[7. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Any person who wishes to comment on any subject may be heard at this time. Please limit your comments to three (3) minutes or less, as directed by the Mayor, as this section of the Agenda is limited to thirty minutes. The City Commission will not be able to take any official actions under Comments from the Public. Speakers will address the Mayor, Commissioners, and the Public with respect. Inappropriate language will not be tolerated.]

>> I AM LATE. SORRY. >> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON?

>> YES, MA'AM. >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR?

>> YES, MA'AM. >> MAYOR HUDSON?

>> YES, MA'AM. >> NEXT, WE HAVE COMMENTS FROM

THE PUBLIC. >> THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANY MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. MISS COX WILL GIVE YOU A 10 SECOND WARNING. I SEE SOMEONE APPROACHING THE PODIUM.

>> GOOD MORNING. MARJORIE HARRELL , 2804 DUNBAR. 1529, AVENUE D. I MOVED FROM THERE. ON 13TH STREET. RIGHT BEFORE YOU

[00:10:11]

GET TO A CERTAIN HOUSE, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT ? THERE ARE SIGNS OF ON THE ROAD THAT SAY WHAT THAT ROAD IS NOT. WHAT THE SIGN SAYS THEY HAVE IS ALWAYS ON AVENUE D. THAT WAS THE AREA OF BOTH SIGNS. I TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE. WHAT THEY DID WAS CONTINUE TO PUT SIGNS , A COUPLE OF SIGNS UP ACROSS THE BRIDGE. BUT ALL THE WAY BACK GOING TO THE GAS STATION, THE SIGN IS HANGING SAYING THAT THIS IS THE LAND PARK COMMUNITY .

RIGHT? IT IS NOT. THE LINCOLN PARK COMMUNITY DID NOT GO PAST THE BRIDGE. WE COULDN'T GO OVER THERE. I AM 82 YEARS OLD. THOSE SIGNS WERE ALWAYS REFERRING TO AVENUE D. WHEN THEY BUILT THE DEVELOPMENT OVER THERE, THEY DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD TAKE THOSE SIGNS AND PUT REFERENCES TO THAT PART OF THE ROAD. IT IS NOT. THOSE SIGNS SHOULD BE ON AVENUE D.

>> THANK YOU, MA'AM . ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE?

>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. JENNIFER, 1305 SAN DIEGO AVENUE.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS REGARDING THE CAUSEWAY COVE MARINA IDEA. FOR YEARS, CAUSEWAY COVE MARINA HAS BEEN MORE THAN JUST A MARINA. IT HAS SERVED AS A COMMUNITY ANCHOR, OFFERING PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT, HOSTING EASEMENT SERVICES FOR THE ITY - SOUTHEAST SPEECH CORRIDOR. THIS DEVELOPMENT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD ON THAT TRACK RECORD. 'S DESTINATION, IT IS A DESTINATION, NOT A GATED COMMUNITY. IT IS DESIGNED TO BE OPENED TO THE PUBLIC, OFFERING WATERFRONT RESTAURANTS, SHOPS, WALKABLE SPACES, AND AREAS THAT CONNECT RATHER THAN DIVIDE. THIS IS A PLACE THAT RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE CAN ENJOY, RING JOBS, AND BRING NEW ENERGY TO THE CITY ALONG WITH SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON SOUTH BEACH. I URGED THE CITY MANAGER TO MEET WITH BUZ SMITH. HE IS A LONGTIME PROPERTY MANAGER OVER AT THE COVE. YOU CAN SPEAK WITH THE EVOLUTION OF THE LAND. HE IS PASSIONATE, BUT ALSO GROUNDED IN THE REALITY OF FORT PIERCE'S LONG-STANDING DOUBLE STANDARDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU COMPARE THE APPROVAL OF HARBOR ISLE'S OF -- TO CAUSEWAY COVE TODAY. FORT PIERCE HAS A CHANCE TO LEAD BY EMBRACING THOUGHTFUL DEVELOPMENT THAT BRINGS REVENUE AND JOBS. CAUSEWAY COVE IS AN OPPORTUNITY.

WE HOPE THE CITY MANAGER WILL SIT DOWN WITH THOSE WHO KNOW THE PROJECT THE BEST. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO INCLUDE THE PROPOSED SANDY WOODS PROJECT AND BRIGHTLINE INTO THIS. FORT PIERCE IS A COMMUNITY DRIVEN INITIATIVE TO RESTORE AND REIMAGINE THE CITY CORRIDORS LEADING INTO OUR CITY. WE ARE FOCUSED ON ORANGE AVENUE, OKEECHOBEE, VIRGINIA, AND DELAWARE, THE ROADS THAT SERVE AS A CITY TO DOWNTOWN, SOUTH BEACH, AND THE CAUSEWAY. 'S ARE OFTEN THE FIRST IMPRESSIONS FOR VISITORS . THEY ARE ALIGNED WITH ABANDONED BUILDINGS AND LITTER THAT DON'T REFLECT THE POTENTIAL OF THE CITY. IT SENDS THE WRONG MESSAGE. WE ALL KNOW THAT FORT PIERCE DESERVES BETTER. THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT PICKING UP TRASH. IT IS ABOUT PRIDE, PERCEPTION, AND PROCESS. THIS IS ABOUT RESIDENCE, BUSINESS OWNERS, AND VOLUNTEERS WORKING TOGETHER TO RECLAIM OUR STREETS THROUGH CLEANUP EVENTS, COMPLANCE PARTNERSHIPS, AND COMMUNITY MURALS AND CORRIDOR BEAUTIFICATION. WE HAVE ALREADY BEGN THIS CONVERSATION WITH LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE READY TO ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES. THIS IS A SOLUTION, ONE THAT PROVIDES PROPERTY VALUE, BOOST INVESTOR CONFIDENCE, AND MAKES RESIDENTS FEEL PROUD OF WHERE THEY LIVE.

IS ALSO A PERFECT COMPLEMENT ONGOING EFFORTS IN THE MARINA DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT CAUSEWAY COVE PROJECT, SANDY WOODS

[00:15:02]

PROJECT, BRIGHTLINE WITHOUT ADDRESSING WHAT PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO ADDRESS AS PEOPLE SEE AS BEING IN THEIR WAY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE?

>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. HOW ARE YOU? HELLO, MY NAME IS KRISTA STONE, THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR MARINE CLEANUP INITIATIVE, A 501(C)(3). WE ARE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. I WANT TO REPORT TO YOU ABOUT THE QUARTERLY CLEANUP. I AM EXCITED AND PROUD. WE HAVE WORKED DIRECTLY WITH YOU FOR 17 YEARS.

THE LATE RUFUS ALEXANDER IS THE ONE WHO STARTED THIS AND WE PICKED IT UP WITH OUR FOUNDERS . FOR 17 YEARS, WE HAVE PERSONALLY GONE OUT AND CLEANED UP MARSH CREEK AND HAVE DONE SO WITHOUT ANY HELP FROM ANYONE BUT VOLUNTEERS AND OURSELVES. I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT TO YOU THAT I HAVE BEEN OUT THERE FOR 11 YEARS ALONG WITH A MAN IN THE ST. LUCIE COUNTY BOARD. WE HAVE GRASS AND MORE THAN GRASS. WE HAVE SO MUCH GRASS. IT HAS TAKEN 11 YEARS FOR US TO DO THIS. IT IS ON YOUR BANKS. I IMPLORE YOU TO GET OUT TODAY PERMITTING THE WEATHER. YOU STILL HAVE THE CREEK LOWERED FOR ONE MORE DAY. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO AT LEAST SEE THE GRASS THAT IS OUT THERE. IT IS AMAZING. IT IS SUCH A GIFT.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE OUT THERE. WE ARE WORKING ON BETTER WAYS TO HAVE MORE AMICABLE SOLUTIONS TO WORK TOGETHER. CERTAIN TECHNOLOGY GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY. WE ALSO WORK AT THE 7TH STREET AREA. I GET IN THE WATER WITH ALLIGATORS AND SHARKS. IT IS FUN, BUT THERE ARE DEFINITELY DIFFERENT WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER. I AM EXCITED AND I'M VERY HAPPY ABOUT THE SEAGRASS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY WITH YOUR QUARTERLY CLEANUP'S. YOU ARE TRULY AMAZING AND I LOVE THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE?

>> GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS CHARLES WILSON. MY OFFICE IS AT 2046 14 AVENUE IN VERO BEACH. I AM HERE TO REPRESENT A CLIENT OF MINE. PROTECT OUR WATERWAYS IS A 501(C)(3) . WITH CLEANUP SOME LOCAL ISLANDS ON A REGULAR BASIS. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE EVERYONE WHO HAS SPOKEN HERE TODAY AND ALL THE PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN ALL THE CLEANUPS THAT HELP FORT PIERCE. I WANT TO APPLAUD THE COMMISSIONERS. MR. GAINES, YOU SPENT A LOT OF TIME THIS WEEK AND DOING THAT. I KNOW THERE ARE T-SHIRTS ALL HAVE DIFFERENT COLORS FROM EVERY CLEANUP THERE HAS BEEN FOR EVERY LAST -- OVER THE LAST 12 YEARS. THE REASON I WAS ASKED TO BE HERE BECAUSE THE PROPOSAL IS BEING MADE LATER ON IN YOUR AGENDA CONCERNING CLEANUP. I AM NOT HERE TO CRITICIZE ANYONE, BUT I DO BELIEVE IN OUR ORGANIZATION AND WE BELIEVE THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE. THAT WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE PEOPLE AND NOT NECESSARILY BY GOVERNMENT. MORE PEOPLE, MORE MONEY, AND MORE EQUIPMENT IS NOT THE SOLUTION. IT IS MORE INVOLVEMENT BY THE PUBLIC. THE FUTURE PLANS OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE WILL BE INCREDIBLY IMPACTED BY A COUPLE OF NEW THINGS. THE FIRST IS THE MOVE OF THE WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT FROM OVER ON THE RIVER. THE SECOND , THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION HERE RECENTLY ABOUT CAUSEWAY COVE. IS GOING TO HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH WHAT THE CITY LOOKS LIKE OVER THE NEXT DECADE OR TWO DECADES OR THREE DECADES.

I AM SOMEWHAT CURIOUS ABOUT THE HARBOR ISLE. I WAS BORN HERE. I REMEMBER WHEN HARBOR ISLE WAS BEING BUILT. THE DENSITY OF HARBOR ISLE WAS DECIDED BY SOMETHING THAT WE USED TO CALL THE BENTON RULE. THIS WAS BY FORMER MAYOR BOB BENTON WHO IS NOW COMMUNICATING ABOUT THE NEW DEVELOPMENTS ON NORTH BEACH. I RECALL THAT IT WAS THE BOB BENTON RULE THAT ALLOWED HARBOR ISLE TO BUILD UP TO THE DENSITY THEY DID BY USING SUBMERGED LAND AS PART OF THE CALCULATION. BUT I AM CURIOUS ABOUT FROM WHAT MS. FREY SAYS, CAN THE STAFF PERHAPS REPORT TO THE COMMISSION OR CAN THE COMMISSION EXPLAIN TO ME ANOTHER TIME WHY IT IS THAT YOU CAN HAVE THE BOB BENTON RULE AT HARBOR ISLE THAT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO APPLY TO CAUSEWAY COVE NEXT-DOOR? I DON'T KNOW HOW THE CITY IS GOING TO BE IN A POSITION ON HAVING TWO DIFFERENT ROLES FOR TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSTANTLY NEIGHBORS. I

[00:20:04]

WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN REFERENCE TO HOW THIS LOOKS IN THE FUTURE WHY IT IS AND PERHAPS MR. BENTON WOULD LIKE TO COME -- I HAVE NOTHING PERSONAL AGAINST THEM AND I HOPE THEY DO WELL -- BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS POSITION. CAN YOU LOOK INTO THAT AND LET

US KNOW HOW THAT HAPPENS? >> THANK YOU, SIR. ANYONE ELSE

[A. Strategic Plan Presentation on City Beautification Action Plan by Public Works Director]

WISHES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

LAST CALL. WE WILL MOVE ON. THANK YOU.

>> WE HAVE THE STRATEGIC PLAN PRESENTATION ON CITY BEAUTIFICATION ACTION PLAN BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR. MR.

ATKINSON? >> GO AHEAD. ARE YOU STARTING

FIRST? >> GOOD MORNING. JASON ATKINSON, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR. MADAM MAYOR, CITY COMMISSION, IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE THIS MORNING. IT IS NOT SHOWING ON MY

SCREEN. THERE IT IS. >> IT IS COMING.

>> I HAVE BEEN HERE AROUND FOUR MONTHS NOW. I HAVE READ OUR STRATEGIC PLAN. I WAS LOOKING AT BEAUTIFYING OUR COMMUNITY. THAT IS GOAL NUMBER ONE, NOT NECESSARILY OUR NUMBER ONE GOAL, BUT GOAL NUMBER ONE FOR BEAUTIFYING OUR COMMUNITY. SOME OF THE GOALS WE ARE LOOKING TO ACCOMPLISH BY 2030 INCLUDE REDUCING VISUAL BLIGHT, REMOVING LITTER, HAVING WELL MAINTAINED PARKS AND PUBLIC AREAS . THESE GOALS ARE GOING TO BRING VALUE TO THE RESIDENCE BY PROTECTING PROPERTY VALUES, CREATING MORE ATTRACTIVE COMMUNITY. AWNINGS AND TENANTS FOLLOW THE LEAD OF CITI BIKE TAKING CARE OF THEIR BUILDINGS. MOST IMPORTANT, OUR RESIDENTS WILL HAVE A SENSE OF PRIDE IN THEIR COMMUNITY. WE ARE LOOKING TO CREATE A QUALITY OBJECTIVE. WHAT IS IT THAT WE WANT TO SEE? WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE? WE WANT QUALITY, BUT HOW DO WE GO ABOUT DOING THAT? WE WILL ENSURE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY BY UTILIZING SOUND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND ENCOURAGING STAFF INPUT. WE WANT STAFF -- WE HAVE A LOT OF STAFF, OVER 100 PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. WE WANT TO UTILIZE THOSE EYES AND THOSE BRAINS TO ASSIST US IN MAKING THIS PLACE BETTER. WE WANT TO HAVE ALL OF OUR MEMBERS ON OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM TO TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR JOBS BY KNOWING THEIR PERFORMANCE DIRECTLY AFFECTS THE QUALITY OF LIFE. LET'S GET INTO CODE REVISIONS. THE CODE REVISIONS WE ARE LOOKING AT, I HAVE LOOKED AT SOME OF THEM. TWO OF THE PRIMARY ONES I NOTICED WERE SOLID WASTE AND LANDSCAPE CODE CHANGES. IN SOLID WASTE, WE HAVE A CODE THAT I DON'T FEEL NEEDS -- LEADS TO THE CLEANLINESS OF THE CITY. DURING THE SAME WEEK WE DO BULK PICKUP AND WE DO YARD DEBRIS PICK UP. SOME OF YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE, BUT ANYTHING THAT IS ON THE FLOOR, THE CITY IS SUPPOSED TO CHARGE TO PICK THAT UP. THERE IS A YARD DEBRIS CAN, THE BLACK CAN. THAT IS WHAT IS PICKED UP AND HAS YARD DEBRIS. WE ARE LOOKING TO COME UP WITH SOME SOLUTIONS TO SEPARATE FOR CO-MINGLING. THAT WAY, WE WILL GET MORE OF THE TRASH OFF THE FLOOR. SO WE HAVE YARD TRASH ONE WEEK AND THEN THE OTHER THE NEXT WEEK. WE WILL GO OVER THAT IN THE FUTURE COMING UP WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT SOLID WASTE CODE CHANGES.

