Mar 09, 2026 City Commission Regular Meeting

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WE'RE READY. I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.

[1. Call to Order]

PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. MAYOR HUDSON, PRESENT.

COMMISSIONER BRODERICK COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER GAINES, PRESENT.

MA'AM. COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, PRESENT. PRESIDENT.

[4. Approval of Minutes]

MOTION FOR APPROVAL. SECOND MOTION AND A SECOND CALL.

THE ROLL, PLEASE. BRODERICK. YES. COMMISSIONER SADOWSKI.

YES. COMMISSIONER GAINES. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. YES, MA'AM. MAYOR HUDSON. YES, MA'AM. WE HAVE THREE PROCLAMATIONS THIS MORNING,

[A. The Ancient Order of Hibernians, Irish American Heritage Month]

DO WE HAVE ANYBODY? COME ON DOWN, PLEASE. WHEREAS IN 1779, NEARLY 300,000 IRISH NATIONALS HAD EMIGRATED TO THE AMERICAN COLONIES AND PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN AMERICA'S WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE.

FIVE SIGNERS OF THE AMERICAN DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WERE OF IRISH DESCENT, AND THREE SIGNERS WERE IRISH BORN.

AND WHEREAS IRISH AND AMERICANS HELPED FASHION A SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT FOR OUR YOUNG NATION, AND 22 PRESIDENTS HAVE PROUDLY PROCLAIMED THEIR IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE.

AND IN 1792, IRISH BORN JAMES HOBAN PROVIDED THE ARCHITECTURAL PLANS FOR THE WHITE HOUSE AND SERVED AS ONE OF THE SUPERVISING ARCHITECTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CAPITOL.

AND WHEREAS IRISH BORN COMMODORE JOHN BARRY WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS IN SEPTEMBER OF 2002 AS THE FIRST FLAG OFFICER OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY AND COMMODORE JOHN KERRY FOUGHT THE LAST SEA BATTLE OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION OFF THE COAST OF FLORIDA.

AND WHEREAS IN 1813, CAPTAIN OLIVER PERRY, AN IRISH AMERICAN, ACHIEVED A MAJOR NAVAL VICTORY IN THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE.

AND IN 1942, THE FIVE SULLIVAN BROTHERS MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM DURING THE NAVAL BATTLE OF GUADALCANAL, AND LATER HAD THE DESTROYER USS SULLIVAN COMMISSIONED IN THEIR MEMORY.

AND WHEREAS THE IRISH CAME TO SPANISH LA FLORIDA IN THE 19 IN THE 1500S, FIRST AS MISSIONARIES AND MERCENARY SOLDIERS, AND THEN AS PLANTERS, TRADERS, BUSINESSMEN, DOCTORS, ADMINISTRATORS AND THREE OF THE SPANISH GOVERNORS OF LA FLORIDA WERE ACTUALLY IRISH MILITARY OFFICERS. AND WHEREAS FATHER RICHARD ARTHUR, AN IRISH BORN PRIEST FROM LIMERICK WHO WAS APPOINTED PARISH PRIEST FOR SAINT AUGUSTINE IN 1597. AN EXCELLENT JUDGE OF LA FLORIDA, ESTABLISHED THE FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOL IN AMERICA AND OPENED IT TO BOYS AND GIRLS OF ALL RACES. AND WHEREAS ANDREW JACKSON, WHOSE FAMILY CAME FROM COUNTY ATRIUM, SERVED AS FLORIDA'S MILITARY GOVERNOR FOLLOWING ITS ACQUISITION BY THE UNITED STATES.

AND WHEREAS IRISH AMERICANS SINCE AMERICA'S INCEPTION HAVE PROVIDED AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE TO THIS NATION'S POLITICAL BUSINESS AND RELIGIOUS ESTABLISHMENT. AND IT'S FITTING AND PROPER TO CELEBRATE THE RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE AND MANY VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF IRISH AMERICANS.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, LINDA HUDSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MARCH AS IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND ENCOURAGE OUR CITIZENS TO CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF IRISH AMERICANS TO OUR COMMUNITIES WITH APPROPRIATE CEREMONIES, ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.

LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? THANK YOU. SURE. BUT.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COMMISSION FOR JOINING 72 MUNICIPALITIES ALONG WITH THE GOVERNOR.

OTHER STATEWIDE PROCLAIMING MARCH 2026 AS IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.

THAT WAS KIND OF A MOUTHFUL, WHAT YOU SAID. I THINK WE MAY NEED TO CUT THAT DOWN NEXT YEAR, BUT I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR RECOGNIZING THE IRISH AND THEIR AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO NOT ONLY FLORIDA, BUT TO THE UNITED STATES AS A WHOLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE VLADA AWARENESS WEEK.

[B. The City of Fort Pierce, Flood Awareness Week]

WHEREAS THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERE WEATHER IN THE PAST IN THE FORM OF EXTREME RAINFALL OR TROPICAL STORM SYSTEM EVENTS, RESULTING IN FLOODING IN BOTH COASTAL AND RIVERINE AREAS.

AND THIS FLOODING HAS CAUSED DAMAGE AND FLOOD LOSSES TO HOMES AND BUILDINGS IN ALL AREAS, WHETHER THEY ARE HIGH RISK SPECIAL FLOOD AREAS OR LOW TO MODERATE RISK FLOOD ZONES.

[00:05:09]

AND WHEREAS THE REDUCTION OF FLOOD, LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY DAMAGE CAN BE ACHIEVED WHEN APPROPRIATE, FLOOD PREPAREDNESS CONTROL AND MITIGATION MEASURES ARE TAKEN BEFORE FLOOD.

AND WHEREAS, PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AWARENESS OF POTENTIAL WEATHER HAZARDS AND METHODS OF PROTECTION ARE CRITICAL TO THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF RESIDENTS. THE FLOODPLAIN MANAGERS ASSOCIATION HAVE DECLARED THE WEEK OF MARCH 9TH THROUGH THE 15TH, 2026 AT FLOOD AS FLOOD AWARENESS WEEK TO PROMOTE AWARENESS AND INCREASE KNOWLEDGE OF FLOOD RISK.

AVAILABILITY OF FLOOD INSURANCE, FLOOD PROTECTION METHODS AND HOW TO PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES.

NOW THEREFORE, I, LINDA HUDSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 9TH THROUGH THE 15TH, 2026 AS FLOOD AWARENESS WEEK IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND FURTHER ENCOURAGE THE CITIZENS OF FORT PIERCE TO INCREASE THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THEIR PROPERTY FROM FLOODING. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MADAM MAYOR COMMISSIONERS. WE GOT SOME APPLAUSE.

WOW. THAT'S A FIRST. SO AS YOU ALL KNOW, THAT FLOOD AWARENESS WEEK IS TYPICALLY SCHEDULED ANNUALLY THE SECOND WEEK OF MARCH. SO WE WE HAVE A STANDING ARRANGEMENT FOR THIS PROCLAMATION, BUT WE, WE JUST WANT TO SAY WE APPRECIATE IT. AND JUST TO UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF FLOOD WEEK, THE FLORIDA FLOODPLAIN ASSOCIATION PREPARES INFORMATION.

AND REALLY WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO IS TO GET ALL CITIES IN FLORIDA TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT ONE MESSAGE, RIGHT. SO THEY HAVE ONE VOICE, ONE MESSAGE, ONE STATE, KIND OF VERY SIMILAR TO HOW FORT PIERCE HAS THE ONE FORT PIERCE MOTTO.

THIS IS WHAT IT IS WITH FLOOD BECAUSE WE HAVE FLOOD CONCERNS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

BASICALLY WHAT WE DO IS EVERY DAY ON OUR WEBSITE, WE POST INFORMATION THAT'S VERY PARTICULAR TO FLOOD ISSUES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

SO ON DAY ONE, THERE'S INFORMATION ON KNOW YOUR HAZARDS.

DAY TWO FLOOD INSURANCE ISSUES. DAY THREE PROTECT YOURSELF.

DAY FOUR PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY. DAY FIVE PLAN FOR RESPONSIBLE BUILDING.

DAY SIX WORK WITH NATURAL FLOODPLAIN FUNCTIONS AND DAY SEVEN IS SEA LEVEL RISE.

SO THESE ARE. THIS IS INFORMATION THAT'S PROVIDED BY THE STATE SO THAT THE CITIZENS CAN SEE THIS AND THEY CAN BENEFIT THEMSELVES.

AND WE CAN ALL BE PREPARED FOR FOR FOR FOR THE FUTURE.

AND WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THIS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE AMERICAN RED CROSS MONTH.

[C. American Red Cross, Red Cross Month]

AND WHEREAS EVERY DAY THEIR ACTS OF KINDNESS CHANGE LIVES, BRINGING RELIEF, COMFORT, AND HOPE WHEN IT CAN'T WAIT, WHEN HELP CAN'T WAIT. THIS COMPASSIONATE SPIRIT RUNS DEEP IN OUR COMMUNITY, JUST AS IT HAS FOR 145 YEARS THROUGH THE AMERICAN RED CROSS.

AND WHEREAS THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IS COMMITTED TO READINESS, RECOVERY AND LONG TERM RESILIENCE.

THE AMERICAN RED CROSS SUPPORTS COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE PALM BEACH AND THE TREASURE COAST CHAPTER BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER DISASTERS, AND WHEREAS THOSE WHO SERVE WITH THE PALM BEACH AND TREASURE COAST CHAPTER LIGHT THE WAY DURING EMERGENCIES, WHETHER IT'S DELIVERING SHELTER, FOOD AND COMFORT AFTER DISASTERS, PROVIDING A SAFE, LIFE SAVING BLOOD SUPPLY FOR PATIENTS FACING CONDITIONS LIKE CANCER TREATMENTS, CHILDBIRTH COMPLICATIONS AND TRAUMATIC INJURIES.

ASSISTING MILITARY MEMBERS, VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH 24/7 GLOBAL SUPPORT OR EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS WITH SKILLS LIKE FIRST AID AND CPR THAT SAVES LIVES. AND WHEREAS THESE COLLECTIVE EFFORTS ARE A POWERFUL REMINDER THAT THE STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITY LIES IN OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO ONE ANOTHER.

AS WE MARK RED CROSS MONTH, LET'S CELEBRATE OUR LOCAL HEROES, HEROES, AND RESOLVE TO CONTINUE LIFTING EACH OTHER UP SO NO ONE FACES AN EMERGENCY ALONE.

NOW THEREFORE, I, LINDA HUDSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MARCH 2026 AS RED CROSS MONTH IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS, CITY OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES TO REACH OUT AND SUPPORT ITS HUMANITARIAN MISSION.

CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY YES, MA'AM? YES. CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MAYOR HUDSON AND EACH OF THE ESTEEMED COUNTY CITY COMMISSIONERS.

[00:10:02]

AND WITH ME TODAY IS BOARD OF DIRECTOR MARISSA BLECHER AND COLLEEN RANIERI.

SHE IS OUR SENIOR VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT SPECIALIST.

I ALWAYS MAKE HER A MANAGER THOUGH, BUT WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE RED CROSSERS THAT SUPPORT THE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE PALM BEACH AND THE TREASURE COAST EACH YEAR. MARCH IS GIVES US A MEANINGFUL MOMENT TO HONOR THE VOLUNTEERS, DONORS AND PARTNERS WHO MAKE OUR LIFE SAVING MISSION POSSIBLE ACROSS OUR CHAPTER. THEIR COMPASSION AND DEDICATION ENSURE THAT WHEN EMERGENCY STRIKE, THE RED CROSS IS READY TO PROVIDE CARE, COMFORT AND HOPE.

FOR MORE THAN 140 YEARS, THE AMERICAN RED CROSS HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO PREVENTING AND ALLEVIATING HUMAN SUFFERING.

FOUNDED BY CLARA BARTON IN 1881, THE RED CROSS HAS GROWN INTO A NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF TRAINED VOLUNTEERS AND GENEROUS SUPPORTERS WHO HELP COMMUNITIES PREPARE FOR, RESPOND TO AND RECOVER FROM DISASTERS, PROVIDING LIFE SAVING BLOOD TO PATIENTS IN NEED, SUPPORTING MILITARY FAMILIES AND EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS WITH ESSENTIAL HEALTH AND SAFETY SKILLS.

HERE IN OUR CHAPTER, WE'RE PROUD OF THE GROWING STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, ESPECIALLY IN SAINT LUCIE COUNTY, WHERE I PERSONALLY RESIDE. THIS YEAR, WE'RE GRATEFUL TO CELEBRATE THE ADDITION OF A NEW BOARD MEMBER FROM SAINT LUCIE COUNTY, WHICH IS ANOTHER SIGN OF OUR DEEPENING ROOTS AND SHARED COMMITMENT TO SERVING OUR NEIGHBORS.

RECENTLY, WE HAD THE DISTINCT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO JOIN SAINT LUCIE COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE, INSTALLING 171 FREE SMOKE ALARMS AND TWO MOBILE HOME COMMUNITIES IN FORT PIERCE.

THIS EFFORT WAS MADE EVEN MORE MEANINGFUL BY THE PRESENCE OF LOCAL CHAPTER BOARD MEMBERS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, CITY COMMISSIONER JOHNSON AND COUNTY COMMISSIONER FOWLER, WHO WORKED ALONGSIDE US IN THIS TRULY LIFE SAVING ENDEAVOR.

THEIR HANDS ON SUPPORT REFLECTS THE HEART OF THIS COMMUNITY AND THE SERVICE THAT DEFINES RED CROSS MONTH.

SO WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

OKAY, NEXT, WE HAVE ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.

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

THIS IS A LETTER THAT WAS REQUESTED BY MISS KRISTA STONE ON BEHALF OF THE MARINE CLEANUP INITIATIVE.

IT'S A LETTER OF SUPPORT TO MARINE INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION ON BEHALF OF THEIR INTEREST IN THE TREASURE COAST WATERWAY CLEANUP.

AND I THINK YOU ALL HAVE A COPY OF THAT THIS MORNING.

YES. ALL RIGHTY. SO WITH THAT CHANGE, ARE THERE ANY OTHER CHANGES? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.

MOTION TO APPROVE. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. COMMISSIONER BRODERICK. YES.

COMMISSIONER SADOWSKI. YES, COMMISSIONER. GAINES.

YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. YES, MA'AM.

MAYOR HUDSON. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. NEXT, WE HAVE COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.

[7. 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.]

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, AND YOU'LL BE GIVEN A TEN SECOND WARNING BY THE CLERK.

PLEASE COME FORWARD.

AT THE PODIUM, PLEASE. YES. ALL RIGHT. MY NAME IS KAREN, AND I LIVE AT 932. SAVANNAH'S POINT IN HIGH POINT, AND I'M PRESIDENT OF OUR BOARD.

AND I'D LIKE TO READ SOME OF THE LETTERS THAT WE GOT.

THE SUBDIVISION BEHIND HIGH POINT, SECTION THREE IS CALLED SAVANNAH LAKES WITH ITS ENTRANCE ON ROUTE ONE NORTH BEFORE BEV SMITH TOYOTA.

THE BARRIER THAT ONCE SEPARATED HIGH POINT FROM THE.

NOW DEVELOPING LAND HAS BEEN REMOVED AT ONE END OF SOUTH LAKES END DRIVE.

THE AREA HAS BEEN COMPLETELY CLEARED, INCLUDING THE FORMER WATER RETENTION AREA, WHICH IS NOW CAUSING WATER TO POOL AROUND THE AC UNITS OF THE TWO STORY BUILDINGS ON THE OPPOSITE END.

TWO TREES HAVE BEEN CLEARED ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE CHAIN LINK FENCE, REMOVING THE REMAINING BUFFER.

SEVERAL RESIDENTS HAVE SHARED THAT THE DEVELOPER AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES HAVE NOT BEEN COOPERATIVE, AND DESPITE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BOTH THE ENGINEER AND THE CITY, THEY CONTINUE TO REFUSE THE INSTALLATION OF A BLACK WALL TO SEPARATE THE

[00:15:02]

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU MA'AM. ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE? HI. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MARILYN LAPP. I ALSO LIVE IN THE HIGH POINT OF FORT PIERCE ON LAKESIDE DRIVE.

I'M A REGISTERED VOTER IN FORT PIERCE, AND I VOTED IN EVERY ELECTION THERE HAS BEEN.

I'M LOCATED ON THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF HIGH POINT WHERE THE BIKE PATH AND THE CAMPGROUND COME TOGETHER.

AND THE LANDSCAPE THERE HAS CHANGED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

WE'VE HAD FLOODING THERE. I'VE OWNED THERE FOR 20 YEARS FLOODING IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WHERE IT'S ACTUALLY THE RETENTION LAKE HAS COME OVER PAST THE LAWN ABOUT 10 TO 15FT. IT HAS NO DRAINAGE ANY LONGER.

IT NEVER HAPPENED IN THE BEGINNING. AND NOW THAT THEY'VE CLEARED THE AREA, WE HAVE LIKE ONE ROW OF TREES THAT ARE BASICALLY ON THE BANK OF THE WATER, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO COME DOWN, YOU CAN TELL BECAUSE THE ROOTS ARE, ARE MESSED UP NOW.

SO I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE FUTURE. AND ALSO IN THE CAMPGROUND, THEY'VE CHANGED THEIR LANDSCAPE TOO.

THEY'VE DONE SOME BURNS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. SO I HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE.

THE UNIT, THE HIGH POINT HAS FLOOD INSURANCE TOO, SO THAT'S NOT THE ISSUE.

WE JUST DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN. I'VE ALSO NOTICED THAT THERE'S DIRT BIKES NOW BECAUSE YOU CAN WALK THROUGH THERE BECAUSE THERE'S NO THERE'S NO FENCES ANYMORE.

WHEN I WAS GOLFING AT GATOR TRACE, I COULD WALK FROM GATOR TRACE INTO THE CAMPGROUND TOO.

SO THINGS ARE NOT SAFE THERE EITHER. SO WE'RE CREATING FLOODING THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS BEFORE.

AND I REALLY THINK WE DO NEED TO HAVE THIS ADDRESSED AND CHECKED.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. PLEASE DO NOT APPLAUD.

PLEASE DO NOT APPLAUD. BUT WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HERE FROM HIGH POINT, AND YOU'RE VERY WELCOME. AND WE'RE WE'RE ALL LISTENING INTENTLY, BUT WE DON'T HAVE AN APPLAUSE METER.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION? ANYONE ELSE? PLEASE COME FORWARD. GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS WILBUR HANKERSON AND I MYSELF ALSO AS A HIGH POINT RESIDENT.

MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN HIGH POINT FOR EIGHT YEARS NOW.

VERY BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY, NICE NEIGHBORS AND WE BOTH LOVE OUR COMMUNITY.

AND IT WASN'T A CONCERN BEFORE, BUT NOW, SINCE THE DEVELOPMENT STARTED IN THE BACK, MY WIFE AND I, OUR RESIDENT, IS COMPLETELY IN THE BACK WHERE THEY ARE DEVELOPING AND PUTTING UP HOUSES THERE.

AND SO RIGHT NOW WE HEAR EVERYTHING WE ARE ABLE TO SEE THROUGH NOW, FROM OUR LIVING ROOM TO OUR BALCONY.

NOW WE'RE ABLE TO SEE THROUGH AND ALSO OUR MASTER BEDROOM ALSO FACED THAT AREA.

SO WE'RE ABLE TO HEAR EVERYTHING NOW. AND I'M SURE LATER ON WE'RE GOING TO BE A WE'LL BE ABLE TO HEAR EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON ACROSS FROM US. THAT LITTLE FOLIAGE THAT WE HAVE NOW WILL BE ABLE TO HEAR EVERYTHING.

THEN ONCE THAT IS DEVELOPED, ESPECIALLY THE TRAFFIC NOW, AND I'M SURE THE NOISE OF THE RESIDENT ON THAT END.

MY WIFE AND I HAD SEVERAL POINTS HERE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BRING OUT.

[00:20:05]

WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT AS WELL. SO WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AS WELL.

ALSO, I JUST SAID THAT NOW WE HEAR EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE NOW.

AND I'M SURE LATER ON WE'LL BE ABLE TO HEAR EVERYTHING THAT COMES UP FROM THAT AREA NOW.

NOW, ANOTHER THING I AM CONCERNED ABOUT AND MY WIFE CONCERNED ABOUT IS THIS MAY BE A LITTLE TO THE SOUTH, BUT I DON'T THINK SO. THE ONLY THING THERE NOW IS THAT CHAIN LINK FENCE AND ANYONE CAN JUMP THAT FENCE CAN JUMP THE FENCE, EITHER CAN BOLT DEFENSE, ANY THIEF OR ANYONE NOW CAN COME OVER TO OUR COMMUNITY AND BURGLARIZE AND DO WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO AND GO BACK THROUGH THAT FENCE. SO THAT IS A BIG CONCERN IN THE FUTURE THAT THAT IS A BIG CONCERN.

THANK YOU SIR, FOR ME. THANK YOU SIR. AMEN. THANK YOU SIR.

ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO. ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE? PLEASE DO NOT APPLAUD.

MY NAME IS LUANN JONES. I RESIDE AT SNOWBIRD AT HIGH POINT BEHIND MY HOUSE.

I'M ON SOUTH LAKELAND DRIVE BEHIND OUR CONDO.

WE CAN SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. THEY HAVE BUILT UP.

WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE A BERM TO STOP THE WATER FROM COMING INTO OUR AREA, BUT WHAT THEY'VE DONE IS THEY'VE BUILT IT UP THREE FEET ABOVE THE FENCE LINE, AND THEY'RE BUILDING THE HOUSES ABOVE THAT SO THEY DON'T GET FLOODED OUT WHEN IT RAINS.

WE ARE. BECAUSE IT'S ALL GOING TO COME DOWN THE HILL AND COME RIGHT INTO OUR PLACE.

SECTION TWO. IT'S RIGHT ACROSS FROM ME. I WAS TALKING TO THOSE RESIDENTS AND THEY'RE TELLING ME, WELL, WE'RE JUST AS CONCERNED BECAUSE WHEN IT GOES FROM YOU, IT COMES RIGHT INTO US.

THERE'S NOTHING STOPPING THIS WATER GOING TO BE COMING IN. IT'S ALREADY WITH THIS RAIN WE HAD A WEEK AND A HALF AGO, SATURDAY, IT WAS ALREADY UP TO OUR PATIO. THAT'S JUST THREE INCHES OF RAIN AT ONE TIME.

WHAT HAPPENS? A HURRICANE SEASON WHEN I'M NOT EVEN HERE AND MY WHOLE CONDO GETS FLOODED OUT AND ANYBODY ALONG THAT BACK WALL AND YOU KNOW, AND IT'S THE NOISE. I MEAN, I GET THE NOISE, CONSTRUCTION IS GOING TO HAVE NOISE, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT IT'S 6:00 IN THE MORNING. IT'S GETTING RIDICULOUS.

THEY START AT SIX WEEKENDS. WE DON'T GET A BREAK.

THEY'RE WORKING ON WEEKENDS AND MOST WEEKENDS THIS WEEKEND THEY DIDN'T WORK, BUT WE HAD FOUR WHEELERS, CARS, DIRT BIKES RACING UP AND DOWN THERE. THERE'S THERE'S NOBODY MONITORING WHAT'S GOING ON BACK THERE.

THERE'S BEEN NOBODY MONITORING THAT PROJECT FROM THE BEGINNING.

THEY STARTED WITHOUT PERMITS. WE CALLED THE CITY MY NEIGHBOR, WHO'S WHO'S ILL.

CALLED THE CITY. THEY NEVER ANSWERED HIS PHONE, SO I JUST PROBABLY EMAILED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU AND SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERYBODY BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHO TO SEND IT TO. I JUST SENT IT TO EVERYBODY.

AND THEN I WAS TOLD BY MY BOARD, PLEASE STOP SENDING EMAILS TO THE CITY.

THEY'LL HANDLE IT. NOBODY'S HANDLED ANYTHING WITH THAT. IT'S BEEN A FREE FOR ALL IN THAT PROPERTY SINCE DAY ONE. THEY DO WHATEVER THEY WANT, WHENEVER THEY WANT. NOBODY STOPS THEM. I MEAN, IS THERE NOT A LAW SAYING YOU CAN'T BUILD A.

YOU KNOW, SO HIGH LIKE THAT? I MEAN, THE FLOOD EVERYBODY ELSE OUT.

I'M JUST REALLY CONCERNED. I MEAN, WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE ALL THIS HAPPENED.

SO THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE.

MY NAME IS JIM MUELLER. I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF CAN I GET YOUR LAST NAME? AND I JUST HAVE A QUESTION. REPEAT YOUR LAST NAME FOR HER.

FOR YOUR LAST NAME. YOUR LAST NAME. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. SIR. I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION. THE QUESTION IS THAT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CITY ENGINEER HAS SAID THAT A RETAINING WALL OF SOME SORT IS NECESSARY TO CONTROL THE WATER FLOW ONTO HIGH POINT.

MY QUESTION IS, WHO RUNS THIS, THE CITY OR THE CONTRACTOR? BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY HE REFUSES TO DO IT. SO THIS IS NOT A THIS IS NOT A DIALOG.

YOU TELL US YOUR QUESTIONS AND WE WILL DISCUSS IT LATER.

[00:25:03]

THE OTHER WAY AROUND. AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE THAT CHANGE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE? I'M BARBARA BHAIRAB, ALSO FROM HIGH POINT. SAVANNAH'S LAKE DRIVE.

WHEN THE SAVANNAH'S LAKE'S RIPPED DOWN ALL THOSE TREES, ESPECIALLY LAST SUNDAY.

EVERY NIGHT ABOUT 2 A.M., THERE'S SOME HORRIBLE CHEMICAL SMELL THAT'S SPRAYED IN THE AIR.

AND IT HAPPENS. OTHER TIMES. IT SMELLS VERY TOXIC, VERY STRONG CHEMICALS.

SO I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT. I DON'T KNOW IF IT TRULY IS TOXIC, BUT IT SURE SMELLS LIKE IT BURNS OUR EYES AND NOSE, THROAT. AND IT COMES IN OUR ATTICS, GOES THROUGH THE WHOLE AC SYSTEM.

SO I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU MA'AM.

ANYONE ELSE? MY NAME IS TAMMY MITCHELL. AND I ALSO RESIDE AT HIGH POINT.

SECTION THREE OFF OF SOUTH LAKESIDE DRIVE. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT MY COMMUNITY.

FOR THE SIMPLE REASON OUR PROPERTY VALUES HAVE BEEN IMPACTED SEVERELY FROM THIS.

I BOUGHT BACK IN 2022 AND THIS DEVELOPER HAD STARTED BACK THEN TRYING TO GET PERMITS AND STARTED WORKING WITHOUT PERMITS.

THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING. WE HAVE HAD THE FLOODING.

WE'VE GOT THE NOISE. I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE TOXIC SMELL.

I DON'T SEE THAT. BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE NOISE THE PEOPLE COMING OVER THE FENCE, MY CAR WAS ACTUALLY BROKEN INTO.

WE'RE IN A SECURE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE SECURITY.

WE HAVE A GATE. WE CHECK EVERYBODY WHO COMES IN.

AND NOW WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT. THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THERE OLDER THAN ME.

THIS IS THEIR LAST PLACE THEY'RE LIVING. THEY AREN'T GOING TO GO OUT AND BUY ANOTHER HOUSE.

AND AS FAR AS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE AC UNITS, YES, EVERYBODY'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN.

HOWEVER, WHEN YOU'VE GOT SOMEBODY WHO HAS TAKEN AWAY YOUR BARRIER OF PROTECTION, THEN WHO BECOMES RESPONSIBLE? THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU MA'AM. ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HIGH POINT FOR BEING HERE AND GIVING US ALL THIS INFORMATION.

I APPRECIATE THAT. WE WILL BE DISCUSSING THAT AT THE END OF OUR MEETING, AND I APPRECIATE VERY MUCH YOU BEING HERE THIS MORNING, MADAM MAYOR? YES, SIR. MAY I ASK YOU AND THE COMMISSION TO DEVIATE FOR A QUICK SECOND? IF IT'S POSSIBLE? BECAUSE I DON'T REALLY WANT TO WAIT TO THE END OF THE MEETING TO TO DISCUSS THESE CONCERNS, BECAUSE I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS MYSELF. SO IT'S FINE IF IT'S PROPER.

I WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND ADDRESS THESE SOME OF THE ISSUES I'VE HEARD.

NOW YOU MAY. ALL RIGHT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I BELIEVE EVERYTHING BUT YOU.

COMMISSIONER WHEN THIS PROJECT CAME IN, WE HAD SEVERAL QUESTIONS THAT THESE RESIDENTS ARE, ARE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT. AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY FLOODING.

AND WHAT I'M HEARING THAT IS FLOODING ALREADY IN THE RAINY SEASON HAS NOT GOTTEN HERE.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S A CONCERN TO ME. SECOND CONCERN TO ME IS THESE REMOVAL OF THESE TREES.

AREN'T WE A TREAT? I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THESE REMOVAL OF THESE TREES, AND I DON'T REMEMBER WHEN GOING BACK AND LOOKING AT THIS PROJECT.

I KNOW THE, THE THE TREES THEY WERE GOING TO PUT IN AND THEY WERE GOING TO PUT IN.

SO I HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS HERE. I, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T STOP THE NOISE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO DO WHATEVER.

