[MEETING TO ORDER]
[00:00:06]
>>> GOOD AFTERNOON. WELCOME TO FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AUTHORITY BOARD MEETING THIS DECEMBER 2. PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE PRAYER AND THE PLEDGE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. WILL YOU PRAY WITH ME? LORD, I ASK YOUR GRACE AND PEACE RESIDE. MAY WE PRAY FOR WISDOM AND GUIDANCE ON THE FPUA BOARD AND STAFF AS WE DISCUSS STRATEGIES, CONTRACTS, AND KEY DECISIONS. WE ASK THAT YOU ENLARGE THE TERRITORY OF FPUA AND GIVE US FAVOR AND NEGOTIATIONS TO REDUCE OUR COST AND PROVIDE A BETTER SERVICE TO OUR RESIDENTS OF FORT PIERCE. WE PRAY FOR CONTINUED PROTECTION OVER OUR SCHOOLS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND ASK GREATER UNITY BE INSIDE OUR COMMUNITY.
WE PRAY ALL OF THIS IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. AMEN. 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. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> MRS. BEN DWAMENA? >> PRESENT.
[A. SET THE AGENDA]
>> MR. CHESS? >> PRESENT. DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR ACTUALLY WE'LL START WITH THE AGENDA. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA?
>> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? >> BENNETT?
>> YES. >> DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? IF SO, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK. I DO NOT SEE
[C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
ANY MOVEMENT. SO WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION OF TODAY'S MEETING AND MOVE ONTO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES. IF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ARE SATISFIED WITH THE MINUTES, CANI HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? >> I MOVE THE MINUTES BE
APPROVED THAT'S PRESENTED. >> SECOND.
>> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> BENNETT?
[D. CONSENT AGENDA]
>> YES, MA'AM. MOVING ONTO THE CONSENT AGENDA. ANY ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE PULLED FOR DISCUSSION? IF NOT, CAN I HAVE A
MOTION TO APPROVE? >> MOVE APPROVAL.
>> OKAY, WE HAVE A TIE, SO I'M GOING TO GO WITH MADAM MAYOR.
SHE HAS SENIORITY. MS. GIBBONS SECONDS IT.
[E.1. Energy Services Center (ESC) First Floor Building Expansion]
>> FEE? >> YES, MA'AM. MOVING ONTO THE
REGULAR AGENDA. >> FIRST ITEM IS A REQUEST TO ACCEPT A PROPOSAL FOR AN EXPANSION PROJECT AT THE ENERGY SERVICES CENTER. WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN AND BOARD MEMBERS. RECOMMENDATION FOR RFP NO. 25-02 RECOMMEND ACCEPTANCE OF PROPOSAL AND AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR ENERGY SERVICES CENTER FIRST FLOOR BUILDING EXPANSION WITH DON HINKLE CONSTRUCTION, INCORPORATED IN HUTCHINSON ISLAND, FLORIDA. IN ACORDONS OF THE CONTRACTOR'S PROPOSAL. THE TERM OF CONTRACT SHALL BE UPON EXECUTION AND TERMINATE ON JUNE 30, 2026, CONTINGENT UPON RECEIVING FULLY EXECUTE BOND DOCUMENT. STAFF REQUESTS AUTHORIZATION FROM THE BOARD FOR THE DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES TO EXECUTE CHANGE ORDERS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $50,000 FOR THIS PROJECT. SUMMARY SUPPORTING INFORMATION, THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL RFP WAS UPLOADED TO DEMAND STORE ON APRIL 17, 2025, AND WAS ADVERTISED ON APRIL 22, 28 OF 2025. WITH AN OPENING AT 11:30 A.M. ON MAY 29, 2025, THE RFP WAS SENT TO 1,155 VENDORS. 44 VENDORS REQUESTED SPECS WITH FIVE RESPONDING AND TWO NO BIDS RESULTING IN A 16% RESPONSE RATE. OF THE FIVE RESPONDING PROPOSALS, 40% WERE LOCAL VENDORS. A RECOMMENDATION WAS RECEIVED TO REQUEST AUTHORIZATION FROM THE BOARD TO ACCEPT THE BEST EVALUATED PROPOSAL FROM DON HINKLE CONSTRUCTION.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OF THE BOARD MEMBERS? SUCH AS WHAT KIND OF
EXPANSION ARE WE DOING? >> IS THIS PART OF THAT LIST OF BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS WE WERE GOING TO DO THROUGH THE --
>> YES, MA'AM, THROUGH THE ISSUANCE? THIS IS NOT PART OF THE DEAD ISSUANCE, BUT I THINK IT MAY BE A PART OF THE ISSUANCE, A PART OF THE LINE OF CREDIT AS FAR AS FUNDING. BUT THIS IS AN EXPANSION OF AN EXISTING AREA WE HAVE. THIS IS NOT A STORM PROJECT. BUT WHATEVER WE DO PUT IN THERE WILL BE STORM HARDENED. BRIAN MIGHT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE DETAILS.
