Sep 08, 2025 City Commission Regular Meeting

[1. Call to Order]

[00:00:11]

>> THIS IS OUR CITY COMMISSION MEETING. I'M CURTIS JOHNSON. AS YOU CAN TELL, I'M NOT LINDA HUDSON, BUT WE'RE GOING TO START OUR MEETING TODAY AT 9:00 A.M. WELCOME ON THIS BEAUTIFUL MONDAY. PLEASE STAND WITH ME 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. WE'LL HAVE OUR

ROLL CALL, PLEASE. >> MAYOR PRO TEM JOHNSON.

>> PRESENT. >> I SHOULD HAVE CALLED MAYOR HUDSON FIRST. SORRY. COMMISSIONER BRODERICK.

>> PRESENT. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES.

>> PRESENT, MA'AM. >> AS YOU CAN TELL, MAYOR HUDSON WILL NOT WITH BE US TODAY, UNFORTUNATELY, AND FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS, I'LL BE CHAIRING THESE MEETINGS. SO I'LL CALL FOR AN EXCUSE ABSENCE VOTE AT THIS POINT.

>> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.

>> VOTE, AND SECOND. ALL APPROVE BY SAYING AYE?

>> I HAVE TO DO ROLL CALL. >> CALL THE ROLL.

[4. Approval of Minutes]

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

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

>> NEXT WE HAVE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 11, DAY

[5. Proclamations]

MEETING. >> MOTION TO APPROVE.

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

>> MAYOR PRO TEM, JOHNSON. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> NEXT, WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION. SO IF WE HAVE THE FOOD BANK, THAT'S GOING TO BE HERE. COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME DOWN AND PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION, I WILL GO AHEAD AND START READING IT. WHEREAS HUNGER REMAINS AN ISSUE IN FLORIDA, WITH CHILDREN AND VETERANS EXPERIENCING HUNGER ON A DAILY BASIS. AND WE'RE COMBATING HUNGER IN EVERY PART OF OUR CITY. WHEREAS THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE IS COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH THE TREASURE COAST FOOD BANK, IMMOBILIZING PEOPLE ABOUT THE ROLE AND IMPORTANCE OF FOOD BANKS AND OTHER HUNGER RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS IN ADDRESSING HUNGER AND THE NEED TO DEVOTE MORE RESOURCES AND ATTENTION TO HUNGER ISSUES. AND WHEREAS FOOD BANKS AND HUNGER RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING THE TREASURE COAST FOOD BANK, COORDINATED HUNGER ACTION DAY ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2025, AND WILL CONTINUE TO HOST NUMEROUS EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER TO SHED LIGHT ON THIS AND OTHER EFFORTS TO END HUNGER IN THE CITY OF FORT PIECE. WE DECLARE THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER AS END HUNGER MONTH IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, AND CALL ON THE ACTION TO OUR

CITIZENS. >> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS ELER. ON BEHALF OF THE FOOD BANK, OUR DEDICATED STAFF, VOLUNTEER PARTNERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTOR S, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR PROCLAIMING SEPTEMBER AS HUNGER ACTION MONTH. TREASURE FOOD BANK PROVIDES MEALS TO OUR NEIGHBORS FACING FOOD INSECURITY EACH YEAR THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH 300 PLUS AGENCIES PARTNERS. STRONG COLLABORATIONS AND A FULL ROSTER OF DIRECT SERVICE PROGRAMS IN INDIAN RIVER, SAN LUCY, MARTY, AND OKEECHOBEE COUNTIES. TOGETHER WITH OUR COMMUNITY, WE'RE NOT ONLY WORKING TO SOLVE THE IMMEDIATE PROBLEM OF HUNGER, BUT WE ARE BUILDING SOLUTIONS TO CREATE A STRONGER, MORE RESILIENT, TREASURE COAST FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, TREASURE COAST FOOD BANK WILL BE JOINING FEEDING AMERICA AND FOOD BANKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN RAISING AWARENESS OF FOOD INSECURITY AND HUNGER IN OUR COMMUNITIES. WE ARE ENCOURAGING EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO JOIN THE MOVEMENT AND TAKE ACTION. AS PART OF THIS MONTH-LONG CAMPAIGN, TREASURE COAST FOOD BANK WILL BE HOSTING OUR FIFTH ANNUAL OUTRUN HUNGER 5K ON SEPTEMBER 20, IN A LIGHT-UP ORANGE EVENT. ON SEPTEMBER 9, WE INVITE OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO GO ORANGE WITH US FOR HUNGER ACTION DAY.

ORANGE IS THE COLOR OF HUNGER RELIEF, WHICH REPRESENTS ENCOURAGEMENT AND DETERMINATION. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS EVENT, AND WAYS TO GET INVOLVED, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT STOPHUNGER.ORG. THANK YOU, AGAIN, FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. HUNGERDOESN'T STAND A CHANCE WHEN OUR COMMUNITY COMES

TOGETHER. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO IN THIS BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY OF OURS, THANK YOU.

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

[00:05:07]

ALL RIGHT, WE SHALL MOVE ON. >> ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA, AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.

>> MOVE APPROVAL. >> I BELIEVE WITH MS. HEDGES, ARE YOU GOING TO PULL AN ITEM AT THIS POINT? NO. OKAY.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AGENDA BEFORE IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROBABLY SECONDED? CALL THE

ROLL, PLEASE. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> OKAY, COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.

>> ALL RIGHT, I DIDN'T GET ANY SIGN UPS. ANY MEMBER WISH TO

[A. 2025 Strategic Plan Update]

MOVEMENT, LET'S MOVE ON. >> OKAY, WE HAVE THE 2025

STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE. >> THAT'S MR. CHESS.

>> MR. ROBINSON IS GOING TO LOWER THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION FOR US. I WANT TO SAY THE THIRD QUARTER UPDATE FROM WHEN I STARTED ACTUALLY APRIL TO AUGUST 31ST. WHAT I'M GOING TO BE DOING GOING FORWARD, I'LL BE DOING THE QUARTERLY UPDATES AND ALIGNING THAT WITH THE BUDGET UPDATE. THE NEXT QUARTERLY UPDATE WILL GO FROM SEPTEMBER 1, TO DECEMBER 31ST.

SO AGAIN, WE'LL BE ALIGNED WITH THE BUDGET UPDATE.

>> ALL RIGHT. >> SO WE CAN MOVE ONTO THE NEXT POWERPOINT. OKAY. THIS IS -- AND WHAT WE DID, WE KIND OF ARRANGED THESE BY DEPARTMENT. IF YOU LOOK AT THE STRATEGIC PLAN, IT'S ACTUALLY ARRANGED BY TASK. WE WANTED TO HAVE EACH DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR HERE, AND DEPARTMENT HEAD TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTION YOU HAD. IN THIS PARTICULAR ONE, THE NEXT FEW SLIDES ARE COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND WHAT WE DID, WE HIGHLIGHTED THE ACTION, THE ACTIVITIES AND MILESTONES AND DUE DATES AND INDICATED WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE COMPLETED. SO FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS PARTICULAR POWERPOINT, THIS ACTUALLY WAS COMPLETED FOR 9-25, IT'S GOING TO BE COMPLETED, AND THE DATE FOR LANDSCAPE DESIGN IS ALSO FOR 9-25. FOR THE NEXT ONE, THE MURAL PROJECTS, WE HAVE THE TWO PROJECTS WE'VE ACTUALLY DETERMINED TO BE DONE, AND WE CREATED THE ARTIST AGREEMENT AND PROPERTY AGREEMENT. WE HAD A MURAL THAT WAS COMPLETED ON ATLANTIC AVENUE, AND A MURAL THAT WAS COMPLETED ON 130TH, NORTH 2ND STREET. AND ALSO THE ARTIST AGREEMENT FOR DOWNTOWN AS WELL. IN THIS ONE, YOU HAD THE DOWNTOWN AGREEMENT AND MURAL, WHICH WERE COMPLETED. THERE WERE TWO UPDATES REQUIRED FOR THIS, AND BOTH WERE COMPLETED ON TIME. AND THEN THERE WAS A PHASE ONE PRESENTATION DISCUSSION ON PHASE TWO. THAT'S DUE IN OCTOBER. AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN PHASE TWO, THAT'S TO BE DETERMINED. AND WITH EACH OF THESE, THERE ARE VARIOUS TASKS. I DIDN'T WANT TO GET US BOGGED DOWN ON THE DETAIL WITH THIS, SO I KIND OF FOCUS ON JUST THE ACTIVITY, AND MILESTONE, AND WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS COMPLETED. THIS ONE WAS FOR THE HISTORIC DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT MASTER PLAN, AND THE FESTIVAL STREET DESIGN AND STREETSCAPES. THE AWARD CONCEPTION PLAN WAS COMPLETED ON TIME. AND FOR THE FESTIVAL STREET, THAT AWARD FOR THE STREET PLAN WAS ALSO COMPLETED ON TIME. AND THE DUE DAYLIGHS FOR THE ACTUAL DESIGN FOR THE MARINA IS DUE OCTOBER 25, AND THE WORKSHOP, THEY'LL HAVE A WORKSHOP IN NOVEMBER 25TH AS WELL. FOR THE FESTIVAL STREET, THE DESIGN WAS REALLY REVISED, THE DUE DATE TO FEBRUARY 26. AND THE FESTIVAL STREET DESIGN PLAN WAS ALSO REVISED TO ALIGN WITH THE DESIGN FOR FEBRUARY 26TH.

AND WESTERN PENINSULA DESIGN AND DIRECTION, THIS WAS ACTUALLY COMPLETED ON TIME, APRIL 25. ALSO THE SUNRISE THEATER, AS YOU KNOW, WE ISSUED THE RFP. WE'RE IN THE PROCESS NOW OF ACTUALLY NEGOTIATING THE CONTRACT. SO THIS APPEARS TO BE ON SCHEDULE AS WELL. AND FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS, WE MOVE TO A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT NOW. THE COMPREHENSIVE CITY BEAUTIFICATION STRATEGY ACTION PLAN GOALS AND OUTCOMES, BEST PRACTICES, REPORTS OF OPTIONS, DIRECTION FUNDING AND CITY ACTIONS. THE CITY BEAUTIFICATION GOALS AND OUTCOMES WERE COMPLETED ON TIME. IT WAS DUE IN APRIL. RESEARCH BEST PRACTICES AND PROPOSALS USED BY OTHER CITIES, OF COURSE, WE PREPARED

[00:10:01]

PROACTIVE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE, DESIRED OUTCOMES, BEST PRACTICES, STAFFING, DIRECTION AND FUNDING. THE CODE ENFORCE COMPLIANCE, COMPLETE STAFF THAT WAS COMPLETED. THAT WAS REVISED TO OCTOBER 25. COMPLETE STAFF TRAINING, THAT'S ONGOING. WE ADVISED THAT TO OCTOBER 25. THAT WAS DISCUSSED IN 101S. AND ALSO AN EVALUATION UPDATE ON PROGRESS, STATUS, AND FUTURE PLANS, THAT WILL BE DONE IN DECEMBER 25. THE NUISANCE ABATEMENT, COMPLETE REVIEW, THAT WAS COMPLETED. THEN WE HAVE A DECISION ON THE CONTRACT, TENTATIVELY DONE THIS MONTH, ON DECEMBER 25. PREPARE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BUSINESS PLAN, THAT WAS COMPLETED, AND ITS PENDING REVIEW ACCEPTANCE BY THE CITY MANAGER. ALSO, WE HAVE A VOUCHER PROGRAM RESOLUTION THAT'S GOING TO BE REVIEWED THIS MONTH, AND ALSO A VOUCHER PROGRAM DECISION ON A RESOLUTION, THAT'S TENTATIVE FOR OCTOBER 25. CITY OWNED PROPERTIES, UPDATE REPORT.

DIRECTION OF CITY ACTIONS, PREPARE BUDGET FOR PROPERTY LEASE MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING POTENTIAL POSITION. THAT HAS BEEN DONE, BUT THE POSITION HAS BEEN TABLED BECAUSE ACTUALLY I WILL SAY THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF FUNCTIONS FOR THAT ROLE WAS GOING TO BE MERGED WITH THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER POSITION. SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THAT FUNCTION, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE FUNDING DEPUTY CITY MANAGER ROLE. ALSO, WE HAVE THE BUDGET WORKSHOP AND THE BUDGET WILL BE ADOPTED HOPEFULLY THIS EVENING.

AND WE'RE ONBOARD THIS POSITION, TENTATIVELY FOR DECEMBER 25TH BEING THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER POSITION. GETTING TONGUE TIED HERE. OKAY, CITY MANAGER. COMMUNITY LISTENING ACTION PLAN. THIS WAS PRESENTED AT THE MAY 12, 2025 COMMITTEE MEETING, SO THIS WILL BE -- MET THIS MILESTONE. AND LITTLE GEM BAIT AND TACKLE OPERATION, THE RFP WAS ISSUED. THE EVALUATIONS ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REVIEWED. SO IT HASN'T BEEN EVALUATED YET, AND THE WEATHER CONTRACT IS TENTATIVELY SET FOR

OCTOBER 25. >> MR. CHESS, COULD YOU GO BACK AT COMMUNITY LISTENING? DID I UNDERSTAND YOU SAID WE --

>> WE GAVE THE PRESENTATION ON THE DIFFERENT TEST THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE YOUTH, WE TALKED ABOUT FAITH-BASED COMMUNITIES. WE TALKED ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS AS WELL. AND WE GAVE A FRAMEWORK OF WHAT IT WAS GOING

TO -- >> A FRAMEWORK. OKAY.

>> AND WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW IS WE'VE ACTUALLY SCHEDULED IT OUT, SO WE CAN BRING IT BACK TO YOU.

>> THAT'S WHAT WAS LOOKING FOR. >> SO WE JUST GAVE A FRAMEWORK AND AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE PROGRAM WAS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

WE'RE GOING CAN TO RETURN, ACTUALLY THIS MONTH, BECAUSE WE HAVE IT DETAILED ON HOW WE WANT TO GO ABOUT IMPLEMENTING IT.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE LITTLE GYMS SCENARIO. YOU'VE INDICATED THAT THE RFP WAS ISSUED AND CLOSED OUT. IT'S IN THE HANDS OF THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE CURRENTLY?

>> CORRECT. >> SO THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THEIR PROCESSES NOW, AND THEY'RE PLANNING ON BRINGING THIS TO THE CITY COMMISSION IN OCTOBER? WE CAN'T AWARD THE CONTRACT UNTIL THE CITY COMMISSION HAS GONE THROUGH ALL OF THIS.

>> EXACTLY. EXACTLY. WHAT THEY'LL DO IS THEY'LL EVALUATE THE PROPOSALS, THEY'LL MAKE A SELECTION. THEY'LL PROPOSE THAT SELECTION TO THE COMMISSION. AT THAT STAGE, YOU'LL APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE, THEN WE'LL GET THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE THE CONTRACT, THEN WE'LL RETURN WITH THE CONTRACT.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR MS. HEDGES. OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A LOT OF SMOKE AROUND THIS WHOLE ISSUE, I GUESS IS THE POLITE WAY TO PUT IT. DOES ANY OF THIS CREATE A SITUATION WHERE WE ARE PRECLUDED FROM AWARDING THIS CONTRACT IN OCTOBER, BASED ON WHATEVER THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE COMES IN WITH, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT ULTIMATELY, IT'S THIS BODY'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PICK THE VENDOR, WHO IS GOING TO BE UNDER SERVICE HERE. HOWEVER, WITH PERCEIVED OR THREATEN OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION, DOES THAT THROW A WRENCH IN THE

[00:15:02]

PROCESS? >> MR. PRO TEM, COMMISSION MEMBERS, IT'S ALL MEN. IT'S DIFFERENT.

>> A LITTLE SHORTHANDED UP HERE. >> YES, SIR. THERE IS NOTHING AT THIS POINT THAT IS STOPPING US FROM PROCEEDING FORWARD AS

NORMAL. >> OKAY. SO IN THEORY, THIS COMES TO THIS BODY, PLUS MORE, YES, AND THEN ULTIMATELY WE WILL BE THE ORBITOR TO ASSESS. IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT THAT

COMES HERE. >> THE BUCK STOPS HERE, SIR. SO WE'LL HAVE IT IN OCTOBER, IS WHAT I HEAR. TENTATIVELY IN OCTOBER, IT WILL COME BEFORE US, OKAY. VERY WELL. PROCEED ON.

>> HOMELESS, UNHOUSED RESIDENT STRATEGY REPORT FROM JOINT TASK FORCE. I HAVEN'T SEEN THE REPORT. I HAVE THIS BEING REVIEWED BY A PROJECT COORDINATOR. BUT I DID MEET WITH THE SERVICE COUNCIL AT NEW HORIZONS TO DISCUSS BUILDING A NETWORK WITHIN THE COUNTY, NOT JUST WITHIN THE CITY ITSELF, BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN A REPORT THAT WAS ISSUED, AND JUST HAVE TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS HAPPENING. WE HAVE A REVISED DUE DATE OF OCTOBER 25, BECAUSE I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A REPORT FROM

THE ST. LUCIE TASK FORCE. >> I WANT TO INTERJECT HERE, MR. CHESS. THANKS FOR THIS UPDATE. I'D LIKE FOR US TO INVITE THEM INTO ONE OF THESE DAY MEETINGS. I KNOW WE'VE HAD A NEW CEO OF NEW HORIZONS, AND THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF THE LAST CEO. I DON'T KNOW WHO THAT IS. BUT I THINK IT'S TIME THAT THEY COME IN AND INTRODUCE, AND TALK ABOUT THE SERVICES. WE BEGAN A GREAT RELATIONSHIP. AND WITH THE ESCALATION OF HOMELESSNESS HERE AND MENTAL CRISIS THAT I SEE EACH AND EVERY DAY, WE NEED TO REENGAGE THAT PARTNERSHIP IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WE WERE BEGINNING TO HAVE GOOD CONNECTIONS, PARTICULARLY WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH THEM, AND SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE WE INVITE THIS NEW CEO IN, AND MIGHT AS WELL BRING THE HOMELESS SERVICE PERSON IN AS WELL. SO THAT WE CAN TRY TO GET SOME SYNERGIES HERE. THERE'S A LOT THAT'S GOING ON HERE. AND A LOT THAT'S BEING NOTICED, AND IF WE ARE GOING TO MAKE ANY TYPE OF DENT INTO THIS GROWING CRISIS, IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PARTNER. THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES FOR ONE DEPARTMENT TO TRY TO HANDLE THIS, AND WE'RE GOING TO NEED THE SUPPORT OF ALL OF OUR AGENCIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A GOOD WORKING PLAN, AND WE KNOW WHO TO CALL, WHEN TO CALL, WHEN THESE CRISES APPEAR, BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAJOR CONCERNS THAT WE HAD AS A COMMISSION, WAS THE HOMELESS AND INTERACTION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MAKING SURE THEY GET THE PROPER TREATMENT, BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE CASES, PEOPLE ARE OFF THEIR MEDS, AND WE WANT TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THEY GET THE HELP THEY NEED.

>> UNDERSTOOD. >> OKAY.

>> COMMISSIONER GAINES, YOU HAVE ANYTHING ON THAT ONE?

>> MR. MAYOR, PRO TEM, I WAS GOING TO SAY, I THINK I HAVE UPCOMING -- BECAUSE I'M ON THE TASK FORCE, I'M A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CITY ON THE TASK FORCE. AND AT MY NEXT MEETING I WILL ASK THE CHAIR TO GET WITH THE CITY MANAGER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO COME SPEAK TO US.

>> YEAH, I THINK SO. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, SIR. YOU CAN

CONTINUE. >> OKAY. CITY MANAGER, WELL, I'M HERE. THIS IS A SELECTION --

>> ALL RIGHT, WE GOT THAT ONE. YOU GET 100% ON THAT ONE. OKAY.

>> OKAY, AND CITY ATTORNEY COMPREHENSIVE ORDINANCE REVIEW UPDATE AND COMPLETION. AWARD CONTRACT FOR DRAFTING A NOISE ORDINANCE, THAT WAS COMPLETED. AND THE WATER WAYS ORDINANCE ADOPTION, IT WAS NOT REQUIRED BECAUSE THE CITY ROLE WAS TO IMPROVE AND LOOK INTO A RESOLUTION, WHICH WAS COMPLETED ON JULY 21, '25. SO THERE WAS NO ORDINANCE TO ADOPT. AND POLICE. WE JUST HAVE COMMUNITY SAFETY NEXT STEPS. REPORTS OF OPTIONS, DIRECTION, AND FUNDING. DRUG TASK FORCE, GANG TASK FORCE, THE BUDGET WAS DEVELOPED. IT WAS REVIEWED DURING THE BUDGET WORKSHOP, AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE APPROVED THIS

EVENING. >> SO MR. CHESS, LET ME INTERCEDE ON THAT ONE. WITH THE BUDGET FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THAT WAS SUBMITTED BY THE CHIEF AND THEN THAT CAME BEFORE US, AND THOSE FUNDS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY GONE TO MS. MARS, AND WE'VE PUT THAT INTO OUR BUDGET THAT WILL BE ADOPTED THIS AFTERNOON AT 5:00. THAT'S OUR BUDGET HEARING. SO WHATEVE FUNDS THAT WE HAVE ALLOCATED FOR ANY DEPARTMENT AT THAT POINT HAS BEEN PUT INTO THIS PROPOSED BUDGET AND THOSE FUNDS ARE BASED

[00:20:03]

>> YOU HAVE OPERATIONS. >> OPERATIONS.

