[1. CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:09] >> MAYOR HUDSON: I LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. THIS IS THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE COMMISSION CREDITS APRIL 20, 2026. PLEASE STAND FOR THE OPENING PRAYER BY COMMISSIONER ARNOLD GAINES AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> OUR HEARTS AND MINDS CLEAR, HEAVENLY FATHER. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING OUR GUESTS AND COMMISSIONER AND MAYOR TO COME IN AND DO NOT OUR WILL BUT YOUR WILL. WE ASK FOR THE GUIDANCE ON THE KNOWLEDGE TO PROTECT RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. BLESS THE STATE OF FLORIDA. BLESS OUR COUNTRY. BLESS EVERYBODY THAT NEEDS YOUR BLESSING. WE ASK IN YOUR NAME. AMEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> MAYOR HUDSON: CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. >> MAYOR HUDSON. >> PRESENT. [5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES] >> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK. COMMISSIONER DZADOVSKY. COMMISSIONER GAINES. COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA, THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM APRIL 6, 2026. >> MOVE. SPEAK A SECOND. >> MAYOR HUDSON: CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. >> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK, [A. Arbor Day, City of Fort Pierce] DZADOVSKY, GAINES, JOHNSON, MAYOR HUDSON. >> YES, MA'AM. >> WE HAVE THREE PROCLAMATIONS. THE FIRST IS ARBOR DAY. IN 1872 THAN NEBRASKA PART OF AGRICULTURE ESTABLISHED A SPECIAL DAY TO BE SET ASIDE FOR THE PLANTING OF TREES AND WHEREAS THE HOLIDAY CALLED ARBOR DAY WAS FIRST OBSERVED THE PLANTING OF MORE THAN A MILLION TREES IN NEBRASKA AND IS NOW OBSERVED THROUGHOUT THE NATION AND THE WORLD AND WHEREAS TREES CAN REDUCE THE EROSION OF OUR PRECIOUS TOPSOIL BY WIND AND WATER, CUT HEATING AND COOLING COSTS, MODERATE THE TEMPERATURE, CLEAN THE AIR, PRODUCE OXYGEN AND PROVIDE HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE AND WHEREAS TREES ARE A RENEWABLE RESOURCE GIVING US PAPER, WOOD FOR OUR HOMES, FUEL FOR OUR FIRES AND COUNTLESS OTHER WOULD NOT ASK AND WHEREAS TREES IN OUR CITY AND REESE PROPERTY VALUES, ENHANCE THE ECONOMIC VITALITY OF BUSINESS AREAS AND BEAUTIFY OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS TREES WHEREVER THEY ARE PLANTED ARE A SOURCE OF JOY AND SPIRITUAL RENEWAL. THEREFORE THE MAYOR OF THE CITY DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 24, 2026 IS ARBOR DAY IN THE -- TO CELEBRATE AND PROTECT TREES AND WOOD LANDS URGE CITIZENS TO PROMOTE THE WELL-BEING OF THIS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE WHO HAS JOINED US. MY NAME IS MARCIA WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND I AM JOINED WITH OUR MEMBERS OF OUR ADVISORY BOARD PAST AND PRESENT. IN ADDITION TO MR. MARK GREEN, OUR PARKS AND GROUNDS MANAGER. TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS WE HAVE THIS TRICK ON MS. SCOTT MR. BURNS, MS. WALKER, MS. EDMOND, AND MS. MITCHELL. TODAY THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE PROBABLY CELEBRATES ARBOR DAY AND REAFFIRMS OUR COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING AND EXPANDING THE TREE CANOPY THAT MAKES OUR COMMUNITY HEALTHIER, COOLER, MORE BEAUTIFUL. FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOODS TO OUR PARKS ALONG OUR ROADWAYS, TREES PROVIDE SHADE, IMPROVE AIR QUALITY, REDUCE STORMWATER RUNOFF AND CREATE THE WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT THAT DEFINES FORT PIERCE. AS IT TREE CITY COMMUNITY FOR THE 37TH YEAR, AS WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY DESIGNATED TO THE ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION, WE RECOGNIZE THAT INVESTING ENTRIES IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR RESIDENTS, OUR ENVIRONMENT, AND OUR FUTURE. WE INVITE THE COMMUNITY TO JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL ARBOR DAY TREATED EDUCATION ON FRIDAY, APRIL 24 AT 10:00 A.M. AT PINEWOOD PARK OR WE WILL HONOR THE LEGACY OF SERVICE IN OUR CITY BY DEDICATING FIVE LIVE OAK TREES. THESE TREES WILL STAND AS A LASTING TRIBUTE TO THE COMMITMENT TO KEEPING OUR CITY CLEAN, GREEN, AND VIBRANT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING TOGETHER AND CONTINUING TO GROW STRONGER, MORE SUSTAINABLE AS A CITY. I LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO MR. BOB BURCH FOR A FEW WORDS. >> THANK YOU ALL. I WANTED TO POINT OUT SOMETHING [00:05:01] THAT STEVE, WHICH SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW OR NOT KNOW, HELP ME START THIS 37 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS A CITY COMMISSIONER. I BROUGHT IT BACK FROM WHEN I WAS ON VACATION IN NORTH CAROLINA AND TRAVELED AND SAW THE SIGN THAT SAID TREE CITY USA AND SAID WHY CAN'T WE? I CAME BACK AND GOT IN TOUCH WITH STEVE IN THE FORRESTER DEPARTMENT AND HE WORKED FOR THE ST. LUCIE COUNTY FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS AND DIFFERENT THINGS. STEVE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING IT DONE, THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO WRITE THE REPORTS AND SUCH LIKE THAT TO SUBMIT TO THE ARBOR DAY PEOPLE IN NEBRASKA. IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT THING AND IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF BECAUSE NOT EVERY CITY IS THE CITY. VERO BEACH HAPPENS TO BE LONGER, THEY ARE 44 YEARS. PORT ST. LUCIE IS LITTLE BIT LESS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU GUYS. >> NEXT WE HAVE THE FORT PIERCE [B. Ft. Pierce Sunrise Kiwanis 100th Anniversary Celebration Month, St. Lucie County] SUNRISE KIWANIS 100TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION. WHEREAS KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL IS A GLOBAL ORGANIZATION OF VOLUNTEERS DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE WORLD ONE CHILD AND COMMUNITY AT A TIME AND WHEREAS THE FORT PIERCE SUNRISE KIWANIS CLUB HAS PROUDLY SERVED THIS ST. LUCIE COUNTY COMMUNITY FOR 100 YEARS DEMONSTRATING AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO SERVICE, LEADERSHIP, AND THE WELL-BEING OF GLOBAL YOUTH. AND WHEREAS THROUGHOUT THE PAST CENTURY THE FORT PIERCE SOME SUE KIWANIS CLUB. INITIATIVES THAT SUPPORT EDUCATION MENTORSHIP AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND WHEREAS THE CLUB HAS FOSTERD THE SPIRIT OF VOLUNTEERISM AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT BRINGING TOGETHER INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO CREATE A MEANINGFUL AND LASTING CHANGE. AND WHEREAS THE FORT PIERCE SUNRISE KIWANIS CLUB CELEBRATES ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY IN APRIL OF 2026 IT REFLECTS ON A PROUD LEGACY OF SERVICE WHILE CONTINUING TO INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS TO LEAD WITH COMPASSION AND PURPOSE. THEREFORE THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA, PROCLAIM THE FORT PIERCE SUNRISE KIWANIS 100TH ANNIVERSARY MONTH AND ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS, CITY OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES TO JOIN IN THE CELEBRATION AND RECOGNITION OF FORT PIERCE SUNRISE QANTAS CLUB'S LEGACY AND THEIR DEDICATION TO OUR COMMUNITY. >> MAYOR HUDSON: CONGRATULATIONS, EVERYBODY. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? >> YES, THANK YOU. >> MADAME MAYOR ED COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS DEBORAH MAUCH. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF OUR 100THR ANNIVERSARY WITH THIS PROCLAMATION. YOUR RECOGNITION CELEBRATES ALL OF OUR CITY OF -- CENTER OF SERVICE TO THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY WE DEEPLY APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND SUPPORT. THANK YOU. [C. World Landscape Architecture Month, Florida Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects] CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY. >> OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION IS THE WORLD LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE MONTH. WE HAVE SOMEBODY FROM THE FLOOR TO CHAPTER THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS. WHEREAS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE ENCOMPASSES THE ANALYSIS, PLANNING DESIGN AND STEWARDSHIP OF THE NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT SHAPING PLACES THAT ARE HEALTHY SAFE AND RESILIENT AND WHEREAS APRIL 1ST, 2026 IS RECOGNIZED AS PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE DAY CELEBRATING THE LICENSED PROFESSIONALS WHO EXPERIENCE -- WHOSE EXPERTISE IS ESSENTIAL TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN FORT PIERCE. AND WHEREAS CELEBRATED ON THE THEME OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE IN ACTION WE RECOGNIZE THE PROFESSION'S TANGIBLE IMPACT ON PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES ACROSS URBAN, SUBURBAN, AND RURAL COMMUNITIES AND WHEREAS AS THE UNITED STATES APPROACHES AMERICA 250 WE RECOGNIZE THAT LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURES TRIGGER ARCHITECT HAVE SHAPED AND STORED THE AMERICAN LANDSCAPE, CREATING ENDURING PLACES THAT EMBODY DEMOCRATIC VALUES AND CULTURAL HERITAGE. IN ADVANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. AND WHEREAS THE LICENSE PRACTICE OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE IS A CRITICAL SAFEGUARD FOR PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE ENSURING THAT OUTDOOR VARMINTS ARE DESIGNED WITH TECHNICAL AND ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY AND WHEREAS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS ARE UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO ADDRESS [00:10:02] THE CHANGING CLIMATE THROUGH RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, DESIGN STRATEGIES THAT RESTORE ECOSYSTEMS, MITIGATE ENVIRONMENT HAZARDS, AND REDUCE THE LONG-TERM FINANCIAL BURDEN OF DISASTER RECOVERY ON STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. AND WHEREAS THE ECONOMY OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE IS STRENGTHENED BY THE WORK OF LICENSED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS IN THE ACCREDITED PROGRAMS FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA WHO TOGETHER FOSTER TOURISM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION. THEREFORE I COME AT LINDA HUDSON, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 2026 AND APRIL 1ST, 22 LISA BECAUSE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE MONTH. THE SEA OF FORT PIERCE TO CALL UPON ALL CITIZENS DOES OPERATE LET'S GET ARCHITECTURE IN ACTION AND THE ESSENTIAL ROLE IN SUCH A RESILIENT LANDSCAPE AS WE MOVE TOWARD AMERICA 250. >> CONGRATULATIONS. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT'S MEETING. I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF THE FLORIDA CHAPTER LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS WE APPRECIATE YOUR RECOGNITION OF OUR PROFESSIONAL LET'S GET ARCHITECTURE AND WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE AN IMPACT THROUGH DESIGN AND FORT PIERCE TO SUPPORT HEALTH, RESILIENCE, AND EVERYDAY LIFE THROUGH SPACES LIKE PARKS AND WATERFRONTS. HAVE A GOOD EVENING. >> MAYOR HUDSON: THANK YOU, MS. CRAWFORD. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT SHE WAS ON THE YOUTH COUNCIL. OUR YOUTH COUNCIL AND ATTENDED UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA NOW SHE'S BACK. >> IT WAS A WONDERFUL TIME AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. >> MAYOR HUDSON: YES, THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. [8. ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO AGENDA AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA] >> ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. SPEAR AND ANY ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS, CHANGES TO THE AGENDA? >> ITEM 11AI WANT TO REMOVE. STICKING POINTS THAT WE HAVEN'T WORKED OUT. >> WE WILL PULL IT. 11A. >> MAYOR HUDSON: I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION. >> I WILL SECOND. >> MAYOR HUDSON: A MOTION THE SECOND. >> COMMISSIONER BRODERICK. >> COMMISSIONER DZADOVSKY. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES. >> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. [9. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING PUBLIC HEARINGS Any person who wishes to comment on an agenda item which is not under Public Hearings on the Agenda may be heard at this time and must sign up to speak in advance. 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.] >> MAYOR HUDSON. >> MAYOR HUDSON: YES, MA'AM. >> NO ONE SIGNED UP FOR COMMENTS FOR THE PUBLIC. >> MADAME MAYOR, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT PASTOR BROWN DID COME. HE THOUGHT IT WAS 5:30. I TOOK CARE OF IT. I WANTED TO KNOW -- WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW HE DID SHOW UP. >> MADAME MAYOR. >> ITEM 11A, IS THERE -- I'M SURE THERE'S A REASON IT WAS PULLED. WITHOUT CAUSING ANY DAMAGE TO THE TRANSACTION CAN YOU TELL US WHY IT WAS BOLD? >> ABSOLUTELY. IT'S A MINOR ISSUE. THERE IS A TRANSITION PERIOD WE TALKED ABOUT. THAT LANGUAGE IT WASN'T IN TH THERE. IT WAS YEAR-TO-YEAR, FROM JUNE TO JUNE. >> THEY ARE GOING TO MODIFY THE LEASE? STEAK WE WANTED THE LANGUAGE FOR THE OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE YEAR WAS IN THERE. NEED TO GET THE OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. THE THIRD TIMING WAS THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PAYMENTS. THOSE ARE THE THREE ITEMS. >> WHO IS DOING THE REDRAFT? >> THEY ARE. [A. Lincoln Park Main Street, Inc. Second Quarter Program Update covering FY2026 (January 1, 2026 to March 31, 2026).] >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR HUDSON: WHERE MARIE? >> MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS, LINKIN PARK MAIN UNION STREET, SECOND QUARTER PROGRAM UPDATE COVERING THE FY 2026. >> MAYOR HUDSON: MS. COX, DID WE DO COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? >> NOBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. >> MAYOR HUDSON: THANK YOU. >> AT THE REQUEST, WE WILL TIME THESE REPORTS SO I'M GOING TO PUT THE TIMER AT 15 MINUTES. WHEN THERE'S 5 MINUTES LEFT IT WILL GIVE THEM A QUICK BEEP SO THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN 10 MINUTES TO MAKE THEIR REPORTS AND 5 MINUTES HAVE BEEN ALLOTTED FOR COMMISSIONERS QUESTIONS. >> MAYOR HUDSON: ALL RIGHT. >> I'M GOING TO MOVE THE TIMER WHERE THEY CAN SEE IT. >> MAYOR HUDSON: MS. COX, V [00:15:10] READ THIS ITEM? >> GOOD EVENING, MADAME MAYOR, COMMISSION, AS WELL AS STAFF. THANK YOU FOR THIS SECOND QUARTER PRESENTATION TO THE CITY AS WELL AS TO OUR VIEWING AUDIENCE ON THE PUBLIC. OUR SECOND QUARTER IS FROM JANUARY 1ST THROUGH MARCH 31ST OF THIS YEAR. WHEN WE GO TO OUR GOALS. STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMIC BASE BY SUPPORTING EXISTING BUSINESSES, ATTRACTING NEW BUSINESSES AND ENSURING DIVERSE AND THRIVING ECONOMIC MIX AND ACHIEVE 70% OCCUPANCY RATE FOR COMMERCIAL SPACES. THE VARIOUS KEY DELIVERABLES. WE WILL GO TO WHAT THEY WERE FOR THIS QUARTER. LINKIN PARK BUSINESS MERCHANT ASSOCIATION IS ORGANIZING AND WE'VE HAD OUR FIRST MEETING IN MARCH OF THIS QUARTER AND IT WAS HELD AT THE BLUE CLARINET RESTAURANT AND JAZZ LODGE. FOR NEW BUSINESS ATTRACTION, THE BOXING GYM, A FUTURE WORTH FIGHTING FOR, MOVED INTO THE DISTRICT MARCH OF 2026 OFFERING BOXING INSTRUCTION AND TRAINING. THAT LOCATION IS 910 AVENUE D. IT'S ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE BLEU CLARINET. TO COPE PART-TIME POSITIONS. I'VE BEEN BUSINESS WORKSHOPS AND THAT'S PLANNED FOR MAY AND AUGUST OF 2026 TO BE PROPOSED FOR DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITY. OUR FLYER, THAT'S THE LOCATION, THE FLYER FROM THAT ORGANIZING MEETING AS WELL AS THE LOGO FOR FUTURE WORTH FIGHTING FOR. THAT GROUP IS A VERY YOUNG GROUP, WITHIN THEIR 30S AND WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE PROPOSING TO DO IN THAT AREA. THE TRAINING AND BOXING INSTRUCTION THEY ARE PROPOSING TO BRING A LOT OF YOUTH, THEY ARE VERY MUCH ASSOCIATED WITH THE YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY. ECONOMIC VITALITY. WHEN WE GET OUR PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT. PROPERTY LISTING. WHEN WE LISTED THE PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE DISTRICT AND RECORDED ANY OTHER CHANGES, THIS CHANGE WILL BE ONE WHICH IS THE BOXING GYM. IT WILL NO LONGER BE LISTED AS OCCUPIED. I MEAN IT WOULD NO LONGER BE LISTED AS VACANT BUT NOW WILL BE LISTED AS OCCUPIED. SAME AS, WITH A PROSPECT DATABASE WE WILL UPDATE THAT AS NECESSARY. THAT'S JUST AN ILLUSTRATION. SO WHEN WE GO INTO THE DESIGN IN TERMS OF THE PHYSICAL APPEARANCE AND ONE THING WITH THE MAIN STREET PROGRAM IS THE TO HAVE A CONSISTENCY OF DESIGN STRUCTURES AS WELL AS THE, THE MIX OF COLOR CODES FOR THE VARIOUS BUSINESSES SO THE IDEAL IS THAT WHENEVER YOU WALK, DRIVE THROUGH A DISTRICT, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY KNOW THE YOU'RE IN THAT BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN STANDARDS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. THE IMPACT FEE MORATORIUM IS ONE OF THE ELEMENTS THAT WE'VE BEEN ADVERTISING AND WILL CONTINUE TO ADVERTISE WITHIN THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER ABOUT THE CITY'S PERSPECTIVE ON THE IMPACT FEE MORATORIUM AS IT SPENT EXTENDED TO NOVEMBER 3, 2026. AS WE ARE IN COMMUNICATION WITH VARIOUS INVESTORS OR DEVELOPERS, WE CONVEY THAT INFORMATION AS WELL SO THAT THEY ARE FULLY AWARE THAT YOU WON'T HAVE DIRECT IMPACT FOR BRINGING BUSINESS. THE MASTER PLAN INPUT. WE ARE WORKING, WE BEEN WORKING LAST MEETING, THE LAST WORKSHOP, APRIL 1ST, THE NEXT ONE. WE ATTENDED FEBRUARY 24TH, FEBRUARY 25TH AT THE LINCOLN PARK RECREATION CENTER. THE NEXT ONE WILL BE HELD THERE AS WELL ON, I HAVE TO LOOK AT THE DATE AGAIN. BUT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM AND GETTING THAT INFORMATION. PRESENTED AND THE OTHER SIDE IS THE ADVERTISEMENT THAT WE USED [00:20:05] IN THE SHOWCASE NEWSLETTER. WHEN WE INTO PROMOTION -- WHEN WE GO INTO PROMOTION WE HAVE THIS PARTICULAR QUARTER IS OUR SLOWER END TYPE QUARTER FOR THE FISCAL YEAR SO IT'S OUR SOCIAL MEDIA IMPRESSIONS AND VARIOUS PLATFORMS IN THE WEBSITE AND SO WE HAVE THE 3149 AS A NUMBER THAT WAS REACHED. 