[1. CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:08] >> I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. IT'S MONDAY, JULY 15TH. THIS IS THE FORT PIERCE COMMISSION AGENDA. PLEASE STAND FOR THE OPENING PRAYER BY PASTOR DARRELL MOSES WITH GREATER GRACE COMMUNITY FELLOWSHIP CHURCH . REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> CHURCH -- HAD A PROBLEM THERE WAS ALWAYS CONFUSION. THERE WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING SOMEONE WANTED AND DID NOT GET. I WANTED TO CHANGE THINGS. PAUL WROTE A LETTER TO THEM AND SAID, THIS. IF I READ THE WHOLE THING, THE MEETING WOULD BE OVER. I JUST WANT TO READ THE LAST VERSE IN THAT CHAP, EPHESIANS 4. IT SAYS, AND BE KIND ONE TO ANOTHER. TENDERHEARTED. FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, EVEN AS GOD FOR CHRIST'S SAKE HAS FORGIVEN YOU. IF WE CAN WRAP THIS ROOM UP WITH THAT LOVE, THAT KIND OF ATTITUDE TOWARD EACH OTHER. EVEN IF WE HAVE DIFFERENCES WITH EACH OTHER, WITH AN -- WE CAN GET A LOT OF THINGS DONE. FATHER, AS WE BOW OUR HEADS TODAY, FATHER GOD, IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WE COME BEFORE YOU. AND WE PRAY THIS PRAYER, WE THANK YOU FIRST FOR THE DAY YOU HAVE BLESSED US WITH. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AT THIS TIME. WE ASK, GOD, YOU WOULD FILL THIS ROOM WITH THAT ONE THING, YOUR LOVE. FILL OUR HEARTS WITH LOVE, GOD. AND RESPECT AND HONOR FOR ONE ANOTHER, SO WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR YOUR PEOPLE HERE IN FORT PIERCE. BLESS, TOUCH, WE THANK YOU FOR OUR HONORABLE MAYOR AND ALL OF THOSE LEADERS THAT ARE STANDING BEFORE US, LORD. WE ASK, OH, GOD, FOR YOUR GREASING, BLESSING AND MERCY. IN JESUS CHRIST'S NAME I PRAY THIS PRAYER, AMEN. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> CALL THE ROLL PLEASE. [5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES] >> FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE JULY 1ST, 2020 OR REGULAR MEETING. >> APPROVAL. >> MOTION AND A SECOND. CALL THE ROLL PLEASE. [a. Annual Treasure Coast Waterway Cleanup] TREASURE COAST WATERWAY ANNUAL CLEANUP PROCLAMATION THIS EVENING. >> EXCUSE ME. WHEREAS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS BEEN BLESSED WITH ABUNDANT, DIVERSE AND WONDROUS RESOURCES, WHICH INCLUDE FRESHWATER SPRING, THE GULF OF MEXICO , THE ATLANTIC OCEAN, THE TREASURE COAST'S VERY OWN THE EVERGLADES ANDSAVANNAS, ST. LUCIE RIVER, AND INDIAN RIVER LAGOON. WHEREAS, THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON, ST. LUCIE RIVER AND THEIR MANY TRIBUTARIES ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT MAKES THE TREASURE COAST SPECIAL, PROVIDING NUMEROUS HABITATS TO OUR PLANTS AND WILDLIFE, THE BASIS FOR COMMERCE AND TOURISM, COUNTLESS RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION AND AWE. WHEREAS, OUR GROWING POPULATION AND POOR IMPACTED THE HEALTH OF OUR WATERWAYS IN MANY WAYS, INCLUDING ONE THAT IS HARD TO MISS -LITTER, TONS OF GARBAGE LITTER OUR WATERWAYS AND SHORELINES. WHEREAS, MANY CITIZENS OF THE TREASURE COAST HAVE COME TOGETHER TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, TO CLEAN OUR WATERWAYS AS PART OF A LARGER EFFORT TO PROTECT OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND SAVE OUR RIVERS. WHEREAS, THE 17TH TREASURE COAST WATERWAY CLEANUP WILL BE HELD ON JULY 27, 2024, THANKS TO THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF THE MARINE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF THE TREASURE COAST, INC. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FLORIDA NAVIGATION DISTRICT, SPONSORS, AND THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS. WHEREAS, THE CITY OF PORT SAINT LUCIE IS THE AMONG THE MOST POPULUS CITIES IN FLORIDA AND THE LARGEST CITY WITHIN THE TREASURE COAST AND IS COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING AND ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE NOT ONLY [00:05:03] WITHIN THE CITY BUT ALSO WITHIN OUR TREASURE COAST REGION. WHEREAS, THE CITY CANNOT HONOR THE COMMITMENT WITHOUT CONTINUING TO FIGHT BETTER WATER QUALITY WITHIN OUR LOCAL WATERWAYS. NOW, THEREFORE, I, LINDA HUDSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF JULY 20-28, 2024 AS TREASURE COAST WATERWAY CLEANUP WEEK IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND ENCOURAGE ALL ORGANIZATIONS AND CITIZENS TO JOIN THE EFFORT TO CLEAN UP OUR WATERWAYS AND TO REMEMBER THAT ALL LITTER EVENTUALLY MAKES ITS WAY TO THE WATER. >> THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? >> THE MARINE INDUSTRY OF THE TREASURE COAST WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. SINCE 2008, WE WERE ABLE TO REMOVAL OVER 100 POUNDS FROM THE WATER WAYS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THIS IS BRIAN -- THE YACHT CLUB THAT SCORED THE COMMODORE ELECT, STEPHEN ROSKI, OUR PAST DIRECTOR -- AND PUBLIC RELATIONS, MICHELLE MARSH. IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, WE HAVE GOT FOUR SITES THAT ARE SUPPORTING THE WATERWAY CLEANUP. THE FORT PIERCE YACHT CLUB, THE -- MANATEE CENTER AND THE STAN BLOOM BOAT MAP. SINCE 2008, WE'VE HAD OVER 6200 OF TESCO VOLUNTEERS, AND COLLECTED [8. ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO AGENDA AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA] OVER 42 TONS OF GARBAGE. AGAIN, WE THANK YOU FOR PROCLAIMING THIS WATERWAY CLEANUP WEEK. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I LOOK FORWARD TO IT. NEXT WE HAVE ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. >> ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS? OR A MOTION TO APPROVE IT? >> MOTION THAT WE SET PRINTED. >> SECOND-PERIOD >> ALL THE ROLL PLEASE. WE HAD NO COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC [a. Update from Pete Tesch, President/CEO, Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County] SIGN OF. WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN WITH AN UPDATE FROM PETE TESCH, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY . >> MR. MINTZ? >> WE DO HAVE WITH US A SPECIAL GUEST. OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY. HE IS BROUGHT WITH HIM A FEW OF HIS FRIENDS I'M SURE HE IS GOING TO INTRODUCE . HE HAS A NEW AND HIS MIDYEAR. >> WELCOME. >> THANK YOU, MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION. GREAT TO SEE YOU. I DID BRING SOME FRIENDS. THIS EVENING, WE WOULD LIKE TO DO A VERY QUICK UPDATE ABOUT EDC ACTIVITIES IN OUR GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY. ALSO, WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE FORMATION OF A JOBS CORE DOOR ON KINGS HIGHWAY. AND AS MR. MINTZ MENTIONED, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF OUR LEADERSHIP. WE HAVE AS LINDA GOLDSTEIN, SHE IS OUR EDC CHAIRWOMAN AND SHE IS VICE PRESIDENT OF ENTITLEMENT FOR GL HOMES. WE ALSO HAVE ROBERT BRADFIELD, CHAIR ELECT. HE IS MARKET PRESIDENT WITH SEACOAST BANK. WE ARE JOINED TODAY BY CAROL WOOD AND LESLIE WILSON. THEY ARE THE PRINCIPLE OF DISTRICT PLANNING GROUP. THEY WILL TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE PLAN IN THE DISCUSSION ABOUT JOB CREATION AND HAVING A FIRST-CLASS COMMERCE CENTER IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. ALSO, WE HAVE MAUREEN SELTZER, OUR COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR. AND KATIE -- HAS JUST BEEN PROMOTED AS OUR BUSINESS DIRECTOR DEPARTMENT. WE ARE EXPECTING GREAT THINGS FROM KATIE. SHE IS ALREADY DELIVERED. UNFORTUNATELY, WES MCCURRY COULD NOT BE HERE THIS EVENING. WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE, BECAUSE WITH HIS EXPERIENCE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND CREATING COMMERCE CENTER, I WILL TRY TO FILL IN A LITTLE BIT THAT. WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT WHAT HAS OCCURRED HERE IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. HERE IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY AND THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. ACTUALLY, LET ME BACK UP A LITTLE BIT. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MIGHT HAVE ISSUES WITH SLEEPING TONIGHT, I'VE GOT A LEAD DESK A LOT OF READING MATERIAL FOR A. OUR MIDYEAR REPORT IS IN THAT PACKAGE. WITH OUR AUDIT, PRELIMINARY BUDGET . THERE IS AN ARTICLE ABOUT THINGS THE COUNTY AND FOR THE TREND WE DID EARLIER THIS YEAR. WHAT ELSE IS IN THERE, AND MAUREEN? >> YOUR BUDGET? >> AND A PRELIMINARY BUDGET. YES, TAKE A LOOK AT THAT IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS SLEEPING TONIGHT. WITH THAT, JUST TO GO THROUGH SOME QUICK PROJECTS. OBVIOUSLY, COSTCO WAREHOUSE ANNOUNCED [00:10:03] EARLIER THIS YEAR , P-1 MOTOR CLUB AND BROAD RANGE LOGISTICS ROUND OUT SOME OF THE BIG ACTIVITY. PARTICULARLY, BROAD RANGE LOGISTICS AND BRING UP AN INTERESTING POINT, WHICH WILL BE A BIT OF A FOCUS OF THE CONVERSATION THIS EVENING. THEY WENT INTO THE INTERSTATE A CROSSROADS COMMERCE PARK YEARN FOR PEACE DESK APPEARS. -- FORT PIERCE. THERE A THIRD-PARTY LOGISTICS PROVIDER. THEY WILL PROVIDE DISTRIBUTION, WAREHOUSING LOGISTICS SERVICES FOR COMPANY. BOTH LARGE, MEDIUM AND SMALL. ALONG WITH APP JET CENTER, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM AT THE AIRPORT. AND ALSO LETHBRIDGE ACADEMY. AND EDUCATIONAL CHILDCARE DAY CARE CENTER IS SET UP. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH MR. MIMS AND OUR OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES ON SEVERAL PROJECTS. WHILE YOU REALLY CANNOT READ ALL OF THE INFORMATION ON THESE PROJECTS, THESE ARE 10 PROJECTS THAT ARE NEW AND EXPANDING ENTITIES THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON. IT INCLUDES MANUFACTURING FACILITIES, CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, AVIATION TRAINING, SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT VENUES AND DISTRIBUTION AND LOGISTICS. WE HAVE A LOT OF FUN NAMES FOR THESE PROJECTS, AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM. IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT PROJECT HAMMY, PROJECT PALM TREE, PROJECT PILEATED -- PILLOW AND PROJECT SANDWICH ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, OR VERY CLOSE BY. SOME OF THESE ARE MANUFACTURERS AND ALSO SHOULD BEATERS. I THINK THIS IS REALLY GOOD. FORT PIERCE DEFINITELY HAS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR FUTURE ECONOMIC GROWTH. WE ALWAYS TRY TO MEASURE OUR ECONOMIC OUTPUT . OVER THE LAST 7.5 YEARS, DON 31 EXPANSIONS AND EIGHT ATTRACTIONS. THAT KIND OF SPENDS A LARGE SEGMENT OF DIFFERENT INDUSTRY SECTORS. FROM MANUFACTURING , TO LIFE SCIENCES, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, TRANSPORTATION HEADQUARTERS AND ATTRIBUTION, PLUS MANY OTHERS. IN THE FIRST TWO QUARTERS OF 2024, WE HAVE HAD FIVE PROJECTS , THEY INCLUDE ONE EXPANSION , FIVE NEW COMPANIES, 75 1/2 MILLION DOLLARS IN CAPITAL INVESTMENT, 2.5 MILLION SQUARE FEET AND 630 PROJECTED NEW JOBS. CURRENTLY, UNDER CONSTRUCTION . I MENTIONED THE APP JET CENTER. IT IS GREAT TO SEE THERE IS A NEW DEVELOPMENT AT THE AIRPORT. AVIATION AND AEROSPACE IS A PROMINENT INDUSTRY SECTOR WE NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF. WE ARE VERY PLEASED ABOUT TREASURE COAST FOOD BANK. WITH THEIR STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY THAT IS GOING AT THE ORANGE 95 COMMERCE CENTER. FINALLY, OCULUS SURGICAL IS LOOKING FORWARD TO OPENING. AND ALSO THE FLORIDA COAST SURGICAL HOSPITAL, OFF OF BECKER ROAD IS READY FOR DEVELOPMENT. JUST RECENTLY, WE CELEBRATED THE OPENING OF ACCEL INTERNATIONAL, A HIGH-TECH ADVANCED MANUFACTURING COMPANY OUT OF CONNECTICUT THAT BUILT A BRAND-NEW FACILITY . AND THE MANUFACTURER WIRE AND CABLING SYSTEMS FOR THE AVIATION , I.T. AND MEDICAL DEVICE INDUSTRY. AND CHENEY BROTHERS, HAS ALREADY OPENED UP THEIR BRAND-NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY AND LEGACY PARK . PROBABLY CLOSE TO 300 EMPLOYEES NOW. ONE ASPECT THAT WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS EVENING IN THE FUTURE ECONOMIC GROWTH OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE IS, HOW CAN WE EXPAND THE TAX BASE? AND JUST AS AN EXAMPLE HERE, WITH THE TWO AMAZON BUILDINGS THAT HAVE JUST RECENTLY OPENED . WE ARE LOOKING AT WELL OVER $2 MILLION IN TAX REVENUE COMING INTO ALL THE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES. WE BELIEVE THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PARTICULARLY IN THIS TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT IS A GREAT WAY TO EXPAND THE TAX BASE FOR THE CITY. TO GET THE REVENUES AND GROW THE ECONOMIC QUALITY OF LIFE HERE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. JUST A COUPLE OF POLICY ASPECTS . IN ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE HAD WITH MR. MIMMS IT IS LIKE, OKAY, I HAVE SAID TONGUE-IN-CHEEK IN FRONT OF YOU BEFORE -- WE HAVE HAD TO APOLOGIZE FOR HELPING CREATE SO MANY JOBS. BUT, IN A SERIOUS LATE -- I KNOW, IT IS [00:15:05] HARD. IN A SERIOUS LATE IT IS LIKE, HEY, WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING AS AN EDC AND POLICY ASKED THAT, WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING? WHAT ABOUT WORKFORCE READINESS AND MAKING SURE THE TALENT PIPELINE IS PRIME FOR OUR EMPLOYERS. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTILITIES. YOU GOT TO HAVE ALL OF THAT. AND THAT IS PART OF THE DISCUSSION PROCESS. IN THAT, I THINK WE HAVE BEEN REALLY GOOD ABOUT CREATING NEW JOBS, HELPING OUR EXISTING INDUSTRY EXPAND AND RELOCATING NEW BUSINESSES. NOW, THE CONVERSATION HAS TO FOCUS. I HAVE TO HAND IT TO -- AND ROBERT, THEY HAVE BEEN LEADING THE THOUGHT LEADERSHIP DISCUSSION. MORE TO COME ON THAT. THE LAST THING IS, WE ALWAYS TRY TO MEASURE WHERE WE ARE GOING QUANTITATIVELY IN TERMS OF OUR ECONOMY AND JOBS. AND WE HAVE HAD -- CORPORATION LOOK AT A 10 YEAR SPAN OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY. I AM NOT GOING TO REVEAL MUCH OF THE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS. BECAUSE -- THE PRINCIPLE OF POLYCOM CORPORATION WILL BE RELEASING THIS INFORMATION IN OCTOBER. JUST A SNIPPET, BILL MEASURES THE ECONOMIC STRENGTH OF ALL 384 METROPOLITAN THE TYPICAL AREAS IN THE U.S. EVERY YEAR. I ALWAYS SAY THINGS THE COUNTY WAS THE VERY FIRST IN THE GREAT RECESSION , WE WERE OUT OF PROBABLY THE LAST. BACK IN 2015, WE WERE THE 331ST WEAKEST ECONOMY OUT OF THOSE 384. THAT WAS NOT GOOD. EITHER IN TERMS OF INDUSTRY DIVERSIFICATION, ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND WAGE INCREASES. I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE ARE 94TH FOR 2024. ALONG WITH GAMES IN WAGES AND NEW BUSINESS IN TOWN. AND EVEN SOME SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN POVERTY, WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THIS REPORT AND THE RESULTS MUCH MORE CLOSELY IN OCTOBER. WITH THAT, THE MOST RECENT NEWS IS, AMAZON IS FINALLY OPENING THEIR 1.1 MILLION SQUARE FOOT ISSUED VISION CENTER OFF OF THEN WE ROAD. THEY ARE CURRENTLY LOOKINGFOR 1000 FULL-TIME POSITIONS. WE HAVE BEEN VERY MUCH INVOLVED WITH AMAZON AND THEIR TEAM IN TRYING TO FIND THE TALENT. IN FACT, I THINK NICK CAME TO ONE OF OUR MEETINGS OF THE COMMUNITY . NONPROFITS, GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, ALL TALKING TOGETHER ABOUT HOW WE COULD GET THOSE JOBS. SOME GREAT JOBS FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE GREAT WORK FOR 2024 AND 2025. WITH THAT, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO PRESENT THIS UPDATE. MAYBE WE COULD TAKE QUESTIONS AT THE END. I KIND OF LIKE TO KEEP THE FLOW GOING. I KNOW YOU ALL LIKE TO ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS. WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME. I WOULD LIKE OUR MADAM CHAIR -- GOLDSTEIN TO INTRODUCE THE PROJECT AND THEN AFTER HER, WE WILL HAVE -- >> DO YOU WANT TO RUN THIS? >> AT THE END. >> THANK YOU, PETE. AND THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR HAVING US OF THE EDC BE HERE TO PRESENT TO YOU YOUR HIGHWAY JOBS HIGHWAY CORRIDOR. AND DISCUSSING AN IMPORTANT ISSUE BEFORE YOU ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. ALONG WITH YOUR CITY ADMINISTRATION, WE ARE RECOMMENDING AS EDC WE CONCENTRATE ALL OF YOUR COLLECTIVE ENERGIES ON PLANNING A WORLD-CLASS COMMERCE CENTER AND INDUSTRIAL CORE DOOR. BECAUSE AS PETE SAID EARLIER, NOT ONLY WILL IT EXPAND THE TAX BASE OF THE CITY, IT WILL ALSO IMPROVE YOUR OVERALL UTILITY SERVICES AND REVENUES THAT SCOPE OF MOST IMPORTANT, IT IS GOING TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE, WELL-PAYING JOBS FOR YOUR EXISTING AND FUTURE RESIDENTS WELL INTO THE FUTURE. AS PETE SAID, WE ARE READY, ABLE AND WILLING TO HELP THE CITY AND ITS STRATEGIC PARTNERS EMBARK [00:20:02] UPON THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT. AS WE SEEK TO ADD MORE INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS, ENCOURAGE MORE TARGET INDUSTRY GROWTH IN THE GENERAL NORTH COUNTY AREA, AND SPECIFICALLY IN THE KINGS HIGHWAY CORRIDOR AREA, WE WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND AND KNOW THAT, YES, YOU MAY HAVE WITNESSED ALL THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE SOUTH AREA OF THE COUNTY, AND THEY SET A GOOD BUY. BUT NOW, FOR YOU ALL ON THE NORTH COUNTY, THE QUESTION FOR YOU ALL TO ASK YOURSELF IS, I SEE THE BAR THAT WAS SET, SO HOW CAN WE RAISE THAT BAR AND SET THE STANDARD, BUT A GOLD STANDARD OF HOW TO EXPAND UPON WHAT WAS DONE BEFORE, MAKE IT BETTER FOR ALL OF THE OPPORTUNITIES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND POTENTIAL YOU HAVE RIGHT HERE WITHIN YOUR JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES . WITH THAT, OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO HELP YOU CREATE A VISION, DEVELOP A MISSION , AND FORMULATE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT ESTABLISHES FORT PIERCE'S OWN INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR. YOUR KINGS HIGHWAY JOB CORRIDOR. THIS WILL SET THE STAGE FOR A METHODICAL AND RATIONAL NEXUS APPROACH TO HOW YOU WANT TO HANDLE YOUR ANTICIPATED FUTURE GROWTH . THAT COULD BE BEYOND THE JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES OF WHAT THE CITY IS TODAY. YOU WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT OUR APPROACH IN THE UPCOMING PRESENTATION. BUT I WANT YOU, AS YOU LISTEN, THINK ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT TO JUST WATCH WHAT HAPPENS, OR IF YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO WRITE, STAR, DIRECT AND PUBLISH YOUR STORY FOR OTHERS TO WATCH IN AWE AND WONDER HOW THEY CAN DO WHAT YOU ALL CAN DO. