[1. CALL TO ORDER]
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CALLED TODAY, MONDAY, JULY 28TH, 2025.
PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[A. Discussion regarding Commissioner District 2, Seat 2 status. ]
>> OKAY, THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 2 SEAT 2 STATUS.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TONIGHT. COMMISSIONERS, WE'RE HERE TO DISCUSS HOW TO FILL THE VACANCY THAT HAS OCCURRED WITH THE RESIGNATION OF JAMES TAYLOR, SEAT 2.
MR. TAYLOR IS INCARCERATED AND HAS RESIGNED. WE ARE MEETING TONIGHT BECAUSE OUR CITY WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AND WE WANTED TO DO THIS QUICKLY TO DISCUSS HOW WE FILL THE VACANCY TO MAKE A FIVE- PERSON COMMISSION AGAIN, BUT, UNTIL THEN, I KNOW THAT I SPEAK FOR MYSELF AND MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, WE WILL MOVE THIS CITY FORWARD, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY WE LOVE THIS CITY, AND THIS CITY WILL NOT BE DEFINED BY THE ACTIONS OF ONE PERSON. MR. CHESS, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD?
>> AS YOU NOTED EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON COMMISSIONER TAYLOR'S ATTORNEY SUBMITTED HIS LETTER OF RESIGNATION TO OUR ATTORNEY MS. HEDGES AND I'LL LET MS. HEDGES DISCUSS THE NEXT STEPS.
>> YES, MA'AM, MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS. WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER A POWER POINT TO EXPLAIN WHERE WE ARE, WHERE WE'RE GOING AND HOPEFULLY TO ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I THINK ARE KIND OF SWIRLING AROUND AND LINGERING.
WE'RE GOING TO TRADE OFF ON SOME DIFFERENT SLIDES TO GIVE YOU ALL SOME INFORMATION.
SO WE DID RECEIVE COMMISSIONER TAYLOR'S RESIGNATION THIS AFTERNOON. A COPY IS ON THE SLIDE.
I BELIEVE MS. COX HAS ALSO POST THAT HAD TO HER WEBSITE AND IT HAS BEEN SENT OUT. UPON HIS RESIGNATION, THE CHARTER SAYS THAT WHEN THERE ARE MORE THAN SIX MONTHSMONTHS A VACANCY, WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A SPECIAL ELECTION.
IF IT IS LESS THAN SIX MONTHS, THE CHARTER SAYS IT'S HANDLED DIFFERENTLY, BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE THAN SIX MONTHS TO THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION WE'RE REQUIRED TO HOLD A SPECIAL ELECTION.
THAT IS HOW THE VACANCY WILL BE FILLED.
SO MS. COX HAS BEEN WORKING TO GET THAT ARRANGED AND SHE WILL GIVE THAT YOU INFORMATION NOW.
>> MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS. OUR STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING OVER THE WEEEND TO TRY TO GET THIS TIME LINE TOGETHER IN ANTICIPATION OF RECEIVING A LETTER OF RESIGNATION.
BASICALLY, WE WILL COME BEFORE YOU AT OUR NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING ON AUGUST 4TH WITH THE DECLARATION DECLARING A SPECIAL ELECTION BY RESOLUTION AND THAT RESOLUTION WILL SET FORTH THE DATES OF A SPECIAL MEETING. UPON RECEIVING THAT DECLARATION OF A SPECIAL ELECTION, WE'LL SUBMIT THAT TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTION WHO WILL TRANSMIT THAT TO THE STATE IN ACCORDANCE WITH FLORIDA STATUTE 141. 1 AND THE STATE WILL THEN CERTIFY WE WILL HAVE A SPECIAL ELECTION. AND IT GOES TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THEY HAVE TO ESTABLISHESTABLISH DATES AND THE QUALIFYING AND ALL OF THAT. THE DATES THAT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED AND WILL BE CERTIFIED BY THE STATE ARE AS FOLLOWS, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SLIDE.
BASICALLY THE SOONEST WE CAN DO A SPECIAL ELECTION IS 90 DAYS.
SO THE DEADLINE IF SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO QUALIFY BY PETITION WOULD BE AUGUST THE 12TH.
THE QUALIFYING WILL BEGIN ON AUGUST 18 AT NOON.
THE QUALIFYING PERIOD WILL END AUGUST 22ND AT NOON.
THE SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION WILL BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 4TH IN AN EVENT WHERE YOU NEED A RUN- OFF ELECTION THAT WOULD
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BE HELD ON JANUARY 20TH OF 2026. NOW WHAT WOULD REQUIRE A RUN- OFF ELECTION IS IF WE HAVE THREE OR MORE PERSONS THAT QUALIFY AS CANDIDATES FOR THE SPECIAL ELECTION, ALL OF THOSE PERSONS THAT QUALIFY SHALL APPEAR ON THE BALLOT AND BE VOTED UPON AT THAT SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION IN NOVEMBER. IN THE EVENT THAT NO SINGLE CANDIDATE RECEIVES A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES CAST IN THAT PRIMARY ELECTION, THEN THE TWO PERSONS RECEIVING THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF VOTES WILL MOVE ON TO THE RUN-OFF CITY ELECTION THAT IS IN JANUARY. IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN OUR REGULAR ELECTIONS, BUT I JUST THOUGHT IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND.THERE'S SOME EXAMPLES FOR YOU HERE, BUT IT'S BASICALLY IN ORDER TO HAVE THE ELECTION FINALIZED IN NOVEMBER ONE CANDIDATE WOULD HAVE TO RECEIVE 50 VOTES -- OR 50% PLUS ONE VOTE.
NOW IN A SPECIAL ELECTION IN THE CITY WRITE-IN CANDIDATES ARE NOT PERMITTED.
SO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER FOR THE SPECIAL ELECTION, IN THE LAST GENERAL ELECTION IN DISTRICT 2 WE HAD 14,284 REGISTERED VOTERS AND WE HAD A 70% VOTER TURNOUT IN THAT ELECTION. I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT UNDER THE CITY CHARTER ONLY RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 2 ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THIS CITY ELECTION.
WE HAVE THE SINGLE DISTRICT ELECTIONS.
>> MAY I INJECT A QUESTION REAL QUICK?
>> WHAT IS THE TIME LINE NECESSARY FOR THEM TO HAVE BEEN LIVING IN THE DISTRICT?
>> THEY MUST BE LIVING IN THE DISTRICT FOR TWO YEARS.
>> TO QUALIFY, YEP, THANK YOU.
>> AND REGISTERED. A QUALIFY ELECTOR.
UNDER THE CITY CHARTER, WE'RE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE THE REGULAR POLLING PLACES ADOPTED FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN CONSIDER THIS EVENING IS DO YOU WANT TO SHRINK THE NUMBER OF POLLING PLACES? WE ALSO ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE EARLY VOTING FOR SPECIAL ELECTIONS. IF WE DO DECIDE TO HAVE EARLY VOTING, EARLY VOTING WOULD BE OCTOBER 25- NOVEMBER 1.
