[1. CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:05] TO ORDER. IT IS A SPECIAL MEETING, TUESDAY APRIL 28TH, 2020. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> CALL THE ROLL PLEASE. >> MAYOR HUDSON, PRESENT. MR. ALEXANDER, PRESENT. COMMISSIONER JOHNSON, YES, MA'AM. >> CAN COMMISSIONER PERONA, YES, [4. 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 fifteen 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.] COMMISSIONER SESSIONS. FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC. >> DID YOU HAVE ANYONE SIGN UP MS. COX? >> THIS IS A SPECIAL MEETING SO THEY WERE NOT REQUIRED TO SIGN UP IN ADVANCE AND IF THEY WILL STATE THEIR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. >> THEY DON'T HAVE TO SIGN IN. AND YOU'LL GIVE THEM THE SIGNAL AT FIVE SECONDS, TWO SECONDS, THREE SECONDS. ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION PLEASE COME FORWARD. SEEING NO ONE I'LL CLOSE THIS PART OF PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY. STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD SIR. >> RICK REED, 2625, SOUTH U.S. 1. THERE WAS A TEXT THAT WAS SENT AMONG US, OUR MEMBERS, IN THE NAACP, AND I WOULD LIKE TO READ IT. AND IT PRETTY MUCH SUMMARIZES HOW WE FEEL. WE'VE SEEN THE BEST AND THE WORST IN THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME. THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME TO RECEIVE A MEAL HAVE OVERWHELMINGLY BEEN PREEIVE. SO FAR WE'VE INTERVED 8400 MEALS. ON THE OTHER HAND THEY HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMING APPRECIATIVE AND KIND. ON THE OTHER HAND, CERTAIN OTHER INDIVIDUALS CONVEY WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THEIR CHARACTERS. THEIR REPRES REPUTATION PRECEDE. THEY HAVE BEEN THE ONES DWRELG LOUDEST ABOUT THE FUNDS WE'VE RECEIVED AS A GIFT TO FEED THE COMMUNITY. THEY'RE NOT MEMBERS OF THE NAACP AND THEY DON'T KNOW OUR HISTORY YET THEY SPILLED HAVE IT REAL HATE. VITREAL HATE. WE ARE CALLING THE NAACP TO SERVE RIGHT AND DISCRIMINATION. IN CHURCHES AND CUT OFF THEIR PUBLIC FUNDS AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE HARM THEY'VE PERPETRATED ON OUR COMMUNITY AND WE ASK THAT Y'ALL NOT REWARD THEM WITH MORE MONEY THAT IS NOT APPROPRIATELY USED. WE HAVE PLENTY OF PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY. PLENTY OF A NEW WORKING GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ARE STRUGGLING. BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN LAID OFF. AND THAT THE MONEY THAT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE OR THE COUNTY OR ANYBODY ELSE GIVES YOU'LL HAVE TO BE PRUDENT. THE SAME PEOPLE SHOW UP TO RECEIVE THESE DOLLARS. THEY'VE MADE A COTTAGE INDUSTRY OF IT. AND WE HAVE TAKEN A STRONG STAND THAT CHARITY STARTS AT HOME AND WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY. BUT SINCE THIS IS TAX MONEY, Y'ALL HAVE TO BE PRUDENT IN WHO YOU GIVE THIS MONEY TO. >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION PLEASE COME FORWARD. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES AND YOU'LL GET A TWO-SECOND WARNING. KEEP THAT STRAIGHT, WELCOME. YES, SIR. >> GEORGE COLLINS, 7203 PACIFIC AVENUE, PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP FOR ST. LUCIE COUNTY. WE KNOW YOU'RE HERE FOR FUNDS THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO APPLY. THOSE FUNDS CANNOT BE APPLIED IN THE SAME OLD WAY. STATUS QUO IS NOT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR TODAY. WE'RE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO GET OURSELVES OUT OF THE SITUATION THAT THE WORLD HAS FOUND THEMSELVES IN. YOU CAN'T GIVE THE SAME MONEY TO THE SAME PEOPLE, YOU KNOW IF THE STREET PEOPLE KNOW WHERE THE MONEY IS BEING MISUSED AND ABUSED, I'M SURE THAT YOU AND THEY'RE NOT PRIVY TO THE INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE, YOU SHOULD KNOW AND BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THOSE PEOPLE, MAKE SURE THOSE PEOPLE ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE SERVING. THAT MONEY IS NOT TO ENRICH OR MAKE THEM HAVE AN ENJOYABLE LIFE. THIS MONEY IS TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY. HELP THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY. WE ALSO, PUBLIC SERVANTS. LISTEN TO ME.YOU CAN'T COME TO US LATER AND SAY I DIDN'T KNOW. BECAUSE IF YOU KNOW, LISTEN TO THE OLD PARABLE, WHEN HE GOT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIVER THAT SNAKE BIT THE MAN. THE MAN SAID WHY, YOU KNOW WHAT I WAS BEFORE YOU PUT ME IN YOUR [00:05:06] SHIRT. DON'T PUT THE MONEY IN THE SAME PLACES YOU PUT IT BEFORE BECAUSE I'M SURE YOU KNOW THOSE PEOPLE HAVE NOT USED IT PROPERLY AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. ALSO ANOTHER THING YOU NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT. TRY TO SET UP SOME WAY SO THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE THE STEMLESS PACKAGES, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THAT THROUGH YOUR GRANT PEOPLE OR WHATEVER. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. >> THANK YOU SIR. ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION PLEASE COME FORWARD. SEEING NO ONE I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND WE'LL MOVE ON. >> I HAVE TWO PEOPLE THAT SUBMITTED COMMENTS IN ADVANCE. >> THANK YOU. >> THE FIRST IS BARBARA CHACHMAN 3620 SOUTH 56TH STREET. SHE SAYS HOW IS THE CITY TAKING MEASURES TO PROTECT ITS EMPLOYEES, SPECIFICALLY SOLID WASTE, IF SOME EMPLOYEES COMPLY WITH THE MANDATES AND OTHERS DO NOT, WHAT FORCES ARE BEING TAKEN TO ENSURE THOSE WHO ARE, I'M VERY CONCERNED FOR EMPLOYEES BECOMING INFECTED BY THOSE WHO ARE NOT. THIS COMES FOR MOST BUSINESSES EVEN AT MCDONALD'S. I SEE SOME EMPLOYEES WEARING A MASK AND GLOVES AND OTHERS WHO DO NOT. AFTER ALL, TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE BEING USED TO COMBAT THIS VIERGS. HOLD THE RESPONSIBILITY TO TRY TO CONTROL THE VIRUS ON A VERY LOCAL LEVEL. IF FUNDING IS NOT USED RESPONSIBLY WE ARE WASTING MONEY. WE ALSO RECEIVED A COMMENT FROM GUS GUTIERREZ FROM 100 SOUTH SOH 2ND STREET. I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS TO HELP ASSIST OUR DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES. HOWEVER, THROUGH LOTS OF REVIEW AND RESEARCH, I WANTED TO SHARE SOME IDEAS WHICH CAN TRULY ASSIST THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHICH IS OUR ENTIRE DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY. REQUEST THAT ANY FUNDS AVAILABLE BE APPLIED TOWARDS REDUCING THE UTILITIES BILLS. ELECTRIC RATES ARE A MAJOR IMPACT TO ALL OF THE BUSINESSES, AND THIS WILL HELP BE A GREAT HELP. A 25 TO 40% SAVINGS CAN BE DONE WITH THE COLLABORATION OF FPU AWMPLET. PUA.THIS CAN BE A TEAM EFFORT WH THE CITY. WAIVE OR CAN ACCORDINGLY, 100% OF RETAIL BUSINESSES AND RESTAURANTS TO HAVE OUTDOOR TABLES WITH DETAILED SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES, SIX FOOT FOR INTERACTION. REPLACING THE FARMERS MARKET WITH THIS FORMAT, SIX DAYS A WEEK, IN ORDER TO PROMOTE SAFETY WITH THE YEAR ROUND TAX PAYING LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS, NOT THE OUT OF TOWN VENDORS. THIS WOULD REQUIRE PROMOTION AND MARKETING WHERE MONEY COULD BE PLACED TO PROMOTE THIS VENUE TO NEIGHBORING CITIES TO ATTRACT THEM TO COME TO US. DISTRIBUTE THE MONEYS AVAILABLE FOR REOPENING MARKETING STRATEGIES FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL BUSINESS DISTRIBUTED EVENLY BASED ON THE BUSINESS LICENSE FILED. ALL LICENSES GET THE SAME AMOUNTS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. IS THAT IS AT THE COMMENTS WE RECEIVED IN ADVANCE BY THE DEADLINE. >> THANK YOU. [a. Discussion and identification of funding to provide relief and assistance to city residents and businesses as a result of COVID-19. ] >> SO NEXT WE MOVE ON TO NEW BUSINESS, THE DISCUSSION AND IDENTIFICATION OF FUNDING TO PROVIDE RELIEF AND ASSISTANCE TO CITY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES AS A RESULT OF COVID-19. >> MR. MIMS. >> MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION. FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY. I DO WANT TO SAY THIS IS A FOLLOW UP, OUR DIRECT FOLLOW UP MEETING TO OUR PREVIOUS MEETING OF APRIL THE 20TH. DURING THAT TIME YOU ALL DISCUSSED GREAT CONCERN FOR OUR COMMUNITY AS WE ALL WELL SHOULD. WE WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SOME SORT OF RECOVERY, SOME SORT OF RELIEF, SOME SORT OF ASSISTANCE TO HELP OUR BUSINESSES, TO HELP OUR PEOPLE TO HELP OUR RENTERS, TO HELP OUR HOMEOWNERS. WE ARE ALL RIGHT NOW UNFORTUNATELY FEELING THE EFFECTS OF THIS PANDEMIC CRISIS. OUR CITY STREETS ARE FOR THE MOST PART BARE. OUR BUSINESSES ARE SHUTTERED. SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ARE HAVING A SERIOUSLY HARD TIME MAKING ENDS MEET. HE ARE AND ALSO, RESIDENTS ARE HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING GROCERIES AND FOOD FOR THEMSELVES. WHAT WE HAVE DONE, WE HAVE COME UP WITH A VERY COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY AND PLAN THAT WE ARE PRESENTING TO YOU UTILIZING FUNDS THAT WERE DISTRIBUTE ED TO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND FROM THE STATE, THEREFORE NOT AFFECTING THE GENERAL FUND OF THE CITY, NOT AFFECTING THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS BUT PROVIDING AND REDIRECTING THE FUNDS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE FROM CDBG, HUD, STATE OF FLORIDA, AND FPRA, [00:10:03] WHICH WE WILL SHOW YOU SHORTLY, HOW WE HAVE PROPOSED TO YOU, SO YOU ALL CAN WORK WITH STAFF TO GET THIS ALL OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. MOVING FORWARD, THE FIRST THING WE WANT TO DO IS ASSIST THE RESIDENTS AND LEASE AND MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, EMERGENCY HOUSEHOLD ASSISTANCE AND ALSO, IF YOU LOOK A LITTLE BIT FURTHER DOWN WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO TESTING AND FOOD RESOURCES. AND WHEN IT COMES TO BUSINESSES WE'RE LOOKING AT SMALL BUSINESS EMERGENCY RELIEF, AND MICRO-EMERGENCY RELIEF FOR OUR MICRO-BUSINESSES. THESE ARE THE SUMMARY OF THE FUNDING SOURCES. THE CARES ACT, I THINK MOST OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THIS, IT IS THE CORONAVIRUS AID RELIEF AND ECONOMIC SECURITY ACT. THIS WAS AMONGST $5 BILLION THAT WAS ALLOCATED AS A SUPPLEMENT TO THE CDBG FUND. THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE WAS AWARDED ROUGHLILY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $335,000. WE WANT TO UTILIZE THAT TO GET IT RIGHT BACK OUT TO THE COMMUNITY TO ASSIST THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING. THE STATE INITIATIVE PARTNERSHIP THIS FOR YEARS HAS BEEN A INSTRUMENT FOR US TO ENHANCE AND REJUVENATE NEIGHBORHOODS. HELP THOSE AMONG US THAT ARE LESS FORTUNATE. THAT ARE VERY LOW, LOW AND MODERATE INCOME COMMUNITIES. ABOUT CDBG FUNDS THAT ARE FOR TARGETED LOCATION IS DETERMINED BY CENSUS TRACT. ALSO, FOR PRINCIP PRINCIPALLY FO MODERATE INCOME AREAS, THAT'S THE FPRA THOSE FUNDS CAN ALSO BE UTILIZED THROUGH A TRANSFER TO THE GENERAL FUND. AS YOU KNOW, THE FPRA DOES OWE THE CITY ROUGHLY $8 MILLION SO THIS WOULD BE A DEBT REPAYMENT TO THE GENERAL FUND, SO THE GENERAL FUND CAN UTILIZE THESE FUNDS TO GET OUT TO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES. LET'S TALK ABOUT FOOD RESOURCES. ONE OF THE MAJOR CHALLENGES FOR OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN FOOD RESOURCES. FACTORS ARE UNEMPLOYMENT, SCARCITY OF NUTRITIONAL COMMODITIES. WE DO HAVE COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT ARE OUT RIGHT NOW, FIGHTING THIS FIGHT, DISTRIBUTING FOOD, DISTRIBUTING RESOURCES TO OUR COMMUNITY. TREASURE COAST FOOD BANK IT IS A DAILY OCCURRENCE THAT THEY'RE OUT RECEIVING FOOD COMMODITIES AND DISTRIBUTING TO OUR COMMUNITIES. UNITED AGAINST POVERTY, COUNCIL ON AGING. THEY ARE ACTUALLY DELIVERING FOOD TO SENIORS FREE OF CHARGE. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CALL. MUSTARD SEED, LONG TERM PARTNER AS WELL AS GRACE WAY VILLAGE. AND ALSO, WE HAVE ANOTHER SPECIFIC INITIATIVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO VENTURE INTO, AND THAT IS OUR CITY OF FORT PIERCE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OPERATION DINNER TABLE THAT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB WILL EMBARK UPON. THIS IS GOING TO PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED FOOD FOR THE FAMILIES. FRESH FRUITS, VEGETABLES, MEAT AND PANTRY ITEMS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED. IN ADDITION FAMILY ACTIVITIES WHO HOPEFULLY RELIEVE THE STRESS AND PROMOTE RELATION BUILDING AT HOME. BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS WILL GET VANS OUT, LIKE THE VAN YOU SEE HERE, TO DELIVER THESE THINGS TO THE PEOPLE. TO OUR PEOPLE. WE HAVE LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB WILL PARTNER WITH THAT WILL CREATE COOK AND PROVIDE MEALS ON A DAILY BASIS. THIS IS A FIVE-WEEK PROGRAM THAT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE WILL CONTRIBUTE TO AND WE DO SEE THAT THIS WILL PROBABLY JUST ADDRESS THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG. THERE ARE SO MANY FAMILIES OUT THERE THAT ARE SUFFERING. WE JUST WANT TO TRY TO ADDRESS, IN THIS FIVE WEEK PROGRAM WE FEEL WILL HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS. THE SCHOOL BOARD IS DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB IN FEEDING THE STUDENTS. WE HAVE OTHER SCHOOLS, PRIVATE SCHOOLS THAT ARE FEEDING THEIR STUDENTS. WE HAVE SEVERAL ENTITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE TAKING CHARGE AND TAKING THE RESPONSIBILITY TO AID IN THIS FIGHT THAT THE FAMILIES ARE UP AGAINST. AND WE WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT, AS WELL. IT WILL CULMINATE AT THE END OF MAY, WITH A HUGE EVENT WHEREBY IT IS ENVISIONED THAT WE CAN FEED AT LEAST 800 FAMILIES THROUGH 800 GROCERY PACKS AND GIVE THEM A FAMILY OF FOUR A WEEK'S WORTH OF FOOD. SO THAT CAN HOPEFULLY GET US THROUGH THE MONTH OF MAY AND ASSIST THE CITIZENS OF FORT PIERCE. THEN WE WANT TO GET INTO TESTING. NOW, THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THAT THROUGH THE CARES ACT AND THROUGH $60,000 OF CARES ACT FUNDING, WE CAN PARTNER WITH ONE OF THE MOST PROGRESSIVE AND ONE OF THE MOST TECHNOLOGICALLY LABS IN THE STATE, THEY PROVIDE ANTIBODY TESTS AND MOLECULAR PRR [00:15:05] TESTS. THIS IS CUTTING EDGE. WE -- PCR TEST. WE WOULD BE THE FIRST IN THIS AREA DO LOOK AT ANTIBODY TESTING AND WE BELIEVE THAT THIS SEAR SEROLOGICAL TETING ARE GOING TO IDENTIFY THOSE THAT ARE IMMUNE AND THOSE THAT CAN POSSIBLY DONATE BLOOD TO THIS FIGHT. ANDREA MOORE HAS BEEN DOING A VAST AMOUNT OF RESEARCH AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR INITIATIVE SHE CAN ANSWER THEM. BUT THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT DYNEX IS THEY CAN GET RESULTS TO THE PEOPLE AND TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN 24 HOURS. ONE DAY THEY CAN ACCOMPLISH THIS TEST AND THEY CAN LET THE PEOPLE KNOW IF THEY HAVE THE ANTIBODIES IF THEY HAVE COME IN CONTACT WITH THE VIRUS. ONE DAY TURN AROUND, A LAB RIGHT UP THE STREET. WE ARE LOOKING AT PARTNERING WITH ALLEGHENY FRANCISCAN MINISTRIES. THEY HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN PARTNERING WITH US. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH THE MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS THEY HAVE EXPRESSED THE DESIRE TO ASSIST AND HAVE IDENTIFIED RESOURCES TO DEVOTE TOWARDS THIS GOAL. IN ADDITION TO I BELIEVE WE WERE JUST NOTIFIED ABOUT INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE. AUDREY HAS BEEN HUSTLING. INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE, THE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WILL ASSIST US IN TAKING THE INFORMATION FROM THE PEOPLE THAT SEEK OUR GUIDANCE AND OUR HELP. OUR COMMUNITY IS COMING TOGETHER AND WITH ALL OF THESE RESOURCES WE'RE ABLE TO PULL AND BRING THEM TO ONE OF THE MOST TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED LABS IN THE SAIT OF FLORIDA. I THINK WE'LL BE DOING GOOD THING. IT IS OUR INTENTION TO TEST APPROXIMATELY 1200 INDIVIDUALS, MAYBE MORE. SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN KNOCK DOWN THE UNFORTUNATE DEFICIT OR LACK OF TESTING IN THIS AREA. APPROXIMATELY 1% OF THE COUNTY HAS BEEN TESTED. WITH THIS INITIATIVE, 3% OF OUR POPULATION OR ROUGHLY 1200 PEOPLE OR MORE WILL BE TESTED WITHIN A FOUR TO FIVE-DAY PERIOD AND LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THIS DONE. AUDREY CAN ANSWER ADDITIONALLY ON THIS, SHE'S BEEN THE TECHNICAL WHIZ ABOUT THIS. NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR RESIDENTS. OUR RESIDENTS ARE IN DIRE NEED OF ASSISTANCE. AND IN SAYING SO, MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS. THEY'VE BEEN PUT ON FURLOUGH. THEY CANNOT PAY THEIR MORTGAGE. THEY CANNOT PAY THEIR RENT. THANKFULLY WE DO HAVE FUNDING THROUGH THE STATE HOUSING INITIATIVE PARTNERSHIP, $270,000, THAT CAN BE REDIRECTED FOR TEMPORARY MORTGAGE AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR AT LEAST TWO MONTHS OF RENT. NOW, THAT AMOUNT CANNOT EXCEED $3,000 BUT IT CAN DEFINITELY HELP A FAMILY HAD NEED. THAT CAN HELP A FAMILY THAT IS SUFFERING DURING THESE TIMES. NOW ALL THE APPLICANTS MUST PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF LOSS OF INCOME. THAT IS TRUE IN EVERY ASPECT OF OUR PROGRAM. THERE MUST BE DOCUMENTATION, THEY MUST PROVE THAT THEY DID HAVE THIS LOSS FOR US TO HELP THEM. THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE HELPING THOSE THAT HAVE A TRUE NEED. THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, THEY MUST RESIDE IN CITY LIMITS. THEY MUST HAVE APPLIED FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS OR SHOW THAT THEY HAVE SOME SORT OF LOSS. A DOCUMENTED LOSS OF INCOME LIKE I TALKED ABOUT BEFORE. THEY MUST NOT HAVE RECEIVED ANY OTHER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, MORTGAGE OR RENT IN THIS TIME FRAME. AND ALSO, THEY MUST MEET GROSS ANNUAL INCOMES NOT EXCEEDING 80% OF THE AMI, THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME. TO ASSIST OUR FAMILIES ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY INTERIM HOUSEHOLD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, CDBG FUNDING, $10,000. ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS MUST BE IN NEED OF EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE DURING THE SAFER AT HOME RESTRICTIONS. THIS FUNDING CAN ASSIST THEM WITH THE PREVENTION OR ELIMINATION OF CONDITIONS THAT ARE DETRIMENTAL TO THEIR FAMILY. THE ASSISTANCE IS IN THE FORM OF A ONE TIME GRANT AND CANNOT EXCEED $750 PER HOUSEHOLD. THERE ARE INCIDENTAL NEEDS THAT EVERY FAMILY NEEDS AND HAS. AND WE CANNOT ROLL INTO ONE LITTLE EASY LITTLE POCKET TO DESCRIBE HOW EVERY FAMILY IS PERFORMING. BUT WE DO KNOW THAT THIS CAN HELP THESE FAMILIES IN NEED. AGAIN, THE SAME CRITERIA. RESIDE IN THE CITY LIMITS, NOT -- NOT EXCEED THE 80% OF THE AMI, AND DEMONSTRATE THE NEED. THEN WE HAVE OUR SMALL EMPHASIS EMERGENCY RELIEF AND I UNDERSTAND THAT BUSINESSES PROBABLY HAVE BEEN HIT THE HARDEST. OUR D DOWNTOWN WAS ONCE A THRIVG AREA. I LOOK AT IT NOW AND IT IS A GHOST TOWN AND THAT IS BECAUSE [00:20:01] THE BUSINESSES ARE SHUTTERED AND THEY NEED OUR HELP AND THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF WHAT THESE BUSINESSES WILL NEED. THE MICROBUSINESS EMERGENCY RELIEF GRANT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, THIS IS 25 EMPLOYEES OR LESS, TO INCLUDE SOLE PROPRIETORS, WE'LL HAVE A FLAT GRANT FOR THEM OF $3,000. NOW, WE WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE THE SOLUTION BUT IT IS GOING TO BE ASSISTANCE. AROUND WE'RE GOING TO HELP AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. LEADING THIS CHARGE IS OUR GRANTS ADMINISTRATION DIVISION MANAGER, KALIA SCOTT. SHE IS HERE IN THE AUDIENCE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. SHE HAS BEEN WORKING FOR ST. LUCIE COUNTY. WE HAVE ABOUT THE SAME AWARD STRUCTURE IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. WE ARE TRYING TO CARRY A CONSISTENTLY MESSAGE FOR THIS AREA. WE HAVE A TOTAL OF $352,000 AND CHANGE THAT WE CAN DEVOTE TO THIS INITIATIVE, 60,000 FROM THE 2018 ALLOCATION FROM CDBG, 167,000 FROM THE 2019 ALLOCATION OF CDBG FUNDS AND 125,000 THAT GOES TO THE GENERAL FUND. WE CAN UTILIZE THIS TO ASSIST OUR BUSINESSES. NOW FROM THE CARES ACT, WE HAVE ANOTHER MICRO-BUSINESS EMERGENCY RELIEF GRANT. THIS WILL ASSIST BUSINESSES FROM EMPLOYEES RANGING FROM 26 TO 100. THIS SMALL BUSINESS GRANT WILL BE AWARDED IN INCREMENTS OF $7500. 7500 FLAT RATE. THIS PROGRAM IS A SHORT TERM WORKING CAPITAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO HELP OUR BUSINESSES. WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT THE RESTAURANTS, THE RETAIL THAT WE HAVE IN OUR AREA, WHETHER IT'S DOWNTOWN, U.S. 1, 25TH AVENUED, WHEREVER IT IS. THESE FOLKS NEEDS HELP, WHEREVER IT IS. AND FOR THOSE WHO HAVE THIS STRUCTURE OF 26 OR MORE EMPLOYEES UP TO 100, THE SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF GRANT PROGRAM CAN ASSIST THEM. ADD AN ALLOCATION OF $225,000 WE KNOW IS NOT GOING TO HELP A GREAT DEAL BUT AT LEAST IT WILL HELP SOME. GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR THESE BUSINESS ASSISTANCE GRANTS. THE BUSINESSES HAVE TO BE BRICK AND MORTAR. THEY HAVE TO BE ACTUAL STORE FRONT BRICK AND MORTAR BUSINESSES. THEY HAVE TO HAVE SOME SORT OF DOCUMENT ED ED PROOF OF EVIDENCF LOSS. ULTIMATE AS A RESULT OF GOVERNOR'S ORDERS OR LOCAL ORDERS OR THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THEIR BUSINESS WAS IN OPERATION PRIOR TO THE STAGE AS WELL. OPENED. IT HAS TO BE A BUSINESS THAT WAS PRIOR, PRIORLY OPENED, AND OPERATING AND WAS AFFECTED BY THE COVID-19 PANNED MINIMUM. NOW OF COURSE IT HAS TO HAVE A BUSINESS TAX RECEIPT FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE ON FILE. THE PAYMENTS WILL BE LEASE PAYMENTS, MORTGAGE PAYMENTS, EMPLOYEE SALARIES AND BENEFITS, OTHER SALES GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES DEEMED CRITICAL FOR THE BUSINESS OPERATIONS, UTILITIES, NEW EQUIPMENT, SUCH AS WEB CAMS, VIRTUAL HARDWARE SOFTWARE VIDEO CONFERENCING. AS YOU KNOW WE ARE ALL LOOKING AT NEW WAYS TO DO BUSINESS IN THIS BUILDING SPECIFICALLY. WE ARE NOT HOLDING IN-PERSON MEETINGS, WE ARE NOT MEETING PEOPLE UNLESS THROUGH SPECIFIC APPOINTMENT THROUGH THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT BUT WE'RE FINDING NEW WAYS TO DO BUSINESS. AND I KNOW SOME OF THESE ENTREPRENEURS EVEN OUT IN THIS AUDIENCE ARE FINDING NEW WAYS TO DO BUSINESS AS WELL AND WE INTEND TO ASSIST THEM AS THEY LOOK FOR MORE VIRTUAL MEANS TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR MISSION. NOW, THE PROCESS AND THE TIME LINE. THE APPLICATIONS WILL BE PROCESSED ON A FIRST COME, FIRST QUALIFIED, FIRST SERVED BASIS. WE'LL HAVE ONE WEEK OF PRESCREENING. WE WILL HAVE DEDICATED EMPLOYEES, READY TO ANSWER THE PHONE, READY TO ANSWER ANY ONLINE AND E-MAIL QUESTIONS, AND WE WILL PRESCREEN AND WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE APPLICANTS OR POTENTIAL APPLICANTS QUALIFY FOR THESE PROGRAMS. ONCE THE APPLICATION PERIOD CLOSES, APPLICATIONS WILL BE APPROVED ON A WEEKLY BASIS. UNTIL FUNDS ARE EXHAUSTED OR EXPENDED. NOW, SO WHAT WE'LL DO, WE'LL OPEN THIS UP, AS YOU SEE HERE, AFTER WE BEGIN ADVERTISING ON APRIL 29TH, APPLICATIONS WILL OPEN MAY THE 4TH, THAT IS MONDAY. AND PRESCREENING WILL BEGIN ON THIS SAME DATE. WE'LL START TO TAKE THE CALLS. WE'LL START TO DO THE PRESCREENING. THE APPLICATIONS WILL COME IN. AT THE END OF THAT WEEK WE'LL COLLECT THOSE APPLICATIONS WE WILL REVIEW THOSE APPLICATIONS AND THEN WE WILL PRIORITIZE AND AWARD THE FUNDS YOU BASED UPON THE APPLICATIONS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED. [00:25:01] THIS WILL HAPPEN ON A WEEKLY BASIS AND WE INTEND DO EXPEDITE THESE PROCESSES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE IS IN HERE, AND SHE WILL DEFINITELY CUT THE CHECKS AS FAST AS SHE POSSIBLY CAN ONCE WE PROVIDE THE PRIORITIZED LIST OF QUALIFIED APPLICANTS. SO IN SUMMARY, BETWEEN THE CARES ACT, THE SHIP FUNDING, THE CDBG FUNDING AND THE FPRA TRANSFER TO THE GENERAL FUND WE'RE LOOKING AT THE TOTAL OF OVER $1 MILLION THAT HAS -- THAT IS REDIRECTED FUNDS, NOT GENERAL FUNDS, BUT REDIRECTED FUNDS, THAT COME FROM OTHER FUNDING SOURCES. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, STATE GOVERNMENT, AND YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, THAT WILL BE UTILIZED FOR OUR COMMUNITY THAT WILL NOT AFFECT THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. SO THAT IS -- THAT WAS A HECK OF A TASK FOR US. AS YOU KNOW WE DON'T HAVE MUCH MONEY LAYING AROUND. AND AS YOU KNOW WE NEED TO GET THIS OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY. THERE'S NO REASON FOR US TO SIT ON THIS MONEY. WE NEED TO GET THIS OUT BECAUSE AS THE COMMUNITY FLOWS, WE FLOW. IF THE COMMUNITY IS STRONG, THEN THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IS STRONG. IF THE COMMUNITY IS WORKING, AND CAN THEY ARETHEY ARE CONTRIBUTIX BASE THEY ARE CONTRIBUTING TO OUR INCOME AND OUR REVENUES AND WE CAN SURVIVE AS A MUNICIPALITY. THAT IS OUR GAME PLAN HERE. MOVING ON TO THE EASY STUFF ABOUT THE BEACHES AND THE PARKS LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS FUNDING AND HOW YOU ALL FEEL ABOUT THIS. AND IF YOU ALL GIVE US THE OKAY WE WILL MAKE THIS HAPPEN MAY THE 4TH. BEGIN, AUDREY, SPECIAL PROGRAM, KALITA SCOTT IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE SPECIFICS OF OUR GRANTS. AT THIS TIME I TURN IT OVER TO YOU AND I SINCERELY HOPE THAT WE CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE. >> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. >> YES, MA'AM. >> ST. LUCIE COUNTY IS A PARTNER IN THIS? ARE THEY DOING ALL THE SAME PROGRAMS? >> I CAN'T SPEAK TO THIS. I ASK KALITA TO COME ON UP. COME ON UP. >> MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS, THE COUNTY AS OF RIGHT NOW IS WORKING TO UTILIZE THEIR HOUSING FUNDS, SO THEY'RE WORKING ON AN ASPECT THAT IS SIMPLY TO ADDRESS THE MORTGAGE AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE. >> SO JUST THAT PART OF IT. >> AS OF RIGHT NOW UH-HUH. >> AND THEY TALKED ABOUT IN ONE OF THOSE PRESS CONFERENCES, ALL OF THE EFFORTS BEING PUT OPEN A WEBSITE. DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT? >> YES, MA'AM. OUR VIRTUAL RECOVERY CENTER, THE ACTUAL ADDRESS IS FURTHER IN THIS PRESENTATION BUT YES, WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER ON THAT. >> OKAY, ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. AND IN HERE, DO YOU -- DOES THIS INVOLVE, WHEN YOU'RE HELPING BUSINESSES LIKE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS -- LIKE SOMEBODY WHO IS A NAIL TECHNICAL OR HAIRDRESSER OR WHATEVER, WHERE DO THEY FIT INTO THIS? WHERE WOULD THEY FIT INTO THIS IF THEY WANTED TO APPLY, NOT AN EMPLOYEE BUT -- >> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A NONESSENTIAL BUSINESS, YOU TALKING ABOUT THE ACTUAL EMPLOYEE OR -- >> I'M TALKING ABOUT WHERE -- THAT WOULD BE A BUSINESS BUT THEY WOULD BE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS. IS THAT -- WOULD THAT FALL UNDER A BUSINESS, JUST -- >> WE'LL HAVE KALITA ANSWER THAT. IT WOULD BE ALLOWED BUT THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A BRICK AND MORTAR BUSINESS. >> USING THE NAIL TECH EXAMPLE, CAN SOMEBODY CAN BACK ME UP ON THIS ENDING DID ON HOWING THE SHOP IS ORCHESTRATED, THERE IS A NAIL SALON GENERALLY THE OWNER AND THEY SOMETIMES HAVE A NAIL TECH WHO PAYS THEM RENT. THAT NAIL TECHNICIAN WHO IS PAYING RENT TO THEIR NAIL SALON THEY HAVE A BUSINESS TAX RECEIPT IS THAT CORRECT? IF THEY HAVE A BUSINESS TAX RECEIPT THEY WOULD QUALIFY. >> I WAS SEEING, IMAGINING SOME MIGHT FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS BECAUSE THERE AREN'T EXACTLY WHAT YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT. >> YES. >> OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND SO THEN, THIS IS GOING TO -- THE APPLICATION IS GOING TO BE ONLINE? IS THAT RIGHT, COME BACK KALITA SORRY. >> THE APPLICATION WILL BE ONLINE. WE PLAN ON HAVING -- AND BEARING SOME FOLLOW-UP FROM MY TEAM WE PLAN TO HAVE AN ONLINE APPLICATION, WE'D LIKE TO HAVE A PDF-FILLABLE APPLICATION ONLINE AND YOU CAN CALL AND E-MAIL AND GET IT E-MAILED IF YOU NEED IT. >> YOU ARE GOING TO TRY TO VET THEM WITHIN A WEEK, IS THAT RIGHT? >> YES. >> ALL RIGHT, OKAY THAT UP. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS? [00:30:02] MR. JOHNSON. >> JUST REAL QUICK. IF YOU HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS, I'VE GOT A LAWN MOWING BUSINESS AND I OPERATE IT OUT OF HOME, SOLE PROPRIETOR SHIP OR LLC, WHERE DOES THAT LOOK ON THE APPLICATION? >> THAT'S WHERE WE COME UP WITH SOME CRACKS, SO FAR HOW THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN PROPOSED, IT HAS BEEN PROPOSED AS BRICK AND MORTAR. SOME OF THE WAY TO GET AROUND THAT AND ASSIST THOSE HOME BASED BUSINESSES IS ALLOWING THEM TO HOPEFULLY APPLY TO THE MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE TO LEAIV ALLEVIATE SF THEIR PROBLEMS. >> DID COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER HAVE A PROBLEM? >> YES, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE FEEDING OF THE PEOPLE, OF OUR CITY. JUST COME UP WITH A SUGGESTION, JUST A THOUGHT, IF EACH COMMISSIONER COULD GET A LUMP SUM, MAYBE SAY $5,000, AND WE HAVE SEVERAL BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN DOING BUSINESS FOR SEVERAL YEARS, COUNCIL ON AGING, I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE I SERVE ON THAT BOARD. AND I ASKED THEM, DID THE CITY CONTACT THEM AND YES THEY DID AND THEY RESPONDED. SO, YOU KNOW, IF EACH COMMISSIONER COULD HAVE WHATEVER STIPEND THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PASS ON, THAT WHAT THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE BEING HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR. THAT'S JUST A QUESTION OR A SUGGESTION FOR DISCUSSION. >> OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COMMISSIONER SESSIONS. >> I KNOW IN ORLANDO, THEY DID SOMETHING SIMILAR TO WHAT COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER IS SPEAKING OF, WHERE THE MAYOR AND THE COMMISSIONERS HAD A BUDGET AMOUNT OF MONEY, AND THOUGH WHAT THEY DID WAS, THEY ALLOCATED THAT BUDGETED AMOUNT TO LOCAL RESTAURANTS THAT WOULD ISSUE OUT FOOD TO INDIVIDUALS, I THINK THAT'S WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT. I KNOW THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN ORLANDO, SO IT'S A SIMILAR OPERATION, SOMETHING THAT I KNOW HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE. SO THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT WE MAY WANT TO LOOK INTO O, EACH INDIVIDUAL, WE ALL KNOW WHERE THE NEED IS, WE ARE GIVEN X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS AS OUR BUDGETARY AMOUNT AND WE WOULD GO OUT AND CHOOSE A VENDOR OF OUR CHOICE TO ISSUE, AND GIVE FOOD TO THE INDIVIDUALS. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I KNOW HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I SPOKE WITH THE REGINA HILL COMMISSION OUT OF ORLANDO, THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT. AT ANY RATE CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE SLIDE APPLICATION PROCESS TIME LINE. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TIME LINES, YOU ARE HAVE BEGINNING ADVERTISEMENT, APRIL 29TH, APPLICATIONS OPEN, MAY 4TH, AND THEN YOU HAVE BEGIN PRESCREENING MAY 4TH. MOST IMPORTANT ONE TO ME IS NOT THERE, AND THAT IS, THE ANTICIPATED AWARDING OF THE FUNDS. BECAUSE THAT'S WHO SHOULD BE A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT PRIORITY. AND I NOTE THAT A LOT OF THOSE PARTICULAR FUNDING SOURCES THAT YOU HAVE MENTIONED, CERTAINLY THEY ARE ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT I HAD ANTICIPATED IN TERMS OF FUNDING. AND THAT'S A PLUS. BUT RIGHT NOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES. AND PEOPLE ARE IN NEED NOW. AS OPPOSED TO GOING THROUGH A WHOLE LOT OF BUREAUCRACY. WITH PAPERWORK. PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY AS WELL AS BUSINESSES ARE IN NEED, DESPERATE NEED OF ASSISTANCE. AND I WAS HOPING WE WOULD SEE SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT SOMEONE SPOKE OF EARLIER, WAS A PUBLIC COMMENT, RELIEF IN THE FORM OF UTILITIES, FOR OUR BUSINESSES. THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE COULD HAVE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT WITH, IN TEMPS OF THE BUSINESS. THAT IS ONE OF THE GREATEST EXPENSES OF ANY LOCAL BUSINESS, THAT'S A CUSTOMER OF THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AUTHORITY. SO I WAS HOPING WE WOULD HAVE SOMETHING IN THE FORM OF SOME IMMEDIATE RELIEF TO THE RATE [00:35:03] PAYER, THAT WOULD BE A GREAT HELP, I'M SURE, AS WE FIGURE OUT AND WAIT ON THIS ANTICIPATED AWARD OF THE ACTUAL FUNDS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. BUN GET, THAT CONCERNS ME. HOW SOON, HOW QUICK, IT'S GOOD, BUT AS I POINTED OUT LAST TIME WE WERE HERE, WE NEED SOMETHING AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE. AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE AVAILABILITY TO DO SO IF WE ARE WRITING OUR OWN CHECK AS OPPOSED TO WAITING ON A THIRD SOURCE TO RECEIVE FUNDS. THANK YOU. >> KALITA DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? >> YES, IN REFERENCE TO THE EXPEDIENCY AND WHEN THE CHECKS CAN BE CUT, JOHN HAS AUTHORIZED, WE ARE ABLE TO CUT CHECKS EVERY WEEK AS THESE ARE APPROVED. AND SPEAKING -- AND I APOLOGIZE, I'M NOT SURE IF I'M ABLE TO SPEAK TO THE FP -- >> FPUA -- I WON'T SPEAK TO THAT. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT IS SOMETHING FOR YOU ALL TO CONSIDER. >> A BUSINESS COMMISSIONER CAN USE THE FUNDING FOR UTILITIES. THAT IS A ELIGIBLE USE BASED UPON THE PROGRAM. >> OKAY, SO YOU ARE SAYINGS YOU WOULD GIVE THEM THE FUNDING FOR THE UTILITIES. BUT WHAT IF THAT FUNDING COULD BE USED TOWARDS SOMETHING ELSE AND WE OFFERED THEM SOME FORM OF ASSISTANCE OF RELIEF REGARDING A PERCENTAGE OF A WAIVER OF UTILITIES? I KNOW WE ARE NOT ACTING AS THE UTILITIES BOARD BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER AND I WOULD MOPE THAT WE WOULD COORDINATE AND WORK TOGETHER. THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AUTHORITY IS AN AGENCY THAT CERTAINLY I HOPE WILL PARTICIPATE WITH US, IN THIS RELIEF PACKAGE. AND AS I POINTED OUT EARLIER, THEY ARE VERY VITAL ENTITY THAT ALL BUSINESSES HAVE TO HAVE, AND THAT ALL BUSINESSES NEED ASSISTANCE IN, IN TERMS OF HELP. SO -- >> THANK YOU KALITA,ING COMMISSIONER ARE PERONA. >> THANK YOU. A WEEK AGO THIS WAS GOING TO TAKE THREE OR FOUR WEEKS AND I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR MOVING THAT UP AND I KNOW YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T GET MUCH ELSE DONE FOR THE WEEK BUT THIS IS IMPORTANT. YOU TALK ABOUT SETTING UP THIS OVERWHELM PLAN. I'M SURE -- IS THIS TEMPLATED OFF OF OTHER COMMUNITIES? I KNOW WE'RE ALL KIND OF GOING ENTHUSE THIS AT THE SAME TIME. WE HAVE NO HISTORY TO GO BACK AND SAY THIS IS HOW WE HAVE DONE IT BEFORE. SO SPEAK TO HOW WE GOT TO THIS PART. >> COMMISSIONER THERE IS NO TEMPLATE FOR THIS. THERE IS NO GUIDE BOOK FOR THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION. EVERY COMMUNITY IN THE UNITED STATES IS GOING THROUGH THIS NOR THE FIRST TIME IN RECENT, YOU KNOW, MEMORY. WHAT WE'VE DONE, WE'VE WORKED WITH OUR PARTNERS AT ST. LUCIE COUNTY AND PORT ST. LUCIE. AS A MATTER OF FACT WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING LATER THIS WEEK ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION. SO IN PUTTING ALL OF OUR CUMULATIVE BRAINS TOGETHER, WE'VE TRIED TO FREE UP FUNDS. AROUND THANKFULLY, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND IF STATE GOVERNMENT HAVE ALLOWED US TO UTILIZE THESE FUNDS IN THIS CAPACITY. SO IT'S A MATTER OF COLLABORATION AND AGAIN, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND STATE GOVERNMENT GIVING US THE FLEXIBILITY TO UTILIZE THESE FUNDS TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY. SO I WISH I COULD SAY THAT THERE WAS AN OUT LINE THAT WE COULD WORK FROM BUT THERE WASN'T. THIS PLAN THAT WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER, TO INCLUDE FOOD, TESTING, GRANTS FOR BUSINESSES, AND HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS, WE TRY TO BE AS COMPREHENSIVE AS POSSIBLE. BUT $1 MILLION IT MAY SOUND LIKE A LOT BUT IT'S GOING TO GO VERY QUICKLY. SO WE INTEND TO GET THIS OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. >> OKAY, GREAT. AND SO WE TALK ABOUT STAFF IS GOING TO GO THROUGH AND REVIEW THE APPLICATIONS AND MAKE SOME FORM OF A DECISION AT THAT TIME. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> AND, YOU KNOW, I MEAN STAFF HAS USUALLY BEEN VERY GOOD AT IT BUT THERE WERE TIMES WHEN STAFF WASN'T REALLY GOOD AT IT. I'D LIKE TO HAVE A LITTLE COMFORT LEVEL IN KNOWING WHO YOU HAVE AND WHAT EXPERTISE IS THERE TO TAKE THAT INFORMATION AND COME UP WITH A SOLUTION. >> ABSOLUTELY. KALITA WHY DON'T YOU SPEAK TO THAT. I CAN TELL YOU WE HAVE DID BEST STAFF THAT FORT PIERCE HAS EVER HAD AND KALITA IS GOING TO ADDRESS THE APPLICATIONS. >> WE HAVE A TEAM AS OF NOW OUR GRANTS ADMINISTRATION TEAM [00:40:04] CONSISTS OF THREE PEOPLE, ME MYSELF, KAITLIN BALLARD, SHEILA WISE, OUR SPHE SPECIALIST. MR. MIMS HAS GIVEN US OTHER FOLKS, THEY ARE GOING TO BE RECEIVING APPLICATIONS IN VERY DIFFERENT WAYS, MAKING SURE THEY HAVE ALL THE REQUIREMENTS AND THAT THEY ARE COMPLETE, ONCE THE APPLICATIONS ARE COMPLETE THEY WILL THEN STAMP THEM AS FIRST COME FIRST SERVED. AT THE END OF EVERY WEEK AN EVALUATION TEAM AS OF RIGHT NOW IT CONSISTS OF CHEYENNE HELMES, THE COMMUNICATIONS ED DIRECTOR, AUDRI EARVETION AND MYSELF, TORN ISSUE THE PRIORITY. FIRST COME FIRST SERVED, WE ARE TAKING THAT BUCKET OF FIRST COME AND THEN SAY EVERYBODY WHO HAS LOST YOUR JOB, IF YOU LOST YOUR JOB WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT PRIORITY FIRST, IF YOU HAVE REDUCTION OF HOURS, THEN THAT ONE, AND FUND BY PRIORITY, THAT'S THE PLAN. >> I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR CONSISTENCY. >> YES. >> AND TO BE FAIR AND APPROPRIATE. >> YES. >> AROUND AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOUR TEAM WILL BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON WHAT HAS HAPPENED, WHERE THE MONEY WENT, WHAT IT WAS USED FOR AND, KIND OF A LEVEL OF FEELING THAT WE REALLY GAVE THE PEOPLE THAT REALLY NEEDED IT, THESE ARE PARANOIA I HAVE RIGHT NOW THINKING THAT YOU KNOW THE WORST CASE SCENARIO IS WHEN YOU HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES AND YOU DOLE IT OUT AND IT DIDN'T GO TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THAT'S PROBABLY, I WOULD RATHER DEPEND ON YOUR GROUP TO BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH AND IDENTIFY THOSE THAT REALLY NEED IT, THAT DID QUALIFY ON A VERY FAIR AND TIMELY BASIS. I WOULD RATHER NOT DO THAT MYSELF FOR THE RECORD, I'M NOT INTERESTED AT ALL. I'D RATHER RELY ON A TEAM THAT GOES THROUGH THE PROCESS AND MAKE SURE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT WE HAD A FUNCTION THAT WORKED BECAUSE WE FOLLOWED THE RULE TO, YOU KNOW, TO THE LAST DEGREE ALL THE WAY THROUGH. AND THEN WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO REPORT, YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO TELL US WHAT HAPPENED AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO TELL THESE FOLKS EXACTLY WHAT WE DID WITH THEIR MONEY. >> YES. >> SO THAT'S REAL KEY RIGHT THERE. >> MAYOR CAN I BUILD ON THAT WHILE YOU'RE ON THAT TOPIC? I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK AND FORTH. >> AS LONG AS I GET IT BACK. >> YOU'LL GET IT BACK PROMISE. YOU'RE GOING TO IMPLEMENT PROCEDURES, STAMP IN, DATE RECEIVED TIME RECEIVED, POLICIES. >> YES. >> HOW ABOUT NOTIFICATION TO THE APPLICANT OF WHAT THEIR STATUS IS? >> WHEN WE RECEIVE YOUR APPLICATION IF WE RECEIVED IT VIA E-MAIL I HAVE A DRAFT OF COPY AND PASTE RESPONSES FOR EVERYONE WHO IS ON THE TEAM SO THEY CAN E-MAIL IT BACK OR GENERATE AN E-MAIL. ONCE YOUR APPLICATION HAS BEEN RECEIVED, YOU'LL GET AN E-MAIL SAYING IT'S BEEN RECEIVED, I'M NOT SURE THE VERBIAGE RIGHT NOW, RECEIVED, ACCEPTED, SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND ONCE IT'S BEEN APPROVED YOU'LL RECEIVE ANOTHER E-MAIL. YOU'LL RECEIVE NOTIFICATION, E-MAIL OR TELEPHONE, DEPENDING ON WE HAVE SOME CITIZENS THAT CAN OPERATE VIA E-MAIL, WE HAVE SOME CITIZENS THAT STILL NEED A TELEPHONE CALL. IT'S TRUE. YOU MAY GET A PHONE CALL OR E-MAIL FROM -- >> OR PAPER ACTUALLY. >> FOR ME TOO, WE DO PLAN ON HAVING THE APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE IN PAPER AND CAN YOU MAIL THEM AS WELL. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE CAN HAVE ACCESS TO IT. >> WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE NO BARRIERS. THAT WAY WE WILL WORK WITH EVERYONE, WHETHER THEY CALL, WHETHER THEY TEXT, WHATEVER IT TAKES. WE WILL WORK WITH THEM. >> THAT'S PERFECT AND I APPRECIATE INPUT. IN THE MESSAGE, IN ■TODAY'S SUMMARY WE TALKED ABOUT A ONE WEEK-ISH TURN AROUND RIGHT? >> YES. >> IN THAT LEAD MESSAGE SAYING YOUR APPLICATION HAS BEEN RECEIVED, I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO WORK AND WORDSMITH THAT LANGUAGE. >> YES. >> ARE YOU GOING TO SAY EXPECT ANOTHER CALL OR COMMUNICATION WITHIN TWO WEEKS OR WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SAY THERE? >> I CAN GIVE -- GO WEEKS IF THAT'S ACCEPTABLE, TWO WEEKS IS ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT WILL HAVE PUSHED THE NUMBE- >> IT TAKES YOU A WEEK TO REVIEW IT THEN IT HAS GOT TO GET TO THE PROCESS, TO NICK'S OFFICE OR JONNA'S OFFICE, SEEMS LIKE TWO WEEKS MAKE SENSE. I DON'T WANT FOLKS TO CALL YOU AFTER TWO DAYS AND SAY HEY WHERE'S MY -- >> WE'LL MAKE SURE TO PUT THAT IN THE VERBIAGE TWO WEEKS. >> THE OTHER THING I WROTE DOWN WHILE THE PRESENTATION WAS GOING WAS THE CONTINUATION OF REVIEW. WE HAVE A FINITE SAYS OF RESOURCES AND LET'S SAY THAT ALL OF THOSE RESOURCES LOOK LIKE THEY'VE BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR. HOWEVER THERE IS SOME IN THE PROCESS THAT MIGHT NOT MAKE IT. ARE YOU GOING TO CONTINUE TO REVIEW OR ARE YOU GOING TO PICK UP THE STACK ONCE YOU SEE SOME FALL OFF? [00:45:01] >> I BELIEVE AND THIS MAY BE UP FOR DISCUSSION. BUT WHEN WE HAVE THE -- THERE NEEDS TO BE AN APPLICATION CLOSE PERIOD. SO ONCE THOSE APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED WE CAN THEN GO BACK TO THAT STACK THAT HADN'T BEEN FUNDED AND PICK THAT UP WITH ANY REMAINING FUNDS. >> THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? CLOSING PERIOD, DO YOU HAVE ONE? DO WE NEED TO ANNOUNCE IT RIGHT NOW? THAT'S MY QUESTION. >> I DON'T KNOW, THIS COULD BECOME VERY AGGRESSIVE. WE HOME WITHIN TWO TO THREE WEEKS WE'LL PROBABLY RUN THROUGH AND EXHAUST OUR FUNDS BUT MAYBE KALITA -- >> GOING BACK TO YOUR QUESTION COMMISSIONER PERONA, WE KIND OF MIRRORED OTHER CITIES, LOOKED TO OTHER CITIES, I DID REACH OUT TO WEST PALM BEACH WHO HAD ALREADY START THEY HAD PROCESS AND EXPENDED THE FUNDS, $500,000 WITHIN A WEEK AND A HALF. SO IT WILL PROBABLY END UP GOING PRETTY QUICKLY. >> COMMISSIONER PERONA I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO YOU. >> NO PROBLEM, I'M HAPPY TO HELP OUT. SO WEIG WE ARE TRACKING THE PAYS AND WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO REPORT THE IMPACTS OR AT LEAST WHAT HAPPENED, HOW MANY PEOPLE WE HELPED AND -- >> ABSOLUTELY. >> THAT'S GOING TO BE REAL IMPORTANT. AND I'M THINKING THIS IS ALL GOING TO BE OVER IN ABOUT A MONTH, BUT IT'S NOT, THIS IS GOING TO BE GOING OFTEN AND ON AND ON AND THIS MIGHT BE OUR FIRST ATTEMPT. STAFF IS LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING TAWMENTS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE MOVING ON THAT DIRECTION. >> YES. >> SO YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT $125,000 FROM THE FPRA CONTRIBUTION. >> YES, SIR. >> AND THEN YOU STARTED TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE THEY OWE MONEY. >> YES. >> YOU GOT THAT IN THERE BUT WHAT YOU DID WAS SAY HEY THE FPR AFORT CAN MAKE $125,000 IT'S NOT A CONTRIBUTION IT'S A PAYMENT FOR THE TRANSFERS TO THE GENERAL FUND. >> YES. >> IS THAT WHAT'S ENVISIONED? >> THAT IS EXACTLY RIGHT. THE FPRA THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE OWE THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE ROUGHLY $8 MILLION. AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS HAVE THE FPRA FUND CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE FUND WHICH IS RESTRICTIVE GEOGRAPHICALLY, THERE ARE CERTAIN PEOPLE WITHIN THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY THAT NEED HELP NOT JUST WITHIN THE FPR AFORT. THIS IS NOT A GEOGRAPHIC ISSUE, THIS IS A HOLISTIC CITYWIDE ISSUE. SO IF THE FPR AFORT TRANSFER THE FUNDS TO THE GENERAL FUND THEN THOSE FUNDS DON'T HAVE A ALLOCATION, IT IS BASICALLY UNRESTRICTED AND IT IS YOUR DISCRETION AS A CITY COMMISSION TO DISCUSS THE DISTRIBUTION OF THOSE FUNDS. >> I GOT THAT. THERE IS $8 MILLION MORE WE CAN FUND TO GET IT OUT TO THE CITY. >> BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT -- >> TALKING ABOUT THE FUTURE, BUT AT THE TIME THAT I JUST WANT TO REMIND THE COMMISSION THAT AT THE TIME THAT WE TRANSFERRED THAT MONEY, TO THE FPRA THAT WAS REAL MONEY CAME OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND. WE HAD BY DOING THAT WE COULDN'T DO OTHER THINGS. SO IT IS REAL MONEY AND I KNOW YOU KNOW THAT MAYOR AND THE REST OF YOU, I JUST HAD TO SAY THAT. WE JUST WENT THROUGH, WELL, WHAT A GREAT IDEA, IT'S NOT LIMITED TO THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA BUT IT IS REAL MONEY. >> THAT'S RIGHT. >> AND THE LAST THING I HAVE WHICH WE ARE EVENTUALLY GOING TO TALK ABOUT TOO IS SOME OF THE CITY LEASES AND WHEN WE'RE GOING TO DO FOR THOSE FOLKS. >> WELL, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF LEASES WITH BUSINESSES RIGHT NOW. AND I BELIEVE THOSE BUSINESSES ARE -- THEY'RE STRUGGLING. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THE MARINA MANAGER TOLD ME THAT BOTH THOSE BUSINESSES ARE OPEN FOR DINING AND TAKE OUT RIGHT NOW. I KNOW THAT I BELIEVE COB'S LANDING DID SHUT ITS DOORS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. I COULD BE WRONG. I THINK I DID SEE THE BUSINESS RNZ IN THE AUDIENCE SO THEY'LL PROBABLY THROW SOMETHING AT ME -- >> I'LL LET YOU KNOW. >> BUT YES, AS OF RIGHT NOW THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS WHETHER IT'S RENTS OR LEASE THEY HAVE BEEN DEFERRED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. WE WILL EVALUATE THE SITUATION AT THE END OF MAY. THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND MYSELF WILL SIT DOWN WITH THOSE BUSINESS OWNERS AND WE'LL DETERMINE WHERE WE GO. IT'S ALL BASED UPON THE ECONOMIC CLIMATE AND HOPEFULLY OUR HEALTH SITUATION IS MUCH BETTER AT THAT TIME. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER SESSIONS. >> YOU MENTIONED YOU GOT A STAFF OF ABOUT FOUR PEOPLE. >> FIVE INCLUDING MYSELF AND POSSIBLY ONE MORE, SIX. >> OKAY. YOU KNOW WE'VE NEVER BEEN IN THE BUSINESS OF A DISBURSEMENT CENTER AND THE VOLUME IS GOING TO BE ASTRONOMICAL. WITH THAT BEING SAID, YOU'RE [00:50:03] GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE SOME FORM OF SOFTWARE TO HELP YOU OUT ADMINISTRATIVELY, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE VOLUMES OF CALLS PEOPLE CALLING COMPLAINING, IT WILL DRIVE ALL FOUR OF YOU CRAZY AND YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE VOLUME OF IT. THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES ATHAT ARE DOING WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AND YOU NEED TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THEM AND FIND OUT WHAT TYPE OF SOFTWARE THEY'RE USING. BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING RIGHT HERE. >> YES, SIR, I'VE ALREADY IN WORKING AND LOOKING AT OTHER CITIES WE FOUND A PLATFORM CALLED SMART SHEETS AND I HAVE ALREADY FORWARDED THAT TO DEVOSHAY, HE'S GIVING US HIS I.T. TALK ABOUT WHERE IT DOESN'T MESH REALLY BUT IT'S AN APPLICATION PLATFORM THAT ALLOWS US ALL TO UPLOAD DOCUMENTATION SO THERE'S LESS TOUCHING PEOPLE AND THAT WAY THE PEOPLE IN OUR CALL-IN CENTER CAN FOCUS ON THE ONES THEY NEED TO TAKE CARE OF MOST BECAUSE THAT OTHER PROCESS IS AUTOMATED, YOU CAN UPLOAD YOUR DOCS, IT EDUCATES AN E-MAIL AUTOMATICALLY, SAYING YOUR APPLICATION HAS BEEN RECEIVED, IT ALLOWS US TO LOOK AT HOW MANY APPLICATIONS CAME IN THIS WEEK. IT ALLOWS US TO LOOK AT MET TRIBS WHICH IS EASIER TO -- METRICS WHICH IS EASIER TO BEING REPORT TOY. THE COST IS $1400 IN ORDER TO GET FOUR LICENSES, I'M SAYING IT OUT LOUD IN HOPES THAT SHEA SAYS IT'S OKAY. WE CAN UTILIZE FUNDING FROM COVID OR CDBG OR ADMIN TO PURHASE THAT. EVEN GOING FORWARD IT WILL ALLOW OUR APPLICATIONS TO GO THAT MUCH MORE SMOOTH. >> AND IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG HELP TO YOU, TOO, IN TERMS OF BEING FAIR AND EQUITABLE FROM A TRANSPARENCY STANDPOINT. BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO START CALLING AND ACCUSING THERE'S FAVORITISM GIVEN TO THIS ONE AND THAT ONE AND WHOSE COUSIN IS THAT ONE GETTING THE MONEY FROM. I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LIGHTNING TIME NOW, I KNOW HOW IT WORKS. SO IT'S GOING TO BE REAL IMPORTANT THAT YOU HAVE SOME SOFTWARE IN PLACE WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE ONE ON ONE CORRESPONDENCE AND THE SCREENING PROCESS TAKES PLACE BY WAY OF THE SOFTWARE. SO THERE WON'T BE ANY PROBLEMS AND IT WILL MAKE IT GO A LOT SMOOTHER FOR URDZ E-YOURSELF AND Y'ALL APPRECIATE IT. >> MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE WILL REPURPOSE AND RESOURCE ALL WHETHER IT'S LABOR CONTRACTUAL HARDWARE OR SOFTWARE TO THIS PROCESS. THIS IS THE PRIORITY FOR THE CITY OF FOPTS AT THIS TIME. WHATEVER WE NEED WE SHALL PROVIDE. >> SO I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. SO I THINK YOU'LL BE REALLY SLAMMED TOO. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW HATCHED AT THE STATE LEVEL IS THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM WAS REALLY SLAMMED. AND IT'S STILL HAVING DIFFICULTIES. AND BECAUSE THE DEMAND IS SO GREAT. I RECOGNIZE THAT THE DEMAND IS GOING TO BE GREAT. AND I JUST WANT US TO BE PREPARED. BECAUSE IS IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING IF PEOPLE CAN'T GO THROUGH ON THE LINE OR THE SYSTEM GOES DOWN OR WHATEVER. SO I JUST THINK THAT IF WE'RE PROMISING THESE KIND OF TIMES, I'M JUST SAYING TO YOU THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN DO WHAT WE SAY WE'RE GOING TO DO. >> ABSOLUTELY, YES, MA'AM. >> THAT'S WHY I'M JUST SAYING BE REALISTIC. I KNOW WE WANT TO DO THIS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. I ALSO WANT TO EMPHASIZE WHAT YOU SAID MR. MIMS WHICH IS, THESE ARE FUNDS THAT ARE NOT LOCAL TAX DOLLARS. >> CORRECT. >> THESE ARE FUNDS THAT CAME DOWN FROM THE FEDS AND THE STATE, THROUGH THE STATE, MOSTLY PROBABLY THROUGH PROBABLY HUD OR SOME OTHER FEDERAL FUNDS. >> YES. >> THAT WERE ORIGINALLY GOING TO BE DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THIS BUT NOT THIS EXACT SAME THING. SO WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS TAKING THESE FUNDS AND REPURPOSING WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT DURING THIS TIME. AND SO WE'RE NOT USING GENERAL FUNDS SO THERE'S NO STAFF OPERATIONAL STAFF SALARIES IN THIS AT ALL. >> NO MA'AM. >> AND THERE WASN'T IN THE BEGINNING. THERE WASN'T ORIGINALLY. SO YOU'RE NOT TAKING ANY MONEY AWAY FROM ANY OTHER POT OR GIVING ANY MONEY EXTRA STAFF. >> NOM. >> I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND MAKING SURE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE APPRECIATED DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME AND ALL OTHER TIME. I WANT IT UNDERSTOOD THAT WE [00:55:02] COULDN'T TAKE THIS MONEY AND PAY SALARIES FOR IT, WE COULD NOT DO IT AND I JUST WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT, THE GOVERNMENT HAS GIVEN US THAT MONEY AND GIVEN US THAT MONEY WITH STRINGS. AND WE HAVE TO ABIDE BY THOSE STRINGS. AND I ALSO WANT TO AGREE WITH THE PEOPLE UP HERE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THE PROGRAM. AND I'M TOTALLY CONFIDENT OF THE INTEGRITY OF YOUR STAFF BUT I WANT PEOPLE TO BE ASSURED THAT THIS MONEY TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY WILL NOT GO TO PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT DESERVING. IT WILL GO TO DESERVING PEOPLE. >> YES, THEY HAVE TO HAVE A DEMONSTRATED LOSS. YES. >> YES, NOT BEST OF OUR ABILITY AND I REALLY EMPHASIZE THAT. WE'RE DOING SOMETHING QUICKLY. WE HAD DONE SIMILAR THINGS BEFORE, NOT QUITE TO THIS DEGREE AND NOT QUITE TO THIS BREADTH OF ALMOST DIRECT CHARITY KIND OF THINGS, DIRECT FOOD, WE'RE NOT IN THAT BUSINESS, WE HAVE NOT DONE THAT BEFORE, BUT WE HAVE DONE GRANTS BEFORE. YOUR STAFF HAS REVIEWED, I'M ASSUMING YOU STAFF THE COMMUNAL WIDE COUNCIL AND THAT'S WHAT THAT COUNCIL OF DOES IS MAKE THOSE DECISIONS, SO YOU'RE USED TO LOOKING AT AND EVALUATING APPLICATIONS, AND VETTING THEM AND CHECKING THEM OUT. SO I FEEL ASSURED THAT YOU'VE GOT THE BEST TEAM IN PLACE TO DO SOMETHING THAT WE'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE. YES, MA'AM. >> MADAM MAYOR. >> YES, SIR, COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER. >> YOU KNOW ON WE SPEAKING AND TALKING ABOUT GOOD THINGS FOR THIS COMMUNITY, AND I HEAR YOU BEING HES ANTENNA ABOUT THE SIGN UP PERIOD IT MAY BE TWO OR THREE WEEKS. THAT'S GOOD AND FAIR SO WE CAN MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS VESTED RIGHT. BUT BACK TO THE FEEDING OF THE PEOPLE. THAT SHOULD BE A PRIORITY. THAT CAN BE DONE WITHIN AWAY, WHAT,THE NEXT FEW DAYS. >> YES. >> I'M ASKING HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THE TIME PERIOD ON >> OKAY. >> WE'LL GET MADAM AUDREA MOORE WELLS COME SPEAK TO THAT. >> ALL RIGHTY. >> AS FAR AS FOOD ASSISTANCE THAT WILL MUCH FASTER AND WE'LL GET THAT OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS. WE ARE WORKING WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB TO PROVIDE SOME ASSISTANCE WITH THE PROGRA THEY ARE LAUNCHING. WHAT WE DID IS TOOK A LOOK AT ALL OF THE AGENCIES THAT ARE PROVIDING FOOD AND SOME SORT OF PANTRY FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO IDENTIFY WHERE THERE WERE GAPS. AND WHAT WE IDENTIFIED WAS THAT WE ONLY HAVE A FEW AGENCIES THAT ARE ASSISTING ON THE WEEKEND. SO THAT'S WHAT WEAVER LOOKING TO DO IS TO ASSIST OR EXPAND THE OPERATION ARE OF THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB TO INCLUDE THE WEEKEND, TO HAVE FOOD AVAILABLE FOR OUR FAMILIES BECAUSE THAT SEEMS TO BE WHERE THE MOST NEED IS RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE A -- I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE PROVIDING FOOD ON A REGULAR BASIS. AND THROUGHOUT THE DAY. THE EARLIEST STARTS AT 9:00 AND THE LAST FEEDINGS FOR THE WEEK, DURING THE WEEK PRIMARILY END AT ABOUT FIVE OR 6:00. AND THOSE AGENCIES ARE THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTY. WE EVEN HAVE SARAH'S KITCHEN WHO WAS CONTINUING THEIR -- THEIR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY, BY CONTINUING WITH THE MOBILE KITCHEN. THEY START AT I THINK IT'S ONLY ON ONE DAY, THOUGH, ON THURSDAY. AND THEY START AT 11 A.M. AND THEY GO THROUGHOUT THE COMMUITY. AND IN PLACES THAT THEY HAVE VISITED PRIOR TO COVID-19, TO ENSURE THAT SOME OF OUR RESIDENTS WHO ARE UNSHELTERED ARE ALSO RECEIVING FOOD. BUT WE HAVE -- OUR COMMUNITIES HAS REALLY STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AS IT RELATES TO MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS SOME TYPE OF AGENCY THAT'S PRI PROVIDING FOO, PROVIDING A PANTRY, PROVIDING OTHER NECESSITIES ALSO THAT OUR CITIZENS MIGHT NEED. >> I GOT A QUESTION. >> YES, COMMISSIONER SESSIONS. >> THOSE AGENCIES THAT YOU MENTIONED, TREASURE COVE, UNITED AGAINST POVERTY, COUNCIL ON AGING, MUSTARD SEED MINISTRIES, AND GRACE WAY, THREE OF THEM AT LEAST FROM TALKING TO THEM, THEY ARE IN DIRE STRAITS AND LOOKING FOR FOOD THEMSELVES. SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE ARE GOING TO WORK THAT OUT. BECAUSE IF WE ARE GOING TO MAKE [01:00:08] THESE AS COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER POINTED OUT AND THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME, TIME. ESPECIALLY THE BUSINESSES, WE HAVE A LITTLE MORE TIME. WE CAN BUY SOME I'M THE. TIME. BUT THAT IS SOMETHING OF MAJOR URGENCY, AND THAT IS GETTING UNDERSTOOD TO PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO EAT. ASAP. I JUST ATE. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVEN'T EATEN IN A COUPLE DAYS. WE HAVE TO TAKE THIS SERIOUS AND GET THE FOOD TO PEOPLE AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE. ANOTHER THING, BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE DISTRIBUTION. A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO EAT ARE ELDERLY. THERE MAY BE PEOPLE OUT ON THE BEACH THAT ARE ELDERLY, OLDER, AND IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THIS DISTRIBUTION PLACE AT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, THESE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION, THEN THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING. SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER AS WELL BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN NEED ARE ELDERLY PEOPLE AND THEY DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION. SO WHAT FORM, AND THIS IS MY QUESTION TO YOU, WHAT FORM OF DISTRIBUTION IN TERMS OF TRANSPORTATION, BECAUSE IN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, PEOPLE ARE BEING CREATIVE, THEY EVEN HAVE THEIR PARKS AND RECREATION PEOPLE DELIVERING FOOD. YOU KNOW WE'RE GOING BEYOND WHAT WE NORMALLY WOULD DO BUT THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE. AND I KNOW WE DO HAVE THE PARAMETERS OF THE CITY LIMITS, THAT'S THE GOOD, I GUESS, YOU KNOW, WE CAN ONLY REACH SO MANY PEOPLE AND WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, IT IS AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION, I KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT IN THE COUNTY BUT RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT TO CONTEMPORANEOUS ON OUR OWN. BUT AGAIN HOW ARE WE GOING TO -- CONCENTRATE ON OUR OWN. HOW DO WE GET THE FOOD TO THE PEEP DISPERSE IT TO PEOPLE? IF YOU TALK ABOUT BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB YOU TALK ABOUT GOING OVER THERE GETTING INTO A LINE AND ISSUING IT OUT. THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK. >> PART OF THEIR PLAN WILL BE TO DELIVER MEALS TO INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED IT. IN ADDITION TO THAT THE COUNTY ON AGING IS ALSO PROVIDING MEALS AND DELIVERING MEALS TO SENIORS IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT NEED IT AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE CHALLENGES, AGE 18 TO 59, IF YOU CALL THE COUNCIL ON AGING, THEY ARE TAKING APPLICATIONS, AND THEY WILL BE DELIVERING MEALS ALSO TO THAT GROUP OF -- OR THAT ASPECT OF OUR COMMUNITY. >> THEY'RE TAKING CARE OF ANY AGING IF YOU CALL THAT NUMBER, RIGHT? >> YES, MA'AM, YES, SIR. >> KEEP IN MIND, THESE AREN'T TYPICALLY THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD HAVE TO RELY ON COUNCIL ON AGING. COUNCIL ON AGING IS IN THE BUSINESS OF FEEDING INDIVIDUALS. I KNOW SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT DEAL WITH COUNCIL ON AGING. BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT NORMALLY SUPPLIED FOOD BY COUNCIL ON AGING. SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE AN OUTREACH OURSELVES, WE CAN'T RELY ON THEIR DATABASE, AND GIVE THEM FUNDING, AND RELY ON THEM TO TAKE CARE OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE OUR OWN DATABASE. SO I HOPE WE DON'T GET INTO THE BUSINESS OF WRITING THESE AGENCIES A CHECK AND SAY TAKE CARE OF IT, TAKE CARE OF THE NEEDY. I.T. DOESN'T STOP THERE. THERE'S A LOT MORE INVOLVED THAN THAT. IF WE GOING TO ADDRESS WHAT WE NEED TO AND THAT IS TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE IN NEED RECEIVE THESE SERVICES, DON'T JUST DROP A CHECK OFF TO ANY OF THESE PEOPLE AND TELL THEM LOOK -- YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS? >> ABSOLUTELY. AND WE ARE GOING TO NEED THE COMMUNITY'S HELP IN HELPING TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT. WHAT I FOUND IS THAT COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN THE KEY, OR LACK THEREOF, IN GETTING OUT TO THE PEOPLE WHO MOST NEED IT. AND THAT'S BEEN OUR CHALLENGE. BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO GET SO MANY DIFFERENT POPULATIONS THAT RECEIVE THEIR INFORMATION IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. AND SO MY NEIGHBOR, IF YOU'RE MY NEIGHBOR AND YOU HAVE SOME INFORMATION, SHARE IT WITH ME. AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO THAT. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF MY BROTHER OR MY SISTER, ESPECIALLY IF WE KNOW THAT THERE'S SOMETHING AVAILABLE FOR THEM, THEN WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO THEM. AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO DO. THAT'S WHY WE'RE TRYING TO BE AS COMPREHENSIVE AS POSSIBLE IN LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES [01:05:02] THAT ARE HELPING DIFFERENT POPULATIONS IN MAKING SURE THAT INDIVIDUALS RECEIVE THE HELP THAT THEY NEED. BUT WE NEED THE COMMUNITY'S HELP IN HELPING US TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT. AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A PART OF WHAT WE DO AS IT RELATES TO OUR PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN IN GETTING THE INFORMATION OUT TO TO OUR COMMUNITY. BECAUSE EVERYBODY DOESN'T HAVE INTERNET ACCESS. ANYONE DOESN'T HAVE THE CAPABILITY -- MY 92-YEAR-OLD WHY GRANDMOTHER HAS A CELL PHONE BUT DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO USE IT. WE HAVE TO RELY ON INDIVIDUALS IN HER CHURCH THAT HELP HER AND HERE, THEY WILL PICK IT UP AND TAKE ITS TO HER. WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS NEED FOR THE COMMUNITY. >> AND YOU SAID THE KEY WORD RIGHT THERE. THE CHURCHES. WE NEED THE PARTNERSHIP-UP WITH THE CHURCHES. >> YES, SIR. >> THEY HAVE A LOT OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED. THEY KNOW THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IN NEED. AND THAT WILL ELIMINATE A LOT OF YOUR LEGWORK AND HELP ASSIST YOU. SO THIS PASTORRIAL MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HELP YOU YOU. PEOPLE LIKE THE NAACP, THEY HAVE CONNECTIONS WITH THESE PASTORS AND THEY KNOW. THIS IS A SMALL COMMUNITY, THAT'S WHY I LOVE FORT PIERCE. BECAUSE THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT KNOWS SOMEBODY, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH A WHOLE LOT OF RED TAPE IN ORDER TO GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B. SO WE DON'T NEED TO OPERATE LIKE WE'RE A MIAMI OR JACKSONVILLE. THIS IS A SMALL CONSERVATIVE CITY AND WE CAN USE THAT TO OUR IMFT AND MAKE THIS WORKS. JUST REACH OUT TO THOSE THAT WE NORMALLY WOULD, AND I KNOW YOU DON'T MIX, IT IS NOT TYPICAL AND TO SOME DEGREE OUT OF THE NORM FOR GOVERNMENT TO MIX WITH CHURCHES AND RELIGION. BUT AGAIN, WE ARE IN DIRE STRAITS. I THINK THAT WOULD HELP US OUT TREMENDOUSLY, IF WE WORK WITH THEM, THEY HAVE A LIST OF INDIVIDUALS, THEY HAVE SO MANY CONNECTIONS, IN TERMS OF WHO NEEDS WHAT, CAN LET'S WORK WITH THEM, LET'S TRY TO E ENCOME AS COMPASSTHEM IN THAT. PRAYER IS ALL RIGHT, BUT WE'RE IN A BEAR MEETING RIGHT NOW AND WE NEED THESE CHURCHES TO HELP US OUT RIGHT NOW. >> AS A MATTER OF FACT, OUR CITY HAS BEEN PARTICIPATING ON A WEEKLY BASIS THANKS TO YOPINDO SHABAZ AND JUDGE MAY SNARD. WE HAVE A MEETING ON FRIDAY WITH THE PASTORS, IT IS AING CONFERENCE CALL, IT IS AN -- AN CONFERENCE CALL. WE ASK OTHERS TO SHARE THE NUMBER, THE CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION, SO THAT THEY CAN CALL IN ON FRIDAYS AND LISTEN TO THE CONVERSATION THAT'S BEEN GOING ON. I THINK IT'S BEEN ABOUT A MONTH, THE MEETINGS HAVE BEEN OCCURRING, THE CONFERENCE CALLS SO THAT WE CAN TRY OUR BEST TO GET THE INFORMATION OUT. >> I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS LAB. CAN YOU PULL THAT UP AGAIN? THE LAB THAT'S COVID-19 LAB? NOW, THIS IS A LAB TYPICALLY THEY TAKE SPECIMENS AND THEY RUN THEM. HAVE THEY DONEFULLY OPERATIONS OF THIS MAGNITUDE IN TERMS OF RUNNING TESTING SITES? WHO'S GOING TO TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY? ARE THEY GOING TO DO THAT, TOO, OR WHAT? HOW IS THAT GOING TO WORK IN TERMS OF TESTING? >> WELL, THE -- >> NO, THEY'RE A LAB. >> YES, THEY ARE AND THEY HAVE MEDICAL STAFF ON BOARD. AS PART OF THEIR LAB. THEY HAVE 7,000 SQUARE FEET OF TESTING FACILITY, AND THE ACTUAL MACHINE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO USE TO TEST THE COVID TEST, THEY'RE ONLY GOING TO USE IT TO TEST THAT. ON A REGULAR BASIS THEY DO ABOUT 5,000 TESTS A DAY. SO THEY ARE EQUIPPED TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THIS TYPE OF AN EVENT. THEY'RE GOING TO STAFF IT. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REACH OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND BASED ON THE MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, IS GOING TO BE ASSISTING WITH THE TESTING FACILITY. IN ADDITION TO THAT, LIKE MR. MIMS HAD MENTIONED, WE JUST GOT NOTICE FROM INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE THAT THEY HAVE SEVERAL MEDICAL ASSISTANT STUDENTS, WHO NEED CLINICALS AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THAT BECAUSE OF COVID-19. SO IF THEY'RE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE, WITH THIS EVENT, OR WITH THIS TESTING, THEN THEY'LL BE ABLE TO HELP US IN GETTING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. [01:10:01] >> BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO FIND YOURSEFINDYOURSELF BOMBARDED. THERE'S A $60,000 CHECK PROVIDED, BUT YOU'LL HAVE PEOPLE COMING FROM PORT ST. LUCIE, AND OTHER AREAS. PLEASE FORT PIERCE, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON. >> YES, SIR. >> PRESCREENING MEANING ELIGIBILITY IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING IS SYMPTOMS, VERSUS NURSING HOMES, VERSUS -- SO THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE THEIR PROTOCOLS, THOSE PROTOCOLS HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH? >> THAT'S WHAT WE ARE USING. WE WILL BE USING THEIR SCREENING ON TOOLS IN ORDER TO SCREEN INDIVIDUALS. AND ACTUALLY THERE'S TWO TESTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE AVAILABLE. COVID-19, PCR, THE MOLECULAR PCR TEST WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PRESENTING SYMPTOMS. THEN THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO BE DOING THE ANTIBODY TESTING WHICH WAS JUST RECENTLY L APPROVED BY THE FDA FOR USE. SO THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW AS MR. MIMS SAID BEFORE. IF THEY HAVE HAD COVID-19, AND BECAUSE THE ANTIBODIES WILL BE -- WILL EXIST IN THEIR BODY. >> OKAY, ALL RIGHT. >> MADAM MAYOR. >> YES, SIR. >> COUPLE OF THINGS ON THE IF NOOD RESOURCES. NICK, IS IN SOME OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ENGAGE OUR EMPLOYEES FOR VOLUNTEER TIME OR VOLUNTEER HOURS, TALK GOING THE WEEKEND, THAT SEEMS TO BE A MISSING LINK RIGHT? >> YES, SIR. >> IF WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE OUR REGULAR STAFF ARE WORKING MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AND THEY HAVE TIME TO VOLUNTEER ON A SATURDAY MORNING FOR ABOUT FOUR HOURS CAN WE PROVIDE THEM AN INCENTIVE WHERE WE COULD UTILIZE, STILL UTILIZE A CITY VEHICLE, THAT'S NORMAL LIKE A PARKS AND RECREATION OR A FLEET OR WHATEVER IT IS, TO YOU DELIVER MEALS AND THEN GET SOME KIND OF A FOUR HOUR PAID LEAVE OR SOMETHING, COMP TIME TYPE THING? >> I CAN'T ANSWER THAT THING, YOU'RE MIXING ARE LIABILITY WITH VOLUNTEERISM. >> SORT OF LIKE RESTORING THE VILLAGE TYPE THING. >> EMPLOYEES, IF THE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE BEHIND THE WHEEL ARE NOT VOLUNTEERS. THEY ARE ACTUALLY EMPLOYEES DOING WORK. >> DECLARE ON THE CLOCK AT THAT TIME? >> YES, SIR. BUT WHEN YOU'RE VOLUNTEERING THAT'S SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT. AS FAR AS WILL OUR EMPLOYEES DO IT? I'M SURE OUT OF THE 370 PLUS EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE THAT WE WILL HAVE SOME THAT WOULDN'T MIND HELPING. I BELIEVE SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES RIGHT NOW VOLUNTEER AS SOME OF THESE ENTITIES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTY. SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION THE ANSWER IS YES, WE CAN GET VOLUNTEERS ON THE WEEKEND. ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT AN INDEPENDENT VOLUNTEER -- >> IN CONJUNCTION WITH THESE GROUPS, FILLING A NEED, MAKE SURE IT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING, IF THERE'S A VOID IN THE WEEKENDS HOW DO WE ACCOMPLISH THAT MISSION. SO IF WE CAN ENGAGE THE EMPLOYEES BECAUSE WE HAVE TO KEEP THE OPERATIONS OF THE CITY, MAYBE WE CAN TRANSFER SOME OF THE DUTIES, BUT IF YOU'RE TO JUST YOU KNOW ASK FOR A SHOW OF HANDS AND WHO WOULD VOLUNTEER, IF YOU CAN GIVE SOME COMP TIME OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT FOUR HOURS ON A SATURDAY, TO GET FOUR HOURS BECAUSE YOU GET A THURSDAY AFTERNOON OFF SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE. >> WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE A LITTLE BIT FLEXIBLE WITH SCHEDULES. WE CAN WORK THAT OUT. WE CAN WORK OUT FLEXIBILITY AND HAVE VOLUNTEERISM OR HAVE EMPLOYEES WORKING IF NEEDED. >> I THINK THAT WOULD BE A HELPFUL ATTRIBUTE FOR OUR CITY TO BE ENGAGED. YOU KNOW OUR CITY EMPLOYEES. >> YES, SIR. >> SO LET'S SEE. TALK ABOUT EMPLOYEE VOLUNTEERS, FOOD RESOURCES. CAN WE SWITCH OVER TO -- ACTUALLY, LET ME 78 ON ALL THE APPLICANTS FIRST. AUDREA, IT MAY BE KALITA. LITSD TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS, I WAS ALLUDING TO IT EARLIER. IF THERE ARE LINES OF FOLKS, HOW CAN YOU MAINTAIN CROWD CROALT, SIX FEET APART, LIKE FOLKS DO IN SUPERMARKTSD? >> LINE OF -- >> THERE ARE A LINE OF FOLKS MAKING AN APPLICATION ON MAY FOURTH. >> WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS VIRTUALLY, BY TELEPHONE, BY E-MAIL AND ONLINE. WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN THAT SCREENING PROCESS MAY THE 4TH. >> LIKE A DROP BOX OUTSIDE OF CITY HALL. POLICE. >> AS FAR AS HAVING A FACILITY THAT PEOPLE ENTER NO, WE WON'T HAVE LINES OF PEOPLE LINED UP OR WE WILL HAVE A DROP BOX OUTSIDE THAT WE COLLECT ON A WEEKLY BASIS -- >> DAILY. >> IT MIGHT RAIN, YEAH, SO [01:15:02] DAILY. BUT WE WILL REVIEW THE APPLICATIONS ON A WEEKLY BASIS. >> ALL RIGHT, SO YOU HAVE A DROP BOX. ALL RIGHT. OKAY, I'M WORRIED ABOUT FIRST COME FIRST SERVED, STAMPING IT IN, CAN MY TAX I WAS THE LAST PERSON WHO PUT IT IN THE BOX, THE STAFF TURNED IT OVER AND I WAS 87. >> I CAN GIVE THAT INFORMATION TO WHOEVER WAS THE KEEPER OF THE BOX. >> IT IS NOT PROBLEMATIC RIGHT? >> SOFTWARE, SOFTWARE THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, IT WILL ELIMINATE A LOT OF THAT STUFF. >> A LOT OF IT YES. >> YOU WON'T HAVE THOSE ISSUES. >> STILL HAVE SOME PEOPLE E-MAILING. >> PHONE CALLS AND LINING UP THE APPLICATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS AND HOW YOU -- WHO OYOU ADDRESS FIRST. THAT SOFTWARE IT WORKS PERFECTLY. IT WILL HELP US OUT CREDIT TREMENDOUSLY. WE MIGHT HAVE TO PAY SOME MONEY FOR IT BUT IT WILL SAVE YOU IN TERMS OF COSTS. >> REPLY OTHER WORRIES ARE IF YOU GET ENGRAINED IN APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS, YOU HAVE FOUR TO SIX PEOPLE WHO ARE ENGRAINED IN THAT PROCESS BECAUSE WE HAVE A MULTITUDE OF APPLICATIONS WHO'S STAMPING IN THE APPLICATION AT THAT POINT IF EVERYONE'S ON THE APPLICATION REVIEW SIDE? >> SO I HAVE AING QUALIFYING TEAM, KAITLIN BALLARD, COMMUNITY RESOURCE SPECIALIST, KINDS OF MY LEAD, IT WILL START WITH HER. SHE WILL OVERSEE THE GROUP THAT'S QUALIFYING. IT WILL END UP IMPACT AT HER TO MAKE SURE THAT X Y AND Z ARE CHECKED. WE DO HAVE ONE POINT OF CONTACT THAT'S KIND OF GOING TO BE, KAITLIN, MY ENTIRE STAFF ARE BOTH MY RIGHT HANDS, SHE'S GOING TO BE THE ONE TAKING THE ADMINISTRATIVE LEAD TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING THAT GETS TO HER GETS TO ME AND IT DOESN'T GET TO ME UNTIL THEY ARE ACTUALLY QUALIFIED. >> THE REASON I ASK THAT, I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY BIDS THE CITY HAS ON THE STREET AT THIS TIME. WE HAVE A DEPARTMENT THAT DOES THIS ALL THE TIME. THEY CHECK IT FOR COMPLETELESS, THREE DO NOT REVIEW, THAT'S OUR REVIEW PROCESS. THEY ARE USED TO THIS PROCESS. I'M BRINGING THAT UP FOR THE REASON, SO IT EXPEDITES THE FLOW. >> PURCHASING DIVISION IS THE DIVISION OF FINANCE, AS IS THE GRANTS ADMINISTRATION CAN DIVISION SO THAT DEPARTMENT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE. >> WHERE IS JONNA? MASK GOING INCOGNITO. SWITCHING OVER TO THE SMALL BUSINESSES AND BRINGING UP THE APPLICATIONS FOR THE SMALL BUSINESSES. BEGIN ON MAY 4TH. THERE ARE A LOT OF DO'S AND DON'T'S. HOW ARE THE FOLKS GOING TO ATTACH THINGS THAT VERIFY BUSINESS? HOW DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? >> DEPENDING ON HOW YOU RECEIVE ANY KIND OF NOTIFICATION. SO IF YOUR BUSINESS IS ONE OF THE BUSINESSES THAT THE GOVERNOR ORDERED IN THE EXECUTIVE ORDER, THEN WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED DOCUMENTATION. BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO CLOSE. SO ESSENTIALLY YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN CLOSED. IF YOU HAVE APPLIED FOR ANY OF THE FEDERAL FUNDING, YOU SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING SHOWING A RECEIPT OF WE RECEIVED YOUR APPLICATION, SOMETHING SHOWING THAT YOU HAVE BEEN OUT OF LUCK AND YOU ARE TRYING TO GET SOME ASSISTANCE. FOR SOME OF THE FUNDS YOU HAVE TO HAVE APPLIED FOR THE FEDERAL FUNDING IN ORDER TO QUALIFY. AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE EVERYONE UTILIZING ALL THE RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE FIRST. DID I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? >> IT DOES. IT'S GOING TO GET TOUGH I THINK, IT'S GOING TO GET TOUGH BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING TO SEE OLOT OF INFORMATION THAT'S COMING FROM DIFFERENT AVENUES, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO EVALUATE AND READ THROUGH. THAT IS A TIME CONSUMER. >> FOR THIS QUALIFYING TEAM THERE WILL BE A LIST OF REQUIREMENTS AND LIST OF OF ACCEPTABLE, THE DOCUMENTS THAT WE NEED FOR APPROVAL. THEY'LL HAVE THAT SO THAT WAY IF THEY GET THIS, THEY CAN SAY THIS IS THAT DOCUMENTATION, CHECK AND THEY CAN PUT IT ASIDE. >> I APPRECIATE THAT, THANK YOU. SOME OTHER IDEAS, WE HEARD A COUPLE OF STATEMENTS EARLIER, I WROTE DOWN SOME THOUGHTS TOO. STAYING ON THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE AND I THINK THIS MIGHT BE JUST A FUTURE DISCUSSION FOR US COMMISSIONERS, NOT RIGHT NOW WITH THIS INITIAL PHASE, BUT MAYBE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY LATER ON IF THIS CONTINUES TO GO ON FOR A MONTH OR TWO, THEN MAYBE WE LOOK AT YOU KNOW A PROPERTY TAX CREDIT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING INTO BUDGET. AND I'M THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING SIMPLE MAYBE IT'S $100 PER PROPERTY OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE, YOU KNOW IF YOU COMPLETE THE -- ALL OF THE PROPERTIES IN FORT PIERCE WHICH I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THEY ARE, WHAT THAT NUMBER IS. BUT IF IT'S JUST A SMALL AMOUNT BUT IT ADDS UP TO A LOT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT DOES GIVE [01:20:05] SOME RELIEF TO PROPERTY OWNERS WHICH IS A RESIDENT THAT'S A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP. BUT THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO BRING UP LATER. I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THAT BEFORE I GO BACK TO THE BUSINESS SIDE OF THE HOUSE. BACK TO SMALL BUSINESSES AND TALKING ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES, NICK, YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT. AND I THINK THIS WAS BROUGHT UP BEFORE TOO. WHAT CAN WE DO WITH OUR BUSINESS TAX RECEIPTS AND CREDITS, CAN WE GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS THAT ARE AT THE RENEWAL POINT THAT WE SAY OKAY, AT THIS POINT IN TIME WE'RE NOT GOING TO CHARGE YOU FOR THAT RENEWAL BUT WE WANT YOU TO APPLY BUT IT'S NOT JUST A NUMBER. >> I BELIEVE OUR CITY CLERK HAS TO SPEAK TO THAT. SHE IS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF OUR BUSINESS TAX RECEIPT PROGRAM. HOPEFULLY SHE WILL WALK BACK IN HERE SOON. >> I DIDN'T KNOW SHE HAD LEFT. I'LL WAIT FOR THAT ONE. HOW ABOUT WAIVER OF SPECIAL APPLICATION FEES, OUTDOOR SEATING WAS MENTIONED IN ONE OF THE LETTERS, I WROTE THAT DOWN. MAYBE IT IS SOMEONE THAT WANTS TO HOST AN EVENT WITH ALL THE SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES THAT ARE TO BE MET. WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THAT? >> WELL, IT'S ALREADY HAPPENED. I THINK THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE IN GENERAL ARE GETTING VERY CREATIVE. WORKING WITH OUR CITY ENGINEER AND ALSO AUDRIA WAS PART OF THIS. COMING UP WITH TEMPORARY WAYS AND MEANS TO AUTHORIZE THE RIGHT WHETHER IT IS CITY PROPERTY OR THEIR OWN PROPERTY TO HAVE A SPECIAL EVENT OR HAVE CURBSIDE SERVICE. I THINK GOING TO HAVE TO BECOME VERY CREATIVE MOVING FORWARD. THIS IS THE INITIAL STEP. THE INITIAL STEP IS TO PUT A COUPLE DOLLARS IN THE BUSINESSES' POCKET TO HELP THEM IN ASSISTING THEM WITH THEIR LEASE, THEIR UTILITIES, THEIR COST. MOVING FORWARD, BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG TERM SITUATION, THIS IS NOT GOING TO END ANY TIME SOON. EVEN THROW BUSINESSES CAN RESTART THERE IS STILL A GAP THAT THEY LOST. THEY HAVE TO REBUILD, RECOUP, RECOVER. THESE BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO BE STRUGGLING FOR QUITE SOME TIME. SO WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO YOU WITH MORE CREATIVE, INNOVATIVE WAYS TO LESSEN THEIR UP-FRONT COST OR LESSEN THEIR DEVELOPMENT FEE COST OR WORK WITH THEM ON SOME CREATIVE MEASURES. SIR, I CAN'T -- RIGHT NOW I DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS BUT OUR STAFF IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITIES, AND DETERMINE HOW WE CAN HELP THEM. WE NEED THEIR FEEDBACK AND SINCE I WAS TALKING THE CITY CLERK WALKED BACK IN. HOPEFULLY SHE CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION. >> HI MS. COX. >> I DIDN'T HEAR EXACTLY WHAT YOUR QUESTION WAS. >> MY QUESTION WAS ARELATED TO SMALL BUSINESSES. IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DELAY, DEFER, STOP BUSINESS TAX RECEIPTS AND RENEWALS RIGHT NOW? SO IF YOU HAVE TO DO THE WHOLE APPLICATION PROCESS BUT YOU DON'T FILL OUT A CHECK THAT ACCOMPANIES IT. IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO WAIVE THAT? >> I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DEFINITELY CONSIDER. RIGHT NOW AT THIS POINT IN TIME THE BUSINESS TAX IS AT 50%, JUST BECAUSE WE ARE HALFWAY THROUGH THE YEAR. RENEWALS WON'T HAPPEN AND THEY ARE NOT DUE UNTIL OCTOBER, OCTOBER 1ST, BY OCTOBER 1ST CPT BY SEPTEMBER 30TH, REALLY. THEY WROTE STILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY THE FEE TO THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT FOR THE INSPECTION ITSELF BUT GENERALLY THE BUSINESS TAX IS VERY, VERY SMALL. IT'S $50 OR LESS A LOT OF TIMES SMEECIAL THIS TIME OF YEAR. >> BUT AS WE KNOW -- >> EVERY PENNY COUNTS. >> EVERY PENNY COUNTS. AS YOU START THIS BUSINESS YOU HAVE THIS GRANDIOSE IDEA ARE, NEXT THING, IT COSTS ME $2800 FOR MY GRANDIOSE IDEA. >> CAN I INTERVENE? THAT'S GOOD BUT WHAT HAS BEEN POINTED OUT, IT'S JUST A SMALL DROP IN THE BUCKET. IF YOU FILL THIS ROOM UP RIGHT NOW WITH SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND YOU ASK THE QUESTION, HOW COULD I HELP ASSIST YOU DURING THIS TIME, AND WHAT WOULD HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT, I'M WILLING TO BET YOU PROBABLY ABOUT 90% OF THEM WOULD SAY THE UTILITY BILL. SO WE HAVE A SOLUTION TO THAT, NOW, WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO ADDRESS IT. WE HAVE A BOARD MEMBER SITTING AMONG US, SHE WILL IN HER INFINITE DISCRETION, YOU ARE ON THE THE UTILITIES BOARD? >> I'M NOT ON THE BOARD, I'M AN EX OFFICIO MEMBER. >> I SEE YOU ALL THE TIME. [01:25:01] BUT DO YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THEM RIGHT? >> YES, SIR. >> I HOPE THEY'RE WATCHING THIS MEETING. I KNOW AS FAR AS MY BOARD MEMBER APPOINTMENT AS SOON AS I GET OUT OF HERE I'M GOING TO GET HIM ON THE PHONE. BUT UTILITIES AUTHORITY, PLEASE, THE BUSINESSES ARE IN DIRE STRAITS. A LOT OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE YIELT BILLS FOUR, $5,000 A MONTH. IF YOU REALLY WANT TO HELP US, PLEASE, FIND A WAY. A LITTLE SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE THAN JUST BUSINESS TAX. BUT IF YOU REALLY WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, THE UTILITIES AUTHORITY CAN DO IT. SO THAT'S MY CRY OUT TO THEM TO HELP TO ASSIST THE SMALL BUSINESSES, THAT WILL REALLY BE A HELP. I DON'T KNOW HOW AND WHAT SYSTEM THEY WILL PUT IN PLACE. BUT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO IT. SO THANK YOU. >> MR. JOHNSON WERE YOU THROUGH? >> NO MA'AM, I HAVE ONE MORE ITEM, IT IS NOT FOR YOU KALITA I DON'T THINK. BUT IT TALKS ABOUT PERMIT FEES AND I KNOW OUR BUILDING DEPARTMENT IS IN A DIFFERENT CATEGORY. THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, STATE OF DPLA TELLS US WHAT TO DO IN THE BUILDING PERMIT INDUSTRY IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. I THINK OUR FEE AMOUNTS ARE DIFFERENT BUT WE HAVE TO CHARGE FEES RIGHT? >> I BELIEVE SO SIR, AND OUR FEES ARE A CALCULATED AMOUNT, A SMALL AMOUNT OF THE VALUATION OF THE IMPROVEMENT. AS FAR AS PERMIT FEES WE HAVE NOT DISCUSSED ELIMINATING OR REDUCING THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT FEES AS OF YET. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I CAN GET THE BUILDING OFFICIAL TO COME BACK AND REPORT TO YOU AND GIVE YOU SOME CLEAR INFORMATION ABOUT. BUT I DO -- I CANNOT SPEAK TO THAT AS OF RIGHT NOW. IT IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND. AND AS YOU KNOW WE NEED THE SPRPS FENTERPRISE FUND TO BE ABO SUSTAIN ITSELF. AS OF RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A VERY GOOD YEAR BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE HIT A LOW. EVEN THOUGH CONSTRUCTION IS STILL CONTINUING BUT WE DO SEE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY HAS DIPPED A LITTLE BIT. SO THAT WILL HAVE A DIRECT EFFECT ON THE ACTUAL BUDGET AND THE EXPENDITURE PROFILE OF THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT. BUT I WILL MAKE SURE THE BUILDING OFFICIAL COMES TO OUR NEXT MEETING AND GIVES YOU A CLEAR BREAKDOWN OF WHERE THEY ARE, WHERE THEY STAND FINANCIALLY. >> I'M THINKING OUT LOUD WITH YOU ALL, JUST AS A STIMULUS PACKAGE, THIS IS A PACKAGE I'VE CONSIDERED TODAY TO BE STEP 1. >> START. >> START, NOT LIKE I CAN CALL YOU ON THE PHONE AND I CAN TALK ABOUT IT WITH YOU. SO YOU WON'T HEAR FROM ME, DON'T WORRY. IT ALSO GOES ALONG WITH DEVELOPMENT FEES AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW FEES. I EPT SENT YOU A LIST OF. >> FROM THE CITY OF MELBOURNE. >> CITY OF MELBOURNE HAS COME UP WITH SOME GOOD IDEAS, THEY HAVE THIER OWN FIRE REVIEW AND THERE ARE A LOT OF FEES TIED INTO THAT STUFF. THAT IS PART OF THE ECONOMIC STIMULUS, PART OF NOT ONLY TODAY, I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANE CONDITIONS OF OUR FAMILIES, THOSE THAT ARE HUNGRY AND THOSE THAT ARE NEEDING THESE ITEMS AND HELP TODAY. PACKAGE NUMBER 1. BUT WE GLOT TO KEEP THINKING ABOUT -- GOT TO KEEP THINKING ABOUT WHAT'S COMING NEXT. FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR CITY AND GROWTH OF OUR CITY IT'S GOT TO BE THESE NEXT THINGS, PROPERTY TAX TYPE CREDITS DID THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO. SO PLEASE CONSIDER THAT. >> YES, SIR. >> IN YOUR NEXT PHASE OF STRATEGIC PLANNING OR THINKING OR COMING WITH OUT OF THE BOX IDEAS WHICH IS WHAT YOU JUST BROUGHT UP. >> SLUM. IT APP -- ABSOLUTELY. I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU ARE COMING UP WITH, IDEAS THAT CAN HELP OUR COMMUNITY. I'LL BE HAPPY TO CARRY THAT TORCH AND SPEAK TO OUR DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND UTILITIES DEPARTMENT AND COMING UP WITH CREATIVE WAYS TO LOWER THE UP FRONT OVERNIGHT HEAD COTS FOR COSTS FOROUR EMPHASES AND RESID. >> I'LL WRAP UP, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS PACKAGE TOGETHER AND THIS PRESENTATION TODAY. IT'S A VERY BROAD SCOPE BUT IT'S VERY DETAILED AND I APPRECIATE THAT DEPTH OF DETAIL. I DID WANT TO GO BACK, MADAM MAYOR YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT FUNDING. 