[00:00:11]
MEETING TO ORDER, AND PROBABLY WON'T BE THIS CROWDED ALL EVENING. I WANT TO WELCOME YOU. THIS IS DECEMBER 15TH, 2025.
PLEASE STAND FOR THE OPENING PRAYER BY DEPUTY ADMIN VOTER OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE.
>>> WE THANK YOU FOR THIS EVENING, GOD, AND WE THANK YOU FOR LIFE, HEALTH AND STRENGTH AS THE LEGISLATORS PREPARE TO DISCUSS THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY, GOD. I ASK YOU BLESS EVERYBODY PRESENT AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE SEASON WE ARE IN, THE SEASON OF JOY AND FAMILY AND REMEMBRANCE. IN JESUS NAME. 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.
>> PRESENT. >> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK.
[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
>>> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK DID SAY HE WOULD
[A. Hibiscus Park Neighborhood Association Special Presentation]
>>> WE HAVE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION TONIGHT FROM THE HIBISCUS PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. PLEASE COME FORWARD.
>> CURRENTLY PRESIDENT AND FUTURE PRESIDENT AND SOME OF OUR MEMBERS.
>> HIBISCUS PARK NORMALLY -- ASSOCIATION NORMALLY DONATES EVERY YEAR WITH THE CITY TO HELP WITH HOLIDAY LIGHTS AND DECORATIONS AND THIS YEAR WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT A DONATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $250 TOWARDS THE REHABILITATION OF THE PARK DUE TO TERMITE DAMAGE.
>> WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE A
>> WHY DON'T YOU COME UP HERE.
>> COME UP HERE AND LINE UP. THANK YOU, SIR.
>> WE ARE WAITING ON YOU. COME ON.
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE HIBISCUS PARK NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOU REMEMBER US EVERY YEAR, AND EVERY YEAR I'M
[B. National CRNA Week]
STILL SURPRISED, SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.>> OKAY. NEXT WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL CRNA WEEK. DO WE HAVE ANYBODY HERE TO ACCEPT THAT PROCLAMATION? IF YOU WILL COME FORWARD.
WHEREAS CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE CRNA'S ARE ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES PROVIDING ANESTHESIA CARE. WHEREAS LEGISLATION PASSED BY CONGRESS IN 1986 MADE NURSE AND WHEREAS CRNA'S ARE THE PRIMARILY AN STAEPBLGA PROVIDERS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES AND CONTINUE TO BE THE PRIMARY PROVIDERS OF ANESTHESIA IS ELIVERED FROM
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AM BLAH COUTURY SURGICAL CENTERS TO THE OFFICES OF DENTIST, PAIN MANAGEMENT SPECIALISTS AND MORE. WHEREAS CRNA'S ARE QUALIFIED TO MAKE INDEPENDENT JUDGMENTS BASED ON THEIR EDUCATION, TRAINING AND LICENSES.FROM NEWBORNS TO SENIORS, FORFOR TYPE OF PROCEDURE IN ALL TYPES OF FACILITIES. AND WHEREAS CRNA'S EXPERIENCE IN CRITICAL CARE NURSING IN ADDITION TO ANESTHESIA CARE, AND WHEREAS THE PERIOD OF JANUARY JANUARY TH 2026 HAS BEEN DESIGNATED NATIONAL CRNA WEEK, NATIONAL CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE AU NESTICE WEEK.
>>> SO I THINK WE ARE TRULY HONORED TO ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION FOR THE CRNA WEEK, AND IT MEANS A GREAT DEAL TO BE HERE TO RECOGNIZE THE WORK OF THE CARE THEY PROVIDE EVERY DAY.
WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THIS PROFESSION.
[8. ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO AGENDA AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
THANK YOU.>> ITEM E. WE ARE STILL WORKING ON THE FINAL LANGUAGE FROM THE AGREEMENT, AND SO WE DECIDED TO
>> THAT'S GOING TO BE TAKENTAKEN AT A LATER DAY?
>> 12 D IS STILL GOING TO MOVE FORWARD, CORRECT?
>> YES. >> MADAM MAYOR, SORRY, THEY ARE JOINED TOGETHER, SO IF WE PULL E WE PULL D AS WELL.
>> OKAY, D AND E ARE GOING TO BE REMOVED. OKAY.
>> SO DOES EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE DOING? WE ARE PULLING ITEM 12D AND E.
>> AND FOR ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE, THOSE ARE ITEMS PERTAINING TO SOUTH JENKINS ROAD.
OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE --
>> MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE AGENDA WITH THE FOLLOWING ITEMS, 12D AND 12E BEING REMOVED FOR TONIGHT.
>> OKAY. CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.
>> AS WE KNOW, COMMISSIONER BRODERICK HAS ENTERED THE
MEETING. >> MR. BRODERICK IS HERE.
[A. Update on Leisure Services Division 2025 programs and services. ]
>>> SO NEXT WE HAVE -- LET'S SEE.
WE HAVE OUR MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS. AN UPDATE ON LEISURE SERVICES
DIVISION. >> THE CITY MANAGER WILL GIVE A PRESENTATION WITH PATRICIA CRUZ.
>> ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR AND
COMMISSIONERS. >> STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD FOR US, MR. JOHNSON. I'M SORRY.
WE ARE REMINDING EVERYBODY. >>
DEPUTY CITY MANAGER. >> WELCOME.
ALL RIGHT. SO WE ARE GOING TO BE -- IS IT
[00:10:01]
THERE WE GO. SO WE ARE GOING TO BE AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE AND GIVE YOU -- WE WANTED TO GIVE AN ANNUAL UPDATE OF OUR FIRST FULL YEAR OF THE SERVICES DIVISION BEING BROUGHT UP UNDER ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AS YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN AWARE, AS OF APRIL OF LAST YEAR, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID WAS A S.W.A.T. ANALYSIS OF THE PAST OPERATIONS AND HOW WE COULD IMPROVE CURRENT OPERATIONS. SO THE FIRST THING THAT WE NOTICED WAS -- GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
STRUCTURE. THERE WAS NO LEADERSHIP.
IT WAS REALLY FLAT. WE HAD TWO INDIVIDUALS AT THE RIVER WALK CENTER AND WE HAD ONE INDIVIDUAL IN TEMPORARY SERVICES THAT WERE HELPING OUT AT THE REC CENTER, SO IT WAS A FLAT STRUCTURE. AS YOU CAN SEE, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID WAS HIRED A MANAGER JUNE OF -- JUNE 24TH, SORRY, OF 2025, AND CURRENTLY WE HAVE A TOTAL OF FOUR INDIVIDUALS WITH THREE VACANCIES, AND THESE INDIVIDUALS DO RUN THE DAY-TO- DAY OPERATIONS OF LEISURE SERVICES AND THAT INCLUDES THE RECREATIONAL STAFF AND THE RIVER WALK CENTER OPERATIONS. WE HAVE A TEAM OF DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS AND THEY SPECIALIZE IN THEIR AREAS OF EXPERTISE, AND I THINK YOU WILL SEE SOMEBODY THAT HAS PLAYED IN THE OVERALL SUCCESSES ESPECIALLY ON THE FISCAL SIDE, ONCE WE GET A LITTLE FURTHER INTO THE SLIDE.
GO AHEAD. A YEAR IN REVIEW. WE HAVE HAD A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 355 PLUS PARTICIPANTS ACROSS OUR FOUR MAJOR PROGRAMS AND AN 87% SUCCESS RATE. THIS IS BASED ON PARTICIPANT FEEDBACK. WE WILL GET INTO THIS A LITTLE LATER IN THE NEXT SLIDE ALSO. SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM YEAR, I HAVE CREATED -- I HAD THE TEAM CREATE ANOTHER SWAT TYPE OF SURVEY THAT WENT --
>> COULD YOU SAY WHAT SWAT MEANS
TEAM FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU. SO WE ABOUT WHAT ARE WE DOING GREAT AND NOT SO MUCH GREAT, BUT IT WAS LOOKING AT THE HOLISTIC APPROACH.
THE QUALITY OF THE PROGRAM. IS IT COMPETITIVE, ARE THE KIDS BEING CONDITIONED AND TRAINED, THE EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT OF IT, WE BUILT IN AN EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT AND DID A SPRING AND SUMMER PROGRAM, WHICH WE WILL GET INTO A LITTLE BIT. THE KARATE PROGRAM, AND WE HAVE A WONDERFUL VOLUNTEER THAT DRIVES FROM FT. LAUDERDALE, AND WE WANT THE COMMUNITY AND YOU ALL TO KNOW ABOUT IT.
NEXT SLIDE. HERE ARE JUST SOME PHOTOS OF OUR SPRING BREAK AND SUMMER CAMP HIGHLIGHTS, WHICH WE COINED SUMMER JAM 2. 0, AND PARTNERED WITH ST. LUCIE'S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
WE BROUGHT THAT BEFORE YOU GUYS AND WE WERE AWARDED A GRANT AND THAT HELPED TO FACILITATE A LOT OF WHAT YOU WHAT HERE, AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE FOOD BANK AND THEIR PARTICIPATION AND THE THINGS WE WERE ABLE TO DO WITH THEM. HOWEVER THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHILDREN'S SERVICE COUNCIL ALLOWED US TO DO SOMETHING OFTEN OVERLOOKED. THESE KIDS GOT HOT MEALS EVERY SINGLETARY DAY, NOT JUST A CEREAL BAR, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THOSE THINGS, BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO GET HOT MEALS PREPARED IN OUR KITCHEN BY THE STAFF WHERE THEIR SALARIES WERE SUPPLEMENTED BY THE GRANT WE RECEIVED, AND IT WAS FORMATIVE IN NATURE AND SOMETHING WE NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT BEFORE. NEXT.
AFFORDABILITY. BEFORE WE MOVE ON.
OUR PROGRAM COSTS THE RIGHT HAND SLIDE BULLET POINT, 25- 30 PER WEEK, INCLUDING A REGISTRATION, AND THAT INCLUDED TWO SUMMER CAMP T- SHIRTS, A FIELD TRIP, LION COUNTRY COUNTRY, A FULL EXPERIENCE FOR THAT COST. THE MARTIAL ARTS PROGRAM, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE YOUNG MAN, MR. DANIELS, HE DRIVES
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FROM FORT LAUDERDALE, AND HE'S A RESIDENT OF FT. LAUDERDALE AND DRIVES UP EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY PROVIDING OUR CHILDREN WITH MARTIAL ARTS, AND '22-'23, MAYBE TERM FOR THIS PROGRAM UPUP 35 KIDS THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM, AND AS YOU WILL GET TO SOME OF THE OTHER SLIDES, YOU WILL SEE THEY ARE WINNING IN COMPETITIONS, AND THESE ARE SOME OF THE COMPETITIONS, AND AS YOU CAN SEE THEY HAVE GOTTEN TROPHIES AND MEDALLIONS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.THE FOOTBALL AND CHEER. THIS IS PROBABLY MOST OF THE OPERATIONS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE FOOTBALL AND CHEER PROGRAM.
OUR GOAL IS TO EFFECT PRIDE, PARTICIPATION, TEAMWORK AND COMMUNITY WITHIN OUR CHILDREN THAT COME TO THE PROGRAM.
THE FOOTBALL PROGRAM IS FOCUSED ON SKILL DEVELOPMENT, SPORTSMANSHIP AND COMPETITIVE PLAY. IF ANY OF YOU HAVE WORKED WITH OR BEEN PART OF PROGRAMS LIKE POP WARNER, THEY SPECIALIZE IN DIFFERENT AREAS AND WE WANTED TO DEVELOP OUR KIDS AND DEVELOP THAT SPORTSMANSHIP ASPECT OF COMPETITIVE PLAY, SO THIS IS WHY WE WENT WITH THE CURRENT PROGRAM -- THE CURRENT LEGUE, I'M SORRY, THAT WE ARE WITH NOW. WHAT THE KIDS RECEIVED, TWO COMPLETE UNIFORMS, JERSEY AND PANTS, COMPRESSION CERTAIN AND A PRACTICE SHIRT AND SHORT SET, A MOUTHPIECE AND CHINSTRAP, AND THE CHEER PROGRAM, AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY HAVE UNIFORMS, SHOULD YOUS, SOCKS, COMPRESSION SHIRT AND BLOOMERS, AND WHAT WAS RETURNED WAS THE COMPETITION UNIFORM. IN THE PAST WE PURCHASED ALL THESE THINGS OVER AND OVER AND IT IMPACTED THE COSTS SO WE CREATED A METHOLOGY IN WHICH WE WERE ABLE TO FACILITATE THE COMPETITION WEAR AND SEPARATE THAT FROM THE DAY-TO- DAY ACTIVITIES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. NEXT.
SO THIS YEAR, SOME THINGS THAT WE DID THIS YEAR THAT WE HAD NOT DONE BEFORE, WE HOSTED OUR TRUNK OR TREAT THERE AT THE RECREATIONRECREATION CENTER. YOU SEE SOME OF THE PICTURES THERE FROM THAT EVENT.
WE ALSO HAD A HOMECOMING EVENT IN WHICH WE BROUGHT BACK THE TEAM THAT WON THE POP WARNER CHAMPION, THAT HOMECOMING, AND MADAME MAYOR, YOU WERE THERE, AND IT WAS A GOOD DAY. AND WE USE A SERVICE AND THAT'S HOW WE COMMUNICATE WITH THE PARENTS AND KIDS AND WE TEXT THEM ALL. WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 51 FAMILIES THAT PARTICIPATED AND RESPONDED.
