[1. CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:10] >> I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. THIS IS THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE COMMISSION MEETING, MONDAY, OCTOBER 21ST. PLEASE STAND FOR THE OPENING PRAYER BY THE INTERIM I.T. OPERATIONS OPERATOR, JAMAHL MOSLEY, AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE. >> LET'S ENTER IN. MOST GRACIOUS AND HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING TO GIVE YOU THANKS FOR ALLOWING US TO SEE ANOTHER DAY, AS WE COME BEFORE YOU, O GOD, BUT THE SAME MIND AND THE SAME PRINCIPLES AND THE SAME ENERGY FOR SEEKING YOU IN ALL THINGS, WE ASK THAT YOU PROTECT THIS GOVERNING BODY, AND THAT YOU PROTECT THE PEOPLE AND THE CITIZENS, OH GOD. WE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SEE ANOTHER DAY, AND TO GO THROUGH THE LAST STORM THAT HAS COME THROUGH. OH GOD, WHERE THERE ARE THOSE WITHOUT AND THAT HAVE LOST, WE GIVE YOU THANKS AND PRAISE FOR THE THINGS THAT WE DO HAVE. AND ALLOW US TO SEEK YOU FOR PEACE, CQ FOR TRUTH. CQ FOR A PATH THAT WILL ALLOW FOR YOUR PEOPLE TO RECEIVE THE NOURISHMENT AND RESOURCES, AND THE OVERALL GUIDANCE COME OF GOD. SPEAK TO OUR HEARTS POINT SPEAK TO THEIR MINDS, SO THAT WAY, THEY CAN MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL, AND I THANK YOU, O GOD, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, TO BE ABLE TO STAND BEFORE YOU AND BEFORE THIS GREAT CITY AND THE PEOPLE, IN ORDER TO GIVE YOU THANKS. COVER EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US. COVER OUR FAMILIES, OUR FRIENDS, OUR GOINGS AND OUR COMINGS. IN CHRIST'S NAME, I PRAY POINT >> AMEN. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. MAYOR HUDSON . >> PRESENT. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES. [5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES] >> PRESENT. >> COMMISSIONER C. JOHNSON. >> PRESENT. >> COMMISSIONER J. JOHNSON. >> PRESENT. >> MOTION AND A SECOND. CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. >> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK. >> YES MA'AM. >> COMMISSIONER J. JOHNSON. [a. Red Ribbon Week] >> YES MA'AM. >> MAYOR HUDSON. >> YES MA'AM. >> NEXT IS PROCLAMATIONS. HERE IS RED RIBBON WEEK. >> WHEREAS, ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE ARE PARTICULARLY DAMAGING TO ONE OF OUR MOST VALUABLE RESOURCES, OUR CHILDREN, AND AFFECTS INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION; AND WHEREAS, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT VISIBLE, UNIFIED EFFORTS BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS BE LAUNCHED TO PREVENT ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE; AND WHEREAS, IT IS THE GOAL OF RED RIBBON WEEK TO INVOLVE FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, BUSINESSES, RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, GOVERNMENT, MEDIA, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS IN ALL ASPECTS OF THIS CAMPAIGN, AND ESTABLISH AN ATMOSPHERE THAT SUPPORTS AWARENESS, EDUCATION AND ON-GOING INITIATIVES TO PREVENT ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE; AND WHEREAS, THE RED RIBBON WEEK CAMPAIGN WILL BE CELEBRATED IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION BETWEEN OCTOBER 23-31; AND WHEREAS, BUSINESSES, GOVERNMENT, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, MEDIA, HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS, SCHOOLS, PARENTS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS, WILL DEMONSTRATE THEIR COMMITMENT TO DRUG-FREE LIFESTYLES, BY WEARING RED RIBBONS AND PARTICIPATING IN DRUG PREVENTION AWARENESS AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES; AND WHEREAS, THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE FURTHER COMMITS TO PROMOTING AND SUPPORTING POLICIES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF OUR CITIZENS, RESIDENTS, AND VISITORS; NOW, THEREFORE, I, LINDA HUDSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 23RD -31ST, 2024 AS: RED RIBBON WEEK IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE IN DRUG PREVENTION EDUCATION AND AWARENESS ACTIVITIES DURING RED RIBBON WEEK AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, MAKING A VISIBLE STATEMENT THAT WE ARE STRONGLY COMMITTED TO A DRUG-FREE LIFESTYLE. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> FIRST, I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HIGHLIGHT THIS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TIME. MY NAME IS CASSIE CHANG. IT IS AN INITIATIVE UNDER THE ROUNDTABLE OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY. THE MISSION OF DRUG-FREE ST. LUCIE IS TO CULTIVATE A COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTS EIGHT SUBSTANCE FREE LIFESTYLE. THE VISION IS A HEALTHY, VIBRANT COMMUNITY THAT IS SUBSTANCE FREE POINT A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY ABOUT REP -- RED RIBBON WEEK IS THAT IT [00:05:08] FOLLOWED THAT MURDER OF A DEA AGENT. IT STARTED TO GROW . PEOPLE WORE RED RIBBONS IN HIS HONOR AND TO PROMOTE IMPOTENCE OF LIVING A DRUG-FREE LIFESTYLE AND HOW INTERESTS AND VIOLENT DRUG ACTIVITY CAN BE TO CITIZENS POINT IT GAINED NATIONAL RECOGNITION IN 1998 -- 1998, WHEN THE NATIONAL FAMILY PARTNERSHIP FORMALIZED THE WEEK AS A NATIONAL EVENT. WE HONOR -- WE OBSERVE RED RIBBON WEEK OCTOBER 23RD THROUGH THE 31ST WITH MILLIONS OF PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN ACTIVITIES, AND WE HAVE ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS POSTED ON THE DRUG-FREE ST. LUCIE FACEBOOK PAGE, WHICH WILL ALSO HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT RED RIBBON WEEK, AND WE ASK THAT EVERYONE REMEMBERS THIS THURSDAY, TO PLEASE WEAR RED. AND CONTINUE TO PROMOTE LIVING A DRUG-FREE LIFESTYLE. OUR THEME FOR THIS WEEK DOES THE SAME FOR IT . ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO LIVE DRUG-FREE LIVES AS IF THEY WERE THE STARS OF THEIR OWN MOVIES BY MAKING [b. Gullah Geechee Month] POSITIVE CHOICES AND SETTING A GREAT EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE WORK YOU DO. THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. NEXT PROCLAMATION. IT IS THE GULLAH GEECHEE MONTH PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS, THE GULLAH/GEECHEE PEOPLE ARE DESCENDANTS OF CAPTIVE AFRICANS FROM SEVERAL ETHNICITIES IN CENTRAL AND WEST AFRICA BROUGHT TO THE COASTAL AREAS OF FLORIDA; AND WHEREAS, FROM THEIR EXPERTISE IN MILITARY DEFENSE AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, SILVER CULTURE, IRRIGATION, AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY TO INCLUDE THEIR UNIQUE CREOLE LANGUAGE AND DELICIOUS SOUTHERN CUISINE TO THE CULTURAL CREATIVITY IN ARTS, CRAFTS, AND MUSIC, THE GULLAH/GEECHEE PEOPLE HAVE HAD A POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON OUR LIVES; AND WHEREAS, THE GULLAH GEECHEE CULTURAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR EXTENDS FROM PENDER COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA-ST. JOHNS COUNTY; AND WHEREAS, GOVERNORS FROM NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, GEORGIA, AND FLORIDA IN 2014 DESIGNATED OCTOBER TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF GULLAH/GEECHEE CULTURE, FACILITATING A DEEPER APPRECIATION FOR THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS IN FLORIDA AND THE NATION; AND WHEREAS, FREEDOM SEEKERS SUCH AS HAITIANS AND GULLAH GEECHEE, LARGELY DESCENDANTS OF ENSLAVED AFRICANS AND A NUMBER OF FREEMEN FROM SAINT-DOMINQUEZ, NOW KNOWN AS HAITI; FOUGHT ALONGSIDE THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARIES IN PENSACOLA, FLORIDA, AND THE SIEGE OF SAVANNAH. THEY WENT ON TO SERVE IN ST. AUGUSTINE DURING THE 1ST SPANISH PERIOD CREATING THEIR FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE; AND WHEREAS, THE TWO EMANCIPATED GROUPS INFLUENCED THE HAITIAN REVOLUTION WITH THEIR EXPERIENCE FIGHTING IN THE AMERICAN WAR, LINKING THE AFRICAN DESCENDANTS; AND WHEREAS, GULLAH GEECHEE DESCENDANTS SETTLED THE FIRST BLACK SETTLEMENT IN NORTH AMERICA KNOWN AS GRACIA REAL DE SANTA MOSE OR FORT MOSE IN 1738, THEY WOULD GO ON TO DEFEAT THE BRITISH IN 1740 ; AND WHEREAS, ZORA NEAL HURSTON, RESIDENT OF FORT PIERCE, WAS THE FIRST TO RECOGNIZE FORT MOSE IN 1927 WHEN SHE WAS SENT TO ST AUGUSTINE TO RESEARCH