Aug 11, 2025 City Commission Regular Meeting

[1. Call to Order]

[00:00:11]

CITY OF FORT PIERCE COMMISSION DAY MEETING THIS IS MONDAY, AUGUT 11, 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.

>> CALL THE ROLL PLEASE. >> MAYOR HUDSON PRESENT,

[4. Approval of Minutes]

COMMISSIONER JOHNSON PRESENT. >> APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JULY

>> APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JULY 14

>> APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JULY 14, 2025 DAY MEETING.

>> MOTION APPROVED. >> MOTION AND SECOND CALL THE

[6. Additions or deletions to agenda and approval of the agenda.]

ROLL PLEASE. >> TREND SUGGESTS COMMISSIONER GAINES YES COMMISSIONER JOHNSON YES MAYOR HUDSON YES MEN.

>> ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA AND STAFF IS REQUESTING ITEMS EIGHT B AND 10 A BE PULLED

FROM THE AGENDA. >> WITH THAT CHANGES THEIR

MOTION? >> APPROVAL.

>> SECOND. >> CALL THE ROLL PLEASE.

>> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK YES MA'AM COMMISSIONER GAINES YES MA'AM COMMISSIONER JOHNSON YES MA'AM MAYOR HUDSON YES MA'AM .

>> ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE

[A. Presentation of the 2025 Legislative Session Final Report by Ryan Matthews, of GrayRobinson.]

COME BACK TO THE AGENDA. >> FIRST I'M ON THE AGENDA IS THE PRESENTATION OF THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION FINAL REPORT BY RYAN MATTHEWS OF GRAY ROBINSON.

>> DO YOU HAVE A LEAD-IN? >> MR. RYAN MATTHEWS IS THE LOBBYING DEPUTY SECTION CHAIR OF GRAY ROBINSON AND HE WILL GIVE US A LEGISLATIVE SESSION SUMMARY.

>> GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, HOW ARE YOU THIS MORNING? MONDAY, IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU. AS AUDREY IS PULLING UP OUR PRESENTATION. WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED TRUST IN GRAY ROBINSON, AT THIS POINT WE HAVE REPRESENTED THE CITY FOR THE LAST THREE LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS, STARTING WITH GOOD NEWS BECAUSE THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE SUCH AN OPTIMISTIC PRESENTATION UNFORTUNATELY WITH SOME OF THE STUFF HAPPENING IN TALLAHASSEE BUT WE HAVE A TWO LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN BRINGING BACK TO THE CITY THIS YEAR, THE FIRST 13 STREET FOR HALF $1 MILLION, THE SECOND WAS POLICE DEPARTMENT FUNDING JUST UNDER 1/$4 MILLION OR SO. LARGELY DUE TO EFFORTS AND THEIR PARTNERSHIP ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE I KNOW YOU HAVE A LONG MEETING WANT TO BE EFFICIENT WITH YOUR TIME STARTED A MACROLEVEL WORKING TO A MICRO LEVEL ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT IS UPCOMING IN THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION. AS WITH ALL GRAY ROBINSON PRESENTATIONS THIS IS MY GLAMOUR SHOT THAT'S MANDATED.

YOU KNOW MOSTLY ABOUT ME SO WE DON'T NEED US ARE THERE. MACRO FIRST WHY DID WE HAVE A 105 DAY LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHEN TYPICALLY THEY ARE 60? YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

NOT SURPRISINGLY THERE ARE SUPER MAJORITIES OF REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE WITH 120 MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND 40 MEMBER SENATE AND IN THE SENATE 20 REPUBLICANS 40 COME IN THE HOUSE 86 OUT OF 120. MAJORITY PARTY LARGELY CONTROLS THE RULES HAVE A SUPER MAJORITY YOU WRITE THE RULES OF PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE AND EFFECTIVELY THERE ARE NO RULES. THIS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, THAT'S GOING TO DICTATE WHAT COMES OUT OF TALLAHASSEE IN TERMS OF LEGISLATION. SINCE I WAS HERE LAST TIME THERE HAS BEEN QUITE A FEW SHAKEUPS IN THE WHO'S WHO IN THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR. WE HAVE HAD A VACANT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR POSITION SINCE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR NUNEZ BECAME PRESIDENT OF FIU. WE WOULD ANTICIPATE THE SEAT IS FILLED IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO. A LOT OF CHANGE OVER WITHIN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE BETWEEN CHIEF OF STAFF DIRECTOR OF OFFICE OF POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS DIRECTOR WE HAVE A NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL SINCE THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE IN FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF AND A NEW CFO. FORMALLY THE STATE SENATOR APPOINTED CFO WAS ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND HE HAS HIT THE GROUND RUNNING WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT HERE BRIEFLY. THIS IS EFFECTIVELY THE SUCCESS OF LEADERSHIP, THE SPEAKER FROM MIAMI HAS HIS TEAM AROUND HIM REPRESENTATIVE SAM GARRISON ON THE BOTTOM SCREEN WILL TAKE OVER AFTER 2026 AND IN THE FLORIDA SENATE WE HAVE SENATOR , CITRUS FARMER GOING INTO HIS LAST YEAR

[00:05:04]

WE KNOW JIM BOYD WILL BE THE NEXT SENATE PRESIDENT AND FOLLOWING HIM WILL BE BRIEFLY ABOUT WHY WE HAD THE 105 DAY SESSION. THE TENSION BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND GOVERNOR'S OFFICE STARTED IN JANUARY WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WITH THREE CONCURRENT SPECIAL SESSIONS RELATED TO IMMIGRATION. THE GOVERNOR CALLED A SPECIAL SESSION IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE , GAMBLED INTO THE SPECIAL SESSION WITHIN 15 MINUTES GAMBLED OUT, THEY HAD THEIR OWN IDEAS ABOUT IMMIGRATION. THAT STARTED AGAIN A DIFFICULT AND TENUOUS BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THOSE STREAMED RELATIONSHIPS, BUT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME GOVERNOR DESANTIS EXPERIENCED THAT, THE PRIOR SIX YEARS LEGISLATURE HAD BEEN WILLING TO DO WHAT HE WANTED TO DO FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE SO THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME WE SAW PUSHBACK FROM THE LEGISLATURE. SO THIS SESSION WE HAD 1959 BILLS FILED, 269 PASSED, 246 AND BY THE GOVERNOR, 11 WERE VETOED, THERE ARE NO MORE BILLS HE NEEDS TO SIGN WITH THREE BILLS BECOMING LAW WITHOUT HIS SIGNATURE. THERE WERE 2500 ALMOST 2600 PREPARATIONS FILED IN THE HOUSE, 550 OR SO IN THE SENATE AND WHAT BECAME PRIORITY ISSUES FOR EACH TELLS THE TALE OF WHAT HAPPENED WHILE THE GOVERNOR AS YOU HAVE WELL KNOWN BY NOW IS PUSHING FOR PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, HE HAS ALSO GONE ABOUT SORT OF CEMENTING HIS TENURE AS GOVERNOR AND PUSHING FORWARD, PROPPING UP FLORIDA IN HIS LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT THE NATION AND OBVIOUSLY THERE HAS BEEN ONE RUN FOR PRESIDENT'S OFFICE , A LOT OF FOLKS ARE CONTEMPLATING OR THINKING THERE WILL BE A SECOND RUN FOR PRESIDENT'S OFFICE BUT I THINK WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IS A DEFINITIONAL OR CEMENTING OF WHAT HIS LEGACY LOOKS LIKE WITH ONE LEGISLATIVE SESSION LEFT IN TALLAHASSEE SO YOU WILL LIKELY SEE A BOLD VISION FROM HIM UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF THAT DEALS WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVENUES SO WE HAVE SEEN WE HAVE SEEN A PUSH FOR SOME FORM OF PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, THE PROBLEM IS NOW WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. IN ORDER TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WANT TO BE PASSED OR OFFERED TO THE VOTERS IN THE 2026 GENERAL ELECTION. SO YOU CAN WELL BUT 2026 WILL BE FOCUSED HEAVILY ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, IS THAT AN INCREASE IN NON-HOMESTEAD OR HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS IS IT A COMPLETE ABOLITION? WHEN WE STARTED THIS CONVERSATION A MAJORITY OF THE NARRATIVE WAS LET'S REMOVE PROPERTY TAX FROM THE EQUATION ALTOGETHER. MOST FOLKS HAVE BACKED OFF OF THAT BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY THAT IS A $55 BILLION HIT ON THE STATE BUDGET. ULTIMATELY OR AT LEAST ON MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY BUDGETS.THE STATE AND THAT'S GOING TO CREATE AN EVEN FURTHER NEED ON ASSISTANCE FROM TALLAHASSEE. WE WOULD TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION AND I WILL KEEP GOING WITH A DIFFERENT PRIORITIES. SENATE PRESIDENT AS A CITRUS FORMER FOCUSED ON A RURAL RENAISSANCE HAD A COMPREHENSIVE LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE DEALING WITH RURAL AREAS OF THE STATE RELATED TO EDUCATION, FUNDING, TRANSPORTATION ET CETERA ULTIMATELY THE BILL DID NOT PASS. DUE TO SOME OF THE STRAIN BETWEEN THE SPEAKER AND THE SENATE PRESIDENT. THE SPEAKER GOING INTO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WAS NOT VERY OPEN ABOUT WHAT HIS PRIORITIES WERE. MOVING TO THE PROCESS WE BEGIN TO SEE WHAT THOSE WERE AT FIRST AND FOREMOST HE OFFERED UP A POTENTIAL SALES TAX REDUCTION FROM 6% TO 5.5% THROUGHOUT THE STATE, IT WAS THE SALES TAX REDUCTION THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE HOLD UP AND DELAY IN FINALIZING THE STATE BUDGET. WE WENT FROM THE PROCESS BECAUSE THE HOUSE AND SENATE CANNOT

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YEARLY TAX PACKAGE WAS A ROBUST MEASURE THIS YEAR WE HAD FULLY ELIMINATED THE FLORIDA BUSINESS RENT TAX, WE HAVE A GOOD TWO DOZEN DIFFERENT TYPE OF SALES TAX HOLIDAYS AND REPEALED FLORIDA'S AVIATION FUEL TAX ONE OF THE POLICY FIGHTS WE HAD THIS YEAR DEALS WITH TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAXES, THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT PROPOSALS PUT FORWARD AS IT RELATED TO THE APPEAL OF THE TDT TAXES OR SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE WAY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THOSE TAXES THOSE ULTIMATELY FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE DID NOT PASS BUT WILL BE BACK IN 2026. WE HAD $1.35 BILLION WORTH OF LINE ITEM VETOES. A BIG CHUNK OF THAT WAS A HOUSE PROPOSAL WHICH WOULD PUT FORWARD 3/$4 BILLION A TRANSFER GENERAL REVENUE TO A BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND, THIS WAS LOOKING TO BOLSTER STATE RESERVES THAT ULTIMATELY WAS VETOED, BUT I THINK, THE THINKING BEHIND THAT WAS PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO HURRICANE RESPONSE, NOT KNOWING WHAT THE FEDERAL FEMA AGENCY AND FUNDING WOULD LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS IN TALLAHASSEE ARE THINKING THAT RESERVES NEED TO BE BOLSTERED IN CASE STATES ARE TAKING ON MORE OF A ROLE IN HURRICANE RECOVERY AND RESPONSE. THIS WAS SOME OF THE TORT REFORM INDIVIDUAL PIECES AT THE SPEAKER LOOKED TO PASSED THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION MOST OF WHICH FAILED. FOR THOSE WHO WERE READING IN THE NEWS, ONE OF THOSE POINTS OF CONTENTION BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE GOVERNOR RELATED TO HOPE FLORIDA AND SOME SPENDING THAT WENT ON TO DEFEAT THE PAST CONSTITUTIONAL BUDGET CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT MEASURES AS IT RELATED TO MARIJUANA AND ABORTION, THE HOUSE CREATED A SPECIAL COMMITTEE WITH MULTIPLE COMMITTEE HEARINGS ON HOPE FLORIDA AND THE WAY THE ORGANIZATION WAS RUN. AGAIN THE BAD BLOOD OR THE TENSION BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND THE HOUSE HAS SUBSIDED A BIT BUT IT WILL BE A KEY POINT OF THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN TERMS OF HOW EVERYONE IS GETTING ALONG.

THE FURTHER RESTRICTIONS ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AS IT RELATES TO SIGNATURE GATHERING, WHO CAN PAY FOR SOME OF THE EFFORTS AROUND PASSING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS IN THE

[00:15:03]

REALLY THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT STORM WITHIN 100 MILES WITHIN YOUR AREA FOR TWO YEARS FOR THE PROBLEM BURDENSOME IS NOT DEFINED WITHIN SO YOU ARE EFFECTIVELY HANDCUFFED , IF YOU WILL, I BELIEVE ENTITIES LOOKING TO MAKE SOME CHANGE TO SENATE BILL IN 2026 WHETHER OR NOT THAT SUCCESSFUL DEPENDS ON HOW MANY FOLKS ARE PAYING ATTENTION. SO WHENEVER YOU SEE BILLS THAT FAILED YOU CAN GET A GOOD IDEA ABOUT WHAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE COMING BACK IN 2026. WE HAD MULTIPLE BILLS DEALING WITH PROPERTY INSURANCE THAT FAILED, WE HAD NINE DIFFERENT BILLS DEALING WITH PROPERTY TAXES THAT FAILED IN 2025 AND AGAIN THAT RAN THE SPECTRUM OF SIMPLY DOING A STUDY INTO PROPERTY TAXES AND THE REVENUES THAT COME IN AND WHERE THOSE MONIES ARE SPENT INTO A FULL-SCALE ACTUAL CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROPOSAL THAT WOULD HAVE GIVEN THE LEGISLATURE AUTHORITY TO CHANGE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS SOLELY THROUGH THEIR OWN POWER AS OPPOSED TO GOING THROUGH CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. ANOTHER BROTHER WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THAT HAD SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE CITY, CRA'S. THE CRA BILL WAS SIGNIFICANT FIGHT THROUGHOUT LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHICH WOULD'VE EFFECTIVELY SUNSET IT CRA'S BY OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR, ULTIMATELY THE STAND-ALONE BILL FAILED, HOWEVER A SESSION WAS ENDING IT WAS AMENDED ON TO THE SENATE RESIDENT WORLD RENAISSANCE BILL THAT ULTIMATELY BECAME PART OF THE CALL THE SPECIAL SESSION WHERE WE PASSED A BUDGET. NOTHING PASSED ULTIMATELY RELATED TO THE CRA'S , BUT I CAN ALL BUT GUARANTEE THAT LEGISLATION WILL BE BACK AND UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE PASSED PREVIOUSLY THE 2019 CRA REFORM ENHANCED ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF LEGISLATION BY ANECDOTE OR YOU MAY HAVE ONE OR TWO BAD ACTORS , FOLKS WHO MAY NOT BE STRICTLY COMPLYING WITH THE RULES GOVERNING CRA'S AND IT'S CAUSING HARM TO ALL CRA'S. IT IS ONE WE WILL CERTAINLY BE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN, IN 2026 AND PAYING ATTENTION TO, SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY THE LAST SIX YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTS TO RAISE CAPS ON SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY THAT HAVE FAILED AGAIN I CAN ALL BUT GUARANTEE IN 2026 THOSE WILL BE BACK. AGAIN I TALKED ABOUT THE COCKINESS OF THE SESSION, A LOT OF THAT WAS TENSION RELATED, A LOT OF THAT AT THE START WE WERE WORKING UNDER A CONDENSED OR COMPRESSED TIME SCHEDULE WITH FOUR INCHES OF SNOW IN TALLAHASSEE WHICH IS A ONE IN 100 YEAR EVEN CANCELING A FULL WEEK OF COMMITTEE WEEKS. THE DYNAMICS BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE SEEMINGLY STARTED OFF OKAY AS THEY WERE ALIGNED ON IMMIGRATION AND THEN KIND OF SPLINTERED AS WE MOVE THROUGHOUT THE SESSION. REALLY TELLING IN 2026 WILL BE CAN THE HOUSE AND SENATE COME BACK TOGETHER IN WHAT IS THE GOVERNOR'S LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION SO WHAT DO WE ANTICIPATE , REALLY AGAIN I THINK FROM A LOCAL GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE WILL BE CONTINUED ATTEMPTS TO REMOVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVENUE SOURCES AND THE BIGGEST CONVERSATION IS GOING TO CENTER AROUND PROPERTY TAXES. I MENTIONED FORMER SENATOR FLORIDA OFFICE HAS BECOME A BIT MORE ROBUST AND SINCE CFO TOOK OFFICE WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WHO HAVE HAD DOGE EMPLOYEES COME TO THE CITY OR COUNTY AND EFFECTIVELY DO A

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THOSE ARE THE TERMS THAT THE DOGE OFFICE KEEPS USING AS IT COMES TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVENUES SO THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE UNTIL THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION MEETING UP TO 2026 WHERE WE MIGHT HAVE MULTIPLE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS RELATED TO PROPERTY TAXES ON THE BALLOT. AND SO FROM A LOCAL GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE AGAIN WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT A POLICY FORECAST , I THINK THE MOST TIME IS GOING TO BE SPENT ON PROPERTY TAXES AND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES IS DOING GOOD WORK AS IT RELATES TO COLLECTING DATA AND BUILDING OUT THE CASE IF MULTIPLE AVENUES ARE PURSUED, WHAT EFFECT WILL THAT HAVE ON THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF RELATED FLORIDIANS COMES TO THE SERVICES MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT PROVIDES. ONE OF THE THINGS THE HOUSE HAS DONE, THEY HAVE CREATED A SELECT COMMITTEE ON PROPERTY TAXES WHERE FIVE PROPOSALS WERE FLOATED, THAT COMMITTEE IS COCHAIRED BY REPRESENTATIVE LOPEZ AND REPRESENTATIVE HAVE HAD MEETINGS IN TALLAHASSEE AND I KNOW THE PLAN WAS TO MEET MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE SUMMER AND EFFECTIVELY HAVE A PRODUCT READY FOR THE HOUSE WHEN SESSION STARTS IT WOULD LIKELY PASS THE FIRST OR SECOND WEEK OF SESSION. THERE HAVE NOT BEEN AS MANY MEETINGS AS ORIGINALLY ADVERTISED , BUT I THINK THAT COMMITTEE IS STARTING TO PICK UP STEAM AND IT WILL IN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO HAVE A COUPLE MEETINGS IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA THAT HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT THIS MAY LOOK LIKE. WHERE DO WE STAND? IN 2026 OUR COMMITTEE WEEK PROCESS BEGINS OCTOBER 6 TO THE 10TH, WE LOVE SIX INTERIM COMMITTEE WEEKS BEFORE SESSION BEGINS JANUARY 13 AND SUPPOSEDLY ENDS ON MARCH 13, AGAIN THAT COULD BE APRIL OR MAY DEPENDING ON IF 2026 GOES SIMILARLY TO 2025 . HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. I WANT TO REITERATE CANNOT THANK THE CITY ENOUGH BUT ALSO SENATOR FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP IN WORKING WITH US TO PUSH FORWARD THE

INITIATIVES THAT YOU ALL ADOPT. >> THANK YOU, QUESTIONS OF MR. MATTHEWS. COMMISSIONER BRODERICK.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT, VERY COMPREHENSIVE. OBVIOUSLY THIS TAX REVENUE SCENARIO ON AD VALOREM TAXES IS A PRIMARY CONCERN TO PERSONS SUCH AS US WHO GOVERN ON A LOCAL LEVEL. THE MEDIA REPORTS THAT THIS COMMITTEE THAT'S WORKING ON THIS OVER THE SUMMER AND THE POWERS TO BE IN THE STATE ARE GOING TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE AD VALOREM, RAISE HOMESTEAD WHATEVER THEY DO IT'S A REDUCTION. WHAT IS THE FLIPSIDE OF THAT , THERE HAS TO BE AN ANSWER TO THE NOW MISSING REVENUE PORTION OF THIS EQUATION. WHAT ARE THEY PROPOSING TO DO FOR THE MISSING REVENUE?

>> UNFORTUNATELY COMMISSIONER AS IT STANDS THERE IS NO PROPOSAL THAT WOULD INCREASE SALES TAX OR INCREASE SOME OF THE REVENUE SOURCE THAT WOULD MAKE UP FOR THAT ULTIMATE SHORTFALL OF PROPERTY TAXES IF HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS WERE INCREASED OR OTHERWISE. I THINK IN 2010 OR 2009 NOW SECRETARY OF STATE RUBIO LOOKED AT ELIMINATION OF PROPERTY TAXES AND AT THE TIME YOU WOULD'VE HAD TO INCREASE SALES TAX TO 12% TO MAKE UP FOR THE SHORTFALL SO THE ALARMING THING ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL IS THAT THERE IS NO PROPOSAL TO INCREASE TAXES ANYWHERE ELSE TO MAKE UP FOR THAT POTENTIAL SHORTFALL.

>> SO AS RIDICULOUS AS THAT SOUNDS IF THAT'S WHAT THEY INTEND TO DO, 60% OF REVENUE IS BASED ON REAL ESTATE TAXES SO WE NEED TO CONTEMPLATE POTENTIALLY A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN

SERVICES TO CITY RESIDENTS. >> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS ARE WRESTLING WITH IS HOW DO WE GET INFORMATION OUT TO CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA BECAUSE

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>> THANK YOU FOR THE FRANK ANSWER, PRETTY DISMAL.

>> COMMISSIONERS? >> THANK YOU, GOOD TO SEE YOU'RE WELCOME TO FORT PIERCE. APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME PERSONALLY AS WELL AS WORKING WITH US ON THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION AS DISMAL AS IT HAS BEEN BEYOND THAT RIGHT ADVOCACY TO HELP THE GENERAL PUBLIC UNDERSTAND BECAUSE NOW IN THE MEDIA THERE ARE TAGLINES AND PEOPLE GO TO TAGLINES BUT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS. WE FOCUS A LOT ON AD VALOREM. THERE ARE SOME OTHER CONCERNS IN THERE AS WELL SO BEYOND THAT WHAT'S ON THE HORIZON FOR YOU THAT'S REALLY ALARMING THAT MIGHT BE TOP 30 COMING BACK FROM THIS , IF YOU CAN BRING THEM, AD VALOREM IS ONE BUT YOU HAVE OTHER SIGNIFICANT THINGS THAT WILL IMPACT THE CITY SO WE ALMOST GET A TRIPLE OR DOUBLE WHAMMY ON SOME OF THESE THINGS, CRA, SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY. WHAT ELSE IS ON THE HORIZON TO HELP US QUANTIFY WHAT WE NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR, SPECIFICALLY FOR FORT

PIERCE? >> WE HAVE HAD A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT FIGHT RELATED TO COMMUNICATION SERVICES TAXES NUMBER ONE FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS HAS BEEN A UTILITY RELOCATION FIGHT BETWEEN D.O.T. AND TELECOM PROVIDERS AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS RELATED TO HOW QUICKLY FOR STRUCTURE WITHIN RIGHT-OF-WAY IS MOVE WHEN NEW CONSTRUCTION IS OCCURRING. TWO YEARS AGO THAT POLICY WOULD HAVE ALLOWED FOR TELECOM PROVIDERS TO SEEK LIQUIDATED DAMAGES AGAINST LOCAL GOVERNMENT WHO DID NOT MOVE FACILITIES IN A TIMELY MANNER AND I THINK THAT PROPOSAL WAS 10 DAYS, THAT ULTIMATELY FAILED, WHAT PASSED THIS YEAR WAS A UTILITY RELOCATION BILL THAT ALLOWED FOR REVENUES FROM CST TO THE MONTHLY GRANT PROGRAM WHICH TELECOM PROVIDERS WOULD SEEK REIMBURSEMENT FROM FOR THE RELOCATION OF UTILITIES WITHIN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY. I SAY THAT TO SAY EVERY LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVENUE SOURCE IN THE LAST THREE YEARS SEEMINGLY HAS HAD SOME POLICY PROPOSAL WHICH HAS EITHER ELIMINATED OR SUBSTANTIALLY HAMSTRUNG MOVING FORWARD, THEY HAVE NOT ALL PASSED BUT I THINK FROM A REVENUE PERSPECTIVE YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT EVERY REVENUE STREAM YOU HAVE AS POTENTIALLY BEING VULNERABLE. FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE I WOULD SAY CRA WILL BE BACK SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY WILL BE BACK FROM THE FP YOU A PERSPECTIVE WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN MUNICIPAL UTILITY PIECE OF LEGISLATION THE LAST FOUR YEARS WHICH WOULD CONSTRICT THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT A LOCAL GOVERNMENT COULD TRANSFER FROM UTILITY TO GENERAL REVENUE SOURCES. REALLY AGAIN IT IS DISMAL BUT THERE HAVE BEEN , THERE'S BEEN EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY IN GETTING ACROSS TO LEGISLATORS THE NEED FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE CORE SERVICES TO THEIR

CONSTITUENTS. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT WE RECENTLY GOT A BILL FROM THAT MOVEMENT OF RIGHT-OF-WAY FOR CERTAIN COMPANIES WE HAD TO MOVE UTILITIES AND THAT HAS BEEN A ONGOING STRUGGLE AS WE ARE A OLDER CITY AND WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF STREET REPAIR CLOSE TO $100,000 BE PAID LAST SESSION WITH THAT. WHAT ABOUT GAS TAX? I CHAIRED THE COMMITTEE AND ONE CONCERN I HAD WAS WITH THE INCREASE OF EVS GAS TAX AS WE KNOW IT IS DECLINING SO IS THAT ON THE RADAR IN THEM ADDRESSING THE REVENUE SOURCE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT'S DECREASING WITH

THE INCREASE OF EVS. >> THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS DONE A NUMBER OF STUDIES RELATED TO THE NUMBER ON THE ROAD, DECLINING GAS TAX COLLECTIONS WE HAVE HAD. THERE HAVE BEEN EFFORTS IN THE LAST COUPLE SESSIONS TO INCREASE REGISTRATION FEES ON EVS, THEY HAVE NOT PASSED BUT I THINK THERE IS RECOGNITION THAT WE HAVE A DECLINING GAS TAX BUT

[00:30:01]

>> OKAY AND THANK YOU AGAIN. WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED COLLABORATION, AS WE GO TO FLC CONFERENCE I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WILL BE THERE OR NOT BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT IS HOW DO WE INCREASE OUR SHARE OF VOICE OUT HERE TO THE PUBLIC SO THEY TRULY UNDERSTAND IN LAYMAN'S TERMS WHAT THIS STUFF MEANS, THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS STUFF, WE REALIZE THERE IS A BURDEN ON EVERYBODY, BUT CERTAINLY WHEN THERE IS DEMAND FOR CITY SERVICES AND A CONSTANT INCREASE FOR THAT AND CONSTANT ASKING COMES WITH A PRICE AND EVERYTHING HAS GONE UP SO AT SOME POINT EVEN LATER TODAY WE WILL MAKE DECISIONS ON BUDGET AND YOUR TIMING IS IMPECCABLE THAT'S ALL I WILL SAY.