>> YES, FOR THIS PROJECT, IT'S A BUDGETED ITEM PREVIOUSLY APPROVED. BRINGING THE TEAM TOGETHER WITH THE AMI AND METER READING TEAM HELPS US FOLLOW THROUGH THE PLAN APPROVED IN
[00:05:03]
PAST YEARS AND PUTS THE MANAGER IN THE SAME SPACE AS ALL OF OUR STAFF. AND ALSO FREES UP MUCH NEEDED SPACE IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING AND ANNEX, SO WE CAN MAKE FURTHERMOVES IN THE FUTURE. >> SO YOU'RE EXPANDING BECAUSE YOU'RE PUTTING MORE PEOPLE THERE, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> WE'RE PUTTING THREE TEAMS TOGETHER UNDER ONE MANAGER.
CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, THE TEAM IS KIND OF SPREAD OUT. NOT IN THE SAME GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION. BUT YES, WE'LL BE ADDING ON. WITH THOSE IMPROVEMENTS, WE'RE LOOKING AT 15 NEW OFFICES IN OVER 20 ADDITIONAL WORKSTATIONS, WHICH ARE DEFINITELY NEEDED.
>> OKAY. THANKS. >> WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THE OTHER SPACE WE FREED UP? SINCE WE'RE MOVING TEAMS FROM
ONE LOCATION TO ANOTHER? >> SO RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE PEOPLE KIND OF MOBILE. WE DO HAVE AN OVERALL PLAN TO ADD SOME MUCH NEEDED SPACE AND THE ANNEX SPACE RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE THREE TO FOUR PEOPLE IN THE SINGLE OFFICE. SO WE WILL BE USING THAT SPACE TO SPREAD THOSE FOLKS OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR JUST MAKING IT A LITTLE BIT MORE FUNCTIONAL WORK SPACE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF THE BOARD?
>> I JUST -- JUST BECAUSE WE SPOKE ABOUT THIS EARLIER.
DOESN'T NECESSARILY SAY EXACTLY WHERE IT IS. IT'S THE BOTTOM FLOOR OF THE SE CENTER, RIGHT? MORE IT'S LIKE A GREETING AREA?
IT HAS SOME OFFICE SPACE? >> YEAH, THERE'S TWO AREAS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE CENTER OF THE BUILDING, THERE IS AN AREA TO THE LEFT AND AN AREA TO THE RIGHT. IT'S ALREADY UNDER -- IT'S UNDER THE BUILDING STRUCTURE. WE'RE ENCLOSING THAT BUILDING STRUCTURE, SO IT IS ALREADY -- I'M NOT SURE WHEN THEY BUILT IT, WHY THEY DIDN'T MAKE OFFICES OUT OF THAT SPACE.
BUT IT WILL BE ENCLOSING THAT SPACE.
>> AND ALL THE WORK -- I'M SORRY. I'D LIKE TO SPEAK. WILL ALL THE WORK BE DONE BY JUNE 30, YOU SAID, 2026?
>> THAT'S WHAT'S PROPOSED, MS. BENNETT.
>> ALL RIGHT, IF THERE AREN'T ANY QUESTIONS, CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE OR NOT APPROVE?
>> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> MRS. BENNETT?
>> YES, MA'AM. >> MRS. GIBBONS?
>> YES, MA'AM. >> MAYOR HUDSON?
[E.2. Resolution No. UA 2025-22 Rules & Regulations for Branding and Communications]
>> YES, MA'AM. >> THANK YOU, BRIAN.
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, THE NEXT ITEM IS A REQUEST TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2025-22 RELATED TO BRANDING AND COMMUNICATION WITHIN OUR RULES AND REGS. RACHEL TENANT, DIRECTOR OF AFFAIRS IS ACCOMPANIED WITH TERESA FROM BANK CORP. JONES AND THEY WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN FEE, MAYOR HUDSON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MR. CHESS. WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY. IF WE CAN GO BACK ONE. MY NAME IS RACHEL, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND SUSTAINABILITY, AND I'M JOIN TODAY BY TERESA OF COMMUNICATIONS. THIS PRESENTATION, WE WILL BE REQUESTING YOUR APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT A NEW SECTION, SECTION SEVEN OF THE FPUA RULES AND REGULATIONS TO CAPTURE COMMUNICATIONS AND BRANDING POLICIES. NEXT ITEM. FPUA HAS BEEN WORKING ON UPDATING ITS BRAND, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND ENGAGEMENT FOR SEVERAL YEARS. BEGINNING IN 2022, WE STARTED TO DO A DEEPER DIVE OF THE REFRESH. IN EARLY 2023, ISSUED A DIRECTIVE FOR ALL BRANDED MATERIALS TO BE ROUTED THROUGH THE NEWLY ACCOMPLISHED PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND SUSTAINABILITY TEAM. SINCE THAT TIME, THE TEAM HAS GROWN FROM ONE TO ABOUT SIX TO INCLUDE COMMUNICATIONS, BRANDING, AND GRANTS. THROUGHOUT THAT TIME PERIOD, WE'VE BEEN MANAGING COMMUNICATIONS AND BRANDING IN A SORT OF AD HOC PROCEDURAL WAY. WITHOUT WRITTEN POLICIES IN PLACE. THERE'S BEEN A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING THAT BRANDED MATERIALS SHOULD BE APPROVED THROUGH THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS TEAM BEFORE THEY ARE SENT OUT INTO THE PUBLIC. BUT THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY POLICIES TO HELP PROVIDE GUIDELINES OR ESTABLISH
