Dec 08, 2025 City Commission Regular Meeting

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES.

>> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON.

>> MAYOR HUDSON.

>> ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION, PLEASE COME FORWARD. PLEASE COME FORWARD.

AND -- PLEASE COME FORWARD. AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LINE UP ALONG THE WALL THERE, GOOD MORNING, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND MISS COX WILL GIVE YOU A TEN SECOND WARNING.

>> TEN SECOND WARNING. OKAY.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS MR. MARIO WILCOX, 5227 OAKLAND LAKE CIRCLE, CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA, 34951.

MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, CITY MANAGER, CITY CLERK, CITY ATTORNEY, I BESEECH YOU GOOD MORNING.

TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU INVOLVING THE HIRING OF THE NEW POLICE CHIEF.

I WISH HIM WELL AND I AM A PROPONENT OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN OF UNIFORM, I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE.

I BELIEVE IN THE COMPETITIVE PROCESS.

I BELIEVE IN ADVANCEMENTS, I BELIEVE IN PROMOTIONS.

AND I BELIEVE IN FAIR AND EQUITY AS WELL.

NOW, I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE SELECTION.

IT IS A WELL QUALIFIED GENTLEMAN.

ACTUALLY, ALL OF THEM IS QUALIFIED.

BUT WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND, WE HAD TWO INTERNAL PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE SHORT LIST. AND MAYBE HR COULD GET WITH ME ON THAT. BECAUSE I MATCHED -- I LOOKED AT ALL THE RESUMES. I HAVE COPIES OF EVERYTHING.

AND WHEN I LOOKED AT THE FINALISTS, THEY ARE SO CLOSELY ALMOST DEADLOCKED EVEN WITH THE THREE -- WITH THE FINALISTS. YOU KNOW, IT COULD HAVE BEEN MORE COMPETITIVE, BUT IF YOU WOULD HAVE WENT BACK AND THEN TRIED TO ASK SOMEONE BACK, THAT WOULD HAVE CREATED -- OPENED UP A CAN OF WORMS BECAUSE PEOPLE THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY OMITTED, YOU HAVE TO BRING THEM BACK TOO.

SO, YOU KNOW, MADAM MAYOR, THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA, BUT IT WOULD HAVE OPENED UP A CAN OF WORMS. SO I SAW THAT YOU WERE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.

>> ADDRESS THE WHOLE COMMISSION.

>> I'M SPEAKING TO THE WHOLE

>> PLEASE.

COMMISSION. >> OKAY, GOOD.

>> I'M REFERENCING A COMMENT THAT YOU MADE, SO I HAVE TO QUOTE YOU DIRECTLY.

NOW, MOVING FORWARD, I LOOKED AT THE REVIEW COMMITTEE.

I SAW CAPTAIN SANDERFER, CHIEF SANDERFER, HE'LL SAY HISTORIC CHIEF.

I HISTORY OF OUR CITY. WE SAW RETIRED POLICE CHIEF SHAWN BALDWIN. HE CAME UP THROUGH THE RANKS.

NOW WHAT I DIDN'T SEE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TWO OTHERS. WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE IN FORT PIERCE THAT ALSO SERVED AT THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT. I FEEL THE FULL PANEL SHOULD HAVE BEEN PEOPLE OF THOSE CAPACITIES. AND THEN THE CITY MANAGER SHOULD HAVE BEEN REVIEWING THAT. HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT BACKGROUND.

YOU HAVE THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER WHO IS IMPLICATED IN A CRIMINAL CASE.

THAT JUST THROWS A WRENCH IN EVERYTHING.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WHO'S NEXT? PLEASE COME FORWARD.

[00:05:04]

>> JUST SO THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS, I'M HAVE SOME -- A LOCKED BACK. IF I DON'T STAND UP, IT IS NOT TO INTIMIDATE ANYBODY. IF I GO OVER THERE --

>> YOU'RE FINE. YOU'RE FINE.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING US KNOW. YES, MA'AM.

>> MAYOR HUDSON AND COMMISSIONERS --

>> YOU CAN PULL YOUR MICROPHONE DOWN A LITTLE BIT, PLEASE, THANK YOU.

>> I'M MARTHA MCCONKY, 240 8 SOUTH 8TH STREET. OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS THE POWER OF LIFE AND DEATH IN THEIR HANDS EVERY DAY, A TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITY.

AND YET YOU HAVE NOT FOLLOWED THEIR RECOMMENDATION FOR OUR NEXT CHIEF OF POLICE.

CALEB GILLETTE. I BELIEVE YOU SHOULD TRUST AND HONOR THEIR DECISION. SERVICE IS A PLACE OF HONOR AND CALEB HAS A HEART FOR SERVICE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. WHO'S NEXT?

>> MY NAME IS MARTHA MCKEON. 507 QUINCY AVENUE.

I AM IN THE INFAMOUS DISTRICT 2. AND AS I LOOK AT YOU GUYS UP HERE TODAY, THERE IS NOBODY UP ON THAT DAIS THAT REPRESENTS MY DISTRICT. AND YET YOU STILL WANT TO GO AHEAD AND VOTE ON MR. CHESS' SELECTION WHEN WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A VOTE UP THERE. AND I THINK THAT'S ILLEGITIMATE. IT IS ABSOLUTELY THE WRONG THING TO DO AT THIS POINT. WHY THE RUSH? WHY ARE YOU RUSHING THIS THROUGH? IT IS A MONTH FROM THE RUNOFF.

THAT WILL PUT THE FIFTH PERSON UP THERE.

THAT WILL GIVE YOU A MAKE OR BREAK, YOU'LL GET A MAJORITY AND EVERYBODY WILL BE HAPPY. NOT PEOPLE IN DISTRICT 2.

BECAUSE YOU COMPLETELY DISENFRANCHISED WHO WE ARE AS VOTERS. THERE IS NO VOTE HERE FOR US.

IT SEEMS TO BE CONTINUING SITUATION WITH THIS COUNCIL. YOU MAKE IT SO DIFFICULT FOR THE REGULAR PUBLIC TO ATTEND THIS THREE MEETINGS THAT YOU HOLD UP HERE.

TWO HELD AT 5:05 AND ONE AT 9:00 A.M. , THIS ONE, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET ANY INPUT FROM YOUR DISTRICTS AS TO HOW YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO PROCEED? ARE YOU EVEN ASKING THE VOTERS? ARE YOU DOING YOUR DUE DILIGENCE? IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT WAY AND NOW HONEST TO GOODNESS, I GOT NO PROBLEMS WITH MR. CHESS' SELECTION.

2003 HE'S BEEN AN OFFICER, MOVED UP THROUGH THE RANKS TO COMMANDER. LUCKY FOR HIM, HE HAS A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT ALLOWS THAT TO HAPPEN. WE DON'T.

WE GOT BEAUTIFUL SERVICEABLE GUYS HERE, WOMEN, THAT PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE EVERY DAY, LIKE THE INDIAN RIVER OFFICER, REST IN PEACE, THAT JUST LOST HER JOB THROUGH -- IT'S JUST -- IT'S UNCONSCIONABLE AND THIS WHOLE THING FEELS ILLEGITIMATE TO ME, THAT YOU THINK THAT THIS IS OKAY, TO MAKE A VOTE TODAY. WE GOT LITTLE BIT MORE THAN 30 DAYS AND YOU'LL HAVE A FULL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DISTRICTS. RIGHT NOW YOU'RE NOT PLAYING WITH A FULL DECK. YOU REALLY JUST AREN'T.

SO I CAUTION YOU ON THIS VOTE, I THINK THAT THE PEOPLE OF CITY OF FORT PIERCE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, I'M SURE YOU'VE ALL READ SOME OF THOSE, ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THE WAY THIS HAS BEEN RUN. AND I THINK IT'S A HUGE MISTAKE TO TAKE THAT VOTE TODAY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WHO'S NEXT? WHO'S NEXT? OKAY. WE'LL MOVE ON.

[A. St. Lucie County Regional Resilience Draft Plan and companion Resilience Vulnerability Assessment-Other Hazards Resiliency Strategy Report and Feedback - Sandra Bogan, SLC Resilence Navigator]

>> OKAY. NEXT WE MOVE ON TO THE SAINT LUCIE COUNTY REGIONAL RESILIENT PLAN AND COMPANION RESILIENCY VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT, OTHER HAZARDS, RESILIENCY STRATEGY REPORT AND FEEDBACK.

>> MR. CHESS, DO YOU HAVE A LEAD-IN?

>> NO, MISS BOSEMAN IS GOING TO GIVE US A PRESENTATION, I BELIEVE.

>> WELCOME. YOU CAN -- WHEREVER YOU FEEL

COMFORTABLE. >> PROBABLY WANT TO RUN IT FROM THERE IF YOU WANT OR IF YOU CAN -- I THINK YOU CAN STILL DO IT FROM HERE. I THINK IT WILL WORK.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS, NICE TO BE HERE TODAY.

[00:10:04]

SOME OF THIS MAY BE A LITTLE BIT FAMILIAR, BECAUSEWE SAW YOU IN APRIL WHERE WE BROUGHT FORTH A VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT FOR YOU TO REVIEW AND PROVIDE INPUT. BUT BACK IN 2022, SAINT LUCIE COUNTY RECEIVED A CBDG MITIGATION GRANT TO WORK TOGETHER WITH OUR MUNICIPALITIES TO DEVELOP A DRAFT -- WELL, A FINAL ULTIMATELY AND BRINGING YOU÷÷ TO DRAFT TODAY REGIONAL RESILIENCE PLAN. THE PLAN IS THE -- THE IDEA WAS TO LOOK AT VARIOUS IMPACTS OF NATURAL HAZARDS, LIKE FLOODING AND STORMS. NOW AND IN THE FUTURE, AND DEVELOP STRATEGIES THAT WE CAN TAKE INDIVIDUALLY AS A JURISDICTION OR TOGETHER AS A FULL COMMUNITY TO REDUCE OUR RISKS TO THOSE IMPACTS. SO WE BROUGHT YOU THE FIRST VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT, THE FIRST THING WE DID WAS WE DEVELOPED THESE VERY TECHNICAL 200 SOMETHING PAGE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS, MODELING AND MAPPING POTENTIAL IMPACTS. AND THEN WE BROUGHT YOU THE RESILIENCE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT ON FLOODING.

THAT WAS FUNDED BY ACTUALLY A RESILIENT FLORIDA GRANT, WHICH IS -- WAS A NECESSARY ELEMENT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE GRANTS FROM THE RESILIENT FLORIDA GRANT FOR POTENTIALLY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. AND THEN THE CBDG GRANT FUNDED -- VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT LOOKING AT OTHER HAZARDS AND FUNDED THE DRAFT REGIONAL RESILIENCE PLAN. I DID WANT TO NOTE WITH THE DRAFT PLAN THAT TODAY WE'RE LOOKING FOR INPUT FROM THIS BOARD AND OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO REALLY REVIEW IT AND WANT TO, TO PROVIDE INPUT INTO THE DRAFT PLAN AS WELL AS THE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT AND WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE'LL INTEGRATE THAT INPUT INTO A FINAL PLAN AND BRING IT BACK TO YOU AT A FUTURE PUBLIC MEETING.

BUT I WANTED TO NOTE THAT THE REGIONAL RESILIENCE PLAN IS VERY BROAD STRATEGIES. IT ESSENTIALLY DOESN'T COMMIT ANY JURISDICTION TO ANY POLICY OR STRATEGY ADAPTATION STRATEGY IN THE FUTURE, BUT INSTEAD JUST SHOWS OUR COMMITMENT TO WORK TOGETHER TOWARD RESILIENCE PLANNING. IN THE FUTURE.

SO WITH THAT, TODAY I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A PROJECT OVERVIEW.

AGAIN, WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE FINDINGS OF THE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT, AND THE DRAFT REGIONAL RESILIENCE PLAN AND THEN TAKE ANY QUESTIONS FROM YOU. WE DID WORK WITH A GROUP MAYBE THAT YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH, TETRA TECH LLC, THEY HAVE A LOT OF BACKGROUND WHEN IT COMES TO PLANNING, ADAPTATION STRATEGIES, AND THEY ARE GOING TO JOIN US. OUR CONSULTANT WAS ON HER WAY FROM FAR AWAY AND THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT, SO IF YOU SEE -- IF YOU SEE, I'LL HAVE A PARTNER HERE IN A BIT.

BUT RESILIENCE PLANNING IS A PROCESS THAT TAKES A SYSTEMATIC EVIDENCE- BASED APPROACH TO ANALYZED COMMUNITY RISKS AND DEVELOP ADAPTATIONS OR ACTIONS THAT REDUCE THE RISK NOW AND IN THE FUTURE. AND AS I SAID, IT WAS FUNDED BY CBDG MITIGATION GRANT WITH SUPPORT FROM THE RESILIENT FLORIDA PROGRAM, SO WE HAVE BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING SOURCES TO CREATE THIS PROJECT.

IT PROVIDES A ROAD MAP FOR US TO ENHANCE OUR RESILIENCE ACROSS THE COUNTY, INCLUDING OUR MUNICIPALITIES.

IDENTIFIES ADAPTATION STRATEGIES, THAT REDUCE CURRENT AND FUTURE RISK AND MAINTAIN SAFETY, HEALTH AND OUR ECONOMIC STABILITY.

SO, THOSE ARE SUPER IMPORTANT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

AND IT EMPHASIZES COLLABORATION, POLICY INTEGRATION BETWEEN JURISDICTIONS AND ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT.

WE'RE KIND OF UNIQUE IN SAINT LUCIE COUNTY. THERE IS MY PARTNER I JUST MENTIONED. THIS IS ERIN DATY, PART OF THE TETRA TECH TEAM.

>> WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU. I APOLOGIZE, TRAFFIC.

>> NOT IN FORT PIERCE, OTHER

PLACES. >> RIGHT.

>> SHE HAD QUITE A DRIVE THIS MORNING.

