[MEETING TO ORDER] [00:00:06] >> GOOD AFTERNOON. WELCOME TO THE FORT PIERCE UTILITY AUTHORITY BOARD MEETING FOR THIS DAY AUGUST 18TH. WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND FOR THE PRAYER AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> GOD THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY. WE THANK YOU FOR THESE LEADERS OF FPUA, THE BOARD, THE STAFF. WE PRAY AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR MANY BLESSINGS AND WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD BLESS OUR TIME TOGETHER TODAY. PRAY FOR WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE, THAT THE DECISIONS MADE HERE WOULD BE OF THE MOST BLESSING AND THE BEST GOOD FOR THE SIT SEVERANCE OF FORT PIERCE. IT'S IN CHRIST'S NAME WE PRAY. AMEN. >> 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. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> MRS. BENNETT. >> PRESENT. >> MRS. DAVIS? >> PRESENT. >> MRS. GIBBONS? >> PRESENT. >> MAYOR MUD HUDSON? >> PRESENT. >> MR. FEE? [A. SET THE AGENDA] >> PRESENT. >> MR. CHESS? PRESENT. >> AND CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO SET THE AGENDA. >> MOVE APPROVAL. >> SECOND. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> MRS. BENNETT. >> YES, MA'AM. >> MRS. DAVIS. >> JET STREAM MRS. GIBBONS. >> YES, MA'AM. >> MAYOR HUDSON. >> YES, MA'AM. >> MR. FEE? >> YES, MA'AM. >> AND NOW WE'RE ONTO THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION OF THE MEETING. IF ANYBODY WISHES TO COME UP AND SPEAK YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES. I DO NOT SEE ANY MOVEMENT SO WE ARE GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION OF TODAY'S [C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES] MEETING AND HAS EVERYBODY HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING. DO WE NEED TO MAKE ANY CHANGES, IF WE FIND IT ACCEPTABLE CAN WE GET A MOTION TO APPROVE? A MOTION TO APPROVE. AND SECOND. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> MRS. BENNETT? >> YES, MA'AM. >> MRS. DAVIS? >> YES, MA'AM. >> MRS. GIBB SNONS. >> YES, MA'AM. >> MAYOR HUDSON? [D. CONSENT AGENDA] >> YES, MA'AM. >> MR. FEE? >> YES, MA'AM. AND HAS EVERYBODY HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE CONSENT AGENDA? AND IF EVERYBODY FINDS IT ACCEPTABLE, CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? >> I HAVE ONE -- >> ONE ITEM TO ADJUST? >> YES, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THE MICROSOFT EA3 YEAR SERVER SOFTWARE. >> THAT WOULD BE ITEM 3 ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> I WANTED TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT NUMBER 4, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CIRCLING AND SHOWING THAT -- WHERE THOSE FUNDS ARE COMING FROM. >> WE'LL START WITH NUMBER 3, THEN. >> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO MOVE APPROVAL FOR THE OTHER TWO ITEMS. >> DO WE HAVE A SECOND TO APPROVE THE OTHER TWO ITEMS? >> SECOND. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> MRS. BENNETT? >> YES, MA'AM. >> MRS. DAVIS? >> YES, MA'AM. >> MRS. GIBB SNONS. >> YES, MA'AM. >> MAYOR HUDSON? >> YES, MA'AM. >> MR. FEE? [D.3. Microsoft EA 3-Year Server Software] >> YES, MA'AM. >> ALL RIGHT ITEM NUMBER 3. >> THE FIRST ITEM IS MICROSOFT EA3-YEAR SERVER SOFTWAE UPDATE. STEEN CHRIST IT MANAGER WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM. >> I UNDERSTAND WE'VE CAUGHT YOU A LITTLE OFF GUARD SO DO YOUR BEST. >> CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TODAY. TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THE MICROSOFT EA LICENSING. IT'S A 3-YEAR SERVER SOFTWARE AGREEMENT. POA26-24, STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF MICROSOFT EA AND SERVER SOFTWARE FROM SHI INTERNATIONAL CORP OF NEW JERSEY IN AN AMOUNT OF $227,245.23. THE TERM OF THIS SUBSCRIPTION IS SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2026 THROUGH AUGUST 31ST OF 2029. I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. >> MS. DAVIS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HOW WE CAME ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH THEM FOR THE SERVICE. >> SO SHI, WE'VE HAD CONTRACTS WITH THEM BEFORE. DUE TO GETTING MORE EXPOSURE WITH THE M365 PLATFORM, WE BECAME AWARE THAT THEY ALSO OFFERED MICROSOFT EA LICENSING. SO THE PRICING -- EVERYTHING WORKED OUT IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR OVERALL PLAN FOR MODERNIZATION. I CAN'T REMEMBER HOW MANY CONTRACTS THAT WE'VE HAD WITH THEM OVERALL BUT IT'S BEEN QUITE A LONG RELATIONSHIP WITH SHI. >> ARE WE COMPETITIVELY BID THIS OR WAS THIS JUST -- BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAD BUSINESS, WE JUST DID A STRAIGHT RENEWAL? >> I THINK IT WAS JUST A STRAIGHT RENEWAL, YES, MA'AM. >> AND THAT COMPLIES WITH -- >> YES, SIR. >> -- POLICY? >> YES, MA'AM, IT DOES. AND I THINK YOU HAD A QUESTION THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE ANSWERED. THIS AGREEMENT OR THE SOFTWARE UPDATE INCLUDES REDUCING SOME OVERALL LICENSING WITHIN OUR SYSTEM, SO WE DO REDUCE SOME COSTS IN SON COME DATING SOME LICENCES SO I THINK THAT WAS AN [00:05:02] IMPORTANT PART OF THE CONVERSATION YOU AND I HAD BAD -- >> VERY IMPORTANT PART. IF WE'RE SAVING MONEY BY CONTINUING THIS RENEWAL AND WE'RE ABLE TO ABSORB WHAT OTHER EXPENSES WE HAVE HAD SEPARATE AND APART, WE CAN MAKE IT APART OF WHAT WE HAVE AND WE'RE SAVING MONEY, I THINK THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT POINT THAT I WAS HOPING THAT YOU WOULD GET INTO. >> YES, MA'AM. >> SO YES, IT'S PART OF OUR MASTER PLAN FOR TRANSITIONING TO MODERNIZATION AND ALSO PART OF THIS IS SPECIFICALLY REDUCING COSTS. >> AND IT'S ALREADY BEEN BUDGETED FOR AND APPROVED AND IT ONLY REPRESENTS UP SAY ABOUT 6% OF THE OVERALL I-T BUDGET? >> YES, MA'AM, OF THE CAPITAL BUDGET. 