>> REVISIONS. ALSO, YOU HAVE CAPITAL AS WELL THAT WAS

ALLOCATED. >> I JUST WANTED TO BE REAL CLEAR ON THAT. THAT I WORK WITH CHIEF RIDEL ON THAT. FOR THE MOST PART THOSE WERE APPROVED. WHEN IT CAME TO THE SALARY RANGE OF OPERATIONS, ALL OF THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THAT, AND THOSE MONIES WILL BE ALLOCATED AND DISTRIBUTED APPROPRIATELY TO

THAT AREA. >> YES, SIR.

>> THANK YOU. >> TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES RELATED TO THE BUDGET. THAT ALSO WAS COMPLETED. IT WAS REVIEWED TO THE BUDGET WORKSHOP, AND TENTATIVELY, IT'S TO BE ADOPTED THIS EVENING. AND SUCCESSION PLAN, PREPAREDNESS. THE SUCCESSION PLAN HAS BEEN COMPLETED. I REVIEWED IT WITH THE HR MANAGER. WE HOPE TO BRING THE SUCCESSION PLAN TO THE MAYOR

COMMISSION IN OCTOBER '25. >> ALL RIGHT.

>> AND TYLER PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION NEXT STEPS, ACTUALLY THAT WAS COMPLETED LAST NOVEMBER, 2024. AND YOUTH RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES, EXPANSION NEEDS, REPORT OPTIONS. AS IT RELATES TO THE BUDGET, IT WAS DEVELOPED, IT WAS VIEWED DURING THE WORKSHOP AND TENTATIVELY TO BE ADOPTED THIS EVENING. COMMUNITY BRAND MARKETING STRATEGY, BEST PRACTICES, REPORT WITH OPTIONS, DIRECTION OF CITY OPTIONS. WE ACTUALLY HAVE A MARKETING BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, SEPTEMBER 30, HAS BEEN REVIEWED. THE ACTUAL PLAN ITSELF AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUDGET, IT WENT THROUGH THE WORKSHOP, AND TENTATIVELY TO BE ADOPTED THIS EVENING. SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY AND EXPANSION. REVIEW, BEST POLICY ACTIONS, AND CITY ACTIONS. THAT WAS REVISED TO OCTOBER 25TH, WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT. BUT HOPEFULLY, WE'LL GET THAT

WORKED OUT IN OCTOBER. >> OKAY.

>> AND DIRECTIVE YOUTH. I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOMEONE HERE FROM FP WAVE, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. HOW ARE YOU? THESE ARE OPTIONS THAT THE FP ARE GOING TO TAKE WITH OUR PLAN. AS YOU CAN SEE THE REPORT WAS COMPLETED. THE PLAN -- REGARDING ITEM NUMBER THREE, THE PLAN IS EXPECTED TO BE OPERATIONAL BY DECEMBER, '25. THE DEMOLITION OF THE AFTER PLAN WILL BE 100% -- THE BASE OF THE BRIDGE TO TAKE FLOW INTERNAL TO THE CITY

IN 2028. >> ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT?

COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER GAINES? >> YES. NOT TO CALL ANYBODY OUT, BUT SINCE HE'S HERE, JUST TO GIVE US -- SINCE YOU'RE HERE, JUST TO GIVE US A QUICK UPDATE. I SEE THE NUMBERS HERE AND I SEE THE DATES. JUST TO GIVE US A QUICK UPDATE WHERE WE ARE ON THAT COMPLETION, MOVING THOSE PIPES AND EVERYTHING GOING TO THIS SYSTEM. EVERYTHING GOING SMOOTHLY, WHERE WE ARE, JUST A

QUICK UPDATE FOR THE PUBLIC. >> PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF, WE

ALL KNOW, BUT FOR THE RECORD. >> I'M DANIEL RUTHERFORD. GOOD MORNING, PRO TEM MAYOR. COMMISSIONER. RIGHT NOW WITH THE PLANT, WE'RE ON SCHEDULE. WE PLAN TO BE -- HAVE A RIBBON CUTTING AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, WE PLAN OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO, WE'LL HAVE TO TUNE THE DELIVERY SYSTEM, WHERE WE'VE TURNED ALL THE FLOWS AROUND, AND GO OUT TO THE MAINLAND, THAT WILL TAKE A COUPLE OF YEARS AT THAT TIME, WE'RE GOING TO BE OPERATING BOTH PLANTS. BOTH THE MAINLAND AND THE ONE ON THE ISLAND. AT WHICH POINT, WE'VE GOT THE FLOWS TURNED AROUND. WE HAVE TO COMPLETE A LIFT STATION ON THE ISLAND, AND THEN WE CAN START DEMOLITION. SO DEMOLITION OF THAT -- SO IT'S 26-'27 TO BE SAFE. 26-'27WE'LL BE TURNING LIFT FLOWS AROUND. WE'LL TURN OVER PROBABLY TOWARDS THE END OF '28.

>> COMMISSIONER? SO I THINK THE BIGGEST MILESTONE HERE IS THAT THE RIBBON CUTTING IN DECEMBER, THAT WE'LL HAVE THE PLANT OFFICIALLY DONE AS FAR AS THE ACTUAL BUILDING OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLAN OUT THERE. BUT FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND, IT TAKES A WHILE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE FLOWS GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND REVERSAL FLOWS IN THE LIFT STATION. BUT GREAT MILESTONE, AND GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS WITH THE GRANTS THAT YOU'VE ACHIEVED TO BE ABLE TO HELP MITIGATE SOME OF THE COST OF THIS TO THE TAXPAYERS HERE IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE,

[00:25:05]

>> I DO HAVE ONE COMMENT. JUST TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE. BRIAN MASS CALLED ME THIS PAST THURSDAY, AND HE HAS SECURED A $1 MILLION GRANT TO THE BENEFIT OF FPUA, OR THE CONVEYANCE SYSTEM THROUGH THE EPA. HE HAS INDICATED THAT MONEY WILL BE LANDED HERE IN THE

CITY IN NOVEMBER. >> THAT'S GREAT NEWS.

>> IT'S COMING. I'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW UP WITH HIM ON THAT.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO THANK CONGRESSMANMASS FOR PURSUING IT.

THE MONEY IS ACTUALLY FROM THE 2023-'24 EPA BUDGET. SO IT'S OLD MONEY THEY'RE LOOKING TO DEPLOY. HE INDICATED HE LOOKS TO UNDERTAKE THE SAME PROCESS FOR THE 2025 MONEY THAT MAY BE

LEFTOVER IN THE BUDGET TOO. >> SO LEFTOVER FUNDINGS, IT

WORKS. >> I'VE DISCUSSED IT WITH JAVY.

WE'RE NOT SURE IF IT'S COMING INTO THE CITY TREASURE DIRECTLY, BUT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW THAT IT'S LANDED HERE, AND THAT

THE CHECK HAS CLEARED THE BANK. >> WE'LL MAKE SURE. THANK YOU.

>> OKAY. THIS IS A JOINT PROJECT, BUT WITH THE PLANNING DIRECTOR AND CITY ATTORNEY. THIS RELATES TO KING'S LANDING

DEVELOPMENT. >> YOUR MICROPHONE.

>> SORRY. THIS RELATES TO KING'S LANDING DEVELOPMENT. AND DEVELOPER UPDATE, WHICH WAS COMPLETED BY CITY ATTORNEY IN FEBRUARY, PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT COMPLETED BY CITY ATTORNEY. DECISION DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, THAT'S IN PROCESS FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY. THE SITE PLAN, THE TRC SITE PLAN REVIEW, THE PLANNING BOARD SITE REVIEW, TE HISTORIC BOARD PRESERVATION REVIEW HAS BEEN COMPLETED WITH THE DIRECTION OF THE PLANNING DIRECTOR. ALSO, THE SITE PLAN APPROVAL THAT WILL BE, I BELIEVE IT'S ON THE AGENDA FOR THIS MONTH, IF NOT THIS MORNING, AND WE'LL BE DISCUSSING THAT AS WELL AS WE GO FORWARD IN SEPTEMBER. ON THE FINANCE SIDE, PURCHASING POLICY AND PROCEDURES, POLICIES. ONE OF THE MILESTONES WITH COMPLETE MILESTONES WITH CONSULTING, THAT HAS THE -- THE CODE HAS BEEN REVISED WITH THE DIRECTION OF CITY ATTORNEY, CITY CLERK.

DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, FINANCE DIRECTOR. SO WE'LL PRESENT THAT THIS MORNING AT THIS MEETING. THEN FROM THAT STANDPOINT, WE'LL DEVELOP AN ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, MEANING THAT WE'LL LOOK AT A PURCHASING MANUAL, POLICY AND PROCEDURES, STANDARD S AND P AS WELL TO GO ALONG WITH THAT. AND THESE ARE FUTURE PENNY ACTION ITEMS. I'M START WITH THE CITY MANAGERS STREAMLINING CITY PROCESSES PRESENTATION. AND I'M LOOKING A AT THESE FROM THE STANDPOINT OF RISK. CERTAINLY, WE'LL LOOK AT OTHER AREAS, ASSET MANAGEMENT. WE'LL LOOK AT THE WORK SCHEDULES AS WELL, WHICH IS IN DEPUTY CITY MANAGER AREA. WE'LL LOOK AT ALL OF OUR FUNCTIONING -- FUNCTIONAL AREAS, HR PROCESS, I.T. PROCESS, THE BUILDING PROCESS, THE PLANNING PROCESS, IN TERMS OF INTERNAL PROCEDURES, SEE HOW WELL DOCUMENTED THEY ARE, AND WE'LL PROBABLY PERFORM WALK-THROUGHS WITH THE DEPARTMENT HEADS, SO WE CAN SEE THE SYSTEMS ARE OPERATING AS PRESCRIBED, MORE IMPORTANTLY. ALTHOUGH THE ACTION PLAN SAYS THAT IT'S DATED JANUARY 26, I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THOSE PROCESSES FROM THE DAY I ARRIVED. SO SOME OF THEM ARE MORE HIGH ON RISK AND HIGH LEVEL PUBLIC FACING THAN OTHERS. YOU THINK OF THE BUILDING PROCESSES, OR PLANNING PROCESSES, THERE'S A LOT OF INTERACTION WITH THE PUBLIC, SO I WANT TO REALLY DRILL DOWN ON THAT. ON COBB LANDING PROCLAMATION, THAT WAS IN THE LANDING FOR JANUARY 26.

WE WILL MAKE A DECISION MUCH SOONER THAT THAT, BECAUSE THAT CONTRACT EXPIRES IN JUNE OF 26. SO WE'RE GOING TO FAST TRACK THAT PARTICULAR ACTION. THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER ACTION ITEMS WE HAVE THE FLEXIBLE WORKING HOURS REPORT. THAT'S GOING TO BE PENDING MY DISCUSSION WITH MAYOR, AND COMMISSION REGARDING WORKING FOUR DAY SCHEDULES, WORKING FROM HOME. WE TOUCHED ON IT A LITTLE LAST MONTH OR TWO, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE DIRECTION IS IN LINE WITH YOUR POLICIES AS WELL, REGARDING THE WORK SCHEDULES. THE BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR SWIMMING GRANTS PROGAM, THAT'S TO BE DETERMINED. AND I BELIEVE THERE WERE SOME ISSUES TIME RELATING TO THE SWIMMING POOL.

IT BEING AVAILABLE, THAT'S WHY WE KIND OF PARLAYED THIS GRANT.

AND THEN WE HAVE THE PROACTIVE CITY COMMUNICATIONS STAFFING STRATEGY. THAT'S TO BE DETERMINED AS WELL. ALSO, WE HAD ON THE -- IN THE PLAN, ON THE CITY COMMISSION TASK WAS A ONE FORT PIERCE COMMUNITY TO THE CITY. THAT'S A DISCUSSION,

[00:30:03]

>> I'M GOING BACK TO THIS -- THIS SWIMMING GRANT. I NEED MORE

INFORMATION. >> MR. JOHNSON, CAN YOU COME

FORWARD PLEASE, SIR. >> THAT'S FINE. I NEED MORE INFORMATION TO THE AVAILABILITY OF THE POOL. AND I DON'T WANT TO ASSUME THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME POOL THAT'S VACANT EVERY TIME I WALK PAST IT.

>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK.

>> OKAY, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE POOL ON 13TH STREET?

>> WE ARE. WE ARE. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COMMISSION.

THE AVAILABILITY ISN'T AS MUCH, A CASE AS YOU STATED. IT'S THERE, BUT THERE ARE SOME MAINTENANCE AND THINGS THAT THE COUNTY WAS WANTING TO DO ON IT, THAT PROHIBITED US FROM MOVING FORWARD ON IT. THAT'S THE STORY, THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TOLD. WE'RE KIND OF IN LIMBO AS TO WHEN THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE, OR WHEN THOSE THINGS WILL TAKE PLACE, OR WHEN WE'LL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND COME UP WITH THE VOUCHER PROGRAM, SO WE'LL ENTERTAIN SOME THINGS WITH THE KIDS, AND WE'RE WORKING ON THAT FROM THE LEISURELY SERVICES.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. I')LL FOLLOW UP TO THAT, BECAUSE THAT POOL IS JUST -- THAT POOL IS SITTING THERE. IF WE CAN DO A SWIMMING PROGRAM, AND IN OUR SWIMMING PROGRAM, WE SAVE ONE KID'S LIFE, IT'S WORTH IT. SO I WILL MAKE SOME CONTACTS WITH MY CONTRACT COUNTERPARTS TO SEE WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON WITH THAT POOL, BECAUSE IT'S JUST THERE. BUT I KNOW IT OPENS WHEN

THEY WANT IT TO OPEN. >> YES, SIR.

>> AND I SEE PROGRAMS GOING ON. SO I NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHY WE

CAN'T PUT OUR PROGRAMS THERE. >> ALSO, I KNOW YOU'RE AWARE OF THIS. IT'S THE ONLY POOL IN THE NORTHWEST SECTION OF TOWN. S THEY CLOSED ONE OFF JUANITA. SO IT IS THE ONLY RESOURCE AVAILABLE FOR THE KIDS. WE'RE A WATERFRONT COMMUNITY, AND FOR THOSE KIDS TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN HOW TO SWIM AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, THAT PROPOSES A LIFE-SAVING

OPPORTUNITY IN AND OF ITSELF. >> SO I HAD A QUESTION. YOU GO

FIRST. >> CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, I SEEM TO REC ELECT, COMMISSIONER GAINS, WASN'T THERE SOME DISCUSSION AT THE COUNTY LEVEL ABOUT TENDERING THAT ENTIRE FACILITY OVER TO THE CITY? AM I -- AM I NOT REMEMBERING IT

CORRECTLY? >> WHOO. EARLY IN THE MORNING, COMMISSIONER. I WOULD LOVE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. THAT WHOLE AREA OVER THERE. AND THAT'S PART OF THAT WHOLE BEING A COMMISSIONER.

ME AND THE CITY MANAGER, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT WHOLE PROJECT, AND I WOULD LOVE THAT TO HAPPEN. AGAIN, THAT IS THE ONLY POOL -- ALMOST, I WANT TO SAY IN THE CITY LIMITS.

>> YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT. >> IN THE CITY LIMITS.

>> I DON'T THINK THE CITY OWNS ANOTHER ONE. I DON'T THINK THE CITY OWNS ANY. WE DON'T OWN THAT ONE EITHER.

>> I'D LOVE IF SOMEHOW WE CAN WAVE OUR MAGICAL HAND AND DO SOMETHING. BECAUSE LIKE I SAY, WE ARE A BEACH FRONT COMMUNITY.

TOO MUCH WATER AROUND. AND THAT POOL, IN MY OPINION, MY OPINION ONLY, IS NOT BEING UTILIZED AT ALL, OR AS WE COULD. SO -- AND WHEN YOU SAY -- WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT SWIMMING PROGRAMS, USUALLY GO TO KIDS. BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT. BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ADULTS AND TEENAGERS THAT ARE WALKING AROUND RIGHT NOW IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE THAT CANNOT SWIM.

AND YOU KNOW, TO ME, SAVING A LIFE IS A LIFE. YES, WE WANT TO SAVE KIDS' LIFE, BUT SAVING A LIFE IS A LIFE. AND WE HAVE THAT

[00:35:03]

>> SO MY RECOLLECTION IS SLIGHTLY OFF BUT PRETTY CLOSE.

MY SUGGESTION IS ALL OF OUR COMMISSION MEET WITH OUR COUNTERPARTS, AND ASK THEM. TURN THE WHOLE DEED OVER TO THE CITY, WE'LL MAINTAIN IT GOING FORWARD. IT'S GOT ALL OF THOSE GREAT FIELDS OVER THERE. AND THE WHOLE THING, IT'S A REMARKABLE FACILITY, AND IF THE CITY COULD TAKE IT OVER, I GET IT, THERE'S EXPENSE BECAUSE OF THAT, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT DOES THE COUNTY REALLY HAVE A PLAY HERE? THIS THING IS SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY, IT'S BEING UTILIZED BY CITY RESIDENTS.

MAYBE THEY WOULD JUST ASSUME GET OUT FROM UNDER IT.

>> COMMISSIONER, I MIGHT BE THE WRONG COMMISSIONER TO ASK THIS QUESTION, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ADAMANT ABOUT THAT WHOLE AREA FROM DAY ONE. YOU SEE ME LOOKING, BECAUSE ME AND SHAUNA ARE SITTING HERE LAUGHING, BECAUSE SHE KNOWS ABOUT MY PASSION ABOUT THAT AREA, AGAIN, WITH EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING WITH ALL OF THESE PLANNING, WITH ALL OF THIS REBANDING, AND WITH

ALL OF THIS LINCOLN PARK AREA -- >> CORRECT. THAT TIES INTO THE

WHOLE TAYLOR CREEK EVERYTHING. >> EVERYTHING.

>> I GET IT. SO I'M GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE THE INQUIRY TOO, BECAUSE I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT ADDITION TO THE CITY AND SOMETHING WE COULD REALLY SHOWCASE.

>> TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I WOULD LOVE TO GET IT.

>> I WILL MAKE AN ATTEMPT AT IT TOO. YEAH.

>> MR. JOHNSON, I'M GOING TO RESERVE MY COMMENT, BUT I HAVE A QUESTION. SO IS THERE A GRANT IN JEOPARDY AS A RESULT OF THIS? I FEEL LIKE AS THOUGH THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WE ACQUIRED SOME FUNDS TO DO A PROGRAM THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO COMPLETE. AM I

ON THE RIGHT TRACK? >> THE OPPORTUNITY IS IN

JEOPARDY. >> THE OPPORTUNITY IS IN

JEOPARDY. >> IF WE COULDN'T GET ACCESS TO THE POOL, THERE WAS NO NEED FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD AND APPLY FOR

THE FUNDING. YES, SIR. >> BUT WE HAD NOTHING CURRENTLY.

OKAY, THAT'S THE FIRST THING. SO TO MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM. I KNOW MR. CHESS HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE COUNTY TO SCHEDULE THIS MEETING. I HEAR IT'S PRETTY CLOSE TO HAPPENING. I DEFINITELY WANT THIS ON THE LIST. I'M NOT AS EAGER RIGHT NOW TO ACQUIRE THIS BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE DAY IN AND DAY OUT OPERATIONS, THAT I KNOW THAT TAKE PLACE OVER THERE AND THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS THAT'S REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN THESE FIELDS. AND I JUST, QUITE FRANKLY, DON'T WANT THE COUNTY TO BE ABLE TO WALK AWAY AND LEAVE THIS MASSIVE BUDGET CONCERN TO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. WE ARE ALL TAXPAYERS OF THE CITY, AND COUNTY TAXES HERE. THIS IS A REGIONAL PARK. THIS IS A REGIONAL PARK. THIS IS NOT JUST -- THIS IS A REGIONAL PARK. AND I THINK WE'VE GOT TO FIND A BETTER WAY TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR GOALS ARE ALIGNED TO OUR GOALS. RIGHT? IT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE CITY PARKS RIGHT NOW, THAT WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON FROM OUR BUDGETARY STAND POINT, AND CONTINUE TO TRY TO WORK WITH IT. SO I'M OPEN. I'M OPEN TO LISTENING. BUT I KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO RUN THIS PARTICULAR AREA AND I'M CONCERNED. WE HAVE TO PUSH AS IT IS RIGHT NOW TO ENSURE THAT THE FIELDS ARE MAINTAINED, AND EVEN BROUGHT UP TO CODE WHEN IT COMES TO THE REPARATION OF DEMANDS FOR THIS -- THOSE PROGRAMS, BASEBALL, FOOTBALL, HOPEFULLY SOCCER IN THE FUTURE. THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. AND SO I'M EAGER TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION, BUT I'M EQUALLY AS CONCERNED ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO GET POOL TIME WITH THIS HERE. THE COUNTY, WHAT I WILL SAY IS THEY JUST REDID ALL OF THE BASKETBALL COURT SURFACE AREA AND DID A BEAUTIFUL JOB TO IT. THEY JUST RECENTLY COMPLETED THE INFIELDS OF BOTH BASEBALL FIELDS OUT THERE. SO THEY ARE MAKING THOSE INVESTMENTS OUT THERE. WHICH I KNOW PROBABLY COST HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO DO. IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THOSE IMPACT FEES OR WHEREVER THEY PULL THEIR TAXES FROM TO DO THAT, WE DON'T NEED TO LOSE THAT. SO THAT'S MY CONCERN THERE. THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE. I THINK THE DIRECTION WE'RE HEARING HERE IS WE WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.

WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POOL USE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE

[00:40:05]

>> UNDERSTOOD. >> ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOOD ON

THAT? IT'S CLEAR? >> I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU THE DEPARTMENT HEADS FOR THEIR WORK ON THE STRATEGIC PLAN. IT'S ALWAYS ONGOING, SO WE'LL DISCUSS NEXT STEPS REGARDING THE

PLAN. >> SO DOES THAT WRAP IT UP FOR

YOU? >> YES.

>> ANY QUESTIONS OVERALL, FOR THE CITY COMMISSIONER? I WANT TO THANK, CHESS, AND STAFF FOR BEING HERE. ALSO FOR THE PUBLIC.

I THINK FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR COMMISSIONERS GOT TOGETHER AND PUT TOGETHER A STRATEGIC PLAN.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE CITY, WHERE WE LOOK AT DIFFERENT ASPECTS, AND MAKING IMPROVEMENTS, AND SETTING DIRECTION. WOULD YOU SAY -- WHAT PERCENT OF THE PLAN IS COMPLETED TO DATE, AND IS IT A PERCENTAGE BASE? ARE YOU OVER HALFWAY THERE, OBVIOUSLY, WITH ALL THE CORRECTION?

>> THE DELIVERABLES FOR THE PAST QUARTER, I WOULD SAY WE ARE ABOUT 90%. I CAN'T SAY FOR THE ENTIRE PLAN, BUT I WILL GAUGE THAT OVERALL. I KNOW FOR THE PAST FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS, FROM APRIL 1, TO AUGUST 31, WE'RE LIKE 95%. WE DID VERY WELL. AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE ARE SOME REVISED DATES WITHIN THE PLAN.

BUT OVERALL, THE DEPARTMENT'S BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN MEETING THE GOALS, AND I'VE BEEN COMMUNICATING THAT DURING DEPARTMENT HEAD MEETINGS. I'M QUITE SURE WE'LL BE MORE

COMPLETE IN THE NEXT QUARTER. >> THAT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU BRING THAT UP AGAIN. THANK YOU, STAFF, FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AND ALL THE EMPLOYEES THAT WORK WITH THEIR DIRECTORS FOR TAKING ON THE TASK OF IMPLEMENTING THE THINGS THAT WE SET FORTH IN THE

STRATEGIC PLAN. THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. NEXT ON THE

[B. Keep Fort Pierce Beautiful Anti-Littering Campaign Update]

AGENDA. >> NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE KEEP FORT PIERCE BEAUTIFUL ANTI-LITTERING CAMPAIGN UPDATE.

>> YES, GOOD MORNING. INTRODUCE YOURSELF. THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

>> THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING. FOR THE RECORD, MARSHA COMMAND, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. TODAY, I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF PROVIDING YOU WITH AN UPDATE ON THE OUR CITY, OUR RESPONSIBILITY, ANTI-LITTERING CAMPAIGN. ALL RIGHT, SO THIS IS JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF EVERYTHING THAT I'M GOING TO COVER. WE'RE GOING TO START OFF WITH A BACKGROUND. OUR MISSION AND VISION, THE CAMPAIGN PLAN, OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIVITIES, AND THEN WHAT'S TO FOLLOW. SO JUST A BIT ABOUT THE BACKGROUND HERE. SO THE CITY STRATEGIC GOAL IS TO BEAUTIFY THE COMMUNITY. I THINK FOR YEARS WE'VE HAD THE PUBLIC CAMPAIGN AS AN ACTION ITEM TO COMPLETE IN ACHIEVING OUR GOAL. AND SO IN 2024, THE KEEP FORT PIERCE BEAUTIFUL ADVISORY BOARD PROVIDED YOU WITH A RECOMMENDATION OF A SET OF ACTIVITIES THAT WE CAN DO TO ACCOMPLISH THIS PLAN. SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I COME INTO PLAY AS THE PROJECT MANAGER TO IMPLEMENT IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND ALSO THE ADVISORY BOARD. SO WHO WE ARE. WE'RE MADE UP OF SEVERAL, SEVERAL GROUPS. SO THE FIRST BEING OUR KEEP FORT PIERCE BEAUTIFUL ADVISORY BOARD. THESE ARE YOUR APPOINTED BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN PLAYING AN ACTIVE ROLE IN DEVELOPING THE STRATEGY, THE PLAN, AND THE VISION BEHIND THIS. WE HAVE SHIRLEY WALKER, BOB BURDGE, RON ELLA MITCHELL, LEVI LOVELL, AND DEBBIE. THE PUBLIC WORKS. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, CODE COMPLIANCE, THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AUTHORITY. AND WE ALSO HAVE THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, TO ASSIST WITH THINGS OF THAT NATURE. CURRENT I'M SERVING AS THE KEEP FORT PIERCE BEAUTIFUL CAMPAIGN MANAGER. AS YOU CAN SEE, MANY OF YOU ATTENDED THE LAST WEEK'S EVENT THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP OF SELFISH BREWING COMPANY. DAVE IS ON BOARD, AND VERY MUCH SUPPORTIVE OF THIS INITIATIVE.

THAT'S THE KIND OF EXCITEMENT WE'RE TRYING TO DRAW FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES. ALSO, I WANT TO MAKE SURE TO HIGHLIGHT OUR VOLUNTEERS. KEEP FORT PIERCE BEAUTIFUL IS NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE WORK OF OUR VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE SELF MOTIVATED AND HAVING A STAKE IN SEEING THIS VISION COME ALIVE.

SO WE HAVE SEVERAL EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES TO HOST IN PLAYING AN ACTIVE ROLE AGAINST LITTER. WE HAVE ADOPT A ROAD. THE COMMUNITY QUARTERLY CLEANUP. THEN OUR ANNUAL AMERICAN CLEANUP. SO I WANT TO SAY A SHOUT OUT TO ANY VOLUNTEER THAT COULD BE WATCHING THIS, THAT WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THEIR WORK, THEIR TIME, AND THEIR EFFORT TO HELPING US OUT. I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT WE ARE AN AFFILIATE OF KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL. IT'S A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS ITS AFFILIATES THROUGHOUT THE

[00:45:04]

DOOR HANGERS. SO OUR SOLID WASTE DEMOCRATIC, THEY HAVE DOOR HANGERS THEY OFTEN PUT ON PEOPLE'S DOORS WHEN THEY'RE UNABLE TO PICK UP SOMEONE'S TRASH INCIDENT FOR WHATEVER REASON. SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS UTILIZE THOSE, SO WE CAN HAVE SOME SORT OF MESSAGING ON IT. SO IN THE EVENT, WHERE THEY HAVE TO STEP OUT OF THEIR TRUCKS, IT'S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO REINFORCE THAT MESSAGE. NEXT, RECOGNITION AND AWARDS. LIKE I SAID THROUGH THOSE PARTNERSHIPS. THERE ARE THINGS WE HAVE, AND ARE HANDING

[00:50:01]

WE'RE GOING TO BE SWITCHING SOME OF THOSE OUT FOR DESIGNS THAT ACTUALLY COMMUNICATE THE MESSAGE OF THIS CAMPAIGN. OUR CITY, OUR RESPONSIBILITY, FIGHT LITTER. THERE WILL BE A QR CODE SO FOLKS CAN GET INFORMATION ON THE INITIATIVE ITSELF, AND ALSO ON THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT. THEY PLAY A BIG ROLE IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST WASTE AND TRASH IN OUR CITY.

>> CAN I -- BACK TO YOUR, JUST GREAT PRESENTATION SO FAR. BACK TO YOUR DOOR HANGERS. I DON'T WANT MY PUBLIC WORKS DROPPING THAT TRUCK TRYING TO PUT SOME DOOR HANGERS ON, JUST A DISCUSSION. GET WITH OUR YOUTH COUNCIL. BECAUSE A LOT OF HIGH SCHOOL MEMBERS NEED COMMUNITY WORK HOURS. WE CAN GET SOME HIGH SCHOOLERS OUT THERE, PUTTING DOOR HANGERS ON, AND SOMEONE LIKE YOURSELF, JUST SIGN OFF ON THE HOURS THAT THEY DID IT, AND THAT'S A WAY THEY CAN GET THEIR HOURS.

>> ABSOLUTELY. I WAS GOING TO BRING THEM UP AT THE END, BUT THAT IDEA, I WILL DEFINITELY TAKE A NOTE OF IT. EXCUSE ME. SO THESE ARE EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE BRANDED MATERIALS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW WITH THE STICKERS AND THE RACK CARD. AND ALSO THE WEBPAGE. THE GOAL IS TO, YOU KNOW, BUILD BRAND RECOGNITION, BRAND AWARENESS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. THE MORE AND MORE THEY SEE OUR NEW BRAND, THE MORE THEY'LL START AFFILIATING OUR MESSAGE WITH IT AS WELL. AND THESE ARE SOME OF THE MATERIALS WE ACTUALLY HAD AT THE EVENT, AND WE ALSO HAVE POSTERS THAT ARE ALREADY POSTED HERE IN CITY HALL. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE PUTTING UP POSTERS IN OUR PUBLIC FACILITIES. SO AS TIME GO ON, YOU'LL SEE MORE OF THIS. SO OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. SO WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD A FEW GROUPS REACH OUT TO US ALREADY, SELFISH BEING ONE, OF COURSE, BUT ALSO THE MANATEE CENTER. THEY ARE VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH THIS.

THEY'RE BIG SUPPORTERS OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. THAT'S A PHOTO OF US THERE AT THE CENTER, WHEN I MET WITH THEM RECENTLY, THEY WENT TO INCLUDE OUR PROGRAMMING IN SOME OF THEIR CAMPAIGNING. THEY HAVE A LUNCH AND LEARN. WE KNOW THEY HAVE A BIG CONNECTION WITH THE YOUTH. ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS. SO THEY'LL BE A GREAT GATEWAY FOR US TO SPEED UP THE IMPACT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE. WE'VE ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE PARKS ADVISORY COMMITTEE. I SPOKE TO THEM ABOUT THIS. THEY'RE VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT. THIS IS RIGHT IN THERE ALLEY. SO THEY WANT TO FIND WAYS TO SUPPORT US AS WELL. WE WANT TO REACH OUT TO CHURCHES. I'VE ALREADY REACHED OUT TO THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ALLIANCE. MAYOR PRO TEM, YOU WERE THERE. I DID THAT PRESENTATION. WE GOT SOME EXCITEMENT FROM FOLKS LIKE THAT.

THE MAIN STREET HAD ALSO REACHED OUT TO ME, SO THEY'RE LOOKING TO HOPEFULLY PUT SOMETHING IN ONE OF THEIR NEWSLETTERS. I WILL BE TRYING TO REACH OUT TO SOME OF THE COMPANIES THAT HAVE ALSO SET UP SHOP IN OUR COMMUNITY, FINDING WAYS TO REACH OUT TO THEM. WE WANT TO REACH OUT TO OUR LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET ORGANIZATION. TO REACH OUR LINCOLN PARK COMMUNITY. WE WANT TO REACH OUT TO SCHOOLS, LOCAL SCHOOLS, ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS AND VOLUNTEER GROUPS AND ANY WAY, REALLY, WHERE WE CAN REACH PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE. SO WHAT'S UP? NEXT UP IS CONTINUAL COMMUNITY OUTREACH, BOTH ONLINE AND IN PERSON. WE WANT TO CONTINUE SECURING PARTNERSHIPS. THEN NEXT IS ALSO YOUTH INVOLVEMENT, TO WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER, COMMISSIONER GAINES. SO I'LL BE ATTENDING THE YOUTH COUNCIL MEETING THAT'S TAKING PLACE IS THIS MONTH. JUST TO KIND OF GAUGE INTEREST AND GET IDEAS FROM THEM AS TO HOW THEY BELIEVE WE CAN REACH THEIR GENERATION. AS YOUNG AS I LOOK, I'M NOT THAT YOUNG, SO I'M NOT ON TIKTOK. I DON'T KNOW THOSE THINGS. BUT I'M INTERESTED IN HEARING FROM THEM AS TO HOW THEY CAN HELP US REACH THEM. AND AT THIS POINT, THAT'S THE END OF MY PRESENTATION, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN THERE, IS A QR CODE TO OUR WEBPAGE. SO ANYONE THAT'S WATCHING THAT WOULD LIKE TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ANYTHING THAT I SAID, THEY CAN GO TO THAT WEBPAGE. WE ALSO HAVE OUR PUBLIC WORKS MAIN LINE, SO THAT OUR STAFF CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A DEDICATED EMAIL FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO ASK QUESTIONS AS WELL. AT THIS POINT, ARE THERE ANY

[00:55:07]

QUESTIONS? >> QUESTIONS?

>> COMMENT. COMMISSIONER BRODERICK.

>> FIRST OFF, GREAT PRESENTATION. THANK YOU. THE ENGAGEMENT OF ALL THE CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, I THINK IS A GREAT METHODOLOGY TO COMMUNICATE. THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY I CONSIDER TO BE A CRITICAL LINK HERE. ONE OF THE, AT LEAST YOU MAY WANT TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCIAL. I KNOW THE DEA YOU TALKED TO, BUT THE CHAMBER OF COMMISSION, THEY HAVE A LOT OF BUSINESSES FROM THE FORT PIERCE AREA. SO SOMETHING YOU JUST MAY WANT TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF WHAT YOU'RE UP TO. PROVIDE THE MATERIALS. MAYBE THEY'LL WANT TO DISTRIBUTE THE MATERIALS TO THEIR MEMBERS IN THE CITY OF

FORT PIERCE. >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THAT'S ALL I HAD. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES. I THOUGHT YOU HAD A COMMENT. I'M SORRY.

>> YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT ROAD CLEANING UP, AND KEEPING OUR CITY BEAUTIFUL. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOU DO AND ALL OUR PUBLIC WORK DOES. BUT AGAIN, SOMETHING YOU SAID IT GOES BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY. IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, PICK IT UP.

>> YEP. >> IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING, YOU HAVE A CAR, KEEP IT IN YOUR CAR UNTIL YOU GET TO A GARBAGE CAN.

JUST DON'T ROLL DOWN YOUR WINDOW AND LOW THROW IT OUT THE WINDOW. I WAS VERY UPSET LAST WEEK WHEN I DID A POST, AND I'M STILL UPSET. WHAT DRIVES ME CRAZY IS, YOU HEARD COMMISSIONER JOHNSON EARLIER TODAY ON SOMETHING I SAID, THE BEAUTIFUL BASKETBALL THEY CREATED FOR US OVER THERE. THEY REDID THE BASKETBALL AND YOU WALK IN, IN THE MORNING AND YOU SEE THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE FIVE GARBAGE CANS AROUND THAT COURT. BOTTLES AND STUFF EVERYWHERE. JUST PUT IT -- IT DOESN'T TAKE ROCKET SCIENCE TO FINISH YOUR WATER, FINISH YOUR GATORADE. PUT IT IN A GARBAGE CAN. SO WE HAVE TO GET THE WORD OUT, AND WE HAVE TO CHANGE A MINDSET THAT THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE I WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOUR VISION ON THAT PICTURE, WHERE YOU SAY LEAVE THAT BEHIND. WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE EVERYBODY KNOWS. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. I ACTUALLY LOVE THIS NEW DESIGN WITH THE MANATEE OVER THE GARBAGE CAN, BECAUSE IT SENDS SUCH A GREAT MESSAGE TO WHY WE NEED TO DO THIS. SO TO EVERYBODY LISTENING, DO YOUR PART. AND THAT'S JUST, IF YOU WALK OUTSIDE, YOUR LITTLE PIECE OF PARADISE EVERY DAY, AND JUST PICK UP AROUND YOUR LITTLE PIECE OF PARADISE, IT WILL START A CHAIN REACTION THAT EVERYBODY CAN SEE YOU DOING IT. AND DO IT.

SO AGAIN, MS. KAMARA, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. IF YOU STILL NEED ME TO FIND PEOPLE FOR THESE ROLES, LET ME KNOW, BECAUSE THEY KNOW, IF THEY COME THROUGH ME, I'M GOING TO CALL THEM OUT WHEN I DRIVE DOWN THEIR ROADS, AND I SEE THEIR ROAD, THEY'RE DIRTY. AND I'LL MAKE YOU SMILE AND LAUGH. I GET CAUGHT UP, BECAUSE ONE OF OUR ROADS WAS DIRTY AND THEY'RE LIKE HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE ALL OF THESE POSTS, AND YOU DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD AND SEE ALL OF THIS TRASH. I SAID THANK YOU FOR TELLING ME THAT. AND I CLEANED IT UP. IF YOU SEE IT, TELL US, AND JUST PICK IT UP. IT DOES NOT HURT YOU TO SEE SOME TRASH TO PICK IT UP AND PUT IT IN A GARBAGE CAN. IT MAKES

EVERYBODY BETTER. SO THANK YOU. >> JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, COMMISSIONER GAINES, IS THAT BEING A COMMERCIAL LANDLORD BY PROFESSION, WE SEND OUT OUR CREW TO POLICE OUR PROPERTIES WEEKLY.

WE'RE ON OUR PROPERTIES DAILY, TO WEEKLY AT THE BARE MINIMUM.

AND WHILE WE'RE DOING THAT, BECAUSE WE'RE SURROUNDED BY MUNICIPALLY OWNED PROPERTY. WE CLEAN UP THE MUNICIPALLALY OWNED PROPERTY AS WELL. I KNOW THEY'RE EXTRA STRESSED. WE GO AHEAD AND DO IT. WHAT I'M VERY TROUBLED ABOUT, AND THIS IS EXACTLY TO THE POINT YOU'RE GETTING TO COMMISSIONER. IS THESE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE OWNERS THAT YOU DRIVE PAST THEIR PROPERTIES, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE DUMP. AND WHERE IS THE PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP? YOUR PROGRAM IS GOING TO INSTILL THAT PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP, AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO DO SO BY GUILT. YOU GET THE NEIGHBOR INTO CLEANING UP THEIR PROPERTY ON THIS SIDE, YOU GUILT THE NEIGHBOR ON THIS SIDE TO CLEAN UP. WHAT'S THIS PERSON GOING TO DO? I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO FEEL GUILTY AND CLEAN UP. SO I THINK YOUR PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL. YOU LETTHE COMMISSION KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO GET YOUR PROGRAM OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. YOU'VE GOT FIVE PEOPLE HERE THAT CAN STAND UP ON A SOAP BOX ALL DAY LONG AND SCREAM AT THE TOP OF OUR LUNGS ABOUT GETTING THIS DONE, AND ULTIMATELY, SOME OF

[01:00:02]

>> SO I'LL FOLLOW UP ON THAT. I'M GLAD TO LET YOU GO FIRST. I THINK A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO REITERATE. THE MORE WE CAN GET TO MAKE SURE OUR CULTURAL COMMUNITIES UNDERSTAND THIS, IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGES, BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT MESSAGE IS RESONATING. THE USE OF YOUNG PEOPLE TO HELPING US BE NOT ONLY SOME OF THESE COMMERCIALS, BUT HOW THEY COMMUNICATE CAN HELP US COMMUNICATE TO A BROADER AUDIENCE, AND IN SOME CASES, THEY CAN PROBABLY COMMUNICATE TO THEIR PARENTS AND BROTHERS AND COUSINS, BETTER THAN WE CAN. I THINK I TALKED ABOUT THIS WITH MR. CHESSEN IN OUR MEET AND GREET LAST WEEK, I'M GOING TO NEED CODE ENFORCEMENT, I'M GOING TO NEED BUILDING INSPECTING. I'M GOING TO NEED WHOEVER IS OUT IN THESE WHITE VEHICLES, WHEN THEY COME OUT AND SEE STUFF IT NEEDS TO BE COMMUNICATED TO A POINT THAT WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER. RIGHT? TOO OFTEN, I'M PASSING BY STUFF THAT I KNOW CITY OFFICIALS ARE PASSING BY, AND WE'RE NOT COMMUNICATING TO THE PUBLIC OF THE WRONG THAT'S BEING COMMITTED. AND PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO BULK WASTE. WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS THAT ARE SET OUT ON THE CURB THAT WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THE APPARATUS TO EVEN PICKUP. I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW WE WOULD PICK UP ALL OF THIS STUFF THAT THEY PUT OUT THERE.