BUT AND IF THERE IS SPRAYING IT, IT'S NOT ONLY AFFECTING THEM, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT WAS WHAT KIND OF IF, IF THAT IS HAPPENING, WHAT KIND OF CHEMICALS ARE BEING SPRAYED? ARE THEY TRYING TO, TO KILL RODENTS OR ARE THEY TRYING TO KILL STUFF THAT THEY DON'T WANT US TO KNOW THAT'S OUT THERE? I DON'T KNOW YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I JUST NEED SOME ANSWERS AND I DON'T KNOW IF I SEE THE ENGINEERS HERE.

I DON'T KNOW IF THE DEVELOPER CAN COME IN AND ASK, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING ON OR MR.

[00:30:03]

YOUR CHIEF OF POLICE IS HERE. SO HE HEARD YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT, HE HEARD YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE ACTIVITY OUT THERE AND I'LL LET HIS TEAM DEAL WITH THAT.

THAT'S WHY WE HIRED HIM. SO I LET HIS TEAM DEAL WITH THAT, BUT I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS THIS MORNING.

JUST, YOU KNOW, I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU. I LOOKED AT THE AGENDA WHEN I CAME IN HERE AND SORRY ABOUT IN HERE.

AND I WAS LIKE, OKAY, WHAT DID I MISS ON THIS AGENDA? SO NOW I UNDERSTAND WHAT I MISSED ON THIS AGENDA.

BUT THERE IS A THERE IS A PROBLEM. THERE IS A PROBLEM THAT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO EITHER GET SOME, SOME TYPE OF ANSWERS TO, TO AT LEAST TO THE RESIDENTS.

I AGREE AND BECAUSE NO NEW DEVELOPMENT IS SUPPOSED TO ADVERSELY AFFECT THE CURRENT NEIGHBOR IN ANY WAY IN TERMS OF WATER RUNOFF OR FLOODING. AND SO THAT'S VERY CONCERNING TO ME.

IT'S ALSO CONCERNING TO ME THAT THE RETAINING WALL, WHICH I UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT TO OUR CITY.

I THINK MR. CHESS WE, THERE ARE SEVERAL ISSUES HERE THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

I HAVE TO SAY THAT AS FAR AS I KNOW, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY EMAILS ABOUT THIS.

SO THIS IS NEWS TO ME AND I AM VERY, VERY SORRY THAT IT'S BEEN HAPPENING.

AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU CAME AND TOLD US. AND WOULD ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER LIKE COMMISSIONER SADOWSKI I'LL FORWARD YOU THE EMAILS.

OKAY. WE'LL HAVE MISS COX DO THAT, PLEASE. YEAH, YEAH.

OKAY. WELL, THAT'S WHAT I MEANT. OKAY. YEAH. THANK YOU. OKAY.

SEVERAL THINGS THAT I HEARD. AND AGAIN, I WASN'T HERE FOR THIS, BUT I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THINGS THAT WERE STATED THE BASE ELEVATION, BASE ELEVATION CONSIDERATIONS. WHEN I WAS IN A PREVIOUS POSITION WE NOTICED THAT SOME OF THE AREAS AROUND THE COUNTY, THERE ARE NEW HOMES WERE BEING BUILT UP. AND SO THE BASE ELEVATION GOES UP ABOUT SIX FEET.

AND SO WHAT HAPPENS THEN WHEN THOSE HOUSES ARE BUILT, THE STORMWATER THEN DRAINS OFF AND INTO THE OTHER NEIGHBOR'S YARDS.

AND SO WHAT THE COUNTY DID THEN IS CREATED AN ORDINANCE THAT CREATED AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WHOEVER WAS GOING TO BUILD HAD TO PROVIDE A, WELL, A MOAT, I GUESS, REALLY. YOU KNOW, THE DRAINAGE AREA AROUND THE BUILDING TO ACCEPT ALL THE RUNOFF THAT MAY COME FROM A NEW ROOFTOP.

SO IF THAT'S NOT IN OUR ORDINANCE AND I COULDN'T FIND IT THAT THAT'D BE A CONSIDERATION.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT. ONE THING I HAD NOTICED WHEN I WAS IN A PREVIOUS POSITION THAT THE CITY ALLOWS CLEAR CUTTING OF ALL THE TREES, MATURE TREES AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

AND AGAIN, I'LL ASK THE STAFF, THEY CAN LOOK AT IT LATER ON.

AND I DON'T EXPECT US TO HAVE A DELIBERATION ON THIS, BUT WE ARE A TREE CITY, USA, RIGHT? AND AS PART OF THAT OTHER PROVISIONS IN OTHER AREAS PROVIDE FOR AND REQUIRE THAT DEVELOPERS TRY TO MAINTAIN THEIR OLD, OLD GROWTH FOLIAGE. AND THEN IF THE DEVELOPER IS NOT GOING TO DO THAT, THERE'S A REQUIREMENT THAT THEY GO OUT AND MEASURE THE TREES AND THEN THERE'S A COMMITMENT TO REPLACE THOSE TREES, OR THERE'S A FINANCIAL HIT TO THE DEVELOPMENT FOR CLEAR CUTTING AND STARTING OVER.

AS TREE CITY, USA, FORT PIERCE. WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON OLD OAK TREES, OLD CABBAGE, PALMS, ETC..

NATIVE VEGETATION IS REALLY WHAT KEEPS US FROM HAVING CHALLENGES IN OUR, IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO FROM A POLICY STANDPOINT, I'D LIKE US TO TAKE A LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE WE, WHAT ARE WE REQUIRING DEVELOPERS TO DO, IF ANYTHING IN THE WAY OF REMOVING OLD, OLD NATIVE GROWTH? THAT'S AN ISSUE. THE FACT THAT THIS IS A GATED COMMUNITY AND THERE WERE NO PROTECTIONS OR CONDITIONS PLACED IN THIS.

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT HERE. AND GOING FORWARD THERE'S A REASON WHY COMMUNITIES BECOME GATED COMMUNITIES, AND THERE'S A REASON WHY DEVELOPERS OFTEN TRY TO NOT BE REQUIRED TO HAVE OPEN STREETS BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUE.

A LOT OF, LOT OF FOLKS, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, OVER 55 COMMUNITIES IT'S A PROTECTION FACTOR.

IT'S A SAFETY FACTOR. SO FROM THAT STANDPOINT, I THINK WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT A POLICY THERE AS TO A, A BLANKET REQUIREMENT FOR ANY COMMUNITY TO BUTT UP AGAINST A GATED COMMUNITY WITH PROVISIONS THAT PROVIDE THAT PRIVACY THAT THEY HAD ALREADY HAD FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. SO THESE ARE POLICY THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO HAVE US DISCUSS AT SOME POINT IN TIME.

AND THE THE DEVELOPER FOLKS HAVE BEEN HEARING THIS.

I REACHED OUT TO THEM. I EXPRESSED THE OPINION, SOME OF THE EMAILS THAT YOU'VE SENT ME.

I SENT THOSE ON TO THE DEVELOPERS REPRESENTATIVES.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE MEETING WITH ME TO TALK ABOUT THAT. AND MY GOAL IS TO TRY AND SECURE SOME CONCESSION OR SOME KIND OF APPROACH TO THIS.

[00:35:10]

AND I THINK SOME OF THEM WE HAVE. SO MAYBE THAT'S THE CONTRACTORS JUST NOT LIVING UP TO.

COMMISSIONER. BRODERICK. FIRST OFF, WE DON'T ALLOW CLEARCUTTING OLD STAN TREES ARE REQUIRED TO BE MAINTAINED.

HOWEVER, ON THIS PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT, I AM QUITE FAMILIAR WITH THIS.

I WAS IN THE PLANNING BOARD WHEN THIS ORIGINALLY CAME IN, AND I RECALL A VERY, VERY HEATED DISCUSSION BETWEEN MYSELF AND THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM RELATIVE TO THIS FLOODING ISSUE AND WATER MANAGEMENT.

AND IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, THE DRAINAGE FOR THIS SITE IS PRIMARILY TO THE SOUTH, ADJACENT TO GATOR TRACE.

THERE'S A DRAINAGE CANAL THERE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE MAINTAINED BY THE COUNTY THAT HAS NOT BEEN MAINTAINED IN BY ALL APPEARANCES, MANY, MANY YEARS. SO THE WETLANDS ARE SUPPOSED TO DRAIN TO THE SOUTH INTO THAT CANAL.

THEN IT EXITS INTO THE PRIMARY CANAL, WHICH THE NAME OF WHICH IS ELUDING ME RIGHT NOW.

HOWEVER, THE LACK OF MAINTENANCE ON THAT CANAL, THE DEVELOPER AGREED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE CONTROL OF THAT TO CLEAR IT OUT, ETC. CONSTRUCT A BERM ON THE GATOR TRACE SIDE OF THE OF THE OF THE PROJECT TO PREVENT PHYSICALLY PREVENT FLOODING INTO GATOR TRACE.

AND THERE WAS ALSO A BERM AND A WALL, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, TO BE INSTALLED ON THE NORTHERN SIDE, WHICH IS THE HIGH POINT SIDE OF THE OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT TO MAINTAIN OR CONTROL FLOODING AS WELL.

AND THEY HAD AND THE DEVELOPMENT ITSELF, THEY HAD A LARGE WETLANDS AREA IN THE CORE OF THIS COMMUNITY THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE ON SITE STORAGE OF, OF RUNOFF, ETC.. OBVIOUSLY THAT'S NOT WORKING.

I'M CONCERNED ON MULTIPLE LEVELS BECAUSE THE DEVELOPER DID GO IN AND START THIS PROJECT WITHOUT PERMITS.

THEY DID. THAT'S THAT'S A THAT'S A FACT. AND THEY WENT IN AND STARTED CLEARING WITHOUT PERMITS, ETC. THAT THEN PRESENTED THEM WITH A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER ISSUES.

I THINK WE NEED THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. I THINK WE NEED PAUL THOMAS'S DEPARTMENT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. I THINK WE NEED SHAUN CAUSES DEPARTMENT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS, BECAUSE I SEE MULTIPLE VIOLATIONS HERE.

THESE FOLKS HAVE NEVER COME INTO LINE TO BEGIN WITH ON THIS DEVELOPMENT.

THEY WENT OUT AND DID WHATEVER THEY WANTED TO DO WHENEVER THEY WANTED TO DO IT, WITH OR WITHOUT PERMITS. THIS IS JUST UNACCEPTABLE. AND IF THEY'RE NOT LIVING UP TO THE AGREEMENTS THAT WERE REACHED AT THE PLANNING BOARD STAGE AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE CITY COMMISSION STAGE, CONSTRUCTION NEEDS TO BE HALTED UNTIL THEY DO.

WE NEED. TO KNOW SOME OF THE SHORTFALLS UNDER SEAN'S AREA FROM HOURS OF OPERATION.

I KNOW CONSTRUCTION TIMES ARE NOT ALLOWED AT 6:00 IN THE MORNING.

I THINK IT'S 7:00 IS THE COMMENCEMENT OF TIME SEVEN.

SO IF THEY'RE OUT THERE WORKING AT SIX, THEY NEED TO BE CITED FOR THAT. IF THEY'RE IF THEY'RE CLEARING WITHOUT PERMITTING PROPER PERMITS FOR CLEARING WHAT THEY'RE CLEARING, ETC., THEY NEED TO BE CITED FOR THAT. WE NEED A TEAM RESPONSE TO THIS.

AND WE GOT WE GOT EVERYBODY HERE. WE GOT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT HERE. WE GOT ENGINEERING, WE GOT BUILDING. WE GOT CODE ENFORCEMENT.

THIS SITUATION PLEASE. STARTED FROM DAY ONE WITH THESE GUYS.

I REMEMBER THEM SITTING STANDING HERE IN FRONT OF US. OH, NO. WE'RE GOING TO MANAGE. WE'RE GOING TO MANAGE THE RUNOFF. WE'RE GOING TO MANAGE ALL THIS. WE'RE GOING TO CLEAR OUT THAT, THAT DRAINAGE AREA, ETC..

I CAN ALMOST ASSURE YOU THAT THAT WORK HAS NOT BEEN DONE. A BERM WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CREATED ADJACENT TO THAT DRAINAGE AREA TO CREATE PROPER FLOW, BUT PREVENT WATER FROM GOING INTO GATOR TRACE AND INTO HIGH POINT.

I WANT TO SEE IF THOSE THINGS WERE DONE AND IF THEY WANT AREN'T DONE IN THE PROCESS THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE CITY.

I WANT THEM STOPPED. I WANT THIS DEVELOPMENT BROUGHT TO A STOP UNTIL THEY SORT THIS STUFF OUT.

NOW, IF THEY'RE NOT IN VIOLATION, OKAY, FINE.

HOW CAN WE MITIGATE THIS? BUT IF THEY WERE IN VIOLATION OF WORK TIMES, IF THEY'RE IN VIOLATION OF CLEAR CUTTING, IF THEY'RE IN VIOLATION OF NOT DOING PROCEDURALLY THE WORK THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE TO ELIMINATE THIS FLOODING ISSUE FROM THE GET GO.

THEN THEY NEED TO KIND OF ROLL THIS WHOLE THING BACK AND BE ISSUED A CEASE AND DESIST ORDER UNTIL THEY GET THIS STUFF STRAIGHTENED OUT.

IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT. PLEASE. POLICY PROCEDURES.

THE POLICY PROCEDURES ARE HERE. THEY DIDN'T ABIDE BY THIS FROM DAY ONE.

WHEN THEY'RE OUT THERE WORKING WITHOUT PERMITS, IT WAS REPORTED TO ME. WENT DOWN AND WAS LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING? WELL, WE'RE ANTICIPATING GETTING OUR PERMIT. WELL, GOOD FOR YOU. THAT DOESN'T GET YOU ALLOWANCE TO START THIS TYPE OF WORK.

SO THIS, CANDIDLY, THIS DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN A THORN.

AND LEGITIMATELY, IF THEY'RE DOING THINGS CORRECTLY, I'LL RETRACT MY STATEMENT.

IF THEY'RE NOT. ALL HELL WOULD BREAK LOOSE ON THESE GUYS BECAUSE THIS IS JUST UNACCEPTABLE.

THEY CAME IN HERE AND TRIED TO BULLDOZE US, NO PUN INTENDED, BULLDOZE US RIGHT FROM DAY ONE, AND THEN WENT AHEAD AND DID IT ANYWAYS. WHEN THEY DIDN'T GET THE ANSWERS THEY WANTED THE PLANNING BOARD, THEY WENT AHEAD AND DID IT ANYWAYS. SO WE NEED THIS LOOKED INTO. GUYS, I KNOW THE ENTIRE TEAM IS HERE. LET'S GET LET'S GET ON THIS AND GET SOME ANSWERS.

THIS IS A BIG DEVELOPMENT DOWN THERE AT THIS END OF TOWN. IT'S IMPACTING HUNDREDS OF OTHER RESIDENTS ON BOTH THE NORTH AND SOUTH SIDE.

LET'S GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS. I WOULD LIKE A REPORT MR. MANAGER CHESS. I WOULD LIKE A REPORT BACK ON THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FROM ALL THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THIS. I KNOW KEV FREEMAN'S HERE. MARK'S HERE.

[00:40:04]

THIS IS FROM DAY ONE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON IN THIS DEVELOPMENT.

I RECALL CRYSTAL CLEAR LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY, LITERALLY A SCREAMING MATCH THAT WAS TAKING PLACE AT THE PLANNING BOARD MEETING BETWEEN MYSELF AND THEIR AND THEIR FEE PAID REPRESENTATIVES WHO OBVIOUSLY ARE NOT HERE AND ARE NOT ON SITE.

THEIR PORTION OF PROJECTS CLOSED OUT. THEY'VE BEEN PAID.

THEY MADE THEIR PRESENTATION, THEY GOT THEIR APPROVALS, AND NOW THEY'RE JUST DOING WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO. SO LET'S GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT.

PLEASE GET THESE FOLKS SOME ANSWERS. AT LEAST THEY DESERVE ANSWERS.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT DEVELOPERS DOING ANYTHING WRONG. WE DON'T KNOW THAT FACTUALLY YET. LET'S FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

REPORT BACK TO THE COMMISSION. THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING. WILL DO, SIR. YES, I AGREE, MADAM MAYOR.

I'M SITTING HERE AND I HEAR TWO THINGS. I HEAR THE RESIDENTS, I GOT THAT, AND I AGREE WITH THE SENTIMENT, BUT WHAT I JUST HEARD IS CONCERNING TO ME. WE HAVE TWO COMMISSIONERS HERE THAT ARE AWARE OF SOMETHING THAT I AM NOT AWARE OF AS A FELLOW COMMISSIONER.

THIS IS THE FIRST I'VE HEARD, AND APPARENTLY THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE.

I NEVER HEARD ANY OF THIS. SO NOW I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH SOUNDING THE ALARM.

BUT I'M GOING TO SAY THIS TO THIS COMMISSION.

WE ARE ONE FORT PIERCE, AND THIS IS THE. I'M JUST AS CONCERNED AS ANYBODY HERE.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO SILO THIS, THAT I'M GOING TO HANDLE THIS.

NO, WE ARE GOING TO HANDLE THIS BECAUSE WE APPROVE THIS FOR.

OH, WE HAD THE ACTUAL DEVELOPERS HERE. WE HAD PLANNING HERE THAT HAD A TREE PLAN.

THEY HAVE A LANDSCAPE PLAN. WE HAD ENGINEERING HERE.

MR.. THOMAS HERE TALKING ABOUT FLOOD PLANNING AND BUILDING THE BERM SOUTH WATER FLORIDA MANAGEMENT.

I THINK THEY HAD TO ACQUIRE CERTIFICATES OF APPROVAL TO GET THEIR ACTUAL BASINS APPROVED.

ALL OF THAT STUFF HAS BEEN DONE. I GET IT NOW THAT IT IS NOW NOT APPARENTLY BEING DONE.

AND THANK YOU, RESIDENTS, FOR LETTING US KNOW BECAUSE I'M NOT OUT THERE EVERY DAY, I DON'T KNOW. THAT'S YOUR JOB IS TO LET US KNOW. BUT I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS HAS APPARENTLY BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME. AND I'M JUST NOW HEARING THIS.

AND I DON'T KNOW OUR CONSTRUCTION. I MEAN, MR. CHESS, I DON'T KNOW OUR STAFFING AND HOW WE GO IN AND EXPECT THINGS.

I KNOW WHEN I'VE BUILT STUFF, THEY HAVE INSPECTORS THAT COME BY AND CHECK ON THE THE PEOPLE I'VE HIRED TO DO THE WORK.

BUT I WOULD AGREE WITH MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS IS THAT THERE SHOULDN'T BE A REPORT THAT ONE COMMISSIONER THOSE, THOSE PEOPLE THAT WE MEET WITH IN OUR WEEKLY MEETING.

I THINK THEY SHOULD BE APPARENT IN OUR NEXT WEDNESDAY.

THAT'S COMING UP WEDNESDAY MEETING TO GIVE US AN UPDATE AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON OUT HERE.

HOW THEY CHECK IN ON THESE ACTUAL DEVELOPERS.

AND I AGREE, IF THEY STARTED EARLIER, WHICH I'M JUST NOW HEARING, THEN WE SHOULD LOOK INTO THAT.

BUT I HAVE TO SAY THIS TO THIS COMMISSION, WE'VE WORKED TOO HARD AND WORKING TOO HARD FOR THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR. I AM I AM JUST AS PASSIONATE ABOUT EVERY PART OF THIS SQUARE INCH OF FORT PIERCE.

BUT WE WHEN WE'RE HEARING THESE THINGS, WE MUST GET THAT INFORMATION SO THAT WE ALL ARE AWARE OF THIS, SO THAT WE ALL CAN BEGIN TO PUSH THIS NEEDLE, BECAUSE THIS SHOULD HAVE COME UP SOUNDS LIKE LONG BEFORE TODAY.

THAT'S MY CONCERN AND I WANT TO LOOK INTO THAT.

WHY IS IT JUST COMING TODAY IF THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON? I THINK THAT DEVELOPER HAS BEEN OUT THERE, WHAT, AT LEAST TWO YEARS, TWO YEARS NOW.

WHOA. OKAY. THAT FURTHER ILLUSTRATES MY POINT.

I GOT A QUICK FOLLOW UP. COMMISSIONER JOHNSON ON THIS IS CURTIS.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT THIS WAS INFORMATION SPECIFICALLY GIVEN TO ME.

I WAS AWARE OF THIS PROJECT BECAUSE KENNEDY, WHEN I WAS ON THE PLANNING BOARD, THERE WAS A SCREAMING MATCH BETWEEN MYSELF AND THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM OVER WHAT THEY WERE PROPOSING TO DO, AND THAT I KNEW THEY WEREN'T GOING TO ENFORCE THIS STUFF. SO AT THAT TIME, I BECAME VERY, VERY INTRIGUED IN THIS PROJECT, AND I'VE KEPT MY FINGER ON THE PULSE INDIVIDUALLY BECAUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY STARTED CONSTRUCTION BUILDING DEPARTMENT, SHUT THEM DOWN, THEY WENT AND SHUT THEM DOWN.

THEY SAID, YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE PERMITS. THEY SHUT THEM DOWN ON SITE. I REMEMBER THAT VERY CLEARLY. SO SUBSEQUENTLY, THIS INFORMATION HAS COME TO ME FROM MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OR OF MEETING REPRESENTATIVES OF HIGH POINT OR CITIZENS, ETC., THAT COME INTO MY OFFICE HERE WEEKLY TO DISCUSS THIS SITUATION.

SO I'VE BEEN MADE AWARE OF THIS OVER AND OVER AND OVER, AND THE PROGRESSION HAS MOVED FORWARD. IT ALL STARTED FOR ME FROM THE PLANNING BOARD, SO I'VE BEEN MORE AWARE OF IT BECAUSE SIMPLY BECAUSE IT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF FROM DAY ONE WHEN THEY WERE COMING IN FOR THEIR APPROVALS.

[00:45:01]

THAT'S WHY AN INVESTIGATION IS NECESSARY. I'M JUST AWARE OF IT BECAUSE THE INFORMATION FLOW TO ME ON THIS STARTED FROM DAY ONE OF MY PLANNING BOARD DAYS. I UNDERSTAND, BUT COMMISSIONER THEY CAME THAT THAT DEVELOPER SET RIGHT DOWN THERE AND PRESENTED THIS PLAN.

OUR ENGINEER MR. WITH OUR CITY PLANNING WALKED US THROUGH OUR USUAL PROCESS TO UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THAT'S PART OF THAT PLAN.

AND THEY SUBMITTED A, A PD PLAN TO FOR DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WE SCRUTINIZED.

WE ASKED QUESTIONS. WE WE HAD. THAT'S ALL PART OF OUR OUR ARCHIVE.

IT'S THERE, IT'S ALL RECORDED. AND SO I GUESS I'M CONCERNED STILL THAT IF THIS.

AND I APPRECIATE YOU BEING ON THE PLANNING BOARD, SIR, BUT WE WERE SITTING HERE AS FOR COMMISSIONERS AT THE TIME, AND WE VOTED ON THIS DEVELOPMENT TO COME. AND WE'VE SINCE THEN.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO MY WEEKLY MEETING THIS WEEK. MR. CHESS, WITH ALL OF THESE DEPARTMENT HEADS TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING SO THAT I'M CAUGHT UP TO SPEED.

BUT THEN I THINK WE NEED TO ACCELERATE THIS. I COMMISSIONERS I'D LIKE FOR THAT DEVELOPER TO BE IN HERE AT OUR NEXT CITY COMMISSION MEETING AT 505 THE FOLLOWING WEEK.

LET'S INVESTIGATE. ABSOLUTELY. GET THAT DEVELOPER IN HERE.

YES, ABSOLUTELY. ARE YOU CLEAR, MR. CHESS? YES.

AND ALSO, I WILL PREPARE A REPORT FOR THE FIVE OF YOU.

WE'LL MEET INDIVIDUALLY NEXT WEDNESDAY, BUT I WILL PREPARE A REPORT ON WHAT'S TAKING PLACE AT THAT SITE FOR YOU ALL.

GOOD. COMMISSIONER SADOWSKI FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAD EMAILED OUR STAFF AND DIDN'T GET A RESPONSE I'M GOING TO OFFER YOU TO COPY ME IN ON EMAILS AND CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE. MISS MITCHELL, YOU CAN SHARE MY EMAIL ADDRESS.

AND IF NOTHING ELSE, I'LL SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, WHAT YOUR COMPLAINTS ARE, YOUR CONCERNS ARE.

AND THEN I CAN REACH OUT TO STAFF IF THEY HAVEN'T RETURNED YOUR YOUR EMAILS.

COMMISSIONER. SADOWSKI. I'D LIKE THEM TO EMAIL ALL OF US.

SURE. I WOULD NOT JUST YOU, PLEASE. BECAUSE NONE OF US, ALL OF US WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM AND ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IT.

AND IF WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT, WE'RE NOW CAUGHT IN LIKE A DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS.

RIGHT. AND SO I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE RESIDENTS LETTING US ALL KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN HIGH POINT, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN THERE MANY TIMES AND I KNOW THE VALUE OF THAT DEVELOPMENT, AND I HAVE FRIENDS IN THAT DEVELOPMENT, AND I WANT YOU TO BE SAFE, AND I WANT YOUR PROPERTY VALUES TO REMAIN.

AND MADAM CHAIR, I, WHAT I, HOW I DO THINGS IS I'LL TAKE IT AND I GIVE IT TO THE TO THE CLERK TO DISTRIBUTE BECAUSE OF SUNSHINE.

I DIDN'T WANT TO VIOLATE THAT. SO THAT WAS KIND OF NO, NO, NO, NO, I DON'T WANT YOU TO DO THAT EITHER.

THAT'S GREAT. ALL RIGHTY. AS I'M SITTING HERE, THE CONVERSATION I HAD IS FLOODING BACK ON ME NOW BECAUSE IT WAS A VERY EMOTIONAL DISCUSSION AT THAT TIME. AND THIS FLOODWATER ISSUE WAS THE ISSUE.

IT WAS THE ISSUE BEING DISCUSSED AT THAT POINT.

IT WAS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT THEY MANAGE THIS CORRECTLY.

THEY MADE A TON OF ASSURANCES TO THE RESIDENTS OF BOTH TRACE AND HIGH POINT, TO US AND TO THE PLANNING BOARD AND TO THE CITY AND TO STAFF, AND IT'S ENUMERATED IN THEIR PLANS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHOEVER'S GOT THE FINAL SITE PLAN APPROVAL HERE.

I'D LIKE A COPY OF THAT FINAL SITE PLAN EMAILED AROUND TO THE COMMISSION BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE ULTIMATELY WHAT WAS APPROVED. I KNOW WHAT WAS DISCUSSED AND REQUIRED AT THE PLANNING BOARD STAGE BECAUSE I'M THE ONE THAT REQUIRED IT, AND I WANT TO SEE IF THOSE REQUIREMENTS MADE IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE FINAL, THE FINAL APPROVALS OF THIS. MADAM MAYOR, I JUST WANT AGAIN, THE RESIDENTS OF HIGH POINT SHOWED UP AT THAT POINT WHEN WE HAD THE DEVELOPER IN HERE.

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE COME. THEY VOICED THEIR CONCERNS. THEN WHEN WE MADE THIS APPROVAL.

SO SO WE ARE ON THE RECORD WITH THAT. AND SO I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, COMMISSIONER.

BUT I AGAIN, STAFF MEETING WE'LL DEAL WITH THIS THIS WEEK.

CLEAR. CLEAR. VERY CLEAR. ALRIGHTY. WE'RE GOING TO WIND THIS UP.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH EVERYBODY ALREADY. WE'LL MOVE ON.

OKAY. THE NEXT ITEM IS RYAN MATTHEWS OF GRAY ROBINSON IS GOING TO PROVIDE THE CITY COMMISSION WITH AN UPDATE ON CURRENT STATE LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY ACTIVITY IMPACTING THE

[A. Ryan Matthews, of GrayRobinson, will provide the City Commission with an update on current state legislative activity impacting the City of Fort Pierce, including appropriations progress and pending legislation related to municipal utilities.]

MR. CHESS, DO YOU HAVE A LEAD IN TO THIS? MR. RYAN MATTHEWS IS GOING TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THE APPROPRIATIONS PROGRESS AND PENDING LEGISLATION RELATED TO MUNICIPAL UTILITIES.

ALL RIGHTY. MATTHEWS.

MR.. RYAN. HI, RYAN. IT'S LINDA COX CALLING FROM THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE COMMISSION CHAMBERS,

[00:50:04]

MR. MATTHEWS. MR. MATTHEWS, THIS IS LINDA HUDSON, MAYOR, AND SO PLEASE PROCEED.

HEY, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING TO EVERYONE.

WELCOME TO DAY 56 OF WHO KNOWS HOW LONG IN THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, I'LL START GLOBALLY.

AND THEN I WAS ASKED TO DISCUSS A COUPLE OF THE UTILITY BILLS, AS WELL AS A UNION PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT IS MOVING IN THE LEGISLATURE.

SO STARTING GLOBALLY. ALL JOKES ASIDE, NORMALLY THIS WOULD BE THE LAST WEEK OF OUR NINE WEEK LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT LASTS 60 DAYS.

YOU'LL RECALL THAT THE 2025 SESSION LASTED 105 DAYS.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE ON COURSE FOR CERTAINLY AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

I DON'T THINK ANYONE KNOWS EXACTLY HOW LONG AT THIS POINT.

BUT NORMALLY IN A 60 DAY LEGISLATIVE SESSION BY TUESDAY OF THIS WEEK THE, THE BUDGET WOULD BE COMPLETED.