6% OF THE CAPITAL BUDGET. >> YEAH, AND THAT WAS ALREADY ANTICIPATED AT THE TIME OF CREATING THE BUDGET -- I GUESS THAT'S WHY I WAS WONDERING, HAD YOU DONE ANY COMPETITIVE BIDDING ON IT, BECAUSE OF HOW PRECISE -- >> TO -- ANDY GOFFEY OUR PROCUREMENT MANAGER CAME UP. THIS IS A CO-OP BID SO WE WERE ABLE TO -- I THINK THE TERM IS PIGGYBACK. >> IT WAS COMPETITIVELY PROCURED. WE WERE ABLE TO COME OFF OF AN EXISTING AGREEMENT THAT COMPETITIVELY PROCURED IT. >> YEAH, OKAY. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, STEVE. >> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME. THANK YOU. >> ITEM NUMBER 4. >> I THINK THERE'S AN ACTION ITEM, MR. CHAIRMAN. RIGHT? >> YOU WANT DO IT ALL AT THE SAME TIME OR ONE AT -- >> STEPHANIE? >> ONE AT A TIME. >> WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> MOVE APPROVAL. >> SECOND. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> MRS. BENNETT? >> YES, MA'AM. >> MRS. DAVIS? >> YES, MA'AM. >> MRS. GIBBONS? >> YES, MA'AM. >> MAYOR HUDSON? >> YES, MA'AM. [D.4. Regatta Luxury Apartments PUD] >> MR. FEE? >> YES, MA'AM. >> MR. CHAIRMAN THE NEXT ITEM IS AT SOME TIME D FOR LUXURY APARTMENTS, KEITH STEVENS DIRECTOR OF GAS AND ELECTRIC WILL PRESENT THIS ITEM. >> THANK YOU. MR. CHAIRMAN, BOARD MEMBERS, I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE ON THE REGATTA LUXURY APARTMENT PUD. >> SO MY MAIN THING, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS WHERE THE FUNDS ARE COMING FROM AND THIS IS POST BUDGETED SO MAYBE JUST A QUICK EXPLANATION ON WHAT EXACTLY THAT MEANS. >> SO POST BUDGET MEANS IT HAPPENED AFTER OUR ORIGINAL BUDGET LAST YEAR, BUT THIS IS A CIA PROJECT. THE MONEY HAS ALREADY BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE DEVELOPER PAYING THIS. AND IT'S APPROXIMATELY 250 CUSTOMERS AND I BELIEVE IT'S ABOUT 16 TRANSFORMERS WITH ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT GOES WITH IT. >> OKAY. SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, THEY PAID FOR THIS UP FRONT AND WE'RE GOING IN AND INSTALLING ALL OF THESE LINES NOW, RIGHT? >> YES, MA'AM. CIA, THAT'S REQUIRED FOR US TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION, YES. >> SOUNDS GOOD. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE MADE IT CLEAR IT'S HARD WHEN YOU SEE A LINE ITEM LIKE THAT AND LET'S JUST YOU KNOW, APPROVE IT. SO WANT AT THAT MAKE SURE -- WHERE IS THIS? >> THIS IS -- IT'S ON JENKINS ROAD RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF THF THE NAME OF THE BOAT -- >> ON SOUTH JENKINS? >> THE BIG FLAG RIGHT THERE JUST TO THE NORTH OF THE ENTRANCE TO -- >> NOT BASS PRO SHOP, IT'S -- >> I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. >> RIGHT THERE. YOU KNOW THE APARTMENTS GOING UP RIGHT THERE. RIGHT THERE JUST BY GRAHAM ROAD, YES, MA'AM. YOU CAUGHT MY MIND BLANK, MA'AM, I APOLOGIZE. >> NO PROBLEM. >> IT'S THE ONES NEXT TO SAMUEL GAINS? >> YES, MA'AM. >> IT'S NORTH, YEAH. ACROSS THE STREET, YES. >> ACROSS THE STREET. NOT NEXT DOOR. >> NO, MA'AM. >> FURTHER NORTH, I THINK. YEAH. >> YEAH, OKAY. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE'VE GOT A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> I'LL MANY OF APPROVAL. >> SECOND. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> MRS. BENNETT? >> YES, MA'AM. >> MRS. DAVIS? >> YES, MA'AM. >> MRS. GIBBONS? >> YES, MA'AM. >> MAYOR HUDSON? [E.1. FPUA Inaugural Internship Program - Summer 2026 Highlights] >> YES, MA'AM. >> MR. FEE? >> YES, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE NOW MOVING ONTO THE REGULAR AGENDA. THE FIRST ITEM, I GUESS THE THIRD ITEM THIS AFTERNOON IS AN EXCITING PRESENTATION FOR FPUA'S INAUGURAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. VERONICA COOMBS, EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR, WILL PRESENT THIS SUM AND AS SHE'S PREPARING, WE DID EXPECT SOME OF THE INTERNS TO BE HERE BUT SOME OF THEM HAD TO GO BACK TO COLLEGE AND WE DO HAVE ONE OF THEM IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY -- JUST ONE, THERE HE IS. SO VERONICA? >> THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN, MAYOR HUDSON AND THE BOARD, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE THIS AFTERNOON TO PRESENT ABOUT -- AND SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF OUR INAUGURAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM THAT WE HAD OVER THE SUMMER AND THIS IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. [00:10:03] THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM WELCOMED FIVE INTERNS ACROSS FOUR DEPARTMENTS, FROM THE END OF MAY UNTIL ABOUT MID-AUGUST. SO ABOUT ELEVEN-WEEK PROGRAM. FPUA WANTED TO NOT OFFER A STRUCTURED WORK EXPERIENCE BUT OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN PRACTICAL SKILLS, CREATE COHORT CONNECTIONS, OBTAIN INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE AND PROFESSIONAL EXPOSURE WITH WITHIN FPUA. IN THE PAST THERE HAVE BEEN INTERNS THROUGHOUT DEPARTMENTS BUT NOTHING REALLY STRUCTURED. WE WANTED TO BRING TOGETHER THE EFFORTS INTO ONE COHESIVE PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM FOR THE INTERNS ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION. SO NOT JUST GAINING WORK EXPERIENCE BUT ALSO BUILDING CONNECTIONS WITH EACH OTHER, SO IT WAS A VERY NEW CONCEPT FOR US. SO WHAT THAT ENTAILED WAS BASICALLY BUILDING FROM THE GROUND UP. PUBLIC AFFAIRS REACHED OUT TO ALL DEPARTMENTS TO SEE WHO WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ON AN INTERN AND ONCE WE HAD RECEIVED THE RESPONSES, TOGETHER WITH HR, WE HELPED CREATE JOB DESCRIPTIONS, CREATED FLYERS AND HELPED GET THE WORD OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND HOPING TO RECEIVE APPLICATIONS. AND DID WE EVER. FINANCE ALONE GOT 27 APPLICANTS FOR THEIR INTERN POSITION. SO IT WAS VERY EXCITING, ENCOURAGING -- AND WE KNEW WE WERE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. AND OUR EXPECTATIONS, OF COURSE TO PROVIDE HANDS-ON TRAINING, LEARN APPLICABLE SKILLS, CREATED MENTORSHIP FROM THEIR ASSIGNED INTERN PUTTER, WHICH WAS A TERM WE CREATED FOR THEIR POINT OF CONTACT DURING THE PROGRAM. AND REAL WORLD PROJECTS, SOMETHING TO SHOW AT THE END OF THE SUMMER AND ALSO FOSTER THAT ENVIRONMENT FOR COHORT CONNECTIONS. IN ADDITION TO NORMAL DAILY TASKS, WITHIN THEIR ROLE, THESE ACTIVITIES WERE CREATED TO FOSTER THAT COHESIVE COHORT EXPERIENCE THAT WE REALLY WANTED TO FOCUS ON. THESE ACTIVITIES GAVE THE INTERNS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT AND TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER. SO WE STARTED OFF WITH AN INTERNSHIP ORIENTATION. BASICALLY AN OVERVIEW ON EXPECTATIONS OF THE PROGRAM AND A VERY BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO FPUA. WE ALSO WANTED TO EXPOSE THE INTERNS TO FPUA'S CULTURE AND THE HISTORY IN VOLUNTEERING THAT WE HAVE. SO WE ALSO INCLUDED THE QUARTERLY CLEANUP, WHICH OF COURSE IS HOSTED BY KEEP FORT PIERCE BEAUTIFUL. OUR HASH TAG WORK LIFE BALANCE WAS A NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY FOR THE INTERNS TO CONNECT NOT ONLY WITH EACH OTHER BUT ALSO WITH FPUA STAFF OUTSIDE OF THE WORKPLACE. DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, WE WANTED TO PROVIDE SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE. SO ANOTHER SKILL TO HAVE. WE FOCUSED THIS WORKSHOP ON PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS, SINCE THE INTERNS WEREN'T EXPECTED TO -- WERE EXPECTED TO PRESENT AT THE END OF SUMMER. SO WE DID INVITE A GUEST PRESENTER FROM OUTSIDE FPUA TO CONDUCT THIS WORKSHOP. HOWEVER, AFTER SEEING THE VALUE IN THIS, WE DID OPEN UP TO THE REST OF THE COMPANY AND AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PHOTO, WE FILLED THE ROOM. THIS WAS DEFINITELY SOMETHING OUR STAFF WAS INTERESTED IN. I THINK WE HAD ABOUT 50 PEOPLE, 50 EMPLOYEES THERE. AND OUR WRAPUP FOR THE INTERNSHIP WAS ACTUALLY THIS LAST THURSDAY. EACH OF THE INTERNS PREPARED AND PRESENTED ON THEIR EXPERIENCES AND THEIR PROJECTS THAT THEY COMPLETED OVER THE SUMMER AS MENTIONED BEFORE FEVER FIVE TIN EARNS ACROSS FIVE DEPARTMENTS, FINANCE, ELECTRIC AND GAS ENGINEERING, THE MAN FEE CENTER AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND SUSTAINABILITY AND WE DO HAVE JOSHUA WHO WAS IN MY DEPARTMENT WITH US. ALL RIGHT, EDEN GLOVER WAS THE FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING INTERN. HER AND JOSHUA ACTUALLY COLLABORATED IN DESIGNING THE ANNUAL BUDGET BOOK COVER DESIGN, SO YOU CAN SEE HERE. SHE ALSO ASSISTED IN THE CIP SHEETS AND ALSO RESEARCHED AND GAVE SUGGESTIONS ON DESIGN FOR A POSSIBLE -- FOR THE REPORT THERE THERE. JUDE CHARLES WAS ONE OF TWO ELECTRICAL AND GAS ENGINEERING ISSUE TERNS THAT WE HAD. HIS PROMPTS WERE DRAFTING PERMITS, VERIFIED POLE LOCATIONS AND POLE REPLACEMENT PROJECTS. HOWEVER, JUDE IS ALSO ANLE YOU WILL NIGH OF THE BOYS AND GIRLS WILL YOU BE AND GRADUATING HE WAS ABLE TO STEP UP INTO THEIR CLUB LEGACY ALUMNI, WHICH THEY ENDED UP DOING AN INTERVIEW ABOUT HALFWAY DURING HIS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, JUST LIKE A [00:15:02] CHECK-IN TO SEE HOW HE WAS DOING AND THEN AT THE END THEY GAVE A NICE WRITE-UP ABOUT JUDE AND US, CREATING THAT PROGRAM, CREATING MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES THAT ALLOW THE COMMUNITY'S YOUTH TO LEARN, GROW AND GAIN REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE. SO THAT WAS NICE OF THEM. JAMMAR I WAS DIGITAL MEDIA GENERALIST OVER AT THE MANATEE CENTER. HE CREATED VIDEOS FOR THEM AND HE WROTE SCRIPTS FOR SHORT FORM VIDEO CONTENT THAT THEY CAN ALSO USE EVEN THOUGH HE'S NO LONGER THERE. HE'S BACK AT COLLEGE. ALL RIGHT. AND JOSHUA, COMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL STORYTELLING INTERN FOR THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND SUSTAINABILITY DEPARTMENT. AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, HE DESIGNED THE FINAL LOOK OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET COVER, WITH GUIDANCE OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. HE'S ALSO ASSISTING IN PLANNING FOR THE UPCOMING YOUTH CAREER EVENT, WHICH IS PUT ON AND HOSTED BY THE UAC EVERY YEAR. AND YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED AN INCREASE IN FPUA'S SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS. THANKS TO JOSHUA, WITH GUIDANCE OF JACKIE. OUR ENGAGEMENT HAS RISEN 89%, AND THAT WAS DRIVEN BY AN INCREASE OVERLAY TON, THE AGAIN ENGAGEMENT THERE, 173% IN JUST THE SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME THAT HE'S BEEN WITH THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS TEAM. VERY HUGE NUMBERS