[MEETING TO ORDER]
[00:00:10]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, IT I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING FOR OCTOBER 1. PLEASE JOIN US IN STANDING FOR THE INVOCATION LED BY CAROL WILSON FROM THE HUMAN RESOURCES. AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> WE THANK YOU FOR OUR BOARD AND ASK YOU TO GUIDE THEM IN THEIR DECISION-MAKING, AS THEY FULFILL THIS IMPORTANT ROLE OF LEADERSHIP. IN JESUS NAME, WE PRAY, AMEN.
>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> MADAME CLERK, CALL THE ROLL.
>> MR. FRANK FEE, IV,. >> MRS. KRISTINA GIBBONS.
[A. SET THE AGENDA]
>> THE NEXT ITEM IS SETTING THE AGENDA. DO I HAVE A MOTION?
[B. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC]
>> -- IF YOU LIKE TO SPEAK YOU MAY DO SO NOW. YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS JACK CHESTER. I AM A REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL. OF A SOMEWHAT LARGE BROKERAGE. THE REASON I COME TO YOU TODAY IS TO SHARE MY PERSPECTIVE ON HOW EVEN IMPACTING CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS. I'M HERE WITH HOPES OF BEING ABLE TO OPEN UP THE DIALOGUE AND HAVE THE CONVERSATION OF HOW WE CAN RESOLVE THOSE MATTERS. FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A REAL ESTATE AGENT AND REAL ESTATE PERSONAL TRANSACTIONS. IS A REAL ESTATE BROKER MY OFFICE, WE CLOSE AROUND 400 REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS PER YEAR. SOME OF THE THINGS WE KILL -- SEE THE KILLER REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS LOCALLY IS THE FPUA LIENS. I DO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF WHERE THEY SHOULD BE IN PLACE. AS I DO HAVE A HIGH REGARD AND RESPECT FOR EVERY COMPANY'S POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. BUT SOME OF THE THINGS I'VE NOTICED, FOR EXAMPLE, THE CITY OF FORT HAS A LOT OF BLIGHTED PROPERTIES THAT HAVE EITHER BEEN BOARDED UP OR ABANDON THE LIEN IS SOMETHING THAT DERAILS THE PROCESS. THE HOME IS VACATED BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER, AS A REAL ESTATE COMPANY WE FIND PARTICULAR BUYERS. BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE THERE IS A METER ON THAT PROPERTY AND IN SOME CASES I HAVE SEEN METERS ON A PROPERTY FOR 10 YEARS THAT WAS UNPAID WHERE RENT WAS BEING CHARGED EVERY SINGLE MONTH FOR 10 YEARS STRAIGHT. SO BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENS THERE HAVE A REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION WITH A UP TO $50,000 LIEN -- --
>> IN THE EYES OF THE DEVELOPER MANY AND MOST OF THEM DO NOT WANT TO TOUCH THAT BECAUSE -- REASON I BRING THAT UP TO YOU IS TO KIND OF POINT THAT OUT AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN OPEN UP THE DIALOGUE TO OPEN UP THE DIALOGUE FOR A LIENS REDUCTION POLICY OR PROGRAM THAT WOULD HELP STREAMLINE AS WE CONTINUE TO HELP THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE BECOME A MORE BEAUTIFUL PLACE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> GOOD MEMBERS AND MAYOR. MY NAME IS DENNY LITTLE. THE URBAN DESIGNER DIRECTOR FOR THE PLANNING COUNCIL. --
[00:05:03]
INDISCERNIBLE ] WE WERE ASKED LAST YEAR BY THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY HERE AT FORT PIERCE TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC PLANNING TO LOOK AT THE FUTURE COMMUNITY DESIRES AND VISIONS FOR THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT ONCE IT IS RELOCATED. AND TAKEN DOWN. WELL AS THE ADJACENT DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL NEXT-DOOR -- I'M HERE TO INVITE ALL OF YOU STARTING THIS SATURDAY AT 10:00 AT 500 ORANGE AVENUE. -- EVENING SUNDAY, MONDAY, TUESDAY AND INTO WEDNESDAY EVENING.WITH DOORS OPEN FROM 9:00 TO 10:00 AT NIGHT, WORKING ON DEVELOPING THE IDEAS WE HEAR ON SATURDAY. I AM HERE AT THE INVITATION OF I MET WITH HE AND OTHERS AS PART OF OUR INTERVIEWS. IT WAS GREAT TO MEET YOU AND YOUR TEAM. THAT IS IT. I'M JUST HERE TO INVITE YOU. THE DETAILED INFORMATION IS ON THE CITY WEBSITE. YOU CAN FIND IT THERE. IS IN ENGLISH, SPANISH AND CREOLE. WILL BE SERVING BREAKFAST, REFRESHMENTS AND LUNCH. I HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE. IF THERE IS NO QUESTIONS, HAVE A GREAT EVENING.
>> SEEING NO ONE ELSE HAS COME FORTH, I WILL NOW CLOSE THE
[C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND MOVE TO THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR SEPTEMBER 17, 2024. DO I HAVE A MOTION AT THIS TIME?>> MADAME CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
[D. CONSENT AGENDA]
>> THE NEXT ITEM IS A CONSENT AGENDA.
>> THERE ANY ITEMS THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO PULL FOR DISCUSSION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA OR DO I HAVE A MOTION?
>> MR. FEE, MRS. GIBBONS, MR. LAMMERS, MRS. LINDA HUDSON.
>> AT THIS TIME WE WILL TRANSFER TO OUR NEW BOARD CHAIR . AT THIS TIME, IT WAS A PLEASURE OF SERVING AND NOW I PASS THE GAVEL TO MR. LAMMERS.
>> THAT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
>> THANK YOU, MRS. BENNETT. BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE REGULAR AGENDA I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK MRS. BENNETT. YOU HAVE BEEN A GREAT LEADER TO THE BOARD. IT'S OBVIOUSLY THAT YOU CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND WANT WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR RATEPAYERS IN OUR CITY. I APPRECIATE YOU.
[E.1. Federal Dept. of Energy Grant Agreement for $5,828,993 Toward Electric Grid Modernization and Resilience]
>> IT LOOKS LIKE THE FIRST AND ONLY THING ON THE REGULAR AGENDA TODAY IS A FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY GRANT AGREEMENT FOR ELECTRIC GRID MODERNIZATION AND RESILIENCE.