THERE IS A RULE IN THE CONSTITUTION THAT SAYS BEFORE A BUDGET CAN PASS FOR 72 HOURS, IT MUST, QUOTE UNQUOTE, LAY ON THE DESK FOR REVIEW. WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TOP LINE ALLOCATIONS IN BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS AT THIS POINT.

SO WE ARE MISSING A NORMAL BUDGET CONFERENCE PERIOD OF ABOUT 3 TO 4 DAYS.

SO WE'RE AT STEP ONE OF NEGOTIATING A BUDGET ON DAY 56.

SO THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY THAT THE LEGISLATURE CAN END THIS FRIDAY.

AND AGAIN, THE QUESTION REMAINS WHEN THEY WILL ACTUALLY COMPLETE THEIR WORK.

THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND HOUSE AND GOVERNOR HAVE CERTAINLY NOT GOTTEN ANY WARMER.

SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW LONG THE EXTENDED SESSION WOULD LAST.

THE GOVERNOR HAS ALREADY CALLED A SPECIAL SESSION ON CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING THE WEEK OF APRIL 20TH.

AND I THINK MOST IN TALLAHASSEE ARE CURIOUS HOW MANY SPECIAL SESSIONS WILL BE CALLED.

BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THAT ANYONE IS UNDER THE, THE THINKING THAT THAT WILL BE THE ONLY ONE.

SO MOVING ON TO WELL, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? I'LL SAY, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR FOR EVERYTHING GENERALLY, AND AS WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR? ONCE THE END OF SESSION, THE NORMAL 60 DAY END OF SESSION OCCURRED.

THE HOUSE AND SENATE AGREED IN 2025 TO NARROW THE NUMBER OF POLICY ISSUES THAT COULD BE WORKED ON POST DAY.

60. AND THAT INCLUDED THE SENATE PRESIDENT'S RURAL RENAISSANCE PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

IT INCLUDED PROFESSIONAL DEREGULATION, CRAS AND THE BUDGET LAST YEAR.

SO IT IS MORE LIKELY THAN NOT THAT THAT SAME THING WOULD OCCUR THE END OF THIS WEEK.

WE WOULD HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF THE, YOU KNOW NUMBER OF BILLS THAT ARE OUT THERE AND STILL ABLE TO BE PASSED.

WHAT WOULD WHAT COULD BE DISCUSSED POST DAY 60 AS OF TODAY, ONLY 40 BILLS HAVE PASSED THE LEGISLATURE OUT OF, YOU KNOW, 2000 PLUS BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED.

SO FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE, NOT MUCH IS HAPPENING.

AND SO I'LL SEGUE INTO THE UTILITY DISCUSSION.

THERE WERE NINE BILLS DEALING WITH MUNICIPAL UTILITIES THAT WERE FILED IN 2026.

STANDING OUT AMONGST THOSE NINE WAS HOUSE BILL 1451 BY REP ADA, WHICH IS A BILL IN CONCEPT THAT WE'VE SEEN FOR THE LAST FOUR SESSIONS DEALING GLOBALLY WITH MUNICIPAL UTILITIES.

AND SO THAT BILL HAS MORPHED OVER TIME. WHAT THIS YEAR'S VERSION WOULD DO IS IT WOULD MANDATE THAT ANY NEW UTILITY AGREEMENT BETWEEN GOVERNMENTS, CITY AND COUNTY OR CITY AND CITY GOVERNMENTS MUST BE HELD IN PUBLIC AND THAT ONCE PER YEAR, IF YOU EXTEND SERVICES FOR MUNICIPAL UTILITIES OUTSIDE OF YOUR MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES, YOU WILL HOLD A MEETING IN THAT AREA EITHER UNINCORPORATED OR WITHIN A COUNTY AREA. TO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR CITIZENS WHO RECEIVE THOSE SERVICES FROM YOUR UTILITY TO VOICE CONCERNS, DISCUSS RATES, FEES, CHARGES, ETC..

THERE'S ALSO A FAIRLY LENGTHY PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION REPORTING REQUIREMENT FOUND WITHIN 1451, WHICH REQUIRES YOU ON ELECTRIC WATER, WASTEWATER, NATURAL GAS TO REPORT THE FEES AND CHARGES YOU LEVY ON RESIDENTS AND NONRESIDENTS, BUT THEN ALSO THE AMOUNT OF TRANSFER FROM ENTERPRISE FUNDS TO GENERAL GOVERNMENT.

AGAIN, SORT OF THE PREDICATE HAS BEEN LAID IN THAT PARTICULAR PIECE OF LEGISLATION FOR FUTURE LEGISLATURES TO DISCUSS THE

[00:55:06]

THE HOUSE VERSION DIFFERS FROM THE SENATE VERSION.

THE SENATE VERSION IS SENATE BILL 1724. THE HOUSE BILL ADDED A PROVISION RELATING TO GAINESVILLE REGIONAL UTILITIES AND ALSO A PROVISION DEALING WITH A PRETTY SPECIFIC INSTANCE IN NORTH MIAMI BEACH.

THAT ACTUALLY WAS THE REASON THAT A SIMILAR BILL WAS VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR LAST SESSION.

SO IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHAT THE HOUSE AND SENATE WILL DO ON THE LARGEST MUNICIPAL UTILITY BILL.

AND WE'RE IN THAT PLACE IN SESSION WHERE THE HOUSE CAN ONLY HEAR RETURNING MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE.

THE SENATE HAS NOT YET TAKEN UP THE HOUSE BILL THAT HAS BEEN SENT OVER.

AGAIN, THERE ARE DIFFERENCES IN THE BILL. SO THE SENATE COULD MAKE SOME CHANGES AND SEND THE BILL BACK TO THE HOUSE, OR THEY COULD TAKE UP THE HOUSE BILL AS IS AND PASS THAT VERSION AGAIN THIS WEEK WILL BE ENLIGHTENING IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY DO.

THE NEXT MUNICIPAL UTILITY BILL I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS SENATE BILL 1075.

THIS IS ANOTHER EXTENSION BILL, IF YOU WILL. FOR THOSE MUNICIPALITIES THAT PROVIDE UTILITY SERVICES OUTSIDE OF THEIR BOUNDARIES, ANOTHER INSTANCE WHERE THE HOUSE AND SENATE BILLS ARE PRETTY DIFFERENT.

THIS REQUIRES UTILITY TO PROVIDE SERVICE OUTSIDE OF ITS MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES.

IF IT'S WITHIN A CERTAIN PROXIMITY AND WHERE THESE TWO BILLS DIFFER AND WHICH HAS BEEN THE MOST CONTENTIOUS ASPECT IS THE HOUSE VERSION EFFECTIVELY SAYS IF A COUNTY CREATES AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ZONE, THE CITY IS FORCED TO PROVIDE SERVICES WITHIN THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ZONE, AND THE COUNTY AND CITY MUST COME TOGETHER IN SOME SORT OF INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT THAT DISCUSSES RATES. CAPACITY SERVICE, ETC., ALMOST GIVING THE COUNTY MORE AUTHORITY OVER THE DIRECTION OF THE UTILITY THAN THE, THE PROVIDER OF THE SERVICE IN THE MUNICIPAL UTILITY.

THAT LANGUAGE HAS BEEN FAIRLY CONTENTIOUS. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE SENATE IS GOING TO TAKE THAT LANGUAGE.

SO THAT BILL COULD VERY LIKELY DIE BECAUSE OF THAT DISAGREEMENT AS WE'RE SEEING, YOU KNOW, A HOST OF DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE RIGHT NOW.

SO THOSE ARE THE TWO LARGE MUNICIPAL UTILITY ISSUES THAT ARE THAT ARE MOVING THROUGH THE SESSION.

I WAS ALSO ASKED TO DISCUSS BRIEFLY A UNION BILL THAT WAS BROUGHT UP IN DEBATED SIGNIFICANTLY ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY OF LAST WEEK IN THE SENATE. THERE ARE A MULTITUDE OF CHANGES BEING PROPOSED NOT ONLY TO PERK THE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS COMMISSION, BUT ALSO HOW UNIONS ARE FORMED, CERTIFIED, RECERTIFIED AND DECERTIFIED.

THE PROPOSAL IS ABOUT 75 PAGES LONG. THE MOST SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE IN ABOUT FOUR AMENDMENTS WERE ADOPTED LATE FRIDAY IN THE SENATE WAS MOVING TO 50%. THE REQUIREMENT FOR ANY CERTIFICATION OF A UNION, RECERTIFICATION OF A UNION OR DECERTIFICATION OF A UNION. IT ALSO MADE SOME CHANGES TO VOTING REQUIREMENTS, PAID LEAVE, ETC., BECAUSE THIS BILL IS SO SUBSTANTIVE.

HAPPY TO KIND OF PROVIDE IN WRITING A SUMMARY OF SOME OF THOSE PROPOSED CHANGES.

AGAIN, THIS IS AN INSTANCE WHERE THE SENATE AND HOUSE LANGUAGE DOES NOT MATCH CURRENTLY.

SO THIS WEEK WILL BE PRETTY ROBUST IN TERMS OF EITHER ALIGNING BILLS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY MATCHED, MAKING SIGNIFICANT AMENDMENTS, OR LETTING BILLS DIE ON THE VINE.

BECAUSE AGAIN, AS MENTIONED EARLIER, WE'RE STILL NOT SURE WHAT WILL BE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF ANY EXTENSION OF OUR 60 DAY LEGISLATIVE SESSION. SO MAYOR WITH THAT, THAT'S MY UPDATE.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER SPECIFIC QUESTIONS IF THERE ARE ANY.

I HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION. 1075 THE EXTENSION IS THAT SENATOR MAYFIELD? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COMMISSIONERS.

MADAM. MAYOR. COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. MR.. MATTHEW, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THE AGENDA ITEMS THAT I ASKED FOR FOR SEVERAL REASONS, BECAUSE AS THE PUBLIC IS AWARE AND THEY'RE WATCHING WHAT'S GOING ON IN TALLAHASSEE, THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF THINGS FLOATING AROUND, BUT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BEST THAT WE HAVE THIS DISCUSSION SO THAT NOT ONLY WE

[01:00:06]

SPECIFICALLY THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. YOU'RE OUR REPRESENTATIVE UP THERE.

YOU'RE IN THE HALLS OF OUR LEGISLATURE, MAKING SURE THAT OUR VOICE, THIS LOCAL VOICE, THE FIVE OF US THAT SIT ON THIS COMMISSION, THAT REFLECT THIS COMMUNITY, ARE HEARD AND THAT NO DETRIMENT HOPEFULLY COMES TO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, YOU KNOW, MY, MY CONCERN AND I APPRECIATE THE UTILITY BILL.

I THINK THAT AS WE UNPACK THAT AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MAY MEAN WE, OUR MAYOR SITS ON OUR UA BOARD.

I GUESS AT SOME POINT WE WOULD UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THAT BECAUSE IF WE HAVE TO EXTEND SERVICES AND PRETTY MUCH BE FORCED TO EXTEND SERVICES AND NOT BE ABLE TO RECOUP THOSE CHARGES, THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE BUDGET. I DO KNOW THAT.

AND HOW MUCH, I DON'T KNOW, BUT THAT'S A CONCERN OF MINE.

AND I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD CONCERN ALL OF THE RATEPAYERS IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO IMPACT US, IS IN ESSENCE, GIVING SERVICES WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO CHARGE FOR THOSE SERVICES THAT WE BRING TO A BRAND NEW AREA THAT DOES NOT HAVE CURRENT UTILITY. THAT'S EXPENSIVE.

BUT MR. MATTHEWS, TO MY QUESTION HERE, I APPRECIATE THAT THERE ARE SOME OTHER BILLS UP THERE, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO OUR BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND REVIEW OF PLANS, ETC..

THOSE ARE OF GREAT CONCERN TO ME. WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON THAT AND WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THAT WHERE LEGISLATORS CRAFTING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PRETTY MUCH PREEMPT IN SOME CASES SOME, SOME OF THE PLANS AND HOW THEY ARE HANDLED.

AND FOR CITIES TO GO OUT AND CONTRACT WITH THIRD PARTIES TO REVIEW THESE PLANS TO, TO MOVE STUFF FORWARD.

WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON THAT AND WHAT ARE YOU HEARING? MR. MATTHEWS? SURE. AND THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR THE QUESTION.

YOUR POINT IS WELL TAKEN. THERE IS NUMEROUS POLICIES OUT THERE THAT COULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

AND I PROBABLY BURIED THE LEAD A LITTLE BIT. YOU KNOW, TO YOUR POINT ABOUT REVENUES WE'VE, WE'VE SPENT MOST OF THE 20, 26 SESSION WONDERING WHEN THE QUOTE UNQUOTE PROPERTY TAX CONVERSATION WILL REALLY COME TO A HEAD AS I'M SURE YOU ALL ARE AWARE, THE HOUSE HAS PASSED A PROPERTY TAX PROPOSAL THAT WOULD ELIMINATE NON-SCHOOL HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAXES STARTING IN JANUARY OF 2028. THE SENATE HAS NOT YET RELEASED A PLAN.

SO I ONLY SAY THAT TO TALK A ABOUT MUNICIPAL REVENUES WHICH ARE DEBATED IN, IN A ROBUST FASHION IN TALLAHASSEE AS IT STANDS CURRENTLY. AND B TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MANDATING UTILITY SERVICES WHERE REVENUES MAY BE IMPACTED BECOMES MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT IF PROPERTY TAXES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED OR ELIMINATED AS WELL.

BUT SPECIFICALLY TO YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER.

THERE IS A BILL DEALING WITH QUALIFIED CONTRACTORS THAT HAS BEEN AMENDED THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF SESSION, AND THE LEAGUE OF CITIES HAS DONE REALLY GOOD WORK ON THIS PARTICULAR BILL.

YOU KNOW, WHAT STARTED OUT AS SORT OF A, A MANDATE THAT PRIVATE PROVIDERS ARE NOT ONLY USE IN A MAJORITY OF INSTANCES, BUT ALSO THAT THE PRIVATE PROVIDER WOULD ENJOY SOME SORT OF EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT WHICH WAS CAUSING SIGNIFICANT CONSTERNATION HAS BEEN AMENDED. BUT WE HAVE REALLY SEEN A PUSH THE LAST 3 TO 4 YEARS TO EXPAND THE USE OF PRIVATE PROVIDERS IN ORDER TO EFFECTIVELY STREAMLINE BUILDING PERMIT PROCESSES AND TIMING FROM A LOCAL GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE THAT THAT PUSH IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE, QUITE FRANKLY.

BUT IT SPEAKS TO A LARGER CONVERSATION THAT IS OCCURRING IN TALLAHASSEE.

AND I THINK ONE THAT HOPEFULLY, IF IT PLAYS OUT APPROPRIATELY, WOULD, WOULD BENEFIT BOTH THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR.

I THINK WE'VE SEEN SIGNIFICANT REFORM IN THE AREA OF GROWTH MANAGEMENT AS A WHOLE.

AND BOTH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND DEVELOPERS WOULD LIKELY TELL ANYONE WHO'S WILLING TO LISTEN THAT OUR CURRENT LAND USE STATUTES ARE OUTDATED NOT NECESSARILY WORKING FOR EITHER THE PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SECTOR.

SO WHETHER IT COMES TO QUALIFIED CONTRACTORS OR LAND USE AND ZONING DECISIONS IT'S NOT 2000 ANYMORE.

IT'S NOT EVEN 2015 ANYMORE. AND THERE HAS BEEN CONVERSATION ABOUT REWRITING CHAPTER 163 IN ITS ENTIRETY TO REALLY

[01:05:01]

SO I THINK SPECIFICALLY, EXCUSE ME, THE QUALIFIED CONTRACTOR BILL HAS IMPROVED, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE SORT OF THE PIECEMEAL APPROACH OF QUESTIONING GROWTH MANAGEMENT, BUILDING PERMIT DECISIONS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT WE HAVE A SORT OF A RESET BUTTON ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND MY FINAL CLOSING POINT IS THAT WHAT I WANT THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND, AND WE'VE JUST HAD A CHAMBER FULL OF OF PEOPLE EXPRESSING THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT A LOCAL DEVELOPMENT STARTING HERE IS THAT IF LEGISLATION CONTINUES TO CRAFT THIS WAY, MUCH OF THE CONTROL THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IS ERODING.

IT'S BEING BEEN EVAPORATED. AND AND THAT'S A CONCERN TO ME AS A COMMISSIONER TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY THAT I LIVE IN, TO BE ABLE TO HEAR THE SENTIMENTS AND TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING IS ONE THING, BUT TO BE PREEMPTED BY LEGISLATION OUT OF TALLAHASSEE SHOULD BE CONCERNING TO US ALL.

THANK YOU. YEP, YEP. COMMISSIONER SADOWSKI IF I COULD FOLLOW UP ON THAT TRAIN OF THOUGHT.

RYAN LAST YEAR, SENATE BILL 180 WAS APPROVED AS WELL AS 1021103 AND IS MY UNDERSTANDING THERE WERE SOME AMENDMENTS BEING CONSIDERED FOR THOSE TO GIVE BACK SOME CONTROL TO THE CITY.

AND THE COUNTY'S SORRY, I HAVE HICCUPS THIS MORNING.

AND HAVE YOU BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT? AND IF SO, WHERE ARE THOSE AT WITH THE AMENDMENTS? SENATE BILL 840. I THINK IT IS THIS FIX IS THE GLITCH BILL CORRECT.

MR. MATTHEWS. YEAH. YEAH. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, COMMISSIONER.

SO THE SENATE HAS BEEN AGGRESSIVELY SEEKING SOME CHANGES TO THE 2025 SENATE BILL 180.

AND REALLY KIND OF HONED IN ON A COUPLE DIFFERENT FOCUS AREAS.

NUMBER ONE THE ORIGINAL BILL CREATED INCREDIBLY VAGUE LANGUAGE ABOUT COMP PLAN AMENDMENTS THAT MAY EITHER BE BURDENSOME OR RESTRICTIVE WITHOUT GIVING A DEFINITION OF EITHER OF THOSE TERMS. AND THEN ALSO, OBVIOUSLY THE RADIUS BY WHICH A LOCAL GOVERNMENT WOULD BE PREEMPTED FROM MAKING ANY SUCH CHANGE IF YOU'RE WITHIN 100 MILES OF A STORM IS PROBLEMATIC WITH THE STATE LIKE FLORIDA AND THE FREQUENCY OF STORMS THAT WE GET TO THE MAYOR'S POINT.

SENATE BILL 840 PASSED THROUGH THE SENATE. IT HAS NOT ITS COMPANION HAS NOT BEEN HEARD IN THE HOUSE.

THERE WERE ACTUALLY TWO, QUOTE UNQUOTE, SENATE BILL 180 FIXES IN THE SENATE.

THE SECOND ONE WAS SENATE BILL 218 BY SENATOR GATES, WHICH DEALT SPECIFICALLY WITH THE PANHANDLE AND AREAS OF CRITICAL STATE CONCERN, I.E. THE KEYS. THAT ONE ALSO PASSED THE SENATE, BUT THE HOUSE HAS NOT MOVED THE MEASURE FORWARD.

AND WITH IT BEING SO LATE IN SESSION, I WOULD BE HESITANT TO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE HOUSE TO ACT ON THAT PARTICULAR CHANGE. AND IF I COULD FOLLOW UP WITH THE BLUE RIBBON BILL, THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE ON THE DOORSTEP OF THE CITY.

AND AS PART OF THE LANGUAGE IN THE BLUE RIBBON BILL, IT TALKS ABOUT 10,000 ACRES AND 3000 ACRES.

BUT THE CONCERNS HERE ARE FAR LESS THAN THAT.

AS MUCH AS MAYBE TEN, 15 ACRES. WOULD THAT BLUE RIBBON BILL BE PERTINENT TO TO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE BASED ON THE 10,003 THOUSAND ACRE CONSIDERATIONS IN THAT DRAFT BILL? SO I WOULD HAVE TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN FORT PIERCE TO SEE IF IT'S APPLICABLE. THERE WAS AN AMENDMENT LAST WEEK ON BLUE RIBBON TO MOVE IT UP TO 15,000 ACRE DEVELOPMENTS.

THAT BILL HAS STALLED TEMPORARILY IN THE SENATE.

IT WAS TEMPORARILY POSTPONED IN ITS SECOND READING LAST WEEK.

I THINK THERE'S A DECENT CHANCE AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S TOUGH TO TO GIVE YOU A CERTAINTY ON DAY 56 BECAUSE THINGS HAPPEN QUICKLY AND CHANGE VERY, VERY QUICKLY. BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THAT BILL HAS STALLED OUT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF OPPONENTS FROM WITHIN THE SENATE AS WELL.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT, THAT, THAT BILL WILL ACTUALLY PASS ULTIMATELY, BECAUSE THE CONCERN IS THE HEIGHT AND DENSITY OF THESE PROPOSALS. AND THAT'S REALLY THE CONCERN OF TAKING THAT AWAY AND THE ABILITY FOR COMPATIBILITY TO NEIGHBORHOODS.

LARGELY WAS USED AND STATED FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING AS THE IMPETUS FOR ADDITIONAL HEIGHT AND DENSITY ON DIFFERENT PROPERTIES THAT

[01:10:01]

SO THAT'S REALLY THE QUESTIONING THAT I HAVE, MR. MATTHEWS. THANK YOU SIR. UNDERSTOOD. I'M HAPPY TO KEEP YOU ALL UPDATED ON ON BLUE RIBBON.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS? I JUST WANT TO ASK A FOLLOW UP. DO YOU KNOW WHERE SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY IS? SO, MAYOR, THE SENATE TODAY IS GOING TO PASS THEIR VERSION OF SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY, WHICH HAS THE CURRENT THE CAPS INCREASE TO 350,000 AND 500,000 350,000 PER PERSON, 500,000 PER INCIDENT.

THAT WOULD BE AN INCREASE UP FROM 200,000 PER PERSON TO INTO 300,000 PER INCIDENT AS IT STANDS IN CURRENT LAW.

AGAIN, AN INSTANCE WHERE THE HOUSE AND SENATE BILLS ARE VASTLY DIFFERENT.

I THINK THE HOUSE BILL HAS 600,000, 1.2 MILLION, BUT IT ALSO HAS A PROVISION THAT ALLOWS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO SETTLE ABOVE THE CAPS WHICH THE SENATE BILL DOES NOT HAVE. I THINK THAT THE SENATE IS PRETTY FIRM IN ITS POSITION OF 350 AND 500,000.

WHEREAS I BELIEVE THAT THE HOUSE IS PRETTY FIRM IN THEIR POSITION.

AND WE'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, I THINK, YEAR SIX OF A SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY DISCUSSION THAT HAS NOT YET COME TO, TO PASS ULTIMATELY. SO I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY IN THAT SAME INSTANCE AGAIN.

MAYOR MOST LIKELY. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND THERE IS A COMMITTEE THAT'S GOING TO MEET NEXT YEAR.

IT'S A LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE THAT IS KIND OF A GLOBAL COMMITTEE ABOUT REWRITING ANYTHING IN TERMS THAT NEEDS TO BE WRITTEN.

I CAN'T THINK OF THE NAME OF THE COMMITTEE. HAVE YOU HEARD MUCH ABOUT THAT? PEOPLE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. THE TBC IS MEETS ONCE EVERY TEN YEARS TO TALK BROADLY ABOUT TAXING AUTHORITIES, BOTH AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL. A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION THAT STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO RELATING TO PROPERTY TAXES.

FOLKS THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS THE MOST APPROPRIATE FORUM TO REALLY HAVE A SUBSTANTIVE PROPERTY TAX DISCUSSION.

SO THE INCOMING SPEAKER AND INCOMING SENATE PRESIDENT HAVE SOME APPOINTMENT AUTHORITY TO THE TBR.

SO THE HOPE IS THAT YOU HAVE FOLKS WITH SOME LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE THAT CAN BE APPOINTED TO THAT COMMISSION TO REALLY PROVIDE SOME, YOU KNOW, SUBSTANTIVE COMMENTS AND FEEDBACKS WHEN THEY'RE, WHEN THEY'RE DEBATING LARGE SCALE TAX ISSUES NEXT YEAR.

YEAH, THAT'D BE GREAT. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. OKAY.

IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, MR. MATTHEWS, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE YOU SIGN OFF? NO, MA'AM. WE'LL WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP YOU ALL UPDATED IN TERMS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING, BECAUSE AS I SAID, WE'RE CERTAINLY GOING LONGER THAN 60 DAYS. THE QUESTION IS JUST HOW, HOW LONG AND HOW MANY SPECIAL SESSIONS.

ALRIGHTY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ABSOLUTELY. OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON.

THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS AN UPDATE ON THE SUNRISE THEATER MANAGEMENT NEGOTIATIONS WITH VENUE WORKS.

[B. Update on Sunrise Theatre Management Negotiations with VenuWorks]

HE'LL GIVE A PRESENTATION AS WELL. FINE. MISS HARNAGE, MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, THANKS FOR HAVING US THIS MORNING. IT HAS BEEN SOME TIME SINCE WE AWARDED THIS RFP TO VENUE WORKS BACK LAST SUMMER.

OUR NEGOTIATION TEAM, WHICH CONSISTS OF THE CITY MANAGER, THE CITY ATTORNEY, THE FINANCE DIRECTOR.

THE INTERIM THEATER DIRECTOR AND MYSELF. WE'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS AGREEMENT REALLY MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE CITY AND WHAT WE WERE AIMING TO ACHIEVE THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, AND MAKING SURE THAT THE THEATER, YOU KNOW, THIS VERY IMPORTANT ASSET THAT WE HAVE IN OUR DOWNTOWN AND OUR REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY IS OPERATING AT THE MOST EXCELLENT LEVEL.

SO I WANT TO GIVE YOU JUST A QUICK BACKGROUND OF KIND OF HOW WE'VE GOTTEN HERE, A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT.

I'LL PASS IT OFF. AS MR. CHESS MENTIONED TO MR. SILVA, WHO HAS BEEN OUR CONTACT WITH VENUE WORKS, YOU'VE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO HEAR FROM THEM DIRECTLY.

SO HE CAN GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF OF THEIR ORGANIZATION AND SOME OF THE TERMS OF OUR AGREEMENT, AND THEN WE'LL TAKE IT BACK TO THE CITY COMMISSION TO GET SOME FEEDBACK FROM YOU ALL BEFORE WE BRING IT BACK TO YOU FOR A FINAL APPROVAL.

SO RFP 2025 017, THAT WAS THE RFP THAT WE PUT OUT FOR MANAGEMENT SERVICES OF THE SUNRISE THEATER.

AS YOU KNOW, THIS HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN AN ENTERPRISE FUND OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE.

OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RETIRED, AND THE CITY DECIDED TO TAKE A NEW APPROACH TO MANAGING THIS THEATER.

SO WE WERE LOOKING FOR. THIS IS JUST, AGAIN, HIGH LEVEL FROM THE RFP, WHICH IS ATTACHED TO YOUR AGENDA ITEM LOOKING FOR PROGRAMING, MARKETING, TICKETING, MAINTENANCE OF THE THEATER, BACK OFFICE MANAGEMENT AND FOOD AND BEVERAGE.

[01:15:05]

THE RFP WAS AWARDED TO VENUE WORKS. THESE ARE SOME HIGH LEVEL POINTS FROM THEIR COVER LETTER.

AND I'LL, I DON'T NEED TO GO THROUGH THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND TALK THROUGH THAT NOW. AND SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THE ACTUAL MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT.

A LOT OF TERMS HERE, BUT OVERALL, THE CITY WOULD CONTINUE TO RETAIN OWNERSHIP OF THE SUNRISE THEATER.

WE'RE LOOKING AT A FIVE YEAR INITIAL TERM WITH AN OPTIONAL FIVE YEAR EXTENSION.

EITHER PARTY MAY TERMINATE THIS AGREEMENT WITHIN 120 DAYS NOTICE.

WE ARE LOOKING AGAIN. THEIR SCOPE OF WORK IS ALL OF THE ABOVE, SO OPERATIONS, BOOKING, MARKETING, FOOD AND BEVERAGE MAINTENANCE, TICKETING, STAFFING AND EVENT SERVICES.

THE, THE VENUE WORKS WOULD OPERATE WITH THE CITY'S EXISTING OPERATING BUDGET OF THE SUNRISE THEATER, AND THEY WOULD ANNUALLY PREPARE THAT AND SUBMIT IT TO YOU ALL FOR APPROVAL.

AND THEY WILL MANAGE THAT OPERATING BUDGET. VENUE WORKS WILL HIRE THEIR OWN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND OTHER STAFF AS NEEDED.

THEY CAN GO THROUGH THAT TODAY. THEY WILL OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EXISTING EMPLOYEES TO GO OVER DURING THAT TRANSITION.

FOLLOWING AN INITIAL REVIEW PERIOD, THE CITY WILL HAVE A PARTICIPATION IN THE HIRING OF THAT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

THEY WILL ALL BECOME EMPLOYEES OF VENUE WORKS.

THE FINANCIAL STRUCTURE. SO ALL REVENUE WILL BELONG TO THE CITY.

THE CITY WILL FUND THE APPROVED OPERATING BUDGET, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE.

SO THAT'S THE CITY'S EXISTING BUDGET FOR THE SUNRISE THEATER VENUE.

WORKS WILL PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN THEIR OWN BANK ACCOUNTS.

