[1. Call to Order] [00:00:04] WE WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> CALL THE ROLL PLEASE? [a. Addressing Differing Interpretations of the Florida Building Code - Presentation by Paul Thomas, CBO, CFM, Building Official] >> THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ADDRESSING DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS OF THE CODE WITH INTERPRETATION BY PAUL THOMAS. >> MADAM CHAIR, -- MADAM MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, I GET MY BOARDS CONFUSED. >> ME TO. >> YES, MA'AM. THIS DISCUSSION WAS INITIATED BY A REQUEST FROM I A COMMISSIONER WHEREBY WE WERE HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT VACATION IN SHORT-TERM RENTALS. AND WITH THAT DISCUSSION, COMES THE NEED FOR THE BUILDING OFFICIAL, MR. PAUL THOMAS TO HAVE CERTAIN INTERPRETATIONS OF LAW AND THOSE LAWS ARE DICTATED BY THE FLORIDA BUILDING CODE. SO TODAY HERE IS A REVIEW OF THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE BUILDING OFFICIAL WITH REGARD TO THE SITUATION. I WILL ALLOW HIM TO CONTINUE. >> MR. THOMAS? >> MADAM MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION. I'M ACTUALLY VERY PLEASED THAT THE PRECISE QUESTION THAT COMMISSIONER IS ADDRESSED IN THE STATUTE. SO NORMALLY, WE DO A FLOWERY PRESENTATION, BUT I'M JUST GOING TO GO OVER WORD FOR WORD WITH THE STATUTE SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THE STATES POSITION IS ON THIS ISSUE AND THE DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS. SO, OUR FIRST SLIDE JUST MAKES A SIMPLE POINT THAT THE PURPOSE AND INTENT OF THE FLORIDA BUILDING CODE IS TO PROTECT LIFE, SAFETY AND HEALTH AND THE WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC. AND THAT IT REPRESENTS THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFETY. WERE NOT TALKING ABOUT GOING ABOVE THE BUILDING CODE IS THE LEAST THAT YOU CAN DO AND IT IS TO BE ENFORCED UNIFORMLY THROUGHOUT THE STATE. THAT POINT IS CONFIRMED IN FLORIDA STATUTE 553.775. AND SO IT SAYS SPECIFICALLY HEARING THE STATUTE IT SAYS IT IS THE INTENT OF THE LEGISLATURE THAT THE FLORIDA BUILDING CODE AND THE FLORIDA ACCESSIBILITY CODE FOR BUILDING INSTRUCTION BE INTERPRETED BY BUILDING OFFICIALS BY ENSURING UNIFORM INTERPRETATION THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND BY PROVIDING PROCESSES FOR RESOLVING DISPUTES REGARDING INTERPRETATIONS OF THE FLORIDA BUILDING CODE AND THE LORD ACCESSIBILITY CODE, WHICH ARE JUST AN EXPEDITION. THIS IS WORD FOR WORD THAT THE COMMISSIONER HAD THAT THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS CONCERNED THAT THE CODE IS ENFORCED UNIFORMLY THREAT THE STATE. AND IF WE CONTINUE FORWARD, IT ALSO SAYS THAT IT IS THE BUILDING OFFICIALS SOLE RESPONSIBILITY TO INTERPRET THE CODE. THIS IS AN INTERESTING STATEMENT BECAUSE EVERYONE HAS THEIR OPINIONS THE END EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO THEIR OPINIONS. BUT THE RESPONSIBILITY, LEGALLY, TO INTERPRET THE CODE IS GIVEN TO -- SOLELY, TO THE BUILDING OFFICIALS. AND IF THAT IS DISPUTED, THERE IS A RECOURSE. AND SO 553 POINT -- ONCE AGAIN FLORIDA STATUTE 553.775 MAKES THE STATEMENT THAT THE FLORIDA BUILDING COMMISSION IS TASKED WITH REVIEWING DECISIONS OF LOCAL BUILDING OFFICIALS REGARDING INTERPRETATIONS OF THE CODE 1 A LOCAL BOARD OF APPEALS DOES NOT EXIST. SO, THE FLOORING BUILDING COMMISSION IS THE ENTITY THAT HAS THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO REVIEW AND PERHAPS CLARIFY INTERPRETATIONS OF A BUILDING OFFICIAL. AND WE MOVED TO OUR NEXT POINT, IT SAYS THE FLORIDA BUILDING COMMISSION IS REQUIRED TO COORDINATE WITH THE BUILDING OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION OF FLORIDA TO YOUR REQUEST REVIEW DECISIONS OF LOCAL BUILDING OFFICIALS. DISPUTES MAY BE RESOLVED WITH AN ADVISORY, NONBINDING INTERPRETATION, A BINDING INTERPRETATION, A DECLARATORY STATEMENT OR A FINAL ORDER ENTERED AFTER AN APPEAL OVERTURNING THE DECISION OF THE BUILDING OFFICIAL. SO, THAT OUTLINES WHAT THE STATE SAYS IS THE LEGAL PROCEDURE AND LEGAL RECOURSE. NOW, THIS IS -- THIS IS MORE INFORMATION THAT SHOWS THAT THE STATUTES LAY OUT A VERY SPECIFIC JUDGMENT THE WORDING IS VERY SPECIFIC REGARDING WHO CAN INFLUENCE OR IF A BUILDING [00:05:03] INDIVIDUAL IS TO BE INFLUENCED WHO ARE THEY TO LISTEN TO OR NOT. SO THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE IS FOR BUILDING INSPECTORS. SO IT SAYS: IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BUILDING CODE INSPECTOR TO CONDUCT INSPECTIONS, BLAH BLAH BLAH. IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE VERY LAST SENTENCE, IT SAYS: WITHOUT INTERFERENCE FROM ANY UNLICENSED PERSON. AND I WANT YOU TO FOCUS ON THE WORDING. SO FOR A BUILDING INSPECTOR, THEY CANNOT BE INFLUENCED BY AN UNLICENSED PERSON. AND THAT IS IN THE STATUTE. IF WE GO TO A PLANS EXAMINER IT'S WORDED THE SAME. IT SAYS THAT THE PLANS EXAMINER HAS TO FULFILL THEIR OBLIGATION, THEIR LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY WITHOUT INTERFERENCE FROM ANY UNLICENSED PERSON. NOW, THE SAME STATUTE MAKES THIS POINT THAT BUILDING OFFICIALS, IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BUILDING CODE ADMINISTRATOR OR BUILDING OFFICIAL TO ADMINISTER, SUPERVISE DIRECT OR ENFORCE OR PERFORM, BLAH BLAH BLAH, AND IF YOU GO TO THE END, IT'S A DIFFERENT WORDING. IT SAYS THE BUILDING CODE ADMINISTRATOR OR OFFICIAL SHALL FAITHFULLY PERFORM THESE RESPONSIBILITIES WITHOUT INTERFERENCE OF ANY PERSON. AND HE DIDN'T SAY ANY UNLICENSED PERSON. THERE'S A CAVEAT. AND I PUT THAT THERE SPECIFICALLY FOR A REASON. BECAUSE THE BUILDING OFFICIAL'S JOB IS IN REGARD TO SAFETY. SO IF THERE IS A LIFE SAFETY ISSUE, IT IS HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO STAND UP. IT'S HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO INTERPRET THE CODE. IF HE'S NEGLIGENT IN THAT REGARD, NOT ONLY IS IT A LIFE SAFETY ISSUE, BUT THE CITY MAY BE LIABLE AND PERSONALLY THE BUILDING OFFICIAL COULD BE LIABLE. SO IT MAKES IT CLEAR THAT THERE IS NO PERSON THAT CAN INFLUENCE, LEGALLY, A BUILDING OFFICIAL. SO IN STATUTE 468.629 IT SAYS NO PERSON MAY: THREATEN, COERCE, TREAT, PERSUADE OR OTHERWISE INFLUENCE, OR ATTEMPT TO THREATEN, COERCE, TRICK, PERSUADE OR OTHERWISE INFLUENCE, ANY CERTIFICATE HOLDER IN ORDER TO INDUCE A VIOLATION OF THIS PART, A LOCAL BUILDING CODE OR ORDINANCE, OR, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER LAW OF THE STATE. IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT IF THE BUILDING OFFICIAL IS THE ONLY PERSON THAT IS AUTHORIZED, THE STATE SAYS THAT THAT IS THE PERSON THAT I WANT. IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THAT, IF THERE IS A QUESTION REGARDING THE INTERPRETATION, THEN THE FLORIDA BUILDING COMMISSION IS THE ENTITY, THEY HAVE THE EXPERTISE AND THE ATTORNEYS AND THEY HAVE THE DESIGN PROFESSIONALS, BUILDING OFFICIALS, IT IS THEIR SOUL RESPONSIBILITY TO CORRECT ANY INTERPRETATIONS OR TO CLARIFY THE INTENT OF THE CODE. SO, IT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT BECAUSE THIS IS THE SAME CAVEAT THAT'S GIVEN NOT ONLY DO BUILDING OFFICIALS, BUT TO FIRE MARSHALS. SO THE OPINION OF OTHER OFFICIALS, FIRE MARSHALS, INTERPRETATIONS OF CODES IS IRRELEVANT. AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE STATE SAYS THAT. YOU DO NOT INTERPRET THE CODE BY CONSENSUS. YOU DON'T CALL ANOTHER JURISDICTION AND SAY WHAT ARE YOU DOING? YOU DON'T PAY YOUR BUILDING OFFICIAL FOR THAT. YOU PAY THEM TO INTERPRET THE CODE, AS IT IS, TO PROTECT LIFE SAFETY. IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF THAT INTERPRETATION IS INCORRECT, THE BUILDING OFFICIALS AND THE OTHER JURISDICTIONS ARE NOT CAN HAVE TO PAY FOR. IS THE INDIVIDUAL WHO MAKES A DETERMINATION THAT HAS TO STAND BY HIS