[MEETING TO ORDER]
[00:00:12]
>> THAT AFTERNOON. IT IS NOW 4:00 P.M. AND I'VE LOOKED A CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AUTHORITY BOARD FOR JULY 16TH, 2024. PLEASE JOIN US FIRST INNING FOR THE INVOCATION LED BY JASON MITTLER , FPUA MANAGER AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. IF YOU WILL PRAY WITH ME. LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR GRACE AND MERCY AND ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED ACTION OVER RC STAY IN NATION. WE PRAY FOR UNITY AND PRAY THAT PEACE WOULD REST WITHIN THE UNITED STATES. WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD BLESS THIS BOARD AND GIVE STAFF WISDOM AND INSIGHT HOW TO BLESS BEST LEAVE THE UTILITIES THAT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND ITS PRESENCE CAN OFFER. WE PRAY THIS IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.
>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[A. SET THE AGENDA]
>> THE NEXT ITEM IS SETTING THE AGENDA. DO I HAVE EMOTION?
>> MADAM CLERK, WE PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> NOW, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS PUBLIC COMMENT. IF THERE IS ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK, YOU MAY DO SO NOW. WHEN YOU COME, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD. SEEING NO ONE HAS COME FORWARD, WE WILL NOW CLOSE TO PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION. THE NEXT ITEM
[C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
IS APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR JULY 2ND 2024. DO I HAVE EMOTION?>> I MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
>> SECOND. >> MADAM CLERK, YOU PLEASE CALL
[D. CONSENT AGENDA]
>> MR. GIBBONS. MR. LAMMERS. >> YES, MA'AM.
>> MISSES HUDSON. >> YES, MA'AM. NOW THAT WE HAVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO PULL FOR DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA OR DO I HAVE
>> SECOND. >> MADAM CLERK, WE PLEASE CALL
[E.1. St. Lucie County Economic Development Council]
>> YES, MA'AM. >> WE WILL NOW CONVERT TO THE REGULAR AGENDA WITH MR. CISNEROS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON MEMBERS AND THE BOARD. HE WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE COUNTY AND TALK ABOUT HOW WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO STRATEGICALLY GROW THE RESTON SERVICE AREA TO INCLUDE A TEXTBASED AND UTILITY SERVICES.
HE ALSO HAS BOARD MEMBERS OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND STAFF SO I WILL LET HIM INTRODUCE HIM. THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS THE BOARD. I AM PRESIDENT OF THE EDC AND VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE. THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT INTRODUCTION. THIS AFTERNOON, WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A QUICK UPDATE ON THE EDC, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE . INCREASING THE TAX BASE, CREATING JOBS, AND MAKING MORE RATE PAYERS FOR FPUA. I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY TEAM AS HARVEY MENTIONED. WE HAVE LENA GOLDSTEIN, WHO IS THE EASY CHAIR AND SHE IS VICE PRESIDENT OF ENTITLEMENTS FROM GL HOMES AND ROBERT BRADFIELD, WHO IS OUR CHAIR ELECT AND HE IS THE MARKET PRESIDENT FOR SEACOAST BANK. WE ARE ALSO JOINED TODAY WITH CARA WOULD AND LESLIE OLSEN AND THEY ARE THE CODE INTERVALS OF DISTRICT PLANNING GROUP AND THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE JOBS QUARTER PLANNING EFFORT. WE HAVE MANY MEMBERS OF OUR CAPABLE TEAM HERE. WE HAVE MORNING SULSER WHO WAS OUR COMMUNICATION IS DIRECTOR AND KATIE KNIGHT WHO IS OUR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
SO, WE ARE HAPPY TO BE HERE AND WE WILL MAKE THIS PRESENTATION CONCISE, TO THE POINT, AND HAVE A REALLY PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION, THAT IS OKAY, MADAM CHAIR. SO, MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT YOU LOOK QUITE REFRESHED BECAUSE I THINK YOU SLEPT VERY WELL LAST NIGHT BECAUSE YOU LOOK AT OUR EDC
[00:05:03]
>> SO, THERE IS A RATHER THICK REPORT IN THERE THAT INCLUDES OUR AUDIT, OUR MEDIAL REPORT , PRELIMINARY BUDGET FOR 2025, AND, THERE IS A FLORIDA TREND FOR ST. LUCIE COUNTY AND WAS GOING ON IN OUR ECONOMY. I WANTED TO TOUCH VERY BRIEFLY ON SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE OCCURRED HERE IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY. COSTCO WAREHOUSE. 1.8 MILLION SQUARE FEET AND 500 JOBS. JUST RECENTLY, AT THE FORMER SILVERMAN BUILDING AND CROSSROADS COMMERCE PARK IN FORT PIERCE, WE HAVE RANGED LOGISTICS -- THIRD-PARTY LOGISTICS PROVIDER THAT HAS TAKEN THE 1.1 MILLION SQUARE FOOT FACILITY . I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THIS PRODUCT BECAUSE WE NOT ONLY WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, BUT ALSO, FPUA IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE ADEQUATE POWER AND ADDITIONAL UTILITIES. ALSO, AND THINGS AT THE AIRPORT WE HAVE INTERESTING THINGS IN THE AVIATION SECTOR ALONG WITH LIGHT BRIDGE ACADEMY, CHILDCARE FACILITY IN PORT ST. LUCIE. IN THE PIPELINE, WE HAVE SEVERAL PROJECTS OVER 10 THAT ARE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING ST. LUCIE COUNTY. THEY INCLUDE MANUFACTURING FACILITIES AND HEADQUARTERS, AVIATION TRAININGS, SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT AND DISTRIBUTION LOGISTICS.
FOUR OF THESE PROJECTS ARE LOOKING AT FORT PIERCE AND THE GREATER NORTHERN PORTION OF THE COUNTY, SO BOTH ON THE MANUFACTURING SIDE AND ALSO DISTRIBUTION, THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY AND FORT PIERCE IS PROMINENTLY POSITIONED, I BELIEVE, TO ACCEPT THESE KINDS OF PROJECTS AND MORE. SO, WE ALWAYS TRY TO MEASURE THE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY OF OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP. OVER THE LAST 7 1/2 YEARS, WE HAVE HAD 31 EXPANSIONS AND 48 ATTRACTIONS OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY AND THEY INCLUDE THE INDUSTRY SECTORS IN THE BOTTOM MANUFACTURING LIFE-SCIENCES PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, AVIATION MARINE, DISTRIBUTION , LOGISTICS AND OTHERS. IT IS GREAT TO SEE WE ARE ALSO NOT ONLY HELPING TO CREATE JOBS BUT ALSO DIVERSIFYING THE ECONOMY BY BRINGING IN OTHER INDUSTRY SECTORS. SO, IN 2024, IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, WE HAVE WORKED ON FIVE PROJECTS. WE HAVE HAD ONE EXPANSION AND FIVE NEW COMPANIES TOTALING $75.5 MILLION IN CAPITAL INVESTMENT, 2.5 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF NEW INDUSTRIAL SPACE AND 630 PROJECTED NEW JOBS. UNDER CONSTRUCTION, AS I MENTIONED, THE APP JET CENTER FINALLY SEEING SOME NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT IS SORELY'S NEEDED AT THEIR. TREASURE COVE'S FOOD BANK KICKING OFF THE NEW ORANGE 95 COMMERCE CENTER. SO, WHEN WE FINALLY FOUND THE LOCATION FOR THE FOOD BANK, MY FIRST CALL WAS TO HOBBY AND I WAS LIKE, HOBBY, DO YOU PROVIDE ELECTRIC UTILITIES TO THIS SITE? UNFORTUNATELY, THEY DID NOT. BUT THEY PROVIDE WATER AND SEWER. SO WE ALWAYS WANT TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH UA AND MAKING SURE THAT THESE GREAT INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS GET THOSE UTILITIES. AND WE WILL HAVE A FURTHER CONVERSATION ON THAT.
OCULAR SURGICAL AND THE TENANT HOSPITAL ALSO KNOWN AS THE FLORIDA COAST TO OR HOSPITAL OFF OF BECKETT ROAD ARE DEFINITELY UNDERWAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION. A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, WE CELEBRATED THE OPENING OF XL INTERNATIONAL. A HIGH-TECH ADVANCED MANUFACTURING COMPANY THAT RELOCATED OUT OF CONNECTICUT THAT MAKES WIRING AND CABLE SYSTEMS FOR AVIATION, I.T., AND ALSO MEDICAL DEVICES. AND THEN, ALSO, CHENEY BROTHERS OPENED UP IN LEGACY PARK CLOSE TO 300 POSITIONS THERE WITH THAT ICONIC FOOD DISTRIBUTOR. SO,
[00:10:06]
ONE THING ABOUT OUR EFFORTS HERE IS HOW DO WE EXPAND THE TAX BASE? AND I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE TO THE AMAZON BUILDINGS . ONE IS JUST OPENING UP, AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT IN JUST A SECOND. ALONG WITH HOPE HELPING TO CREATE JOBS, EXPANDING THE TAX BASE, JUST THESE TWO FACILITIES ALONE , $2.6 MILLION OF TAX REVENUE IS COMING TO OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES. THIS IS A QUANTIFIABLE SITUATION WHERE WE CAN SEE HOW WE CAN HELP, AT LEAST WITHOUT GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES, OF GOING TO TAX BASE. HOW DO WE DO THE SAME WITH FPUA IN TERMS OF MAKING THE METERS RUN FROM A QUANTITATIVE STANDPOINT? JUST TWO PUBLIC POLICY ASPECTS. AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE GREAT LEADERS HERE AT THE EDC. ONE THING WE HAVEN'T VERY MUCH FOCUSED ON IS THE STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR THE ECONOMIC GROWTH OF OUR COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE EXPERIENCED TREMENDOUS GROWTH OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, HOWEVER, WE HAVE CHALLENGES AND YOU ALL KNOW THESE. AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING, WORKFORCE READINESS, PRIMING THE TALENT PIPELINE MAKING SURE THAT OUR EMPLOYERS HAVE ALL THE NECESSARY TALENT TO RUN THEIR OPERATIONS AND THEN, INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTILITIES. WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW THE COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS AND ONE THING THAT WE CHERISH IS THE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH GREAT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE YOU AND HOW DO LOCAL PEOPLE SOLVE THESE LOCAL PROBLEMS? SO, MORE TO COME ON THAT BUT I WILL LEAVE THAT ALONE AND THEN, THE LAST THING IS WE WANT TO MEASURE THE 10 YEAR GROWTH OF THE ECONOMY AND WHAT ACTUALLY HAS TRANSPIRED IN THAT AND WE HAVE HIRED POLYCOM CORPORATION TO MEASURE OUR ECONOMIC STRENGTH.AND WHEN LITTLE THING BECAUSE IT IS A LONG STUDY AND WE ARE GOING TO UNVEIL IT IN OCTOBER AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU THERE TO LISTEN TO IT, BUT THE PRINCIPLE OF THE COMPANY. EVERY YEAR MEASURES THE METROPOLITAN PHYSICAL AREAS IN THE UNITED STATES AND THERE ARE 384 OF THEM. AND THESE ECONOMIC STRENGTH RANKINGS ARE BASED ON JOBS, WAGES, ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION AND GROWTH IN HOUSEHOLD INCOME. SO, IN 2015, ST. LUCIE COUNTY WAS 331 . ONE BEING THE STRONGEST. 384 BEING THE WEAKEST. SO, WE WERE IN THE FOURTH QUARTILE AS ONE OF THE WEAKEST ECONOMIES IN THE UNITED STATES. I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT IN 2024, WE HAVE CATAPULTED TO 94. SO, THERE IS A LOT MORE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE MUCH MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE AND IMPACTFUL THAT I WOULD LIKE TO GET TO RIGHT NOW AND THEN, THE LAST THING THAT I WANT TO MENTION IS AMAZON, AS I SAID EARLIER, HAS OPENED UP THEIR DISTRIBUTION CENTER. THEY ARE LOOKING FOR 1000 PEOPLE TO FILL THOSE JOBS. EDC HAS BEEN WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, OUR NONPROFITS , THE SCHOOL BOARD, COLLEGE , AND OUR WORKFORCE BOARD TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIND SOME VERY GOOD JOBS FOR OUR RESIDENTS. SO, MADAM CHAIR, IF IT IS OKAY, I AM GOING TO STOP THERE AND I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE ON AND INVITE MY COLLEAGUES UP AND THEN AFTERWARDS WE CAN ASK QUESTIONS. WOULD THAT BE OKAY,
>> I WOULD LIKE ALINA GOLDSTEIN TO COME UP AND DO THE OPENING REMARKS AND TALK ABOUT THE JOBS QUARTER.