BUT SAINT LUCIE IS KIND OF UNIQUE IN ITS APPROACH TO RESILIENCE PLANNING. I THINK THAT WE WERE THE FIRST COUNTY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA TO DO A COMMUNITY WIDE RESILIENCE PLAN, MEANING THAT WE BROUGHT ALL OF OUR MUNICIPALITIES TOGETHER. THERE ARE SOME COUNTIES THAT HAD ONE OR TWO OF THEIR MUNICIPALITIES, WE'RE THE FIRST ONE TO ACTUALLY WORK FROM A

[00:15:04]

COMMUNITY WIDE PERSPECTIVE AND THERE IS A LOT OF ADVANTAGES TO THAT.

INCLUDING FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WE PUT TOGETHER A STEERING COMMITTEE, A RESILIENCE STEERING COMMITTEE.

IT WAS ACTUALLY ALREADY IN PLACE FROM THE PREVIOUS PROJECT WE HAVE BEEN DOING.

THAT STEERING COMMITTEE WAS MADE UP OF CITY OF FORT PIERCE, PORT ST. LUCIE, STAFF FROM DIVERSE DEPARTMENTS, AS WELL AS REGIONAL AGENCIES, LIKE THE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION, THE REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL SO REALLY GREAT BACKGROUND AND SUBJECT AREA EXPERTS FROM PUBLIC WORKS TO PLANNING TO, YOU KNOW, ENVIRONMENTAL.

WE DID A TON OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

IN FACT, OVER THE FOUR YEARS SINCE WE GOT THE CDBG GRANT, IT WAS KIND OF AN ITERATIVE PROCESS, WE DIDN'T GET THE RESILIENT FLORIDA GRANT UNTIL THE NEXT YEAR AND WE GOT ANOTHER ONE. SO, IT ACTUALLY STARTED IN 2022, BUT TOOK SOME TIME TO COBBLE TOGETHER ALL THOSE GRANTS, BUT WE HAD CLOSE TO 50 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS SINCE 2022. AND, AGAIN, THEIR PROJECT OBJECTIVES WAS TO COMBINE THAT REGIONAL COLLABORATION SCIENCE- BASED ASSESSMENTS AND INCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT NEEDING TO REALLY HEAR FROM OUR COMMUNITY'S PERSPECTIVE. AND LIKE I SAID, IT CREATES A ROAD MAP AND WE ARE IN THE FINAL STRETCH.

AND IT HAS BEEN A LONG JOURNEY FOR US.

SO, WE'RE SO HAPPY TO BE HERE. AND I JUST REALLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE LEVEL OF COLLABORATION THAT WE DID HAVE BECAUSE THE FIRST PART OF UNDERTAKING THIS PROJECT, IN ORDER TO DO THE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS WAS TO GET OUR GIS TEAMS, AGAIN, FROM FORT PIERCE, PORT ST. LUCIE, ST.

LUCIE COUNTY, TO BRING TOGETHER A LOT OF LOCAL DATA AND REGIONAL DATA AND BEYOND THAT THERE IS DATA FROM THE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT OR OTHER AGENCY, USGS, ARMY CORPS, SO THAT WAS A GOOD SIX MONTHS IN THE MAKING JUST GETTING THAT DATA TOGETHER AND MAKING SURE THAT , YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE IT WAS CLEANED UP SO THERE WERE NO DUPLICATES. IT WAS ALL SPEAKING THE SAME LANGUAGE, WHICH IS IT GIS LANGUAGE, WHICH I DON'T SPEAK.

BUT AND THEN ALSO IDENTIFYING CRITICAL ASSETS.

SO, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO GO A LITTLE BIT DEEPER, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO ERIN, BUT, EVEN LOOKING AT WHAT OUR CRITICAL ASSETS ARE BECAUSE THAT'S PRIMARILY WHAT WE LOOKED AT WITH THE RVAOH RESILIENCE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT OTHER HAZARDS, WE DID LOOK AT BOTH -- THREE THINGS, ASSETS, LAND, WHERE THAT IMPACT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN GEOGRAPHICALLY AS WELL AS WHERE THE POPULATIONS WERE, INCLUDING LOW TO MODERATE INCOME POPULATIONS.

WE WERE VERY FOCUSED ON THAT. YEAH.

AND SO I ALREADY TALKED ABOUT MOST OF THAT.

THIS AND THE REGIONAL DRAFT PLAN WE ALSO INCLUDE PRIORITIZATION -- WE LOOKED AT ADAPTATION STRATEGIES, REVIEWED POLICIES, AND THEN IDENTIFIED PRIORITIZATION METHODOLOGY, SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE CAN USE A METHODOLOGY TO HOW ARE WE GOING TO PRIORITIZE OUR PROJECTS, RIGHT? AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY AND WITH ANY GOOD PLAN, IT IS A LIVING DOCUMENT, AND SO YOU NEED ALSO TO KEEP IN MIND THAT YOU WANT TO TRACK WHAT IS SUCCESSFUL, WHAT IS SUCCESSFUL AND WHAT'S NOT SUCCESSFUL.

SOME OF, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE ADAPTATIONS ARE VERY INNOVATIVE, IF YOU WILL, AND SO, LIKE, TRACKING AND MAKING SURE THE OUTCOME IS WHAT WE WERE HOPING TO GET IS IMPORTANT. NOW, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO ERIN DATY.

>> SURE. SO, BECAUSE THIS WAS FUNDED BY TWO DIFFERENT GRANTS, THE REALLY FOCUSED US ON FLOODING, DIFFERENT TYPES OF FLOOD RISK.

THAT'S WHAT THEIR MAIN GOAL OF THEIR PROGRAM IS.

BUT WE ALSO NOT ONLY LOOKED AT COASTAL AND TIDAL FLOODING, HURRICANE, STORM SURGE, THAT TYPE OF THING, WE LOOKED AT INLAND FLOODING, RAINFALL AND WE RAN CERTAIN MODELS TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT LOWER AREAS OF THE REGION AND WHERE WE WOULD SEE RAINFALL INDUCED FLOODING, BOTH CURRENTLY AND WITH FUTURE CONDITIONS, WHICH IS INTERESTING.

WE PULLED DATA FROM THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TO TELL US WHAT THE RAINFALL EVENTS WERE GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE. WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT RAINFALL IS THAT THE EXTREMES ARE BECOMING MORE EXTREME.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PERIODS WHERE WE GOT LOW RAINFALL AND WE GOT PERIODS WHERE WE GOT HIGHER VOLUME RAINFALL EVENTS. IF ANYBODY REMEMBERS THREE YEARS

[00:20:02]

AGO WHEN WE HAD A 1 IN 1,000 RAINFALL EVENT THAT SHUT DOWN FORT LAUDERDALE AIRPORT FOR THREE DAYS.

SO THEY'RE NOT SO FAR FETCHED. WE LOOKED AT EXTREME HEAT.

WE LOOKED AT PERIODS OF DROUGHT LIKE I MENTIONED, THE FEAST OR FAMINE SCENARIO. WE LOOKED AT SEVERE STORMS THAT WERE MODIFIED AND EXACERBATED BY TIDAL FLOODING IMPACTS LIKE, YOU KNOW, A LATE SEASON OFF SHORE HURRICANE EVENT IN OCTOBER, A KING TIDE, AND THEN 100 YEAR RAINFALL EVENT ON TOP OF IT. SO THOSE TYPES OF COMPOUND AND SEVERE STORMS , WE LOOKED AT THOSE IMPACTS.

HIGH WIND EVENTS, WE LOOKED AT WILDFIRE AND COASTAL EROSION, WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS OF THE TIDAL FLOODING AND THE STORM SURGE ON OUR SHORELINES.

NEXT SLIDE.

>> I DO STILL HAVE A JOB.

>> SO THIS REALLY FOCUSES ON THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS. THE STATE AS MENTIONED FUNDED THE FLOOD PORTION OF IT. WE WERE REQUIRED TO LOOK AT 2040, 2070, BUT THOSE TWO PLANNING HORIZONS, BUT WE ALSO LIKE TO LOOK AT THE 2100 SCENARIO AS WELL BECAUSE CERTAIN INFRASTRUCTURE DECISIONS YOU MAKE COULD BE FURTHER OUT THAN JUST 2040 OR 2070. AND THEN WE LOOKED AT, YOU KNOW, MODELING SCENARIOS AND BROUGHT THE GIS TOGETHER AND PUT TOGETHER A MAP SERIES. OTHER HAZARDS WAS THE FEDERALLY PORTIONED PART OF THE PROJECT, WHERE WE LOOKED AT ALL OF THOSE OTHER TYPES OF HAZARDS.

THIS LOOKS MORE -- A LOT LIKE WHAT A COUNTY LOCAL MITIGATION STRATEGY IS, IF YOU HEARD THAT.

EVERYBODY PARTICIPATES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LOCAL MITIGATION STRATEGY, EVERY FIVE YEARS AND THAT LOOKS AT A WHOLE LOT OF HAZARDS, NOT JUST FLOODING.

AND INTERESTINGLY WE ALSO USED, YOU SEE THE ACRONYM THERE, SLAM, THAT STANDS FOR SEA LEVEL ASSISTED MARSH MODEL. AND WHAT THAT DOES IS LOOKS AT THE IMPACTS OF HABITAT TRANSITION DUE TO SEA LEVEL RISE OVER TIME.

AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE FRESH WATER WETLANDS THAT BECOME MORE TIDALLY INFLUENCED OR BRACKISH OR THAT HABITAT CAN CHANGE JUST TO STUFF THAT IS MOREMORE TOLERANT. YOU'LL SEE A DIFFERENCE IN THE PLANTS AND SPECIES THAT ARE DEPENDENT ON THOSE HABITATS.

NEXT SLIDE. SO, WE'LL KIND OF WALK THROUGH THE SERIES. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO EVALUATE ARE THE ACTUAL DAYS OF TIDAL FLOODING UNDER VARIOUS SCENARIOS.

THIS IS THE HISTORIC CONDITION 2005 TO 2023 AND THEN THE COLOR RAMP÷÷RAMP THE RIGHT SIDE SHOWS YOU THE ACTUAL DAYS THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE VARIOUS TYPES OF FLOODING. THIS IS THE MEAN HIGH HIGH WATER WITH THE TWO- FOOT SEA LEVEL RISE. WANT TO CLICK THROUGH?

>> BECAUSE IT IS MAYBE A LITTLE SMALL, POTENTIALLY, WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT IS WHERE YOU SEE SORT OF THE LAVENDER, THE PURPLE, THAT'S ABOUT ONE DAY OF TIDAL FLOODING. AS YOU GET INTO MORE GREEN COLORS, YOU'RE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 21 AND 41 DAYS.

AND THEN ORANGE AND RED IS 100 OR 150 OR MORE.

SO THIS IS PRESENT DAY AND THEN THIS IS 2040.

YOU CAN SEE MORE RED, ESPECIALLY OVER BY THE BARRIER ISLANDS. AND NOW YOU'RE SEEING MORE RED IN ST. LUCIE VILLAGE, SAY, AS WELL.

OKAY. >> MOST OF THAT SEEMS TO BE FOCUSED ON NORTH BEACH. NOW I SEE SOUTH BEACH,

YEAH. >> WE DID.

I'M SORRY. IF YOU SEE THAT LITTLE MAP IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT, SO WE DID THE -- WE DID A QUADRANT THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE COUNTY. SO IT IS SHOWING YOU WHERE WE'RE -- WE'RE JUST GIVING YOU A SNIPPET, SO YOU CAN KIND OF SEE CLOSER.

SO, YEAH, THAT'S THE NORTHERN -- BUT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE OTHER PARTS OF THAT MAP AS WE GO.

>> THIS IS LOOKING AT THE CATEGORY 1 AND THE CATEGORYCATEGORY STORM EVENTS.

AND WHERE THEY OCCUR. WE GOT THE PORTION OF THE COUNTY THAT IS THE FORT PIERCE AREA AND THEN THE PORT ST. LUCIE AREA. THIS IS COUNTY WIDE.

SO IT IS A LITTLE HARDER TO SEE THOSE IMPACT TRANSITIONS OVER TIME. BUT THIS IS 2070 AND, AGAIN, THE COLORS THERE INDICATE WHERE YOU HAVE BLUE OR LIGHT BLUE, LESSER LEVELS OF FLOOD INUNDATION.

THIS IS A 100- YEAR, 24- HOUR RAINFALL EVENT, CONSIDERING ALSO THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION INTERMEDIATE HIGH SEA LEVEL RISE PROJECTON. THAT WAS A MOUTHFUL.

AND THEN WE LOOK AT JUST WHAT THE RAINFALLRAINFALL IMPACTS OVER TIME ARE.

WE PICK ONE EVENT, THIS IS PRESENT DAY, WHEN WE HAVE A

[00:25:01]

100- YEAR, 24- HOUR RAINFALL EVENT.

AGAIN, IN THE UPPER RIGHT YOU CAN SEE THE LOCATION WHERE IN THE REGION WE ARE, WITH THAT MAP, NUMBER 21.

THIS IS PRESENT DAY AND THE COLOR RAMP WILL INDICATE, YOU KNOW, 2040 AND THEN 2070, WHERE THOSE RAINFALL EVENTS OCCUR.

COMPOUND FLOODING IS THE EXAMPLE I THROUGH OUT EARLIER, YOU HAVE, LIKE, AN OCTOBER RAINFALL EVENT.

YOU GOT A KING TIDE SCENARIO, WHERE THE TIDES ARE UP AND THEN YOU HAVE A CAT 3 STORM EVENT. AND THOSE EVENTS CAN HAPPEN.

I KNOW THAT IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THIS WAS A RELATIVELY LESSER PAINFUL KING TIDE SEASON THAN WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST. BUT SOMETIMES WE HAVE SEEN THOSE KING TIDES OCCUR WHEN WE HAVE A LATE SEASON STORM.

AND THIS IS ABSOLUTELY THE TYPE OF SCENARIO THAT YOU TAKE ALL OF THOSE EVENTS, AND YOU KIND OF MASH THEM UP AND LOOK AT WHAT THE IMPACTS CAN BE. AND HOW FAR INLAND THEY ARE AND HOW THE ELEVATIONS OF WATER ON THE LAND ARE IMPACTED BY THOSE EVENTS KIND OF COMBINING TOGETHER. SO THIS IS PRESENT DAY.