THE OVERALL SATISFACTION RATE WAS 71%.
THE AVERAGE LIKELIHOOD TO RECOMMEND IS 8. 6 OUT OF 10%.
PERFECT SCORE WAS 10 OUT OF 10, AND OVER 54% OF THE RERESPONDENTS GAVE A PERFECT SCORE.
AS WE GET LATER INTO INTO SLIDE, THIS IS SOMETHING NEAR AND DEAR TO YOUR HEART, THIS IS THE RESOURCE CENTER THAT WE CREATED AS PART OF THE PROGRAM. PROGRAM STRENGTHS, THIS CAME FROM OUR SURVEY THAT WAS CREATED IN A SWAT ANALYSIS STYLE. 74. 9% RATED THE COACHES AS EXCELLENT. THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES FOR THOSE THAT DECIDE TO GIVE THEIR TIME. THIS IS THE PARENTAL FEEDBACK BASED ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
COACHES WERE FREQUENTLY PRAISED FOR MENTORSHIP, ENCOURAGEMENT AND ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT.
74% RATED US ABOVE AVERAGE FOR SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. ONE OF THE THINGS I WORKED ON WITH OUR PRIOR CHIEF AND CONTINUES WITH OUR CURRENT INTERIM CHIEF IS WE WERE ABLE TO GET, YOU KNOW -- WHEN I FIRST TOOK ON THE PROGRAM THERE WAS NUANCES, AND SOME AREAS THERE WERE SOME VERY ADULT THINGS THAT WERE TAKING PLACE IN A FAMILY- FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT. WE WERE ABLE TO CEASE SOME OF THOSE THINGS AND LET, YOU KNOW, THE PARTICIPANTS KNOW THAT THESE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES WON'T BE TOLERATED HERE AND CLEAN UP SOME OF THAT STUFF. SO THE SAFETY AND SUPPORTIVE
[00:20:01]
ENVIRONMENT IS RATED AT 74%. PROGRAM VALUE, 82% OF THE FAMILIES FELT THE REGISTRATION FEES WERE REASONABLE, AND IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN OR KNOW ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAMS WITHIN THE COUNTY, OUR PROGRAMS ARE LESS EXPENSIVE. STAFF ACCESSIBILITY, THIS IS THE ABILITY TO GET SOMEONE OR GET HELP WHEN NEEDED.OF THOSE 51 FAMILIES THAT RESPONDED TO THE SURVEY, 76. 74% RATED THE CITY STAFF AS HIGHLY ACCESSIBLE AND RESPONSIBLIVE.
COMMUNITY TEAM AND CULTURE, STRONG FAMILY ATMOSPHERE SUPPORTED BY VOLUNTEERS AND TEAM PARENTS. AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT. AND THIS IS ONE OF THE AREAS WE WILL GO INTO THE 2026 SEASON.
PARENTS HAD SOME CONCERNS ABOUT TIMELINESS, AND ADDITIONAL CHEER MATS AND EQUIPMENT, AND THERE WERE EQUIPMENT NEEDS THAT WERE DETERMINED THAT COULD BE OVERALL BENEFICIAL TO THE PROGRAM, AND PLAYING TIME, PARTICULARLY FOR FIRST- YEAR ATHLETES.
THIS IS ALWAYS A STICKLER. THAT'S THE MINIMUM PLAY TIME.
YOU GET IN THE MIDDLE OF A GAME AND PEOPLE GET VERY COMPETITIVE AND SOMETIMES KIDS DON'T GET THE PLAY TIME THAT, YOU KNOW, THE PARENTS THINK THEY SHOULD GET, AND THE TRUTH BE TOLD, AND SOMETIMES SOME KIDS DON'T GET THE PLAY TIME THAT THE LEAGUE THINKS THEY SHOULD. IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT IT'S GOOD, BAD OR INDIFFERENT, BUT IT'S TO SAY THAT WE NOTED IT AND WE ARE GOING TO BE TAKING CORRECTIVE ACTION. SOME OF THE THINGS INCLUDE HAVING A SIGN- UP SHEET SO THE KIDS COULD GET IN AND OUT, AND MR. WILLIAMS MIGHT BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT. WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO KNOW IT THAT EACH KID HAS GOTTEN THEIR TIME, WHATEVER THE MINIMUM IS, BASED ON THE LEAGUE. THAT'S SOMETHING WE ARE GOING TO BE INTRODUCING IN THE 2026 SEASON. AND DUE TO OUR FIELD REQUIREMENTS, AND SOME OTHER THINGS, I MEAN, WE HAVE LIMITED ACCESS WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNTY. WE USE IT FOR PLAY AND NOT PRACTICE, THE GAME FIELD. SOME OF THE OLDER KIDS, THAT'S WHERE THEY PREFER TO PRACTICE AND WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING OUT THOSE NUANCES IN THE 2026 SEASON TO HAVE GREATER AVAILABLE OFFSEASON SO THE KIDS CAN, YOU KNOW, PARTICIPATE AND GET THE PRACTICE THAT THEY DESIRE. NEXT.
NEXT WE ARE GOING TO TRANSITION INTO OUR RIVER WALK ASPECT BECAUSE, AGAIN, THE LEISURE SERVICES HAS ONE UMBRELLA WITH TWO SIDES TO IT.
WE HAVE THE GARDEN CENTER, WHICH IS CURRENTLY UNDER RENOVATION. THAT CENTER IS CURRENTLY CLOSED.
WE HAD SOME MOLD ISSUES THAT OUR PUBLIC WORKS TEAM IS WORKING TO RENOVATE THERE, AND COMING SOON, THE OLD CITY HALL, WE JUST HAD OUR FIRST EVENT THERE AND IT WAS THE END OF YEAR EMPLOYEE CHRISTMAS PARTY WE JUST HAD THIS LAST SATURDAY THAT PASSED AND WE MADE PREPARATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THAT LOCATION AND WILL OPEN THAT BACK UP. WE HAVE JAYCEEJAYCEE PARK, SERVE SIDE, DREAM ATLANTA AND ROTARY PAVILIONS. UP UNTIL THIS POINT, THE SERVICES THAT HAVE BEEN PROVIDED FROM REGISTRATION ON THE RECREATION SIDE ALL THE WAY TO PERMITTING OR RENTING VENUES OR SPACES HAVE ALL BEEN PAID FOR, RIGHT? WE HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY IF YOU RECALL A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO WE PITCHED TO YOU AND WE ARE IN THE FIFTH YEAR, AND THAT LAST PHASE WAS TYLER PARKS PARKSAND RECREATION, AND THAT'S WHAT THE TEAM IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON. WE WILL SHOW YOU PREVIEWS OF THAT. WE PLAN ON HAVING THAT LAUNCHED BY THE FIRST QUARTER IN 2026, AND RESIDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO GO INCLUDING OUR YOUTH FOOTBALL TEAMS, AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GO IN AND REGISTER THEIR CHILD, REGISTER THE PARTICIPANTS, WHOEVER THAT MIGHT BE FOR LINE DANCING OR FOR ANOTHER RECREATIONAL SERVICES OFFERED AT THE REC CENTER, AND WE WILL HAVE THE REGISTERING ONLINE, AND I LEARNED QUITE A BIT. WHAT WAS GOING ON.
THERE WAS A LOT. BECAUSE THERE WAS NO DEFINED MARCHING ORDERS, NO GUIDE, A LOT OF DECISIONS WERE BEING MADE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL OF WHOEVER WAS IN THE OFFICE AT THE TIME, AND THAT INTRODUCED --
[00:25:02]
THAT INTRODUCED SOME ISSUES. YOU KNOW, WITH IT COMING UNDER ME, AND US GOING BY WHATEVER THE CODE SAYS AND WHATEVER THE PROCEDURES I'M SURE SOME OF YOU HEARD ABOUT IT AND A LOT OF PEOPLE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN SO PLEASED ABOUT IT, AND WE ARE SETTING THINGS IN ORDER AND PUTTING OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD TO MAKE THIS A BETTER OPERATION, AND THIS ONLINE PORTAL WILL GO A LONG WAYS IN HELPING US DO THAT. NEXT. HERE'S A PREVIEW OF WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE. THE TEAM IS WORKING ON IT RIGHT NOW. THIS IS THE MOCK HOME PAGE OF WHAT THE PORTAL WILL LOOK LIKE FOR REGISTRATION AND MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS, PARKS AND FACILITIES.AND HERE'S A PREVIEW OF ONCE YOUYOU A SELECTION HOW THAT WILL LOOK ONCE YOU GET INTO IT. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE ALL THE PARKS ON MY LEFT -- MY LEFT- HAND SIDE, AND THE RIGHT- HAND SIDE REPRESENTS VARIOUS PROGRAMS. WE HAVE MARTIAL ARTS. THESE ALL, AGAIN, ALL MOCK- UPS AND PEOPLE WILL NOW, ONCE WE LAUNCH THIS, AGAIN, ANTICIPATING IN THE FIRST QUARTER IN 2026, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GO ONLINE AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR NEEDS AND DO THE TRANSACTIONS AND BE DONE WITH A LOT OF MISTAKES, THE AMBIGUITY, AND THE THINGS THAT PRODUCED NEGATIVES IN THE PAST WILL BE ADDRESSED IN A DIFFERENT MANNER.
THIS IS WHAT THE RECREATION CENTER LOOKED LIKE WHEN IT I TOOK IT OVER AND HIRED MR. WILLIAMS. THIS WAS A STORAGE ROOM. THERE WAS NO STORAGE.
AGAIN, WE DID A SWAT ANALYSIS AND PART OF THAT WAS SPACE NEEDS, AND THIS IS WHERE EQUIPMENT WAS STORED, RIGHT? NEXT. SO WHAT WE DID, WE WORKED WITH OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND PURCHASED A SHED. NEXT.
OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT OUTFITTED AND PUT IT ALTOGETHER AND PAINTED IT AND AIR- CONDITIONING, AND THIS IS NOW ON THE SOUTHWEST SECTION JUST BEHIND THE BUILDING THERE ON THE SOUTHWEST SECTION.
NEXT SLIDE. AND THAT OPENED US UP TO CREATE A LEARNING LAB. SO THIS IS THE LEARNING LAB. WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE SURPLUS EQUIPMENT THAT WE HAVE HERE AT CITY HALL, AND IT COSTS NOTHING EXTRA OTHER THAN THE WORK PUT IN AND THAT WAS A LABOR OF LOVE AND WE WERE ABLE TO SET UP COMPUTERS AND SYSTEMS AND GET OUR INTERNET, WIRELESS, ALL THOSE THINGS SET UP FOR THE KIDS AND CREATE A BONA FIDE LEARNING LAB AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE AND EFFICIENCY.
2023 THROUGH 2025, THESE ARE SOME OF THE COSTS. I WANT YOU TO -- I THINK SOME OF THIS IS OBVIOUS. IT SHOWS THE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY OF THE NEW LEADERSHIP TEAM AND PGS NOT TO -- I DON'T WANT THAT TO BE PORTRAYED AS A NEGATIVE FOR ANYBODY ELSE. WHAT I WILL SAY IS WHEN YOU HAVE INDIVIDUALS IN PLACE THAT ACTUALLY HAVE PURCHASED FROM SUPPLIERS THAT ARE IN THE SPORTS ARENA, AND ARE IN THE WORLD IN WHICH YOU COMMONLY MAKE THESE TYPES OF PROCUREMENT DECISIONS, AND THEY UNDERSTAND THE VEHICLES AND RESOURCES IN WHICH TO GO OUT AND GET THE BETTER OPTIONS -- PRICING AND OPTIONS AS OPPOSED TO SOMEBODY THAT MAY NOT, AND THE IDEA IS TO GET A QUICK THREE QUOTES AND WE GO WITH WHATEVER WE RECEIVE. AS YOU CAN SEE, CHEER COSTS ALMOST A $20,000 IMPROVEMENT THIS YEAR FROM PREVIOUS YEARS. OUR FOOTBALL UNIFORM COST, ALMOST 17,000 PLUS OR MINUS. AND THE OVERALL BUDGET -- OVERALL OPERATIONAL BUDGE T FOR THE YOUTH ACTIVITIES, AND I THINK WE MAY HAVE A FEW PICTURES, THE CHESS PROGRAM OPERATING OUT WITH ANOTHER NONPROFIT THAT COMES IN AND HOSTS THAT FOR US. WE ARE DOWN AS OF TODAY 117,000, HAVING BEEN AS HIGH AS 168,000 IN JUST YOUTH ACTIVITIES. THAT'S NOT ASKING ANY MORE FROM THE BUDGET AND THAT'S BEING FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBLE. AS WE MOVE FORWARD, THE LEISURE SERVICES DIVISION REMAINS COMMITTED TO GROWTH, INNOVATION AND BUILDING ON THIS YEAR'S SUCCESS. THIS WAS A PIVOTAL YEAR FOR US AND IT WAS A FIRST FULL YEAR OF NEW LEADERSHIP AND NEW VISION AND INNOVATION AND TRYING TO IMPROVE THE OPERATION FROM WHERE WE STARTED, SO WE'RE ENTIRELY -- WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS, THEIR PLANS
[00:30:01]
FOR 2026. WE HAVE LEARNED FROM WHAT HAS HAPPENED THIS YEAR, I CAN TELL YOU SOME OF THE THINGS WE WILL BE IMPLEMENTING THIS YEAR, WORKSHOPS FOR VOLUNTEERS, UNDERSTANDING THE EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT SHOULD AND SHOULDN'T HAPPEN, AND WE WILL BE STRENGTHENING THE REGULATIONS AND POLICIES AS YOU GUYS ARE AWARE -- MOST OF YOU -- THE ORGANIZATION -- THE DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE STARTED IN 2019? 2018? WHEN WE LAUNCHED -- THANKS COMMISSIONER.WHEN IT LAUNCHED IT WAS GREAT, BUT SOME OF THE BACK- END PLANNING, THE POLICY AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS DIDN'T HAPPEN, SO PART OF THE SWAT ANALYSIS, WE LOOKED AT OUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE WILL COME OUT REALLY STRONG IN 2026 IN ADDRESSING THOSE ASPECTS OF IT. LAST, JUST A VIDEO RECAP. THEN QUESTIONS. āŖ āŖ
>>> THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE LEISURE AS A CORNERSTONE OF ENGAGEMENT AND WELL- BEING OFFERS PROGRAM AND FACILITIES THAT ENRICH DAILY LIVING.
