[MEETING TO ORDER] [00:00:09] >>> I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AUTHORITY BOARD FOR OCTOBER 15. PLEASE STAND FOR THE INVOCATION FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. LORD, YOU, FOR YOUR GRACE. OUR HEARTS ARE HEAVY AND WE ASK YOUR GUIDANCE FOR ALL OF THOSE THAT HAVE LOST SO MUCH FROM THE STORM. WE PRAY FOR PROTECTION AROUND THE FIRST RESPONDERS AND UTILITY WORKERS WORKING ON THE RESPONSE AND WE PRAY AGAINST ANY TROPICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE AREA. WE ASK THAT YOU BE PRESENT FOR THE BOARD AND THE STAFF AS WE ADDRESS IMPORTANT ISSUES. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN. >> ÊI PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.Î >> MADAM CLERK , WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> >> MR. CHAIRMAN I WOULD LIKE TO CONFIRM THAT WE HAVE A QUORUM FOR THE MEETING. WE HAVE FIVE VOTING MEMBERS PRESENT. [A. SET THE AGENDA] >> THANK YOU. >> THE NEXT ITEM IS SETTING THE AGENDA. DO I HAVE A MOTION? >> MOVE APPROVAL . >> SECOND. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. [B. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC] >> PUBLIC. IF THERE IS ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK, YOU K,HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD. >> GOOD EVENING. I AM JOK TRUST CHESTER . FIRST AND FOREMOST I WANT TO TIP MY HAT TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICES. WE HAVE BEEN HIT HARD BY TORNADOES AND IT WAS GOOD TO SEE YOU OUT HELPING THE COMMUNITY GET BACK UP AND RUNNING. THE REASON I AM HERE IS I WAS HERE LAST MEETING AND I SPOKE BRIEFLY ABOUT THE NEEDS WITH THE FPUA. I WAS IMPRESSED THAT YOU CAME OUT OF CHAMBERS AND YOU SPOKE WITH ME AND YOU HEARD MY CONCERNS AND I TOLD THEM I FEEL VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP IN THE PROCESS. WHILE MEETING WITH THEM THEY ASKED ME A QUESTION THAT I DID NOT HAVE AN ANSWER TO AND THE QUESTION WAS, IF A UTILITY IS NOT BEING PAID ON A PARTICULAR PROPERTY MONTH AFTER MONTH, 12, 15, 24 MONTHS, WHY WOULDN'T THE CITY OR THE FPUA REMOVE THE METERS . IN OCTOBER I DID NOT HAVE AN ANSWER TO THAT AND THIS COULD BE SOMETHING WE COULD LOOK INTO. IN ONE OF THOSE SCENARIOS I BELIEVE THAT THE BILL HAS BEEN RUNNING UNPAID FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS SO WHEN IT IS TIME TO SELL THESE PROPERTIES OR TRANSFER THEM TO OTHER OWNERS, THESE BILLS COME BACK REPORTING AS A LIEN ON THE PROPERTY. WHICH COULD DETER OR STOP REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS AND THAT IS WHERE MY ROLE IS. I AM A REAL ESTATE BROKER AND WE ARE SEEING THIS AS AN ISSUE AND AGAIN I HOPE TO MEET WITH YOU ALL TO DISCUSS AND FIND RESOLUTION. THANK YOU. >> DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SEAN TAE SMITH AND I LIVE AT 707 ROSSLYN AVENUE IN FORT PIERCE. I AM HERE TODAY JUST TO INFORM YOU GUYS OF AN INCIDENT [00:05:01] THAT OCCURRED ON JULY 18 AT APPROXIMATELY AROUND 7:00. I WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON 13TH STREET NEAR GEORGIA AVENUE. I WAS HEADED SOUTH AND MY VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE WHILE DRIVING OVER A LARGE INDENT PAST GEORGIA AVENUE ON 13TH STREET. ARE REPORTED IT TO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND I SPOKE WITH REBECCA , WHO IS THE CITY OF FORT HEYER'S -- FORT PIERCE RISK SPECIALIST AND SHE SAID THAT WAS NOT THERE JURIST DICTION AND IT ACTUALLY BELONGS TO FPUA . I CALLED YOUR OFFICE AND THAT WAS ON AUGUST 8 AND THAT IS WHEN I CONTACTED THE OFFICE OF FPUA AND I SPOKE WITH COLLEAGUE THURSTON. SHE IS YOUR RISK MANAGEMENT OFFICER AND SHE REQUESTED THAT I FORWARD ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT I HAD FORWARDED TO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. THE DAMAGES TO MY VEHICLE AFTER TAKING IT TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON BECAUSE IMMEDIATELY I DID NOT SEE PHYSICAL DAMAGE BUT I HEARD A LARGE RATTLE UNDER MY WHEEL. ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY FRONT WHEEL. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH COLLEEN ABOUT IT AND I SPOKE WITH HER ON SEPTEMBER 3 TRYING TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION AS FAR AS GETTING MY VEHICLE FIXED. SHE DID INFORM ME IT WAS UNDER REVIEW AND BEING LOOKED AT. I HAVE FOLLOW-UP EMAIL THAT I HAD SENT HER . I SENT HER THE ESTIMATE OF THE DAMAGES AND I HAVE A LIST OF EMAILS, THE APPLICATION, PICTURES OF THE SCENE AND YOUR CREW OUT THERE WORKING ON THE SCENE ON THE DAY THAT I REPORTED IT AND I HAVE VIDEO OF THE SCENE BUT I AM STILL WAITING, THREE MONTHS LATER, WITH THE INCONVENIENCE OF MY FAMILY TO GET THE VEHICLE FIXED AFTER RUNNING OVER A LARGE INDENTION ON 13TH STREET SO MY QUESTION IS, HOW LONG IS TOO LONG FOR ME TO GET MY VEHICLE FIXED AFTER THE DEFECT I ENCOUNTERED IN THE STREETS THAT ACTUALLY IS YOUR JURISDICTION? THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? SEEING NONE WE WILL [C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES] MOVE ON TO APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? >> MOVE APPROVAL. >> SECOND. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> [D. CONSENT AGENDA] >> NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ANY ITEMS OR DO ANY ITEMS NEED TO BE PULLED FOR DISCUSSION? >> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> [E.1. Recognition of Excellence] AGENDA. MR. CISNEROS. >> THE FIRST ITEM IS RECOGNITION OF EXCELLENCE. >> WE RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM MR. CHRIS CASSIDY. , "I AM WRITING TO ADDRESS MY EXPERIENCE. I KNOW HOW SOMETIMES ISSUES AND COMPLAINTS FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS AND IT IS FUNDAMENTAL TO GETTING ISSUES RESOLVED. I WANT TO PERSONALLY SAY THANK YOU TO MR. BILL CRAWFORD FOR ADDRESSING THE ISSUE. HE IS SCHEDULED A TIME TO MEET WITH ME AT OUR HOME . HE HE WAS PROMPT, PROFESSIONAL, AND ACKNOWLEDGED OUR CONCERN. HE TOOK THE TIME TO EVALUATE THE POLL ABOVE AND BELOW THE GROUND LEVEL. IT WAS IN GOOD CONDITION EXCEPT WHERE THE POWER IS PULLED FROM -- TO OUR HOME. WE NEED TO COORDINATE A TIME TO CORRECTTHE ISSUE . MR. CRAWFORD SAID HE WOULD NEED TO CHECK ON THE CRUISE [00:10:02] AVAILABLE AND IF SO IT WOULD BE ADDRESSED THAT DAY. I LEFT MY GATE OPEN AND WITHIN TWO HOURS A GENTLEMAN FROM FPUA LOWERED THE CONNECTION ON THE POOL TO WHERE IT WAS NOT ROTTED AND CUT OFF THE TOP PORTION. I DID NOT GET HIS NAME IT I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR HIS PROFESSIONALISM. THANK YOU, AGAIN, CHRIS CASSIDY. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. [E.2. MWI Portable Diesel Bypass Pumps] >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I WILL TAKE THE NEXT ITEM. IT IS A REQUEST TO APPROVE BYPASS PALMS. THE TIMING IS IMPECCABLE HERE. THE REQUEST IS THE APPROVAL OF THREE PORTABLE DIESEL BYPASS PALMS IN THE AMOUNT OF $187,815 . WE CURRENTLY HAVE AN OLDER -- AND MOST OF THE GENERATORS THAT WE USE ARE BECOMING OBSOLETE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO PROCURE. SO THIS IS PART OF REPLACING THAT FLEET AND A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT SET UP BECAUSE RATHER THAN A DIESEL GENERATOR IT WILL BE A DIESEL BYPASS PUMP SO WE CAN MAKE THE CONNECTION DIRECTLY OR -- DIRECTLY TO THE PIPING . WE BELIEVE IT IS A BETTER SOLUTION LONG-TERM FOR OUR STORM RESPONSE. I AM ASKING FOR APPROVAL OF THAT ITEM IN $187,815 FOR THE PURCHASE OF THREE PORTABLE DIESEL BYPASS PUMPS FROM MWI CORPORATION. >> ANY DISCUSSION BY THE BOARD? >> ARE THESE PUMPS THAT WE HAVE HAD BEFORE? >> THESE BYPASS PUMPS ARE NEWER . WE TYPICALLY HAVE A GENERATOR THAT CONNECTS TO THE CONTROL PANEL THAT RUNS THE PALMS. THESE WILL ESSENTIALLY BE CONNECTING TO THE BYPASS OF THE VALVE THAT IS IN THE -- SO IN CASE THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE CONTROL PANEL THE PALMS WILL TAKE OVER. >> THANK YOU. >> WILL THEY AUTOMATICALLY COME ON IF THE OTHER PUMPS GO OUT? >> THEY WILL REQUIRE A BIT OF A MANUAL PROCESS BUT WE WILL HAVE A COMBINATION OF THE OLD AND NEW GENERATORS AND WE WILL REPLACE THESE IN THE MORE CRITICAL AREAS. IN THE AREAS THAT EXCEPT FLOW FROM OTHER LIFT STATIONS SO WE WILL BE STRATEGIC. IT WILL HAVE ITS OWN FLOAT DEVICE SO IT CAN DETERMINE IF THERE IS AN ELEVATION THAT IS STARTING TO FILL UP. I DO NOT KNOW IF THAT WILL BE AUTOMATIC. IT WILL TURN ON AND PUMP THE LIFT STATION DOWN TO THE ELEVATION THAT IS REQUIRED. >> MR. CHAIR? >> YES. >> IS THIS SOMETHING THAT IS AN UP COMING ISSUE ? >> WE ARE REPLACING OUR AGING FLEET THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW. WE BOUGHT SOME OF THESE 10 OR 15 YEARS AGO AND THEY ARE BECOMING OBSOLETE AND SOME OF THE HOUSINGS ARE FALLING APART BECAUSE IT SITS -- I BELIEVE WE HAVE EIGHT OR 10 GENERATORS SO THESE ARE FALLING OFF AND IT WILL BE A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT CONFIGURATION BECAUSE RATHER THAN POWERING THIS STATION WE WILL BE PUMPING THE STATION. WE WILL BE OPERATING BOTH OF THOSE AND SEE HOW THIS WORKS. WE ARE COMFORTABLE WITH HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE DO WHEN THERE IS SOME KIND OF MAINTENANCE TO THE SYSTEM. >> IT SOUNDS LIKE A SIMILAR SET UP TO -- FOR EVERYBODY. SO WE HAVE THE FLOAT IN THERE. IS THAT KIND OF HOW IT WORKS? IT GETS TO A CERTAIN POINT AND THEN IT GOES, LET'S GET RID OF SOME? >> VERY SIMILAR TO A FLOW SYSTEM. IT WILL CONTROL THE ELEVATION AND WHEN IT GETS HIGH ENOUGH, IT WILL PUMP IT DOWN. >> SOUNDS GOOD. >> MR. CISNEROS , ARE THESE THE FIRST OF THESE TYPES OF DEVICES THAT WE ARE PURCHASING? >> I THINK SO. BOWE IS GOING TO COME UP HERE AND MAKE SURE I AM RIGHT BUT THESE ARE THE FIRST GROUP THAT WE ARE BUYING THAT ARE BYPASS PALMS RATHER THAN GENERATORS. >> THANK YOU. THERE ARE OTHER PUMPS THAT WE HAVE THROUGHOUT [00:15:08] THE SYSTEM BUT THEY ARE ONLY USED FOR MAINTENANCE. THESE ARE SPECIFICALLY USED FOR THE STATIONS. WE DO HAVE THIS TECHNOLOGY IN HAND NOW BUT THESE ARE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE LIFT STATIONS. >> MR. HUTCHINSON ARE THERE USE CASES FOR THIS OUTSIDE OF THE STORM RESPONSE? >> ABSOLUTELY. THE MAINTENANCE IS ONE AND YOU CAN ALSO OUTFIT THESE TWO PULL THE WATER DIRECTLY OUT OF THE HOLE AS WELL SO THERE WILL BE OTHER USE CASES FOR THEM AS WELL. >> THEY ARE PORTABLE? >> YES, THEY ARE. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DO I HAVE A MOTION? >> MOTION TO APPROVE . >> SECOND. [E.3. 2025 Employee Benefit Plan, Stop Loss and Blue Medicare Renewal] >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> >> THE NEXT ITEM IS A REQUEST TO APPROVE THE 2025 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN. IT INCLUDES STOPLOSS COVERAGE, MEDICARE SUPPLEMENTAL PLANS, EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, DISABILITY COVERAGE. OUR HUMAN RESOURCES AND RISK MANAGER AND THE VICE PRESIDENT OF COMPLAINTS FOR RELATIONS INSURANCE WILL PRESENT. >> THANK YOU MR. CISNEROS AND GOOD AFTERNOON MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I AM HERE WITH KATHLEEN FROM RELATIONS INSURANCE TO SHARE POSITIVE NEWS REGARDING OUR 2025 BENEFIT PACKAGE. OUR PLAN HAS PERFORMED ABOVE OUR COHORTS OVER THE LAST YEAR AND WE ARE PLEASED TO PRESENT THIS YEAR'S PLAN. KATHLEEN HAS PREPARED A BENEFIT SUMMARY TO SHARE WITH YOU THEN WE WILL ANSWER QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE AFTERWARDS. >> HELLO. IT IS GOOD TO BE WITH YOU. I AM HERE, AS COLLEEN MENTIONED TO BRING THE 2025 HEALTH RENEWAL. YOU SHOULD HAVE A PACKET . I WILL HIGHLIGHT SOME ITEMS. STARTING WITH THE MEDICAL PLAN. FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AUTHORITY BOARD IS AN INDEPENDENT PLAN AND 2025 WILL BE THE FINAL YEAR OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE GUARANTEE THAT WE HAVE WITH FLORIDA BLUE SO THE PRICE THAT YOU PAY FOR ADMINISTRATION WILL STAY THE SAME AND YOU WILL RECEIVE A $15,000 WELLNESS CONTRIBUTION AS PART OF THE CONTRACT. THE NEXT COMPONENT