2040. AND 2070.

YOU SEE MORE OF THE YELLOWS AND ORANGES BECOMING MORE RED.

YOU SEE MORE OF THE BLUE FURTHER INLAND.

>> AND I JUST WANTED TO NOTE HERE TOO THAT IS WE OFTEN THINK OF STORM SURGE AS A COASTAL ISSUE. BUT IF YOU NOTICE HERE, WITH THE ST. LUCIE RIVER, OUR RIVER IS CONNECTED TO OUR OCEAN, SO THIS IS GOING TO SHOW FLOODING INLAND FROM EVEN STORM SURGE.

>> WE ALSO LOOKED AT DROUGHT. WE LOOKED AT A PERIOD OF RECORD DATA FROM THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND OTHER NATIONAL DATA SOURCES. ST. LUCIE COUNTY IS EXPERIENCING AN AVERAGE OF 9 TO 10 WEEKS OF DROUGHT ANNUALLY BASED ON THAT PERIOD OF RECORD OVER THE LAST 22 -- APPROXIMATELY 22 YEARS.

AND THEN YOU'VE GOT AN EXAMPLE THERE OF POINT LOCATION WHERE IT SHOWS APRIL TO MAY RAINFALL.

EXTREME HEAT IS AN ANALYSIS THAT WE ALSO DID.

AND WHAT THAT HELPS INDICATE, FOR INSTANCE, IT WOULD LEAD TO A STRATEGY WHERE MAYBE A COOLING CENTER OR WHERE YOU MIGHT MODIFY FACILITIES TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE LIKE OLDER PEOPLE OR YOUNGER PEOPLE THAT NEED RELIEF FROM THE HEAT DURING CERTAIN TIMES OF THE YEAR.

GENERALLY HEAT ANALYSIS ALIGNS WHERE YOU HAVE MORE IMPERVIOUS AREA AND LESSER TREES AND THEN THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE MORE OF THE HEAT. WE ALSO DID A TREE CANOPY STUDY FOR THIS, WHICH HELPS IDENTIFY GAPS WHERE YOU HAVE SHADE AND LESS TREES TO HELP WITH TREE PLANTING PRIORITIES AND PROGRAMS THAT CAN HELP COMBAT THAT EXTREME HEAT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. WE ALSO LOOKED AT WILDFIRE. IT IS NOT AS HUGE OF ONE OF THE RISKS THAT WE LOOKED AT COMPARED TO OTHER AREAS WITHIN THE REGION FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE BECAUSE YOU'RE MORE URBANIZED.

WE DID LOOK AT WILDFIRE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEEN OUT WEST IN THE UNITED STATES, URBAN AREAS CAN BE IMPACTED BY WILDFIRE RISK.

>> AGAIN, SOME OF THE ADAPTATIONS ARE CREATING THOSE BARRIERS THAT YOU WOULD IN A WILDFIRE, RIGHT. THERE ARE WAYS TO PREEMPT THE IMPACTS FROM A WILDFIRE BY HAVING, LIKE, A NOTIFICATION AS WELL AS A BOUNDARY.

>> EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS. SO NOW WE'RE GETTING INTO THE ACTUAL PLAN ITSELF. THE WHOLE GOAL IS TO REALLY MARRY THE SCIENCE OF ALL OF THESE HAZARD IMPACTS WITH STRATEGIES THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN IMPLEMENT AND POLICIES THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN ADOPT TO HELP MITIGATE OR REDUCE THE RISK OF THOSE HAZARDS OVER TIME. WE ALSO INCLUDED A CAPACITY ASSESSMENT. A CAPACITY ASSESSMENT LOOKS AT YOUR EXISTING PROCEDURES LIKE FINANCIAL PROCEDURES, STAFFING PROCEDURES, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, AND LOOKS TO WHERE WE CAN MAKE IMPROVEMENTS FOR CAPACITY. A LOT OF THAT GENERALLY COMES DOWN TO RECOMMENDATIONS DETECTION.

BUT WE DID LOOK AT A CAPACITY ASSESSMENT AND WE CONDUCTED AND ARE FINISHING A LL TALK ABOUT I SLIDES.

SO, ONE THING THAT THE STEERING COMMITTEE ACTUALLY HELPED US DO, WHICH WAS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT, WAS TAKING THE OUTCOMES OF THE DATA AND FIGURING OUT WHAT STRATEGIES WE

[00:30:04]

WOULD UTILIZE TO CURB THOSE POTENTIAL IMPACTS GOING INTO THE FUTURE.

THESE ARE THE MAJOR CATEGORIES OF THOSE STRATEGIES.

AND WE'LL KIND OF WALK THROUGH THEM AND PROVIDE SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT THOSE STRATEGIES ARE.

BUT GRAY INFRASTRUCTURE, YOU'RE LOOKING AT ACTUAL PHYSICAL MODIFICATIONS TO INFRASTRUCTURE LINES, PUMPS, THOSE TYPES OF -- BUILDINGS, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, WHERE YOU'RE LOOKING AT PARKS, CONSERVATION LAND, SHORELINES, THOSE COMPONENTS OF YOUR COMMUNITY.

THERE IS A VERY HEAVY FOCUS ON COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND I CAN TELL YOU I WORK ON A LOT OF VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS ACROSS THE STATE AND NONE OF THEM HAVE HAD AS MUCH MUCH INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY EDUCATION AS WE HAVE HAD ON THIS ONE.

AND SO THERE ARE CONTINUED RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT HOW TO HARMONIZE ACROSS PROGRAMS, BUT ALSO GET THE WORD OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANNING, A LOT OF THAT FOCUSES ON USING THE DATA TO BETTER PLAN FOR EVENTS AND HOW TO RECOVER FROM THEM UNDER YOUR TRADITIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES.

AND THEN WE LOOKED AT YOUR CODES AND YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLANS. AND SO THERE IS A PHASING TO THIS. BECAUSE YOU CAN'T CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN IN ONE DAY. WE LOOKED AT SHORT- TERM AND INTERMEDIATE AND LONG- TERM STRATEGIES, BUT NOTHING SHOULD BE PUT INTO A SILO, FOR INSTANCE. IF THERE IS A GRANT OPPORTUNITY THAT OPENS UP, AND IT IS A STRATEGY THAT MAY BE FURTHER OUT, AND IF IT IS YOUR GRANT APPLICATION, THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO MOVE UP IN THE MIX AND PURSUE.

BUT GENERALLY, JUST TO HELP PEOPLE START WITH BUDGETING AND THAT TYPE OF THING, LOOKING AT GROUND TROOPING THE STRATEGIES IN SOME WAY. SO, NOW WE'RE GOING TO KIND SOME OF THE EXAMPLES.

FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD WHERE YOU WOULD BE LOOKING AT RETRO FITTING, IT MAY INCLUDE ELEVATION OR EVEN RELOCATION OF COMPONENTS OF YOUR PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. BUT GENERALLY WE'RE ACCOUNTING FOR FLOOD RISK, WE'RE ACCOUNTING FOR HEATING, COOLING, MAKING BUILDINGS MORE EFFICIENT, AND LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, FUTURE CONSTRUCTION WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT A NEW BUILDING OR NEW FACILITY, ACCOUNTING FOR THE FLOOD RISK IN THE DESIGN AND LOCATION OF THAT FACILITY. THIS COULD ALSO INCLUDE THINGS LIKE CONSIDERING LEVELS OF SERVICE FOR YOUR ROADS, AND IN TERMS OF, LIKE, ELEVATION OF YOUR ROADS AND FLOOD RISK. NOT JUST HOW MANY CARS, CAPACITY, BUT LOOKING AT ROAD DESIGN IN A DIFFERENT WAY, BASICALLY INCORPORATING THE OUTCOMES AND THE DATA WE LEARNED IN THIS VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT.

ECOSYSTEMS, NATURE-BASED. THIS WAS A LOT OF SHORELINE ANALYSIS. WE ALSO LOOKED AT PARKS, LANDS, CONSERVATION LANDS, USE OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, NOT JUST ALWAYS PUMPS AND PIPES, BUT ARE THERE WAYS THAT WE CAN INCORPORATE MORE LAND MANAGEMENT INTO OUR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS.

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND POLICY, I'VE GOT A SLIDE WHERE I WILL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER. BUT WE TOOK A BROAD BRUSH AND LOOKED AT EVERY ELEMENT OF YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, A LOT OF TIMES WHEN PEOPLE DO THIS THEY ONLY FOCUS ON THE COASTAL ELEMENT. THIS IS NOT JUST A COASTAL ISSUE. THIS IMPACTS AS WE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT HERE YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE, YOUR PARKS LANDS, YOUR LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT YOU ADOPTED FOR DIFFERENT FACILITIES AND IMPACTS.

THE ACCOUNT FOR THE FUTURE MANAGEMENT OF THOSE FACILITIES, SO, THAT'S WHY WE LOOK AT EVERY ELEMENT OF THE COMP PLAN AND FINISHING UP THAT ANALYSIS PRESENTLY. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, HOW DOES -- HOW DO THE CITIES, THE MUNICIPALITIES COORDINATE WITH THE COUNTY ON EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS, YOUR OWN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANNING, YOUR PARTICIPATION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, THE NFIP COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEM. A LOT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROGRAM, BUT THERE ARE STRATEGIES THAT YOU CAN BETTER PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROGRAM, BUT YOU'RE ALSO, FOR INSTANCE, WITH YOUR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION GETTING THE WORD OUT BECAUSE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IS A HUGE COMPONENT OF THE COMMUNITY RATING SYSTEM, HOW THEY ALLOCATE THE POINTS IN THAT PROGRAM AS WELL. BUT EARLY WARNING IS SOMETHING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT NOT JUST WITH FLOODS, BUT ALSO WITH HEAT DAYS, AND DROUGHT. THINGS THAT WE CAN DO WHERE WE'RE LOOKING BEFORE A PROBLEM OCCURS RATHER THAN SCRAMBLING WHEN THE PROBLEM STARTS TO EXIST. COMMUNITY EDUCATION.

WE HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THIS IS NOT STOPPING WITH THIS PROJECT, THAT THERE IS GAGEMENT AND

[00:35:05]

WAYS YOU CAN GET WORD OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.

ONE WAY IS THROUGH PARTICIPATION WITH THE NFIP PROGRAM. WE HAVE THE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WORKING WITH OTHER AGENCIES, FDOT, THE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, BUT REALLY LEVERAGING PARTNERSHIPS AND CONTINUING THOSE PARTNERSHIPS BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE A STRONG STRUCTURE ALREADY FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH WITH THIS PROGRAM.

THE CAPACITY ASSESSMENT THAT I TALKED ABOUT, THE BOTTOM LINE ON THE CAPACITY ASSESSMENT WAS THAT THERE WAS A STRONG CAPACITY THROUGHOUT THE REGION DEALING WITH FLOODS. YOU KNOW, YOU GUYS TALK A LOT, YOU'VE BEEN HIT BY HURRICANES BEFORE, DIRECTLY, RAINFALL EVENTS, SO THERE IS A GOOD INFRASTRUCTURE IN TERMS OF HANDLING THOSE EVENTS, PREDICTING THEM, RESPONDING TO THEM, BUT IT WAS MODERATE FOR THINGS LIKE COASTAL EROSION, DROUGHT, HEAT, WILDFIRE, WHICH KIND OF EMPHASIZES THAT YOU CAN'T JUST LOOK AT THESE VULNERABILITY PROJECTS, SILOED AND LOOKING JUST AT FLOODING. THOSE OTHER HAZARDS ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TOO AND THEY HAVE EXACERBATED IMPACTS ON THE NEEDIER SECTORS OF YOUR COMMUNITY.

SO, BUILDING SOME OF THAT CAPACITY ARE INCLUDED IN SOME OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS AS WELL.

POLICY STRATEGIES. WE HAVE DONE THE POLICY REVIEW ON TWO LEVELS. THE FIRST LEVEL IS WE CREATED A UNIFORM SET OF EXAMPLE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN POLICIES. I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE IN THE MIDST OF UPDATING YOUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN RIGHT NOW. SO THE TIMING ON THIS WAS REALLY GOOD THAT WE COULD PROVIDE SOME OF THOSE EXAMPLE POLICIES.

THE WAY IT IS STRUCTURED, IT IS ONE GOAL, FOUR OBJECTIVES AND 60 EXAMPLE POLICIES ACROSS ALL OF THOSE THEMES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE GRAY INFRASTRUCTURE, THE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, DATA.

ON SOME LEVEL, ALL OF THE ADAPTATION RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE MADE ARE ADDRESSED IN A POLICY RECOMMENDATION. OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE YOUR OWN COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING PROCESS.

SO THIS IS NOT US TELLING YOU, YOU MUST ADOPT THESE POLICIES. THIS IS A MENU OF THINGS THAT YOU CAN PICK AND CHOOSE FROM, WHILE YOU ARE ENGAGED IN YOUR CURRENT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE. THE SECOND THING THAT WE DID IS WE ALSO ARE COMPLETING AN ANALYSIS RIGHT NOW OF YOUR COMP -- YOUR EXISTING COMP PLAN AND YOUR CODE ABOUT WHERE YOU CAN INCORPORATE MORE OF THESE STRATEGIES. SO WE PROVIDED MODEL POLICIES, BUT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT THINGS WHERE THERE MAY BE A CONFLICT, OR THERE MAY BE A POLICY THAT YOU HAVE THAT PREVENTS IMPLEMENTATION OF AN ADAPTATION STRATEGY. THAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW AS WELL. AND SO WE'RE FINISHING UP THOSE JURISDICTIONS, SPECIFIC POLICY ANALYSES, FOR EACH JURISDICTION THAT IS PARTICIPATING, WE'RE HOPING TO FINISH THAT UP BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

IT IS A LOT OF COMP PLAN AND CODE TO LOOK THROUGH FOR EVERYBODY. BUT WE'RE -- THAT IS OUR GOAL.

SO, THE POLICY ANALYSIS OF THIS IS PRETTY SPECIFIC.