>> THANK YOU, PETE , FOR THAT INTRODUCTION. MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MY NAME IS ALINA GOLDSTEIN AND I AM CHAIR OF THE EDC. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US BE HERE TO KIND OF WORK WITH YOU AND PRESENT THE KINGS HIGHWAY JOBS ORDER PROJECT, WHICH AS YOU KNOW, IS GOING TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT POSITIVE IMPACTS ON THE FUTURE GROWTH OF NOT ONLY THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE BUT ALSO THE GROWTH OF THE CUSTOMER BASE OF FPUA AND POTENTIALLY THE SERVICE AREA AS WELL. AND SO, WE MADE A PRESENTATION LAST NIGHT TO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND WE KNOW THAT WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY AND WITH YOUR SUPPORT AT THE FPUA AS WELL AS OTHER STRATEGIC NURSE, WE KNOW THAT IF WE CONCENTRATE ALL OF OUR
[00:15:03]
COLLECTIVE ENERGIES, THAT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO SUPPORT AND FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COHESIVE AND SYNERGISTIC WORLD-CLASS COMMERCE SECTOR AND INDUSTRIAL ORDER. THAT AS PETE MENTIONED WOULD EXPAND THE TAX BASE, IMPROVE OVERALL UTILITY SERVICES AND REVENUES FOR UA AND ITS RATEPAYERS AND OVERALL CONTRIBUTE TO THE OVERALL ECONOMIC GROWTH OF NOT ONLY THE AREA BUT IT'S SURROUNDING AREA. AND THAT WOULD GENERALLY SERVE YOUR MISSION, WHICH IS TO PROVIDE YOUR CUSTOMERS WITH ECONOMIC RELIABLE AND FRIENDLY SERVICE IN A CONTINUOUS EFFORT TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN A COMMUNITY. SO WITH THAT, THE EDC, AS YOU KNOW WITH PAST EXPERIENCE, WE ARE READY, ABLE AND WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU ALL TO EMBARK UPON THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT. THE VISIONS OF GREATNESS ARE REALLY HERE AND THEY ARE ALIGNED. YOU HAVE WITNESSED NOT ONLY WHAT THE EDC HAS DONE DOWN IN THE SOUTH PART OF THE COUNTY WITH THE SOUTHERN GROWTH JOBS QUARTER AND NOW IS THE TIME FOR NORTH COUNTY WITH FPUA BEING UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO PROVIDE ALL OF THE UTILITY SERVICES THAT YOU CAN TO SIGN ON WHAT CAN BE A GREAT AREA AND A GREAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AND YOU ARE SERIOUSLY UNIQUELY POSITIONED. I KNOW THAT SINCE 1972 AND WITH YOUR INCEPTION, YOU ARE ONE OF 2000 SERVING UTILITY AUTHORITIES AND THAT IS QUITE IMPRESSIVE AND WHY NOT HARNESS AND GROW THAT CAPABILITY? AND SO, OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO ACTUALLY HELP YOU FURTHER HONE IN YOUR MISSION, FURTHER HONE AND CRAFT YOUR MISSION AND DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO TAKE YOU ALL TO THE NEXT LEVEL. THIS WILL SET THE STAGE FOR METHODICAL AND STRATEGIC METHOD AND APPROACH FOR EXPANDING YOUR SERVICE BOUNDARIES THAT WILL FUEL YOUR PASSIONS AND DEDICATION TO PROVIDING MULTISERVICE. YOU HAVE EVEN DEVELOPED A DISTANT DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO FURTHER SUPPORT THE AMAZING ECONOMIC GROWTH THAT YOU HAVE WITNESSED AND ARE EXPERIENCING NOW. AND SO, YOU WILL HEAR ACTUALLY MORE ABOUT THIS APPROACH IN OUR PRESENTATION AND WITH THAT, I KIND OF WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT HOW THE EDC CAN FURTHER HELP YOU HARNESS AND GROW . WE HAVE DONE IT BEFORE. WE HAVE LEANED IN WHEN THERE WERE CHALLENGES AND SO, WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL WELCOME US INTO THAT HUDDLE AND AS WE LEAN IN TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THIS FPUA AND THIS AREA AN AMAZING PLACE AND REALLY SET THE STANDARD AND OF THE GOLD STANDARD, THAT IS. AND WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO LESLIE OLSON , ONE OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS. THANK YOU.>> MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE FPUA BOARD. HAVI, MY NAME IS LESLIE OLSON. I AM CO-PRINCIPLE AT DISTRICT PLANNING GROUP .
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO MEET YET, HELLO. SO, WE ARE LOOKING AT THE EDC AT HOW FORT PIERCE CAN GROW LIKE SOUTHERN GROWTH DID. AS YOU DRIVE DOWN I-95 , YOU SEE AMAZING BUILDINGS AS YOU GO THROUGH TRADITION AND WE HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY HERE BETWEEN OKEECHOBEE ROAD AND NORTH OF ORANGE AVENUE ALONG THE KINGS CORRIDOR -- KINGS HIGHWAY CORRIDOR. THIS IS A FANTASTIC AREA AND WE HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED. BUT WE HAVE SOME THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY DEVELOP AND HAVE THE SERVICES THEY NEED IN ORDER TO CREATE THESE JOBS AND TO BECOME RATEPAYERS. MAUREEN, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, THESE ARE JUST SOME REALLY QUICK SLIDES SHOWING FROM NORTH COUNTY DOWN ALONG THE KINGS HIGHWAY CORRIDOR MANY OF THE THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY IN PROGRESS AND PROPOSED . IT IS REALLY KIND OF REMARKABLE. THE ORANGE BOXES ARE MOSTLY RESIDENTIAL, THEN, WE ALSO HAVE THE RED BOXES, WHICH IS A LITTLE HARD TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE COLORS, BUT MOSTLY INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS AS WE GO SOUTH. NEXT, SLIDE. NOW, WE ARE COMING DOWN
[00:20:03]
SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT ON KINGS HIGHWAY AND YOU CAN SEE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS BEING PROPOSED. ALSO, A LOT OF RESIDENTIAL WITHIN THE FPUA WATER/WASTEWATER SERVICE AREA AND INDUSTRIAL , ALL OF WHICH WILL REALLY HELP GROW THE FPUA UTILITY AS THEY COULD AND ASKED ANNEXED . NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS WHERE WE WOULD INTEND TO FOCUS FIRST. WE WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS BETWEEN OKEECHOBEE ROAD AND ORANGE AVENUE BECAUSE OF THE FANTASTIC TO THE STATES INTERMODAL SYSTEM. I-95 AND THE TURNPIKE. YOU HAVE THREE SIX POINTS INTO THE STATES INTERMODAL SYSTEM JUST BETWEEN THESE TWO ROADS. IT HAS MOSTLY THE RIGHT ZONING AND FUTURE LAND USE AND IT HAS BIG PARCELS OF LAND, YOU REALLY NEED IF YOU ARE GOING TO CREATE THESE LARGE INDUSTRIAL CENTERS THAT CREATE JOBS AND IT HAS ALREADY BEEN IMPROVED BY FDOT , SO IT IS CAPABLE OF HANDLING THE TRAFFIC LOAD. NEXT. SO, WE ARE JUST SHOWING TO HEAR WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW. THE WATER SERVICE AREA IS THE BLUE AND THAT IS WHERE THE CITY WILL ANNEX ONCE THEY BECOME CONTIGUOUS WITH THE CITY BOUNDARIES. AND WHERE FPUA WILL SERVE. SO, ALL OF THE KINGS HIGHWAY CORRIDOR UP TO ST. LUCIE BOULEVARD IS IN THE FPUA WATER/WASTEWATER SERVICE AREA. SO, YOUR CAPACITY TO SERVE THESE PROJECTS IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS AREA. I THINK THAT IS THE LAST SLIDE, ISN'T IT? OKAY. WE WILL TAKE THE NEXT ONE THEN. SO, WE ARE GOING TO WORK WITH THE EDC SHOULD THEY DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT TO LOOK AT ALL OF THE ANCILLARY THINGS AROUND THE SHOPS CORRIDOR. WILL WE HAVE THE HOUSING NECESSARY? THE RETAIL? THE UTILITIES? TRANSPORTATION CAPACITY? WHAT ARE THE JURISDICTIONS WITHIN THIS AREA AND WHAT ARE THEIR REQUIREMENTS AND WHAT ARE THE LIMITATIONS IN THE CODE? WILL THEY ENCOURAGE REALLY HIGH QUALITY DEVELOPMENT OR NOT? AND DO ANY OF THOSE THINGS NEED TO CHANGE? WHO ARE THE NEIGHBORS? HOW DO THEY FEEL ABOUT THIS? WHAT THE LAND OWNERS? WHAT ARE THEIR PLANS? WHAT KIND OF ARCHITECTURE DO WE WANT? WHAT KIND OF LANDSCAPING DO WE WANT TO SEE? THAT COULD BE A REALLY GOOD WAY TO ADD A COHESIVE CORRIDOR FEEL. SO, WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT DOING THIS AND IT IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE PHASED BECAUSE THIS IS A BIG PROJECT. SO, MIGHT BUSINESS PARTNER CARRIE WOOD IS GOING TO COME UP AND TALK A LITTLE BITABOUT PHASE ONE. >> GOOD EVENING. MADAM CHAIR.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US AND WE WILL UNFOLD THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE AND YOU SEE A LOT OF ISSUES AND QUESTIONS BEING LAID OUT. YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE ARE BIGGER ISSUES THAT WE HAD AT OUR PRESENTATION LAST NIGHT TO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE ELECTED OFFICIALS. THEY DOVE INTO A LOT OF THESE AREAS AND IT WAS BIGGER THAN EVEN THIS PARTICULAR PLAN BECAUSE IT IS A CITY, RIGHT? THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO COVER. YOURS ARE CLEARLY MUCH MORE FOCUSED. YOU WANT TO SERVE CUSTOMERS AND THAT IS JUST GREAT. WE LOVE CLARITY AND THOSE THINGS BUT PHASE ONE IS REALLY ABOUT UNFOLDING SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS MORE WITH ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS WITH YOU ALL AS A LEADERSHIP BOARD, WITH THE STAFF OF THE UA, THE STAFF OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, THE LAND OWNERS. FIRST PHASE IS ASKING A LOT OF UNFOLDING QUESTIONS TO UNDERSTAND BETTER WHICH OF THESE QUESTIONS DO WE WANT TO DIVE INTO AND FOLD INTO THIS PLAN. WHICH ARE THE THINGS THAT MAYBE AREN'T BIGGEST PRIORITIES IN OUR SECOND OR THIRD TIER . SO PHASE ONE IS VERY COLLABORATIVE. WE WILL BE REACHING OUT TO A LOT OF LAND OWNERS AND REACHING OUT TO ST.
LUCIE COUNTY. JURISDICTION BOUNDARIES WEAVE IN AND OUT OF THESE AREA WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE COUNTY'S PLAN FOR DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS UNTIL THE TIME THAT THIS BECOMES THE ENTIRE EMPIRE OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. WE NEED TO HAVE THEM AS WORKING PARTNERS. SO THAT IS THE FIRST POINT ABOUT THE PLAN ITSELF AS IT IS. THE FIRST PART IS VERY COLLABORATIVE AT THE END OF PHASE ONE, WE WILL HAVE A CLEAR
[00:25:02]
IDEA OF WHAT WILL BE PHASE TWO AND PHASE THREE. WAS THE ENDGAME OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS AND THEN, WHERE DO WE GO NEXT? AND THEN I WANT TO MAKE A POINT ABOUT IN ADDITION TO -- YES. OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO SERVE MORE CUSTOMERS, WE WANT TO SERVE THE CITY, HAVE A JOB SPACE. WHY WOULD HAVING A PLAN B IMPORTANT? AND I THINK THAT VISIONS AND PLANS PROVIDE CONFIDENCE AND CERTAINTY, ESPECIALLY FOR BUSINESSES. I WILL GIVE A COUPLE OF BIG EXAMPLES. AN ANECDOTE TO MAKE IT PERSONAL AND REAL. I WON'T USE THE SAME MAYOR ANECDOTES THAT I USE LAST NIGHT. BUT I WOULD TELL STORIES ABOUT MY OWN EXPERIENCES AS A BUSINESS OWNER. I OWN TWO BUSINESSES.ONE IS DISTRICT PLANNING GROUP AND I AM HONORED TO BE PARTNERED WITH AN EXTRAORDINARY BUSINESS PARTNER. IT IS JUST THE TWO OF US A PART-TIME ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT. WE ARE IN YEAR THREE OF OUR BUSINESS SO THIS IS ONE PICTURE OF WHAT A BUSINESS CAN LOOK LIKE AND THE KINDS OF CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE. BUT ONE OF THE ASPECTS OF CERTAINTY THAT WE DEAL WITH WITH THE UA AND THIS IS A VERY SMALL EXAMPLE BUT I THINK ISRAEL REAL IS WE ARE SETTING UP A NEW BUSINESS OFFICE LIKE A CO-WORKING SPACE IN THE FPUA TERRITORY . I CAN TELL YOU AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER HOW EXCITED I AM TO SET UP WITH NETFPUA AND EVENTUALLY FILE MY DIVORCE PAPERS WITH COMCAST BUSINESS.
>> UP THE EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE IT TAKES TO SPEND AN HOUR ON THE PHONE WITH COMCAST BUSINESS ACCOMPLISHING NOTHING AND SO DEALING WITH A LOCAL UTILITY PROVIDER IS EXTRAORDINARY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES JUST IN THESE LITTLE WAYS. THESE ARE HUGE TIMESAVERS. HUGE SANITY SAVERS. SO I WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT.
THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT COMPANIES LIKE COMCAST ARE NOT CAPABLE OF ACCOMMODATING THAT KIND OF SERVICE. THE ABYSS OTHER BUSINESS THAT I OWN, WE HAVE A MANUFACTURING COMPANY SITUATED FROM THE 1980S. WE HAVE 55 OR SO EMPLOYEES. OVER THE YEARS, I OWN IT JOINTLY WITH MY BROTHER. THIS IS A SECOND GENERATION FAMILY BUSINESS. OVER THE YEARS, WE HAVE TOYED ON AND OFF WITH EXPANDING OUR SITE. WE ARE HEMMED IN ON ALL SIDES. WE HAVE GROWN A LOT SINCE THE EARLY 1980S. BUSINESS IS GREAT. THE ECONOMY HAS BEEN WONDERFUL AND, YOU KNOW, YET THE TASKS OF BUILDING A NEW SITE CAN BE DAUNTING TO BUSINESS OWNERS AND I EVEN KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT HOW THIS WORKS ENTITLING A SITE AND GETTING THINGS BUILT. BUT THE PROCESS IS DAUNTING. THE PRICE TAG IS EVEN MORE DAUNTING. BUT AS A BUSINESS OWNER, WHEN I START TO SEARCH FOR LAND OF WHERE COULD I LOCATE A NEW FACILITY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD BE LOOKING FOR IS WILL THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT A NEW BUSINESS IN THIS AREA? THE CITY AND THE UA TEAM UP AND EVENTUALLY COME UP WITH, THIS IS THE FUTURE THAT WE SEE HERE . IT MAKES IT MUCH EASIER FOR A BUSINESS THAT IS LOOKING TO COME INTO ST. LUCIE COUNTY OR EXPAND ON A PARTICULAR SITE TO SAY OKAY. THERE IS FOCUS HERE AND WE HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES HAVE INVESTED THE TIME AND THE MONEY AND EFFORT INTO OUTLINING WHERE USES ARE GOING TO GO AND WHAT THIS IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND PREDICTABILITY TOWARDS THE PROCESS FOR GETTING THAT DONE.