IS THE STOP LOSS INSURANCE AND EACH YEAR WE SOLICIT PROPOSALS FOR STOP LOSS COVERAGE TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE GETTING THE MOST COMPETITIVE PROGRAM. ALL SEVEN CARRIERS THAT WE SOLICITED PROPOSALS FROM DID PROVIDE A PROPOSAL INCLUDING THE INCUMBENT , SYMETRA. WE ASK FOR DEDUCTIBLES OF $140,000 AND $160,000 PER PERSON. A CARRIER CALLED BERKELEY OFFERED THE MOST COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS SO STAFF CHOSE TO WORK WITH BERKELEY AND SYMETRA TO FIRM UP THE PROPOSALS THAT DO REQUIRE UPDATED CLAIMS EXPERIENCE CLOSER TO RENEWAL. UPON REVIEW WITH BERKELEY IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ONE CLAIMANT WOULD NEED TO BE LASERED AND WE TALKED ABOUT LASER IN THE PAST. WHAT THAT DOES IS A CARRIER COMES IN AND SAYS THEY ARE NOT COMFORTABLE ENSURING A PARTICULAR PERSON OR PERSONS AT THE $140,000 LEVEL SO THEY PUT A HIGHER DEDUCTIBLE ON THAT PERSON AND THAT INCREASES THEIR INSURANCE LIABILITY. THE CLIENT WILL BE LASERED AT $300,000 SO THE PLAN TAKES ON AN ADDITIONAL $160,000 IN LIABILITY AND GIVEN THAT DIFFERENTIAL AND THE UPDATED PROPOSAL THROUGH SYMETRA, WHICH HAS NO LASERS AS PART OF THE CONTRACT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT YOU RENEW WITH SYMETRA BECAUSE THE ADDITIONAL SAVINGS IS ONLY $43,000 WHICH IS NOT ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY A CHANGE AND LOSE CARRIER CONTINUITY . TO REVIEW THE OVERALL EXPERIENCE. FORGIVE ME, I WILL READ FROM THE PAGE. THIS YEAR THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED A HIGHER THAN NORMAL UTILIZATION LARGELY DUE TO HIGH CLAIMANT ACTIVITY AS WELL AS PRESCRIPTION DRUG PAID CLAIMS. THE PER EMPLOYEE PER MONTH CLAIMS ARE UP 19.6% OVER LAST YEAR AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE NINE HIGH COST CLAIMANTS WHICH [00:20:08] ARE OVER $70,000 AND THOSE NINE PEOPLE HAVE CLAIMS PAID OF $1,030,000. THE PLAN IS PERFORMING JUST UNDER 107% OF EXPECTED COST YEAR TO DATE BUT I DO WANT TO JUST SHARE THAT ALTHOUGH THIS YEAR PLAN PERFORMANCE IS HIGHER THAN WHAT WE NORMALLY SEE, WHEN I LOOK AT THE LAST 10 YEARS, YOU PERFORMED VERY POSITIVELY. YOUR CLAIMS TREND PER YEAR IS AN AVERAGE OF 5.2% WHEN THE MARKET AVERAGE FOR FLORIDA BLUE IN YOUR NETWORK WAS 10.3%. SO YOU ARE ABOUT HALF OF TREND. WHEN YOU ARE SELF-INSURED YOU WILL SEE A ROLLER COASTER RIDE FROM YEAR TO YEAR. YOU FRONT AT THE EXPECTED PLAN LEVELS SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PERFORMING AT 107% OF THE COST IT IS ONLY 7% FUNDING AND YOU HAVE THE RESERVES TO FUND FOR THAT. WHEN WE LOOK AT, ON PAGE 2 , THE OVERALL IMPACT, SO TO SAY, WE HAVE THE PREMIUMS WHICH ARE THESE STOPLOSS PREMIUMS INCREASE 13.7% AND THAT IS THE FIXED COST OVERALL, THAT INCREASES YOUR EXPECT DID LEVEL. THE PLAN REMAINS GRANDFATHERED AND THAT INCLUDES A HEALTHCARE REFORM WHICH MEANS YOU AVOID HAVING TO DO FORM REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE YOU HAVE MADE MINIMAL OR NO CHARGES SINCE THE BILL WAS PASSED IN 2010. THE OVERALL EXPECT DID COST, CURRENT BASED ON YOUR CURRENT ENROLLMENT IS JUST OVER $5.7 MILLION AND 2025 EXPECTED COST ARE ESTIMATED AT JUST OVER $6.7 MILLION. >> DOES ANYBODY HAVE THE PACKET IN FRONT OF THEM? I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING. >> IF YOU HIT , ON THE ONLINE PORTAL, THE FIRST PAGE, AT THE BOTTOM IT WILL SAY 2025 BENEFIT FINAL . WHERE IS THAT? >> I AM ON THAT. >> THERE IS NO ATTACHMENT TO IT? >> I DON'T THINK IT GOT -- >> YOU CAN DOWNLOAD IT THROUGH THE WEBSITE. IF YOU GO TO FPUA.COM AND BOARD MEETING INFORMATION. >> THAT IS WHERE I AM. THAT IS THE AGENDA PACKET. SO, LET'S GO BACK TO THE PACKET. >> ITEM A3, THE COVER PAGE. >> THIS IS SET UP DIFFERENT. >> OKAY . SO SORRY. >> WHAT PAGE ARE YOU ON? >> I JUST FINISHED UP PAGE 2 BUT I AM HAPPY TO GO BACK AND REVIEW ANYTHING. >> WE WILL JUST KEEP EVERYTHING ON TIME. >> THE OVERALL EXPECT DID PLAN COST INCREASE 17.3% AND WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW THAT INFLUENCES THE FUNDING, THE OVERALL FUNDING RATE WILL NEED TO GO UP 14.4% TO CONTINUE TO FUND AT THE EXPECTED PLAN COST LEVEL. WITH THE PEAKS AND VALLEYS AND SELF FUNDING, EXPECT DID COST MAY BE HIGHER OR LOWER AND IN ACTUALITY, AT THE END OF THE YEAR, STAFF WILL MONITOR THE TRENDS AND CONSIDER CHANGES. WITH THAT 14.4% YOU CAN SEE THE FUNDING ON A PER TIER BASIS THERE. GIVEN THAT INCREASE STAFFRECOMMENDS THAT THE EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS INCREASE 10% WITH THE UA ABSORBING THE DIFFERENCE. THE DIFFERENTIAL IS LISTED ON PAGE 3 SO FOR [00:25:08] EMPLOYEE PLUS FAMILY COVERAGE THEY WILL PAY AN ADDITIONAL $24.55 PER PAY PERIOD AND THERE ARE 26 PAID PERIODS. YOU CAN SEE THE OTHER TEARS THERE AS WELL. NOW WE MOVE ON TO DENTAL. WE ARE UNDER A FEE GUARANTEE SO THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST WILL NOT CHANGE. WE ARE NOT SUGGESTING ANY CHANGE TO THE FUNDING SO WE SUGGEST THAT BOTH THE EMPLOYEE AND EMPLOYER COST REMAIN THE SAME FOR DENTAL. WE THEN HAVE THE EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND AS A REMINDER THE EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS THERE TO HELP EMPLOYEES MANAGE WELL-BEING AND THE DIFFERENT CHALLENGES AND STRESSES WE EXPERIENCE FROM TIME TO TIME. IT CURRENTLY PROVIDES UP TO SIX VISITS PER PERSON PER YEAR TO SEE A LICENSED CLINICIAN. SO IF SOMEONE IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH STRESS, ANXIETY, RELATIONSHIP, FAMILY MATTER, THEY TAP INTO THE EAP PROGRAM AND GET COUNSELING AT NO COST TO THEM UP TO SIX VISITS PER PERSON. WE HAVE HAD SUCH HIGH UTILIZATION WE SUGGEST INCREASING THAT TO EIGHT VISIT. WE HAVE HAD SIX VISITS FOR DECADES SO MOVING UP TO EIGHT VISITS IS A SUGGESTION. WITH TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENTS IN DIFFERENT RINGS BECOMING AVAILABLE ON THE MARKET WE SUGGEST THAT TALKSPACE CHAT + BE ADDED . THAT IS THE PROGRAM THAT MICHAEL PHELPS ENDORSES AND ALLOWS THE MEMBERS TO ENGAGE WITH THE