>> ONE THING I WOULD CAUTION ON YOU THROUGH YOUR CITY ATTORNEY, I WOULD LOOK OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN LAWS PUT IN PLACE AS IT RELATES TO WHAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN DO TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON FORTHCOMING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS. SO THERE ARE SOME STRICT GUIDELINES YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW AS IT RELATES TO INFORMATION THAT CAN AND CANNOT BE PROVIDED ON THOSE

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS. >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU AND I'M GLAD YOU ENDED WITH THAT BECAUSE COMMISSIONERS WE CAN ONLY SAY CERTAIN THINGS TO GET THE REAL WORD OUT. I WILL STOP RIGHT THERE. THIS IS MY, I JUST DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THE LEADERS IN TALLAHASSEE ARE NOT TALKING TO WHEREVER THEY COME FROM , THE CITIES THEY ARE COMING FROM TO UNDERSTAND HOW ANY OF THE CUTS AFFECT THE RESIDENCE THAT THE CITIES ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR. WHERE IS THE DISCONNECT BECAUSE AS YOU HEARD FROM COMMISSIONER RODERICK IF WE TAKE A 60% HIT, AND THERE'S REVENUE NONE TO COME HELP US HOWEVER GOING TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE? I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON UP THERE WAY THEY THINK WE ARE SPENDING MONEY GOING TO THE BEACH OR GOING OUT DOING SOMETHING, WHAT'S THE DISCONNECT? HAVE YOU SEEN IT WAS THE DISCONNECT THE LEADERS IN TALLAHASSEE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE USING MONEY FOR AND IT IS FOR SERVICES

FOR RESIDENTS. >> OBVIOUSLY I CANNOT SPEAK DIRECTLY FOR THE LEADERS IN TALLAHASSEE. I WILL SAY THE MOST FREQUENT TALKING POINT IS THAT AS PROPERTY VALUES INCREASED LOCAL GOVERNMENT BUDGETS HAVE INCREASED. AND THERE IS A VIEW FROM SOME THAT THERE IS NEFARIOUS AND/OR OVERINFLATED LOCAL GOVERNMENT BUDGETS THAT IS THE NARRATIVE COMING DOWN FROM

TALLAHASSEE. >> WOULDN'T THAT BE EASILY PROVEN? I MEAN, YOU CAN SHOW THAT TELL THEM TO COME TO FORT PIERCE THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND WE WILL SHOW THE BUDGET, THIS AFTERNOON OR LATER THIS MORNING WE ARE ABOUT TO FIGHT ABOUT A BUDGET TRYING TO PROVIDE ALL THE SERVICES THAT RESIDENTS NEED AND WANT AND WE ARE PULLING STRINGS AND PULLING OUR HAIR OUT. SEND THE MESSAGE IF THEY WANT TO SEE HOW THIS AFFECTS A CITY TELL THEM TO COME TO FORT PIERCE BECAUSE OUR POLICE OFFICERS NEED MONEY. WE HAVE WORKERS THAT NEED MONEY.

EVERYBODY WANTS , EVERYBODY WANTS GARBAGE PICKUP TWICE A DAY, EVERYBODY WANTS BULK PICKUP EVERYBODY WANTS CLEAN PARKS. IF THEY TAKE THIS MONEY AWAY AND THEN THEY TIE OUR HANDS I CAN'T REALLY TELL THE PUBLIC THIS IS WHY I'M PUTTING FREE BECAUSE NOW I'M IN TROUBLE WITH TALLAHASSEE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO DO THEIR SPIN ON IT. THE DISCONNECT IS DUMBFOUNDING TO ME. I'M GLAD YOU SAID WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT CRA'S. TWO OR THREE AIN'T GOING TO CALL NAMES FOR TWO OR THREE ARE CAUSING THIS HEADACHE FOR EVERYBODY ELSE WITH CRA'S PROVIDING SERVICES FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES. SO LET'S SEND A MESSAGE MESS WITH THOSE LEAVE THE REST ALONE AND LET US CONTINUE DOING WHAT WE ARE DOING FOR CITIZENS. GRADE REPORT I WOULD JUST LOVE TO UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE THINKING AND MAYBE I NEED TO GO TO TALLAHASSEE BUT I'M SCARED FOR YOU ALL TO SEE ME IN TALLAHASSEE. THAT MIGHT

[00:35:03]

>> MR. MATTHEWS THANK YOU FOR COMING TO FORT PIERCE. THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES HAS A PROGRAM CALLED LOCAL VOICES UNITED AND WE ARE TRYING THROUGH CITIES TO GET CONSTITUENTS INVOLVED AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE LEGISLATURE DOES, HOW IT IMPACTS THEM AND I FIND IT VERY VERY DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN TO A CITIZEN OF FORT PIERCE WHEN I CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT SOMETHING BECAUSE THE STATE HAS PASSED SOME SORT OF EXEMPTION, THEY DO NOT BUY IT. THEY JUST SAY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT SO THAT IS A VERY FRUSTRATING THING AND HAVING PEOPLE CONSTITUENTS INVOLVED BEYOND US IS REALLY REALLY IMPORTANT AND I KNOW FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES, I'VE TALKED WITH SOME OF THE MEN HEARD A SPEAKER SAY THEY ARE GETTING ORGANIZED TO FIGHT THIS.

THERE GOING INTO FIGHT MODE BECAUSE OF THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT THE LEGISLATURE THINGS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT DOES AND WHAT THE GOVERNMENT DOES AND WHAT IT NEEDS. I UNDERSTAND, TOO THAT THE WHOLE STATE IS ON FIRE ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES AND A LOT OF IT IS BECAUSE PEOPLE RETIRE HERE A LONG TIME AGO ON FIXED INCOMES AND SAID I CAN AFFORD FLORIDA AND MY CONDO AND NOW THOSE FEES HAVE GONE UP BECAUSE A REPLACEMENT VALUE AND INSURANCE COST , MAINTENANCE, WHATEVER. AND A COUPLE THAT WITH PROPERTY TAXES GOING UP NOT UNDERSTANDING PROPERTY VALUES HAVE GONE UP AND THAT IS WHY TAXES HAVE GONE UP WE HAVE NOT RAISED THE MILLAGE RATE THE TAX VALUE HAS GONE UP, COUPLE THAT WITH 1000 PEOPLE A DAY MOVING TO FLORIDA AND YOU HAVE A PERFECT STORM OF PEOPLE SAYING DO SOMETHING ABOUT MY PROPERTY TAXES WITHOUT REALIZING THE DYNAMIC OF WHAT IT PAYS FOR, WHERE IT COMES FROM, WHO APPROVES IT, WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO, WHAT WE ARE DEMANDED BY STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DO, THE UNFUNDED MANDATES SO IT IS A COMPLICATED ISSUE TO EXPLAIN TO A CONSTITUENT AND TO DEFEND BUT IT IS EASY TO ATTACK AND IT IS EASY TO USE AS A CAMPAIGN SLOGAN AND AS A CAMPAIGN PROMOTION. SO I THINK WE HAVE OUR WORK CUT OUT FOR US AND THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO, THE BIGGEST THING WE CAN DO IS GET OUR OWN CITIZENS TO UNDERSTAND AND INVOLVED AND I KNOW THE LEGISLATURE IS DRIVEN FROM THE LEADERSHIP TOP-DOWN SO A LOT OF TIMES IN ORDER TO BRING SOMETHING HOME FOR FORT PIERCE THE LEGISLATOR MAY HAVE TO VOTE IN A CERTAIN WAY. I KNOW THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS IN THAT PRESSURE COOKER IN TALLAHASSEE AND YOU ALREADY KNOW WHO IS GOING TO BE THE LEADERS IN THE FUTURE SO, THAT'S A LONG WAY OF SAYING , WE HAVE THE SAME SENATE PRESIDENT AND THE SAME HOUSE LEADER THIS SESSION AND THIS IS RON DESANTIS LAST YEAR. SO I FEEL LIKE , LOOK OUT.

>> IF I COULD REAL QUICK BECAUSE I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT. EDUCATING CITIZENS IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW EVERYONE IS FAMILIAR WITH THE BREAKDOWN OF THEIR PROPERTY TAX BILL, INVISIBLE TAXES WITHIN YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL ARE ONLY ONE COMPONENT OF A FOUR OR FIVE PIECE OF YOUR BILL, THERE ARE SCHOOL BOARD TAXES, COUNTY TAXES, FIRE DISTRICT, INDEPENDENT AND SPECIAL DISTRICT TAXES. EDUCATING FOLKS ON YOUR

[00:40:01]

OF FLORIDIANS. >> RIGHT, DOGE HAS BEEN TO SEVERAL COUNTIES FLORIDA DOGE AND I KNOW YOU CAN TAKE A SNAPSHOT OF A BUDGET ITEM AND MAYBE MISCONSTRUE IT OR USE A SOUNDBITE TO PROMOTE WHATEVER YOU ARE PROMOTING SO THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT REPORT TO START OFF THE DAY WITH. DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER I KNOW BUT I THINK YOU.

>> ONE FOLLOW-UP QUESTION. WE HAVE SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA LATER TODAY RELATIVE TO THE QUESTION I AM ABOUT TO ASK. THIS AD VALOREM CAP OR REMOVAL OR WHATEVER THEY DO WITH IT EFFECTS HOMESTEAD PRIVATE PROPERTY CORRECT?

>> WE DON'T KNOW YET IS THE SHORT ANSWER BECAUSE THERE IS NO DEFINITIVE PROPOSAL. WHAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN IS MULTIPLE PROPOSALS WILL BE PUT FORWARD IN JANUARY WHEN LEGISLATIVE SESSION STARTS AND IT WILL END UP IN THE BALLOT

NOVEMBER 26. >> THE REASON I AM ASKING THAT, THE CITY IS WORKING WITH ITS PARTNERS EXPANDING COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL TAX BASE, THAT'S A BIG THING FOR US RIGHT NOW AND WE WILL REPORT ON THAT LATER THIS MORNING ACTUALLY IN THIS MEETING SO IF THE ARTICLES ARE CORRECT IT'S ON HOUSING NOT ON THE COMMERCIAL PORTION OF THE MARKET SO YES EXACTLY. THOSE NUMBERS GET SPUN UP QUICKLY. TO THE POINT I WANT TO MAKE TOBY IS THE COCHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE IT'S TIME TO JAM HIS PHONE LINES LITERALLY. HE IS OUR GUY SO WE NEED TO GET THEM ON BOARD WITH THE REALITIES OF THE WORLD THAT FROM AN OPERATIONAL STANDPOINT THIS IS FAILURE FOR EVERY CITY IN THE STATE IF THERE'S NOT SOME CONCRETE SOLUTION TO BALANCE THIS OUT , I UNDERSTAND THE BURDEN OF REAL ESTATE TAXES ON HOMEOWNERS AND CONDO FEES AND ALL OF THAT AND TRYING TO MANAGE THAT WITHOUT PROPER INSURANCE REFORM AND THINGS OF THIS NATURE. SOMETHING IS GOING TO GIVE BUT ELIMINATING I THINK EVERY DOLLAR OF TAX REVENUE WE BRING IN THAT REAL ESTATE BILL PAYS THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE PAYS $.28 OF THAT. WE WOULD GO OUT OF BUSINESS BASICALLY. THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT AND THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION. THAT'S GOING TO BE THE KEY WE NEED TO START

PICKETING OUTSIDE HIS HOUSE. >> THE TREASURE COAST LEAD WILL MEET WITH HIM SO I WILL MAKE SURE YOU'RE PART OF THAT.

>> I HAVE MY FIRST FOLKS RIGHT THERE. MAKING THEIR SIGNS UP.

[C. Main Street Fort Pierce, Inc. program update covering the third quarter of FY2025 (April 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025).]

>> ALL RIGHT LET'S MOVE ON. >> NEXT ITEM IS THE MAIN STREET FORT PIERCE PROGRAM UPDATE COVERING THIRD-QUARTER OF FY

2025 >> THE LEAD IN?

>> EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THIRD-QUARTER REPORT FOR THE PERIOD APRIL 1 FOR THE PERIOD APRIL 1, 2025 THROUGH JUNE 30 FOR THE PERIOD APRIL 1, 2025

THROUGH JUNE 30, 2025. >> GOOD MORNING. I HOPE YOU HAVE

SOME BETTER NEWS. >> WE DO. YOU DO KNOW ANYTHING WE CAN HELP YOU WITH FOCUSING TO GET INFORMATION OUT TO THE

CITIZENS. >> YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I INTENDED TO BE WRITING THAT MYSELF. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAMES

AND WELCOME. >> DORIS TILLMAN DIRECTOR OF

MAIN STREET FORT PIERCE. >> GOOD MORNING, STREET FORT PIERCE. WE ARE GOING TO KEEP THIS BRIEF TODAY BECAUSE WE WERE HERE NOT TERRIBLY LONG AGO AND WE WILL BE BACK IN FRONT OF YOU NEXT MONTH, BUT PER OUR AGREEMENT WE ARE HERE TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE THIRD-QUARTER WHICH IS ONLY CONTAINING INFORMATION FROM APRIL TO JUNE SO WE HAVE HAD THINGS HAPPENING SINCE OR HAPPENING OUTSIDE OF THIS, THAT IS THE FOCUS OF THIS PARTICULAR PRESENTATION. WE WANTED TO START BY TALKING ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE FIND TO BE THE MOST

[00:45:03]

LUCIE, THE JAZZ SOCIETY HAS BEGUN TO COME TO COFFEE WITH THE MAYOR REGULARLY AND PLAY EACH MONTH WHICH IS EXCELLENT. WE WILL BE RETURNING NEXT MONTH SEPTEMBER 19 I BELIEVE IS OUR NEXT. AS I SAID PUA PROVIDES THE LIVE STREAMING OF THE FIREWORKS I WILL LET DORIS TALK ABOUT THE NEXT ITEM.

>> SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS BUT I CANNOT TELL YOU MUCH ABOUT THIS NOW. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA'S FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE COMPANY OFFICE , HOWEVER YOU WOULD CALL IT. AND THEY ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT, TOO. WORKING WITH THE GARDEN CLUB AND BASICALLY WILL TRY TO BRING COLOR DOWNTOWN WITH BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS AND WE'RE GOING TO DO SOME PUBLIC ACTIVITIES TO THE PUBLIC CAN BE INVOLVED IN PUTTING THIS PROJECT DOWNTOWN. AND SO, WE ARE EAGER FOR THIS TO TAKE PLACE AND IT IS GOING TO BE HAPPENING SOON.

>> THERE IS ALSO THE EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT THAT'S REALLY

EXCITING. >> MASTER GARDENERS, THEY USE TO COME TO THE FARMERS MARKET AND THEY HAVE NOT LATELY, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM COME BACK AND THE GARDEN CLUB , THAT'S A

GREAT PARTNERSHIP. >> WE ARE GOING TO BUILD THE POTS DOWNTOWN SO IT'S GOING TO BE WITH THE MASTER GARDENERS IN THE GARDEN CLUB WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT ALTOGETHER SO IT IS A

WIDE GROUP OF PEOPLE INVOLVED. >> SO LEADING INTO THAT AS WELL, THE REASON WE DISCUSSED MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDERS AS WE FIND THE MORE STAKEHOLDERS THERE ARE ON ANY GIVEN PROJECT THE MORE LIKELY THERE IS TO BE BUY IN. THIS IS SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO US OVER TIME AND WE WANT TO TAKE TIME TO REFLECT AND HIGHLIGHT THAT. WE HAVE AN ONGOING CONTINUED COLLABORATION WITH THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ALLIANCE THAT COMES IN ANY FORMS. ONE SMALL EXAMPLE WE HAVE HAD DURING THIS QUARTER IS SELFISH BREWING COMPANY PARTNERED WITH US TO PROVIDE A VENUE TO HOST THE NEW CITY MANAGER WITH A WELCOME RECEPTION SO HE COULD BE INTRODUCED TO OTHER SURROUNDING ELECTED OFFICIALS WHICH BASED ON YOUR PREVIOUS PRESENTATION I CAN SEE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT EVERYBODY AT THE CITY HAVE THOSE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS REPRESENTING US SO YOU HAVE ACCESSIBILITY TO SPEAK WITH THEM AND WE WERE HONORED YOU WERE WILLING TO JOIN US BUT WE CANNOT DO THOSE THINGS WITHOUT PARTNERSHIPS OR BUSINESS IS WILLING TO PROVIDE THAT VENUE AND STEP IN AS WELL. ALSO DONATED, WE HAD THE ANNUAL MEETING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC I THINK WE MENTIONED PRIOR. SO IT WAS AN EVENT HELD ANNUALLY COMPLETELY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR ANYONE WITH ANY INTEREST IN MAIN STREET TO COME BE A PART, SPEAK UP, SHARE CONCERNS DIRECTLY, OUR ENTIRE BOARD IS AVAILABLE AT THE MEETING AND YOU HAVE AN AUDIENCE. AND I AM PLEASED TO SHARE WE HAVE NOTHING BUT POSITIVE VISITORS WHO CAME AND SAID NOTHING BUT NICE THINGS BUT IT IS ANNUALLY AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE TO JOIN US. THE FORT PIERCE SUNRISE COVE WANT US AND POLICE SERVE AS PRIMARY PARTNERS IN THE YEAR-ROUND PLANNING OF EFFORTS OF SITES AND SOUNDS. I CAN SEE MY COHORTS HERE NOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT GOES FROM JANUARY THROUGH DECEMBER, WE STARTED MEETING IN JANUARY, WE HAD THE MOST RECENT MEETING THURSDAY. WHILE SITES AND SOUND IS NOT UNDER THE PARAMETER OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE FACT THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE VOLUNTEERING AND TAKING PLACE IN THE PARTNERSHIP ANNUALLY IT'S ANOTHER EVENT FPUA IS INVOLVED WITH THE CORE GROUP OF KIWANIS, POLICE AND MAIN STREET CITY AND STAFF WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE AN UPDATE IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COMMISSION FOR REQUESTING FROM YOUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT IS BE PART OF THEIR CONSIDERATION WITHIN THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT COMING TO INDIAN RUBBER DRIVE. WE ALSO WANT TO MENTION VOLUNTEERS UP FRONT THAT'S NOT A PORTION WE

[00:50:02]

COMMUNITY WE ARE. >> DO NOT LET HER KID YOU, SHE DOES HAVE THE SLAVE LABOR OF HER CHILDREN WERE FORCED TO BE

THERE. >> I DID PUT A PICTURE OF MY

KIDS. >> I DON'T KNOW THEY SHOULD BE UNDER VOLUNTEERS, THEY SHOULD BE UNDER TOLD. WE HAVE GROUPS THAT TAKE PLACE WITH A NUMBER OF OUR EVENTS. WE DO NOT COVER INTO OUR FUNDRAISERS IN THIS PRESENTATION, BUT DURING THIS PERIOD WE ALSO HOLD OUR GOLF TOURNAMENT AND REVERSE RAFFLE WHICH ARE PRIMARY FUNDRAISING MODES AND THAT IS WHERE EXPENSES SUCH AS SALARIES ARE PAID FROM, FROM DIRECT FUNDRAISING. BUT THE BIG THING I WANTED TO MENTION AGAIN LOOKING AT THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEER HOURS WE HAVE HAD DURING THIS HOUR IT IS INCREDIBLE AND THAT GOES FROM DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS WITH DIRECT

VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY IN THAT >> UPDATE ON THE FOCUS MAGAZINE, THERE IS A CUTE LITTLE STORY TO BE TOLD ON THE JUNE COVER WHICH YOU CAN SEE STARS OVER ST. LUCIE. THIS IS MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS WHO CAME BACK THIS YEAR WITH ANOTHER PHOTO OF THEM AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL BE THE COVER NEXT YEAR BUT THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE OF THE CONSISTENT INVOLVEMENT WE HAVE FROM FAMILIES DOWNTOWN AND THAT WAS THE JUNE COVER. ONE OF OUR DELIVERABLES AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I MENTIONED THIS IS TO DRAW ATTENTION IN THE FOCUS MAGAZINE TO SPECIFIC HAPPENINGS IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE IN ADDITION TO THE MAYOR'S MESSAGE WE PUBLISH ONCE MONTHLY JUST IN THESE THREE MONTHS WE PRINTED OVER 9400 ISSUES AND IT DOES VARY BASED ON SEASON HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE RECEIVING, BUT WE HAD THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE EVENT BECAUSE THEY CAME IN MAY TO POLL THE PUBLIC PROMOTED AND WE PUBLISHED IT WITH SOME OF THE OTHER DELIVERABLES THAT INCLUDE PARTNERING WITH FPRA ON PUBLISHING THE SIGN GRANTS, THE PROPERTY REFRESH PROGRAM . ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS NOT ABLE TO INCLUDE IN THE PRESENTATION BECAUSE IT DOES END IN JUNE WE WERE PLEASED FOR IT IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE AUGUST ISSUE OF THE FOCUS MAGAZINE YOU'LL SEE A LARGE-SCALE MURAL THAT WAS DIRECTLY FROM FPRA AND CHEYENNE ANSWER WERE FANTASTIC COMING IN AT THE LAST MOMENT TO PROVIDE THOSE PHOTOS AND ARTICLES SO IT'S A GREAT RELATIONSHIP TALKING ABOUT THIS PROJECT WE ARE ON WITH I FS WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH CITY STAFF AT LEAST A COUPLE TIMES AS WELL AS PUBLIC WORKS HAS BEEN EXCELLENT TO COME OUT TWICE TO MAKE SITE VISITS TO LOOK AT HOW WE DO WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO WITH EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE. NOT TO ADD EXPENSE BUT TO UTILIZE WHAT'S THERE. SO A NEW FEATURE IN THE FOCUS MAGAZINE AND IT'S WORTH TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE IT HITS A NUMBER OF AREAS IS THE COLORING PAGES WE HAVE ADDED. AGAIN WE TRY TO USE WHAT WE HAVE GOT. WE HAVE A SHEET IN THERE WE HAVE ADDED HISTORIC TOPICS OUR EDITOR LOOKS FOR THE HISTORY OF IT, WE HAVE NOW OPENED A KIDS COLORING TABLE AND FRIDAY FESTIVAL SO WE HAVE SOME YOUNGER CHILDREN AGE-APPROPRIATE PHOTOS AS WELL.

THESE ARE ACTUAL LOCAL BUILDINGS WITH LITTLE STORIES ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THEM AND ARCHITECTURAL FACTS LIKE AGE RANGE, YOU CAN GET MORE INFORMATION, THAT STARTED IN JUNE. I WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON FRIDAY FESTIVAL I

[00:55:02]

>> THIS COMING FRIDAY FESTIVAL WILL BE YOUR FAVORITE FOOTBALL TEAM WHETHER HIGH SCHOOL, ELEMENTARY OR WHETHER IT'S PROFESSIONAL COME DOWN TO CELEBRATE FOOTBALL SEASON TO

START. GO GATORS. >> HAD TO SLIP THAT IN THERE.

>> WE HAVE MULTIPLE SPONSORS THAT PARTICIPATE AND I WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY COPS LANDING AND LITTLE JIM HAVE BEEN PAYING SINCE COVERT, SOMETHING THEY'VE DONE QUIETLY WITHOUT ASK FOR RECOGNITION , WE WANTED TO MENTION THAT, IT WAS AN EXPENSE WE COULD NOT ABSORB. THEY FORT PIERCE SPORTS FISHING CLUB ONE YEAR AGO AGREED TO COME OUT AND THEY DO NOT MAKE PROFIT, THEY SERVE HOT DOGS THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE IN PRICE , THE PRICE POINT STAYS REALLY LOW BECAUSE WE WERE STRUGGLNG TO GET VENDORS INTO DO THE LOW COST ITEMS SO SOMEBODY COMING WITH THREE OR FOUR KIDS NOT EVERYBODY CAN GO AND JUST DROP LIKE $40 LIKE $40.04 DIFFERENT MEALS THIS ALLOWS THEM TO COME OUT AND THE HOTDOGS ARE TWO OR THREE DOLLARS. SO, COFFEE WITH THE MAYOR, I KNOW IT IS NOT NEW, WE HAVE THOSE DATES IN APRIL AND MAY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT RETURNING. IN SEPTEMBER WE DID GAIN A NEW SPONSOR FOR THE ORANGE JUICE FROM AL'S FAMILY FARM LOVELY TO STEP UP AND SHARE, WE APPRECIATE SOMETIMES WE HAVE DROP INS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT COMING AND DOING THEIR MORNING MEETING AND THAT IS ALWAYS A GREAT WAY TO SHARE.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO FOR EXAMPLE IN SEPTEMBER I KNOW KEEP FORT PIERCE BEAUTIFUL COALITION IS COMING REAL BRIEFLY TO TALK ABOUT THE NEW ANSI LITTER CAMPAIGN IS IT ANSI LITTER?

>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS. >> I WAS GOING TO SAY IT IS AN EXCELLENT CAMPAIGN AND THAT IS A CONNECTION WE MADE AT THE DVA MEETING SO THERE ARE ALWAYS CONNECTIONS HAPPENING AROUND US SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING BACK WITH YOU ALL. I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT STARS OVER ST. LUCIE SO FAR AND WE DO THE PREP AND LEAD UP TO THIS TIME PERIOD. THE QR CODE IN THE UPPER RIGHT-HAND CORNER WAS DEVELOPED BY FPUA, THAT WAS THE QR CODE WE UTILIZED TO PUBLISH AHEAD OF TIME SO SOMEONE WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE FIREWORKS THEY HAD OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH THEM LIVE. I BELIEVE AT LAST MEASURE FROM ERIC AT FPUA HE LET ME KNOW THAT NIGHT WE HAD 6700 PEOPLE WATCHING. SO THAT'S PRETTY INCREDIBLE NOT TOO SHABBY AT ALL SO YOU HAVE THOSE FOLKS ENJOYING THEM AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE ENJOYING THEM FROM EVERY AREA. WHILE WE'RE HOSTING STARS OVER ST. LUCIE YOU CAN SEE PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO VIEW THEM ALL THE WAY DOWN THE BEACH. THEY PROVIDED THE SITE LOCATION FOR FOURTH OF JULY AND THEY BRING THE BUCKET TRUCK, THESE ARE PHOTOS FROM LAST YEAR AND I DON'T WANT TO WAIT ANY LONGER TO TALK ABOUT HOW FANTASTIC THE CITY EMPLOYEES WERE FOR THIS PARTICULAR EVENT. I KNOW IT'S A COUPLE DAYS OUTSIDE OF IT I HOPE YOU WILL INDULGE ME A LITTLE BIT. IF ANYBODY WAS AWARE OF THE WEATHER LEADING INTO THE FOURTH OF JULY TO SAY THAT IT WAS STRESSFUL WOULD BE MINOR. WE WERE LOOKING AT A PRETTY INCREDIBLE WEATHER PATTERN. DID NOT KNOW IF WE WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE IT AT ALL. EXPLAIN THE

[01:00:04]

THIS IS ALSO ABOUT SUPPORTING DOWNTOWN BUSINESS , CHRISTMAS IN JULY WAS ON THE COVER OF MAIN STREET FOCUS MAGAZINE, THAT'S AN EVENT THAT HAPPENS WITH THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES. WE HAVE PROVIDED AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE RENTING AND DISTRIBUTING OF MARKETING MATERIALS, WE ARE IN THE PROCESSING OF PLANNING FOR THE MAPS FOR THE TRICK OR TREAT ON SECOND STREET SO THAT IS AN EXAMPLE. SOCIAL MEDIA AND WEB TRAFFIC. ANOTHER ONE OF OUR DELIVERABLES IS TO SHOW INCREASING WEB TRAFFIC OVER ANNUALLY WHICH WE HAVE DONE, WE ARE EXCEEDING PREVIOUS NUMBERS BY QUARTER. I'M SURE BY THE END OF Q4 WE WILL HAVE THE FULL PICTURE TO SHOW AND GIVE YOU THE ANNUAL INDICATOR. WHILE WE HAVE SHARED RECOGNITIONS AND ACCREDITATIONS, WANTED TO MENTION DURING THIS QUARTER WE ALSO RECEIVED CONFIRMATION OF OUR FULL ACCREDITATION BY MAIN STREET AMERICA WHICH IS A VERY RIGOROUS PROCESS AND WE ARE PROUD TO SHARE THIS IS OUR CERTIFICATE FOR RECERTIFICATION. IF ANYONE IS NOT FAMILIAR WE DID GO AHEAD AND GIVE A LITTLE SLIDE IN HERE SO FOLKS WHO MAY BE NEW TO IT CAN SEE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW MAIN STREET WORKS BUT I KNOW YOU DON'T NEED US TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION AGAIN. SO AT THIS TIME WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY ASPECT OF OUR REPORTING IN THIS PRESENTATION.

>> QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I MADE SOME NOTES AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MIGHT DO IS HAVE A SPOT ON KEEP FORT PIERCE BEAUTIFUL MEETING ABOUT THE MASTER GARDEN , WHEN YOU ARE DOING?