[00:10:05]
STANDARDS. THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING ALONGSIDE TO ASSIST US IN UPDATING SOME OF OUR BRANDING AND IN DOING MAJOR INITIATIVES LIKE THE WRF RELOCATION, SEWER PROGRAMMING, AND OVER THE LAST YEAR, WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THE NEED TO GET SOME OF THESE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES IN WRITING, SO THAT OUR STAFF, OUR MANAGERS, AND OUR PUBLIC AFFAIRS TEAM CAN BE SUPPORTED BY WRITTEN GUIDELINES AND SO THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE ON GETTING THESE APPROVALS IN PLACE AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS MATTERS, LIKE MEDIA, EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS, AND MORE. JONES HAS OVER 20 YEARS OF STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION SUPPORT AS AN ORGANIZATION, AND THE PROJECT TEAM COLLECTIVELY HAVE MORE LIKE 100 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN COMMUNICATIONS AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES IN GENERAL. THEIR WORK SPANS LOCAL AND PRIVATE INDUSTRIES INCLUDING ONGOING SUPPORT FOR AND FAMILIARITY WITH ST. LUCIE COUNTY. WE WORK WITH THEM TO HELP DEVELOP THESE POLICIES, SO WE DIDN'T CREATE POLICIES THAT WOULD CODIFY OUR HABITS, BUT RATHER CREATE POLICIES THAT INCLUDE BEST PRACTICES. BASED ON WHAT THEY'VE SEEN IN THE INDUSTRY. AND WITH THAT, I WILL HAND THIS PRESENTATION OVER WHO WILL LEAD US THROUGH THE POLICIES, HOW WE DEVELOP THEM.>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, RACHEL. THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERSFOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. MY FIRM HAS BEEN WORKING WITH FPUA. WE'VE HAD THE HONOR TO WORK WITH FPUA SINCE 2022 ON THE FRW PROJECT, AS WELL AS MANY OTHER PROJECTS SINCE THEN. AS MOST RECENTLY, THIS PROJECT STARTING THIS YEAR. SO I'M HONORED TO BE HERE TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE WORK WE HAVE DONE. I WANT TO START WITH A HIGH LEVEL VIEW OF THE STRATEGY WE USE TO PUT TOGETHER THESE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. WE'RE A FIRM BELIEVER CORE VALUES DON'T MEAN MUCH UNLESS YOU'RE ACTING THEM OUT. SO THAT'S WHERE WE STARTED WITH THIS PROJECT. WE WANTED TO TAKE THE CORE VALUES AND MAKE SURE THEY WERE INCORPORATED INTO THESE POLICIES EVERY SINGLE STEP OF THE WAY, SO THAT THEY COULD COME ALIVE AND GUIDE US AS WE PUT ALL OF THESE POLICIES TOGETHER. AND I THINK THESE POLICIES ARE A DIRECT RESULT OF THE INCORPORATION OF FPUA CORE VALUES. AS MS. TENANT ELUDED TO, WE DID START WITH MR. CISNEROS MEMORANDUM THAT WENT OUT IN 2023. THIS GAVE THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND SUSTAINABILITY DEPARTMENT THE PURVIEW OF ALL EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS. SO THIS WAS OUR STARTING POINT AS WE PUT TOGETHER THESE POLICIES. WE NEXT MOVE TO CONSIDERING HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS THAT THE POLICIES BE STRUCTURED, TRANSPARENT, AND RELIABLE. THE BRAD IS ONE THAT WE WANT TO BE SEEN AS TRUSTWORTHY. AND SO RELIABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY WAS CRITICAL TO BE INCORPORATED AND THROUGHOUT ALL THESE POLICIES BECAUSE IT DOES REPRESENT THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION. I'M GOING TO GO OVER THE TIMELINE OF HOW THESE POLICIES CAME IN TO DEVELOPMENT, STARTING WITH JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND SUSTAINABILITY DEPARTMENT ENVISIONED THESE. WE GAP THE PROCESS AS THE CORE TEAM FROM JANUARY TO AUGUST OF THIS YEAR OF PUTTING THEM TOGETHER. WE HAD MANY REVISIONS, WE HAD TARGETED REVIEW BY FPUA PROGRAM MANAGERS AND SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS. WHEN WE CAME TO A PLACE WHEN WE FELT THESE WERE READY FOR REVIEW, WE CONDUCTED A WORKSHOP WITH FPUA DIRECTORS, DEPARTMENT HEADS, AND COMMUNICATORS. WE TOOK THE FEEDBACK AND THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED IN THAT WORKSHO AND INCORPORATED IT INTO THESE POLICIES AS WE HAD ADDITIONAL ROUNDS OF EDITS AND REVIEWS. THE POLICIES THEN UNDERWENT HR AND LEGAL REVIEWS BEFORE THEY WERE REVIEWED BY THE BOARD MEMBERS.