SO I WANTED TO OFFER THOSE AS EXAMPLES AS WHY WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT PARTNERING WITH YOU AND DEVELOPING THIS PLAN.
WE ARE BOTH FORT PIERCE OFFICES. WE DON'T LIKE ST.
LUCIE COUNTY, LIKE OUR FORTE. WE ARE COMMITTED HERE AND COMMITTED TO FURTHERING YOUR INTEREST SO WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND WE WILL HAVE THE NEXT MEMBER OF OUR TEAM COME UP
AND START TO WIND THIS UP. >> CAN WE GET FIBER ON THE
>> IT IS HAPPENING. >> MADAM CHAIR, AS I TALKED TO HARVEY THIS AFTERNOON, I TOLD HIM THAT WE WOULD CONCENTRATE OUR ROCKS. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE, WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE INVESTMENT IN THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH UA AND THE EDC. HAVING HAVI ON OUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND HAVING HIS TEAMWORK WITH US ON THE TOPICS THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT -- WE ARE REALLY TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. SO, HAVI. WE APPRECIATE YOUR EXPERTISE. WE W YOU. WE TALKED ABOUT PROVIDING A PROPOSAL. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH HAVI AND HIS TEAM ON AN ARRANGEMENT ON THIS PROPOSAL AND WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE, AS MET LESLIE MENTIONED.
[00:30:01]
LESLIE AND CAROL MENTIONED ABOUT WORKING WITH THE CITY COMMISSION . WE ARE DOING THE SAME THING. I THINK WE ARE PRETTY CLOSE TO HAVING A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AND AGREEMENT TO GO FORWARD. SO WHATEVER YOU NEED FROM US, MADAM CHAIR , AND HAVI TO COMPLETE THAT. WE ARE READY. I WANT TO HAND IT BACK TO ROBERT BARFIELD BECAUSE WE HAVE A VERY COOL VIDEO CLIP AND JUST SOME CLOSING REMARKS AND MADAM CHAIR, HAPS HE WOULD TAKE QUESTIONS THERE AND GET GOINGON THAT. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> THANK YOU.
>> WOW. PRETTY AMAZING. MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, MADAM MAYOR, HAVEE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. AS PETE OUTLINED IN HIS ECONOMIC UPDATE AND THE VIDEO SHOWING ALL THE MOST RECENT DISPLAYS OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH, IT IS AMAZING TO THINK, THAT IS RIGHT HERE IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY IN FORT PIERCE. IN THAT TWO-MINUTE VIDEO, YOU SALT MORE THAN 4.2 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF CLASS A INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES AND WAREHOUSES. 840,000 SQUARE FEET OR 20% OF THAT SPACE IS RIGHT HERE IN FORT PIERCE. THE EDC PLAYS A CONTINUAL ROLE IN HELPING WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HELPING THOSE BUILDINGS COME OUT OF THE GROUND. WE ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE RECRUITMENT AND RELOCATION OF BUSINESSES COMING INTO THE COMMUNITY. AS PETER SAID EARLIER, FOR EXAMPLE, THE SILVERMAN BUILDING AT THE CROSSROADS COMMERCE CENTER. BROAD BRAINS LOGISTICS, AMAZON, COSTCO, CHENEY BROTHERS, JUST TO NAME A FEW. WHAT IS IMPORTANT ABOUT THE KING'S HIGHWAY CORRIDOR PROJECT HAS ALREADY EXPERIENCED QUALITY INDUSTRIAL GROWTH, AS OUTLINED IN THE VIDEO. SO THE TRACK RECORD OF BEING COMPETITIVE AND ATTRACTIVE LOCATION FOR THE COMMERCE CENTER IS ALREADY CLEAR. MANY OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT LOOK TO COME TO THE COMMUNITY WILL NEED POWER, WASTEWATER, AND OTHER TYPE AMENITIES. THEREFORE, CREATING A LONG-TERM VIABLE REVENUE STREAM FOR FPUA. THIS GROWTH WILL INCLUDE ADDITIONALLY ADDITIONAL HOUSING UNITS BOTH INFILL AS WELL AS NEW PROJECTS. ADDITIONAL REVENUE STREAMS TO HELP TURN THE METERS, AS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT SEVERAL TIMES. THIS WILL TAKE A LONG TERM VISION AND STRATEGIC PLANNING TO GET THIS DONE. WE ALL KNOW ST. LUCIE COUNTY IS GROWING. PORT ST.
LUCIE SELINSGROVE DROPS QUARTER HAS HAS ALL BUILT OUT. ECONOMIC GROWTH IS ALREADY QUICKLY GROWING TO THE NORTH. WE BELIEVE THIS TIME THE CITY AND ITS STAKEHOLDERS HAVE A WELL-THOUGHT-OUT, STRATEGICALLY DEVELOPED FIRST-CLASS COMMERCE CENTER. WE KNOW PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING A JOB QUARTER WILL TAKE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF COLLABORATION FROM ALL PARTIES DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY INVOLVED. AS YOU HAVE HEARD FROM PETE, LESLIE, CARA, WE BELIEVE THE EDC IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED WITH THE EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, TO HELP LEAD THIS
[00:35:01]
PROJECT IN A PARTNERSHIP ARRANGEMENT. WE ARE VERY EXCITED AND VIEW THIS AS A PRIVILEGE TO COLLABORATE ON THIS PROJECT WITH YOU. THE ASK IS, AS PETE ALLUDED TO, CREATE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES AS WELL AS THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE TO SET OBJECTIVES, GOALS, RESPONSIBILITIES AND PARTNERS ARE INVOLVED TO CREATE THE KING'S HIGHWAY CORRIDOR. AS KAREN SAID, THIS IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT. WE ARE NOT GOING TO SIT IN A VACUUM AND DECIDE WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE. WE NEED ALL PARTIES INVOLVED TO COME HERE. IT HAS GOT A LOT OF TENTACLES TO IT.THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT ASPECTS TO IT BUT WE NEED PARTIES LIKE YOURSELF TO COME TO THE TABLE, HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT THE NEED IS. WE KNOW WE NEED TO HELP YOU GENERATE REVENUE, RIGHT? IT IS GOING TO TAKE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS FROM YOURSELF, BUT WE BELIEVE THIS JOBS CORRIDOR WILL CREATE A LONG-TERM VIABLE PAYERS BOTH COMMERCIAL AS WELL AS RESIDENTIAL AND CREATE LONG-STANDING REVENUE STREAMS FOR THAT LIMIT INVESTMENT THAT YOU HAVE TO PUT IN PLACE.
THEREFORE, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY AND THE CURRENT RELATIONSHIP AS PETE SAID. WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING A PART OF THE BOARD AND EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR US. WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> ANY QUESTIONS? >> SO, MADAM CHAIR, -- SO, THIS IDEA HAS BEEN A LONG-TERM COMING AND I THINK IT CAME OUT OF OUR JOINT MEETING AND WE STARTED OFF WITH ANNEXATION, I THINK, AND THIS HAS GROWN INTO SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS ARE VERY GOOD AT, WHICH IS WHAT YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE IN SOUTHERN ST. LUCIE COUNTY AND WANTED WANTED TO REFRESH THE BOARD'S MEMORY . THIS PROJECT CAME OUT OF THAT IS MY MEMORY.
>> YES, MA'AM. IT IS CORRECT. WHEN THEY HAVE A JOINT MEETING WITH THE CITY COMMISSION AND THE UA A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.
>> CHAIR, THIS QUESTION MAYBE MORE FOR THE MAYOR AND YOU GUYS, I DID NOT GET TO WATCH THE MEETING LAST NIGHT. HOW DID IT GO WITH THE REST OF THE COMMISSION AND HOW DO THEY RECEIVE IT? WAS THERE ANY DIALOGUE THAT WE SHOULD KNOW
ABOUT? >> THERE WAS KIND OF A FEELING LIKE, YEAH, WE NEED THIS LIKE YESTERDAY BECAUSE KING'S HIGHWAY IS ALREADY GROWING AND HAS ALREADY GROWN AND SO BETTER LATE THAN NEVER AND SO I THINK THEY ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT.
MOST OF THE GROWTH WILL BE IN DISTRICT 1, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT. AND SO, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE ONE FORT PIERCE, THAT WAS A PARTICULAR INTEREST TO THE COMMISSION . SO, I THINK COMMISSIONER PROJECT SUMMED IT UP WHEN HE SAID I WANT TO ANNEX
IT ALL. THAT WAS ALL HE SAID. >>
>> BUT THERE WERE NO NEVER DID NEGATIVES EXCEPT WE WANT GOOD JOBS . WE WANT JOBS THAT PAY WELL. WE WANT A WORKFORCE THAT IS READY AND SKILLED AND WE NEED WORKFORCE HOUSING. ALL OF THE THINGS THEY TALKED ABOUT. SO I THINK THAT WILL BE ALL ENCOMPASSING IN THIS FIRST PHASE ONE AND THEY DO HAVE A TRACK RECORD FOR SOUTHERN GROWTH IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY. SO WE ARE EXPECTING THE SAME KIND OF
THING HERE. >> RIGHT. MAYBE WITH LESS WAREHOUSE SPACE THOUGH, RIGHT?
>> WORK? PHASE ONE, OBVIOUSLY LOTS OF QUESTIONS. ARE YOU ENVISIONING SOME MORE JOINT MEETINGS OR IS THERE GOING TO BE A POINT PERSON? WHAT WORKED WELL IN THE PAST?
>> YES MA'AM. WE HAVE THE DEVELOPED A SCOPE OF WORK AND AS CARA MENTIONED, THERE ARE MANY ASPECTS OF THAT. PART OF THAT IS SOME OF THE PUBLIC OUTREACH. SO, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A VERY METHODICAL APPROACH. FIRST OF ALL COLLECTING ALL THE INFORMATION AND ASSETS. FOR EXAMPLE, UA HAS ALL THE MAPS REGARDING UTILITIES. SO BEING ABLE TO COLLECT ALL OF THAT AND TO KIND OF LOOK AT THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO FROM A COMPETITIVE BASIS. SO THAT IS ONE. AS I MENTIONED, HAVING THAT DISCUSSION WITH THE PUBLIC.
THERE IS A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS THAT NEED TO BE HAD THERE AS YOU CAN IMAGINE. WE SEE IT AS A COMBINATION OF OUTREACH AND COMPILING OF INFORMATION, AND THEN, WITH YOUR HELP, UNVEILING A GAME PLAN. SO, THAT WILL BE PHASE ONE. AGAIN, THE AREA THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS FROM OKEECHOBEE TO ORANGE AVENUE ALONG THE KING'S HIGHWAY. LAST NIGHT, WE TALKED ABOUT -- THERE IS A PROPERTY CALLED THE SKENEL PROPERTY. WHICH IS AN UA
[00:40:06]
TERRITORY. THEY HAVE A SITE PLAN FOR 1.5 MILLION SQUARE FEET. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO THE PRINCIPLES OF THE COMPANY THAT ARE COMING INTO TOWN AND THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT MAKING THAT HAPPEN. HERE IS A REAL-LIFE EXAMPLE OF MAKING THAT DEVELOPMENT AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, CLOSING THAT PROJECT AND GETTING THEM VERTICAL. YOU KNOW, IT IS IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE . IT HAS BEEN ON THE TAX BASE. THEY WOULD NEED ALL OF THE UTILITIES FROM YOU ALL. SO, IT IS A COMBINATION OF PLANNING, BUT ALSO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND GETTING THESE PROJECTS UP AND RUNNING BECAUSE IT IS A VERY GREAT AREA. LITTLE BIT LONGER ANSWER THAN YOU WANTED, MA'AM, IT IS ALL PART OF THE PROCESS.SPEAKERS ] >> SORRY. I AM JUST EXCITED TO HAVE YOU HELPING SPEARHEAD AND ACTION PLAN AND ALSO A COHESIVE PLAN SO WE ARE ALL WORKING IN THE SAME DIRECTION TOGETHER. I THINK SOMEBODY SAID THAT. I DO FEEL THAT WE HAVE HAD OPPORTUNITIES IN THE PAST THAT MAYBE HASN'T BEEN SO FOCUSED.
SO NOW IS THE TIME AND WE HAVE THE SPACE AND WE HAVE THE PEOPLE IN PLACE AND I FEEL LIKE THIS COULD BE SOMETHING GREAT
SO I AM EXCITED. >> MISS GIBBONS, I WILL BE THE
>> THANK YOU. MY QUESTION IS I UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE FROM OKEECHOBEE TO ORANGE AVENUE. ARE WE PLANNING ON IN THE NEAR FUTURE MOVING FROM ORANGE AVENUE MORE NORTH IN THE
DISTRICT ONE AREA? >> YES, MA'AM. PART OF OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH STAFF -- WE DIDN'T WANT TO DISCLOSE OR NOT INCLUDE THESE OTHER CRITICAL AREAS. LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, ST.