>> GET A HOLD OF MATTHEW NOT LONG AGO. SPOT USE YOUR

MICROPHONE. >> WE TRIED TO REACH THEM, MET

[01:05:01]

HIM TODAY. >> HE IS NOT ON IT ANYMORE UNFORTUNATELY BUT HE STAYED INTERESTED. HE SAYS HE COULD NOT SERVE ANYMORE BUT HE WAS STILL GOING TO BE INVOLVED. SO, ] STAFFS THAT SO YOU MIGHT GET A SPOT ON THAT COMMITTEE MEETING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO SHIRLEY WALKER IS ON THAT AND SHE IS IN THE GARDEN CLUB SO WE WILL COVER THAT BASE AND SAILFISH HAS A REPRESENTATIVE ON THAT COMMITTEE, TOO SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT. I KNOW IT IS NOT IN THIS TIME PERIOD, BUT THE GHOST WALK YOU ARE PLANNING ON THE GHOST WALK THIS

YEAR? >> WE BEGAN PREPARATION IN

APRIL. >> EXTENDING AND EXPANDING IT.

>> I THINK THAT'S A WONDERFUL THING TO BRING PEOPLE DOWNTOWN AND PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN THE HISTORY AND IT'S A VERY POPULAR THING AND I GUESS I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT YOURSELVES AND ALSO THE ST. LUCIE HISTORICAL SOCIETY VOLUNTEERED ONE OF THOSE TIMES FOR THE TIPS SO I KNOW ANY GROUP CAN REACH OUT TO YOU AND SAY THAT WE SERVE AND GET THE TIPS AND THAT SUPPORTS THAT GROUP THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKS.

>> THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY WAS MY FIRST CALL THE LAST TIME WE HAD A GAP AND THEY WERE VERY CLOSE BUT THEY'RE WONDERFUL,

EXCELLENT PARTNERS. >> I HAVE HELPED OUT A COUPLE TIMES THERE SO THAT'S A GREAT WAY ANOTHER PARTNERSHIP AND FROM MYSELF I APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO ESPECIALLY WITH COFFEE WITH THE MAYOR ALWAYS WELL ORGANIZED, WELL ATTENDED. THE JUST SOCIETY DECIDED IT WANTED TO COME AND IT IS AMAZING TO ME THOSE PEOPLE STAY UP LATE, USUALLY DOING WHATEVER THEY DO AND THEY'RE WILLING TO GET UP EARLY, BRING INSTRUMENTS AND AND PLAY FOR COFFEE WITH AMIR SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

>> THEY ALSO HELP WITH SIGHTS AND SOUNDS CHRISTMAS PARADE AND

DONATE TIME AT THE GAZEBO. >> YES AND YOUR COLORING BOOK YOU HAD OLD CITY HOLLOW AND IT IS 100 YEARS OLD.

>> YES WE HAD QUITE A FEW ANNIVERSARIES AND I DON'T KNOW WE ARE READY TO PUBLICLY DISCLOSE IT BUT WE ARE CERTAINLY TAKING A NUMBER OF BIG BIRTHDAYS HAPPENING THIS COMING YEAR INTO

ACCOUNT AND PLANNING. >> THE ARCADE BUILDING IS ONE OF

THEM. >> I WILL CHECK WITH JOANNE.

>> SHE IS ON TOP OF THAT. >> OUR OFFICE WILL BE 130 YEARS

OLD. >> THE BUILDING? NOT THE STAFF.

>> YES, THE BUILDING. >> ANYTHING ELSE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.

>> ONE COMMENT FOR THE NEXT QUARTER WE WILL BE CHANGING THE FORMAT IN TERMS OF HOW IT IS PRESENTED BECAUSE WE HAVE SIX BROAD DELIVERABLES . WE WILL SEND A POWERPOINT, YOU CAN PRESENT THE SAME INFORMATION AND I MUST SAY I COMMEND YOU MAKE SURE IT'S COMPLETED 90% OF THE TASK THAT WERE DUE BY 9:30 SO THEY HAVE MET ALL DELIVERABLES ALREADY BUT WE WILL SEND THE POWERPOINT SHOWING SIX DELIVERABLES AND THE TASKS WITHIN THOSE DELIVERABLES AND REPORT BY THE THIRD QUARTER. YOU HAD 90% OF YOUR DELIVERABLES MET ALREADY.

>> OVERACHIEVERS THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOU

[D. Kings Highway Corridor Update - Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County]

>> OKAY OUR NEXT PRESENTATION IS A KINGS HIGHWAY CORRIDOR UPDATED BY THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL OF ST. LUCIE.

>> WE HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPE COUNCIL AND MS. LESLIE OLSON WITH DISTRICT PLANNING GROUP WITH AN UPDATE ON THE KINGS

HIGHWAY CORRIDOR. >> GOOD MORNING, GREAT TO SEE YOU. MADAM MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, GREAT TO SEE YOU ALL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US. PRESIDENT OF THE ST. LUCIE EDC AND PROUD RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. JOINING ME AS LESLIE OLSON AND SHE IS SETTING UP, ARE YOU ALL SET? AS A PLANNER BY PROFESSION PLANNERS NEED MAPS AND POWER POINTS . MAYOR, A COUPLE OF QUICK INTRODUCTIONS. WE HAVE THE EDC TEAM HERE.

[01:10:02]

>> MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION SO NICE TO BE HERE WITH YOU THIS MORNING TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S VERY VERY EXCITING. CITY OF FORT PIERCE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY AND I REALLY HAVE TO GIVE PETE AND CASH -- CREDIT FOR THIS HE HAS HAD THE VISION FOR SOME TIME AND HE HAS BEEN PUSHING ME ON THIS VISION FOR SOME TIME ABOUT OUR NEW FRONT DOOR ON KINGS HIGHWAY.

A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE THINK ABOUT FORT PIERCE, WE THINK EAST AND DOWNTOWN WHERE OUR HEART AND SOUL IS. ALL OF OUR INTERCHANGES LEADING INTO DOWNTOWN ARE OUT WEST AND BECAUSE OF THE ANNEXATION AGREEMENT WITH FORT PIERCE UTILITIES, THEIR SERVICE TERRITORY FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER IS THE FORT PIERCE FUTURE BOUNDARY, RIGHT? SO WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS WE HAVE LOOKED AT THAT FUTURE AREA THAT HAS LARGE AREAS OF UNDEVELOPED LAND IN IT TO SAY HOW CAN THIS DRIVE THE FUTURE OF FORT PIERCE? HOW CAN WE CREATE A REALLY HIGH QUALITY JOBS CORRIDOR HERE THAT SUPPORTS THE CITY FINANCIALLY AND SUPPORTS RESIDENTS WITH JOBS. SO WHERE IS THIS? THIS PHASE 1 STUDY AREA LIES BETWEEN OKEECHOBEE ROAD TO THE SOUTH AND ORANGE AVENUE TO THE NORTH. THE BLUE LINE GOING THROUGH THE CENTER IS KINGS HIGHWAY AND KINGS HIGHWAY AS I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW TERMINATES IN THE TURNPIKE INTERCHANGE AND GOES ALL THE WAY NORTH NEARLY TO THE COUNTY LINE THAT IS A VERY VERY IMPORTANT CORRIDOR AS OUR COUNTY CONTINUES TO GROW. OUR CORE STUDY AREA IS WITHIN THE DOTTED LINES SHOWING MOSTLY THOSE AREAS THAT FRONT EITHER KINGS HIGHWAY OR ORANGE AVENUE AS IT GETS CLOSE TO THE INTERCHANGE. THESE INTERCHANGES ARE REALLY IMPORTANT. IT IS AN INCREDIBLY RARE THING TO HAVE THREE INTERCHANGES IN SUCH CLOSE PROXIMITY TO ONE ANOTHER AND SO MUCH UNDEVELOPED LAND ADJACENT TO. WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS WE WANT TO LOOK AT WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO REALLY LEVERAGE THIS ASSET WITH INTENTIONALITY. FOR THE FUTURE. SO WHAT DID WE DO , WE LOOKED AT THIS CORE STUDY AREA AND BROADENED IT BECAUSE YOU NEED NOT ONLY JOBS BUT THE

[01:15:03]

[01:20:03]

HAVE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW TO MOVE FORWARD FROM HERE.

WE RECOMMEND DEVELOPING AN ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS THAT WOULD SHOW THE TAX REVENUES COMING IN AND THE ANCILLARY BENEFITS FROM THE JOB CREATION COMING INTO THE CITY. AND THE EDC WILL HANDLE THAT . ADDRESS THE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. THE ELECTRIC CAPACITY NEEDS AND ALSO ADVOCATING FOR THOSE NEEDED ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS . OUR THIRD RECOMMENDATION IS TO CREATE A UNIFIED OVERLAY ZONE, WE RECOMMEND DEVELOPING AN OVERLAY THAT WOULD APPLY TO THE ENTIRETY OF THIS AREA AS ADOPTED BY EITHER THE CITY OR THE COUNTY SO ONE OVERLAY THAT COULD BE ADOPTED BY BOTH JURISDICTIONS. WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU COME WITH A LIST OF SPECIFIC USES THAT YOU WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR. UNIFIED

[01:25:04]

>> THANK YOU, LESLIE, GOOD MORNING. ST. LUCIE CDC. ON BEHALF OF THE PROJECT TO MOMENT TO THANK YOU , CITY COMMISSION, ÚSTAFF AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDES FOR YOUR TIME AND THOUGHTFUL ENGAGEMENT ON THIS EFFORT. YOUR INPUT AND COLLABORATION ARE VITAL TO SHAPING THE FUTURE OF THIS VERY IMPORTANT CORRIDOR INTO A THRIVING HUB FOR INDUSTRY AND HIGH-QUALITY JOBS. LESLIE REVIEWED FINDINGS CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES AND PRESENTED RECOMMENDATIONS TO STRENGTHEN INFRASTRUCTURE, STREAMLINE DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL AND CREATE A UNIFIED FRAMEWORK FOR HIGH-QUALITY GROWTH ALONG THIS CORRIDOR. NEXT STEPS WILL BE TO INCORPORATE FEEDBACK TO THE FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS AND WITH THE NEXT PHASE WE WILL BEGIN DEVELOPMENT OF THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE OVERLAY DISTRICT, INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING AND INITIATE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND WORKING CLOSELY WITH UN STAFF ON THE NEXT PHASE OF THIS IMPORTANT EFFORT. WE WILL TURN THESE STRATEGIES INTO TANGIBLE RESULTS THAT WILL DELIVER LONG-TERM ECONOMIC BENEFITS FOR FORT PIERCE AND ST. LUCIE COUNTY. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO MAKING THIS

VISION A REALITY. >> THANK YOU, SIR. OKAY READY FOR US? WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST? MR. BRODERICK.

>> BE HAPPY TO. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT TODAY. BRINGING THE WHOLE TEAM YOUR TO ADDRESS THIS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE AS EVERYONE IS AWARE I AM A HUGE ADVOCATE OF THIS PLAN AND HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS HOWEVER I DO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS IN SOME OF THE MINUTIA. ON THE GIS PLAN YOU LOOK TO INCORPORATE CITY AND COUNTY MELDING INTO ONE WOULD IT BE ADVISABLE FOR US TO PUT ON THE PLAN PROPERTY CURRENTLY BUILT OUT TO IDENTIFY LET'S SAY 1 MILLION SQUARE FEET HERE, 500,000 HERE THAT WAY WE HAVE A REFERENCE POINT AS TO WHAT IS COMPLETED AND WHAT IS LEFT ON THE AGENDA FOR EXAMPLE ASHLEY CAPITAL 2 MILLION SQUARE FEET PROJECTED SITE APPROVAL PROCESS WOULD BE THE PUT IT THAT WAY WE HAVE A BETTER DEFINITION OF WHERE WE STAND WHAT WE ARE CONTEMPLATING AND WHAT'S IN THE PIPELINE.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY AND THANK YOU FOR THAT, IT IS PART OF THE REPORT WE HAVE THAT ANALYSIS IN THE REPORT AND WE HAVE A MAP IN

[01:30:03]

ON THEM. >> IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THERE HAS BEEN , ONCE A CAPITULATION BUT COOPERATION TO EXTEND POWER.

I KNOW THIS IS A BRIEF CONVERSATION IN ITS INFANCY BUT THE PROJECT WAS ABOUT TO COME TO A IMMEDIATE STOP, THERE WAS NOT SUFFICIENT POWER NOW FPL MY UNDERSTANDING HAS HAD A CHANGE OF HEART TO BE MORE COOPERATIVE IN GETTING EXTENSIONS ON THE SUBSTATION OR SUBSTATIONS THAT WOULD SERVICE THE AREA IS THAT

ACCURATE? >> THAT IS CORRECT COMMISSIONER.

THERE HAS BEEN CONVERSATION WITH FPL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING WITH CAPACITY AND THERE BEEN CONVERSATIONS WITH

FPUA AND FPL. >> I'M ASSUMING IT'S GOING TO BE A TON OF MEGAWATTS, ANOTHER SUBSTATION SET UP SOMEWHERE IN THAT CORRIDOR BUT IF PROGRESS IS BEING MADE I WON'T BELABOR THE POINT. I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE KINGS HIGHWAY PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION I HAVE ATTENDED SEVERAL OF THEIR MEETINGS RECENTLY. THEY ARE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT SUPPORTING THIS INITIATIVE. NOT A SINGLE PERSON SPOKE AGAINST BEING ANNEXED INTO THE CITY AND WE WOULD ADVOCATE THEY WOULD WANT TO CHANGE THEIR OPINION ON THAT AT THE PROSPECT OF SUPPORT OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS GROUP IS CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE CLEARLY THEY WILL SEND ANY ROADBLOCKS IT WILL SLOW DOWN THE PROCESS SO I'M GLAD WE SEEM TO HAVE THEM IN UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FOR THIS AND CANDIDLY THEY ARE LOOKING TO HELP THE CITY WHICH FROM REAL ESTATE OWNERS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU GENERALLY SEE, THIS GROUP CAN SEE THE VISION, SEE THE BENEFIT AND IT'S ALL PROFIT MOTIVATED SCENARIO FOR THEM AS WELL TO BUILD BUILDINGS THEY CAN RENT OUT AND GENERATE PROFIT ON. HAVING TOUCHED ON THAT I DO HAVE CONCERN GIVING UP OVERSIGHT ON PROJECTED BUILDINGS AND USES WITHOUT THAT COMING TO THE CITY COMMISSION AND UNDERSTAND THE OVERLAY DISTRICT IT'S A PHENOMENAL IDEA WE CAN DO THAT JOINTLY WITH THE COUNTY THROUGHOUT THE OVERLAY DISTRICT THAT I THINK WOULD BE QUITE EFFECTIVE AND STREAMLINING AS FAR AS PRODUCT WELDING CONSTRUCTION TYPE, PARKING REQUIREMENTS ET CETERA BASICALLY UNIFYING THAT DISPUTE OF THE PROCESS ON THE APPROVAL BUT I BELIEVE THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME GOVERNMENTAL OVERSIGHT AS TO WHAT USE WOULD BE PUT OUT THERE. I THINK THE CITY COMMISSION, THIS MATTER HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP TO THE PLANNING BOARD WHEN I SAT SEVERAL TIMES TO INCREASE THE SQUARE FOOTAGE AND EACH TIME THAT CAME UP I WAS NOT IN FAVOR SO THINKING LOOK AT THE ISSUES WITH THE PORT RELATIVE TO THAT SCENARIO. THAT IS SOMETHING NEW -- WE WAY WANT TO HOLD OFF ON THAT PORTION FOR THE TIME BEING UNTIL WE CONSIDER THAT FURTHER BUT THE OTHER STEPS HERE ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY OF THIS IS GOING TO BE IT TELLS THE TALE AS TO WHAT THE IMPACTS WILL BE TO THE CITY, WITH THE IMPACTS ARE FOR THE TECH SPACE BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IMPACTS TO THE RESIDENCE WITH GOOD PAYING JOBS IN THE THOUSANDS DOWN THE STREET AND TO ME THAT IS A WIN WIN FOR THE CITY, THE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, CITY GOVERNMENT AND RESIDENTS SO ADVOCATE ALL STEPS ON THIS AND I WANT TO BE SURE, I KNOW WE HAVE INCORPORATED FUNDING INTO THE 2026 BUDGET TO MOVE TO PHASE 2 AND I WANT TO BE SURE WE HAVE MEETING OF THE MINDS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ADDRESSING THEIR FUNDING REQUEST FULLY IN THE OPERATING BUDGET 2026, THIS PROJECT I BELIEVE NEEDS TO BE A CORNERSTONE OF 2026-2027 FOR THIS COMMISSION MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE THE SUCCESS GENERATED OUT OF THIS AND THE SPINOFF I CAN'T IMAGINE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF JUST THE SPINOFF OF RELATED BUSINESSES TAGGING ON THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY TO WHAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH HERE IN THIS CORRIDOR. GREAT WORK I FULLY ADVOCATE THIS IF YOU NEED ME TO GET ON MY CHAIR AND SCREEN IT IS SUCH CRITICAL IMPORTANCE TO THE CITY AND YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL I AM A BIG FAN AND WE WILL CONTINUE AND WE WILL DO WHAT YOU GUYS NEED US TO DO FROM MY PERSPECTIVE TO GET THIS THING INTO THE END ZONE AND WORK WITH YOU GUYS , VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS, PROBABLY THE MOST EXCITING JOBS CREATION OPPORTUNITY I HAVE

[01:35:04]

MORE. >> THANK YOU, CAN YOU GO BACK, I WANT TO UNDERSTAND, I AM IN SUPPORT AND I WANT TO GET FRAME OF MIND OF THIS INDUSTRAL CORRIDOR MIX BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING. INDUSTRIAL, RESIDENTIAL FUTURE ZONING. I WANT TO GET THE UNDERSTANDING OF THAT , THAT WE DON'T CREATE A PROBLEM. HEAVY INDUSTRIAL BRINGS ONE ASPECT OF JOB OPPORTUNITY.

YOU HAVE A DEVELOPER COMING IN TO PUT SOMETHING THERE NOW WE HAVE COMPLAINTS AT CITY HALL SO I WANT TO GET A GOOD UNDERSTANDING FROM THIS AND THIS IS THE MAP COMBINING CITY AND COUNTY, CURRENT AND UNDERSTANDING PROPOSED IF YOU

CAN WALK ME THROUGH THAT AGAIN. >> SURE, THIS PARTICULAR MAP ON YOUR SCREEN IS COMBINED ZONING FOR BOTH ST. LUCIE COUNTY AND CITY OF FORT PIERCE. IF SOMEBODY WANTED TO COME IN NOW AND DO SOMETHING IN THIS STUDY AREA THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO SOMETHING THAT ALIGNS WITH ONE OF THE COLORS ON THE MAPS SO YOU HAVE QUITE A BIT OF YELLOW WHICH IS RESIDENTIAL ALONG JENKINS. ALL OF THE BROWN IS GOING TO BE AGRICULTURAL AND SO IN THIS AREA THAT'S FUTURE CITY OF FORT PIERCE YOU WANT TO BE THINKING WHAT DO YOU WANT THIS TO LOOK LIKE BECAUSE EVENTUALLY IT WILL NOT BE COWS SO THINKING ABOUT WHAT THE BROWN BECOMES IN THIS AREA THAT WILL BE PART OF THE URBAN CITY OF FORT PIERCE BOUNDARY IS VERY IMPORTANT. RIGHT NOW MOST OF THE CITY'S ZONING IN THE OKEECHOBEE AND KINGS HIGHWAY AREA IS COMMERCIAL AND MOST IS BUILT OUT, IT'S HOME DEPOT, THE HOTELS AND GAS STATIONS ALONG THE STRIP BETWEEN 95 AND THE TURNPIKE. BUT WHAT I THINK WE HAVE FOUND AND WHAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING IS THAT INSTEAD OF ALLOWING INDUSTRIAL AT-LARGE ALONG THE CORRIDOR AS YOU MENTIONED THOSE THINGS CAN BRING IMPACTS THAT ARE NOT GOOD FOR THE LONG-TERM NATURE OF CLASS A COMMERCE CENTER FOCUSED AREA. TO BE REALLY SPECIFIC TO COMMISSIONER BRODERICK'S POINT OF WHAT ARE THE USES WE WANT TO PUSH FOR HERE, WHAT ARE THE DESIGN STANDARDS WE WOULD WANT THOSE PEOPLE TO BRING, HOW MUCH DOES LANDSCAPING PLAY A ROLE? WHERE DO YOU PUT YOUR STUFF? OUTDOOR STORAGE? THESE BUSINESSES NEED A PLACE FOR THAT BUT HOW DO YOU DESIGN FOR IT SO IT CONTINUES TO LOOK GOOD FOR THE NEXT 20 OR 30 YEARS. AND CONTINUES TO DRIVE POSITIVE REGARD FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ENTERING INTO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. SO IF I CAN TAKE OFF THIS HAT AND PUT ON ANOTHER HAT RIGHT NOW REALLY QUICKLY YOU DEFINITELY NEED HEAVY INDUSTRIAL FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF IT IN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AND THERE'S A HUGE NEED FOR HEAVY INDUSTRIAL. I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE SPOT BUT YOU NEED MORE OF

IT. NOT HERE. >> THAT IS MY THOUGHT AND THAT IS WHAT PERKS ME UP WITH HEAVY INDUSTRIAL ANOTHER CHALLENGE WE HAVE NOW ON THAT CORRIDOR AND WHAT WE HAVE PROPOSED TO GO IN OUT THERE AND I'M CURIOUS HOW THESE TWO ARE GOING TO MIX AND MATCH AND I KNOW THE COMPLAINTS WE ALREADY HAVE OUT THERE. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I HAD A GOOD UNDERSTANDING AND I WOULD AGREE WITH YOUR SECOND POINT, FULL SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT AND I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT. LOOK FORWARD TO THE ECONOMIC IMPACT AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT WE UNDERSTAND THE POTENTIAL FOR JOBS BROUGHT TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO MOVE THE WAGE INDEX UP, WE NEED TO GET WAGES UP IN THIS AREA SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE LOCALS INVEST BACK INTO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. WE WANT TO SEE THAT WITH MORE ROOFTOPS BEING BUILT BY LOCALS THAT LIVE HERE MOVING IN THAT ASPECT. THE OTHER THING YOU MENTIONED BECAUSE I AM ON THE TPO WHERE ARE YOU IN THE PROCESS OF THAT GRAHAM ROAD IN THE 20/50 PLAN? I KNOW WE REVIEWED THE OTHER DAY AND I

[01:40:02]

SURE. >> I WILL REACH OUT TO THE TPO AND GET A SCHEDULE FOR THE 2050 ADOPTION PLAN. IT IS VERY ITERATIVE AND TAKES ABOUT ONE YEAR TO GO THROUGH AND DO THAT, BUT AS YOU GET CLOSER IF YOU DON'T START ADVOCATING EARLY IN THE PROCESS YOU CANNOT DO IT ON THE LAST DAY. SO IT IS IMPORTANT I WILL MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE THAT.

>> PLEASE DO, ENCOURAGE THAT AND I KNOW OUR STAFF IS REVIEWING A LIST OF PRIORITIES, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST WEEK TALKING 20 TO 50 PEOPLE THAT'S WHAT WE PLAN OUT UNTIL NOW AND IT TAKES THAT FUNDING. I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO MOVE IT UP BECAUSE MY CONCERN IS WHAT'S HAPPENING ON JENKINS ROAD AND WE HAVE APPROVED AND WE NOW ARE SEEN COME OUT THE GROUND OUT THERE , I DON'T KNOW MADAME MAYOR IF YOU KNOW BUT THE NEW APARTMENT COMPLEX NEXT TO SAMUEL GAINES WE APPROVED THAT TWO YEARS AGO. I DID NOT KNOW BUT THERE CLEARING GROUND NEXT TO THE SCHOOL THERE. SO THAT IS 400 OR 500 RESIDENTS OR SOMETHING GOING IN THE APARTMENT COMPLEX SO THAT AND WHAT IS TO COME IN TALKING WITH THE DEVELOPER SOME THINGS ON ORANGE AVENUE AND ORANGE WEST AND SO THIS GRAHAM ROAD CORRIDOR WILL BE THE RELIEVER OF PRESSURE COMING OFF OF BENT CREEK OFF THE BACK SIDE OF BENT CREEK SO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IS A PRIMARY CONCERN AND I WANT THE COMMISSION TO KNOW WE NEED TO KEEP OUR EYE ON THAT BECAUSE WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE GRAHAM ROAD IS EXPANDING WITH THE NEW BRIDGE OVER THERE SO WE CAN ALLEVIATE THE EAST AND WEST TRAFFIC THAT THIS IS GOING TO BRING. BOTH COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL. UNFORTUNATELY OR FOR YOU WILL RUN CUT THROUGH WITH TRUCKS TRYING TO NAVIGATE GETTING FROM THERE TO THERE SO IT IS A DIFFERENT ROAD FROM WHAT

IT IS NOW, THANK YOU. >> ANYTHING TO ADD COMMISSIONER

GAINES? >> MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS HAVE SET EVERYTHING I HAVE IN MY ONE ON ONES WITH THE GROUP. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU KNEW THE HICCUP I HAD WITH THE OVERLAY. YOU KNOW THE CONVERSATION WE HAD SO WITH THE THREE YEARS I CAN TAKE IT WITH A SPOON OF SUGAR BREAKING IT DOWN FOR THREE YEARS SO, WE HAD OUR CONVERSATION SO I WILL SAY WHAT I SAID BECAUSE I'M NOT AN OPPONENT OF THESE OVERLAYS BECAUSE THEY COME BACK TO BITE THE NEXT COMMISSION DOWN THE ROAD THAT WAS NOT THERE WHEN IT WAS ESTABLISHED SO WITH THE IDEAL THREE YEARS TO LOOK AT AND SEE I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU TOLD ME THAT IN MY ONE-ON-ONE YOU FELL BACK, YOU SAID OVERLAY I FELL BACK IN MY CHAIR IN MY OFFICE. I THINK I FELL BACK IN MY CHAIR. THIS IS MUCH NEEDED AND I CAN SEE IN THE BACK OF OUR DIRECTOR , I VOLUNTEERED TO GO OUT AND BE THE SPOKESMAN TO FPL . I WAS TOLD TO STAND DOWN SO I LET THEM DO WHAT THEY ARE DOING SOME GLAD AS HE SAID THERE IS COMMUNICATION, AND THAT IS KEY SO AGAIN I AM WITH THE PROJECT. I FEEL SORRY FOR THOSE RESIDENTS ON GRAHAM ROAD BECAUSE GRAHAM ROAD IS ABOUT TO BE A MAJOR, IT'S ABOUT TO BE A MAJOR FREEWAY FOR THIS TO GO SO IT IS WHAT IT IS BECAUSE WE NEED THE GROWTH AND WE NEED EVERYTHING OUT THERE. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK WITH THE THREE YEARS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR NEXT

PRESENTATION. >> THANK YOU, GREAT. I DID PLAY WITH THE MAPS AS YOU PREDICT IT AND , SOME IMPORTANT POINTS I THINK THAT THE AUDIENCE AND ANYBODY LISTENING OUGHT TO KNOW IS FLORIDA NEXUS PARK , WHEN I FIRST BECAME MAYOR IT WAS 100% EMPTY, AND ABANDONED OUTLET MALL SO THAT SHOWS WHAT THE CORRIDOR EVEN THOUGH IT IS A MIX , HOW IMPORTANT THOSE INTERSECTIONS

[01:45:06]

IT CONCERNS ME HAVING THE COUNTY AND CITY IN A OVERLAY DISTRICT, I THINK IT WOULD BE FANTASTIC, IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE NEED TO APPLY FOR THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GET EVERYBODY TO AGREE AND ONE OF THE THINGS MR. FREEMAN THE PLANNING DIRECTOR DID ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL JOB TRYING TO GET THE COUNTY AND CITY TO AGREE WHEN DOING THE PORT OVERLAY DISTRICT AND I THINK WE HAVE TO AT LEAST ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL NEED OUR DIPLOMACY SKILLS AND EVERYBODY NEEDS TO PUT THEIR EGOS AND WHATEVER ON THE BACK BURNER TO BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THIS.

>> WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO RESPOND TO THAT REALLY QUICKLY? MADAME MAYOR THANK YOU THAT IS A GOOD POINT AND I DID NOT ELABORATE ON THAT SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. HAVING WORKED FOR BOTH THE CITY AND COUNTY I FEEL GOOD ABOUT STEPPING INTO THAT ROLE AS MUCH AS YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO AND I ENVISION THIS OVERLAY BEING ONE THAT WOULD BE ADOPTED SEPARATELY, THE CITY CAN ADOPT IT AND THE COUNTY MIGHT NOT ADOPT RIGHT AWAY. THEY MAY TAKE THE CAUTIOUS ROUTE AND SAY LET'S SEE HOW THIS GOES OR THEY MAY NOT , BUT I DO NOT SEE IT BEING A SITUATION WHERE BOTH HAVE TO ADOPT IT AT THE SAME TIME.

>> OKAY. I SEE THE WHOLE PROJECT IS A LONG-TERM PROJECT BECAUSE IN READING THE WHOLE DOCUMENT , THE LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE AG LAND IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND FOR ELECTRICITY AS WELL AS THE OTHER SERVICES SO THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME SO WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT AN IMMEDIATE BUILDOUT IN TWO YEARS OF THE KINGS HIGHWAY CORRIDOR, BUT PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE SO I AM GLAD TO HEAR THAT AND GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU RECOGNIZE , WE CAN SIT HERE AND SAY WE WANT TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY AND I GENUINELY HAVE THE FEELING OF WANT TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY AND I KNOW AT SOME POINT MAYBE THE COUNTY DOES NOT WANT TO WORK WITH ME SO WE WILL HAVE TO SEE HOW THAT GOES, BUT I GO INTO IT WITH A POSITIVE

ATTITUDE. >> IF I MAY ADDRESS THE POINT , THIS IS IMPORTANT NOT AN ACADEMIC EXERCISE IN THE SENSE THAT ASHLEY CAPITAL IS ONGOING ACCORDING THE FORMER PROPERTY, TOP 20 NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES. IT'S GOING TO BE A BEAUTIFUL PROJECT. NOW THERE IS THE UNDERSTANDING AND CONSENSUS THAT PROPERTY WILL BE ANNEXED INTO THE CITY SO THIS IS ONGOING NOW. SO, YOU AND THE COMMISSIONERS WILL BE ABLE TO DEPLOY YOUR DIPLOMATIC SKILLS AND NEGOTIATIONS IN WORKING THAT. SO, ONGOING. THE FACT WE HAVE SEVERAL BUILDINGS THAT NEED TO BE FILLED AND THE EDC IS ACTIVELY WORKING ON PROJECTS TO FILL THAT, THERE'S GOING TO BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT INTERACTION AND MOST IMPORTANT OKAY WHAT IS THE CITY'S POSITION ON GOING THROUGH THE ANNEXATION PROCEDURE EITHER STARTING FROM THE SOUTH OR THE NORTH OR IN THE

[01:50:03]

AND LOVE. >> I AGREE THE ASHLEY CAPITAL IS A PERFECT SEGUE INTO DOING THIS SO I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

I THINK THE ECONOMIC ANALYSIS , I THINK THAT'S REALLY REALLY IMPORTANT AND I LIKE THE FACT THAT IF WE GET TO THE OVERLAY DISTRICT WE HAVE THE THREE-YEAR SUNSET POSSIBILITY. MAYBE WE CAN TWEAK IT ALONG THE WAY. I THINK THE POSSIBILITY, I LOOKED AT THE DEVELOPER'S COMMENTS TOO SO THERE'S ALWAYS PUSH AND PULL BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND DEVELOPERS, DEVELOPERS WANT EASY SAILING GET OUT OF MY WAY LET ME DO WHAT I WANT, GOVERNMENT SAYS I WANT IT TO LOOK LIKE THIS SO THERE'S GOT TO BE A BALANCE, THERE'S GOT TO BE A BALANCE AND IN TALLAHASSEE THE DEVELOPERS GET THEIR WAY MOST OF THE TIME, MOST OF THE TIME AND I WANT TO BE BUSINESS FRIENDLY, BUT I WANT TO BE RESPONSIVE AND HAVE THE CORRIDOR LOOK GOOD AND WHEN PEOPLE DRIVE THROUGH FORT PIERCE I WANT THE CORRIDOR TO LOOK CLASSY AND PRODUCT .

>> THAT'S THE FUN PART OF THE JOB. THE INTERACTIONS YOU DESCRIBED BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND DEVELOPERS.

>> YOU ARE THE BRIDGE, THE PEACE MAKERS.

>> EVERYBODY IS SHOOTING AT YOU, RIGHT?

>> FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS COMMENTS. ONE IS THAT IN MY DAY JOB INVOLVED IN INDUSTRIAL SPACE THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND COUNTY OF FORT PIERCE I AM FAMILIAR WITH THE ZONING REQUIREMENTS IN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, MY SUGGESTION IN THE VEIN OF LIGHT INDUSTRIAL IS COUNTY HAS A CURRENT LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ZONING CLASSIFICATION CALLED IL NOT LI AND GRANTED IT IS ANTIQUATED IT STILL HAS THINGS LIKE YOU CAN PUT A SEWING SHOP IN HERE OR SOMETHING TYPEWRITER REPAIRED EXACTLY. SO IT NEEDS TO BE REVAMPED, BUT IN THE OVERLAY DISTRICT SCENARIO WE CAN TAKE THAT AS A TEMPLATE AND THEN MODERNIZE IT. OF COURSE WITH DIRECTOR FREEMAN'S INPUT WHO IS EXPERT IN THIS AREA, I THINK WE CAN LEARN A LOT OF THAT DISCUSSION IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY IS THE COUNTY SAYING DON'T TOUCH THE AIRPORT YOU TAKE THE AIRPORT AND RELATED EXPENSES I'M THRILLED. TAKE EVERYTHING ELSE. WE WANT ALL OF IT AND THE BOUNDARIES OF SEEING ORIGINS AVENUE THE NORTHERN BOUNDARY IS A ERROR WITH ALL THE WAY UP TO INCORPORATE THE AIRPORT INDUSTRIAL PARK WHICH IS TAX REVENUE WAITING TO BE TAKEN FROM

THE COUNTY. >> FPUA HAS A GAS LINE GOING

STRAIGHT OUT . >> THAT DOES LEAD ME TO MY FINAL QUESTION AND WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE NOW THAT FPUA IN THEORY WILL BE MANAGEABLE MY PRIMARY CONCERN IS WHO OR WHAT GROU IS DEVELOPING THE ANNEXATION PLAN SPECIFICALLY TO SAY WE NEED TO ANNEX THIS PIECE TO GET TO THIS PIECE BECAUSE THAT'S A MISHMASH ALL OUT THERE. WE HAVE STUFF ON JENKINS BUT WE DO HAVE THE TREASURE COAST FOOD BANK IN CITY LIMITS SO WHO IS DEVELOPING THE PLAN? ARE WE DOING IT INTERNALLY ARE WE CONTRACTING WITH YOU FOLKS TO HAVE YOU SAY THAT COME AT THIS FROM THREE DIRECTIONS , ORANGE AVENUE, OKEECHOBEE AND GRAHAM POTENTIALLY, WHITE ROAD

[01:55:01]

THAT? >> I DO COMMISSIONER. I THINK WE GO OFF-LINE AND HAVE A CONVERSATION BECAUSE IF YOU READ THE REPORT YOU KNOW WE'RE KIND OF SET THAT ASIDE AND WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE SOME CONCERTED CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU , MR. FREEMAN AND STAFF AND THE COUNTY TOO. AND FPUA.

>> FPUA IS LIGHT YEARS AHEAD OF THE CITY ON THIS ISSUE, THEY BEEN WORKING A LONG TIME, RESULTS ARE THERE THEY ARE LIGHT YEARS AHEAD AND WE NEED TO PLAY FAST CATCH UP BECAUSE WE DON'T ANNEX WE HAVE NO WAY TO BRIDGE PROPERTIES SO THE COUNTY IS BUILDING BEAUTIFUL PROPERTIES WITH MUTUAL OVERLAY DISTRICTS AND WE GET NOTHING OUT OF IT. WE NEED TO GET ON THE ANNEXATION PLAN AND IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO THIS BODY TO WORK WITH EDC AND LESLIE AND HER TEAM TO BASICALLY COME UP WITH A DESIGNATED HITTER BECAUSE AS OF NOW WE DON'T HAVE ONE. WE HAVE NO PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD EXCEPT FOR THE OVERALL CONCEPT OF THE PARK BUT GUESS

WHAT WE CANNOT GET THERE. >> THAT BRINGS UP THE FACT THAT FPUA IS A VERY IMPORTANT PARTNER IN THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT. THIS KINGS HIGHWAY CORRIDOR DEPENDS ON CRITICAL SERVICES OF THE FPUA

BECAUSE THEY GROW THE CITY. >> MAYBE SUGGESTION COMMISSIONER BRODERICK TREASURE COAST FOOD BANK AND ORDINANCE 95 COMMERCE CENTER AS MENTIONED FPUA PROVIDING WATER AND SEWER SERVICES , THERE MAY BE AN ENCLAVE OR SO OR MAYBE THERE'S

A PILOT PROJECT >> REAL QUICK SOMETHING TO FOLLOW UP ON COMMISSIONER BRODERICK AND COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. WE KNOW EVERYBODY, I HAVE READ YOUR REPORT , I HAVE MET WITH YOU AND PEOPLE ARE LISTENING AND EVEN RESIDENTS LISTENING WILL NOT HEAR EVERYTHING WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SO WITH THIS INDUSTRIAL VERSUS HEAVY. I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE EXPLAINED OUT TO THE COMMON FOLKS THAT ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE THE EXTRA TIME TO KNOW INDUSTRIAL BECAUSE LESLIE JUST SAID ON THE COUNTY'S LIST, JUST EXPLAIN IT OUT BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE ARE HEARING INDUSTRIAL , THEY ASSUME CONCRETE PLANTS AND STUFF THAT ARE OUT THERE FOR WHAT COMMISSIONER JOHNSON WAS TALKING ABOUT WAS ALL FINE AND DANDY WHEN THEY PUT IT THERE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ALL FINE AND DANDY BUYING A HOUSE ONE MILE DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE DEVELOPMENT CAME NOW I GET EMAILS BECAUSE BY THE WAY , SO WE NEED TO EXPLAIN INDUSTRIAL VERSUS HEAVY SO THE PUBLIC AND RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE EVERYBODY WILL LISTEN AND WHEN MADAME MAYOR HITS THE GAVEL THIS WHOLE REPORT IS NOT GOING TO BE LOOKED AT AGAIN AND THEY WILL SAY WAIT A MINUTE WHAT IS INDUSTRIAL? WHAT IS HEAVY? JUST DOING IT OUT TO GET THAT LIST AND UPDATE THE LIST SO WE HAVE EVERYBODY ON THE SAME PAGE WHEN WE SAY LIGHT INDUSTRIAL THIS IS WHAT WE ARE TALK ABOUT.

>> THANK YOU MADAME MAYOR, COMMISSIONER GAINES, WHEN WE BRING THIS BACK TO YOU FOR ADOPTION RIGHT NOW IN DRAFT FORM WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS FLUSH IT OUT A LITTLE BIT WITH EXAMPLES OF THE KINDS OF INDUSTRIAL USE AND COMMERCIAL USE AND OFFICE USES, THE BLEND WE ARE RECOMMENDING AND SOME VISUAL EXAMPLES OF WHAT THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS COULD BE LIKE

DO THIS, NOT THAT KIND OF IDEA. >> THAT WOULD BE PERFECT.

>> ANYTHING ELSE? ANYTHING ELSE? GREAT JOB AND THANK YOU GUYS VERY VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT, LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

[E. Police Department's Response to Center for Public Safety Management's final report.]

>> NEXT UP WE HAVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONSE TO THE CENTER FOR PUBLIC SAFETY MANAGEMENT FINAL REPORT.

>> YOU HAVE A LEAD-IN FOR THIS? >> DURING THE CITY COMMISSION MEETING ON MAY 12 WE DISCUSSED CENTER FOR PUBLIC SAFETY MANAGEMENT FINAL REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS TODAY THE CHIEF AND HIS COMMAND TEAM WILL PROVIDE MANAGEMENT RESPONSE TO

[02:00:04]

>> MADAME MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS AS YOU ARE WHERE THE CENTER FOR PUBLIC SAFETY MANAGEMENT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT LAST YEAR IT WAS LABELED A STAFFING STUDY BUT IT WAS MORE COMPREHENSIVE. A FEW MONTHS AGO WE PRESENTED RESPONSE NOW WE'RE HERE TODAY TO PRESENT A MORE SPECIFIED RESPONSE OF WHERE WE HAVE BEEN, WHERE WE ARE AT WHERE WE ARE GOING WHAT WE AGREE WITH WHAT WE DISAGREE WITH AND WHAT WE HAVE COMMON GROUND ON. LET ME ALSO ADD EACH EURO COMMANDER IS GOING TO BE HERE TODAY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF DEPUTY CHIEF NORIS HE CANNOT BE HERE SO DEPUTY CHIEF GILLETTE IS GOING TO FILL IN FOR HIM.

RECOMMENDATION ONE. CPS M RECOMMENDS DEPARTMENT SHOULD CONTINUE TO UPDATE STRATEGIC PLAN, WE CONCUR. PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED OUR PLAN IS PART OF THE CITY STRATEGIC PLAN. I HAVE SENT FORWARD PROPOSAL TO INITIATE A SWAT TEAM WE USED TO HAVE ONE WE HAVE NOT FOR A DECADE SO THAT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME TO HAPPEN. SOME OF OUR GOALS FOR THE YEAR WITH THE GANG TASK FORCE GUN VIOLENCE REDUCTION PLAN AND DRUG TASK FORCE WE HAVE COMBINED ALL THREE INTO ONE LONG-TERM INITIATIVE NOW IT IS LONG-TERM BUT IT ALSO HAS SHORT-TERM GOALS AND WE ARE ALREADY SEEING RESULTS FROM WHAT WE'RE DOING WTH LOCAL AND FEDERAL PARTNERS. RECOMMENDATION NUMBER TWO. COMMENDED DEPARTMENT MOVE FORWARD WITH DEVELOPING DETAILED SUCCESSION PLAN MANAGEMENT CONCURS WITH RECOMMENDATION, CREATED CAPTAINS POSITIONS LAST YEAR THAT ARE VACANT NOW DUE TO RETIREMENT, FILLING THOSE POSITIONS WILL CREATE MOVEMENT TO THE RANKS OF SERGEANT LIEUTENANT WITH A DEPUTY CHIEF RETIRING NEXT MONTH WHICH WILL ALSO CREATE SOME MOVEMENT. WE HAVE POSITIONS AND STRUCTURE FOR THIS SUCCESSION PLAN IS JUST GOING TO TAKE TIME TO PUT IT IN . WE PROJECTED THE LIMITATION DATE JANUARY 21. WE PROJECTED THE LIMITATION DATE JANUARY 21, 2026. RECOMMENDATION THREE COMPLETE CONFERENCE TO REVIEW OF ALL DEPARTMENT POLICY OR GIVE CONSIDERATION TO PURCHASING AN ALREADY WRITTEN AND LEGALLY VETTED POLICIES FROM SEVERAL PRIVATE COMPANIES. WE CONCUR ABOUT HALF POLICIES HAVE BEEN REVIEWED , WE HAVE ANOTHER 50% TO REVIEW WITH FULL IMPLEMENTATION JANUARY 1, 2026.

RECOMMENDATION FOUR DEPARTMENT SHOULD CONSIDER APPLYING FOR AND RECEIVING ACCREDITATION FROM COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES KNOWN AS CALEA. CONSIDERED AN COMES AT A HIGHER COST THAN THT OF THE CFA OR THE COMMISSION OF FLORIDA ACCREDITATION.

CALEA IS RECOGNIZED ON AN INTERNATIONAL L EVEL WHEREAS CFA IS RECOGNIZED B Y THE STATE OF FLORIDA, IS A COMPONENT OF TH E FDLE AND IS BEST PRACTICES WIT O THE STATE OF9FLORIDA. THE DEPA RTMENT WILL BE EVALUATED UNDER CFA IN NOVEMBER OF 2025. WE JUST DID A MOCK ACCREDITATION WHICH WE DID GREAT WITH. CALEA SIGNIFICANTLY IS MORE EXPENSIVE, THIS IS SOMETHING I CAN SEE THE FUTURE POLICE CHIEF CONSIDERING, SOME PAPER CALEA SOME DON'T, I BELIEVE THAT AS OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NEXT CHIEF. RECOMMENDATION NUMBER FIVE. . CPSM RECOMMENDS T HAT THE TWO MAJORS BE ELEVATED T O DEPUTY CHIEF POSITIONS TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENC Y IN THE RANK STRUCTURE I DO NOT CONCUR WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION AT ALL. THIS WAS BASED ON THE MAJORS ANSWERING DIRECTLY TO THE CHIEF ALONG WITH DEPUTY CHIEF ANSWERING. IF YOU LOOK ALONG THE SAME LINE NORMALLY MAJOR WOULD ANSWER TO DEPUTY CHIEF, ALSO EXPENSIVE CONTROL IS DIFFERENT IF I WERE GOING TO BE THE CHIEF I WOULD DO A COMPLETE DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATION AND LOOK AT EFFICIENCY BUT THAT IS OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NEXT CHIEF SO I WILL BE THERE TO ASSIST WITH THAT. RECOMMENDATION NUMBER SIX. FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT FPPD MUST BEGIN DEVELOPING, TEAC HING, AND MENTORING ITS PERSONNE

[02:05:01]

WAS A WORD. >> I WOULD SAY SUPERVISOR

TRAINING. >> MOVE LIEUTENANTS AND CAPTAINS TO LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT TRAINING, AND ROLLING IN TRAINING AT INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE SAFETY OF INSTITUTE OR FBI LAW ENFORCEMENT EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION INCLUDING FIRST-LINE SUPERVISION , COMMAND LEADERSHIP, FUTURE CAPTAINS WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND FLORIDA CRIMINAL JUSTICE EXECUTIVE INSTITUTE. IMPLEMENTED EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 2025.

SORRY I WENT INTO THE INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES BUREAU.

RECOMMENDATION EIGHT GETTING READY TO START I WILL INVITE THE

MAJOR TO COME UP. >> GOOD MORNING, SO I WILL CONTINUE ON WITH INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES BUREAU SECTION. THAT IS MY SECTION. I AM OVER CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATORS , CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION, CRIME SUPPRESSION UNIT, VICTIM ADVOCATES. RECOMMENDATION EIGHT, CPSM RECOMMENDS INCREASING THE N UMBER OF DETECTIVES ASSIGNED TO PAID-ON-CALL SCHEDUL ES. WE CONCUR WITH THE RECOMMENDATION. BASED ON STAFFING ISSUES. NEXT.

RECOMMENDATION NINE CPSM RECOMMENDS THAT FPPD ADD ONCE OF AN INVESTIGATOR TO OBTAIN AND ANALYZE DIGITAL EVIDENCE AND DIRECTLY SUPPORT CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS. WE DO NOT CONCUR WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION. ANALYZING OF DIGITAL EVIDENCE REQUIRES, IT IS MOSTLY CONTRABAND WHICH IS LEFT FOR SWORN OFFICERS SO IT IS NOT IMPLEMENTED, NEXT SLIDE.

CPSM RECOMMENDS THE DEPARTMENT D EDICATE THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN THE TECHNO LOGY REQUIRED TO ACCESS MODERN CELLULAR TELEPHONES AND COMPUTER S. WE CONCUR WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION. WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED DOING THAT PRIOR TO THE STUDY COMING, WE ARE 25% IMPLEMENTED BASED ON FUNDING AND THE BUDGET. SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

>> CAN I INTERRUPT FOR A SECOND? FOR THE TWO BACK YOU DID NOT AGREE BECAUSE IT NEEDED TO BE A SWORN OFFICER. WHY DID THEY, THAT SEEMS , THE REASONING SEEMS OBVIOUS WHY DO YOU THINK THEY

RECOMMENDED THAT? ANY IDEA? >> I THINK THEY HAVE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE IN DIFFERENT AREAS SO SOME OF THE CHIEFS MAY NOT. BEYOND WHAT THEIR EXPERTISE ARE. SO A LOT OF TIMES CHIEFS RUN FROM A LARGE PERSPECTIVE AND SOME MAY NOT KNOW THE NUANCE OF PARTICULAR SUBJECT MATTER. I HAPPEN TO DO FORENSICS IN MY PRIOR CAREER SO I HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE

EXPERIENCE IN THE AREA. >> OKAY THANK YOU. RECOGNITION OF HER 11.

CPSM RECOMMENDS THE DEPARTMENT C ONSIDER MOVING ONE OR MORE CRIME ANALYSTS TO THE DETEC TIVE UNIT (CID) TO DIRECTLY SUPPORT INVESTIGATIONS THROUGH D IGITAL FORENSICS, DATA ANALYSIS, AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT CASE SUPPO RT. MANAGEMENT CONCURS WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION. IT IS STILL ALSO BASED ON STAFFING RIGHT NOW.

RECOMMENDATION 12 IN ADDITION TO MOVING ANALYST AND ADDING CIVILIAN INVESTIGATOR FOR DIGITAL FORENSIC RECOMMENDING TO ADD ACCOMMODATION OF 2 TO 3 ADDITIONAL SWORN OR NON-SWORN INVESTIGATORS/DETECTIVES INTO THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT. AGAIN IT IS WE CONCUR WITH THAT WE ARE DOWN DETECTIVES, ONCE STAFFING BECOMES ADEQUATE WE WILL CONTINUE TO TRANSITION.

RECOGNITION NUMBER 13.

CPSM RECOMMENDS THAT FPPD ESTABL ISH A SUFFICIENT ANNUAL TRAINING BUDGET AND ALLOCATE THE NECESSARY TIME FOR DETECTIVES T O RECEIVE TRAINING IN BASIC AND ADVANCED CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS . WE CONCUR WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION AND WE'RE

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RECOMMENDATION 14 CPSM REVIEW REASONS FOR LOW CLEARANCE RATES IN THE SPECIFIC AREAS AND DESIGN AND AGGRESSIVE IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOCUSED ON INCREASING PERCENTAGE OF CASES SOUGHT BY THE AGENCIES IN THOSE AREAS. WHEN THEY DID THIS TODAY THEY INACCURATELY CAPTURED STATISTICS FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH A BUNCH OF ZEROS FOR SECTIONS WHICH WERE INCORRECT. WHEN PROVIDED WITH THOSE NUMBERS THEY CORRECTED THEIR STUDY AND WE FOUND WE ARE IN LINE WITH CITIES THAT ARE SIMILAR TO OUR SIZE. NEXT. JUST TO ADD REGARDLESS WE STILL ROUTINELY REVIEW EVERY SINGLE CASE AND WE LOOK TO OBVIOUSLY SOLVE THEM. RECOMMENDATION 15.

CPSM RECOMMENDS THAT THE FPPD DE VELOP A SYSTEMATIC WAY TO DEDICATE AT LEAST A FEW RESOURCE S AND TIME TO WORKING ON COLD CASES. THAT IS BASED ON STAFFING WITH REGARDS TO DETECTIVES, HOWEVER THROUGH PERIODIC REVIEW WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT ALL CASES ACTIVE AND INACTIVE. NEXT. RECOMMENDATION 16.

WE RECOMMEND TRANSITIONING THE S WORN POLICE OFFICER POSITION OUT OF THE PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE FUNCTION AND CREATING A CIVILIA N SUPERVISORY POSITION FOR PROPERT Y AND EVIDENCE. WE DO CONCUR WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION. IT ALSO REQUIRES ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE BUDGET TO DO SO AND AS WE DISCUSSED IN THE PREVIOUS SESSION THERE WERE REASONS WHY WE MOVED A SWORN OFFICER INTO THAT POSITION TEMPORARILY. NEXT.

17.

CPSM RECOMMENDS A FULL OUTSIDE R EVIEW OF THE PROPERTY AND EVIDEN CE FUNCTION. A COMPREHENSIVE REV IEW BY A TEAM OF PROPERTY AND EV IDENCE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS SH OULD INCLUDE DETERMINING BEST PRACTIC ES FOR: DEVELOPING A ROBUST PROPERTY PUR GE PROCESS, A NEW INVENTORY CONT ROL SYSTEM UTILIZING MODERN SOFT WARE AND TOOLS TO MAXIMIZE ORGANIZATION, EFFICIENCY, AND PU RGING OF PROPERTY NO LONGER NECE SSARY TO STORE REORGANIZATION OF CURRENT SPACE, USING MODERN SYSTEMS TO GAIN AD DITIONAL STORAGE CAPACITY IN EXISTING SPACE PHYSICAL AND PROCEDURAL SECURITY SO, WE CONCUR WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION HOWEVER REST ASSURED WE ARE DOING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE STEPS ALREADY AND HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE TO CONTINUE TO MOVE THE EVIDENCE STORAGE AND PROCESSES FORWARD.

NEXT. RECOMMENDATION 18.

CPSM RECOMMENDS THAT FPPD EVALUA TE THE POSSIBILITY OF REALLOCATING A VICTIM ADVOCATE P OSITION TO A CIVILIAN INVESTIGAT OR OR SIMILAR POSITION TO MORE D IRECTLY SUPPORT CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS SO, IN WHOLE WE DO NOT CONCUR WITH THIS RECOGNITION, VICTIM ADVOCATES ARE A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY DO MUCH MORE THAN JUST HANDLE THE VICTIM ADVOCACY AS PART OF COLLATERAL DUTIES. THEY ARE ESSENTIAL PART OF THE TEAM, THEY ALREADY WORK CLOSELY WITH CID. AGAIN WE DO NOT HAVE A CIVILIAN INVESTIGATOR POSITION THAT IS NOT SOMETHING , NOT EVEN IN OUR POSITION SO WE WOULD HAVE TO CREATE SOMETHING FOR THAT. SO NOT IMPLEMENTED. NUMBER 19.

CPSM RECOMMENDS THAT FPPD EVALUA TE THE EFFICACY OF THE CRIME SUP PRESSION UNIT (CSU) IN CONTEXT WITH THE D EPARTMENT RESOURCES AVAILABLE FO R PATROL AND INVESTIGATIONS. IF THE DEPARTMENT CHOOSES TO CONTIN UE CSU IN ITS CURRENT FORM, CPSM RECOMMENDS THAT THE DEPARTM ENT DEDICATE ADDITIONAL RESOURCE S FOR ONGOING TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE C SU. WE CONCUR THAT CSU IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WE CONCUR THEY NEED TO BE ADEQUATELY STAFFED AND EQUIPPED. EVEN PRIOR TO THE STUDY COMING OUT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON EQUIPMENT FOR THEM, HIGHER-LEVEL VESTS, BALLISTIC HELMETS, THEY DO THE HIGH RISK SEARCH WARRANTS. TRAINING, SOME OF OUR OFFICERS WENT TO TACTICAL TRAINING ASSIGNED TO CSU. THEY ARE ALSO REFOCUSED AND PART OF THE STRATEGY THAT CHIEF SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER IN REDUCING GUN VIOLENCE AND CRIME WITHIN THE CITY. AND YOU KNOW, IN MY OPINION THEY HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL. AND THAT ENDS MY PORTION.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME?

>> COMMISSIONER GAINES >> I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION FOR

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>> I WILL ANSWER THAT. WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS WE WILL CERTAINLY SHARE THE REPORT WITH THE POLICE CHIEF, SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ARE STANDARD INDUSTRY TYPE QUESTIONS AND CERTAINLY THEY WILL BE IN ALIGNMENT, THOSE THAT ARE MORE STRUCTURAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL IN TERMS OF POSITIONS AND CHANGING TITLES AND MOVING DEPARTMENTS FROM ONE ANOTHER THE NEW CHIEF SHOULD BE INVOLVED WHETHER THEY WANT TO DO THAT. SOME IS RELATED TO FUNDING SO THAT WILL BE INTERNAL DISCUSSION WITH FINANCE RELATED TO FUNDING SO WE WILL REVIEW THE ENTIRE REPORT WITH THE POLICE CHIEF, SIT DOWN WITH ACTING POLICE CHIEF COMMAND TEAM AND GO TO THE PROCESS WITH OUR THOUGHT PROCESS AND THE ANSWER WE PROVIDED AND THEN WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE IF NECESSARY AND THERE WILL BE DISCUSSION, THERE WILL BE A TEAM

DISCUSSION. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT, SOMETHING CHIEF SAID I WILL LET THE NEW PERSON COMING SO IT TRIGGERED SOMETHING WAIT A MINUTE WE HAVE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS CURRENT OR NOT AND I KNOW WE ARE ABOUT TO DO A MAJOR SEARCH FOR A POLICE

CHIEF SO I GOT MY ANSWER. >> SOME OF THE SMALL THINGS , THEY SHOULD BE DONE BY US LIKE THE ONE THING THE MAJOR REORGANIZATION YOU WANT ME TO DO IT I WILL DO IT, GIVE ME THE

GREEN LIGHT AND I WILL DO IT. >> I KNOW YOU WILL, CHIEF. THAT

WAS MY QUESTION, THANK YOU. >> GOOD QUESTION.