>> YES, SIR. MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. GOOD AFTERNOON. THE ONLY ITEM AS YOU MENTIONED IS A REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY GRID DEPLOYMENT OFFICE FOR IMPLEMENTING MODERNIZATION AND RESILIENCE UPGRADES TO THE FPUA ELECTRIC GRID, IN THE WITH AN OVERALL GRANT PROGRAM UPDATE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CHAIRMAN , MAYOR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. TODAY , TO START, I AM HERE TO REQUEST YOUR APPROVAL OF THE GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY. IS APPROXIMATELY $5.8 MILLION TOWARD UPGRADES FOR OUR ELECTRIC GRID. I AM GOING TO GO THROUGH A FEW SLIDES TO TALK A LITTLE ABOUT WHAT THIS PROJECT IS. AND THEN AFTER THAT I WILL ALSO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF
[00:10:01]
AN UPDATE ON THE GRANTS IN GENERAL, SINCE I HAVE THE PLEASURE AND HONOR OF BEING THE ONLY PRESENTATION TODAY, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GREAT MOMENT TO GET EVERYONE UP TO SPEED. SO, THIS $5.8 MILLION PROJECT FOR THE ELECTRIC GRANT, WE CALL IT THE GRIPPED GRANT. YOU'LL HEAR HIM SPEAKING, THAT IS THE GRID RESILIENCE AND INNOVATION PROGRAM. IT IS FUNDED IN PART BY BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW AND IT IS ADMINISTERED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY GRID DEPLOYMENT OFFICE. THEY WERE GIVEN APPROXIMATELY $10.5 BILLION TO ENHANCE GRID FLEXIBILITY AND IMPROVE THE RESILIENCE OF THE POWER SYSTEM NATIONWIDE AGAINST GROWING THREATS OF EXTREME WEATHER AND CLIMATE CHANGE. FPUA WAS SELECTED FOR FUNDING DURING THE FIRST ROUND OF GRANT APPLICATIONS BACK IN OCTOBER 2023. IT HAS BEEN ABOUT A YEAR OF ONBOARDING TO GET THIS GRANT AGREEMENT TO YOU TODAY. THIS MAP WAS KIND OF A FUN MAP TO SEE, IT CAME OUT OF A MAGAZINE, BUT IT REALLY SHOWED US AS BEING ON THE MAP. IF YOU LOOK AT FLORIDA, FPUA IS FLAGGED AS RECEIVING THIS $5.8 MILLION GRANT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, ALL OF THE OTHER PROJECTS HERE, JUST LIKE OURS, THEY ARE PROJECTS THAT WERE FUNDED THROUGH THE GRID DEPLOYMENT OFFICE, THROUGH THIS $10.5 BILLION IN DIFFERENT VERSIONS. SO, A LITTLE ABOUT OUR PROJECT, THE TITLE, MITIGATING IMPACTS OF EXTREME WEATHER AND NATURAL DISASTERS THROUGH INCREASED GRID EASILY AND SEE, -- 5,000,828 $993 WITH A MATCH OF $2,000,970. THE TIMELINE IS OCTOBER, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2027. THIS IS A THREE-YEAR PROJECT. MOST GRANTS REQUIRE MATCH , THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS COME UP IN A DIFFERENT GRANT APPLICATIONS WE HAVE DONE. THIS ONE IS TYPICALLY A 50% MATCH . BUT BECAUSE THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE IS DESIGNATED AS A DISADVANTAGE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S CLIMATE JUSTICE TOOLS, WE ONLY NEEDED TO PROVIDE 33% MATCH. WHICH IS QUITE HELPFUL WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT LARGE PROJECTS LIKE THIS. THE MAJOR ACTIVITIES FOR THIS PROJECT ARE, UPGRADING TWO TRANSFORMERS WHICH IS GOING TO INCREASE CAPACITY AT THE HARTMAN SUBSTATION. REPLACING FOUR OBSOLETE TRANSFORMERS AT THREE DIFFERENT SUBSTATIONS. CONVERTING THE COTTON STUB -- SUBSTATION TO THE AUTOMATED RECONFIGURATION WHERE NOW IT'S A AUTOMATED PROCESS. WHEN WE SWITCH IT WILL BE MORE AUTOMATED TO MAKE REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE. AND DEPLOYING 400 TRIP SAVERS ON THE ELECTRIC GRID. TRIP SAVERS ARE ALSO A FORM OF AUTOMATED REPAIR. SO IF THERE ARE FAULTS ON THE SYSTEM THAT ARE FLEETING, SOMETHING LIKE TREE BRANCHES BLOWING AND HITTING THE LINES, INSTEAD OF THOSE LINES FAULTING AND US HAVING TO MANUALLY REPAIR THEM, THE TRIP SAVERS RECOGNIZE THIS IS A FLEETING ISSUE AND IF IT STOPS THE TRIP SAVER WILL SOLVE THE OUTAGE AUTOMATICALLY. SO, ALL OF THESE ARE REPAIRS AND MODERNIZATION TO THE ELECTRIC GRID AND AUTOMATION AS WELL IN PART. THIS PROJECT ALSO INCLUDES CARRYING OUT A COMMUNITY BENEFITS PLAN WHICH YOU WILL SEE ALMOST ALL OF THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY GRANT FUNDING REQUIRES A COMMUNITY BENEFITS PLAN THAT IS A SUBSET SEPARATE FROM THE ACTUAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. BEFORE I GO INTO MUCH MORE DETAIL, I WANTED TO SAY, ERIC MEYER, SUPERVISING ENGINEER IN THE ELECTRIC GROUP WAS IMMENSELY INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING THIS PROPOSAL FOR THE ELECTRIC GRANTS . AND THAT IS HOW THIS MODEL WORKS, WE TAKE GRANT WRITERS AND GRANT MANAGERS AND PAIR WITH THE SPECIALIST IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO DEVELOP PROJECTS THAT MAKE SENSE FOR[00:15:03]
OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. AND SO ALL OF THE ITEMS IDENTIFIED HERE ARE ITEMS THAT ARE SUPERVISING ENGINEER IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFIED AS, THESE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN AND IF WE CAN GET THEM FUNDED, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. WE ALSO HAVE TERESA MARIA WHO IS ONE OF OUR NEWEST GRANT WRITERS AND GRANT MANAGERS WHO HAS BEEN WORKING WITH HIM AND WILL BE MANAGING THIS GRANT. THE TIMELINE FOR THIS PROJECT , IN YEAR ONE, STARTING NOW, THE GOAL IS TO UPGRADE THE TWO HARTMAN SUBSTATION TRANSFORMERS. THIS WILL INCREASE THE CAPACITY FROM 100 TO 120. WE ARE ALSO GOING TO INSTALL THE FIRST 200 TRIP SAVERS THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM. WE WILL COMPLETE THE DESIGNS FOR THE TOTTEN SUBSTATION RING BUS CONFIGURATION. WE WILL ALSO COMPLETE DESIGNS FOR THE DISTRIBUTION TRANSFORMER REPLACEMENTS, THOSE ARE HAPPENING THREE DIFFERENT SUBSTATIONS. AND WE WILL PLACE THE ORDER FOR THE FOUR DISTRIBUTION TRANSFORMERS AND FOR THE SIX CIRCUIT BREAKERS FOR THE RING BUS. THAT IS YOUR ONE. YEAR TWO WE WILL REPLACE THE TWO DISTRIBUTION TRANSFORMERS ALONG THE SUBSTATION. UPGRADE THE TOTTEN SUBSTATION TO BRING BUS AND INSTALL THE REMAINING 200 TRIP SAVERS. IN YEAR THREE, WE WILL REPLACE ONE DISTRIBUTION TRANSFORMER EACH AT THE KING SUBSTATION AND THE SAVANNAH SUBSTATION. THERE IS ROOM HERE FOR AMENDMENT IF NEEDED, IT IS HELPFUL WHEN WE HAVE A LOT OF ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR YEAR ONE AND YEAR TWO, SHOULD WE NEED TO WE CAN FORWARD IT WITH THE GRANTING AGENCY TO PUSH THINGS INTO YOUR THREE TO ACCOMMODATE WHATEVER IS GOING ON. THE COMMUNITY AND IF IT'S PLAN, IS ITS OWN ITEM ATTACHED TO A GRANT PROPOSAL AND GRANT AGREEMENT. JUST AS WE COMMIT TO COMPLETING INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, WE ALSO CONTRACTUALLY COMMIT TO COMPLETING THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS PLAN AND ACTIVITIES INCLUDED IN IT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ON THE GRANTS TEAM WE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY BECAUSE WE KNOW THE BETWEEN GRANTS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS WE ARE THE ONES OVERSEEING TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS GETS COMPLETED. THIS COMMUNITY BENEFITS PLAN INCLUDES PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS, SO EACH YEAR, WE WILL PROVIDE AN ELECTRIC GRID GRANT UPDATE TO THE UTILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE AT ONE OF THE UAC PUBLIC MEETINGS. IT ALSO INCLUDES A ROUNDTABLE. IN THIS PROCESS WE LEARNED ABOUT SOMETHING CALLED STRATEGIC DOING, WHICH IS A FORM OF BRINGING TOGETHER DIVERSE AUDIENCES FROM DIFFERENT COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, EDUCATIONAL AND JOB TRAINING STAKEHOLDERS, ET CETERA, TO COME TOGETHER IN A GUIDED FASHION, TYPICALLY WITH A SPECIALIST CONTRACTOR, TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PARTICULAR THINGS THAT OTHERWISE CAN BE DIFFICULT TO TALK ABOUT BECAUSE NO ONE IS REALLY DRIVING THE BUS. AND, IN THIS PROPOSAL WE INCLUDED A ROUNDTABLE THAT WOULD FOLLOW THE STRATEGIC DOING MODEL. WE WOULD INVITE STAKEHOLDERS FOR COLLABORATION TO DISCUSS COMMUNITY CONCERNS RELATED TO ENERGY GRID RESILIENCE, POTENTIAL OUT CURSE THIS ADVERSE OUTCOMES IN MEANINGFUL INTENTIONS. THIS IS INTENTIONALLY BROAD BECAUSE ESPECIALLY FOR US IN ROUND ONE OF THE GRID APPLICATIONS NO ONE REALLY KNEW WHAT WAS MEANT BY COMMUNITY BENEFITS PLAN , WHAT ACTIVITIES WERE APPROPRIATE TO INCLUDE, WHAT WERE VALUED OR SOUGHT AFTER, AND SO WE ARE ONE OF THE FIRST BUNCH TO EVEN GO THROUGH THIS. SO WE LEARNED A LOT AND STRATEGIC DOING IS ONE OF THEM. WE WILL ALSO DO COMMUNITY SURVEYS, WHICH WE HAVE DONE. WE DID COMMUNITY SURVEYS WHEN WE SUBMITTED THE APPLICATION TO GET INITIAL FEEDBACK. WE WILL CONTINUE DOING THOSE. I WILL SHOW YOU THIS ON THE NEXT SLIDE. WE INCLUDED TRAINING. SO AT LEAST TWO FPUA APPRENTICE LINEMAN WILL BE TRAINED IN THE INSTALLATION OF TRIP SAVERS DURING GRANT FUNDED ACTIVITIES.WE CONFIRM THIS WITH THE LINEMAN CREW AND WITH BILL CRAWFORD, THAT WE HAVE LINEMAN APPRENTICES THAT CAN USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN. WE WILL ALSO PARTICIPATE IN AT LEAST TWO JOB FAIRS HELD IN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES. THIS IS KIND OF STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT ANYWAY. SO WE GET TO INCLUDED HERE. AND, ENERGY RESILIENCE , THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES, ONCE COMPLETE , WILL RESULT IN A DECREASE IN OUR SYSTEM AVERAGE INTERRUPTION DURATION INDEX. AGAIN, WE ARE ROUND ONE OF ANYONE TO RECEIVE
[00:20:11]
THIS FUNDING. SO WE WILL SEE HOW THIS GOES. BUT HOPEFULLY BETWEEN NOW AND THREE YEARS FROM NOW WE CAN DEMONSTRATE AN IMPROVEMENT IN OUR GRID INDEX. THESE ARE THE ELECTRIC GRID UPGRADE SURVEYS. WE HAD ASKED INITIALLY . IT IS HARD TO SEE, BUT I WILL READ THEM OUT. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS OVERALL , I WOULD CONSIDER THE RELIABILITY OF THE ELECTRIC GRID TO BE, EXCELLENT, VERY GOOD, GOOD, FAIR OR POOR. HOW MANY INTERRUPTIONS IN SERVICE TO EXPERIENCE IN ONE MONTH? WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF THOSE SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS , ANIMALS, VEGETATION, LAND, RAIN, LIGHTNING? AND ITS SIMILAR QUESTIONS LIKE THAT. THE GOAL IS TO HAVE DIALOGUE. TO GIVE OUR CUSTOMERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INDICATE WITH US. FOR US TO LISTEN AND HEAR WHAT IS BEING SAID ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE . WE ASK, PLEASE RANK THE TOPICS FROM MOST IMPORTANT TO LEAST IMPORTANT . ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, RELIABLE UTILITY SERVICE, FRIENDLY CUSTOMER SERVICE, LOW PRICES.COMMUNITY SPONSORSHIP AND ENGAGEMENT, SMART CITY MODERN TECHNOLOGIES. AND THE RESPONSES TO THESE REALLY HELP US TO UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE A LITTLE BETTER.
WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SURVEY FOR THE ELECTRIC GRANT. OKAY. SO THAT IS THE OVERVIEW FOR THE ELECTRIC GRANT. AND, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR GRANT, BEFORE I GO THROUGH A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE GRANTS UPDATE.
>> ANY DISCUSSION BY THE BOARD?
>> I DO HAVE A QUESTION. A COUPLE MONTHS AGO , I THINK IT'S BEEN A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, IT'S BEEN A LONG YEAR, WE APPROVED THE TOTTEN SUBSTATION UPGRADE . AT THAT TIME DID WE KNOW WE HAD ALREADY BEEN AWARDED THIS GRANT? OR WINDED THAT WHOLE THING --
>> THERE ARE COUPLE THINGS GOING ON. I THINK THE TOTTEN SUBSTATION UPGRADE IS THE EXPANSION TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY FOR THE WESTERN CORRIDOR, THAT IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN THIS. THIS IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE TOTTEN RING BUS. IT'S REALLY THE 69 RING BUS PROJECT, AND WHATEVER THE LIST WAS THERE FOR TRANSFORMERS. TWO DIFFERENT PROJECTS AT THE SAME LOCATION. THE RING BUS IS A BIG DEAL.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT FOR 15 YEARS TO GET THAT DONE.
THAT BRINGS QUITE A BIT OF RELIABILITY TO THE 69, TO OUR TRANSMISSION. SUBSTATIONS.
>> JUST A FOLLOW-UP WITH THE QUESTION, DIDN'T WE BUY SOME TRANSFORMERS FOR THAT STATION AS WELL?
>> WE BOUGHT TRANSFORMERS FOR THE DISTRIBUTION SUBSTATIONS, NOT FOR A POWER TRANSFORMERS . THESE ARE THE ONES THAT FEED THE ENTIRE CITY. THOSE ARE BEING UPGRADED TO 120 MVA. THE OTHER TRANSFORMERS THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT, WE HAVE ALREADY REPLACED SOME OF THOSE THROUGHOUT THE SUBSTATIONS INNER-CITY.
>> NONE OF THIS GRANT MONEY HAS BEEN USED FOR THOSE TRANSFORMERS , WE HAVE SPENT THAT MONEY?
>> WE ARE GOING TO USE SOME OF THAT MONEY FOR THE OTHER TRANSFORMERS.
>> THIS IS THE ADDITIONAL FOR THE EXPANSION?
>> ADDITIONAL FOR INCREASED CAPACITY AND RELIABILITY. SOME OF THESE TRANSFORMERS ARE 30 OR 40 YEARS OLD.
>> I'D LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING. IS THIS A ONE TIME GRANT ? I KNOW IT WAS UNTIL 2027, AFTER THAT, CAN WE REAPPLY? FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS IF NEEDED?
>> YES, SO, THE GRID DEPLOYMENT OFFICE , WE THINK, WILL DO THREE ROUNDS OF THESE APPLICATIONS. THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH TWO. WE DID APPLY LAST YEAR IN ROUND TWO, EVEN THOUGH WE ALREADY KNEW WE HAD BEEN AWARDED YEAR ONE AROUND ONE. WE WERE NOT SELECTED LAST YEAR. IT IS GETTING MORE AND MORE COMPETITIVE BECAUSE THE GRANTS FOLKS ARE GETTING MORE SAVVY.
AND, COMING TOGETHER. SO PROJECTS ARE GETTING LARGER WHICH IS A LITTLE EASIER FOR THE DIFFERENT ONES TO MANAGE.
WE THINK THERE WILL BE ONE MORE ROUND THIS YEAR. WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN TALKING A LITTLE BIT WITH THE ELECTRIC GROUP ABOUT POSSIBLY SUBMITTING AGAIN. BUT, WE ARE FINDING IS , WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY AVAILABLE, THE SIZE OF PROJECTS IS GETTING LARGER . THEY ARE ALMOST BECOMING MORE LIKE CONGLOMERATES VERSUS, WE WERE KIND OF UNIQUE. THERE AREN'T
[00:25:01]
THAT MANY THAT ARE INDIVIDUAL UTILITIES OF OUR SIZE. THAT RECEIVE GRANTS LIKE THIS. IT SEEMS TO BE LESS FREQUENT. BUT WE WILL KEEP TRYING. AFTER THE THIRD ROUND, I'M NOT SURE IF THERE WILL BE ANY MORE ROUNDS. THAT WOULD PROBABLY DEPEND ON THE FUNDING, THE FEDERAL FUNDING.>> ALSO, I HEARD THAT YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY . WILL BE WHEN YOU HAVE THESE MEETINGS, WHAT WILL IT BE, TIME IN THE P.M.? IN THE TIME PERIOD THEY WILL BE ABLE TO COME? OR WILL THAT BE SOMETHING SPECIAL THAT YOU ALL PUT OUT?
