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[00:00:15]

>> 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. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

>> CALL THE ROLL. >> THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE FORT PIERCE.

>> APPROVAL. >> SECOND.

>> CALL THE ROLL. NEXT, APPROVAL OF THE JUNE 10, 2025 FPRA

MEETING . >> MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

>> SECOND. >> CALLED THE ROLL.

[5. ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO AGENDA AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

>> DELETIONS TO APPROVALS OR CHANGES TO THE AGENDA. IS THERE MOTION FOR APPROVAL OR CHANGES?

>> MOTION FOR APPROVAL. >> SECOND.

>> CALLED THE ROLL. >>

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

>> NEST, COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC?

>> WE HAVE NO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE

[7. CONSENT AGENDA]

COMMISSION. >> NEXT IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THE COMMISSIONER OR PUBLIC WOULD

LIKE TO PULL? >> D, F AND H.

>> I WANT TO PULL G. >> ALL RIGHT. WHAT DOES THAT EVEN LEAVE? A, B, C, SOMEBODY WANT TO MAKE A MOTION FOR THOSE?

>> MOTION. >> SECOND.

>> CALLED THE ROLL. >>

>> COMMISSIONER GAINES, IT IS NOT OVERLY COMPLICATED.

>> MA'AM, JUST TO BE CLEAR, ITEM 7B WAS PULLED EARLIER. YOU

[E. Approve recommendation from the Arts and Culture Advisory Board to issue a call for artists, evaluate submissions, and recommend an artist to the city commission for this public art installation of a mural on the FPRA owned Highwaymen Museum building. ]

[F. Approve CRA Advisory Committee recommendation to authorize staff to facilitate a community-driven selection process, allowing residents and visitors of Fort Pierce to vote on their favorite mural design among the three finalists for the Sunrise Theatre Mural Design.]

[H. Accept CRA Advisory Committee's recommendation for Selection of Artists and Properties for FY25 FPRA Mural Program as follows: Jesse Jentzen for 130 N. 2nd Street (Sailfish) and Hannah Lorra for 610 Atlantic Avenue (Project Lift), in accordance with the new FPRA Mural Program structure adopted by the FPRA Board.]

NAMED IT OFF. THE NEXT ITEM IS THE APPROVED RECOMMENDATION FROM THE ARTS AND CULTURAL ADVISORY BOARD TO ISSUE A CALL FOR ARTIST TO RECOMMEND AN ARTIST FOR THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE PUBLIC ART INSTALLATION OF THE FPRA OWNED HIGHWAYMEN MUSEUM

BUILDING. >> THEY ARE SIMILAR IN NATURE.

WHY DO WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT CITY AGENCIES OR BOARDS HANDLING THE DIRECTIN ON EACH ONE OF THESE? WHY ISN'T THIS BEING HOUSED UNDER ONE PARTICULAR COMMITTEE BOARD? WHICHEVER ONE IT MIGHT BE? WE ARE DISPERSING THESE THINGS TO THE ARTS, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, CRA. CRA. ARE RIGHT. EVERYONE ELSE WANTS TO PUT IT OUT FOR PUBLIC, WHICH IS FINE WITH ME, TOO. I'M JUST SUGGESTING, IT SHOULD BE STREAMLINED TO FOLKS ON ONE COMMITTEE. NOW I HAVE ZERO TASTE IN ART. I THINK FOLKS ON THE ART ADVISORY COMMITTEE ARE PROBABLY OUR BEST QUALIFIED TO SELECT ARTISTS AND THE DESIGNS THAT WOULD BE PUT UP ON THE BUILDINGS. MAYBE IT IS A CRA FUNCTION TO SELECT THE PARTICULAR BUILDINGS THESE WILL BE GOING ON. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A FAIRLY LENGTHY PROCESS TO SELECTING PROPERTIES. THAT IS THE ONLY REASON I AM BRINGING IT UP. IT NEEDS TO BE STREAMLINED.

>> I CAN'T ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, SIR. COMMISSIONER GAINES, HIS BLOOD PRESSURE IS GOING UP.

>> IT IS A VERY GOOD POINT, I CAN'T ANSWER IT. PERHAPS

INAUDIBLE ] CAN HELP US . >> HI.

>> HI. >> MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, SO, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, UM, THE ART AND PUBLIC PLACES FUN GOES WHATEVER FUNDS ARE BEING USED THROUGH THAT FUND, THEY'RE FUNNELED TO THAT BOARD. THE CRA ADVISORY COMMITTEE REVIEWS WHATEVER FUNDS WILL BE USED FROM THE FPRA. WE RECENTLY, I THINK A COUPLE MEETINGS AGO, WE CHANGED OUR MURAL REVIEW PROCESS. UM, WE HAD A RESOLUTION THAT CAME BEFORE YOU ABOUT OUR GUIDELINES AND HOW WE WOULD FOLLOW THAT FOR YOU.

PREVIOUSLY, STAFF WAS REVIEWING THEM AND WE REALLY WANTED TO TAKE IT TO A PUBLIC BOARD IN A PUBLIC FORM WITH THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND ALL THOSE THINGS. BUT YOU'RE RIGHT. AN ART AND CULTURE ADVISORY BOARD MAY BE BETTER SUITED. BUT THAT

[00:05:03]

IS WHY IT IS SET UP THE WAY IT IS. I THINK IT IS MORE THE FUNDING SOURCE IS HOW THEY ARE FUNDAL -- FUNNELED THROUGH THE

APPROVAL PROCESS. >> I AM JUST SUGGESTING THAT CAN DO BETTER TO STREAMLINE IT AND GET THE PROPER EXPERTS INVOLVED IN THESE DIFFERENT AREAS. WE CAN HAVE THE BOARD, STAFF ARE VERY TALENTED PEOPLE, I WOULD LIKE TO TAP INTO THAT CAPABILITY.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION. IF WE FALL INTO ONE OF THESE OUTSIDE BOARDS, DOES THE CRA LOSE ANY CONTROL OVER WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND FORT PIERCE? YOU SEE WHAT I AM SAYING? THAT IS WHERE I AM COMING FROM. THEY PICK THE ARTIST AND ARE WE JUST GOING TO RUBBERSTAMP IT ? I KNOW Y'ALL

ARE NOT CAN I DO THAT. >> THAT IS A GOOD POINT. THE CRA ADVISORY COMMITTEE, MADAM CHAIR, I AM SORRY, THE CRA ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS AN ADVISORY BOARD TO YOU ALL. IF IT IS YOUR PROJECT, WHICH IS A MURAL PROGRAM AND YOU ARE FUNDING, THEY ARE ADVISING YOU, THAT IS ANOTHER REASON THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE. MAYBE THERE IS ANOTHER LEVEL. I HATE TO DRAG THESE THINGS EVEN MORE BUT MAYBE THEY WANT TO WEIGH IN IN SOME WAY, IF

THAT IS YOUR -- >> MAYBE, THIS DOESN'T REALLY STREAMLINED IT BUT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS, IF THE CRA SAYS THERE SHOULD BE A MURAL AND WE ARE GOING TO PAY FOR IT, BUT WE ARE GOING TO SEND IT TO THE ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE, THAT IS ANOTHER STEP? THAT IS ANOTHER STEP, BUT THAT STREAMS, THAT FUNNELS IT ALL THROUGH THE ARTS AND CULTURE.

>> I TEND TO AGREE WITH THAT . I KNOW IT IS NOT SHRINKING DOWN THE TIMELINE, BUT I THINK IT IS GETTING INTO THE RIGHT HANDS. A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE CRA ADVISORY BOARD, I KNOW, THEY MAY NOT BE THE BEST QUALIFIED TO BE JUDGING . I'M NOT TRYING TO OFFEND ANYONE, I AM JUST SUGGESTING.

>> THE ARTS AND CULTURE BOARD HAS TURNED INTO A VERY ACTIVE BOARD NOW. WE WANT THEM TO HAVE MEANINGFUL INPUT .

>> THAT IS WHERE I AM GOING WITH THAT.

>> YEAH. YEAH. MAYBE THAT IS SOMETHING WE COULD DO IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE THE CRA CAN SUGGEST A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT BEAUTIFICATION, PROBABLY, BUT MAYBE THEY AREN'T THE FINAL SAY SO, MAYBE IT NEEDS TO GO TO SOME OTHER COMMITTEE. YEAH.

THEREFORE, CRA IMPROVING THE ECONOMIC CLIMATE, RIGHT , OVERALL? YEAH. SO, WE ARE GOOD? WE ARE GOOD? SO, DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION FOR THESE AND DO YOU WANT , CAN HE DO ALL THREE AT ONE TIME? MS. HEDGES, DOES HE NEED TO DO ONE AT A TIME? IT

WOULD BE E, F AND H, I THINK. >> MADAM MAYOR, AS LONG AS WE ANNOUNCE ALL THREE, I THINK THE CLERK WILL GET DOWN PROPERLY

WHICH ONES ARE BEING APPROVED. >> I MAKE APPROVAL MOTION FOR E,

F AND H. >> IS THERE A SECOND?

>> SECOND. >> CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.

>>

[G. Approval of an Interlocal Agreement between the Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency and the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council for the development of the Lincoln Park Master Plan in the amount of $152,500.00]

THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE FORT PIERCE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND THE PLANNING COUNCIL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LINCOLN PART MASTER PLAN IN THE AMOUNT OF $152,500.

>> MADAM CHAIR, YES, I PULLED THIS. SIMPLY, I WANTED TO SHED LIGHT ON THIS BECAUSE THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT PROBABLY STARTED INITIATED IN A CONVERSATION ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF, MAYBE TWO YEARS AGO WHEN I HAD A STAFF MEETING. ONE OF THE MISSIONS IN THE SUGGESTIONS WAS THAT LINCOLN PART NEVER REALLY HAD A MASTER PLAN. I SEE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM TREASURE COAST LEAGUE HERE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND MAKING THE DRIVE. BUT I THINK THAT MY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC STARTS TO BE AWARE OF WHAT THIS IS BECAUSE THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS , BUSINESSES, LANDHOLDERS , UM, INVESTORS THAT MAY BE THINKING OF INVESTING IN LINCOLN PARK AND BRINGING BUSINESSES THERE TO REALLY COME FORTH AND PARTICIPATE IN WHAT WILL BE INPUT OPPORTUNITIES, OPPORTUNITIES TO BE HEARD , UM, OPPORTUNITIES TO WEIGH IN ON WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE LINCOLN PARK BECOME. AND SO I REALLY JUST PULLED THIS TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AND BEGIN THE CONVERSATION WITH THE PUBLIC TONIGHT AND HAVE THEM UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS WHEN THE ACTUAL TOWN HALLS, THE MEETINGS, TAKE PLACE. I WILL CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE AND WORK WITH THAT LEAGUE OF CITIES TO MAKE SURE WE NOT ONLY GET THE ANNOUNCEMENT OUT, BUT WE HAVE IT, OBVIOUSLY, IN THE COMMUNITY, WHERE THE RESIDENTS LIVE AND RESIDE SO THAT THEY FEEL AND CAN EASILY GET TO AND FROM AND PARTICIPATE IN THIS. I WANT TO SEE THE ROOM PACKED WITH ALL KINDS OF CONSTITUENTS FROM

[00:10:01]

LINCOLN PARK TO WEIGH IN ON THIS. SO I WANTED TO PULL THIS CONSENT EITHER BECAUSE IF WE WOULD NOT HAVE PULLED A, IT WOULD HAVE GONE JUST RIGHT BY. PEOPLE MAY NOT BE AWARE OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO TO GET A PLAN, A VISION, INPUT AND PARTICIPATION FROM ALL THE RESIDENTS IN THE LINCOLN PARK

AREA, SO -- >> YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT? STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

>> MADAM CHAIR, I AM JESSICA WILLIAMS. I WILL BE PRESENTING THE LINCOLN PARK MASTER PLAN . AS HE STATED, OUR PLAN A VISION FOR THE LINCOLN PARK AREA , BRING IT BACK, YOU KNOW, REVITALIZE THE AREA, UM, ATTRACT BUSINESSES, INVESTORS, HOUSING AND JUST BASICALLY GET MORE , UM, COMMUNITY INPUT TO WHAT WE

WANT TO SEE IN THAT AREA. >> OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS

FROM STAFF? >> I WILL MAKE ONE COMMENT. I WANT TO GO ON COMMISSIONER JOHNSON'S COMMENT. THIS IS A REMARKABLY GREAT TOOL WE COULD USE IN THE REDEVELOPMENT OF AN OLDER EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD. I WILL BE VERY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THE RESULTS ARE. THIS TIES IN SIGNIFICANTLY WITH DIRECTOR OF PLANNING'S VISION OF COMING UP WITH PROPER HOUSING STOCK, PROPER DESIGN, ET CETERA. UM, THE DOWNSIZED LOT STRUCTURE WE IMPLEMENTED TO ENCOURAGE NEW CONSTRUCTION, ET CETERA, ALL COMES INTO PLAY HERE. THIS WILL THEN BE THE DRIVING FORCE TO COME UP WITH A GRAND SCHEME , BASED ON WHAT THE RESIDENTS WANT. THAT, TO ME, IS THE AIM HERE. I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THE RESULTS ARE. AND ACTUALLY OBSERVE THE PROCESS.

>> A GOOD FPRA PROJECT, ABSOLUTELY. PERFECT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF STAFF? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU WANT TO MAKE A

MOTION? >> THAT'S IT. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IT. SHE IS ALL PREPARED TO DO SOMETHING. I HAD

NO IDEA. THAT IS IT. >> SHOW AND TELL? DO YOU HAVE A

SHOW AND TELL? >> NO.