IT AND THE AFRICAN DESCENDANTS THAT EARNED THEIR FREEDOM IN SPANISH FLORIDA. NOW, THEREFORE, I, LINDA HUDSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 2024 AS: GULLAH/GEECHEE CULTURAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR MONTH IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE COUNTLESS CONTRIBUTIONS. >> I'M USUALLY NOT SPEECHLESS, BUT TRAGEDY HAPPENED THE OTHER DAY , WHERE THE PLANK GAVE WAY, AND A NUMBER OF DESCENDENTS KNOWN AS GULLAH GEECHEE LOST THEIR LIVES. AS A NATIVE OF CHICAGO -- AND I AM GOING TO POINT TO OUR ILLUSTRIOUS MAYOR, LINDA HUDSON, BECAUSE SHE WAS THERE IN CHICAGO POINT YOU LEARN A COUPLE OF THINGS. THE FIRST THING THAT YOU LEARNED ABOUT CHICAGO IS IT IS COLD. I DON'T MEAN 32 DEGREES. I MEAN LIKE -30 DEGREES. YOU LEARN HOW TO DRESS IN LAYERS. THE OTHER THING YOU LEARN IS THAT CHICAGO WAS FOUNDED BY A HAITIAN, NAMED JEAN BAPTISTE POINT DU SABLE. YOU ALSO LEARN IN CHICAGO THAT THERE WERE MANY FOLKS FROM POLAND , FOLKS FROM WARSAW. YOU LEARN ABOUT THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, AND HOW PLASTICKY HE SERVED IN THE AMERICAN [00:10:07] REVOLUTION. HE ALSO LEARN ABOUT THE BLACKS AND ITALIANS, TO INCLUDE MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER, WHO USED TO WORK FOR THE STEARNS FAMILY, I.E. BEAR STEARNS. I REMEMBER THEM WORKING WITH HER. THIS PLACE WAS DEFENDED BY NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T LOOK ANYTHING LIKE THOMAS JEFFERSON, GEORGE WASHINGTON, AND JAMES MADISON. SOMETIMES, WE FAIL TO REMEMBER THEM. ANOTHER GROUP OF AMERICANS WHO DEFENDED THIS EXCEPTIONAL PLACE KNOWN AS FLORIDA WERE GULLAH GEECHEE DESCENDENTS. THESE GULLAH GEECHEE DEFENDANTS -- DESCENDENTS WERE SOME OF THE IMMIGRANTS TO THE NEW WORLD. THEY FORMED MILITIAS. THEY SERVED AS SOME OF THE FIRST COMMUNITIES. LIKE THAT HAITIANS, THEY PROTECTED FLORIDA AGAINST THE BRITISH, WHICH IS REALLY UNIQUE ABOUT CROSS COUNTY AND CROSS-CULTURAL TOURISM WITH REFERENCE TO ST. AUGUSTIN -- AUGUSTINE, WHERE WE HOLD OUR GULLAH GEECHEE CULTURAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR IS THAT ST. AUGUSTINE AND FT. PIERCE, TO INCLUDE JUPITER, WERE INVOLVED IN THIS WORK, KNOWN AS THE SEMINOLE WAR, AND IT WAS GULLAH GEECHEES, AND NATIVE AMERICANS THAT SERVED IN THIS WAR. EVERY DAY, I HAVE THE PLEASURE TO WALK INTO THIS BUILDING, I THINK OF OUR CITY'S FOUNDER, FT. PIERCE. I THINK OF WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN. HE FORMED SPECIAL FIELD ORDER NUMBER 15, WHICH CONFISCATED 400 ACRES AND GAVE IT TO THE NEWLY FREED SLAVES TO CREATE WHAT IS KNOWN AS 40 ACRES AND A MEAL. WHY THAT POLICY ONLY LASTED A YEAR BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT AT THE TIME WAS SHOT AND KILLED. THE PROPERTY WAS GIVEN BACK TO THE CONFEDERATES. THERE ARE COMMUNITIES IN THIS STATE KNOWN AS FLORIDA KNOWN AS GULLAH GEECHEE TERRITORIES. INAUDIBLE ] THE IRONY IS THAT HERE IN FT. PIERCE, ZORA NEALE HURSTON, WHO WAS EXCEPTIONAL WITH REFERENCE TO HER STORIES, WROTE ABOUT IT IN 1927, PRIOR TO ACADEMICS -- PRIOR TO ACADEMICS WRITING ABOUT FT. JOSE. AND IT, TODAY, IS ONE OF 172 STATE PARKS. I THINK THIS WONDERFUL CITY OF FORT PIERCE DOES THIS WONDERFUL STAFF AND COMMISSION FOR THIS PROCLAMATION -- AND I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE COME AS I CLOSE, IN SILENCE, FOR THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES, CELEBRATING THIS RICH AND CULTURAL HERITAGE, WHICH I AM A DESCENDENT OF. MY PATERNAL GRANDMOTHER WAS WEST AFRICAN, AND I GREW UP WITH THESE STORIES IN ST. AUGUSTINE, AND I CAME UPON THIS STORY BECAUSE AS A KID, GROWING UP IN CHICAGO, LIVING IN MARYLAND, I NEVER SAW A STORY ABOUT MY GRANDMOTHER. THE ONLY THING I SAW WAS THAT THEY WERE SLAVES. WELL, IF THEY WERE JUST SLAVES, THEN WHY DID YOU NEED 14 MILLION OF US? YOU NEEDED 14 MILLION OF US BECAUSE WE WERE EXPERTS IN AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, IRRIGATION, AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY. SO WITH THAT, I WANT TO RAISE UP THE PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES, AND THE OTHER WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICANS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE MISSION TO CREATE THIS EXCEPTIONAL PLACE KNOWN AS AMERICA. THANK YOU, AND GOD BLESS YOU. >> I JUST WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU FOR THIS. AS YOU KNOW, I WAS AWAKE THIS AGAIN, IN DC, AND, ONE OF MY COLLEGE FRIENDS -- I GUESS THEY FOLLOW THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT THEY FOLLOW THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, AND THEY SAW THIS PROCLAMATION, AND SHE STOPPED ME -- AND SHE [00:15:01] LIVES IN CALIFORNIA, NO, SHE SAID, THE CITY OF FT. PIERCE HAS GIVEN THE PROCLAMATION. SHE ASKED ME. SHE SAID, IS IT A PROCLAMATION? DO YOU GUYS HAVE A FESTIVAL? DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY OTHER KINDS OF CELEBRATIONS? SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT, AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU HER THANK YOU, BUT IT IS SOMETHING, BASED ON WHAT YOU JUST SAID, YOUR HISTORY, THIS IS A RICH HISTORY, AND THE PROCLAMATION IS A START, BUT FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, AS I ALWAYS SAID, YOU KNOW, LEAD TO HAVE A LARGE HAITIAN-AMERICA N, YOU KNOW, POPULATION IN THE CITY. IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING. AND SEE IF WE CAN BUILD UPON IT, BECAUSE IT IS A RICH HISTORY. AND I KNOW, MADAME MAYOR, YOU ARE A HISTORY BUFF, LIKE I AM. MOST OF THE STUFF, DEREK, HE SAID, I READ, SO I KNOW WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM. THIS IS A GREAT THING. I LOVE IT, AND I WOULD LOVE TO GROW IN IT BECAUSE IT SHOWS THE MINDSET OF THE FIVE OF US UP HERE, BECAUSE IF YOU GET OUT OF THIS ROOM, AMERICA IS ONE SIDE, ONE SIDE. THAT IS JUST HOW IT IS. BUT WHEN WE COME IN HERE, IT SHOWS US THAT WE ALL DON'T AGREE ON EVERYTHING, BUT WHEN WE INHERE TOGETHER, WE ARE ONE FORT PIERCE, AND IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LISTEN TO SOMETHING TO BRING OTHER PEOPLE TO FORT PIERCE, TO SAY, THIS IS OUR MINDSET, ESPECIALLY NOW, BASED ON THE HISTORY THAT, YOU KNOW, DEREK JUST TALKED ABOUT, WHERE THEY PLAYED A ROLE IN THIS. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE SITTING IN HIS ROOM, OR A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT IS LISTENING, THEY KNOW ABOUT THE FORT PIERCE PART OF IT. I KNOW ABOUT IT BECAUSE I'M A HISTORY BUFF. I KNOW ABOUT IT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU. >> TWO THINGS. NUMBER ONE, THE ILLUSTRIOUS CITY OF FORT PIERCE DOES HAVE ON ITS WEBSITE THE 2024 11TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL THAT I SPOKE OF TO INCLUDE. THIS EXCELLENT CITY, THE FORMER MAYOR, A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, ALLOWED ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW -- HE HELPED GET A FILM THAT I WROTE THE SCRIPT, DIRECTED, PRODUCED, SERVED AS NARRATOR AND WAS ONE OF TWO EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS. HE HELPED ME GET THAT FILM ON THREE LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS, AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS TO ME, I WILL TAKE 20 SECONDS AND TELL YOU. MY GRANDMOTHER, MY GULLAH GEECHEE GRANDMOTHER, WHO, I WAS THE ONLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO GET HER TO LEFT BECAUSE OF SUCH A CART -- I WAS SUCH A HAM. SHE SAID, GRANDSON, YOU ARE SUCH A HAM, I SWEAR, YOU SHOULD BE AN ACTOR. AS A LITTLE BOY, AS FAR BACK AS I CAN REMEMBER, I CARRIED THAT DREAM WITH ME UNTIL I WAS ABOUT 30 OR 40, AND I HAD THE RESOURCES TO DO WHAT I DID, AND THAT WAS RIGHT THE SCRIPT, PRODUCE, DIRECT, AND HONOR MY GRANDMOTHER BECAUSE OF WHAT SHE SAID TO ME. TO ME, IT WAS ACTUALLY POSITIVE. I DIDN'T GO TO USC OR FSU FILM SCHOOL, BUT IT WAS THE WORDS THAT MY GRANDMOTHER SPOKE TO ME, AND BEFORE MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY, EIGHT YEARS AGO, SHE TOLD ME TWO THINGS. NUMBER ONE, DON'T EVER SELL HER FAMILY FARM PROPERTY IN TENNESSEE, AND ALWAYS STICK WITH GULLAH GEECHEE. SO WE ALL DO WHAT OUR MOTHERS TELL US TODAY. >> YOU GOT THAT RIGHT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU [c. Government Week] VERY, VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. >> NEXT ITEM IS