SOMEHOW, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO BEGIN TO WORK WITH THAT. AND TO A CERTAIN DEGREE, OUR LEVEL OF, NOT ROLL PATROL, BUT WE ALSO HAVE -- I'M FORGETTING THE NAME. THE OTHER DUTY OFFICERS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT HAVE MORE OF THE CIVIL PATROL, AND TRAFFIC PATROL. THEY'RE PASSING BY STUFF THEY'RE SEEING, AND SOMEHOW WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS COMMUNICATED SO WE CAN CORRECT THE BEHAVIOR OF PEOPLE. BECAUSE THE VISION THAT WE'RE SETTING HERE IS THAT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY. YOU WANT TO SEE IT BEAUTIFUL. AND WE HAVE TO COMMUNICATE TO PEOPLE, BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT THEY SEE OTHERS DOING, AND WE HAVE TO BREAK THIS BEHAVIOR, COMMISSIONER. BY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, THAT'S A POSITIVE ASPECT. SOME OF THIS HAS TO BE DIRECT COMMUNICATION TO SOME OF THESE ABUSERS TO REALLY HELP THEM CORRECT BEHAVIOR. AND SO, I'M MORE INTERESTED TO SEE HOW YOU PARTNER WITH INTERNAL STAFF TO GET INFORMATION BACK THAT YOU'RE SEEING, AND THEN HOW YOU GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO CHANGE THE BEHAVIOR. AND I'M NOT LOOKING TO ADD ANY EXTRA, BUT IF SOMETHING JUST IS A CLEAR, CLEAR, CLEAR VIOLATION, SOMEBODY HAS TO BE NOTIFIED TO SAY, HEY, AT THIS ADDRESS, OR THIS PLACE HERE, SOMEBODY HAS TO GO BY AND TALK WITH THIS PERSON, BECAUSE THEY OBVIOUSLY DON'T KNOW. AND THAT OFTEN CASES ARE THE ABUSERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOUR PLAN IS ADOPTED BY CITY STAFF, THE ENTIRE STAFF. AND WE HAVE A LOT OF OFFICIALS HERE TO GO OUT AND ENGAGE IN OUR COMMUNITY, FROM BUILDING INSPECTORS, TO CODE ENFORCEMENT, TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. ALL OF THESE ASPECTS. I KNOW I CERTAINLY DO AS A COMMISSIONER, WHEN I SEE SOMETHING, I PUT IT ON EITHER SEE FIX OR I CALL. THAT'S UP TO ALL OF US TO MAKE A BIG IMPRESSION. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND IF THERE ARE NOT ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, WE WILL MOVE ON IN THE AGENDA. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE

[9. Consent Agenda]

DOWN TO CONSENT AGENDA. >> NEXT ITEM IS THE CONSENT

AGENDA. >> ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON THE CONSENT HERE, WE'LL TAKE THE PLEASURE TO VOTE.

>> COMMISSIONER GAINES AND I ARE BOTH BEING TO PULL IT THIS,

RIGHT? >> YOU WANT TO PULL IT.

>> SO IF I CAN READ THE ITEM PLEASE, THE CONSENT AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL TO EXECUTE THE INDIAN RIVER DRIVE CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENTS CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNT BID WITH THE AMOUNT NOT

TO EXCEED $10, $10,254,124.04. >> I THINK PEOPLE SAY WHERE IS THE PRINTING PRESS? WHERE ARE THEY FUNDING THIS? WE ARE AWE WEAR AWARE OF THIS. THEY'RE FUNDING MUCH-NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS TO INDIAN RIVER DRIVE. I COMPLETELY ADVOCATE FOR THIS PROJECT. IT NEEDS TO BE DONE. I JUST WANT THE PUBLIC CONCEPTION TO BE, YES, THE CITY HAS LOOKED AT THE SPENDING INITIATIVES TO GET THIS $10 MILLION THIS PLACE, AND IT'S A COMBINATION OF

[01:05:02]

THERE GOES THAT 10 MILLION. >> I WAS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING.

SO I WOULD LIKE FOR ENGINEERING TO COME UP. COMMISSIONER BRODERICK, I THINK YOUR POINT IS WELL RECEIVED. I'D LIKE FOR THE ENGINEER, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A BACKUP DOCUMENT HERE.

ANYONE CAN STAFF CAN HELP PULL THIS UP. I KNOW THERE WAS AN AGENDA ATTACHMENT TO THIS, THAT ACTUALLY BROKE DOWN WHERE THESE MONIES WERE COMING FROM. IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN GET SOME HELP WITH THAT, AND HAVE MARK UP? I THINK THAT'S THE IMPORTANT PART, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE COMMUNICATE TO THE PUBLIC, WHERE THESE FUNDS ARE COMING FROM, AND SPEAK TO THAT

ASPECT. SO -- YES, SIR. >> MARK, CITY ENGINEER.

COMMISSIONERS, I HAD A FEELING THIS WAS GOING TO COME UP AGAIN, SO I PRINTED IT OUT. SO I HAVE IT HERE.

>> VERY WELL. >> IT'S BROKEN DOWN THROUGH SEVERAL AVENUES. SIR TAX, $3 MILLION IS COMING FROM SIR TAX.

ROAD FEES, 2 MILLION IS COMING FROM THAT. FDRA, AND DEO, GRANT REIMBURSEMENTS. THAT'S A LITTLE OVER 5.2 MILLION. SO A VARIETY OF AVENUES THIS IS COMING FROM. THERE IS SOME CONTINGENCY BUILT INTO THAT. SO WITH ANY LUCK, THAT SHOULD BE THE GIST OF IT.

>> SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING NOW TO THE PUBLIC IS THAT IT'S ACTUALLY ATTACHED HERE, AND THERE'S A BREAKDOWN, SO THERE'S A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE THIS IS COMING FROM.

SIR TAX IS THE SALES TAX THAT WE SELECT THAT THE REFERENDUM TO THE CITY PASSED SOME TIME AGO. SO WE'RE USING SOME FUNDS FROM THAT. APPROXIMATELY HOW MUCH OF THAT IS COMING FROM SIR TAX?

>> 3 MILLION. >> 3 MILLION IS COMING FROM SIR

TAX. >> YOU WERE IN THE RIGHT SPOT.

GO BACK. YOU WERE RIGHT TO START WITH.

>> SORRY TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT TAKE YOUR TIME. NO PROBLEM.

RIGHT THERE, PERFECT. >> SO $3 MILLION IS COMING FROM SIR TAX FUNDING. ANOTHER 2 MILLION FROM ROAD IMPACT FEES.

THOSE ARE THE IMPACT FEES THAT ARE ASSESSED BY DEVELOPMENT AS THEY COME INTO THE AREA, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, PLEASE CORRECT ME.

THEN WE HAVE THE FPRA WITH ACTUAL GRANT. SO THE NET COMING FROM FPRA IS 2.7 MILLION. THEN 2.4 MILLION IS BASICALLY COMING FROM A GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED, SO WE'RE UTILIZING THAT. SO YOU HAVE A MATCH IN ON THAT. SO THAT TOTALS ABOUT $10.2 MILLION FOR THE CASE FOR THIS PROJECT. TALK ABOUT THE TIMETABLE, JUST TO

REMIND THE PUBLIC AGAIN. >> SO WE TALKED TO THE CONTRACTOR RECENTLY, AND THEY'RE EAGER TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING WITH THIS ONE. SO WITH HOW QUICKLY, AND I WANT TO THANK LEGAL, FINANCE, CITY CLERK, EVERYBODY TO PUSH THIS THROUGH A QUICK AS THEY DID, IT WAS LIGHTNING SPEED FOR GOVERNMENT.

IT WAS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE TO WATCH. AND THEY'RE READY TO GO.

SO WE WERE ORIGINALLY THINKING NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, OCTOBER, MIGHT BE HAPPENING. SOONER THAN WE WERE THINKING.

>> SO WITH THE APPROVAL TODAY, THAT SPEEDS IT UP. ONCE THEY GET

THEIR MONIES -- >> THE ORDER OF THINGS TO GET STUFF GOING. BUT THEIR PLAN IS TO HIT THE BRIDGE BY THE MANATEE CENTERS. THAT'S THE MOST TIME-CRITICAL ASPECT OF THIS PROJECT. SO THEY'RE GOING TO HIT THAT PRETTY QUICK. WE HAVEN'T HIT PRE-CONNOR YET. I DON'T KNOW THEIR FULL SCHEDULE, BUT THEY DID TELL US THAT'S THE TIME CRITICAL ASPECT OF THIS PROJECT. SO WE'LL MAKE SURE WE RELAY STUFF WITH CAITLIN BALLARD, AND GET EVERYTHING ONLINE FOR ROAD CLOSURES AND STUFF LIKE THAT, SO EVERYBODY IS CLEAR WHERE IT IS GOING TO BE.

IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH. IT'S A MAIN THOROUGHFARE THROUGH THERE.

BUT YOU KNOW, WE'LL WORK WITH EVERYBODY TO MAKE SURE THE WORD'S OUT ON HOW TO GET AROUND WHEN THAT STUFF'S GOING TO HAPPEN. THERE'S OTHER ASPECTS OF THIS THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WHICH WE'RE WORKING ON THOSE ASPECTS TOO.

>> ONE OF THE DISCUSSIONS I WOULD ASK, IS THAT IF WE COULD START THE PRECONSTRUCTION SIGNAGE UP NOW SAYING WHAT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN. WE NOW KNOW THIS IS MAYBE GOING TO START IN

[01:10:03]

BECAUSE WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE NOVEMBER AND THANKSGIVING, NOW IT'S MOVED UP TO HALLOWEEN. AND IT'S A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE, SO WE NEED TO WORK WITH PR TO GET OUT A PRESS

RELEASE S. AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. >> THE CONTRACTOR HAS BEEN VERY PATIENT WORKING THROUGH THE CONTRACT AND EVERYTHING. AS SOON AS WE GET THIS DONE, A LOT MORE INFORMATION IS GOING TO COME OUT ABOUT THEIR SCHEDULE AND WHAT THEIR PLAN IS. SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO PUSH A LOT OF INFORMATION OUT GOING FORWARD HERE.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BRODERICK.

>> TWO POINTS. ONE IS THAT SECOND STREET IS ABOUT TO BECOME VERY BUSY OVER THERE, RUNNING PARALLEL TO INDIAN DRIVE. I'M SURE ONCE WE GET THE NOTIFICATIONS OUT, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FIGURE THAT OUT PRETTY QUICK. BUT THERE WAS AN ISSUE, IT'S BEEN RESOLVED, I BELIEVE, IN THAT THE CITY IS IN THE PROCESS OF CONTRACTING FOR A SURFACE PARKING LOT NORTH OF GLENDA'S BUILDING. THERE HAS BEEN A COMPLICATION OF THE ZONING. THAT'S IN THE PROCESS OF BEING RESOLVED. HOWEVER, IN THE INTERIM, THE CONTRACT THAT WE'VE SELECTED FOR THIS PROJECT APPROACHED THEM ABOUT RENTING THE LOT. I DON'T WANT TO LOSE OUR PARKING LOT TO A TEMPORARY USE OF CONVENIENCE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY. SO DO ME A FAVOR, JUST TELL THEM HANDS OFF MY PARKING LOT. WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.

>> THEY PROBABLY WERE LOOKING FOR A LAY DOWN YARD. WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT RIGHT NOW TO TRY TO FIND A PLACE THAT DOESN'T EAT UP PARKING. THEY DON'T NEED A VERY BIG SPACE FROM WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THAT RIGHT NOW SO WE DON'T LOSE PARKING.

>> THAT WAS ALL BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BY THE PROPERTY OWNER SAYING, HEY, I'M BEING APPROACHED BY THIS OTHER ENTITY.

YOU GUYS HAVEN'T EXECUTED THE LEASE. COME TO FIND OUT THERE'S A MINOR COMPLICATION WITH THAT. I DON'T WANT TO USE OUR SEMI PERMANENT PARKING AS A TEMPORARY STAGING AREA FOR THE CONVENIENCE. SO IF YOU CAN JUST TELL THEM, MOVE ALONG, SOME

PLACE ELSE. >> WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT,

YEAH. >> THANKS, MARK, I APPRECIATE

THAT. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING FORTH WITH THAT. I THINK WE'RE MAKING SURE WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS TO COMMUNICATE TO THE PUBLIC THAT LIFE IS ABOUT TO BE A LITTLE CHALLENGING ON INDIAN RIVER DRIVE AS A RESULT OF OUR ACTION HERE THIS MORNING. TO OUR PARTNERS A THE FORT PIERCE YACHT CLUB, AND TO THE RIVERWALK, WHICH IS A CITY ENTITY, I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE MR. CHESS, THAT WE COMMUNICATE TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BOOKED, PARTICULARLY ON THE RIVERWALK, THAT THERE MAY BE SOME DRASTIC CHANGES. I THINK WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE TO PEOPLE THAT HAVE PLANNED EVENTS, THAT LIFE MAY BE CHALLENGING OVER HERE. AND VICE VERSA, THAT WE COMMUNICATE TO PARTNERS AT THE YACHT CLUB. I WANT TO COMMUNICATE ABOUT THE REST OF TH ENTITIES THAT ENGAGE OVER THERE. I JUST THINK THAT'S BEING GOOD STEWARDS WITH THE PROPERTY THAT THE CITY OWNS.

>> I WOULD MOVE TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.

>> ALL RIGHT CALL THE ROLE PLEASE.

[10. City Commission - Resolutions]

>> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK. >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER GAINES. >> YES. SO WE JUST APPROVED THE

CONSENT ITEM. >> ONTO RESOLUTION 25-R 51.

FLORIDA MUNICIPAL CORPORATION APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE ASSIGNED AND ASSUMED DEVELOPMENT FOR THE VILLAS PLAT PROPERTY FOR KING'S LANDING PROVIDING FOR A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND

PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. >> MADAM ATTORNEY, DO YOU HAVE

COMMENT HERE? >> YES, SIR. THIS ITEM WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A LITTLE WHILE WITH THE DEVELOPER FOR THE VILLAS PLAT PROPERTY. THEY ARE WORKING TO GET A PERFORMANCE BOND FOR THE VERTICAL CONSTRUCTION IN PLACE. WE'VE AGREED TO THE FORM OF THE BOND, THE AMOUNT OF THE BOND, IT'S JUST GETTING IT PAID FOR BY THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION. SO WE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE READY FOR IT TODAY, AND EVERYTHING BEING IN FINAL FORM, BUT THAT'S THE LAST PIECE. SO THE INTENT IN COMMUNICATING WITH THEM IS TO MOVE THIS TO SEPTEMBER 15TH FOR

[01:15:01]

TO SEPTEMBER 15TH. >> WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE

BOARD? >> I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AND COMMENTARY ON THIS MATTER, I'M JUST NOT SURE IF WE WANT TO MOVE IT TO THE 15TH, OR IF YOU WANT TO GET INTO IT NOW.

>> WE CAN DO IT TWO WAYS. THEY ARE HERE. THERE'S BEEN A REQUEST MADE FOR US TO MOVE IT TO THE 15TH. WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT TODAY. WE CAN START QUESTIONING TODAY, IF YOU WANT TO PUT SOME THINGS OUT THERE THAT YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE GET

CLARIFIED. >> I HAVE A CONCERN, AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS INTO THE RECORD, AND GIVE THEIR SIDE AN

OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO THIS. >> ALL RIGHT. THAT'S FINE. SO WE'LL INVITE THE ACTUAL DOLOR TO COME FORWARD, PLEASE, AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF, AND A FEW QUESTIONS, AND WE'LL GO FROM

THERE. >> MY NAME IS BOB RAINES, I'M AN ATTORNEY HERE REPRESENTING KING'S LANDING. WE'LL BE HAPPY

TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> YOU'RE RELATIVELY NEW TO

THIS PROCESS WITH THIS CLIENT? >> YES, SIR, I AM.

>> SO THIS MAY NOT BE UNDER YOUR WATCH. COMING OUT OF THE GATE, I DON'T BELIEVE THIS HAPPENED UNDER YOUR WATCH.

>> YES, SIR. >> LET ME EXPLAIN THE ISSUE IS THAT THE NARRATIVE THAT'S BEING FLOATED THROUGHOUT THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AND THE ENTIRE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS THAT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE WENT TO THE DEVELOPER TO REQUIRE THEM TO DO SOMETHING THAT THEY WERE UNWILLING, OR INCAPABLE OF DOING. THAT'S SIMPLY INCORRECT. WE DIDN'T APPROACH ANYBODY ON ANYTHING. YOUR TEAM, OR YOUR PRIOR TEAM APPROACHED THE CITY TO REMOVE THE REVERTA CLAUSE. THE PUSH BACK ON THIS TOPIC WAS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO EXPOSE THE CITIZENS OF FORT PIERCE TO POTENTIAL HARM BY REMOVING A REVERTA CLAUSE THAT WAS NEGOTIATED YEARS AGO, WITHOUT SOME TYPE OF SAFETY NET FOR THE CITIZENS OF FORT PIERCE. THE ONLY VIABLE SOLUTION TO THAT WAS A BOND. THEN THERE WAS PUSH BACK ON SECURITYING SECURING THE BOND AS WELL. MY CONCERN IS WITH THIS INCORRECT NARRATIVE BEING FLOATED AROUND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, IT MAKES THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE LOOK TO BE AN UNSAFE PLACE TO DO BUSINESS, AND THAT'S SIMPLY NOT THE CASE. I UNDERSTOOD YOU CAN'T SECURE YOUR FINANCING WITH THE REVERTA CLAUSE IN PLACE, AND I'M NOT HOLDING YOU ACCOUNTABLE SIR, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS HAPPENED PRIOR TO YOUR ENGAGEMENT HERE. BUT I FOR ONE, THIS UPSETS ME THAT THIS NARRATIVE IS JUST BEING FLOATED OUT THERE IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND I'VE HAD MULTIPLE PHONE CALLS ABOUT THIS SAYING WHAT ARE YOU GUYS UP TO? I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE IS PUSHING BACK ON A DEVELOPER, DELAYING THEIR PROGRESS, NOT ALLOWING THEM TO SECURE FINANCING, AND WE'RE COMING TO YOU TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THIS DEAL, AND THAT'S SIMPLY NOT THE CASE. SO I JUST WANT, IN THE RECORD, AND I WANT YOU GUYS TO BE AWARE THIS IS GOING ON OUT THERE. IT PAINTS THE PICTURE THAT FORT PIERCE IS NOT A GOOD PLACE TO DO BUSINESS. WE HAD MASSIVE CONCERNS RIGHT AT THE GET GO. THE ONLY OPTION I WAS AWARE OF WAS A PERFORMANCE BOND. HOWEVER YOU'RE GOING TO TIER IT, THAT'S IN THE WEEDS.

THAT'S MINOR DETAILS. BUT SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT THE NARRATIVE THAT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE IS NOT A GOOD PLACE TO DO BUSINESS IS ABSOLUTELY WRONG. AND IF YOU GO BACK IN TIME, I'M NOT TAKING OUT MY WRATH ON YOU, IS THAT WHEN THIS PROPERTY TRANSFERRED INITIALLY, THERE WAS A 15 DAY PERIOD FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE TO SIGN OFF ON THE CONTRACT, SO THE REASON THAT THIS DIDN'T GET REWRITTEN AT THAT TIME TO APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE TOWNHOMES, IS THERE WAS A 15 DAYTIME PERIOD TO CLOSE IT. THAT'S NOT THE CITY'S DOING HERE. I JUST WANT IT CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD, THAT WE'RE NOT THE ONES THAT WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING THIS ISSUE. AND I JUST WANT ON THE RECORD TO SAY THAT THE CITY OF FORT PEARCE IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS. THIS IS A PRESENTLY PLACE TO DO BUSINESS.

I'VE GOT WITH GREAT STAFF OUT HERE THAT DO NOTHING BUT ACCOMMODATE AT ANY POSSIBLE TIME, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO MOVE BUSINESS INTERESTS FORWARD. IN THIS CASE, THAT NARRATIVE, I'VE GOT TO CALL MY OFFICE -- THIS IS COMPLETELY FALSE. THIS

[01:20:05]

WE'RE GOING TO LOSE GOOD PAYING JOBS FROM OUR CITIZENS, ET CETERA. THE TRICKLE DOWN FROM THIS TYPE OF THING IS DANGEROUS.

I KNOW I SOUND LIKE I'M PRETTY PISSED, BUT I AM. AFTER THE THIRD PHONE CALL I RECEIVED ON THIS, I SAID OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING IS TAKING PLACE. IT DIDN'T TAKE PLACE FROM OUR SIDE. CLEARLY, SO TRYING TO THROW THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE UNDER THE BUS FOR INADEQUACIES, THAT BURDEN DOESN'T SHIFT TO US.

UNDERSTANDING MY POSITION. I AM GOING TO BE A YES VOTE ON REMOVING THE REVERTER AND GETTING THE BOND IN PLACE. SO GET THE BOND DONE, AND WE'RE GOING TO PULL IT TO THE 15TH, BUT THAT'S MY IMPRESSION, IT'S LEAVING A VERY UNSAVERY TASTE IN

MY MOUTH AND I AM NOT HAPPY. >> COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. I'M NOT TRYING TO TAKE COVER, BECAUSE I DID JUST RECENTLY GET INVOLVED. I ONLY SAY THAT BECAUSE I'M NOT REALLY AWARE OF WHERE THOSE COMMENTS ARE COMING FROM, OR WHO THEY'RE COMING FROM. MR.RINE AND RICHTER IS HERE WITH ME THIS MORNING.