AND THEN FINALLY, WE PRESENT THEM TODAY FOR APPROVAL AND ADOPTION. I'M GOING TO GO OVER BRIEFLY WHAT THESE POLICIES ARE
[00:15:03]
AND THE GOALS OF THEM. FIRST ONE, 7.1 PUBLIC CONTENT OVERSIGHT. THIS POLICY DICTATES HOW FPUA, AS A BRAND, SHOULD BE REPRESENTED. IT SETS FORTH STANDARDS FOR EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS AND THAT THEY MAINTAIN A BRAND THAT IS WORTHY OF FPUA. IT ALSO SETS FORTH HOW MATERIALS SHOULD BE DEVELOPED AND APPROVED, AND THE PROCESS TO DO SO. POLICY 7.2 DEALS WITH MEDIA AND PRESS COMMUNICATIONS. THIS POLICY EXTENDS NOT ONLY TO TRADITIONAL MEDIA, BUT IT ALSO EXTENDS TO NON-TRADITIONAL MEDIA SUCH AS BLOGGER AND SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS. IT RECOGNIZES MATERIALS SHOULD MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF ACCURACY, CLARITY, AND BRAND CONSISTENCY. IT ALSO PROVIDES GUIDELINES AS TO MEDIA RELATIONS PROCESSES. 7.3 PROVIDES GUIDELINES ON HOW FPUA SHOULD USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO ENHANCE MESSAGING. IT DOES SPECIFY THAT SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOT THE OFFICIAL SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR FPUA AS THAT REMAINS FPUA.COM, BUT IT IS AN EXTREMELY VALUABLE SOURCE TO CONNECT WITH CUSTOMERS AND WITH THE PUBLIC. NEXT, POLICY 7.4. ESTABLISHES PROTOCOLS TO ENSURE CONSISTENCY AND ACCURACY IN TIMES OF CRISIS. NOW THIS POLICY, OF COURSE, CANNOT KNOW WHAT EXACTLY IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN A TIME OF CRISIS. BUT IT DOES PUT FORTH PROTOCOLS AND IT PUTS FORTH ORGANIZATIONS, SO THAT WHEN CRISIS DO HAPPEN, THERE IS A FLOW AND THERE IS A STRUCTURE, AND THERE IS A TEAM THAT DEALS WITH CRISIS, IF THEY WERE TO HAPPEN. NEXT, POLICY 7.5 DEALS WITH THE VOLUNTEER ACTIVITY PARTICIPATION. HOW EMPLOYEES MAY PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE EVENTS, INCLUDING HOW THEY SHOULD CONDUCT THEMSELVES, AND GETTING APPROVAL TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE EVENTS. IT ALSO UPDATES 2.11, THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM TO INCREASE INCENTIVES TO EMPLOYEES FOR VOLUNTEERING. 7.6 IS VERY MUCH A FORWARD POLICY THAT ESTABLISHES THE DEPARTMENT AS OFFICIAL STEWARDS OF THE FPUA BRAND. THIS INCLUDES LOGOS, TEMPLATES, TONE, AND ANYTHING YOU WOULD THINK OF THAT'S A PART OF THE FPUA BRAND. WITH THAT, I'LL SEND IT BACK OVER TORACHEL. >> THANK YOU, TERESA. IF YOU CAN. WITH THAT, WE ARE HERE TODAY ASKING YOUR APPROVAL FOR RESOLUTION UA2025-22 TO ADOPT SECTION 7 OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR BRANDING AND COMMUNICATIONS, AND TO MODIFY RULE 2.11 TO ADD INCENTIVES FOR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERING. AND WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OF THE BOARD? EVERYBODY FEELS IT'S A GOOD
IDEA? >> I JUST HAVE A COMMENT. I THINK THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO SUM UP WHAT THE DEPARTMENT DOES, AND ALSO COMMUNICATE CLEARLY TO THE REST OF THE DEPARTMENT AS TO WHO TO COME TO IN CASE OF NEED FOR COMMUNICATING. THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT PLACE THAN WHERE WE WERE WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THIS BOARD. SO I CHAMPION YOU GUYS FOR BEING ABLE TO PUT THIS TOGETHER, AND THAK YOU FOR HELPING US TAKE THE NEXT STEP.
