[8. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS NOT REQUIRING PUBLIC HEARINGS Any person who wishes to comment on an agenda item which is not under Public Hearings on the Agenda may be heard at this time and must sign up to speak in advance. Please limit your comments to three (3) minutes or less, as directed by the Mayor, as this section of the Agenda is limited to thirty minutes. The City Commission will not be able to take any official actions under Comments from the Public. Speakers will address the Mayor, Commissioners, and the Public with respect. Inappropriate language will not be tolerated.]

AND NEXT WE HAVE COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS NOT

REQUIRING PUBLIC HEARINGS. >> WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP. AND YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES AND HAVE A TWO SECOND WARNING. THREE SECOND WARNING.

AND PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

>> WE HAVE THE SIGN UP SHEET. IF YOU COULD SIGN YOUR NAME AND

ADDRESS. >> THIS IS TIME TO DO IT.

>> CHARLES HACK. 1111 FERN DINA STREET.

>> YOUR TIME WON'T START UNTIL YOU FINISH SIGNING IN SIR.

>> I WANT TO SAY I'M SO EXCITED TO BE HERE.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD CLOTHES ON IN TWO MONTHS.

>> WE'RE GLAD YOU GOT DRESSED. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OUR UNDERRECOGNIZED JEWEL OF THE CITY.

THAT'S OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. TWO YEARS AGO, THE COMMISSION SET UP AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE WITH THE POLICE.

BETWEEN THE COMMISSION AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

TO DO THAT WE HAD TO GO THROUGH POLICE ACADEMY ALONG WITH THE AMBASSADORS WITH THE HEAVY MAJORITY OF THE SESSION.

WE WENT THROUGH TRAINING. WE SAW HOW DIFFICULT JOB WAS.

TO A MAN THEY LOVED NOT ONLY THEIR FELLOW WORKERS BUT THEY LOVED THE DEPARTMENT. THEY LOVE FORT PIERCE.

THE MORALE WAS ALWAYS HIGH AND THE TRAINING WAS EXCELLENT.

THEY WENT THROUGH EVERY PHASE OF TRAINING.

SOME INSTRUCTORS WERE TRAINING ON WEEKENDS AND WHENEVER WE COULD DO IT. HE WAS THAT GOOD.

[00:05:02]

WE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE POLICE FORCE.

THEY ARE WELL TRAINED OFFICERS. THEY ARE NOT GETTING DREGS.

THEY ARE GETTING WELL TRAINED OFFICERS.

THAT'S WHY THEY ARE PAYING THEM THE KIND OF MONEY THEY DO TO LEAVE OUR DEPARTMENT. EVERY TIME THERE IS A LOSS OF A POLICE OFFICER, IT COST THE CITY SO MUCH MORE MONEY TO TRAIN THIS OFFICER. TO RECOGNIZE WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY. IT TAKES FIVE YEARS FOR AN OFFICER TO BECOME PART OF THE COMMUNITY FOR THE CITIZENS TO TRUST IN THAT OFFICER. MENTION WAS MADE AT COMMISSION MEETINGS ABOUT USING SHOT SPOTTER.

CONCERNED CITIZENS ARE BETTER SHOT SPOTTERS THAN SPENDING A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR A PRODUCT THAT DOESN'T WORK.

MAJOR CITY VERSUS TRIED IT AND STOPPED IT AFTER A YEAR.

MIAMI BEING ONE OF THOSE. IT'S NOT AN ED ALL AND CURE ALL.

WE NEED TO START PAYING OUR POLICE OFFICERS IN LINE WITH WHAT OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING.

THERE IS A STEP PROGRAM THAT THEY GO THROUGH AFTER SO MANY YEARS. THAT THEY'RE SALLY SHOULD BE A CERTAIN LEVEL. WE NEED TO FUND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. THEY ARE TOO VALUABLE.

>> OFFICER JAMES,. >> HOWDY DO?

>> MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS. >> SAY YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

JAMES. FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> I'M HERE TODAY. I'VE BEEN WORKING FOR THE FORT PIERCE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I'M IN MY HEIGHT YEAR.

>> I HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THE CITIZENS.

CHARLES HIT ON A LOT OF KEY POINTS I WAS GOING TO GET AT.

BUT I'M ON THE INSIDE. I SEE THE OFFICERS AND MORALE.