DETERMINATION. SO IT IS DEFINITELY NOT AN ISSUE OF PUBLIC OPINION IT'S ESTABLISHED THAT WAY LEGALLY BY A STATE STATUTE. >> ARE HANDLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH HOW THE PROCESS IS DESIGNED BY FLORIDA STATUTE. AND THE FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE. THE FLORIDA BUILDING CODE THE FLORIDA BUILDING CODE IT'S NOT SET IN STONE. IT IS FAIR TO SAY THAT THE ISSUE OF -- WE WILL SAY SHORT-TERM RENTALS OR VACATION RENTALS, AIR B&B'S, ALL OF THESE THINGS, THIS IS A RELATIVELY RECENT PHENOMENON. VERY SIMPLE -- SIMILAR TO LYFT AND UBER, TRANSFORMING THE TAXI COMMISSION AND THEY WOULD SAY WE DON'T WANT THEM. GUESS WHAT? THIS IS SOMETHING NEW. EVERY TIME THAT THERE'S SOMETHING NEW, THERE IS A CHANGE THAN IT CREATES RIPPLES. WE HAVE NOT LOOKED AT THINGS THIS WAY BEFORE. THERE ARE CHALLENGES. SO THE FLORIDA BUILDING CODE IS IN CONCRETE. THERE IS A PROCESS EVERY THREE YEARS WHERE IT IS AMENDED. AND THIS PROCESS ALSO THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, WHERE THE BUILDING OFFICIALS INTERPRETATIONS CAN BE CHALLENGED ON THE STATE LEVEL, THIS ALLOWS FOR THERE TO BE ADJUSTMENTS MORE QUICKLY THAN A THREE YEAR PROCESS. BUT YOU KNOW THE PARTICULAR ISSUE THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH, WHO KNOWS? [00:10:04] MAYBE IN THE NEXT UPDATE OF THE CODE IT MAY BE ADDRESSED. THAT'S GENERALLY HOW IT HAPPENS. BEFORE THIS ISSUE THERE WAS AN ISSUE REGARDING WINDOWS AND THE ENERGY CODE REGARDING IF YOU HAVE ALUMINUM WINDOWS AND THE HEAT THAT IS TRANSFERRED AS OPPOSED TO PLASTIC. HALF OF THE BUILDING OFFICIAL SAID WELL WE FEEL THIS WAY AND HALF SAID THEY FELT A DIFFERENT WAY. AND EVENTUALLY IT GETS CLARIFIED. SO THIS IS A NORMAL PROCESS. IT'S NOT UNUSUAL FOR A BUILDING OFFICIAL TO STAND UP ON A POSITION AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN DOWN THE ROAD THERE'S A CLARIFICATION OR WHATEVER ELSE. SO WE ARE NOT OUT OF LINE IN THE DISCUSSION THAT WE ARE HAVING. IT'S APPROPRIATE, BUT I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS PART OF THE PROCESS. THIS ISN'T UNIQUE BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION. THE BUILDING OFFICIAL HAS THE ABILITY TO PROTECT THE LIVES OF OTHERS BY ENFORCING THE CODE IS IT'S WRITTEN. ANY CHANGES. BUT HERE'S THE IMPORTANT PART, RIGHT, BECAUSE IF WE THINK ABOUT THE AIR B&B IN THE SHORT TERM RENTAL, VACATION RENTAL MODEL, REALLY, THIS IS A BUSINESS MODEL. WE'LL CALL IT WHAT IT IS. IT'S A BUSINESS MODEL FOR INDIVIDUALS TO BE ABLE TO BENEFIT AND MAKE MONEY FROM THEIR PROPERTIES. AND LEGALLY, THAT'S CORRECT. HOWEVER, IF YOU TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE OTHER SIDE, SO, WHAT HAPPENS IF A PERSON IS INJURED OR DIES IN A VACATION RENTAL. RIGHT? XO THE FAMILY THAT'S AGGRIEVED, YOU'RE GOING TO GET AN ATTORNEY. AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO SUE EVERYBODY INVOLVED. THEY'RE GOING TO SUE THE OWNER AND THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO SHARE BLAME OR THE OWNERS CAN DISABLE THE CITY LET ME DO IT. RIGHT? THEY ALLOW ME TO DO THIS. AND THEN, YOU'RE GOING TO SAY WELL THE BUILDING CODE THIS OR THAT AND THEN I HAVE SOMEBODY THAT GOES INTO THE BUILDING CODE AND TRIES TO FIND A CLEAR PATH TO SAY THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE PROTECTED SOMEONE IN THIS ENVIRONMENT. NOW IS A BUILDING OFFICIAL WITH REGARDS TO THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, THERE S A CLEAR PATH IN MY INTERPRETATION TO SAY THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE THERE ON A TRANSIENT BASIS NEED TO BE PROTECTED. THAT'S WHAT THE CODE SAYS, NOT PAUL THOMAS. SO IF I CAN FIND THAT IN THE CODE, IN THE EVENT THAT THERE WAS A DEATH IN A LAWSUIT, AND ANOTHER ATTORNEY COULD FIND THAT IN THE CODE, IF THEY WERE DEEMED TO BE CORRECT, THEN THE CITY IS NOT INDEMNIFIED. SO AS A BUILDING OFFICIAL, I DO NOT ONLY HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PROTECTING LIFE AND SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC, BUT HAVE TO PROTECT THE INTEREST OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE BECAUSE IN THE EVENT OF A DEATH OR TRAGEDY, I FEEL THAT IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY, AS YOUR BUILDING OFFICIAL, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABOVE REPROACH WITH REGARD TO THESE ISSUES. THE BUILDING OFFICIAL IS SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINE AND COULD FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES IF I DON'T EMPOWERS THE BUILDING CODE. THIS IS ANOTHER REASON WHY YOU DON'T -- I DON'T GO TO VERO BEACH AND SAY WHAT YOU ALL DOING BECAUSE I GO TO JAIL IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, IF I'M NEGLIGENT, IF I'M NEGLIGENT OR OF I AM THE SUBJECT OF MALFEASANCE OR MISFEASANCE OR ANYTHING ELSE. NOT ONLY IS THAT GOING TO AFFECT MY LIVELIHOOD BUT THIS WILL AFFECT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE LEGALLY. THESE ARE ALL LEGAL ISSUES. THE BUILDING CODE IS A LEGAL DOCUMENT. IT'S NOT SUBJECTIVE. SO UNIFORM ENFORCEMENT OF THE BUILDING CODE INDEMNIFIES THE CITY. AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE WITH REGARDS TO WHY WE ARE HERE. I'M CERTAINLY ABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS I MAY BE ABLE TO BUT I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE INTERPRETATION AND INFLUENCE PART, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH THAT QUICKLY FLORIDA BUILDING COMMISSION. >> YES, WHO APPOINTS THEM? WHO ARE THEY. >> THEY ARE APPOINTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND THERE'S A CERTAIN MAKEUP OF THE BOARD. THERE ARE CERTAIN VISUALS WILL HAVE TO BE ATTORNEYS, ARCHITECTS, CONTRACTORS, BUT THEY HAVE THE LEGAL AND CONSTRUCTION EXPERTISE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE BINDING DECISIONS. >> AND WHO, IN THE THREE YEARS -- THE THREE YEAR PROCESS, WHO HAS INPUT INTO WHAT CHANGES MIGHT BE MADE? DO BUILDING OFFICIALS LIKE YOU HAVE INPUT INTO THE PROCESS? >> ABSOLUTELY. THERE ARE COMMITTEES THAT ARE SET UP TO ADDRESS QUESTIONS OR POTENTIAL CHANGES IN THE CODE. THAT'S ALL DISCUSSED AT MEETINGS THAT THEY HAVE REGULARLY ON THE STATE LEVEL. >> AND THE LEGISLATURE HAS TO END UP APPROVING THOSE CHANGES? >> ABSOLUTELY. >> AND DO YOU HAVE MEETINGS OF THE FLORIDA BUILDING CODE THE PEOPLE OF YOUR PEERS YOU HAVE MEETINGS AROUND FLORIDA? >> YES. LOCALLY, WE HAVE THE BUILDING OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION OF THE CODES. WE HAVE MEETINGS WITH OFFICIALS FROM SEBASTIAN, DOWN TO JUPITER, I THINK. AND OUT TO OKEECHOBEE AS FAR WEST. [00:15:04] >> OKAY. >> WE MEET AND DISCUSS TRAINING IN THESE ISSUES. IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION, ILLEGALLY, YOU WANT TO HAVE A DETERMINATION THAT IS MADE THAT'S A LEGALLY BINDING. SO IS THE FLORIDA BUILDING COMMISSION THAT CAN CLARIFY THE INTENT. >> RIGHT. SO EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE MEETINGS, YOU HAVE -- YOU WORK FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. YOU DO WHAT YOU'RE JOB -- YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE OF FORT PIERCE. >> NOT PORT ST. LUCIE OR ANY OTHER CITY. I NEVER AM CONCERNED WITH WHAT ANOTHER CITY DOES. IT'S NOT MY OBLIGATION. >> RIGHT. COMMISSIONER PERRONE? >> YES. THANK YOU FOR CLEARING THAT UP. I DID ASK THE QUESTION. IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE HAD MORE THAN ONE INQUIRY FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE. WE NOW UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THE BUILDING OFFICIAL IS IN THE CITY. BUT AS A COMMISSIONER, WE ARE EXPOSED TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. WE REFLECT WHAT THE ISSUES ARE OUT THERE. AND WE HAVE TO LOOK FOR ANSWERS. SO WHEN I ASKED THE