READY. I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER, PLEASE.
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:10]
WE ARE ALL EXCITED, AND THERE'S A GOOD REASON WE ARE.SO I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. YOU'RE AT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING TO SWEAR IN OUR NEWEST COMMISSIONER. AND SO WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE.
[2. SWEARING IN CEREMONY]
AND THEN HE'S GOING TO JOIN ME ON THE DAIS WHERE HE BELONGS.COMMISSIONER ARNOLD GAINES OFFERS HIS SINCERE REGRETS FOR BEING UNABLE TO ATTEND THE SWEARING IN CEREMONIES FOR COMMISSIONER ZUKOWSKI THIS EVENING, AND ALSO OUR CITY'S NEW POLICE CHIEF, DAVID SMITH, THAT HE MISSED THIS MORNING AS A CERTIFIED MEMBER OF THE CITY'S RETIREMENT BOARD, HE IS OUT OF TOWN PARTICIPATING IN THE TRUSTEE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL CLASS OF 2025 THROUGH THE FLORIDA PUBLIC PENSION TRUSTEES ASSOCIATION.
THIS INTENSIVE TRAINING AND EDUCATION PROGRAM ENHANCES HIS EXPERTISE AND STRENGTHS, STRENGTHENS HIS CONTRIBUTION TO SAFEGUARDING THE FINANCIAL WELL-BEING OF THE CITY'S RETIREMENT FUND. AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS A VERY BIG COMMITMENT THAT HE MADE A YEAR AGO AND HE WAS UNABLE TO JOIN US HERE TONIGHT.
BUT WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'M GOING TO ASK COMMISSIONER ZADORSKY TO JOIN ME IN THE PODIUM DOWN FRONT.
THIS IS THE BEST PART OF MY JOB I HAVE. OKAY.
WE'LL RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
THAT I AM DULY QUALIFIED TO HOLD OFFICE UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF.
OF THE STATE AND FORT PIERCE CITY CHARTER. AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY PERFORM THE DUTIES OF FORT PIERCE CITY COMMISSIONER TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES, AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY PERFORM THE DUTIES OF FORT PIERCE CITY COMMISSIONER TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES.
SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD.
NO SPEECH, CHRIS. HE'S GOTTA MAKE HIS WAY. YOU KNOW WHERE YOU'RE SITTING UP HERE.
MAKE HIS. MAKE HIS WAY UP. CONGRATULATIONS, BROTHER.
GIVE ME A HUG. APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
WAIT. I THINK THAT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
I JUST NEED A SECOND. I'M OVERWHELMED. NOBODY EXPECTED TEARS, DID THEY? OH, FOR SURE. WHAT WAS HE UNDER? OVER. YOU DIDN'T.
YOU LOST. YOU LOST? HE WAS GONNA CRY. YEAH. A THOUSAND.
EXACTLY. WELL, BECAUSE THE MAYOR WAS VERY CLEAR AND SHE SAID COMMISSIONER NEWLY APPOINTED, NEWLY ELECTED. YOU ONLY HAVE LESS THAN AN HOUR TO GET YOUR SPEECH DONE BECAUSE WE HAVE A MEETING.
MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, CITY STAFF AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
MY FRIENDS. SUPPORTERS. I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOU TO BE HERE.
I'M MINDFUL THAT THIS WAS A CLOSE ELECTION, AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR FROM THE OUTSET.
[00:05:06]
AND THOSE WHO SIMPLY WANT THEIR CITY GOVERNMENT TO FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY AND RESPONSIBLY.I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR THE OFFICE WE HOLD, FOR THE PROCESS THAT BROUGHT US HERE, AND FOR THE PROFESSIONALISM OF THE STAFF WHO KEEP THIS CITY OPERATING EVERY DAY. I UNDERSTAND THAT GOOD GOVERNANCE IS NOT ABOUT INDIVIDUAL VOICES.
IT'S ABOUT COLLABORATION, PREPARATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
WHAT I COMMIT TO IS THIS I WILL LISTEN CAREFULLY, ASK GOOD QUESTIONS, SEEK PUBLIC INPUT, AND APPROACH EACH DECISION WITH RESPECT FOR THE LAW, THE FACTS, AND THE LONG TERM INTERESTS OF FORT PIERCE.
I BELIEVE STRONGLY IN TRANSPARENCY, ADHERENCE TO FLORIDA'S SUNSHINE AND PUBLIC RECORDS LAWS, AND IN MAINTAINING A PROFESSIONAL AND RESPECTFUL WORKING ENVIRONMENT BOTH ON THIS DAIS AND THROUGHOUT THE CITY HALL.