>> CAN I STOP YOU? ARE YOU SAYING THAT THE DEBRIS THAT IS NOT IN A CAN IS SUPPOSED TO BE AN EXTRA CHARGE? IS THAT WHAT

YOU ARE SAYING? >> YES.

>> SAW A LOT OF RESIDENTS DO LEAVE LOOSE DEBRIS OUT. PERHAPS

THEIR KANIS FULL? >> IF THEY PUT IT ON THE FLOOR AND THE CAN IS FULL, IT IS 0 TO 5 YARDS AND THEN THERE IS A

CHARGE FROM 6 TO 10 YARDS. >> AND WE ARE NOT DOING THAT.

>> WHAT YOU PROPOSE? >> 2 TO 4 YARDS OF FRICK COLLECTION. ANYTHING ABOVE THAT, THAT WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL

[00:25:04]

CHARGE. THAT WOULD BE A DIFFERENCE IN PRICE FROM CUBIC YARDAGE FOR BULK VERSUS CUBIC YARDAGE FOR LANDSCAPING DEBRIS.

IT COSTS US A DIFFERENT AMOUNT TO DISPOSE OF IT . THE TRUCK STILL HAS TO GO OUT THERE AND PICK IT UP. ANYONE WHO WOULD GET CHARGED FOR THAT I WOULD MAKE SURE WE HAVE A TIMESTAMPED PHOTO THAT WOULD HAVE THE ADDRESS AND EVERYTHING THERE. THAT WOULD BE , IF A RESIDENT WERE THE CALLING AND SAYING, WHAT IS THIS ON MY BILL? THAT WOULD BE THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION. IF THE DOCUMENTATION DID NOT EXIST , I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND CHARGING THE CUSTOMER BECAUSE THERE IS NO PROOF OF IT.

>> IS THIS SOMETHING OTHER CITIES DO?

>> SOME OTHER CITIES DO THAT. DIFFERENT CITIES DO DIFFERENT THINGS. ONE OF THE CITIES WHERE I WAS AT, WE IMPLEMENTED THAT.

IT WORKS OUT REALLY WELL. IT GIVES THE AMOUNT, IT WAS ORIGINALLY 2 YARDS AND WE BUMPED IT UP TO FOUR. A CUBIC YARD IS 3' X 3' X 3'. THAT IS NOT THAT BIG. IT IS PROBABLY THE SIZE OF THIS RIGHT HERE. THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL LOOK AT AND BRING FORWARD. HOPEFULLY THAT WILL GET SOME OF THE TRASH CONSISTENTLY OUT THERE ON THE GROUND. THE LANDSCAPING CODE CHANGES, RIGHT NOW, WHEN THERE IS A PLAN REVIEW, IT COMES UP AND THEY TALK ABOUT IT . THAT IS IN THE LANDSCAPING PLAN. THAT IS CONFUSING. WHAT MANY CITIES DO IS THERE IS IN THE CODE , THEY WILL STATE THAT TO THE CURB, THE RESIDENT OR BUSINESS OR WHATEVER TAKES CARE OF THAT TO THE CURB. MOST OF OUR CITY DOES THAT. IF IT IS IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE, YOU DON'T WAIT FOR THE CITY TO CUT THE GRASS IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE. IT IS TAKING OWNERSHIP.

WHETHER IT IS EASEMENTS OR WHATNOT, THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE THE STAFFING TO GO MOW THE RIGHT OF WAYS WITHIN THE CITY. WE JUST DON'T. THAT WOULD FREE UP STAFF WHO GO OUT AND TAKE CARE OF THAT NOW. THAT WOULD FREE THEM UP TO DO A BETTER JOB IN OTHER AREAS.

THAT WOULD BE LIKE THE PARKS, SOME OF THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS, CENTER MEDIANS , AND SOME OF THE BUMP OUTS THAT ARE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UNDER DEPARTMENT POLICIES, IT SHOULD MAXIMIZE EFFICIENCY, QUALITY, AND RESPONSIVENESS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR STAFF IS OUT THERE DOING A GOOD JOB. THEY SHOULD BE MAKING THEIR PRESENCE FELT. THE SERVICE SCHEDULE, SCHEDULE SHOULD MEET THE DEMANDS OF QUALITY OBJECTIVES. SOME OF THE SERVICE SCHEDULES THAT WE HAVE DOWNTOWN, WE IMPLEMENTED -- I WAS NOTICING PLENTY OF PALM FRONDS LAYING ON THE GROUND. WE IMPLEMENTED DAILY STAFF DURING THE WEEKDAYS. WE GO THROUGH WITH A BUCKET TRUCK PULLING IN ANY A HANGER, PALM FRONDS THAT MAYBE HANGING OFF THE TREES. ROYAL PALMS AND SOME OF THE FOX TAIL PALMS ARE NATURALLY SHUTTING. OUR GOAL IS TO CUT THOSE LOOSE.

WE WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THE PALM FRONDS, KEEP THEM FREE, OUT-OF-THE-WAY, MAKING SURE IT IS NOT BLOCKING ANYTHING LIKE THAT. WE ALSO PUT IN STREET SWEEPING TWICE A WEEK. WE WORK IN CONJUNCTION , WE HAVE AN EMPLOYEE THAT GOES OUT WITH A HANDHELD BATTERY BLOWER. THEY BLOW OFF THE SIDEWALKS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND BELOW THAT INTO WHERE THE STREET SWEEPER IS. IT IS MUCH FASTER AND GIVES A CLEANER APPEARANCE. IT IS DONE IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS AND ALLOWS US TO GET THE PLACE CLEANED UP PRETTY GOOD. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE QUALITY OBJECTIVE, USING SMART PHILOSOPHY. SMART PHILOSOPHY, V ATTAINABLE, RELATABLE, AND TIME ORIENTED. THE GOAL OF S.M.A.R.T.

PHILOSOPHY IS TO EVALUATE AND ADD STRUCTURE TO ACHIEVING YOUR GOALS. AN EXAMPLE OF THAT, RIGHT NOW WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE

[00:30:03]

PALM FRONDS. WE SAY, WHAT IS THE STANDARD? WHAT CAN WE DO? WHAT CAN WE EASILY ACHIEVE? WE CAN STAND STAFF THROUGH AND MAKE SURE IT IS PICKED UP ON A DAILY BASIS. THEY KNOW THEY HAVE TO DO THAT, THAT THEY ARE REQUIRED TO GO OUT AND PICK UP AND DO THE BLOWING TWICE A WEEK. HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT HAPPENS? WE HAVE SUPERVISORS WHO WORK WITH THE TEAM. WE ALSO HAVE A PUBLIC WORKS INSPECTOR WHO HAS BEEN TASKED TWICE A WEEK TO GO THROUGH AND LOOK AT DOWNTOWN AFTER THAT HAPPENS TO MAKE SURE THE AREA LOOKS CLEAN. WE ALSO HAVE THEM COMING BY IN THE AFTERNOON AND TAKING A LOOK AT THE GARBAGE CANS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT OVERFLOWING. SOMETIMES ALL IT TAKES IS A BOX TO GO IN THERE AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, IT IS OVERFLOWING. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY. RIGHT NOW, WE ARE IMPLEMENTING, WE ARE GETTING PUSHED TO TALK RADIOS.

THOSE WILL HAVE GROUP SETTINGS TO WHERE WE CAN SPEAK ACROSS GROUPS WITHIN OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. WE BELIEVE THE COMMUNICATION WILL BE KEY. IN OUR SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME DISPATCHER POSITIONS AND WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO HAVE THE PHONE CALLS COME IN TO WHERE THE PHONE CALLS ARE HEARD AND WE CAN HEAR WHAT IS GOING ON. THIS WAS KIND OF OVERHEARD BY THE SOLID WASTE MANAGER THERE. IF THERE ARE ANY ISSUES OR IF A TRUCK GOES DOWN, AS THEY SPEAK ABOUT IT, IT WILL BE KNOWN. IF SOMEONE CALLS IN, THEY WILL GET AN ANSWER SOON.

THE GOAL IS TO TALK TO SOMEBODY, BE HEARD, AND HOPEFULLY HAVE YOUR ISSUE RESOLVED OR BE GIVEN A TIMELINE ON WHEN IT WILL BE RESOLVED. OUR STAFFING, EVALUATING CURRENT STAFFING LEVELS AND ADJUSTING FOR OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE. ONE THING THAT WILL COME UP IN THE BUDGET IS OUR GRAVEL TRUCK DRIVERS. CURRENTLY THEY OPERATE BY THEMSELVES, WHICH AS SOME OF YOU MAY SEE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, WHEN THEY GO OUT AND THEY PICK UP, THEY DON'T GET ALL THE DEBRIS. THEY START LEAVING SOME HOLES BECAUSE THEY ARE TRYING TO GRAB THE ADDITIONAL DEBRIS. OTHERWISE, THEY HAVE TO GO OUT THERE AND RAKE EVERYTHING UP. THEY ARE WORKING BY THEMSELVES. THE GOAL IS TO HAVE SOMEBODY SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHO GETS OUT OF THE TRUCK WHEN THEY GET TO THE SPOT. OR IF THEY ARE CLOSE BY, THEY CAN WALK UP TO THE NEXT AREA AND RAKE IT ALL TOGETHER AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE DRIVER TO PICK IT UP AND LEAVE IT CLEAN. WE WANT IT TO LOOK GOOD. WE ARE SETTING THE STAGE. WE ARE SETTING THE EXAMPLE AS A PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT FOR YOU TO FIND THE COMMUNITY. IF WE LEAVE A SITE AND IT IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER WE WERE THERE, THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE OR EFFICIENT. I KNOW THE RESIDENTS WANT MORE THAN THAT. I HAVE DONE A FEW DRIVE ALONGS WITH OUR TEAM. I POINTED SOME OF THESE AREAS OUT. IT IS FRUSTRATING, BUT I BELIEVE WITH THE ADDITIONAL HELP, WE CAN GET THAT DONE. IN OTHER CITIES, THEY DO DO THAT. IT IS EASIER, LESS STRAIN ON THE DRIVER, AND

SAFER WITH PEOPLE WALKING BY. >> CAN I ASK A QUESTION? MY EXPERIENCE WITH THESE TRUCKS IS THAT THE STANDARD IS A TWO-MAN CREW. YOU ARE EXTRACTING THAT GRAPPLE OFF OF A TWO STORY TRUCK AND SWINGING IT UP AND OVER. THERE IS A LOT OF OVERHEATING STUFF OVER THESE ROADS. WOULD IT BE YOUR GOAL FROM A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE TO HAVE TWO PEOPLE, AS WELL?

>> IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY PERSPECTIVE. ALSO, IN OUR INFORMATION CAMPAIGN, WE CAN PUT TOGETHER DOOR TAGS. IF SOMEBODY IS PUTTING IT IN A HARD-TO-REACH AREA OR PUTTING IT UP AGAINST THE CABLE BOX OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES, WE HAVE HAD IT ALL.

WHAT WE HAVE BACK SLOPER VENTURES WHERE PEOPLE PUT IT ON TOP AND THEN THEY ARE LIKE, LOOK AT WHAT YOU DID. THEY MAY BE ABLE TO SEE SOME OF THOSE THINGS FROM THE GROUND WHERE THE OPERATOR OF THE TRUCK COULD NOT SEE IT FROM UP TOP. THOSE TRUCKS ARE A WAYS AWAY. THEY ARE A GOOD 15, 20 FEET AWAY WHEN THEY PICK

THAT UP TOO >> I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.

[00:35:04]

THE TRUCK SERVICE IS A PHENOMENAL SERVICE FOR THE CITY.

MY CONCERN, THIS GOES BACK TO YOUR TASKING OF CHARGES FOR WASTE MATERIAL BEING DEPOSITED OR NOT , BEING BILLED FOR IN ESSENCE. I WILL GIVE AN EXAMPLE. WHERE MY OFFICE IS LOCATED, DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET, MY OFFICE SITS ACROSS FROM THAT BUILDING. THERE IS A PILE OF TREE DEBRIS THAT SHOWS UP EVERY WEEK. THEY ARE CUTTING IT REMOTELY, BRINGING IT BACK INTO THE CITY SO IT IS HAULED AWAY FOR FREE. SO EITHER THEIR VENDOR IS NOT PAYING A CHARGE OR THEY ARE NOT PAYING FOR A CHARGE TO PICK IT UP. THIS IS CHRONIC. THEY HAVE CUT DOWN TWO TREES THAT WERE ON THEIR PROPERTY. NOW THE SAME AMOUNT OF TREE DEBRIS SHOWS UP ONCE A WEEK. THAT DID NOT GROW HERE.

>> I HAVE SEEN THAT EVERYWHERE. WHERE SOMEBODY CAN SAVE MONEY, BECAUSE IT COSTS MONEY FOR THEM TO GO OUT AND DUMP THAT, SO IF THEY CAN DROP IT ON THE FLOOR, THEY ARE GOOD WITH IT. WE NEED TO UTILIZE ALL OF OUR RESOURCES. IT IS HARDER -- IN MIAMI, THERE ARE NOT TOO MANY EMPTY LOTS. SOME OF THE CITIES THAT ARE MORE BUILT OUT, YOU DON'T HAVE THE PROBLEMS. IT IS SOMEWHAT RARE FOR SOMEBODY TO GO AND DUMP IN FRONT OF SOMEBODY'S HOUSE.

>> I AM GOING TO FOLLOW UP. I WAS GOING TO WAIT BUT FOLLOW UP ON COMMISSIONER BRODERICK. I UNDERSTAND YOUR RATIONALE. I KNOW OTHER CITIES DO CHARGE FOR THE BULK PICKUP WHEN THEY COME WHEN IT IS ON THE FLOOR. I GET THAT. MY CONCERN IS SIMILAR TO COMMISSIONER BRODERICK. SOMEBODY IS BRINGING THAT INTO THAT AREA AND DUMPING IT. IN DISTRICT 1, WHAT HAPPENS IS EVERYBODY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD KNOWS THAT THERE IS A LOT OR A SPOT OR SOMETHING AND THEY PUT IT THERE. IF YOU HAVE AN ABANDONED HOUSE OR SOMETHING, THAT BECOMES THE DROP SPOT. I AM JUST TELLING YOU HOW IT WORKS.