EAP PROGRAM BY CHAT AND VIDEO AND THINGS LIKE THAT. A WEEKS WORTH OF CHAT EQUALS ONE OF THE EIGHT VISITS SO IT IS ANOTHER WAY TO BRING RESOURCES TO EMPLOYEES AND FAMILY MEMBERS. TO REDUCE THE COST OF THOSE ADDITIONS THANK GOODNESS WE HAVE NEVER HAD TO USE THE BENEFIT SO WE ARE OFFERING SOME ESSAYS HE SAVINGS. IF WE EVER NEEDED TO WE CAN DO THAT AT A PER -- RATE. THE FSA OR FLEXIBLE SPENDING , WE HAVE THOSE THROUGH MED COME. THOSE FEES WILL REMAIN THE SAME FOR 2025. ALSO, WE ARE UNDERWEIGHT GUARANTEE FOR THE LIFE AND A DND BENEFITS. SO THE PREMIUMS FOR BASIC LIFE AND VOLUNTARY LIFE THAT EMPLOYEES CAN PURCHASE WILL REMAIN THE SAME IN 2025. AS FOR THE DISABILITY COVERAGE, RELATION, OR JUST THE COMPANY I AM WITH, DID AN ANALYSIS EARLIER THIS YEAR TO LOOK AT THE DISABILITY PROGRAMS AND MAKING SURE THE BENEFIT WAS PROVIDING A FULL BENEFITS AS INTENDED AND WE GUESSED THERE WOULD BE SOME GAPS IN THAT . THAT IS THE REASON WE ARE DOING THE ANALYSIS. AS OF JANUARY 1 OR AS OF SEPTEMBER 1 WE WOULD INCREASE THE GROUP PAN MAXIMUM BENEFIT SO THAT WE WOULD COVER ALL EMPLOYEES UNDER THE GROUP PLAN AND THEN TO LAYER ON TOP OF THAT AND MAKE INDIVIDUAL DISABILITY INSURANCE PROGRAM THAT WOULD PROVIDE THE ADDITIONAL BENEFIT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY WAS INSURED AT 60% , TO A MAXIMUM OF 7500 PER MONTH. VERY MINIMAL COST INCREASE GIVEN THE EXPOSURE. JUST THINK OF DISABILITY AS PAYCHECK DETECTION. SO THIS PLAN WOULD THEM THAT THEY COULD USE FOR O - LIVING EXPENSES. THEN WE HAVE VISION. WE HAVE EYEMED THROUGH 2027 AND THOSE RATES WILL STAY THE SAME. NO CHANGES ANTICIPATED FOR THE COVERAGE THAT WE HAVE WITH CANCER GUARDIAN, ALLSTATE OR LIFELOCK . THOSE VOLUNTARY BENEFITS ARE VALID WITH THE STATE SO UNLESS [00:30:01] THE CARRIER FILES NEW STATE FILINGS WE DON'T SEE ANY CHANGE THERE. WE HAVE SEEN AN INFLUX AS WE SEE IN THE MEDIA WITH IDENTITY THEFT. BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF BREACHES AND HACKS THAT ARE HAPPENING, FPUA STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT IDENTITY THEFT PROTECTION BE PROVIDED TO ALL FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES AS OF JANUARY 1. THE RATES ARE MUCH LESS THAN WHAT THE EMPLOYEE CAN PURCHASE ON THEIR OWN. FPUA IS SUGGESTING, THEY ARE SUGGESTING A BASE PLAN FOR A SINGLE PERSON AND IF THEY WANT TO BUY UP TO WHAT THEY CALL A PREMIER PLAN OR ADD FAMILY MEMBERS THEY CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DO THAT EDIT -- AT AN ADDITIONAL COST. >> I HAD A DISCUSSION WITH THE TAX COLLECTOR AND LAST YEAR THEY HAD AN INCIDENT AND THEY DON'T STORE ANY CUSTOMER INFORMATION FOR PAYMENT PROCESSING. IT THAT IS DONE THROUGH A THIRD-PARTY PROVIDER BUT WE DO STORE EMPLOYEE INFORMATION FOR PAYROLL PROCESSING AND THIS IS TO PROTECT THE EMPLOYEES. THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH EMPLOYEES WORKING THERE AND I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE THAT FOR EMPLOYEES ESPECIALLY AT THE MINIMAL COST PER MONTH. >> LASTLY, THE BLUE MEDICARE IS BASICALLY THE MEDICARE PLAN FOR OUR 65 PLUS RETIREES AND THEY ARE PAID BY THE RETIREE AND THEY ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON APPROVALS SO THESE ARE THE RATES THAT WILL BE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1 AND WE WILL HAVE MEETINGS WITH RETIREES TO SHARE WITH THEM LATER IN THE MONTH. DO YOU WANT TO DO QUESTIONS BEFORE THE SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATION? ANY RECOMMENDATIONS? >> DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? >> SO, YOU ARE SAYING THAT -- MY QUESTION IS, WE WILL BE PAYING THE $3.99 PER MONTH FOR THE LIFELOCK ESSENTIAL PLAN? >> CORRECT. >> FOR THE EMPLOYEE AND THEN IF THEY WANT TO MOVE UP THEY PAY THE EXTRA? >> EXACTLY. >> YOU PAY THE $3.99 PER MONTH PER EMPLOYEE. ALL WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY ENROLLED AND THEY CAN OPT OUT BUT WHEN THEY ARE ENROLLED THEY CAN ADD FAMILY MEMBERS, THEY CAN INCREASE FROM ESSENTIAL TO PREMIER AND THAT WOULD BE AT THEIR EXPENSE. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> I AM READY TO HEAR THE SUMMARY. >> LET'S HEAR THE SUMMARY. >> THE SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS IT IS TO RENEW THE STOPLOSS COVERAGE AT THE DEDUCTIBLE LEVEL AND THE INCREASED OVERALL WOULD BE 14.4% OF INCREASE WHICH WOULD CONTINUE EXPECTED CLAIMS AND EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS AT A 10% INCREASE. RENEWED THE DENTAL ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES THROUGH FLORIDA COMBINED LIFE WHILE MAINTAINING THE CURRENT DENTAL EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION CONTRIBUTIONS AND FUNDING. RENEW COVERAGE THROUGH AT NINE WITH ENHANCEMENTS. RENEW LIFE AND DISABILITY WITH USABLE LIFE AND RENEW VISION COVERAGE THROUGH EYEMED. PROVIDE THE BASE ESSENTIAL PLAN LIFELOCK IDENTITY PROTECTION WITH THE OPTION FOR EMPLOYEES TO BUY UP AND MODIFIED THE DEPENDENT ELIGIBILITY FROM AGE 26 UP TO AGE 30 TO COMPLY WITH STATE STATUTE. THE STATE OF FLORIDA FOR A GOVERNMENTAL SELF-INSURED HEALTH PLAN, YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW STATE STATUTE AND THE STATE DOES REQUIRE THAT YOU ALLOW UP TO AGE 30 TO COVER YOUR DEPENDENT CHILDREN BUT THEY DO HAVE TO MEET SOME QUALIFICATIONS. >> THAT SEEMS OPTIMISTIC ! LAUGHTER ] >> THEY MIGHT STAY AT HOME FOREVER! >> THEY CANNOT HAVE ANY [00:35:01] DEPENDENTS OF THEIR OWN AND THEY HAVE TO LIVE IN FLORIDA AND THEY CANNOT HAVE ANY OTHER HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE SO THERE ARE QUALIFIERS BUT WE ARE JUST ADJUSTING THAT STATUTE GOING FORWARD. >> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. >> YES. >> WHAT IS A CRITICAL INCIDENT BENEFIT? >> WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY MORE? >> WE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE LIMITED. YOU WILL CARVED THAT OUT OF THE PLAN. IN THE EVENT THAT SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS AND I WILL NOT MENTION