOP OF THAT. >> RIGHT, YOU DO NOT WANT TO MANUFACTURE A FACILITY THAT IS POPPING UP IN THE HOUSE

NEXT-DOOR. >> I HAD A QUESTION, CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE SLIDE, THERE WE GO. THE INITIAL BUILDING INSPECTION AIMED FOR COMMERCIAL, THAT IS THE 75, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS

DOING THE INSPECTION? >> THAT IS THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND AS IT EXISTS TODAY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS A COMPLETELY SEPARATE PROCESS THAT WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE FIRE DISTRICT TO PAY WHATEVER THE FEE IS AND HAVE THE INSPECTION. THE FIRE DISTRICT ISSUES THE CERTIFICATE THEY PRESENT TO US AND WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH ISSUING THE

CERTIFICATE. >> AND THE OTHER THING WAS THE SLIDE THAT TALKED ABOUT THE NONPROFIT. THE THING WE HAVE HERE AND WE HAVE HAD A SITUATION, I KNOW, WITH THE COMMISSION, WHERE A NONPROFIT ACTUALLY WENT INTO WHAT I CALL A STRIP MALL AREA. AND THE CHALLENGE WAS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THAT WAS A LIQUOR STORE AND THAT CAUSED SOME ISSUES WITH THAT. BUT THE PROCESS WE ARE PUTTING IN PLACE NOW, IT IS A MECHANISM SO THAT AT LEAST WE KNOW WHO IS WHERE.

SO IF THEY ARE TRYING TO GO INTO THE STRIP MALL AND THERE IS A LIQUOR STORE TWO DOORS DOWN AND A NONPROFIT OR A CHURCH, SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE, WE WOULD ADVISE AT THAT POINT? HOW DO WE HANDLE THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION? THAT WAS THE IMMEDIATE ISSUE THAT CAUSED AND TRIGGERED THIS.

>> I REMEMBER THAT. CURRENTLY A NONPROFIT OR A CHURCH, THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO. BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT TAXED THEY JUST OPEN UP ANYWHERE. WE HAVE NO WAY TO KNOW. UNLESS THEY ACTUALLY COME INTO THE CITY AND SAY, HEY, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO? AND THEN THEY GO TALK TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. WE DO NOT KNOW THEY ARE THERE AND WE DO NOT HAVE ROLE ENFORCEMENT TOOL FROM A BUSINESS TAX STANDPOINT. THAT THIS WILL ALLOW US TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE -- WE WILL KNOW EVERYONE WHO IS IN THE SHOPPING CENTER. IF A SCHOOL IS THERE AND PEGGY ONCE TO OPEN A LIQUOR STORE NEXT DOOR, WE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A TIMELINE IN PLACE. WE DO NOT HAVE THAT LUXURY RIGHT NOW. I KNOW OUR BUILDING DEPARTMENT IS FREQUENTLY CHALLENGED BECAUSE THERE IS A SCHOOL THAT WANTS TO OPEN. WELL, IT WAS A SCHOOL AT

[01:40:06]

>> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES.

>> TWO QUICK QUESTIONS. THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, I KNOW A LOT OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT REALLY DO NOT HAVE A LOCATION. SO THEY MAY HAVE A MAILING ADDRESS, THEY MAY HAVE A MAILING ADDRESS AND THEY REALLY DO NOT MEET OR THEY JUST GO OUT AND DO STUFF. SO HOW DOES THIS COME IN?

>> THIS IS LOCATION SPECIFIC SO IF THEY DO NOT HAVE A PHYSICAL COMMERCIAL LOCATION THEY ARE GOOD. IF SOMEBODY IS OPERATING A BUSINESS, IF THEY OPERATE OUT OF A HOME SOMEWHERE, THEY PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF USE, AS A

HOME-BASED BUSINESS. >> MAYBE I AM TIRED TODAY AND MAYBE I READ TOO MUCH, BUT WHERE DO CHURCHES FALL?

>> THEY ARE NONPROFIT. SO THEY ARE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, 501(C)(3). BUT I DO NOT LIKE TO STICK ON THE C3, BECAUSE THERE ARE ALL DIFFERENT SORTS OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. A CHURCH IS A NONPROFIT, THEY ARE ORGANIZED UNDER THE LAWS OF FLORIDA, THEY HAVE A SUN BUSINESS, THEY HAVE A CORPORATE IDENTITY. OR THEY SHOULD. BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO FILE A TAX

RETURN. >>

>> I AM JUST SEEING ALL THE CHURCHES AROUND THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE AROUND THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE SO, WE ARE SAYING NOW THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE COME IN AND DONE , THEY SHOULD HAVE COME IN AND FILED SOMETHING OR NOW THEY HAVE TO COME IN NOW AND DO THIS CERTIFICATE OF USE FOR THEIR LOCATION.

>> THEY NOW HAVE TO COME IN FOR THE CERTIFICATE OF USE FOR THEIR LOCATION. THEY SHOULD HAVE BEFORE. THEY SHOULD HAVE COME IN TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE PROPERLY ZONED AND THAT THE BUILDING IS PROPER. SO I AM NOT SAYING THAT THEY DIDN'T, THAT THEY WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO IT BEFORE. I AM JUST SAYING THAT THIS IS A TRIGGER WE CAN ALL MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS

OPERATING SAFELY. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT. IF A CHURCH DOES NOT WE GO AFTER THEM?

>> IT WOULD BECOME A CONCERN. IF IT GETS REPORTED AND WE KNOW THAT A CHURCH IS OPERATING, IT WOULD GET REPORTED TO CODE ENFORCEMENT.

THE ABILITY NOW. IT IS FIRE SAFETY, HEALTH AND SAFETY.

>> THAT IS MY THIRD QUESTION. I UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE FIRE DISTRICT. I KNOW WHAT THE FIRE DISTRICT DOES. ALL RIGHT, WHEN WE GET THE CERTIFICATES, I HAVE READ ABOUT THE BUSINESS LICENSES AND ALL OF THAT. IS THERE ANYWHERE THAT WE REQUIRE THE BUSINESSES TO OPEN UP IN FORT PIERCE AND CARRY SOME SORT OF INSURANCE? IS THAT IN HERE?

>> NO, WE DO NOT GET INTO INSURANCE. IT IF IT IS A CONTRACTOR, A PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTOR DOING WORK ON A HOME, WE DO REQUIRE WORKERS COMP. BUT WE DO NOT GET INTO INSURANCE BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT. THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DO NOT NECESSARILY CARRY INSURANCE. I AM SURE THAT THERE ARE CHURCHES THAT DON'T CARRY INSURANCE.

>> I JUST HAVE A QUESTION, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SAFETY AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CHURCHES AND EVERYTHING SO I WAS ASKING THE

QUESTION. OKAY. >> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON.

>> WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT IT OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS. AND THERE'S A COUPLE PERSPECTIVES THAT ARE DRIVING THIS. THE CITY IS GOING TO BE THE UNFORTUNATE , I WILL JUST SAY IT IS UNFORTUNATE, THE ENACTOR OF THE CERTIFICATE OF USE, THE BTR. WE TALKED ABOUT THE FIRE DISTRICT IN THE REGULATIONS WITHIN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. DEAL, BIG COMPONENTS WITHIN THE STATE OF FLORIDA IN THE LEGISLATURE AND WHAT THEY VOTED ON. IT IS GETTING PUSHED INTO LOCAL, WHICH IS FINE.

MISSES FOR A SAFER NEIGHBORHOOD. SO I ALSO WILL GIVE A PERSONAL TESTIMONY AS I HAVE BEEN DOING TONIGHT. I HAD SOME FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS IN NORTH CAROLINA. THERE WAS A REGISTERED BUSINESS WITH PETROLEUM PRODUCTS NEXT TO AN UNKNOWN GATHERING PLACE OF A NONPROFIT AND THERE WAS AN ISSUE. YOU CAN SEE HOW ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY WERE LIKE WE RESPONDED. WE RESPONDED WITH

[01:45:02]

CONTEMPLATION. >> I WANT YOUR FEEDBACK. I HAVE TO ESTABLISH THE FEES AT THE NEXT MEETING.

>> WE ARE NOT NOAPPROVING THE FEES TONIGHT.

>> I AM SHARING WITH YOU WHILE WE ARE HERE. WHILE WE HAVE TIME TO TALK ABOUT IT. I JUST THINK THAT THERE IS SOME OPPORTUNITY.

NO ONE IS COLLECTING SO THE COFFERS GET BIGGER. IS JUST AN APPLICATION PROCESS AND I TAKE IT TO HEART. I CAN SEE WHERE FOLKS MIGHT HAVE A CHALLENGE BUT THIS. THAT IS $200 RIGHT OFF THE TOP. OR $125. AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN A YEAR LATER THEY ARE LOOKING AT ANOTHER $75. OKAY. I AM JUST TRYING TO GET THIS ROLLING. IF THEY ARE ON FOR NUMEROUS.

>> YOU ARE THINKING 50, 75 AND 50?

>> THAT WAS MY RECOMMENDATION. IT IS JUST A CONVERSATION

PIECE. THANK YOU. >> SINCE COMMISSIONER JOHNSON HAS THE SCREEN UP, WHERE DO THE CHURCHES FALL UNDER? COMMERCIAL

OR HOMEBASE? >> THAT IS A COMMERCIAL

LOCATION. >> OKAY. THAT IS HIGH.

>> IT IS THE SAME PROCESS, WHETHER THEY ARE NONPROFIT OR NOT. IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, I MEAN THIS IS -- I NEED THE FEEDBACK AT THE NEXT MEETING, FOR SURE.

BEFORE HAND IS OKAY. >> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK.

>> AS A COMMERCIAL LANDLORD BY TRADE, I AM 64 AND I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS ABOUT 35 YEARS NOW. MAYBE LONGER. 40 YEARS. GOD.