THEY WILL COVER THE ANNUAL ANNUAL NET OPERATING INCOME SHORTFALLS UP TO 50% OF THEIR EARNED COMMISSIONS.

SO WE'LL GET DOWN TO THAT OF KIND OF WHAT THESE FEES LOOK LIKE.

SO THEIR VENUE WORKS WILL OPERATE ON A $7,000 PER MONTH BASE MANAGEMENT FEE.

THAT IS HOW THEY WILL MANAGE THEIR OPERATIONS, THEIR MARKETING, ALL OF THAT.

THAT WILL BE IN YEAR ONE. IT WILL BE ADJUSTED BASED ON THE CPI IN FUTURE YEARS.

THEY WILL ALSO GET 10% OF GROSS FOOD AND BEVERAGE REVENUE.

THEY INTEND TO INVEST $50,000 IN CONCESSION EQUIPMENT BECAUSE THAT IS CURRENTLY LACKING BASED ON THEIR ASSESSMENT.

SO THEY'LL GET 10% OF THAT FOOD AND BEVERAGE.

AND IF WE GO BACK UP TO THIS ONE, IF THEIR NET OPERATING INCOME HAS A SHORTFALL, THEY WILL GIVE US BACK THAT 50%.

AND THEN COMMUNITY FOCUS, WE MADE SURE THAT WE ADDED THIS INTO THEIR TEMPLATE AGREEMENT.

WE KNOW THAT. I SEE SOME FOUNDATION MEMBERS AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS HERE TODAY.

SO WE'VE INCORPORATED THAT INTO THIS AGREEMENT OF HOW THAT LOOKS.

KEEPING THAT ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORTING TO THAT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, KEEPING A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE THEATER FOUNDATION AS WELL.

SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO VENUE WORKS.

THEY HAVE A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION THAT THEY'D LIKE TO GO THROUGH TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT THEIR OPERATING MODEL.

AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK AND DISCUSS MORE ABOUT THE ACTUAL AGREEMENT BEFORE WE TURN IT OVER.

I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION IF THAT'S OKAY. YES. COMMISSIONER.

GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL ISSUE HERE.

SO I HAVE IT CLEAR IN MY MIND IS THAT THE CITY IS PROVIDING.

OKAY, SO THE CITY HAS X AMOUNT BUDGETED FOR THE SUNRISE THEATER OPERATIONS CURRENTLY I BELIEVE IT'S.

WHAT IS THAT NUMBER EXACTLY? 4.6. APPROXIMATELY $4.6 MILLION.

YES. SO WHAT HAPPENS WITH THOSE FUNDINGS? ARE THOSE GIVEN TO THE OPERATOR? YES. SO AND WE HAVE MR. CHESS AS OUR FINANCE GURU AND AS WELL AS JANA MORRIS.

KAREN IS HERE AS WELL. SO IF I MISSPEAK. BUT YES, THEY WILL.

THOSE OPERATING FUNDS WILL BECOME MANAGED BY VENUE WORKS.

SO THEY'RE GOING. THINK OF THEM AS THE PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY UTILIZING THE FUNDS THAT THE CITY IS CURRENTLY INVESTING IN THIS CULTURAL ASSET.

SO YES, HOW THAT LOOKS AND THAT WHATEVER THAT IS, THEY CAN ANSWER.

BUT YES, THEY WILL BE OPERATING BASED ON THAT REVENUE AND THAT OPERATING EXPENSE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, PLUS AN ADDITIONAL $7,000 A MONTH IN MANAGEMENT FEE.

THAT IS CORRECT. PLUS 10% OF THE GROSS CONCESSIONS THAT THEY GENERATE.

YES. OKAY. ARE THERE ANYTHING ELSE IN THE FINANCIAL PACKAGE THAT I'M MISSING BEFORE I GET INTO A MORE DETAILED DISCUSSION WITH THE.

NO, THAT'S GENERALLY IT. THEY HAVE THAT $50,000 CONTRIBUTION INTO THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE CONCESSION THAT WILL BE AMORTIZED.

AND IF FOR SOME REASON, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THAT 120 DAY TERMINATION, IF THAT WERE TO IF WE DECIDE TO CUT TIES, WE WOULD FUND THAT BACK BASED ON WHATEVER YEAR WE WERE IN.

SO THAT'S THE ONLY OTHER LITTLE FINANCIAL. OKAY.

SO I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND CLEARLY, YOU KNOW, FOR $4.6 MILLION, GIVE OR TAKE, GOING OUT THE DOOR.

SO DO WE JUST WRITE A CHECK FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR FOR 4.6 MILLION AND PUT IT INTO AN ACCOUNT AND THEY HAVE JURISDICTION OVER THOSE FUNDS?

[01:20:02]

WITH THE SUMMARIZED DATA WITHOUT PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY MANAGING IT, OUR BUDGET IS SET.

WE WILL HAVE CASH IN THE BANK UPFRONT BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE CASH FLOW ASPECT, YOU HAVE THE BUDGET ASPECT.

SO WE'LL AND WE HAVE TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET.

I DISCUSSED THAT WITH MR. SILVA AS WELL. OUR REVENUES MUST MATCH OUR EXPENSES, PARTICULARLY IN THE ENTERPRISE.

SO WE HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET. WHAT WE WILL DO IS HAVE X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS UP FRONT AS YOUR CASH RESERVE, SO THEY CAN SPEND MONIES DURING THE MONTH, LIKE MAYBE FIRST, SECOND OR THIRD MONTH.

SO IF THEY HAVE ANY SHORTFALLS AT THE BEGINNING, THEY CAN ADDRESS THAT. BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO PUT LIKE $4.6 MILLION IN A BANK ACCOUNT FOR THEM TO HAVE ACCESS TO. AND WE TALKED ABOUT ACTUALLY DOING THIS ON A MONTH TO MONTH BASIS, WHEREAS BASED ON REVENUES AND EXPENSES, WILL REPLENISH THE FUND BASED ON THE SHORTFALL.

BUT I'M LOOKING AT MORE OR LESS DOING THAT EVERY THREE MONTHS.

WE PROBABLY PUT MONEY INSTEAD OF GOING BACK EVERY MONTH REPLENISHING THE FUND FOR THE SHORTFALL.

WE'LL PROBABLY JUST PUT A RESERVE UPFRONT TO CARRY THEM FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS AND SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT. THEN WE'LL LOOK AT IT SUBSEQUENTLY FROM THERE. BUT WE'RE NOT PUTTING A LUMP SUM AMOUNT OF 4.7 MILLION THAT WE WILL NOT DO THAT.

SO IF THERE'S A OPERATIONAL DEFICIT, WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT? WELL, WE'LL COVER THAT FROM MONTH TO MONTH. BUT AS MISS HOLLIS MENTIONED, AT YEAR END, IF THERE'S AN OPERATIONAL SHORTFALL, 50% OF THE COMMISSION THAT'S PAID TO VENUE WORKS WILL BE REFUNDED TO US TO HELP COVER THAT DEFICIT.

CLAWBACK. YES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THAT GIVES ME A BASELINE.

THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE. I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT. LET'S LET THEM DO THEIR THING. AND THAT MAY SHED SOME MORE LIGHT ON THIS. I WILL SAY, MADAM MAYOR. YES. YES, MA'AM. SO THE THE IDEA THAT A TOTAL RISK TRANSFER WOULD GO TO A MANAGEMENT COMPANY.

WE HAVE FOUND THROUGH THIS RFP PROCESS MAY NOT EXIST.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THROUGH OUR CONVERSATIONS, COMMISSIONERS, YOU WEREN'T ON THE BOARD AT THAT POINT, BUT THE IDEA WAS THAT POTENTIALLY WE COULD FIND A MANAGEMENT COMPANY TO SAY, HERE'S THE KEYS TO THE SUNRISE THEATER, OPERATE IT, FUND IT MANAGEMENT, MAKE REVENUE AND DO ALL THOSE THINGS.

I THINK THAT THROUGH THIS EXTENDED NEGOTIATION PERIOD, WE'VE LEARNED MAYBE THAT DOES NOT EXIST.

VENUES CAN TALK ABOUT THAT AND HOW THEY MANAGE OTHER MUNICIPAL, MUNICIPALLY OWNED THEATERS AS WELL.

SO JUST WANTED TO SHED SOME LIGHT. OKAY, SO THEN JUST ONE FOLLOW UP QUESTION.

I AM SOMEWHAT CONFUSED BY THIS AND THAT'S NOT NEW, BUT THE COMMISSION STRUCTURE.

SO IF THERE'S COMMISSIONS ARE GENERALLY MADE ON PROFIT OR ON SOME PORTION OF SALES, ETC..

CAN YOU GIVE ME JUST AN OVERVIEW OF HOW THAT WORKS? SURE. SO ALL REVENUE FROM TICKET GENERATION AND ALL OF THAT WILL REMAIN THE CITY'S REVENUE.

THE COMMISSION ASPECT IS ON FOOD AND BEVERAGE ONLY AND IT'S 10% THAT WILL GO BACK TO VENUE WORKS.

ALL RIGHT. SO THAT'S THAT'S THAT PORTION THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO. MR.. YES. THAT'S RIGHT. SO OKAY, SO ALL OPERATIONAL INCOME OF TICKET SALES AND THINGS OF THIS NATURE FLOWS BACK TO THE CITY TO THAT OPERATING ACCOUNT.

YES. AND WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. WHATEVER OUR BUDGET LINE ITEM IS PLUS A 7000 PER MONTH.

THAT'S CORRECT. I THINK I'M A LITTLE MORE CLEAR ON THIS. OKAY. YES, SIR.

SO I'LL PASS THIS ON TO MIKE AND HR HERE. ALL RIGHTY.

OPERATOR, DO YOU WANT ME TO DO IT? HOW DO YOU FEEL? DUDE, IS IT OKAY IF THERE'S A CLICKER AS WELL, WHICH IS SOMEWHERE? GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING.

THANK YOU FOR INVITING US TO THE SUNRISE CITY.

IT'S VERY EXCITING FOR US. WE'RE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.

FOR ME, PLEASE. MY APOLOGIES. MY NAME IS MIKE SILVA.

I'M THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR VENUE WORKS.

I'M JOINED TODAY BY MY COLLEAGUE HR COOK. HE'S THE EASTERN REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT FOR OUR COMPANY.

HE'S OUR ROAD WARRIOR. AND WHEN WE TAKE OVER OPERATION OF THE SUNRISE THEATER, HR IS THE FACE.

YOU'LL SEE US OFTEN HERE IN TOWN. WE'RE EXCITED TO BE HERE IN THE SUNRISE CITY, BECAUSE WHERE I LIVE, WE'RE STILL DEEPLY IN THE THROES OF WINTER.

SO THIS WAS EXCITING TO ACTUALLY SIT ON THE BEACH LAST NIGHT FOR DINNER.

SO I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE FANWORKS TO YOU A LITTLE BIT.

WE ACTUALLY ARE CELEBRATING OUR 30TH YEAR OF OPERATION THIS YEAR AND THE COMPANY STARTED IN 1996 WITH OUR CEO. HE FOUNDED THE COMPANY AFTER BEING A VICE PRESIDENT WITH ONE OF THE LARGE MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES OUT THERE AT THE TIME.

AND HE IDENTIFIED THAT THESE LARGE MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES DID A VERY POOR JOB SERVICING COMMUNITIES IN SMALLER AND MID-SIZED MARKETS. THEY TRY TO APPLY THESE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES THAT WORK IN MAJOR MARKET CITIES, AND IT JUST FALLS FLAT BECAUSE THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES, SPECIAL NEEDS IN SMALLER COMMUNITIES THAT REQUIRE THE STAFF OF

[01:25:03]

AND THEN JUST TWO YEARS AGO STEVE WAS STARTING TO THINK ABOUT HIS SUCCESSION PLAN AND ALTHOUGH HE HAD OFFERS FROM ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT OTHER COMPANIES, HE CHOSE TO SELL HIS COMPANY BACK TO THE EMPLOYEES.

SO AS OF TODAY, WE ARE A 100% ESOP COMPANY AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT.

BECAUSE NOW WE GO TO EACH COMMUNITY THAT WE OPERATE IN AND WE TALK ABOUT MAKING OUR OUR EMPLOYEES, ACTUAL OWNERS OF OUR COMPANY. SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT.

OVER THOSE 30 YEARS, WE'VE GROWN TO A COMPANY THAT NOW MANAGES 65, A LITTLE MORE THAN 65 VENUES ACROSS 28 COMMUNITIES IN THE COUNTRY. THE SUNRISE THEATER WOULD BE OUR FIRST PROPERTY IN FLORIDA.

NOT FOR ANY REASON OTHER THAN IT'S THE WAY IT'S WORKED OUT.

WE AS A COMPANY HAVE GROWN ORGANICALLY. WE DON'T WE DON'T BID ON EVERY PROPERTY WE SEE.

WE ONLY BID TO OPERATE THOSE PROPERTIES THAT WE BELIEVE IN.

AND WE BELIEVE THAT THE SUNRISE THEATER PRESENTS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THAT CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR DOWNTOWN FORT PIERCE.

OF THOSE 65 VENUES, IT'S A MIX OF THEATERS AND ARENAS, AMPHITHEATERS, CONFERENCE CENTERS, CONVENTION CENTERS, AND AND DEDICATED SPORTS FACILITIES.

AND SPECIFICALLY COMPARABLE TO THE SUNRISE THEATER, THERE ARE 14 OTHER THEATERS IN OUR PORTFOLIO THAT WE MANAGED ACROSS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. I PUT UP OUR MISSION STATEMENT THERE, BUT AT THE HEART OF IT WE REALLY FOCUS OUR OUR TASK, OUR MISSION ON WE WORK FOR THE CITY, RIGHT? THE CITY'S OUR CLIENT. WE WORK FOR THE CITY. OUR COMPETITORS ARE MOSTLY OWNED BY THESE FACELESS EQUITY COMPANIES, SO THEY HAVE TO DO ANYTHING TO GENERATE PROFIT FOR THEIR EQUITY OWNERS.

AND WE ARE NOT BEHOLDEN TO THAT. WE'RE AN EMPLOYEE OWNED COMPANY.

WE WORK FOR THE CITY. WE WANT TO MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS AND YOUR DEMANDS.

AND WE EMBRACE THE IDEA THAT THE SUNRISE THEATER IS AN ATTRACTION AND ECONOMIC GENERATOR FOR THE CITY, THE DOWNTOWN. SO WE WANT TO FILL IT WITH ACTIVITIES THAT WILL BRING ALL WALKS OF LIFE TO DOWNTOWN FORT PIERCE, TO SPEND MONEY IN THE RESTAURANTS, TO TO USE THE PARKING TO, TO, TO USE ALL OF THE, THE, THE, THE, THE FACILITIES HERE IN DOWNTOWN, SO WE'LL LET HR.

THANK YOU. HR COOK, REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT FOR VENUE WORKS.

I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING US DOWN HERE ON SUCH A BEAUTIFUL DAY.

AND AGAIN, I'LL REITERATE IT WAS IT WAS 35 DEGREES WHEN I GOT ON THE PLANE.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME, WHICH RELATES TO VENUE WORKS.

I WAS WORKING FOR THE LARGER CORPORATION. I'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS OVER 40 YEARS.

MY FATHER WAS A GENERAL MANAGER BEFORE THAT IN DES MOINES, IOWA, AND I WAS POACHED BY VENUE WORKS TO COME WORK FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY SPECIALIZE IN CITIES THE SIZE OF FORT PIERCE. WE ARE NOT IN CHICAGO, BUT WE'RE IN JOLIET, A SUBURB.

WE'RE NOT IN BIRMINGHAM, BUT WE'RE IN PELHAM, ALABAMA.

RECENTLY OUR OUR LATEST IS THE PARAMOUNT THEATER IN ASHLAND, KENTUCKY.

SO WE'RE NOT IN LEXINGTON. SO WE REALLY SPECIALIZE IN THESE SMALLER FACILITIES.

AND THAT'S WHAT I LOVE THE MOST IS BEING ABLE TO COME INTO THESE COMMUNITIES.

AND WHAT WE DO MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IS WE LISTEN.

WE DON'T TELL YOU HOW WE'RE GOING TO RUN OUR BUILDINGS. WE LISTEN BOTH TO THE COMMISSION AND OUR ALL THE CLIENTS, INCLUDING THE TAXPAYERS, THE TICKET BUYERS, AND THOSE PATRONS WHO MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE PURCHASED A TICKET NOW OR IN THE PAST OR FUTURE.

AND TICKET BUYERS, SOME OF OUR SIMILAR FACILITIES THAT ARE, THAT ARE SIMILAR TO THE SUNRISE THEATER.

YOU'LL SEE THESE ON HERE, THE PARAMOUNT THEATER IN CEDAR RAPIDS, THE NORTH SHORE THEATER IN SKOKIE, AGAIN, NOT CHICAGO PROPER, BUT IN SKOKIE THE RIALTO SQUARE THEATER IN JOLIET.

AND THE VICTORY, ALL OF THESE, PLUS OUR OTHERS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE NORTH SHORE, ARE OLDER THEATERS ON THE HISTORIC REGISTER LIST.

THEY WERE THEY WERE BUILT IN THE 20S, 30S, 40S.

[01:30:01]

AND THAT'S WHAT WE SPECIALIZE IN AS FAR AS OUR OPERATIONS ARE CONCERNED.

ALSO CURRENTLY ON SALE, I'M NOT GOING TO READ THE, THE LIST OF EVENTS THAT ARE ON HERE.

DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS, BUT YOU CAN SEE THE EVENTS THAT WE HAVE IN THESE, IN THESE BUILDINGS ARE SIMILAR IF NOT ALIKE, PLUS MORE BECAUSE WE MANAGE MORE BUILDINGS, MULTIPLE BUILDINGS, WE HAVE THAT, THAT NOT AUTHORITY, BUT WE HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH PROMOTERS AND AGENTS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES THAT WE CAN ROUTE SOME OF THESE SHOWS THROUGH OUR BUILDINGS.

ONE THING I DID WANT TO POINT OUT ON A LOT OF THESE BUILDINGS, ESPECIALLY THE HISTORIC THEATERS, THAT THEY ARE A FOCAL POINT OF DOWNTOWN WHEN WE GO INTO COMMUNITIES AND LISTEN, YOU HEAR ABOUT STORIES OF GROWING UP AND GOING TO THE THEATER AS GOING TO THE MOVIES, PERFORMING.

YOUR GRANDCHILDREN ARE PERFORMING. AND WE HEAR THESE STORIES AND IT'S USUALLY AROUND A REVITALIZATION, AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MONEY PUT INTO THESE BUILDINGS, AND WE'RE HERE TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE ASSETS.

WE DON'T OWN THE BUILDING. YOU OWN THE BUILDING.

WE'RE JUST HERE TO MAINTAIN THOSE AND LISTEN IN.

AND BEING ABLE TO PROMOTE THE SHOWS THAT WE THAT WE SEE FIT.

AND THAT'S REALLY OUR STRENGTH IS IN THESE SMALLER BUILDINGS WHERE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THE ROLLING STONES, RIGHT? BUT YOU'LL SEE SOME OF THESE SMALLER, YOU KNOW, THE MARY CHAPIN CARPENTERS OF THE WORLD IN THESE THEATERS PARAMOUNT THEATER IN ASHLAND.

AND AGAIN, I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE WE JUST TRANSITIONED THAT OVER TO VENUE WORKS. THE FIRST, THE FIRST MOVIE SHOWN THERE, IT WAS A MOVIE THEATER, WIZARD OF OZ.

WE DUG THROUGH THE ARCHIVES, WE FOUND THAT OUT.

AND THEN SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS WE'RE DOING A PROMOTIONAL WHERE IF YOU BRING A PET FOOD OR DONATION TO THE LOCAL PET SHELTER WE'RE GOING TO BE SHOWING THE WIZARD OF OZ AND THE PET FOOD IS DONATED TO THE SHELTER.

AND SO WE'RE GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WAY.

AND IT KIND OF BRINGS BACK THAT, THAT RENAISSANCE OR THAT REMINISCENT OF WHAT IT USED TO BE LIKE TO GO TO THE THEATER.

ONE OF THE ASPECTS AND HOW WE DO THIS IS ANOTHER ARM OF OUR COMPANY CALLED VENUE WORKS PRESENTS.

THE LARGER CORPORATIONS ALSO HAVE AN ENTERTAINMENT BUYING DIVISION.

THIS IS OUR ENTERTAINMENT BUYING DIVISION THAT SPECIALIZES IN THOSE COMMUNITIES WHO DON'T NECESSARILY.

THEY CAN'T GET THOSE BIGGER ACTS TO COME TO THEIR COMMUNITY.

SO WE, AS VENUE WORKS INDEPENDENTLY, WILL ACTUALLY CONTRACT WITH THE THEATER AND IT WILL BE A RENTAL OR A CO-PROMOTION. AND WE AS FAR AS WELL, NOT WE BECAUSE I, I'M ON THE BUILDING SIDE, BUT VENUE WORKS PRESENTS WOULD TAKE THE RISK ON THE SHOW AND BRING IN THOSE EVENTS. AND THEN THEY WOULD DO THE MARKETING AND THE TICKET SALES AND THINGS.

AND THEY, WE WOULD BE THE PROMOTER OF THOSE OF THOSE EVENTS TO USUALLY NO RISK TO THE BUILDING IN A CO-PROMOTION, AND A LOT OF TIMES WHAT HAPPENS ON CO-PROMOTION, THERE'S THERE'S SEVERAL WAYS TO DO IT.

YOU CAN RENT THE BUILDING TO SOMEONE AS A STRAIGHT RENTAL OR IT'S RENT, AND THEN THE BUILDING TAKES THE CONCESSIONS AND THE FACILITY FEE AND THE TICKETMASTER REBATES AND, AND WE GET REIMBURSED FOR EXPENSES.

THERE'S A CO-PROMOTION WHERE WE FIND PARTNERS TO MITIGATE SOME OF THAT RISK, WHICH WE WANT TO DO HERE AT THE SUNRISE THEATER AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE LOCAL PROMOTERS THAT WANT TO COME OUT AND DO BUSINESS AS A PARTNER WITH US.

SO WE WILL THEN THROW EVERYTHING INTO THE POT, AS WE CALL IT.

AND THAT WOULD BE THE RENT AND THE PROMOTER PROFIT AND ALL THE THE NET CONCESSIONS AND THE NET FEES GO IN THE POT.

AND SO THAT MITIGATES THE RISK FOR BOTH PARTIES.

AND A LOT OF TIMES, ESPECIALLY HERE, WE WILL GO DOWN TO ZERO AS FAR AS THE LOSS IS CONCERNED.

AND WE'LL TRY TO MITIGATE AS MUCH AS WE CAN IF THE SHOW LOSES MONEY, BECAUSE YOU JUST DON'T KNOW.

AGAIN YOU KNOW, VENUE WORKS, PRESENTS WILL COME IN, BUT ANOTHER PART OF VENUE WORKS.

PRESENTS IS ALSO OUR AGREEMENT WITH TICKETMASTER.

AND I KNOW TICKETMASTER CAN BE THE EVIL EMPIRE SOMETIMES.

BUT IT IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST TICKETING FIRM OUT THERE.

AND WE DO HAVE A NATIONAL TICKETING AGREEMENT WITH THEM.

AND I'M GOING TO SHARE JUST A LITTLE BIT THAT KIND OF HOW THE SAUSAGE IS MADE REGARDING THESE HIGH SERVICE FEES THAT YOU'RE SEEING ON SOME OF THESE EVENTS.

THE EVENTS ARE BROKEN DOWN INTO FAMILY COMMUNITY CONCERT SPORTING EVENTS, AND THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT RANGES BASED UPON THE PRICE OF THE TICKET OF THE SERVICE FEES. NOW, A LOT OF TIMES THESE CAN BE VERY HIGH BASED UPON, AGAIN, THE ROLLING STONES, IF YOU'RE PAYING $500 OR $300 FOR A TICKET BECAUSE YOU REALLY LIKE THE ROLLING STONES, YOU'RE GOING TO PAY 50 OR $60 FOR THESE SERVICE FEES.

[01:35:02]

THEY'RE NOT JUST TICKETMASTER, THEY'RE SHARED BY THE FACILITY ITSELF.

SO THESE REBATES OR THESE TICKET FEES ARE A PERCENTAGE OF THAT WOULD COME BACK TO THE SUNRISE THEATER.

AND THEN THAT WOULD GO TO THE BOTTOM FLOW TO THE BOTTOM LINE AS FAR AS THE END RESULT.

SO THAT'S PART OF THE THAT'S PART OF THE BUDGETING PROCESS.

SO AGAIN, WE TRY TO, WE NEGOTIATE LOWER FEES FOR THE CONSUMERS, BUT THEY'RE FAIR FEES.

AND AGAIN, WE HAVE THE ALL IN TICKET PRICE. SO THE PRICE YOU SEE WHEN YOU PULL UP AN EVENT IS THE PRICE YOU'RE GOING TO PAY.

A LOT OF TIMES JUST KIND OF A SEGUE. A LOT OF THE TIMES YOU SEE AND IT'S IN OLDER COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY WILL PULL UP ON THEIR IPAD OR THEIR PHONE TO BUY TICKETS FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S PLAY. A LOT OF TIMES THEY'LL SEE A $50 TICKET.

WELL, A LOT OF TIMES THAT'S A THIRD PARTY THAT HAS PAID TO HAVE THEIR WEBSITE ABOVE THE SUNRISE THEATERS.

AND IF YOU GO ON, IF YOU GO ON GOOGLE RIGHT NOW AND YOU GOOGLE THE SUNRISE THEATER, YOU'LL SEE THOSE THIRD PARTIES AND THEY'LL, THEY'LL SCALP THOSE TICKETS. SO A LOT OF TIMES THAT'S WHERE THAT HIGH PRICE COMES FROM.

AND I MEAN TO SEGUE, BUT THAT'S USUALLY ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS THAT COMES UP IS ABOUT OUR TICKETMASTER AGREEMENT.

OOPS. BACK TO MIKE. SO IF ANYONE IS PROPOSING A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM AS PART OF THAT WE OFFER FULL FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION.

WE WILL HAVE COMPLETE GUARANTEED FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY.

WE WILL ISSUE FINANCIAL REPORTING EVERY MONTH TO THE CITY FOR REVIEW AND QUESTIONS.

WE WILL SUPPLY THE GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR THE VENUE.

SO ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS DURING AN EVENT AT THE VENUE THE, THE CITY WILL BE PROTECTED FROM VENUE WORKS, WILL HIRE ALL THE STAFF AND CRAFT AGREEMENTS WITH THE VOLUNTEERS, SO THE CITY WILL BE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY WORKERS COMP OR FRINGE, OR WE WILL OFFER 401 AND MEDICAL BENEFITS AND ALL THAT THROUGH OUR P E O.

WE ARE OFFERING FULL OPERATION SUPPORT USING OUR BEST PRACTICES.

WE'LL HAVE AN OPERATIONS MANUAL SAFETY MANUAL FOR EMERGENCY EVACUATION.

WE'LL DO TRAINING WITH THE STAFF FOR LIFE SAFETY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

WE'LL BRING NATIONAL STANDARDS TO SALES, MARKETING AND TICKETING, INCLUDING SEEKING SPONSORSHIPS.

GROUP SALES HR TALK A LOT ABOUT OUR TICKETMASTER AND PROGRAMING.

WE HAVE NATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH PROMOTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, RANGING FROM LIVE NATION, WHO'S IN THE NEWS AGAIN TODAY? UP TO AG AND MAMMOTH LIVE AND EVEN ELCO PRESENTS, WHO I UNDERSTAND IS ALREADY WORKING IN THE THEATER. THIS IS ALL STUFF WE'RE DOING ALREADY AND WE WANT TO APPLY THAT SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM HERE AT THE SUNRISE. YOU KNOW, THE OTHER THING WE REALLY IDENTIFIED IN OUR TOUR OF THE SUNRISE THEATER WAS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ELEVATED FOOD AND BEVERAGE SERVICES. OUR FOOD AND BEVERAGE DIVISION IS IN-HOUSE.

WE DO NOT SUB ANY PART OF OUR COMPANY OUT TO THIRD PARTY VENDORS.

WE DO IT ALL IN-HOUSE. THE LEADER OF OUR FOOD AND BEVERAGE DIVISION IS A AN EXECUTIVE CHEF, AND HE WILL COME IN AND EVALUATE HOW TO ELEVATE THAT LEVEL OF CONCESSIONS AND CATERING AND FOOD AND BEVERAGE USING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES. WE'RE REALLY BIG ON GRAB AND GO STATIONS RIGHT NOW.

YOU CAN SEE ONE OF THE PICTURES THERE IS. WE LOVE DOING WEDDINGS IN THE, THE, THE, THE, THE ENTRYWAYS OF THESE HISTORIC THEATERS.

THEY, THEY, THEY, THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE REVENUE THROUGH FOOD AND BEVERAGE.

SO I'M JUST GOING TO. YEAH. GO AHEAD. SO WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THIS ALREADY.

THE TRANSPARENCY, THE PROGRAMING, THE OPERATIONAL THE ESOP COMPANY THE, THE VENUE WORKS IS PREPARED TO MAKE A $50,000 INVESTMENT IN FMB EQUIPMENT, WHICH WE WILL WRITE OFF OVER THE PERIOD OF THE FIVE YEAR CONTRACT.

SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE CITY? AND J-A-N COVERED MOST OF THIS ALREADY.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE CITY WILL RETURN RETAIN FULL OWNERSHIP OF THE VENUE.