THE GOVERNMENT WEEK PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS, CITY GOVERNMENT IS THE GOVERNMENT CLOSEST TO MOST CITIZENS AND THE ONE WITH THE MOST DIRECT DAILY IMPACT UPON ITS RESIDENTS; AND WHEREAS, MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT PROVIDES SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS, MAKING THEIR CITY THEIR HOME; AND WHEREAS, CITY GOVERNMENT IS ADMINISTERED FOR AND BY ITS CITIZENS AND IS DEPENDENT UPON PUBLIC COMMITMENT TO AND UNDERSTANDING OF ITS MANY RESPONSIBILITIES; AND WHEREAS, CITY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PASS ALONG THE UNDERSTANDING OF PUBLIC SERVICES AND THEIR BENEFITS; AND WHEREAS, FLORIDA CITY GOVERNMENT WEEK OFFERS AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CITY STAFF TO SPREAD THE WORD TO ALL CITIZENS OF FLORIDA THAT THEY CAN SHAPE AND INFLUENCE THIS BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT; AND WHEREAS, THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES AND ITS MEMBER CITIES HAVE JOINED TOGETHER TO TEACH CITIZENS ABOUT MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES. NOW, THEREFORE, I, LINDA HUDSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER 21 TO [00:20:08] 27, 2024 AS: FLORIDA CITY GOVERNMENT WEEK IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS, CITY OFFICIALS, AND EMPLOYEES TO PARTICIPATE IN EVENTS THAT RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE OUR MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT. >> CONGRATULATIONS TO US. >> THANK YOU, MADAME MAYOR. AND COMMISSION. WE HAVE SEVERAL ACTIVITIES THAT ARE BEING THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN PLANNED FOR THIS WEEK, AND THROUGH THE END OF THE MONTH, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE OUR CITIZENS, AS WELL AS OUR VISITORS TO SHARE WITH US AND CELEBRATE FLORIDA CITY GOVERNMENT WEEK. THE FIRST EVENT IS GOING TO BE TOMORROW -- OR ACTIVITY. AND WE ARE BRINGING BACK THE SELFIE DAY. TOMORROW IS HASHTAG LOVE THE FT. SELFIE DAY. WE ARE ASKING OUR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO FIND A CITY LANDMARK OR YOUR FAVORITE PLACE IN FT. PIERCE COME AND TAKE A SELFIE. WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH, HASHTAG, LOVE THE FT., AND HASHTAG ONE FT. PIERCE. AND TOMORROW BETWEEN 1:00 AND 3:00, WE WILL HAVE A SELFIE STATION OUTSIDE THE CITY HALL, AND WE ARE ASKING RESIDENTS TO COME, AND YOU CAN TAKE A SELFIE WITH MAYOR LINDA HUDSON, IF YOU LIKE. >> FOR FREE. >> FOR FREE. AND ON OCTOBER 23RD AND 24TH, WE HAVE THE GHOST WALK OF HISTORIC FORT PIERCE. IN COLLABORATION WITH MAIN STREET FT. PIERCE, THE ANNUAL GHOST WALK WILL TAKE VISITORS ON A JOURNEY TO EXPLORE THE LIVES OF EARLY PIONEERS. JOIN MAYOR HUDSON FOR THIS FUN AND EDUCATIONAL EVENING. AND THEN, ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25TH, A TEAM OF ABOUT 25 CITY EMPLOYEES WILL JOIN THE MAYOR TO PARTICIPATE AND PACK THE HOUSE. THIS IS AN ANNUAL EVENT SPONSORED BY TREASURE COAST FOOD BANK, WHERE VOLUNTEERS COME IN AND THEY HELP PACK 15,000 BOXES FOR THE HOLIDAY, THAT WILL BE DISTRIBUTED, EITHER AT THANKSGIVING OR AT CHRISTMAS, AND SO, WE HAVE OUR TEAM. THEY ARE READY, AND WE ARE READY TO GO. AND THEN, ON OCTOBER 31ST, WE HAVE TWO TRICK-OR-TREATING EVIDENCE .1 IS A TRICK-OR-TREAT ON SECOND STREET, WHICH IS FROM 5:00 TO 7:00. AND IN THE FT. PIERCE POLICE THE PERMIT WILL DO THEIR ANNUAL TRUNK OR TREAT ON OCTOBER 31ST, AS WELL, FROM 5:00 P.M. TO 8:00 P.M. IT IS GOING TO BE LOCATED AT THE MAIN STATION, WHICH IS AT 920 SOUTH U.S. HIGHWAY 1. SO, FAMILIES,, AND ENJOYED THE EVENING. >> THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT WITH US. AND WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WATCHING. THANK YOU. [8. ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO AGENDA AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA] >> THE NEXT ITEM IS THE ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA POINT >> I MOVED TO SET THE AGENDA. >> SECOND. >> THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES. >> YES MA'AM. [11. CONSENT AGENDA] >> MAYOR HUDSON. >> YES MA'AM. >> THE NEXT ITEM IS THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> I HAD TO PULL IT. I JUST WANT TO MENTION, AGAIN. 11J. I'M SORRY. YEAH. 11J POINT WHERE, AGAIN, THE CITY IS AWARDING GRANTS TO SMALL BUSINESSES INSIDE THE CITY OF FT. PIERCE. YOU CAN'T GET THE GRANT IF YOU DON'T APPLY. SO THE GRANTS DEPARTMENT WANTS YOU TO APPLY POINT THEY WILL WALK YOU THROUGH EVERYTHING. I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE GRANTS DEPARTMENT FOR DOING A GREAT JOB AND WE ARE GIVING THREE SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS NOT TO EXCEED $5000 TO THREE SMALL BUSINESSES INSIDE THE CITY OF FT. PIERCE. >> I WANT TO PULL ITEMS G AND H. >> ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE? HOW ABOUT A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REST OF THE AGENDA? >> SO MOVED TO APPROVE THE REST OF THE AGENDA. >> THERE'S A MOTION AT A SECOND. CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. >> YES MA'AM. [g. Approval to renew the current Flock Safety for Automatic License Plate Readers for five years in the amount of $81,500.00 annually, for a total cost not to exceed $407,500.00.] [h. Approval of the Flock Safety agreement that will expand services with a first-year cost of $409,350.00 and years two through five costs of $354,100.00, for a total not to exceed $1,825,750.00.] >> COMMISSIONER GAINES. >> YES MA'AM. >> COMMISSIONER C. JOHNSON. >> YES MA'AM. >> COMMISSIONER J. JOHNSON. >> YES MA'AM. >> MAYOR HUDSON. >> YES MA'AM. . >> THE NEXT ITEM IS G. APPROVAL TO RENEW THE CURRENT FLOCK SAFETY FOR AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READERS FOR FIVE YEARS IN THE AMOUNT OF $81,500.00 ANNUALLY, FOR A TOTAL COST NOT TO EXCEED $407,500.00. >> WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT INVESTMENT INTO SAFETY FOR OUR [00:25:07] COMMUNITY FOR SOME TIME. WE HAVE HAD CITIZENS HERE WE MADE THIS APPEAL TO THEM THAT WE HAVE LISTENED TO THEIR CONCERNS, PARTICULARLY, WE HAD SOME SPORADIC CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN OUR CITY. AND I KNOW RECENTLY, SOME OF THE SUCCESS IN US BEING ABLE TO IDENTIFY AND BEGIN TO CAPTURE SOME OF THE INCIDENTS IN OUR CITY HAS BEEN BECAUSE OF THIS POINT WITHOUT DIVULGING MUCH, I WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR YOU, CAPTAIN, TO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WITH THIS INVESTMENT MEANS, AND WHAT ARE THE LARGER POINTS THAT WILL COME AS A RESULT OF THIS TYPE OF INVESTMENT WITH THIS TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY. >> SO THE INITIAL ONE THAT YOU ARE ON RIGHT NOW, IS OUR CURRENT LICENSE PLATE READER SYSTEM. THAT SYSTEM HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR TWO YEARS. WE HAVE HAD REALLY GOOD SUCCESS WITH IT. THE COMPANY HAS BEEN GOOD TO WORK WITH, WITH US. WHAT THAT DOES IS IT ALLOWS US TO APPROACH THINGS IN A MORE PROACTIVE MANNER. WE HAVE HAD INCIDENTS WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY PUT DATA IN THERE IF WE GET A SUSPECT VEHICLE, OR WE HAVE CRIME VEHICLES THAT ARE ENTERING OUR CITY. WE CAN ADDRESS THEM BEFORE INCIDENTS OCCUR. WE HAD A VERY NOTABLE SUCCESS WITH IT LAST FALL. OUR DETECTIVES POST ANOTHER SHOOTING OF THAT. THEY GOT INFORMATION THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A RETALIATION. THEY GOT A GOOD DESCRIPTION OF A VEHICLE AND A LICENSE TAG OF THE INDIVIDUAL THAT WAS COMING INTO OUR COMMUNITY. TO COMMIT AN ACT OF VIOLENCE. THAT VEHICLE WAS IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE FLOCK SYSTEM. OUR DETECTIVES WERE ABLE TO STOP IT. THEY FOUND THE INDIVIDUAL IN THE VEHICLE. HE WAS A CONVICTED FELON IN POSSESSION OF AN ILLEGAL FIREARM. >> IT IS THAT KIND OF TECHNOLOGY -- AND HELP ME UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE WHAT I HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY -- AND REASON FOR INVESTMENT IS THAT SOME OF OUR CITIZENS ARE INTIMIDATED TO COME FORTH, BUT IT APPEARS TO ME THAT AT THE SCENARIO YOU JUST DESCRIBED, IT WAS NOT AS INTRUSIVE INTO A PERSON'S LIFE. THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO GO BEFORE A JURY OR WITNESS. THEY GAVE INFORMATION THAT HELPED THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TO IDENTIFY THE CORPORATE THAT WAS TO PREVENT SOMETHING FROM HAPPENING. AM I ON THE RIGHT PATH WITH THIS? >> YOU ARE DEAD ON. >> I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE GOVERNMENT -- PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND. SOMETHING AS SMALL AS COLOR OF THE CAR, PARTIAL PLATE OR INAUDIBLE ] OF THE PLATE WILL HELP US BUT THAT INFORMATION OUT SO IF IT COMES INTO OUR SYSTEM COME INTO OUR SPHERE COME INTO OUR CITY, THEN OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE ARE ALERTED TO THAT AND IT ALLOWS FOR US TO PROACTIVELY BEGIN TO TAKE ON THIS SUBJECT. >> YES SIR. >> ARE THERE ANY OTHER CAPACITIES OF THIS SYSTEM THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE THAT ALLOWS FOR US TO BE PROACTIVE IN CRIME PREVENTION? >> SO ONE OF THE THINGS IS -- IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO PUT OUR INFORMATION IN THERE, BUT IT ALSO ALLOWS OTHER AGENCIES -- SO WE HAVE A PARTNER AGENCY THAT HAS A SUSPECT VEHICLE COMING INTO OUR COMMUNITY, IT WILL ALERT US AS THEY COME THROUGH THE SYSTEM. IF THEY PASS A CAMERA, IT WILL SEND AN ALERT TO US. IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO DETECT INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY HAVE STOLEN VEHICLES. THEY MAY BE A WANTED FELON AT OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION OR OUT OF OUR JURISDICTION. IT ALLOWS US TO ADDRESS THEM IN A MORE PROACTIVE MANNER. >> ANY OTHER SYSTEM THAT FLOCK GIVES US THE SITES LICENSE PLATE READERS, ET CETERA, ANY OTHER ENHANCEMENT, SHOOTING ACTIVITIES THAT ARE IN CERTAIN AREAS? THIS. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR. IT IS GOING TO BE JUST OVER A MILE AND A HALF AREA THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PUT GUNSHOT DETECTION SYSTEMS IN. THOSE SYSTEMS USE A LOT MORE SENSORS. THEY ALSO USE AN ADVANCED SYSTEM WITH A.I. TO ACTUALLY DETERMINE WHETHER IT WAS A TRUE GUNSHOT, WHAT TYPE, WHAT IT WAS, AND IT GIVES US A LOCATION TO GO TO IMMEDIATELY, WHICH IS WITHIN THE 90 FOOT DIAMETER RADIUS. IT GIVES US A PRETTY GOOD, PRECISE LOCATION ON TOP OF THAT. THAT, IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR LICENSE LATE CRATERS AND THE EXPANSION OF OUR LICENSE PLATE READERS, THE ADDITION OF OUR CAMERAS, IT [00:30:06] WILL PUT THE CAMERAS IN THE DIRECTION OF THAT IDENTIFIED GUNSHOT. SO WE HAVE A GREATER CHANCE OF BEING ABLE TO PICK UP SUSPECTS AS THEY ARE LEAVING. THAT IS GREAT INFORMATION, BUT IF WE ARE NOT GETTING IT TO THE OFFICERS, IT IS NOT ACTIONABLE. THIS LETS US PUT THAT DIRECTLY ON THE MOBILE TERMINALS AND ON MOBILE DEVICES. >> I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THIS. THE REASON I PULL THIS IS I WANTED THE PUBLIC TO HEAR THIS, RIGHT, BECAUSE, THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE FROM THE PUBLIC THAT COME WITH INFORMATION, AND I KNOW THAT THE CHIEF AND THE BUREAU -- YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE MOST MODERN, EFFICIENT WAY. BUT RIGHT NOW, WITH THIS EXPANSION OF NOT TO EXCEED 1.8 MILLION, WE ARE GETTING MILE OF COVERAGE RIGHT NOW. I ASSUME IF WE PUT IN, WE WILL GET MORE EXPANDED COVERAGE OF THIS TECHNOLOGY. NOW, WHAT IS THE PLAN WITH THIS? >> GUNSHOT DETECTION RIGHT NOW IS GOING TO BE UP MILE AND A HALF OF COVERAGE AREA. >> OKAY. >> BUT THAT WILL -- THE CAMERAS AND THAT LICENSE PLATE READERS EXCEED THAT AREA BECAUSE CRIME DOES NOT JUST OCCUR IN THAT AREA. WE NEED THE INFORMATION AND DATA COMING IN AND LEAVING POINT IT WORKS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THOSE SENSORS. >> THAT HELPS ME BECAUSE WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE BOUNDARY OF FT. PIERCE, IT IS ONLY ABOUT 12 SQUARE MILES. WAS IT 29? OKAY. DOUBLE THAT. I THINK IF WE ARE STARTING HERE, IT GIVES US A GREAT WAY OF MAKING A GREAT INVESTMENT INTO THE LIVES OF OUR CITIZENS HERE IN TREMONT AND ADDRESSING SOME OF THE CONCERNS WE'VE HELD IN THE LAST 2 TO 3 MONTHS. I WANT TO PULL THIS BECAUSE THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT MAKING COMMITMENTS OF SAFETY AND USING TECHNOLOGY TO HELP US WITH THIS. AND FIGHTING -- FINDING MODERN, EFFICIENT WAYS OF DOING THIS THANK YOU. >> YES SIR. >> IT GOES MORE THAN THAT, COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. THANK YOU, SIR. IT ALSO SHOWS THE PUBLIC THAT WHEN THEY COME IN AND WE HEAR THEIR STORIES, AND WE HEAR THEIR CONCERNS, THAT IT DOES NOT FALL ON DEAF EARS. YOU KNOW, THIS IS OUR CITY, TOO, AND WE WANT IT SAFE FOR EVERYBODY, SO, I'M GLAD WE ARE STARTING OFF WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH THIS, AND WE CAN SEE HOW THIS TURNS OUT, AND IF NEED BE, SPREAD IT OUT AS FAR AS WE HAVE TO. HOPEFULLY THIS ONE-MILE WILL DETER -- BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY ARE IN FORT PIERCE. THEY KNOW THE CARS WILL BE READ. I WANT EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE HEARD YOUR CONCERNS. WE HAVE HEARD YOU, AND WE ARE ACTING ON IT TO MAKE FORT PIERCE A SAFER PLACE. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> COMMISSIONER BRODRIC. >> THIS PROPOSAL IS BASICALLY A THREE-YEAR PROGRAM. >> FIVE YEARS. >> IS THERE AN EXTRA ABLATION FURTHER THAN THAT AS FAR AS EXPENSE? OR IS IT TOO FAR OUT? >> I'M GOING TO REQUEST FROM YOU -- I DON'T BELIEVE THIS WAS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S REQUEST WE SUBMITTED FOR FUNDING. I WOULD LIKE TO GET THE DETAILS OF THIS WITH YOUR EXTRAPOLATIONS AS FAR AS THEY GO. WE WANT TO GET THIS EXPENSE COVERED. AS A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION, WHERE ARE THE FUNDS COMING FROM? IS THIS COMING OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND? >> IT WILL COME OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND. >> OKAY POINT >> OUR CAPITAL FUND. IT IS SPREAD OUT OVER FIVE YEARS. IT IS NOT THE ONE POINT IT ALL IN ONE SHOT. >> GOT IT. >> GET ME YOUR EXTRAPOLATIONS OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO STEP UP. >> OVER THAT FIVE-YEAR P? >> GIVE ME EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT. EVERYTHING YOU HAVE COME I WANT. >> I THAT IS -- THAT IS WHAT WE HAD. >> I THINK THAT WILL BE HELPFUL. >> I THINK SO, TOO. >> TO DIAL IN ON THIS ONE POINT BECAUSE THAT WAS A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. >> GREAT. >> THANK YOU, CAPTAIN, VERY MUCH, FOR BEING HERE AND HELPING US UNDERSTAND THIS TECHNOLOGY. IT SOUNDS LIKE A TOOL THAT WILL BE REALLY, REALLY GREAT FOR SOME GREAT OFFICERS TO WORK WITH. [00:35:02] >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> I MADE FOR APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS G AND H . >> LET'S JUST DO G FIRST AND THEN SHE WILL READ IT. >> I SECOND G. CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. >> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK. >> YES MA'AM. TRENNI >> YES MA'AM. >> COMMISSIONER C. JOHNSON. >> YES MA'AM. >> COMMISSIONER J. JOHNSON. >> YES MA'AM. >> MAYOR HUDSON. >> YES MA'AM. >> GO AHEAD. >> I MOVE FOR APPROVAL. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. [a. Legislative Hearing - Ordinance 24-041 - Impact Fee Moratorium within Urban Infill and Redevelopment Area. FIRST READING.] CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. >> COMMISSIONER J. JOHNSON. >> YES MA'AM. >> MAYOR HUDSON. >> YES MA'AM. >> ORDINANCE NUMBER 24. >> SHE IS GOING TO GIVE US A REPORT ON THE MORATORIUM. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MADAME MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION. IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS LOADING UP NOW. MAYBE. THERE WE GO. >> WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING. >> THEY ARE BOTH ON. >> NOW WE DO. >> OKAY. META MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION, I THINK THIS IS THE SIXTH TIME -- I WAS CALCULATING HOW MANY ORDINANCES WE DID FOR THIS IMPACT THE MORATORIUM FOR THE URBAN INFILL AND REDEVELOPMENT AREA. WE ARE BACK AGAIN. I HAVE GOOD NEWS THIS TIME POINT I WANT TO RECAP WHERE WE HAVE BEEN. THE FIRST 12 MONTH MORATORIUM RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED BACK IN MARCH OF 2020. THERE HAS BEEN KIND OF A STEADY BUT SLOW UPTAKE IN NEW CONSTRUCTION OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. OR FOUR YEARS, I GUESS .5 RESOLUTIONS POINT ONE TIME WE DATED FOR SIX MONTHS. ULTIMATELY, THE PREMISE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS URBAN INFILL REDEVELOPMENT AREA IS HISTORIC. MOST OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS THERE. THE ACTUAL NECESSITY OF HAVING IMPACT FEES MAY NOT BE AS GREAT AS IT WOULD BE IN THE WESTERN CORRIDOR, WHERE YOU ARE BUILDING NEW ROADS AND WE HAVE A GREATER IMPACT. WE HAVE THIS MORATORIUM JUST ON THE FPRA AREA. WE LOOK AT THE CONSTRUCTION AND THE COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS BETWEEN FPRA AND THE REST OF THE CITY, AND IT IS JUST LIMITED. YOU KNOW, AS YOU DRIVE AROUND, YOU SEE ALL OF THESE NEW HOUSING PROJECTS AND NEW CONSTRUCTION HAPPENING OUTSIDE OF THE CRA. BUT THIS IS AN INCENTIVE THAT WE ADD TO THE TOOLKIT TO OFFER ANYONE WHO IS LOOKING TO CONSTRUCT AND -- NEW CONSTRUCTION -- WHETHER IT IS RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL. SO I WANT TO SHOW YOU AN UPDATE ON OUR BUILDING PERMIT ACTIVITIES. THIS IS JUST A SNAPSHOT FROM THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT. THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING. THROUGHOUT, THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE CITY. IF YOU LOOK AT THAT SHADED BLACK AREA, THAT IS OUR CRA POINT LOOK AT HOW MANY YELLOW ICONS ARE THERE. THIS IS MORE THAN EVER BEFORE. THIS IS 31 NEW CONSTRUCTION BUILDING PERMITS THAT HAVE HAPPENED. WE HAVE SOME ON THE BEACH. A TON IN LINCOLN PARK AND EVEN OUT WEST. WE HAVE SEEN -- I THINK IT WAS 15 POINT 106% INCREASE IN NEW CONSTRUCTION BUILDING PERMIT ACTIVITY. THIS IS EXCITING NEWS. YOU KNOW, IT HAS KIND OF BEEN -- THIS MORATORIUM -- YOU CAN GO ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. IS IT REALLY HELPING OR IS IT HURTING US IN ANY WAY? I THINK THIS IS REALLY GOOD NEWS. AND I HAVE SOME PICTURES. I DROVE AROUND BECAUSE IT IS AT THE BUILDING PERMIT APPROVAL PROCESS THAT YOU GET THIS, BUT HAVING ACTUALLY BUILT IT. SO I DROVE AROUND, AND LOOK AT ALL THE NEW CONSTRUCTION. WE HAVE SOME DUPLEXES. WE HAVE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES. THIS IS ALL HAPPENING WITHIN OUR CRA [00:40:03] OVER THE LAST YEAR. THIS IS EXCITING NEWS. STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT WE APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE. THIS IS THE FIRST READING. IT WILL COME BACK TO YOU AGAIN, BUT WE ARE LOOKING TO DO THIS FOR 12 MORE MONTHS TO ADD THIS TO OUR TOOLKIT. ANY QUESTIONS? >> COMMISSIONER BRODRIC. >> I THINK THIS IS AN OUTSTANDING PROGRAM. I WISH WE COULD GET THE COUNTY ON BOARD, TOO. >> I COMPLETELY AGREE. BUT THAT IS OUT OF CONTROL -- OUR CONTROL, AT LEAST CURRENTLY. >> YES SIR POINT >> >> JUST SIT THERE. >> LET ME CLARIFY THAT RIGHT NOW. >> NO CHANCE. >> I'M LAUGHING . NOT AT YOUR SUGGESTION, COMMISSIONER BRODERICK. EVERY MEETING, THIS AGENDA GETS BIGGER AND BIGGER. WE ARE GOING TO BE THERE TOO, THREE DAYS. WE ARE MEETING WITH THE COUNTY, WHICH IS FINE, BUT I AGREE. THIS IS A GREAT SUCCESS TO GET 31 NEW PERMITS. AND IF THE COUNTY GAVE US ANY TYPE OF LEEWAY, WE WOULD PROBABLY DOUBLE THAT NUMBER. DOUBLE THAT NUMBER AND GET TO WHAT OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS. BUT MY ONE QUESTION -- I REMEMBER -- LAST MONTH OR TWO MONTHS AGO, DIRECTOR FREEMAN CAME IN WITH THE NEW SIZES AND ALL THAT STUFF. YOU KNOW. ME AND YOU KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS. BUT TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THINKING ABOUT NOW, WITH THESE LITTLE SMALL LOTS, THEY COME IN, IN THIS AREA, AND THEY WANT TO PUT SOMETHING ON THOSE SMALL LOTS, THIS CAN HELP THEM DO THAT. INAUDIBLE ] WE KNOW THIS, BUT THAT IS WHY WE PUT IT IN PLACE. THAT IS WHY THIS IS IN PLACE. WE ARE TRYING TO HELP YOU HELP US IN THIS AREA, BY BUILDING HOMES, AND I LOVE YOUR PICTURES BECAUSE I ACTUALLY KNOW SOME OF THE HOUSES. >> AREN'T THEY GREAT? >> LOOK AT THIS ONE. ISN'T IT BEAUTIFUL? IN THE MIDDLE. >> YEAH. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES, MADAM CHAIR , YOU ARE RIGHT ON. THAT IS WHY I PUT THIS, TO ADD TO OUR TOOLKIT BECAUSE THIS IS ONLY ONE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE, AND THAT ZONING AND ALL THESE DIFFERENT INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE, AND GRANDSON WHATEVER WE HAVE GOING ON, THIS IS JUST ONE PIECE OF THAT PUZZLE, AND I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT ON, THAT WE ARE GOING TO -- I THINK NEXT YEAR, AND IF WE CAN GET THE COUNTY ON BOARD WITH SOMETHING, MAYBE A REDUCTION OF SOME SORT, WE COULD REALLY SEE SOME SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS. >> THANK YOU POINT >> COMMISSIONER GAINES COME OUT, THAT IN THE REAL ESTATE COMPANY, THIS IS MORE WIDELY KNOWN. YOU WILL SEE THIS ESCALATE. GLAD TO HEAR THAT. BUT ONE THING I'VE BEEN HARPING ON THOSE WE PUT IT ON THE WEBSITE. WE PUT IT IN THE AGENDA, BUT THEN IT DOESN'T GO PAST -- FOR SOME REASON, DOESN'T GO PAST THESE DOORS. >> >> THAT'S FINE. >> IT IS GOING TO BE FED UPON. THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. I COMMENTED A YEAR AGO THAT THERE WAS AN UPTICK IN PRICE ESCALATION IN THESE UNDERSIZED LOTS THAT WERE CONSIDERED ON BUILDABLE AT THE TIME BECAUSE WE WERE HAVING THE DISCUSSION ABOUT FIXING THAT. THE SPECULATORS COME IN AND START TO BUY TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS. THE ENTIRE PROCESS IS WORKING AS IT SHOULD. >> THANK YOU. >> THE BUILDERS KNOW IT. THE BUILDERS TALK. IF THE BUILDERS KNOW IT, THE BUILDERS ALSO PUT PRESSURE AND ADVOCATE WITH THE COUNTY TO REDUCE -- TOO, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE BUILDERS ASSOCIATION IS AWARE OF THIS, TOO. >> AND I WAS GOING TO SAY, THEY HAVE BEEN A GREAT PARTNER WITH THIS PROGRAM, TOO. IF YOU LOOK AT THE DATE OF WHEN WE STARTED, YOU KNOW, WE ACTUALLY STARTED PRE-COVID. >> MARCH OF 2020. >> IT WAS A PROGRAM THAT WAS TAKING A CHANCE AND TAKING ON OPPORTUNITY. IT HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL. I THINK AT SOME POINT, THERE WILL BE A CHANCE TO SAY, WE NEED TO STOP, BUT I THINK WE ARE FAR FROM THAT AT THIS POINT. THERE WILL BE A TIPPING POINT WHERE WE HAVE TO REEVALUATE. PUBLIC WORKS AND ENGINEERING SIDE, WE THINK ABOUT THE PROPERTIES THAT NEED TO -- THAT ARE GOING TO BE DEVELOPED AND THE AVERAGE THAT MIGHT NEED IMPROVEMENT, WHERE THESE IMPACT FEES MIGHT HELP LATER ON, OR WITH THE EXPANSION OF ROADWAYS, STREETS, DRAINAGE, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE. SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A TIME WHEN THAT HAPPENS. IT'S NOT NOW. BUT WHAT I WAS GOING TO ALSO SUGGEST ANNE STATE -- SO IN THE COUNTY [00:45:02] CONSERVATION -- CONVERSATION -- I'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION ALL EIGHT YEARS. IT WAS SPECIFIC TO THIS. IN 2020, WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. THE CONVERSATION ALWAYS GOES AROUND THAT TALKS ABOUT THE CRA SPECIFICALLY AND THE FUNDS THAT DO NOT GO TO THE COUNTY, BUT THEY STATE WITHIN THE CRA, SO THE COUNTY IS LOOKING FOR -- AND I'M NOT GIVING THEM ANY AMMUNITION. THEY HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS MANY TIMES. HOW WE SHOULD BE CONTRIBUTING WITHIN THE CRA TO SUPPLEMENT SOME OF THE IMPACT FEES THAT THE COUNTY CHARGES BECAUSE THEY ARE ALREADY NOT GETTING THAT TAX REVENUE. I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT BECAUSE THAT HAS BEEN A REAL CONVERSATION. THAT'S RIGHT. >> IF I MAY COME ON THE TOPIC REALLY QUICK, WE ARE WORKING ON AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT. ONE OF SEVERAL. THERE WAS THE CRE PARTNERSHIP. WE ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO PARTNER WITH THE COUNTY FOR PROJECTS IN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA. OUR ARGUMENT IS, WE ARE ACTUALLY MOVING FORWARD WITH SOME OF THESE PROJECTS. >> I'M SO GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP THOSE SPECIFIC PROJECTS BECAUSE WE HAVE ADDED FUNDING TO THOSE SPECIFIC PROJECTS, AND WE ARE EXPANDING THAT THROUGH THESE CONVERSATIONS. WHAT I ALSO WANTED TO STATE IS PROBABLY AT SOME POINT, WE SHOULD CREATE THE SPREADSHEET, THE CHICK THE TEENAGERS, BECAUSE WE REDUCED OUR IMPACT FEES, NOW, WE ARE, YOU KNOW, REDEVELOPING OR DEVELOPING PROPERTIES WITHIN THE CRA AND IN THE RETURN NOT ONLY BACK TO THE CITY, BUT TO THE COUNTY, WITH TAX REVENUE, RIGHT. AND SO, WE NEED TO SEE THAT