THE VOTE BY MAIL REQUEST MUSTMUST -- THE DEADLINE FOR THOSE REQUESTS IS OCTOBER 23RD AND WE HAVE TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT YOU DO HAVE TO REQUEST A VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT FOR EACH ELECTION. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THIS SPECIAL ELECTION IS $60,000.
NOW I PUT THESE TWO QUESTIONS OUT THERE FOR YOU FOR CONSIDERATION. IT WOULDN'T BE MY RECOMMENDATION THAT WE SHRINK THE NUMBER OF POLLING PLACES OR THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE EARLY VOTING.
PEOPLE ARE CREATURES OF HABIT. WE'RE USED TO GOING TO OUR POLLING PLACES. THAT'S WHERE WE GO.
BUT I WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE. SHOULD WE DECIDE TO SHRINK THE NUMBER OF POLLING PLACES AND ELIMINATE EARLY VOTING, IT COULD DECREASE THE COST OF THE ELECTION. BY HOW MUCH, I DON'T KNOW.
WE DIDN'T GET THAT MUCH INTO THE DETAILS OF THE ELECTION BECAUSE THIS IS TRULY JUST AN ESTIMATE. THE ACTUAL COST IS WHAT WE WILL BE BILLED AT THE END OF THE ELECTION.
>> SO, MADAM MAYOR, THAT WAS THE QUESTION IN MY MIND, BASED ON WHAT WE ARE PRESENTED HERE, WE HAVE QUESTIONS BUT WE REALLY CAN'T ANSWER BECAUSE I NEED TO KNOW THE NUMBER OF POLLING PLACES IN DISTRICT 2 THAT WILL BE THERE AND WHAT WOULD PERHAPS I'M CONSIDERING TO SHRINK AND AS A RESULT OF THAT I'M LOOKING AT A BUDGET ITEM HERE THAT, AGAIN, WOULD IMPACT THAT BASED ON US EITHER DECREASING THAT.
AND THEN THE OTHER CAVEAT IS THE EARLY VOTING.
BASED ON $60,000 IS THAT BASED ON EARLY VOTING AND NORMAL PROCESS OF VOTING PLACES IN DISTRICT 2? AM I CORRECT ON THAT, THESE ARE VOTING PLACES IN DISTRICT 2
>> THERE'S NINE VOTING PLACES. OUR NEXT SLIDE SHOWS YOU --
>> I WOULD INTERJECT THAT IN MY OBSERVATION EARLY VOTING IS A POPULAR OPTION, AND PEOPLE REALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE TLAF THAT TO AVOID THE LINES THE DAY OF.
IT WILL HELP DRIVE THE TURNOUT, WHICH WE WANT.
WE WANT ALL THE CITIZENS' INPUT, ALL THE REGISTERED VOTERS
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TO HAVE THE ABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY TO VOTE, SO I BELIEVE SINCE THAT'S BEEN THE PRACTICE NOW FOR MULTIPLE ELECTION CYCLES, I BELIEVE THAT WE WOULD BE BEST SERVED TO CONTINUE THAT.>> I AGREE. I THINK THAT WE TRY TO MAKE THIS AS NORMAL AS POSSIBLE EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A SPECIAL ELECTION. WE TRY TO MAKE THIS BUSINESS AS USUAL, TRY TO GIVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CANDIDATES TO FILE AND EVERY OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PEOPLE TO VOTE. I AGREE.
>> I WANT TO DO WHATEVER WE DID FOR THE SPECIAL ELECTION IN DISTRICT 1 WHEN COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER PASSED AWAY. THERE WAS A SPECIAL ELECTION. AND WHATEVER WE DID IN DISTRICT 1, LET'S NOT CHANGE IT NOW, LET'S KEEP DOING WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.
IF I REMEMBER RIGHT IT WAS THREE OF US THAT RAN IN THAT SPECIAL ELECTION.
IT WAS THREE OF US THAT RAN. AND IF I CAN REMEMBER RIGHT, PEOPLE HAD THE RIGHT TO VOTE EARLY. PEOPLE HAD THE RIGHT TO VOTE BY MAIL- IN BALLOT. AND THEN PEOPLE HAD THE RIGHT TO VOTE ON ELECTION DAY. AND I DON'T REMEMBER ANY POLLING PLACES BEING CLOSED, BECAUSE I THINK I TRAVELED TO ALL OF THEM DURING THAT ELECTION TO SEE EVERYBODY AND THANK EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, TO VOTE.
WHATEVER WE DID, IT'S ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED. WHATEVER WE DID, LET'S JUST KEEP IT, BECAUSE THE LAST THING I WANT IS FOR SOMEBODY TO SAY THAT NOW THE CITY IS TRYING TO DIRECT OR DO WHATEVER WITH THIS ELECTION. LET PEOPLE VOTE HOW THEY'RE USED TO BEING VOTING AND LET'S MOVE ON. MY QUESTION IS JUST SIMPLE AS THIS, I AGREE WITH EVERYBODY, LET PEOPLE VOTE.
THERE'S $60,000. WHERE ARE WE GETTING THIS FROM? TRYING TO BE FUNNY. I'M NOT TRYING TO BE FUNNY. BUT LAST WEEK -- YEAH, LAST WEEK AT 1:00, I SAT IN A BUDGET HEARING, THE SECOND PART OF A BUDGET HEARING, BECAUSE THAT WAS A SPECIAL MEETING, AND WE FOUGHT ABOUT EVERY PENNY.
SO I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT -- SO WE ASKED DEPARTMENTS TO CUT THEN AND WE CAME UP WITH A NEGATIVE AND WE'RE STILL TRYING TRYING DO SOMETHING, SO WHERE ARE WE GETTING THIS MONEY?
>> FIRST OF ALL, OUR BUDGET IS NOT FINAL.
>> NOW MS. MORRIS HAS TO DO HER MAGIC ONCE AGAIN.
MS. COX, HAVE YOU IDENTIFIED ANY PLACE WHERE THIS MONEY IS COMING FROM?
>> NO, MA'AM, WE HAVEN'T GOT THAT FAR IN THE PROCESS.
>> I WILL SPEAK TO OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR.
SOME OF THESE FUNDS WILL SPILL OVER INTO NEXT FISCAL YEAR, SO THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT WE CAN USE FUNDS FROM THIS FISCAL YEAR AND FUNDS FROM THE FOLLOWING FISCAL YEAR, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THE HIT IN ONE FISCAL YEAR. I WILL DISCUSS THAT WITH THE DIRECTOR.
>> WE HAVE TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THAT IN OUR BUDGET, AND OUR BUDGET IS NOT FINAL YET.
>> MADAM MAYOR, I HAVE ONE SUGGESTION.
OBVIOUSLY THIS IS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.
WE MAY WANT TO LOOK AT THAT, OUR EMERGENCY RETAINAGE THAT WE CARRY AND CARRY FORWARD AS A SOURCE OF FUNDING, BECAUSE THIS TRULY IS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION SIMILAR TO A NATURAL DISASTER, CANDIDLY, BECAUSE IT IS A DISASTER.