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> GOOD EVENING, MADAME MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION. MY NAME IS LESLIE OLSON, PRINCIPAL OF DISTRICT PLANNING GROUP. WE ARE HERE WITH THE EDC TODAY BECAUSE OUR FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, PETE TESCH , HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON THE KINGS HIGHWAY CORE DOOR FOR QUITE SOME TIME. I REMEMBER BEFORE WE LAUNCHED OUR BUSINESS, PETE TALKING TO ME ABOUT THAT. AND SAYING, IF WE CAN DO IT IN TRADITION, WE CAN DO IT ON KINGS HIGHWAY. AND WE HAVE SEEN NOW , AS LENA HAS MENTIONED, WHAT HAS HAPPENED ON THE SOUTH SIDE TRADITION. AND THE AMAZING NUMBER OF JOBS BEING CREATED. THE QUALITY OF THOSE JOBS THAT ARE BEING CREATED. THE SALARIES THAT ARE BEING PAID FOR THESE JOBS THAT ARE BEING CREATED. AS PETE MENTIONED, NOW, WHAT DO WE DO? HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THEY HAVE PLACES TO LIVE? AND HOW DO WE HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO FILL THOSE JOBS. THAT IS THE NEXT CHALLENGE. HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT FORT PIERCE HAS ITS OWN JOB CORRIDOR ? THE WAY TRADITION DID IT IS, THEY DID A LOT OF PLANNING. HE DID A LOT OF STUDY. AND THE EDC IS PROPOSING THAT WE DO THE SAME HERE IN FORT PIERCE. KINGS HIGHWAY IS UNIQUELY SITUATED ON THE STATE'S INTERMODAL SYSTEM, INTERSTATE 95. ALL OF THAT ACCESS. IT IS REALLY PHENOMENAL AND WE ARE SEEING THE INTEREST FROM DEVELOPERS. I KNOW WE ARE ALL SEEING THAT. WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT THE DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE IN PROCESS AND APPROVED -- SUMMIT BEING BUILT. WE WILL START ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE COUNTY AND THEN WORKED DOWN TO KINGS HIGHWAY. EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT BUCKYS. YOU SEE THAT AT THE CORNER OF INTERSTATE 95 -- THE FIRST STEP OF THAT APPROVAL WAS DONE. AND IT WAS SURROUNDED TO THE SOUTH AND NORTH BY APPROVED RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROJECTS. ADDING THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTIAL UNITS TO THIS AREA, AND A LOT MORE IS ON ITS WAY TO THIS AREA. THE TVC IS REALLY GETTING GOING. THAT IS WHAT THE COUNTY'S CLIENT IS FOR TOWNS, VILLAGES AND COUNTRYSIDE. AS YOU SEE, AROUND THE AIRPORT, THERE IS A LOT GOING ON. WE HAVE APP JET CENTER, AS MENTIONED. MOVING FORWARD, THE COUNTY INDUSTRIAL PARK . THE AIRPORT WEST COMMERCE PARK IS STARTING TO REALLY GET GOING. COMPOSITE ESSENTIAL MATERIAL, RHINO ROOFS, AERO WEST . IT'S A [00:25:04] COMBINATION OF AVIATION RELATED DEVELOPMENT THAT IS GOING ON HERE. WE DO NOT HAVE IT ON THIS MAP. AS YOU KNOW, THE AIRPORT CONNECTOR THAT WILL EVENTUALLY CONNECT THE TURNPIKE AND I-95 TO THE AIRPORT WILL COME RIGHT THROUGH THIS AREA AS WELL, WHICH WILL FURTHER SPREAD THIS DEVELOPMENT. AND HANDLE THE TRIP GENERATION THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN FROM THIS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. AND THEN, AS WE, SOUTH, YOU CAN SEE A NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE. ALL OF THOSE ORANGE PARALLELOGRAMS . THOSE ARE ALL RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING ONLINE. AND THAT IS GOOD. BECAUSE WE WILL NEED HOUSING FOR ALL OF THESE JOBS. THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD THEM IS THE ONE WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING ON IT VERY CLOSELY. BUT WE REALLY NEED THE HOUSING TO SUPPORT THE DROPS -- JOBS WE ARE CREATING. NEXT SLIDE. HERE WE ARE AT THE KINGS HIGHWAY CORRIDOR. AS YOU CAN ALREADY SEE, THERE IS A LOT GOING ON ALREADY. WE HAVE A LOT PROPOSED. EXCUSE ME . THOSE ARE THE RED. A NUMBER OF THEM ARE APPROVED. THOSE ARE IN YELLOW. AND THE GREEN ARE BUILT. SO, THIS IS MILLIONS OF SQUARE FEET PROPOSED IN THIS AREA. AND WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES, DO WE HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE, NOT ONLY ROADS AND UTILITIES, BUT ALSO THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT YOU WOULD NEED AS A COMMUNITY. THE COMMUNITY-BASED INFRASTRUCTURE TO SERVE THIS. THE PEOPLE HAVE PLACES TO LIVE NEARBY? WILL PEOPLE HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET LUNCH WITHOUT DRIVING A LONG WAY. WILL PEOPLE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THE SHOPPING THEY NEED TO DO . ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS -- THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS WILL DETERMINE HOW SUCCESSFUL WE ARE AT GETTING THESE THINGS BUILT , AND GETTING THE JOBS INTO THESE BUILDINGS. AND THAT IS ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT PUTTING A STUDY TOGETHER , A PLAN TO KIND OF LOOK AT ALL WE HAVE. WE KNOW WE HAVE GREAT ACCESS I-95 AND THE TURNPIKE. PEOPLE LOVE THAT. AND THE DEVELOPERS ARE COMING. WOULD DO WE HAVE EVERYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO WORK THAT WILL WE BE CREATING A CORE DOOR THAT LOOKS AS GOOD AS WHAT WE HAVE CREATED IN TRADITION, AS A COMMUNITY? WHAT DO OUR REGULATIONS ENCOURAGE? WHAT DO THEY DISCOURAGE? ARE THEY GOING TO ENCOURAGE THE KIND OF DEVELOPMENT WE WANT TO SEE? OR DO WE NEED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES? THAT IS A BIG PART OF AT LEAST PHASE ONE OF THE PLAN. CAROL WOULD, COPRINCIPAL IS GOING TO COME UP NOW AND TALK ABOUT THOSE PROPOSED PHASE ONE ITEMS IN THE PLAN. AND WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR HUDSON AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION. I AM CAROL WOOD, LESLIE'S A BUSINESS PARTNER. I KNOW MOST OF YOU, NOT ALL OF YOU. BY WAY OF REACH INTRODUCTION, I WILL OFFER YOU A SHORT ANECDOTE. I THINK IS A GREAT STORY THAT PROVIDES CONTEXT. MY BACKGROUND IS IN ARCHITECTURE. I HAVE A DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. WORKING FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE WAS MY FIRST JOB. I STARTED HERE IN 2005. THERE WAS REALLY ALMOST NO PLANNING DEPARTMENT. THERE WAS LIKE A GUY DOING SOME GIS AND COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING. IT WAS A GREAT PLACE TO GET A START. WHEN THERE IS NOBODY THERE, YOU GET TO DO EVERYTHING. I GOT YOU COPPERHEADS OF PLANNING, PLAN REVIEW, HISTORIC PRESERVATION. BECAUSE THAT PERSON LEFT TOO. IT WAS MESSY BUT A GREAT PLACE TO LEARN. THE CITY HAS A LONG HISTORY OF DOING PLANS TO CREATE A VISION FOR WHAT IT WANTS TO BE. I HAVE WORKED ON SOME OF THE PLANS FOR DOWNTOWN, FOR THE FUTURE OF THE WATER TREATMENT FACILITY, WHEN IT EVENTUALLY GOES SOMEPLACE ELSE. I REMEMBER IT WAS STILL EARLY IN MY WORK , THE CITY MANAGER AT THE TIME GAVE ME AN ASSIGNMENT TO DO. TO RESEARCH AND PREPARE A PRESENTATION FOR THE COMMISSION. I WAS EAGER TO [00:30:06] EXERCISE MY MASTERS DEGREE CHOPS. I DID DRAWINGS, AND OF COURSE, THERE WERE NO SCREENS, I HAD A PIECE OF -- I WAS EXCITED. I COULD SEE FOR SOME PEOPLE IT WAS NOT GOING WELL. I FINISHED MY COMMENTS AND THE LEGENDARY COMMISSIONER DAVE NELSON STARTED TO GIVE ME HIS FEEDBACK FROM THE DAIS. HE WAS QUITE PASSIONATE, AS HE TENDED TO BE. AND I REMEMBER, HE GAVE ME DIRECTIONS POINTING. SAYING, I WANT YOU TO DO THIS, I WANT YOU TO DO THIS. I BELIEVE WITH ALL THE LOVE IN HIS HEART, LIKE THE APOSTLE PAUL HAD, HE SAID, IF YOU DON'T DO IT, I'M GOING TO SHOOT YOU. I TELL YOU THIS STORY, IN PART, BECAUSE LESLIE AND I HAVE HISTORY OF DOING PLANS LIKE THIS AND GETTING LOTS OF FEEDBACK. WE HAVE BEEN IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE FOR SOME TIME NOW. WHAT I LEARNED THAT DAY IS MY MISTAKE WAS I THOUGHT I KNEW SOMETHING THAT I COULD IMPART TO THE ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE. WHAT I FAILED TO DO WAS ASK ENOUGH QUESTIONS TO GET OTHER PEOPLE'S PERSPECTIVE. THAT IS A BIG PART OF WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IN THESE KINDS OF STUDIES. THESE ARE NOT EXERCISES FOR PLANNING PROFESSIONALS TO PUT DOWN ON PRETTY PIECES OF PAPER FROM THE BEGINNING. THESE ARE COLLABORATIVE DIALOGUES. THAT IS A BIG PART OF WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING FOR PHASE ONE TO BE IN THE STUDY. THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON ALL OF THOSE QUESTIONS THAT LESLIE ASKED. WHERE DOES HOUSING NEED TO BE. YES, WE WANT THE JOBS CORE DOOR, BUT WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE TO DRIVE 10 MILES. WHERE DOES HOUSING NEED TO BE? WHAT KIND OF HOUSING? WHAT ARE THE PRICE POINTS? DO WE NEED APARTMENTS, RENTALS? SINGLE-FAMILY? WHERE DOES RETAIL NEED TO BE IN PROXIMITY . LESLIE AND I ALSO WORK FOR ST. LUCIE COUNTY. AT THE COUNTY BUILDING, THERE ARE A LOT OF PLACES TO GO FOR LUNCH. BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A LIMITED LUNCH HOUR -- WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO GO TO WORK FROM THEIR JOB. WHAT ARE THE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD THEIR OWN CAR? THESE ARE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS. IN ORDER TO GET TO THOSE QUESTIONS, WE WANT TO START WITH DIGGING INTO WHAT DO ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS THINK ABOUT THIS? BEFORE WE CREATE A LONG-TERM PLAN FOR WHAT THE STUDY WILL BE OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW YEARS. WE ARE WANT TO START WITH, WHAT ARE THE QUESTIONS WE NEED TO ANSWER. WHAT ARE THE PERSPECTIVES? WE DO A LOT OF INTERVIEWS. TALKING TO YOU ALL, TALKING TO LEADERSHIP AT ST. LUCIE COUNTY. BECAUSE THE JURISDICTIONAL LINES WEAVE IN AND OUT. AND OF COURSE, TALKING TO PROPERTY OWNERS. WE ARE GIVE YOU A REMINDER AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED AND BUILT AN APPROVED DEVELOPMENT ON A LONG STRETCH OF THE CORRIDOR FROM -- ROAD TO OKEECHOBEE -- TO ORANGE. OF COURSE, WE WILL BE TALKING TO PROPERTY OWNERS IN THAT AREA. AGAIN, EVERYONE HAS DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON WHAT KINDS OF QUESTIONS WE NEED TO ASK AND WHERE WE START. ONE OF THE AREAS -- SOME AREAS OF WE MAY WANT TO AVOID. SOME PLANS MIGHT BE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT WE WANT ARCHITECTURE, AND LANDSCAPE TO LOOK LIKE. AND IMPORTANT THINGS WE WANT TO BUILD INTO THE PLANTS OR THERE IS A VISUAL UNITY AS YOU TRAVEL ALONG THE CORRIDOR. ARE THOSE IMPORTANT, OR IS IT ABOUT USES AND MARKETABILITY? THAT IS REALLY THE GENERAL CONTEXT OF PHASE ONE IS THAT WE ARE PROPOSING. FROM THERE, PHASE ONE IS INTENDED TO BE A SIX MONTH PROCESS WHERE WE ASK QUESTIONS AND THEN PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS. FROM THERE, WE CAN LAY OUT THE REST OF THE PLAN. THAT IS THE GENERAL IDEA, WE ARE OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE. >> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH. LESLIE AND KERA . MATTA MAYOR IN THE COMMISSION. MY PARTNER COULD NOT BE WITH US, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE COMMENTS ON HIS BEHALF BEFORE WE WRAP THIS UP. I WANT TO SUMMARIZE THE BENEFITS THAT WILL ACCRUE TO THE CITY AND COMMUNITY WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT. STARTING WITH OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT , WITH A JOB CORRIDOR. THIS WOULD FACILITATE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. IT WOULD ENHANCE INFRASTRUCTURE [00:35:01] AND SERVICES. ATTRACT ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT AND INCREASE TAX REVENUES . AND MOST PORTLY, CREATING MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES. FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPERS -- WE BELIEVE THAT THIS WOULD PROVIDE A VERY CLEAR SET OF GUIDELINES IN A STREAMLINED PROCESS. IT COULD REDUCE DEVELOPMENT RISKS AND COSTS AND ENSURE THERE IS A STABLE AND PREDICTABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR INVESTMENTS. TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THIS WOULD IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC SERVICES, REMOTE QUALITY DEVELOPMENT, AS -- AND LESLIE DEVELOP. AND ENHANCE THE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE. HAVING SUSTAINABLE AND BALANCED APPROACH TO THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. THE JOB CORRIDOR IN TRADITION STARTED OVER 20 YEARS AGO. AND IT WAS WITH A STUDY OF THE URBAN LAND INSTITUTE IN 2004. AND THEN IN 2018, AND THEN THE TREASURE COAST REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL DID THE MASTER DEVELOPMENT. DEFINITELY, ROME WAS NOT BUILT IN A DAY. AS YOU WILL SEE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AMAZON, FEDEX, CHENEY BROTHERS, COSTCO, OCULUS -- AND NOW BROAD RANGE, WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED CAPABILITY OF ATTRACTING GREAT EMPLOYERS. WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE ROBERT BRADFIELD TO CLOSE US OUT. HE HAS A VIDEO CLIP TO SHOW YOU THAT VISUALIZES WHAT IS GOING ON. AND THEN WE CAN TAKE A QUESTION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> WELCOME. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. MATTA MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MINUTE AND SHOW YOU A QUICK VIDEO. >> QUITE IMPRESSIVE, NO? LISTENING TO PETE'S DISCUSSION OF ALL THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS ALREADY TRANSPIRED , AS WELL AS LOOKING AT THAT VIDEO IS QUITE IMPRESSIVE OF THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH HEARING THINGS THE COUNTY AND THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. IN THAT TWO-MINUTE VIDEO, YOU SAW A TOTAL OF DEVELOPMENT OF 4.2 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF INDUSTRIAL FIRST-CLASS SPACE . OVER 20% OF THAT DEVELOPMENT IS ALREADY IN THE CITY LIMITS HERE. EDC PLAYS A PROMINENT ROLL IN GETTING THOSE BUILDINGS OUT OF THE GROUND AND HELPED RECRUIT AND RELOCATE MANY BUSINESSES TO THE COMMUNITY. FOR EXAMPLE, AS PETE STATED BEFORE, -- BUILDING IN THE CROSSROADS COMMERCE CENTER, THERE ARE RANGE LOGISTIC, AMAZON, COSTCO, CHENEY BROTHERS, TO NAME A FEW. WHAT IS EXCITING ABOUT THIS PROJECT, THE KINGS HIGHWAY CORRIDOR HAS ALREADY EXPERIENCED QUALITY INDUSTRIAL GROWTH . WE KNOW IT IS A COMPETITIVE AND ATTRACTIVE LOCATION FOR A COMMERCE CENTER. [00:40:04] WE KNOW BUSINESSES WANT TO COME HERE. THAT IS ALREADY SET. WE ALL KNOW ST. LUCIE COUNTY IS GROWING. PORT SAINT LUCIE SOUTHERN GROVE JOB CORRIDOR IS ALL BUT BUILT OUT. ECONOMIC GROWTH IS MOVING TO THE NORTH. WE BELIEVE IT'S TIME THE CITY HAS ITS OWN WELL-THOUGHT-OUT, STRATEGICALLY DEVELOPED COMMERCE CENTER. AS YOU HEARD FROM LESLIE, PETE -- THE EDC HAS THE EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE TO HELP LEAD THE PROJECT IN THIS PROJECT ARRANGEMENT. WE BELIEVE CONTINUED COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN EDC AND THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE -- WRITE YOUR OWN SCRIPT. WE WANT YOU TO HELP WRITE SOMETHING YOU ARE PROUD OF, THAT THE CONSTITUENTS ARE PROUD OF. PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ARE PROUD OF. WE WANT TO COLLABORATE WITH YOU. WE'VE ALREADY SHOW THE COLLABORATION MANY TIMES. WE HAVE LISTENED TO WHAT YOU HAD TO SAY. AND WE HAVE HELPED THAT INTERPLAY. WE ARE VERY EXCITED AND VIEW THIS IS A PRIVILEGE TO COLLABORATE TOGETHER ON THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME TODAY, AND THE CURRENT RELATIONSHIP. WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTION. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU GIVING YOUR TIME . YOU ARE RIGHT, THE KINGS HIGHWAY CORRIDOR IS KIND OF LIKE WE HAVE TO PLAY CATCH-UP . BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY BOOMING. COMMISSIONERS? COMMISSIONER BRODERICK. >> MY ANSWERS ARE SIMPLE. I WANT TO ANNEX ALL OF IT. I GUESS I CAN LEAVE IT AT THAT, RIGHT? >> WE FIGURE, COMMISSIONER, YOU WOULD STATED LIKE THAT. >> I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS MATTER WITH PETE AND HIS TEAM. I SEE OUR ENTIRE SHOOTING TEAM, BY THE WAY. I SHOOT AT THEIR FUNDRAISER EVERY YEAR, AND THE ENTIRE SQUAD IS HERE. GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. I AM ASSUMING YOU HAVE PUT FORWARD A PROPOSAL TO CITY MANAGER NICK MIMMS ? THE COMMISSION WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW. IS THAT IN THE PACKET WE RECEIVED TONIGHT? >> WE DO NOT HAVE THE AGREEMENT, SIR. WE ARE STILL WORKING WITH MR. MIMMS ON MOST OF IT. THERE IS A DRAFT AGREEMENT AND AN ATTACHMENT WITH THE DELIVERABLES. >> THANK YOU. THIS IS THE CORE ISSUE FOR THE ENTIRE BASIS OF CITY OPERATIONS MOVING INTO THE FUTURE. QUALITY JOBS, AND QUALITY FACILITIES WITH QUALITY COMPANIES. IT'S A FORMULA, IT'S NOT OVERLY COMPLICATED. OF COURSE, LEANING INTO THAT IS SUPPORT SERVICES. I KNOW THERE ARE PHENOMENAL DEVELOPERS OUT THERE ALREADY. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS MISSING, THE 390,000 SQUARE FEET WE JUST APPROVED AT GRAHAM AND KINGS HIGHWAY. I DO NOT SEE THAT ON THERE. -- A LITTLE FURTHER SOUTH. DO A LITTLE UPDATING. WE HAVE A LITTLE MORE GOING ON THAN ON YOUR SLY. >> I GUESS IT HAPPENED OVER THE WEEKEND. >> SHOW ME A SLIDESHOW AND I WILL UPDATE IT FOR YOU. THE PROSPECT OF THIS, I COULD SEE IT BEING A CORNERSTONE FOR THE FUTURE OF THE CITY. TO GET INTO A JOB CORRIDOR MENTALITY. NOT ONLY THAT, THE TAX BASIS OF ALL THE PROJECT THAT WOULD BE BROUGHT INTO THE CORRIDOR . I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH IT. I'M IN THE AREA EVERY DAY. WE HAVE FACILITIES OUT THERE. WE ARE OUT THERE EVERY DAY. DOING WORK . OPPORTUNITY OUT THERE IS UNMATCHED . THE CITY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING I HAVE NEVER REALLY SEEN A MORE RURAL TYPE COMMUNITY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IN THE SOUTHERN METRO AREAS OF SOUTH FLORIDA. THIS TYPE OF LINE AND ACCESS TO THE HIGHWAYS WAS SIMPLY NOT AVAILABLE. OPPORTUNITY HERE IS ONE-OF-A-KIND TO GET IT RIGHT. TO GET IT RIGHT IS HOUSING, JOBS, ECONOMIC INSPIRATION , FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM COMING TO MY HEAD IMMEDIATELY. AND THE INFUSION OF CAPITAL AND THE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES , TO THE CITY COULD BE OVERWHELMING. IN MY OPINION. I AM FULLY IN FAVOR OF THIS INITIATIVE. I TALKED ABOUT AT THE JOINT CITY COMMISSION THEN. I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH PETE AND OTHER MEMBERS OF HIS TEAM. I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE SERIOUSLY WANT TO GET INVOLVED WITH AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THAT IS MY TAKE ON IT. >> WHO WANT TO GO NEXT? >> MR. PETE TESCH, THANK YOU. I DID NOT TELL YOU THE TRUTH. I HAVE QUESTIONS. I HAVE A GENERAL COMMENT. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. AND THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING THIS TO THE [00:45:03] GREATER FORT PIERCE AREA THAT WATCHES OUR COMMISSION MEETING. I THINK IT IS GREAT WE BEGIN TO BRING THE PUBLIC INTO THIS. OBVIOUSLY, SOMETHING THIS LARGE, WITH THIS BIG OF A FOOTPRINT, -- FOR A LONG TIME, RESIDENTS IN FORT PIERCE USE THE HIGHWAY AS A CUT THROUGH TO GET TO -- AND NOW WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING MASSIVE THAT COULD STEM ALL THE WAY FROM ENDERLE ROAD TO THE TURNPIKE -- IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE ADJUSTING TO GET TO, RIGHT? I THINK THE MORE WE CAN BRING OUT -- OUR CONSTITUENTS ALONG. FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, THAT IS THE TAIL END OF DISTRICT 1. THAT IS A GREAT IMPACT ON DISTRICT 1, AS WELL AS THE CITY OF HER PEERS. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE BRING THE CONSTITUENTS ALONG. THAT NOT ONLY LIVE OUT THERE, BUT THIS LONG CITY RESIDENTS THAT LIVE IN -- AND HARTLINE. A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. I THOUGHT I HEARD ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS YOU WILL STUDY. ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, I SAW SOME WAGES YOU PUT HERE. STARTING SALARIES. I REALLY WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT THAT WILL HAVE IN LIFTING US OUT OF OUR POVERTY LEVEL SYSTEM IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. $17.50 I'M NOT SURE BUT DO WHAT WE WANT TO DO. IT IS A GOOD START, I THINK WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT THE OTHER PART OF THIS IS NOT ONLY THE BEGINNING SALARY, BUT HOW DO WE TRANSLATE THAT TO HOME OWNERSHIP? -- WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 17 $50 -- $70.50 PER HOUR -- AND WAREHOUSING PRICES START. LOOKING AT. I NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT. THE NEXT PART IS, HOW DO WE TRANSITION THAT TO DEVELOPMENT AND SPECIFICALLY THE LINCOLN PARK AREA. WITH AFFORDABLE OR MARKET RATE HOUSING. ULTIMATELY, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO TAKE THESE JOBS. THOSE ARE THINGS ON MY MIND. I THINK ABOUT THE WORKFORCE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT OUR NINTH AND 10TH GRADERS THAT WOULD LIKELY TAKE THIS JOB. I WANT TO FORECAST HOW WE PRODUCE THIS YOUNG TALENT. ARE THEY LIKELY TO TAKE THESE JOBS BASED ON PAST TRENDS AND PATTERNS? BECAUSE WE NEED TO BEGIN HOW TO CONNECT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE TO THESE OPPORTUNITIES. THE THIRD POINT I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND IS, PARTICULARLY WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE SOUTH. I SAW SALLY. BUT I NEED TO KNOW THE MANAGEMENT LEVEL JOBS THAT COME WITH THESE WAREHOUSES. WHO WAS MAKING THE SALARY AND THE HIGH-LEVEL STUFF? AND HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE ST. LUCIE COUNTY RESIDENTS THAT GOT THESE JOBS? BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE LOOKING AND ENCOURAGING CURRENT ST. LUCIE COUNTY , FORT PIERCE RESIDENT TO APPLY FOR THESE JOBS. MY EXPECTATION IS I SEE A GREATER PERCENTAGE OF THAT, MAKING SURE WE KEEP THAT IN THE COMMUNITY. THOSE ARE THINGS, ECONOMICALLY, -- I AM IMPRESSED HERE. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE GROWING PAINS. THERE WILL BE A LOT OF TRAFFIC. THEY MAY NOT HAVE THE LEGACY -- LIBERTY OF GOING THROUGH -- THE CITY WILL BENEFIT FROM A TAX BASE. WE CAN PROVIDE THAT. BUT RESIDENTS HAVE TO COME ALONG WITH THIS. AND I NEED THEM TO UNDERSTAND, AND I NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND. BECAUSE WE HAVE TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT THIS. BECAUSE WE NEEDED THESE PEOPLE INTO THESE OPPORTUNITIES. BUT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, THERE IS GOING TO BE A DELTA. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT THEY ARE MAKING AND WHAT HOUSING IS COSTING US. AND WE HAVE TO FIGURE HOW TO MATCH THAT OF. BECAUSE THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT. THE LAST THING I WANT IS DRIVING OUR RESIDENTS OUT AND PEOPLE MOVING HERE THAT HAVE A LITTLE MORE MONEY TO GET STARTED ON THAT. AND WE ARE LOSING PEOPLE HERE. THAT IS WHERE I AM AT. THANK YOU FOR THIS. THAT IS IT. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT ME TO RESPOND. >> WOULD YOU LIKE TO? >> I WOULD JUST SAY WITH REGARD TO WAGES. WE ARE SEEING REAL LIFE SCENARIOS. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT SOUTH FLORIDA AND OTHER. THAT ALL AREAS. THERE ARE MASSIVE CAPITAL FLOWS COMING [00:50:02] INTO THE STATE. AND WE ARE BENEFITING FROM IT. A LOT OF THE PROJECTS WE ARE WORKING ON IT NOW, COMING OUT OF SOUTH FLORIDA, PARTICULARLY PALM BEACH. IN MANUFACTURING FLORIDA HEADQUARTERS. THOSE SALARIES ARE 50, 60, 70 AND $80,000 JOB. EITHER MANUFACTURING OR CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS. 25 OR 30% OF OUR WORKFORCE GOES FROM ST. LUCIE COUNTY OR FORT PIECE DOWN TO PALM BEACH. GOD BLESS OF THOSE PEOPLE. LET'S BRING THEM HERE TO HAVE THEIR JOBS HERE. OBVIOUSLY, IS A COMPETITIVE SITUATION. BUT IT IS REAL. OBVIOUSLY, AMAZON HAS AN ENTRY LEVEL WAGE. BUT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A LOT OF HIGH-PAYING JOBS . WE HAVE TO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE COLLEGE AND ALL OF THE THINGS WE DO WITH WORKFORCE READINESS. WE HAVE TAKEN A LEADERSHIP POSITION. ANYWAY, WE WANT TO CONTINUE THAT. IT IS ALL PART OF THAT ARRANGEMENT. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY, WHAT YOU MENTIONED ABOUT INTERACTION WITH OUR RESIDENTS ON OUR NEIGHBORS. -- TOUCHED ON THAT. HAVING THE COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, HOW DO WE WORK TOGETHER ON THIS. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES. >> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED WHAT YOU JUST MENTIONED ABOUT THE COLLEGE AND LOCAL SCHOOLS. I WANT TO FOLLOW-UP ON WHAT COMMISSIONER JOHNSON SAID. AS WE ALL KNOW, RIGHT NOW, THE HIGH SCHOOLERS WHO GO TO THIS TRICOUNTY AREA CAN GO TO, IF THEY CHOOSE TO, THEY HOME AND GO TO -- FREE FOR TWO YEARS. THAT IS A PRIME EXAMPLE FOR US TO GET INVOLVED AND SAY, HEY, WHILE YOU'RE HERE, WHY DON'T YOU VENTURE THIS WAY IN A CAREER. LET ME HOOK YOU UP WITH AMAZON. LET ME DO SOMETHING. PUT THE IDEA IN THEIR HEAD. THEY ARE ALREADY STAYING. LET THEM KNOW, ONCE YOU GET THESE TWO YEARS, YOU REALLY DO NOT HAVE TO LEAVE. BECAUSE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY. THAT IS IN THE FUTURE. LET'S JUST GET THE WORD OUT. >> I APPRECIATE THAT COMMISSIONER GRAINS THAT COMMISSIONER GAINES. TO GO TO COLLEGE. BUT THERE ARE TECHNICAL DEGREES AND CERTIFICATES. AND THEY MAKE A VERY GOOD -- >> TECHNICAL DEGREES. AND WHILE THEY ARE THERE, MAYBE THESE COMPANIES CAN COME IN HERE AND KNOW WE HAVE INTERNSHIPS. INTERNSHIPS CAN LEAD TO WHAT COMMISSIONERS ARE SAYING. CAREERS ARE NOT JOBS. WE ALWAYS SAY JOBS. WE REALLY WANT CAREERS. WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE SAME HOUSING PROJECTS COMING. WE ARE TRYING TO CHANGE THE ATMOSPHERE OF FORT PIERCE. THAT IS THE ONE THING. THE SECOND THING I WANT TO SAY IS, WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE GENERATION COMING. WE HAVE A GENERATION NOW WHO ARE OUT THERE LOOKING FOR THESE TYPES OF JOBS . THAT ARE WALKING AROUND THE STREETS. THEY ARE LOST. I WOULD LOVE SOME KIND OF WAY. I CAN HELP YOU GUYS GET IN BALLS -- CONTACT WITH THE 18-YEAR-OLDS THAT ARE OUT THERE NOW THAT DO NOT KNOW ABOUT IT. I WILL BE HONEST WITH YOU, WE KNOW SITTING HERE, THEY ARE NOT AT HOME WATCHING THIS PODCAST RIGHT NOW. >> MY KIDS ARE NOT WATCHING THIS. >> BUT THEY ARE IN FORT PIERCE. THEY ARE WORKING. WHATEVER JOBS THEY CAN FIND. BECAUSE THEY ARE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING. AND THE ONES TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING ARE THE ONES WE NEED TO PUT OUR HANDS ON AND SAY, HEY, I SAW YOU WORKING HERE. DO YOU KNOW AMAZON IS LOOKING FOR SOMEONE JUST LIKE YOU TO TRAIN -- AND ALL OF THESE OTHER COMPANIES. PRESENTATIONS HERE ARE GREAT FOR THE ONE NOT IN THE -- GROUP LET MYSELF. IF WE CAN GET THE WORD OUT, OR IF I CAN HELP GETTING THE WORD OUT TO ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT THIS IS COMING. BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GOING TO GO ON THE WEBSITE. I WILL BE HONEST WITH YOU. THEY ARE NOT GOING ON THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE WEBSITE TO LOOK AT YOU AND MY CONVERSATION. I FEEL BAD TOO. I AM JUST BEING HONEST. THEY WILL SEE. THEN THEY WILL SEE, THAT HAS BEEN [00:55:05] HALTED. THEN, I GET 1000 EMAIL. WHAT IS GOING ON? WHY WAS IT HALTED? CAN I KNOW WHEN IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN? I AM JUST USING THAT BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS. AMAZON, DO NOT WRITE ME, I'M NOT PICKING ON YOU I. I AM JUST SAYING WHAT THE FEEDBACK IS. YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE READY. I SAID 18 TO 20, BUT YOU COULD PROBABLY GO 25 TO 30. THE AGE GROUP PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO GET INTO CAREERS. THIS IS GREAT. EVERYTHING THAT WAS PRESENTED TODAY IS GREAT FOR US. BUT TO HELP YOU GUYS OUT, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET THE WORD OUT TO THE GENERATION THAT YOU GUYS ARE PLANNING FOR, SO THEY KNOW IT IS HERE. IF NOT, WE ARE WAITING FOR SOME KIDS IN HIGH SCHOOL. AND THAT WILL BE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. WE HAVE A WORKFORCE THAT IS READY TO COME. I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER. BUT I COULD TRY TO PUT EVERYONE IN THE ROOM TO HAVE THEM LISTEN. I KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO, MADAM MAYOR, WHEN WE HAVE THE JOB FAIR. IF WE THINK ABOUT A KINGS HIGHWAY CORRIDOR JOB INFORMATION SECTION , AND INVITE PEOPLE TO COME IN THAT WAY. -- I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WILL WORK OR IF THEY WILL COME. THEY ARE THERE. THE WANT THESE JOBS. THEY ARE READY TO WORK. AS COMMISSIONER JOHNSON SAID, THEY ARE READY TO GO FROM JOBS TO CAREER. THEY WANT TO GO INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THEY WANT TO BE HOMEOWNERS. THOSE ARE THE GENERATIONS WE NEED TO TRY TO FOCUS ON. THANK YOU FOR THIS. I THINK WE NEED TO GET IT OUTSIDE OF THIS ROOM AND GET IT TO THE COMMUNITY SO THEY CAN HEAR IT. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES, VERY BRIEFLY. I KNOW OUR TIME IS LIMITED. ONE THING I THINK IS IMPORTANT IS OUR STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIP WITH PROJECT LIFT. THEY HAVE GOT SOME BIG NEWS THEY WILL SHARE WITH THE CITY PRETTY SOON ABOUT THE NEW TRAINING FACILITY. WE HAVE A COLLABORATIVE ARRANGEMENT WHEREBY WE HAVE ANITA FISHER -- WORKFORCE READINESS. PART OF HER JOB IS TO WORK ONTHE TECHNICAL TRAINING SIDE AND HELP COUNSELING AND THERAPY FOR THE DEMOGRAPHIC THAT YOU MENTIONED, THE 18 TO 24. AND WE HAVE BEEN VISITING OUR KEY EMPLOYERS TO SAY, HEY, HOW DO WE HAVE A COLLECTIVE EFFORT ON THE THINGS THAT MATTER WITH THESE YOUNG INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE SEEKING EMPLOYMENT? ALL THE WAY FROM TECHNICAL TRAINING. WITH WORKING WITH THE COUNTY, AERIAL REGIONAL TRANSIT, AND GIVING THEM THAT SUPPORT SYSTEM TO WORK. WE HAVE TOUCHED A FEW INDIVIDUALS, BUT WE HAVE TO TOUCH MORE. I THINK THAT IS THE WAY TO DO A, A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH. >> I AGREE WITH THAT. THE LAST THING, I THINK YOU SAID, 4.2 MILLION SQUARE FEET ? >> INDUSTRIAL SPACE. >> I WILL LEAVE WITH THIS. IN ALL THOSE SQUARE FEET, YOU WILL NEED JANITORS, YOU ARE GOING TO NEED AIR CONDITIONER PEOPLE. YOU ARE GOING TO NEED ALL TYPES OF TECHNOLOGICAL STUFF. JOBS ARE THERE. YOU WANT SOMEONE TO COME IN -- IF THE TOILET AND WATER IS NOT WORKING THAT DAY, NO PRODUCTION IS GOING ON. THAT IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET OUT. JUST NOT SELLING THE PROJECTS THAT WE ARE DOING. BUT LETTING EVERYONE KNOW THAT EVEN WITH THESE PROJECTS, THERE ARE OTHER JOBS THAT COULD GIVE YOU GREAT CAREERS TO PROVIDE FOR YOUR FAMILIES. AND I WILL HELP ANY KIND OF WAY I CAN TO GET THE WORD OUT. JUST LET ME KNOW. >> THAT IS ON THE RECORD, SIR. >> LESLIE HAS ALL OF MY INFORMATION. SHE KNOWS HOW TO TRACK ME DOWN. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES, TO THAT POINT, -- THAT IS WHY THIS IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT. THIS IS NOT JUST US SITTING DOWN AND PLANNING THIS. THIS IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH YOURSELF AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS TO UNDERSTAND. WE WANT TO TAKE ALL OF THIS FEEDBACK AND PROVIDE THAT GUIDANCE AND HELP WITH THE FEEDBACK FROM EVERYBODY INVOLVED. SO THAT WE CAN CREATE THE CORRIDOR WE ARE ALL PROUD OF. THIS FIRST PHASE IS UNDERSTANDING THOSE THINGS. LISTENING TO YOURSELF, TAKING THOSE IDEAS AND EXECUTING. GREAT POINT TO THAT END. >> THANK YOU. >> I WAS TALKING WITH THE GENTLEMAN, IT IS ALL THAT YOU [01:00:02] BROUGHT IT UP, COMMISSIONER. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE YOUNGER GENERATION. I MEAN, 18 TO 25 OR 26. THE FIRST TWO OR THREE YEARS OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL CAREERS, OR THE JOB SEARCH FOR A CAREER, I THINK THE CHANGE POSITION FIVE TO SEVEN TIMES ON AVERAGE. IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS. WHICH WAS SIGNIFICANT TO ME. I THOUGHT BACK TO MY AGE GROUP . WHEN I STARTED, I CHANGED JOBS A COUPLE TIME. BUT I WAS SEARCHING FOR AN ADVANCEMENT. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WILL BE PROVIDED HERE. BUT HERE IS WHERE I GO BACK TO -- AND I START THINKING ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE. I START THINKING ABOUT THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CITIES. THERE ARE MANY MEN AND WOMEN THAT SERVE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT. WE TALKED ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ALL THE TIME. WE DON'T MENTION IT OFTEN ENOUGH, ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE. THAT IS PART OF INFRASTRUCTURE. HAVING A SAFE COMMUNITY AND BEING ABLE TO FOCUS ON ANNEXING ADDITIONAL PROPERTIES SO THERE ARE ADDITIONAL TAX REVENUE, WHICH YOU FORWARDED TONIGHT. THAT HELPS US PROVIDE THAT NEED WITHIN A COMMUNITY. BECAUSE WE LIVE HERE AND WE PLAY HERE. BUT OF COURSE, WE WERE CARE. THAT INFRASTRUCTURE PROVIDES A BIGGER BENEFIT OVERALL FINANCIALLY TO HOMETOWN COMMUNITY. IT PROVIDES A TAX BENEFIT TO PROVIDE A SAFER COMMUNITY. AND THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE IS READY FOR THAT. HERE'S WHAT I HAVE LEARNED, IN 2000, WHEN I WAS A YOUNG ENGINEER WORKING ALONGSIDE THIS GUY AT THE END. I WAS AT FORT PIERCE UTILITY, HE WAS AT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE -- HE STILL IS HERE. AND LOVING EVERY SECOND OF IT. WE TALKED ABOUT THE KINGS HIGHWAY CORRIDOR IN 2000 AND 2001. IT MAKES ME SMILE -- BROUGHT BACK SOME MEMORIES WHICH HE TALKED ABOUT 2005 AND STARTED TO PLAN A COMMUNITY AND THINKING ABOUT HOW WE ARE GROWING OUR CITY. WE HAD A PLAN BACK IN THOSE DAYS. WE THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE IN WESTERN APPEARS. THINK ABOUT PORT SAINT LUCIE AND HOW SMALL IT WAS IN 2000. I DO NOT COMPARE OURSELVES TO PORT SAINT LUCIE BY ANY MEANS. WHAT MY POINT IS, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU PRESENTED HERE BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT PLANNING, LONG-TERM PLANNING. TWO OF US IN THIS COMMISSION SIT ON THE TPO, TRANSPORTATION PLANNING , FOR THOSE THAT DO NOT LIKE ACRONYMS. THAT TAKES 40 YEARS OF PLANNING , TO PLAN ROADWAY NETWORKS AND CONNECTIVITY. AND WHAT IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, AND I WILL ASK YOU A COUPLE OF ACTIONS OF WHAT I AND WE CAN DO. WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO ME IS THAT THE STATE AND OUR PARTNERS RECOGNIZED THE NEED FOR SOME OF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE. BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE A LOT OF STATE ROADS IN THE CITY OF ST. PETER'S, OR ST. LUCIE COUNTY. THOSE MONIES GOES EVERYWHERE BECAUSE MIAMI-DADE AND BROWARD, THEIR INFRASTRUCTURES ARE OWNED BY THE STATE. 15 OR 20% IN FORT PIERCE OR ST. LUCIE COUNTY IS OWNED BY THE STATE. SO WE GET LESS MONIES TOWARD INFRASTRUCTURE. WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT KINGS HIGHWAY YEARS AGO, WE WERE SAYING -- IT IS STILL BEING WORKED ON. WE ALL KNOW THIS. IT'S IN THE HEART OF OUR AREA -- THERE STILL SOME PLANNING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS NEEDED. A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS I HAVE GOT BEFORE I ASK YOU WHAT I CAN DO TO HELP. IF IT ON RECORD THAT SO -- HOW MANY PEOPLE CALL EDC ABOUT TECHNOLOGY? I MEAN SPECIFICALLY COMMUNICATIONS, TECH INDUSTRY ? HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT THE TREASURE COAST TO THAT OPPORTUNITY? >> COMMISSIONER, THAT IS MORE ANCILLARY . OBVIOUSLY, AMAZON. >> LOGISTICS IS TECHNOLOGY, CORRECT? >> THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT I.T., TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND CYBER SECURITY. WE ARE JUST STARTING TO SEE THAT MORE. IF WE ARE GOING TO GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL, BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE TECHNOLOGY-BASED JOBS AND THE PEOPLE TO FILL THOSE BUSINESSES AND BUILDINGS, IT IS BECOMING MORE PRONOUNCED. IT IS TRENDING. >> LIKELY TO SEE LOGISTICS AS AUTOMATION COMES INTO PLAY. IT MIGHT BE A HUMAN BEING LIFTING A BOX. BUT YOU WILL NEED THAT MANY PEOPLE TO OPERATE THE TECH WORLD OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE, WHATEVER IT LOOKS LIKE. FOLKS ALWAYS ARGUE ABOUT THE SELF CHECKOUT AT THE JOB BUT I'M LIKE, NO, THERE ARE FIVE PEOPLE TAKE CARE OF THAT WANT TO CHECK [01:05:04] OUT COUNTER. YOU JUST DO NOT REALIZE THEY ARE ON A COMPUTER TYPING. >> THE NEED FOR INDUSTRIAL MAINTENANCE -- THAT COULD BE WITH THE LOGISTICS -- >> AND THEN WHAT COMMISSIONER GAINES IS TALKING ABOUT. HAVING AN INDUSTRY OF MAINTENANCE, AND OPERATION. AND FACILITATING BUILDING. >> -- HAS A $26 MILLION ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND LOGISTICS TRAINING CENTER. LET'S USE IT. >> ABSOLUTELY. HOW ABOUT POWER INFRASTRUCTURE? POWER IS AN INCREASING CONVERSATION. >> YOU MENTIONED THAT, COMMISSIONER. TOMORROW AFTERNOON, WE ARE GOING TO INVITE THE MAYOR TO BE ON OUR TEAM TO PRESENT TO THE UA BOARD. >> PART OF THE DISCUSSION WITH THE UTILITIES AUTHORITY IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT. AND HAVING THEM AT THE TABLE WITH US TO START LOOKING AT THE OPPORTUNITIES AND THE DEFICIENCIES WE MIGHT HAVE WITH A VARIETY OF UTILITIES. THAT ALSO INCLUDES FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT. WITH SOME DISTINCT CHALLENGES ON THE KINGS HIGHWAY CORRIDOR IN THE JURISDICTION WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH. RIGHT NOW, THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE POWER, I DO NOT BELIEVE, TO ALL OF THE COMMERCE CENTERS AND BUILDING. IF THEY ALL POPPED UP TOMORROW, IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO PROVIDE THAT POWER. >> I THINK US AT THE TREASURE COAST WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTY DOING THAT. >> IT'S AN ONGOING ISSUE. >> ONE POWER USER LOOKING TO MANUFACTURE SOMETHING LOGISTICALLY CREATING OPERATIONS THAT INCREASE THE MEGAWATT -- WE HAVE AN ISSUE. I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, WITH THE HEAT, EVERYONE WANTS THEIR CONDITIONER TO STAY ON. HOW DO WE BALANCE THAT? THAT IS THE POINT. IT IS THE GOOFY GOVERNMENTAL WORD WE TALK ABOUT. BUT IT IS A MUCH-NEEDED. MY QUESTION, BECAUSE I AM ON THE RECORD. I KNOW I HAVE LIMITED TIME. IT DOES NOT MEAN I AM LEAVING. I AM IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. MY QUESTIONS ARE, -- A CRITICAL PART OF THIS IS INFILL FOR RESIDENTIAL. WE HAVE A LOT OF RESIDENTIAL INFILL OPPORTUNITIES. WHATEVER COLLABORATION WE CAN COME UP WITH, MAKE SURE THAT AS PART OF YOUR COLLABORATION. MY QUESTION IS, HOWEVER WE CAN DO THAT, I AM AVAILABLE. WHATEVER THAT NEED IS, PLEASE ASK. BECAUSE IT'S NOT ABOUT HOLDING MY NEW COMMUNITIES, IT'S ABOUT MOVING TO THE EAST TO INFILL WITH INFRASTRUCTURE , WHAT VACANT PROPERTY OPPORTUNITIES THERE ARE. BECAUSE IT IS CHEAP TO BUILD WITHIN A COMMUNITY THAT ALREADY HAS STREETS, DRAINAGE, SIDEWALKS AND LIGHTING. IS THAT PART OF YOUR CONVERSATION SOMETIMES? >> PERSONALLY, IT IS AS A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. FUTURE JOB OPPORTUNITY MIGHT BE TO HELP YOU, COMMISSIONER WITH THESE ISSUES. PARTICULARLY ON THE U.S. ONE CORE DOOR, THE GREATER DOWNTOWN FORT PIERCE AREA, LINCOLN PARK, SOUTH HUTCHINSON ISLAND . AT LEAST FOR THIS EVENING, WE WANT TO FOCUS ON THE JOB CORRIDOR AND KINGS HIGHWAY. WE'VE HAD THE CONVERSATION WITH MR. MIMMS ABOUT A REDEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR FORT PIERCE AND WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE. >> AND IT GOES INTO THE IDEA OF, IF THERE IS OPPORTUNITY ON KINGS HIGHWAY TO GET WITHIN THE SMALL, TWO, 34 RADIUS -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RESIDENTIAL UNITS AVAILABLE. THAT IS THE POINT OF THE CONVERSATION FOR ME. IF WE CAN INFILL, IT IS CHEAPER RATHER THAN BUILDING NEW COMMUNITIES TO THE WESTERN PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. HOWEVER WE TALK ABOUT THAT, THAT IS FINE. THE OTHER PART I WANT TO MAKE SURE IS, WE GET RID OF THE POLITICAL NATURE OF THIS COMMISSION TALKING TO ANOTHER COMMISSION. WE ALWAYS WANT TO SAY WE WANT A JOINT MEETING WITH ST. LUCIE COUNTY. WE BRING UP HOT TOPIC POLITICAL ISSUES. THIS, TO ME, IS THE BIGGER CONVERSATION. THIS ELIMINATES POLITICAL CONVERSATION. THIS IS A JOINT EFFORT, A JOINT ALLIANCE CONVERSATION PIECE THAT SAYS, LET'S FOCUS OUR ENERGY ON SOMETHING THAT IS POSITIVE . AND ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS, WE CAN TAKE CARE OF LATER. >> OR NOT. >> OR WE JUST AVOIDED, THAT IS [01:10:04] OKAY. >> IN TERMS OF THE CONVERSATION, IN THIS CASE WITH ST. LUCIE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, THIS KIND OF SET THE STAGE FOR A METHODICAL APPROACH TO PLANNING AND HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS. THERE IS ALWAYS DEVILS IN THE DETAILS. BUT I THINK THIS WOULD PROVIDE THAT CONDUIT FOR A SINCERE CONVERSATION. >> I WILL GO BACK TO MY STORY AND TALK ABOUT THIS IN 2001 . WE ARE IN 2024 TALKING BERRIGAN -- TALKING ABOUT IT AGAIN. IF WE COULD DO THAT ON THE COMMISSION FRONT, WHETHER IT IS OUR STATE REPS, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES, I AM OKAY WITH THAT. WE ARE OKAY WITH THAT. I AM ASSUMING YOU WOULD LIKE OUR HELP IN THAT. IS THAT ACCURATE? I FIGURED YOU WOULD SAY, YES. THAT IS MY COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. I KNOW WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT MANY TIMES. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. THERE IS A LOT TO UNFOLD AND UNPACK. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING THIS HAPPEN AND MAKING IT COME ALIVE. SO THE NEXT 10 YEARS , AS WE GROW THIS CORE DOOR, IT WILL BE SOMETHING WE ARE PROUD OF. >> COMMISSIONER, WE HAVE YOUR VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENT SET ASIDE FOR YOU WHENEVER YOU WANT TO DISCUSS IT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. NO DOTTED LINE TO SIGN? >> WE NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR ENGINEERING CAPABILITIES. >> YES, SIR. >> THANK YOU. >> I WANT TO MENTION A FEW THINGS. WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS A CORRIDOR THAT IS ALREADY GROWING. AND THAT KINGS HIGHWAY IS NO LONGER A SLEEPING ROAD. ARE YOU THINKING BEYOND THE CORE DOOR, EAST OF JENKINS ROAD? OR ARE YOU JUST THINKING ABOUT KINGS HIGHWAY? >> MA'AM, I THINK THAT IS PHASE ONE. AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU ALREADY HAVE A START TO A VIABLE COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR . ON THE SOUTH, YOU HAVE SCANNELL PROPERTIES AND KINGS HIGHWAY COMMERCE CENTER. I THINK YOU APPROVED A CENTER FOR 1.5 MILLION SQUARE FEET. SCANNELL IS COMING INTO TOWN AND THEY WANT TO HAVE A FOCUS CONVERSATION. IT IS LIKE, OKAY, HOW COULD THE EDC AND CITY AND UA WORK TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN? SIMILARLY TO THE NORTH, WITH ORANGE 95 COMMERCE CENTER, OVERBUY LOOP ROAD, -- IS ALREADY PROVIDING WATER AND SEWER UTILITIES TO THAT PART -- PART OF THE CONVERSATION. IT IS LIKE, HOW DO WE EXPAND WESTWARD , INCLUDING ORANGE AVENUE TO THE WEST OF KINGS HIGHWAY IN THAT AREA. I WOULD NOT BE EASY, BUT THERE IS A METHODICAL APPROACH TO EXPANDING AND ANNEXING BY PROVIDING UTILITIES AND HAVING IT IN THE CITY CORPORATE LIMITS. THAT WOULD BE PHASE ONE. AND THEN WORKING OUR WAY EITHER NORTH OR SOUTH. >> WHAT I WAS THINKING OF IT TOO, WE HAVE TO PROVIDE SERVICES. AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR. AS COMMISSIONER BRODERICK SAYS, WE NEED THESE ANNEXED SO THEY ARE IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE TO GET HELP SERVICE NOT ONLY ALL OF THE BUSINESSES OUT THERE, BUT ALL OF THE NEW PEOPLE MOVING IN AND ALL OF THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT WHO MAY OR MAY NOT EVEN KNOW WHETHER THEY ARE IN FORT PIERCE. AND AS COMMISSIONER JOHNSON SAID, MOST OF THESE WILL BE IN DISTRICT 1. AND WE ALREADY HAVE A POPULATION OF 48 TO 50,000 THAT WE HAVE TO SERVE. THE GROWTH IS GOING TO BE GREAT. AND THE REVENUE NEEDS TO BE GREAT TOO, IN ORDER TO SERVE THESE NEW POPULATIONS AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY ARE IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND ALL THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT HER PEERS. >> MAYOR, I WOULD SAY THE FRIGHTENING THING IS THAT IF WE WOULD NOT DO THIS PROJECT, GIVEN ALL WE HAVE JUST TALKED ABOUT. >> I DO TOO. IT IS ALREADY UPON US, IS WHAT I MEAN. IS PROBABLY WAY OVER TIME. AND THE OLD OUTLOOK MODEL, I CANNOT THINK OF THE RIGHT WORD NOW. THAT IS TOTALLY FULL NOW. AND THERE IS A TESLA CHARGING STATION THERE. AND THAT IS GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF FACILITIES TOO. I AM GLAD WE WILL BE AT -- IT'S ALREADY IN [01:15:08] OUR SITES. AND THEY HAVE FIBER , IT'S GOING TO BE A SUPERIOR PRODUCT. ALSO, A CAREER SOURCE SHOULD BE PART OF THIS BECAUSE OF WHAT WE ARE ALL TALKING ABOUT. IT IS WONDERFUL TO HAVE THE JOB. 10 OR 12 YEARS AGO, WE DID NOT HAVE THE JOB. NOW WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE JOBS AND WE NEED TO HAVE THE WORKFORCE. I KNOW THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS ALREADY THERE. I KNOW -- IS ALREADY THERE. AND EDC HAS DONE THOSE. I GUESS WE SHOULD HAVE STARTED YESTERDAY, RIGHT? I LOOK FORWARD TO TOMORROW. ANYTHING ELSE FOR EVERYONE -- FROM ANYONE? >> THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. PETE, I AM ASSUMING THE PROPOSAL YOU ARE LOOKING TO ENGAGE THE CITY WITH IS A LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVE -- THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING PARTS HERE. IT'S A JIGSAW PUZZLE. >> WE THINK THIS IS A 24 TO 36 MONTH PROJECT. AT LEAST. WE NEED TO GET FREEZING FOR PHASE ONE. >> AND THEN THE PHASES AFTER THAT. THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTION FOR ME, THANK YOU. >> YOU HAVE GIVEN US EXCITING THINGS TO THINK ABOUT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR TEAM AND BEING HERE AND SPENDING THE TIME WITH US. WE APPRECIATE ALL THE HELP YOU HAVE GIVEN US IN THE PAST TO THE. >> HOPEFULLY WE DO NOT TAKE TOO MUCH TIME. IT WAS AN IMPORTANT [b. Recommendation of the Parks Advisory Committee to Approve the N.14th Street Renaming Nomination Recognizing Lillian P. Owens] TOPIC. WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION. >> THANK YOU, GOOD NIGHT. >> NEXT ITEM IS THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PARKS ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO APPROVE THE NORTH 14TH STRET IT RENAMING NOMINATION RECOGNIZING LILLIAN P. OWENS. >> MR. MEMES? >> WE HAVE OUR SPECIAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR, MARCIA KAMAN -- MARSHA COMMOND HERE. THEY HAVE A RECOMMENDATION. EVIDENTLY, MARSHA COMMOND IS GOING TO PROVIDE THE RECOMMENDATION. >> GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBER OF THE BOARD. THOUGH I CANNOT SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OF THE PARKS COMMITTEE, I WILL SHARE THE ITEM AS IS STATED ON THE AGENDA. ESSENTIALLY, THE COMMITTEE MET THIS PAST MONTH IN JUNE , REVISITING AGITATING -- AN APPLICATION RENAMING NORTH 14TH STREET. I BELIEVE BACK IN APRIL, AT YOUR COMMISSION CONFERENCE MEETING, THE CHAIR AT THE TIME STATED THEY RECEIVED AN APPLICATION. BUT AFTER REVIEW, THEY NOTICED THE APPLICATION WAS INCOMPLETE. SO THE APPLICANT HAS REAPPLIED. THAT IS WHAT IS BEING PRESENTED, RESUBMISSION OF THAT. WITH MORE INFORMATION. WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE NOMINATION IS BEING SUBMITTED BY A FORT PIERCE RESIDENT, -- AFTER HIS MOTHER, LILLIAN P. OWENS . THIS WAS A RESUBMISSION. FOLLOWING A REVIEW OF THE NOMINATION, THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THAT THE CITY COMMISSION APPROVED RENAMING NORTH 14TH STREET IN ORDER OF LILLIAN P. OWENS. MS. OWENS, A LONG-STANDING AFRICAN AMERICAN RESIDENT OF FORT PIERCE, PASSED AWAY EARLIER THIS YEAR AT THE AGE OF 100. FOR MORE CONTEXT IN REGARDS TO THIS NOMINEE, IT STATES HERE ON THE NOMINATION ON THE SECOND PAGE UNDER THE FIRST SECTION, LILLIAN P. OWENS, BORN ON SEPTEMBER 15TH, 1923, RELOCATED TO FORT PIERCE FLORIDA IN 1942, SHE PASSED AWAY AT 100. SHE DEDICATED APPROXIMATELY FIVE DECADES OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN NAVIGATING A TIME OF RACIAL DISCOLORATION AND CHALLENGES. HER BRAVERY AND STRONG WORK ETHIC LED HER TO BECOME THE FIRST HOMEOWNER ON NORTH 14TH STREET IN 1953. DESPITE BEING A SINGLE MOTHER TO SIX CHILDREN, SHE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO PROVIDE FOR HER -- THERE NEEDS . FROM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, SHE SERVED AS A DOMESTIC WORKER, MANAGING HOUSEHOLD CHORES, AND CARING FOR HER EMPLOYERS CHILDREN. IN THE EVENINGS, SHE COOKED AND A MIGRANT CAMP, AND ON WEEKENDS, SHE WORKED AT AKERS BAR AND GRILL. EVENTUALLY, SHE OPENED HER OWN RESTAURANT, A COZY CORNER, LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF 13TH AND AVENUE D. MANY TEACHERS FROM LINCOLN PARK FREQUENTED HER RESTAURANT FOR MEAL. THE APPLICANT SAYS HE BELIEVES GIVEN HER LEGACY AND CONTRIBUTIONS AND THE HISTORIC NATURE OF MS. OWENS , THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THIS ASPECT OF LINCOLN PARK, THROUGH THE RENAMING PROGRAM. [01:20:06] IS UP TO YOU AT THIS POINT TO MAKE A DECISION. >> HOW MANY BLOCKS ARE GOING TO BE -- >> IT WAS NOT SPECIFICALLY STATED AS TO HOW MUCH. THAT CAN BE SOMETHING THE PARKS ADVISORY CAN REVISIT AND RECOMMEND. >> WOULD IT BE ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE IF WE APPROVE THAT IT WOULD ALSO REMAIN 14TH, AND BE AN ADDITIONAL NAME? WHAT GREENAWAY IS AVENUE A ? >> THEY DID NOT RECOMMEND IT TO THAT POINT, THAT IS BEING LEFT UP TO YOU AS WELL. YOU ULTIMATELY MAKE THE FINAL DECISION. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? >> MADAM MAYOR, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I WOULD THINK -- HER SON IS IN THE AUDIENCE. I WOULD THINK HE WOULD BE LOOKING FOR NORTH 14TH STREET BETWEEN AVENUE Q AND AVENUE O . BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THE HOUSE WAS. AND, MARSHA COMMOND, I DO NOT KNOW WHY HE DID NOT PUT IT IN. SOMETHING YOU LEFT OUT WAS SHE WAS ALSO A MOTHER TO ALL OF US IN THE COMMUNITY. THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS YOU COULD NOT DO ON 14TH STREET BECAUSE SHE WAS THERE AND WOULD COME OUT OF THE HOUSE TO PUT US IN ORDER. BUT ALSO, RIGHT NEAR THOSE IN BASEBALL FIELDS WE TALKED ABOUT. OR FOOTBALL FIELDS , IT IS CLOSE TO FRANCIS K -- THAT IS THE AREA WE ARE. I CAN REMEMBER THERE WAS NEVER A TIME -- YOU HEARD SHE HAD A RESTAURANT AND FED EVERYBODY. THERE WAS NEVER A TIME I CAN REMEMBER IF A KID CAME FROM PRACTICE, FROM THE FIELD. IF A KID CAME FROM OFF OF THE ACTIVITIES A BUS, WHEN THESE TO HAVE ACTIVITY BUSES FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER. THEY WOULD DROP THEM OFF IN CERTAIN AREAS. THERE WITHOUT A TIME SHE WOULD NOT ASK, AND YOU GUYS HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT? IS THERE SOMETHING AT HOME TO EAT? IF YOU DID NOT, SHE WOULD GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO EAT. SO, I DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM APPROVING THIS. ESPECIALLY FROM THE AREA WHERE I KNOW SHE LIVED. FROM AVENUE Q TO AVENUE O. THAT IS THE AREA WHERE SHE HAD MOST OF THE INFLUENCE. AND I DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM , DEPENDING ON THE REST OF THE COMMITTEE. IF YOU WANT TO SAY -- NORTH 14TH STREET AND PUT HER NAME UNDER IT , I HAVE NO PROBLEM. I KNOW IT WILL BRING SOME RESPECT AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO ALL OF THE STUFF SHE DID IN HER TIME HERE. THAT WAS EVERYTHING -- THE LIST WAS NOT EVERYTHING SHE'S DONE. I AM IN SUPPORT OF THIS ANY WAY YOU GUYS WANT TO EXERCISE IT. I ]WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS HAPPEN. >>> A CENTURION WHO LIVED IN THE COMMUNITY 100 YEARS AND WE DO THIS ON 29TH STREET AND IT IS NOW A DUAL STREET NAMED AFTER HER AND 29 STREET AND I HOPE WE WOULD FOLLOW THE SAME PRECEDENT AND CADENCE. IT IS UNFORTUNATE WE COULD NOT DO THIS WHILE SHE WAS LIVING. I KNOW THERE WAS A BIG PUSH, IT IS UNFORTUNATE, I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE TO THE FAMILY AND THOSE THAT ARE HERE, ONE OF ARE PROUD PUBLIC WORKERS FOR THE CITY OF PORT -- FORT PIERCE. HE SERVES THE CITY AND MADE THE EFFORT TO GET THIS DONE FOR HIS MOM WHEN SHE WAS HERE TO SEE IT, I KNOW SHE'S LOOKING AT THE MOMENT AND I KNOW AGAIN AS A RESIDENT THAT GREW UP NOT FAR FROM THERE, BUT THINK IT IS HISTORIC, WE TALK ABOUT PRESERVING HISTORY AND STORIED NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS BEGINS TO CONTINUE TO SIGNAL THAT AND MAKE SURE IN PARTICULAR THOSE THAT REACH A GREAT MILESTONE OF 100 AND SHE DID THAT, SHE GOT TO 100. SO I AM IN FAVOR OF SUPPORTING THIS AND I WOULD SAY I THINK WE NEED WHATEVER THE PERSPECTIVE WAS ON 29TH STREET I THINK IT GOES FROM Q TO ORANGE, I'M BUT THAT SAME SCOPE OF WHATEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE WE HAVE DONE IT I WOULD WANT TO REPLICATE [01:25:04] THAT HERE. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I AM GLAD YOU FLASHED THAT OUT AND TOLD US SO MUCH. I READ THE BACKUP AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR THE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND TO KNOW SHE WAS KIND OF A LEGEND AND SOMEBODY, AN ICON. >> YES, MDM. MAYOR, IF SHE SAYS SOMETHING, YOU STOPPED AND THESE DAYS IT IS NOT COMMON TO SEE AN ELDERLY PERSON, SHE STOOD AT THE DOOR. AND WOULD SAY SOMETHING TO US. YOU KNOW YOU ARE IN HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR, SENIOR OR SOPHOMORE YOU THINK YOU KNOW IT ALL. BUT, WE ALL STOPPED AND LISTENED TO WHAT SHE SAID AND AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS LONG OVERDUE. AS COMMISSIONER CURTIS JOHNSON SAID I WISH WE COULD'VE GOT IT WHILE SHE WAS HERE BUT IT IS LONG OVERDUE AND I SUPPORT ANYTHING ANY DECISION THE COMMISSION MAKES. >> WHO WOULD LIKE TO THE MOTION? >> I WOULD MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION OF PARKS ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO APPROVE NORTH 14TH STREET, RENAMING RECOGNIZING LILLIAN P. OWENS. >> I WOULD SECOND. >> REFERENCE SCOPE? >> ALSO, THE DUAL NAME? >> DENOMINATION, DUAL NAMING OF 14 STREET FOR THE SAME PROXIMITY THAT WE DID ON 29TH STREET. >> SECOND? >> I STILL SECOND THE MOTION. >> MR. MIMS DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD? >> TRUTHFULLY I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE ACTUALLY TAKEN A LOOK AT THE GEOGRAPHIC SENSE BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE RENAMING THAT DUAL DESIGNATION WENT FROM BABY AVENUE M OR Q ALL THE WAY OUT TO ORANGE. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> I'M NOT SURE 14 STREET HAS THE SAME UNINTERRUPTED LENGTH. >> IT IS BROKEN UP. SO MY MOTION IS, WHATEVER THAT MILEAGE DISTANCE, WHATEVER IT IS WE LOOK AT A QUARTER MILE FOR THIS RENAMING. >> IS THAT OKAY WITH YOU? WE ARE ALL GOOD. WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE VOTING ON? CALL THE ROLL PLEASE. >> >> FOR CLARIFICATION THIS ITEM WILL COME BACK TO YOU IN THE FORM OF A RESOLUTION AND ALL OF THE DETAILS WOULD BE WORKED OUT [11. CONSENT AGENDA] IN THE REVOLUTION -- RESOLUTION. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT WE MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> ANY ITEM TO BE PULLED IF NOT MOTION TO APPROVE. >> MOVE FOR THE APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA. >> SECOND. >> CALL THE ROLL PLEASE. >> [a. Legislative Hearing - Ordinance 24-020 - An ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Fort Pierce, Florida, Establishing Chapter 125-Zoning, Article VII - Supplementary Regulations, Division 1 - Generally, Section 125-328 - Boardinghouses and Roominghouses; to regulate the standards of operation of Boardinghouses and Roominghouses; providing for a severability clause; repealing all ordinances or parts thereof in conflict; providing an effective date. - FIRST READING.] HEARING AND WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE 24-020 ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCE IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE ESTABLISHING 125 ZONING ARTICLE 7 SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS DIVISION ONE GENERALLY SECTION 125-328 BOARDING HOUSES AND ROOMING HOUSES TO REGULATE STANDARDS OF OPERATION OF HOUSING PROVIDED FOR SEVERABILITY CLAUSE REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES CONFLICT AND PROVIDING FOR EFFECTIVE DATE THIS IS THE FIRST READING. >> GOOD EVENING THAT AMERICAN COMMISSIONERS. WE HAVE A TEXT AMENDMENT TO ESTABLISH CITY CODE SECTION 125- 328 3284 BOARDING HOUSES AND ROOMING HOUSES I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THIS LEGISLATIVE HEARING IS SPECIFIC THE GUIDELINES AND REGULATION FOR BOARDING HOUSES AND ROOMING HOUSES. THERE ARE TWO OTHER TEXT AMENDMENTS BEFORE YOU AT A LATER DATE AND ONE IS FOR THE DEFINITION AND THE OTHER IS FOR ALLOWED USES. THIS IS A HOUSEKEEPING MATTER. THIS ITEM PROPOSES TO AMEND THE CODE INCLUDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE STANDARDS FOR BOARDING HOUSES IN THE CITY IN A MANNER WHICH PROTECTS AND PRESERVES HEALTH AND SAFETY AND APPEARANCE AND GENERAL WELFARE OF THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY. THIS ISSUE WAS PRESENTED TO CITY COMMISSION CONFERENCE ON 11 OCTOBER 2021. THE DIRECTION PROVIDED TO STAFF WAS TO MOVE [01:30:01] FORWARD WITH THE AMENDMENT TO THE CODE OF SUBSTANTIAL COMPONENTS OF THE AMENDMENT DISCUSSED AND APPROVED BY THE PLANNING BOARD AT THE SEPTEMBER 11 AT THE SEPTEMBER 11, 2023 MEETING, SINCE TIME ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS ARE PROPOSED IN RESPECT OF THE LIST OF DEFINITIONS AND PERMITTED USE TABLE SCHEDULED FOR CITY COMMISSION AUGUST AUGUST 2024, THE NEXT MEETING. THE PURPOSE OF THIS AMENDMENT TO ESTABLISH STANDARDS FOR BOARDING AND ROOMING HOUSES IN THE CITY IN A MANNER WHICH PROTECTS AND PRESERVES THE HEALTH, SAFETY APPEARANCE AND GENERAL WELFARE OF THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY. MEMO MAINTENANCE STANDARDS THE OWNER OF THE BOARDING OR ROOMING HOUSE SHALL NOT OCCUPY NOR LET ANOTHER FOR OCCUPANCY A BOARDINGHOUSE UNIT OR ROOMING HOUSE UNIT THAT IS NOT CLEAN, SANITARY, SAFE AND FIT FOR HUMAN HABITATION AS REQUIRED BY STANDARDS ESTABLISHED BY THE CITY CODE. COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE EACH UNIT IS PROVIDED WITH ITS OWN UTILITY CONNECTIONS, EVERY UNIT MUST HAVE OPERABLE WINDOW AND SECONDARY MEANS OF EMERGENCY EGRESS WITH NO COOKING IN ANY BOARDINGHOUSE UNIT OR ROOMING HOUSE, TRASH AND RECYCLING CONTAINERS PROVIDED AND MAINTAINED IN COMBINES WITH CITY CODE, HAVE LITTLE ROOMS ARE NOT, SELLER, GARAGE, CARPORT, SHED OR BASEMENT SPACE OR SIMILAR ACCESSORY STRUCTURE TO MAINTAIN THE EXTERIOR OF THE PREMISES TO PREVENT ACCUMULATION OF STAGNANT WATER ALL ANIMALS OR PETS MUST BE LICENSED AND PROVIDE FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES AND SYSTEMS. SPACE REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE AND HAVE A GROSS FLOOR AREA NOT LESS THAN 70 FT.