SHOCKING. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS AT LENGTH WITH LINDA. PRIOR TO IT BEING ROLLED OUT TONIGHT. AND I HAD RESERVATIONS ABOUT SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS THAT WERE BROUGHT FORWARD. BUT I THINK THIS PACKAGE IS APPROPRIATE AND HOW IT IS STRUCTURED. IT DOES RAISE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. THE THE STRUCTURE, FLEXIBLE. WHATEVER YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE I'M GOOD WITH THAT. HAVING SAID THAT, WHAT TYPE OF DOCUMENTATION ARE YOU LOOKING FOR FROM THE LANDLORD TO SUBSTANTIATE THE TENANT'S USE. AND, BECAUSE MOST MUNICIPALITIES USE THE LEASE DOCUMENT. SO THE TENANT WALKS DOWN TO PORT ST. LUCIE, ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE. THEY NEED TO PRESENT THEIR LEASE DOCUMENT TO THEIR CLERK , WHATEVER THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE THAT HANDLES THAT. GOES THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS, IT STILL GOES THROUGH PLANNING AND BUILDING. BUT THE LEASE DOCUMENT WHICH IS EXECUTED THROUGH THE TENANT AND LANDLORD IS THE BASIS OF WHAT THEY ARE USING TO DETERMINE THE USE PROVISION. IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR HERE? ARE YOU LOOKING FOR DIFFERENT

DOCUMENTATION? >> NO, I THINK IT WOULD BE SUFFICIENT. I WAS TRYING TO, WHEN I AM SAYING PROPERTY OWNER PERMISSION, FOR INSTANCE, MAYBE NOT EVERYONE HAS A LEASE DOCUMENT. I AM NOT SAYING THEY SHOULDN'T. BUT NOT EVERYONE DOES. IF THEY DON'T, SOMETHING WRITTEN BY --

>> FAIR ENOUGH. AT THE LEASE DOCUMENT DOES NOT EXIST THEN YOU NEED A SECONDARY VERIFICATION. THAT MAKE SENSE.

>> I DID NOT WANT TO PIGEONHOLE.

>> WHEN OUR OFFICE DRAFTS LEASES WE WANT TO MAKE IT VERY

[01:50:01]

AND I HAVE LOOKED AT THIS AS A PROPERTY OWNER FOR DECADES. AND WE GET CALLS DAILY, VIRTUALLY, WHEN WE ARE ADVERTISING SPACE FOR LEASE FOR NONPROFITS. VIRTUALLY EVERY SPACE WE HAVE IS NOT APPLICABLE TO A NONPROFIT. I AM NOT PICKING ON A CHURCH BUT CHURCHES ARE PLACES OF ASSEMBLY. THEY HAVE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE CODE FOR LIFE SAFETY ISSUES.

AND CANDIDLY, CHURCHES, THERE ARE CHURCHES OPERATING IN NUMEROUS BUILDINGS THAT SHOULD NOT BE IN THOSE BUILDINGS. THEY DO NOT MEET THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS, ET CETERA. I AM NOT LOOKING TO WRITE ANYBODY OUT HERE. BUT THIS IS PERVASIVE. I HAVE ONE RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO WHERE I AM LOCATED IN THEY USE MY LAND TO PARK ON EVERY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, AND I HAVE NO ISSUES BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO PARKING. NO IN THAT ASSEMBLY USE THE RATIO IS PROBABLY ONE PER 100, SQUARE FEET. MAYBE ONE PER 75. AND I DO NOT MEAN TO GET INTO THE WEEDS, BUT MAYBE ONE SPACE PER EVERY 75 SQUARE FEET, VERSUS ONE SPACE FOR EVERY 400 SQUARE FEET. SO YOU SEE WHERE YOU GET INTO THE ROUGH. HAVING THEM REGISTER FOR THIS PROCESS IS GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL. THE QUESTION I HAVE AND MAYBE THERE IS NOT REALLY AN ANSWER TO THIS, THE PROLIFERATION OF THESE TYPES OF USES, I AM NOT JUST SAYING CHURCHES, THERE IS A ZILLION OF THEM, HOW DO THEY GET SCREENED OUT? OR THEY DON'T. THEY JUST CONTINUE TO OPERATE. MY CONCERN IS NOT WHAT THEY ARE DOING. IS IRRELEVANT TO ME WHAT THEY ARE DOING. MY CONCERN IS THE LIFE SAFETY ISSUE. SOME OF THE PROPERTIES, TO OPERATE IN THAT REGARD, THEY WOULD REQUIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS TO BE INSTALLED POTENTIALLY. OR UPGRADED FIRE PREVENTION SCENARIOS. OR UPGRADED EXITS. ADDITIONAL EXITS BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE. YOU SEE WHERE I AM GOING WITH THAT. I KNOW THIS IS A LITTLE SIDEWAYS FROM WHERE YOU, FROM WHAT YOUR FUNCTION IS. BUT IT IS A CONCERN THAT I HAVE NOW THAT IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP THAT I HAVE OBSERVED THIS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. MAYBE I JUST OBSERVE IT BECAUSE I AM A COMMERCIAL LANDLORD BY TRADE. I SAID GEEZ, HOW THE HECK DID IT GET THERE? IT GOT THERE BECAUSE NOBODY PERMITTED IT. THAT IS AN ISSUE, GOD FORBID THAT THERE IS SOME TYPE OF FIRE. IN ONE OF THESE LOCATIONS AND IT DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT FIRE EXITS, FIRE PREVENTION EQUIPMENT, ET CETERA. THAT WOULD BE DISASTROUS. I AM BRINGING IT UP BECAUSE IT IS, IT WAS BROUGHT UP EARLIER. I BELIEVE THAT THERE WOULD BE SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS BASED ON THIS NEW ARENA. CODE ENFORCEMENT I UNDERSTAND IS PEGGY'S DEPARTMENT. THE LEAD AGENCY. IF BUSINESSES ARE OPERATING OUTSIDE OF THE REQUIREMENTS. I GET THAT. BUT THAT IS MY CONCERN DIES. -- MY CONCERN GUYS. INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS, WITH A PARKING RATIO THAT IS ONE PER 1000 OR ONE PER 500, WITH CHURCHES IN THEM. THE BUILDINGS ARE SIMPLY NOT DESIGNED, LIFESAVING ISSUES, ET CETERA. BUT THAT IS A COMMON THEME.

>> WHILE WE ARE NOT GOING OUT AND HUNTING THEM OUT.

>> I RECOGNIZE THAT AND I AM NOT ADVOCATING THAT. I AM JUST MAKING THE POINT THAT IT IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. AT SOME POINT IN TIME THERE WILL WILL BE AN EVENT. AND PEOPLE WILL SAY WELL WHY HAS THIS NOT INVENTED MORE THOROUGHLY? THERE IS SIMPLY NO REAL PROCESS IN PLACE TO DO SO.

>> QUESTION. MS. COX, DID I READ THAT YOU HAD PULLED IN THE BACKUP THE BTR FOR CHURCHES THAT COME ON BOARD? I THOUGHT I

SAW 260. >> NOT NECESSARILY CHURCHES.

FOR INSTANCE THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, SOME OF THOSE TYPES THAT DO GET A BUSINESS TAX RECEIPT SOLELY BECAUSE SOME OTHER AGENCY IS ASKING FOR IT. BUT EVEN IF THEY HAVE IT, WE CANNOT TAX THEM. IT IS A FIVE DOLLAR RENEWAL FEE. THEY HAVE THE CERTIFICATE BUT THERE IS NO FEE ASSOCIATED WITH IT. IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE EVER REQUIRED ANYBODY TO HAVE.

BECAUSE BUSINESS TAX WAS A TAX.

>> I'VE GOT IT. AND NOW IT IS JUST REGISTRATION. IT IS NOT A

[01:55:03]

LOOKS LIKE. >> I WILL FIND OUT.

>> AND COMMISSION, WE HAD THIS ISSUE. IT WAS EARLY ON. I REMEMBER THIS NONPROFIT WAS COMING IN WITH A GROUP, AND A SCHOOL, I REMEMBER THAT AS WELL. AND WE HAD A REAL CHALLENGE WITH -- I DON'T THINK WE APPROVED IT BECAUSE OF THE PROXIMITY OF THE LIQUOR STORE. AND SOME OTHER THINGS THERE.

AND THEN TO BE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT IS COMING INTO SOME OF THESE CLASSES, ET CETERA. SO THEN WE CAN SEE IF IT IS PROPER TO PUT IN THE ACTUAL DOCILITY , THAT IS WHAT WE ARE REALLY AFTER HERE. IF YOU COULD GET THAT TO ME. SO I HEAR YOU RIGHT, THE NEXT MEETING WE WILL TALK FEES?

>> RIGHT. >> THANK YOU.

>> I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN REDUCED FEES FOR NONPROFIT.

ESPECIALLY CHURCHES. I KNOW THAT YOU CANNOT DISTINGUISH, NONPROFIT IS NONPROFIT. BUT I THINK THAT MIGHT BE, BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY A FEE TO THE FIRE DISTRICT WE

NEED TO BE CONSCIOUS ABOUT. >> THE FIRE DISTRICT, I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY HAVE A SEPARATE FEE FOR A NONPROFIT OR NOT.

>> I DO NOT KNOW EITHER BUT I CAN FIND OUT.

>> MAYOR, I WAS GOING TO SAY THE SAME THING OR VERY SIMILAR.

WE SHOULD CHECK INTO THAT TO SEE WHAT THE OTHER AGENCIES REQUIRE. IT IS STILL A STAFF TIME USE. RIGHT? IT IS BASED OFF OF STAFF TIME, IT IS BASED OFF OF WHAT INSPECTION TYPE NEEDS TO HAPPEN. SO GOING BACK TO EVEN BUILDING SCHOOLS, CHARTER SCHOOLS, NONPROFIT TYPE APPLICATIONS , THERE ARE CONDITIONS WITHIN A BRAND-NEW STRUCTURE, SUCH AS A LIFE SAFETY PLAN REQUIRED BY FLORIDA LAW. THAT IS REQUIRED AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE ARE USING EXISTING BUILDINGS, WHICH IS GOOD, ADAPTIVE REUSE, MAYBE, OF SOME SORT. BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO COME UP WITH A PLAN. THOSE THAT COME UP WITH A PLAN AND DO IT THE PROPER WAY, THEY START TO THINK OF LITTLE NUANCES, AND/OR THE LIFESAVING COMPONENT. I AM 85 FEET FROM THE DOOR SO IF SOMETHING HAPPENS I CAN GET OUT. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT EVENT IS HAPPENING BUT I NEED TO GET OUT THE DOOR. HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES THIS ROOM HOLD AND HOW MANY DOORS CAN WE GET OUT OF? IF THERE IS AN ISSUE. THAT IS A REAL CONVERSATION, COMMONSENSE ORIENTED.