AND SO I'M JUST SUGGESTING WHEN YOU'RE ANALYZING THE BUDGET SCENARIOS, LET'S JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND AND RAISE THAT AS AN OPTION THAT THE COMMISSION CAN TAKE A LOOK AT.
>> AND WE CANNOT NOT SPEND THE MONEY.
>> THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE. >> RIGHT.
RIGHT. ARE WE AGREED THE SAME NUMBER OF POLLING --
>> I ACTUALLY THOUGHT ARNOLD WAS GOING TO LOAN THE CITY MONEY.
I COULD RESPOND TO THAT BUT I WILL LEAVE THAT ALONE TONIGHT. BUT, NO, IT'S JUST, AGAIN, ALL I WANT IS WHATEVER HAPPENED DURING THE SPECIAL ELECTION WHEN COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER, WE RAN FOR COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER'S LAST SEAT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WE SPENT THEN.
BUT WHATEVER WE DID THEN, LET'S DO IT NOW SO WE WON'T HAVE ANY EMAILS SAYING, WELL, THEY TREATED IT DIFFERENT THAN DISTRICT 1.
WE HAVE THE RESOLUTION TODAY. LET'S MOVE ON. IT'S ALMOST LIKE EVERY TIME THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE TAKE A STEP FORWARD, WE'RE TAKING TWO STEPS BACK. SOMETHING COMES BACK.
MADAM MAYOR, I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAID IN YOUR
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OPENING STATEMENT. THE FOUR OF US WILL CONTINUE TO -- ALONG WITH THE CHARTER OFFICERS, CITY MANAGER, CITY CLERK AND MADAM ATTORNEY, THE FOUR OF US WILL CONTINUE TO RUN THE CITY.IT'S BEEN DONE BEFORE BECAUSE, AGAIN, WHEN COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER PASSED AWAY, IT WAS FOUR COMMISSIONERS THAT RAN THE CITY, SO WE'RE GOING TO RUN THE CITY. THERE'S MORE TIME FOR US. WE HAVE TO TIGHTEN OUR TIES AND JUST DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY IS RUN HOW WE WERE ELECTED TO RUN IT. SO, AGAIN, AS LONG AS WE DON'T DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN THE SPECIAL ELECTION WHEN WE HAD FOR COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER, I'M FINE WITH IT. I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING MADAM MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS SAID.
>> DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER DECISIONS TO MAKE, MS. COX?
>> WE CAN DO THAT BY CONSENSUS?
>> BECAUSE WE'RE DOING WHAT WE NORMALLY DO.
>> ALL RIGHTY. AND SO IF THERE'S NO OTHER DISCUSSION FOR -- I'M GOING TO MOVE ON.
>> JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR, WE MIGHT HAVE SAID IT, BUT JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR, BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN SOME STUFF GOING AROUND IN THE PUBLIC. THIS IS AN ELECTION FOR RESIDENT OF DISTRICT
>> IT'S ON THERE. SO IF YOU LIVE IN DISTRICT 2, YOU CAN VOTE FOR THIS SEAT. IF YOU'VE BEEN LIVING IN DISTRICT 2 FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS AND YOU WANT TO RUN, THROW YOUR HAT IN, ABIDE BY THE BREAKDOWNS OR GO SEE THE CITY CLERK AND SHE WILL GUIDE YOU HOW TO DO THE PAPERWORK.
SO JUST CLEAR ALL THE OTHER NONSENSE OUT THERE THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY CAN VOTE. THIS IS A DISTRICT 2 VOTE, AND THAT'S WHERE WE
ARE. >> AND THAT'S AN POSH IMPORTANT POINT. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS MS. COX IS OUR ELECTION OFFICIAL AND CAN YOU CONTACT HER. ANYTHING ELSE? YES, SIR?
>> I WANT TO REITERATE THE FACT THAT AND ASSURE THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE THAT BUSINESS WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE PLACE IN THE CITY. WE HAVE MANY INITIATIVES THAT ARE UNDER WAY, LARGE AND SMALL, A VARIETY OF THINGS GOING ON. CURRENTLY, CANDIDLY, THE CITY IS VERY BUSY WITH ACTIVITY AND DEVELOPMENT AND THINGS OF THIS NATURE.
THE CITY COMMISSION IS NOT GOING TO TAKE THEIR EYE OFF THE BALL OF ACCOMPLISH THOSE BUSINESS TASKS THAT WE ARE HANDED, AND I'M ABSOLUTE -- AND I KNOW MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS AND THE MAYOR ARE ABSOLUTE IN THAT AS WELL. BUSINESS WILL CONTINUE. THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO POINT OUT IS I KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN A STRESSFUL TIME FORFOR THE OF THE CITY OF
>> I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR PROFESSIONALISM IN DEALING WITH THIS MATTER TO DATE.
I KNOW THAT PROFESSIONALISM WILL CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD.
ON TOP OF THAT, I WANT TO GIVE THEM THE ASSURANCE THAT BUSINESS IS GOING TO GET HANDLED BY THE COMMISSION. THAT'S AN ABSOLUTE STOP.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO DEALING WITH THE CITY STAFF ON A CONTINUING BASIS TO MAKE SURE THAT TAKES PLACE AND I'M COMMITTED AS I KNOW THE REST OF THE FOLKS ARE TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS AND THIS IS A SEAMLESS PROCESS FROM BUSINESS ONGOING THROUGH THE ELECTION AS SEAMLESS AS ELECTIONS CAN BE AND THEN INTRODUCING A NEW REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT 2.
OKAY. SO YOU HAVE ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW. WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM.
>> YES, MA'AM. STILL THE SAME ITEM BUT A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION THAT WE WANTED TO PROVIDE YOU BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE ALL BEEN GETTING QUESTIONS RELATED TO WHAT'S GOING ON, WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS. THE RESIGNATION PUT A FINE POINT ON THAT THERE IS A FINALITY TO IT BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN A RESIGNATION, BUT, SO THAT YOU ALL HAVE THE INFORMATION AND WE KNOW THE OTHER OPTIONS THAT EXISTED, RELATED TO THE CITY COMMISSION ITSELF, YOU ALL DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO REMOVE ONE OF YOUR OWN FOR ANY REASON T.. YOU CANNOT REQUIRE THE RESIGNATION OR VOTE TO REMOVE THEM. YOUR OPTIONS WERE LIMITED TO MUCH OF NOTHING, QUITE HONESTLY. THE CODE OF ORDINANCES DOES STATE IF A COMMISSIONER MISSES FOUR CONSECUTIVE REGULAR MEETINGS WITHOUT AN EXCUSE, THEY ARE AUTOMATICALLY REMOVED.