7530 VIEWS, THE 3-SECOND VIEWS WERE 705. 2208 VIEWS AND CONTENT AND THATS THE ILLUSTRATION OF THE CONTENT THAT WAS ON DISPLAY. WE PROMOTED THE NINTH ANNUAL HERITAGE CHART SHOWING FESTIVAL. IN PARK M -- LINKIN PARK MAIN STREET, TWO TOURS AS WELL AS THE STOPS AND WE WERE HAPPY TO HAVE THAT STOP AT THE HIGHWAYMAN MUSEUM. EVERYONE GOT OUT AS IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN PAST YEARS WE WOULD STOP AND TALK ABOUT IT BUT THIS TIME WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT JUST TALK ABOUT A BOOK ON TAKE A LOOK. WE PROMOTED THE SOFT OPENING AS WELL AS THE PINE GROVE CEMETERY UNVEILING. THE SOCIAL MEDIA REACH WAS BASED ON INFORMATION FROM THE HIGHWAYMAN THAT'S LISTED THERE. WHEN THEY GO INTO PRINTING, THE RECOGNITION AND THE SURVEYS. WE CONDUCTED SURVEYS AT THE MLK PARADE, WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL BLACK HISTORY PROGRAM, THE BLEU CLARINET, LIVE PERFORMANCES AT JUNE 30TH. I MEAN JANUARY 30TH. MARCH 5TH. IN THE ORGANIZING BUSINESS ASSOCIATION MEETING. A TOTAL OF 20 SURVEYS WERE COLLECTED. WE PUBLISHED JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH SHOWCASE NEWSLETTER AND WE'VE INCREASED THE WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA TRAFFIC RELATED TO DISTRICT INFORMATION AND THERE WERE FOUR TESTIMONIALS THAT WERE COLLECTED THIS QUARTER DURING THE MLK PARADE. A PHYSICAL ILLUSTRATION OF THAT INFORMATION. FOR THE ORGANIZATION, KEY PARTNERSHIPS IS ONE OF OUR DELIVERABLES AND AGAIN, PARTNERING WITH THE HIGHWAYMAN ORGANIZATION OF THE SOFT OPENING IN THE UNVEILING, OUR VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT FOR OUR NEW VOLUNTEERS, THE PINE GROVE CEMETERY, 41 HOURS FOR THIS QUARTER. THAT DID NOT INCLUDE ANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBER MEETINGS. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. WE PARTNERED WITH THE COMMUNITY DEVELOP AND HOUSING ORGANIZATION IN A CONCEPTUAL MANNER TO DEVELOP A MODEL FOR SUSTAINABLE HOUSING WITHIN THE LINCOLN PARK AREA. WE ARE INCLUDING THAT MODEL TYPE DEVELOPMENT, THE APPROACH IN THE GROUND WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SECOND CHANCE ACT WHICH IS THAT STRATEGY THAT'S DUE IN MAY SO THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN SUBMITTED. THIS IS A MODEL OF IT. WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT LOW-COST SUSTAINABLE HOUSING WE COMBINE, IT'S COMBINED WITH SMART DESIGN, LOCAL MATERIALS, AND SCALABLE CONSTRUCTION METHODS. INCREMENTAL HOUSING TO BUILD SMALL ESSENTIAL CORE OF MOST SIMILAR TO THAT TINY HOMES WITH THE KITCHEN, BATHROOM AND STRUCTURE AND LET THE RESIDENTS EXPANDED. THEN THERE'S THE MODULAR PREFABRICATED WHICH IS BUILT IN FACTORIES AND ASSEMBLED ON-SITE. THEN THERE'S THE EARTH-BASED CONSTRUCTION VERNACULAR MODELS. CONSISTENT WITH WHAT ALREADY EXISTS IN LINCOLN PARK PARTICULARLY AROUND THE AVENUE D CORRIDOR. IT'S PROMOTED BY ARCHITECTS. THE TINY HOUSE MICRO HOUSING MODELS, 100 TO 400 SQUARE FEET. SO THE FOURTH WHEN WE ARE NOT VERY BIG ON, WE WILL JUST SAVE YOU WILL LOOK AT THAT AS AN AS-NEEDED BASIS BECAUSE TINY HOMES ARE NOT WHAT IS EXISTING [00:25:02] THERE NOW. IN THE PAST, THE HISTORY OF LINCOLN PARK HAS ALWAYS BEEN SIMILAR TO A TINY HOME, BUT ANOTHER STRUCTURE ON ONE PARCEL THAT THOSE FAMILIES RENTED OUT TO EARN ADDITIONAL INCOME. WE HAVE THE PASSIVE SOLAR CLIMATE RESPONSIVE BASED ON SOLAR DESIGN, AND THEN RECYCLED, AND CYCLED MATERIALS TO BE USED IN TERMS OF YOU KNOW, LIKE SHIPPING CONTAINERS, WOODEN STRUCTURES AND PLASTIC BRICK TYPE SYSTEMS FOR CONSTRUCTION. AND I WERE BUDGETED, WE HAVE FOR QUARTER TWO IS 12.5, AND WE HAVE THE NUMBERS THERE, TOTAL EXPENSES WERE $10,802.13 FOR THE QUARTER. AND A DEFICIT OF $10,802.13. AND THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE. >> YOUR TIMING WAS A VERY GOOD. QUESTIONS? >> MADAM CHAIR, NOT TO QUESTION WHAT A STATEMENT, LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET AND THE RECENT REPORT, CHARLES, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ROUTE -- REPORTED, I THINK YOU SEE THEM IN THE AUDIENCE, THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT, AMAZING PEOPLE. SIXTY YEARS MARRIED, TO SHOW HOW MUCH THEY LOVE EACH OTHER THE PAST WITHIN DAYS BECAUSE HE COULD NOT LIVE WITHOUT EACH OTHER. I WANTED TO MENTION THAT BECAUSE THEY WERE MENTORS OF MINE EARLY ON, OF AS A FREQUENT TRAVELER TO HAVE BREAKFAST THERE, EVERY DAY JUST ABOUT. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT AND UPDATE. I'M SITTING HERE LOOKING AT YOUR REPORT, THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING IT, IT PROVIDES A GREAT OVERVIEW HERE, I'M LOOKING AT THIS IN COMPARISON ALSO TO DRAW THE MAIN STREETS HERE, HEAVY ON THE EXPENSE SIDE. AND REALLY LOOKING AT THIS REVENUE SIDE, WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO ADDRESS THIS IMBALANCE, WHAT I SEE HERE IS HE REPORTED THE FIRST QUARTER, THERE IS NO REPORT, I GUESS THIS IS THE SECOND QUARTER RIGHT NOW THAT WE ARE IN, THAT KIND OF JUMPED OUT AT ME RIGHT NOW AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS, WHAT IS YOUR PLAN? >> SURE, MR. JOHNSON. WITH THAT REPORTING, WE ARE REPORTING BASED ON THE FINES THAT THE CITY AND WE RECEIVED FROM THE CITY. THAT IS NOT A SNAPSHOT OF OUR OVERALL INCOME AS WELL AS EXPENSES. SO MOVING FORWARD, WE HAVE BEEN APPLYING FOR VARIOUS GRANT APPLICATIONS TO AUGMENT SOME OF THE FUNDING, AS WELL AS FOUNDATIONAL DONATIONS AND OTHER TYPES OF MEMBERSHIPS. >> YET, BECAUSE IT IS CONCERNING TO ME AS I LOOK HERE AT THE BUDGET, I'M LOOKING AT DEFICITS. WITHOUT THAT, NOT HAVING A GOOD PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING, I WILL ASK FOR THAT MR. CHAIR AS WE LOOK FORWARD, BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING -- I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU OPERATE AN ENTITY ON A DEFICIT. >>> WELL, ACTUALLY, IT IS A DEFICIT BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE SECOND QUARTER FUNDING. THIS REPORT IS BASED ON FUNDS RECEIVED FROM THE CITY. >> RIGHT. >> WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE FUNDS FROM THE CITY, THEREFORE IT SHOWS THAT WE ARE $10,802.13 IN THE RED. BECAUSE OF THAT. >> THE FIRST QUARTER WAS 3150, SO MY CONCERN IS, HOW DO WE ADDRESS THAT? I THINK I'M ASKING STAFF, FOLLOWING UP WITH THIS WITH UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THERE IS AN IMBALANCE, THAT IS ALL I WILL SAY AT THIS POINT. >> HOW ARE YOU FINDING THE DEFICIT TODAY, WHERE DID THE FUNDS COME FROM TO SUPPORT THOSE EXPENSES? I IMAGINE THESE EXPENSES ARE PAID. >> RIGHT, THEY ARE -- >> HOW DID YOU PAY THEM WITH 12.5 IN REVENUE, WHERE ARE THE EXTRA FUNDS? >> PART OF THAT 15,000 INCURRED WAS FROM THE MOVE THAT WE HAD YOU KNOW, UNEXPECTEDLY IN THE FIRST QUARTER. THAT EXPENSE WAS THE 3000, A LITTLE BIT OVER $3000 TO [00:30:02] RELOCATE, PACK UP, MOVE AND FOR STORAGE. SO THAT IS NOT AN ONGOING EXPENSE, THAT WAS AN EXPENSE THAT RESULTED FROM -- >> I UNDERSTAND THE EXPENSES, I WAS ASKING YOU, WHERE ARE THE RESERVE ONE IS COMING FROM TO COVER THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A 12 AND 15? >> THAT COMES FROM FUNDS WE ALREADY HAD IN TERMS OF WHAT WAS IN SAVINGS, THAT'S WHY WE WERE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD? THANK YOU.% >> DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING? >> THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT. YOUR LAST REPORT WE TALKED, I SAID I WANTED TO SEE SOME MORE STUFF, I'M JUST CURIOUS, HOW ARE THE RESIDENTS MAKING -- BENEFITING FROM THIS STRAIGHT? I KNOW ABOUT SURVEYS, I KNOW ABOUT YOU KNOW, SOME OF THIS STUFF THAT YOU SAY, THE HIGHWAYMEN AND THE GRAVESITES, BUT I ALSO KNOW OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CITY THAT ADVERTISE AND PUT THE STUFF OUT ABOUT THE GRAVESITES AND EVERYTHING. I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT -- COMMISSIONER JOHNSON TALKED ABOUT THE DEFICIT, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THE RESIDENTS OF THE LINCOLN PARK AREA BENEFITING BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER SEEN A SURVEY, HAVE ASKED PEOPLE IF THEY HAVE SEEN SURVEYS. I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR LINCOLN PARK OTHER THAN ADVERTISING TO EVENTS THAT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ARE ALSO ADVERTISING DO TO GET PEOPLE THERE? TO HELP ME, I AM MISSING SOMETHING SO HELP ME FIND IT. SO I CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE RESIDENTS GETTING? >> OKAY SO, TO ADDRESS YOUR FIRST QUESTION ABOUT THE LAST PRESENTATION AND YOUR REQUEST, THAT LAST PRESENTATION WAS IN MARCH. SO SINCERE REQUEST ABOUT LINCOLN PARK MAIN STREET BEING MORE INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY ORIENTED ACTIVITIES, WE -- I HAVE MET WITH THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT CONCERNING THIS UPCOMING ROADWAY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, AND OUR OFFICE WILL BE ATTENDING THOSE CONSTRUCTION MEETINGS SO WE WILL HAVE THE INFORMATION AS THEY ARE BEING PRESENTED IN TERMS OF WHAT ROAD IS GOING TO BE CLOSED, WHAT DETOURS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE TAKEN TO BE CAN PASS THAT INFORMATION ON TO THE COMMUNITY. THAT IS THE FIRST QUESTION, AS WELL AS, BEING ON THE COMMITTEE FOR -- GETTING TO THE INFORMATION OR REACHING MORE OF THE POPULATION IN FORT PIERCE. GRANTED WE ARE FOCUSING ON LINCOLN PARK, BUT ALSO IN FORT PIERCE TO REACH FURTHER THAN WHAT WE CURRENTLY ARE LOCATED. SO THAT IS THE FIRST QUESTION. WHAT OUR VALUE IS, IF YOU WILL EXCUSE ME I MEANT TO BRING MY WATER WITH ME. SO, WHAT IS THE VALUE? THAT WE ARE PROVIDING TO THE RESIDENTS? WHILE THE INITIATIVE THOUGH WE ARE PRESENTING THAT IS DUE NEXT WEEK TO THE STATE IS MORE THAN JUST EVENTS, IT IS MORE THAN JUST YOU KNOW, MEETINGS. IT IS GOING TO BE A NEW ECONOMIC ENGINE THAT WILL PROPEL INDIVIDUALS WORKING WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS, WORKING WITH THE LOCAL BUSINESSES TO SAY HEY, WE HAVE THIS SOURCE TO BE ABLE TO HELP ACCELERATE YOUR PROGRAM, HELP ACCELERATE ACTIVITIES THAT YOU ARE LOOKING TO MOVE FORWARD AND IN TERMS OF INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES. NOW AS FAR AS THE COMMUNITY, WE ARE PREPARING TO WORK WITH THE WHAT SOME OF THE DEFUNDED BUILDINGS, SUCH AS THE LINCOLN THEATRE, IN TERMS OF JUST MOVING THAT AGENDA LONG. [00:35:04] BEFORE WE STEPPED BACK AND WE WERE WORKING WITH THEM AND THE INDIVIDUALS WANTED TO HANDLE IT THEIR WAY. AS AN ORGANIZATION TO STEP BACK AND SAID OKAY, THEN COME BACK TO US WHEN IT IS TIME. THAT IS WHAT WE DID. NOW IS THAT TIME, WHETHER IT IS SOMETHING THEY WANT TO PRESENT, OR IT IS SOMETHING WE ARE GOING TO PRESENT, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED A RELATIONSHIP IN TALLAHASSEE AS WELL AS OTHER ENTITIES TO BE ABLE TO BRIDGE THE FUNDING STRUCTURES COMING INTO THE COMMUNITY. NOW ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS, IF THEY COME TO US, WE WILL WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS. WE WILL WORK WITH GROUPS OF FOLKS. BUT WE CAN ALSO REACH OUT TO THEM TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT WE ARE OFFERING. NOW IF FOR INSTANCE A YOUNG LADY CAME LAST WEEK, AND NEEDED STRUCTURING OF A GRANT APPLICATION, SO WE SAT DOWN AND WE WENT THROUGH THAT. AND PROVIDED THAT INFORMATION, NOT ONLY DID I PROVIDE INFORMATION, I HELPED HER SET UP THE FORMAT, AT THE TABLE FOR HER TO BE ABLE TO CHECK OFF AND WALK THROUGH THAT PARTICULAR GRANT APPLICATION. THOSE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF THE MEETINGS IN WHICH WE PROVIDE TO THE COMMUNITY, WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ENTERTAINMENT. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANSWER, I AM JUST STILL -- >> YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING MORE DIRECT, PLEASE DIRECT. >> I AM, THIS IS FROM JANUARY THROUGH MARCH, AND HE SAID HE HELPED ONE PERSON COME IN -- YOU SAID YOU HAD ONE PERSON CAME IN WITH A GRANT WRITING. HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY KNOW THEY CAN COME IN -- I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE, BECAUSE I DON'T SEE IT. AN END LIVE IN LINCOLN PARK. I WILL JUST BE HONEST WITH YOU. I SAID LAST HIM I NEEDED TO SEE MORE THAN WHAT WE ARE DOING. TAGGING ONTO ANOTHER GROUP IS ALREADY ADVERTISING, AND DOING SOMETHING, IS NOT SOMETHIG THAT WE ARE DOING. OFF WITH AVENUE B, -- AVENUE D, IT IS SOMETHING THE CITY HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE LAST TWO YEARS, THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO, WE HAVE THE GRAPH, WE WILL DO IT, THAT ADVERTISING IS GOING OUT, ADVERTISING IS GOING OUT TO THE RESIDENTS, WE TALKED ABOUT IT HERE WHEN WE STARTED ADVERTISING AND STARTED THE CONSTRUCTION AND TALK TO THE ENGINEERS. WE SAID PLEASE GET THESE RESIDENTS NOTICE OF WHAT IS PART OF THE ROAD, WHEN IT IS GOING TO STOP, ARE YOU NOW SAYING YOU'RE WORKING WITH ENGINEERS TO GET ADDITIONAL WORD OUT? I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT BECAUSE -- SO -- I MIGHT NEED YOU TO -- WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A MEETING. I WILL WASTE EVERYBODY'S TIME. I AM MISSING THE DISCONNECT HERE, I DON'T SEE WHAT WE ARE DOING AND MAYBE I AM TIRED, I WILL PUT IT ON ME TONIGHT. MAYBE I AM TIRED OF. LET'S SET UP A MEETING. >> ABSOLUTELY. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO YOUR OFFICE TWO WEEKS AGO TO SET UP A MEETING, I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING BACK. >> REACH OUT TO ME. DAY THAT I'M NOT HERE JUST TO TALK ABOUT THIS. >> ABSOLUTELY, CERTAINLY. >> MADAM MAYOR, I WOULD ECHO THAT, EXCEPT THAT I WOULD ALSO -- I WANT TO HAVE THE BOARD COME IN. THE BOARD, YOU, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT I'M SEEING FINANCIALLY RIGHT NOW. >> OKAY. >> I NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE PLAN, STRATEGY AND ANY THE BOARD HERE BECAUSE I HAVE CONCERNS. >> MY UNCOMFORTABLENESS, I HAVE OFFICE HOURS WEDNESDAY SO I'M GIVING YOU A HEADS UP. >> OKAY. >> IF YOU WANT TO COME HERE THAT IS FINALS ALSO. BUT NEEDS AN EDUCATION AND UNDERSTANDING. >> YEAH, I WILL DO THAT TOO. >> MR. JOHNSON, I ALSO SENT A REQUEST TO MEET WITH YOU AS W WELL. AND YOUR OFFICE AS YOU WERE NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL THE 22ND, 23RD BY WALK-INS EARLY. SO I HAVE REACHED OUT IN TERMS [00:40:02] OF TO SET UP THOSE MEETINGS. WE ARE AVAILABLE AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND I WILL PASS THAT ALONG TO THE BOARD SO THEY CAN ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES. >> ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >> OKAY. IF SOMEBODY COULD SILENCE THEIR CELL PHONE PLEASE? GRACEFULNESS LINKING I THINK. [B. Main Street Fort Pierce, Inc. Second Quarter Program Update covering FY2026 (January 21, 2026 to March 31, 2026).] -- SOMEBODY'S PHONE. AT THE NEXT AGENDA IS THE MAIN STREET FORT HOPE PROGRAM UPDATE. ALL RIGHT. -- FORT PIERCE. WELCOME. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. COMMISSIONERS, MAYOR. I WILL. >> STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD EVEN THOUGH I DID. >> I AM A CUDDLY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MAIN STREET FORT PIERCE. AND I WILL MOVE PRETTY QUICKLY THROUGH THIS, BECAUSE I WILL USE THE PHOTOS, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK. SO BASED ON ECONOMIC VITALITY WE DO PROVIDE THEIR SHOPPING GUIDES AND ENTERTAINMENT GUIDES THAT WILL BE PRINTED UPON REQUEST, OF THE GREATEST USE RIGHT NOW IS OF THE DIGITAL MAP, SO FORT PETER STE-MARIE NOT RECENTLY ASKED TO ADD A COUPLE POINTS OF INTERESTS TO UTILIZE THE QR QR CODE, RIGHT NOW, WE ARE ADVERTISING -- WE ARE AVERAGING SEVERAL THOUSAND VIEWS A MONTH AND UTILIZATION, IT IS A GROWING SOURCE, WE TRY TO KEEP IT UPDATED AND CURRENT. FOR TECHNICAL SYSTEMS, WE DID ASSIST ONE OF OUR LOCAL OWNERS, FOR SOME STORAGE OPTIONS. REUSE ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF A COLOR PAGE AND THE FOCUS MAGAZINE EACH MONTH TO ADVERTISE LOCAL OPEN PROPERTIES, WE ALSO DO ARTICLES ON NEW BUSINESSES THAT ARE COMING IN, THESE ARE JUST A COUPLE EXAMPLES OF OUR MOST RECENT ONES, THAT SCAN HERE QR CODE IS ALSO VISIBLE IN A LOT OF OUR MARKETING AND ADVERTISING BRINGING YOU TO THE DIGITAL MAP TO NAVIGATE THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES AND ADJACENT AREAS, YOU ALSO HAVE MULTIPLE DIST DISTRICTS. WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDING THE INFORMATION, WE PROVIDED UPON REQUEST, IT IS WELL ADVERTISED AND WE UTILIZE THE FOCUS MAGAZINE TO TALK ABOUT IT. THE SAME THING WITH THE IMPACT MONITORY HIM. ONE OF THE ITEMS WE ARE VERY PASSIONATE AND EXCITED TO SHARE SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS WE ARE MAKING ON THE HOUSE RIGHT NOW, THIS HOME AS MANY OF YOU KNOW IS 130 YEARS OLD THIS YEAR, UPSTAIRS SERVING THE OFFICES OF MAIN STREET FORT PIERCE AND THE DOWNTOWN AREA WERE TRYING TO EXPAND PUBLIC USE INCLUDING ART SHOWS FOR LOCAL ARTISTS AND EXPANDING THE USE OF THE PATIO AND AREA, WE DID THAT WITH THE POP-UP CHRISTMAS MARKET THIS PAST YEAR. OUR BOARD HAS BEEN PERSONALLY INVESTED IN THIS, YOU SEE PHOTOS OF OUR ACTUAL BOARD MEMBERS OUT ON A SATURDAY COMING OUT AND DOING TREE TRIMMING, BUSH TRIMMING, FIXING PIPES. WE RECENTLY HAD THE DRIVEWAY RETAP DOWN, WE HAVE BEEN PRIVILEGED TO BE AWARDED SOME -- FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES WHICH WAS VERY APPRECIATED, THAT IS DUE TO THE DIRECT OUTREACH OF OUR BO BOARD. ARE ALSO PLEASED TO FEATURE AN ARTICLE -- NOT JUST AN ARTICLE BOUGHT A COVER ON FORT PIERCE EDUCATING ON WHAT THEY DO AND THEIR UPCOMING PROJECTS, YOUR MOST RECENT REPORT HAS BEEN PROVIDED, WE'RE ALWAYS HAPPY, HAPPY TO SHARE ANOTHER PLATFORM FOR WHAT THEY DO, SO MUCH OF IT ALIGNS WITH OUR OWN GOALS. ON EVENTS, WE HAVE SOME UPDATES HERE, SOME OF THESE DON'T HAPPEN DURING THIS TIME OF YEAR BUT FOR INSTANCE, WE HAVE DATES FOR SMALL SHOP SATURDAY, THE GHOST WALKS ON GOING PROJECT, RESEARCH, WE ARE ACTUALLY RIGHT NOW WORKING ON THE SCRIPTS AND PATHWAYS FOR THIS COMING OCTOBER, SPECIFICALLY REALLY [00:45:03] LOOK INTO FOCUS ON GATHERING STORIES FROM THOSE WHO HAVE LIVED HERE DURING THE 50S AND 60S BECAUSE THAT'S THE GENERATION WE ARE LOSING OUR HISTORY, WHICH IS A FINITE RESOURCE, IT'S A DIMINISHING RESOURCE. WE ARE LOOKING FOR THAT IF THERE'S ANYBODY IN THE PUBLIC THAT HAS PHOTOS OR INFORMATION ON THE 50S OR 60S IN FORT PIERCE. IN ADDITION TO COFFEE WITH THE MAYOR, AND OUR REGULAR FRIDAY FAST, WE ACTUALLY -- WE ALSO HAD FOR THE MAIN STREET BROUGHT IN BOARD TRAINING WITH BOARD MEMBERS FROM I BELIEVE SEVEN OR EIGHT AT LEAST DIFFERENT MAIN STREETS ACROSS THE STATE, OVER 30 INDIVIDUALS COMING TOGETHER TO UTILIZE THE FORT PIERCE YACHT CLUB FOR TRAINING, THAT WAS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. JUST A LITTLE BIT OF OUR FAVORITE PHOTOS THAT HAPPEN DURING THE LAST QUARTER, FORT PIERCE DAYS A SPECIAL PLACE, IT HAS UNIQUE CHARM AND CHARISMA AND SOMETIMES OUR SUNSETS TELL THAT STORY. AND OF THE THINGS IMPORTANT TO KNOW IN ADDITION TO THE PEOPLE THAT DO WORK VERY HARD IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL CAPACITIES HAS THE BOARD IS INCREDIBLY ACTIVE, VOLUNTEER BASE IS ACTIVE. A LOT OF THESE EVENTS ARE LARGELY STAFFED BY VOLUNTEERS. WE WERE ALSO PLEASED TO BRING HER IN SEVERAL NEW VENDORS AND NOT JUST BUT WE WILL CONSIDER THE CRAFT SHOPPING AREA, BUT FOOD VENDORS INTO FRIDAY FEST, STAYING CONSISTENTLY UP, WE'RE LOOKING AT INCREASED ATTENDANCE AND INCREASED POSITIVE WORD-OF-MOUTH. SO WE DID A PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE BRAND RECOGNITION SURVEY GAINED IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THOSE ELEMENTS, ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RECOGNITION OF OUR ORGANIZATION AND RECOGNITION OF MISSION, WE ARE ADDRESSING FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED AND LOOKING TO DO A RETEST AND PROBABLY THE THIRD OR FOURTH QUARTER. OUR WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA CONTINUES TO STAY ON TRACK, WE ARE MEETING THAT INCREASED 10 PERCENT, OVER TIME, THE FOCUS MAGAZINE IS A 32 PAGE PUBLICATION THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED EACH MONTH IN ADDITION TO THE ONLINE READING, WE PRINT ALMOST 10,000 ISSUES A QUARTER, AND EACH MONTH WE MAIL OVER 2000 OF THOSE, FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IT IS ONE OF THEIR LAST PIECES OF PAPER MEDIA THEY RECEIVE. THAT CONTINUES TO BE OUR ANNUAL READERSHIP IS OVER 50,000 IS THE CIRCULATION. SO WE HAVE ALSO -- WE HAVE COLLECTED TESTIMONIALS, BUT WE HAVE NOT BEEN VERY DILIGENT IN COLLECTING THOSE IN THE LAST TWO QUARTERS. IT'S ONE OF THE ITEMS WE ARE LOOKING AT COLLECTING ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, ANTICIPATE PALLING THOSE ON THE FOURTH OF JULY. WAGE FOURTH OF JULY AND STARS OVERSIGHTS AND SOUNDS ARE ITEMS OUTSIDE OF OUR AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY, BUT THOSE ARE ITEMS WE WERE GONE IN PARTNERSHIP ALL YEAR, WHICH IS ALSO PART OF OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE FRIENDS THAT WERE HERE TONIGHT, ONGOING ANNUAL BASIS. THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF THE COVERAGE WE HAVE PUT IN THE LAST QUARTER, COVERAGE OF THE FOCUS MAGAZINE AND FOCUSED INSIDE. I MENTIONED OUR COLLABORATION WITH THIS CITY, ALSO WORK QUITE A BIT WITH THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY ONTO THE GHOST WALK STORIES, THAT IS AN ONGOING LABOR, AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS WILL HAVE LOT OF HISTORIC KNOWLEDGE, BRENGLE ONTO THE TABLE AND SHARING INFORMATION WITH US. OUR VOLUNTEER HOURS WERE 91 THIS QUARTER, WE HAD QUITE A BIT AND INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERS ON PHYSICAL PROJECTS AS WELL AS THE IN-KIND DONORS KIND OF THEIR TIME, WE HAVE MORE THAN ONE THAT CAME IN WITH THE CREW, WE HAD THE WORKERS WORKING ENTIRE DAYS. I MAY BE WRONG ON THE MULTIPLIER FOR THIS STATE, I FOUND OUT A COUPLE DAYS AGO THEY HAVE NOT ANNOUNCED THEIR MULTIPLIER THIS QUARTER, SO THE 31-61 MAY BE OFF. BUT I WILL BE HAPPY TO UPDATE THAT. IN TERMS OF RESOURCES AND SALARIES WE DON'T RELY ON THE CITY FOR SALARIES WILL BE ALLOCATED A PERCENTAGE OF THE FUNDING AND REPORTING TO SHARE WITH THAT REPRESENTS, ANIMOSITY FUNDS DO MAKE A PORTION OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET, IT IS ALSO COMPRISED OF MEMBERSHIP, FUND-RAISING ACTIVITY, THE ALSO [00:50:01] HAVE DONATIONS, AND ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OF THE SCOPE OF OUR AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY. ONE OF THE ITEMS WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO CELEBRATE IN FEBRUARY AND THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSIONER, MAYOR FOR COMING OUT TO SEVERED 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITY, AT FRIDAY FEST, THAT IS ANOTHER ITEM WE ARE TRYING TO ADD TO OUR REPERTOIRE, YOU WERE ABLE TO SUB OR THE ELKS 100 ANNIVERSARY IN MARCH, AND WE'RE LOOKING TO EACH ONE HAS SOMETHING SPECIFIC VALUE ADDED, OR TIE INTO THE COMMUNITY WHETHER THAT IS RIBS PERFORMING, OTHER NOTABLE ANNIVERSARY, JUST TO HAVE A BIT OF ATTACHING A COMMUNITY. AND WE ARE VERY LUCKY, I HAVE TO TELL YOU, THE GENTLEMAN IN THE REDSHIRT, HE IS ONE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS. HE IS NEARING ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS. [LAUGHTER] HE IS FREQUENTLY THERE. WE CAME OUT A RAIN OR SHINE, IT WAS COLD BUT HERE WE WERE. THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF OUR DATA FOR OUR BUDGET. WE ARE COUNTING IN THE QUARTER, WHILE WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE LETTER Q2 FONDA, WE ARE COUNTING WHAT WE RECEIVE WITHIN QUARTER TWO WHICH WAS FUNDING FOR QUARTER ONE. WE HAVE OUR EXPENSES -- I WANT TO QUICKLY EXPLAIN, OUR PROGRAM SERVICE REVENUE, CORRELATES TO OUR PROGRAM EXPENSES, WAS SURE TO BE AWASH BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE FOCUS MAGAZINE, WE HAVE ABSORBED MORE COSTS THAN WE HAVE TAKEN OUT, IT MEANS MAIN STREET IS SHOULDERING AN ADDITIONAL COST FOR THE FOCUS MAGAZINE. AND -- BECAUSE I WAS ASKED WHATEVER DEFICIT REPRESENTS, AND IN THIS SPECIFIC INSTANCE OUR DEFICIT IS DIRECTLY REPRESENTED BY THAT. IN THIS QUARTER. PLEASE TRY PLEASED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. >> SOME VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPHS AT THE VINTAGE GALLERY IN THE BUILDING FROM THE 50S AND 60S, THEY DID AN EXHIBIT FOUR FORT PIERCE KIND THAT IS A GOOD SOURCE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, WE ARE IN THERE AS WELL. WE'RE VERY INTERESTED INTERESTED IN GETTING ORAL HISTORIES, WE RECOGNIZE THAT WHILE IT MAY TAKE DECADES TRULY TO FULLY SORT THROUGH AND UTILIZE THEM, OUR HISTORY IS FLEETING. IT IS A NICE WAY OF SAYING TO PEOPLE THAT KNOW THIS INFORMATION MAY NOT ALWAYS BE WITH US, EVEN IF WE ARE DOWN AND GATHERING THAT DATA RIGHT NOW, AND THOSE STORIES, EVEN IF WE CAN'T FULLY PROCESS AND COME OUT THE OTHER SIDE AND TIED IN NICE BOW WE HAVE THE INFORMATION AND FUTURE GENERATIONS CAN PROCESS THE DATA DOWN THE LINE. WE ARE ALSO HOPING TO UTILIZE AI AS MUCH AS WE CAN. THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE MORE INTERESTED IN TRYING TO GATHER AND WE ARE ENCOURAGING FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY TO DO THE SAME, SAY DOWN WITH YOUR PHONE, START RECORDING, TALK TO PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS, SAVE THOSE FILES BECAUSE THAT HISTORY IS FINITE. >> RIGHT. AND ALSO I AM AWARE OF THE FACT, BECAUSE OVER THE YEARS, I HAVE WITNESSED, WHAT HAPPENS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE GHOST WALK AND THE PARADE, THE TWO THINGS I REALLY KNOW ABOUT, YOU ARE WORKING ON THOSE ALL YEAR LONG. >> YES, MA'AM,. >> AND OF COURSE ACTIVITIES, COFFEE WITH THE MAYOR AND FRIDAY FEST ARE ONGOING. AND DON'T YOU HAVE AN ANNUAL MEETING IN MAY? >> YES, MAY 20TH, WHICH IS THE THIRD WEDNESDAY IN MAY, 5-7:00 P.M. WE WILL HAVE A MEETING, THE PUBLIC IS WELCOME. OUR SPECIAL INVITED GUESTS WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU COME OUT AND HERE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THE IMPROVEMENTS MADE SO FAR. I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND ME TAKING THE SECOND TO DIE GONE TO THE SKY WE'RE ABOUT TO MOVE INTO OPENING A GREATER PROJECT TO COMPLETE THE IMPROVEMENTS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE, OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS LEADING INTO MAIN STREET FORT PIERCE 40TH ANNIVERSARY, 130TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HOUSE, OUR GOAL WAS TO BUILD AN ENDOWMENT FOR THE HOME, BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, HISTORIC BUILDINGS, THAT MAINTAINING IS A LOT HARDER THAN THE GETTING STARTED YOUR JEFF BANGLID A. LOT OF AVAILABLE FUNDING FOR THE FIRST STEP, BUT WE ARE 18 YEARS INTO THIS HOUSE, THERE'S A LOT OF WEAR AND TEAR THAT HAPPENS ON THESE BUILDINGS. OUR GOAL IS TO PROTECT THIS ITEM AS AN ASSET FOR THE COMMUNITY IN PERPETUITY,'S HOME WAS BUILT [00:55:04] BEFORE MY GRANDPARENTS WERE BORN AND MY HOPE WOULD BE THAT THIS HOME IS HERE AFTER MY GRANDCHILDREN ARE GONE. THAT IS OUR GOAL, THAT IS A LARGER PART OF OUR HISTORIC PRESERVATION ARM RIGHT NOW. >> GOOD. I AM GLAD TO KNOW THAT. FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY. ONE HUNDRED ANNIVERSARY. >> QUITE A FEW ORGANIZATIONS DO. >> ANYBODY ELSE? >> MICHELLE, THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING. I HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH YOU JUST AS YOU WERE COMING IN, WE TALKED ABOUT YOUR TRANSITION INTO THIS, ASKED OF THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REIMAGINE MAIN STREET, BECAUSE IT WAS THEIR WAY IN AS HOW IT WAS BUT HERE WAS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO PUT YOUR SIGNATURE ON THE NEW MAIN STREET IF YOU WILL. AS PART OF THAT IT, AND MY SHORT TIME HERE, I GET PHONE CALLS FROM DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES THAT ARE TRYING TO RENOVATE SOME SOMETHING, SO ON AND SO FORTH, ANOTHER CHAMBER HAS A PROGRAM IN WHICH THEY WILL INVITE PEOPLE TO GIVE THEM A CALL AND SAY HEY, I AM LOOKING TO LEASE A BUILDING FOR XYZ. SOMETIMES THAT TRIGGERS A CHANGE OF USE, REZONING, BUILDING PERMITS OWN SO FORTH. SO MY THOUGHT PROCESS IS, BEING THE DOWNTOWN AGENCY THAT SUPPORTS LOCAL BUSINESSES, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO BE THAT SEGMENT, EITHER TO ADVANCE AND ADVERTISE FOR THE CHAMBER AND WHAT THEY PROVIDE, BECAUSE GOING BE DIFFICULT SCENARIO FOR PEOPLE UNFAMILIAR. AND THERE'S OTHER CHALLENGES WITH DOWNTOWN FORT PIERCE WITH THE HISTORIC COMPONENT. WHAT I HAVE FOUND SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE, PEOPLE CALL ME AND SAY I CANNOT DO THIS OR THIS, IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A PREAPPLICATION PROGRAM, MAY BE GUIDED THEM TO SOME LEVEL OR DO TRAINING WITH THE CHAMBER IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY DO, RIGHT MECHANISMS TO AVOID COSTS TO INVESTORS WHO WANT TO OPEN A BUSINESS DOWNTOWN BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO. JUST A SUGGESTION. AND I AM ROOTING FOR YOU. >> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THE KIND WORDS. WE CONSIDER THE CHAMBER A PARTNER, WE TRY NOT TO OVERLAP BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE SUCH STRANGE RESOURCES, BUT WE HAD DISCUSSION OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE THE WELCOME WAGON, WE DO PROVIDE WHAT WE KNOW AND WHAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE BUT THAT IS SOMETHING I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH YOUR REMEDYING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENTS TO EXPAND OUR KNOWLEDGE ON, I KNOW IT ONE POINT MANY YEARS AGO, ACTUALLY PROVIDED AT OPENING A BUSINESS TYPE OF BROCHURE, I THINK WE ARE INTERESTED PROVIDING THAT AS WELL, WE JUST DON'T WANT TO OVERLAP WITH ANYONE BUT THAT IS SOMETHING WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH THE CITY ON. >> DORIS MAY HAVE ONLY WANTED ONE WAY BUT SHE GOT AN AWFUL LOT DONE. [LAUGHTER] YOU CANNOT ARGUE WITH RESULTS. >> COMMISSIONER GAINES. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT, IT SAID CLOSE TO 10,000 PUBLICATIONS, -- >> QUARTER. >> ZONE DOCUMENTATION OR ANY TYPE OF DATA THAT SHOWS PUBLICATIONS ARE GOING OUT, AND THAT WHEN YOU PUT SOMETHING IN THERE THAT IT IS REACHING TO THE RESIDENCE AND FORT PIERCE TO COME BACK IN AND SAY, HEY, I GOT TO, I SAW THIS, I -- I GET IT IN AN ENVELOPE UPSTAIRS, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, WE SEND AN AMOUNT BUT IS IT GENERATING SUPPORT FOR THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES, WITH NEW BUSINESS COMES IN AND TO GET YOUR PUBLICATION, IS THAT BRINGING IN BUSINESS TO THAT NEW BUSINESS, OR IS IT NOT? I'M TRYING TO SEE HOW WE COLLECT DATA. >> IT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION, IN PART I WOULD SAY THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION TO ASK OUR ADVERTISERS, WE ARE LOOKING AT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE MAINTAINED CONSISTENT ADVERTISERS FOR OVER 20 YEARS, ARE THINK ANYBODY SO GENEROUSLY GIVE MONEY AWAY FOR THAT TYPE OF THING IN THEIR BUDGET FOR NO REASON. MORE SPECIFICALLY I DO BELIEVE THAT IS THE CASE. I KNOW WE HAD A RECENT BUSINESS THAT JUST OPENED AND SHE COULD NOT GET ENOUGH COPIES. I'M SURE THERE ARE DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON ANECDOTAL LEVEL, [01:00:04] IT IS HARD TO SAY WHAT IS THE HARD AND FAST ON THAT. I CAN CONNECT WITH OUR ONLINE DATA AND TRACKING IS, I KNOW WE MAIL TO RIGHT NOW ANYWHERE BETWEEN 22-2300 COPIES A MONTH, IT JUST DEPENDS ON IF PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING, ET CETERA IT IS NOT FORWARD. I THINK IT IS SAFE TO SAY IT IS RECEIVED. I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE CERTAINLY GET FEEDBACK WHEN PEOPLE FEEL IT IS LATE OR IT HAS NOT ARRIVED ON THE TIME THEY WOULD LIKE IT TO. FROM A PURELY ANECDOTAL STANDPOINT, THE COMMENT I MADE ABOUT HER BEING ONE OF THE LAST PIECES OF PRINT MEDIA PEOPLE RECEIVE, I HEAR IT QUITE A BIT. WILL BE HONEST WITH YOU, FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE FOCUS MAGAZINE, OUR GREATEST EXPENSE THAT WE'RE SHOULDERING BEYOND PRINTING IT IS THE MAILING AND OUR CONSISTENCY AND MAINTAINING THAT RIGHT NOW IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FEEDBACK WE'VE GOTTEN. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO QUANTIFY THAT EXACTLY FOR YOU, THOUGH I WOULD BE GAME FOR IT BECAUSE I THINK I DATA IS INTERESTING. I KNOW IT GETS RED BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF -- AND F OF DATA COMES BACK THAT WE FEEL OBLIGATED TO CONTINUE MAILING IT. IT WOULD BE OUR PREFERENCE TO GO ELECTRONIC FROM AN EXPENSE STANDPOINT AND IT MAY BE SOMETHING WE HAVE TO DO IN THE FUTURE. >> THANK YOU, MY QUESTION IS MORE, READING IS ONE THING, READING, STAY AT HOME, LIKE THIS MAGAZINE, IT IS SOMETHING TO READ, BUT I'M TRYING TO SEE THE BENEFIT -- RETURN TO BENEFIT FOR BUSINESSES, SOMETHING WE ARE DOING DOWNTOWN SO I CAN SEE, THAT'S THE NUMBER LOOKING FOR. A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO STAY HOME AND READ IT, THEY GET MAIL, MY PARENTS TO GET THEIR MAGAZINES AND READ THEM. I AM TRYING TO SEE IF IT IS TURNING AROUND AND TWO REAL HELP TO DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES, AM I GOING TO GET CUSTOMERS IN THE DOOR? MY WHOLE THING WITH MAIN STREET, I WANT PEOPLE TO THINK I'M COMING ACROSS HARD, THIS IS MY TIME TO TALK TO YOU, I AM TRYING TO SEE HOW IT AFFECTS THE RESIDENCE AND HOW THE RESIDENCE ARE BENEFITING FROM BOTH OF THESE MAIN STREETS. I UNDERSTAND THEY ARE DIFFERENT AND I UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS ARE DIFFERENT, I'M NOT COMPARING. I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW RESIDENCE IN THE CITY ARE ACTUALLY BENEFITING FROM PROGRAMS, BECAUSE I GET ALL KINDS OF EMAILS, EMAILS AS SUPPORT FOR BOTH PROGRAMS, I GET EMAILS SAYING WHY WE DOING THIS? I'M TRYING TO GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND FOR THE RESIDENCE THAT THIS IS A BENEFIT TO THE RESIDENCE, THAT IS WHY I ASKED THE QUESTION, DO YOU HAVE ANY TYPE OF DATA TO SAY, HEY, YOU PUT ME IN THIS MAGAZINE AND I GOT BODIES THROUGH THE DOOR. >> THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN RETURN TO, SPEAKING TO THOSE SPECIFIC BUSINESSES THAT ARE FEATURED AND ASK THEM THAT. IN FAIRNESS, WE ARE DEFINITELY STILL GOING TO BE COLLECTING THAT DATA ANECDOTALLY, BUT MORE BROADLY, SPEAKING THAN JUST AN INDIVIDUAL BUSINESS, I THINK WE ARE FOCUSED IN FOCUS ON COVERING FIRST WHAT IS HAPPENING IN DOWNTOWN, WE DON'T EXCLUDE THESE EXTERNAL AREAS I DON'T FALL WITHIN OUR BOUNDARIES, BECAUSE WE DO CONSIDER OURSELVES AS AN ADVOCATE FOR ALL OF FORT PIERCE, AS WELL AS A PARTNER FOR MAIN STREET. WE ARE VERY DIFFERENT, WE HAVE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS AND DIFFERENT PERIODS OF GROWTH, AND DIFFERENT -- WEARING DIFFERENT PARTS IN OUR JOURNEY, THIS MAIN STREET HAS BEEN HERE SIGNIFICANTLY LONGER, I KNOW A LOT OF THINGS HAVE HAPPENED, OTHER PROGRAMS ACCOMPLISHING MORE ALONG -- LONGER JAVAD HE. IN TERMS OF THOSE SPECIFICALLY WHAT MOTIVATES PEOPLE TO GET UP AND GO, I WISH I COULD QUANTIFY THAT MORE PERFECTLY, WHAT I CAN SALESPEOPLE READ THINGS AND THEY COME. WE SEE THE ARTICLES SHARED. SO ONE THING THAT IS INTERESTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA IS WHEN SOMEBODY IS FEATURED IN AND THEY GET EXCITED AND THEY WANT TO SHARED AROUND AND THEY WANT TO SHARE THIS STORY. REDO FEATURE THE PRESS RELEASES THAT COME FROM THE CITY, WE PUT THEM IN ARTICLE FORMAT. THERE IS VALUE SHARING THAT INFORMATION. THE SAME QUESTION ONE HAS TO ASK THEMSELVES, FOR ANYBODY [01:05:03] RESPONSIBLE ANSWERING TO AN ADVERTISING, WE HAVE SPECIFIC ADVERTISERS ADVERTISING AND FOCUSED, WHEN WE ANSWER TO YOU GUYS AS A CITY, WE ANSWER IN THE SAME WAY. TO THE INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES. WE WILL NOT PLEASE EVERYBODY ALL THE TIME, WE ARE TRYING TO GEAR UP TO EXPAND OURSELVES. ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK IS VERY INTERESTING AND MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE IS THE INDIVIDUAL GRANT ASSISTANCE, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE LOOK TO EX EXPAND. THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE WILL ALWAYS BE ABLE TO BECAUSE NOT EVERY GRANT WILL BE APPLICABLE TO EACH BUSINESS, BUT IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT THE DOWNTOWN AND THE CITY IS OUR CUSTOMERS, THAT IS THE FREEZING WE HAVE TO LOOK AT OURS AS, WE DO GUIDE THAT IS WHY WE ARE INTERESTED IN YOUR FEEDBACK. >> LIKE A LIKE ACETIC JUST FOR THE RECORD, I'M NOT TRYING TO COMPARE THE TWO, I UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY, I UNDERSTAND ALL THAT. BUT AS A COMMISSIONER SITTING IN THE SEAT AT HAVE TO LOVE IN THE PITCH AND PRESENTATION, BUT AT THE BOTTOM LINE, UP TO BALANCE THE MONEY WE ARE SPENDING, AND IF THE TAXPAYERS ARE GETTING A RETURN. THAT IS THE QUESTIONS THAT JOY THAT IS WHY I'M ASKING THESE QUESTIONS. THANK YOU? ANYTHING ELSE? >> QUICK COMMENT AND QUESTION, THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE, APPRECIATE LEARNING MORE. ALONG THE SAME LINES AS COMMISSIONER GAINES, JUST WONDERING, CIRCLING BACK TO THE OTHER MAIN STREET, DO YOU CUT YOUR BOARD, DO YOU HAVE A STRATEGIC WHEN YOU SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT IT? STRATEGIC LONG-TERM THINKING, DO YOU WAIVE THE BALANCE OF PUBLICATION RENT, OR DO TRY TO PHASE IN DIGITAL? I'M JUST CURIOUS YOUR APPROACH TO THIS, DO YOU HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN IN SESSION? >> ABSOLUTELY, WE JUST HAD OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR OUR UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR, STARTING AT THE BEGINNING OF MAY. THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHERE WE ARE FINALIZING OUR BUDGET AND STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR. WE HAD ONE SESSION ON ACTUALLY APRIL 11TH AND THEN WE HAVE OUR FINAL WRAP-UP SESSION THIS WEEK. SO THAT FOR OTHERS IS TOP OF MIND, WE ALSO HAD SEVERAL COMMITTEES THAT MEET OUTSIDE OF THAT, FOR INSTANCE YOU HAVE A BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, FOCUSED COMMITTEE, INDIVIDUAL EVENT COMMITTEES, SOME OF THOSE EVENT COMMITTEES INCLUDE OUR PARTNERS IN THE LARGER SCALE EVENTS, OTHERWISE THEY INCLUDED -- FOR EXAMPLE THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS COMMITTEE MEETS YEARS AROUND, THAT COMMITTEE IS ACTIVE JUST ABOUT YEAR-ROUND. BUT FROM THE FRAMEWORK THAT WE TAKE FROM NATIONAL MAIN STREET, THE WAY THEY REQUEST THAT WE ORGANIZE OURSELVES UNDER THE FOUR POINTS, WE DO HAVE THAT. WE ARE NOT JUST MEETING ONCE A MONTH, HAVE A VERY ACTIVE AND ENTHUSIASTIC BOARD. WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING AT THINGS, ONE, THREE, TEN YEARS. THAT'S WHY I TALK THINGS ABOUT THE ENDOWMENT WE HOPE TO BUILD THE HOUSE, WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO LONG-TERM PLANNING, WE HAVE SOME INTEREST APPLYING FOR GRANTS THAT ARE YOU KNOW, WHEN THOSE ARE FEDERAL THEY REQUIRE 3-FIVE-YEAR PLANS DEPENDING ON THE GRANT SPECIFICALLY, AND THOSE THINGS REQUIRE A LONGER VIEW. ABSOLUTELY COME TO THE FOR THINKING TO MIND AS AN EXAMPLE IN THE FOCUS MAGAZINE FROM THE PRINT VERSUS THE DIGITAL VERSION BECAUSE IT IS A CONVERSATION WE ARE HAVING. >> I FIGURED, IT IS PROBABLY WHY IT IS BEST SETTLED IN THAT FOCUS. I DON'T KNOW, DO YOU SHARE THAT? DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION, STRATEGIC PLAN PUBLICLY? DO YOU SHARE THAT AT ALL? >> WE HAVE NOT, WE TALK ABOUT IT AT THE ANNUAL MEETING. THAT IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. AT THE END OF THE DAY I AM THE ONLY FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE. [LAUGHTER] TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH A LOT. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT. >> I COULD NOT DO THIS WITHOUT THE BOARD I HAVE. WE ARE INTERESTED IN COMMUNICATING THAT EVEN MORE SO GOING TO THE FUTURE, SO OUR COMMUNITY IS AWARE OF WHAT WE ARE INTERESTED IN FOCUSED ON CIVIC AND UNLIMITED QUESTIONS AND WHAT DO THEY DO, BECAUSE, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE ARE DOING. >> MAY BE THAT TIME YOU COULD SHARE HIGH-LEVEL PRESENTATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY CAN SEE WHERE YOU ARE GOING OR ATTEMPTING TO GO AND HOW TO PARTNER WITH THAT, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE ANNUAL MEETING AND HOPEFULLY THAT PRESENTATION WILL BE THERE AND I CAN LEARN MORE, THANK YOU. >> ANYTHING ELSE? THEY THINK VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. [11. CONSENT AGENDA] OKAY, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE CONSENT AGENDA. IS THERE ANY ITEM THE COMMISSIONER WOULD LIKE TO -- IF [01:10:02] NOT, I WILL ENTERTAIN ANY MOTION. >> MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> CALL THE ROLL PLEASE. [A. Resolution 26-R29 accepting City Audit on all funds for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025, as prepared by DiBartolomeo, McBee, Hartley & Barnes, P.A.] >> WE HAVE A RESOLUTION, RESOLUTION 29R -- 26 TO R29, CITY COMMISSIONER RECEIVE FORT PIERCE ACCEPTING THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE IS FY 2025 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER FIRST 2024 AND ENDINGS IN THE 30TH 2025 AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. >> AS THEY ARE PRESENTATION? >> WE HAVE A PRESENTATION. MICK ALL RIGHT. THAT IS A GREEN SCREEN. THAT IS NOT A GOOD SIGN. >> GOOD EVENING MADAM MAYOR. MY NAME IS MARK, WE HAVE FINISHED THE AUDIT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR OF TIMBER 30TH, 2025. I BELIEVE YOU RECEIVED A COPY, OF THE AUDIT, WE GENERALLY DOES DO A SHORT PRESENTATION, HIGHLIGHTING SOME ITEMS. IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS IN THE BIG BOOK, FEEL FREE. SO. >> YOU HAVE IT ON YOUR SCREEN -- SORRY TO INTERRUPT. >> IT IS ON MY SCREEN YES JOE. >> I DON'T HAVE IT. >> YOU DON'T HAVE IT? OKAY. BIG-SCREEN TV HERE. >> WATCHING THE GAME. [LAUGHTER] >> AUDIT NOW? OKAY. >> SO PAGE 1 IS THE BALANCE SHEET, AND THIS IS THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET FOR THE ENTIRE CITY. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT SOME ITEMS ON IT. THE CASH AND INVESTMENTS WENT UP BY 5.8 MILLION, AND THAT IS SIMPLY BECAUSE YOUR REVENUE HAS EXCEEDED YOUR EXPENSES THIS YEAR. YOU HAD A PRETTY GOOD YEAR. YOU CURRENT RELIABILITY DECREASED BY 6.3 MILLION. THAT WAS MAINLY RECOGNIZED -- HE RECEIVED MONEY FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE FUND FOR A GRANT, AND HE WENT AHEAD AND SPENT AT THE CSU GOT TO RECOGNIZE THE REVENUE. AND A LONGER-TERM LIABILITY DECREASED BY 4.3 MILLION, AND YOU'RE JUST PAYING DOWN YOUR DEBT, DOING A GREAT JOB OF THAT. YOUR LIABILITY DECREASED BY 9.9 MILLION OVER THE PRIOR YEAR. WHEN WE GET DOWN TO THE BOTTOM, NET POSITION, INCREASED BY 7.6 MILLION, AND YOUR INVESTMENT IN CAPITAL ASSETS INCREASED BY 2 MILLION. VERY STRONG BALANCE SHEET, COMPARISON TO THE PRIOR YEAR, PRETTY GOOD INCREASE. ANY QUESTIONS ON THE BALANCE SHEET? >> COMMISSIONER. >> MR. BARNES, WE RECENTLY HAD A STATE REPRESENTATIVE COME HERE AND TAKE A LOOK AT OUR REVENUE STREAMS, WHICH I'M GLAD YOU POINTED OUT AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, THE REVENUE SPENT LASIK .9, IS THAT WHAT I RECALL? 6.9 MILLION? SO THE REPORT WENT OUT, THAT WE SPENT OVER 10 MILLION, GREATER THAN OUR REVENUE, AND WHAT WAS NOT IN THE DOCUMENT OR PRESENTATION, OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, IT WAS NOT AN AUDIT, I END OF THE DAY BEGOT THE GRANT ANSWERED EVERY OTHER CITY IN THE COUNTRY. COMPARED TO THE MONEY WAS FINED BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE MOVED IN, IT DID NOT MATCH UP WITH THE MATH. WANT TO SAY THIS OUT LOUD SO THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS, WHEN GOVERNMENT AGENCY COMES IN, ESPECIALLY AT THE STATE AND MAKES CLAIMS AS THEY DARED, IT CAN HURT THE REPUTATION OF THE [01:15:02] CITY. I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR, WHAT WAS PROVIDED TO THE NEWSPAPERS WAS NOT AN AUDIT CANNOT LIKE WHAT YOU DID, A DEEP DIVE, CORRECT? >> THEY ARE NOT LOOKING AT YOUR DETAILED RECORD. >> I WANTED TO GET THAT OUT THERE BECAUSE THE FUNDS SPENT, EXPORT NINE, HAD TO BE SPENT BY THE END OF THE YEAR UNDER THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN REQUIREMENTS, THAT WENT INTO THE NECESSARY THINGS LIKE ROADS, DRAINAGE, SIDEWALKS, ALL THOSE TYPES OF THINGS IMPORTANT TO THE CITIZENS OF THIS CITY. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME GET THAT OUT. >> THE CFO GOT FIGURES FROM SOME PLACE, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE. >> I DON'T KNOW. >> PROCEED. >> NEXT PAGE IS THE GOVERNMENTAL FUND REVENUES. AND THE FIRST THING TO HIGH HIGHLIGHT, THE TAXES AT THE TOP LINE, FROM 2021-2025, YOUR TAX REVENUE INCREASED BY 13 MILLION. THAT IS A PRETTY NICE INCREASE OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS. YOUR INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUES INCREASED BY ABOUT 7 MILLION, 5.8 OF THAT WAS RECOGNIZING AMERICAN RESCUE FUNDS. >> CAN I INTERRUPT, THE INCREASE IN REVENUE IS BASED ON THE INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUES AS OPPOSED TO ANY THINK WE INCREASED, WE DID NOT INCREASE? >> CORRECT. >> WANT THAT ON THE RECORD. >> THAT IS A PRETTY GOOD INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUE. AT THE BOTTOM AS YOU CAN SEE THE KIND OF DO -- WE TAKE THE POPULATION, PER CAPITA, AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE INCREASES ARE THERE. ANY QUESTIONS ON THE GOVERNMENTAL REVENUES COMMENT. GOVERNMENTAL FUND EXPENDITURES. COUPLE THINGS, GENERAL GOVERNMENT INCREASED BY ABOUT 2 MILLION, 60,000 OF THAT IS THE INCREASE IN THE FPR A REVENUES, YOU PAY YOUR SHARE TO THE FPR A OF THE TAXES, THAT WAS 600. AND THEN, A NEW DEPARTMENT, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, THAT WAS RIGHT AROUND $900,000. THOSE WERE THE INCREASES THERE. POLICE DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY WIND UP BY ABOUT $1 MILLION, RAISES, INCREASES IN PENSION COSTS AND INSURANCE. SO FAR AS CAPITAL OUTLAY. 11.4 MILLION, LARGEST EXPENDITURE WAS $5 MILLION SPENT ON PUBLIC SAFETY SOFTWARE, RADIOS AND CAMERAS. BIGGEST EXPENSE AND GOVERNMENTAL FORMS. ANY QUESTIONS THERE? NEXT PAGE, COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT. TALKING ABOUT THE INCREASES IN PROPERTY VALUE, THE REVENUE WENT FROM 7.3 MILLION IN 2021, 13.3 MILLION. SO $6 MILLION INCREASE IN THE CRA AS WELL. THE ONLY THING THAT I REALLY HIGHLIGHTED, I HIGHLIGHT HIGH CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, 1.9 MILLION. YOU HAD SEVERAL PROJECTS, THE HIGHWAY MUSEUM, FINDING, INDIAN RIVER DRIVE UTILITY WORK. AND THE OTHER THING I WOULD POINT OUT, IF YOU LOOK AT THE 2021 EXPENSES, 700 AND SUNNY 2000, -- SANS HUNDRED 72 -- THEN 4.3 MILLION. BACK IN 2021, THE DEBT SERVICE WAS SO SIGNIFICANT, DID NOT HAVE MONEY AVAILABLE FOR GENERAL OPERATING EXPENSES. NOW YOU DO. SO THAT IS THREE TO HAVE MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE, -- THREE AND A HALF -- EXPENDITURES YOU CAN SPEND ON SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT, AND ON THE BOTTOM WE KIND OF SHOW SOME TRANSFERS OUT, THE 4.5 MILLION IS WHAT YOU PAY DOWN YOUR DEBT LAST YEAR, SO THAT IS OBVIOUSLY GOING DOWN FAIRLY QUICKLY. QUESTIONS ON COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT? SO WASTE DEPARTMENT. PRETTY CONSISTENT YEAR-TO-YEAR. [01:20:07] I KIND OF GO DOWN TO THE BOTTOM, YOU SEE NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS, 554,000, THAT IS KIND OF THE PROPHET THE SOLID WASTE FUND GENERATED, CASH FLOW WISE. YOU WERE ABLE TO TRANSFER $500,000 BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND. BUT THE REVENUE AND EXPENSES WERE VERY CONSISTENT YEAR-TO-YEAR. >> QUESTION. SO, THIS IS SOMETHING I AM PAYING PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO BECAUSE I AM HEARING THINGS ABOUT EQUIPMENT INCREASING COST OF GETTING TRUCKS, YOU WILL, AND THE AMOUNT OF DEBRIS WE ARE PICKING UP AND THE TONNAGE WE ARE PICKING UP, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING HERE, SOME FRIENDS? I THINK YOU HIGHLIGHTED SOMETHING, WE SEE AN INCREASE. >> LOOKING 03-04, YOU HAD THE BIG LANDFILL COST INCREASE. THAT IS STAYING CONSISTENT. YOUR EXPENSES ONLY WENT UP BY 400,000, WITH PAYROLL, FUEL, LANDFILL, IT IS NOT A HUGE INCREASE. YOUR REVENUES ONLY WIND UP BY 200,000, SO THE REVENUE DID NOT KEEP PACE. >> THIS IS A LOOK BACK OF 25, YOU PROBABLY ARE STARTING TO MOVE INTO THE 26 LOOK FOR TAXES, ARE THERE ANY EARLY INDICATORS? SOME OF THIS IS PRETTY GLOBAL CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE HAVING RIGHT NOW, PRETARIFF. I AM CURIOUS ARE LEASING IN THE EARLY TRENDS, I WOULD LIKE TO GET A HOLD OF THAT EARLY ON TO UNDERSTAND. I DON'T THINK WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE, THIS IS ONE OF THE AREAS I THINK WE WILL FEEL IT AND SIMPLY BECAUSE THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE AREA TO OPERATE, WE OPERATE A LANDFILL -- WE DAMPEN A LANDFILL, OPERATED BY SOMEBODY ELSE WHO IS CHARGING US AND WE HAVE TO RUN THESE TRUCKS, AND TRUCKS BREAK. SO I'M CURIOUS AS TO THESE EXPENSES IN THE EARLY BREAK SWEET MACY GOING FORWARD, BEFORE WE GO TO THIS PERIOD, AND WE SAY 10% INCREASE. >> YEAH, -- >> I WANT TO PUBLICLY STATE THAT. THAT IS MY CONCERN, WE KEEP AN EYE ON THIS, AND WE HAD GREAT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT LANDFILLS AND YOU KNOW, WE ARE STARTING ON IT. >> WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HER DURING BUDGET. >> EXACTLY. THAT'S MY CONCERN. >> I UNDERSTAND. OKAY. >> STORMWATER. >> STORMWATER FUND. AGAIN, REVENUE IS UP SLIGHTLY, EXPENSES, OPERATING EXPENSES ACTUALLY DOWN, ABOUT 100,000. DOWN AT THE BOTTOM, WE SHOW NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS AT 3.1 MILLION, AND A BIG PART OF THAT WAS TRANSFERS IN FROM ANOTHER FUND, TO FUND CAPITAL OUTLAY EXPENSES. YOU HAD A LOT OF CAPITAL OUTLAY EXPENSES LAST YEAR, 1.2 MILLION -- EXCUSE ME LET'S GET BACK ON TRACK -- 1.7 MILLION CAME IN, AND YOU SPENT 1.15 MILLION IN CAPITAL OUTLAY EXPENSES LAST YEAR. SO AGAIN, WITHOUT BACK, PRETTY CONSISTENT TO THE PRIOR YEAR, THAT WAS JUST A LITTLE BIT UNUSUAL. THAT WAS 1.5 MILLION OF AMERICAN RESCUE FUND. >> QUESTION MADAM MAYOR, I'M LOOKING AT THIS OPERATING INCOME LOSS, HE EXPLAINED THIS TO ME? I THINK -- 21% CHANGE HERE, AM I TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE GAINED INCOME THERE, INCREASE IN OPERATING INCOME? >> THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN OPERATING INCOME, YOUR REVENUE WENT UP BY 200,000, YOUR EXPENSES WENT DOWN BY 100,000. AND THEN YOUR NET OPERATING REVENUES ACTUALLY WENT DOWN. THAT KIND OF MADE UP THE ADDITIONAL PROFIT. [01:25:01] IT WAS A GOOD YEAR! >> OKAY... >> COMMISSIONER. >> THE STORMWATER FUND, OKAY -- I WILL ASK YOU SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THIS CATEGORY, BUT I'M ASKING GENERALLY, DO YOU IN YOUR REPORT CARRIE A LIST OF OUTSTANDING RECEIVABLES? >> WE GET A COPY OF THE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE. >> IS THAT AN ATTACHMENT? >> IT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE REPORT, YOU ONLY SEE A TOTAL AN AUDIT. >> CAN YOU POINT THAT OUT TO ME WILL ME GET TO THAT POINT? OR WAS THAT ON THE BALANCE SH SHEET? >> I CAN -- >> OKAY. >> OKAY I UNDERSTAND. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON STORMWATER? NEXT IS THE GOLF COURSE. THE GOLF COURSE REVENUE WENT UP SLIGHTLY, EXPENSES WENT UP A FAIR AMOUNT, 136,000. SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT INCOME LOSS, THIS YEAR THE INCOME LOSS WAS 295,000 VERSUS 217 IN THE PRIOR YEAR, ABOUT $78,000 INCREASE IN THE LOSS. AND THEN DOWN AT THE BOTTOM, WE KNOW THE CASH FLOW AFTER TRANSFERS, IT IS $178,000. NEGATIVE CASH FLOW. THAT IS THE GOLF COURSE. QUESTIONS? >> THE GOLF COURSE IS ALWAYS CLOSE. [CHUCKLING] EVERY YEAR. >> OKAY. THE MARINA FUND. THE MARINA FUND IF YOU LOOK AT THE THIRD LINE, OPERATING INCOME LOSS, $800,000 LOSS, PRETTY MUCH A BREAK EVEN. BUT THEY HAVE $1.1 MILLION IN DEPRECIATION, WHEN YOU LOOK AT NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS, 479, 180,000, THEY WERE GOING TO TRANSFER TO SIGN 5000 TO THE GENERAL FUND, SO THEY STILL HAD POSITIVE CASH FLOWS OF 204,000. A GOOD YEAR, NOT AS GOOD AS 24TH, BUT VERY CLOSE. IT WAS A GOOD YEAR. >> MADAM MAYOR, CAN WE GO BACK TO THE GOLF COURSE. HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A STARCH ADVOCATE FOR THIS, I AM A GOLFER. I HATE TO THE BALL IT'S PUT IT THAT WAY. [LAUGHTER] IT GOES IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION SOMETIMES, NOT OFTEN ENOUGH. I RECENTLY VISITED THE GOLF COURSE, JUST WALKED AROUND, AND YOU KNOW, THE LOUNGE, THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH MONEY YOU WILL MAKE ON GOLF DROVE THE PART YOU MAKE THE MONEY WITH IS THE CONCESSION, WE ARE WAY WOEFULLY INADEQUATE TRYING TO SERVICE ANYTHING IN REVENUE WHEN IT COMES TO CONCESSION, WE'RE MISSING THAT OPPORTUNITY. WHEN WE COME TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN AS ALWAYS, ALWAYS IN ADVOCATE IN MAKING THAT INVESTMENT TO GET THAT PART OF THE COURSE UP, WE'RE GETTING NO MONEY. AND THAT IS GOLFERS THAT ENJOY BEVERAGES AFTER ROUNDS, BEFORE ROUNDS, DURING ROUNDS AND THEY ENJOY FOOD. THAT IS HOW YOU MAKE THE REVENUE SHORTAGES COME EVEN CLOSER. WE ARE DOING NONE OF THAT DOWN THERE RIGHT NOW. AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE ANOTHER VINEYARD OF PEOPLE TO WRAP -- TO COME FOR WHATEVER. I WILL CHALLENGE US TO SAY CAN BE CLOSE THAT GAP AND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FROM AN INVESTMENT STANDPOINT, WITH THAT MANY ROUNDS, WE ARE MISSING A LOT OF MONEY. >> ARE THERE PLANS FOR THAT? >> THAT IS PART OF THE CONVERSATION. >> PITCH ON THE FACT YOU WILL DO THE RESTAURANT, SO WE HAVE MORE CAPACITY, MORE OF A DIVERSIFIED MENU, ATTRACTS PEOPLE TO RENT THE FACILITY FOR FUNCTIONS, AND I SAW THE PLANS, NOTHING. >> HAD A CONVERSATION -- WE HAVE AN UPDATE, GO FROM THERE. >> STRATEGIC PLAN. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE WE HAVE A LOT OF VERY FAITHFUL PLAYERS. VERY FORTUNATE. >> THEY COME HERE, THE PRICES RIGHT, WHILE WE HAVE THE PRICES [01:30:02] RIGHT FOR GOLF, WE HAVE NO PRICE ON FOOD OR BEVERAGES. >> YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE TO REPLENISH THOSE. >> EVERY DAY. >> MADAM MAYOR, WAS GOING TO BE INTO STRATEGIC PLANNING BUT A COUPLE OF THINGS, AS OUR MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM AT THE GOLF COURSE? >> YES. >> MY OTHER PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT, WHEN THE AUCTION EXPANDED THE MEMBERSHIP OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY, THEY INCREASED BY 42%. WAS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN REVENUE, AND THE OTHER IS, YEARS BACK I TALKED WITH JACK ANDREWS ABOUT THE IDEA AND US ARE RECENTLY IN THE STORMWATER PHASE OF THIS REPORT, THE INCOME AND GRANT MONEY FOR STORMWATER, ONE OF THE TOP PROCESSES, BEHIND THE ANIMAL SHELTER, THAT BIG LAKE AND THE STORMWATER TREATMENT FACILITY HAD A LOT OF GRANTS, WHICH ALSO GOT ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE GREENWAYS AND TRAILS PROVIDING THE SIDEWALK. THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY I THINK FOR ADDITIONAL GRANTS IF WE WERE TO IMPLEMENT SOME KIND OF A DRAINAGE PROJECT USING THE GOLF COURSE FACILITY AS A STORMWATER TREATMENT AREA AS WELL AS ADDING AN AMENITY TO THE GOLF COURSE, MAKING IT A LITTLE BIT MORE CHALLENGING, BUT ALSO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO BE ABLE TO AERATE THE FAIRWAYS MORE FREQUENTLY AND MORE APPROPRIATELY, AND SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE WE COULD DO THAT IS NOT AFFORDABLE NOW. I JUST WANT TO RAISE A LOT OF FOR A THOUGHT PROCESS. >> YEAH. >> I THINK THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY JUST LIKE WITH THE VETERANS MEMORIAL, THERE WAS A STORMWATER COMPONENT WHICH ADDED TO THE VALUE OF REVENUE. THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX TRYING TO FIND ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO CREATE AN OVERALL SOMETHING DIFFERENT I THINK IS AN OPPORTUNITY WE CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR. >> THANK YOU. >> KNACK'S DAY IS THE SUNRISE THEATRE. REVENUE STAYED -- EXCUSE ME. YOUR REVENUE WENT DOWN BY 758,000, EXPENSES DECREASED BY 238,000. YOUR OPERATING INCOME INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY, YOUR OPERATING GLOSS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY EXCUSE ME. $500,000 SWING. WHEN WE GET DOWN TO THE BOTTOM WE SEE THE NET CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATIONS, NEGATIVE 690,000, COMPARED TO 2024, 174,000. NOT A GOOD YEAR, EXPLAINED FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. QUESTIONS? BUILDING DEPARTMENT, VERY CONSISTENT WITH THE PRIOR YEAR, REVENUES WENT UP 40,000, EXPENSES WENT UP 6000, SO VERY CLOSE TO THE PRIOR YEAR. NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS 1.7 MILLION, IT CONTINUES TO GENERATE REVENUE. QUESTIONS ON THE BILLING DEPARTMENT? LASTLY IS THE ANIMAL ADOPTION CENTER. YOU ARE OPERATING LOSS AND HUNDRED 19,000, 2024 WAS ALMOST 1.4 MILLION. AT IMPROVED FROM THE PRIOR YEAR, BUT STILL, NEGATIVE CASH FLOWS OF $800,000. >> WIND FROM REALLY BAD TO JUST BAD. >> YES. >> IS THAT THE TECHNICAL TERM? [LAUGHTER] [LAUGHTER] >> QUESTIONS ON THE ANIMAL ADOPTION CENTER. >> IT IS DEFINITELY ONE WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT. >> I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I WAS GOING TO SAY WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS. WE CANNOT KEEP -- FOR THE ANIMAL LOVERS I UNDERSTAND, I HAVE A DUTY TO THE RESIDENTS OF FORT PIERCE, AND TO KEEP LOSING MONEY YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR, SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE SO WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT SOMETHING, HOW TO STOP THIS. >> ARE THERE QUESTIONS? >> IS THAT YOUR LAST SLIDE? >> YES. [01:35:01] >> OKAY. QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? >> SURE I HAVE A COUPLE. GOING THROUGH THE REPORT, ONE OF THINGS FROM FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IS NOT BACK IN A -- WE HAD A COMPANY THAT DID A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CONDO MANAGEMENT AND HOME ASSOCIATION, WE RECORDING OUR CONTRACT WITH CLIENTS HAVE AUDITS ANNUALLY. IT KEPT US OUT OF THE FIRING LINE. IN THAT REGARD, WE USED A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT AUDITING FIRMS, AND VARIABLY EVERY TIME WE GOT THE AUDIT BACK, FOR THAT PARTICULAR YEAR WE WERE WORKING WITH, THERE WERE COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS AND ANOMALIES THAT THE ACCOUNTANTS BROUGHT FORWARD, HE FOUND NO ANOMALIES IN OUR FINANCES, IN THE ENTIRETY? >> WE CERTAINLY PROPOSE YOU KNOW, ADJUSTMENTS ARE MADE, THE ARE ADJUSTMENTS MADE. WE DID NOT HAVE ANY SIGNIFICANT ADJUSTMENTS, CERTAINLY THERE IS ALWAYS DISCUSSIONS, RIGHT EARDRUM AND WE MAKE ADJUSTMENTS. AS FAR AS -- THE ONLY POINT WE HAD WAS THERE HAD TO BE -- THERE WAS BASICALLY FOUR MILLION-DOLLAR ADJUSTMENT FOR THE FUND BALANCE THAT RELATED TO SOME LAND THAT HAD BEEN -- THAT YOU DONATED IN THE PRIOR YEAR HAD NOT BEEN REMOVED. SEVEN MADE A COMMENT THAT YOU GUYS NEED TO MAKE SURE DEPARTMENTS ARE COMMUNICATING WITH EACH OTHER AND THAT THE ANNUAL ASSET INVENTORY IS DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER. AND THAT IS IN OUR LETTER, YES. >> ONE OTHER QUESTION. LET ME PHRASE IS CORRECTLY HE HERE... THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE OWNS AN ABUNDANT AMOUNT OF REAL ESTATE, REAL ESTATE ALL OVER THE CITY. I WON'T GET INTO THE DISCUSSION ON WHAT WE ARE ET CETERA, I AM MORE CONCERNED ABOUT -- SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES ARE TAXABLE, SUMMER TAX-EXEMPT, TAXABLE BECAUSE OF THE BUILDING LOCATED ON THEM, GENERALLY SOME SORT OF REVENUE SOURCE FOR FORT PIERCE SO IT BECOMES A TAXABLE EVENT, TAXABLE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF REAL ESTATE TAXES. DOES YOUR FIRM LOOK AT THOSE REAL ESTATE TAX INVOICES BY CHANCE, AND HOW THEY ARE PAID, WHAT MECHANISMS USED TO PAY THOSE? >> FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, GENERALLY IF IT IS SELECTED, WE DO RANDOM SAMPLING. >> RANDOM SAMPLE? AND IN THAT -- THIS IS A VERY SPECIFIC QUESTION, IN THE REAL ESTATE TAX EXPENDITURES, DID YOU COME ACROSS ANY ANOMALIES? NO? >> NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF. >> REASON I'M ASKING IS THERE IS A SITUATION WE HAVE A PIECE OF PROPERTY RECENTLY HAD A COMMERCIAL BUILDING ON IT, SO THE PROPERTY WAS TAXABLE BECAUSE WE WERE GENERATING RENT, SUBSEQUENTLY TOOK THE BUILDING DOWN, THE ROLE YEARS AGO, SO AT THAT POINT IN TIME THE PROPERTIES THIS TO BE TAX- TAX-EXEMPT. WELL, THE CITY DID NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT DO MAKE IT TAX-EXEMPT AND WE CONTINUED TO PAY PROPERTY TAXES ON THIS PROPERTY NOW FOR SEVERAL YEARS WITHOUT GENERATING ANY REVENUE FOR THE CITY. WE STUMBLED ACROSS A REAL ESTATE TAX BILL FOR $18,000, LAST YEAR, AND THAT IS JUST ONE, WE NEED TO DO FURTHER ANALYSIS TO SEE HOW FAR THIS GOES TO WHEN THE BUILDING WAS ACTUALLY REMOVED FROM THE SITE, REAL ESTATE TAXES SHOULD HAVE STOPPED AT THAT POINT IN TIME. WE HAVE BEEN CONTINUING TO PAY IT. I AM WONDERING OF THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE, OR DO WE HAVE 25 OF THESE EXAMPLES, BECAUSE I WILL SPECULATE, ALL SPECULATION, THAT THE CITY RECEIVES ITS TAXABLE FROM THE COUNTY, LIKE PHONEBOOK, WITH 100 OR 200 INVOICES, SOMEBODY RUNS TAPE, CENTS CHECK, FOR ALL WE KNOW, WE DON'T EVEN OWN SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES NOR SHOULD THEY BE TAX-EXEMPT. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE, BECAUSE THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE IS BEING CHASTISED AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR SPENDING MONEY WE SHOULD NOT BE SPENDING, HERE WE ARE SPENDING MONEY WE SHOULD NOT BE SPENDING, AND IS THIS A ONE-OFF OR ARE THERE A BUNCH OF THESE OUT THERE? WE HAVE NOT DONE AN INTERNAL PROBE INTO THIS, BUT I HAVE TO SUGGEST WHEN THERE IS ONE THERE COULD BE MORE. HOW WOULD WE CATCH THAT? DOING A PHYSICAL FORENSIC REVIEW OF EVERY BILL, DOES THIS IT IS STILL OLDER THIS PROPERTY, IS A [01:40:04] TAX-EXEMPT, AND IS AUTHORIZED TO BE PAID. I DON'T THINK THAT WAS DONE. I'M WONDERING IF THERE IS A MECHANISM HERE THAT YOU WOULD STUMBLE ACROSS THAT SUGGESTED THAT THEY SHOULD BE LOOKING TO FURTHER. >> FOR $18,000 HONESTLY, -- >> THAT IS ONE. >> I UNDERSTAND, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE THAT WILL BE DONE WHEN WE ARE DOING RANDOM SAM SAMPLES. $18,000, IF YOU'RE LOOKING YEAR-TO-YEAR, WE WILL NOT SEE THAT. YOU WILL SEE THAT IF WE LITERALLY DO DETAIL TESTING. >> ON THE PARTICULAR ITEM EXPENDITURE. >> IN EXACTLY. BUT I DO KNOW WITH THE ISSUE THAT HAPPENED WITH THE LAND THAT WAS NOT PROPERLY REMOVED, I DO KNOW THAT THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT IS GOING BACK TO AND AT LEAST TRYING TO MATCH UP THE RECORDS, THAT WOULD BE THE PERFECT TIME TO LOOK AT THE TAX SIDE OF THINGS, WHEN YOU ARE MATCHING THE PROPERTY APPRAISAL RECORDS TO THE CITY'S RECORDS, THAT WOULD BE THE PERFECT TIME TO LOOK AT THAT. >> OKAY, WE WILL CHECK INTO THAT FURTHER, THANK YOU. >> I AM CURIOUS WHAT LAND WAS IT? DO YOU KNOW? >> KING'S LANDING. >> OKAY. >> WOW, THAT WAS SURPRISING. DID I HEAR YOU SAY THAT THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL IS MORE OF A FORENSIC INVESTIGATION LOOKING AT THESE BOOKS WITH THESE ASSETS? >> SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT I THINK YOU COULD DO IT INTERNALLY, IF SOMEBODY'S ALREADY GOING THROUGH -- A BELIEVER NOW MATCHING UP LAND ON THE PROPERTY, CITY RECORDS, THAT WOULD BE THE TIME TO LOOK AT OKAY, WHAT ARE WE PAYING TAX ON? YOU WILL ALREADY HAVE THE SPREADSHEET UP. >> OF SOMETHING IS COMING IN AT SOME POINT, I GUESS NOW WE HAVE ONE MORE THING ADDING TO THAT. >> IT IS COMPLICATED, YES, WE STILL OWN IT BY SHOULD BE TAX-EXEMPT. >> I REALIZE -- >> THERE IS VOLUME. >> AGES AS TO EVERYTHING ELSE WE HAVE TO DO. ALL RIGHT. SPEAKING FOR THE REPORT. -- THANK YOU. I DO HAVE THE CONCERN THE COMMISSIONER RAISED A LITTLE BIT ON THE STORMWATER ASPECT OF IT. THE RECEIVABLES, THERE'S A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS, YOU HAVE RECEIVED NOTICES FROM THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE ABOUT STORMWATER. IN THE PAST AND HAS BEEN A PRETTY EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF RECEIVABLES STILL OUT THERE. I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT AND WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT, IT IS A REVENUE LOSS COMING INTO THE SCENE CLEARLY. YOU WILL HAVE TO HAVE A PRETTY TOUGH CONVERSATION WITH A LOT OF ENTITIES IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE ABOUT PAYING STORMWATER. >> MADAM MAYOR, INTERESTING SUBJECT WITH THE IDEA OF THE PROPERTIES AND THE TAXABLE VALUES AND THE TAXES PAID, I THINK WE HAVE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS RESPONDED TO THE PROPERTY APPRAISAL IN THE TAX RECORD, I THINK THEY CAN RUN SIMULTANEOUS REPORTS THAT WHILE PROPERTIES ARE OWNED BY THE CITY AND WHAT TAXES WERE PAID, AND THE EVALUATIONS THAT WOULD BE THE JUST VALUE, AND THE OTHER VALUE. WE COULD ASK FOR THOSE ENTITIES TO RUN THOSE REPORTS, THAT COULD BE REASONABLE. IT IS ALL COMPUTERIZED. >> WE HAD MULTIPLE DISCUSSIONS WITH DEPARTMENTS, THEY ARE WILLING TO DO WHATEVER TO ASSIST US. MY CONCERN IS THAT WE ARE PAYING $18,000 A YEAR ON THIS ONE PROPERTY, IF WE TIMES THAT BY TEN, NOW IT'S $180,000 OR 20, HUNDRED $60,000, NOW YOU'RE GETTING INTO SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF MONEY. -- 360. WHEN I FOUND THAT'S ALWAYS A GAP TO BE KIDDING ME THIS CANNOT BE RIGHT, IT WAS RIGHT. >> RIP-OFF THE BAND-AID. >> I COMPLETELY AGREE. >> HAVE ADDRESSED THIS A COUPLE TIMES IN CONVERSATIONS, WE HAVE NOT DISCUSSED THE FINALITY AS TO DOING A DEEPER DIVE INTO THIS, TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PAYING IS LEGIT. THE COUNTY DOES NOT NEED OUR MONEY, CLEARLY, SO -- >> WE NEED OUR MONEY. >> I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PAYING IS LEGITIMATE. AND PAYING REAL ESTATE TAXES, IN THAT SITUATION FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE IF IT'S FIVE OR SIX YEARS AT 120,000, [01:45:01] THAT'S NOT RIGHT. TO CLEAN IT UP, YES, WE WOULD NEED SOMEBODY -- SOME ACCOUNTING CAPABILITY, I'M NOT SURE IF THIS SHOULD BE DONE INTERNALLY, GIVING THE SAME PERSON TO PAY THE BILL TO BEGIN WITH? I DON'T KNOW. THIS HAS TO BE LOOKED OUT TO MAKE SURE WHAT WE ARE PAYING IS ACCURATE. >> AND WE DO HAVE A SENSE OF THE AUDITORS, WHERE YOU ARE SAYING -- >> HE'S DOING A SAMPLING. >> I KNOW. >> THEY WILL TRACK THEM AND SEE WHAT IF THEY WERE PAID APPROPRIATELY. THAT WILL NOT UNCOVER -- CONFIDENCE. >> NEED A FORENSIC AUDIT TO BE ANALYTICAL AND DETAILED, THAT IS KNOW WHAT THESE GUYS ARE BROUGHT IN TO DO UNLESS WE CHARGE THEM WITHOUT FUNCTION AND PAY THEM FOR THOSE SERVICES. HAVING SAID THAT THE FLIP SIDE IS NOT ONLY PAYING MONEY WE SHOULD NOT BE PAYING OUT, WE HAVE RECEIVABLES COMING MORE AND MORE OF A CRITICAL ISSUE FOR ME, BECAUSE IT IS A LOT OF MONEY. AND IF WE ARE PAYING OUT MONEY OVER THE YEAR AND NOT COLLECTING MONEY HERE, THAT IS HOW YOU GO OUT OF BUSINESS. PRETTY SIMPLE BUSINESS MODEL. GENERATE REVENUE, LIMIT EXPENSES. WE SEEM TO BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO PAY, YET WE HAVE CUSTOMERS OF THE CITY THAT ARE NOT PAYING US. I HAD ENOUGH OF THAT. PAY YOUR BILL, WHATEVER SERVICES WE CAN ADVOCATE WE CAN CUT OFF. >> A VERY SIMPLE ANALYSIS FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, ESPECIALLY COMMERCIAL USES. NOT TALKING MOM PAUL HOMEOWNER, BY ANY STRETCH. WE ARE TALKING TO BUSINESSES, LARGE INSTITUTIONS WITHIN THE CITY THAT THEIR NAMES ARE ON HALLOWED GROUND, FIND OUT THEY'RE NOT PAYING STORMWATER BILLS TO THE CITY, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT WE ARE PRINTING THE STUFF IN THE BASEMENT HERE? PRINTING CASH? WE NEED THE REVENUE. WHEN NEEDED CONTINUOUSLY. IT IS SOMETHING I WILL ADVOCATE IN THE BUDGET CYCLE, TAKING A HARD LOOK AT AND PUT SOMETHING IN PLACE TO START COLLECTION ACTION ON THIS. WHETHER IT'S AN OUTSIDE FIRM OR WHITE. WANT AN ANALYSIS DONE AS TO WHERE WE STAND ON THIS, AND WHO OWES THEM MONEY, HOW MUCH MONEY IS OWED, WHAT IS THE METHODOLOGY TO COLLECT IT. >> I'M WONDERING IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOME ORGANIZATIONS I THINK THEY ARE TAX-EXEMPT, BUT THIS IS NOT A TAX. >> THAT GOES NOWHERE. IT. >> EXACTLY. EXACTLY. ANYTHING ELSE? SO THANK YOU, WE NEED A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CITY AUDIT. >> I MOVE APPROVAL. >> SECOND. >> MOTION IN SECOND, CALL ROLE PLEASE. [14. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Any person who wishes to comment on any subject may be heard at this time. Please limit your comments to three (3) minutes or less, as directed by the Mayor, as this section of the Agenda is limited to thirty minutes. The City Commission will not be able to take any official actions under Comments from the Public. Speakers will address the Mayor, Commissioners, and the Public with respect. Inappropriate language will not be tolerated.] >> WE HAVE COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC. >> NOW IS IT TIME FOR ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSIONER, PLEASE COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME, AND YOU WILL HAVE 3 MINUTES. ANYBODY WANT TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSIONER? >> IF YOU CAN IMO ME A COPY OF THAT PRESENTATION PLEASE. -- EMAIL. >> GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS, FORT PIERCE. JUST A COUPLE COMMENTS. I APPRECIATE THE DIALOG, APPEARS TO BE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AND LOOKING AT ALL THE ASPECTS OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE CRITICALLY LOOKED AT. COMMISSIONER, MADE THIS STATEMENT REGARDING ON THE ANNUAL REPORT, AND I AM CONCERNED REGARDING THE ORGANIZATION THAT I AM A PART OF, THAT DEALS WITH SPAY AND NEUTERING. I HAVE TAKEN COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSIONER TO HEART, AND WE WILL FOLLOW THROUGH WITH INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS, WITH ALL IF NECESSARY. I THINK WE HAVE SOME EXCELLENT IDEAS REGARDING HOW TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION PLEASE COME FORWARD. SEEING NO MOVEMENT WE WILL COME BACK TO THE AGENDA. [15. COMMENTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER] >> OKAY. WE HAVE COMMENTS FROM THE CITY [01:50:05] MANAGER. >> I ACTUALLY HAVE ONE COMMENT. WE HAVE AN EMPLOYEE PICNIC APRIL 25TH 4:00 P.M. AT THE ADJACENT PARK, YOU CAN STOP BY. >> WHAT WAS THE DATE? >> APRIL 25TH, 12-4:00 P.M. >> IS THAT ON THE SCHEDULE? >> I BELIEVE IT IS. I WILL DOUBLE CHECK. >> THIS SATURDAY? >> THIS COMING SATURDAY. >> THERE ARE PHENOLS. >> YES, THIS WEEKEND. >> THANK YOU. >> YES, IT IS ON YOUR CALENDAR. [16. COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION] >> ARE A. HIM. >> WE HAVE COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION. >> WHO WOULD LIKE TO START? >> FIRST, TO MY FRIEND, I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR MEETINGS, I KNOW THEY ARE COMING. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ANY IDEAS THAT YOU CAN PRESENT TO THE CITY TO HELP US WITH THIS SITUATION. SO I KNOW WHO YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, AND LOOK FORWARD TO OUR MEETINGS, PLEASE GIVE HER THE FIRST AVAILABLE. IT IS WHAT IT IS. COMMISSIONER, DZADOVSKY TALKED ABOUT MR. AND MISSES ROSS, I GREW UP ON THE SAME STREET THAT THEY LIVED, THEY WERE PART OF -- I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE VILLAGE THAT RAISED ME IN FORT PIERCE, THEY WERE A PART OF THE 16TH STREET VILLAGE BECAUSE THEY WERE ONE OF THE MOM AND DAD'S, OF THE IS SAWS DOING SOMETHING WRONG ON THEIR STREET, THEY HAD AUTHORITY TO TAKE CARE OF IT. THE CITY HAS LOST A -- TWO JEWELS. THEY DEDICATED 70 YEARS TO ONE LOCAL SPOT ON NINTH STREET AVENUE D, WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW AND WHAT I SAID WAS, YES, PAPA ROSS COULD BE A HARD BUSINESSMAN, THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT IF YOU TOLD SOMEBODY THEY WERE HUNGRY. [INAUDIBLE] HE WAS TELLING YOU TO GO TO THE BACK AND GET YOU SOMETHING TO EAT. IF THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE. -- HE SAID A LOT OF PEOPLE. THEY WERE ONE OF THE ONES WITH MY PARENTS, AND SOME OTHER PEOPLE THAT OPENED UP THAT 16TH STREET AVENUE AREA. GROWING UP WITH ALL THE KIDS, THIS WAS A TOUGH ONE. THIS WAS A TOUGH ONE. I WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE FAMILY, LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY ARE IN OUR PRAYERS, AND THAT THEY ARE LEGACIES IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. MADAM MAYOR, I HAVE SHOWED PEOPLE ON THE TIME AND BOARD, THERE IS A CERTIFICATE IN MY OFFICE SO YOU GUYS CAN SEE, THAT NOW I AM ONE OF THE 52 I THINK IN THE STATE THAT IS A CERTIFIED RETIREMENT BOARD TRUSTEE, AND THEIR TRUSTEE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, FROM FPPTA. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> I KNOW THAT HE WAS GONE FOR DAYS, MULTIPLE TIMES ON THIS. >> GOING TO SCHOOL. > I SERVED ON THE RETIREMENT BOARD, THANK YOU FOR TAKING ON SO I DID NOT HAVE TO DO IT. [LAUGHTER] >> NOW THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE RETIREMENT BOARD IS 112 THAT IS IN THE STATE OF FLORID WITH A CERTIFIED PERSON. WE ARE ON THE MAP. I HEARD EVERYBODY LAUGHING, THAT THEY TRY TO MAKE ME THE CLASS NOT. I AM LEARNING HOW TO SAY NO MADAM MAYOR. BUT THEN THEY GOT ME TO SIGN UP FOR THE COCHAIR OF THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT. >> YOU SAID NO ONCE. >> THE COMMUNICATION PART IS TO GET THE WORD OUT. I CAN DO THAT. THANK YOU GUYS FOR PUTTING UP WITH THE ABSENCES, BUT I WAS OUT WORKING AND I JUST WANTED YOU [01:55:18] . >>> I ACTUALLY THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GET A CALL FROM THE HOTEL ROOM, AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR COVERING THOSE TWO DAYS, BUT I DID BRING BACK THE CERTIFICATE, SO MADAM MAYOR. >> THANK YOU, ARNOLD. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> I'LL GO NEXT. >> OKAY. GO AHEAD COMMISSIONER. OKAY. SO I WANT TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE SIGNIFICANCE LIFE OF THE RUSSS. UNFORTUNATELY DUE TO PRIOR COMMITMENTS, I WON'T BE IN TOWN THIS WEEKEND AND WON'T BE ABLE TO ATTEND, BUT I'VE SHARED MY CONDOLENCES WITH THE FAMILY. I KNOW THE CITY HAS APPROPRIATELY AND WILL BE APPROPRIATELY PROVIDE THE PROPER COMMITMENTS, ET CETERA. AND JUST KNOW THAT THE IMPACT THAT THEY MADE IN THIS COMMUNITY, THE LIVES THAT THEY TOUCHED AND THE POSITIVE ATTENTION THAT THEY BROUGHT TO THAT AREA AND IS NOW BEING BROUGHT BACK THROUGH THE CURRENT BUSINESS THAT'S RUNNING THEREIS HEARTFELT, AND SO AS WE LAY THEM TO REST, YOU KNOW, THE LIVES THAT THEY TOUCHED WILL CONTINUE TO LIVE HERE IN FORT PIERCE AND HOPE FULLY THOSE THAT THEY CONTINUE TO TOUCH WILL CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO BE THE SERVANTS THAT THEY WERE TO OUR COMMUNITY. SO I JUST WANTED TO PUBLICLY SAY THAT TO THE COMMUNITY. OTHER THAN THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE IS IN A VERY INTERESTING PLACE IN MY OPINION, AND WE ARE UNCOVERING SOME THINGS, AND WE ARE MOVING SOME THINGS FORWARD, AND I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT IT, AND I WANTED TO SAY THAT PUBLICLY. YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT FIVE COMMISSIONERS UP HERE THAT TAKE THIS JOB SERIOUSLY. WE DO OUR HOMEWORK. WE DO OUR READINGS, AND WE'RE NOT AFRAID TO HAVE A TOUGH CONVERSATION, OR AT LEAST I'M NOT, RIGHT? BECAUSE TRANSPARENCY, TOUGH CONVERSATIONS WHEN THINGS WERE NOT RIGHT, THEY'RE NOT RIGHT. AND WHEN THINGS NEED TO BE CORRECTED, THEY WILL BE CORRECTED. AND WE ARE GOING TO MOVE THIS CITY FORWARD. AND THAT'S MY PERSPECTIVE FROM THIS PARTICULAR SEAT, AND I WANT TO SAY THAT PUBLICLY, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT SOME HARD THINGS TO ADDRESS. AND THE LAST THING I'M GOING TO SAY AND I'M JUST GOING TO GO AHEAD AND PUT THIS OUT HERE. I RODE BY THE MUSEUM ON THE WAY HERE, THE VANDALISM TO THAT GATE ON AVENUE D, THEY HAVE WEDGED IT BACK, AND SOMEONE APPARENTLY HAS MADE ENFRY BETWEEN THE TWO BUILDINGS, THE GREEN BUILDING AND THE MUSEUM. IT MAY HAVE BEEN SOME ACTIVITY THERE LOOKING INTO THE BACKSIDE OF THAT MUSEUM, TRYING TO GAIN ENTRY. THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE TALL RAILTED, SO I'M GOING TO SAY THIS RIGHT NOW TO THE COMMUNITY. CHIEF WAS SITTING OUT HERE. I'LL BE HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH HIM. THIS ACTIVITY AND WHAT'S GOING ON IN THAT CORNER IS GOING TO BE DEALT WITH AND CORRECTED AS LONG AS JIMETING HERE. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO HAVE PEOPLE SLEEPING IN THAT PARK NEXT TO A MONUMENT THAT'S THERE. SO I'M CHARGING YOU, AND I'M SAYING IT PUBLICLY TO THE COMMISSIONERS, THIS QUARTER IS GOING TO BE CLEANED UP AND DEALT WITH, PERIOD. WE CANNOT, AND WE WILL NOT HAVE THIS BEHAVIOR. IT HURT ME TO SEE THE VANDALISM OF THAT ROD IRON GATE RIGHT NOW WHERE LITERALLY SOMEONE HAS TO USE SOMETHING TO LITERALLY PRY IT BACK TO GAIN ENTRY TO THAT ALLEYWAY. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, FORT PIERCE, UNACCEPTABLE, BLACK, WHITE, GREEN, YELLOW, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, AND IT WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. IT'S THE DISTRICT THAT ELECTED ME, AND THIS WILL BE DEALT WITH. >> GO AHEAD. CONNER IS GOING TO MAKE A COMMENT ON HIS COMMENT. >> CAN I DRIVE AVENUE D EVERY MORNING TO WORK, EVERY NIGHT I COME HOME FROM WORK, I'M ON AVENUE D. THE ACTIVITY IN THAT PARTICULAR CORNER IS JUST ONGOING 24/7, AND UNTIL WE ENGAGE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO GO IN THERE AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, IT'S JUST GOING TO CONTINUE, SO VANDALISM IS GOING TO CONTINUE. WE'VE GOT THAT BEAUTIFUL FACILITY DOWN THERE [02:00:02] NOW. THE SURROUNDING FENCES ARE AROUND THE PARKING LOT AND AROUND THE BUILDING. WE ON THE OTHER HAND THE MURAL DEFACED, AND IT COULD BE WORSE THAN THAT. IT COULD BE A BREAK-IN TO THE MUSEUM ITSELF. SO I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER JOHNSON HERE THAT WE NEED TO GET ON TOP OF THIS. WE NEED OUR PEOPLE TO GET ON TOP OF THIS. I DON'T SEE ANYBODY FROM THE. >> THE CHIEF IS HERE. >> YEAH, HE WAS HERE. BUT WE NEED TO EXPRESS OUR CONCERNS TO HIM AS INDIVIDUAL COMMISSIONERS, AND I KNOW CURTIS, THAT YOU'RE ELECTED FROM THAT AREA. I DO A LOT OF BUSINESS UP IN THAT AREA, AND IT'S JUST UNACCEPTABLE. YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN DOWNTOWN. WHY WOULD WE ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN THERE? I'M NOT SAYING WE'RE ALLOWING IT, BUT WE'RE NOT CLEANING IT UP. WE'VE GOT A SUBSTATION RIGHT THERE. IT'S NOT A LONG COMMUTE TO GET ASSETS TO DEAL WITH IT. SO WE NEED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH THE CHIEF. MAYBE HE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT SO IT'S A DETRIMENT TO OUR ATTEMPTS TO FOSTER GOOD RELATIONS AT THE STATE-WIDE LEVEL. WE NEED TO BE PROACTIVE TO SUPPORT THE OVER MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT MADE IN THAT BUILDING DOWN THERE AND READY TO BUY THE NEXT BUILDING. WE NEED TO WRAP OUR ARMS AROUND THAT AND DEAL WITH THE ISSUE OF CLEENG UP. THAT STUFF NEEDS TO BE MOVED OUT. I WANT TO SEE IF IT'S SALVAGEABLE FOR ANY OTHER TYPE OF PURPOSE. >> IT WAS PROBABLY A SEVEN OR EIGHT COMMITMENT YOU HAD TO MAKE OR MORE THAN THAT RIGHT RIGHT? >> IT WAS FOUR SESSIONS AND FOUR DAYS EACH. >> 16 DAYS, THAT'S A LOT OF T TIME. >>> WE GET REPORTS FROM THESE GUYS THAT ARE THIS DEEP. IF YOU WANT TO START READING IT READ IT, YOU'LL DOZE OFF. >> AND WE HAVE REPORTS ABOUT A WONDERFUL JOB THEY DID. THAT TYPE OF EDUCATION IS GOING TO BE NOTHING BUT A HELP OF THE ANALYTICAL WORK THE BOARD DOES. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >> MADAM MAYOR? >> YES. >> I WAS PREPARING TONIGHT FOR COMMENTS, AND I PROVIDED DOCUMENTS THAT THE CLERK HAS, AND I GOT ONE FOR EACH OF YOU, AND WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IS A DISCUSSION PACKET, AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, BEING THE NEW COMMISSIONER, I DO DO MY RESEARCH, AND I DO TRY TO FIND ANSWERS TO MY QUESTIONS IN ADVANCE OF MAKING ANY KIND OF A COMMENT OR LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY OF ADJUSTING POLICY AND SO AND SO FORTH AS I GO FORWARD. SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING ON YOUR FIRST DOCUMENT IS A DISCUSSION BRIEFING, CHARTER RULES -- ROLES AND AUTHORITY STRUCTURE AND PROCESS ALIGNMENT. AND THAT WOULD JUST GIVE YOU A BRIEF UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT I'M GOING TO VERBALLY IN MY STATEMENT, AND YOU HAVE A COPY OF THAT AS WELL, AND THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER DOCUMENT THAT I WILL REFER TO AS THE ORDINANCE AUTHORITY AND CHARTER ALIGNMENT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND [02:05:02] THE INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF THE CITY CHARTER, THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CITY MANAGER, THE CITY CLERK AND THAT OF THE CITY ATTORNEY. SO I PREPARED A BRIEF STATEMENT. I'LL DO IT QUICKLY AS I CAN. IT IS CONCISE, AND IT IS COMPREHENSIVE. AND THE PURPOSE FOR THIS DOCUMENT DISCUSSION IS TO ENSURE ALIGNMENT OF THE FORT PIERCE CITY TO PROMOTE CLARITY, CONSISTENCY AND EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE MOVING FORWARD. AND BY BACKGROUND IN RECENT WEEKS, SEVERAL MATTERS HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED FOR CLARIFICATION REGARDING ROLES, AUTHORITY WITHIN CITY STRUCTURE, INCLUDING A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST INVOLVING ACCESS TO CODE ENFORCEMENT FILES, QUESTIONS REGARDING THE APPROPRIATE PROCESS FOR HANDLING RECORDS AND STAFF INTERACTION AND COORDINATE AND COMMUNICATION REGARDING LEGAL COUNSEL AND STATEMENTS AND ACTIONS SUGGESTING DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS OF AUTHORITY AMONG CITY OFFICERS, CHARTER OFFICERS. THESE ISSUES WHILE OPERATIONAL IN NATURE RAISED BROADER QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THE CITY IS FUNCTIONS ESTABLISHED BY A CITY CHARTER. BASED ON MY READING IN A FORT PIERCE CITY CHARTER, THE CITY COMMISSION, MAYOR AND COMMISSION ARE THE POLICY AUTHORITY. THE COMMISSION IS THE GOVERNING BOD OF THE CITY, RESPONSIBLE FOR ESTABLISHING POLICY AND SETTING DIRECTION, DOES NOT ENGAGE IN DAY-TO-DAY ADMINISTRATION. WE ALL AGREE WITH THAT. THE CITY MANAGER OF AUTHORITY SERVES AS THE CHIEF MANAGEMENT OFFICER, SUPERVISES DEPARTMENT AND STAFF, EXERTIONS DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT COMMISSION POLICY. IN MY OPINION, IT INCLUDES OPERATIONAL DECISIONS SUCH AS STAFF COORDINATION, ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES AND ENGAGING WITH OUTSIDE PROFESSIONALS SUPPORTING THE CITY'S OPERATIONS. THE CITY CLERK, HOWEVER IS THE CUSTODIAN OF RECORDS SERVES AS THE OFFICIAL CUSTODIAN AND RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING RECORDS AND STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS AND KEEPING ME HONEST AND OPEN AND UNDERSTANDING THE PROCESS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND PROVIDES ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND FUNCTIONS AND TIED TO RECORDS AND OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION, AND IN MY OPINION, IT WAS A CRITICAL BUT FUNCTIONAL SPECIFIC ROLE AND NOT A POLICY OPERATIONAL AUTHORITY POSITION. AND THE CITY ATTORNEY, PROVIDES LEGAL ADVICE AND COUNSEL TO THE COMMISSION, THE CITY MANAGER AND STAFF, THAT SUPPORTS THE CITY IN LEGAL MATTERS AND RISK MANAGEMENT TO A DEGREE. IN PIE OPINION, THIS ROLE IS ADVISORY IN NATURE, DOES NOT CARRY INDEPENDENT AUTHORITY OVER OPERATION OR DECISIONS, AND MY KEY PRINCIPAL IS THE IT DEPENDS ON MAINTAINING A CLEAR SEPARATION OF ROLES, AND POLICY IS THE COMMISSION AND EXECUTION, OPERATION, CITY MANAGER, AND LEGAL ADVICE, THE CITY ATTORNEY. ANY BLURRING OF THESE ROLES CAN LEAD TO CONFUSION AND -- IN DECISION-MAKING, AND INCREASED ORGANIZATIONAL RISK. A CURRENT AREA OF CONCERN OF MINE AND HAVING BEEN QUEUED INTO SOME E-MAILS AND QUESTIONS TO THE PUBLIC, IT'S BEEN SUGGESTING OVERLAP OR CONSFLICKT IN CERTAIN AREAS, DIRECTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE, CONTROL ROUTING OF OPERATIONAL PROCESSES, AND ENGAGEMENT WITH OUTSIDE COUNSEL IN SUPPORT OF CITY FUNCTIONS. IN MY OPINION, THAT DIRECTOR LIMIT OF THE CITY MANAGER'S OPERATIONAL AUTHORITY OR EXTEND -- LET ME RESTATE IT AGAIN. IN MY OPINION ACTIONS THAT DIRECT OR LIMIT THE CITY MANAGER'S OPERATIONAL AUTHORITY OR EXTEND ADVISORY ROLES INTO DECISION-MAKING FUNCTIONS MAY BE DIFFICULT TO RECONCILE FROM THE STRUCTURE ESTABLISHED BY THE CHARTER. MOVING FORWARD, AND MY HOPE IS A CONSTRUCTIVE APPROACH, MY GOAL IS RAISING THE DISCUSSION IS NOT TO ASSIGN FAULT BUT TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE OPERATING WITHIN THE CHARTER, AND ROLES ARE UNDERSTOOD AND RESPECTED AND PROCESSES ARE UNDERSTOOD IS DEFENSIBLE AND IN SUPPORT OF CLARIFYING THE PROCESS WHERE NEEDED. FOR EXAMPLE, RECORDS IN HANDLING AND DEVELOPING POLICIES THAT IMPROVE CONSISTENCY AND RESPECT STAFF AND SEEKING OUTSIDE LEGAL GUIDANCE WHERE APPROPRIATE. HOWEVER, MY OPINION IN EA RECENT E-MAIL PROVIDED TO ME AND I CAN PROVIDE A COPY OF THOSE E-MAILS. THE CLERK CAN PROVIDE THEM FOR YOU. I DIDN'T HAVE THEM FOR HER. BUT IN IT, IT SUGGESTED THAT AN ORDINANCE TO ASSIGN DIFFERENT ROLES OF CHARTER OFFICERS WAS GOING TO BE DRAFTED. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY ORDINANCE OR POLICY MUST REMAIN CONSISTENT WITH THE CHARTER. IT SHOULD NOT EXPAND OR ALTER THE AUTHORITY OF CHARTER OFFICES. [02:10:05] AND THIS IS WHERE YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE NEXT DOCUMENT AND IT TALKS ABOUT THE OFFICE AUTHORITY OR CHARTER LINE. IN CONCLUSION TO THIS DOCUMENT AND MAINTAINING THE CHARTER IS ESSENTIALLY TO EFFECT STUDENT: GOVERNMENTS, ORGANIZATIONAL STABILITY, PUBLIC TRUST, CLARITY AND ROLES ALLOWS EACH CHARTER OFFICER TO PERFORM THEIR DUTIES EFFECTIVELY WHILE ENSURING THE CITY OPERATES AS CONTINUED. I LOOK FORWARD TO COLLABORATION TO MAKE SURE THEY REFLECT BOTH IT THE LETTER AND RULES OF THE CHARTER. WHY AM I RAISING THAT? BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE A CONFUSION TO THE ROLES OF SOME LEVEL, AND I WASN'T HERE IF SOMETHING CHANGED OR MAYBE MY READING AND INVESTIGATION OF THE CHARTER IS DIFFERENT. MAYBE WE CAN WORK THAT OUT. BUT MY PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT IS TO ENSURE THE COMMISSION IS FULLY AWARE OF HOW ORDINANCE MAY DEFINE DUTIES AND WHETHER THOSE DEFINITIONS ALIGN WITH THE FORT PIERCE CITY CHARTER. THE CHARTER AS GAUV RNG AUTHORITY, THE -- GOVERNING AUTHORITY. YOU CAN SEE THE COMMENTS THERE ABOUT WHAT CHAPTER IN THE CHARTER THAT I REFERRED TO. IN MY OPINION, THIS STRUCTURE DEFINES SEPARATE -- SEPARATION OF ROLES AND LIMITS OF AUTHORITY ACCORDINGLY. THE ROLES OF ORDINANCES UNDER HOME RULE UNDER STATUTE 66 UNDER HOME RULE MUNICIPALITIES MAY ADOPT ORDINANCES. HOWEVER, ORDINANCES SHOULD REKNHAINS WITH THE CHARTER, AND THE REASON I RAISE THAT IS IN THE E-MAIL TO ME, IT SHOOK ME AS TO ALL THE THINGS THAT I, YOU KNOW, PROVIDED YOU WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE A GOING ON. IT ALMOST FELT LIKE WITHOUT DIRECTION FROM THE SIT COMMISSION AND THE MAYOR, TO DEVELOP SUCH AN ORDINANCE AND TO PROVIDE A DIFFERENT VIEW OF HOW THE AUTHORITY OF THE CHARTER GOVERNMENT INDIVIDUALS, CITY MANAGER, ATTORNEY AND THE CLERK CONCERN ME. SO THE AREA OF GOVERNANCE AND CONCERN IS IN LINE WITH DEVELOPING THE ROLES, OFFICER ROLES, RAISES THE QUESTION WHETHER SUCH ORDINANCE COULD UNINTENTIONALLY EXPAND EAR INTERPRET AUTHORITY BEYOND WHAT IS ESTABLISHED IN THE CHARTER. WHY THIS MATTER? IF NOT CAREFULLY REVIEWED ORDINANCE COULD SHIFT PRACTICAL AUTHORITY, COULD ADMINISTER CHANGES IN ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL OR COULD WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO WITHOUT FULL COMMISSION AWARENESS AND IMPLICATIONS, AND I KNOW THAT WE READ A LOT OF STUFF. WE GET A LOT OF STUFF TO US, ORDINANCE CHANGES, COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, SO ON AND SO FORTH, AND MY CONCERN IS THAT WE MAY OR MAY NOT REALIZE THAT SOMETHING IS COMING THROUGH THAT MAY CHANGE THE FUNCTIONAL AUTHORITY OF OUR CHARTER OFFICERS. SO IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A MATTER OF TRANSPARENCY AND GOVERNMENT CLARITY. I AM GOING TO REQUEST THAT THE COMMISSION HAVE THE AWARENESS OR BE PROVIDED FOR, AND I RESPECTIVELY REQUEST ANY PROPOSAL ORDINANCE BE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED, WHAT AUTHORITY IS BEING IDENTIFIED OR MODIFIED, CITE THE CHARTER PROFISSION IT ALIGNS WITH, STATES WHETHER IT CHANGES PRACTICAL AUTHORITY, AND PROVIDE THE COMMISSION WITH ADEQUATE TIME TO REVIEW AND UNDERSTAND IMPLICATIONS, AND IN CLOSING, MY INTENT IS TO ENSURE THE CHARTER REMAINS THE CONTROLLING DOCUMENT AND THAT THE COMMISSION FULLY UNDERSTANDS ANY CHANGES BEFORE ADOPTION. THIS IS ABOUT CLARITY, TRANSPARENCY AND PROTECTING THE STRUCTURE OF GOVERNANCE. AND I RAISE IT LIKE THAT, BECAUSE BEING NEW TO THE COMMISSION, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WHEN I HAVE A POSITION, AND I FIND SOMETHING THAT IS UNIQUE AND IT BOTHERS ME FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, WE CAN'T TALK TO EACH OTHER, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE AWARE OF SOME OF THE THINGS YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE OF, SOME OF THE THINGS I HAD PUT IN THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT TO BE READ. SO THAT BEING SAID, I HOPE THAT MOVING FORWARD, WE CAN WORK OUT THE DETAILS AND MAKE SURE THAT EACH OF OUR CHARTER OFFICERS ARE WORKING IN THE AUTHORITY IN WHICH THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN UNDER THE CHARTER. THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. >> WELL, I APPRECIATE YOU'RE DOING ALL OF THIS HOMEWORK, AND I WILL SAY THAT I THINK THIS IS ABOUT THE THIRD OR FOURTH TIME YOU'VE BROUGHT PAPERS TO US ON THE DIS, AND I WANT TO SAY THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE NOT USED TO, AND THAT BECAUSE [02:15:04] -- THEN DROUGHT ON THE DIIOUS, AND THEN YOU CAN'T READS IT RIGHT THERE. AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAYBE YOU COULD THINK OF IN THE FUTURE IS THAT IF YOU WANT A TOPIC DISCUSSED, YOU ASK THAT IT BE ON THE AGENDA, SO THAT IT'S PRINTED AND SO THE PUBLIC DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE -- IS IN THESE DOCUMENTS, AND IN THE PAST COUPLE OF TIMES YOU'VE PASSED IT OUT, THE DIUS, AND I'M JUST SAYING THAT HASN'T BEEN THE WAY WE OPERATED IN THE PAST. I KNOW YOU'RE NEW, AND I KNOW YOU SEE YOURSELF AS AN AGENT OF CHANGE, AND I APPRECIATE THE FRESH EYES ON OUR PROCESSES. I REALLY DO, SO I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD REQUEST IS THAT IF YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING THIS SUBSTANCEATIVE TO TALK ABOUT, THEN HAVE IT PLACED ON THE AGENDA, SO THE PUBLIC KNOWS ABOUT IT, WE HAVE IS A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT AHEAD OF TIME. SO THAT'S THE FIRST THING. INSECOND THING IS THAT WE HAVE -- THIS COMMISSION HAS IN THE PAST HAD VERY DEEP CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE CHARTER OFFICERS AND WHAT WE EXPECT OF THEM, HOW WE WANT THEM TREATED EQUALLY, HOW THEY ALL THREE REPORT TO US. THEY HAVE VERY SPROVELGZ, AND HOW MUCH WE WANT THEM TO WORK TOGETHER IN COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION. AND SO -- AND WE EXPECT A LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE FROM THEM THAT MAY BE -- I MEAN, OUR CITY CLERK IS FAR MUCH MORE THAN A CITY CLERK. SHE IS THE ELECTION OFFICER. SHE HAS BEEN MANY THINGS IN THIS CITY, AND OUR CITY ATTORNEY IS A FIERCE ADVOCATE FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, AND OUR CITY MANAGER IS IN CHARGE OF THE WHOLE ADMINISTRATION. SO I'M VERY CLEAR ON WHAT THE OFFICER -- THE CHARTER IS VERY CLEAR, SO -- BUT I'M WILLING -- I THINK IT'S A GRAND THING FOR YOU TO DO TO SAY LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CHARTER AND LET'S TALK BECAUSE IT -- THE EDUCATION WOULD BE A GOOD REFRESHER FOR US, AND I'M OKAY WITH THAT. COMMISSIONER. >> YEAH. JUST SIMPLY, IT'S STATING THAT THIS WAS FOR DISCUSSION. AND THE REASON FOR THE DISCUSSION IS BECAUSE OF THE -- MY REAL CONCERN IS ABOUT THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE NOT PROVIDING THE BEST POSSIBLE LEGAL REFERENCE TO THE CITY MANAGER IN THE RECENT SCENARIO. I BELIEVE EACH OF YOU, GIVEN THE SYNOPSIS BETWEEN THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE CITY MANAGER AND IF YOU HAVEN'T, I THINK YOU MAY HAVE OR SHOULD HAVE, AND THAT IS, IN A RECENT SCENARIO, REGARDING AN EMPLOYEE, WAGES BEING GARNISHED AND A TOTAL DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT THE ADVICE WAS FROM THE ATTORNEY TO THE CITY MANAGER AND THEN NOT LETTING THE CITY MANAGER REACH OUT TO OUR CONTRACTED OUTSIDE COUNSEL WHO IS AN EXPERT IN EMPLOYMENT LAW, WAS A TOTAL OVERREACH, AND THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IS ADVISORY. THEY CANNOT MAKE -- MAKE DECISIONS, NOT A DECISION MAKER FOR THE CITY MANAGER. THE CITY MANAGER IS THE DECISION MAKER FOR THIS CITY. >> DID YOU TALK TO BOTH INDIVIDUALS? >> YES. >> WELL, I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE THE SORT STORY STRAIGHT. >> I WILL TELL YOU UNDER FEDERAL LAW, THE DECISION TO LET GO OF ONE EMPLOYEE WITH FEDERAL GARNISHMENT IS NOT LEGAL. IT'S CONSUMER PROTECTION OR CONSUMER ISSUE, AND SO IT CLEARLY STATES IN THAT LANGUAGE THAT THE PERSON FIRING AN INDIVIDUAL FOR ONE GARNISHMENT WOULD THEN BE HELD POSSIBLY ACCOUNTABLE WITH A THOUSAND-DOLLAR FINE OR UP TO A YEAR IN JAIL. IF THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE TWO INDIVIDUALS GOT SIDEWAYS, AND WHAT I UNDERSTAND TO BE TRUE, IS THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY REFUSED TO LET THE CITY MANAGER SPEAK TO OUTSIDE COUNSEL. THAT IS NOT -- THAT CAN'T GO ON. THAT CAN'T GO ON. >> OKAY. COMMISSIONER. >> OKAY. LIKE MY FEDERAL COMMISSIONER, I HAVE READ THE CITY CHARTER IN DETAIL MANY TIMES, AND I BELIEVE THE WORKINGS OF THAT DOCUMENT I BELIEVE FAIRLY ACCURATELY, AND I DEFINITIVELY SUPPORT CITY [02:20:07] MANAGER HERE. CONTROLS, EMPLOYMENT IN ALL DEPARTMENT EXCEPT THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE AND SATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND MAKES DECISIONS THAT HE DOES NOT HAVE TO ENGAGE THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE OR THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WITH. NOW, JUST TO BE CLEAR YOU'VE INDICATED THAT IT'S BEEN MULTIPLE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN YOURSELF, THE MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY. I'VE NOT SPOKEN TO THE CITY MANAGER REGARDING THIS ISSUE AT ALL. I'VE NOT BEEN CONTACTED FOR THE DISCUSSION ON THIS. AND I BELIEVE EVERYONE ELSE FROM THE CITY HAS. IS THAT CORRECT, GUYS? >> I HAVE. >> THAT IS NOT CORRECT. I CALLED YOU, AND YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO CALL ME BACK. >> YOU HAVE, AND I HAVEN'T. I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. >> THANK YOU. >> SO HAVING SAID THAT, OBVIOUSLY I HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO MR. CHESS, SO I DON'T HAVE THE ENTIRETY OF THE STORY, BUT LET ME JUST SAY FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IS THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY ENGAGED THIS EMPLOYMENT. THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS ENGAICHBLGD MULTIPLE CITY OUTSIDE COUNSEL IN EXPERTISE WHERE HER OFFICE NEEDS SUPPORT, SO IF THIS OUTSIDE COUNSEL IS CONTRACTED THROUGH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE EXPENDITURE FROM THE OUTSIDE COUNSEL IS COMING FROM HER OUTSIDE COUNSEL BUDGET, I BELIEVE THAT THAT CONTROL POINT RESTS WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY, SO IF THE CITY MANAGER WANTS TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH THE OUTSIDE ATTORNEY, HE GETS CLEARANCE FROM HER, AND SHE SHOULD BE PARTICIPATING IN THAT TO KNOW WHAT OUTSIDE COUNSEL IS UP TO. >> I VEHEMENTALLY DISAGREE. >> YOU CAN DISAGREE. THAT'S FINE. I DON'T AKNEE WITH YOUR POSITION EITHER. >> IN THE CHARTER, IT CLEARLY STATES THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY IS AN ADVISORY ROLE, SO THAT'S CLEAR IN THE CHARTER. AND SO HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY, THERE'S NO REASON IN MY MIND THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY, IF THE CITY MANAGER HAS A QUESTION AND WANTS A SECOND OPINION, HE GOT HIS FIRST OPINION BY THE IN-HOUSE ATTORNEY. IF HE WANTED A SECOND OPINION, HE CAN GET THAT SECOND OPINION, AND THEY'RE AN EXPERT IN EMPLOYEE LAW. THAT'S WHY I LIARED HIM. >> I AGREE WITH THAT, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THE FIRST OPINION YOU'RE REFERRING TO, YOU HAVE THE ACCURATE STORY, BUT THAT'S NEITHER HERE NOR THERE. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I AGREE A CHARTER REVIEW SHOULD TAKE PLACE. I PERSONALLY THINK A CHARTER REVIEW SHOULD BE DESIGNATED TO REVIEW AND ALL THE ISSUES WE'RE HAVING WITH THAT CURRENTLY TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS WITH THE CITY MOVING FORWARD. AND HAVING SAID THAT, I BELIEVE ALL LEGAL ISSUES FALL UNDER THE JURISDICTION UNDER OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT PERIOD. THAT'S A NON STARTER FOR ME. IT'S A COMPLETE STOP AT THAT POINT IN TIME. THE CITY MANAGER HAS HIS WIDE RANGE JURISDICTION THAT WE DON'T WANT THE CITY ATTORNEY OR THE CITY CLERK STICKING THEIR HANDS INTO CLEARLY. SO SOME OF THIS IS GOING TO BE DEFINED BY THE CHARTER. I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THAT, AND THE CHARTER AT THE END OF THE DAY IS THE GOSPEL HERE. BUT FROM A PRACTICALITY STANDPOINT, WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME ASSUMPTIONS AS TO WHO SHOULD BE DOING WHAT. NOW MAYBE THOSE ASSUMPTIONS SHOULDN'T BE MADE. SO IT COMES DOWN TO A LEGAL ISSUE, I'M OF THE THOUGHT PROCESS THAT OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT IS TAKING CARE OF THIS OR IS IN HARMONY WITH WHAT'S GOING ON BETWEEN OTHER CHARTER OFFICES POTENTIALLY OR OTHER DEPARTMENTS OF, THIS IS COMING FROM, AND THEY SHOULD BE ENGAGED WITH THIS BECAUSE THEY HIRED THE OUTSIDE COUNSEL TO BEGIN WITH. IT COULD BE LOGIC TO WHERE YOU'RE GOING WITH IT'S THEICIDE DISCUSSION, BUT THE REVIEW IS WHERE TEXAS START AND CHANGES NEED TO BE SKNHAED CHANGES WILL HAVE TO BE INITIATED. AND HAVING SAID THAT, FACTALLY, I BELIEVE THERE'S SOME GRAY AREA HERE, AND THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO CLARIFY IS THAT FOR THE PARTICIPANTS IN THIS DEBATE TO GIVE THEIR SIDES OF IT. DO WE WANT TO DO THAT HERE, SORE DO WE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT IN THE ONE-ON-ONES WITH THE SENIOR STAFF? >> THE CHALLENGE IS TRYING TO FIND A REASONABLE OUTCOME OF THIS, AND WHEN I WAS BRIEFED BY THE ATTORNEY, WE DISAGREED, AND I SUGGESTED THAT I NEEDED MORE EW THIS. SO I DID. AND THE ONE THING I QUESTIONED, SO I WASN'T GOING TO GO INTO THE EMPLOYEE ISSUE AND ALL THAT, BUT I THINK THE ADVICE GIVEN PUTS US IN A PREDICAMENT THAT WE MAY BE OPEN TO SOME OTHER LEGAL REMEDY OUTSIDE THE ADVICE GIVEN. NOW, THE ADVICE, THE WAGE GARNSHMENT WAS SOMEDAY [02:25:03] ED TO THE CITY TO DO. THE CITY ATTORNEY WAS CONCERNED ABOUT IT, CAME TO ME. I KNOW SHE SPOKE TO EACH OF YOU, SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A TERMINATING OFFENSE AND SHOULD BE TERMINATED. AND I WAS LISTENING TO HER INTENTLY BECAUSE I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY. I DON'T PLAN TO BE ONE, BUT I HAD SOME CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THE PRESENTATION WENT DOWN. BUT SHE SHEERED WITH ME SHE FOUND OTHER -- SHE SHARED WITH ME SHE FOUND OTHER RECORDS. BUT UNDER FEDERAL LAW, IT CLEARLY STATES THAT ONE GARNISHMENT REQUEST IS NOT A FIREABLE OFFENSE. >> I'M AWARE OF THAT FWHAUZ CITY ATTORNEY SHARED WITH ME THAT. >> BUT IF YOU GO OUTSIDE AND GET A GARNISH REQUEST, IF THEY CONDUCT NON STANDING RESEARCH TO SUGGEST A SINGLE OCCURRENCE WHICH THEY PROTECT FROM DISCHARGE, IT IS CEEMD PRETEXTUAL. IF THE RESEARCH WAS NOT A LEGITIMATE QUERY BUT RATHER SHAM INVESTIGATION DESIGNED TO CREATE A PAPER TRAIL DESIGNED FOR RETALIATORY. >> THIS WAS DONE AFTER WE RECEIVED LITIGATION ON THIS ISSUE AS WE WERE SERVED, SO IT'S NOT BEING DONE PRIOR TO. SERVED BY A PROCESS SERVER WITH THIS DOCUMENT >> RIGHT. THEY WENT AND GOT FINANCIAL INFORMATION THAT WAS NOT REASONABLY ACHIEVED UNDER THE LAW, AND SO THAT'S WHERE IT PUTS US IN A LITTLE BIT OF A PICKLE. AND THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE THE CITY MANAGER WAS PUSHING BACK ON, IS THAT ALL HE NEEDED WAS TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE EXPERT EMPLOYEE ATTORNEY TO GET THE OPINION. >> RIGHT. >> AND SHE WANTED TO BE ON THE CALL, AND IF SHE HAD BEEN ON THE CALL, SHE WOULD HAVE FOUND AN OUT EXACTLY WHAT YOU HAVE, PERHAPS, PERHAPS. >> THE THING ABOUT THAT IS THERE'S NO REASON FOR HER TO BE ON THE CALL. IF THE CITY MANAGER WANTS TO UTILIZE AN ASSETS THAT WE PAY FOR AS PART OF OUR LEGAL BACKGROUND, WE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THAT INDIVIDUAL, AND AT THE END IF THEY'D GOT THE SAME INFORMATION, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE AND BEEN OVER WITH. >> AND SHE'S ALWAYS IN AN ADVISORY CAPACITY, ALWAYS. >> YES. BUT SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ON EVERY SINGLE DECISION AND MAKE ISSING DECISIONS. >> SHE WOULD HAVE LEARNED THE SAME THING HE LEARNED ON THE CA CALL. >> NEVER GOT TO GO THROUGH IT, DID HE? >> WELL, SHE LEARNED THE SAME THING. >> IF I WAS THE ADVISOR AND REQUESTED A SECOND OPINION, THEN I WOULD WANT MY OPINION WITHOUT THE POINT IN THE ROOM, SO I COULD ASK PERTINENT QUESTIONS AND NOT BE INTERRUPTED BY THE OTHER PERSON, AND THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE WOULD HAVE HAPPENED BASED ON THE PRESENITATION THAT I GOT IN MY OFFICE, THE MOTION WAS THERE, AND I'LL SEND YOU THE E-MAIL THAT I GOT. JAIL READ IT TO YOU, BECAUSE IT'S THAT IMPORTANT. MADAM MAYOR, NOT TO CUT YOU OFF. >> NO, PLEASE COMMISSIONER GAINES. >> HE'S PROBABLY THE BEST QUALIFIED UP HERE. >> I'M GOING TO SAY THIS IS AN OPEN FORUM. STUFF WE SAY CAN BE RECORDED AND PUT IN ANY TYPE OF POTENTIAL LAWSUITS. WE ARE FIGHTING OVER THE CHARTER, WHICH I AGREE WITH THE CHARTER. I AGREE WITH A CHARTER REVIEW AND EVERYTHING. WHEN I GOT WIND OF ALL THIS, EVERYTHING THAT WENT DOWN, THE FIRST THING THAT CAME -- THE FIRST QUESTION I ASKED MYSELF WAS DID WE KNOW ABOUT -- DID ANYBODY KNOW ABOUT THIS FEDERAL LAW BEFORE WE MADE ANY DECISIONS? BECAUSE WHAT I'M HEARING AND WHAT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE MADE A DECISION. WE GOT INFORMATION THAT WE HAD