LUCIE BOULEVARD. THE AIRPORT. AND TO THE WEST, THAT IS A VERY GREAT MANUFACTURING AREA AND THERE ARE SOME UTILITY CAPACITY ISSUES THERE AND THEN, PLANNING FOR THE GROWTH OF THE AIRPORT.
SO, WE DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE THAT TO THE SIDE, BUT WE WANTED TO PRIORITIZE WHAT WE WERE DOING TO THE SOUTH FIRST BECAUSE WE TERM THAT LOW HANGING FRUIT BOTH FROM PROVIDING MORE UTILITIES OPPORTUNITIES AND ALSO ANNEXATION. INTO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. BUT, YES. TO THE NORTH IS VERY IMPORTANT AS WELL.
>> AND, IF SO, ARE WE STILL THINKING ABOUT THE WAREHOUSES OR ARE WE THINKING ABOUT OTHER BUSINESSES?
>> YEAH. AND I DIDN'T GO OVER IT VERY SUCCINCTLY IN THE UPDATE, BUT PART OF THE TO PLANNING PROCESS IS, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? WE MADE TREMENDOUS STRIDES IN THE JOB CREATION AND BRINGING IN DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES BUT HOW DO WE TAKE A QUALITATIVE APPROACH TO TARGETING NEW INDUSTRIES? CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, BIOTECHNOLOGY , YOU KNOW, ALL DIFFERENT ENERGY SECTORS THAT COULD FLOW IS HERE IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY AND FORT PIERCE. SO, PART OF THAT IS TAKING A REALISTIC APPROACH ABOUT HOW WE COULD ATTRACTTHOSE INDUSTRIES WITH THE ASSET BASE THAT WE HAVE. THAT IS OUR CONTINUING WORK FOR 2025 IF WE RUN OUT OF THINGS TO DO.
>> THANK YOU. ANY ONE ELSE? >> YES, MADAM CHAIR.
>> YES. >> YOUR TEAM MENTIONED A COUPLE OF TIMES THERE WAS GOING MOUTO BE A OR PROPOSAL COME TO US.
RIGHT NOW, I HAVE IN MY MIND THAT THE PROPOSAL IS GOING TO BE TO PARTIALLY FIND WITH OTHER PUBLIC STAKEHOLDERS A STUDY AND A MASTER PLAN FOR WHAT WE ARE CALLING WORKFORCE REGION WERE
>> JOBS QUARTER. YES. THE LAST TIME YOU PRESENTED TO US. YOU MENTIONED THAT ONE OF THE MAJOR HURDLES THAT WE HAVE TO GET OVER TO REALLY EXPERIENCED SOME REALLY GOOD GROWTH FOR OUR AREA IS WORKFORCE HOUSING. I SAW ON THE MAP DURING YOUR PRESENTATION, WE HAD VARIOUS PARCELS ALREADY IDENTIFIED WERE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT WAS GOING TO BE HAPPENING. WERE ANY OF THOSE SPECIFICALLY TARGETED TOWARDS WORKFORCE HOUSING?
>> MR. LAMMERS, WE DO HAVE A RESIDENT WORKFORCE HOUSING ON
>> SURE. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. MR. LAMMERS, THAT IS A GREAT
[00:45:02]
QUESTION AND I CAN'T CLAIM TO KNOW THE ANSWER SPECIFICALLY FOR EACH ONE OF THESE. AND, AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS. LIKE FOR INSTANCE, THIS BIG PROJECT AT THE SOUTHEAST INTERSECTION OF INDRIO AND I-95 . THIS IS CALLED, WELL, INDRIO AND I-95 AND IT IS A TOWN AND IT DOES HAVE WORKFORCE UNITS. IN THE TOWN VILLAGES AND COUNTRYSIDE AREA, YOU CAN GET INTO SIDE . SO THEY ARE WORKFORCE HOUSING UNITS THERE. I DON'T KNOW THAT ANY OF THE REST OF THESE WAS ANYTHING BUT MARKET RATE. IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU SEE A LOT HERE AS WELL. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY WORKFORCE OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IN THE PIPELINE RIGHT NOW. I COULD BE WRONG, AND IF I AM, I WILL GET BACK TO YOU. BUT TO AN EXTENT, WHEN YOU INCREASE SUPPLY, RATES GO DOWN.COSTS GO DOWN, RIGHT? IT IS AN ECONOMICS THING. BUT WE HAVE SO MUCH DEMAND AND SO MANY PEOPLE MOVING INTO OUR AREA AND IS OUR STATE THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT UNLESS WE DEAL WITH THIS HEAD ON AND FIND OTHER WAYS TO INCENTIVIZE OR REQUIRE WORKFORCE HOUSING THAT WE ARE GOING TO MAKE MUCH OF A DENT IN IT AND I THINK WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THE PROVISION OF HOUSING FOR THE JOBS THAT WE ARE CREATING THAT THOSE EMPLOYEES CAN AFFORD BASED ON THEIR SALARIES, RIGHT? WE WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT IS AVAILABLE IN THE AREA AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO MEET THAT GAP.
>> UNDERSTOOD. SO, YOU MENTIONED A CARE OF ALLOWING HIRED DENSITIES. WHAT TOOLS ARE REALISTICALLY AVAILABLE TO ENCOURAGE HOUSING THAT THE JOBS THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO BRING IN, THOSE WORKERS WILL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO AFFORD? I HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS. I EMPLOY FOUR YOUNG 20 SOMETHINGS AND THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN AFFORD TO LIVE NOT WITH AN ADULT IS THEY LIVE THREE PEOPLE TO A ROOM OR SOMETHING. LIKE THAT, I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE TO STRUGGLE LIKE THAT WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG, BUT NOT EVERYBODY AGREES WITH ME.
>> OF TOOLS AVAILABLE AND IT IS INTERESTING. THE EDC, THROUGH THEIR STRATEGIC LENDING PROCESS THIS YEAR WITH THE BOARD OF PLANNING DIRECTOR'S IDENTIFY HOUSING AS AN AREA THAT THEY WANTED TO FOCUS ON BECAUSE OF THAT ISSUE AND WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH PLANNING A HOUSING SUMMIT FOR THE REGION TO BRING IN SPEAKERS WITH FRESH IDEAS SO THAT WE CAN GIVE OUR LOCAL DEVELOPERS IDEAS, OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IDEAS AND WE ARE
PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT IT. >> SO, THE ANSWER IS TO BE
DETERMINED? >> RIGHT. THERE IS A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO THAT BUT I AM EXCITED TO SHARE SOME IDEAS
WITH YOU SOON. >> MADAM CHAIR, BEFORE YOU LEAVE, THERE ARE TWO WORKFORCE HOUSING PROJECTS ALONG OKEECHOBEE WORLD ROAD AND BY WALMART. BLUE SKY. WHICH STARTED OFF AS A COUNTY PROJECT AND THERE IS ANOTHER BLUE SKY COMMUNITY AND YOU HAVE TO GO BY WALMART AND GO WAY BACK IN THEIR SO THAT IS THE FIRST ONE THAT IS BUILT AND THE SECOND ONE IS GOING TO BE BUILT AT OKEECHOBEE KIND OF NEAR THE FPUA RIGHT ACROSS FROM HASELEY.
>> THAT IS GREAT TO KNOW. >> RIGHT. SO THERE ARE ONES BUILT AND ONES IN THE PIPELINE AND THERE ARE TAX BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN ELDERS WHO DO WORKFORCE HOUSING THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS ARRANGED THAT PROBABLY THESE BUILDERS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF. I DON'T KNOW ALL THE INS AND OUTS OF IT. PLUS, WE ALSO HAVE THE OAKS ON -- BUT THAT IS NOT IN THIS QUARTER EXACTLY BUT IT IS VERY NEAR THIS QUARTER.
>> YEAH. THANK YOU. >> AND WHICH QUARTER WOULD IT
BE IN? DO YOU KNOW? >> OKEECHOBEE ROAD IS THE BLUE SKY. AND WHAT WOULD YOU CALL THAT? JENKINS WROTE QUARTER .
SORT OF NEAR JENKINS ROAD. BETWEEN JENKINS AND HARTMAN.
[00:50:05]
BETWEEN JENKINS AND HARTMAN. >> YEAH.
>> SO, THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE IS ALREADY ENCOURAGING THAT BUT LIKE SHE SAYS, A LOT OF IT IS GOING TO BE A FUNCTION OF THE
MARKET. >> I WILL SAY, THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE HAS THE BEST INCENTIVES OF ANY JURISDICTION I KNOW OF TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THERE IS A LOT OF CARROTS IN THE COMP PLAN.
>> ESPECIALLY THE INFILL WHICH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE JOBS QUARTER BUT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET HOUSES
>> ANYONE ELSE? NO? WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND
PRESENTING TODAY. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND HAVE A
[E.2. Brine Waste Stream Disposal Agreement Between Allied New Technologies and FPUA]
GOOD EVENING. >> THANK YOU TOO. YOU TWO.
>> OKAY. MOVING RIGHT ALONG. DIRECTOR?
>> YES , MA'AM. I HAD A GREAT PRESENTATION AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM. MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THE NEXT ITEM IS A REQUEST TO APPROVE AN AGREEMENT WITH ALLIED NEW TECHNOLOGIES, INC. . KEITH STEFFENS OUR SUPERINTENDENT WILL PRESENT THIS PROPOSAL.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CISNEROS. MADAM CHAIR. BOARD MEMBERS.
NORMALLY I GET TO COME UP HERE AND ASK YOU GUYS TO APPROVE SOMETHING SO I CAN SPEND SOME MONEY. TODAY, I GET TO BRING YOU MONEY. SO I AM REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THAT. I WANT TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND JUST SO YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE ALL OF THIS STARTED. IN 2014, -- ACTUALLY EARLIER THAN THAT, WE DECIDED TO CONVERT FROM CHLORINE GAS TO SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE. LIQUID CHLORINE. IT IS SAFER. EASIER TO CONTROL AND IT WAS A GOOD BUSINESS DECISION FROM FPUA STANDPOINT. ALSO, PRIOR TO THAT ABOUT A YEAR PRIOR TO WHEN WE DID THAT, TIM PERKINS, OUR PREVIOUS WATER WASTEWATER ENGINEERING DIRECTOR , -- ALLIED REACHED OUT TO HIM AND TALKED ABOUT USING OUR CAPACITY IN OUR DEEP INJECTION WELL. TOTALLY TWO SEPARATE THINGS BECAUSE THEY BUILD THEIR NEW PLAN OUT ON RANGELINE ROAD.
WERE THEY MAKE SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE. SO IN THE MEANTIME, HE STARTED THAT. IT TOOK A LOT OF PERMITTING. THEY HAD TO USE THE CAPACITY. THEY MAKE A WASTE CALLED BRINE. IT IS A SALTWATER. IT HAS LITTLE BIT MORE CHLORIDES IN THEN WHATEVER CONCENTRATE IS FOR OUR RL PROCESS BUT IT IS VERY SIMILAR IN NATURE. SO THEY GOT TOGETHER, BUT IT APPROVED THROUGH DEP. WE HAVE THE CAPACITY IN OUR DEEP INJECTION WELL AND ALLIED WAS VERY RECEPTIVE TO IT AND THEY WENT AHEAD AND BUILT A TANK FARM ON OUR SIDE AND PUT ALL THE EQUIPMENT IN AND EVERYTHING WE NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO PUMP IT DOWN OUR DEEP INJECTION WALL. THEY PAID FOR IT IN TOTAL. FOR DOING THAT, WE GAVE THEM A 10 YEAR CONTRACT AND WE PRORATED EVERY YEAR. IT TOOK OFF A LITTLE BIT. THE MONEY THEY SPENT TO BUILD IT. AFTER THEIR INITIAL 10 YEAR CONTRACT, WE NOW OWN THE TANK FARM. I PERSONALLY WAS A LITTLE SKEPTICAL LIKE IT IS GOING TO BE A HEADACHE FOR US. A LOT OF MAINTENANCE NIGHTMARE, AND I CAN TELL YOU, IT HAS BEEN EIGHT WIN-WIN. WE HAVE PUT VERY LITTLE MAINTENANCE OUR MATERIALS INTO THE MATE FARM. WE PUT PRETTY GOOD EQUIPMENT IN. MR. HUTCHINSON ACTUALLY OVERLOOKED THAT PROJECT AT THE TIME. HE WAS INVOLVED IN THAT. SO, WE GOT A TANK FARM IN. SO FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS, THEY HAVE BEEN PUMPING DOWN. WE HAD IT'S LIMITED TO, I BELIEVE IT WAS ABOUT 22,400 -- DON'T ASK ME WHERE THAT NUMBER CAME FROM THAT MET WITH MR. PERKINS AND THEY AGREED TO IT. WE HAD PLENTY OF CAPACITY JUST LET YOU KNOW. WE CAN PUT DOWN UP TO $2.8 MILLION GALLONS A DATE DOWN OUR DEEP INJECTION WELL. WE USE WITH THREE RO TRAINS RUNNING AND EVERYTHING WE USE, WE ONLY USE ABOUT HALF OF THAT.