BEYOND RECREATION, LEISURE SERVICES COORDINATES PUBLIC FACILITY RENTALS GIVING THE COMMUNITY ACCESS TO SPACES. AT THE FORT PIERCE RECREATIONAL CENTER, CHILDREN DISCOVER NEW SKILLS AND BUILD CONFIDENCE, BASKETBALL, ART AND EXCITING SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCE.
>> THE EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN VERY UNIQUE. SINCE JOINING, IT'S BEEN JUST LIKE A FAMILY ATMOSPHERE. āŖ āŖ
>> AS A SIGNATURE INITIATIVE OF LEISURE SERVICES, THE FORT PIERCE FIRE HAWKS FOOTBALL AND CHEER PROGRAMS STANDS OUT AS ONE OF THE CITY'S MOST IMPACTFUL YOUTH PROGRAMS. KIDS GET STRUCTURED MENTORSHIP AND A TRUE SENSE OF BELONGING.
>> I REALLY ENJOY THE FAMILY ATMOSPHERE.
THE DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH ALL THE COACHES AND THE STAFF.
THEY TRULY FEEL LIKE FAMILY, AND THEY MADE MY DAUGHTER FEEL COMFORTABLE SINCE JOINING THE TEAM.
>> SINCE JOINING THE FIRE HAWKS, SOME OF THE POSITIVE THINGS I HAVE SEEN IN MY SON, HIS COMMUNICATION IS BETTER WITH OTHER KIDS.
HE FEELS A SENSE OF SELF, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, WITH THE TEAM.
IT'S BEEN GREAT. >> IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE KIDS TO HAVE FUN, BECAUSE IF THEY JUST COME TO PRACTICE AND JUST BEING DRILLED, IT'S NO FUN AND WE WANT THEM TO COME HERE AND COME INTO A FAMILY- ORIENTED ENVIRONMENT.
>> ONE THING I ENJOY ABOUT THE FIRE HAWKS IS THE COACHES AND THE STAFF. THEIR GREAT WITH THE KIDS, AND YOU KNOW, MY KIDS, THEY ALREADY HAVE LOVE FOR THEM ALREADY AND THEY TALK TO THEM AND MISS THEM WHEN THEY'RE NOT HERE SO I LOVE IT AND THEY LOVE IT.
>> THE PROGRAM PROVIDES A POSITIVE PATH FOR YOUTH, COMBINING ACADEMIC INTOURNAMENT, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND A STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEM. FOR ADULTS AND SENIORS, THE RIVER WALK CENTER OFFERS WELLNESS AND ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH YOGA, ZUMBA, JAZZER SIZE, AND LINE DANCING.
FROM YOUTH ATHLETICS AND CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES TO ADULT WELLNESS AND COMMUNITY RENTALS, FORT PIERCE TRULY OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYBODY TO CORRECT, GROW AND THRIVE.
COMMENTS? >> CONGRATULATIONS, TEAM, ON A FIRST YEAR, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD UPS AND DOWNS AND BUMPS IN THE ROAD, BUT WE GOT THROUGH THE FIRST YEAR. I KNOW OTHER COMMISSIONERS
[00:35:03]
ARE GOING TO HARP ON, BECAUSE THEY LIKE WHEN THEY SEE NUMBERS COMING DOWN AND BUDGETS COMING DOWN.I WILL LEAVE THAT TO THEIR END. ONE THING I WANT IS TO PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND THINK ABOUT PARTNERING WITH SOMEBODY LIKE THE COUNTY OR SOMEBODY. WE PRACTICE OVER THERE BY THAT POOL, AND IF I ASK PLAYERS IN THE ORDINANCE NOW, HOW MANY KNOW HOW TO SWIM, HOW MANY DON'T KNOW HOW TO SWIM, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WE HAVE A POOL THERE.
I WOULD LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, SEE IF WE CAN FIND SOMEBODY LIKE YOU GOT THE YOUNG MAN COMING DOWN FROM BROWARD, AND INVITE THEM DOWN TO ONE OF THE MEETINGS BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO PERSONALLY LIKE TO THANK --
>> I DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS HERE. A PERSONAL THANK YOU.
>> I WILL BE THE FIRST TO ADMIT THAT I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE OUT THERE.
I SAW IT TONIGHT. I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WAS OUT THERE. FOR ONE, WHO HAD A SON I PUT INTO KARATE AND STUFF LIKE THAT AND HOW IT CHANGED HIS LIFE ANDAND MIND- SET, SO I THANK YOU FOR -- I THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME TO THE KIDS IN FORT PIERCE. THAT'S A GREAT JOB, SO THANK YOU.
>> MY LAST THING, AND I WILL SIT BACK -- FOOTBALL, IN MY COMMUNITY FOOTBALL IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE JUST SOMETHING THAT IS INSTILLED INSIDE DISTRICT 1 IN MY COMMUNITY.
RIGHT NOW YOU KNOW EVERYBODY WAS, YOU KNOW, ROOTING ON VEER O, AND IT WAS IN WESTWOOD, SO IT'S THERE.
BUT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE -- I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US BRANCH OUT AND TRY SOMETHING -- ANOTHER SPORT. I GET A LOT OF CALLS ABOUT BASKETBALL -- JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE.
GET A LOT OF CALLS ABOUT BASKETBALL, BUT LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET SOMETHING ELSE, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, EVERY KID CAN'T PLAY FOOTBALL.
>> JUST CAN'T DO IT, JUST PHYSICALLY CAN'T DO IT.
I KNOW WE TRY, AND I AS A COACH AND AS A PARENT -- AND I GO BACK TO A COACH, I UNDERSTAND AND PARENTS NEED TO UNDERSTAND -- I UNDERSTAND WHEN IT'S 14- 14, AND THERE'S TWO MINUTES LEFT, AND YOU TRYING TO STOP SOMEBODY AND YOU LOOKING AT YOUR SHEET AND, YOU KNOW, IF I PUT HIM IN WILL THEY SCORE OR WON'T SCORE? I GET IT.
BUT I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A CHECKLIST AND TRY TO GET THEM IN. I UNDERSTAND, AS A COACH, SOMETIMES, YOU ARE NOT THINKING THAT, BUT LET'S JUST GET THE KIDS IN. BASKETBALL, SWIMMING, AND SOMETHING THAT WE'RE MISSING OUT ON, SOMETHING WE'RE REALLY MISSING OUT ON IS SOCCER.
>> WE GOT ENOUGH KIDS IN FORTFORT PLAYING SOCCER, SO I THINK WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT CHAMPIONS HERE TONIGHT.
>> Y'ALL STAND UP. LET ME SEE YOU.
>> YES, SIR. THESE ARE THE ONES I WANT TO TALK TO. 12U.
STAND UP. 12U HERE? ALL RIGHT. Y'ALL HELP ME OUT.
12U IS EIGHTH GRADE, NINTH GRADE -- SEVENTH GRADE?
SO SIXTH THROUGH SEVENTH, RIGHT?
>> TO MY 12U PLAYERS, LISTEN UP. TO MY 12U PLAYERS.
IN TWO YEARS, YOU WILL BE IN NINTH GRADE, ALL RIGHT? WE HAVE GOT A YOUTH COUNCIL -- Y'ALL MAKE THEM COME.
I WANT YOU TO JOIN OUR YOUTH COUNCIL, PERFORM ON THE FIELD, IN THE CLASSROOM AND THEN COME TO CITY HALL AND BE PART OF THE YOUTH COUNCIL TO SEE HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS, SO IN TWO YEARS, I NEED TO SEE Y'ALL, ALL
[00:40:02]
RIGHT. WITH THAT BEING SAID, CONGRATULATIONS.TO THE PARENTS -- TO THE PARENTS, NONE OF THIS WOULD HAPPEN WITHOUT YOU. SO KIDS, STAND UP AND APPLAUD YOUR PARENTS.
>> COACHES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOLUNTEER. I UNDERSTAND AS A COACH.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU GO THROUGH.
I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. IN THIS YEAR, AND BEING TOLD OFF AND THINGS IN THIS YEAR, I GET IT, AND YOU ARE NOT GETTING PAID TO DO WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. YOU VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME AND YOU DON'T GET PAID WHAT YOU ARE DOING. CONGRATULATIONS ON A SUCCESSFUL YEAR. I SAW THE NUMBERS. YOU ALREADY SAID WHAT WE ARE GOING TO WORK ON AND YOU AND ME HAD CONVERSATIONS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO WORK ON AND I'M LOOKING FOR BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS NEXT YEAR.
>> AN IMPRESSIVE TURNOUT. I LOVE ALL THE JERSEYS OUT HERE.
I GREW UP PLAYING FOOTBALL, NOT HERE, WHERE I GREW UP IN MASSACHUSETTS. IT'S A WONDERFUL PURSUIT, AND I ENJOYED IT AND I SEE THE KIDS SMILING AND THEY ARE READY TO PLAY BALL.
>> I DO CONGRATULATE THE PARENTS, AND I KNOW WHAT MY PARENTS HAD TO SACRIFICE TO SUPPORT ME IN THAT ENDEAVOR.
THANK YOU FOR THAT INTEREST IN YOUR KIDS TO GET THEM INTO SPORTS, GET THEM INTO DOING SOMETHING GOOD AND HEALTHY. JUST KEEP DOING IT, AND I AM THRILLED WE WILL BE ABLE TO EXPAND THIS PROGRAM.
>> I WANT TO START BY SAYING THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSON, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND MR. WILLIAMS, YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND YOU HAVE A SMALL AND MIGHTY TEAM.
THERE ARE A LOT OF INTERACTIONS YOU SHOWED TONIGHT, AND SEVERAL I DIDN'T KNOW WE HAD UNDER OUR BANNER FOR RECREATIONAL SPORTS.
I THINK THAT'S FANTASTIC. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR TEAM AND ALL THE VOLUNTEERS THAT WORK FOR YOU, AND SIR, FOR DRIVING UP FROM FORT LAUDERDALE AND HELPING OUR COMMUNITY HERE, AND MAKE SURE YOUR KIDS GET THE PRACTICE OF WHAT THETHE COACHES TRYING TO INSTILL AND WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO INSTILL IN THE COMMUNITY. I AM, TOO, ENCOURAGED BY WHATWHAT CAN WE DO. THERE ARE OTHER THINGS OUT THERE, OTHER INTERSECTIONS, SO YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE LOOKING TO SEE HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THAT. THERE ARE A LOT OF KIDS OUT THERE THAT NEED CONTINUED SUPPORT AND STRUCTURE. WE JUST HAVE TO FIND THOSE AVENUES TO BE ABLE TO BRING THEM INTO THE FOLD. WE ALREADY DEMONSTRATED HOW THESE YOUNG PEOPLE, WHEN THEY PUT THEIR MINDS TOGETHER, CAN WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS ON A FOOTBALL FIELD, ON THE CHEER COURT AND IN KARATE AND MARTIAL ARTS. IT'S A TESTIMONY THAT THAT STRUCTURE WORKS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SUPPORTSUPPORT THAT, AND THEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, I WOULD JUST CONTINUE TO SAY, HEY, PARENTS, WE NEED VOLUNTEERS AS WELL. SO AS YOU THINK ABOUT HOW YOU CAN BECOME EVEN MORE INVOLVED, WE WOULD GREATLY WELCOME THAT. AGAIN, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, MR. WILLIAMS AND YOUR STAFF AND MR. JOHNSON IN PUTTING THE PROGRAM TOGETHER AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE GROWTH. THANK YOU.
FOR THE PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE LISTENING, THE REASON WE HAVE A RECREATION PROGRAM IS LEISURE AND RECREATION USED TO BE ALL
>> RIGHT. ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO, OR LESS, WE KIND OF DID AN AUDIT AND REALIZED THAT MAYBE SOME OF THE COUNTY PROGRAMS WEREN'T SERVING THE KIDS IN FORT PIERCE AND THE PEOPLE IN FORT PIERCE, ESPECIALLY YOUTH.