÷ AND WHEN OCCUPIED BY MORE THAN ONE OCCUPANT ITCH OF A GROSS FLOOR AREA CALCULATED ON THE BASIS OF TOTAL HABITABLE ROOM AREA NOT LESS THAN 50 FT.÷ FOR EACH OCCUPANT WITH A MINIMUM WITH OF 8 FEET AND COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE ADOPTED INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE. ALSO ANY PORTION OF THE ROOM HAVING A CEILING HEIGHT LESS THAN THE MINIMUM SPECIFIED SHALL NOT BE INCLUDED IN COMPUTING THE TOTAL FLOOR AREA OF SUCH ROOM. MINIMUM PARKING STANDARDS ON MINIMUM PARKING FOR BOARDING HOUSES DEFINED WITHIN THE OFFSTREET PARKING STANDARDS OF THE CODE ROOMING HOUSES SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE SAME REQUIREMENTS NOT LISTED , IT IS LISTED IN THE CITY CODE AS ONE PARKING SPACE PER ROOM FOR YOUR REFERENCE. PARKING STANDARDS FOR BOARDINGHOUSE OR ROOMING HOUSE ESTABLISHMENTS MAY BE REDUCED BY 50% OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION STOPS ARE LOCATED WITHIN 1/4 MILE OF THE BOARDINGHOUSE OR ROOMING HOUSE. FOR PRE-EXISTING BOARDING HOUSES OR ROOMING THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO COMPLY IMMEDIATELY WITH ALL PROVISIONS OF THE SECTION TO INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO ENEMA MAINTENANCE STANDARDS, SPACE REQUIREMENTS AND PARKING. LEGAL, PRE-EXISTING BOARDING HOUSES AND ROOMING HOUSES SHALL COMPLY WITH FLORIDA BUILDING CODE AND WITH FIRE CODE IN EFFECT AT THE TIME OF CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY. PRE-EXISTING BOARDING AND ROOMING HOUSES WILL BE ALLOWED 24 MONTHS TO OBTAIN A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT. ENFORCEMENT, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICER CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND ANY CITY EMPLOYEES DESIGNATED BY CITY MANAGER SHALL ENFORCE THE ARTICLE WITH COMPLAINTS FILED USING ALL AVAILABLE AND ACCEPTABLE METHODS PROVISIONS MAY BE ENFORCED BY THE CITY AS A CIVIL VIOLATION PURSUANT CHAPTER 1, ARTICLE 2 ILLEGAL BOARDING HOUSES AND ROOMING HOUSES SHALL REQUIRE APPLICATION FOR CONDITIONAL USE TO BE MADE TO THE CITY PLANNING DEPARTMENT SUBJECT TO COMPLY WITH ALL APPLICABLE FLORIDA BUILDING AND FIRE CODES. IN ADDITION SUCH BOARDING AND ROOMING HOUSES MAY REQUIRE A CHANGE OF USE AND CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY UNDER PROVISIONS OF THE FLORIDA BUILDING CODE MADE THROUGH THE CITY OF BUILDING DEPARTMENTS. STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS APPROVAL WITH AMENDMENTS OR DENIAL, THANK YOU. >> QUESTIONS OF STAFF. >> I HAVE ONE MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR THIS. QUESTION. ARE THE BOARDING HOUSES EXISTING NO I'M LOOKING AND SEEING SEVERAL OF THEM. FOR THIS, HAS ANYBODY FROM THE CITY GONE OUT TO THOSE BOARDING HOUSES AND SAID YOU ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS CODE, YOU'RE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THAT CODE OR ANYTHING OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT ONCE THIS IS PASSED THEN WE ARE GOING TO SAY YOU ARE OUT OF THE CODE? THAT'S MY FIRST QUESTION. >> SO, I CAN SAY THERE HAVE BEEN VIOLATIONS WITH BOARDING ROOMING HOUSES IN THE PAST AND CODE ENFORCEMENT HAS CITED THEM. I CAN'T SAY IF SOME OF THIS COVERS IT, BUT THIS IS [01:35:04] MORE OF A HOUSEKEEPING ITEM FOR US. SO WE CAN HAVE SOME MORE TEETH WHEN IT COMES TO REGULATING. >> WAS THERE ANY CONSIDERATION FOR THE, THE TENANTS THAT ARE LIVING IN THESE HOUSES THAT , LET ME, HOW, HOW ARE WE GETTING COMPLAINTS? ARE THE TENANTS COMPLAINING OR SOMEONE IS CALLING IN? I AM CONCERNED, I AM FOR THIS AND I WISH YOU HAD MORE TEETH IN IT AS YOU SAID, BUT I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS BECAUSE I SEE COMPLAINTS COMING IN AND I SEE RESIDENTS BEING PUT OUT ON THE STREETS. FROM THESE COMPLAINTS. IT HAS HAPPENED, ME AND CITY MANAGER HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS ON OTHER THINGS SO IS THERE ANY THOUGHT OR PROTECTION FOR THE CURRENT TENANTS THAT ARE IN THESE SITUATIONS BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE LANDLORDS DO NOT LIVE HERE, A LOT OF THESE LANDLORDS DON'T LIVE HERE SO I AM TRYING TO SEE IF WE CAN PROTECT RESIDENTS WHO WE ARE TRYING TO PROTECT WHEN THEY GET PUT OUT. >> AS FAR AS PLACEMENT OF HOUSING , NO, BUT THIS WOULD PROTECT IN A MATTER OF THE ROOMING HOUSE OR BOARDINGHOUSE BEING HABITABLE. WE DO HAVE COMPLAINTS FROM TENANTS, AS WELL AS PEOPLE IN THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS CONDITION OF THE ROOMING HOUSE. >> RIGHT, SO IT WOULD GET THE COMPLAINT, TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE COMPLAINT CAME FROM AND THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO FIX THE ROOM OR THE SECTION THAT WAS COMPLAINED ABOUT, BUT THE PERSON THAT COMPLAINED IS NOW OUT ON THE STREETS. I KNOW WE ARE NOT IN THAT BUSINESS, BUT I'M JUST, I AM ENVISIONING WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN WE PUT THE TEETH IN AND IT'S THE RESIDENT , I COULD PROBABLY NAME FOR FIVE BOARDING HOUSES NOW AND IT'S GOING TO BE THOSE RESIDENTS THAT NOW WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT OUT ON THE STREETS. I HAVE FOR THIS BUT IF WE ARE THINKING AHEAD, THIS IS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. I DON'T WANT UNSAFE PROPERTIES, THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYING, BUT I KNOW WHAT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN SO I WONDERED IF WE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT OR STARTED PLANNING FOR THAT. THAT'S MY QUESTION. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A ANSWER THAT'S FINE, I'M PUTTING IT ON THE RECORD TO THE COMMISSION. WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THIS COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN TO RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. >> DURING STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION, WE BASICALLY NOTIFIED CITY COMMISSION THAT ONE OF OUR HIGHEST RATED OR ONE OF THE MOST I GUESS FRIVOLOUS COMPLAINTS WE RECEIVED IS ABOUT THE CONDITION OF RENTAL UNITS AND MANY RESIDENTS ARE LIVING IN STANDARDS THAT ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. SOME RESIDENTS ARE LIVING IN HOMES AND LIVING IN STRUCTURES THAT DO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE UTILITIES. THAT DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE OR SAVE STRUCTURAL CAPACITY. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE MINIMUM LIVING STANDARDS. THIS IS THE FIRST STEP, THE BOARDING HOUSES. WHERE THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND BUILDING DIRECTOR WORKING ON MINIMUM HOUSING STANDARDS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY. IT IS OUR JOB TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS. IT IS TOO BAD IF THE LANDLORD DOES NOT HAVE A MINIMUM STRUCTURAL FACILITY THAT PROVIDES A SAFE HAVEN FOR ITS TENANTS, THAT'S NOT GOOD AND WE SHOULD NOT STAND FOR THAT. WE NEED TO ESTABLISH MINIMUM HOUSING STANDARDS. >> YOU KNOW ME AND YOU HAVE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS ON THIS AND WE VISITED HOUSES AND APARTMENTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE IN OUR CITY THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED AT. UNDERSTAND. I'M NOT SAYING WE DON'T NEED TO PROTECT RESIDENTS. I JUST KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE FROM THE EMAILS I HAVE SENT YOU, FROM EXPERIENCE THAT INSTEAD OF FIXING THE HOUSE, THEY WOULD KICK OUT THE TENANTS. INSTEAD OF FIXING THE BOARDING HOUSE THAT WILL KICK TENANTS OUT. WE ALREADY HAVE ON THIS PROBLEM IN THE CITY. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN FIX THIS, I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO FIX THIS, I'M PUTTING THIS OUT BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. I WISH WE COULD GO IN AND WHEN THE LANDLORDS DON'T DO THIS, YOU KNOW I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THAT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THE CITY MANAGER LOOKING AT ME, BUT ME PERSONALLY I WISH THIS HAD MORE TEETH BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME PROPERTIES AROUND IN FORT PIERCE . IF ANY OF YOU GUYS SAW THE LIVING CONDITIONS THAT OUR [01:40:05] RESIDENTS ARE LIVING IN, I HAVE SENT THE CITY MANAGER PICTURES AND I KNOW WHERE IT'S COMING FROM, BUT SOME OF THE SAME PEOPLE THAT WE TRY TO HELP WERE KICKED OUT. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED AND NOW THEY ARE OUT SLEEPING IN CARS OR WHATEVER. I'M FOR THIS , I CAN'T TALK TO YOU INDIVIDUALLY SO I WANT US TO THINK THIS IS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. I LOVE THIS, BUT WE'VE GOT TO BE PREPARED FOR WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE WE DO HAVE LANDLORDS IN HERE THAT DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE TENANTS. ALL THEY CARE ABOUT IS THEIR CHECK WITH A LITTLE MONEY THEY ARE GETTING FROM WHATEVER AGENCY THAT'S PAYING THEM TO BE THERE. I SAID IT SO YOU KNOW MY EMAIL, EMAIL ME AND I WILL CALL YOU OUT WHEN YOU EMAIL ME. >> COMMISSIONER, I HEAR YOU, BUT THE SAME INDIVIDUALS WHO ON THE PROPERTIES , IF THEY ARE REVENUE DRIVEN WHY WOULD THEY KICK AWAY THE REVENUE SOURCE AND NOT JUST FIX THE PROBLEM SO THEY HAVE CHECKS COMING BACK IN? >> YOU WANT TO ENTER THAT? THEY WILL GO GET ANOTHER TENANT AND TELL THE TENANT YOU BETTER NOT SAY ANYTHING IF YOU WANT TO STAY HERE. THAT'S HOW IT IS. I'M JUST BEING HONEST WITH YOU. THAT'S HOW IT IS. THEY WON'T LOSE ANY MONEY, IT WILL GET THAT TENANT OUT AND TELL THE OTHER THE REASON I PUT IT OUT AS THEY CALLED CODE ENFORCEMENT AND THEY'RE MAKING TROUBLE SO IF YOU WANT TO STAY HERE, STAY HERE PAY MY CHECK AND BE QUIET. >> THE OTHER QUESTIONS I'VE GOT. ARE SPECIFICALLY MAYBE EVEN TO MISS EDGES. YOU USE THE TERM FLORIDA BUILDING CODE , YOU WERE VERY DEFINED IN THAT, BUT THEN A LITTLE MORE LOOSE IN FIRE CODE. THERE ARE A COUPLE LAYERS OF FIRE CODE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE WE WE ARE DRAFTING AN ORDINANCE THAT COVERS ALL TODAY AND FUTURE FIRE CODE APPLICATIONS BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE FIRE DISTRICT THAT WILL USE THE NATIONAL FIRE PREVENTION ASSOCIATION CODEBOOK SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE NOMENCLATURE THAT'S VERY BROAD WHICH I AM IN FAVOR OF. DID YOU CONSIDER THAT IN YOUR DRAFT? >> I WOULD HAVE TO DEFER THAT. >> I WAS GOING TO ASK A LEGAL QUESTION ANYWAY, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE CODE ELEMENTS. >> THIS WAS DRAFTED BY THE PLANNING DIRECTOR , MR. GILMORE STEPPED IN TO PRESENT IT. IF THE CONCERN IS RELATED TO ANY AMENDMENT THAT MAY COME OR APPLICABLE FIRE CODE WE COULD AMEND THE ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE LANGUAGE THAT WOULD RESOLVE ANY CONCERNS YOU HAVE. >> YEAH, GOING THROUGH ORDINANCE PROCEDURES, A COUPLE PUBLIC HEARING SOMEONE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A BROAD STROKE AT THE LANGUAGE IN HERE. I'M OKAY WITH THAT. I JUST WANTED TO ASK THE QUESTION. IT BECAME APPARENT THE FIRE CODE WAS SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED A COUPLE TIMES. >> THAT WOULD BE A VERY MINIMAL CHANGE BUT I CAN ADD THOSE CHANGES. >> IF THERE ARE ANY. THEY MAY NOT NEED CHANGES BECAUSE THERE ARE DIFFERENT FIRE CODES. >> THE ORDINANCES FIRE CODE IN EFFECT AT THE TIME CERTIFICATE OF USE WAS ISSUED. IT IS UNDER SECTION E . 125-328 . >> VERY GOOD. LET'S SEE WHAT WAS THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD? IT WAS IN YOUR PRESENTATION. I'M SORRY, FLIP TO THE ORDINANCE. IT WAS SPECIFIC TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE PREMISES, THAT'S WHAT IT WAS. YOU GOT VERY SPECIFIC WITH A BULLET POINT OF MENTIONING EXTERIOR TO PREVENT ACCUMULATION OF STAGNANT WATER. I AGREE WITH THAT. IT SEEMS LIKE WE SHOULD MAINTAIN THE EXTERIOR. DO WE HAVE OTHER ELEMENTS OUTSIDE OF INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE REFERENCED IN LINE NUMBER ONE? IS THAT ALL-INCLUSIVE OF EXTERIOR MAINTENANCE INCLUDING THE YARDS, SHEDS AND FENCING? >> NOT ONLY THAT, WE ALSO HAVE OTHER CODE SECTIONS FOR ALL PROPERTIES IN THE CITY THEY WOULD HAVE TO ADHERE TO. >> IT CAUGHT ME THE THIRD FROM THE BOTTOM MAINTAIN EXPERIENCE TO MAINTAIN OR PREVENT STILL WATER. I WOULD AGREE. THE MOSQUITO CONTROL DISTRICT , WE ARE PART OF THAT EQUATION. I DID NOT KNOW IF WE WANTED TO ENHANCE THAT A LITTLE BIT TO MAYBE REACH THOSE OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE GOVERNING AGENCIES. THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL. THAT'S ALL, THANK [01:45:05] YOU. >> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK. >> GOING TO ADDRESS COMMISSIONER GAINES COMMENT. A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION OF ECONOMICS BEING A LANDLORD BY PROFESSION WE ARE NOT IN THIS PART OF THE BUSINESS , BUT IT'S JUST ECONOMICS. WHAT MAKES THE MOST SENSE IS TO CLEAR OUT THE BUILDING. DO THE RENOVATIONS NECESSARY AND THEN RENT FOR A HIGHER RENTAL VALUE. SIMPLE AS THAT SO THE TURNOVER IS INEVITABLE AND IT'S ALL DOLLAR MOTIVATED. THAT'S HOW THE EQUATION WORKS. >> COMMISSIONER CURTIS JOHNSON. >> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. WE WENT AWAY FROM BUSINESS TAX, I FORGET WHAT WE CALL IT, REGISTRATION PROCESS, CERTIFICATE OF USE. IS THERE DATA IN THE DATABASE TO SHOW US WITH THE CURRENT BOARDING ROOM AND HOUSE REGISTRATION IS? ON BUSINESS TAX OR CERTIFICATE? >> THEY WERE NEVER REQUIRED TO HAVE A BUSINESS TAX RECEIPT NOR CERTIFICATE OF USE. >> WHAT THIS BRING INTO EFFECT ARE WE LOOKING NOW TO BRING IT UNDER SOME UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S OPERATING AS A ROOMING HOUSE OR BOARDINGHOUSE? >> NO SIR, RENTAL PROPERTIES ARE NOT CURRENTLY REGULATED IN THAT MANNER BY THE CITY. BASICALLY, THE ROOMING HOUSES AND BOARDING HOUSES , THEY ARE NOT TRANSIENT RENTALS. SO THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED, THEY DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A BUSINESS TAX BEFORE, THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF USE NOW. BASICALLY THEIR RENTAL PROPERTIES LIKE ANY OTHER PERSON WHO WOULD RENT THEIR PROPERTY GREATER THAN SIX MONTHS. >> I KNOW THIS IS THE BEGINNING, THERE IS STUFF COMING DOWN WHERE WE STARTED TO LOOK AT PROPER ZONING, WHERE THESE THINGS ARE. I THINK THAT WOULD BE A CONCERN I HAVE. THE WHOLE PREMISE OF THIS IS TO TRY TO PROVIDE SOME TYPE OF STANDARD FOR SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT I KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY. AND I CANNOT SIT UP HERE AND ALLOW CERTAIN THINGS AND PEOPLE TO BE PUT IN POSITIONS THAT JEOPARDIZE AND THEN WE FIND FAULTY WIRING ISSUES OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE AND THAT MAY LEAD TO TRAGEDY. WE HAVE A CHALLENGE IN OUR CITY NOW WITH HOUSING PEOPLE, I GET THAT. I HEAR THE STORIES OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING TO SURVIVE IN OUR CITY. ALSO WITH THAT, WE ARE REGULATED TO MAKE SURE WE PROVIDE SOME SAFETY CODES AND SAFE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS NOT TO BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF OR BULLIED. I THINK WE WANT TO WORK THROUGH THE PROCESS. IT IS ONE WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE MECHANISMS IN PLACE AND PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW TO REPORT STUFF. COMMISSIONER BRODERIK YOU ARE RIGHT. MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE WILL BE A NUMBER OF ROOMING HOUSES THAT WILL NOT BE UP TO FIRE CODE AND BUILDING CODES. AND THAT LANDOWNER OR HOMEOWNER IS NOT GOING TO WANT TO INVEST BECAUSE THAT WILL COST MONEY. AND IF THEY PUT THE PEOPLE OUT THAT WILL CUT OFF THAT REVENUE SOURCE UNTIL THEY GET IT FIXED. SO EVERYBODY IS IN A CONUNDRUM. THEY ARE GOING TO LOSE MONEY BECAUSE THEY PUT THEM OUT THERE WILL STOPPING AND PEOPLE LIVING THERE NEED A PLACE TO LIVE AND THEY WON'T HAVE THAT AND OTHER PEOPLE JACK UP THE RATES OF THEIR UNITS UNTIL THEN. SO WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT AND MOVE IN A DIRECTION THAT WILL PROVIDE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE MOST EGREGIOUS OF PEOPLE THAT REALLY HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY. WE SEE THOSE AND REHEAR THOSE HORROR STORIES. THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO TO DO THAT AND THIS HELPS US MOVE IN A DIRECTION THAT WILL HELP US TO DO THAT AND ADDRESS THAT. SO, AGAIN LIKE ANYTHING WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT GROWTH IN THE CITY, THERE WILL BE GROWING PAINS AND THIS WILL BE A GROWING PAIN SITUATION. WE NEED TO WORK ALONG WITH THE COMMUNITY. I GET THOSE CALLS FROM PEOPLE IN THE SITUATION AND LIVING CONDITIONS SO YOU KNOW I AM IN SUPPORT OF THIS BUT I KNOW THAT WILL MAKE SURE TO BRING THE PUBLIC LONG, AS WELL SO THANK YOU. >> ONE QUICK QUESTION. MME. MAYOR, TO YOU OR THE CITY ATTORNEY, CITY CLERK. BASED ON SOMETHING COMMISSIONER JOHNSON JUST SAID. SO WE CANNOT REGULATE BOARDING HOUSES OR ROOMING HOUSES IN OUR CITY? [01:50:04] BECAUSE YOU SAID NO BUSINESS TAX, THERE IS NO BUSINESS TAX, NO CERTIFICATE OF USE THAT WE ARE DOING, THEY DO NOT FALL UNDER THAT. SO. >> THEY FALL UNDER THE BUILDING CODE. >> UNDERSTAND THE BUILDING CODE , BUT HOW DO WE KNOW. I GUESS MY QUESTION IS IF THEY DON'T DO CERTIFICATE OF USE HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE A BOARDINGHOUSE OR ROOMING HOUSE? >> WE DON'T. >> MAY I? SO PUTTING THIS TEXT AMENDMENT IN PLACE WILL FORM THAT. THEY LOVE TO DO CONDITIONAL USE. AND WHEN THEY COME UP WITH CONDITIONAL USE WE WILL HAVE IT ON FILE. IT WILL BE ROUTED TO OTHER REVIEW AGENCIES, THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT WHICH MAY REQUIRE CHANGE OF USE SO WE WILL HAVE ON FILE EVERY SINGLE ROOMING HOUSE AND BOARDING HOUSE IN THE CITY. AND WE ARE GIVING THEM 24 MONTHS OR TWO YEARS TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE. >> SO THIS IS GOING TO FORCE THEM TO TELL YOU GUYS OR TELL US THAT WE ARE OPERATING A ROOMING OR BOARDINGHOUSE AND ONCE THEY DO THAT WE GO. >> CORRECT. GO THROUGH THE PROCESS GET INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE BUILDING CODE, WITH THE CITY CODE AND YOU SHOULD BE GOOD. IF YOU DON'T THEY CAN NO LONGER EXIST. >> THAT'S WHERE I'M GOING. I LOVE THAT IDEA. THEY COME IN AND THEY WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING. IS THERE SOMETHING IN HERE I DID NOT READ OR DO WE GO TO BUILDING CODE OR SOME OTHER CODE THAT FOR THE ONES WHO SAY LET THEM CATCH ME, YOU KNOW I'M TELLING THE TRUTH. LET THEM CATCH ME. WHAT PROTECTIONS , WHAT'S THE PROCEDURE THAT THAT 24 MONTHS ARE GONE AND THEY HAVE STILL NOT NOTIFIED THE CITY OR TOLD ANYBODY THIS IS WHAT THEY ARE DOING. WHERE TO GO FROM THERE OR IS THAT COMING DOWN THE ROAD IN ANOTHER MEETING? >> CODE ENFORCEMENT. >> LIKE YOU GO LOOK FOR THE UNREGISTERED AIRBNB AND OTHER. I AM THINKING THAT'S EXACTLY. WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY , COMMISSIONER GAINES, TO ADDRESS YOUR CONCERN, THE CITY IS MAKING AN ALL-OUT EFFORT THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO LIVE IN SOMETHING THAT'S BASIC HUMAN DECENCY, HOUSING. NOBODY HAS TO REPORT THAT BECAUSE THIS EFFORT , IT DOES NOT HAVE TO MAKE A VULNERABLE PERSON, RIGHT? THE WAY THIS WILL WORK IT DOES NOT HAVE TO. >> I AM IN AGREEMENT FROM THE LAST CONVERSATION WHERE HE SAID NOW THEY HAVE TO APPLY FOR THIS AND THIS. NOW WE KNOW, I'M GOOD. >> WE HAD TO GET THERE, I AGREE. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING FROM ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE PLEASE COME FORWARD. YOU CAN SIT DOWN IF YOU WANT TO IF THAT'S MORE COMFORTABLE. >> AGENDA AND WHEN WE WERE GOING TO THE BED AND BREAKFAST AND I'M GLAD YOU SAID NOT BRING THE DEFINITIONS. I WAS LOOKING FOR THE DIFFERENCE AND TO KEEP IN MIND MOVING FORWARD THIS IS THE WAY YOU HAVE IT DEFINED NOW IS VERY CLOSE TO A BED AND BREAKFAST SO NEED TO DEFINE THAT AND MAYBE LOOK HOW YOU WILL DEFINE BED AND BREAKFAST SO KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN YOU DO ROOMING AND BOARDING. GRANTED BED AND BREAKFAST IS MORE OF A TRANSIENT AND TO ANSWER THE QUESTION THE STATE DOES NOT REQUIRE ROOMING HOUSES TO BE LICENSED WHERE A BED AND BREAKFAST US . THE ROOMING HOUSE AND THEY ALSO SAY OUR DEFINITION CURRENTLY HAS NO MORE THAN NINE PERSONS WHEN IT SHOULD BE FOUR UNITS I BELIEVE IS THE DIFFERENCE IN THE DEFINITION. AS FAR AS THE FIRE THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT IS BIG, WE WENT TO THE DIFFERENCE OF HAVING WE LOOKED AT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ROOMING HOUSES AND TRYING TO GET AROUND OR THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT BECAUSE WE HAD TO PUT ANY SPEAKER SYSTEM AND WE WENT FROM ONE AND TALKED TO THE FIRE CODE AND YOU ARE ESTABLISHING THIS TO FIGURE OUT TO SAY WE HAD A [01:55:02] GO BETWEEN 13 R AND D UNIT THAT WAS DIFFERENT AND THEY CANNOT COME TOGETHER ON WHAT WAS NEEDED BECAUSE IT WAS THE FIRST IN THE AREA AND THERE WERE QUESTIONS ON HOW TO MOVE FORWARD AND WHAT WAS THE RIGHT FIRE SYSTEM TO PUT IN. WE WENT THROUGH EVERYTHING, WENT FORWARD AND GOT SENT BACK WE NEEDED A BIGGER BACKFLOW PREVENTER GREASE TRAP HAVE A DISHWASHER. SO THESE ROOMING HOUSES MAY NOT HAVE THE FACILITIES , BUT THAT WAS A $100,000 IMPROVEMENT NOT DISCUSSED ANYWAY. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THESE IMPROVEMENTS SOME OF THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AND HOW THIS WILL BE PUT TOGETHER MOVING FORWARD TO MAKE THESE IMPROVEMENTS ARE WHAT THEY ARE LIABLE FOR. AND SAME THING THEY SERVE FOOD THEY HAVE TO BE LICENSED BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA HOTEL OR FOOD AND BEVERAGE SO THAT'S THE OTHER THING IF THE ROOMING HOUSES SERVE FOOD OR NOT BUT THAT'S WHERE IT IS SPLITTING HAIRS WITH BED AND BREAKFAST WHERE DEFINITION CURRENTLY CAN KIND OF TEETER TOTTER BETWEEN THE BED AND BREAKFAST AND ROOMING AND BOARDING HOUSE SO SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND TO DO THEM AND LOOK AT THE GREASE TRAP, REQUIREMENTS, FIRE REQUIREMENTS MOVING FORWARD. ALSO, SPELLED OUT IN A LOT OF THE ORDINANCE EXCEPT ONE SECTION WHERE YOU USED THE LETTERS AND DID NOT SPELL IT OUT. IF THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE OR NOT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE PLEASE COME FORWARD. WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND COME BACK TO THE COMMISSION FOR DISCUSSION OR MOTION. >> ANOTHER COMMENT. IRONING OUT SOME OF THE FIRE CODE. THE FIRE CODES WERE UPDATED THIS PAST YEAR. SO WE HAVE TO DIAL IN ON WHAT THAT CODE IS REFERENCING. I BELIEVE THE FIRE DISTRICT USES THE NATIONAL FIRE PREVENTION ASSOCIATION CODE OF ORDINANCES. THE OTHER ONE IS EGRESS BULLET POINT NUMBER THREE. WE SHOULD PROBABLY DEFINE THAT AND MATCH WHAT FLORIDA BUILDING CODE IS. IT IS VERY SPECIFIC IS ANOTHER THOUGHT. THAT JUST HIT ME AS WE WERE LISTENING TO THE SPEAKER. THAT'S ANOTHER IMPORTANT ASPECT. SO WE CAN DEFINE THAT BECAUSE IT'S VERY SPECIFIC. >> OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE? IS THERE A MOTION? >> I MOVE THAT WE PROVE ORDINANCE 24-020. >> SECOND. >> COMMENT BEFORE THE VOTE. COMMISSIONER JOHNSON DO YOU WANT , IN YOUR MOTION TO MAKE A STATEMENT TO SAY WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE CHANGES YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE WITH THE EGRESS AND ALL THAT OR JUST APPROVE IT LIKE YOU JUST DID? >> I CAN CHANGE IT, BUT WE MADE COMMENTS AND WE LOVE A SECOND READING SO I'M SURE IT WILL BE ADDRESSED. >> YOU HAVE MADE NOTES. >> YES I HAVE MADE NOTES. >> WE GOT COMMENTS AND MADE NOTES. >> READY TO VOTE? CALL THE ROLL PLEASE. >> [b. Legislative Hearing - Ordinance 24-021 - An Ordinance by the City Commission of the City of Fort Pierce, Florida; Amending the Future Land Use Map of the Comprehensive Plan to change the designation of one (1) parcel generally located at or near 515 South 2nd Street, from City of Fort Pierce (OP) Offices-Professional and Business Services to City of Fort Pierce (CBD) Central Business District; providing for a severability clause; providing for repeal of ordinances or parts thereof in conflict herewith; and providing for an effective date. Subject Parcel: 2410-810-0002-000-6. - SECOND READING] NUMBER 24-021 . ORDINANCE BY CITY COMMISSION OF FORT PIERCE AMENDING THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP CONFERENCE A PLAN TO CHANGE THE DESIGNATION OF ONE PARCEL LOCATED AT OR NEAR 515 SOUTH SECOND STREET FROM OFFICES PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS SERVICES TO CITY OF FORT PIERCE CBD CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT PROVIDING SEVERABILITY CLAUSE FOR A PILLOW OF ORDINANCE DUE TO CONFLICT AND PROVIDING FOR EFFECTIVE DATE. THIS IS THE SECOND READING. >> ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE PLEASE COME FORWARD. WITH NO MOVEMENT I WILL BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION FOR A MOTION. >> I MOVE APPROVAL ORDINANCE 24-021. >> SECOND. >> CALL THE ROLL PLEASE. >> [c. Legislative Hearing - Ordinance 24-022: Review and approval of a Voluntary Annexation by owner 69 Delray LLC, to extend the territorial limits of the City of Fort Pierce, Florida, to include one (1) parcel at or near the intersection of W. Midway Road and Oleander Avenue. The proposed Future Land Use designation for the subject property is RH, High Density Residential, with a proposed Zoning designation of R-5, High Density Residential. Parcel ID: 3403-233-0002-000-6. FIRST READING] ORDINANCE EXTENDING THE TERRITORIAL LIMITS OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE TO INCLUDE ONE PARCEL AT OR NEAR THE CORNER OF WEST MIDWAY ROAD AND SHOWN ON EXHIBIT A , DIRECTING PROPERTY APPRAISER TO ASSESS POVERTY AND PLACE ON CITY TAX ROLES AS OF [02:00:07] JANUARY 1, 2025 DIRECTING THE TAX COLLECTOR TO COLLECT TAXES ON THE DESCRIBED PROPERTY ESTABLISHING FORT PIERCE ZONING DESIGNATION OF HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL ESTABLISHING FORT PIERCE LAND USE DESIGNATION HIGH RESIDENTIAL USE DIRECT AND FILING ORDINANCE WITH CLERK OF CIRCUIT COURT AND CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR OFFICER. REVISION A COUNTER -- TO SUBMIT TO THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH. PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY CLAUSE REPEALING ORDINANCE OR PARTS IN CONFLICT WITH AND PROVIDING FOR EFFECTIVE DATE. THIS IS THE FIRST READING. >> PROCEED. >> THANK YOU, GOOD EVENING. TODAY BEFORE YOU WE HAVE AN ANNEXATION AT 169 DELRAY ANNEXATION. THE APPLICANT IS NAME ] OF MVB ENGINEERING. 340323300020006 . IN SUMMARY, A REQUEST TO REVIEW A VOLUNTARY APPLICATION FOR ANNEXATION OF ONE PARCEL OF LAND AT OR NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF WEST MIDWAY ROAD AND OLEANDER AVENUE. THE APPLICANT REQUESTING VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION OF THEIR PARCEL, ONE PARCEL SUBJECT PROPERTY HAS ST. LUCIE COUNTY FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION A PUBLIC FACILITY AND THE ST. LUCIE COUNTY ZONING DESIGNATION OF INSTITUTIONAL. THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING A CITY FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION OF RESIDENTIAL HIGH ALLOWING 12 TO 18 DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE. WITH ZONING CLASSIFICATION OF HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL R5. HERE IS AN AREA OF YOU OF THE SITE LOCATION APPROXIMATELY 1.95 ACRES. ) PURSUANT TO THE CONFERENCE A PLAN, 1.11.5 PROPERTY ANNEX SHOULD RECEIVE DESIGNATION COMPATIBLE WITH COUNTY LAND USE DESIGNATION UNLESS OTHERWISE APPROVED BY CITY COMMISSION. STAFF HAS CONFIRMED THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED WITHIN UNINCORPORATED ST. LUCIE COUNTY AND CONTINUED TO THE FORT PIERCE MUNICIPAL BOUNDARY AND WITHIN THE SERVICE AREA. FURTHERMORE PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 171.046 , SUBSECTION 1 FLORIDA STATUTE OR AS THE LEGISLATURE RECOGNIZES ENCLAVES CAN CREATE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS IN PLANNING, GROWTH MANAGEMENT AND SERVICE DELIVERY THEREFORE IT IS A POLICY OF THE STATE TO ELIMINATE ENCLAVES. CURRENT VALUE OF THE PROPERTY IS 284,000. PRE-EXISTING FUTURE LAND USE PUBLIC FACILITIES. PF , AS YOU CAN SEE. SHOWING THE PROPERTY AS IT STANDS SURROUNDED BY CITY, CITY PROPERTIES. THE FEATURED LAND USE PROPOSED WOULD BE RH RESIDENTIAL HIGH. EXISTING ZONING INSTITUTIONAL. HERE IS THE PROPOSED ZONING MAP SHOWING IF APPROVED RESIDENTIAL HIGH R5 DENSITY IT WOULD ALIGN WITH THE SURROUNDING PROPERTIES IN THE CITY. AT THE JUNE 10 MEETING THE PLANNING BOARD VOTERS UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE THE ANNEXATIONS OF THE STAFF RECOMMENDS FOR CITY COMMISSION TO APPROVE THE SUBMITTED APPLICATION FOR ANNEXATION. ALTERNATE RECOGNITION WOULD BE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS OR RECOMMEND DISAPPROVAL. THANK YOU. >> HOW DO YOU ACCESS THE PROPERTY? >> YES MA'AM. WE CAN SEE HERE THE ARROW RIGHT HERE. THIS PRETTY IS OWNED BY THE APPLICANT. SO THERE IS A PROPOSAL AND I'M SURE THE EPIC IS HERE TO EXPOUND. ONCE ANNEXED, THESE LOTS WILL BE COMBINED AND ACCESS WILL BE OFF MIDWAY. >> SO THEY DON'T ON THE ONE AND THE FRONT ON MIDWAY ROAD THAT IS DUE SOUTH. >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> THEY DO NOT OWN THIS, CORRECT. >> OKAY QUESTIONS OF STAFF. >> WHAT IS THE CLEARED AREA TO THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE PROPERTY? IS THERE AN EASEMENT? LOOKS LIKE ACCESS OF SOME SORT. [02:05:02] ANYBODY KNOW? SEE THE CLEARING JUST TO THE RIGHT OF THE ARROW. >> MY RIDE? >> THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE YELLOW SQUARE. >> THE CLEARED AREA. >> OH, THIS RIGHT HERE. >> ALL THE WAY TO MIDWAY. >> HONESTLY I'M NOT SURE. THE APPLICANT IS HERE TO EXPOUND. I DO KNOW THEY OWN THIS PROPERTY RIGHT HERE. SO IF THAT IS THE EASEMENT I AM NOT AWARE. >> CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE ZONING MAP , THE CITY ZONING BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS IS SURROUNDED BY R5 ONE PARCEL THE APPLICANT OWNS AND R 1 LOW INTENSITY USE TO THE WEST INSIDE. >> THAT IS CORRECT. >> OKAY. I WILL ASK THE APPLICANT MY QUESTIONS. >> OTHER QUESTIONS OF STAFF? IS THE APPLICANT HERE? PLEASE COME FORWARD. >> MADAME COMMISSIONERS I AM REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT. >> ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> DID YOU HEAR KRISHNA JOHNSON? >> THE CLEARED AREA IS A CANAL. IT IS A DITCH AND I DON'T RECALL IF IT IS AN EASEMENT BUT IT IS A DITCH GOING FROM A CANAL ON THE NORTHERN PART OF THE PROPERTY THAT IS EASEMENT AND THERE IS A CONNECTION THAT GOES UNDERNEATH MIDWAY ROAD. THAT IS A CANAL. >> YOUR LEGAL DESCRIPTION WILL SHOW OWN TO MAINTAIN BY ST. LUCIE COUNTY? >> I THINK THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS AS TO WHO MAINTAINS. I AM RELATIVELY NEW ON THE PROJECT, BUT LOOKING THROUGH PAST HISTORY THERE WERE SOME THINGS TO BE LOOKED INTO. I DO KNOW IT IS AN ACTUAL DRAINAGE FEATURE. >> THE NEXT QUESTION IN SOME OF THE RESEARCH, I KNOW THIS SEEMS LIKE A SIMPLE APPLICATION BUT GOT REALLY COMPLETED REALLY QUICKLY AND IT WAS PUBLIC FACILITIES AND ZONING DESIGNATION WAS INSTITUTIONAL POSSIBLY IN THE COUNTY? HERE WE GO TO A VERY HIGH INTENSE USE OF HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL WHICH MATCHES YOUR PARTIAL IT'S JUST THE ABUTTING PARCELS ARE VERY LOW. INTENSITY OF USE IN ARE ONE VERSUS R5. TYPICALLY OUR ZONING SHOWS A PATTERN GOING FROM REDUCED INTENSITY UP TO THE HIGHER INTENSITY NOT SIDE-BY-SIDE. SO IS THERE A PLAN FOR FUTURE BUFFERING. I KNOW WE TALK ABOUT ANNEXATION BUT AFTER PROJECT INTO THE FUTURE BECAUSE YOU ARE ASKING FOR A VERY SPECIFIC R5 ZONING AND I NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHY. >> SURE. THE APPLICANT DOES ON THE PROPERTY TO THE EAST AND THE ZONE R5 SO THE IDEA IS TO HAVE A SITE PLAN FOR A MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT. THIS IS THE FIRST STEP TO ANNEX THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY. OVERALL AND DOING UNITY OF TITLE AFTER THE ANNEXATION GOES THROUGH. SO THERE GOES TO CREATE A SITE PLAN FOR MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENT AND THAT'S THE NEED FOR THE R5 ZONING TO MATCH THE ADJACENT ON THE PROPERTY. >> THAT MAKES SENSE. ON PAPER IT MAKES SENSE AND LOOKING AT THE AERIAL MAP THAT IS A HEAVILY WOODED LOCATION ADJACENT TO THE CITY. IT IS AN ENCLAVE TODAY IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN OF SWORDS WHICH WE ARE DISCOURAGED FROM EVER DOING. PROPER PLANNING IS TO GET RID OF THAT. LOOKING AT IT OVERALL WITH NO COST TO ANNEX AND TRANSITION THE ZONING. OR AT LEAST CONVERT IT OVER , IS THAT THE REPORT, DID I READ AND LISTEN TO THAT ACCURATELY? THE TRANSFER TO THE CITY AND ONCE IT TRANSFERS IT IS CHANGING ITS FINAL DESIGNATION? >> THAT WOULD BE CORRECT, TO R5. >> OKAY YOU KNOW IT BECOMES A CHALLENGE . AS YOU ALL KNOW WHEN YOU GET INTO THE POLITICAL REALM COMING IN FROM THE COMMISSION WITH A SITE PLAN APPLICATION AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAVE HEAVY INTENSE USE NEXT TO SINGLE-FAMILY HOME FOR EXAMPLE. NOT THE CASE TODAY, JUST LOOKING IN TO AVOIDING CHALLENGING SITUATIONS OR PITFALLS. >> UNDERSTAND, IT WILL COME BACK IN FRONT OF YOU FOR SITE PLAN. SO THIS IS A GREAT [02:10:01] OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THAT SO, THIS IS JUST ANNEXATION TO BRING THE PROJECT TO A HEAD AND THEN WE MOVE FORWARD AND COME BEFORE YOU AGAIN DURING DEVELOPMENT. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT. THIS IS A HISTORIC PART OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY SLOWLY TRANSITIONING INTO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS FEATURE, THANK YOU. >> SO THAT IS NELSON'S ACROSS THE STREET? NELSON'S RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM IT? SO, THAT IS A VERY BUSY CORNER ALREADY. AND THAT IS KIND OF TURNING , SO THE PLAN IS A MULTIFAMILY HOMES? BOTH PARCELS. >> RIGHT, IT IS THREE PARCELS, THEY ALSO OWN C 2. >> OKAY. >> WAS THAT PARCEL UNDER CONSIDERATION FROM THIS COMMISSION A FEW YEARS AGO AND WASN'T DEVELOPED OR IS IT VACANT? >> IT HAS A BUILDING ON IT BACK TO BEING TORN DOWN CURRENTLY. ACTIVELY BEING TORN DOWN. >> OKAY THANK YOU. >> OTHER QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT? COMMISSIONER GAINES ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE PLEASE COME FORWARD. SEEING KNOW AND I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND COME BACK TO THE COMMISSION. AS THEIR DISCUSSION OR EMOTION? >> I WILL SHARE WITH THE COMMISSION. THIS ITEM WAS NOT BROUGHT BEFORE ME, BUT I WAS LITERALLY 1/4 MILE AWAY FROM HERE WITH RESIDENTS OF THE CITY AND COUNTY IN A JOINT MEETING WITH ONE OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. WE HAD A NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT DEVELOPMENT ALONG THIS CORRIDOR, MIDWAY ROAD AND OLEANDER. THIS IS EXACTLY ADJACENT TO THE PARCEL WITHIN 1/4 MILE. SO I BROUGHT IT UP NOT EVEN REALIZING I WAS GOING TO HAVE THAT MEETING THE SAME WEEK WE WOULD HAVE THIS MEETING, BUT I KNEW THIS WAS COMING. I'M OKAY FOR ANNEXATION AND ALL THESE PARTS AND PIECES BUT YOU HAVE HEARD ME TALKED BEFORE ABOUT HOW WE TRANSITION FROM COUNTY TO CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND THE COMPONENTS OF ZONING CLASSIFICATIONS. I GUESS WE LEFT TO RELY ON THIS , IF APPROVED WE WOULD RELY ON THE DEVELOPER TO TAKE SOME COMMENTARY FROM HERE TONIGHT IN A PASSIONATE WAY, TO UNDERSTAND THAT SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ADJACENT TO R5 IS A CHALLENGE. THIS COMMISSION HAS BEEN BURDENED WITH THOSE APPLICATIONS BEFORE. SO THEY ARE HEARING MY COMMENTARY SPECIFICALLY AND IF IT HAPPENS LATER ON WITH A NICE BUFFER WE WILL BE OKAY, BUT WE HAVE HAD SOME JENKINS AND EDWARDS CONVERSATIONS, MANY HOURS TALKING ABOUT THAT. SO THOSE ARE MY CONCERNS AND I WANTED TO SHARE THEM. >> THERE WAS A HOME IN WHITE CITY TO STOP IT. THEY WANT, WHITE CITY, MIDWAY ROAD IS TURNING INTO SOMETHING THAT IS NO LONGER WHITE CITY AS THEY KNEW IT. SO, I THINK IT IS SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? YES. >> JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON COMMISSIONER JEREMIAH JOHNSON. I HOPE THE OWNER HAS HEARD THE CONCERNS OF YOU, MDM. MAYOR AND WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE RESIDENCE AND COMMISSONER JOHNSON'S CONCERNS. AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, IF YOU HAVE NOT, PLEASE GO OUT AND TALK TO THE RESIDENCE. WITH YOUR PLANS, NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME TO GO AND MEET AND GET THEIR CONCERNS BECAUSE , SITTING IN THE SEAT GOING ON THREE YEARS NOW, I CAN ALMOST GUARANTEE, WHEN THIS COMES BACK FOR SITE APPROVAL , THE CHAMBERS WILL BE FILLED WITH PEOPLE FROM THAT AREA. SO JUST A WORD OF THE SLICE. GO TALK TO THE RESIDENTS AND YOUR NEIGHBORS BEFORE YOU GET HERE BECAUSE THEY WILL BE HERE TO TELL US YES I KNOW WHY THEY WANT THE PROJECT OR THEY DON'T. [02:15:02] I WILL SAY IT THAT WAY SINCE YOU GUYS WERE BEING POLITICALLY CORRECT. I WILL SAY IT THAT WAY MANNA MAYOR. JUST A PIECE OF ADVICE I LEARNED FROM SITTING HERE DOING THESE ANNEXATIONS. THEY GO BY LIKE THIS AND THEN SOMEBODY FINDS OUT ABOUT IT AND WHEN THE SITE COMES BACK THE CHAMBERS ARE FULL. SO GO AND DO YOUR DUE DILIGENCE NOW AND WE WILL GO FROM THERE. >> LIKE THE LAST YEAR. >> RINGING UP THE QUESTION IF I CAN GO BACK , ON A PLANNING PERSPECTIVE WAS THERE ANY CONVERSATION ABOUT A LOWER DESIGNATION OR LOWER INTENSITY DESIGNATION LIKE 2 OR 3 ANYTHING LIKE THAT? BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME IN THE AREA, BUT DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? >> IT DOES, THERE WAS A CONVERSATION AS A REMINDER BECAUSE THEY OWN THE PROPERTY TO THE EAST WITH R5. THAT'S WHY IT WAS CHOSEN BECAUSE THEY WILL BE DOING UNITY ENTITLED. SO ESTABLISHING ZONING DESIGNATION ANYTHING LESS THAN 5 WOULD NOT BE CONDUCIVE OR WORK