>> I THINK WE OUGHT TO BE MINDFUL OF STAFF TIME TOO.

>> WE HAVE TO BALANCE THAT. IF IT IS CONSISTENT, I AM NOT SURE THAT WE WILL SEE IF THERE IS A REDUCTION, THAT THERE MIGHT BE.

I HAVE NOT LOOKED AT THAT IN DEPTH WITH THE FEE STRUCTURE BEFORE. BUT WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> I KNOW THE FIRE DISTRICT IS VERY INTERESTED IN THIS PROGRAM. BECAUSE THEY ARE SEEING SOME REALLY SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES AND DANGERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. WHEN YOU WALK INTO A SCHOOL AND THEN YOU SEE DOORS CHAINED, EXIT DOORS CHAINED CLOSED, WE HAVE A PROBLEM WE NEED TO ADDRESS.

>> THE LAST SCHOOL I BUILT WAS EXACTLY THAT. HOW DO YOU KEEP BAD PEOPLE OUT OF THE FRONT DOOR BUT ONCE INSIDE SAFE AND ABLE TO GET OUT THE FRONT DOOR?

>> THAT IS A HUGE CHALLENGE. >> A HUGE CHALLENGE.

>> I AM CURIOUS. WHEN DO WE HAVE TO GIVE MS. COX THE

NUMBERS? >> AT THE NEXT MEETING.

>> WELL, THE ORDINANCE DOES NOT CONTAIN THE FEES, I JUST ADDED THE SLIDE FOR CONVERSATION. WE WILL ADOPT THE ORDINANCE AT THE NEXT MEETING AND THEN WE NEED TO DECIDE ON THE FEES BY RESOLUTION. THAT WAY THEY CAN BE CHANGED EASILY TOO. REMEMBER IF WE DON'T GET IT RIGHT WE CAN ALWAYS COME BACK AND

REVISIT IT. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THIS IS PUBLIC HEARING. ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, PLEASE COME FORWARD. I SEE NO MOVEMENT. I WILL CLOSE THE

PUBLIC HEARING. >> I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION I FORGOT. MS. COX, HOW DO WE NOTIFY THOSE TAT ARE GETTING A BTR? THEY WILL COME IN AND SAY WE CHANGE THE PROCESS EVERY YEAR, WHICH WE DON'T. BUT THAT WILL COME DOWN TO IT.

>> GLAD YOU ASKED. WE HAD A CONFERENCE CALL TODAY. OUR NEW SOFTWARE SYSTEM IS GOING LIVE ON JULY 9TH. WE BUILT THIS WHOLE THING OUT FOR BUSINESS TAX. AND ON THURSDAY WE ARE REBUILDING IT ALL OVER AGAIN.

[02:00:03]

LETTING THEM KNOW HOW THEY WILL REAPPLY. THEY HAVE TO SET UP AN ACCOUNT, THEY WILL REAPPLY AND REENTER ALL THE INFORMATION. SO THAT WILL GO OUT AS SOON AS YOU GUYS APPROVE THIS AND WE GET IT BUILT OUT AND TESTED. I FULLY EXPECT BY JULY 15TH, THAT IS WHEN THEY WILL GET THEIR NOTICES TELLING THEM HOW TO

REAPPLY FOR THE PROGRAM. >> THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT, IS THERE A MOTION?

>> MOVED TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.

>> CALL THE ROPE PLEASE. -- CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.

[a. Resolution 24-R31 authorizing the acceptance of FDOT Standard Agreement for the Florida Standard Use Nonmotorized (SUN) Trail Network Agreement between the City and FDOT for funding for Right-of-Way Acquisition.]

>> PUBLIC HEARING. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO RESOLUTIONS. AND WE HAVE RESOLUTION 24-R 31. AUTHOR WRITING THE EXECUTION OF AGREEMENT WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE STANDARD AGREEMENT FOR THE FL STANDARD USE NONMOTORIZED TRAIL NETWORK AGREEMENT FOR THE SHARED USE PATHS FROM GEORGIA AVENUE, KNOWN AS HISTORIC DOWNTOWN TRAIL, REPEALING ALL RESOLUTIONS AND CONFLICT HERE WITH AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

>> WE DO HAVE OUR PROJECT ENGINEER SELENA GRIFFITH WHO CAN COME AND PRESENT THE ISSUE AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU

MAY HAVE. >> MISS GRIFFITH.

>> GOOD EVENING. THIS IS -- THE CITY HAD REQUESTED ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM THE FDOT SUN TRAIL PROGRAM. FOR THE DOWNTOWN TRAIL SEGMENT. THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT WE HAD FOR THE DESIGN WAS EXECUTED BUT WHEN THEY ADDED THE FUNDING FOR THE RIGHT-OF-WAY ACQUISITION, THEY NEEDED TO AMEND THE AGREEMENT.

BASICALLY THEY ARE SENDING THIS AGREEMENT TO ADD THAT FUNDING AS FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF THE PROJECT.

>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU

MUCH. IS THERE A MOTION? >> MOTION TO APPROVE.

>> SECOND. >> CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.

[b. Resolution 24-R32 adopting the 2024-2027 SHIP Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP)]

>> RESOLUTION 24- R 32. APPROVING THE LOCAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE PLAN, AS REQUIRED BY DSU -- AS REQUIRED BY THE ACT.

AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE ANY NECESSARY DOCUMENTS AND CERTIFICATIONS NEEDED BY THE STATE AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF THE LOCAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE PLAN BY APPROVAL FROM THE FLORIDA HOUSING CORPORATION AND AN

EFFECTIVE DATE. >> WE HAVE A GRANT ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL, KIMBERLY HINTON. SHE CAN COME UP AND SPEAK TO THE ISSUE AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

>> WELCOME. >> HELLO.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO PRESENT TO US?

>> NOT AT THE MOMENT. THE LOCAL ASSISTANCE PLAN IS WHAT THE GRANTS ADMINISTRATION PLANS ON DOING WITH THE PROGRAMS WITH OUR FUNDING FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. SO THAT WOULD BE OUR PROGRAM WITH OUR REHAB, HOME REHAB PROGRAM, OUR SHIP PROGRAM. THE FOCUS WOULD BE MORE ON REHAB FOR THE NEXT

FISCAL YEAR. >> OKAY. QUESTIONS OF STAFF?

>> A QUICK QUESTION. SO THE FISCAL YEAR STARTS OCTOBER 1.

SO HAVE WE, THERE IS STILL A PROCESS OF PEOPLE APPLYING FOR THIS REHABILITATION OF THE HOMES, ET CETERA. RIGHT?

>> YES. >> SO THIS PAST YEAR WE ARE IS

[02:05:04]

ABLE TO SPEND WITH THIS? >> WITH THE REHAB PROGRAM?

>> YES. >> WE HAVE COMMITTED TO 100% OF

THE FUNDING. >> 100%? VERY WELL.

>> SO WE NEED NEW FUNDING IN OCTOBER.

>> SO WE ARE TAPPED OUT FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR AND THEN WE WILL RESTART IN SEPTEMBER AND THE PORTAL WILL OPEN FOR THAT

WHEN? IS IT OPEN NOW? >> IT IS NOT OPEN NOW. IT WILL OPEN WHEN THE PROGRAM WILL OPEN. IT IS TENTATIVE FOR

OCTOBER. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

>> OTHER QUESTIONS? OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.

>> I MOVED FOR APPROVAL. >> SECOND.

>> CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. >>

[14. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Any person who wishes to comment on any subject may be heard at this time. Please limit your comments to three (3) minutes or less, as directed by the Mayor, as this section of the Agenda is limited to thirty minutes. The City Commission will not be able to take any official actions under Comments from the Public. Speakers will address the Mayor, Commissioners, and the Public with respect. Inappropriate language will not be tolerated.]

>> OKAY, WE MOVE ON TO COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.

>> IF ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION, PLEASE COME FORWARD. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. AND YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, AND THEN MS. COX WILL GIVE YOU A THREE SECOND WARNING.

>> MY NAME IS ALBERT SMITH. ORLANDO, FLORIDA. I WANT TO START FIRST BY SAYING OUR HEART'S AND CONDOLENCES GO OUT TO THE FAMILIES THAT LOST PEOPLE ON THE DAY WE ARE SPEAKING OF, I AM HERE ABOUT MY SON, BERNARD SMITH. I KNOW I ONLY HAVE A COUPLE MINUTES, SO I WILL SKIP THROUGH A LOT AND JUST GET TO WHAT WE ARE HERE FOR. WE HAVE WITNESSES IN PLACE TO COME FORWARD AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHY NOTHING IS BEING DONE BY THE CITY, THE MAYOR, THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. MY SON WAS MURDERED . I WILL EXPLAIN TO YOU HOW WE GET HERE. HE HAD TOOK -- AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT. WE WANT TO KNOW WHY THE POLICE ARE NOT TRAINED WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ACTING LIKE THEMSELVES.