WE WANTED STRUCTURE FOR OUR YOUTH AND WE WANTED THEM TO HAVE PRIDE AND WANTED THEM TO IDENTIFY WITH THE CITY THAT THEY GET A LOT FROM THEIR SCHOOL, BUT THIS IS FOR THEIR OTHER ACTIVITIES, AND WE REALIZED WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF YOUTH PROGRAMS, SO THAT'S -- THIS IS WHAT IT'S GROWN INTO IS SERVING OUR YOUTH IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE WITH THEIR NEEDS. I'M ALSO ON THE BANDWAGON OF
[00:45:03]
SWIMMING. YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY IN FLORIDA OUGHT TO KNOW HOW TO SWIM, RIGHT? SO IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HAPPEN MYSELF, AND I KNOW THERE ARE GRANTS OUT THERE AND THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE IN THE STATE THAT ARE VERY INTERESTED IN THAT, AND IF WE COULD MAKE THAT HAPPEN, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. AND I ALSO -- WE'RE EMPHASIZING YOUTH TONIGHT AND THE FIRE HAWKS ANDĆ·Ć·AND PROUD OF THEM AND THAT PROGRAM AND THEIR PARENTS, BUT WE ALSO SERVE ALL AGES IN OUR LEISURE SERVICES.WE SERVE SENIORS, AND WE SERVE ALL AGES.
EVEN THOUGH TONIGHT WE'RE FILLED WITH THE YOUTH AND THE FIRE HAWKS, AND I'M PROUD THAT WE HAVE ALL PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES IN LEISURE SERVICES. I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE A PHOTOGRAPH, BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO NEED TO BE ORGANIZED BY SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS THE AGE GROUPS.
I WILL NEED YOUR HELP OR MR. WILLIAMS' HELP TO ORGANIZE A PHOTOGRAPH. WE CAN LINEUP HERE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO DO EVERYBODY AT THE SAME TIME.
>> DID YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS BEFORE WE DO THE PHOTOGRAPH?
>> WAIT A SECOND. WAIT A SECOND. COULD I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION, PLEASE. CAN I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION, PLEASE. MR. WILLIAMS?
>> GREAT AFTERNOON. I'M THE LEISURE SERVICES MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE.
WE CAME TONIGHT TO RECOGNIZE PLAYERS, 10U WHITE TEAM AND 10U RED, AND THE 12U WON THE DIVISION II SUPER BOWL.
THE LEAGUE WE ARE IN IS A VERY COMPETITIVE LEAGUE, AND I'M SUPER PROUD AND THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE IS SUPER PROUD OF THE YOUNG MEN AND THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION THEY DISPLAYED IN THE '25 SEASON.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE GOING TO LINE UP FOR A PHOTO. 10U WHITE, YOU CAN COME FORWARD.
>> TRY AND HAVE THEM COME IN FRONT.
>> YOU GOT A RING ON YOU? THE MAYOR WANTS TO SEE A RING.A
[00:50:50]
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE NOTE THAT EACH KID RECEIVED A BIG CHAMPIONSHIP RING THEY ARE DISPLAYING, A REALLY NICE CHAMPIONSHIP RING.
>> WE FOUGHT GOT TO GET US A RING.
>> YEAH. IT'S HEAVY. VERY HEAVY.
>> EVERYBODY, SLIDE THAT WAY JUST A LITTLE BIT.
>> MY NAME IS BARRON DANIELS. I'M FROM FORT LAUDERDALE.
I CAME UP TO HELP THE PROGRAM, THE KARATE PROGRAM.
THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT I WAS PART OF THE PROGRAM, AND WE WENT TO FOUR COMPETITIONS AND OUR KIDS WON ALL THE COMPETITIONS AND WE BROUGHT BACK GRAND CHAMPIONS OF THE PROGRAM, AND EVEN PEOPLE THAT HAD BEEN IN THE PROGRAM FOR FIVE YEARS, OUR STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO BEAT THEM, AND WE HAD STUDENTS FROM THREE AND UP, AND EVEN OUR 3-YEAR- OLDS WON.
>> 3-YEAR-OLDS? WOW, GREAT FOR THEM.
>> I WILL TALK TO MY FRIEND BECAUSE HE HAS A SWIM PROGRAM IN MIAMI, AND I WILL SEE IF HE WILL COME HERE AND TRY --
>> WE ALSO HAVE PROGRAMS -- STRANGER DANGER PROGRAMS WE WILL BE ENTERING IN, AND WE ARE ALSO WORKING ON DOING SOME SELF DEFENSE FOR WOMEN, RAPE PREVENTION BECAUSE OF THE THINGS GOING ON IN THE STATE OF SOUTH FLORIDA, AND IT'S STRANGER DANGER FOR THE KIDS, AND WE CALL IT STRANGER STRANGER, AND A LOT OF TIMES KIDS GET HURT BY PEOPLE NOT STRANGERS, AND WE ARE GOING TO CALL IT DANGER DANGER.
WE HAVE A SENIOR PROGRAM PROGRAM WE IMPLEMENT DOWN IN MIAMI WHERE
[00:55:05]
WE TEACH SENIOR CITIZENS AWARENESS OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT TO KEEP THEM SAFE, TOO.WE HAVE A LOT OF PROGRAMS WE HAVE, AND KARATE IS NOT JUST KICKING AND PUNCHING, BUT WE HAVE OTHER AVENUES WE DO, AND WE HAVE CRITICAL THINKING AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION THROUGH CRITICAL THINKING AND MACHO SCIENCE AND WE HAVE PROGRAMS TO IMPLEMENT IN THE CITY TO MAKE EVERYTHING BETTER.
>> ANYTHING ELSE? ANYTHING FURTHER? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE ACHIEVEMENTS, AND, AS YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD THAT YOU EMPHASIZED THE ACADEMICS AS WELL AS ATHLETICS. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NO. >> WE'RE GOOD? OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GENTLEMEN.
>> MADAME MAYOR, I FORGOT TO MAKE THIS IN MY COMMENTS, BUT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN HERE TONIGHT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE TALK ABOUT FOR FORT PIERCE, AND IT'S THE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER FROM ALL DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF IT TO SUPPORT OUR YOUTH, OUR LEISURE PROGRAMS, AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER FOR ADULTS, SENIORS, ET CETERA, AND TO HAVE PEOPLE WILLING TO DRIVE TO OUR COMMUNITY TO BE PART OF IT AND IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT OUR YOUTH, AND SO I JUST -- I'M EXCITED THAT WE'RE ENDINGENDING YEAR THIS WAY. THIS IS OUR LAST COMMISSION MEETING BEFORE WE FLIP THE CALENDAR AND I LOOK FORWARD TO 2026 AND BUILDING UPON THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM.
[11. CONSENT AGENDA]
ON? >> THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> ANY ITEM ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO PULL --
[A. Legislative Hearing - Ordinance 25-020 - Review and approval of an application to rezone a single parcel containing approximately 11.54 acres and being located at or near 3804 Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Pierce, from Single Family Zone (R-1) zoning to Planned Development (PD) together with a Planned Development Final Site Plan for forty-eight (48) single-family residences. The application is submitted by applicant Blaine Bergstresser, KMA Engineering & Surveying, on behalf of owner DT VENTURES 1 LLC. - SECOND READING]
>> YES, MA'AM. >>> ONE SINGLE FAMILY DENSITY ZONE TO FAMILY DEVELOPMENT PD, ESTABLISHING THE SUNRISE LAKES WITH A FINAL DEVELOPMENT SITE PLAN APPROVING A PLAN DEVELOPMENT ZONING AGREEMENT AND PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF ORDINANCES OR PARTS THERE OF IN CONFLICT AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> THIS IS THE SECOND READING. IF ANYBODY IN THE CHAMBERS WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
>> MADAME MAYOR, CAP FREEMAN. SINCE THE FIRST READING ON DECEMBER 1ST, THE APPLICANT HAS GONE AWAY AND TAKEN COMMENTS MADE BY THE CITY COMMISSION, AND YOU CAN SEE THE MINOR AMENDMENT THAT HAS BEEN CREATED, THAT WAS THE INITIAL BUS TURNING AREA IN THE SITE, AND THAT'S BEEN AMENDED TO BE A TIGHTER RADIUS TO ACCOMMODATE SCHOOL BUSES.
THEY ALSO PROVIDED SOME PARKING SPACES AND IN THAT AREA THERE, THERE'S A DOG PARK. SO I WANTED TO GET THAT ON RECORD, AND OTHER THAN THAT, EVERYTHING REMAINS THE SAME.
>> GREAT. ANY QUESTIONS OF THE STAFF?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD EVENING.
I'M CHRISTA STORY. I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT IN THE WHITE CITY AREA SINCE 1998, AND PREVIOUSLY FROM APPROXIMATELY 1987 UNTIL 1991. I REGULARLY TRAVEL SUNRISE BOULEVARD AND HAVE TWICE -- DONE SO TWICE TODAY, AS A MATTER OF FACT. IN ADDITION TO BEING A CONCERNED RESIDENT I DID VIEW THE APPLICATION FROM AN ADDITIONAL LENS, FROM SOMEBODY WHO HAS PRACTICED LAND USE AND ZONING LAWS SINCE 1984.
UNFORTUNATELY I WAS OUT OF TOWN ON DECEMBER 1ST SO I DIDN'T PARTICIPATE IN THE PRIOR HEARING.
I APPRECIATE THE APPLICANT HAS INCORPORATED SEVERAL PUBLIC BENEFITS AND REDUCED THE NUMBER OF UNITS BY TWO TO 48. HOWEVER, I QUESTION WHETHER THAT PROVIDES SUFFICIENT GROUNDS TO DETERMINE THAT THE
[01:00:03]
PROPOSED ZONING CHANGE PROMOTES AND PROTECTS THE PUBLIC HEALTH SAFETY AND WELFARE AS REQUIRED BY SECTION 125- 136 OF THE FORT PIERCE CODE OF ORDINANCES. I'M ALSO QUESTIONING WHETHER THAT MEETS THE INTENT OF SECTION 125- 212 TO ESTABLISH A RESILIENT LIVING AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF ENLIGHTENED AND IMAGINATIVE APPROACHES TO COMMUNITY PLANNING, STORM WATER, INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROPERTY DESIGN, AND NOR DOES IT APPEAR TO COMPLY WITH THE DIRECTORS OF 125- 212 THAT THERE SHOULD BE NATURAL FEATURES AND SCENIC AREAS AND EFFICIENT LAND USE AND IMPROVED AMENITIES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PROTECTION OF ADJACENT EXISTING AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. THE DESIGN OF THE PROJECT LOOKS LIKE SO MANY OTHERS ON THE TREASURE COAST, ONE LOOP ROAD CONNECTING THE RESIDENCES TO AN EXTERNAL ROADWAY. HOW DOES A DESIGN OF THIS PROJECT PROTECT EXISTING DEVELOPMENT LOCATED WITHIN THE HISTORIC WHITE CITY AREA, INCLUDING THE WHITE CITY CEMETERY AND THE SURROUNDING ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOODS ON SUNRISE BOULEVARD? IS IT IN KEEPING WITH THE CHARACTER OF THE WHITE CITY AREA? THE PROPOSED APPEARS TO BE APPROXIMATELY .2 MILES FROM THE FOUR-WAY STOP, THE FLASHING RED LIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION OF SUNRISE BOULEVARD, BELL AVENUE, AND JUST BEYOND ONE OF THE MANY EXISTING CURVES ON SUNRISE BOULEVARD.HOW DOES THE PROJECT DESIGN PROTECT EXISTING AND FUTURE USERS OF SUNRISE BOULEVARD? I REQUEST THAT YOU DENY THE APPLICATION OR AT LEAST CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING TO A LATER DATE. THE CURRENT DENSITY AND DESIGN OF THE PROJECT DO NOT APPEAR TO PROVIDE TO PROTECT THE GENERAL WELFARE NOR DOES IT COMPLY WITH 125 OF YOUR CODE --
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
>> MY NAME IS JUDY BEGLAND. I LIVED AT 3950 SUNRISE BOULEVARD SINCE 1997.
I KNOW THE AREA AND IT'S HABITS AS WELL AS ANYBODY, I BELIEVE. I HAVE TWO MAIN CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS. THE FIRST BEING TRAFFIC. I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE 100 EXTRA CARS A DAY. MY QUESTION IS, IS THE TRAFFIC STUDY AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW? MY OTHER QUESTION, IS THE BUS STOP FOR EVERYONE OR JUST COMMUNITY RESIDENTS? IF EVERYBODY, I KNOW ABOUT THE PROPOSED SIDEWALK TO BELL BUT WHAT ABOUT TO THE SOUTH? ALSO, DRAINAGE IS A BIG ISSUE.
I HAVE HAD A LOT OF AFFECTS WITH DEVELOPMENT AFFECTING MY PROPERTY, AND I SEE WHERE THEY PROPOSE A 20- FOOT DRAINAGE DITCH TO THE SOUTH AND I'M WONDERING WHERE WILL THAT RUNOFF GO? WILL IT GO IN THE SEWER SYSTEM OR DRAIN DOWN INTO THE DITCH, BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH DITCH THAT GOES TO THE CREEK.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE ALL THIS RUN- OFF WILL END UP.
ALSO, WHO IS GOING TO MAINTAIN IT, THE CITY OR COUNTY? WHO WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE? I WAS WONDERING, ARE YOU AWARE THERE WAS A SUPERFUND SITE BEHIND THE DEVELOPMENT AND IT STARTED IN 1997.
