[00:00:21] I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE . >> [4. 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 fifteen 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.] >> THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC. >> IT'S TIME FOR COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE ADDRESS THE WHOLE COMMISSION AND PLEASE ADDRESS THE COMMISSION WITH RESPECT AND WE WILL START TAKING PUBLIC COMMENT. WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE FIRST. >> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. >> MY NAME IS AM A RESIDENT . EXACT ADDRESS? >> THAT IS FINE. >> I AM HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE CHIEF , WHO IS UNABLE TO MAKE IT . AS YOU WELL KNOW, SHE IS ON VACATION. SHE DID SEND AN EMAIL TO THE CITY MANAGER LAST NIGHT. I WANT TO READ THAT EMAIL IN THE RECORD. MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, ONE OF THE GREATEST MOMENTS OF MY LIFE WAS BEING SWORN IN AS THE CHIEF OF POLICE OF THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT. DURING MY TENURE OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, I COMMITTED MYSELF TO FOSTERING A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR THE DEPARTMENT THAT EMPHASIZES ENFORCEMENT FOR OUR CITIZENS AND EMPOWERS THE SAFETY OF OUR OFFICERS. TOGETHER WITH THE COMMUNITY, I AM PROUD OF WHAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS ACHIEVED AT THIS TIME, WHICH HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN REFLECTED IN POSITIVE EVALUATIONS. THE CENTER FOR PUBLIC SAFETY MANAGEMENT, CPS M, HAS FURTHER VALIDATED THESE EFFORTS, EMPHASIZING THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S HIGH QUALITY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES. THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTED THE PROFESSIONALISM AND PROFESSIONALISM OF OUR STAFF, SHOWCASING THE UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO OUR CITY. REGRETTABLY, COMMENTS MADE DURING THE WANING MINUTES OF THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING HAVE UNDERMINED TRUST, INTRODUCED DIVISION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AND EFFECTIVELY ERODED MORALE. ALLEGATIONS OF PROMISED CHANGES TO LEADERSHIP POSITIONS HAVE FOSTERED AN ATMOSPHERE OF CONFLICT AND MADE IT INCREASINGLY CHALLENGING TO EFFECTIVELY LEAD OUT OF THE CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES. AS I EXPRESSED MANY TIMES, I BELIEVE MY DEPARTMENT WAS DRIVEN BY DIVINE PURPOSE. NOW I FEEL IT IS TIME FOR ME TO TURN THE PAGE . THEREFORE I AM FORMALLY TENDERING MY RESIGNATION 90 DAYS FROM THE ACCEPTANCE DATE OF THE COMMISSION. IT IS MY EARNEST HOPE THE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO THRIVE AND THE HEROES AND SHE-ROES ARE SUPPORTED BY THOSE NOBLE ENDEAVORS. MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS FORT PIERCE AND IT'S DEDICATED POLICE DEPARTMENT. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, CHIEF DIANE HOBLEY-BURNEY. I ALSO WANT TO BRING TO YOU THE REPORT FROM THAT STUDY YOU COMMISSIONED. BASED UPON CPS 'S DETAILED ASSESSMENT OF THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITHOUT COLLUSION -- CONCLUSION THAT OVERALL DID NOT COMPLY WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES, THE DEDICATION OF THE DEPARTMENT THROUGH THE REPORT, WE WILL ALLOW THE READER TO MAKE ITS DECISIONS. THAT IS IT. THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> THANK YOU, SIR. MS. JACKSON, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO NEXT? >> YES. >> I HAVE TO TURN IT. >> I AM JOYCE JACKSON, I AM THE DESIGNATED BY CHIEF AND THE MOTHER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SHE DID NOT, NOR DID THE DEPUTY CHIEF COME TO FORT PIERCE, THEY WERE INVITED TO COME AND THEY HAVE ONLY DONE GOOD FOR FORT PIERCE. SHE WALKED THE STREETS OF FORT PIERCE OH DARK 40 IN THE MORNING BY HERSELF TO MAKE SURE THINGS WERE RIGHT. WE HAD ROLL CALL SET CHURCHES, STORES AND HOMES SO OFFICERS WOULD GET TO [00:05:01] KNOW THEIR MEMBERS. WE HAVE BEEN MISTREATED. SHE HAS BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH. THE GOD IN HER IS BIGGER THAN THE DEVIL AND EVERYONE TRIED TO GET RID OF HER. THANK GOD SHE WENT OUT ON HER OWN. FORT PIERCE WILL NEVER, EVER HAVE A CHIEF LIKE CHIEF DIANE HOBLEY-BURNEY. IT MIGHT SOUND LIKE I AM PREJUDICED, I AM A PEOPLE PREJUDICE PERSON, NOT A RACIAL. BUT I THINK SHE HAS BEEN MISTREATED BUT SHE IS GOING TO GO HOME, SIT ON HER FRONT PORCH AND WHEN COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER SENT A MISSION TO HER TO COME TO FORT PIERCE AND SHE WAS HIRED FOR US, SHE HAS BEEN A BETTER CHIEF THAN ANY CHIEF FORT PIERCE HAS EVER HAD AND WE WILL ALL REGRET THE FACT THAT THE WAY THIS COMMISSION HAS STOOD WITH AND FOR HER NOW THAT SHE WILL BE GONE . I AM SADDENED BY WHAT HAPPENED LAST MONDAY, I PEOPLE THAT DON'T REALLY KNOW HER NOR CARE. BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT BECAUSE SHE IS THE BEST WE WILL EVER HAVE AND WE HAVE EVER HAD. YES, I SAY TO MY CITY OF FORT PIERCE, YOU WILL PROBABLY REGRET IT AND I HOPE THAT SOME OF US WILL. THANK YOU AND HAVE A BLESSED DAY. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. WHO IS NEXT? WHO IS NEXT >> GOOD MORNING TO THE COMMISSION. I AM PASTOR HAZEL HORMAN, THE FOUNDER OF IN THE IMAGE OF CHRIST INC. I AM ALSO THE SENIOR PASTOR OF HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL PEOPLE HERE IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. I WAS WATCHING THE NEWS, I WAS VERY SURPRISED TO SEE THAT THE CHIEF HAD RESIGNED . I DON'T KNOW THE CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT I AM HERE TO SAY I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR A WOMAN LIKE HER, WHO CAME TO FORT PIERCE, NOT BECAUSE SHE HAD TO, BECAUSE I ALSO BELIEVE IT WAS BY DIVINE APPOINTMENT FOR HER TO BE HERE. SHE HAS DONE SO MUCH. I DON'T HAVE TO NAME IT ALL OUT BECAUSE WE CAN SEE IT, EVEN OVER ON 31ST AND AVENUE G. THE OFFICERS COME OUT EVERY TUESDAY WITH THOSE CHILDREN TO HAVE AND TO MAKE CONNECTIONS SO THAT THE CHILDREN WON'T SEE THE POLICE IN ONLY ONE ASPECT . SO I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO HER. WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS WOMAN IS THAT SHE HAS GIVEN OTHER LITTLE BROWN GIRLS PERMISSION TO BE GREAT ALSO. I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL TO THE LOVING CARING GOD THAT WOULD ALLOW HER TO COME HERE. I THANK GOD FOR THE COMMISSION, BUT I TELL YOU, I AM SADDENED TODAY AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO ACCEPT IT, DON'T DO IT. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. WHO IS NEXT. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. VOLUME ] I JUST WANT TO SAY I WANT TO BE ON RECORD SAYING SOME THE THINGS THE CHIEF AND HER DEPARTMENT DID THAT A LOT OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY DON'T KNOW ABOUT. WHENEVER THERE WAS A NEW OFFICER HIRED, PARTICULARLY IF THEY WERE GOING TO PATROL THE LINCOLN PARK AREA, SHE HAD TWO OF HER DEPUTIES, CHIEF DEPUTY NORSE AND DEPUTY GARCIA. THEY WOULD TAKE THOSE OFFICERS OVER INTO THE LINCOLN PARK AREA AND VISIT SENIOR CITIZENS , TO GET THEM TO KNOW THOSE PEOPLE. THEY WOULD DO WELL AND I COULD SAY THAT FOR A FACT BECAUSE MY MOTHER, ONE DAY, MY MOTHER USUALLY SITS ON HER BACK PORCH . THE GARAGE DOOR IS OPEN. ONE DAY THE OFFICER DROVE BY AND SAW HER GARAGE DOOR DOWN AND HER NOT SITTING ON THE PORCH SO THEY KNOCKED ON THE DOOR TO SEE IF SHE WAS OKAY. THEY DIDN'T JUST DO IT FOR MY MOTHER, THEY DID IT FOR A LOT. MANY OF THESE OFFICERS, THEY GET FAR LESS THAN WHAT THEY DO IN ST. LUCIE AND OTHER AREAS. THIS RIGHT NOW SADDENS ME BECAUSE WE KEEP SEEING TURMOIL HAPPEN HERE AND IT IS UNNECESSARY. WE NEED TO FIND WAYS IN AMERICA TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER, NOT FURTHER DIVIDE THEM. THAT IS WHAT FORT PIERCE IS BECOMING KNOWN AS. THERE IS A GROUP OF US OUT THERE DETERMINED TO DO OUR BEST TO KEEP THIS CITY UNITED AND MOVING FORWARD. I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT SHE DID A LOT THAT PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT AND THAT DEPARTMENT, I ALSO UNDERSTAND, I DID SOME RESEARCH. I WANT YOU TO VALIDATE IT. SEE WHERE WE ARE TODAY IN FORT PIERCE AND WHERE WE NORMALLY ARE THIS TIME OF YEAR IN TERMS OF OUR MURDER RATE. YOU DON'T HEAR OF THE SHOOTINGS. YOU DON'T HEAR ABOUT THE SHOOTINGS ANY MORE. 10 YEARS AGO, RIGHT NOW, THEY WERE OFF THE CHAIN. NOW, I BELIEVE THERE MIGHT BE ONE HOMICIDE IN FORT PIERCE. NORMALLY, THIS TIME OF YEAR, THERE ARE LIKE SIX . THIS DATA WILL SPEAK FOR ITSELF. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR. WHO IS NEXT? >> GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. DOLORES HOGAN [00:10:04] JOHNSON, FORT PIERCE. I STARTED OUT AS PART OF MY CAREER AS THE FIRST AFFIRMATIVE-ACTION OFFICER WITH THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. THAT WAS WHEN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION WAS A POSITIVE THING. TRYING TO INCREASE THE REPRESENTATION OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE THAT OUR GOVERNMENT REFLECTED HOW THE CITIZENRY LOOKED AT MY GREATEST JOB AND THE COMFORT IT GAVE ME WAS WORKING WITH THE INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS AND THE BIGGEST WORD THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT . WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY. THIS WAS IN THE LATE 1970S . I RESIGNED IN 1983 TO GO AND GET MY MASTERS. BUT I LOVE THIS CITY. THIS IS MY BIRTHPLACE. I WANT ALL OF US TO WORK TOGETHER. YOU REPRESENT THIS CITY. LISTEN TO THE CITIZENS AND WORK AND DO WHAT IS BEST FOR US . AS CITIZENS, I KNOW I ADDRESS YOU BUT I AM ADDRESSING THE CITIZENS, ALSO. EVERY OPPORTUNITY , WE ALWAYS SAY GOVERNMENTS ARE OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE. IT IS ALL OF OURS. NO ONE HAS ALL THE ANSWERS. TOGETHER, WE CAN DO GREAT THINGS. LET US CONTINUE. LET THIS BE A CHALLENGE FOR US. I WISH THE BEST FOR CHIEF BURNEY. LET US CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER. THIS CITY IS GREAT . OUR POLICE OFFICERS, IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE HAS BECOME A TRAINING GROUND AND THEY STAY WITH US A LIMITED NUMBER OF YEARS AND THEN THEY GO AWAY. SO WE NEED AND I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE, I THINK, OF TALKING TO ALL OF YOU REGARDING DIFFERENT THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY. BUT LET US WORK TOGETHER TO GET A STRONG TAX BASE. THERE ARE SOME EXCELLENT PROJECTS OUT THERE TO DO THAT. LET US PURSUE THAT SO WE WILL HAVE THE MONIES NECESSARY. LET'S TALK WITH THE RANK AND FILE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND IN ALL DEPARTMENTS , YOU, AS OUR REPRESENTATIVES, SO WE CAN COME TOGETHER WITH THINGS THAT WILL DO AND BENEFIT THE BEST OF FORT PIERCE. WE LOVE THIS CITY. LET'S CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER AND DO WHAT IS BEST . WE'VE GOT TO COMMUNICATE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO NEXT? >> MARJORIE HAROLD. 2804 AVENUE Q. IF YOU HAVE A JOB AND YOU NEVER GET THE MONEY TO HIRE ALL OF THE PEOPLE YOU NEED TO HIRE, THE WORKERS, IF YOU ARE WORKING WITH THE SHORT STAFF AND SHE WORKED WITH A STORE -- SHORT STAFF, THEN YOU CANNOT DO THE JOB WELL. YOU DON'T EXPECT TO DO IT WELL. SO WHEN THERE IS A PROBLEM, YOU GET TOGETHER AND YOU WORK IT OUT. YOU ALL DID NOT DO THAT FOR THE CHIEF. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU'VE GOT TO DO BETTER. YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO HIRE ALL THE HELP THAT YOU NEED . SHE WAS SHORT OF HELP. SO THEREFORE, YOU CAN'T DO THE THINGS YOU NEED TO DO AND THERE WAS SOME , I MENTIONED IN THE MEETING TWO, THREE WEEKS AGO, THE MORNING MEETING, AND, UM, THEY SAID, UM, SHE WAS SHORT , UM, HELP . SHE DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE OFFICERS THAT SHE NEEDED. SHE DID THE BEST JOB THAT SHE COULD WITH WHAT SHE HAD. HER PEOPLE CAME AND THEY ASKED FOR RAISES. I WAS HERE IN THOSE MEETINGS. I WAS CONSTANTLY HERE . THEY WERE ASKING FOR RAISES. YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO GIVE THEM WHAT THEY NEEDED . HOW COULD YOU EXPECT HER TO DO WHAT SHE NEEDED [00:15:01] TO DO? >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO NEXT? >> GOOD MORNING. >> I AM REALIZE THAT IN EVERY BUSINESS, NO MATTER WHAT, THERE WILL BE PROBLEMS. BUT MY QUESTION THIS MORNING, IS TO YOU ALL AND TO THOSE WHO SIT IN THE AUDIENCE, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MAKE THIS A BETTER PLACE? ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO WE STARTED THE POLICE ADVISEMENT COMMITTEE. THERE IS ONLY ONE PERSON IN THIS AUDIENCE RIGHT NOW THAT EVER ATTENDED ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS . WE MET EVERY FOURTH, FIRST, SECOND THURSDAY . ONLY ONE PERSON. HE CAME LATE. OVER FOR THE WAS CONCERNED . HE WAS THE ONE THAT WAS ON THE NEWS YESTERDAY . FOR 2 1/2 YEARS I SAT ON THAT COMMITTEE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A SUPPORT TO THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT. NOT ONE CITIZEN CAME TO VOICE ANY CONCERNS, ANYTHING THAT THEY FELT WAS WRONG. NOT ONE. NOT ONE. AND IF I AM LYING IN THEY CAN STAND UP AND SAY I DID. WE CAME BEFORE YOU ALL SO MANY TIMES. WE FOUGHT FOR THESE OFFICERS. THEY GOT TO KNOW ME BECAUSE IT WAS NOT JUST MY MOUTH, IT WAS ME FIGHTING, STANDING HERE, MAKING PRESENTATIONS ABOUT THE INEQUITIES THAT WAS HAPPENING AT WHEN YOU LOOK AT PORT ST. LUCIE, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE DATA. THEY START OUT TOGETHER AS OFFICERS. IN THAT SECOND AND THIRD YEAR, THE GAPS START GROWING AND GROWING AND GROWING. SHE SHOWED US, SHE WAS ALMOST WORKING WITH THE SAME BUDGET THAT WAS THERE IN 2008. WEEK, EVERY MONTH, I HEARD SOMEONE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN IN THE NEWS THAT SAID SHE WAS INTO SOCIALIZING. THAT SOCIALIZING IS WHAT BROUGHT OUR LINCOLN PARK COMMUNITY TOGETHER. BECAUSE WE GOT INFORMATION. EVERY FOURTH WEDNESDAY WE HAD AN ] AT MY CHURCH. SHE HAD THE OFFICERS COME AND EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY. ONLY A FEW SITTING IN THIS OFFICE HAD EVER BEEN THERE. BUT EVERY, EVERY FOURTH, UM WEDNESDAY, THESE OFFICERS COME AND TELL US, HOW CAN WE DO BETTER, EDUCATE US ON WHAT WE DID NOT KNOW AND GET AWAY FROM THE STREET CONCERN. EVERY, EVERY FOURTH SHE MADE SURE THERE WAS SO WHEN THERE EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY. EYECHART SITS ON 23RD STREET AND AVENUE D. IT USED TO BE PROCLAIMED AS THE WORST STREET IN THE CITY. YOU KNOW IT, AND I KNOW IT. I ONLY HAVE 13 SECONDS . LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING. THE SHOOTINGS HAVE STOPPED. WE HAD A SHOOTING TWO WEEKS AGO IN THE BACK OF MY CHURCH THAT WAS NOT FROM THIS CITY. I'M TELLING YOU ALL YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING WRONG. >> THANK YOU. WHO IS NEXT? >> JASMINE. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS LUKE LEWIS, I AM A RESIDENT OF FORT PIERCE AND ALSO, I AM A BUSINESS OWNER . I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADDRESS THE AUDIENCE AND COMMISSION ITSELF. YOU THINK YOU HAVE A DIFFICULT JOB AS A REAL ESTATE BROKER, I HAVE ONE EQUALLY AS DIFFICULT AS YOURS BECAUSE MY JOB IS TO SELL THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE TO PEOPLE INTERESTED IN MOVING HERE IN OPENING UP BUSINESSES. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT TODAY I THOUGHT WAS OF SIGNIFICANT INTEREST TO EVERYONE YEAR, THIS IS NOT CHIEF HOBLEY-BURNEY ISSUE. TODAY IT IS BUT TOMORROW IT COULD BE A CITY MANAGER ISSUE, COMMISSIONER ISSUE, CITY MANAGER ISSUE BUT NOT JUST THE CHIEF'S ISSUE. BUDGETARY RESTRAINTS ARE MADE HERE BECAUSE OF OUR LIMITED BUDGET. I WANT TO POINT OUT A COUPLE THINGS HERE I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE. THIS IS RELATED TO SALARIES OF THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER MUNICIPALITIES. THE AVERAGE SALARY OF THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICER IS 55,000. PORT ST. LUCIE IS 69. THE AVERAGE PAY START IS FOR SERGEANT 87,000 AND IN PORT ST. LUCIE $112,000. THE AVERAGE SALARY OF A LIEUTENANT , IN PARTICULAR, FORT PIERCE, 105,000. THE LIEUTENANT RANK IN PORT ST. LUCIE IS $132,000. SO, [00:20:08] I THINK, BEFORE WE CONSIDER THAT WE HAVE A LEADERSHIP ISSUE, I HAVE NEVER SEEN A SITUATION HERE WHERE POLICE OFFICERS IN THE CITY HAVE RUN FROM A FIGHT. I HAVE SEEN THEM RUN INTO A FIGHT. THAT IS LEADERSHIP. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ALL UNDERSTAND HERE THAT THE REAL ISSUE IS NOT IN THE LEADERSHIP AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO PEOPLE WORKING HERE, ATTRACTED TO BEING HERE AND WANTING TO NOT JUST RESIDE, WORK OR OPEN BUSINESSES HERE IN FORT PIERCE. SO, WHATEVER IS DONE HERE, THAT IS A HILL WORTH DYING ON A DIFFERENT DAY. TODAY 'S BATTLE IS THAT WE NEED TO REALLY ADDRESS TO BRING MONEY HERE, BUSINESSES HERE, CREATE A TAX BASE HERE AND WE DON'T HAVE SHORTAGES OF POLICE OFFICERS, SANITATION WORKERS OR ANY OTHER STAFF MEMBERS THAT MAKE THE CITY AS GREAT AS IT IS. TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS. WE NEED TO REALLY ADDRESS SOME OTHER CONCERNS. IT IS NOT JUST THE POLICE CHIEF'S PRECISION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU, SIR. WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO NEXT? >> FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS INAUDIBLE ], 5227 OAKLEY LAKE CIRCLE, FORT PIERCE , FLORIDA. GOOD MORNING, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, CITY MANAGER. CITY ATTORNEY. SERGEANT AT ARMS AND ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE AUDIENCE. I STAND BEFORE YOU AS IT IS NO SECRET OF MY POSITION AS FAR AS HOW I FEEL ABOUT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, WHAT WE COULD DO BETTER. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN OUTSPOKEN. I HAVE TAKEN UNPOPULAR STANCES, WHICH I DON'T REGRET. I AM VERY UNAPOLOGETIC. I WILL ALWAYS STAND ON THE SIDE OF RIGHT, NO MATTER WHO I HAVE TO GO UP AGAINST. NOW, WHAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, IT IS NOT TO BE THE O.J. SIMPSON SAGA. THIS IS NOT A VICTIMIZATION HEARING. NEITHER, THIS IS NOT AN ARGUMENT ABOUT WHAT THE CHIEF HAS DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY, WHAT SHE HASN'T DONE, WHO SHE IS FRIENDS WITH OR WHATEVER. ALL OF THAT IS IRRELEVANT. WHAT IS THAT QUESTION HERE IS THE STATE OF THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE STATE OF THE COMMUNITY, THE AREAS THAT THEY SERVE. WE HAD AN ASSESSMENT . I READ THE ASSESSMENT. I ANALYZED IT. I HAVE A BACKGROUND IN PROTECTION. A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT SPOKE DON'T HAVE THAT BACKGROUND. THEY NEVER PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR FOLKS. I WOULD SAY THAT . SO I CAN SPEAK. WHAT'S AT STAKE IS THE CLIMATE OF OUR CITY, AS A WHOLE AT THIS COMMISSION, SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS WEREN'T THERE DURING THAT REGIME. THIS PROBLEM HAS CULMINATED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. NOW, I AM AGAINST BLAMING JUST ONE PERSON, BUT I WANT EVERYONE TO LOOK AT THE TOTALITY, ALL OF YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE TOTALITY OF THIS. HOW ARE THE FUNDS SPENT? DID ANYBODY CHECK THE CLIMATE OF THE WORKPLACE? DID ANYONE TALK TO THE OFFICERS? OF COURSE, YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY. BUT LET'S HEAR FROM THE OFFICERS. PAST AND PRESENT. THAT IS NOT IN THAT REPORT. LET'S GET WITH THE HR DIRECTOR AND LET'S LOOK AT THE KINDS OF SURVEYS WITH WHAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE SOMETHING. YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT EVERY MOVING PIECE. SOME MEMBERS HERE, THEY ARE GOING TO SPEAK AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN REASONS. IF I HAD A CHURCH AND MONEY WAS DONATED TO ME, YOUR DOG ON RIGHT I WOULD GET THEM TO SPEAK. THAT WILL BE CUT SHORT. I DON'T THINK THAT IS APPROPRIATE USE OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TRUST FUND, BUT WE MAKE MISTAKES AND WE DO BETTER. AND THAT IS ALL I AM GOING TO SAY. >> THANK YOU, SIR. WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO NEXT? WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO NEXT? >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS LARRY FORMER EMPLOYEE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I LEFT IN JULY 2024. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO ACCEPT THE CHIEF'S RESIGNATION TODAY, THAT YOU DO NOT LET HER WORK THE 90 DAYS. WE ALL FACED AN ATMOSPHERE OF INTIMIDATION AND FEAR IN THAT DEPARTMENT. I AM SPEAKING TODAY BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE CANNOT. [00:25:04] UM, I THINK IF YOU ALLOW HER TO WORK 90 DAYS, YOU WILL HAVE A PROBLEM WITH RETENTION AND, UM, I THINK THE BEST THING IS TO PAY HER, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO, BUT MOVE FORWARD, MOVE FORWARD NOW. >> THANK YOU, SIR. WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO NEXT? LAST CALL. WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO NEXT? >> GOOD MORNING. SYDNEY FERGUSON, 2515 OKEECHOBEE ROAD. I OWN OPEN UP BUSINESSES IN FORT PIERCE, I DIDN'T DO IT BECAUSE I LIKE GOING THROUGH THE JETTY. I DID IT BECAUSE OF THE LEADERSHIP OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I THINK THIS IS A RACIST MOVE TO PUSH OUT THE POLICE CHIEF . THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR. WHO'S NEXT? >> GOOD MORNING, DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THIS PRESTIGIOUS COUNSEL. MY NAME IS BRIAN SCOTT DODD. I AM A RESIDENT HERE OF 54 YEARS. I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF EGREGIOUS STUFF HAPPEN. I WON'T GO INTO DETAIL. I LIVE AT 219 HIGHLY AVENUE, FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA. A LOT OF THESE OFFICERS HERE ARE SAYING NO SHIT . >> SIR, PLEASE WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE. >> I APOLOGIZE. IT WAS 2024 WHEN MY WONDERFUL BROTHER PASSED AWAY. I HAVE GOT NOTHING BUT EGREGIOUS ABUSE FROM THIS POLICE CHIEF THROUGH HER INABILITY TO TRAIN HER OFFICERS AND GUIDE THEM PROPERLY. I AND BEGGING PEOPLE TO LISTEN TO THE WORDS I DO NOT SPEAK REALLY -- ILLY. THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH . FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS I HAVE BEEN ABUSED BY THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I USED TO BE A VERY UPSTANDING AND REALLY RESPECTFUL CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTY. I WILL BE THAT WAY AGAIN, MS. MAYOR, I BELIEVE THAT. RIGHT NOW, I WANT TO FOCUS ON THE ABUSE AND THE OVERWHELMING, UNETHICAL TREATMENT THAT THESE OFFICERS ARE ABUSING PEOPLE BY. NOW, I HAVE ALREADY BEAT ONE OF THE CHARGES . I ALREADY MADE FOUR CONGRESSIONAL COMPLAINTS . THERE IS GOING TO BE MORE. I AGREE WITH THESE TWO YOUNG FELLOWS, I WON'T LOOK BACK BUT I WON'T BELABOR THE POINT BECAUSE THEY ARE RIGHT ON POINT, MS. MAYOR AND OTHER DISTINGUISHED GUESTS . JUST WORK ON THAT FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT . I SPENT A DAY IN A MENTAL SELL -- MAYOR IN A FREAKING R& R BOND. LET'S GET IT STRAIGHTENED OUT. >> THANK YOU, SIR. >> WHO IS NEXT? >> COMMISSIONERS, MEMBERS OF THE DAY IS. I HAVE BEEN OUT OF TOWN AND I AM COMPLETELY BLINDSIDED BY WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE IN THE CITY. FOR 10 YEARS I HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH CHIEF DIANE. SHE HAS BROUGHT OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER . SHE REALLY HAS BROUGHT US TOGETHER. YOU HEARD FROM A LOT OF FOLKS IN THIS COMMISSION MEETING OF ALL THE THINGS SHE HAS DONE . SHE HAD MEETINGS EITHER ON SOUTH BEACH , LINCOLN PARK, SHE PULLED THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER. I THINK THIS IS A TERRIBLE MISTAKE. SHE HAS BEEN SO GOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN ACTUALLY REPLACE HER S BEEN SAID ABOUT, THERE IS JUST NOT ENOUGH MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO RETAIN OFFICERS. WE HAVE HAD THAT FIGHT WITH THE COMMISSION SINCE HER WHOLE TENURE. WHAT HAPPENS IS, WHEN OFFICERS ARE UNDERPAID, ACCORDING TO OTHER STAFFS, YOU HAVE TO TAKE PART-TIME WORK, EXTRA JOBS . THEY ARE WORKING TWICE AS HARD TO MAKE WHAT THEIR COUNTERPARTS [00:30:05] ARE MAKING IN OTHER COMMUNITIES. THAT REALLY IS A LOSS OF MORALE. THEY ARE HAVING TO WORK TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILY AND THEY ARE NOT HOME ENOUGH TO HAVE A FAMILY LIFE. THAT PUTS A LOT OF STRESS ON OUR OFFICERS. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT, EXCEPT BY SPENDING MORE MONEY, BECAUSE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE LIQUIDATION SURVEY, THEY GREETED THE DEPARTMENT HIGH, VERY HIGH. MOST OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THEY HAD WAS MORE STAFF , MORE UPPER RANKING OFFICERS, BUT THAT ALL TAKES MONEY. MY LAST COMMENT WOULD BE, WE NEED TO LOOK OUTSIDE THE DEPARTMENT AND HAVE A GOOD SEARCH FOR ANOTHER REPLACEMENT. I DON'T THINK YOU WILL FIND ANOTHER CHIEF HOBLEY-BURNEY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR. WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO NEXT? >> GOOD MORNING. I WANT TO SAY GOOD MORNING TO THE BOARD, GOOD MORNING TO THE NEW CITY MANAGER, THE CLERK , ALL THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, JIM JOHNSON, OF COURSE, FORT PIERCE IS MY HOME TOWN. LET ME SAY THIS . MY MOM TOLD ME A LONG TIME AGO, WHEN EVERYONE SPEAKS GOOD OF YOU OR WHEN ANYONE SPEAKS BAD OF YOU BUT IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH SPEAKING GOOD AND BAD ABOUT YOU, YOU HAVE DONE SOMETHING RIGHT. I CAN TRULY SAY THE FIRST DAY THAT CHIEF DIANE WAS IN HER POSITION I AM HERE THE LAST DAY TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS. LET ME SAY THIS TO THE BOARD. I DON'T CARE FOR YOUR EFFORTS BUT ANYTIME YOU TAKE SOMETHING AWAY, YOU HAVE TO REPLACE IT WITH SOMETHING ELSE. WHEN YOU REPLACE IT WITH SOMETHING ELSE, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT A COUPLE OF THINGS HAPPEN. NUMBER ONE, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE REPLACING IT WITH SOMETHING BETTER. NUMBER TWO, IN THIS SITUATION, I WOULD SAY TO THE BOARD, I WAS IN THE SAME SITUATION WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSION . WE WERE LOSING OFFICERS TO THE CITY OF PORT ST. LUCIE BECAUSE OF PAY. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS PROBLEM IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY. THE COST OF LIVING IS GOING UP. THE ABILITY TO GET CERTAIN JOBS IS GOING DOWN. SO WHEN YOU GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO JUMP SHIP, THEY WILL JUMP SHIP FOR A BETTER BOAT. AT THE END OF THE DAY, ANNEXATION, BRINGING BUSINESSES IN, SHIFTING MONEY, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT . AND I DON'T ENVY YOUR EFFORTS TO FIGURE IT OUT. IF YOU ARE GOING TO GIVE THIS NEXT CHIEF AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED, I DO BELIEVE DIANE HOBLEY-BURNEY, AS THE CHIEF, HAS SUCCEEDED, AND I WILL GIVE HER MY STANDING OVATION. BETTER START THAN WHAT SHE HAS. SO, IT'S YOUR JOB . IS YOUR ABILITY TO DO YOUR JOB. I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOU DOING YOUR JOB AT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE IS THE SUNRISE CITY SO LET'S KEEP SHINING. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR AT ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE? >> GOOD MORNING. UM, IT IS A VERY SAD DAY FOR ME. >> YOUR NAME, SIR? >> JAMIE LEE ROY. I WAS OUT HERE THE FIRST DAY SHE GOT THE JOB. AND I AM HERE AGAIN. THIS NEWS IS NOT GOOD IN THE HAITIAN COMMUNITY. WE HEARD ABOUT IT, WE GOT UPSET. I KNOW THE CHIEF . SHE IS THE BEST WE HAVE HAD. SHE IS THE BEST. AND WHEN I SAW THE NEWS ON TV, I ALMOST CRIED. I ALMOST CRIED . THAT IS WHY I TOOK OFF FROM WORK TO BE HERE TO SUPPORT THE CHIEF. I THINK SHE HAS DONE A GOOD JOB! I LOVE MY CHIEF! IF WE ARE GOING TO REPLACE THE CHIEF, I RECOMMEND YOU GUYS GO OUTSIDE AND GET SOMEBODY ELSE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, SIR . WHO IS NEXT? WHO IS NEXT? ANYONE ELSE? [00:35:07] >> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. >> MY NAME IS PEARL DAVIS LIVERPOOL. I LIVE AT 2006 AVENUE Q, FORT PIERCE. I JUST WANTED TO SAY, I DELIBERATELY WORE THIS SHIRT TODAY BECAUSE IT SAYS, MOVE ON . WE'VE GOT TO MOVE ON. EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED UP TO THIS POINT, IT HAS BEEN SPOKEN TO AND IT IS A SAD DAY FOR ME, AS WELL, FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE . I RECALL WHEN SHE FIRST CAME TO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, I WAS SO EXCITED. THE WHOLE ROOM WAS BEAMING. SHE WAS BEAMING. SHE SHARED SOME VERY BRIGHT IDEAS. THE SITUATION IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE SHE INHERITED WAS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN WHAT SHE IS PASSING ON. NOW WE TALK QUITE OFTEN ABOUT PEOPLE BEING PART OF YOUR LIFE FOR A REASON, FOR A SEASON AND THIS WAS HER OPPORTUNITY HERE IN FORT PIERCE. WE ARE LOOKING AT A WHOLE DIFFERENT CITY AS A RESULT OF HER EFFORTS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. THERE IS NO CITY IN THE USA THAT CAN SAY IT DOESN'T HAVE CRIME . THERE ISN'T A CITY IN THE USA THAT CAN SAY IT DOESN'T HAVE ITS ISSUES OR IS FULLY STAFFED. BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, IF WE KNOW WE NEED THE MONEY TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN THE WAY WE PROFESS, THEN WE NEED TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. BECAUSE, OVERALL, WE NEED EVERY PIECE OF THE PUZZLE TO BE ALL WE CAN BE. I AM VERY SADDENED TODAY BECAUSE I REMEMBER THE ENTHUSIASM THAT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE SHARED WHEN SHE CAME WITH ALL OF HER BRIGHT IDEAS. WE WERE ALL ENERGIZED TO BE PART OF WHAT SHE WAS GOING TO DO . AND FROM WHERE I STAND, SHE DID IT. NOW, IF THERE WERE INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND THEY WERE QUESTIONING CONCERN, THAT IS IT. THAT IS ANYTOWN, USA. GIVE HER THE SUPPORT IS WHAT WE CRY THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, GIVE HER THE SUPPORT SHE NEEDS. WE APPOINTED YOU GUYS TO BE THERE. YOU WILL HEAR PEOPLE SAY, WELL, THE CITIZENS SHOULD GET INVOLVED, THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE, THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER. WE APPOINTED YOU GUYS AS YOUR CONSTITUENTS TO KEEP US INFORMED. SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO COME WITH US AND SHARE WITH US SHE WAS HAVING CERTAIN ISSUES. WE APPOINTED YOU ALL , AS THE LIAISON, TO BRING IT TO US, SO THAT , IF NECESSARY, WE CAN GET INVOLVED. SO I SAY FURTHER TO YOU, LET'S MOVE ON . BUT WE MIGHT WANT TO LOOK AT IT FROM A DIFFERENT APPROACH. WE MAY WANT TO LOOK AT IT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF, THIS IS WHERE WE ARE, WE ARE NOT ANYTOWN, USA. WE ARE FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA. THOSE COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE APPOINTED TO THE AREAS -- >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. YOUR TIME IS UP, WIND IT UP QUICK . >> THOSE COMMISSIONERS POINTED TO THE AREA WHERE WE DEAL WITH THE INCOME CONCERNS AND LIGHTED AND THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER, ARE RIGHT THERE. >> YOUR TIME IS UP AT >> I UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GET INVOLVED AND GET US INVOLVED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU, MA'AM AT ANYONE ELSE? WHO IS NEXT? >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS INAUDIBLE ] AND, UM, OF COURSE, NOBODY WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT THE CHIEF'S RESIGNATION. I THINK EVERYONE WHO HAS SPOKEN, I WASN'T IN THE BUILDING, I WAS LISTENING IN MY CAR PICK ALL OF THE CONCERNS OF THE CITIZENS, THEY ARE VALID. DO WE WANT TO LOSE THE CHIEF AT THIS POINT IN TIME? ABSOLUTELY NOT. WE GET THERE HAS TO BE SOME CHANGE. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. I WITNESSED MY FIRST MURDER WHEN I WAS 12 YEARS OLD. THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH GUN VIOLENCE. I AM 52 NOW. WE ARE LOOKING AT 40 YEARS AGO. THERE HAS BEEN KILLING AFTER KILLING, MURDER AFTER MURDER, I AM A VICTIM OF GUN VIOLENCE MYSELF, I LOST MY KIDS TO GUN VIOLENCE IN THE CITY AND I ALSO SPEARHEAD AN ORGANIZATION CALLED HAVE INITIATIVES IN FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA TO TRY TO HELP POLICE WITH THE GUN VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNITY. YOU CAN'T SAY NONE OF THE CITIZENS ARE OUT THERE . JUST BECAUSE I DON'T SHOW UP TO [00:40:03] YOUR MEETING, THAT DOES NOT MEAN THERE ARE NOT INITIATIVES TAKING PLACE IN THE CITY. WE ARE JUST DOING THE WAY GOD HAS ALLOWED US TO DO IT. WHAT I CAME UP HERE TO SAY IS THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN UP BROADERMISSION. I WITNESSED MY FIRST MURDER AT 12 YEARS OLD. THIS IS NOT A CHIEF DIANE PROBLEM. THIS IS A CITY OF FORT PIERCE PROBLEM. SO UNLESS WE GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE ROOT OF WHAT IS GOING ON, THIS WILL CONTINUE TO REPEAT ITSELF. YOU CAN BRING ANOTHER CHIEF FROM WHEREVER, TIMBUKTU, IF YOU DON'T GET THE NECESSARY FUNDING, IF YOU DON'T GET THE NECESSARY PERSONNEL, WE WILL JUST KEEP GOING THROUGH THE SAME CYCLE OVER AND OVER AND EARNED OVER. UNLESS YOU DON'T TO HER RESIGNATION, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE GIVE HER SIX MORE MONTHS O PROBATIONARY PERIOD, SIT DOWN, COME BACK TO THE TABLE, TRY TO COME UP WITH SOME SOLUTIONS AND TRY TO WORK WITH HER. AS I FEEL LIKE SHE HAS BEEN PUSHED OUT, RESIGNATION IS A RESIGNATION TO SAVE FACE. I DON'T WANT YOU TO FIRE ME SO I WILL PUT IN MY RESIGNATION. I FEEL LIKE, IF WE REALLY CARE ABOUT THE CITY, GIVE HER THE TOOLS TO WORK WITH. I HAVE BEEN A CRITIC, OF COURSE, BECAUSE WE ARE LOSING A LOT. WHEN I SAY WE ARE LOSING A LOT, WE ARE LOSING OUR CHILDREN. THEY ARE THE FIRST YORTY. I FEEL LIKE IF WE GIVE HER A SIX-MONTH TRIAL PERIOD AND DO THE WORK WITH HER. THIS IS THE COMMISSION, WE ARE ALL IN PLACE, THERE IS A NEW CITY MANAGER, GREAT CHANGE, COME UP WITH NEW INITIATIVES TO HELP HER DO THE JOB AND DO THE JOB FIGURATIVELY. I KNOW WE COULD HAVE GONE TO SOME OF THE MEETINGS WE COULD HAVE BEEN TO BUT WE DID SEND MEMBERS TO MEETINGS AND YOU KNOW, SHE WAS TREATED UNFAIRLY SO WE STOPPED SHOWING UP, I GOT TO BE HONEST . IF THERE IS SOMETHING MORE WE CAN DO AS COMMUNITY LEADERS, AS THOSE WITH OUR HANDS GOING OUT IN THE CHURCHES, LET US DO IT. I FEEL LIKE IF WE MAKE THIS CHANGE RIGHT NOW, I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE BETTER FOR THE CITY. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO NEXT? IS THERE ANYONE ELSE BEFORE WE CLOSE THIS OUT? ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. WE ARE CLOSING PUBLIC COMMENT AT WE [a. Follow up discussion from the May 12, 2025 City Commission meeting regarding the final report conducted by the Center for Public Safety Management and the status of the Police Chief's employment.] WILL MOVE ON . >> OKAY. THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS A FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSION FOR THE MAY 12, 2025 CITY COMMISSION MEETING REGARDING THE FINAL REPORT CONDUCTED BY CPS M AND THE STATUS OF THE POLICE CHIEF'S EMPLOYMENT. >> THANK YOU. >> MR. DOV CHELST? >> SUBSEQUENT TO THIS MEETING, I RECEIVED THE CHIEF'S RESIGNATION, SHE RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED AND I RESPECTFULLY ACCEPTED VIA EMAIL. I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT IT FOR THE MAIN COMMISSION 'S DISCUSSION. >> MS. HEDGES, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE OPTIONS THE COMMISSION HAS IN THE CONTRACT? >> YES, MA'AM, MADAME MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, YOU DO, TECHNICALLY, HAVE THE ABILITY TO REJECT THE RESIGNATION OR ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION. WE WOULD NEED TO ASK FOR A VOTE, BASED ON WHICHEVER WAY THE MOTION GOES. UNDER HER CONTRACT, SHE DOES HAVE THE VOLUNTARY RESIGNATION ABILITY, THAT IS UNDER SECTION 17 OF HER CONTRACT. IT REQUIRES , UNDER THAT VOLUNTARY RESIGNATION, SHE PROVIDE A MINIMUM OF 90 DAYS OF NOTICE, SORRY, WRITTEN NOTICE, UNLESS THE PARTIES DO AGREE OTHERWISE, MEANING YOU COULD LOWER OR INCREASE THE 90 DAY PERIOD. WITH THE VOLUNTARY RESIGNATION, SHE IS NOT ENTITLED TO THE SEVERANCE PROVISIONS THAT EXIST WITHIN THE CONTRACT. UNLESS THERE ARE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, I THINK THAT COVERS -- >> WITH THE CHARTER LANGUAGE, IN TERMS OF WHAT THE RIGHTS OF THE COMMISSION AND THE CITY ARE UNDER? >> YES, MA'AM. IN THE CHARTER SECTION 48, UNDER SUBSECTION C, THE CHIEF OF POLICE SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE CITY MANAGER WITH THE APPROVAL OF THIS CITY COMMISSION. IT MAY BE DISCHARGED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OR BY THE CITY MANAGER, WITH THE CONSENT OF THE CITY COMMISSION, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE . >> THANK YOU. >> SO, I WANT TO START THIS CONVERSATION BY SAYING WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF DISCUSSING THE REPORT BY AND WE HAVE NOT COMPLETED THAT DISCUSSION. I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AT SOME POINT. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS. THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MEANT TO IMPROVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, NOT TO CRITICIZE THE CONSULTANT WHO MADE THE PRESENTATION EMPHASIZED THAT. [00:45:10] SO, WHATEVER HAPPENS GOING ON THROUGH TODAY, MR. CHELST AND I HAVE TALKED AND HE HAS TOLD THIS COMMISSION PUBLICLY THAT HE IS GOING TO BE ASKING FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE REASONS WHY AND HOW THEY ARE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH WHATEVER CHANGES THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE. THERE IS A MAP GOING FORWARD FOR US . THE CONSULTANT ALSO SAID THAT CHANGES IN POLICING NEED FINANCING PERSONNEL AND THE WILL TO DO IT. THOSE THREE THINGS. AS THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS HAVE SAID AND THIS COMMISSION HAVE ADMITTED, WE ALL AGREE ONE OF THE MAJOR ELEMENTS IS FINANCING. WE ALL KNOW THAT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE'S BUDGET IS A CHALLENGING BUDGET. IT IS A DELICATE BALANCING ACT . WE ARE TRYING TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC CLIMATE SO WE HAVE MORE TAXES TO PAY POLICE PERSONNEL IN SUPPORT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT THE WAY WE WANT TO. THIS COMMISSION WANTS TO SUPPORT THE POLICE OFFICERS IN THIS DEPARTMENT. WE WANT THEM TO HAVE GOOD PAY AND HAVE THE RIGHT, UP TO DATE EQUIPMENT, EVERYTHING THEY NEED , WE WANT TO PROVIDE. WE HAVE IN THE PAST DONE OUR BEST AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO OUR BEST. WE KNOW WE HAVE TO STEP UP THE GAME IN TERMS OF THAT. WE ALL AGREE WE KNOW WE NEED TO DO THAT AT ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT AMERICA IS , REALLY, PEOPLE WHO ARE ELECTED ARE IN CHARGE OF POLICE OFFICERS AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS, JUST LIKE IN THE CIVILIAN , UM, FORM OF GOVERNMENT. YOU ELECT PEOPLE. NONE OF US ARE POLICE OFFICERS OR HAVE BEEN TRAINED AS POLICE OFFICERS. WE HAVE TO DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE. AND I BELIEVE THE LAST 10 YEARS THE CHIEF OF POLICE, WHEN SHE CAME HERE, I BELIEVE SHE WAS A CHANGE AGENT. SHE CHANGED FORT PIERCE FOR THE GOOD. SHE DID A LOT OF GOOD FOR US AND I THINK THAT HER, WE ESTABLISHED THE POLICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WE WANTED INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY AND WE WANTED TO SEND INFORMATION OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AT IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, HOBLEY-BURNEY IS NOT IN A VACUUM. WE ARE IN A WHOLE NATION THAT IS CHALLENGE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS. POLICE DEPARTMENTS EVERYWHERE ARE HAVING TROUBLE WITH APPROPRIATE PAY AND RECRUITING OFFICERS. AND SO THIS IS NOT IN A VACUUM. WE RECOGNIZE THE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES. SO, BUT, WE ARE HERE NOW BECAUSE THE CHIEF HAS SUBMITTED HER RESIGNATION. NOW WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH, SETTING ASIDE THE REPORT, AS WELL AS ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS, THIS COMMISSION HAS TO MAKE THAT DECISION. AND, UM, I RECEIVED HER LETTER OF RESIGNATION LAST EVENING, ALONG WITH THE COMMISSIONERS , AND IT WAS READ INTO THE RECORD. YOU ALL HAVE HEARD IT. WE HAVE ALL HEARD IT. NOW I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE COMMISSIONERS FOR, UM, DISCUSSION ON ACCEPTING THE RESIGNATION, OR A MOTION . >> UM, I WILL START US OFF HERE. I WANT TO ADDRESS SOME CONCERNS THAT CAME OUT OVER THE LAST WEEK AND SOME COMMENTS AT THE MEETING LAST MONDAY. WE WERE LIMITED TO TIME BECAUSE OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION LAST WEEK. SO I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE I WAS ABLE TO PRESENT MY FULL STANCE OF THE SITUATION. AND I KNOW IT CAME ACROSS AS SUDDEN AND PROBABLY SHOCKED A FEW OF YOU UP HERE TO HEAR, BUT THE REALITY IS, I HAVE BEEN LOOKING INTO THIS SINCE BEFORE I WAS ELECTED, PROBABLY LAST SUMMER, DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE UNION. WHICH I ATTENDED HERE AT CITY HALL AT I TOOK THAT UPON MYSELF, AS A CANDIDATE, TO START PREPARING MYSELF FOR , HOPEFULLY, ENDING UP HERE IN THIS SEAT. SO I BEGAN LOOKING INTO SOME CONCERNS I WAS HEARING FROM POLICE OFFICERS, SPECIFICALLY. I KNOW, WE ALL KNOW, PAY IS A PROBLEM . WE ALL WANT TO PAY OUR OFFICERS WHAT THEY DESERVE. I FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD BE THE HIGHEST PAID EMPLOYEES AT CITY HALL, IN MY [00:50:11] OPINION. THEY HAVE THE MOST DANGEROUS AND MOST DIFFICULT JOB . BUT, TO CONDENSE THIS ALL INTO A PAY ISSUE, WHICH I ALLUDED TO LAST WEEK, IS NOT AN ACCURATE ASSESSMENT WHATSOEVER. YES, WE HAVE PAY PROBLEMS. YES, WE NEED TO PAY OUR OFFCERS MORE. THAT IS SOMETHING I CAMPAIGNED ON. SOMEONE ASKED ME WHY I WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE. I SAID I WANTED TO CLEAN UP THE CITY AND PAY OFFICERS WHAT THEY DESERVED. THAT IS WHAT I TOLD EVERYONE THAT ASKED ME. I CONTINUE THAT MISSION TODAY. TALKS OF PAY SCALE AND ALL OF THAT OPENED UP ANOTHER BROADER CONVERSATION OF LEADERSHIP IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. I STARTED MEETING WITH POLICE OFFICERS. I MET WITH ANYONE WILLING TO TALK TO ME . BECAUSE THE REALITY IS, MOST OF THEM WERE TOO AFRAID TO SPEAK WITH ME ABOUT ISSUES THEY WERE HAVING IN THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENT. SPECIFICALLY, BECAUSE OF OUR CHIEF OF POLICE AND THE RETALIATION THEY HAVE THE CITY AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND TO HEAR THAT LITERALLY BREAKS MY HEART . THAT THEY WEREN'T FEELING PROTECTED, SUPPORTED, THAT IF THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS, THEY DIDN'T FEEL SAFE ENOUGH TO TALK TO A CITY COMMISSION OR TO EVEN EXPLAIN THEMSELVES. HOW MESSED UP IS THAT? JUST TO SAY. THE UNION, THANKFULLY, I APPRECIATE WHAT THE UNION DID, SENT OUT A SURVEY FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, I SENT IT TO MULTIPLE NEWS OUTLETS. I HOPE EVERYONE GETS A CHANCE TO READ IT. I ASKED MADAME CLERK TO RENT IT OUT FOR EVERYONE HERE TODAY. IF THAT IS NOT AT LEAST 90% OF YOUR DECISION-MAKING HERE TODAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. THE ISSUES WITH PAY , YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T GET INTO POLICE WORK BECAUSE YOU WANT TO MAKE MONEY. WE KNOW THAT . ASK ANY COP IN THIS ROOM OR IN A POLICE DEPARTMENT. THAT DOES NOT MEAN THEY DON'T DESERVE TO BE PAID WHAT THEY DESERVE. HOWEVER, OUR POLICE OFFICERS ARE NOT LEAVING BECAUSE OF THE PAY . THAT IS A FACTOR OF IT, OF COURSE, BUT THE MISMANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP AND NOT FEELING SUPPORTED, ONE OF THE COMMENTS IN HERE, IT SAYS, WE HAVE NOT DONE AN AWARDS CEREMONY FOR POLICE OFFICERS IN OVER SEVEN YEARS. DOESN'T THAT JUST BREAK YOUR HEART? WE CAN'T EVEN SUPPORT THE ONES WE HAVE, WE CAN'T EVEN DO A SIMPLE CEREMONY THAT WON'T COST ANY MONEY. ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS RECOGNIZE THEM AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT. THEY ARE NOT FEELING THAT. THAT STEMS DIRECTLY FROM MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP. YOU CAN'T ARGUE WITH THAT. IT IS A BLACK-AND-WHITE AREA. IT IS UPSETTING TO READ WHAT IS IN THE SURVEY. IT CAME OUT BECAUSE THEY FINALLY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE GOTTEN SOMEONE IN THE CITY COMMISSION AT CITY HALL WILLING TO BACK THEM UP AT THEY HAVE NOT FELT SUPPORTED. IT IS LIKE WE ARE TWO DIFFERENT AGENCIES AT THE TIME, TWO DIFFERENT WORKPLACES, WE ARE SEPARATE. IT BREAKS MY HEART, THERE. I HAVE BEEN IN THE SEAT SINCE NOVEMBER. I HAVE SEEN CHANGES IN THIS BUILDING THREE TIMES. WAS FOR MY SWEARING IN AND ONCE FOR MY MEETING BECAUSE I WANTED TO MEET ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS. I CAME AND MET WITH THE CHIEF. I NEVER HAD A BAD INTERACTION WITH THE POLICE CHIEF, I THINK SHE IS A GREAT WOMAN AND DID THE BEST JOB SHE COULD. HER LEADERSHIP STYLE AND MANAGEMENT DECISIONS ARE NOT A GOOD FIT FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS OR OUR CITIZENS. MY CONSTITUENTS ARE NOT BEING SERVED THE WAY THEY SHOULD BE. IT HAS BEEN LARGELY TO DO WITH THAT. OFFICERS HAVE NOT GOTTEN PROPER TRAINING OR BEEN ABLE TO RESPOND TO CALLS APPROPRIATELY. THE WAY A POLICE DEPARTMENT IS A PARAMILITARY TYPE ORGANIZATION. YOU HAVE LEVELS OF COMMAND, YOU HAVE HIERARCHY, YOU HAVE CHAIN OF COMMAND. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A GOOD LEADER, THEN HOW CAN YOU EXPECT A POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY? THE CPSM REPORT WAS NOT 100% BAD . I DID NOT INTEND TO, UM, POETRY THAT. BUT THERE IS A LOT OF RECOMMENDATIONS. THE CPSM REPORT KIND OF SUMMARIZED WHAT THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN OF WE ARE, HOW WE GOT TO THIS POINT. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING INTO THIS, AS I SAID, SINCE LAST SUMMER. THE WAY THINGS ARE BEING RAN, I DON'T EVEN WANT TO GET INTO THE MINUTIA OF ALL OF THIS, I AM NOT HERE TO DISPARAGE THE CHIEF OF POLICE. I THANK HER FOR HER SERVICE. SHE IS A FIRST RESPONDER. SHE HAS HAD AN ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND I RESPECTER FOR THAT. I WISH HER THE BEST IN HER RETIREMENT. I AM NOT HERE TO SAY ANYTHING BAD ABOUT ANYBODY. I HAVE THIS IN BLACK AND WHITE AND I AM HEARING DIRECTLY FROM OUR POLICE DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE THAT [00:55:07] IS MY ROLE AT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, TO PROTECT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND MAKE SURE OUR CITIZENS IN FORT PIERCE ARE BEING SERVED THE WAY, TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS THE DESERVE TO BE SERVED. I HAVE A LOT MORE TO SAY BUT I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM MY OTHER COMMISSIONERS. I AM GOING TO BE , UM, MAKING A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CHIEF'S RESIGNATION BECAUSE OF SERIOUS CONCERNS I HAVE ON THE SURVEY, SPECIFICALLY, AS WELL AS EXIT INTERVIEWS I HAVE REQUESTED FROM POLICE OFFICERS THAT HAVE LEFT OUR FORCE IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS . UM, I DON'T THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR HER TO CONTINUE HER EMPLOYMENT HERE FOR THE NEXT 90 DAYS. I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATE THE. I THINK THE APPROPRIATE THING IS TO PUT HER ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE, BECAUSE SHE GETS 90 DAYS SEVERANCE, NO MATTER WHAT WE DO, WHETHER WE VOTED TO END HER CONTRACT , THE 90 DAYS SEVERANCE DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE DONE. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH HER GOING BACK TO THE OFFICE AFTER THIS DISCUSSION TODAY. >> WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO NEXT? I JUST HAVE A QUESTION. >> OKAY. >> I WANT TO CLARIFY THIS FOR THE COMMISSION. I'VE A BUNCH OF COMMENTS, I WILL HOLD OFF ON THAT. THE QUESTION I HAVE, IN THE CONTRACT, HOW DOES THE SEVERANCE PACKAGE WORK AND WHAT TRIGGERS IT? >> AS I SAID, MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, WITH A VOLUNTARY RESIGNATION, SHE IS NOT ENTITLED TO SEVERANCE. >> LET'S MOVE PAST THAT THEN IN THE TERMINATION SCENARIO. IN MY OPINION, IF WE CHANGE THE TERMS OF HER RESIGNATION LETTER, WE ARE NOW ENTERING THE GROUNDS OF TERMINATION. I AM SPECULATING THAT IS THE CASE . SO I WILL TAKE THE POSITION THAT NO MATTER WHAT THE OUTCOME IS HERE, THE CHIEF DESERVES HER SEVERANCE PACKAGE, REGARDLESS. THAT IS JUST, IN MY OPINION, STEP ONE. JUST EXPLAINED, IF IT WAS A TERMINATION SCENARIO, WHAT IS THE SEVERANCE PACKAGE? > YES, SIR. IF SHE IS TERMINATED WITH CAUSE, SHE IS NOT ENTITLED TO SEVERANCE. 80 -- IF SHE IS TERMINATED WITHOUT CAUSE, SHE IS ENTITLED TO SEVERANCE. SHE RESIGNS FOLLOWING A FORMAL OFFER TO ACCEPT HER RESIGNATION BY THE CITY MANAGER, SHE IS ENTITLED TO SEVERANCE. SO THE SEVERANCE PACKAGE SHE WOULD RECEIVE IF HER SEPARATION IS DUE TO A QUALIFYING, UM, EVENT, SHE WOULD RECEIVE HER ANNUAL BASE SALARY FOR 90 CONSECUTIVE DAYS AT THE CITY MAINTAINED HER LIFE INSURANCE AND MAJOR MEDICAL INSURANCE DURING THAT TIME . THERE IS A PORTION THE CITY IS RESPONSIBLE AND A PORTION THE EMPLOYEE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR, SO THE CITY WOULD MAINTAIN THE PORTION FINANCIALLY IT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR BUT THE EMPLOYEE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THEIR PORTION UNDER THAT SEVERANCE. STANDARD SEPARATION FOR ANYONE, NO MATTER WHETHER SEVERANCE APPLIES OR NOT, HER SICK AND VACATION TIME GETS PAID OUT, ACCORDING TO OUR HR RULES . >> THANK YOU. THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTION. NOW I WILL LET IT GO BACK TO YOU GUYS. >> I WANT TO MAKE SURE I AM CLEAR. WHAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE CHIEF IS HER 10 DURING A RESIGNATION, RIGHT? SO WHEN TENDERING HER RESIGNATION, IS THAT CONSIDERED A VOLUNTARY RESIGNATION? IF I HEARD YOU CORRECTLY, A VOLUNTEER RESIGNATION WILL NOT INCLUDE HER SEVERANCE, ET CETERA. THAT IS WHAT I HEARD. >> YES, MR. JOHNSON, THAT IS CORRECT. >> I WILL AT WHAT WAS SAID, THE CHIEF HAS EARNED YOU HAVE ACCEPTED AS THE CITY MANAGER, WE HAVE TO VOTE ON THAT. WE HAVE TO CODIFY THAT. IF WE DO, SHE WILL NOT GET HER BENEFITS YOU EXPLAINED, 90 DAYS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, AND HALF OF THE INSURANCE ALL OF THAT, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT IS CORRECT. I SEE THAT MR. CHELST WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING. >> I WANT US TO BE CLEAR WHAT MR. JOHNSON IS ASKING US. IF WE RECEIVE THE VOLUNTARY RESIGNATION, IS THE CHIEF STILL ENTITLED TO LIFE AND HEALTH BENEFITS ? THE ANSWER IS, YES, FOR THE 90 DAY SHE WILL REMAIN ON OUR CONTRACT. LIVE THAT IS THE INSURANCE PART BUT THE SEVERANCE PART, IF WE WERE TO TERMINATE HER, TRAN THREE, SHE WOULD GET THE 90 DAY CONTINUATION OF HER PAY FOR 90 DAYS? >> EITHER WAY SHE WILL GET 90 DAYS. IF SHE VOLUNTARILY SUBMITTED HER RESIGNATION, SHE WOULD STAY ON THE PAYROLL 90 DAYS AND GET THE HEALTH BENEFIT. AND THEN IF WE TERMINATED HER SHE WOULD STILL GET A 90 DAY [01:00:20] SEVERANCE IMMEDIATELY. SHE WAS STILL GET 90 DAY BENEFITS. >> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS CLEAR AND IT WASN'T AND IT DIDN'T COME ACROSS THAT WAY AT FIRST. >> COMMISSIONER, IF YOU ARE ACCEPT HER RESIGNATION FOR THE 90 DAYS, WHAT DOES NOT HAPPEN IS WHEN SHE SEPARATES, SHE DOES NOT GET AN ADDITIONAL 90 DAYS OF PAY AND 90 DAYS OF HEALTH AND MEDICAL.. WITH HER SUBMITTING HER RESIGNATION EFFECTIVE 90 DAYS OF YOUR ACCEPTANCE, SHE IS AN EMPLOYEE, STILL, DURING THOSE 90 DAYS. SHE IS GETTING PAID AS YOU NORMALLY WOULD THOSE 90 DAYS, SHE WILL HAVE THE HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY AS SHE WHAT AS AN EMPLOYEE DURING THOSE 90 DAYS. UPON HER SEPARATION, SHE DOES NOT GET THE ADDITIONAL SEVERANCE, THE ADDITIONAL 90 DAYS OF PAY AN ADDITIONAL 90 DAYS OF COVERS. UNDER THE CAR RESIGNATION FROM 90 DAYS, SHE IS STILL AN EMPLOYEE, BEING PAID AND COMPENSATED AS SHE WHAT AS AN EMPLOYEE FOR 90 DAYS. THERE THANK YOU. >> YES, SIR. >> A QUICK FOLLOW-UP ON THAT. SO TO UNDERSTAND ALL OF THIS, IS THE HEALTH INSURANCE AND INSURANCES THAT COME ALONG WITH IT, WE PROVIDE 90 DAYS OF COVERAGE IN THE SEVERANCE PACKAGE IF THAT IS THE ROUTE WE ARE GOING TO GO? IS SHE STILL ABLE TO PAY INTO THE SYSTEM IF SHE SO CHOOSES? I WOULD HAVE TO DEFER TO HR FOR THAT PROCESS. >> I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THAT. >> MR. SORENSEN IS HERE. >> MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS . TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION , WHEN SHE STAYS ON AS AN EMPLOYEE FOR THE 90 DAYS, IF SHE IS WORKING, SHE IS PAYING HER INTEREST, ONCE THOSE BENEFITS END, SHE WOULD BE SUBJECT, IF SHE IS MET THE RETIREMENT REQUIREMENTS, SHE CAN LOOK AT IT FROM A RETIREMENT PERSPECTIVE FOR INSURANCE OR REMAIN COVERED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, AS WELL. >> SO THAT OPTION IS AVAILABLE TO HER? >> YES, SIR. >> THAT IS A CONCERN TO ME. EVERYBODY'S GOT ISSUES AS WE ALL GET UP IN EIGHT. I WOULD NOT ONE TO SEE SOMEONE NOT HAVE THAT OPTION. COMMISSIONERS CAN CONTINUE ON WITH COMMENTS, I WILL HOLD MY OWN. >> MR. GAINES? >> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I AM SITTING HERE JUST DUMBFOUNDED, I WILL BE HONEST WITH YOU. I'M NOT EVEN TO THE POINT WHERE YOU GUYS ARE TALKING AT WE HAVE A CITY MANAGER, WE HAVE AN HR DEPARTMENT AT I, TOO, HAVE TAUGHT TO OFFICERS. JUST LIKE DURING THE CITY MANAGERS, THE INTERVIEW AND SEARCH, I GUESS POLICE OFFICERS TELL YOU ONE THING AND TELL ME SOMETHING DIFFERENT. UM, THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS, I GUESS . HOWEVER, AT SOME POINT, BEFORE WE START COMING UP HERE AND MAKING, SAYING STUFF OR ASKING FOR RESIGNATIONS AND DOING STUFF, DUE PROCESS STILL MATTERS TO ME AT AND BEFORE WE KNEW SHE WAS ON VACATION, LET HER GO TO THE HR. NOT ONLY DO I TALKED TO OFFICERS, I HAVE TALKED TO CITY EMPLOYEES. THERE ARE SOME DEPARTMENTS HERE RIGHT NOW FEELING THE SAME WAY , THE SAME WAY MY FELLOW COMMISSIONER SAYS SOME OF THE OFFICERS ARE FEELING . AND I DON'T SEE ANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT OUR CITY EMPLOYEES OR GETTING RID OF DIRECTORS WHO ARE MAKING EMPLOYEES FEEL THE SAME WAY. YET, TODAY, WE ARE HERE TO ENFORCE AND FORCE THE CHIEF TO RETIRE. I READ THE MEMO. I WAS MAD WHEN I READ IT LAST NIGHT. I AM MAD TODAY. ALL OF US KNOW IF WE TERMINATE HER TODAY AND WE GO FIND THE BEST POLICE CHIEF IN THE WORLD TO COME TO FORT PIERCE, HE OR SHE WILL STAND AT THAT PODIUM AND TELL US THE SAME PAY. COMMISSIONER, I CANNOT DO MY JOB WITHOUT MONEY. I CANNOT DO MY JOB WITHOUT RESOURCES. APPLAUSE ] YET, WE ARE HERE AGAIN, WE ARE HERE AGAIN WITH THIS, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY DUE PROCESS HAS JUST EVADED EVERYBODY IN AMERICA. IS NOT JUST FORT PIERCE, IT'S EVERYWHERE. IF THERE WERE INTERNAL HR PROBLEMS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE A DIRECTOR OF HR SITTING RIGHT HERE. PUT HIM TO TASK AND LET HIM DO WHAT HE HAS TO DO TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND LET HIM MAKE THE REPORT. HAVE WE DONE THAT? NO. WE HIRED A CITY MANAGER. LET HIM DO HIS JOB. LET [01:05:16] HIM OPEN UP AN INVESTIGATION. IF YOU HAVE THAT MUCH CONCERNS, LET HIM OPEN UP AN INVESTIGATION AND LET HIM GO TALK TO THE OFFICERS. LET HIM IN THE HR PERSON COME UP WITH A REPORT AND BRING THAT BACK TO US AND LET US READ IT. I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THESE REPORTS. WE GET A REPORT. STUFF HAPPENS AND THEN I GET ANOTHER REPORT WITH OTHER INFORMATION SUNDAY NIGHT , SUNDAY AFTERNOON, 1:00. THAT IS WHEN I GOT THE EMAIL. BUT THIS IS THE REPORT WE ARE GOING ON. WHAT ARE WE DOING, GUYS? I KEEP TELLING YOU, WE ALWAYS TRY TO BE SAYING WE ARE TRANSPARENT. EVERY TIME SOMETHING HITS US, WE COME TO THESE MEETINGS LIKE THIS. I WAS ALREADY UPSET, I COST . WHAT THEY ASKED ME ABOUT A SPECIAL MEETING. I WAS IN HERE. YOU KNOW? I WASN'T HERE. I HAD SOMETHING TO DO FOR MY PERSONAL LIFE, MY JOB . THEY REQUIRED ME TO BE IN ORLANDO SO I WASN'T HERE DURING THAT MEETING BUT I WENT BACK AND WATCHED IT. LET'S USE THE PEOPLE WE HAVE. HR DIRECTOR SITTING RIGHT THERE. I, TOO, HAVE TALKED TO OFFICERS. I TOLD THEM TO COME SEE YOU. THEY WILL BE PROTECTED . TO ALL THE OFFICERS LISTENING TO ME, TO ALL THE CITY EMPLOYEES LISTENING TO ME RIGHT NOW, IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS, THAT IS WHY WE HIRED AN HR DIRECTOR. THAT IS WHY WE HIRED A CITY MANAGER. YOU HAVE CERTAIN RIGHTS. IF YOU FEEL YOU ARE SAYING SOMETHING, YOU FEEL YOU WILL BE RETALIATED, YOU HAVE A CITY MANAGER AND YOU HAVE A HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR WHO UNDERSTANDS THE FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS AGAINST RETALIATION. COME TALK TO THEM. SO, I AM UPSET BECAUSE, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THIS IS BROUGHT ABOUT TODAY FROM US UP HERE ON THE DIOCESE . I KNOW, FOR A FACT THAT OVER THE LAST YEAR, OTHER THAN MS. PRINCE, WHO SPOKE, AND THE OTHER PEOPLE, I DON'T HAVE NO EMAILS TALKING ABOUT THE HIGH CRIME RATE , I DON'T HAVE NOBODY STATED AT THAT PODIUM TELL US WE NEED TO DO THIS, WE NEED TO DO THIS, WE NEED TO PROTECT THIS. THE ONLY COMPLAINT I'VE BEEN GETTING IS NOISE. WE ARE SENDING OFFICERS OUT TO QUIET DOWN NOISE . I WAS HERE LAST YEAR. I WAS HERE THE YEAR BEFORE THAT WHEN WE WERE HAVING SHOOTINGS EVERY OTHER WEEKEND. SO, IF YOU WANT TO BLAME HER FOR BEING IN THE COMMUNITY, IT HAS STOPPED THE SHOOTINGS. IT AIN'T GOING TO STOP ALL THE SHOOTINGS. >> I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU DID NOT APPLAUD. >> I SAID IT BEFORE. IF WE CAN FIND SOME WAY TO TAKE GUNS OUT OF THESE KIDS' HANDS, THESE PEOPLES HANDS, NOT JUST KIDS, THESE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO KILL PEOPLE, IF THERE IS SOMEBODY APPEAR THAT CAN FIND THAT SOLUTION, YOU WILL BE AN INSTANT BILLIONAIRE BECAUSE EVERY CITY WILL HIRE YOU TO COME TO THEIR CITY TO CURE IT. SO WHAT ARE WE DOING, GUYS? WHAT ARE WE DOING? WHAT ARE WE DOING? DO WE WANT TO KEEP THE CITY SAFE? SOMEBODY EXPLAIN TO ME. IF SHE IS RESIGNING, THAT IS HER RIGHT . I AM KIND OF MAD SHE DID IT BUT THAT IS HER RIGHT. SHE RESIGNED. HOW ARE WE GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM? WHOEVER WE REPLACE, HOW ARE WE CAN AFFIX A PROBLEM? IT WILL BE THE SAME THING. WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY. WE DON'T. TO THE OFFICERS THAT IS LISTENING, I WOULD LOVE TO WRITE YOU GUYS BIG CHECKS. WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY. BECAUSE IF I DO THAT, SOME OTHER SERVICES IS GOING TO BE CUT . I WILL BE GETTING EMAILS ABOUT MY TRASH NOT BEING PICKED UP BUT ONCE A WEEK. I COULD GO ON THE LIST. I AM UPSET BECAUSE , YOU KNOW, WE GOT THESE REPORTS , WE HAVE GOTTEN THESE REPORTS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING. I DON'T KNOW ONE PROFESSION OR ONE PROFESSION WHERE YOU INTERVIEW SOMEBODY THAT HAS LEFT HER JOB, UNLESS THEY DONE LEFT THAT JOB WITH A BIG CHECK, WHAT ARE THEY REALLY GOING TO SAY? AGAIN, I HAVE TALKED TO OFFICERS. I HAVE TALKED TO CITY EMPLOYEES. I HAVE ADVISED THEM TO GO TO SEE YOU, MR. DIRECTOR, AND TO COME SEE [01:10:11] YOU, MR. CITY MANAGER. ALL I AM ASKING, GUYS, IF THERE IS AN INTERNAL PROBLEM, GO THROUGH THE PROPER CHANNELS AND LESS SEE -- LET US SEE WHAT THE INTERNAL PROBLEMS WITH THE PROTECTION OF ANYONE WHO WANTS TO COME. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO NEXT? >> I WILL MAKE MY COMMENTS NOW. I STARTED WITH THE END IN MIND SO I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT I HER. THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION. AT SOME POINT, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A VOTE UP HERE. I WILL TELL MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF ACCEPTING HER RESIGNATION. I WAS AT THE LAST MEETING WE HELD , ACTUALLY, SHE BROUGHT ALL OF THE DEPUTY CHIEFS HERE. THE DEPUTY CHIEFS EXPLAINED TO US THEIR RESPECTIVE AREAS THEY CONTROL OR OVERSEE. AND AT THE END OF THAT, YOU KNOW, CLOSE TO THE END I LEFT WITH, WOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THIS. I HEARD FROM THE SAME DEPUTY CHIEFS THAT WERE SITTING HERE, SOME OF THE THINGS I HAD ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED IN THE REPORT AND HAD ADDRESSED. WE HAD EVEN RECOGNIZED AND APPLAUDED THEM FOR EVEN SOME OF THE CREATIVITY THAT THEY CAME UP WITH AS A DEPARTMENT THAT THEY WERE ALREADY REFUTING SOME OF THE STUFF IN THE REPORT. I THOUGHT WE WERE GETTING GET TO A POINT OF REALLY KIND OF CHECKING AND ELIMINATING WHAT WAS IN THE REPORT AND BASICALLY RANKING, WHAT CAN WE REALLY TOUCH AND DO WITHIN THE MEANS OF OUR BUDGET. THEN, THERE WAS YOU, COMMISSIONER TAYLOR. YOU SAID YOU WOULD BE INTRODUCING A MOTION TO FIRE THE CHIEF . SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THAT COMMENT , MY MEETINGS WITH STAFF LAST WEEK AND, NOW, ALL OF A SUDDEN, STUFF STARTS BREAKING LOOSE AND I GET THIS RESIGNATION LETTER. SO, MY CONVERSATION WITH THE CITY MANAGER WAS, WHAT HAPPENED? WHAT HAPPENED? BECAUSE I LEFT WITH THE IMPRESSION OF WHAT I THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE INTRODUCED TODAY, WHICH I ALSO WAS NOT GOING TO BE IN FAVOR OF . BUT I GET THIS RESIGNATION LETTER. I HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO THE CHIEF. I DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE'S AT. I WISH HE HAD COME HERE. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WAS UNDER DURESS . I CAN TELL YOU WHAT TROUBLES ME IN THIS PARTICULAR LETTER IS THAT , I WILL MATCH THIS UP FOR YOU, WHEN SHE TALKED ABOUT LOSING THE TRUST, THE UNDERMINING OF TRUST, INTRODUCING DIVISION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AND SIGNIFICANTLY ERODING MORALE. THIS IS A PARAMILITARY ORGANIZATION AT I SERVE ON THE OTHER PARAMILITARY ORGANIZATION , WHICH HAS TAUGHT ME A LOT ABOUT RANK-AND-FILE. IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW COMMANDS, YOU PUT AND JEOPARDIZE , NOT ONLY YOURSELF, BUT YOUR OTHER FELLOW OFFICERS OR PEOPLE Râ– ESPONDING O YOU. I DO KNOW PARAMILITARY ORGANIZATIONS, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ISSUES WITH LEADERSHIP WHEN IT COMES TO PARAMILITARY. NO ONE IS GOING TO A GREAT. WOULD I FIND SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE FOR US IS THAT WE HAVE A COMMISSIONER THAT HAS MET WITH PEOPLE AND STAFF WHERE I WAS ALWAYS TOLD WE SHOULD NOT BE MEDDLING IN STAFF AT >> PLEASE, ORDER. >> WE HAVE A CITY CLERK AND A CITY ATTORNEY. I CAN ONLY TALK TO THE HR PERSON . SOMEBODY TELLS ME SOMETHING, I GO TO MR. CHELST . THIS IS WHAT I HEARD AT I DON'T HOLD MEETINGS WITH THEM. I HAVE SIGNIFICANT CONCERN ABOUT THIS, THE PROMISE YOU MADE AND HOW YOU WENT ABOUT THIS. THAT IS CHALLENGING TO ME. YOU GOING TO THE POLICE STATION MEETING WITH OFFICERS, SIR. I AM TROUBLED BY THIS AS AN HR PROFESSIONAL MYSELF. I AM TROUBLED BY THIS. IF YOU HAVE THAT CONCERN, THOSE ARE THE PROFESSIONS, YOU DIRECT, SIR, THESE THREE PEOPLE, THOSE OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS. THIS IS A PARAMILITARY ORGANIZATION. WE NOW HAVE MORALE THAT IS NOW DUE PUNISHED IN THE POLICE [01:15:02] DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY HAVE CHOSEN SIDES ON WHO THEY WANT TO SUPPORT AND FOLLOW AT THAT IS GOING TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR US TO ACTUALLY SELECT. I AM NOT IN FAVOR. I LIVE IN RANK-AND-FILE, WHO SHE HAS MOVED UP AND WHO SHE HAS ACTUALLY RECRUITED TO OUR CITY, BRINGING IN DEPUTY CHIEFS WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE DEPUTY CHIEFS. WHEN I LOOK AT HER INITIAL WHAT WE WERE PAYING THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND NOW WE HAVE TO RESET THIS AND TRY TO FIND A POLICE CHIEF? WE WILL NOT ONLY HAVE RANK-AND-FILE BUT WHOEVER ELSE WE BRING IN WILL BE MORE THAN WHAT WE ARE CURRENTLY PAYING THE CURRENT CHIEF. SO, WE HAVE PUT OURSELVES IN THE SITUATION WHEN I SAT HERE AND LISTENED TO ALL OF THOSE PROMISES THAT FILLED THIS COMPLETE ROOM AND TOLD US WE ARE LEAVING AND PEOPLE THAT LEFT BECAUSE OF MONEY. OFFICERS I ACTUALLY RODE IN THE CITY ACTUALLY LEFT. MORALE IS DOWN. WHEN I GOT THIS REPORT THIS MORNING FROM THE UNION, I READ THE COMMENTS, THE VERY FIRST THING, I SAW SOME THINGS BUT IT WAS PAY, IT ALWAYS CAME BACK TO DATA. I LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF O- PEOPLE THAT HAVE REPORTED THE ISSUE AS PAY. THOSE SAME PEOPLE SHOWED UP HERE AND FILLED THIS CHAMBER. WE ARE TRYING TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE MONEY WE HAVE. WE FACE TWO CONSEQUENCES WHEN IT COMES TO PAYING THE. EITHER WE RAISE YOUR AD VALOREM OR WE RAISE YOUR AD VALOREM. THOSE OF THE CHOICES WE HAVE. WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD A CITY. IT TAKES TIME TO GET TO THE PROCESS OF BUILDING A TAX BASE. THIS PROBLEM IS IMMEDIATE. IT IS EVEN MORE IMMEDIATE NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GO AND FIND SOMEONE, SOME PERSON, TO COME INTO THIS , IT IS BEING BROADCAST ACROSS THE NATION RIGHT NOW, TO COME TO THIS WANTING TO BE THE CHIEF, KNOWING THAT MORALE IS DOWN AND YOU HAVE A SPLIT POLICE DEPARTMENT , WHICH MAKES IT DANGEROUS FOR ALL OF US. I -- I -- I -- I WAS FLOORED WHEN I READ THE REPORT. THOSE OFFICERS SAT THERE AND TOLD US HOW THEY WERE MAKING LEMONADE OUT OF LEMONS. THEY TOLD US THAT SITTING RIGHT THERE. SOME OF THEM ADMITTED, WE DID AND WE ARE DOING THE BEST WE CAN. I KNOW HOW THAT FELT . BECAUSE I AM LOOKING AT THEM AND I CAN SEE THEY NEED THE RESOURCES I AM SITTING HERE LOOKING AT THEM I DON'T HAVE IT BECAUSE IF I GIVE IT TO THEM, HAVE TO CUT SOMETHING ELSE. I AM WILLING TO MAKE THOSE TOUGH DECISIONS. WE OBVIOUSLY ARE GOING TO HAVE A VOTE. AND I WILL REFLECT MY VOTE , BASED ON WHERE I AM NOW AND I AM OKAY WITH THAT. I AM ALSO ABLE TO MOVE ON. WHERE I AM MOVING TO IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE FOR ALL FIVE OF US TO SEE WHO WE WILL BRING IN AS THE NEXT CHIEF OF POLICE IN THIS SITUATION. >> MR. BRODERICK ? >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR, WOULD YOU CARE TO RESPOND TO ANY OF THAT BEFORE I MAKE MY COMMENTS? >> UM, YEAH . I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF THE THINGS MY COLLEAGUE HAS MENTIONED . UM, TO GO OFF THE POLICE CHIEF'S LETTER THAT MORALE HAS ERODED SINCE MY COMMENTS LAST MONDAY, SHE HAS BEEN ON VACATION THIS ENTIRE TIME. THE MORALE AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IF YOU HAVEN'T RECOGNIZED HOW BAD MORALE IS AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO MAKING THAT STATEMENT, YOU HAVE NOT BEEN PAYING ATTENTION. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS BEGGING FOR PEOPLE TO STICK UP FOR THEM IN THIS OFFICE, IN THAT SEAT , THAT IS WHY I AM SPEAKING WITH HIM. I FINALLY GAVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY AND A VOICE FOR THEIR COMPLAINTS TO BE HEARD. TO ADDRESS YOUR COMMENT ABOUT ME MEETING WITH POLICE OFFICERS AND STAFF, IT IS CLEARLY OUTLINED IN THE CITY CHARTER. THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN BACK ME UP ON THAT. THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, THE CITY MANAGER, I AM QUOTING DIRECTLY FROM THE ATTORNEY HERE, NEITHER THE CITY COMMISSIONER OR ANY OF ITS MEMBERS SHALL REQUEST ANY PERSON OF ITS REMOVAL FROM SERVICE OF THE CITY EXCEPT FOR THE PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION, THE COMMISSION SHALL DEAL WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE ONLY THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER. SO, DURING THE COURSE OF MY INQUIRY [01:20:01] AND INVESTIGATION, PRIOR TO ME EVEN BEING ELECTED TO THIS OFFICE, WE DIDN'T HAVE A CITY MANAGER TO INVESTIGATE. WE HAD AN ACTING ONE, WE HAD AN INTERN ONE, WE HAD ALL OF THAT. I DID EXACTLY THAT. THE PREVIOUS CITY LEADERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THAT. SO I HAVE DIRECTED NO POLICE OFFICER TO DO ANYTHING FOR MY SEAT HERE ON THE COMMISSION AND TO IMPLY THAT IS OFFENSIVE TO ME. BECAUSE I AM BOUND BY THE CHARTER AND MY OATH OF OFFICE FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. MY EXPLOITS AND MY COMMENTS AND CONVERSATIONS WITH POLICE OFFICERS WERE FOR THE EFFORTS OF INQUIRY AND INVESTIGATION, WHICH IS PART OF MY JOB AS A CITY COMMISSIONER. THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT. >> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK? >>> I WHOLEHEARTEDLY DISAGREE WITH THAT, SIR. AND I WILL AT BEING PART OF ONE FORT PIERCE. WE DON'T HAVE TO AGREE. WE CAN AGREE TO DISAGREE. I WILL BE CORDIAL. WHEN I SEE YOU ARE INTERPRETING THAT WRONG, I WILL SPEAK UP. WE DISAGREE ON THAT. WE HAD AN ACTING CITY MANAGER AT THE TIME THAT HAD ALL POWER AND JURISDICTION THAT WAS MEETING WITH EMPLOYEES AT THE CITY AND HANDLING ALL EMPLOYEE ISSUES. WE HAVE REMOVE PEOPLE FROM THE CITY UNDER PRPRPREVIOUS LEADERSHIP. TO SAY THAT, WE DIDN'T HAVE SOMEONE THAT COULD INVESTIGATE THIS, I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT, SIR. OKAY? SO, I AM NOT DONE , MADAM MAYOR, I AM DONE, I HAD TO SAY WHAT I HAD TO SAY. WHENEVER THIS MOTION COMES UP, I WILL REFLECT THAT IN MY VOTE AT FOR ONE OF THE THINGS WE REALLY NEED TO DO IS MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAS A VOICE. WE DON'T NEED BACK AND FORTH. COMMISSIONER BRODERICK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO NEXT? >> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. I THOUGHT IT WAS APPROPRIATE FOR THE TWO COMMISSIONERS TO ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS AND GET THAT OUT ON THE RECORD. SO THANK YOU FOR THE INPUT FROM BOTH OF YOU. IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. I HAVE SOMEWHAT OF A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON THIS. FIRST, REGARDING THE CHIEF, SHE HAS, OF HER OWN WILL AND VOLITION, SUBMITTED HER LETTER OF RESIGNATION. IT IS NOW PART OF THE RECORD AT THAT IS HER INTENT. I AM NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING IN MY CAPACITY OF SITTING HERE AND CASTING A VOTE, TO PRECLUDE HER FROM DOING SO BECAUSE SHE DID THIS OF HER OWN FREE WILL. THAT IS HER DECISION AND I RESPECT THAT. I AM, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, IN 100% IN SUPPORT THAT SHE DESERVES A FULL SEVERANCE PACKAGE, REGARDLESS OF HOW IT IS STRUCTURED HERE TODAY ULTIMATELY. BUT, HAVING SAID THAT, I WILL POINT OUT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT HERE, BUT NOT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED, AS TO THE NUMBERS. BY THE REPORT WE RECEIVED FROM OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS, INFORMATION WE RECEIVED FROM THE POLICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, FROM INFORMATION WE RECEIVED FROM COMMAND STRUCTURE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, IT IS CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT FUNDING ISSUE. THE STAFF SHORTFALL IS APPROXIMATELY 17%. WHICH EQUATES SOMEWHERE IN DOLLARS AND CENTS OF NORTH OF $1.5 MILLION OF PAYROLL ANNUALLY WE ARE NOT DEPLOYING. WE CAN GET THOSE NUMBERS PACIFICALLY FROM FINANCE WHEN AND IF THAT TIME COMES. WE HAVE A SHORTFALL OFF OF SEASONED OFFICERS . I MADE THE COMMENT TO SOMEBODY IN THE INDUSTRY THIS MORNING , WE ARE SENDING KIDS OUT THERE WITH POLICING POWERS AND WEAPONRY. THIS IS A VERY, VERY SERIOUS CONCERN TO ME. THIS AND SORTING -- THE SENIORITY DRAIN COMING OUT OF FORT PIERCE BEING THE TRAINING GROUND FOR ALL THE LOCAL OFFICERS, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE PORT ST. LUCIE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUREAU, MARTIN COUNTY, IT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE. IT IS ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE DEPARTMENT, IT IS ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE COMMISSION. I THINK IT WAS COMMISSIONER JOHNSON THAT JUST MENTIONED THAT YOUR THAT FUNDING MECHANISM, OF