>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS GILLETTE ACTING DEPUTY CHIEF OF POLICE IN CHARGE OF ADMINISTERED OF SERVICES SO YOU WILL BE HEARING FROM ME LATER IN THE PRESENTATION. RIGHT NOW MANAGEMENT RESPONSE FOR THE COMMUNITY POLICING BARREL UNDER THE PATROL DIVISION. RECOMMENDATION 20 CPSM RECOMMENDS THAT FPPD STREAM LINE ITS SUPERVISOR AND MANAGEMENT REVIEW PROCES IN THE COMMUNITY POLICING BUREAU.

MANAGEMENT DOES NOT CONCUR WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION. HAVE A SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT INCORPORATES A REVIEW PROCESS FILTER FROM THE OFFICER TO THE SERGEANT INTO THE LIEUTENANT FOR FINAL REVIEW. THIS ENABLES THE LIEUTENANT TO ENSURE FINAL REPORT WITH THE BASIS OF LEGALITY ACCOUNTABILITY AND LIABILITY SO THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED.

RECOMMENDATION 21.

CPSM RECOMMENDS THAT FPPD REEVAL UATE THE NEED FOR A SECOND UPPER MANAGEMENT POSITION (CAPTAIN) IN THE COMMUNITY POLICING BUREAU.

MANAGEMENT CONCURS WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION.

MANAGEMENT REEVALUATED THE CAPTAIN S POSITION AND FOUND IT HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN ENSURIN G THAT THE LARGEST BUREAU WITH THE MOST EMP LOYEES MAINTAINS A TIMELY ADMINI NS, DAILY REQUESTS FROM OFFICERS AND CIVILIANS, THE COMPLETION OF REVIEWING EVALUATI ONS, CITIZEN COMPLAINTS, REPORTS , AND E CAPTAIN ALSO ENSURES THAT OFFI CERS ARE FOLLOWING DEPARTMENT POLICIES AND MAINTAIN ING DEPARTMENT EXPECTATIONS AND COMPLIANCE.

THE POSITION OF CAPTAIN WAS IMPLEMENTED IN MAY 1 OF THIS YEAR. RECOMMENDATION 22 CPSM RECOMMENDS THAT FPPD ESTABL ISH MINIMUM STAFFING NUMBERS FOR DAILY PATROL DEPLOYMENT. YOU WILL ALSO SEE THIS IS COVERED IN RECOMMENDATION 30. CPSM RECOMMENDS MINIMUM STAFFING LEVELS OF 15 SWORN EMPLOYEES PER SHIFT WHICH INCLUDES OFFICERS, CANINES AND SERGEANTS, CURRENT SHIFTS ARE STAFFED AT OR BELOW THESE LEVELS NOW. SHIFT ST AFFING IS AUGMENTED BY OFFICERS WORKING OVER-TIME OR SPECIALIZED UNITS CONTRIBUTING OFFICERS. FU LL IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS RECOMMENDATION DEPENDS O N HAVING ADEQUATE DEPARTMENT-WID E STAFFING.

RECOMMENDATION 23.

CPSM RECOMMENDS THAT BEAT 150 BE MERGED INTO EITHER BEAT 120 OR 130 MANAGEMENT DOES NOT CONCUR WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION.

ALTHOUGH THIS RECOMMENDATION APPEARS REASONABLE ON FACE VALUE IT IS NOT INCLUDE THE REAL POSSIBILITY OF ANNEXATIONS IN ZONE 150, THIS HAS BEEN A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION IN PREVIOUS COMMISSION MEETINGS AND APPEARS TO BE A POSSIBILITY OF EXPANSION TO THE WEST AND NORTH OF ZONE 150 IDEALLY EACH ZONE WOULD HAVE AN OFFICER ASSIGNED, ZONES 110, 20, 30, 50, WITH THE CURRENT

[02:20:02]

RECOMMENDATION 24. MANAGEMENT CONCURS WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION, THEY HAVE MET WITH 911 COMMUNICATIONS CPSM RECOMMENDS THAT FPPD ACCURA TELY RECORDS ALL WORK ACTIVITY, INCLUDING REPORT WRITING, IN THE COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH (CAD) SYSTEM. MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPED A SINGLE 100 DESIGNATION FOR UNCATEGORIZED WORK ACTIVITY AS THE COMPUTER AIDED DISPATCH SYSTEM IS SHARED BETWEEN AGENCIES THIS DESIGNATION WANT TO BE ADOPTEDCOUNTYWIDE. SO WE ARE CURRENTLY PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED THE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION DATE OCTOBER 1 EXPECTED AFTER THE TEAM IN THE COUNTY MEETS WITH ALL THE SHAREHOLDERS WITH EACH OF THE AGENCIES. RECOMMENDATION 25, CPSM RECOMMENDS THAT FPPD TAKE STEPS TO DEFINE BUSY ACTIVITY IN THE CAD SYSTEM ACCURATELY THIS WILL BE COVERED UNDER THE SIMILAR 100 DESIGNATION AND WE EXPECT IMPLEMENTATION IN OCTOBER.

RECOMMENDATION 26. MANAGEMENT CONCURS WITH CPSM RECOMMENDS THA T FPPD WORK WITH COUNTY DISPATCH PARTNERS TO ISOLATE UNIT DESIGN ATORS TO DELINEATE PATROL VERSUS NON-PATROL UNITS SIGNED INTO THE CAD SYSTEM. THIS RECOMMENDATION. MANAGEMENT MET WITH 911 MEDICATION MANAGEMENT DEVELOP SEPARATE PNEUMONIC DESIGNATORS FOR EACH UNITS IN SERVICE. AGAIN THIS ONE BE IN LIMITED COUNTYWIDE SINCE WE HAVE A SHARED CAD SYSTEM. WE EXPECT UPDATE ON THAT IN OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR. RECOMMENDATION 27, CPSM RECOMMENDS THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP ENGAGE COUNTY DISPATCH CENTER TO REALIGN CALL PRIORITY SYSTEM TO ENSURE THE HIGHEST PROTOCOLS ARE CODED AS SUCH NOT DILUTED BY LOWER PRIORITY CALLS FOR SERVICE. WE CONCUR WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION. MANAGEMENT MET WITH 911 COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT TO ENSURE CALLS WERE PRIORITIZED CORRECTLY AND DISPATCHED AS SUCH, PATROL SUPERVISORS ARE MONITORING HOLDING CALLS ENTERING PRIORITY CALLS ARE ANSWERED BEFORE LOWER TIER CALLS OF SERVICE. ALREADY IMPLEMENT IT IN JULY OF THIS YEAR. RECOMMENDATION 28 FOLLOWS IN LINE WITH RECOMMENDATION 27.

CPSM RECOMMENDS FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMUNITY EXPECTATION TO SUPERVISORS FOR THEM TO PROACTIVELY MANAGE POLICE RESPONSE TIMES, WE CONCUR WITH THIS RUMINATION WE HAVE MET WITH PATROL SUPERVISORS AND DISCUSS MONITORING AND ACTIVATING ACTIVE CALLS FOR SERVICE AND HOLDING CALLS FOR SERVICE TO ENSURE THE FASTEST RESPONSE TIME. THIS WAS IMPLEMENTED IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR. RECOMMENDATION 29, CPSM RECOMMENDS THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REVIEW EXISTING CANINE POLICY TO ENSURE IT IS ACCURATE AND UP-TO-DATE BASED ON CURRENT BEST PRACTICES AND DEPARTMENT STRUCTURE. WE CONCUR WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION AND POLICY WAS REVISED AND APPROVED IN MAY OF THIS YEAR. RECOMMENDATION 30. CPSM RECOMMENDS POLICE DEPARTMENT ESTABLISH MINIMUM STAFFING LEVELS 15 SWORN EMPLOYEES PER SHIFT INCLUDES OFFICERS , CANINES AND SERGEANTS, MANAGEMENT PARTIALLY CONCURS, DOES NOT CONCUR WITH INCLUSION OF CANINES AND SERGEANTS IN TOTALS ONE STAFFING AS THEY HAVE SPECIALIZED ROLES AND UNIQUE RESPONSIBILITIES, THIS RECOMMENDATION DOES NOT ADDRESS VACATION TIME, SICK LEAVE OR TRAINING. EACH SHIFT WOULD OPTIMALLY HAVE AN ADDITIONAL TWO OR THREE OFFICERS PER SHIFT WITH A TIMELINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS RECOMMENDATION DEPENDS ON HAVING ADEQUATE DEPARTMENTWIDE STAFFING. CURRENTLY NOT IMPLEMENTED. RECOMMENDATION 31. CPSM RECOMMENDS POLICE DEPARTMENT INCREASE AUTHORIZE STAFFING IN THE COMMUNITY POLICING BUREAU BY TWO FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES , POLICE OFFICERS WHEN THE DEPARTMENT IS FULLY STAFFED, MANAGEMENT CONCURS WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION, TIMELINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS RECOMMENDATION DEPENDS ON ADEQUATE DEPARTMENTWIDE STAFFING. RECOMMENDATION 32. IF POLICE DOES NOT ADOPT POLICY SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE, CPSM RECOMMENDS ALL POLICY RELATED TO PATROL OPERATIONS SHOULD BE REVIEWED AND UPDATED, WE CONCUR WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION AND CURRENTLY WE ARE AT 80% OF THE PATROL POLICY UPDATED. WE EXPECT FULL IMPLEMENTATION BY NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR. NEXT I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE MAJOR SANTIAGO TO DISCUSS THESE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES BUREAU.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. >> GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND

[02:25:04]

NUMBER 36, CPSM RECOMMENDS DEPARTMENT CONTINUE RETRAINING OFFICERS AND SERGEANTS IN THE NECESSARY INFORMATION REQUIRED ON REPORTS, THIS IS SPECIFIC TO THE CRIMINAL ANALYST INFORMATION WAS BEING MISSED OR NOT CAPTURED PROPERLY SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY DEVELOP BETTER ANALYTICAL REPORTS AFTERWARDS. THE MANAGEMENT CONCURS WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION. WE DID COMPLETE AN ACTION PLAN FOR THIS BASICALLY RETRAINING PERSONNEL ON DATA ENTRY. WHAT TO LOOK FOR, TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS AND CREATE A GUIDE FOR SUPERVISORS OUTLINING THE KEY FIELDS NEEDED FOR BASIC ANALYSIS WHICH WILL HELP THE OVERALL OPERATION SO THAT HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED ALREADY. NUMBER 37. LIFE AND WORK BALANCE RECOMMENDS THAT THE EMPLOYEES SHOULD, SOME CONSIDERATION COULD BE GIVEN TO ALLOWING THE CRIMINAL ANALYST UNIT TO WORK A SCHEDULE FOUR , 10 HOURS OR 11 HOUR DAYS INCLUDING BREAKS IN BLUE OF A FIVE DAY AND EIGHT HOUR SCHEDULE MANAGEMENT CONCURS , THIS WAS IMPLEMENTED MAY 31 AND SO FAR FINDINGS ON THIS HAVE BEEN POSITIVE, THE UNIT IS ALWAYS STAFFED IS JUST A MATTER OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT WITHIN THE UNIT ITSELF BUT EVERY DAY IS ACTUALLY STAFFED. SO, THE MORALE IN THAT PARTICULAR UNIT HAS GONE THROUGH THE ROOF BECAUSE OF IT AND WE HAVE GOTTEN MORE WORK PRODUCT OUT OF THEM. ACCOMMODATION 38 MEMBERS SHOULD ATTEND ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL TRAINING CLASSES OR CONFERENCES IN THE FIELD OF CRIME ANALYSIS TO REMAIN CURRENT ON TRENDS AND PLATFORMS THAT ARE OCCURRING IN THE INDUSTRY. WE CONCUR WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION, CAU HAS LIMITED CAU IS THE CRIMINAL ANALYST UNIT IMPLEMENTING A TRAINING BLOCK EVERY THURSDAY SO EVERY THURSDAY THEY GO TO INTERNAL TRAINING BLOCK WHERE THEY COMMIT THEMSELVES TO TRAINING AND I BELIEVE THE NEXT, THAT HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED, THE NEXT RECOMMENDATION LEADS TO A SYSTEM A SMART FORCE SYSTEM. IF WE CONTINUE TO USE A STRATIFIED

[02:30:06]

[02:35:04]

AND I THINK THEY MEAN 25. >> IT SHOULD BE 26 BUT WE WILL ADJUST THAT. FOR THE PUBLIC. CPSM RECOMMENDS NUMBER 47 I'M SORRY, CPSM RECOMMENDS NO MEMBER OF OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL STANDARD REMAIN IN THE UNIT LONGER THAN THREE YEARS BEFORE ROTATING OUT OF THE ASSIGNMENT, WE CONCUR , THAT IS THE INDUSTRY STANDARD ALLOWING FOR DEVELOPMENT PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT PREVENTING BURNOUT WITH OPTIONS TO REDUCE BURNOUT AND INCREASE EFFICIENCY INCLUDE WORKING REMOTELY AND ADJUSTING HOURS TO PROMOTE A BALANCED WORK AND PERSONAL LIFE IMPLEMENTATION RELIANT UPON STAFFING ALTHOUGH WE DON'T HAVE STAFFING TO ROTATE AT THIS MINUTE WE HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO OFFSET SOME OF THE INVESTIGATIVE RESPONSIBILITY ON THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATOR FOR INSTANCE WE HAVE A LIEUTENANT THAT FALLS WITHIN QUALITY ASSURANCE THAT COULD SUPPORT THAT AND SUPPORT INVESTIGATIONS WHEN THAT INVESTIGATORS EITHER NOT HERE OR IS OVERLOADED WE DO SHARE SOME OF THOSE ROLES WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF. NUMBER 48. CPSM RECOMMENDS DURING INVESTIGATIONS CONDUCTED BY FIELD SUPERVISORS SHOULD BE RECORDED. MANAGEMENT CONCURS WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION, HOWEVER, IMPORTANT TO NOTE INTERACTIONS INVOLVING SUPERVISORS AND SUBORDINATES DO NOT ALWAYS AMOUNT TO DISCIPLINE AND MANY TIMES INVOLVE COUNCIL OR TRAINING. FIELD SUPERVISORS ARE NOT TASKED WITH CONDUCTING FORMAL INTERVIEWS OF OFFICERS, FORMAL INTERVIEWS ARE CONDUCTED BY THE OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS. ESSENTIALLY IF SOMEBODY COMES INTO THE STATION AND HAS SOME SORT OF COMPLAINT WITH SOMEBODY, THERE ARE TIMES WHERE THOSE COMPLAINTS ARE ACTUALLY NOT COMPLAINTS IT'S JUST A MISUNDERSTANDING OF WHAT OCCURRED SO THE SUPERVISOR CAN COME TO SOME SORT OF AGREEMENT ON THE RESULT OF WHAT HAPPENED SO IT'S A MATTER OF EDUCATION. SO THOSE INCIDENTS ARE TYPICALLY NOT RECORDED, AS WELL. NUMBER 49, CPSM RECOMMENDS SOME ASSISTANCE BE PROVIDED TO THE OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL STANDARD UNTIL SUCH TIME AS A VACANT POSITION CAN BE FILLED, WE DISCUSSED EARLIER, ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO THEM IN THE FORM OF DELINEATING SPECIFIC ROLES. CPSM RECOMMENDS NUMBER 50 CPSM RECOMMENDS WHEN A POLICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE SUSPECTED OF HAVING COMMITTED A CRIMINAL ACT OUTSIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY BE REQUESTED TO CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS, THIS IS ALREADY IN PLACE SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTINGS. WE HAVE THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT DOES COME IN FOR ANY TYPE OF USE OF FORCE THAT DOES COME IN UNDER CRIMINAL REFERRAL ON OUR END. WE STILL HANDLE THE INTERNAL POLICY VIOLATION BUT THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT DOES HANDLE THE CRIMINAL ASPECT SO THIS WAS ALREADY LIMITED PRIOR TO THE CPSM STUDY. CPSM RECOMMENDS A SHOOTING REVIEW BOARD BE CONVENED ON EACH OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING INVOLVING EMPLOYEES, MANAGEMENT DOES NOT CONCUR WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION, THIS REQUIRES EXTENSIVE LEGAL REVIEW, COLLABORATION AND POTENTIAL CITY ORDINANCE CHANGE, OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTINGS INVOLVE , INVOLVING POLICE OFFICERS ARE INVESTIGATED BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE,THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THEN PRESENTS EVIDENCE TO A GRAND JURY MADE UP OF CITIZENS TO DETERMINE IF USE OF FORCE WAS WITHIN THE LAW.

ADDITIONALLY ALL OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTINGS ARE INVESTIGATED BY STANDARD TO ADHERENCE AND DEPARTMENT POLICY SO THIS HAS NOT BEEN LIMITED USE OF FORCE POLICY SHOULD BE REVIEWED ANNUALLY FOR CHANGES IN LAW, WHILE ALTERING ANYWAY FORCE IS USED, MANAGEMENT CONCURS THE USE OF FORCE POLICY IS REVIEWED ANNUALLY AND CHANGES ARE MADE WITH ANY NEW LEGISLATION OR CHANGES IN CASE LAW LIMITED PRIOR TO THE STUDY. CPSM RECOMMENDS CITY CONSIDER OFFERING A SEPARATE HIRING BONUS TO CANDIDATES IN ADDITION TO THE STATE INCENTIVE. MANAGEMENT CONCURS WITH RECOMMENDATION ALTHOUGH CITY IS $250 MONTHLY ALLOWANCE FOR TWO YEARS TODAY'S COMPETITIVE JOB MARKET THIS PUTS

[02:40:06]

THIS IS NOT LIMITED AND REQUIRE CITY AND UNION CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WHICH ARE CURRENTLY UNDERWAY. CPSM RECOMMENDS DEPARTMENT CONSIDER IN LIMITING A DEDICATED RECRUITMENT TEAM. WE CONCUR WITH THIS, THIS IS ONE AREA THAT WILL ENHANCE RECRUITMENT EFFORTS HOWEVER IT IS STAFFING PROHIBITIVE RIGHT NOW AND WE ARE UNABLE TO DO THAT AND HAVE NOT IMPLEMENT IT IT AT THIS POINT. NUMBER 58 DEPARTMENT SHOULD TARGET RECRUITMENT EFFORTS TOWARD FEMALE CANDIDATES AND HIRE MORE FEMALES TO FULFILL INITIATIVE GOALS AND MAKE THE DEPARTMENT MORE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE POPULATION, THE GOAL FOR CPSM IS WHERE WE PROMISE TO TRY TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN 30% OF THE DEPARTMENT BEING FEMALE AND , BY THE YEAR 2030. MANAGEMENT CONCURS WITH THE RECOMMENDATION, CURRENTLY 20% OF PERSONNEL ARE FEMALE SO WE HAVE 10% MORE TO GO BY 2030, MOST APPLICANTS ARE MALE HISTORICALLY THE PROFESSION HAS ATTRACTED MORE MALE APPLICANTS, RECRUITING EFFORTS AND STRATEGIES ARE ADJUSTED TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN THE MOST QUALIFIED AND DIVERSE APPLICANTS. 59. COMMENDING DEPARTMENT FOCUS RECRUITMENT EFFORTS ON THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN DEMOGRAPHIC. MANAGEMENT CONCURS WITH RECOMMENDATION, WE HAVE 23.4% OF THE DEPARTMENT MAKE UP PERSONNEL AFRICAN-AMERICANS, RECRUITING EFFORTS AND STRATEGIES ARE CONSISTENTLY ADJUSTED TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN THE MOST QUALIFIED AND DIVERSE APPLICANTS, THESE WERE IMPLEMENT IT PRIOR TO THE STUDY. NUMBER 60 CPSM RECOMMENDS DEPARTMENT CONSIDER PURCHASING LAPTOP FOR THE OFFICER FOR USE RECRUITMENT EVENTS, THAT HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED AND LAPTOP ASSIGNED FEBRUARY 1 OF 2025. NUMBER 61 RECOMMENDED DEPARTMENT PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS MASTER PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER CERTIFICATION FOR THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS MANAGER GOES TO MEDIA RELATIONS. MANAGEMENT CONCURS , ADVANCED TRAINING IN PUBLIC INFORMATION IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE PUBLIC AFFAIRS MANAGER IS EQUIPPED TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE MEDICATION DURING CRITICAL INCIDENT, MAINTAIN PUBLIC TRUST AND UPHOLD THE DEPARTMENT REPUTATION ALTHOUGH THIS HAS NOT BEEN IMPLEMENT IT THOSE PARTICULAR COURSES ARE TYPICALLY OFFERED ONCE A YEAR WHICH IS THE MASTER PIO COURSE WITH THE OTHER ADVANCED COURSES ALREADY ATTAINED BY CURRENT PIO AND OTHERS IN THE DEPARTMENT SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO COMPLETING THAT TASK BY 2026. NUMBER 62 CPSM REVIEW TRAINING POLICY ANNUALLY

[02:45:09]

65 IT IS RECOMMENDED TO THE DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A MECHANISM WITH WHICH TO COMPARE OR CAPTURE TRAINING INFORMATION PROVIDED IN ROLL CALL GOING BACK TIED TO THE EARLIER REGARDING THE CAPTURING OF INFORMATION FROM PAPERLESS TO DIGITAL MORE EASY, MORE EFFICIENT , WE ARE LOOKING AT CERTAIN SOFTWARE PROGRAMS THAT COMPLETE THE TASK ALL TOGETHER. THIS IS NOT BEEN IMPLEMENT IT YET. WE DO KEEP WRITTEN DOCUMENTS AS PROVEN BY CURRENT ASSESSMENT WE HAVE TO SHOW PROOF OF ALL THE STUFF SO WE HAVE THE WRITTEN DOCUMENTS IT'S JUST GOING DIGITAL.

ACCOMMODATION NUMBER 66 DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE HOLDING REGULATE QUARTERLY FTO MEETINGS. WE CONCUR, IMPLEMENTED AS OF MARCH 1 OF THIS YEAR. NUMBER 67 CREATE STRUCTURED TWO WEEK TRAINING PROGRAM FOR NEWLY PROMOTED SERGEANTS MODELED AFTER THE ACADEMY FOR OFFICER AND TRAINING. WE CONCUR WITH RECOMMENDATIONS , THE BILL HAS DEVELOPED FIRST-LINE SUPERVISOR TRAINING AND RESOURCE GUIDE FOR TWO WEEKS TRAINING PROGRAM FOUNDATION AND IT IS BEING ROLLED OUT LITTLE BY LITTLE TO BE ABLE TO TEST IT BUT IT WILL BE FULL IMPLEMENTATION BY OCTOBER 1. NUMBER 68. CPSM ENCOURAGES DEPARTMENT TO MAKE ATTENDANCE MANDATORY FOR THE COMMAND LEVEL PERSONNEL AT ONE OF THE EXECUTIVE LEVEL TRAINING SCHOOLS I BELIEVE THE CHIEF ADDRESS THIS IN HIS OPENING REMARKS. WE CONCUR WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION, MOST LEADERS WE CURRENTLY HAVE POSSESS COMMAND LEVEL TRAINING AND CONTINUE TO ENHANCE CAPABILITIES HAVING A STRUCTURE TRAINING FORMAT FOR DEVELOPING NEW COMMENDABLE OFFICERS IS BENEFICIAL FOR THE AGENCY AND IS CURRENTLY BEING DEVELOPED RECURRENT COMMAND LEVEL PERSONNEL MANDATORY ATTENDANCE OF TRAINING SCHOOLS WILL BE REQUIRED FOR NEW CAPTAINS IF THERE IMPLEMENT IT SO AS OF NOW WE DO NOT HAVE ANYBODY TO SEND BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS ATTENDED EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TRAINING AT SOME LEVEL. NUMBER 69 CPSM WOULD RECOMMEND DEPARTMENT CONSIDER ROTATING LIEUTENANTS EVERY TWO YEARS. MANAGEMENT RESPONSE IS WE PARTIALLY CONCUR WITH RECOMMENDATIONS MANAGEMENT CONCURS WITH SUPERVISORS ROTATION TO IMPROVE OVERALL DEPARTMENT EFFECTIVENESS BY EXPOSING LEADERS TO DIVERSE OPERATIONAL ASPECTS HOWEVER WE BELIEVE A 3 TO 5 YEAR ROTATION ALLOWS FOR STRONGER LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, NOT IMPLEMENTED AT THIS JUNCTURE BUT IS PROJECTED FOR FULL IMPLEMENTATION AS OF AUGUST 1 , NOT TO 2026 OR 2025.

26 AUGUST AUGUST 2026 SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> LAST BUT NOT LEAST THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES BUREAU CONSISTS OF FISCAL MANAGEMENT DIVISION, RECORDS DIVISION , INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIVISION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DIVISION. RECOMMENDATION 70, CPSM RECOMMENDS POLICE DEPARTMENT ESTABLISH A FULL-TIME SPECIALIST POSITION AND ONE PART-TIME POSITION RESPONSIBLE FOR WORKING AT THE FRONT DESK .

CURRENTLY REFERRED TO AS THE BUBBLE FULL-TIME AND SERVING SUBPOENAS WITHIN THE AGENCY MANAGEMENT CONCURS WITH THE RECOMMENDATION ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER AND RECORDS SPECIALIST POSITIONS REQUESTED AS PART OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET PROPOSAL THOSE POSITIONS WERE NOT APPROVED, RECOMMENDATION 71. CPSM RECOMMENDS COMPREHENSIVE FULL REVIEW OF ALL RECORDS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO REFLECT CURRENT LEGAL REQUIREMENTS AND OPERATIONAL PRACTICES, MANAGEMENT CONCURS WITH RECOMMENDATION AS OF NOW WHERE 50% OF POLICY BEING REVISED.

[02:50:06]

MANAGEMENT CONCURS WITH RECOMMENDATION ONE MARINE VESSEL DONATED TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS RECENTLY SOLD AT AUCTION WITH NEW ENGINES FOR PRIMARY MARINE VESSEL REQUESTED FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET OTHER VEHICLES AND ITEMS IDENTIFIED BY CPSM AS NEEDING REPAIR WERE MARKED AS HEADLINED AND HAVE BEEN MOVED TO THE GARAGE FOR DISPOSAL. RECOMMENDATION 75. VEHICLES THAT HAVE REACHED END OF LIFECYCLE SHOULD BE AUCTIONED OR OTHERWISE SOLD. MANAGEMENT CONCURS WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION POLICE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING WITH FLEET MAINTENANCE THROUGH DISPOSED ASSETS. RECOMMENDATION 76, CPSM RECOMMENDS CITY COMMISSION WITH A SPECIAL NEED STUDY TO ASSESS CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS BASED ON CURRENT POPULATION TREND. MANAGEMENT PARTIALLY CONCURS WITH A RECOMMENDATION , POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL NEED ADDITIONAL SPACE BASED ON POPULATION GROWTH HOWEVER THE CITY IS MEETING INTERNALLY TO ASSESS NEEDS AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS.