1.4 MILLION GALLONS A DAY GO DOWN THERE OF REJECT CONCENTRATE. THAT IS RUNNING FULLBORE. SO YOU SEE WE HAVE
[00:55:04]
PLENTY OF CAPACITY THERE. SO, WHAT WE DID, THE 10 YEARS WAS UP AND I SAID, WELL, WE HAVE A NEW CONTRACT. WE OWN IT SO WE ARE GOING TO GET INTO DISCUSSIONS. I BEGAN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CEO, MR. PALMER OF ALLIED AND IT IS A WIN-WIN, LIKE I SAID, THEY ARE RIGHT HERE. THEY ARE LOCAL.TOTALLY SEPARATE OF THE SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE CONTRACT YOU APPROVED LAST MEETING. SORRY I COULDN'T BE HERE. I WAS OUT OF TOWN. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, BY THE NUMBERS, WITH THE NEW CONTRACT OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS. YOU KNOW THEY ARE IN THE BUSINESS. THE NEED GUARANTEES SO THEY CAN GET RID OF THEIR BRINE. WE HAVE AN ESCALATOR IN THERE TOO. THE ESCALATOR IS, THEY NOW PAY WHATEVER OUR THOUSAND GALLONS PER WASTEWATER IS. I BELIEVE IT IS -- 752? DOES THAT SOUND ABOUT RIGHT PER THOUSAND GALLONS IS WHAT WE PAY RIGHT NOW. SO FOR EVERY THOUSAND GALLONS THAT WE PUMP DOWN, THAT IS HOW MUCH WE MAKE PLUS, WE MAKE $10,000 A MONTH OF CAPACITY. SINCE THEY ARE USING OUR CAPACITY OF OUR WELL. SO IF THEY MAXED OUT FOR THE WHOLE YEAR EVERY DAY, IT COULD BE AS MUCH AS $285,000.
REALISTICALLY, BASED OFF OF LAST YEAR'S USAGE, IT IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE IN THE $230,000 RANGE, BUT WE GAVE THEM EXTRA CAPACITY AND LIKE I SAID, WE HAVEN'T HAD TO DO ANYTHING TO THE EQUIPMENT BECAUSE WE HAVE MAINTAINED IT ALONG THE WAY. WE HAVEN'T HAD TO DO HARDLY ANYTHING. TWO PIECES OF PVC. SO WHAT WE ARE ASKING YOU TODAY IS FOR YOU TO APPROVE THE AGREEMENT WITH UA FROM MIAMI, FLORIDA FOR BRINE DISPOSAL AND IT WILL COMMENCE ON TIMBER 15, 2024 AND END SEPTEMBER 15TH , 2034. I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. >> MADAM CHAIR, I BROUGHT THIS UP AT THE LAST MEETING. I LOVE THAT WE ARE DOING BUSINESS WITH PEOPLE WE ARE DOING BUSINESS WITH. I THINK IT IS A GREAT SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP TO KEEP THAT UP. AND IT SHOWS THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING THEM AND VICE VERSA. I DID HAVE A QUESTION.
WHERE IS THIS DEEP INJECTION WELL? IS THIS THE ONE THAT IS OUT THERE BY THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT BEHIND IT BY
THE AUXILIARY? >> IT IS ACTUALLY JUST TO THE NORTH OF WATER DISTRIBUTION. IT IS INSIDE THE FENCED AREA THOUGH. IT IS IN THE FENCED AREA RIGHT THERE. IF YOU COME IN GATE THREE, THAT IS THE SECOND GATE ON FLORIDA. IF YOU LOOK RIGHT THERE ON THE RIGHT, IT IS RIGHT THERE. IT IS EIGHT 12 INCH DEEP INJECTION WELL. IT GOES DOWN 3000 FEET . THAT IS HOW DEEP DEEP INDENTION WELLS ARE.
>> HOW MANY GALLON CONTAINERS ARE THERE?
>> WHAT WE FIGURED OUT IS THERE ARE SIX OF THEM.
>> THE TANK FARM IS AT THE BACK OF THE PROPERTY AT 29TH STREET BUT IS INSIDE THE FENCED AREA. WHAT THEY DO IS UNLOAD THERE.
USE AIR FROM THEIR TRUCKS AND BLOW IT OUT. THEY DON'T HAVE TO PUMP IT. THAT IS HOW MOST OF YOUR CHEMICAL -- WHETHER IT BE A CHEMICAL TRUCK OR LIQUID TRUCK, IT IS HOW THEY GET RID OF THEIR PRODUCT. THEY HAVE INTERNAL COMPRESSES THAT USE AIR ROUGHLY 10 PSI AND THEY PUSH IT OUT AND GOES INTO OUR TANKS AND WE HAVE SIX OF THEM. I WANT TO SAY THEY ARE ABOUT , OH, IF I WAS TO GUESS -- I THINK WE DECIDED THAT THERE WERE ABOUT EIGHT . 8500 GALLONS PER PIECE. BUT WE START PUMPING TOO AS SOON AS THEY GET IN THERE. WE HAVE THE ABILITY THROUGH SCADA TO KNOW WHAT THE LIMIT IS. WE HAVE A LIMIT OF 6000 PER DAY NOW. WE RAISED IT QUITE A BIT BUT WE HAVE PLENTY OF CAPACITY. I HAVE AN AGREEMENT OF THEM. IF ANYTHING EVER HAPPENED OUT OF THE NORM, WE CONTROL HOW MUCH GOES OUT THE WELL, BUT AT THIS POINT, OUR PUMPS WILL TURN OFF FROM A 24 HOUR PERIOD FROM MIDNIGHT TO MIDNIGHT AT 60,000 GALLONS. AS YOU SEE, WE HAVE PLENTY OF CAPACITY THAT WE COULD USE.
>> EXCELLENT. DO WE EVER TEST THAT WHAT WE ARE PUTTING DOWN THERE? TO MAKE SURE THE CHEMICAL BALANCE OR WHATEVER?
>> YES, MA'AM. GOOD QUESTION. WE USE OUR FREE TREATMENT PROGRAM, WITH SAMANTHA ROLAND. SHE ACTUALLY GETS THE REPORT BUT IT WILL BE A ONCE A YEAR TEST THAT THEY DO. WE DO A MONTHLY TEST THAT WE SEND IN, BUT THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE A YEARLY TEST OF WHAT IS COMING IN. BUT WE ALSO MEASURE THE PH AND THE TEMPERATURE OF THE BRINE THAT IS COMING IN SO WE KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING ABNORMAL WITH IT. WE HAVEN'T
[01:00:03]
HAD TO WORRY ABOUT THAT BECAUSE , LIKE I SAID, WE MEASURED IT AND ACTUALLY WITH THE PREVIOUS 10 YEAR PROJECT, SOME OF IT ONCE OUR WASTEWATER SYSTEM AND THEY MADE MONEY BUT WASTEWATER REALLY WASN'T INTERESTED IN DOING THAT ANYMORE BECAUSE IT IS SALTWATER AND SALTWATER ISN'T GOOD FOR BIOLOGICAL PLANTS AND THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH OUR PUMPS SO THEY SAID, WE ARE HAPPY IF YOU TAKE ALL OF IT. IT IS OUR BACKUP IF WE NEEDED IN AN EMERGENCY. IF WE HAD TO SHUT DOWN TO DO SOME MAINTENANCE BUT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, WE HAVE HAD ZERO DOWN DAYS EXCEPT FOR WHEN WE DID OUR WEEK OF M.I.T. THAT IS REQUIRED EVERY FIVE YEARS ON THE DEEP INJECTION WELL. WE HAVE TO DO A MECHANICAL INTEGRITY TEST. WE HAVE A A PRESENT TIME FOR THE PUMP STATION.>> THAT IS GREAT. >> I KNOW THIS CAME UP LAST MEETING AND I'M GOING TO BRING THIS UP. THERE WAS QUESTIONS ASKED ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE COMING IN AND DID THEY HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY ? WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER WITH OUR SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE, THERE ARE ONLY A COUPLE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PLANTS IN FLORIDA. MOST OF THEM ARE IN SOUTHERN GEORGIA AND OUTSIDE THE STATE OR IN NORTH FLORIDA.
THE BIGGEST EXPENSE IS TRANSPORTATION. SO, IT IS VERY WIN-WIN FOR THEM SINCE THEIR PLAN IS RIGHT THERE ON RANGELINE ROAD. I THINK IT IS 10/12 MILES TO THE PLAN SO THEY COME RIGHT HERE AND IT WORKS OUT WELL FOR THEM. AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS, HE TOLD ME, UNLESS THEY BUILD A WHOLE ANOTHER PLAN, THEY ARE PRETTY BUILT OUT AND EXPANDED THEIR PLAN TO MAX CAPACITY AT THAT POINT AT THAT SITE. ANY OTHER
SPEAKERS ] >> MR. STEVENS, YOU MENTIONED VARIOUS PROS TO THIS ARRANGEMENT AND IT SOUNDS THAT THERE IS A PRETTY GOOD DEAL TO BOTH PARTIES. ARE THERE ANY CONS TO PUMPING BLAIR BROWN BRINE DOWN OUR DEEP INJECTION WELL? IS THERE ANY INCREASED MAINTENANCE? IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE TO BE WARY OF IN APPROVING THIS AGREEMENT?
>> NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE. WHEN I SAY IT WAS SEAMLESS THESE LAST TWO YEARS, I WAS VERY PLEASANTLY SURPRISED THAT WE HAVE NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS AT ALL AND WE HAVE TO SEND EXAMPLES IN EVERY MONTH. WE HAVE TO TEST IT EVERY MONTH AND WE DO SHUT ENDS AS YOU KNOW ON OUR DEEP INJECTION WELL TO MAKE SURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE WELL IS OKAY. WE ARE VERY LUCKY WITH OUR WELL. IT WAS BUILT VERY WELL WHEN IT WAS FIRST PUT IN AND IT HAS A SUBMIT LINE ANGULAR SPACE SO THAT MAKES IT EVEN BETTER. IT IS AN INDUSTRIAL WELL. BUT IN SALTWATER IS JUST ABOUT ALL WE ARE DOING. WE ARE DOING THAT WITH THE RO PROCESS. CONCENTRATE IS A STRONG SALTWATER THAT IS BASICALLY WHAT WE ARE DOING. WE HAVE JUST HAD OUR M.I.T., I BELIEVE ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. WE HAD TWO SINCE THEY WERE PUMPING AND THERE HAS BEEN NO ISSUES WITH THE M.I.T.
AT ALL. >> MECHANICAL INTEGRITY TEST. I WAS USING AN ACRONYM. THAT IS WHEN SOMEBODY COMES IN, GO DOWN, PRESSURIZE OUR WELL MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS GOOD AND THERE ARE NO LEAKS BUT WE CHECK THAT MONTHLY TOO BUT WE ARE REQUIRED BY PERMIT TO HAVE AN OUTSIDE COMPANY COME IN AND DO
IT EVERY FIVE YEARS. >> MADAM CHAIR?
>> YES. SO, THIS IS WASTE THAT IS BRINE FROM ANOTHER COMPANY AND WE DISPOSE OF IT FOR THEM?
>> WE PUMP IT DOWN OUR DEEP INJECTION WELL. YES, MA'AM.
>> AND WE TEST IT SO WE NOTE IT IS NOT HURTING THE ENVIRONMENT OR HURTING -- AND WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR THEM FOR 10
>> NOW WE ARE GOING TO MAKE MONEY ON IT OR WE HAVE ?
>> WE MADE ABOUT $60,000 A YEAR BUT NOW WE NEGOTIATED A BETTER DEAL FOR FPUA AND -- I'M SORRY, I HAD TO SMILE ON THAT. AND IT
WORKED OUT BETTER. >> SO WE ARE HELPING THEM
BECAUSE WE ARE CLOSE BY? >> AND THEY ARE HELPING US.
>> AND THEY ARE HELPING US. >> ABSOLUTELY. AND LIKE I SAID,
IT IS A WIN-WIN. >> AND THE TEST ASSURES THAT WE ARE NOT PUTTING ANYTHING HARMFUL DOWN.
>> AND IT IS APPROVED. WE ALREADY WENT THROUGH A APPROVAL AND WE STILL SEND THE SAMPLES -- WE HAVE TO GET THAT TESTED MONTHLY. WE ACTUALLY DO TWO SAMPLES. WE TEST THEIR SIMPLE AND OUR SAMPLE AND THEN WE TEST A COMMON SAMPLE GOING DOWN THE WELL BECAUSE THEY MEET AT THE WELL. WE DO TESTING OF BOTH.
>> OKAY. >> I WILL MOVE APPROVAL.
[01:05:01]
SPEAKERS ] >> MAKE SURE THEY'RE THERE
OFTEN. >> THEY ACTUALLY HAVE GARAGE DOOR OPENERS BUT WE HAVE CAMERAS. THEY CAN OPEN THE GATE AND THEY COME IN. WE DO HAVE IT SET UP, SIR, WHERE BECAUSE WE WORRY ABOUT THE TIME, WE DID EXPEND THEIR TIME A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THE SCHOOL BUSES ARE RIGHT BEHIND US. THEY COME IN PRETTY EARLY TOO. SO IF THE SCHOOL BUSES MAKE NOISE, WE ARE PRETTY QUIET AND DON'T BOTHER OUR NEIGHBORS AROUND US. WE HAVE NOT HAD ONE COMPLAINT AND 10 YEARS SO WE KNOW WE ARE VERY GOOD ABOUT THAT.
>> IT IS GREAT. AN MADAM CHAIR, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?
[E.3. City of Fort Pierce Retirement and Benefit Systems Update]
>> MS. GIBBONS. >> YES, MA'AM.
>> MR. LAMMERS. >> YES, MA'AM.
>> MRS. HUDSON. >> YES, MA'AM.
>> MRS. BENNETT. >> YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. WE WILL MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA, PLEASE.
>> YES, MADAM CHAIR. THE NEXT ITEM IS AN UPDATE ON THE RETIREMENT PROGRAM. KEITH WILL ALSO PRESENT THIS ITEM.
>> THANK YOU , MR. CISNEROS. MADAM CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS.