RESOLVE THIS, YOU'RE RIGHT, ACCURATE STATEMENT. WE DO APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT THE REST OF THE STAFF HAVE BEEN DOING IN TRYING TO WORK AND SOLVE THIS RESOLUTION FOR US, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.

>> I UNDERSTAND, SINCE YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED THAT THINGS HAVE PROGRESSED WELL. MS.HEDGES SPEAKS HIGHLY OF YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN GETTING THIS PROJECT RESOLVED. I JUST DON'T APPRECIATE WHAT HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY.

>> I UNDERSTAND, SIR. >> IT'S NOT THE REPRESENTATION THE CITY OR THIS COMMISSION NEEDS IN TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEMS OF THE CITY, BY ENGAGING --

>> WE WANT THIS TO BE A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT, AS I THINK YOU ALL DO TOO, AND WE'LL DO EVERYTHING MOVING FORWARD TO

MAKE THAT HAPPEN. >> DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR

ANYTHING? >> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

>> YOU HAD ENOUGH FOR US. I THINK YOU CONVEYED THE SENTIMENTS VERY PASSIONATELY ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I THINK WE'RE ALL VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT IT. I WOULD BE MORE CONCERNED NOT PUTTING ANY MORE TIME IN IT, BUT IT DOES TROUBLE ME, THAT THAT COMMENT IS FLOATING IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE ALL KNOW THAT IS NOT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR. AND THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO UNDERSTAND THAT, AND WORKING THROUGH THIS. THIS IS THE CORRECT SOLUTION, RIGHT? SO FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT'S WATCHING THIS, YOUR COMMISSIONERS HAD THE CONCERN THAT, YOU KNOW, RELEASING THE REVERTA, NOW RELEASES WHAT WE HAD TO ACTUAL OUTRIGHT ON THE PROPERTY. AND OUR REACTION TO THAT ALSO WAS WE'VE BEEN DOWN THIS PATH BEFORE, AT LEAST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, MY SEAT, AND I WAS NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH WHAT I'D BEEN THROUGH BEFORE WITH CITIZENS THAT MAKE INVESTMENTS.

THIS IS THE ONE PROTECTION THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS IN PLACE, THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FULLY IN PLACE IN THE PREVIOUS AGREEMENT, BUT IT'S IN PLACE NOW TO PROTECT THOSE INVESTORS WHO WERE GOING TO PUT DOWN THEIR EARNINGS AND SAVINGS TO BE A PART OF THIS DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY. AND THERE IS SOME PROTECTION THAT THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO MOVE FORWARD. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE DOWNTOWN IN CONDOS. AND THIS ASSURETY BY HAVING THIS BOND IN PLACE WILL ASSURE THAT THIS

[01:25:02]

>> THANK YOU, WE APPRECIATE THAT.

>> COMMISSIONER JOHN SEWN, LET ME JUST ADD ONE PIECE TO THAT.

IT'S AN INTERESTING POINT YOU MAKE UP ABOUT THE PARTNERS

INVOLVED IN THIS. THE BUYERS. >> RIGHT, THE BUYERS.

>> THAT'S THE FIRST PERSON THAT COMMUNICATED THIS STORY TO ME.

>> WOW. >> OBVIOUSLY, IT DIDN'T COME

FROM US. >> WE WANT TO ASSURE THE BUYERS, THERE'S PROTECTION FOR THEM AS WELL WHEN THEY'RE PUTTING DOWN THEIR MONIES FOR THIS. BECAUSE WE HAD A WHOLE CHAMBER OF THEM HERE, AND I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT, AND HOW I FELT SITTING UP HERE AND WATCHING PEOPLE AND THEIR ACTIONS TO WHAT TOOK PLACE IN THAT PRIOR AGREEMENT. MS.HEDGES, THANK YOU, SIR. I THINK NO MORE QUESTIONS. WE'LL COME BACK TO US AT THIS POINT.

THEY'RE IN AGREEMENT TO MOVE FORWARD FOR SEPTEMBER 15TH, THAT WILL ALLOW THE MAYOR TO BE HERE AS WELL, AND MAYBE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. WITH THAT BEING SAID, MADAM, WE NEED A VOTE.

>> GO AHEAD, CHRIS. >> I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE MOVE 10A, CONTINUE IT TO THE SEPTEMBER 15TH.

>> SECOND. >> ALL RIGHT. SO IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPER SECONDED THAT WE CONTINUE RESOLUTION 25-R51 TO THE SEPTEMBER 15 COMMISSION MEETING.

>> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK. >> YES.

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

>> MAYOR PRO TEM JOHNSON. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> RESOLUTION 25-R67. A RESOLUTION BY THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA, REINSTATING THE INITIATIVE. ESTABLISHING THE PROGRAMS TO BE UTILIZING THE SAFE AND CLEAN INITIATIVE FUND, ESTABLISHING AN EXPIRATION DATE, APPEALING ALL RESOLUTIONS IN

CONFLICT WITH -- >> THIS IS JUST A REQUEST TO RENEW THE SAFE AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVE. IT'S SET AT $1, WHICH IT WAS SET AT IN 2017. BUT WE DO HAVE A SHORT PRESENTATION.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COMMISSIONERS. I HAVE ISAAC, MY SENIOR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WITH ME TODAY. THIS IS JUST A REVIEW OF THE CLEAN AND SAFE COMMUNITY INITIATIVE. AS YOU RECALL, WE HAVE MAINTAINED A SUNSET DATE WITH THIS PROGRAM.

AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT THE COMMISSION HAS PERIODIC UPDATES AND REVIEWS ON THE PROGRAM ITSELF. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY. JUST AS A QUICK PROGRAM REVIEW, WE DID ESTABLISH THIS PROGRAM BACK IN 2017. IT WAS MODELED AFTER A PROGRAM IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. IN 2022, WE DID EXPAND THE PROGRAMS THAT WERE COVERED, OR THE FUNCTIONS THAT WERE COVERED, SO IT'S NOW NUISANCE ABATEMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND ANIMAL SERVICES. THEY'RE THE THREE GROUPS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING UNDER THIS PROGRAM. IT IS SET TO EXPIRE ON 9- 30, SO JUST IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, IT'S SET TO EXPIRE. THAT'S WHY WE'RE BACK TO RENEW THAT SUNSET DATE. THE FEE HAS BEEN SET AT $1 PER MONTH PER UTILITY BILL, AND IT'S NOT BEEN CHANGED. IT'S JUST BEEN SET AT $1. THE FIRST THREE YEARS IT WAS NUISANCE ABATEMENT ONLY, AND SO THAT'S HOW THE PROGRAM WENT. IN 2022, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOME ADDITIONAL REVENUE STARTING TO COME IN. ONE OF THE NUISANCE ABATEMENT ITEMS WE DO IS THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS. THAT REVENUE IS GETTING PUT BACK IN THE PROGRAM. THAT'S WHY THERE'S ADDITIONAL REVENUE SHOWING IN THE INCOME LINE. THAT'S WHEN WE ADDED A PUBLIC SAFETY TO START. IN 2022, WE ADDED THE ANIMAL SERVICES. YOU CAN SEE THE EXPENSES THAT WEPT OUT WENT OUT FOR THAT. SO THE TOTAL REVENUE IS ALMOST 2.7 MILLION. THE MAJORITY OF THAT SPENT ON NUISANCE ABATEMENT PROGRAMS. THAT'S WHERE WE ARE TODAY. AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE PROGRAM TO BE RENEWED SO WE

CAN CONTINUE THESE FUNCTIONS. >> COMMISSION, ANY QUESTIONS

HERE? >> I HAVE A QUESTION. CAN YOU GO BACK ONE SLIDE? SO DURING THE DURATION OF THIS PROGRAM, WE'VE

GENERATED $2,678,000 IN REVENUE? >> YES, SIR.

>> DEDUCTING OUT ALL YOUR EXPENSES, WE'RE CARRYING AN

AVAILABLE BUDGET OF $250,000. >> YES, SIR.

[01:30:01]

>> WHERE IS THAT MONEY HELD? JUST IN THE GENERAL FUND?

>> NO, SIR, THIS IS A RESTRICTED FUND. THAT'S WHY IT'S ABLE TO ROLL OVER YEAR TO YEAR. SO ANY FUNDS THAT ARE NOT EXPENSED IN ONE YEAR, WILL ROLL OVER TO THE NEXT YEAR, BECAUSE IT IS A RESTRICTED FUND. IT'S ONLY ABLE TO FUND THE THREE AREAS THAT WERE ESTABLISHED BY THE CITY COMMISSION, WHICH IS THE NUISANCE ABATEMENT, THE PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THE ANIMAL SERVICES.

IT CAN'T BE USED FOR ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN THOSE THREE

QUALIFYING PROGRAMS. >> OKAY. THAT'S VERY INTERESTING. I'M JUST THINKING THERE'S MONEY TO DEPLOY HERE IF NEED BE TO REACH THOSE INITIATIVES. THIS FALLS UNDER YOUR DEPARTMENT, YOU MANAGE ALL OF THIS, AND YOU COME UP WITH

THE INITIATIVES AND ALL OF THAT. >> FOR THE MOST PART. IT'S REALLY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I KNOW I'VE FUNDED PUBLIC CAMERAS OR VESTS AT ONE POINT. THE ANIMAL SERVICES AND NUISANCE ABATEMENT, YES. THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT MR. SAUCITO HERE WITH US. I'M TRYING TO GET HIM EXPOSED TO ALL PORTIONS OF THAT

PROGRAM. >> VERY INTERESTING. I WANT TO EXPLORE THIS FURTHER WITH YOU. I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO THOSE NOW. I WASN'T AWARE THAT THIS PROGRAM WAS IN EXISTENCE, CANDIDLY. KNOWING THIS IS OUT THERE, AND HOW WE CAN LEVERAGE THIS FROM A STAFF PERSPECTIVE, I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT THIS BODY MAY WANT TO TAKE A FURTHER LOOK AT.

THIS FALLS DIRECTLY IN THE THEME OF CLEANING UP THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. NUISANCE ABATEMENT IS A BIG PORTION OF THAT. WE MAY WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT A MORE DETAILED PACKAGE HERE.

>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER GAINES.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM. I'M NOT GOING TO START WITH THE FIRST LINE, BECAUSE I WASN'T HERE. SO I'M GOING TO GO DOWN. 22 THROUGH 25.

I'M JUST TRYING TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND WITH ALL OF THE REQUESTS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, HOW WE COULD HAVE SOME ZEROS IN '23 AND '24. THEN '22, WE GET 146,000. THEN '25, WE GET 502. SO THERE WAS NO PUBLIC SAFETY PROJECTS IN '23 AND '24 THAT WE COULD HAVE HELPED THE POLICE OR CAMERAS OR ANY TYPE OF EQUIPMENT IN THOSE YEARS? I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT. YEAH, COME ON. OR MAYBE WHY YOU WALK IN, MAYBE I'M LOOKING AT IT WRONG, AND IT'S NOT MONEY GOING TO POLICE DEPARTMENT TO DO PUBLIC SERVICE.

I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHEN I SEE ZEROS, AND I KNOW HOW MUCH THE PUBLIC GIVES FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. SO MS. MORRIS.

>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. >> PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF, WE

ALL KNOW. >> I'M JAN MORRIS, THE FINANCE DIRECTOR. THAT MONEY IN FISCAL YEAR '25, THERE WERE PRIOR YEARS FOR EXPENSES, HOWEVER IT DID NOT GET TOTALLY EXPENSED UNTIL THIS FISCAL YEAR. SO THERE WERE PROJECTS THAT WERE PARTIALLY COMPLETED. HOWEVER THE INVOICES WEREN'T PAID IN FULL UNTIL THAT YEAR. SO THEY WERE THE FLOCK, I THINK IT WAS THE

FLOCK SAFETY SERVICES. >> SO TECHNICALLY SPREAD OUT,

BUT IT ALL HIT IN '25. >> WE DON'T HIT THE EXPENSE UNTIL WE ACTUALLY PAY THE INVOICE.

>> GOT IT. >> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION,

COMMISSIONER. >> ZEROS, THEN I SEE $500,000.

SO I'M TRYING TO ADD IT UP. >> I DO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS, AND MAYBE THIS WILL HELP WITH COMMISSIONER BRODERICK.

OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE RESTRICTIVE FUNDS HERE, BUT THEY'RE OVER NUISANCE ABATEMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY AND ANIMAL SERVICES. WE KNOW AT ONE POINT IN YOUR PRESENTATION EARLIER, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ANIMAL SERVICES, RIGHT? THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CONCERN. THERE'S SOME THINGS GOING ON HERE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A WORKSHOP TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE IN THAT BUSINESS, PROVIDING THAT LEVEL OF WHAT I CALL PUBLIC SAFETY WHEN IT COMES TO ANIMALS. AND FUTURE EXPENDITURES. I SEE WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS $200,000 BUDGETED, BUT I KNOW THERE'S SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OPERATIONS DOWN THERE. WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET INTO THAT TODAY BUT COMMISSIONER, THAT MAY FOLD SOME MONEY BACK, OR WE MAY SPEND MORE THERE. BUT I'LL LOOK TO

[01:35:01]

THAT FOR US. >> NUISANCE ABATEMENT. LAST YEAR, I GUESS IT WAS ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THE CITY ADOPTED MY NUISANCE ABATEMENT CODE. NUISANCE ABATEMENT IS EVERYTHING FROM YOUR LOT CLEARING TO SECURING VACANT STRUCTURES. IT INCLUDES OUR FORECLOSURE PROCESS, WHICH IS DUE TO THE LIENS THAT RESULT FROM THESE. BUT THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT WE DO IS CUT THE GRASS. THAT'S OUR NUMBER ONE. AND THAT IS THE PROGRAM THAT ISAAC'S BEEN OVERSEEING. AND THE PROCESS WAS CHANGED LAST YEAR WHERE WE GO WE CAN JUST CONTINUE THE PROCESS. WE DON'T HAVE TO KEEP GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS.

THAT ORDER IS IN PLACE FOR 12 MONTHS. SO THAT WAS A BIG PART OF IT. THEN MONDAY, JUST THAT LIMITED.BUT WE'LL HAVE A SECOND VENDER COME OCTOBER 1. THAT'S THE PRIMARY. IT'S ALSO NOT VEHICLES. IT'S SECURING POOLS THAT ARE GREEN, AND OPEN. AM I MISSING SOMETHING? I THINK I GOT THEM. GRAFFITI. GRAFFITI. SO THERE ARE ALL THE ELEMENTS OF THE NUISANCE ABATEMENT PROGRAM.

>> I THINK IN THE FUTURE, AS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE UPDATES, SOME TYPE OF UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE -- IN THE PAST, YOU'VE GIVEN US, HEY, WE'VE DONE THIS MANY CASES OF THIS AND THAT. THAT PERHAPS WILL HELP BRING SOME LEVITY TO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WITH THE NUMBERS. I DO KNOW THIS IS A VERY ACTIVE PART OF THIS PROGRAM. IT DOES WORK, BUT IT ALSO PUTS IN THE PROCESS THAT PROPERTIES HAVE BEEN LIENED, BECAUSE AS WE CUT THESE LOTS, WE'RE NOT DOING IT FOR FREE, OBVIOUSLY, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS CAN THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF THESE OVERGROWN LOTS AND THINGSO THAT CAN OCCUR. THAT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN. SO I GET THAT ASPECT OF IT. SO I AGREE WITH YOU. I THINK THERE'S SOME FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I'M AWARE OF IT. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. AND I THINK OUR ACTION IS LOOKING TO EXTEND THIS PROGRAM AND CONTINUE IT, SO WE DO HAVE THE FUNDS AVAILABLE SPECIFICALLY FOR THESE RESTRICTED AREAS OF NUISANCE ABATEMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND

ANIMAL SERVICES. >> CORRECT, WE'RE LOOKING TODAY TO EXTEND THE SUNSET DATE. JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION, WHEN THE ORDINANCE WAS REVISED A COUPLE YEARS AGO, EVERYTHING THAT THE CITY COMMISSION DECIDES, WHETHER THE PROGRAMS YOU WANT TO EXPAND OR REDUCE THEM. THE FEES, ALL IS DONE BY RESOLUTION. THAT'S WHAT THE RESOLUTION IS TODAY, TO EXTEND THE SUNSET DATE. SO WE WILL BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE A FUTURE PRESENTATION WITH MORE BREAKDOWN OF THE NUMBER OF CASES AND WHAT NOT.

>> THAT WOULD BE GOOD. >> WE'LL PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO MR. CHESS TO PROVIDE TO YOU. THEN ANYTHING

ELSE, THAT YOU LOOK FOR. >> AND JUST ONE QUICK FINAL QUESTION. WHAT WILL THE SUNSET DAY GO TO NOW?

>> 2028. >> SO THAT GIVES US THREE YEARS

FROM NOW. >> THREE YEARS IS WHAT WE'VE

DONE THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. WHO HAS DISCRETION TO EXPEND THESE MONIES? DOES THAT FOLLOW YOU,

PEGGY? OR IN YOUR OFFICE? >> ULTIMATELY, IT'S SHAUNA. I PRESENT THINGS TO HER ALL THE TIME, AND SHE GIVES IT A YES OR

NO. >> THE FUNDS ARE IN A RESTRICTED FUND, SHE WILL NOTIFY THE FINANCE DIRECTOR AND THE FINANCIER WILL TRANSFER THE FUNDS TO CODE ENFORCEMENT, AND

DISPURSE THE FUNDS ACCORDINGLY. >> SO SHE HAS TO PROVIDE A REQUEST TO THE FINANCE DIRECTOR WHO THEN WILL RELEASE THE FUNDS FROM THE RESTRICTED FUNDS OVER TO CODE ENFORCEMENT FOR DISPURSEMENT. SO IN CASE, IN THIS, IF WE HAVE A LOT CLEARING, AND PROBABLY AMASS IT ALL, AND THEY'VE SAID WE'VE CLEARED THESE LOTS. THEN YOU MAKE THAT REQUEST AND IT GOES OVER THERE.

>> TO BE CLEAR, I ACTUALLY HAVE A LINE ITEM IN MY BUDGET FOR CLEAN AND SAFE COMMUNITY. AND THAT MONEY IS -- I THINK I HAVE

[01:40:02]

WORK THAT THEY DO. >> RIGHT.

>> YOU JUST APPROVED, I THINK IT WAS $75,000 EACH FOR THE VENDERS. AND IF WE NEED TO DO AN INCREASE, WE'LL DO AN INCREASE AS IT GOES ON. THERE ARE SOMETIMES A SPECIAL CASE THAT WE HAVE, WE'VE HAD A COUPLE WHERE IT'S A VERY, VERY LARGE PROBLEM. I'M GOING TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF A VERY LARGE LOT WITH A HUGE HOMELESS CAMP ON IT. THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY. THAT IS ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT MY VENDERS ARE SET TO DO. SO THAT WOULD BE A SPECIAL THING. IN ADDITION, ALL OF MY NOTICES GO CERTIFIED MAIL. SO THE CERTIFIED MAILS GO TO CSI. MY RECORDING FEES GO TO CIS. THERE'S A LOT OF ADMINISTRATION PART OF IT ALSO.

SO THOSE STANDARD THINGS ARE ALREADY BUDGETED IN MY BUDGET.

THEN ANYTHING ABOVE AND BEYOND GOES TO MS. MORRIS.

>> I'M JUST WONDERING IF, FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES IF, THAT FOR AN UNUSUAL TYPE OF EVENT, SUCH AS A LARGE HOMELESS CAMP THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN DOWN AND DISPOSED OF, ET CETERA. SHOULD THAT LEVEL OF EXPOSURE GO TO THE CITY MANAGER?

>> I CAN VERY WELL REVIEW THE REQUEST.

>> I'M NOT TALKING THE NORMAL STUFF.

>> I UNDERSTAND. CERTAINLY, I WAS GOING TO GET WITH MS. MORRIS JUST TO SEE HOW MANY TRANSFERS WE'RE MAKING ON ANNUAL BASIS AND THE DETAIL OF THE TRANSFERS. I'M JUST STATING IT. I WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE FUNDS ARE REQUESTED, AND THE DETAIL BEFORE IT'S TRANSFERRED. HOPEFULLY SHE HAS THAT DETAIL.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM COMMISSIONER BRODERICK, AS A RULE, IF THAT CAME IN OVER 10,000, I SEND IT TO THE CITY MANAGER FOR APPROVAL. THAT'S JUST THE STANDARD PROCESS I'VE HAD IN

PLACE FOR A LONG TIME. >> CERTIFIED MAIL, THAT'S THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS. WHEN YOU GET INTO MORE OF THESE CAP X, EXTENSIVE STUFF, I THINK THE MAYOR PRO TEM SHOULD GIVE HIS

BLESSING. AT LEAST BE AWARE. >> THAT'S BEEN THE PROCESS FOR QUITE SOME TIME. ANYTHING OVER 10,000 WENT TO THE CITY MANAGER

JUST FOR HIS REVIEW. >> I THINK IT'S A SAFETY THING TOO. TO SAY, HEY, YOU WENT OUT AND BALANCE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN PLACE. IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING NOW, THEN I'M

HAPPY WITH THAT. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT MAY GET ADDRESSED IN THE NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS THE PURCHASING MANUAL.