>> YEAH, MR. CHAIRMAN? SO THE CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS. I CAN SEE THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE AT SOME POINT, WE WILL NEED THAT. PROBABLY NOT IF, BUT WHEN. SOY WANTED -- COULD YOU ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT ROLES THE BOARD PLAYS IN ANY OF THE COMMUNICATION, BUT PARTICULARLY IN CRISIS
COMMUNICATIONS? >> YES, ABSOLUTELY. SO THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS ARE DESIGNED TO GOVERN FPUA STAFF
[00:20:01]
AND NOT THE BOARD SPECIFICALLY. IN ALL CASES AS WE WERE DEVELOPING ALL OF THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS, WE HAD N OUR MIND, TO MAKE OURSELVES AVAILABLE TO THE FPUA BOARD FOR SUPPORT. IN ANY CASE AND ALSO TO PROVIDE YOU WITH GUIDELINES ON THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT WE REGULARLY GOVERN AND CAN PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR IN TERMS OF CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS. THAT APPLIES PROBABLY THE MOST. AT THIS TIME, THE WAY THE CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS POLICY IS WRITTEN, IT'S TARGETED MORE TOWARD THE SPECIFIC STAFF THAT WILL BE THE CORE TEAMS THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR COMMUNICATING SPECIFIC MESSAGING THROUGHOUT THE CRISIS, WHATEVER IT MAY BE. AND THERE IS A LINE THAT SPECIFICALLY IN THAT POLICY THAT STATES THAT WHILE THE BOARD ITSELF IS NOT GOVERNED BY HOW TO COMMUNICATE EITHER DURING CRISIS OR ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WE MAKE OURSELVES AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE MESSAGING SUPPORT AND TO KEEP YOU INFORMED OF WHAT OUR KEY MESSAGES ARE THROUGHOUT THE EMERGENCY, SO WE CAN ALL BE SPEAKING FROM THE SAME INFORMED POSITION.>> THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IN A CRISIS, PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY CALL THE STAFF. THEY DO CALL THE BOARD. WE NEED TO BE INFORMED AND KEPT UP TO DATE. I KNOW EVEN JUST HURRICANE, SOCIAL MEDIA, WHY ISN'T MY STREET NOT BACK ON? AND YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE PEOPLE CALLING YOU. SO IT'S IMPORTANT WE HAVE THAT SUPPORT BECAUSE WE CAN HELP, WE CAN HELP. WE DON'T ALWAYS WANT TO SAY ANYTHING THAT ISN'T TRUE OR ISN'T UP TO DATE.
>> I DO WANT TO COMMEND THE LAST FEW -- THE LAST MAJOR STORM A FEW YEARS AGO AT THIS POINT, WHICH IS NICE. ANY WAY THE ONE I WAS INVOLVED IN. WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS TO HAVE STAFF DEDICATE TO HELPING TO CURATE THE MESSAGING TO PUT TOWARDS THE PUBLIC, THEN MAKING SURE TO KEEP IT INVOLVED ALL ALONG THE WAY, SO HE IS ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE UPDATES DIRECTLY TO YOU. THAT CAN EVOLVE AS THE METER RISES, WHERE WE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH THE UPDATES. I THINK WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME PAGE ABOUT THE VALUE OF YOU BEING INFORMED THROUGHOUT.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS TO THE BOARD? WHILE WE'RE READING THE
RESOLUTION? >> RESOLUTION NO. UA 2025-22, A RESOLUTION BY THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AUTHORITY OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA, AMENDING RULE 2.11 VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, AND CREATING SECTION 7, COMMUNICATIONS POLICIES, WITHIN THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES RULES AND REGULATIONS, PROVIDING SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> SECOND. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> MRS. GIBBONS? >> YES, MA'AM.
>> MAYOR HUDSON? >> YES, MA'AM.
[E.3. Resolution No. UA 2025-23 Formal Sealed Bids and Exemptions]
>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, RACHEL.
>> THANK YOU. >> MR. CHAIRMAN, I DID FAIL TO MENTION, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY ALIGNING VERY WELL WITH OUR STRATEGIC GOAL NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS COMMUNICATIONS.
COMMUNICATIONS AND CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT.
>> DO YOU HAVE THE STRATEGIC GOALS MEMORIZED?
>> I DO, YES. ACTUALLY, THEY PUT TOGETHER A HANDOUT THAT WE KEEP
ON OUR BINDER. >> A CHEAT SHEET?
>> YES, THERE IT IS. >> YEAH. AND ACTUALLY WE ARE LOOKING AT MAKING SURE THE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS AT SOME POINT, THEY'LL BE LISTED WITH EACH STRATEGIC GOAL, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PILOT PHASE OF THE PROJECT. THE REST OF THE ITEMS, IT'S THE BEST POINTS. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO HER.
>> NEXT ITEM? >> DID WE TAKE A MOTION AND A
VOTE ON THIS ONE? >> YES. I THINK WE DID, YES.
>> DO YOU WANT TO READ THE NEXT RESO?
>> 2023? >> YES, MA'AM, FORMAL SEALED
BIDS PROJECT. >> RESOLUTION NO. UA 2025-23, RESOLUTION OF THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AUTHORITY, ADOPTING AND IMPLEMENTING A PURCHASING POLICY FOR THE ISSUANCE OF FORMAL SEALED BIDS AND EXEMPTIONS THERETO, PROVIDING
FOR SCRIBNERS ERROR. >> MR. CHAIR, THIS IS A FORMAL SEALED BID PROCESS. IT'S A POLICY WE'RE ADOPTING, HAVING THE BOARD ADOPT. THIS IS A PRACTICE THAT'S LONG STANDING WITH THE FPUA. THERE'S ONLY ONE CHANGE HERE. WE ARE REQUESTING
[00:25:04]
THE THRESHOLD FOR THE FORMAL SEALED BID PROCESS BE LIFTED TO $100,000. ANY PURCHASES BELOW $100,000 ARE STILL COMPETITIVELY PROCURED, AND THEY'RE STILL ADVERTISED PER THE CHARTER.HOWEVER, THIS PROCESS ALLOWS US TO MAKE PURCHASES FOR ANY ITEMS UNDER $100,000 USING THE REQUEST FOR INFORMAL QUOTE PROCESS, WHICH REQUIRES THREE QUOTES, THE ADVERTISING, AND THEN WE COULD MAKE THE PURCHASE. THE BOARD STILL SEES THOSE PURCHASES OVER $50,000. THIS JUST SETS INTO PLACE A CHANGE WITH THE DOLLAR AMOUNT FOR UTILIZING THE FORMAL SEALED BID PROCESS. AND
EXEMPTIONS PER THE CHARTER. >> ANY QUESTIONS OF THE BOARD?