>> HE COVERED EVERYTHING. >> WITH THAT, MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE ON APPROVAL OF CONSENT ITEM J.

>> SECOND. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>>

[A. Interim 6-Month Update on 5th Tesla Freebee Vehicle Performance]

>> UNDER NEW BUSINESS, IN TERMS SIX MONTH UPDATE ON THE TESLA

FREEBEE PERFORMANCE. >> DO YOU HAVE A LEAD-IN FOR

THIS? >> I DO NOT.

>> MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, WE ARE HERE, AS YOU REQUESTED, I THINK, SIX MONTHS AGO, MIGHT'VE BEEN SEVEN MONTHS AGO, FOR AN INTERIM UPDATE BASED ON THE EXPANSION WE DID FOR THE FIFTH TESLA VEHICLE OF THE SEASON. YOU REQUESTED THAT FREEBEE COME BACK TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF THE WAIT TIMES, RIDERSHIP AND WHERE WE GO FROM HERE. WE HAVE MR. JOHN FROM FREEBEE HERE. I WILL PULL UP HIS PRESENTATION FOR HIM SO HE CAN

TAKE IT AWAY. >> MADAM CHAIR, WHY SHE DOING THAT, I CAN LET YOU KNOW, I CAN MAKE THIS PRESENTATION FOR HIM, FREEBEE IS EVERYWHERE. EVERY DAY, EVERYWHERE, TREATED FOR ¿

FREEBEE IS WORKING. >> THEY ARE VERY VISIBLE. YEAH.

SO, YOUR MR. JOHN? IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YES. >> JOHN JANUSZ, VICE PRESIDENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR FREEBEE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. YES, THIS IS REALLY EXCITING. UM, I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF LITERATURE BEFORE I GET TO THE DATA BUT IT IS REALLY GOOD NEWS AND WE ARE REALLY EXCITED AND, UM, VERY HONORED TO BE SERVING THE FORT PIERCE AREA. SO, WE WILL BEGIN WHICH IS THE PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, JUST TO RECAP WHAT WE ARE ALREADY FAMILIAR WITH. WE BROKE IT DOWN INTO FIVE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, MAKING IT AS EASY

[00:15:04]

AS POSSIBLE, ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO MOVE AROUND THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE AMAZING BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN HERE MANY YEARS AND THE NEW ONES THAT ARE OPENING AND ENCOURAGING NEW ONES TO OPEN IN THE FUTURE. WORKFORCE ACCESS AND MOBILITY, UM, REALLY IMPORTANT. I JUST HAD A REALLY AMAZING GREEK SALAD AT LORENZO'S ACROSS THE STREET. I HAVE MY JACKET WHEN I WALKED IN, TWO MY COLLEAGUES ARE HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY. THAT IS MUSIC TO MY EARS. THAT GIVES US A JOB TO DO. YOU HAVE STREET PARKING, PARKING GARAGES, BUT IT CAN GET PRETTY CROWDED HERE. IT IS REALLY HARD FOR SOMEONE TO PARK SOMEWHERE, GET UP AND DRIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE. NOW THEY CAN JUST PARK ONCE, WHETHER IT BE A GARAGE OR SOMEWHERE ON THE STREET AND THEN FREEBEE CAN TAKE THEM, IF THEY WANT TO HAVE A COCKTAIL BEFORE DINNER OR DO SOME SHOPPING AND THEN A SHOW OR WHATEVER, WE CAN MAKE THAT VERY SEAMLESS FOR THEM. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, THESE ARE ALL 100% ELECTRIC VEHICLES, SO THERE IS ZERO TAILPIPE EMISSIONS, WHICH IS GREAT. IT ALSO SAVES ON FUEL CHARGES. QUALITY OF LIFE IN EQUITY, WHETHER PEOPLE ARE RIDING FREEBEE OR NOT RIDING FREEBEE, THEY'RE STILL BENEFITING FROM THE IMPACT IT HAS ON THE COMMUNITY, GETTING PEOPLE WHERE THEY NEED TO GO, MAYBE IT IS A GROCERY STORE, WORK, SOME SORT OF ACTIVITY BUT REALLY, WHETHER THEY ARE IN THE CAR OR NOT IN THE CAR, IT REALLY REVERBERATES AND BUILDS A STRONGER SENSE OF COMMUNITY FOR FORT PIERCE.

>> A BRIEF HISTORY, THE PROGRAM INITIALLY LAUNCHED IN FEBRUARY 2023. FOUR VEHICLES, 40 HOURS A WEEK, JUST OPERATING THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. IT WAS SUCCESSFUL THE TIME, BUT IT IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE WHEN A SERVICE IS NOT SIX OR SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED THAT A FEW TIMES OVER OUR CAREER BUT IT WAS SUCCESSFUL. JULY 2024, WITH THE SUPPORT OF AN F.GRANT THAT COVERS 50% OF THE COST, THE SERVICE WAS EXPANDED TO SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 70 HOURS. WE WILL GET TO THE DATA IN A SECOND. IN JULY 2024, THINGS REALLY STARTED TO GROW EXPONENTIALLY. THIS EXPANSION INCLUDED THE ENTIRE DISTRICT, INCREASING ACCESS AND CONNECTIVITY, RIDES WERE REQUIRED TO BEGIN AND/OR END IN THE COMMERCIAL SECTION OF DOWNTOWN. BUILDING ON THE PROGRAM'S STRONG MOMENTUM AND RISING DEMAND JUST AHEAD OF HIGH SEASON, FIFTH VEHICLE WAS ADDED IN DECEMBER 2024. WE WILL LOOK AT THAT DATA, ALSO, IN A SECOND. THAT INCREASED CAPACITY AND MAINTAINED SERVICE QUALITY AT THE SAME TIME. THE IMPACT OF THE FIFTH VEHICLE HAS BEEN A GAME CHANGER FOR THE SERVICE. JUNE 2025, JUST THIS LAST MONTH, COMPARED TO NOVEMBER 2024, WHICH WAS THE LAST MONTH OF FOUR VEHICLES, THERE WAS A 40 PERSON INCREASE IN RIDERSHIP AND A 34 OR% INCREASE IN DEMAND.

RIDERSHIP INCREASED MORE THAN DEMAND BECAUSE, WITH MORE VEHICLES, IT ENABLES US TO BE MORE EFFICIENT WITH OUR ROUTES.

THAT WAY, WHEN SOMEONE REQUESTS A RIDE, CANCES ARE NOW GREATER THERE IS A VEHICLE CLOSER TO WHERE THEY ARE GOING. NEARLY 7000 RIDERS WERE SERVED IN JUNE, MARKING A RECORD HIGH, EVEN DURING THE TYPICALLY SLOWER NOT PEAK SEASON. THIS GROWTH IS SIGNIFICANT GIVEN THE FLEET ONLY EXPANDED 25%, HIGHLIGHTING THE STRONG DEMAND AND IMPROVED SERVICE EFFICIENCY. WE REALLY TAPPED INTO, YOU REALLY TAPPED INTO THE SLEEPING GIANT OF DEMAND FOR THIS AMAZING AREA OF PEOPLE WHO NEEDED MORE HELP GETTING WHERE THEY NEED TO GO. HERE IS SOME DATA, THIS IS THE KIND OF STUFF THAT GETS ME EXCITED. RIDERSHIP HAS GROWN 109% YEAR-OVER-YEAR, JUNE 2024 TO JUNE 2025 AND 500% SINCE JUNE 2023. THIS LEVEL OF SUSTAINED GROWTH UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY AND HIGHLIGHTS HOW IT IS BEING USED EQUITABLY ALONG ALL AGE GROUPS AND SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC SEGMENTS. WHERE THE AGE BREAKDOWN, AS WELL.

PRETTY EVENLY SPREAD, ONE THIRD OF RIDERS BETWEEN 21 AND 34 AND ALMOST 1/3 51 AND OVER AND ONE FOURTH THE RIDERS IN THE MIDDLE 35 TO 50 AND A FEW TEENAGERS USE THE SERVICE, AS WELL, JUST UNDER 8%. THE GRAPH AT THE BOTTOM REALLY SHOWS THE SPIKE. YOU CAN SEE IN JUNE AND JULY OF 2024, A KIND OF GROWS A FEW TIMES OVER.

AND THEN, WITH THE EXTRA CAR ADDED IN DECEMBER, YOU CAN SEE, AGAIN, THERE IS A NICE LITTLE SPIKE THERE THAT REALLY JUST CONTINUES TO GROW. UM, WE MIGHT NOT HAVE EVEN SEEN THE POTENTIAL OF THE FIFTH VEHICLE. ECONOMIC IMPACT, IT'S A HEAT MAP, THE RED, OBVIOUSLY, IS THE PLACES PEOPLE ARE GOING TO THE MOST.

RESTAURANTS, BARS, DOWNTOWN SHOPPING, COMMUTING TO WORK, GROCERY STORES, PARKING AND CONNECTING TO MASS TRANSIT.

THOSE ARE THE MAIN DESTINATIONS. AND THEN, MOVING FORWARD, FREEBEE FORT PIERCE STANDS OUT AS ONE OF THE PREMIER PROGRAMS IN FLORIDA. I TRAVEL TO A LOT OF STATEWIDE CONFERENCES, I WAS AT ONE LAST WEEK AND SOMEONE WAS ASKING ME ABOUT IT AND, UM,

[00:20:36]

WHILE I WAS SPEAKING, ONE OF THE PEOPLE FROM ST. LUCIE COUNTY WALKED BY. SHE SAID, WE LOVE FREEBEE IN OUR COUNTY AND WAS BEAMING ABOUT IT. THE PEOPLE I WAS SPEAKING TO SAID, THAT IS EXCITING, WE NEED TO GET YOU TO JACKSONVILLE ASAP. IT WAS KIND OF NICE, IT WAS KIND OF NICE. YEAH, WE PROVIDE ABOUT 50 SERVICES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. I CAN SAY THAT MICHAEL TRANSIT NATIONWIDE FROM 2019 TO NOW HAS GROWN FROM ABOUT 50 PROGRAMS TO ABOUT 600 PROGRAMS. MODERN MICRO TRANSIT IS REALLY LIKE A BOOMING INDUSTRY BUT AT THE SAME TIME, JUST KIND OF SCRATCHING THE SURFACE. WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO TOGETHER IN FORT PIERCE IS REALLY KIND OF ONE OF THE FRONT RUNNERS THAT IS GOING ON IN THE MICRO TRANSIT INDUSTRY. WE ARE LAUNCHING SERVICE IN SEMINOLE COUNTY IN A COUPLE MONTHS, IT IS THE WHOLE COUNTY, 35 VEHICLES BUT THEY ARE SEEING WITH CITIES LIKE FORT PIERCE ARE DOING AND HOW EFFECTIVE IT IS. IT IS EXCITING FOR FORT PIERCE TO BE ON THE FRONT OF THAT CURB. WHAT BEGAN AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUE HAS BEEN EVOLVING INTO A RELIABLE, CONVENIENT AND TRUSTED TRANSPORTATION SOLUTION THAT SUPPORTS LOCALS AND VISITORS ALIKE. PEOPLE CAN LIVE, WORK AND PLAY ALL IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, EVEN WITHOUT A PERSONAL TO GROW AND COMMUNITY RELIANCE - DEEPENS, IT IS CRITICAL TO MAINTAIN THE FIFTH VEHICLE TO ENSURE THAT SERVICE LEVELS REMAIN ALIGNED WITH PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS AND DEMAND. LOOKING AHEAD, WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE DEMAND WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AND PEOPLE WILL BECOME MORE ACCUSTOMED TO RIDING FREEBEE AND BECOME PART OF THE WAY OF LIFE IN DOWNTOWN FORT PIERCE. THE CITY, I KNOW YOU ARE ALREADY ENGAGED IN THE COUNTY BUT THE COUNTY SEEMS TO BE PASSIONATE AND ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THIS PROGRAM. I THINK WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER TO EXPLORE GRANTS AND OTHER STRATEGIES TO CONTINUE THE SUCCESS OF THIS VITAL PROGRAM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY

QUESTIONS. >> SO, WOULD YOU GO BACK TO THE MAP FOR ME, PLEASE, AND REFRESH MY MEMORY? NO, THE MAP BEFORE THAT. SO, THE DARKER PART AND THE LIGHTER PART, REFRESH MY

MEMORY WHAT THOSE ARE. >> INNER AND OUTER SERVICE AREA.

THE COMMERCIAL AREAS OF THE DARKER AREAS. THE WAY THE TECHNOLOGY IS ENABLED, WHEN SOMEONE REQUESTS A RIDE, THEY MUST EITHER START AND/OR FINISH IN THE DARKER INTERSERVICE AREA.

SO THAT WAY, UM, YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY, THE OUTER SERVICE AREA IS RESIDENTIAL. ALTHOUGH IT IS NICE TO TAKE SOMEONE FROM RESIDENCE TO RESIDENCE, IT DOESN'T SERVE THE GREATER GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY. GETTING PEOPLE TO GROCERY STORES, TO BUSINESSES, TO NONEMERGENCY MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, TO MASS TRANSIT, THAT HAS A POSITIVE, REVERBERATING EFFECT FOR THE COMMUNITY. THAT WAY, THIS ENABLES US TO HAVE THE SERVICE FOCUSED ON WHAT IT WAS INTENDED ON AND CUT OUT ANY ABUSE OF THE

SERVICE. >> OKAY. WHEN THE COUNTY ADDED FUNDING, DO WE INCREASE TERRITORY? I CAN REMEMBER.