QUESTION, THAT'S WHAT IT WAS. IT SEEMS LIKE THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A DEFENSIVE MOVE GOING ON HERE. I'M SAYING IS FOR INFORMATION SO WE UNDERSTAND. I'VE BEEN ON THIS FOR 10 YEARS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HEARD A BUILDING OFFICIAL SIT THERE AND TELL ME WHAT HIS POSITION IS AND HOW SECURE HE GOES. HAVING SAID THAT, IT'S INTERESTING, YOU KNOW, I AGREE. YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF THE HEALTH, WELFARE AND SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS AS IT APPLIES TO OUR BUILDING CODES. YOU SIT ON A THRONE. MEMBERS OVER HERE CAN'T BOTHER YOU. WE CAN'T BOTHER YOU. ANYBODY ELSE I UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT JOB. BUT THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT COME DOWN THE LINE TO ME -- THERE'S 412 UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. >> INCORPORATED. >> INCORPORATED. >> INCORPORATED. THANK YOU, MARYMARY. MY QUESTION IS THAT WITH ALL THOSE BUILDING OFFICIAL SITTING ON A PAYROLL LOOKING AT THE SAME APPLICATION, WHAT ARE THEY NOT COME UP WITH A UNIFORMED BUILDING CODE INTERPRETATION THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE EXACTLY WHAT THE HAPPENS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA? >> I CAN UNDERSTAND THERE ARE NUANCES THERE. AND ONE OF MY QUESTIONS -- WHEN I ASKED THAT IS IF YOU WIND UP ALL THESE OFFICIALS, OTHER GOING TO HAVE ALL THE SAME RESPONSE ALL THE WAY THROUGH? AND OBVIOUSLY THE ANSWER IS GOING TO BE NO. IS GOING TO BE NO BECAUSE YOU INTERPRET THINGS DIFFERENTLY AS IT APPLIES TO YOUR COMMUNITY IS THAT RIGHT? >> NO. YOU INTERPRET THE BUILDING CODE. YOU DON'T INTERPRET ACCORDING TO YOUR COMMUNITY. >> OKAY. >> YOU INTERPRET WORD FOR WORD. >> DURING THE COMMUNITY. SO YOUR INTERPRETATION AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, YOU ARE INTERPRETING IT TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY AS FAR AS THE CODE GOES STATED IN THE STATUTE. OKAY. >> BUT IT'S TRUE THAT YOU CAN HAVE A DIFFERENT -- YOU COULD HAVE A DIFFERENT CALL ON AN APPLICATION IN TALLAHASSEE THEN YOU DOING FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA, BASED UPON THAT BUILDING OFFICIAL IS THAT TRUE. >> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE. >> SO LET'S SAY TWO IDENTICAL, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE, TO IDENTICAL APPLICATIONS OR OTHER ONE IN TALLAHASSEE IN ONE IN FORT PIERCE. AND THERE IS A DISCREPANCY. WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR THAT -- THE ONE MAKING THE APPLICATION TO GO THROUGH AND GET A READING FROM THE STATE? WHAT IS THAT APPLICATION. WHAT IS THAT PROCESS? >> THAT PROCESS -- I DID NOT INCLUDE THAT BUT IT'S DELINEATED IN THE STATUTE. THE AGGRIEVED PARTY OR ANYONE WHO IS AGGRIEVED, IS ABLE TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE FLORIDA BUILDING COMMISSION, OUR REQUEST, FOREIGN INTERPRETATION OF THE BUILDING OFFICIAL'S DECISION. AND SO, IT'S KIND OF LIKE IF MOMMY SAYS ONE THING AND DADDY SAYS ANOTHER, WHO IS THE TIEBREAKER. IN THIS CASE IS A FLORIDA -- AND THE REASON IT'S DESIGNED THAT WAY IS BECAUSE THE STATE OF FLORIDA, THEY DON'T WANT TO -- THEY DON'T -- THEY CHOOSE NOT TO RUN LIKE A GESTAPO STAGE WHERE HERE WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION YEARS WHAT IT IS. THEY DO GIVE THE BUILDING OFFICIALS A GOOD MEASURE OF AUTHORITY TO INTERPRET. HOWEVER, IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE INTENT OF THE CODE. SO SOMETIMES A PERSON MAY READ SOMETHING WORD FOR WORD AND IT SAYS THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS THE END THERE WITHIN THE LEGAL -- IF YOU'RE EVER GOING TO DEAL WITH ANY [00:20:02] ATTORNEYS OR WHATEVER, THAT'S WHAT THEIR JOB IS. THIS IS WHAT IT SAYS. THEN YOU GET INTO WELL, THE INTENT. IT'S A FLORIDA BUILDING COMMISSION THAT HAS THAT AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE INTENT. AND THE BEAUTY OF IT IS IS THAT ONCE THE FLORIDA COMMISSION MAKES ITS DETERMINATION THAN EVERYONE ELSE IN THE STATE HAS THAT TO STAND ON. SO THAT'S THE ADVANTAGE OF PROCEEDING IN THIS WAY. >> IF YOU HAVE DIFFERING OPINIONS OF BUILDING OFFICIALS, WHEN THE STATE MAKES A JUDGMENT, THEN YOU CAN SAY HERE'S THE PRESIDENT. >> FROM WHAT I'VE READ AND THIS IS BEEN AN INTEREST TO ME FOR QUITE SOME TIME, BUT WHAT I'VE READ IS THAT IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE FLORIDA BUILDING COMMISSION IS GOING TO COME IN AND TRUMP -- OVERRIDE -- A DECISION -- AND INTERPRETATION MADE BY LOCAL BUILDING OFFICIAL WITH ITS IS NOT NECESSARILY EGREGIOUS IN ITS MATTER. >> IN ALL HONESTY, HAVE NO EXPERIENCE. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS ISSUE HAS COME FORWARD IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. IT'S A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE. >> IT PROBABLY SHOULD BE THAT WAY IN A WAY THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THE STATE COME IN. WE ALL SCREAM AND YELL ABOUT ALL MORAL AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE WANT TO EXIST ON HER OWN, YET, WHAT WE HAVE THE STATE COMING IN HERE AND TELLING US HOW TO -- HOW WORDS ARE DEFINED AND WHAT INTENTIONS ARE REALLY SUPPOSED TO BE, I MEAN, YOU ARE A TRAINED INDIVIDUAL. YOU HAVE CERTIFICATIONS, THE STATE HAS FLORIDA -- LORD HAS IDENTIFIED YOU AS AN EXPERT IN THESE MATTERS AND YOUR INTERPRETATION IS YOUR INTERPRETATION. AND FOR THEM TO COME ALONG AND TO CHANGE THAT WERE TO OPINE IN A DIFFERENT WAY, IT JUST SEEMS UNLIKELY, WILL LOSE SURE THIS REALLY COOL IS THEY ARE SAYING READ AND IT'S REALLY GREEN. SO IS THAT PROBABLY MORE CORRECT. >> IF I MAY? LIKE I SAID, I REALLY DON'T HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE. I COULDN'T SAY AND I WOULD NOT WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE FLORIDA BUILDING COMMISSION. I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF AND LET YOU KNOW THAT CERTAINLY IS NOT COMFORTABLE TO SIT HERE IN FRONT OF THIS BOARD TO DISCUSS THIS PARTICULAR CHALLENGE. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT SATISFIED OR THEY -- THEIR CHALLENGING OR WHATEVER ELSE. I DON'T GET PAID TO FIGHT PEOPLE. ULTIMATELY THAT'S WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO. SO I WELCOME THE CHANGE. THIS BOILS DOWN TO TWO ISSUES. HIS LIFE SAFETY. SO IF A PERSON -- IF ONE PERSON CAN BE SAVED BY DECISION OF AN INTERPRETATION OF THE BUILDING CODE, BUT IT'S WORTH IT. SO THAT'S THE FIRST THING. THE SECOND THING IS IS THE WAY THAT I'M INTERPRETING THE BUILDING CODE IS IN CONSISTENT WITH THE INTENT OF THE BUILDING CODE, I WELCOME THE CLARIFICATION. THAT IS THE FUNCTION. I DO NOT THINK THAT IT IS A MATTER OF WHETHER THE STATE WILL OR WON'T THAT'S INCONSEQUENTIAL. IF THE STATE SAYS THIS IS THE INTENT OF THE CODE AND WE MOVE FORWARD, THANK YOU. YOU'VE DONE ME A FAVOR. IT'S NOT -- THIS ISN'T, FOR ME, AN ISSUE OF A CHALLENGE OF AUTHORITY. COME ON. IT'S JUST SIMPLY LIFE SAFETY. THAT'S IT. >> IGHT. SO HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN THE BUILDING OFFICIAL? >> A LITTLE OVER TO. >> A LITTLE OVER TWO. AND THIS IS THE FIRST -- YOU'VE NEVER HAD ANYBODY QUESTION ANYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE WITH THE FLORIDA BUILDING COMMISSION? >> NOT -- WELL, THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION. >> FORMALLY. >> FORMALLY, NO. BUT I THINK THERE'S VERY FEW ISSUES IN THE CODE THAT ARE AS SUBJECTIVE AS THIS. THIS IS LIKE WHAT WE MENTIONED BEFORE, IS A NEW PHENOMENON. THIS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT. SO BEFORE WE WOULD HAVE A HOTEL, RIGHT. YOU ALL ARE IN HOTELS AND YOU SEE THEIR SPRINKLERS IN THE ROOM AND THERE ARE LIFE SAFETY ISSUES. THAT'S BASED OFF THE BEING TRANSIENT. IF YOU ARE NOT ACCUSTOMED TO YOUR SURROUNDINGS, EVEN IF YOU GO TO ANY PUBLIC BUILDING, THEY MAKE ME PUT AN EXIT SIGN. WHY? BECAUSE YOU'VE NEVER BEEN THERE AND YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET OUT. IMAGINE SLEEPING SOMEWHERE MAY BE OF HAD A DRINK AND THERE'S A FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. WHERE AM I? SO THIS -- YOU KNOW, THE BUILDING CODE SAYS THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BUILDING THAT IS GOING TO BE USED FOR A TRANSIT USE OR ONE THAT YOU ARE JUST RENTING ANOTHER PERSON IS ACCUSTOMED TO THEIR SURROUNDINGS. SO THAT'S THE ISSUE. >> I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THIS THERE IS NOT A -- I MEAN, IT GIVES US AT LEAST AN IDEA OF WHAT TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND. WE GET FOLKS ALL THE TIME ASKING ABOUT THESE ISSUES. WE FIND OUT EXACTLY, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE STAY IN OUR OWN LANE? HOW DO WE RESPOND IN OUR WAY? WE DIRECT THEM TO YOU FOR THE [00:25:02] BEST RESPONSE, OBVIOUSLY. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING EXACTLY HOW THE MAKEUP IS AND HOW WILL -- WHAT THE PROCESS IS TO BE ABLE TO GET THINGS DONE AS FAR AS AN APPLICATION THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT. >> YES. AND WITH THE AUTHORITY THAT YOU HAVE, IT CARRIES A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY, BUT IT ALSO MAKES YOU A TARGET BECAUSE IT IS -- THAT'S A LOT OF AUTHORITY FOR SOMEBODY TO HAVE AN PEOPLE SAY WHY CAN'T YOU OVERRIDE YOUR BUILDING? HE WORKS FOR YOU? WILL YOU WORK FOR MR. MIMS (LAUGHING) AND SECOND OF ALL, YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW -- YOU HAVE A -- A HIGHER AUTHORITY THAT YOU MUST SATISFY. AND SO, THAT -- THAT PUTS YOU IN A DIFFICULT POSITION AND SOMETIMES IT PUTS US IN A DIFFICULT POSITION BECAUSE PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS. AND SO, I'M VERY HAPPY TODAY TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE. AND IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE IT'S -- IT THE ATTORNEY IS DIFFERENT AND A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED IS ATTORNEYS GO TO ADVISORY OPINIONS FROM THE FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S ARTY ASKED THAT QUESTION AND SOMEBODY'S WAITING ON IT. YOU SEE THIS ADVISORY OPINION SAID THIS. SO, THERE CAN BE DIFFERING INTERPRETATION AMONG ATTORNEYS. I KNOW THAT THE NEWSFLASH TO YOU BUT (LAUGHING) COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER? >> EXCUSE ME. THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THE REYNOLDS. I BROUGHT THIS BACK TO THE ATTENTION OF THE COMMISSIONERS. YEARS BACK WHEN IT CAME ABOUT. THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OR SAY ABOUT DENYING HOUSING RENTALS? YOU HAVE THE SAY. YOU KNOW? AND I DID NOT KNOW IT WAS THAT POWERFUL, BUT I'M GLAD IT'S YOU AND NOT US BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO HERE, PEOPLE POINT FINGERS. AND YOU DON'T LIKE US AND YOU DON'T LIKE THAT AND IT'S NOT THAT. IT'S LEGISLATED. AND WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER IT. AND THAT'S WHAT -- I DON'T MIND -- I KNOW YOU HAVE -- AND MR. MIMS IS GOING TO DEAL WITH YOU. SO I'LL HELP YOU ALL NEED COMES RIGHT FROM HERE. >> THANK YOU, SIR. ANYONE ELSE? >> YES SIR. >> I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION. I KNOW YOU ARE IN A SITUATION AND YOU'RE ALWAYS IN THAT SITUATION BECAUSE YOU ARE OUR BUILDING CODE ADMINISTRATOR AND OFFICIAL. AND I KNOW YOU DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. A COUPLE OF THE COMMENTS -- AND JUST LISTENING TO YOU SPEAK -- AND AMAKA PUT WORDS IN ANY OTHER BUILDING OFFICIAL'S MOUTH, BUT WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW OTHER FOLKS FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS DON'T -- THEY CAN SUPPLY OPINIONS, BUT IT'S AN OPINION. THEY CAN SEE HOW THEY WOULD INTERPRET, BUT ONE OF OUR DUTIES AS ELECTED BODY AND A PLANNING BODY AND A VOTING OFFICIAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR ORDINANCES ALIGN WITH A NUMBER OF THINGS. ONE OF THOSE IS THE FLORIDA BUILDING CODE. YOU HAVE TO INTERPRET THE CODE TO ALIGN WITH OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODES. IN SUCH A WAY -- MAYBE YOU DON'T INTERPRET SPECIFICALLY, BUT OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT HAS TO. WE HAVE TO MATCH THE TWO IS A BODY APPEAR BECAUSE WE OF BARGAIN REGULATIONS. WE HAVE LIFE SAFETY CODE DEPENDING ON ZONING DISTRICTS. YOU HAVE TO SAY FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC, GO FORTH AND DO GOOD AND BUILD THIS PROJECT, HOWEVER THAT COMES ABOUT. SO I JUST WANTED TO RELATE THAT BECAUSE IN THE EXAMPLE -- AND WHILE WE'RE UP HERE TALKING ABOUT IT, THE CONDITIONAL USES THAT WERE -- THAT WERE PREPARED AND VOTED ON BY THIS BODY WITH CONDITIONS, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO -- IF THE LOOK AT A NUMBER OF THINGS. IN ONE OF THE LETTERS THAT I GOD, -- AND I TALKED ABOUT THE EIGHT CONDITIONS. IT TALKED ABOUT THE PROCESS. IT WAS A WORD DOCUMENT. I THINK IT WAS SENT TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS. AND THERE WAS AN ITEM, CONDITION THREE, THE TALKED ABOUT OBTAIN THE -- TAX LICENSE FOR EACH ENTITY, MET ALL REQUIREMENTS, REACHED THESE STOPGAP OF THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT. IN PLANNING DEPARTMENT APPROVALS. AND IT WENT ON TO FURTHER SAY THAT THIS DEMAND TRIGGERS THE REQUIREMENTS OF LIFE SAFETY PLANS AND FIRE DISTRICT APPROVAL AND ACCESSIBILITY. AND I BELIEVE IN MY HEART THAT THAT IS YOUR JOB. YOUR JOB IS THE HEALTH AND SAFETY AND WELFARE. AND YOU SAID IT TODAY, BUT THAT IS YOUR JOB. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY [00:30:02] APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE CODE. AND WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT -- WHATEVER THE ZONING DISTRICT IS, THAT'S YOUR JOB AND YOUR TASK. AND THANK YOU FOR SPELLING IT OUT FOR US TODAY. COMMON SENSE TELLS ME, TOO, THIS IS WHAT WE ALL SHOULD DO, ALL OF YOU SHOULD BE DOING THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY. BECAUSE, WHY WOULD WE WANT TO PUT SOMEONE IN A SPOT LIKE YOU JUST USED THE EXAMPLE OF A MINUTE BUILDING AND I DON'T HOW TO GET OUT OF THE BUILDING. WE HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO GET OUT OF THE BUILDING. I WENT TO A CONFERENCE NOT TOO LONG AGO, FOR MY DAYTIME JOB AND THEY TALKED ABOUT HOW CODE ADMINISTRATORS CITY MANAGERS FACILITY MANAGERS, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BUILDING LIKE THIS. IF YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE DOCUMENTS WHERE WE DON'T HOW TO GET OUT OF THIS ROOM, AND WE ARE LIABLE. WE AS A COMMISSION COULD BE LIABLE. AND THEY TALK ABOUT THE EFFECT OF GOING TO THE COURT AND SAYING WE HAD THIS ISSUE AND SOME OF THE FOLKS DID MAKE IT OUT AND YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE. THEY WERE POINTING AROUND THE ROOM. AND IT JUST BROUGHT UP ANOTHER LAYER OF THOUGHT AND PROCESS FOR ME PERSONALLY BECAUSE WE ARE RESPONSIBLE AT THE END OF THE DAY. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING THE INFORMATION, SPELLING OUT FOR US. PART OF OUR PROCESS AS POLICYMAKERS VOTING FOR OR AGAINST THE PROJECT, PUTTING CONDITIONS ON A THING WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE CODE, DOING IT THE LEGAL WAY AND HAVING MR. SWEENEY MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ON THE UP AND UP AND THEN GOING FORTH WITH OUR COMMUNITY THRIVING IN DEVELOPING IN WHATEVER DEFINITION THAT IS. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WANTED TO MAKE THE COMMENTS. I KNOW AT THE END OF THE DAY IT IS ABOUT SAFETY AND WELFARE OF US AS HUMAN BEINGS. SO THANK YOU. >>SPECIAL MAGISTRATE: ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE? MR. MIMS? >> MATTER MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION, I WANT TO SAY -- I'M ALWAYS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING POSITIVE ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MR. THOMAS. SINCE MR. THOMAS HAS BEEN THE BUILDING OFFICIAL, HE HAS FOUND WAYS TO WORK WITH OUR CITIZENS, OR BUSINESSES, OR DEVELOPERS, DOING SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THEIR RESPECTIVE PROJECTS. SO I CAN TELL YOU THAT I KNOW THAT HE GIVES YOU WORDS AND ALL THE SLIDES AND ALL THIS GOOD STUFF, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS IF THE FLORIDA BUILDING CODE ALLOWS MR. THOMAS TO APPROVE AND INTERPRET THE REVIEW OF A DESIGN FOR BUILDING OR STRUCTURE WHEREBY HE CAN ASSIST OUR RESIDENTS HE WILL DO SO. HE IS NOT AN IMPEDIMENT TO DEVELOPMENT. HE UNDERSTANDS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT I DO HAVE TO COMMEND HIM AND HIS STAFF. THEY'RE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB. >> AND HE'S -- HE MAY HAVE BEEN THE BUILDING OFFICIAL FOR TWO YEARS, BUT YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR MANY YEARS. >> YES, MA'AM. >> AND BEFORE MR. THOMAS WAS HERE, WHEN I WOULD RECEIVE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT, IT WAS JUST STANDARD. THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE WHO ARE BUILDING, CONTRACTORS, WHAT. >> WHETHER IT'S THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE HOUSE OF THE CONTRACTORS, YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM THEM IF THEY'RE NOT HAPPY AND HAVE TO SAY THAT THAT HAS ABATED TREMENDOUSLY SINCE MR. THOMAS HAS BEEN THE BUILDING OFFICIAL. THERE IS A WAY TO WORK WITH PEOPLE SO THAT THE PEOPLE THINK THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE -- HELP THEM FIND A WAY OUT OF WHATEVER THE PROBLEM IS. AND SOMETIMES IT'S JUST NOT WITHIN YOUR GRASP BECAUSE IT IS A -- AND OVERRIDING CONSIDERATION. AND I KNOW WITH SHORT-TERM RENTALS -- I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH THE LEGISLATURE IN THE LEGISLATURE TINKERING WITH THOSE. AND THEY CONSTANTLY ARE TINKERING AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO REGULATION, THE LEGISLATURE WOULD ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS. AND SO, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND -- WHICH THAT IS ON THE USE OF A HOUSE, LOSE ALL BECOME LOCATED SHOULD, THE DURATION, BUT THEY CAN HAVE THAT MUCH INFLUENCE ON THE BUILDING CODE INTERMS OF DIFFERENCES, IN TERMS OF LIFE AND SAFETY BECAUSE YOU ARE RIGHT. THIS IS CONSIDERED LIKE A HOTEL OR A TRANSIENT PLACE. AND SO, THAT'S WHY THE BUILDING CODE CAKES IN IN THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION. SO APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS AND THE EFFORTS OF YOUR STAFF AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> I MEANT TO SAY I WAS [00:35:10] SEARCHING FOR WHAT MY OTHER COMMENT WAS. IN THE FLORIDA BUILDING CODE IS THE MINIMUM STANDARD. IT'S A MINIMUM. WE ALL KNOW THAT IF A HURRICANE ANDREW OR SOMETHING STRONGER THAN THAT COMES TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA, WE ARE GOING TO YET AGAIN CHANGE OR BUILDING GO. WE ALL KNOW THAT SITTING IN THE ROOM. WE KNOW THAT FOR A FACT. WE ARE EALING WITH SEA LEVEL RIGHT NOW. WHETHER OR NOT YOU BELIEVE IT, IT'S AN ISSUE. WE ARE CHANGING OUR CODE BECAUSE OF IT. IT'S THE MINIMUM STANDARD FOR LIFE SAFETY. IT'S MINIMUM. >> THERE'S A NEW HOUSE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT IS NOW MUCH HIGHER THAN ALL OF THE REST OF THE HOUSES. IN OUR HOUSES WERE BUILT TO THE STANDARD 1992 I THINK HURRICANE ANDREW SET RIGHT. >> YES. AS A BILLING CODE MADE THAT EVEN HIGHER? >> YES. I'M LOOKING AT THIS HOUSE AND I'M THINKING THIS IS GOING TO BE A MOUNTAIN IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. BUT IT'S ABOUT SEA LEVEL RISING. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [b. Update of 2019 Strategic Plan as of December 1, 2019 for informational purposes.] >> THANK YOU. >> THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS AN UPDATE ON THE 2019 STRATEGIC PLAN AS OF DECEMBER 1, 2019 FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES. >> MR. MIMS? >> YES. THIS IS FOR YOUR INFORMATION ONLY. IT'S AN UPDATE AS OF DECEMBER 1. I'M GOING TO SAY. I HAVE TO COMMEND ALL OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS. THEY ARE ON TASK AND GETTING THEIR INITIATIVES AND ACTION ITEMS COMPLETED. I BELIEVE IN STRATEGIC PLANNING ASPECT OF WHAT WE DO HELPS US TREMENDOUSLY. AS A MATTER FACT I BELIEVE ST. LUCIE COUNTY HAS OBSERVED OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND THEY ARE BEGINNING TO STRATEGICALLY PLAN THEMSELVES. I WAS CONTACTED BY HIS CONSULTANT THAT IS PUTTING TOGETHER THEIR PLAN FORMAT AND THEY SAID THEY LOVE WHAT WE DO AND THEY THINK THAT IT IS A FANTASTIC WAY TO BRING ABOUT A ROADMAP FOR SUCCESS. SO THIS IS FOR YOUR INFORMATION. AND I'M HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM. >> AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, YOU STICK TO THESE GOALS IN TERMS -- THESE GOALS IN YOUR PLAN IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY? >> YES, MA'AM. THAT'S THE PLAN. >> THAT'S THE PLAN. SOMETIMES THINKSTHINGS HAPPEN. THE HUMANE SOCIETY CAME IN ON US. BUT ALSO, WHAT WE DO BUDGETING, WE STICK -- WE FILTER IN AN FACTOR IN THE PLAN. OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE COMMISSIONER PERRONE AND THEN COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. >> I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THAT WAS WELL DONE, BY THE WAY. I GET EXCITED LOOKING AT IT. I MEAN, WHOEVER PUT THAT TOGETHER -- I KNOW IT WASN'T YOU (LAUGHING) LIKE TO ME THAT THE INFORMATION. >> YOU SURE ABOUT THAT? >> IT'S YOUR TEAM. >> YOU KNOW (LAUGHING). >> THEY DID A GREAT MARKETING JOB WITH THAT I WAS THINKING OF COMING TO THIS COMMUNITY FOR BUSINESS OR TO LIVE, AND WAS ABLE TO PAGE DO THAT, WOULD HAVE ARTY BEEN AT MY CLOSING ALREADY. SO REALLY. GOOD JOB. I MEAN I KNOW THERE ARE SOME NEGATIVES THAT ARE STILL OUT THERE, BUT THAT, AND OUR ACTIVE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS, WHICH I GUESS STARTS TODAY FOR MOST OF US. >> PHONE CALLS (LAUGHING). >> PHONE CALLS TODAY. IF YOU'RE NOT READY FOR MR. SYN-ACK, YOU BETTER BE READY BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO BE ASKING THE QUESTIONS. BUT IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT THOSE EFFORTS DO FINALLY COME TO REALISM AND IS IDENTIFIED IN THE BROCHURE, WHICH WAS DONE VERY WELL. >> THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE JENNIFER ROBINSON, LET HER KNOW. >> WILL LOOSE OUR. >> ALL RIGHT. >> MR. JOHNSON. >> WELL WE TALK ABOUT THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND IT'S IN OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, YOU TALK ABOUT THE NEW HUB. >> YES. >> WHAT IS OUR STATUS ACROSS THE WAY HERE. >> OKAY. WILL MR. THOMAS, I'LL LET HIM COME UP AND SPEAK ABOUT THAT. >> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE SPRING TIME OR SUMMER OF THIS YEAR. >> YES. >> DID YOU HEAR THE QUESTION, MR. THOMAS. >> IS EXCITED. HE PROBABLY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THIS. >> MADAME MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS. >> WE ACTUALLY JUST HAD A MEETING. I THINK WHAT WE HAD GOTTEN APPROVAL FROM THE COMMISSION, TO SELECT A CONTRACTOR FOR BID. AND SINCE THEN, IT KIND TO BEEN AT A PAUSE. I THINK THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WAY THAT THE BID PACKAGE WAS SUBMITTED IN PURCHASING. AND SO THAT THROUGH A LITTLE MONKEYWRENCH INTO THE WORKS. WE'VE BEEN [00:40:01] WORKING -- BECAUSE WE DIDN'T -- NORMALLY, IF ENGINEERING -- IF THEY SUBMIT A PROJECT, THEN THEY WORK THE DOCUMENTS