35% COMES FROM THE CARES ACT, I THINK IS WHAT YOU PRESENTED TO US TODAY. BUT I WANTED, MY PERSPECTIVE, AND MAYBE IT'S JUST ME. BUT THE MONEY THAT COMES FROM FPRA INTO THE GENERAL FUND WHICH I THINK COMMISSIONER YOU ARE ALLUDING TO DOES GO TO THAT, THE GENERAL FUND. WE ARE USING GENERAL FUND DOLLARS, AT THE END OF THE DAY, NOT A LARGE AMOUNT -- >> TIFF FUNDS. [01:30:04] >> THAT'S WHERE I WANTED TO TO INTERJECT THERE. >> RIGHT. >> IT'S TIFF FUNDS. >> IT IS TAX IS, UH-HUH. >> THE RESERVE TAX DOLLARS. BUT YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THAT IS THE SMALLEST PERCENTAGE AND THE LARGEST IS JUST REALLOCATING AND I APPRECIATE STAFF FOR LOOKING AT THE RULES AND THE REGULATIONS, AND THE GUIDANCE BOOKS THAT YOU'RE GIVEN, AND THUMBING THROUGH TO SEE WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP OUR CITY. >> THANK YOU, YES, SIR. >> OKAY I HAD A QUESTION FOR KALITA, SORRY ONE MORE. IF YOU HAVE, I WANTED TO KNOW, YOU DON'T WANT TO DUPLICATE WHAT SOMEBODY ELSE IS GETTING FROM SOME OTHER SOURCE. >> YES. >> SO YOU'RE GOING TO ASK THEM ARE YOU RECEIVING FUNDS FROM ANOTHER SOURCE. >> YES. >> BUT ARE YOU-WHAT IF THEY SAY I'VE APPLIED BUT I DON'T HAVE IT YET OR I'M GOING TO APPLY OR I MEAN HOW ARE YOU GOING TO HANDLE SO THE DUPLICATION, WHICH I THIS YOU'RE TRYING TO WOIF OR ARE YOU TRYING TO AUGMENT? >> WE'RE TRYING TO AUGMENT. UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE JUST GOING TO BE SOME PEOPLE THAT WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SAY, THIS IS MONEY FOR YOU. RIGHT? BUT WITH THAT EXAMPLE THAT YOU GAVE, IF YOU ARE WAITING ON THE APPLICATION AS OF NOW YOU CAN CREDIT PROVE THAT YOU HAVE APPLIED, YOU HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING AND YOU HAVE BEEN DENIED. BUT IF YOU HAVE APPLIED, THANK YOU. WE'LL ACCEPT THAT. >> YOU KNOW GOVERNMENTING HAS HAD TROUBLE, YOU ARE GOING TO ENCOUNTER THAT TOO I THINK, RIGHT? >> YES, YES. IF YOU'VE APPLIED WE WANT YOU TO HAVE APPLIED. FOR SOME OF THE FUNDING, PART OF THE FUNDING THAT HAS A LARGER AMOUNT, THAT'S THE ONE TO WHERE THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY DUPLICATION OF EFFORTS PER CDBG AND THE CARES ACT AND THAT FUNDING BE IS TO NOT -- SO THAT WE DON'T PAY SOMEONE WHO ALREADY GOT THE SBA LOAN OR THE FEDERAL LOAN. THAT'S WHY WE TRY TO CREATE THIS SEPARATION DO SAY THIS POT IS FOR YOU IF YOU CAN'T GET THAT. >> RIGHTS, I GET IT SO YOU THOUGHT THAT THROUGH. OKAY SO THAT'S ALL I HAD FOR YOU BUT I ALSO WANTED TO ADDRESS THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AUTHORITY. WE'VE ALREADY TAKEN THE FIRST STEP OF REDUCING THE PCA, AND ALSO, NOT TURNING OFF ANY ELECTRICITY AND OFFERING PAYMENT PLANS TO PAY UTILITY. IES. THAT'S THE FIRST STEP. THERE'S GOING TO BE OTHER STEPS. WE'VE ONLY HAD ONE MEETING SINCE THEN AN HAD TO DO THAT SO OUR STAFF IS WORKING ON OTHER PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS THAT WILL HELP OUR CITIZENS. SO THANK YOU. >> MADAM MAYOR, THAT'S A ZERO PERCENT PAY BACK, NO FEES -- >> NO, NO, NO LATE PAYMENTS. SO YES COMMISSIONER PERONA. >> IF I HAVE TO TELL YOU TWO WORDS THAT GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT OF STRESS IS GOVERNMENT MILKS. GOVERNMENT APPLICATION, OKAY? AS COMMISSIONER SESSIONS SAYS, THIS IS A TIMING THING. AND WE HAVE A STAFF THAT I FEEL A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE WITH. BUT LET'S SAY YOU GET 500 APPLICATIONS IMMEDIATELY, YOU GO THROUGH YOUR CHECK OFF LIST AND YOU HAVE FOLLOW-UP STUFF THAT YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO CALL AND CONTACT AND BACK AND FORTH. I CAN SEE US GETTING CAUGHT IN THE MUD REALLY EASILY. YOU HAVE TO REALLY REFINE YOUR REVIEW, YOU REALLY HAVE TO REFINE AND MAKE SURE THE APPLICATION HAS TO BE CLEAN, IT HAS TO BE USER FRIENDLY, GOVERNMENT APPLICATION, YOU KNOW COME ON. I THINK I'D RATHER TAKE MY CHEMISTRY TEST AGAIN IN HIGH SCHOOL THAN HAVE TO GO THROUGH A GOVERNMENT APPLICATION. AND IT IS US. BUT SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE AT A SENSIBILITY. >> YES. >> BEAM ARE GOING TO GET FRUSTRATED. SO REALLY YOUR STAFF, YOUR TEAM HAS TO BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THIS AND IT'S A TRIAGE BECAUSE TIME IS OF ESSENCE. AND IT'S EVERYTHING. IS I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT. I'M HAPPY IT'S YOU AND NOT ME BUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP AND I'M SURE THAT IF YOU HIT A ROADBLOCK, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE MR. MIMS IN HIS DEPARTMENT -- >> WE'LL HOLLER, YES. >> WILL TRY TO SAVE THE DAY. >> YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TWEAK SOME THINGS, YOU'RE GOING TO ENCOUNTER THINGS THAT -- YEAH, RIGHT. >> SENSITIVE TO THIS APPLICATION, FOLKS ARE GOING TO HAVE PROBLEM WITH IT SO TRY TO BE AS EXPLICIT AS YOU POSSIBLY% CAN AND MAKE SURE THERE'S A WAY PEOPLE CAN GETS VALUABLE INFORMATION, GET ANSWERS TO THEIR QUESTIONS, AND LET'S AMERICA THIS PROCESS AS SEAMLESS AS POSSIBLE. [01:35:03] >> WE PLAN ON DOING THAT WITH SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN SOMEONE CANNOT PRINT OUT THE APPLICATION AND SIGN AND SEND IT BACK. IF WE E-MAIL IT TO YOU IN A PDF FORM CAN YOU SIGN IT ELECTRONICALLY AND SEND IT RIGHT BACK AND THAT RECEIPT WILL CONFIRM THAT APPLICATION HAS BEEN RECEIVED. >> THAT HELPS. >> WE WILL BE TWEAKING AND DOING TRIAGE ALONG THE WAY. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> RIGHT, THANK YOU. >> ONE MORE QUESTION FOR ME AND THAT WILL BE IT FOR ME. AGAIN, HOW FAST CAN WE GET SOME BOOTS ON THE GROUND, TO GET PEOPLE FED? AND I HAVEN'T REALLY GOTTEN AN ANSWER TO THAT YET SO WE CAN GET SOME ANTICIPATED TIME THAT'S REAL IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF AWARDING OF FOOD. SO WITH WHAT YOU ALL HAVE IN PLACE, AGAIN BEFORE WE LEAVE HERE, IF WE NEED TO WRITE A CHECK WE NEED TO COULD WHAT WE NEED TO DO INSTEAD OF RIELINGS N THE FPRA. BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO HEAR A WEEK FROM NOW THAT SOMETHING HASN'T WORKED OUT, THE BUREAUCRACY OR THE SIGNATURES OR APPROVALS HAVE SET US BACK, A LOT OF THESE THINGS TIME IS NOT OF THE ESSENCE BUT AGAIN IF IT'S SOMETHING PERTAINING TO PEOPLE EATING WE NEED TO GET IT DONE FAST. SO IF IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO ADDRESS, I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT TO TOUCH THE GENERAL FUND, BUT HEY, CAN OUR AUDITOR CAME IN HERE -- OUR AUDITOR CAME IN HERE A WEEK AGO AND HE SAID WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE. I TAKE HIS WORD FOR IT OVER YOURS, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT. I'LL WRITE A CHECK, WON'T HURT ME. A LITTLE BIT IS NOT GOING TO HURT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE IN ORDER TO FEED PEOPLE. SO IF THIS SYSTEM IS GOING TO PUT SOMETHING IN PLACE, QUICK, FAST AND IN A HURRY, I RELY ON THAT. BUT IF NOT WE NEED TO WRITE A CHECK, THEN WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO. SO THAT'S MY QUESTION. >> DO ANSWER JURY QUESTION, IT WILL BE NEXT WEEK. >> YOU'RE GOING TO GET PEOPLE FED? >> YES, NEXT WEEK. >> HOW SOON NEXT WEEK. THE DAY IS WHAT? >> MAY THE. >> THAT'S ON MONDAY? >> YES. >> OKAY, I HOPE THEY CAN LAST THAT LONG. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. >> DO YOU NEED A MOTION ON THIS? >> ACCEPTANCE -- >> I THINK HE HAS MORE IN HIS PRESENTATION. >> THERE IS MORE TO MR. MIMS PRESENTATION HOWEVER IN THE FUTURE PER CDBG AND HUD WE DO HAVE DO NAME OUR CONSOLIDATED PLAN TO DO THIS. WE HAVE TO AMEND THE ACTION PLAN. >> WE'LL DO THAT. >> THAT WILL BE -- >> THE FORMAL ACTION WHEN WE DO THAT. OKAY, PERFECT, PERFECT, THANK YOU. OKAY. >> IF YOU ARE SATISFIED WITH WHAT WE HAVE PRESENTED, WE SHALL MOVE FORWARD. AND LIKE I SAID WE'RE GOING TO KICK OFF THE PROGRAMS, MAY THE 4TH. AND ACTUALLY, WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN ADVERTISEMENT APRIL 29TH. WHICH IS TOMORROW. >> ALL RIGHTY. >> ARE YOU ALL SATISFIED WITH WHAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED THUS FAR? >> I'M GOOD, I'M GOOD. >> I'M GOOD. >> OKAY, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER. I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT BEACHES NEXT IS THAT RIGHT? CAN. >> BEFORE THIS -- >> BEFORE WE DO THAT I KNOW WE HAD TALKED ABOUT A LINE OF CREDIT, THE CITY ALWAYS HAS A LINE OF CREDIT AND MS. MORRIS HAD CONFIRMED THAT. AND I HATE TO BRING THIS UP BUT WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT HURRICANE SEASON STARTS YEAH, RIGHT. WHY? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SLUR THAT WE ARE COGNIZANT OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE -- WE COULD HAVE SOME OTHER ISSUE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH, SOME OTHER DISASTER DOWN THE PIKE. AND WE'RE EXPERIENCED WITH HURRICANES. WE'RE NOT EXPERIENCED WITH THIS. BUT I JUST WANT TO BRING THAT UP THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED FUNDS FOR THAT POSSIBLY. >> YES, MA'AM, UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE A VAST AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE WITH HURRICANES AND ALSO OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR HE BASICALLY LIVES AT EOC AND HE TALKS TO THOSE FOLKS ALL DAY. SO HE'S VERSED, WE'LL BE READY, LET'S JUST HOPE THAT DOES NOT OCCUR. >> I HOPE IT DOESN'T. I HOPE IT DOESN'T. RIGHT BUT I HAD TO SAY THAT. SO ALL RIGHT. SHALL WE GO ON TO THE NEXT TOPIC? >> I DO WANT TO SAY THAT WE HAVE TO ADJOURN AND START OUR FPRA MEETING AT 4. >> PROCEED MR. MIMS. >> WHEN IT COMES TO REOPENING, WE'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT THE REOPENING OF CITY OF FORT PIERCE FACILITIES. AS YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR HE HAS ISSUED SPECIFIC ORDERS WITH [01:40:02] REGARD TO THE OPERATION OF CERTAIN ESSENTIAL AND NONESSENTIAL BUSINESS ANSWERED WE SHALL FOLLOW THE LEAD OF OUR GOVERNOR WITH REGARD TO THAT. WE HAVE BEEN IN SOME CASES WORKING WITH OUR STATE COORDINATING OFFICERS, WHETHER THAT'S THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION, OR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. WE WORK WITH THEM TO ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDERS. BUT WE'RE TALK AGO TODAY ABOUT CITY OF FORT PIERCE. NOW SINCE APRIL THE 6TH WHEN WE CLOSED OUR DOORS WE'VE HAD A TOTAL OF 76 VIFTDORS TO COMMENT THROUGH OUR DOORS. TODAY THIS IS THE BIGGEST CROWD WE'VE HAD ALL MONTH. SO BUT THE THING IS WE'VE STILL BEEN GETTING BUSINESS DONE. PEOPLE HAVE CALLED US, SCHEDULED MEETINGS, ZOOM MEETINGS, VIDEO CONFERENCE MEETINGS. I WANT TO YOU KNOW THAT ALTHOUGH WE HAVE ONLY HAD 76 VISITORS AS OF YES, WE ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH VIRTUAL MEANS. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MINOR PROTECTIVE MEASURES, CONCENTRATED MEETING LOCATIONS AND ALSO FACEMASKS FOR THE FUTURE, THEY ARE BEING CONSIDERED AT THIS TIME. THE L CITY MARINA IS OPEN. AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY MARINA IS STILL IN HIGH DEMAND. WE ARE NOW SEEING SOME RESERVATIONS RAMP UP A LITTLE BIT FOR THE MONTH OF MAY SO FOLKS OARE GETTING OUT THERE A BIT. THE INDIA H INDIAN HILLS GOLF CS NOT SLOWED DOWN. THE BEAUTIFUL ENTRANCE TO THAT FACILITY, FOLKS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT RECREATIONAL AMEANT. PARKS, WE'LL GET DO THAT IN JUST A SECOND. PUBLIC FACILITIES ARE OPEN AND BOAT RAMPS ARE OPEN. NOW THE REMAINING QUESTION WE HAVE, ST. LUCIE COUNTY RECENTLY OPENED THE CAN BEACHES, THE BEACHES FROM THE DUNE TOP MEAN E MEAN HIGH WATER LEVEL. ST. LUCIE COUNTY OPENED ALL THE BEACHES EFFECTIVE TODAY AND THAT WAS FOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY. WALKING, JOGGING EVEN FISHING, SNORKELING, FISHING, THINGS OF THAT SORT, BUT IT HAS TO BE RECREATIONAL AND YOU HAVE TO BE MOVING. SO I WANTED YOU ALL TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO DISCUSS AMONGST YOURSELF HOW YOU WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE TWO FORT PIERCE BEACHES, AND AT THIS TIME WE HAVE THREE CHOICES TO BRENTS TO YOU, KEEP THE BEACHTION OPEN, CHOICE ONE, CHOICE 2, WORK WITH ST. LUCIE, WITH GUIDELINES, WE WILL NOT HAVE POLICE OFFICERS STANDING WAXING PEOPLE PLAY IN THE SAND. THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. SO OUR POLICE OFFICERS HAVE SOME LAW ENFORCEMENT THINGS TO DO. SO WE CAN REPURPLE OUR EMPLOYEES TO GUIDE THE PEOPLE ABOUT SOCIAL DISTANCING. OR NUMBER 3 WE CAN OPEN THE FORT PIERCE CONTROLLED BUSINESSES AND ADVISE PEOPLE TO PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING. SO I WANTED TO GIVE YOU ALL THOSE THREE OPTIONS AND THREE CHOICES BECAUSE I WANTED TO LEAVE IT TO YOU. OUR BEACHES ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED. EVEN THOUGH THE BEACHES OFTEN THE ATLANTIC COAST OPERATED BY THE ST. LUCIE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, I WANTED TO OGIVE YOU THIS ONE DAY FOR YOU ALL TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION AND I WANTED YOUR FEEDBACK AND CREDIT DIRECTION AS TO WHAT AYOU ALL WANTED TO DO. PLEASE HELP ME OUT. >> SO I'M LOOKING TO MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, I DON'T MIND STARTING. SO HERE'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO. I WOULD LIKE TO OPTION 2 WITH A CAVEAT THAT IF PEOPLE AREN'T OBEYING, IF PEOPLE AREN'T FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES, THAT WE -- AND I HEARD THE GOVERNOR SAY THIS TODAY, IF THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DID IT, YOU CLOSE IT BACK UP AGAIN. BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE WAS REALLY ALMOST NOT SO MUCH NORPTS PFORTPIERCE PEOPLE BUT PEOPLE CG UP FROM SOUTH FLORIDA WHERE THE BEACHES WERE CLOSED AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY WERE CONGRE GAITING AT OUR BEACHES. WE DON'T KNOW YET WHETHER OUR PEOPLE WILL CONGREGATE ON THE BEACHES AND VIOLATE THE GUIDELINES. I THINK FORT PIERCE HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD ABOUT FOLLOWING THE CDC GUIDELINES, THEY HAVE DONE THE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND THE MASK WEARING AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'VE ASKED THEM TO DO SO I WOULD HOPE THEY WOULD DO THE RIGHT THING BUT WE DON'T KNOW THAT YET. COMMISSIONER PERONA. >> I AGREE WITH THAT. ONE OF THE THINGS IS IF WE ARE ROGUE, AND WE JUST KEEP THEM CLOSED, IT PUTS PRESSURE ON THOSE THAT ARE OPEN. [01:45:03] THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT JUST WANT TO GET DO SEE THE WATER, WALK IN THE SAND AND -- YEAH, WITHOUT FEAR OF BEING KICKED OFF THE BEACH. >> AND IT'S NORMALLY A VERY HEALTHY THING TO DO. RIGHT? >> WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT IT DOES PUT PRESSURE ON THAT, WHEN YOU KNOW YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE THAT'S CLOSED AND EVERYTHING ELSE. SO I LIKE WORK AND ALSO THE COMMUNICATION BECAUSE RIGHT NOW FOLKS ARE ASKING A LOT OF QUESTIONS, WELL ARE THE BEACHES CLOSED? ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT FORT PIERCE BEACH OR ST. LUCIE COUNTY BEACH? I'D LIKE TO HAVE ONE RULE AND REGULATION FOR EVERYONE AND ADOPT THAT AND MOVE IT FORWARD. AND THAT WAY OUR RESOURCES THAT ARE POLICING IT WOULD ALSO HAVE AN EASIER TIME PARTICIPATING WITH THAT FUNCTION. >> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. >> SURE, I LIKE OPTION 2. I WAS GOING TO SUGGEST THAT ANYWAY. THE CHALLENGE WITH BOTH OF THOSE IS THAT IT'S NOT A LONG BEACH FRONT. YOU KNOW, SOUTH CAUSE WAY IS A LITTLE BIT LONGER. BUT YOU CAN DO SOME ACTIVITIES. YOU CAN SWIM, CAN YOU PADDLE BOARD, CAN YOU KAYAK, YOU CAN GET INTO THE WATER, WALK ALONG THE BEACH JUST TOUCH THE WATER, BUT IT'S THE SUN BATHING THAT ALWAYS CAUSES THE ISSUE. AND SO WE JUST HAVE TO MONITOR THAT THE BEST WE CAN. AND YOU SAID ALL PARKS ARE OPEN. EXCEPT FOR THE -- SO WHAT ABOUT JC PARK? THAT HAS A PHYSICAL PARK. >> WITH THE EXCEPTION OF J CRRMT AND SOUTH CAUSEWAY, THOSE ARE ATTACHED TO OUR TWO OFORT PIERCE CONTROLLED BEACHES. IF WE ARE GOING TO GO TO OPTION 2 THEN WE WOULD OPEN THOSE TWO PARKS. >> AND I PERSONALLY WOULD NOT WANT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE TO BE POLICING THE BEACHES. >> NO. >> AND SO OPTION 2 YOU WOULD REPURPOSE SOME PEOPLE. IS TO SEE HOW THEY DO FOR A WHILE AND SEE IF THEY ARE -- AND I KNOW WHAT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, THE MINUTE WE RELAX THINGS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PROBABLY REEMPHASIZE WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG ALL OF THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN. WE REALLY DON'T. COMMISSIONER PERONA. >> SO YOU KNOW AND THE BIG THING OF IT IS ACTIVITY HAS TO HOOP. SO OBVIOUSLY WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE RENTING OUT THE PAVILIONS AND DOING ALL THAT KIND OF DPUNGS BECAUSE THAT IS NOT ACTIVITY NECESSARILY THAT'S BEEN ENVISIONED -- >> THAT'S CROWDS. >> THAT'S CROWDS AND IT'S VIOLATING A LOT OF THE SOCIAL DISTANCING GOING ON OR AT LEAST THE TIME. >> GOOD POINT. >> AS WE ENTER INTO THIS PROCESS WE HAVE TO KIND OF DO IDENTITY BABY STEPS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE IN LINE WITH EVERYTHING ELSE. >> YES, SIR. >> I HATE TO SAY IT. BUT I REALLY DON'T MIND USING THE COUNTY AS A STOOL PIGEON SO TO SPEAK. AND ALLOW THEM TO STEP OUT AND OPEN UP THEIRS. AND WE MONITOR THAT SITUATION BEFORE WE COME OUT OF THE FOX HOLE, BECAUSE THE FIRE HAS NOT CEASED. SO I THINK WE WOULD BE IN A BETTER POSITION IF THEY DO WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO, AND IF IT WORKS OUT LIKE WE HOPE AND PRAY AND TRUST AND ANTICIPATE, THEN OPEN OUR GRADUALLY BUT REST ASSURED, FIRST OF ALL IT'S THE SUMMER. AND PEOPLE ARE OFF FROM WORK. AND THIS IS A TIME THAT I REALLY DON'T WANT TO BE THE GREATEST ATTRACTION. BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO CAUSE A FLUX OF PEOPLE COMING FROM THE NORTH. AND WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO A PREDICAMENT THAT WE KNOW WE DON'T WANT TO BE IN WITH OUR PEOPLE TRAVELING HERE. SO, I MEAN, ■I JUSTTHINK THATWE SHOULD ALLOW THEM TO DO WHAT THEY SAY THEY'RE GOING TO DO, AND THEN WE CAN SUBSEQUENTLY OPEN OURS UP GRADUALLY. BECAUSE I JUST DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT TO -- JC PARK IS GOING TO GET REAL BUSY, I CAN TELL YOU THAT RIGHT NOW. JUST THE LOCALS ALONE LET ALONE THE PEOPLE TRAVELING BECAUSE THAT'S ABOUT THE HOTTEST SPOT IN THE COUNTY. SO I THINK IT'S SOMEWHAT PREMATURE FOR US. IF THEY WANT TO OPEN THEIR BEACHES THEN SO BE IT AND LET'S MONITOR THAT SITUATION. AND THESE TWO BEACHES WE GOT I'M SURE IS NOT REALLY GOING TO IMPACT, I MEAN, A PERSON'S ABILITY TO GO BACK AND FORTH TO THE BEACH IF THEY WANT TO GO OUT AND WATCH THE SUNSET AND GET IN THE WATER. BUT THE RISK THAT WE ARE TAKING I THINK THAT THE CONS OUTWEIGH THE PROS IN THIS SITUATION SO I MEAN THAT'S JUST -- I'LL GO EITHER WAY BUT I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU ALL THE INPUT, I THINK, [01:50:03] WE MAY BE A LITTLE BIT, EMAY BE MOVING A LITTLE FAST AND MAYBE WE CAN ALLOW IF COUNTY TO GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP THEIRS FIRST AND THEN IF THAT WORKS OUT THEN -- >> THEY DID, STARTING TODAY, YEAH. AND INDIAN RIVER COUNTY DID BUT NOT MARTIN, IS THAT RIGHT? >> I BELIEVE THAT IS CORRECT. >> THAT'S WHAT I HEARD ON THE PRESS. >> THEY'RE HAVING A SPECIAL MEETING TODAY OR TOMORROW. WEST PALM BEACH OPENED TOO. >> OKAY. >> WE'RE OPEN ALL AROUND US, WELL, MARTIN COUNTY IS CANNOT YET OFFICIALLY. >> YES. >> SO COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ON THIS? >> RIGHT. YOU KNOW, I'M LISTENING VERY -- YOU KNOW, I JUST HAVE A CONCERN. THAT WE ARE OVERLOOKING THAT. IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT MANY TESTING SITES GOING ON. AND WE DON'T REALLY KNOW, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M AFRAID AOF MOSTLY. THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR CITY IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING, AS FAR AS THAT VIRUS. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS EXISTING IN OUR CITY. AND FOR US TO OPEN UP THOSE BEACH CAUSEWAYS AND YOU CAN HARDLY GET THROUGH THERE, IN THAT DISTANCE, YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T DRIVE THROUGH THE PEOPLE THERE. AND I JUST HAVE A CONCERN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOING A 24 HOUR TESTING PERIOD, YOU KNOW, LET'S SEE WHAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH FIRST. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM IN OUR COMMUNITY, THEN WE DON'T WANT TO OPEN UP OUR COMMUNITY TO INDIVIDUALS TRYING TO GET OUT OF SOUTH FLORIDA, AND YOU KNOW THAT'S WHAT -- THEY WERE DOING THAT BEFORE WE HAD THIS VIRUS. THEY WERE COMING UP, JUST TAKING OVER OUR BEACHES. AND I JUST THINK WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THE NECESSITIES FIRST AND THEN WE CAN, YOU KNOW -- THAT BEACH THING, THE COUNTY GOT DID BEACHES OPEN, LET THEM GO. TEAR UP CAUSEWAY PARK AND FORT PIERCE, I DON'T THINK IT'S THE TIME RIGHT NOW. GIVE OURSELVES ANOTHER TEN DAYS, AND SEE. EACH DAY THAT GOES BY, WE ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING IN OUR COMMUNITY ON TRUST AND NOT POSITIVE WITH THE VIRUS, BUT ON A PLUS SIDE. LET'S GET OUR COMMUNITY BACK TOGETHER AND CARE OR THE EACH OTHER FIRST, BEFORE WE START COVERING, IF YOU GET OUT THERE ON THE BEACH, SPACED OUT, YOU DON'T WANT THE KIDS TO PLAY IN THE WATER, YOU DON'T WANT THE DUCKS TO SUPERVISE KIDS AND THE CONVENIENCE IS GOING TO HIDE FROM THE SUN. AGAIN, I'M JUST ONE VOICE. JUST HAVE A CONCERN WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN CITY OF FORT PIERCE. >> THANK YOU SIR. SO OUR CHOICES, OPTION 2 ON 4-29 WHICH IS TOMORROW OR SOME OTHER DATE? AND COMMISSIONERS, DO YOU WANT TO -- WE'VE HEARD FROM COMMISSIONER SESSIONS. >> I'D LIKE TO SEE A LATER DATE WE ASSESS THIS SITUATION AND LIKE COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER SAID MAYBE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND WE'LL ASSESS THE SITUATION AT THAT POINT, WEEK AND A HALF OR SO. >> COMMISSIONER PERONA. >> I WANT TO GET BACK TO NORMAL. I WANT TO GET BACK TO WHERE WE'RE USING OUR RESOURCES. I DON'T KNOW I DON'T KNOW IF TEN DAYS IS GOING TO BE ANY BETTER. AND I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO PARTNER WITH THOSE FOLKS THAT WE HAVE REGIONALIZED, OUR GOVERNMENTS THAT HAVE REGIONALIZED AND GET OUT INFORMATION DHAS CONSISTENT WITH EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE. SO WE'RE NOT CONFUSING FOLKS. IF IT DOESN'T WORK WE CAN ALWAYS CLOSE IT BACK DOWN. BUT I THINK GETTING BACK -- IS THERE TALKING GOING ON? >> YES, THERE IS. >> WHOEVER IS TALKING PLEASE. >> THANK YOU. >> BUT WITH I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET BACK AS WE HAVE. IT'S BEEN ABOUT A MONTH. I MEAN IT'S DRIVING US CRAZY, I MEAN, I'VE BEEN ON THE BEACH, YES. I'VE BEEN -- I HAD A PRIVATE ACCESS TO THE BEACH AND I RAN ON THE BEACH THE OTHER DAY, IT WAS ABSOLUTELY FUN AND THERE'S FOLKS OUT THERE NOW, THERE IS. SO, YOU KNOW, IF WE ARE COUNTY IS DOING, I REALLY THINK IT SENDS A BETTER MESSAGE IN A WAY THAT WE CAN MONITOR WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR WHOLE REGION SO I LIKE NUMBER 2. >> MADAM MAYOR, I'M GOING TO [01:55:01] STICK WITH NUMBER 2 ALSO. I WAS ON A CONFERENCE CALL YESTERDAY, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR IS SHOWING THE DOWNWARD TREND, THE FOLKS THAT ARE WORRIED, ABOUT CORONAVIRUS, AND ANY SORT OF SYMPTOMS, THEY'RE GOING TO OUR LOCAL HOSPITALS. THEY ARE GOING TO TESTING SITES. WHEREVER THEY CAN ACCESS THEM. HE SAID THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH TESTING GOING ON. SO WE'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GETTING THIS AS PART OF OUR EQUATION IN THE WHOLE FORMULA, BUT HE IS SHOWING THE DOWNWARD TRENDS, THE COUNTIES ARE TALKING TO EACH OTHER, PALM BEACH, ST. LUCIE, INDIAN RIVER, MARTIN, THEY ARE ALL CREATING THIS UNIFIED VISION. SO I DON'T WANT TO BOUNCE OUT OF STEP WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WHERE ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WOULD BE A TAX ON OUR RESOURCES TO MONITORS, CONTROL, KICK PEOPLE OUT. I DON'T KNOW. I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT WOULD BE PRODUCTIVE. SO I'M GOING TO GO WITH SOME OF THE DATA THAT'S BEING PRESENTED AND NUMBER 2 FOR ME. >> AND I'M OKAY WITH 4-29-20. AND I WANT THE SAME RULES THAT THE COUNTIES HAS WHICH IS LIKE NO BEACH CHAIRS AND NO WHATEVER AND ALL THOSE THINGS THAT THEY -- NO -- BASICALLY YOU HAVE TO KEEP MOVING. YOU CANNOT STAY IN PLACE. SO I'D LIKE TO HAVE THAT SAME KIND OF THOSE GUIDELINES. AND I'D LIKE FOR US TO MONITOR IT VERY, VERY CAREFULLY. AND I WOULD ALMOST SAY TO PUT IN OUR WHATEVER OUR ANNOUNCEMENT IS, THAT IF THE BEACHES ARE -- DID IF THESE GUIDELINES AREN'T FOLLOW OD THEY WILL BE SHUT DOWN, WE CAN SHUT THEM DOWN MONDAY NIGHT. >> BUT YOU KNOW IT'S GOING TO TAKE MORE MANPOWER TO OMONITOR THOSE SPECIFICS THAN IT WOULD TO SHUT IT DOWN COMPLETELY AT THE FRONT DOOR. SO I MEAN DID THAT'S AN ISSUE, BECAUSE HAVING THE POLICE OUT THERE CHEM TRYING TO MONITOR WHO'S ON TOP OF WHO AND WHAT IT DOING AND ALL THAT THAT'S MANPOWER. >> POLICE NUMBER 2 REPURPOSE PEOPLE, NOT POLICE. >> WITH THE COUNTY'S RESTRICTIONS THAT THEY HAVE IN PLACE WHO'S GOING DO MONITOR THE BEACHES TO MAKE SURE THOSE RESTRICTIONS ARE IN PLACE IS WHAT I'M SAYING. THAT'S GOING TO BE TIME CONSUMING IN TERMS OF MANPOWER TO MONITOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS AS OPPOSED TO JUST CLOSING THEM DOWN. BUT I WANT TO SAY THIS TOO ON THAT SAME NOTE. TRUE ENOUGH, THE TREND MAY BE COMING DOWN. BUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO, TO MAKE SURE THAT IT CONTINUES TO COME DOWN, THEN I JUST DON'T FEEL THAT THESE COUPLE OF BEACHES THAT WE HAVE HERE IS REALLY GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. BUT FOR JC PARK I'M JUST SO FEARFUL WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN OUT THERE WHEN PEOPLE ARE GOING TO START CROWDING OUT THERE AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SITUATION THAT WE MAY BE CALLING IN HERE FOR AN EMERGENCY MEETING. BECAUSE THAT'S A TOURIST ATTRACTION, IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING THERE. YOU HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE ON A NORMAL BASIS AND THERE ARE PEOPLE LIKE COMMISSIONER PERONA, THEY CAN'T WAIT TO GET BACK OUT THERE ON THAT WATER AND START JOGGING. BUT IF YOU COULD JUST HOLD OFF A LITTLE LONGER UNTIL WE CAN MAKE SURE THE COAST IS CLEAR BEFORE THE FOX L COMES OUT OF THE FOX HOLE, THE FIRE IS STILL ROLLING. SO I DON'T THINK A COUPLE OF WEEKS OR SO WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE BUT I'M NOT GOING DO SPEND A WHOLE LOT OF TIME ON THAT ISSUE. IT IS WHAT IT IS. >> WE CAN'T ANYWAY. IF IT WEREN'T A PROBLEM WITH JC PARK I WOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT. >> WOULD YOU LIKE ACTION ON THAT? >> I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE DIRECTION YES. >> SOMEONE WANT TO MAKE A MOTION? >> I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE WORK WITH ST. LUCIE COUNTY AND FOLLOW THE SOFT OPENING BEGINNING 4-29-20 WITH EMPLOYEES MONITORING SOUTH CAUSEWAY BEACH AND J CRFORT PARK BEACH. YOU LIKE HOW I MADE THAT? >> VERY NICE. MOTION AND SECOND. CALL THE PERONA >> THERE WAS A SECOND FROM COMMISSIONER JOHNSON. >> YES. >> OKAY. COMMISSIONER PERONA. YES, MA'AM. >> MAYOR HUDSON. [02:00:01] YES, MA'AM. >> IT'S FOUR * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.