WHO ARE WE GOING TO CHARGE? THE OWNER? THEN THE OWNER WILL COME BACK AND SAY, I AM NOT EVEN HERE. I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO WE ARE GOING TO CHARGE. I AM LITERALLY LOOKING AT AN ADJACENT PROPERTY BETWEEN MY HOUSE AND THE HOUSE OF A NEIGHBOR.

>> THAT IS A DUMPING SPOT. >> THAT IS A DUMPING SPOT. I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO WILL GET THAT BILL. AS I SAID BEFORE, IF WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS, DON'T PUT A STICKER ON SOMEBODY'S DOOR AND THEN TRY TO COLLECT. IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. I WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO YOU. WE CAN TAKE A DRIVE AROUND AND I CAN SHOW YOU. I MIGHT BE THE BAD GUY IN MY AREA. THEY MIGHT BE MAD AT ME. THAT IS WHAT IS GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

I THINK THAT IS GOING THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE CITY. I KNOW SOME SPOTS IN DISTRICT 2 WHERE THEY DO THE SAME THING. I JUST WANTED

TO PUT THAT OUT THERE. >> IT IS GOING THROUGHOUT THE STATE. IT IS GOING THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. IT IS EVERYWHERE. IT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE DEALING WITH.'S SOMEBODY DROPS IT ON AN EMPTY LOT, EVERY SINGLE RATEPAYER THAT HAS SOLID WASTE SERVICE PAYS FOR IT . IT WILL BE DISPOSED OF, PICKED UP AND DISPOSED OF. WHEN WE MAKE UP OUR RATE STRUCTURE, WE HAVE TO COVER THAT. HOW DO WE GO ABOUT IT ? I WE DOING FREE COLLECTIONS? WHAT IS THE FEELING? WE CAN GET SOMETHING WHERE WE CAN PUT OUT SIGNS THAT SAY NO DUMPING. WE CAN HAVE SOME ENFORCEMENT. IT IS ILLEGAL DUMPING. IN MANY AREAS, AND I AM NOT SURE ABOUT HERE, BUT IT IS PUNISHABLE BY IMPRISONMENT UP TO 60 DAYS IN MANY AREAS IF YOU GET CAUGHT DOING THAT. YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO IT. BECAUSE IT IS SO EASY, THAT IS WHY IT IS A LITTLE BIT HARDER. WHY IS TAKING SOMEBODY'S MAIL A FEDERAL CRIME? YOU WANT TO DETER IT. TRASH BREEDS TRASH. I SAW SOME OF THIS WITH COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. IT GETS TO THE POINT WHERE THAT TRASH, THE YARD DEBRIS NOW BECOMES BOTH DEBRIS BECAUSE IT HAS SO MUCH STUFF MIXED INTO IT. AND IT GOES UP ANOTHER $20 FOR US TO DUMP THAT. HOW DO WE GO ABOUT DOING THAT?

[00:40:02]

WE TRY TO PUT THE EMPHASIS, TRIED TO LEAD THE WAY. WE CAN PUT SIGNS. ULTIMATELY, THE WAY MANY CODES READ IS THAT IT IS ON THE PROPERTY OWNER TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN. ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT YOU HAVE A PROPERTY THAT IS NICE AND IT SITS THERE. IF IT IS A DUMPING GROUND, THAT IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO LOOK INTO. WE CAN DO SOMETHING AS A CITY TO TRY TO HELP THAT. THIS IS ON THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING IT. WE CAN DO OUR BEST TO BE OUT THERE AND MONITOR THAT. IT IS THROUGHOUT. THE MORE EMPTY LOTS YOU HAVE, THE MORE PEOPLE WILL DUMP THE STUFF OFF.

HOPEFULLY THE VIOLATORS GET CAUGHT AND THEY THINK OTHERWISE NOT TO DO THAT ACTION. SO THE EQUIPMENT, PROVIDING THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT TO STAFF TO MAXIMIZE PERFORMANCE AND INSURE STAFF -- WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE GOOD EQUIPMENT, RIGHT? ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ALSO LOOKED AT IS OUR BEACHES. WE HAVE BEAUTIFUL BEACHES. YOU GET INTO THE CAUSEWAY AND JC PARK , BUT I HAVE NOTICED IS THAT THE AMOUNT OF LITTER AND EVERYTHING THAT IS ON THE BEACHES. THEY SELL, IT IS CALLED BEACH BARBERS . MANY COUNTIES USE THEM. IT IS A MACHINE THAT IS TOWED BEHIND A TRACTOR. IT SIFTS THROUGH ALL THAT DEBRIS AND IT PICKS UP TWIGS, BOTTLE CAPS, WHATEVER MAY BE, STUFF THAT SHOULD NOT BE THERE. IT LEAVES A NICE, CLEAN, PRISTINE BEACH. AT THE SAME TOKEN, THE NICER THAT YOU HAVE SOMETHING, THE LESS PEOPLE WANT TO THROW THE DEBRIS. THAT IS WHAT WE WANT TO ESTABLISH. THE NICER YOU CAN MAKE IT, THE MORE PEOPLE WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SO ON PERFORMANCE, WE WANT OUR EMPLOYEES TO HAVE GOOD KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT THEY NEED TO DO. THAT IS GOING INTO THE QUALITY OBJECTIVE. THE MORE THEY KNOW HOW TO DO, THE FASTER THEY CAN DO IT AND THEN THE MORE AREAS THEY CAN REACH. WE WANT THEM TO BE EFFICIENT. SOMETIMES THIS TAKES TRAINING. THERE IS GOING TO BE TRAINING WITH OTHER EMPLOYEES WHO KNOW HOW TO DO THE JOB REALLY WELL, CROSSTRAINING.

OR THERE CAN BE SCHOOLING THAT EMPLOYEES NEED TO GO TO.

OVERSIGHT IS ONE OF THE KEY FACTORS , RIGHT? DON'T EXPECT WHAT YOU DON'T INSPECT. WE ARE FOCUSING IN ON MAKING SURE IN OUR DEPARTMENT , THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND , THEY ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING AND SEEING WHAT IS GOING ON AND REPORTING IT UP THE CHAIN. OUR QUALITY OBJECTIVE IS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AND MAKING SURE THAT THE FOUR MEN ARE DOING THEIR JOB. WE HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE CAN ENSURE FROM AFAR HOW MUCH WE ARE GETTING DONE. WE CAN ENGAGE REPORTS TO SEE WHERE WE ARE VERSUS BENCHMARKS AT OTHER TIMES. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. SOME OF THE UPCOMING CHANGES THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES AND TO KEEP OUR CITY BEAUTIFUL IS A SERVICE TEAM CREATION, A TEAM THAT FOCUSES ON CLEANLINESS IN THE MOST VISIBLE AREAS OF THE CITY. IT IS NOT JUST THE MOST VISIBLE AREAS OF THE CITY, BUT SOME OF THE THINGS I HAVE NOTICED IS THAT ALONG MORRIS CREEK, SOME OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION IS OUT THERE. THAT IS WHEN STUFF GETS LEFT BEHIND. THEY CAN GO OUT THERE AND PICK THINGS UP QUICK. THEY CAN PRESSURE WASH. IF THEY SEE SOMETHING BAD, THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF IT, WHETHER IT BE GRAFFITI OR WHATEVER IT IS . WE HAVE A TEAM THAT IS DEDICATED TO MAKING SURE THINGS LOOK NICE. DISPATCHERS, WHEN PEOPLE CALL IN, THEY CAN TAKE THOSE NOTES AND GET PEOPLE OUT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THEY ARE LOOKING AT A SCREEN IN PUBLIC WORKS WHERE THEY KNOW WITH OUR EMPLOYEES WHERE THEY ARE AT. THEY CAN TALK INTO A RADIO AND SAY, HEY, SINCE YOU ARE RIGHT THERE, CAN YOU GET THIS? THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WAS JUST REPORTED. IT CAN BE A GARBAGE CAN BLOCKING THE SIDEWALK OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE. A DISPATCHER CAN GET ON IT RIGHT AWAY AND GET THAT FIXED.

[00:45:02]

LESS BUREAUCRACY, STREAMLINING CUSTOMER SERVICE. I THINK THE DISPATCHERS WILL BE A GAME CHANGER. YOU THINK ABOUT HOW THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND HOW THE PUBLIC SECTOR OPERATES. YOU NEED TO MIMIC MORE, BUT WITH THE PERSONAL TOUCH OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR. AND THEN PROACTIVITY. WE WANT OUR STAFF OUT THERE. WE WANT TO UTILIZE OUR NUMBERS. WHEN I ARRIVED, I SAW THAT WE HAD PLENTY OF WORK ORDERS THEY WERE DRIVEN BY OTHER PEOPLE CALLING THOSE COMPLAINTS IN WHETHER IT WOULD BE POTHOLES.

THE GOAL IS TO GET TO A POINT WHERE WE ARE NOTICING THOSE ISSUES IN HOUSE AND WE ARE TAKING CARE OF THEM SO WE DON'T HAVE THE COMPLAINTS. I WANT TO DRIVE DOWN COMPLAINTS, NOT CONTINUOUSLY LOG COMPLAINTS. IN ADDITION, OUR CITY DUMPSTERS .

WHAT I HAVE NOTICED IS THAT SOME OF OUR CITY DUMPSTERS THAT WE HAVE, THEY ARE EXPOSED. THEY ARE NOT ENCLOSED LIKE WE ARE ASKING BUSINESSES TO DO. WE HAVE DUMPSTERS THAT MAY NOT EVEN BELONG TO THE CITY, BUT THEY ARE IN A CITY PARKING LOT, SO IT LOOKS LIKE THE CITY. HOW DO WE GO ABOUT GETTING THOSE ENCLOSED AND TAKING CARE OF IT SO WE DON'T SEE IT? WE DON'T WANT TO SEE IT, RIGHT? NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE MOST IMPORTANT WAS WHAT WAS STATED HERE EARLIER, COMMUNITY OUTREACH. WE BELIEVE THAT THE COMMUNITY HELPS US OUT GREATLY. THE LEAD THE WAY. WE KNOW IT MEANS A LOT TO THEM. THAT IS WHY THEY ARE OUT HERE DONATING THEIR TIME THROUGH THESE EXERCISES. WE HAD THE GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP THIS PAST WEEKEND. AND OUR EDUCATION CAMPAIGN. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO PUT THE INFORMATION OUT THERE SO PEOPLE KNOW WHAT TO DO. IN THIS INDUSTRY, YOU CAN HEAR IT NOW THAT THIS ISN'T WHAT WE DO? YEAH, THIS ISN'T WHAT WE DO.

THIS IS WHAT WE DO. THE GOAL IS TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO. HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY IS ON THE SAME PAGE AND EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT TO EXPECT. HOPEFULLY THE GOAL IS TO EXPECT EXCELLENCE FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND THE

CLEANLINESS OF OUR CITY. >> MADAM MAYOR, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. MR. ATKINSON, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I AM ASSUMING THEN THAT IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET, THERE WILL BE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO CARRY THIS OFF. I AM FAMILIAR WITH THE EQUIPMENT THEY USE TO CLEAN THE BEACHES IN FORT LAUDERDALE. IT IS VERY UNIQUE. AS WE DID OUR TOUR AND I SHOWED YOU SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE, ARE WE LOOKING AT INVESTING IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF EQUIPMENT TO GET THIS STUFF DONE MORE EFFICIENTLY? WE HAVE A CHALLENGE IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE A LOT OF CULTURES. DISTRICT 1 IS MIXED UP. WE WILL NEED TO COMMUNICATE IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES. WE WILL NEED TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHERE TO PLACE TRASH. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE DIFFERENT TYPE OF EQUIPMENT TO GET THIS SOME OF THIS STUFF TO BEGIN TO CLEAN UP. WHAT HAVE YOU IDENTIFIED? IS THAT PART OF THE

BUDGET TO ADDRESS THIS STUFF? >> WE HAVE A GOOD AMOUNT OF EQUIPMENT AND A GREAT TEAM THAT IS PICKING UP EVERYTHING. WE DO HAVE OUR SHORTAGES. ONE THING THAT YOU MAY REALIZE IS THAT WE HAVE SOME JOB OPENINGS. SOME OF THOSE, THEY WERE MECHANICAL, SOLID WASTE. WE HAVE A SHORTAGE IN THE TRADE INDUSTRY OF SOLID WASTE MECHANICS. THERE IS A SHORTAGE INDUSTRYWIDE FOR THAT.

SOME OF THE TRUCKS YOU HAVE SEEN WHERE THE TRUCKS ARE DOWN, IT IS MISSING THE AMOUNT OF MECHANICS WHO CAN GO THERE AND GO FIX IT.

WE HAVE HIRED ON A NEW SOLID WASTE GARAGE FOREMAN. HE IS SETTING THE STANDARD. WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING IN. THE GOAL IS THAT WITH SOME OF OUR TRUCKS AND THE CAPITAL PLAN THAT WE HAVE, WE HAVE A READY FLEET AND A READY CREW . THAT IS THE GOAL. I

[00:50:03]

THINK IT IS BEING ABLE WITH WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE , MAKING SURE THEY ARE OUT THERE GETTING IT DONE. WE HAVE ALSO MADE SOME OTHER OPERATIONAL CHANGES TO GET MORE OVERSIGHT ON THAT. SO YEAH.

AS FAR AS PUTTING THINGS IN THE WRONG PLACE, IF IT IS THE A HANGER, WE CAN GET THOSE. SOMETIMES IT TAKES A LITTLE WHILE . TO GO OUT AND PUT A DOOR HANGER ON SOMEONE'S DOOR. IF YOU CAN FIX A HABIT AND MAKE IT EASIER ON YOU , NOW THAT YOU HAVE A GROUNDED MAN , THEY CAN OVER -- GO OVER THERE AND DO THAT. AS FAR AS A GUY PICKING UP AND THEN COMING BACK. IT IS AN APPROACH THAT WE WANT TO TAKE HAVE A TEAM.

>> MR. JOHNSON, IF I MAY? THERE IS A LOT TO THIS PRESENTATION. I WANT TO ADDRESS THE MESSAGING OF IT. YOU ARE TALKING COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT. DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE ARE LOOKING AT THE STRUCTURE FOR ALL ENTERPRISE FUNDS AS WELL AS THE GOVERNMENT FUNDS. WE HAVE A MEETING , A TWO HOUR MEETING SCHEDULED TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE OPERATING BUDGET THE CAPITAL BUDGET, AND THE NEEDS. THE SERVICES THAT WE ARE PROVIDING , THEY ARE NOT BEING CHARGED. WE WILL LOOK AT FEE STRUCTURE ACROSS THE BOARD SO IT IS NOT JUST FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, SOLID WASTE, OR WHATEVER. IN TERMS OF THE ECONOMY OF OUR COMMUNITY, THERE WILL BE MESSAGING IN CREOLA, SPANISH, AND ENGLISH. WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT THE MEDIUMS. THERE MAY BE POSTINGS AT THE LAUNDROMAT. MAY BE GOING TO THE POST OFFICE. WE HAVE TO IDENTIFY THE VENUES TO COMMUNICATE THE MESSAGING. THERE IS VARIOUS MESSAGING. AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT. AND THEN THERE WILL BE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT LANDSCAPING DISPOSAL VERSUS BULK DISPOSAL. THERE WILL BE AN EDUCATION CAMPAIGN , BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOW WE DEVELOP THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MESSAGING FOR THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES TO GET IT OUT THERE. WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH OUR BUDGET REVIEW . WE ARE LOOKING AT THE FEE STRUCTURE FOR SERVICES ACROSS THE BOARD. MR. ATKINSON HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF IDENTIFYING SOME OF THE NEEDS FOR THIS AREA.