BEING IN FTO I SEE THEM COME IN FRESH, HAPPY EXCITED JUST WEEKLIKE I WAS AND WE ALL WERE. AFTER A YEAR OR TWO YOU SEE THE MORALE DROP. YOU REALIZE OTHER AGENCIES ARE GETTING PAID A LOT MORE MONEY. IT'S A CHOICE I COME INTO WORK.

A LOT OF US HAVE KIDS AND MORTGAGES AND CAR PAYMENTS AND WHEN YOU ARE BRINGING HOME NOT EVEN $2,000 A MONTH AND YOUR MORTGAGE IS 12-1500, YOU GUYS CAN DO THE MATH FOR THE REST.

NOW YOU HAVE OFFICERS THAT ARE STRESSED OUT AND TIRED.

THEY HAVE TO GO TO WORK. WHEN THEY GET OFF OF WORK THEY HAVE TO WORK OFF DUTY DETAILS BY NECESSITY.

TAKING TIME AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES AND KIDS AND MISSING ALL THE FIRST WITH THEIR NEWBORNS.

WE NEED YOUR VOICE. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT.

THIS WAS FROM A GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF JOHN MAXWELL.

WHAT GETS PICTURED GETS DONE. WHAT GETS MODELED GETS DONE.

WHAT GETS PRAISED GETS DONE. WHAT GETS PRIORITIZED GETS DONE.

WHAT GETS MEASURED GETS DONE. WHAT GETS BUDGETED GETS DONE.

[00:10:01]

WHAT GETS TAUGHT GETS DONE. WHAT GETS TRAINED GET DONE.

WHAT GETS OWNED GETS DONE. AND WHAT PLAYS ON THE TEAM DETERMINES WHAT GETS DONE. I'M ASKING YOU BE PART OF OUR TEAM. THANK YOU.

[9. ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO AGENDA AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

>> THE NEXT IS ADDITION TO DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. WE DID HAVE AN ITEM A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE MAC PROGRAM I'D LIKE TO ASK THIS BE ADDED TO THE

CONSENT AGENDA ITEM AS 11C. >> IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE

A MOTION. >> MOTION AND SECOND.

CALL THE ROLL PLEASE. >> YES.

>> YES, MA'AM. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> NEXT WE HAVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

I'M SORRY. >> HE WAS ABOUT TO GET OFF ZIKA.

[10. MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS]

>> NEXT WE HAVE THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AUTHORITY UPDATE.

>> GOOD EVENING. >> THANK YOU AGAIN.

[00:15:05]

IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I HAD A CHANCE TO COME IN AND TALK TO CITY COMMISSION. I'M DELIGHTED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I THOUGHT WE'D START OUT TALKING ABOUT COVID-19 AND WHEN HAS HAPPENED DURING THE LAST FEW MONTHS. LITTLE BIT OF A TIME LINE.

BACK IN EARLY MARCH WE REALIZED WE NEEDED TO UPDATE OUR PANDEMIC PLAN WITH SOMETHING WE GENERATED ABOUT 10 YEARS OR SO AGO.

IT NEEDED UPDATING. JOSH OUR DIRECTOR OF REGULATORY AFFAIRS DID A GREAT JOB IN GETTING THAT UP TO DATE ANTED INTERPRETING AND UNDERSTANDING ALL THE DIRECTIVES AND EXECUTIVE ORDERERS THAT WE GOT IN THE MEANTIME.

>> ON THE 18TH OF MARCH WE STOPPED THE LOBBY AND STOPPED DISCONNECTIONS ON THE 18THMENT ABOUT A WEEK LATER IN ANTICIPATION OF THE SHELTER IN PLACE OR SAFER AT HOME ORDER WE HAD OUR MOST OF OUR EMPLOYEES WORKING FROM HOME.

ONE OF THE KEY THINGS WE DID WAS ISOLATED THE CONTROL ROOM PERSONNEL. OUR CONTROL ROOM PERSONNEL, WE DON'T HAVE THAT MANY QUALIFIED OPERATORS.

IT'S REAL IMPORTANT THOSE PEOPLE DON'T GET SICK.

IT'S IMPORTANT EVERYBODY DOESN'T GET SICK BUT WE HAD NOBODY TO REPLACE THE OPERATORS. DISPATCH AT THE TREASURE COAST ENERGY CENTER , THE WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY , THE WATER PLANT. THEY WERE STRICT LAZYING GREEGREE GAITED FROM ALL THE OTHER EMPLOYEES.