OUT. WE HAVE A DESIGN PROFESSIONAL WHO SUBMITTED THE PACKET. WE DID NOT HAVE CONTROL OVER. HE FILLED OUT THE DOCUMENTS THE WAY HE NORMALLY DOES I WAS A LITTLE INCONSISTENT WITH OUR FORMAT. SO WE HAD A MEETING WITH FINANCE AND PURCHASING MANAGER AND HOPEFULLY, WE ARE ON TRACK. THOSE DOCUMENTS SHOULD BE SENT UP TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SHORTLY AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN BE MOVING (LAUGHING) I MEAN I'M THE ONE THAT'S READY TO MATCH THE GAS MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE? >> THOSE DOCUMENTS ARE -- AS FAR AS GETTING THE CONTRACT. >> RIGHT. >> SIGNED IN -- WE APPROVED IT. >> YES. IS THE TECHNICAL THINGS THAT IN ALL HONESTY, I HAVEN'T UNDERSTOOD BECAUSE THEY DON'T DO THAT AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND IN OUR DEPARTMENT DID NOT FORMULATE THE DOCUMENTS. >> WE WERE INFORMED LAST WEEK AS TO WHAT THE ISSUES WERE AND SO, WE WERE TRYING TO -- I THINK PURCHASING WAS TRYING TO GET THAT INFORMATION BEFORE THEY BOARDED IT TO THE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND WE AGREED THAT THEY WOULD FOR THAT. SO I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE ARE. IT'S IN THE PROCESS OF IT UP -- IF IT HASN'T ALREADY BEEN FORWARDED THAT WE SHOULD ISSUE AND START CONSTRUCTION. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> WE WANT TO FOLLOW OUR OWN RULES. >> A MODERATE. I DO RUN UPSTAIRS. (LAUGHING). >> (LAUGHING). >> THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD ABOUT STRATEGIC PLANNING -- AND THAT WAS BUILDING PERMITS. THANK YOU, PAUL. >> THANK YOU. >> IN IT WE HAD INITIATIVES AND I JUST WANT TO KNOW ON A CITYWIDE BASIS, AND WE THINKING AS FAR AS WORKING TOWARDS THE PAPERLESS ENVIRONMENT? OVER THE NEXT HOWEVER MANY YEARS? AT WE TALKED ABOUT THAT? ARE WE TALKING ABOUT IT? IT PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THAT. SO I DO NOT KNOW IF THAT'S EVEN A THING, BUT IT IS 2020 AND WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT. >> OKAY. I'LL BEGIN ABOUT TALKING ABOUT THE CITY COMMISSION. YOU TALK ABOUT WORKING TOWARD A PAPERLESS ENVIRONMENT. I BELIEVE THAT THE ENTIRE CITY COMMISSION HAS TO BE IN UNISON AND THE ENTIRE COMMISSION IS NOT IN UNISON WAS GOING COMPLETELY PAPERLESS. THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, THE IT MANAGER MYSELF, OTHERS, WE ALL STRIVE TO WORK AS EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE. AND THAT INCLUDES ELIMINATING ALL THE STACKS OF PAPER AND WHATNOT. I WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN DOING THAT AND INCREMENTALLY, EVERY YEAR WE DO A LITTLE BIT MORE. SO IS GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT IT STARTS HERE. IT STARTS WITH THE CITY COMMISSION. >> IF I COULD INTERJECT. AT THE SAME TIME, IT COULD BE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS -- A SIGNATURE OR THE APPROVAL PROCESS TOWARD MOVES TO THE LINE. WERE NOT EVERYONE IS TOUCHING A PIECE OF PAPER OR STAMPING IT THROUGH THE FILING SYSTEM HERE AND IT GOES THROUGH ELECTRONICALLY. IT COULD BE SIMPLE THINGS LIKE THAT. >> YES WE HAVE SEVERAL PROCESSES LIKE THAT WITH REGARD TO MOVING THROUGH WITH VARIOUS APPROVALS. I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE AGENDA QUICK PROCESS THAT THE CITY CLERK USES A BROWSER EVERY DEPARTMENT AND SOMETIMES SOME ITEMS HAVE FIVE OR SIX APPROVALS BEFORE IT GETS TO ME. WE HAVE CERTAIN PROCESSES LIKE THAT AND IT ALLOWS US TO OPERATE FLUIDLY. >> ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS THREE YEARS AGO, WHEN I FIRST CAME ON BOARD WAS REALIZING IT WAS IN THE SET UP YOUR TALK ABOUT DEVELOPMENTS WITHOUT HAVING PLANS AGRONOMY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I'VE DONE. >> AND I USES 8 AND A HALF INCH SCREEN RIGHT HERE TO DO THE EXACT SAME THING. SO IT IS A LEARNING CURVE. I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT BE REAL ABOUT IT THIS IS FISCAL YEAR 2020 OF ALL THE THINGS. >> A HUMBUG THE STRATEGIC PLANNING? WE COULD TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE. >> ABSOLUTELY. I'M GOING TO BRING THAT UP. I'M GIVING YOU A PRECURSOR. I'M THINKING ABOUT THAT (LAUGHING). >> PUTTING THAT ON IS ONE OF THE TOPICS OF DISCUSSION. >> SIMPLE PROCESSES. BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT, YOU LOOK AT THE DOCUMENTING SYSTEM THAT'S ONLINE NOW, WE CAN INCORPORATE THAT IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF CITY BUSINESS. >> YES. IT'S FOR ME -- IS LEARNING TO USE THE TECHNOLOGY EFFICIENTLY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON PLANNING? >> MADAME MAYOR, WE HAVE ONE OTHER THING. JUST AS AN UPDATE, THE BID THAT WE ADVERTISED FOR ANIMAL SHOULDERING SERVICES HAS BEEN DEEMED TO BE UNRESPONSIVE. WE RECEIVED ONE RESPONSE. THAT RESPONSE HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS UNRESPONSIVE. SO THAT WILL BE BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION. THE CODE COMPLIANCE MANAGER, MS. PEGGY ARRAYS WILL GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON ANIMAL SHOULDERING SERVICES. JANUARY 21, NEXT TUESDAY. IN ADDITION TO [00:45:08] PROBABLY WORKING WITH OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR AS TO THE CONDITION OF OUR EXISTING FACILITY. BUT I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT SO THAT WE ARE -- ONCE WE GET -- THE CITY COMMISSION UPDATED, HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET FEEDBACK IN A DIRECTION FOR MOVING FORWARD. [5. 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.] >> ALL RIGHT. LET'S MOVE ON. >> NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC. >> OKAY. THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. WE WANT YOU TO SAY YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FIRST, BUT SIGNING BEFORE YOU START SPEAKING AND YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES IN THE MORNING IS FIVE SECONDS. >> THREE. >> THREE SECONDS. AND -- THE FIRST, WILL BE UP. >> YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS PLEASE. >> EXCUSE ME, MADAME MAYOR. >> A PROXY COMMENTS FOR NICHOLAS -- NO, MA'AM. YOU NEED TO STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS BEFORE YOU BEGIN SPEAKING. >> PROXY FOR NICHOLAS TENNELL. >> YOU NEED TO SAY YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS BEFORE YOU BEGIN SPEAKING, MA'AM (MULTIPLE SPEAKERS). >> THANK YOU. >> HUTCHINSON ISLAND FLORIDA THREE 4949. >> THANK YOU AGAIN, THIS IS A PROXY STATEMENT. >> WOULD LIKE THE FOLLOWING TO BE PUT ON THE RECORD. IT HAS COME TO HIS ATTENTION THAT MR. PAUL THOMAS HAS BEEN USING THE WRONG CHAPTER TO USE FOR HIS UNIT AND AS PREVIOUSLY STATED BY HIS PROFESSIONAL, FIRE PROTECTION SAFETY WROTE A LETTER DATED OCTOBER 15, 2019. DEAR MR. THOMAS. I'M WRITING YOU THIS LETTER IN RESPONSE TO A LETTER I RECEIVED FROM MY CLIENT WHO IS TO TRY TO OPEN A VACATION RENTAL BY OWNER IN YOUR JURISDICTION. AS 715 S. OCEAN UNITY. IN THE LETTER YOU STATED YOUR POSITION IS THE PROPOSED APPLICATION WHICH WILL REQUIRE THE CHANGE OF VIEWS FROM OUR TO TWO OR THREE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 3 10.4 AND SECTION 3 10.5. OF THE FLORIDA BUILDING CODE. SIX EDITION. IN ADDITION, MY CONCERN IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE EXAMPLES FROM OUR TWO, YOU'LL FIND THE LAST EXAMPLE OF THE VACATION TIMESHARE PROPERTIES, WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE SEEKING TO GET APPROVED. ALSO WITHIN THE MAIN DEFINITION, IT IS QUOTED RESIDENTIAL GROUP R 2 CONTAINING SLEEPING UNITS OF MORE THAN TWO DWELLING UNITS. WHICH IS THE CASE OF THE ABOVE REFERENCED ADDRESS. THE BUILDING IN QUESTION HAS MORE THAN TWO DWELLING UNITS ATTACHED. IN ADDITION, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE EXAMPLES FOR R3 OCCUPANCIES, THE