THAT, HOWEVER, DOES NOT EVEN REQUIRE YOUR VOTE BECAUSE IT'S AUTOMATIC UNDER THE CHARTER -- SORRY, THE CODE OF ORDINANCES. YOU WERE LIMITED WHAT YOU COULD DO BASED ON THIS ARREST. THE OTHER ABILITY THAT
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EXISTS RELATES TO THETHE GOVERNOR.THIS IS CONTROLLED BY FLORIDA STATE STATUTE 112.51.
SO THERE ARE REALLY TWO WAYS THE GOVERNOR COULD HAVE SUSPENDED THE COMMISSIONER. ONE IS RELATED TO DIFFERENT INSTANCES OF MALFEASANCE, MISFEASANCE. YOU CAN SEE ON THE SLIDE, NEGLECT OF DUTY, INABILITY TO PERFORM OFFICIAL DUTIES.
THAT'S NOT REALLY THE SECTION OF THAT STATUTE THAT WE'RE UNDER. IT'S REALLY IN THE BEGINNING THERE RELATED TO SOMEONE THAT HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR A STATE FELONY OFFENSE.
WHAT THE STATUTE SAYS, THOUGH, IS THAT THE GOVERNOR'S ABILITY TO SUSPEND THAT ELECTED OFFICIAL, THAT COMMISSIONER, IS TRIGGERED BY THE FILING OF A FORMAL CHARGING DOCUMENT BY THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. THAT IS WHAT WE WOULD CALL AN INDICTMENT FROM A GRAND JURY OR AN INFORMATION FROM A PROSECUTOR, FROM A STATE ATTORNEY. THE ARREST ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH TO TRIGGER THAT PORTION OF THE STATUTE FOR THE GOVERNOR TO SUSPEND AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. SO THE ARREST OCCURRED THURSDAY.
THE INFORMATION IS WHAT WHEN IT IS FILED WOULD HAVE TRIGGERED THE GOVERNOR'S ABILITY TO MAKE ANY SORT OF SUSPENSION. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, THOUGH, THAT IS ONLY A SUSPENSION.
UNDER THAT STATUTE WHAT THEN WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IS THERETHERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A TEMPORARY VACANCY THAT GOT FILLED UNTIL THE CHARGES WERE RESOLVED IN A CIRCUIT COURT.
THE STATUTE GOES ON TO EXPLAIN THAT IT'S ONLY UPON A CONVICTION THAT THE GOVERNOR COULD ACTUALLY REMOVE THAT PERSON, AND I THINK, AS WE ALL KNOW, SOMETIMES COURT CASES IN THE CRIMINAL WORLD TAKE QUITE A WHILE, SO THERE WOULD BE A TEMPORARY PERSON THAT WOULD BE SITTING THERE FOLLOWING THE SUSPENSION UNTIL A PERMANENT REMOVAL ACTUALLY HAPPENED, AND THIS SITUATION WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR THAT BECAUSE WE DID RECEIVE THE RESIGNATION MUCH SOONER. IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT UNDER THAT STATUTE IF THE ELECTED OFFICIAL WERE TO BE FOUND NOT GUILTY, HAVE THEIR CHARGES DISMISSED, ANY WAY THAT THEY ARE NOT ACTUALLY CONVICTED, THEY WOULD ACTUALLY BE RESTORED TO THEIR POSITION, HAVE THAT SUSPENSION LIFTED, THEY WOULD BE ENTITLED TO BACK PAY.
AND SO THAT WOULD BE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT SCENARIO BUT, AGAIN, WE DON'T EVEN GET THERE BECAUSE WE RECEIVED THE RESIGNATION. THE FINAL REAL OPTION THAT EXISTED WAS, I THINK WE ALL KIND OF KNOW COMMONLY IS A VOTER RECALL. SO THERE IS A STATE STATUTE 100. 361 THAT CONTROLS THIS. THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION IN THERE.
I AM NOT GOING TO GET INTO ALL OF IT.
ESSENTIALLY THAT IS A PETITION BY THE REGISTERED VOTERS I PUT IN DISTRICT 1, IT SHOULD BE DISTRICT 2, I APOLOGIZE. 1 AND 2 ARE NOT MY BEST TODAY, SO IT'S THE VOTERS IN THE DISTRICT THAT HE WAS ELECTED FROM, DISTRICT 2, TO BE CLEAR. LINDA IS GIVING
ME -- >> I DIDN'T CATCH IT EITHER, I'M SORRY.
>> -- A DEATH GLARE. IN THAT STATUTE AS WELL IT SAYS THAT THIS PETITION FOR THE RECALL CANNOT BE FILED AGAINST AN ELECTED OFFICIAL UNTIL THEY HAVE SERVED ONE- FOURTH OF THEIR TERM, SO THAT MEANS JANUARY OFOF 2026 FOR COMMISSIONER TAYLOR'S SEAT.
SO, AGAIN, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE EARLIEST FOR A PETITION FOR RECALL, AGAIN, A LOT LATER THAN WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH HERE NOW WITH THAT RESIGNATION.
AND SO I BELIEVE THAT'S MY LAST SLIDE. JUST KIND OF WANTED TO GIVE YOU ALL THE LAY OF --
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW BUT ALSO IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE LISTENING HERE AND THE PEOPLE THAT WILL WATCH THIS LATER ON WHY WE'RE MOVING TONIGHT AND THE WAY WE'RE MOVING AND THE FACT THAT THE RESIGNATION HAS TRIGGERED THIS. AND SO ANY QUESTIONS OF MS. HEDGES? YES, SIR?
>> I'VE HAD MANY INQUIRIES ASKING WHY THE CITY COMMISSION DOESN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO REMOVE ONE OF ITS OWN, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY FOR THE ENTIRE CITIZENRY OF FORT PIERCE, PERSONALLY, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A VERY BAD IDEA. YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE IDEA OF USING A POLITICAL WEAPON AGAINST THE CITY COMMISSION, THAT WOULD SET UP, IN MY OPINION, AN AWFUL SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES FOR ANYBODY SITTING UP HERE, CANDIDLY, BE IT BASED ON ISSUE- BASED MATTER OR A PARTY- BASED MATTER, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. THAT'S SIMPLY, IN MY OPINION, A NONSTARTER. I BELIEVE THE PROCESSES THAT ARE IN PLACE AFFORD US THE ABILITY TO MANAGE A SITUATION LIKE THIS JUST LIKE WE HAVE DONE HERE. AS YOU'RE ALL AWARE, OR NOT AWARE, THERE WERE EXTENSIVE INITIATIVE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE GOVERNO'S OFFICE REGARDING THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR OFFICIAL WHO IS WERE VERY HELPFUL IN THAT PROCESS.TH
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PLUG HAS BEEN PULLED BASED ON RECEIVING THE LETTER OF RESIGNATION. THERE ARE MULTIPLE OPTIONS HERE TO DEAL WITH UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS THIS TO MANAGE THE SITUATION WITHOUT TURNING THAT CAPABILITY OVER TO A RAISING OF THE HAND HERE.>> THAT WOULD BE MY BIGGEST FEAR.