>> WE NEED THAT COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNICATION. MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO GO, WHEN I WAS WITH YOU THAT DAY AND HAD THIS CONVERSATION , WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF WHAT HAS BEEN DONE. RIGHT? THOSE DUMP FEES HAVE GONE UP, COMMISSIONERS . WE HAVE BEEN PICKING UP FREE TRASH HERE IN THE CITY. I WANT TO KNOW THE IMPACT AS A RESULT. OVERTIME, THOSE DUMP FEES HAVE GONE UP. I DON'T THINK THAT HAS BEEN BALANCED OUT. THAT MESSAGE HAS TO BE COMMUNICATED. WITH THE SHIFT THAT IS COMING, THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHY. GAS IS GOING UP. EQUIPMENT IS GOING UP.

DUMPING FEES HAVE GONE UP, BUT YOUR BILL HAS NOT GONE UP. WE DUMP -- THERE IS A TON OF STUFF DUMPED ON THE ROADS THAT IS PICKED UP FOR FREE. I AM GLAD WE SPENT TIME TOGETHER THAT DAY SO

YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT ISSUE. >> IT WAS VERY PRODUCTIVE. I WANT TO RIDE WITH EVERYBODY. WHENEVER YOU ARE READY.

>> MADAM MAYOR? >> YES, SIR.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER JOHNSON AND CITY MANAGER.

MESSAGE. MESSAGE IS THE KEY. PUTTING AN INSERT IN A BILL , I WILL BE HONEST WITH YOU, MOST RESIDENTS THAT I HAVE TALKED TO, WHEN WE GET THOSE BILLS FROM FPUA, I WILL TELL YOU WHAT THEY DO. THEY OPEN THEM. THEY SEE A NUMBER. I'M JUST BEING HONEST WITH YOU. WE HAVE A PERFECT EXAMPLE FOR YOU GUYS TO USE. WE HAVE A YOUTH COUNCIL . LET THE YOUTH COUNCIL OR GET RESIDENCE FROM THE COMMUNITIES IN THESE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND MAKE VIDEOS AND TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO. I AM SAYING

[00:55:02]

THE YOUTH, BECAUSE IF YOU GIVE A VIDEO TO A YOUTH AND WE WORK WITH SKILLS TO GIVE VIDEO TO A YOUTH, THE YOUTH WILL GO HOME AND SHOW MOM, GRANDMA, OR WHATEVER THAT WE ARE DOING THIS WRONG AND THIS IS HOW WE DO IT. WE HAVE A YOUTH COUNCIL AND WE HAVE THE MEDIA DEPARTMENT. LET THEM PUT YOUR MESSAGE OUT. I AM JUST BEING HONEST WITH YOU. THEY WILL GET TO THE PARENTS. AS A COACH , AS A COACH, WHEN I NEEDED SOMETHING TO GET THROUGH TO MY PARENTS DEALING WITH ANYTHING IN THE CITY, I START PRACTICE EARLY AND TOLD THE KID, BY THE WAY, THIS IS WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON. IF YOU HEAR YOUR MOM OR DAD TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING AT THE CITY, THIS IS WHAT IS GOING ON. I HAD SEVERAL PARENTS COME AND TELL ME I'M A THANK YOU. SO AND SO EXPLAINED LIKE I NEVER KNEW. USE YOUR YOUTH COUNCIL. THIS MESSAGE WILL GET THE DON'T -- GET THE JOB DONE. I CAN TAKE YOU TO SOME AREAS THAT YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO SEE. I CAN DO THAT FOR

YOU. >> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR, IS THERE

ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY? >> I DO. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. IT IS EXCITING TO SEE SOMETHING WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT EXTENSIVELY IN OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION. PUT THE MICROPHONE APPEAR? THANK YOU. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT FOR A WHILE. IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU COME BEFORE US REGARDING THESE STRATEGIC PLANNING INITIATIVES. I HAVE A COUPLE OF SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT I HAVE NOTICED , SPECIFICALLY TRASHCANS AND THE TYPE OF TRASHCANS THAT WE HAVE. I THINK WE HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB ON THE AMOUNT OF TRASHCANS WHAT WE HAVE. I KNOW THE MORE WATERFRONT ADJACENT PARKS , THERE IS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR WIND INTERFERENCE WITH TRASHCANS.

SOMETHING I NOTICED SPECIFICALLY, IT GETS PRETTY WINDY OUT THERE. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME TYPES OF ENCLOSED TRASHCANS AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO THESE EQUIPMENT SPECIFIC THINGS, AS WELL AS RECYCLING. AND DOWNTOWN AND OTHER AREAS HAVING OPPORTUNITIES FOR REGULAR WASTE AND SEPARATING IT FROM THE RECYCLING. WE HAVE A GOOD RECYCLING PROGRAM IN THE CITY.

THE LANDSCAPING, SPECIFICALLY DOWNTOWN, ALL OF THE PALM TREES THAT WE HAVE AND ALL OF THE SPECIFIC GROUNDCOVER ON A LOT OF THOSE, A LOT OF THEM AREN'T LOOKING SO GOOD. IS THAT SOMETHING THE CITY WOULD MAINTAIN? IT LOOKS LIKE SOME OF THE BUSINESSES HAVE TAKEN OVER THEIR OWN DEPENDING ON WHO THEY ARE. WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THOSE?

>> WE MAINTAIN THOSE. I AM IN AGREEMENT; WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB WITH THAT. SOME OF THOSE AREAS, IF THEY ARE BY PALM TREES, THEY KIND OF GO AS A MAT UNDERNEATH AND, THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO GET AS HIGH AS POSSIBLE. WHEN YOU TRY TO PLANT ANYTHING IN THERE, IT IS A NIGHTMARE. YOU HAVE TO EXCAVATE SOME OF THE ROUTES TO GET OUT THERE SO YOU CAN PLAN SOMETHING IN THERE. WE ARE LOOKING AT SOMETHING FROM THE BEAUTIFICATION ASPECT OF IF WE WANT PALMS OUT THERE OR IF WE WANT TO GO WITH A DIFFERENT IDEA. THERE WAS SOMETHING WE WERE LOOKING AT , A REDEVELOPMENT. SHYANNE WILL BE PRESENTING SOMETIME. THERE ARE SOME IDEAS TO MAKE THAT LOOK BETTER. YOU ARE LIMITED IN WHAT YOU CAN DO THERE. WE NEED TO KEEP THAT UP AND HAVE A CONSISTENT THEME. WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE A DIFFERENT LANDSCAPE THAT IS HODGEPODGE. YES, I AM IN AGREEMENT THERE. IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FERTILIZE THE PALMS. SOME OF THE PALMS ARE YELLOW. THEY ARE CALLED A TREE COFFIN , RIGHT? YOU HAVE TO DO A SOIL DRENCH AND THERE ARE TIMES THAT YOU CANNOT TO FERTILIZATION IN FLORIDA. SO YEAH, THAT IS ON US TO DO DOWNTOWN. YOU SPOKE ABOUT THE TRASHCAN ISSUE. ONE OF

[01:00:02]

THE PROBLEMS THAT YOU HAVE IS JUST FINDING SOMETHING IN THOSE AREAS WITH THE RUST, WITH HOW FAST THINGS RUST OUT THERE, GETTING SOMETHING TO EQUALITY THAT WON'T TRUST. DEFINITELY, WE DON'T WANT DEBRIS ALSO BLOWING IN TO THE INLET OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. WE CAN DEFINITELY GET SOME KIND OF CAPS OR FIGURE OUT SOMETHING BETTER THAN WHAT IS BETTER RIGHT NOW.

BY THE WAY, THERE IS A TRASHCAN THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT THAT IS AN ENCLOSED TRASHCAN . IN DOWNTOWN, THE APPEARANCE IS NICE. THEY ARE DIFFERENT COLORS. THEY CAN BE FOR DIFFERENT THINGS, RECYCLING OR WHATEVER. WE CAN LOOK AT THAT, AS WELL.

>> LANDSCAPING STANDARDS AND SPECIFICALLY CITY PROPERTIES , ONE THING THAT STUCK OUT HIS WE DID ALL OF THAT BEAUTIFUL WORK TO HELP OUT THE FAÇADE OF THE BUILDING. I WOULD NOT CALL THE PROPERTY UP TO OUR LANDSCAPING STANDARDS. IS THIS PART OF THE PLAN THAT IS GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED?

>> I DID NOT WANT TO PUT TOGETHER TOO BIG OF A PRESENTATION. IN THE BUDGETING PROCESS, I DID IDENTIFY PLANNING PROJECTS AND THERE. SO MORE MONEY FOR TREES AND LANDSCAPING.

YES, WE ALSO HAVE OUR TREE FUND THAT WE CAN TAP INTO THAT WE CAN UTILIZE FOR THAT. MAYBE SOME OF THE MONIES WE CAN SPEND ON TREES, WE CAN PULL FROM THAT TREE FUND AND USE THE MONEY WE WOULD HAVE SPENT ON TREES FOR LANDSCAPING. BUT YES, WE DO NEED TO -- LANDSCAPING DOES NOT HAVE TO BE EXPENSIVE. I THINK THINGS CAN LOOK REALLY NICE, BUT BE EASY TO MAINTAIN. THAT COMES FROM EXPERIENCE. THAT CAN BE DONE, WHETHER IT IS THROUGH SOME NATIVE GRASSES -- AND I AM BIG ON NATIVE. IT CAN LOOK GOOD IF YOU DO IT THE RIGHT WAY. WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT. I AM NOT SURE HOW FAR AHEAD OF ME THERE WAS IN A PARKS DIVISION MANAGER . WE DID BRING IN WITHIN THE LAST MONTH A NEW PARKS DIVISION MANAGER. WE PROMOTED OUR CHIEF IRRIGATION SPECIALIST UP TO FOREMAN TWO. THEY ARE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND THEY HAVE BEEN OUT THERE. WE ARE ESTABLISHING SERVICE CYCLES AND WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT SOME OF THESE BUILDINGS AND AREAS ARE UP TO

SPEED AND WHERE THEY NEED TO BE. >> WE ARE THE ONES WHO SHOULD BE SETTING THE STANDARD. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY SHOWS THE QUALITY THAT WE WANT TO SEE EVERYONE ELSE IMPLEMENTING, AS WELL. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY IS SETTING THAT LEVEL OF STANDARD. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT. MY LAST QUESTION , A STATUS UPDATE ON TRANSFERRING TO THE TYLER TICKETING SYSTEM. I HEARD SOMETHING ABOUT THAT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE STATUS IS.

>> I AM NOT QUITE SURE. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ON THAT?

>> NOT NECESSARILY. MY NAME IS MARCIA. I MISS SPECIAL WORKS COORDINATOR . IN TERMS OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HOW WE ARE UTILIZING THOSE TECHNOLOGIES, WE ARE USING BOTH. WE DO GET MOST OF OUR WORK ORDERS THROUGH THE TITHER SYSTEM. THE PREVIOUS SYSTEM IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO USE. WE GET MOST OF OUR WORK ORDER REQUESTS THROUGH TYLER. TYPICALLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN, WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS, MOST OF OUR REQUESTS ARE COMING IN FOR SOLID WASTE RELATED SERVICES. THAT MAKES UP 80% TO 90% OF COMPLAINTS AND REQUESTS FOR SERVICES.

>> BY PHONE? >> BY PHONE AND EMAIL. WE PUT OUT A NEW EMAIL ADDRESS WE ARE USING EARLIER THIS YEAR SO PEOPLE CAN CONTACT A DISTRIBUTION LIST GROUP THAT IS SPECIFIC TO CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES THAT WILL HANDLE

[01:05:02]

THAT REQUEST. THERE IS A MAINLINE NUMBER, AS WELL. MOST OF IT IS SOLID WASTE AND IT IS COMING THROUGH PHONE CALLS AND

EMAILS PRIMARILY. >> OKAY.

>> WE ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS. >> THEY ARE GETTING THERE WITH

TYLER. >> YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE AN APP THAT IS A TYLER APPROPRIATE APP. IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING?

>> THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING. I DO STAY IN MY LANE. MY SPECIALTY

IS HERE. >> BUT YOU WILL TAKE THE COMMUNICATION ANYWAY YOU GET IT. RIGHT? OKAY.

>> THAT IS PRETTY MUCH ALL I HAVE. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS INITIATIVE. I HAVE ALREADY NOTICED A CHANGE SINCE YOU HAVE COME ON BOARD. I AM NOTICING AREAS DOWNTOWN WHERE I WENT THROUGH TO CAMPAIGN A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THERE WAS DEBRIS ALL OVER THE PLACE. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE SO FAR. I AM EXCITED TO SEE EVERYTHING YOU ARE GOING TO DO.

I WILL KEEP SAYING IT WITH THE DOWNTOWN BEING THE NUMBER ONE VISITED TOURIST LOCATION IN THE COUNTY. MY PRIORITY IS GETTING THAT LOOKING AS PRISTINE AS POSSIBLE. WE HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE. I THINK WE SHOULD START DOWNTOWN. IT IS THE NUMBER ONE VISITED LOCATION. ONCE WE GET THAT DOWNTOWN LOOKING WHERE WE NEED IT TO BE, WE CAN FOCUS ON OTHER AREAS. DOWNTOWN SHOULD BE OUR PRIORITY, IN MY OPINION. THAT IS WHERE WE ARE GETTING THE TRAFFIC AND THE PEOPLE. WE WANT THEM TO KEEP COMING BACK,

BECAUSE THAT MEANS MONEY. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES, I WANT TO ADDRESS THE COMMUNICATION MESSAGING ISSUE. WHEN WE DO COMMUNICATION, IT IS SOCIAL MEDIA, INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE. WE HAVE OUR OWN TV STATION. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ARE TOTALLY SOCIAL MEDIA DRIVEN WITH SOME PRINT AND DIGITAL. THE KEY FOR US IS THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF VENUES IN WHICH WE COMMUNICATE THAT. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE KNOWS THAT WE ARE NOT DOING SNAIL MAIL.

>> THANK YOU. >> ANYTHING ELSE?

>> I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR X PLAN FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS. I THINK THAT IS CRITICAL TO WHERE YOUR DEPARTMENT IS GOING AND HOW WE CAN BEST FUND YOU TO GET THERE.