IT'S A CITY VENUE WILL REMAIN A CITY VENUE. ANY OPERATING PROFITS OR LOSSES AT THE END OF THE YEAR WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY.

VENUE WORKS WILL MANAGE THE BUILDING TO OUR BEST ABILITIES AND WE'LL BOOK THE.

[01:40:04]

TO BUY TICKETS TO THOSE. DESPITE OUR BEST EFFORTS.

THE VENUE WORKS WILL MAINTAIN THE FACILITIES.

CLEANING AND SIMPLE REPAIRS, PATCHING AND PAINTING.

WE WILL HIRE THIRD PARTY VENDORS LOCALLY TO DO LARGER REPAIRS.

WE WON'T HAVE AN ENGINEER ON STAFF. SHOULD SOMETHING WITH THE HVAC SYSTEM BREAK? BUT ANY INFRASTRUCTURE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, STUFF LIKE THAT WOULD CONTINUE TO REMAIN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY.

ALL THE STAFF WOULD BE VENUE EMPLOYEES. SO THEY WOULD RECEIVE OUR STANDARD PACKAGE, INCLUDING THE 401 K, THE PTO POLICIES, THE ELIGIBILITY TO TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR ESOP PROGRAM AND OTHER RESOURCES.

AND I SPOKE ABOUT THE INSURANCE AND OTHER STUFF.

SO WITH THAT. OH, AND THERE'S A VIDEO I LIKE WORKING FOR VENUE WORKS BECAUSE IT IS A COMPANY WHICH SHOWS A LOT OF PASSION TOWARD PUTTING ON GOOD ACTIVITIES, GOOD EVENTS.

AND I THINK IT REALLY STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURE IN THE COMMUNITY.

THE PARAMOUNT THEATER BEING ON THE NATIONAL HISTORIC REGISTRY HAS A LOT TO OFFER.

THE VENUE STARTED OUT AS SHOWING MOVIE REELS AND VAUDEVILLE.

OVER THE COURSE OF TIME, IT STARTED DOING MORE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT.

AND TODAY, IN THIS DAY AND AGE, WE DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPE OF PROGRAMING AND ENTERTAINMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

IT'S ALL ABOUT MAKING GOOD MEMORIES FOR OUR CLIENTS AS THEY COME INTO THE FACILITIES.

WHEN PEOPLE COME THROUGH OUR DOORS, OUR ENTHUSIASM HERE IS REALLY INFECTIOUS AND THEY USUALLY GO HOME AND THEY REMEMBER THAT AND THEY WANT TO COME BACK.

SO WHAT MOTIVATED ME TO JOIN VENUE WORKS? I WAS MANAGING THEIR BEYOND VAN GOGH EXHIBITION AND SOME OF MY STAFF WERE ACTUALLY STAFFING.

LEE ADLER BUT THEN THEY KIND OF ENCOURAGED ME TO COME HERE.

SO AFTER I LOOKED AT THE POSITION, I KIND OF FELT LIKE IT WAS MADE FOR ME.

SO ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS IN CEDAR RAPIDS FOR THE SUMMER IS OUR MCGRATH AMPHITHEATER SEASON.

THERE'S JUST SO MANY GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO COME HERE AND ENJOY THE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT THAT WE OFFER.

VENUE WORKS MADE ME FEEL LIKE I WAS HOME. THIS FACILITY AND WORKING WITH THESE FACILITIES AND THE PEOPLE OF VENUE WORKS HAVE MADE ME FEEL REALLY COMFORTABLE. AND THE REASON WHY I'VE STAYED FOR 20 PLUS YEARS IS BECAUSE I'VE BEEN SUPPORTED THE ENTIRE TIME.

THAT'S THE GOAL. YOU KNOW, EVERYONE WANTS TO HAVE A FULL TIME JOB AND WORK SOMEWHERE THAT YOU LOVE WORKING AT, AND I ACCOMPLISHED THAT HERE. THEY'VE HELPED ME BRING OUT THE BEST AND NOT ONLY MYSELF, BUT I THINK WITH THESE VENUES CAN BE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

MR. SILVA. THE SIZE OF THE OTHER THEATERS, ARE THEY ABOUT THE SAME SIZE AS THE SUNRISE THEATER? IN TERMS OF SEATS, IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF SEATS, YES.

WE HAVE A FACILITY IN BURNSVILLE THAT'S 1000 SEATS.

THE PARAMOUNT THEATER IS IN CEDAR RAPIDS IS 1600.

ASHLAND IS 1400. SO THEY'RE ALL PRETTY SIMILAR.

AND HOW LONG HAVE THOSE AGREEMENTS BEEN IN PLACE FOR? OH, WELL, YOU SAID ASHLAND WAS NEW. I KNOW, BUT LIKE RIALTO AND JOLIET.

YEAH. JOLIET GOES BACK TEN YEARS NOW. 2004, 2004, CEDAR RAPIDS GOES BACK TO 1996.

OKAY. OUR COMPANY REALLY IS FOCUSED ON CONTRACT RENEWAL AS OPPOSED TO SOME OF OUR COMPETITORS WHO GIVE THESE SWEETHEART DEALS THE FIRST YEAR.

AND THEN AFTER FIVE YEARS, THEY'RE LIKE, WE GOT OUR MONEY OUT OF THAT.

THAT'S NOT OUR COMPANY. WE BELIEVE IN THE RELATIONSHIPS.

WE BELIEVE IN THE RENEWALS. AND THAT'S WHERE WE FOCUS ON.

AND SHOULD YOU? SHOULD THIS WORK OUT AND YOUR PARTNERS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS, IS THERE A PERSON OR PERSONS THAT PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO CALL BECAUSE WE'LL GET COMPLAINTS OR QUESTIONS? ET CETERA, ET CETERA. THAT CONTACT.

RIGHT? 100%. SO HR IS THE REGIONAL FOR THE EAST COAST, AND HE'LL BE HERE ON A PRETTY REGULAR BASIS.

BECAUSE WE WANT OUR CORPORATE OFFICE TO BE IN THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW WHAT THE CITY COMMISSION WANTS, WHAT THE, THE CITY MANAGER WANTS. BUT OUR INTENTION IS WHEN WE HIRE THE STAFF THAT WORK AT THE THEATER, THEY'RE GOING TO BE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THEY'RE EMPLOYEE OWNERS OF OUR COMPANY, BUT THAT ONLY WORKS IF THEY'RE IN THE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATING IN ROTARY OR THE SERVICE CLUBS AND THAT'S HOW WE KNOW WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO.

BUY TICKETS FOR. SO YES, THERE'LL BE AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HERE ON STAFF THAT WILL BE ACCESSIBLE TO BOTH THE THE COMMUNITY AND THE CITY COMMISSION.

AND THEY WILL LIVE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY AND BE PART OF IT.

[01:45:01]

DOES THAT MEAN THAT THEY DON'T FALL UNDER SUNSHINE OR PUBLIC RECORDS LAWS? DO YOU MISS MISS HEDGES OR MISS COX OR MR. CHESS? YEAH. OKAY. MISS HEDGES, MADAM MAYOR. SUNSHINE WOULD APPLY IN THE SENSE OF THE BOARD COMMISSION.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE THEATER ADVISORY BOARD THAT WE HAVE, I BELIEVE, IS GOING TO REMAIN INTACT.

SO THEY WOULD STILL HAVE SUN.SHINE THAT APPLIES TO THEM.

PUBLIC RECORDS APPLIES. RELATED TO ANY CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE.

SO RECORDS CREATED BY VENUE WORKS AS PART OF THIS CONTRACT WOULD BE PUBLIC RECORDS.

AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED TO BE FAMILIAR WITH AS FLORIDA SUNSHINE LAWS.

AND IF THAT'S GOING TO APPLY, YOU NEED TO BE VERY, VERY CLEAR ON WHAT YOUR REQUIREMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE.

THANK YOU. MAYOR. IT'S ACTUALLY THE SAME IN EVERY MUNICIPALITY.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I HAVE SOME OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FINANCING, BUT I'M GOING TO LET MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS HAVE ASKED THEIR QUESTIONS.

COMMISSIONER, DO YOU WANT TO START? YEAH. WELL THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS STUCK WITH ME IS YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU ARE BRINGING IN A, I GUESS, GIVING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO BE PART OF YOUR COMPANY, WORKING PART OF YOUR COMPANY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS GOING TO PUSH, AS YOU SAY, TICKET SALES AND THE REVENUE OF WHAT WE'RE ALL LOOKING FOR AT THE SUNRISE IS DIVERSITY. FOR YEARS, I'M JUST CAN'T REALLY JUST SAY IT FOR YEARS.

IT SEEMS THAT ONLY ONE PART OF THE COMMUNITY WAS BENEFITING WAS BENEFITING FROM THE SUNRISE.

EVERY NOW AND THEN YOU WOULD HAVE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BRING PEOPLE FROM THE WEST SIDE OF US ONE TO THE SUNRISE.

SO IF YOU WANT TO, TO GET UP THE TICKET SALES.

WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IT TO BRING SOMEBODY ON THAT BOARD LOOKING TO THE WEST SIDE OF US ONE AND START PUTTING MORE DIVERSIFIED SHOWS BACK DOWNTOWN, BECAUSE I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT THE RESIDENTS OF FORT PIERCE HAVE NO PROBLEM TRAVELING TO WEST PALM BEACH. HAVE NO PROBLEM TRAVELING TO TAMPA.

HAVE NO PROBLEM TAPPING TO MIAMI OR ANYWHERE ELSE TO SEE SHOWS THAT ARE NOT PUT ON IN THESE BIG ARENAS, BUT THESE SINGLE NIGHT EVENTS, THESE SINGLE WHATEVER EVENTS OF R&B OR OLD PERFORMER, THEY WILL GO.

SO WHY NOT MAKE EVERYBODY COME TO US INSTEAD OF GOING OUT? SO THAT'S JUST MY LITTLE, I THINK THE LAST TIME TRYING TO THINK WHAT SHOW I WENT TO.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE. THE LAST TIME I'VE BEEN TO.

I GREW UP GOING TO THE SUNRISE, SO I KNOW ABOUT THE WHOLE HISTORY OF THE SUNRISE.

AND, AND I WENT WHEN I WENT TELLING MY AGE, MADAM MAYOR, IT WAS JUST A MOVIE THEATER.

SO I WENT TO ME TOO. IT WAS JUST SO IT WAS ALMOST LIKE A BABYSITTER BECAUSE MOM WOULD DROP US OFF.

I'M BEING HONEST WITH YOU. MOM WOULD DROP US OFF ON A SATURDAY, AND, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD SHOWS ALL DAY AND TELL US TO BE OUTSIDE AND PICK US UP, YOU KNOW, MONDAY FOR POPCORN AND ALL THAT STUFF.

BUT I SAW WHERE I FORGET HIS NAME, BUT I KNOW WE HAVE A COMEDIAN COMING UP.

I FORGET HIS NAME. A BLACK COMEDIAN. THAT'S RIGHT.

HE'S COMING UP AND THE BUZZ AROUND TOWN IS OKAY.

ARE WE GOING TO START DOING STUFF LIKE THIS? SO I'M WAITING TO SEE AND I'VE BEEN PROMOTING AND SAID, HEY GUYS, DON'T ASK FOR IT. AND THESE PEOPLE BRING IT AND YOU DON'T SHOW UP BECAUSE DON'T SEND ME THOSE EMAILS.

COME ON, I'M GONNA CALL YOU OUT. SO LET'S SEE THAT ONE.

BUT LITTLE STUFF LIKE THAT, THESE, THESE UP AND COMING COMEDIANS, THESE UP AND COMING ARTISTS.

AND EVERY NOW AND THEN FIND AN OLD ARTIST THAT DOESN'T WANT DON'T MIND COMING TO FORT PIERCE FOR ONE NIGHT.

IF YOU GET THAT, YOU'LL GET THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT FROM THE.

I KEEP SAYING EAST WEST SIDE OF THE US, ONE BEING VERY POLITICALLY CORRECT HERE.

MAYOR THE WEST SIDE OF US ONE BECAUSE THEY WILL TRAVEL TO SEE EVENTS ALL OVER THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

I MEAN, I JUST BOUGHT SOME TICKETS LAST NIGHT OR WAS TOLD I BOUGHT TICKETS LAST NIGHT FROM MY WIFE THAT HER AND HER, HER AND HER COUSINS ARE GOING TO SEE SOMEBODY IN THIS LITTLE SMALL VENUE IN ORLANDO BECAUSE ONE OF THEIR,

[01:50:02]

YEAH. AND IN ADDITION TO THE MARKET BEING HERE FOR ALL OF FORT PIERCE, SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES LIKE VERO AND STUART AND OKEECHOBEE DO PATRONIZE THE SUNRISE. ABSOLUTELY. YEAH, I CAN I CAN I JUST YES, YES, SIR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THAT UP. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WERE EVALUATING THE SUNRISE THEATER, THE VERY FIRST THING WE DO IS LOOK AT THE 2020 CENSUS.

THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AFRICAN AMERICAN AND LATINO POPULATION HERE THAT IS NOT BEING PROGRAMED FOR.

AND WE DID PUT THAT IN OUR PROPOSAL. WE HAVE ALL SORTS OF IDEAS, NOT ONLY FOR TICKETED EVENTS, BUT ALSO TO ATTRACT MORE BANQUETS TO THE THEATER.

WE HAVE A LOT A LOT OF OUR BUILDINGS ON THE DARK DAYS BRING IN BANQUETS AND WEDDINGS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

THEY'LL DO THE CEREMONIES ON THE APRON OF THE STAGE, AND THEN OPEN THE CURTAINS AND DO THE RECEPTION ON THE STAGE DECK ITSELF.

IT'S AN ENORMOUS OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THE PUBLIC INTO THE THEATER AND TO TO RAISE REVENUE.

BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY THE OTHER THING WE FOUND WHEN WE WERE RESEARCHING THE MARKET WAS THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT POPULATION UNDER THE AGE OF 18 HERE.

WE AND MOST OF OUR THEATERS DO SIGNIFICANT CHILDREN'S PROGRAMING PROGRAMS. MORE THAN THERE ARE THE TICKETED SHOWS OUT THERE TOURING LIKE BLUEY AND BLIPPI AND SOME OTHER PATROL, CAR PATROL, WE DO ALL OF THAT STUFF. YOU KNOW, I KNOW I GOT GRANDKIDS.

PARENTS WILL SPEND ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY TO BRING THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN TO THAT, AND WE LOVE THAT STUFF.

NOT SO MUCH BEER, BUT THAT'S OKAY. BUT THERE ARE ALSO PROGRAMS WHERE YOU CAN GET GRANTS TO CREATE SCHOOL TIME THEATER PROGRAMS. I THINK THE FOUNDATION IS ALREADY DOING SOME OF THIS.

WE DO THIS IN SO MANY OF OUR BUILDINGS. THE ONE IN TOPEKA, KANSAS HAS AN ENORMOUS PROGRAM WHERE THEY GET GRANTS TO PAY FOR THE SCHOOL BUSSES, TO BRING THE KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL, TO ATTEND 6 OR 8 PERFORMANCES OF DARLA THE DOG OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND WE'D BE INTERESTED IN PURSUING THAT HERE AS WELL. I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP BECAUSE YOU BROUGHT BACK SOMETHING IN MY MEMORY.

I DO REMEMBER GOING TO THE SUNRISE IN EITHER ELEMENTARY OR MIDDLE SCHOOL TO SEE SOME COMPANY'S VERSION OF.

I BROUGHT UP EARLIER THE WIZARD OF OZ. MAYBE IT WAS SOME LIVE PERFORMANCE OF THE WIZARD OF OZ.

AND KNOWING ME, PROBABLY I DIDN'T WANT TO GO AND PROBABLY SLEPT THROUGH IT, BUT I STILL REMEMBER IT, SO IT HAD TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF EFFECT ON ME. BUT I LOVE THE IDEA OF GRANTS AND LETTING KIDS SEE, YOU KNOW, A SMALLER COMPANY OR A COMPANY OF A LIVE PLAY BECAUSE A LOT OF KIDS WOULD NEVER GO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO SEE SOME TYPE OF LIVE PLAY. AND I KNOW THAT THE SCHOOLS AROUND HERE, WE HAVE THE THEATER PROGRAMS IN THESE SCHOOLS.

SO WORKING WITH THAT AND MY LAST COMMENT I GIVE TO MY CUP.

DO NOT FORGET WHEN I BECAUSE I HEARD YOU SAY THE CENSUS, WE HAVE A VERY THRIVING HAITIAN AMERICAN POPULATION AND IN THIS AREA. AND THEY LIKE TO SPEND MONEY AND THEY LIKE TO HAVE CONCERTS AND JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE.

I DON'T KNOW ANY BANDS, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE THEY'RE OUT THERE.

BUT JUST ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT AND TAP INTO.

CERTAINLY. THANK YOU. GREAT. WHO'S NEXT? COMMISSIONER BRODERICK.

I THINK I UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL BRACKETING OF THIS.

SO I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO THAT AREA OF DISCUSSION BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S FAIRLY SELF-EXPLANATORY AFTER CHEYENNE GAVE US THAT BREAKDOWN. BUT THE REAL.

LOGIC BEHIND BRINGING IN AN OUTSIDE FIRM WAS TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE ACCESS TO BETTER TALENT.

CAN YOU GIVE ME A KIND OF AN OVERVIEW OF HOW THAT WORKS FOR YOUR FIRM, BECAUSE YOU MANAGE 30 OF THESE VENUES? SO WHEN YOU'RE NEGOTIATING WITH TALENT REPRESENTATIVES, YOU CAN SAY, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO PUT YOU IN 15 OF OUR LOCATIONS, ETC.. CAN YOU JUST GIVE ME AN OVERVIEW OF HOW THAT WORKS.

CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, AS IT TURNS OUT, ANYONE CAN BOOK A BAND.

ANYONE CAN CALL AN AGENT IN NASHVILLE AND SAY, I WANT SO AND SO BAND.

WE HAVE ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES THOUGH, AND THIS IS MOST IMPORTANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH TO PAY FOR THOSE BANDS.

SO WE, WE USE OUR NETWORK OF BUILDINGS THROUGH VENUE WORKS, PRESENTS, BUT ALSO THROUGH REGULAR ZOOM MEETINGS WHERE THE THEATER MANAGERS ALL GET TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT WHO'S WHO'S TOURING RIGHT NOW AND ARE THEY TAKING HOLDS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

[01:55:05]

WE MUCH PREFER TO WORK WITH THIRD PARTY PROMOTERS INSTEAD OF BUYING ALL THE TALENT, BECAUSE THE PROMOTERS, WE CAN BUY 6 OR 7 DATES, BUT PROMOTERS CAN BUY HUNDREDS.

AND THAT'S WHERE THE REAL VOLUME DISCOUNTS COME IN.

SO WE WILL IDENTIFY WHICH 30 WITH THIRD PARTY PROMOTERS ARE REPRESENTING THESE ARTISTS.

WHAT THAT RIGHT PRICE SHOULD BE, WHAT THE DEAL POINT SHOULD BE, AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE THE NETWORK REALLY COMES IN, IS TO FIRST IDENTIFY WHO'S TOURING AND THEN FIGURE OUT WHAT TO PAY FOR THEM.

SO HISTORICALLY. ART IS JUST A ONE OFF. SO NEGOTIATING WITH HIGHER END TALENT HAS PROBABLY BEEN CHALLENGING TO GET THEM TO JUST TO COME TO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. YES. SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU HAVE A LOT OF LEVERAGE IN THIS AREA TO BE ABLE TO BRING BIGGER NAME ENTERTAINMENT TO THE CITY? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM PEOPLE, IS THEY WANT HIGHER LEVEL TALENT COMING HERE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE LIMITED BY HOW MANY SEATS ARE IN THE SUNRISE THEATER BECAUSE EVERY COMMUNITY HAS A PRICE POINT.

I CAN TELL YOU A STORY WHERE I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE THE THE GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT OF MY LIFE THE DAY I BOOKED ROD STEWART, AND IT'S THE MOST MONEY I EVER LOST ON A CONCERT, BECAUSE I SET THE AVERAGE TICKET PRICE TOO HIGH FOR THE COMMUNITY I WAS IN THAT TIME.

IF AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE AVERAGE TICKET PRICE SHOULD BE IN FORT PIERCE YET, BUT IF THAT AVERAGE TICKET PRICE IS $50 AND WE BRING IN A HUGE NAME LIKE NORAH JONES, WHERE IN ORDER TO PAY HER GUARANTEE, WE HAVE TO CHARGE $75.

THE THEATER IS GOING TO BE HALF FULL. SO I WANT TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT BRINGING IN CALLING IT HIGHER, HIGHER PREMIER ENTERTAINMENT, BECAUSE WE HAVE A FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY TO, TO DRIVE REVENUE AND NOT LOSE MONEY ON THESE CONCERTS.

SO YES, THERE'LL BE A GREATER VOLUME AND A GREATER DIVERSITY OF PROGRAMS, BUT IT'S UNLIKELY NORAH JONES WILL EVER PLAY THE SUNRISE THEATER. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? YES, IT DOES MAKE SENSE.

AND THAT, I THINK, ADDRESSES THE CONCERNS OF MANY PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

SAYING, WE HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL FACILITY. IT'S A SMALLER FACILITY. AND AND I'M NOT BEING CRITICAL, BUT WE BRING IN COVER BAND AFTER COVER BAND AFTER COVER BAND.

PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO SEE COVER BANDS NECESSARILY. THEY WANT TO SEE THE REAL THING POTENTIALLY.

AND SO I'M THINKING THAT'S WHERE THE DIVERSITY OF THE PACKAGE OF ENTERTAINMENT YOU COULD PUT ON HERE IS BOLSTERED BY THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE SOME LEVERAGE BASED ON THE SIZE OF YOUR OPERATION.

IS THAT A FAIR ASSESSMENT? THAT IS SIR. YES. OKAY.

YOU'VE ANSWERED MY QUESTION. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER SADOWSKI.

THANK YOU. A COUPLE THINGS GOING BACK TO THE SCHOOLS.

I WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE JAZZ SOCIETY YEARS AGO, AND WE DID HAVE A LOT OF ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE SCHOOLS.

THE ONE THING YOU WANT TO DO, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT, MAKE SURE YOU TALK TO FORT PIERCE PD BECAUSE THE LOGISTICS ARE INCREDIBLE.

GETTING THE BUSSES IN, GETTING THEM OUT AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. BUT YOU'D WANT TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WAY IN ADVANCE OF ANY OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

THE ESTABLISHED EFFORT RECENTLY IN THE LAST YEARS IS VOLUNTEERS.

WILL YOU BE COMMITTED TO KEEPING THEM AND KEEPING OUR VOLUNTEERS LOCAL? IS THAT SOMETHING IN YOUR PLANS? OH, YES, 100%.

WE WE LOVE VOLUNTEERS. WE WE I CAN THINK OF SEVERAL BUILDINGS RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE VOLUNTEER STAFF AND TOPEKA AND JOLIET, I BELIEVE AS VOLUNTEERS. WE, WE DO HAVE TO WE HAVE GUIDELINES FROM OUR INSURANCE COMPANIES, SO WE WILL DEVELOP WAIVERS FOR THEM TO SIGN ON TO BE A VOLUNTEER FOR VENUE WORKS.

AND THEN WE WILL OFFER CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE WITH WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS IS FOR TREATING OUR PATRONS. BUT WE ALSO DO THINGS TO REWARD OUR VOLUNTEERS BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING TO REWARD ONE PERSON'S TIME, RIGHT? SO IN TOPEKA IN PARTICULAR, I KNOW THAT THEY DO A SEMIANNUAL RECOGNITION AND BANQUETS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. THE VOLUNTEERS ARE OFTEN THE THE HEART OF THE BUILDING.

THEY'RE THE FRONT FACING STAFF. AND YOU WANT THEM TO BE RECOGNIZED AND REWARDED.

THANK YOU. AND BACK TO MY TIME WITH THE JAZZ SOCIETY.

I WAS ON A BOARD. BUT WE ACTUALLY CONTRACTED WITH THE SUNRISE BACK THEN, AND WE BROUGHT IN DAVID SANBORN, WHO WAS ACTUALLY AT THE YEAR. HE HAD MULTIPLE GRAMMYS AND HE HAD A LOT OF AWARDS.

BUT WHAT WE LEARNED IN THAT PARTICULAR CONTRACT IS WE WERE THE CANARY IN THE COAL MINE.

[02:00:06]

SO DO YOU PAY ATTENTION TO THE ECONOMY AND WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND. WHENEVER YOU START MAKING YOUR PLANS TO TO BRING IN ACTS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

BECAUSE IN THAT CASE, WE THOUGHT WE WERE FIRM AND WE WERE GOING TO DO VERY WELL, BUT WE LOST A LOT OF MONEY.

YEAH. WE PART OF THE BOOKING PROCESS IS TO TRACK TICKET SALES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

2025 WAS A TOUGH YEAR FOR SELLING TICKETS. THE ECONOMY WAS FRAGILE IN 2025, AND WE FOUND THAT A LOT OF PATRONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WERE HOLDING ON TO THEIR DISPOSABLE INCOME AND NOT SPENDING IT ON LUXURY ITEMS LIKE CONCERT TICKETS.

SO YEAR 2025 AS A WHOLE IN OUR INDUSTRY, TICKET SALES WERE WORSE YEAR OVER YEAR BY A DOUBLE DIGIT PERCENTAGE. WE HAVE HIGH HOPES THOUGH, BECAUSE IN JANUARY, WE'VE ALREADY SEEN ENORMOUS GROWTH OVER LAST YEAR.

SO WE THINK WE'RE REBOUNDING A LITTLE BIT. BUT YES, WE, WE TRACK THE ECONOMY, WE TRACK ONGOING TICKET SALES.

WE DON'T WE DON'T JUST PUT SHOWS ON SALE AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.

WE THERE'S, WE, WE WANT TO SELL TICKETS FOR EVERY EVENT AND SO ON.

SO YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW YOU HAVE A GOOD ASSET IN OUR COMMUNITY.

HIS NAME IS DARYL BAY AND BLUEBIRD PRODUCTIONS.

HE WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINATORS OF THE FORT PIERCE JAZZ AND BLUES SOCIETY.

HE HAS A GREAT EYE FOR LOCAL TALENT AND NOT ALWAYS ON THE CHARTS.

SO IF HE HASN'T REACHED OUT TO YOU, THERE MIGHT BE SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU FOR A LOCAL ASSET WHO HAS A REALLY GOOD EYE FOR TALENT.

SO JUST A HEADS UP ON THAT. THANK YOU. LASTLY IN LIGHT OF RECENT ISSUES, I THINK CAMILLE, I SEE YOU HERE. CYAN. MR. CHESS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO.

THIS IS THE FIRST CONTRACT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT SINCE SOME OF THE ISSUES CAME UP OVER THE LAST FOUR WEEKS.

AGAIN, WE NEED CONTRACT CONTROL, REPORTING OF PROGRESS, BENCHMARKING AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS NEED TO HAPPEN.

AND HERE'S OUR FIRST NEW CONTRACT COMING THROUGH.

AND I DON'T WANT TO MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, LET'S NOT MAKE A MISTAKE GOING FORWARD.

LET'S CONTINUE TO YOU KNOW, CREATE THE POLICIES AROUND IT SO THAT WE'RE BENEFICIAL BUT ALSO WE MANAGE THESE THINGS PROPERLY.

YES, SIR. THANK YOU. MA'AM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YES. I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY CHIME IN HERE. I JUST HAD A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE AT THE SUNRISE THEATER A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

WE HAD TROMBONE SHORTY IN TOWN. OH, WONDERFUL.

AND IT REALLY WAS A DIVERSE CROWD THAT NIGHT.

AND YOU KNOW, I SAW SOMETHING THERE WHERE HE GOT THE ALL OF THE AUDIENCE ENGAGED AND DANCING THROUGH THE AISLES.

AND SO THAT WAS A GREAT MOMENTUM BUILDER FOR ME AND TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY WITH THIS POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITY.

SO AS I LOOKED AT THAT MAP THAT YOU PUT OF ALL YOUR VENUES, THIS IS GOING TO BE THE SOUTHERNMOST POINT IN YOUR OPERATION, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. RIGHT. FIRST FORAY INTO FLORIDA.

CORRECT. AND COMMISSIONER GAINES ALREADY OPINED ABOUT THE DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY GROWING.

AND IT'S NOT JUST IN ETHNICITIES, BUT IT'S ALSO IN REGION CULTURE.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT OKEECHOBEE AND PULLING OUT THOSE RESIDENTS IN OR THE VERO BEACH CROWD OR THE THE MARTIN COUNTY CROWDS, ETC., TO COME INTO OUR COMMUNITY THESE ARE ALL DIFFERENT, DIVERSE AREAS THAT HAVE VERY DISCERNING TASTE.

AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THAT RIGHT.

AND I CAN'T IMPRESS UPON ENOUGH THAT WE ALSO HAVE A GROWING RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY FAITH COMMUNITY. THAT'S THE WORD. I MEAN, FAITH COMMUNITY, WHICH IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT OPERATION WHEN IT COMES TO THIS TYPE OF STUFF THAT GENERATES A LOT OF MONEY. AND YOU TALK ABOUT PEOPLE GOING TO SHOWS.

I WATCHED THEM GO TO DIFFERENT PERFORMANCES JUST WITH FAITH BASED TYPE STUFF THAT WE HAVE TOTALLY NOT TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF HERE.