RECOMMENDATION 77. CPSM RECOMMENDS DEPARTMENT CONTINUE TO REVIEW SHARED CONFIGURATION WITH OTHER ENTITIES FOR EFFECTIVENESS AND RELIABILITY, MANAGEMENT CONCURS WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION, FORT PIERCE POLICE SHARES A COMPUTER DISPATCH AND REPORTS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WITH ST. LUCIE COUNTY , ST. LUCIE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND ST. LUCIE COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT, THIS CONFIGURATION PROVIDES A COST SAVINGS AND EFFICIENCY FOR ALL INVOLVED ENTITIES , THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THIS RELATIONSHIP IS REVIEWED ANNUALLY ALONG WITH ALTERNATIVES, WE FIND THE SHARED CONFIGURATION TO BE OPTIMAL.

RECOMMENDATION 78, CPSM RECOMMENDS SWORN MEMBERS OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY BE REPLACED WITH CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE AND SWORN MEMBER POSITION THEN BE REALLOCATED TO ANOTHER AREA OF THE AGENCY, MANAGEMENT DOES NOT CONCUR WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION. SWORN EMPLOYEE PRESENTLY IN THE POSITION HAS EXPERTISE SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO MULTIPLE SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE ASSIST INTEGRAL TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS COUNTYWIDE. RECOMMENDATION 79. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY UNIT SHOULD DEVELOP A REPLACEMENT PLAN FOR ALL I.T. EQUIPMENT IN THE DEPARTMENT, MANAGEMENT CONCURS WITH RECOMMENDATION AND FURTHER ATTESTS THE CITY MAINTAIN I.T. HARDWARE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM GOVERNING ALL DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING POLICE, WITH LIFECYCLE STANDARDS, CENTRALIZED ASSET TRACKING AND ANNUAL REVIEW. THIS PROCESS IS FULLY ADOPTED AND IMPLEMENTED THROUGH ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY CORRECTING PREVIOUS OUTLINES. RECOMMENDATION 80 CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO CREATING ROTATIONAL SCHEDULE FOR THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER ASSIGNMENTS, CPSM RECOMMENDS FOUR YEARS WITH A STAGGERED SCHEDULE TO PREVENT AVOIDING SPRINTS ALLOWING FOR ROTATIONAL OPPORTUNITY INTO THIS ASSIGNMENT EVERY TWO YEARS, MANAGEMENT CONCURS WITH RECOMMENDATION

[02:55:01]

RECOMMENDATION 83. CONSIDER ADDITIONAL TRAINING FOR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS. MANAGEMENT CONCURS WITH RECOMMENDATION. OUR SROS ATTEND ADDITIONAL TRAINING ANNUALLY INCLUDING CODE RED DEALING WITH ACTIVE ASSAILANTS IN SCHOOLS CIVILIAN RESPONSE TO ACTIVE SHOOTER EVENTS IS ALSO TRAINING FOR THE ACTIVE ASSAILANTS, THE SCHOOL BOARD AND ST. LUCIE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE ADOPTED CODE RED TRAINING STANDARD FOR STUDENTS, FACULTY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE.

RECOMMENDATION 84. IMPROVE COMMUNICATION WITHIN THE AGENCY TO EXPLAIN COMMUNITY RESOURCES SUCH AS MINI CARS AND OTHER ITEMS ARE PURCHASED WITH SPECIAL USE BONDS THAT DO NOT IMPACT THE OVERALL BUDGET, THIS WILL REDUCE RESENTMENT IN THE AGENCY.

MANAGEMENT CONCURS WITH RECOMMENDATION HAS MET WITH EMPLOYEES AND EXPLAINED THE FUNDING SOURCES FOR THOSE PURCHASES, MANAGEMENT WILL CONTINUE TO STRIVE FOR IMPROVED COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY WITH EMPLOYEES.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. CHIEF. >> BEFORE YOU CAN ASK QUESTIONS.

SO ARE YOU HAVING ANY CLOSING REMARKS BEFORE WE OPEN UP TO THE

COMMISSION? >> THIS STUDY WAS A LONG TIME COMING SOMETIMES YOU LOOK AT YOURSELF IN THE MIRROR AND YOU STILL DON'T SEE YOURSELF. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE AN OUTSIDE AGENCY OR COMPANY COME IN WITH MEMBERS FROM DIFFERENT AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TO TAKE A LOOK AT US. I THINK IT WAS A FAIR ASSESSMENT AND WE ARE WORKING TO GETTING TO WHERE THEY THINK WE SHOULD BE OR WHERE WE AGREE. SOMETIMES THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE THINGS WE DO, BUT IT WAS APPRECIATED THAT THE CITY TOOK TIME AND SPENT THE MONEY TO ASK THEM TO COME IN.

SMELL COMMISSIONERS? >> MADAME MAYOR I WILL START FIRST. CHIEF, A NUMBER OF THINGS JUMPED OUT AND MAYBE AS A FOLLOW-UP WITH AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND, I GOT THE SENSE THERE WERE A NUMBER OF POSITIONS EITHER VACANT OR NOT FILLED EITHER DUE TO BUDGET OR YOU ARE IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO IDENTIFY PERSONNEL TO COME ON WITH A NUMBER OF POSITIONS THAT ARE NOT THERE. I WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME KIND OF OVERLAP IN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS I WANT TO GET A SENSE FROM THE CRITICAL STAFFING LEVEL WE ARE NOW WHERE ARE WE WHAT POSITIONS ARE OPENED AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE SOME PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS THAT ARE THERE WE HAVE OPENED SO WE HAVE A SENSE OF UNDERSTANDING AND THEN ALSO WHAT DOES THAT IMPACT WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUDGET ET CETERA SO IF THE POSITION IS OPENED HOW MUCH MONEY IS INVOLVED WITH GETTING THOSE INVOLVED AND IS THAT , ALREADY IDENTIFIED IN THE CURRENT BUDGET PROPOSAL THAT WE MAY HAVE OUT THE 26 BUDGET. THAT KIND OF JUMPED OUT A LITTLE BIT AND I WANT TO GET A SENSE OF WHERE WE ARE AND EVEN TIMELINES FOR THOSE POSITIONS.

>> I CAN ADDRESS. THERE CERTAINLY VACANT POSITIONS REFLECTED IN THE FY 26 BUDGET. SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE FOR POSITIONS THAT DID NOT EXIST AND IN THOSE CASES THE CHIEF AND COMMAND STAFF DID NOT CONCUR WITH THE RECOMMENDATION SO THERE WERE INSTANCES WHERE THEY WANTED TO HIRE FACILITIES MOVE INTO THE POSITION AND TAKE UP A PATROL OFFICER INTO A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT OR DIVISION. WHAT I CAN DO, I WOULD LIKE TO RECAP ALL THE FINDINGS , A LOT OF DETAIL WENT INTO THIS AND IT WOULD LIKE TO RECAP SO YOU KNOW WHAT WAS IMPLEMENTED, WHAT WAS NOT AND THEN FUTURE IMPLEMENTATION DATES AND I WILL GIVE YOU CRITICAL STAFFING POSITIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE BUT ALL POSITIONS THAT ARE VACANT ARE REFLECTED IN THE 26 BUDGET.

>> THAT HELPS ME AND CHIEF, THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. IT GIVES US A CONFERENCE OF LOOK AT THIS AND I AM PARTICULARLY, ANY COMMENTS YOU WOULD HAVE ABOUT

[03:00:02]

THAT. >> CITY COMMISSION TO STUDY IS 2006 OR 2008 SO AT THE TIME WE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH SPACE FOR WHAT WE HAD BEEN. WE ARE BUSTING AT THE SEAMS OUT OF ROOM FOR EVIDENCE, WORKING WITHIN THE CITY TALKING ABOUT OTHER AREAS IN THE CITY THAT MAY HAVE SPACES WE CAN MOVE INTO. THERE WERE SOME PUBLIC WORKS AREAS THAT CAME UP RECENTLY THAT THEY HAVE GRACIOUSLY OFFERED TO ALLOW US TO MOVE INTO HOWEVER WE HAVE TO PAY TO RECONSTRUCT THE AREA AND WE WANT TO FIND MONEY WITHIN OUR BUDGET FOR THAT . AS THE POPULATION GROWS WE'RE GOING TO NEED MORE SPACE AND I HAVE JOKED BUT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT, I LOVE ORANGE AND 10 STREET I THINK THAT WOULD MAKE AN AWESOME POLICE DEPARTMENT ALTHOUGH IT'S PROBABLY COST PROHIBITIVE. BUT WE ARE GOING TO NEED SPACE, WHEN I SIT HERE IN THE COMMISSION MEETINGS AND TALK ABOUT FUTURE GROWTH TO THE WEST AND SOUTHWEST IT IS INCREDIBLE IT'S GETTING READY TO HAPPEN.

>> THAT IS MY CONCERN. WE NEED TO LOOK AT IT FROM A CAPITAL SENSE OF WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? I DON'T KNOW IF I HEAR YOU'RE

RIGHT WITHIN 2006? >> I BELIEVE 2006 THEY SAID WE

DID NOT HAVE SPACE. >> WE ARE ALMOST AT 26, 20 YEARS LATER IT'S PROBABLY TIME TO DUSTED OFF TO FIGURE OUT AND START ADDRESSING TANGIBLE PLANS AS TO WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE AND BEGIN TO FACTOR IN BUDGETING FOR THIS.

>> WE HAVE HAD INTERNAL DISCUSSIONS WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE GROWING BUILDING AND PLANNING SO AGAIN WE HAVE HELD THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND WILL PROBABLY COME FORWARD WITH SOME RECOMMENDATION AT SOME POINT SHORTLY. WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT OUR SPACE, CITYWIDE WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THE PRIORITY PLOT OTHERS WE HAVE SEEN ARE ALSO GROWING BASED ON EXPANSION THEY WILL OUTGROW THEIR SPACE IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY. I WANT TO THE CHIEF INTRODUCED A NEW EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT FOR THE POLICE CHIEF.

>> HELLO. >> SYLVIA SANTIAGO.

] >> WELCOME.

>> THINKING YOU ARE WITH THE PRSM.

>> I SHOULD HAVE INTRODUCE THEM, MY APOLOGIES.

>> COMMISSIONERS, ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT THIS REPORT?

>> REAL QUICK. I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THE POINT, BUT THIS REPORT SOLIDIFIES THE STAFFING ISSUE TO ITS CORE AND THE LACK OF SWORN OFFICERS AND STAFF AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWERS ARE HERE, BUT IT'S PROBABLY THE PROBLEM WAS GOING TO FALL TO US TO DEAL WITH AND WHEN YOU REALLY CUT TO THE CHASE THE ANSWERS ARE DOLLARS AND CENTS TO FIX THIS STUFF. SO YOU KNOW THAT'S MY CONCLUSION. JUST NEED MORE MONEY.

>> I APPRECIATE THAT YOU WERE SO WELCOMED FOR THE OUTSIDE ASSESSMENT AND YOU TOOK IT ON AND WELCOMED IT AND THEN RESPONDED IN A VERY MATTER-OF-FACT WAY. I THINK I REMEMBERED WHENEVER IT CAME UP AND WE WERE FIRST GOING TO DO THIS IT COULD HAVE BEEN LOOKED AT AS A THREAT AND I DO NOT FEEL LIKE THE DEPARTMENT DID, I THINK YOU LOOKED AT IT AS SOMETHING, THIS COULD IMPROVE US AND IMPROVE THINGS FOR THE CITY. I FEEL LIKE THE WAY YOU WENT THROUGH AND EVALUATED AND REPORTED TO US YES WE AGREE, NO WE DON'T AGREE, THIS IS WHY AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS VERY VERY REFRESHING AND I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH AND ALL THE HARD WORK THAT WENT INTO IT BECAUSE IT IS A LOT OF PAPERWORK AND I KNOW THAT. THAT PROBABLY IS NOT YOUR FIRST PREFERENCE, PAPERWORK.

>> BEEN DOING PAPERWORK FOR A LONG TIME.

>> I KNOW AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO ASK. SEVERAL PLACES IT SAYS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD ANNUALLY DO X AND IT WAS REPORTED WE HAVE DONE THIS OR IT'S GOING TO BE DONE SO SOMETHING HAS TO BE PUT IN PLACE SO IT HAS BEEN DONE ANNUALLY SO

SOMETHING HAS TO TRIGGER THAT. >> ESSENTIALLY FOR ME WHEN YOU HAVE THESE TYPES OF REPORTS, I WAS BUILDING MY MENTORING, YOU

[03:05:04]

INTERNALLY I WILL DOCUMENT THAT WITH THE CHIEF IN TERMS OF HOW WE WILL GO FORWARD BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S PART OF THE RESPONSE. MAKING SURE IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE AND HOW DO WE

MONITOR THAT. >> YES BECAUSE YOU DON'T JUST

DO IT ONCE. >> IMPLEMENT INC. THAT MEANS IT IS IMPLEMENT IT BUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO ENSURE IT IS IMPLEMENT IT? THAT'S THE CONTINUING COMMUNICATION AND MONITORING.

>> ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW FROM YOUR ACTING CHIEF NOW TWO MONTHS AND THREE MONTHS, SO HOW ARE THINGS GENERALLY AT THE

POLICE DEPARTMENT ? >> THEY SEEM TO BE GOING ALONG PRETTY WELL UNLESS SOMEBODY TELLS ME SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY.

THEY ARE GOING ALONG VERY WELL. I THINK THERE WOULD BE IMPROVEMENT TO MAKE, THINGS YOU CAN DO BETTER. ALL ORGANIZATIONS LOOK TO IMPROVE CONSTANTLY. I LOOK FORWARD LOOKING TO WORK WITH THE OFFICER UNION, COMMAND STAFF, AND THE UNION TO KEEP THINGS GOING IN THE DIRECTION THEY SHOULD GO.

>> ANYTHING ELSE? >> THAT IS VERY ENCOURAGING.

>> YES, YES, YES. WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT, TOO. THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK. THANK YOU. MISS COX BEFORE WE GO ONE I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS BECAUSE I'M GOING TO SEE IF I CAN STILL FEEL MY FINGERS AND TOES. AND SO, FIVE MINUTES AND WE ARE BACK.

[9. Consent Agenda]

>>> THE REST OF THE CONSENT AGENDA EXCEPT FOR ITEM 8. CALL

THE ROLL PLEASE. >> FOR CLARIFICATION, WITH APPROVAL YOU ARE ACCEPTING THE THIRD QUARTER REPORT OF

MAINSTREAM? >> CORRECT THANK YOU.

[A. Approval of PRP Construction Group, LLC Change Order No. 1 in the amount of $169,546.00 for the Frances Avenue improvement project additional drainage adjustments.]

>> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK YES, COMMISSIONER GAINES YES MA'AM, COMMISSIONER JOHNSON YES MA'AM, MAYOR HUDSON YES MA'AM. ITEM A APPROVAL OF PRB CONSTRUCTION GROUP CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE $169,546 FOR THE FRANCIS AVENUE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ADDITIONAL

DRAINAGE ADJUSTMENT. >> THANK YOU MADAME MAYOR, I PULLED THE ITEM, I READ THE BACKGROUND AND UNDERSTAND BUT I WANT CONTACTS FROM ENGINEERING SPECIFICALLY , THIS IS A PRETTY HEFTY CHANGE ORDER HERE. ALREADY A COSTLY PROJECT AND KIND OF WANT TO GET A SENSE OF WHAT YOU SAW, WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON AND CAN WE EXPECT ANYTHING ELSE? THIS IS A PRETTY HEFTY SHIFT .

>> YES, AS WITH UTILITY PROJECTS, YOU CANNOT SEE EVERYTHING UNTIL YOU START DIGGING IT UP AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT HAPPENED . A LOT OF THE EXISTING UTILITIES WE PLANNED TO REUSE OR CONNECT TO HAD ISSUES ANYWHERE FROM , ONE REINFORCED CONCRETE PIPE HAD A METAL PIPE SLID INSIDE OF IT FOR SOME REASON, STUFF YOU CANNOT PLAN FOR AND READ TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS BECAUSE OF OTHER CONFLICTS THAT AROSE AS WE WERE DOING THE CONSTRUCTION TO ANSWER YOUR OTHER QUESTION THIS SHOULD BE IT THEIR PAVING NOW SO THEY ARE TYING A BOW ON IT NOW SO I DO NOT FORESEE ANYTHING ELSE COMING UP. THERE WAS A LOT OF , AS THEY WERE DIGGING INTO THE PROJECT THINGS CAME UP. WE DID NOT SEE.

[03:10:01]

>> IT WOULD SOMETHING OF THIS MAGNITUDE HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED IF WE WERE USING TECHNOLOGY TO SERVE RAIL OUR STORM WATER

PIPING >> POTENTIALLY YOU COULD , VIDEOTAPE , YOU COULD BUT THAT IS, THAT CAN GET PRETTY COSTLY WHEN YOU'RE DOING A HUGE AREA SO KIND OF WAY OUT THE RISK VERSUS REWARD OF IT. WHEN WE FIND ISSUES WE TEND TO CLEAN IT OUT AND VIDEO TO SEE CAN WE USE IT OR WHAT'S THE PROBLEM HERE? ONE OF THE PIPES WE SUPPLIED INSTEAD OF REPLACING AND THAT SOLVED THE ISSUE, LOWER COST, SO THESE UTILITY PROJECTS ARE TOUGH , YOU CANNOT SEE IT TO KIND OF HOPING THINGS ARE GOOD AND THEY ARE NOT SOMETIMES WITH AGING INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> I APPRECIATE THAT AND I WANTED TO BRING THIS TO PUBLIC ATTENTION FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE WE GO ABOUT OUR COMFORT CREATURES NOT WORRYING ABOUT WHERE WATER GOES WHEN IT FALLS UNTIL IT'S A PROBLEM AND IS NOT GOING WHERE SUPPOSED TO GO AND IT IS SITTING OR FLOODING SO I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC UNDERSTOOD THIS AS WELL BECAUSE YOU KNOW THERE WERE COMPLAINTS WITH FLOODING AND WATER WAS NOT THERE AND IT ALSO OVER IN THE BUDGET HERE WE WERE NOT ANTICIPATING 160 SOMETHING THOUSAND DOLLARS SO CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THIS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO TAP INTO?

>> THE STORMWATER FUND . COLLECTED FROM IMPACT FEES AND STORM WATER FEES THAT IT'S NOT COMING OUT OF THE GENERAL BUDGET

. >> WITH THAT MADAME MAYOR.

>> FOLLOW-UP QUESTION. CURIOUS A BIT OF A SEGUE DOES THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT OR PUBLIC WORKS MAINTAIN THEIR OWN CAMERA EQUIPMENT WHERE WE SUMMING OUT THE WORK?

>> I AM WORKING WITH PUBLIC WORKS NOW. HAVE A TRAILER THAT HAS THE ABILITY, AT ONE POINT , IT HAS BEEN DORMANT FOR YOU WHILE SO THEY'RE WORKING ON A QUOTE TO SEE WHAT IT WOULD COST TO GET THAT UP TO SPEED FOR ME BECAUSE I AGREE I WOULD RATHER DO IT IN-HOUSE AND WE'RE DOING A LOT OF THESE WITH BIG PROJECTS WE HAVE COMING SO WE ARE LOOKING TO SEE WHAT THE COST WOULD BE TO GET THAT UP TO SPEED. QUIRKS DID GET A VAC

>> REPORTER: SO WE CAN PUMP OUT UTILITIES NOW SO WE HAVE UTILITIES IN-HOUSE TO SEE WHAT THE COST WOULD BE TO VIDEOTAPING

HOUSE. >> THIS CAMERA OF LINES IS A VERY COSTLY UNDERTAKING, IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE. I KNOW WE ARE RESPONSIBLE TO INSPECT OUR SURFACE WATER DRAINAGE SYSTEMS ON A REGULAR BASIS AND FILE REPORT WITH THE STATE IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN WE WENT THROUGH THIS LAST YEAR AND I WANTED TO INCREASE THE FREQUENCY OF INSPECTION.

>> DO EVERYTHING ANNUAL. >> I AM SUGGESTING TO YOU IF YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO RETROFIT EQUIPMENT WE ALREADY OWN THIS IS INSPECT OUTFALLS, ALL KINDS OF THINGS WE DEPLOY EQUIPMENT TO UTILIZE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE DRAINAGE OF THE CITY WHICH HAS PROBLEMATIC AREAS SOME SUGGESTING THIS IS PUBLIC WORKS, GET WITH PUBLIC WORKS, FIND A FUNDING SOURCE FROM THE CITY MANAGER TO GET THIS UP AND RUNNING AND GET SOMEBODY TO USE IT THE BENEFITS WOULD BE CONSIDERABLE.

>> THEY ARE WORKING ON THAT NOW I COMPLETELY AGREE.

>> THANK YOU SIR DID YOU MAKE A MOTION?

>> MOVED TO APPROVE CONSENT ITEM 10 A OR NINE A OR 9A.

>> I WILL SECOND. >> CALL THE ROLL PLEASE.

>> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK YES, COMMISSIONER GAINES YES MA'AM,

[B. Resolution 25-R58 approving the Fort Pierce Utilities Authority FY2026 Annual Budget and FY2025 Amended Budget ]

EFFECTIVE DATE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ANY LEAD

IN? >> DIRECTOR. PRESENTING FI 26 ANNUAL BUDGET AND FY 25 AMENDED

BUDGET. >> WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR SITTING THROUGH ALL OF THIS THIS MORNING I BET YOU LEARNED A LOT.

>> WE DID, GOOD AFTERNOON MADAME MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO BE WITH THE COMMISSION. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE A COUPLE MEMBERS IN THE AUDIENCE.

[03:15:04]

BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO MICHELLE , WE DID ANTICIPATE TODAY'S MEETING WOULD BE A LITTLE LONG AS WE ARE PREPARED A MORE CONDENSED VERSION SO HOPEFULLY WE GET THROUGH IT

QUICKLY. >> I WILL SAY THANK YOU NOW.

>> OVER TO MICHELLE AND WE WILL TAGTEAM SOME OF THE SITES

TOGETHER. >> MISS HARRIS PLEASE PROCEED.

>> QUICK AGENDA FOR WHAT WE WILL TALK ABOUT. GOING OVER BUDGET PREPARATION PROCESS TO SEE WHAT WE GO THROUGH AND THEN THE FINANCIAL ROADMAP, WHAT TODAY LOOKS LIKE AND THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AND HOW WE WILL FINANCE THE PROJECTS WE HAVE COMING UP.

AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT MAJOR PROJECTS UPDATES IN THE ENGINEERING GROUP AND WASTEWATER AND WATER GROUPS AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOME KEY DRIVERS AND THINGS WE HAD TO LOOK OUT WITH ECONOMIC DRIVERS THAT AFFECTED BUDGETS BEFORE WE REQUEST YOUR APPROVAL. A QUICK LITTLE GRAPH ABOUT HOW WE PREPARE THE BUDGET.

WELL-KNOWN IS NOT START AND END IT IS A CYCLE BUT OUR BUDGET KICKOFF HAPPENS IN FEBRUARY OR MARCH WITH A BUDGET KICKOFF WITH FINANCE AND EXEMPT STAFF LEADING TO APRIL WE PREPARE BUDGETS THE DEPARTMENTS ARE PUTTING IN CAPITAL, 0M REQUESTS WE HOLD MEETINGS WITH LEADERS OF EACH DEPARTMENT AND AT THAT TIME WE ARE COMPILING THE DATA LOOKING FOR RAID EFFICIENCY, ANALYZING CAN RATES HOLD DO WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD IN WHICH AREAS? THEN WE HELD A BUDGET WORKSHOP WITH BOARD MEMBERS AND RECEIVED FEEDBACK AND ALL THAT INFORMATION IS GOING TO BE PRESENTE AS THE ANNUAL BUDGET. LAST WEEK THE FPUA BOARD DID APPROVE AND ADOPT OUR BUDGET ON TUESDAY AND WE'RE HERE TODAY FOR YOU GUYS TO APPROVE THE BUDGET AND JUST LIKE SAID EARLIER EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE APPROVING AND LAMENTING YOU HAVE TO MONITOR ALL YEAR ROUND, THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR FINANCE AND THE LEADERSHIP TEAM TO CONSTANTLY MONITOR WE ARE STAYING WITHIN COMPLIANCE AND BUDGET AND THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE

PROCESS. >> NEXT WE WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BIG PICTURE BECAUSE AGAIN THE BUDGET IS DIFFERENT FROM THE PAST. DOING IT THROUGH RATES AND DEBT FUNDING. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE AREA IN ORANGE IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR SCREEN. IF YOU LOOK AT THE FIRST SECTION YOU SEE THAT IT IS PRETTY LEVEL WHEN NATURAL GAS PRICES WERE REALLY LOW AND WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE LOW-COST POWER, 2022 WE HAD NATURAL GAS SPIKES AND YOU CAN SEE VERY IMPACTFUL FOR CUSTOMERS, FOR FPUA AND THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. WE TOOK LESSONS LEARNED FROM THAT EVENT AND HAD LESSONS LEARNED FROM 2008 AND 2010 . WE'VE DEVELOPED THE DART PROGRAM THE DAYS OF CASH POWER AND TARGETS TO HELP GET THROUGH SOME OF THESE BIG SPIKES IN UTILITY BUSINESS. THAT DART PROGRAM HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL. WE HAVE HADPCA OF ZERO OR LESS SINCE SEPTEMBER 20 MAYOR HUDSON SO IN A COUPLE MONTHS SHORT OF THREE YEARS.

THAT'S A BIG DEAL FOR CUSTOMERS BECAUSE THEY CAN THEN USE UTILITIES AND NOT WONDER WHERE THE PCA IS, THE BILL WILL BE BASED ON ACTUAL CONSUMPTION. HUGE MILESTONE FOR FPUA AND THE DART PROGRAM HOPEFULLY THE SUCCESSFUL EXECUTION OF THAT PLAN WILL KEEP THE PCA AT ZERO AS LONG AS WE CAN. THE DIFFERENCE WE ARE NOT MAKING ADJUSTMENTS EACH MONTH A POWER COST WE HAVE A STABILIZATION FUND THAT ALLOWS US TO GO 6 TO 12 MONTHS WITHOUT MAKING ADJUSTMENTS TO SEE HOW THE MARKET REACTS RATHER THAN US REACTING EACH AND EVERY MONTH PROVIDING STABILITY TO CUSTOMERS. THE NEXT ONE IS THE CAPITAL SPIKE FROM 2025. WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT WITHOUT RAISING RATES. WE HAVE A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE AGING IN A OLDER CITY AND GROWTH AT THE SAME TIME SO WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT AND WE REALIZE THE BEST WAY TO APPROACH THIS IS A COMBINATION

[03:20:02]

>> AS YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE PROJECTIONS HERE WE WILL TALK ABOUT ISSUING SOME BONDS IN 2026 AND YOU WILL SEE THAT BETWEEN THAT AND CAPITAL SPEND IT IS LEVEL SHIFTING FROM SPIKES AND CAPITAL TO LEVY DEBT SERVICE. WE ARE PROPOSING IN THE UTILITY INDUSTRY IT'S COMMON TO ISSUE UTILITY REVENUE BONDS, MUNICIPAL BONDS YEARS TO FINANCE CONSTRUCTION OR IMPROVEMENT OF FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE. WE ARE A HEAVY ASSET INFRASTRUCTURE BUSINESS UNIT THAT REQUIRES CAPITAL OUTLAY , THOSE UTILITY BONDS ARE VERY APPEALING TO BONDHOLDERS BACKED BY REVENUES THAT ARE GENERATED AND WE OFFER ESSENTIAL SERVICES SO THE REVENUES ARE CONSISTENT. PROCEEDS FUND LARGE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT OTHERWISE WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO WITHOUT RAISING RATES BEYOND THE INDEX AND IT SPREADS OVER TIME. THESE ASSETS HAVE A LONG AND USEFUL LIFE SOMETIMES MULTI GENERATIONAL SO WE ARE DOING ISSUANCE OF REVENUE BOND CURRENT AND FUTURE RATE PAYERS SHARE AND PAY FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> CAN I ASK A QUESTION THERE? TAKING UTILITY BOND SECURED THROUGH CASH FLOW? FUTURE REVENUE SO IS IT DIRECT? NOT SPECULATING FPUA WOULD DEFAULT BUT I AM ASSUMING THE OUTLINE BONDING COMPANY HAS THE ABILITY TO LEAN YOUR CASH FLOW IF THAT

WERE TO BE THE CASE CORRECT? >> THEY CAN COME IN AND CALL IT.