IF NOT, WE'LL TAKE IT AT THAT POINT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS RESOLUTION? YES, SIR.

>> ONE OF YOUR EARLIER SLIDES, YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT EVERYTHING AND I NOTICED A DOLLAR, AND YOU SAID THAT HASN'T BEEN RAISED IN EIGHT YEARS. SO WAS THAT A HINT TO US, OR JUST SOMETHING WE SAY WE'VE DONE THIS WITHOUT RAISING IT FOR EIGHT YEARS? I'M JUST TRYING TO GET SOME EXPLANATION TO WHY THAT WAS IN YOUR SLIDE.

>> I'M GOING TO BRING UP ONE SLIDE THAT WAS IN A FORMER THING. SO THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT QUESTS HAVE INCREASED. THIS WAS A SLIDE THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN TODAY'S PRESENTATION. SO PRICES HAVE GONE UP. EVERYTHING FROM YOUR BASIC MINIMUM WAGE TO YOUR COST OF EQUIPMENT, AND ALL OF SERVICES HAVE GONE UP. WE HAVE MAINTAINED THAT $1 FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS. THE CITY MANAGER, MS. MORRIS AND I, WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY OF RECOMMENDING AN INCREASE, BUT WE DID SAY, YOU KNOW, LET'S JUST CONTINUE IT AT THE EXISTING RATE OF THE $1. WE'VE MANAGED TO MAKE IT WORK SO FAR, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MANAGE OUR EXPENSES TO STAY WITHIN THAT AREA WITH

THE $1. >> BUT SOONER OR LATER, FROM WHAT I'M HEARING ON THIS SLIDE, I MEAN, EVERYTHING IS GOING UP, AND WE KNOW, SO SOONER OR LATER, WE'RE GOING TO COME TO A POINT WHERE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT $250,000 LEFTOVER, BECAUSE ALL OF THE COSTS ARE GOING UP. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT VENDERS CUTTING LOTS. YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE EQUIPMENT, THEY HAVE GAS THE. STUFF GOING UP. SO COMMISSIONER, I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK BACK AT WHEN IT'S TIME TO LOOK AT THAT. BECAUSE WE HAD THIS FUND, AND IF IT'S WORKING, YOU KNOW, LET'S CONTINUE TO WORK, AND LET'S NOT BE CRAZY THAT THEY CAN MAKE IT WORK ON A

DOLLAR. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES, I AGREE WITH YOU. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE REQUEST

[01:45:01]

COMMISSIONER REYES. >> FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I LIKE TO SEE THE TRENDS, BECAUSE I AM NOT NOT INTIMATE WITH ALL OF THE ITEMS. WHAT WE FORECAST ARE THESE THINGS AN ANOMALY, DO WE GET THESE AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE YEAR? SO I WOULDN'T WANT TO INCREASE SOMETHING ON THE RESIDENTS UNTIL I SEE IT'S A CONSISTENT COST THAT WE'RE BEARING MONTH TO MONTH, YEAR TO YEAR. OR IS THIS ANOMALIES? IF WE'RE FINDING OURSELVES DOING MAJOR CLEANUPS TOTALING 10, 20, $30,000 PER CLEANUP, WELL, WE'RE NOT BRINGING IN ENOUGH REVENUE TO COVER THOSE EXPENSES. KEEP IN MIND, I UNDERSTAND THIS IS REFLECTED ON THE BILL, THESE REVENUES ARE COMING IN MONTHLY AND ANNUALLY, I'D LIKE TO SEE THE ANNUAL REVENUES COMING IN, AND WHAT THE TREND LOOKS LIKE TO FORECAST, BEFORE WE CAN SAY, WE NEED TO PUT AN X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS ON THAT. BEFORE I GET THAT REVIEW AND WE CAN DO AN ANALYSIS, I THINK WE NEED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO ME, TO ANALYZE FOR THE DAY'S MEETING. SO I WANT THE POLY ON THAT.

>> I THINK WE'VE DONE ENOUGH DISCUSSION ON THAT. I THINK WE WOULD AGREE ON THAT AS COMMISSION. CAN I HAVE A MOTION

ON THIS RESOLUTION, PLEASE? >> MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION

25-R67. >> SECOND.

>> MOVE AND PROPERLY SECOND. CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.

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

>> MAYOR PRO TEM JOHNSON. >> YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU, STAFF.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO FUTURE CONVERSATIONS. ALL RIGHT. YES,

[11. New Business - City Commission Discussion Items]

MA'AM. MOVING ON. >> THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS DISCUSSON OF THE PROPOSED PURCHASING CODE AGREEMENT.

>> CERTAINLY, I WANT TO START OUT AGAIN BY SAYING THANK YOU, MS. CITY ATTORNEY, MS. CITY CLERK. OUTSIDE COUNSEL WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AS WELL, INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING THIS TOGETHER. THE DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY JOHNSON, AS WELL AS THE PURCHASING MANAGER AS WELL. THIS PROJECT WAS THE VERY FIRST THING -- I CAME OVER ON APRIL 2, APRIL 3RD, I WAS KNEE DEEP INTO THIS.

I WAS INTIMATE WITH THE PROCESS AND PROPOSED CHANGES. SO WHAT YOU'LL SEE HERE IS THE OVERVIEW OF THE MAJOR CHANGES TO THE CODE. WE COULDN'T GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE CODE. WE WANTED TO KNOW WHAT SOME OF OUR PAIN POINTS WERE, IN THE PAST. MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR ME FOR THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT SIDE, THERE WILL BE THE OWNERS OF THIS, THE EDUCATION FOR THE PURCHASING STAFF, SO THEY CAN TRAIN, EDUCATE THE DEPARTMENTS AS WELL. BUT THIS IS JUST THE INITIAL PHASE OF WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE, AND I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH A HIGHLIGHT OF THOSE AREAS. I'LL START AT THE TABLE OF CONTENTS. THE MAJOR CHANGES WE HAVE ARE OUR EXEMPTIONS. I'LL TALK ABOUT THESE ON EACH INDIVIDUAL SLIDE. I SAW A SELECTION OF WAIVER COMPLETE COMPETITION. SOLE SOURCE VERSUS SOLE BRAND. ALSO, PROCEDURALLY.

ALSO THE ADMIN PROCEDURES AND STAFF TRAINING. THESE ITEMS ARE EXEMPT FROM COMPETITION. IGA'S, PAYMENT DUE, SUBSCRIPTIONS, REAL PROPERTY. CAUSE OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS HR TRAINING PER SE, AND BROKERAGE SERVICES.

>> GO, GO. >> I'M GOING THROUGH THESE. I JUST WANT TO SPELL THEM. LOBBYING SERVICES. MEDICAL

[01:50:04]

>> NO, JUST GO BACK, OVERALL, WE'RE SEEING AN EXEMPTION.

THESE ARE EXEMPT FROM GOING THROUGH THE PURCHASING PROCESS? SO IN THAT INSTANCE, GOING BACK TO THE NEXT SLIDE. I THOUGHT IT WAS CPAS, RIGHT? SO IF THERE WAS A NEED FOR A CPA TO DO CERTAIN WORK THAT WILL COME OUT OF DISCRETION OF YOUR OFFICE, CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. ARE WE ALL CLEAR ON THAT?

>> EXCEPT FOR AUDITING SERVICES. >> ALL OF THE SERVICES WE SEE HERE ARE EXEMPT FROM THAT LOBBYING SERVICE. SO WE WANT TO HIRE A LOBBYIST FEDERALLY IN D.C., YOU CAN ENTERTAIN THAT

PROCESS. >> CORRECT.

>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR.

>> PROCUREMENT. IN THE PRIOR CODE, WE HAD FOUR CATEGORIES HERE OF $500,000 OR LESS. WE WROTE THE CATEGORIES DOWN.

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

NEXT. OKAY, SOLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT. IN A NUTSHELL, THIS IS SAYING ONLY ONE VENDER CAN PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES. IT'S LIKE THEY HAD THAT UNIQUE POSITION TO PROVIDE THAT ONLY SERVICE OR COMMODITY, VERSUS A SOLE BRAND, WHICH IS THE NEXT SLIDE. THE SOLE BRAND IS THINK OF YOUR CAR, AND YOU HAVE A PART, MAYBE THAT GOES TO YOUR TRANSMISSION, AND EVERY OTHER COMPANY OUT THERE HAS THAT SAME PART, BUT THERE'S ONE BRAND THAT TRANSITIONS WITH YOU, SO YOU CAN GO WITH THAT ONE BRAND ONLY ON THOSE OTHER PARTS THAT FITS YOUR VEHICLE, BUT IT'S NOT AS EFFICIENT. SOLE BRAND IS USUALLY USED FOR I.T., WHERE YOU HAVE SOFTWARE, THINK OF ANOTHER ITEM THAT INTEGRATES WITH YOUR SOFTWARE, OR THESE OTHER VENDORS HAVE IT, BUT THIS ONE BRAND THAT HAS THAT TYPE OF INTEGRATION WITH YOUR SOFTWARE, THAT'S OWNED BY THE SAME VENDER, IT'S MORE SEAMLESS. YOU GO FOR SOLE BRAND. THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK IS VERY BENEFICIAL. WE'VE NEVER HAD THAT IN THE PRIOR CODE, BUT IT HELPS OUT FOR EFFICIENCY WHEN IT COMES TO TRYING TO FIND A COMPATIBLE -- IT'S GOOD FOR VEHICLES, I.T., AND THOSE ARE THE MAJOR ITEMS YOU SEE IT USED MOSTLY. AND AUTHORIZED PURCHASE ETHICAL -- I'M GOING TO READ THIS OUT. EMPLOYEE CONFLICT OF INTEREST. UNETHICAL TO PARTICIPATE DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY IN A PROCURED CONTRACT WITH AN EMPLOYEE KNOWS THAT THEIR FAMILY H■AS FINANCIA INTEREST AND PROCUREMENT. THAT'S IMMEDIATE FAMILY. OR ANY OTHER PERSON, BUSINESS, OR ORGANIZATION BEFORE AN CITY EMPLOYEE OR ANY MEMBER OF THE CITY EMPLOYEES, THAT HAS A RANGE AND PERSPECTIVE EMPLOYMENT IS INVOLVED IN PROCUREMENT PROCESS OR CONTRACT. MEANING IF YOU'RE AN EMPLOYEE, AND YOU HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER THAT HAS ANY INTEREST IN PROCUREMENT, YOU NEED TO SHY AWAY FROM THAT, OR NOT PARTICIPATE IN THAT. OR A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY THAT'S INVOLVED IN NEGOTIATING, THEY SHOULD NOT BE INVOLVED IN THAT PROCUREMENT AS WELL. AND IF THERE'S ANY RANGE FOR PERSPECTIVE AGREEMENTS ON A CONTRACT, THEY SHOULD NOT BE INVOLVED IN THAT PROCUREMENT.

ALSO ON THE SANCTIONS. ANY CITY EMPLOYEE SHALL NOTIFY THE DEPARTMENT HEAD THAT PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONAL IN THE CITY MANAGER, IN WRITING WITHIN TEN DAYS OF SOLICITATION ON THE

[01:55:01]

CITY EMPLOYEE. >> I THINK YOU WANT TO GO BACK THERE. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. GO BACK ONE SLIDE.

MAYBE TWO. I THINK WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS WE'RE PUTTING IN, OBVIOUSLY SOME ISSUES THAT EITHER ARE NOT INSIDE OUR CODE NOW, THAT WOULD HELP STRENGTHEN THAT, AND PROVIDE CLARITY. I THINK IT'S ONE PREVIOUS SLIDE. SO IT REALLY PUTS IT ON THE ONUS OF WHOEVER TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE MAY BE A CONFLICT, OR AT LEAST COME FORWARD WITH -- IS THIS A ACTUAL CONFLICT? SO IF IT'S MY COUSIN, OR WHATEVER, THAT IS PUTTING IN FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROCUREMENT PROCESS, IT COULD BE AS SIMPLE AS MAYBE LAWN SERVICES. THEY OWN A LAWN COMPANY AND THEY'RE GOING TO PUT IN A BID TO DO SOME OF THIS NUISANCE ABATEMENT, AND YOU'RE SAYING THAT'S ON THAT CITY EMPLOYEE TO NOT PARTICIPATE. USE

THAT SCENARIO. >> FOR INSTANCE, IF TO USE YOUR EXAMPLE, SOMEONE WAS BIDDING FOR LAWN SERVICES AND WE WERE GOING THROUGH, AN RFP PROCESS, BECAUSE BID SOMETIMES IS PRICING. BEST PRICE AND YOU GET IT. BUT WE'RE TALKING -- IF THEY HAD AN IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER THAT WAS SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION, PACKAGE, THEY SHOULD REFRAIN FROM BEING A PART OF THAT.

TYPICALLY THEY WOULD NOTIFY THE PROCUREMENT OFFICIAL AND THE CITY MANAGER OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SAYING WITH THIS ANY FAMILY MEMBER THAT HAS ANY INTEREST IN ANY OF THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE DOING -- THAT'S COMPETING FOR, I'LL SAY A CONTRACT FOR THE CITY, THEY'RE REQUIRED TO NOTIFY THE CITY MANAGER. AND THEY'RE REALLY PROHIBITED FROM

PARTICIPATING IN THAT SITUATION. >> THE ONE QUESTION I HAVE IS ABOUT THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY. FORT PIERCE IS A MELTING POT. SO OUR FAMILIES GROW REAL QUICK, REAL BIG HERE, SO I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT WITH HR SPELLED OUT, SO WE UNDERSTAND I'D LIKE TO DEFINE

THAT PART. >> THIS IS IN THE CODE

CURRENTLY? >> NO, NOT AT ALL.

>> YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. >> MAYOR PRO TEM.

>> YES. >> MAYOR PRO TEM, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE WHILE IT MAY NOT BE SPECIFICALLY IN OUR CODE, THERE ARE STATE STATUTES THAT REGULATE THE VAST MAJORITY OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

WE'RE PUTTING IT INTO OUR CODE, AND WE'RE ACTUALLY GIVING IT A LITTLE BIT MORE RULES, WITH THE NOTIFICATION TO US. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S NOT IN STATE STATUTE. SO THE ETHICAL CONDUCT, OR THE UNETHICAL CONDUCT IS ALREADY PREDICTED. PROHIBITED.

WE'RE PUTTING INTO OUR ROLES TO HELP THE CITY STAY ON TRACK.

IT'S NOT THAT THIS WAS ALREADY A FREE FOR ALL TO DO, IT'S JUST WE'RE CODIFYING IT, SPECIFICALLY OUR SELF, IN ADDITION TO WHAT'S ALREADY IN STATE STATUTE AND CREATING SOME

INTERNAL PROCESSES FOR THE CITY. >> RIGHT. AND THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND LIKE I SAID, SOME CLARITY ON THAT, BECAUSE WE

DON'T WANT TO -- >> DEFINE THAT.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF MARRIAGES HERE, AND THINGS HAPPEN, AND FAMILY. WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET TO EVERY SITUATION, BUT TO THE BEST, WE'RE TRYING TO GET SOME WORKING DOCUMENTS TO OUR

EMPLOYEES AND OUR CITIZENS. >> UNDERSTOOD.

>> I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION. YOU'VE ALREADY ANSWERED MY QUESTION ON IMMEDIATE FAMILY AND NOTIFICATION. , IF WHEN YOU SAY BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS, AND MY QUESTION IS, I'M A PART OF A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS. IF I'M A PART OF AN ORGANIZATION, ME PERSONALLY, I DON'T HAVE NO FINANCIAL GAIN FROM IF THAT ORGANIZATION DOES SOMETHING -- DOES AN EMPLOYEE NOTIFY YOU BECAUSE THEY'RE A PART OF THE ORGANIZATION? AND THE REASON -- THE REASON I'M GOING ABOUT THIS IS, I CAN BE VERY SPECIFIC. I USED TO BE ON THE BOARD OF NORTH SIDE BAT AND BALL. AND SOMETHING CAME UP ABOUT A DONATION TO NORTH SIDE. IT'S NOT FINANCIAL -- IT'S NOT A FINANCIAL OBLIGATION TO ME. BUT PEOPLE STARTING TO USE IT SAYING THAT I'M SOLICITING FUNDS AS MY SEAT THROUGH AN ORGANIZATION THAT DID IT ON THEIR OWN. SO MY QUESTION IS, IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT, SHOULD THE -- SHOULD THE

[02:00:06]

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT AND CLEARING IT UP, BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF -- I'M GOING TO SPEAK FOR MYSELF. I'M NOT GOING TO SPEAK FOR THE CITY, STAFF, CITY EMPLOYEES. THERE IS A LOT OF US WHO ARE PART OF ORGANIZATIONS, A LOT OF US WHERE YOU MIGHT PAY DUES TO SOME ORGANIZATIONS AND MIGHT NOT REALIZE WHAT THE ORGANIZATION IS DOING. I GUESS THAT, TO THE ONES WHO ARE LISTENING, THAT OUR EMPLOYEES, GO BACK AND LOOK AT YOUR ORGANIZATIONS AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE UNDERSTANDING WHAT YOU'RE DOING. WITH THIS CONDUCT, WITH THESE NEW RULES, YOU HAVE TO NOTIFY THE PROCUREMENT OFFICE THAT YOU'RE A PART OF THAT ORGANIZATION, SO I'M FINE WITH THAT.

>> THANK YOU. PROCEED, PLEASE. >> THIS IS ANOTHER AREA WHERE WE'VE INCLUDED THE LANGUAGE CONE OF SILENCE, AFTER SOLICITATION IS ISSUED OR DURING CONTRACT NEGOTIATION, OFFERS OR THEIR AGENTS, MEANING VENDORS OR THEIR AGENTS, MUST NOT CONTACT ANY CITY OFFICIALS OR EMPLOYEES ABOUT THE MATTER, INCLUDING CITY COMMISSION AND CITY MANAGER. EXCEPT AS DIRECTED BY THE PROCUREMENT OFFICIAL. THIS INCLUDES SENDING AN EMAIL TO PROCUREMENT OFFICIAL, AND CEASING SOMEONE ELSE ON THAT EMAIL, CALL OF SILENCE MEANS NO COMMUNICATION OTHER THAN THE PROCUREMENT OFFICIAL SPECIFICALLY, AND THAT GOES FOR THE EMPLOYEES AS WELL. ONCE WE GOING TO THE CONE OF SILENCE, MEANING THAT RFP CAME IN, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF REVIEWING THOSE DOCUMENTS, YOU'RE GOING INTO CONE OF SILENCE, THERE'S NO COMMUNICATION WITH THE CITY COMMISSION, MANAGERS, UNLESS IT'S DIRECTED BY THE PROCUREMENT OFFICIAL. THAT, SOUNDS LANGUAGE DID NOT EXIST, WE WANT TO BE MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT IT. PROTESTS. PROTESTS SHOULD BE IN WRITING TO A PRETERM OFFICIAL WITHIN 72 HOURS OF ELECTRONIC AWARD, AND IT SHOULD BE FILED NO LATER THAN 4:00 P.M. ON THE FIFTH CALENDAR DAY. THE FIFTH CALENDAR DAY, NOT THE FIFTH BUSINESS DAY. THE NOTICE ARE CONSIDERED FILED WHEN WE RECEIVED THE REQUEST.

>> BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD FROM THAT, WHAT ABOUT WEEKENDS AND %

HOLIDAYS? >> FIVE CALENDAR DAYS. WEEKEND,

HOLIDAYS COUNT AS CALENDAR DAYS. >> IF YOU HAVE TO FILE A PROTEST WITH THE PROCUREMENT OFFICER AND THAT DAY FALLS ON A LABOR DAY OR A SUNDAY, HOW IS THAT GOING TO WORK?

>> THEY CAN EMAIL IT. OR THEY CAN HAVE IT DONE DIRECTLY DELIVERED BEFORE THE HOLIDAY ARRIVES. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE EMAIL IT. THIS WAY IT WILL ARRIVE THERE, BUT WE DISCUSSED THAT EARLIER IN TERMS OF THE CALENDAR DAYS, FIVE DAYS.

>> SO THE PROCUREMENT OFFICER , BY RECEIVING THE EMAIL ON A WEEKEND DAY, THAT IS SUFFICIENT TO FILE THE PROTEST? IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE HAND DELIVERED IN PERSON?

>> NOT AT ALL. >> SORRY, I'M GOING TO JUMP IN.

MAYOR PRO TEM, COMMISSIONERS, I KNOW WE HAD ORIGINALLY SAID THAT NO EMAILS WOULD BE PERMITTED. DID WE CHANGE THAT? WE'VE GONE THROUGH SEVERAL VERSIONS. I THINK WE SAID IT HAD TO BE FILED IN PERSON, PHYSICALLY, HARDCOPY AND WE WOULD NOT ALLOW TEXT OR EMAILS. THE GENERAL LEGAL IS IF YOUR FIFTH CALENDAR DAY FALLS ON A HOLIDAY OR FALLS ON A WEEKEND DAY, YOU ROLL TO THE NEXT OPEN BUSINESS DAY. IS GENERALLY HOW IT LEGALLY WORKS. LABOR DAY ON A MONDAY, IF THAT'S YOUR FIFTH CALENDAR DAY, YOU WOULD HAVE

UNTIL THAT TUESDAY. >> I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE ADD

LANGUAGE TO THAT EFFECT. >> WE CAN DO THAT.