>> MR. CHAIRMAN. I HAVE BEEN -- I MET WITH MS. BESKOVOYNE AND MR. CISNEROS AND HAVE BEEN BRIEFED ON THIS. ALSO THE INCREASING OF $100,000 WITH THE PROTECTIONS THAT ARE ALREADY
>> YES? >> I AGREE WITH THAT. I THINK THIS WILL HELP EXPEDITE AND ALLOW FOR PURCHASES TO BE MADE WITHOUT IT, HAVING TO BUCKLE THE SYSTEM BY PUTTING OUT EXCESSIVE INFORMATION AND BID REQUIREMENTS FROM WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE. MOST OF THESE BIDS HAVE GONE UP DRAMATICALLY AS IT IS. SO IT WAS
REALLY SLOWING A PROCESS DOWN. >> IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO KNOW BEFORE WE MAKE A DECISION?
>> THERE IS ONE OTHER ADDITIONAL REQUEST HERE. IT'S A WAIVER OF A FORMAL BID PROCESS FOR THOSE ITEMS THAT FALL BETWEEN THE TIMELINE FOR WHICH THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL OR REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS WOULD TAKE, WHICH IS 12 TO 16 WEEKS. BUT THE ITEM HASN'T QUITE BECOME AN EMERGENCY. A GOOD EXAMPLE THAT WE LIKE TO USE IS A DEAD TREE. A DEAD TREE IN AND OF ITSELF IS NOT AN EMERGENCY. HOWEVER, WE MAY NOT WANT TO WAIT. THE 20 WEEKS IT TAKES TO DO A FORMAL SEALED BID PROCESS. SO IN THAT SITUATION, WE MAY COME TO THE BOARD AND REQUEST THAT THE BOARD WAIVE THE BID, THE FORMAL SEALED BID PROCESS, SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND REMOVE THAT TREE BEFORE IT FALLS.
>> THAT'S PRETTY SIZABLE TREE THERE.
>> IT WOULD BE A BIG TREE. YES, SIR.
>> OKAY. >> MR. CHAIRMAN. I KNOW THIS WHEN I INITIALLY BECAME A PART OF THE BOARD. THERE WERE SEVERAL ITEMS PRESENTED, WHEREBY THE NECESSARY ACTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN MUCH SOONER THAN THE ACTUAL APPROVAL TO MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT PROCESS. THAT KIND OF TROUBLED ME. SO TO SEE THAT -- AND I THINK I VERBALIZE THAT TO YOU TO SEE IT'S BEEN ADDRESSED. IT'S REASONABLE IN THE WAY AND THE PROCESS THAT IT IS GOING THROUGH. I THINK AT THIS POINT, WE ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THE REASONABLENESS OF THOSE WHO ARE A PART OF THE PROTOCOL TO ACT RESPONSIBLY WITH THAT PARTICULAR ITEM. SO I AM VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING THOSE THINGS THAT COULD CAUSE FURTHER PROBLEMS BECAUSE I THINK AT ONE POINT BY THE TIME THEY COULD GET TO US WITH THE APPROVAL, YOU HAD TO GO BACK OUT BECAUSE TIME HAD LAPSED.
>> TIMES CHANGED AND THE PRICES HAD CHANGED?
>> YES. >> SO THIS IS A VERY RESPONSIBLE
MOVE ON THEIR PART. >> WELL, ALL WE NEED IS A MOTION
TO APPROVE. >> I MOVE APPROVAL AS PRESENTED.
>> SECOND. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> MRS. BENNETT? >> MRS. DAVIS?
>> YES, MA'AM. >> MR. GIBBONS?
>> YES. >> MAYOR HUDSON NORTH KOREA
[E.4. Resolution No. UA 2025-24 Reasonable Accommodation Request Policy]
>> NEXT ITEM IS A RESOLUTION NO. UA2025-24, THIS IS A REQUEST TO FORMALIZE A PROCESS FOR REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR THOSE THAT ARE DISABLED. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE OUR EMPLOYEES.