>> RIGHT NOW, WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS PLAN IS PRESENTATIONS AT THE UTILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
ONE PER YEAR. THOSE ARE AT 4:00. I DON'T WANT TO MAKE ANY PROMISES THIS EARLY ON. SOMETIMES WE CAN MAKE MODIFICATIONS, FOR EXAMPLE THE YOUTH CAREER FAIR WAS FROM 4:00 TO 6:00. THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THERE IS ROOM THERE, BUT RIGHT NOW THE ONLY COMMITMENT WE HAVE FOR PRESENTATIONS IS THE UAC MEETINGS. WHICH MAY CHANGE. AND THAT IS PART OF THE COLLABORATIVE PROCESS. WHEN WE BRING TOGETHER THAT ROUNDTABLE, SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS ME BE, THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPEAKING WITHIN COMMUNITY VENUES HERE AND HERE, AND FROM THERE, WE ARE ABLE TO ACCESS AND HAVE PRESENTATIONS IN PLACES WHERE WE KNOW IT IS GOING TO BE SEEN AND HAVE SOME DIALOGUE FOLLOW.
>> MR. CHAIR. WHERE WAS THE SURVEY, HOW IS THAT DISSEMINATED?
>> THE FIRST ONE WE DID WAS PROBABLY WITHIN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THIS DEPARTMENT EXISTING. AND AT THE TIME, OUR PRIMARIES WERE EVENTS WE WERE GOING TO. SO WE HAD THE SURVEY AT NATURE FEST. WHICH WOULD'VE BEEN FEBRUARY. AND, AT ST.
LUCIE COUNTY'S EARTH DAY EVENT, I THINK WE DID THOSE TWO EVENTS. AND I THINK THOSE WERE KIND OF THE MAIN THINGS.
>> WE DIDN'T DO IT VIA ELECTRONIC EMAIL OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? IT WAS IN PERSON AT EVENTS?
>> JUST THOSE TWO. IT WAS VERY PRELIMINARY AND WE WANT TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE COULD, THAT WE WERE ABLE. NOW THAT IS
BUILT-IN WE WILL ADVANCE A BIT. >> GREAT. IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE THE UTILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS GOING TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THIS COMMUNITY BENEFITS PLAN . AND SO THAT IS ANOTHER REASON WHY THAT WAS A VERY GOOD THING TO CREATE IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO REACH OUR CUSTOMERS AND FOR OUR CUSTOMERS TO REACH US.
>> COULD YOU GO BACK TO THE MAP? SO, ARE THOSE NUMBERS HOW MUCH MONEY IS ALLOTTED TO THAT STATE?
>> SO STATES RECEIVED, THERE SOMETHING CALLED, ON THE RED ON THE LEFT, GRID RESILIENCE STATE AND TRIBAL FORMULA GRANTS.
THERE WAS A FORMULA USED TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH MONEY EACH STATE WOULD RECEIVE. SO THE STATE OF FLORIDA, ABOUT $30,400,000. THIS IS A YEAR OR SO OLD. THEY ACTUALLY RELEASED SOME FUNDING THROUGH THE FDA EM, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT , AND WE SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION TO THEM AS WELL THAT IS STILL PENDING AND IT IS THAT MONEY.
>> OKAY, SO ARE THE BOXES THE ONLY PLACE WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN AWARDED? IS THAT RIGHT?
>> I THINK THOSE ARE THE PUBLIC POWER PROJECTS. THIS WAS IN THE AMERICAN PUBLIC POWER ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE.
>> I THINK THE ONLY OTHER UTILITY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA WAS LAKE WORTH.
>> IN ROUND TWO. I THINK. THAT IS WHY THEY ARE NOT HERE.
>> RACHEL TENNANT, AM EXCITED ABOUT THE GRANT TO BE CERTAIN.
AS IT CONCERNS THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT PLAN, YOU MENTIONED IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOME DIVERSITY AT THE ROUNDTABLE. I HAVE LONG THOUGHT AND UNTAPPED VEIN TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR COMMUNITY IS REACHING OUT TO PASTORS AND OTHER CHURCH
[00:30:04]
LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY. WE MADE ANY EFFORTS TO REACH OUT TO CHURCH LEADERS TO TRY TO GET THEM TO SOME OF THE MEETINGS WE HAVE? I PERSONALLY HAVE TRIED TO REACH OUT TO A COUPLE PASTORS TO GET THEM ON THE UTILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.THEY'RE WARY OF HAVING ANOTHER COMMITMENT. BUT HAVE WE MADE OTHER EFFORTS TO REACH OUT TO THEM?
>> YES. THIS HAS BEEN ON OUR RADAR ALSO. FOR COUPLE OF YEARS. WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH DIFFERENT VENUES , OR DIFFERENT AVENUES, TRYING TO REACH THAT COMMUNITY. BUT, MRS. BENNETT HAS PUT FORWARD, I BELIEVE HER NAME IS PASTOR JASMINE, JASMINE BERNARD. WHO IS INTERESTED IN JOINING THE UTILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE. AND, I BELIEVE SHE IS COMING TOMORROW, TO TOMORROW'S MEETING, TO SEE AND SORT OF EXPLORER , WE WILL BE WORKING ON THE SECOND ANNUAL SO IT WILL BE A GOOD ONE TO SEE IS AN EXPLORATORY MEETING. AND FROM THERE, IF SHE IS STILL INTERESTED, WE WILL COME BACK AND SHE WILL BE MRS. BENNETT'S APPOINTMENT. I KNOW IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE , JUST IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS OR SO I HAVE HEARD OF A FEW DIFFERENT APARTMENT HEADS AND GROUPS THAT ARE ENGAGING MORE SO WITH THE PASTOR COMMUNITY. I THINK WE ARE GETTING CLOSER . BUT IT'S ALSO ON OUR RADAR AND HAS BEEN UNIQUE TO TRY AND GET CONNECTED. BUT I THINK IT'S COMING ALONG.
>> ANOTHER THING I THINK IS IMPORTANT IS THAT WE HOLD SOME OF THESE MEETINGS OR ROUNDTABLES AT FACILITIES OTHER THAN JUST KIND OF SUMMARIZE FOR THE FOLKS WATCHING OR IN THE AUDIENCE, WHAT ARE THE MAIN TWO OR THREE THINGS THAT THIS WORK IS GOING TO DO ?
>> SO, WHEN WE THINK OF RESILIENCE , GRID RESILIENCE, THE EASIEST WAY TO THINK OF IT IS YOUR ABILITY TO STAND STORMS AND TO RECOVER FROM DISRUPTIONS. AND SO, WHEN WE DO THIS WORK, WE WILL HAVE GREATER CAPACITY, WHICH WILL REDUCE THE BURDEN AND THE STRAIN ON THE GRID. THAT HELPS TO IMPROVE ANY DISRUPTIONS FROM BEING OVERBURDENED, FOR EXAMPLE. WHEN WE HAVE THE AUTOMATED SYSTEMS TO BE ABLE TO REPAIR AUTOMATICALLY OUTAGES, IT IS IMPROVING OUR ABILITY TO REPAIR FROM DAMAGE. OR INTERRUPTION.
>> SO OUR CUSTOMERS WILL BE LESS LIKELY TO HAVE AN OUTAGE AND THEN WHEN THEY DO HAVE AN OUTAGE, IT WILL PROBABLY BE SHORTER IN DURATION.
>> MR. CHAIR, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO WHAT RACHEL TENNANT JUST SAID. WE DO THOSE THINGS ALREADY. I THINK PART OF WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS TRYING TO MAKE THAT TIMELINE A LITTLE QUICKER WITH A LARGER NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO IF WE DIDN'T GET THE GRANT. IN A GOOD WAY. IT'S GOING TO IMPROVE OUR SYSTEM RELIABILITY, SYSTEM RECOVERY.
FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THE GRANT IS REALLY A BIG DEAL FOR US BECAUSE IT ALLOWS US TO DO THOSE THINGS , WE HAVE PLANS FOR AND WANT TO DO BUT CAN'T BECAUSE WE'RE LIMITED BASED ON OUR RATE STRUCTURE AND THEIR BUDGETS. SO, MY OPINION, IT'S A BIG DEAL BECAUSE THE GRANT WILL ALLOW US TO DO THAT AND MAKE IS PREPARED IN THE SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME AND MUCH MORE RESILIENT
>> MR. CHAIR, WHEN YOU SAY REPAIR AUTOMATICALLY, DOES THAT MEAN REPAIR REMOTELY? IS I WOULD AUTOMATICALLY NEEDS?