COURSE, IS INCREASING TAXES. INCREASED REVENUE COMING INTO THE CITY. LET'S PUT IT OUT THERE, CALL IT FOR WHAT IT IS. OUR ENTIRE BUDGET IS $63 MILLION ANNUALLY. OUT OF THAT BUDGET, PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH IS THIS BODY, NUMBER ONE CONCERN, $21 MILLION OF THAT BUDGET. COMPARE THAT TO LOCAL AGENCIES? THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, THERE FUNDING REQUEST IS NORTH OF 120 MILLION. [01:25:04] VIRTUALLY TWICE THE SIZE OF OUR ENTIRE CITY'S BUDGET. PORT ST. LUCIE IS NORTH OF 80 MILLION. THREE TO FOUR TIMES THAT OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET. SO CLEARLY, ONE PERSON'S LEADERSHIP HAS NOT EFFECTUATED THE STRUCTURAL, THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. LEADERSHIP, I HOLD ACCOUNTABLE FOR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES . THE REPORT WE RECEIVED IS CRITICAL OF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. SO, SINCE THE CHIEF HAS ENTERED HER LETTER OF RESIGNATION, THAT CHANGE IS OBVIOUSLY COMING. THAT'S, IN NO WAY, RESOLVES THIS PROBLEM. I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER GAINES OR COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, WHEN THEY STATED THERE IS ULTIMATELY PLANS TO INCREASE OUR REVENUE THROUGH ANNEXATION OF HIGH TAX DOLLAR PROPERTIES WEST OF THE CITY, ET CETERA. THAT PLAN IS IN THE WORKS NOW, THERE WILL BE MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT TONIGHT. THAT IS NOT TODAY'S FIX. I AM GOING TO PUT THIS OUT THERE. THERE ARE OTHER ALTERNATIVES THIS BODY NEEDS TO TAKE A LOOK AT. I WILL PUT THOSE ON THE TABLE NOW. I AM NOT SAYING THEY ARE DISCUSSION POINTS NECESSARILY FOR TODAY, BUT THERE ARE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THE CITY COMMISSION TO ENGAGE WAS SHRINKING DOWN THE FOOTPRINT OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, THE POLICING REQUIREMENTS, TENDERING SOME OF THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES OFF TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT . I AM NOT SAYING A WHOLESALE TAKEOVER OF THE CITY DEPARTMENT, BY ANY MEANS, BUT A SHRINKING DOWN ABOUT FOOTPRINT. WE ARE 17% SHORT OF PERSONNEL. THE QUESTION I DID NOT RAISE WHEN THAT REPORT WAS GIVEN AND WE HAD THE COMMAND STAFF UP HERE, DOES THAT MEAN WE ARE ACTUALLY PUTTING OUT A SHIFT THAT IS 17% SHORT OF PERSONNEL OF POLICE IN THE CITY? I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT. I FAILED TO ASK THE QUESTION AT THAT TIME. THAT IS A QUESTION I WILL RAISE THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY IN SPEAKING WITH COMMAND STAFF. SO MY CONCERNS ARE RELATIVE TO THE OVERALL PICTURE HERE. YES, THE CHIEF HAS TENDERED HER RESIGNATION. THAT IS OF HER OWN VOLITION. THAT IS NOT US TERMINATING HER. AT THE LAST MEETING THE ONLY THING I REQUESTED WAS A SPECIAL MEETING TO REVIEW THE REPORT IN MORE DETAIL IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE REPORT. I DIDN'T CALL FOR ANYBODY FOR THIS TERMINATION, I DIDN'T ASK FOR ANYBODY'S LETTER OF RESIGNATION, NONE OF THAT TOOK PLACE ON THE SEAT. HAVING SAID THAT, THE THOUGHT HAD CROSSED MY MIND THAT IT WAS THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO BE A DISCUSSION OF CHANGE. AGAIN, I COME BACK TO THE POINT THAT THE CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP IN THE DEPARTMENT, PEOPLE THINK THAT IS A FIXED. THEY ARE SADLY MISTAKEN. IT IS NOT A FIXED. IF YOU WANT TO SPECULATE THE DEPARTMENT IS UNDERFUNDED BY 20%, 25%, THOSE NUMBERS ADD UP TO 4, $5 MILLION ANNUALLY AND PERSONALLY, I DON'T THINK THAT IS SUFFICIENT. SUFFICE IT TO SAY THIS BODY HAS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM . COMMISSIONER GAINES IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. IF IT BECOMES NECESSARY THAT WE INCREASE THE PAY SCALE OF OFFICERS ACROSS THE BOARD TO MEET OUR COMPETITORS IN THE MARKETPLACE, WHICH THERE ARE MANY, WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT PUBLIC WORKS? WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT ENGINEERING? WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT PLANNING? WHERE IS ALL THIS MONEY GOING TO COME FROM? IT IS A SIGNIFICANT SHORTFALL. IT IS TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THIS IS NOT FIXED BY MOVING SOME FUNDS AROUND OR ELIMINATING POSITIONS IN THIS OR THAT DEPARTMENT, THAT IS NOT THE ANSWER. WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT SHORTFALL OF FUNDING COME INTO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. I HAVE BEEN ON THE SOAPBOX SINCE I CAME INTO OFFICE TRYING TO CURE IT. THEIR LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS BUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS THE FIRST ONE TO IDENTIFY A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM WITHIN CITY GOVERNANCE. IT SIMPLY COMES DOWN TO DOLLARS AND CENTS FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE. YES, LEADERSHIP IS DEFINITIVELY A PROBLEM WITH POLICIES AND PROCEDURES BUT THE MONEY TO OPERATED APARTMENT OF THIS SIZE AND THIS BODY'S FIRST CONCERN IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE NEEDS TO BE PUBLIC SAFETY. PERIOD. THERE ARE NO OTHER CONCERNS. PUBLIC SAFETY IS BEING ADDRESSED. RIGHT NOW, I SHARE THE CONCERNS OF COMMISSIONER TAYLOR, COMMISSIONER GAINES AND COMMISSIONER JOHNSON THAT FOR WHATEVER REASON, WE HAVE A MORALE PROBLEM IN THE DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE A DEPARTURE PROBLEM IN THE DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE AN UNDERPAYMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT, ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE ROLLED INTO THIS CONVERSATION TO BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT, NOT JUST A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP. THAT IS WHERE I AM COMING FROM . >> I WOULD SUBMIT TO YOU, ALSO, TALKING ABOUT , UM, INCREASING TAXES TO PAY POLICE, WHICH PROBABLY NOT, WE CAN'T GO ABOVE, WE ARE AT 6.9. THERE IS [01:30:01] PROBABLY NOT ENOUGH WIGGLE ROOM TO RAISE TAXES, EVEN IF WE HAD THE WILL. EVERY CITIZEN IN FORT PIERCE SAID TO DO IT, THAT STILL WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH MONEY . I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE OUTSIDE FORT PIERCE WHO UNDERSTAND POLICING AND WHO HAVE SAID IT TAKES A MINIMUM OF $2 MILLION ADDITIONALLY FOR THIS DEPARTMENT -- >> YOU THINK THAT IS WISHFUL THINKING. >> THAT SOUNDS LOW TO ME. >> WE CAN BUY NEW WEAPONS FOR $500,000. IT IS NOT SMALL INCREMENTS. >> THEN YOU GOT A STATE LEGISLATIVE POLICY GROUP LOOKING AT PROPERTY TAXES AND WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN TO THEM . BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE THINKS WE ARE READY COLLECT TOO MUCH. THAT IS THE PUZZLE THAT THIS COMMISSION HAS TO SOLVE. WE DO NOT PRINT MONEY IN THE BASEMENT. >> MADAM MAYOR, TWO AT THAT, THAT IS WHAT I HAD HOPED WE WERE AT LEAST TRYING TO GET DOWN TODAY AND WE WILL. REGARDLESS, WE WILL HAVE TO GET DOWN THAT PATH BECAUSE WE ARE FACING A LEGISLATURE THAT IS TRYING TO CUT OUR ABILITY ON AD VALOREM AS WE SPEAK, LITERALLY. WE HAVE TO ANTICIPATE THE MONIES WE GET IN AND FIGURE OUT, OKAY, THAT IS TAKEN AWAY FROM US, THAT IMPACTS US. I ALSO NEED THE CALL FROM MR. CHELST, ALL OF THIS, MAYBE I MISSED IT, IF I DID, IT IS A 200 PAGE REPORT, BUT WITH ALL OF THE STUFF, WHAT IS THE BUDGET DOLLARS WE ACTUALLY NEED TO GET, IF EVERYTHING IS PERFECT, WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT THIS? THAT IS WHAT I THINK WE NEED TO WRESTLE WITH AND WHAT I THOUGHT WE WOULD TRY TO GET TO IF EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT AT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO HEAR THIS, NOT JUST US. WE ARE FORCED TO READ ALL THE STUFF. >> CERTAINLY, COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. I WILL SPEAK WITH THE DIRECTOR TO GET THE EXACT AMOUNT. >> I JUST NEED A ROUNDING NUMBER. I THINK THE COMMUNITY, WE HEAR FROM THEM ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, PEOPLE WANT TO FEEL SAFE, BE SAFE AND GATHER WITHOUT THE THREAT OF SOMETHIG HAPPENING. I HEAR FROM OFFICERS EITHER THEY WILL TAKE THAT PROTECTIVE DETAIL OVER AND ABOVE THEIR REGULAR DUTY, WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT THE CALL VOLUME IS, COMPARED TO THE OTHER ENTITIES THAT ARE RUNNING MORE CALLS AND OTHER ENTITIES IN OUR AREA. BUT I ALSO THINK WE NEED TO BE REALISTIC IN WHAT WE REALLY NEED. >> ONCE WE DEAL -- DIG INTO THE RESOURCES, WE WILL GIVE YOU AN APPROXIMATE AMOUNT. >> IN THAT REPORT, THERE WAS A TALK OF THE ADDITION OF A THIRD SHIFT. ON ALL THREE VECTORS WE RUN RIGHT NOW. THAT IS A REAL RECOMMENDATION WITH REAL DOLLARS WE HAVE TO FUND, NOT JUST TO OFFICERS, THEIR INSURANCE, THE EQUIPMENT, THE CARS THEY WILL RIDE IN, EVERYTHING. >> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, THAT IS THE REASON I THINK, AS AN OPTION, WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT, WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO POLICE? WHAT OTHER AGENCIES CAN ASSIST US? HERE'S THE QUESTION I ASKED TWO AND HALF YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED. I HAD BEEN QUESTIONED BY CONSTITUENTS ENDLESSLY ABOUT, WHY DO WE ASK THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TO COME IN AND TAKE OVER? SO ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID WHEN I MET WITH SENIOR STAFF, I ASKED, HAS OR EVER BEEN A STUDY DONE TO DETERMINE WHAT THOSE COSTS WOULD BE TO THTOE CITY OF FORT PIERCEO ACCOMPLISH THAT? EITHER AND A PORTION OF THE CITY OR AS A WHOLE? I WAS STUNNED WHEN I WAS TOLD THE ANSWER WAS NO. WE HAVE NEVER ASKED THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR IT NOR HAVE THEY PROVIDED IT. WE HAVE NO CLUE WHAT THE COST FACTORS WOULD BE. MY CONCEPT ON SHRINKING THE FOOTPRINT OF THE DEPARTMENT IS SIMPLY WE TAKE THE EXTRANEOUS AREAS OF THE CITY , I AM ON KINGS HIGHWAY SIX TIMES A DAY. I SEE CITY OF FORT PIERCE POLICE VEHICLES OUT THERE CONSISTENTLY. I SEE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT VEHICLES OUT THERE CONSISTENTLY, WE ARE PATROLLING THE SAME CORRIDORS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO SHRINK THE FOOTPRINT OF TO THE CORE THE CITY, THE NORTHWEST SECTION OF THE CITY, DOWNTOWN, THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE CITY, SOUTH BEACH AND ILLUMINATE THOSE EXTRANEOUS AREAS ENTER THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES OVER TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, GENERATING POTENTIAL COST SAVINGS FOR THE CITY? WE DON'T KNOW. DON'T YOU THINK WE SHOULD KNOW? >> YEAH. YEAH, IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP. IT USUALLY GETS A REACTION , AN AUTOMATIC REACTION. >> I GET THAT. I GET THAT FROM THE COMMISSION, NO WAY WOULD WE EVER CONSIDER IT. NOW WE HAVE TO. >> NOW WE HAVE TO DO. >> EVERY OPTION NEEDS TO BE PUT [01:35:02] ON THE TABLE. WE HAVE A DESPERATE, DESPERATE SITUATION HERE, ALL OPTIONS NEED TO BE CONSIDERED. IS NOT WHAT WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT, IT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, AS SIMPLE AS THAT FROM MY ANALYSIS. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES? I AM JUST CURIOUS ABOUT SOMETHING, IT IS MORE OF A QUESTION TO MS. COX OR MADAME ATTORNEY. THIS WAS PUT ON MY CHAIR THIS MORNING WITH AN EMAIL THAT CAME TO US YESTERDY AT 1:31. REGARDING THE SURVEYS AND SIMPLE SURVEYS AND FULL SURVEYS ABOUT THIS REPORT. I KNOW IT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN ATTACHED TO TODAY, THIS MORNING'S AGENDA, BECAUSE WE GOT IT YESTERDAY AT 131. I AM REQUESTING THESE FULL SURVEY RESULTS IN THE EMAIL BE ADDED TO THE AGENDA SO THE PUBLIC CAN READ THE SURVEYS THAT THIS EXTERNAL AGENCY TALK AND READ. I CAN SAY THEY WILL GET A DIFFERENT FEEL OF WHAT HAS BEEN SET UP HERE. I JUST SKIMMED THROUGH THE ONES THAT ARE RIGHT HERE. AND I WANT THE PUBLIC, NOT TO HEAR FROM YOU, NOT TO HEAR FROM MANY COMMISSIONER HERE, NOT TAKE ANY COMMISSIONER'S WARD, I WANT THE PUBLIC TO GO READ THIS DOCUMENT AND THE FULL SURVEY AND MAKE THEIR OWN DECISION TO SEE WHAT WAS ACTUALLY SAID BY THE OFFICERS WHO WERE SURVEYED, WHO ARE WILLING TO BE SURVEYED. I AM ACTION, IF IT IS NOT ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA, CAN IT BE ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA SO HE CAN READ THIS? >> IT IS ATTACHED. >> AS WELL AS THE CHEAP UP THIS LETTER. IT WILL BE ON THERE. >> I ATTACHED IT TO THE AGENDA BECAUSE WE WOULD BE GETTING REQUESTS FOR IT. >> I WANTED TO NOTE WHEN I RECEIVED THE SURVEY, I HAD A QUESTION OF THE SAMPLE SIZE, THE PERIOD AND HOW THE EMPLOYEES WERE SELECTED. WAS A STRATIFIED, STATISTICAL, RANDOM SAMPLE? WE DON'T KNOW. WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE SURVEYED AND WHAT WAS THEIR TENURE IN THEIR ROLES? I HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS WHEN I RECEIVED THE SURVEY. WE USUALLY GET THE BACKGROUND ON HOW THE SURVEY WAS DEVELOPED AND THAT WAS NOT PRESENTED TO US ON WHO THEY TALKED TO OFFICERS, WERE THEY ON THE FORCE TWO YEARS, FIVE YEARS, THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO KNOW. WHO TOOK THE SURVEY? WHAT WAS THE METHOD IN SELECTING THE EMPLOYEES WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE SURVEY? WAS IT ALL THOSE WHO JUST DIDN'T LOVE THE CHIEF OR LIKE THE CHIEF? I DON'T KNOW. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A FAIR AND BALANCED PRESENTATION TO US. IT WAS RECEIVED YESTERDAY AT 1:30. I DID NOT GET THE IMPRESSION THEY WERE ABLE TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION. HOW DO WE SELECT THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE SURVEY? >> MADAM MAYOR? >> YES? >> I AM CONCERNED, THE BROAD DATA POINT I GET, BUT USUALLY, A SURVEY IS SURMISED, IT IS A SUMMARY. IT GIVES YOU THE DATA IN A PIE CHART SO YOU CAN SEE THE SAMPLE SIZE, WHO IS IN FAVOR, WHEN I READ IT, I SAW MORE THE ACTUAL RAW DATA BUBBLED IN BY THE RESPECTIVE PEOPLE. I HAVE CONCERNS WITH HOW THIS WAS PRESENTED. I WOULD LIKE THEM TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT AND TO PRESENT SOMETHING IN AN EXECUTIVE FORMAT SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND IT A BIT BETTER. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T QUANTIFY IT. YOU SIMPLY SEE THE RAW BUBBLE SHAPES. I DIDN'T HAVE TIME, I DON'T DO THAT, I AM NOT CAN GO BACK AND REHASH AND TRY TO COUNT, KEEP SCORE ON WHO DID AND SAID WHAT. THERE NEEDS TO BE A BETTER PRESENTATION OF THIS DATA TO HELP US UNDERSTAND THE SENTIMENT. >> MADAM MAYOR, IF I MAY? >> YES. >> WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, I THINK WE NEED TO TRANSITION TO THE MATTER AT HAND. RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE THE FACT THE CHIEF HAS SUBMITTED HER LETTER OF RESIGNATION OF HER OWN VOLITION. IT IS THIS BODY PREFACE RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT ON THAT AND TO FILL THAT VOID ON AN INTERIM BASIS. I AM SUGGESTING WE SEGUE TO THAT PORTION OF THE DISCUSSION. I WILL START THAT, IF YOU FOLKS WANT TO. MY OVERVIEW OF THIS IS THAT WE NEED TO ACCEPT HER LETTER OF RESIGNATION . AGAIN, IF I WAS MAKING THE MOTION, I WOULD WANT TO MAKE THE BODY AWARE I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO MAKE SURE SHE GETS HER FOR SEVERANCE AND ABILITY TO STAY ON INSURANCE MOVING FOR, ET CETERA. THOSE ARE IMPORTANT ISSUES TO MAKE THAT WE ACCEPT THAT UNDER THOSE TIMES. WE NEED TO APPOINT AN INTERIM. I BELIEVE WE NEED TO TAKE THE ENTER FROM OUR EXISTING COMMAND [01:40:02] STAFF UNTIL HR HAS THE ABILITY TO COMMENCE A SEARCH WITH THE CITY MANAGER FOR THE SEARCH FOR REPLACEMENT. I DO SEE ONE OF THE DEPUTY CHIEFS HERE TODAY. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME DISCUSSION AMONGST THE DEPUTY CHIEFS AS TO WHO COULD GRAVITATE TO THIS POSITION. I KNOW HE IS IN THE DROP PROGRAM. I DON'T THINK HE IS LOOKING FOR A LONG-TERM, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WOULD CALL IT A PROMOTION OR WHAT YOU WOULD REFER TO IT AS -- >> PUNISHMENT. >> PUNISHMENT FOR YOUR LONG-STANDING SERVICE. WE NEED TO FILL THAT VACANCY IMMEDIATELY. WE NEED EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP IN PLACE THAT WILL RALLY THE DEPARTMENT, WORK WITH THE ACCESS THAT THEY HAVE AND COME TO US WITH A CLEAN PERSPECTIVE AS TO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO RIGHT THE SHIP. THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS MAY BE WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, IT MAY NOT. IT MAY SIMPLY BE MODEL DATA LIGHT MONIES AND WE NEED SOMEONE TO GET IN THERE AND GET TO WORK. HAVING A VACANCY IN THIS POSITION IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. >> NO. EXACTLY. >> I AGREE 100%. SOMEBODY MAKE THE MOTION TO MAKE THE VOTE. AGAIN, I WILL GO BACK TO, WE HAVE A CITY MANAGER . >> I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOU. >> WE HAVE AN HR DIRECTOR. WE TASK THEM TO DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID, THEY GET TOGETHER AND THEY COME BACK AND IN THEIR MIND, MAKE THE BEST DECISION TO PRESENT BACK TO US, IF THAT IS WHAT WE WANT. THAT IS WHAT WE HIRED THEM TO DO. THEY CAN COME IN WITH THEIR MOTIONS OR THEIR PRESENTATIONS OR THEIR CHOICE AND AT THAT TIME, WE CAN DISCUSS IT. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES, MY COMMENTARY IS THAT, AGAIN, WE COME DOWN TO, THIS IS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. WE NEED LEADERSHIP NOW. >> HOLD ON. THE MOTION IS, SHE HANDED IN 90 DAYS SO SHE IS NOT CAN HAVE 90 DAYS. IF WE DO HER RESIGNATION, SHE WILL STILL BE CHIEF 90 DAYS. >> WHAT I THINK MR. CHELST, HE HAS THOUGHT THIS THROUGH, HE AND I HAVE HAD A CONVERSATION. HE HAS THOUGHT THIS THROUGH. MR. CHELST, THE VOTE IS TO ACCEPT THE CHIEF'S RESIGNATION , YOU ARE GOING TO BE, I WAS GOING TO TURN TO YOU AND ASK YOU WHO YOU WOULD HAVE IN MIND IN TERMS OF, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY THAT NOW BUT WE ALSO NEED TO CLARIFY THE CHIEF GETS THE BENEFITS AND HOW YOU WOULD HANDLE IT IF WE ACCEPT HER RESIGNATION, WHICH WOULD BE MY PREFERENCE. I DO NOT WANT TO TERMINATE HER. IT IS MY PREFERENCE FOR HER TO HAVE WHICH HE JUSTLY DESERVES. >> CERTAINLY. WE KNOW THAT EARLIER THE CHIEF SUBMITTED HER RESIGNATION VOLUNTARILY. SHE WOULD HAVE 90 DAYS AND STILL BE AN EMPLOYEE. I WOULD RECOMMEND, IF WE ACCEPTED HER RECOMMENDATION, WE PUT HER ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE, SO SHE WOULD NOT HAVE TO COME INTO THE OFFICE. WOULD MAKE FOR SMOOTHER TRANSITION. THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION. SHE VOLUNTARILY SUBMITTED HER RESIGNATION, SHE WOULD BE ON THE PAYROLL 90 DAYS, SHE WOULD HAVE ALL OF HER LIFE AND HEALTH BENEFITS. IF WE JUST ALLOW HER TO BE ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE WITH PAY, THIS ISSUE WILL GO FORWARD AND I CAN RECOMMEND AT >> MADAM MAYOR, FOR THE SAKE OF THIS, I THINK WE SHOULD HANDLE EACH THING SEPARATELY. I THINK WE SHOULD DEAL WITH HER RESIGNATION LETTER AND THEN HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT INTER. I DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD BE IN THE SAME OCEAN. >> I DO, TOO. I DO, THERE. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY SHE WAS GOING TO GET THE MOST GENEROUS THAT WE COULD DO FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS WORKED HARD FOR THE CITY AND GAVE HER LIFE TO THE CITY FOR 10 YEARS. >> MADAM MAYOR, AND WILLING TO MAKE A MOTION TO GET THIS THING ROLLING. DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER COMMENT? I DO. I AM ALSO READY TO MAKE A MOTION. >> MADAM MAYOR? MR. SORENSEN? >> FOR CLARIFICATION, THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG, THE WORD WE ARE USING IS ACTING CHIEF OF POLICE, NOT IN TERMS. >> WE ARE NOT THERE YET. >> I JUST WANTED TO GET THAT CLARIFICATION. >> WHERE NIGHT THERE. >> YOU WANT TO DO IT OR YOU WANT ME TO? >> YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? I WAS PREPARING FOR QUESTIONS. >> I WILL MAKE THE MOTION. MADAM MAYOR, I MOVED TO ACCEPT CHIEF DIANE HOBLEY-BURNEY'S RESIGNATION FROM THE CITY OF THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT. >> IS HER SECOND? >> SECOND FOR QUALIFICATION. THE 90 DAY TIMELINE SHE IS PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE. >> I THOUGHT WE WANTED TO HANDLE SEPARATELY SO THAT IS WHY I SAID THAT. >> NOT THIS. SHE HAS A FULL SEVERED -- SEVERANCE PACKAGE AND THAT WE PAY INSURANCE FOR THAT [01:45:01] DURATION OF TIME -- >> JUST DON'T CALL IT SEVERANCE, SHE GETS 90 DAYS. >> SHE WOULD RECEIVE HER CHECKS AND PAYROLL FOR THOSE 90 DAYS. SHE WOULD BE ENTITLED TO HEALTH INSURANCE AND ALL THE BENEFIT SHE HAS RIGHT NOW UNTIL THE EXHAUSTION OF THE 90 DAYS, AT WHICH POINT SHE COULD CONTINUE ON, SHE IS ELIGIBLE FOR RETIREMENT AT STAY ON THROUGH THAT OR THROUGH COBRA. >> MR. SORENSEN, AS HEAD OF HR, MY REQUEST IS THAT YOU PERSONALLY INTERVENE IN THIS TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THAT TAKES PLACE. OKAY? I WAS SECOND THAT MOTION BASED ON THAT. >> I MEANT MY MOTION TO INCLUDE THAT. >> IT IS TO ACCEPT THE RESIGNATION AND PLACE HER ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE? >> FOR A PERIOD OF 90 DAYS. >> AS PER HER CONTRACT. >>.IT. >> SO THAN HER LAST DAY WITH THE CITY WOULD BE 90 DAYS FROM TODAY OF THE AFFECTED -- EFFECTIVE DATE OF SEVERANCE. >> OKAY. CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. >> READY TO TALK ABOUT, WE HAVE TO HAVE A LEADER IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE SOMEBODY ON STAFF STILL, THE CHIEF IS STILL ON STAFF STILL FOR 90 DAYS. WHAT THAT REQUIRES IS FOR YOU TO NAME SOMEONE IN CHARGE. I BELIEVE THAT WAS ACTING, I BELIEVE YOU SAID IT WAS ACTING. >> YES, MADAM MAYOR, LES MONDAY AT THE MEETING, WE HAD TWO MAJORS AND TWO DEPUTY CHIEFS. AMONGST THEM THE SIX FOR IT CLOSER TO YOUR MICROPHONE, WE CAN HEAR YOU. >> CAN YOU HEAR ME BETTER NOW? >> YEAH. WHEN YOU TALK THAT WAY, WE CAN HEAR YOUR. >> OKAY, AS I WAS MENTIONING, LAST MONDAY , THE LEADERSHIP OF FORCE, TWO MAJORS, TWO DEPUTY CHIEFS. SUBSEQUENT TO THAT MEETING, WE ARE HERE TODAY. I ASK MYSELF, WHO WOULD BEST BE ABLE TO REPRESENT THE DEPARTMENT ABOUT ANY INTENTIONS. I WAS DRAWN TO DEPUTY CHIEF RIDLE FOR THAT REASON. HE IS IN THE DROP PROGRAM. I UNDERSTAND IN 18 MONTHS HE WILL BE OUT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND IS NOT INTERESTED IN BEING POLICE CHIEF AT I BELIEVE HE WILL BE IN THE BEST POSITION TO REPRESENT THE CONTINUITY OF THE OPERATIONS, HE IS BEEN ON THE FORCE 20 YEARS, HE KNOWS THE COMMUNITY, HE IS FROM THE COMMUNITY. I AM SETTLED WITH DEPUTY CHIEF RIDLE FOR THAT PARTICULAR REASON. I FEEL THEY ALL, THE TWO MAJORS AND DEPUTIES ARE JUST AS QUALIFIED, BUT I WANTED TO, GO WITH DEPUTY CHIEF RIDLE FOR THE PERSONAL REASON OF THE PERSONA INTEREST IN THE POSITION. HE DID NOT HAVE IT. SO, FOR MY POSITION, I RECOMMEND INTERNALLY DEPUTY CHIEF RIDLE TO BE ACTING. >> SHOULD HE BE ASKED IF HE WISHES TO STEP INTO THAT POSITION? >> A IN FORD. >> IF HE IS WILLING. >> DRAG HIM QUITTING -- KICKING AND SCREAMING. >> YOU DON'T GET TO BE ASKED. >> YOU CAN MAKE THE COMMENT . >> DEPUTY CHIEF RIDLE? >> MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, IT IS DISAPPOINTING WE ARRIVED AT THIS TODAY BUT HERE WE ARE. YES, I WILL TAKE THE POSITION. I WILL HELP US GET A NEW CHIEF IN PLACE TO TAKE OVER THE DEPARTMENT. YOU ARE CORRECT, SIR. HAVE ABOUT 18 MONTHS LEFT. I SEE FLIP-FLOPS AND SHORTS IN MY NEAR FUTURE BUT NOT QUITE YET. I WILL BE SURE TO CONTINUE SERVICES AND PROVIDE STABILITY FOR THE WORK. >> THANK YOU. >> SIR? >> JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, CITY ATTORNEY, DO WE NEED TO APPROVE THE COMPENSATION WITHIN THIS VOTE? DO WE JUST FOLLOW NORMAL PROCEDURES? >> I WOULD RECOMMEND, FOR NOW, YOU HOLD NORMAL PROCEDURES OUT OF THE HANDBOOK AT THE CITY MANAGER WANTS TO ADD COMPENSATION IN AN ADDITIONAL WAY, WE CAN BRING THAT IN THROUGH THE PROPER CHANNELS TO DO SO. >> I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THE CITY MANAGER SHOULD WORK WITH DEPUTY CHIEF RIDLE ON . BUT, DOES THIS REQUIRE A VOTE? FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LISTENING, THE CITY MANAGER MANAGES THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND IS IN CHARGE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. BUT THE WAY THE CHARTER READS, THE COMMISSION HAS A SAY SO IN WHO IS GOING TO LEAD THE DEPARTMENT AND TO IS GOING TO LEAVE THE DEPARTMENT. WE DO HAVE [01:50:02] A SAY SO BUT THE CITY MANAGER IS THE MANAGER. SO IT IS NOT OUR JOB TO MANAGE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IT IS THE CITY MANAGER'S JOB. SO, DO WE NEED A VOTE ON HIS RECOMMENDATION? ACTING POLICE CHIEF? >> MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, DO NOT BELIEVE, BECAUSE THIS IS AN ACTING POSITION, IT WOULD REQUIRE YOUR VOTE. HOWEVER, IF YOU ALL WANTED TO DO SO, IT WOULD NOT BE WRONG TO DO SO. MR. CHELST MAY WANT THAT AFFIRMANCE YOU ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT DECISION. HOWEVER, AT THE 90 DAY PERIOD, UPON THE CHIEF'S SEPARATION, AN INTERN WOULD NEED TO BE NAMED. THAT WOULD ABSOLUTELY COME BACK BEFORE YOU FOR A VOTE, BASED ON THE LANGUAGE OF THE CHARTER. THAT WOULD BE A MORE PERMANENT INTERN POSITION, WHERE'S THE ACTING IS MORE OF A MANAGERIAL, SHORT-TERM POSITION, DUE TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. >> CAN I ASK A QUESTION? >> SURE. >> JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE VOTE YOU'RE ASKING US TO MAKE NOW, WE ARE VOTING ON AN ACTING CHIEF FOR 90 DAYS AND THEN THE 91ST DAY, THE 92ND DAY, WHENEVER, THAT CITY COMMISSION MEETING COMING BACK UP, AT THAT POINT, WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHO THE INTERIM WOULD BE AND THAT PERSON COULD BE DEPUTY CHIEF RIDLE OR SOMEONE ELSE DURING THAT TIME. I AM JUST TRYING, SO THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS AND SO I UNDERSTAND. THE VOTE WE ARE ABOUT TO PASS NOW IS FOR 90 DAYS THE CHIEF IS ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE. >> MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONER JEN -- COMMISSIONER AYE IN, THAT IS CORRECT, FOR THE PERIOD OF 90 DAYS. I SUGGEST MR. CHELST, BEFORE THE 90 DAYS, COME BACK WITH THE PERSON HE WOULD LIKE TO PUT IN HIS INTERIM SO THERE IS NOT ANY SORT OF GAP IN THAT TIMEFRAME BUT THE INTERIM ROLE COULD BE DEPUTY CHIEF RIDLE, COULD BE SOMEONE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, IT COULD BE SOMEONE WITHOUT THE DEPARTMENT. THAT WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK BEFORE YOU WITH MR. CHELST'S RECOMMENDATION. >> I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THAT. >> MADAM MAYOR, HAVE A QUESTION. I JUST ONE DEFINITION OF THE TITLE OF ACTING, THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. I WANT THAT CLARIFIED. WE DEFINE THAT AS, OKAY, WE HAD THIS BEFORE, WE HAD A WALL OFF ON HIRING AND FIRING, DISCIPLINARY ACTION TAKEN, ET CETERA, I WOULD LIKE FOR THAT TO BE UNDERSTOOD WHAT THIS TITLE MEANS AND THE POWERS VESTED THEREFORE. >> MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, THE ACTING ROLE WOULD HAVE FULL POWERS OF THE POLICE CHIEF, PURSUANT TO OUR CHARTERS AND OUR ROLES. THE INTERN THEN, TOO, WOULD HAVE THOSE SAME POWERS AND RULES . SO WE WOULD BE IN A FULL CAPACITY AT THIS POINT IN TIME MOVING FORWARD. >> THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION. >> SO, COMMISSIONERS, YOU INTERESTED IN HAVING A VOTE OR SHOULD WE TALK ABOUT SEARCHING FOR NEW POLICE CHIEF? >> JUST TO BE SAFE? >> SHE SAID THERE IS NO HARM IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A VOTE. DOES SOMEBODY WANT TO MAKE A MOTION? >> I MOVED PER THE CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION, TO A POINT DEPUTY CHIEF RIDLE IS ACTING CHIEF OF POLICE FOR 90 DAY PERIOD. >> I SECOND . >> CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. >> >> NOW WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT -- >> MADAM MAYOR, I NEED TO MAKE A COMMENT . I HAVE BEEN HERE ALL OF A WEEK'S. I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU INDIVIDUALLY ABOUT EMPLOYEE RIGHTS AND RESPECTFUL EMPLOYEES. THE CHIEF AND I HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP AT ALL THE EMPLOYEES KNOW WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION, HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH THEM, WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS, IT TOOK ME ABOUT SIX WEEKS. THEN I STARTED MEETING LAST WEEK WITH ALL THE DIVISIO MANAGERS AND THEIR STAFF AT I AM ALL ABOUT THE EMPLOYEES AND YOU KNOW I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT. I RESPECT THE LEADERSHIP WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I MET WITH THE TWO MAJORS AND DEPUTY CHIEFS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO TO TALK ABOUT THEIR PLANS AND THEIR VISION, AS WELL. SO STAFF KNOWS I AM VERY SUPPORTIVE IN THE UNITY OF EMPLOYEES. MY CONCERN IS UNDERSTANDING THE EMPLOYEES CONCERNS, WHAT MOTIVATES THEM, WHAT RESOURCES THEY NEED, DO THEY FEEL THEY ARE IN A POSITION TO GROW IN THE CITY? DO WE HAVE THE PERSONNEL COSTS TO SUPPORT WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO? I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE CITY IN THE GREATEST WAY ECONOMICALLY, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT -WISE. THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN WITH EMPLOYEES THAT DON'T HAVE [01:55:08] MANAGEMENT SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD. I WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE. THE CHIEF AND I HAD A STRONG RELATIONSHIP AT I WANT HER TO KNOW I HAVE THE GREATEST RESPECT FOR HER AND THE GREATEST RESPECT FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES TRYING TO UPLIFT NOT ONLY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT THE CITY AS A WHOLE. I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE A WEEKS BUT I HAVE GROWN VERY PASSIONATE TO GET TO KNOW THE EMPLOYEES AND THEY KNOW I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS. I WANT TO MAKE THAT STATEMENT. THE EMPLOYEES WILL BE PROTECTED, THEY WILL BE RESPECTED BUT THEY WILL BE ASKED TO DO THEIR JOBS LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, INCLUDING MYSELF. >> APPRECIATE THAT. NOW, I THINK WE NEED TO AT LEAST TALK ABOUT MOVING FORWARD AND RECRUITING A POLICE CHIEF. I AM WONDERING IF THE COMMISSION IS INTERESTED IN HIRING A RECRUITMENT FIRM TO DO THAT? WE ASKED HER OWN HR DEPARTMENT FOR RECENT SEARCH FOR CITY MANAGER. THAT TOOK AN EXTREME TOLL ON STAFF. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW YOUR INPUT. FINDING THE RIGHT SEARCH FIRM FOR THE POLICE CHIEF SEARCH. >> IT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION WE GET A SEARCH FIRM TO DO A SEARCH ON THIS. WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE. THERE WERE SOME HICCUPS. WE ADMITTED, WE BROUGHT TO THE PUBLIC, BUT TO HAVE MORE TRANSPARENCY, TO ALLEVIATE CITY STAFF OF THAT, I THINK WE NEED TO DEPLOY THAT. >> IT TOOK AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF TIME AND ENERGY, YES. COMMISSIONERS? >> I AM FOREVER, I AM FOR WHATEVER ROUTE THE CITY MANAGER WOULD LIKE TO TAKE TO HIRE THE NEXT POLICE CHIEF. IF THAT INVOLVES A SEARCH FIRM, I AM HAPPY WITH THAT. IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, IT SHOULD BE UP TO THE CITY MANAGER TO HIRE THE NEXT POLICE CHIEF. >> TIRED WITH OUR CONSENT. >> I THINK THE WAY THAT PROCESS , I HAVE FULL FAITH AND TRUST IN THE CITY MANAGER TO DO WHATEVER APPROPRIATE ANSWERS FOR THAT POLICE CHIEF. >> DO YOU REQUIRE, I THINK, WE DON'T REQUIRE A VOTE ON THIS, WE JUST NEED TO GIVE DIRECTION. YOU ARE LOOKING THOUGHTFUL. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING? >> WE VOTED ON EVERYTHING. WE VOTED ON EVERYTHING GOING ON. YOUR LAST STATEMENT, JUST FOR THE RECORD, SO THE RECORD IS CLEAR, FOR TWO REASONS, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A VOTE IF WE ARE GOING TO ASK THE CITY MANAGER TO ASK THE CITY MANAGER TO DO A , UM, SEARCH, JUST BECAUSE WE, THE CITY MANAGER, IS STILL UNDER HIS REVIEW . WE'VE GOT SIX MONTHS COMING DOWN THE ROAD. I DON'T WANT SIX MONTHS COMING DOWN THE ROAD WE GET AMNESIA AND SAY HE DID THIS AND HE HIRED THIS PERSON AND WE GO BACK AND THERE IS SOME TYPE OF, THAT IS NOT WHAT I MEANT ON THIS DIRECTION OR THAT DIRECTION. BASED ON THAT, UM, I WOULD ASK FOR A VOTE. SECOND, I AM LOOKING AT SPENDING MORE MONEY ON A SEARCH. WE JUST CRIED ABOUT MONEY FOR THE LAST TWO HOURS AND EVERYBODY NEEDS MONEY. I UNDERSTAND TRANSPARENCY. I UNDERSTAND, I DON'T EVEN WANT TO LOOK AT HIM, I KNOW JARED IS LOOKING AT ME, I DON'T EVEN WANT TO LOOK AT HIM. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR DEPARTMENT DID. I KNOW WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH. I CUT MY BINDER, JUST FOR REMEMBERING AT EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS DID, I DON'T KNOW THE COST OF WHAT IT TOOK YOUR DEPARTMENT TO DO VERSUS THE COST OF SPENDING MONEY I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE. YES, THERE ARE HICCUPS IN THE CITY MANAGER'S SEARCH. ALL OF THOSE HAVE BEEN FIXED . WE CARVED THOSE IN. I DON'T KNOW IF IT BEHOOVES YOU TO DO IT AGAIN, JUST BECAUSE, I DO BELIEVE YOU HAVE TO BE SOME PART OF THIS WHEN WE TRY TO BRING IN SOMEBODY WITH HR. YOU'VE GOT TO BE SOME PART OF THIS. I'M JUST ASKING THE COMMISSION TO THINK ABOUT IT. WITH THE VOTE IS SEND IT OUT, I JUST HEARD US, THE LAST HOUR AND A HALF, TWO HOURS, TALK ABOUT MONEY. HERE WE ARE SPENDING MORE MONEY ON DOING WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. THAT IS WHAT [02:00:03] WE HAVE TO DO BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GET THE RIGHT PERSON HERE. WHEREVER IT IS, IF THAT IS INTERNAL, IF THAT IS OUT, WE JUST NEED THE RIGHT PERSON. I JUST WANT TO DO IT RIGHT THE BEST WAY WE CAN. I JUST DON'T WANT TO THROW TONS AND TONS OF THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO RESEARCH BECAUSE I REMEMBER WITH THAT SEARCH FIRM, I'M LOOKING AT MADAM ATTORNEY, WITH US TRYING TO FIND A CITY MANAGER. I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE GET THAT MONEY FROM. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE DIRECTOR TO SEE HOW HIS FEELINGS ARE ON THIS OR COMMISSIONER GAINES, I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO DO AN OUTSIDE SEARCH AND I WILL SIT BACK. I HAVE MY ANSWER, I WILL HAVE MY ANSWER. I AM A QUESTION-AND-ANSWER. FOR THE PUBLIC, IF, FOR SOME REASON, I CALL, I NEVER CALLED MADAM MAYOR BY HER FIRST NAME, THAT IS A DISRESPECTFUL THING, IF I CALL COMMISSIONER GAINES OR COMMISSIONER JOHNSON OR COMMISSIONER BRODERICK, IT IS NOT A DISRESPECTFUL THING, IF I LOOK OVER AND SAY MS. COX AND SAY LINDA, IT IS NOT A DISRESPECTFUL THING, IT WHAT IT IS, IT IS A WORKING RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE HAD BEHIND THE SCENES HERE AT THE CITY. SOMETIMES, WHEN I AM TALKING TO THE DIRECTOR, OR WHEN THE DIRECTOR IS THERE, I HAVE TO CATCH MYSELF. IT IS NOT AN -- A DISRESPECT THING, IT IS THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE AROUND HERE. WHEN THEY COME TO MY OFFICE, WE ESTABLISH THAT WHEN EVERYBODY GOT HERE. PLEASE DON'T USE THAT AGAINST ME, IF I DO IT. IT IS JUST TRYING TO BE PROPER IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY. I AM WORKING ON THAT. DIRECTOR, IF YOU COULD ANSWER MY QUESTION, HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT OR IF YOU PREFER YOU AND THE CITY MANAGER DISCUSS IT AND LET ME KNOW WHEN IT IS TIME TO GET INTO YOUR BUSINESS, I CAN DO THAT, ALSO. IT IS WHAT IT IS. WE ARE CRYING ABOUT MONEY. I JUST DON'T WANT TO SIT UP HERE AND VOTE ON WRITING ANOTHER BIG CHECK IF WE DON'T HAVE TO. I WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND GET THE NEXT POLICE CHIEF HERE. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES, I APPRECIATE THAT. IF YOU COULD INDULGE ME JUST A MINUTE, I WILL GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF A BACKGROUND ABOUT THE CITY MANAGER'S SEARCH. IT DID PUT A LOT OF STRAIN ON OUR DEPARTMENT. YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, I CAME TO THE CITY LAST MARCH AND REBUILT THE HR DEPARTMENT. WE HAD SOME STRUCTURAL CHANGES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT . IT TOOK SOME TIME TO GET PEOPLE INTO PLACE AND IDENTIFY THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE RATE STRUCTURE FOR THE CITY HERE. AND THEN, IN SEPTEMBER, WE HAD TO TRANSITION TO A NEW RECRUITING SOFTWARE AND THE VERY FIRST TIME I AM NOT JOKING WHEN I SAY THIS, THE VERY FIRST POSITION ON THE RECRUITMENT STRUCTURE WAS THE CITY MANAGER'S POSITION. THERE IS ALWAYS NEW THINGS YOU TRY TO LEARN. YOU CAN BE TRAINED TO THE NTH DEGREE AND SOMETHING IS NOT GOING TO EITHER WORK RIGHT OR YOU WILL MISS A STEP, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. THAT GOES BACK TO ADDRESSING THE HICCUPS. THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN WORKED THROUGH. WE HAVE BEEN ON THE SYSTEM NOW, I DON'T WANT TO SAY THE SYSTEM, WE HAVE BEEN ON A MODULE OF THE SYSTEM NOW FOR AT LEAST NINE MONTHS NOW. ALL OF THAT HAS BEEN WORKED THROUGH. A NATIONWIDE SEARCH TAKES A LOT AND PUTS A LOT ON THE DEPARTMENT. CAN THE DEPARTMENT DO IT? YES, WE CAN DO IT. DO I WELCOME AN OUTSIDE SEARCH FIRM? ABSOLUTELY. THEY FOCUS ON JUST THE RECRUITMENT. I STILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE DAY TO DAY PROBLEMS OF INVESTIGATIONS, YOU KNOW, PAYROLL ISSUES, A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. I NEVER WILL SAY, NO, I CAN'T DO IT. OUR DEPARTMENT CAN ABSOLUTELY DO IT AND WE WOULD BE WILLING TO DO IT IF THAT IS THE DIRECTION THE COMMISSION WANTS US TO TAKE. >> COMMISSIONERS, I WILL ALLOW IT AS IS. LET ME BACK UP. WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY IS JUST ASKING TO GO FIND AN OUTSIDE SEARCH AGENCY. >> THAT IS WHAT WE CAN DO. >> DO THAT. >> WE CAN DO IT ANYWHERE YOU WANT. LET'S ASK THE CITY MANAGER AND THE STAFF TO BRING BACK A RECOMMENDATION SO WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE IMPROVING. THEY HAVE BUDGETS. THEY CAN WORK THROUGH BUDGETS TO LET US KNOW. >> ROLL, -- MADAM MAYOR, WE STILL HAVE TO WORK WITH THE SEARCH FIRM. THEY ARE DOING THE [02:05:04] INTERVIEWS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF. YOU CAN BASICALLY RECRUIT THE INDIVIDUALS IN TURN IT OVER TO THE HR DEPARTMENT SO THEY DO ALL THE HEAVY LIFTING OR THEY CAN DO IT THE WHOLE WAY THROUGH. WE CAN ANSWER OPTIONS TO BRING BACK >> I WAS HERE WHEN THE CHIEF WAS HIRED AND WE DID USE A SEARCH FIRM FOR HER HIRING IN 2015. THIS COMMISSION, AS WELL AS THE CITY MANAGER INTERVIEW , SO, WE DID THAT 10 YEARS AGO. COMMISSIONER BRODERICK? >> HAVE WE GIVEN PROPER DIRECTION ON THAT? I THINK WE HAVE, RIGHT? THEY WILL COME BACK WITH INFORMATION AROUND THE SEARCH FIRMS. I STILL THINK WE HAVE A LARGER ISSUE HERE TO DEAL WITH. THAT IS GOING TO REQUIRE A SPECIAL MEETING OF THIS BODY AGAIN. HOWEVER, AS A RAMP UP TO THAT, CITY MANAGER CHELST SUGGESTED HE GENERATE, WE HAVE PROJECTIONS AS TO SHORTFALL FUNDING , ET CETERA. I WILL SUGGEST MANAGER CHELST ANALYZES PART OF THAT PROCESS WITH BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING AT PAYROLL ISSUES, ANNUALIZED BUDGETS, ET CETERA. THE REPORT EVEN INDICATES WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT -- CAPEX . THAT IS MORE MEAT FOR THIS BODY TO CHEW ON, LIKE FACILITIES AND SPACE AND THINGS OF THIS NATURE. BUT I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE PART OF THAT DISCUSSION, AS WELL. I AM SUGGESTING, WHEN THE MANAGER INDICATES THE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE HE NEEDS, TO CALL A SPECIAL MEETING. WE NEED HARD DATA IN THIS BODY. I GET IT. THAT IS ONE DEPARTMENT'S ISSUE. AGAIN, PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR FIRST CONCERN. WE NEED TO FIX THIS IN SOME CAPACITY. I CAN'T EVEN GUESS WHAT THAT MIGHT BE. WE NEED TO SEE WHAT THE DOWNSTROKE IS TO DETERMINE HOW BAD ARE THINGS FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE AND THEN WE CAN START COBBLING TOGETHER, HOPEFULLY, SOLUTIONS. >> IF I MAY, MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONER BRODERICK, WE ARE GOING INTO THE BUDGET SEASON. CERTAINLY, WE ARE LOOKING AT CAPEX, CAPITAL EXPENSES, FOR ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS. WE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT THE IMPACT WILL BE. AS I NOTED EARLIER, IN A PRIOR MEETING, ADDITIONAL MEETINGS, WE CAN BRING IN A PLAN THAT WILL BE ATTACHED TO THE OPERATING PLAN SO IT WOULD BE APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION AND AVAILABLE FOR ELIGIBLE FEDERAL FUNDING, WHICH WE ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE THE CAPEX PLAN INCLUDED WITH THE BUDGET. WE WILL DISCUSS THAT WITH THE APARTMENT AND BRING THAT TO YOU DURING BUDGET SEASON. >> THE MAYOR'S IDEA WAS THE PRINTING PRESSES IN THE BASEMENT SO MAYBE WE SHOULD INCLUDE THE BASEMENT AND PRINTING PRESSES. >> ACTUALLY ADJUSTED. CAPITAL EXPENDITURES WHAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER. IN THIS REPORT, THEY BASICALLY TOLD US THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS WOEFULLY INADEQUATE IN SIZE TO HANDLE THE VOLUME WE HAVE. >> EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS A BUDGET. WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, I KNOW THEY HAVE HAD A BUDGET, MAYBE NOT COMPLETE, BUT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, IT HAS TO BE INCLUDED WITH THE BUDGET IN ORDER TO BE, IN A CERTAIN FORMAT? >> SPECIFICALLY A FIVE-YEAR PLAN. WE WANT TO SEE A FIVE-YEAR PLAN. WE SPECIFICALLY FOCUS ON POLICE, PUBLIC WORKS, ENGINEERING AND THEN THE GOLF COURSE, THOSE ENTERPRISE FUNDS, AS WELL. YOU WANT TO SHOW YOU HAVE A FIVE-YEAR PLAN FOR THOSE PARTICULAR DEPARTMENTS, I.T., SPECIFICALLY, AS WELL, THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE. YOU WANT A FIVE-YEAR PLAY. WE APPROVED THE FIRST YEAR'S BUDGET. THE ENTIRE FIVE-YEAR PLAN IS INCLUDED IN THE OPERATIONS PART OF THE BUDGET. WE WILL DO IT LIKE THAT THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET YEAR. ONCE IT IS APPROVED, CERTAIN PROJECTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL FUNDING, NOT THAT WE WILL GET THE FEDERAL FUNDING RIGHT AWAY BUT NOW WE ARE COMPETITIVE AND COMPETE FOR THOSE GRANT FUNDS. >> REAL QUIK, I WILL SIT BACK. I AM JUST ASKING FOR A FAVOR HERE. WE ARE SCHEDULING THESE SPECIAL MEETINGS, CAN WE PLEASE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT 9:00 DOES NOT WORK FOR A LOT OF RESIDENTS THAT WANT TO COME SPEAK ABOUT WHAT IS SAID IN THE SPECIAL MEETINGS. I UNDERSTAND ALL OUR SCHEDULES ARE BUSY. WHAT WE ARE DOING WHEN WE ARE SCHEDULING A MEETING, LET'S TRY [02:10:01] TO WORK WITH , NOT OUR SCHEDULES, BUT WITH THE PUBLIC'S SCHEDULES. EVEN WHEN WE HAD THE SPECIAL SET MEETING, WE HAD TO COME BACK FROM MIAMI WITH THE CITY MANAGER, I THINK WE HIT IT AT 3:00. I THINK WE DID THAT AT 3:00 TO GIVE OTHER PEOPLE TIME TO TRY TO GET OFF WORK OR COME IN. I JUST WANT, I AM HAPPY THAT THE CHAMBERS WERE FULL THIS MORNING BUT I CAN ONLY IMAGINE IF WE HAD IT AT 5:00, HEALTHFUL. LET'S THINK ABOUT THE TIME, IF WE HAVE ESPECIALLY SET MEETING TO INCLUDE RESIDENTS. SPENT DULY NOTED. THIS WAS THE TIME WE COULD FIND THAT WAS SOONEST POSSIBLE. DULY NOTED. SO, WHAT ELSE? ANYTHING ELSE, COMMISSIONERS? ANYTHING ELSE? SO, I THINK WE ARE GOING TO ADJOURN. UNTIL TONIGHT. IF EVERYONE WOULD * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.