>> AS A PRACTICING ATTORNEY, I THINK THAT IF WE EVER GOT INTO SOME TYPE OF LITIGATION, THE JUDGES AROUND HERE WOULD SAY,

YOU KNOW, >> I THINK PUBLIC CONSUMPTION STANDPOINT, THEY NEED TO BE AWARE THAT THAT DAY IS AVAILABLE. WE'RE NOT ACCEPTING EMAIL AS A PROPER NOTIFICATION.

>> THE CODE IS SILENT ON THAT, IT DOESN'T SAY WE CANNOT SEND

[02:05:02]

HAVE THE GRACE PERIOD. >> THE BUSINESS WORLD DOES BUSINESS BY EMAIL, SO, AN EMAIL FORMAT I THINK WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE AS WELL. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IT WOULD BE.

>> IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING YOUR CONCERNS, AND JUST BEING ABSOLUTE ABOUT HOW WE DELIVERED. IT IS SILENT IN THE CODE.

>> THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY QUESTION. WE GOT A CASE THAT WE NEED TO DEFER TO STAFF TO FIGURE OUT, I'M WILLING TO ACCEPT EMAIL. I LIKE EMAIL BECAUSE IT'S TIME STAMPED, WE KNOW IT REMOVES THE BARRIER OF, PHYSICALLY GIVING HERE OR HAVING SOMEONE HAND DELIVERED IT. EXACTLY.

>> THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY, IT WOULD BE THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM, COMMISSIONERS, HERE'S WHY I WOULD CAUTION YOU AGAINST EMAIL. IF THE PERSON THAT YOU HAVE DELINEATED AS YOUR PERSON TO ACCEPT EMAILS, IF THEY ARE OUT SICK, THERE ARE TIME FRAMES THAT ARE TRIGGERED ONCE THEY FILE CERTAIN THINGS, OUR STAFF THEN HAS X NUMBER OF DAYS TO RESPOND. IF THEY ARE OUT SICK FOR FIVE DAYS AND DON'T GET TO IT, YOU'VE EATEN UP FIVE DAYS OF THEIR TIME TO RESPOND. THERE'S ALSO TURNOVER THAT HAPPENS IN THE CITY, SO WHEN YOU EMAIL IT TO X PERSON, IF THEY RETIRED OR THEY'VE BEEN MOVED ON TO ANOTHER POSITION, NOW YOU HAVE THAT PROBLEM THAT IT WENT TO THE WRONG EMAIL. SO YOU'RE GOING TO BE CONSTANTLY UPDATING YOUR CODE TO THE EMAIL ADDRESS THAT YOU'RE USING, WHEREAS IF YOU REQUIRE SOMEONE TO COME IN AND PHYSICALLY FILE SOMETHING IN PERSON, IT GETS STAMPED WITH THE TIME THAT THEY CAME AND FILED IT. YOU DON'T RUN THE RISK OF SOMETHING GETTING LOST, NOT BEING SEEN KINDLY, BEING SENT TO THE WRONG PERSON AND THEN WE'RE SAYING, I EMAILED IT TO THIS PERSON BUT NOT THIS PERSON AND DEALING WITH THAT INCONSISTENCY.

>> OKAY. I'VE GOT TO CARRY IT INTO CITY HALL, AND IT'S GOT TO GO TO THE PROCUREMENT OFFICER, THE PROCUREMENT OFFICER IS NOT AVAILABLE. DOES IT GO TO AN OFFICE? SO I WALKED IN, THE RECEPTIONIST SAYS FINE, YOU'RE STAMPED IN. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO

GO TO THE PROCUREMENT OFFICER. >> IT CAN BE, IF THE GERMAN OFFICER IS NOT AVAILABLE AND THE ASSISTANT IS THERE IF THEY CAN STAMP THAT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE INDIVIDUAL CAN WALK OFF WITH EVIDENCE THAT THEY'VE SUBMITTED ON TIME.

>> I DON'T WANT TO SEE SOMEBODY COME IN, IT:00 THEY'RE NOT AVAILABLE, 3:00 THEY'RE NOT AVAILABLE. I WOULD BE VERY

FRUSTRATED IF THAT'S THE CASE. >> IF NO ONE IN THAT OFFICE IS AVAILABLE, MY OFFICE CAN ALWAYS ACCEPT IT, AND THEN PROVIDED TO

THE PROCUREMENT OFFICIAL. >> NOBODY IS GOING TO KNOW THAT.

>> STAFF WILL KNOW THAT. STAFF WILL KNOW TO DIRECT THEM

ELSEWHERE. >> IF YOU GOT STAFF AND THAT PROCUREMENT OFFICE, ANYBODY CAN DATE STAMP SOMETHING AND SAY

IT'S BEEN RECEIVED. YEAH. >> I CAN'T IMAGINE A TIME WHERE THERE IS LITERALLY NO ONE IN THAT OFFICE.

>> I'M FINE WITH THAT PROCESS, IT WORKS FOR ME. WE'LL MAKE

THESE CHANGES. >> SO LET'S HAVE STAFF WORK ON THIS AND COME BACK TO US, THESE ARE SUGGESTIONS, NOW. YOU FOR THE SENTIMENT OF SOME OF OUR CONCERNS.

>> JUST REAL QUICK, WE'RE IN 2025, SO, TECHNOLOGY IS MOVING.

I UNDERSTAND THE CITY MANAGER'S CONCERN ABOUT WHERE DOES THE EMAIL GO, BUT, SORRY, CITY ATTORNEY. BUT WE CAN CREATE AN EMAIL ADDRESS, PROCUREMENT AT , WE CAN CREATE AN EMAIL ADDRESS THAT WE CAN MONITOR, AND WE KNOW EXACTLY WHEN SOMEONE SENDS THE EMAIL. SO, THAT WAY WE TAKE AWAY CHANGING THE CODE, HERE IS, IF YOU'RE GOING TO USE EMAIL, HERE IS THE EMAIL THAT YOU NEED TO SEND IT TO. IF YOU SEND IT TO SOMEWHERE ELSE, THAT'S NOT THE EMAIL THAT YOU SEND IT TO. IT DOESN'T COUNT. THIS IS THE EMAIL THAT YOU SENT IT TO. YOU AND I BOTH KNOW THAT WE CAN'T SEND AN EMAIL THAT WHATEVER AND WHERE TO SEND IT TO THE CLERK OF COURT, IT DOESN'T COUNT. IF WE CAN CREATE AN EMAIL, PROCUREMENT, AT CITY OF FORT PIERCE, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO DO IT. IT'S MONITORED, THERE IT IS. THEY DO IT THAT SUNDAY NIGHT, AND WE COME IN MONDAY MORNING, IT'S RIGHT THERE.

THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. >> THE SIMPLICITY OF BEING ABLE TO GET THE RESPONSE IN CITY HALL IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE DISTRESSED ABOUT. IF THE OFFICE CAN RECEIVE IT, IF THE EMAIL AS COMMISSIONER GAINES IS OUTLINE, I'M LOOKING FOR TO KNOCK DOWN THE BARRIERS

[02:10:03]

>> WE'LL LOOK AT THE PROCESS. THE CITY ATTORNEY AND I. FAILED TO FILE NOTICE OF INTENT OF PROTEST WITHIN THE TIME PERIOD SPECIFIED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROTEST. THE WRITTEN PROTEST MUST BE SIGNED BY THE AUTHORIZED SALES AGENT, LEGAL COUNCIL ARE NOW AUTHORIZED TO SIGN PROTEST. THIS SHOULD BE AN OFFICE OF THE ORGANIZATION. PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT. PROTESTS MUST INCLUDE A DETAILED FACTUAL STATEMENT WHICH IS BASED ON APPLICABLE STATUTES, LAWS, AND ORDINANCES. THE PROCUREMENT OFFICIAL WILL ISSUE A WRITTEN DECISION FROM 30 DAYS OF THE DATE THE PROTEST IS RECEIVED, FILING THE PROCUREMENT OFFICIAL IS DECISION TO PROTEST MAY FILE A REQUEST FOR REVIEW OF THE GERMAN AGENT DECISION BY THE CITY MANAGER. MEANING THAT, IF THE OFFICIAL HAD WRITTEN A DECISION, THE PROTESTER CAN FILE A DECISION TO REVIEW THAT WITH THE CITY MANAGER, AND THE REQUEST SHOULD BE MADE IN WRITING AND RECEIVED BY THE DOCUMENT OFFICIAL BY 4:00 P.M.

OF THE FIFTH CALENDAR DAY, FILING THE PROCUREMENT AGENT TRANSMISSION DECISION TO THE PROTEST. AND WE LOOK AT THOSE CALENDAR DAYS, WE TALK ABOUT HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS, WE

ADDRESS THAT. >> CITY MANAGER,

>> WE HAVE A LAWYER HERE. >> ONE MORE. I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH , YOU'RE SAYING THAT AN ATTORNEY FOR A PROTESTER CAN'T SIGN A DOCUMENT. IF I HIRE, IF I HIRE AN ATTORNEY TO REPRESENT ME, IN PROCUREMENT OR ANYTHING ELSE, THAT ATTORNEY HAS THE AUTHORITY TO SUBMIT SOMETHING ON MY BEHALF, BUT FROM WHAT I JUST READ IT SAYS THAT THEY CAN'T. AND I DON'T, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY. ONLY TELL ME WHY, BECAUSE IF I GO OUT AND HIRE AN ATTORNEY, THAT ATTORNEY IS REPRESENTING MY INTEREST, AND GIVES ME THE AUTHORITY TO DO SOMETHING ON MY COMPANY'S BEHALF, THAT MY ATTORNEY'S SIGNATURE SHOULD COUNT. WHAT AM I MISSING AS TO WHY WE DON'T WANT?

>> I ASSUME IT'S DIRECTED AT ME?

>> I'M JUST CURIOUS. >> MAYOR PRO TEM, COMMISSIONERS.

THIS DRAFT LANGUAGE CAME FROM OUTSIDE COUNCIL. AS A RECOMMENDATION. THE IDEA IS, YOU WANT THE PROTESTER TO HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME THAT THEY ARE THE ONES FILLING OUT WHAT ACTUALLY OCCURRED. IF YOU WANT THIS TO INCLUDE THE ABILITY TO ALLOW LEGAL COUNCIL TO DO THAT FOR THEM, WE CAN CHANGE THAT. ONE OF THE ISSUES, I THINK, THAT WE SEE SOMETIMES IS , ARE THEY FACTUALLY CORRECT? IS THIS SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY ASSERTING TO , THE FACTUAL OF WHAT THEY'RE CHALLENGING? WHAT IS TO COME IN SOME OF THE LATER SLIDES IS THE BOND PROTEST. WE ARE PROPOSING REQUIRING A BOND, THAT IS SOMETHING YOUR PROTESTER WILL HAVE TO FILE, BY LINKING THOSE TWO TOGETHER YOUR PROTESTER IS THE ONE FILING THIS, THEY ARE THAN HAVING TO PAY THEIR BOND SO YOU'RE CUTTING DOWN ON SOMEBODY FILING THINGS THAT DON'T NEED TO BE FILED I REQUIRING THAT BOND,

>> YOU'RE MAKING SENSE, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WANT THE PROTESTER TO BE THE ONE THAT'S DOING EVERYTHING. BUT, IF I HAVE A PROTESTER WHO HAS HIRED LEGAL COUNCIL, AND THE LEGAL COUNCIL SIGNS SOMETHING ON THAT PROTESTER'S BEHALF, AND WE DON'T ALLOW IT, IT'S ALMOST SAYING YOU'RE TAKING THE RIGHT

FROM SOMEONE TO HIRE COUNCIL. >> THEY CAN STILL HIRE COUNCIL.

THAT COULD BE THE ONE TO FILE IT IF THEY WANTED TO BE THE ONE TO FILE IT. BUT THE PROTESTER IS THE ONE THAT WOULD HAVE TO SIGN IT. I LIKEN IT IN MY MIND TO IF SOMEBODY DOES A COMMISSION ON ETHICS COMPLAINT. YOU'RE THE ONE THAT HAS TO SIGN THAT COMMISSION ON ETHICS COMPLAINT. YOU HAVE TO ASSERT TO THE FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS OF WHAT YOU'RE MAKING THAT YOU HAVE FACTUAL KNOWLEDGE OF THAT COMPLAINT. YOUR ATTORNEY CAN'T GO AND MAKE IT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THAT FACTUAL KNOWLEDGE. THAT'S WHAT'S POPPING IN MY HEAD IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE. YOU'RE THE ONE PROTESTING, YOU'RE CLAIMING WHAT YOU BELIEVE ARE THE DEFICIENCIES THAT OCCURRED , SO YOU'RE THE ONE THAT'S SIGNING THAT TO MAKE THAT COMPLAINT AND

THAT APPEAL OF THAT PROCESS. >> I GUESS, YOU'LL HAVE TO DISCUSS THIS ON WEDNESDAY. AS AN ATTORNEY WHO FILES COMPLAINTS EVERY DAY, I FILE THE FACTUAL COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF MY CLIENT. IT'S ME, I KNOW THE FACTS. I'M TRYING TO FIGURE

[02:15:06]

OUT, WE CAN MOVE ON. >> NONE OF THIS IS CAST INTO STONE. WE CAN ALWAYS REVISIT THIS. WE CAN MOVE THE LEGAL COUNCIL, THIS IS WHY WE ARE DISCUSSING IN THIS. WE'RE NOT

STUCK ON ANYTHING SPECIFIC. >> LET'S LEAVE IT LIKE IT IS.

>> COMMISSIONER GAINES? >> THIS IS THE ONLY TIME I CAN EXPRESS MY CONCERNS TO MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS THAT IT LOOKS TO ME, IF I'M ON THE OTHER SIDE, HOW I LOOK AT IT, HOW I READ IT, IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE MOVING A DECK OF CARDS, WE ARE TAKING AWAY A PERSON'S RIGHT FOR LEGAL COUNCIL. THAT'S HOW I READ IT.

I COULD BE TOTALLY WRONG BUT THAT'S HOW I'M READING IT, AND I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN. BUT WE CAN MOVE THIS DISCUSSION

AND WE CAN GO FROM THERE. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES, I'M GOING TO SUGGEST THAT I AGREE WITH YOUR SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT, HERE. I BELIEVE LEGAL COUNCIL SHOULD BE AUTHORIZED TO SIGN AND SUBMIT. IF THIS IS GOING TO GO TO A VOTE BUT WE HAVE TO AMEND THIS, I WOULD COME DOWN ON THAT SIDE OF IT.

>> I DON'T THINK ABOUT IS COMING TODAY. WE'RE HAVING

DISCUSSION. >> ULTIMATELY THIS PACKAGE IS GOING TO BE VOTED ON. WHEN YOU DISCUSS IT, I SIDE WITH THAT

SIDE OF THE DEBATE. >> TODAY IS TO GET THE FEEDBACK.

SO WE WILL ABSOLUTELY DO THAT, THIS HAS TO COME BEFORE YOU AS AN ORDINANCE FOR TWO READINGS. WE ARE IN THE BABY STEPS OF

GETTING IT TO YOU. >> THIS CAME FROM OUR ATTORNEY, IT'S BEST PRACTICE INFORMATION WE HAVE. OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO SUSPENSION AND DEBARMENT. AFTER CONSULTING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PROCUREMENT OFFICIALS AUTHORIZED TO SUSPEND OR DEBAR A PERSON OR ENTITY FROM CONSIDERATION FOR AWARDS OR CONTRACTS FOR CAUSES. THIS IS THE KIND OF STUFF THAT SELF EXPLANATORY, CONVICTION UNDER THE STATE OF FEDERAL STATUTES, UNDER STATE OR FEDERAL ANTITRUST STATUTES. VIOLATION OF CITY ANTI-LOBBYING RULES, VIOLATION OF CONTRACT REVISIONS. DELIVERED WITH THE SPECIFICATIONS WITHIN THE BUDGET TIMELINE PROVIDED IN THE CONTRACT, OR MORE IMPORTANTLY, A RECENT RECORD OF UNSATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE IN TERMS OF ONE OR MORE CONTRACTS.

I WANT TO NOTE THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE TO GO AS FAR AS SUSPENSION OR DEBARMENT BUT THAT'S A REASON WE CAN PREVENT SOMEONE FROM COMPETING IN A SOLICITATION TILL THEY GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER. WE HAVE VENDORS WHO ARE CONSTANTLY OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH THEIR AGREEMENT. THIS GIVES US, PARDON MY EXPRESSION, THE TEETH TO SAY GET YOUR AGREEMENT TOGETHER, YOU CANNOT COMPETE ON FUTURE AGREEMENTS UNTIL YOU GET IN COMPLIANCE TO WHERE YOU ARE TODAY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN LOOK AT NOT SO MUCH SUSPENDING OR DEBARRING THEM BUT WE MAY SAY DELAY THEM BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN FUTURE PROCUREMENTS UNTIL THEY GET IN COMPLIANCE . WE TALKED ABOUT THAT INTERNALLY, WE LIKE THAT LANGUAGE. IT'S NOT AS LEGAL AS SOMEONE VIOLATING OR COMMITTING A CRIME BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS COMMONLY AND IS A PROBLEM FOR US. I WANTED TO NOTE

THAT. >> WELL NOTED. AND IN THE DOCUMENT HISTORY, DOCUMENT HISTORY IS SIGNIFICANT DEVIATION FROM SPECIFICATIONS, WHAT I MENTIONED, ANY OTHER CAUSE PROCUREMENT DETERMINES TO BE SERIOUS, COMPELLING, IN VIOLATION OF STATE STATUTES, ANY OTHER CAUSE DETERMINES TO BE SERIOUS , TO AFFECT RESPONSIBILITY, THAT'S A DUPLICATE. SO THAT'S, SAY THAT TWICE. I'M WITH ALL THE CAUSES.

SUSPENSION SHOULD NOT EXCEED 12 MONTHS FOR VIOLATION, DEBARMENT SHOULD NOT EXCEED FIVE YEARS PER VIOLATION. EXCEPT FOR A THIRD TIME, SHALL BE DEBARRED FOR EIGHT YEARS. ON THE DAY OF DEBARMENT. SUSPENSION OF DEBARMENT MAY APPLY TO ALL CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES, OR MAY BE LIMITED TO CERTAIN TYPES OF CATEGORIES OF CONTRACT. NOW WE GET INTO THE REINSTATEMENT ASPECT OF SUSPENSION DEPARTMENT. WHEN PROCUREMENT OFFICIALS PROPOSING HE'S PROVIDING A WRITTEN NOTICE, SAME WITH THE PROTEST, SET A DEADLINE WHERE THE PERSON MUST RESPOND, FAILED TO RESPOND, YOU LOSE YOUR ABILITY TO PROTEST YOUR CONTENT.