WE ELIMINATED AND RESTRICTED FACE O FACE MEETINGS ABOUT THE SAME TIME AND STARTED IMPLEMENTATION AS DID EVERYBODY ELSE ON THE FAMILIES FIRST CORONA VIRUS RECOVERY ACT ON APRIL 1. WE STARTED SCREENING PEOPLE COMING INTO THE OFFICE ON THE 13TH OF APRIL AND WE STAGGERED, WE STARTED STAGGER RETURN OF EMPLOYEES ON MAY 4.

THAT'S CONTINUING TODAY THREW JUNE 8.

WE'RE ASKING OUR EMPLOYEES TO SELF-SCREEN BEFORE THEY COME TO WORK AND TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA WE HAD ABOUT 140 EMPLOYEES WORKING FROM HOME. OUR I.T. GROUP DID A TERRIFIC JOB IN GETTING ALL THE NECESSARY V.P.N. LICENSES THAT WE NEEDED.

AND WE HAD SOME COMPUTERS OF PEOPLE THAT NEEDED THEM WORK AT HOME. I THINK IT WORKED FAIRLY WELL.

WE'RE CONTINUING TO ISOLATE THE CONTROL ROOMS. WE'LL DO THAT FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

WE'RE PLANNING ON OPENING THE CUSTOMER SERVICE LOBBY ON WEDNESDAY AND TO GET READY FOR HA WE INSTALLED PLEXIGLASS GLASS PARTITIONS TO PROTECT THE CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEES.

WE MADE MODIFICATIONS TO OUR AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM.

THAT'S THE INSTALLATION OF SCRUBBERS AND IONIZATION UNITS.

WE DEVELOPED NEW PROTOCOLS FOR HANDLING CUSTOMERS.

THOSE OF YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE LOBBY, IT'S NOT THAT LARGE.

IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT OF A SQUEEZE.

I'M AFRAID WE'RE ONLY GOING TO ALLOW FOUR TO FIVE PEOPLE IN AT A TIME. THERE MAY BE SOME LINES.

WE WANTED TO START OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK BECAUSE NORMALLY THAT'S THE LEAST NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMING THROUGH LOBBY UNLESS IT'S THE FIRST OF THE MONTH.

SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS AND TRY TO MAKE ANY MODIFICATIONS WE NEED TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.

WE'VE ESTABLISHED -- WE'RE TRYING TO RETURN TO NORMAL.

WHILE OBSERVING SOCIAL DISTANCING.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT WAYS TO ASSIST CUSTOMERS N. APRIL WE REDUCED THE PCA BY $2 EFFECTIVE MAY 1.

OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FIVE MONTHS THAT WILL RETURN $1.6 MILLION TO OUR CUSTOMERS. WE SUSPENDED DISCONNECTION.

WE'VE ELIMINATED LATE FEES AND SERVICE CHARGES.

AND THE NUMBER ON THE SLIDE HERE IS ABOUT 120,000 AND SINCE THAT TIME IT'S GROWN TO A LITTLE OVER 150,000.

WE'VE ESTABLISHED INTEREST FREE PAYMENT PLAN TO HELP OUR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS AND YOU ARE GOING TO SEE AN INTEREST FREE PAYMENT PLAN FOR COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS COME OUT ON WEDNESDAY.

WE WERE WORKING WITH MUSTARD SEED AND PROGRAMS TO HELP CUSTOMERS CLEAR OUT ANY OUTSTANDING CHARGES.

THAT PROGRAM HAS BEEN FINALIZED AND THEY ARE UP AND RUNNING.

WE SENT OUT A PRESS RELEASE THIS MORNING TO TALK ABOUT HOW A CITIZEN CAN GET ADDITIONAL HELP. TRIED TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT SOME OF THE COST ARE. SUPPLIES, WE SPENT ABOUT $40,000 ON GLOVES, SANITIZER. THE MODIFICATIONS WE IMMEDIATE MADE TO THE HVAC SYSTEM AND THAT'S NOT JUST IN THE ADMIN

[00:20:06]

BUILDING BUT ALL THE BUILD SOCIAL SECURITY ABOUT $160,000.