>>

-- >> WE ARE PROPOSING A NEW ELECTRIC SUBSTATION WITH ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION LINE UPGRADES , SUBSTATION EXPANSION TO ALLOW CAPACITY LOADS WE NEED TO SERVICE THOSE PROJECTS ARE 51.8 MILLION OR 70% ALL GEARED TOWARD GROWTH AND WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS WITH THE BOND CONSUL AND THESE DEBT ISSUANCE FOR NOW ARE EXPECTED TO NOT INCREASE RATES BEYOND THE INDEX SO WHEN WE ARE PROPOSING THE RATE INCREASE THE INDEX 2.23% WE ARE ABLE TO DO THE BOND

ISSUANCE WITH THAT. >> WHAT'S THE INTEREST RATE YOU

EXPECT TO PAY? >> 5%.

>> FIXED OR DOES IT FLOW? >> I THINK IT IS FIXED.

>> MAYOR I WANT TO GO DOWN THAT PATH. WHERE ARE WE WITH THIS? IS THIS TIME SENSITIVE BASED ON SPECULATION OF CHANGES, FEDERAL CHANGES AND RATE CHANGES? WHAT IS THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY?

>> FOR NOW WE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO ISSUE HOPING TO ISSUE A DEBT

[03:25:01]

>> TYPICALLY THAT'S THE OPPOSITE IF INTEREST RATES GO UP, THE BOND GOES DOWN. GOING BACK TO MY FINANCE DAYS. ONE OF MY CONCERNS IS THAT OBVIOUSLY I UNDERSTAND WE ARE TAKING ON DEBT TO COMPLETE THESE PROJECTS SO IT IS A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT TO GET THIS DONE AND WE'RE DEALING WITH THE ACTUAL , THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION OF SOME OF THE PROJECTS FOR INSTANCE BECAUSE THOSE COSTS ARE ESCALATING AS WELL. YOU HAVE 27 MILLION ALLOCATED FOR THE CONVEYANCE SO MY OPTIMAL QUESTION IS, IS THAT ENOUGH? BASED ON CHANGES, THINGS WE HAVE NOT PREDICTED. WE HEARD FROM THINGS AND RESTART DIGGING IN ROADS FROM THE WAY THEY USED TO GO WHO KNOWS WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. SO WE WILL GET TO THAT AT SOME POINT, BUT THAT'S MY QUESTION IS THAT ENOUGH BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT $70 MILLION TOTAL BUT A CONVEYANCE SYSTEM OF 27 MILLION AND THAT'S GOING TO TAKE US FROM GOING ACROSS THERE TO BRINGING BACK

AND SENDING WEST AM I CORRECT? >> YES YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

ONE QUICK THING BEFORE WE GET INTO MORE DETAILS. LET'S SAY CONDITIONS ARE NOT BRIGHT IN THE MARKET AND WE CANNOT TAKE 70, WE WOULD TAKE LESS, SOME PROJECTS WOULD COME OFF THE LIST. SO FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD WE WOULD KICK THEM DOWN THE ROAD. BUT, RECENTLY ISSUED DEBT AND RECEIVED A GOOD INTEREST RATE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN 5% SO WE ARE VERY HOPEFUL WE WILL BE IN THAT POSITION WITH UTILITY BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE MORE FAVORABLE THAN THE INTEREST MARKET.

>> IF YOU CAN HELP ME WHAT IS REALLY CRITICAL? OBVIOUSLY THE CONVEYING SYSTEM IS CRITICAL WE HAVE TO HAVE IT WHAT ELSE ON THE LIST IS CRITICAL IF WE HAVE TO TAKE LESS?

>> EVERYTHING ON THE LIST IS CRITICAL. THE CONVEYANCE SYSTEM AND ELECTRIC ARE THE HIGHEST PRIORITY AND THE HARDENING OF THE ENERGY SERVICES. IN MY OPINION THOSE ARE MOST MISSION-CRITICAL. WE HAVE TO HAVE ELECTRIC FOR CURRENT LOAD AND FUTURE GROWTH AND WE HAVE TO GO IN FINISH THE CONVEYING SYSTEM I DON'T WANT TO OPERATE TWO PLANTS AT THE SAME TIME AND ENERGY SERVICES CENTER COMMAND CENTER WHERE MUTUAL AID GOES AND ALL STAFF GOES IN THE EVENT OF A STORM OR EVERYDAY AFTERNOON STORM THAT'S WHERE WE OPERATE, IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE TO NOT HAVE POWER ON SO THAT HAS TO BE STORM HARDENING AND IT WAS BUILT BEFORE HURRICANE ANDREW STANDARDS SO IT IS 30 PLUS YEAR BUILDING SO WE KNOW THE CRITICALITY OF THAT FACILITY AND IN MY OPINION THOSE WOULD BE THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES, THE CONVEYING SYSTEM, STORM HARDENING ABILITY AND ELECTRIC

SYSTEM. >> THAT GIVES ME 37 I'M TRYING

TO ADD UP THE NUMBER ON THAT. >> IF YOU ADD THOSE.

>> 27 AND 10 AND THE REST OF THAT, 13 MILLION OKAY I GOT IT.

I CAN FIGURE OUT THE MATH. >> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD WHEN WE HAD THE BUDGET WORKSHOP WITH FPUA THIS LIST WAS MORE AND IT WAS 130 MILLION STARTING OUT WITH THINGS STAFF BELIEVED NEEDED TO BE DONE CRITICAL TO BE DONE AND THE BOARD SAID , GO BACK AND PARE IT DOWN TO SOMETHING EVEN MORE CRITICAL. SO THEY HAVE ALREADY PARED IT DOWN TO PRETTY CRITICAL SO PROCEED.

>> WONDERING IF WE NEED TO MORE SO THIS IS THE AMOUNT STAFF HAS TAKEN A LOOK AT TO SAY WE CAN SPEND THIS IN THREE YEARS WHEN YOU RECEIVE BOND PROCEEDS YOU HAVE TO SPEND THE MONEY 85% WITHIN THREE YEARS. SO DEALING WITH SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY OF THE CONVEYING SYSTEM WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE WHEN YOU START DIGGING HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE? YOU DON'T WANT TO OVER BORROW.

STAFF FEELS THIS IS THE COMFORT LEVEL OF THE AMOUNT AND THEY CAN

DO THIS IN THREE YEARS. >> THAT'S A GOOD POINT. HAVE

COMMITTED TO SPEND THIS. >> THE LAST THING I HEARD YOU SAY AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR , THE BOND PROCESS PUT TOGETHER TAKES

[03:30:03]

>> YOU ISSUE THE RFP. >> YES WE WILL ISSUE AN RFP HOPEFULLY THIS WEEK WITH ALL PARTIES IN CONVERSATION ALREADY THERE GETTING READY TO ISSUE THAT OUT MOST LIKELY BETWEEN 10 AND 15 MILLION. WE HAVE ISSUED A DRAWDOWN SCHEDULE HOW MUCH WE THINK WE WILL SPEND IN THE NEXT YEAR SO WE CAN TELL HER THE TIME WOULD NEED TO ISSUE WHEN THE DRAW WOULD START TO REDUCE.

>> GOT IT. >> WE ARE USING LINE OF CREDIT AS STOPGAP FOR GRANTS BECAUSE GRANTS CAN BE REIMBURSED SO THAT IMPACTS DAYS OF CASH OR CAPITAL TO USE THE GRANTS TO MITIGATE THAT AS A WAY WE GET REIMBURSED SO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF 10 TO 15

MILLION. >> THE GRANTS HAVE CONSIDERABLY REDUCED THIS FOR 70 SOME ODD MILLION GRANTS?

>> MICHELLE HAS A SLIDE IN A LITTLE BIT.

>> OKAY AS LONG AS YOU COVER THAT.

>> ABOUT 50% OF CAPITAL FUNDING. >> FOLLOW-UP QUESTION. ON THE CONVEYANCE SYSTEM AND HAS BEEN A CONCERN OF MINE SINCE WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING. 27 MILLION PLUGGED IN FOR THE SHORTFALL RIGHT NOW, HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU WITH THAT NUMBER?

>> 80 OR 90% DEGREE OF CONFIDENCE AND WE HAVE A SLIDE THAT TOGGLES THAT FUNDING AND WE ARE COMPLETING IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING COMPLETING CERTAIN PIECES OF PHASE 1 A , WE NEED TO GET THE INITIAL FLOW TO THE PLAN FOR THE ONE A AND MAX FLOW WITH THE AFTERNOON STORM WE GET 20 MILLION GALLONS AT THE PLANT THE AVERAGE DAY FLOW IS 5 MILLION GALLONS BUT WE GET 20 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER OF FLOW BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME INFILTRATION AND INFLOW SO WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT BEFORE WE START DECOMMISSIONING THE PLANS SO PHASE 1 A GETS THE FLOW TO THE PLANT WHICH IS 45 MILLION GALLONS EVERYDAY AND WE WORK ON THE NEXT PHASE THIS 27 MILLION WORKS ON THE SECOND PHASE. I WILL REVIEW IN JUST A SECOND. ONE MORE THING I THINK IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR US BECAUSE EVERYBODY WORKS REALLY HARD BUT WE HAVE BEEN VERY CREATIVE AT DOING THIS WITHOUT RAISING RATES FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION INDEX TO GET THIS DEBT ISSUANCE, CLEAR TO DO WHAT YOU HAVE THE BOARD AND COMMISSION HAS BEEN CLEARED DO WHAT YOU CAN WITHOUT RAISING RATES AND WE ARE COME PUSHING THAT AGAIN WITHOUT GOING ABOVE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION INDEX FOR UTILITY.

>> NUMEROUS EXERCISES REDUCING O&M, CONDENSING CAPITAL PROJECTS, ELIMINATING CUSHIONS IN OTHER AREAS TO CONSOLIDATE , SO MANY MANY MEETINGS TO GET THIS TO WHERE WE ARE AT TODAY.

>> NEXT A QUICK UPDATE ON THE WASTEWATER PLANT THE MAJOR PROJECT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT 20 YEARS SPECIFICALLY MAKING PROGRESS WITH TWO MAJOR EFFORTS ON THE WASTEWATER PLANT, CONSTRUCTION OF THE PLANT AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE LEFT AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR A RIBBON-CUTTING IN DECEMBER AND I WILL MENTION AGAIN IN ANOTHER SLIDE, THE OTHER PART EQUALLY IMPORTANT IS REDIRECTING FLOW FROM WEST TO EAST GOING NOW EAST TO WEST AND THAT MAP WE DISCUSSED WITH THE BOARD AND UTILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE PROJECT LOOKS LIKE THOSE ARROWS TELL YOU WHAT DIRECTION WE ARE GOING DOWN IN THE DIRECTION IN THE FUTURE SO THAT REDIRECTION OF THE WASTEWATER PLANT IS MISSION-CRITICAL AS BUILDING THE PLANT ITSELF. I WON'T SPEND TOO MUCH TIME HERE BUT ESSENTIALLY THIS IS PHASE 1 MAJOR PROJECTS IS WHAT WE WILL ACCOMPLISH GETTING FLOWS THE INITIAL FLOW OVER TO THE PLANT , RIGHT NOW WE'RE WORKING ON THE BLUE CIP 2.1 WHICH IS THE JENKINS ROAD CORRIDOR AND I BELIEVE I HAVE GIVEN A TOUR OF THE PROJECT WHICH IS NEAR COMPLETION GETTING THE INITIAL FLOW FOR THE DECEMBER RIBBON-CUTTING 1 MILLION GALLONS OF FLOW AND ALL THE PROJECTS WILL BE IN THE WORKS WITH SOME OF THOSE STARTING IN THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS AND MAYBE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS AND THE REASON WE ARE DOING PHASE 1 A AND 1B IS BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING OUR BEST TO CALIBRATE THIS SYSTEM TO FIGURE OUT HOW THE SYSTEM OPERATES AND THEN SPEND THE MONEY MORE APPROPRIATELY BEST IN THE AREAS THAT NEED TO GET THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF FLOW OVER TO

[03:35:03]

GRANTS HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL WHEN IT COMES TO THIS PROJECT WITH GRANTS ON THE ELECTRIC SIDE AND SOME CYBER STUFF INTERNALLY, BUT THE BIGGEST , THE BIGGEST IMPACT OF GRANTS HAS BEEN ON THE PROJECT. YOU CAN SEE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT HAS GONE TOWARD GRANTS AND I DO NOT SPEND ENOUGH TIME TO THANK PROJECT AND VERY MUCH BEHIND THE GRANTS RECEIVED SO THANK YOU TO THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL IN SUPPORTING FPUA AND THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. FUNDRAISING IS ONGOING HOPEFULLY WE CONTINUE TO GET SOME GRANTS THAT SEEMS TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE. AND PART OF THAT IS DEBT ISSUANCE FOR THE 2026 BOND TO COMPLETE THE CONVEYANCE SYSTEM SO MR. BRODERICK COMMISSIONER BRODERICK I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE TOTAL COST. AND REAL QUICK THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM BECAUSE THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM DEBT ISSUANCE IS PART OF THE 2026 BOND INCLUDING IMPROVEMENTS SO LET ME TALK ABOUT THAT, EVERY SUBSTATION WE HAVE HAS TWO TRANSFORMERS AND ONE OF THOSE NEEDS TO BE FOR MAINTENANCE OR IF IT IS OUT DUE TO LIGHTNING OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE THE OTHER TRANSFORMER HAS TO CARRY THE LOAD FOR THE SYSTEM AND OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS WE HAVE SEEN GROWTH IN THE AREA THAT HAS PUSHED THE LIMIT OF TRANSFORMERS. IDEALLY YOU WANT TO BE IN THE 40 TO 50% RANGE , CLOSER TO 40% SO YOU GIVE YOURSELF ROOM FOR GROWTH WHEN YOU CAN SEE THE POLYGONS IN THE DIFFERENT COLORS. WE HAVE FOUR SUBSTATION AREAS WELL ABOVE 58% AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS YOU LIMIT THE ABILITY TO GROW THE SYSTEM AND TO RESTORE POWER AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE SO THE NEW SUBSTATION WILL REDUCE THE LOAD OVERALL IN OUR CITY AND WE ARE ADDING ANOTHER TRANSFORMER TO THE TOP THE FIRST SUBSTATION WITH THREE TRANSFORMERS SO PRETTY SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONAL AND FOR GROWTH , THERE'S NO WAY TO PREPARE FOR THE GROWTH IF WE DON'T START NOW IT TAKES 3 TO 5 YEARS TO BUILD A SUBSTATION SO NOW WE ARE CONFIDENT THIS BOND ISSUANCE IS THE RIGHT TIME TO MATCH THE GROWTH AND THAT OPERATIONAL CAPACITY THAT WE NEED THAT WE ARE STRUGGLING WITH CURRENTLY. WE HAVE TO BE BELOW 50% AND I KNOW WE HAVE FOUR SUBSTATIONS OPERATING WELL BELOW THAT. I BELIEVE THAT'S THE LAST SLIDE FOR ME UNTIL THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON. MICHELLE.

>> JUST AS YOU GUYS IN YOUR BUSINESSES UNDERSTAND WHAT GOES BEHIND BUILDING YOUR BUDGET FIRST THING IS REVENUE. BUILT INTO THE BUDGET IS THE RATE ADJUSTMENT , THE INFLATIONARY INDEX WE NORMALLY FOLLOW AND THOSE WOULD BE EFFECTIVE MARCH 1, 2026. WE WERE CONSERVATIVE ON GROWTH ASSUMPTIONS HAVING THE CRYSTAL BALL WHAT THE ECONOMY WILL BRING IN THE HOUSING MARKET AND EVERYTHING WE PROJECTED 2% BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING FOR ALL SYSTEMS AND ONE 3% IN CUSTOMER GROWTH.

ALIGNED WITH THAT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT CHARGES WHICH ALL IMPACT FEES WE HAVE ALIGNED THAT WITH 2% GROWTH IN IMPACT FEES.

THE BIGGEST DRIVER BEHIND CHANGING REVENUE FROM ONE YEAR TO THE OTHER IS THE GRANTS. $34.2 BILLION IN GRANTS AND THAT IS THE MAJORITY OF IT IN THE WASTEWATER CONVEYANCE REDIRECTION WITH A $2 MILLION GRANT FOR ELECTRIC GRID. ON THE

[03:40:05]

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX LAST RELEASE WAS 2.4% AND YOU HAVE HEARD WE'RE BUILDING RIGHT OFF OF 2.23%, HISTORICALLY THE PSC INFLATIONARY INDEX IS BELOW CPI SO YOU CAN LOOK AND SAY IF COSTS ARE INCREASING 2.4 WITH REVENUE 2.3 HOW DO YOU FILL THE GAP? WE TRY REALLY HARD TO MANAGE COST TO ALIGN WITH PSC BUT EVERY ONCE IN WHILE EVERY FOUR OR FIVE YEARS WE HAVE TWO TRUE IT UP AT SOME POINT BECAUSE WE ARE FALLING SHORT OF THE CPI. I'M NOT SURE IF YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN SEEING ANY KIND OF TARIFFS WITH ANYTHING AFFECTING O&M WE ARE NOT SEEN TOO MUCH. THE ONLY PLACES WE HAVE SEEN IMPLICATIONS ARE IN THE I.T. WHERE THEY ARE BUYING HARDWARE SERVERS, STORAGE AREA NETWORKS AND THINGS COMING FROM CHINA SO WE SEE TARIFFS THERE BUT EVERYWHERE ELSE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MANAGE IT BY INTERNAL STAFF WHEN THEY GET A INVOICE FROM A VENDOR THAT'S CLAIMING IT HAS CHANGED BECAUSE OF TARIFFS WE , WE CALL THEM BACK AND SAY WHAT PRODUCTS ARE YOU BUYING THAT YOU ARE CHARGING A TARIFF ON, WHERE DID IT COME FROM? WHAT COMPONENT IS SUBJECT TO THE TARIFF AND THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME THEY'RE SAYING IT'S ON THE ORIGINAL PRICE. IT HAS BEEN WORKING REALLY WELL IN OUR FAVOR. SOMETHING WE HAVE SEEN , JUNE 1 FPMA IMPLEMENT TO THE CONVENIENCE FEE PASSING THAT ON TO THE CUSTOMER. NOT TOO OFTEN DO YOU IMPLEMENT SOMETHING AND SEE IMMEDIATE RESULTS AND THIS WAS IMMEDIATE RESULTS TO THE O&M BUDGET, BUDGETING $400,000 LESS IN BANK CHARGES FOR NEXT YEAR THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WE FOUND OUT CHEMICALS WOULD INCREASE 400,000 SO WE WERE ABLE TO REDIRECT SAVINGS AND PUT IT IN ANOTHER LINE ITEM RIGHT AWAY SO THAT WAS SOMETHING WE SAID WAS GOING TO HAVE FINANCIAL IMPACT, POSITIVE FINANCIAL IMPACT AND WE SAW MONTH ONE.

THIS IS A SNAPSHOT OF FISCAL YEAR 2026 , THE ENTIRE CAPITAL

[03:45:02]

COMBINED A TOTAL 246 MILLION , THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IS RATE FUNDED ACCOUNTS 56% OF THE OVERALL BUDGET FROM RATES AND AS MENTIONED BEFORE 50 MILLION IS FROM GRANT REIMBURSEMENT SO THAT 50 MILLION MAKES UP 50% OF THE CAPITAL BUDGET SPENT FOR NEXT YEAR AND 20% OVERALL. I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF US COULD OF HAD A CRYSTAL BALL THREE YEARS AGO TO SAY WE WOULD BE SEEING THAT BUT IT IS TRUE TEAMWORK BETWEEN PUBLIC AFFAIRS GROUP , LIKE THE SENATORS AND HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES AND THE LEADERSHIP ENGINEERS AND EVERYONE WORKING TOGETHER AND WHEN WE KNEW THE GRANTS WERE COMING IN AND WE HAD A GRANTS TEAM TOGETHER WITH POLICY AND PROCEDURES AND YOU SEE THE IMPACT GETTING A GRANT IT MADE EVERYONE WORK TWICE AS HARD LET'S GO GET SOME MORE SO I THINK THE BALL IS ROLLING AND IT WILL CONTINUE. DO I KNOW IF IT WILL CONTINUE AT THAT AMOUNT I DON'T THINK I CAN GUARANTEE THAT, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THE GRANTS PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE TO BE SUCCESSFUL. ON THIS YOU WILL SEE ANTICIPATED DEBT AT 36 MILLION ACCOUNTING FOR 35% OF CAPITAL SPEND AS WELL SO WE HAVE BUILT THAT IN. OUR ESTIMATED GROSS REVENUE FOR NEXT YEAR 186 MILLION, MOST OF THEM FROM GENERAL SALES AND COMMERCIAL 75 MILLION OR 41% OF REVENUES COMING FROM GENERAL SALES. 31%, 50 MILLION FROM RESIDENTIAL SALES, NONOPERATING 37 MILLION THAT IS DUE TO THE INTEREST IN GRANT REVENUE AND GRANT REVENUE FALLS UNDER THAT CATEGORY, OTHER OPERATING 5 MILLION THE MAJORITY MAKE UP REVENUE STREAMS LIKE PENALTY CHARGES SITE PLAN REVIEW FEES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THEN YOU HAVE CAC OR IMPACT BE 3.8 MILLION WITH CONJURING CAPITAL OF 6 MILLION. ESTIMATED CAPITAL BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR OF 103 MILLION WASTEWATER WILL ACCOUNT FOR 68%, 69 MILLION FOCUSED ON COMPLETING THE WASTEWATER PLANT FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THE FISCAL YEAR WITH CONVENIENCE REDIRECTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WITH EXPANSION LIFE PROJECTS, ELECTRIC 14 MILLION ACCOUNTS FOR 14% WITH THE MAIN FOCUS STORM HARDENING. WATER, GAS AND THOSE COMBINED FOCUS ON SYSTEM EXPANSION, STORM HARDENING AT THE ADMIN BUILDING $10 MILLION DEFINITELY FOCUSING ON THE STORM HARDENING OF COMMAND CENTER, THE EOC BUILDING, BUILT IN 1992. SO IT NEEDS TO GET UP TO CODE AND IT HAS HAD SOME STORMS AND THAT HOUSES THE ENTIRE COMMAND CENTER DURING THE STORM SO WE ARE LOOKING TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS WITH BOND PROCEEDS. OUR O&M BUDGET FISCAL YEAR 26 IS 144 MILLION AND LIKE I SAID EARLIER YOU'LL SEE SOMETHING THAT WILL TELL YOU HOW MUCH RESELL COUNTS FOR THE BUDGET AND IT MAKES UP 38% OF 2026 BUDGET ALSO PERSONNEL SERVICES EMPLOYEE BENEFITS THOSE COMBINED TYPICALLY MAKE UP 25% OF THE BUDGET AND THIS YEAR IS NO DIFFERENT FROM HOW WE HAVE BEEN LEARNING THE LAST DECADE. SPEAKING OF PERSONNEL BUDGETED FULL-TIME POSITIONS NOW IN FISCAL YEAR 25 WE HAVE 291 FULL-TIME BUDGETED AND THAT IS BUDGETED TO REMAIN THE SAME FOR NEXT YEAR. WE CURRENTLY HAVE 29 VACANT POSITIONS, ALL OF THEM ARE NOT POSTED NOW, WHENEVER WE HAVE A VACANT POSITION WE DON'T FILL IT RIGHT AWAY WE DON'T TAKE THE JOB DESCRIPTION AND SAY THIS PERSON RETIRED SO WE WILL POST THE POSITION, WE TAKE TIME TO REVIEW THE DESCRIPTION, WE LOOK TO SEE IF WE IMPLEMENT IT ANY COMPUTER SYSTEMS TO MODERNIZE THE JOB ARE WE SEEKING A JOB BE DIVVIED UP AND WE WANT TO LOOK AT THE REQUIREMENTS BEFORE POSTING. AS YOU CAN TELL HEAD COUNT DOES NOT VARY MUCH GOING UP FOUR OR FIVE HERE AND THERE BUT IT IS PRETTY CONSISTENT AND A GOOD INDICATOR OF HOW WE REVIEW JOB POSITIONS EACH AND EVERY TIME. THE DISTRIBUTION TO THE CITY OF FORT

[03:50:06]

ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE. >> QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS? OKAY.

ANY DISCUSSION? IF NOT IS THERE A MOTION?

>> MADAME MAYOR I MOVED TO APPROVE. FISCAL YEAR 2025 AND 26

BUDGET. >> SECOND.

>> MOTION ON A BUDGET SESSION . >> FOR CLARIFICATION RESOLUTION 25 R 58 THAT HAS THE PROPER LANGUAGE THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER BRODERICK YES, COMMISSIONER GAINES YES MA'AM, COMMISSIONER JOHNSON YES MA'AM, MAYOR HUDSON YES MA'AM.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOU BECAUSE WE WENT TO THE CONFERENCE TWO WEEKS AGO AND HE WAS ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE WHICH IS A REALLY BIG DEAL IN THE UTILITY

WORLD. SO CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[C. Resolution 25-R59 appointing a member to the Fort Pierce Communitywide Council. ]

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> NEXT RESOLUTION 25-R 59 RESOLUTION CITY COMMISSION OF CITY OF FORT PIERCE CERTIFYING APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE COMMUNITYWIDE COUNCIL PROVIDING FOR EFFECTIVE DATE. THIS AFTERNOON WE HAVE TWO APPLICANTS FOR THIS COMMUNITYWIDE COUNCIL, COLLEEN RYAN AND MERRITT WOODS FRANK. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO FILL OUT A PALLET OR DO A VOICE VOTE. ENTIRELY UP TO YOU.

>> I CAN DO VOICE I CAN SAY COLLEEN RYAN.

>> SAME. >> I GUESS WE'RE DOING VOICE

VOTE. >> I REVIEWED BOTH OF THEM. WHAT

WAS IT, COLLEEN RYAN? YEAH. >> OKAY SO EVERYBODY SELECTED COLLEEN RYAN SO MS. COLLEEN RYAN.

>> WE NEED A MOTION. >> WE DO.

>> MADAME MAYOR A MOTION WE APPROVE RESOLUTION 25 R-59.

>> FOR COLLEEN RYAN. >> SECOND.

>> CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK YES

[D. Resolution 25-R60 appointing a member to the Fort Pierce Utilities Authority Board. ]

>> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON YES, COMMISSIONER GAINES YES MA'AM,

MAYOR HUDSON YES MA'AM. >> NEXT RESOLUTION 25-R 60 RESOLUTION CITY COMMISSION CERTIFYING APPOINTMENT MEMBER OF THE FORT PIERCE UTILITY AUTHORITIES BOARD PROVIDING FOR EFFECTIVE DATE , THIS RESOLUTIO1 WE HAVE MISS PEARL DAVIS THE CURRENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD SEEKING REAPPOINTMENT AND WE ALSO RECEIVED APPLICATION FROM

VOICE VOTE OR COMPLETE A PALLET. >> IS A MOTION?

>> MOVE APPROVAL PEARL LIVERPOOL MATTHEWS CONTINUE ON.

>> CALL THE ROLL PLEASE. >> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK YES,

[A. Budget Workshop Follow-up]

MAYOR HUDSON YES MA'AM. >> THAT TAKES US TO THE BUDGET

WORKSHOP FOLLOW-UP. >> OKAY.

>> MS. MORRIS FINANCE DIRECTOR OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE

PROPOSED FY 26 BUDGET. >> MISS MORRIS.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. HOPEFULLY THIS

WILL BE PASSED. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. LIKE CHURCH,

YOU HAVE TO RESPOND . >> OKAY WE ARE HERE FOR OUR

THIRD ROUND AT THIS. >> ONE SECOND. DON'T HAVE THE

PRESENTATION YET. >> OKAY. I DID PROVIDE FOR YOU THE BUDGET DOCUMENT WITH CHANGES FOR EVERY LINE ITEM ON TOP SO IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT CHANGED FROM ONE TO THE NEXT, JUST TO GO THROUGH QUICKLY OUR SLIDES THERE WERE NO CHANGES

[03:55:01]

>> REVENUE AND EXPENSE NEUTRAL NOW?

