[1. Call to Order] [00:00:06] >>> READY, MAYOR. >> I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. THIS IS THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE DAY MEETING. IT'S MONDAY, MAY 12, 2025. PLEASE STAND FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE PASSING OF AL BLACK, ONE OF OUR HIGHWAY MEN, AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. A MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE. >> THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW DO THE PLEDGE. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. >> MAYOR HUDSON. >> PRESENT. >> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK. >> PRESENT. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES. >> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. >> PRESENT. >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR. >> HERE, MA'AM. >> I'LL EXCUSE COMMISSIONER GAINES. >> SECOND. >> CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. >> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. >> YES , MA'AM. [a. Lupus Awareness Month] >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR. MAYOR HUDSON. FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS A PROCLAMATION FOR LUPUS AWARENESS MONTH. >> ALL RIGHT. SO, IF YOU WANT TO COME ON DOWN FOR LUPUS AWARENESS MONTH. GO AHEAD AND COME ON FORWARD, PLEASE. WHEREAS LUPUS IS AN UNPREDICTABLE AND MISUNDERSTOOD AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE THAT CAN RESULT DAMAGE TO ANY SYSTEM IN THE BODY, CAN CAUSE DEHABILITATING LIFELONG ILLNESS. MORE THAN 5 MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE SUFFER THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF THIS CRUEL AND MYSTERIOUS DISEASE EACH YEAR, OVER 100,000 YOUNG WOMEN, MEN, AND CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD ARE NEWLY DIAGNOSED WITH LUPUS. THE GREAT MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE WOMEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 15 AND 44. WHEREAS MEDICAL RESEARCH EFFORTS INTO LUPUS AND THE DISCOVERY OF SAFER, MORE EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS FOR LUPUS PATIENTS ARE UNDER FUNDED AND COMPARISON OF DISEASES WITH COMPARABLE MAGNITUDE AND SEVERITY. MANY PHYSICIANS WORLDWIDE ARE UNAWARE OF THE SYMPTOMS AND HEALTH EFFECTS OF LUPUS, CAUSING PEOPLE WITH LUPUS TO SUFFER FOR MANY YEARS BEFORE THEY OBTAIN A CORRECT DIAGNOSIS AND MEDICAL TREATMENT. WHEREAS, THERE IS A DEEP UNMET NEED WORLDWIDE TO EDUCATE AND SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY LUPUS. WHEREAS, THERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO INCREASE AWARENESS IN COMMUNITIES WORLDWIDE OF THE DEBILITATING IMPACT OF LUPUS AND TO RECOGNIZE LUPUS AS A SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE. NOW, THEREFORE, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MAY IS LUPUS AWARENESS MONTH IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND CALL FOR INCREASES IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR FUNDING FOR THE MEDICAL RESEARCH, TARGETED EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, PATIENTS, AND THE PUBLIC, IN RECOGNITION OF LUPUS AS A SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE. >> CONGRATULATIONS. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? >> SURE. >> ALL RIGHTY. >> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. >> I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO MAKE LUPUS VISIBLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SOMETHING WHICH WE REALLY NEED TO DO. LUPUS IS MOSTLY PREVALENT IN AFRICAN AMERICANS, HISPANICS, LATINOS, NATIVE AMERICANS, PACIFIC ISLANDERS, AND NATIVE AMERICANS. WE DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT THEY ARE TWO TO THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP LUPUS. WHEN I WAS DIAGNOSED IN 1996, THERE WAS NOTHING. LITERALLY NOTHING. MY DOCTOR GAVE ME A PACKET OF STEROIDS. SOME MOTRIN, ANTIMALARIA MED AND SAID, THERE YOU GO. IN 2011, WE GOT OUR FIRST SPECIFIC LUPUS MEDICATION. WE DIDN'T GET OUR SECOND UNTIL 2021. WE WERE VERY LUCKY AT THE SAME TIME IN 2021, WE HAD OUR FIRST LUPUS KIDNEY DISEASE SPECIFIC MEDICATION. I JUST CAME BACK FROM A SUMMIT IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WHERE WE SPOKE TO OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND TOLD THEM HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO CONTINUE THE RESEARCH AND THE EDUCATION. THAT'S GREAT. BUT THAT DOESN'T TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITIES DIRECTLY. SO, WE DO THINGS LIKE, WE ASK A CITY TO LIGHT UP A LANDMARK, WHICH WE'VE CHANGED TODAY'S PROCLAMATION DATE, BUT ON THE 19TH , THE SCULPTURE BY THE PARKING GARAGE. [00:05:02] THAT WILL BE LIT PURPLE. THE PARK ON INDIAN RIVER DRIVE IS ALSO GOING TO BE LIT PURPLE. THAT'S SOMETHING VISUAL THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE TO MAKE LUPUS VISIBLE. ALSO, DOING THIS PROCLAMATION, YOU'RE LETTING US MAKE LUPUS MORE VISIBLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND I THANK YOU. THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW THAT YOU HAVE HELPED ME WITH THIS, AND IT DOES GENERATE INTEREST AND PEOPLE WITH LUPUS WHO WE'RE NOT REACHING TO SAY, I DIDN'T KNOW WE GOT PROCLAMATIONS FOR LUPUS. I DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE GETTING OUR COMMUNITIES INVOLVED BY GOING TO OUR REPRESENTATIVES. SO, THIS IS A WONDERFUL THING, AND I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HOPE YOU'LL WEAR THE PIN THAT I GAVE YOU FOR THE REST OF THE MONTH AND THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. >> COULD YOU COME FORWARD AND SHARE YOUR NAME? >> OH, I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T DO THAT. MY NAME IS PAMELA CLINGER MOLAZO. I'M AN AMBASSADOR. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [6. Additions or deletions to agenda and approval of the agenda.] >> ALL RIGHT, NEXT WE HAVE ADDITION OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA AND APPROVALS OF THE AGENDA. >> BEFORE WE START, MS. COX, WE HAVE A HARD STOP AT 1:30 TODAY. >> YES , MA'AM, WE DO. >> WE HAVE A LOT TO COVER. HAVING SAID THAT, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS OR CHANGES TO THE AGENDA? >> PRINTED AND SET. >> THE MOTION IS SECOND. CALL THE ROLL PLEASE. >> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. >> YES , MA'AM. >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR. >> YES , MA'AM. [7. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Any person who wishes to comment on any subject may be heard at this time. Please limit your comments to three (3) minutes or less, as directed by the Mayor, as this section of the Agenda is limited to thirty minutes. The City Commission will not be able to take any official actions under Comments from the Public. Speakers will address the Mayor, Commissioners, and the Public with respect. Inappropriate language will not be tolerated.] >> MAYOR HUDSON. >> YES , MA'AM. >> EXCUSE ME. NEXT, WE HAVE COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC. >> COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, MS. JACKSON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO FIRST? >> I'M GOING TO ASSIST MS. JACKSON. >> GOOD MORNING. I'M JOYCE JACKSON, FORT PIERCE, 34947. I'M HERE LEANING ON THE HEARTS OF MY CITY COMMISSION. WE HONORED THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRST RESPONDERS AT MY CHURCH. I WOKE UP ONE MORNING WITH A DREAM AND WENT TO MY PASTOR AND HE SAID TO ME, SOMEBODY ELSE HAS SPOKEN TO ME ABOUT IT. BUT EVERY YEAR FOR THREE YEARS, THAT PERSON HAD DROPPED THE BALL. WELL I PICKED IT UP. HE CAME TO ME ONE SUNDAY MORNING AND SAYS, SISTER JACKSON, IT'S YOURS. I AM HONORED TO BE THE LEGAL MOTHER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN FORT PIERCE. AND I'M HERE TO INVITE THIS BOARD ON SUNDAY, THE 18TH. AT 10:00, 1405, NORTH 27TH STREET. METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH TO HONOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRST RESPONDERS. YOU HAVE TO COME WITH AN EMPTY STOMACH. I'M LOOKING FOR EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU. WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SERVICE AND THEY WILL POST ABOUT 9:45. IF YOU'RE THERE BEFORE THEN, THERE IS PLENTY OF SPACE. PLEASE, THIS IS MY 95TH BIRTHDAY, AND SINCE 2013, THIS IS MY HONORING OF MY LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MY FIRST RESPONDERS. MAKE IT MY EARLY BIRTHDAY PRESENT. PLEASE. COME WITH AN EMPTY STOMACH AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD FOR YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. AND YOU HAVE A NEW SANCTUARY, TOO. YES. SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT? ANYONE ELSE? PLEASE COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. WELCOME, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SIT DOWN? >> ACTUALLY, I DON'T HAVE MY PAPERS OR ANYTHING. I WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE IN TOWN. THIS IS ON THE FLY. CHRIS EINSTEIN, 207 ORANGE AVENUE. JUST WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT THE MAIN STREET ACCREDITATIONS AND THE GRANTS FOR THAT. I DIDN'T READ THROUGH ALL THE PAPERWORK. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS MORE OUTLINED IN THERE. SOME OF THE THINGS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN DONE, LIKE MAKING SURE THEY APPLY FOR THE GRANTS AND SOME OTHER HARD ITEMS AND NOT JUST OUTLINING SOME OF THE OVERALL, TO-DO QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE GRANT. NOW THAT THIS IS COMING FROM OUR GENERAL FUND, THAT JUST DON'T WANT CHECK MARKS GOING DOWN THAT THEY ACTUALLY ARE DOING STUFF THAT WE ARE GETTING THE RETURN ON THE INVESTIGATIONMENT, WHERE JUST LIKE WHEN I SENT IN THE ANNUAL REPORTS AND DISCREPANCIES FROM THE ANNUAL REPORTS GIVEN TO THE STATE VERSUS WHAT IS BEING DONE HERE LOCALLY. JUST LIKE THE MAIN STREET FORT PIERCE, SHOWED ONLY A HANDFUL OF BUSINESS CLOSINGS OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS AND WE'VE HAD A LOT MORE THAN THAT. THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME DISCREPANCIES WITH THAT, AS WELL [00:10:03] AS SHOWING. IT MAKES IT LOOK LIKE THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE OPEN, OR GRANTS, OR THE IMPROVEMENTS BEING DONE ARE BEING INITIATED BY THEM, WHERE THAT IS JUST PULLING THE PERMITS AND SHOWING WHAT WE HAVE FILED OR WHAT WE HAVE DONE ON OUR OWN WITHIN THE CITY TO GET THOSE NUMBERS OVER HOW MANY NEW BUSINESSES, HOW MUCH NEW MONEY HAS BEEN INVESTED PRIVATELY AND PUBLICLY, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM HAVE MORE OF A HELP WITH THAT. THAT THEY WERE INITIATING OR DOING THAT. WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OF THE GRANTS LIKE WE WOULD SEE IN DOWNTOWN. I'M HOPING THERE ARE MORE OUTLINES OR MORE REQUIREMENTS BEFORE WE JUST HAND OVER THE MONEY THAT WE ARE GETTING THE INVESTMENT BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY. AND ALSO, THE REASON WHY I SIT AND I DO A LOT DOWN HERE. LIGHTING AND EVERYTHING, AND I CAN'T SEE, AND I HAVE MY TREMORS. I CAN'T LOOK UP BECAUSE OF THE GLARE ON MY GLASSES. SO SOMETHING, WE COULD WORK ON A LITTLE BIT MORE HERE AND MAKE IT A SOFTER AND MORE INVITING ENVIRONMENT SO WE CAN SPEAK PROPERLY AND I DON'T LOSE MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT FOR THOSE LIKE ME, I HAVE A SPEECH IMPEDIMENT AND TREMORS. IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET UP HERE AND SPEAK. LASTLY, WITH THE RFPS, I'M NOT TRYING TO SPEAK OR DO ANTILOBBYING AGAINST THE LITTLE GYMS. AS LONG AS THAT IS TAKING TO GET DONE AND WE HAVE COBS LANDING ON THE HEELS OF THAT, THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE COMING UP IN JUNE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OR KNOW IF THAT IS IN THE WORKS SO WE DON'T END UP MONTH TO MONTH ON THAT, AND THAT CAN BE DONE PROPERLY AS WELL. THAT WAS MY LAST LITTLE BIT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. ANYONE [a. Lincoln Park Main Street, Inc. program update covering the first and second quarters of FY2025 (October 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025.)] ELSE? ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS THE MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS. >> YES , MA'AM. WE HAVE THE LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET PROGRAM UPDATE COVERING THE FIRST AND SECOND QUARTERS OF FY2025. >> ALL RIGHT. DO YOU HAVE A LEAD-IN FOR THIS REPORT? >> NO, I DON'T. >> AUDRIA MOORE. SORRY. >> GOOD MORNING, MADAME MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. WE HAVE MS. PAMELA WITH US HERE WITH LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET. SHE WILL BE PRESENTING THE FIRST AND SECOND QUARTER UPDATE FOR THE ORGANIZATION. PLEASE COME FORWARD. >> MS. CRUTHERS. >> GOOD MORNING, I'M PAMELA CRUTHERS, FORT PIERCE. IT IS A PLEASURE TO COME BEFORE YOU THIS MORNING TO PRESENT OUR FIRST AND SECOND QUARTER ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND DELIVERABLES AS PER OUR AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 24-25. OKAY. THE NATIONAL MAIN STREET AND FLORIDA MAIN STREET AS WELL AS OUR MAIN STREETS THROUGHOUT THE STATE ARE OPERATING BY A POLICY STATEMENT AND THAT POLICY STATEMENT IS THAT MAIN STREET DISTRICTS ARE HUBS OF COMMERCE AND ACTIVITY ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND MAIN STREET PROGRAMS PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN OUR REVITALIZING DOWNTOWNS AND COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS WITH OUR LOCAL CITY GOVERNMENTS. THE ADD CHALLENGES SUCH AS PUBLIC SPACE ACTIVATION, BUILDING PRESERVATION, AND SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT, SO THAT IS THE GENERAL POLICY STATEMENT THAT CAME FROM THE NATIONAL MAIN STREET AS RECENT AS APRIL OF THIS YEAR AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE. THAT IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH A FOUR POINT APREACH. ECONOMIC VITALITY, DESIGN, PROMOTION, AND ORGANIZATION. INTRODUCTION OF LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2006. BOUNDARIES ARE FROM THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH, U.S. HIGHWAY 1 TO 29TH STREET. AND FROM THE EAST AND THE WEST, AVENUE B TO AVENUE E AS IN ECHO. WE'RE NATIONALLY MAIN STREET CREDITED AS WELL AS FLORIDA MAIN STREET ACCREDITED. NOW, TOTAL INVESTMENTS FOR LINCOLN PARK. AS PER THE FLORIDA MAIN STREET, OUR REPORTING PROPERTIES, THE NET NEW [00:15:03] BUSINESSES WERE 16 NEW JOBS, 29. PUBLIC DOLLARS INVESTED, $8, 208. PRIVATE DOLLARS INVESTED. TOTAL VOLUNTEER HOURS, 3,038. NOW, 2023 AND 2024 FIGURES ARE NOT CALCULATED IN THIS. IN OUR NEXT REPORTING PERIOD, WE'LL HAVE THOSE NUMBERS UPDATED, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE RECENT BAR AND GRILL. WHERE THE SPORTS BAR AND GRILL, AS WELL AS WE HAVE FOUR DIFFERENT MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENTS AS WELL AS A COUPLE OF NEW HOUSES COMING ONLINE. THOSE NUMBERS WILL BE UPDATED AT OUR NEXT REPORTING PERIOD. THIS IS A DIAGRAM OF THE LOCAL AVENUE HISTORIC DISTRICT AS OUTLINED BY THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FROM 7TH STREET TO 15TH STREET IS THE LOCAL HISTORIC DESIGNATION. AND AS SOME OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION HAVE IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF PROPERTIES THAT THE CITY HAS VESTED HEAVILY IN, IN TERMS OF MEETING THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND PRESERVING THOSE PROPERTIES, AS WELL AS IMPROVING THE LOCAL DISTRICT. MAIN STREET'S MISSION IS TO PRESERVE AND PROMOTE LINCOLN PARK, IN PARTICULAR, THE AVENUE CORRIDOR, THROUGH HISTORIC PRESERVATION, PRESERVING THE HISTORY, HERITAGE, AND BUILDINGS, THROUGH ARTS AND CULTURAL PROGRAMMING, SUCH AS FESTIVALS, THE AWARD WINNING JAZZ ON MORRIS CREEK, AND THE LINCOLN PARK BLACK ARCHIVES. EDUCATIONALENRICHMENT AND AWARENESS, WALK LINCOLN PARK AND THE HERITAGE EDUCATION PROGRAM. ECONOMIC VITALITY, SUCH AS OUR BUILDER DEVELOPER, NAVIGATOR AND RESOURCES. HISTORIC PRESERVATION. THESE ARE A NUMBER OF PROPERTIES THAT THE CITY HAS INVESTED ALONG WITH ITS OWNERS IN TERMS OF PRESERVING THOSE BUILDINGS. WE HAVE OUR FORMER GRANITE KITCHEN, THAT WAS A ONE TO ONE DOLLAR MATCH, OR TWO TO ONE DOLLAR MATCH. THE CITY MATCHED EVERY DOLLAR THAT THE OWNERS PROVIDED IN TERMS OF $2. AND THEN THE LINCOLN THEATER. THE LINCOLN THEATER, THE CITY INVESTED OVER $250 ,000 TOTALLY INTO THAT BUILDING WITH THE IMPROVEMENTS OF PUTTING A ROOF ON TOP OF THE BUILDING, PROVIDING THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS ONE AND TWO AS WELL AS PURCHASING LOTS ADJACENT TO THE BUILDING. THE JACKIE CANNON BUILDING, WHICH WILL BE THE HIGHWAY MEN MUSEUM, THE CITY INVESTED THERE. AND THEN THE CHRONICLE NEWSPAPER, WHAT THE COMMUNITY TERMS AS, THE CHRONICLE BUILDING. CULTURAL PROGRAMMING, AWARD WINNING JAZZ ON MORRIS CREEK. THE LINCOLN PARK MADE A FREEDOM CELEBRATION AS WELL AS SOME OF OUR OTHER PROGRAMMING. OUR EDUCATIONAL PIECES, THE WALK LINCOLN PARK, THOSE ARE EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE LITERATURE DEVELOPED THROUGH THOSE PROGRAMS. HISTORIC TOURS AS WELL. ECONOMIC VITALITY. IN 2021, LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET PARTNERED WITH A NUMBER OF STAKE HOLDERS TO CREATE A LEARN, EARN, APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM. HEADED BY ONE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, DOROTHY JACKSON, THAT WAS A VISION OF TERMS PARTNERING WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES AS WELL AS THE TRANSPORTATION ENTITY TO PROVIDE ACCESS FOR RESOURCES IN TRAINING AS WELL AS CONNECTING OUR BUSINESSES WITH OUR LOCAL CITIZENS IN LINCOLN PARK. WE STILL HAVE THAT ON THE BOOKS, BUT FUNDING HAD NOT OCCURRED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. THE FACT SHEET. THIS IS WHAT LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CITY HAS WORKED WITH THOSE BUSINESSES THAT WERE FUNDED SOLELY THROUGH THE CITIES PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. YOU KNOW, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, THAT WAS YEARS AGO, BUT THIS WAS JUST TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET IS. SO WHERE BUSINESSES WERE ENCOURAGED TO MOVE TO THE CORRIDOR AND IN TURN, THEY WOULD RECEIVE SIX MONTHS OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE. AND FACADE IMPROVEMENTS, WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH THE CITY FOR A [00:20:01] MATCH WITH EACH BUSINESS TO IMPROVE THEIR FACADE. THEN THE COMMUNITY BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS, IN TERMS OF GRANTS THAT WERE FUNDED, AND THE TWO BUILDINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, MAINLY GRANITE'S KITCHEN, THE FORMER GRANITE'S KITCHEN, AS WELL AS THE JACKIE CANNON BUILDING. SINCE THE PAST TEN YEARS, WE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF AWARDS. I WANT TO SPECIFICALLY POINT OUT THE OUTSTANDING PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT IN AND A MAIN STREET DISTRICT AWARD THAT THE CITY WAS THE ENTITY TO RECEIVE THAT. AND WHAT THAT ENTAILED WAS THAT WE PUT TOGETHER A PRESENTATION AND A WRITE-UP OF ALL THE INVESTMENT THAT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE HAS INVESTED IN LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET. OR IN THE LINCOLN PARK DISTRICT. SO THEREFORE, THAT'S WHERE THAT AWARD COMES FROM. LAST YEAR, 2024, WE RECEIVED THE TELLING YOUR STORY AWARD. RECEIVE THE HONOR AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT. OUTSTANDING SPECIAL EVENT WAS THE HIGHWAY TRAIL AND ART SHOW FESTIVAL. AS WELL AS FUNDRAISING EVENTS. AND THOSE ARE JUST IMAGES OF THOSE AWARDS. WE HAD LOCAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS, SAMES CLUB AND WALMART. CHILDREN SERVICES COUNCIL, SUN BELT RENTALS. AREA REGIONAL TRANSIT, AND ENVY TRANSPORTATION, NATALIE ORCHARD JUICE COMPANY, TREASURE COAST FOOD BANK. FLAMING NIGHTS MOTORCYCLE CLUB OF FORT PIERCE, GREEK ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE COUNCIL OF THE TREASURE COAST. THE HIGHWAY ORGANIZATION AND MUSEUM BOARD, MLK COMMEMORATIVE COMMITTEE. SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER. AS WELL AS ZORA EDUCATION FOUNDATION AND THE ST. LUCIE CULTURAL ALLIANCE. FIRST QUARTER ACTIVITIES. THAT WAS JUST AN OVERVIEW SO THAT FOLKS WILL UNDERSTAND THE UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT AND THE OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET. SO THE FLAMING NIGHTS MOTORCYCLE CLUB TOY DRIVE. THAT'S AN ANNUAL COLLABORATIVE PROJECT THAT LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET PARTNERS WITH THAT MOTORCYCLE CLUB TO HOLD THAT TOY DRIVE SO THAT WE, IN TURN, WOULD HAVE THE TOYS AVAILABLE FOR THE TOY GIVE AWAY AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS FESTIVAL THE FOLLOWING WEEK. AND THIS YEAR, LAST YEAR WAS THE 9TH ANNUAL. WE HAD OUR LINCOLN PARK HISTORIC SURVEY PROJECT KICKED OFF. AND THAT WAS TO DO A SURVEY OF THE HISTORIC PROPERTIES AND LOCATIONS WITHIN THE LINCOLN PARK DISTRICT, SO THAT ALL THAT DATA AND INFORMATION IS CATALOGED AND WE WILL USE THAT REPORT TO SUBMIT FOR HISTORIC DESIGNATION. WE ARE WORKING WITH PROPERTY OWNERS ON THE HISTORIC PROPERTY AT 11TH STREET, WITH CODE VIOLATIONS. PINE GROVE CEMETERY BEAUTIFY CASE PROJECT IS A CONTINUATION. WE'VE BEEN SEEKING FUNDING FOR CONTINUING OR COMPLETING THAT PROJECT WITH ITS OWNERS. WE'RE A TEAM MEMBER OF THE PINNACLE HOUSING GROUP FOR THE MORRIS CREEK DEVELOPMENT PROJECT. THE MODEL BROUGHT PROJECT, SO, THE COLLABORATIVE AS PART OF BEING ENSURING THE DEVELOPMENT AND WORKING WITH THE HISTORIC ARTIFACTS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE IS ILLUSTRATED IN THAT DEVELOPMENT. THE STATISTICAL DATA FROM THE TOY DRIVE WAS 312 ATTENDEES. IT WAS DOWN THIS YEAR. WE HAD MORE THAN 63 VOLUNTEERS. THE TOY DRIVE WAS 25 CLUBS FROM AROUND THE STATE. THEY GO ON TO THE 9TH STREET AND ORANGE AVENUE AND WE PULLED A PERMIT FOR THAT MOTORCYCLE CLUB, SO THAT ON THE PROPERTY OF THE BUILDING, IS WHERE ALL THAT ACTIVITY TAKES PLACE. THE SOCIAL MEDIA DATA SHEETS, OVER 6,000 VIEWS, AND 4,000 REACH FOR THAT PERIOD. AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER ASPECT OF WHAT THE BREAKDOWN WAS. AND WEEKLY PLAN.. SECOND QUARTER, WE PARTICIPATED AS A VENDOR AT THE TREASURE COAST HISTORY FESTIVAL, WHICH WAS OUR [00:25:05] SECOND YEAR PARTICIPATING. WE PROVIDED A GUIDED HISTORIC TOURS AT THE HIGHWAY HERITAGE FESTIVAL. OUR KICKOFF MEETING WITH CONSULTANTS FOR THE HISTORIC SURVEY AND WE WORKED WITH THE FIELD STAFF OF THE CONSULTANT HAD TWO PERSONS, TWO STAFF MEMBERS IN THE FIELD FOR A WEEK IN MARCH. AND SO WE WORK WITH THAT GROUP DISTRIBUTING LETTERS TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS GETTING INPUT AND ASKING WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO WITH THEM. SO, LETTER TO THE SHERIFF, TO THE CHURCHES AS WELL AS PROPERTY OWNERS. WE HAD OUR NEWSLETTER ONLINE AND THE BLUE CLARINET OWNERS AND OPERATORS AT THE OLD GRANITE KITCHEN SITE, THEY ARE COMING ONLINE AND SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM IN TERMS OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE MARKETING AS WELL AS PAIRING THEM WITH THE INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER AND WE HAVE OUR ASSISTANT DEVELOPER WITH PERMIT APPLICATIONS AND UPDATES TO OUR WEBSITE. AND THESE ARE JUST ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE EVENT. MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS OF CITY BUSINESSES A■ND SOME F HE CITIES ACTIVITIES. THOSE ARE A COUPLE LOCATIONS OF NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN LINCOLN PARK BY THOSE OWNERS. AND AGAIN, MORE DATA SHEETS. THAT WILL CONCLUDE OUR PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> QUESTIONS OF MS. CRUTHERS? ANY COMMENTS? >> I HAVE A QUESTION. >> SURE. >> WHERE ARE YOU OPERATING OUT OF? >> MY TRUCK. PRIMARILY, I'M AT THE LIBRARY AND I COME TO TOWN EVERY DAY. I GO INTO THE COURT. WE WERE THERE OVER THE WEEKEND, BECAUSE WE HAD A CONCERT AT H STREET. SO I GO IN AND OUT, PICK UP WHATEVER I NEED, AND SOMETIMES I NEED TO HAVE A CONFERENCE CALL, I SIT IN MY OFFICE AND DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO. BUT PRIMARILY, THE KILMER LIBRARY KNOWS ME VERY WELL. I COME TO TOWN EVERY DAY, SIMPLY TO STAY IN THE MODE OF DOING, YOU KNOW, DOING THE BUSINESS AND NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, WORKING FROM HOME. JUST TO BE VISIBLE AS WELL AS, LIKE I SAID, I GO BY EVERY DAY. I DON'T ALWAYS STOP. I GO IN, GRAB WHAT WE NEED, AND I PROCEED TO EITHER THE KILMER LIBRARY OR THE OTHER LIBRARY. >> FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, WHAT IS THE STATUS OF YOUR LEASE AGREEMENT IN THE COURT BUILDING? >> OUR LEASE AGREEMENT HAS NOT BEEN EXECUTED, BECAUSE WE ARE NOT FUNCTIONING OUT OF THE BUILDING. SO AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, IT'S JUST WAITING UNTIL THERE'S, I GUESS, A GREEN LIGHT FROM THE CITY OR THE FIRE DISTRICT THAT IS HABITABLE AGAIN. THAT WAS OUR LAST COMMUNICATION ABOUT THE LEASE. IT JUST WASN'T EXECUTED. >> EXECUTED BY WHOM? >> NOT EXECUTED BY THE CITY. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> YUP. >> FOLLOW-UP QUESTION? COMMENTS? >> I'LL MAKE A COMMENT. >> MAYOR, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE. SO, IF WE HEAR YOU RIGHT, THEN YOU'RE PART OF THE LEASE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUILDING IS WHAT IS NOT BEEN EXECUTED OR CLARIFIED AS FAR AS THAT IS -- IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING? >> THAT IS CORRECT. THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING. >> SO COMMISSIONER, IT'S UPON US, I KNOW IN MY STAFF MEETING, I'VE BEEN INQUIRING ABOUT THIS. I GUESS WE'LL GET THAT SORTED OUT HERE PRETTY SOON. BUT GOOD QUESTION BY COMMISSIONER. SO, MS. CRUTHERS, YOU ARE OPERATING MAIN STREET RIGHT NOW. STILL FUNCTIONING IN THE COMMUNITY. DOING EVENTS. THANK YOU FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW OF THIS. WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES BEING FACED WITH LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET, MAYBE SOME THINGS THAT YOU DIDN'T HIGHLIGHT BECAUSE YOU HIGHLIGHTED THE THINGS YOU DID DO. I'M MORE INTERESTED IN SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AND CONCERNS. AS YOU KNOW, I SAT ON THE BOARD UNTIL I RESIGNED FROM THAT BOARD. I DON'T KNOW. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU WANT TO MAKE US AWARE OF? [00:30:02] >> WELL, AT THE STATE LEVEL, THERE'S FUNDING THAT WE PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED THAT WE'RE NOT RECEIVING SIMPLY BECAUSE, IT'S NOT JUST LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET, BUT ACROSS THE STATE, BECAUSE OF LAST YEAR, THE GOVERNMENT OFFICE ZEROED OUT THE BUDGET FOR $50 MILLION STATEWIDE FOR THE BUDGET FOR ARTS AND CULTURAL. AND THEN SOME OTHER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. SO MAINLY, IT'S FUNDING SOURCES THAT WE TYPICALLY RECEIVE THAT WE DID NOT RECEIVE THIS YEAR. WE ARE CONTINUING TO APPLY FOR THEM. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> ANYBODY ELSE? SO, MS. CRUTHERS. YOU NORMALLY GET GRANTS ANNUALLY FROM THIS CULTURAL ALLOTMENT IN TALLAHASSEE? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? >> THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE DIVISION OF ARTS AND CULTURE, AS WELL AS DEPARTMENT OF STATE DIVISION OF HISTORIC RESOURCES. AND WE DID NOT RECEIVE THE FUNDING, LIKE I SAID, STATEWIDE. THE BUDGET WAS ZEROED OUT. SO, THAT IN TURN, AFFECTED FLORIDA HUMANITIES COUNCIL. WHICH WE RECEIVED FUNDING FROM AS WELL. AND AS WELL AS SOME OF THE OTHER FOUNDATIONS. SO, LAST YEAR, WE DID NOT RECEIVE IT. BUT WE'RE APPLYING AGAIN. THE SAME PROGRAMMING UP FRONT FOR THEM BEFORE THE EXPIRATION THIS YEAR. >> THESE REPORTS THAT YOU'RE GIVING US, THIS IS NEW AND THIS IS A NEW KIND OF WAY OF BEING ACCOUNTABLE AND YOU'VE HEARD SOME OF THE PUBLIC CONCERNED. AS YOU WERE GOING THROUGH YOUR PRESENTATION, A LOT OF -- IT'S HARD TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN WHAT WAS CREATED BY MAIN STREET AND WHAT WAS CREATED BY INVESTMENT FROM THE CITY IN TERMS OF MOSTLY FROM THE FORT PIERCE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY. >> YES , MA'AM. >> YEAH. AND WHICH PREVIOUS TO THE INCREASE IN DEBT, ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO, THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY HAD A LOT MORE ABILITY TO SPEND AND INVEST IN THE REDEVELOPMENT AREA. AND THEN WE HAD THIS LONG PERIOD WHERE WE WERE PAYING DEBT, AND SO INVESTMENT WAS HARD TO COME BY. BECAUSE MOST OF THE MONEY WENT FOR DEBT. AND SO I THINK THAT THE CHALLENGE FOR YOU AND MAYBE FOR THE PUBLIC NOW THAT THIS IS COMING FROM TAX -- THE TAX DOLLARS, WHICH IS THAT THE ACCOUNTABILITY IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO THIS COMMISSION AND SHOULD BE TO YOU. I KNOW THAT YOU ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY BECAUSE OF A LACK OF PLACE TO OPERATE AND SO I APPLAUD YOUR CHOOSING THE LIBRARY AND I GUESS THE LIBRARY IS AVAILABLE TO YOU, TOO, WHICH IS RIGHT THERE IN THE LINCOLN PARK AREA. I GUESS I WANT TO ASK YOU, IS THIS SITUATION WITH THEIR LEASE ON YOUR RADAR? >> YES, IT IS. >> OKAY. >> TO DO YOU HAVE A PLAN FOR HOW THAT WILL GET SOLVED? >> I HAVE BEEN COORDINATING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY OFFICE. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING ON THE SITUATION. >> OKAY. >> IT IS ON THE RADAR SPECIFICALLY. >> YEAH. OKAY. SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE -- IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST THAT MAYBE FELL THROUGH THE CRACKS OR WENT SIDEWAYS, WHATEVER, BUT I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE ON OUR RADAR NOW. BECAUSE NOW WE'RE REALLY MAKING SURE, I FEEL LIKE WE WERE ALWAYS MAKING SURE THAT OUR MAIN STREETS WERE ACCOUNTABLE, BUT WE ARE BEING TRANSPARENT. VERY TRANSPARENT ABOUT IT NOW. SO I THINK WE NEED TO DO OUR PART. >> ABSOLUTELY. WE DO HAVE A PLAN. >> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? >> FOLLOW-UP QUESTION. YOU MENTION ED WORKING WITH THE LINCOLN THEATER. THE CITY HAS INVESTED IN PROPERTY AROUND THE THEATER. I'M ASSUMING FOR PARKING SCENARIO, THINGS OF THIS NATURE. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, COMMISSIONER GAINES, IS NOT HERE TODAY, BUT I KNOW COMMISSIONER GAINES AND POSSIBLY COMMISSIONER JOHNSON REACHED OUT TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE LINCOLN THEATER, IN ESSENCE FOR GETTING INFORMATION BACK TO THIS COMMISSION AS TO THE STATUS OF THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THAT FACILITY. SO THE CITY INVESTED A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS DIRECTLY INTO THAT FACILITY. AND SUBSEQUENTLY, EXPENDED MONEY ON PROPERTY AROUND THE THEATER. [00:35:02] WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE ACTUAL THEATER ITSELF? IT SEEMS TO ME, I DRIVE AVENUE D TWICE A DAY, AND I SEE MORE AND MORE DECAY OF THAT BUILDING. IT LOOKS LIKE THE FACADE IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING. WHAT IS GOING ON THERE? CAN YOU GIVE US ANY REPORT RELATIVE TO THEIR ACTIVITIES OR IN REHABILITATION OF THIS FACILITY? IT SEEMS NOTHING HAS TAKEN PLACE. >> YES, SIR, I CAN. IN 2020, LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET PARTNERED WITH THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., COMMEMORATIVE COMMITTEE, WHICH IS THE OWNER OF THE THEATER AT THE DIRECTION OF THE THEN CITY MANAGER TO GET INVOLVED WITH THAT THEATER TO GET IT MOVING, AND WE DID. WE SUBMITTED A GRANT TO THE STATE FOR UPDATES, FOR THE PURPOSE TO UPDATE THE DESIGN, THE BUDGET, AND THE NEW PLANS. WE WERE AWARDED THAT. THE CITY ACTUALLY MATCHED THE -- IT WAS A $70,000 GRANT TOTAL. THE CITY MATCHED $35,000. SO, THE REG ARCHITECTS THAT PERFORMED THE FIRST FEASIBILITY STUDY IN 2008, AS WELL AS THE SUBSEQUENT ONE. THEY CAME IN, THEY DID A PRESENTATION. THEY DID THE WORK. AND THAT'S THE LAST THING THAT TOOK PLACE WITH THAT THEATER AND I REACHED OUT AND I WENT TO MY BOARD AND SAID, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST OR ASK THE BOARD TO DO IS THAT LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET SUBMIT GRANT APPLICATIONS ON BEHALF OF THAT THEATER, BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE THE WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE OWNERS THAT WE CAN NEGOTIATE, OPERATE, AND DISCUSS THAT THEATER WITH PERSPECTIVES. SO, AS OF 2021, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. AND THERE'S BEEN A CHANGE IN SOME OF THE INNER WORKINGS OF THE INDIVIDUALS. AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, SAID THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD DO. SO THAT'S THE STATUS. >> SO, IN ESSENCE, FIVE YEARS OF NOTHING TAKING PLACE IS A FAIR DESCRIPTION? >> THAT'S AN ASSESSMENT, YES, SIR. >> AND YEAH. >> THAT'S A REAL SHAME. >> SO, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MLK COMMEMORATIVE COMMITTEE, I DON'T KNOW WHO THAT IS MADE UP OF NOW AND WHO IS -- I THINK THAT SEVERAL COMMISSIONERS HAVE ASKED THEM TO COME TO THE COMMISSION AND MAKE REPORTS. >> YEAH, MADAME MAYOR. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THEM AND THEIR NEW PRESIDENT, AND I AM AWARE. I THINK RIGHT NOW, IT'S MAYBE A SCHEDULING THING. I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS MOVE FORWARD. BRING IN THE NEW PRESIDENT, MR. MCNEELY, WHO IS A PRESIDENT OF THE COMMEMORATIVE COMMITTEE. THEIR BOARD HAS BEEN RESTRUCTURED A LITTLE BIT. I THINK IT PROBABLY IS OF THE BEST INTEREST THAT WE DO THAT AND BRING THEM HERE TO MATCH UP WITH THAT. I THINK IS PROBABLY, OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE OF MISCRUTHERS. I KNOW SHE HAD A PREVIOUS THING. WE NEED TO TALK DIRECTLY TO THEM. WE MADE A LITTLE HEADWAY. THAT WILL BE THE NEXT STEP. REACH OUT TO MR. MCNEELY AND HAVE HIM COME IN. JUSTIFY TKPWAOURING OUT HIS SCHEDULE, BECAUSE HE IS AN EMPLOYEE AND WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHEN HE CAN COME IN. AN AFTERNOON MEETING WILL BE BEST. >> I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. YOU HAVE A FULL BOARD? >> YES, WE DO. WE JUST BROUGHT IN THREE MORE BOARD MEMBERS. SO, WE HAVE A FULL BOARD. >> AND I NOTICED YOU GAVE VOLUNTEER NUMBERS. YOU HAVE VOLUNTEERS FOR WHEN YOU HAVE EVENTS? >> YES, WE DO. THE DECEMBER EVENT ARE THE STANDING VOLUNTEERS FOR SPECIFICALLY THAT EVENT. SOME OF THOSE VOLUNTEERS, YOU KNOW, COME THROUGHOUT OUR OTHER EVENTS AS WELL. SO, WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS, YES , MA'AM. >> OKAY. >> SO THE EVENT TOMORROW NIGHT IS NOT MAIN STREET, IT'S WESTWOOD, IS THAT RIGHT? >> YES. >> YES, NOT MAIN STREET. THAT'S WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. THE NEW COACH. SO, YES , MA'AM. >> I SAY YOU HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT, BUT NOT IN THAT CAPACITY. >> I'M A MEMBER OF WESTWOOD AND YOU AND COMMISSIONER JOHNSON AND COMMISSIONER GAINES ATTENDED THE RIVALRY BREAKFAST, THE WESTWOOD AND CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOLS ARE A BIG RIVALRY. >> AND THE GAME. >> AND YOU ATTENDED THE GAME AND DID THE COIN TOSS. SO LAST YEAR, THAT BREAKFAST WAS REINSTITUTED BECAUSE INITIALLY IT STARTED OUT YEARS AGO, THEN IT JUST WENT AWAY. SO IT WAS LIKE, THESE PLAYERS PLAY TOGETHER, GREW UP TOGETHER, SOME OF THEM ARE FAMILY MEMBERS. >> IT'S ACROSS DOWN RIVALRY. >> AND IT'S A HAPPY CROSS TOWN [00:40:06] RIVALRY. JUST THOSE, 48 MINUTES. >> YEAH. >> BUT YEAH, SO IT'S NOT A MAIN STREET EVENT, YES , MA'AM. >> THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE COMMISSION? >> THREE COMMENTS. ONE IS THAT I'M NOT HOLDING YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACTIVITIES OF THE LINCOLN THEATER. I UNDERSTAND THE SEPARATION BETWEEN THE TWO. I DIDN'T WANT TO PAINT THE PICTURE OF THAT. YOU'RE THE POINT PERSON FOR THEIR ISSUES MOVING FORWARD. ITEM TWO IS THAT IT WOULD APPEAR THAT POTENTIALLY FUNDING REQUIRED BY THE THEATER, EXHIBITIONER TAYLOR, MAY FALL INTO THAT TOURIST DEVELOPMENT DOLLARS TARGETED FOR NORTH OF MIDWAY. WOULD YOU CONCUR THAT MIGHT BE A POSSIBILITY? >> YEAH. >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR IS THE EXPERT IN THIS AREA. YOU MAY WANT TO COUNCIL WITH HIM. >> YES. >> I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU ABOUT IT. I BELIEVE HE HAS A LOT MORE INFORMATION IN THIS AREA THAN I DO. >> ALL RIGHT. >> RELATIVE TO WHAT YOU WOULD NEED TO DO TO APPLY FOR THAT. AND IT COULD BE, OR THEY COULD APPLY FOR IT WITH YOUR ASSISTANCE, TO GET SOME DOLLARS NEEDED TO MAYBE POSSIBLY MOVE FORWARD WITH RENOVATIONS. >> OKAY. EXCELLENT. >> AND MY THIRD COMMENT WAS JUST RELATIVE TO THE COURT ISSUE. THIS ISSUE, I BELIEVE, IS ON HIGH BOIL. THIS NEEDS IT TO BE BROUGHT TO THE COMMISSION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE WORKING ON THIS. THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN INVOLV ED IN THIS ISSUE AND I CONSIDER IT TO BE OF EXTREME IMPORTANCE AND IT'S A VERY TROUBLING SITUATION. SO I'M JUST SUGGESTING THAT WE GET THE INFORMATION DIGESTED AND INTO A PRESENTABLE FORM AND GET IT IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WHATEVER THE CONTROLLING BODY OF THIS IS, OR BOTH BOARDS, IF THAT IS THE CASE AS WELL. BUT THE SITUATION OVER THERE IS NOT GOOD. AND I BELIEVE IT NEEDS TO GET TO THIS BODY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. >> UNDERSTOOD. >> OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE? ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH MS. CLUTHERS. >> REGARDING THE THEATER, THE COMMEMORATIVE COMMITTEE IS THE OWNER. THEY HAVE A SUBCOMMITTEE, THE RESTORATION COMMITTEE. IT'S THAT COMMITTEE THAT IS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF DIRECT, HANDS ON AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO, THERE'S NO REAL SEPARATION. THERE IS KIND OF IN TERMS OF DETAILS. BUT ALSO, FOR THE COMMITTEE, THAT'S WHY WE DID THE OVERVIEW, TO HELP BETTER UNDERSTAND THE ROLES OF MAIN STREET. AND MAINLY WE WORK WITH THE BUSINESSES AND THE DEVELOPERS AND OWNERS AND HELPING THEM SECURE FUNDING OR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN THAT WAY. SO, BUT WE HAVE NO ISSUES WITH THE NEW REPORTING PROTOCALLS AS WELL AS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY. SO WE WELCOME THAT. >> WOULD YOU MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ON YOUR MAILING LIST FOR YOUR NEWSLETTER? MAKE SURE OF THAT. WOULD YOU ALSO MAKE SURE THAT I'D LIKE TO HAVE A LIST OF YOUR BOARD MEMBERS. >> YES , MA'AM. >> I'LL SEND THAT OUT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> MS. MOORE, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? >> THAT'S IT FOR ME. >> ALL RIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON. [9. Consent Agenda] >> OKAY, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> IS THERE ANYTHING THAT ANY COMMISSIONER WOULD LIKE PULLED OR I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> MADAME MAYOR, I MOVE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. >> THERE IS A MOTION AND SECOND. >> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK. [a. Resolution 25-R40 appointing Shatell Hypolite as Commissioner Johnson's appointee to the Infrastructure Surtax Committee. ] >> YES. >> MAYOR HUDSON. >> YES , MA'AM. >> NEXT, WE HAVE RESOLUTION 25-R40, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, MEMBERS TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE SURTAX COMMITTEE IN PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THIS RESOLUTION APPOINTS SHANTELL HYPOLITE. >> I MOVE TO PASS. >> THERE'S A MOTION TO SECOND. CALL THE ROLL PLEASE. >> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. [b. Resolution 25-R41 appointing an at-large member to the Infrastructure Surtax Committee.] >> YES , MA'AM. >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR. >> YES , MA'AM. >> MAYOR HUDSON. >> YES , MA'AM. >> NEXT, WE HAVE RESOLUTION 25-R41, A RESOLUTION TO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA, CERTIFYING THE MEMBERS AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THIS IS WHEN WE HAVE TO VOTE FOR ONE AT LARGE MEMBER. WE HAVE TWO APPOINTEES. OR TWO APPLICANTS. I'M GOING TO SEND THIS BALLOT YOUR WAY. >> OKAY. >> AND YOU CAN VOTE FOR ONE AND SEND IT BACK. [00:45:01] >> OR YOU CAN JUST DO A VOICE VOTE, EITHER WAY. WHATEVER IS YOUR PREFERENCE. >> I DON'T MIND DOING A VOICE VOTE. BUT IT'S UP TO THE COMMISSION. DO YOU WANT TO WRITE IT OUT? >> LET'S WRITE IT OUT. JUST ONE CHOICE, OKAY? . >> MADAME MAYOR, THE PAPER. WE HAVE ALL THE PAPER. >> EVERYONE IS TRYING TO GET RID OF PAPER. >> WE CAN'T DO THAT. HERE WE GO. >> THANK YOU. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> OKAY. WE HAVE COMMISSIONER BRODERICK APPOINTING BETTY JOE STARK, COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, SHANELL RENEE. BETTY JOE STARK, SO BETTY STARK WILL BE YOUR NEW APPOINTEE TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE SURTAX COMMITTEE. IS THERE A MOTION? >> CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. >> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. >> YES. >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR. [a. Discussion of Community Listening Action Plan - City Commission's Action Item in 2025 Strategic Plan] >> YES , MA'AM. >> MAYOR HUDSON. >> YES , MA'AM. >> OKAY, NEXT WE HAVE A DISCUSSION OF THE COMMUNITY LISTENING ACTION PLAN. THIS IS A CITY COMMISSION ACTION ITEM FROM THE 2025 STRATEGIC PLAN. >> IS THERE ANY PRESENTATION? >> YES. I DEVELOP A SHORT PRESENTATION. I'LL TRY TO KEEP IT SHORT. >> OKAY. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. TAKE ALL THE TIME YOU NEED. >> MS. ROBINSON WILL DRIVE THE PRESENTATION FOR US. >> ALL RIGHTY. AS NOTED, THIS IS A TOP POLICY PRIORITY THAT WAS OUTLINED IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN. THIS IS ON THE ACTION AGENDA FOR 2025. IT'S A CITY COMMISSION ITEM. AND THERE WERE FOUR KEY ISSUES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED IN THIS ACTION PLAN. IT WAS DIFFERENT APPROACHES WITH DIFFERENT GENERATIONS AND FORMAL INDIVIDUAL LISTENING OUTREACH EFFORTS AS WELL AS CITY, STAFF CONTACTS WITH RESIDENTS HAVING A PERSONAL APPROACH TO SAYING HI AND LISTENING. FINALLY, THERE WAS A TOWN HALL SESSION, WHICH WAS A KEY ISSUE. SO WHAT I'VE DONE. THIS IS BY NO MEANS AN ACTION PLAN. THIS IS TO HELP FACILITATE THE DISCUSSION ON THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED. I HAVE A FEW BULLETS ON THOSE KEY ISSUES AND IDENTIFIED STRATEGIES FOR EACH OF THOSE ISSUES. I'LL MOVE FORWARD. AND THE VERY FIRST ONE, YOUTH ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES. WE CAN HAVE SCHOOL LISTENING TALKS. THAT WAS ACTUALLY INCLUDED. HAVING SESSIONS AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS WITH CITY REPS. THE PARTNERS WOULD BE OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, STUDENT COUNCILS, AND INTERACTIVE QUESTION AND ANSWER BREAKOUT SESSIONS. SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND JUST HAVE MORE YOUTH INVOLVEMENT. ALSO HAVING THE YOUTH ADVISORY PANEL, INCLUDING YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS, LOCAL NONPROFITS. WE CAN HAVE MONTHLY MEETINGS, DIGITAL PLATFORMS AS WELL. AND SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS. JUST COMMUNICATION AT THE YOUTH LIAZON. AND INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK, AND OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE TO US TO REACH THE YOUTH. AND YOUTH TOWN HALL MEETINGS. THE LIBRARIES, THE YOUTH CENTERS, TOWN HALL EVENTS, OPEN MIC SESSIONS. THIS IS SOME OF THE STRATEGIES THAT WE HAVE. FOR EACH STRATEGY, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO HAVE A PARTNER, WHICH IS GOING TO BE THOSE COMMUNITY PARTICIPANTS AND WE'LL HAVE THE TOOLS AND FORMATS AND THE OUTREACH AND STRATEGY PROCESS. MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE NEED TO DECIDE AND DEFINE OUR OUTCOME AND SECTION SUCCESS MEASURES. FOR EACH OF THESE STRATEGIES, WE SHOULD HAVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES, BUT OUR SUCCESS METRICS AND SUCCESS MEASURES. SO, THIS IS MY INITIAL PRESENTATION ON THIS. I'M GOING TO ENGAGE THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY TO TAKE THIS OVER, PARTICULARLY, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, WITH MS. MOORE, AS WELL AS MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS. ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS WILL BE INVOLVED. THEY WILL BE THE PRIMARY DEVELOPERS. I'LL GO TO THE NEXT STRATEGY. THE SENIOR ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES. SENIOR LISTENING CIRCLES. WE WANT SMALL, COMFORTABLE GROUP SETTINGS AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO FACILITATE DISCUSSION. PERHAPS, PRINT NOTES. WE'LL HOST THOSE IN AN AREA WHERE WE'LL BE MORE COMFORTABLE AND WE CAN HEAR CONCERNS AND IDEAS OF THE SENIORS. OF COURSE, HOME AND PHONE OUTREACH INITIATIVES. [00:50:02] WE'LL HAVE CALL-INS, HOME BOUND SENIORS. THOSE PARTNERS WILL BE VOLUNTEERS, SENIOR ADVOCATES. WE'LL HAVE HOME VISITS SIGNUPS, EVEN PHONE TREES PER SE IN TERMS OF THE OUTREACH WE'LL COMMUNICATE BY PHONE. AND PAPER FEEDBACK FORMS. YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO GET AWAY FROM PAPER, BUT SOME RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY ARE STILL PAPER BASED. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE REACH THAT MARKET. SO, WE'LL HAVE PRINTED FEEDBACK FORMS. THEY CAN BE IN UTILITY BILLS, NEWSLETTERS, OR THE CLINICS. WE CAN HAVE DROPOFF BOXES AS WELL. WE WANT TO BE SURE WE HAVE THE AVENUES OR THE MEANS BY WHICH THE SENIORS WILL BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH US. ALSO, WE HAVE INTERGENERATIONAL DIALOGUES, SCHOOLS, RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES, MODERATED DISCUSSIONS, STORY TELLING, WE HAVE SESSIONS BETWEEN YOUTH AND SENIORS TO BUILD MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING, THAT WILL BE HUGE IN TERMS OF STRATEGY. ONCE AGAIN, ONE OF THE METRICS THAT WILL DEFINE OUR SUCCESS WITH THIS, BECAUSE WE HAVE PARTICIPATE SATISFACTION RATINGS, DIVERSITY OF PARTICIPATES ACROSS THE NEIGHBORHOODS. SO AS WE LOOK AT THE STRATEGIES, AS I SAID, YOU'LL HEAR ME SAY THIS. ONE OF THE SUCCESS METRICS, WHO ARE THE PARTNERS IN WHICH WE WILL ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY? NEXT. OKAY. AND WE HAVE, WHICH I THINK IS GREAT. THE INFORMAL INDIVIDUAL OUTREACH. SAY HI AND LISTEN CAMPAIGN. AND THIS INVOLVES EVERYONE. I MEAN, ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS. WHEN YOU THINK OF HR, WE THINK OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC WORKS IS HUGE. ENGINEERING. THOSE ARE PUBLIC FACING DEPARTMENTS. I THINK IS EXCELLENT THAT WE HAVE THEM INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS AS WELL. WE WANT TO FORCE A CULTURE WHERE WE CAN FORMERLY ENGAGE WITH THE RESIDENTS IN LISTENING DURING INTERACTIONS ON SIDEWALKS, PARKS, AND EVENTS. WE WANT TO TRAIN AND ENCOURAGE THE STAFF AND LISTEN DURING NORMAL INTERACTION. AND THAT GOES A LONG WAY. I HAD SPOKEN TO A FEW RESIDENTS AND THEY KNOW, THE PUBLIC WORKS GUYS KNOW THE SOLID WASTE GUYS BY NAME. THEY MENTION THEM, ONE OF OUR RESIDENTS THREW A DINNER FOR THEM, AND THEY CAME, THEY HAD LUNCH, AND THEY WENT ON THEIR WAY. I THINK THAT'S CRUCIAL. WE ARE ALREADY DOING THAT. IT'S NOT A DEFINED PROCESS. WE NEED TO DEFINE THAT, AND ALSO, THAT INVOLVES ALL THE AMBASSADORS, IN TERMS OF UNDERSTANDING THE COMMUNITY IN OUR TRAVELS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. WE'LL HAVE LISTENING WALKS. WE WILL ROUTINELY WALK THROUGH THE COMMUNITY, VARIOUS DISTRICTS, THAT WILL BE SPEARHEADED BY CITY MANAGERS OFFICE, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS AS WELL. WE'LL HAVE THESE REGULARNEIGHBORHOOD WALKS, CASUAL CHATS WITH THE RESIDENTS. ALL OF THIS, ALL OF THESE EFFORTS, I SHOULD SAY, INFORMAL ENGAGEMENTS. NOT AS STRUCTURED AS A SIT-DOWN. WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THE EMPLOYEES UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED TO BE INVOLVED AND ENGAGED WITH THE COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT OUR DAILY INTERACTION. AND THEN WE HAVE MY LISTING TABLES. FOCUS ON MOM AND POP STORES. I THINK FPR PLAYS A GREAT PART IN THIS, IN TERMS OF UNDERSTANDING THE SMALL AND LOCAL BUSINESSES. ARE WE HAVING FORMAL VISITS WITH THEM AND HOW CAN WE SUPPORT THEM AND WHAT EFFORTS CAN WE DEVELOP FROM FUNDING EFFORTS TO PLANNING EFFORTS, TO BUSINESS PLANS OR ECONOMIC PLANS AS WELL FOR THE CITY AS A WHOLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN. I THINK THAT WILL BE GREAT. AND THEN SMALL BUSINESS DROP-INS. WE'LL HAVE ALL STAFF INVOLVED IN THIS PUBLIC FACING ROLES. WE CARRY SMALL CARDS. NOTEBOOKS, WE CAN HAVE SITUATIONS WHERE WE ACTUALLY CAN BRING THE COMMUNITY IN AND WE CAN LISTEN TO WHAT THEY ARE SAYING. THIS IS SEMI FORMAL. WE WANT TO HAVE THIS TYPE OFOUT REACH. AND GREAT WITH THIS, WE WILL MOVE TO THE NEXT ONE. TRYING TO WORK MY WAY THROUGH THIS. TALK ABOUT THE LISTEN CULTURE. I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO TOO MUCH DETAIL ABOUT THIS. EACH OF THESE, WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THE METRICS. WE WANT TO ACTIVELY LISTEN. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO ASK ME HOW IS THE CITY DOING? AND WE WANT TO RECORD THE COMMON CONCERNS WITH THE RESIDENTS. WE GET CALLS IN EVERY DAY WITH CITY HALL, AND COMMON TYPE OF CONCERNS ABOUT CLEANLINESS OF THE CITY. RESIDENTS IN CERTAIN AREAS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT MAYBE SHELTERED INDIVIDUALS. SO, WE HAVE A COMMON LIST OF CONCERNS AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, AND THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, OUR GOAL IS TO COMPILE THOSE AND HAVE ORCHESTRATED EFFORT AND PLAN TO ADDRESS IT CITY WIDE. SO I THINK THAT SHOULD BE NOTED. >> OKAY. NEXT, PLEASE. OKAY. AND [00:55:04] THIS INCLUDES EVERYONE. I NOTED THE MOST PUBLIC FACING DEPARTMENTS HERE. BUT THIS IS ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS. SPECIFICALLY, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THEY ARE OUT THERE EVERY DAY. THEY ARE ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY. THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON. OUR JOB IS TO HAVE EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS. OKAY. MS. ROBINSON. AND NOW, LAST, DEFINITELY BUT NOT LEAST. THIS IS REALLY THE MAYOR COMMISSIONER, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, MAJOR ROLE IN TERMS OF HOW WE ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY AND CREATE A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT THAT IS INCLUSIVE WITH RESIDENTS CAN OPENLY SHARE THEIR CONCERNS, IDEAS, AND FEEDBACK. AND FEEL HEARD BY THE CITY LEADERS. AND OUR GOALS IN THIS PROCESS IS TO BUILD TRUST, GATHER INPUT FROM DIVERSE FORCES, DIVERSE VOICES, EXCUSE ME. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, FOLLOW THROUGH IN FEEDBACK. AS WE BECOME ENGAGED ON THE RESIDENTS AND WE LISTEN TO THEIR CONCERNS, THEIR IDEAS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS, CERTAIN CITY MANAGERS OFFICE, AS WELL AS THE CITY STAFF, NEED TO HAVE DIRECT RESPONSIVENESS AND FOLLOW THROUGH. MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE NEED TO DEVELOP A PLAN. THIS IS JUST AN OVERALL OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING AND HOW WE NEED TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DURING OUR ONE ON ONE SESSIONS, I'LL GET MORE DETAIL TO TAKE THROUGHOUT THE CITY, WITH VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES. I THINK WE HAVE MORE. AND PLANNING COMPONENTS, WHICH IS IMPORTANT. THE LOCATIO AND TIMING OF THE MEETINGS, WE HAVE EVENING SESSIONS, MORNING SESSIONS AS WELL. THE LISTENING FORMAT, OPEN MIC, BREAKOUT TABLES. INTERPRETATION SERVICES, THAT'S HUGE. I MEAN, SPANISH, ENGLISH, OTHER LANGUAGES WE THINK WILL BE NECESSARY IN THE OUTREACH. THAT'S SOMETHING CRUCIAL WE REACH ALL COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNICATE IN THE LANGUAGE WHICH THEY UNDERSTAND. AND EVEN WITH PRESENTED MATERIAL. I THINK THAT'S CRUCIAL FOR US. AND ALSO CHILDCARE AND FOOD CAN BE PROVIDED FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT, BUT WANT TO PARTICIPATE. SO THOSE PLANNING COMPONENTS WILL NEED TO LOOK AT AS WELL. AND THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, RIGHT? FOR OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR ATTEND, AND ACTIVELY LISTEN. NO SPEECHES OR DEFENSIVENESS. THAT'S THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT. THE ENGAGEMENT TEAM, WHICH WE ORGAIZE, FACILITATE, COLLECT NOTES WITH OUR VOLUNTEERS, RECORD THE KEY POINTS AT BREAKOUT TABLES, AND TRANSLATERS, ENSURE INCLUSIVE COMMUNICATION. WE HAVE MEMBERS MAY NOT BE AS FLUENT IN ENGLISH. HOW DO WE COMMUNICATE WITH THEM, AND FOSTER IN LEARNING ENGLISH AS WELL. THAT'S JUST AS CRUCIAL AS WELL. AND THE NEXT SLIDE WOULD BE ANY QUESTIONS? AS I SAID, THIS IS BY NO MEANS AN ACTION PLAN. I THINK IT'S A BROAD OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE COULD HAVE. AS I MEET WITH YOU INDIVIDUALLY, I WANT TO GET MORE DIRECTION ON WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO. THE PARTNERS ARE CRUCIAL, BECAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT THE RESIDENTS AND THE BUSINESSES. THE PARTNERS ARE CRUCIAL. OUR SUCCESS MEASURES, WE DEFINE THEM, THE OUTCOMES. WE HAVE TO DEFINE OUR SUCCESS METRICS AS WELL. AND WE NEED TO COMPILE INFORMATION BASED ON YOUR FEEDBACK AND ONCE WE START HAVING OUTREACH IN THE COMMUNITY, COMPILED THEIR INFORMATION, SO WE CAN PUT TOGETHER A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND DISCUSS IMPLEMENTATION. HOW DO WE HAVE THESE SESSIONS AND THE ENGAGEMENTS? >> MADAME MAYOR. >> YES, SIR. >> THANK YOU FOR THIS. AND THIS WAS A GREAT PART OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, AND I SUGGESTED THIS AND I THANK YOU FOR PICKING THIS UP. A COUPLE COMMENTS ON THE FIRST SLIDE, IN PARTICULAR WITH THE YOUTH. I'M SURE YOU MAY KNOW THIS AND STAFF MAY KNOW THIS. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THE YOUTH COUNCIL THAT WE HAVE WITH THE CITY. I THINK IT IS STILL IN EXISTENCE. I THINK WE STILL HAVE STUDENTS ON THAT. I REALLY WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO BE A MAJOR PART OF DRIVING THAT. MAKING SURE THAT THEY PRETTY MUCH TAKE THE LEAD, JUST LAST WEEK WELL, HAD THE FORT PIERCE CENTRAL STUDENT GOVERNMENT HERE, RIGHT? AND I DON'T KNOW IF SOME OF OUR YOUTH COUNCIL, IN FACT, IT'S BEEN AWHILE SINCE WE HEARD FROM THEM, QUITE FRANKLY. OUR YOUTH COUNCIL. AND I THINK WE PROBABLY NEED AN UPDATE. THEY USED TO HAVE A PRESIDENT AND THE WHOLE BODY OF THEM AND SO THAT COUPLED WITH THEM TAKING THE LEAD ON THIS, AND HELPING US FACILITATE THESE DIFFERENT MEETINGS AT THE HIGH SCHOOLS OR MIDDLE SCHOOLS, ETCETERA, WILL BE, I THINK, THE RIGHT SIGNAL THAT WE NEED TO DO BECAUSE YOUTH TALKING TO YOUTH, AND US PARTICIPATING TO LISTEN TO LEARN FROM SOME OF THE YOUNGER CONSTITUENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY WILL HELP, RIGHT? I THINK IF WE CAN GET AHEAD OF WHAT THEY ARE THINKING AND TRY TO BUILD FOR THAT. THAT'S THE FORM I WANT TO LISTEN TO. I THINK WILL IMPACT [01:00:03] US GREATLY. GOOD WORK ON THIS. I'M HAPPY WITH THE START. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING NOW. BUT I JUST NEEDED TO BRING THAT UP. I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM YOUTH COUNCIL IN AWHILE HERE. AND I THINK WE PROBABLY DO. I DON'T KNOW WHO THE PRESIDENT IS OR ANY OF THAT STUFF. >> MS. ROBINSON WILL HAVE SOME TYPE OF OUTREACH, I'M SURE. >> YEAH. >> YOU'LL CONTACT THEM. >> YEAH. RIGHT. >> YES, WE'LL REACH OUT TO THEM. >> THANK YOU. >> IT WAS MS. MOORE. >> YEAH. >> I DON'T HAVE TO HAVE AN ANSWER TODAY. THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO HEAR FROM. >> OKAY. >> ANYTHING ELSE? >> MADAME MAYOR. JUST A COUPLE COMMENTS. FIRST OFF, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE INITIATIVE ON THIS. IT'S EXCITING TO SEE STUFF WE SPENT DAYS AND HOURS DISCUSSING AND SPECIFIC DATES ON ACTION ITEMS. IT'S NICE TO HAVE AN UPDATE ON SOMETHING THAT WE SAID WE WANTED TO HEAR ABOUT. I REALLY LIKE THE KIND OF MULTIFACETED APPROACH WITH THE INFORMAL AND THE FORMAL. I THINK THAT'S REALLY SMART AND WILL BE VERY BENEFICIAL. WE HAD A SPEAKER THIS MORNING. NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO COME AND TALK IN A MICROPHONE, AND YOU TEND TO GET KIND OF A CROSS SECTION OF PEOPLE THAT ARE NORMALLY UNHAPPY WITH THINGS WHEN YOU KNOW THEY WANT TO COME TO COMPLAINT ABOUT SOMETHING. YOU DON'T GET A LOT OF PEOPLE TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE TO TELL YOU THAT YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB. I THINK THE INFORMAL APPROACH, BECAUSE THERE IS SOME THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING THAT ARE WORKING, AND YOU GET MORE OF A DIVERSE RESPONSE FROM PEOPLE. THAT WAY, WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO THEM, AND HEARING THEIR OPINIONS. I ALSO LIKE HOW YOU IDENTIFIED THE PARTNERSHIPS. AND I THINK THAT'S THE KEY TO GETTING PEOPLE INVOLVED, BECAUSE YOU HAVE LOTS OF ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE THAT ARE DOING THIS, AND HAVE A GROUP OF CONTACTS AND PEOPLE THAT THEY CAN CONTACT IMMEDIATELY AND GET PEOPLE AT A TOWN HALL AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS. LIKE THE TCBA AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND OUR MAIN STREETS, AND KIND OF PARTNER WITH THEM TO GET THE OUTREACH GOING AND NOT HAVING TO PUT SUCH A BURDEN ON CITY STAFF. SO I WANT TO SAY, I LIKE ALL THOSE ITEMS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OFFICIAL ACTION PLAN ONCE WE GET THERE. >> THANK YOU. AND OUR GOAL IS REALLY TO INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY, THE PARTNERS, AND TO HAVE THEM AS STAKE HOLDERS IN OWNING THIS PROCESS WITH US. WE ARE THE PLANNERS FROM THE CITY SIDE. IT'S GETTING THE INFORMATION FROM THE RESIDENTS AND OUR GOAL IS TO ENGAGE THE PARTNERS, HAVE THEM TAKE THE LEAD IN SCHEDULING SOME OF THESE MEETINGS, HELPS WITH THE FORMAT OF SOME OF THE QUESTIONS IN A FORMAL SETTINGS. WE WANT THEM TO BE STAKE HOLDERS SO WE CAN OWN THIS PROCESS WITH US. >> MADAME MAYOR. I THINK THE PART THAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO ME IS WE WANT TO HEAR, BUT I THINK IT HELPS US UNDERSTAND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO COMMUNICATE, BECAUSE WE'RE DOING STUFF AND WE THINK WE'RE COMMUNICATING AND IT IS PROBABLY NOT GETTING TO THE END USER, WHICH IS OUR CONSTITUENTS. THAT PART THAT YOU HAD ON THE BOTTOM PIECE IS GOING TO HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT NEEDS TO BE SAID, HOW IT NEEDS TO BE SAID, AND HOW OFTEN IT NEEDS TO BE REPEATED. WE ARE OPERATING AND WE THINK WE ARE BEING HEARD, AND YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE QUESTIONS WE GET, WE'VE ALREADY GONE DOWN THAT PATH AND HAVE BEGUN TO SOLVE THEM. BUT IT'S NOT GETTING OUT THERE. AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IN THIS. >> YEAH, THERE ARE ISSUES THAT GET OUT THERE AND THE MISINFORMATION GETS OUT THERE FASTER. BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR MONTHS, AND SO I WANT TO BRING UP A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I THINK WE COULD FEED INTO THIS. THE KEY FORT PIERCE COMMITTEE IS WORKING ON A CAMPAIGN TO ABOLISH LITTER AND SORT OF A PR CAMPAIGN, AND WILL BE PROBABLY MAKING THAT PRESENTATION TO US SOON. AND WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT INVOLVING THE STAFF AND THE PUBLIC WORKS AND THE POLICE, I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE. IS THAT EVERYBODY RESPONSIBLE FOR HOW THE CITY LOOKS? WE'RE ALL RESPONSIBLE. IT'S NOT JUST VOLUNTEERS WHO CLEAN UP. IT'S NOT JUST PUBLIC WORKS. IT IS EVERYBODY THAT LIVES HERE AND WORKS HERE AND SO WE WANT TO KIND OF HAVE A NEW EMPHASIS ON THIS IS OUR CITY AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY. AND SO I THINK THAT COULD BE PART OF A LISTENING SESSION AND ALSO, WE HAD AS ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES, NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTIFICATION. AND WE WERE REALLY HOPING TO, [01:05:01] BECAUSE FORT PIERCE IS AN OLD CITY, WE DON'T HAVE -- WE HAVE NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE OAKLAND PARK NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE HAVE SOUTH BEACH AND OCEAN VILLAGE. WE HAVE CERTAIN PLACES THAT HAVE A HIGH IDENTITY AS A NEIGHBORHOOD. AND WE HAVE OTHER PLACES THAT DON'T. AND SO I'M THINKING THAT A LISTENING SESSION, AND I THINK THIS IS HOW PORT ST. LUCIE DOES IT. THEY DO THEIR LISTENING SESSIONS WITH THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAMS. WITH THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTITY. SO, AND THAT'S MOSTLY FOR THE COMMISSION AND WITH THE COMMISSION AND THE CITIZENS. AND I WAS THINKING WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE YOUTH, THEY NEED COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS AND SO WHEN WE HAVE INVOLVED THE YOUTH, WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT THEY COULD EARN COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS FOR INVOLVEMENT AND THAT SOMETIMES INCREASES THE PARTICIPATION OF STUDENTS, BECAUSE I PARTICIPATE IN THE YOUNG FLORIDAN PROGRAM, AND THAT IS A BIG PART OF YOUNG FLORIDAN, IS THEIR COMMUNITY SERVICE, WHAT THEY DO, AND WHAT THEY ACHIEVED IN THEIR HIGH SCHOOL CAREERS. SO, ANOTHER THING. I THINK YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE LUNCH. I THINK THAT WAS A GARDEN -- WAS THAT THE GARDEN CLUB? THEY DO THAT. I DON'T KNOW IF WE DO IT ANNUALLY, BUT THEY DO IT AT LEAST EVERY TWO YEARS, BECAUSE THEY APPRECIATE PUBLIC WORKS AND WHAT THE PUBLIC WORKS, SO THEY SHOW THEIR APPRECIATION. I THINK THAT'S A REAL GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE INTERACTION WE ALREADY HAVE. PLUS, SOMEBODY, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? AREN'T YOU WITH DBA? SO SOME COMMISSIONERS ARE ALREADY KIND OF ASSIGNED TO THE CHAMBER. YOU KNOW, SO WE'RE ALREADY WORKING WITH THESE GROUPS AND HAVE RELATIONSHIPS AND IN A WAY, WE'RE ALREADY LISTENING, RIGHT? IT'S JUST NOT IN A FORMAL SETTING. AND ALSO, REMEMBER THAT THEY HAVE A CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND BRINGS ISSUES TO THEM. AND THERE'S PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT WITH THE FPUA THAT COULD BE BLENDED IN TO THIS PARTICULAR ACTIVITY THAT WE'RE DOING. SO, THOSE ARE JUST SOME IDEAS THAT I HAVE AS WE MOVE ALONG ON THIS. WHAT I PARTICULARLY APPRECIATE ABOUT WHAT YOU PRESENTED WAS THE STAFF COMPONENT OF IT. BECAUSE I THINK THE STAFF TENDS TO GET INTO THEIR SILOS. IT'S VERY EASY TO DO WHEN YOU ARE BUSY AND YOU'RE DOING YOUR JOB, AND YOU HAVE TO BE THINKING ABOUT NO MATTER WHETHER YOU WORK IN THIS DEPARTMENT OR THAT DEPARTMENT, WE ARE SERVING ALL CITIZENS OF THE CITY THROUGHOUT THE CITY. YEAH. SO, I'M REALLY GLAD WITH THE STAFF COMPONENT, TOO. ANYTHING ELSE? ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY. BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND WELCOME CONGRESSMAN BRIAN IN THE OFFICE. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US, SIR. ALL RIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON. [b. Discussion regarding a proposed ordinance and interlocal agreement with St.Lucie County regarding anchoring limitation areas prior to submission to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).] >> THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS DISCUSSION REGARDING A PROPOSED ORDINANCE AND INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH ST. LUCIE COUNTY REGARDING ANCHORING LIMITATION AREAS PRIOR TO SUBMISSION TO THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION. >> ALL RIGHT, DO YOU HAVE A LEAD INTO THIS? >> NO, I DO NOT, MADAME MAYOR. >> WHO IS MAKING THE PRESENTATION? >> MADAME MAYOR. SORRY, IT'S THE FIRST I HAD TO SPEAK. >> THANK YOU, MS. HEDGES. I HEARD A VOICE COMING OUT OF SOMEWHERE. >> YES , MA'AM, IT IS GOING TO BE MYSELF ALONG WITH MARINA STAFF. I CAN ASK MS. ROBINSON, IF YOU DON'T MIND HANDING ME THE KEYBOARD AND THE MOUSE? >> SURE. >> AND I THINK OUR MARINA DIRECTOR WILL COME DOWN IN CASE THERE ARE ANY TECHNICAL QUESTIONS AND ANYONE ELSE HE WOULD LIKE TO BRING WITH HIM. >> PLEASE COME FORWARD. >> THANK YOU. >> I'VE BEEN WAITING A LONG TIME FOR THIS. >> I ENJOYED MY BRIEFING MEETING ON THIS AND I'M PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT I THINK THEY WILL PRESENT. >> IT'S A START. >> I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU ALL KIND OF THE BRIEF OUTLINE OF WHAT IS GOING ON HERE. GET A COUPLE OF THINGS OPEN FOR YOU. THIS MOUSE IS -- >> JUMPING AROUND. >> IT IS NOT DOING GREAT WITH ME THIS MORNING. >> DEFINITELY NEED A MOUSE PAD. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN BEING WORKED ON FOR QUITE AWHILE BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY. THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE [01:10:04] COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE CITY. SO QUITE AWHILE AGO, I THINK IT WAS BROUGHT TO EVERYONE'S ATTENTION THAT THE SAILBOAT ANCHORING IN THE WATERS HAVE BECOME AN ISSUE, AND HAD BECOME A QUESTION AND THE CITIZENS WERE ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT COULD BE DONE. UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE LIMITED IN WHAT WE CAN DO, BUT WHAT WE HAVE FOR YOU IS WHAT THE CITY AND THE COUNTY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON. SO, ESSENTIALLY, THERE IS A STATE STATUTE THAT ALLOWS A COUNTY TO CREATE WHAT ARE CALLED ANCHORING LIMITATION AREAS. THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS WITHIN THE STATUTE AS TO WHERE THOSE CAN BE LOCATED, HOW LARGE THEY CAN BE, THOSE TYPE OF THINGS. WHAT THESE AREAS DO IS IT LIMITS THE TIME THAT SOMEONE CAN ANCHOR IN THAT ANCHORING LIMITATION AREA, AS THE NAME INDICATES. I THINK WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO REALIZE THOUGH IS THIS IS NOT A PROHIBITION OF ANY ONE ANCHORING IN THOSE AREAS. PEOPLE WILL STILL BE ABLE TO ANCHOR IN THEM, AS PROVIDED WITHIN THE LAW. SO THE COUNTY AND THE CITY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON REALLY TWO DIFFERENT DOCUMENTS. THE FIRST IS THE ORDINANCE, WHICH WILL ACTUALLY BE AN ORDINANCE THAT THE COUNTY ENTERS. AND PER THE STATUTE, IT HAS TO BE THE COUNTY THAT CREATES THE ORDINANCE. THE CITY IS NOT ABLE TO CREATE AN ORDINANCE ITSELF. ONLY THE COUNTY IS ABLE TO UNDER STATE STATUTE. SO THE FIRST THING IS THE ORDINANCE. THE COUNTY ESSENTIALLY ASKED US TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AS A BODY. THEY WOULD LIKE YOUR DIRECTION INPUT ON WHETHER THERE ARE ANY CHANGES YOU WOULD LIKE TO THE ORDINANCE BEFORE THEY ENACT IT. THE SECOND DOCUMENT WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT IS THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE CITY THAT WILL OUTLINE KIND OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES MOVING FORWARD WITH THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS ITEM. THESE ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE ORDINANCE HAS TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION, FWC, FOR THEM TO TAKE A LOOK AT PRIOR TO IMPLEMENTATION. SO THAT IS THE POINT THAT WE'RE AT WHERE THE COUNTY IS IN TALKS WITH FWC, PRIOR TO THEM ENACTING THE ORDINANCE. SO, THE FIRST PART OF THIS ORDINANCE IS THE LEGAL STUFF THAT US LAWYERS MAKE EVERYONE WRITE INTO THESE. THE MEAT AND POTATOES IS GETTING INTO THE DEFINITIONS UNDER ARTICLE 3 IS WHAT THESE LIMITATION AREAS ARE GOING TO DISCUSS. THESE AREAS ARE APPLICABLE TO ANYONE IN THE AREA. THERE ARE GOING TO BE EXCEPTIONS THAT APPLY. SO REALLY, WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING IS WHAT WILL BE A COUNTY ORDINANCE SECTION 50-33. WHICH WILL SHOW YOU WHERE YOUR ANCHORING LIMITATION AREAS ARE GOING TO BE. SO HERE IS THE GENERAL MAP AND I THINK MAYBE KYLE, ARE YOU ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO US WHERE THIS MAP AREA IS? >> GOOD MORNING. FOR SURE, I CAN DEFINITELY EXPLAIN THE MAP HERE. SO, AS YOU GUYS KNOW, THE CONCERN AREA IS WITHIN THE INLET FOR THE MOST PART. SO, IN PRODUCTION WITH THE COUNTY, WE WENT OVER QUITE A FEW YEARS OF AERIALS AND THAT GAVE US THE AREA HERE IN RED. SO, OVER THE YEARS, WE HAVE STEREOTYPICALLY HAD BOATS ANCHORING IN THE INLET ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE CHANNEL, WHICH ALONG THE BEACH ALONG CAUSEWAY, SEAWAY DRIVE, WHICH WOULD BE IN FRONT OF CHUCKS. AS WELL AS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE CHANNEL, SURROUNDING WESLEY'S ISLAND. THESE ARE THE AREAS THAT ARE THE HIGHEST POPULATED. SO THAT WAS THE REASONING ON THESE AREAS PICKED. AS WELL AS THIS CREATES THE AREA TO BE ABLE TO BE CLEAR FOR THE PORT. AS FOR THE COUNTY'S PERSPECTIVE, THAT'S A BIG DEAL TO THEM, IS KEEPING THE CHANNEL CLEAR FOR DIRECT ACCESS TO THE PORT. AND AS WELL AS THAT SHOULD BE EVERYBODY'S PREROGATIVE. IT'S A MAIN ARTERY IN AND OUT OF THE OCEAN, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE AWARE OF, BUT WE REALLY HAVE ONE OF THE SAFEST INLETS ON THE EAST COAST. WE ARE EXTREMELY LUCKY TO HAVE THAT. IT IS JUST A GREAT PERK OF OURS. THAT IS THE REASONING ON WHY WE HAVE PICKED THESE AREAS. >> AND THE COUNTY DID ENGAGE A CONSULTANT THAT THEY WORKED WITH FOR QUITE AWHILE TO DO STUDIES AND LOOK AT THE HISTORY TO DETERMINE WHERE THESE AREAS SHOULD PROPERLY BE LOCATED. STATE STATUTE DICTATES THAT EACH AREA CAN BE NO LARGER THAN 100 ACRES. SO YOU SEE THAT EACH ONE OF THOSE IS BELOW THAT 100 ACRE [01:15:03] REQUIREMENT, UNDER THE STATE STATUTE. SO, SECTION 50-34 IS GOING TO CREATE WHAT THE RESTRICTIONS WITHIN THESE ANCHORING LIMITATION AREAS ARE. SO WHAT HAPPENS IS A PERSON CANNOT ANCHOR WITHIN THAT ANCHORING LIMITATION AREA FOR MORE THAN 45 CONSECUTIVE DAYS IN ANY SIX MONTH PERIOD. THEY MUST LEAVE THAT AREA FOR AT LEAST 24 HOURS TO NOT BE IN VIOLATION OF THE CODE AND OF THE STATE STATUTE. WHEN THEY LEAVE THAT AREA, THEY HAVE TO ACTUALLY LEAVE ALL ANCHORING LIMITATION AREAS. THEY CAN'T GO FROM ONE TO THE OTHER. THEY HAVE TO LEAVE ALL OF THOSE ALAS AND A ONE MILE RADIUS FROM THEM. SO THEY HAVE TO LEAVE FOR 24 HOURS, ONE NAUTICAL MILE FROM THOSE ANCHORING LIMITATION AREAS. THE STATE STATUTE REQUIRES CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS, THOSE ARE BUILT INTO THE ORDINANCE AS WELL, IN SECTION 50-35. SO THOSE EXCEPTIONS INCLUDE LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIRE FIGHTING, MILITARY, RESCUE, JUDGING VESSELS, COMMERCIAL FISHING, THOSE RECREATIONAL FISHING, IF THEY ARE ACTIVELY TENDING HOOK AND LINE FISHING GEARS OR NETS. THE REPAIRING, THOSE ARE ANCHORED AND ANY VESSEL IN THE INTERCOASTAL WATERWAY. SO THOSE ARE THE EXCEPTIONS. IT IS A PRETTY SIMPLE ORDINANCE. REALLY THE THING IS, THE 45 DAYS. AND HAVING TO LEAVE FOR 24 HOURS AND TO INCLUDE THE ONE MILE NAUTICAL MILE. THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS IS BY STATE LAW. WHAT THE STATE STATUTES ALLOW FOR ARE FOR CITATIONS TO BE ISSUED. THERE IS THE ABILITY AS WELL ONCE SOMEONE REPEATEDLY VIOLATES THAT FOR VESSELS TO BE REMOVED, BUT THOSE ARE NOT AUTOMATIC. AND THEY ARE NOT IMMEDIATE. AND SO THAT IS ALSO IMPORTANT FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS TO UNDERSTAND. BEFORE WE GET TO THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON HOW THE ORDINANCE IS STRUCTURED OR ANY CONCERNS WITH WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE ORDINANCE? >> I HAVE A QUESTION. THEY LEAVE FOR 24 HOURS, CAN THEY COME BACK TO THE SAME PLACE? >> YES , MA'AM. >> THEY HAVE TO GO FOR 24 HOURS, AT LEAST A MILE, AND THEN COME BACK. THEY CAN COME BACK IN 24 HOURS. >> YES , MA'AM. >> SO, IT'S A START, BUT IT IS STILL NOT -- IT'S STILL CONCERNING, BUT IT'S A START. I REMEMBER WHEN THIS PRESENTATION WAS MADE AND WE ASKED THE SAME KIND OF QUESTION. AND I REMEMBER THE COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE AT THAT TIME SAID WE UNDERSTAND IT'S A START. IT'S WHAT THE LAW ALLOWS. IT'S WHAT THE LAW ALLOWS, AND SO IT'S A NEW LAW, ISN'T IT? >> YES , MA'AM. >> IT'S FAIRLY NEW. >> YES , MA'AM. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE, COMMISSIONER BROCKERIC? >> SARAH, YOU MENTION THE ABILITY TO ISSUE CITATIONS, ETCETERA, I'M NOT SURE WHERE WE STAND ON THIS. I KNOW WE HAD A PROGRAM, OR MULTIPLE FACETS OF A PROGRAM DISCUSSED FOR ENFORCEMENT. WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR ENFORCEMENT AT THIS POINT? >> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK, COMMISSION, SO AT THIS POINT IN SPEAKING WITH OUR MARINA STAFF, THE INTENTION AT THIS TIME IS OUR MARINA, THIS IS PART OF THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT. CODE ENFORCEMENT, THAT ARE ASSIGNED TO THE WATER. THEY WILL BE DOING THE PRIMARY ENFORCEMENT OF THIS. THEY WILL BE MAKING CONTACT WITH THOSE VESSELS THAT ARE ANCHORED IN THE AREA, NOTIFYING THEM OF THE 45 DAY REQUIREMENT, PROVIDING THEM WITH INFORMATION. THEY WILL BE TRACKING THOSE VESSELS AS WELL, FOR THOSE IN VIOLATION, OBTAINING THAT, AND PROVIDING THAT EVIDENCE TO THE COUNTY. TO OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE PARTNERS, TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS, WITH FWC, ALL OF OUR AGENCY PARTNERS FOR ISSUING CITATIONS AS PERMITTED. >> SO, IF I COULD ELABORATE ON THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE. QUITE FRANKLY, HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD WITH THE EXCEPTION OF, WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THE WATERWAY AS A WHOLE. YOU KNOW, THE ALA AREA IS GOING TO DEFINITELY BE A FOCUS OF OURS. I HAVE TWO CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERRERS WE PLAN TO HAVE ON THE WATER SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. WE'LL BE DOING A LOT OF THE REPORTING. SO, THAT BEING SAID, TAKING TABS, MAKING SURE VESSEL XYZ IS HERE DAY ONE TODAY 45. AND AT THAT POINT, WE WILL BE GETTING INVOLVED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT ENTITIES EITHER WITH FWC, SHERIFF DEPARTMENT, OR OUR LOCAL POLICE OFFICERS, AND THEN ASSIST US IN WRITING THE CITATIONS. THE FACT OF US BEING [01:20:03] ON A BOAT AND US NOT BEING LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE WILL BE MAKING CONTACT, BUT WE WILL BE MAKING SURE IT'S A POSITIVE CONTACT. SIMPLY, BECAUSE WE ARE ON OUR OWN IF ANYTHING GOES THE WRONG WAY. SO THAT'S WHY WHEN IT COMES TO NOT SO FUN STUFF, WE'LL HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH US AS WELL. BUT GOING INTO, WE'LL BE LOOKING AROUND THE WHOLE COUNTY. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, AS YOU GUYS KNOW E THE GOAL IS TO AVOID VESSELS. SO, WE HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT WITH OUR COUNTY PARTNERS. CREATING A GOOD LIST OF WHAT VESSELS WE HAVE AROUND AND WE'LL BE HELPING THEM MAINTAIN THAT AS WELL AS. SO DEFINITELY A MULTIDIRECTION PATROL, WE'LL CALL IT. WE HAVE ACTUALLY TOOK TWO MARKERS. WE HAD TWO MARKERS SNAPPED OFF AND WE'VE RENDERED BUOYS TO THEM, JUST TO CREATE SAFE NAVIGATION. SO THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS ALLEVIATION OF THE ALA AS WELL AS SAFETY OF THE WATERWAY IN GENERAL. >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR. >> I HAD A FOLLOW-UP. >> I'M SORRY. >> A COUPLE OF POINTS ON THAT. ONE IS THAT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS NO COMPREHENSIVE POLICE PRESENCE IN THE INLET. FWC IS SPORADIC. THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS SPORADIC. THERE'S NO SAYING, EVERYBODY IS ON A SET SCHEDULE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT. I'M GOING TO SUGGEST THIS IS A GREAT BEGINNING. I DON'T THINK IT ULTIMATELY GETS US TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE WITH ENFORCEMENT AND POLICING POWERS IN THE INLET. I HEARD THE FRUSTRATION DIRECTLY FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, RELATIVE TO LACK OF COVERAGE, IS THE BEST WAY TO PUT IT. I ALSO KNOW THAT WE HAVE REQUESTED ASSETS. WE NEED ASSETS FOR YOUR FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THIS AND WE'VE SOLICITED THE HELP FROM CONGRESSMAN IN THAT AREA, TO GET US SOME BOATS. CAPABLE OF HANDLING THIS TYPE OF PATROL. DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTARY FROM AN ENFORCEMENT CAPABILITY? YOU ARE CODE ENFORCEMENT CERTIFIED. >> YES, SIR. >> YOU RUN INTO A POLICING ISSUE, AND THERE'S NO POLICE AVAILABLE. OR SHERIFF DEPARTMENT. THAT'S MY CONCERN. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON ALL THAT? >> IT'S DEFINITELY A CONCERN. YOU KNOW, THIS IS ALL PART OF THE WORKING OUT THE PROCESS. WITH THE FUNDING WISH LIST THAT WE DID SUBMIT, THAT WILL DEFINITELY HELP US MAINTAIN THE BOATS, KEEP THEM OUT OF THE WATER AS WELL AS HAVE PROPER EQUIPMENT TO MAKE THE PROPER ENFORCEMENT. BUT AS FAR AS THE CONNECTING THE DOTS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE'VE BEEN IN CONVERSATION WITH SOME OF OUR ENTITIES TO HELP GET THE CONTINUITY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SMOOTH ENFORCEMENT, BUT JUST AS YOU KNOW, RESOURCES ARE LIMITED, SO I BELIEVE WITH HAVING THE WISH LIST OF THE VESSELS, AS WELL AS ACCESSIBILITY TO JUST ROAD OFFICERS, TO BE ABLE TO RIDE ALONG, WILL DEFINITELY HELP VERGE THE GAP. BUT I DO KNOW THAT US AS THE MARNA, WILL BE CREATING A LOT OF THE LOAD AS WELL AS HELPING WITH EVERYTHING ELSE WE DO. >> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR. >> SO, JUST IN LOOKING AT THIS, WHAT IS THE COUNTY CONTRIBUTING ANYTHING FINANCIALLY TO THE OPERATION OF THIS ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM? I'M LOOKING AT COUNTIES, THE RESOLUTION, AND THEY ARE DEVELOPING ALL THIS, BUT IT'S UP TO THE CITY TO ENFORCE IT, LIKE WE SAID. THIS IS STAFF TIME, FUEL, THE BOAT, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF. IS THERE ANY OF THAT IN THE AGREEMENT THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE ASSISTING WITH THAT? >> COMMISSIONER MAYOR, GOOD MORNING. >> WELCOME. >> MY PLEASURE. AFTER THAT THE COUNTY HAS CONSULTANT FEES. PAYING FOR THE BUOYS AND THE SIGNAGE ASSOCIATED WITH IT. THEY ARE ACTUALLY HELPING WITH THE REMOVAL OF THE VESSELS. THEY ARE GOING TO ABSORB SOME OF THAT. WE ARE HANDLING THE OPERATIONAL SIDE OF THINGS. THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY, BUT THEY ARE ACTUALLY HAVE THEIR SET DUTIES THAT THEY AGREED TO DO. THIS IS GARY FRANKLIN. HE IS WITH ST. LUCIE COUNTY. IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, HE CAN FURTHER GET INTO THAT. BUT WITH THAT SAID, IT IS A PARTNERSHIP. I THINK THE COUNTY HAS INVESTED SOME MONEY INTO IT, AND I THINK THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO AS THIS DIVISION FOR THE COUNTY AND CITY GROWS, IT IS [01:25:01] A PARTNERSHIP. WE DO CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM. BASICALLY, ON A WEEKLY BASIS FOR RIGHT NOW. I LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND REITERATE ONE THING WITH THIS 24 DAY THING. IS THE BOAT HAS TO MOVE ONE DAY. THAT TELLS US THAT THE BOAT IS FUNCTIONAL AND IT IS NOT A DERELICT VESSEL. SO THAT PLAYS INTO OUR HANDS. SO WE WILL BE RECORDING, YOU KNOW, BOATS COMING AND GOING. BUT IF WE SEE A BOAT SITTING THERE LONGER, WE'RE GOING TO ASSUME THAT BOAT POTENTIALLY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE UNDER ITS OWN POWER, WHICH MEANS IT IS ONE OF THE DEFINITIONS FROM FWC THAT WE CAN GO AHEAD AND WRITE HIM A CITATION. SO, IF NOTHING ELSE, AT LEAST THAT'S A START. > >> YUP. >> OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, YOU WILL FIND, WE'RE NOT THE ONLY PORT THAT HAS THIS ISSUE. WEST PALM BEACH HAS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THIS AND SUCH. I KNOW THERE ARE THINGS THAT WILL BE COMING UP PROBABLY OVER THE NEXT YEAR, NEXT YEAR, WITH DIFFERENT CITIES REQUESTING THAT THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA REASSESS THIS WHOLE THING. I THINK THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE REASSESSED, WHICH WILL BENEFIT THE ISSUE. THE PORT'S BIGGEST CONCERN IS LARGE VESSELS COMING AND GOING, WHICH I CAN FULLY UNDERSTAND. YOU CAN'T TURN 150, 200 FOOT VESSEL ON A DIME, IF A BOAT IS IN THE WAY. IT CREATES ISSUES. THE COUNTY ACTUALLY HAS A LOT OF PLANS WITHIN THE FUTURE OF THE PORT AND DOING SOME IMPROVEMENTS ON THEIR OWN AS WELL. SO, WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE PORT DIRECTOR'S CONCERN. JOSHUA IS UP IN D.C. TODAY, THAT'S WHY HE'S NOT HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON THIS. SO, WITH THAT, ONE OTHER THING I WILL TELL YOU IS, HOW ARE BOATERS GOING TO KNOW ABOUT THIS? SO, THE APPROACH I'M GOING TO TAKE RIGHT OFF THE BAT IS THERE ARE WEBSITES THAT BOATERS USE, LIKE CRUISERSNET.NET, AND SUCH. WE'LL TAKE, ONCE THIS WHOLE THING GETS APPROVED. WE'LL FORWARD THAT TO THESE WEBSITES AND A LOT OF THEM WE HAVE DONE BUSINESS WITH FOR YEARS. WE'LL ASK THEM TO GO AHEAD AND POST IT SO WE CAN NOTIFY THE TRAVELING BOATER NOW WHAT THE PARAMETERS ARE TO GO AHEAD AND ANCHOR A BOAT IN THIS AREA. WE'LL REACH OUT ON THAT LEVEL TO EDUCATE BY MEANS OF THESE WEBSITES. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COMMISSIONER TAYLOR, WERE YOU DONE? >> NO. >> KEEP GOING. >> THIS WILL ADD STAFF TIME FOR YOU GUYS. HOW ARE YOU FEELING COMFORTABLE WISE AS FAR AS GETTING THIS DONE? YOU HAVE A LOT GOING ON OVER AT THE MARINA. THERE ARE ONLY A FEW OF YOU. >> AS THIS WHOLE THING GROWS, WE'LL ADD STAFFING. WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HANDLE IT WITH OUR EXISTING STAFF. WE HAVE LULLS IN THE DAY, ESSENTIALLY. SO WE GET REAL BUSY, DEPENDING UPON THE SEASON, AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. WE'LL DICTATE WHAT TIME WE GO -- WE'RE NOT GOING AT THE SAME TIME EACH AND EVERY DAY. IT WILL VARY DEPENDING ON OUR SITUATION WITHIN THE MARINA. THERE ARE, LIKE I CAN SAY, THE AFTERNOON IN THE MARINA IS EXTREMELY BUSY, OVER THE LAST MONTH, WE HANDLED OVER 850 BOATS THROUGH THERE COMING AND GOING AND DOING BUSINESS WITHIN THE MARINA. SO, OUR STAFF IS MORE NEEDED, MORE SO IN THE AFTERNOON VERSUS THE MORNING. BUT AS THIS THING GROWS, WE WILL END UP, WE ARE AN ENTERPRISE FUND, WE'RE TRYING TO FUND THIS INTERNALLY. AND WE WILL GO AHEAD AND ADD STAFF AS WE SEE FIT OR NEEDED. RIGHT NOW, WE ARE ABSORBING EVERYTHING THIS YEAR THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING SO FAR. >> I THINK, AND I TALKED WITH JOSH ABOUT THIS. THE SECONDARY BENEFIT OF THIS IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOMEBODY OUT THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY AND KNOWING PARTICULARLY IF THOSE BOATS ARE GETTING RID OF THEIR WASTE APPROPRIATELY, WHICH HAS BEEN A MAJOR ISSUE. >> YUP. >> I THINK THIS IS GIVING US THE ENFORCEMENT ARM TO BE OUT THERE AND THE TRACKING OF WHO IS OUT THERE AND KNOWING HOW LONG THEY'VE BEEN SINCE THEY MOVED. SO YOU'RE KNOWING IF THEY ARE DUMPING THEIR TANKS OR NOT. AND I THINK THAT'S A REALLY POSITIVE THING AS FAR AS MOVING TOWARDS GETTING THESE PEOPLE TO STOP DOING THAT, AND DUMPING WA THERE'S THAT POINT. AND THEN I KNOW WE ARE LIMITED TO THE 100, WHATEVER, FEET? >> 100 ACRES. >> HOW MANY OF THOSE 100 ACRE AREAS ARE WE LIMITED TO? WE HAVE TWO THERE. BUT I SPOKE WITH JOSH, OBVIOUSLY THIS WILL BE KIND OF A MOVING THING, BECAUSE ONCE WE HAVE THESE TWO [01:30:03] ESTABLISHED, IT'S LIKELY THAT THEY WILL START MOVING OTHER AREAS. AND WE'LL PROBABLY NEED TO EXPAND THIS AT SOME POINT TO INCLUDE OTHER 100 ACRE PARCELS. >> I BELIEVE WE CAN GO UP TO 10% OF THE WATERWAY. BUT STRATEGICALLY SPEAKING, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE OUR NEXT BEST MOVE IS. I FEEL LIKE WE WILL SEE -- WE WILL BE COMING TO THE TABLE WITH ANOTHER AREA PROBABLY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR OR THE YEAR AFTER. I CAN SEE THIS BEING A REGULARLY KIND OF WORKING, WHERE IS OUR NEXT MOVE ESSENTIALLY? >> YEAH, SEE WHERE THEY START HEADING. >> SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A QUICK COMMENT ABOUT THE DISCHARGE THING. ONE THING THAT I DO THINK IS VERY FORTUNATE WHAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE THREE FACILITIES. THE YACHT CLUB, SAFE HARBOR TOWN, THAT IS THREE AND TRULY LESS THAN A MILE OF THE CENTRAL LOCATION. SO, KIND OF AS DEAN WAS SHARING, IS IF THEY HAVE TO MOVE FOR A PUMP OUT, THAT GUARANTEES US THAT THE BOAT STILL WORKS AND THEY ARE A FUNCTIONAL BOAT. SO WHERE I THINK THAT IS AN ADDED BENEFIT TO HAVING THREE PLACES THAT HAVE THAT ACCESSIBILITY. IT'S A STATE MANDATED $5 CHARGE, SO NOBODY IS HIGHER THAN OTHERS. THERE'S NO GOUGING. IT'S A CONVENIENCE. >> RIGHT. GOOD. >> THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY POINT. I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACILITIES AND MONITORING OF THAT. THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS. THOSE BOATS ARE STAYING OUT THERE A LONG TIME. THEY ARE NOT PAYING ANYBODY FOR ANYTHING. AND WHAT ARE THEY DOING WITH THEIR WASTE? AND SO I THINK KEEPING THE LAGOON CLEAN AND KEEPING THAT IS AS IMPORTANT AS KEEPING IT UNCLOGGED SO THE PORT CAN BE USED ALSO. AND SO I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP. I THINK THAT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR CONSTITUENTS, THAT THEY KNOW THAT WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN TO KEEP THE LAGOON CLEAN. >> WITH THAT SAID, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO BETTER IDENTIFY WHO IS ACTUALLY LIVING ON BOARD AND NOT LIVING ON BOARD, YOU KNOW, WE'LL SEE IF THERE IS A BUOY ATTACHED TO THE BOAT. WE'LL SEE IF IT IS DETACHED. THAT'S TELLING US THERE IS SOMEBODY LIVING ABOARD THE BOAT. SO, THAT'S ONE INDICATOR. THE OTHER THING IS, THE STATE OF FLORIDA DID PASS A LAW, APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS BACK, WHERE IF YOU ARE STAYING ON BOARD YOUR VESSEL OUT THERE AS A LIVE ABOARD, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A PUMP OUT LOG. WE WILL REQUEST A LOOK AT THAT PUMPOUT LOG. SO THERE ARE SOME POTENTIAL TOOLS THAT WE CAN UTILIZE IF THEY DON'T HAVE A PUMP OUT LOG. WE WILL SUGGEST THAT THEY PULL THE ANCHOR AND GET A PURPOSEOUT. THAT WAY THEY BECOME LEGAL. IF WE FIND THEY DON'T HAVE ONE, AND DON'T WANT TO COMPLY WITH US, LIKE I SAID, OUR NEXT STEP WILL GET LAW ENFORCEMENT INVOLVED. WE ARE NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT. THE ONLY THING WE ARE OUT THERE IS REALLY EYES. AND SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS BRING THE OTHER ENTITIES IN. I THINK KYLE OVER THE LAST YEAR, HAS DEVELOPED SOME GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AROUND. SO WE'LL BE TRYING TO UTILIZE THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AS WELL AS COUNTY AND THE STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. >> OKAY. COMMISSIONER. >> WHEN IS THE TIME FRAME? WHEN IS THE FIRST DAY YOU'RE GOING TO BE OUT THERE CHECKING THESE VESSELS? >> WE'VE BEEN OUT THERE, AT LEAST A LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW. WE HAD OUR BOAT UP AND RUNNING. WE ARE OUT THERE A LOT ON THE WATER. I WAS OUT THERE ON SATURDAY WITH ONE OF MY STAFF MEMBERS. >> ONCE THE AREA IS ESTABLISHED AND ALL THAT. >> ACTUALLY STARTED TRACKING A LITTLE BIT RIGHT NOW. THE GOOD NEWS IS, WE'LL BE ABLE TO, AS WELL AS THE CITY, ONCE THAT HAPPENS, ACTUALLY, THE MAJORITY OF THOSE BOATS THAT ARE THERE WILL HAVE DEPARTED TO THE NORTH. WE'RE SEEING AN EXIT RIGHT NOW, SATURDAY, THERE WEREN'T HALF AS MANY BOATS AS THERE USED TO BE. REASON BEING, THE WEATHER IS DECENT. COMING AND GOING FROM THE BAHAMAS, YOU KNOW, IT'S ONLY 9 MILES ACROSS. SO, IT'S BECOMING A FAVORITE FOR THE BOATERS TO COME IN AND OUT OF THAT INLET. YOU KNOW, THIS AREA IS KIND OF LACKING DOCKET FACILITIES. THAT'S ONE OF THE PROBLEMS. SO WE NEED TO, IN THE FUTURE, LOOK AT THAT. I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST IN THE FUTURE THAT ANYTHING NEW BEING BUILT WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS, WE'LL TALK ABOUT ORDINANCES HERE. WE NEED [01:35:03] TO LOOK AT ORDINANCES. MAKE SURE WHATEVER IS BUILT IS WE REQUIRE THEM TO HAVE PUMPOUT FACILITIES ATTACHED TO THAT DEVELOPMENT. IF THEY ARE ON THE WATERWAY. MEANING ANY KIND OF BUSINESSES. SO, THAT WAY WE CAN GUARANTEE, YEAH, THERE ARE THREE PUMPOUT SYSTEMS NOW. BUT THERE'S A CHANCE IF THERE IS ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT, WE GET A FOURTH AND FIFTH LOCATION. I THINK THAT'S AN ORDINANCE THAT WILL HAVE TO DRIVE THAT. THE STATE OF FLORIDA DOES PAY FOR 75% OF THAT. SO I WOULDN'T SEE WHERE THERE WOULD BE HESITATION FOR ANYONE DOING TO DO THAT. >> ARE THERE ANY MOBILE SERVICES? >> THERE IS NOT ANY MOBILE AT THIS TIME. I WOULD RATHER SEE PEOPLE PULL ANCHOR. >> THAT WAY YOU KNOW THEY MOVE. >> RIGHT. THERE ARE PROS AND CONS. EVEN IF YOU HAD A MOBILE. YOU WOULD NOT GUARANTEE ANYONE WOULD UTILIZE IT. ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS A FEE TO IT. PEOPLE DON'T LIKE SPENDING MONEY WHERE THEY FEEL LIKE IT'S NOT NEEDED. SO WITH ALL THAT SAID, WE CAN SPEND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS PUTTING THAT PROGRAM TOGETHER. BUT WE CAN'T MAKE PEOPLE UTILIZE IT. AND SO I WOULD RATHER PULL ANCHOR, GO TO THE LOCAL AREA, GET A PUMP OUT. YOU KNOW, FOR US, WE CHARGE $5. I DON'T KNOW WHAT PELICAN CHARGES. IT'S VERY REASONABLE. GOING THE OTHER ROUTE, I'M HOPING, AND I HAD INTEREST MT. PAST. I HAD PRIVATE INDUSTRY. PEOPLE HAVE COME TO ME AND MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT. ITALKED TO THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE. HOPEFULLY WE CAN ENTICE PUBLIC INDUSTRY AND SOMEONE TO GET INVOLVED. I BELIEVE THAT'S WHERE THIS LIES, WE CAN GET SOMEONE TO DO THAT, WHERE THEY THINK IT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO THEM AS A BUSINESS, WHICH I BELIEVE IT WOULD, HOPEFULLY SOMEONE WILL COME ALONG AND SAYING, HEY, THIS IS A GREAT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY. >> MS. HEDGES, YOU HIGHLIGHTED SOMETHING. WERE YOU GOING TO SHARE SOMETHING WITH US? I WANT TO SEE THE MAP AGAIN. GO AHEAD. >> MADAME MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, COMMISSIONER TAYLOR ASKED IF THERE WAS A NUMBER LIMITING HOW MANY ALAS THERE CAN BE, AND MR. KAUFFMAN WAS CORRECT. THERE'S NOT A NUMBER. IT'S THE 10% OF THE COUNTY WATERS. IT CANNOT EXCEED THE 10%. AND THERE IS WITHIN THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT THAT I HAVE UP NOW THAT OUTLINES THE CITY RESPONSIBILITIES AND THEN THE COUNTY RESPONSIBILITIES AND WHAT IS HIGHLIGHTED IS THE FACT THAT THE CITY AND THE COUNTY ANNUALLY ARE GOING TO REVIEW THOSE AREAS FOR EXPANSION OR REDUCTION OF THOSE AREAS. >> ANY IDEA WHAT PERCENTAGE WE'RE AT WITH THESE TWO? IT'S PRETTY LOW, I WOULD IMAGINE. >> I DO NOT KNOW THAT ANSWER. >> THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM FOR EXPANSION. THAT IS WHAT I CAN TELL YOU. WE'RE NOT SCARED OF PUSHING THE LIMITS. >> GOOD. GOOD. COULD YOU PUT THE MAP -- YEAH. SO THAT GOES TO JUST PAST CHUCKS. IS THAT RIGHT? >> CORRECT. THE EASTERN BORDER IS PRETTY MUCH RIGHT AT THE COAST GUARD STATION. >> THAT WOULD BE THE EASTERN SIDE. THE WESTERN SIDE IS RIGHT AT THE AQUARIUM. ON THE SOUTHERN SIDE. >> SO THAT'S THE START OF MUSEUM POINT PARK. YEAH. >> CORRECT. >> AND THEN IS THAT THE COVE OF WHAT WE USED TO CALL DYNAMITE POINT, UP ON THE NORTHEAST? >> AND NORTHEAST CORNER, THAT'S THE CUT GOING TOWARDS LITTLE GYMS. YES. SO THAT WOULD BE THE CUT GOING TOWARDS LITTLE GYM, AND THEN ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF THE PICTURE, THAT WOULD BE THE EDGE OF THE BRIDGE THAT YOU'RE SEEING IN THAT CORNER. >> RIGHT. RIGHT. SO THIS DOESN'T IMPINGE ON THE BASIN? >> IT STILL KEEPS THAT AVAILABLE AND OPEN FOR LOTS OF ANCHORAGE. SO, WITH THIS OTHER COULD BE BARRIERS FROM THE COAST GUARD AS WELL AS THE MARINA OF HAVING TO WEAVE THROUGH THE VESSELS. >> OKAY. >> MADAME MAYOR. >> THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU FOR THIS, IN FULL SUPPORT, BECAUSE EARLIER ON, THE COMPLAINTS WERE COMING ABOUT DUMPING THE WASTE, PEOPLE SAW SOME THINGS OUT THERE. SO I THINK THIS BEGINS TO ADDRESS THAT. MY CONCERN AND IT'S NOT REALLY A CONCERN. IT'S A POINT OF INFORMATION, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, THERE WILL BE ENTERPRISE FUNDS WITH THIS INCREASE IN ACTIVITY. AT SOME POINT, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GETTING AN UPDATE ON THIS, VERSUS WHAT'S WRITTEN IN CITATIONS, ETCETERA, ETCETERA. SO, I WOULD JUST ASK THAT AS WE BEGIN, THAT WE HAVE A FREQUENT CHECK-IN. AS TO WHAT IS BEING EXPENDED, OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE GOING TO PUT THIS VESSEL ON THE WATER EVEN MORE THAN IT IS ALREADY. SO I CAN ONLY IMAGINE IT IS MACHINERY, RIGHT? [01:40:05] MACHINERY MALFUNCTIONS FROM TIME TO TIME. ESPECIALLY ON THE WATER. SO, JUST MAKING SURE WE'RE AWARE IS KIND OF THE CURRENT THEME, YOU FEEL FROM US, THAT WE'RE KIND OF BROUGHT ALONG AS TO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING AND VERSUS CITATIONS WRITTEN, ETCETERA. DID I HEAR RIGHT THAT THE PUMP OUT FEED IS $5? IS THAT THE STANDARD? I MEAN, I DON'T DO THIS, BUT I MEAN, THAT SEEMS REALLY, REALLY LOW TO ME. >> COMMISSIONER, WITH THAT SAID, I THINK IF YOU MAKE IT AFFORDABLE, PEOPLE WILL UTILIZE IT. IF YOU PUT HIGH COST OR SOMETHING, THEY CAN DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO AVOID IT. WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO UTILIZE THE PUMP OUT STATIONS. >> I UNDERSTAND, BUT MY THING IS, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WHERE WE SET THE PRICE, BUT I KNOW THERE'S A PRICE OF US HAVING TO DEAL WITH THAT, RIGHT? AND I'M ABOUT BALANCE, RIGHT? IF IT IS -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT ENTAILS. I DON'T KNOW THE EQUIPMENT USED. THAT STUFF MAY MALFUNCTION, THAT COSTS SOMEBODY SOME MONEY TO REPAIR THAT. AND I'M JUST WANTING TO MAKE SURE OUR PRICE IS PROVIDING THAT SERVICE, AND I'M NOT SAYING IT -- I DON'T KNOW. THAT'S WHY I'M JUST, IT JUST JUMPED OUT AT ME. I HAVE TO DO MY RESEARCH, FIND OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE. WERE THE DAY OF US BEING A LOST LEADER WHEN IT COMES TO US MAINTAINING THE FACILITY IS NOT MAKING SENSE. AND I'M JUST GOING TO ASK THAT QUESTIONS WHEN THAT TIME COMES UP, THAT'S ALL. THAT'S ALL AT THIS POINT. >> WITH THAT SAID, THE MONEY WE COLLECTED OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE REBUILT BOTH PUMPOUTS. IT DID COVER THE COST OF THAT. I AM VERY COGNIZANT OF OUR COST. NOW IF YOU ASK ME, CAN WE RECROUP THE COST OF OUR WATERWAY PROGRAM? I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS ANY WAY TO ESSENTIALLY DO THAT. I THINK IT'S JUST WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS IMPROVE OUR WATERWAYS FOR THE PUBLIC. KEEP THEM SAFE. >> FOR OUR TAXPAYERS. >> FOR OUR PUBLIC AREA. >> RIGHT. >> ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONCERNS, AS JOSH WOULD BE, AT NIGHTTIME. SOME OF THESE BOATS AREN'T LIGHTING UP THEIR BOATS AT NIGHT. WE ARE TRYING TO AVOID ANY MAJOR ACCIDENTS ON THE WATER. ESSENTIALLY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, THERE'S NO RETURN ON LAW ENFORCEMENT OTHER THAN THE SAFETY OF OUR PUBLIC. AND WE HAVE TO KIND OF LOOK AT THIS AS MAYBE NOT A FINANCIAL SIDE OF IT, AS MUCH AS IT IS A SAFETY ASPECT OF IT. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE RUNNING BOATS HARD. WE'RE IDLING IN AND OUT AND AROUND. SO WE'RE NOT BURNING THROUGH FUEL LIKE CRAZY. SO, WITH THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO THE COMMISSION, THE CITY MANAGER, WHETHER YOU WANT TO INCREASE THAT KIND OF PRICE. TO GO TO 10 OR SOMETHING. MY HESITATION FOR MANY YEARS UNTIL THIS LAST FOUR YEARS GO, IT WAS FREE. I DID IT FOR FREE FOR EVERYBODY, BECAUSE I WANTED PEOPLE TO USE THE PUMPOUT SYSTEM. >> RIGHT. >> BUT BECAUSE I KNEW I HAD EQUIPMENT ISSUES COMING UP, I INITIATED THAT $5 FEE, AND THAT COVERED A -- THAT REPLACEMENT AND REBUILD OF THE PIECES OF MACHINERY WERE EXPENSIVE. WE WERE ABLE TO BREAK EVEN ON THAT. >> THE BREAK EVEN PART, I'M NOT TRYING TO FINANCIALLY -- AS LONG AS WE ARE BREAKING EVEN AND MEETING THAT. THAT WORKS FOR ME. THANK YOU. >> YOU ARE AN ENTERPRISE FUND. YOU HAVE TO FUND WHATEVER YOU DO. SO, YOU HAVE TO RUN IT LIKE A BUSINESS, REALLY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? >> ONE QUICK QUESTION. UNDER YOUR UMBRELLA OF CODE ENFORCEMENT CAPABILITY, I UNDERSTAND ABOUT ISSUING CITATIONS, ETCETERA. YOU DON'T -- I'M GOING TO CONFIRM THIS. YOU DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO COME ON BOARD AND DO Y VALVE INSPECTIONS. >> NOT ON THE WATERWAY. THAT IS CORRECT. >> DO YOU HAVE THAT IN THE MARINA? >> YES. >> WHAT DO YOU FIND? THE VALVE THEY CAN SWITCH FROM DISCHARGING OVERBOARD TO DISCHARGING IN THEIR TANKS. WHAT ARE YOU FINDING IN THE MARINA? >> WITH THAT SAID, IF I HAVE CONCERNS, I SEND AN E-MAIL TO THE PERSON THAT SAYS YOU ARE SUBJECT TO LOSING YOUR CONTRACT WITH US, SO IF WE HAVE ANY OTHER INDICATORS OF IT GOING ON. WE NEVER BOARDED A BOAT TO CHECK, BECAUSE THERE ARE WAYS OF OBVIOUSLY, IF THEY ARE PUMPING OVERBOARD, WE CAN ACTUALLY, [01:45:01] SOMEONE WILL REPORT IT OR SMELL IT OR SEE IT AND WITH THAT SAID, IF I GET THAT REPORT FROM ANY TENANT, SO IT'S JUST NOT STAFF THAT IS RUN, ANY TENANT THAT COMES TO ME, THAT BOAT OWNER WILL RECEIVE A LETTER FROM ME THAT STATES THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT THIS IS GOING ON. IF IT IS GOING ON, THEN I SUGGEST YOU STOP IT IMMEDIATELY, BECAUSE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS WE'RE GOING TO GO AND CANCEL YOUR DOCKET CONTRACT WITH US AND ASKED TO DEPART. SO, THAT'S THE APPROACH WE'VE TAKEN AND WE ALSO CONTINUOUSLY SEND THEM E-MAILS STATING, YOU KNOW, THAT WE DO NOT ALLOW PUMP OUT WITHIN THIS FACILITY AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. SO, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THAT. WE HAVE VERY NICE RESTROOMS ON OUR FACILITIES THAT PROBABLY NEED TO GET A LITTLE UPDATED. BUT WITH THAT SAID, I THINK WITH ANY MARINA, IF YOU PROVIDE NICE RESTROOM FACILITIES, THE BOATERS PREFER TO USE THE RESTROOMS ON FACILITIES. RESTROOMS ON BOATS ARE VERY TIGHT. AND SOME OF THEM ARE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. SO WITH THAT, WE TRY TO MAKE SURE OUR RESTROOMS ARE EXTREMELY CLEAN IN OUR BUILDINGS. THERE'S ONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE MARINA, WITH PLENTY OF STALLS FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE SHOWERS AND USE THE FACILITIES, AND THEY ARE CONTINUALLY IN USE. ON TOP OF THAT, WE HAD TWO MORE RESTROOMS WHEN WE BUILT THAT BUILDING. THE ACCESS IS THERE. WE JUST NEED TO START UPDATING WHAT WE HAVE NOW, BECAUSE THEY ARE GETTING OLDER. THEY ARE CLEAN AND IN GOOD SHAPE, GOOD WORKING CONDITIONS. RESTROOMS ARE ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES, BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL COME BACK IF YOU HAVE GOOD, CLEAN RESTROOMS. >> OKAY, SO THERE IS NO ON THE WATER ENFORCEMENT OF Y VALVE USE? >> NO. IF WE HAVE ANY CONCERNS OR CONSIDERATION OR ANY ISSUES, THERE IS DYES THAT FWC CAN PUT ON THE BOATS TO GO AHEAD AND FLUSH THROUGH TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY TRACE OF IT COMING OUT THE DISCHARGE. >> RIGHT. >> BUT IT IT WILL TAKE ACCESS, IF THERE ARE CONCERNS OR FWC. >> THANK YOU. >> BUT YOU ARE ALLOWED TO ASK FOR THE LOGBOOK. >> THAT IS CORRECT. WE WILL BE ABLE AND WE WILL BE REQUESTING THAT ONCE THIS ORDINANCE PASSES. WE HAVE NOT APPROACHED ANYBODY OTHER THAN GIVE THEM A COURTESY PUMPOUT LOG. OTHER THAN THAT, WE HAVE NOT APPROACHED ANYBODY BECAUSE WE ARE WAITING FOR THIS ORDINANCE. WE STARTED THIS A LITTLE OVER 18 MONTHS AGO, TRYING TO GET THIS PROCESS. SO, IT IS TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. AND ONCE THIS ORDINANCE PASSES, WE'LL CONTINUE. WE'VE BEEN DEVELOPING THIS PROGRAM OVER THESE LAST 18 MONTHS, SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO REPORT AND WHAT IS NEEDED. WE CAN COME TO YOU, YOU KNOW, AFTER THE FIRST SIX MONTHS, IF YOU'D LIKE FOR AN UPDATE. THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM. >> I WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED IN THAT. >> BUT WITH THAT, IF YOU DON'T MIND, RIGHT NOW, IS GARY IS FROM ST. LUCIE COUNTY. AND HE CAN TALK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF DERELICTS THEY ARE PLANNING TO REMOVE. >> BEFORE YOU DO THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHEN IS THIS GOING BEFORE THE COUNTY? >> SO, I BELIEVE THE COUNTY HAS ALREADY LOOKED AT IT AND APPROVED IT. >> CORRECT. >> SORRY, JUST MAKING SURE. >> OKAY, I THOUGHT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR OUR INPUT BEFORE YOU DID THAT. >> THE COUNTY COMMISSION, NO, THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU GUYS WERE GOOD. >> SO IT HAS TO GO TO YOUR COMMISSION AT SOME POINT? >> WE'RE CURRENTLY, I BELIEVE, I'M TRYING TO MAKE IT FOR THE MAY 12 BOARD MEETING. >> TODAY IS MAY 12. >> OH. IT DOESN'T MATTER. IS IT MAY, YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, IS WHAT I'M ASKING YOU? >> MADAME MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, I'M GOING TO JUMP IN. IT HAS TO BE ADVERTISED BY FWC FOR 30 DAYS. SO IT IS GOING TO BE DEPENDENT ON IF ANY CHANGES ARE NEEDED FROM THE CITY AND GETTING THAT ADVERTISED WITH FWC BEFORE IT CAN GO BEFORE THE COUNTY COMMISSION FOR APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE. THE CITY WILL THEN ALSO NEED TO PASS THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT. >> THAT'S GOING TO COME BACK TO US? >> YES , MA'AM. >> AFTER THIS? >> YES. >> THIS HAS AWHILE -- TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE AT LEAST A MONTH. >> YES , MA'AM. >> RIGHT? OKAY. OKAY. NOW, MR. FRANKLIN, YOU MAY SPEAK. >> SO I BELIEVE WE'RE SOOTING FOR THE FIRST AVAILABLE BOARD MEETING. WE STARTED THE APPLICATION PROCESS. WE HAVEN'T SUBMITTED YET. WE ARE WORKING, [01:50:02] ONCE I LEAVE HERE, I'LL E-MAIL THE COASTAL TECH, AND LET THEM KNOW WHETHER OR NOT YOU APPROVE, DISAPPROVE. >> YOUR CONSULTANTS? >> YES , MA'AM. >> OKAY. >> AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THOSE ARE ENTAILED AND WORKING AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. THAT'S WHY WE STARTED THE PROCESS, BUT HAVEN'T SUBMITTED YET WITH FWC. >> THANK YOU. ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH DERELICT BOATS? >> NO, THEY TOUCHED ON IT PRETTY MUCH WHAT THIS WILL HELP, THIS WILL HELP SAFETY FOR EVERYTHING. NOT REALLY -- WE DON'T WANT YOU HERE, IT'S TO STOP PEOPLE FROM LEAVING THEIR BOATS HERE OR STOP A BOAT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BREAK LOOSE IN A HURRICANE THAT WE NEVER HAD EYES ON. THAT'S GOING TO HIT ONE OF OUR DOCKS OR ONE OF THE MULTIMILLION DOLLAR BOATS ANYWHERE ALONG THE COUNTY. SO, WE SUPPORT THIS. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH CITY STAFF FOR QUITE AWHILE ON THIS, AND EVERYTHING HAS BEEN GREAT AND RUN SMOOTH. >> GREAT. >> I DID JUST WANT TO REAL QUICK ADD THAT KIND OF WHERE WE'RE GETTING WITH THE DERELICT VESSELS IS AS YOU GUYS KNOW, WE HAVE MULTIPLE DERELICT VESSELS AROUND THE COUNTY, AS OF RIGHT NOW. THE GOOD NEWS IS, THROUGH THE FWC PROGRAM, THE FWC WILL RELEASE FIVE VESSELS BY THE END OF THE MONTH FOR THE COUNTY DO SEND OUT FORBID FOR REMOVAL. >> THE END OF THIS MONTH? >> YES , MA'AM. BY THE END OF THIS MONTH. >> GOOD, I WILL BE GLAD TO HEAR THAT. >> THE BID PROCESS, AS LONG AS NOBODY BUCKS THE SYSTEM, THE BID PROCESS WILL CONTINUE. SO, AND I KNOW THE COUNTY IS MOVING AS FAST AS POSSIBLE AND NEEDS TO GET THEM REMOVED. THEY ARE EAGER AND EXCITED TO REMOVE THEM. SO HOPEFULLY WITHIN THE NEXT 60 TO 90 DAYS, WE WILL HAVE THESE FIVE VESSELS DISAPPEAR. >> THAT WOULD BE GOOD NEWS. PEOPLE WILL BE HAPPY ABOUT THAT. PEOPLE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE DERELICT VESSELS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE A LONG TIME. I UNDERSTAND IT'S A PROCESS. >> IT'S COMPLICATED. >> COMPLICATED AND IT'S PROPERTY AND YOU CAN'T SEIZE IT. YEAH, I KNOW IT'S A PROCESS. >> THE FWC OFFICIAL LIST HAS 17 THEY ARE CURRENTLY WATCHING AT THIS TIME. >> IN THIS COUNTY? >> IN THIS COUNTY. WHAT THIS ANCHOR LIMITATION AREA DO IS ALLOW US TO EXPAND THAT LIST EVEN FURTHER. SO THE BOATS THAT AREN'T MOVING, WE CAN PROVE THAT THEY ARE NOT MOVING AT THAT POINT. WITHOUT HAVING -- FWC HAS ONE OR TWO OFFICERS IN OUR GENERAL AREA, IF I REMEMBER RIGHT, THAT MONITOR THIS. >> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE COMMISSION? ANYTHING ELSE? YOU DON'T NEED ANYTHING FROM US, EXCEPT OUR INPUT TODAY. RIGHT? AND THEN THIS WILL COME BACK TO US AND I CAN'T WAIT. THIS IS REALLY SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE, OUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE BEEN EAGER FOR US TO MOVE ON. SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. [c. Discussion regarding the final report conducted by the Center for Public Safety Management regarding the operations of the Fort Pierce Police Department.] >> OKAY, READY FOR THE NEXT ITEM? >> YES , MA'AM. >> ALL RIGHT, SO THE NEXT ITEM IS THE DISCUSSION REGARDING THE FINAL REPORT CONDUCTED BY THE CENTER FOR PUBLIC SAFETY MANAGEMENT REGARDING THE OPERATIONS FOR THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT. IF YOU GIVE ME A MOMENT, I'LL CONTACT OUR CONSULTANT. I DID NOT TEXT HIM AND GIVE HIM A WARNING. >> OKAY. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO LEAD IN? >> YES. >> YOU CAN WAIT UNTIL SHE GETS THE CONSULTANT ON THE LINE. >> THAT'S NOT IT. >> OH, YOU'RE DOING THAT. OKAY. >> I'M SORRY. >> HELLO. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. DUNINGER. THIS IS LINDA COX, WE HAVE YOU ON SPEAKER IN THE CHAMBERS. SO IF YOU'LL BEAR WITH US, WE'LL DO OUR INTRODUCTIONS AND GET STARTED. ALL RIGHT. >> MR. CHESS. >> YES, MADAME AND COMMISSIONERS, OUR REPORT CALLS THE POLICE. WE ARE COMMISSIONED TO REVIEW THE OPERATION OF THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND PARTICULAR ASPECT OF THE FOCUS WAS ON THE STAFFING OF THE DEPARTMENT, GIVEN THE WORKLOAD. COMMUNITY DEMOGRAPHICS AND CRIME LEVELS, AS WELL AS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, EFFICIENCY, AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VISIONS AND UNION PROCESSES. THERE WERE KEY INTERVIEWS IF OPERATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL. THERE WAS ANALYSIS OF DATA COLLECTION, COLLECTED, ALSO COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS TO OTHER AGENCIES, AND DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVES IN RECOMMENDATIONS. THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INTENDED FOR BASES OF LONG-TERM IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR THE CITY AND DEPARTMENT, AND ULTIMATELY, WILL NEED TO PRIVATIZE HOW WE GO ABOUT IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS. I'LL [01:55:05] DEFINITELY WANT TO THANK HIM FOR JOINING US. WE DID ASK HIM TO JOIN US IN A RATHER SHORT NOTICE. AND WE HAVE A POWER POINT THAT WAS PREPARED FOR THE KEY HIGH TALKING POINTS. SO WE DO HAVE A POWER POINT AND MS. ROBINSON WILL DRIVE THAT FOR US, AND I BELIEVE HE HAS IT ON HIS END AS WELL. SO, AS YOU WANTED TO PROCEED, JUST SAY NEXT SLIDE, AND WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT SLIDE. SO I'M GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO THE CITY CLERK AND YOU CAN COMMUNICATE WITH THE COMMISSION AND GOING FORWARD. >> OKAY. READY. SO HE'S NEXT. >> YES. >> ALL RIGHT. >> ARE YOU ONLINE, SIR? >> YES, SIR, I AM. >> DO YOU HAVE THE POWER POINT IN FRONT OF YOU? >> YES, SIR, I DO. >> YES, YOU CAN TAKE IT AWAY, AS I SAID, AND WHEN YOU WANT TO PROCEED TO THE NEXT SLIDE, JUST SAY NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION. >> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. >> KEEP GOING. >> OKAY, SO FIRED BY THE CITY TO DO AN ORGANIZATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE COME IN, WE DO AN ASSESSMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION AS A WHOLE. WE DON'T DO AN ASSESSMENT OF PERSONNEL IN THE ORGANIZATION. SO MOST OF WHAT THE CITY MANAGER STATED ALREADY, MOST OF OUR INFORMATION IS COLLECTED THROUGH DATA, WHICH IS THROUGH THE COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH SYSTEM AND THE RECORD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. WE GET A LOT OF DATA THAT TELLS US ABOUT CALLS FOR SERVICE, NUMBER OF OFFICERS, HOW MUCH TIME IS SPENT, INFORMATION LIKE THAT. BUT ALSO, A LOT OF OUR INFORMATION IS GATHERED FROM SPEAKING WITH EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT, IN THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS, THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE THE DATA COLLECTION CAPABILITIES. SO, A LOT OF IT IS ONE ON ONE CONTACT OF US GETTING INFORMATION. SO, WE DID SPEND TWO DAYS ON SITE AT THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE STAFF WAS VERY CONGENIAL, AND WANTING US BEING THERE. THEY WANTED US TO GET ACCURATE INFORMATION AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. SO, THAT WAS GOOD. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SOMETIMES IS ALWAYS ALARMING TO MAKE COUNCIL OR A BOARD WHEN THEY GET THE REPORT IS THE NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS. AND THAT'S TRUE WITH ALMOST EVERY STUDY WE'VE DONE. BUT ALMOST EVERY STUDY WE HAVE DONE HAS 100 OR MORE RECOMMENDATIONS. SOME OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE AS EASY AS A CHIEF SIGNATURE TO MOVE A UNIT FROM ONE DIVISION TO ANOTHER. HOWEVER, OTHERS REQUIREMENT PERSONNEL, MAYBE TO START A NEW CRIME IMPACT UNIT, OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE, AND THEN THE OTHER COMPONENT IS THE FINANCIAL MEANS. DO THEY HAVE THE MEANS TO PURCHASE NEW TECHNOLOGY? TO UPGRADE SYSTEMS? TO PURCHASE NEW EQUIPMENT. PROVIDE TRAINING, THINGS OF THAT MATTER. SO, I WANTED TO JUST TOUCH. I KNOW EVERYONE PROBABLY WANTS TO GET OUT ON TIME TODAY. BUT I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH SOME OF THE MORE IMPORTANT POINTS THAT WE FOUND DURING THE STUDY. PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST POINTS IS IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WHICH IS EMPLOYEE RETENTION CHALLENGES. THIS UNFORTUNATELY, IS A PROBLEM THAT IS NATIONWIDE. IT IS NOT JUST EXCLUSIVE TO THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE NATION ARE STRUGGLING TO HIRE, TRAIN, AND RETAIN THEIR EMPLOYEES. BUT WE FOUND THAT IT WAS ESPECIALLY TROUBLING IN FORT PIERCE, BECAUSE THEY ARE HIRING THE PEOPLE. THEY ARE TRAINING THEM, AND THEN THEY AREN'T ABLE TO RETAIN THEM. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHOULD BE NOTED IS THAT FROM THE VERY FIRST OF THE HIRING PROCESS UNTIL AN OFFICER IS FULLY TRAINED TO GO SOLO IN [02:00:04] THE FIELD, IS USUALLY ABOUT NINE MONTHS TO A YEAR AND IT COULD COST ALMOST $100,000. SO, IF A DEPARTMENT IS STRUGGLING IN RETAINING EMPLOYEES, LIKE FORT PIERCE, HAD 10 OR 15 EMPLOYEES LEAVE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A SIZABLE EXPENDITURE IN THE BUDGET THAT YOU ARE SPENDING TO TRAIN PEOPLE THAT ARE >> ONE OF THE THINGS WE ALWAYS LOOK AT IS ONE OF THE SALARY BENEFIT PACKAGES THAT ARE OFFERED TO EMPLOYEES AND WHAT ARE INCENTIVES TO RETAIN THOSE EMPLOYEES ? WE FOUND THAT FORT PIERCE IN A LOT OF WAYS IS NOT COMPENSATED THE SAME TO ORLANDO ARE WILLING TO TRAVEL 100 MILES TO BE COMPENSATED IN DIFFERENT WAYS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE RECOMMENDED WAS THAT FORT PIERCE DO A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF WHAT OTHER AGENCIES IN THE AREA ARE PAYING AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO RETAIN THEIR EMPLOYEES. ANOTHER THING THAT WE FOUND WAS UNFORTUNATELY I WAS IN THE PROFESSION FOR 42 YEARS WITH ABOUT 10.5 YEARS AS A POLICE CHIEF AND IT WASN'T UNTIL MY LAST FEW YEARS AS A POLICE CHIEF THAT I STARTED RECOGNIZING THAT WE BASICALLY OPENED UP FREE AGENCY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BONUS . IT'S ABOUT RETENTION BONUSES AND MUCH LIKE SPORTS CONTRACTS . IF A DEPARTMENT IS OFFERING A FEW THOUSAND DOLLAR BONUS AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE OFFERING $25,000 BONUS -- HIRING BONUS , MOST OF THE PEOPLE ARE HEADING WHERE THE MONEY IS . FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S A DEPARTMENT IN CALIFORNIA THAT IS OFFERING $100,000 FOR A LATERAL POLICE OFFICER TO COME TO WORK FOR HIM. AS I SAID, THIS PROBLEM IS NOT UNIQUE TO FORT PIERCE , BUT IT IS PROBLEMATIC, BECAUSE OF THE TURNOVER OF STAFF AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND RESOURCES IT TAKES TO TRAIN THOSE PEOPLE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. >> WE ARE THERE. >> ARE YOU STILL THERE? >> YES. YOU MAY CONTINUE. >> WE ARE AT THAT SLIDE. >> OKAY. I'M WATCHING IT, SO IT MUST BE A DELAY. THERE ARE SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT TO OPTIMIZE THE WAY THINGS OPERATE. ONE OF THEM IS THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT THERE COULD BE A REPLACEMENT OF SWORN PERSONNEL WITH CIVILIAN PERSONNEL. PRIMARILY PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE , I.T. AND AREAS LIKE THAT WHERE THE DEPARTMENT MAY HAVE A SWORN PERSON THAT A CIVILIAN PERSON OR A PROFESSIONAL STAFF PERSON CAN DO THE SAME JOB. IT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT OF A PERSON THAT CAN CARRY A GUN THAT HAS ARREST POWERS TO DO THOSE THINGS. THIS IS TRUE IN A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE LOOK AT. LAW ENFORCEMENT, EXCEPT FOR RECORDS AND COMMUNICATIONS HAS ALWAYS HAD SWORN PEOPLE TO CERTAIN POSITIONS. TIMES ARE CHANGING AND WE FOUND THAT PROFESSIONAL STAFF CAN DO THE JOB JUST AS WELL AND AS EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY AS SWORN PERSONNEL. BY REPLACING WITH A CIVILIAN, IT ALLOWS THE DEPARTMENT TO NOW TAKE THOSE SWORN PERSONNEL AND PUT THEM BACK INTO THE MIX OF AREAS WHERE A SWORN OFFICER IS NEEDED. PATROL, DETECTIVES, SPECIALIZED UNITS SUCH AS THAT. AS THE CITY [02:05:06] MANAGER ALLUDED TO, WE ARE HIRED TO DO A STAFFING ANALYSIS, WHICH IS WHAT MOST POLICE DEPARTMENTS HARRIS FOUR. WHAT WE FOUND AFTER DOING THE WORK WAS THAT BASED UPON WORKLOAD , THEY WOULD NEED AN ADDITIONAL -- I BELIEVE IT WAS TWO OFFICERS AND PATROL. WHAT ARE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT RECOMMENDED IN THE COMMUNITY POLICING BUREAU ARE BASICALLY PATROL OPERATIONS IS THAT THE DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHED MINIMUM STAFFING LEVELS OF 15 SWORN OFFICERS PER SHIFT. THAT IS TO INCLUDE OFFICERS, CANINES AND SERGEANTS. I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE BREAKDOWN WAS , BUT IT COULD BE 10 OFFICERS, TWO CANINES AND THREE SURGEONS. SOMETHING OF THAT. ONE OF THE OTHER AREAS THAT WE RECORD HIGHS IS THAT SOMETIMES IT'S DIFFICULT FOR US AS THE ASSESSORS TO COME INTO AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS NOT FULLY STAFFED AND DO AN ACCURATE ASSESSMENT OF HOW MANY PERSONNEL ARE NEEDED , BUT THERE ARE AREAS IN THE DEPARTMENT WHERE ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL ARE NEEDED THAT EVEN IF FULLY STAFFED, IT WOULD STILL REQUIRE SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. >> IT'S UP ON THE SCREEN. >> ARE REPORTS OR PROJECTS MAINLY DUE IS LOOK AT , HOW CAN A POLICE DEPARTMENT OPERATE MORE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY IN PROVIDING THE SERVICES TO THEIR COMMUNITY? ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE FOUND IN THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS THAT MANY OF THE PROCESSES THAT THEY HAVE ARE STILL PAPER GENERATED AND I CAN GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE IN TRAINING . AN OFFICER WILL FILL OUT A TRAINING REQUEST TO ATTEND A CLASS AND THAT PAPER IS BASICALLY TOUCHED BY FIVE OR SIX MORE PEOPLE BEFORE IT REACHES THE CHIEF'S DESK. IF A PAPER SIGNED BY THE SERGEANT WHO THEN HAS TO GET IT TO THE LIEUTENANT , WHO THEN HAS TO GET IT TO THE MAJOR , WHO THEN HAS TO GET IT TO THE DEPUTY CHIEF AND FAMILY FINALLY TO THE CHIEF, THAT'S A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT BEING SAID BY PERSONNEL. PAPERLESS SYSTEMS ALLOW APPROVAL ONLINE AND ANOTHER APPROVAL IS MADE. THERE ARE SEVERAL AREAS IN THE DEPARTMENT WHERE A PAPERLESS SYSTEM COULD MAKE THE DEPARTMENT MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WAS THAT WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT AN ORGANIZATION, WE ALWAYS LOOK AT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, BECAUSE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE THE GUIDING LIGHT, SO TO SPEAK . THEY ARE BASED UPON BEST PRACTICES, LEGAL MANDATES ET CETERA. IF POLICIES ARE OUT OF DATE AND NOT KEPT UP-TO-DATE, THEN EMPLOYEES DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR PARAMETERS ARE BASED UPON BEST PRACTICES AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM . THE DEPARTMENT HAD A LOT OF OUTDATED POLICIES THAT HADN'T BEEN REVIEWED AND EDITED IN QUITE A WHILE . NOT QUITE A WHILE, BUT SEVERAL YEARS. LAW ENFORCEMENT , SEVERAL YEARS AS A LIFETIME SOMETIMES. WE RECOMMENDED THAT THE DEPARTMENT EITHER PURCHASE A POLICY AND PROCEDURAL MANUAL THAT CAN BE ADAPTED TO THE CITY OR BRING SOMEONE IN THAT CAN TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE POLICY MANUAL. NOW, I HAD A DISCUSSION WITH THE CHIEF WHILE I WAS THERE ABOUT DOING THAT. THEY HAD CONTRACTED WITH A COMPANY CALLED , WHICH I WAS THE PERSON WHO HAD INVENTED IT, BUT THEY HAD SOME PROBLEMS IMPLEMENTING IT, SO THEY WENT BACK TO THEIR OLD PROCESS. AS A POLICE CHIEF AND TWO OF MY ORGANIZATIONS, WE IMPLEMENTED . ONCE IT IS COMPLETED , IT IS UPDATED MONTHLY BY POLICIES THAT [02:10:07] ARE VETTED BY ATTORNEYS AND EACH INDIVIDUAL STATE PROVIDES MONTHLY TRAINING, BRIEFING TRAININGS ET CETERA ON WHAT CHANGES ARE. THE CHIEF WAS OPEN TO TRYING THAT AGAIN . I APPRECIATED THAT CONVERSATION WITH HER ABOUT THAT. THAT IS A BIG THING IF A POLICY AND PROCEDURE MANUAL IS NOT CURRENT. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. >> IT'S ON OUR SCREEN. >> THANK YOU. ONE OF THE ISSUES IN ORGANIZATIONS TODAY IS LACK OF SUCCESSION PLANNING, LACK OF TRAINING , LACK OF MENTOR SHIP AND LACK OF GUIDANCE TO PEOPLE THAT YOU BELIEVE CAN MOVE UP THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION. SOMETIMES THAT'S NOT THE FAULT OF THE ORGANIZATION . ORGANIZATIONS ARE SO BUSY BEING REACTIVE TO INCIDENTS . A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS DON'T HAVE TIME TO BE DOING PROACTIVE MENTORING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR EMPLOYEES. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE FOUND IN FORT PIERCE IS THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR DECISION-MAKING TO BE PUSHED DOWN THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION WITH THE COMMENSURATE OF THE PERSONS RANK IN THE ORGANIZATION. FOR EXAMPLE, A LIEUTENANT IN ONE OF THE SPECIALIZED BUREAUS COULD HAVE A DECISION OR AUTHORITY TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED UPON CONVERSATIONS WITH LEADERSHIP ABOUT WHAT'S EXPECTED , BUT THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS WITHOUT EVERY DECISION HAVING TO BE RUN UP THE FLAGPOLE, SO TO SPEAK. EACH MANAGEMENT PERSON IN THE ORGANIZATION SHOULD CONTROL THEIR OWN BUDGETS. THERE SHOULD BE OVERVIEW, OBVIOUSLY, ON THE PART OF THE CHIEF AND UPPER MANAGEMENT , BUT THOSE THINGS SHOULD BE PUSHED DOWN IN THE ORGANIZATION AND THAT DEVELOPS PERSONNEL. THEY UNDERSTAND THE BUDGET AND WHAT'S REQUIRED AND WHAT HAS TO BE DONE. THE NEXT POINT IS THE MENTORING. WHAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT IN FORT PIERCE IS THAT YOU MAY FIND THAT YOU HAVE A REALLY GOOD OFFICER THAT YOU BELIEVE WILL BE AN UP-AND-COMING RISING STAR IN THE ORGANIZATION AND YOU START TO WORK ON MAYBE MENTORING AND DEVELOPING THEM AND THEY ARE GONE. THEY ARE JUMPING SHIP AND GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE. THAT GOES BACK TO THAT RETENTION ITEM, AS WELL. IN ORDER TO MENTOR AND DEVELOP YOUR PEOPLE, YOU HAVE TO PUT THEM IN POSITIONS WHERE THEY CAN LEARN AND LEARN CONSTRUCTIVELY WITHOUT BEING CHASTISED EVERY TIME A MISTAKE IS MADE. IF YOU MENTOR AND DEVELOP YOUR PEOPLE CORRECTLY , YOU SHOULD BE PROMOTING PEOPLE FROM WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION AND NOT HAVING TO GO OUTSIDE FOR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS OR AT MANY TIMES DEPARTMENTS GO OUTSIDE FOR CHIEFS. MENTORING THE GUIDANCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF YOUR PERSONNEL IS ESSENTIAL. BY NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, THEY JUST DON'T SOMETIMES HAVE TIME TO DO THAT , SO THAT NEEDS TO BE A PRIORITY. THE OTHER THING IS THE KNOWLEDGE BUILDING OF YOUR EMPLOYEES, WHICH IS THE TRAINING. IF YOU DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE TRAINING BUDGET TO SEND YOUR PERSONNEL TO SCHOOLS TO LEARN WHAT'S BEST PRACTICES AND WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE PROFESSION , WHAT NEW LAWS ARE AND THINGS OF THAT SUCH, YOU START OPERATING IN THE VACUUM OF YOU CAN'T SEE THE FOREST FROM THE TREES, BECAUSE THE ONLY THING YOU EVER SEE ARE THE TREES. YOU NEVER GET A CHANCE TO EXPLORE IT AND SEE WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON IN PROFESSIONS. TRAINING AND HAVING ADEQUATE TRAINING BUDGET IS ESSENTIAL IN A POLICE DEPARTMENT. THAT SHOULD BE MOVED FORWARD IN THIS CASE, AS WELL. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. I TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER WITH THE PAY AND BENEFITS AND HIRING BONUSES. I WON'T GO INTO THAT ONE AGAIN. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS ALSO A LITTLE BIT WITH THE SHIFT STAFFING REQUIREMENTS . ONE OF [02:15:03] THE THINGS THAT IS ESSENTIAL IS FOR FORT PIERCE TO BECOME FULLY STAFFED . THAT'S ESSENTIAL , ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE WORKING WITH ABOUT A 10% VACANCY RATE IN YOUR DEPARTMENT. IT BEGINS TO AFFECT STAFFING, MORALE AND HOW CALLS ARE HANDLED , HOW QUICKLY THEY ARE HANDLED AND THINGS OF THAT MATTER. IS ESSENTIAL THAT FORT PIERCE HAVING MINIMUM STAFFING PER SHIFT IN ORDER TO ADEQUATELY RESPOND TO THE CALLS FOR SERVICE THAT THEY HAVE . OBVIOUSLY, WHAT PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND IS YOU CAN'T STAFF A POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR EVERY MAJOR INCIDENT THAT OCCURS. THOSE ARE THE ANOMALIES. THEY HAPPEN AND YOU FIGURE THEM OUT. YOU SHOULD BE STAFFING YOUR DEPARTMENT ADEQUATELY EACH DAY TO HANDLE THE WORKLOAD OF THE CALLS AND THE CALLS COMING IN FROM THE COMMUNITY. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE RECOMMEND THAT 15 OFFICERS BE THE MINIMUM STAFFING PER SHIFT , WHICH CAN INCLUDE OFFICERS, CANINES AND SERGEANTS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE POLICE MODERNIZATION. THIS BASICALLY HAS TO DO AGAIN WITH PURCHASING ONLINE POLICIES , THE TRAINING OF STAFF AND A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF POLICIES , WHICH WHEN YOU BUY A POLICY AND PROCEDURE MANUAL FROM THESE COMPANIES, THAT WORK IS ALREADY DONE. IF THE DEPARTMENT HAS A DEDICATED PERSON THAT IS DOING THE REVIEW OF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, THE PERSON CAN NOW BE MOVED SOMEWHEE ELSE IN THE ORGANIZATION THAT MIGHT BE MORE BENEFIT. ALL IN ALL, THERE WAS A LOT OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND I ALWAYS CAUTION PEOPLE . THERE ARE THREE THINGS THAT ALLOWED AN ORGANIZATION TO DO SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT OUR REPORT SUGGESTS. DO THEY HAVE THE PERSONNEL TO START NEW UNITS OR TO FILL UNITS TO THE LEVEL THAT THEY SHOULD BE? THE SECOND, IS THERE FINANCING AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE TRAINING , EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY? THE THIRD ONE IS THE ONE THAT'S -- WHAT'S THE WILL OF THE DEPARTMENT, THE CITY , THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CITY TO ALLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO BE MADE . A SIMPLE EXAMPLE IS THAT WE RECOMMEND OFFICERS NOT RESPOND TO NONINJURY TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S AN INSURANCE ISSUE, UNLESS SOMEBODY IS NOT PROVIDING IDENTIFICATION AND THINGS OF THAT SUCH. NONINJURY ACCIDENTS TAKE A LOT OF POLICE DEPARTMENT'S TIME IN AN AREA THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY -- THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY NEEDED ON THAT TYPE OF CALL , BUT A LOT OF JURISDICTIONS SAY, WE WANT OFFICERS TO RESPOND EVERY ACCIDENT. OKAY, SO THAT'S ONE WHERE IT IS THE WILL OF THE COMMUNITY AND LEADERSHIP TO NOT FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATION. WE UNDERSTAND THAT SOME RECOMMENDATIONS WILL FOLLOW AND BE FOLLOWED , BUT SOME WON'T. THAT IS BECAUSE OF THOSE THREE DIFFERENT REASONS. THAT PRETTY MUCH IS THE END OF MY PRESENTATION AND I WILL BE OPEN TO TAKING QUESTIONS FROM THE MAYOR AND COMMISSION AS REQUIRED. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COMMISSIONERS? QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER TAYLOR, GO AHEAD. >> I DON'T KNOW IF I NECESSARILY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME, AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO COVER THAT. >> I DO HAVE A QUESTION. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CITY COMMISSION RECEIVED A DRAFT REPORT EARLY ON OR AT THE CONCLUSION OF YOUR DUTIES PER YOUR CONTRACT WITH THE CITY . SUBSEQUENTLY, THE DRAFT REPORT WAS EDITED AND CHANGED . CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME THE PROCESS OF HOW THAT WAS UNDERTAKEN? I [02:20:02] UNDERSTAND PHYSICALLY THE CHANGES TO THE REPORT WERE MADE BY YOUR STAFF, I'M ASSUMING. WHERE DID THE DATA AND INFORMATION , AND EDITING COME FROM TO MAKE THAT CHANGE? >> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. AS WE SAID, OUR REPORT IS DATA DRIVEN. A LOT OF IT IS FROM INDIVIDUAL ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE WITH DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES TO FIND OUT, WHAT'S THE NUMBER OF PERSONNEL INVESTIGATIONS YOU HAD LAST YEAR? HOW MANY ARE SUSTAINED? THAT TYPE OF INFORMATION. IT'S INFORMATION THAT IS NOT USUALLY IN A DATA COLLECTIBLE FORM WITH A DEPARTMENT. A LOT OF IT IS COMING FROM EMPLOYEES. DURING THE COURSE OF THE PROJECT , EACH ASSESSOR OR THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT AND ON THIS PROJECT, WE HAD THREE OF US. WE TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. SOMETIMES THEY ARE NOT LENGTHY CONVERSATIONS, BECAUSE OF TIME CONSTRAINTS EITHER AT THE LOCATION OR WHATEVER. SOMETIMES, WE GET THINGS INCORRECT. WE KNOW ONE THING AND THEY MAY HAVE MEANT ANOTHER. ONCE THEY PUT THE REPORT TOGETHER, WE ALWAYS REQUEST WE REVIEWED THE REPORT TO SEE IF THERE'S ARE THERE ARE THOSE INACCURACIES. EVERY REPORT WE DO, THERE WILL BE SOME INACCURACIES WHERE THE DEPARTMENT GOES, THAT'S NOT EXACT TRUE. THE OTHER PART OF IT, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE REPORTS ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS THE INFORMATION WE ARE PROVIDED. A LOT OF TIMES, WHEN THE DRAFT REPORT IS DONE, WE HAVE TO HAVE FURTHER CONVERSATIONS OF MAYBE WHAT A COMMENT MEANS OR IS IT REALLY APPROPRIATE TO BE IN THE REPORT? MANY OF THE CHANGES THAT WERE IN THE FORT PIERCE REPORT CAME FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT . FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I TALKED ABOUT CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM , THEY THOROUGHLY EXPLAIN WHAT THEIR CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS . THERE IS A CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN PLACE. COULD IT BE MORE ROBUST? ABSOLUTELY. THAT PART WAS CHANGED. THERE ARE ALSO OTHER AREAS THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE REPORT , WE ARE NOT ASSESSING PEOPLE, BUT THE ORGANIZATION. SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WE TOOK OUT , WE SOFTENED A LITTLE BIT , WHICH ISN'T UNUSUAL FOR THAT TO BE DONE IN THESE REPORTS UNTIL WE CAN COME UP WITH A FINAL PRODUCT THAT WE BELIEVE IS COMPLETELY ACCURATE OF THE DATA AND INFORMATION WE HAVE RECEIVED. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? >> MY COMMENTARY IS THAT SOME OF THE INFORMATION REMOVED WAS FAIRLY SUBJECTIVE BEING PROVIDED BY INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS, ET CETERA. I'M NOT REALLY SURE HOW YOU CAN MAKE THE DETERMINATION TO DELETE ONE PERSON'S COMMENTS AND LEAVE ANOTHER PERSONS IN. I'M SOMEWHAT TROUBLED BY THAT , ESPECIALLY IF IT WAS CRITICISM OF THE DEPARTMENT OVERALL. I UNDERSTAND YOUR EXPLANATION . I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS RELATIVE TO THAT , BUT I GUESS THAT'S NOT A QUESTION THAT WILL BE ANSWERED TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> I HAVE SOME VERY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, BUT THE CHIEF HAS AN INTRO TO THIS AND I WILL KIND OF LET HER COVER. >> I HAVE ONE QUESTION THAT MAYBE YOU CAN HELP ME AND I ALSO WANT THE CHIEF TO ADDRESS IT AT SOME POINT. THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT DEPEND ON FINANCES AND PERSONNEL, BUT ARE THERE SOME LOW HANGING FRUIT IN THESE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WOULD NOT DEPEND ON FINANCES AND PERSONNEL? >> EVERY REPORT DOES HAVE WHAT WE CALL A LOW HANGING FRUIT. THINGS THAT ARE SIMPLY DONE . I CAN'T GO THROUGH RIGHT NOW AND MENTION WHAT ALL OF THOSE ARE. WHAT WE USUALLY RECOMMEND IS THAT ONCE WE RECEIVE THE FINAL PRODUCT TO GO THROUGH AND PRIORITIZE THE RECOMMENDATIONS, WHAT CAN BE DONE CLOSE TO IMMEDIATELY? WHAT CAN BE DONE WITHIN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS? WHAT CAN BE DONE WITHIN A YEAR TIME PERIOD? THAT'S USUALLY WHAT WE RECOMMEND ON HOW A DEPARTMENT [02:25:03] SHOULD LOOK AT THE RECOMMENDATIONS. >> ARE YOU INVOLVED IN THIS AFTER THE REPORT? IS THERE PART OF THIS CONTRACT THAT INVOLVES YOU BEYOND THE REPORT? >> OTHER THAN DOING A PRESENTATION OR BEING PRESENT FOR A COMMISSION MEETING SUCH AS THIS, WE HAVE NO FURTHER INTERACTION WITH THE DEPARTMENT ON HOW THEY FOLLOW OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, HOWEVER I DO FROM TIME TO TIME AS THE TEAM LEAD GETS CALLS FROM THE DEPARTMENTS MONTHS PASSED A PROJECT AND THE CHIEF IS JUST INQUIRING OR TALKING TO ME ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS. SOMETIMES I OPEN MYSELF UP TO THOSE TYPES OF CALLS , BUT USUALLY ONCE THE PROJECT IS COMPLETED AND ADOPTED OR THE FINALIZED PRODUCT IS ADOPTED , WE ARE PRETTY MUCH OUT OF IT BY THEN. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION TODAY AND FEEDBACK ON INFORMATION. WHEN WAS THE REPORT CONCLUDED EVEN AFTER THE EDITED DRAFT, SO BACK IN THE HANDS OF THE DEPARTMENT? I WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THAT. >> I DON'T HAVE THE FINAL DATES, BUT I THINK IT TOOK ABOUT THREE WEEKS AFTER WE DID THE DRAFT . I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE. I HAVE DONE A COUPLE OF PROJECTS SINCE FORT PIERCE AND IT'S ALL KIND OF BLUR TOGETHER. I DO REMEMBER THAT IT DIDN'T TAKE A LOT OF TIME. I THOUGHT IT WAS 83 WEEKS OR SOMETHING BETWEEN THE DRAFT FORM AND FINAL FORM, WHICH IS PROBABLY A MONTH OR TWO AGO OR TWO MONTHS AGO. I'M NOT SURE. >> I WILL RESERVE MY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> I HAD ONE MORE QUICK ONE. THE TWO DAYS THAT YOU SPENT IN THE OFFICE WERE HERE, WHEN WAS THAT? LAST FALL ? LAST YEAR SOMETIME OR THIS YEAR? >> I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT MY CALENDAR. I THOUGHT IT WAS THIS YEAR, BECAUSE I REMEMBER WHEN WE WENT. I THINK MAYBE IT WAS FEBRUARY OR SOMETHING OR JANUARY. I WAS SURPRISED THAT EVERYBODY GOES TO FLORIDA , BECAUSE IT'S COLD IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY . WHEN WE GOT THERE IT WAS LIKE 48 DEGREES. >> IF IT WAS COLD, IT WASN'T SEPTEMBER. I KNOW THAT. THANK YOU, SIR. ANYTHING ELSE FOR ANYBODY? >> 2025 THAT YOU WERE HERE? >> I'M LOOKING THROUGH MY CALENDAR RIGHT NOW , IT WAS THE EIGHTH AND NINTH OF JANUARY THAT WE WERE IN FORT PIERCE. >> THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE FOR ANYBODY? YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY ON THE LINE OR YOU ARE WELCOME TO . WHICHEVER YOU CHOOSE. >> I WOULD LIKE HIM TO STAY ON THE LINE, BECAUSE THERE MAY BE QUESTIONS FROM RESULT OF THE CHIEF AND STAFF. >> ALREADY. DO WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT? WELCOME. >> IT'S AN HONOR TO BE BEFORE YOU. WHAT WE PREPARED IS AN OVERVIEW, BECAUSE WHEN THEY WENT OVER THE RECOMMENDATION , IT IMPACTED EACH ONE OF MY COMMANDERS. WHAT WE DID IS PREPARED A PRESENTATION FOR YOU , BECAUSE TO UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE COMMENTS MADE , YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS OF EACH AREA. EACH COMMANDER WILL BE PRESENTING. EACH COMMANDER WILL BE PRESENTING TO GIVE YOU THE OVERVIEW AND SOME COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE BY THE RECOMMENDATION. >> CHIEF, JUST SO I'M CLEAR, THE COMMANDERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE RESPECTIVE AREAS? GOT IT. OKAY. HERE'S AN OVERVIEW OF THE COMMANDERS. AS YOU ARE WELL AWARE, I AM THE CHIEF , THEN OVER COMMUNITY POLICING , ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DEPUTY CHIEF ROBERT AND INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES , MAJOR AND SUPPORT SERVICES IS . THEY WILL GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE AREAS WITH SUR OPINION AND COMMENTS ON THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS. >> DEPUTY CHIEF NORRIS. >> GOOD EVENING . THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DID WAS BRING UP A [02:30:06] SIMPLE FACT THAT OUR STAFF MEMBERS WERE BELOW STANDARDS AND WE ALL KNEW THIS. OUR DEPARTMENT IS SHORT PERSONNEL. WE ARE MORE AT A CROSSROADS , BECAUSE WE LOST PERSONNEL. THE ONE THING THAT THE OFFICERS WHEN I SPEAK TO THEM WAS COURSE PAY. WITH THE JUMPING OF SUBSTANTIALLY, 24% IN ONE YEAR , THAT IS VERY COMPETITIVE, SO THAT IS UPON US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TRY TO DELIVER SERVICES THAT WE ARE USED TO. AS YOU CAN SEE , LAST YEAR WE DID ALMOST 100,000 CALLS OF SERVICE, SO AN INCREASE OF ALMOST 1400 CALLS WITH THE STAFFING LEVEL THAT WAS MOST LIKELY LOWER THAN IT WAS AT THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THOSE ARE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TAKE SERIOUSLY. NOT ONLY THAT, IT IS A GLOOMY THING OVERNIGHT. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB. WE ARE WORKING WITH AND I EQUATED TO MOTHER WHO HAS VERY LITTLE TO PREPARE SHE TAKES THAT OR TAKES THE MINIMUM ITEMS SHE HAS AND MAKES A MEAL OUT OF IT. THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THEY HAVE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB. A LOT OF TIMES, THAT GETS IGNORED. IT CAN'T. THEY ARE DOING IT IN THE LAST NUMBERS AND THEY ARE TAKING CALLS ALMOST 100,000 CALLS FOR SERVICE. YOU CAN SEE THE INCREASE. THEY GO OUT THERE DAILY AND PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE. WITH THE APPROPRIATE STAFFING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE. ONE OF THE THINGS THEY TALK ABOUT IS BASICALLY THAT THEY INCREASE BY MINIMAL , MINIMALLY. I WANT TO STRESS THIS TO OFFICERS. I THINK ONE OF THE OPINIONS THEY ALSO HAVE IS THAT WE ALSO -- IF WE CAN GET THE STAFFING LEVELS, THAT WOULTHD B EVEN BETTER. YOU GO ON FOR 22% TO 30%. THE TRUTH OF DEALING WITH OUR STAFFING LEVELS. I KIND OF OUT OF IT MYSELF. GETTING A LITTLE PASSIONATE HERE. AGAIN, OUR STAFFING LEVELS. THE RECOMMENDATION WAS 17 OFFICERS PER SQUAD. AT MINIMUM, 15. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS I DID HAVE WAS THAT THEY WANTED TO COUNT THE SUPERVISOR AND K9 UNIT. THE K9 UNITS ARE UNIQUE AND EACH CITY IS UNIQUE IN ITSELF. EACH CITY HAS A UNIQUE DYNAMIC THAT YOU MUST ADD INTO THE EQUATION. YOU MUST KNOW THE CITY AND THE OUTLINE OF THE CITY. THE PARTICULAR EXPENDITURE AS FAR AS THE TROOPS , THAT IS CRITICAL. EACH AGENCY IS DIFFERENT. EACH CITY IS DIFFERENT. IN OUR PARTICULAR CASE, WE ASK OUR SUPERVISORS TO SUPERVISE THE TROOPS. IN MOST CASES, SUPERVISORS ARE SUPERVISING KIDS WITH OUR QUICK TURNOVER RATE. THERE OUT THERE WITH THESE YOUNG OFFICERS. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THESE SUPERVISORS BE ALLOWED TO GO TO THESE CALLS TO HELP THEM WORK THROUGH THESE CALLS OR SOMETHING WITH HIGH LIABILITY. OUR K9 UNITS ARE BASICALLY UNITS THAT WE USE FOR HIGH-PRIORITY CALLS , WHICH IN FORT PIERCE IS A LOT. THEY HAVE TO BE ON STANDBY, PREPARED AND BE THERE READY TO TAKE THESE CALLS WHEN IT'S A SEARCH OR BURGLARY, A FLEEING FELON. SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO PUT THESE INTO THE EQUATION ALSO AND HOW PRODUCTIVE ARE THEY? WE USE OUR K9 UNITS ESSENTIALLY AS BACKUP UNITS, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO PULL ANOTHER OFFICER WITH THE MINIMUM STAFFING WE DO HAVE. THEY FIXED THE ROLE AS A BACKUP OFFICER, BUT THEY REMAIN OPEN TO THE FACT THAT IF IT A PRIORITY CALL THAT THERE NEEDED ON, WE WOULD DISPATCH THEM IMMEDIATELY. AS YOU CAN SEE, VARIOUS THINGS THAT THE K9 UNITS DO. THIS STATISTIC IS FROM JANUARY 23 FIVE TO APRIL 2025. THAT IS A DORMANT PERIOD. OUR K9 UNITS IS ONE OF THE BEST UNITS AT WHAT THEY DO. TOUCH [02:35:07] BASES ON IT WITH THE RESPONSE AND AVAILABILITY OF OUR K9 UNIT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CPS SAID WAS THAT WE NEED TO UPDATE OUR CANINE POLICY. WE HAD ALREADY DONE THAT FOR 2024 AND IT HAS TO BE IMPLEMENTED INTO THE SYSTEM. WE SAT DOWN AND DID UPDATE THE POLICY, SO WE DO HAVE MODERN POLICY. >> THAT'S A RECOMMENDATION. YOU ARE SAYING THAT HAS BEEN DONE? OKAY, THANK YOU. >> AGAIN, WE WILL TOUCH BASES WITH THE CALLS FOR SERVICE. WE HAVE GONE UP APPROXIMATELY 1400 -- 14,000 CALLS FOR SERVICE INCREASE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CPS ALSO WANTS US TO DO AND I AGREE WITH THEM AS FAR AS HAVING ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO IN OUR SYSTEM, WHICH IS THE 911 COMMUNICATION. OUR OFF-DUTY OFFICERS ARE COUNTED ALONG WITH OUR ON-DUTY OFFICERS. THERE IS A CLEAR BETWEEN THE TWO. OFF-DUTY ARE WORKING FOR A BUSINESS AND RESTRICTED TO THAT AREA AND BUSINESS IN PARTICULAR. ON-DUTY OFFICERS TAKE CALLS FOR SERVICE, AND IN ONE CALLS, DISPATCH CALLS AND SO FORTH. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH OUR 911 COMMUNICATIONS CENTER. MOST HAVE THEIR OWN DISPATCH CENTERS. FOR ST. LUCIE IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE , IT HAS TO BE A COMMUNAL AGREEMENT THAT WE WILL CHANGE THE PARTICULAR WAY WE DO BUSINESS. THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE WILL HAVE TO DISCUSS. >> DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH RESPONSE TIMES ? THAT IS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS. IT'S WHAT YOU ARE ADDRESSING? >> WE SIT DOWN WITH COMMUNICATIONS AND SEE HOW THEY PRIORITIZE CALLS. ARE YOU HOLDING CALLS OVER HERE THAT YOU SHOULD BE? OR IF THERE IS NO OFFICERS AVAILABLE. YOU SEE THEM ON CALLS FOR SERVICE. ARE YOU DELAYING UNTIL AN OFFICER COMES FREE ? >> HOW MUCH TIME YOU SPEND IN YOUR NORMAL MONTHS OR DAYS OR WEEKS COMMUNICATING WITH THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER? HOW MUCH COMMUNICATION DOES THE DEPARTMENT HAVE WITH THEM ON A ROUTINE BASIS? >> I THINK ONE OF THE OTHER MAJORS WILL CONTEST ON THAT. THAT IS THEIR LINE . >> THAT'S FINE. I'M JUST INTERESTED IN WHAT KIND OF LINE OF Q VACATION IS OPEN BETWEEN US AND THE EOC. >> WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP. I DO KNOW THAT AND I TALKED TO THE SUPERVISORS SOMETIMES , BUT SOME OF THE CHANNELS THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH , I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE. >> THAT'S FINE. PROCEED. >> MADAM MAYOR, AND READING THIS RIGHT AND WHAT'S SIGNIFICANT IS THIS TO KNOW WHOSE ON-DUTY AND OFF-DUTY? IS THAT JUST A NUMBER THING ? >> AND PREVIOUS AGENCIES I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH, IT'S CRITICAL FOR THE SIMPLE FACT THAT IF YOU ARE WORKING FOR AN OFF-DUTY ASSIGNMENT AND SOMETHING GOES BAD, THAT I KNOW WHERE YOU ARE AT IF YOU CALL FOR BACKUP OR UNIT ASSISTANCE. IT IS CRITICAL TO HAVE THEM ON THE BOARD AS FAR AS COMPUTER SCREENS ARE CONCERNED. >> LIKE THE HOSPITAL OR SOMEPLACE? >> LIKE THE HOSPITAL. YES, MA'AM. AS YOU CAN SEE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CPSM BROUGHT UP WAS THE SIMPLE FACT THAT WE NEED TO START RECORDING ALL OF OUR WORK ACTIVITY, INCLUDING WRITING IN OUR SYSTEM. A LOT OF TIMES WE FORGET. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT POLICE OFFICERS, THEY RESPOND TO A CALL FOR SERVICE AND IT'S A 911 CALL AND WE TAKE CARE OF THE CALL AND THEY GO BACK ON-DUTY AND SERVICE. THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENS. WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO REPORT THE FACTS OF THE CASE AND ONE OF THE THINGS -- I AGREE WITH THIS ALSO. WE NEED TO START RECORDING THAT THIS IS PART OF THE CONTINUATION OF THE INVESTIGATION. IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND A LOT OF TIMES OF WHAT WE DO. WE HAVE TO GET THEM PREPARED FOR COURT TESTIMONY AND SO FORTH AND TO GIVE THEIR ATTORNEYS A CHANCE TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. AGAIN, THAT'S GOT TO BE A CONVERSATION WE'VE GOT TO HAVE AND WHICH I'VE ALREADY STARTED WITH THE 911 COMMUNICATIONS CENTER. >> I HAD A QUESTION, TOO. IN THE SYSTEM, YOU GO TO A PORTAL TO LOG IN TO ALL OF THE FACTS AND FORM AND I HAVE BEEN WITH OFFICERS AND SEEN THIS BEFORE. THAT DOESN'T LOCK THE TIME YOU ENTER INTO THE PORTAL, IT SEEMS TO BE A SIMPLE SOFTWARE THEME IN AN ACTIVE CASE WHERE YOU FILL OUT INFORMATION. IT SHOULD WHEN YOU STARTED AND CLOSE THE REPORT. >> LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. [02:40:02] ONE OF MY AGENCIES IS THAT WE PUT THE CALL TIME WAS 10:58. AS LONG AS YOU ARE OUT ON THAT REPORT ON A PARTICULAR CASE, YOU GO OUT. THE DISPATCH WOULD KNOW HE'S AVAILABLE, BUT IS IN CONTINUOUS INVESTIGATION. AS YOU KNOW, SOME INVESTIGATIONS CAN BE EXTENSIVE . I AGREE WITH YOU THERE. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THE 911 COMMUNICATIONS CENTER. I DON'T THINK ANY AGENCIES OR CAPTURING THAT DATA. >> NONE OF THEM ARE CAPTURING IT? IT'S PART OF YOUR LIFE AND IT'S IMPORTANT. >> IS A CRUCIAL PART. I AGREE WITH THE CPSM STUDY , BECAUSE I THINK IT SHOULD BE CAPTURED. YOU CAN SEE REAL TIME WHEN I'M JUST NOT DOING ANYTHING, BUT MOST OF THE TIMES WHEN THE OFFICER LEAVES A CALL, HE OR SHE HAS TO GO SOMEWHERE AND CONDUCT INVESTIGATION , WHICH IS A BIG PART OF THE POLICE REPORT. >> THAT CAN BE DONE IN THEIR VEHICLE? >> YES, MA'AM. AGAIN, WE CONTINUE TO BELIEVE IN THE FACT THAT THE WORD CORRECT. IT'S NOT NECESSARILY EVERYONE GETS A CITATION. GOOD PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES. I'VE MADE A FEW MISTAKES AND THANK GOD NOBODY CAUGHT ME, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CORRECT AND EDUCATE OUR DRIVERS. THIS IS A BREAKDOWN OF DISTRICT 1 AND DISTRICT 2, CALLS FOR SERVICE. IT IS FOR 2024. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE 14,000 CALLS FOR SERVICE FOR DISTRICT 2, 23,000 CALLS FOR SERVICE. >> THESE AREN'T DISTRICT ONE AND TWO? THEY'RE NOT LINED UP TO THE MAP UP. >> >> IS A LITTLE SKEWED. I JUST WANT TO PUT IT IN THE PUBLIC BUT I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND. >> NOT BE GOOD FOR ONE --. >> IT REALLY IS SIMPLISTIC FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE ELECTRIC MAP OF DISTRICT 1 AND TWO. I JUST WANT TO CALL IT OUT. >> AS YOU CAN SEE , DISTRICT 1 IS ONLY 5.5 SQUARE MILES AND YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBER OF CALLS IN THAT AREA IN COMPARISON TO DISTRICT TWO. A LOT OF OUR ENERGY AND ALL OF OUR PERSONNEL IS THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY. >> IS OUTLINED IN BLUE , THE DARK BLUE. >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CPSM RECOMMENDED WAS THAT WE ENVELOPS ZONE 150 INTO ONE OF THE THREE ZONES, 110, 120 OR 130. I DISAGREE WITH THAT, BECAUSE THAT MINIMIZES THE OFFICERS THAT RESIGNED TO THE AREA. WE TRY EVERY DAY TO FULFILL THAT. WE HAVE ONE OFFICER FOR EACH ZONE IN THE NORTH AND AS FAR AS THOSE AREAS. THEY ARE SO CLOSELY RELATED THAT MOST TIMES THEY PARTNER UP AND DO OTHER INVESTIGATIONS TOGETHER, WHICH IN PROMOTES OFFICER SAFETY. BY ELIMINATING ONE OF THE ZONES WHERE WE TAKE ONE OFFICER OUT OF THE AREA , ZONE 150 IS NOT REALLY BIG AND I UNDERSTAND WHY THEY RECOMMENDED IT, BUT THE OFFICER WHO WAS MOST LIKELY FREE MOST OF THE TIME, HE SPENT MOST OF HIS TIME BACKING UP THE OTHERS OR DOING SPECIAL PATROLS AND AREAS WHERE WE ARE HAVING VIOLENT ACTIVITY OR GANG ACTIVITY AND SO FORTH. I THINK IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE LEAVE IT THE WAY IT IS. FOR THAT PURPOSE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY ALSO RECOMMEND WAS THAT THEY WERE STRESSING THE FACT THAT WE HAD A POSITION ADDED TO THE COMMUNITY POLICING BUREAU. AT THE TIME, I DID UNDERSTAND THAT I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS AS CRITICAL AS IT WAS, BUT IT REALLY WAS. IT ALLOWED ME TO GET OUT THERE AND FIRST OF ALL TO HELP ADMINISTRATIVELY. HAVING THE LARGEST BUREAU, ONE OF THE THINGS THEY ARE TAKING FOR GRANTED AS WE HAVE THE BLUE TEAM. IT IS ANY USE OF FORCE OR OFFICER WHO MAY BE OUT OF LINE IN DOING SOMETHING OR UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR DOING SOMETHING OR EVEN A SITUATION WHERE WE COVERED FOR -- WHERE YOU WANT TO REVIEW PRIORITY CALLS OR PURSUE . IT IS TECHNICALLY MY RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT ONE OF THE FINALS ON THE BLUE TEAM IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CAPTURING EVERYTHING AND THAT THE REPORT IS WRITTEN IN THAT WE ARE ABIDING BY POLICY AND NO LAWS ARE BEING VIOLATED AND SO FORTH. I THINK IT'S A GOOD CHECKS AND BALANCE THING. WHEN YOU HAVE THE LARGEST BUREAU WITH THE MOST ACTIVITY AS FAR AS DAILY ACTIVITY AS FAR AS THE BLUE TEAM'S WITH THE USE OF FORCE AND SUCH, HAVING THAT CAPTAIN AND I'M JUST USING THAT FOR EXAMPLE, IT HELPS ME SPLIT [02:45:01] THE DIFFERENCE. YOU TAKE THIS IN THE FIRST HALF AND SECOND HALF. IT GIVES ME MORE TIME TO DO OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE THINGS AND ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE TO DO IS GET OUT AND PATROLLING. I LIKE MY TROOPS TO SEE ME OUT THERE WITH THEM. I WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S IMPORTANT. I'M OUT HERE DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING. AS FAR AS A LEADER, THAT'S CRITICAL . LEAD BY EXAMPLE. I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT AND WILL ALWAYS FEEL THAT WAY TO GET OUT THERE AND LET THE TROOPS KNOW THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING THEM AND THAT WE HAVE THEIR BACK. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO AS MUCH AND I DON'T HAVE THE CAPTAIN RIGHT NOW, SO I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO IT, BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO CATCH UP ON ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES. HAVING A CAPTAIN HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS HELP. THEY MAKE SURE THAT THEY KEEP THEIR EYES ON THE OFFICERS REPORTS AND ADMINISTERED DUTIES. WE STAY WITH THEM THROUGH THE LAWS AND PARAMETERS OF WHAT WE NEED THEM TO DO. IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE HAVE THEM IN THAT POSITION. >> CAN I INTERJECT WITH THE QUESTION? WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR CAPTAIN? >> HE RETIRED. >> YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FILL? >> I ONLY HAD HIM FOR A YEAR. >> YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FILL THE POSITION? >> WE ARE. >> SEEKING SOMEBODY, BUT NOBODY HAS COME FORWARD? >> IT WILL BE THROUGH PROMOTIONAL PROCESS. >> YOU ARE BRINGING SOMEONE UP THROUGH THE RANKS WHICH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE POSITION VACATING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BUT IT'S A NET NEUTRAL AND WE STILL NEED HIGHER AUTHORITY OR HIGHER LEVEL PERSONNEL TO FILL THE POSITION YOU ARE TAKING THEM FROM. >> YES, SIR. >> IF YOU ARE MAKING HIM A CAPTAIN, WE NEED A LIEUTENANT. >> YES, SIR. >> WE NEED TO FILL THAT POSITION FROM THE OUTSIDE. WE CAN'T JUST GROW INTERNALLY WITHOUT STAFFING FROM THE GROUND UP. >> IN THIS CASE, WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THE SELECTION WITHIN OUR OWN AGENCY AND WE WON'T PULL ANYTHING FROM THE OUTSIDE. >> IT REQUIRES SOMEONE FROM THE OUTSIDE TO FILL A POSITION. >> I THINK THAT'S IT FOR ME. >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> IN A GENERAL SENSE AND READING THE REPORT , WE'VE ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD THE IMBALANCE ABOVE OUR OFFICERS GETTING PLUCKED AWAY BY ST. LUCIE, SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT , PALM BEACH COUNTY ET CETERA. I'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH MY ELECTED PEERS WERE IN A WAY YOU NEED TO STOP THIS, BUT THE SENTIMENT I GET IS THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE BEING PLUCKED FURTHER SOUTH, SO IT'S THAT KIND OF SYSTEM. WHERE ARE WE NOW TOP LEVEL FROM YOUR COMMAND OF THIS GAP AND WENT WE DO TO BE ADDRESSING WHEN IT COMES TO THE PERSONNEL ? TO THE NEED TO HAVE 15 OR 17 PER SQUAD? HOW MANY SQUADS ON THE SHIFT? >> THERE WAS A DAY SHIFT AND NIGHT SHIFT. >> WHERE ARE WE IN THE GAP? DO NEED TO FILL TOP LEVEL NUMBER? I'M JUST CURIOUS. WE NEED TO BE AWARE. >> RIGHT NOW, WE ARE DESPERATELY IN NEED. ADDITIONALLY RIGHT NOW , AT LEAST 10 MORE OFFICERS. IT WOULD BE SUFFICIENT ON A ROAD TO MEET THE MINIMAL STANDARD. >> ONE MAJOR PRESENTS, HE WILL PRESENT THE VACANCIES. >> THANK YOU. >> YOU MENTIONED SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE PROMOTION PROCESS FOR THE CAPTAIN. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE PROMOTION PROCESS ? IT'S NOTED IN THE REPORT THAT THERE REALLY IS NO OFFICIAL ORGANIZED PROMOTIONAL PROCESS FOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT. SPECIFICALLY, YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB, BUT WE HAVE THREE QUARTERS OF OUR COMMAND STAFF HIRED FROM THE OUTSIDE. THAT'S NOT TYPICALLY SOMETHING THAT IS DONE IN A WELL READ POLICE DEPARTMENT. TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW YOU WILL BE HIRING THIS CAPTAIN AND THE PROMOTIONAL PROCESS TO GET HIM TO THAT SPOT. >> WHEN IT COMES TO THE CAPTAIN POSITION -- FIRST, I WILL GO BACK TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR OFFICERS. INITIALLY, IT WAS THE SERGEANT , OFFICER, SERGEANT, LIEUTENANT, DEPUTY CHIEF , THEN THE CHIEF. WHAT I FOUND WAS THE JUMP FROM THE TENANT TO DEPUTY CHIEF WAS A HUGE JUMP. AND A LOT OF THE COMMAND EXPERIENCE THAT WAS ACQUIRED. WE TALKED ABOUT ADDING CAPTAINS TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE DEVELOPMENT , BECAUSE [02:50:03] WHEN THEY GET TO THE CAPTAIN POSITION, THEY ARE LEARNING MORE COMMAND EXPERIENCE THERE , SO THAT IT WILL MAKE THEM AVAILABLE TO BE THE MAJOR OR BE THE DEPUTY CHIEF , SO THAT PART IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. THIS IS WHAT THE BILL WAS. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE LOOKED AT WAS HAVING CORPORALS. CORPORALS IS BETWEEN AN OFFICER AND SERGEANT. THE SITUATION WHEN IT COMES TO AN OFFICER AND WHEN HE JUMPS FROM THE OFFICER TO THE SERGEANT , WHAT WE FOUND WAS THE OFFICER AND SERGEANT SOMETIMES WENT FISHING TOGETHER OR WHATEVER AND IT IS HARD FOR THAT PERSON TO NOW BE THE SUPERVISOR AND INSTRUCT THAT PERSON OR COMMAND THAT PERSON ON WHAT TO DO. WE WANTED TO DO THAT DEVELOPMENT AND MAKING IT HAPPEN . IT DID NOT, BUT WHAT WE ARE DOING WITHIN TRAINING IS THAT WE ARE GIVING THEM THE SKILL BASE TO PROPERLY SUPERVISE AND THEY HAVE TO LEARN TO TAKE PERSONAL FEELINGS OUT OF THE MIX OF ANYTHING. IT IS THE BUSINESS THAT THEY HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF. WHEN IT COMES TO THE CAPTAINS, WE WENT BY EXPERIENCE , RESUMES AND PAST HISTORY. WE ARE READY TO PROMOTE AND THERE ARE SEVERAL PROMOTIONS THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. >> THE REPORT ALSO NOTES AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE ARE IN THE NIGHT BUREAU HERE , BUT THERE IS NO FORMAL PROCESS FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FOR THE INTERNAL PROMOTIONS. I'M HEARING IT'S BEING PRACTICED, BUT WHY IS THERE NO POLICY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN? I KNOW IT WAS REMOVED , BUT IT BASICALLY HAD TWO APPLICATIONS FOR A CAPTAIN COMING UP AND IT SOUNDED LIKE THE CAPTAIN DIDN'T WANT THE JOB AND THAT WAS THE PROCESS OF HOW IT WAS GOING AND IT WAS DONE THE LAST DAY FOR FOUR IT EXPIRED AND I HAVE SEEN A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF THIS HAPPENING WHERE THE PROMOTIONS, THERE'S NO SET MEASURES OR POLICIES TO TAKE PLACE OR SUCCESSION PLANNING FOR THE CHIEF. THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY TYPE OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT TO REPLACE THE CHIEF SHOULD SOMETHING HAPPEN. >> THAT IS ALL IN THE PROCESS, AS I SAID. THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIFFERENT AREAS OF COMMAND, THAT IS PART OF THE SUCCESSION PLANNING. IT IS GETTING THEM THE SKILL BASE TO BE ABLE TO DO THE JOB, BECAUSE WHEN WE ARE INVOLVED IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS, THEY HAVE TO MENTALLY THINK ABOUT AND WORK THEIR WAY THROUGH TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE MAKING THE PROPER DECISION. WHEN IT CAME TO THE CAPTAINS , IT WAS THE CAPTAINS DECISION TO BE PROMOTED OR NOT PROMOTED. THE COMMENT IN WHICH YOU ARE SPEAKING OF, I WISH THAT PERSON WAS HERE TO SPEAK ON WHATEVER WAS SAID WITHIN THAT REPORT, HOWEVER WITH THAT PERSON, HE WAS ONE OF THE BEST CAPTAINS THAT I'VE SEEN. HE WAS ON TOP OF EVERYTHING HE WAS A GREAT SUPPORT SYSTEM. HE WAS A MENTOR. IT WAS ALL OF THE THINGS LISTED IN THE REPORT. HE WAS THAT. UNFORTUNATELY , SOMETIMES PEOPLE GET UPSET ABOUT OTHER THINGS AND THEY CHOOSE TO LEAVE AND THAT'S THEIR RIGHT TO DO, BUT I WILL SAY FOR THAT CAPTAIN, HE WAS ONE OF THE BEST CAPTAINS I HAVE SEEN AND I'M TALKING NOT JUST HERE, BECAUSE IT WAS THROUGH ME THAT WE HAD THE TWO CAPTAINS NOW , BUT IN OTHER AGENCIES THAT I'VE BEEN WITH BEFORE. >> THAT CAPTAIN HAS SINCE RESIGNED? >> YES, HE TOOK ANOTHER CAREER. >> OKAY, I THINK THAT'S ABOUT ALL I HAD. MAYBE GO BACK TO THE SLIDE ON THE DIVISIONS OF THE PATROL AREAS . THE REPORT NOTED THAT IT HADN'T BEEN UPDATED IN QUITE SOME TIME. HAS THERE BEEN ANY TYPE OF INITIATIVE TO REVIEW SOME OF THESE ? I KNOW THAT YOU MENTIONED THE SPECIFIC ONE BEING COMBINED, BUT THERE WAS A GENERAL AND THESE HAVEN'T BEEN LOOKED AT IN A LONG TIME. >> ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE FLOATING WITH IS ADDING ANOTHER DISTRICT, BECAUSE WITH THE POTENTIAL GROWTH OF FORT PIERCE AND WE ARE GROWING , DESPITE WHAT ANYBODY SAYS AND WE ARE GROWING AT A PRETTY GOOD RATE. THE CHIEF AND STAFF SAT DOWN AND WE DISCUSSED ADDING A THIRD DISTRICT, SO WE DISCUSSED THE SCHEMATICS OF CREATING DISTRICT THREE , BUT UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE WE KEEP LOSING TO [02:55:03] PERSONNEL AND OTHER AGENCIES, WE CANNOT FULFILL THAT. WE ARE STILL WORKING WITH THE SAME NUMBERS AND EVEN FEWER. THAT KIND OF PUSHED TO THE SIDE, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE NUMBERS TO DIVIDE THE AGENCY OR THE APPROPRIATE NUMBERS THAT NEED TO BE DIVIDED TO CREATE A DISTRICT. >> JUST SO YOU KNOW, DISTRICT THREE WILL BE PRETTY MUCH ON THE WEST PART OF THE CORRIDOR. THAT IS WHERE ALL THE BUSINESSES AND THINGS ARE GROWING AND WE WANTED TO GET A SUBSTATION THERE TO KEEP THE OFFICERS FOR HAVING TO DRIVE SO FAR FOR RESPONSE TIME , AS WELL AS DOING INTERVIEWS AND THINGS LIKE THAT WITH A PLACE OF PROTECTION. OUR STAFFING HAS BEEN AN ISSUE AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT, BECAUSE OF OUR LOWER STAFFING. I'M HOPING WITH THIS PRESENTATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ALL OF THESE THINGS CAN BE ADDRESSED. >> MADAM MAYOR, I RECALL THAT. WHEN YOU BROUGHT THE IDEA, I THINK THAT'S WHAT LAUNCHED THE STUDY, BECAUSE WE WERE WONDERING HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO WRAP THIS UP. WHAT DO WE ADD ON THIS EXTRA DIVISION IN PART IN THE WESTERN CORRIDOR? WE WERE TRYING TO LOOK AT THAT, BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO SEE IMPACT FEES OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO ONBOARD THAT. IT IS SUCH A BIG ADDITION TO WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND ARE CURRENT CHALLENGES IN THE ENVIRONMENT WE ARE OPERATING. QUICK QUESTION , WHO IN YOUR ADMINISTRATION, BECAUSE IT SOUNDS TO ME THAT THERE IS A PART WHERE WE TALK ABOUT TRAINING AND WHO IS RESPONSIBLE . I KIND OF SIT AT IT AS AN HR THING. WHO IS THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR POLICY PROCEDURE WHEN IT COMES TO HOW PEOPLE ARE TRAINED, PROMOTED AND GETTING A MENTOR? WHO HANDLES THAT ? WENT DEPUTY CHIEF OR MAJOR? >> SAN DIEGO. WHEN IT COMES TO OUR POLICIES , BECAUSE THE IMPACT OF DIFFERENT AREAS, WE NORMALLY DIVIDE THEM BASED UPON WHO IS RESPONSIBLE. THOSE THINGS WILL GO TO DEPUTY CHIEF MORRIS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE EXPERTS AND I WILL GO INTO MY POLICY FURTHER. OUR POLICY IS DILUTED. I WILL JUST SAY THAT POLICY AND PROCEDURES ARE BLENDED. NORMALLY, POLICY IS ONE THING AND PROCEDURE IS SOMETHING ELSE. BECAUSE OF THE BLEND, IT BECAME VERY TAXING TO TRY AND SEPARATE THEM. WE HAVE TRIED SO MANY THINGS. WE HAD OFFICERS THAT ARE DEPARTMENT EXPERTS TO TRY AND DO IT AND IT DIDN'T WORK OUT EXTREMELY WELL. I LEARNED THAT LEXIPOL -- I WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH THE PROGRAM . I SAW IT AT ONE OF THE MEETINGS I WENT TO AND I HAD THEM COME HERE, AS WELL. IT REQUIRED SOMEBODY TO WORK WITH THEM TO MAKE OUR POLICIES TO THAT STANDARD. WHEN LEXIPOL WRITES POLICIES, THEY WRITE POLICIES FOR THE UNITED STATES , SO THEN YOU HAVE TO THAT POLICY TO FLORIDA, LAW AND WHAT OUR PROCEDURES ARE. THAT BECAME PROBLEMATIC , BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE THE STAFFING TO DEDICATE FOR SOMEONE TO BE THERE AND BE THAT POLICY PERSON , SO IT BECAME SHARED RESPONSIBILITY AND THAT'S WHY IT DIDN'T WORK. NOW, DEPUTY CHIEF. >> MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS , THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. I WILL GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES BUREAU, THEN THE CPSM RECOMMENDATIONS. WE WILL START WITH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY . AS YOU CAN SEE, OUR I.T. DEPARTMENT IS IN CHARGE OF A LOT OF HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE. THEY HAD TO DO WITH ALL OF THE USERS, WHICH MIGHT CAUSE MORE AGGRAVATION THAN HARDWARE. A LOT OF OUR HARDWARE IS ANTIQUATED AND WE ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO UPDATE IT ON. THERE PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO I.T. AND THERE WAS A LOT OF STUFF TO KEEP UP WITH. BECAUSE THERE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR 24 HOUR DAY 70 RESPONSE . SOMETHING GOES DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND OFFICERS CAN'T WRITE AFFIDAVITS AND THAT'S A PROBLEM. SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO RESPOND TO FIX THAT. HER RECORDS DIVISION , OUR NUMBERS ARE GOING UP IN RECORDS AND THEY ARE STAFFED BY FOUR FULL-TIME RECORD CLERKS. YOU CAN SEE THE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC RECORDS AND SERVICES. THE TOTAL NUMBER IS OVER -- THE TOTAL NUMBER OF RECORDS YOU SEE ARE 5000 WORKERS [03:00:04] HIGHER , SO WE ARE GROWING. THE BIGGEST INCREASES HAVE BEEN DIGITAL EVIDENCE AND STATE ATTORNEY OFFICER REQUESTS. TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE FOR DIGITAL EVIDENCE SPECIALISTS, THEY ARE HANDLING THE BODY WORN CAMERA EVIDENCE FOR THE PUBLIC INSURANCE COMPANIES. THEY ARE BOTH WEARING A BWC AND THEIR CARS MAY HAVE CAMERAS. THERE ARE SIX FILMS THAT VIDEO EVIDENCE HAVE TO GO THROUGH. THERE MAY BE DIFFERENT INSURANCE INVOLVED AND THAT HAS TO BE PRODUCED BY THEM. IT'S VERY TIME-CONSUMING AND I AM TOLD THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS FOUR BWC HANDLING THE REQUEST . WE ONLY HAVE TWO AND CONSIDERING CALLS FOR SERVICE. WE HAVE MORE VIDEO TO EDIT AND DEAL WITH. THIS IS OUR GRANTS DIVISION. THESE HAVE INCREASED AND ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE STANDING GRANTS THAT REPEAT EVERY YEAR, SO MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT . THEY USUALLY COME TO COMMISSION AND UNFORTUNATELY DUE TO FEDERAL GRANTS BEING SHUT DOWN IN JANUARY, THERE ARE NO NEW GRANTS FOR US TO APPLY FOR PRESENTLY AND WE'RE HOPING IT'S GOING TO CHANGE. THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT UNIT. I CALL THEM THE SWISS ARMY KNIFE AND I'D RATHER CALL THEM THE SWISS ARMY TOOL, BECAUSE THEY ARE MULTIDIMENSIONAL. THEY PARTICIPATE IN AROUND 125 COMMUNITY EVENTS A YEAR AND REACH APPROXIMATELY 14,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS ANNUALLY. WE HAVE NEWLY ESTABLISHED BUSINESS DOWNTOWN TO INCREASE COMMUNICATION AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PERPETUATES SAFETY. AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS GOING ON. . MARINE UNIT, BACK CONTROL AND THAT IS ALL NEWER STUFF FOR US. UNFORTUNATELY, THE UNIT IS DOWN RIGHT NOW AND WE ARE WORKING TO GET FUNDING TO GET A BACKUP ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WHICH ALSO PLANS THE EVENTS THAT YOU SEE INCLUDING MAJOR PARADES AND HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS. THEY ARE PRETTY AWESOME. >> MADAM MAYOR , ARE WE SHORT PERSONNEL TO RUN THE BOAT? >> BOTH. OUR MARINE UNIT IS PART-TIME. USUALLY, WE HAVE TO STAFF IT AND TAKE AWAY FROM PATROL OR PAY OVERTIME FOR . OUR MAIN BOAT NEEDS TWO ENGINES TO BE REPLACED AND NEEDS UPGRADED ELECTRONICS. >> JUST SO YOU KNOW, TO PURCHASE THAT WOULD MEET OUR NEEDS THROUGH THE FPR FUNDS , BUT THAT JUST DID NOT OCCUR. IT'S TIME TO PREPARE FOR THE SUMMER. >> YOU INDICATED THAT THE NUMBER OF CALLS WE ARE EXPERIENCING IS HIGHER THAN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT . ANSWERED, CAUSING THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. >> YOU REALIZE THAT THEY HAVE BUDGETS FIVE TIMES THAN WHAT YOURS IS? >> I DO, SIR. >> CPS ON STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS, THEY RECOMMENDED THAT WE ESTABLISH A FULL-TIME SPECIALIST POSITION AND THE FRONT DESK THAT WE CALL THE BUBBLE. THAT IS AN AWESOME RECOMMENDATION THAT I WOULD LOVE TO DO, BUT WE NEED THE FUNDING TO ADD POSITIONS. WHEN I STARTED WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE HAD OFFICERS IN THE FRONT AREA 24 HOURS A DAY. THEY TAKE PHONE CALLS , DO REPORTS AND GIVE OUT INFORMATION . WE ARE CURRENTLY STAFFING WITH COMMUNITY SURFACE OFFICER THAT WOULD FREE UP THE OFFICER TO CALL AND ANSWER CALLS . THEY ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT WE DO A COMPREHENSIVE --. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. THAT WOULD NEED TO BE A SWORN OFFICER? THAT COULD BE A CIVILIAN? IT WOULD BE A CIVILIAN? OKAY. >> THEY RECOMMENDED THAT WE DO A THOROUGH REVIEW OF ALL THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WE REFLECT CURRENTLY REQUIREMENTS AND OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS OR PRACTICES. OUR POLICIES WERE REFLECT LEGAL REQUIREMENTS AND IT'S A MULTIPRONGED AUDIT IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF HOW WE HANDLE DIFFERENT AREAS AND INFORMATION . WE PASSED THE AUDITS WITH FLYING COLORS. >> ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU DON'T NEED A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF POLICIES? >> WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW , EVEN IF WE WROTE POLICIES SIX MONTHS AGO. WE ALWAYS NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AND SEE IF WE CAN REWRITE THEM BETTER. I AGREE WITH THAT. >> OKAY. >> THE FLEET COMMENTARY, I WILL [03:05:01] NOT READ THE WHOLE THING , BUT IT'S A GENERAL COMMENTARY ON FLEET PURCHASE LEASE OPTIONS. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF FULFILLING A 32 CAR LEASE WITH ENTERPRISE RENTAL CAR AND FINALIZING THE LEASE FOR AN ADDITIONAL 27 VEHICLES . IT SHOULD BE KNOWN THAT THE FLEET OF APPROXIMATELY 175 VEHICLES OF THOSE, ABOUT 100 ARE 2020 MODELS OR OLDER . THAT MEANS WE HAVE A LOT OF VEHICLES WE WILL NEED TO TURNOVER GOING FORWARD . >> THE REPORT TALKED ABOUT -- I KNOW WE HAVE DONE ENTERPRISE, BUT THE REPORT TALKED ABOUT GOING MORE TO THE , AM I REMEMBERING THAT RIGHT? >> YES, THAT IS WHAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS. >> STILL LEASING? >> IT'S A BETTER LEASE FOR THE CITY IN THE END. IT'S A LOT LESS HEADACHE FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR FLEET MANAGEMENT. >> MADAM MAYOR, SINCE WE ARE ON THE SAME SLIDE AND ABOUT THE FRONT DESK, THEN NOT HAVING THE SWORN OFFICERS THERE IS CONCERNING TO ME. WOULD THAT MAKE MORE SENSE TO HAVE SOMEONE THERE WITH A GUN THAT CAN -- IT IS A POLICE DEPARTMENT. SHOULD SOMEONE COME AND NEED HELP ANYTIME DURING THE NIGHT , ISN'T THAT WHAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT USUALLY FUNCTIONS AS? >> THAT'S A LUXURY THAT WE JUST DON'T HAVE AS FAR AS STAFFING. IT WOULD BE NICE. >> WHEN DID THAT STOP HAPPENING? YOU SAID WE HAD IT PRIOR? >> WE HAD DUTY OFFICERS AND I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YEAR. WE HAD A NUMBER OF POSITIONS CUT WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE RECESSION. THAT WAS DUTY OFFICERS THAT WERE ONE OF THE POSITIONS WE LOST. >> WHEN I LOOKED AT THE PAST STUDY OR 2006, I BELIEVE THE OFFICER WAS THERE SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINES THAT THE POSITION BECAME A CIVILIAN AND ONE OF OUR CSO'S TO DO THOSE REPORTS. THEY ARE BEHIND BULLET RESISTANCE CLASS , THEN THEY ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO IMMEDIATELY , BECAUSE WE ARE A POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WHEN THEY ARE WORKING, WE HAVE OFFICERS IN THE BUILDING TO RESPOND AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT. >> IN THE REPORT AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE I.T. DEPARTMENT SPECIFICALLY , IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A NUMBER OF SWORN POSITIONS IN OTHER AREAS THAT DON'T NECESSARILY NEED MORE. I.T. CAN SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT. WE BARELY HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE IN I.T., SO I HAVE AN OFFICER WE ARE GETTING READY TO LOSE WHO IS GOING TO SCHOOL FOR I.T. HE HAS BEEN AMAZING. I ACTUALLY HAVE SOME NOTES ON HIM HERE. HE IS AN EXPERT ON RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT WE USE COUNTYWIDE WITH FORENSIC INVESTIGATIONS ON PHONES. THEY TRIED TO HIRE HIM AWAY AND IF WE CANNOT KEEP HIM AS A SWORN OFFICER, I WOULD ATTEMPT TO HIRE HIM BACK. HE BRINGS MORE VALUE TO US IN THE POSITION THAT HE IS RIGHT NOW. HE'S AN AMAZING EMPLOYEE. >> TALK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE FURTHER. WHEN WE PLACED THE OFFICER IN AN I.T. CAPACITY, WE ARE DOWN TO ONE I.T. PERSON. WE NEEDED SOMEONE IMMEDIATELY TO ASSIST, BECAUSE I.T. WAS BEING RUN BY ONE PERSON AND WE CAME TO ASSIST UNTIL WE WERE ABLE TO HIRE OTHER INDIVIDUALS . SOME PEOPLE WHO WERE HIRED WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL, SO THAT'S WHY IT REMAINS. THEN, WE ARE TRANSITIONING OUR RECORD SYSTEMS WITH ALL OF THE AGENCIES, HE IS AN INTRICATE PART OF THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR REPORT WRITING AND ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL THAT WE ARE ALL IN UNISON'S, SO HE'S PART OF THAT . RIGHT NOW, HE IS SO INVOLVED IN ALL OF THESE INTRICATE PARTS . THERE IS NO WAY FOR US TO PULL HIM OUT. >> YEAH, THAT WAS AN EXAMPLE. THERE WERE A FEW OTHERS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED AS HAVING A SWORN OFFICER IN CERTAIN AREAS THAT NECESSARILY WANT AN OFFICER AND TICKET WAS ONE OFF THE I.T. DEPARTMENT, BUT THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING. >> YOUR FRONT DESK IS OPEN 7:00 TO 5:00? AM I REMEMBERING THE HOURS? >> YES, MA'AM. THIS IS MORE [03:10:04] INFORMATION ABOUT THE FLEET. AGAIN, WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH THE CITY TO HAVE A ROLLOVER FIVE YEARS, SIX YEARS OR WHATEVER IT IS. WE ATTEMPT AT GOING BACK AND IT'S A MATTER OF WORKING WITH FINANCE TO MAKE SURE THE CITY HAS FINANCE, SO WE CAN ROLL THE VEHICLES OVER. >> FROM ENTERPRISE TO FORWARD? IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING? >> YES, AS THE VEHICLES ARE OLDER THAN 2018 THAT WE CAN GET THOSE OUT OF OUR FLEET AND NEW VEHICLES. >> MATA MAYOR, WHAT IS THE NUMBER AT THE TOP? WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 20 OR 30 VEHICLES THAT WE NEED TO ROLL OFF? >> YOU SAID 100 BEFORE. >> OKAY. I THINK AT SOME POINT THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE . FOR ME, LOOKING AT ALL OF THIS, IT COMES DOWN TO A COUPLE OF FACTORS. I THINK WE HAVE THE WILLINGNESS, BUT HOW DO WE FIND THE FUNDING TO DO ALL OF THAT AND WE CAN BRING UP STAFF WITH FUNDING AND PERSONNEL. JUST QUICKLY ON THAT ISSUE, I WANT TO REMIND THE COMMISSION THE RESULT AND LOSS OF I.T. IS BECAUSE WE LOST AN I.T. CIVILIAN DUE TO GUN VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO WORKED IN THE DEPARTMENT, SO THAT WAS A HUGE VOID FROM MY UNDERSTANDING , BECAUSE HE WAS AN INSTRUMENTAL PERSON IN HELPING WITH THAT. THANK YOU FOR ADDRESSING THAT NOW. >> AS FAR AS THE FACILITIES GO, CPSM RECOMMENDED THAT THEY CONDUCT A NEEDS STUDY. THEY DID DO ONE OF THOSE STUDIES IN 2006 AND IT WAS STATED THAT THEY NEEDED A LITTLE OVER TO 32,000 SQUARE FEET SPACE AT THE TIME AND WE HAVE 22 HUNDRED SQUARE FEET AND THAT IS THE SAME AMOUNT THAT WE HAVE TODAY. NOTHING HAS CHANGED AND WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH IN 2006 AND WE DEFINITELY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SPACE NOW. WE HAVE MORE CIVILIANS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF SPACE IN OUR EVIDENCE AREA. WE ARE DESPERATELY IN NEED OF SPACE , SO IT WOULD BE REALLY GOOD. >> EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A STATION ON AVENUE ? >> INCLUDED AT THE TIME. >> THAT INCLUDED THAT ONE? OKAY. AS FAR AS THE I.T., WE ARE WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO STREAMLINE REPLACEMENT OF HARDWARE, SUCH AS SWITCHES AND WE ARE ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF SETTING UP A DEDICATED HIGH-SPEED LINK COUNTY USING TECHNOLOGY. THE POSITION HAS BEEN INVALUABLE AND LIKE I SAID, HE'S IN AND SPUR EXPERT ON THE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND RIGHT NOW HE IS FREE FEDERAL TRAINING ON HOW TO DO PRINCIPAL AUDITS WITH CELL PHONES, WHICH HAS COST THE CITY A LOT OF MONEY WITH SOFTWARE WE DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE. AS FAR AS THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, WE TALKED ABOUT ROTATING THEM. WE WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT AND THAT'S A VERY SPECIAL POSITION. NOT A LOT OF OFFICERS WANT TO BE A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER , SO WE HAVE A BIT OF DIFFICULTY FINDING THE RIGHT PEOPLE FOR THAT POSITION . AS FAR AS REVIEWING AND UPDATING THE POLICIES, I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR ANY POLICY WE HAVE ON ANY DAY. EXAMINE GRANTS AWARDED AND BEEN PURCHASED TO ENSURE THAT GRANT FUNDS ARE UTILIZED THAT THEY ABSOLUTELY ARE UTILIZED AND IS PART OF ANY PROCESS THAT WE HAVE . ANY CITY OR POLICE DEPARTMENT OR WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO PROPERLY REPORT THAT IS ALREADY SCRUTINIZED . CONSIDER ADDITIONAL TRAINING , SUCH AS WHERE I HAVE NOT HEARD -- AN ACTIVE SHOOTER, SO OUR SROS PARTICIPATE IN THE CODE RED PROGRAM AND THAT IS WHAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THAT ADDRESSES. AS FAR AS IMPROVING COMMUNICATION WITHIN THE AGENCY , MANY CARS AND OTHER ITEMS WERE PURCHASED WITH SPECIAL USE FUNDS THAT DON'T IMPACT THE OVERALL BUDGET. THERE ARE FUNDS THAT WE USED FROM SRO FUNDS OR OFF-DUTY DETAILED FUNDS THAT DON'T COME FROM THE CITY'S BUDGET AND THAT IS WHERE WE TRY TO BUY THINGS THAT WE USED TO HELP THEM DO OUR JOB, SUCH AS THE SIDE BY SIDES OR USE FOR EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH. WE PURCHASED A SECURITY TOWER WITH THOSE FUNDS AND THOSE DON'T COME FROM THE CITY. >> WAS THAT FOR THE FOOD TRUCK, TOO? >> YES . >> THE FOOD TRAILER. YES, THAT WAS IN THAT LANGUAGE , SO WHAT WAS THAT -- WHAT FUNDS ARE USED [03:15:03] FOR IT? IS A VOLUNTEER FUNDS THAT YOU FUND RAISE? >> I DON'T REMEMBER SPECIFICALLY WHAT WE USE FOR THE FOOD TRAILER . I BELIEVE THAT WAS SRO FUNDS AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN OFF-DUTY DETAILED FUNDS. THERE ARE FUNDS THAT GO UNALLOCATED AND BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET. THAT WAS RUN THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER BRAD >> WHAT WAS THE PLAN TO USE THAT? >> THAT WAS COMMUNITY OUTREACH. >> DID WE USE IT AND HAVE WE USED TO? >> YES, WE HAVE USED IT. IN THE INTERVIEWS, THERE WERE EMPLOYEES WHO DIDN'T KNOW HOW THOSE THINGS WERE PAID FOR. WE COULD HAVE GOTTEN A RAISE. >> THAT SPEAKS TO THE RESENTMENT THAT IS MENTIONED . >> I GET IT. WE COULD IMPROVE THAT COMMUNICATION. THAT'S THE LAST SLIDE. >> THIS IS A POINT OF CLARITY. WHEN IT COMES TO THE CALLS FOR SERVICE , WHEN IT COMES TO THE SIZE OF OUR CITY AND THE SIZE OF THE COUNTY WHEN YOU DO THE COMPARISON , THIS IS FOR THE NUMBERS THAT THE DEPUTY CHIEF WAS REFERRING TO. WE HAVE 40 SOMETHING THOUSAND AND THE TOTAL DEPUTIES AND STAFF WITH OUR NUMBERS AND A LARGE VOLUME CALLED BASED UPON OUR POPULATION IN COMPARISON TO THEIR POPULATION. >> BASED ON A PERCENTAGE BASIS OF SOME NATURE --. >> THE ACTUAL NUMBER. >> THERE IS POTENTIALLY MORE ON THEIR PERCENTAGE OF OPERATION. IS THAT HOW YOU ARE FACTORING THAT? >> YES, THAT IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO CLARIFY. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RAW NUMBERS YOU WILL SEE THE RAW NUMBERS ARE HIGHER, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE VOLUME AND THEIR POPULATION THAT COMPARES TO OUR POPULATION . >> WE HAD A 29 SQUARE MILES AND 50,000 PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE NUMBERS REPRESENT THE NUMBERS IN UNINCORPORATED ST. LUCIE COUNTY ONLY. DO YOU KNOW THAT? >> ALL OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY. >> I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY SQUARE MILES , 250,000 PEOPLE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. >> JURISDICTION OVER EVERYTHING. THAT'S A POINT OF CLARITY. NEXT UP WILL BE MAJOR. >> WELCOME. >> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY PRESENTATION WILL BE STRUCTURED A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY . I WILL GIVE YOU A QUICK OVERVIEW OF ALL OF THE AREAS THAT I COVER THAT WAY WE CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND THE NUANCES AND WHAT THE CPSM IS TALKING ABOUT . THE AREAS THAT ARE COVERED ARE INDEPENDENT OF EACH OTHER AND ALTHOUGH I'M THE BUREAU COMMANDER OF THIS SECTION , EVERYTHING IS INTERDEPENDENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AND EVERYTHING DIRECTLY AFFECTS EACH OTHER. I'M OVER THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION, CRIME SUPPRESSION UNIT, CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATIONS, EVIDENCE UNIT AND VICTIMS ADVOCATE UNIT. WE WILL GO THROUGH EACH OF THOSE. WHEN I GOT HERE IN LATE 2024 -- 2023. I HAVE BEEN HERE A YEAR AND SIX MONTHS NOW. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESTRUCTURE THE STRUCTURE THAT I OVERSEE . I WAS GIVEN AN ADDITIONAL LIEUTENANT AND SERGEANT , SO THE STRUCTURE THAT YOU SEE HERE IS THE CURRENT STRUCTURE THAT I DO HAVE AND I WILL GO INTO EACH OF THOSE SECTIONS. I WILL START WITH THE VICTIMS ADVOCATE UNIT. THOSE ARE FOLKS THAT HELP . TYPICALLY, THEY ARE THE ONES OUT THERE HOPING VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME . WE USE THEM A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY AND ON TOP OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE THREE VICTIM ADVOCATES. ONE IS A CIVILIAN SUPERVISOR WHERE THEY ALL REPORT TO A SURGEON AND THEY ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS THEY BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE AND THE REGULAR POLICE DEPARTMENT. IT HELPS THE VICTIMS AVOID BUREAUCRACY THAT THEY FACE IN . THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT THE COMMUNITY SEES ARE THIS ONE [03:20:09] OFFICER. SOME SORT OF ASSISTANCE AND ONCE THAT'S DONE, THEY DON'T SEE THAT OFFICER AGAIN. ANYTIME THERE IS A VICTIM OF VIOLENT CRIME OR ANYTHING ELSE , WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY IS TAKING CARE OF SUICIDES, HOMELESSNESS, VICTIM ADVOCATES DO ENGAGE WITH THAT PERSON AND THEY ARE NOT A POINT OF CONTACT, SO THE COMMUNITY CAN GET THE SERVICES THEY NEED WITHOUT BUREAUCRACIES. THE ADVOCATES DO A LOT FOR THE PERCEPTION OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT FUNCTION. THEY ALSO DO A LOT OF OUTREACH AND THEY RUN OUR COURAGEOUS KIDS PROGRAM AND WHICH HOUSE COMMUNITY PROGRAM THAT IS DESIGNED TO HELP WITH THE YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY. CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATIONS . WE HAVE THREE CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATORS AND THEY ARE ALSO ANSWERING TO THE SAME SERGEANT , THAT NEWER POSITION. THESE ARE THE EXPERTS AND DOCUMENTING AND COLLECTING EVIDENCE. THEY ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE INVESTIGATIVE TEAM AND THEY ARE OUT THERE ON SEARCH WARRANTS, TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND BODILY HARM FOR OUR TRAFFIC HOMICIDES AND ANY VERIFIED SHOOTING EVENTS AND ALSO OUR HOMICIDES. THEY ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE TEAM FOR US TO COLLECT AND PROPERLY DOCUMENT . WE TALKED ABOUT THE EVIDENCE UNIT AND WE MENTIONED IN A STUDY . I WILL GO INTO THE EVIDENCE UNIT FIRST. IT IS COMPRISED OF ONCE ONE PERSONNEL AND ONE CIVILIAN EVIDENCE THAT WE JUST GOT I BELIEVE IN THE END OF MARCH . PART-TIME IS MY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT WHO ALSO HELPS OUT . THEY HAVE A HUGE RESPONSE ENSURING THAT ALL EVIDENCE IS PROPERLY CATEGORIZED AND STORED . RIGHT NOW, ALL OF US HAVE ONE YEAR EXPERIENCE. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF OVERSIGHT, WHICH IS WHERE THE SERGEANT COMES INTO PLAY. AS AS WELL AS LOOKING AT EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE ANY MISTAKES. THE REASON THIS CAME ABOUT IS BECAUSE WE HAD AN ISSUE >> YOU HAVE A SWORN OFFICER IN THAT DEPARTMENT? I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE ONES IN THE REPORT THAT I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU SAID, BUT IT ALL FEELS LIKE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE TRAINED TO A CIVILIAN FOR THAT POSITION. WE ARE BANKING FOR OFFICERS OUT ON THE STREET AND IT FEELS LIKE THAT POSITIONED AS WELL. THERE ARE A COUPLE OTHERS IN HERE I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE IN MY NOTE , BUT THE THEME THAT I'VE SEEN IN A LOT OF THIS IS WE ARE HAVING TO COMPENSATE FOR LACK OF TRAINING FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW TO DO THEIR JOBS, SO WE ARE HAVING TO ADD LEVELS OF OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY, BECAUSE PEOPLE DOWN THERE DON'T HAVE PROPER TRAINING TO DO WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO. TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT THE TRANSITION WILL BE TO MOVE THAT SWORN OFFICER OUT DOING WHAT IS ONE OFFICER IS SUPPOSED TO BE DOING AND HAVING SOMEONE TRAINED PROPERLY TO HANDLE THE EVIDENCE. WE HAVE OUR SWORN OFFICERS DOING WITH THIS [03:25:12] ONE OFFICER SHOULD BE DOING? >> RIGHT NOW, WE ARE STILL AT THE TRANSITION POINT AND I WILL PAINT THE PICTURE OF THE EVIDENCE ROOM. RIGHT NOW, IN PERFORMING THAT INTERNAL AUDIT, WE FOUND THAT THEY ARE DEFICIENT IN HOW WE ABLE TO DOCUMENT AND PROPERLY DOCUMENT TRACK EVIDENCE AND PROPERTY. I WILL GO INTO THAT AT THE END. ACTUALLY, JUST GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. IN COMPARISON, WE ARE NOT UNIQUE IN HAVING A SWORN OFFICER. WE ARE UNIQUE IN THE SENSE THAT WE HAVE A SWORN OFFICER AS THE EVIDENCE RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY ALWAYS HAVE OVERSIGHT BY A SWORN PERSONNEL FOR THE SAME REASONS STATED BEFORE. THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT AND INTEGRITY OF CASES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, SO THE REASON WE CURRENTLY HAVE ONE IS IT WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR THAT WE WERE ABLE TO FREE THE EVIDENCE. WE WERE SEVERELY UNDERSTAFFED WITH HAVING ONE EVIDENCE TEXT AND IN COMPARISON TO PORT ST. LUCIE, THEY HAVE TWO FULL-TIME TECHNICIANS AND ONE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, AS WELL AS THE SERGEANT THAT IS FULL-TIME DEDICATED TO EVIDENCE. OUR SERGEANT IS NOT DEDICATED ONLY TO EVIDENCE, BUT HE ACTUALLY OVERSEES A HOST OF AREAS. HAVE A RELATIVELY SIMILAR AMOUNT OF PIECES OF EVIDENCE 60 TO 70,000 WHERE THEY HAVE 72. THEY HAVE ROUGHLY 50,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY AND I THINK IT WAS ABOUT 1000 SQUARE FEET. WE GOT TO PORT ST. LUCIE WITH SIMILAR SITUATIONS FOR CIVILIAN EVIDENCE TEXTS . THEY DO ANSWER TO IS ONE PERSONNEL, AS WELL. THEY ARE NOT DIRECTLY OVERSEEING ONLY EVIDENCE. SAME AMOUNT OF ONLY PIECES OF EVIDENCE, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S COMPLETED YET, BUT THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING FACILITIES AND APPROXIMATELY AT 50,000 SQUARE FEET, AS WELL IS WHAT I WAS TOLD. I VISITED ALONG WITH THE SERGEANT TO THESE LOCATIONS AND LOOKED AT THE BEST PRACTICES WORKING WITH THEM. RIGHT NOW, THIS IS THE ONLY IMMEDIATE SOLUTION WE HAD WAS TO PUT A SWORN PERSON THERE. WE WILL WORK OURSELVES OUT OF THE SITUATION, ONCE WE ARE ADEQUATELY STAFFED. ONCE THE CIVILIAN TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE PREVIOUS ONE OF GETTING UP TO SPEED, SHE HAS BEEN THERE ROUGHLY ALMOST TWO MONTHS NOW. SHE IS STILL LEARNING THE PROCESS AND THE NUANCES OF CASES . RIGHT NOW, WE ALSO REQUIRE TWO PEOPLE TO HANDLE ANY HIGH-RISK EVIDENCE . THAT WAS PARTLY THE PROBLEM THAT LED US INTO PREVIOUS SITUATION THAT WE HAD , SO WE HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF OVERSIGHT FOR PEOPLE TO HANDLE ANYTHING THAT REQUIRES CHAIN OF CUSTODY. ALSO, PROPER DOCUMENTATION TO MAKE SURE THAT MISTAKES ARE NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. THAT'S A HUGE LIABILITY . AS WE DEVELOP AND AS WE GET OTHER THINGS THAT CHANGE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE WILL BE ABLE TO FREE UP TO A CIVILIAN POSITION AND HOPEFULLY THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. >> THAT IS SERGEANT, THEN SWORN AND TECHNICIAN? >> THE SERGEANT IS OVER SEVERAL AREAS OF VICTIM ADVOCATES, EVIDENCE AND --. >> THE SERGEANT IS NOT THIS ONE POSITION ON HERE OR IT IS ON YOUR SLIDE ? THE SUPERVISOR IS THE SERGEANT, THEN A SWORN EMPLOYEE? >> THE ONLY PERSON THERE FULL-TIME IS THE SWORN EMPLOYEE AND CIVILIAN TECHNICIAN RIGHT NOW , THEN MY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT FILLED THE ROLE UNTIL SHIFTED JOBS TO MAKE SURE THE WORK GOT DONE . RIGHT NOW, WE ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS THAT WE WILL GET INTO THE STUDY TALKING THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND WE ARE STILL WORKING THROUGH ALL OF THE NUANCES OF MAKING -- MODERNIZING OUR EVIDENCE PROCESS BASICALLY. [03:30:02] >> WENT TO THE PROCESS BEGIN? >> THAT BEGAN LAST YEAR IN FEBRUARY WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS SOME PIECE OF EVIDENCE IN A CRIMINAL CASE THAT WAS MISHANDLED. IMMEDIATELY, WE STARTED LOOKING AT ALL OF THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND IMPLEMENTED THEM RIGHT AWAY TO CORRECT ANYTHING TO PREVENT ANYTHING FURTHER OCCURRING AND TO START CORRECTING DEFICIENCIES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED. >> OKAY. I'M GLAD THEY ARE BEING REVIEWED, BUT IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT WE WAITED UNTIL SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT WHEN WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT MODERN AND OUR POLICIES NEED TO BE REDONE. IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT WE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED , BUT I'M GLAD THEY ARE BEING LOOKED AT. >> MADAM MAYOR , THANK YOU, CHIEF. HELP US UNDERSTAND. I JUST HEARD YOU HAVE A TECHNICIAN THAT'S ONLY BEEN WITH US TWO MONTHS. OBVIOUSLY, I'M AWARE OF WHAT HAPPENED PRIOR TO THE CHAIN OF CUSTODY. A LOT OF THIS EVIDENCE , WHERE THE FIRST LINE BEFORE IT GETS TO THE STATE ATTORNEY WHEN THEY START TO PROSECUTE AND EVIDENCE HAS TO BE PRESERVED, TRANSFERRED AND HANDLED APPROPRIATELY, SO THEY HAVE CORRECT EVIDENCE. HELP THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND . CRIME SCENE TECHNICIANS JUST DON'T SHOW UP ON EVERY BLOCK. WHAT ARE THE RIGORS OF GETTING THIS PERSON AND STAFFING ? WHAT ARE WE UP AGAINST? WE KNOW WE ARE UP AGAINST OFFICERS AND WHAT WE HAD TO PAY THEM VERSUS OTHER JURISDICTIONS. WHAT ARE WE UP AGAINST HERE WITH CRYING TECHNICIANS ? TALKING ABOUT SALARY WISE AND WHEN WE GET THEM FROM . HOW DO WE STEP UP IN THE AREA? YOU HAVE TOLD US OUR ISSUE WHEN IT COMES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND WHAT WE NEED TO PAY, BUT I WANT TO UNDERSTAND FROM THIS STANDPOINT. WHAT ARE WE UP AGAINST ? OBVIOUSLY, WE NEED MORE AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE PAY THEM OR THE SALARY RANGE OR WHERE WE GET THEM, BUT GIVE ME SOME UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. >> I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EVIDENCE CUSTODIAN. RIGHT NOW, WE STARTED THAT PERSON BASED ON THEIR EXPERIENCE AND THEIR PREVIOUS WORK HISTORY. I THINK IT'S AROUND 48,000 $47,000. IT'S NOT THE HIGHEST PAYING JOB , BUT WE ARE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXCEPTIONAL RECORD-KEEPING ABILITIES. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM HIRING SOMEBODY THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE EVIDENCE EXPERIENCE , BUT IT IS A BONUS, AS LONG AS THEY WORKED PART OF THE CRITERIA AND IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR HAD RELATIVE EXPERIENCE SIMILAR IN NATURE TO WHAT OUR CUSTODIAN DOES, WHICH IS A LOT OF RECORD-KEEPING AND RECORDS TO COMPUTER SYSTEMS. WE LOOKED AT THAT PRIOR TO HIRING THIS PERSON. THE PARTICULAR PERSON WE HIRED WAS PREVIOUSLY A TROOPER WHO HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AND WE WERE LUCKY TO HAVE HER. >> THAT HELPS US UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF THEY GO TO COLLEGE AND GET A CERTIFICATE AND THAT PUTS THEM IN THE DOOR, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE IF THEY HAVE SKILLS THAT ARE APPLICABLE TO WHAT THIS JOB REQUIRES, YOU WILL LOOK AT THAT AND EVALUATE THAT IF IT'S A RIGHT FIT, THEN HE WILL BRING THEM ON. >> WE LOOK AT THAT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT THE TRAINING IN GENERAL. THERE ARE CLASSES AND CERTIFICATIONS FOR TECHNICIANS. THEY WILL GO TO THOSE SCHOOLS AND WHEN THEY HAVE THEM AND WHEN WE CAN AFFORD TO HAVE FACTUAL THAT POSITION. RIGHT NOW, IT'S VERY NUANCED. >> I GET IT. >> TO MAKE SURE THINGS DON'T GET LOST, I HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT THAT IS FULLY TRAINED AND CAN FILL THE POSITION ALONG WITH THE CIVILIAN PERSON , BUT THAT'S NOT HER JOB. >> UNDERSTAND. >> I JUST WANT TO ADD AND COME INTO THIS. I UNDERSTAND WHAT COMMISSIONER IS SAYING THAT WE HAD TO FIND A MISTAKE THAT OCCURRED BEFORE WE WERE ABLE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. WE HAD A 20 YEAR EMPLOYEE THAT HAD BEEN IN OUR EVIDENCE . IN SPEAKING WITH HIM, EVERYTHING WAS WONDERFUL AND GREAT. IT WASN'T UNTIL IT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT WE HAD A PROBLEM THAT WE IMMEDIATELY START TO ADDRESS THAT . ONCE IT WAS ADDRESSED , THIS IS WHEN WE DID AN AUDIT OF [03:35:08] EVERY PIECE OF EVIDENCE IN OUR EVIDENCE ROOM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE MEETING STANDARDS WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO CORRECT OR FULFILL THE NEEDS. EVIDENCE IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR CASES AND THE EVIDENCE TECH THAT WAS RESPONSIBLE, HE'S NO LONGER WITH THE CITY . BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT WE HAD TO MAKE CHANGES TO MAKE PROPER ADJUSTMENTS AND THAT IS WHAT WE DID. IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THE SITUATION HAPPENED. WE ENTRUSTED THAT POSITION IN THAT INDIVIDUAL AND WE SAW THAT FOR WHATEVER THE REASON, IT DIDN'T WORK OUT. >> THANK YOU. IT IS IN SEVERAL PLACES IN THE REPORT AND THAT IS JUST ONE OF THEM THAT WAS ADDRESSED. WE ARE NOT DOING ANY TYPE OF ANNUAL REVIEW OF OUR POLICIES AND I KNOW THE K-9 HAS BEEN DONE SINCE THEN, BUT THAT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE DONE CONTINUALLY AND ONGOING LEE. I KNOW WE ARE UNDERSTAFFED AND ALL OF THAT , BUT THESE ARE THE BASIC THINGS OF HOW A POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE OPERATING AND REVIEWING ALL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO MAKE SURE WE ARE MEETING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF STANDARD BASED ON OTHER AGENCIES AND THE BASIC STANDARDS OF OPERATING A POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE EVIDENCE THING IS JUST ONE OF MANY THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REVIEWED PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING. I UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES AND THE EMPLOYEE AND HOW THIS WAS A ONE-OFF THING , BUT IT JUST OPENS A LARGER CONVERSATION ABOUT REVIEWING EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR POLICIES AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR PRACTICES AND OPERATING AS A POLICE DEPARTMENT MEETING SAID POLICIES. >> I DEFINITELY AGREE. >> WE NEED TO PROCEED. YOU HAVE MY SLIDES? >> YOU WANT ME TO FINISH THE TRAINING PART? >> PLEASE. I THOUGHT YOU WERE FINISHED. >> WE NEED PEOPLE TO FINISH SO THEY CAN GO TO TRAINING. WE ARE DOING THE BEST WE CAN. >> THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION IS SELF-EXPLANATORY AND OUR DETECTIVE BUREAU. THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR INVESTIGATING CRIMES AGAINST PEOPLE AND PROPERTY CRIMES. RIGHT NOW, WE ARE STAFFED WITH A LIEUTENANT, STARTING SERGEANT, SEVEN DETECTIVES AND A JUVENILE SPECIALIST. THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR -- IN CONTRAST TO 2003 , THEY HAD TWO SERGEANTS FOR CID AND DETECTIVES. MORE THAN 20 YEARS LATER, WE ARE STILL UNDERSTAFFED. LIKE I SAID EARLIER, WE ARE INTERDEPENDENT ON OTHER PARTS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, SO IF THE PATROL IS NOT PROPERLY STAFFED , YOU CAN'T TAKE AWAY FROM ROAD PATROL AND STAFF SOMEONE ELSE AND HAVE SOMEWHERE ELSE SUFFER. THAT IS JUST THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 128 ACTIVE CASES AS OF THIS WEEK AND I CALL IT A DETECTIVES EVEN THOUGH ONE IS A JUVENILE SPECIALIST , BUT SHE HAS TO STEP UP AND SHE TAKES CASES JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE TO FULFILL THE NEED FOR THE COMMUNITY . CRIME SUPPRESSION IS A DETECTIVE UNIT. THEY ARE PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR GUN VIOLENCE AND NARCOTICS OUT ON THE STREET AND THEY PROACTIVELY GO OUT AND ADDRESS THE PROBLEM AREAS OF THE CITY. LAST YEAR, AROUND MARCH AND APRIL AREA, WE WERE UNDERSTAFFED DUE TO CSU WE ONLY HAD THREE DETECTIVES AND SIX DETECTIVES TOTAL OUT THERE. TO COVER A SEVEN DAY PERIOD . IT WILL BE THREE AND THREE, WHICH FOR THEIR SHIFT AND THAT WAS VERY INADEQUATE, SO AFTER THE GUN VIOLENCE PICKED UP LAST YEAR, WE WORKED TOGETHER ON A STRATEGY TO BOLSTER THE UNIT . THAT IS WHERE THE LIEUTENANT CAME IN . WITH THAT , THE QUICK RESPONSE FORCED [03:40:05] US TO DETECT OFFICERS FROM THE STREET OR REASSIGN CRIME SUPPRESSION. ONLY THREE ADDITIONAL DETECTIVES WERE ASSIGNED TO FILL THE GAP , BUT IT PROVED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN OUR EYES . I LOOKED IN THE STUDY AND THEY MADE A COMMENT WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE OF VALUE AND THAT IF THEY ARE, WE NEED TO PROPERLY STAFF AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN TALK ABOUT FURTHER IN THE OTHER SLIDES. THE CRIME STATISTICS FROM JUNE 24TH TO 25TH, THE CRIME SUPPRESSION ONLY MADE 300 ARRESTS AND 265 SEIZURES OF NARCOTICS AND 30 OFF THE STREETS OF FORT PIERCE. THIS IS A COMPARISON OVER THE YEARS. YOU CAN LOOK AT THE STATISTICS IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT THIS GIVES YOU A PICTURE OF VERIFIED SHOOTINGS WITHIN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE SINCE 2023 2024 AND THAT MEANS THAT WE CAN -- IT DOESN'T MEAN SOMEONE WAS SHOT, BUT THERE WAS SOME SORT OF SHOOTING ACTIVITY AND SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN AS SIMPLE AS SHOOTING IN THE AIR AND LEFT CASINGS IN THE STREET OR SHOOTING PROPERTY AND THOSE ARE THE NUMBERS. I LOOK AT THE 2024 NUMBERS IN THE STUDY SAID IT'S HARD TO QUANTIFY. IT IS HARD TO QUANTIFY THE CRIME AND EFFECTIVENESS OF PROACTIVE RESPONSE THAT THE CSU DOES, BUT FOR US NOT ONLY -- I SEE A BENEFIT OF IT AND I SAW A DROP IN VERIFIED SHOOTINGS. I SAW A DROP IN HOMICIDES AND PEOPLE HIT, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOW VERY FOCUSED ON INVESTIGATIONS AND IT'S NOT JUST RUNNING OUT TO STOP PEOPLE AND THINGS LIKE THAT. IT'S VERY FOCUSED ON CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS THAT WE ARE INVESTIGATING AND HAVE LINKS TO MORE ORGANIZED, NO ACTIVITY AND IT'S A GOOD WAY FOR US TO PROACTIVELY POLICE. AND, AUGMENT THE CID DETECTIVES. WITHOUT CSU, SOME OF THE CRIMES THAT THE DETECTIVES ARE OUT THERE TRYING TO SOLVE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SOLVED BASED OFF THE INFORMANTS AND STREET AFFIRMATION THAT THESE DETECTIVES ARE OUT THERE GATHERING ALL THE TIME AND INTEL THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON. I WON'T GO INTO THE MEANS AND METHODS OF WHAT THEY DO, BECAUSE FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. THAT CAN BE A PRIVATE CONVERSATION IF ANYBODY IS INTERESTED IN HEARING THAT. WITH THAT, I CAN GO INTO EACH INDIVIDUAL POINT WITHIN CPSM . FOR ME, MOST OF THEM FALL BACK DOWN TO FUNDING THE BUDGET AND PERSONNEL ALL INTERTWINED , BECAUSE IT'S EVERYTHING THAT THEY TALKED ABOUT AND IT JUST HAS TO DO WITH PERSONNEL AND PROPER FUNDING OF EQUIPMENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT . IF YOU LIKE, I CAN GO THROUGH EACH ONE, SO EVERYONE CAN HEAR IT. >> I DON'T THINK THAT'S NECESSARY , BUT OTHER QUESTIONS? DO YOU SEE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT APPLY ANY LOW HANGING FRUIT OR ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE WITHOUT PERSONNEL AND FUNDING? >> I'M JUST TELLING YOU THAT IS MY JOB EVERY DAY. I THINK THE STUDY WAS DONE VERY GOOD BRINGING TALKING POINTS TO LIGHT, HOWEVER TO US AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THIS IS NOT ANYTHING SIGNIFICANT REVELATION THAT WE DON'T KNOW . I'VE BEEN IN THE POLICING BUSINESS FOR 30 YEARS JUST LIKE MANY OF THE CHIEFS AND I RAN MY OWN OFFICE, SO EVERYTHING IS VERY OFFICE OBVIOUS. SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NUANCED BASED ON THEIR EXPERIENCES AND MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE APPLICABLE TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT WE RUN , BUT THEY ARE GOOD SUGGESTIONS AND I'M ALWAYS GOOD OPEN TO NEW AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO LOOK AT THINGS. PART OF IT IS TECHNOLOGY. I'M CONSTANTLY AND THE REST OF US IN THE DEPARTMENT ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR WAYS TO DO MORE WITH LESS. WE REVAMP SCHEDULES FOR DETECTIVES SO WE CAN HAVE FULL COVERAGE. I HEARD [03:45:02] A COMMENT EARLIER ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS REMOVED FROM A STUDY AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WERE TALKED ABOUT SINGULAR PERSPECTIVE AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STUDY IN ITSELF WAS ACCURATE AS A WHOLE TO THE DEPARTMENT AND NOT NUANCED AS TO ONE PERSON'S PERSPECTIVE. THOSE WERE THINGS WE DISCUSSED WITH THE STUDY AND THINGS NOT KEPT IN THERE, BECAUSE IT WAS A SINGULAR PERSPECTIVE . IT'S SIMILAR TO THE CPSM STUDY. THE IDEA OF CIVILIAN INVESTIGATORS IS AN INTERESTING IDEA, BUT WHERE I CAME FROM, CRIME ANALYSIS WAS MORE THE RIGHT FIT TO SUPPORT DETECTIVE BUREAU , BUT EVERYTHING REQUIRES MONEY . MY JOB ON A DAILY BASIS IS TO LOOK FOR RESOURCES AND LOW HANGING FRUIT AND FINDING GRANTS TO BUY EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE NECESSARY FOR US TO DO OUR JOB. MOVING CARS AROUND AND WHAT WE GOT TO BE SUCCESSFUL . >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT ANSWER. THANK YOU. >> NEXT UP IS MAJOR SANTIAGO. >> JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE CHECKING THE TIME. >> I AM. WELCOME. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M HERE TO PRESENT SUPPORT SERVICES AND ADDICT PRIVILEGE AND WORKING WITH A TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS CONSISTING OF MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVING DIFFERENT UNITS. RIGHT NOW, WE WORK SUPPORT SERVICES AND IT HAS A MISSION OF SUPPORTING THE OVERALL OPERATION. THAT INCLUDES RECRUITMENT TRAINING , CRIME ANALYSIS, PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS , PUBLIC AFFAIRS, MEDIA RELATIONS . WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE 100% COMMITTED TO NOT ONLY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND GROWTH OF EACH AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF EACH INDIVIDUAL IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE LOOK AT IT FROM THE EYES OF PROFESSIONALISM. THE MORE PROFESSIONAL THAT TRANSFERS TO OUR COMMUNITY, THEY GET BETTER SERVICE. WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS A SHORTAGE AND THEY WON'T GO OVER EVERYTHING DISCUSSED, BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT WE PROCESS SOME OF THE APPLICANTS SINCE MAY LAST YEAR , HIRED 11 AND FIVE CONDITIONAL OFFICERS RIGHT NOW. CIVILIANS, 61 AND HIRED FIVE AND WE HAVE A PART-TIME. WE HAVE A TOTAL ALLOTMENT OF SWORN POLICE OFFICERS AND 141. WE CURRENTLY HAVE 118 OFFICERS AND ABOUT 17% DOWN ON SWORN. WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS PART OF THE CPSM STUDIES. HOW DO WE LEVERAGE STRENGTH OF OUR PEOPLE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE? HOW DO WE LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT THE OVERALL MISSION? THAT HAS BEEN OUR MAIN FOCUS WITH THE SUPPORT SERVICES BELOW THAT WAS COLLECTIVELY COMING UP WITH IDEAS AND CREATIVE IDEAS ON HOW WE APPROACH HIRING , TRAINING AND HOW WE APPROACH EVERY OTHER DISCIPLINE THAT FALLS WITHIN THE SUPPORT SERVICES. RECRUITMENT GOT HERE IN THE LATTER PART OF JUNE 2023 . I QUICKLY REALIZED THAT THERE WAS SOME SORT OF DISCONNECT WITH THE CITY AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHEN IT CAME TO HIRING, SO WE TRIED TO REALIGN IT, SO WE ARE IN LINE WITH THE CITY'S HR TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROCESS IS BEING DONE CORRECTLY. ONE OF THE THINGS GOING ON IS THAT WE ARE MOVING INTO THE TAYLOR SYSTEM AT THE TIME, WHICH WAS GIVING SOME ISSUES, SUNSET ISSUES AND TRYING TO INCORPORATE , WHICH TOOK US TIME AND WE ARE STILL WORKING WITH HR TO ADDRESS A LOT. SOME OF THAT WAS OF COURSE RELATED TO THE HIRING PROCESS AND HOW DO WE FIND OUR JOB DESCRIPTIONS? HOW DO WE SOURCE CANDIDATES? HOW DO WE ENHANCE SCREENING , INTERVIEWS AND FINAL LOCK? WE START LOOKING AT THIS HOLISTICALLY AND IMPLEMENTED SOMETHING NEWER , WHICH IS A PERFORMANCE -- PERSONAL EVALUATION PERFORMANCE , SO IT GIVES US ANOTHER MECHANISM TO BE ABLE TO SCREEN PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES, SO WE ARE GETTING THE BEST OF THE THAT ACTUALLY APPLIED WITH US . THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH LEVERAGING THE TECHNOLOGY OF TYLER, HOPEFULLY THAT WILL THE APPLICANTS JUST FOR SAKE OF APPLICATIONS. WE DID ADJUST SOME THINGS AS IT RELATES TO THE CBSN STUDY AND THAT IS ALREADY IN PLACE AS FAR AS RECRUITMENT IS CONCERNED. THESE ARE SOME TOPICS REQUIRED TO FURTHER ENHANCE THE RECRUITMENT [03:50:02] EFFORTS. WE ARE UTILIZING RIGHT NOW AND GETTING BETTER DAY BY DAY WHEN IT COMES TO THAT. WE ARE REALIGNING OUR HIRING PROCESSES TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR HR IN THE CITY , CONSIDERING WE ARE ALL ONE AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROCESS IS DONE FAIRLY AND LEGITIMATELY. WE ARE ENHANCING THE COMMITTEE EVENTS AND INCORPORATING ESTABLISHED STATE INCENTIVES, WHICH WAS DISCUSSED EARLIER WHEN IT CAME TO THE FINANCIAL ASPECT. RETENTION IS VERY DIFFICULT CONSIDERING EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DID AND WHAT ARE FOLKS BROUGHT UP IS IT'S IMPORTANT TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE WITH BOOTS ON THE GROUND, BECAUSE THEY SEE AND KNOW EVERYTHING. WE ARE CONSTANTLY ASKING, WHAT IS IT THAT IS KEEPING PEOPLE OR GETTING PEOPLE AWAY FROM US? IT'S NOT NECESSARILY SALARIES, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY THE ENVIRONMENT WE ARE IN. A LOT OF TIMES WHAT WE DO IS TRY TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM THAT THEY WANT, SO WE FOCUS ON THE PERSON AND PLACE A LOT OF INVESTMENT ON THE INDIVIDUALS, SO THEY CAN BE THE BEST THEY CAN AND AT A CERTAIN POINT, THAT CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT WILL GET BETTER FOR THEM TO PROSPER AND THEY ARE MORE INCLINED TO STAY THEN LEAVE. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD STAY IF THEY ARE HAPPY. IF THEY ARE ENJOYING AND LATERAL OPPORTUNITY , MOVEMENT WITHIN THE AGENCY, THEY ARE MORE INCLINED, BECAUSE THEY MAKE IT HOME FOR THEMSELVES. THAT'S PART OF THE PROCESS AND PHILOSOPHY WE TRY TO WORK WITH NOW AS FAR AS RETENTION CONCERN. THE TRAINING UNIT IS ANOTHER DIVISION WHERE WE ARE HIGHLY FOCUSED ON TRAINING AND IN-SERVICE TRAINING. IT IS DEPARTMENTWIDE TRAINING THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE ANNUALLY. THIS YEAR, WE HAD EIGHT THAT CONSIST OF ANYWHERE FROM FIREARMS TRAINING TO USE OF FORCE TRAINING , TRAFFIC STOPS OR ANY HIGH LIABILITY TYPE TRAINING THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS MANDATED TO HAVE AND WE ALSO HAVE -- THAT IS DEPARTMENTWIDE. WE ALSO HAVE ACADEMIES , WHICH ARE TRAINING SESSIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT COME ON BRAND-NEW EMPLOYEES AND WE PUT THEM THROUGH A RIGOROUS THREE-WEEK COURSE PRIOR TO THEM ACTUALLY GOING OUT TO THE STREETS. ROLL CALL , THOSE ARE ALL TERMS THAT WE USE TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE DOING TRAINING ON A DAILY BASIS. EVERY ROLLCALL EVERY TIME A SHIFT COMES IN OR UNIT COMES IN, THEY GO THROUGH A ROLLCALL FOR BRIEFING. IN THAT BRIEFING, THERE IS AND PASSED ON, WHETHER IT'S POLICY TRAINING OR ANY ISSUE THAT MAY HAVE COME UP THAT THEY NEED TO ADDRESS. WE HAVE RECENTLY CONDUCTED A RECRUITMENT BOOT CAMP , WHICH JUST FINISHED UP LAST WEEK AND IT WAS AN INDEPENDENT COMPANY THAT CAME IN THAT BASICALLY PUT US THROUGH A COURSE WHERE IT GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES ON HOW TO RECRUIT PEOPLE HOW TO RECRUIT INDIVIDUALS AND WE ACTUALLY RECRUIT WHO WE ARE. THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS THAT CAME OUT COMPLETELY FUNDED, SO THAT WAS NO COST TO US AND WE ARE LOOKING AT FINDING WAYS TO SEE HOW WE CAN SHIFT STRATEGIES. WE ALSO IMPLEMENTED BASED ON THE STAFFING STUDY AND WE IMPLEMENTED QUARTERLY SUPERVISOR TRAINING AND WE DO HAVE SUPERVISOR TRAINING AND WE RECENTLY BROUGHT IN HR TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP COURSES AS PART OF THIS REVISORY TRAINING THAT WE HOLD. WE ARE IN A LOT OF ASPECTS AS IT RELATES TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. FOR THE TRAINING OFFICERS, WE ACTUALLY MET THE REQUIREMENT THAT CPSM RECOMMENDED AND WE ARE BACK UP TO 12 FIELD TRAINING OFFICERS. WE DO HAVE QUARTERLY TRAINING, AS WELL. WE CAN BE CONSISTENT WITH POLICY AND WITH THE LEGAL UPDATES THAT WE GET AND MAKING SURE THAT IT IS OUR NEW EMPLOYEES AND NEW OFFICERS. WHAT CHANGED? INCREASED DESIRE FOR INCREASED TRAINING GROWTH. WHEN I GOT HERE, WE NOTICED ONE OF THE THINGS I GOT IN SPEAKING WITH PEOPLE IN SUPPORT SERVICES WAS THAT THERE WEREN'T ENOUGH PEOPLE SUBMITTING FOR TRAINING. ONE OF THE REASONING WAS THAT THERE WAS NO MONEY OR THEY WOULD GET DENIED FOR THAT TYPE OF TRAINING. COME TO FIND OUT, WE DIDN'T HAVE A TRAINING MATRIX IN PLACE. IT ALLOWED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS , WHICH WE MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT LEVERAGING PERSONAL STRENGTHS. LIKE ENFORCING DRUG LAWS, THERE MAY BE OFFICERS THAT LIKE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. WE TRY TO IDENTIFY SUPERVISORS ON HOW TO IDENTIFY STRENGTHS IN THEIR OFFICERS AS OPPOSED TO WEAKNESSES. WE STILL WORK ON WEAKNESSES, BUT WE FOCUS [03:55:04] ON STRENGTHS, THEN WE SEND THEM TO SCHOOLS UTILIZING THE MATRIX ESTABLISHED. SINCE THE MATRIX IMPLEMENTED, WE HAVE A SHARP INCREASE IN TRAINING SUBMISSIONS AND PEOPLE WANTING TO ACTUALLY DEVELOP. WE WANTED TO IDENTIFY THE SCHOOLS THAT WERE GRANT FUNDED RIGHT HERE AT IRS. WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT AND IDENTIFY ALL OF THE CLASSES AND COURSES FUNDED AND THAT IS WHAT WE BASED IT ON. THERE ARE OTHER SCHOOLS THAT REQUIRE TRAVELING THAT OBVIOUSLY WE HAD TO SEEK APPROVAL FOR THAT, BECAUSE THAT INVOLVES MONEY . THOSE TYPICALLY ARE THOSE TRAINING COURSES, WHICH ARE NOT PROVIDED LOCALLY OR THERE ARE ADVANCED COURSES FOR WHETHER IT'S EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP OR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS THAT ARE BEYOND THE AREA. THE FUTURE NEEDS TO ENHANCE TRAINING EFFORTS , ADVANCED VIRTUAL REALITY TRAINING AND SIMULATORS, WHICH IS THE WAY TO GO THESE DAYS WITH AN OPTION TO INTERACT WITH MACHINES. WE CAN SEE REACTION TIMES FOR CERTAIN SITUATIONS AND DEDICATED TRAINING FACILITY . JUST BEAR WITH ME. THIS IS A WISH LIST FOR US. THE DEDICATED TRAINING FACILITY WITH THE NEW TRAINING AIDS AND FUNDING OUTSIDE PROFESSIONAL TRAINERS, WHICH ARE BRINGING AND COMPANIES FROM THE OUTSIDE TO COME IN AND TRAIN OUR PERSONNEL, BECAUSE AT TIMES, THAT IS COST EFFECTIVE. FUNDING AND RANGE. I ALSO WORK WITH FOLKS AT THE CRIME ANALYSIS UNIT WHO DO AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF WORK FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. LAST YEAR IN 2024, THE CHIEF WAS ABLE TO OPEN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDING CRIME REDUCTION STRATEGY THE ANALYST ON THIS PARTICULAR CASE REALLY GOES INTO IDENTIFYING DATA NOT ONLY COLLECTING, BUT ANALYZING THE DATA TO PUT IT IN A READABLE FORMAT, SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY SEND THE INFORMATION OUT, SO THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES ON HOW TO ADDRESS CERTAIN CRIMES. EVERY SINGLE DISCIPLINE WITHIN THE AGENCY WILL ADDRESS ONE CRIME BASED ON THE STRATIFIED PART OF THAT IS ONCE SHORT VERSION OF IT, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S NOT A LOT OF TIME. IT IS A BIG THING FOR US AND IF WE CAN IMPROVE UPON THE SOFTWARE ASPECT , ADVANCED TRAINING AND ALMOST HELD ENOUGH LOCALLY. THE CRIMINAL ANALYST SCHOOLS ARE VERY LONG AND EXPENSIVE AND TYPICALLY HELD OUTSIDE OF THE COAST. OF COURSE, THE STAFFING INCREASES . PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS, ANOTHER UNIT INTERNAL AFFAIRS. THIS UNIT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HANDLING ALL INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COMPLAINTS OR ANY TYPE OF SERIOUS POLICY WITHIN THE AGENCY. THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS UNIT IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING LEGITIMATE INVESTIGATIONS WHERE THEY CAN OBJECTIVELY VIEW THESE INCIDENTS AND COME TO A PARTICULAR FINDING AND SUMMARY. ONCE THAT IS COMPLETED , IT IS SENT OVER TO STAFF, SO THEY CAN COME UP WITH THE OUTCOME ON THAT BUT WHAT IS IT THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO FROM THAT POINT ON DEPENDING UPON WHETHER THAT PARTICULAR VIOLATION WAS ACTED UPON OR NOT. THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS ALSO DO A LOT OF PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS, BECAUSE THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS INFORMATION IS KEPT ON CERTAIN DATA PLATFORMS OR MEDIA PLATFORMS WHERE IT IS PROTECTED AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT DEPUTY CHIEF NORIS MENTIONED EARLIER OF BLUE TEAMS. BLUE TEAMS IS A RECORD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WHERE WE RECORD EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON AND DOESN'T INVOLVE WRITING A POLICE REPORT. LET'S SAY INTERNALLY WE KEEP TRACK OF TRAFFIC CRASHES AND WE KEEP TRACK OF BIAS BASED POLICING AND USE OF FORCE AND WE KEEP TRACK OF OFFICER INJURY. THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE KEEP TRACK OF INSIDE TO ALLOW US TO SEE WHERE WE ARE GOING TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES. LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, USE OF FORCE. IN OUR SYSTEM CURRENTLY, WE HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE IF THE OFFICER PROVIDES FORCE ANYWHERE FROM ACTUAL PHYSICAL FORCE , THAT GETS DOCUMENTED AND ANYTIME THEY ACQUIRE OR GET SIX USES OF FORCE WITHIN A 12 MONTH PERIOD AND IT IS AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED TO PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AS WELL AS SUPERVISORS THAT HELPS WITH ACCOUNTABILITY AND HELPING KEEPING PROPER RECORDS AND MAKING SURE THERE IS A TRAINING DEFICIENCY AND IF THERE'S A POLICY VIOLATION, WE CAN ADDRESS IT. THAT IS PART OF THE AUDITS. [04:00:07] NEXT ONE. THE FUTURE NEEDS FOR THAT IS ADVANCED TRAINING AND CONDUCTING INVESTIGATIONS FOR SUPERVISORS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS AND WE ARE TRYING TO IDENTIFY CERTAIN COMPANIES THAT ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE BASIC INTERNAL POLICE INVESTIGATIONS FOR SUPERVISORS TASKED WITH CONDUCTING INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS THAT DON'T RISE TO THE LEVEL OF SERIOUS POLICY VIOLATIONS . SECURE HOUSING FOR PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS, WE ARE IN THE PROGRESS OF WORKING ON THAT, AS WELL. TECHNOLOGY COMPUTERS, LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE. SOFTWARE IS IMPORTANT AND IT COMES AT A COST. THE REASON THAT IS THERE IS BECAUSE THERE IS A CERTAIN LEVEL OF BURNOUT THAT COMES WITH SOMEBODY THAT CONDUCTS INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS. BECAUSE OF THAT, THE RECOMMENDED TIME FRAME BASED ON THE STUDY WAS THREE YEARS FOR ANYONE PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS. I AGREE WITH THAT. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE ARE CONFLICTED, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE STAFFING AND THAT BECOMES A PROBLEM. WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PAY ATTENTION TO BURNOUT AND PAY ATTENTION TO MORALE. IT STARTS BEING IMPACTED WHEN YOU START TO HAVE THAT BURNOUT. THOSE ARE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE ACTIVELY SEARCHING. >> WHILE WE ON ON THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE, I SAW THAT ETIQUETTE WAS REMOVED , BUT THAT WOULD STILL BE A GOAL, CORRECT? >> I THINK THAT WAS REMOVED FROM THE FINAL. IT WAS TYPICALLY A NATIONAL BEST PRACTICE TO ENSURE THE IMPARTIALITY THAT THE OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS TO THE CHIEF? THAT RECOMMENDATION WAS REMOVED . WHY WAS THAT? >> I DIDN'T SEE THAT. >> IT WAS IN THE DRAFT ORIGINALLY AS ONE OF THE FIRST RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS. >> IT FALLS UNDER MAJOR SANTIAGO . UPON HIS REVIEW OF THE CASES INVESTIGATED, I DECIDE. I DECIDE WHEN AND I WILL TAKE PLACE. I DECIDE THE OVERVIEW AND HOW IT'S ASSIGNED TO WHAT COMMENDED FOR THEIR REVIEW. >> OKAY. I GET THAT. I KNOW MAJOR REPORTS TO YOU, BUT THEY RECOMMENDED THAT IT GO DIRECTLY TO THE CHIEF. >> AGAIN, IT'S RECOMMENDATION. THERE ARE OTHER AGENCIES WHERE IT GOES THAT WAY. TO HAVE IT COME DIRECTLY TO ME, I NEED A COMMANDER TO BE OVER PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS TO GET THAT AND TO LOOK THROUGH EVERYTHING AND GIVE THE CASE TO ME. THAT IS ANOTHER ASSIGNMENT OR PROPORTIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT , BECAUSE I HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST AT MINIMUM TO BE OVER PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS. >> I ALSO HAD A NOTE ABOUT EXTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS FOR SPECIFICALLY CONCERNING OFFICER MISCONDUCT AND THAT WAS TO BE AN EXTERNAL AGENCY INVESTIGATING. >> WE HAVE THAT IN PLACE. ANYTHING THAT INVOLVES A CRIME AND NOT A POLICY VIOLATION, WE NOTIFY LAW ENFORCEMENT TO COME AND CONDUCT THAT. IT'S ALREADY IN PRACTICE. >> THAT'S ONLY HEARD ON THAT. >> THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE IS A VERY IMPORTANT AND VITAL ROLE WITHIN THE AGENCY AND IT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL FOR POLICE DEPARTMENT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS, WE STARTED NOTICING THAT WE NEED TO REBRAND, SO WE CAN START SOLICITING MORE INVOLVEMENT AND INPUT FROM NOT ONLY THE COMMUNITY, BUT OUR STAKEHOLDERS WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OFFICERS. NOTICE THEY WEREN'T EVEN FOLLOWING SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AT ONE POINT AND WE WANT TO KNOW WHY. WE TOOK A DEEP DIVE INTO THAT AND NOTICED THAT AS WE STARTED GOING MORE IN LINE WITH THE CITY AND THE CITY REBRANDING WHILE STILL MAINTAINING OUR OWN IDENTITY , WE STARTED SEEING A DRASTIC INCREASE IN INTERACTION BETWEEN OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND MEDIA RELATIONS GROUP WITH THE COMMUNITY AND OUR OWN OFFICERS. THAT TRANSLATES TO HIGHER MORALE AND POSTS THAT OFFICERS ABSOLUTELY LOVE AND YOU SEE THEM INTERACTING AND THEM TALKING AND THE MORALE GOING UP. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE FULL [04:05:04] TRANSPARENCY AND WE WANT TO KEEP THE TRANSPARENCY NOT ONLY WITH OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WITHIN OUR OWN AGENCIES, WHICH IS A VERY IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS. THAT IS ONE OF THE MANY JOBS AND TASKS ASSIGNED TO PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND THEY ALSO WORK HAND-IN-HAND WITH DIFFERENT UNITS WITHIN THE AGENCY THEY HIGHLIGHT OFFICERS AND WORK WITH THE EVENTS. THERE IS A LOT INVOLVED WITH PUBLIC AFFAIRS, BUT THE MEAT AND POTATOES OF IT IS BASICALLY EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL MESSAGING FOR SOCIAL MEDIA. THOSE ANALYTICS WERE A REVIEW OF THAT. I'M DONE AT THIS POINT AND THE CPSM STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS, WE ACTUALLY LOOKED AT THEM AND SOME RECOMMENDATIONS WILL APPLY AND WE JUST SIMPLY CAN'T AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME , BUT WE HAVE DONE A LOT IN THE SO CALLED LOW HANGING FRUIT AND WE IMPLEMENTED A LOT. SOME OF THE THINGS -- BEAR TWO MINUTES WITH ME. WE ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED THAT THEY RECOMMENDED -- I TOLD YOU ABOUT THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS LOOKING AT THOSE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS AND HOW WE REALIGNED AND REVIEWED THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SPECIFIC AND OBJECTIVE . A LOT OF INFORMATION CAME AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS CAME ON THE TRAINING. ON THE ANNUAL POLICY, WE ARE REVIEWING THAT NOW. ALL OF THE POLICIES ARE BEING REVIEWED AND ACCREDITATION IS ANOTHER I MISSED OUT ON HERE. IT'S ANOTHER IMPORTANT COMPONENT TO SUPPORT THE OVERALL MISSION OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE COMPLETED THE SUPERVISORY TRAINING, WHICH IS CONTINUOUS NOW THAT WE HAVE IT SCHEDULED AND WE HAVE A TRAINING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. MOST RECOMMENDATIONS AT LEAST IN THE PART OF SUPPORT SERVICES, WE WERE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT IMMEDIATELY. WE BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE TEAM AND THE TEAM LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THAT EVERYONE IS BUYING NOW. NOW WE CAN BUY INTO THIS, BECAUSE WE HAVE A SAY SO IN OUR OUTCOME ON HOW WE DRIVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THAT IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT I WANTED TO COME DOWN TO ON THE CPSM STUDY WITH A LOT MORE THAT WE SHOULD DO AND HAVE WITH MORE ROBUST OPERATIONS. WE ARE RESTRICTING CERTAIN CASES. >> I HAVE A QUESTION AND I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO ADDRESS THE EEOC AND RESPONSE TIMES. WAS THAT YOU? WE WERE TALKING ABOUT --. >> WITH 9/11 AND WORKING TO PUT A CODE FOR RESPONSE TIME, AS WELL AS REPORT. >> THEY ADDRESS RESPONSE TIMES AND SAY -- SINCE EOC DOES THAT, IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND EOC NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION . >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE ALL GOOD AT IS NETWORKING AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS IS THAT WE DO WORK VERY WELL WITH THE EOC AND PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR. ANY CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN AND COMMUNICATE. SOMETIMES IT GETS LOST IN TRANSLATION, BUT WE HAVE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WHERE A CHALLENGE COMES UP AND WE IMMEDIATELY TAKE IT TO THEM AND THEY ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO WORK WITH US ON ANYTHING THAT WE WANT AS LONG --. >> IT'S IN THE REPORT , SO I'M ASSUMING THAT YOU READ THE REPORT ABOUT RESPONSE TIMES AND TALKING ABOUT -- WHEN I WAS READING IT I SAID, IT'S THE EEOC THAT SEEM TO BE MAY BE MISQUOTING OR NOT HANDLING THEM APPROPRIATELY , SO IT JUST SEEMED THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT NEEDED TO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING ABOUT RESPONSE TIMES. >> THAT'S NOT MY SIDE OF THE HOUSE. >> I'M SORRY. >> WE DID IDENTIFY THAT WE WERE CAPTURING OUR TIME PROPERLY. >> I DIDN'T SAY IT RIGHT. YOU SAID IT RIGHT. >> THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THEY ARE SPENDING ON THE CALL IS BAFFLING, BECAUSE IF YOU ARE WRITING A REPORT ON THE SAME CASE, WHY ISN'T THAT BEING CAPTURED? I DON'T THINK IF ANYTHING IS OUTSIDE COMING TO COMMON GROUND AND I'M ALMOST CERTAIN THAT IT WILL GET IMPLEMENTED I BELIEVE IT'S AN ISSUE. >> TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IF THE THERE IS MISCUE VACATION SOMEWHERE, WE WILL SET A MEETING WITH THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS TO ADDRESS MATTERS. >> THANK YOU. IT IS IN THE REPORT OF'S RESPONSE TIMES AND IT JUST THINKING THAT IT IS IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND IT'S A TWO-WAY STREET WITH THE EEOC. ANYBODY ELSE? >> I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT. THANK YOU FOR CATEGORIZING THIS AND HAVING YOUR COMMAND STAFF COME HOME WHO HAVE DIRECT RESPONSE FOR [04:10:06] INDIVIDUAL AREAS TO BREAK DOWN, SO WE HAVE A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO WHERE THINGS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED, GETTING ADDRESSED AND LONG-RANGE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT AS A COMMISSION OF HOW WE FIND STUFF, BECAUSE THERE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS . I'M AT THE POINT NOW THAT I THINK EVERYTHING HAD HEARD TODAY, WE NEED SOME FOLLOW-UP AND WE NEED SOME CLARIFICATION OF THINGS EVEN UP HERE. IF YOU COULD BASTE BY DEPARTMENT , HELP US UNDERSTAND THE LOW HANGING FRUIT THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY KNOCKED OFF WERE ADDRESSED AND CHANGED AS WE GO THROUGH THE LINE ITEM THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ADDRESSED. SOME HAS BEEN ADDRESSED AND SOME IS ACTUALLY BEING ADDRESSED AS WE SPEAK. THOSE THINGS THAT YOU IDENTIFY THAT YOU ARE ADDRESSING, LIKE TRAINING , THEY JUST MENTIONED HOW THESE ARE THINGS ONGOING AND THERE IS ALSO A BUDGET COST , WHICH IS WHERE IT COMES BACK TO US. THOSE ARE THE TWO CRITICAL POINTS I NEED TO UNDERSTAND. LOW HANGING FRUIT HAS ALREADY BEEN ADDRESSED AND THOSE THINGS WITHIN REACH FOR US TO ADDRESS THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS BECAUSE OF THE CRITICAL NATURE THAT WILL COST MONEY IN SOME CASES. WE NEED TO KNOW THAT SOONER THAN LATER. >> JUST A COUPLE OF SLIDES TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT REAL QUICK. THIS IS JUST TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF OUR STAFF IN COMPARISON TO OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE REFLECTIVE OF THE COMMUNITY. THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. THIS IS WHAT WE TRY TO DO NOT ONLY WITH OUR SWORN STAFF, BUT ALSO WITH OUR SUPPORT STAFF. THIS CAME FROM THE STUDY ITSELF. STUDIES SHOW THAT THERE IS INCREASE IN VIOLENT AND PROPERTY CRIME AND I TOOK THIS INFORMATION OUT OF THE STUDY ITSELF . IT SHOWS THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING IS WORKING . NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WE ALSO HAVE TO FACE THE GROWTH OF THE CITY. WE REVIEWED TRC DOCUMENTS THAT COME THROUGH. RIGHT NOW , WE DID 91 REVIEWS FOR THE PAST YEAR AND IN A WAY IT SEEMS THAT WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 10,365 ADDITIONAL RESIDENTS. WITH THAT CRAP , POLICE SERVICES AND PUBLIC WORKS, EVERYTHING ELSE GROWS, AS WELL. THIS IS PART OF WHAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT I SAY THIS ALL THE TIME. HEROES WORK FOR THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I SEE THIS BECAUSE WHEN SHOTS ARE BEING FIRED AND WHEN THINGS ARE HAPPENING, THESE OFFICERS ARE RESPONDING . THEY ARE NOT RUNNING AWAY. THEY ARE RUNNING TOWARDS . ONE OF THE SITUATIONS IN WHICH COMMISSIONER JOHNSON SPOKE OF IS WHEN WE HAD AN ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATION, WE DIDN'T KNOW. IT DEPLETED EVERY OFFICER THAT WAS WORKING THAT DAY AND THOSE WORKING OFF DUTY , THEY HAD TO COME. WE HAD THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT AND WE HAD SO MUCH SUPPORT, BECAUSE WE HAD SO MANY DIFFERENT CRIME SCENES, BUT THAT IS WHAT WE DO. IT IS IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT WE HAVE THE BACKING OF THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT. WE HAD IT THEN AND UNDERSHERIFF EL TORO AND WE HAVE IT NOW AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT PARTNERSHIP. THIS IS PART OF THE REALITY. WHEN IT COMES TO MY OFFICERS, THIS IS THE PRESENT PLAN FOR MY OFFICERS. PORT ST. LUCIE IS DOING JUDGMENT 24% AND THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN EVER MATCH THAT. WE HAVE TO BE COMPETITIVE. WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM MIAMI , ORLANDO COMING TO OUR RECRUITING AND THEY ARE OFFERING $10,000 BONUSES AND THINGS THAT WE CAN'T DO. THEY ARE OFFERING SALARIES IN THE 70,000S , WHICH WE CANNOT DO. WE ARE LOOKING AT OTHER METHODS OF TRYING TO RETAIN OFFICERS . NOT ONLY IS IT OUR OFFICERS, IT IS ALSO WHEN IT COMES TO OUR SERGEANTS. THEY WERE VERY OPEN WITH ME AND THEY ARE LOOKING AT GOING TO PORT ST. LUCIE AND THEY SAID, I DON'T EVEN HAVE TO BE A SERGEANT AND I CAN MAKE MORE THAN A SERGEANT IN FORT PIERCE. I CAN BE AN OFFICER ON THE STREET AND I CAN MAKE MORE THAN A SERGEANT IN FORT PIERCE. THAT'S THE REALITY. IT USED TO BE WHERE WE CAN DEAL WITH OUR NEW PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING THESE ISSUES, BUT IT'S NOT. THE REASON THAT HURTS MY [04:15:03] HEART SEVERELY, HAD AN 11 YEAR OFFICER LEAVE ME AND HE'S ONE OF MY BETTER OFFICERS AND I LOVE HIM TO DEATH, BUT HE'S LEAVING YOUR GOING TO MAKE OVER $20,000 MORE IN PORT ST. LUCIE. THEY ARE ALLOWING THEM TO BUY INTO THEIR PENSION PLAN . NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE TOP, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT OUR EXPERIENCED OFFICERS, AS WELL. WITH ONE OF THE OFFICERS LEFT HERE AND HE'S A SERGEANT , BEFORE HE LEFT, HIS WORDS WERE, I WORK MY SHIFT AND I WORK OFF DUTY TO TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY. HE SAID THIS TO ME . HE SAID I'M WORKING SO HARD I CAN'T APPRECIATE MY FAMILY, BECAUSE I'M WORKING. THIS IS WHAT WE ARE FACED WITH. WHEN IT COMES TO OUR LIEUTENANTS, THE SAME THINGS APPLY. SOME OF OUR LIEUTENANTS WILL MAKE AS MUCH IS WHAT WE START OFF WITH. WITH OVER TIME, THEY MAKE MORE . I'M TRYING TO IN MY MIND WORK THIS OUT THAT THIS IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY OF GROWTH , BUT WHEN THEY CAN STAY ON AND PATROL AND MAKE MORE, IT IS NOT AS INVITING, SO THIS IS WHAT WE ARE UP AGAINST. WE ARE HAVING COMPRESSION ISSUES WHEN IT COMES TO EXECUTIVE STAFF AND WHEN WE COME TO SUPERVISORS . IT IS PART OF OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. KEEP GOING. RESOURCE AND COMMUNITY HOPE. IT BRINGS HOPE EVERY DAY AND IMPACTS THE LIVES OF MANY OF CHILDREN . WE DO A BLEND TO TEACH THEM SELLING, GOLFING , TAKE THEM OUTSIDE OF THE NORM TO SHOW THAT A POSITIVE LIFE IS THERE FOR THEM . OUR POLICE EXPLORERS , WE ARE INVESTING IN THEM, BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING FOR THEIR FUTURE . EVEN IF THEY DON'T DECIDE TO BE A POLICE OFFICER, WE HAVE OTHER ENTITIES AND POSITIONS THAT THEY CAN DO. WE PUT FAITH IN EVERYTHING AND OUR FUTURE , SO WE PARTNERED WITH OUR RELIGIOUS OF ALL NATURES AND KINDS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE A VOICE WITH THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND, LASTLY, SAVE THE DATE. THIS IS OUR BIGGEST EVENT. UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY IS JULY 16, 2025. WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS PUT IT IN EVERY LANGUAGE , BECAUSE WE WANT EVERYONE TO FEEL WELCOME AND BE INVITED TO COME AND BE WITH US AND GET TO KNOW THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENT , BECAUSE OUR MOTTO AND ONE THAT NOTE THAT REGARDLESS OF LANGUAGE AND ETHNICITY, IT'S AN HONOR TO SERVE THE PUBLIC. >> COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? >> THANK YOU FOR A VERY DETAILED FOLLOW-UP AND FOR PREPARING A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT . THE CHIEF AND I DID BRIEFLY SPEAK ABOUT THIS LAST WEEK AND THE DIRECTION IS TO GET A MANAGEMENT RESPONSE TO EACH COMMENT, WHETHERYOU CONCUR OR NOT CONCUR AND A CORRECTION ACTION PLAN AND IMPLEMENTATION IN THE ORDER IT WAS PRESENTED. THEN, WE PRIORITIZE HOW IT'S IMPLEMENTED. WE SEE HOW IT'S RECOMMENDED TO US WITH RESPONSE AND CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN AND FOLLOW AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN THAT WE SIT DOWN AND PRIORITIZE THE FUNDING NEEDS AND WE NEED TO SEE THE REPORT AS A RESPONSE TO THE WAY IT'S PRESENTED WHERE IT GETS A BETTER IDEA BY AND DIVISION HOW WE NEED TO RESPOND. >> COMMENTS? >> IN LIGHT OF THE TIMELINE HERE IN OUR HEARTS, I WILL GET DIRECTLY TO MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOU AND YOUR STAFF'S REPORTS TODAY. IT WAS ILLUMINATING. IN MY OPINION, WE HAVE A DEPARTMENT IN CRISIS. FROM STAFFING, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND BUILDING SPACE, OFFICE SPACE ET CETERA. A LOT OF THIS IS FUNDING AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS PORTION OF THE CITY'S BUDGET IS MORE THAN A THIRD AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S GOOD, BAD OR INDIFFERENT, BUT IT'S A STATEMENT OF FACT. I BELIEVE THAT OUR DEPARTMENT IS IN A [04:20:02] STATE OF CRISIS AND IT'S UP TO THIS BODY TO MAKE THE DETERMINATIONS AS TO HOW WE ARE GOING TO REMEDY THAT CRISIS. WE HAVE 10 MINUTES LEFT AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN TODAY. I'M SUGGESTING THAT THE BODY CONVENE A SPECIAL MEETING ON POLICE DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS , BECAUSE WE NEED TO TAKE A FINE LOOK AT THIS AND WHAT POSSIBLE CURES THERE ARE TO RESOLVE THE CRISIS AND THIS IS NOT A QUICK FIX NECESSARILY , BUT THEY ARE TRYING TO TAKE A LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVE AND A BREAK THIS DOWN SIMPLY WITH POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT FALL TO THE COMMAND STAFF . THAT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. FUNDING IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY. WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT ALL OF THIS AND WHAT THE BEST ALTERNATIVES ARE AVAILABLE TO THE CITY AND I BELIEVE CALLING A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BODY TO CONDUCT THAT REVIEW I BELIEVE IT'S WARRANTED. I KNOW WE ARE SHORT ON TIME. >> I AGREE WITH THAT ASSESSMENT. SINCE WE ARE LIMITED ON TIME, I WILL TRY TO KEEP MY COMMENTS BRIEF, BUT I READ BOTH THE DRAFT AND FINAL REPORT . TO SAY I'M CONCERNED WITH SOME THINGS WILL BE A GROSS UNDERSTATEMENT. I UNDERSTAND THE FUNDING ISSUES AND I KNOW IT'S A STRUGGLE EVERYWHERE IN MOST AGENCIES AND ALLEGEDLY WE CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY OFFICERS ENOUGH , BUT COMING FROM A LAW-ENFORCEMENT FAMILY AND MY FATHER HAS BEEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT . I SEE BEING A POLICE OFFICER AND TO ME THAT MEANS AND THE ONES THAT I KNOW AREN'T THERE AREN'T IN IT FOR THE MONEY. FOR THAT, TO ME IT MEANS THAT MONEY IS AN ISSUE, BUT IF THE POLICE OFFICER IS FEELING SUPPORTED, WELL TRAINED WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT IN THEIR AGENCY AND THEY ARE WILLING TO MAYBE TAKE LESS MONEY, BECAUSE THEY LIKE THE PEOPLE THEY WORK WITH AND FEEL SUPPORTED BY THE COMMAND STAFF. TO CONDENSE ALL OF THIS INTO A PAY ISSUE IS LITTLE DISINGENUOUS TO ME. WHAT I SEE IN THE REPORT IS THAT WE HAVE A CULTURE PROBLEM AND WE HAVE A MANAGEMENT PROBLEM COMING FROM THE TOP DOWN. THAT'S HIGHLIGHTED IN MANY INSTANCES IN THE REPORT. THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES COMING FROM MANAGEMENT AND THE CHIEF'S OFFICE ARE MISMANAGED AND THE POLICIES ARE NOT THERE TO KEEP OUR OFFICERS SUPPORTED AND TO KEEP THEM TRAINED AND BEING ABLE TO DO THE JOB THEY ARE ABLE TO DO AND KEEPING THEM SUPPORTIVE. I'M IN A PLACE AT THIS TIME WHERE I WANT TO DO THE SPECIAL MEETING AND TO BE COMPLETELY HONEST ABOUT WHERE I'M SITTING, AND READY FOR A CHANGE IN OUR MANAGEMENT AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I'M READY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT PARTING WAYS WITH THE POLICE CHIEF AND I RESPECT EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THE CITY, BUT I THINK BASED ON MANY FACTORS THAT YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE IS NOT A GOOD FIT FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE THE LAST 10 YEARS AND YOU HAVE IMPLEMENTED A LOT OF GREAT PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE, BUT FORT PIERCE HAS HAD BAD CRIME REPUTATION FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS AND WHETHER YOU BELIEVE THAT'S TRUE OR NOT AND WHETHER THE CRIME STATISTICS BACK THAT UP OR NOT, IT'S A REALITY . PEOPLE THAT DON'T LIVE HERE THINK IT'S UNSAFE. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PARTICULARLY IS THE NUMBER ONE THING WE HAVE TO BE DOING CORRECTLY IN ORDER TO FIX THAT REPUTATION AND IN ORDER TO DO THE GOALS THAT WE WANT TO DO AS A COMMISSION TO GET DIVERSIFIED TAX PAYS IN OUR RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS HAVE TO FEEL SAFE. REALIZING THOSE GOALS THAT WE HAVE. I THINK THAT THE LEVEL OF MEDIOCRITY AND SEEING IN THE REPORT , WHETHER REAL OR IN WRITING SAYS TO ME THAT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT AREN'T FUNDING RELATED AND ARE BASIC THINGS THAT A NORMAL POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTING TO CONDUCT THIS APPROPRIATELY. I JUST WANT TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHERE I'M SITTING TODAY AND WHAT I CAME TO CONCLUSION IN THIS REPORT . I'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH OFFICERS SINCE BEFORE BEING ELECTED. YOU HEAR RUMORS AND STORIES ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT I WILL NOT TAKE THOSE AT FACE VALUE. I'M GOING [04:25:04] TO INVESTIGATE AND FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON . THE STATUS QUO AT FORT PIERCE HAS CHANGED AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS STILL OPERATING AT A LEVEL THAT IS BELOW THE STANDARDS THAT I BELIEVE THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND ITS RESIDENTS DESERVE. WITH THAT SAID, I'M HAPPY TO DO A SPECIAL MEETING, BUT JUST KNOW THAT IT WILL BE THE TOPIC I WILL BE BRINGING UP AND PREPARED TO MAKE A MOTION AS SUCH IF WE NEED ONE TODAY, BUT I THINK IT WILL BE COURTEOUS TO HAVE OUR FIFTH WHEEL HERE MOVING INTO THAT DISCUSSION , BUT THAT'S WHERE I'M AT TODAY. >> MADAM MAYOR, IN RESPECT TO TIME , I APPRECIATE WHERE WE ARE , BUT THIS MAY TAKE A MOMENT . THIS SEEMS A LITTLE DISINGENUOUS AT THIS POINT . WE WERE HERE TO HEAR A REPORT , YET WE HAVE CONCLUDED BASED ON SOME THINGS THAT WE AREN'T QUITE FULLY ELUCIDATED AS IF THEY HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED . AS A COMMISSIONER THAT HAS BEEN ON THE COMMISSION WHEN TIMES WERE REALLY TOUGH HERE AND WHEN WE HAD TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS ON HOW WE WERE GOING TO FUND OUR POLICE AND LITERALLY A POLICE OFFICER LEADING US WHICH THEY CONTINUE TO DO THIS DAY, THAT CYCLE CONTINUES. BASED ON WHAT I'VE READ AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE , THAT WILL CONTINUE NO MATTER WHO'S IN CHARGE , BECAUSE THERE IS A FUNDING CRISIS WHERE OFFICERS HAVE LINED UP RIGHT THERE AND FILL THE CHAMBER AND SHARE WITH US, WHICH WE HAVEN'T ADDRESSED HOW WE ARE GOING TO DO THAT. TO ME, IT SEEMS THAT THEY WOULD TAKE A HARD LOOK AT HOW WE ARE GOING TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE GENUINE CONCERNS THAT WE KNOW ARE HAPPENING IN OUR CITY. I RECALL WHEN CHIEF CAME HERE TALKING ABOUT THE EXPLORATION OF HIRING MAJORS, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE MAJORS. THAT WAS A CRITICAL NEED TO LESSEN SOME OF THE WORKLOAD AND PUT MORE RESPONSIBILITY AND PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR PROMOTION . WE'VE GOT TO MAJORS THAT HAVE BEEN AND PROBABLY A YEAR AND HALF NOW. THEY HAVE JUMPED IN FEET FIRST AND HAD FIRST TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE INTIMATE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED HERE AND SOME OF WHICH WE'VE HEARD THAT WE AGREE WITH AND SOME WE DID NOT KNOW THAT THEY ADDRESSED AND WE JUST NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS. WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE NEED TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE FIRST, BECAUSE REGARDLESS OF WHATEVER IT GOES , FUNDING IS FUNDING . AS YOU ALREADY TALK , A THIRD OF OUR CURRENT $63 MILLION BUDGET GOES TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT . DO WE NEED TO GO TO TWO THIRDS? IF WE DO, THEN WHAT'S GOING TO BE CUT? THOSE ARE DECISIONS THAT THEY LIKE IT IS TO DO. I HAVE NO DECISION OR ISSUES HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR ANYTHING, BUT SOME OF THIS STUFF IS ON US. WE TALKED ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT IMPACT . I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT THAT WILL YIELD AS A RESULT . THAT ME JUST ADDRESS THE CONCERNS, BECAUSE I NOT ONLY HEARD ISSUES THAT YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED WITH THE CHIEF, BUT WE NEED EQUIPMENT , TECHNOLOGY AND WE JUST BOUGHT COMPUTERS IN LESS THAN FOUR YEARS AGO AND THEIR ALREADY OUTDATED. THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES HERE THAT WE ARE GOING TO ADDRESS AND THEY WILL COME THAT MEETING, BUT I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GETTING THE BEST TO THE CITIZENS OF THE COMMUNITY , BECAUSE STATISTICS DO NOT LIE. YES, WE HAVE CRYING. IT HAS COME DOWN AND WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT OUR CITY AND WE GET AN UNFAIR MARK WHEN IT COMES TO THAT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. >> WE ARE OUT OF TIME AND AM HEARING SOME VERY PRESSING NEED TO HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING , COMMISSIONER BRODERICK. DID YOU HAVE A TIME IN MIND IN LIGHT OF WHAT COMMISSIONER TAYLOR HAS CALLED FOR ? I THINK IT SHOULD BE SOONER. >> I THINK IT'S CRITICAL AND WE NEED TO GET ON THIS IMMEDIATELY. THE DEPARTMENT IS IN CRISIS. IF THE DEPARTMENT IS IN CRISIS, THE CITY IS IN CRISIS. NEED TO TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY. I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT IS AND I WANT TO HEAR MORE FROM COMMISSIONER TAYLOR'S PERSPECTIVE AND WE NEED HIS INPUT. I WANT TO HEAR EVERYONE'S INPUT ON THIS AS TO BEST SOLUTIONS TO MOVE FORWARD. [04:30:02] >> WE WILL WORK WITH STAFF TO IDENTIFY A TIME ON THE CALENDARS AND DO IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WE CANNOT GO TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. WE HAVE NO MORE TIME, SO WE ARE GOING TO CLOSE THIS MEETING RIGHT NOW AND WE WILL NOT DO OUR BOARDS AND COMMITTEES AND WE WILL ADJOURN, BECAUSE WE HAVE A HARD STOP * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.