Apr 14, 2025 City Commission Regular Meeting

[1. Call to Order]

[00:00:11]

>> I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. CITY OF FORT PIERCE, APRIL 14TH, 2025. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF

ALLEGIANCE. >> 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.

>>

[4. Approval of Minutes]

>> MOVED TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. CALL THE ROLL PLEASE.

[6. Additions or deletions to agenda and approval of the agenda.]

>> THE AGENDA AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. IF NOT I WILL ENTERTAIN

A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> META-MAYOR I MOVED TO PROVE

AGENDA. >> MOTION AND A SECOND, CALL THE

ROLL PLEASE. >>

HAVE COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC. >> OPPORTUNITY FOR ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION. COME FORWARD, STATE

[a. St. Lucie County Fire District Update by Fire Chief Jeff Lee]

>> FIRST UP WE HAVE THE ST. LUCIE FIRE UPDATE BY FIRE CHIEF

JEFF LEE . >> SHOULD WE JUST WELCOMED CHIEF LEE ? CHIEF, WELCOME. IF YOU DON'T MIND, I HAVE A VIDEO TO PLAY FIRST AND THEN I WILL COVER A LITTLE MORE HISTORY.

>> WE DO NOT MIND AT ALL OR IT IS A LOADED AND READY TO GO? OKAY. YOU CAN SIT IN THAT CHAIR IF YOU WANT TO FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, WHATEVER IS MOST COMFORTABLE. WE ARE VERY GLAD

YOU ARE HERE. >> IT'S COMING NOW.

♪

♪ >> I'M WITH THE ST. LUCIE FIRE DISTRICT IN 1906 THE FORT PIERCE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS FORMED IN AN EFFORT TO LOWER THE COST OF FIRE INSURANCE FOR THE CITIZENS OF FORT PIERCE. WHEN WE DECIDED TO OFFER TRANSPORT TO THE HOSPITAL.

IN 1996 WAS WHEN WE OFFICIALLY ADOPTED OUR NAME, ST. LUCIE FIRE DISTRICT. WE OFFER 17 STATIONED AT ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING MORE. WE EMPLOY 442 FIRE RIGHT FOR A TOTAL OF 516 EMPLOYEES FOR THE BUDGET FOR THE FIRST YEAR WAS $1000 IN 1906. WE OPERATE ON A BUDGET THAT IS ROUGHLY $151 MILLION PER YEAR.

THE ST. LUCIE COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT IS AN INDEPENDENT COUNTYWIDE SPECIAL DISTRICT GOVERNED BY A SEVEN MEMBER FIRE

[00:05:01]

THE AIR. >> I AM A FLIGHT PARAMEDIC FOR A PROGRAM AT ST. LUCIE AIR RESCUE. OUR BASE HERE IN FORT PIERCE BASED AT THE ST. LUCIE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. BEHIND ME IS OUR AIRCRAFT. THIS AIRCRAFT IS A PERFORMANCE AIRCRAFT THAT OFFERS HIGH PERFORMANCE EMS SERVICES HERE TO THE ST. LUCIE COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT. WE OFFER OUR SERVICES TO THE TREASURE COAST AREA. INDIAN RIVER COUNTY AND ALSO INTO MARTIN COUNTY.

>> HI, I AM WITH THE ST. LUCIE FIRE DISTRICT A MEMBER OF THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS AND HAZMAT TEAM. WE SPECIALIZE IN FRENCH RESCUE, HAZMAT AND CONFINED SPACE. WE HAVE TWO STRATEGICALLY PLACED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. STATION SIX AND 17. ONE IN THE

NORTH AND ONE IN THE SOUTH. >> HI, WE ARE THREE OF THE EIGHT PERSON TACTICAL MEDICAL COMPLEMENT TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. WE RESPOND TO IMMUNITY CALLS AND BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE TACTICAL MEDICINE SIDE AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE IN OUR

COMMUNITY. >> I AM WITH THE ST. LUCIE FIRE DISTRICT, THE STATION HOUSE A COMPONENT OF DIFFERENT VEHICLES, RESCUE TRUCKS, ENGINES OR LADDER TRUCKS. DESIGNED TO HANDLE WOODLAND FIRES AND ENGINES TO RESPOND TO STRUCTURE FIRES THE RESCUE TRUCK IS MERELY FOR EMS. ENGINES OUTFITTED WITH MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND CAN PROVIDE SUPPORT. WE WONDER WHY THE ENGINE RESCUES RESPOND TOGETHER. DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE CALL THEY WILL BOTH BE DISPATCHED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE

MANPOWER. >> YOU SEE THE RESOURCES AND SPECIALTIES PRESENTED BY THE ST. LUCIE FIRE DISTRICT. A TRAINING DIVISION, RISK REDUCTION COMMISSION AND COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION. WE ARE ALSO VERY PROUD OF THE FIRE CADET PROGRAM. IT ALLOWS FIREFIGHTERS BETWEEN AGES OF 14 TO 18 TO LEARN BASIC FIRST AID AND FIREFIGHTING SKILLS. ALL OF US HERE AT THE ST. LUCIE FIRE DISTRICT ARE PROFESSIONALS AND STRIVE TO PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH EXCEPTIONAL CARE DURING EMERGENCIES. THAT IS WHY OUR MOTTO IS, OUR FAMILY PROUDLY SERVING YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. THE TRAINING DIVISION SPENDS A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT TO PUT THAT TOGETHER. HOPEFULLY IT GIVES A LITTLE INSIGHT ON WHAT WE PROVIDE FOR THE COUNTY AND THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AS WELL. WOULD LIKE ME TO STAND OR SIT?

>> WHEREVER YOU ARE COMFORTABLE.

>> I WILL JUST GIVE YOU AN UPDATE. I DO WANT TO GO INTO THE HISTORY. IN 1906, THE FORT PIERCE FIRE DEPARTMENT UNTIL 1953. 50 YEARS WE WERE THE FORT PIERCE FIRE DEPARTMENT. AFTER THAT, BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY CALLS IN THE COUNTY THEY DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND CREATE THE DISTRICT. IT IS THE ONLY FIRE CONTROL DISTRICT IN THE STATE THAT IS COUNTYWIDE. IT MAKES US UNIQUE. ONE THING WE HAVE NOT LOST. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I GET THAT MESSAGE HERE TODAY. WE KEPT THE FORT PIERCE NAME UNTIL 1996. WE HAD THE NAME OF FORT PIERCE ATTACHED TO OUR NAME.

THAT IS IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT HERE. OUR ROOTS ARE BASED HERE RIGHT HERE IN FORT PIERCE AND I WANT THIS COMMISSION TO UNDERSTAND, THAT IS WHO WE ARE. I DO THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT. AS FAR OF TODAY, WE HAVE 17 STATIONS , STATION 18 HOPEFULLY OPENS NEXT MONTH. THERE IS A GRAND OPENING, ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO BE THERE? STATION 19 IS JUST OUTSIDE OF

[00:10:02]

I KNOW EVERYBODY CONCENTRATES ON THE BIGGER PIECE OF THE COUNTY WHICH IS ST. LOUIS. YOU GUYS ARE GETTING YOUR FAIR SHARE OF CALL VOLUME INCREASES AS WELL. STATION 20 IS PORT ST. LUCIE.

MOVING FORWARD THE DISTRICT HAS A LOT . FIVE MORE SITES. A SITE OFF OF -- ROW THAT WE HAD TO DEVELOP OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS.

WE ARE STILL PLAYING CATCH-UP ON GROWTH. THAT IS REALLY WHERE WE ARE AT. THE VIDEO, THEY JUST MADE IT LAST YEAR. IT IS ALREADY OUT OF DATE. 475 UNIT. ANOTHER 20 MORE THAN THAT. WE HIRED ANOTHER 20 MORE, EXCUSE ME. 24 MORE. AS SOON AS THEY CAN I WILL HAVE TO HIRE ANOTHER 15 BECAUSE WE ARE OPENING A STATION NEXT DOOR NEXT MONTH. STATION 20 WE ARE HOPING TO OPEN BY OCTOBER.

IT IS NONSTOP IN THE DISTRICT. AS FAR AS FORT PIERCE IS CONCERNED, WE HAVE PRETTY MUCH COVERED FOR FIRE STATIONS, WE DID INCREASE THE RESCUE TRUCKS FOR CALL VOLUME. IF THAT CONTINUES WE WILL HAVE TO KEEP DOING THAT. WE DO HAVE PLANS FOR THE COUNTY GIVING US A PIECE OF PROPERTY RIGHT THERE NEXT TO STATION 15 ON AVENUE B AND SEVENTH. WE WILL EXPAND THAT STATION. DEPENDING ON WHEN I CAN GET THAT FROM THE COUNTY. IT LOOKS GOOD. WHEN THAT GOES THROUGH, WE WILL START TALKING TO EXPAND TO 50 MORE VEHICLES. THEY ARE PRETTY TIGHT WITH TWO RESCUE TRUCKS AND OUT THE STATION. I'LL OPEN UP TO

QUESTIONS. >> QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS,

COMMISSIONER JOHNSON? >> THANK YOU, CHIEF LEE I HAVE CHAIRED THE FIRE BOARD AND THIS YEAR AS A CHAIR. I WANT MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS TO UNDERSTAND, MADAME MAYOR AND I SIT ON THE FIRE BOARD, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE GREAT OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE GOING FORWARD. EVERY BIT LOOKING TO EXPAND THE TAX BASE IN OUR CITY BRINGING IN RESIDENCE AS WELL AS COMMERCIAL.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE BURDENED WITH UNDERSTANDING HOW WE PAY FOR THAT BECAUSE AS WE BUILD AND ATTRACT MORE, WE WILL NEED APPARATUS TO SERVICE THAT WHEN IT COMES FOR THAT OR BE PREPARED TO SERVICE THAT. UNDERSTANDING THAT, I THINK IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE TODAY TO HELP NOT ONLY US BUT THE COMMUNITY REALLY KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE GOING. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. WE FEEL THOSE QUESTIONS THERE WHEN IT COMES TO THE TAXES, ET CETERA. EVEN WITH THAT, THERE IS STILL A CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF WHAT WE REALLY NEED VERSUS WHERE WE ARE GOING. ONE OF THE REASONS I ASKED YOU HERE AND I WOULD LIKE YOU TO SPEAK TO THIS. YOU TALK ABOUT GROWTH, EXPANSION OF STATIONS, I ALSO KNOW THAT WE ARE FACING A HUMAN RESOURCE CLIFF WHEN IT COMES TO THAT BASED ON RETIREMENT. I WANTED MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS TO UNDERSTAND THIS, WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD AN URBAN CORE CLASS CITY WITH RESIDENCE. NO BETTER OPPORTUNITY, FIRST RESPONDERS BEING HOMEOWNERS AND PART OF OUR CITY. WE CAN HELP YOU BECAUSE THERE IS THAT CRITICAL CLIFF WE ARE COMING TO ON HR. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW WE CAN ASSIST WITH THAT?

>> YES SIR. WE ARE PREDICTING A STATEWIDE SHORTAGE OF FIREFIGHTERS IN THE 18 MONTH 24 MONTH PERIOD. THERE ARE SEVERAL DYNAMICS THAT PLAY A ROLL IN THAT. ATTRITION. A LOT OF RETIREMENTS. 25, 30 YEARS AGO WE HAD A LOT OF HIRES. AND SO, NOT JUST COUNTIES IN FLORIDA. A FLORIDA SITUATION AND IF IT DOES BECOME LOCAL. YES. WE ARE PREDICTING A STATEWIDE SHORTAGE.

WORK HOUR CHANGES THAT ARE STARTING TO MOVE FORWARD. THE FLORIDA LEGISLATOR RIGHT NOW IS PUSHING A BILL AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL PASS WITH A RECOMMENDING SHORTER WORK WEEK FOR FIREFIGHTERS. THAT WILL INCREASE A LITTLE BIT MORE AS FIREFIGHTERS TRY AND ADOPT THAT. IT IS A RECOMMENDATION, NOT A MANDATE. SOMETHING THAT THE LABOR UNION IS GOING TO CAPITALIZE ON AND PUSH FOR WORK HOUR CHANGES. FOR US, ADDING

[00:15:01]

STATION 19, THE ONE I TALKED ABOUT, WE ARE LOOKING AT BUILDING A TRAINING FACILITY AT THAT STATION. BEHIND THE STATION WITH THE COUNTY AGAIN TO ACQUIRE A LOT BEHIND THAT STATION. I LOOKS LIKE IT IS GOOD AS WELL. ONCE WE GET THAT, WE CAN BUILD A TRAINING FACILITY. THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE LOOKING AT HOPEFULLY ATTACHING FOR THOSE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY IT. MAYBE ANY INDICATOR WHAT THAT COST FACTOR LOOKS LIKE WHEN YOU BRING ON A THIRD OF A WHOLE ANOTHER DIVISION? THAT IS HOW MANY

PEOPLE PERHAPS ON A SHIFT? >> ABOUT 75 PEOPLE AT THIS POINT I WILL HAVE TO BRING ON. EVERY TIME WE BUILD A NEW STATION WE

ARE WORKING ON IT. >> RIGHT.

>> RIGHT NOW IT IS 75 PEOPLE. >> I THINK IT IS CRITICAL WE UNDERSTAND AS A COMMISSION. AS WE ARE ADVOCATES OUT HERE, WE CERTAINLY NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE UNDERSTANDING GREAT CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND WE WANT TO PARTNER WITH YOU. WHAT I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT WITH MY CONCERN IS THAT WE HAVE SEEN THIS WITH OUR OWN LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENTS, OTHER ENTITIES WILL BE FACED WITH THE SAME THING. THEIR SALARY MAY HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT HIGHER.

MY CONCERN IS THAT, DOES THAT BEGIN TO SHIFT OUR PEOPLE, ARE GOOD PEOPLE START TO GET PLUCKED AWAY. IT IS GREAT FOR THEM, GREAT OPPORTUNITY. IT WILL ALSO CAUSE A CHALLENGE FOR US IF WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS AND WE DO NOT GET AHEAD OF THIS. AND WE START TO PARTNER AND UNDERSTAND AND COMMUNICATE ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES WHAT THIS CRITICALLY IS. THANK YOU, MADAME MAYOR.

>> ON THE PERSONNEL SCENARIO, THE PAY SCALE YOU ARE AT, HOW DOES THAT COMPARE WITH YOUR COMPETING AGENCIES?

>> DEPENDS ON HOW YOU DEFINE COMPETING AGENCIES , RIGHT IN LINE WITH MARTIN COUNTIES PAY SCALE. THERE ARE PEAKS AND VALLEYS WITH THAT, RIGHT? I DON'T CONSIDER THEM COMPETING AGENCIES. ALL THREE COMBINED, IT IS NO LONGER MARTIN AND INDIAN RIVER. WE ARE BUSIER THAN ALL OF THEM COMBINED. MARTIN HAS DIFFERENT ISSUES THAN WE HAVE. THEY HAVE PALM BEACH COUNTY TO DEAL WITH, RIGHT? WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE A 175 PLAN. NOT STATE PENSION.WHERE MARTIN COUNTY IS IN PALM BEACH, YOU CAN BE A MARTIN COUNTY FIREFIGHTER FOR 10 YEARS AND YOUR PENSION IS NOT AFFECTED. IF YOU'RE HERE, YOU CANNOT TAKE A PENSION. YOU ARE VESTED. YOU CANNOT CONTINUE TO GROW IT. THEY HAVE DYNAMICS WE DO NOT HAVE. MY GUESS IS THAT PALM BEACH COUNTY ALREADY SIGNED A NEW CONTRACT. THEIR CONTRACT AND THEY GAVE RAISES, I'M NOT SURE HOW THEY ARE DOING THAT. THEY ARE GIVING RAISES AND WENT TO THE REDUCED WORK. THAT IS GOING TO CREATE SOME ISSUES WITH MARTIN COUNTY. WE HAVE ISSUES. RIGHT? THEY ARE OUR CLOSEST COMPETITOR. OUR PEOPLE, THEY GO TO THE SAME FIRE

SCHOOLS, SAME EMT SCHOOLS. >> I HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA HOW THEY DO IT, THEY COME TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION AND SAY, WE NEED MORE MONEY. SECOND QUESTION, TOTALLY DIFFERENT TOPIC, THE SOUTH KINGS HIGHWAY STATION, WHAT IS THE TIMELINE ON

THAT? >> WE OFFICIALLY BROKE OUT GROUND ON IT, THEY ARE STILL IN THE PERMITTING PHASE. MAYBE A YEAR FROM OCTOBER IS WHAT WE ARE THINKING.

>> YOU ARE GOING TO BASICALLY BEAT A LOT OF THE NEW CONSTRUCTION OUT THERE WHICH IS GOOD TO GET AHEAD OF THE CURVE.

>> THAT IS OUR HOPE. WE ARE NO LONGER PLAYING CATCH-UP AND WE ARE CAUGHT UP TO KEEP IT. LUCKILY FOR KING'S LANDING ISSUE WE HAVE A LOT OF TRUCK STATIONS AS WELL.

>> SUFFICIENT TO SERVICE A PROPERTY?

>> YES SIR. >> ALL RIGHT.

>> COMMISSIONER GAINS. >> THANK YOU, CHIEF. ONE MORE QUESTION, THEY HAVE ASKED A LOT, HOW CAN I HELP YOU GET THEM TO

[00:20:08]

THEM OUT? >> I LOVE YOUR QUESTION. I LOVE LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS. I CAME FROM BROWARD COUNTY WHEN I CAME UP HERE. WHEN I STARTED IN 1990 7/2 THE PEOPLE WE WERE HIRING AT THAT POINT WERE COMING FROM OUT OF TOWN. WE ARE BIG ENOUGH NOW.

BIG ENOUGH TO HIRE LOCAL. WE GIVE LOCAL PREFERENCE FOR THE MOST PART. IF YOU PATIENCE IS PALM BEACH COUNTY FOR MANY REASONS THE CONTRACTS, I DON'T TYPICALLY, THEY GET PUT TO THE SIDE. I PREFER TO HIRE THAT LOCAL ELEMENT. THE MESSAGES, THIS IS A GOOD CAREER FOR YOU. IT IS MENTALLY TOUGH AT TIMES, IT IS A GREAT CAREER FOR SOMEONE TO GET INTO. THERE ARE THINGS, HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THE TRAINING FACILITY GOING, IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR THE FINANCE SIDE. IF WE CAN HELP PEOPLE ON THAT SIDE WHICH WE HOPE TO DO WITH THE TRAINING FACILITY. AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS NOT A TON OF EDUCATION. I DON'T HAVE THE STATISTICS WITH ME TODAY, THEY HAVE BACHELORS DEGREES AND MASTERS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THAT TO START. IF YOU WANT TO ADVANCE IN THE FIELD YOU WILL HAVE TO. TO START, IT IS EMT SCHOOL, FIRE SCHOOL, MEDIC SCHOOL. LOOKING AT TWO YEARS OF EDUCATION TO GET YOU A CAREER THAT STARTS AT $60,000 PER YEAR.

IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL PEOPLE TO GET INTO.

>> ALL RIGHT. IF THEY ARE INTERESTED, WHERE WOULD THEY GO TO APPLY? THEY ARE INTERESTED, I'M TRYING TO GET THEM TO YOU.

>> EDUCATION HAS TO COME FIRST. WE DO HIRE NOW. PORT ST. LUCIE IS PUTTING THEIR OWN ACADEMIES TOGETHER AS WELL. WE ARE NOT DOING THAT. WE ARE PAYING FOR PARAMEDIC SCHOOL. WHEN PEOPLE ARE REGISTERED FOR PARAMEDIC SCHOOL HAVE TO BE FIRE AND EMT.

THEY HAVE TO HAVE THAT. MAYBE THEY ARE LISTENING.

>> THEY HAVE TO BE FIRE CERTIFIED AND EMT CERTIFIED AND START PARAMEDIC SCHOOL AND WE WILL HIRE FROM THAT POINT. FROM THERE, OUR APPLICATIONS ARE WEB-BASED. THEY CAN ALWAYS COME TO THE MAIN ADMINISTRATION COMPLEX AND HR TO GET THE APPLICATION IN PERSON. MILLER WROTE AND PORT ST. LUCIE.

>> WE DO HAVE THE FIRE ACADEMY FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> IT IS A GREAT PLACE TO START. IT IS FULL. WE TURN PEOPLE AWAY CONSTANTLY. THAT IS ANOTHER AREA WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT GROWING THAT. WE HAVE 40+ CADETS IN THERE NOW. WE COULD PROBABLY EXPAND THAT A LOT FURTHER. WE DO TURN A LOT OF PEOPLE AWAY. I JUST GOT AN EMAIL BUT I DO NOT HAVE IT WITH ME.

HOW MANY OF OUR CADET GRADUATES ARE EMPLOYED WITH US TODAY. I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER. I ASKED FOR IT THE OTHER DAY AND EMAILED THIS MORNING. I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER WITH ME. IT IS NOT AS BIG AS I WOULD THINK. 42 PEOPLE. THE LIST IS ABOUT 20 PEOPLE OVER 20

YEARS. >> THAT IS WHAT I NEED TO KNOW.

I WILL TRY AND DO MY PART TO PUSH APPLICANTS YOUR WAY. YOU

GUYS TAKE IT FROM THERE. >> OKAY.

>> MR. TAYLOR. >> THANK YOU, MADAME MAYOR.

THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING WITH US TODAY I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. SO, YOU ARE WORKING ON A TRAINING FACILITY FOR ST. LUCIE

COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT? >> IT WILL GIVE US OUR IN-HOUSE TRAINING AS WELL. WE HAVE A LOT OF MANDATED HOURS AND ARE AN ACCREDITED AGENCY. EVERYTHING WE DO IS COUNTED AT THE END OF THE DAY. WE HAVE TO HAVE ENOUGH FACILITY HOURS AND THAT KIND OF THING. I WILL GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABILITY TOO. MY ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO CREATE AN ACADEMY WHERE WE CAN GET STATE

CERTIFIED INDIVIDUALS. >> WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP OR WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COLLEGE?

>> WE HAVE A GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COLLEGE.

WE DO A LOT OF TRAINING AT THE COLLEGE. THAT IS CURRENTLY WHERE MOST OF THE FACILITY TRAINING COMES FROM. THE COLLEGE IS GETTING BUSIER TOO. AS THE COUNTY GROWS, SO IS THE DEMAND ON THE COLLEGE. WE HAVE SEEN A DECLINE IN THE AVAILABILITY OF THE COLLEGE. THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SPARKED US, YOU KNOW WHAT, THE COLLEGE IS ALWAYS A GREAT RESOURCE AND GOOD FACILITY. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING OURSELVES AS WELL. I

[00:25:02]

RESOURCE. >> I THINK PSL POLICE WAS WORKING ON A TRAINING FACILITY AS WELL. THERE WERE SEVERAL I SAW COMING UP, FIRST RESPONDER TYPE TRAINING FACILITIES. I WAS JUST WONDERING WHAT IS KIND OF THE REASONING COMING FROM THE COLLEGE. THE SPECIFIC PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> FOR US, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PUT ENOUGH PEOPLE THROUGH SCHOOL IN ACADEMIES. THREE ACADEMIES A YEAR, I THINK.

THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT ENOUGH THROUGH.

>> WHAT IS THE LENGTH OF TIME IT TAKES TO GET THAT CERTIFICATION

TO BE ABLE TO APPLY? >> THE EMT CERTIFICATION, IT IS A SEMESTER. IT IS NOT LONG. FIRE SCHOOL IS JUST OVER A SEMESTER.

THOSE TWO, THE CORE THAT WE NEED, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A YEAR. A LOT OF IT IS TIMING. THAT IS THE HARD PART. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF PLACES YOU CAN GO TO GET INTO EMT SCHOOL. IF YOU GO INTO EMT SCHOOL AND COLLEGE, IT IS EASIER TO GET INTO THE

COLLEGE PROGRAM. >> IS THERE ANY RECRUITMENT EFFORTS GOING INTO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS GETTING KIDS OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL?

>> WE DO IT. CONSTANTLY IN THE COMMUNITY INTRODUCTIONS, STACY DOES A PHENOMENAL JOB, ALWAYS IN THE SCHOOLS, TALKING TO YOUNG KIDS. WE HAVE FIREFIGHTERS THERE. HIS RECRUITMENT WE ACTUALLY JUST TO CHANGE THAT OVER TO LIEUTENANT SANTA WHO IS A BIG PART OF THE CADET PROGRAM FOR YEARS. HE IS A GREAT AD. I HOPE THAT PROGRAM WILL GROW LITTLE BIT BETTER.

>> COOL. THAT IS ALL I HAD, THANK YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE. I ECHO COMMISSIONER GAINES, WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO HELP. STAY IN TOUCH. WE WANT YOU GUYS TO BE SUCCESSFUL TOO.