>> I KNOW WHEN THE FDOT GRANT CAME IN --

>> YEP. >> SO WE COULD GO BEYOND THE FPRA AREA PERHAPS, BUT NOT THE SOUTHERNMOST ROAD IS, UM, IS THAT GEORGIA AVENUE? GEORGIA AVENUE, CORRECT, NOT VIRGINIA.

YEAH. >> THAT IS WHERE IT CUTS THROUGH

RIGHT THERE. >> I JUST WONDERED IF THE COUNTY FIND IT IF WE COULD GO BEYOND THAT. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

>> I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THAT, TOO.

>> I'M JUST TRYING TO REMEMBER. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> THANK YOU FOR THIS. A COUPLE QUESTIONS I WOULD HAVE, SO, YOU'RE RIGHT, WHEN WE CUT THIS, WE WERE LOOKING TO MAKE IMPACT.

I AM LOOKING TO SEE WHAT, CAN YOU FORECAST ECONOMIC IMPACT AND GVE US WHAT THE IMPACT IS? IT IS GREAT TO SEE THE HEAT MAP BUT I NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH DOES THIS TRANSITION INTO BUSINESS REVENUE OR IMPACT FOR THESE BUSINESSES? I THINK THAT IS A KEY POINT THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE COMMUNICATING TO OUR DOWNTOWN PARTNERS ACH PAC IMPACT THAT THIS INVESTMENT HAS MADE FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE BUSINESSES. I THINK THAT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT THING WE NEED TO BE MARKETING AND HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE INVESTMENT THAT THE FPRA MADE TO SUPPORT BUSINESS IN DOWNTOWN AND ON THE BEACH. I REALLY WANT TO SEE THAT

[00:25:02]

DATA AND THE ECONOMIC NUMBER. HOWEVER MANY MILLIONS IT IS, I NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE I THINK WE ALSO HAVE A STORY WE CAN MAYBE APPROACH THE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ON HOW WE MAKE AN IMPACT HERE. I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE ARE IMPACTING TOURISM HERE. ARE WE MOVING TOURISTS AROUND FROM PLACE TO PLACE IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA , OR EVEN OUTSIDE OF THE FPRA THAT IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS MOVING FROM BUSINESS TO BUSINESS? AND THEN, AS FAR AS THE MICRO TRANSIT, TO ME, I THOUGHT THAT WAS MORE ALIGNED WITH THE COUNTY GRANT. I AM NOT SURE, BUT WHAT I AM CONCERNED WITH IS HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE USING IT TO GET TO THAT LAST MILE OR GET TO THE TRANSIT CENTER TO GET TO WHATEVER RESPECT, THEY ARE WORKING OR DOING OUTSIDE OF THE TRANSIT AREA BUT AGAIN, THAT TRANSLATES INTO ECONOMIC IMPACT BECAUSE IF WE CAN TIE THAT TO THE SERVICES OR WHATEVER THEY ARE DOING, IF IT IS JOBS, A JOB CORRIDOR THEY ARE GETTING TO, WE NEED TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

BECAUSE, I THINK, AGAIN, OUR PARTNERS THAT RELY ON THAT BUS TRANSIT ROUTES, WE NEED TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS INVESTMENT MAY BE SUPPORTING THAT, AS WELL.

>> HOW IT INTERACTS. >> HOW IT INTERACTS. THERE IS A LOT OF THAT, RIGHT? ONE THING AROUND THIS THING THEY NOW CALL A.I., IT DOES HELP US GET SOMEWHAT OF A BETTER PICTURE AND UNDERSTANDING BUT THOSE ARE THINGS I WOULD WANT TO SEE AS WE CONTINUE TO GATHER THIS DATA TO MAKE OUR STORY EVEN BETTER FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE MADE THIS INVESTMENT.

>> UM, I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THAT, COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS ABOUT MICRO TRANSIT BEING AN APP BASED SERVICE IS THAT WE DO HAVE THAT DATA. WE CAN REFINE THAT DATA AND PRESENT IT IN WAYS THAT COMMUNICATE WELL AS OPPOSED TO TRADITIONAL TRANSIT, WHERE PEOPLE JUST CLIMB ON BOARD AND GET OFF AND YOU DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING. I THINK THE PUBLIC TRANSIT FOR THE AMERICAN PUBLIC TRANSIT ASSOCIATION, I THINK YOU CAN LOOSELY SAY $4.00 IN ECONOMIC BENEFIT FOR EVERY $1.00 SPENT. IT MAKES SENSE, I GUESS, BUT KIND OF HARD TO QUALIFY. WITH THIS, WE CAN BREAK THE HEAT MAPS DOWN INTO QUANTIFIABLE NUMBERS AND WE CAN RUN SURVEYS TO FIND OUT WHY PEOPLE ARE USING THE SERVICE. WE HAVE RUN A FEW SURVEYS ALREADY. WE CAN PUT THOSE INTO GRAPHS FOR YOU, AS WELL, PRESENT THAT AND WHATEVER INFORMATION IS MISSING, WE WILL FIND IT AND DO ANOTHER SURVEY AND GET THAT TO YOU IN A NICE

PRESENTATION. >> JUST AS A PERSONAL NOTE, I KNOW THERE IS A WAY. BECAUSE I HAVE TALKED TO MS. BARLEY. SHE HAS AN AGGREGATE THAT MEASURES DATA THAT UNDERSTANDS ECONOMIC IMPACT. SOMEHOW THIS NEEDS TO BE TALKING TO THAT AND VICE VERSA SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND THIS GLOBAL IMPACT. IT IS MEASURED EACH AND EVERY DAY AND I NEED THAT NUMBER. I WANT THAT NUMBER FOR FORT PIERCE BECAUSE WE NEED TO START UNDERSTANDING ECONOMIC IMPACT IN HELPING OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR BUSINESSES UNDERSTAND THAT. IT IS IN THE MILLIONS. I NEED FOR US TO KNOW THAT BECAUSE WE NEED TO GROW THAT NUMBER, RIGHT? UM, AS A PERSONAL NOTE, I BROKE DOWN, I FINALLY WROTE IT A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, IT HAS BEEN EXCELLENT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I MADE A SUGGESTION ABOUT PUTTING QR CODES IN THE PARK TO HELP RESIDENTS TO GET ACCESS TO INFORMATION. I WAS IN A VEHICLE THE OTHER DAY AND IT DIDN'T HAVE IT IN THAT RESPECT, THEY MAY HAVE IT IN OTHERS, BUT WHEN I SPOKE AND ENGAGED THE DRIVER, VERY PROFESSIONAL, VERY COURTEOUS, VERY NICE LADY. SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, I GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS OR WHERE DO I GO FOR THAT? WE CAN KIND OF HELP PEOPLE TO TAKE THE QR CODE BECAUSE THEY USE THEIR PHONE, IN SOME CASES, TO GET THIS APP, THEY CAN TAKE A PICTURE AND THAT CAN GIVE THEM A TABLE OF RESOURCES OR WHATEVER THEY ARE LOOKING FOR. THAT MAY ALSO BE A GREAT AMBASSADORSHIP THAT WILL HELP DRIVE THIS EVEN FURTHER. ALL WE ARE ASKING FOR IS A QR CODE ON THE BACK OF THE SEAT AT SOME POINT, MORE RESOURCES. I KNOW STAFF WILL BE WORKING WITH YOU ON THAT.

>> IN THAT CONVERSATION, WE ALSO HAD A BANNER IN THE APP ITSELF SO PEOPLE OULD JUST TAP THAT 4611, I THINK. ACTUALLY, IT WAS GETTING A LOT MORE ENGAGEMENT THAN THE OTHER BANNERS. IT GOT MORE ATTENTION THAN THE OTHER BANNERS ON THE APP. THAT PROVES THE POINT THERE WERE PEOPLE AND ARE PEOPLE SEARCHING FOR THAT INFORMATION. YES, WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT.

>> ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE? I HAVE JUST A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS. I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT WAIT TIMES. ONE OF THE REASONS WE ADDED AN ADDITIONAL CAR WAS PEOPLE WERE BEGINNING TO HAVE TO WAIT AND THAT THE FREEBEE SERVICE WAS

[00:30:01]

SOMETHING WE WANTED THAT NOT TO HAPPEN. AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, HAVE

WAIT TIMES IMPROVE? >> UM, THEY HAVE IMPROVED, BECAUSE, JUST MORE EFFICIENT ROUTING AND MORE QUANTITY OF VEHICLES. I DON'T HAVE THE FIGURE IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I THINK IT IS UNDER 15 MINUTES. YEAH, IT IS IMPORTANT, THE WAIT TIME IS VERY IMPORTANT, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE GOALS ARE.

SOME CITIES ARE DEAD SET ON 10 MINUTE WAIT TIMES AND OTHERS PREFERRED 20 MINUTE WAIT TIMES. HERE, WE ARE JUST UNDER THE 15 MARK. THAT, WE FOUND, 90% OF PEOPLE OR MORE PROBABLY FIND THAT ACCEPTABLE. YEAH, WE HAVE HAD VERY FEW COMPLAINTS ON WAIT TIMES. AGAIN, MAINLY HAVING THE EXTRA VEHICLE DECREASES THE

DISTANCE BETWEEN A VEHICLE -- >> RIGHT.

>> HAVING FOUR VEHICLES OVER HERE ON THE MAINLAND AND SOMEONE ON THE BEACH SUDDENLY NEEDS A RIDE, CHANCES ARE NOW MUCH GREATER THERE IS A VEHICLE CLOSER TO THEM. YEAH, THE WAIT TIMES ARE PRETTY GOOD. EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE REALLY HAPPY.

RATINGS FOR THE DRIVERS HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO 5.0.

>> I EVER GOOD THINGS ABOUT THAT. IT MIGHT NOT BE FAIR, BUT SOMETIMES YOU MEASURE THINGS IN WHAT YOU DON'T HEAR ABOUT. I HAVE HEARD NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT FREEBEE WAIT TIMES, DRIVERS,

ANYTHING. THAT IS GREAT. >> NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS.

>> AND I HAVE A QUESTION AND YOU MAY NOT KNOW, MAYBE MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS COULD HELP ME. DOES IT GO ALL THE WAY TO LITTLE

JIM ONE NORTHBRIDGE? IT DOES? >> IT STOPS PRECISELY THERE. I REMEMBER THAT TOPIC, MAKE SURE LITTLE JIM IS INCLUDED.

>> THAT HAD SLIPPED MY MIND. I THINK THAT IS AN IMPORTANT THING

FOR US TO REMEMBER. >> AGAIN, MADAM CHAIR, ECONOMIC IMPACT. I WANT TO KNOW THE NUMBERS THAT ARE GOING THERE.

>> YEAH. IS THAT SOMETHING YOU CAN PROVIDE US THROUGH STAFF?

>> YES. >> OKAY. GOOD. GOOD. DO YOU INTERACT AT ALL WITH THE TRANSIT PEOPLE AT THE COUNTY AT ALL?

>> SOMETIMES, ADOLFO, THE DIRECTOR, I HAVE TALKED WITH HIM IN A FEW CONFERENCES, I HAVE SEEN HIM ON A FEW PANELS, HE IS VERY ACTIVE, VERY FOCUSED, DEFINITELY ONE OF THE SHARPER TRANSPORTATION DIRECTORS I HAVE COME ACROSS. SO, YEAH, I THINK WE ARE GOING TO MAYBE SPEAK NEXT MONTH, WE WILL TENTATIVELY HAVE

A -- >> I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO FOLLOW UP ON WHAT COMMISSIONER JOHNSON IS TALKING ABOUT, THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THEIR TRANSIT SYSTEM AND FREEBEE. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO KNOW, TOO.

>> HE IS VERY MUCH ON TOP OF IT. LAST YEAR THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT ROLLING IT OUT THIS YEAR AT SOME POINT. I DON'T KNOW

WHERE THEY ARE. >> I DON'T, EITHER.

>> WE WILL WORK TOGETHER. >> GOOD.

>> AT THE OUTSET, I WILL LET YOU KNOW I AM A BIG FAN OF FREEBEE.

I MAKE OUT TO BE A CONSISTENT CONSUMER FOR YOUR SERVICES, NOW THAT YOU HAVE EXPANDED IT TO MY AREA OF THE ISLAND. I HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW YOUR DRIVERS AND I CHAT WITH THEM, OBVIOUSLY, TO GET THEIR INPUT. A COUPLE OF COMMENTS WERE MADE TO ME THAT WERE SOMEWHAT, THEY NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED. COMMENT ONE WAS THAT WHEN WE ADDED THE FIFTH VEHICLE, THE FIFTH VEHICLE WASN'T BEING DEPLOYED BECAUSE OF LACK OF DRIVERS. HAS THAT ISSUE BEEN

RESOLVED? >> UM --

>> CAN YOU COMMENT TO THIS HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE ON IT? I UNDERSTAND IT WAS PRETTY FREQUENT.

>> THE INFORMATION I HAVE IS THAT THE VEHICLES WERE OUT 70 HOURS PER WEEK PER VEHICLE BUT SAME TIME. UM, THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF STAGGERING AT THE FRONT END OF THE SHIFT AND THE BACK END OF THE SHIFT TO MAKE SURE WE COVER THE FULL DAY. IF THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH US MISSING HOURS BECAUSE THERE WAS A DRIVER SHORTAGE, UM, IT HAS BEEN CORRECTED. I WASN'T AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT IF THERE WAS AN ISSUE, IT HAS BEEN CORRECTED.