ROI, THAT FINANCIAL ANALYSIS, SO WE CAN CLAIM IT, YELL IT LOUD AND PROUD FROM THE ROOFTOPS AND SAY, THIS IS HOW MUCH INVESTMENT WE'VE CREATED THROUGH OUR PROGRAM. IF WE CAN CREATE THAT AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, THEN GET WITH OUR FINANCE FOLKS, AND LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN PUT TOGETHER. THAT IS ANOTHER STRONG ARGUMENT AND ANOTHER SHOWN CONVERSATION. >> THEY HAVE THE CITY AND THE COUNTY. ONCE WE MEASURE THE IMPACT HERE, I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE COMMUNICATED. I WANT TO HAVE US CONSIDER SOMETHING HERE. BEAUTIFUL HOMES. SOME GREAT INVESTMENTS. IN THE URBAN CORE. THAT IS GOING TO HELP PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN IN THESE AREAS ON TIME WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION AND NEW HOUSES POINT THE VALUE OF THE HOUSES WILL HOPEFULLY BEGIN TO APPRECIATE AS A RESULT OF SOME OF THIS. AND MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT LATER, WHEN WE HAVE OUR MEETING, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF VACANT PARCELS STILL. AND I KNOW WE ARE KIND OF GOING BACK AND FORTH. HERE IS MY CONCERN. THESE HOUSES COME IN MARKET RATE WAGES ARE STILL RELATIVELY LOW COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE TREASURE COAST. I WANT US TO TAKE A LOOK AT BRINGING FORTH SOME MARKET RACE -- RATE HOUSING, BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE RETAIN AND GROW HOMEOWNERSHIP WITH PEOPLE HERE THAT WILL WORK HERE. AND ARE NOT MAKING HIGHER WAGES. WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT, AND PARTICULARLY, AS WE GROW OUR ECONOMY, AS WE GET MORE HIGHER WAGE JOBS WITH PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE STILL NOT MAKING THAT MONEY, AND WE WANT THEM TO GET INTO HOMEOWNERSHIP, AS OPPOSED TO RENT, WHICH IS ESCALATING, ET CETERA. UNDERSTANDING WHEN THAT ZONE CHANGES -- I THINK IT IS OUR WAY OF LOOKING AT EVEN BUT I'M GOING TO CALL AFFORDABLE MARKET RATE HOUSES FOR PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF FT. PIERCE WITH PARCELS THAT WE OWN BECAUSE WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING FOR THAT TO KEEP IT HERE . AS YOU ALL KNOW, SOME OF THESE PARCELS WE HAVE ARE IN, YOU KNOW, TIGHT, CHALLENGING AREAS. MAYBE AREAS THAT WE NEED TO BRING HOMEOWNERSHIP. THAT WILL HELP US FURTHER REDUCE AND SUPPRESS CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, AND SO I THINK IT IS THREE OR FOUR BIRDS WITH ONE STONE. >> I MIGHT BE CROSSING OVER FPRA AND CITY, BUT DIDN'T WE HAVE A PROJECT -- DIDN'T WE AGREE TO SOME TYPE OF -- WE HAD THE CITY PLANNED -- LAND. >> [00:50:01] >> RFQ. >> IT WILL BE IN ANOTHER MEETING. >> IT IS COMING. >> I THOUGHT WE AGREED TO PUT ONE OUT THERE TO SEE HOW IT WORKS POINT >> IT WILL BE INTERESTING TEST CASE. THAT IS FOR SURE. >> THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING. >> I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE A MOTION? >> I MOVED TO APPROVE POINT >> MOTION AND A SECOND. CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. >> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK. >> YES MA'AM. >> MAYOR HUDSON. [a. Resolution 24-R51 appointing members to serve on the Communitywide Council.] >> YES MA'AM. >> NEXT IS RESOLUTION 24 MINUS R 50 OWN. THERE ARE THREE TARGET AND THREE AT-LARGE THAT WERE OPEN. WE WILL HAVE TO TAKE A VOTE WITH THREE AT-LARGE. >> THE ORDER MAKES A DIFFERENCE. >> I'M JUST MESSING WITH YOU. >> I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE IT. EVERY NIGHT. THAT WILL BE A GOOD GAME. GOOD DEAL. >> OKAY. COMMISSIONER BRODERICK'S FIRST CHOICE IS ELLA HODGE WINDS. SECOND CHOICE IS WESLEY SANZ. THIRD CHOICE IS BETTY JO STARKS. NUMBER THREE. COMMISSIONER C. JOHNSON CHOSE WESLEY SANDS'S CHOICE NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO. LOUISE SCURRY'S CHOICE NUMBER THREE. MAYOR HUDSON CHOSE BETTY JO STARKE'S CHOICE NUMBER ONE. LOUISE SCURRY ESTERS NUMBER TWO, AND 220 ESTERS NUMBER THREE. >> SHE'S GOT TO FIGURE IT OUT. >> I'M WONDERING HOW YOU ARE GOING TO DO THAT. THE TOP THREE WAS WESLEY SANDS, ELLA HODGE-WIMES, AND BETTY JO STARKE. WAS THERE MOTION? >> MADAME MAYOR, I MAKE A [00:55:05] MOTION THAT WE APPROVE RESOLUTION 24 R51 ON THE THREE NAMES. >> SECOND. >> OKAY. CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. >> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK. >> YES MA'AM. >> COMMISSIONER C. JOHNSON. [b. Resolution 24-R55 appointing members to serve on the Civil Service Appeals Board.] >> YES MA'AM. >> COMMISSIONER J. JOHNSON. >> YES MA'AM. >> MAYOR HUDSON. >> YES MA'AM. >> THIS IS RESOLUTION R25. THERE WILL BE TWO VOTES ON THIS. THE FIRST BOOK WILL BE FOR THE TWO REGULAR SEATS. AT THE SECOND THAT WILL BE FOR THE TWO ALTERNATE SEATS. >> OKAY. >> CAN I HAVE ANOTHER PIECE OF PAPER? >> YOU WILL HAVE ONE FOR THE ALTERNATES. WE WILL DO THE REGULAR ONES FIRST. >> THIS SAYS IT TALKS ABOUT ALL FOUR. >> WHO IS THAT? >> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK'S FIRST CHOICE IS JAMES LILLY. SECOND CHOICE IS LOUISE SCURRY. COMMISSIONER GAINES'S FIRST CHOICE IS MOORE. SECOND CHOICE IS APRIL NIXON. COMMISSIONER J. JOHNSON'S FIRST CHOICE IS DAVID HEWITT. SECOND CHOICE IS JAMES LILLY. MAYOR HUDSON'S FIRST CHOICE IS THORONINA MOORE. SECOND CHOICE IS APRIL NIXON. >> THIS ONE IS A TOUGH ONE. >> MADAME MAYOR, MADAME ATTORNEY, YOU CAN SEE THERE IS NO SUNSHINE. >> WE HAVE A TWO-WAY TIE. SO DAVID HEWITT AND THORONINA MOORE BOTH SCORED THREE POINTS. JAMES LILLY AND APRIL NIXON BOTH SCORED THREE POINTS. I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE TO TAKE ANOTHER VOTE BECAUSE THEY WERE TWO ONE-YEAR TERMS. ] >> COMMISSIONER J. JOHNSON >> CAN YOU READ THEM AGAIN? >> I HAVE JAMES LILLY AND NIXON. SPOKE TO ME, THAT'S LIKE THE TOP TWO SHOULD BE THE SEAT, AND THE SECOND TWO SHOULD BE THE ALTERNATES, BUT THAT'S JUST ME. >> THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME. >> WHAT WE WERE HOPING FOR -- A DECISIVE VOTE ON THE FIRST ONE [01:00:04] BECAUSE WE HAVE ONE TWO-YEAR TERM AND ONE ONE-YEAR TERM ON BOTH OF THOSE. >> IS THE TOP ONE? >> OF THE TOP TWO, WE NEED ONE PERSON TO COME UP WITH THE TWO-YEAR TERM, AND ANOTHER PRESENT TO COME OUT WITH A ONE-YEAR TERM. >> I CHANGE MY NUMBER ONE VOTE TO DAVID HEWITT. >> I THINK IT MIGHT BE BETTER TO DO A VOICE VOTE TO PICK ONE PERSON FOR THE TWO-YEAR TERM. >> OUT OF HEWITT AND MOORE, WHO IS AT THE TOP? >> I WILL GO WITH HEWITT. >> I WILL GO WITH HEWITT. >> I WILL GO WITH MOORE. >> 3-2. >> HE WOULD WILL HAVE THE TWO YEAR TERM. MOORE WILL HAVE THE ONE YEAR TERM. THE OTHER TWO, IT IS A TWO-WAY TIE OF THE OTHERS? >> DISPARATE BETWEEN JAMES LILLY AND NIXON, WE NEED A VOICE VOTE. WHO WANTS THE TWO-YEAR TERM AND HE WANTS THE ONE YEAR TERM? >> WHO DO YOU WANT TO HAVE THE TWO-YEAR TERM? >> YES. THANK YOU. >> WHAT WERE THE NAMES AGAIN? >> JAMES LILLY AND APRIL NIXON. >> I WILL GO WITH -- MY VOTE IS FOR NIXON. >> NIXON. >> OKAY. CLEAR AS MUD. >> DO WE NEED A MOTION? >> I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE RESOLUTION 24 -R55 FOUR THOSE NAMES. CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES. >> YES MA'AM. >> COMMISSIONER C. JOHNSON. >> YES MA'AM. >> COMMISSIONER J. JOHNSON. >> YES MA'AM. >> COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC. >> ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION, PLEASE COME FORWARD. SEEING NO MOVEMENT, I [15. COMMENTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER] CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, AND I GO BACK TO THE AGENDA. >> NEXT IS COMES FROM THE CITY MANAGER. >> I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF UPDATE ON OUR STORM DEBRIS CLEANUP. WE STILL HAVE EXTRA CREWS RUNNING THE CLEANUP ON WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS. I KNOW WE HAVE PUSHED SOME VIDEOS OUT THERE, BUT IT IS REALLY CRITICAL RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE YOUR VEGETATION DEBRIS SEPARATED FROM CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS. WHEN IT'S ALL MIXED TOGETHER, IT HAS TO GO TO THE GARBAGE, AS OPPOSED TO THE REGULAR VEGETATION DEBRIS. IT MIGHT TAKE US LONGER TO GET TO IT IF IT IS ALL MIXED UP. IN TERMS OF STORM IMPACTS TO CITY FACILITIES, WE DID LOSE ONE OF THE FLOATING BOAT RAMPS AT JC PARK. I THINK IT WAS THE