OF COURSE THE CONTRIBUTIONS TIMOUS STARRED SHIDDUCH JUST MENTIONED. THESE TWO EVERYBODY ALSO GIVE YOU MORE OF A HEADACHE THAN ACTUAL INDICATION OF WHAT IS GOING ON. THE BOTTOM LINE IS OVER A SIMILAR PERIOD LAST YEAR, FROM LAST YEAR THE SLIDE SHOWS WE'RE 2 MILLION OR 6.4% BEHIND LAST YEAR.

I GOT THE NEW NUMBERS THIS MORNING.

WE GOT BETTER. WE'RE ONLY 1.9 MILLION BEHIND AND 5.7% BEHIND LAST YEAR. WE'RE LAGGING BEHIND IN OUR COLLECTIONS WHICH WE EXPECTED. OF COURSE THE ULTIMATE PROBLEM HERE COULD BE IF THEY BECOME UNCOLLECTIBLES AND TRY TO GO BACK AND STUDY HISTORY IN. THE HOUSES ARE STILL THERE AND PEOPLE LIVING IN THEM SO I THINK IT WILL BE LESS THAN THAT.

THE CUSTOMERS ELIGIBLE FOR DISCONNECTION HAVE GONE UP.

>> DOING A ONE TIME REDUCTION IN MAY.

AND WHILE I THINK IT'S GREAT I WAS MORE CONCERNED I THOUGHT THIS WAS GOING LAST LONGER. I DIDN'T THINK THE ONE TIME SPLASH WAS GOING TO BE WORTH IT. THAT'S WHY WE DECIDED TO REDUCE PCA FOR $2. WE CONTINUE THE LOOK AT DIFFERENT WAYS OF HELPING THE CUSTOMERS.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU AND THE BOARD FOR COMING ONE SOLUTIONS. IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT YOUR TIMING ALSO IS IN JULY WHEN YOU START THE DISCONNECTS.

IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST CRUCIAL TIME WHERE ELECTRICITY IS NEED IN FORT PLEASER FLORIDA. HAVE AN OPEN MIND AS WE GO FORWARD. I THOUGHT I WAS PART OF THE UA BOARD WHEN WE WENT THROUGH FRANCIS IN JUNE.

I REMEMBER THE DIRECTOR AT THE TIME THOUGHT HE WAS THE GREETEST GUY IN THE WORLD BECAUSE HE GAVE A PASS FOR TWO OR THREE MONTHS ON NOT DISCONNECTING CUSTOMERS. AND THAT IS WHY WE ENDED UP WITH A $400,000 WRITE OFF AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

I CALLED YOU AND TOLD YOU THAT IS SOMETHINGTA HAPPENED IN OUR HISTORY AND WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THAT.

THIS IS GOING TO BE REALLY DIFFICULT.

[00:25:04]

THIS IS A LOT MORE COMPLEX. WE'RE SITTING HERE IN MAY.

WE HAVE TO BE READY FOR ALL THE NUANCES THAT CAN HAPPEN, HURRICANE HUNDREDS THE WEATHER. OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.

ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE GOING HAVE TO WEIGH IN.

IT CAN'T BE STATIC. I THINK JULY DATE IS TENTATIVE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS I THINK THERE IS A AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PERCENTAGE IS, BUT IT'S A PERCENTAGE OF THE PEOPLE DISCONNECTED. THERE IS NO PRESSURE TO PAY.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS 10% OR 50%.

I THINK THAT'S A HARD THING TO FIGURE OUT.

YOU HAVE THAT $100,000 FOR ASSISTANCE IN THERE AND HELP

MITIGATE THAT NUMBER TOO RIGHT. >> WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT OTHER PROGRAMS TO SEE IF THERE IS SOME WAY.

IT'S CRITICAL WHATEVER WE DO THAT WE DON'T VIOLATE OUR BOND

COVENANTS. >> I GOT A QUESTION.

THE $100,000 THAT YOU ARE GOING TO GIVE TO A THIRD PARTY , WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE CRITERIA BEFORE THE DISBURSEMENTS.

WILL UA HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT AS FAR AS THESE INDIVIDUALS CONCERNED. IS THIS FIRST COME FIRST EVERYBODY IS, WHAT IS THE CRITERIA?

>> THE CRITERIA WAS IN THE PRESS RELEASE TODAY.

WE WORKED OUT THE CRITERIA WITH MUSTARD SEED BEFORE.