AND IT IS TO EACH JURISDICTION. IT IS NOT JUST A BLANKET OF -- THIS IS WHAT WE WANT YOU TO DO WITH THE ADAPTATION STRATEGIES. BUT IT IS SPECIFIC TO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. SO WE THINK THAT WILL BE A VERY USEFUL TOOL FOR YOU.

>> THAT'S GOING TO BE OFFERED SEPARATELY FROM THE DRAFT, THE DRAFT RESILIENCE PLAN WILL HAVE THE UNIFORM POLICIES WITHIN IT.

THE INDIVIDUAL REVIEW OF COMPREHENSIVE PLANS WILL BE PROVIDED TO EACH JURISDICTION IN A MEMO FORM.

>> RIGHT. AND THAT IS WRAPPING IT UP.

THAT'S A LOT. BUT THE REGIONAL RESILIENCE PLAN, I THINK, CAN BE VIEWED AS A TOOL FOR YOU.

IT IS NOT A MANDATE. IT DOESN'T REQUIRE, YOU KNOW, A PORTIONING BUDGETARY FUNDS. THERE ARE SUGGESTIONS ON ADAPTATION STRATEGIES YOU CAN IMPLEMENT OVER TIME.

EXAMPLES OF POLICIES THAT YOU CAN IMPLEMENT OVER TIME.

BUT TRULY, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE REGION IT GETS EVERYBODY KIND OF ROWING IN THE SAME DIRECTION IN TERMS OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE RISKS ARE, WHAT ARE THE CRITICAL ASSETS TO PROTECT AND WHEN, WHAT ARE THE TIME FRAMES THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT THOSE IMPACTS TO OCCUR.

AND WHAT YOU CAN POTENTIALLY DO ABOUT IT.

HOPEFULLY IT IS A TOOL THAT YOU ALL CAN UTILIZE WITH YOUR BUDGET DECISIONS AND WITH YOUR POLICY DECISIONS.

AND THAT IS IT.

>> SO YOU'RE REFERRING TO A REGIONAL RESILIENCE PLAN, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THIS REPRESENTS ST. LUCIE COUNTY, NOT TREASURE COAST OR -- IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> IT IS COUNTY. JUST COUNTY.

YOU SAY REGIONAL, BUT YOU DON'T SAY --

>> YOU ARE CORRECT. REGIONAL AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, NOT REGIONAL AS IN THE TREASURE COAST REGIONAL PLANNING

[00:40:01]

COUNCIL.

>> OKAY. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I KNEW. ADD, HOWEVER, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY, WE'RE TRYING TO FOSTER A MORE REGIONAL AS IN TREASURE COAST REGION RESILIENCE PLANNING COLLABORATION, SHARING OF IDEAS, SHARING OF SUCCESSES OR FAILURES EVEN. I KNOW THAT, LIKE, I, YOU KNOW, PERSONALLY WORKED WITH THE REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL ON TRYING TO GET A GRANT TO SORT OF FUND A POSITION THAT WOULD ACTUALLY HANDLE THAT. WE WEREN'T SUCCESSFUL.

BUT I KNOW IT IS A PRIORITY OF THE REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL AS WELL.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT.

>> WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM.

>> AND SO YOU PROBABLY AREN'T ABLE TO DO THIS, BUT I WOULD THINK THAT ONE THING THAT PLAYS INTO PLANNING BASED ON THIS IS WE HAVE A STATE LEGISLATURE WHICH IS NOT EXACTLY LOOKING TO US TO HAVE LESS DENSITY OR -- AND ALSO THERE IS A BILL OUT THERE THAT SAYS IN YOUR COMP PLAN YOU CAN'T HAVE ANYTHING MORE RESTRICTIVE -- THERE ARE THINGS THAT PLAY AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT MAKE THIS KIND OF AN ACADEMIC EXERCISE UNTIL WE'RE ALLOWED TO DO

IT. >> I FORGOT TO INTRODUCE ERIN AS A LEGAL MIND AS WELL. SO, SHE'S A LAWYER, AND SHE IS AN URBAN PLANNER AND, OF COURSE, THAT PARTICULAR LEGISLATION WAS ON OUR MINDS WHEN IT CAME ABOUT.

>> I'M SURE IT WAS, YES, YES.

>> AND I THINK THAT RAISES A REALLY GOOD POINT, BECAUSE SENATE BILL 180 IS REALLY FOCUSED ON IMPACTS RELATED TO THAT MORE RESTRICTIVE OR BURDENSOME LANGUAGE RELATED TO PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT.

A LOT OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NOT ABOUT PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT.

IT IS ABOUT HOW THE CITY OR COUNTY, WHOEVER IT IS, CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF PUTTING ITS HOUSE IN ORDER IN TERMS OF ITS FACILITIES, ITS BUILDINGS, ITS INFRASTRUCTURE, ITS DESIGN STANDARDS FOR PUMPS AND DIFFERENT FLOOD EVENTS.

THERE IS A SECTION IN THERE ABOUT ENCOURAGING AND KNOWING, LIKE, WHAT'S HAPPENING FROM A PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT, BUT WE'RE MINDFUL OF THAT LEGISLATION.

WE'RE ALSO HOPEFUL THAT THE LEGISLATURE ROLLS THAT BACK THIS YEAR.

>> SUPPOSED TO BE A GLITCH BILL, RIGHT? WE'LL SEE WHAT THAT SOLVES.

>> KNOCK ON WOOD.

>> EXACTLY. BUT, WE KNEW THAT KIND OF GOING INTO THIS. SO WE WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR TO PEOPLE THAT THERE IS A LOT THAT A LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAN DO OUTSIDE OF THAT LEGISLATION SHOULD IT NOT BE MODIFIED. BUT WE'RE ALL HOPEFUL.

>> GOOD POINT. YES.

COMMISSIONERS, ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS? COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?

>> COMMENT. IN MY DAY JOB WE OPERATE EXTENSIVE PORTFOLIO OF REAL ESTATE.

AND WE HAVE SPENT THE LAST FIVE YEARS HARDENING PROPERTIES THROUGHOUT OUR PORTFOLIO IN MARTIN COUNTY AND ST. LUCIE COUNTY. THE COST FACTOR OF THIS STUFF IS MASSIVELY PROHIBITIVE, ESPECIALLY TO A GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY SUCH AS THIS, THAT HAS A $67 MILLION ANNUAL BUDGET THAT WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO PUT THAT BUDGET TOGETHER BY LOOKING FOR NICKELS AND DIMES UNDER THE CARPET. SO, TO COME UP TO A BUILDING SUCH AS THIS, WE CAN SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THIS BUILDING, SUNRISE THEATRE, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. YOU PICK ANY BUILDING IN THE PORTFOLIO AT THE CITY OWNS, THE COST FACTOR IS -- PREVENTS US FROM UNDERTAKING A PROJECT SUCH AS THAT. THERE HAVE BEEN PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN UNDERTAKEN TO RESPOND TO STORMS, SUCH AS HARDENING OUR FUEL DEPO, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, ET CETERA, BUT MY THEORY HAS BEEN IF WE CAN PREVENT THE DAMAGE TO BEGIN WITH, WE DON'T HAVE TO CLEAN UP THE MESS AFTERWARDS OR DO THE REPAIRS AFTERWARDS, WHICH INCLUDES INSURANCE CLAIMS AND BUILDING PERMITS AND CONSTRUCTION TIME, ET CETERA.

WE HAVE GONE THE OPPOSITE ROAD AND SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN HARDENING BUILDINGS THAT PROBABLY AREN'T WORTH THE INVESTMENT. I'M NOT SURE HOW WE RECONCILE THAT TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO IN ESSENCE SPECIAL ASSESS YOU, BY RAISING TAXES, TO HARDEN PROPERTIES ON A WHAT IF SCENARIO, WHEN CITIZENS OF THE CITY ARE BEGGING FOR MORE POLICE PROTECTION, PUBLIC WORKS SERVICES, MORE OF EVERYTHING AND THEN WE HAVE THE STATE GOVERNMENT SAYING, GUESS WHAT, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE AWAY YOUR -- TAX PAYS. I RESPECT YOUR REPORT.

THIS IS THE BUSINESS I'M IN, PROTECTING REAL ESTATE.

HOWEVER, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS CANDIDLY FROM A MUNICIPALITY OF OUR SIZE IS IMPOSSIBLE.

THE COUNTY HAS A BUDGET THAT IS, WHAT, 10, 15 TIMES OURS.

THEY MAY HAVE AVAILABLE FUNDING TO TAKE SOMETHING OF THIS NATURE ON A LIMITED BASIS, BUT CITY SUCH AS FORT PIERCE, I GOT A SEAWALL THAT NEEDS RECONSTRUCTION RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM HERE THAT WE'RE PUTTING ON SOME FIVE- YEAR

[00:45:01]

CAPEX IMPROVEMENT PLAN BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING NOW TO DO IT. SO I'M NOT REALLY SURE -- I RESPECT THE REPORT AND THE CONCLUDINGS OF THE REPORT, BUT WHAT IT DOESN'T TOUCH ON IS HOW DO YOU IMPLEMENT THIS IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THERE IS NO FUNDS AVAILABLE?

>> UNDERSTOOD. CLIMBING THE MOUNTAIN, YOU GOT TO KNOW YOUR PRIORITIES OBVIOUSLY.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THE STATE PORTION OF THIS WAS FUNDED THROUGH THE RESILIENCE FLORIDA PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES A JUST FRIDAY PUBLISHED THEIR LIST OF POTENTIAL PROJECTS FOR FUNDING EACH YEAR AND THAT IS A PRETTY SUCCESSFUL GRANTING PROGRAM THAT WILL PROVIDE UP TO 50% COST SHARE.

THEY FUND SHORELINE PROJECTS, THEY FUNDED RELOCATION OF FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AUTHORITY, THAT WASTE WATER PLAN, I WORKED ON THAT GRANT FOR THEM.

SO, THAT PROGRAM IS AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM BECAUSE THE PATHWAY TO FUNDING IS THAT YOUR PROJECTS IDENTIFY A VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT.

AND SO IF YOU HAVE YOUR FOCUS AREAS MAPPED, YOU KNOW, OF WHERE THE FLOODING IS GOING TO OCCUR, YOU HAVE ADAPTATION STRATEGIES LAID OUT, YOU'RE MORE COMPETITIVE IN THAT FUNDING SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO GO DOWN THAT PATH AS WELL. SO, THAT'S WHY WE DIDN'T PUT A BUDGET AND COST ESTIMATES ON THESE THINGS.

WE DIDN'T WANT IT TO SEEM LIKE IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS BEING, YOU KNOW, FORCED UPON A LOCAL GOVERNMENT. BUT IT IS A LONGER TERM BROADER STRATEGY THAT THE IMPORTANT PART OF IT ALSO IS THE TIMING OF WHEN THE IMPACTS ARE GOING TO OCCUR.

YOU KNOW THAT IN REAL ESTATE WITH YOUR PROPERTIES.

AM I LOOKING AT SOMETHING FURTHER EAST THAT IS CLOSER TO THE IMPACTS OR SOMETHING FURTHER WEST THAT I HAVE MORE TIME.

SO THERE IS VALUABLE INFORMATION TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS SHOULD YOU MAKE THEM DOWN THE PATH. BUT I UNDERSTAND, FUNDING IS TOUGH FOR EVERYBODY RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S WHY I ALWAYS GET OPTIMISTIC RIGHT AFTER THE PUBLICATION OF THE STATE'S LIST OF 100 PLUS GRANT APPLICATIONS WHERE THETHE NEED A BILLION DOLLARS AND THE REQUEST IS A BILLION DOLLARS AND THE LEGISLATURE PUTS 100 TO 200 MILLION INTO IT EACH YEAR.

67 COUNTIES, 400 PLUS MUNICIPALITIES, SO THAT IS ONE PROGRAM AND I WILL SAY THIS ABOUT OTHER GRANTING PROGRAMS AS WELL, IF YOU CAN POINT TO THE PRIORITY IN A DOCUMEN, WITH SOME DATA TO SUPPORT IT, YOU'RE GOING TO BE STRONGER IN THAT.

THE OTHER THING IS ALSO, YOU KNOW, EVERY FIVE YEARS YOU HAVE TO UPDATE THE LOCAL MITIGATION STRATEGY WHICH FLOWS THROUGH THE COUNTY, THE MUNICIPALITIES PLUG INTO THAT PROCESS WITH PROJECT PRIORITIES THAT THEY HAVE. AND THEN WHEN YOU HAVE A DISASTER DECLARATION, OR FEDERAL HAZARD MONEY THAT COMES INTO PLAY, YOU NOW HAVE A PRIORITIZED LIST OF PROJECTS. SO, THERE ARE SOME BENEFITS TO AT LEAST HAVING THE PRIORITIES BASED ON THE FLOOD RISK AND THE HAZARD.

BUT YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

THERE IS DIMINISHING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT TYPE OF FUNDING OUT THERE AND KNOWING THAT, YOU WANT TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE FOR WHAT'S LEFT ON THE TABLE.

IF THAT HELPS.

>> I'M GOOD. SO, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I SEE THIS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY. I GUESS MY -- A COUPLE QUESTIONS TO BE CLEAR. WHEN WILL THE REPORT BE COMPLETED AND DONE THAT WE'LL HAVE

IT? >> WE'RE HOPING TO BRING IT BACK TO YOU IN JANUARY.

>> OKAY. PRETTY QUICK.