RIGHT? SO I THINK THAT AS YOU LOOK TO SEE THE DIVERSITY OF BEING YOUR FIRST VENUE IN THE SOUTH.

MY CONCERN IS WHAT HAVE YOU IDENTIFIED AND HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT THAN YOUR OPERATIONS? I'VE LIVED IN JOLIET AND I'VE BEEN TO ASHLAND.

RIGHT. SO I UNDERSTAND THOSE COMMUNITIES BECAUSE I'VE TRAVELED THROUGH THEM AND LIVED THERE.

WHAT'S THE CHALLENGE HERE FOR YOU COMING HERE TO THE SOUTH? I WANT TO GO BACK TO WHEN WE HIRE THE STAFF THAT ARE GOING TO LIVE HERE AND PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITY.

THEIR JOB IS TO LISTEN. THEIR JOB IS TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, TO HEAR WHAT.

AS IT TURNS OUT, WHEN YOU PUT SOMETHING ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT SAYS, TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT TO BUY TICKETS TO.

[02:05:03]

AND WE TAKE THOSE SUGGESTIONS AND WE GO BACK TO THE TRADE MAGAZINES TO SEE HOW MANY TICKETS EACH OF THOSE GROUPS SELL.

RIGHT. SO SOME OF IT IS INFORMED SUGGESTIONS OF WHAT THE BOOK, BUT A BIGGER PART OF IT IS, IS THE FINANCE PART TO SEE WHAT IS GOING TO MAKE MONEY OR NOT.

WE, SEVERAL OF OUR BUILDINGS ALREADY PROGRAM A LOT OF FAITH BASED PROGRAMING IN FACT, OUR BUILDING AND ONE OF OUR BUILDINGS IN IOWA ACTUALLY HOSTS CHURCH SERVICES ONCE A WEEK.

AND THEY PAY RENT. IT'S, IT'S WONDERFUL. SO IT'S THE FIRST PART WOULD BE TO GET INTO THE COMMUNITY, TO ATTEND COMMUNITY FUNCTIONS, TO MEET THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND HEAR WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE AND HEAR AND BUY TICKETS TO.

AND THEN THE SECOND PART IS TO START FINDING OUT HOW TO GET THAT TALENT HERE.

AND IT'S. I KNOW THAT BEING HERE IN THE SOUTH IN FLORIDA IS IT MAY SEEM UNIQUE TO US, BUT EVERY NEW COMMUNITY THAT WE WORK IN IS UNIQUE BECAUSE IT HAS ITS OWN HISTORY, IT HAS ITS OWN EXPECTATIONS.

AND WE WANT TO FIND WHAT THOSE ARE AND MEET THOSE.

SO WE'RE EXCITED TO START HERE AT THE SUNRISE THEATER.

WE HAVE A PLAN. H.R. IS STARTED UP MANY THEATERS AND HAS AN ENORMOUS EXPERIENCE IN DOING FOCUS GROUPS AND MEETING WITH THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AND I BELIEVE THE FIRST THING WE DID WHEN WE OPENED THE ASHLAND THEATER WAS JUST OPEN THE DOORS AND WE PUT ON A RECEPTION AND INVITED COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN AND SAY, COME VISIT THE THEATER YOUR CITY HAS FOR YOU.

WE WANT TO INVITE YOU IN AND OPEN THE DOORS, BLOW THE DUST OFF, AND LET'S HEAR WHAT YOU GUYS THINK.

AND SO AS A FOLLOW UP AND THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT. I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT THAT YOU GET INVOLVED WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONS, TAKE MEMBERSHIPS IN THEM WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IN HERE, YOU KNOW, OUR EDC IS GROWING OUR TREASURE COAST COMMUNITY AND BEING A PART OF THAT COMMUNITY AND THINGS THAT THEY'RE BRINGING.

AND TO SEE THE VISION THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH AS A CITY MUNICIPALITY AND A COUNTY IS ONLY GOING TO HELP THAT BECAUSE AS WE BRING IN THESE CORPORATIONS WITH TOP TIER MANAGEMENT, ETC., THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR ENTERTAINMENT AS WELL. THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK TO ENTERTAIN. AND THE LAST I WOULD CHALLENGE YOU ON IS THAT WE HAVE A GREAT HIGHWAY TO INTERSECTS HERE.

THE TURNPIKE IN 95 ARE THE CLOSEST EVER RIGHT HERE IN FORT PIERCE.

AND I DO KNOW FOR A FACT THAT TOUR BUSSES RUN UP AND DOWN FROM MIAMI TO ORLANDO TO JACKSONVILLE, ETC.. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO YOU FIGURING OUT HOW TO GET THEM TO STOP HERE WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK AND MAKING MONEY, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT. AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK I'M HEARING FROM YOU.

THAT MAKES YOU THE EXPERT ON FIGURING THAT OUT AND PUTTING IT TOGETHER IF IT CAN HAPPEN.

I'M NOT SAYING YOU HAVE TO GO INTO THE HOLE ALL THE TIME, BUT SOMETIMES WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE REAL CLOSE TO THOSE MARGINS SO THAT WE CAN GET THE COMMUNITY EXCITED AND GROWING. SO THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER GAINES, YOU WANTED TO, BUT COMMISSIONER JOHNSON STOLE STOLE MY THUNDER A FEW MINUTES.

I WAS GOING TO GO BACK TO COMMISSIONER BRODERICK. COMMISSIONER JOHNSON USED IT AS WHAT? FAITH BASED. YES. I GREW UP CALLING THE CHURCH FOLKS.

CHURCH FOLKS. THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE HIGH END.

YOU BRING A HIGH END ARTIST IN. BUT SOME ARTISTS THAT THAT THAT THAT DOES GOSPEL MUSIC.

THIS AREA, THE EURO AREA, THE MARTIN COUNTY AREA, OKEECHOBEE AREA.

YOU CAN START JUST GETTING THEM IN AND HAVING SOME CONCERTS OF, OF THAT AND IT JUST STARTS TO SPREAD.

SO I'M JUST, I JUST, I WAS A GREAT IDEA. I WAS GOING TO COME BACK AND SAY THAT.

SO. IT'S SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY HERE. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO YOU JUST AS AS COMMISSIONER JOHNSON SAID.

BEING IN FLORIDA, LET'S DO IT RIGHT. SO LET'S ALL BE A SUCCESS.

AND I'D LIKE TO ASK HOW WHAT DO YOU CONSTITUTE AS A SEASON? WHAT'S THE SEASON FOR THE THEATER? I MEAN, ARE YOU DO YOU SEE A YEAR ROUND OPERATION YEAR ROUND PROGRAMING YEAR? WHAT HOW HOW IS YOUR VISION? YOU KNOW, IT GENERALLY YES, WE, OUR GOAL WOULD BE TO OPERATE YEAR ROUND. THE AMOUNT OF TOURING AVAILABLE IN THEATERS BECOMES A LITTLE SLIM DURING THE OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATER SEASON BECAUSE THEY ALL RETOOL THEIR PRODUCTIONS TO PLAY OUTSIDE.

RIGHT. OKAY. BUT THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THERE AREN'T STILL PERFORMERS OUT THERE THAT WILL PLAY BEAUTIFUL THEATERS DURING THE SUMMER, AND OUR GOAL WOULD BE TO FILL THAT BUILDING ALL YEAR ROUND.

YEAH. AND THERE MIGHT BE SOME ROOM FOR CREATIVE PROGRAMING FOR OTHER KINDS OF THINGS.

[02:10:07]

KIND OF TO BRING PEOPLE USE THE THEATER WHEN BECAUSE SINCE I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST VISIT TO FORT PIERCE, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT PEOPLE DO LIVE HERE YEAR ROUND AND, AND, AND, AND I GREW UP HERE AND WAS BORN HERE.

SO PEOPLE DO DON'T JUST COME HERE IN THE WINTER THAT WE HAVE PLENTY OF VISITORS WHO DO COME IN THE WINTER AND PATRONIZE THE THEATER AND LOVE THE THEATER, BUT THE REST OF US LIVE HERE YEAR ROUND. SO I THINK IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE THE FACILITY AND USE IT, SHOW IT OFF AND KEEP PEOPLE COMING AND KEEP AND CATER TO LOCAL PEOPLE, I, I WOULD ENCOURAGE THAT.

THANK YOU MAYOR. I, I DON'T KNOW IF IT HAS ANY RELEVANCE.

MY MY PARENTS ACTUALLY LIVE IN FLORIDA, SO I'VE BEEN TO FLORIDA MANY, MANY TIMES.

AND THEY'RE AN INSPIRATION TO ME BECAUSE THEY LOVE GOING TO THE THEATER.

SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT OF A PENNY PINCHER WHEN IT COMES TO SEEING WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE, BUT THEY LOVE GOING. RIGHT, RIGHT. WELL, YOU'LL FIND THAT BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE LIVE ON FIXED INCOMES, SO YOU'LL FIND THAT KIND OF THING. THAT'S WHY THE TICKET PRICE I KNOW IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND I UNDERSTAND THE SIZE OF THE THEATER.

THE NUMBER OF SEATS HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE PROGRAMING.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE CITY DID WHEN IT TOOK ON THE SUNRISE THEATER, I, AND I WASN'T MAYOR THEN, BUT COMING IN, I REALIZED THAT THE THEATER BUSINESS IS, DOESN'T HAVE A LOT IN COMMON WITH GOVERNMENT.

THAT'S TRUE. AND SO IT'S A, IT'S A DIFFICULT ASSET TO MANAGE WITH A, WITH ALL THE THINGS THAT THE GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS REQUIRE. SO IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF VENUE.

AND BUT PEOPLE HERE LOVE THE SUNRISE AND WHETHER THEY GREW UP WITH IT LIKE I DID OR WHETHER THEY'RE NEW PEOPLE TO THE, TO THE COMMUNITY, THEY CONSIDER IT A, AN, A CITY AMENITY LIKE A PARK OR BETTER THAN A PARK.

AND SO THEY'RE WILLING TO COMMIT A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY TO IT, BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO BE POURING MONEY DOWN A MONEY PIT EITHER.

SO YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING JUST TO ENCOURAGE OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES, YOU KNOW, THE CAR DEALERSHIPS, THE DEVELOPERS DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES TO, TO SEEK YOU OUT FOR SPONSORSHIP OF SHOWS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IF THE SUNRISE DOESN'T MAKE IT, OUR DOWNTOWN WILL SUFFER.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES UNDERSTAND BEING PART OF THE SOLUTION IS HELPFUL TO KEEP THE THINGS GOING, AND I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF BUSINESSES AROUND HERE.

THE CAR DEALERS SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON A LOT OF THINGS, BUT HAVING THEM SPONSOR SHOWS, I THINK REALLY IS SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE THAT MESSAGING HAPPEN. AND WE USED TO DO A LOT MORE OF THAT, I THINK IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE SUNRISE.

ABSOLUTELY. WE, WE, WE HAVE WE DO SPONSORSHIP, WE DO NAMING RIGHTS.

WE, WE HAVE ALL SORTS OF IDEAS HOW TO DRIVE REVENUE THROUGH SPONSORSHIP AND GRANT WRITING.

SO THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES AND WE'LL BE PURSUING THOSE FIRST OFF.

GREAT. COMMISSIONER. MADAM MAYOR, YOU INDICATED THAT THE THEATER DOES NOT RUN LIKE GOVERNMENT DOES.

THANK GOODNESS NOTHING RUNS LIKE GOVERNMENT DOES.

THANK GOODNESS. THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT A CAPITALIST SOCIETY.

THANK GOD THAT WAS IT. JUST OKAY. YEAH, RIGHT.

I SHOULD HAVE SAID WE'RE THANKFUL. ANYTHING ELSE FROM ANYTHING ELSE? FROM THE COMMISSIONERS. MR. CHESS, YOU WERE WERE YOU LOOKING FOR DIRECTION? WHAT WHAT WHAT WERE YOU LOOKING FOR? THIS ONE, I THINK, IS.

MISS HORTON SAID THIS IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES, FOR DISCUSSION. WE WILL RETURN.

HOPEFULLY WITH WITH AN AGREEMENT AND, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE RECOMMENDING THAT YOU APPROVE THE AGREEMENT.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY WITH MR. SILVA. HE'S BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH US AND I JUST WANT TO SAY PERSONALLY GROWING UP IN JERSEY YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING THAT REALLY WAS THERE TO ME ABOUT THE CHILDREN'S EVENTS AND SHOWS.

AND WHEN I WAS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL WE WOULD GET GRANTS THAT WOULD TAKE US TO THE RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL.

IMAGINE BEING IN THE FOURTH GRADE. IT WAS LIKE A PALACE. AND WE DID THAT TWICE, 2 OR 3 TIMES A YEAR.

SO I LIKE THE NOTION THAT YOU MENTIONED BANQUETS AND WEDDINGS AND CHILDREN EVENTS.

I WOULD DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET IN CONTACT, AND I CAN HELP YOU DO THAT WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND GET THEM INVOLVED IN DOING MAYBE DAY TRIPS TO COME DOWN TO THE THEATER TO DO SHOWS ON OUR NOT SO BUSY TIMES.

AND YOU CAN DETERMINE WHEN THAT IS, BUT IT'S CRUCIAL THAT WE GET THE CHILDREN INVOLVED IN THE THEATER, IN THE ARTS. AND DEFINITELY AS FAR AS ENTERTAINMENT'S CONCERNED, THE CONNECTIVITY OF AVENUE D, THE HISTORY THERE WITH THE OLD SHOWS THAT CAME THROUGH THAT TIME, YOU KIND OF CONNECT THAT TO THE THEATER AS WELL.

[02:15:01]

CERTAINLY, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND AND WE WANT TO MAKE MONEY.

WE WANT IT TO BE ENTERPRISING. YES, WE KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING WE DISCUSSED A LOT, HOW WE GO ABOUT IDENTIFYING OUR OUR PRICE POINTS, OUR PAIN POINTS, HOW WE GROW THE THEATER ON THE CAPITAL SIDE AS WELL.

WITH THE CAPITAL MAINTENANCE. WE TALKED WITH THIS, WE DISCUSSED WE'RE GOING TO TOUR THE. AND MR. SILVA'S GOING TO TOUR THE FACILITY WITH MISS KAWANO AFTER THIS COMMISSION MEETING. SEE WHAT THE DATA LOOKS LIKE.

BUT WE KNOW ON THE CAPITAL SIDE THERE ARE NEEDS THERE AS WELL.

SO WE KNOW IT'S NOT A PIE IN THE SKY TYPE OF THING FOR US THAT WHAT WE WANT TO HAVE DONE.

BUT THERE ARE BASIC NEEDS THERE ON DOWN THE CAPITAL SIDE.

ON THE OPERATING SIDE, WE LIKE TO USE YOUR EXPERTISE TO EXPAND THE MARKET, BUT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET TOGETHER AND GET AN AGREEMENT BEFORE YOU THAT YOU FEEL THAT'S THAT'S CONDUCIVE.

AND AS YOU SAID, COMMISSIONER WE WILL WE DO HAVE BUILT IN BENCHMARKS IN THE AGREEMENT.

YOU'LL SEE ATTACHED TO IT. JUST I'LL CALL IT CHECKPOINTS IN TERMS OF HOW WE'RE DOING FROM MONTH TO MONTH ON SALES BOOKINGS, FOOD AND BEVERAGE. SO WE DID BUILD IN SOME KPIS, I CALL THEM KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A PART OF THE OF THE, OF THE AGREEMENT AND NOT SO MUCH THAT THEY ARE PART OF THE PAY ASPECT OF IT.

FOR US, IT'S A PERFORMANCE TOOL FOR US TO SEE HOW WE'RE DOING IN CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE BUSINESS.

SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.

SO A QUICK FOLLOW UP FOR MR. CHESS. MR. CHESS, YOU'RE INDICATING THE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS, WHICH I THINK IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT. IT'S GOING TO GIVE US SOME LITMUS TEST TO TO GO BY WHO WHO'S GOING TO BE OVERSEEING THAT ON THE CITY SIDE.

WELL, WELL, RIGHT NOW IT'S IN THE INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS AREA BECAUSE THAT'S THE AREA.

BUT THE KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS WE'LL BE LOOKING AT AS A TEAM.

WHAT I'M LOOKING TO DO IS TRYING TO APPROACH SOME OF THESE PROJECTS FROM A TEAM PERSPECTIVE, NOT JUST ON ONE INDIVIDUAL, BUT THE KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS. A LOT OF IT IS FINANCE AND AND OPERATIONALLY DRIVEN.

SO YOU HAVE THE FINANCE KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS AND OPERATIONS.

SO IT'LL BE A COMBINATION. IT'S SOMEWHAT COMPLICATED BECAUSE WE HAVE THE CITY UNDERWRITING THE OPERATIONS AND THEN TAKING IN THE GROSS INCOME, ETC. AND WHAT WE'RE PAYING OUT FOR OPERATIONAL COSTS.

I'M TAKING CAPEX OUT OF THIS. IT'S, IT'S NOT A SIMPLE FORMULA.

SO SOMEBODY'S REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO BE DIALED INTO THIS.

AND WHAT I DON'T WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN CANDIDLY, IS A REPORT GETS ISSUED TO THE CITY MONTHLY OR QUARTERLY, WHATEVER IT IS. AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NICE, BUT THAT'S NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT'S BEING THAT'S BEING MANAGED.

AND WHAT THE FINANCIAL DOWNSIDE IS POTENTIALLY OF THIS.

WE NEED TO KEEP A SHORT LEASH ON THIS BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET INTO A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE JUST BLOWING THROUGH DOLLARS OPERATIONALLY AND NOT GETTING A RETURN.

AND I'M ALL I'M SUGGESTING IS THERE'S GOING TO BE A GO TO PERSON.

THIS PERSON IS PRINCIPALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANALYZING THAT INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO BRING IT TO THE COMMISSION. THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING FOR. YES, SIR, I UNDERSTOOD. COMMISSIONER I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO THE CITY MANAGER'S OPERATIONS, BUT I THINK THAT PERSON YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS SITTING IN THE BACK ROOM. SHE SHE SHE SEES ME SMILING AT HER.

SO SHE. I THINK SHE HEARS YOU AND UNDERSTANDS WHAT YOU WANT.

YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS? I JUST DON'T WANT THIS TO BE SENT TO DRIFT.

AND THEN WE'RE NOT REALLY I WANT THIS, I DON'T WANT ANY SURPRISES.

AND I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, THE FINANCIAL ON THIS THING COULD POTENTIALLY BECOME VERY PROBLEMATIC.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT 4.7 MILLION. WE'RE ALREADY COMMITTED FOR OUTSIDE OF CAPEX, WHICH IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY.

I GET THAT, BUT THIS IS BIG MONEY. THIS IS A LOT.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF OPERATIONAL. THERE'S A LOT OF CASH COMING IN, A LOT OF CASH GOING OUT. THEY'RE INDICATING THAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO OPERATE THIS THING COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT. SO WHOEVER MR. CHESS TASKS TO SAY, YOU'RE THE FIRST ONE THAT'S GOING TO GO OVER THIS THING AND GIVE ME AN INITIAL REPORT.

COMPLETE TRANSPARENCY IS THE KEY. SO WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON INCOME WISE AND EXPENSE WISE, BECAUSE I WANT TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT REPORT AND DIGEST IT QUICKLY TO SAY, OKAY, THIS IS THIS IS WORKING THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE. AND WHAT IS THIS, A FIVE YEAR? YES. AND THERE'S A TERMINATION PROVISION THERE WITHOUT CAUSE, I'M ASSUMING.

YES, SIR. IF WE'RE NOT HAPPY FOR ANY REASON OR THEY'RE NOT HAPPY FOR ANY 120 DAYS, OKAY, THAT'S FINE.

BUT YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M GOING WITH THE COLD CASH FLOW THING. I DON'T WANT THIS THING ABSOLUTE IN THE WAY AS A REPORT, AND THE KPIS ON A MONTHLY BASIS WILL LET US KNOW HOW WE'RE TRENDING OVER THE PERIOD OF TIME AND THE INDUSTRY MUCH BETTER THAN WE DO.

BUT SO WE HAVE LIKE TEN KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TRACKING AND SEE HOW WE'RE DOING WITH SALES AND BOOKINGS AND FOOD AND BEVERAGE.

AND THERE'S A BUNCH OF OTHER ITEMS LISTED THERE, AND THEN I'LL LET US KNOW OVER A PERIOD OF TIME HOW WE'RE TRENDING.

IN ADDITION, THEY'LL BE PROVIDING US WITH A MANAGEMENT REPORT AS WELL, SO WE CAN ALWAYS SHARE THAT WITH YOU.

I WOULD LIKE THAT INFORMATION TO FLOW THROUGH TO THE COMMISSION. THAT WILL NOT GO UNDER THE RADAR. WE KNOW IT'S HIGH PROFILE, AND WE PUT A LOT OF TIME INTO DEVELOPING THE RFP AND STILL NEGOTIATION PROCESS AS WELL. WHEN THE TWILIGHT NEGOTIATIONS.

[02:20:01]

I'M GOING TO SAY MY CONCERN IS THAT WE GOT A $4.7 MILLION COMMITMENT HERE, REVENUE SIDE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS. I DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS COMMITMENT.

IF THE REVENUE FALLS OFF OR WHATEVER, THAT WE HAVE A $10 MILLION COMMITMENT HERE, BECAUSE THAT OBVIOUSLY IS A WE CAN'T AFFORD THAT.

IT'S A MASSIVE PROBLEM. SO I WOULD LIKE THAT INFORMATION AS YOUR OFFICE IS RECEIVING IT, FLOW THROUGH TO THE COMMISSION, AND THEN WE CAN WE CAN STEP INTO IT. YES, SIR.

MADAM MAYOR MR. THE 4.6 MILLION IS THE ENTIRE I UNDERSTAND.

I KNOW THAT'S NOT JUST YOU. I UNDERSTAND, OKAY? I WANTED TO BE CLEAR. THEY'RE NOT. LET ME REPHRASE THAT.

WE HAVE A 4.6 MILLION OPERATING BUDGET THAT INCLUDES OFFSETS BY INCOME WE'RE RECEIVING RIGHT FROM THE OPERATIONS OF THE THEATER.

SO IF THAT'S THE METHODOLOGY THAT WE'RE GOING TO USE TO CONTINUE THIS, I UNDERSTAND IT'S CHEYENNE. ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT IF THERE'S A RED FLAG THAT'S GOING TO GO UP, I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT. MONTH ONE, NOT MONTH 24.

TOTALLY UNDERSTAND. AND WE ALSO HAVE THE CONVERSATION.

AND WE WILL BRING THIS BACK TO YOU AS PART OF THE FPR BOARD OF THE TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP FROM THE CITY TO THE FRA.

SO WE HAVE OUTSIDE COUNSEL LOOKING AT THAT AND HELPING US WITH THAT TRANSFER.

WE GOT TO CHECK IN ON THAT TOO. BECAUSE OF THE CAPITAL COSTS THAT ARE GOING INTO THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE NEEDED TO BE MADE AT THE SUNRISE THEATER.

SO THAT 4.6 NUMBER INCLUDES A LOT OF OTHER CAPITAL OUTLAY AND THINGS AS WELL.

SO THAT THAT'S NOT YOUR BUDGET. OKAY. I JUST WANT TO LET'S MAKE SURE.

YEAH. RIGHT, RIGHT. THANK YOU. NORAH JONES IS ON THE WAY.

YEAH. LET'S MAKE SURE WHAT WE'RE COMMITTING TO HERE IN PUBLIC.

ALRIGHTY. REAL QUICK, JUST TO FOLLOW UP, AND JUST FOR YOU GUYS, I DON'T WANT US TO THINK THAT WE'RE PICKING ON YOU GUYS AND WE'RE SAYING ALL THIS STUFF AND YOU UNDERSTAND THE PASSION OF WHERE COMMISSIONER BRODERICK IS COMING FROM.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, STARTING WITH YOU GUYS AND THROUGH EVERYBODY THAT'S LISTENING WITH ALL THESE CONTRACTS WITH THE CITY, IT'S A NEW DAY IN THE CITY AND WE'RE NOT WAITING 4 OR 5 MONTHS.

THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE WE'RE NOT WAITING 4 OR 5 MONTHS TO GO THROUGH WHAT WE WENT THROUGH LAST WEEKEND OR LAST WEEK.

SO THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE HEARING. SO WE WELCOME YOU.

WE WANT YOU HERE. GO RUN OUT THERE AND MAKE IT A TRY TO TRY TO GET HER HERE.

NORAH TRY TO GET HER HERE IF YOU CAN. YOU CAN'T, YOU KNOW.

BUT AT LEAST TRY. BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO WALK AWAY FROM HERE SAYING THAT, OKAY? DO THEY WANT US HERE OR DID THEY WANT. WE WANT YOU HERE.

IT'S JUST SOME FRUSTRATIONS THAT HAVE BOILED OVER TO YOUR PRESENTATION TODAY.

THAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK. SO FAIR ENOUGH. AND JUST THIS IS FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.

THIS COMMISSION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERY PENNY THAT GOES OUT THE DOOR. LET ME JUST MAKE THAT POINT PERFECTLY CLEAR. SO WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. MR. CHESS IS COMMITTED TO THE FACT THAT IT'S THAT INFORMATION IS GOING TO FLOW THROUGH TO US.

SO IF WE HAVE ISSUES, WE'RE GOING TO CATCH IT RIGHT UP FRONT AND CAN INTERVENE TO RIGHT THE SHIP, CHANGE THE SHIP, WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE ARE NOT BURDENED WITH BEING BURDENED WITH ADDITIONAL COSTS THAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE.

THAT'S THAT'S THE ENTIRE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE. COMMISSIONER WE WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR PASSION.

AND THERE'S THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THIS PROJECT IS SO INTERESTING TO US.

AND WE WANT TO BE PART OF IT. AND IT'S ALSO WHY WE PUT THE CLAWBACK PROVISION IN OUR MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT.

WE DON'T NORMALLY DO THAT, BUT WE WANT TO HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME HERE WITH YOU GUYS.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERS AND THAT'S WHY WE DID IT.

WHILE WE'RE SITTING HERE TEXTING, MY WIFE SAID, MAKE SURE YOU RENEW OUR MEMBERSHIP TO THE SUNRISE THEATER. SO I WANT TO WRAP THIS UP AND SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT I HOPE IS A SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO HAVE GIVEN A LOT OF TIME TO THE SUNRISE, BOTH VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE AND STAFF. AND THIS IS, THIS IS THEATER.

THIS IS AN ASSET OF THE CITY OF THE WHOLE CITY.

AND IT'S KIND OF SYNONYMOUS WITH THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY.

SO IT'S VERY PRECIOUS TO US. SO I THINK THAT YOU CAN TELL THAT IT'S PROBABLY THE RIALTO AND JULIET IS PRECIOUS TO THEM.

SO I REALLY THANK YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO A SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. OKAY. BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I JUST WANT TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE CITY IS HAVING TROUBLE WITH ITS WEBSITE. SO IF YOU SEE OUR AGENDA GOING UP AND DOWN, THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM.

SO, OKAY, WE WE KEEP GETTING AN UNSAFE NOTIFICATION.

SO THEY'RE WORKING ON IT. I THINK RIGHT NOW IT'S UP.

BUT IF IT GOES DOWN, THAT'S WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.

ALRIGHTY. SO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET FIRST QUARTER PROGRAM UPDATE COVERING FY 2026 OCTOBER

[C. Lincoln Park Main Street, Inc. First Quarter Program Update covering FY2026 (October 1, 2025 to December 30, 2025).]

YES, MISS CARRITHERS IS GOING TO GIVE US THE QUARTERLY UPDATE FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2526.

READY? LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU'RE READY. AUDREY.

[02:25:15]

I'M HERE PROBABLY TO PRESENT LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET'S FIRST QUARTER REPORT TO YOU ALL.

OKAY. AS OUR OVERVIEW WE HAVE THE MAIN, THE, FOR THE FOUR POINT APPROACH, WHICH IS ECONOMIC VITALITY, DESIGN, PROMOTION AND ORGANIZATION AND AND ECONOMIC VITALITY.

WE'RE LOOKING AT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND SOME OF THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT KEY DELIVERABLES THAT WERE DEVELOPED BY THE CITY IS TO FORM A LINCOLN PARK BUSINESS MERCHANT ASSOCIATION. AND OUR FIRST MEETING IS PLANNED FOR NEXT WEEK.

AND LINCOLN PARK AND WE'VE EXTENDED THAT TO NOT JUST BUSINESSES ALONG THE CORRIDOR, BUT ALSO FOOD TRUCKS AND HOME BASED BUSINESSES AS WELL. AND WE'RE GOING TO LINCOLN PARK, MAIN STREET WILL HELP NAVIGATE THAT AND GET IT ORGANIZED.

BUT THOSE ENTITIES, THOSE BUSINESSES WILL BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING IT.

WE WILL BE THERE AS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND PART OF THE OF THE TEAM.

BUT THE INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES COLLECTIVELY WILL RUN THAT.

THAT ORGANIZATION AND AND DIRECT IT. JOB CREATION AND RETENTION.

THE CREATION OF THREE FULL TIME AND FOUR PART TIME JOBS WITH THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE BLUE CLARINET RESTAURANT IN JAZZ LOUNGE FORMALLY AT THE GRANNY'S KITCHEN IN BANQUET HALL LOCATION STARTED IN OCTOBER.

AND DECEMBER WAS REALLY WHEN THE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT OFFICIALLY KICKED OFF.