>> COMMISSIONER GAINES AT THE FIRE DISTRICT, A CULTURE OF FITNESS. YOU DO A LOT OF COACHING AND ATHLETICS. THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO BE A FIREFIGHTER. YEAH, EXACTLY. THEY HAVE TO BE READY TO STAY FIT. THAT, AND THE TRAINING AND THE COMBAT CHALLENGE AND ALL THOSE THINGS ARE EMPHASIZED AT THE FIRE DISTRICT. YOU ARE ENCOURAGING FEMALES NOW. THERE ARE FEMALES THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE FIREFIGHTERS TOO. EXACTLY. EXACTLY. ALSO, ON THE KINGS HIGHWAY STATION, AM I REMEMBERING RIGHT THAT IS AS MUCH FOR THE INTERSTATES AND SERVICING THEM AS WELL AS NORTH

FORT PIERCE? >> IN THE MIDDLE OF FORT PIERCE FOR THE MOST PART, RHODE ISLAND AND 25TH, THEY DO A LOT OF TURNPIKE HALLS . STATION 11 FROM OUT WEST, THEY GET PULLED IN AS A BACKUP. 19 WILL BE THE FIRST ENGINE FOR THOSE CALLS. THAT WILL KEEP THEM IN SERVICE BECAUSE THEY PRETTY MUCH ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE FOR THE WESTERN COMMUNITY AT ALL. CENTRAL IS SECONDARY TO THE BACKUP FOR THOSE CALLS. WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET THEM BACK IN SERVICE FASTER ALSO.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE THINK IN TERMS OF WHO TAKES CARE OF THE INTERSTATES AND THE TURNPIKE AND EVERYTHING. WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THAT AS THEY COME THROUGH OUR COUNTY. WE THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH. UNLESS THERE ARE ANY MORE QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING.

THANK YOU FOR BENDING TIME WITH US AND BRINGING US THE MESSAGE OF THE FIRE DISTRICT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[b. St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office Update by Sheriff Richard R. Del Toro, Jr.]

>> THANK YOU. >> WE WILL BE IN CONTACT.

>> ALL RIGHT, NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE ST. LUCIE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE UPDATE FROM SHERIFF RICHARD DEL TORO.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY LEAD-IN? >> WELCOME SIR.

>> MADAME MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF, WELCOME TO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND ST. LUCIE COUNTY. GREAT CITY WITH GREAT POTENTIAL, LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WHAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS THE VERY BEST. VERY EXCITED TO HAVE YOU HERE, SIR. SO, I WAS ASKED TO GIVE AN UPDATE, BASICALLY STATE OF THE UNION AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. WE ARE WEAKLY APPROACHING OUR 100TH DAY, APRIL 17, KIND OF A MILESTONE. A LOT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED DURING THAT TIME. I'M VERY HONORED AND BLESSED TO BE IN THIS POSITION AND TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY AT A

[00:30:03]

ON JANUARY 7TH, THE NIGHT I WAS SWORN IN, WE IMPLEMENTED THE STRATEGIC REIMPLEMENTATION OF THE ENTIRE AGENCY THAT CHANGE THE ENTIRE BUSINESS MODEL THERE. I PROMISED CHANGE, THAT IS WHAT THE VOTERS WANTED. I HAD NOT CHANGED THE STRUCTURE OF THE AGENCY MUCH IN THE LAST 40 YEARS. TWO SHERIFF'S IN THAT TIME. TWO SHERIFF'S, SAME BUSINESS MODEL. WE ALL KNOW IN BUSINESS, IF YOU ARE NOT CHANGING IN BUSINESS YOU ARE OUT OF BUSINESS. WE HAVE TO CHANGE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE.

THIS WENT FROM A VERY SMALL COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS TO A VERY FAST GROWING COMMUNITY AND THE GROWTH IS HERE TO STAY.

IT IS COMING. 360,000 RESIDENTS, 600,000 RESIDENTS WHEN IT IS ALL BUILT OUT. WE HAVE A PLAN TO MEET THAT. ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTICED THERE, A VERY SMALL COMMAND STAFF. NOT VERY LARGE AT ALL. THE AGENCY STRUGGLED BECAUSE OF THAT. THEY WERE DOING THINGS GOOD. BEING GOOD IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH. WE WANT TO BE A PREMIER AGENCY. THOSE CHANGES WERE NECESSARY. WE MADE THOSE CHANGES, WE HAVE EMBRACED THOSE CHANGES. ANYTIME THERE'S CHANGE WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION, THE FIRST THING PEOPLE ASK ALL THE TIME, HOW IS THAT GOING TO AFFECT ME? THAT IS NOT LOST ON ME. A LOT OF GOOD WORK HAS BEEN DONE HERE OVER THE LAST YEARS.

WE ARE GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENTS. REALLY IMPLEMENTING THE STANDARD OF PERFORMANCE THAT IS GOING TO HELP US ACHIEVE WHAT I PROMISED THAT I REALLY RAN ON, MAKING THIS THE SAFEST COUNTY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. IMPLANTING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS AND VALUES AND RUNNING A FISCALLY TRANSPARENT AND RESPONSIBLE BUDGET. WITH THE CREW THAT WE HAVE, THE TEAM THAT WE HAVE, WE SET THE VISION OUT, I HIRED THE PEOPLE NECESSARY THAT CAN EXECUTE THAT VISION AND WE ARE WELL ON OUR WAY. GREAT TEAMS, I'M SO THANKFUL FOR THEM EACH AND EVERY SINGLE DAY ON THE WORK THAT THEY DO. PART OF THE CRIME REDUCTION STRATEGY IS STARTING TO GET IMPLEMENTED. AN EVIDENCE-BASED POLICING STRATEGY WHERE WE USE A LOT OF DATA, A LOT OF ANALYSIS. TO REALLY IMPLEMENT THIS STRATEGY, IT IS GOING VERY WELL. WE HAVE SEEN SOME GOOD WORK AND RESULTS SO FAR BEING DONE WITH THAT. WE ARE GOING TO BE VERY DATA-DRIVEN. EVERYONE IS FIGHTING OVER RESOURCES, CHIEF LEE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE. WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT OUR RESOURCES AND REALLY WORKING TOGETHER. YOU WILL HEAR THAT AS A COMMON THEME, WORKING TOGETHER. WE ARE ALL STRUGGLING AND FIGHTING OVER THOSE RESOURCES. WORKING TOGETHER IS THE ONLY WAY WILL ACHIEVE WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE HERE IN THIS COUNTY. WE BEGIN THE PHASES OF ACCREDITATION. WE ARE STATE ACCREDITED, WE WANT TO BE INTERNATIONALLY ACCREDITED. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS A SORE SUBJECT FOR ME IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IS THAT THIS IS AN HONORABLE PROFESSION. THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT FALL SHORT OF THAT HONOR FROM TIME TO TIME AND DO THINGS THAT DISCREDIT US. ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT GETS PAINTED WITH A BROAD BRUSH, OUT OF 18,000 LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THIS COUNTRY ONLY 6% ARE INTERNATIONALLY ACCREDITED. I CAME FROM AN INTERNATIONALLY ACCREDITED AGENCY, 400 OF THE BEST POLICIES AND PRACTICES IN PLACE. WHEN YOU HAVE BETTER POLICIES AND PRACTICES IN PLACE EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A HIGH RISK JOB YOU WILL HAVE BETTER OUTCOMES IN THE LONG RUN OR FROM TIME TO TIME. THIS IS STILL A TOUGH JOB THOUGH. YOU HAVE TO MAKE SPLIT-SECOND DECISIONS WITH A LOT OF INEXPERIENCE AND LACK OF TRAINING. THE TRAINING

[00:35:03]

FINALLY, DEVELOP A TRANSPARENT AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE BUDGET.

THAT HAS NOT BEEN DONE HERE OVER THE YEARS. IT HAS BEEN VERY SECRETIVE. YOU GUYS KNOW MY BACKGROUND, WHERE I CAME FROM, I WORK WITH A BOARD, I WORKED WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, WORKING TOGETHER. I DON'T KNOW ANY OTHER WAY TO DO IT. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE BEEN VERY TRANSPARENT WITH THEM ABOUT OUR DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES. WE ARE FINDING DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES EVERY DAY THROUGH DIFFERENT AUDITS IN THE AGENCY AND BUDGET. IT IS A BIG OPERATION, WE GET FUNDING FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, FUNDING FROM FEDERAL AND INMATE HOUSING, THINGS LIKE THAT. THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT MONEY SOURCES THERE. WE HAVE TO PUT OUR BUDGET TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE WE ARE BEING GOOD PARTNERS WITH OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. DEVELOP A VERY ROBUST AND STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WILL TIE INTO THE BUDGET FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. IT IS NOT FAIR TO COME TO THE COMMISSION WITH SURPRISES LIKE, I NEED 40 CARS. WE HAVE TO WORK THE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY AND STRETCH TAX DOLLARS. YOU GUYS KNOW THIS AS ELECTED OFFICIALS. THE ONE THING THAT IS ON EVERYBODY'S MIND RIGHT NOW IS TAXES. WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THE HIGHEST VALUE FOR THE TAX DOLLARS WE ARE SPENDING. I DON'T MIND SPENDING MONEY ON A MEAL AT A GOOD RESTAURANT. THAT IS WHAT THIS JOB TO ME IS ALL ABOUT. IT IS NOT WHAT WE DO, IT IS WHY WE DO IT. IF WE CAN GET THE ATTITUDE RIGHT AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, PUT THE EGOS ASIDE, SERVICE PEOPLE WHICH IS OUR PURPOSE, WORKING TOGETHER, I THINK THIS GUY IS THE LIMIT, I AM EXCITED TO PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND PORT ST.

LUCIE. TALKING ABOUT WHAT I CAN DO TO HELP HER AND HER TEAM. IT IS NOT GOING TO BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND. I AM NOT HERE TO BE SERVED AT ALL. I AM HERE TO SERVE PEOPLE, SERVE YOU, TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO DO IT. IT HAS ONLY BEEN 100 DAYS. NOT ENOUGH HOURS IN THE DAY. SO MUCH WE WANT TO DO AND ACCOMPLISH. I WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT

ANYBODY MAY HAVE. >> I'M EXCITED TO HAVE YOU

HERE. COMMISSIONER GAINES. >> WHERE IS YOUR VIDEO? I'M JUST JOKING. WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE. THIS IS NOT OUR FIRST TIME MEETING. WE HAVE BEEN OUT HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.

SIDE-BY-SIDE, DOING WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DO. I KNOW YOUR PASSION FOR THE COMMUNITY. YOU MET WITH OUR CHIEF. YOU GUYS HAVE YOUR IDEAS OF HOW YOU WANT TO DO IT. I AM A SUPPORTER OF YOU. I YOUR SWEARING-IN AND YOUR SUPPORT. ANYTHING YOU NEED, I AM HERE. AS YOU SAY, LET'S MAKE ST. LUCIE COUNTY ONE OF THE BEST COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND IN AMERICA. WE CAN TAKE IT FROM

THEE. >> AMEN TO THAT, THANK YOU, SIR.

>> THANK YOU, SHERIF, FOR BEING HERE. WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO COME AND BE WITH US. WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE YOU IN THEIR SEEING THE CHANGE THAT YOU IMPLEMENTED. YOU HAVE ASSEMBLED WHITE A TEAM. SOME FAMILIAR FACES WE HAVE SEEN BEFORE. REALLY EXCITING TO SEE THE MANAGEMENT DIRECTION CHANGING FOR THE BETTER. I WAS STARTING TO WONDER IF YOU ARE ONLY HIRING BALD PEOPLE AT FIRST.

[00:40:01]

>> WE ARE BALDING. YES. >> I'M STARTING TO SEE A PATTERN. THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON HERE. I KNOW IT HAS ONLY BEEN 100 DAYS. TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN AS FAR AS INTERACTION WITH THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THERE IS HISTORIC, BEEN A LOT OF INTERACTION. PARTNERSHIPS. I THINK THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WAS DOING A LOT OF THE INVESTIGATIONS AND STUFF LIKE THAT IN THE PAST. WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR A STRONGER PARTNERSHIP?

>> I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP FOR MY TIME IN PORT ST. LUCIE, I THINK SHE HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB HERE WITH HER CHALLENGES WITH RECRUITING AND RETENTION. SHE DOES IT WITH SUCH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE. AS A BOARD, ANYBODY WE HAVE HIRED FROM FORT PIERCE NEVER LEFT THE AGENCY. IT REALLY CAME DOWN TO ECONOMICS.

WE ARE FACING THAT WITH SALARY CORRECTIONS THAT HAPPENED RECENTLY OVER THE PAST YEAR. A MARKET CORRECTION. THOSE CHALLENGES ARE STILL GOING TO BE THERE. WE HAVE ALWAYS WORKED WELL TOGETHER. I REALLY WANTED TO MAKE IT A POINT TO ME WITH HER AT THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT. JUST AS A SIGN TO SHOW HER THAT I AM HERE TO SERVE HER AND WHATEVER I CAN DO TO HELP WITH THE PROBLEMS WE ARE FACING. EVERYONE SEEMS TO THINK THAT THESE AGENCIES GET ALONG ALL THE TIME. WE HAD A WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE DURING MY TIME AT PORT ST. LUCIE, I NEVER REMEMBER THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE COME INTO MY OFFICE AND SAYING, WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE THE CITY A SAFER CITY? IT IS ALWAYS AT THE EGO LEVEL OF THE ADMINISTRATIONS. THE OPPORTUNITY IS THERE IF WE KEEP IN PERSPECTIVE WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING WHICH IS SERVING THE PUBLIC AND NOT WORRYING ABOUT WHO GETS THE CREDIT OR WHO IS IN CHARGE AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT. DURING THE FEDERAL PROSECUTION WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TRIAL HERE, WE ARE TRYING TO DO A SIMPLE THING, FOR PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS REACHING OUT TO THE AGENCY FOR EXTRA RESOURCES. IT WAS A BIG SHOVING MATCH, WILL BE IN CHARGE OF THE OPERATION. THAT IS FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE TO BE IN CHARGE OF. I WANT TO ASSIST, ANYTHING I CAN DO. JUST BECAUSE I AM THE SHERIFF, I DON'T WANT TO BE TELLING EVERYBODY WHAT TO DO. YOU HAVE YOUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE OPPORTUNITY, I THINK WHAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE HERE IS A DIFFERENT MENTALITY AND PARTNERSHIP. WE ARE TAKING ON MORE OF A PURPOSE DRIVEN APPROACH AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. THAT WILL TAKE TIME BECAUSE THERE IS A CULTURE THERE. THERE ARE SOME CHALLENGES TO DO THAT. LIKE TURNING A CRUISE SHIP AROUND ON A DIME. IT WILL TAKE TIME. THERE IS A NEW STANDARD THERE, A NEW EXPECTATION THERE, THE EMPLOYEES ARE GETTING TO LEARN THAT THROUGH DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS.

THE SKY IS THE LIMIT. WE UNDERSTAND OUR ROLL HERE TO SUPPORT YOU AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE HERE TO DO, TO SUPPORT

PEOPLE. >> ONE THING WE HAVE IDENTIFIED, I HAVE ONLY BEEN HERE 100 DAYS TOO. THE CONFUSION OF JURISDICTION. BECAUSE OF THE ANNEXATION PATTERN OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE CAN PRESENT. PUBLIC SAFETY IS ONE OF THOSE AS WELL. NOT KNOWING IF YOU WILL HAVE A PROPERTY RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER THAT ARE IN THE COUNTY OR THE CITY. HE MAKES A LOT OF CONFUSING THINGS HAPPEN. WHAT IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY ON THAT? I WOULD HOPE AND BELIEVE THAT YOU GUYS GET THE CALL AND ANSWER

THE CALL. >> 100%.

>> WE ARE NOT FIGHTING OVER WHOSE JURISDICTION IT IS. I KNOW THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN. I WANT TO KNOW THE CHALLENGES THAT CREATES. JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AS A PROBLEM AND SOMETHING WE WANT TO CHANGE AND FIX. AND SQUARING OFF OUR CITY BOUNDARIES AND MAKING THIS A LITTLE EASIER FOR EVERYBODY.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE DISCOVERED COMING IN IS OUR PATROL ZONES HAVE NOT CHANGED IN 40 YEARS. THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES TO THE COUNTY IN 40 YEARS. ANNEXATIONS FROM BOTH CITIES. WE ARE ONLY SERVICING ON THE INVESTIGATIONS LEVEL 80,000 RESIDENTS HERE IN THE INCORPORATED AREAS. OUR NEW INTELLIGENCE MANAGER, ANALYSIS MANAGER, WE WERE NOT USING ANY TYPE OF DATA, LINES DRAWN ACROSS THE MAP, THEY DID THEIR BEST, 40

[00:45:08]

EVERYBODY WANTS TO CRITICIZE US. WE ARE DOING THE BEST THAT WE CAN WITH THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE. THERE IS TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL. IT IS A GREAT CITY WITH GREATER POTENTIAL. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANY TYPE OF -- NO TYPE OF DISPUTES IF IT IS THE CITIES. I AM EXPECTING THE CITY TO HANDLE IT, IF THEY NEED US FOR ANY TYPE OF HELP, DIVE TEAM, S.W.A.T.

TEAM, AVIATION, I NEED TO GET A HELICOPTER LIKE CHIEF LEE. I NEED TO BECOME MY OWN TAXING DISTRICT.

>> NO THANK YOU. >> NO THANK YOU. THERE WILL NOT BE ANY DROP OFF IN SERVICE. WE ARE FOCUSED ON RECONFIGURING OUR ZONES WE ARE FOCUSED ON AREAS THAT WE NEED TO.

>> ONE OTHER THING, IT IS TOP OF MIND. THAT HAS BEEN A FOCUS FOR PEOPLE. THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF MISCONCEPTIONS AND MISINFORMATION AROUND THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AND THE RELATIONSHIP WITH TRINITY FIVE AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. JUST BECAUSE WE ARE HERE TODAY, TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT THAT RELATIONSHIP IS.

>> GOVERNOR DESANTIS HAS PUT OUT A MANDATE THAT WE WILL WORK WITH I.C.E. MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE AGREEMENTS SIGNED WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES. OBVIOUSLY THOSE ARE FEDERAL CRIMES. AS STATE, LOCAL, OFFICIALS, WE CANNOT GO IN AND ENFORCE THOSE TYPES OF CRIMES.

WE ARE BEING TRAINED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. THERE IS A BIG COURT BATTLE GOING ON RIGHT NOW. THE LAW THAT WAS PASSED RECENTLY IN TERMS OF STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT, STATE LAW ENFORCING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION WAS STRUCK DOWN. WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ENFORCE THOSE TYPES OF LAWS. IT IS JUST CODIFYING AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER. MY POSITION, UNFORTUNATELY, IS A POLITICAL POSITION. I DON'T BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE REPRESENTED BY PARTY. I THINK LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD BE INDEPENDENT FROM THAT. HOWEVER, THE GAME IS WHAT IT IS. WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO UPHOLDING THE LAW AND THE CONSTITUTION, I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE IN DOING THAT AND I MUST FULFILL THOSE DUTIES. IF WE WANT TO SEE LAWS CHANGED, THAT IS FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVES, CONGRESS, THINGS LIKE THAT. THOSE ELECTIONS ARE SO IMPORTANT. MY JOB IS MORE ON THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE. WE HAVE A LOT OF RUMORS AND MISINFORMATION BEING PUT OUT THERE. THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO IS BE TRANSPARENT AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS AS THEY COME. THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE PRESIDENTS TOP PRIORITIES. ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. THAT WAS ONE OF HIS PLATFORMS THAT HE RAN ON. I HAVE HAD SOME GREAT CONVERSATIONS WITH GREAT COMMUNITY LEADERS THAT ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE. I AM MARRIED TO AN IMMIGRANT BY THE WAY. MY WIFE CAME HERE FROM ARGENTINA AND WAS SEPARATED FROM HER FAMILY FOR CLOSE TO FIVE YEARS AND HER FATHER CAME HERE ON A WORK VISA. I AM VERY COMPASSIONATE WHEN IT COMES TO THIS SUBJECT. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MANDATED THAT WE WILL UPHOLD THE LAW WHEN IT COMES TO THIS. THERE IS ALSO BEEN A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE LOCAL LEVEL FOR CITIES TO SIGN ON WITH THESE THINGS AS WELL. WE ARE HERE TO BE THE LEAD ON THIS THOUGH. I AM THE POLITICIAN AND I WILL TAKE THE HITS. I DON'T THINK IT IS FAIR TO BE PUT IN THOSE WINDOWS TO BE HONEST WITH YOU. I WILL BE THE LEAD ON THIS ISSUE AND IF WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER ON CERTAIN THINGS, WE WILL DO THAT MOVING FORWARD.

>> THERE WERE A FEW MINUTES POLITIES THAT HAVE HAD RESOLUTIONS TO THAT EFFECT. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE JUST STATEMENTS THAT WE ARE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER OR WHATEVER. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THE MUNICIPALITIES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT AT SOME POINT? GOVERNOR DESANTIS ON THE COUNTY

AGENCIES? >> IT STARTED WITH THE SHERIFFS, FIRST AND FOREMOST AND WITH THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL. I

[00:50:05]

THE DIRECTION WE ARE BEING GIVEN FROM OUR HIGHEST POLITICAL OFFICIAL HERE, THE JOE -- GOVERNOR AND WHAT THAT ENTAILS.

WE THANK YOU FOR PUBLICLY DISCUSSING ALL THAT.

>> WE ARE NOT GOING INTO SCHOOLS. WE ARE NOT DOING THINGS

SUCH AS THAT. >> WE HAVE BECOME A SOCIAL MEDIA RESPONSE TEAM TWO DIFFERENT ISSUES. HEY, WE HAVE TO CHANGE WITH THE TIMES. LIKE WE SAID BEFORE, RIGHT?

>> THAT IS ALL I HAVE, THANK YOU, SHERIFF.

>> SHERIFF, A YEAR WISER, HAPPY BIRTHDAY. SOCIAL MEDIA, RIGHT? I THINK YOU FOR BEING HERE. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE DOING THIS . THIS IS SOMETHING I WANTED TO SEE HAPPEN, BOTH YOU AND THE FIRE CHIEF. SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HAVE THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE RESIDENTS WHO WATCH THIS MEETING AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE GETTING FIRSTHAND INFORMATION ON STUFF WE MIGHT HEAR IN MEETINGS THAT THEY ARE NOT PRIVY OR DO NOT GO TO. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU, AND REALLY KIND OF HELP COLOR IN SOME INFORMATION AND DISPEL SOME RUMORS THAT ARE OUT THERE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, FIRST OF ALL. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL CONTINUE. PART OF MY CONCERN IS THAT AS WE ARE GROWING AS A CITY, I HAVE PUSHED THIS AND I AM STILL PUSHING IT, THERE WILL COME A TIME IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE WHERE THESE THREE COUNCILS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MEET. ONE OF MY CONCERNS WHEN IT COMES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. I THINK THAT THE THREE AGENCIES SHOULD BE MEETING. MY CONCERN IS THE ACTIVITY AND HOW THESE CERTAIN ELEMENTS UNDERSTAND OUR PATTERNS AND MOVE BETWEEN OUR CITIES AND COUNTIES. HOPEFULLY WITH DATA, I'M GLAD TO HEAR YOU SAY THAT , THAT YOU WILL APPROACH THE SITUATION. I KNOW OF SITUATIONS WHERE THEY LIVE IN A CERTAIN AREA BUT THEY COME HERE TO DO WHATEVER BEEF THEY HAVE AND THEY GO BACK TO WHAT THEY PERCEIVE TO BE A SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT FOLLOWS THEM BACK TO THAT AREA. HOW HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO UNCOVER SOME OF THIS AND DEAL WITH THIS? CERTAINLY I AM ENCOURAGING THAT.

THERE NEEDS TO BE A SUMMIT BETWEEN THESE DEPARTMENTS TO

REALLY FOCUS ON THIS. >> WE GET ALONG VERY WELL. I GET ALONG WITH MY FORMER STAFF AT THE CITY OF PORT ST. LUCIE. I'VE ALWAYS GONE ALONG WITH THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE INGREDIENTS ARE THERE. JUST FINDING THE TIME TO GET TOGETHER. YOU ARE RIGHT. WE HAVE TO SHARE INFORMATION. WE CANNOT BE SECRETIVE AND WORK ACROSS BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENTS AGAIN WITH THE COMMON GOAL OF MAKING THIS THE BEST IT CAN BE.

THE PEOPLE ARE THERE TO DO THAT.

>> RIGHT. MADAME MAYOR, MR. CHAIR, AS WE WORK WITH OUR CITY AND COUNTY IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE HAVE NOW ENFORCEMENT AS A PART OF THAT CONVERSATION. THERE NEEDS TO BE AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW WE CAN BETTER SUPPORT THAT AND WHAT THEY ARE SEEING FROM DATA. WE ULTIMATELY ARE GOING TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AS SITTING COMMISSIONERS ABOUT HOW WE DEAL WITH CRIME AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WHEN WE ARE MEETING WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS THAT THIS BE A TOPIC. SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND. TO GO ALONG WITH THAT, THERE WILL NEED TO BE RESOURCES. THERE ARE PROBABLY GAPS THAT WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND. TECHNOLOGY THINGS THAT ARE NOT COMMUNICATING.

STRATEGICALLY AS I AM THINKING ABOUT THIS, THAT IS WHAT IS TOP OF MY MIND. HOW TO MAKE ALL OF THESE SYSTEMS WORK. I KIND OF KNOW WHAT WE HAVE AT FORT PIERCE I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE AT PORT ST. LUCIE AS FAR AS THESE RESOURCES. IF THEY DON'T TALK TO EACH OTHER AND ARE NOT ALIGNED, TWO YEARS BEHIND IN DATA TECHNOLGY COMPARED TO WHERE YOU ARE, WE HAVE A CHALLENGE HERE. THOSE ARE GAPS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE WE ARE A GROWING FAST CITY HERE IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. THAT IS IMPORTANT. LAST THING I WOULD HAVE, I DON'T KNOW. I'M JUST ASKING THIS UP FRONT. WE MADE A BIG INVESTMENT WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT BY BUYING BODY WORN CAMERAS. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS PART OF YOUR AGENDA?