FIRST EXAMPLE IS BUILDING THAT DOES NOT CONTAIN MORE THAN TWO DWELLING UNITS. AGAIN, THIS PROPERTY IS MORE THAN TWO DWELLING UNITS ATTACHED. FINALLY YOU QUOTING YOUR LETTER WHERE OCCUPANTS ARE PERMANENT IN NATURE HOWEVER, UPON YOUR REVIEW, THE WORLD -- THE WORD PRIMARILY IS LEFT OUT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN QUOTED WHERE OCCUPANTS ARE PRIMARILY PERMANENT IN NATURE. THE SAME LANGUAGE IS FOUND IN THE DEFINITION FOR R3 OCCUPANCY TYPE. BASED ON THIS ANALYSIS, IT IS MY PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING OPINION THAT THE PERMIT APPLICATION FOR REFERENCE ADDRESS SHOULD REMAIN AND R TO OCCUPANCY AND THERE'S NO CHANGE OF USE. I UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT YOU ARE THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY IN INTERPRETING THE FLORIDA BUILDING CODE FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. HOWEVER, I REQUEST YOU RECONSIDER YOUR OPINION. IF IT HELPS, I RECOMMEND REFORMING TO THE NONBINDING INTERPRETATIONS OF 7875, 7956 AND 8027 ISSUED BY THE BUILDING OFFICIALS. DBP R. THIS WAS STAMPED BY JEFFREY P COLLINS WHO IS AN ENGINEER AND RETIRED FIRE CHIEF. >> THANK YOU MA'AM. THANK YOU MA'AM. [00:50:05] >> ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION, PLEASE COME FORWARD. >> THAT WOULD BE ME. >> NO. NO YOU CANNOT DO IT. STEP AWAY FROM THE PODIUM PLEASE. >> KNOW THIS IS A PROXY STATEMENT. >> YOU CANNOT DO IT. PLEASE STEP AWAY FROM THE PODIUM. >> NO. >> I HAVE A RIGHT. >> PLEASE YIELD AN YOU DO NOT. >> YES, I DO. ÃMR. LONGER SO. THIS IS -- THIS IS THE ROLLING OF THE MAYOR. THIS IS THE ROLLING OF THE MAYOR AND THIS COMMISSION. >> UNDER WHAT SECTION, MAYOR? >> MA'AM, MOVE AWAY -- >> THE RULES AROUND THE -- ON THE BOARD. >> YOU SHOULD'VE SAID THIS BEFORE HAND. >> WHO'S NEXT? PLEASE COME FORWARD. YES, SIR. SIGN IN, PLEASE, SIR, FOR US. >> MADAM CHAIR. >> YES, SIR.? YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. >> RODNEY -- 1014 CHIPOLTE DRIVE. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE CITIZENS ORGANIZATION OF FLORIDA. AND I CAME HERE TO LET ME KNOW MY TRYING TO OPEN A SHELTER AS WELL AS A BATTERED WOMEN'S AND CHILDREN'S SHELTER. I WILL NOT DISCLOSE ANYMORE UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING. BUT THIS IS WHAT I CAME TO PRESENT. >>SPECIAL MAGISTRATE: THANK YOU, SIR. WE APPRECIATE IT. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION, PLEASE COME FORWARD. [6. City Commission Boards and Committees Updates] >> MS. COX. >> THE NEXT ITEM IS CITY COMMISSION BOARDS AND COMMITTEES UPDATE. >>SPECIAL. >> WHO WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN. >>. >> DECEMBER WAS A MONTH OF CANCELING MEETINGS, BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS GOING ON. I ATTENDED MY FIRST TREASURE COAST HIGHWAY MEETING. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> THAT'S RIGHT. >> AND I TOLD YOU IT WAS GOING TO BE THE BANE OF YOUR -- OF YOUR DECISION TO PUT THIS. BUT I HAVE -- IF YOU CAN TAKE ONE EVENTUALLY GET THIS TO THE CLERK, BUT IT'S INTERESTING TO KNOW THAT WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT THE TREASURE COAST SCENIC HIGHWAYS, THAT HISTORIC FORT PIERCE IS FRONT AND CENTER AND ALL THAT. ALL THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING ON, WE ARE -- WE ARE THE KINGPINS, I BELIEVE, AND WAS HAPPENING AS FAR AS OUR HISTORICAL SCENIC HIGHWAYS. SO IT IS INTERESTING. WE DID HAVE A SPIRITED DISCUSSION ON HOW THE SCOOTERS ARE IMPACTING THAT. IT'S A WAY TO EXPERIENCE OUR SCENIC HIGHWAYS. SO IT IS INTERESTING. THE FOLKS THAT ARE ON THERE, HAVE A LOT OF OLD FRIENDS THAT HAVE NOT SEEN A LONG TIME SO I THANK YOU FOR THAT, MAYOR. IT IS A HIKE TO GET THERE BY THE WAY. NOW I KNOW WHERE THE TBL MEETS AND EVERYTHING ELSE LIKE THAT. >> RIGHT. >> SO I HAVE A WHOLE LOT MORE RESPECT FOR OUR MEMBERS (LAUGHING). >> IS A DAYTRIP GETTING THERE. BUT ANYWAY IT WAS WELL. >> IT'S NOT IS FAR AS THE REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL. >> YES. THANK YOU FOR THAT COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. RETIREMENT DID NOT MEET -- INTERESTING ENOUGH, THE FIRE BOARD HAS A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON. I MEAN YOU REMEMBER THAT THE FIRE DISTRICT CAN'T JUST GO OUT AND FIND MILLION DOLLAR LOANS TO BE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND HELP THEM WITH THEIR CAPITAL PROJECTS. SO WHEN THEY HAVE TO BUY A FIRE TRUCK OR TWO, THESE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE TO COME OUT OF THE BUDGET IMMEDIATELY. AND FIRE TRUCKS ARE NOT CHEAP. THEY ARE NOT CHEAP. AND YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST INTERESTING HOW WE ARE COMING ABOUT AND THE FIRE DISTRICT IS VERY INDUSTRIOUS IN FINDING WAYS -- REMINDS ME MUCH LIKE 2010 WHEN THE CITY WAS TRYING TO GET THROUGH THE DOWNTURN OF WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH IT ALL. THEY ARE ACTUALLY BUYING HEAVY EQUIPMENT AT THE SAME TIME REBUILDING STATIONS LIKE STATION FIVE ON PORT ST. LUCIE BOULEVARD. IT'S A 45-YEAR-OLD STATION. AND SO THERE ARE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BEING SPENT AND YOU KNOW, IT'S A QUESTION OF YOU KNOW, WHERE WE FIND THE MONEY AND BALANCING OUT BUDGETS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. >> IT'S BEEN ACTIVE LATELY. >> THE PARKING COMMITTEE HASN'T [00:55:03] MET IN A WHILE, BUT I'M SURE THAT WE HAVE ALONE AGENDA ON THAT COMING UP. SO WITH THAT, I'M DONE. >> YOU HAVE A NEW BOARD. >> A NEW BOARD. NEW DIRECTOR -- SAME DIRECTOR, BUT NEW TITLE OF OFFICIAL DIRECTOR OR CHAIRMAN OR WHATEVER. >> GO AHEAD. LEX DID NOTICES GO OUT TO OUR NEW MEMBERS. >> THE LETTERS FROM THE CITY CLERK NOTING THAT THEY HAD BEEN APPOINTED BY THE CITY COMMISSION WENT TO THEM. THE MEETING NOTICE HAS NOT GONE OUT AS OF YET. >> THANK YOU. >> MR. SESSIONS? >> I'VE GOT AN ISSUE OF CONCERN YESTERDAY. IT WAS ABOUT 3 PM. 22ND STREET AND AVENUE E, THERE WAS A SERIOUS INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED WERE ABOUT 19 TO 21 INDIVIDUALS, KIDS, AS YOUNG AS FROM THE WITNESSES, EIGHT YEARS OLD, AND AS OLD AS 17 YEARS OLD, SHOT UP THE HOUSE ON 22ND STREET. WERE THEY INITIATED A RUN FROM 23RD STREET AROUND AVENUE KANE STARTED RUNNING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS WORLDLY INDIVIDUALS COULD SEE THEM AND THEY OWNED IT UP OVERRUN 23RD ÃMAY 22 IN E AREA. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY IS BEEN APPREHENDED, BUT IF WE HAVE -- THESE ARE NOT EVEN TEENAGERS AT THIS POINT. THESE ARE CHILDREN, BABIES, WITH WEAPONS, SHOOTING OF NEIGHBORHOODS. AND THE SAME INDIVIDUALS FACES WAS SEEN AT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED ABOUT A MONTH AGO. SOME OF THE SAME INDIVIDUALS. BUT IF WE'VE GOT THESE KIND OF NUMBERS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WITH WEAPONS, WE'VE GOT SOME ISSUES. ANNA BRING THAT UP BECAUSE WE ARE ABOUT TO GET INVOLVED IN AN AFFAIR WITH MARTIN LUTHER KING, THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT ARE PLANNED, I HOPE AND ANTICIPATE THAT WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST SECURITY, THE STRONGEST SECURITY IN TERMS OF NUMBERS AND VISIBILITY OUT ON THE STREETS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS OUT THERE, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT. MARTIN LUTHER KING AND HIS GOALS AND TO HAVE INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE TO INTERRUPT EVEN INTERFERE, I HOPE WE DO ALL WE CAN TO STOP THAT FROM HAPPENING. SO I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS THAT. I KNOW TONIGHT IS THE OPENING-NIGHT OVER AT REVEREND BILL'S CHURCH, EMMANUELLE, AND EVERY NIGHT THERE'S ALMOST SOMETHING GOING ON ALL THE WAY UP TO THE PARADE ON MONDAY. SO PLEASE HAVE AS MUCH AS WE CAN GET ASSISTANCE AND HELP WERE ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO PROVIDE SECURITY. AND WHOEVER THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE, THEY NEED TO BE DEALT WITH. SO THAT WAS A POINT OF CONCERN THAT I WANTED TO BRING UP. THANK YOU. >> YES, SIR. >> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. >> THANK YOU MA'AM. >> FORT PIERCE MAIN STREET. MAIN STREET IS DOING WELL. THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT THE FUNDING. WE'VE HAD SOME FRIDAY FASTS THAT HAD WEATHER. THERE WAS A QUESTION THERE. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE FUNDS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE CITY OR NOT. DID WE RECEIVE FUNDING FROM CBG? >> I HAVE TO DEFER TO THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE? DO KNOW OF ANYTHING. >> MISS MARTINO. >> IT'S OKAY IF YOU DON'T. >> WAS THERE FUNDING? HAVE WE RECEIVED THAT YET? >> WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE MONEY. WE GOT THE LETTER THAT IT'S ON THE WAY BUT WE HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED IT. >> WE HAVE NOT DISPERSED THE. >> WE DID DISPERSE IT. WE DID A PRE-FUNDING BECAUSE ONCE WE GOT THE LETTER, WE WOULD NOT DISPATCHERSDISPERSE ÃMAYBE IN A WEEK OR TWO BEHIND. THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> POSITIVE NEWS. DEFENSE THAT IS AROUND OUR PARCEL, WE DID A PROJECT WITH A LOT OF STUDENTS AND A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS WE CALL THAT THE FISH FENCE AND THERE WAS A BUNCH OF FISH HANGING ON THE PENS OUT THERE ALONG SECOND STREET. IT'S BECOME A BIGGER, NEWSWORTHY EXPERIENCE APPARENTLY BECAUSE WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF REPORTERS OUT THERE. IT HAS SOME NEW REPORTS. [01:00:04] THEY'RE ASKING WHY ARE YOU DOING IT AND DORIS IS GIVING A LOT OF INFORMATION. IT'S PROMOTING FORT PIERCE. THAT'S THE GREATEST PART OF IT. IT'S A PUSH FOR THE POSITIVE IN FORT PIERCE ALL BECAUSE A BUNCH OF VOLUNTEERS AND STUDENTS LINKED TO GIVE THEIR TIME TO DO SOMETHING GREAT. IT'S NEAT. IF ANYONE HAS A BEEN THERE GO VISIT IT. IT'S AT THE KING PLANT PROPERTY. >> ARE THEY STILL HAVING PROPERTY -- PROJECT. >> IS ONGOING. >> THEY HAVE THE PAINT AND SAID THAT FOLKS THAT ARE DOING PROJECTS AND A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS ARE GETTING ENGAGED. >> THE COUNCIL OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, WE HAD A MEETING THIS -- WE DID HAVE A MEETING THIS PAST WEEK, THE CENSUS FOLKS WERE THERE. AND THEY WERE DESCRIBING HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THE CENSUS THIS YEAR AND THE MONIES THAT COME BACK TO THE CITIES AND THE COUNTIES BECAUSE OF ACCURATE CENSUS. I BELIEVE THAT ST. LUCIE COUNTY AS A WHOLE WAS ABOUT 73 PERCENT IN 2010. SO WE ARE LITTLE UNDER THE. >> THAT'S RIGHT. ABOUT 25 PERCENT WERE NOT COUNTED. >> THAT'S RIGHT. THEY'RE LOOKING TO INCREASE THE NUMBERS. IT'S IMPORTANT HOW MUCH MONEY COMES BACK FROM THIS COMMUNITY FROM THE MAN -- GOVERNMENT. >> I BELIEVE WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR THAT. IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE? >> I PLAN ON ATTENDING. >> IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE NEED TO BRING FORWARD, PLEASE A ME NOW. I NEED TO MEET WITH YOU ABOUT FUTURE ENDEAVORS IF THERE'S ANYTHING WITH THE REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL. >> OUTSIDE OF THAT THAT'S IT. >> AND TO FOLLOW UP ON THE CENSUS, THE ST. LUCIE COUNTY IS FORMING A COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE AND WE -- I THINK THERE WAS A NEWS RELEASE ABOUT APPOINTING PEOPLE TO THAT. SO I HAD SENT AN EMAIL, THANK YOU, TO MR. MIMS, FOR US TO COOPERATE THAT SO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE HAS SOMETHING BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT TO HAVE A COMPLETE COUNT IN THE WINDOW IS GOING TO BE PRETTY SHORT BETWEEN NOW AND I THINK IN JUNE. SO -- AND FOR THE FIRST TIME YOU'RE GOING TO BE OF THE COMPLETED ONLINE, WHICH THAT WON'T BE THE ONLY OPTION, BUT THAT WILL BE AN OPTION. THEY'VE NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE. AND SO, IF ANYBODY IS CONCERNED ABOUT CONFIDENTIALITY, PLEASE NOTE THAT THE INDIVIDUAL RESULTS WILL NOT BE KNOWN UNTIL 2092. (LAUGHING). >> SO WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN GENEALOGISTS WILL HAVE A LOOK AT IT. (LAUGHING). >> CHEYENNE HELMS WAS FEATURED IN THE STEWART MAGAZINE FOR INFLUENCERS UNDER 40 OR WHATEVER. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR TEAM ON THAT. AND I'M GETTING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE TALKING TO ME ABOUT CONCERNS ABOUT THE SCOOTERS. I WANT TO PUT THAT ON RECORD. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VERY VERY UPSET ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF GETTING HURT IN THE POSSIBILITY -- THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE USING THEM ILLEGALLY AND YOUNG PEOPLE ARE USING THEM, TO PEOPLE AT A TIME. SO I JUST THINK THAT WE -- I THINK THAT WE OUGHT TO -- I'M ENCOURAGING EVERYBODY TO WRITE IN AND TELL US EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE UPSET ABOUT BECAUSE THIS IS A PILOT PROGRAM AND IT ENDS -- AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION WHETHER TO CONTINUE THIS OR NOT. SO UNFORTUNATELY, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE USING IT ARE NOT WRITING IN AND SAYING HOW GREAT IT IS. SO IT'S NOT VERY WELL BALANCED IN TERMS OF WHO YOU HEAR FROM. >> THEY ARE OUT RIDING (LAUGHING). >> THE TREASURE COAST REGIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES AND THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES, THE LEGISLATURE OPENED LAST WEEK BUT TODAY AND ARE NESTED THERE'S A SHORT TERM RENTAL BILL INTRODUCED SENATE BILL 1168, WHICH WOULD TAKE ALL OF -- ANY REGULATION IN TERMS OF -- NOT IN TERMS OF THE BUILDING CODE, BUT IN TERMS OF ALL OTHER ASPECTS WOULD TAKE AWAY THE REGULATION SO WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REGULATE SHORT-TERM RENTALS FOR VACATION RENTALS OR WHATEVER THE PROPER TERM IS AT ALL. AND ALSO, I THINK HB 653, I DRAFTED A LETTER. I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE ON A FUTURE AGENDA, FOR ADVOCATING AGAINST THAT BILL WHICH IS THE ONE THAT SAID CITIES CANNOT TAKE ANY Ã MAKE ANY MONEY FROM THE UTILITIES IN TERMS OF FUNDING. AND FEBRUARY 10, 11 AND 12 IS THE LEGISLATIVE ACTION AGENDAS. SO I'LL BE IN TALLAHASSEE FOR [01:05:07] THAT AND THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AUTHORITY IS AT ITS -- NEXT MONTH WILL BE CONSIDERING APOSTLE -- POSSIBLE FOR THE REDUCTION SO IS NOW -10. THAT WILL GO TO -12 IF THE BOARD APPROVES IT, WHICH OF -- AND IF THE CONTINUING TRENDS ARE PRETTY STATIC, THEN I'M PRETTY SURE THE BOARD WILL APPROVE IT. (LAUGHING) SO -- AT THE PORT FORT PIERCE UTILITIES GAVE AN UPDATE ON THE JOINT MEETING WITH THE COUNTY. THEIR STARTLING --'S STUDYING MOVING OF THAT AND ARE LOOKING AT ALL ASPECTS OF THAT. AND INCLUDING THE COST. AND SO, THIS IS A JOINT PROJECT WITH ST. LUCIE COUNTY AND -- THUS FAR THE UTILITY COMPANY HAS PUT FORTH ABOUT $20 MILLION FOR THE MOVING OF THE WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY. SO I WANT TO ASSURE THE PUBLIC AND THESE COMMISSIONERS THAT THEY ARE VERY SERIOUS ABOUT TRYING TO FIND A WAY. AND I ATTENDED A MARTIN LUTHER KING CHURCH SERVICE LAST NIGHT. AND ALSO I'LL BE AT THE CEREMONY THIS SATURDAY, AT DREAMLAND PARK. AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PARADE. AND WITH THAT, WE ARE GOING TO BE ADJOURNING RIGHT NOW. UNLESS ANYBODY HAS ANYTHING TO SAY. I WOULD LIKE THE AUDIENCE TO PLEASE LEAVE THE ROOM IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS EVERYBODY ON THE * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.