>> SO, FOLLOWING UP ON BRODERICK, THIS IS THE PART OF GOVERNMENT THAT NO ONE REALLY LIKES, IT IS NOT SEXY, BUT IT IS WAY IN THE FUTURE, BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT WHEN STUFF FLOODS, AND WATER HITS AND DAMAGED AND EVERYBODY IS LOOKING FOR US TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS OR PROVIDE WARNINGS AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS, SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE COMMUNICATE THAT PROPERLY TO THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RISK EACH AND EVERY DAY. AND WE'RE LOOKING AT HOW DO WE TAKE A LIMITED BUDGET, THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE CUT AND PRIORITIZE WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO OPERATE IN CASE OF FLOODING, DAMAGE, ET CETERA, SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES. SO I SEE THAT HERE AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE COMMUNICATE THAT TO THE PUBLIC SO THEY UNDERSTAND. YOU START TALKING 27, 21, PEOPLE -- NONE OF US ARE GOING TO BE AROUND AT THAT POINT, RIGHT? BUT THE WORK THAT WE DO NOW AND HOW WE CALL THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE PUBLIC TODAY, BECAUSE IT CAN START RAINING TOMORROW AND FLOODING AND WE'LL HAVE PROBLEMS AT CITY HALL, RIGHT? SO, MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, WHEN IT COMES TO SOME OF THE ASSETS, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR THAT WE HAVE MANY ASSETS THAT BELONG TO THE CITY. DID YOU GO THROUGH AND PUT THOSE IN AND FACTOR THAT IN OR WILL THAT BE OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FACTOR IN ALL OF OUR ASSETS AND WHERE THEY FIT WITH THIS MAPPING OF WHAT IS GOING TO FLOOD BASED ON THAT?

>> YES. THAT PORTION OF THE PROJECT IS CALLED THE SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS.

>> WE HAVE A FLOOD ANALYSIS, AND THEN WE HAVE AN ANALYSIS

[00:50:02]

WHERE WE MAP THE ASSETS AND LAYLAY THE LAYERS ON TOP OF IT.

>> SO, FROM A CITY'S PERSPECTIVE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEE ALL OF OUR ASSETS AND THEN PRIORITIZE. I AGREE WITH YOU, SEAWALL IS FAILING, MR. K. UBACEK POINTED THAT OUT TO ME ONE DAY. WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT FROM AN ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVE AND THAT IDEA, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR A WALL THAT IF IT FALLS INTO THE OCEAN, WE HAVE ANOTHER ISSUE, RIGHT? SO I THINK WE -- I APPRECIATE THE COMMENT, BUT I JUST HAD TO SAY THAT WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC COMES ALONG IN BREAKING THIS DOWN TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE SPENDING THIS TIME.

I AGREE WITH YOU THE LEGISLATION AND WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN TALLAHASSEE THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING COMPARED TO THIS. I THINK THE TIMING OF THIS IS GREAT. BUT I THINK THIS COMMISSION GIVES US ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO OUR STATE DELEGATION ABOUT SOME MORE RECENT INFORMATION, SPECIFICALLY FOR THE COUNTY, AND FORT PIERCE, FOR ST. LUCIE, HOW THIS WILL IMPACT THE THE DISTRICTS THEY REPRESENT AND PRIORITIZING THOSE THINGS.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I APPRECIATE IT.

>> SURE. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES?

OKAY. >> JUST ADD THAT REMEMBER WE DID 2040, 2070 AND 2100. WE CAN'T PLAN THAT FAR, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT. I GOT YOU.

>> WE CAN THINK ABOUT IT, WE KNOW IT IS GOING TO BE ITERATIVE IF WE NEED TO ELEVATE SOMETHING THAT ALREADY EXISTS. THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IN ONE FELLED SWOOP.

AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO PLAN TO THAT.

HOWEVER, 2040 IS 15 YEARS AWAY. MOST OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT A CITY OR A COUNTY IS GOING TO BE WORKING ON, IT TAKES, YOU KNOW, FIVE YEARS, JUST TO GET THE PLANS DONE. PHASE ONE, PHASE TWO, PHASE THREE, THAT'S HOW WE NEED TO DO IT, RIGHT? GET THE MONEY, PHASE ONE, PHASE TWO, PHASE THREE, THE RESILIENT FLORIDA PROGRAM THAT DOES FUND INFRASTRUCTURE, IF YOU GOT A PHASE ONE, YOU'RE IN BETTER LIGHT TO GET PHASE TWO, RIGHT? THOSE ARE SOME OF THE STRATEGIES.

AND THEN 2070 IS A BRIDGE OR A ROAD, YOU KNOW.

YOU GOT TO LOOK AT THE LIFE SPAN OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE ITSELF. THAT -- YOU'RE RIGHT, THOUGH.

THAT'S HARD TO COMMUNICATE TO THE PUBLIC.

BUT 2040 IS TOMORROW.

>> I'M WORRIED ABOUT 2026 AND TOMORROW WHEN IT RAINS AND PEOPLE ARE CALLING ME THAT AVENUE C IS FLOODED.

I GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO UNDO THAT RIGHT NOW.

>> WHAT WE LIKE TO INSTILL WHEN WE TALK TO THE COMMUNITY IS WE'RE PARTNERS. THERE IS THINGS THEY CAN DO IN THEIR OWN -- IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS, NOT JUST THEIR YARDS, THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS, AND JUST TO SUPPORT THE WORK THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR GOVERNMENTS ARE DOING.

>> WE DO, YES. AND WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO MOVED HERE FROM SOME PLACE ELSE. AND DON'T UNDERSTAND THE ECOSYSTEM OF FLORIDA AND SO THAT'S AN EDUCATION PROCESS TOO. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN JANUARY. THIS IS KIND OF LIKE FUTURE STUFF, FUTURISTIC STUFF THAT WE ALL NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT.

SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> ONE FOLLOW- UP QUESTION. IN YOUR ANALYSIS, I'M SURE -- OKAY, WE GET THE -- WHAT DID YOU CALL IT, THE PART THAT IS --

>> SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS THAT LOOKS AT ASSETS AND FLOODING, YEAH.

>> DOES IT RATE THOSE ASSETS AS TO WHAT IS THE MOST VULNERABLE, VERSUS THE LEAST

VULNERABLE? >>

YES. >> THE REASON I SAY THAT IS ONE OF THE RECENT EVENTS WE HAD HERE IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, I HAVE ASSETS EAST AND WEST. I HAVE WIND DAMAGE IN THE EAST AND FLOODING IN THE WEST. SO, IT WAS GLOBAL.

IT WASN'T JUST NECESSARILY POCKETED TO BARRIER ISLAND OR DOWNTOWN, ET CETERA. SO, IF YOU HAVE A RATING SYSTEM THAT -- AND YOU HAVE A SCHEDULE OF HOW YOU PROVIDE THAT RATING SYSTEM, OR A DEFINITION, THAT WILL MAKE FOR AN INTERESTING READING.

>> WE RANK THE ASSETS, ONE THROUGH FIVE. 1S, 2S AND 3S ARE HIGHER IMPORTANT ASSETS, 4S AND 5S ARE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE FOR THE LONGER TERM. AND THE CALCULATION OF THAT RANKING LOOKS AT FLOOD DEPTH, TYPE OF FLOODING, OCCURRENCES OF FLOODING, AND WHEN.

>> AND WHEN.

>> AND THAT METHODOLOGY WAS DEVELOPED BY THE STEERING COMMITTEE.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU.

>> THE OTHER THING TOO IS IT IS NOT JUST ALL IN A PHYSICAL MAP SERIES, LIKE, IT IS ALL IN GIS BEING PROVIDED TO YOUR STAFF AS WELL. SO, IF YOU HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT ASSET A AND YOU WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THAT NUMBER ONE OR NUMBER TWO RANKED ASSET, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO PULL THAT INFORMATION UP FOR YOU IN A MAPPING PROGRAM AND DIVE INTO

IT. >> IT DOESN'T GET INTO THE TECHNICALITIES OF THE PARTICULAR PROPERTY WE'RE LOOKING TO ASSESS TAKEN WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO RENOVATE IT TO --

>> NO. IT JUST SAYS THIS ASSET IS

[00:55:01]

PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO BE HIT BY THIS TYPE OF FLOODING IN 2040.

>> AND IT ALSO DOES NOT, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO BE IN THIS JUDGMENT ABOUT SAYING, WE'RE GOING TO RANK THIS ASSET HIGHER BECAUSE IT IS A ROAD VERSUS THIS ASSET WHICH IS A CITY REFUELING BUILDING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU MAKE THOSE DECISIONS, WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT THE SCIENCE AND THE DATA ABOUT WHEN IT IS GOING TO BE IMPACTED AND HOW SEVERELY.

>> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK, WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT LIST, THE CRITICAL ASSET LIST UNDER THE RANKINGS AS WELL AS A MAP VIEWER, WHICH, AGAIN, IN THE NEXT MONTH WILL BE TURNING OVER TO YOUR GIS AND YOUR BOARD.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING

HERE. >> THANK YOU.

>> WE'LL MOVE ON. THANK YOU.

[B. Annual Update (2024–2025) from Treasure Coast Homeless Services Council on Services Provided to Fort Pierce’s Unsheltered Population.]

OKAY, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE ANNUAL UPDATE FROM THE TREASURE COAST HOMELESS SERVICES COUNCIL ON SERVICES PROVIDED TO FORT PIERCE'S UNSHELTERED POPULATION.

>> MR. CHESS. >> YES.

MISS MOORE WILL GIVE A PRESENTATION AND UPDATE.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO ASK RAMY KNUCKLES TO JOIN ME.

EXCUSE ME. DID YOU GET TOO EXCITED LAST NIGHT AT THE PARADE?

>> YES, I DID.

>> LOST YOUR VOICE?

>> LATER IN THE AGENDA, THE COMMISSION, YOU WILL BE CONSIDERING RENEWING THE TREASURE -- THE INTERLOCAL FUNDING AGREEMENT WITH ST.

LUCIE COUNTY. WE ARE ASKING -- WE HAVE CONTRIBUTED FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS ABOUT $125,000 TO THE COUNTY.

>> ANNUALLY. >> ANNUALLY, YES, MA'AM.

FOR SERVICES THAT ARE BEING PROVIDED AT OUR HOMELESS HUB. STAFF THOUGHT IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT THAT YOU HEAR FROM RAMY KNUCKLES, THE VISIONARY LEADER OF OUR TREASURE COAST HOMELESS SERVICES COUNCIL, SO HE CAN PROVIDE SORT OF AN OVERVIEW AND AS WELL AS JUST TO TELL YOU WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING HERE IN THETHE OF FORT PIERCE.

>> THANK YOU, MR. KNUCKLES,

WELCOME. >> GOOD MORNING, MA'AM.

MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, THANK YOU FOR INVITING US TODAY. MY NAME IS RAMY

KNUCKLES. >> YOU NEED TO SPEAK UP A LITTLE BIT OR GET THAT MIC CLOSER TO YOU.

>> MY NAME IS RAMY KNUCKLES, VISIONARY LEADER FOR THE TREASURE COAST HOMELESS SERVICES COUNCIL.

I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE HOMELESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE ST. LUCIE COUNTY. I BELIEVE YOU HAVE A COPY OF THE REPORT THAT WAS PROVIDED TOTO COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST YEAR.

SO, MANY OF THE STATISTICS THAT ARE IN THAT REPORT ARE FROM JULY OF 2024 THROUGH JULY OF 2025.

TODAY I DO HAVE WITH ME THE DIRECTOR OF OUR SHELTER, MR. ARE A ARMANZO PIMEN.

THERE WE GO. OUR MISSION SPECIFICALLY IS TO END HOMELESSNESS ON THE TREASURE COAST AND ENSURE IF HOMELESSNESS DOES HAPPEN, IT IS RARE OR NONRECURRING.

WE ARE THE DESIGNATED LEAD AGENCY BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND THE OFFICE OF HOMELESSNESS FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA, FOR WHAT IS CALLED THE HOMELESS CONTINUUM OF CARE, FLORIDA 509, WHICH REPRESENTS INDIAN RIVER, ST. LUCIE AND MARTIN COUNTIES.

ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO, WE STARTED OPERATING THE HOUSING HUB ALSO KNOWN AS ADAM'S PLACE, TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO SHELTER AND COORDINATING ENTRY, OUTREACH, HOUSING NAVIGATION, TO RESIDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY AND IN FORT PIERCE.

WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT OF THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT. LAST -- THE RECENT NUMBERS WE HAVE SERVED 166 CLIENTS AT THE HUB.

AND OUT OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS, 135 HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY HOUSED. THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE AT THE HOUSING HUB INCLUDE IMMEDIATE AND SAFE EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR MEN AND WOMEN.

IN 2023 WE EXPANDED TO SERVING WOMEN.

WE PROVIDE COORDINATED INTAKE WHICH IS A REQUIREMENT WITH HOUSING URBAN DEVELOPMENT, CASE MANAGEMENT, DIVERSION AND RAPID RESOLUTION SERVICES, BENEFITS THAT -- I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF A BENEFIT THAT WILL HELP SOMEONE APPLY FOR.

LET'S SAY SOMEONE IS ON -- IS -- HAS A DISABLING CONDITION AND HAS NOT APPLIED FOR THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY.

[01:00:02]

WE HAVE SOMEONE ON STAFF WHO DOES THAT FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL TO HELP THEM GAIN ACCESS. WHICH ALSO ASSISTS THEM IN BEING ABLE TO PAY FOR THEIR OWN RENT. IF YOU'RE HOMELESS, THERE IS A 90- DAYTIME PERIOD. SO THE REASON WHY WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO DOES THAT IN OUR OFFICE IS BECAUSE IT GETS THEM ON TO ASSISTANCE MUCH MORE QUICKLY. WE PROVIDE CAREER NAVIGATION AND CONNECT TO OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES WITH HOUSING NAVIGATION. WE HAVE A HOUSING NAVIGATOR WHO ASSISTS AS WELL FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED HELP LOOKING FOR UNITS.

AND MAKES RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL LANDLORDS IN THE COMMUNITY. PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTHCARE, WHICH IS PROVIDED BY HANDS CLINIC AND NEW HORIZONS.