THE RIDERSHIP DEMONSTRATES THE CARS ARE OUT ON THE RIGHT ROADS.

I WOULD LOOK TO SEE HOW BIG OF AN ISSUE THAT WAS.

>> JUST TRACKED OVER TIME, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

>> YEAH. I WILL TAKE A LOOK AT IT. IF THERE WAS AN ISSUE, MUST'VE BEEN VERY, VERY SHORT-TERM. WE WOULD NOT OF BEEN ABLE TO PUT THESE NUMBERS OUT WITH A DRIVER SHORTAGE.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO GET AN ANSWER ON THAT.

>> THE SECOND COMMENT OR QUESTION WAS, AT SOME POINT IN TIME, I HAVE BEEN TOLD NOW, THIS POLICY HAS NOW CEASED, WAS THAT NO CARS ON STANDBY COULD BE OUT ON SOUTH BEACH. THEY ALL HAD TO RETURN TO THE MAIN OFFICE. THEREBY INCREASING WAIT TIMES FOR RESIDENTS ON THE ISLAND WHEN YOU GET A VEHICLE. THEY DROP SOMEBODY OFF, THEY HAD TO GO BACK TO THE MAINLAND SO IF THEY HAD A BREAK IN THEIR SCHEDULE ON THE MAINLAND, THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO STAY ON SOUTH BEACH TO WAIT ON A RIDE TO COME THROUGH. CAN

YOU COMMENT ON THAT AT ALL? >> I DID NOT KNOW THAT WAS A

[00:35:02]

POLICY. I DID NOT KNOW THAT WAS A POLICY.I DON'T KNOW IF THE FOCUS WAS TO MAKE SURE DOWNTOWN WAS A PRIORITY. MAYBE WE HAD LESS HOURS OR THAT WAS SOMETHING MORE RECENT. I WILL FIND OUT.

ON THAT, AS WELL. WE ARE PAYING FOR FIVE STAFFED VEHICLES. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE GETTING WHAT WE ARE PAYING FOR. I AM A BIG FAN OF THE SERVICE. YOU GUYS TAKE GOOD CARE OF ME. I'M JUST JOE RESIDENT LOOKING TO HAVE A FEW DRINKS AND NOT HAVE TO DRIVE. I LOVE THE SERVICE. HOWEVER, THESE ARE CONCERNS I HEARD FROM OTHER CONSUMERS. SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO GET YOUR INPUT ON THAT. I'M LOOKING FOR EQUITY THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT THAT IS BEING SERVICE. I WANT MAXIMUM SERVICE FOR ALL RESIDENTS IN THE AREA. IF YOU WOULD ADDRESS THOSE

CONCERNS -- >> I ABSOLUTELY WILL --

>> ONE LAST THING, THERE WERE, AT TIMES, CONCERNS ABOUT DRIVER SAFETY. I HAVE NOT HEARD OF SITUATIONS ABOUT THAT AT ALL,

EITHER. >> YES. THE TEAM FROM THE FPRA WAS VERY ENGAGED IN THAT. THEY MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS, YOU MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS. EVERYTHING SEEMED THE SPECS -- SEEMED TO HAVE MADE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE.

>> THANK YOU. >> I BRIEFLY HEARD THAT. WITH ANY JOB THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE NOT SHOWING UP TO WORK AND I GET THAT. I THINK IF YOU HELP US WITH THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD BE AN INTERESTING CONCEPT. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, SINCE THIS IS SUCH A GAME CHANGER IN GREAT SERVICE, ARE YOU UP FOR ANY AWARDS? ARE YOU SUBMITTING THIS TO ANY TRADESHOWS AS BEST PRACTICE EXAMPLES, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, AND USING THIS AS A TEST CASE AROUND THE STATE AND ARE WE QUALIFIED READY OPPORTUNITIES? THAT IS WHERE I'M GOING NEXT. YOU KNOW, PUBLICITY AT THESE TRADESHOWS GOES A LONG WAY TO BRING PEOPLE HERE. I AM A MARKETER. I AM TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.

>> I LOVE THAT SUGGESTION. WE ARE MODESTLY A SMALL TEAM SO WE ARE ALL KIND OF, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE STUFF WE WOULD LIKE TO DO

WE DON'T GET TO DO. >> UNDERSTOOD.

>> I DO HAVE THE PLEASURE OF PRESENTING, I DID THAT WITH YOUR COLLEAGUE AND SHE CO-PRESENTED WITH US. WE HAD A GOOD AUDIENCE FOR THAT. THAT WAS FUN. THAT WAS FUN. AND THEN THIS YEAR AT THE SAME CONFERENCE, I KNOW THE SERIES FROM BRAIDED AND AND PALMETTO SUBMITTED THIS IN THE OUT-OF-THE-BOX CATEGORY. THEY ARE IN DIFFERENT CATEGORIES BECAUSE I GUESS BRADENTON IS A BIG CITY AND PALMETTO IS A SMALL CITY. THEY ARE RIGHT ACROSS THE MANATEE RIVER FROM EACH OTHER, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW. HOPEFULLY,

WE GET AN AWARD THIS OCTOBER. >> I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE WRITTEN UP IN JOURNALS AND IN PLACES. BECAUSE IF WE GET KNOWN AS A MICRO TRANSIT CITY M BEST PRACTICE, GUESS WHAT? PEOPLE WILL COME HERE JUST FOR THE MICRO TRANSIT AND LIVE WHEREVER IN THE CRA AND MICRO MOVE AROUND OUR CITY. THAT WILL BRING EVEN

MORE ECONOMIC IMPACT. >> YEAH, THAT IS A GREAT POINT.

>> THANK YOU. >> EVERYWHERE WE OPERATE, THE REALTORS ARE ON THE FOREFRONT OF MAKING THOSE SUGGESTIONS, REAL ESTATE. TWO-CAR HOUSEHOLDS BECOME ONE CAR HOUSEHOLD AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO, 100% AGREE. THE INDUSTRY IS GROWING.

[B. Authorization to Negotiate the Purchase of 1238 Avenue D]

I THINK WE ARE THE LARGEST PROVIDER OF ALL ELECTRIC MICRO TRANSIT RIGHT NOW, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE JUST A SMALL MIAMI-BASED COMPANY. YEAH, A LOT OF FUN, A LOT OF MOVING PARTS, A LOT OF WORK. WE TRY TO MAKE IT LOOK EASY, IT IS NOT SO EASY BEHIND THE SCENES. YEAH, WE LOVE THE IMPACT WE HAVE ON COMMUNITIES AND LOVE BEING PART OF COMMUNITIES AS YOU KIND OF CONTINUE TO GROW AND DEVELOP. WE ARE HAPPY TO BE ON THE JOURNEY

WITH YOU. >> ANYTHING ELSE? ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING

FROM YOU AGAIN. >> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE INFORMATION YOU PROMISED.

APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. >> THE NEXT ITEM IS AUTHORIZATIONS TO NEGOTIATE THE PURCHASE OF 1238 AVENUE D.

>> NO COMMENT. I AM FINE. >> DO YOU HAVE ANY STAFF

PRESENTATION ON THIS ISSUE? >> ACTUALLY, WE DO NOT. WE WERE JUST ASKING FOR AUTHORIZATION TO MOVE FORWARD TO NEGOTIATE ON THE

PROPERTY. >> OKAY. IS THERE DISCUSSION BY

THE COMMISSION? >> MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE WE AUTHORIZE STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD TO NEGOTIATE THE PURCHASE OF

1238 AVENUE D. >> SECOND.

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

[00:40:02]

>>

[C. Review and direction regarding a Grant Agreement for Commercial Facade Improvements for Botanical Sanctuary, LLC at 722 Orange Ave. in the amount of $25,000.00.]

COMMISSIONER BRODERICK AS CHIEF NEGOTIATOR?

>> THIS ITEM IS IN DIRECTION AND REVIEW REGARDING A GRANT AGREEMENT FOR COMMERCIAL FAÇADE IMPROVEMENTS FOR BOTANICALS SANCTUARY LLC AT 722 ORANGE AVENUE IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,000.

>> I AM HERE TO PRESENT THE GRANT APPLICATION WE RECEIVED LAST MONTH. AS YOU KNOW, THE PROGRAM, THE INTENT OF THE PROGRAM IS TO SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE THE APPEARANCE OF THE BUILDING AND ELIMINATE BLIGHT. THE PROGRAM ANNOUNCES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN A REIMBURSABLE GRANT MATCHING 50% UP TO $25,000. THIS PROGRAMS MEETS GOALS 7 AND 9 OF OUR FPRA PLAN.

THE APPLICATION WE RECEIVED WAS 722 ORANGE AVENUE OWNED BY BOTANICAL SANCTUARY, LLC. THIS BUILDING INCLUDES UNIT 722, 724 AND 726, AS WELL AS THE VACANT LOT TO THE WEST OF THE BUILDING.

THE APPLICANTS PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS IS TO REPLACE A WINDOW, THE WINDOWS AND DOOR WITH IMPACT GLASS ON UNIT 722 ONLY. AND THIS DOOR, AS WELL. THERE ARE OTHER IMPROVEMENTS, THEY WANT TO REPLACE THE METAL ROOF AT THE REAR OF 726. LASTLY, THEY ARE PROPOSING IMPROVEMENTS TO ADD GRAVEL AND PAVERS FOR DECORATIVE PURPOSES ONLY IN THAT VACANT PROPERTY. SO, TO SUMMARIZE, REPLACE THE WINDOWS ON UNIT 722, THE METAL ROOF ON 726 AND ADD GRAVEL AND PAVERS FOR AESTHETIC PURPOSES ON THE VACANT LOT. THE TOTAL IS $57,750.70. THE GRANT AMOUNT REQUESTED IS $25,000. THIS CRA ADVISORY COMMITTEE DOWNGRADED THE APPLICATION , TOTAL POINTS PER EVALUATOR WAS 100 POINTS, MAXIMUM POINTS. THE VISUAL IMPACT IS ASSIGNED 50 POINTS.

TOTAL PROJECT INVESTMENT 25 POINTS, DESIGN AND CREATIVITY 15 POINTS AND COMMITTEE IMPACT AND PUBLIC BENEFIT WAS 10 POINTS FOR A TOTAL OF 100 POINTS PRE-EVALUATED. SO THE CRA'S CUMULATIVE EVALUATION REPORTS ARE LISTED HERE. WE HAD SIX EVALUATORS, SIX MEMBERS OF THE CRA BOARD EVALUATE THE APPLICATION. THE APPLICATION SCORED 519 POINTS OUT OF 600 POSSIBLE POINTS. THIS CRA ADVISORY, AS RECOMMENDATION, WAS TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION. HOWEVER, SORRY, THEY RECOMMENDED THAT ALL THREE DOORS BE CHANGED ON THIS BUILDING. AND, SO, TODAY WE ARE SEEKING FOR YOU TO REVIEW THE APPLICATION AND THE COMMERCIAL FAÇADE AND GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE OPTION TO GRANT OR DECLINE THE CRAS RECOMMENDATION TO REPLACE ALL THREE DOORS. I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY

HAVE. >> QUESTIONS OF MS. GARCIA?

>> STAFF? >> I WILL WAIT. GO AHEAD.

>> I WILL GO. I HAVE A COUPLE COMMENTS. I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROPERTY. I YOU OWN REAL ESTATE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. AND IT SET FALLOW FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THIS IS THE PERFECT CASE STUDY FOR ELIMINATING BLIGHT . THIS BUILDING HAS BEEN RECENTLY PAINTED, BUT THE BALANCE OF THE WORK THERE, CONSIDERING WHAT THEY ARE DOING, I THINK, IS A WORTHWHILE INVESTMENT. THE COURTYARD AREA IS THE CHAIN-LINK FENCE, A VERY UNATTRACTIVE LOOK. I AM ASSUMING THEY WANT TO REMOVE THAT AND ADD PAVER BRICKS, ET CETERA, WHICH I THINK WOULD BE A MORE ATTRACTIVE STREETSCAPE. ALSO WORK ON THE SIDEWALK AND IT IS A SECURITY ISSUE. SO I THINK THIS IS A WORTHWHILE UNDERTAKING FOR FPRA FUNDING.

>> GO AHEAD. >> I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS. GO BACK TO THE INITIAL COMMENT. THE INITIAL FROM THE PROPOSAL WAS TO CHANGE A DOOR AND PUT IN WINDOWS, CORRECT? IN ONE UNIT.

SO I AM ASSUMING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDOW AND THAT DOOR HERE

[00:45:03]

WE SEE, THOSE WOULD BE UP TO THE STANDARD OF HURRICANE PROOF,

IMPACT WINDOWS, WE CALL THEM. >> YES.

>> SO WHEN I HAVE MY QUESTIONING WITH STAFF ABOUT THIS, I HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THE CONSISTENCY OF AESTHETICS ACROSS THE BOARD HERE. I KNOW THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE ACTUAL CRA COMMITTEE WAS TO REPLACE ALL THREE DOORS. THAT GIVES SOME AESTHETICS. NOW YOU HAVE ONE IMPACT WINDOW HERE AND THEN THE OTHER TWO, OBVIOUSLY, ARE PROBABLY NOT THAT? WINDOWS. AM I CORRECT ON-

>> SO, WHAT TRIGGERED THE DOOR AESTHETIC CONSISTENCY RECOMMENDATION ACROSS THE THREE DOORS?