>> SO, AS REQUIRED AND WHAT WE DO EVERY YEAR, WE DO ACTUARIAL REVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR. BEFORE I START, I WANT TO SAY I AM NOT THE EXPERT. I CAN GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION. THE INFORMATION I WOULD KNOW, I WILL ANSWER. IF IT IS SOMETHING OUT OF MY PURVIEW WHERE I FEEL WE NEED TO GET SOMEBODY ELSE, I WILL DEFINITELY GET YOU THE ANSWER. THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE ACTUARIAL REPORT THAT IS AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE ON THE WEBSITE, FPUA'S WEBSITE. YOU CAN GO LOOK AT IT FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND REMEMBER, THIS REPORT I'M GIVING YOU ENDED SEPTEMBER 30TH OF 2023. NORMALLY I GIVE THIS A COUPLE MONTHS BEFORE BUT WE HAD TO WAIT ON SOMETHING THAT WERE CHANGING. SO WE ARE ALREADY OVER HALFWAY THROUGH TO THE NEXT YEAR BUT I WILL TRY TO GIVE YOU SOME UPDATED INFORMATION AS WE GO ALONG. SOME OF THIS IS GOING TO BE REPETITIVE FOR SOME OF YOU HAVE SEEN ME DO THIS AND SOME OF THIS WILL BE NEW SO, JUST BEAR WITH ME. AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEVEN MEMBERS. TWO CITY COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE ASSIGNED. THE CITY DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND FPUA APPOINTEE THAT IS MS. MIKA, OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR. SHE IS OUR CFO. AND THREE ELECTIVE MEMBERS. I HAPPEN TO BE THE FPUA ELECTED MEMBER. THE CITY HAS AN ELECTED MEMBER AND THE POLICE HAVE A ELECTED MEMBER. FIVE OF US ARE CERTIFIED PENSION PAST TRUSTEES. ONE OTHER THING THAT WE BELIEVE AND AMERICA TO BE ON THE BOARD FOR LITTLE BIT IS WE TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY AND WE WANT TO BE EDUCATED ON THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAY MAKE. WE WANT TO BE EDUCATED ENOUGH AND FOR THE FOR THE PUBLIC PENSION EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATION AND FLORIDA IS VERY STRONG AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB OF TRAINING US. WE HAVE ONE PERSON STILL IN THE PROCESS AND WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY OUR OWN ATTORNEY. SO, THIS IS A DEFINED BENEFIT PLAN. IT IS ESTABLISHED AND OPERATED WITH CHAPTER 13 OF THE CITY CHARTER AND WHAT I SAW AND I DID NOT EVEN NOTICE MYSELF UNTIL THIS YEAR, THIS IS THE 65TH YEAR THAT THEY HAD THE PENSION. SO IT WAS BEFORE FPUA. SO, THE CITY HAD IT AND IT BECAME PART OF THE PENSION PLAN . SO IT IS 65 YEARS ACTUARIAL REPORT BUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'M TELLING YOU ARE JUST FPUA RELATED. THEY MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE CITY BUT NOTHING MAJOR. A FINAL AVERAGE SALARY.
WE TAKE THE TOP FIVE OF THE LAST 10 YEARS. THE CITY TAKES CONSECUTIVE FIVE OF THE LAST 10 YEARS. I DON'T KNOW WHY THE WORDING WAS IN THERE FROM THE BEGINNING BUT IT WAS. YEARS OF SERVICE IS THE SAME. WE HAVE A THREE MULTIPLIER AND THIS IS NOT A DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS SUCH AS A 401(K), OR EVEN I.R.A. AND SINCE THERE ARE PEOPLE WATCHING THIS, I WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE. WHAT THAT MEANS IS YOUR BENEFIT, YOU ARE GOING TO GET THE SAME BENEFIT MINUS ANY COLAS AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A LITTLE BIT AND WHEN YOU START IT, TILL YOU STOP RECEIVING. ANY BENEFIT FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE OR YOUR DEPENDENT'S LIFE DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU CHOSE AT RETIREMENT.
WITH THE 401(K), YOU HAVE TO DECIDE HOW MUCH OF THAT PIE YOU ARE GOING TO LIVE ON THAT YEAR AND HOPE THAT THE ECONOMY DOES NOT DO WHAT IT HAS DONE THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. IT IS GETTING BETTER NOW WERE YOU DIDN'T REPLACE THAT PIECE OF
[01:10:03]
PIE SO THE NEXT YEAR GOT TO HOPE THAT WHAT PIE YOU HAVE LEFT FILLS IN THE PIE YOU LIVED ON AND GET SMALLER AND SMALLER BUT SOME OF YOU WILL HAVE 401(K)S KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. THAT IS ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A PENSION PLAN FOR OUR EMPLOYEES. THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DEFINED BENEFIT AND DEFINED CONTRIBUTION. CHANGES.EMPLOYEES MAY RETIRE AFTER 25 YEARS OF SERVICE OR AT AGE 60 AS LONG AS THEY ARE VESTED, WHICH IS FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE.
AS A SEPTEMBER 30TH 2023, AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE WERE NO CHANGES ADOPTED AT THAT POINT. BUT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME SINCE THEN AND I AM JUST GOING TO MENTION THEM SO YOU ARE DIRECTLY AWARE OF THAT. SO I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT IT. AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY COMMISSION, WHO IS THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY ON THE RETIREMENT PLAN FOR APPROVAL, DECIDED TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION OF A 5 TO 6 YEAR'S DROP. SO THE ADDED AN EXTRA YEAR TO THE DROP PROGRAM SO PEOPLE CAN WORK UP TO SIX YEARS IN DROP, AND THEY HAVE INCREASED THE ANNUITY FROM 75% TO 100%. NOW, THAT WAS FOR PEOPLE AFTER OCTOBER OF 2012 BECAUSE WAY BACK INVESTMENT AND WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE -- WHEN WE HAD A BIG FINANCIAL HOUSING BUBBLE WAY BACK THEN THAT MESSED UP THE ECONOMY, THE CITY WAS TRYING TO FIND THINGS THAT COULD SAVE US MONEY AND ONE OF THE THINGS WERE THEY TOOK SOMEBODY'S BENEFITS AND THEY SAID, OKAY.
NEW PEOPLE CAN ONLY GO TO 75%. SO THAT MEANS AT 25 YEARS, THEY DROP AND THEY ARE GONE. WE LOSE THEM AT 30 YEARS MAX. BY LETTING THEM GO TO 100, THEY CAN GO TO 30 AND THEN GO AND DROP WHICH COULD BE 36 YEARS OR IF THEY WANT TO, THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO AND DROP. THEY CAN GO TO 33 IN THE 30 YEARS AND MAX OUT AT 100% AND THEY COULD LEAVE. BUT THEY CAN'T GO OVER 30 YEARS AT THIS POINT AND STILL GO AND DROP. EVERYBODY WITH ME ON THAT? ALSO, WE INCREASE THE MAX BENEFIT FROM 100,000 TO 115,000. THE MAIN REASON WE DID THIS, THAT HAS BEEN THE ORIGINAL NUMBER INVESTMENT IT IS BEEN THAT WAY SINCE I HAVE BEEN IN UTILITY FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND WE KNOW SALARIES HAVE INCREASED SO SOME OF THE HIGHER AND EMPLOYEES, MANAGEMENT, TOP LEVEL, THEY WERE MAXING OUT LONG BEFORE THEY COULD GET TO THAT. SO THAT WASN'T FAIR TO THEM. WE ONLY RAISE IT $50,000. ACTUALLY, THAT IS LIMITED BY THE IRS BUT IT IS MUCH MORE THAN WE WILL HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT. I THINK IT WAS OVER $250,000 WHEN I LOOKED AT IT UNDER THE IRS RULES BUT THAT PROBABLY OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS WILL RAISE INDIVIDUALLY BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS EVERY TIME WE MAKE A CHANGE LIKE YOU ARE SEEING RIGHT HERE, IT AFFECTS THE BOTTOM LINE. IT INCREASES SOME OF THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE TO PUT OUT FROM THE RETIREMENT BOARD, IF WE DON'T GET IT BEST NOT IF WE DON'T MAKE IT IN OUR INVESTMENTS. SO THOSE CHANGES RIGHT THEREFORE FPUA'S PORTION WAS $66,000. SO WE DID HAVE TO PAY THAT OUT. YOU WILL SEE THAT NEXT YEAR BUT I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT THAT WAS
SOMETHING THAT WE DID. >> THIS RIGHT HERE IS WHAT WE PUT OUT IN 2023 UP UNTIL OCTOBER -- SEPTEMBER 30TH OF 2023. EMPLOYEES. AND DOWN IN 2024, THAT WAS THE RATE THAT WAS SET BY THE ACTUARY BASED OFF OF INVESTMENTS. I WILL LET YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO GET TO IT IN A LITTLE BIT, BUT THE ACTUAL MONEY THAT WE MADE IN OUR INVESTMENTS THROUGH 2023 WAS OVER 10%. WHICH IS VERY GOOD. BUT WE USE A FOUR YEARS MOVING CALCULATION, SO WE ARE NOT UP AND DOWN UP AND DOWN EVERY YEAR. AND UNLIKE THE YEAR BEFORE IN 2022, WHICH WAS A VERY BAD YEAR AS WE ALL KNOW, WE WERE IN THE NEGATIVE. WE ONLY SHOWED A REAL VALUE OF ABOUT LITTLE OVER 4% . BUT IF WE HAVE ANOTHER GOOD YEAR, THAT WILL BE BACK UP. WE USE A TARGET OF ABOUT 7.25%. I WILL TELL YOU, I HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD FOR 10 YEARS AND UP UNTIL LAST YEAR -- A COUPLE YEARS AGO, OUR ANNUAL RETURN WAS ALWAYS ABOVE EIGHT PERCENT . AS YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT KIND OF MONEY, THAT IS A PRETTY GOOD INVESTMENT RETURN. PEOPLE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE 8% EVERY YEAR. WE NEVER AWARDED BELOW IT BUT YOU CANNOT DO IT WHEN EVERYBODY IS DOWN AND I CAN TELL YOU WE STILL RATE HIGH OVER OTHER PENSION PLANS OF OUR SIZE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
[01:15:06]
WELL, THERE YOU GO RIGHT THERE. I'LL RETURN WAS 4.4 BY THREE WITCHES HOURS AND RETURN OF 7.5. AND WE ARE 82% FUNDED WHICH IS THE LOWEST I'VE SEEN. I ALWAYS LIKE 90 OR BETTER BUT IT IS COMING AROUND. WE ARE GETTING BETTER AND BETTER.INVESTMENTS ARE STARTING TO RETURN AND I WILL TALK ABOUT THAT I THINK A LEADER SLIDE. SO, AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023, THE FUNDING VALUE WAS 208 MILLION. I CAN TELL YOU AS OF THE END OF MAY, WE WERE UP TO $230 MILLION. SO LIKE I SAID, IT IS COMING AROUND. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE HAVE IN THE RETIREMENT PLAN THAT ARE RETIRED AND THEIR ANNUAL BENEFITS AND THE ANNUAL BENEFIT OF THE RETIREES . DIVERSIFY, DIVERSIFY, DIVERSIFY. I THINK I THOUGHT I HEARD EDC TALK ABOUT THE RECIPROCATION AND THOSE ARE OUR TARGET ALLOCATION FOR OUR INVESTMENTS. THOSE ARE WHAT WE HAVE SET. WE TELL OUR MONEY MANAGERS, WE GIVE CERTAIN TARGETS AND WE LET OUR CONSULTANT CONTROL OUR MONEY MANAGERS AND THEY DO A VERY GOOD JOB. THEY TELL US, IF A MONEY MANAGER IS NOT DOING THEIR JOB, WE HAVE CHAINED SOMEHOW. WE DON'T DO IT OFTEN BECAUSE OF THOSE ARE KNEE-JERK THINGS TO DO AND WE ARE VERY DELIBERATE WHEN WE DO SOMETHING ON THE RETIREMENT BOARD. AND THERE IS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM. RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE UNFUNDED LIABILITY OF $55 MILLION. THAT PLUS INTEREST.
THAT IS BECAUSE THE WAY THAT THE ECONOMY IS RIGHT NOW, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS, THERE IS A PLAN THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT.