TOGETHER, WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO MOVE FORT PIERCE FORWARD IN A WAY THAT STRENGTHENS NEIGHBORHOODS, PROTECTS TAXPAYERS, AND BUILDS CONFIDENCE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE. LET'S GET TO WORK.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONERS.
AND WE HAVE A SAYING HERE. WE HAVE A SLOGAN THAT WE ADOPTED SOME FIVE PLUS YEARS AGO.
AND WE HAVE CERTAINLY YOU'VE ECHOED THAT IN YOUR SPEECH.
AND SO WE ADOPTED SOMETHING AT THAT POINT CALLED ONE FORT PIERCE.
SO I'LL MEET YOU GUYS DOWN THERE, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
AND I'D LOVE TO PUT. GIVE HIM THE PINS, PLEASE.
OUT OF THE WAY. YES, SIR. GETS A COUPLE EXTRA.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I HAVE NO UPSTAIRS. THIS ONE DOESN'T GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE SKIN, DOES IT? YOU GOT THE SOUP MEMO? IT'S A TWO FOR ONE DEAL, RIGHT? YEAH. CONGRATULATIONS.
MR. BRODERICK. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE COMMISSIONERS ON A WELL-FOUGHT CAMPAIGN AND BEING SUCCESSFUL IN THAT CAMPAIGN AND BEING SWORN IN HERE TONIGHT AS A COMMISSIONER, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW CHRIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND OUR SOCIAL CIRCLES HAVE INTERACTIONS THAT HAVE BROUGHT US INTO EACH OTHER'S WORLD, AND WE'VE ENJOYED THOSE SOCIAL SETTINGS COMPLETELY.
RIGHT, CHRIS, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT'S THE CASE NOW IN CHRIS'S OPENING REMARKS.
YOU MENTIONED HEALTHY DEBATE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
SHAUN APPRECIATE THAT HEALTHY DEBATE. I HAVE A SENSE THAT CHRIS AND I ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME HEALTHY DEBATES, AND THAT'S THAT'S GREAT. AS YOU ALL KNOW, FROM HOW I GOVERN HERE I TAKE ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE VERY PERSONALLY.
AND I'M VERY DEFENSIVE OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE.
AND WHAT I BELIEVE IT'S IN ITS BEST INTEREST.
SO I THINK CHRIS IS I'VE EXPERIENCED HIM ON THE COUNTY COMMISSION.
WE SHARE ONE THING IN COMMON, AS DO THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE SITTING HERE.
[00:10:01]
SO AND WE NEVER TAKE IT PERSONALLY. WE WALK OUT THE DOOR. WE COULD GO OUT AND HAVE A BEER IF WE COULD, BUT WE CAN'T ANY LONGER. SO THOSE DAYS ARE BEHIND US, CHRIS. I HATE TO SAY IT. YOU STAY AT THE OTHER END OF THE BAR. RIGHT, EXACTLY.EXACTLY. AND WE'LL PASS NOTES BACK AND FORTH.
IS THAT HOW IT WORKS? BUT RICHARD DAWSON WOULD SAY GOOD ANSWER.
YEAH, IT'S GOING TO BE IT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD ENVIRONMENT HERE.
I THINK CHRIS HAS A LOT OF GOOD IDEAS. I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS WITH THOSE WITH HIM BACK WHEN HE WAS ON THE COUNTY COMMISSION. AND SO I'M EXCITED FOR THOSE IDEAS TO COME FORWARD AND HAVE FRANK DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THOSE AND COLLECTIVELY DO THE ABSOLUTE BEST THAT WE CAN FOR THE GOVERNANCE OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE.
THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS. AT THE END OF THE DAY, POLITICS IS DONE.
THAT'S NOW HISTORY. IT'S TIME TO GET TO WORK, AS CHRIS OUTLINED.
AND I'M EXCITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU.
DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING MORE? YOU'RE GOOD, YOU'RE GOOD.
SO I'M HAPPY TO HAVE THE SEAT FILLED. AND I'VE ALREADY HAD AN IDEA OF IT'S NICE TO HAVE SOMEBODY AT THE RIGHT HAND HERE AND NOT A BIG EMPTY SPACE HERE. WE'VE OPERATED WITH FOUR COMMISSIONERS FOR MONTHS, AND I WILL HAVE TO SAY THAT I'M VERY PROUD OF THIS COMMISSION BECAUSE WE HAVE STAYED CIVIL AND WE HAVE CONTINUED TO WORK, AND WE SHOULDERED THE LOAD OF THE FIFTH COMMISSIONER, AND WE DID IT WILLINGLY AND CHEERFULLY.