THE DOT WAS DRILLING WELLS FOR THEIR COMPOUND AND FOUND CONTAMINATION AND IT WAS THE CITY'S MAINTENANCE YARD THAT HAS BEEN DUMPING SOLVENTS AND PAINT, AND THAT WAS COMMON FROM BACK THEN, AND IT WAS FROM BUSINESSES ON OILY AN DURKAN TRIBUTING TO IT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A MONITOR WELL ON THIS PROPERTY, BUT IF THERE IS I WONDER IF THE WATER HAS BEEN TESTED LATELY.
IF THEY ARE GOING TO GET UP THERE AND DIG A LOT OF DIRT AND DO CONSTRUCTION, I KNOW THAT'S A BIG CONCERN. AT THE CITY YARD THEY HAD TO REMOVE A LOT OF CONTAMINATED DIRT. MY WATER WAS TESTED -- I THINK THEY QUIT TESTING IN 2007, AND THAT'S A BIG CONCERN FOR ME AS WELL.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYBODY ELSE? ANYONE ELSE? OKAY, I WILL BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION. MR. FREEMAN, ARE YOU ABLE TO ANSWER ANY OF THE QUESTIONS OR IS THE APPLICANT HERE --
>> THE APPLICANT, I THINK, IS IN THE CHAMBERS.
[01:05:01]
I CAN SAY THE STAFF REVIEWED THIS AGAINST THE CODE SECTIONS, AND THEY -- STAFF BROUGHT IT FORWARD BASED ON THE FACT THAT IT DOESN'T MEET THE CODE SECTIONS.>> I THINK SHE REFERRED TO THE SITE AS BEING A CITY SITE BUT I BELIEVE IT'S A COUNTY SITE AND I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S A CITY SIE SHE REFERRED TO, BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONE TO THE EAST, I THINK. TO THE EAST. SO THE DRAINAGE RUN OFF, THAT GETS ADDRESSED BY --
>> STORM WATER PLAN. THAT'S BEEN REVIEWED IN CONCEPT BY OUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, AND THAT WILL BE FURTHER REVIEWED DURING BUILDING PERMIT SITE WORK PERMIT. THAT WILL NEED TO MEET CITY AND WATER MANAGEMENT STANDARDS. WHAT YOU FIND IN DEVELOPMENT INCORPORATING A NEW STORM WATER TREATMENT, AND THAT ALLEVIATES A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON PRIOR TO THAT, RATHER THAN ADDING TO IT AND THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF A STORM WATER -- ENGINEERED TREATMENT ON SITE WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING AT THE MOMENT.
I HAVE PROPOSED TO TAKE THE CEMETERY TO THE NORTH.
I THINK IT'S THE F- DOT SITE TO THE EAST WITH THE WALL AND FURTHER TO THE SOUTH, SO THE PD DOES INCORPORATE ENHANCED THE SIDEWALK TO BELL AS WELL AS IN FRONT OF THE SITE ITSELF.
THE BUS STOP IS AVAILABLE FOR ANY USERS IN THE AREA. THE SEWER -- I THINK IT'S SEWER AND WATER EXTENDED DOWN SUNRISE TO BE ABLE TO BE CONNECTED IF RESIDENTS WANT TO CONNECT TO THAT SERVICE.
>> AND THE TRAFFIC STUDY IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC,
RIGHT? >> THE TRAFFIC STUDY IS AVAILABLE. IT WAS REVIEWED BY ST. LUCIE COUNTY, AND THEY SIGNED OFF ON IT.
SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY OUTSTANDING ISSUES WITH --
>> THEY CAN CONTACT YOU FOR THE TRAFFIC STUDY OR IS IT ATTACHED ON THE AUEN TO THE AGENDA ITEM, RIGHT?
>> THIS DRAINAGE ISSUE I BROUGHT UP AT THE FIRST HEARING ON THIS RELATIVE TO WHO WOULD BE MAINTAINING THOSE DRAINAGE AREAS.
IS THERE A RESOLUTION AS TO WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS? WILL IT BE THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, THE COUNTY, THE CITY? DO WE KNOW?
>> I THINK IT'S A COMBINATION OF ALL THE ENTITIES.
I DON'T THINK THE CITY WILL BE INVOLVED WITH MAINTAINING THAT AT ALL. THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION AND SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT ARE THE ENTITIES, AND THE COUNTY IN SOME RESPECT.
>> THIS IS AN AMENDED PLAN, AND ARE THERE ANY ISSUES YOU BROUGHT UP TO THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM THEY DID NOT RESPOND FAVORABLY TO?
>> NO, THEY INCORPORATED ALL THE
CHANGES. >> AND YOU THINK THIS APPLICATION SATISFIES THE CODE --
>> YES, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. IT'S IN A LOCATION THAT IS AN INTERMEDIATE LOCATION BETWEEN COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL AND RESIDENTIAL, SO IT'S ALWAYS IN A DIFFICULT LOCATION TO ACCOMMODATE THAT TRANSITION POINT, SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REVIEW REVIEW ITEMS WE WERE LOOKING AT, AND IT'S COMMON AT THE EDGE OF CITY AND COUNTY BOUNDARY SORT OF TRANSITION.
>> BECAUSE THIS IS A HEARING AND I HAVE SEEN THE APPLICANT JUMP UP A COUPLE TIMES TO COME UP AND SAY SOMETHING, SO I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE HIM A CHANCE TO ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO US
TONIGHT? >> PLEASE COME FORWARD, SIR.
STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
>> GOOD EVENING. BLAINE BERGSTRESSER REPRESENTING THE APPLICANT. MR. FREEMAN ANSWERED THE QUESTIONS WELL, AND I WANTED TO GIVE MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE DRAINAGE.
>> PLEASE. >> ONE, WITH THE DRAINAGE, WE HAVE OUR PERMIT THROUGH SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, AND THEY HAVE REVIEWED THE CALCULATIONS AND APPROVED IT, AND AS PART OF THE DRAINAGE DITCH, IT WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HOA IN THEIR DECLARATIONS AND SOUTH FLORIDA WATER DISTRICT AND ST. LUCIE COUNTY WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THAT IN CASE THERE'S AN EMERGENCY OR SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS SO THEY COUD GO IN THERE IN THE FUTURE IF NEEDED.
[01:10:03]
SECONDLY, WE ARE DRAINING, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE AERIAL HERE, TO THE CREEK ACROSS THE STREET AND WE WILL BE REPLACING PIPES UNDER SUNRISE BOULEVARD THAT SHOULD NOT ONLY ALLOW US TO DRAIN BUT HELP ALLEVIATE ANY DRAINAGE ISSUES ALONG THE EXISTING SWELLS ON SUNRISE BOULEVARD.THE LAST ITEM, YES, THE BUS SHELTER WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ALL LOCAL RESIDENTS THAT ARE NEARBY.
AND OUR HOPE TO EXTENDING THE SIDEWALK TO BELL AVENUE, IT WILL ALLOW CHILDREN TO WALK DOWN TO THIS BUS STOP, AND HAVE PARENTS BECAUSE WE PROVIDED EXTRA PARKING SPACES THERE, BUT IT WOULD ALLOW PARENTS TO DRIVE THERE AND DROP THEIR KIDS OFF.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE CONCERNS ABOUT THE CONTAMINATION OR POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION IN THAT AREA? YOU HAVE COME ACROSS THAT?
>> NO, THAT HAS NOT COME ACROSS US. BUT TYPICALLY WHEN WE START A PROGRAM, WE DO A PHASE ONE STUDY, AN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY THAT HAPPENS DURING THE PURCHASING OF THE PROPERTY AND NONE OF THOSE ITEMS CAME UP DURING THAT.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ALL RIGHT. I WILL BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION FOR A MOTION OR FOR A DISCUSSION.
>> MADAME MAYOR, SO WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSION ON THIS AND AND WE'VE HEARD BOTH THE APPLICANT NOW A SECOND TIME ON THIS, AND WE HAVE DONE DUE DILIGENCE. I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN THINGS RAISED HERE TONIGHT, BUT I'M SATISFIED WITH WHAT I HEARD. I DO WANT TO SAY TO THE PUBLIC THAT THIS IS JUST A FIRST SWING AT THIS. THIS IS A FINAL PLAT COMING FORTH, IS THAT RIGHT, MR. FREEMAN?
>> NOT NECESSARILY, COMMISSIONER.
THE PLAT PROCESS HAS BEEN AMENDED BY THE STATE, SO THE COMMISSION WILL NOT BE SEEING THE PLAT COME FORWARD.
IT'S NOW DONE ADMINISTRATIVELY.
>> THIS IS WHERE THE CITY COMMISSION INPUT ENDS.
IT DOES GO ON TO BUILDING PERMIT --
>> RIGHT. >> -- AND THROUGH THAT FURTHER REVIEW BY CITY DEPARTMENTS AND I WOULD SAY THE MOST IMPORTANT REVIEWS AT THAT TIME WOULD BE THE NGINEERING AND BUILDING.
>> RIGHT, THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO GET TO, ENGINEERING WHEN IT COMES TO THE FLOW OF WATER AND ET CETERA, AND OUR DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN ON THOSE. MADAME MAYOR, WITH THAT, I HAVE ASSURANCE AND I WANT TO ASSURE THE PUBLIC THAT OUR PROFESSIONAL DEPARTMENTS ALONE WITH THE FDOT AND SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT WILL BE OTHER INTESEES THAT HAVE SIGNED OFF, AND I MOVE TO APPROVE.
>> LET ME GET FURTHER CLARIFICATION.
>> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK? >> YES.
[B. Legislative Hearing - Ordinance 25-036. Amending the City's Zoning Atlas and rezoning two parcels containing approximately 75.981 acres of land, more or less, and being generally located at or near the southwest corner of Okeechobee Road and the Florida Turnpike and approximately 1500 feet south of Okeechobee Road in Fort Pierce, from (AG-1) Saint Lucie County Agricultural 1 Dwelling Unit per Acre to Planned Development (PD); approving a Final PD site plan; approving a Planned Development zoning agreement; providing for a severability clause; providing for repeal of ordinances or parts thereof in conflict herewith and providing for an effective date. SECOND READING]
>> WE MOVE TO AMENDING THE CITY ZONING ATLAS AND REZONING TWOTWO PARCELS CONTAINING 75. 981 ACRES MORE ORLESS IN BEING LOCATED AT OR NEAR OKEECHOBEE WARD AND THE TURNPIKE IN FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA, FROM ST. LUCIE COUNTY, TO PLAN DEVELOPMENT PD, APPROVING THE GOURDY CREEK DEVELOPMENT ZONE WITH A FINAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN, APPROVING A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT ZONE AGREEMENT PROVIDING FOR A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND REPEAL OR ORDINANCES OF CONFLICT. THIS IS THE
SECOND READING. >> MADAME MAYOR, JUST A SLIGHT CORRECTION FOR THE CLERK. YOU SAID 38 AND IT'S 36.
THANK YOU, SIR. I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> MR. FREEMAN, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO
THIS? >> I DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING.
>> WANTED TO GIVE AU YOU A CHANCE.
THIS IS THE SECOND READING, AND ANYBODY WANTING TO MAKE A COMMENT, PLEASE COME FORWARD. SEE NO MOVEMENT, I BRINGBRING
[01:15:02]
>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES?
[C. Legislative Hearing - Ordinance 25-038 - Review and approval of a Voluntary Annexation by owner, Bernard Jones of Round Hill Development Group, Inc., to extend the territorial limits of the City of Fort Pierce, Florida, to include one (1) parcel at or near 906 Skylark Drive. The proposed City Future Land Use designation is Medium-Density Residential (RM), and the Zoning designation is Medium-Density Residential (R-4). Parcel ID: 2427-702-0115-000-1. FIRST READING]
>> OKAY. SO WE ARE GOING TO GO WITH 25- R 38 THIS TIME, AND IT'S INCLUDING ONE PARCEL AT OR NEAR 906 KAILER DRIVE, AND DIRECTING THE APPRAISER TO ASSESS SAID PROPERTY AND PLACE IT ON THE CITY TAX ROLLS, AND DIRECTING THE TAX COLLECTOR TO COLLECT TAXES ON THE HEREIN DESCRIBED PROPERTY, AND ESTABLISHING THE LAND USE DESIGNATION OF MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL RM, DIRECTING THE FILING OF THE ORDINANCES WITH THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY AND THE ARTICLE TO BE FILED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND SUBMITTED TO OFFICE OF DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH, AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. THIS IS THE FIRST READING.
>> GOOD EVENING. BEFORE YOU WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER ANNEXATION APPLICATION FOR SUBJECT PROPERTY LOCATED AT OR 906 SKYLARK DRIVE, PARCEL ID 2427-072-000-1.
>> COULD YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THE
RECORD? >> SENIOR PLANNER AND HISTORIC RESERVATION OFFICER. THE APPLICANT OWNER IS BERNARD JONES. A ROUNDHILL DEVELOPMENT GROUP INCORPORATED. THE APPLICANT IS SEEKING THE VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION OF ONE PARCEL INTO THE CITY WITH FUTURE LAND DESIGNATION OF RM RESIDENTIAL AND CITY ZONING OF R 4. THE PROPERTY HAS A COUNTY FUTUREFUTURE USE OF RH, WHICH IS RESIDENTIAL HIGH, AND IT HAS A ZONING OF RM 11, RESIDENTIAL MULTIFAMILY, 11 DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE.