WHAT THOSE BAD THINGS COULD BE. >> TO AN INDIVIDUAL? >> TO YOUR WORKFORCE. >> IF WE NEED TO ENGAGE WITH THE EAP BECAUSE OF SOMETHING HORRIFIC HAPPENS WE CAN HAVE THE EAP PROGRAM DO THAT AND WE CAN PAY PER HOUR RATHER THAN HAVING THAT JUST BAKED INTO THE PLAN. >> SO YOU ARE OFFERING EIGHT VISITS INSTEAD OF SIX? >> THAT IS JUST A SUGGESTION. >> CAN YOU TELL ME, FOR ALL OF THESE THINGS, FOR WHAT THE GIBBONS WILL PAY COMPARED TO LAST YEAR? >> COLLECTIVELY I DO NOT HAVE THAT WITH ME. I CAN SAY FOR THE EAP, YOU HAVE 260 EMPLOYEES ROUGHLY AND THE DIFFERENCES 225 VERSUS 244 SO THAT WILL PROBABLY BE LIKE $1000 FOR ALL OF THESE THINGS. >> JUST FOR THE MEDICAL. WHAT IS IT COMPARED TO LAST YEAR? >> THE OVERALL EXPECTED COSTS ARE GOING UP AND WE WILL CALL IT $1 MILLION. A COUPLE THOUSAND DOLLARS LESS AND THE EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE INCREASING 10% WITH THE UA PICKING UP THE DIFFERENCE IS THE RECOMMENDATION. >> I DON'T HAVE A CALCULATOR WITH ME BUT OVERALL, 14.4% . >> I DON'T HAVE THAT. >> OVER ONE MILLION-DOLLAR INCREASE? >> WITHIN THE EMPLOYEES PICKING UP AN ADDITIONAL 10% IN CONTRIBUTIONS. >> THANK YOU. >> SORRY FOR NOT HAVING THAT. >> I WAS NOT FOLLOWING ALONG EARLIER SO, THAT IS FINE. >> MR. CHAIR, I BELIEVE IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WE HAVE NOT HAD AN INCREASE TO THE EMPLOYEES. IS THAT CORRECT? HAVE WE JUST ABSORBED? >> LAST YEAR WE OBSERVED BUT I BELIEVE IT WAS JUST 1.7%. THE YEAR BEFORE I BELIEVE WE HAD A SMALL INCREASE. >> I THINK THE TEN-YEAR AVERAGE HAS BEEN PRETTY FLAT. >> THE TEN-YEAR AVERAGE, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED ABOUT 5% INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR AND THE MARKET HAS BEEN NEARLY DOUBLE THAT. >> SO WE HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE WITH OUR WELLNESS PROGRAM AND A VERY ACTIVE EMPLOYEE BASE SO WE WERE NOT SURPRISED BUT WE ARE HAPPY BECAUSE IT IS PRETTY REASONABLE CONSIDERING WHAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING. >> THE LION SHARE IS COMING FROM -- OR IS SOMEBODY THAT IS REQUIRING MEDICATION. IT WILL HAPPEN. YOU WILL SEE IT EVERY SO OFTEN AND WE HAVE HAD A LARGE INCREASE. >> I THINK IT WAS MORE THAN WHAT WE WERE EXPECT THING. >> OVERALL, THE EXPERIENCE, WE ARE ABOUT 10% HIGHER BUT OVERALL THE FREQUENCY AND THE SEVERITY OF THE CLAIMANTS, I THINK IT IS TIME LAST YEAR, WE HAD FIVE CLAIMANTS AND NOW WE HAVE NINE. >> THE LAST THING I WANTED TO ASK, AS FAR AS RATES GO, -- HAS GONE UP 14% AND AS YOU WERE SAYING , THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY 20% OF WHAT WE ARE CURRENTLY PAYING. SO, OUR RATE STRUCTURE AND HOW MUCH WE ARE PAYING FOR OUR RATES COMPARED TO SOMEBODY THAT WOULD BE EQUAL TO OUR SIZE, DO YOU HAVE ANY FIGURES LIKE THAT? HOW ARE WE RANKING? >> WE DO BENCHMARKING STUDIES WITH YOU ALL. WE DO LOOK AT THAT. WE LOOK AT NOT ONLY THE CONTRIBUTION % BUT ALSO THE [00:40:06] DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT THE EMPLOYEES ARE PAYING HERE VERSUS YOUR COHORT AND WE GET PRETTY SPECIFIC MEANING UTILITIES, TRANSPORTATION AND UTILITIES IN THE SOUTH ATLANTIC REGION FOR EMPLOYERS YOUR SIZE. >> I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHERE WE ARE ON THAT. >> WE DO THAT REVIEW WITH KATHLEEN AND HER TEAM AND WE DO REVIEW THAT EVERY FEW MONTHS OR SO. >> A REALLY GOOD QUESTION. I AM INTERESTED IN THOSE BENCHMARKS TO SEE HOW WE STACK UP AGAINST PEOPLE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH. >> WE CAN RUN THAT HOWEVER WE LIKE BUT WE HAVE REVIEWED IT BASED ON THE COHORT BUT IF YOU WANT TO SEE THAT OPENED UP TO MORE OF A NATIONAL STATISTIC WE HAVE THAT TOO. >> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT NOT JUST WITH OTHER UTILITIES BUT OTHER HUMAN MUNICIPAL TYPES OF JOBS. NOT JUST SPECIFIC TO UTILITIES. >> IT WOULD HAVE TO BE COMPANIES OF YOUR SIZE AND REGION OR SPECIFIC TO YOUR INDUSTRY. >> I WOULD RATHER SEE ALL COMPANIES SO THAT WE HAVE A BETTER NET. >> AND WE CAN SURE THAT WITH THE BOARD BEFORE THE PRESENTATION SO YOU CAN SEE THE DATA BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT A 10 PAGE REPORT. IT GETS PRETTY SPECIFIC AND A GOOD COMPARISON TO WHAT YOU ARE SEEING. WE LOOK AT ALSO HOW IT IS BROKEN DOWN. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> JUST SO I UNDERSTAND, THE EMPLOYEE IS GOING TO PICK UP 10%? >> YES . IF YOU LOOK AT THE THIRD PAGE ON THE BOTTOM IT SHOWS THE 10% AND WHAT THAT DOES TO THE PER PLATE -- PER PAY PLUS. >> OKAY . >> HOW MUCH -- I'M SORRY, I'M TALKING OUT OF TURN. >> I WILL PIGGYBACK OFF OF THAT. >> AS I UNDERSTAND, THE UA IS PICKING UP 10% OF THE 14? >> THE EMPLOYEE CURRENT CONTRIBUTION IS GOING TO INCREASE 10% AND THE UA WILL PICK UP THE DIFFERENCE SO THAT WILL GO UP A BIT HIGHER THAN THE 14.4% THEN THE DIFFERENTIAL. >> SO ARE THEY PICKING UP 14%? >> THE OVERALL IS 14.4% AND THE EMPLOYEE PORTION IS GOING UP 10 BUT THE DIFFERENCE WILL BE THE EMPLOYER UA SIDE. >> SO WE ARE WORKING OFF OF THE 14 NUMBER ? >> I THINK WE ARE MIXING TWO NUMBERS. SO, THE EMPLOYEE , THEIR CONTRIBUTION WILL INCREASE BY 10% IN THE OVERALL CONTRIBUTION IS 14.1 OR 14.8? >> WE WILL PICK UP WHATEVER THE DELTA IS BETWEEN THE EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION INCREASES IN WHATEVER WE NEED. >> THE 10% LOOKS LIKE HOW MUCH? >> PER PAY PERIOD, THAT MEANS IT WILL BASICALLY BE ABOUT $46 PER MONTH. >> ROUGHLY. IT WILL BE A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN THAT FOR A FULL FAMILY, THAT WOULD BE THE HIGHEST AMOUNT FOR THE EMPLOYEE DIFFERENTIAL, THAT IS $24.55. >> MR. CHAIR, BASICALLY, IT IS ON A SLIDING SCALE SO 10% OVERALL IS NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO BE THE SAME. SO A PERCENTAGE OF EMPLOYEE ONLY IS NOT THE SAME AMOUNT AS EMPLOYEE PLUS FAMILY SO IT IS A BLENDED AMOUNT. AND , THE EMPLOYEE AND FAMILY WILL BE SLIGHTLY, THEY WILL BE PAYING MORE INTO THAT 14.1 THEN THE EMPLOYEE IS. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? >> MY QUESTION IS, IS IT IS AT UP? >> WHAT WE CAN DO IS WE CAN GIVE YOU A BREAKDOWN OF WHAT [00:45:05] THE NUMBERS ARE AND SPECIFICALLY WHAT CATEGORY YOU ARE PAYING. THE COST OR THE INCREASE , THE EMPLOYEE, THEY ARE PAYING, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY WILL BE GOING UP TO $270. $270 PER PAY PERIOD SO, MATHEMATICALLY, FOR EACH GROUP, WHATEVER THE DELTA IS TO MAKE UP FOR THE 14.4, THAT IS WHAT FPUA WILL COVER. >> IT IS CONFUSING BECAUSE WE ARE GIVEN DIFFERENT PERCENTAGES SO THAT IS WHY YOU CANNOT TAKE, WHEN SHE SAYS THE COST TO THE EMPLOYEE IS GOING UP 10% IT IS ONLY THEIR SPECIFIC COST. THE TOTAL COST OF INSURANCE IS GOING UP BY 14 POINT SOMETHING %. >> WHICH IS ABOUT $1 MILLION. >> BUT BECAUSE FPUA PICKS UP A LARGER PORTION OF THE INSURANCE COST , THAT IS WHY THE PERCENTAGES JUST DON'T ADD UP LIKE WE WANT THEM TO. THAT IS WHY SHE IS SAYING SHE DOES NOT HAVE THE NUMBER IN FRONT OF HER SO WITH THE EMPLOYEE COST GOING UP BY 10% THAT IS REALLY ONLY PICKING UP, ABOUT 3% OR 2% OF THE TOTAL INCREASE TO THE INSURANCE COST. I KNOW THAT PROBABLY MAKES IT EVEN MORE CONFUSING. >> THE EMPLOYEE A YOU CURRENTLY PAY IS FOR EMPLOYEE PLUS FAMILY. >> IT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 2914 -- $2914 PER MONTH. SO, TAKE THAT A STEP FURTHER AND THE EMPLOYEE WILL GO UP TO $270 AND THE TOTAL WILL GO UP TO 3322 AND THAT IS THE FPUA PORTION. OVERALL IT IS 14.4%. >> THAT IS WHAT WE ARE APPROVING RIGHT NOW? NOT THE PERCENTAGES? >> THE FUNDING, WHICH IS THE % AND THEN THE CONTRIBUTION WHICH IS THE DOLLAR THAT THE EMPLOYEES WILL PAY FROM THERE. >> THE COMPLETE PLAN? >> GOT IT. >> ANY MORE QUESTIONS? DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION? >> APPROVING THE OVERALL? >> IT HAS A LOT OF INFORMATION AND THEY SUMMARIZED IT SO WE WOULD BE APPROVING ALL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY SUMMARIZED AT THE END OF THE REPORT. >> I MOVE APPROVAL. >> SECOND. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> >> THANK YOU. >> YOU ARE WELCOME. [E.4. General Counsel Discussion] >> NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS BOARD DISCUSSION ABOUT THE GENERAL COUNSEL. I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONDUCT OUR INTERVIEWS FOR THE APPLICANTS CHOSEN TO BE INTERVIEWED. SOME OF US HAVE HAD INDIVIDUAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DIRECTORS SO I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THE FLOOR TO HAVE DISCUSSION AND NARROW DOWN TO A TOP CANDIDATE AND NARROW DOWN TO A BACKUP CANDIDATE ADD GIVE MR. CISNEROS PERMISSION TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS. DO YOU WANT TO START IT OFF? >> I DON'T MIND STARTING. MY TOP CHOICES ARE STEPHANIE -- AND BECAUSE SHE HAS UTILITY EXPERIENCE. AND SHE IS FAMILIAR WITH FORT PIERCE AND I DO HAVE A SECOND CHOICE AND THAT IS, SUSAN PERROTTA . FOR HER EXPERIENCE. >> I AM GOING TO MIRROR THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE MAYOR. >> I MIRROR THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE MAYOR ALSO. I LIKE BOTH OF THEM BECAUSE OF WITH THE [00:50:07] MAYOR HAS SAID AND THEY HAVE A GROWTH MINDSET. THEY ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH US AND THEY ARE EXCITED ABOUT MOVING THE WASTEWATER PLANT. >> WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE HERE. THAT TELLS ME , MR. CHAIR. >> I DID NOT EXPECTED TO BE SO UNANIMOUS. TELLS ME THAT STEPHANIE HAS TRULY CONNECTED WITH ALL OF US AND WE FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH HER AND SUSAN AS WELL. THEY ARE BOTH GREAT CANDIDATE AND I REALLY ENJOYED OUR CONVERSATIONS ON BOTH LEVELS BUT THERE IS DEFINITELY AN EDGE TO STEPHANIE BEING IN DEEP WITH UTILITIES FOR PORT ST. LUCIE AND WITH THE WATER THERE. I THINK THAT SHE HAS A LITTLE MORE EDGE ON THE KNOWLEDGE BASE AND HAS BEEN VERY PIVOTAL IN A LOT OF THE DECISION-MAKING AND SOME OF THE DAY TO DAY AND WHEN I INTERVIEWED HER, IT WAS HOLDING HER BACK AND NOT ALLOWING HER TO BE ABLE TO PRACTICE HER LEGAL MIND AS MUCH BUT FOR US THAT IS GREAT . SHE COMES WITH SO MUCH KNOWLEDGE AND SHE CAN TAKE BACK THE REINS ON THE LEGAL COUNSEL PART SO I THINK SHE WOULD BE THE BEST FOR SURE. >> IT SEEMS LIKE STEPHANIE WAS THE OBVIOUS CHOICE. SHE IS BOARD CERTIFIED AND THAT IS A BIG DEAL . SHE HAS A FAIR AMOUNT, EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF UTILITY EXPERIENCE AND WE HAVE SOME PRETTY IMPORTANT INITIATIVES WITH EXPANDING WATER AND WASTEWATER WHERE HER EXPERIENCE WILL COME IN HANDY. SHE HAD A COLLABORATIVE ATTITUDE AND SHE HAD A VERY CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE BOARD EXPECTED HER ROLE TO BE AND HOW SHE WOULD AUGMENT AND ASSIST THE DIRECTOR AND STAFF AND I THOUGHT SHE WAS THE OBVIOUS CHOICE BY THE TIME I GOT DONE INTERVIEWING HER. SUSAN WAS GOOD AS WELL AND I THINK IF WE WERE ABLE TO GET EITHER ONE OF THEM WE WOULD BE FORTUNATE AND THEY WOULD BRING A LOT OF VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY BUT I WOULD REITERATE THAT STEPHANIE IS THE FIRST CHOICE AND STEPHANIE -- -- WOULD BE THE SECOND. >> I WILL CONTACT HER BASED ON FEEDBACK -- FEEDBACK AND WORK WITH SPECIAL COUNSEL TO REVIEW THE CONTRACT THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY SEND TO HER AND START NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO GET UNDER CONTRACT. >> WONDERFUL. ANY OTHER COMMENTS RELATED TO THIS ITEM? [F. DIRECTOR COMMENTS] ANY COMMENTS FROM THE DIRECTOR? >> I HAVE A COUPLE. THE TEAM IS WORKING ON BOTH OF THE ITEMS THAT WERE MADE DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS SO WE WILL FOLLOW UP ON THOSE. I JUST WANT TO REASSURE THE BOARD THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS THERE. AS IT STANDS WE DON'T HAVE ANY PRESSING ISSUES FOR THE NEXT BOARD MEETING SO WE WILL LIKELY CANCEL THAT. IT DOES ALSO HAPPEN TO BE ELECTION DAY SO I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED ON THE AGENDA AND HOW THAT PLAYS OUT. THE LAST THING IS