HOW DO YOU NOT RECOGNIZE THIS? WHEN MY SON WAS SEEN, HE WAS CARRYING A GARBAGE CAN WITH TWO HANDS. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE THAT HE COULD'VE SHOT. THEY ACCUSED MY SON OF SHOOTING AT THEM. THE POLICE SAID THERE HE GOES. NOT FREEZE. NOT GET DOWN. BUT THERE YOU GO. TO SHOTS FIRED. IF MY SON HAD SHOT AT THE POLICE FIRST THEN THERE WOULD BE MARKERS WITH NUMBERS AND BULLET CASES. NO BULLET SHOWCASES, NO NUMBERS. MY SON RAN FROM THE OFFICERS THAT SHOT FIRST. RAN TO A HILL OF BULLETSWITH A GARBAGE CAN. WE STILL HAVE VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THE GARBAGE CAN WITH HIM ON SEEN. NO OFFICERS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. ONLY LAID OFF. WITH PAY. ALL RIGHT? MY SON WAS MURDERED. NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT THAT. TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON BEFORE, TRYING TO ACCUSE HIM OF THINGS AND NOW TRYING TO RECANT HIS STATEMENT. WHEN ARE WE GETTING RELIEF? WHEN WILL YOU EXTEND THE OLIVE BRANCH TO US? THERE HAS BEEN NOBODY CAN FOOTAGE THEM TO ME, MY FAMILY, NO ONE ELSE! EVERYONE , THERE HAS BEEN NO GUN SHOWED TO US AND NO PICTURES OF NO GUN, NO GUN AROUND HIS BODY. HE WAS MURDERED! YOU SEE HERE, I AM SURE THAT YOU HAVE DONE AN INVESTIGATION AND IF NOT YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE ANOTHER. WE ARE GETTING NO RELIEF AND OUR CHILD WAS MURDERED! NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT THAT! THEY HAVE BLOODIED MY SONS NAME, THEY HAVE ACCUSED HIM OF THINGS THAT HE DID NOT DO. WE ARE TIRED. WE ARE TIRED OF THE COVERING UP THAT IS GOING ON. YOU ARE THE MAYOR! EVERYBODY HAS BEEN PUT IN THE GROUND. WE KNOW THAT ALL THE BULLET FORENSICS HAS COME THROUGH BUT NOBODY IS SAYING NOTHING, NOBODY IS SAYING , NOBODY IS SHOWING US.

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

>> -- TALLAHASSEE. OUR GOVERNOR.

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LISA MOBLEY. FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA. THAT WAS KIND OF EMOTIONAL. AND MY HEART GOES OUT TO THEIR FAMILIES. TO THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS ALL

[02:10:05]

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH ASPECT FOR THE COMMUNITY. I CAN GRACIOUSLY SAY THAT I THANK YOU ALL FOR ADDRESSING THAT ON OUR LAST MEETING. BUT NOW WE SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF TRYING TO GET SOME TYPE OF ASSISTANCE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO THE MENTAL HEALTH, THE DRUGS, THE DEALING WITH TRAUMA. WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING IN A HURRY. BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE A FACILITY WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WILL ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. EVERYTHING IS OUTSIDE OF NORTHWEST FORT PIERCE. SO AGAIN, WE ARE PLEADING , AGAIN WE ARE ASKING THAT SOMETHING BE DONE. WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE FACTS. THE FACTS ARE THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF DRUG USE IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE HAVE BAD DRUGS BEING SOLD OUT OF CONVENIENCE STORES IN OUR COMMUNITY. IF WE CAN REGULATE HOW FOOD IS BEING SOLD IN A RESTAURANT THEN WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO REGULATE THAT THE STORES IN OUR IMMUNITY ARE SELLING ILLEGAL DRUGS. WE KNOW THAT THERE WAS A DRUG BUST. I MEAN I DO NOT KNOW HOW IT HAPPENED. WE KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THEY ARE SELLING ALL KINDS OF DRUGS. ESPECIALLY MOLLY OUT OF THEIR STORE. TO GO IN AND ONLY FIND 20 GRAMS OF MARIJUANA, THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR IT TO HAPPEN LIKE THAT. AND WE HAVE GARDEN CITY ELEMENTARY, YOU HAVE A DAY CARE CENTER AROUND THE CORNER. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THESE ESTABLISHMENTS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. HOW ARE THEY GETTING THE LICENSE TO OPERATE AND SELL LEGAL DRUGS SO CLOSE TO OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS? WE HAVE TO COME TO THE REALIZATION THAT SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE. OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO THE FAMILIES.

I PERSONALLY CANNOT SPEAK ON THE SITUATION, BUT I KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE TO GET SOME TYPE OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. I EXPLAINED MY PAST AND I EXPLAINED THAT MY GRANDMOTHER GOT ME ASSISTANCE RIGHT THERE. WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO WALK OUR CHILDREN TO SOME TYPE OF ASSISTANCE. BRING BACK THE PROGRAMS IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT WE KNOW WERE EFFECTIVE. BRING THE FUNDING BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY TO HELP THE PEOPLE.

SO MANY CHILDREN ARE DYING. SO MANY FAMILIES ARE BLEEDING. SO MANY FAMILIES ARE HURTING AND WE JUST BAG FOR ASSISTANCE. WE ARE BEGGING FOR HELP WITH THE COMMUNITY.

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

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS APRIL SMITH. THAT WAS MY HUSBAND. I WANT TO CLARIFY MY HUSBAND. OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO ALL OF THE FAMILIES THAT WERE INVOLVED. BUT AS A FAMILY WE JUST WANT ANSWERS. YOU GUYS, THE CHIEF WITH THESE PRESS CONFERENCES MAKING THE STATEMENTS BUT NOBODY WILL GIVE US ANSWERS.

NOBODY WILL GIVE US FOOTAGE. ALL THE VICTIMS INVOLVED THAT HAVE PASTS HAVE BEEN PUT IN THE GROUND ALREADY. WHY ARE WE STILL WAITING ON BALLISTICS? WHY ARE WE WAITING TO SEE BODY CAN FOOTAGE? BODY CAMS. WE CANNOT SEE IT. YOU ARE PUTTING OUT A STATEMENT THAT HE WAS SHOOTING AT YOU AND WE ARE ASKING FOR A VIDEO. THE INVESTIGATION STILL NEED TO BE DONE? WE CANNOT FILE INSURANCE BECAUSE WE CANNOT GET A POLICE REPORT. AS A FAMILY WE HAVE TO PULL OUT OF POCKET BECAUSE OUR INSURANCE IS REQUIRING STUFF THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL NOT GIVE US. WHEN HIS WE AS A FAMILY, AS PARENTS, ARE GOING TO GET ANSWERS? WE ARE ASKING FOR ANSWERS AND NOT FOR THE CHIEF TO CONTINUE PRESS CONFERENCES ABOUT OUR CHILD BUT NO ONE WILL QUESTION HER. SHE MAKES A PRESS CONFERENCE AND THEN NO ONE CAN QUESTION HER. NO ONE CAN QUESTION HER ABOUT THE EVENT. WHEN WILL THE FAMILY GET ANSWERS? THAT IS WHAT I

WANT TO KNOW! >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. WHO IS

NEXT? >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS -- REEVES. I LIVE IN FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA. I AM A MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR. I SERVICE FORT PIERCE. I HAVE BEEN BORN AND RAISED IN THIS COUNTY AND I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGE COMING FROM THIS COMMUNITY. I JUST WANT TO KNOW, WHERE DO WE BEGIN TO HELP OUR CHILDREN? OUR CHILDREN IS OUR FUTURE. I STATE TO MY COMMUNITY A LOT THAT I DO NOT WANT TO RESIDE HERE AND

[02:15:03]

AND I HAVE THIRTYSOMETHING CLIENTS THAT I SERVICE IN THIS COMMUNITY. BUT WHEN I TALK TO THE PARENTS , I DON'T HAVE NOTHING TO OFFER THEM AS SERVICES, YOU NEED TO GO HERE OR YOU NEED TO GO THERE. THERE IS NOTHING HERE FOR OUR CHILDREN. THERE IS NOTHING. WE ARE BUILDING UP DOWNTOWN. THAT IS BARS AND DRINKS. WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE CHILDREN? THEY ARE GETTING GUNS. WHERE FROM? WHAT DO WE HAVE TO OFFER OUR CHILDREN? IT HURTS MY HEART TO SEE THAT WE ARE GETTING KIDS MURDERED. WHEN I WAS A CHILD I WENT OUT AND PLAYED. MY GRANDMOTHER CALLED MY NAME OUT THE BACK DOOR. SHE SCREAMED, COME! AND I RAN. NOW YOU CANNOT EVEN LET YOUR KIDS OUTSIDE. ALL YOU HEAR IS BULLETS. BULLETS AND -- WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO FOR OUR CHILDREN? OUR CHILDREN IS OUR

FUTURE. >> THANK YOU. WHO IS NEXT?

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS TIFFANY REESE.

>> SAY IT AGAIN IN THE MICROPHONE.

>> TIFFANY REESE. FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA. I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT ALL MY LIFE. I HAVE BEEN A CHURCH MEMBER. A COMMUNITY MEMBER. I HELP KIDS. WE FEED KIDS. WHEN YOU SEE A KID LYING ON THE GROUND, SHOT BY THE POLICE, WHAT DO YOU DO? WHEN YOU HEAR A POLICE OFFICER SAYING , THERE GOES THE VICTIM.