OUR STREET OUTREACH PROGRAM WAS EXPANDED IN 24 IN ALIGNMENT WITH HOUSE BILL 1365. THE -- SO WE ADDED AL TO OUR TEAM AT THAT POINT. AND HE CONNECTS INDIVIDUALS TO MEDICAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, WORKING WITH THE MOBILE RESPONSE TEAMS, AND OBVIOUSLY WITH THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SO, LINKS TO INDIVIDUALS DIRECTLY TO THE HOUSING HUB, SO WE CAN PROVIDE THE SERVICES SO THEY CAN MOVE ON. OUR HOUSING STABILIZATION, WE PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT TO SHARE HOUSING BECAUSE AS YOU ALL KNOW, HOUSING HAS BECOME VERY EXPENSIVE AND MOST PEOPLE WHO ARE ELDERLY OR ARE ON DISABILITY CAN NO LONGER AFFORD A UNIT ON THEIR OWN UNLESS THEY'RE IN SUBSIDIZED HOUSING.

WE HAVE AN EXTENSIVE LANDLORD PARTNERSHIP HERE IN ST.

LUCIE COUNTY AND IN CITY OF FORT PIERCE.

THE STATE PROVIDES FUNDS FOR US TO PROVIDE RAPID REHOUSING FOR INDIVIDUALS LEAVING THE SHELTER SO WE CAN PAY FOR THEIR FIRST MONTH'S RENT, THEIR SECURITY DEPOSITS, FOR UTILITIES AND THE DEPOSIT TO THE LANDLORDS. AND SOMETIMES WE CAN DO ONGOING RENTAL ASSISTANCE DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF THEIR CHALLENGE WITH HOMELESSNESS. MOST IMPORTANTLY WE DO EVERYTHING WE TRY TO DO TO DIVERT THEM FROM THE CITY ALTOGETHER. IF WE HAVE FAMILY OR FRIENDS THAT WE CAN GET THEM TO MOVE IN WITH, AND ASSIST THEM TO BECOME BETTER ESTABLISHED DURING THE TIME PERIOD WHEN THEY'RE WITH THEIR FAMILIES, IT IS USUALLY A BETTER APPROACH FOR US.

SO WE DO HAVE STRONG COLLABORATIONS WITH CAREER SOURCE, AGAIN, NEW HORIZONS, I SIT ON THE BOARD FOR NEW HORIZONS AS WELL, SO WE HAVE GOOD PARTNERSHIP FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE AND THREE OF THEIR STAFF MEMBERS ACTUALLY WORK IN OUR OFFICES TO PROVIDE THE SUPPORTS THAT WE NEED.

AS I INDICATED BEFORE, OUR PHYSICAL HEALTH IS PROVIDEDPROVIDED HANDS CLINIC IN ADDITION TO WHOLE FAMILY HEALTH AND THE FLORIDA HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

OUR RECOVERY SUPPORTS ARE PROVIDED BY NEW HORIZONS, AND RIGHT LIFE. SO WHAT WE SEE LOCALLY, WE HAVE THE HIGH COST OF LIVING LIMITS THE WAY THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN ACCESS HOUSING AND RENTAL INVENTORY. SENIORS ARE INCREASINGLY AT A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF LOSING THEIR HOUSING.

AND BEING IN HOUSING INSECURITY. WE FIND MORE AND MORE SENIORS WHO ARE LIVING IN THEIR CARS BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY WHAT THEY THOUGHT WOULD WORK WITH LIVING ON SOCIAL SECURITY OR ANY OF THEIR INVESTMENTS DID NOT WORK OUT FOR THEM.

THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITY HAS BECOME A LITTLE CHALLENGING FOR EVEN US TO HOUSE FOLKS. THAT'S WHY WE REALLY FOCUS ON PEOPLE SHARING HOUSING. IT IS NOT SOMETHING WE PREFER, BUT IT IS A REALITY OF LIFE FOR MANY INDIVIDUALS. AND SO WE TRY TO SELL IT AS, WELL, YOU LIVED WITH SOMEONE WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP, YOU MAY BE IN YOUR 60S NOW AND MAY HAVE TO RETHINK YOUR PROCESS OF WANTING TO LIVE ALONE BECAUSE IF YOU ONLY HAVE $1200 A MONTH AND YOUR RENT IS $1100, THAT LEAVES YOU WITH HOW MUCH MONEY TO LIVE OFF OF? WE HAVE TO WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS ON ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND THAT MAKES IT VERY CHALLENGING FOR INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY. VETERANS REMAINS A HIGH PRIORITY. WE HAVE A VETERANS PROGRAM THROUGH TREASURE COAST ON ALL THREE COUNTIES. LAST YEAR WE SERVED OVER 170 HOUSEHOLDS IN OUR BUDGET JUST FROM THE VA WAS A LITTLE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO HOUSE THAT MANY HOUSEHOLDS AS WELL.

THAT WERE VETERAN HOUSEHOLDS. SO, JUST IN CITY OF FORT PIERCE, JUST THIS YEAR, 4900 SERVICES

[01:05:01]

PROVIDED. THAT'S IN THE RANGE OF ALL THE SERVICES THAT WERE THERE. AND IN 2025, SINCE 2023, MY ARRIVAL, WE WORKED DILIGENTLY ON REDUCING OUR HOMELESS NUMBERS.

WE KNOW WE REDUCED THOSE NUMBERS BECAUSE WE HOUSED THAT MANY PEOPLE.

BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO BRING IN ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO HOUSE INDIVIDUALS TO REDUCE OUR NUMBERS.

WE ALSO REALIZED THAT WITH INDIVIDUALS LIVING DOUBLED UP, THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HUD WILL ALLOW US TO SUBMIT.

SO, WHEN WE DO OUR ANNUAL COUNT, IT IS A ONE- DAY, 24- HOUR TIME PERIOD, IT DOES NOT COUNT THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE SERVE FROM JANUARY THROUGH DECEMBER.

SO, THERE IS A DISCREPANCY AND WE REALIZE THAT.

WE DO TALK ABOUT THAT OPENLY AND PUBLICLY IN THE COMMUNITY.

HOWEVER, THE ONE DAYDAY WE CONSISTENTLY HAVE SHOWN OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS A DECREASE. LAST YEAR WE HAD A 37% DECREASE HERE IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY.

SPEAKING OF OUR ACCOUNT, WE WILL HOLD OUR ACCOUNT IN 2026. IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN OUT ON THE STREETS AND COUNTED WITH US BEFORE, I WELCOME YOU TO JOIN ME. I WILL BE HERE DURING THAT 24- HOUR TIME PERIOD WILL BE THE LAST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH OF JANUARY.

IT IS QUITE AN EXPERIENCE TO LEARN AND ENGAGE IN.

AND YOU WILL CONNECT WITH THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY THAT DAY.

AND IN JANUARY, WE'LL SPLIT THE COUNTY INTO FOUR DIFFERENT SECTIONS. AND WE'LL START COUNTING AROUND 3:00 IN THE MORNING AND END AROUND 11:00 THAT NIGHT.

WE WILL UNVEIL OUR NUMBERS IN APRIL AT OUR IN HISTORY AWARDS DURING APRIL. LOOKING AHEAD FOR US, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH US. MAYOR, I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR MAKING THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS YOU MADE AT THE LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST. IT WAS VERY COMMENDABLE.

YOU WERE THE ONLY MEMBER OF PUBLIC OFFICE THAT SAID ANYTHING ABOUT HOMELESSNESS THAT DAY.

SO, IT WAS HEART WARMING TO HEAR THAT THE COMMITMENT THAT THE CITY HAS, SO, THANK YOU. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WE ARE -- WE ARE FACED WITH SOME -- SOME THINGS THAT ARE VERY CHALLENGING FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL FOR US.

A NUMBER OF -- YOU PROBABLY ALL ARE AWARE, WE HAVE BEEN RUNNING THE CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, SERVING INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DUAL DIAGNOSIS, MAYBE A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE OR HEALTH ISSUE. AND WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDING PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR THESE HOUSEHOLDS ACROSS ALL THREE COUNTIES. AND ALL THREE COUNTIES WE SERVED ABOUT 170 HOUSEHOLDS. UNDER THE NEW NOFA DUE JANUARY 16TH, PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IS NO LONGER A PRIORITY. THERE ARE MAKING THE PRIORITIES OUTREACH, ENGAGEMENT, AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. SO WE'RE HAT IS HAPPENING IS IT IS UP ENDING THE ENTIRE SYSTEM AND WE HAVE TO DETERMINE HOW TO HOUSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WE HAVE BEEN HOUSING WITH PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.

AND SO, IT IS -- IT WILL BE A MAJOR TASK FOR US.

RIGHT NOW MY FOCUS IS BRINGING IN THE REVENUE FOR THIS -- FOR OUR ORGANIZATION, FOR ALL THREE COUNTIES, WE DO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BRING IN 4.

2 MILLION ACROSS ALL THREE COUNTIES.

AND SO I'M WORKING REALLY DILIGENTLY WITH OUR PARTNERS TO ENSURE WE HAVE THE APPLICATIONS, AND WE ARE -- WE SUBMIT A SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION TO BRING IN ALL THE REVENUE NECESSARY. YOU'LL PROBABLY HEAR MORE FROM ME ABOUT POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO KEEP THOSE INDIVIDUALS HOUSED. THAT'S IT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COMMISSIONER GAINES, YOU WANT TO START?

>> I CAN. I GUESS I'M PARTIAL BECAUSE I SIT ON THE COMMITTEE.

>> THIS COMMITTEE DOES A GREAT --GREAT THEY DO A GREAT JOB. AND ONE OF THE THINGS AS SITTING HERE, BUDGET SEASON COMES BACK UP, WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT OUR PART BECAUSE WHAT HE'S NOT GOING TO SAY, AND THAT'S FINE, MOST OF THESE NUMBERS ARE ST. LUCIE COUNTY. THE PROBLEM IS HERE.

SO, IF WE CAN HELP ANY KIND OF WAY TO GET THE HOMELESS OFF

[01:10:03]

THE STREETS, OR INTO SOME TYPE OF PROGRAM OR SOME TYPE OF HOUSING THAT HE TALKED ABOUT, IT IS BETTER FOR THE WHOLE ENTIRE CITY. ONE OF THE THINGS, AND IF YOU TALK TO ANYBODY IN THE ST. LUCIE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM ARE THE NUMBER OF KIDS THAT ARE LIVING, LIVING IN CARS, OR THEY HAVE A GREAT PRINCIPAL THAT ALLOWING THEM TO COME TO THE SCHOOLS EARLY, TAKE A SHOWER, BEFORE THE OTHER KIDS GET THERE. SO, YOU KNOW, WE ALL TALK ABOUT HOMELESSNESS, BUT I WOULD LOVE FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE TO, YOU KNOW, TO STAND UP AND SAY, HEY, WE BELIEVE INTO THESE PROGRAMS AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE BUDGET CUTS AND EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS COMING OUT OF TALLAHASSEE, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT TO SEE IF WE CAN CONTRIBUTE MORE BECAUSE THEY DO A GREAT JOB IN GETTING SOMEONE FROM HOMELESSNESS BACK INTO A HOME THAT IS MORE PRODUCTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND HELPS EVERYBODY ELSE. THAT'S WHERE I'M AT ON THAT.

>> ANYONE ELSE WANT TO COMMENT?

>> I JUST SAY PUBLICLY, THANK YOU, MR. KNUCKLES FOR THIS UPDATE. YOU KNOW, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT WE HEAR FROM, I HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY, ET CETERA.

I THINK THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH NEW HORIZONS AND THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IS OF CONCERN. I RECENTLY MET WITH THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THERE TO EXPRESS MY CONCERNS AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT PARTNERSHIP WAS STILL THERE WITH THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND THAT THAT MOBILE CRISIS UNIT WAS ACTIVELY RESPONDING ON SOME OF THE BEHAVIORAL SITUATIONS WHERE WE KNOW THOSE SUBJECTS THAT ARE CONSTANTLY IN THAT SYSTEM AND CYCLE THAT THEY MAY BE OFF THEIR MEDICINES AND NEW HORIZONS WOULD BE THAT. THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT.

AND I WANTED TO CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE THAT.

I'LL CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR MY END THAT PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND NEW HORIZONS AND YOURSELF BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE PSYCHOSIS THAT WE SEE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND REACTION IS THERE, AND IN THE FUTURE, I GUESS AS YOU PRESENT TO US, IT WILL BE KIND OF INTERESTING FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THAT AND SOME OF THE DATA THAT YOU HAVE AS TO WHAT IS THAT RESPONSE, WHAT ARE THE NUMBER OF CALLS THAT WE ARE HANDLING IN FORT PIERCE. MY OTHER THING TOO IS THAT, AND HAPPY TO SUPPORT, LIKE WE WILL LATER IN OUR AGENDA HERE, YOU KNOW, AS WE LOOK AT THIS GROWING SITUATION, WE'RE SPANNING OVER THREE COUNTIES, YOU SPAN THREE COUNTIES, YOU KNOW. HOPEFULLY YOU ARE SEEING SUPPORT FROM THE OTHER COMMISSIONS, BOTH CITY AND COUNTY, AND THOSE JURISDICTIONS THAT IS STEPPING UM AND IF NOT, I WOULD LIKE TO THAT.

WE SERVE WITH THE SAME COMMISSIONERS AND DIFFERENT COMMITTEES AND IF I NEED TO TALK TO MY COLLEAGUES IN STEWART AND VERO, WE HAVE TO, BECAUSE WE CANNOT HAVE A PUSH- PULL EFFECT.

WE HAVE TO TREAT THEM WHERE THEY ARE.

AND SO I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY ALLEGATIONS, BUT THERE ARE RUMORS THAT THEY GET HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE A VERY COMPASSIONATE, PASSIONATE COMMUNITY, LARGELY LED BY OUR FAITH LEADERS HERE. BUT WE CANNOT BEAT UP THE AREA THAT TAKES ON THAT. THEY GOT FAITH LEADERS IN VERO AND FAITH LEADERS IN MARTIN COUNTY. AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE -- WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT. I GUESS WHAT I'M ASKING FOR, WHEN YOU'RE REPORTING AND EVEN IN ONE- OFFS, I WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH YOUR STAFF TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

BECAUSE WE CAN'T TAKE ON THE PRESSURES OF ABSOLVING THIS JUST IN FORT PIERCE.

OKAY. THE LAST THING I'LL SAY TO YOU IS, RECENTLY CAME BY SOME INFORMATION AND AS I VISITED YOUR WEBSITE, I KIND OF LOOKED AT YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR YOUR ENTITY.