AND REMEMBER THEY'VE ALWAYS WE'VE HAD MUSTARD SEED AND ALPI WORKING ON PROJECT CARE BEFORE. THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE REQUIREMENTS. AND THE REQUIREMENTS ARE GOING TO BE IDENTIFICATION, LATEST BILL, ONE TIME.

>> CONSIDERING UTILITY COMPANIES, WE'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO GET RECORD BREAKING HISTORY AMOUNTS REGARDING SUCH A LOW COST IN FUEL.

YOUR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO TURN THAT BACK OVER TO THE CUSTOMERS THEMSELVES, DO YOU HAVE A FORMULA IN PLACE? I WOULD HOPE THAT IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT THE UTILITIES AUTHORITY HAS SAVED A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY IN TERMS OF THE FUEL COST THAT HAVE DROPPED TREMENDOUSLY FOR ALL ELECTRIC SAVINGS. I'M GOING THE TALK ABOUT THE

RATES IN JUST ONE MINUTE. >> YES, SIR.

>> IF YOU WANT ME TO START THERE OR YOU HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION?

>> NO. I'LL WAIT ON YOU.

>> I THINK THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE EVALUATE RATES JUST ABOUT EVERY SINGLE DAY TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

WE EVALUATE THEM MONTHLY BASED ON OUR PROJECTIONS.

AND THE SLIDE YOU ARE LOOKING AT NOW SHOWS A TEN YEAR OVERVIEW OF THE ELECTRIC RATES SINCE JANUART OUR CURRENT RATE IS DOWN TO $103.84 PER THOUSAND KILOWATT HOURS.

THAT IS A MARKED IMPROVEMENT. THAT RATE IS THE LOWEST IT'S BEEN SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2005. I THINK THAT'S A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT. YOU SEE OTHER METRICS THERE.

[00:30:04]

I THINK KEY THING IS THE RATES ARE LOW.

THE MUNICIPAL. NOW THAT BRINGS UP THE RELEVANT IN THE ROOM. WE'RE HIGHER BUT WE'RE GETTING CLOSER. I THINK WE'VE DONE AND IT'S MORE THAN AN ORGANIZATION. WE HAVE TWO OF THE MOST EFFICIENT UNITS IN THE COUNTRY. WE'RE ADDING SOLAR HERE BECAUSE OF THE PRICE OF GAS HAS BEEN LOW.

HE REMEMBERS WHEN IT WAS $10. >> WE HAVE TO PLAN FOR CONTINUING TO KEEP THE RATES DOWN AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.

>> DON'T WE HAVE A DISASTER PLAN THAT FLOODING OR WHATEVER DISRUPT THIS WHOLE ENTIRE CITY FOR MORE THAN TWO OR THREE WEEKS. THEY DON'T HAVE A DISASTER PLAN THAT SOME OF THESE MONEYS AND IF WE SIT THERE AND THINK.

THIS IS NOT COVERED BY THAT PLAN.

>> DOE HAVE PLANS FOR WHETHER IT'S A PANDEMIC OR HURRICANE.

AND IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET WE HAVE $900,000 OF RESTRICTED MONEY THAT WE CAN'T SPEND UNLESS WE DECLARE SOME KIND OF EMERGENCY. IN TERMS OF HOW WE CAN SEND THAT MONEY IS THE IRON. WHILE WE LOOK AT WAYS THAT WE WON'T BE VIOLATING OUR BOND COVENANTS.

>> I UNDERSTAND THE BOND. EVERYBODY IS WORRIED ABOUT THAT.

AS I MENTIONED BEFORE. WE HAVEN'T STOPPED.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO HERE IN THE

FUTURE. >> I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT AND I THINK YOU AND I HAD A CONVERSATION ON THAT SAME IMPACT AS A RESULT OF EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

AND PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH CHALLENGING TIMES RIGHT NOW AS WE SIT HERE. MOST OF WHAT YOU ARE PROPOSING THERE IS A DISTURBERSMENT OVER A DURATION OF TIME.

HOWEVER AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES , THE PLAN YOU ARE PROPOSAL DOES NOT GIVE IMMEDIATE RELIEF WHICH IS WHAT MOST INDIVIDUALS IN NEED OF DURING THESE TIMES.

AND OF COURSE THIS PLAN WORKS IN FAVOR OF THE PERSON THAT PERHAPS HOLDS THE FUNDS FROM A FIDUCIARY STANDPOINT.