RAILING THAT WENT FROM THE BEACH FOR OUT TO THE FLOATING DOCKS. SO WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE CONTRACTOR THAT DID THAT. IT DOES APPEAR THAT IT IS GOING TO BE SALVAGEABLE. THEY ARE GOING TO COME AND PICK IT UP AND TAKE IT BACK TO THE MANUFACTURER AND STRAIGHTEN IT AND HOPEFULLY HAVE THAT REINSTALLED. WE DID HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF DAMAGE IN CITY HALL. IT WASN'T ACTUALLY THE STORM DAMAGE. WE HAD AN AIR CONDITIONER MALFUNCTION THAT LEAKED ALL THE WAY DOWN INTO ENGINEERING BUT TOOK OUT SOME OF BOBBY'S I.T. STUDIO IN THE PROCESS. >> AND YOUR OFFICE BUT WE DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. SHE CAME IN TO USE HER OFFICE AND IT WAS ALL TAKEN APART. AND OF ALL OF THE CITY PROPERTIES, OUR RESIDENTS -- IT APPEARS WE ONLY REALLY HAD ABOUT FIVE THAT, WITH THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT INSPECTIONS, ARE CONSIDERED TO BE MAJOR DAMAGE. IT WAS PRIMARILY, YOU KNOW, ROOF DAMAGE, FOR A TREE FELL ON IT. SO, YOU KNOW, OUR COHORTS TO THE NORTH WERE NOT AS LUCKY AS WE WERE. BUT THEY FARED WELL. THEY ALSO DID A FANTASTIC JOB. I WANTED TO JUST GIVE YOU JUST A QUICK UPDATE ON BRIGHT LINE SO YOU ARE ALL AWARE. WE ARE MONITORING WHAT IS HAPPENING CLOSELY. THEY HAVE NOT GIVEN UP THEIR EFFORTS YET, AS FAR AS I KNOW. STAFF IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE WE ARE STAYING IN COMMUNICATION AS MUCH AS WE SHOULD, AND, YOU KNOW, IN THE EVENT THAT THIS TURNS AROUND AND THEY DECIDE THEY WANT TO RE-ENERGIZE THEIR INTEREST IN FORT PIERCE, WE ARE GOING TO BE READY FOR THAT. ALSO, CITY GOVERNMENT WEEK. WE HAVE THE SELF IS HAPPENING, BUT I ALSO WANT TO GIVE COLOR TO OUR STAFF. THEY PARTICIPATED IN THE [01:05:03] CHILI COOKOFF THIS YEAR. THEY HAD THE BOOTH. THEY RAN OUT OF CHILI, BUT WE HAD A HUGE GROUP OF CITY STAFF THAT PARTICIPATED. WILLIE BOSTON FROM PUBLIC WORKS WAS THE ONE THAT MADE THE CHILI. IT WAS FANTASTIC. THEY RAN OUT QUICKLY. SO ANYWAY, THEY DIDN'T WIN ANY AWARDS, BUT THEY ALL HAD A GREAT TIME, AND IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR [16. COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION] STAFF TO GET TOGETHER, AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE. >> DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? MISS HEDGES? OKAY. >> NEXT IS COMES FROM THE COMMISSION. >> WHO WOULD LIKE TO START? >> MADAME MAYOR, I WILL START. NOT TOO MUCH TONIGHT. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THE -- I WAS GOING TO SAY WHAT I SAID EARLIER ABOUT THE PROCLAMATION, SO I WANTED TO THANK YOU. I GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC WORKS. THEY ARE DOING A GREAT JOB CLEANING UP THIS DEBRIS. AND TO THE RESIDENCE OF FT. PIERCE. AS MADAME CLERK SAID, JUST HELPING US OUT A LITTLE BIT WITH SEPARATING THE DEBRIS, AND WE CAN GET IT CLEAN. IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT YOU SEE THAT WE DON'T SEE, PLEASE CALL ONE OF US OR THE CITY TO LET US KNOW IF THERE IS A PROBLEM AND WE WILL GET ON IT ASAP. THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO NEXT? >> SURE. IT IS GOING TO BE BRIEF. WE HAD A MEETING WITH BRIAN MASSE AND HIS TEAM, HIS ENTOURAGE, I GUESS. AND IT WAS A GOOD AIRING OF ISSUES AND COMMENTARY. I BELIEVE THAT WE RESOLVED IT. BRIAN HAS BEEN, OBVIOUSLY, CRITICAL OF THE CITY. CRITICAL OF A VARIETY OF THINGS. WE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN THE CAPACITY OF SAYING, WHAT YOU ARE BEING CRITICAL OF THE CITY FOR IS NOT NECESSARILY THE CITY. THE COUNTY, THE STATE -- THERE ARE ISSUES. MISS COX CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF COPYING THOSE AGENCIES SO THEY GET DISPOSED TO THE CORRECT PARTIES IMMEDIATELY. HIM. THE MONEY. THAT IS IN PROCESS. WE ARE LOOKING AT TWO TRANCHES OF FUNDING, POTENTIALLY. SHORT-TERM, TO COVER EXPENDITURES, SECURING THINGS OF THIS NATURE, WITH THE TRUMP TRIALS AND ALL THAT, BUT PRIMARILY, HE IS LOOKING TO EARMARK OUR REQUEST IN THE 2025 BUDGET. WE WILL KEEP PUSHING THAT PIPELINE, AND HE IS AWARE. HE WENT THROUGH ALL THE INFORMATION. HE WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE INFORMATION WE SENT TO HIM. HE SEEMED TO BE ENCOURAGING FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF, YES. HE'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO HELP. IN THE INTERIM, WE ARE GOING TO KEEP THE PIPELINE AS FULL AS POSSIBLE AND KEEP THIS STUFF MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD MEETING. THE CITY MANAGER HANDLED HERSELF SPECTACULARLY IN THE FACE OF SOME PUSHBACK, AND HOW SHE MANAGED IT, I WAS VERY PROUD OF HOW SHE MANAGED THE WHOLE AFFAIR. IT WENT VERY WELL. >> GREAT. >> I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE BRIDGED EVERYTHING AND WE ARE ALL SINGING GOODBYE OUT, BUT WE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS THAT DAY. >> GREAT. AND SO, SHOW ME THE MONEY, RIGHT? >> THAT'S ALL I CARE ABOUT. $41 MILLION. THAT'S ALL. >> COMMISSIONER C. JOHNSON, YOU WANT TO GO NEXT? >> SO I WILL START WITH THIS. I THINK WE ALL COME UP HERE, NEED TO LEND OUR VOICE AS CITY LEADERS TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND THIS DEBRIS PICK UP. I THINK VIDEOS TO BE SHARED. AS I RIGHT AROUND, I SEE SOME CHALLENGING SITUATIONS FOR PEOPLE, PILING UP UNDER THESE POWERLINES. THAT IS DANGEROUS, TRYING TO GET THAT IN THERE. THAT COULD DELAY SOME OF THIS STUFF COME ALSO. I THINK THE MORE WE COMMUNICATE TO OUR COMMUNITY, THE BETTER WE WILL BE. MRS. COX, AT SOME POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND FROM PUBLIC WORKS, THEIR ESTIMATION OF HOW WE WILL GET OUR CITY CLEAN. I WILL SHARE WITH YOU GUYS -- EARLIER TODAY, I WAS IN LAKELAND, FLORIDA, FOR A FUNERAL, AND I HAPPENED TO HAVE A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH THE MAYOR. HE WAS THERE WITH THE PROCLAMATION. I ASKED HIM HOW THEY WERE DOING FROM THE STORM CLEANUP, ET CETERA. I SAID, ARE YOU ONE YEAR OUT? HE SAID, WE WILL BE DONE IN -- WHAT IS THIS? THE END OF NOVEMBER. SO, YOU KNOW, I ASKED HIM HOW THEY WERE DOING IT AND GOT FEEDBACK FROM HIM. I KIND OF WANT TO UNDERSTAND, WHAT IS OUR PLAN OF ATTACK? AND THEN, TO SEE IF IT'S WITHIN OUR BUDGET WHEREWITHAL TO DO [01:10:03] THIS, BECAUSE I KNOW, THEY WERE PIGGYBACKING ON SOME CONTRACTS, TOO. THEY HAD SOME CONTRACTS SET UP WITH COMPANIES FOR DEBRIS REMOVAL THAT WE HAVE, AS WELL, BUT, THEY ARE, I GUESS FURTHER AHEAD WITH THAT. BUT IT WAS A VERY INTERESTING CONVERSATION I HAD WITH HIM. I PICKED HIS BRAIN ON A LOT OF STUFF TODAY, BUT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A PLAN OF ACTION, AND THEN, MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOW WE COMMUNICATE THAT PLAN TO THE PUBLIC. THAT IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT, BECAUSE AT SOME POINT, SOME OF THE VEGETATION I SEE OUT THERE IS STILL KIND OF GRAIN, AND FIRM, BUT AS IT AGES AND WITH THEIRS, IT BECOMES LEAFY AND BLOWING. NOW WE HAVE EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A SENSE OF URGENCY THERE, AND WE COMMUNICATE THAT TO THE PUBLIC TO HELP US OUT. THE OTHER THING I WOULD JUST SAY IS THAT -- AGAIN, THANKS TO PUBLIC WORKS AND ALL THE HARD WORK THEY ARE DOING RIGHT NOW TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE ADDRESSING THE SITUATION. THEY HAD A CHALLENGING SITUATION THIS MORNING IN THE DISTRICT. WE WANT TO THINK PUBLIC WORKS FOR CORRECTING THE WRONG THAT WAS THERE. IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD, THERE WAS A REFUSE TRUCK THAT SPILLED SOME GARBAGE ACCIDENTALLY. AND A LOT OF IT. ALL OF IT. RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE RECREATIONAL CENTER. IT WAS A BLOCK OF GARBAGE. THE RESIDENCE CALLED. I HAVE TALKED TO THEM SINCE THEN, COMING BACK AND EVERYTHING. IT IS ROSY. AT FIRST IT WAS NOT VERY ROSY BECAUSE IT CONTAINED A LOT OF STUFF, AND I HAVE PICTURES, AND IT IS UGLY AND SMELLY. BUT I WANT TO THANK THEM PUBLICLY. NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT DO, I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR CORRECTING THAT WRONG THAT WAS THERE THIS MORNING. THAT HAPPENED VERY EARLY. THOSE TRUCKS START AT 4:00 OR FIVE A CLOCK IN THE MORNING. SO. THANK YOU THE PUBLIC WORKS FOR THAT. AND, YET. I GUESS WE ARE GETTING TO THE END OF THE ELECTION SEASON. I WISH ALL WELL THAT'S