>> I WAS A BIG PROPONENT OF IT WHEN WE WERE AT THE CITY OF PORT ST. LUCIE. WE ALREADY HAD BODY WORN CAMERAS WHEN I CAME IN, THEY ARE FABULOUS. THIS COMES BACK TO THE BUSINESS MODEL. YOU HAVE TO FIND OUT WHAT PEOPLE WANT. WE LOST THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT WITH THE PUBLIC. THE PUBLIC WANTS MORE TRANSPARENCY,

[00:55:02]

>> THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT. I WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY. IT PROTECTS OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. THE CAMERAS ARE THERE. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I WILL BE PUSHING FROM THIS SIDE. I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW THAT THESE AGENCIES ARE TALKING AND WE ARE GETTING INFORMATION SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND. SO THAT WE HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN WITH THE CITY OF WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO GO, ULTIMATELY. IF YOU HAVE YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN, I WOULD LOVE TO READ IT TO UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU ARE. WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AS WELL. AT THE VERY TOP OF THAT IS MAKING FORT PIERCE THAT BEAUTIFUL PLACE THAT PEOPLE WANT TO BE. WE WILL NEED YOUR HELP, THE CHIEFS HELP AND THE CHIEF IN PORK ST. LUCIE AS WELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR

BEING HERE. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. NUVEEN NO BEATING ME AT THE CLAY SHOOTING.

>> IT WAS FUN THOUGH. I THINK THAT IS FOUR YEARS IN A ROW THAT I BEAT YOU. A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. ONE, SO THAT I UNDERSTAND THE POSITIONS HERE. YOUR ELECTED CONSTITUTIONAL OFFER -- OFFICER IN THE COUNTY OF ST. LUCIE. MY UNDERSTANDING IS PART AND PARCEL FOR THAT POSITION YOU ARE THE CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FOR THE COUNTY. IS THAT A FAIR

DESCRIPTION? >> TECHNICALLY THE STATE ATTORNEY IS THE CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. THEY DECIDE WHO GETS PROSECUTED AND DOES NOT. HE REALLY HOLDS THE POWER WHEN IT COMES TO THAT. OUR GREAT STATE ATTORNEY HERE. IT IS VIEWED, THE SHERIFF IS VIEWED IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AS BEING THE CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IN THE COUNTY. WHEN YOU ARE VIEWED THAT WAY, IT COMES WITH A VERY BIG RESPONSIBILITY AND EXPECTATION THAT YOU HAVE TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE MIND-SET, EGO, HAS TO STAY IN CHECK ALL THE TIME. YOU CANNOT FORGET WHERE YOU COME FROM AND YOU CANNOT FORGET WE ARE HERE TO SERVE PEOPLE. THAT IS WHAT GOVERNMENT IS HERE TO DO. PROVIDE SERVICES TO PEOPLE. I DO TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN THE FACT THAT I GET TO SERVE IN A HIGHER LEVEL. I NEVER FORGET THE FACT OF WHY I'M HERE AND WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.

OUR BUDGET IS ABOUT $100 MILLION ON THE BOOKS AND OFF THE BOOKS WE GET ABOUT ANOTHER $10 MILLION FROM THE SCHOOLS. WHEN I WORKED AT THE CITY OF PORT ST. LUCIE, EVEN THOUGH WE PARTICIPATED IN THE SCHOOL RESOURCE PROGRAM WE WOULD GET ONLY HALF FUNDING FOR OUR OFFICERS EVEN THOUGH WE HAD SEVEN OR EIGHT OFFICERS THERE.

SO WE ARE LOOKING AS A STAFF AND I KNOW YOU GET TREATED THE SAME WAY AS FAR AS NOT GETTING ANY FUNDING FOR YOUR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE MAKING COMMITMENTS. I AM HERE TO TELL YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE FUNDING THERE AND REIMBURSING YOUR TO COVER 100% OF THE OFFICER COST. THAT IS ONE OF OUR STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE COPYING FAIR AND TREAT PEOPLE HOW WE WANT TO BE TREATED. I NEVER APPRECIATED THAT WHEN I WAS OUTSIDE LOOKING IN. WE ARE GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS

[01:00:02]

LUCIE. 86% OF THE BUDGET IS SALARY AND BENEFITS BUT, WHEN THE COUNTY GIVES ME $100 MILLION TO SPEND, IT SHOULD BE SPENT ON THE THINGS WE SAY IT WILL BE SPENT ON, I CAN SPEND IT ON WHATEVER I WANT. I DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK BEFORE THE COUNTY COMMISSION. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THAT IS IN THE LAW. THAT IS WHY THE SHERIFF IS SUCH A POWERFUL POSITION CONSTITUTIONALLY. I HAVE MY OWN HUMAN RESOURCE, MY OWN FINANCE DEPARTMENT. IT IS OVER 800 EMPLOYEES. IT IS BIG. BUT WITH THAT POWER COMES THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THINGS THE RIGHT WAY SO I AM SCOOTING INTO A BUDGET THAT I AM COMFORTABLE WITH. WE ARE GOING TO EXPLAIN TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION NO MORE SHELL GAME. WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT WHERE IT IS SPENT. I AM NOT GOING TO BE ASKING FOR THINGS I DON'T THINK WE NEED THAT RETENTION IS IMPORTANT SO A LOT OF THIS WILL BE FOCUSED ON CORRECTING SALARIES. IT IS NO SECRET OUR SISTER CITY TO THE SOUTH JUST DID A 24% ACROSS-THE-BOARD WAGE INCREASE. WITH FIVE AND FIVE THE TWO YEARS AFTER THAT. I USED TO BE THEIR BIGGEST FAN BUT I AM NOT ANYMORE. BUT, IT IS NOT APPLES TO APPLES BECAUSE THEIR HEALTHCARE IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN IT IS. THEIR RETIREMENT IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE SHERIFF S OFFICE. IT IS NOT AS FAR OFF AS WE THINK IT IS BUT, I HAVE BEEN TOLD BEFORE THAT THE SHERIFF WAS GIVEN MONEY FOR SALARY AND RAISES AND DID NOT PUT THEM TOWARDS THE RAISES SO WE HAVE PEOPLE BEING LEFT BEHIND AND WE HAVE TO CORRECT THOSE THINGS MOVING FORWARD SO I AM COMMITTED TO A TRANSPARENT BUDGET AND A MUCH MORE TRANSPARENT BUDGET THAN THEY HAVE HAD IN THE PAST BUT GOING THROUGH SOME OF THESE THINGS LIKE FEDERAL INMATES FOR EXAMPLE. WE GET ABOUT 80 HOURS PER DAY TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $3 MILLION PER YEAR THAT COMES INTO AN ACCOUNT THAT WE HAVE. WE USE THAT MONEY FOR IMPROVEMENTS AT THE JAIL AND MANY DIFFERENT THINGS. GOING BACK THROUGH THAT CONTRACT, IT HAS NOT BEEN RENEGOTIATED SINCE 2009 AND WE SHOULD BE GETTING ABOUT $120 PER DAY FOR THOSE INMATES. SO, THOSE ARE A LOT OF THE THINGS. WE ARE TAKING A BUSINESS LIKE APPROACH TO LINING THOSE THINGS WHERE WE HAVE MISSED OPPORTUNITIES AND FOCUS ON THOSE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENTS. THE BUDGET IS GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTING BUT MAY FIRST MY BUDGET IS DUE BY LAW SO, WE ARE WORKING ON IT EVERY SINGLE DAY. OUR TEAM IS WORKING EXTREMELY HARD TO DO

THIS. >> THE REASON I WAS ASKING, I WAS USING OUR NUMBERS IN COMPARISON TO THE COUNTY BUDGET.

[01:05:03]

A TECHNICAL QUESTION, THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE IS BLESSED WITH A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WATERFRONT AND I ALWAYS HAVE QUESTIONS AS TO WHO IS ACTUALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR PATROLLING THAT WATER BECAUSE WE HAVE FVC, WE HAVE THE STATE, WE HAVE YOU. WE HAVE THE

INLET. >> COAST GUARD.

>> I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE COAST GUARD BECAUSE IT IS A REAL SENSE OF SECURITY. WHERE DOES THIS FOLLOW INTO THE MATRIX

PATROLLING THE COASTLINE. >> THE WATERWAYS UP TO A CERTAIN POINT ARE LOCAL WATERWAYS SO, WE DO PARTNER WITH EVERYBODY HERE.

WE ARE AT THE PELICAN YACHT CLUB AND THAT IS WHERE OUR BOAT IS STORED. WE HAVE TWO FULL-TIME DEPUTIES ASSIGNED TO THAT AND I THINK THAT IS WOEFULLY UNDERSTAFFED FOR THE AMOUNT OF BOATING THAT GOES ON IN THE COUNTY. THAT IS ONE OF THE JEWELS OF THE CITY AND THE COUNTY IS THAT INLET. IT DOES FALL UNDER LOCAL JURISDICTION. AS FAR AS CITY OR COUNTY, I AM NOT SURE HOW THAT APPLIES TO MARITIME BUT I DO KNOW UP TO A CERTAIN POINT IT CROSSES OVER FROM LOCAL TO FEDERAL WATERWAY.

>> I THINK WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU HOUSED ON THE ISLAND. I TALKED TO YOUR GUYS AND THEY ARE PLEADING FOR MORE RESOURCES BUT IT IS ALWAYS OF INTEREST TO ME BECAUSE THERE IS ALWAYS SPECULATION THERE COULD BE A LOT OF ILLICIT ACTIVITY COMING INTO THE PORT BECAUSE OF THE ACCESSIBILITY WITH BOATS COMING IN TO DO WRONG THINGS AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT WITH OUR DEPARTMENT, YOUR AGENCY AND THESE STATES KIND OF WHO IS IN CONTROL HERE.

THE CITY IS IMPLEMENTING A CODE ENFORCEMENT CAPABILITY OUT OF OUR CITY MARINA BUT, THAT IS NOT THE POLICING ACTIVITY THAT WE NEED. AND YOUR AIR UNIT. ARE THOSE SEPARATE TOO? ARE THEY

COMBINED? >> THE AVIATION UNIT IS SEPARATE FROM THE MARINE UNIT. THE AVIATION UNIT, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS. WE ARE FLYING A 1973 HELICOPTER AND IT IS NOT GETTING BETTER WITH AGE. THE PILOTS DO A GREAT JOB KEEPING UP WITH IT BUT IT IS HARDER AND HARDER TO FIND PARTS FOR A HELICOPTER THAT AGE SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT DOING SOMETHING FUNDING WISE FOR THAT. YOU'RE TALKING IN THE LINE OF $7 MILLION FOR A HELICOPTER OR. I'M NOT ASKING FOR THAT IN THIS BUDGET.

>> THE COUNTY COMMISSION, YOU HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSION UNTIL YOU MAKE YOUR ASK AND THAT COULD CHANGE THAT, YOU HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ELECTED OFFICIALS THERE WHICH I THINK IS A REAL BENEFIT.

>> I JUST DON'T THINK THEY HAVE BEEN TREATED FAIRLY OVER THE YEARS BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. TRUST TAKES YEARS TO BUILD. I'M NOT GOING TO GET THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT OR THAT TRUST RIGHT AWAY. ALTHOUGH I HAVE GOOD PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM, WORKING RELATIONSHIPS ARE DIFFERENT. I DO REALIZE WE TAKE THE MAJORITY OF THE MONEY AND THAT TAKES AWAY FROM THE PROJECTS THEY WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON AS OFFICIALS BUT SAFETY AND SECURITY IS SOMETHING WE CAN AGREE ON AND AS LONG AS WE PROVIDE THE OUTPUT OF A SAFER ST. LUCIE COUNTY, THAT IS SOMETHING THEY CAN TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN SO THAT IS MORE OF A WIN-WIN. IT IS NOT ABOUT WHO IS GETTING THE CREDIT. IT'S BE MORE TRANSPARENT AND HAVING A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH

THE COUNTY. >> IT STRIKES ME AS AN OBSERVATION THAT YOUR VEHICLES ARE CRISSCROSSING THE CITY CONSTANTLY GOING FROM ONE AREA THAT YOU ARE DESIGNATED TO PATROL TO ANOTHER AREA YOU ARE DESIGNATED TO PATROL AND I SEE YOUR SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT STAFF WORKING AS BACKUP TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT ON TRAFFIC CALLS AND VICE VERSA, WHICH I THINK THAT

[01:10:08]

>> I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I AM REALLY PLEASED TO HAVE A SHERIFF THAT HAS BEEN A POLICE CHIEF BECAUSE I THINK YOU CAN PUT YOURSELF IN THE PLACE OF THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT AND I THINK, TO ME, THAT PERSPECTIVE IS GOING TO MAKE OUR WORKING RELATIONSHIP REALLY GREAT AND I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AND THAT WHOLE PROGRAM HAS RISEN SO MUCH IN IMPORTANCE BECAUSE OF SCHOOL SHOOTINGS. I AM ASSUMING THAT OUR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AND POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE TRAINING ALL OF THE TIME TO DEAL WITH THAT. CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT?

>> JUST THE DEPUTIE ALONE, NOT COUNTING THE OTHER TWO AGENCIES, WE HAVE 65 SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS ACROSS THE COUNTY IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY. IT IS A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY AND DECENTRALIZED ACROSS THE COUNTY BUT THEY ARE THERE FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE WHICH IS TO KEEP OUR COUNTIES SAFE. THERE WERE A LOT OF RUMORS THAT I WAS GOING TO CONSOLIDATE IT BACK TO JUST BEING SHERIFF DEPUTIES AND JUSTICE IT IS INVOLVES. FROM A CONTROL PERSPECTIVE IT MAKES SENSE FOR ME TO DO THAT. WE WANTED TYPICAL SYSTEMATIC RESPONSE. THE EXPECTATIONS ARE CLEAR HOWEVER I DO SEE A LOT OF VALUE OF HAVING SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS FROM THE CITY OF PORT ST. LUCIE AND FORT PIERCE BEING INVOLVED IN THE CITIES AND THE SCHOOLS IN THE CITIES AND GETTING TO KNOW THE KIDS THAT GO THERE. THE ONLY THING WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE, I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE THE FUNDING IS THERE FOR THOSE OFFICERS. I JUST WANT A COMMITMENT AND I KNOW IT WON'T BE AN ISSUE BETWEEN US ALL. IT IS MAKING SURE THAT WE RESPOND THE SAME WAY, WE TRAINED TOGETHER, WE WORKED TOGETHER. IT IS NOT ABOUT WHAT WE DO BUT WHY WE ARE DOING IT. WE ARE HERE TO KEEP THE STUDENTS AND THE STAFF SAFE. IF WE COULD TAKE AWAY ALL OF THE OTHER STUFF, THE EGOS THAT INVOLVED, WHICH I THINK IS NOT PRESENT HERE CURRENTLY, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A SUPERIOR PRODUCT AND WORK FOR THE GREATER GOOD. THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO WORK TO

DO. >> I KNOW THAT IS A BIG RESPONSIBILITY AND WE APPRECIATE ALL OF THE ATTENTION YOU PAY TO IT. I KNOW THAT THE LEGISLATURE, WHEN THEY ALLOCATE MONEY FOR%-Ú TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICER, THE SHERIFF AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS GET SHORT -- AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU RECOGNIZE THAT. AND I ALSO APPRECIATE THAT EVEN THOUGH YOU WERE THE PORT ST. LUCIE POLICE CHIEF AND YOU ARE A PORT ST.

LUCIE DOES SHE RECOGNIZE FORT PIERCE IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE COUNTY AND I KNOW YOU DO BECAUSE I HAVE TALKED WITH YOU PERSONALLY ABOUT IT SO, I APPRECIATE THAT AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE IN YOUR FIRST 100 DAYS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT FOUR YEARS OR YEARS BEYOND THAT.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> THANK YOU.

[c. Presentation of the Draft Resilience Vulnerability Assessment by Sandra Bogan, St. Lucie County Resilience Navigator]

>> THE NEXT ITEM IS THE PRESENTATION OF THE DRESSED RESILIENCE OF VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT BY SANDRA BOGAN, ST.

LUCIE COUNTY RESILIENCE NAVIGATOR.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY LEAVE INTO THIS? WE ARE GOING TO BE TALKING

ABOUT RESILIENCE. >> MR. THOMAS.

>> MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS YOU KNOW THAT I SPEARHEADED THE

[01:15:07]

>> OH, WE ARE SORRY. WE ARE GOING TO MISS HER BUT WE ARE --

YOU ARE A FAMILIAR FACE. >> SHE HANDED ME HER NOTES. WE ARE PLEASED TO HAVE OUR CONSULTANT HERE TO PRESENT TO YOU THE DRAFT ST. LUCIE COUNTY REGIONAL RESILIENCE ALL VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT. THIS IS THE RESULT OF A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN PORT ST. LUCIE, FORT PIERCE AND ST. LUCIE VILLAGE AIMED AT EVALUATING THE VULNERABILITY OF THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE TO VARIOUS FLOODING HAZARDS. THE PRESENTATION REPRESENTS ONE OF TWO PUBLIC MEETINGS WITH THIS BOARD AS PART OF OUR GRANT AGREEMENT. ONCE WE RECEIVE INPUT THAT THE BOARD WISHES TO INTEGRATE INTO THE DRAFT REPORT WE WILL BRING IN A VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT IN EARLY JUNE FOR CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION AND WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER TO

TETRA TECH. >> GOOD MORNING.

>> WILL YOU REPEAT YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

>> GOOD MORNING. I AM GEORGIA VANCE WITH TETRA TECH AND I HAVE BEEN WITH TETRA TECH ABOUT 14 YEARS AND WHEN I DID THAT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE WAS UNDERGOING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROTECTION ISLANDS. I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE ST. LUCIE COUNTY, ST. LUCIE REGIONAL VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT. IT IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE PURPOSE, THE PROJECT TIMELINE AND I WILL TAKE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS AT THE END. THE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT WAS FUNDED THROUGH A FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF -- PROTECTION GRANT. IT WAS A PLANNING GRANT THAT THE COUNTY RECEIVED AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT ABOUT WHEN YOU'RE.

THE INTENT IS TO HAVE A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH, THIS VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT IS UNIQUE IN THAT IT DOES INCORPORATE THE MUNICIPALITIES AND ASSETS INTO IMPACTS TO THE MUNICIPALITIES AS WELL AS THE COUNTYWIDE AREA. WE HAVE BEEN ENGAGING WITH STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS AND AS PAUL MENTIONED A STEERING COMMITTEE HAS BEEN ASSEMBLED SINCE 2021 TO OVERSEE THE ENTIRE PROCESS. WE DO EVALUATE THE PRESENT DAY AND FUTURE FLOODING RISK TO ST.

LUCIE COUNTY. AS I MENTIONED WE HAVE A PLANNING GRANT FOR THIS EFFORT AND THE GOAL IS TO ENSURE, THE RESILIENCE PROGRAM WAS ADOPTED BY GOVERNOR DESANTIS IN 2021 EDIT TARGETS GETTING A STATEWIDE ANALYSIS OF FLOODING THREAT TO THE COMMUNITIES AND ENSURING THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS MORE RESILIENT IN THE FUTURE. IT IS FUNDED BY THE RESILIENT FLORIDA PROGRAM AND NO MATCH IS REQUIRED AND AS YOU IDENTIFY WHAT NEEDS TO BE UPGRADE THROUGH THE ASSESSMENT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS WHERE YOU COULD GET A 50% MATCH FROM THE RESILIENT FLORIDA PROGRAM AND I BELIEVE FORT PIERCE HAS ALREADY RECEIVED TWO OF THOSE. THOSE REQUIRE A 50% MATCH. OUR OBJECTIVE WAS TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY TO IDENTIFY FLOOD RISK. IDENTIFY THE TYPE AND RISK OF HAZARDS AND THE PORTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY.

YOU HAVE THE COASTAL COMMUNITIES THAT WILL BE AFFECTED BY SEA LEVEL RISE AND WE HAVE THE INTERIOR PART OF THE COUNTY THAT WILL BE MORE AFFECTED BY RAINFALL SO WE EVALUATED ALL OF THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FLOODING AND WE LOOKED AT YOUR ASSETS. WE

[01:20:03]

SEALEVEL RISE IS THE INCREASE OF THE OCEAN AND STORM SURGE, WHEN THE STORM SURGE COMES THROUGH THE AREA AND IT DRIVES OCEAN ONTO THE LAND AND RAIN INDUCED IS WHEN THE SYSTEMS BECOME OVERWHELMED BY EXTREME RAIN EVENTS AND COMPOUND FLOODING IS LOOKING AT ALL OF THOSE TOGETHER. THE STATUTE OUTLINES THE CRITICAL ASSETS THAT NEED TO BE EVALUATED FOR THE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT. AND INCLUDES CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE STORM WATER, WASTEWATER, DRINKING WATER FACILITIES.

CRITICAL COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND THOSE FACILITIES IN NEED DURING STORM EVENTS LIKE SHELTERS, EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTERS AND HOSPITALS AND WE ALSO LOOK AT NATURAL, CULTURAL, AND HISTORIC RESOURCES AS A DASHED TYPE IN THIS INCLUDES PARKS AND WETLANDS. STATUTE OUTLINES REGIONALLY SIGNIFICANT ASSETS. YOU MAY NOT OWN OR MAINTAIN AN ASSET BUT IT MIGHT BE IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY SO THAT THOSE THINGS ARE LIKE I-95, TURNPIKE, AIRPORTS, THE SEA PORT. THINGS OF THAT NATURE YOU MAY NOT OWN BUT ARE CRITICAL TO THE OPERATION OF THE COMMUNITY.

SO, WE TOOK ALL OF THIS DATA THAT WE HAVE BEEN COLLECTING AND WE RAN AN EXPOSURE ANALYSIS AND A SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS. THE EXPOSURE ANALYSIS IS TO DETERMINE WHAT ASSETS ARE EXPOSED TO A SPECIFIC FLOOD EVENT AND IDENTIFY THE SEVERITY OF THAT RISK. THEN WE RANK THOSE AND PRIORITIZE THOSE TWO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT IS RAISING TO THE TOP, WHAT IS MOST AT RISK AND IT IS BASED ON TIMELINE OR DEPTH OF FLOODING. WE WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT. WE ARE LOOKING TO REACH OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND GET ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDER INPUT AND FEEDBACK NECESSARY SO I AM GOING TO SHOW YOU SOME OF THE FLOODING MAPS QUICK. THIS IS ONE PIECE OF THE COUNTY. WE DID MAP THESE SCENARIOS COUNTYWIDE AND IT DOES SHOW THE FLOOD DEPTH WITH THE LEGEND ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE SO THIS IS A 100 YEAR RAINFALL EVENT, AT PRESENT THEY WOULD IT LOOKS LIKE. AT 2040 AND IN 2070 SO YOU WILL SEE THAT THE RAINFALL IS EXPECTED TO BECOME MORE SEVERE AND LET ME CAVEAT THIS, THESE MAPS ARE PRODUCED USING GIS. IT IS REALLY JUST THE EXPECTED RAIN DEPTH OVER THE LAND SURFACE SO, NO HYDROLOGIC MODELING ASSOCIATED WITH THESE SO FOR SEA LEVEL RISE HERE IS PRESENT DAY. THIS IS THE NOAA INTERMEDIATE HIGH IN 2040 AND THE NOAA INTERMEDIATE HIGH IN 2070. THIS IS DAYS OF TIDAL FLOODING AND IT IS A REQUIREMENT OF THE GRANT TO DETERMINE HOW MANY DAYS A PROPERTY WILL BE FLOODED. SO, YOU CAN SEE THAT YOU WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DAYS OF OVER 150 DAYS OF TIDAL

[01:25:05]

THOSE ARE RANKED SO THAT THE RED ARE MORE CRITICAL AND THE ORANGE ARE MEDIUM AND THE YELLOW ARE LOW. WE HAVE THESE MAPS COUNTYWIDE. JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE, THIS IS THE CITY AREA THAT HAS SOME BRIDGES AND ELECTRIC SUBSTATIONS AND COMMUNITY SHELTERS RANKED AS HIGH, MEDIUM, AND LOW. WE HAVE ALL OF THESE MAPS COUNTYWIDE. THE KEY TAKE AWAY IS ST. LUCIE COUNTY WILL BE AFFECTED BY FLOODING RISK AND THE COUNTY AND THE CITY OF PORT ST. LUCIE, ST. LUCIE VILLAGE ARE REALLY LOOKING TO ADDRESS THESE FLOODING RISKS AND LOOKING TO IDENTIFY WHICH ASSETS ARE MOST AT RISK. THE TAKE-HOME MESSAGE IS THAT BECAUSE THE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT WILL BE COMPLETED IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR, THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES TO QUALIFY FOR FUTURE RESILIENT FLORIDA GRANT FUNDING. THE FINAL VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT WILL INTEGRATE ALL INPUT AND COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED. WE ARE DOING PUBLIC MEETINGS IN MAY THEM WILL BE BACK IN JUNE FOR THE FINAL VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT. THAT IS ALL I HAVE TODAY AND I WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

>> QUESTIONS OF OUR GUEST? OR MR. THOMAS? COMMISSIONER GAINES.

>> WITH THE COMMUNITY INPUT , YOU SAID THERE WILL BE ADVERTISING SO PEOPLE CAN COME IN AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT I JUST TRIED TO UNDERSTAND. I AM LOOKING AT THE MAP SEND I UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO BUT, ARE WE GOING TO BREAK IT

DOWN? >> YES.

>> WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME PUBLIC OUTREACH MEETING. ONE IN FORT PIERCE AND ONE IN PORT ST. LUCIE AND A WEBINAR WHERE WE WILL GO MUCH SLOWER AND MUCH MORE DETAILED. BRING IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT TECHNOLOGY WISE AND TERMINOLOGY WISE SO WE CAN GET REALLY GOOD FEEDBACK AND INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY. I HAVE DONE A LOT OF THESE PUBLIC MEETINGS AND THEY RECOGNIZE THAT EVERYONE HAS A DIFFERENT HAZARD OR CONSEQUENCE ON THEIR MIND WHEN IT COMES TO THESE TYPES OF CONVERSATIONS SO, WE REALLY ARE GOOD AT LISTENING AND GETTING FOLKS TO ENGAGE SO IT IS NOT JUST SOMEONE SPEAKING AT COMMUNITY.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT. I WANTED TO ASK, I GUESS, HOW DOES THIS AFFECT THE NORMAL RESIDENT OF FORT PIERCE? AND, WHY WOULD THEY WANT TO COME TO YOUR MEETINGS? I AM TRYING TO GET THEM THERE. I WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND, HOW DOES THIS AFFECT. IF I DON'T LIVE ON THE BEACH OR THE AREAS IN THE RED OR I SAW THE MAP GO ACROSS THE SCREEN AND I SAW THE YELLOW, WHICH WAS LOW. WHY SHOULD IT CONCERN ME? IF YOU CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR THE

PUBLIC. >> ONE OF THE PURPOSES IS TO FACT CHECK THOSE MAPS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE

[01:30:05]

ENGAGED. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. I HOPE THEY DID NOT SEE THE MAP AND SAY IT IS NOT IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE IT IS A LOW AREA BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN SOME OF THE HEAVY RAIN STORMS IN DISTRICT 1 WHERE ROADS ARE FLOODED SO I WANT THOSE INDIVIDUALS LISTENING TO COME AND EXPLAIN WHAT IS GOING

ON. >> IT MAY NOT BE YOUR HOUSE BUT IT MIGHT BE THE ROAD TO YOUR CHILDREN'S SCHOOL OR THE HOSPITAL OR WHEREVER YOU NEED TO GO.

>> MR. THOMAS. >> RESILIENCE IS REALLY ABOUT NOT WHAT'S LOOKING AT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE PRESENT BUT TRYING TO LOOK INTO THE FUTURE. IF YOU SAW THE MAPS THERE ARE PROJECTIONS SO A PERSON MAY SAY IT IS NOT AFFECTING ME NOW BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN IT WILL NOT AFFECT THEM IN THE FUTURE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD OR THEIR FAMILY SO REALLY GETTING INPUT FROM EVERYONE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING DOWN THE

ROAD. >> AND THAT IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO. WE HAVE A HABIT OF, THE COMMUNITY HAVE A HABIT OF HAVING THESE TALKS. YOU BRING ALL OF THESE MODERATORS AND THEN YOU HAVE THREE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM OR FOUR PEOPLE IN THE ROOM THEN SOMETHING HAPPENS AND THEN I HAVE A FULL CHAMBER BECAUSE THEY DID NOT GO TO THE MEETING SO, I AM TRYING TO CHANGE THAT SCENARIO BY GETTING A FULL MEETING ROOM. THEY CAN FILL THE CHAMBER BUT FILL THE MEETING ROOM SO WE HAVE ALL OF THE

ANSWERS. >> ANYBODY ELSE? COMMISSIONER

BRODERICK? >> THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION. I UNDERSTAND THE 2040 AND THE 2070 PROJECTIONS AND WHAT THOSE ENTAIL BUT THAT IS NOT RELATIVE TO WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE RIGHT NOW. AT A KING TIDE ALL OF THE MARINA IS UNDERWATER AND WE HAVE TO DISCONNECT ELECTRICAL. THE POWER STATIONS ARE UNDERWATER. IT IS A NIGHTMARE. ANY TROPICAL STORM THAT COMES ACROSS NOW, SEA WAY DRIVE IS FLOODED WITH SEA WATER.

OTHER AREAS OF THE ISLAND ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. I SPEND A LOT OF TIME OUT WEST AND IT IS LIKE A SWAMP OUT THERE.

ANY MODERATE STORM COMES THROUGH AND IT IS DEVASTATING. IT SEEMS TO ME, AS TO WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TODAY TO PREPARE BUT ALSO 2040 AND 2070 AND I THINK, I KNOW THIS FALLS ON YOU PAUL BECAUSE YOU ARE THE DESIGNATED LEAD FOR THIS FOR FORT PIERCE, WHAT IS OUR SHORT-TERM AND LONGER-TERM GOALS AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS. IT ALL COMES DOWN TO MONEY AND THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE DON'T HAVE TO PUT INTO RESILIENT SO WE HAVE TO GET IT FROM STATE AND THE GOVERNMENT TO HELP US WITH THIS BUT I THINK THIS BODY NEEDS A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF FACING THE CHALLENGES NOW THAT WE HAVE TO FACE WITH AN EYE ON THE FUTURE AS WHAT YOU ARE OUTLINING ARE THE BENCHMARK TIMELINES AND HOW TO BE GET TO THAT. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE FUNDING ASPECT OF IT THAT WE SEE IT LIVE IN FRONT OF US AND IT IS A KING TIDE EVENT AND WE ARE GETTING STREETS THAT ARE FLOODED, MARINA THAT IS FLOODED AND THAT IS JUST THE TIP OF THIS. I'M NOT SURE HOW WE WRAP OUR ARMS AROUND THIS IN A MORE EFFECTIVE MANNER.

>> MR. THOMAS. >> MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER BRODERICK, I SEE THAT TOO AND SOMETIMES EVERYONE DOES NOT SEE THE SAME THING. WE ARE NOT CONCERNED EQUALLY BUT YOU ARE

[01:35:06]

>> I HAVE ONE FOLLOW-UP TO THAT. EVERYBODY APPEAR WAS HERE IN 2004 WHEN WE HAD BACK-TO-BACK HURRICANES THREE WEEKS APART AND THE SECOND HURRICANE GLANCED OVER SOUTH HUTCHINSON ISLAND. IT TOOK A WHILE TO DRAIN AND THE DRAINAGE ISSUES LASTED AN EXTENSIVE PERIOD OF TIME. WE HAD NOT JUST ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WE HAD SEWER PROBLEMS WITH COMPLETE INFILL OF SEAWATER. LIFT STATIONS THAT WERE SUBMERGED. SO, THIS IS GOING BACK 21 YEARS NOW. SO, THE PROBLEM IS NOT SOMETHING FOR FUTURE COMMISSIONS TO DEAL WITH. EITHER WE ARE PAST THE POINT OF HEY WE HAVE GOT TO DO SOMETHING SOON. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING NOW AND MR. THOMAS, I DO YOU HAVE BEEN THE DESIGNATED HITTER ON THE SO AS SOON AS THOSE PLANS ARE LOGICALLY COMPLETED YOU PRESENT THEM TO THE COMMISSION THEN WE NEED TO GET GRANT WRITERS IN HERE AND I KNOW RESILIENCY IS A BIG CATCHPHRASE SO THERE IS MONEY AVAILABLE UNDER THAT LARGE UMBRELLA OF RESILIENCY TO MOVE SOME OF THESE PROJECTS FORWARD BECAUSE WE HAVE TO START PICKING WHAT ASSETS DO WE HAVE TO PROTECT FIRST LIKE DOWNTOWN, FOR EXAMPLE. WE GET STORM WATER COMING IN FROM THE WEST AND TITLE WATER FROM THE EAST. I UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM AND THE SOLUTIONS AND IMPLEMENTING THE SOLUTIONS IS WHERE THE REAL

WORLD -- WORK STARTS. >> YOU HAVE BEEN THE CANARY IN THE COAL MINE. SO, WE APPRECIATE IT AND WE KNOW, I THINK THIS IS REALLY, WE ARE IN THE SAME BOAT WITH A LOT OF OTHER COMMUNITIES IN FLORIDA. FLORIDA JUST HAS WAY MORE PEOPLE THAN FLORIDA WAS EVER ANTICIPATING AND, I THINK OUR COUNTY IS EXPERIENCING THAT AND EVERY COUNTY IS EXPERIENCING THAT. THE MORE YOU BUILD, THE MORE YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT RESILIENCE IN TERMS OF PREPARING AND I THINK THAT IT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT THING AS COMMISSIONER GAINES SAID, WE NEED TO HAVE PEOPLE COME SO PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND AND PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND AS HOMEOWNERS AND AS RESIDENTS BUT WE NEED EVERYBODY ON BOARD AND AWARE THAT IT IS A

PROBLEM. >> MADAM, CAN I ADD SOMETHING TO THIS? MAYBE AT WAY TO GET PEOPLE INVOLVED IS THE IMPACT WHEN IT COMES TO INSURANCE. THEY ARE PLANNING FOR THIS AND RATES ARE PROBABLY RISING IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS. AND ALSO IF YOU CAN INCORPORATE OTHER ASPECTS THAT MAY ATTRACT HOMEOWNERS TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO THIS. MAYBE WITH THE INSUANCE INDUSTRY AS WELL TO SEE HOW THEY CAN RESPOND TO THIS AND GET THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED. IT WOULD CERTAINLY GOT MY ATTENTION AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT RESIDENTS NEED TO BE AWARE OF. AS YOU HAVE HEARD

[01:40:01]

>> AND WE ARE ALREADY IN AN INSURANCE CRISIS.

>> IT IS INTERESTING THAT YOU SAY THAT ABOUT INSURANCE BECAUSE THE ASSESSMENT DEALS WITH FLOODING SO THIS REALLY WOULD BE A FLOOD INSURANCE ISSUE AS OPPOSED TO A HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE ISSUE AND THE COST FOR BOTH ARE SKYROCKETING. VERY FEW PEOPLE AVAIL THEMSELVES OF FLOOD INSURANCE SO, THE DISCUSSION WOULD BE TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS WHO MAYBE DON'T LIVE IN A SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREA BUT YOU SHOULD -- .

>> THAT IS WHAT I WAS THINKING.

>> IS THERE A FOLLOW-UP COMMENT? FROM IT AN OWNERSHIP PERSPECTIVE, CATASTROPHIC INSURANCE IS UNGLUED. FLOOD INSURANCE, HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN VERY LEVEL UNTIL THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS. AN INTERESTING DEVELOP ON THAT, CITIZENS INSURANCE WHICH IS A STATE RUN INSURER OF LAST RESORT IN THEORY NOW REQUIRES FLOOD INSURANCE ON ANY POLICY OF RIGHTS SO YOU CAN BE IN FLOOD ZONE X AND YOU ARE STILL REQUIRED TO CARRY A FLOOD INSURANCE POLICY. THEY DON'T WANT THE DEBATE TO TAKE PLACE.

IT IS REALLY REMARKABLE THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH THAT. IT IS LIKE FORCED PLACED COVERAGE. IF YOU DON'T GET IT, YOU DON'T GET

YOUR POLICY. >> THE PRICE OF LIVING IN PARADISE. THANK YOU, SO MUCH AND GEORGIA, THANK YOU FOR FILLING IN AND, YOU WERE SANDY. SORRY. WE APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING US THIS MESSAGE EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T LIKE THE MESSAGE.

[d. 2025 Annual FPUA Update by Javier Cisneros, FPUA Director of Utilities]

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

>> THANK YOU. WE WILL MOVE ON. NEXT WE HAVE THE 2025 ANNUAL FPUA UPDATE BY JAVIER CISNEROS, FPUA DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES.

>> GOOD MORNING. IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE WITH THE COMMISSION AND I AM EXCITED TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS GIVE YOU A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE UTILITIES SYSTEM FOR FPU WAY. WE ARE ONE OF VERY FEW IN THE COUNTRY AND WE WILL GIVE YOU A SYSTEM CAPACITY OVERVIEW OF EACH OF THE SYSTEMS, SPECIFICALLY FOR ELECTRIC AND WATER SYSTEM THAT WE WILL TALK ABOUT EXPANSION PROJECTS AND HOW THAT SYSTEM CAPACITY ALLOWS US TO EXPAND OUR CUSTOMER BASE THEN WE WILL LOOK AT MODERNIZATION AND STORM HARDENING AND HOW SOME OF THAT HAS BEEN POSSIBLE THROUGH GRANTS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED THEN WE WILL TACKLE SOME PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS TO INCLUDE RELOCATION OF THE WASTEWATER PLANT AND HOPEFULLY ALL OF THAT WE CAN SUMMARIZE SO I WILL GET STARTED WITH THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM. IT HIGHLIGHTS, IT IS HIGHLIGHTED THERE ON THE RIGHT ON THE MAP AND WE SERVE APPROXIMATELY 37.9 SQUARE MILES WHICH INCLUDES THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, ST. LUCIE VILLAGE AND PARTS OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY. NORTH AMERICAN POWER GRID IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST MACHINE INCLUDING MEXICO, THE UNITED STATES, AND CANADA. WE ARE PROVIDING POWER TO THIS BUILDING HERE IN OUR SUNRISE CITY. SO, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF A FUN FACT. THE ELECTRIC GRID SYSTEM, WE ESSENTIALLY HAVE THREE VOLTAGES. WE HAVE INCOMING VOLTAGE AT 3800 KV AT HARTMAN AND GARDEN CITY. THE REDUNDANCY IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR LIABILITY. THOSE TWO LOCATIONS HAVE FOUR SEPARATE LINES MUNICH WE HAVE ADDITIONAL REDUNDANCY AND HOW WE ARE TIED TO THE SYSTEM GRID. OUR CAPACITY IS AROUND 167 MVA SO WE DO HAVE 200 MVA TRANSFORMERS AND 168 --. OUR SYSTEM CAPACITY, WHICH IS

[01:45:07]

THESE ARE THE LINES CONNECTING BETWEEN THE SUBSTATIONS THAT FEED THE REST OF THE CITY. AND WE STOPPED HIM FROM THAT TO ABOUT 434 MILES OF 13.2 KV THAT SERVES JUST UNDER 3800 CUSTOMERS FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ELECTRIC EXPANSION. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS WE ARE ADDING CAPACITY TO THE CITY. I WILL START WITH HARTMAN SUBSTATION. WE ARE UPGRADING OUR 100 MVA TRANSFORMERS TWO --.

167. NEXT, WE ARE REPLACING TRANSFORMERS AT LAWNWOOD, KINGWOOD, AND SAVANNAH AND WE ARE GOING FROM 20 MVA TO 25 MVA.

AT TWO OF THOSE TRANSFORMERS , ONE IS THAT LAWNWOOD AND ONE IS AT SAVANNAH. THE TOTTEN RING BUS. IT IS A CRITICAL PIECE FOR US. ESSENTIALLY WE HAVE MANUAL SWITCHES ABOUT THE SIZE OF THIS TABLE HERE THAT WILL GO TO AUTOMATED SWITCHES SO THAT WE CAN CONTROL THAT FROM DISPATCH RATHER THAN HAVING TO GET SOMEBODY TO THE SUBSTATION TO OPERATE THAT DEVICE SO A PRETTY PART IMPORTANT PROJECT. THE PROJECT COST IS ABOUT -- BUT THAT IS BEING COVERED BY THE GRANT. THE TOTTEN SUBSTATION.

THIS IS THE ONE THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON PRETTY AGGRESSIVELY OVER THE LAST YEAR. WE ARE ADDING A NEW SUBSTATION.

ADDING A NEW TRANSFORMER IN ONE OF OUR SUBSTATIONS AT TOTTEN.

YOU CAN SEE THE RED OUTLINE, THAT IS THE THIRD SUBSTATION AT THAT AND THE TRANSFORMER IS JUST ABOVE IT AND WE WILL BE ADDING 20 ADDITIONAL MVA OR SERVING ABOUT 6500 CUSTOMERS AND WE DID START THAT IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2024 AND WE EXPECT TO HAVE THAT IN 2027 AND WE ARE WORKING TO GET THAT DONE, HOPEFULLY SOONER. THAT PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY 100% RATES. THE NEW SUBSTATION. WE DO HAVE QUITE A BIT OF GROWTH HAPPENING IN THE SOUTH AND WESTERN CORRIDOR. THAT MAY RESULT IN A NEW SUBSTATION IN THE SOUTHERN BORDER BY 2030. IT TAKES ABOUT FIVE YEARS TO BUILD ONE OF THESE SITES AND ENGINEER AND PROCUREMENT MATERIALS. WE ARE LOOKING RIGHT NOW AT WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE IN THE COMING MONTHS. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN PART OF THE GROUP THAT HAS PROVIDED GRANTS TO FPUA TO DO SOME OF THESE PROJECTS. VERY THANKFUL TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND THEY HAVE BEEN GREAT PARTNERS WITH US. MOVING ON TO ELECTRIC MODERNIZATION AND HARDENING. AMI IS 100% DEPLOYED.

WE DID COMPLETE THIS PROJECT EARLIER THIS YEAR IN JANUARY AND THAT MEANS THAT EVERY CUSTOMER WILL HAVE AN AUTOMATED METER AND THE WHAT THAT DOES, IT GIVES YOU THE ABILITY TO SEE YOUR CONSUMPTION AND PROFILE AND IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO COMMUNICATE FASTER WITH OUTAGES TO THE DISPATCH AND IT IS THE NEXT STEP IN SMART GRID MODERNIZATION SO IT IS THE FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE. WE ARE WORKING ON DEPLOYING SOME OF THE ABILITY TO PUT THAT INFORMATION ON PROFILE BUT WE ARE WORKING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO GET THAT SYSTEM DEPLOYED. SMART GRID. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. WE HAVE 263 TRIP SAVERS WE ARE INSTALLING. THIS IS ESSENTIALLY A LIGHT SWITCH THAT IS SMART. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE

[01:50:02]

RELIABILITY IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND THE TREE TRIMMING IS A BIG PART OF WHAT WE DO. MOVING TO HARDENING. TRANSMISSION POLES, WE HAVE BEEN REPLACING THEM. THEY HAVE A MUCH LONGER SERVICE LIFE AND THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DEFLECT AND RETURN BACK TO SHAPE AND HAVE PROVEN TO HAVE STRONG PERFORMANCE IN STORM CONDITIONS. THEY ALSO PERFORM WELL IN LIGHTNING STRIKES AND BETTER WITH TRYING TO DISPERSE THE ENERGY. YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT MIDDLE PICTURE, WE HAVE ABOUT 232 WOOD TRANSMISSION POLES BUT WE HAVE REPLACED 61 OF THEM AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. SO, I WANT TO PIVOT FOR JUST A SECOND TO THE WEATHERIZATION EDUCATION OUTREACH PROGRAM. COMMISSIONER JOHNSON AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS A NUMBER OF YEARS. IN THE PAST IT WAS A LONG PROCESS. THE APPLICATION PROCESS WAS LONG AND A LOT OF VERIFICATION AND THERE WERE TWO AGENCIES INVOLVED SO WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STREAMLINE THAT AND MR. RUTHERFORD HAS -- WHAT WE DO NOW IS A FIRST-COME FIRST-SERVED BASIS. IT IS A SINGLE PAGE WAIVER. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A HOMEOWNER. YOU CAN BE A RENTER AND WE FOCUS ON THE MOST EFFECTIVE USE OF THAT FUNDING WHICH IS INSULATION IN YOUR ROOF BECAUSE THAT IS THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE AND ALSO FOR OUR CONTRACTOR AND FOR THE HOMEOWNER BECAUSE A LOT OF THE ENERGY GETS LOST THROUGH POOR INSULATION IN THE ATTIC. THE CEILING MUST BE ACCESSIBLE AND YOU HAVE TO BE AN FPUA ELECTRICITY CUSTOMER. SOME YEARS WE WOULD GET 20 APPLICATIONS AND GET 20 HOMES DONE AND OTHER YEARS WE GET TWO OR THREE BUT WE HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY HITTING THE 25-30 HOMES AND IT IS ALL BASED ON AVAILABLE FUNDING. IN 2025, WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE AND WE HAVE COMPLETED 12 AND WE HAVE 14 THAT ARE BEING SCHEDULED AND WE ALREADY HAVE TWO APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING NEXT YEAR WHEN THAT BECOMES AVAILABLE SO I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE. TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ALL OF THAT STUFF RELATED TO THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM. WE OFTEN GET COMPARED TO THE INDUSTRY AND WE ARE ONE OF 33 CITIES. ONE OF THE WAYS WE GET COMPARED OUR OUR METRICS. HOW DO WE PERFORM COMPARED TO OTHER UTILITIES. FOUR OUT OF THE FIVE KEY METRICS THAT WE PERFORM BELOW THE AVERAGE OF THOSE UTILITIES AND ONE OF THE AREAS THAT WE DO NOT PERFORM WELL IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE TRIP SAVER WILL ADDRESS. THAT IS THE -- INDEX.

WE PERFORM WELL IN FOUR OUT OF FIVE CATEGORIES. I WANT TO

[01:55:01]

WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. WE ARE ABOUT $13 LESS PER KILOWATT THAN FPNL. JUST ONE SLIDE FOR GAS. WE DO HAVE A NEW GATE STATION BEING INSTALLED. THE BLACK DOTS ARE EXISTING GATE STATIONS AND WE ARE ADDING ONE WHERE THE RED DOT IS AT AND THAT IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE BUC-EE'S WEST OF TOWN AND THAT WILL BE COMPLETED, LATE SUMMER THIS YEAR AND THAT WILL BRING THREE TIES TO THE GAS SYSTEM SO RELIABILITY AND REDUNDANCY IS IMPORTANT. WE HAVE INSTALLED APPROXIMATELY 30,000 FEET OF GAS MAIN -- OVER TO 95 AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PROJECTS I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT. WE HAVE CABO RIO AND PINEAPPLE GROVE, ANOTHER 400 AND BEECH PINE IS 76 THEN WE HAVE THE SUNRISE DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL HOPEFULLY BRING IN ANOTHER 2000. WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE GAS SYSTEM. FPUANET OVERVIEW . A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WE HAD A POLYGON ON THAT MAP AND THAT WAS THE LINCOLN PARK PROGRAM THAT WE HAD WORKED ON. NOW, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE MAP, WE HAVE A LOT MORE POLYGONS. AS OF LAST WEEK WE ARE PAST, JUST OVER 2100 PARCELS DEFINED BY 65 ZONES AND WE HAVE ANOTHER 541 PARCELS IN CONSTRUCTION RIGHT NOW AND WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 538 PARCELS THAT WILL BE IN DESIGN FOR THE COMING YEAR AND THAT IS PRETTY EXCITING BECAUSE IT SHOWS THE GROWTH THAT THE FPUANET TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING ON. THAT TEAM IS LED BY JASON MILLER AND THEY HAVE BEEN DOING A FANTASTIC JOB.

WE HAVE ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT LOCATIONS, RED DOTS THAT HAVE PUBLIC WI-FI THAT HAVE FREE PUBLIC WI-FI TO THE COMMUNITY AND WE CONTINUE TO GROW THAT PLATFORM BUT PART OF THAT WAS SPEARHEADED BY THE LINCOLN PARK PROJECT WE DID A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. SOUTH BEACH EXPANSION, THIS IS PRETTY EXCITING BECAUSE IN THE EARLY 2000 WE WERE WORKING ON A 1A. BECAUSE OF THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PUT IN FIBER THAT ALLOWS US TO EXPAND TO THE SOUTH BEACH AREA AND YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE A COUPLE OF AREAS THAT ARE ACTIVE AND UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND A FEW IN DESIGN, OCEAN VILLAGE. WE EITHER ARE OR COMPLETED THE CONSTRUCTION AND OUR GOAL IS TO GET ALL OF THE VILLAGE BECAUSE THOSE ARE SMALL CONDENSED HIGH-VOLUME OF NEXT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE GARDEN TERRACE FREE PUBLIC WI-FI WE DO HAVE 23 ACCESS POINTS THAT PROVIDES FREE PUBLIC WI-FI TO JUST OVER 300 RESIDENTS AND PART OF THAT WAS BECAUSE OF A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COLLEGE BECAUSE OF A GRANT FOR $120,000. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO INDIAN STATE COLLEGE BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN PART OF GROWING THE FIBER SYSTEM IN AN AREA THAT NEEDS IT.

>>

>> ALL UTILITY SERVICES , A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CAPACITY AT OUR GALLONS OF WATER CAPACITY FROM THE REVERSE OSMOSIS PORTION OF THE PLANT AND ABOUT 13 MILLION GALLONS OF SOFTENING CAPACITY.

[02:00:04]

IT'S A 24/HOUR -- 24/7 OPERATION. THERE THERE 24/7 AND WE COMPLETED A REHAB OF THAT FACILITY AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE OVER THE LAST 15 OR 20 YEARS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF KEY STEVENS, HE HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB OF GETTING TO THE WATER PLANT INTO TIPTOP SHAPE. I'M HIGHLIGHTING A COUPLE OF THINGS, BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT HIM AND HIS TEAM HAVE DONE THAT YOU CAN'T SEE HERE, BUT MOVING ON TO THE EXPANSION, WE DO HAVE LINE SOFTENING, WHICH MAY WAY WE MAY REDUCE THE CAPACITY OF THE SYSTEM , BECAUSE OF MITIGATING THE P5 US WHICH I'M SURE EVERYONE HAS HEARD ABOUT AND IT MIGHT REQUIRE US TO INCREASE OUR SYSTEM PLUS OR -2 MILLION GALLONS THERE, SO THAT WILL BE EXCITING TO SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. THERE ARE SOME ONGOING LITIGATIONS THAT MAY PROVIDE FUNDING TO OFFSET SOME COST.