AND I NOTICED THAT THERE WERE -- THIS BOARD AND THERE WERE COMMISSIONERS, ET CETERA, FORT PIERCE IS NOT ON THE BOARD. I ASKED MR. CHESS TO HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT. I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE, I'LL CIRCLE BACK, BUT I WANTED TO BRING TO THIS COMMISSION THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE A PERSON SITTING ON THAT BOARD FROM THIS COMMISSION.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S CONFLICT OR WHAT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO BRING IT TO OUR ATTENTION BECAUSE WE'RE CONTRIBUTING AND I THINK AT SOME POINT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT OUR REPRESENTATION.

COMMISSIONER GAINES SITS ON THE TASK FORCE, BUT THERE IS A BOARD HERE THAT WE DON'T HAVE REPRESENTATION ON. SO, THAT'S MY COMMENT AT THIS

[01:15:03]

POINT. >> DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING?

>> CERTAINLY. I'LL FOLLOW UP ON COMMISSIONER JOHNSON'S COMMENT. HE'S BEING POLITE.

I'M GOING TO PUT A FINE POINT ON THIS.

HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE BEING DRIVEN HERE FROM LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES AND DUMPED HERE.

DROPPED IN FORT PIERCE, LET FORT PIERCE MANAGE THE PROBLEM.

THERE IS A WELL KNOWN FACT. AND IT IS DESPICABLE THAT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OR GOVERNMENTS ARE DOING THIS, BUT IT IS TAKING PLACE CONSISTENTLY.

YOU CAN GET THAT INFORMATION RIGHT FROM THE HOMELESS PEOPLE. HOW DID YOU GET HERE? I GOT DROPPED OFF. SO, THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME CENTRIC IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AS THE HOMELESS POPULATION HERE CONTINUES TO EXPAND. AND WE HAD TO DECOMMISSION CITY PARKS BECAUSE THEY WERE CONGREGATING AND SLEEPING AREAS FOR HOMELESS AND RESIDENTS THAT WANTED TO USE THE PARKS WERE FEELING THREATENED. WE HAD TO DECOMMISSION CITY PARKS BECAUSE OF THE CONDITIONS.

I TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR REPORT AND THE WORK THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION IS DOING, BUT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE DOESN'T HAVE, AGAIN, I COME BACK TO ASSETS AND REVENUE, WE DON'T HAVE THE REVENUE TO ATTACK THE HOMELESS ISSUE, WHICH WE RECEIVE COMPLAINTS FROM THE .

THEY ARE A POLICING ORGANIZATION. BEEN FORCED INTO THESE ROLES DUE TO LACK OF MENTAL HEALTH. I STRUGGLE WITH THIS ISSUE AS TO WHAT THE ANSWERS ARE. I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS TO THIS. THIS COMMISSION DOESN'T HAVE THE ANSWERS TO THIS.

NOR DO WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS IT.

THIS WOULD TAKE A MUCH MORE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH AND A STRATEGIC DECISION THAT WE'RE GOING TO APPLY FROM A VERY LIMITED PIE REVENUE ASSETS TO HELP ASSIST THIS PROBLEM AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S FEASIBLE.

IT IS A GREAT IDEA. BUT WE'RE LOOKING FOR NICKELS ON THE COMMISSION DAIS TO BALANCE THE BUDGET. I DON'T UNDERSTAND AND IT IS NOT FOR LACK OF TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE BECAUSE OUR OPTIONS ARE NONE.

WE HAVE NO OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO US.

SO IT IS VERY DISAPPOINTING. IT IS VERY DISTURBING THAT WE FIND OURSELVES IN THIS SITUATION, BUT THAT IS MY ASSESSMENT OF HOW THE HOMELESS SITUATION IS IN FORT PIERCE.

YOU CAN WALK OUT THE DOOR RIGHT NOW, TAKE A LEFT, WALK DOWN TO THE SQUARE, WALK INTO RIVERFRONT PARK, YOU'LL FIND DOZENS OF PEOPLE.

>> YES. ARE YOU GOING TO FIND -- I'LL LET YOU SPEAK IN A MINUTE -- YOU'RE GOING TO FIND SOMEBODY AT TAYLOR CREEK SHOPPING CENTER STANDING WITH THE SIGN BECAUSE THAT'S A REGULAR SPOT TOO.

>> A REGULAR GUY RIGHT OUT HERE IN THE COURTYARD.

>> RIGHT. I WANTED TO ASK YOU ALSO FOR CLARITY, YOU SERVE THREE COUNTIES, IS THAT CORRECT? WITH YOUR POT OF MONEY? DO YOU -- IS THERE AN ALLOTTED POT OF MONEY FOR EACH COUNTY OR DO YOU TAKE THAT WHOLE POT OF MONEY AND SPEND IT AS NECESSARY?

>> RIGHT. SO, THERE IS AN OUTREACH PERSON FOR EACH COUNTY TOO. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WITH REGARD TO YOUR COMMENT ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MRT, IN OUR NEW APPLICATION, ENGAGEMENT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY RESILIENT FACTORS OF SCORING. SO, I WILL BE WORKING WITH MR. CHESS ON AN AGREEMENT FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS AN MOU TO SUBMIT AS PART OF OUR APPLICATION PROCESS TO INCREASE OUR WORK WITH MRT AND OUTREACH AND THE POLICE

DEPARTMENT. >> SO WHEN YOU -- MRT IS MOBILE RESPONSE TEAM.

>> GO AHEAD. I HAVE ANOTHER

QUESTION. >> GOING DOWN THAT PATH, AND RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE MADAM MAYOR, THE QUESTION I WANT TO UNDERSTAND, WHAT KIND OF FUNDING ARE YOU GETTING FROM STEWART AND MARTIN COUNTY? I HEARD YOU SAID YOU SPLIT WHATEVER COMES IN FROM THE GRANTS, ET CETERA.

WHAT I NEED, IF YOU DON'T, I NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT, I WAS JUST WITH THE MAYOR OF STEWART AND SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH HIM AND WE NEED TO COMMISSION, THINK ABOUT HOW WE ARE MEETING REGIONALLY AND I SAID THIS BEFORE BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GOING TO CONTINUE TO TAKE THIS PROBLEM, WE CAN'T AFFORD IT.

AND IF I GOT TO CALL IT OUT TO THEM, I CAN CALL IT OUT TO THEM AND GO TO THE COMMISSION MEETINGS TO POINT IT OUT TO THEM IN THEIR CONSTITUENTS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE

AREAS. >> WE DON'T RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM THE CITY OF STEWART.

>> OH, BOY.

>> MARTIN COUNTY PROVIDES RESOURCES TO US.

BUT IT IS ONLY $25,000.

[01:20:04]

>> WHY AM I NOT SURPRISED?

>> THE WHOLE ISSUE OF RESOURCES ACROSS ALL THREE COUNTIES IS AN ISSUE. SO --

>> RIGHT. IT IS AN ISSUE THAT YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH AS WELL AS US. WE'RE NOT PUTTING THIS ON YOU.

WE UNDERSTAND.

>> I'M NOT MAKING THAT --

>> I KNOW YOU AREN'T.

>> DISPARAGING YOU AND YOUR ORGANIZATION AND WHAT YOU DO.

>> YOU'RE FIGHTING AN UPHILL BATTLE. WE KNOW THAT.

>> I'M JUST FRUSTRATED.

>> WE SHARE THAT FRUSTRATION. WE HAD INTERNAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CLIENTS WHO COME FROM ANOTHER COUNTY.

AND WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP EVERYONE IN THAT COUNTY.

>> CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION, WHEN YOU DO THE COUNT, CAN YOU ASK THE HOMELESS PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE COUNTING, ARE YOU -- DO YOU TALK TO THEM? CAN YOU ASK THEM HOW LONG THEY HAVE BEEN IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY?

>> IN THE -- THE DAY OF THE COUNT, WHEN WE COULD THE COUNT, WE HAVE A SPECIFIC SET OF DATA THAT WE REQUEST.

AND WE ASK, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN LIVING, WHERE DID YOU STAY LAST NIGHT --

>> IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN ASK, THIS COMMISSION CAN LOOK AT?

>> ABSOLUTELY, YEAH.

>> I WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED IN

THAT. >> HOW DID YOU GET HERE?

>> RIGHT. >> HOW DID YOU END UP IN FORT

PIERCE. >> WHAT TRANSPORTATION DID YOU HERE? YES, SIR.

>> WE KNOW THE SHERIFF'S OFFICES BOTH DROP.

>> THAT'S WHAT WE HEARD.

>> THAT'S ANOTHER CONVERSATION.

>> I HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH WITH THE SHERIFF IN INDIAN RIVER COUNTY ABOUT THAT.

>> WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING ON TOP OF THAT.

AND YOU UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS NOT EQUITABLE AND SHOULD NOT

STAND. >> MADAM MAYOR, I WANT TO CLOSE SAYING, MR. KNUCKLES, WHAT WE'RE AFTER HERE IS, FOR ME, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, BUT WE NEED MORE DATA, WE NEED INFORMATION SO WE CAN LEVERAGE THAT TO OUR COLLEAGUES, TO OUR SHERIFF IN TALKING TO THEIR SHERIFF BECAUSE THIS -- THIS WILL STOP.

WE GOT TO CALL THIS OUT. THIS IS JUST NOT FAIR.

AND YOU JUST MENTIONED IT. THEY ONLY GAVE $25,000 OUT OF STEWART. AND -- MARTIN COUNTY, SORRY.

STEWART IS ZERO. THAT'S EVEN WORSE AND WE'RE HERE ALLOCATING $125,000.

THIS IS UNFAIR.

>> THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE A

BUDGET. >> EXACTLY.

WE NEED DATA, WE NEED INFORMATION AND I SIT ON THE TREASURE COAST REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL MEETING, WE HAVE A MEETING UPCOMING AND I'M GOING TO BRING THIS UP TO MR. -- WHAT IS HIS NAME? TOM LANAHAN. THIS IS A REGIONAL PROBLEM AND WE HAVE THREE JURISDICTIONS HERE AND WE NEED IT DEAL WITH THIS.

>> WE APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS VERY MUCH.

AND YOU BEING HERE.

>> QUICK FOLLOW-UP. TALKING FUNDING.

WHAT DOES ST. LUCIE COUNTY CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR OPERATIONS?

>> ACTUALLY ST. LUCIE COUNTY IS THE ONE COUNTY THAT CONTRIBUTES

THE MOST. >> THE BUDGET IS $800 MILLION?

>> THEY GIVE US 300 FOR THE MEN'S SHELTER AND 300 FOR THE WOMEN'S SHELTER. BUT THAT'S ALL THE RESOURCES THAT WE RECEIVE OTHER THAN -- WE ALSO HAVE -- WE ALSO OWN HOUSING HERE IN FORT PIERCE.

AND THE COUNTY PROVIDESPROVIDES A RIDER THAT HELPS US WITH MITIGATION FUNDS, SO WHEN THINGS HAPPEN TO OUR HOMES, IT HELPS PAY FOR THE HOMES, SO WE CAN KEEP PEOPLE HOUSED.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND CONTINUING DIALOGUE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

[9. Consent Agenda]

>> YES. >> OKAY.

LET'S MOVE ON.

>> NEXT WE HAVE THE CONSENT

AGENDA. >> ANY ITEMS, ANY COMMISSIONER WOULD LIKE TO EXTRACT FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA?

>> MADAM MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO PULL ITEM

A. >> ITEM A.

MICHAEL, OKAY. IF THERE IS NOT ANYTHING ELSE.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE REMAINDER OF THE

CONSENT. >> SECOND.

>> A MOTION AND SECOND.

>> CALL A ROLL FOR ALL THE CONSENT AGENDA EXCEPT ITEM A.

[A. Approval of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Supplemental Agreement No. 1 Extending Jetty License Agreement No. DACW17-3-21-0001 for the Operation of Jetty Linear Park by one (1) additional year to December 13, 2026.]

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES.

>> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON.

>> MAYOR?

>> I AM CURIOUS AS TO WHY, FIRST UP, I THOUGHT WE OWNED LINEAR PARK, WE DON'T. WE LEASE IT FROM THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS. I BELIEVE THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT WAS FOR 10 OR 15 YEAR LEASE TERM.

[01:25:06]

IF YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION.

>> MARCIA COMMAND, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

TO YOUR POINT, COMMISSIONER, YES, WE HAVE TWO AGREEMENTS IN PLACE WITH THE ARMY CORPS. THE FIRST IS A LEASE AGREEMENT, WHICH GOES ALL THE WAY TO 2034.

>> AND THEN YOU HAVE THE LICENSE AGREEMENT, WHICH BASICALLY ALLOWED US TO MAKE THE MODIFICATIONS TO THE SITE AND TO OPERATE IT AS A PARK.

THAT'S WHAT'S ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW WHICH IS A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT, WHICH EXTENDS THE EXISTING LICENSE TO NEXT YEAR AS A PLACE HOLDER BECAUSE WE'RE WORK ON A FIVE- YEAR RENEWAL FOR THAT LICENSE. BUT BECAUSE IT IS TAKING THE ARMY CORPS SO LONG TO GET THIS DONE, WE HAVE BEEN IN DISCUSSION SINCE JUNE. SO, WE'RE JUST WAITING ON THEIR ABILITY TO COMPLETE THIS THING AND THEN ONCE THAT IS DONE, THAT WILL BE COMING BACK TO A

CONSEQUENT MEETING. >> THE REASON I BRING THIS UP, THIS IS THE LINEAR PARK FACING THE WATER.

THE PARKING LOT THAT WE LEASE AND THE SQUARE ITSELF, IT IS THE LINEAR STRIP, CORRECT?

>> YES. TO THE PIER AS WELL.

>> WELL, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ATTACHED LANGUAGE, IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS JUST WHAT GOES OUT INTO THE WATER ON TOP.

AND THAT WAS A QUESTION I WANTED TO ASK.

DOES IT GO ALL THE WAY -- JETTY LINEAR PARK GOES ALL THE WAY TO MANATEE.