AND SO I'M VERY, VERY PROUD OF THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WE HAD.
AND WHEN THIS SPECIAL ELECTION WAS COMING TOWARD US, I THOUGHT I WAS PRAYING THAT WE WOULD HAVE SOMEBODY WHO WOULD FIT IN WITH THE CIVILITY THAT WE HAVE REALLY WORKED HARD TO MAINTAIN HERE.
AND I BELIEVE CHRIS SADOWSKI IS GOING TO BE A BIG PART OF THAT.
I HAVE KNOWN HIM, I THINK, SINCE YOU MOVED TO FORT PIERCE, I THINK, AND THAT'S A LONG TIME AGO.
YEP. I'VE KNOWN YOU THAT LONG. AND I KNOW THAT HE HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AT THE COUNTY, AND SOMETIMES JURISDICTIONS ARE WORLDS APART. AND SO PROBABLY WE'RE GOING TO HEAR THAT THIS IS THE WAY WE DO IT AT THE COUNTY.
RIGHT. SO AND SO WE CAN ALWAYS LEARN AND WE CAN ALWAYS LEARN.
AND I'M OPEN TO ANYTHING THAT MAKES OUR MEETINGS MORE EFFICIENT.
AND SO I'M VERY, VERY HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE.
CONGRATULATIONS. I KNOW YOU WORKED HARD, AND HE WROTE ON THE TRAM WITH US IN THE MLK PARADE, AND HE SO HE DID HIS FIRST SORT OF SEMIOFFICIAL DUTY UNDER VERY, VERY COLD CIRCUMSTANCES.
AND LIKE TODAY. SO, YES. SO WELCOME TO THE GROUP.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. MR. CHESS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? REALLY? JUST A FEW SHORT WORDS. CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME TO THE MAYOR AND COMMISSION CHAMBERS HERE AND NOW.
I HAVE A FIFTH BOSS. SO? SO I'M GLAD. LUCKY YOU.
YEAH. I'M HERE TO SERVE, SIR. SO FOR THE DIRECTION AS THE COMMISSION AS A WHOLE.
BUT CONGRATULATIONS. WELCOME ABOARD. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MISS COX.
WANT TO SAY ANYTHING, MISS COX? SURE. COMMISSIONERS.
WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A VERY LONG TIME. A VERY LONG TIME.
AND I'M SURE WE'LL DO GREAT THINGS TOGETHER. YOU HAVE A HEART FOR THIS CITY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MISS HEDGES.
MISS HEDGES. YES, MA'AM. CONGRATULATIONS. I PROBABLY MORE THAN THE MAYOR.
I'M HAPPY THAT WE ARE NOW AT FIVE INSTEAD OF FOUR.
THE EVEN NUMBER WAS VERY WORRISOME. SOMETIMES AND I WOULD NOT BE MYSELF IF I DIDN'T REMIND COMMISSIONER BRODERICK THAT WRITTEN NOTES DO STILL COUNT FOR SUNSHINE IF THEY'RE WRITTEN BY ME. RIGHT? ANY OF YOU? YES, SIR.
SO? SO, MY MY FIRST COUPLE OF MEETINGS WERE WITH STAFF, AND SARAH AND I HAD A HALF AN HOUR SCHEDULED, AND WE SPENT TWO HOURS, SO THAT'LL TELL YOU WHERE WE'RE GOING.
BUT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I WAS COMING THROUGH AND COMMISSIONER GAINES SAID, OH, BY THE WAY, I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE YOUR MEETING ON. I SAID, I WORKED THAT HARD TO GET FIVE COMMISSIONERS UP THERE, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO DO FOUR.
FOUR. HE SAYS, SEE HOW IT FEELS. WE HAVE NOT HAD A DEADLOCKED VOTE SINCE WE HAD FOUR COMMISSIONERS.
LET'S NOT START TONIGHT. YEAH, EXACTLY. YEAH, EXACTLY.
EXACTLY. OKAY. I GUESS OUR OFFICIAL PICTURE HERE.
YOU WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE? YEAH. WE'LL GET A CHANCE TO. ABSOLUTELY.
WELL, WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO WALK DOWN HERE AND HAVE A TAKE A PICTURE.
AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO RECESS UNTIL WE START OR ACTUALLY ADJOURN AND THEN START THE NEXT
MEETING AT 5050.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.