THAT IS PRETTY EXCITING TO MAKE SURE WE CAN RECOVER SOME OF THE COST AS WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND THE CAPACITY OR MAINTAIN THE CAPACITY OF THE PLANT. A LITTLE ABOUT THE LOCATION, THE PICTURE WAS RELEASED LAST WEEK AND YOU PROBABLY SAW ON FACEBOOK. YOU CAN SEE THE PROGRESS AT THE SITE HAS MOVED ALONG QUITE A BIT.

UNDERNEATH THE GROUND, IT LOOKS LIKE SPAGHETTI, BUT ABOVE THE GROUND, YOU CAN SEE STRUCTURES COME OUT OF -- GO VERTICAL AND IT'S EXCITING TO SEE. WE DID PROVIDE A COUPLE OF TOURS TO COMMISSIONER BRODERICK AND MADAM MAYOR AND WE LOOK PROVIDE MORE NEXT WEEK. YOU WILL SEE THE PROGRESS THERE. IT'S REALLY EXCITING WHEN YOU SEE CONCRETE OUT OF THE BROWNS GROUNDS AND BUILDINGS. WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO STAY ON TARGET TO MAKE THAT PLANT OPERATIONAL BY DECEMBER 2025.

THE CONSTRUCTION AT THE SITE HAS BEEN THANKFUL TO MIKE MARTIN WHO WORKS AT THE EXISTING WASTEWATER PLANT , BUT ALSO WORKS AS A PROJECT MANAGER. HE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB STAYING ENGAGED AND HE EVENTUALLY HOPEFULLY WILL BE RUNNING THE PLANT. PRETTY EXCITING. A LITTLE ABOUT THE SYSTEM, WE ARE BUILDING THE PLANT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO TAKE THE FLOWS AND MOVE THEM THE OTHER WAY. AT THE BOARD MEETING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WE DID APPROVE ONE PORTION OF OUR THAT WILL TAKE THE FLOWS TO THE SOUTH AND THAT IS GOING TO BE ON JENKINS ROAD FROM OKEECHOBEE TO EDWARDS ROAD AND THAT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION . THAT WILL ALLOW US TO GET THE FIRST PHASE TO THE PLANT, SO THAT'S PRETTY EXCITING. EARLY SUMMER 2025, WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON OUR DESIGN AND HOPEFULLY CONSTRUCTION, WHICH WILL INCLUDE THE PIPE THAT GOES OVER TO AN EXISTING PIPE THAT WE BUILT 20 YEARS AGO OVER BY MORRIS CREEK AND THAT WILL CONNECTED TO THAT PIPE, WHICH WILL TAKE IT TO JENKINS ROAD. WE ARE LOOKING TO DO THAT THROUGH SUMMER 2025 AND HOPEFULLY EARLY SUMMER 2025. AS PART OF THE PROJECT, WE WILL INCLUDE A BOOSTER STATION, WHICH WILL TAKE THE FLOW AND PUMP IT AT A HIGHER VELOCITY TO GET IT WEST OF TOWN. THAT PROJECT WILL BE EARLY 2026, THEN WE HAVE THE JENKINS ROAD PROJECT, WHICH IS SOUTH OF EDWARDS TO THE PLANT , WHICH WILL BE 2026. THE BIGGEST PORTION RIGHT NOW IS THE JENKINS ROAD FROM OKEECHOBEE TO EDWARDS. THAT CONVEYANCE SYSTEM IS BEING HERE AND HE IS OUR WATER SUPERVISOR ENGINEER AND HE AND HIS TEAM ARE DOING A GREAT JOB KEEPING THE CONTRACTOR ON TASK TO STAY AHEAD OF THE TIMELINE THAT WE HAVE FOR DECEMBER 2025.

I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO LOOK OUR THANK OUR LOCAL AND STATE REPRESENTATIVES. THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, THEY ARE ALL WATCHING WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE PROJECT AND THANKFULLY THE PROJECT IS MOVING SLOWLY SMOOTHLY AND THEY ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE. I'M THANKFUL TO OUR SUPPORTERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE AT THE ELECTED STATE LEVEL. STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL. LET'S TALK ABOUT WASTEWATER EXPANSION PROJECTS. THE MAP ON THE RIGHT

[02:05:06]

>> MOVING ON, I'M EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT THIS. WE ARE CURRENTLY ACTIVELY -- WE HAVE ACTIVE AND ON BOARDING OF $77 MILLION. THAT IS INCREDIBLE. HER TEAM HAD DONE A FANTASTIC JOB.

BETWEEN THE BOND ISSUANCE AND GRANTS ONLINE ON LINE ITEM ONE, ABOUT 99%. THEN, WE HAVE ANOTHER 34 MILLION IN OUR WASTEWATER CONVEYANCE SYSTEM. THAT ALSO GOES TO OFFSET THE COST OF WHAT IT TAKES TO BUILD THAT. YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE 5 MILLION FROM THE GRANT AND ANOTHER 2 MILLION FROM RESILIENCY FOR SECURITY, THEN ANOTHER 120,000 FOR FPUA NET. THERE ARE TWO PARTS. GETTING THE GRANT, THEN MANAGING THE GRANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE DOING EVERYTHING YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO TO CLOSE IT OUT. THE OTHER REALLY IMPORTANT PART TO ME AND I KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE COMMISSION AND FPUA BOARD , THIS IS FUNDING THAT OUR CUSTOMERS WILL NOT HAVE TO TAKE ON. THIS WILL HELP OFFSET THE COST AND IMPACT GENERATIONS FOREVER. REALLY PROUD OF THE SUCCESS OF THE TEAM AND RESILIENCY OF THE TEAM. THEY HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB AND WE CONTINUE TO PURSUE ADDITIONAL GRANTS WITH ANOTHER $5.1 MILLION IN GRANTS THAT WE ARE PURSUING, SUBJECT TO SEWER TO HELP OFFSET SOME OF THE COST AND MAYBE ONE FOLKS AND SPECIFICALLY -- THIS WILL BE CITYWIDE, BUT ANYBODY WHO LOOKS TO CONVERT TO SEWER, SOME OF THE GRANT FUNDING WILL HELP OFFSET THE COST, SO THEY CAN BE LOW TO NO COST. PENDING GRANT APPROVAL.

THE COMPLETED GRANTS, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT. WE TALK ABOUT THE 77 MILLION AND THE 5 MILLION, BUT WE ACTUALLY HAVE A $.5 MILLION IN GRANTS THAT WE HAVE COMPLETED. WE HAVE SEEN THIS, MANAGE THEM AND CLOSE THEM OUT IN THE PROCESS OF CLOSING THEM OUT. A GREAT JOB BY OUR FANTASTIC GRANTS TEAM AND YOU CAN SEE THE ORGANIZATIONS WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH CLOSELY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WE TALKED ABOUT THE SUBJECT TO SEWER, WE ADDED IT TO A LIST AND A COMMUNITY FEEDBACK FORM, WHICH WE ARE DOING WITH THE PASTOR AT

[02:10:06]

BARBARA IS RETIRING AND WILL BE RETIRING HERE THE NEXT MONTH OR SO. HER PRESENTATION LATER THIS MORNING WILL BE HERE, BUT SHE HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB PREPARING MICHELLE, WORKING WITH MICHELLE AND GETTING HER TO STEP INTO THAT ROLE. I'M EXCITED ABOUT BARBARA AND THE WORK SHE HAS DONE AT FPUA. SHE HAS DEFINITELY CHANGED THE GAME AND MADE US BETTER , BUT I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT SHE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB BEING A MENTOR. A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS. WE HAVE OUR 2026 BUDGET WORKSHOP, WHICH IS COMING UP IN A MONTH, SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE NEXT YEAR AND OUR NEXT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. I INVITE THE PUBLIC TO COME VISIT WITH US AND IT WILL BE AT THE ENERGY SERVICES CENTER AND WE MAKE SURE WE PUT NOTIFICATIONS OUT ON FACEBOOK AND OUR WEBPAGE, WHICH WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR US AND WE DO THAT EACH AND EVERY YEAR. VERY SIMILAR TO THE CITY AND WE WILL HAVE OUR 2025 STRATEGIC PLANNING WITH THE BOARD, WHICH WILL INCLUDE A SERIES OF MEETINGS, INDIVIDUAL INTERVIEWS AND BOARD MEMBERS AND DIRECTORS AND PUT TOGETHER THE NEXT STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE NEXT 2 TO 3 YEARS. THAT WILL BE COMING SOON. WE HAVE A STREETLIGHT THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR ABOUT A YEAR OR SO AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK LINDA WHO REALLY HELPED KEEP THIS MOVING AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING AND TRYING TO GET THIS FINALIZED. THIS WILL ESSENTIALLY HELP US STREAMLINE THE STREETLIGHT MAINTENANCE AND THEY WILL ALL BE MORE OR LESS WHERE FPUA TAKES CARE OF IT AND YOU WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT IN THE NEXT COMING MONTHS, BUT THAT HAS BEEN A STICKING POINT FOR THE CITY COMMISSION AND STAFF, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MANAGE THAT AND WE WILL STREAMLINE THE PROCESS, SO YOU WILL SEE IT SOON. TELEPHONE UPGRADE CALLBACK , I HEAR IT AND I KNOW THE CITY HEARS IT AND THE BOARD HEARS IT, BUT WE HAVE UPGRADED OUR TELEPHONE SYSTEM, WHICH GIVES YOU THE ABILITY TO HAVE A CALLBACK AUCTION. WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS ON THAT SYSTEM TO MAKE IT MORE CONVENIENT FOR CUSTOMERS. WE DO HAVE TECH POWER COMING SOON, WHICH WILL CONTRIBUTE TO OUR MANAGEMENT AND TELEPHONE SYSTEMS. WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH TEXT AND I KNOW THE EMAIL IS MORE OF A PROFESSIONAL ENGAGEMENT, BUT POWER SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON IN TERMS OF GETTING INFORMATION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND YOU WILL SEE MORE COMING FROM FPUA WHEN IT COMES TO POWER. I KNOW I WENT QUICKLY, BECAUSE YOU HAVE HAD A LONG MEETING AND I KNOW I'M STANDING BETWEEN LUNCH, SO I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

>> VERY COMPREHENSIVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER BRODERICK? ISCHEMIC THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

VERY COMPREHENSIVE. FIRST, AN ISSUE OF MINE BROUGHT TO THE CITY TEAM STARTED ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO WAS THE STREET POLE AND LIGHT REPAIR. I'M GLAD WE ARE GOING TO STREAMLINE THIS AND

[02:15:07]

TWO. >> WE WILL INVENTORY THESE AND THE COST IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS PER UNIT, CORRECT?

>> YES, SIR. >> I DON'T KNOW WHY IT TOOK TWO YEARS. THANK YOU FOR TAKING IT ON, STREAMLINING THIS AND SAVING EVERYONE SOME MONEY. ON THE TOPIC OF MONEY, I SEE WE HAVE $34 MILLION IN PLEDGED GRANTS FOR THE CONVEYANCE SYSTEM. WHERE DO WE STAND? DO WE HAVE AN OVERALL PRICE POINT? I KNOW A LOT IS STILL IN PLANNING, BUT WOULD DO WE HAVE PROJECTION ON

THAT? >> I KNOW THE FIRST PHASE WILL BE PARTIALLY FUNDED BY GRANTS AND OUR BOND ISSUANCE, BUT THE NEXT PART, WHICH WAS THE STATION , WE ARE WORKING ON THAT PROJECT

AND PRICE POINT. >> YOU WILL GET US THAT INFORMATION? GREAT WORK ON THE PLANT. IT'S AN AMAZING FEAT FROM A VISUAL PRSPECTIVE AND IT'S REMARKABLE. THE LAST TOPIC WILL BE OF INTEREST TO YOU . IT IS WHERE WE ARE FAILING FORT PIERCE, WHICH IS AN ANNEXATION PLAN. I BROUGHT THIS UP FOR A LONG TIME, BUT OUR FINANCIAL STABILITY AND GROWTH INTO THE FUTURE REQUIRES ANNEXATION AND WE NEED TO MOVE WEST. WE NEED TO GET OUT TO KINGS HIGHWAY AND GRAB THE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT THAT IS TAKING PLACE. I KNOW YOU ARE WORKING AND WE ALSO ARE CONTRACTED TO WORK WITH EDC, BUT YOUR TEAM, YOU HAVE DESIGNATED PEOPLE AND WORKING ON THE ANNEXATION ANGLE AND COMPILING A PLAN. THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE DOES NOT HAVE DESIGNATED FOLKS WORKING ON THIS AND I BELIEVE IT'S UNDER THE DEPARTMENT, BUT HOW MANY MORE THINGS CAN WE STUFF INTO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT BEFORE THE DOORS BLOWOFF? THEY ARE UNDERSTAFFED AND OVERWHELMED THE WAY IT IS , BUT THIS ANNEXATION PLAN , I CONSIDER TO BE AN ABSOLUTE CRITICAL ISSUE FOR THE CITY TO INCREASE TAX REVENUE , EXPAND BOUNDARIES TO SQUARE THOSE OFF, BUT THE TAX REVENUE AND SPEND METERS. IS THAT HOW YOU REFER TO IT? THE METERS NEED TO TURN AND IT'S A BENEFIT TO F UA AND A MASSIVE BENEFIT TO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE TO INCREASE THAT TAX BASE AND AVOID THE INEVITABLE . THE REVENUE SHORTFALL IS LITERALLY RIGHT ON THE RADAR SCREEN RIGHT NOW THAT WE WILL HAVE TO COME UP WITH A WAY TO FIND THAT FALL. WE HAVE METHODOLOGY TO GET THROUGH THEIR, BUT WE ARE NOT DOING ANY WORK TO GET THERE. IF THE CITY NEEDS TO PUT EYES ON THIS WITH OUR CITY MANAGER TO SAY THAT WE NEED TO DEVELOP A POSITION TO COORDINATE THIS AND COME UP WITH A PLAN IN CONJUNCTION , THEN THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. WE DO NOT HAVE EYES ON THIS CURRENTLY AND IT'S VERY DISTURBING TO ME TO SAY, WE HAVE A PLAN, BUT NO IDEA HOW WE WILL GET THERE. THAT IS VERY TROUBLING TO ME AND UNLESS SOMEBODY HAS A BETTER SOLUTION EXCEPT RAISING TAXES AS TO HOW WE WILL DEAL WITH THE FUNDING SHORTFALLS, I CONSIDER THIS TO BE THE BEST HOPE THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US AND THE COUNTY IS GIVING US THE GREEN LIGHT.

DON'T TOUCH OUR AIRPORT. YOU CAN TAKE EVERYTHING ELSE. THAT PUTS US TO THE NORTH INTO THE INDUSTRIAL PARK AT THE AIRPORT SOUTH ALL THE WAY DOWN OKEECHOBEE AND EVERYTHING ON KINGS HIGHWAY, JENKINS ET CETERA. ALL OF THAT DEVELOPMENT ÚIS TAKING PLACE. I KNOW THE FPA IS WORKING ON IT. WE ARE NOT. I AM PLEADING WITH THE COMMISSION TO SAY, WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THIS, BECAUSE THIS WILL FIX OUR FINANCIAL PROBLEMS OR HELP FIX FINANCIAL PROBLEMS LONG-TERM VERSUS JUST LOOKING TO CUT BUDGET HERE AND THERE TO TRY TO GET THINGS IN BALANCE, BECAUSE THERE IS A CRISIS COMING. IT'S NOT COMING. IT'S HERE. WE HAVEN'T RECOGNIZED IT YET. IT'S HERE NOW AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS SOON. THERE IS A WAY TO DO IT AND I THINK IT WILL MIMIC WHAT FPUA HAS GOING ON FOR THEIR PLANS ,

[02:20:03]

>> ONE OF THE PROBLEMS HAS BEEN IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT AREAS AND THE CITY STAFFED BY . IT SEEMS TO GET MOVED AROUND FOR WHATEVER REASON AND PEOPLE DON'T TAKE OWNERSHIP OF IT OR IT DOESN'T LAST LONG . I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE PROBLEMS. IT HAD A HARD TIME FINDING A HOME OR SOMEONE DIGS INTO IT AND SAYS, WE WILL MAKE THIS HAPPEN. WE USED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE UA NOT MAKING IT HAPPEN, BUT THEY ARE NOW MAKING IT HAPPEN AND WE NEED TO

PICK UP THE SLACK. I AGREE. >> I'LL TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THAT AND HAVE INTERNAL DISCUSSIONS WITH STAFF AND I CAN MEET WITH MR. CISNEROS ON THEIR PLAN AND ALSO WITH THE PLANNING DIRECTOR ON OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND BE SURE IT'S IN LINE . I TAKE THE LEAD ON THAT AND PERHAPS WE MAY HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT DOING RFP AND EXTERNAL SOURCES TOGETHER, BUT I WILL TALK INTERNALLY FIRST

AND SEE OUR RESOURCES. >> WE HAD OUR STRATEGY, WHICH WAS TO BRING IN COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL TAXPAYER , SO OUR TAX SPACE IS NOW ON INDIVIDUAL TAX PAYERS AND WE WANT TO BROADEN THAT AND WE HAD A STRATEGY FOR DOING THAT AND THE UA HAS NOW HANDED IT TO US ON A SILVER PLATTER.

>> I'LL FOLLOW UP ON WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE DOCUMENT WITHIN THE TESTING DOCUMENT AND WE WILL DUSTED OFF

AND MOVE FORWARD FROM THERE. >> I WANT TO HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IT WITH YOU, TOO, BUT I TOTALLY AGREE THAT IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO AND SHOULD BE DOING AND IT'S

IMPORTANT TO THE CITY. >> THE OTHER PARTY YOU WILL WANT TO -- I SUGGEST YOU WANT TO ENGAGE WITH HIS AT THE EDC AND WHAT HIS TEAM IS UP TO, BECAUSE THE CITY HAS EMITTED COMMITTED DOLLARS TO THIS. THEY ARE NOT STANDALONE ENTITY THAT WILL GET US THERE. FPUA HAS COMMITTED DOLLARS TO THE EDC AND WE HAVE COMMITTED DOLLARS. THEY ARE MORE OF THE CONSULTANT AND WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE DRIVING THE BUS. THAT IS WHAT WE NEED. IN MY OPINION, IT IS OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE TO THE SHORT-TERM MEDIUM AND LONG-TERM VIABILITY OF THE CITY FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE. AS THE MAYOR IS ALLUDING TO, HOMES DON'T PAY BILLS AROUND HERE. IT IS THE INDUSTRIAL BASES THAT DOES THAT AND I THINK 4.5 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF SPACE OUT ON THE SOUTH KINGS HIGHWAY WHEN IT'S BUILT OUT WITH MILLIONS OF SQUARE SPACE THAT WE ARE NOT COLLECTING REVENUE FROM PRINT I KNOW FPUA IS PROVIDING SERVICES, BUT I THINK THE FURTHEST WEST WE GO IS BY ST. LOUIS ON AND WE GO FURTHER OUT ON OKEECHOBEE, WE ARE WAY INTO THE CITY LIMITS AND WE DON'T GET ANY OF THAT COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY HAPPENING OUT THERE. I HAVE A THEORY AND I WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH YOU ON THIS ONE ON ONE TO GIVE YOU AN OBSERVATION AND HOW THIS NEEDS TO BE INCORPORATED , BUT IT NEEDS TO GET DONE. I THINK FPUA IS COMING OUT OF THE GATE QUICKLY AND I NEED TO MATCH THEM AND GET THIS IN PROCESS.

>> WE DID MEET LAST WEEK TO TALK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE AND WE WILL HAVE ONGOING MEETINGS TO DISCUSS, AS WELL, BUT IT IS ONE

OF OUR TOP ATTENDERS AGENDAS. >> THE EXPANSION PROJECTS AND WE DID HAVE A GREAT MEETING LAST WEEK AND AS HE MENTIONED, A MONTHLY MEETING TO MAKE SURE WE STAY ON TOP OF IT, SO WE PROVIDE ALL OF THE SUPPORT THE CITY NEEDS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE REPORT.

>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR YOU A?

>> NO QUESTIONS, JUST TO THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU COME HERE IN OUR PUBLIC MEETING AND TALK ABOUT ALL OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT FPUA IS DOING. I COMMEND YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR THE FANTASTIC WORK ON THE PLANT AND I HAVE ALSO TOURED THAT AND IT IS REMARKABLE TO SEE ALL OF THAT COMING TOGETHER AND IT'S AN EXCITING TIME TO GET THAT MOVED OFF THE ISLAND. THE AMOUNT OF GRANT MONEY, I CANNOT EMPHASIZE ENOUGH HOW THAT IS. RACHEL'S TEAM HAS BEEN ABLE TO SECURE THAT AND THAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST BARRIER. MOVING THIS THING TO BEGIN WITH. SHE HAS LARGELY SUPPLEMENTED THE

[02:25:02]

APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THE CONFIDENCE AND TRUST YOU PUT IN ME, FPUA AND

THE TEAM. >> THANK YOU FOR THIS. TWO QUICK THINGS. I THINK IT WILL BE AN IMPORTANT COMMISSION, BECAUSE THERE WERE RESIDENTS IN OUR CHAMBERS LAST WEEK THAT HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROJECT GOING ON IN PARADISE PARK. I PROMISED THEM INFORMATION BACK AND I LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING A FIRE, SO WE CAN SHOW THIS. AS WE LOOK TO THIS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, I THINK IT WILL BE IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE THERE AND TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE PROJECT, BECAUSE THEY WERE UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE FORCED INTO THIS OR IT WILL COST A LOT OF MONEY, SO I THINK WE HAVE SOME GOOD CONVERSATION TO HAVE WITH THE COMMUNITY TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THIS AND YOU HAD A SLIDE TALKING ABOUT GRANT MONIES, SO IT'S LIKE 1 MILLION. THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION , 1.3 .

>> YES, SIR. >> IF THAT IS APPROVED, THERE WILL BE FUNDS THAT THE RESIDENTS COULD APPLY TO HELP REDUCE THE COST OF THEM CONVERTING OVER FROM SEPTIC TO SEWER.

>> YES, SIR. IN THE COMPLETED GRANTS, NUMBER TWO SUBJECT, WE HAD 2.7, WHICH IS EXACTLY THE SAME THING. THE PENDING GRANTS

IS TO HELP OFFSET THE COSTS . >> IT'S IMPORTANT WE GET THIS COMMUNICATION GOING SOONER THAN LATER AND AS WE GET CLOSE TO THE FINALIZATION OF THE BUDGET, WE HOPE THAT THIS IS ONE THAT IS NOT LINE ITEMS OUT, SO WE CAN GET OUR RESIDENTS AWARE TO START APPLYING AND GETTING THIS IN. IS THE PORTAL OPEN NOW FOR

APPLICATIONS? DO THEY DO THAT? >> NO, SIR. NOT YET. THE RESIDENTS IN THE AREA THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN A NOTICE OF THE PROJECT UNDER CONSTRUCTION. THEY ARE ON NOTICE. ONCE THOSE FUNDS BECOME AVAILABLE, WE WILL BE SURE TO ADVERTISE AND IT IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVE, SO IT WILL MOVE QUICKLY.

>> I TALKED TO MRS. CISNEROS ABOUT IS BRINGING MORE UNDERSTANDING OF THAT, SO I AGREED TO WORK WITH HIM AND STAFF OUT THERE TO DO SOME TYPE OF LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD THING, BUT VIDEO AND TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE ALL THEY SEWER PIPES AND THINGS GOING ON AND THERE WAS A LOT OF CONFUSION. THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY. THIS HELPS , SO I THINK THAT'S ALSO VERY GOOD THAT WE GET FURTHER INTO HAVING THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE PLANNING FOR. THANK YOU.

>> ANY OTHER REMARKS? GREAT JOB. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR

>> SEE YOU IN JUST A MINUTE. WE HAVE ANOTHER PRESENTATION FOR

[e. Discussion and direction regarding Seven Gables House Exterior Rehabilitation; RFP No. 2025-013 for General Contractor Services.]

AUDIT. >> THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION REGARDING THE SEVEN GABLES HOUSE EXTERIOR REHABILITATION. THAT WAS PART OF RFP 2025-0134

GENERAL CONTRACTOR . >> DO YOU HAVE ANY LEAD-IN TO

THIS? >> NO COMMENTS. THANK YOU.

>> WAS GOING TO START? >> THAT IS ME. THANK YOU, MAYOR.

CITY COMMISSIONERS AND EVERYONE HERE WITH US THIS MORNING, SPECIAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

[02:30:01]

>> IT'S COLD IN HERE. >> IT'S NICE.

>> FPUA IS HAPPY. >> YES, FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM WE HAVE BEFORE YOU TODAY, I DO HAVE MR. JASON, OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR HERE WITH ME . HE WILL BE HERE FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES, AS WELL . I'M ALSO PRESENTING ON THE FOLLOW-UP ITEM AFTER THIS ONE. THIS IS A LONG AWAITED PROJECT. I BELIEVE THE CITY HAS BEEN WORKING ON ESSENTIALLY IMPROVING THE FACADE AND JUST AT THE INTERIOR OF THE SEVEN GABLES HOUSE. WITH THIS PROJECT, IT'S THE EXTERIOR AND THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN FUNDED. I WILL TALK A BIT ABOUT THE PROCESS AND THE END RESULT. IN THIS CASE, BIDS DID COME IN HIGHER THAN BUDGETED. WITH THAT IN MIND, THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES THAT WE HAVE ON THE TABLE FOR CONSIDERATION AND ULTIMATELY WE ARE SEEKING YOUR DIRECTION.