AND THE POSITIONS OF CHEF COOK WAITRESSES AND HOSTESS WAS WAS ADDED OUR BUSINESS WORKSHOPS PLANS FOR MAY AND AUGUST OF THIS YEAR AND THE BUSINESS DIRECTORY, A COMPREHENSIVE BUSINESS DIRECTORY INCLUDES THAT DETAILED INFORMATION ON 26 BUSINESSES WITHIN LINCOLN PARK DISTRICT AS WELL AS THE OUTLYING OUTLYING AREAS AROUND LINCOLN PARK AND AVENUE D CORRIDOR, AND WE WILL BE MONITORING BUSINESSES REGULARLY TO UPDATE THAT INFORMATION AS NECESSARY.

AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE ACTUALLY, THIS IS NOT JUST AN EXAMPLE.

THIS IS THE ACTUAL SPREADSHEET, THE DATA THAT IS CAPTURED FOR THOSE VARIOUS BUSINESSES THAT LIST THEIR POINTS OF CONTACT, THE OWNER CONTACT, THE ADDRESS, PHYSICAL ADDRESS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE AND EVEN PHONE NUMBERS.

SO ALSO WITH PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT, THE KEY DELIVERABLES WERE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, PROPERTY LISTINGS, AS WELL AS THE PROSPECT DATABASE. AND FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, THE BLUE CLARINET, THEY'VE UPDATED THEIR INTERIOR BUILDING AT ITS LOCATION. AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THE OPERATORS TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATIONS FOR SIGNAGE AND THE FACADE IMPROVEMENTS.

LAST YEAR WE WORKED WITH THEM TO SUBMIT THAT AND FOR WHATEVER REASONS, IT WAS NOT AWARDED.

SO WE'VE SAID, WELL, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE OF JANUARY, WE WERE GOING TO START BACK WITH THAT AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE WITH THEM.

AND SO WE ARE ALSO PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR MARKETING ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONS, JUST DIRECTING THEM OR SUGGESTING, YOU KNOW, HOW THINGS CAN BE PRESENTED TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL.

MR. WITHERS, LET ME ASK YOU, YOU SAY WORKING WITH OPERATORS TO COMPLETE APPLICATIONS FOR SIGNAGE AND FACADE IMPROVEMENTS WAS THAT GRANT? THOSE ARE GRANTS. THE GRANTS? YES, MA'AM. OKAY.

THAT'S FINE. ACTUALLY, I JUST RECEIVED AND IT WOULD COME UP LATER IN THE PRESENTATION FROM ONE OF OUR OTHER BUSINESSES THIS MORNING.

HEY, I'M READY TO GET STARTED ON, ON THE THE SIGNAGE GRANT APPLICATIONS AS WELL.

SO. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. THE THE PROPERTY LISTING AND LAST YEAR, I MEAN, ORDER WE NOT FIRST QUARTER, BUT THE LAST QUARTER OF FISCAL YEAR 2425, WE DEVELOPED LINCOLN PARK, MAIN STREET DEVELOPED THAT MASSIVE PROPERTY LISTING WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE TAX TAX COLLECTOR PROPERTY APPRAISER'S OFFICE AND WITH THE VACANT LOT CONSTRUCTION, EMPTY BUILDINGS, AGAIN, WE WILL MONITOR THOSE VARIOUS LOCATIONS WITHIN OUR DISTRICT

[02:30:01]

AND SAME AS WITH PROSPECT DATABASE OF INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS THAT'S LOOKING TO, YOU KNOW, ACQUIRE LAND WITHIN THE DISTRICT. AND THIS IS A SAMPLE OF THAT INFORMATION.

AND TO THE RIGHT ARE VARIOUS PICTURES OF THE BLUE CLARINET AS BEFORE.

IT WAS YOU KNOW, PREVIOUSLY GRANNY'S KITCHEN.

SO THEY'VE UPDATED SOME OF THE NO STRUCTURAL CHANGES, BUT JUST MAINLY COSMETIC AND AND DESIGN CHANGES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE. SO THAT RIGHT NOW THEY'VE, YOU KNOW, IT ACCOMMODATES A SMALL STAGE SO THAT THERE IS THAT, THAT, THAT BREAK IN LINE AND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AS WELL AS DINING.

SO DESIGN WITH THE PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS, HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND ARCHITECTURAL STANDARDS, OUR KEY DELIVERABLES ARE, AS WE TALKED ABOUT, THE FACADE GRANT PROGRAM AND ALSO THE IMPACT FEE MORATORIUM AND STARTED IN OCTOBER OF THIS FISCAL YEAR. WE'VE BEEN LINCOLN PARK, MAIN STREET HAS BEEN ADVERTISING THE EXTENSION OF THE IMPACT FEE MORATORIUM THROUGH NOVEMBER OF 2026, AS WAS APPROVED BY THE CITY.

AND AS WE'RE TALKING TO INDIVIDUALS, WE, WE ALSO INFORM THE DEVELOPERS AND THE BUILDERS, HEY, THE IMPACT FEE MORATORIUM IS STILL IN EFFECT THROUGH NOVEMBER OF 2026.

AND FOR THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE RESULTS FROM THE, FROM THE HISTORIC LINCOLN PARK HISTORIC SURVEY THAT WAS CONDUCTED WITH A STATE GRANT THAT ENDED THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR OF IDENTIFYING ALL THE HISTORIC PROPERTIES THAT WE WILL ALSO GO INTO.

PART TWO STARTING JULY 1ST OF THIS YEAR TO START THE SECOND PHASE OF THAT.

AND THEN WE WILL COMBINE BOTH REPORTS AND MAKE ONE LARGE PRESENTATION TO THE STATE, AS WELL AS THE FIRST STEP IN DESIGNATING DESIGNATING HISTORIC PROPERTIES. MASTER PLAN INPUT FOR LINCOLN PARK.

WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH THE CONSULTANT AND AND WE TAKE, WE'VE TAKEN THAT GROUP ON A TOUR AND TALKED ABOUT THE, THE THE SUBJECT AREA, THE ENTIRE, THE ENTIRE STUDY AREA, AS WELL AS GOING TO VARIOUS HISTORIC, HISTORIC AREAS TO IDENTIFY WHAT TOOK PLACE AND GIVE THEM THAT INSIDE KNOWLEDGE ON THAT.

AND THIS IS JUST AS YOU'RE AWARE, IN FEBRUARY, TWO WEEKS AGO, THERE WAS THE COMMUNITY MASTER PLAN PUBLIC WORKSHOP.

SO THAT WAS THE FIRST ONE IN A SERIES OF THREE, SO WE'LL BE WAITING TO GET THAT INFORMATION ONCE.

ONCE THEY DETERMINE THEIR NEXT MEETING, AND THEN WE CAN PROMOTE IT AND GET THE WORD OUT.

SO PROMOTION WITH OUR MARKETING AND EVENTS, OUR KEY DELIVERABLES.

THE SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY SIDEWALK POP UP WAS THE FIRST ONE.

THE FIRST THE FIRST EXERCISE, I CALL IT THAT, THAT WE INCORPORATED SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY, WHICH IS THAT NATIONAL INITIATIVE. AND WITH THE LOW DENSITY ALONG AVENUE D IN TERMS OF OUR BUSINESSES, WE DECIDED TO MAKE IT A SIDEWALK POP UP SO THAT WE CAN INVITE RETAILERS AND FOOD TRUCK VENDORS SO THAT WE CAN CREATE THAT PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC. SO THAT WAS THAT TOOK PLACE ON NOVEMBER 29TH OF 2025.

AND FLAMING KNIGHT MOTORCYCLE CLUB TOY DRIVE.

THIS WAS THIS WAS THE NINTH YEAR OF OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FLAMING KNIGHT MOTORCYCLE MOTORCYCLE CLUB OF FORT PIERCE.

AND THEY HOSTED 25 CLUBS FROM AROUND THE STATE, AS WELL AS AN ESTIMATED OVER 400 ATTENDEES THAT INCLUDED THE BIKE CLUBS, THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON DECEMBER 6TH OF 2025.

AND THAT GROUP IN TURNS GET THE TOYS THAT THEY'VE COLLECTED TO CHRISTMAS ON MOORE'S CREEK TOY DRIVE CHRISTMAS ON MOORE'S CREEK TOY GIVEAWAY AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS FAIR FESTIVAL.

NOW THIS WAS THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THIS PARTICULAR EVENT.

WHAT STARTED OUT AS A TOY GIVEAWAY. THE FOLLOWING YEAR, WE IMPLEMENTED THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS FAIR BECAUSE WE WANTED MORE THAN JUST

[02:35:09]

WE KNOW THAT'S THE CAVEAT, HOWEVER, BUT WE WANTED TO GIVE THEM MORE INFORMATION DEALING WITH THE HEALTH AS WELL AS OTHER VENDORS OF INFORMATION, VOTER REGISTRATION THAT WOULD BE ON SITE.

AND SO THIS YEAR WE IMPLEMENTED THE FRANK L WATKINS FIVE K WALK, WHICH HOSTED ABOUT 55 RUNNERS, WALKERS AND 18 VOLUNTEERS. AND THAT FIVE K WALK IS NAMED AFTER OUR PAST PRESIDENT THAT THAT PASSED AWAY IN OFFICE.

THAT WAS UNEXPECTED. SO GIVEN A LOT IN TERMS OF VOLUNTEERING.

SO WE THOUGHT IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO NAME THAT FIVE K WALK BECAUSE ACTUALLY THAT INDIVIDUAL BROUGHT THE CONCEPT OF IMPLEMENTING THAT INTO THE PROGRAM. SO AT THE GIVEAWAY, THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS FAIR, WE HOSTED A 312 ATTENDEES, 179 KIDS, 770. PARENTS AND GUARDIANS AND THE VOLUNTEERS AND HEALTHCARE INFORMATION AS WELL AS THE WORKERS.

OTHER KEY DELIVERABLES WAS TO REACH 1000 SOCIAL MEDIA IMPRESSIONS.

AND WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF THOSE THREE EVENTS, THE SHOP SMALL BUSINESS AS WELL AS THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS FAIR TOY GIVEAWAY AND THE AND THE TOY DRIVE. WE HAD OUR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS AND REELS OF 20,339 VIEWS.

AND THAT WAS COLLECTIVELY 1805 THREE SECOND VIEWS AND 389 ONE MINUTE VIEWS.

SO 374 INTERACTIONS. SO THAT IN ITSELF TOLD US THAT JUST THE BASIC INTERACTION AND THE INFORMATION THAT WE'RE PRESENTING HAS A BROADER REACH THAN WE ANTICIPATED.

WE THOUGHT THAT WE WERE DOING, YOU KNOW, VERY WELL, BUT THESE NUMBERS INDICATED THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY IS VERY INVOLVED IN AND VERY INTERESTED IN. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT OTHER WAYS TO IMPROVE THAT.

AND THESE ARE JUST YOU KNOW, PHOTOS AS WELL AS SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT'S PRESENTED THERE.

OUR PROMOTION, BRANDING AND POSITIVE IMAGE. THE SURVEYS WE'VE CONDUCTED, WE CONDUCTED THOSE SURVEYS AT THE THREE EVENTS THAT WE HAD LAST LAST QUARTER, OUR SHOWCASE NEWSLETTER WE PUBLISHED YOU KNOW, FOR THE OCTOBER, NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER AND OUR WEBSITE. UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS FOR THAT FIRST QUARTER BECAUSE RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE, OF THAT FIRST QUARTER, OUR WEBSITE CRASHED AND ALL THE DATA COULD NOT BE REDIRECTED.

AND WE TRIED. SO HOWEVER WE WE GOT THE SITE UP AND RUNNING AND, AND, AND, AND INCLUDED ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WAS THERE.

COMMUNITY TESTIMONIALS WERE COLLECTED THE FIRST QUARTER AND WE HAD SOME AT THE CHRISTMAS ON MOORE'S CREEK AND WE MAINLY WANTED TO GET THE INPUT FROM THE PARENTS BECAUSE THE PARENTS ARE THE DIRECT BENEFICIARIES OF, OF THAT TOY GIVEAWAY.

SO WE WANTED TO GET INPUT FROM THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO SEE WHAT IT WAS THAT WHAT THEIR THOUGHTS WERE.

WE KNOW THE KIDS ARE EXCITED AND TO GIVE AWAY THE NUMBER OF BICYCLES AS WELL AS OTHER GIFTS.

WE KNOW THEY'RE EXCITED, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO GET THE INSIGHT FROM THE PARENTS AS TO WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON THERE. SO AND THESE ARE SAMPLES OF THE.

THAT'S ONE OF THE SURVEYS AS WELL AS THE TESTIMONIAL.

AND FOR OUR CHRISTMAS ON MOORE'S CREEK WE HAD A DISTRICT ONE COMMISSIONERS TO PARTICIPATE.

THERE ARE COMMISSIONER JOHNSON WAS ON THE GRILL GRILLING.

EVERYTHING IS FREE ON THAT CHRISTMAS. ON MOORE'S CREEK TOY GIVEAWAY.

THE FOOD, THE BEVERAGES, SNACKS. AND SO COMMISSIONER JOHNSON WAS GRILLING ON THE ON THE GRILL AND WE EVEN HAD COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONER GAINES WAS THERE AS WELL. AND COMMISSIONER GAINES SERVED AS THE AS THE EMCEE ON THE STAGE.

WHEN WE GIVE WHEN WE GAVE AWAY THE BICYCLES AND THE HIGHER END GIFTS.

AND SO WE ALSO HAD A SPANISH TRANSLATOR THAT WORKED WITH HIM THERE.

SO SO THAT'S THE HIGHLIGHT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE BICYCLES ARE THE ATTRACTION.

AND SO WHAT WE DO IS AFTER THE INITIAL TOYS ARE DISTRIBUTED.

[02:40:03]

IT'S THROUGH A RAFFLE. EACH PARENT RECEIVES A RAFFLE PER PER THEIR.

IF THEY HAVE THREE KIDS, THEY'RE REGISTERING OR ONE.

THAT PARENT RECEIVES THAT ONE RAFFLE AND THEN WE RAFFLE IT OFF.

AND THAT'S HOW THE. THAT'S HOW THE BICYCLES ARE DETERMINED TO BE DISTRIBUTED.

SO OUR ORGANIZATION, PARTNERSHIPS, VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT WITH THE SURVEYS, AGAIN, WE CONDUCTED THOSE AS WELL AS THE SHOWCASE NEWSLETTER.

AND I THINK THIS IS A DUPLICATE SLIDE, BUT BECAUSE IT'S UNDER ANOTHER LOCATION, AGAIN, IT'S THE TESTIMONIALS AS WELL AS THE WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION. AND HERE AGAIN IS SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE INSERTED WITH OUR, WITH THE DOCUMENTATION.

SO BUDGET AND REVENUE WE RECEIVED $2,250 FOR THAT FIRST QUARTER.

AND IN TERMS OF REVENUE AND OUR EXPENSES FOR FOR THAT FIRST QUARTER ARE DEPICTED HERE WITH THAT TOTALS $11,957.74. AND SO BASED ON THAT, WE HAVE TECHNICALLY A DEFICIT OF $10,543.53 ON PAPER, BECAUSE WE HAD NOT RECEIVED OUR FIRST QUARTER, BUT WE PROCESSED WHAT WE HAD WITH WITH THE FUNDS THAT WE ALREADY HAD EXISTING.

AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR QUESTIONS OF MISS CARRUTHERS.

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SO I HAVE A QUESTION MAYBE FOR YOU, MR. CHESS. SO THIS IS THE FIRST QUARTER. SO THIS IS IN THIS FIRST QUARTER ENDS IN DECEMBER.

CORRECT. RIGHT. SO IF WE APPROVE THE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, THE CHECK THAT WILL GO OUT WILL BE FOR THE FIRST QUARTER.

CORRECT. SO WE'RE IN MARCH NOW. YES. SO IS THAT THE WAY IT IS WITH BOTH MAIN STREETS? YES. OKAY. SO THE CHECKS SOMETIMES FOLLOW A A LOT LONGER AFTER THEY GIVE THE REPORT.

TYPICALLY IT'S THE NEXT ONCE, FOR INSTANCE, ONCE IT'S APPROVED.

AND THE PAYMENT IS APPROVED, THE PURCHASE IS APPROVED, IT'S ISSUED THE NEXT ACCOUNTS PAYABLE CHECK DATE.

IT'S TYPICALLY CAN BE WITHIN ONE OF THE LATEST TWO WEEKS.

SO WITHIN 1 TO 2 WEEKS, IT'S DISBURSED ONCE IT'S APPROVED.

OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY OTHER COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER BRODERICK? YES, SIR. MY COMPANY LIKES TO DONATE TO CHRISTMAS EVENTS, SO PLEASE KEEP ME IN THE LOOP ON THIS. I SURE WILL. WE'RE KIND OF GOTTEN KNOWN TO BE WALMART'S BIGGEST CUSTOMER FOR BIKES.

WE BUY THEM BY THE TRAILER LOAD AND GIVE THEM OUT AT A VARIETY OF EVENTS AT CHRISTMAS TIME.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE THIS EVENT IN THAT.

ABSOLUTELY. IN OUR DROP OFFS. SO LET ME KNOW.

OKAY. AND WE WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO HAVE YOU TO CONTRIBUTE.

WE WILL DEFINITELY REACH OUT. THANK YOU SIR. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR COMMISSIONER.

MAKE A QUICK POINT. THANK YOU, MISS CARRUTHERS, FOR THE UPDATE.

AND SO I'M REALLY ENCOURAGED WITH HEARING SOME OF THE PARTNERSHIPS AND THE GROWTH PARTICULARLY ALONG THAT CORRIDOR OF AVENUE D AND BUSINESSES THAT ARE, ARE REACHING OUT. HOWEVER, I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS.

I'VE RECENTLY LEARNED OF SOME OF OUR BUSINESSES IN TOTALITY HAVE CLOSED IN THE AREA.

ARE YOU AWARE OF THIS? AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT ARE YOU HEARING? I GUESS ONE, ONE THAT COMES TO MIND IS FLAVOR OF BARBECUE ON 25TH.

THEY WERE THERE FOR A WHILE IN THE OLD DUKE NELSON PLAZA, AND THEY HAVE NOW BEEN CLOSED AND THEY'VE BEEN CLOSED FOR A MONTH.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF SOMETHING HAPPENED, BUT YOU KNOW, AS, AS I'M HEARING FROM RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT, IT'S A, IT'S. BUSINESS IS TOUGH, RIGHT? EVERYWHERE I GET IT AND WE TRY TO DO OUR BEST TO SUPPORT.

BUT THAT'S SOMETHING I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION IF YOU'RE NOT AWARE OF THAT, BUT SOMETHING THAT IT IS IN LINCOLN PARK.

I WASN'T SURE THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH LINCOLN PARK, MAIN STREET, BUT YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF. AND THEN ALSO JUST TO SAY ALSO IN SUPPORT OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE, RIGHT? THE MAUS ON MAUS, CHRISTMAS ON MAUS CREEK WAS, WAS EXCELLENT.

I KNOW THAT THE THE EVENTS COMING UP WHERE YOU WERE A PART OF THE HIGHWAYMEN MURALS THIS WEEK COMING UP WITH THE ZORA FEST. ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE BROUGHT REALLY GREAT ATTENTION TO LINCOLN PARK, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE THEY'RE BURIED.

[02:45:02]

AND SO AS WE LOOK TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE MAYBE MONETIZE SOME OF THESE TYPES OF OPPORTUNITIES? THAT WOULD BE A FANTASTIC VENTURE. I THINK HOPEFULLY YOU'RE LOOKING INTO AS WELL.

OKAY, I SURE WILL. CONCERNING FLAVOR, I WASN'T SURE IF THEY WERE CLOSED BECAUSE I KNEW THEIR HOURS OF OPERATION, BUT I'LL HAVE TO LOOK INTO THAT AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

THEY'RE CLOSED. YEAH. SO NOW I WILL SAY BUT IT WILL BE IN MY NEXT QUARTER REPORT THAT ACROSS FROM THE BLUE CLARINET THERE IS A BOXING, THERE'S A BOXING GYM AND I MET THE GENTLEMAN SATURDAY AT A AT A WORKSHOP AND YOUNG MAN AND HE SAID THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE AN OPENING.

AND I OBVIOUSLY TOLD HIM ABOUT THE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION THAT WERE FORMING AND THAT I SAID, WAIT A MINUTE, A GYM. BUT HE SAID, IT'S A BOXING GYM AND HE HAS A NUMBER OF FRIENDS THAT ARE ON THE POLICE FORCE.

AND HE SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, HE WAS INVITING THEM TO ATTEND, YOU KNOW, TO, TO, TO WORK OUT.

AND IT'S DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM FROM, FROM BLUE CLARINET.

AND I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS GOING TO, YOU KNOW, COME BY AND WHEN, WHEN IS THE GRAND OPENING SO THAT WE CAN MAKE IT, MAKE IT KNOWN TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS YOU KNOW, HELP TO PROMOTE IT.

SO AGAIN, THAT THAT WOULD BE IN MY NEXT QUARTER REPORT AND YES, WITH ZORA AND, AND THAT, THAT INFORMATION, ONE THING WITH THE HIGHWAYMEN FESTIVAL WHEN WE GIVE THE TOURS I CONDUCT THE TOURS BECAUSE THE HIGHWAYMEN HERITAGE TRAIL AND THE ZORA NEALE HURSTON DUST TRACKS.

THEY INTERTWINE AT SO MANY LEVELS, AT SO MANY POINTS.

SO I INCORPORATE BOTH OF THEM. AND THEN WE TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY AT THE VARIOUS BUILDINGS ALONG THE WAY.

AND AND AS MR. CHESS WAS TALKING TO THE, THE, THE GENTLEMAN FROM THE SUNRISE THEATER ABOUT THE ENTERTAINMENT THAT IS TAKING PLACE IN IN LINCOLN PARK, PARTICULARLY ON THE AVENUE DE QUARTER.

WELL, FORT PIERCE WAS ONE OF THE STOPS OF THE CHITLIN CIRCUIT, AND THAT WAS AT THE FLAMINGO BAR AND GRILL OWNED BY MR. LEVI BAKER. AND THEN NOW IT'S BECOME, YOU KNOW, TRANSITIONED TO BAKER'S BAR AND THEN ALSO NOW THE LOVE CENTER.

BUT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOME OF THAT HISTORY AND THAT SOME OF THAT CULTURE THAT, THAT, THAT WE'RE EMBEDDING INTO SOME OF THE PROGRAMING THAT, THAT WE'RE PRESENTING.

SO, SO, SO WITH THAT, JIM, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT TRADITIONAL.

IT'S A WORKOUT. JIM. AND THE YOUNG MAN SAID THAT HE WAS, YOU KNOW, HAVING A COUPLE OF THE POLICE OFFICERS AND I SAID, MAKE SURE THEY, MAKE SURE THEY COME, COME IN THEIR IN THEIR, IN THEIR, IN THEIR VEHICLE, YOU KNOW, SO THAT IT CAN BE PARKED OUT THERE FOR PRESENTS BECAUSE THAT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, THAT'S AGAIN, THAT'S, THAT'S KEY TO SAFETY AS WELL AS YOU KNOW, LETTING EVERYONE KNOW, LOOK, HEY, WE'RE COMING IN HERE TO WORK OUT AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, MISS CARRUTHERS, THE AVENUE DE POLICE SUBSTATION HAD A OPENING OPEN HOUSE.

YES, THEY DID SATURDAY AND THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY MUCH OF A PRESENCE IN THE DAYTIME FROM NOW ON TOO.

AND SO I'M, I'M VERY, VERY GLAD ABOUT THAT. YEAH.

TO WHEN I MET CHIEF SMITH THE DAY OF THE SOFT OPENING FOR THE MUSEUM, I INFORMED HIM.

THEN HE. AND YOU KNOW HE HAD TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE HAVING AN OPEN HOUSE, BUT I WAS.

I WAS OUT OF TOWN THAT WEEKEND, BUT I SHARED WITH OTHERS TO TRY TO GET THERE AND ATTEND.

SO BUT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. YEP. THAT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD THING.

ANYBODY ELSE BEFORE WE GET OFF THIS? I GOT YOU.

I WAS JUST GOING TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT COMMENT ABOUT THE POLICE STATION. I TRAVEL AVENUE D MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY TO STAY OFF OF ORANGE INTENTIONALLY AND DELAWARE DUE TO THE TRAFFIC. THE OPENING OF THE STATION OVER THERE HAS JUST CHANGED THE DYNAMIC IN THAT AREA MASSIVELY.

THE POLICE ACTIVITY IN AND OUT OF THERE IS ONGOING.

THE PATROL CARS ARE PARKED OUT IN FRONT CONSISTENTLY AND IT'S CHANGED THAT AREA SIGNIFICANTLY FOR THE BETTER IN MY OPINION.

AND I'M THRILLED THAT IT'S OPEN AND I'M THRILLED THAT THE IMPACT THAT IT'S HAVING IS IMMEDIATE AND IT'S GOING TO BE TRANSFORMATIONAL.

VERY VISIBLE. YEAH. JUST A QUICK COMMENT, MISS CARUTHERS.

WE'RE GOING TO NEED YOUR HELP. AND I SEE OUR CITY ENGINEER HERE.

WE'RE ABOUT TO BEGIN A MAJOR RESURFACING PROJECT.

YES, OF AVENUE D, AND WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO TALK TO THE COMMUNITY.

ABSOLUTELY. AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE.

IT'S GOING TO BE A DISRUPTION. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO BE, BUT I'M GOING TO ASK STAFF AT SOME POINT DURING OUR COMMENTS.

[02:50:05]

IT IS. AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR DISRUPTOR.

AND WE'RE GOING TO NEED YOU AND LINKIN PARK TO REALLY STAND UP, TO TALK TO THE COMMUNITY, TO THESE BUSINESSES, HELP THEM UNDERSTAND. IT'S GOING TO BE FRUSTRATING.

IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE, RIGHT? BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE DONE RIGHT.

AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE GOOD AT THE END.

BUT, BUT RIGHT NOW I REALLY NEED FOR YOU TO GET THE LINKIN PARK COMMUNITY READY, RIGHT? AND GET THIS WORD OUT THROUGH YOUR NETWORK THAT THIS IS COMING AND COORDINATE WITH THE CITY ENGINEER AS TO WHEN, BECAUSE I WANT TO HAVE A DATE ON WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO START TURNING IT UP MYSELF. ABSOLUTELY.

AND MY BOARD AND I TALKED ABOUT IT THAT I WAS TO CHECK IN WITH ENGINEERING TO SEE EXACTLY WHEN THAT PROJECT WAS GOING TO START AND, AND WHO THE WHO THE CONTRACTOR IS SO THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, BE AHEAD OF IT AND GET EVERYONE INVOLVED.

AND, AND I'M SURE PARKING IS GOING TO BE IMPACTED TOO.

SO YOU GOT TO LET THESE BUSINESSES KNOW IT WON'T BE BUSINESS AS USUAL PARKING WHERE THEY NORMALLY PARK. NOW IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE.

YES, SIR. ANYBODY ELSE? I HAVE ONE QUESTION. IS THE WEBSITE UP YET? YOU SAID JANUARY 26TH. IS IT IS UP. IT'S UP NOW.

IT'S UP. YES. IT'S BEEN UP SINCE JANUARY. YES.

THANK YOU. YES. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER GAINES.

THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. MISS CHRIS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT.

I'M GONNA GO LAST. I'M GONNA JUST START WHERE COMMISSIONER JOHNSON JUST ENDED.

I KNOW EVERYTHING YOU DO. I SEE, I SEE YOU OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT I NEED LINCOLN PARK.

MAIN STREET TO TO DO MORE. AND I JUST NEED TO DO MORE.

YOU NEED TO BE THE VOICE. YOUR COMMITTEE NEEDS TO BE THE VOICE OF OF LINCOLN PARK.

I'VE ASKED SEVERAL PEOPLE OR BUSINESSES, WERE THEY PART OF THE LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET? HAVE THEY CONTACTED YOU? AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT YOU.

SO THERE IS SOME TYPE OF DISCONNECT OUT THERE.

SO I SAID, YOU KNOW, I GAVE THEM YOU GAVE ME YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS BECAUSE I DON'T REALLY LIKE GIVING OUT CELL NUMBERS WITHOUT PEOPLE BY GIVING ME EMAIL ADDRESS.

SO THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY I'M GOING TO FOLLOW UP WITH COMMISSIONER, JOHNSON SAID.

THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO START WITH JUST A CONSTRUCTION THAT'S GOING TO GO ON AVENUE D TO GET ALL THOSE BUSINESSES, BUSINESSES ON BOARD. HOWEVER, THERE'S A BIGGER THING GOING ON RIGHT NOW WITH THIS LINCOLN PARK MASTER PLAN AND ME PERSONALLY COMING FROM SEAT FIVE, I THINK THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION SHOULD BE ALMOST.

I'M NOT GOING TO SAY TAKE OVER BECAUSE IT'S. WE GOT THE CONSULTANT ALL THAT.

BUT YOU SHOULD BE A MAIN FOCUS TO GETTING PEOPLE THERE.

IT WAS A GREAT TURNOUT. I DON'T KNOW WHO GOT THEM THERE.

IT WAS A GREAT TURNOUT AT THE THAT THAT ONE OPENING.