>> YES, THIS BUDGET IS BALANCED WITH NO FUND BALANCE USED AT

ALL. >> IF I HAD A GOLD STAR IN MY BRIEFCASE I WOULD GIVE IT TO YOU. THAT'S REALLY GREAT.

>> LET ME MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND YOU HAD TO REDUCE OVERTIME SO IS

THERE ANYTHING LEFT IN OVERTIME? >> THERE IS, THE SAME AMOUNT BUDGETED EVERY YEAR. I HAD GONE IN BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER BUDGET WISE SO I INCREASED THOSE BUT WE WENT BACK AND I HAD TO ADD POSITIONS BACK IN AND DO THE STEP PLUS THE SIX I REDUCED TO WHAT THE NUMBER ALREADY IS. IT IS COVERED EVERY YEAR BECAUSE LIKE I SAID WE HAVE THE UNFUNDED POSITIONS AS WELL SO WOULD MORE THAN COVERS IT'S JUST THAT I DECREASED THE NUMBER 'S WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO USE ANY FUND

BALANCE. >> I GOT THAT PART I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE FOR PEOPLE SEEING THIS YOU KNOW THERE ARE THINGS OVERTIME AND WE HAD TO PREPARE FOR THAT AND YOU ARE SAYING THE CONTINGENCIES BUILT IN BASED ON THE PAST FORECAST AND THINGS WE CAN PREDICT TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY WHAT THAT NEEDS TO BE SO

I AM GOOD, THANK YOU. >> HAVE A QUESTION. COMMISSIONER GAINES. HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU, NOT THE ONE STEP INTO A BEAR TRAP BUT HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU WITH DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN 6% TO POLICE VERSUS 5% TO THE OTHER CITY EMPLOYEES? I KNOW YOU HAVE MADE A RATHER POWERFUL STATEMENT REGARDING THIS?

>> I WAS FINE AT THE TIME WITH THE 6% AND THE STEP WE SAID MY CONCERN WAS WHEN IT CAME OUT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING AND WE WERE SAYING BECAUSE IT WAS 3.5% AND I THOUGHT WE ARE TRYING TO GET OUR EMPLOYEES DOWN TO THE 3.5.

>> MAKING SURE YOU ARE GOOD WITH THAT BECAUSE I KNOW IT WAS A POINT OF CONCERN FOR YOU AND YOU TURNED MY THINKING ON THE ISSUE BUT WE WERE DEALING WITH NUMBERS IN THE VICINITY OF 9% AT THE TIME. IF YOU ARE GOOD I AM COMFORTABLE.

>> PROCEED. >> OPERATING EXPENDITURES ARE 19,001,028 , A REDUCTION OF 538,540. ALL DEPARTMENTS AGAIN BEING 3% REDUCTION IN THE BUDGET THAT WAS 164,296. AND THOSE

[04:00:04]

THOSE WE ADDRESS IT. >> IF YOU SAW SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE PROBLEMATIC TO COME BACK TO US WITH REPORT?

>> DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY. >> I AM GLAD THE FUND BALANCE IS THERE BECAUSE WITH ALL THE TALK ABOUT FEMA WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH FEMA SO THE FPUA ADDRESS THAT WITH THE DART PROGRAM AND FPUA JUST GOT REIMBURSED FOR IRMA , 20 YEARS AGO. SO I'M GLAD THE FUND BALANCE IS RESTORED.

>> GOOD TO BE NOTED IT IS THERE WHAT IT IS THERE FOR.

EMERGENCIES, A LOT OF TIMES AS WE LOOK AT THINGS AND PERSONNEL COST TRYING TO FUND YOU CAN TAKE IT ONE TIME REVENUE SOURCE AND FUND SOMETHING PERPETUAL BUT IT IS FOR THOSE PURCHASES IN THE EVENT A HURRICANE COMES WE HAVE MONEY AND I ALWAYS TELL STAFF SOMETIMES TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE PAID FROM TIME TO TIME IF WE ARE NOT GENERATING REVENUE AND YOU ARE A STAFF MEMBER TO MAKE SURE YOU GET SALARY SO THIS HELPS COMPENSATE.

>> WHAT WE HEARD FROM MR. MATTHEWS THIS WILL NOT HELP

COMPENSATION. >> EVERYBODY WILL BE IN THE SAME

BOAT. >> ONE FOLLOW-UP COMMENTS. I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT UTILIZING THE FUND TO FUND OPERATIONAL COST.

PUT THAT INTO PRIVATE ENTERPRISE THE BUSINESS IS GOING OUT OF BUSINESS IN VERY SHORT ORDER WHEN THAT HAPPENS JOHNNY YOU DID A GREAT JOB RESOLVING THAT ISSUE AND TO GIVE HER THE HARD WORK YOU PUT INTO IT. I KNOW YOU HAVE HAD A LOT OF INPUT SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS. I THINK CITIZENS OF THE CITY NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE HARD WORK PUT INTO THIS TO GET THIS THING TO REVENUE NEUTRAL EXPENSE NEUTRAL BUT THERE ARE SO MANY RED FLAGS JUST AHEAD OF US OF WHAT THE STATE IS UP TO WITH AD VALOREM TAXES, DECREASING POTENTIALLY WE NEED TO BE SUPER CAUTIOUS WITH EVERYTHING FINANCIALLY WE ARE DOING IN 2026. WE NEED TO LOOK AT EVERY UNUSUAL EXPENDITURE, PUBLIC WORKS, MARINA, WHEREVER IT'S GOING TO BE TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THAT WITH POTENTIAL IMPACTS ESPECIALLY IF WE ARE INCURRING ANY TYPE OF DEBT STRUCTURE TO DO THAT. THIS IS ONE WAY TO PUT ON FINANCIAL THINKING CAPS AND BE VERY VERY CAUTIOUS. DO YOU HAVE MORE?

>> YES, NOT MUCH. CAPITAL OUTLAY IS 1,000,148 IS 1,000,140 826 THE REDUCTION OF THE 767,892. WE PUT ALL CAPITAL PROJECTS PRESENTED IN THE CIP BACK IN AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE PROJECTS PAID FOR EXCEPT FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PROJECT AND I EXPLAINED THAT WILL GET ADDRESSED HOWEVER IT IS NOT DUE UNTIL SEPTEMBER SO WE WILL HAVE FUNDING TO ADDRESS THAT. WE JUST DID NOT PUT IT IN THE CIP ACCOUNT BUT WE WILL HAVE MONEY TO ADDRESS IT.

GRANTS AND EIGHT, THE $22,500 IS INCREASE FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL. WE HAD 40, WE SENT INVOICE ON THE 62,500 SO

WE BALANCED THAT, 100% FUNDED. >> THAT'S GOING TO BRING IN

FUTURE REVENUE AT SOME POINT. >> AT SOME POINT. IN THE NONOPERATING TRANSFERS REMAIN AS IF THERE WERE NO CHANGES SO THAT IS OUR BUDGET AS IT WAS PRESENTED, BALANCED AND WE DID NOT USE FUND BALANCE, WE TRIED TO ADDRESS ALL OF OUR CAPITAL PRESENTED. THAT IS BUILT IN AND PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING FOR ,

[04:05:04]

BUDGET AS CONCISE AS WE CAN. >> YOU ARE MY LITMUS TEST. I INTERACT WITH YOU A FAIR AMOUNT BASED ON NUMBERS ARE YOU SLEEPING OKAY AT NIGHT WITH THIS BUDGET?

>> I AM NOW THAT IT IS BALANCED.

>> THAT IS THE REAL TEST. I KNOW HOW CONCERNED AND DEDICATED YOU ARE TO THE BUDGET AND YOU HAVING A COMFORT LEVEL WITH IT GIVES ME A COMFORT LEVEL SO I WON'T LOSE SLEEP OVER THIS.

>> WE ARE GOOD AGAIN I WILL SAY THIS I'VE ENJOYED WORKING WITH MR. CHESS IT IS GREAT TO HAVE A NUMBERS PERSON. WE UNDERSTAND AND SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE SO IF I SAY IT HE GETS IT RIGHT OFF WE WORKED WELL TOGETHER TO DRAFT THIS BUDGET AND WE WILL PRESENTED TO YOU ALL WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT IS GREAT WE WILL MONITOR MONTH BY MONTH, YEAR BY YEAR AND EVERY THING THAT COMES UP YOU WILL BE MADE AWARE OF WE NEED TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS WE WILL ADJUST AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST. WHEN COVID CAME WE HAD TO DO THE QUICK ADJUSTMENT AND GOT IT THROUGH AND WE WILL AS THINGS

BECOME. >> WE PIVOTED BIG TIME.

>> I WANT TO THANK HER AND HER TEAM AND THE DEPARTMENT HEADS IN THE CHAMBER, THEY WORKED HARD LOOKING AT THE 3% AND WHAT THEY CAN DO TO REDUCE THE BUDGET. LOOKING AT THE ECONOMY TO SCALE THE CAPITAL PROJECT ENGINEER AND SO WE WORKED TOGETHER AS A TEAM BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR ME WE HAVE TO MONITOR THE BUDGET ANYTHING UNEXPECTED CHANGES IN THE ECONOMY I WANT TO PUT JOAN ON THE HOOK BUT I AM DOING QUARTERLY UPDATES I WANT TO COME BACK TO YOU TO GIVE YOU WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT THE FUNDS LOOK LIKE AND I KNOW YOU KNOW THE FORMAT WE CAN PUT SOMETHING OUT. FIRST QUARTER IS ALWAYS LIGHT BECAUSE EVERY THING IS NOT LINEAR BUT AS WE GET TO THE SECOND AND THIRD QUARTER YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE ARE TRENDING SO I LIKE TO DO THAT SO TRANSPARENCY IS THERE FOR YOU IN THE PUBLIC. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WITH US LEADERSHIP GOING TO THE BUDGET PROCESS I LIKE TO TEST THE TEMPERATURE OF HOW YOU LIKE THE BUDGET. I AM VERY CONSERVATIVE SO THANK YOU FOR TELLING US TO GO BACK AND BALANCE THE BUDGET, THAT'S WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO BE. UNDERSTAND THE DIRECTION AND I CAN UNDERSTAND THE TEMPERATURE NOW WITH A CONSERVATIVE APPROACH YOU ALWAYS GET THAT FROM ME, YOU WILL TELL ME TO INCREASE THE BUDGET NEXT TIME IT WON'T BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND. SO, GREAT JOB, YOUR TEAM, YOUR BUDGET TEAM, YOU GUYS COME OUT LATE UNTIL THE EVENING AS WELL WORKING ON THE NUMBERS AND I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THEIR TEAMS BEEN GREAT IN THE PROCESS AND WE HAVE TO WORK THROUGH THIS, WE HAVE A SOLID BUDGET DELIVERING SERVICES FOR THE CITIZENS THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, WE HAVE THE BUDGET TO SUPPORT THE CITY ON ALL SERVICES AND THAT IS THERE AND IT EXISTS SO THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> FOR THE CITIZENS, NO INCREASE IN TAXES.

>> IT SOUNDS TO ME FROM WHAT YOU ARE REPORTING AND FROM WHAT I HAVE HEARD EVERYBODY HAS COOPERATED? EVERYBODY IS PULLING ON THE SAME WAY ON THE SAME TEAM AND I THINK THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. IT IS KIND OF OFF THE SUBJECT, BUT WE DID GET THE FLORIDA DOGE REQUEST AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAD A DEADLINE

WHERE WE ON THAT? >> THE INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BEFORE THE DEADLINE AND IT WAS VERY VERY SHORT WINDOW ON SOME OF IT HOWEVER I WOULD LIKE TO SAY STAFF, KAREN, CANNOT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT HER, SHE AND I WERE WORKING ON SATURDAY, CALLING EACH OTHER ON THE PHONE, SHE WAS HOME AND I WAS HOME BUT SHE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO MAKE SURE IT WAS DONE MONDAY MORNING WHEN

SHE CAME IN. >> THINK YOU AND I GUESS I DON'T KNOW WHETHER I HOPE THEY COME OR DON'T COME. IF THEY DO, WOULD YOU SHARE WITH THE COMMISSION? I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT YOU TURNED IN, HOW THAT ALL FUNCTIONS.

>> PRIMARILY CREDIT -- PREDICATED ON THE CITY AUDIT.

>> THE SAME INFORMATION BUT THEY WANTED IT BROKEN DOWN IF IT WERE AD VALOREM WHAT DID WE SPEND IT ON AND BY CATEGORY IF IT WAS POLICE, HOW MUCH OF THE BUDGET WAS POLICE.

>> THAT'S WHERE THEY DO ANALYSIS TO ELIMINATE TAXES

THROUGH THIS METHODOLOGY. >> TO SAY THIS IS WASTE OR

WHATEVER. >> MADAME MAYOR HAVE A QUESTION ON THE BUDGET. THANK YOU STAFF FOR THIS AND I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE QUARTERLY. LAST CITY COMMISSION ASKING FOR US TO

[04:10:04]

THOSE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE. >> TECHNICALLY IT'S ONLY 7% BECAUSE 5% IS COST-OF-LIVING EVERYBODY IS GETTING SO IT IS

7%. >> RIGHT TECHNICALLY.

>> DEFINING TO BE SPECIFIC 5% COST OF LIVING ACROSS THE BOARD ALL CITY EMPLOYEES INCLUDING COMMISSIONERS SO 7% INCREASE

ABOVE COST-OF-LIVING. >> TO FURTHER EXPAND HOW I GOT THERE. WHEN I TOOK THE TOTAL AMOUNT WHAT IT WOULD BE FROM CURRENT SALARY TO WHERE IT WOULD BE I BASICALLY CUT IT IN HAVE TO SAY LET'S GET HALFWAY THERE NOW AND INVESTIGATE CAN WE GET THE OTHER HALF MOVING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE WITH THE CITY THAT'S HOW I GOT THERE. KIND OF SIMPLE MATH FOR ME I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WORKS FOR YOU COMMISSIONER BRODERICK.

>> CURRENT RATE OF PAY IS 120? >> 129.

>> GOING TO 160. $30,000 SO .5.

>> 129 IF I'M DOING THE MATH GRADE, JOHN YOU HAVE A CALCULATOR IN FRONT OF YOU? ALL PERCENT INCREASE $141,120.

I WOULD ROUND UP TO 145 AND CALL IT A DAY.

[04:15:01]

>> I'M GOOD WITH THAT. REVISITING NEXT YEAR.

>> PERFECTLY FINE WITH THAT. >> DO WE NEED EMOTION?

>> REAL QUICK BECAUSE I'M HEARING TWO THINGS. ARE NOW DOING IT 145 AND NOT REVISITING THE SECOND PART, BECAUSE YOU JUST SAID 12.5, 12.5 AND 12.5 NOW WE SAID ROUNDING UP THAT WAS 142. SO JUST 145 THEN COME BACK NEXT YEAR? OR 145 COME BACK IN SIX MONTHS OR WHATEVER LIKE WE DID BEFORE WE LEFT TO BRING IT BACK TODAY BECAUSE THE OTHER DAY IT WAS HALF AND WE CAME BACK TO LOOK AGAIN, HALF AND LOOK AGAIN IN SIX MONTHS SO NOW WE ARE SEEING WITH 45 THEN COME BACK NEXT YEAR?

>> THAT'S WHAT I'M THINKING. >> YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

YOU HEARD IT RIGHT, THE LAWYER IN YOU HEARD IT.

>> IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY BUT I WANT THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON THIS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT SOMEBODY TO COME BACK AND SAY I KNOW MRS. COX WOULDN'T DO IT BUT WE SAID LAST WEEK WE LEFT WITH LOOK AT HALF GO BACK AND LOOK AND THEN REVISIT IN SIX MONTHS, NOW JUST SO I AM CLEAR ROUND OF 145 AND COME BACK NEXT YEAR?

>> THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. >> THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE AND CANDIDLY ALL FOUR OF US WILL BE HERE FOR THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE GOT REALLY AND WE WILL REMEMBER THE DISCUSSION.

>> OKAY, I AM FINE. >> MADAME MAYOR COMMISSIONERS, WE DID NOT HAVE THIS ON AS AN OFFICIAL VOTING ITEM FOR TODAY SO IT'S PART OF THE WORKSHOP DISCUSSION SO WE WILL NEED TO BRING IT BACK FOR OFFICIAL VOTE AT THE NEXT MEETING, BUT I WANT TO CLARIFY A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE HOW THIS BEGAN WAS A DISCUSSION RELATED TO MS. COX PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND UNDER THE CONTRACT IT SAYS YOU ARE TO CONSIDER HER SALARY AT THE TIME YOU'RE DOING PERFORMANCE EVALUATION. , SO THE CLARITY WE WOULD BE SEEKING WOULD BE THE 145,000, ARE YOU INTENDING THAT TO BE EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1 WHEN THE COLA GOES INTO PLACE OR YOU INTENDING THE RAISE PORTION TO HAPPEN AHEAD OF THAT BECAUSE THE COLA WOULD NOT BEGIN UNTIL OCTOBER 1.

>> I HAVE A SUGGESTION ON THAT WITH THE BUDGET CYCLE SEPTEMBER 1 OR EVERYTHING IS OCTOBER 1. SINCE THIS IS FUNDED NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET I WOULD SUGGEST WE ROLL BOTH PORTIONS TO OCTOBER

1. >> MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY.

>> WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE ALL CLEAR. AND WE WILL PLACE IT

ON THE AGENDA FOR OFFICIAL VOTE. >> I AM FINE WITH IT.

>> OKAY. SO NOW WHAT IS LEFT IS WE APPROVE THE BUDGET TODAY?

VOTING ON THE BUDGET TODAY. >> THE BUDGET TO LET ME KNOW THIS IS WHAT WE ARE DOING AT THE BUDGET HEARING WHERE WE DO

FORMAL APPROVAL. >> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE WHOLE MINUTIA OF ALL THE LINE ITEMS, I KNOW YOU COOKED IT ALL HERE SO

YOU HAVE THE FORMAL BUDGET. >> I DID YOU'VE GOT IT, THE BUDGET DOCUMENT ATTACHED ON THAT CHANGE. IT IS EVERY CHANGE, EVERY LINE ITEM CHANGED OUTLINE.

>> GOING TO HEARING I SUGGEST WE APPROVE OF THE HEARING.

>> THAT'S WHEN YOU APPROVE. >> WOULD HAVE TO ADJUST BASED ON WHAT WE DID FOR THE SELLER? SO IT'S NOT DONE. YEAH.

>> I WILL ADD IT TO A LINE ITEM, SMALL ADJUSTMENT.

>> IT IS AN IMPORTANT. I WANTED IT PART OF THAT BECAUSE IT OFFICIAL IT SETS THE PRECEDENT WHERE WE CAN GO BUT IT IS A MINOR CHANGE BUT A MATTER OF RECORD.

>> WHEN YOU GET THE BUDGET HEARING YOU WILL SEE A DOCUMENT AND LINE ITEM WHERE THE MONEY IS.

>> I AM GOOD. >> I'M GOOD AS LAID OUT TO SAY YES MOVE AHEAD BRING IT TO THE BUDGET HEARING AND WE WILL

RATIFY. >> WINDOW WE HAVE THE FIRST

BUDGET HEARING? >> SEPTEMBER 8.

>> SEPTEMBER 8 ALL RIGHT EVERYBODY GOOD? GOOD ON THE

BUDGET. >> I DO HAVE A QUESTION NOT RELATED IF YOU DON'T MIND. DID WE HEAR ANYTHING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REGARDING THE GRANT MONEY WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING THAT CONGRESSMAN PUT IN FOR US?

>> THE NOTICE WE WERE AWARDED. FOR THE TWO PROJECTS?

>> FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT YES.

>> IT IS IN THEIR CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT THEY ADD.

[04:20:05]

>> SO IT IS ACTUALLY MOVING FORWARD?

>> THEY DID GET FUNDING AND THE NOTICE WE WOULD BE AWARDED.

>> BEFORE I MAKE A POINT OF THANKING CONGRESSMAN ON THE RECORD, SHOW ME THE MONEY. SO LET ME KNOW WHEN THE CHECK COMES IN, IT IS DEPOSITED AND MORE IMPORTANT THE CHECK ACTUALLY

CLEARS. >> I THINK WE WILL ALL RELISH IN THAT COMMISSIONER BRODERICK AND WE WILL ALL SEND AN EMAIL

THANKING. >> THE DEAL IS NOT DONE UNTIL

THE CHECK CLEARS. >> HE DID HELP WITH THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT. OKAY. WE ARE GOOD , RIGHT? OKAY

[12. City Commission Boards and Committees Updates]

I THINK WE CAN MOVE ON. >> NEXT ITEM IS CITY COMMISSION

BOARDS AND COMMITTEE UPDATES. >> ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING?

>> I DON'T. >> I WANT TO SAY THE FIRE DISTRICT HAS ST. LUCIE COUNTY COMMUNITY CONNECT AND THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT THING FOR EVERYBODY TO KNOW BECAUSE IF YOU FILL OUT THIS FORM THE FIRE DISTRICT, WHEN THEY COME TO YOUR HOUSE FOR EMERGENCY HAS A LOT OF ADVANCED OF INFORMATION ALREADY.

IT HAS BEEN PROMOTED ON FACEBOOK, THE FIRE DISTRICT. I WOULD LIKE US TO PROMOTE IT, TOO. I HAVE ALREADY FILLED IT OUT. HAVE WE DONE IT ALREADY? I HAVE FILLED IT OUT IT'S REALLY EASY TO FILL OUT, IT COULD SAVE A LIFE. I WILL PASS IT OUT.

>> I PUT SOME IN YOUR MAILBOX. I WANT TO ECHO THAT. IT IS IMPORTANT WE GET THIS OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND WE GET THIS IN THE MARKETING ROTATION BECAUSE THIS INFORMATION WILL HELP THEM REALLY UNDERSTAND, IN ROUTE TO YOUR HOUSE WITH THE SITUATION IS AND THAT IS REALLY REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THEY ARE PREPARING AS THEY COME TO THE SCENE. MADAME MAYOR I WOULD LIKE TO ADD A FEW THINGS ON THE BOARD COMMENT. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER THE TPO BOARD MET LAST WEEK, LOOKING AT PROJECTS NOW IN ROADWAY AND STRUCTURE AND I WANT TO THANK MY FELLOW COMMISSIONER BRODERICK. THERE WERE SOME SUGGESTIONS ABOUT SOME RAILROAD EXPANSION ET CETERA GOING ON. THAT DID NOT GO OVER WELL, IT DID NOT GO BUT THERE ARE CONCERNS. WHAT WE SAW WAS COHESIVENESS OF THE CITY AND COUNTY WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION THEY WERE ASKING US TO IMPROVE TO INCREASE AFFIC THROUGH LITERALLY THE HEART OF FORT PIERCE IN THAT JUNCTURE CUTTING ACROSS LITERALLY THE MIDDLE OF OUR CITY. THERE WAS GREAT PUSHBACK TO THAT AND WHAT WE HAVE ASKED FOR IS FURTHER GOOD CONVERSATION. WE NEED TO REALLY UNDERSTAND, BUT WE ALSO EXPRESSED TO THEM THE CONCERNS ABOUT ONGOING CONCERNS WITH TRAFFIC AND THE ISSUE WE HAD WAS SANITATION DOWN THERE SO COMMISSIONER BRODERICK THANK YOU FOR CARING THE WATER ON THAT. I WILL SAY I APPOINTED HIM AS CHAIR TO FURTHER THIS CONVERSATION WITH THE CONGRESSMAN AND REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE COUNTY AND CITY TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION WITH THE FEDERAL

AND I WILL LET YOU TAKE IT. >> EVERYBODY AT THE TPO, THAT IS A LARGE WORKING GROUP. I STARTED ON THE WHOLE THING AND HE DID NOT STOP, EVERY SINGLE ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THE ROOM HAD COMPLAINTS ABOUT DEALING WITH FEC AND THEY SOUNDED IDENTICAL AND WE CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHO THE BENEFICIARY OF THE MASSIVE SWEEPING BENEFICIARY PROJECT WAS GOING TO BECOME OBVIOUSLY IT WAS GOING TO BE FEC BUT THEY ARE NOT PAYING FOR IT, THE TAXPAYERS ARE WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION I SAID NOT IN FORT PIERCE YOU ARE NOT EXPANDING ANYTHING IN FORT PIERCE. COMMISSIONER JOHNSON SUGGESTED AS THE CHAIRPERSON, LET'S TRY TO PLAY NICE AND PUT TOGETHER A WORKING GROUP TO ROLLOUT CONCERNS AND ISSUES WITH FEC, LET FEC RESPOND IF THEY WOULD SO WE WILL GIVE IT AN ATTEMPT AND THE TRUE MUSCLE IN THIS ROOM IS CONGRESSMAN MAST WHO AT THE DROP OF A HAT CAN CALL FOR SPECIAL HEARINGS IN CONGRESS INVOLVING FEC AND THAT'S THE LAST PLACE THEY WANT TO BE SO I TALKED TO BRIAN BRIEFLY, I SAW HIM THE OTHER DAY AT ROTARY I MENTIONED THAT YOU SAID WHATEVER YOU NEED LET ME KNOW SO HE IS ON BOARD. I WILL CONTACT I WILL GET WITH MISS COX TO GET CONTACT INFORMATION ABOUT FELLOW FOLKS IN ST. LUCIE AND PORT ST. LUCIE COUNTY TO SEE WHO THEY WANT TO DESIGNATE, BUT EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM HAD THE EXACT SAME CONCERNS, REALLY REMARKABLE. NOBODY HAS HAD A GOOD EXPENSE.

>> I HEARD ABOUT THAT FROM OTHERS.

>> ANOTHER THING I LEARNED IS THE COST OF THE SYSTEM DISABILITIES ARE PAYING AS A RESULT OF RATE CHANGES ON THE RAILROAD , YOU HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED HERE YET BUT THE

[04:25:05]

>> FOR THE CROSSING. >> FOR THE MAINTENANCE. A LITTLE BIT OF ASPHALT SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT CAME OUT OF THE COMMITTEE AND UPDATE WE'RE LOOKING INTO THE REST OF THE JIMMY BUFFETT SIGNS , MARGARITAVILLE . AND I LOOK FORWARD TO PICKING UP TREASURE COAST REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL COMMITTEE TO GO FROM THERE AND THAT IS IT FOR ME ON REPORTS.

>> TDC IS NOT MEETING THIS MONTH.

>> JUST A FEW, AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE MET LAST WEEK AND PRETTY INTERESTING. I THINK MYSELF, WHEN I GET BACK I MIGHT NEED TO SET AN APPOINTMENT WITH DIRECTOR FREEMAN BECAUSE HIS INTEL ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE STATUTE AND SOME OF THE STUFF THE BOARD IS LOOKING AT I NEED TO PICK YOUR BRAIN ON SOME THINGS WITH WHAT WE ARE DOING IN THE CITY BECAUSE THAT COMMITTEE IS HAVING I WON'T SAY DIFFICULTY, BUT TRYING TO PINPOINT THE 11 THINGS THE STATUTE SAYS AND I THINK ME SITTING DOWN WITH DIRECTOR FREEMAN ALLOWS THEM TO PICK HIS BRAIN BECAUSE HE IS THE GURU IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE WHERE WE CAN FOCUS ON THE 11 ITEMS WE NEED TO DO SO I WILL MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOU WHEN I GET BACK. WE DID HAVE RETIREMENT BOARD MEETING AFTER THE LAST MEETING, BUT IT WAS KIND OF STRAIGHTFORWARD AND WE ADDRESS THE COLA ISSUE THE OTHER NIGHT.

WITH WHERE WE WERE WITH THAT AND I THINK THAT IS IT, AS FAR AS MY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONERS , AS YOU KNOW I'M LEAVING TONIGHT SO I WILL NOT BE HERE TOMORROW AT THE FPR A , I WILL BE IN D.C.

WATCHING BUT IT WILL BE IN D.C. SO I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW.

>> I WILL CHANNEL MY INNER ARNOLD.

>> I BELIEVE THAT TO YOU.

>> THAT IS IT MADAME MAYOR. >> ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER? ALL RIGHT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN WE'RE GOING TO ADJOURN, TURNING OFF

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.