THAT'S A SEPARATE PROCESS. THIS WOULD BE A PROCESS THAT'S BUILT OUT FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL THAT'S REQUESTING AN ACCOMMODATION ON OUR POLICIES, PRACTICES, RULES. WE DON'T HAVE CODES PER SE, BUT THIS LAYS OUT A PROCESS FOR WHICH TIMELINES DECISION MAKERS OF THE HUMAN RESOURCES AND RISK MANAGER IS DESIGNATED AS THE INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE A WRITTEN DETERMINATION BASED ON THE REQUEST ITSELF, AND THERE'S AN APPEALS PROCESS, FOR WHICH THE DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES CAN HEAR
[00:30:01]
AND APPEAL. >> ALL RIGHT. DO WE NEED A
READING OF THE RESOLUTION? >> RESOLUTION NO. UA 2025-24, A RESOLUTION BY THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AUTHORITY, FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA, ADOPTING AND IMPLEMENTING THE REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUEST POLICY AND PROCEDURES, PROVIDING FOR SCRIBNERS ERROR, REPEAL, SEVERABILITY, AND AN EFFECTIVE
DATE. >> DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY COMMENTS FOR THE BOARD? IF NOT, LET'S HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> I WANT TO APPROVE IT. I JUST WANT TO ASK ONE QUESTION. THIS KIND OF FOLLOWS KIND OF A LOGICAL PROCESS THAT WE PROBABLY WOULD DO ANY WAY, IF WE DIDN'T HAVE A WRITTEN PROCESS?
>> THAT'S CORRECT. WE JUST WANT TO HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE THAT GAVE THESE DECISION MAKERS THE AUTHORITY AND TIMELINES FOR THOSE THAT MAKE THE REQUEST. WE CAN SAY WE HAVE 30 DAYS TO REQUEST FURTHER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR THERE MAY BE A DEFAULT DECISION RENDERED. SOMETIMES THE APPLICANTS END UP NOT PROVIDING THE INFORMATION. THIS GIVES US THE ABILITY TO JUST HAVE A COMPLETION OF THE PROCESS. YES, MA'AM.
>> RIGHT, RIGHT. >> MADAM MAYOR, MR. CHAIRMAN.
THIS ALSO ALIGNS WITH GOAL FIVE, I THINK, WHICH IS DOCUMENTING OUR PROCESSES, WHICH RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT WELL DOCUMENTED. SO IN CASE THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS COME THROUGH, THEY CAN HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE TO FOLLOW.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS. >> JUST PASSING ON THE INFORMATION TO THE NEXT PARTY UP?
ORDER AND AT LEAST SOME CONSISTENCY ON HOW THINGS ARE
>> I UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE GOING ON WITH THIS.
>> THE CUSTOMER WOULD EXPECT THAT.
>> THERE'S A TIMELY TURNAROUND AND A RESULT, SO WE DON'T WANT TO KEEP THEM IN LIMBO FOREVER. SO I THINK IF EVERYBODY IS ON BOARD WITH IT, WE JUST NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND.
>> MOVE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> I'LL SECOND.
>> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> MRS. BENNETT?
>> YES, MA'AM. >> MRS. GIBBONS?
>> YES, MA'AM. >> MAYOR HUDSON?
[E.5. Resolution No. UA 2025-25 Acceptance of Utility Easement for Sky Blue Sunrise Village Project]
>> YES, MA'AM. >> NEXT ITEM, FINAL RESOLUTION
FOR TODAY. >> YES, MR. CHAIRMAN. THIS IS RESOLUTION NO. UA 2025-25, ACCEPTANCE OF UTILITY EASEMENT FOR THE BLUE SKY SUNRISE VILLAGE PROJECT. THIS PROJECT IS A LITTLE UNIQUE. THIS PROJECT CAME BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION LAST NIGHT. THIS WAS A JOINT EFFORT OF THE CITY COMMISSION, THE CITY ATTORNEY AND MR. CITY MANAGER DID AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF WORK ON DEVELOPER AGREEMENT AND FINANCING FOR THIS PROJECT, AS VERY SMALL COMPONENT OF IT, THE UTILITY AUTHORITY NEEDS A 10-FOOT UTILITY EASEMENT. THIS SONGOING. THE PROPERTY OWNER HASN'T CLOSED ON THE PROJECT YET, SO THAT'S CONTINGENT, OBVIOUSLY, WE CAN'T GRANT AN EASEMENT ON PROPERTY WE DO NOT YET OWN. HOWEVER, WE ANTICIPATE THIS KEEPS EVERYTHING MOVING IN LINE, THE CITY COMMISSION APPROVED THIS PROJECT LAST
NIGHT. >> SO YOU'RE LOOKING FOR US TO APPROVE, TO ACCEPT A GRANT OF EASEMENT ON SOMEONE'S PROPERTY
THAT THEY DON'T OWN JUST YET? >> YES, SIR.
>> THAT'S VERY INTERESTING, GENERALLY SPEAKING. I'D LIKE THEM TO OWN THE PROPERTY BEFORE WE GO THROUGH THE LABOR OF AGREEING TO AN EASEMENT. BUT HOW FAR ALONG ARE THEY IN THE
PROJECT? >> MR. CITY MANAGER, DO YOU KNOW WHEN THEY PLAN ON CLOSING ON THIS SUNRISE VILLAGE?
>> WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS TO FINANCE THE CLOSING.