STARTING OFF WITH THE BACKGROUND, THE SEVEN GABLES HOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1905 AND MOVED FROM U.S. ONE TO INDIAN RIVER DRIVE IN 1998. AFTER THE CITY OBTAINED OWNERSHIP OF THE STRUCTURE, MODIFICATIONS WERE MADE TO THE FACILITY FOR PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS. WOULD YOU SEE TO THE LEFT IS AN ORIGINAL PHOTO I WAS ABLE TO TAKE OF THE BUILDING. THE SECOND NEXT TO IT IS THE REHABILITATIVE WORK THAT WE DID TO PROVIDE MODIFICATIONS.

NOW, THE HISTORIC HOUSE IS BEING USED AS A VISITORS CENTER OPERATED BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE CURRENT FUNDING SOURCE IS THE $500,000 ALLOCATION TO THE FP RA. THE REQUEST FOR APPROVAL'S PROPOSALS, THE RFP WAS PUT OUT AND ENDED FEBRUARY 4TH THIS YEAR AND IT COMMUNICATES THE DESIGN DELIVERY METHOD SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID WITH THE BUILDING .

ESSENTIALLY THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY . THE PROJECT OBJECTIVES ARE THREE THINGS. THE FIRST BEING TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF BEAUTIFYING THE COMMUNITY, THEN ELIMINATING . THE SECOND IS HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND WE SEEK TO ACHIEVE THE REHABILITATION STANDARD. THIRD, TO IMPROVE THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING WITH DURABLE LOW MAINTENANCE WEATHER RESISTANT AND IMPACT RESISTANT MATERIALS THAT CAN RESEMBLE THE ORIGINAL. NOW, WE DID RECEIVE TWO SUBMITTALS. THE FIRST IS FROM NEW WORLD FOR ELDERS BUILDERS AND THE SECOND FROM THE GROUP FOR THE NEW WORLD BUILDERS GROUP AND THERE ARE CORPORATE OFFICES DESIGNED SUBCONTRACT HIS HERITAGE ARCHITECTURAL ASSOCIATES LOCATED IN MIAMI FOR THE TRADESMAN GROUP AND THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE IS IN PLAIN CITY, OHIO AND THERE REGIONAL OFFICES ARE IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE AND ALSO VIRGINIA. THEIR DESIGNS OF CONTRACT ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED LOCATED IN SEVERAL STATES INCLUDING FLORIDA. WHAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU ARE SOME SAMPLE WORK THAT THEY PROVIDED IN THEIR PROPOSALS AND THE KIND TO GIVE YOU SILENCE A SENSE OF WHAT THEY'VE DONE BEFORE. IT'S THE PERSPECTIVE THAT THEY ARE PRETTY STRONG CANDIDATES. THEIR FOCUS IS HISTORIC PRESERVATION WHEN IT COMES TO EXTERIOR STRUCTURES , SO WE FOUND THEM TO BE PRETTY CAPABLE CANDIDATES. WHAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU RIGHT NOW IS THE CUMULATIVE EVALUATION OF THIS.

AS YOU CAN SEE , WE EVALUATED SOME RESPONDENTS ON A SET OF CRITERIA AND THE FIRST BEING K PERSONNEL CREDENTIALS AND QUALIFICATIONS. THE SECOND FIRM'S EXPERIENCE WITH THE HISTORIC STRUCTURES. THE PAST PERFORMANCE IN REFERENCES .

FOURTH, ABILITY TO MEET PROJECT SCOPE. FIFTH, PRELIMINARY DESIGN CONCEPT AND WE HAD THREE EVALUATORS REPRESENTED BY PUBLIC WORKS , BUILDING AND FACILITIES MAINTENANCE MANAGER. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE HIGHEST RESPONDENT IN THIS CASE IS THE TRADESMAN GROUP WITH A TOTAL OF 268 POINTS. THREE OF THE KEY FACTORS FOR THE EVALUATION WITH THE FIRST BEING PRICE, WHAT WE OBSERVED IS THAT WITH THE TRADESMAN GROUP THEY PROVIDED INCOMPLETE PRICING SHEET THAT BASICALLY A LINE ITEM EXPLANATION OF WHAT GOES INTO

[02:35:07]

LASTLY, TIMELINE. THE TRADESMAN GROUP COMMUNICATED THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY COMPLETE THIS IN LESS THAN A YEAR AND YOU ARE LOOKING AT 10 TO 11 MONTHS WHEREAS WITH THE NEW WORLD BUILDERS GROUP, IT WASN'T CLEAR WITH A LOT TO BE DETERMINED ON CONSTRUCTION SIDE, ESPECIALLY TIMELINE. THE TRADESMAN GROUP AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE SLIDE HERE, WE HAVE A LIST OF PRICING AND SCHEDULE. IN REGARDS TO THE SCHEDULE, THERE ARE DIFFERENT PHASES TO THAT.

FOR THE FIRST, YOU HAVE THE CONDITIONS ASSESSMENT, WHICH THE APPROXIMATE ABOUT 20 DAYS. THE DESIGN PHASE, 159 DAYS.

PRECONSTRUCTION PHASE, 85 DAYS. CONSTRUCTION PHASE, 85 DAYS, THEN THE COMPLETION, TOTAL OF 249 DAYS. WITH THE PRICING SCHEDULE TO THE RIGHT, YOUR CONDITION ASSESSMENT , YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE 45,000 , THE DESIGN AND PRECONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES 49,000 , THEN THE TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST OF 852 PLUS THOUSAND. THE TOTAL COST IS 948,654. THIS IS A $450,000 OVER THE BUDGET. NOW, WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE AT A POINT WHERE AS STAFF , WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION TO AWARD THE RFP TO THE HIGHEST RANK RESPONDED, WHICH IS THE TRADESMAN GROUP WITH THE AUTHORIZATION THAT STAFF NEGOTIATES WITH THIS PARTICULAR BIDDER. THE ALTERNATIVE WE WERE CONSIDERING WITH REGARDS TO NEGOTIATION IS ONE, CONSIDERING ADDITIONAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND POTENTIALLY THROUGH THE FP RA.

WE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE FINANCE DIRECTOR AND WE HAVE DISCUSSED OPPORTUNITIES ON THE CITY SIDE, HOWEVER IT IS ADVISED THAT UNDER THE CITY'S CURRENT BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS, IT IS BEST THAT FUNDING SOURCES BE CONSIDERED PERHAPS ON THE FPRA SIDE OF THE HOUSE AND THOSE WILL BE BEST AUTHORIZED TO NEGOTIATE AND MAKE SOME SORT OF IDENTIFICATION AS TO THE OPPORTUNITIES AND HOUSE BEFORE SOMETHING WAS BROUGHT TO FOR FINAL DECISION. THE SECOND OPTION OR OPPORTUNITY WILL BE POTENTIALLY A GRANT. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IN THE PAST, THE CITY HAS CONSIDERED GRANTS FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION. THERE IS A GRANT THAT IS OPEN THROUGH JUNE 2ND OF THIS YEAR AND IT IS A SPECIAL CATEGORY HISTORIC RESERVATION GRANT FOR THE CITY AND IT IS A 50-50 MATCHING GRANT OF UP TO $1 MILLION.

ESSENTIALLY, IF THE CITY DOES DECIDE TO PROCEED WITH THIS ALTERNATIVE AND PERHAPS CANCEL THE RFP PROCESS , WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS THAT STAFF CAN APPLY FOR IT AND WE CAN WAIT FOR THE SELECTION TO BE MADE LATER THIS YEAR. IF SELECT IT, THAT WOULD BE BROUGHT FORWARD TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE EARLY NEXT YEAR FOR AN APPROPRIATION. ONCE THAT IS MADE, THE BUDGET OR DOLLARS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL JULY 1ST NEXT YEAR . IT WOULD DELAY THE PROJECT AND IS NOT A GUARANTEE, BUT IT IS A FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TO BE CONSIDERED. WITH THAT SAID, OTHER QUESTIONS COMMENTS

OR DIRECTIONS? >> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK?

>> I'LL START. THE ESTIMATE PROVIDED TO US ? I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A DESIGN BUILD SCENARIO , WHICH IS SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT THAN A CONTRACT PRICE. I'M ASSUMING IN THEIR PROPOSAL THAT THERE IS A VARIETY OF LANGUAGE FOR CHANGE ORDERS AND THINGS OF THIS NATURE. THIS IS NOT A CONTRACT PRICE?

>> BECAUSE IT'S A PROPOSAL, IT OPENS UP OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO PROVIDE WHAT THEY BELIEVE WILL BE THE BEST METHODOLOGY TO

[02:40:01]

ACCOMPLISH THE OBJECTIVES. >> AGAIN, THE SAME PROBLEM. WE ARE LOOKING TO UNDERTAKE A MASSIVE CONSTRUCTION TO A STRUCTURE I'M QUESTIONING. IS IT WORTH SAVING OR NOT WITHOUT A SET PRICE OR A SET OF BLUEPRINTS FROM WHICH TO GO FROM TAXI I'M VERY TROUBLED BY THIS PROCESS. AS YOU WELL KNOW, I ARTICULATED THIS AND MY POSITION ON THIS COUNTLESS TIMES. IF YOU LOOK AT THIS PROPOSAL, I BELIEVE THEY ARE PROJECTING ROOFING COST OF APPROXIMATELY 150,000 OR $150,000 AND FABRICATING NEW ROOF PACKAGE . $152,000 OR SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE.

$155,000. THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD IN THE CITY I SERVED NINE YEARS ON GOT RID OF THE REQUIREMENT TO REPLACE METAL ROOFS , THE TIN ROOFS OUT THERE. TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ROOFS VERY SIMILAR IN LOOK AND IDENTICAL AND NOT THE SAME HISTORICAL VALUATION , BUT NOT THE SAME COST FACTOR AND THIS WILL BE CUT BY -- I WILL SUGGEST TO GUARDS. STANDARDIZED PRODUCT AND NOT SELF FABRICATED . I'M DISTURBED BY THE OVERALL COST AND THE CHANGE ORDERS WILL BE EXTENSIVE, BECAUSE IF YOU WRITE IT ON A SCALE FROM 1 TO 10, THIS WILL BE 2.5. IT IS VERY POOR AND I KNOW THE BUILDING HAS LOOKED AT IT AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE DONE ANY DESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS OF THE BUILDING TO DETERMINE THE INTERIOR COMPONENTS , BUT THIS PROPERTY IS IN BAD CONDITION. DOES THE CITY WANT TO INVEST CLOSE TO $1 MILLION? TO REHABILITATE ? IF THIS WAS MY PROJECT, I WOULD ADD 50% CONTINGENCY FACTOR FOR COSTS . 1.5 MILLION IS WHERE I PROJECT THE PROJECT TO BE AT WHEN IT SAID AND DONE. WE WANT TO COMMIT 25% OF THE AVAILABLE CASH AND FUND BALANCE TO THIS BUILDIN.

IS IT WORTH PUTTING THAT MONEY INTO? THE HISTORIC ON THIS PROPERTY IS LOCAL ONLY . IF WE HAD SET NUMBERS , MY COMFORT LEVEL WOULD RISE TO SAY, WE KNOW THIS WILL BE OUTSIDE COST, BUT THAT DOESN'T EXIST. THIS IS A BUDGET NUMBER. THAT'S ALL IT IS. I QUESTION THE VIABILITY . THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE COST ENGINEERING HERE POTENTIALLY TO PROVIDE ALTERNATE PRODUCTS, SUCH AS TYPES OF SYSTEMS, ET CETERA. TO REDUCE THIS COST. MAYBE THEY HAVE AND I DON'T KNOW. $1 MILLION ON THIS WITHOUT A SET OF PLANS AND NOT KNOWING THE OUTSIDE COST, I'M VERY TROUBLED

BY THE SCENARIO. >> IS ALSO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS BUILDING IS VULNERABLE TO TERMITES CONSTANTLY. THERE IS NO WAY THAT I KNOW OF UNLESS PERMANENTLY NOT KEEP TERMITES OUT. IT IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE VULNERABLE TO THAT. IS THAT

CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> IT WAS GOING TO GET CHANGED OUT TO A DIFFERENT TYPE, BUT THE

INTRNAL STRUCTURE OF IT, YES. >> THAT CAUSES ME -- WE FIX IT UP, AND I PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN APPROACHED BY CONSTITUENTS AND PEOPLE SAY THAT THE BUILDING LOOKS TERRIBLE AND WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO FIX IT? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? IT CONTINUES TO BE SOMETHING THAT WAS AT ONE TIME QUAINT AND HISTORIC AND IS HISTORIC . IT IS SO VULNERABLE TO DETERIORATION. I SHARE YOUR CONCERN. I DON'T WANT TO SPEND $1 MILLION ON A BUILDING THAT IS VULNERABLE LIKE THAT. THAT IS JUST TO START WITH. DOES ANYONE

ELSE WANT TO CHIME IN? >> I CONCUR. I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I SAW THIS TOTAL PROJECT COST. I FELT WE COULD REBUILD THIS ENTIRE THING FOR LESS THAN THAT. I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT THE GOAL IS AND WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO WITH THIS BUILDING MOVING FORWARD. I KNOW THAT AT THE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

[02:45:07]

THE IDEA OF THE WELCOME CENTER IS CHANGING AND EVOLVING. THAT BEING SAID , THIS WAS MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE . MY GREAT GRANDMA IS ONE OF THE SEVEN DOLLARS THAT LIVED . THAT DOESN'T MEAN I WANT TO SPEND A BUNCH OF MONEY ON IT. I WOULD EVEN VENTURE TO SAY THAT IT MIGHT BE TIME TO MOVE IT AGAIN .

IT NEEDS TO BE PRIOR TO THAT. I WOULD QUESTION, OUR PLAN AND OUR GOAL FOR THIS BUILDING IF WE EVEN WANT TO CONTINUE DUMPING MONEY INTO IT. WITH IT BEING SO DETERIORATED , I ALSO HAVE MY OWN RESERVATIONS ABOUT THIS AND I WOULD BE MORE APT WITH THE SECOND PROPOSAL OF THE COST TYPE MODEL, BUT IT IS A LITTLE EXORBITANT IN MY OPINION. IT JUST FEELS LIKE WE ARE IN THAT SITUATION WHERE WE DON'T HAVE A SET GMP ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS, WHICH WOULD MAKE ME FEEL A LOT BETTER. MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO WITH JUST THE CONDITIONAL ASSESSMENT AND FIND OUT WHAT ACTUALLY IS SPECIFICALLY WRONG AND GET A BUDGET ON THAT. THE 500,000 FROM FPRA, I DID TICKET WAS AN ACTUAL BUDGET, BUT ALLOCATING THIS MUCH MONEY FROM IT. THERE WASN'T ANYTHING SPECIFIC THAT WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO COST.

IT'S HARD TO SAY THAT THIS WAS OVER THE BUDGET , BECAUSE THERE

REALLY WASN'T A BUDGET. >> OVER THE ALLOCATION.

>> IT WAS JUST AN ALLOCATION. >> I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY ON THIS PROPERTY. IF WE DID MORE OF A NEEDS ASSESSMENT TYPE WITH ARCHITECTURAL PLANS AND THAT DIRECTION WOULD MAKE A LITTLE

MORE SENSE. >> DO YOU AGREE THAT IT WILL TAKE DESTRUCTIVE INVESTIGATION AND TUNGSTEN FOR PARTICULATES

GOING ON? >> I AGREE.

>> COMMISSIONERS MAY WANT TO TALK, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE MR. JOHNSON . IS THAT ALL RIGHT OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK FIRST?

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET. >> META-MAYOR, COMMISSION, CITY MANAGER, WE HAVE LOOKED AT THIS ITEM AND WE HAVE IT ON, WE WILL BE DISCUSSING IT AT THE BOARD, ALSO. I WOULD LIKE TO AT LEAST -- BEFORE WE GET TOO FAR DOWN AS THE WORD, PROVERBIAL RABBIT HOLE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT STAFFS STANCE ON THIS. RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE FIND AN ALTERNATIVE MEANS AND METHOD THAT WE GET OUT OF EXPENSES, UPKEEP AND ALL ASPECTS OF THIS OPERATION. I ASKED MS. MORRIS TO PULL -- DID WE TOUCH IT? WE ATTACHED A HISTORICAL DOCUMENT WHAT WE SPENT ON THE BUILDING SINCE THE 90S UP UNTIL NOW AND WE ARE ASKING US COMMISSIONERS STATED , ANOTHER ONE .5 OR $2 MILLION. I THINK IT IS MONETARILY, ESPECIALLY LOOKING AT THE SITUATION WE ARE FACING . WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FIVE-YEAR DEFICITS AND OTHER THINGS. I JUST WANT TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT OUR STANCE WAS BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD AND I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO SAY, WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US EARLIER BEFORE WE GOT TO THAT POINT. WE JUST WANT TO GIVE SOME DETAILS AS TO WHAT YOU STATED ABOUT THE 500,000 AND ALLOTMENT OF FUNDING AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

>> META-MAYOR, COMMISSIONER TAYLOR, IT WAS JUST AN ALLOCATION AND A BUDGET ITEM. THIS CAME BACK ONE THE LEASE WAS EXPIRING FOR THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WAS OPERATING THE VISITOR CENTER AND PUBLIC WORKS WERE SPEARHEADING THAT PROJECT AND CAME TO THE FPRA AND SAID, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO CONTRIBUTE TO SOME WAY TO THE EXTERIOR RENOVATION OF THIS

[02:50:01]

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, STAFF.

THE COUNTIES INVESTING IN A MOBILE BAND THAT WILL GO -- IS THE IDEA BEHIND THAT -- MAY BE BOAT TOURS OR WHATEVER AT THE

MOBILE BAND? DO YOU KNOW? >> THERE ARE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES THAT HAVE BEEN USING JUST BECAUSE OF THE IDEA OF GOING TO WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE, SO THEY CAN TAKE TO THE GAME, BUT IT'S MORE CENTERED AROUND VISITING ST.

LUCIE. IT WOULDN'T BE FORT PIERCE SPECIFIC . THEY ARE EVEN TALKING ABOUT DRIVING IT UP TO THE NEW YORK METS GAMES AND SPARKING PARKING IT UP AND VISITING ST. LUCIE. I DON'T THINK IT IS MEANT TO REPLACE THE CHAMBER COMMERCE WELCOME CENTER THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY , BUT IF THIS ONE DOES GO AWAY, WE ARE NOT COMPLETELY WITHOUT A VISITOR CENTER TECHNICALLY IS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO POINT OUT. I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA AND PARKING IT AT THE FARMERS MARKET AND PARKING IT AT THE METS GAMES.

>> FESTIVALS, FRIDAY FEST. WHATEVER THEY DO .

>> MORE FLEXIBLE. EVEN WITH THE ONSET OF THE INTERNET AND ALL OF THAT, A TRADITIONAL WELCOME CENTER IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS A BIG PRIORITY FOR A LOT OF TOWNS ANYMORE, BECAUSE THE

AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION. >> A WEBSITE AND YOU MAKE ARRANGEMENTS BEFORE YOU GO. YEAH, YEAH.

>> I THINK THE WHOLE BRICK AND MORTAR IDEA IS DYING OFF TO BEGIN WITH. IF THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WANTED TO USE AND WOULD JUST LIKE IT BECAUSE IT'S A CUTE HOUSE AND HISTORICAL, THAT IS WHAT IT IS. I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THAT SPECIFIC PLAN OF WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH IT, BECAUSE EVEN IF WE DO HAVE THAT WITH A GOAL OF IT BEING A WELCOME CENTER, I SEE THAT GOING AWAY AND I SEE THE CHAMBER NOT WANTING TO CONTINUE THAT EVENTUALLY AS FAR AS A LONG-TERM.

>> I THINK YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.

>> YOU ARE SMILING AND SMILING, BUT YOU ARE NOT TALKING YET.

>> I'M GLAD TO SAY SOMETHING. I'M GLAD I'M HEARING WHAT I'M HEARING THIS MORNING, BECAUSE I WAS HOPING THAT WE WERE -- WE'VE SAT HERE SINCE JANUARY SINCE YOU WERE SWORN IN. WE NEEDED TO START MAKING SOME HARD DECISIONS. SOME TOUGH DECISIONS.

OTHER THAN IT BEING BUILT IN 1905 OR 1906 AND LEARNING THAT IT WAS YOUR GREAT-GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE , WHAT BENEFIT IS IT GIVING TO THE RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY FOR THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY? I LOVE THE IDEA, BECAUSE I KNOW WE PURCHASE A VAN FOR LESS THAN $1 MILLION AND DRIVE IT AROUND FORT PIERCE TO PLACES FOR PLACES TO DO THE -- INVEST A NEW IDEA OF HOW TO GET THE OPEN HOUSE OR THE OPEN HOUSE TO THE RESIDENTS. I CAN'T VOTE ON $1 MILLION OR AS COMMISSIONER BRODERICK SAID, $1.5 MILLION WHERE WE KNOW THAT WE CAN'TSTOP THE WEATHER FROM WHATEVER YOU PUT UP THERE RIGHT UP BY THE WATER. WE WILL BE BACK HERE IN TWO YEARS. WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE SAME THING. MADAM MAYOR, YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT TERMITES. IF YOU CAN DEVELOP A WAY TO KEEP TERMITES FROM EATING UP HOUSES, WOULD IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, YOU WOULDN'T BE

SITTING THERE RIGHT NOW. >> RIGHT AFTER .

>> TERMITES, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO WORK ANOTHER DAY IN YOUR

[02:55:07]

THIS BUILDING? >> A DOLLAR A YEAR IN RENT.

>> WASN'T EVEN GOING THERE WITH YOU. I WASN'T GOING TO -- I DIDN'T NEGOTIATE THAT CONTRACT.

>> I THOUGHT YOU THREW THE QUESTION OUT THERE.

>> I'M JUST TRYING TO SEE, IS THE FOOT TRAFFIC THERE EVERY DAY? IS IT THAT MUCH OF A BENEFIT TO OUR CITY FOR US TO CRY ABOUT SHORTFALLS , THEN MAKE A DECISION TO PUT $1 MILLION OR AS YOU SAID, 1.5 AND USE YOUR EXPERTISE .

>> I WOULD TAKE THAT ONE .5. >> 1.5 WHERE WE CAN USE THAT MONEY ELSEWHERE AND I HEARD FROM STAFF , CHEERLEADING AND DOING ANYTHING FOR THIS PROJECT. THEY HAVE RESERVATIONS, SO I DON'T THINK I WANT TO INVEST THAT TYPY OF MONEY. ON THE OTHER HAND, FROM WHAT WAS SAID, IF YOU GET GRANT WRITING AND YOU THINK YOU CAN GO SQUEEZE $1 MILLION IN TALLAHASSEE AND COME BACK NEXT YEAR AND YOU HAVE THE MONEY, THAT'S A DIFFERENT DISCUSSION.

I'LL BELIEVE THAT WHEN I SEE IT COMING FROM TALLAHASSEE.

STRANGER THINGS IS HAPPENING, SO THAT'S DIFFERENT. IT'S A DIFFERENT QUESTION FOR ME. IF WE SUCCEED, WE SUCCEED. TO GIVE 100 -- TO GIVE $1 MILLION OR 1.5 TO WHERE WE HAVE SO MANY OTHER NEEDS IN THE CITY , ESPECIALLY THE DOWNTOWN AREA , I CAN'T .

THAT'S WHERE I'M AT. >> MADAM MAYOR, IN THE RFP, THERE IS SOME SPECIFIC IMPROVEMENTS. WHERE DOES THIS

LIST COME FROM? >> STAFFS. I'M SORRY.

>> BASED ON STAFFS ASSESSMENT OF THE PROPERTY?

>> CORRECT. OUR FACILITIES MAINTENANCE MANAGER TOOK A LOOK AT THIS PROPERTY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN THE PAST AND I THINK IT WAS AN ATTEMPT TO PRICE OUT THE COST OF DOING THIS IN HOUSE, BUT AT THE TIME THERE WASN'T A BUDGET FOR IT, SO WE MAINTAINED THOSE SPECIFICATIONS, BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE STILL APPROPRIATE FOR THE NEEDS OF THE FACILITY GIVEN THE DETERIORATION THAT IT HAS , BUT IT WAS DONE IN HOUSE.

>> THIS HAPPENED WITH THE BUILDING BACK 20 YEARS AGO. IT WAS DECIDED THAT THERE WASN'T A PLAN FOR IT, BUT WE DIDN'T WANT TO TEAR IT DOWN, SO I THINK IT IS ABOUT 1 MILLION ON THE ROOF

TO CLOSE IT IN. >> THEN, PUT ON THE NATIONAL

HISTORIC REGISTER. >> I DON'T KNOW IF I'M PREPARED TO SAY LET'S TEAR IT DOWN TOMORROW, BUT MAYBE THERE'S A MIDDLE GROUND WHERE WE DO A SIMILAR THING WHERE WE GET IT STRUCTURALLY SOUND AND SAFE -- I DON'T THINK IT NEEDS IMPACT WINDOWS OR ANY OF THAT KIND OF CRAP WHERE IT'S NOT GOING TO FALL DOWN ANYMORE. I DON'T KNOW. MAYBE THERE'S A SECOND OPTION THERE INSTEAD OF A FULL REHABILITATION OF THE ENTIRE EXTERIOR AND WE NEED TO FIX THIS WITH A NEW ROOF, THEN

WE FIGURE IT OUT. >> YOU BROUGHT UP THE CONCEPT AND TRUE ANALYSIS. I THINK THERE'S A MERIT TO THAT AND WE ARE THROWING DARTS AT A WALL AND WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE PROPERTY NEEDS. WE KNOW IT'S IN POOR CONDITION. YOU DON'T NEED AN EXPERT TO TELL THAT PART I'M SURE YOU CAN FIND SERVICES TO GO OUT THERE AND GIVE A TRUE -- DON'T ATTRIBUTE COST TO IT. YOU ARE ESTIMATING COST AND IT'S IRRELEVANT TO ME. GIVE US THE REPORT AS TO THE CONDITION OF THE BUILDING AND WHAT HIS ACTUAL NEEDS ARE. ADVOCATES VERY BENEFICIAL FOR US.