THE PROPOSED FUTURE LAND USE DESIGNATION FOR THE PARCELS, AS I STATED EARLIER, WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING IS RM MEDIUM RESIDENTIAL.
THE AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS PARCEL WOULD HELP US TO PARTIALLY ELIMINATE AN ENCLAVE THAT EXISTS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS. IT'S THE GREEN HIGHLIGHTED AREA, AND IT'S APPROXIMATELY 2. 3 ACRES PLUS OR MINUS. THIS IS THE EXISTING ZONING FOR THE CITY AND COUNTY. AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S SURROUNDED BY R 4, WHICH IS CITY ZONING. THIS IS EXISTING FUTURE LAND USE FOR THE COUNTY AND THE CITY. THE CITY'S RM, RH IS THE COUNTY.
BEFORE THERE WAS A FUTURE USE LAND COMPARISON, AND ANNEX INTO THE CITY WITH THE RM MEDIUM DENSITY FUTURE LAND USE PROPOSES A DECREASE OF ONE UNIT.
STAFF CONFIRMED THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED WITHIN THE UNINCORPORATED COUNTY AND WITHIN THE FP SERVICE AREA.
AT THE OCTOBER 13 TH 2025 MEETING, STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT CITY COMMISSION APPROVE THE PROPOSED ANNEXATION, AND IT DOES NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, CONVENIENCE AND WELFARE.
>> QUESTIONS OF STAFF? QUESTIONS OF STAFF.
OKAY. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
ANYBODY WISHING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
SEEING NO MOVEMENT, I'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE COMMISSION FOR A DISCUSSION OR MOTION.
[F. Quasi-Judicial Hearing - Ordinance 25-035. Amending the City's Zoning Atlas and rezoning two parcels generally located at or near 4945 Edwards Road, containing approximately 17.58 acres of land, more or less, from an existing Planned Unit Development (PUD) and Medium Density (R-4) to a Planned Development (PD); approving a Master PD site plan; approving a Master planned development zoning agreement; providing for a severability clause; providing for repeal of ordinances or parts thereof in conflict herewith and providing for an effective date. FIRST READING Continued from November 17, 2025.]
[01:20:02]
>> YES, MA'AM. >> WE WILL MOVEMOVE 035, AND BEFORE WE PROCEED, I THINK WE HAVE A REQUEST FOR A CONTINUANCE ON
>> MADAME MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORS ON THIS, SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS.
RECORD. >> MY NAME IS LESLIE OLSON AND I'M WITH THE PLANNING GROUP REPRESENTING THE DEVELOPER.
WE FOUND OUT AT THE LAST HEARING THAT NEIGHBORS WERE CONCERNED WITH SOME OF THE DESIGN ELEMENTS. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS WHO HAS BEEN COORDINATING THINGS AND WE FEEL FEEL WE'REALMOST THERE BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET IT REDESIGNED AND IN AND SO WE ARE ASKING FOR ANOTHER CONTINUANCE TO MAKE SURE WE GETGET DONE.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM CONTINUE WORKING WITH THE FOLKS OUT THERE, AND I THINK, LESLIE, YOU NEED TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE WITH YOUR COUNTERPART TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE CONTACTING ALL THE EFFECTIVE PARTIES, BECAUSE WHAT I DON'T WANT TO SEE IS THEM COMING BACK AND SAY WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT HAS BEEN TAKING PLACE. I WOULD LIKE TO GRANT TIME TO TOĆ·Ć· TO ALL THE CONCERNS AND MAKE THE MODIFICATIONS YOU CAN TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES AND THEN BRING THAT FORWARD.
>> ANY ISSUES WITH GIVING ANOTHER
CONTINUANCE? >> THAT'S IN YOUR DISCRETION TO GRANT THE CONTINUANCE. I WOULD SAY YOU NEED TO PICK A DATE CERTAIN TO CONTINUE IT TO, SO IF MS. OLSON KNOWS HOW MUCH TIME, I WOULD PICK A DATE TODAY AND IF THAT DATE ENDS UP NOT BEING LONG ENOUGH, WE COULD COME BACK FOR ANOTHER CONTINUANCE.
>> DO YOU KNOW WHAT KIND OF TIME
YOU NEED? >> MADAME MAYOR, IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WERE PRETTY MUCH THERE.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE NOISES I'M HEARING BEHIND ME.
I WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND MAKE SURE THE CHANGES THAT WE HAVE PROPOSED ARE ACTUALLY THE CHANGES THE MAJORITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WANT. I WAS GOING TO ASK FOR THE NEXT COMMISSION HEARING BUT I THINK MAYBE THE SECOND MEETING IN JANUARY MIGHT BE BETTER JUST IN CASE I'M HEARING THERE ARE MORE CHANGES WE NEED TO MAKE.
YES. DO YOU KNOW WHAT DATE THAT IS?
>> IF WE DON'T DO A DATE CERTAIN, AT THIS POINT IN TIME WE NEED TO RETIES NO MATTER WHAT, BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN CONTINUING, SO IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO PICK A DATE CERTAIN, WE COULD TIES WITH --
>> IF YOU ARE GOING TO READVERTISE ANYWAY --
>> THAT WOULD BE JANUARY 20TH.
>> IF YOU MEET WITH THEM AND MAKE CHANGES TO THE PLAN, DOES THAT NOT HAVE TO BE RESUBMITTED TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT FOR REVIEW, AND IS THAT GOING TO GIVE THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT ENOUGH TIME TO REVIEW
AMENDMENTS? >> KEVIN FREEMAN FOR THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, RIGHT?
>> KEVIN FREEMAN, PLANNING DIRECTOR.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. DEPENDS ON THE SCOPE OF THE AMENDMENTS. WE REFER WAY DOWN IN RESOLVING A LOT OF THE ENGINEERING TRAFFIC OR OTHER ISSUES IS PRIMARILY LAYOUT SITE AND DESIGN, AND IF IT'S THAT, THEN IT SHOULDN'T TEAK THAT TAKE THAT MUCH REVIEW.
>> IF YOU NEED MORE TIME, YOU CAN COME AND REQUEST A CONTINUANCE AS WELL. I WANT TO MAKE SURE IF THIS COMES INTO YOUR OFFICE ON JANUARY 19TH --
>> YEAH. SO YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BIRD DOG IT AND KEEP AN EYE ON IT AND IF IT NEEDS MORE TIME WHEN IT HITS YOUR OFFICE, THEN, FINE.
>> WE WILL MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS IN PLACE BEFORE WE BRING IT ON TO THE AGENDA.
WAIT, SO LET'S NOT CHOOSE A DATE CERTAIN, BECAUSE IT HAS TO GO ON THE AGENDA.
>> THAT'S FINE. IF YOU ARE GOING TO RE-ADVERTISE ANYWAY, I WANTED PEOPLE TO HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT WE ARE DOING.
>> IF ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WANTS TO KNOW WHEN IT WILL BE REHEARD, IF THEY GIVE ME THEIR NAME AND NUMBER I CAN GIVE THEM A PERSONAL EMAIL, AND IF WE PICK A DATE CERTAIN, IT HAS TO GO ON THE AGENDA AND THEN WE HAVE
[01:25:02]
AN AUDIENCE FULL OF PEOPLE THAT ARE WAITING UNTIL END OF THE MEETING THAT WILL NOT BE HEARD.IS THAT OKAY, MADAM ATTORNEY -- SORRY, WE DIDN'T COORDINATE IN
>> MADAME MAYOR, AS LONG AS WE ARE SENDING OUT A NEW NOTICE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY HAS PROPER
>> SO THIS ITEM WILL NOT BE HEARD AND WE WILL BRING IT BACK AFTER IT'S PROPERLY ADVERTISED.
>> OKAY. SO WE HAVE TO VOTE ON
THAT? >> VOTE ON A CONTINUANCE TO A LATER DATE.
>> CONTINUANCE TO A LATER DATE, RIGHT?
>> I MAKE A MOTION TO CONTINUE THIS ITEM TO THE LATER DATE.
ROLL CALLED. >> MADAME MAYOR, I KNOW WE JUST VOTED TO DO IT FOR A LATER DATE, BUT WHEN WE PUT THIS BACK ON THE AGENDA, CAN WE SOMEHOW, AS WE DID TODAY, CONTINUING IT FROM WHEREVER, LET THE PUBLIC KNOW, AND NOT CONTINUING TWICE BECAUSE I KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT SAT THROUGH TWO MEETINGS NOW THINKING IT WAS ON AN AGENDA --
>> I HAVE BUSINESS CARDS RIGHT HERE. EMAIL ME AND I WILL GIVE THEM A PERSONAL EMAIL WHEN IT'S RESET.
>> I APPRECIATE IT. I'M NOT SAYING I DON'T LOVE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE, AND I LOVE YOU GUYS BEING HERE, AND I AM JUST ASKING US TO DO THAT FOR THE AUDIENCE AND PUBLIC.
>> WE DON'T WANT TO WASTE ANYBODY'S TIME.
>> THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T WANT IT ON THE AGENDA AGAIN.
>> ALL THE FOLKS HERE TONIGHT THAT HAVE NOT BEEN COMMUNICATED WITH REGARDING THAT, LESLIE IS HERE, AND THEY ARE LOOKING TO REACH OUT TO YOU FOLKS AND TRY TO GET EVERYBODY TO THE TABLE.
LESLIE, I DON'T WANT TO POINT THE FINGER AT YOU, BUT PROVIDE YOUR INFORMATION TO THESE FOLKS SO THEY CAN COMMUNICATE WITH YOU AND GET EVERYBODY TO THE TABLE, FOLKS, OKAY? WE ARE GOING TO RELY ON YOU TO TAKE CARE OF THAT DIRECTLY
[A. Resolution 25-R62 Correcting Scrivener’s Errors and Clarifying Language regarding Solid Waste Service Delivery]
WITH THEM, ALL RIGHT.>>> NEXT, RESOLUTION 25-R- 62, FLORIDA ADOPTING UPDATED SOLID WASTE ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDELINES AND IMPROVING THE SCHEDULE OF FEES FOR SELECTION AND DISPOSELE OF GARBAGE AND TRASH, AND AMENDING THE LANGUAGE OF THE GUIDELINES INCLUDING BULK YARD WASTE AND COLLECTION FROM MULTIPLE FAMILY DWELLINGS, AND CHANGING THE DATE OF CONTAINER PICKUP TO THURSDAYS, AND THE FEE RATES IN THE CORD CODE OF ORDINANCES, REPEALING ALL RESOLUTIONS AND CONFLICT HERE WITHIN.
>> IS THERE SOMEBODY HERE TO SPEAK TO
THIS? >> NOBODY WILL SPEAK TO THIS RESOLUTION.
PREVIOUSLY. >> IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE WAS AN ERROR MADE PROBABLY ON SOMETHING
THERE. >> I LOOKED AT IT AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S LANGUAGE, AND IT SAYS SCRIVENER'S ERRORS.
>> MY MEMORY OF WHAT HAPPENED WAS THERE WAS SOME CALCULATION
ERRORS -- >> YES, THERE WERE. I NOTICED THE RED LINE.
>> AND THEN AS WE WENT BACK THROUGH IT BECAME CLEAR THERE WAS WORDING THAT MADE IT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND THE INTENT, SO THE WORDING HAS BEEN CLEANED UP TO MAKE THE INTENT CLEAR OF WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RELATED TO DAYS, COSTS, THAT TYPE OF THING. AND THEN I DO BELIEVE THERE WAS AN ERROR WHERE THEY WERE CHANGING A FRIDAY PICKUP TO A THURSDAY PICKUP, SO RELATIVELY SMALL CHANGES THAT SOLID WASTE WAS LOOKING AT.
>> RIGHT. I DID SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE CALCULATIONS. ONE WAS MORE AND ONE WAS LESS.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE STAFF OR CONCERNS? IS THERE A MOTION.
>> THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. CALL THE ROLE, PLEASE.
[14. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Any person who wishes to comment on any subject may be heard at this time. Please limit your comments to three (3) minutes or less, as directed by the Mayor, as this section of the Agenda is limited to thirty minutes. The City Commission will not be able to take any official actions under Comments from the Public. Speakers will address the Mayor, Commissioners, and the Public with respect. Inappropriate language will not be tolerated.]
GAINES?>> YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER JOHNSON?
>> THIS IS A CHANCE FOR ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK TO THE COMMISSION, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
>> I LIVE AT 3950 SUNRISE BOULEVARD.
ONE OF MY CONCERNS IS I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS MEETING UNTIL TODAY. I LIVE SO CLOSE TO THIS DEVELOPMENT, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY I'M NOT INCLUDED IN BEING TOLD ABOUT IT OR
[01:30:01]
ANYTHING, LIKE, SOUNDS LIKE THE PEOPLE THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT, THEY WERE GIVEN OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET WITH THE DEVELOPER TO GIVE THEIR INPUT.WE HAD NONE OF THAT AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE FOR THAT.