>> UM, BASED ON THE CONVERSATIONS FROM THE CRA ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THEY JUST WANTED THEM TO LOOK UNIFORM.

THEY WANTED THEM TO LOOK THE SAME. THEY ARE VERY DIFFERENT

NOW. >> YES. YEP, VERY DIFFERENT.

>> THAT WAS A CONVERSATION, I THINK.

>> HAS NOT BEEN COMMUNICATED BACK TO THE APPLICANT?

>> YES. >> HAS THE APPLICANT BEEN

ACCEPTING OF THAT? >> THEY ASKED THAT THE FPRA CONSIDERED CHANGING ONLY THE ONE DOOR. THERE PLAN FOR UNITS 724 AND 726, THEY WANT TO CONVERT INTO AN OLD-FASHIONED BARBECUE RESTAURANT. THEY WANT TO KEEP THAT OLD-FASHIONED DOOR, THAT IS THE LOOK THEY ARE AIMING FOR AND THEY WANT TO KEEP THAT LOOK.

>> I THINK THEY ARE.OLD-FASHIONED DOORS, THEY ARE JUST REASONABLY OLD AND HAVE NO BARS INSTALLED ON THEM. THERE IS NO HISTORICAL ISSUE. THERE IS NO GREAT HISTORICAL RELEVANCE TO

THE PROPERTY ITSELF. >> YEAH. FOR ME, AGAIN, I AM CHALLENGED ON A COUPLE THINGS HERE. THIS IS A FAÇADE GRANT. WE ARE LOOKING AT THE FRONT OF THIS. SO I AM LOOKING AT WINDOWS, I AM LOOKING AT DOORS, I AM LOOKING AT THE LITTLE COURTYARD AREA TO THE LEFT. ON THE TOP OF THAT, THERE IS A WHOLE ROOF THING WHOLE THING INTO THIS. I'M NOT EVEN SURE BASED ON WHAT I SAW IF THE ROOF WAS ATTACHED TO THIS BUILDING, BASED ON WHAT I JUST GLOBALLY SAW. COULD YOU GO TO THAT PICTURE WHERE IT PROPOSED -- I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT IS THAT EVEN ATTACHED TO THIS BUILDING? IT LOOKS LIKE A TOTALLY

DIFFERENT BUILDING TO ME. >> YES, IT IS PART OF THE

BUILDING, PART OF THIS PROPERTY. >> IT IS NOT A FAÇADE.

>> THAT'S WHERE I AM, I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH THIS BECAUSE WE WENT THROUGH THIS BEFORE WITH THE FAÇADE AND FRONT FACING AND PEOPLE PASS BY THE FRONT. NOT MANY PEOPLE, IN MY OPINION, ARE DRIVING BY AND LOOKING AT THE ROOF, ESPECIALLY THAT FAR BACK, AT LEAST THEY SHOULDN'T, IN MY OPINION. BUT, YOU KNOW, I HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE PAVER. I THINK THAT IS FAÇADE. THE FRONT DOOR THE WINDOWS. I HAVE CHALLENGE WITH IT NOT BEING CONSISTENT WITH THE DOORS. I'M JUST TELLING COMMITTEE.

>> IN THE BACKUP, WHICH I READ, THERE WAS THE SUGGESTION ABOUT MAKING THE DOORS UNIFORM. AND ALSO , IF YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A BARBECUE RESTAURANT AND YOU ARE GOING TO PUT, YOU ARE GOING TO WANT BETTER WINDOWS IN THAT PART, THERE I WOULD THINK. I WOULD THINK. AND SO, I AM WONDERING, DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THE ROOF IS COMPARED TO THE WHOLE PROJECT?

>> I THINK IT WAS ABOUT $18,000. I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBERS.

>> OKAY. >> EACH DOOR WAS ABOUT $3000 .

THE ROOF, I AM NOT CERTAIN. I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK.

>> BUT THE COMMITTEE FELT STRONGLY ENOUGH TO MAKE THE SUGGESTION THAT ONE DOOR AND THE IMPACT WINDOWS DOESN'T MAKE THE IMPACT ON BLIGHT AS MUCH AS IT WOULD THE WHOLE BUILDING.

>> CORRECT. >> AND, SO, UM, I JUST WONDERED IF, I MEAN, I DON'T THINK, I DON'T MIND DOING THE DOOR IN THE WINDOWS, EVEN THOUGH I THINK THE COMMITTEE'S SUGGESTION IS A GOOD ONE BECAUSE, NOW WE WANT ORANGE AVENUE TO LOOK BETTER. I KNOW THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE. WE WANT TO IMPROVE AND I WANT TO DO THAT, TOO. UM, BUT, UM, I'M JUST NOT SURE ABOUT THE ROOF.

THE ROOF, TO ME, ISN'T FACADE, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW IT IS

INCLUDED, IT ISN'T. >> MADAM CHAIR?

>> YES. >> I HAD THE SAME THOUGHT, ABOUT THE ROOF, AT LEAST. I KNOW ONE OF THE PEOPLE ON THE COMMITTEE SAID IT WASN'T VISIBLE AS A FACADE SO THAT IS A SPECIFIC

[00:50:11]

REQUIREMENT FOR THE FACADE PROGRAM SO HOW IS THAT DETERMINED? DOES STAFF DETERMINE IF IT IS APPLICABLE AS A REPAIR?

>> REGARDING THE ROOF? OKAY, YES. SO AS LONG AS THEY APPLIED FOR OTHER IMPROVEMENTS, THEN THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE

ROOF. >> DOESN'T IT SAY ONLY IF IT IS PART OF THE FACADE PACKET? IF IT IS PART OF THE FACADE ITSELF?

>> UM, I DON'T THINK THAT IS HOW WE WORDED IT. I THINK IT HAD TO BE VISIBLE FROM THE STREET, FROM THE RIGHT-OF-WAY.

>> VISIBLE FROM THE RIGHT-OF-WAY.

>> IT IS VISIBLE FROM THE STREET.

>> IS IT? >> YEAH.

>> COMMISSIONER GAINES? >> I DON'T LIKE IT. I HAVE BEEN QUIET AND LISTENING. EVERY TIME THESE FACADE GRANTS COME UP, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE. I UNDERSTAND WE ARE TRYING TO FIX THE FRONT OF A BUILDING SO WHEN YOU DRIVE BY IT LOOKS GOOD.

BUT I NEVER REALLY UNDERSTOOD, IF YOU JUST FIX THE FRONT OF A BUILDING, HOW IS THAT REALLY ELIMINATING BLIGHT AND EVERYTHING ELSE? THE BACK OF THE BUILDING, THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING AND EVERY OTHER PART OF THE BUILDING DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING. IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, PUTTING A NEW COAT OF PAINT ON AN OLD BARN. IT IS STILL AN OLD BARN. SO I ALWAYS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS. SO I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THIS BUILDING IS. AND I AM SITTING HERE THINKING, WHEN I DRIVE BY, COULD YOU SEE PART OF THE ROOF? I THINK YOU CAN FROM THE ROAD.

>> WEST TO EAST, YOU CAN. >> THAT IS WHERE I AM HAVING A PROBLEM. NOW, UM, I HAVE A PROBLEM, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS IN OUR ONE-ON-ONE MEETING, YOU KNOW, ONE DOOR VERSUS THREE DOORS. I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW THAT IS CAN A, ONE SIDE WILL BE BRAND-NEW, THE OTHER SIDE WILL BE THE SAME. I'M NOT FEELING THAT FOR A FACADE GRANTS, I AM JUST SAYING SO. THIS WHOLE GRANT PROGRAM, THIS WHOLE GRANT PROGRAM, I'VE ALWAYS HAD A PROBLEM WHEN I AM SITTING HERE BECAUSE WE WILL FIX SOMETHING JUST IN THE FRONT. BUT THEN IT REALLY DOESN'T STOP THE BLIGHT, WHATEVER WE ARE REALLY TRYING TO DO IN THIS AREA. SO WITH THIS ONE HERE, MY CONCERN IS JUST FIXING ONE DOOR. I SAID THAT IN MY MEETING, I UNDERSTAND THEY WANT TO TRY TO KEEP IT WHATEVER, BUT THAT'S NOT FOR ME PERSONALLY. I DON'T THINK THAT , THE MAYOR WILL GO OUT AND PUT A GOLDHAMMER OR LARRY LEE WILL PUT HIS SIGN OUT SAYING, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT THIS PROJECT.

>> ME AND MY AWARD. THAT IS WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. ME AND MY AWARD WITH ONE DOOR PAINTED AND THE OTHER ONE NOT FIXED. THAT IS MY OPINION. I DON'T THINK THAT WILL HAPPEN. THAT IS WHERE I WAS LAST WEEK IN A MEETING AND I WAS HOPING TO GET SOME TYPE OF CLARIFICATION WHY THE PURPOSE OF THE ONE DOOR AND NOT THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE BUILDING. THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE BUILDING MIGHT BE A WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY AND I MIGHT BE MORE COMPATIBLE TO DEAL WITH THE ROOF. NOW I HAVE ONE DOOR, ONE THIRD OF A BUILDING , PAINTED AND FIXED. THE OTHER TWO , NOT FIXED . THEN I CAN SEE A ROOF THAT IS NOT FIXED. AND YOU ARE ASKING ME TO GIVE $25,000 FOR ONE DOOR AND SOME GRAVEL AND SOME OTHER STUFF. THAT IS WHAT

I'M HEARING TONIGHT, RIGHT? >> MADAM CHAIR, I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP COMMENT. I THINK WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO FIND HERE, YOU REPLACE THREE DOORS AND ONE SET OF WINDOWS ON ONE UNIT, THE OTHERS ARE GOING TO LOOK VERY, VERY POOR. THE OTHER TWO UNITS, THE EXISTING WINDOWS WITH THE OLD-STYLE, ALL OF THAT, CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE FRONT? NO. THE ONE WITH THE WINDOWS BEING

REPLACED. >> YES.

>> OKAY. LOOK AT THIS UNIT. THE WHITE BARS IN THE WINDOWS, DIFFERENT THAN THE TWO UNITS NEXT DOOR. THERE WILL BE A REAL LACK OF CONSISTENCY. I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DO WITH THE OTHER TWO UNITS, WITHOUT REPLACING THOSE WINDOWS, IT WILL LOOK LIKE BLIGHT. THE DOORS THEMSELVES, I THINK, CLEARLY, ALL THREE NEED TO BE REPLACED. I AM QUESTIONING WHY THEY ARE SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION WITHOUT WHOLESALING REPLACING ALL THE WINDOWS AT THE SAME TIME. I GET IT WILL INCREASE THE COST. THIS IS NOT A

[00:55:01]

HUGE STOREFRONT, EITHER. YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH BOTH COMMISSIONER GAINES AND COMMISSIONER JOHNSON AND THE CRA FOLKS FOR ALL THE DOORS TO BE REPLACED. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALL THE WINDOWS REPLACED BUT I CANNOT PUSH THEM ON THAT BECAUSE I WILL ADD A FAIR AMOUNT OF COST. WHEN IT IS DONE, YOU WILL DRIVE BY AND YOU WILL SAY, WHY THE HECK DID THEY ONLY DO ONE SECTION OF WINDOWS, THEY SHOULD'VE DONE ALL THREE FOR CONSISTENCY OF LOOK AND REALLY BRING THE PROPERTY TO WHAT WE CONSIDER CURRENT STANDARDS FROM AN AESTHETIC STANDPOINT BUT IT IS NOT MY DECISION. IF I WAS RUNNING THE BUILDING, I WOULD DO

ALL THREE. >> AND THE ROOF.

>> YEAH. I BUY A LOT OF ROOTS, I WOULD BUY A ROOF.

>> SO WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE? >> THE APPLICANT IS HERE, ALSO.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THEM.

>> PLEASE. STATE YOUR NAME. >> HI. MY NAME IS EMILY FINGERHUT AND I REPRESENT COMMENTS ABOUT IT. UM, ESSENTIALLY, SO THIS BUILDING IS GOING TO BE PART OF THE LARGER COMPLEX WE ARE EXPANDING CALLED PEACOCK HOUSE ART FOUNDATION. I AM SURE YOU CAN SEE RIGHT NEXT TO IT THE OLD CRANE ESTATE. WE ARE TRYING TO BRING ALL OF THOSE FUNCTIONS TOGETHER AND TO JUST A NATION WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME AND ENJOY ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT THINGS. THEY CAN COME TO OUR RETAIL GALLERY SECTION, SEE THOSE BEAUTIFUL, BIG, NEW WINDOWS, LOOK IN THE WINDOWS, SEE THE ART AND BE ATTRACTED TO THAT. OR THEY CAN GO NEXT DOOR TO OUR OLD-STYLE BARBECUE JOINT.