IN GENERAL, BUT FOR A COMPANY OUR SIZE, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF HIM. AND WE DO HAVE ONE OF THOSE POSTS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PLAY FOR YOU. THIS SHORT VIDEO IS INTERVIEWING JOSEPH, WHO IS THE OTHER INTERN AT ELECTRIC AND GAS ENGINEERING. SO THIS IS VERY SHORT. (VIDEO PLAYING). >> HI, MY NAME IS JOSEPH GARCIA. I AM THE ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING INTERN. I WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA. AND MY MAJOR IS MECHANICAL ENGINEERING. ONE THING THAT WAS IMPORTANT THAT I HAVE LEARNED IS FPUA REALLY CARES ABOUT THE COMMUNITY. A LOT OF IT HAS BEEN GOING OUT AND SEEING HOW WE IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY AND JUST BEING CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT THAT WE'RE A SMALLER COMPANY, SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY MINDFUL AND WE CARE ABOUT THE LOCALS. I'M MOSTLY A MECHANICAL ENGINEER SO I DIDN'T DO MUCH ELECTRICAL BUT BEING ABLE TO USE THE SOFTWARE THAT THE COMPANY USES HAS ALSO BEEN PRETTY FUN AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MORE OF MY TURF, TO USE THOSE KIND OF AUTO CAD SOFT WEARS. OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE OUR CUSTOMERS WITH ECONOMICAL SERVICE AND A CONTINUE OUTSIDE EFFORT TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANKS. SO LAST BUT NOT LEAST IS JOSEPH LUCIANO, HE WAS THE OTHER INTERN FOR THE ELECTRIC AND GAS ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT. HE LEARNED AUD WHICH I LEARNED THAT JUST MEANS AUTOMATED UTILITY DESIGN, BUT BEYOND THAT I DON'T -- I DON'T KNOW, I'M SORRY. BUT VERY EXCITING NEWS, SOMETHING TO COME FROM THIS INTERNSHIP... HE WAS OFFERED A FULL-TIME POSITION AND HE HAS ACCEPTED. SO HE'S GOING TO BE JOINING THE FPUA FAMILY. SO THAT'S REALLY EXCITED. ALL RIGHT, THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE PICTURES THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM. WE CELEBRATED NATIONAL INTERN DAY. YOU CAN SEE A PICTURE THERE WITH OUR GUEST PRESENTER, KAREN CAMPBELL-SMITH. AND THE T AND D TEAM GRACIOUSLY PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE WHAT IT'S LIKE FOR THE LINEMEN IN A BUCKET TRUCK. A COUPLE OF THE INTERNS HAD TO OVERCOME THEIR FEAR OF HEIGHTS DURING THIS PARTICULAR ACTIVITY. SO YOU CAN SEE THEY DID GO PRETTY HIGH. ALL RIGHT, THE PROGRAM WAS OVERALL A HUGE SUCCESS, AND JUST A THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY THAT WAS INVOLVED, FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE -- JUST THE CON INCENTIVE OF THE IDEA TO THE FINAL PRESENTATIONS LAST WEEK. THIS GROUP OF INTERNS HAVE SET THE BAR REALLY HIGH AND WE ARE REALLY EXCITED FOR NEXT YEAR. SO THAT'S ALL. >> VERY NICE. NIP QUESTIONS OF THE BOARD? >> WAY TO GET SOME EXTRA POINTS, WITH SAYING THE MISSION AT THE END. >> YES, RIGHT, RIGHT. >> THE RECRUITING FOR THESE INTERNS IT WAS WHERE? I MEAN, HOW DID YOU RECRUIT? >> IT WAS A MIXTURE OF REACHING OUT TO [INDISCERNIBLE] AND OTHEE [00:20:04] ALUMNI GROUP, THROUGH BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AND ALSO JUST JOB FAIRS, WHEN WE PARTICIPATED THROUGH JOB NARES, WE ALSO HAVE THAT MENTIONED AS WELL. AND ALSO ON THE FPUA WEBSITE UNDER JOBS -- CAREERS. >> RIGHT. SO INTERNS WERE MOSTLY COLLEGE GRADUATES, YOU WERE LOOKING FOR COLLEGE GRADUATES OR -- >> THOSE WERE THE MAIN ONES THAT HAD APPLIED. BEING THAT IT IS SUCH A SHORT POSITION, YOU KNOW, WASN'T FULL-TIME OR LONG-TERM SO IT HAI BELIEVE, THAT DID APPLY. >> GREAT. IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM. >> THANK YOU. [E.2. Resolution No UA 2026-16 Delegation of Authority] >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> NEXT ITEM. >> YES, SIR, MR. CHAIRMAN, THE REST OF THE ITEMS MRS. BESKOVOYNE, THANK YOU, THE NEXT FEW ITEMS ARE MRS. BESKOVOYNE'S. >> THE NEXT ITEM IS A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD WHICH UPDATES THE DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES DELEGATE OF AUTHORITY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD ADOPTED IN 2023. THE BIGGEST CHANGE TO THIS DOCUMENT IS INCREASING HIS PURCHASING THRESHOLD FROM 50,000 TO 100,000. I LEFT A HEAT OF PAPER FOR EACH OF YOU WHICH SHOWS WHAT THE NEIGHBORS -- CITY OF -- VIRGINIA COUNTY, PORT ST. LUCIE WHAT THEIR PURCHASING THRESHOLDS ARE. THEY VARY, SO WITH THIS APPROVAL WE WOULD BE MOST IN LINE WITH ST. LUCIE COUNTY AT 100,000. THE OTHER CHANGE TO THIS DOCUMENT IS GIVING THE DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES THE AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE TEMPORARY USE OF OUR REAL PROPERTY. FOR EXAMPLE FACILITY USE AGREEMENTS TWICE A YEAR WE GET ASKED TO USE A PORTION OF OUR PROPERTY TO LAUNCH FIREWORKS FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE AND FOR THE 4TH OF JULY,. OFTENTIMES THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS ARE WORKED OUT A DAY AFTER THE LAST BOARD MEETING SO WE'RE VERY OFTEN RATIFYING THOSE AGREEMENTS, AFTER THE EVENT ITSELF. THIS WOULD GIVE -- HAVE THE ABILITY TO EXECUTE THOSE AGREEMENTS AND AUTHORIZE THE TEMPORARY USE OF OUR REAL PROPERTY FOR, FOR EXAMPLE, FIREWORKS AND CERTAINLY THERE'S TERMS AND CONDITIONS IN THOSE AGREEMENTS THAT WE WANT TO SEE IN PLACE. THE OTHER EXAMPLE IS FEMA CLOSE-OUT STATEMENTS. HE WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO EXECUTE THESE ON OUR BEHALF. THEY'RE NOT BINDING. THEY'RE JUST ADMINISTRATIVE IN NATURE. AND FINALLY, WE