VIOLATED A FEDERAL LAW, AND CALLS STARTED BEING MADE, AND THAT'S WHAT ALL OF THIS CAME UP. I'M GOING BACK TO HOW COME A DECISION WAS MADE AND NO ONE [02:30:05] KNEW ABOUT THIS FEDERAL LAW? THAT'S WHERE I'VE BEEN STUCK WITH AT THE BEGINNING, BECAUSE ONCE I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT, I DID A GOOGLE SEARCH, CAN YOU DO X, Y, Z, AND THE GOOGLE SEARCH CAME UP WITH A BIG LETTER NO. SO I'M STILL AT THE POINT HOW DID WE GET TO POINT B OR C WITHOUT KNOWING THE FEDERAL LAW. THAT'S MY CONCERN RIGHT NOW. SO WHO MAKING CALLS AND WHO CAN DO CALLS AND ALL OF THAT, AND ALL OF THIS, WE CAN DEAL WITH THAT. WE CAN DEAL WITH THAT, BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE-- WE MADE A WHOLE DECISION, AND NO ONE STOPPED TO LOOK AT THE LAW. AND IT'S NOT A FEDERAL LAW THAT HAPPENED. IT'S AN ESTABLISHED FEDERAL LAW. THAT'S MY CONCERN. THAT'S MY CONCERN. SO I THINK WE NEED TO EITHER TABLE THIS OR PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA, SO PEOPLE CAN HAVE NOTICE AND WE DISCUSS IT, BECAUSE THIS GOING BACK AND FORTH, IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYONE HAS DRAWN THEIR LINES IN THE SAND, AND IT'S NOT FAIR TO MADAM ATTORNEY, AND IT'S NOT FAIR TO MR. CHESS FOR US TO SIT UP HERE AND ARGUE, BECAUSE I CAN'T ADVISE THEM, BUT I WOULD TELL BOTH OF THEM TO SIT BACK AND LISTEN AND BE QUIET RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE WHATEVER COMING IN RIGHT NOW IS GOING TO JUST MAKE THE PROBLEM WORSE. AND IF WE PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, AND IT'S NO NO NON OPEN, AND WE LET EVERYONE DISCUSS IT AND PUT IT IN. WE MADE A DECISION. >> DID WE THOUGH? >> YES. >> I THOUGHT IT WAS A TWO-STEP DECISION I ASKED THE QUESTION NOW. LET ME INTERJECT ONE COMMENT. I AGREE WITH YOUR PERSPECTIVE. NEEDS TO BE AGEND AWED AND DISCUSSED AND PEOPLE CAN GIVE US WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED HERE. MY ONLY QUESTION IS BASED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ISSUE, BECAUSE THIS IS CLEARLY A DISPUTE AMONGST OUR CHARTER OFFICERS, AND IF THE CHARTER OFFICERS AREN'T COMMUNICATING WORKING TOGETHER, THE CITY IS GOING TO FAIL, SO DO WE NEED A SPECIAL MEETING FOR THIS TWAUNIC. >> SINCE WE BROUGHT IT UP, LET ME ASK THE QUESTION, BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE WE ALL GETTING DIFFERENT ANSWERS AND DIFFERENT SCENARIOS, SO IF I'M WRONG, I WANT TO BE CORRECTED TONIGHT. A PAPER, CAME IN, THE GARNISHMENT CAME IN. THE DECISION WAS MADE TO SUSPEND THAT PERSON. >> THAT'S ALL I WAS AWARE THAT HAD HAPPENED. >> AFTER SUSPENSION, WORD CAME IN THAT FEDERAL LAW HP VIOLATED. >> NOBODY WAS FIRED. >> IT DON'T MATTER. GO READ -- IT DOESN'T MATTER. GO READ THE STATUE. >> OKAY. >> GO READ THE STATUE, SO A DECISION WAS MADE WITHOUT ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS FEDERAL STATUTE. >> WAS A LEGAL OPINION REQUESTED? >> IT -- I DON'T KNOW. >> THAT'S THE KEY. >> I DON'T KNOW, BUT IS IT? SO I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO YOU. SO ANY DECISION TO TERMINATE OR PUT ON SUSPENSION, IT IS -- THEY DON'T HAVE ANY SAY SO. >> THAT'S THE FIRST THING THAT SHOULD HAPPEN. WHAT ARE THE VIABLE POLICIES. >> I HAVE A PRODUCT DIRECTOR HERE, SO I DON'T GET INTO THE WEEDS OF -- I DON'T GET INTO THE WEEDS OF SUSPENDING PEOPLE. >> WHAT'S THE QUESTION BEING ASKED? A QUALIFIED RESPONDENT. >> I DON'T HEAR -- I DON'T KNOW IF THE QUESTION WAS ASKED COMMISSIONER, BUT I DO KNOW YOU JUST SAID THAT OTHER EVIDENCE WAS BEING BROUGHT TO -- WHAT OTHER EVIDENCE WAS BEING BROUGHT TO THE SITUATION BY OUR ATTORNEY. I DON'T KNOW THAT TO BE TRUE OR NOT. I'M JUST TELLING YOU WHAT Y'ALL TELLING ME, SO IF THAT WAS BEING TRUE -- IF THERE ATTORNEY WAS BRINGING OTHER EVIDENCE, WHERE WAS THE LEGAL -- WE GOT A STATUTE OUT HERE. WE CAN'T DO IT. I DON'T KNOW IF SHE DID OR SHE DIDN'T. ALL I HEARD WAS CAME IN, THE DECISION TO SUSPEND. AFTER THE DECISION WAS DONE, WORD CAME IN THAT WE HAD VIOLATED A FEDERAL STATUTE. THEY BROUGHT HER BACK. NOW, THE CAUSE AND EVERYTHING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. I'M NOT ON THE CAUSE YET. I'M TRYING TO GET HOW WE GOT FROM THAT TO SUSPENSION AND THERE'S A FEDERAL LAW OUT THERE. >> I'M ASKING THE EXACT SAME QUESTION. WHAT WAS THE >> I DON'T KNOW. [02:35:03] >> PROCESS FOR DETERMINING THE INFORMATION, AND WHERE DID THAT INFORMATION ULTIMATELY COME FROM? >> LET ME JUST SAY HERE, BECAUSE I TALKED TO BOTH ENTITIES. I TOGGED TO THE ATTORNEY. I -- I TALKED TO BOTH ENTITIES. I TALKED TO THE ATTORNEY. I TALKED TO THE CITY MANAGER. STARTED OUT THE CONVERSATION, THE CITY ATTORNEY CONTACTED ME. I WAS SURPRIDE WHAT HAPPENED, AND I IMMEDIATELY CALLED OVER AND SPOKE WITH THE CITY MANAGER. I WANT TO SAY NO. 1 THIS IS NOT OUR FINEST HOUR. NO. 2, STHRZ BEING MISSED. I THINK TODAY EVEN IN MY LEARNING OF TALKING TO THE CITY ATTORNEY TODAY AGAIN, THERE'S CLEARLY SOMETHING HERE THAT IS WAY OUT OF LINE. IT'S WAY OUT OF LINE, RIGHT? AND I GOT AN HR DIRECTOR DOWN HERE, THAT QUITE FRANKLY, SHOULD BE THE EXPERT ON HOW WE HANDLE THIS, BUT I DO AGREE THAT THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITY TO CLEAR THIS UP, RIGHT? AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC MEETING NOW BECAUSE WE OWE IT TO THE PUBLIC TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION. AND WE'RE ALL GOING TO UNFORTUNATELY HAVE TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE GOT THAT CALL AND WHAT WAS THE IMPRESSION AT THAT POINT BECAUSE WE ALL HEARD INFORMATION THAT WAS CONCERNING, AND AS A RESULT OF THAT SERVICE COMING TO THE CITY AND BEING SERVED, IT TRIGGERED A LOT OF THINGS THAT APPARENTLY, WE WEREN'T PREPARED FOR OR HAD A WRAP-AROUND OR HANDLE ON, AND THE ULTIMATE QUESTION IS WAS THERE A DECISION MADE BASED ON HER, HIM, HIM, AND MAYBE ONE OTHER PERSON BEING IN THE ROOM HUDDLED UP HERE AT CITY HALL, BECAUSE WE WEREN'T HERE AT CITY HALL. I THINK I HAD JUST LEFT, 9TO LEAVE. SO SOMEHOW, THAT INTERPRETATION WAS MADE, AND I THINK WE GOT TO THE POINT COMMISSIONER GAINES THAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE PATH OF SUSPENSION AND WAS THAT DONE UNDER LEGAL ADVICE OR NOT, I DON'T KNOW. >> THAT'S THE KEY. >> OKAY. WAS THERE INTERPRETATION MADE? I DON'T KNOW. SO YOU'RE RIGHT, IT IS A KEY. BUT THEN IT ALSO TRIGGERS THE POINT OF THAT RESEARCH OF COMING IN TO SAY HEY. THIS IS A FEDERAL THING, AND WE NEED TO BACKTRACK HERE. WHERE DID THAT COME IN AT, AND HOW -- . >> AND WHEN IN THE PROCESS >> WHEN IN THE PROCESS, SO THAT'S WHERE I'M AT, RIGHT? I'M A PROCESS GUY, AND RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE AT THE CROSSROADS WHERE A PARTY IS SAYING I DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH OUTSIDE COUNSEL. THURSDAY PARTY SAYING WELL, THIS OUTSIDE COUNSEL IS RETAINED THROUGH MY OFFICE. I HAVE A RIGHT TO BE THERE AND TO LIST TONIGHT WHAT THIS CONVERSATION IS. SO THAT'S WHERE I'M AT RIGHT NOW. IT'S A COMPLETE MESS. AND WHAT I'M FURTHERMORE DISTURBED ABOUT I'M GOING TO SAY EVERYBODY, JUST TO LOOP EVERYBODY IN. WE'RE BETTER THAN THIS. >> YEP. >> WE'RE BETTER THAN THIS. >> WE HAVE TO BE BETTER THAN THIS. >> WE HAVE TO BE BETTER THAN THIS, AND GUESS WHAT? THE PEOPLE WILL CHANGE ALL OF THIS FOR US, AND THEY WILL DECIDE HOW THEY WANT THEIR CITY TO BE RUN, BECAUSE WE'RE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE CITIZENS OF FORT PIERCE. >> AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF EMOTION IN THIS TOO, AND I THINK EVERYBODY OUGHT TO TAKE A BEAT, INCLUDING ME, AND I THINK WE ALL -- AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S LED UP TO THIS IS EMOTIONAL DECISIONS PERHAPS WERE MADE OR EMOTION PLAYED INTO IT, BUT I WILL TELL THIS COMMISSION THAT I WANTED -- I ASKED FOR A MEETING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE CITY MANAGER THIS MORNING TO HEAR THEIR SIDES-- TO HEAR, TO GET THE, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT EMOTION, WHAT HAPPENED? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A LOT OFENINGER THERE, AND I ASKED FOR IT AT 8:15 THIS MORNING, MS. HEDGES SHOWED UP. MR. -- THE CITY MANAGER DID NOT. >> I INVITED MADAM MAYOR? >> YES. >> IT'S TWICE ON YOUR PHONE. IT'S ON YOUR TEXT. IT'S BY TEXT. I ASKED YOU TO CONFIRM IT, YES. TWICE, LOOK AT YOUR PHONE, YEP. >> I GOT A TEXT MESSAGE ABOUT THE WORKS AGREEMENT, NOTHING ABOUT -- WE HAD THIS CONVER [02:40:03] CONVERSATION. >> BUT THAT'S WHY YOU GOT A CALL FROM SOMEBODY IN YOUR OFFICE I BELIEVE YOU IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS I TRIED TO HAVE THIS SITUATION WHERE PEOPLE WERE TALKING TO ONE ANOTHER, AND I COULD HEAR THE WHOLE THING THIS MORNING, AND I FELT LIKE THAT THAT WOULD HELP ALLEVIATE THIS SITUATION. I DIDN'T KNOW THE COMMISSIONER WAS GOING TO BRING IT UP TONIGHT, AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. LISTEN. THERE IS IN EVERY CITY IN THIS STATE, TENSION BETWEEN THE CITY MANAGER AND IN THE SATE ATTORNEY. AND SOMETIMES IT BOILS OVER, AND SOMETIMES IT GETS OUT OF WHACK, AND IT'S HAPPENED WITH EVERY CITY ATTORNEY WE'VE HAD. AND I THINK THAT WE OUGHT TO AT LEAST RECOGNIZE THAT THAT'S THE NATURE OF THE BUSINESS NOW, AND ALSO THAT OUR CHARTER OFFICERS, ALL OF THEM DO NOT NEED TO REACT WITH EMOTION, JUST LIKE WE DON'T. SPEEU IF I CAN SAY SOMETHING. >> SURE. >> YES. I'M ADULT, AND I DON'T NEED ANYONE TO SPEAK FOR ME, AND I WILL SAY MADAM MAYOR, IF YOU INVITED ME TO A MEETING, I NEVER DECLINED A MEETING. I PROBABLY SHOWED UP LATE, PROBABLY TWO MINUTES LATE. IF YOU INVITE ME, SO TO PUT IT OUT THERE AND THAT I DIDN'T SHOW UP, I DON'T LIKE HOW THAT'S PRESENTED. I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO DETAILS ABOUT A GARNISHMENT CASE. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'M A GROWN MAN. NO ONE TELLS ME TO TALK TO AND WHAT TO SAY. SO NO ONE TELLS ME OR MY STAFF WHO TO SPEAK TO AND NOT TO SPEAK TO. I'M A GROWN MAN FIRST. IF I'M GOING OUTSIDE OF MY AUTHORITY, I HAVEN'T MADE ANY DECISION IN ANY SITUATION WITHOUT SPEAKING TO ANY ONE OF YOU AT SOME POINT IN TIME. I COMMUNICATE WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO ALONG THE WAY, SO WE CAN GET INTO THE DETAIL ABOUT HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE WERE, BUT AS FAR AS MY DECISION OF CITY MANAGER, I WORKED WITH FIVE CITIES, AND TWO COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AS WELL. I KNOW HOW THIS WORKS. I DON'T NEED Y'ALL TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT MY ROLE IS. I KNOW WHAT MY ROLE IS, AND I READ THE CHART AS WELL, SO WHEN I'M PRESENTING MYSELF TO SPEAK TO A CONSULTANT OF OURS, ANY CONSULTANT, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION, AND I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT, AND NO ONE SHOULD TELL ME YOU CAN'T SPEAK TO THIS PERSON UNLESS I'M IN THE ROOM WITH YOU. IT DOESN'T WORK WITH THAT WAY. I'M DEFINITELY IN THE WRONG POSITION, AND I'M DEINITELY WITH THE WRONG CITY. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT. I RESPECT Y'ALL VERY MUCH, BUT NO ONE GETS TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO AND SPEAK TO. >> JUST US. >> OF COURSE, AS MY BOSS. >> AND MADAM MAYOR, IF I CAN PROVIDE BASIS OF HOW TO GET TO THE CRUX OF THIS ISSUE, WHICH MAY BE HELPFUL, AND I'LL SUBMIT TO THE CITY CLERK. THIS IS QUESTIONS FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND SHE CAN TAKE HER TIME TO ANSWER THEM. AND YALE GET INTO THE CITY CLERK. CAN YOU PROVIDE THE LEGAL ANALYSIS IN LIGHT OF 15USC SUBSECTION 1674 QUEST MARK. THAT IS THE STATUTE IN WHICH WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FROM THE FEDERAL SIDE. IS IT YOUR OPINION THAT A SINGLE WAGE GARNISHMENT CAN BE USED FOR A BASIS OF TERMINATION, AND THEN WHAT RELATED PERFORMANCE OR POLICY ISSUE SUPPORTED YOUR RECOMMENDATION. ARE THESE ISSUES DOCUMENTED AND CONSISTENT WITH PAST CITY. WHAT WAS A LEGAL BASIS FOR OBTAINING THAT INFORMATION, AND HOW IS IT RELEVANT TO JOB PERFORMANCE. NOW, FOR CONSISTENCY AND EXPOSURE, IT'S A CONCERN. HAS THE CITY TAKEN SIMILAR ACTION IN COMPARABLE CASES. WHAT IS THE CITY'S EXPOSURE IF THE ACTION IS DEEMED PRETEXTUAL. IN THE GOVERNMENT AND PROCESS, DOES THE CITY MANAGER HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO CONSULT OUTSIDE COUNSEL? WHAT LEGAL AUTHORITY WOULD RESTRICT THAT COMMUNICATION, AND WOULD YOU RECOMMEND OBTAINING A LEGAL OPINION BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN. SO I WILL PROVIDE THIS BEFORE THE CITY CLERK, AND I WILL SHARE WITH YOU THAT IF I AM CHALLENGED BY YOU, IF WE'RE HAVING A DISCUSSION AND DEBATE, I WILL ALWAYS BE PREPARED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION BACK THE OTHER WAY. IF I HAVE A DISAGREEMENT WITH THE CITY MANAGER, I WILL EQUALLY BE RESPONSIBLE AND PROVIDE MY [02:45:04] POINTS AND THE SAME THING WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY. I DON'T AGREE WITH SOME OF THE DECISIONS SHE'S BEEN MAKING OVER THE LAST FIVE WEEKS, AND IT'S CLEAR THAT WE HAVE A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT I BELIEVE MAY BE AN INTERPRETATION THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS DECISION AUTHORITY, CLEARLY IN THE CHARTER. IT'S ADVISORY ONLY. AND THERE'S NO WAY THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN STOP THE CITY MANAGER FROM GETTING OUTSIDE INFORMATION OR A SECOND LEGAL OPINION. I'LL LEAVE IT THERE.. AND THANK YOU FOR ENTERTAINING THIS. I DIDN'T WANT TO DO THIS THIS WAY. BUT I COULDN'T HAVE ALL THIS DOCUMENTATION GIVEN TO YOU IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING. HOWEVER, I WILL TAKE YOUR ADVICE, THAT ANYTHING GOING FORWARD WILL BE AN AGENDA ITEM. HOW THAT PROCESS WORKS? I WILL TALK WITH THE CLERK AND MAKE SURE THAT I DO THAT EXACTLY AS REQUESTED AND GUIDANCE OF THE CITY CLERK. >> AND MAYOR, I THINK THIS AS COMMISSIONER GAINES POINTED OUT EARLIER IS NOT RESOLVES, SO ULTIMATELY, IT'S NOW BUBBLED OVER TO THE COMMISSION. THIS BODY IS RESPONSIBLE TO MAKE THE DETERMINATIONS MOVING FORWARD. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS IN SPECIAL MEETING FORMAT BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AT THE CHARTER OFFICE LEVEL, OR AN AGENDA ITEM VERY SOON, AND THAT MEETING SHOULD HAVE A LIMITED AGENDA, BECAUSE WE WILL BE ON THIS TOPIC FOR A WHILE I THINK. >> AND IT SHOULD BE SOON. >> IT NEEDS TO BE AS SOONS A POSSIBLE. >> BECAUSE THESE THREE PEOPLE WORK FOR US, AND THEY NEED TO BE AT THEIR BEST WORKING FOR US. >> WORKING TOGETHER AT THEIR BEST. >> YES. >> BECAUSE IF THAT'S NOT HAPPENING, WE HAVE A VERY, VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE ASKED FOR THIS FROM ALL THE CHARTER OFFICERS CONTINUOUSLY. IT'S, LIKE, LOOK, YOUR DIFFERENCES ASIDE, WE NEED TO BE WORKING TOGETHER, THE COMMISSION AND THE CHARTER OFFICES, CONTINUOUSLY, AND NOT HAVE A BLOWUP ON MONDAY THAT'S NOT FIXED FOR A MONTH. THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK, BECAUSE THEY NEED TO COMMUNICATE REG QULAERL WITH THE THINGS WE'RE BRINGING TO THEM. AND IT TAKES THE CHARTER OFFICE LEVEL, AND WE NEED TO GET TO THE BOTTOM WHERE THIS STEMS WITH, NOT JUST THERE PARTICULAR ISSUE BUT OVERALL REACTION. I THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. >> WHAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE COMMISSION, A SPECIAL MEETING? >> I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR A SPECIAL MEETING, AND WE FOCUS ON THIS, THE AGENDA ITEM ALONE, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT SERIOUS DECISIONS TO BE MAKING. >> AND THERE SHOULD BE -- THERE POSSIBLY COULD BE PREPARATION THAT STAFF HAS, AND SO WE WANT TO GIVE THEM ENOUGH TIME, AND IT HAS TO BE ADVERTISED. SO WHEN I MEET WITH THE CITY MANAGER TOMORROW MORNING, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT. AND WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN GET A DATE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLECH WITH UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PREPARATION HAS TO HAPPEN. >> AS A SUGGESTION, WE TYPICALLY ALL ARE HERE ON WEDNESDAY, KIND OF SORT OF, SO JUST KEEP THAT IN A CAPACITY ON WEDNESDAY. >> WE CAN MEET WEEK FROM WEDNESDAY. >> JUST KEEP IT WEDNESDAY IS WHAT I'M SAYING, AND WHATEVER HAPPENS THAT DAY, APPOINTMENTS, I CAN RESCHEDULE THEM, BUT I'M THINK ING THAT WEDNESDAY MORNING. >> THAT'S FINE. >> OKAY. >> ARE WE GOOD, COMMISSIONERS? >> THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR >> COMMISSIONER GAINES, ARE YOU SAYING NO? >> I DIDN'T PICK A WEDNESDAY. >> THE NEXT TWO WEDNESDAYS, I'M AWAY. >> IT COULD BE THE WEDNESDAY AFTER THAT. >> I'M TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT. I DON'T WANT TO PUT IT OUT TWO, THREE WEEKS. >> MS. COX HAS TO ADVERTISE TWO. >> CAN YOU LET ME KNOW HOW MANY DAYS ADVERTISE? >> IT'S NOT SPECIFIC. IT'S NOT A SPECIFIC ADVERTISEMENT FOR A SPECIAL MEETING. >> I WILL SAY AT THIS POINT ON OUR EVENING MEETING ON MAY THE 4TH, WE HAVE ONE QUASI JUDICIAL MEETING AND ONE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM AT THIS POINT, AND THAT IS IT. >> WHAT'S THAT? >> THE MAY 4TH. >> SUNDAY MAY 4TH. >> AND TWO PROCLUIMATIONS. SO [02:50:10] IF YOU WANT TO SHUT DOWN THAT MEETING. >> I THINK WE WON'T HAVE ANYMORE PUBLIC MEETINGS BECAUSE THAT TIMELINE HAS CLOSED. >> OKAY. >> BUT WE CAN SHUT IT DOWN FOR OTHER THINGS. >> MAY 4TH. >> ALL RIGHT? >> VERY WELL. >> SO ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER. IF NO * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.