>> I SIGNED SOME DOCUMENTS % TODAY. SO I THINK WE'RE ON OUR
WAY. >> DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA OF THE FORM OF EASEMENT THEY'RE WILLING TO GRANT? DO WE HAVE
THAT INFORMATION? >> YES, SIR, IT'S RIGHT HERE IN THE PACKET. A 10-FOOT EASEMENT. IT'S FAIRLY STANDARD. IT'S WHAT
WE NEED. >> SATISFACTORY FROM COUNSEL?
>> YES, SIR. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF THE BOARD? HOW MANY HOMES -- WHAT KIND OF PROJECT IS THIS GOING TO
BE? RESIDENTIAL? >> YES, 106 UNITS. AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. >> AFFORDABLE HOUSING. YEP.
>> WHERE IT GOING TO BE LOCATED? >> THE 3000 BLOCK OF OKEECHOBEE
ROAD. >> OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? IF NOT, CAN WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE?
>> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> CONTINGENT ON THEM CLOSING?
>> READ THE RESOLUTION. >> RESOLUTION NO. UA 2025-25. A RESOLUTION BY THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA, PROVIDING A UTILITY EASEMENT, PROVIDING FOR SCRIBNERS ERROR, REPEAL, SEVERABILITY, AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. >> ALL RIGHT, MOVE TO APPROVE.
>> I'M SORRY, IS THIS WITH THE CONTINGENCY?
>> I WOULD THINK IT HAS TO BE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING ON ANYBODY ON PROPERTY THAT SOMEONE DOESN'T OWN JUST YET.
SO I MEAN, I THINK THIS KIND OF KEEPS EVERYTHING MOVING FORWARD.
[00:35:04]
IT WOULD JUST BRING -- >> SO THE APPROVAL WOULD BE GRANTED, BUT IT WOULD HAVE THAT STIPULATION? NOT NECESSARILY AS PRESENTED WITH THE CONTINGENCY THAT THEY CLOSE ON THE PROPERTY, AND WE BEHAVE AS BEING APPROVED SUBSEQUENT TO THAT?
>> THAT'S CORRECT. IN THE RESOLUTION, WE HAVE THE UTILITY EASEMENT WILL BE HELD IN ESCROW UNTIL THE CLOSING ON THE
PROPERTY. >> GOOD, OKAY. YES, MA'AM.
>> MRS. GIBBONS? >> YES, MA'AM.
>> MAYOR HUDSON? >> YES, MA'AM.
[F. DIRECTOR COMMENTS]
>> MR. FEE? >> YES, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT. SO
DIRECTOR COMMENTS? >> YES, SIR, JUST A FEW COMMENTS HERE. THIS SUNDAY IS THE FORT PIERCE MAIN STREET CHRISTMAS PARADE, WHICH DOES HAVE A NEW ROUTE. CONTINUING WITH TRADITION, FPUA WILL PARTICIPATE, AND WE ARE TYPICALLY THE LAST FLOAT OF THE PARADE BECAUSE WE HOST SANTA CLAUS. AND WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS EVENT EACH AND EVERY YEAR, AND WE'RE PROUD TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS EVENT. WE'LL SEE YOU ON SUNDAY. I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TIME THE PARADE
STARTS. I THINK IT STARTS AT -- >> 4:00?
>> 4:00. >> YEP, YOU HAVE TO BE THERE AT
3:30. >> YES, WE HAVE TO BE THERE AT 3:30. ALSO ON DECEMBER 7, THIS SUNDAY. THIS IS LAST CALL. THE SELECTED PIECES WILL BE PART OF THE 2026 COMMEMORATIVE CALENDAR THAT WILL ALSO BE A PART OF THE CELEBRATION FOR THE JANUARY 9 RIBBON CUTTING WASTEWATER PLANT. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT. LAST CALL FOR ARTISTS FOR THIS SUNDAY. THE LAST BOARD MEETING WILL BE DECEMBER 16 AT 2:00 AT THE ENERGY SERVICES CENTER. I APOLOGIZE, I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FOLLOW UP WITH ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS. THE 2:00 TIME FRAME, BUT WE'RE HOSTING IT AT THE ENERGY SERVICES CENTER FOR THE LAST MEETING OF THE YEAR.
>> YES, MA'AM. THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR THE BOARD TODAY, MR.
CHAIRMAN. >> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OF THE DIRECTOR? ALL RIGHT, THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO
ATTORNEY COMMENTS. >> NO COMMENTS, SIR.
[H. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS]
>> EXCELLENT. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS?
>> SO I WANT TO THANK THE FPUA FOR BEING SPONSOR FOR COFFEE WITH THE MAYOR. IT WAS A REALLY GOOD PRESENTATION. EVERYBODY ENJOYED IT. IT WAS VERY, VERY POSITIVE, AND STAFF DID A GREAT VIDEO. IT WAS SHOWN AT THE MEETING, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE MENTION IN THE CONSENT AGENDA, THERE IS -- THE LAST ITEM THERE. TALKS ABOUT THE CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS. SO IF YOU GUYS HAVEN'T LOOKED AT IT OR ANYBODY THAT'S WATCHING IT HASN'T LOOKED AT IT. I THINK IT'S A GREAT WAY TO STAY INVOLVED AND KNOW WHAT WE'RE INVOLVED IN THE
COMMUNITY. >>
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.