I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT THE FPUA, THE LAST TIME I WAS AT THE BOARD MEETING LAST TUESDAY , I MENTIONED THAT THE FPUA ANSWERED THE QUESTION FOR MUTUAL AID AND EIGHT DAYS LATER WE WERE HIT WITH HURRICANE MILTON. I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE A QUICK SUMMARY OF THE EVENTS FROM WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON WE HAD TORNADOES AND LIGHTNING AND THE LIGHTNING SHOW WAS INCREDIBLE. I COULD NOT TELL WHERE ONE LIGHTNING STRIKE STARTED AND THE OTHER ENDED. IT WAS JUST A COUPLE OF INCREDIBLE HOURS. THE TORNADOES AND THE LIGHTNING CAUSED OUTAGES AND THE CREWS WERE ABLE TO RESTORE THE POWER TO CUSTOMERS IMPACTED BY 11:00. WE HAD ABOUT 300 CUSTOMERS WE COULD NOT GET TO [00:55:03] BECAUSE IT WAS SO WET AND I THOUGHT WE HAD WEATHERED THE STORM. BY 12:30 THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH ABOUT 6:00 WE GOT HAMMERED WITH WIND CAUSING ABOUT 15,000 CUSTOMERS TO BE WITHOUT POWER. I AM PROUD TO REPORT THAT WITHIN 24 HOURS WE HAD 94% OF CUSTOMERS RESTORED BETWEEN FPUA AND MUTUAL AID CREWS WE HAD ABOUT 40 LINEMEN WORKING ON OUR SYSTEM. WE WERE PULLING FROM PLACES FAR AWAY BECAUSE THEY STILL HAD A LOT OF MUTUAL AID CREWS FROM TENNESSEE, NORTH CAROLINA, AND GEORGIA RESTORING POWER FROM HURRICANE HELENE. ON THURSDAY NIGHT -- WE HAD MOST OF THE CREWS WORKING DURING THE DAY. THAT IS THE MOST EFFICIENT TIME YOU CAN SEE CLEARLY AND IT WORKS THAT WAY, THAT IS WHEN THE CREWS START WORKING. WE ALSO HAD AN OVERNIGHT CREW. THAT CREW ON THE NIGHT SHIFT RESTORED 2000 CUSTOMERS BY THEMSELVES. THEY WERE NOT REPLACING POLLS BUT THEY WERE SPLICING WIRES , TRYING TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE BACK IN POWER AS THEY COULD AND WITHIN 48 HOURS WE RESTORED ALL CUSTOMERS. ALL CUSTOMERS ESSENTIALLY. I AM VERY PROUD THAT THE ELECTRIC CREW, THE SUBSTATION CREWS AND -- THEY DID JUST A FANTASTIC JOB. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE SOME OTHER SUPERSTARS. THE WASTEWATER TEAM WORKED THROUGHOUT THE STORM AND AFTER THE STORM TO KEEP THE WASTEWATER PLANT FUNCTIONING ON ALL CYLINDERS WITHOUT ISSUE. EVERYTHING FROM PLANT FLOW TO POWER STATIONS TO CLEANING LINES JUST TO KEEP IT WORKING AND FLOWING. GREAT JOB BY THE WASTEWATER TEAM. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM DID A GREAT JOB STAYING COOL, CALM, AND COLLECTED . IF YOU ARE IN THAT ROOM WHEN IT HAPPENS THERE ARE A LOT OF CALLS COMING IN AND WE ARE VERY THANKFUL FOR THEM TO HANDLE THE STRESS. EVEN THOUGH IT WAS STRESSFUL, THE ONE POSITIVE FEEDBACK THAT WE GOT FROM -- CONSTANTLY THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT, WAS THAT THEY COULD TALK TO A HUMAN. THAT WAS A NICE LITTLE TOUCH WITH THE FEEDBACK THAT WE GOT THAT NIGHT. THE WATER DISTRIBUTION CREWS DID A FANTASTIC JOB OF ISOLATING AN ISSUE DURING -- A TORNADO WENT THROUGH THERE AND TOOK OFF A METER AND THE 12 THE INCH METER WAS PRETTY BIG SO WE WERE FLOWING ABOVE NORMAL BECAUSE OF THAT. THAT IS A BIG DEAL IN THE WATER INDUSTRY . OUR CREWS WERE ABLE TO RESPOND QUICKLY. THEY HAD TO WAIT FOR POWERLINES TO BE DOWN BUT WHEN THEY WERE CLEARED THEY WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS IT AND JUST A GREAT RESPONSE BY THE WATER TEAM. THE WATER CREWS ON SATURDAY, THIS PAST SATURDAY, THEY ALSO PROVIDED MUTUAL AID ASSISTANCE TO HELP ISOLATE THE SYSTEM DUE TO ALL OF THE BUILDING DAMAGE FROM THE TORNADO THAT IMPACTED SPANISH LAKES COMMUNITY. MOST OF THOSE LINES ARE DIRECTLY PIPED TO THE HOME SO THERE IS NO VALVE OR CURB STOP TO ISOLATE AND IT WAS CAUSING A HUGE IMPACT TO THE PLANT UP NORTH. SO, I COULD KEEP GOING ON AND ON BUT, JUST A GREAT SHOW OF ALL HANDS ON DECK TO MAKE IT HAPPEN AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK AMY AND NICOLE FROM FPUA. THEIR MUTUAL RESPONSE WAS FANTASTIC. FLORENCE, ALABAMA, MUTUAL AID RESPONSE AND KEYS ENERGY. THEY ANSWERED THE CALL AND THEY WERE HERE THE NIGHT BEFORE AND THE DAY OF. WITHOUT THEM WE COULD NOT HAVE RESTORED AS QUICKLY AS WE DID. THE LAST THING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS THAT EVERY STORM IS DIFFERENT BUT THE FPUA RESPONSE IS THE SAME. WE ARE THE HOMETOWN UTILITY AND PROUD [G. ATTORNEY COMMENTS] TO SERVE YOU. THAT IS ALL I HAVE FOR THE BOARD. >> THANK YOU, MR. CISNEROS. >> CONGRATULATIONS ON TAKING THE NEXT STEP IN GETTING A NEW GENERAL COUNSEL . WE HOPE TO GET A CONTRACT IN PLACE THAT WILL MEET YOUR NEEDS AND THEN WE WILL BE HERE THROUGHOUT THE TRANSITION PERIOD. WE WILL [H. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS] ALWAYS BE HERE IN OUR ROLE WITH FPUA. CONGRATULATIONS ON THE [01:00:02] NEXT STEP . >> ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? >> MR. CHAIR, I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND YOUR TEAM AT FPUA . THE LINEMEN DISTRICT 1 HAVE GOTTEN GREAT COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK AND I WANTED TO LET US KNOW THAT , HEY, WE WERE NUMBER ONE IN RESTORING POWER AND THEY WERE VERY PLEASED WITH HOW FAST AND EFFICIENT YOU ALL CAME OUT AND YOU DID A GREAT JOB. I AM PLEASED BECAUSE FOR 30 MINUTES -- I WAS ONLY OUT 30 MINUTES AND THAT WAS GREAT FOR ME. WE THANK GOD THAT THINGS HAVE ADVANCED AND TECHNOLOGY HAS TAKEN OVER AND WE HAVE STEPPED IN ON IT AND IT JUST LETS US KNOW THAT WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND I AM VERY PLEASED WITH THAT. ALSO, I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE COMMENTS THAT CAME BEFORE US AND MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THAT IN A TIMELY AND EFFICIENT MATTER -- MANNER BECAUSE THAT IS OUR MOTTO. WE TAKE CARE OF THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO US AND WE TAKE CARE OF THEM IN A TIMELY AND EFFICIENT MATTER . WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT THOSE ITEMS ARE DONE IN A TIMELY AND EFFICIENT MATTER AS WE DID WITH ELECTRIC. >> I COMMEND EVERYBODY THAT WAS ON AND I KNEW THAT YOU WERE THERE THE ENTIRE NIGHT SO, I APPRECIATE YOU . AND EVEN ANSWERING MY CRAZY TEXT MESSAGES WONDERING ABOUT PEOPLE AND AREAS BECAUSE IT DOES HELP TO GIVE INFORMATION TO THE COMMUNITY AND HOPEFULLY IT HELPS HAVE NOT AS MANY CALLS INTO THE ACTUAL SYSTEM. I HAVE HEARD A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ACCOLADES FOR THE ENTIRE TEAM AND I KNOW I KEPT ASKING AHEAD OF THE STORM, BECAUSE WE RECEIVE SO MUCH RAIN BEFORE THAT ABOUT THE WASTEWATER PLANT AND I WAS NERVOUS WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO DUMP BUT THEY HAD IT ALL PLANNED OUT AND THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS . I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. THE OTHER THING, THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT MOST PEOPLE THINK ABOUT, I DID PAY ATTENTION THE NIGHT BEFORE THAT OKEECHOBEE COUNTY HAD ALREADY ISSUED A BOIL WATER NOTICE . I MESSAGE YOU THE NEXT MORNING AND YOU SAID EVERYTHING IS FINE SO FOR THOSE THAT DON'T REALIZE, THAT IS A BIG DEAL AND I TRULY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? >> I WANT TO GIVE A GRATEFUL THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY. WE LOOK GOOD AND WE TREATED OUR CUSTOMERS FIRST CLASS AND THAT DOES MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE. TREATING THEM AND MAKING THEM FIRST. I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT YOU HELPED ST. LUCIE COUNTY BECAUSE NOT ONLY DID WE DO THAT BUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DID THAT. THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE ALL CONCENTRATED THERE SO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND PORT ST. LUCIE STEPPED IN AND FILLED THE GAP WHERE NEEDED SO THAT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT COULD CONCENTRATE ON SPANISH LAKES AND KINGS HIGHWAY AND ALL OF THE DESTRUCTION OUT THERE. NOT TO MENTION THE SHERIFFS EQUIPMENT BARN IS DOWN AND ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT WAS IN THERE. THANK YOU FPUA FOR STEPPING IN AND HELPING WITH THE COUNTY AND THE CITY DID THAT TOO. THAT REALLY MADE A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR COUNTY. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. SPEAKING OF THE BOIL WATER NOTICE. I GOT QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT. I GOT BACK TO THEM AND SAID , NO . THE PERSON ASKED ME, IF WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A BOIL WATER NOTICE, HOW WOULD I KNOW IF THEY ARE NOT ON SOCIAL MEDIA? HOW WOULD THEY KNOW? >> SO, I WILL HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU. IF IT IS A SPECIFIC AREA THEN WE WOULD BE DOING [01:05:02] DOOR HANGERS BUT IF IT WAS CITYWIDE WE WOULD DO THE TYPICAL COMMUNICATION METHODS WE HAVE IN PLACE. >> SO, TEXTING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE IS NOT COST-EFFECTIVE RIGHT NOW. IS THAT CORRECT? >> WE ARE MAKING IMPROVEMENTS IN THAT AREA AND I THINK WE ARE GETTING CLOSE. IT HAS BEEN A PROCESS TO INTEGRATE WITH OUR SYSTEMS AND I DON'T WANT TO GIVE A SPECIFIC TIMELINE BUT I FEEL IN THE NEAR FUTURE, SOMETIME THIS YEAR, WE WILL HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE THAT WE CAN BE TESTING AND SEE HOW IT WILL WORK. TEXTING IS ONE OF THE PLATFORMS WE WANT TO USE. >> IT SEEMS LIKE EMAIL IS OLD-FASHIONED NOW. >> ESPECIALLY IN AN EMERGENCY. PEOPLE GOT SO MANY TORNADO WARNINGS ON THEIR IPHONE. TECHNOLOGICAL WISE, WE NEED TO DO THE SAME THING. THE HURRICANE, THE BOIL WATER. >> PLEASE DO NOT MAKE IT THE SAME SOUND. CAN WE JUST DO A DATING? -- DING? >> WE DEFINITELY WILL NOT USE THAT SOUND. SOME OF THESE THINGS COST MONEY AND YOU WILL SEE THOSE THAT BUDGET TIME BECAUSE WE DO PLAN ON MAKING THESE IMPROVEMENTS SO WHEN YOU SEE THEM, I KNOW YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF THESE THINGS, IT WILL HIGHLIGHT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO MOVE TO THE 21ST CENTURY. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE BUT SOME OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO DO WILL COST MONEY. WE ARE BEING VERY CAREFUL AND TRYING TO MANAGE THAT AS BEST WE CAN BUT WE DO HAVE PLANS TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO. >> ONE MORE THING ABOUT HAVING A PERSON TO TALK TO, I THINK THAT IS VERY CRITICAL . SOMEBODY VOLUNTEERING AT SPANISH LAKES, PEOPLE GOING THROUGH THE RUBBLE, THEY WANT SOME KIND OF HUMAN CONTACT BECAUSE THEY ARE IN SHOCK AND STRESSED OUT SO I THINK THAT IS GREAT AND THANK YOU TO WHOEVER STAYED ON. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? >> I JUST WANT TO ECHO THE GREAT JOB THAT WAS DONE DURING THE STORM. WE HAVE A FAMILY GROUP TEXT THREAD AND SOME ARE IN FPUA AND WE HAVE A FEW FANS OF FPUA VERSUS WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH IF THEY WERE IN FPL. ALSO THE RECOGNITION OF EXCELLENCE THAT MR. CRAWFORD RECEIVED. I AM NOT SURPRISED. I HAVE SEEN HIM GO ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR CUSTOMERS AND I AM GLAD WE CONTINUE TO GET THOSE TYPES OF REPORTS. LASTLY, TO ECHO THE COMMENTS FROM MRS. BENNETT, I WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE FOLLOW-UP WITH THE COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC. MRS. SMITH, WHATEVER WE CAN DO, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHATEVER REPORT WE HAVE REGARDING HER SITUATION SO FAR AND WHEN SHE CAN EXPECT TO HAVE THIS MATTER RESOLVED. >> I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH HER SCENARIO BUT I KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE A PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH. WE WILL MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW UP AND CLOSE THE LOOP ON THAT POTENTIAL CLAIM. >> I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WE HAVE TO FOLLOW BUT TO AT LEAST HAVE AN IDEA IS APPROPRIATE. >> I WILL MAKE SURE TO CLOSE THE LOOP WITH YOU BEFORE THE NEXT BOARD MEETING. WE MOST LIKELY WILL NOT HAVE ONE THE FIRST TUESDAY OF NOVEMBER SO I WILL * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.