DO GET REQUESTS FROM TIME TO TIME FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER MILITARY AGENCIES TO USE PORTIONS OF OUR PROPERTY FOR TRAINING. THESE ARE AGREEMENTS THAT ARE REALLY ESSENTIAL TO COOPERATIVE ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN THE ENTITIES, BUT WE OFTEN DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE PRESENTING THEM TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE GIVING AWAY A TACTIC OR A CONCEPT THAT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY DOESN'T WANT TO SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC. SO THOSE ARE THE BIGGEST CHANGES TO THIS DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY. NO EASEMENT, NO LEASES, NO DISPOSITION OF REAL PROPERTY, ALL OF THAT IS HANDLED BY THE BOARD EXCLUSIVELY. BUT I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE ABOUT THIS DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY. >> ANY QUESTIONS OF THE BOARD? >> I WOULD JUST MAYBE LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT, AND SO THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT, IF NEEDED. BUT ALL OF THE THRESHOLDS THAT WERE IN THAT PURCHASING MANUAL THAT WE JUST APPROVED, ALL FALL UNDERNEATH THIS AS IT STANDS, AND THERE ARE STILL, EVEN AFTER HE SIGNS IT, THERE'S BEEN FOUR PEOPLE THAT HAVE APPROVED THESE FUNDS AS WELL? IS THAT CORRECT? >> THE FIRST ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS NO. OUR PURCHASING MANUAL IS NOW OUT OF DATE. I HAD HOPED TO HAVE THESE TWO RESOLUTIONS LINE UP, BUT IT JUST DIDN'T WORK OUT THAT WAY. THE CFO REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS RESOLUTION WAS WRITTEN IN A WAY THAT SHE WAS COMFORTABLE WITH. IT ENDED UP PUSHING THIS RESOLUTION BACK. WE WILL CERTAINLY BE UPDATING THE PURCHASING MANUAL, BUT WITH THIS APPROVAL, YES, IT DOES NOT CHANGE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE PURCHASING MANUAL, BUT NOW THE THRESHOLD IN THE PURCHASING MANUAL WILL NEED TO BE UPDATED. BUT TO ANSWER YOUR SECOND QUESTION, YES, IT DOES NOT CHANGE THE LAYERS OF APPROVAL FOR WHICH PURCHASES ARE MADE. IT COMES THROUGH THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT, FINANCE, MYSELF AND FINALLY TO MR. CISNEROS. >> WHEN THE CITY MANAGER SIGNS A CONTRACT THAT'S WITHIN HIS AUTHORITY, HE PUTS THAT ON THE NEXT BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING AS AN ATTACHMENT TO THE -- TO HIS REPORT. AND SO THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD -- IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS, THE BOARD NEEDS TO KNOW, EVEN THOUGH IT'S WITHIN HIS SIGNING AUTHORITY, I THINK THE BOARD WOULD WANT TO KNOW WHAT WAS SPENT. >> YES, MADAME MAYOR, SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES AND THE CITY MANAGER WITH RESPECT TO THE CHARTER. [00:25:01] OUR CHARTER ACTUALLY STATES THAT CONTRACTS. SO THE DISTINCTION HERE IS, IF THERE IS A CONTRACT, THE CHAIR STILL EXECUTES THAT DOCUMENT. >> OKAY. >> HOWEVER, THE BOARD WOULD BE AUTHORIZING ANY PURCHASES IN EXCESS OF 100,000 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMAL SEALED BID PROCESS. THAT'S ALL PRETTY LOCKED UP. BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE, WE CERTAINLY CAN PROVIDE THE BOARD WITH A SUMMAR OF ANY OF THOSE PURCHASES THAT THE DIRECTOR MAKES, WHICH ARE UP TO 100,000. WE CAN DO THAT FOR YOU, ABSOLUTELY. >> YES, MA'AM. >> ON A ROUTE -- ON, ON A ROUTINE BASIS? >> ABSOLUTELY. >> AS AN ATTACHMENT TO -- THAT WAY WE'RE TRANSPARENT. >> YES, MA'AM. >> THAT WAY WE KNOW. BECAUSE I HAVE HAD PEOPLE ASK, WHY DID YOU DO X, Y OR Z -- YOU KNOW, RIGHT, AND IT'S ALWAYS REPORTED ON ON OUR AGENDAS, WHATEVER HE'S DONE WITHIN HIS SIGNING AUTHORITY. >> SURE. AND WOULD THE BOARD LIKE TO SEE PURCHASES -- WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT USUALLY HERE ARE VEHICLES, THAT'S USUALLY THE TYPE OF PURCHASE THAT THE DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES COULD AUTHORIZE, WHERE IT'S NOT A CONTRACT THAT REQUIRES SIGNATURE, HE'S BUYING IT OFF OF A STATE CONTRACT. SO KNOWS TYPES OF PURCHASES WE CAN ADD AS AN ATTACHMENT TO THE AGENDA HERE SO THAT THE BOARD IS AWARE OF THE PURCHASES WE'RE MAKING, VEHICLES, PUMPS, USUALLY THOSE ARE THE EXAMPLES. >> YEAH. I JUST THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO CELLS THE AUTHORITY, WE NEED TO ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THE BOARD HAS A COMFORT LEVEL WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING. >> UNDERSTOOD. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SHE'S GOT TO READ THE RESOLUTION? >> RESOLUTION NUMBER UA2026-16, A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AUTHORITY UPDATING, AMENDING AND RESTATING THE POWERS, DUTIES AND SIGNATURE AUTHORITY FOR THE DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES AND GENERAL COUNSEL POLICY, REPEALING RESOLUTION NUMBER UA2023-14 AND PROVIDING FOR ERROR, REPEAL, SEVERABILITY AND EFFECTIVE DATE. >> DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? >> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> I'LL SECOND. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> MRS. BENNETT? >> YES, MA'AM. >> MRS. DAVIS? >> YES, MA'AM. >> MRS. GIBBONS? >> YES, MA'AM. >> MAYOR HUDSON? >> YES, MA'AM. >> MR. FEE? [E.3. Resolution No UA 2026-17 Fees and Charges] >> YES, MA'AM. NEXT ITEM. >> THE NEXT ITEM, THIS IS A RESOLUTION TO PASS THROUGH FEES AND CHARGES THAT ARE IMPOSED BY OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. THIS IS NOT A FEE OR A CHARGE THAT THE FPUA IS CHARGING, IT IS ESSENTIALLY THE ABILITY FOR THE FPUA TO PASS THROUGH A FEE OR CHARGE. THE BIGGEST EXAMPLE WE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH IS THE COUNTY REVISED THEIR RIGHT-OF-WAY ORDINANCE ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND THEY'RE NOW CHARGING FOR ANY WORK DONE ON COUNTY RIGHT-OF-WAY. THE FEE FOR UTILITY WORK IS $350. WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MECHANISM IN PLACE FOR WHICH WE COULD CHARGE -- PASS THROUGH THAT CHARGE ONTO THE CUSTOMERS' BILL. FINANCE IS VERY PARTICULAR ABOUT WHAT FEES THE CUSTOMER SEES. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ABOUT THIS. >> I'VE GOT A QUESTION... SO YOU HAVE LET'S SAY A POWERLINE -- I DON'T KNOW -- A PIPE, SERVICE -- IN THE COUNTY RIGHT-OF-WAY. WHAT DID YOU GET FOR PERMISSION FROM THEM IN ORDER TO PUT THAT -- >> WE WOULD APPLY NOR A PERMIT AND TYPICALLY WE WOULD NOT GET CHARMED FOR THE PERMIT. BUT NOW AS OF JULY OF 2025 -- >> IT'S PERMITTED WORK AND THAT'S IT. >> IT'S A WORK TO DO PERMIT. NOW THEY'RE CHARGING FOR THAT PERMIT. >> TO DO WORK ON THAT AREA, OKAY. >> AND IT'S FOR ANY SERVICE, WATER, SUE, SEWER, ELECTRIC, GA, WHATEVER IT IS. >> I THINK THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOME MONEY. >> I THINK THEY -- YEAH. UM -- >> YES IS THE RIGHT ANSWER. >> MR. CHAIR, WE CAN'T DIVE INTO WHY THE COUNTY DECIDED TO REWRITE ITS ORDINANCE BUT I KNOW A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THERE WAS A LOT WORK DONE IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY WHERE UTILITIES WEREN'T COMMUNICATING AND I DON'T MEAN THIS UTILITY, I MEAN OTHER TYPES OF UTILITIES WERE JUST BORING THROUGH RIGHT-OF-WAY AND CAUSING A LOT OF DAMAGE. SO THE INTENT AND PURPOSE BEHIND THIS ORDINANCE IS A GOOD ONE BUT IT DOES CREATE AN IMPACT FINANCIALLY TO THE UTILITIES SUCH AS THE FPUA. >> SO LET'S EXPOSURE IN A RIGHT-OF-WAY AND YOU'RE HAVING TO REPLACE A PIPE OR SOMETHING. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO, YOU KNOW, SPREAD THAT COST OUT, BACKCK TO OUR RATEPAYERS? IS IT GOING TO BE LOCALIZED, WHEREVER THE PIPE IS OR ARE YOU GOING JUST TO PASS IT AROUND AND PRORATA SHARE TO EVERYBODY? >> GOOD QUESTION. SO THIS SPECIFICALLY IS FOR A CUSTOMER'S REQUEST OR A PROJECT REQUEST. IF IT'S AN EMERGENCY REPAI OF AY PROJECT, THAT'S ALREADY ENCOMPASSED IN THAT ROADWAY [00:30:01] PROJECT. OR IF THERE'S AN EMERGENCY REPAIR. BUT THIS SPECIFIC COST IS FOR EITHER A NEW SERVICE OR A CONVERSION OF A SERVICE, FROM OVERHEAD TO UNDERGROUND, OR A NEW SEPTIC TO SEWER OR NEW GAS OR WATER SERVICE. THAT'S NOT WITHIN AN EXISTING DEVELOPMENT. IT'S A SPECIFIC ONE-CUSTOMER REQUEST -- OR SINGLE-CUSTOMER REQUEST. >> AND WE WOULD LIKE TO DISTINGUISH THAT THE REASON WE'RE PASSING THIS FEE ALONG IS IF THIS WAS A SCATTERED LOT OR BRAND NEW DEVELOPMENT, THAT WHEN THE BUILDER WAS BUILDING THE PROPERTY, THE BUILDER WOULD BE PAYING THIS SAME FEE. WE'RE ESSENTIALLY ACTING AS THE CONTRACTOR WHEN THERE'S A CONVERSION AS WELL. SO THIS ENSURES THAT THE HOMEOWNER -- THEY'RE PAYING THE $350, WHETHER IT BE UP FRONT OR THROUGH US. WE'RE NOT ABSORBING THE COST AT THAT TIME. >> WELL, I -- MR. CHAIR? I CERTAINLY THINK THAT ANYWHERE THAT WE CAN ATTACH A FEE THAT IS A PASS-THROUGH LIKE THIS TO THE SPECIFIC PERSON MAKES THE MOST SENSE. THERE'S NO REASON WHY THE REST OF US SHOULD BE PAYING FOR SOMEBODY ELSE TO GET SERVICE, RIGHT. SO WITH THAT, I DEFINITELY THINK WE NEED TO APPROVE THE PASS-THROUGH. I AM CURIOUS ABOUT THE OTHER PIECE OF IT, THOUGH, WHERE YOU KNOW, AS THEY ARE CHARGING OBVIOUSLY -- I MEAN OVER TIME SOMETHING IS ALSO GOING TO HELP US OR -- BUT IS THERE -- MAYBE IS THERE A WAY THAT IF THAT SERVICE HAS TO BE DONE FOR MUNICIPAL WORK, THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME NEGOTIATED CONTRACT OR SOMETHING IN THE BACK END, I DON'T KNOW BUT THAT WOULD BE MAYBE FOR YOU GUYS TO -- >> YES, WE CAN DEFINITELY TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN WE MEET WITH THE -- LET THE COUNTY HAVE THAT DISCUSSION. THIS RIGHT-OF-WAY ORDINANCE ALSO HAD A MONUMENTAL IMPACT ON THE SEE OF PORT ST. LUCIE AS WELL. THEY CERTAINLY DO ENORMOUS WORK IN THE COUNTY RIGHT-OF-WAY. >> MR. CHAIR, IS THIS ST. LUCIE COUNTY PRIMARILY THAT -- IS THI- >> OH, YEAH, PRIMARILY ST. LUCIE COUNTY BUT -- >> IT COULD BE EVEN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE BUILDING PERMITS THAT WE HAVE TO PULL ON BEHALF OF A CUSTOMER. IT COULD BE OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. >> COULD BE OTHERS BUT PRIMARILY WE'RE -- THIS IS -- >> WE DO HAVE SOME GAS IN THE CITY OF PORT ST. LUCIE [INDISCERNIBLE] U.S. 1 SO IT COULD BE ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY THAT'S REQUIRING ANY PERMIT FEE. >> OKAY AND PRIOR TO THIS, THE COUNTY DID NOT CHARGE A PERMIT FEE FOR THIS, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. I BELIEVE THE FEE WAS FIRST IMPOSED IN JULY OF 2025. YEAH, IT WAS BRAND NEW. THE COUNTY DOES REQUIRE SIGN AND SEALED PLANS FOR WORK THAT'S DONE IN THEIR RIGHT-OF-WAY TOO, WHICH IS -- >> MM-HMM. >> WHICH IS? >> MORE COSTLY AND TIME-CONSUMING AND -- >> TO ENSURE THAT THE WORK IS DONE THE RIGHT WAY. THEY HAVE A HIGHER STANDARD, I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY. >> MORE REQUIREMENTS. >> MORE REQUIREMENTS, YES. >> YEAH, WE'RE NOT EXEMPT FROM THOSE REQUIREMENTS. >> OKAY WELL -- >> MR. CHAIR, AS IT RELATES TO THE PASS-THROUGH TO THE CUSTOMER, ARE OTHER ENERGY