WOULD HAVE BEEN EASIER FOR EVERYBODY TO KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON FROM THE BEGINNING AND HAVE INPUT TO THAT, AND I AM WONDERING WHY WE WEREN'T AND WHY AM I NOT BEING TOLD ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE IF IT'S A LAW OR RULE MAYBE IT SHOULD BE CHANGED TO ALLOW PEOPLE WITHIN A CERTAIN
DISTANCE. >> THIS IS NOT A DIALOGUE, BUT WE WILL ANSWER THAT FOR YOU. ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
>> MY NAME IS PERRY LLOYD AND LIVE AT 3259 RIVER DRIVE, FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA. I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO THAT.
500 FEET, IT'S A LOW STANDARD. THE SIGN REQUIREMENTS ARE VERY SMALL. IT'S A VERY SMALL SIGN ON THE ROAD. I HAD TO GO DOOR TO DOOR TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW ABOUT THIS. THAT'S THE ONLY WAY MOST OF THESE PEOPLE HERE HEARD, IS MAYBE SIX OF US IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD GOT A LETTER, BUT IT AFFECTS MORE PEOPLE THAN THE SIX THAT GOT THE LETTER, AND THERE MAY HAVE BEEN MORE THAN SIX, I'M MAKING THAT UP, AND I THINK THAT MAYBE WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE STANDARDS OF HOW WE HAVE NOTICES FOR THE ZONING CHANGES AND HOW IT IMPACTS THE COMMUNITY AND HOW WE COMPARE TO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN THE OTHER AREAS, AND I SEE BIGGER SIGNS IN ST. LUCIE AND IN OTHER PLACES, AND THE SIGN WE HAVE IS PERPENDICULAR TO THE ROAD, AND THAT'S AN ISSUE TO WHERE THIS DEVELOPMENT IS. I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO HER STATEMENTS WITH PUBLIC NOTICE.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU, SIR.
ANYBODY ELSE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION? ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY. I WILL BRING IT BACK AND WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE
[15. COMMENTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER]
NEXT ITEM.MANAGER? >> MR. CHESS, MAYBE WE CAN GET A STAFF MEMBER TO ANSWER THEIR CONCERNS IN TERMS OF THE SIGNAGE
>> WHAT I CAN SAY -- KEVIN FREEMAN, PLANNING DIRECTOR.
>> WHAT I CAN SAY, AND I THINK THE LAST SPEAKER SUMMED IT UP. WE DO NOTICE TO THE CITY CODE, WHICH IS 500 FEET TO THE BOUNDARY OF THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION. THAT'S CONSISTENT IN THE CITY CODE. WE DO FOLLOW THAT.
WE DO POST A SITE NOTICE, AGAIN, THE CITY CODE IS LACKING, I THINK, IN THAT, IN TERMS IT DOESN'T DEFINE THE SIZE OF THE NOTICE WHERE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES DO.
THEY HAVE STANDARD NOTICE REQUIREMENTS. WE ARE LOOKING AND WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS FOR A WHILE IN TERMS OF HOW PUBLIC NOTICE GETS CARRIED OUT. THE RANGE OF THAT, THE DISTANCE, THE OBLIGATION OF APPLICANTS TO UNDERTAKE THIS RATHER THAN CITY STAFF TO ENSURE THIS IS DONE, AND IT'S MAINLY APPLICANTS THAT DO THIS AND PROVIDE AN AFFIDAVIT THEY HAVE DONE SO SO WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ON THAT IN THE FUTURE WITH A CODE CHANGE.
>> WE ARE WORKING ON THAT AND HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR A WHILE. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE WOULD BE BRINGING IS THE RATIO IS 500 FEET. I THINK THE COUNTY DOES 1,000.
THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE SOMEBODY WHO IS LEFT OUT, WHATEVER RADIUS YOU APPLY TO THESE. THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEBODY THAT WILL BE LEFT OUT OF THAT AND THERE WILL BE SOMEBODY ON THE EDGE AND THE NEIGHBORS WILL GET CONTACTED AND THEY ARE NOT.
>> DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING, COMMISSIONER BRODERICK?
>> I REMEMBER WHEN, ABOUT TWO YEARS -- YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN FIRST YEAR COMMISSIONER BRODERICK, WHEN THAT CELL TOWER OFF THE ROAD CAME ABOUT, AND WE HAD ALL THESE PEOPLE IN HERE ON THIS SIDE SAYING THEY DIDN'T GET NOTICE. I THOUGHT THEN WE TALKED ABOUT LOOKING AT THAT CHANGE IN THIS CODE BECAUSE -- TO SEE HOW WE WERE GOING TO DO IT.
I HAVE NO OBJECTION. I KNOW THIS IS LEGAL AND
[01:35:05]
DIRECTOR FREEMAN, I HAVE NO OBJECTION TO, IF THE COUNTY IS 1,000, LET'S STAY CONSISTENT WITH THE COUNTY. WHATEVER IT IS, WHAT I HAVE ALWAYS PREACHED IS NOTICE TO THE RESIDENTS THAT THESE BUILDINGS ARE GOING INTO.WHAT IT SEEMS WHEN THEY ARE COMING HERE AND THEY SAY THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HEAR ABOUT IT, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE TRYING TO HIDE SOMETHING.
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO.
SO IF SOMEBODY COMES IN AND WANTS TO BUILD IN THE CITY, THEY NEED TO LET ALL THE RESIDENTS KNOW.
AS THE GENTLEMAN JUST SPOKE, WHATEVER LETTER OR WHATEVER WE PUT UP, HOWEVER WE SEND IT OUT, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH -- THERE'S NOTHING WRONG AT THE END OF THAT LETTER SAYING GO KNOCK ON YOUR NEIGHBOR'S DOOR TO MAKE SURE THEY GOT A LETTER TO SEE IF WHAT WAS GOING ON, BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS. THAT AT LEAST BEEN TWO YEARS AGO WHEN THAT CELL PHONE TOWER. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR TWO YEARS, SO COMMISSIONER LET'S PUT TOGETHER AND GET THIS CODE CHANGED BECAUSE, ME, PERSONALLY, I LOVE AUDIENCE COMING IN AND SIT WITH US DOING THESE MONTHLY MEETINGS, BUT I DON'T WANT ANYBODY COMING IN HERE SAYING I GOT A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT COMING IN MY BACKYARD AND I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT IT UNTIL TODAY AT A HEARING.
SO WE GOT TO DO BETTER. NOT SAYING WE'RE NOT.
LET'S JUST -- I KNOW WE GOT A LOT OF STUFF, AND I HAVE ASKED FOR A LOT OF CODE CHANGES, I HAVE, AND THAT'S WHAT I DO. SOMETIMES COMMON SENSE JUST HAS TO GO IN. I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR -- WHAT IS IT, 500 FEET?
>> WHAT IS THAT, THREE HOUSES? I'M NOT TRYING TO BE FUNNY, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW FAR THAT IS. SO WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO MAXIMIZE TO GET -- TO GET EVERYBODY NOTICE, LET'S JUST DO IT BECAUSE IT'S JUST BETTER FOR EVERYBODY. MOST OF THE ARGUMENTS WE HAVE, AND MOST OF THE TIME WE SPEND ON THESE HEARINGS IS WHEN PUBLIC COMES IN THAT NIGHT BECAUSE THEY NEVER HEARD ABOUT IT.
IF WE LET THE DEVELOPER KNOW, IF WE LET THE DEVELOPERS THAT COME HERE KNOW, DON'T EVEN COME IN FRONT OF US UNLESS YOU HAVE TALKED TO THE NEIGHBORS, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, TALK TO THE NEIGHBORS.
YOU WANT TO HAVE GOOD NEIGHBORS. MADAM ATTORNEY, MR. FREE -- I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN DO IT. DON'T LOOK AT ME.
I'M SORRY. I JUST WANT SOME TYPE OF RELEASE -- SOME TYPE OF NUMBER CHANGE IN THE CODE SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION OF THE PUBLIC AND HELP THEM OUT.
>> SURE. SURE. DID YOU WANT TO ADD
I'M GOING TO COPY COMMISSIONER GAINES' COMMENTS HERE.
WE CONTINUOUSLY MADE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EXPANDING THAT NOTICE AREA, BUT JUST AS IMPORTANT IS THE SCIENCE THAT'S BEING UTILIZED.
I OWN LAND OUT WEST. I HAVE DRIVEN BY ASHLEY CAPITAL'S PROPERTY THERE, AND THE COUNTY REQUIRES, IT'S A FOUR FOOT WIDE BY FOUR FOOT HIGH SIGN WHERE THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A SITE REVIEW OR CONDITIONAL USE, AND IT'S A YELLOW BACKGROUND WITH BLACK LETTERS, AND YOU CAN'T MISS IT. OURS IS GREEN AND GO IN WITH THE LANDSCAPING, AND IT'S A REAL ESTATE SIGN, AND IT'S SMALL. IF WE ARE ADDRESSING THE MAILING AND NOTIFICATION, LET'S ALSO LOOK AT
>> YEAH, I REMEMBER THE SIGN, AND I GOT A NOTICE ABOUT THAT AND I'M 1,000 AWAY FROM THEIR PROPERTY. IT WAS A CASE THAT THAT 1,000- FOOT PARAMETER, AND YOU HAVE HOUSES DOWN THE STREET AND LOOKING AT A MULTI- UNIT DEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THAT ENTIRE AREA, SO I WOULD PROMOTE INCREASING THE DISTANCE AND CHANGING THE SIGNAGE. I'M GUESSING, YOU COULD CHECK WITH -- THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, AND IT SEEMS TO ME THOSE ARE OFF-THE- SHELF SIGNS.
THEY PROBABLY HAVE TO GO IN AND PURCHASE THEM, AND WE GET THE REIMBURSEMENT, AND WE GET THE MONEY IN RETURN, AND THEY HAVE A SIGN AND HAVE THEIR PEOPLE GO AND INSTALL THEM. THEY ARE BIG AND YOU CAN'T MISS THESE THINGS. OUR SIGNS ARE NOT LIKE THAT, BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN THOSE SIGNS, AND YOU HAVE TO LOOK FOR THEM. THESE SMACK YOU IN THE FACE.
I WILL MAKE IT A TWO- FOLD ADDRESS, INCREASE THE DISTANCE AND MODIFY THE SIGNAGE SO IT'S BLARING.
[01:40:02]
GO AHEAD -- PLEASE DO NOT APPLAUD.THE APPLAUSE METER WON'T MAKE IT
HAPPEN FASTER. >> MADAME MAYOR, THE REASON IT HAS TAKEN AS LONG AS IT DOES, THE STAFF IS DISCUSSING THE MECHANISM WHERE THE BURDEN OF COST IS NOT ON THE CITY.
>> WE HAVE A SYSTEM IN PLACE WHERE THE APPLICANT IS AWARE OF THE STANDARDS AND THE APPLICANT UNDERTAKES THAT AND PROVIDES THE CITY WITH AN AFFIDAVIT THEY HAVE DONE SO. THAT'S A MECHANISM THAT HAS BEEN USED IN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES. I THINK WE CAN BORROW A LOT OF THAT. IT'S WORKING. IT WOULD THEN TAKE THE -- A LOT OF STAFF TIME IN PACKING UP MAIL, DOING THE BOUNDARY, ASSESSING THE ASSESSING THE BOUNDARY, AND --
>> WE NEED TO SHIFT THE BURDEN. THEY ARE DOING THE APPLICATION, AND DON'T INVOLVE OUR STAFF.
HERE'S THE RULE. GO GET IT DONE.
YOU HAVE X AMOUNT OF TIME TO GET IT DONE AND IF YOU DON'T, YOU MISS THE AGENDA.
>> IT'S NOT THAT COMPLICATED. I THINK YOU GUYS CAN STRAIGHTEN IT OUT AND AS THEY COME IN, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS.
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, YOU GOOD
WITH THAT? >> I WANT TO BE CLEAR ON A FEW THINGS. I ECHO A FEW SENTIMENTS HERE.
IT SOUNDS LIKE A COST SHIFT THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF, AND I THINK UNDERSTANDING SOME OF THE OTHER BEST PRACTICES AND STANDARDS FROM THE COMMUNITY KIND OF BE CONSISTENT, LARGER SIGNS AND BRIGHTER COLOR.
I THOUGHT WE MAILED STUFF, MS. COX, TO THE SURROUNDING AREA --
>> THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT DOES THAT.
>> SO I THOUGHT WE USED TO HAVE IN HERE HOW MANY LETTERS ARE ACTUALLY SENT OUT AS --
>> WE DO HAVE A LIST, AND NOW IT'S ON THE ONLINE PERMITTING SYSTEM.
>> I HAVE BEEN UP HERE A LONG TIME, BUT, OKAY, I WAS LOOKING FOR THAT. I THINK THAT'S GOOD PUBLIC FACING AS WELL, RIGHT? AND I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, COMMISSIONER BRODERICK, OR SOMEBODY SAID IT, SOMEBODY IS GOING TO BE AT 1,020 FEET
AWAY -- >> YEAH, MISSING SOMEBODY.
>> I WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO BE HERE AS BEST WE CAN SO THERE'S PUBLIC NOTICE.
THAT'S THE ONLY OTHER THING I WANTED TO ADD TO THAT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WHEN YOU DO SEND OUT THOSE NOTICES NOW, DO YOU -- IT'S 500 FEET WHETHER THEY LIVE IN THE CITY OR THE COUNTY,
RIGHT? >> WHEREVER THAT LOT IS REGISTERED TO, WE SEND LETTERS OUT OF STATE, YOU KNOW, IF THE OWNER IS OUT OF STATE, WE SEND LETTERS OUT OF STATE.