>>

[03:00:05]

>> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, DO YOU WANT TO CHIME IN? NO?

>> IN THE LINE ITEM THERE IS 944 FOR A CONDITION ASSESSMENT.

MAYBE THERE IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN LOOK AT WITH THAT ASSESSMENT TO SEE WHERE WE ARE. I THINK THE COST IS LARGELY FROM THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION. EVEN BOTH PROPOSALS THAT WE RECEIVED, ONE WAS DOING WHAT WAS REQUESTED AND THE OTHER WAS ACTUALLY RESTORING AND TAKING OFF THE SHIPLAP AND RESTORING AND DOING DIFFERENT THINGS SO WE CAN POSSIBLY LOOK AT DOING THE CONDITION ASSESSMENT, SEE WHAT IS OUT THERE AND ALSO FINDING OUT WHAT WOULD TRIGGER THIS BUILDING HAVING TO COME UP TO CODE. IT BEING THAT IT MAY NEED A CERTAIN AMOUNT, IT MAY NEED IMPACT WINDOWS TO AN EXTENT THAN JUST TRYING TO GET AN OVERALL COST ESTIMATE MAYBE AS PART OF THE CONDITION ASSESSMENT AND THAT WE COME BACK AND JUST MAKE A DECISION. MOVE FORWARD. THIS IS WHAT THE PERSPECTIVE COST IS. WE DECIDE THE OPTION THAT YOU STATED WOULD KNOCK IT DOWN AND BUILD NEW OR WHATEVER WE DECIDE

TO DO. >> MADAM CHAIR, I WANT TO MAKE SURE, A REQUIREMENT OF THE MATCHING GRANT IS YOU HAVE TO HAVE DOLLARS EARMARKED FOR IT SO YOU WOULD ESSENTIALLY STILL BE USING WHATEVER FUNDING SOURCE YOU CHOOSE TO ALLOCATE FOR IT .

>> BUT THE LEGISLATURE WOULD ALSO WANT TO BE EXHIBIT -- INVESTING IN A PROJECT THAT IS WORTH INVESTING IN. WE WANT TO DEAL IN GOOD FAITH WITH THE LEGISLATURE.

>> WE NEED A PLAN FOR IT. LONG-TERM UTILIZATION OF THIS BUILDING WHETHER IT IS A MUSEUM, ART GALLERY. IT MAYBE IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO BE A BAR OR RESTAURANT OR CAFE. WE NEED A REAL PLAN ON WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IN THE FUTURE.

>> I WANT TO SPEAK ON THAT BECAUSE THAT IS THE PART I AM STRUGGLING WITH. UNTIL SOMEONE CAN GIVE ME A PATHWAY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE TDC AND THE CHAMBER MOVING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION THAT WE HAVE NO IDEA WHEN IT COMES TO BUSINESS AND I AM JUST DISTURBED BY THAT. UNTIL SOMEONE CAN HELP ME UNDERSTAND I DON'T WANT TO SPEND ONE DIME ON THAT UNTIL I CAN UNDERSTAND, THIS MAY BE THE FUTURE HOME OF BLANK. THAT COULD BE A POSSIBILITY. WE HAVE LINCOLN PARK MASONRY IN THE INCUBATOR NEIGHBORHOOD AND THOSE ISSUES. MAYBE THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE I AM NOT AWARE OF THEN I WOULD WANT TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF FIGURING OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT AND HOW MUCH TO FIX IT UP AND AT THAT POINT I COULD MAKE A BETTER DECISION. IT IS TOO FAR GONE TO REPAIR AT THAT PARTICULAR POINT. THAT IS HOW I AM PROCESSING.

>> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK. >> I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. I DO WANT TO COME BACK TO COMMISSIONER -- COMMISSIONER TAYLOR'S COMMENT. WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WE WILL PUT IN THERE EVENTUALLY. THIS MIGHT BE PAPER SHREDDER MATERIAL. THEY ARE ASKING FOR $46,000. $45,000 FOR A CONDITION ASSESSMENT? I THINK THAT CAN BE DONE FOR CHEAPER. YOU PUT THIS OUT TO ENGINEERING FIRMS THAT ARE USED TO DOING THIS TYPE OF INVESTIGATION AND IT WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS FROM THIS.

THE RFP PROCESS I KNOW, IT IS CUMBERSOME. I DON'T KNOW IF WE WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN TO GET A CONDITIONED

[03:05:02]

SUFFICE IT TO SAY WE ARE DEALING WITH A COMPLETE UNKNOWN EXCEPT THE BUILDING NEEDS A TON OF MONEY AND IS IT THIS TON OF MONEY OR THIS TON OF MONEY? IT IS GOING TO BE A TRUCKLOAD.

SUFFICE IT TO SAY, I AGREE WITH YOUR OPINION BUT WE NEED A STARTING POINT TO SAY IS THIS THING EVEN WORTHWHILE PUTTING ANY MONEY INTO? IS IT SO FAR GONE THAT THE STRUCTURAL PORTIONS OF THE BUILDING ARE COMPLETELY DESTROYED? WE DON'T

KNOW THAT. >> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK, I GOT YOU. BEFORE WE SPEND 35,000, 45,000, WHATEVER IT IS, BEFORE WE SPEND THAT, DO WE NEED TO HAVE AN IDEA IF WE WANT TO USE IT FOR SOMETHING? BECAUSE WE SAY SPEND THIS MONEY AND THEY COME BACK AND SAY THIS IS THE CONDITION BUT WE STILL ARE GOING TO BE, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THE BUILDING?

>> I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT. I THINK WE ARE LOOKING AT THE CHICKEN AND THE EGG. THAN THIS IT WON'T BE AVAILABLE TO RENT FOR TWO YEARS. THAT IS NOT GOING TO FLY. THAT DOES NOT WORK AT

YOUR OPINION IS CORRECT. >> DO YOU WANT TO GET INTO THIS

CONVERSATION? >> JUST A COUPLE OF POINTS.

COMMISSIONER BRODERICK MENTIONED MOVING REMOVING THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION TO DESTROY THE BUILDING. YOU WOULD NOT HAVE TO REMOVE THAT. THERE IS A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR DEMOLITION. SECONDLY, IT DOES APPEAL TO THIS BODY. JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND BUT ADDITIONALLY, WITH RESPECT TO BREAKING THIS DOWN INTO A CONDITION ASSESSMENT, MAYBE THEN A DESIGN THEN CONSTRUCTION. THIS WAS PUT OUT, AND CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG, AS CONSTRUCTION OVERALL.

>> YES. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.

>> IT WAS NOT JUST PUT OUT WITH DESIGN OR JUST CONSTRUCTION.

>> CORRECT. >> MY OPINION IS THIS REALLY COMES DOWN TO A FAIRNESS THING. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOMEBODY OUT THERE WILLING TO DO A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT SO IF THE ABILITY IS TO BREAK THIS UP AND START WITH THE CONDITION ASSESSMENT MY RECOMMENDATION TO YOU ALL WOULD BE TO CANCEL THIS RFP AND NOT A WORD TO ANYONE I GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD WITH A NEW BID SO THAT YOU GET ANYONE THAT IS WILLING TO DO A CONDITION ASSESSMENT, YOU GIVE THEM THE ABILITY TO BID ON THIS AND YOU HAVE THE BEST POOL OF APPLICANTS POSSIBLE.

>> SO, SOMETHING YOU SAID EARLIER, I THINK COMMISSIONER TAYLOR ASKED YOU ABOUT A LIST OF THINGS AND YOU SAID, WHERE DID THAT COME FROM? AND YOU SAID IT WAS SOMETHING INTERNALLY.

>> SPECIFICALLY THE SPECIFIC IMPROVEMENT SECTION. MAINTENANCE FOR THE FACILITY BUT THE INTENTION WAS ONCE THE ASSESSMENT IS DONE AS PART OF THE SCOPE OF SERVICES THEY WOULD THEN BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE RECOMMENDED TREATMENT BECAUSE WE CAN SAY THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE BELIEVE FROM OUR OWN OBSERVATIONS ARE NECESSARY BUT IF THERE IS ANY OTHER OBJECTIVE, FORTIFYING THAT EXTERIOR, THEN PLEASE DO SO.

>> WHERE I WAS GOING WITH THAT IS HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE OUR OWN BUILDING DEPARTMENT HAS GONE IN AND DONE ANY KIND OF

ASSESSMENT? >> BEFORE THE RFP WENT OUT WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, THE ASSISTANT BUILDING OFFICIAL MANAGER, MYSELF, AND MR. ANDREWS WENT OUT TO TAKE A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE SITE AND WE WERE GOING TO PUT OUT AN RFP THAT WE WERE GOING TO FOCUS ON THE EXTERIOR COMPONENTS. THE ROOF, THE WINDOWS CUT THE DOOR, AND CITING AND THAT REALLY IS THE IMPETUS WITH PUTTING THIS FORWARD. WE CAN SECURE THOSE

[03:10:05]

PRESERVATION OF THE PROPERTY. >> AGAINST WHAT I AM -- GUESS WHAT I AM ASKING FELLOW COMMISSIONERS IS A CONDITION ASSESSMENT SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE BID OUT?

>> I WAS SAYING THE SAME THING, CAN IT BE DONE IN-HOUSE? BECAUSE, I HAVE A COUPLE MORE DAYS WITH THEM. CAN IT BE SOMETHING DONE IN-HOUSE BECAUSE YOU HAD TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF INFORMATION BACK TO PUT INTO THIS CATEGORY THAT COMMISSIONER TAYLOR IS TALKING ABOUT SO YOU SAW SOMETHING THAT WE DID NOT SEE, WE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT. MAYBE THAT WILL HELP US MAKE THE DECISION EASIER IF YOU CAN LET US KNOW WHAT YOU SO SAW, TO PUT THIS IN THE ARE OF THE. THAT IS WHAT I AM ASKING.

>> MAYBE WE WANT SOMEBODY OUTSIDE BECAUSE MAYBE THAT

OBJECTIVE -- >> MR. ANDREWS --

>> I BELIEVE THE OFFICIAL ALONG WITH THE INSPECTORS WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO START ON THIS. BECAUSE, THEY ARE MORE FAMILIAR STRUCTURALLY LOOKING AT THAT. I THINK MR. THOMAS WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO GO ABOUT THAT. AND THEN EXTEND FROM

THERE. >> HUMAN CAN'T GET HIS OPINION ABOUT THE CONDITIONAL ASSESSMENT OF TWO SHOULD DO IT?

>> IF HE DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE, RECOMMENDED TO GO OUT TO ARCHITECTURAL OR A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER.

>> MISS COX. >> MR. THOMAS HAS WEIGHED IN ON THAT AT SOME POINT ALREADY AND HE SAID HE IS NOT QUALIFIED TO MAKE A STRUCTURAL ASSESSMENT OF THE BUILDING. ONLY A DESIGN PROFESSIONAL IS AUTHORIZED TO DO SO. WE HAVE ASKED HIM TO DO THAT IN THE PAST BEFORE THIS RFP WENT OUT.

>> THANK YOU, JACK. >> SO, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS READY TO SAY DEMOLISH IT TODAY. WE MAY GET THERE AT SOME POINT.

BUT, WE NEED TO KNOW MORE, I THINK. SO, WHAT IS IT THAT WE NEED TO DO TODAY? DO WE NEED TO GIVE STAFF DIRECTION?

>> I THINK COMMISSIONER GAINES AND COMMISSIONER JOHNSON HAVE STRESSED A MARKETING PLAN TO FIGURE OUT WHAT SOMEONE IS GOING

TO DO WITH THIS BUILDING. >> MADAM MAYOR, I THINK BOTH THINGS CAN HAPPEN SIMULTANEOUSLY. AT THE SAME TIME. GIVEN THE INFORMATION, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT A STRUCTURAL ASSESSMENT COST. I AM WILLING TO HAVE STAFF GO OUT AND ENGAGE A STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING FIRM TO GET SOME IDEAS OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, COME BACK AND IN THE MEANTIME, WE ALL AS A COMMISSION SHOULD BE THINKING, WHAT WOULD BE LIKE TO SEE THIS AS. WE HAVE A CURRENT TENANT THAT ONLY PAYS ONE DOLLAR AND,

SO, PERFORMS A SERVICE . >> YES .

>> BUT, I THINK WE ALL REALLY NEED TO PUT OUR HATS ON AND THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS COULD BE. AND I AM WILLING TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS BEFORE I COME BACK AND I IMAGINE THE ESTIMATE IS SOMETHING THAT I CAN TOLERATE OR STOMACH AND, THEN, WHAT IS THE NEXT DOMINO TO FALL AS FAR AS HOW WE DEAL WITH THIS. THAT IS WHERE I AM AT. I AM WILLING TO AT LEAST EXPLORE THAT OPTION.

>> I'M NOT SURE IF WE HAVE TO RFP THAT. OR CAN WE SOLICIT BIDS

FROM THEM? >> MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS WE DO HAVE CONTINUING SERVICE CONTRACTS AND THERE MAY BE SOMEONE THAT FALLS WITHIN THAT. WE HAVE TO REVIEW WHAT CONTRACTS

WE HAVE IN PLACE. >> MADAM CHAIR, I REMEMBER FOR THE -- PROJECT, THAT I INITIALLY ASSISTED WITH, I THINK ONE OF THE ENGINEERING GROUPS QUOTED, PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE TO ME AS TO

[03:15:01]

RANGE. >> I THINK WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS WE ARE GOING TO, WE WANT TO KNOW IF, WHAT THE STATUS OF SOMEONE BEING ABLE TO DO A CONDITIONAL ASSESSMENT, WHAT IT MIGHT COST AND WHAT THE USE MIGHT BE IN THE FUTURE. WE ARE ON A TWO TERM.

>> IS THERE OPPORTUNITIES, I KNOW WE DID THE CONCEPTUAL PLAN FOR THE FOURTH FLOOR OF THE PARKING GARAGE HERE. THROUGH CONTINUING SERVICES. I WONDER IF THAT SAME FIRM WOULD BE WILLING TO DO KIND OF LIKE AN ASSESSMENT ON THE BUILDING, BASICALLY.

WOULD A CAFE FIT IN IT? WOULD THIS FIT? WHAT OPPORTUNITIES COULD WE POTENTIALLY USE THIS FOR? I WOULD ENVISION MOVING IT OUT TO

REHABILITATION THERE. >> THERE IS NOTHING INSIDE OF IT

THOUGH. >> IT WOULD HAVE TO BE BROUGHT UP TO CODE AND WE NEED TO CONSIDER ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

>> IT IS A LAND MAP -- LANDMARK STRUCTURE. IT IS AN OLD-STYLE FLORIDA CRACKER HOUSE AND IF THAT IS THE GOAL, JUST A PRETTY BUILDING ABOUT IS HOW WE KEEP IT, WE JUST NEED TO HAVE THAT

SPECIFIC PLAN. >> SO WE WANT TO KEEP IT IF IT IS FEASIBLE BUT IF IT IS A MONEY PIT --

>> IT IS GOING TO BE A MONEY PIT. THERE IS NO DOUBT. BUT IS THERE THE MOTIVATION TO SPEND THE MONEY. THIS IS BASICALLY FOR A SHOW RENOVATION. THERE'S ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL, PLUMBING. THAT IS NOT EVEN A THOUGHT IN THIS PROPOSAL. THAT IS BASED ON WHAT THE USE IS GOING TO BE. ADA COMPLIANCE AND ALL KIND OF STUFF THAT THIS PROPOSAL DOES NOT EVEN CONTEMPLATE. YOU COULD SPEND ANOTHER $1 MILLION ON THAT. YOU SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING. BUT I AGREE WITH GETTING PROPOSALS.

LET'S GET AN ASSESSMENT. THE DEBATE COULD BE OVER VERY

QUICKLY. >> AND I THINK WE OWE IT TO THE TAXPAYERS AND THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION. AND, ALSO, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO --

>> MADAM MAYOR, THIS IS A PROPERTY THAT WE OWN AND IS THERE ANOTHER USE FOR THAT PROPERTY BECAUSE IF WE TEAR IT

DOWN -- >> YOU MEAN

>> YES . >> WE WENT ANOTHER PIECE OF

VACANT PROPERTY. >> IT IS PARKLAND. WE COULD DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. IT IS PART OF A PARK.

>> WE ARE LITERALLY --. >> AROUND CHRISTMAS TIME I HAD

SOMETHING THERE. >> I WASN'T LOOKING FOR THAT EITHER. SO, THE ACTION WE HAVE TO TAKE, DO WE HAVE TO TAKE

ACTION ON THE RFP TODAY? >> MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, YOU DO NOT. WHAT I RECOMMEND YOU DO IS ADDRESS THIS NEXT MONTH. GIVE STAFF AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW SERVICE CONTRACTS TO SEE IF THERE ARE POTENTIAL CONTRACTS IN PLACE THAT CAN DO A CONDITION AND/OR A DESIGN.

>> SOMETHING THAT TELLS US WHAT WE ARE IN FOR.

>> SO WE CAN PRESENT YOU WITH MULTIPLE OPTIONS SO YOU CAN

DECIDE HOW TO MOVE FORWARD. >> IN THE MEANTIME WE NEED TO BE

THINKING ABOUT POTENTIAL USES. >> THE DIRECTION IS, WE ARE LOOKING AT CONTINUING EXISTING SERVICE CONTRACTS TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE AND PERHAPS PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS AND

[03:20:01]

>> THAT WOULD BE GREAT. >> WE WANT TO VALUE THE ENTRY YEAR, THE EXTERIOR AND DEFINE USE OF THE BUILDING AND STAFF WILL DEFINE THE USE OF THE BUILDING AND GOING FORWARD, IF WE DECIDE TO DEMOLISH THE BUILDING -- I WOULD LIKE STUFF TO LOOK AT THE USE OF THE BUILDING THEN, DETERMINE IF WE WILL DEMOLISH THE BUILDING. BUT THE INITIAL ACTION IS, THAT THEN

ALSO GIVES US POTENTIAL USE. >> ARE WE LOOKING TO BE ABLE TO SAY SOMETHING UPFRONT, THIS COMMISSION CAN OKAY THE PRICE.

>> I DON'T WANT US TO RECOMMEND THAT WE VALUE THAT.

>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS GETTING. >> THAT BUILDING IS PROPOSED BY THE VENDOR, WE WOULD LIKE TO COME WITH OUR RECOMMENDED USES

OF THE BUILDING. >> SOUND GOOD, EVERYBODY?

>> I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT THE CONDITION ASSESSMENT.

THAT WILL INCLUDE TERMITE INSPECTION? I JUST WANT TO MAKE

SURE THAT IS INCLUDED. >> WE REALLY HAVE NOT FOCUSED TOO MUCH ON THE OPERATING MAINTENANCE COST. EVEN IF THE BUILDING WAS IN TIP TOP CONDITION, WHAT IS THE COST TO MAINTAIN THAT BUILDING GOING FORWARD. TELL US WHAT IT COSTS TO MAINTAIN A BUILDING THAT HAS TERMITES. THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO CONSIDER. WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO KEEP IT UP TO PAR

IF THERE ARE CONDITIONS. >> I THINK THEY ARE FULL-TIME

RESIDENTS. NOT SNOWBIRDS. >> GUARANTIES. THERE IS A RECURRENCE THEY COME BACK AND OCCUR AGAIN. THERE IS WAYS TO WORK AROUND THAT. BUT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET RID OF ALL OF THEM.

>> MADAM MAYOR. >> DO YOU HAVE MORE TO SAY?

>> WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE LEASE WITH THE CHAMBER OF

COMMERCE. >> WITH THE CHAMBER?

>> MADAM MAYOR , I BELIEVE IT IS EXPIRED .

>> THE VISITOR CENTER IS STILL OPERATING BUT THE LEASE IS

EXPIRED? >> TECHNICALLY THEY WOULD BE A HOLDOVER TENANT SO I THINK ESSENTIALLY STAFF IS -- WHETHER YOU WANT A VISITORS CENTER TO REMAIN THERE BEFORE ANY SORT OF

LEASE IS EXECUTED. >> THEY ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. THE LEASE DOES NOT DICTATE THE OPERATION. BUT THE LEASE DOES NOT GOVERN THE OPERATION OF THE CENTER.

>> I COULD BE WRONG. I THINK IT USED TO.

>> THEY ARE A PARTNER AND WE NEED TO KEEP THEM INFORMED.

>> THERE'S A SEPARATE OPERATING AGREEMENT, THAT IS BIZARRE FIRST

OFF. >> THAT IS PART OF IT TOO.

>> IT IS IN THE BUDGET. >> IT IS WEIRD BUT THE FUNDING HAS NEVER BEEN INCLUDED IN THE LEASE. IT HAS JUST BEEN A BUNCH

OF DESIGNATIONS. >> IT IS WEIRD .

>> IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN WEIRD. >> THE OPERATING EXPENSES ARE IN

THE LEASE. >> I THINK THE CHAMBER PAYS FOR THE UTILITIES AND EVERYTHING BUT I KNOW THAT THE CITY HAS ALWAYS PAID FOR THE TERMITES AND ALL OF THAT. THEY HAVE BEEN THERE THE

TIME I HAVE BEEN HERE. >> ARE WE CANCELING THIS RFP?

>> I WOULD HOLD OFF UNTIL YOUR NEXT MEETING. THE NEXT TIME YOU

ADDRESS THOSE. >> SO WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE ANY

ACTION? >> RIGHT.

>> THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE GOOD NEWS YOU BROUGHT US TODAY.

>> BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT WE HAVE A HARD STOP AT 1:30 BECAUSE THE PLANNING BOARD IS

[03:25:02]

>> THEY NEED $7 MILLION FROM THE BUDGET.

[f. Parking Committee Recommendation for Renewing the Lease Agreement with Ft. Pierce Resorts, LLC for Parking at Indian River Drive and A.E. Backus Ave. ]

>> I WANT TO REMIND YOU THOSE ARE ON THE AGENDA FOLLOWING THESE ITEMS. WITH THAT WE WILL MOVE UNTIL THE PARKING COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION FOR RENEWING THE LEASE AGREEMENT WITH FOUR PIECE RESORTS LLC FOR PARKING AT INDIAN RIVER DRIVE AND A.E.

BACKUS AVE.. >> THANK YOU. THIS WILL BE A SHORT PRESENTATION. WITH THIS ITEM WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT SINCE LAST YEAR. WE HAVE A LEASE AGREEMENT THAT EXPIRED LAST YEAR SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CURRENT PROPERTY OWNER, WHICH IS FORT PIERCE RESORTS LLC -- IF THEY WANTED TO PURSUE RENEWAL AND THEY SAID THAT THEY DID BUT THEY SAID THERE ARE SOME CHANGES THAT THEY WANTED TO SEE IN THE LEASE RENEWAL BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THOSE ITEMS ARE. I DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND PARKING MADE MEETINGS AND I AM SEEKING -- AS AN ITEM AS WELL SO TALKING ABOUT THE PARKING SPACE THAT WE ARE CONTEMPLATING TODAY. WE HAVE BEEN LEASING THE SIX PARCELS THAT YOU SEE OUTLINED IN RED ON NORTH INDIAN ROAD DRIVE BETWEEN A.E. BACKUS AVENUE AND AVENUE D. I WAS KIND OF OUT THERE AND I SAW HOW BUSY IT WAS SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS AN INTEREST IN PARKING IN THIS AREA. IT IS FREE PARKING AND IS NOT PAVED AT THIS TIME AND CONTAINS ABOUT 126 PARKING SPACES. MOVING ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE THESE ARE THE PROPOSED LEASE CHANGES. FROM THE PROPERTY OWNER SO, JUST STARTING OFF WITH FEES AND TERMS. THE MONTHLY BASE RENT THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT CURRENTLY IS $1350. THIS IS PAID ON A QUARTERLY BASIS SO ALTOGETHER ON A QUARTERLY BASIS WE ARE PAYING $4050. HOWEVER THE PROPERTY OWNER APPROACHED US ABOUT CHANGES. THE FIRST WAS TO MOVE IT UP TO $3500 PER MONTH AND THE PAYMENT SCHEDULE HE WOULD MOVE -- SCHEDULE WOULD MOVE FROM MONTHLY TO QUARTERLY AND THEY WANTED TO INCREASE THE LEASE TERM TO 24 MONTHS SO WHEN THIS WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE PARKING COMMITTEE IN FEBRUARY THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE COST. IT WAS HIGH AND STAFF WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. I HAVE BEEN IN CONVERSATION WITH FINANCE AS WELL AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THERE IS NO BUDGET THAT IS SET APART TO COVER ANY INCREASE FOR THIS LEASE SO EVEN IF IT IS $100 OR $1000 IT IS NOT BUDGETED AND THEY HAVE TO ALLOCATE FUNDS FROM THE BUDGET. AFTER HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER HE DID SHARE WITH ME WHY THEY BROUGHT FORWARD THIS INCREASE. SOME OF THE REASONS IS, THEY BELIEVE THEY HAVE NOT BEEN CHARGING MARKET RATE FOR THE PROPERTY AND THEY ARE TRYING TO MAKE UP FOR THAT SO, FOR INSTANCE, BASED OFF OF MY CALCULATIONS THEY BELIEVE THAT THE LAND VALUE IS $2.5 MILLION AND WITH THE EQUATION THAT THEY SET UP THAT EQUATES TO $10,400 PER MONTH SO THEY ARE WILLING TO DROP THE COST DOWN $1000 WHICH IS $2500 PER MONTH AND THEY ARE KEEPING THE PAYMENT SCHEDULE THE SAME AS THEIR FIRST PROPOSAL AND THE LEASE TERM WOULD REMAIN THE SAME 24 MONTHS AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THEY WILL NOT BUDGE ON THAT. WITH THAT BEING SAID, COST DIFFERENCE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IF RSUE E WITH THIS IS, FROM THE CURRENT COST ON A YEARLY BASIS, CONSIDERING TAXES, BASE RENT, PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTING FEES WE ARE LOOKING AT $8249.31. THE PROPOSED CHANGE WOULD BE $3800 ADDITIONALLY

[03:30:14]

EVERY YEAR. >> $13,800?