>> SO THERE ARE COUPLE DIFFERENT THINGS, THE TRIP SAVERS, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO TRIGGER THOSE TO REPAIR REMOTELY. THEY RECOGNIZE ON THEIR OWN.
>> THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES, IF THERE IS A MOMENTARY INTERRUPTION TRIP SAVERS WILL HEAL THEMSELVES. BUT ONLY HAS A COUPLE OF OPPORTUNITIES. IF THE ISSUE IS STILL THERE AND STILL PERSISTS, MINIMAL TRIP FOR SAFETY TO AVOID ANY KIND OF INJURY. AND THEN WE ROLL THE TRUCKS. BUT RIGHT NOW WE ROLL
[00:35:01]
THE TRUCKS, THE FUSES BLOW, AND THE TRUCK HAS TO GO THERE. IT COULD'VE BEEN A MOMENTARY INTERRUPTION THE CAUSES INTERRUPTION OF SERVICE. TRIP SAVERS WILL REDUCE THE NUMBER OF TRUCK ROLLS AND INCREASE RELIABILITY FOR THE CUSTOMER.THERE IS STILL A TREE LIMB ON THE WIRE, THAT IT WILL TRIP.
>> IN THE RING BUS, WHICH SOUNDS VERY INTRIGUING, I'VE NO IDEA WHAT THAT IS, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A BIG DEAL.
>> THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT IS SOMETHING REMOTELY ALSO?
>> SO YES, THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES. IT WILL BE ESSENTIALLY LIKE A LIGHT SWITCH THE TRUST TO ISOLATE PART OF OUR 69 COMING OF HARTMAN TO PROVIDE A HIGHER LEVEL OF REDUNDANCY -- IF THERE IS AN AND MINUS ONE CONTINGENCY IT WILL PROVIDE POWER TO THE REST OF THE 69.
>> THAT WHY IT'S CALLED THE RING BUS?
>> I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S CALLED THE RING BUS.
>> LET ME SEE. IT WILL ISOLATE THE PROBLEM SO DOESN'T CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION IN SERVICE . THAT IS THE SHORT VERSION.
>> ONE MORE QUESTION, ABOUT THE MATCHING PORTION, WE AWARDED $5.8 MILLION APPROXIMATELY? AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO ADD ON $2.9 MILLION OF HER OWN MONEY?
>> BUT WE KNEW SO WE BUDGETED.
>> BASICALLY WE NOW HAVE CLOSE TO $9 MILLION TO PUT INTO THESE PROJECT PROJECTS?
>> I CAN SEE WHERE YOU'RE HAPPY. $5 MILLION IS GREAT. I HAVE MORE TO WORK WITH.
>> ARE WE READY FOR PART B OF THE PRESENTATION?
>> ALL RIGHT. SO, FEBRUARY 2023. THIS IS THE OCTOBER 2024 GRANTS PROGRAM UPDATE. I COPY AND PASTED THE TITLE SLIDE, SORRY ABOUT THAT. SO I REALLY JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW , SINCE WE ARE HERE, THAT THE GRANTS TEAM HAS BEEN GROWING, IT STARTED AS ONE, THEN TWO AND NOW WE ARE THREE. AND, ALSO THAT EVEN AS THREE, WE ARE DOING THE WORK OF 30. SO, PROPOSALS SUBMITTED, TOTAL REQUESTED SINCE MAY 2022, WHICH IS AROUND THE TIME WE STARTED COUNTING, $226 MILLION. THAT IS THE DOLLAR VALUE OF PROPOSALS WE HAVE SUBMITTED. THAT INCLUDES ABOUT $188.5 MILLION REQUESTED FOR THE W RF RELOCATION. ABOUT $3.5 MILLION FOR VARIOUS PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE UTILITY. AND $29 MILLION FOR ELECTRIC AND GAS PROJECTS.
>> ACTIVE GRANTS, RIGHT NOW WE ARE MANAGING ABOUT JUST UNDER $25 MILLION WORTH OF GRANTS -- FIRST ONE WE RECEIVED. THAT IS CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW PLANT AND 2.23 ACRES OF SEAGRASS RESTORATION. THE ANNOUNCED TO US A FEW MONTHS AGO THAT WE HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO RECEIVE ALMOST AN ADDITIONAL $1 MILLION TOWARD THAT PROJECT. THAT HAPPENS SOMETIMES WITH GRANTING AGENCIES, WHEN SAY THEY HAVE OTHER GRANTS THAT ARE UNDERPERFORMING OR ARE NOT GOING TO BILL TO SPEND THE MONEY FAST ENOUGH, THEY WILL REDISTRIBUTE THE MONEY. AND SO FOR US, IT IS AN HONOR TO BE RECEIVED AS ONE TO RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL MILLION DOLLARS. WE ALSO HAVE THE $5 MILLION STATE APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE W RF CONVEYANCE PROJECT. WE ARE CLOSING OUT TWO PROJECTS THAT SHOULD BE DONE EITHER NOW OR IN A MONTH OR SO. THEY ARE BOTH SEWER LINE. ABOUT 3.8 -- $4 MILLION OF SEWER LINING WORK WE HAVE BEEN DOING FOR QUITE SOME TIME BUT THE PROJECTS ARE JUST ABOUT BEING CLOSED OUT. WE ALSO HAVE FOUR AWARDED GRANTS.
AWARDED IS THE STATUS GIVEN WHEN WE KNOW WE HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO RECEIVE THE FUNDS, BUT WE HAVE NOT YET SIGNED A CONTRACT, WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS BETWEEN THE POINT OF AWARDED IN THE AGREEMENT ITSELF. THERE IS A NEGOTIATION PROCESS, THERE IS ONBOARDING, ALL SORTS OF PAPERWORK AND CORONATION. SO WE ARE GOING THROUGH THAT . WE HAVE THE $1
[00:40:05]
MILLION FEDERAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE W RF CONVEYANCE. THE $5.8 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT WHICH IF SIGNED TONIGHT, THAT ONE COMES OUT OF AWARDED AND MOVES TO ACTIVE. WE HAVE A $20 MILLION RESILIENT FLORIDA GRANT FOR THE W RF CONVEYANCE. WE'RE GOING TO EARLY ONBOARDING. WE ARE CURRENTLY TRAINED TO FIGURE OUT WITH HER WE HAVE TO DO A FULL ASSIGNMENT FROM THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AGAIN, OR IF THEY WILL NOT REQUIRE THAT THIS TIME. BECAUSE, INITIALLY WE WERE NOT SURE WHETHER WE WERE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY DIRECTLY . SO FOR THE FIRST TWO ROUNDS WE APPLIED IS THE CITY. BUT WE ARE ELIGIBLE. SO THAT IS GOING ON.AND WE JUST THIS WEEK, OR LATE LAST WEEK, RECEIVED NOTICE FOR ANOTHER FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY GRANT FOR $2 MILLION FOR CYBER/MODERNIZATION WORK. THAT ONE ONLY HAD A 5% MATCH. AND THE MATCH IS BASICALLY THINGS THAT WE ALREADY BUDGETED ANYWAY. SO ANOTHER TRILLION DOLLARS, THAT WILL HELP CATALYZE THE WORK WE KNOW WE WANT TO DO, BUT DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE MONEY FOR RIGHT AWAY. THESE ARE AWARDED.