WE HAVEN'T ACTED ON ANYTHING. IT IS SIMILAR TO MR. CISNEROS' DART PLAN. WE ARE LOOKING AT THINGS WE CAN DO LONG-TERM. YOU HAVE GOT TO START THE BALL ROLLING TO PAY DOWN. REMEMBER, THERE IS ONLY ONE THING THAT IS GOING TO PAY DOWN UNFUNDED LIABILITY. IT IS MONEY WHETHER IT BE RETURN ON YOUR INVESTMENTS ONCE WE PAY ALL THE RETIREES OR SOMEBODY HAS GOT TO GO UP AND THERE HAS BEEN TALK -- AND I DON'T MIND SAYING THIS . WE HAVE BROUGHT UP IN MEETINGS THAT WE MAY HAVE TO LOOK AT EMPLOYEES INCREASING THEIR CONTRIBUTION. BASED OFF OF THE RETIREMENT THAT WE HAVE, I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE A PROBLEM. WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS BY DOING THAT, THAT MONEY THAT THEY WOULD INCREASE IF THEY DECIDED TO DO IT WOULD GO TOWARD UNFUNDED LIABILITY. BECAUSE ONCE YOU GET THAT DOWN, THEN MAYBE 10 YEARS FROM NOW, THERE COULD BE A COLA FOR THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT. AND I DON'T HAVE IT HERE BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE 18 RETIREES OVER 90 YEARS OLD. SO, THAT MEANS THEY RETIRED A LONG TIME AGO OR THEY WORKED REAL LATE AND OUT OF THOSE 18, THEY DIDN'T MAKE THAT MUCH WHEN HE RETIRED. THEY COULD BE RETIRED FOR 3 TO 40 YEARS AND THAT IS THE CASE, THE SALARY THAT THEY ARE MAKING THEN IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY COLAS, THAT IS NOT THAT MUCH MONEY. SO, THERE IS THE SITE RIGHT THERE. IF YOU GO ON IT FOR THE FINANCIAL REPORTS YOU CAN LOVE THE ACTUARY REPORTS ARE IN THEIR AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OF THE QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
>> ANY QUESTIONS? >> MADAM CHAIR, I WILL SAY AND KEITH AND I HAVE THIS RUNNING THING -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE
IS TALKING ABOUT. >> YEAH, RIGHT. SO, I PERSONALLY HAVE A 401(K). ONE OF THE THINGS WHICH IS A DEFINED CONTRIBUTION, NOT DEFINED BENEFIT AND HE IS RIGHT BECAUSE IF YOU GET A SET PENSION, YOU ARE ALWAYS ASSURED OF THAT PENSION. THE TAXPAYER IS ON THE HOOK FOR THAT PENSION NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS. ALWAYS. AND SO DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE STOCK MARKET AND WITH MORE INVESTMENTS, THE DIFFERENCE IS WITH A DEFINED CONTRIBUTION, THE TAXPAYER -- YOU WALK AWAY WITH YOUR MONEY AND THEN YOU MANAGE YOUR MONEY AND YOU HIRE A BROKER OR MANAGER MONEY. YOU HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE WHIMS OF THE STOCK MARKET, RIGHT? JUST LIKE THE PLAN DOES. SO, THIS IS AN ASSURED THING AND THE OTHER, WHICH IS MUCH MORE COMMON -- AND THIS IS A VERY UNUSUAL PLAN
[01:20:01]
BECAUSE MOST ORGANIZATIONS HAVE DONE TO THE DEFINED CONTRIBUTION. IT IS NOT AS DIRE AS HE SAYS IT IS BUT HE IS RIGHT ABOUT THE TWO DIFFERENT ONES. ONE, YOU ARE DEPENDING ON YOUR BROKER AND MANAGING YOUR MONEY THE REST OF YOUR LIFE SO YOU CAN LIVE ON YOUR MONEY THE REST OF YOUR LIFE AND WITH THIS PLAN, YOU DON'T MANAGE IT. IT IS A SHORT PERIOD YOU KNOW HOW MUCH YOU ARE GOING TO GET EVERY WEEK. IT IS AN ASSURED THING.IT IS A PRETTY DARN GOOD BENEFIT.
>> JUST TO BUILD ON WHAT SHE SAID. IF I COULD.
>> SURE. >> LIKE I SAID, WE ARE PART OF THE FLORIDA PUBLIC PENSION TRUSTEE ASSOCIATION AND I WELCOME WHEN WE HAVE OUR CONFERENCES AND WHEN WE HAVE OUR TRAINING ANYBODY HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SIT INTO THAT AND LISTEN TO IT. THEY TELL YOU EVERYTHING ABOUT THE RETIREMENT. THEY DO SOME TRAINING BUT THE ONE THAT I GO TO NOW BECAUSE FIVE OF US HAVE YOU TRAINING EVERY YEAR, IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND IT BETTER. EVEN THOUGH LIKE SHE SAYS YOU DON'T SEE AS MANY OF THESE BUT WHEN YOU GO TO THE CONFERENCE IN FLORIDA, THERE IS A WHOLE LOT
OF -- >> YOU ARE WITH LIKE PEOPLE.
>> YEAH. YOU ARE WITH LIKE PEOPLE. THE WHOLE STATE OF FLORIDA IS THERE AND IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN THAT LIKE MR. CISNEROS WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION TO YOU, IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD HELP YOU GUYS UNDERSTAND IT A LITTLE BIT BETTER IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN DOING THAT AND WE HAVE IT TWICE A YEAR IN THE SPRING AND IN THE FALL.
>> AND COMMISSIONER GAINES HAS NOT GOTTEN HIS CERTIFICATION AND I THINK IT WAS CORONA WHO STARTED IT AND HE GOT THE CERTIFICATION. WHEN I WENT ON THE BOARD, I SAID, IT IS A LOT OF TIME AND IT WOULD BE MISSING A LOT OF COMMISSION MEETINGS SO, THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS I DIDN'T END UP GETTING
CERTIFIED. >> IT IS SOMETHING WE REALLY PUSH FOR ALL OF US TO BE AND THAT IS WHY ONCE YOU GET ALL OF THE TRAINING, YOU DON'T WANT TO SWAP RETIREE BOARD MEMBERS SO MUCH. Y'ALL KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. ONCE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU UNDERSTAND ON THE BOARDS RIGHT NOW, YOU COME IN YOU, YOU ARE LIKE, REALLY? SO, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU , Y'ALL, VERY MUCH.
[E.4. Status Report on Electric Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) May 2024]
>> THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. STATUS REPORT .
>> YES, MA'AM. IT IS JUST AN ELECTRIC POWER COST ADJUSTMENT
UPDATE. >> THANK YOU, MR. CISNEROS , AND GOOD AFTERNOON. MADAM CHAIR. BOARD MEMBERS. I HAVE THE UPDATED INFORMATION FOR THE STATUS REPORT FOR THE PCA THROUGH THE MONTH OF MAY 2024. WITH ALL THE TABLES AND CHARTS AND WITH MAY'S PRODUCTION UPDATES. AND TAKING THE APPROACH THAT WE ARE HERE TARGETING A MORE SUSTAINABLE RATE STABILIZATION FUND AND ASSESSING THE PCA OVER A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME SO WE CAN TAKE A BIRDS EYE LOOK AT. THIS QUARTERLY TABLE SHOWS THE IMPACT OF THE POWER COST ADJUSTMENT FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS AND THE CUMULATIVE OVERPOWER COST RECOVERY. YOU CAN SEE BACK ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO OVER 2022, WE HAVE THESE NEGATIVE $1 MILLION AND THROUGH DECEMBER OF 2022 , THE FPUA WAS OPERATING USING OUR DAYS OF CASH AND UNRESTRICTED FUNDS TO FUND THIS LIABILITY FOR THE POWER COSTS AND IT TOOK INTO THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2023 UNTIL WE GOT OVER THE WILLIAM DOLLARS AND HEADING INTO THE RIGHT DIRECTION. SO NOW, OUR FOCUS ON MAINTAINING THE RATE STABILIZATION SO WE AVOID IMPACTING OUR DAYS OF CASH. SO, DURING THE MONTH OF MAY, THE AVERAGE COST OF THE PURCHASE POWER WAS 66,000 $.79 AT PERMIT ABOUT WATER PERMIT MEGAWATT HOUR AND THIS IS SLIGHTLY LESS THAN WHAT WAS REPORTED BACK IN MARCH. WITH A PCA OF ZERO, THE FPUA UNDER RECOVERED THE $86,000, BRINGING OUR RATE STABILIZATION FUND TO $9.5
[01:25:05]
MILLION, WHERE WE STAND AT THE END OF MAY. COMPARE EATING THE EIGHT MONTHS OF 2023 VERSES 2024, THE TOTAL HOURS OF KILOWATT ENERGY THAT WE HAVE PURCHASED WAS ABOUT 2% LESS THAN IT WAS FOR THE SAME EIGHT MONTHS LAST YEAR AND THOSE PURCHASES WERE 22.5% LOWER IN COST WERE 22.5% LOWER THAN THEY WERE IN 2023 AND THAT IS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE PRE-PURCHASING OF THE FPUA. THIS NEXT GRAPH HERE IS THE TRACKS OF CUMULATIVE BALANCE THAT WERE DEPICTED IN THAT LAST TABLE BUT THE BALANCES ARE MONTH BY MONTH SHOWING ACTUAL AND PROJECTED POWER COST ADJUSTMENT RECOVERY GOING BACK TWO YEARS. LOOKING BACK TWO YEARS AND LOOKING FORWARD ONE YEAR. THE POWER COST ADJUSTMENT IS THE DARK BLUE LINE THAT GOES ACROSS. THE BARS INDICATE THE LEVEL OF THE RATE STABILIZATION FUND IN THOSE PARTICULAR MONTHS. THE BLUE BARS ARE ACTUAL THROUGH MAY OF 2024 AND THE ORANGE BARS SHOW THE PROJECTED LEVEL OF THE RECOVERY THROUGH MAY OF NEXT YEAR. MAY 2025 , UTILIZING THE CURRENT F MBA FORECASTED MEMBERS THAT WE HAVE. LOOKING BACK, WHAT F MPA BEGAN, WE LOOK BACK TO MAY OF 23, WE HAD A POWER COST REDUCTION OF THREE DOLLARS.TOP-OF-THE-LINE GOING DOWN WAS 39. ACTUALLY IT WAS FIVE DOLLARS. I'M SORRY. WITH THE CERTAINTY OF OUR 75% FUEL COSTS THAT WERE BEING PRE-PURCHASED ALLOWING -- AT THAT REDUCTION, THE RATE STABILIZATION FUND ACTUALLY ROSE IN THAT MONTH OF MAY EVEN WITH THE REDUCTION IN THE POWER COST AND AGAIN, THIS IS A REJECT DIRECT RESULT OF WHAT FPUA HAS TAKEN OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF. F MPA'S ESTIMATE FOR THE PURCHASES OF THE COST OF THE UPCOMING MONTHS REMAIN LEVEL SHOWING A 2% INCREASE FROM THE MONTH OF MARCH FOR THE NEXT 12 MONTH PROJECTION. UPCOMING 12 MONTH AVERAGE COST FOR 1000 KILOWATT AVERAGE HOURS IS PROJECTED TO BE $76.96 MOVING FORWARD AND THAT WOULD BE A COMPARISON TO IN JULY WHEN WE HAD A THREE-HOUR POWER COST ADJUSTMENT. SO WE ARE AT -3 DOLLARS SO THAT BRINGS UP OUR 7896 COMPARING 276 52 WITH THE REDUCTION ON THE BILL SIDE. SO WE ARE BILLING $79 AND GIVING A CREDIT OF THREE DOLLARS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE AVERAGE COST FOR THE THOUSAND KILOWATT HOURS IS EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT 7% GREATER NEXT YEAR IN FISCAL YEAR 25.
>> BARBARA, BEFORE YOU LEAVE THAT SCREEN, I WANT TO MENTION SOMETHING. BARBARA HIGHLIGHTED MARCH 23 WHEN WE HAD A FIVE DOLLAR REDUCTION. THAT IS WHEN WE WENT FROM SOME OF THE GAS THAT WE LOCKED IN AND GOT INTO THE GROUP THAT WAS LOCKED IN AT A LOWER RATE. SO LOCKING IT IN IT WORKS REALLY WELL. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE THE LOWEST BUT YOU ARE GOING TO BE PRETTY LOW AND THAT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHEN IT STARTED TO DROP OFF -- CORRECTION -- THE PERCENTAGES WERE AT A LOWER RATE THAN WE
HAD LOCKED IN AT. >> THIS GRAPH IS A LITTLE BIT LONGER TERM PRODUCTION BASED UPON THE CURRENT FORECASTED NUMBERS FOR MAY. WITH THE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR PLAN FOR THE POWER COSTS THROUGH FISCAL YEAR -- THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 2025. THE SOLID HORIZONTAL BLUE LINE MARKS THE RATE STABILIZATION TARGET BALANCE THAT WE ARE AIMING FOR -- AIMING TO MAINTAIN. STAFF HAVE SHOWN THAT THIS IS A SUFFICIENT LEVEL BASED UPON HISTORICALLY WHEN WE WOULD LOOK AT THE HIGHEST MONTHS WHEN WE WOULD WANT TO MAINTAIN TO HAVE ENOUGH IN OUR RESERVE IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN TO COVER OUR POWER COSTS BILL. THAT WOULD BE THE LEVEL WE ARE TRYING TO MAINTAIN AND TARGET. THOSE, OBVIOUSLY, ARE THE SUMMER MONTHS WHEN OUR BILLS ARE THE HIGHEST AND CONSUMPTION IS THE HIGHEST. THE GREEN LINE THAT FLOWS ACROSS IS THE RATE STABILIZATION FUND IS AT WITH CONSIDERATION TO THAT PERCENTAGE OF THE POWER COSTS AT OUR PREPURCHASE AND ALSO WITH MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO THE POWER COST ADJUSTMENT. I HAVE
[01:30:01]
MARKED OUT HERE THE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE PCA. THIS IS IN JULY OF THE THREE DOLLAR REDUCTION AND BASED ON HOW THIS GRAPH IS LAID OUT, IT INCLUDES THE PCA GOING TO $1.50 THEN BACK TO ZERO AND THEN MAINTAINING AT ZERO. SO THAT IS WHAT THOSE NUMBERS REPRESENT THAT ARE FLOATING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GRAPH. THE TWO VERTICAL GREEN LINES MARK THE CALENDAR FOR APRIL OF 2024 AND APRIL 2025 WERE FMPA PRE-PURCHASED PERCENTAGES WILL OCCUR. IN APRIL OF 2025, RECENT CHANGES WROUGHT THE HEDGING UP>> I DIDN'T ADJUST THIS GRAPH BUT IT MIGHT BE ADJUSTED IN
YOUR PACKAGE. >> FOR THE MONTH OF MAY, THAT IS PRETTY CLOSE. THIS IS DATA FROM MAY AND THERE HAS BEEN ACTION ITEM THAT IS BEEN TAKEN IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS SO WHAT WE WILL SEE IN JULY, WHICH WILL BE PRESENTED IN SEPTEMBER I THINK, YOU WILL SEE THE PERCENTAGE IS HIGHER FOR THAT
TIMEFRAME. >> IN JUNE SO IT WILL BE IN AUGUST. SO, WITH CONSIDERATION TO THE CURRENT AND NEAR FUTURE PROJECTIONS IN THE THREE CALLED THREE DOLLAR PCA THEY BECAME EFFECTIVE, THE FUTURE ADJUSTMENTS ARE SHOWN IN JANUARY ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND BASED UPON FUTURE FORECAST CHANGES FROM FMPA. SO STAFF IS RECOMMENDING NO CHANGE . AT THE TIME, THIS IS JUST AN INFORMATIONAL UPDATE FOR YOU AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR AS WE DO EVERY MONTH SO THIS IS JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION AND YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I WILL
BE HAPPY TO ADJUST THEM. >> ANY QUESTIONS?