IT WAS LIKE 100 PEOPLE, 80, 80 PEOPLE. AND FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, FOR 80 PEOPLE, ANYTIME I GO TO SOMETHING IN LINCOLN PARK, WE HAVE TO BRING MORE CHAIRS IN. THERE IS A GOOD TURNOUT.

HOWEVER, I FELT THAT MAYBE I DROPPED THE BALL.

I'M GONNA START WITH ME. I DROPPED THE BALL WITHOUT GETTING THE WORD OUT AS MUCH AS I COULD.

BUT ORGANIZATION LIKE LINCOLN PARK, MAIN STREET, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A A MASTER PLAN FOR MAIN STREET.

WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN BLASTING IT EVERY DAY, ALL DAY LONG, BECAUSE YOU AND I BOTH KNOW THAT ONCE SOMETHING GOES ON, THEY'RE EITHER GOING TO CONTACT ME. THEY'RE GOING TO CONTACT COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, THEY'RE GOING TO CONTACT THE MAYOR, THEY'RE GOING TO CONTACT OUR NEW CITY MANAGER AND SOME DOWN THE LINE. THEY'RE GOING TO CONTACT AND FIND OUT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO READ IT AND SAY, LINCOLN PARK, MAIN STREET, AND THEY'RE GOING TO ASK YOU WHAT'S GOING ON. SO I'M THROWING IT OUT THERE. NOW. THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO WE'RE OUT THERE.

BUT TO GET LINCOLN PARK, MAIN STREET REALLY OUT THERE BECAUSE THINGS ARE COMING.

THIS MASTER PLAN IS GOING TO HAPPEN. AND AGAIN, I SAID IT THERE TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN FORT PIERCE SAYING THAT WE ALREADY GOT THE PLANS IN THE DRAWER AND ALREADY ALREADY MADE IT, THAT'S NOT IT.

WE WANT YOUR INPUT. SO PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO FORGET THE MAIN STREET OUT THERE TO SAY, HEY, THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE ABOUT.

AS FAR AS, AS FAR AS WHAT COMMISSIONER JOHNSON SAID WITH HIS CONSTRUCTION, YOU KNOW, OUR COMMUNITY, JUST LIKE I KNOW OUR COMMUNITY, WHEN YOU BLOCK CERTAIN ROADS AND YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT IT ON SUNDAY MORNINGS, BECAUSE ALL THEM CHURCHES ON AVENUE D, AND YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT IT ON FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS BECAUSE OF TWO BECAUSE OF THOSE TWO.

ALMOST 100 YEAR OLD FUNERAL HOMES. SO WHEN YOU.

I'M JUST BEING HONEST WITH YOU. SO WHEN YOU BLOCKING ROADS AND BLOCKING ACCESS TO PEOPLE TRYING TO COME VIEW OR DO FUNERALS.

SO MIGHT AS WELL. MIGHT AS WELL GET THE WORD OUT.

[02:55:02]

BUT I'M SITTING HERE THINKING NOW, HOW MANY CHURCHES ARE FROM US? 1 TO 20 NINTH STREET ON AVENUE D? AT LEAST TEN AT LEAST.

YEAH, YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? AND THAT'S JUST THE ONES.

THAT'S JUST THE ONES WITH THE BUILDINGS. I AIN'T TALKING ABOUT THE ONES THAT DON'T PUT THE SIGN OVER THE OTHER BUILDINGS.

SAY CHURCH OR WHATEVER, WHATEVER. SO IT MIGHT BE MORE THAN WE THINK ABOUT THE PHYSICAL BUILDINGS THAT WE GREW UP ON.

SO THIS IS CRUCIAL. AND THE LAST THING I'LL SAY WITH WITH THE WITH THE POLICE CHIEF OPENING BACK UP THAT SUBSTATION.

LET ME REPHRASE THAT. MAKING THAT SUBSTATION MORE VIABLE BECAUSE WE'RE ALWAYS OPEN, BUT MAKING IT MORE VIABLE TO THAT COMMUNITY.

THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY THERE FOR YOU TO WORK WITH THE POLICE.

WORK WITH THE POLICE TO SAY, HEY, IF ANYTHING'S GOING ON IN LINCOLN PARK THAT I CAN HELP YOU WITH, YOU KNOW, USE THAT OPPORTUNITY. SO I WANT LINCOLN PARK, MAIN STREET TO START SHINING AND SAYING, HEY, WE DO MORE THAN GIVE AWAY BICYCLES. WE DO MORE THAN GIVE AWAY.

YOU KNOW, WE DO MORE THAN SURVEYS. YOU KNOW, WE DO MORE THAN THE WAX MUSEUM THAT WE OUGHT TO BRING IT BACK.

IF WE DON'T BRING IT BACK, IF YOU DON'T BRING IT BACK.

MAKE MAKE SOME POSTERS, PUT SOME POSTERS UP AND HAVE KIDS COME SEE THIS HISTORY OR GO WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

HAVE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM COME DO THESE TOURS BECAUSE THERE ARE. THERE ARE KIDS RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE NO IDEA WHOSE ARE NEALE HURSTON? THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW SHE'S HERE. SO IT'S OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE, AND I END ON THIS.

MADAM MAYOR, YOU HEARD MISS CARRITHERS SAY I PARTICIPATED IN THAT RAFFLE.

DON'T CALL ME NO MORE. I AIN'T GOING UP THERE ABOUT THEM PARENTS FIGHTING ABOUT THEM BOSSES.

OH, NO, I KNOW, I CAN IMAGINE IT WAS A GREAT EVENT.

IT WAS A GREAT EVENT. SEE, CURTIS IS LAUGHING.

CURTIS WAS ON THE GRILL. HE STAYED WAY IN THE BACK AND I GOT SUCKED UP ON THAT STAGE.

IT WAS A GREAT EVENT. BUT PARENTS WERE UPSET ABOUT BICYCLES OR IF THE BIG BICYCLES WENT FIRST.

WHY YOU DIDN'T CALL MY NAME? I WAS LIKE, IT'S A FREE BICYCLE.

RELAX. GO HOME AND DO WHATEVER. SO I JUST SAID THAT GREAT EVENT.

YOU'RE DOING THAT TYPE OF STUFF, BUT LET'S LET'S DO MORE.

OKAY. ABSOLUTELY. TWO FINAL POINTS FOR ME. YOU BOTH IDENTIFIED THE INFORMATION PIPELINE, AND THAT'S THE PASTORS AND THE CHURCHES.

IF WE'RE GOING TO GET SOMETHING OUT ABOUT THE THE LINCOLN PARK MASTER PLAN, THERE'S YOUR ANSWER.

MARK, I SEE YOU'RE HERE. TRANSIT. ADOLFO. ADOLFO NEEDS TO ACTUALLY BE CONTACTED EARLY SO THAT THEY CAN MANAGE THE BUS TRANSFER STATION EARLY ON, BECAUSE THAT'S A HEAVILY USED LOCATION.

THANK YOU. GOOD POINT, GOOD POINT. YEAH. MR. CARRITHERS, IF SOMEONE WANTED TO A BUSINESS.

THAT'S WHAT I MEANT AS A BUSINESS. OR SOMEONE WANTED TO GET IN CONTACT WITH YOU OR COME SEE YOU.

WHERE? WHERE DO I SEND THEM? OUR, OUR EMAIL IS LINCOLN PARK, MAIN STREET@LIVE.COM OR I'M I'VE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE AT THE ZORA NEALE HURSTON BRANCH LIBRARY AS WELL AS ONE OF OUR OTHER BUSINESSES ALONG THE CORRIDOR.

SO I SET UP APPOINTMENTS SO THAT YOU KNOW, IT WON'T INTERFERE WITH WHAT I'M DOING.

OKAY. SO, SO IF YOU CAN GET THAT INFORMATION TO MR. CHESS OR SOMEBODY THAT WE CAN GET IT OUT TO THE RESIDENTS, THEN I APPRECIATE THAT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHTY. GOOD IDEA. YEP. YOU'RE GOING TO WIND THIS UP.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MR. MARK, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

JUST AN UPDATE FOR YOU GUYS. MARK ZAHRAALH, CITY ENGINEER.

WE DON'T HAVE A SET DATE YET FOR THE START. THEY'RE STILL WE'RE STILL WORKING SOME ITEMS OUT THAT NEED TO TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE THEY CAN BEGIN.

BUT LOOKING LIKE MAY IS PROBABLY WHERE THEY'RE SHOOTING FOR RIGHT NOW.

JUST WANTED TO GIVE THAT TO EVERYBODY. OKAY, SO IT'S NOT TOMORROW.

ALRIGHTY. LET'S MOVE ON. OKAY. THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.

YEAH. NOW WE HAVE A AND B. SO AND SO. IS THERE ANY ANY, MADAM MAYOR?

[9. Consent Agenda]

I HAVE A QUESTION. I'LL SECOND. I HAVE A QUESTION FIRST.

PLEASE GO AHEAD. SURE. THAT THE LETTER WAS ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA OR.

NO, IT WILL BE OKAY. I CAN'T ATTACH IT NOW. I GOT A QUESTION.

WHEN WE WHEN WE GET LETTERS LIKE THIS AND WE ATTACH THEM TO THE AGENDA AND WE VOTE ON THEM.

SHOULD THE LETTER BE READ OUT? SHOULD IT LET IT BE READ OUT OR HOW WE JUST ATTACH IT AND WE ASSUME THAT THE RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO READ THE LETTER.

THAT'S THAT'S MY QUESTION TO, I GUESS, MISS SARAH.

I MEAN, MISS, MISS, MISS, MADAM ATTORNEY OR MADAM CLERK.

[03:00:04]

SO HOW THIS HAPPENS IS PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT LETTERS OF SUPPORT HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION.

SO THEY DON'T GIVE ENOUGH LEAD TIME. AND THEY CALL AND I, I MAKE A DECISION THAT YES, THIS IS PROBABLY SOMETHING WE WOULD SUPPORT WITH THAT. AND SO THIS IS HOW THESE WALK ON ITEMS HAPPEN BECAUSE I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO MISS THEIR DEADLINES.

SO I JUST WANT TO EXPLAIN TO THE COMMISSION, I DON'T LIKE TO WALK ON ITEMS. I TRY TO AVOID THEM, BUT THE GREAT COMMUNITY OUT THERE DOESN'T REALIZE WHAT OUR THAT THEY NEED A LOT OF LEAD TIME WITH US.

SO HAVING SAID THAT, FROM, FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, WHEN MISS COX READS WHAT THE ITEM IS, IT SAYS A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR MARINE CLEANUP INITIATIVE FOR THE GRANT TO THE. TO ME, THAT'S ENOUGH.

BUT I WILL ALLOW MISS HEDGES TO CONTRADICT ME.

I WELCOME YOU IF I'M WRONG, MADAM MAYOR COMMISSIONERS AS.

AS MUCH AS I LOVE CONTRADICTING PEOPLE, I DO NOT HAVE A CONTRADICTION FOR YOU TODAY.

I DO THINK ANNOUNCING THE THE TITLE OF THIS GIVES YOU A SYNOPSIS OF WHAT IT IS, AND MISS COX WILL ATTACH THE ACTUAL LETTER ITSELF TO THE AGENDA.

SO THE COMMUNITY WILL HAVE FULL NOTICE OF WHAT THIS LETTER WAS AND IS.

AND OKAY WITH THAT, MADAM MAYOR AND MADAM ATTORNEY, I'M FINE.

BUT YOU KNOW, WE PREACH THIS AND I'M GLAD YOU EXPLAINED IT BECAUSE FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MEETINGS, IT'S ALWAYS LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE AGENDA AND I DON'T YOU KNOW HOW THIS OTHER SIDE THINKS.

LIKE WE WE COME AT THIS LAST MINUTE. SO AND YOU KNOW, WHEN WE PUT SOMETHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, UNLESS WE PULL IT, YOU KNOW WHAT, 20%, 25% OF THE PUBLIC GO BACK AND READ THE CONSENT AGENDA.

BUT I WAS JUST CURIOUS. SO AS LONG AS WE, WE STATE THE, THE SUBJECT OF THE LETTER, WE'RE FINE.

YES, SIR. THANK YOU. NORMALLY I WOULD DO IT AS WE'RE HERE.

I JUST IT'S NOT WORKING VERY WELL TODAY, SO I'M NOT ABLE TO DO IT AS WE'RE HERE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I'M JUST CURIOUS. SO WITH THAT, MADAM MAYOR, I'LL MAKE THE SECOND. OKAY.

ANY DISCUSSION? CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. MR. BRODERICK? YES. COMMISSIONERS. YES. COMMISSIONER. YES, MA'AM.

COMMISSIONER. JOHNSON. YES, MA'AM. MAYOR. HUDSON. YES, MA'AM. OKAY.

NEXT, WE HAVE RESOLUTION 20 6-R10A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE,

[A. Resolution 26-R10 supporting the ongoing efforts of St. Lucie County to place a referendum on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot for voter approval of the continuation and reauthorization of the one-half cent sales tax levy for ten (10) years to fund infrastructure projects.]

ALRIGHTY. WHOSE ITEM IS THIS? IS THAT YOU, MISS COX? YOU'RE ON. YOU'RE ON THAT COMMITTEE, I THINK.

YES. SO THIS IS WE HAVE SINCE 2018 HAD THE, THE BENEFIT OF A ONE HALF CENT SALES TAX SURTAX THAT HAS BEEN FUNDING MUCH OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE PRIMARILY OUR ROAD RESURFACING PROJECTS. AND WE HAVE AN INFRASTRUCTURE SALES TAX CERT COMMITTEE THAT, THAT KIND OF LOOKS OVER IT AND MAKES SURE WE'RE SPENDING THE MONEY WHERE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE SPENDING THE MONEY. THEY DO A REPORT EVERY YEAR TO THE CITY COMMISSION.

JUST KIND OF SAYING THAT WE'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING AND THIS EFFORT REAUTHORIZES THAT FOR ANOTHER TEN YEARS.

THE COUNTY IS THE ONE THAT HAS TO PLACE IT ON THE BALLOT, BUT BOTH THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE THE CITY OF PORT SAINT LUCIE AND I THINK SAINT LUCIE VILLAGE IS PROBABLY GOING TO DO THIS AS WELL.

BUT WE'RE JUST SHOWING OUR SUPPORT THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE THIS EFFORT.

IT CERTAINLY MADE A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE BEFORE THAT, BEFORE THAT WE HAD VERY, VERY LITTLE MONEY FOR ANY DISCUSSION? ALRIGHTY. IS THERE A MOTION? MOVE. APPROVAL. SECOND.

MOTION AND SECOND, CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. COMMISSIONER.

BRODERICK. YES. COMMISSIONERS. YES. COMMISSIONER.

GAINES. YES, MA'AM. COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. MAYOR HUDSON.

YES, MA'AM. OKAY. NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS BOARD AND COMMITTEE UPDATES.

[12. City Commission Boards and Committees Updates]

WELL, I HAVE TWO COMMENTS. ONE IS THAT THE LAST PARKING COMMITTEE MEETING? THERE ARE SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE BEING PUT TOGETHER TO BRING TO THE CITY COMMISSION.

SO THEY WILL BE GETTING A REPORT FROM THE CHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE SOON ENOUGH.

I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'VE COMMUNICATED THAT UP THROUGH THE RANKS. HAVE THAT PUT ON THE AGENDA AS OF YET. BUT I DO BELIEVE IF IT'S NOT FORTHCOMING YET,

[03:05:01]

AND THE CHAIRPERSON OF THAT COMMITTEE CONTACTED BECAUSE THEY WERE GOING TO THEY WERE PLANNING ON COMING IN TO GIVE TESTIMONY ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS.

SO THAT SHOULD BE. SPUN UP INTO THE TO GET IT ON THE AGENDA.

SECONDLY, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH AS A TRUE IRISH AMERICAN.

MY GRANDPARENTS ACTUALLY CAME OFF THE BOAT FROM IRELAND, NOT VOLUNTARILY.

THEY WERE HORSE THIEVES, SO THEY WERE ASKED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY.

AND THEY WERE. YES IT'S TRUE. SO THEY WERE. SO ARNOLD GAINES REFERS TO MY COMMENTARY SOMETIMES AS PASSIONATE.

I JUST LOOK AT IT AS NORMAL DISCUSSION. IRISH PEOPLE HAVE A TENDENCY TO REALLY GET RAMPED UP, AS YOU CAN TELL. AND. BUT I'M VERY PROUD OF MY HISTORY AS AN IRISH AMERICAN, AND I APPRECIATE THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT GIVEN BY THE COMMISSION.

I WAS HAPPY TO DO THAT. WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO NEXT? COMMISSIONER JUST TWO QUICK UPDATES. COUNCIL OF AGING.

AS YOU ARE AWARE, WE GAVE A, YOU KNOW, PROCLAMATION TO OUTGOING CHAIR MR. DRUMMOND AND I CAN LET THIS BOY KNOW THAT THE YOUNG LADY THAT HAS TAKEN OVER FROM HIM WILL BE JUST AS JUST AS PROUD, A LITTLE MORE VOCAL THAN MR. DRUMMOND WAS. SO I'M LOOKING FOR GOOD THINGS TO COME FROM THAT BOARD.

AND ON THE. WHAT IS IT? THE TREASURE COAST LOCAL LEAGUE.

I WAS GETTING IT WRONG. LEAGUE OF GOVERNMENTS.

THE COUNCIL OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT. COUNCIL OF LEGAL.

GOVERNANCE. WE HAD HAD THAT MEETING LAST WEDNESDAY, AND WE HAD AN OUTSTANDING PRESENTATION FROM THE INDIAN RIVER AIRPORT AND THEY ARE RAMPING UP. I'M JUST BEING HONEST WITH YOU.

THEY ARE RAMPING UP TO GET SOME MORE FLIGHTS.

MR. JOHNSON, I KNOW YOU WENT ON ONE, SO THEY'RE RAMPING UP TO GET SOME MORE FLIGHTS.

THEY ARE UNDER MAJOR CONSTRUCTION UP THERE. THEY'RE BUILDING HANGARS EVERYWHERE.

THEY'RE UPDATING THE UPDATING THE TERMINAL FOR THE PASSENGERS WITH THE WHOLE ISO OUTSIDE, YOU KNOW, WAITING AREA. SO YOU GET THE WHOLE FLOOR. FLORIDA VIEW.

AND THEY'RE JUST LOOKING TO, TO DO THEIR THING.

COMMISSIONER CLASBY WAS ALSO ASSISTED ON THAT BOARD AND HE WANTED, HE ASKED THE QUESTION, YOU KNOW, WELL, WHAT CAN SAINT LUCIE COUNTY DO? SO, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY LAUGHED, BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT BE PREPARED FOR SOME MORE FLIGHTS FROM WHAT IS IT BREEZE AND JETBLUE COMING OUT OF COMING OUT OF VERO BEACH ONCE THEY GET EVERYTHING EXPANDED.

SO THAT WAS THE, THE, THE SPEAKER FOR THAT MEETING AND WE'RE JUST WATCHING TALLAHASSEE.

SO THOSE, THOSE WE ALL ARE. WE ALL. SO THOSE, THOSE ARE MY UPDATES FROM MY BOARDS, RIGHT? DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING. HE BROUGHT UP THE AIRPORT AND EVERYBODY ON THIS BOARD KNOWS HOW I'VE BEEN PASSIONATE ABOUT THE AIRPORT.

YOUR MICROPHONE SIR, A LITTLE CLOSER. AND YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT HOW MUCH I PUT INTO THE AIRPORT HERE IN SAINT LUCIE COUNTY.

AND I ASSURE YOU THAT, I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO PRESS ON THE COUNTY COMMISSION TO MOVE THAT FORWARD FASTER.

THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT CAN CAN CHANGE THE WHOLE DYNAMIC OF THE COUNTY AND THE REGION IS TO INCREASE THE LENGTH OF THE RUNWAY TO 8000FT.

CONGRESSMAN MAST WAS ABLE TO GET US THE COUNTY $3 MILLION TO DO THAT EXTENSION.

THE REVENUE IS AVAILABLE IN THE COUNTY TO ACTUALLY FINISH AND PAY FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE RUNWAY.

SO FROM THAT STANDPOINT CARGO COULD COME FIRST, BUT THE PASSENGER SERVICE ALL OF THE INFORMATION FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO'VE BEEN ON THE TOUR TOURIST COMMISSION HAD SIGNIFICANTLY FUNDED THE TERMINAL EXPANSION, THE THE CBP EXPANSION UPGRADES AS WELL AS THE PARKING. ALL OF THE ASSETS ARE IN PLACE.

AND MOST RECENTLY, THERE WAS AN EXPANSION OF THE, OF THE AIRPORT RESTAURANT, AND IT NOW LOOKS LIKE A VERY BEAUTIFUL ENTRY INTO OUR COMMUNITY. WHILE THIS SITS IN THE HANDS OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION THIS GROUP NEEDS TO BE VOCAL ABOUT PUSHING THE ISSUES.

THERE WAS AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY TO NOT HAVE TWO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES OVER THE AIRPORT FOR A REASON.

BUT IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO MOVE THAT THING FORWARD, THEN WE MAY HAVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION GOING FORWARD.

IF VERO BEACH IN THEIR LANDLOCKED AREA, IT'S, IT'S INCONVENIENT TO GET IN AND OUT OF THERE.

THEY HAVE LIMITED PARKING, ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE REASONS WHY THEY SHOULDN'T BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS SAINT LUCIE COUNTY.

IS BEYOND ME. AND SO, SO I WOULD LIKE US TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

I KNOW THAT THERE WAS SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT HAVING A JOINT MEETING, BUT WHEN THAT TIME COMES, WE NEED TO BE IMPRESSING UPON THEM VEHEMENTLY AND COMMISSIONER CLASBY TO SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE HE'S OVER THE AIRPORT IN FORT PIERCE.

[03:10:01]

AND I CAN TELL YOU, WITH THE FOREIGN TRADE ZONE THAT OVERLAYS, OVERLAYS THE COUNTY WITH CARGO COMING IN, BEING ABLE TO CREATE THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR MATERIALS COMING IN.

WITH THE FOREIGN TRADE ZONE PRODUCT COMES IN, IT'S NOT TAXED ON THE WAY IN IT.

THINGS CAN BE MANUFACTURED IN AND AROUND THE AIRPORT AND THEN IT GETS TAXED ON THE WAY OUT WHEN IT'S SOLD.

IT'S BENEFICIAL TO THE MANUFACTURER. IT'S BENEFICIAL TO THE END USER FROM A LOWER COST OF DOING THINGS.

BUT IT'S THE REVENUE THAT WILL COME IN EITHER FROM CUSTOMS WAREHOUSES ON THE AIRPORT.

ALL OF THESE THINGS WE ARE SO CLOSE TO, TO SOUTH AMERICA AND THE ISLANDS, WE SHOULD BE IMPORTING AND EXPORTING OUT OF THAT AIRPORT.

BUT THE RUNWAY HAS TO BE TO 8000FT FOR CARGO TO COME IN.

I HAVE BEEN TO SEVERAL AIRPORT MEETINGS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

MIAMI IS LANDLOCKED. THEY'RE TAKING DOWN OLD FACILITIES JUST TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND.

HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEIR CARGO AND THE NUMBER OF JOBS THAT CAN AND WILL BE CREATED FROM CARGO OPERATIONS IS SIGNIFICANT AND THE INCREASE IN MEDIAN WAGES WILL GO UP EXTENSIVELY.

WHAT'S THE HOLD UP? I'M GOING TO RESERVE COMMENT BECAUSE I HAVEN'T HAD A ONE ON ONE CONVERSATION WITH ALL THE COMMISSIONERS.

AND BUT THEY'RE LIMITED. THE REVENUE IS THERE FOR THAT RUNWAY EXTENSION.

THE TERMINAL IS COMPLETED. THE PARKING LOT IS COMPLETED.

THE ADDITIONAL OVERFLOW AREA IS ALREADY GRADED AND IN GOOD SHAPE.

SO MY UNDERSTANDING LAST I SAW ADMINISTRATOR LANDRY SUGGESTED THERE WERE MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS WITH MULTIPLE PASSENGER AIRLINES. BUT THE FOCUS REALLY FOR RUNNING AND CREATING THE ECONOMIC DYNAMIC THAT WHICH WILL HELP THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND THE COUNTY AND THE REGION, QUITE HONESTLY BENEFIT FOR THE ECONOMIC EXPANSION THROUGH THE CARGO SIDE.

AND IT'S, WELL, IT'S THERE. I'VE BEEN A LITTLE PASSIONATE THE LAST FEW WEEKS, SO I DON'T WANT TO GO ON ANYMORE.

SO THANK YOU MAYOR FOR ENTERTAINING. I JUST BOOKED TICKETS TO FLY FROM VERO TO BOSTON, SO, YOU KNOW, FLY FOR PIERCE TO BOSTON, RIGHT? YEAH.

SO SO JUST NO REPORT. I THINK WE HAVE A FIRE BOARD MEETING COMING UP HERE PRETTY SOON.

NOTHING MAJOR. I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT THE CHIEF'S CONTRACT, ETC., BUT OTHER THAN THAT, EVERYTHING HAS BEEN WELL ESTABLISHED.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY OPENINGS YET OF NEW STATIONS, BUT I THINK ONE, ONE, ONE IS ON THE HORIZON, I THINK 18 OUT THERE AT THE PRUITT. YEAH, IT'S GOING TO BE YOUR NEXT ORDER NUMBER.

ORDER. YES, IT'S OUT OF ORDER, BUT THAT WOULD BE THE ONE THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY OPEN NEXT. BUT YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY COMMENT BECAUSE I DID WATCH THE COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING HERE LAST WEEK. AND I THINK THEY ON A32 VOTE APPROVED A NEW FBO TO COME TO THE AIRPORT, WHICH MEANS THAT OBVIOUSLY THOSE ARE FEW OPERATIONS THAT SELLING FUEL AND APPARENTLY SELL A LOT OF FUEL OUT THERE.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE START, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENT, COMMISSIONER, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND I GUESS MY QUESTION TO STAFF IS, WHEN IS OUR JOINT MEETING WITH THE COUNTY OF I MEAN, WE HAVE, WE HAVE DATES THE THE MEDIATOR HAD A CONFLICT WITH THE SCHEDULE.

I BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO BE MAYBE YOU WANT TO GIVE US AN UPDATE, MISS MOORE. I BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO BE IN MAY NOW I'M MISTAKEN.

OH, I THOUGHT IT WAS ON MY CALENDAR. I THOUGHT IT WAS.

AND THEN IT DISAPPEARED. AND I JUST WANT US TO BE AWARE OF THE SCHEDULE.

BUT ADRIANA.MOORE SPECIAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR.

I'M STILL WAITING ON THE CONSULTANT TO GET BACK WITH ME AS IT RELATES TO MAY 7TH OR MAY 14TH FOR THE JOINT MEETING.

THERE WAS A CONFLICT WITH HER SCHEDULE AND SO I'M JUST WAITING FOR THEM TO LET ME KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO WORK BEST FOR ALL FOR EVERYBODY.

OKAY, SO MAY 7TH, 14TH, ONE OF THOSE. OKAY. DID I JUST PICK UP ON THE FACT WE HAVE A MEDIATOR THAT'S RUNNING THIS MEETING? THE SAME THING. WE NEED A MEDIATOR. NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO, SHE'S A FACILITATOR, I APOLOGIZE.

YEAH. FACILITATOR ONCE WE APPROVED IT A COUPLE OF MEETINGS BACK.

I SEEM TO RECOLLECT THAT, BUT THAT JUST SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE OVERKILL. I MEAN, IF WE PUT TEN OF US IN THE ROOM, YOU KIND OF TELL ME IT'S GOING TO BREAK OUT IN A KNIFE FIGHT OR SOMETHING. I MEAN, GOODNESS GRACIOUS, WE GET ALONG FINE WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. WHAT I BELIEVE IS GOING TO HAPPEN, SHE'S GOING TO MEET WITH EACH OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY AND GET AN IDEA OF WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WANT TO DISCUSS.

SHE'LL DO THE SAME THING WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SIDE, AND THEN I BELIEVE THAT SHE'LL BRING AN AGENDA TOGETHER BASED ON THE INPUT FROM YOU ALL.

SO SHE'S FACILITATED ONE. SO WOULD IT BE YOU GUYS RUNNING IT? SO I GUESS WE'RE BOOKING TWO DAYS. YEAH. WE'RE GOING TO BE THERE ALL WEEK.

NO, NO, MR. JOHNSON, WITH CARGO, THE AMOUNT OF FUEL THAT WILL BE SOLD WILL BE WILL TRIPLE QUADRUPLE THE CURRENT FLOW.

SO THAT'S ECONOMIC DYNAMICS. OVER A MILLION GALLONS BEING SOLD NOW A MILLION.

WOW. ALRIGHTY. IT'S NOT EVEN IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE.

[03:15:02]

YEAH. RIGHT. TRUE. TRUE. SO AFTER ALL THAT EXCITEMENT.

I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THIS SATURDAY IS THE GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP.

AND IT IS MEETING AT ROTARY PARK 8:00 TILL NOON.

AND THIS IS THE DAY THAT WE SHINE AND TRY TO MAKE FORT PIERCE LOOK BETTER.

AND THEN WE TRY TO GET EVERYBODY TO DO IT ALL THE TIME.

SO WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE. I DON'T HAVE I FM I T IS MEETING AT THE END OF THIS MONTH AND THAT IS MY LAST MEETING FOR THAT. AND I THINK THAT'S ALL FOR MY COMMITTEES.

SO IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER.

I THINK WE ARE GOING TO ADJOURN. WE'RE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.