POW, POW, POW, HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT TO THE KIDS THAT THE POLICE IS GOOD? WHEN YOU SEE A NEWS CONFERENCE ABOUT A LOVED ONE, MY NEPHEW, MY BROTHER, RELATIVES, IF I HAD SEEN THE SHOOTING, I WILL POINT YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

BUT, AS A COMMUNITY, ARE WE A COMMUNITY? OR ARE WE DIVIDED? IS THIS FOR THE CITY? OR IS THIS FOR THE LIEN ON YOUR HOUSE, THE WATERFRONT PROPERTY, ALL OF THE TAXES? WE HAVE BIGGER PROBLEMS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. AND WE SIT. I MOVED WITH MY MOM. YES I DID. YOU KNOW WHY? THE LIGHT BILL IS HIGH, THE RENT IS HIGH, MY KIDS, I AM TRYING TO SEND THEM OFF TO COLLEGE BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT? THERE IS NOTHING HERE. I SAY THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE IS NOTHING HERE. WHERE IS THE SOUL SAVING STATION? DO THEY GET CLOSE DOWN? BECAUSE THEY HAD BUSINESS SOMEWHERE? WHERE ARE THE CHURCHES? ONLY A COUPLE OF CHURCHES, THEY GET TOGETHER NOW BECAUSE THERE IS NO FUNDING. THE WE HAVE PROPERTY TO GIVE AWAY. THAT WAS ADDRESSED EARLIER. WE DON'T WANT PROPERTY. LET'S BUILD PROPERTY FOR THE KIDS, WHERE THEY CAN DO SOMETHING, WHERE THEY CAN PLAY. AND NOT PLAY GAMES ALL DAY. YOU CANNOT EVEN BEAT YOUR KID BECAUSE WE WILL GO TO JAIL. BUT NOT ME, I AM GOING TO PUT MY HANDS ON MY KIDS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SEE MY KIDS DONE DOWN BY THE POLICE JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID THEY WILL TAKE OFF RUNNING. AND I HATE TO SAY IT, IF YOU ARE A BLACK KID, YOU ARE IN TROUBLE. SO ARE WE ONE? ARE WE SEPARATED AS A COMMUNITY? IF YOU CROSS THAT BRIDGE IT LOOKS GOOD. BUT IF YOU COME BACK ACROSS THAT BRIDGE A DIFFERENT KIND OF WIND WILL'S THEY STAY IN YOUR FACE. I GAVE UP AN HOURS WORTH OF PAY TO GIVE UP TO THE CHILDREN. I HAVE BEEN WORKING AT TROPICANA FOR 25 YEARS. ADDED UP. STILL, I DON'T WANT MY KIDS HERE. BUT I WILL HELP SOMEBODY ELSE'S KID AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL TOO.

LET THERE BE JUSTICE SURFER BERNARD SMITH.

>> THANK YOU. WHO IS NEXT? >> AT EVENING. MY NAME IS DR.

DOLORES BENJAMIN. I AM BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING BECAUSE ONE OF THE MOST RECENT VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE IN FORT PIERCE WAS MY FAMILY MEMBER. HIS NAME WAS ROOSEVELT BENJAMIN. THE TRAGEDY

[02:20:06]

PARENTS HAVE A HUGE ROLE TO PLAY IN KEEPING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND SCHOOLS SAFE. I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE MISSING A VERY POWERFUL TOOL AND THAT TOOL COULD BE USED TO MITIGATE THE VIOLENCE IN OUR CITY. THAT TOOL IS PARENT INVOLVEMENT. I AM FOR EMPOWERING PARENTS AND NOT BLAMING THEM. I WANT TO HELP GIVE THEM HELP PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR THEM TO HELP THEIR CHILDREN. WHETHER IT IS MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE, ACADEMIC HELP, AS WELL AS MENTORSHIP. PARENTS HAVE THE POWER. YOU MAY BE ASKING, OKAY, HOW DOES THIS TRANSLATE TO STOPPING THE VIOLENCE IN OUR CITY? WE KNOW THAT THE SOLUTION HAS TO BE MULTIFACETED. BUT, DIFFERENT GROUPS HAVE TO COME TOGETHER TO PLAY THEIR PART IN ORDER TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE CITY. THE PART I CAN PLAY IS DEVELOPING PARENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND MAKING PARENTS AWARE OF HOW AND WHERE TO GET HELP FOR THEIR FAMILIES. CITY COMMISSIONERS, MAYOR, WHEN I CALLED, I HOPE THAT YOUR DOORS ARE OPEN TO HEAR SOME POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS THAT MAY PUT OUR CITY BACK ON THE RIGHT TRACK. THANK

YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WHO IS NEXT?

>> THE LAST TIME THAT I WAS HERE, I ASKED THAT YOU ALL, I SAID YOU ARE HIDING THE POLICE CHIEF. AND I THINK THAT I WAS TOLD, BECAUSE I HAD TO GO BACK TO THE RESTAURANT, THAT COMMISSIONER JOHNSON SAID THAT SHE NEEDED TO COME FORWARD. SHE CAME FORWARD FOR A PRESS CONFERENCE. AND WHEN SHE CAME FORWARD SHE WOULD NOT ANSWER ONE QUESTION FROM THE PRESS.

SHE ONLY ALLOWED THE PRESS TO BE THERE. SHE WOULD NOT RESPOND ONE TIME. SHE SAID POLICE ARE PROACTIVE AND ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY. THE AGENCY HAS ENHANCED PATROLS, FORMED SPECIAL UNITS TO ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE AND IS WORKING WITH CITY OFFICIALS TO ADDRESS NEEDS, AS WELL AS ADDING CAMERAS IN THE CITY. AS I WAS TOLD VERY FEW ARE ON THE WEST SIDE. GUN VIOLENCE IS NOT JUST A POLICE PROBLEM. YES IT IS. IT IS PRIMARILY AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THE POLICE. IF SHE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THAT THEN WE HAVE A PROBLEM. SHE WAS HIRED TO DO THAT. SHE IS THE LEADER OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. SHE SAYS, I QUOTE, AND VIOLENCE IS NOT JUST A POLICE PROBLEM.

IT'S NOT SEEMING TO BE HER PROBLEM WHEN SHE IS IN TOWN.

MOST OF THE TIME SHE IS IN TAMPA. THIS HAS GOT TO STOP.

NOW I KNOW THAT SHE TAKES CARE OF SOME OF Y'ALL IN DOES YOUR BIDDING. BUT OUR COMMUNITY IS BEING KILLED. ALL OVER FORT PIERCE! AND IT JUST FALLS ON DEAF EARS. OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE, IF SHE CANNOT DO THE JOB THAN SHE NEEDS TO GO. AND SHE IS NOT DOING THE JOB. AND SHE IS NOT RESPONSIVE TO THIS COMMUNITY AT ALL. YOU CANNOT KEEP POLICE OFFICERS! YOU ALL CLAIM THAT YOU CANNOT KEEP THEM BECAUSE THEY GO ELSEWHERE. I HAVE SAID IT 1000 TIMES, THE SPEED OF THE BOSS, THE SPEED OF THE CREW. THE RETENTION SUCKS AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL NOT WORK FOR HER! YOU ALL WILL DEBATE ALL KINDS OF STUFF LIKE SPENDING OUR MONEY EVERYWHERE ELSE. IF WE HAVE TO PAY POLICE OFFICERS TO STAY, YOU WILL NOT HEAR COMPLAINTS FROM ANYONE ELSE. IT IS OBVIOUS YOU ARE NOT SPENDING IT ON ROADS AND SIDEWALKS, WE HAVE THE RAGGEDY ASKED IN THE STATE. WHY NOT PAY THE POLICE OFFICERS? YOU FIND EVERY EXCUSE DYING IN THE CITY! AND SHE IS NOT RESPONSIVE! THAT PRESS CONFERENCE, IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT THAT, IT WAS A JOKE. SHE STOOD UP THERE AND LECTURED EVERYBODY AND BLAMED THE COMMUNITY FOR NOT BEING RESPONSIBLE. FOR NOT COOPERATING WITH HER. AND FOR

[02:25:03]

>> WAS NEXT? WHO IS NEXT? WHO IS NEXT? OKAY. WE ARE CLOSING

[15. COMMENTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER]

>> COMMENTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER.

>> MR. MIMMS. >> YES. JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION, I KNOW YOU ALL ARE VERY WELL AWARE OF THIS, YOU KNOW, IT IS GREATLY UNFORTUNATE THAT THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PAIN. AS IN MY. AS ARE MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. RIGHT? BUT WITH EVERY OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING THERE IS AN EXTERNAL INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. NOT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. WE CANNOT HAVE A TRUE AND THOROUGH INVESTIGATION IF WE DO IT BY OURSELVES. WE CANNOT INVESTIGATE OURSELVES.

WE ESTABLISHED A POLICY, FDL E SHOULD INVESTIGATE EVERY OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING. THERE MUST BE ACCOUNTABILITY.

WE CANNOT JUDGE OURSELVES. WE ALLOWED THE OUTSIDE ENTITY TO DO THAT AND WE ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO GET THAT INVESTIGATION AS SOON AS IT IS CONCLUDED. AND WHOEVER IS AT FAULT, WHOEVER ACTED IN THE WRONG CAPACITY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

PERIOD. THAT IS HOW WE OPERATE. UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTINGS AND WE LEARNED THOSE LESSONS. NOW WE ARE IMPLEMENTING THOSE POLICIES. SO I HOPE EVERYBODY OUT HERE HERE'S THAT. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT THERE IS A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY , IF I CAN GET THAT FDLE CONTACT, I WILL GET IT TO THE FAMILY. YES MA'AM. YES MA'AM.

SO THE OTHER PART, I WAS VERY ENCOURAGED BECAUSE I HEARD DR.

BENJAMIN. AND I HEARD OTHERS TALK ABOUT SOLUTIONS. AND AS WE ARE BUILDING THIS BUDGET, YES, WE ARE GOING TO INVEST IN LAW ENFORCEMENT TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATIVE METHODS. WE ARE GOING TO INVEST IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. BUT WE ARE ALSO GOING TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A STRONG INVESTMENT IN MENTAL HEALTH. AND MENTORING OF OUR YOUTH, MENTORING OF OUR PARENTS, MENTORING OF OUR FAMILIES. IT DID NOT FALL ON DEAF EARS AND THE BUDGET IS BEING DEVELOPED. AND I THINK I HAVE A MEETING WITH MS. EUBANKS COMING UP. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A MEETING WITH MS. BENJAMIN AND THE OTHER MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL AND EVERYONE WHO HAS CALLED MY OFFICE. I WILL MEET WITH YOU. I WILL MAKE TIME TO MEET WITH YOU. I WILL COME TO YOU. WHATEVER IT TAKES.

BECAUSE WE ARE BUILDING IN FORMULATING A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION . IT WILL NOT SOLVE THE ENTIRE PROBLEM BUT WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HELP THE COMMUNITY. IT TAKES THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE.