WITHOUT THE ASSETS, ALL THE RHETORIC IN THE WORLD IS NOT GOING TO GET YOU TO WHERE WE WANT YOU TO BE. THAT PROCESS IS COMING UP VERY SOON. I AM EXCITED TO SEE WHERE YOU ARE AT

ON THAT. >> WE PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO IT. IT WAS DRIVEN PRIMARILY BY STAFF INPUT. MANY OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID , I WOULD ASK THE QUESTION, WHAT DO YOU SEE? WHAT IS IT YOU WANT. THEY WOULD SAY SOMETHING THAT THEY WANTED AND I WOULD SAY, ME, TOO. IT FELT LIKE WE HAD THE BUY-IN. I THINK WITH THE CAPITAL, WE PUT TOGETHER A FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL PLAN AND SUBMITTED IT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT, AS WELL. I THINK SOME OF OUR MAINTENANCE ISSUES WILL HOPEFULLY GO AWAY WITH NEWER

THINGS. THAT IS THE GOAL. >> I WOULD LIKE TO FINISH BY SAYING ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND I THINK YOU THINK IS IMPORTANT, TOO, IS INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY. PUBLIC WORKS CANNOT DO IT BY THEMSELVES. ENCOURAGING THE GROUP, MAKING THEM A PART OF IT, YOU KNOW THERE IS A REGULAR GROUP OF SOUTH BEACH VOLUNTEERS THAT CLEANUP THE PARKS AND THE BIG BEACHES. THEY WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND REPORT THEIR HOURS . SO THEY FEEL VERY MUCH AN OWNERSHIP OF HOW THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD LOOKS. SO I THINK , I THINK THAT IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE EQUIPMENT. WITH YOUR LARGE STAFF, YOUR STAFF IS OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY. THEY SHOULD BE AND ARE AMBASSADORS. I HAVE SEEN THEM IN THE PARK. THEY ARE FRIENDLY. THEY ARE HAVING A GOOD TIME DOING THEIR WORK. HE SEEMED TO BE DOING IT EFFICIENTLY. ALL OF THAT INSPIRES THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE FAITH IN THEM AND ALSO TO KEEP THE PARKS, ESPECIALLY OUR PARKS AND OUR ROADS CLEAN, TO CO-. I THINK WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD TROUBLE HAVING TRAINED MECHANICS . THAT ISN'T

[01:10:06]

SOMETHING PEOPLE GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND DO ANYMORE. I AM WONDERING IF THE EASTMAN SCHOOL OUT AT THE COLLEGE HAS A MECHANIC SCHOOL. I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING WE OUGHT TO PURSUE. IT USED TO BE WHEN YOUNG BOYS GREW UP, THEY WOULD FIDDLE AROUND WITH THEIR CARS AND MANY OF THEM BECAME MECHANICS. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT HAPPENS ANYMORE. WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO ENCOURAGE -- THIS IS BEYOND YOU, I KNOW -- ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT THAT IS A GOOD SKILL AND A VALUABLE JOB FOR SOMEBODY. I KNOW OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS ALWAYS HAD TROUBLE ATTRACTING MECHANICS, AS WELL AS OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, TOO. I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER TAYLOR. I THINK THINGS ARE LOOKING BETTER. I CAN TELL YOU THAT YOUR LEADERSHIP IS WORKING. I WANT TO SAY VERY --

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. >> MADAM MAYOR?

>> YES, MA'AM? >> I WANTED TO ADD A TOPIC TO THIS. THERE WAS A QUESTION RELATED TO PEOPLE DUMPING ON

OTHER PEOPLE'S PROPERTY. >> I WANTED TO BRING THAT UP.

>> UNDER THE FLORIDA LITTER LAW , WHICH IS STATUTE 403 , BUT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT WOULD BE COVERED OVER THE FLORIDA LITTER LAW. IT DEPENDS ON THE AMOUNT THAT YOU ARE LITTERING /DUMPING.

BOTH TERMS ARE USED. ONCE YOU START GETTING UP IN THE HIGHER AMOUNTS, IT BECOMES A MISDEMEANOR. A HIGHER AMOUNT BECOMES A FELONY. IF YOU REACH THE FELONY LEVEL, THE VEHICLE USED FOR DUMPING COULD BE FORFEITED. IF THIS IS HAPPENING, IT SHOULD BE REPORTED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR THEM TO INVESTIGATE. THERE ARE CRIMINAL PENALTIES TO INCLUDE SOMEBODY'S VEHICLE TO BE TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM AND OWNED BY THE CITY AT

THAT POINT. >> HOW IS IT MEASURED?

>> IT IS BY WEIGHT . THE BREAKDOWN GOES BY WEIGHT OR CUBIC VOLUME. IT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH IS BEING DUMPED.

>> THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO SORT OF BRING TO THE FOREFRONT WITH OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS OUR

PUBLIC POLICE DEPARTMENT. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> IN THE INFORMATION CAMPAIGN, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU THROW THIS AWAY ON AN EMPTY LOT, THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU DID NOT HAND IT OFF TO SOMEBODY ELSE. I THINK PEOPLE MAY , MAY, MAY KNOW THAT THEY ARE PUTTING THE BURDEN ON SOMEBODY ELSE. IF THEY THINK, HEY, THIS IS A PUBLIC DUMPING PLACE, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME SPOTS IN SOME CITIES WHERE THEY WILL HAVE A PUBLIC DUMPING SPOT DESIGNATED. IT IS NOT PUBLIC PROPERTY. THIS IS IN FRONT OF SOMEONE'S HOUSE.

>> SO YOU ARE SAYING SOME PEOPLE MIGHT THINK THERE IS NO HARM, NO

COSTS. >> IF THEY KNOW THIS IS SOMEONE'S PROPERTY AND YOU ARE PUTTING THE BURDEN ON THEM, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO SAY I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS AND THAT IS WHAT I DO , BUT YOU HAVE TO CORRECT THAT BEHAVIOR.

>> MR. CHESS, I THINK YOU HEARD THAT WE NEED TO EMPHASIZE THIS ILLEGAL DUMPING. IT IS A PROBLEM HERE AND I KNOW IT IS A PROBLEM

IN OTHER PLACES. >> WE WILL DEVELOP A CAMPAIGN.

>> COMMISSIONER GAINES ? >> I WAS THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING YOU SAID ABOUT MECHANICS. AND GETTING MECHANICS. CAN WE LOOK -- THIS MIGHT BE TO THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY -- IF NO ONE IS DOING IT AND WE KNOW WE NEED MECHANICS , I KNOW WE HAD SOME PRESENTATIONS EARLIER THIS YEAR ABOUT SOME OF THESE INTERNSHIPS WHERE SOME OF THESE KIDS WANT TO COME, SOMEBODY WANTS TO COME AND BE A MECHANIC. I DON'T KNOW THE WHOLE LEGAL ASPECT OF IT OR THE COST, BEFORE YOU GUYS SAY IT ABOUT THE COST FOR THE BUDGET , BUT IF WE CAN GET SOME KIDS WHO ARE INTERESTED AND LET THEM IN TURN WITH THE CITY TO BECOME A MECHANIC, SO YOU CAN TRAIN THEM LIKE WE WANT IT TO BE DONE -- AND I UNDERSTAND THAT WE TRAIN THEM AND THEY GO SOMEWHERE ELSE; I UNDERSTAND THAT -- BUT IF WE PUT A CONTRACT TOGETHER THAT YOU JOIN THIS INTERNSHIP AND WE GET YOU CERTIFIED , YOU WILL HAVE THE CITY BACK SO MANY YEARS AS A MECHANIC. JUST THROWING THAT OUT

[01:15:03]

THERE. I KNOW THERE ARE PROGRAMS LIKE THAT THAT MIGHT HELP US TRAIN YOUNG MECHANICS THAT YOU CAN DO. NOT PUTTING MORE WORK ON YOU, BUT PUTTING IT OUT THERE TO TRY TO FIND SOMEBODY TO FILL

THESE SPOTS. >> THAT IS SOMETHING I AM INTIMATELY INVOLVED WITH. WE HAD 431 BUSES, MASS MECHANICS. SOME SENIOR MECHANICS ARE USED TO DOING WORK ON THE DIESEL. NOW WE HAVE MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLES. THEY HAVE TO BE RETRAINED. WE PARTNERED WITH THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS AND WE PARTNER WITH TRADE SCHOOLS AND APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS.

>> APPRENTICE EMPLOYEES? >> RIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL OR FIRST YEAR IN COLLEGE. WE BRING THEM INTO THE PROGRAM. SOME OF THE SENIOR MECHANICS ARE NOT VERSED IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES. WE WANTED TO BRING IN A NEW GENERATION OF MECHANICS. WE STARTED WITH THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND APPRENTICE PROGRAMS AND TRADE SCHOOLS. WE WILL SEE WHAT OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE AVAILABLE

HERE. >> I WILL TELL YOU ONE RIGHT OFF THE BAT. EDC HAS STARTED THE TREASURE COAST CENTER FOR -- ANITA FISHER HAS STARTED A PROGRAM WHERE SHE SNATCHES YOUNG PEOPLE IN HIGH SCHOOLS FOR INTERNSHIPS IN DIFFERENT COMPANIES AND GOVERNMENT AND WHATEVER. THAT MIGHT BE ONE PLACE. THEY ARE WORKING WITH THE HIGH SCHOOLS AS WELL AS I RSE.

>> IT IS VERY COMPETITIVE, AS YOU MENTIONED. WE ARE COMPETING

WITH PRIVATE BUSINESSES. >> PRIVATE BUSINESSES, YEP.

>> OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AS WELL. IT GETS DOWN TO COMPETITIVE SALARY. THE BENEFITS OF GOVERNMENT CAN HELP US BE MORE COMPETITIVE ON OUR SIDE. THE MARKET IS THERE. WE JUST

[B. Annual Report on the Retirement & Benefit System]

NEED TO HAVE THE OUTREACH. WE WILL WORK ON THAT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK.

>> THANK YOU. >> WE WILL MOVE ON.

>> NEXT UP IS THE ANNUAL REPORT ON THE RETIREMENT & BENEFIT

SYSTEM. >> MR. CHESS, DO YOU HAVE

ANYTHING ON THIS? >> NO, I DON'T.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. I AM HERE TO PRESENT THE ANNUAL REPORT FOR OUR RETIREMENT SYSTEM. IT IS BASED ON OUR 2024 ACTUARIAL REPORT, WHICH WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD IN MARCH. NOW IS THE TIME THAT WE HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS REPORT TO YOU. I WILL START BY SAYING THAT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE RETIREMENT & BENEFIT SYSTEM REMAINS IN THE TOP PERCENTILE OF ALL RETIREMENT PLANS IN THE COUNTRY. WE CONTINUE TO DO A GREAT JOB WITH OUR SYSTEM, EVEN THOUGH OUR FUNDING LEVEL IS NOT, WELL, IT REMAINS THE SAME, BUT IT IS NOT AS HIGH AS IT WAS COMPARATIVELY . COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, WE REMAIN IN THE TOP PERCENTILE OF ALL RETIREMENT PLANS. IT IS LABELED AS EXTRAORDINARILY RESISTANT IN RELATION TO OUR PEERS IN THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY, AS WELL. OUR PLAN IS USED AS A MODEL BY

INVESTMENT CONSULTANTS. >> I HAVE NO IMAGE. BUT GO

AHEAD. GO AHEAD. >> OKAY.

>> SORRY. >> MINE WASN'T WORKING EITHER.

>> WE ARE GOOD. >> I FEEL BAD FOR BREAKING THAT

STUFF. >> AT THE END OF OUR FISCAL YEAR, AS A RESULT OF THIS, OUR ACTUARIAL REPORT OUR FUNDING PLAN WAS $236 MILLION. OUR REPORT THAT AT THE END OF OUR APRIL VALUE, BECAUSE THE MAIN NUMBERS ARE STILL COMING IN, WE WERE $253 MILLION. THE FUND CONTINUES TO DO WELL. OUR FUNDED RATIO IS 82%. THAT IS NO CHANGE FROM LAST YEAR. WE ARE REMAINING CONSTANT. OUR RECOGNIZED INVESTMENT RETURN FOR THE PLAN IS 7.4% , WHICH IS MORE THAN THE 7.25% ASSUMED RATE. WE USED TO

[01:20:05]

HAVE, JUST TO REMIND YOU, 8% WAS OUR ASSUMED RATE. THAT WAS BY INDUSTRY STANDARD. OUR INVESTMENT CONSULTANTS RECOMMENDED THAT WE DECREASE THAT TO THE 7.25%, WHICH WE DID.

LAST YEAR, WE HAD A RECOGNIZED RETURN OF 7.4%, WHICH IS GREATER THAN THE 7.25%. HERE IS THE FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS FOR THE PLAN. YOU WILL SEE IN THE TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS, WE HAD $10.3 MILLION . THOSE ARE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE EMPLOYER AND THE EMPLOYEE. IT WAS $7.9 MILLION FROM THE EMPLOYER AND TO $0.3 MILLION FROM THE EMPLOYEES. THE INVESTMENT INCOME FROM THE FAIR VALUE OF OUR INVESTMENTS, WE HAD $4.4 MILLION. OUR INTEREST ON THE DIVIDENDS FROM OUR INVESTMENT WAS $22 MILLION.

GAINS OR LOSSES ON SALES WAS $19 MILLION. OUR NET INVESTMENT INCOME WAS $46 MILLION. YOU SEE THE TOTAL EDITIONS OF $56 MILLION. THE DEDUCTIONS THAT COME FROM THE SYSTEM ARE THE REFUNDS. THOSE REFUNDS ARE PAID BACK TO THE EMPLOYEES WHO LEAVE THE SYSTEM BEFORE RETIREMENT. ANYTIME THERE IS A TERMINATION OR SOMEONE LEAVES FOR ANY REASON AND THEY HAVE NOT VESTED , THEY GET A REFUND BACK FROM THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT THEY HAVE MADE. AT $359,000 IN REFUNDS ARE GIVEN BACK TO THOSE EMPLOYEES.

OUR BENEFITS THAT ARE PAID, YOU SEE THE SYSTEM IS CONTINUALLY MATURING. WE PAY $17,455,228 IN BENEFIT PAYMENTS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. THE INVESTMENT EXPENSES, THOSE ARE THE EXPENSES THAT WE PAY TO OUR MONEY MANAGERS, OUR INVESTMENT CONSULTANTS AND ALL IS $879,985 . I THINK THAT IS VERY ADMIRABLE ON A $253 MILLION SYSTEM . THE INVESTMENT AMOUNT WE ARE PAYING IS UNDER $1 MILLION. I THINK THAT IS GREAT. OUR ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES, THOSE ARE THE EXPENSES WHICH ARE MOSTLY COMING BACK TO THE CITY TO ADMINISTER OUR PROGRAM. THAT IS $289,817. THE OTHER IS MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES THAT MAY COME AS A RESULT OF THINGS THAT COME UP IN THE YEAR THAT ARE NOT REALLY DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS LIKE THE SOFTWARE AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE ARE USING. THE NET INCREASE, AND THOSE DEDUCTIONS ARE $19 MILLION, WHICH MEANS WE HAVE A NET INCREASE OF $37,406,523. OUR ASSETS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR WERE 208,000 -- $208 MILLION. OUR ASSETS AT THE END OF THE YEAR IS $246 MILLION.