>> PERSONALLY, I AM SATISFIED WITH THE PROCESS THAT IS ARE IN PLACE BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT AFFORDS PROTECTIONS THAT DULY ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOULD HAVE AFFORDED TO THEM HERE AND NOT SOME PROCESS THAT CAN BE USED AS A POLITICAL BASEBALL BAT. SO I'M GOOD WITH IT.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT ON THE RECORD BECAUSE I'VE HAD A ZILLION INQUIRIES.
>> RIGHT, RIGHT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS BY COMMISSIONERS? ANYTHING ELSE? MS. HEDGES, YOU'RE GOOD?
>> YES, MA'AM, MADAM MAYOR. I THINK MS. COX EXPLAINED WE WILL BE BRINGING A RESOLUTION TO YOU ON AUGUST 4TH RELATED TO SETTING THE SPECIAL ELECTION THAT WILL BE THE VOTE TO OFFICIALLY SET THAT.
WE DON'T NEED ANY VOTES TONIGHT THAT WILL BE BROUGHT BACK TO YOU ON AUGUST 4TH.
>> BARRING ANY UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE DATES THAT YOU GAVE US TONIGHT WILL HOLD.
>> MADAM MAYOR, JUST FOR THE CORRECTION, IF YOU COULD CORRECT THAT FOR THE RECORD AND MAKE SURE IT'S BACK ON THE PORTAL SO PEOPLE CAN DOWNLOAD THE APPROPRIATE INFORMATION. AND I THINK THE OTHER THING, TOO, AS SOON AS WE HAVE THIS INFORMATION, I KNOW IT WILL BE BROADCAST JUST LIKE WE DO ANYTHING ELSE, BUT I'M ASKING FOR THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT TO SEND OUT TEXT MESSAGES LIKE WE DO FOR EVERYTHING ELSE TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE AWARE THAT WE'RE HAVING A SPECIAL ELECTION AND ONLY THOSE THAT LIVE IN DISTRICT 2 HAVE THE ABILITY TO VOTE IN THE SPECIAL ELECTION.
>> I HAVE ONE FURTHER REQUEST. LINDA, IS IT POSSIBLE TO SEND THE SCHEDULE OF DATES TO THE COMMISSIONERS JUST SO WE HAVE IT HANDY?
>> I HAVE THE PACKETS THAT I USUALLY PREPARE FOR EVERYBODY ALREADY PUT TOGETHER.
>> I CAN SHARE THAT WITH YOU AS WELL.
[5. 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.]
>> OKAY, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS COMMENTS FROM THE
PUBLIC. >> OKAY, THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TO COMMENT, AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. MS. COX WILL GIVE YOU A TEN-SECOND WARNING, AND COME FORWARD, PLEASE.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION AND ALL OF THE GREAT CITIZENS OF FORT PIERCE THAT'S HERE TODAY AND WATCHING TODAY.
MY NAME IS MR. MARIO WILCOX. I'M NO STRANGER.
I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY IN IN LIGHT OF THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, ALSO TO BRING A CONCERN.
WE'RE HERE TO DISCUSS A SPECIAL ELECTION, AND THROUGH THE WHOLE CONVERSATION IT SAID DISTRICT 2.
THE ONLY MENTION OF DISTRICT 1 WAS MADAM CITY ATTORNEY'S MISTAKE ON THAT SLIDE, BUT I WANT TO SAY DISTRICT 1 IS NOT A MISTAKE. DISTRICT 1 IS A GROUP OF CITIZENS, TAX PAYING CITIZENS. AND AS TAX PAYING CITIZENS, WE ARE IMPACTED BY THIS AS WELL.
WE'RE IMPACTED. DISTRICT 2 MAY HAVE A MORE DIRECT IMPACT, BUT LET'S BE HONEST, FORT PIERCE IS A CITY OF A WHOLE NOT IN PARTS. NOW YOU REPRESENT BY DISTRICTS BECAUSE YOU'RE SPREADING THE WEALTH TO KEEP FROM OVERLAPPING EVERYONE WORKING ON THE SAME THING AT ONE TIME. I GOT THAT. ALSO, YOU'RE REPRESENTED BY DISTRICTS TO MAKE SURE THERE'STHERE'S FAIR EQUITABLE REPRESENTATION. I GOT THAT. BUT I'M HERE TODAY TO MAKE SURE OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT IN A FAIR AND EQUITABLE MANNER AS WELL. SO I'M ALONG WITH COMMISSIONER GAINES, I WANT TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT HE SAID ABOUT THE $60,000. ONE, WHERE IS IT COMING FROM? MADAM MAYOR, YOU ANSWERED THAT QUESTION, YOU SAID THE BUDGET HASN'T BEEN APPROVED. MR. CITY MANAGER SAID THERE ARE SOME OPTIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO THROW ANOTHER OPTION OUT HERE. WHY IS DISTRICT 1 1TAX FUNDING A CAMPAIGN IN WHICH WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY SAY
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SO IN? THERE SHOULD BE NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION. THANK YOU.WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO NEXT? >> I WILL.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.
MY NAME IS FREDERICK JACKSON 902 HICKORY STREET HERE IN FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA. FIRST OF ALL, I DEFINITELY WANT TO EXTEND MY APOLOGY. APOLOGY FOR EVERYTHING THAT'S DEVELOPED OVERALL. NEXT, I WANT TO -- ASSUMING THAT EVERYTHING IS MOVING FORWARD APPROPRIATELY IN ACCORDANCE, I WANT TO VOICE MY CONCERN THAT PERHAPS WE COULD LOOK AT THE NEXT COMMISSIONER AS WELL AS THOSE THAT ARE PRESENT ON THE COUNCIL TO GIVE GREAT CONSIDERATION ON HOW TO MOVE FORWARD IN MATTERS THAT DO TAKE PLACE LIKE THIS.
MAYBE NOT IN PARTICULAR, THANK GOD SUCH A DEGREE AS IS, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE CITY EMPLOYEE, WHETHER IT'S THE CITY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OR A REGULAR EMPLOYEE, WHETHER SOMEONE ON THE COMMISSION, MANAGER, WHATEVER, BUT TO BE SURE THAT EVERYTHING WOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE FACTS, INFORMATION AS WELL AS NOT TO BE BRUSHED OVER WHATEVER THE FINDINGS ARE, NOT TO BE BRUSHED OVER AND NOT TO BE SO MUCH OVERKILL, BECAUSE, AT THE END OF THE DAY THINGS ARE WHAT THEY MAY BE, WHATEVER THE FINAL FINDINGS IS.
SO I WANT TO DEFINITELY REQUEST THAT THAT WE WOULD GIVE GREAT CONSIDERATION THAT WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE WHATEVER AS WE HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST AND PRESENTLY EXPERIENCING NOW AND MAY EXPERIENCE IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE AND MISTAKES, CRIMES, THIS, THAT, IT TAKES PLACE. BUT THAT WE WOULD LOOK CAREFULLY ON THE SIDE OF THE ONE THAT IS ACCUSED AND THE ONE THAT ACTUALLY BRINGS FORTH THE ALLEGATIONS OR THE CHARGES OF FACTS PRESENT EVEN FORWARD, NOT ONLY THEN BUT WITH GREAT CONSIDERATION BECAUSE AT THE ENDEND OF THE DAY THEY NEED WHAT THEY NEED WHAT RESOURCES AS WELL.