WE HAVE ABOUT $3.8 MILLION OF COMPLETED GRANTS . BASICALLY WHEN THEY ARE DONE THEY JUST FALL OFF THE LIST. THEY REPRESENT A LOT OF WORK. ONLY INFRASTRUCTURE WORK BUT ALSO GRANTS MANAGEMENT WORK AND FINANCE TRACKING WORK. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. ABOUT HALF $1 MILLION FOR THE FIRST GRANT WHICH WAS 40 CONVERGENCE COMPLETED. ANOTHER 365,000 FOR THE SECOND SUBJECT TO ZERO CONVERSION GRANT. THAT WAS ANOTHER 44 CONVERGENCE COMPLETED. WE COMPLETED AN ACRE OF SEAGRASS RESTORATION AT THE YACHT CLUB. THE MANATEE CENTER SALARIES THE PRIOR YEAR. WE COMPLETED SEWER LINING , THAT WAS $900,000. AND THE ROAD PROJECT. THESE ARE THE COMPLETED GRANTS. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ABOUT JUST UNDER $53 MILLION IN PENDING GRANTS . THE KIND OF STAND AND SPAN THE SYSTEM. WE JUST SUBMITTED $10.7 MILLION PROPOSAL FOR EV CHARGERS . THE GOAL THERE IS FOR FPUA TO BE IMMEDIATELY ENGAGED IN WHERE THESE EV CHARGERS GO, WHAT SIZE THEY ARE, LEVEL II OR LEVEL III, THAT WAY WE KNOW OUR GRID CAN HANDLE THEM. AND THE ALTERNATIVE, IF WE DON'T GET INVOLVED, OTHERS WILL PLACE THEM WHERE THEY MAY IN THE GRID MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT AND SO IT IS HOPEFULLY A BETTER, MORE PROACTIVE APPROACH. THIS WAS JUST SUBMITTED SO IT WILL BE SOMETIME BEFORE WE KNOW. WE ALSO HAVE ABOUT $35 MILLION PENDING FOR THE WASTEWATER RELOCATION PROJECT. WE HAVE THREE QUARTERS OF $1 MILLION PROPOSAL PENDING FOR SEPTIC TO SEWER SUPPORT WHICH IS VERY POPULAR OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. WE HOPE WE CAN GET MORE FUNDING TO SUPPORT THAT. THERE IS ABOUT $5.6 MILLION FOR NATURAL GAS MODERNIZATION. THIS PROPOSAL WAS PUT TOGETHER IN CONJUNCTION WITH FLORIDA GAS.
FLORIDA GAS UTILITY. WHICH IS GREAT. THEY HAVE A TEAM DEDICATED TO PUTTING THOSE KINDS OF PROPOSALS TOGETHER.
THE FDA EM GRANT I MENTIONED EARLIER FOR THE ELECTRIC GRID WHICH IS FLORIDA DEPARTMENT ENERGY ALLOCATION MONEY, WE SUBMITTED A REQUEST FOR JUST UNDER $1.3 MILLION OFF OF FAULT INDICATORS THAT WOULD GO ON OUR GRID. WE HAVE $90,000 PENDING FOR MANATEE CENTER SALARIES SUPPORT THE WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD ANNUALLY , HOPEFULLY THAT WILL GET FUNDED NEXT YEAR. AND THEN A SMALLER ONE FOR THE NATURAL GAS EQUIPMENT. SO, I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW, SINCE I WAS HERE, THE STATUS, WHAT IS ACTIVE IN PENDING ENCLOSED, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS , THAT WAS FOR INFORMATION ONLY.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY, THIS IS VERY NEEDED BY OUR COMMUNITY.
HAVING BEEN ON THE ENGINEERING SIDE OF THINGS, I KNOW THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE 10 TO 100 TIMES MORE PROJECTS THAN WE HAVE CAPITAL TO PERFORM. AND THIS HELPS GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS
[00:45:02]
MAKING SURE WE HAVE SOLIDLY PERFORMING UTILITIES AND EVEN SOME EXPANSION. AS FAR AS, YOU MENTIONED EV CHARGERS, I FOLLOW THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FAIRLY CLOSELY, I THINK IT'S GOING TO HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON SOCIETY AT LARGE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT IS, APPARENTLY THERE'S A LOT OF COMPUTING POWER NEEDED FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WHICH MEANS COMPANIES ARE GOING TO BE BUILDING A LOT OF SERVER FORMS WHICH REQUIRE A LOT OF ENERGY USE . HAVE WE GOTTEN ANY WIND OF THESE TYPES OF THINGS HAPPENING INSIDE OF OUR SERVICE TERRITORY? AND, IF WE DO START HAVING THOSE REQUESTS, ARE WE PREPARED TO PROVIDE THE POWER?>> SO, VERY GOOD QUESTION. AT THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE, THEY TALKED ABOUT DATA CENTERS OR, LARGE , INTENSE CONSUMERS.
FLORIDA IS A MARKET FOR THESE TYPES OF SITES BECAUSE THE OTHER STATES TO THE NORTH OF US HAVE REACHED THE CAPACITY, THEY ARE REACHING THEIR CAPACITY, SO THEY ARE LOOKING FOR OTHER AREAS. THEY'RE ALSO TRYING TO DIVERSIFY LOCATION. FLORIDA HAS BEEN AN AREA OF INTEREST. FORT PIERCE HAS HAD A COUPLE , BECAUSE OF CONFIDENTIALITY DISCUSSIONS I CAN TALK TO ABOUT OFF-LINE. FORT PIERCE HAS BEEN SPECIFICALLY CITED OF INTEREST.
>> THE SECOND PART OF THE QUESTION, ARE WE PREPARED TO HANDLE THOSE TYPES OF FACILITIES?
>> WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH FM PA AND THE ANSWER IS YES.
OURSELVES FOR THAT POTENTIAL INFLUX , THAT TYPE OF CUSTOMER.
WE ARE PREPARING FOR IT. I DON'T KNOW IF WE ARE READY BUT WE ARE PREPARING FOR IT.
>> RACHEL, DO YOU KNOW OF ANY OTHER TALKS IN THE GOVERNMENT WORLD TO START PROVIDING GRANTS TO UPGRADE ELECTRIC FACILITIES FOR THESE NEEDS?
>> I HAVE NOT SEEN IT YET. THE EMPHASIS IS MORE ON FORTIFYING THE ELECTRIC GRID. SINCE I'M GETTING IS THAT A LOT OF THESE ARE PRIVATE AND SO, THE DATA CENTERS , THEY ARE FOR-PROIT ENDEAVORS, AND SO, MONEY BECOMING AVAILABLE , IF THERE WERE TO BE MONEY AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF THE DATA CENTER TYPING, I SUSPECT IT WOULD START WITH MORE GRID FORTIFICATION . BEYOND THAT, HAVEN'T HEARD MUCH.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THAT, RACHEL IS RIGHT, MOST OF THE GRANT APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN TO STRENGTHEN THE SYSTEM. THESE KIND OF CUSTOMERS REQUIRE A WHOLE NEW GENERATION. IT IS ALMOST A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BUCKET OF, HOW DO YOU HANDLE THIS? YOU HAVE NEW POWER PLANTS, TRANSMISSION SYSTEM, STATEWIDE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM UPGRADES. AS FAR AS MONEY, CONSEQUENTIALLY MORE FOR THESE KIND OF PROJECTS TO COME TO OUR STATE AND CITY.
>> I'M GOING TO GET INTO A TERRITORY WHERE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. BUT I HAVE READ THAT THEY ARE REVIVING NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS, THEY WERE CONSIDERING THREE MILE ISLAND, AND THAT WAS FOR DATA CENTER. ONE WAS TOTALLY FOR MICROSOFT. FOR MICROSOFT DATA CENTER. SO MAYBE NUCLEAR COMING BACK MIGHT DOVETAIL WITH A I.
>> I WOULDN'T AT ALL BE SURPRISED, YOU MENTIONED THESE WERE FACILITIES. BUT I HAVE HEARD THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING A NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE.
BECAUSE WE HAVE COMPETING COUNTRIES WHERE THEY OUTPACE US IN THIS TECHNOLOGY WHICH COULD BE NOT THE BEST FOR SECURITY.