SO MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION, I WANT TO MAKE YOU AWARE WE ARE RESPONSIVE. WE ARE GOING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY. AND ONE OF THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT GREW UP RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM ME, THIS BENJAMIN. SO, WE ARE HERE. AND WE WILL DO WHAT IT TAKES. THAT IS ALL I WANTED

[16. COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION]

TO SAY. >> MS. COX.

>> NO MA'AM. >> MS. HEDGES.

>> COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION.

>> WHO WOULD LIKE TO START? >> I WILL START, MADAM.

>> ALL RIGHT. >> THANK YOU TO THE PUBLIC FOR COMING TONIGHT AND PARTICIPATING. AND SHARING COMMENTS. SHARING COMMENTS TO ALL OF THE FAMILIES. ALL OF THE VICTIMS. TO ALL OF THE FAMILIES, TO THE VICTIMS, THE FAMILIES THAT ARE HURTING, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND PROVIDING CONTENT FOR YOUR RESPECTIVE LOVED ONES AND THE SITUATION. MR. MIMMS, I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT POINT UP.

OFTEN TIMES PEOPLE SEE AND THINK IT IS A CERTAIN WAY. AND I THINK TO BE UNBIASED IT IS GREAT THAT WE DO NOT INVESTIGATE OURSELVES. MEANING THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENT AGENCY THAT COMES IN AND LOOKS AT EVERYTHING WITH A FRESH SET OF EYES, HAS NO RELATIONSHIP, THEY PULL ALL THE FOOTAGE AND THAT INFORMATION AND THEY WALK THROUGH THE INVESTIGATION. AND SO I AM HAPPY THAT WE WILL. I DO NOT KNOW THE TIMETABLE BUT I

[02:30:04]

AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HER. I THINK THAT OFTEN TIMES WHEN PEOPLE STEP FORWARD WITH SOLUTIONS, WHAT SHE IS OFFERING AND WITH HER DOCTORAL RESEARCH AND DEGREE, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL REQUIRE A LOT BUT WILL REQUIRE A LOT OF COMMITMENT, I AM SORRY, FROM PEOPLE. BECAUSE TO MAKE THIS AND WHAT SHE WILL PROPOSE, OUR COMMUNITY HAS TO BE INVOLVED AND HAS TO STEP UP AND SUPPORT THIS RIGHT. IT IS ALL IN LINE WITH WHAT I HEARD A COUPLE SUNDAYS AGO WHEN I SAT AT THE CHURCH WITH PASTOR SANDERS AND SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS THAT CAME OUT OF THERE. THEY GO HAND-IN-HAND WITH WHAT SHE IS PROPOSING. AND I THINK THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD. NOW MENTAL HEALTH, AND BRINGING THOSE RESOURCES HERE, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THAT. NEW HORIZONS, YOU KNOW, IT IS OUR MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY HERE. I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE UNIT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO RESPOND. I JUST RECENTLY MET THE NEW DIRECTOR OF THIS SO-CALLED EMERGENCY UNIT THAT RESPONDS. AND SO I DO KNOW THEY HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF BEING IN THE COMMUNITY. THAT CONVERSATION WILL TAKE PLACE.

IT WILL BEGIN TO ESTABLISH IN OUR COMMUNITY SOME MENTAL HEALTH OPPORTUNITIES, I THINK THERE ARE SOME OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT HAVE HEALTH FACILITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THE CLINIC, THEY ALSO HAVE A MOBILE UNIT AND I KNOW THAT THEY WILL BE HANDLING SOME TIME AT THE CENTER AT THE OLD WINN-DIXIE. THE FLORIDA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER ON AVENUE G, OVER THERE. I AM NOT 100% SURE THAT THEY DO MENTAL HEALTH THERE, I THINK IT IS MORE WELLNESS AND INFANT CARE.

BUT I SAY ALL OF THIS TO SAY THAT WE HAVE TO ALSO HAVE SOME OF THESE DOTS CONNECTED, POINTING TOWARDS THE RESOURCES OF THE INFORMATION GETS TO THE COMMUNITY THAT IS LOOKING. THAT MEETS THE ASSISTANCE IN THE HELP. SO MY OFFICE IS ALWAYS OPEN TO CONNECT THE DOTS. I HAVE MET WITH FAITH LEADERS, NOT JUST ON THIS INSTANCE BUT I HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH THEM FOR TWO YEARS EVERY SECOND TUESDAY OF THE MONTH THEN WE SIT DOWN AND WE TALK ABOUT THINGS AND WE SOLVE PROBLEMS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE A HOT TOPIC. HOW DO WE GET THESE RESOURCES INTO THE COMMUNITY? THE LAST THING I WILL SAY IS I WENT AND MET WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY LAST WEEK. I HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON FROM THAT LEVEL OF PROSECUTION. AND I LEFT THERE SCRATCHING MY HEAD. I WAS CHALLENGED BECAUSE SOME OF OUR EVEN MOST RECENT CASES , THE WITNESSES ARE NOT STEPPING FORTH. AND I GET IT, I UNDERSTAND. INTIMIDATION. CHALLENGING. IT IS WHATEVER YOU MAY WANT TO SAY. BUT IT MAKES IT HARDER TO EVEN GET THOSE CASES TO MOVE FORWARD IF THERE IS NO ONE WILLING TO STEP UP TO LEND TESTIMONIAL WITNESS TO THESE CASES. I WAS DISTURBED BY THAT. I DO NOT HAVE A SOLUTION BECAUSE I GET IT AND I UNDERSTAND IT. BUT WHEN THERE ARE EYEWITNESSES TO CERTAIN INCIDENCES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT PERSON ARE THOSE ENTITIES ARE NOT STEPPING UP, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND A SOLUTION FOR THAT. BECAUSE THAT IS HOW IT IS DONE. POLICE MAKE THE ARRESTS, THE PROSECUTOR PUTS THE CHARGE AGAINST THAT PERSON AND THAT PERSON HAS THEIR DAY IN COURT. BE FAIR , BEFORE A JURY OF THEIR PEERS. THE CASE HAS TO BE PUT TOGETHER SOLIDLY SO THAT IT YIELDS WHATEVER PENALTY IT IS FOR THE COURSE OF THE CRIME THAT THEY COMMITTED. AND I JUST WANT THE

[02:35:04]

WE DO NEED HELP. THANK YOU. >> WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO NEXT?

COMMISSIONER BRODERICK. >> THANK YOU. COMMISSINER C.

JOHNSON, AS ALWAYS, YOUR COMMENTARY IS SPOT ON. I THOUGHT THE CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS WERE ALSO QUITE COMPELLING. I AM TROUBLED BECAUSE THERE IS A BIFURCATION HERE. MY THOUGHTS ON GOVERNMENT ARE WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DEPLOY IS ASSETS. WE CANNOT COMPEL WITNESSES TO TESTIFY. WE CANNOT HELP THE JUDICIAL PROCESS. WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A PARTICIPATION IN THAT ROLE. UNFORTUNATELY. IT WOULD CERTAINLY MAKE THESE THINGS MORE FRUITFUL IF WE DID. SO I TAKE TO HEART THE COMMENTS THAT THE CITY MANAGER MADE RELATIVE TO WHAT DOES FALL INTO OUR JURISDICTION AND OUR CONTROL.

AND THAT IS FUNDING. FUNDING OF RESOURCES FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. FUNDING OF RESOURCES FOR TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES AND CAMERA SYSTEMS AND WHATEVER OTHER HIGH-TECH CRIME PREVENTION ISSUES OR MATTERS CAN BE DEPLOYED. AND OF COURSE SUPPORT OF THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, THROUGH OUR VOICE AND THE BULLY PULPIT THAT THIS COMMISSION HOLDS TO SUPPORT THOSE ENDEAVORS. BUT I FIND IT VERY TROUBLING THAT THERE IS NOT MORE WE CAN DO. WE CONTROL PURSESTRINGS WERE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THERE ARE ALL THESE OTHER ITEMS THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING, BUT CANDIDLY BEYOND THAT WE HAVE NO FISTS TO CONTROL WHAT GOES ON IN THE COMMUNITY. NO CAPABILITY TO CONTROL WHAT THE STATE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE HAS TO DEAL WITH. ET CETERA. AND FROM MY PERSONAL STANDPOINT I FIND IT VERY FRUSTRATING THAT OUR CAPABILITY OF RESPONSE IS LIMITED TO ASSETS. AND TALKING.

THAT IS REALLY ALL WE HAVE. I THOUGHT THAT THE PRESENTATION OR DISCUSSION POINTS BROUGHT UP BY THE MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS , I FOUND THAT TO BE VERY COMPELLING. THAT IS OF SOMETHING THAT IS OF GREAT INTEREST TO ME, TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT WE CAN PROMOTE AND ENERGIZE AND LEND OUR VOICE TO. BUT THAT IS BASICALLY WHERE IT STOPS FROM THE COMMISSION STANDPOINT. UNLESS I AM MISSING SOMETHING IN THIS ANALYSIS. SO I WELCOME THE MEETINGS , COMING WITH THEM TO DISCUSS POSSIBILITIES FURTHER. AND TO EDUCATE ME AS TO WHAT THEIR POSITIONS ARE AND THEIR SUGGESTIONS AND WHAT HAS WORKED ELSEWHERE. IS SIMPLY PUT, THE QUESTION KEEPS COMING UP, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO FIX THIS? WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO FIX THIS VIOLENCE NATIONWIDE? IT JUST DOES NOT FALL ON THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. I AM FRUSTRATED. BUT I AM HOPEFUL THAT THROUGH A COMBINATION OF THE CITY STEPPING INTO FILLED THE VOID IN THE AREAS THAT WE CAN BE PRODUCTIVE IN AND MAXIMIZE THAT TO ASSIST A SITUATION AND ENGAGE THESE OTHER AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY WITH THE FAITH COMMUNITY, MENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITY. EVERY ASPECT OF THIS HAS A PARTICIPATION HERE. AND IT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TOGETHER. AND THAT IS SOMETHING I BELIEVE THIS BODY CAN DO. SO

[02:40:04]

SO THEN WE CAN HAVE A VERY HEARTFELT CONVERSATION AS TO HOW TO BEST EMPLOY ALL THOSE ASSETS IN AN ORGANIZED AND FRUITFUL WAY. I WOULD REITERATE THE COMMENTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER, I WAS AWARE OF THIS PRIOR TO HIM AND MAKING THEM, THAT POLICE OFFICER SHOOTINGS ARE INVESTIGATED BY THE FDLE.