FOR FUTURE PLANS. IF THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTION. >> IT DOES, THANK YOU. SO IS IT REASONABLE THAT AN APPLICATION COULD COME FORWARD IF THIS PARCEL IN QUESTION TODAY WAS DIFFERENT CLASSIFICATION ? DOES IT MAKE SENSE IF THEY DID UNITY OF TITLE WHAT ALL THE ZONING CHANGE OR DOES IT REMAIN AS IS OR WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE FROM THE PLANNING PERSPECTIVE? ARE THEY ABLE TO DESIGN AND BUILD A PROJECT WITH LOW INTENSE USE INTO THE R5 INTENSE USE AND THEN COMMERCIAL? DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO GO FROM LOW INTENSITY UP TO A HIGHER INTENSITY FROM A PLANNING PERSPECTIVE? >> ARE YOU REFERRING TO DEVELOPMENT? >> THE DEVELOPMENT. >> I WANT TO ENSURE WE PROPERLY ZONE THE PARCEL. THAT'S WHERE I MET. >> TO THE NORTH. IT IS ON MIDWAY BETWEEN COULD YOU 1 AND OLEANDER. >> I BELIEVE FROM A PLANNING PERSPECTIVE WHEN THIS WAS LOOKED AT, WE WERE MORE SO LOOKING AT IT FROM THE EAST. BECAUSE IF THIS WHOLE THING IS DEVELOPED INCLUDING THE PARCEL LABELED C 2, R5'S TRANSITIONAL FROM C 3 AND THE FACT THAT THERE IS TO THE NORTH AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT LARGE AREA IS CONSERVATION SO THAT'S NEVER GOING TO BE BUILT ON , THE COUNTY OWNS THAT, IT IS A PARK. WE ALSO LOOKED AT THE FACT OF PROVIDING MORE HOUSING . WE DID NOT NECESSARILY LOOK AT R1 BECAUSE I THINK AT THE MOMENT IT IS A CHURCH. >> YOU ARE HELPING THE STORY, THAT IS GOOD INFORMATION. IF YOU HAVE CONSERVATION LAND TO THE NORTH AND I DID NOT GO THROUGH AND LOOK AT EVERY PARCEL I WILL BE HONEST I LOOED AT THE SPECIFIC APPLICATION AND WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THE THREE PARCELS. OKAY I GOT IT. I AM GOOD. >> IT IS A HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD. WHITE CITY AND THE PEOPLE ARE VERY ATTACHED TO THEIR WAY OF LIFE. SO NOW WE ARE DEVELOPING I WOULD KEEP THAT IN MIND. >> YES. >> ONE ADDITIONAL COMMENT. EVERYBODY KNOWS I HAVE BEEN VERY CRITICAL OF EXACTLY THE COMMENT COMMISSIONER JEREMIAH JOHNSON IS GETTING AT, ADJOINING LOTS TO HEAVY INDUSTRIAL TRANSITIONING TO R1 OR WHATEVER LOW DENSITY USE SO THIS SITE PLAN WILL HAVE MY UNDIVIDED ATTENTION WHEN IT COMES IN TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT CREATING ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE PROBLEMS. >> WE HAD THE PUBLIC HEARING IS SOMEBODY READY TO MAKE A MOTION? >> I MOVE TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> CALL THE ROLL. >> [a. Resolution 24-R39 establishing Polling Places for the August 20, 2024 Primary Election.] >> OKAY THAT INCLUDES OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS RESOLUTION 24- R 39 CITY OF FORT PIERCE PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION OF [02:20:01] THE DESIGNATED PRECINCT POLLING PLACES IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION TO BE HELD AUGUST AUGUST 20, 2024 PROVIDING FOR EFFECTIVE DATE. SIMPLY THE ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION WE HAVE TO DO EVERY YEAR. STANDARD. IT TO ASK ME TO DO THE NEWSPAPER AD OF ALL THE POLLING PLACES. >> I'M OF APPROVAL. >> SECOND. >> MOTION AND SECOND CALL THE ROLL. >> [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.] THE PUBLIC. >> OKAY WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MAKE COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC AND YOU ARE WELCOME HERE. PLEASE COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES AND MISS COX WILL GIVE YOU A THREE SECOND MORNING >> ONCE WORKED FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. DURING THAT TIME THERE WERE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE THAT I THINK NO LONGER EXIST AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE SPEAKING TONIGHT, PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO ELECTED OFFICIALS AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE I APPRECIATE THE CITY MANAGER RETURNING THE PHONE CALL BECAUSE THERE WAS A COUPLE OF ITEMS ON THE AGENDA LAST MONTH AND I DID MAKE A CALL. THE CITY MANAGER DID RETURN MY CALL AND I APPRECIATE THAT. WHEN I REACHED OUT TO OTHER COMMISSIONERS I DID NOT GET A RESPONSE BACK. REACHED OUT TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, DID NOT GET A RESPONSE BACK. I RECEIVED SOME PHONE CALLS FROM SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAD QUESTIONS SIMILAR TO MINE. AND BECAUSE I DID NOT GET A CALL BACK I CAME DOWN ON THURSDAY TO SPEAK WITH THE CITY CLERK. AND I TOLD HER THE ITEM OR PRIOR TO ME COMING DOWN ON THURSDAY I CALLED THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE AND TOLD HER THE ITEMS I WANTED TO SPEAK WITH AMIR ABOUT AND SHE TOLD ME SHE WOULD GET BACK WITH ME. SINCE I DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING BACK I DECIDED TO COME DOWN TO CITY HALL. AND WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE CLERK EARLIER, I GOT A LITTLE ANTSY BECAUSE IT WAS AS IF, EVEN AFTER STATING WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE MAYOR WOULD NOT TALK WITH ME OR WOULD NOT MEET WITH ME. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN BECAUSE I AM BLACK. SO I SAID OKAY, WE CAN HAVE AN OFFICER IN THE ROOM WITH US BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS WAS THE CAMERA ISSUE. I WAS OKAY WITH HAVING AN OFFICER IN THE ROOM WITH US AND I STATED THAT TO THE CLERK AND SHE SAID SHE WOULD CALL ME BACK BUT I DID NOT GET A RESPONSE SO THURSDAY I COME DOWN. WHEN I CAME DOWN I WAS TOLD IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT THE MAYOR WAS NOT GOING TO MEET WITH ME. I THINK IT IS A LOT EASIER TO TALK TO YOU, COMMISSIONERS AND WHOMEVER ON THE PHONE BECAUSE COVID IS BACK NOW AND IT'S REAL SO IT'S EASIER I THINK AND MAKE SENSE IF YOU CALL AND LEAVE A MESSAGE, PARTICULARLY IF YOU TELL THEM WHAT YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT , YOU KNOW THEY WOUD RETURN THE CALL. I DO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED WITH COMMISSIONER JEREMIAH JOHNSON ON THE 24TH, BUT I THINK THE COMMISSION AS A WHOLE AND AGAIN THANK YOU MR. CITY MANAGER FOR RETURNING THE CALL. I THINK IT ONLY MAKES COMMON SENSE WHEN SOMEONE REACHES OUT TO YOU, TO GET BACK TO THEM BECAUSE TO HAVE A POLICY IN PLACE WHERE YOU HAVE TO COME DOWN AND MEET WITH PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY RELATED TO COVID, DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME NOW, THANK YOU. >> WHO IS NEXT? ) >> GOOD EVENING MME. MAYOR AND COMMISSION. >> STATE YOUR NAME. >> >> I'M PART OF THE COMMUNITY FELLOWSHIP FROM FORT PIERCE. THE ONE THING I DO LIKE ABOUT THIS COMMISSION EVERYBODY , AND THIS IS MY FIRST COMMITTEE MEETING PLEASE BEAR WITH ME I'M NERVOUS. MY CHURCH IS JUST LIKE YOU, LIKE THE UNITY GOING AROUND WE CREATE NEW THINGS AND BUSINESSES AND STUFF LIKE THAT IN THE COMMUNITY. MY CHURCH IS TRYING TO START BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T JUST LIKE BUSINESSES AND UNITY BUT THEY LIKE TO BE APPRECIATED. SO WHAT ME AND MY'G READY ON AUGUST 24 SATURDAY WE [02:25:03] ARE GOING TO BE GIVING OUT FOOD, PROBABLY BACK-TO-SCHOOL EVENT FOR THE KIDS AND I KNOW YOU ALL ARE VERY BUSY PEOPLE. ME AND MY CHURCH WITH A FREE TO COME SHARE THAT MOMENT. WE ARE TRYING TO GET POLICE INVOLVED AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO LET THESE PEOPLE KNOW THAT ALL OF US CARE ABOUT THEM AND APPRECIATE THEM THANK YOU. >> WHAT TIME IS THE EVENT? >> WILL BE STARTING AROUND 12:00 P.M. WITH TO SET UP ALL THE FOOD. >> LET ME KNOW AND WE WILL GET IT ON THE CALENDAR. >> THANK YOU, WHO IS NEXT? >> PART OF POLICE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION BEGAN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE CITY. OFFERING POLICE OFFICER SERGEANTS AND LIEUTENANTS 3% RAISE IN MOVEMENT TO THE NEXT STEP, THIS PROPOSAL IS NOT CLOSE TO PLACING MEN AND WOMEN OF FORT PIERCE POLICE INTO A SALARY RANGE THAT MAKES THIS AGENCY COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER AGENCIES ON THE TREASURE COAST. QUITE FRANKLY IT WAS AN INSULT EVERY OFFICER WHO TAKES PRIDE IN PROTECTING AND SERVING THE FORT PIERCE COMMUNITY. MME. MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, RECENTLY HAVE BEEN PRESSURED BY CITIZENS , BUSINESS OWNERS AND MEDIA ABOUT THE INCREASE IN SHOOTING ACTIVITY AND VIOLENT CRIMES. AT TIMES YOU SAY YOU DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS NEEDED TO STOP THE VIOLENCE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH A TRAINING GROUND FOR THE SURROUNDING AGENCY. THAT'S TRUE WE ARE THE TRAINING GROUND. LET'S CHANGE THAT. WIRELESS TRAINING GROUND FOR THE TREASURE COAST AND NOT A PREMIER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY EVERY OFFICER WANTS TO WORK FOR? THE ANSWER TO RESOLVE BOTH ISSUES. PAY THESE OFFICERS COMPETITIVE SALARY. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO TRAIN OFFICERS FOR TWO OR THREE YEARS BEFORE THEY APPLY TO GET TIRED AT PORT ST. LUCIE, MARTIN COUNTY, STEWART, AND OTHER AGENCIES OUTSIDE OF THE TREASURE COAST. COMPETITIVE PAY WILL ATTRACT HIGH QUALIFIED APPLICANTS , INCREASE EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION, APPROVE PERFORMANCE AND MOTIVATION AND MOST IMPORTANT REDUCE TURNOVER. A MAJORITY OF THE OFFICERS WHO LEFT FORT PIERCE DID SO FOR BETTER PAYING AGENCIES. IF YOU VALUE YOUR POLICE OFFICERS TREAT THEM AS AN ASSET NOT AN EXPENSE. FIND THE FUNDING TO PAY THEM WHAT THEY DESERVE. TO THE RESIDENTS, BUSINESS OWNERS, ASSOCIATIONS, MEDIA, CANDIDATES OF ELECTED POSITIONS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH MEMBERS OF THE COASTAL FLORIDA PBA TO DISCUSS SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE PLEASE CONTACT COASTAL FLORIDA PBA ASSOCIATION AT 386- 304- 2393 AND ASK FOR JJ WOOSLEY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE? >> GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION. MY NAME IS TROY CARTER, 920 SOUTH U.S. WINS FORT PIERCE. SALARIES OF OUR DEDICATED POLICE OFFICERS , SERGEANTS AND LIEUTENANTS MUST BE ADDRESSED NOW TO SECURE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF THE COMMUNITY. THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT NUMBERS IT'S ABOUT THE FABRIC OF OUR CITY'S FUTURE. OUR UNION HAS BEEN IN NEGOTIATIONS FOR A CONTRACT EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, YET THE CITY INITIAL OFFER OF A SALARY STEP INCREASE PLUS 3% FALLS DRASTICALLY SHORT IN RECTIFYING SIGNIFICANT PAY DISPARITY BETWEEN OFFICERS AND THOSE IN NEIGHBORING AGENCIES. ACCORDING TO RECENT DATA FORT PIERCE POLICE ARE CONCERN 13 TO 15% LESS THAN THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN PORT ST. LUCIE POLICE. 10 TO 12% LESS THAN THOSE AT ST. LUCIE COUNTY AND FACE SIMILAR GAPS COMPARED TO THE MARTIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. THE DISPARITY ONLY WIDENS OVER TIME MAKING IT INCREASINGLY CHALLENGING TO ATTRACT NEW TALENT, WRITTEN EXPENSE OFFICERS AND SUPERVISORS. COMMUNITY DESERVES A POLICE FORCE THAT IS NOT ONLY WELL COMPENSATED BUT ALSO MOTIVATED AND FREE OF FINANCIAL STRAIN ENABLING THEM TO FOCUS ON PUBLIC SAFETY. MAYOR HUDSON AND [02:30:04] FORT PIERCE CITY COMMISSION I IMPLORE YOU TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION ENGAGE IN AN OPEN AND HONEST DIALOGUE ABOUT THE PAY DISPARITY PRIORITIZE RAISING SALARIES FOR POLICE SGT. AND LIEUT. TO ENSURE THEY ARE COMPETITIVE WITH NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS. I WOULD ADD THIS AS WELL. WE TALKED ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE. GROWTH AND NEW PROJECTS THAT COULD IMPACT FORT PIERCE, WE THINK OF THIS IN THE CONTEXT OF BUILDING TONIGHT WE DISCUSSED ADDING BEAUTIFUL WINDOWS, VIBRANT PAINT AND WONDERFUL LANDSCAPING, HOWEVER NONE OF THAT IS POSSIBLE WITHOUT A SOLID FOUNDATION, FOUNDATION IS POLICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY, IF THE FOUNDATION HAS CRACKS THE BUILDING BECOMES UNSTABLE. >> THANK YOU, SIR. WHO IS NEXT ? ) >> HELLO, GOOD EVENING. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR MEETING WITH US. INAUDIBLE ] I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR MEETING WITH US LAST MONTH. MY GROUP LOT BUILDERS I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING INTO ACTION AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL. THAT IS IT, I APPRECIATE YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WHO IS NEXT? >> MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION MY NAME IS NAME ] POLICE DEPARTMENT APPROXIMATELY 10 YEARS NOW. TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU TO ADDRESS A CRIPPLING ISSUE FACING THE COMMUNITY, RETENTION OF POLICE FOR A BETTER COMPETITIVE SALARY. OUR POLICE FORCE IS THE BACKBONE OF CITY SAFETY AND SECURITY. THEY WORK TIRELESSLY DAY AND NIGHT TO ENSURE OUR STREETS ARE SAFE AND FAMILIES ARE PROTECTED. RECENT CHALLENGES HAVE HIGHLIGHTED A CONCERNING TREND. THE LOSS OF EXPERIENCED OFFICERS DUE TO INADEQUATE COMPENSATION. AND FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE BEEN HERE THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ISSUE. ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS FOR HIGH TONER OVER IS SALARIES. COMPETITIVE SALARIES ARE NOT JUST TO ATTRACT NEW POLICE OFFICERS, THEY ARE CRUCIAL IN RETAINING SEASONED PROFESSIONALS WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LIVES AND CAREERS TO SERVING THE COMMUNITY. WE MUST RECOGNIZE THE SACRIFICES THEY HAVE MADE AND RISKS THAT THEY HAVE FACED DAILY. A FAIR AND COMPETITIVE SELLER IS NOT JUST A BENEFIT, IT IS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN MORALE, PROFESSIONALISM AND EFFECTIVENESS WITHIN THE POLICE FORCE INVESTING IN OFFICERS IS AN INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND ENSURES THE CONTINUED AND POLICE STRATEGY FOSTERING COMMUNITY TRUST AND ULTIMATELY ENHANCES CITY QUALITY LIFE . WE OWE IT TO OFFICERS AND TO OUR RESIDENTS TO ENSURE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT REMAINS STRONG AND RESILIENT. RECENT FIGURES HAVE SHOWN THE FORT PIERCE POLICE OFFICERS EARN 3 TO 9% LESS THAN ST. LUCIE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. 8 TO 15% LESS THAN PORT ST. LUCIE POLICE DEPARTMENT. UNFORTUNATELY THESE NUMBERS WILL BE CHANGING VERY SOON PUTTING US FURTHER BEHIND. THEREFORE I URGE YOU MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION TO PRIORITIZE AND ALLOCATE RESOURCES TO COMPETITIVE SALARIES FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS, DEMONSTRATE COMMITMENT TO THEIR WELL-BEING AND REAFFIRM OUR SUPPORT FOR THOSE THAT UPHOLD THE LAW AND PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY WHERE WE WILL ALWAYS TRY TO PLAY CATCH-UP, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION IN THIS PRESSING MATTER. >> THANK YOU, SIR. WHO IS NEXT? >> GOOD EVENING MATT AMERICA, CITY MANAGER, COMMISSIONERS. PEOPLE IN THE CITY. I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT SALARY BECAUSE. >> LET'S START WITH YOUR NAME. >> SALARIES BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE POINT. YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT HERE, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR GETTING US TO WHERE WE ARE [02:35:01] OUT NOW. BUT WE NEED TO GO BEYOND THAT. THE REASON WHY I'M HERE TALKING TO YOU GUYS BECAUSE RETENTION. I'M AN OLD DOG AT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. I MIGHT LOOK YOUNG , BUT I'VE BEEN HERE FOR A LITTLE BIT. WE ARE A DEPARTMENT THAT CELEBRATED 100 YEAR POLICE DEPARTMENT. IT IS VERY HEARTENING TO ME BEING AN OFFICER WHO HAS BEEN A LONG TIME IN THE WE ARE A DEPARTMENT THAT HAS BEEN YOUR 100 YEARS OR MORE , THE MAJOR PART OF OUR DEPARTMENT IS OFFICERS FIVE YARS AND UNDER, THAT SHOULDN'T BE. IT IS EXPERIENCE THAT LEAVES THE DOORS, GOES TO NEIGHBORING AGENCIES . YOU KNOW THE PSO, THE COUNTY. OTHER, JUPITER, OTHER PLACES THEY GO. WE WORK HARD FOR THE COMMUNITY. WE LOVE WORKING FOR THE COMMUNITY. I'M TIRED OF SEEING OFFICERS LEAVE. I'M SURE YOU ARE TOO. BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO PAY TO TRAIN NEW OFFICERS. I'M NOT COMING TO YOU, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT, BUT WE NEED TO WORK SOMETHING WHERE WE ARE KEEPING THESE OFFICERS. THAT LEADS TO OFFICER SAFETY, SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY, KNOWLEDGE OF THE COMMUNITY AND RELATIONSHIPS WE BUILD WITH THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY WE ARE A FAMILY. IF WE TAKE CARE OF OUR FAMILY YOU PROBABLY TRUST YOUR OLDER UNCLE OR GRANDPA MORE THAN YOU TRUST YOUR BRAND-NEW BABY COUSIN RIGHT? THAT'S HOW IT IS. IF YOU HAVE OLDER OFFICERS TO KEEP THEM HERE, IT'S GOING TO BE SAFER, NOT THAT WE DON'T WORK HARD BECAUSE WE WILL WORK HARD EVEN IF YOU HAVE OFFICERS UNDER FIVE YEARS. THEY WORK HARD BECAUSE THEY WANT TO PROTECT THE CITY THAT'S WHY WE SIGN UP FOR THE JOB . WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE. I AM ASKING YOU TO PLEASE FIGURE OUT WAYS , ONE OF THEM IS MONEY. IT ALL CONCLUDES TO MONEY YOU KNOW. MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT, EVERYTHING, BODY CAMERAS OR NEW GUNS, WHATEVER YOU NAME IT TOTALS TO MONEY, RETENTION IS MONEY LET'S FIGURE OUT A WAY TO KEEP THESE OFFICERS SO WE HAVE BETTER EXPERIENCED OFFICERS. THANK YOU GUYS FOR LISTENING AND EVERYTHING YOU GUYS DO. AGAIN I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS GETTING US TO THIS POINT. THANK YOU. >> WHO IS NEXT? WHO IS NEXT? WELCOME. >> MY NAME IS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ADVISED WORK AGENCY ON THE TREASURE COAST AND LEAST PAID, WE ARE CONSTANTLY AS A CITY ANNEXING THE PROPERTY WITH GROWING BUSINESSES AND HAVE GROWN SO MUCH OVER THE PAST YEARS, INCREASING THE WORKLOAD ON OFFICERS WHO ARE ALREADY OVERWORKED AND WE STRUGGLE TO INCREASE STAFFING TO MAINTAIN A SAFE MINIMUM. WHICH ARE TO KEEP STARTING PAY COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER AGENCIES WHERE LACKING IN LONGEVITY AND STEPS IN OUR TOP OUT WE ARE SO FAR BEHIND OTHER AGENCIES WHEN IT COMES TO EXPERIENCE THAT IT IS SHAMEFUL. NOT LONG AGO IT WAS THESE MEDIA RELEASE THAT WE ARE TRAINING GROUND OFFICERS COME HERE, THEY GET EXPERIENCE AND THEN THEY LEAVE WHY IS THAT? THE REASON THEY'RE LEAVING IS BECAUSE THE CITY DOES NOT SUPPORT LONG-TERM EXPERIENCE. IT IS NOT SUPPORT THE TENURE WE ARE A JOKE TO BE PART OF LONG-TERM. THE CITY HAS AN ISSUE OF GUN VIOLENCE BUT WE ARE FAILING TO DO RIGHT BY OUR SENIOR OFFICERS WHO ARE TENURED WITH EXPERIENCE. SO WHAT HAPPENS? WE LOSE THE BEST OFFICERS. I'M A SINGLE FATHER WITH TWO CHILDREN WORKING 70 OR 60 HOURS A WEEK AND BARELY MAKING ENDS MEET, HOW DO YOU JUSTIFY THAT TO MY CHILDREN? I COULD LITERALLY LEAVE CURRENT STEP SEVEN AS A STEP SEVEN OFFICER. FROM A PAY OF $63,000 A YEAR TO GO TO MARTIN COUNTY AT YEAR ONE AND TWO $68,000, STEP ONE. I WANT TO KNOW IS DOES THE CITY CARE ABOUT SAFETY OF ITS CITIZENS AND IF SO WHY DON'T THEY CARE TO RETAIN EXPRESSED OFFICERS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING THE BEST QUALITY SERVICE TO ITS CITIZENS? WE [02:40:01] DEAL WITH THE MOST EMERGENCY CALLS RISKING OUR LIVES DESERVING COMPETITIVE PAY LONG-TERM. WE ARE NOT TREATED IN THE BALLPARK OF COMPETITIVE. EXPRESSED OFFICERS WILL CONTINUE TO LEAVE AND EXPRESSED OFFICERS WITH A CITY WILL REMAIN A TRAINING AGENCY AND ULTIMATELY THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL ON THE TREASURE COAST. OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE AT THE CITY IS ALL BECAUSE NO OTHER LAW AGENCY DEALS WITH WHAT WE DO. ESPECIALLY LONG-TERM . WHY WHEN WE AS OFFICERS TO WRITE IF THE CITY DOES NOT CARE TO DO RIGHT, DO YOU CARE ABOUT CRIME OR WILL WE REMAIN BOTTOM OF THE BARREL AGENCY? COMBATING THE WORST AND MOST VIOLENT CRIME IN THE TREASURE COAST WITH TRAINING QUALITY OFFICERS FACING HORRIBLE AND DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. AN OFFER OF 3% WILL PUT EXPRESSED OFFICERS BEHIND EVEN MORE PROMOTE WE ARE COMPARATIVELY SPEAKING WITH OTHER AGENCIES ON THE TREASURE COAST WHO DEAL WITH MUCH SAFER WORKING ENVIRONMENTS. THANK YOU. >> ANYONE ELSE ? ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. I SEE NO MORE MOVEMENT BUT I WANT TO SAY BEFORE WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. ESPECIALLY THE POLICE OFFICERS FOR SPEAKING SO ELOQUENTLY . SOMETHING WE NEEDED TO HEAR, [15. COMMENTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER] THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND MOVE ON. >> NEXT WE MOVED TO COMMENTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER. >> MR. MIMS. >> I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO AGREE WITH EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID. I BELIEVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS TONIGHT FROM THE PUBLIC AND FROM OUR OWN RANKS HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS. TO HAVE A SAFE AND ALSO PEACEFUL AND FUNCTIONAL COMMUNITY. I BELIEVE YOU CAME HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE YOU HAVE THOSE CONCERNS AND WE HAVE THOSE CONCERNS AS WELL. YOU ARE PART OF OUR TEAM, PART OF THE WORKING FAMILY AND WERE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN WORKING WITH THE CITY COMMISSION TOTALLY BECOME COMPETITIVE. YOU KNOW IT IS A ANNUAL STRUGGLE AND YOU KNOW EVERY YEAR, THEY WILL SNATCH YOU GUYS BECAUSE YOU GUYS , YOU ARE THE HIGHEST TRAINED TAKING THE MOST CALLS COMING PROBABLY WORK THE MOST DETAILS AND YOU WORK MORE OVERTIME THAN ANYBODY ELSE. I HAVE THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR YOUR. AGAIN WE STARTED THE PROCESS EARLY SO LET'S CONTINUE THE PROCESS AND LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET THIS THING DONE BY THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. THAT'S THE GAME PLAN. WE HAD THE INITIAL OFFER, YOU HAVE THE INITIAL OFFER SO WE WILL ALL WALK AWAY AND GET THIS DONE. IN ADDITION TO THAT WE ALSO JUST OUTFITTED ONE OF OUR VESSELS FOR THE WATERWAY. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WENT OUT THIS WEEKEND, BUT THIS WEEKEND WAS BUSY IN FORT PIERCE. WE HAD FOLKS ALL OVER THE BEACHES, ALL OVER THE ISLANDS. THE VISITATION IS RIDICULOUS. BUT IT IS WONDERFUL AND THAT BRINGS ABOUT CHALLENGES. OUR WATERWAYS, WE HAVE TO HAVE WATERWAY CODE ENFORCEMENT AND WE GOT THE VESSEL, THE VESSEL OUTFIT. WE WILL HAVE THREE WATERWAY CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS PATROLLING THE WATERWAYS VERY SOON. OUR MARINA MANAGER WILL GET THOSE GUYS IN SCHOOL AND MAKE SURE THEY BECOME ADEQUATELY TRAINED CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND THEY CAN EDUCATE FOLKS ON THE WATERWAY AND THEN ENFORCE THE CODE THAT'S GOING TO BE PRESENTED TO YOU TO ENSURE WE HAVE LIMITATION AREAS THAT PROMOTE SAFETY AND CLEANLINESS OF THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON. THAT'S THE GAME PLAN COMING UP. AND THEN WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS EVENT COMING UP WEDNESDAY. UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY. JANUARY 17 10:00 UNTIL TWO, THREE OR FOUR. UNTIL ABOUT 2:00 AND WILL CEASE SOME OF THESE SMILING FACES IN THE COMMUNITY, CHILDREN AND SUMMER CAMP PURCHASE OF BINS WILL BE THERE AND IT WILL BE THERE TO EDUCATE AND BUILD THE TRUST IN THE COMMUNITY WITH OUR EXCELLENT POLICE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE FORCE. THAT'S ALL I HAVE AT THIS TIME. THERE IS MORE STUFF BUT I WILL LET YOU GUYS TALK ABOUT IT. >> I HAVE NOTHING TONIGHT. >> 903 SOUTH 24 STREET. >> NOTHING MEM. [16. COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION] >> COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION. >> WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST? >> YOU HAVE KNOWN? >> COMMISSIONER GAINES [02:45:04] >> THANK YOU TO THE OFFICER WHO SPOKE FIRST. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. AND YOUR WORDS DID NOT FALL ON DEAF EARS . WE UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION WE ARE IN. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT IN ALL THE BUDGET MEETINGS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT, SO I WILL SAY, YOU KNOW, MR. MANAGER AND THE MAYOR AND THE REST OF THE COMMISSIONERS, LET'S LOOK HARD TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO KEEP OUR OFFICERS , BUT AS YOU SAY A BUDGET IS A BUDGET AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING, BUT I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT OFFICERS , YOU JUST DO NOT SPEAK AND IT FELL ON DEAF EARS. WE UNDERSTAND THE STRUGGLE, WE THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND ASKED THE CITY MANAGER, LET'S CONTINUE TO NEGOTIATE AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN MEET SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE OR DO WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DO , TO START THE PROCESS TO GET YOU GUYS ARE YOU NEED TO BE. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICES. TO MISS SMITH, YOU DID CALL ME AND I DID RESPOND AND TELL YOU WHERE I WAS AND WHAT I WAS DOING. SO IF I FORGOT TO CALL YOU BACK I APOLOGIZE. MY FOCUS WAS ON MY DAD AT THE TIME YOU CALLED. SO IF I'M GOING TO GET A X FROM YOU FROM THAT I WILL TAKE IT, BUT MY FOCUS WAS ON TAKING CARE OF MY DAD AT THE TIME. JUST FOR THE REGULATED CANCEL ALL APPOINTMENTS FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS TO BE IN THE HOSPITAL WITH HIM. SO UNITED GET YOUR CALL AND I WILL CALL AND SPEAK TO YOU. TO THE YOUNG MAN FROM THE CHURCH. AND THE PASTOR, PLEASE GET THE INFORMATION TO THE CITY CLERK ASAP BECAUSE , IF YOU HAVE A FIRE OR ANYTHING, GET THAT TO THE CITY CLERK AND CITY MANAGER BECAUSE I CAN GET IT OUT TO THE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW ME OR THE PEOPLE THAT I KNOW TO GET THE CROWD THERE. 'S WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY , THAT WANT TO DO COMMUNITY STUFF. A LOT OF PEOPLE COME IN AND WANT TO DO STUFF FOR THEIR BENEFIT, IT IS NOT SOUND LIKE THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION AND THE MORE CHURCHES OR RESIDENTS OR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY TO FIX THIS IS BETTER. THE LAST THING I WILL SAY MME. MAYOR, THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, WE HAVE DEALT WITH WHAT WE SAW ON THE NEWS. ONE THING THAT THE PASTOR SAID AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE HAVE SAID ABOUT US IS THAT WE DON'T AGREE ALL THE TIME. AND HOWEVER, WE ARE STILL CONSISTENT IN EDUCATING PEOPLE OF FLORIDA AND THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. WE ARE TRYING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN FOR THE RESIDENTS OF FORT PIERCE. SO WE ALL KNOW THERE IS A UPCOMING ELECTION, NOT ONLY IN THE COUNTRY AND THE STATE, BUT IN FORT PIERCE. SO I AM JUST ASKING EVERYBODY TO TAKE A STEP BACK, TAKE A STEP BACK. I AM LOOKING IN THE MIRROR, ME INCLUDED. WHEN YOU HAVE THAT HOT SOCIAL MEDIA POST THAT YOU WANT TO THROW OUT, WHY DON'T YOU JUST LOOK AT IT AND DELETE IT THIS ONE TIME, I AM TALKING ABOUT MYSELF I WILL BE THE FIRST ONE. TAKE A STEP BACK BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE FROM THE TOP DOWN. IT'S GOING TO CHANGE FROM THE LOCAL ELECTIONS GOING UP. LED US SET THE STANDARD OF HOW WE WANT TO BE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. I DON'T CARE WHO YOU VOTE FOR, THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF OUR CONSTITUTION AND OUR DEMOCRACY. GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO VOTE FOR WHOEVER YOU WANT TO VOTE FOR THAT'S YOUR RIGHT. WE DON'T DO IT LIKE WHEN I WAS LITTLE, GO IN AND CLOSE THE BLINDS AND PULL THE LEVER DOWN, THAT WAS YOU AND THE LEVER THAT WAS IT. KEEP IT THAT WAY. I'M ASKING FOR PRAYERS , THE PASTOR GAVE IT IN THE BEGINNING HE PRAYED FOR US AND HE PRAYED FOR THE COUNTRY. EVERYBODY LET'S TAKE A STEP BACK LET'S JUST TAKE A STEP BACK. YES THE STAKES ARE [02:50:03] HIGH AND WE HAVE GOT ALL OF THIS. THIS 2024 ELECTION IS NOT LIKE IT'S UNIQUE AND IS THE FIRST ELECTION THIS COUNTRY HAS EVER HAD. I CAN GUARANTEE YOU TO GO BACK FIND THE FIRST, SECOND OR THIRD, THEY HAD THE SAME ISSUES WITH EVERYBODY DOING THINGS THEY DID NOT WANT TO DO WHENEVER IT STARTED SO EVERYBODY INCLUDING MYSELF TAKE A STEP BACK AND REALIZE WHAT IT IS REALLY ALL ABOUT AND THEN CARRY ON AND MOVE ON. THANK YOU. >> NEXT, COMMISSIONER CURTIS JOHNSON? >> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER, I APPRECIATE YOUR WORDS AND YOU ARE RIGHT. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THINGS GET , I WILL USE THE WORD INTENSE . THAT'S WHERE IT IS. YOU HAVE TO STOP AND REFLECT A LITTLE MEDITATION, A LITTLE PRAYER , WHATEVER THAT MEANS TO EACH INDIVIDUAL. CANNOT APPRECIATE YOUR WORDS. AS FAR AS THE CITY BUDGET, WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE FIRST ROUND OF DISCUSSION AS A COMMISSION. AS A BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SORTS AND GETTING A FIRST TAKE AT THE BUDGET SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MEN AND WOMEN , THE WOMEN AND MEN, INDIVIDUALS , THE LEADERS OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT , THE OFFICERS WHO GO OUT ORIGINAL DAY. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AND I HAVE HAD A LOT OF PASSION A CONVERSATION WITH MR. MIMS AND MISS MORRIS IN BUDGET DISCUSSION WE HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION AS A COMMISSION. THAT IS OUTSIDE OF THIS CITY HALL CHAMBER. WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHERE WE GOING TO. WE HAVE HEARD THE POLICE WITH THE PLEASE TONIGHT OF THE FOCUS, IT'S NOT THAT THE FOCUS IS NOT BROAD OR ALL-ENCOMPASSING BECAUSE IT IS. WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT, BUT WE HAVE TO REALLY ANALYZE WHAT IS THE IMPORTANT PARTS OF EACH ELEMENT OF THE BUDGET AND RANK THEM, I RANK THEM BECAUSE THAT'S HOW I GO THROUGH. WEATHER IT IS THE OVERALL SCOPE OF THE BUDGET OR WHAT WE FOCUSED ON? WE HEARD ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE STARTED THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE ELEMENTS OF WHAT WE CAN DO AS A CITY TO ASSIST THE GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE PROVIDED WITH GROWTH AND TAX REVENUE OR GROWTH OF OUR CITY AND OF COURSE GROWTH OF THE CITY MEANS MORE RESPONSIBILITY WHICH WE ALL KNOW. SO MR. MIMS THE ONLY QUESTION I WOULD HAVE IF YOU COULD PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION TO US AND I THINK YOU AND I APPROACH THE SUBJECT MATTER I JUST DID NOT ASK SPECIFICALLY WHAT WOULD THE BUDGET LOOK LIKE IF WE WERE TO DISCUSS THE OTHER VARIABLES? IF WE WERE TO LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES OF THE STEP PLUS A DIFFERENT PERCENTAGE? IF THAT CAN BE CALCULATED AND YOU CAN SHOW THAT IMPACT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT ON A SPREADSHEET FORMULATION OR TABULATION OF THE STEP FOR POLICE DEPARTMENT. IN ADDITION TO THAT , THAT WOULD BE MY, MY GUT TELLS ME THE INITIAL CONVERSATION I WOULD LIKE TO SEE PLUS 8% TO SEE THE NUMBER. IT IS AN IMPACT AND CONVERSATION PIECE BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WITH THE NUMBER IS. WE WERE PRESENTED WITH STEP PLUS 3% AND WE HAD STAFF WHICH WE WERE LOOKING AT WHETHER BARGAINING OR NON-BARGAINING EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, I AM COMFORTABLE WITH THAT PORTION BUT I NEED TO SEE THE NUMBER OF WHAT THAT FISCAL IMPACT WOULD BE. I THINK IT WOULD GIVE ME A BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO EVALUATE. IT WOULD GIVE ME A BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO EVALUATE WHICH AREAS AM I COMFORTABLE WITH CUTTING TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN BECAUSE WE WANT A BALANCED BUDGET WE ARE GOING TO VOTE ON A BALANCED BUDGET, WE ALL KNOW THAT SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT IF WE COULD GENERATE THAT INFORMATION. I WOULD BE MOST APPRECIATIVE. NOT SAYING IT'S GOING TO STOP THERE BUT THAT'S WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN. I WANT TO SEE WHAT THAT VARIABLE LOOKS LIKE. AND THAT WILL GIVE ME EVALUATION. THERE ARE PARTS AND PIECES OF THE BUDGET THAT I QUESTION EVERY SINGLE YEAR, PROBABLY NOT HERE IN THIS [02:55:02] PUBLIC CHAMBER, BUT I QUESTION WHETHER IT'S ME MAKING NOTES WITHIN MY OWN BUDGET ME MAKING NOTES OF IMPACT, MAKING NOTES OF DO I WANT TO PRESENT THE ALTERNATIVE TO PROGRAMS AND CONVERSATION PIECES AND WE ALL DO THAT BUT I'M JUST SHARING WITH YOU WHAT I DO IN THE BIG PACKET WITH ALL THE NUMBERS IN IT. I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT INFO AND I WILL GO FROM THERE. >> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK ANYTHING TO SAY? >> FIRST, THANK YOU TO THE OFFICERS WHO CAME OUT TONIGHT TO GIVE COMMENTARY AND TESTIMONY HERE. IT DOES NOT FALL ON DEAF EARS, TRUST ME THAT IS SOMETHING I TAKE SERIOUSLY, YOUR CONCERNS AND I DO REITERATE THE COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONER JAY JOHNSON . SECONDLY COMMISSIONER GAINES COMMENT ON THE POLITICAL CLIMATE THAT THIS COUNTRY FINDS ITSELF IN , I AM PLEASANTLY SURPRISED WHEN MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY COME FORWARD HERE TO SPEAK TO THE COMMISSION AND THEY THANK US FOR THE POLITE DECORUM THAT HAS UNDERTAKEN IN THIS BODY AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE, THEY DON'T HAVE TO THANK ME. THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE FUNCTIONING. PERMANENTLY. I KNOW THERE ARE YEARS PASSED AND IT IS NOT NECESSARILY BEEN THE CASE. IT IS SOMETHING I HAVE RESPECT FOR MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS AND MAYOR FOR THAT AND WE WILL HAVE DISAGREEMENTS AND DISPUTES , THOSE ARE KEPT HERE AT THIS LEVEL. AS SOON AS WE WALKED DOWN THE STAIRS INTO THE AUDITORIUM THERE IS NO ANIMOSITY. IT IS ANOTHER DAY OF WORK AND WE GOT DONE WHAT WE NEEDED TO GET DONE, BUT THE TEMPERATURE LEVEL NEEDS TO BE TAKEN DOWN. IT IS A DANGEROUS SCENARIO. YOU HAVE GOT RESIDENTS THAT WERE ATTENDING THE FUNCTION WHO WERE KILLED AND PERMANENTLY MAIMED GOT FOR BID SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD HAPPEN IN A SMALL TOWN LIKE THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE BUT IT HAPPENED IN A SMALL TOWN IN PENNSYLVANIA SO IT CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE. WE NEED TO TAKE THIS DOWN A NOTCH AND I AGREE WITH THE ASSESSMENT THAT HOW IT GETS CHANGED IS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. THIS IS A GROUND-LEVEL MOVE UPWARD MAYBE NATIONAL AND STATE LEADERS WILL TAKE A LESSON FROM OUR PLAYBOOK I DOUBT THAT WILL HAPPEN ANYTIME SOON BUT I WISH THAT COULD BE THE CASE AND I DO APPRECIATE THE RESIDENCE THAT COME FORWARD AND ARE THINKING BACK US FOR HAVING PROPER MEETING DECORUM AND TREATING EACH OTHER WITH COURTESY AND RESPECT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TONIGHT. >> THANK YOU MEDA MAYOR. I WANT TO ECHO, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT CAME TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT. THE POLICE OFFICERS, PEOPLE FROM THE AUDIENCE, COMMUNITY PEOPLE WHO HAD AN EXPRESSION TONIGHT EITHER FOR SUPPORT WE WERE MOVING ALONG OR CONCERNED ABOUT THE GROWING COMMUNITY. SO YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU HAVE HERE IS A CITY COMMISSION THAT WILL DO OUR HOMEWORK. WE WILL GET INTO OUR MEETINGS THIS WEEK, I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THE BUDGET TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ASK IS WHERE WE ARE . MAYBE I MISSED THAT IN A ONE OFF, BUT YOU KNOW I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE FOCUS ON. AM SITTING HERE NOW A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT I MISSED THAT AND I WILL FIGURE OUT WEDNESDAY AT 9:00 A.M. HOW DID I MISS THAT AND WHERE WE ARE. MAYBE THAT WAS NOT ON MY RADAR BECAUSE I DID NOT EXPECT THIS TONIGHT. SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT TO MY ATTENTION AND THANK YOU WELL, LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING GREAT UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY EVENT ON WEDNESDAY, I HAVE A ONE HOUR LUNCH BREAK AND A ALL-DAY ETHICS CLASS TO GET DONE, BUT AS SOON AS I GET MY BREAK FOR LUNCH I WILL DRIVE BY AND COMPLETE MY OTHER ETHICS. 10:00 UNTIL 2:00 I HAVE TO COMPLETE THE COURSE FOUR HOURS. I WILL BE SITTING IN FRONT OF THE COMPUTER ON A CAMERA. NONETHELESS THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT AND GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS GREAT CHALLENGE TO US WE WILL FIGURE IT OUT. >> OKAY THANK YOU I WANT TO ECHO A THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR CITY. I KNOW YOU CANNOT HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SAFE CITY AND YOU ARE NOT KNOWN AS A SAFE CITY. COMMISSIONER MIMS, THE THEME I HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF SPEAKERS TONIGHT WAS THAT IT WAS PARTICULARLY ACUTE FOR MORE EXPERIENCED OFFICERS AND LOSING MORE EXPERIENCED OFFICERS AND SO, PERHAPS IN ADDITION TO WHAT COMMISSIONER JAY JOHNSON HAS [03:00:02] ASKED YOU, IF YOU CAN LOOK AT SOMETHING IF WE CAN BE MORE CREATIVE IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT THAT I GO TO A LOT OF THE SWEARING IN OF THE NEW OFFICERS. I HEAR WITH THE CHIEF TELLS ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THE RESPONSIBILITY IS, HOW BADLY WE WANT THEM TO COME HOME SAFELY AND HOW THEY ARE PART OF THE FAMILY AND HOW THEIR FAMILIES ARE PART OF THE FAMILY IT IS A HUGE COMMITMENT ON THE YOUNG OFFICERS AND AS I SIT AND LOOK AT THEM, THEY SEEM TO GET YOUNGER AND YOUNGER , EVERY TIME. SO, I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO TAKE ANOTHER HARD LOOK AT THAT AND LOOK AT WHAT OUR BUDGET IS AND BE A LITTLE BIT MORE CREATIVE AND I AM WITH COMMISSIONER JEREMIAH JOHNSON IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT SOME FIGURES THAT WE NEED, I HEAR THE PLEA AND I KNOW THAT HAPPENS, IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE AND WE THINK , WE MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO BRING OUR OFFICERS UP TO COMPETITIVE SALARIES AND THEN SOMEBODY WILL ONE OF US. PORT ST. LUCIE OR PALM BEACH AND IT IS A NEVER-ENDING , NEVER-ENDING COMPETITION. SO, I HEARD WHAT YOU SAID AND IT IS VERY VERY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE NOT ONLY LIVE IN A SAFE CITY, BUT WE ARE PERCEIVED AS A SAFE CITY. AND THAT IS NOT ONLY MICHAEL BUT AS ALL OF OUR GOAL. WITH THAT UNLESS THERE IS ANYTHING MORE TO SAY, WE WILL BE ADJOURNING SO EVERYBODY WOULD LEAVE THE CHAMBERS WILL BE TURNING OUT THE LIGHTS AND IF YOU WANT TO TALK TO ANYBODY FROM HER * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.