>> WELL, I THINK YOU HAVE HEARD THE SENTIMENTS OF THE COMMISSION, MR. CHESS AND MR. FREEMAN, SO WE WOULD LIKE THAT VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
>> IT WILL BE A PRIORITY, MA'AM.
>> MR. CHESS, NOW, YOUR REPORT.
>> WE ARE WORKING ON THE NEW POLICE CHIEF AGREEMENT. WE EXPECT TO HAVE THAT BEFORE THE COMMISSION ON JANUARY 5 TH. OUR HR MANAGER IS WORKING WITH MR. SMITH ON DRAFTING THE AGREEMENT. I WOULD THEN LIKE TO BRING IT BEFORE THE CITY COMMISSION. THAT'S IT.
>> THANK YOU. MS. COX, DO YOU HAVE
ANYTHING? >> THIS IS THE LAST MEETING BEFORE NEXT YEAR, AND I WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
>> ONE MORE MEETING BEFORE THE ELECTION, JANUARY 5TH.
>> WE HAVE JANUARY 5TH AND THEN THE DAY MEETING ON THE 12TH, THE DAY BEFORE
THE ELECTION. >> THE DAY BEFORE. OKAY. GOT IT.
[16. COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION]
MS. HEDGES, DO YOU HAVE>> ALL RIGHT. WE WILL MOVE ON.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS.
>> I WILL START IT OFF. THIS IS THE LAST MEETING OF THIS YEAR, AND I WANT TO WISH MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND A SAFE NEW YEAR. LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUED MOMENTUM AS WE ARE, I THINK, RESPONSIBLY LOOKING AT PROJECTS THAT WILL BRING REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CITY. MORE IMPORTANTLY, AS WE ONBOARD A NEW CHIEF OF POLICE, AS WE LOOK TO SOLIDIFY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, PUBLIC WORKS, ET CETERA, I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUED GROWTH AND
[01:45:03]
DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AS WE GET OFF TO A REAL FAST START IN 2026. SO I WILL USE THIS TIME TO REST UP AND REFLECT BACK AND LOOK FORWARD TO A REAL FAST START START T T 2026 AS WE CONTINUE TO RESPONSIBLY GROW OUR CITY OF FORT PIERCE, AND HAVE MORE ENGAGEMENTS WITH THE PUBLIC AS WE GET INTO 2026.I REALLY MEANT EARLIER TO SEE A CHAMBER FILLED WITH A LOT OF OUR YOUTH, TO BE PART OF THIS, TO RECOGNIZE THEM FOR ALL THAT THEY ARE DOING, TO, I THINK, PUT A GOOD LIGHT ON THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. WE HAVE HAD CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS. I RECENTLY READ WHERE SOME YOUNG MEN GOT THEMSELVES IN TROUBLE ATAT A POP WARNER CHAMPIONSHIP AND THEY LOST AS A RESULT OF THAT.
>> NOT HERE, NOT OUR GUYS. BUT THAT'S A TESTAMENT OF OUR PROGRAM. I DON'T HEAR THOSE THINGS, AND THOSE THINGS ARE REFLECTIVE OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE GREAT YOUNG PEOPLE DOING GREAT THINGS AND I'M ENCOURAGED BY THAT. THAT'S IT FOR ME.
>> FOLLOWING UP ON COMMISSIONER JOHNSON WITH THE YOUTH. LIKE I SAID EARLIER, I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE KARATE PROGRAM, AND I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO START DOING IS WHEN WE HAVE, ESPECIALLY YOUTH INVOLVED IN OUR PROGRAMS, IF A YOUTH WINS SOMETHING, WE SHOULD INVITE HIM TO THE CHAMBER, BECAUSE -- AND JUST SAY THANK YOU, BECAUSE WHEN THEY COME IN HERE, AND IF YOU DIDN'T HEAR THE EXCITEMENT OUTSIDE, IT MATTERS. SO IF I GOT 3-YEAR- OLDS -- THEY ARE NOT GOING TO REMEMBER IT, BUT IF I HAVE 3-YEAR- OLDS AND A KARATE PROGRAM BRINGING HOME TROPHIES AND I HEARD TONIGHT WE HAVE A GRAND CHAMPION, AND IT'S FROM THAT PROGRAM, I AM SURE HE OR SHE WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR FACES.
GOING FORWARD, IF ANY OF YOU DO SOMETHING, LET US KNOW.
AT LEAST WE CAN PUT THEM ON THE AGENDA FOR FIVE SECONDS AND SAY THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING FORT PIERCE. AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE YOUTH THAT CAME TONIGHT. I WANT TO STOP ANDAND SOME MOMENT OF SILENCE OR PRAYERS FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE SHOT AND KILLED OVER IN AUSTRALIA. AND I'M GOING TO USE THAT TO GO INTO JUST OUR COUNTRY AND I -- OUR COUNTRY, AND I WILL START WITH THE ELECTION WE JUST TALKED ABOUT.
LET'S JUST GO OUT AND VOTE. LET THE BEST PERSON WIN.
AND WE COME AND WE CONTINUE TO RUN OUR CITY. LET'S LET FORT PIERCE TRY TO STOP THE DIVISION GOING ON IN THE COUNTRY AND WORLD, AND LET US BE THE BLINDING LIGHT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT OVER IN AUSTRALIA, TRYING TO KEEP THE DIVISION.
TO THE CANDIDATES AND TO THE PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CANDIDATES, JUST TALK THE GOOD POINTS, THE ELECTION POINTS, AND BRING DOWN THE RHETORIC BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THIS IS OUR LAST MEETING FOR THE HOLIDAYS, SO COMMISSION, HAPPY HOLIDAYS, AND PUBLIC, HAPPY HOLIDAYS. ENJOY YOUR NEW YEAR.
COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, YOU SAID IT, YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE THE TIME TO GET REST. WE JUST HEARD TONIGHT THAT OUR FIRST MEETING, JANUARY 5TH, WE ARE GOING TO BE PROBABLY DISCUSSING THE CONTRACT OF THE NEW POLICE CHIEF, AND WE ARE GOING TO START OFF RUNNING, SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.
LET'S TAKE THE TIME -- LET'S TAKE THE TIME.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THE STAFF AND THE PUBLIC AND EVERYBODY UP HERE THAT WE -- WE HAD A ROLLER COASTER YEAR THIS YEAR, GUYS.
WE HAD A ROLLER COASTER YEAR THIS YEAR.
AND I FEEL WE'RE ENDING ON AA NOTE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT RUNNING OUT OF HERE -- NOT RUNNING OUT OF HERE MAD AND NOT SPEAKING TO EACH OTHER.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE RESPECT THAT, ESPECIALLY ME AND COMMISSIONER BRODERICK, THEY THINK THAT -- I'M JUST SAYING THEY THINK THAT BECAUSE WE ARE UP HERE WE ARE JUST ADVOCATING FOR OUR BELIEFS AND OUR THOUGHTS AND OUR RESIDENTS, BUT IT STAYS IN HERE.
I DON'T CARE THAT SIDE HERE, AND I'LL FIGHT FOR RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT 1 AND I'LL FIGHT FOR RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT 2.
IF WE DON'T WE NEED TO STOP SAYING ONE FORT PIERCE AND TAKE OFF THESE PINS. IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING.
WITH THAT, I WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY A SAFE AND HAPPY
[01:50:06]
HOLIDAYS, AND LOOK FORWARD TO -- LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK IN JANUARY AND CONTINUING TO MAKE THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE THE BEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY. THANK YOU.>> MAYOR, I WILL FOLLOW- UP ON COMMISSIONER GAINES' COMMENTS, IN THAT THERE'S A PERCEPTION THAT WHEN COMMISSIONER GAINES AND I GET INTO OUR DEBATES IS THE BEST WAY TO PUT IT, THERE'S SOME TYPE OF DIVISION BETWEEN US AND THAT'S SIMPLY NOT THE CASE. IF I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO GO FOR A BEER, I WOULD, BUT WE CAN'T BECAUSE OF THE SUNSHINE LAW.
I BELIEVE THAT DEBATE IS HEALTHY.
IT'S AN EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AND DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES REPRESENTING ALL AREAS OF THE CITY, YOU WILL HAVE DIFFERENT SLANTS ON THE ISSUES, ET CETERA.
ARNOLD, YOU ARE A GREAT DEBATER, AND I RESPECT YOUR ORATORY CAPABILITY. IT'S A CHALLENGE.
BUT I RESPECT YOUR COMMENTARY. HE MADE A VERY INTERESTING COMMENT. WE WERE IN THE CORRIDOR UPSTAIRS UPSTAIRS WHEN THE POLICE CHIEF CANDIDATES WERE AROUND. THERE WERE SEVERAL STAFF --
>> YEAH, THE ATTORNEY IS GIVING ME THE EVIL EYE RIGHT NOW, BUT HE MADE A POINT BECAUSE HE KNOWS THE CANDIDATES WATCHED THE MEETING BEFORE AND COMMISSIONER GAINES AND I HAD GONE OFF ON SOME PARTICULAR ISSUE AND HAD A TEN- MINUTE DEBATE ABOUT IT, AND HE MADE A POINT TO COME UP AND PUT HIS ARM AROUND ME AND SAY, GUYS, JUST SO YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT THIS DIVISION ON THE COMMISSION YOU MAY SUSPECT BETWEEN COMMISSIONER BRODERICK AND MYSELF.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS A VERY GOOD THING TO SAY TO FOLKS THAT ARE LOOKING TO COME AND WORK WITH THE CITY.
WE HAVE A HEALTHY DISCUSSION AND HEALTHY DISCUSSION OF IDEAS, AND IF I AM OVER CAFFEINATED, I WILL GIVE YOU MY FULL BOAR OPINION. BUT I LOVE THE COMMISSION AND WE WORK WELL TOGETHER AND I WISH YOU NOTHING BUT THE BEST FOR THE HOLIDAYS, AND I WANT TO REITERATE WHAT BOTH COMMISSIONS SAID SO FAR, WE NEED SAFE HOLIDAYS. AND THE ISSUE GOING ON AROUND THE COUNTRY AND WORLD, I DON'T LIKE YOUR OPINIONS AND POLITICS, SO I WILL BREAK OUT WEAPONS AND ANNIHILATE YOU. FORT PIERCE CAN BE A SHINING EXAMPLE OF HAVING GOOD DEBATE THAT DOESN'T RESULT IN VIOLENCE. I KNOW WE'RE WELL PROTECTED BY MEMBERS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WE HAVE A FULL CONTINGENT OF THE POLICE HERE FOR EVERY MEETING, BUT AS SOON AS WE WALK OUT THAT DOOR, WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN. I HAVE MY SECURITY CONCERNS, AND ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS SHOULD, BUT THE PLACE TO START IS HERE LOCALLY AMONGST OURSELVS, AND WE REPRESENT THAT TO OUR CITIZENS, AND THEY WILL SAY, THEY GET ALONG. WHY CAN'T WE GET ALONG? I KNOW THAT'S A GRAND THOUGHT TO HAVE, AND IT HAS TO START SOMEWHERE, IT DOES.
>> ONE PERSON AT A TIME AND ONE CITY AT A TIME.
YES, SO I WILL WIND IT UP WITH WE ARE HEADING INTO 2026 WHEN FORT PIERCE IS GOING TO BE 125
>> THE COUNTRY IS GOING TO BE 250 YEARS OLD.
SO IT'S GOING TO BE A YEAR OF CELEBRATION. I, TOO, AM LOOKING FORWARD TO A NEW YEAR BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD A YEAR -- A ROLLER COASTER YEAR.
>> AND I DON'T LIKE ROLLER COASTERS, SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO 2026. I WANT TO SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF THE CITIZENS IN FORT PIERCE AND THANK YOU TO OUR EMPLOYEES, AND WE HAD A WONDERFUL APPRECIATION FOR THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE. I LEARNED A LOT.
BECAUSE WE DEAL ONLY WITH THE CHARTER OFFICERS, I KNOW THE OTHER EMPLOYEES BY SIGHT BUT DON'T ALWAYS KNOW THEIR NAMES AND WHAT DEPARTMENT THEY ARE IN, SO I LEARNED A LOT FROM THAT.
I LIKED PARTICIPATING ININ THAT. I WANT TO SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO THE STAFF AND TO MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS. WITH THAT, I THINK WE ARE GOING TO ADJOURN.
>> GREAT EVENT. SEEING ALL THOSE SMILING KIDS GETTING GIFT SZ HEART WARMING AND IT'S A COLLECTIVE EFFORT FROM THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY THAT MAKES IT A SUCCESS. A PHENOMENAL EVENT.
>> LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET PUT ON A FINE EVENT FOR THE KIDS AS WELL IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND A NUMBER OF NON- PROFITS WERE OUT THERE PARTICIPATING AND SUPPORTING AS WELL.
SO A GREAT TIME OF YEAR. AGAIN, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, THANK YOU, KUDOS FOR THE LIGHTS AND THINGS YOU HAVE DONE
[01:55:02]
TO BEAUTIFY OUR CITY. PLEASE PASS THAT ALONG.>> SO WE ARE GOING TO ADJOURN, AND WE ARE TURNING THE LIGHTS OUT IN THE CHAMBERS, SO IF EVERYBODY WOULD LEAVE THE
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.