CLEARLY AN OUTSIDE ORGANIZATION THAT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE HAS NO DOMINION OVER. THEY ARE THERE TO DO AN INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS, RENDER INDEPENDENT DECISIONS AND OPINIONS AS TO WHAT HAPPENED. HOWEVER, I DO BELIEVE THE BURDEN RESTS WITH THE CITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH FORT PIERCE , FDLE THAT THESE FOLKS DESERVE ANSWERS AND DESERVE ANSWERS IN REAL-TIME.

WHATEVER INFORMATION THEY CAN BE FORTHCOMING WITH I BELIEVE SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO THE FOLKS IMMEDIATELY. THAT WAY THEY WILL HAVE A SENSE THAT HEY, THIS IS BEING LOOKED AT. THROUGH A SERIOUS PRISM OF FDLE AND GETTING THEM THE ANSWERS THAT THEY DESERVE. AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE. I WILL LEAVE IT AT

THAT. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES.

>> MADAM MAYOR, I AM NOT GOING TO GO ON ONE OF MY FRANCE TONIGHT. -- ONE OF MY RANTS TONIGHT. EVERYBODY KNOWS HOW I FEEL ABOUT THE SITUATION. THE YOUNG LADY THAT SAID " THE YOUTH ARE THE KEY." I HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT SINCE I HAVE SAT IN THIS SEAT. THAT EVERYTHING I HAVE HEARD TONIGHT , THE MENTAL HEALTH, THE EDUCATION OF PARENTS, THE COMMUNITY, AND EVERYTHING, IT CAN ALL BE ACCOMPLISHED STARTING WITH THE YOUTH. IF YOU GO -- I WILL KEEP GOING BACK TO IT MR. MIMMS, IF YOU GO TO A CITY OF FORT PIERCE FIREHOUSE GAME YOU HAVE GREAT GRANDMA'S, GRANDMAS, SISTERS, BROTHERS, EVERYBODY RIGHT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY COMING TO SUPPORT. RIGHT THERE. WE CAN TAKE THAT SAME TIME IN THE SAME INDIVIDUALS THAT COME AND SIGN UP THEIR KIDS TO PLAY FOOTBALL, WE CAN SAY PARENTS, CAN YOU COME MEET WITH ME ONE OF THESE MEETINGS? BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO ARE NOT PLAYING FOOTBALL, CAN YOU COME MEET WITH ME ONE OF THESE MEETINGS? I HAVE SAID WE HAVE AN AWARD-WINNING PROGRAM . THE TEAM WON THE NATIONAL IN THE WHOLE UNITED STATES. BUILD ON IT. ADD OTHER SPORTS. ADD OTHER ACTIVITIES.

AND WHEN I SAY YOUTH ACTIVITIES I AM NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THE SPORTS AND THE FIELD. PUT A CHESS TABLE THERE. LET SOMEBODY, WE HAVE GOT, WE ARE KNOWN FOR THE -- PUT SOME PAINTING THERE. LET THE KIDS KNOW , I GOT IN THIS SEAT BECAUSE I WAS OUT WITH THE KIDS. FIGHTING FOR THEM. NOW, I AM KIND OF HURT THAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS MET WITH YOU AND I HAVE NOT MET WITH YOU BUT I AM WAITING FOR MY MEETING. THIS YOUNG LADY OVER HERE, SHE ALREADY KNOWS. SHE ALREADY KNOWS HOW I FEEL! I TOLD Y'ALL IN THE LAST MEETING THAT THERE ARE GROUPS OUT HERE THAT ARE WILLING TO HELP US. PLEASE MEET WITH THEM WHEN THEY CALL. THEY ARE NOT PUTTING ON AND TELLING PEOPLE, THEY ARE NOT PUTTING ON AND TELLING PEOPLE THE CITY IS NOT DOING ANYTHING. WHAT THEY ARE SAYING IS THEY ARE MAKING EVERYBODY LOOK IN THE MIRROR. YES I AM EMOTIONAL, I AM EMOTIONAL BECAUSE I REMEMBER WHEN THAT KID WAS BORN. I GREW UP WITH HIS FATHER. AND MAYBE I MISSED SOMETHING, BUT FOR THEM, NOT TO KNOW, THAT THE FDLE WAS INVESTIGATING THIS, WAS INVESTIGATING THIS, I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THAT HAPPENS.

I KNOW WE CANNOT SAY TOO MUCH BECAUSE IT IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION. BUT FOR THE FAMILY OF ANYONE THAT WAS KILLED ON THAT DAY OR DIED ON THAT DAY, TO KNOW THAT THE FDLE

[02:45:01]

NOW, YOU HEARD ALL THE PEOPLE SAYING THAT THEY DO NOT LET THE KIDS COME, THEY DON'T DO THIS, THEY DON'T DO THAT, THAT IS THEIR RIGHT AS A PARENT. HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS TRY TO LEAVE ON SOMETHING POSITIVE BECAUSE THIS NEGATIVITY , IT IS EVERYWHERE WE TURN OUT HERE. THIS WEEKEND THERE WAS AN EVENT IN FORT PIERCE RIGHT OFF OF 29TH AND D STREET. SUPPOSED TO BE ONE OF THE BADDEST AREAS, THAT WHOLE AREA OVER THERE, ONE OF THE BADDEST AREAS IF YOU LISTEN TO THEM. THEY HAD 13 TEAMS PLAYING ON FATHER'S DAY, A BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT. 500+ PEOPLE. INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. THE EVENT WENT OFF WITHOUT A HITCH.

NOT ONE REPORT, NOT ONE NEWSPERSON THERE. NOTHING.

WITHOUT A HITCH. SO I AM TIRED OF THE FALSE NARRATIVE THAT THERE IS NOTHING TO DO BECAUSE IT IS FORT PIERCE. 500+ PEOPLE! IN THAT LITTLE GYM. IT DID GET HOT. MADAM. IT TO GET HOT NOW.

WE HAVE GOT TO FIX THE AC. BUT I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO SAY, OH WELL, THEY WERE INSIDE A GYM. NO, THEY WERE IN THE WHOLE PARK. THEY WERE AT THAT WHOLE PARK. NOTHING HAPPENED. SO I UNDERSTAND PARENTS' FRUSTRATION. BUT I GREW UP RIGHT ON 16TH STREET. AND PEOPLE THAT KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, THEY KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. I WILL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT. AND I TELL MADAM MAYOR ALL THE TIME, ALL THE GRAY HAIR THAT YOU SEE IN MY DAD'S HAIR, I WAS THE KID THAT DID IT. I

WAS THE KID THAT DID IT. >>

>> SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON. I UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON AND I AM FRUSTRATED BECAUSE I HEARD SOMETHING WHEN I CAME IN TONIGHT. ABOUT THESE CAMERAS. LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I HEARD TONIGHT COMING IN. THE NEWS CALLED ME, I WILL NOT CALL THEM OUT BUT THEY CALLED ME. THEY SAID THAT THE CAMERAS THAT WE VOTED ON AT OUR LAST MEETING WAS THAT I PUT A CAMERA AT LINCOLN PARK TO PROTECT MYSELF AND THEY ARE TRYING TO ASSOCIATE LINCOLN PARK WITH NORTHSIDE BASEBALL. SO I PUT THE CAMERA THERE TO PROTECT MYSELF. I DO NOT NEED PROTECTION. I GREW UP IN THE CITY AND I WALK THIS CITY EVERY DAY. LINCOLN PARK REC CENTER HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT BASEBALL. NOTHING. STOP IT, STOP GOING THERE. STOP. NOW, ANYBODY WITH COMMON SENSE , IF YOU WANT CAMERAS TO CATCH ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES , WHY WOULD I TELL YOU WHERE I AM GOING TO

PUT THE CAMERAS? >>

>> IF I GIVE YOU A LIST OF WHERE THE CAMERAS ARE BEING PUT, EVERYBODY KNOWS THERE IS A CAMERA BECAUSE IT IS PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE. BUT DON'T GET MAD AT ME BECAUSE I PUT CERTAIN CAMERAS IN CERTAIN PLACES, THAT I WILL NOT TELL YOU. AS I DON'T EVEN WANT TO KNOW. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? I DON'T WANT TO KNOW. BUT MAYBE IT IS JUST ME AND I AM TIRED. BUT IF I TELL ALL THE BAD PEOPLE IN FORT PIERCE WHERE WE ARE PUTTING ALL THE CAMERAS TO CATCH THEM, DO YOU THINK THEY WILL DRIVE IN FRONT OF THE CAMERAS OR WALK IN FRONT OF THE CAMERAS? SO STOP THE NARRATIVE AND TRYING TO DIVIDE MY CITY. STOP THE NARRATIVE! THIS IS A GREAT CITY! GREAT PEOPLE GREW UP IN THIS YOU HEARD MR. SMITH TALK TONIGHT. I AM GOING TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I KNOW HIM PERSONALLY. WE CALLED OURSELVES THAT ONE TIME, WE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYERS. THAT DID NOT WORK OUT, SO WE TOOK THE FLAG FOOTBALL.

GUESS WHAT? WE WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. DIDN'T WE? ALL RIGHT THEN. I AM TIRED OF SEEING MY FRIEND BACK THERE IN THE BACK. SHE ATE FORGOT ABOUT HER DAUGHTER. AND THERE IS NOT

[02:50:04]

I NEED YOU TO COME BACK TO FORT PIERCE. I DO NOT CARE WHERE YOU ARE LIVING, WHAT YOU ARE DOING, HOW GOOD YOU ARE LIVING. I NEED YOU TO COME BACK TO FORT PIERCE BECAUSE YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE AROUND HERE DOING COMPARED TO WHAT WE DID.