>> $13,800. I APOLOGIZE. >> JUST TO PROVIDE GREATER CONTEXT IN TERMS OF PARKING AVAILABILITY IN THE AREA, JUST NORTH OF THAT PARKING LOT, BETWEEN CEDAR PLACE AND AVENUE D WE HAVE UNPAVED PARKING THAT IS BEING WORKED ON. THAT IS OWNED WITH A SEPARATE CONTRACT AND IT IS GOING TO CONTAIN 66 PARKING SPACES. WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM THE EXISTING LEASE, I BELIEVE WE ARE JUST PAYING THE TAXES WHICH IS CONSIDERABLY LOWER. IN TERMS OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS, THE DOWNTOWN FORT PIERCE PARKING GUIDE PROVIDES ALL OF THE PARKING DOWNTOWN. WHAT YOU SEE IN GREEN ARE THE PAVED PARKING SPACES.

BLUE IS UNPAVED AND WHAT YOU SEE THERE HIGHLIGHTED IN THE LETTER READ, NUMBER 13, THAT IS THE PROPERTY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TODAY. THE ONE JUST NORTH IS IN PROGRESS. THAT IS -- JUST IN TOTALITY BETWEEN ALL OF THE GREEN AND YELLOW PARKING SPACES, YOU ARE LOOKING AT 1229 PARKING SPACES. WITH THE EXISTING PARKING LOT WE ARE CONTEMPLATING IN ADDITION TO THE 66 UNPAID PARKING SPACES YOU ARE LOOKING AT A RENTAL LEVEL OF 4021 AND THIS DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT UNPAID PARKING SPACES. SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE LOOKING FOR A DECISION ON THE TABLE BY THE PROPERTY OWNER. HE IS QUITE ADAMANT THAT HE IS NOT GOING TO REDUCE THE COST THAT HE HAS PROPOSED TO US WHICH IS A $2500

BASE RENT. >> SO, I THINK WE SAY THANK YOU, VERY MUCH AND YOU CAN DEVELOP YOUR PROPERTY NOW.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. >> THE PARKING COMMITTEE REVISITED THIS LAST WEEKEND INITIALLY THEIR RECOMMENDATION HAD TO COME IN TO APPROVE AT A LOWER PRICE POINT. WE SAW THE NEW PRICE AND WE SAID NO, WE WALK. THE CITY IS NOT GOING TO BE HOSTAGE IN THESE TYPES OF NEGOTIATIONS. WE PICKED UP THE 66 SPACES FROM THE LOT NEXT TO THAT. IT WAS A TOUGH LOSS TO TAKE BUT NOT AT A COST OF $47,000 PER YEAR. THEY CAN KEEP THE PROPERTY AND DEVELOP IT OR PICNIC ON IT OR WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO WITH IT. WE GIVE OUR 30 DAYS NOTICE TO QUIT AND WE

ARE OUT. >> DO YOU NEED A MOTION?

>> I THINK WE ARE GOOD. >> I JUST WANT YOUR DIRECTION.

AND I THINK IT IS PRETTY CLEAR.

>> YOU GOT IT TOO, DIDN'T YOU?

>> OKAY. >> MADAM MAYOR, MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE ARE STILL OPERATING THE LOT EVEN THOUGH THE LEASES EXPIRED SO, I THINK A MOTION TO TERMINATE THE CURRENT LEASE AS BASICALLY A HOLDOVER TENANT AND REMOVE OUR PARKING STRUCTURES BECAUSE, IF I REMEMBER, THE LEASE CORRECTLY WE DO HAVE TO REMOVE WHAT WE HAVE PUT ON IT SO A MOTION TO TERMINATE THAT LEASE AND RESTORE AS REQUIRED UNDER THE LEASE AGREEMENT WOULD BE APPRECIATED, MAYBE TO SIMPLIFY A MOTION TO TERMINATE THAT AS A SPARKING PIECE SPACE FOR THE CITY.

>> MAY I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE TERMINATE THAT AS A PARKING

SPACE FOR THE CITY. >> IS THERE A SECOND?

>> SECOND WITH THE CONDITION THAT WE REHABILITATE THE

PROPERTY. >> THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO BE CLEAR ON. I KNOW THERE ARE PARKING BUMP STOPS OUT THERE.

THAT WOULD HAVE TO COME OUT. DID WE PUT THAT IN?

>>, WE DID . >> SO THAT WOULD COME OUT?

[03:35:04]

>> LET ME SEE IF THE LEASE IS ATTACHED TO THE PRESENTATION.

>> WOULD IT BE TERMINATE AND RESTORE?

>> RIGHT. >> TERMINATE AND RESTORE ACCORDING TO THE LEASE PROVISION.

>> CORRECT . >> I AM CLEAR NOW.

>> CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. >>

>> THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK.

>> THE PROPERTY THAT WE ARE LEASING MAY HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL

LAND. >> NEXT, ARE WE READY TO MOVE

[9. Consent Agenda]

ON? >> YES.

>> THE NEXT ITEM IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.

>> IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA?

>> MOVED . >> SECOND.

>> THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

[a. Resolution 25-R32 appointing Scott Marcum to the Police Community Advisory Committee as Commissioner Taylor's appointee.]

>> 25-R32 , RESOLUTION 25-R32 APPOINTING SCOTT MARCUM TO THE POLICE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE AS COMMISSIONER TAYLOR'S APPOINTEE. AND THIS RESOLUTION APPOINTS SCOTT MARCUM TO THE POLICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AS THE MAYORS APPOINTEE .

>> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION?

>> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 25-R32.

>> SECOND. >> THERE IS A MOTION AND A

SECOND. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >>

>> MADAM MAYOR ? >> YES.

>> ON THAT TOPIC, I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY REPORTS ARE CITIES ON WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THAT COMMITTEE. I DON'T THINK THEY

HAVE MET IN QUITE SOME TIME. >> THEY MEET QUARTERLY.

>> I COULD NOT FIND AN AGENDA UNTIL LAST APRIL.

>> WE SHOULD CHECK ON THAT. >> I THINK AN ACTIVITY REPORT

WOULD BE NICE. >> I THINK HE HAS HEARD YOU.

[b. Resolution 25-R33 approving FPUA's FY2023-2024 Final Budget Amendment]

>> OKAY, RESOLUTION 25-R33 APPROVING FPUA'S FY2023-2024

FINAL BUDGET AMENDMENT -- >> THIS PRESENTATION WILL SERVE FOR BOTH RESOLUTION SO WE DON'T PRESENT IT TWICE. WITH THAT I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, BARBARA.

>> HOW FAST CAN YOU TALK? >> THANK YOU AND GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS AND CITY MANAGER. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO PRESENT THIS AFTERNOON. WE HAVE COME TO THE CLOSE OF THE FISCAL YEAR AND WE ARE HERE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH AN OVERVIEW -- FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 AS WELL AS THE AMENDED BUDGET FOR 2024. THIS IS THE FINAL BUDGET BROUGHT AN INCREASE FOR 2024 OF $48.9 MILLION INCLUDED IN THAT $48.9 MILLION IS RECOGNITION OF GRANT REVENUE OF $28.8 MILLION.

THE REVENUE FROM OPERATIONS FROM ALL SYSTEMS HAVE SHOWN INCREASES OVER THE YEAR HOWEVER, A COUPLE WITH THE REDUCTION AND SAVINGS OUT OF OPERATING EXPENSES WE HAD AN INCREASING INCOME OF $5.8 MILLION FOR THE YEAR. I MENTIONED THE GRANT REVENUE OF -- AND THAT IS AN INCREASE OF $24.8 MILLION. THE CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS INCREASED BY $2 MILLION. AND THE INVESTMENT INCOME WAS ABOUT $1.4 MILLION. THIS SLIDE TAKES A LOOK AT THE COMBINED TOTAL REVENUES AND COMPARES IT TO THE AMENDED BUDGET. THE BLUE COLOR OF THE ACTUALS AND THE GREEN IS THE AMENDED NUMBERS. THE INCREASE OVER OUR AMENDED BUDGET OF $15

[03:40:03]

OUR FPUA COMMUNICATIONS, OUR ACT SHALL REVENUES EXCEEDED BY ABOUT $2 MILLION AND WE EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS BY 3.9%. OUR RATINGS WERE LOWERED BY 2.9% COMPARED TO COMMUNICATIONS OF --. IN FISCAL YEAR 2024 THE OPERATIONS WERE 2.5% BELOW WHAT WAS PROJECTED IN THE AMENDED BUDGETAND ELECTRIC PURPOSES FOR RESALE IS THE BIGGEST COMPONENT THAT WE SPEND MONEY ON EACH YEAR AND WE ARE 319,000 BELOW THE PROJECTION AND A $.9 MILLION LOWER THAN WHAT IT COST US IN 2023. OUR GAS PURCHASES FOR RESALE WERE ON PAR WITH LAST YEAR AND THE OVERALL SYSTEM EXPENSES FOR DECREASE FROM FISCAL YEAR OF 5.7%. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE TREND ON THE CALCULATION FOR THE DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE AND IT IS A RATIO OF 12 ROLLING MONTHS FOR NET AVAILABLE INCOME TO OUR DEBT SERVICE. THAT ENDED ON SEPTEMBER 30 AND THE DEBT SERVICE RATIO WAS 3.8 TIMES COMPARED TO 2.52 TIMES AS A SEPTEMBER 30, 2023. OUR LAW AND COVENANT REQUIRES MAINTAINING A RATIO OF 2.5 TIMES AND THAT IS DEPICTED BY THE RED LINE AND WE ARE WELL AND COMPLIANCE WITH THAT COVENANT. ADDITIONALLY OUR MASTER BOND RESOLUTION REQUIRES THAT FPUA MAINTAINED WITH 45 DAYS OF CASH ON HAND TO MAINTAIN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS RESOLUTION.

THE CALCULATED DAYS OF CASH ON HAND IS 433 DAYS OF CASH AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE OUR RATE STABILIZATION. THE CITY, THE CITY DISTRIBUTION BASED ON THE CALCULATION OF REVENUES SUBJECT TO THE 6% DISTRIBUTION IS CALCULATED FOR LAST YEAR AT 7,000,900 EIGHT THOUSAND $82. THIS IS GREATER THAN WHAT WAS

[03:45:03]

>> YOU DID VERY WELL. QUESTIONS? OR IS THERE A MOTION FOR

RESOLUTION 25-R33 ? >> I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE

APPROVE RESOLUTION 25-R33 >> SECOND.

>> THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

[c. Resolution 25-R34 accepting the Fort Pierce Utilities Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for FY2024 and annual distribution.]

>> RESOLUTION 25-R34 AND THE ANNUAL DISTRIBUTION IS?

>> IF YOU WANT THAT MONEY YOU MAKE A MOTION.

>> $7.9 MILLION. >> MADAM MAYOR I MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 25-R34 .

>> SECOND. >> THERE IS A MOTION AND A

SECOND. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >>

>> PLEASE REPEAT THE FACT THAT WE ARE LOWER THAN FLORIDA POWER

AND LIGHT. >> WE ARE GOING ON ALMOST TWO YEARS AND WE ARE LOWER THAN FPAND L .

>> THAT CONTRIBUTION OF $7.9 MILLION IS 13% OF THE REVENUE FOR OUR OPERATING BUDGET. THAT IS A CORNERSTONE TRUNK OF WHAT IT TAKES TO OPERATE THIS CITIES SO, IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

GREAT WORK, YOU GUYS. THE ANNUAL INCREASES ARE QUITE COMPELLING.

>> GREAT WORK AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE GREAT NEWS.

>> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU FOR WAITING TOO.

[a. City Commission Agenda Review]

>> THANK YOU. >> OKAY. NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE CITY COMMISSION AGENDA REVIEW.

>> I ASKED THAT THIS ITEM BE PUT ON, COMMISSIONERS BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT ALL OF US COULD STAND A LITTLE BIT OF REFRESHER ON WHAT GOES WHERE. A LOT OF OF THOUGHT HAS GONE INTO THE WAY THAT THIS AGENDA IS PUT TOGETHER AND, SO, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A REFRESHER FOR ALL OF US. WE DON'T NEED TO GO OVER EVERYTHING BUT IT GIVES YOU, THIS AGENDA HAS EVOLVED AND IT GIVES YOU THE REASONING BEHIND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE, THIS PLACEMENT AND WHY IT IS. I WILL JUST HIGHLIGHT A FEW THINGS. WE PUT ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS AHEAD SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC CAN COMMENT ON ANYTHING THAT WE ADDED. THE CONSENT AGENDA HAS ALWAYS BEEN SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE GRAPPLED WITH BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THERE IS SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT ON THERE OR CONTROVERSIAL HOWEVER WE STILL PUT CONTRACTS UNDER CONSENT AGENDA BECAUSE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE STRAIGHTFORWARD.

THAT ALLOWS A COMMISSIONER TO POOL AN AGENDA ITEM BUT IF THERE IS ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS IT SHOULD GO IN THE FRONT WHERE IT SAYS, COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS THAT DON'T REQUIRE A PUBLIC HEARING SO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE WERE PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, STAFF MANAGEMENT IS, IF ANY COMMISSIONER ONCE SOMETHING MORE, MORE PUBLIC OR MORE DISCUSSED, WE CAN ALWAYS TALK TO STAFF AHEAD OF TIME AND GET SOMETHING MOVED ON THE AGENDA IF YOU DON'T WANT IT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA BUT THE STAFF DOES NOT WANT TO BE PUT INTO THE POSITION OF SAYING WHAT'S

[03:50:01]

>> MADAM MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THAT . I ACTUALLY GOT THIS IDEA FROM A CONSTITUENT AND THEY HAD SEEN THAT AT ANOTHER COMMISSION AND I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE THIS. WE ARE ABOUT TO IMPLEMENT THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND THERE ARE ITEMS THAT WE TAKE ACTION ON AND THINGS THAT WERE ON OUR AGENDA THAT TIED DIRECTLY TO THAT WERE SOMEHOW NOTED AND I THINK THAT IS THE WAY I WOULD LIKE TO BRING THAT FORWARD SO THAT THE PUBLIC, WE CAN BRING THEM ALONG AND BE CLUED INTO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE STRATEGICALLY ALIGN WHERE WE ARE GOING AND I THINK THAT WILL --

>> SO AS A REMINDER. >> AS A REMINDER AND I THINK THAT WILL HELP US STAY ON TRACK AND I DON'T KNOW HOW CODING IS DONE BUT MAYBE ALONG THE WAY WE CAN GET AN INDEX AS TO WHERE WE ARE PERCENTAGEWISE ON OUR STRATEGIC PLAN BASED ON THE COATINGS IN HERE. I THOUGHT IT WAS A REALLY UNIQUE IDEA AND I THINK IT WILL BRING THE PUBLIC ALONG TO ALIGN WHAT WE HAVE SAID

STRATEGICALLY. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES .

>> I ASKED ABOUT THE ORDER WHEN WE FIRST STARTED. ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT I HAD, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN DO THIS BECAUSE WE ARE SUPPOSEDLY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. TODAY, NUMBER SEVEN WAS COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC BUT IF ANYBODY IS RUNNING FIVE MINUTES LATE, STOPPED BY THE TRAIN OR SOMEWHERE, WE GOT THE COMMENTS TO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE THERE WEREN'T ANY PROCLAMATIONS. SO, SOMEBODY WAS JUST STUCK IN TRAFFIC AND CAME IN FIVE MINUTES LATE AT THE MEETING TODAY OR AT 9:07, WE WERE PAST COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC AND ONTO REGULAR BUSINESS. I WAS WONDERING IF WE COULD PUT IT AGAIN AT THE END.

IF SOMEBODY WAS TRYING TO GET HERE AND WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING TO US, LIKE I SAID, THEY WERE TRYING TO GET HERE FROM THE PARKING LOT. TODAY, WE DID THE CALL TO ORDER, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES BECAUSE, AS SOON AS YOU SAY APPROVAL OF MINUTES SOMEBODY SAYS PASS.

>> IT GOES QUICKLY. >> PASS, COMMENTS, WE LOOK REAL QUICK AND WE GO ON AND RIGHT INTO BUSINESS AND SOMEBODY IS WALKING THROUGH THE DOOR AND THEY REALLY HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL US, JUST SOME TYPE OF IDEA WHERE WE CAN GIVE THEM A SECOND CHANCE TO SPEAK TO US BECAUSE THEY MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY

TO US. >> YOU MEAN FOR THE DATE

MEETING? >> WE DO IT ON THE OTHER MEETINGS BUT FOR A DATE MEETING LIKE SOMEBODY CAME IN AND THEY WERE 10 MINUTES LATE BECAUSE OF WHATEVER REASON, THEY MISS THE

OPPORTUNITY. >> OF COURSE, THEY WOULD HAVE

GONE HOME BY NOW. >> CORRECT.

>> ANY FEEDBACK ON THAT? >> HE IS MELLOW.

[03:55:07]

>> AMOUNT OF CAFFEINE SO I AM COLD AND HUNGRY .

>> ANY OBJECTIONS TO A SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT PART OF THE

AGENDA? >> WHAT IS THE REASONING BEHIND SIGNING UP AHEAD OF TIME FOR THE AGENDA ITEMS? AND TO YOUR POINT, HAS THAT BEEN ANOTHER BARRIER IF THEY DON'T SHOW UP ON TIME? OR

HAS THAT CAUSED ANY PROBLEMS? >> THE SIGN UP AHEAD OF TIME, THE AGENDA ITEM, THEY HAVE TO SAY WHAT AGENDA ITEM THEY ARE SIGNING UP FOR AND IT HAS GOT TO BE ONE THAT HAS A PUBLIC

HEARING. >> THAT IS ONLY THE EVENING MEETING. THE DAY MEETING THEY DON'T HAVE TO SIGN UP IN

ADVANCE. >> BUT WHAT IS THE REASONING FOR SIGNING UP? I DON'T THINK WE HAVE EVER PREVENTED ANYBODY WHO

HAS NOT SIGNED UP. >> FOR THE EVENING MEETING, WE HAVE. IF THEY ARE NOT SIGNING UP FOR AN ACTUAL AGENDA ITEM.

>> WHAT IF THEY SAY THEY WERE TOO LATE TO SIGN UP BUT IT DISTILLED DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, WE STILL ALLOW THEM TO DO THAT.

>> WE HAVE NOT ALLOWED THEM BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY

OUTSIDE ANYMORE. >> I DON'T HAVE A STAFF PERSON.

>> RIGHT. >> SO, I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND. IF SOMEONE WANTED TO TALK AND MISSED THE SIGN-UP PERIOD, YOU WOULD STILL ALLOW THEM TO SPEAK?

>> I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT BUT I GUESS --

>> HOW DOES THAT WORK, MS. COX?

>> THEY MISS THE SIGN-UP PERIOD AND WE DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY IN CHAMBERS TO SIGN THEM UP AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE SIGNING UP ON

AN ACTUAL AGENDA ITEM. >> MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, I THINK THE POINT OF THE SIGN-UP IS THOSE ARE RELATED TO ITEMS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND THEY ARE SPECIFICALLY AN AGENDA ITEM SO IF YOU DON'T REQUIRE A SIGN-UP YOU CAN COMMENT ON ANY SORT OF ITEM THAT YOU POSSIBLY WANT TO COMMENT ON SO IT ALLOWS STAFF TO NARROW THOSE THAT SHOULD BE SPEAKING IN THE BEGINNING PERIOD VERSUS A QUASI-JUDICIAL HEARING VERSUS AT THE END WHEN IT IS A TOPIC NOT ON THE AGENDA SO THAT ALLOWS TO STREAMLINE THE APPROPRIATE COMMENTS AT THE APPROPRIATE TIMES.

>> AND THEY DO SCREEN PEOPLE OUT THAT ARE NOT SPEAKING ON AN

ACTUAL AGENDA ITEM. >> I THINK THEY DO THEIR BEST TO STAY OUT THERE AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. THE MEETING IS ALMOST

BEGINNING. >> IT STATED WHAT TIME IT STARTS

AND WHAT TIME IT ENDS. >> I AM JUST CURIOUS. THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF BOARDS AND SOME TO SIGN UP AND SOME DO NOT. THE

KIND OF RUN THE GAMBIT. >> EVERYBODY TRIES DIFFERENT.

PORT ST. LUCIE DOES AND WE HAVE TRIED DIFFERENT THINGS. I DON'T MIND A SECOND COMMENT PERIOD ON THE DAY MEETING. WE WILL SEE.

ANYTHING ELSE? WE CAN MOVE ON. >> THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA

[12. City Commission Boards and Committees Updates]

>> DOES ANYBODY WANT TO GO FIRST?

>> I WILL GO FIRST. IT IS FREEZING IN HERE. WE NEED A COMMITTEE TO REGULATE THE TEMPERATURE.

>> SUNRISE THEATER ADVISORY BOARD. THEY ARE QUITE ACTIVE WITH A NUMBER OF UNDERTAKINGS AND I MENTIONED THEY ARE INTERESTED INTO TAPPING INTO TOURISM DOLLARS SO I SEE SOME OF THOSE FORTHCOMING PLANS FOR EXPENDITURES TO PROPOSE TO THAT ORGANIZATION TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THAT APPROVED. THEY ARE NOT LOOKING TO SPEND ANY MONEY I DON'T HAVE MUCH. AND THE RETIREMENT BOARD IS DOING ITS THING. THEY ARE IN THE MINUTIA OF WHATEVER IS GOING ON THERE. THEY ARE A GROUP OF DEDICATED FOLKS AND THE FINANCIAL APTITUDE OF THAT GROUP IS QUITE HIGH. WE

[04:00:04]

THAT ASSET >> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON.

>> SO, TPO IS MEETING TOMORROW. FIRE BOARD IS THE FOLLOWING WEEK. WE WILL BE BREAKING ON THE NEW FIRE STATION COMING UP SOON.

I'M GLAD YOU HAD A CHANCE TO HEAR FROM CHIEF LEE. -- ON THE OFFICIAL BOARD, I THINK THE OTHER ONE IS DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ALLIANCE. THE LAST MEETING, I THINK THEY ARE CAUGHT UP USUALLY STAFF IS THERE FROM THE CITY. THAT IS ALL I HAVE RIGHT NOW.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? >> I DO NOT.

>> JUST A COUPLE, MADAM MAYOR. I DID MAKE MY FIRST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BOARD MEETING. THEY WERE HAPPY TO SEE ME AND IT WILL BE AN INTERESTING BOARD I THINK. COMMISSIONER BRODRICK AND I TALKED ABOUT THE RETIREMENT BOARD. WE ARE ON PAR WITH THAT BOARD SO RETIREES OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, YOU HAVE A GOOD GROUP OF BOARD DIRECTORS PROTECTING YOUR MONEY. AND I HAVE MEETINGS COMING UP. RANGING IN THE, WHAT YOU HEARD ABOUT, THE HOMELESS COMMITTEE TASK FORCE, WE STARTED YOUNG. WE MEET NEXT WEEK AND WE'RE GOING TO BRING INFORMATION TO THE BOARD AND WE ASK THAT WE GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO SIT ON THE BOARD SO

THAT IS WHERE WE ARE. >> SO, THE TREASURE COAST REGION LEAGUE OF CITIES IS FOLLOWING THE LEGISLATURE. AND THE LEGISLATIVE ALERTS SO, THIS IS A KEY WEEK THE COMMITTEES WILL PRETTY MUCH DONE MEETINGS SO I GUESS WE KNOW THAT THE LEGISLATURE, ESPECIALLY THE HOUSE AND THE GOVERNOR ARE NOT ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS THESE DAY SO THAT MIGHT END UP BEING A GOOD THING FOR US. IT MIGHT END UP BEING A GOOD THING FOR US. THE FIRE BOARD, WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THAT AND THE UTILITIES AUTHORITY WAS THE SHOW TODAY AND TODAY I WENT TO THE FMIT MEETING. AT THE RATES WERE NOT GOING TO BE FINALIZED BUT WE APPROVED SORT OF A BALLPARK PERCENTAGE INCREASE WHICH WAS ONLY 5%, WHICH WAS GOOD BUT I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THE FACT THAT THE COCHLEA COSTLIEST HURRICANES IN HISTORY WERE KATRINA TIED WITH HARVEY. KATRINA IN 2005 AND HARVEY IN 2017 AND NEXT WAS IAN IN 2022 FOLLOWED BY HELENE. THAN THE LOSSES FROM THE CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES, ALL OF THAT PLAYS A PART IN WHAT OUR INSURANCE RATES ARE. SO, WITH THAT, UNLESS THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE, I THINK THAT WE SHALL ADJOURN. WE WILL

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.