COMPANIES DOING AS WELL, AS FAR AS LIKE FPL AND SOME OF THE OTHERS? ARE THEY CONDUCTING BUSINESS THAT WAY? >> SO RATES AND FEES AND CHARGES ARE ADOPTED DIFFERENTLY FOR EVERY ENTITY. HOWEVER, I HAVE -- THIS IS NOT A RATE OR A FEE OR A CHARGE THAT WE ARE ADOPTING RIGHT NOW. IT IS MERELY SOMETHING YOU'RE PASSING THROUGH TO YOUR CUSTOMER. I THINK WHAT YOUR QUESTION IS, IF WE HAVE A CONVERSION, LET'S SAY SEPTIC TO SEWER, THE CHARGE THAT WE'RE IMPOSING ONTO THE CUSTOMER, DOES IT INCLUDE THIS 350, THE ANSWER IS NO. THAT WAS NOT WHAT WAS CONTEMPLATED WHEN THIS FEE CAME ALONG SO THIS WAS AN ADDITIONAL THE CUSTOMER.WEREN'T CHARGING- >> BUT I THINK MS. PERRAULT, YOUR QUESTION WAS DOES FPUA PAY THE COUNTY THE PERMIT FEE? >> RIGHT. WE'RE INTENDING TO PASS THROUGH -- IS FPL AND OTHERS BEHAVING THE SAME WAY OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE DOING -- >> THE SHORT ANSWER IS I DID GET VERBAL VERIFICATION BUT I'M GOING TO GET SOME WRITTEN VERIFICATION THAT THE COUNTY DOES CHARGE FP AND L THE SAME PERMIT FEE FOR THAT CUSTOMER BUT TYPICALLY THAT'S HANDLED THROUGH THE -- LIKE FOR EXAMPLE THE ELECTRICIAN IS PAYING THE FEE AND CHARGING THE CUSTOMER THE FEE, KIND OF LIKE WHAT STEPHANIE WAS GETTING TO, WHERE WE ACT AS A CONTRACTOR, SO THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES. BUT IT MAY NOT BE DIRECTLY PAID FROM FP AND L TO THE COUNTY. IT MAY BE PAID BY THE CONTRACTOR THROUGH THE CUSTOMER TO THE COUNTY. >> THERE IS A SECTION IN THE CODE WHICH AUTHORIZES AN EXEMPTION TO THIS FEE IF THERE'S A FRANCHISE AGREEMENT IN PLACE BETWEEN THE UTILITY AND THE COUNTY. >> THANK YOU. >> TWO QUESTIONS. HAVE WE EVER BEEN CHARGED A FEE LIKE THIS BEFORE BY ANY OTHER [00:35:06] MUNICIPALITIES? >> FOR INDIVIDUAL SERVICES? I DON'T RECALL. WE DO PAY PERMIT FEES FOR UTILITY WORK, SOUTH FLORIDA MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, DEP, NORTH ST. LUCIE WATER CONTROL DISTRICT, TO THOSE AGENCIES BUT TYPICALLY TO THE COUNTY AND THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, WE DIDN'T CHARGE EACH OTHER. >> HOW ABOUT THE CITY OF PORT ST. LUCIE WHEN YOU'RE IN THEIR RIGHT-OF-WAYS? >> CITY OF PORT ST. LUCIE DOES NOT CHARGE A PERMITTING FEE FOR USE OF THEIR RIGHT-OF-WAY. >> AND THE COUNTY IS GOING TO CHARGE THEM. >> ABSOLUTELY, YES. SO THEY MIGHT BE -- >> EXACTLY, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. THE SECOND QUESTION IS THE PROCESS OF GETTING A PERMIT, IF WE HAVE TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY REPAIR, IS THAT GOING TO SLOW DOWN THE EMERGENCY REPAIR? >> NO, THE ANSWER IS ABSOLUTELY NOT. EMERGENCY REPAIRS IS TOP PRIORITY AND WE WILL DO AN AFTER THE FACT PERMIT -- IF THERE IS A FEE AFTER THE FACT, WE CAN TAKE CARE OF IT ON THE BACK END BUT EMERGENCY REPAIRS ARE HIGHEST PRIORITY, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT RIGHT AWAY. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? >> I GUESS YOU HAVE TO READ IT. >> WE'VE GOT TO READ THE RESOLUTION AGAIN. >> RESOLUTION NUMBER UA2026-17 A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE FEES AND CHARGES IMPOSED BY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES FOR SERVICES FURNISHED BY FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AUTHORITY, FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA. AND AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES OR DESIGNEE TO CHARGE THE APPLICABLE FEE OR CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 12 OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA, PROVIDING FOR ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION, REPEAL, SERVICEABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. >> DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? >> I'LL MOVE APPROVAL. >> SECOND. >> CALL THE ROLL. >> MRS. BENNETT? >> YES, MA'AM. >> MRS. DAVIS? >> YES, MA'AM. >> MRS. GIBBONS? >> YES, MA'AM. >> MAYOR HUDSON? >> YES, MA'AM. >> MR. FEE? >> YES, MA'AM. [E.4. Resolution No UA 2026-21 Amendment to Interlocal Agreement with St. Lucie Village (Wastewater)] ITEM NUMBER 4. >> OKAY, THIS LAST ITEM IS FIRST AMENDMENT TO AN INTERLOCALE AGREEMENT THAT THE FPUA ALREADY HAS WITH ST. LUCIE VILLAGE FOR A FORCE MAIN THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED LAST YEAR. THE VILLAGE WAS SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING GRANT MONEY TO BUILD THIS FORCE MAIN. WHAT THIS AMENDMENT DOES, IT DOESN'T ASK THE BOARD TO GRANT ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING. ALL OF THAT HAS BEEN WORKED OUT. HOWEVER, WITH THE VILLAGE, THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL IN COMPLETING THAT FORCE MAIN AND HAD COMPRESS GRANT FUNDS. SO THE GRANT FUNDS WILL NOW BE APPLIED FOR THE CONVERSION OF ABOUT 127 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND ONE COMMERCIAL CUSTOMER THAT'S LOCATED IN PHASE 1 OF THIS PROJECT AREA. THIS LOCAL AGREEMENT AMENDMENT, IT JUST DELINEATES THE RESPONSIBILITIES BETWEEN ST. LUCIE VILLAGE AND FPUA WITH HOW 128 CONVERSIONS WILL OCCUR. >> ANY QUESTIONS OF THE BOARD? PLEASE READ THE RESOLUTION. >> RESOLUTION NUMBER UA2026-21:00 A RESOLUTION BY THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AUTHORITY, FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA AMENDING AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE OPPORTUNITY OF ST. LUCIE VILLAGE AND FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AUTHORITY FOR THE CONNECTION OF PHASE 1 PROPERTIES TO WASTEWATER SYSTEM, PROVIDING