AND IT IS GOING TO TAKE US LOOKING LIKE US TO GET IN THEIR FACE AND TELL THEM WHAT TO DO. MADAME MAYOR, WHATEVER WE CAN DO, COMMISSION, WHATEVER WE CAN DO, TO GET THIS FAMILY SOME ANSWERS. TO GET HER SOME ANSWERS. AND TO WORK, I AM STILL WAITING ON MY CALL. I NEED MY MEETING. AND WHATEVER IDEAS SHE HAS THAT WE CAN DO. THAT WE ARE DOING IT AND SHOWING IT, LET'S DO IT AND LET'S SHOW THE COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE MORE THAN JUST WORDS. WE ARE ABOUT ACTIONS. THANK YOU

MADAME MAYOR. >> COMMISSIONER J. JOHNSON.

>> I HAVE A LOT OF THOUGHTS. IT IS TOUGH TO FOLLOW THAT. DON'T BE SORRY. YOU SPOKE FROM YOUR HEART AND THAT IS WHAT MATTERS.

AND YOU KNOW IT IS ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY. IT IS ABOUT HOLDING EACH OTHER RESPONSIBLE AND TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY EVEN, AND YOU ARE RIGHT. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU INVEST IN THE YOUTH YOU INVEST IN AN ENTIRE FAMILY. YOU REALLY DO. AND YOU KNOW IT IS ABOUT THE COMMITMENT AND IT IS ABOUT PASSION. AND I TOO HOLD PARENTS RESPONSIBLE. I REALLY DO. I DO. AND I HOLD MY RESOLVE , MYSELF RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR TWO INDIVIDUALS ON THIS FACE OF THIS EARTH THAT I HAVE TO TAKE

[02:55:08]

TO SIT WITH THEM. TO SHARE WITH THEM. TO ASK ABOUT HOW YOUR DAY WAS. WHEN YOU GO BACK TO THE YOUTH, WHEN A KID DOES NOT HEAR THAT. MY WIFE IS A SCHOOLTEACHER, AS YOU ALL KNOW.

WHEN A KID DOES NOT HEAR THAT, THEY DO NOT EVEN ANSWER THE QUESTION. THEY DON'T EVEN GET TO ANSWER THE QUESTION. THAT HURT ME. THAT HURTS THE KID. THAT HURTS THE STUDENT. THAT HURTS THE TEENAGER. MY WIFE HAS ALWAYS TOLD ME ABOUT THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF HER TEACHING CAREER. AND THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF WHEN A CHILD IS MOST IMPRESSIONABLE.

AND I MEAN I TAKE IT TO HEART. BECAUSE SHE IS IN IT EVERY DAY.

SO I TRY, YOU KNOW I TRY TO LISTEN AS MUCH AS I CAN. I TRY TO SHARE. AS A CITY WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT BUT WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB AT DOING THAT. IT IS A DELICATE BALANCE WITH THE BUSINESS COMPONENTS OF THE CITY. I THINK THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING WE TALKED ABOUT WHERE WE ARE GOING TO APPLY THE FOCUS. WE TALKED ABOUT THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITHIN OUR CITY. WE TALKED ABOUT THE FINANCIL THINGS HAPPENING WITHIN OUR CITY THAT IS A POSITIVE. AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO TAKE IT UPON OURSELVES WITH RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO TAKE ON WHATEVER VENTURES IT TAKES TO MAKE SURE WE SHARE WITH ONE ANOTHER. YOU KNOW, THE IMPACTS. I HAVE TALKED TO FOLKS THAT YOU DO NOT GET TO TALK TO EVERY DAY AND YOU GET TO TALK TO FOLKS THAT I DO NOT GET TO TALK TO EVERY DAY. WE SHARE THE STORIES AND WE BRING THAT TOGETHER. THAT IS WHAT MAKES US THE BODY THAT WE ARE. I DO, TOO. THAT IS RIGHT. SO WHATEVER IDEAS THAT THERE ARE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO HELP EACH OTHER HEAL. AND WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO HELP EACH OTHER -- I DON'T EVEN KNOW, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE WORDS ARE. JUST TO MAKE IT MORE OF A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR EACH OTHER. THAT IS WHERE IT IS. I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL HERE TONIGHT SHARING WITH US, TRUSTING IN EACH OTHER, TRUSTING WITHIN YOURSELVES TO COME HERE AND SPEAK. AND TRUSTING THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY THERE IS A HIGHER BEING IN CONTROL. AND WE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY. BUT WE ARE HERE TO UNDERSTAND WITH YOU, FELLOWSHIP WITH YOU, GRIEVE WITH YOU, AND TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO YOU. SO HERE WE ARE. THANK

YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT. AND REMINDING US. I HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT WHEN THERE IS A SHOOTING IN THE COMMUNITY IT IS A TRAGEDY FOR WHOEVER WAS SHOT AND WHOEVER WAS SHOOTING. IT IS A TRAGEDY THAT RUINS A FAMILY. IT MAKES, IT CHANGES YOUR LIFE IN A MINUTE. AND YOU BEING HERE TONIGHT IS HELPING REMINDING US OF THAT. AND I AM GLAD THAT MR. MIMMS EMPHASIZED ABOUT FDLE . I WILL SAY WHY THEY PROBABLY ARE GOOD AT THEIR JOBS IS THEY ARE PROBABLY NOT GREAT AT COMMUNICATION. AND THAT KIND OF GOES WITH INVESTIGATING AND NOT WANTING TO SHARE BEFORE THE INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETE. SO THEN THEY HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS.

THAT I WILL NOT SPEAK FOR THEM. I WILL SPEAK FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE ARE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY, WHAT MONEY WE HAVE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IN TRAINING OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS. IF YOU THINK WHAT A POLICE OFFICER HAS TO DO , MENTAL HEALTH IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS. THEY CAN ALWAYS USE MORE TRAINING. THEY DO DEAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH SITUATIONS ALL THE TIME. AND WE ALSO ARE SPENDING MONEY ON TECHNOLOGY.

AND COMMISSIONER GAINES IS RIGHT. IF YOU HAVE TO GO WITHOUT SECURITY THEN YOU DON'T HAVE SECURITY. YOU JUST DON'T TALK ABOUT THAT. THERE IS EVEN A STATE LAW THAT SAYS

[03:00:01]

THAT IS WHAT IT IS FOR. BUT I TOO WOULD BE INTERESTED IN THE MENTAL HEALTH COMPONENT. I DO NOT SEE THE CITY BEING A MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER. BUT I SEE THE CITY BEING ABLE TO ACCESS AND BE ABLE TO POINT PEOPLE TO THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND FACILITATE THAT AND MAKE THAT HAPPEN. AND I WAS VERY INTERESTED IN THE PARENT EDUCATION PROPOSAL. BECAUSE I THINK SOMETIMES PARENTS , MAYBE IT IS GENERATIONAL, THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO BE PARENTS. OVER AND OVER THINGS REPEAT THEMSELVES. ONE THING I HEARD TONIGHT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS NOBODY IS BLAMING THE COMMUNITY, BUT WE DO NEED THE COMMUNITY TO SPEAK UP. WE NEED YOU TO SPEAK UP AND SPEAK UP TO HELP THE INVESTIGATION AND TO HELP THE WHOLE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

WITHOUT THAT ALL WE HAVE IS THE TECHNOLOGY. AND IF WE ALL WANT TO REDUCE CRIME IN THE COMMUNITY, THEN WE ALL HAVE TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION. WE HAVE TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU. I AM A MOTHER AND A GRANDMOTHER. I DO NOT KNOW OF ANY FAMILY THAT IS NOT TOUCHED BY MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. AND SO I AM VERY, VERY AWARE OF THE FACT THAT IT IS NOT ONLY A FORT PIERCE PROBLEM, IT IS UNFORTUNATELY A NATIONAL PROBLEM. AND SO MR. MIMMS AND I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT. I AM SURE THAT HE HAS TALKED TO OUR FELLOW COMMISSIONERS. WE CANNOT TALK TO EACH OTHER BECAUSE OF SUNSHINE. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN FIND OUT WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS THINKING. SO THE BUDGET PROCESS IS STARTING. THE STAFF HAS ALREADY STARTED. I'M SURE YOU ARE PRETTY MUCH DOWN THE ROAD ON THE BUDGETING AND WILL BE TALKING TO THE COMMISSIONERS ABOUT THEM. AND WE ARE TALKING TO HIM ABOUT THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT PEOPLE ARE TELLING US THAT OUR IDEAS THAT MAYBE SHOULD BE PUT IN THE BUDGET OR SHOULD BE CONSIDERED, AT LEAST. AND AGAIN WE ARE NOT A RICH CITY. WE ARE IN A GOOD, SOUND, A SOUND FINANCIAL PLACE.

BUT WE ARE NOT A RICH CITY LIKE THE CITIES THAT SURROUND US. A THIRD GOES TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN PROVIDE. I PERSONALLY, I KNOW MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS WANT THAT TO BE AS GOOD AS IT CAN BE. AND WE HAVE JUNETEENTH COMING UP ON WEDNESDAY. A CELEBRATION AT RIVERWALK. AND WE HAVE THE FOURTH OF JULY COMING UP ON THE FOURTH OF JULY. IMAGINE THAT. AND BOTH OF THEM ARE DOWNTOWN.

AND WE WILL HAVE, THERE WILL BE SECURITY, MR. MIMMS. IS THAT RIGHT? IN BOTH BUSINESSES. IN BOTH INSTANCES. I WANT TO REASSURE THE COMMUNITY THAT THAT IS HAPPENING. I WANT TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE THAT CAME HERE TONIGHT AND WE LISTENED. TO I VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND WITH THAT, UNLESS THERE IS ANYTHING FURTHER WE ARE GOING TO BE ADJOURNING. WE WANT EVERYONE TO LEAVE THE CHAMBER BECAUSE WE WILL BE COMING OUT OF THE CHAMBER. AND THE LIGHTS WILL

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.