I'M KIND OF LOOKING AROUND BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE TIME, BUT DEFINITELY LET ME KNOW. I KNOW YOU WILL. NOT ONLY THE INDIVIDUAL OR THE INDIVIDUAL THAT BROUGHT FORTH OR THAT WILL BRING FORTH IN THAT MATTER TO HAVE THE NECESSARY RESOURCES AND SERVICES THAT WOULD BE NEEDED FOR BOTH TO COME BACK BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE GUILTY.
SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT. SOME MAKE GREAT COMEBACKS.
SOME DON'T. BUT, HOWEVER, NOT ONLY THEM BUT THEIR FAMILY, CONSIDERING THEIR EMPLOYEES, THEIR CO- WORKERS AND THEIR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONERS.
MAYOR HUDSON, CITY MANAGER, I'M JOYCE JACKSON AND I'M HEREHERE REPRESENT SOME VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES. ONE OF THEM IS A RETIRED EDUCATOR WHO IS IN HER LATE 80S, AND THE OTHER ONE IS HER SON WHO HAS RETIRED TO COME HOME TO TAKE CARE OF HIS MOTHER.
THE NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE LIQUOR STORE, THE DRIVE- THROUGH PARKING LOT AT NORTH AVENUE AND 25TH STREET HAS THIS LADY IN HER BED WITH HER BIBLE ACROSS HER STOMACH PRAYING FOR THE NOISE.
I HAVE HAD HELP FROM MY CITY COMMISSIONER. I'VE HAD HELP FROM MY POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE SON IS GETTING MORE WITH OUR DEPARTMENT AS MOTHER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, IT SATS WE HONOR -- WE SERVE AND HONOR, AND THIS YOUNG MAN HAD A MESSAGE THE OTHER NIGHT WHEN HE CALLED TO REPORT IT, AND I HAVE REPORTED TO HIM, DON'T CONTINUE TO CALL THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT. CALL 911 AND MAYBE CAN YOU GET THE COUNTY OUT THERE BETTER. I KNOW WE ARE LOW ON OFFICERS, BUT THERE ARE SOME OF THEM WHO, BECAUSE OF OUR DISTRICT, HAS NO BUSINESS AND NO IDEA THAT THEY NEED TO PROTECT US AS THEY DO OTHER PARTS OF FORT PIERCE. AND THIS OFFICER SAID TO THE
[00:35:03]
SON AFTER HE WAS ALREADY UPSET ABOUT THE NOISE EARLY SUNDAY MORNING, WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO? AND HE HAS HIS NAME ANDAND HAS SPOKEN TO OUR NOW ACT ING POLICE CHIEF ABOUT THIS SITUATION. MAYOR HUDSON, YOU KNOW THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON MORE THAN A YEAR NOW.COMMISSIONER GAINES, I THINK, HAS EVEN SPOKEN TO HIM.
BUT IT'S NOT RIGHT. THIS LADY IS A RETIRED EDUCATOR.
SHE GOES TO CHURCH. SHE GOES TO THE DOCTOR AND SHE GOES HOME. ALL SHE WANTS IS SOME REST.
AND IT'S JUST NOT FAIR. I KNOW WE HAVE SOME OFFICERS WHO, AS I STATED EARLY, BECAUSE, LIKE I SAY, I'M MOTHER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EVERY OFFICER OUT THERE KNOWS WHO JOYCE JACKSON IS AND I'M BEGGING FOR THE CITY MANAGER AND WHOEVER HELP CAN HELP US. GET IN TOUCH WITH ME AND LET ME GIVE YOU THE ADDRESSES OF THIS MOTHER AND SON. I KNOW HOW SHE FEELS BECAUSE MY SON DID THE SAME THING FOR ME.
HE STOPPED WORKING. HE GOT HURT, CAME HOME TO TAKE CARE OF HIS MOTHER. MAYOR HUDSON KNOWS THIS AS WELL AS OFFICERS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO PLEASE, PLEASE HELP. CITY MANAGER?
>> I AM CONTACT YOU, MS. JACKSON.
>> YOU KNOW THAT I WILL CONTACT YOU. I'LL BE IN TOUCH.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE EFFORT TO COME DOWN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS CHARLIE WILSON.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON A COUPLE THINGS.
ONE IS TO UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS AND HOW IMPORTANT MOVING QUICKLY IS. THE ABILITY TO GET A RESIGNATION FROM MR. TAYLOR HAS VERY MUCH HELPED THE SITUATION, AND IT'S ABOUT TIME THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, MR. TAYLOR DID SOMETHING ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS THAT HE WAS ELECTED TO REPRESENT.
BECAUSE YOU GOT A NEW CITY MANAGER WHO IS IN HIS NEW PERIOD, YOU HAVE A NEW POLICE CHIEF THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE -- YOU HAVE HUGE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE QUEUE TO BE DECIDED UPON. YOU HAVE HUGE THINGS TO DO.
AND THIS IS ALL GOING TO TAKE PLACE RELATIVELY SOON.
NOW THE SMALLEST TIME THAT YOU CAN HAVE TO DO A SPECIAL ELECTION IS 90 DAYS. THAT'S DETERMINED BY THE AMOUNT OF MAILING TIME YOU HAVE TO HAVE TO GET MILITARY BALLOTS OUT TO MILITARY PERSONNEL ACROSS THE GLOBE.
WE ARE TAKING 107 DAYS, WHICH IS ACCEPTABLE, BECAUSE, ACTUALLY, SINCE YOU HAVE THE HOLIDAYS IN BETWEEN, BUT IT'S TOO BAD THIS HAS TO FALL AND GO INTO THE GO INTO THE '26. NOW IT CAN BE DONE.
THERE ARE JUST A COUPLE THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU'RE DOING THE ELECTIONS.
MR. GAINES, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT KEEPING IT ALL EVEN, BUT I WANT TO POINT OUT IN DISTRICT 2 THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO PRECINCTS THAT HAVE UNDER 50 VOTERS.
NOW IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE THEM THEM THE ENTIRE PRECINCT, WHICH INCLUDES STAFFING THEM WITH AT LEAST THREE PEOPLE AND OPENING LOCATIONS SO THAT YOUYOU HAVE LESS THAN 50 VOTERS, I'M NOT SURE THAT'S REALLY AS GOOD A USE OF TIME.
THERE ARE ALSO, BECAUSE THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT FOR YOU TO HAVE ONE PRECINCT, YOU CAN HAVE -- YOU CAN COMBINE THEM FOR THIS AND YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT COMBINING SOME OF I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT, AS FAR AS I KNOW AND I COULD BE MISTAKEN, THERE ARE NO TRADITIONAL EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS IN DISTRICT 2.