FOR SCRIFNERS, EVER REPEAL, SEVERITIABILITY AND EFFECTIVE DATE. >> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> MRS. BENNETT? >> YES. >> MRS. DAVIS? >> YES, MA'AM. >> POLICE GIBBONS? >> YES, MA'AM. >> MAYOR HUDSON? >> YES, MA'AM. >> MR. FEE? [F. DIRECTOR COMMENTS] >> YES, MA'AM. >> DIRECTOR COMMENTS? >> JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. THE FIRST ONE IS IT IS EXTREMELY HOT OUT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS ACTUALLY. SO STAFF DID IMPLEMENT FPUA'S EXTREME WEATHER POLICY PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION 24 -- 2024-02 TODAY BECAUSE THE FORECASTED TEMPERATURES MEETING THE ESTABLISHED THRESHOLD OF 97° OF ACTUAL TEMPERATURE. SO WE SUSPENDED DISCONNECTS FOR NON- PAYMENT TODAY AND THEN WE'LL FOLLOW THIS EVERY DAY AS THE TEMPERATURE -- AS WE GO THROUGH THE WEEK SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THE BOARD AWARE OF THAT. WE ALSO DO HAVE -- I THINK IT WAS LAST YEAR, WE DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR -- OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT OF -- IT'S VERY HOT SO THE CONSUMPTION IS UP, AND IF CUSTOMERS NEED TO COME IN AND TALK TO CUSTOMER SERVICE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAYBE FEATHER THAT OUT A LITTL BIT, WE CAN WORK WITH THEM SO WE DO HAVE PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT PROGRAM THAT WE CAN WORK WITH OUR CUSTOMERS FOR, BECAUSE I KNOW IT IS VERY, VERY HOT AND OBVIOUSLY CONSUMPTION IS UP. SO WE WANTED TO MAKE THE BOARD AWARE OF THAT. OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING WILL BE SEPTEMBER 1ST AT 4 P.M. IN THESE CHAMBERS AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR THE BOARD TODAY, MR. CHAIRMAN. >> THANK YOU. [H. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS] ATTORNEY COMMENTS? >> NO, SIR. >> COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? >> MR. CHAIR, I GOT ONE. [00:40:04] I HAVE JUST ONE QUICK THING, I'M SORRY. GOING BACK TO THE HEAT, I JUST WANT TO BRING BACK UP -- WE DO HAVE THE FUNDS IN WEOP FOR INSULATION STILL, CORRECT? >> YES, MA'AM, YES, MA'AM, WE DO. >> SO THAT IS SOMETHING I THINK WHEN WE GET THESE BILLS AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, IT'S IMPORTANT MAYBE TO HELP TRY TO DO SOME SORT OF COMMUNICATION OUT THAT WE CAN -- WE'VE GOT FUNDS AVAILABLE TO ASSIST. >> SO I THINK IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, I BELIEVE WE DEPLETED THOSE FUNDS IN THE NEXT ROUND OF FUNDS THAT WOULD COME IN OCTOBER AND EVERY BUDGET YEAR, SO WE STILL HAVE A RUNNING LIST OF PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING -- WHO ARE PART OF THE LIST, BUT I THINK AS OF RIGHT NOW WE'RE -- WITH THE NEW PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE TO PUT INSULATION IN THE ATTIC, THAT ONE WORKS VERY EFFECTIVE. IT SEEMS TO BE MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE AND ALSO REREMOVE THE OTHER RESTRICTIONS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE HOMEOWNER, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE HOMESTEAD, IT'S ALL BASED ON CONSUMPTION PER SQUARE FOOT. IF YOUR CONSUMPTION PER SQUARE FOOT IS HIGHER, THEN YOU'RE HIGH ON THE LIST. AND I THINK WE'VE TARGETED THE LOW HANGING FRUIT OF THAT LIST. SO NOW IF YOU NEED INSULATION, YOU CAN BE PART OF THE PROGRAM. I MEAN, IF YOU DON'T HAVE INSULATION, YOU'RE PART OF THE PROGRAM. WE TRY TO TARGET THE HIGHEST PER COST PER SQUARE FOOT. >> RIGHT. OKAY. >> GOOD REMINDER, YEAH. >> ALSO I WAS THINKING WITH THE HEAT INDEX, THE DEMAND USES CHARGE ON COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS AS WELL IS EXTREMELY HIGH. SO WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT THAT AS WELL? >> SO WE -- MS. BENNETT, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A CONSULTS. COUPLE OF TIMES. THIS UPCOMING SESSION WE HAVE OUR CONSULTANT THAT'S GOING TO BE WORKING ON A COUPLE RATE RESOLUTIONS AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THOSE SERVICES SPECIFICALLY FOR CUSTOMERS LIKE YOUR ACCOUNT, WHERE -- YOUR BUSINESS -- THE ACCOUNT OF BUSINESSES THAT DON'T OPERATE 24/7, THEY OPERATE ON JUST SPECIFIC DAYS. SO WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT CHARGE RATES, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT A COUPLE DIFFERENT RATES AND WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR CONSULTANT. I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH THE BOARD ON WHAT THAT SCHEDULE LOOKS LIKE, BECAUSE WE -- IT REQUIRES ANALYSIS OF ALL OF OUR RATES TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT RATE DOESN'T IMPACT OTHER CUSTOMERS. SO IT'S A VERY DETAILED ANALYSIS. BUT THAT IS OUR PRIORITY NEXT IS TO TACKLE THOSE THREE OR FOUR ITEMS THAT WE HAVE ON OUR LIST, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT CHARGES, PLACES WOULD EVER SHIP, RATE -- AND I FORGET WHAT THE OTHER FEW ITEMS WERE. SO YES, MA'AM, WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT. >> SO THAT SHOULD COME BEFORE US NEXT TIME? >> THAT WILL BE PART OF A WORKSHOP. THAT -- IT WILL BE A FULL PRESENTATION THAT TALKS ABOUT HOW THAT CHANGE IMPACTS OTHER CUSTOMERS, COMMERCIAL, RESIDENTIAL, ALL OF OUR RATE STRUCTURE, BECAUSE ONE RATE STRUCTURE WOULD HAVE TO BE -- THE MATH HAS TO ADD UP. >> WITHIN OUR CHARTER. >> WITHIN OUR RATE RESOLUTIONS, RIGHT, YEAH. YEAH. >> OKAY. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? ALL RIGHT, WE'RE * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.