>> MADAM MAYOR? WHEN YOU HEARD THAT NUMBER , $879,985. TRUST ME WHEN I SAY THAT THE BOARD , COMMISSIONER BRODERICK IS ALREADY LAUGHING, THOSE PEOPLE WE PAY THAT MONEY TO, THE BOARD HAMMERS THEM ABOUT THEIR FEES, THEIR RETURNS, THEIR PRODUCTS.

FOR US TO GET THE MONEY THAT WE ARE GETTING FROM THESE INVESTMENTS, THAT IS A GOOD NUMBER. IT IS EARNED. THEY KNOW WE WILL SAY, SEE YOU LATER IN A HEARTBEAT. WITH THE ADDITION OF COMMISSIONER BRODERICK ON THAT BOARD, HE ASKS A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND WHY THEY ARE SPENDING AND WHATEVER. THESE NUMBERS, SO THE PUBLIC CAN SEE THEM, THIS IS A GREAT NUMBER FOR THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE ARE GETTING.

IF YOU GO BACK, AND I WILL JUST STOP YOU, IF YOU GO BACK TO WHEN SHE SAID THE $17.4 MILLION , WHEN WE GO TO THESE MEETINGS, WHEN I GO TO THESE MEETINGS, THERE ARE A LOT OF RETIREMENT BOARDS THAT DON'T EVEN GET THAT $17.2 MILLION. FOR US TO BE AT

[01:25:05]

$17.4 MILLION, I WANT THE BOARD -- THE RETIREES TO KNOW THAT THE BOARD IS DOING A GREAT JOB AND WE TAKE YOUR RETIREMENT SERIOUSLY. THAT 17.4 NUMBER WILL BE TALKED ABOUT NEXT WEEK. WE WILL GO TO ANOTHER CONFERENCE. THEY ARE GOING TO WANT TO KNOW, HOW IS FORT PIERCE DOING THESE NUMBERS ? IT IS BECAUSE OF THE BOARD. ME AND COMMISSIONER BRODERICK, WE KNOW WHAT THESE NUMBERS MEAN. I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT THIS PRICE WE ARE PAYING FOR OUR MONEY MARKETERS, WE ARE GETTING EVERY PENNY THAT WE PAY FOR OUR RETIREES . THEY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB.

>> MADAM MAYOR? >> YES, SIR.

>> I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT COMMON. IT IS COMMENDABLE WHEN THE MONEY MANAGERS COME TO THE STABLE AND THEY LOOK NERVOUS.

THEY ARE ABOUT TO GET A GRILLING. HAVING SAID THAT, THE CURRENT EVALUATION FUND AT THE END OF MAY IS $252 MILLION?

>> $253 MILLION. >> WE ARE CLOSER TO 90% FUNDED.

THAT IS SUBJECT TO THE MARKET. THAT IS DEPENDENT ON HOW THE BENEFIT HAS BEEN DERIVED THROUGH THE INCREASE OF THE EVALUATIONS.

WE WANT TO GET BACK TO 90%. HOPEFULLY THE MARKET WILL STAY SOLID IN ITS RETURNS. I DO BELIEVE IT IS COMMENDABLE THAT THE COMMISSION HAS THE FORESIGHT TO HAVE TWO COMMISSIONERS ON THAT BOARD. IT IS THAT CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. FOR ALL THE REAL ESTATE THE CITY OWNS EVERYTHING, THIS IS THE LARGEST MONEY MANAGEMENT SCENARIO THAT THE CITY COMMISSION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR. THE FOLKS ON THERE ARE DEDICATED. THERE IS NOT A LOT OF TURNOVER. THEY STAY BECAUSE THEY ARE COMMITTED TO THEIR POSITION. THEY BECOME KNOWLEDGEABLE IN IT. LIKE MY COMPATRIOTS I DON'T HAVE THE RETIREMENT QUALIFICATIONS. BUT I UNDERSTAND MONEY MANAGEMENT AND CASH FLOW MANAGEMENT AND ALL OF THAT. I HAVE TO COMMEND THE STAFF, THE UNDERLYING MANAGERS, AND ALL OF THAT. THEY ARE DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB AND THE BOARD IS HOLDING THEIR FEET TO THE FIRE SO THEY CONTINUE TO DO SO.

WE ARE CLOSE TO 90% FUNDED IN TOTALITY OF WHAT THE FUND NEEDS TO BE. THE ONLY CRITICISM THAT I HAVE RECEIVED SITTING ON THAT BOARD AND IN THE SEAT IS ABOUT COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS FOR RETIREES WHO HAVE BEEN LONG RETIRED, ET CETERA. IF THIS CONTINUES TO INCREASE IN VALUATION -- HOPEFULLY IT WELL, MAYBE THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL TAKE A HARDER LOOK AT LATER THIS YEAR AND HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH THE COMMISSION AS TO THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO US. ONCE WE HIT, WHAT IS THE THRESHOLD WE HAVE TO BE AT? ONCE WE HIT 100% OF THEORETICAL FUNDING REQUIREMENT, OUR OPTIONS OPEN UP TO BASICALLY WHATEVER WE WANT TO DO. WE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON THAT AND SEE WHERE THAT GOES. HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER RATCHETING UP OF 25% OF THE MARKETING -- MARKETPLACE. THEN WE CAN HAVE A CANDID DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT WE

CAN DO FOR OUR RETIREES. >> DO YOU HAVE MORE?

>> THIS IS A SEGUE INTO OUR NEXT SLIDE. LIKE YOU SAID, YOU ARE ALWAYS APPROACHED AND SO IS THE RETIREMENT BOARD AS IT RELATES TO COLAS, COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS FOR OUR RETIREES.

OUR SYSTEM WAS BUILT WITH THREE CRITERIA THAT MUST BE MET BEFORE WE CAN EVEN ENTERTAIN A COLA. THE FIRST IS THAT THE SYSTEM HAS TO HAVE HAD AN INCREASE IN NET MARKET VALUE. WE DID THAT THIS YEAR. THE NEXT IS THE INVESTMENT RETURN HAS TO EXCEED THE REQUIRED ACTUARIAL INTEREST ASSUMPTION, WHICH IS OUR 7.25% .

WE DID 7.4%. THE THIRD IS THE CUMULATIVE VALUE OF ANY COLA GRANTED HAAT THE CUMULATIVE VALUE OR NET GAIN WAS SINCE 1999 WHEN THEY IMPLEMENTED THIS. IT HAS TO BE 100% FUNDED.

OUR UNFUNDED LIABILITY AS OF SEPTEMBER 30 WAS $71,854,564 , WHICH MEANS UNTIL THE SYSTEM GAINS THAT MONEY , WE CANNOT GRANT A COLA. FURTHER , FLORIDA STATE STATUTE COMES INTO PLAY,

[01:30:07]

AS WELL. THAT IS WHY EDUCATION IS SO GREAT. I WENT TO OUR ANNUAL PENSION CONFERENCE AND DISCOVERED THAT BECAUSE OF THIS STATUTE, WE CANNOT ENTERTAIN A COLA BECAUSE IF IT IS A PART OF THE BENEFIT SYSTEM THAT WAS GRANTED WHEN A PERSON WAS FIRST EMPLOYED, WE CANNOT GIVE ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF THAT.

BECAUSE OUR SYSTEM SAYS THAT WE WILL GIVE YOU A COLA IF THE SYSTEM IS 100% FUNDED, WE CAN THEN NOT SAY THAT IF WE ARE NOT 100% FUNDED, THEN GRANT A COLA. WE HAVE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENT

OR CHANGE OUR SYSTEM. >> IS THE SYSTEM BY CHARTER OR

BY ORDINANCE? >> IT IS A PART OF THE CHARTER, I ASSUME ESTABLISHED ALL BY ORDINANCE. BUT IT IS ESTABLISHED

BY CHARTER. >> THE FACT THAT THERE ARE TWO COMMISSIONERS IN THERE IS PART OF THE ORIGINAL CHARTER. IF WE WANTED TO CHANGE THAT, WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A REFERENDUM.

>> I AM NOT SURE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WAS APPROVED BY

REFERENDUM. >> I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER BRODERICK. I THINK IT IS AN EXCELLENT THING. THE COMMISSIONERS ON THERE SUPPOSED TO LOOK OUT FOR THE RETIREES AS

WELL AS THE TAXPAYER. >> EXACTLY. THAT IS WHY I SIT IN, TO STEAL COMMISSIONER GAINES'S SLOGAN, I WEAR TWO HATS. I SIT THERE AS THE SECRETARY/TREASURER, BUT ALSO AS THE FINANCE DIRECTOR. I UNDERSTAND HOW WILL WE DO AFFECTS THE EMPLOYER AS WELL AS THE RETIREES.

>> YES, YOU DO. >> THIS PLAN IS MADE TO WEAR THE TAXPAYERS, OTHER THAN CONTRIBUTION RATE , AND MAKE NO OTHER CONTRIBUTION TO THE SYSTEM. IT HAS TO BE SELF-SUSTAINING. WHATEVER THE STATUS IS, THAT IS WHAT PAYS FOR

THOSE RETIREES. >> RIGHT. IS THAT IT?

>> I THINK THAT IS IT. NO, I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW WHAT AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WHAT OUR NUMBER OF RETIREES WERE AND WHAT THE BENEFIT PAYMENTS WERE. FOR OUR GENERAL PLAN, AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2024, WE HAVE 218 RETIREES IN THE GENERAL SYSTEM.

THE AVERAGE BENEFIT IS $24,598 A YEAR. IT SEEMS LIKE A BIG NUMBER, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE AVERAGE BENEFIT THAT EMPLOYEES ARE RECEIVING IS, IT IS REALLY NOT A LARGE NUMBER.

FPUA HAS 256 RETIREES AND THE ANNUAL BENEFIT COST IS $7.7 MILLION . THE AVERAGE BENEFIT PAYMENT IS $30,000. THERE ARE 102 RETIRED POLICE. THE ANNUAL BENEFIT TO THE INDIVIDUALS IS $45,000. SO WE HAVE A TOTAL NUMBER OF 576 RETIREES IN OUR SYSTEM. THE ANNUAL BENEFIT COST IS $17 MILLION WITH AN AVERAGE BENEFIT PAYMENT BEING $30,825. YOU SEE WHAT OUR CONTRIBUTIONS RATES ARE. THIS CONTRIBUTION IS OUR CURRENT RIGHT NOW. AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER 2024, IT WAS 17.56%. IT IS 20.89% FOR FPUA AND POLICE IS 16.93%. YOU SEE WITH THE ANNUAL EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION IS AS WELL AS THE ANNUAL EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE I MOVE ON? OUR CURRENT CONTRIBUTION RATE FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, SO YOU SEE THE CHANGE, IS 18.57%, A 1.01 PERCENT INCREASE FOR GENERAL. IT IS 21.5 1% FOR FPUA. FOR POLICE , IT IS 18.17% . THE NEW CONTRIBUTION RATES, WHICH YOU WILL SEE IN OUR BUDGET THAT WE ARE PLANNING RIGHT NOW IS A 19.74% FOR GENERAL, A 1.17 PERCENT CHANGE. FPUA IS A 21-POINT 80% -- 21.8%. THAT IS AS A RESULT OF WHAT OUR

[01:35:09]

INVESTMENT RETURNS, THE AMOUNT THAT IS NEEDED AS THE ACTUARY CALCULATES WHAT THE CONTRIBUTION RATE SHOULD BE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A PENSION PAYABLE FOR THOSE AND WHAT THE EMPLOYER NEEDS TO CONTRIBUTE. THE STATE CONTINUES TO CHANGE CERTAIN RATES AS PEOPLE ARE LIVING LONGER. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FUNDS ARE THERE TO MAKE SURE THEY RECEIVE A PENSION AS

THEY ARE LIVING LONGER. >> IT IS A PROTECTION. WE HAVE

TO PROTECT FOR THE FUTURE. >> I WILL ENTERTAIN ANY

QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THAT FUND. TAXPAYERS CONTRIBUTE TO

[C. Presentation of the Comprehensive Safety Action Plan developed with a US Department of Transportation seeking guidance and direction.]

THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE WILL MOVE ON.

>> THE NEXT ITEM IS A PRESENTATION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY ACTION PLAN DEVELOPED WITH THE U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SEEKING GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION.

>> MR. CHESS, DO YOU HAVE A LEAD-IN INTO THIS?

>> NO, I DO NOT. >> MS. GRIFFETT?

>> I WILL JUST GET IT READY FOR YOU.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR HUDSON AND COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS SELENA GRIFFETT, PROJECT ENGINEER IN THE ENGINEERING DIVISION. ON JANUARY 31 2023, THE CITY RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM THE U.S.

D.O.T. THAT WE HAD BEEN SELECTED FOR AN AWARD FOR THE SAFE STREETS AND ROADS FOR ALL GRANT. HERE WE ARE, TWO YEARS LATER, TO PRESENT A COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY ACTION PLAN FOR YOUR REVIEW AND GUIDANCE. BRAD DAVIS IS OUR CONSULTANT. HE IS HERE WITH KIMLEY-HORN. HE IS HERE TO TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THE COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY ACTION PLAN WE HAVE DONE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. OUR CURRENT SCHEDULE WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS A DEADLINE OF SEPTEMBER 2025 TO PRESENT A FINAL APPROVAL BY THE CITY COMMISSION TO COMPLETE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE GRANT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR COMMENTS AND MAKING OUR ROADWAYS SAFER.