RUNNING. YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY, WE HAVE A GREAT, SAFE ELECTION HERE IN OUR COUNTY AND CITY. AND WE WILL GO FROM THERE IN NOVEMBER. YOU. LATE NIGHT, WE WILL KNOW. THANK YOU ALL. THAT'S IT FOR ME. >> COMMISSIONER J. JOHNSON. >> I JUST WANTED TO SAY MANY THANKS TO OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND PUBLIC WORKS. I'VE ALWAYS SAID, AND I'VE SAID FOR MANY YEARS, THAT FIRST RESPONDERS DON'T GET TO DO THEIR JOBS WITHOUT PUBLIC WORKS CLEARING THE WAY AND MAKING SURE THAT THE STREETS ARE SAFE. SO THIS AFTERNOON, THE MAYOR AND I WERE ABLE TO DO A LITTLE PHOTO SESSION WITH OUR NEW SWEEPING BEAUTY. STREET SWEEPING TRUCKS. WE WANT TO GET WITH YOU AT SOME POINT AND MAYBE SEE WHAT YOUR PLAN IS, AND HOW YOU WANT TO IRON OUT YOUR SCHEDULE, WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE, COMING INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON, I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS ON THE AGENDA AT THIS SECOND, FOR CLEANING UP OUR CITY, BUT STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE CAMINO, FLOOD PROTECTION, WE SAW THESE STORMS GOING THROUGH, AND IF WE ARE GOING TO PROTECT INFRASTRUCTURE, PROTECT OUR HOMES, PROTECT BUSINESSES, FROM, YOU KNOW, THE POTENTIAL OF FLOODING. THE REAL JOB IS KEEPING THE DEBRIS AND SAND OUT OF OUR LAGOON AND STORMWATER SYSTEMS. THE HOLIDAY SEASON. WE ARE PREPPING THE DOWNTOWN CORRIDORS. WE ARE PREPPING THE MAIN CORRIDORS. OUR MAIN STREETS. YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE DELAWARE. AVENUE D. YOU KNOW. WHATEVER IT IS. USE AGO, I REMEMBER THE TRUCK COMING BACK-AND-FORTH OF THE BRIDGE. >> SO SLOW. >> BUT IT HAD A PURPOSE. BUT YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. THE CITY IS WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE, WHETHER YOU SEE IT OR NOT. THAT IS ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT YOU NEVER KNOW THAT THEY ARE OUT THERE SWEEPING, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE NEXT DAY, THE STREET IS CLEAN, AND, YOU KNOW, HOMES AND BUSINESSES ARE PROTECTED, AND SO, I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT FACT, AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT JACK AND HIS TEAM HAVE DONE OVER THE YEARS. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING THAT EFFORT. I KNOW HE WAS COMING UP HERE AND [01:15:04] SAYING, WE MIGHT NOT GET THAT FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. SO HERE IT IS. >>IT IS HERE. >> HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET NEW ROOMS FOR IT. IT IS TIME TO GET NEW BRUSHES AND BROOMS. SO. >> WHAT IS IT? >> HE HAS TWO MORE MEETINGS. SPOKE TO MORE NIGHTTIME MEETINGS. >> IT'S THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER. THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER. >> >> NO. >> WE ARE NOT SAYING GOODBYE YET. >> THANK YOU. >> YEAH. AND I WANT TO ECHO THAT. THE JOB THEY HAVE TO DO IS INCREDIBLE. THERE WAS A HURRICANE A FEW YEARS BACK WHERE IT TOOK US AT LEAST TWO MONTHS, AT LEAST, AND IT WAS A LATE HURRICANE. THINK WE WERE TRYING TO DO BEFORE CHRISTMAS. A LOT OF IT DEPENDS ON WHAT PEOPLE DO. IF THEY PUT THEIR STUFF OUT THERE PROPERLY. I KNOW THAT. I THINK IT IS A GREAT IDEA TO DO MORE EDUCATION AND DO THAT. I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND I KNOW THAT THEY ARE TRYING. WE HAVE A NEW SOLID WASTE DIRECTOR. SO MAYBE HAS A LITTLE BIT OF A LEARNING CURVE, HIMSELF. >> HE HAS BEEN HERE BEFORE. HE IS NOT BRAND-NEW TO US. >> YEAH. WELL, I ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY. SOMEONE GAVE ME A TOUR OF THE DESTRUCTION IN THE SPANISH LAKES AREA ALONG KINGS HIGHWAY. AND, I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO GOD, AND YOU JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THAT WHEN YOU SEE IT UP CLOSE. AND THEY ARE HAVING TROUBLE CLEANING IT UP IN SPANISH LAKES BECAUSE IT IS WIND PROPERTY, AND THERE ARE SOME OBSTACLES -- LEGAL OBSTACLES, THAT ARE CREATING MORE. AND IT IS FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT. THEY CAN'T GET IN THERE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET IN THERE. ONE THING HAS TO LEAD TO ANOTHER, AND IT IS SLOW GOING. I AM GRATEFUL THAT FT. PIERCE HAD IT. AND UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT WAS SAID ON THE NEWS WAS FT. PIERCE. I KEPT GETTING CALLS SAYING, I WOULD LIKE TO HELP YOU. BUT EVEN THOUGH IT SAYS FT. PIERCE, IT IS NOT IN MY JURISDICTION. SO I WOULD HAND IT OFF TO THE COUNTY TO TRY TO DO SOME HELP. AND I WENT OUT TO EARLY VOTING THIS MORNING. TO THE SITE, AND PEOPLE WERE OUT THERE WORKING FOR CANDIDATES, AND THEREFORE, IT WAS ALL VERY ORDERLY. AT LEAST TODAY. >> IT WAS BUSY. >> IT HAD BEEN BUSY RIGHT BEFORE I GOT THERE. RIGHT WHEN THEY OPENED, THERE WAS A LINE. I WAS TOLD. BUT IT WAS STEADY WHEN I WAS THERE. I WAS AT ZORA NEALE HURSTON TODAY. >> I WANT TO FOLLOW-UP. COMMISSIONER BRODERICK, SINCE YOU HAVE THAT HERE, THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING -- I'M PRETTY SURE HE KNOWS HE IS GETTING THE SAME EMAILS WE ARE GETTING, BUT HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP THOSE RESIDENTS IN THAT SITUATION THERE BECAUSE THEY NEED HELP. AND I'M GLAD THAT MADAME MAYOR BROUGHT IT UP, BECAUSE, PEOPLE -- THEY THOUGHT THAT IT WAS FT. PIERCE. WE ARE TURNING OUR BACKS TO THEIR PLIGHT, AND THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE CAN'T COME HELP THEM, BUT IT IS OUTSIDE OF OUR JURISDICTION, BUT IT IS NOT OUTSIDE OF THE FEDERAL JURISDICTION. >> HE CONTACTED ME ABOUT THAT. >> I SAID, IT IS NOT US. IT IS COUNTY. HE WAS IN TOUCH WITH THE COUNTY FOLKS AND ALL THAT. HE DID ADDRESS A COUPLE OF ISSUES WITH ME. IT WAS RELATIVE TO WHAT ASSISTANCE WE MAY BE ABLE TO SEEK FOR CLEANUP IN THE CITY. IT IS A DISCUSSION WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN AROUND TO HAVING IT. I DID HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT. >> I'VE GONE THE SAME EMAILS. I'VE GONE THE SAME CALLS. WE ARE NOT IGNORING YOU. WE ARE NOT TURNING OUR BACKS ON YOU. OUR HANDS ARE TIED. ] I DO BELIEVE, AS A U.S. CONGRESSMAN, HE CAN UNTIE SOME OF THE HANDS. I'M GLAD TO NOTE HE IS ALREADY ON IT. [01:20:02] >> TO ADD TO THAT, ONCE THEY, I AM JUST SHARING WITH YOU THIS STORY. ON WEDNESDAY, I WAS SPEAKING WITH A COUPLE OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. I WAS ABLE TO TIE SOME PIECES TOGETHER. YOU KNOW, I SHARED WITH THEM ABOUT THE POSITION HERE IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. IT'S NOT IN THE CITY JURISDICTION, HOWEVER, IN CONVERSATION I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU, ALSO, THE GENTLEMAN'S NAME -- BECAUSE SOME RESIDENTS DO LIVE IN OUR TERRITORY. SO, IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE THAT CONTACT. IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THEY NOW UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE IS ON STANDBY. WE ARE ALSO SERVING. IT MIGHT NOT BE IN THE CAPACITY THAT WE ARE USED TO, WHERE THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING THAT ON, BUT PUTTING ON THE CITY HAT AND SAYING, WE ARE HERE TO ASSIST WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS. I CAN TELL YOU -- THERE IS A PHENOMENAL OPERATION , IF YOU HAVE BEEN TO THE CHURCH, THERE IS AN OPERATION GOING ON THERE. PART OF THEIR BUILDINGS -- WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE BUILDING UP. AND WITH ELECTRICITY. EVERYONE IS THERE, SERVING THIS COMMUNITY. >> A HUGE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS. >> NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS FROM THE CITY WERE THERE. >> RIGHT. >> THERE ARE MANY FOLKS FROM THE CHURCH THAT ARE OVER THERE, SERVING, THE DAY THAT I WAS THERE, AND THE POINT IS, WE HAVE GOOD CONTACTS. WE HAVE GOOD COMMUNICATION. FPNL WERE HAPPY TO HAVE THE CONNECTIONS WITH THE CITY. I'M GOING TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU. I WAS AWAY FOR A FEW DAYS , JUST LEAVING, ON THE WAY OUT THE DOOR, MAKING THOSE CONNECTIONS, AND IT JUST WORKS. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE ARE JUST LOVING ON OUR NEIGHBORS, AND THAT IS WHAT IT IS ABOUT. >> RIGHT. I NEVER WANT TO SAY THAT'S NOT MY JOB. YOU WANT TO BE HELPFUL. RIGHT. SO. OKAY. IF THERE IS NOTHING FURTHER, I THINK WE ARE GOIN * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.