>> I LIKE TO ADD TO WHAT THE MAYOR SAID. SPECIFICALLY FM PA, JACOB AND JODY HAVE BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF TALKING ABOUT SMALL NUCLEAR AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN THE FUTURE. THAT DOES NEED TO BE PART OF THE FORMULA FOR THE FUTURE. IT IS VERY ENVIRONMENTAL HE FRIENDLY. I THINK THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT REBRANDING . IT'S A VERY CLEAN SOURCE OF ENERGY. JODY, IF YOU CAN REMIND ME, JACOB WENT TO THE FLORIDA PUBLIC SERVICE
[00:50:02]
COMMISSION AND WAS ON A NATIONAL FORM DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS A MONTH AGO.>> LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A BILL, THE GOVERNOR SIGNED IT, ACQUIRING PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO EVALUATE THE POSSIBILITY OF NEW NUCLEAR IN THE STATE, PRETTY EARLY SMALL MODULAR NUCLEAR. AND PSC WAS TASKED WITH WRITING A REPORT TO GET BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE ON SMALL MODULAR NUCLEAR. THEY HELD A WORKSHOP ON THAT REPORT WRITING EFFORT A FEW WEEKS AGO AT THE BEGINNING SEPTEMBER. JACOB PARTICIPATED IN THAT, BOTH AS THE CEO OF FMPA, AND AS THE CHAIR OF FLORIDA RELIABILITY COUNCIL, IF RCC, WHICH IS A POSITION HE HOLDS. THEY ALSO HAD AN ACADEMIC PROFESSOR, NUCLEAR ENGINEERING, FROM I BELIEVE UTAH, UTAH STATE. AND THEY HAD AN INDUSTRY EXPERT FROM THE NUCLEAR ENERGY INSTITUTE AS I RECALL. THE PSC WILL WORK ON THAT REPORT AND THE MAYOR IS CORRECT, MICROSOFT IS LOOKING AT RESTARTING NUCLEAR JUST TO POWER ONE OF THESE DATA CENTERS. THESE ARE HUGE LOADS.
THESE ARE 500 MEGAWATT DEMANDS, FOR A SINGLE CUSTOMER. YOU MIGHT HAVE A CITY THAT IS 200 MEGAWATTS, YOUR ENTIRE CUSTOMER BASE. THIS WILL BE ONE CUSTOMER COMING IN BEING LARGER THAN YOUR ENTIRE SYSTEM. YOU CAN'T JUST THINK ABOUT IT AS, LOOKING UP ANOTHER CUSTOMER. YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT AS A COMBINED DISTRIBUTION TRANSMISSION AND GENERATION RESOURCE ALL AT ONE TIME. AND, FLORIDA WAS PROBABLY NOT FOR ANY OF THESE PLACES WANTED TO START. BECAUSE OF HURRICANE RISK AND EXPENSE, THE EXPENSE OF INSURANCE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, ENSURING THESE KIND OF PLACES. BUT, AS OTHER AREAS OF GOTTEN MORE EXPENSIVE AND OTHER AREAS HAVE BEEN BUILT OUT, THEY ARE NOW COMING TO FLORIDA AND POKING AROUND. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF INITIAL INTEREST IN DIFFERENT PLACES INCLUDING HERE IN FORT PIERCE.
>> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION FROM THE BOARD? WELL,
>> I FORGOT WE ARE VOTING ON. GIVING HIS MONEY, WHY ARE WE VOTING ON THAT? JUST SAY YES?
>> HAVE WE EVER TURNED AWAY GRANT BEFORE?
>> YES. THERE WE GO. I THOUGHT IT WAS A NO-BRAINER.
>> 21 22, MR. LAMMERS. >> THANK YOU.
[F. DIRECTOR COMMENTS]
>> DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE DIRECTOR?
>> YES, SIR, HAVE A HANDFUL. FIRST AND FOREMOST, RATE JOB TO RACHEL AND HER TEAM AND THE COLLABORATION WITH THE OTHER ENGINEERING GROUPS HAS REALLY BEEN FANTASTIC. YOU CAN SEE THE RESULT IS WE HAVE MANY GRANTS WE HAVE RECEIVED AND HOPEFULLY MANY MORE TO COME. GREAT JOB TO HER IN HER EFFORTS. WE WILL FOLLOW-UP TO DISCUSS SPECIFIC CONCERNS ABOUT THE LIENS. HE AND I WILL TACKLE THAT THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. THIS FRIDAY IS THE OCTOBER FRIDAY FEST. WE WILL BE CELEBRATING PUBLIC UTILITY WEEK. TYPICALLY IT IS HONORING POWER WEEK BUT WE INCORPORATE ALL UTILITIES. WE WILL BE THERE WITH SEVERAL OF OUR GROUPS TO INCLUDE THE BUCKET TRUCK WITH THE AMERICAN FLAG. IT SHOULD BE A FUN DAY. I LIKE TO INTRODUCE TIM JACKSON, HE IS IN THE AUDIENCE. WITH FMPA. THE NEW POWER PLANT MANAGER FOR THE TREASURE COAST ENERGY CENTER. ENTIRE FMPA TEAM ARE EXCITED TO HAVE HIM. HE HAS HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND COMES WITH A LOT OF EXPERIENCE. I WON'T BORE YOU WITH HIS BACKGROUND BUT HE IS DEFINITELY THE RIGHT GUY. EXCITED ABOUT THE TREASURE COAST ENERGY CENTER UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP.
NEXT WEEK JESSE MILLER WILL BE AT THE BROADBAND NATION EXPO IN WASHINGTON, D.C. HE WILL BE ONE OF THE SPEAKERS FOR THE ROUNDTABLE FOR BUILDING MUNICIPAL NETWORKS. IT'S KIND OF A BIG DEAL. JASON AND HIS TEAM HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB OF DEVELOPING OUR FIBER SYSTEM TO GROW. OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS PEOPLE HAVE NOTICED IN THE INDUSTRY. HE WILL BE PART OF THAT DISCUSSION PANEL. GOOD LUCK TO HIM NEXT WEEK. I KNOW HE WILL REPRESENT US VERY WELL. AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING WILL HAVE AN ITEM FOR DISCUSSION ON THE GENERAL COUNSEL. DON'T
[00:55:01]
HAVE IT TODAY BECAUSE WE HAVE ONE MORE INTERVIEW PENDING FOR ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS. AFTER THAT WE CAN DECIDE WHETHER WE WANT TO NEGOTIATE WITH ONE OF THE CANDIDATES WE'VE INTERVIEWED OR CONTINUE TO SEARCH. WE WILL BE PREPARED FOR THE NEXT BOARD MEETING. THE LAST THING I HAVE IS, I MENTIONED THIS AT THE LAST WORD MEETING, OUR LINEMAN ANSWERED THE SECOND CALL FOR MUTUAL AID TO ASSIST MORGAN CITY. BEFORE THEY GOT A CHANCE TO COME BACK HOME THE ANSWER THE CALL FOR MUTUAL AID FOR THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE FOLLOWING THE HURRICANE. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEND ANOTHER OF TIME RECOGNIZING THE TEAM AGAIN. 20 GONZALEZ, KEVIN PARRISH, RYAN .THEY MADE IT BACK HOME YESTERDAY I THINK. OFFICIALLY.
WE ARE REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE THEM BACK. THEY WERE GONE JUST SHORT OF 21 DAYS. IT IS GOOD TO HAVE THEM BACK . VERY GOOD TO
[G. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]
HAVE THEM BACK. THAT IS ALL I HAVE THE BOARD TODAY, MR. CHAIRMAN.>> THANK YOU, SIR. ANY COMMENTS FROM LEGAL ?
>> FIRST OF ALL, I WILL BEGIN WITH APOLOGIZING FOR BEING LATE. YOU THINK YOU GIVE YOURSELF ENOUGH TIME TO MAKE THE TURNPIKE BUT YOU DON'T. YOU DON'T ACCOUNT FOR PEOPLE RUNNING INTO ONE ANOTHER AND DOWNPOURS. BUT, I COME FROM THE LAND OF HURRICANES UP IN TALLAHASSEE. I SAW FPUA TRUCKS ROLLING INTO TOWN. I APPRECIATED SEEING THOSE TRUCKS . IN 13 MONTHS , THE AREA OF PERRY, TAYLOR COUNTY, HAS BEEN HIT BY THREE HURRICANES. THOSE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DECIMATED.
BUT, LAST WEEK WHILE EVERYONE WAS ROLLING TRUCKS AND GETTING READY, FOR THE STORM TO COME ASHORE, I WAS WORKING WITH AMY WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, WE HAVE A RECENT AGREEMENT IN THE FORM OF AN AGREEMENT WITH THE DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR THE DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TO POTENTIALLY STEP IN AND PAY HURRICANE RESTORATION COSTS ELECTRIC UTILITIES. MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC UTILITIES. AND THE DIVISION OF EMERGENCY JUDGMENT WITH SECRET NUMBERS WENT FROM FEMA. WOULD BE RELIEVED THAT BURDEN. IT'S A TREMENDOUS BENEFIT. I GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND TO KEVIN GUTHRIE WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OF FLORIDA FOR BEING PROACTIVE IN THIS WAY. WE CAME TO AN AGREEMENT ON THE TERMS IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. WORKING WITH LAWYERS AT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, IT ENDED UP BEING A NECESSITY FOR MINISTER TOLD -- INVISIBLE UTILITIES. WE THOUGHT TALLAHASSEE WAS IN THE BULL'S-EYE. BUT IT'S GOING TO BE AVAILABLE FOR FUTURE STORMS AND SHOULD BE ANOTHER TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX THAT YOU AND THE OTHER MUNICIPAL UTILITIES AROUND THE STATE CAN USE. A GREAT THING. THAT IS IT.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD?