RIGHT? I WANTED TO KNOW THAT TOO.

WHAT IT COVERS.

>> I BELIEVE THAT THE TWO AGREEMENTS SHOULD BE MARRIED OR AT LEAST TERMED THE SAME WAY SO WE'RE NOT CHASING ONE YEAR AGREEMENTS WHICH WE'RE GOING TO WRAP UP THIS ONE, AND WE'RE GOING TO IMMEDIATELY ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE NEXT ONE BECAUSE DEALING WITH THE ARMY CORPS IS NOT -- IT IS LIKE DEALING WITH ANY GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY, IT TAKES FOREVER. LIKE ANYTHING.

I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, WE'RE FASTER THAN THAT. BUT MY FRUSTRATION ON THIS IS THAT LINEAR PARK IS AN EXTREMELY WELL UTILIZED ASSET.

>> THERE IS PEOPLE ON IT ALL THE TIME.

I'M ON IT MULTIPLE DAYS PER WEEK. AND SO I'M JUST SUGGESTING, I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER HERE, CAN YOU FOCUS THE EFFORTS ON LET'S GET THE MEMORIALIZED ONE YEAR AGREEMENT IN PLACE SO WE'RE PROTECTED, BUT STRETCH THIS OUT TO 2034 AND JUST LOCK IT ALL IN TOGETHER? IS THAT POSSIBLE? IS THAT NOT EVEN ON THE TABLE TO DISCUSS?

>> RIGHT, SO, WE CAN TALK TO THEM ABOUT MAYBE LOOKING AT A LONGER RENEWAL TERM BEYOND FIVE YEARS. IT IS JUST THAT THE CURRENT AGREEMENT ALLOWS FOR FIVE YEAR RENEWALS. THAT'S HOW IT IS STATED IN THE CURRENT LICENSE. BUT WE CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION ADMINISTRATIVELY, MR. CHESS, THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN TALK ABOUT.

>> ARE YOU SAYING -- ARE YOU INDICATING IT HAS AN OPTION TO RENEW FOR FIVE YEARS?

>> IT STATES IF YOU WANT TO RENEW, YOU RENEW AT FIVE- YEAR

INTERVALS. >> WHY DON'T WE DO THAT?

>> FOR CLARITY, WHAT SON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW IS AN EXTENSION OF THE EXISTING LICENSE US ENOUGH TIME. THE REASON THIS IS ON THE TABLE IS BECAUSE I NOTICED HOW LONG IT WAS TAKING AND THEN I -- WE HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE OF DECEMBER 13. WHICH IS IN A COUPLE OF DAYS.

AND SO TO GET AHEAD OF THAT EX-PER EX- EXPIRATION, IT IS TAKING THEM QUITE A BIT OF TIME TO GET THE FIVE- YEAR LICENSE COMPLETED.

>> OKAY. I KNOW THIS IS TECHNICAL JARGON AND I'M GOING TO GET INTO THE WEEDS MOMENTARILY HERE ON THE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE WORLD.

WE DON'T HAVE AN OPTION TO RENEW. IF IT IS AN OPTION TO RENEW, WE NOTIFY THE LESSER, THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE HAVE. YOU'RE INDICATING WE NEED TO NEGOTIATE SOME TYPE OF EXTENSION WITH THEM, CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS, HAVE THE OPTION TO RENEW THAT BENEFITS THE TENANT, THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, OR WE DON'T, WE HAVE A FRAMEWORK TO SAY THIS IS SUBJECT TO NEGOTIATION. IT IS ONE OF THOSE TWO.

>> WE NOTIFIED THEM BACK IN JUNE WE WERE INTERESTED IN ENGAGING THE FIVE- YEAR RENEWAL OPTION FROM THE EXISTING LICENSE. THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS AGREEMENT. IT IS JUST THAT AS TIME IS GOING ON, HERE WE ARE IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, AND OUR EXPIRATION IS COMING UP.

WE'RE SAYING IF YOU CAN'T GET THAT TO US AS QUICKLY AS WE WOULD LIKE AHEAD OF THAT SO WE CAN ENTER INTO A FIVE YEAR, WE NEED SOMETHING IN PLACE VERSUS THIS OPERATING OFF OF A EXPIRED AGREEMENT AT THAT POINT. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE SUPPLEMENTAL FOR NOW. AND WE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE HAD SOMETHING A BIT MORE PERMANENT, HOWEVER, IN THE

[01:30:03]

MEANTIME, JUST SO WE CAN KEEP THINGS OPERATING, WE HAVE WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

>> I THINK WHAT SHE IS SAYING IS JUST THE OPTION TO RENEW IS TAKING THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS A LONG

TIME. >> THAT'S THE ISSUE. THE OPTION TO RENEW, I SEND THEM A LETTER SAYING I'M EXERCISING A OPTION TO RENEW. THIS IS NOT AN OPTION TO RENEW.

IT IS A HYBRID OF THIS THAT I HAVEN'T SEEN THE LANGUAGE OF TO REALLY WRAP MY ARMS AROUND TO SEE WHAT IT SAYS. WE NEED TO EXTEND IT, BECAUSE CLEARLY WE WANT A LONGER TERM DWREMT. IF WE ENTER INTO A TEMPORARY SCENARIO TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A CHAT WITH THEM AND GENERATE WHATEVER DOCUMENTATION IS NECESSARY, I SUGGEST WE NEED TO GET EYES ON THIS, THIS MIGHT FALL INTO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S HANDS TO DETERMINE WHAT IS IT THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE HERE. IT IS NOT AN OPTION TO RENEW. IT IS A MUTUALLY AGREED TO OPTION.

LET'S GET THE ONE- YEAR IN PLACE SO WE HAVE SOME PROTECTIONS THERE. I DON'T WANT TO SEE THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS SHOW UP WITH BULLDOZERS AND START TEARING THAT STUFF UP. THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE CITIZENS WOULD BE -- AND BLAME US. LET'S GET THE ONE YEAR MEMORIALIZED IN THE BOOKS. THIS GOES BACK TO THE LEASES THAT THE CITY IS INVOLVED WITH.

WE HAVE NO CLUE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS STUFF.

DO YOU HAVE ANY INPUT? ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THIS IN ANY CAPACITY?

>> SORRY, MADAM MAYOR,

COMMISSIONERS. >> AM I GOING OFF A CAFFEINATED LEDGE HERE?

>> IT IS 10:31. I APPRECIATE YOUR CAFFEINATION.

THE LANGUAGE OF WHAT THE AGREEMENT SAYS IS THAT IT MAY BE RENEWED AT FIVE YEAR INTER INTERVALS.

>> IT IS NOT AN OPTION TO RENEW. THOSE THINGS ARE HORRIFIC.

ONE PARTY IS NOT GOING TO AGREE. THEY'LL TRY TO EXTRACT SOMETHING FROM THE OTHER PARTY. I WILL STOP MY TANGENT ON THIS.

YOU UNDERSTAND MY CONCERN. LET'S WORK DILIGENTLY TO GET THE FIVE YEAR IN PLACE. MISS HEDGES IS SHOWING WHAT MY CONCERN WAS, THERE IS NOT AN OPTION TO RENEW. THIS IS AN DWREMT AGREEMENT TO HAVE AN DISCUSSION. MAYBE WE'LL GO ALONG WITH IT, MAYBE WE WON'T. WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO WITH THAT PROPERTY, IT IS THEIR PROPERTY, WE'RE JUST A GUEST.

>> THE QUESTION WOULD BE THEN TO ME IS WHAT IS THE PRECEDENT THAT THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS IS DOING WITH OTHER COASTAL CITIES WITH PROPERTY THEY OWN? WHAT ARE THEY AFTER? AND SO SOMEONE KNOWS THAT ANSWER. THERE IS SOMETHING OUT THERE.

>> YES, SIR.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW. AND IF WE NEED TO MEET -- THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO UNDERSTAND.

SOMEHOW, SOMEWHERE, THEY PUT THERE FOR A REASON, COMMISSIONER. SO SOMEHOW THEY'RE EXERCISING SOMETHING.

>> TO KEEP OUR TIMELINE SHORT. THEY'RE LOOKING TO KEEP US AS A TENANT UNDER CONTROL AND NOT HAVE A 25- YEAR AGREEMENT IN PLACE THEY CAN'T GET OUT OF. THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING

FOR. >> RIGHT, RIGHT.

YOU'RE RIGHT. AND SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING TO OUR ATTENTION BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN THIS.

BUT NOW WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING, BUT I WOULD AGREE WITH YOU THAT WHAT EXTENDED NOW, WHAT MAKES SENSE NOW, BUT I THINK FOR US THAT AS WE UNDERSTAND THIS ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEER, SOMETHING IS GOING ON THERE. AND WE ALSO DEPEND ON THEM FOR THE DREDGING OF THE CHANNEL. SO WE GOT SOME REAL SENSITIVE STUFF GOING ON OUT THERE RIGHT NOW. I'M HEARING SOME THINGS ABOUT THAT AND THE CHANNELING AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND I HEARD FROM BUZZ AND THE REST OF THE GUYS.

WE HAVE TO BE A LITTLE SENSITIVE HERE BECAUSE WE DEPEND ON THAT AND DON'T WANT TO OPEN UP PANDORA'S BOX. THE WATER WAY IS VERY IMPORTANT.

AND WE DON'T NEED IT SHALLOWING OUT AND GET SLOWER RESPONSE TO GET OUR CHANNEL CLEARED.

I APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS.

I WANT TO UNDERSTAND IT BETTER. I LOOK TO LEARN FROM STAFF AS WE MOVE FORWARD ON THIS.

>> YOU WANT TO CHIME IN HERE?

>> JUST REAL QUICK. ARMY CORPS, IF YOU'RE LISTENING, WE STILL WANT TO PARTNER WITH YOU. WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE TAKING YOUR TIME TO DO WHATEVER YOU GOT TO DO TO GET THIS CONTRACT. WE UNDERSTAND.

IT IS YOUR PROPERTY. AND WE WANTED TO CONTINUE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.

SO, DON'T LET THAT GET TWISTED IN ANYTHING THAT IS SAID UP HERE. GREAT JOB MOVING THE TIMELINE TO GIVE US MORE TIME, MORE TIME SO WE WON'T BE WITHOUT OUR LICENSE AND THAT COULD HAVE CREATED A WHOLE DIFFERENT PROBLEM, YOU KNOW, BUT NOW WE AGREE, THEY AGREE, AND LET'S JUST GET IT DONE AND I'M FINE

[01:35:02]

RIGHT NOW. IF ALL THEY WANT TO GIVE US IS FIVE YEAR INTERVALS, I TAKE THOSE FIVE YEARS AND DEAL WITH FIVE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. WHAT I DON'T WANT IS FOR SOMEBODY TO BE LISTENING IN A STATE -- THEY DON'T EVEN WANT TO DEAL WITH US. NOT SAYING THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID.

>> I UNDERSTAND HOW THIS LANDLORD TENANT STUFF WORKS, CLEARLY. I UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE UP TO. I KNOW THEIR STRATEGY AND WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO KEEP IN THEIR HAND.

I'M GOING TO SUGGEST, I'M NOT -- WE WANT THE PARK. WE DON'T NEED GUN PLACEMENTS OUT THERE TO PROTECT THE INLET FROM THE INCOMING INVASION OF XYZ. WE NEED THAT PARK FOR OUR CITIZENS USE. I AM GOIN TO SUGGEST WE GET SIX MONTHS INTO THIS ONE YEAR EXTENSION AND WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY COOPERATION. WE NEED THE HELP OF OUR CONGRESSMEN TO GET THIS F1 DONE.

IT IS A FEDERAL ISSUE. YOU HAVE TO LET US KNOW.

MR. CHESS, YOU HAVE TO LET US KNOW.

IF THIS IS GETTING STALLED, DON'T THINK THIS IS A LOCAL ISSUE WE CAN RESOLVE LOCALLY. IF WE NEED TO BRING IN MORE ASSETS, WE CAN DO

SO. >> I WOULDN'T SAY SIX MONTHS, I WOULD SAY IN THREE MONTHS.

>> 90 DAYS. NO MOVEMENT ON THIS FOR FIVE YEAR MEMORIALIZATION OF THE AGREEMENT, LET'S GET SOME HELP.

>> WANT TO MAKE A MOTION?

>> I MOVE TO APPROVE.

>> SECOND.

>> A MOTION AND A SECOND. CALL THE ROLL,

PLEASE. >> COMMISSIONER

BRODERICK. >>

YES. >> COMMISSIONER GAINS.

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON.

>> OKAY, NEXT WE HAVE REZ SOLUTION 25- R 81, OF THE CITY

>> MAYOR HUDSON.

>> YES, MA'AM.

[A. Resolution 25-R81 adopting polling places for the January 13, 2026 Special Run-Off election.]

COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION OF THE DESIGNATED PRECINCT POLLING PLACES IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE FOR THE SPECIAL RUNOFF ELECTION TO BE HELD ON JANUARY 13TH, 2026 AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

>> ANY QUESTIONS OF MISS COX ON THIS ITEM?

>> MAY I MOVE APPROVAL.

>> SECOND.

>> MOTION AND SECOND.

[B. Resolution 25-R83 appointing members to the Civil Service Appeals Board. ]

>> COMMISSIONER GAINES.

>> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON.

>> NEXT, RESOLUTION 25- R 83, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA, CERTIFYING THE APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE CIVIL SERVICE APPEALS BOARD AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

>> MAYOR HUDSON.

>> YES, MA'AM.

THIS RESOLUTION WILL APPOINT STEVE DE PALMA AS A REPRESENTATIVE, COMMISSION APPOINTED REPRESENTATIVE. YOUR ALTERNATE HAS BECOME THE FINAL MEMBER OF THE CIVIL SERVICE APPEALS BOARD AND IS ALSO REAPPOINTS THEA MOORE, ONE OF THE PREVIOUS APPOINTEES, TIME FOR HER REAPPOINTMENT.

>> MOTION?

>> MOTION TO APPROVE.

>> SECOND.

>> CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.