AN OPPORTUNITY WILL BE HEARD TO SEND A WRITTEN RESPONSE, IF AFTER WE RECEIVE THE RESPONSE ARGUMENT OFFICIAL MAY DETERMINE IF THE MEETING WILL BE HELPFUL, THE FINAL DECISION SHALL STATE THE FACTUAL LEGAL REASONS FOR THE ACTION TAKEN IN TERMS OF SUSPENSION OR DEBARMENT, MEANING THAT AFTER THE DOCUMENT OFFICIAL MEETS WITH THE VENDOR, AND THEY STILL FEEL THE PERSON SHOULD BE DEBARRED, THEY HAVE TO COME UP WITH LEGAL REASONS WHY IN

SUSPENSION OR DEBARMENT. >> MR. MANAGER, WITH THIS

[02:20:03]

>> I'M SURE WE'LL BRIEF YOU ON THIS BUT THIS IS HANDLED WITHIN

THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE. >> OKAY. OKAY. FINAL NOTICE OF SUSPENSIONS, UNLESS THE PARTY OF SUSPENDED PERSON WITHIN FIVE CALENDAR DAYS, THIS IS WRITTEN NOTICE. THE PROCUREMENT OFFICIAL HAS THE AUTHORITY TO REINSTATE ANY PERSON GO ON? ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES. BEFORE I GO THROUGH ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES, WITH DEBARMENT I SPENT TIME, THAT'S CRUCIAL AS PROTEST, YOU HAVE TO BE REALLY EGREGIOUS TO BE DEBARRED OR SUSPENDED. AND CERTAINLY MORE THAN LIKELY MOST TIMES WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT'S ILLEGAL ACTIVITY OUTSIDE OF YOUR CURRENT AGREEMENT, SOMETIMES IT'S SOMETHING YOU DID IN ANOTHER COUNTY, STATE, AND YOU GET PUT ON A LIST, AND THAT LIST COMES TO US AND WE HAVE TO DEBAR YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE DEBARRED SOMEWHERE ELSE. THAT'S WHY DEBARMENT IS ESSENTIAL, OFTEN TIMES THE TO BE YOU HAVE THE AGREEMENT WITH IS NOT THE ONE , YOU'VE BEEN DEBARRED FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE AND YOU GET PUT ON THE LIST, THAT LIST GETS TO THE CITY, WE HAVE TO DEBAR THEM AS WELL. THAT'S HOW THAT GOES. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES. THIS IS BASIC, THE CITY MANAGER DEVELOPED AND ENFORCED SUPPLEMENTAL PROCEDURES, INFORMS NOT INCONSISTENT WITH THIS ARTICLE. MEANING I CAN, THE CITY MANAGER, DEVELOP PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES BUT IT CANNOT BE IN CONFLICT WITH THE CODE. AND I WANT TO UNDERLINE THAT. AS WE DEVELOP OUR PROCEDURES, WE ENSURE THAT OUR PROCEDURES ARE IN LINE WITH THE CODE AND WAS GOING TO HAPPEN IS THAT, IF THE NEXT LIGHT. SORRY. SORRY. THE NEXT POINT. THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES SHALL BE CONTAINED IN THE PROCUREMENT ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES MANUAL, WHICH WILL BE ORGANIZED BY TOPIC AND SHOULD NOT BE INCONSISTENT WITH ANY PROVISION OF THIS ARTICLE. MEANING THAT WE'RE GOING TO DEVELOP A MANUAL AND THAT MANUAL WILL SPELL OUT THE SPECIFIC STEPS THAT EACH DEPARTMENT , STAFF, WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND TO GO THROUGH SOME PROCESS, AND THE MANUAL HAS TO BE WITH THE CODE, AND OUR PROCEDURES HAVE TO BE IN COURSE WITH THE CODE, EVERYTHING HAS TO BE ALIGNED. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, ONCE WE GET THE CODE UPDATED AND ULTIMATELY GET APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION, WE'LL GO BACK AND FINALIZE THE PURCHASING MANUAL WHICH SHALL AGREE WITH THE CODE, AND AT THAT POINT WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT LIGHT, PLEASE. WE'LL HAVE STAFF TRAINING TO SHOW THAT IT'S REGULAR, IT'S RELEVANT, TALK ABOUT THE LEGAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES, TO ENSURE THE CITY'S PROCUREMENT IS CONSISTENT, EFFICIENT, LAWFUL, AND ETHICAL

MANNER. ANY QUESTIONS? >> COMMISSIONER, ANY QUESTIONS? HE WENT THROUGH A LOT. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING ALL THAT TOGETHER.

>> I JUST HAVE ONE COMMENT. IT'S ABOUT 20 YEARS TOO LATE BUT THAT'S OKAY, WE'RE HERE TO FIX IT. I'M IN A STATE OF SHOCK THAT WE DON'T HAVE SOMETHING IN PLACE LIKE THIS NOW. FOR ANY TYPE OF COMPANY DOING BUSINESS ANYWHERE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE, UNLESS IT'S A PRIVATELY HELD COMPANY, WHICH CITY GOVERNMENT CANDIDLY IS, IT'S A $67 MILLION A YEAR BUSINESS, TO NOT HAVE THESE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE, TIME, I'M SORELY DISAPPOINTED. HOWEVER, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE INITIATIVE. WHAT I SEE HERE CLEANS UP THIS SCENARIO. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING IT IN FINAL FORM AND ADOPTED. THE WHOLE TEAM THAT WORKED ON THIS, THANK YOU. IT'S SORELY NEEDED.

>> THE CITY ATTORNEY, CITY CLERK, CITY, IT WAS A STRONG COLLABORATION. WE WENT BACK AND FORTH AND WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK AND TAKE YOUR COMMENTS THIS MORNING AS WELL, THE CITY ATTORNEY AND I WILL SIT DOWN AND TRY TO GET THE LANGUAGE PANNED OUT THAT WE FEEL IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS TO YOU.

I FEEL THAT THIS IS A LONG TIME COMING, BUT FOR ME, FOR THE CITY, IT'S NOT ABOUT INFORMATION. IT'S ABOUT EDUCATION. TODAY WAS INFORMATIVE, I'M GOING TO GET WITH THE MANAGER, THEY HAVE TO ON THIS, THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT, UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE DOING WITH THIS CODE, UNDERSTAND HOW TO COMMUNICATE IT TO THEIR COWORKERS, AND ENFORCE IT. JOB IS TO MONITOR THE ENFORCEMENT ALONG WITH THE FINANCE DIRECTOR. IT'S THE BEGINNING OF A LONG

PROCESS OF CONTINUAL TRAINING. >> I JUST HAVE ONE FOLLOW-UP.

THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME TYPE OF LINKAGE TO DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS AS WELL. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU'VE GOT A PROJECT, PAYMENT. ONE OF THOSE ISSUES RIGHT NOW.

[02:25:02]

>> THAT'S SOMETHING WE TALKED ABOUT, THAT EVERY VENDOR SHIP HAS A PROJECT MANAGER, AND THAT PROJECT MANAGER NEEDS TO BE FAMILIAR WITH THE SOLICITATION. THEY SHOULD BE FAMILIAR WITH THE AGREEMENT, ONCE THE AGREEMENT IS SIGNED AND APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION, AND THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING THE ACTIVITY OF THAT AGREEMENT. THEY HAVE TO SIGN UP WHETHER THE WORK WAS DONE FOR THE GOODS WERE RECEIVED, AND WHAT HAPPENS INITIALLY WAS THE AGREEMENT IS APPROVED, THEN APO IS ISSUED BEFORE ANY MONIES ARE SPENT. THERE MAY BE VARIOUS LINE ITEMS ON WHAT SHOULD BE PAID, A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT SHOULD BE PAID AND THE AMOUNT THAT SHOULD BE PAID. ONCE THE WORK IS DONE THOSE INVOICES COME TO THE PROJECT MANAGER. THE PROJECT MANAGER SHOULD REVIEW IT, IS THE PRICE RIGHT? WAS THE WORK DONE? IT GOES THROUGH OUR AP PROCESS. PROJECT MANAGERS CAN SOMETIMES DEPARTMENT HEADS, SOMETIMES DEPARTMENT HEADS MANAGER. IT'S CRUCIAL THAT THE DEPARTMENTS UNDERSTAND THE PROJECT MANAGER THAT THEY HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO VERIFY WHETHER OR NOT THAT WORK WAS DONE. WE DON'T KNOW THAT FINANCE DEPARTMENT, THEY'RE GETTING THE INVOICE. IT'S CRUCIAL TO ME ON THE FINANCE SIDE, THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE PAYING.

>> WHAT I'M TRYING TO AVOID IS SUBMITTING AN INVOICE AND IT JUST GETS PAID, NOBODY'S APPROVED IT. THAT'S A PROBLEM.

IT'S ONGOING. NOW. THIS NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED AND CORRECTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. TWO AVOID THAT HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE. IF YOU HAVE A SIGN OFF, THAT PERSON IS TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR

APPROVING THAT EXPENDITURE. >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THIS ISN'T, YOU'RE JUST SIGNING OFF ON IT. THAT WORK HAS BEEN COMPLETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONTRACT.

>> ABSOLUTELY. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES? WITH THAT NOTE, I HEAR YOU SAYING THAT THIS IS THE FIRST PART, BUT IN THE FUTURE, THERE WILL BE PROJECT MANAGERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR EXACTLY THE INVOICE FOLLOW-UP AND

ASSIGNMENTS. >> IF THAT'S HAPPENING YOU CAN LET ME KNOW. WE CAN TALK ABOUT IN ONE ON ONES.

CAN GO TO THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, MY CONTENTION IS THAT THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT IS THE LAST FRONTIER IN TERMS OF WHAT'S TO BE CUT. IF THEY RECEIVE AN INVOICE, WE GO THROUGH A THREE DOCUMENT MATCH, THE P.O. REQUISITION, EVERYTHING IS LINED UP, AND THEY SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THE AGREEMENT AS WELL. YOU JUST CAN'T TAKE IT AS FACE VALUE.

>> THE PROJECT MANAGER SIGNED OFF ON THE INVOICE WHEN IT COMES IN THE DOOR, THAT'S HOW IT HAS TO WORK. MY CONCERN IS THAT WE

GET THAT IN PLACE. >> WE'LL TALK.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE. AS WE CONTINUE TO GO FORWARD , AND TO COMMISSIONER BRODERICK'S POINT, THIS IS ONGOING. YES, WE'RE PLAYING CATCH-UP NOW, BUT, THINGS ARE CHANGING EVERY DAY IN PURCHASING AND PURCHASING CODE AND HOW THINGS ARE DONE AND NEW THINGS ARE BEING DISCOVERED. WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT FROM THIS POINT GOING FORWARD WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS BROUGHT FORTH FOR DISCUSSION, THERE ARE GOING TO BE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DISCOVER . FORT PIERCE IS GROWING, OUR CONTRACTS ARE GOING TO BE BIGGER. SO IT'S JUST A MATTER OF US MAKING SURE WE

ADAPT TO THAT. >> THIS IS MORE SO FOR THE EMPLOYEES AND STAFF. BECAUSE THE CULTURE CHANGE, WE ALL KNO THAT. WHEN I CAME INTO THE DOOR, THERE WAS INCUMBENT UPON ME TO LOOK AT OUR PROCUREMENT CODE ALONG WITH ALL OF YOU, IT'S NOT JUST A CITY ATTORNEY THING OR CITY CLERK THING. SO A CULTURE CHANGE MEANS THE MIND-SET CHANGE, SO THE WAY WE WERE DOING BUSINESS IS DIFFERENTLY. WE HAVE AN OLD CODE THAT WE'RE LIVING AWAY FROM, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WITH THE NEW RULES ARE, WE HIGHLIGHTED EARLIER. IN THE EARLIER PART OF THE PRESENTATION. BUT UNDERSTAND THE CULTURE CHANGE MEANS A MIND-SET CHANGE AND WE HAVE TO CHANGE OUR WAY OF DOING BUSINESS WHEN IT

COMES TO PROCUREMENT. >> RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.

>> WE HAVE A DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED 2026 CITY OF FORT

PIERCE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES. >> I'VE BEEN TALKING A LOT TODAY. FIRST, WE'RE ACTUALLY, WE MET WITH GRAY ROBINSON, OUR LOBBYIST LAST THURSDAY. AND WE TALKED ABOUT THINGS THAT WE ALREADY KNOW THAT'S ON THE HORIZON FOR THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES. FROM THE STATE'S PERSPECTIVE AS WELL AS WHICH WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF, WE TALKED ABOUT THE PROPERTY TAX REFORM WHICH WE KNOW ABOUT. TALKED ABOUT SALES TAX REFORM, REDUCING SALES TAX TO 5 1/4%. THEY DID THAT IN 2025, IT FAILED. ALSO CRA ELIMINATION. THOSE ARE THE THREE AREAS IN WHICH THEY HIGHLIGHTED, AND THEY TALKED ABOUT THE ARTS AND CULTURE BUDGET BEING CUT, IN TERMS OF IMPACT GETTING REVENUES FOR ARTWORK FOR MONIES TO GO TOWARD LINCOLN PARK, CERTAIN TYPES OF ACTIVITY , MAIN STREET. THOSE ARE THE MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS THAT WE THAT, BUT WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVE, DELEGATION. I

[02:30:06]

TODAY AS WELL, I'M GIVING YOU A SUMMARY OF WHAT MY DISCUSSION WAS, I WANT TO GET YOUR INPUT TODAY SO WHEN WE MEET ON OUR ONE-ON-ONE WE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT OUR PRIORITIES SHOULD BE. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THEY FOCUSED ON, PROPERTY TAX REFORM, SALES TAX REFORM, CRA ELIMINATION. THEY TALKED ABOUT THE ARTS AND CULTURE DISCUSSION WITH ISN'T COMING BACK.

>> I WOULD ALSO BE INTERESTED TO HAVE YOU TALK TO STAFF. I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN BUILDING CODE, IF IT CHANGES THE BUILDING PROFESSIONALS THAT MAYBE WE NEED TO HAVE ON OUR RADAR, ANY OF THOSE PROFESSIONAL DEPARTMENTS, RECORDS, ANYTHING THAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT YOU PULL THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS THAT, THEY MAY HEAR IT THROUGH THAT PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND MEETINGS THAT WE KNOW THAT AND HEAR THAT, SO THAT WE CAN ALSO REPRESENT THAT WHEN WE GO TO FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES AND GET THE STUFF ON RADAR. WE'LL BE GETTING INTO OUR MEETINGS WITH THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES. AND WE'RE ON COMMITTEES, I KNOW I'M ON A COMMITTEE, ARE YOU IN A COMMITTEE? WE'VE GOT OUR COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS. IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO KNOW, BECAUSE LITTLE THINGS BUBBLE UP, LIKE I AM ON RESEARCHER, GOVERNMENT, TRANSPORTATION, BASIC MOBILITY, THAT'S MY AREA. COMMISSIONER

GAINES, WHERE ARE YOU? >> UTILITIES.

>> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK? >> DEVELOPMENT.

>> WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING AND IT'S IMPORTANT WE HEAR FROM STAFF. AS THE THINGS YOU'RE HEARING THROUGH YOUR PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION AND YOUR COLLEAGUES AROUND THE STATE. SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT IF IT BUBBLES UP ENOUGH, WE CAN GET THAT ON OUR PRIORITY LIST. I THINK YOU HIT IT RIGHT

ON THE HEAD. >> ONE OF THE THINGS COMMISSIONER GAINES JUST MENTIONED, HE'S ON THE UTILITIES COMMITTEE, IS THE ELIMINATION OF CITY-OWNED UTILITIES CONTRIBUTING MONEY TO THE GENERAL FUND. THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT SEVERAL YEARS IN A ROW. COMMISSIONER GAINES HAS BEEN RIGHT ON POINT ON THIS THING, AND I THINK THAT SHOULD BE A

PRIORITY FOR US AS WELL. >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> I'LL BE VOCAL. >> I'M NOT SURPRISED.

>> EVEN FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE WITH TRANSPORTATION GAS TAX, WE KNOW ARE GOING DOWN WITH THE SURGE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES, HOW DO YOU FILL THAT VOID? THAT'S NOT EVEN ON THE RADAR, WEST OF TOWN WE HAVE THIS WHOLE ENERGY THING WITH ALL THESE CHARGING STATIONS, COST A LOT OF MONEY TO PUT IT IN. HOW DO WE RECOUP THOSE FUNDS? SO, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTING. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, AND MORE TO COME. ANYBODY ELSE, DISCUSSION ON

THIS? >> ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO DO, AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO, AND YOU TALKED ABOUT IT, MAYOR PRO TEM, WAS WITH OUR STAFF. WHAT WE NEED TO GET IN FRONT OF THIS PROPERTY TAX, AND WE NEED TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE THAT HAS BEEN PUT OUT FROM PEOPLE IN TALLAHASSEE WHY THE PROPERTY TAXES GOOD, AND WE NEED TO LET OUR RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IF THIS GOES THROUGH, BECAUSE THEY'RE LOOKING AT US AND MAD AT US, WHEN THEIR SERVICES GET CUT. AND WHY THEIR SERVICES GETTING CUT. WHY WE THEN TELL THEM THAT THEIR SERVICE WAS GOING TO GET CUT. WE NEED TO PUT SOME TYPE OF NOTIFICATION OUT OF SOME TYPE OF WORD OUT, MAYBE THE RESIDENTS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT MIGHT SOUND GOOD, BUT, WE NEED TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT PROPERTY TAX , WHAT WE DO WITH THE PROPERTY TAXES, WHAT SERVICES ARE PAID THROUGH PROPERTY TAXES. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN DO THAT WITHOUT GETTING THE BOYS ARE BACK FROM THE GOVERNOR, OR THE LEGISLATURE UP IN TALLAHASSEE, BUT, I DON'T WANT TO WAIT TO PLAY CATCH-UP.

LET'S BE PROACTIVE AND LET THE RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND , BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF STUFF TODAY. AND A LOT OF STUFF IS PAID THROUGH SOME OF THESE SERVICES PAID THROUGH PROPERTY TAXES. WE NEED TO LET THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS WHERE YOUR PROPERTY TAX IS GOING. THIS IS THE SERVICES, YOU KNOW? SO, GET USED TO ONCE A WEEK, GARBAGE PICKUP, OR ANY OTHER THING. I KEEP GOING TO GARBAGE PICKUP BUT THAT'S A BIG DEAL. WE'RE USED TO TWO DAYS AND OTHER TYPE OF SERVICES THAT THEY'RE USED TO THE CITY PROVIDING. THIS COULD GO AWAY AND WE NEED TO GET THE

INFORMATION OUT. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES, AS A

[02:35:01]

>> RIGHT. >> ONE OF THE THINGS. MRS. COX, WE HAVE ANOTHER LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION MEETING COMING UP I THOUGHT WAS NOTICED. AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO, AT THAT POINT, ANNUALLY I REMEMBER THE MAYOR DOING THIS LAST YEAR. WAS THERE A CALLOUT FOR US TO BUBBLED THIS UP AND MAKE SURE THAT SHE

PRESENTS AT THAT YOU MARK >> YES. I THINK MISS ANDREA WARNER IS WORKING. IT'S OCTOBER THE 29TH, I BELIEVE, IS WHEN THAT MEETING IS GOING TO BE HELD. AND SHE'S GOING TO BE , SHE WAS GOING TO GET YOUR FEEDBACK TODAY, AND GOING TO MEET WITH YOU INDIVIDUALLY, AND SHE'LL HAVE THE FINAL AGENDA , I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO COME BACK AT OUR OCTOBER MEETING.

SHE'LL GET THAT FINALIZED AND BE READY TO PRESENT AT THE

OCTOBER 29TH MEETING. >> SO WE'LL PREPARE FOR THAT, I WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE BECAUSE THAT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. SO, AS WE BEGIN TO DO THAT, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS TOPIC? ALL

[12. City Commission Boards and Committees Updates]

>> WE HAVE CITY COMMISSION BOARD AND COMMITTEE UPDATES.

>> ANY BOARD UPDATES? ANYTHING, OKAY.

>> THE ONLY ONE I'VE MET ON WAS THE LEGAL LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT LAST WEEK , WHAT WE JUST GOT THROUGH TALKING ABOUT, THE PROPERTY TAXES AND READY TO DO WHAT WE CAN DO TO E- HELP THE CITY. AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT GET READY TO TRY TO

STOP THIS FROM GOING THROUGH. >> THE ONLY UPDATE I HAVE, THE BOARD MET LAST WEEK, WE HELD OUR BUDGET MEETING, THE FIRST OF TWO REQUIRED. SO, WE LEVIED OUR MILLAGE FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AS YOU KNOW IT'S ST. LUCIE COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT, SO IT COVERS THE ENTIRE COUNTY, AND SO THE MILLAGE VOTE AT THAT POINT WAS THAT IT MAINTAINED WHERE IT CURRENTLY IS, A 3.0 MILLAGE, AND PART OF THAT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING BUILDING TWO NEW FIRE STATIONS, HERE. SO WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT, AS THE RESULT OF GROWTH IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY. AS WELL AS ADDITIONS AND UPDATES TO STATIONS THAT NEED TO EITHER BE LARGER , DUE TO GROWTH, AND OR MORE EFFICIENT TO HOUSE THE EQUIPMENT THAT GOES IN THERE, WE'RE ALSO UNDER LEGISLATIVE MANDATE OF WORK HOUR WEEKS, WHICH MEANS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO SOME SHIFTING OF THE DIVISIONS. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO BRING ON AN ENTIRE DIVISION AT THIS POINT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SCALE BACK ON THE HOURS FIREFIGHTERS WORK, WHICH WE'VE HAD TO ADJUST OUR BUDGET TO FIGURE THAT OUT, AND THE CHIEF HAS PROPOSED THAT HE'S FIGURE THAT OUT, WHERE IT WON'T COST AN ADDITIONAL ON BOARDING OF A DIFFERENT UNIT.

WHICH, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE 18, 19 STATIONS IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY, WHICH AS YOU CAN IMAGINE WOULD BE A LARGE UPHEAVAL OF EMPLOYMENT. SO, THAT WAS HELD, AND SO, JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE OF A PERSPECTIVE FROM THE FIRE BOARD, AND WHAT WE ARE FACED WITH THERE. THAT DID PASS SUCCESSFULLY IN OUR FIRST READING, WE HAVE ANOTHER BUDGET HEARING COMING UP. WITH THAT BEING SAID, THIS EVENING AT 5:00, WE WILL HAVE OUR FIRST BUDGET HEARING FOR OUR BUDGET , AND PROPOSED MILLAGE, AT 5:00.

FOR THOSE THAT WANT TO EXPRESS CONCERNS , THEY CAN MEET US HERE AT 5:00 THIS AFTERNOON. WE'LL HAVE OUR PUBLIC HEARING TO REVIEW OUR BUDGET, MS. MORRIS WILL REVIEW OUR BUDGET, AND WE'LL HAVE OUR PUBLIC HEARING. AND THEN WE WILL ACT ACCORDINGLY, IT WILL BE THE THREE OF US THIS AFTERNOON AT

[02:40:02]