THE TWO TRADITIONAL EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS YOU HAVE BOTH RESIDE, I BELIEVE, IN DISTRICT 1.
>> NONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT THINK THEY'RE GOING TO COME TO EARLY VOTING ARE GOING TO GO TO THEIR NORMAL PLACE WHERE THEY GO TO EARLY VOTING.
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO HAVE EARLY VOTING FOR DISTRICT 2, YOU WILL HAVE TO CHOOSE ANOTHER LOCATION AND YOU'LL HAVE TO PUT THEM THERE.
SO YOU PROBABLY COULD SAVE $20,000 BY DOING SOME VERY SMALL CHANGES TO BE REASONABLE IN THIS ELECTION PERIOD. HOWEVER, I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF IT, AND I UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF US DOING THIS WHERE WE'RE A COMMUNITY TOGETHER.
DISTRICT 2 IS GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOME HEALING.
MY HAT'S OFF TO COMMISSIONER BRODERICK FOR LEADING THE CHARGE WITH SOME OF THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, SENATOR M. AST TO HELP MOVE MR. TAYLOR IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. UNFORTUNATELY THE MAJORITY OF THE WEIGHT NOW WILL MOVE TO YOU.
>> I THINK YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT SOME ELECTION INFORMATION.
>> SIR. ANYONE ELSE? WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO NEXT?
[00:40:06]
>> HI. MY NAME IS MRS. PERRY AND I RESIDE IN WHITE CITY.
I WANT TO EXPRESS SADNESS AND SHOCK OVER WHAT HAS HAPPENED BUT ALSO OUR CONCERN JUST HEARING THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE AT LEAST FOUR MONTHS TO GET SOMEONE ELSE TO REPRESENT DISTRICT 2.
IT'S CONCERNING THAT WE WON'T HAVE REPRESENTATION FOR OUR AREA THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO US.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S OTHER MEANS TO PUT SOMEBODY IN TO WORK WITH MR. BRODERICK, OR IF THIS IS JUST HOW IT HAS TO GO. BUT IT IS A CONCERN THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE TWO PEOPLE REPRESENTING US.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WHO ELSE WOULD LIKE TO GO? ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. SEEING NO MOVEMENT, IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE FROM THE COMMISSION -- COMMISSIONER GAINES?
>> I JUST WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON A FEW THINGS.
YOU ALWAYS AS A SON OF FORMER EDUCATORS, MADAM CLERK AND MADAM ATTORNEY, IF THERE IS SOME WAY THAT IF WHAT WAS SAID 50 PEOPLE IN ONE PRECINCT OR NO EARLY VOTING, CAN WE LOOK AT THAT JUST TO SEE IF MONEY CAN BE SAVED? IF NOT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE VOTING FROM ANYBODY, BUT IF THERE'S SOME WAY THAT WE CAN LOOK INTO TRYING TO SAVE SOME MONEY AND GIVE EVERYBODY THE OPPORTUNITY AND A PLACE TO VOTE EARLY IF THEY WANT TO VOTE EARLY, I WOULD ASK THAT WE LOOK AT THAT JUST TO SEE.
IF THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTION OFFICE COMES BACK AND SAYS, NO, AT LEAST WE MADE THE ATTEMPT -- WE MADE THE ATTEMPT TO DO SO. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO SAY, MADAM MAYOR, IS CAN FORT PIERCE BE THE EXAMPLE OF THE NATION? CAN WE NOT MAKE THIS POLITICAL? CAN WE NOT MAKE THIS POLITICAL? WHY WE'RE HERE HAS NOTHING TO DO RIGHT SIDE, LEFT SIDE, MIDDLE SIDE, EAST SIDE, WEST SIDE, WHEREVER WE ARE.
IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT. SO CAN WE ALL COME TOGETHER TO PUT AS COMMISSIONER JOHNSON FIRST DID WHEN HE WAS ELECTED? WE WEAR THESE PINS. NOW IS THE TIME TO SAY, YES, WE ARE ONE FORT PIERCE AND EVERYBODY MOVES TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE WE SET THE EXAMPLE FOR THE NATION. WE'RE IN A SITUATION WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT FOR EVERYBODY AND FOR THE YOUNG LADY THAT JUST SPOKE, I DON'T WANT YOU FEELING THAT YOU DON'T HAVE REPRESENTATION. AS LONG AS I'M SITTING IN THIS SEAT AND I KNOW I WAS VOTED FOR THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 1, BUT IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT DISTRICT 2, MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN, AND I WILL LISTEN TO YOUR AND I WILL COME TO THIS BOARD AND PRESENT YOUR CONCERNS BECAUSE, IN MY EYES, YOU ARE A RESIDENT OF FORT PIERCE. ANYBODY HERE THAT HAS COME TO SEE ME KNOWS THAT I TAKE ALL COMPLAINTS AND TRY TO HANDLE THEM. DON'T FEEL YOU WILL NOT BE REPRESENTED. CAN WE JUST MOVE FORWARD, LEAVE THE POLITICS OUT AND LET'S MAKE FORT PIERCE A BETTER CITY MOVING FORWARD?
>> YES, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD, TOO, THAT WHEN YOU'RE ELECTED, EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE ELECTED AND THE VOTERS OF ONE AREA OF FORT PIERCE CHOOSES YOU, THESE COMMISSIONERS UP HERE TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY THAT THEY NEED TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE CITY.
>> AND THE MAYOR IS THE ONLY ONE THAT'S ELECTED CITYWIDE, BUT COMMISSIONERS ARE ELECTED IN A DISTRICT, BUT THAT'S THE FIRST THING THAT THEY LEARN WHEN THEY WALK IN HERE IS THEY'RE MAKING DECISIONS FOR THE WHOLE CITY, AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT.
COMMISSIONER BRODERICK, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING?
>> A COUPLE QUICK COMMENTS. ONE, I AGREE WITH THE COMMENTARY ABOUT AN EARLY VOTING LOCATION IN DISTRICT 2. THE TWO CURRENT ARE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTION OFFICE AND -- YEAH. THE TWO PROMINENT OR HEAVIESTHEAVIEST STATIONS IN DISTRICT 2 IS THE DAYS INN AND ON THE BEACH.
I'M GOING TO SUGGEST CAN WE PURSUE SHIFTING THE EARLY VOTING -- THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS OFFICE I THINKTHINK IS BUT I THINK WE NEED A LOCATION
[00:45:01]
WITHIN THE PRECINCT. THAT'S POINT NUMBER ONE.IF WE CAN INVESTIGATE THAT, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
TWO, IS THAT I THINK THE TWO LIGHTEST POLLING STATIONS IN DISTRICT TWO IS THE POLLING STATION UP IN THE NORTH SECTION OF THE DISTRICT.
>> I THINK IT'S THE CHURCH ON OLEANDER, THE TWO LIGHTEST TURNOUTS IF MEMORY SERVES ME RIGHT.
WE MAY WANT TO CONSIDER THAT AS A COST SAVING MEASURE.