>> CHAIR, I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BUT I LIKE THE WAY THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT THINGS LONG-TERM. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE COMPANY TO BE DOING SO, I AM LIKING THE LOOKAHEAD. IT KEEPS REMINDING
>> MADAM CHAIR, I AGREE WITH THAT. I ALSO LOVE -- YOU DID NOT PUT IT ON YOUR SLIDES THAT'S NOT BUT ALL REQUIREMENTS ALL IN PROJECTIONS FIRST ACTUAL. I LOVE THAT WE ARE ONLY $.17 OFF. IF YOU LOOK AT IT A YEAR AGO, WE WERE SIX ALMOST SEVEN DOLLARS AVERAGE OFF FROM WHAT WE WERE ACTUALLY BILLED VERSUS WHAT WE WERE EXPECTING IT, SO JUST IN THIS
LAST 12 MONTHS, WE ARE SO ON. >> IT IS MORE PREDICTABLE.
>> YES. FOR SURE. IT GIVES US SOME SECURITY, IT LOOKS LIKE, AND FLOUR PAYERS AS WELL. FOR OUR RATE PAYERS.
[E.5. RESOLUTION NO UA 2024-07 GAS PIPING FINANCING PROGRAM]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> YOU ARE QUITE WELCOME.
>> OKAY. LAST ITEM ON THE AGENDA .
>> YES, MA'AM. MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I BRIEFED EVERYBODY EARLIER TODAY ABOUT THIS RESOLUTION. IT IS A GAS PIPING FINANCING PROGRAM. MR. GREG CRAWFORD, DIRECTOR OF ELECTRIC AND GAS WILL PROTECT THIS ITEM. I DON'T BELIEVE HE HAS A PRESENTATION. I BELIEVE HE IS JUST TALKING TODAY.
>> MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO BRING THIS TO YOU TODAY IT IS EXCITING TO ME AS I HOPE IT IS TO YOU AS WELL. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS AN INITIATIVE TO HELP ENCOURAGE CUSTOMERS TO USE NATURAL GAS IN THEIR HOMES AND WHAT USUALLY HAPPENS IS THE UP FRONT COSTS OF PUTTING THE GAS IN KIND OF DOESN'T -- IT IS A BIG BURDEN FOR THEM TO TAKE THAT COST UP FRONT AND WHAT THIS FINANCING PLAN IS GOING TO DO IS HELP THEM OFFSET THE COSTS INTEREST-FREE FOR ACHE 60 MONTH PERIOD FOR UP TO $3500. THAT IS FOR ANY CUSTOMER ADDING ANY NEW APPLIANCES OR TOTALLY NEW CUSTOMER . SO FOR THAT PLAN, IT IS A MINIMUM PAYMENT OF 39.99 A MONTH AND THAT WILL COVER ANY APPLIANCES THAT WE SELL. AT THIS TIME, ALL WE PROVIDE IS A WATER HEATER AND A SPACE HEATER, BUT WE ALSO PROVIDE PIPING TO THE APPLIANCES, THE PERMIT FEES, AND ALL THE ASSOCIATED ITEMS TO GET TO THE APPLIANCE. AND THAT IS THE FIRST OPTION TO THE CLIENT. THE SECOND OPTION TO THE CLIENT GIVES THE EXISTING CUSTOMERS AN
[01:35:01]
OPTION TO FINANCE UP TO -- THEY BOTH ARE FOR EXISTING AND NEW CUSTOMERS BUT EXISTING CUSTOMERS MAY HAVE AN EMERGENCY WHERE THEY HAVE AN APPLIANCE FAIL OR PIPE FAIL AND FOR THIS OPTION, THEY CAN FINANCE UP TO $2500 FOR A YEAR WITH A MINIMUM PAYMENT OF 59.99 FOR ANY OF THOSE EMERGENCIES. SAY YOU HAVE A HOT WATER HEATER FAIL AT YOUR HOUSE OR A PIPE LEAK OR ANY ITEM LIKE THAT. THAT WILL HELP THE CUSTOMER OR HOMEOWNER OFFSET THE COST AND BE ABLE TO PAY THAT OVER THE YEAR. SO, WHAT I AM ASKING FOR TODAY IS FOR THE BOARD TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION UA 2024-07 . IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THAT?>> I HAVE ONE QUESTION. THE $39.99 AND $59.99, WILL THAT BE PART OF THE RATE PAYER'S UTILITY BILL?
>> YES. IT WILL BE PUT RIGHT ON THEIR BILL AND THEY CAN PAY THAT. IT WILL BE GOING RIGHT ALONG WITH THEIR BILL. THEY HAVE TO BE A HOMEOWNER THOUGH BUT IT IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL PROPERTIES BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE BY THE PROPERTY
>> I THINK THIS WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO GET CUSTOMERS AND KEEP CUSTOMERS AND HELP OUR RATEPAYERS AND WE ARE EXPENDING EXPANDING OUR TERRITORY HERE AND I THINK IT IS A GOOD PLAN.
>> A LOT OF TIMES, WE ARE SELLING A GREAT PRODUCT THAT IS GOING TO HELP THEM SAVE MONEY IN THE LONG TERM BUT WHEN YOU GO TO THEIR HOME AND YOU'RE SAYING, WELL, YOU HAVE TO SPEND THIS MUCH UP FRONT, THIS HELPS LESSON THAT BLOW. WE'RE GIVING IT TO THEM INTEREST-FREE SO I THINK WE ARE GOING TO GET A LOT
MORE INTEREST. >> YES. BECAUSE A LOT OF OTHER RATEPAYERS DON'T HAVE THAT MONEY UP FRONT AND SO, TO ALLOW THEM TO KNOW THAT, HEY, THIS CAN BE JUST ADDED ON TO YOUR UTILITY BILL, IT MAKES IT A LOT MORE AT EASE FOR THEM AND THEY ARE MORE APT TO BE ABLE TO COME ABOARD.
>> YET. AND WE ARE PROVIDING A GOOD SERVICE.
>> YES. >> MADAM CHAIR, THIS IS INTERESTING. I WAS JUST TRYING TO SELL THIS YESTERDAY TO A FRIEND THAT CALLED. SHE HAD SOMEBODY TRYING TO SELL SOLAR AND THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE HER $70 A MONTH TO HAVE THESE PANELS IN AND IT WOULD SAVE HER APPROXIMATELY 30% OF FOR ELECTION ELECTRIC PORTION OF HER BILL. I DID THE MATH FOR HER AND TOLD HER YOU WILL PAY MORE THAN $20 A MONTH BUT WE HAVE THIS PROGRAM OUT THERE IN THE EXPLAINED MAY BE MOVING TOO GAS WOULD BE A BETTER OPTION FOR HER FOR SOME OF HER LARGE APPLIANCES. I WOULD LOVE IF THERE WAS SOME WAY TO MAYBE CAPTURE EVEN JUST HAVING A HOT WATER HEATER IN YOUR HOUSE VERSUS ELECTRIC VERSUS GAS MIGHT SAVE THE CUSTOMER AND THE END AS WELL. I THINK THAT MIGHT BE A GREAT SELLING POINT.
>> WHEN THE CUSTOMER CALLS, WE HAVE A MARKETING GENTLEMAN THAT HAS ALL OF THAT INFORMATION HE CAN PROVIDE TO THEM. I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD BUT YOU SAVE AROUND 20 TO 30% JUST ON THE WATER HEATER ALONE AND THE MORE APPLIANCES YOU ADD, THE MORE COST OFFSET YOU HAVE BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE INITIAL CUSTOMER, CHARGE, MONTHLY CHARGE. SO IF YOU DO TWO OR THREE APPLIANCES, YOU SAVE AND MORE MONEY THAN JUST
>> WE TRY TO SHOW THEM THAT. >> DO HAVE A CHEAT SHEET OR
>> SOMETIME IF YOU MIGHT PROVIDED TO THE BOARD. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE IN LAKEWOOD PARK.
>> YEAH. I WOULD LOVE THAT. >> THIS WILL HOPEFULLY HELP US TARGET AREA. WE HAVE A DOOR HANGER THAT HAS A BARCODE THAT WHEN THEY SCAN IT, THEY WILL GET A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT INFORMATION AND THIS WILL BE A PART OF THAT INFORMATION THAT
IS AVAILABLE TO THEM AS WELL. >> ONCE WE DO THAT, WILL WE PUT
IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA? >> YES, MA'AM.
[01:40:05]
>> MADAM CHAIR, I HAVE TWO THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION.
THE FIRST ONE IS THIS IS A TURNKEY SOLUTION FOR THE CUSTOMER. THEY WOULD ONLY BE DEALING WITH FPUA. NOT FPUA AND A CONTRACTOR OR CONTRACTOR ELECTRICIAN. I THINK THAT IS PRETTY IMPORTANT FOR IT TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND IT IS A TURNKEY SOLUTION FOR THE CUSTOMER. AND THE SECOND ONE IS THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN DEPLOYED IN A COUPLE OTHER CITIES. THE MUNICIPAL CITIES LIKE FPUA AND THEY HAVE BEEN PRETTY SUCCESSFUL SO WE ARE EXCITED AND VERY HOPE THAT IT WILL BE JUST A SUCCESSFUL YEAR IN OUR SERVICE AREA. SO, AGAIN, IT IS A GREAT PROGRAM
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT. >> AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE DO PLAN ON US DOING ALL THE WORK WE HOPE IT IS GOOD ENOUGH THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE US TO HIRE CONTRACTORS BEFORE WE ARE OPEN.
>> THEY WOULD BE OPEN FOR US AND WE WOULD BE THE POINT OF
CONTACT FOR THE CUSTOMER. >> IF WE DID GET CONTRACTORS,
THEY WOULD BE BONDED. >> OH, YEAH. EXACTLY.
>> THIS IS ANOTHER WAY THAT WE INTERACT WITH THE CUSTOMER IN A
POSITIVE WAY. >> WE WOULD MANAGE ALL THAT FOR
>> YES. >> THE COLLECTION MECHANISM FOR THIS NEW PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE BILLS, RIGHT?
>> YES. >> ARE YOU ENVISIONING THE TOTAL BILL INCLUDING THE PAYMENT?
>> YES. >> SO IT WILL NOT BE BIFURCATED
IN ANY FACTION? >> IF THEY DON'T MAKE THE PAYMENT IT IS STILL GOING TO AFFECT US.
>> STILL GOES TO CUT OFF IF IT GOES TOO LONG?
>> THERE ALSO WILL BE -- WE ARE ALSO PUTTING A LIEN ON THE BEGINNING AND WILL TAKE THE LIEN OFF ONCE IT IS PAID OFF.
>> AND LIKE YOU SAID, THE USAGE PLUS IS ALL BUNDLED IN ONE
>> IT WOULD BE A NIGHTMARE IF THEY PAID THE ELECTRIC PORTION BUT NOT THE BORROWING. WERE WE WILL CALL IT THE BORROWING.
SHOULD I CUT THEM OFF WERE NOT CUT THEM OFF? WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY PAY JUST THE PORTION? FOR THE INSULATION AND NOT THE
ELECTRIC BILL? >> WE HAVE KIND OF BEEN DOING THE SECOND OPTION ALREADY FOR MANY YEARS WITHOUT REALLY A GUIDELINE. SO WE ALWAYS OFFER SOMEBODY WITH AN EMERGENCY SITUATION THE USER BREAKS AND I'LL HAVE THE MONEY, WE FINANCE IT. WE FINANCE IT FOR THE 12 MONTHS. IT MAY BE A HIGHER PAYMENT THERE VERY HAPPY THAT WE DO THAT FOR THEM. BUT THE SETS INTO OUR PROGRAM, ALONG WITH THE OTHER ONE.
>> SECOND. LET'S READ THE RESOLUTION.
>> HAVE TO READ THE RESOLUTION FIRST?
>> A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A GAS PIPING AND PAYMENT PLAN POLICY FOR THE GAS SYSTEM PROVIDING FOR SCRIVENERS SEVERABILITY AND EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> NO, I AM GOOD. THANK YOU. >> NOW, I MOVE APPROVAL.
>> MADAM CHAIR . I MEAN MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE
>> MS. GIBBONS. >> YES, MA'AM.
>> MR. LAMMERS. >> YES, MA'AM.
>> MRS. HUDSON. >> YES, MA'AM.
>> MRS. BENNETT. >> YES, MA'AM.
[F. DIRECTOR COMMENTS]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES THE REGULAR AGENDA. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE DIRECTOR?
[G. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]
>> JUST ONE COMMENT, MA'AM. THE NEXT BOARD MEETING WILL BE AUGUST 6 AT THIS TIME IN THE BOARD MEMBER.
>> ALL RIGHT. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD
MEMBERS? >> I HAVE ONE QUICK THING. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE PROGRESS OF HOW WE ARE DOING ON THIS GAS PIPING. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE EVERY MEETING , BUT I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO KNOW HOW WE ARE DOING.
>> I AM SURE FRED WILL BE EXCITED TO COME UP HERE.
>> YEAH. >> ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM
THE ATTORNEY? >> NONE AT THIS TIME. INKS.
>> ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.