>> MR. DAVIS? >> GOOD MORNING. BRADLEY DAVIS WITH KIMLEY-HORN. WHEN WE STARTED THIS PLAN LAST YEAR , WE STARTED WITH THE SIMPLE NOTION THAT WE WANT TO MAKE IT SAFER TO CROSS THE STREET IN THE CITY. SAFER TO CROSS THE STREET AND TRAVEL FOR EVERYONE. SO WHETHER YOU ARE DRIVING, WALKING, RIDING A BIKE, THAT WAS OUR FOCUS. THE CITY CHANGES AND THERE ARE NEW WAYS OF GETTING AROUND. HE WANTED TO BE FORWARD-LOOKING, AS WELL. I THINK ALL OF US DRIVING OR TRAVELING AROUND THE CITY ARE REGULARLY SEEING PEOPLE ON E-BIKES AND E-SCOOTERS AND OTHER THINGS, AS WELL. WHERE PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING AND HOW THEY ARE TRAVELING , WE TOOK THAT INTO ACCOUNT WITH THIS EFFORT. AS SELENA MENTIONED, THIS IS FUNDED THROUGH A FEDERAL GRANT. IT WAS A NEW PROGRAM CREATED TO FOCUS ON SAFETY AND WAS FUNDED OVER FIVE YEARS TO THE TUNE OF $5 BILLION. THE EMPHASIS IS ON MAKING ROADS AND STREETS SAFER , WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON SAFETY FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE USERS, SO THOSE WHO ARE OUTSIDE OF VEHICLES. JUST IN TERMS OF THE FEDERAL FUNDING SCHEDULE, WE ARE IN THE FOURTH OF OUR FIVE FISCAL YEARS FOR THE PROGRAM RIGHT NOW. THE NOTICE OF FUNDING FOR THE FISCAL YEAR IS CURRENTLY OPEN. RIGHT NOW, THERE IS ONE MORE FISCAL YEAR OF FUNDING THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE THAT WILL TAKE PLACE NEXT YEAR. SO THERE ARE A FEW REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE A COMPONENT OF THIS PLAN. WE HAVE INCORPORATED ALL OF THOSE THINGS. THIS IS NOT A

[01:40:01]

COMPREHENSIVE LIST, BUT ONE REQUIREMENT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY IS A FORMAL LEADERSHIP COMMITMENT. MOST COMMUNITIES ARE PASSING A RESOLUTION OR AN ADOPTION OF THE PLAN AND THAT SUFFICES TO MEET THAT REQUIREMENT. BUT THIS IS BOTH A SHORT-TERM AND A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT . WE ARE COMMITTED TO FOCUSING ON SAFETY. SO THE U.S. D.O.T. HAS DEVELOPED WHAT THEY CALL A SAFE SYSTEMS APPROACH. IT HAS A FEW PRINCIPLES. THIS IS THE LENS THROUGH WHICH WE HAVE LOOKED AT SAFETY IN THE CITY. IT HAS TAKEN A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO TRANSPORTATION SAFETY THAN HAS BEEN HISTORICAL WHEN RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION. THE PRINCIPLES ARE DEATH AND SERIOUS INJURIES AREN'T ACCEPTABLE, HUMANS MAKE MISTAKES HUMANS ARE VULNERABLE OUTSIDE OF VEHICLES, RESPONSIBILITY IS SHARED , SAFETY IS PROACTIVE, AND THAT REDUNDANCY IS CRUCIAL. IT IS NOT ANY ONE PARTICULAR THING THAT IS GOING TO IMPROVE SAFETY, BUT THE COLLECTION OF MANY ACTIONS THAT WILL IMPROVE SAFETY IN THE CITY.

WE HAVE USED THIS AS OUR GUIDE POST AND OUR NORTH STAR IN DEVELOPING THIS PLAN, AS WELL. IN SIMPLE TERMS , TRAFFIC CRASHES ARE A PERSISTENT TREND IN FORT PIERCE . WE LOOKED AT DATA OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS. ON AVERAGE, THERE ARE SIX CRASHES PER DAY THAT HAVE HAPPENED OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS. THAT IS A BOT. ON TOP OF THAT, THERE IS AN AVERAGE OF 3.6 SERIOUS AND FATAL CRASHES EVERY MONTH OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS. THAT IS A LOT OF IMPACT ON FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, LOVED ONES. SO THE FOCUS OF THIS PLAN IS ON ADDRESSING THE MOST SERIOUS AND SEVERE CRASHES IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE OF THEIR PERSONAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS.

THE PREVIOUS SLIDE THAT I MENTIONED, THERE IS AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT CRASHES ARE GOING TO OCCUR. WE MAKE MISTAKES. WE ARE HUMAN. WE CAN MAKE A FOCUS ON PREVENTING THE MOST SEVERE CRASHES . THAT IS THE FOCUS OF THIS PLAN. SO LIKE MANY COMMUNITIES , THE GOAL IS TO HAVE NO SERIOUS INJURY OR FATAL CRASHES IN THE CITY IN THE LONG-TERM. THAT TAKES TIME.

THINGS THAT INFLUENCE TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ARE THE CULMINATION OF YEARS OF DECISIONS AND INVESTMENTS AND THE TYPE OF INFRASTRUCTURE WE HAVE TODAY. IT IS NOT REASONABLE TO THINK YOU CAN TURN ON A DIME AND SUDDENLY IT IS SAFER. WE HAVE DEVELOPED A SHORT-TERM GOAL, AS WELL. YOU WANTED TO HAVE A 10% REDUCTION IN SERIOUS AND FATAL CRASHES OVER THE FIVE-YEAR PERIOD. IT TAKES TIME AND ATTENTION AND INVESTMENT TO ACHIEVE THAT. WITH A 10% ANNUAL REDUCTION EVERY YEAR, THAT WOULD MEAN IN FIVE YEARS, YOU WOULD HAVE A 41% REDUCTION IN SERIOUS AND FATAL CRASHES. WE THINK THAT IS DOABLE WITH COMMITMENT AND ATTENTION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. THIS PLAN WAS DEVELOPED BOTH USING A DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH, ANALYZING BOTH THE TYPES OF CRASHES THAT ARE OCCURRING AND WHERE THEY ARE OCCURRING . ON THE BOTTOM IS A HEAT MAP SHOWING CLUSTERS OF WHERE CRASHES ARE OCCURRING IN THE CITY. IT ALSO INCLUDED PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY. THAT INCLUDED BOTH ONLINE INPUT USING A SURVEY WITH WRITTEN QUESTIONS AND A MAP WHERE PEOPLE PROVIDED INPUT , AS WELL AS NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS WHERE PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO COME AND TALK TO US IN PERSON AND SHARE THEIR INPUT ABOUT WHERE SAFETY IS A CONCERN FOR THEM.

THROUGH THAT PROCESS, WE DEVELOPED THESE SIX GOALS. I WILL JUST READ THEM QUICKLY, BECAUSE THESE ARE THE MAIN FOCUS IN HOW WE HAVE ORGANIZED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PLAN.

SAVE LIVES WITH SO LOWER VEHICLE SPEEDS , DESIGN SAFER STREETS, COORDINATE REGIONAL IMPLEMENTATION -- WHICH I WILL

[01:45:02]

NOTE IN A FEW SLIDES, CREATE A CULTURE OF SAFETY , LEADERSHIP, AND ACCOUNTABILITY -- AND WE ARE HAVING THAT WORK DONE BY THE CITY , PROTECTING THE MOST VULNERABLE USERS LIKE PEOPLE WALKING AND BIKING, AND FOSTERING A CULTURE OF SAFE TRAVEL. THIS IS BASED ON EDUCATION AND ACTIVITIES THAT THE CITY CAN DO. JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE PROCESS, WE STARTED IN THE FALL LAST YEAR WITH THE DATA ANALYSIS AND THE VISION , WORKING WITH THE CITY, PUBLIC MEETINGS TAKING PLACE IN DECEMBER. OVER THE BEGINNING OF THIS PART OF THIS YEAR, WE DEVELOPED RECOMMENDATIONS AND AN ACTION PLAN. NOW WE ARE AT THE FINAL PHASE, ADOPTION. THIS PRESENTATION IS TO SET THE STAGE FOR THAT TO TAKE PLACE. THERE ARE THREE MAIN AREAS OF FOCUS WITHIN THE PLAN. THERE ARE SPECIFIC PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED . THERE ARE ALSO POLICY CHANGES , THINGS THAT THE CITY CAN CHANGE TO DO DIFFERENTLY TO FOCUS ON SAFETY, AND THEN THERE ARE PROGRAMS. THOSE CAN BEING -- CAN BE TARGETED EDUCATION, CAMPAIGNS TO BRING AWARENESS TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF SAFE TRAVEL BEHAVIOR. YOU CAN DO THINGS THAT SCHOOLS LIKE EDUCATION ON HOW TO CROSS THE STREET OR RIGHT AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD SAFELY. ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE GRANT IS TO DEVELOP A HIGH INJURY NETWORK. THAT IS A TECHNICAL TERM TO SAY WHERE THE GREATEST NUMBER OF CRASHES OCCUR IN THE CITY AND HOW THE CITY CAN FOCUS ITS ATTENTION ON THE ROADWAYS THAT NEED THE MOST FOCUS. AND SO FROM BOTH THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND THE TECHNICAL WORK WE DID, WE IDENTIFIED THE HIGH INJURY NETWORK, WHICH ARE THE ROADS HIGHLIGHTED IN RED ON THIS MAP.

THEY ACCOUNT FOR JUST 13% OF THE TOTAL ROADWAY NETWORK IN THE CITY, BUT THEY ACCOUNT FOR 71% OF ALL THE CRASHES AND 84% OF ALL SERIOUS AND FATAL CRASHES IN THE CITY. BY NARROWING THE FOCUS ON THESE PARTICULAR ROADWAYS, IT CAN HELP THE CITY BE EFFICIENT AND PRIORITIZE INVESTMENTS IN OTHER ACTIVITIES LIKE ENFORCEMENT TO IMPROVE SAFETY OUTCOMES. FURTHER, FROM THAT HIGH INJURY NETWORK, WE HAVE DEVELOPED A SET OF 20 PROJECTS , TAKING THE WHOLE NETWORK AND BREAKING IT INTO SMALLER BITE-SIZE CHUNKS THAT CAN BE FOCUSED ON OVERTIME. I MENTIONED REGIONAL COORDINATION IS ONE OF THE GOALS. THE CITY CANNOT ACCOMPLISH THE IMPROVEMENT AND SAFETY ALONE. THIS CHART HIGHLIGHTS THAT. FDOT OWNS ABOUT 10% OF THE ROADWAY NETWORK IN THE CITY. ALMOST 50% OF THE SERIOUS AND FATAL CRASHES IN THE CITY OCCUR ON FDOT ROADS. WE SEE THIS IN MANY COMMUNITIES, AS WELL. FORT PIERCE ISN'T UNIQUE. THE MOST SEVERE CRASHES OCCUR ON MAJOR ROADWAYS. MOST OF THE MAJOR ROADWAYS IN FORT PIERCE ARE OWNED BY FDOT. IT IS A COMMON THING THAT WE SEE. IT IS NOT UNIQUE TO FORT PIERCE. IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS, IT REQUIRES WORKING WITH FDOT AND ST. LUCIE COUNTY IN ORDER TO MAKE INVESTMENTS AND CHANGES TO IMPROVE SAFETY OUTCOMES. AS PART OF THE PLAN, WE DEVELOPED THESE PROJECT SHEETS THAT PROVIDE A SUMMARY, DETAILS ABOUT THE CRASHES THREE, WHO OWNS IT , WHAT THE CONTEXT OF THE ROADWAY IS, AND WHAT SOME OF THE KEY RECOMMENDATIONS ARE. THIS IS KIND OF LIKE A ONE-PAGE CHEAT SHEET TO EITHER START PROJECT DEVELOPMENT ON CITY-OWNED ROADWAYS OR TO BEGIN COORDINATION AND PROJECT DEVELOPMENT , IDENTIFYING RESOURCES TO MAKE INVESTMENTS ON FDOT OR COUNTY ROADS. LIKE I MENTIONED, THIS IS GOING TO TAKE

[01:50:04]

SUSTAINED WORK TO IMPROVE SAFETY. IT IS ALSO GOING TO REQUIRE THAT THE PLAN GET ADOPTED. THERE IS SOME IMMEDIATE ACTION . IT IS GOING TO TAKE RECURRING INVESTMENT YEAR-OVER-YEAR. WE HAVE OUTLINED A FIRST-YEAR STRATEGY FOR THE CITY TO GUIDE THOSE INITIAL EFFORTS TO MAKE PROGRESS AND START TO EMBED THE SAFETY WORK INTO HOW THE CITY OPERATES ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE IDENTIFIED IS CREATING A VISION ZERO TASK FORCE. THIS WORK ALSO INCLUDED A STEERING COMMITTEE WITH FOLKS FROM FDOT AND THE COUNTY . EVERYONE WAS ON BOARD WITH FORMING THIS. THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT NAVY HAVING THE TPO -- MAYBE HAVING THE TPO COORDINATE THIS. WE WANT IT COORDINATION TO FOCUS ON SAFETY. THERE ARE ALSO SEVERAL GRANT PROGRAMS AT THE STATE AS WELL AS THROUGH SAFE STREETS AND ROADS FOR ALL. NEXT YEAR IS THE LAST FISCAL YEAR FOR THIS PROGRAM THAT IS FUNDED CURRENTLY. BY ADOPTING THIS PLAN , YOU ARE NOW ELIGIBLE FOR THE LARGER POTS OF MONEY WITHIN THE PROGRAM. THAT IS ONE STEP IN THE PROCESS. AND THEN FOCUSING ON TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS, HAVING AN ANNUAL SAFETY REPORT WITH TRANSPARENCY IN REPORTING GOALS . BY PUBLISHING THE TRENDS ANNUALLY, WE CAN SEE IF OUR INVESTMENTS ARE WORKING. ARE WE MAKING PROGRESS? DO WE NEED TO FOCUS ON DIFFERENT AREAS ? IT HELPS EVERYONE UNDERSTAND WHAT IS BEING DONE. LASTLY, WE IDENTIFIED A SAFETY AWARD EVENT. THIS WILL BE SOMETHING SIMPLY WHERE IT IS DONE HERE. THE IDEA IS TO IDENTIFY THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY ARE HELPING TO MAKE MEANINGFUL PROGRESS AND BECOME CHAMPIONS OF THIS WORK, AS WELL. LASTLY, I WILL SAY WE HAVE HAD THE PROJECT DRAFT PLAN UP ON THE PROJECT WEBSITE OVER THE PAST LITTLE OVER A MONTH NOW. WE WILL TAKE ANY FINAL FEEDBACK WE HAVE COLLECTED FROM THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS ANY FEEDBACK WE GET FROM YOU TODAY; FINALIZE THE PLAN ; AND BRING IT BACK TO YOU FOR FORMAL ADOPTION LATER IN THE SUMMER. WITH THAT, THANK YOU. I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

>> WHERE ARE THOSE 20 PROJECTS? >> I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT IN ADDITION TO THE PRESENTATION THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE ITEM, THE ACTUAL DRAFT REPORT WAS ATTACHED. THOSE PROJECTS ARE

LISTED IN THERE. >> THOSE PROJECTS ARE IN THERE? OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YES, COMMISSIONER GAINES?