LET'S ENUMERATE THE NUMBER AND SEE IF THERE'S SOME VALUE TO CUTCUT STAT BUT IT'S CRITICAL TO GET AN EARLY VOTING LOCATION IN DISTRICT 2.
AND THEN, THIRDLY, I'M GOING TO REQUEST FROM THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE AS AN ACCOMMODATION TO ACCOMMODATE ALL THEIR NEEDS IF I NEED TO EXPAND MY OFFICE HOURS AT CITY HALL, I WILL DO SO.
IF ANYBODY HAS AN ISSUE THAT WANTS TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE FROM DISTRICT 2, IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY -- FRONTLINE RESPONSIBILITY FALLS TO ME, BUT I DO APPRECIATE THE BACKUP.
SO I WILL EXPAND MY OFFICE HOURS TO WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ACCOMMODATE ANY REQUESTS FOR TIME WITH
ME. >> AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO BACK YOU UP, TOO.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> I WANT TO ADD ONE THING TO THAT POINT.
LET'S JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT VOTER TURNOUT WHEN IT COMES TO ELIMINATION OF A DISTRICT. I HEARD YOU SAY THAT.
THOSE VOTER DISTRICTS WERE PUT THERE BASED BASEDON POTENTIAL OF PEOPLE VOTING THERE AND WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO IS CLOSE SOMETHING BECAUSE IT HAD POOR TURNOUT BEFORE.
>> AND PEOPLE GO LOOKING FOR IT. LET'S HAVE A BALANCE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE EVALUATING IT. MY INITIAL THOUGHT WAS THIS, LOOK÷÷ AT THE NUMBERS. WE NEED TO SEE IF WE CAN FINANCIALLY AND FISCALLY DO THE RIGHT THING HERE PROVIDING FAIR OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY TO VOTE BUT LET'S MAKE SURE WE'RE MAXIMIZING OUR DOLLARS WHEN IT COMES TO THIS.
THE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THIS, AND YOU'RE RIGHT, COMMISSIONER GAINES, IT'S ONE FORT PIERCE.
WE ALL UP HERE TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY.
WE'LL MEET WITH YOU NO MATTER WHAT DISTRICT YOU LIVE IN AS LONG AS IT'S IN THE CITY BOUNDARIES OF FORT PIERCE, AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU SAY THAT. BUT I'LL SAY THIS, TERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE HURTING. THIS HAS TRIGGERED SOME THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY FROM PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE HAD, UNFORTUNATELY, TOO MUCH OF A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR AND ACTIVITY, AND I WOULD JUST ASK FOR THOSE THAT ARE OUT THERE, AND THIS IS A VERY PRAYING COMMUNITY TO PRAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW. THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE INSTANTLY TRIGGERED BY THIS AND BUSINESS OWNERS THAT HAVE PUT FAITH IN ELECTED -- THIS ELECTED LEADER AND THEY ARE HURTING AS WELL. AND SO I HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS COMMUNITY HAS WEATHERED A LOT OF STORMS. WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS. THERE IS -- THE COMMISSION HAS ACTED IN OUR JURISDICTION WHAT WE HAD TO DO HERE, BUT THERE'S WHOLE OTHER COURT PROCESS THAT'S GOING TO BE PLAYED OUT, UNFORTUNATELY, IN THE PUBLIC. AND THAT'S GOING TO BE THE JUDGE, THE LAWYERS AND ALL OF THAT STUFF THAT GOES ON AND, UNFORTUNATELY, FORT PIERCE WILL ENDURE THIS WHILE THAT PROCESS BEGINS TO GO AND IT'S GOING TO START WTH CHARGING DOCUMENTS. WE'RE GOING TO RUN THE CITY.
WE'LL BE HERE TO SERVE. I ASK THOSE PRAYER WARRIORS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO PRAY FOR THE VICTIM OF THIS, THIS YOUNG PERSON, THIS YOUNG CHILD, AND WE HAVE THAT GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT HERE IN FORT PIERCE. LET'S TRY TO GET THROUGH THIS AND, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, AS WEWE A FIREFIGHTER TO REST THIS SATURDAY, A NUMBER OF US SIT ON THE FIRE BOARD.
I'M THE CHAIR OF THE FIRE BOARD.
THAT FAMILY IS HURTING. OUR COMMUNITY IS HURTING AND THIS COMPOUNDS THAT. I JUST ASK FOR YOU OUT THERE THAT BELIEVE IN THE LORD, CONTINUE TO KEEP FORT PIERCE IN YOUR PRAYERS.
>> MAYOR, JUST A QUICK FOLLOW- UP AND WE CAN GET OUT OF HERE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT, COMMISSIONER JOHNSON.
I'M GOING TO TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER.
YES, I BELIEVE IN PRAYER WARRIORS, BUT I ALSO BELIEVE IN PEOPLE THAT WENT TO SCHOOL TO HELP PEOPLE IN THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS. AND IF I HAVE CITY EMPLOYEES, AS YOU SAID, THAT COULD BE TRIGGERED BY SOMETHING, PLEASE SEEK THE HELP THAT THE CITY PROVIDES TO DEAL WITH WHATEVER ISSUES YOU'RE DEALING WITH.
WE PROVIDE THAT HELP AND IF NEED BE, IF I REACH OUT TO THE SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY OR SAN FRANCISCO SCHOOLS THAT MIHT NEED SOMETHING, REACH OUT TO THE PEOPLE.
SO I'M ASKING MY COLLEAGUES FROM THE COUNTY TO OPEN UP
[00:50:01]
SOMETHING AT THE COUNTY OFFICES, IF ANY EMPLOYEES MIGHT NEED TO TALK AND IF MY COLLEAGUES ARE HERE FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD, YOU KNOW, LET'S DO THE SAME THING, REACH OUT BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHATWHAT TRIGGERS OR WHO THIS COULD AFFECT AND LET'S MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RESOURCES IN ALL THREE OF THESE BODIES TO HELP THESE INDIVIDUALS.>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT. MS. HEDGES, WE HAVE OFFERED THAT TO OUR EMPLOYEES.
>> MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, RISK MANAGEMENT HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY MANAGER TO PROVIDE SERVICES ON SITE. OUR EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE DAYS. THERE'S SOMETHING SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW AS WELL. WE ARE WORKING WITH EMPLOYEES TO OFFER ANY SERVICES THAT WE CAN --
>> TO SUPPORT OUR STAFF, RIGHT.
>> THIS HAS BEEN A HARD- HITTING SITUATION.
OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE? ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO ADJOURN. AND SO WHAT WE'D LIKE TO YOU DO IS IF YOU'D YOU'D OUT OF THE CHAMBER, AND THAT INCLUDES THE MEDIA.
IF YOU MOVE OUT OF THE CHAMBER, THEY WILL BE TURNING OFF THE LIGHTS. IF YOU WANT TO TALK TO ANYBODY, YOU CAN TALK TO THEM OUT IN THE FOYER.
WE WILL BE ADJOURNING RIGHT NOW. PLEASE MOVE OUT TO THE FOYER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.