WE WANTED TO KEEP THINGS MORE ECLECTIC AND KIND OF KITSCHY AND INTERESTING. WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE THERE IS JUST AUTOMATICALLY ATTRACTING. RIGHT NOW IT IS KIND OF A NEGATIVE ATTRACTING. ONCE WE ARE DONE DOING ALL THESE UPDATES AND MAKING IT BIG AND BEAUTIFUL WHILE HONORING WHAT IS CURRENTLY THERE, IT WILL BE INTERESTING, TO SAY THE LEAST, BUT IT WILL BE SOMETHING. WE WILL MAKE SURE IT WORKS TOGETHER. YOU MAY KNOW THE PERSON WHO RUNS THE GALLERIA OFF OF PIERCE HARBOR . HE HAD A HAND IN THIS. HE IS A DESIGNER. WE HAVE A PROFESSIONAL DESIGNER WHO HAS A REAL VISION FOR THIS FACILITY IN THIS BUILDING. WE ASK YOU GUYS TO JUST KIND OF ALLOW US TO HAVE THAT CREATIVE MINDSET WHEN IT COMES TO THIS PARTICULAR BUILDING. WE DO WANT TO MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL. WE DO WANT TO FIX IT UP. WE DO WANT THE BLIGHT TO BE GOTTEN RID OF. WE ALSO WANT TO BE ABLE TO STAND BY THIS KIND OF VISION WE HAVE FOR IT. AS FAR AS THE ROOF IS CONCERNED, YOU CAN SEE IT , IT IS BLIGHTED, AND HAS HOLES AND IS RUSTY, YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THE PHOTO. ONCE WE PUSH THE FENCE BACK, IT WILL BE EVEN MORE OBVIOUS IT IS BLIGHTED. I THINK IT WAS COMMISSIONER GAINES, I BELIEVE YOU SAID, WHAT IS THE POINT OF JUST DOING THE FRONT END OF THE BUILDING? I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THAT. THE ROOF, WHICH IS A REAL PROBLEM, WE WILL BE ABLE TO USE THESE FUNDS TO REPAIR THAT AND MAKE IT SO THAT IT IS A USABLE, FUNCTIONING BUILDING.

>> SO, I JUST WANT TO SAY, AND I MEAN THIS, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR. WHAT I DON'T WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN IS, FIRST OF ALL, TO ADDRESS, WE ARE NOT HERE TO FIX EVERYBODY'S BUILDING EVERYTHING. THAT IS NOT OUR RESPONSIBILITY. IF IT IS A FACADE GRANTS, SO, I DON'T FEEL AN OBLIGATION TO FIX SOMETHING THAT ISN'T ELIGIBLE FOR A FACADE, THAT SOMEBODY JUST NEEDS THE MONEY TO FIX. I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR TO MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS. AND I ALSO DON'T WANT TO BE SITTING HERE NEXT YEAR AND BEING ASKED TO FIX UP THE DOORS ON THE NEXT TWO

THINGS. >> WE ARE SPECIFICALLY GOING FOR

THAT LUCK. >> I AM NOT ASKING YOU TO COMMENT. I AM JUST TELL YOU WHERE I AM COMING FROM. IF WE ARE JUST FIXING ONE AND YOU ARE COMING BACK TO ASK TO FIX ANOTHER ONE AND ANOTHER ONE, I'M JUST SAYING, I AM NOT INTERESTED. ME, PERSONALLY, I AM NOT INTERESTED IN THAT. I AM INTERESTED IN IMPROVING THIS BUILDING. I SEE WHAT YOUR

[01:00:02]

CONCEPT IS AND I APPRECIATE YOU CLARIFYING THAT. ANYBODY ELSE

WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? >> MADAM CHAIR, AGAIN, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS PROJECT. TO ME, MY COMMENTS WERE ABOUT THE WHOLE FACADE GRANT , PERIOD. BECAUSE, IN MY EYES, MY OPINION, MY SITTING IN THIS CHAIR, WE ARE PAINTING THE FRONT OF AN OLD BARN. THE OLD BARN IS STILL THERE AND STILL IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD AND STILL LOOKING LIKE AN OLD BARN THAT WE PAINTED THE FRONT DOOR. THAT IS MY OPINION FROM WHERE I CAME FROM.

AS FAR AS THE FACADE GRANTS, I WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM IF WE WERE TO COME IN AND SAVE THIS MONEY WAS BEING USED TO DO THE FACADE FOR THE FRONT OF THE WHOLE BUILDING. THAT IS WHAT THE FACADE GRANT MEANS. THAT IS NOT EVEN WHAT WE ARE SAYING. IF THEY DID THAT AND PUT SOMETHING TOWARDS THE ROOF, IT IS A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYBODY SITTING HERE BUT WE ARE NOT EVEN GETTING THE WHOLE FACADE OF THE BUILDING. SO THAT IS WHAT I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH COMING IN UNDER A FACADE GRANT. BECAUSE HOW IT IS READING , HOW IT IS WRITTEN IS FACADE FOR THE FRONT OF A BUILDING FACING A MAJOR RUNWAY OR ROAD OR WHATEVER. SO THAT IS WHAT I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH. THE WHOLE FACADE GRANT PROGRAM ITSELF IS WHERE I WAS COMING FROM.

>> ANYBODY ELSE? ANYBODY HAVE ANY IDEAS?

>> UM, I CAN SEE EVERYONE'S POINT ABOUT THIS. I SEE YOUR POINT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT PUTTING LIPSTICK ON A

PIG. >> I ALMOST SAID THAT BUT I

DIDN'T. I CAUGHT MYSELF. >> BUT I ALSO LOOK AT IT, IN THE MAYOR'S PERSPECTIVE, WE ARE NOT HERE TO REBUILD PEOPLES BUILDINGS. WE ARE HERE TO ASSIST THEM, FACILITATE IT AND MAKE SURE IT IS GETTING DONE. HONESTLY, THEY ARE KNOCKING TO SPEND ALL THIS MONEY AND EFFORT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT MATCHING THE FUNDS WE ARE GIVING THEM TO PENA BUILDING THEY ARE USING. I ASSUME THIS IS IN TO BE THE ONLY THINGS YOU ARE DOING. THIS IS JUST PART OF THIS APPLICATION PROCESS. TO GET IT ACTUALLY FUNCTIONING AND RUNNING, IT WILL TAKE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT ON YOUR PART. SO I THINK THIS IS KIND OF OUR LANE WHERE WE CAN STAY HERE AND GET THE FACADE DONE. EVEN LOOKED TO GOOGLE MAPS TO SEE IF I COULD SEE THE ROOF. I WOULD BE HARD-PRESSED TO TELL YOU HOW TO DO YOUR BUILDING. AS LONG AS IT IS UP TO CODE AND IT LOOKS GOOD, IF YOU WANT TO HAVE THREE DIFFERENT DOORS, YOU CAN HAVE THREE DIFFERENT DOORS. I THINK YOU HAVE THAT CREATIVE ABILITY TO DO SO. AS LONG AS EVERYTHING IS UP TO CODE AND MEETS OUR STANDARDS. HAVE WHATEVER DOORS YOU WANT TO PUT ON THERE. I AM HAPPY WITH THIS. LET'S DO IT.

>> ANYBODY ELSE? >> I DO GET CONCERNED WITH THIS ROOF ELEMENT PERSPECTIVE. COMMISSIONER GAINES HAS A VALID POINT. IN THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING THERE IS AN OVERHANG, YOU PLAY GLASS AND DOORS. THAT IS IT, IT IS A FAIRLY SIMPLE BUILDING FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE. THAT IS THE FACADE. THAT IS THE FACADE OF THE BUILDING. WE ARE GETTING INTO REPLACING A ROOF, I AM REPLACING A ROOF ACROSS THE STREET FOR 220 GRANT. DO I SEND AN APPLICATION INTO THE CITY THAT YOU CAN ONLY SEE THE ROOF FROM SEVENTH WHEN YOUR THREE BLOCKS AWAY? NO, THAT IS NOT REASONABLE. I SHARE COMMISSIONER GAINES' CONCERNS WITH THIS. IF WE ADDRESS WITH THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO DO, IN MY OPINION, STAFF CAN CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG, WE ARE LOOKING TO CORRECT THE NEGATIVE LOOK ON THE STREET SIDE. THAT IS WHAT THE CITY IS INVESTING IN TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL AESTHETICS. IT DOESN'T IMPROVE THE INSTRUCTIONAL -- INSTRUCTIONAL CAPABILITY BUILDING. 724 AND 725 ARE GOING TO LOOK BLIGHTED, CANDIDLY. I TEND TO DISAGREE WITH COMMISSIONER TILLER'S COMMENT ON JUST REPLACING THE ONE DOOR. THEY SHE REPLACED THREE DOORS.

THERE IS NO HISTORICAL VALUE TO THOSE OF THE TWO DOORS, THERE CAN'T BE. REPLACE ALL THREE OF THEM. I WILL LET THE PLAY GLASS ISSUES LIE. I HAVE A FEELING IN THE SHORT TIME WE WILL SEE PLAY GLASS BEING PUT INTO THOSE UNITS, TOO. I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT WILL COME BACK HERE. THAT IS A SECOND BITE AT THE APPLE AND NOT REASONABLE. I AM IN COMMISSIONER GAINES' CAMP.

>> MADAM CHAIR, SO STAFF, WHEN THIS WAS SUBMITTED, USUALLY, WHEN THESE THINGS COME BACK, THERE IS SOME TYPE OF RENDERING THAT WOULD COME BACK TO SHOW THE FINAL. WE KIND OF SEE PARTS OF THAT HERE. YOU HAVE ONE THAT SHOWS THE DOOR BLUE AND THE

[01:05:03]

WHITE PIECE AND, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD A BETTER AESTHETIC WITH THE GRAVEL, I THOUGHT, DOWN HERE, RIGHT? YOU CAN UNDERSTAND, MOVE THE FENCE BACK, THERE IS A LARGE AREA, CONCRETE, ET CETERA. I CAN GET THAT AESTHETICALLY. I GUESS WHERE I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS, THE ROOF , I CAN'T EVEN GO THERE WITH THE ROOF. BACK TO YOUR ORIGINAL PICTURE, I AM LOOKING AT THE FACADE THAT SHOWS A SMOOTH STUCCO FINISH TO 722 AND I AM LOOKING AT BRICK FACADE

ON 724 AND 726. >> YEAH.

>> TO ME, I AM LOOKING AT THIS IN DETAIL, THE DOORS AND THE WINDOWS, THIS, TO ME, THIS DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER A FACADE. NOW, APPARENTLY, THIS IS THE ONLY SUBMISSION WE HAD . SO THAT IS MY QUESTION. DO WE HAVE OTHER SUBMISSIONS FOR THIS PROCESS? WAS THIS, AGAIN, PROCESS WE

DIDN'T HAVE MANY SUBMISSIONS? >> MADAM CHAIR, WE DID HAVE, THIS IS THE ONE THAT WE, UM, RECEIVED IN THE MONTH OF MAY, WHICH WAS EVALUATED BY THE CRA ADVISORY COMMITTEE. WE HAVE FOUR MORE THAT WAS SUBMITTED IN JUNE, WHICH WILL BE EVALUATED LATER THIS MONTH BY THE CRA ADVISORY COMMITTEE, ANOTHER FOUR WILL BE COMING TO YOU IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST FOR REVIEW.

>> YEAH, ALL RIGHT. OKAY. >> IT IS HALF-BAKED.

>> YES. >> IT IS A HODGEPODGE TYPE OF

RENOVATION. >> ICAN APPRECIATE THE WORK OF THE CRA STAFF, I CAN APPRECIATE STAFF PUTTING IN TIME HERE, BUT THIS, TO ME, DOES NOT EXUDE WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR WHEN IT COMES TO FACADE GRANT APPLICATIONS I WILL PUT A STAMP OF APPROVAL WANT TO REIMBURSE. I REALIZE THE INVESTOR IS MAKING THE UPFRONT COMMITMENT TO EVERYTHING. THIS IS A $25,000 REIMBURSABLE GRANT AFTER IT HAS BEEN COMPLETED. THAT IS WHERE WE ARE WITH FACADE GRANTS, RIGHT? I CAN'T GET THERE TODAY WITH THIS APPLICATION. SO -- I JUST CAN'T. SO, THAT'S WHERE I'M AT.

>> REFRESH MY MEMORY WITH THE CRITERIA YOU SAID. ROOFS WERE ALLOWED IF THEY WERE PART OF THE FACADE?

>> IF THEY WERE PART OF THE ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS. THEY JUST COULDN'T APPLY FOR A ROOF COMMERCIAL FACADE GRANT. IT HAD TO BE VISIBLE FROM THE RIGHT AWAY AND THEY HAD TO INCLUDE OTHER IMPROVEMENTS AS PART OF THEIR APPLICATION.

>> SO THE FACADE GRANT IS A FACADE GRANTING YOU CAN ALSO GET YOUR ROOF FIXED IF YOU FIX UP YOUR FACADE?

>> IF IT IS VISIBLE FROM THE RIGHT AWAY.

>> THE INTENTION OF THAT IS THAT YOU HAVE A BUILDING WITH THE FACADE IN THE FRONT AND A PITCHED ROOF DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THAT, NOT A REAR STRUCTURE. WHAT HAPPENED HERE IS THE ORIGINAL PROPERTY WAS A HOUSE IN THE BACK. ULTIMATELY, THEY EXPANDED OR DID DEMO ON THE SOUTHERN SIDE AND ADDED THIS COMMERCIAL STRIP AT SOME POINT. I DON'T KNOW.

STRUCTURES PUT TOGETHER IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. YEAH.

>> YOU HAVE THE PITCHED ROOF ON THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING, THAT IS INTRICATELY PART OF THE FACADE.

>> YES. YES. SO, UM -- >> MADAM CHAIR.

>> MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I FEEL COMPELLED TO POINT OUT THAT ULTIMATELY THE DECISION IS ON THIS BOARD WHAT TO FUND, IF TO FUND AND IN WHAT AMOUNT THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CRA ADVISORY BOARD IS JUST THAT, RECOMMENDATION. JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE TECHNICALLY MEETS THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO BE ELIGIBLE DOES NOT MEAN THIS BOARD IS REQUIRED TO APPROVE THEIR APPLICATION IN WHOLE OR IN PART. SO ULTIMATELY, IT IS FOR THIS BOARD TO DECIDE IF THEY BELIEVE THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE USE OF THE $25,000 THAT IS BEING REQUESTED.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. UM --

>> I WOULD KICK THIS OFF WITH THE MOTION. I WILL PUT A MOTION OUT THERE TO SEE IF IT GETS ANY TRACTION MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE. I WOULD MOVE THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THE GRANT, NOT BASED ON THE NUMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED, REMOVING THE ROOF FROM THE PACKAGE, AND REQUIRING ALL THREE DOORS TO BE REPLACED.

THERE WILL BE SOME SUBSTITUTION OF COST THERE, PRESLEY $6000,

[01:10:02]

TWO MORE IMPACT DOORS AND $18,000 REMOVED FOR THE ROOF. I MAKE THE MOTION BASED ON THAT, JUST TO SEE IF THERE IS A --

>> ISN'T THAT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CRA COMMITTEE, TOO? WHAT IS THE RECOMMENDATION?

>> MADAM CHAIR, IT WAS NOT TO REMOVE THE ROOF.

>> IT WASN'T TO REMOVE THE ROOF BUT IT WAS TO ADD THE DOORS. IS

THERE A SECOND? >> WHAT IS A MOTION AGAIN? TO

REMOVE THE ROOF? >> WE WILL REQUIRE THEM TO REPLACE ALL THREE DOORS. AND REMOVE THE ROOF . AND THE COST RELATED TO THE ROOF OUT OF THE NUMBER BUT ADD BACK IN THE COST

OF THE TWO ADDITIONAL DOORS. >> DO WE KNOW WHAT THAT FINAL

NUMBER WILL BE? >> NO. WILL HAVE TO COME BACK.

THE DIFFERENTIAL WILL BE $6000 FOR MY TWO NEW DOORS, $18,000 REMOVED FOR THE ROOF. THEY WILL HAVE TO FINE-TUNE THAT IF THEY ARE INTERESTED IN PURSUING THAT. THEY MAY BE SO CONVINCED THEY WANT TO KEEP THOSE OTHER TWO DOORS THEY WILL NOT TAKE THAT

APPROACH. >> WOULDN'T IT BE, I AM JUST SAYING, WOULDN'T IT BE A BETTER MOTION TO JUST HAVE THEM COME

BACK? >> I AM FINE WITH THAT, TOO.

>> LET THEM COME BACK, I AM LOOKING AT MADAM ATTORNEY, AM I

WRONG? I AM SORRY. >> MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBER GAINES, I THINK THE ONLY CONCERN WOULD BE THAT STAFF WOULD NEED A CONSENSUS FROM THE BOARD AS TO EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT FUNDED AND ARE NOT WILLING TO FUND SO THEY CAN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE OWNER SPECIFICALLY. SO IF WE ARE NOT IN AGREEMENT TO REMOVE THE ROOF, IT IS HARD FOR THEM TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, FOR EXAMPLE, TO BRING IT BACK TO YOU IN A FINAL AND COMPLETE FORM. SO A MOTION IS HELPFUL, NOT REQUIRED, BUT SOME SORT OF CONSENSUS AS TO WHAT THIS BOARD IS WILLING TO FUND AND NOT FUND WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE THOSE PROPER NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE

OWNER. >> THANK YOU, MADAM ATTORNEY.

WHAT I HAVE HEARD SINCE SITTING HERE IS THAT THREE DOORS, NO

ROOF. >> THAT IS WHAT I PROPOSED.

>> I KNOW THAT ONE OF MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER TAYLOR, HE SAID HE WAS FINE WITH IT AND THAT IS FINE. RIGHT NOW, I KNOW I HAVE TWO THAT SAY NO ROOF AND THREE

DOORS AND ONE THAT SAID NO. >> WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE

FLOOR. WE NEED A SECOND. >> THAT DIED.

>> I DON'T THINK IT WAS A MOTION, MADAM CHAIR. I THINK HE

THREW IT OUT THERE TO SEE -- >> TO SEE IF THERE IS A CONSENSUS. WE HAD THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT CONCEPTS.

>> MADAM CHAIR? >> YES, SIR.

>> ELABORATE FOR ME MORE OF WHAT THE REASONING IS BEHIND ONLY DOING ONE DOOR FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

>> FOR 722, IT IS A HOME GOOD AND GALLERY SPACE. WE WANT IT TO BE NEW, REFRESHED AND LOOK CLEAN AND CLEAR. WITH THE OTHER TWO UNITS, WE WANT TO PUT AN OLD FLORIDA BARBECUE PLACE SO WE WANTED THAT ARTSY FEEL, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE ARE PART OF THE ART FOUNDATION NEXT-DOOR. WE WANT IT TO BE ARTSY, UNIQUE AND INTERESTING SO WHEN PEOPLE DRIVE BY, THEY SEE IT, NOT AS BLIGHTED, BUT AS INTERESTING, OLD AND COOL AND SOMETHING TO GET ATTRACTED INTO. ESPECIALLY YOUNGER PEOPLE AS THEY PUT IT, MY AGE, ARE ATTRACTED TO THINGS THAT ARE WONKY. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A TENDENCY TO LIKE THINGS THAT ARE FUN AND WEIRD. IT IS PART OF THE WHOLE IDEA OF MAKING IT DIFFERENT LIKE THAT BUT STILL KIND OF HONORING THE AREA ITSELF, WHICH IS KIND OF STYLISH

RIGHT NOW. >> IN THE DOORS THAT ARE THERE

CURRENTLY SUPPORT THAT? >> YES. THE DOOR ON 726, FOR EXAMPLE, IT IS A SERVING BAR AND SOMETHING COULD OPEN IT UP AND BE SLID OUT OF IT, JUST A FUN DETAIL FOR FOOD AND FOR PEOPLE TO COME BY AND PLAY WITH. IT WAS SOMETHING WE THOUGHT WAS CUTE AND COOL AND WE WANT TO KEEP THAT.

>> YOU SEE, I HAVE A HARD TIME DISAGREEING WITH THAT. THERE ARE THREE SEPARATE UNITS, IT IS ONE BUILDING, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN ALL THREE HAVE TO LOOK THE SAME. AND WHEN WE ARE REALLY TALKING ABOUT WHAT FLIGHT IS AND HOW TO GET RID OF IT, IS MAKING THE BUILDING USEFUL AND PREPARING THE ROOF WILL ALLOW HER TO RENT THIS OUT AND GET PEOPLE IN THERE. I COULD GIVE A CRAP IF ALL THREE DOORS LOOK THE SAME AS LONG AS SOMEBODY IS IN THERE MAKING MONEY. IF YOU CAN DO THAT AND MAKE MONEY, I HAVE A HARD TIME DISAGREEING WITH THAT. THAT IS WHERE I AM AND .

>> MADAM CHAIR, THE ELIGIBILITY IN THE ROOF IS CLEARLY IN THE PROGRAM. YOU CAN SEE IT FROM THE ROAD. I WAS AGAINST THAT WHEN WE DID THIS BECAUSE I KNEW SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD HAPPEN. IT IS NOT TECHNICALLY IN VIEW AND NOT TECHNICALLY THE FACADE BUT STILL, BY YOUR OWN RULES, IT IS ELIGIBLE. SO I

[01:15:06]

DON'T THINK WE CAN DICTATE WHAT THEY DO WITH THE BUILDING, AS LONG AS YOU ARE IMPROVING THE FACADE AND MAKING IT USABLE.

THAT IS HOW YOU REMOVE BLIGHT AND GET PEOPLE IN THERE WORKING.

SO I DON'T THINK PUSHING THIS DOWN THE ROAD IS NECESSARY , IN MY VIEW. A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOK AT IT AND SAY IT IS ELIGIBLE. LET

THEM GET PEOPLE IN THERE. >> BUT THE EVALUATOR, TWO OF THE EVALUATORS TALKED ABOUT CHANGING THE DOORS, TOO. SO THERE IS JUST A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPINIONS. YEAH. THIS IS GOING TO BE, I GUESS THESE ARE BARBECUE DOORS? I DON'T KNOW WHAT A BARBECUE DOOR IS.

THEY ARE SAYING THE DOORS ARE FINE AND THEY WORK FOR WHAT THEY WANT TO DO IN THOSE SPECIFIC UNITS. WHY WOULD WE FORCE HER TO

CHANGE THE DOORS? >> MADAM CHAIR, WE ARE NOT FORCING HER TO DO ANYTHING TO HER BUSINESS. WE ARE LOOKING AT TAXPAYER FUNDING HERE TO GIVE OUT ON BEHALF OF THE GRANT. AND SO, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I AM EVALUATING THIS AS A CRA INVESTMENT OF FUNDS AND I HAVE CHALLENGE WITH WHAT THEY ARE PROPOSING FOR THE COMMERCIAL FACADE GRANT. SO WE AREN'T IN CONSENSUS AND THAT IS OKAY. THIS IS A BUSINESS OWNER THAT IS LOOKING FOR SUPPORT AS THEY BRING THIS ON BOARD. AND SO AS I INTERPRET THE FACADE GRANT AND HOW I INTERPRET WHAT IT IS AND THE IMPACT, I HAVE CHALLENGE WITH IT AND THE AESTHETICS OF WHAT THEY ARE PRESENTING FOR THEIR PLAN FOR 726, 724.

>> SO? UM, WE HAVE TO HAVE A DECISION HERE. SO, COMMISSIONER BRODERICK'S MOTION FAILED, DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION?

>> I MEAN, I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

>> IS THERE A SECOND? IS THERE A SECOND?

>> JUST, MADAM CHAIR, JUST TO BE CLEAR, YOU WOULD NEED ONE DOOR BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO AGREEMENTS FOR THIS BEFORE YOU PICK A ONE SAYS ONE DOOR AND THE OTHER ONE SAYS THREE. THANK YOU.

>> YEAH, YEAH. SO, SO, UM, WE CAN DENY. IS THERE A POSSIBILITY FOR THIS TO COME BACK? IF THIS WERE DENIED, IS THER A POSSIBILITY FOR THIS TO COME BACK IN A DIFFERENT FORM?

>> SURE. JUST GIVE US CONSENSUS AND WE WILL REQUEST THAT FOR A NEW APPLICATION OR AN ADDITION TO THE APPLICATION CAN BE SUBMITTED AND WE CAN BRING THEM BEFORE YOU.

>> YOU MAKE IT SOUND LIKE GETTING A CONSENSUS IS SIMPLE.

LAUGHTER ] >> MADAM CHAIR, I DON'T THINK IT IS THAT DIFFICULT. I THINK WE ALL AGREE WE WANT TO SEE SOMETHING AND A GOOD USE OF THESE FUNDS, THESE GRANT FUNDS.

WE WANT TO ASSIST WHERE WE CAN. I THINK THE COMMENTARY YOU HAVE HEARD FROM THE FIVE BOARD MEMBERS IS THAT, UM, THE BUILDING NEEDS SUPPORT WHEN IT COMES TO THIS GRANT. AND THE CONSENSUS IS THAT WE WOULD LIKE FOR THE BUSINESS OWNER TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHAT BOARD MEMBERS HAVE SAID AS FAR AS CONSISTENCY OF AESTHETICS ACROSS THE FRONT OF THIS BUILDING AND WOULD THEY ACCEPT THAT IN THEIR GRANT APPLICATION AND WOULD YOU WORK WITH THEM ON THAT IF THEY DO BRING IT BACK? IF THEY CAN'T, THEN I GUESS WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PROJECT. THAT IS CONSENSUS THERE. CAN WE WORK WITH THE APPLICANT TO TAKE BACK THE FEEDBACK AND ALL THAT HAS BEEN SAID FROM EVERYBODY UP HERE AND SEE WHAT THEY DO. THEY MAY COME BACK AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WE WILL DO EVERYTHING. THIS IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO. WE WILL MOVE

FORWARD. >> AND THEN ASKED FOR THE

AMOUNT. >> EXACTLY. THEY CAN DO THAT.

>> WOULD YOU GO BACK TO THE LIST OF WHAT GOES INTO THIS?

>> SURE. SO I AM JUST GOING TO PROPOSE SOMETHING. IF SOMEHOW WE ARE ABLE TO AGREE ON ALL THE DOORS, IS THE ROOF STILL AN ISSUE? CERTAINLY, WE AGREE ON THE GRAVEL AND THE SITE ISSUE.

[01:20:10]

>> THAT COMPARISON IS A VERY MINIMAL PROCESS.

>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, WE ARE TRYING TO GET SOME HELP TO YOU. EVERYBODY SEES WHAT SHOULD BE

DONE. >> MADAM CHAIR, I THINK THE ONLY THING ABOUT THE ROOF PARTS, IF I AM HEARING FROM STAFF AND THE ATTORNEY THAT IN THE FACADE GRANT , THAT BUILDING THAT HAS A ROOF ON IT IS PART OF THIS FACADE AND THAT IS WHERE I HAD THE ISSUE WITH THE WHOLE ROOF. I KNOW IT IS VISIBLE FROM THE STREET. THAT IS NOT A QUESTION. WEST TO EAST YOU CAN SEE IT.

THAT ROOF IS NOT ON THAT BUILDING. IT IS ATTACHED BY WHATEVER IS ON THE SIDE. IT IS A TOTALLY SEPARATE ROOFLINE. THIS BUILDING IS A FLAT ROOF, IF I AM NOT MISTAKEN ON ORANGE AVENUE.