>> THANK YOU FOR THIS REPORT. SINCE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SAFETY ON ROADWAYS AND CRASHES , PLEASE THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU ARE PUTTING THINGS TOGETHER, RIGHT NOW ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M SEEING THAT I AM WORRIED ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY ON ROADWAYS IS THESE MOTOR SCOOTERS, THESE LITTLE MOTORBIKES, AND I WILL TELL HIM MYSELF, I GREW UP RIDING DIRT BIKES. THEY WERE KAWASAKI DIRTBIKES THAT WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE ROADS. OKAY. YOU SEE SOME OF THEM, BUT THESE ARE THESE LITTLE MINI BIKES. I LITERALLY SAW ONE THIS MORNING GOING DOWN VIRGINIA WITH TWO PEOPLE ON THE BACK , JUST DRIVING LIKE IT IS REGULAR TRAFFIC. THEY ARE SO SMALL THAT YOU REALLY CAN'T SEE THEM. I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT TO LOOK AT THAT IN YOUR PROJECT. YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT PREVENTING ACCIDENTS. I THINK ONE OF THESE ACCIDENTS THAT WERE PROBABLY LISTED WAS EARLY THIS YEAR OR LATE LAST YEAR THAT INVOLVED A COUNTY TRUCK AND ONE OF THE MANY BIKES. I DON'T KNOW HOW IT HAPPENED. THAT IS JUST WHAT I AM SEEING AROUND TOWN NOW. IF WE GO OUT RIGHT NOW, I GUARANTEE WE WILL SEE SIX OR SEVEN UP AND DOWN THE STREET. I WANTED TO PUT IT OUT THERE, ESPECIALLY IF WE

[01:55:01]

ARE TRYING TO GET THE NUMBER DOWN, AS YOU SPEAK. THAT IS WHAT

I SEE. THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> CAN I SHARE ONE QUICK THING? PART OF THE DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH , OVER 90% OF THE CRASHES ARE PEOPLE DRIVING AND RUNNING INTO OTHER PEOPLE DRIVING. PART OF THE FOCUS IS ON FOLLOWING THE DATA AND FOCUSING ON IMPROVING HOW PEOPLE ARE DRIVING AND THE SAFETY OF THOSE DRIVING. THAT BEING SAID, I LIVE IN JUPITER. WE JUST HAD A BOY IN MIDDLE SCHOOL WHO WAS HIT AND KILLED , NOT RIDING A BIKE IN A CORRECT WAY. IT IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM, AS PLACES IN FLORIDA IN PARTICULAR ARE EXPERIENCING. WE ARE LOOKING FOR GRANT OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR OTHERS TO DO OUTREACH AND EDUCATION. WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH THE STATE LEGISLATURE, AS WELL. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE A CHALLENGE WITH E-BIKES AND E-SCOOTERS ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE REGULATED AT THE STATE LEVEL, AS WELL. I WANTED TO SAY THAT, AS WELL. IT IS NOT A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL KIND OF THING.

>> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON?

>> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. ONE THING THAT SHOULD BE AT THE DISCUSSION IS THE TPO. A NUMBER OF THINGS WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING EVEN AS OF LAST WEEK WAS THE PRIORITIZATION OF SOME OF THE LONG-RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLANS AND SOME OF OUR OTHER PLANS. MS. GRIFFETT KNOWS SOME OF THE CITY STREETS WE ARE LOOKING AT FOR COMMON EFFECTS. WE HAD AN INCIDENT ON 29TH STREET WHERE A PERSON TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED RAN INTO A SCHOOL. HE WAS HIGH SPEED AND HE WAS INTOXICATED. I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THAT. WE STARTED THIS CONVERSATION TWO YEARS AGO TO TRY TO GET THIS ROAD ADDRESSED. I WANT TO SEE THAT ACCELERATED. I WANT TO GO WITH THE DATA. CAN YOU EXTRAPOLATE ANYTHING FROM THE DATA IT HELPS ME UNDERSTAND THE NUMBER OF CRASHES THAT ARE HERE IN OUR CITY? IS IT AGE? IS IT DEMOGRAPHIC? IS IT SOCIAL ECONOMIC? SOMETHING IS HAPPENING IN FORT PIERCE FOR US TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF TRAJECTORY. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THAT IS RELATIVE TO OTHER AREAS IN THE STATE OF

FLORIDA. >> FORT PIERCE IS ACTUALLY NORMAL WITH A LOT OF THESE TRENDS. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT, AS WELL. FLORIDA IS ALSO ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS STATES TO TRAVEL IN THE COUNTRY, PARTICULARLY FOR WALKING AND BIKING. A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH HOW OUR ROADS ARE DESIGNED , PARTICULARLY MAJOR ROADS THAT ARE MULTIPLE LANES MEANT FOR VEHICLES TO GO FAST. FOR EXAMPLE , YOUR PROBABILITY OF BEING HIT AND KILLED WHEN A VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT 25 MILES PER HOUR OR LESS IS LIKE 25%. WHEN A VEHICLE IS TRAVELING 45 MILES PER HOUR, YOUR CHANCE OF BEING KILLED BY BEING HIT BY THE VEHICLE IS OVER 75%. JUST THE INHERENT NATURE -- 45 MILES PER HOUR . IF EVERYONE IS GOING THE SPEED LIMIT, THE MAJOR ROADS ARE INHERENTLY DANGEROUS BY THE NATURE OF THE SPEED THAT VEHICLES ARE TRAVELING. THAT IS WHERE A LOT OF THE ATTENTION AND FOCUS IS ON THE MAJOR ROADS.

THAT IS WHERE THE MOST SEVERE AND FATAL CRASHES ARE CLUSTERED.

IN TERMS OF FOCUS AND PRIORITY, THAT IS WHERE IT IS. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS EXPERIENCED IN ANY COMMUNITY HERE IN FLORIDA

AND IN OTHER PLACES. >> THE CONCERN IS THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS GROWING. WE ARE AN BOULDER CITY. WE WILL SOON BE DEALING WITH CONGESTION , MOVING A LOT OF PEOPLE. WE HAVE MAJOR ROADS THAT HELP PEOPLE MOVE NORTH AND SOUTH. THEY ARE ON CORRIDORS THAT ARE BUILT FOR SPEED. WE ARE NOT ACCUSTOMED TO THIS MANY PEOPLE. THAT IS MY CONCERN. HOW DO WE ADJUST AND BE COGNIZANT OF THAT ? I WAS HOPING TO GAIN SOMETHING. I MAY LOOK AT THE DATA A LITTLE BIT FURTHER. WE HAVE TO TRY TO HELP EDUCATE

[02:00:07]

OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS. I HAVE A THEORY THAT SOME OF THESE CARS THAT WE PUT ON OUR ROADWAYS RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE ARE MAXING THESE CARS OUT AND PUSHING THEM . THEY AREN'T BUILT FOR THESE TYPES OF STREETS AND THINGS. THESE PEOPLE WITH THESE CHARGERS ARE RUNNING THROUGH THE STREETS AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. IT IS CREATED FOR 45 MILES PER HOUR. I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE GO, BUT IT IS ALARMING , BECAUSE I SEE IT EACH AND EVERY DAY. I SEE PEOPLE MOVING THROUGH OUR NARROW STREETS AT 45 MILES PER HOUR. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO. IT WILL TAKE A LOT OF US. WE HAVE TO GET OUR STATE AGENCIES INVOLVED, OUR STATE LEGISLATURE'S. WHAT WE HAVE CITY STREETS. WE WILL DO THE BEST WE CAN. THE STATE AND THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING

TO HAVE TO HELP US WITH THIS. >> IF I MAY MAKE A COMMENT TO LET YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, BOTH THE TPO AND FDOT WERE INVOLVED IN THIS ENTIRE PROCESS.

>> VERY WELL. THANK YOU. >> THEY ARE WELL AWARE. THEY ARE COMMITTED TO HELPING US. WE CAN START TO SEE . SOME OF IT WILL DEPEND ON US AND OUR COOPERATION WITH THOSE AGENCIES. SOME OF IT WILL DEPEND ON THEIR AVAILABILITY TO DO WHAT THEY CAN. WE CAN STAND IN A POSITION WHERE WE INITIATE SOME OF THOSE

CONVERSATIONS. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. YES, YOU

HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL. >> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS AN ADJUNCT TO THIS IS THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR FUNDING FOR OUR TRAFFIC SIGNALS TO BE COORDINATED WITH EMERGENCY

VEHICLES. >> I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING

ABOUT. >> I DON'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF IT. I THINK IT HAS BEEN DONE IN PORT ST. LUCIE OR HAS BEEN DONE IN THE COUNTY. THEY ARE TRYING TO FIND THE FUNDING IN PORT ST.

LUCIE AND WE ARE TRYING TO FIND THE FUNDING. THAT HELPS ON THE BACKEND WHEN THERE IS A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT SO OUR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS CAN GET THERE QUICKER AND MORE SAFELY SO IT IS SAFER FOR EVERYBODY. I WANTED TO POINT OUT , AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU POINTED OUT , MANY OF THOSE STREETS HAVE MANY LANES.

VIRGINIA AVENUE AND US-1 AND OKEECHOBEE ROAD , ALL OF THOSE ARE STREETS WHERE THERE ARE A LOT OF VEHICLES AND THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, THEY THINK , TO GO TO SPEED. SORT OF LIKE OUR BRIDGE TO SOUTH BEACH IS A FOUR LANE BRIDGE. THAT IS WHEN EVERYBODY SPEEDS UP, RIGHT? THEN THEY SLOW DOWN WHEN YOU GET TO THE TWO LANES. IT IS A FUNCTION OF , IN MY OPINION, DRIVING TOO FAST AND DRIVING DISTRACTED. PEOPLE ARE TEXTING OR LOOKING AT THE PHONE WHILE THEY ARE DRIVING. ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE COMMISSIONERS? COMMISSIONER TAYLOR?

>> I APPRECIATE ALL THE DATA IN HERE. IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE THIS STUFF QUANTIFIED INTO WHERE THESE CRASHES ARE HAPPENING. I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE IT GOT SUPER SPECIFIC ON RECOMMENDATIONS. I KNOW IT SAYS WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT POLICIES.

THERE IS NOT REALLY ANYTHING SPECIFIC AS FAR AS WHAT POLICIES WE SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTING. I SAW THE PROJECTS IDENTIFIED, BUT NOTHING SPECIFIC AS TO WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN WITH THOSE

PROJECTS. >> SORRY. THE PROJECTS ARE IN THE APPENDIX, WHICH HASN'T BEEN POSTED. ALL OF THE PROJECTS WILL HAVE THIS INFORMATION. EACH PROJECT NEEDS TO BE EVALUATED IN MORE DETAIL. WE ARE KIND OF AT THE 30,000 FEET LEVEL OF IDENTIFYING NEEDS ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY. WE DIDN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO ZERO WHEN ON HOW 20% OF THE CRASHES ARE RIGHT TURN CRASHES AT THIS INTERSECTION ON US-1. BUT WE DID WITH THIS SHEET IS, BASED ON THE CONTEXT OF THE CRASH TYPES THAT ARE OCCURRING AT EACH OF THE PROJECTS, U.S. D.O.T. HAS A COUNTERMEASURES TOOL WHERE YOU CAN PUT IN THE ROADWAY CONTEXT , THE TYPES OF

[02:05:06]

CRASHES THAT ARE OCCURRING, AND IT WILL GIVE YOU DATA-DRIVEN, SUPPORTED RECOMMENDATIONS ON CHANGES YOU CAN MAKE. THOSE ARE LISTED HERE AS A STARTING POINT. THAT IS WHEN THE CITY IS COORDINATING WITH FDOT OR THE COUNTY OR WHEN YOU ARE SCOPING THE SPECIFIC SCOPES FOR PROJECTS. THIS IS A STARTING POINT TO IDENTIFY THE TYPES OF SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS THAT CAN

TAKE PLACE ON THE ROADWAYS. >> THIS SHEET THAT YOU HAVE HERE

WILL BE IN THE FINAL REPORT? >> CRACKS.

>> I DID NOT SEE THAT IN THERE. THAT IS WHY I ASKED.

>> GOOD. WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP? THE NEXT STEP IS YOU COME BACK AND WE ADOPT A REPORT? THEN WE APPLY FOR A SECOND GRANT?

>> I WAS GOING TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE. A NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY WENT OUT IN MARCH. THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR A GRANT WITH A DEADLINE OF JUNE 26. I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET IT ON THE AGENDA. THE QUESTION IS, I CANNOT APPLY BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE A FINAL SAFETY ACTION PLAN. I CANNOT APPLY FOR AN IMPLEMENTATION GRANT. BUT WHAT WE WERE HOPING TO DO WAS APPLY FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL , EITHER A SUPPLEMENTAL STUDY OR FOR A PLANNING AND DEMONSTRATION GRANT. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OPTIONS THAT HAVE COME UP AND WAYS THAT WE CAN LOOK INTO BUILDING UPON THIS COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY ACTION PLAN AND IMPROVE OUR INFORMATION TO HELP DRIVE THE PROJECTS THAT WE WANT TO PURSUE. THERE MAY BE SOME THAT ARE MORE CITY SPECIFIC , SO WE ARE NOT WAITING ON FDOT OR THE COUNTY. WE ARE ABLE TO DO SOME THINGS ON OUR OWN. FOR EXAMPLE, ON 29TH STREET , THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY TO DO THAT NEXT YEAR WITH THE NEXT FUNDING OPPORTUNITY. IF WE ARE ABLE TO DO SOME WORK NOW ON THIS NEXT FUNDING OPPORTUNITY AND GET AN APPLICATION IN, IF WE CAN GET SOME FUNDING FROM THAT, WE CAN INCREASE THE INFORMATION WE HAVE TWO ATTACHED TO OUR COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY ACTION PLAN. THAT IS OUR DESIRE.

>> SOUNDS LIKE IT IS A GOOD PLAN. GO FROM DESIRE TO DOING

IT, RIGHT? >> THAT IS KIND OF THE WHOLE

POINT. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO US. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO READING THE 20

[9. Consent Agenda]

PROJECTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU.

>> OKAY, WE WILL MOVE ON. >> OKAY, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE

AGENDA IS THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> ALL RIGHT.

>> MOTION . >> SECOND.

[A. Resolution 25-R45 - Approving SUN Trail Agreement - Highwayman Trail Gap FDOT 440034-2-54-01 to be executed by the City for the construction of the SUN Trail from Indian Hills Drive to Georgia Avenue. ]

>> THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.

>> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK? >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER GAINES? >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON? >> YES, MA'AM.

>> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR? >> YES, MA'AM.

>> MAYOR HUDSON? >> YES, MA'AM.

>> OKAY. NEXT, WE HAVE RESOLUTION 25-R45, A RESOLUTION OF THE APPROVAL OF SUN TRAIL AGREEMENT FROM INDIAN HILLS DRIVE TO GEORGIA AVENUE, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, CITY CLERK, AND CITY ATTORNEY TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AND PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ? IF NOT, IS THERE EMOTION? -- A

[B. Resolution 25-R46 approving SUN Trail Agreement - Historic Downtown Retrofit FDOT 440033-3 to be executed by the City for the design of the SUN Trail from Georgia Avenue to A1A/N Causeway Drive. ]

MOTION? >> MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE FOR

APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 25-R45. >> SECOND.

>> THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.

>> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK? >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER GAINES? >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON? >> YES, MA'AM.

>> COMMISSIONER TAYLOR? >> YES, MA'AM.

>> MAYOR HUDSON? >> YES, MA'AM.

>> NEXT, WE HAVE RESOLUTION 25-R46, A RESOLUTION TO ENTER INTO A GRANT AGREEMENT FOR THE DESIGN OF THE RECOMMENDED ALTERNATIVE SHARED USE PATHS ALONG THE SUN TRAIL NETWORK FROM GEORGIA AVENUE TO A1A, NORTH CAUSEWAY DRIVE FOR THE HISTORIC DOWNTOWN RETROFIT FINAL FEASIBILITY STUDY AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY TO EXECUTE ON

[02:10:01]

BEHALF OF THE CITY. >> IS THERE ANY QUESTION OR

EMOTION? >> MOTION.