>> I JUST WANT TO ADD, MR. A LITTLE WAS HERE AND HE TALKED ABOUT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT PROPERTY, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY FOR BEYOND THAT. IT IS THE WESTERN PENINSULA INCLUDING THE NORTH SIDE OF SEAWAY DRIVE. COUNTY OWNED PROPERTY THE GOES FROM UP TO CHUCK'S, CHUCK'S IS NOW OUT OF IT. CHUCK'S HAS NOW PURCHASED THE PROPERTY. SO IT'S NOT COUNTY PROPERTY ANYMORE. AND THEN ON THE SOUTH SIDE GOES ALL THE WAY UP TO THE SMITHSONIAN PROPERTY. NOT JUST THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT. THE WHOLE WESTERN PENINSULA.
>> THAT'S A PRETTY BIG DEAL FOR OUR CITY.
>> THAT IS A BIG DEAL. IT'S COUNTY PROPERTY, IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG VISION.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT, BECAUSE, I DO PLAN ON ATTENDING, IT'S LIKE A WORKSHOP ON SATURDAY, WITH US OBVIOUSLY, SUNSHINE LAW AND WHATNOT, I WAS GOING TO ASK, IS THERE ANY ISSUE WITH US BEING THERE TOGETHER? HOW DOES THAT WORK?
>> THAT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK. I WILL GIVE YOU MY OPINION. MY OPINION WILL COUNT UNLESS THE JUDGE IS OTHERWISE. SO, THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL COLLEGIAL BODIES WHO HAVE ASKED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, CAN TWO OF OUR MEMBERS GO AND ATTEND AN EVENT LIKE THIS AND JUST NOT SIT BESIDE EACH OTHER OR SPEAK WITH ONE ANOTHER OR HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH EACH OTHER. WE WON'T EVEN ACT LIKE WE KNOW EACH OTHER. THE
[01:00:01]
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE SAID IT'S A BAD IDEA. AND THE REASON IS, THE PERCEPTION IS THAT THERE COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THERE TO BE A SUNSHINE LAW VIOLATION. EVERY LAWYER HAS AN OPINION. I DON'T AGREE WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S ADVICE ON THAT. I THINK THAT IF YOU GOVERN YOURSELVES ACCORDINGLY AND YOU ATTEND BUT DON'T SPEAK IN THE PRESENCE OF EACH OTHER, AND YOU DON'T LIKELY ENGAGE WITH ONE ANOTHER, I THINK THERE'S NO PROBLEM WITH DOING THAT. NO ONE CAN RAISE AN ALLEGATION OF THE SUNSHINE LAW VIOLATION. THE CONCERN WOULD BE IF, LET'S SAY THE TWO OF YOU ATTENDED AND YOU ASKED THE QUESTION GENERALLY IN THE ROUNDTABLE SESSION AND THEN THE MAYOR HEARD IT AND ASKED A SUBSEQUENT QUESTION, THE ALLEGATION COULD BE THAT BY ASKING QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ENGAGED IN CONVERSATION THAT REALLY PROPERLY BELONGS HERE.AT THE UA BOARD MEETING. BUT AS LONG AS YOU CONSTRAIN YOURSELVES TO PARTICIPATING BY LISTENING AND PARTICIPATING SIMPLY BY BEING THERE AND NOT SPEAKING OUTWARDLY, I THINK IT IS FINE UNDER SUNSHINE LAW.
>> WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS WE SHOULD NOT BE THE ONES THE PRESENT THE IDEA.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THAT WOULD BE A BAD IDEA.
>> I ALSO WANTED TO FOLLOW-UP, CAN YOU GUYS LET US KNOW HOW IT WORKS OUT WITH THE LIENS? I'M VERY CURIOUS . I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THAT WOULD BE MORE OF A CLOSING DOCUMENT FOR THE SELLER TO HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF. PRIOR TO SELLING THE PROPERTY.
>> WE DEAL WITH THAT QUITE A BIT. WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET MORE DETAILS AND CLOSE THE LOOP. IT IS, AS MENTIONED, A POLICY WE HAVE NOW. IT WOULD REQUIRE A POLICY CHANGE. IT HAS TO BE A POLICY CHANGE AFTER THE FACT.
>> IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A CREATED SOLUTION TO BE ABLE TO SELL THESE PROPERTIES AND BUILD GOOD STRUCTURES
>> AND TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT, SOME OF THE PROPERTIES THAT THE CITY OWNS , DO WE ALREADY HAVE THOSE METERS TURNED OFF? IS THERE A PROCESS FOR THAT KIND OF THING AS WELL ? SOFA COMES THROUGH THE CRA, WE OWN IT NOW, IT SHOULD BE TURNED OFF RIGHT THEN AND THERE.
>> THERE IS A PROCESS. WHEN IT COMES TO LANES, THERE IS A PROCESS -- WITH LIENS THERE IS A READINESS TO SURCHARGE AND THTHTHAT KEEPS A CHELATING UNTIT GETS TO A CERTAIN DOLLAR AMOUNT AND THEN THE LIEN GETS FILED. YOU CAN'T REMOVE THE METER BUT IF YOU REMOVE THE METER AND IT DOESN'T GET DEVELOPED IN FIVE YEARS YOU CAN PAY THE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIEN OR THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT CHARGES TO RECONNECT TO WATER AND SEWER.
THAT IS OUR POLICY RIGHT NOW. IF THAT PROPERTY GETS DEVELOPED, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE CITY PROPERTY THAT GETS DEVELOPED, WE WOULD HAVE TO EVALUATE THE CIC OR WHAT THE DIFFERENTIAL IS ON THE LIEN TO SEE WHAT IS LESS. WE USUALLY SHOOT FOR DEVELOPING. NOT USUALLY. WE SHOOT FOR DEVELOPING. I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. WE WILL MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW-UP WITH YOU ON THE OUTCOME. WE DEAL WITH THESE QUITE A BIT.
>> I JUST WANT TO ECHO MRS. GIBBONS IN THE MAYOR'S COMMENT, EVEN MORE THAN JUST KNOWING THE OUTCOME, I WANT TO KNOW HOW BIG OF A DEAL IS THIS? HOW MANY POTENTIALLY -- HOW MANY POTENTIALLY SALES HAVE WE INHIBITED BECAUSE OF THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE? I AM SURE THAT IS GOING TO BE HARD DATED TO FIND, BUT I WANT A FEEL FOR WHAT THE SCALE OF THE PROBLEM IS. AND THEN LIKE THE MAYOR SAID, WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP ALLEVIATE THIS WITHOUT PUTTING THE REPAIRS ON THE HOOK FOR THE COSTS?
>> I CAN KIND OF ANSWER QUICKLY HERE, AS FAR AS PREVENTING, THAT MIGHT BE HARD FOR US TO FIGURE OUT AS FAR AS PREVENTING. BUT WE TYPICALLY ARE VERY SUCCESSFUL IN COLLECTING A LIEN TO BE ABLE TO CLOSE A PROJECT. TYPICALLY WE DON'T RUN INTO A PROBLEM. THE NUMBER THAT WAS HIGH THAT WAS MENTIONED SO WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT SPECIFIC ONES TO SEE. I'M HAVING A TOUGH TIME CONNECTING THAT DOLLAR VALUE WITH MOST OF OUR RESIDENTIAL SINGLE HOME PRPERTIES. THOSE NUMBERS ARE USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES. WE WILL EVALUATED AND ALSO LOOK AT THE SCOPE OF IT. WILL PRESENT IT , WE CAN TALK ABOUT ONE-ON-ONE AND MAYBE MIMIC
[01:05:03]
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SINGLE OTHER COMMENTS, THIS FP BOARD MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
>>
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.