IF THEY WANT TO LUMP IT IN AND IF IT IS PART OF OUR CRITERIA AND THEY BRING IT BACK, I WILL CONSIDER IT, RIGHT? I WON'T BE THAT HARD ON THEM BECAUSE AESTHETICALLY IT MAY ALL FIT AT THAT POINT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU MOVE THE GATE BACK. TO ME, THE NONSTARTER HERE IS THE FRONT OF THIS FACADE HAS NOT BEEN

ADDRESSED. >> DID YOU WANT TO SAY

SOMETHING? >> MADAM CHAIR, I WAS CAN ASK MS. GARCIA IF SHE COULD PULL UP, I BELIEVE SHE ATTACHED THE FACADE GRANT GUIDELINES. IF YOU WOULD PULL THAT UP FOR THEM SO THEY CAN SEE HOW IT IS WORDED. IT'S ON PAGE 5.

>> COMMISSIONER, WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS

MORE PALATABLE. >> THAT IS EXACTLY IT.

>> WE ARE NOT EVEN CLOSE TO A CONSENSUS. WE ARE NOT ALL PARTNERS ON A RENOVATION PROJECT.

>> PAGE 5, YOU SAID? >> ROOF REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT IS LISTED AS ELIGIBLE IMPROVEMENTS ON 5M.

>> RIGHT AWAY THE RIGHT OF WAY IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING OR THE RIGHT OF WAY GOING DOWN THE STREET? RIGHT? WE GOT WORK TO DO HERE, MADAM CHAIR, STAFF NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THIS, RIGHT? LIKE I SAID, THAT'S WHERE I AM AT. I DON'T THINK WE WILL GET IN A PLACE TODAY, MADAM CHAIR. I WANT TO WORK WITH THE APPLICANT BUT I'VE GOT GREAT CONCERNS. THERE IS NO NEED TO WASTE ANYMORE TIME

ON THIS ONE TODAY. >> MAY I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION?

>> WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR IT. >> I WOULD RECOMMEND, MADAM CHAIR, AT THIS POINT, WE MOVE THIS TO THE NEXT FPRA MEETING AND ALLOW STAFF THE CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH THE APPLICANT TO SEE IF THERE IS SOME SORT OF REDESIGNED IDEA THEY WOULD LIKE TO BRING BEFORE THIS BOARD, UNDERSTANDING WE DON'THAVE AN EXACT CONSENSUS BUT SHE HAS HEARD ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS. I THINK MAYBE BETWEEN THEM AND STAFF THERE COULD BE SOMETHING MORE PALATABLE TO A THREE VOTE APPROVAL.

>> YEAH. WHAT I HEAR ALL OF US SAYING IS THAT WE ALL WANT TO HELP THIS BUILDING, WE WANT TO IMPROVE THIS BUILDING. WE WANT TO BE A PARTNER IN THIS. WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, THERE ARE TOO MANY THINGS THAT ARE RIGHT ON THE EDGE IS THE WAY I FEEL THAT ARE JUST RIGHT ON THE EDGE THAT NEED TO BE RE-LOOKED AT.

>> I AM GOOD WITH HAVING THEM REFOCUS THINGS.

>> WOULD THAT REQUIRE A MOTION? >> A MOTION WOULD BE HELPFUL TO CONTINUE THIS EVERY ADDRESS THIS AT THE NEXT MEETING.

>> MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE WE CONTINUE THIS TO THE NEXT FPRA MEETING A FOR THIS BACK TO STAFF TO WORK WITH THE APPLICANT ON

TE . >> I WILL SECOND THAT MOTION.

>> OKAY. CALL THE ROLL. >>

[A. July 2025 FPRA Programs & Activities Summary]

>> NEXT IS STAFF COMMENTS. >> DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS?

>> NO, I DO NOT. >> YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS?

>> A COUPLE. MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, YOU SEE

[01:25:07]

YOUR MONTHLY REPORTS ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA. WE BEEN MAKING GREAT PROGRESS ON ALL OF OUR PROJECTS AND THINGS ARE GOING VERY WELL.

I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT TWO QUICK PROJECTS. THE MARINA SQUARE REDESIGN HAS BEEN MOVING ALONG REALLY WELL. TONS OF COMMUNITY INPUT THROUGHOUT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS AND MEETING WITH THE DEPARTMENT HEADS TO GO OVER THE PRELIMINARY DESIGNS. WE DECIDED LET'S GET IT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AGAIN AND JUST OFFER, YOU KNOW, THAT OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INPUT NOW THAT THE PRELIMINARY DESIGNS HAVE BEEN CREATED. WE CAME UP WITH A LOGO IN A NAME AND SOME, YOU KNOW, GENERAL PLACE MAKING FOR THE MARINA SQUARE. IT IS AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE. YOU CAN CHECK IT OUT AND PROVIDE YOUR FEEDBACK

BEFORE GETS TO YOU. >> WHO CAME UP WITH THE LOGO?

THERE INSPIRE PLACE MAKING. >> OKAY.

>> IT DREW ALL THE COMMUNITY INPUT AND ALL THE DIFFERENT NAME OPTIONS. WE JUST SETTLED ON KEEPING MARINA SQUARE MARINA SQUARE. THEY WILL GO THROUGH ALL OF THAT THOUGHT PROCESS. I JUST

WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW. >> PLEASE, NO MORE NAME CHANGES.

>> WE FELT THE SAME. BUT THAT IS AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE, JUST CONTINUING TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO CHECK

THAT OUT, AS WELL. >> I HAVE A QUESTION ON THIS.

YOU INDICATED YOU HAD A MEETING WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS. I AM ASSUMING THE MARINA DEPARTMENT HEADS WERE THERE?

>> YEAH. >> THIS IS A HUGE CONCERN FOR THEM. I AM HOPING THEIR CONCERNS ARE BEING ADDRESSED IN SOME

CAPACITY. >> ABSOLUTELY. YES. THEY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING IN THE PROCESS AND THE MOST RECENT ONE. THEY HAVE SHARED THEIR CONCERNS, ESPECIALLY WITH PARKING AND ACCESS. THOSE WITH THE TWO BIG ONES. THEY WERE THERE, ENGINEERING, BUILDING, PUBLIC WORKS. I CAN'T THINK OF ANYBODY ELSE. THEY WERE VERY VOCAL ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS AND CONTINUE TO BE. FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE AS A REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, YOU KNOW, WANTING TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT WITH THE MARINA DOES, IT IS A HUGE ASSET, A DESTINATION THAT BRINGS MANY, MANY CHORES AND VISITORS --

>> AND DOLLARS. >> AND DOLLARS, OF COURSE. WE WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT AND BALANCE THAT WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT AND PARKING AS A WHOLE. I THINK WE HAVE COME UP WITH CREATIVE SOLUTIONS. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE STILL REFINING THEM. ONCE THEY GET TO YOU, I THINK YOU WILL BE HAPPY WITH HOW OPINIONS. THEY HAVE BEEN VERY N- ENGAGED.

>> THE STATISTICS I HEARD FROM THE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, MAYBE YOU CAN HELP ME, MR. TAYLOR, DOWNTOWN IS, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER ONE VISITED PLACE BUT THE MARINA HAS SEPARATE NUMBERS.

>> SEPARATE NUMBERS. THEY'RE BOTH IN THE TOP FIVE.

>> THERE BUT VERY HIGH. WE NEED THEM. BE MINDFUL OF THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY. >> THAT WAS NOT A ONE-TIME THING. THIS HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY EVERY TIME WE HAVE A MEETING, THERE ARE MONTHLY UPDATES. IT HAS CONTINUED, EVEN THROUGH SPRING TRAINING SEASON, ALL OF THAT CONTINUED WITH DOWNTOWN BEING THE NUMBER ONE VISITED LOCATION.

>> IN THE MARINA NUMBER IS NOT COUNTED IN THERE. THE MARINA NUMBERS ARE HIGH, TOO. THE MARINA AND THE BEACH, ALL IN THE

TOP 10, IF I RECALL. >> AGAIN, SIGNIFICANT.

DEFINITELY BE MINDFUL OF THAT. IT IS INTERESTING HOW THIS ONE VISIONARY PROJECT HAS REALLY HAD US FOCUS ON LONG-TERM VISIONING AND, YOU KNOW, THE JCPENNEY PARKING LOT COMING UP AS A POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY AS A PARKING GARAGE FOR THE FUTURE AND ALL OF THAT, YOU KNOW? IT HAS REALLY HELPED US ALL COME TOGETHER AND FOCUS ON HOW WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD, NOT JUST COMPARTMENTALIZING EACH INDIVIDUAL PARCEL. THE OTHER UPDATE IS THE FESTIVAL STREET PROJECT , A NOTICE TO PROCEED WAS ISSUED RIGHT AFTER OUR LAST MEETING AND THE KICKOFF MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW. WE WILL FOLLOW A SIMILAR PROCESS WITH ENGAGING ALL THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS FROM THE BEGINNING AND ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE YOU MUCH BEYOND THAT. THOSE ARE TWO MAJOR PROJECTS THAT ARE FINALLY MOVING FORWARD. WE ARE VERY EXCITED WITH BOTH OF THEM COMING FOR THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN. THE SUNRISE THEATRE, THAT WAS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. YOU VOTED WE WILL GO OUT TO THE PUBLIC TO DECIDE ON WHAT MURAL THEY MAY BE INTERESTED IN MOVING FOR. OF COURSE, THEY WILL COME BACK TO YOU FOR FINAL APPROVAL. THE CRA ADVISORY COMMITTEE SELECTED THEIR TOP THREE. THIS IS A COMMUNITY ASSET SO WE WANTED TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THEIR RECOMMENDATION. THE SUNRISE THEATRE, YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT IT A LOT. YOU BROUGHT IT UP LAST NIGHT, COMMISSIONER BRODERICK. THEY WILL BE COMING TO YOU FOR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AN AWARD OR WHATEVER YOU DECIDE TO DO. ROOF MAINTENANCE AND JUST, YOU KNOW, THE ENTIRE BUILDING AND HOW THAT ALL LOOKS, THIS MURAL IDEA HAS KIND OF SHED LIGHT ON SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS AND KIND OF WHAT WE DO MOVING FORWARD SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A HEADS UP THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT THE SUNRISE THEATRE AND HOW WE MOVE FORWARD. I WILL BE HAPPY TO

[01:30:01]

ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL HAVE.

>> SO YOU HEARD EARLIER ABOUT, DO YOU ATTEND THE FPRA MEETING, I MEAN, THE WHATEVER, THE FLORIDA REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY STATE MEETINGS? YOU DO, DON'T YOU? SO YOU HEARD US SAY, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SHOWCASING FREEBEE AND FORT

PIERCE. >> WE SUBMITTED THREE APPLICATIONS. FREEBEE WAS NOT ONE OF THEM. FREEBEE IS VERY POPULAR IN THE CRA COMMUNITY. I WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR THEM ENTER IT IN THE OUT-OF-THE-BOX CATEGORY. WE WERE NOMINATED AT A PRESENTATION LAST YEAR. HOWEVER, I THINK IT IS VERY GOOD TO GO OUTSIDE OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND SEARCH FOR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO GET THAT OUTLET. HOWEVER, WE DID SUBMIT THREE THIS YEAR. ANNUAL REPORT WAS ONE, WE REALLY WANTED TO CAPTURE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE DONE A LOT THIS YEAR. THE WAY WE PRESENTED IT WAS BEAUTIFUL BUT REALLY, JUST TO GET IT OUT THERE AND LET PEOPLE SEE ALL THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE. THE WESTERN PENINSULA WAS THE FINAL ONE FOR THE PLANNING STUDIES. WE WON THE PLANNING STUDY TWO YEARS AGO FOR THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN. YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT, COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, JUST THE EXPOSURE OF EVEN APPLYING AND GETTING THAT IN FRONT OF THE PANEL AT THESE DIFFERENT TRADESHOWS, IT IS, WE ARE DOING REALLY GREAT WORK YEAR WE HAVE TO GET IT OUT THERE. YES, I

AGREE. >> I WOULD ADD THAT OUR SISTER CITY TO THE SOUTH JUST WENT OUT TO DENVER. IBM TAKING THAT IDEA FROM THE EXPOSURE THEY GOT THERE. CAPITAL CITY WHEN, OF ALL-AMERICA CITY BOTH WENT OUT THERE. I WANT FORT PIERCE, US, TO TAKE ADVANTAGE WHEN WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS. THIS FPRA MEETING, HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I HAVE BEEN, I WENT TO ONE, I THINK, MY FIRST YEAR TO UNDERSTAND WHAT FPRA WAS AND KIND OF GET THAT . THAT MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US. I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THESE INVESTMENTS TO GET IN FRONT OF LARGE AUDIENCES TO TOUT OUR CITY. BECAUSE NATIONAL PRESS WILL PICK UP ON IT AND THAT WILL BEGIN TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE OF FORT PIERCE. SO THAT IS SOMETHING I THINK WE GOT LEGS AND WE CAN GET BEHIND THIS. THANK YOU BECAUSE THIS LOOKS BEAUTIFUL. THIS MARINA PARK, THIS ISSUE, THIS, ALONE, IT NEEDS TO BE TOUTED AT THE FPRA MEETING. WHEN WE PULL THIS OFF

-- >> IT IS REALLY NICE.

>> REALLY NICE. >> REALLY DONE WELL. ANYTHING ELSE? NO? THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> SO, I THINK THAT IS IT. UNLESS THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE, I

THINK WE WILL ADJOURN. >>

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.