BUT THE RECIPIENT IN DIRE STRAITS, IT WOULD APPEAR THAT YOU WOULD HAVE SOMETHING TO GIVE SOME FORM OF IMMEDIATE SERVICES BECAUSE THIS IS A SITUATION INVOLVING AN EMERGENCY.

SO IF I COME TO YOU AND YOU SEE ME BLEEDING TO DEATH, FOR TO YOU

[00:35:05]

TELL ME YOU ARE GOING TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE WOUND SLOW IT DOWN, EVENTUALLY I MAY BLEED TO DEATH OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.

IF YOU STOP THE BLEEDING IMMEDIATELY, THAT IS GOING TO BE THE RESCOURS GOING TO SAVE MY LIFE.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE IN DIRE STRAITS OF.

SOME IMMEDIATE IMPACT. >> I THINK WE EXAMINED BOTH THE OPTIONS AND PROVIDED NOT JUST THE DOLLARS RATE INCREASE, BUT GAVE THE BOARD AN OPTION TO LOOK AT A LARGER ONE TIME CUT AND I THINK I UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN AND I THINK NO INTEREST PAYMENT PLAN CAN TAKE CARE OF THE DIFFERENCE FOR THE ONE MONTH WHERE AS LONG TERM THE TWO 2: DOLLARS INCREASE WILL BE BENEFICIAL. I THINK THAT'S THE PURPOSE FOR THE NO INTEREST PAYMENT PLAN THAT PEOPLE CAN COME IN AND WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THE PAST DUE AND SPREAD IT OUT OVER A YEAR.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE HELP TO FEEL THEM.

TO BE ABLE TO SHOW AS FAR AS THE CUSTOMER CONCERNED WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN A SAVINGS DUE TO THE WHOLE COST AND FUEL, BE ABLE TO SOME DEGREE COME ONE A FORMULA THAT WOULD GIVE THEM IMMEDIATE IMPACT OR IF NOT SOMETHING MEASURABLE TO EQUATE TO THE SAVINGS THAT YOU HAVE OBTAINED FOR THE LOW COST

IN FUEL. >> THAT SAVINGS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IS SOMETHING WE REVIEW EVERY MONTH.

THAT IS REFLECTED IN THE DECREASE IN RATES OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS. WE'RE AT THE LOWEST POINT SINCE 2005. WE'RE CONTINUING TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY IS GIVE BACK MONEY TO THE CUSTOMERS EVERY MONTH IF THAT IS WHAT THE PCA TELLS US IT SHOULD BE.

WE'RE AT A LEVEL OF MINUS 13. >> WE WERE AT MINUS 11.

WE HAD ALREADY TAKEN -- >> WE'RE OPEN TO LOOKING AT CONTINUING TO LOOK AT WAYS TO HELP.

OUR BOARD FELT AND IT WAS RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF LOOKING AT LONGER RANGE THAN JUST THE ONE MONTH WAS BETTER

IDEA. >> SOUR OPEN FOR OTHER THINGS OTHER THAN WHAT YOU ARE PROPOSING HERE.

>> WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO LISTEN. >> GOING TO LISTEN?

OK. >> THAT'S BETTER THAN NOTHING I

GUESS. >> THANK YOU SIR.

>> COUPLE OF OTHER QUICK THINGS ON THE RATES.

WE'RE WORKING ON A NEW RATE RESOLUTION WHICH WILL REQUIRE COMMISSION APPROVAL IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE.

WE'RE TRYING TO PUT MORE OF THE RATE IN FIXED AND NOT VARIABLE.

IT GIVES YOU HIGHER BILLS IN THE WINTER AND LOWER BILLS IN THE SUMMER. AND I THINK THAT IS BENEFICIAL TO OUR CUSTOMERS. IT'S REVENUE NEUTRAL.

OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR YOU WILL PAY THE SAME AMOUNT BUT YOU'LL BE PAYING MORE IN THE WINTER.

WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON SOLAR TARIFF AND SUBSCRIPTION PROGRAM THAT WOULD BE PART OF THAT SAME RATE RESOLUTION.

LAST ITEM ON RATES WE'LL LOOK AT RATES DURING BUDGET DEVELOPMENT.

AND AS YOU ARE AWARE EACH ONE OF THE OPERATING UNITS MUST BE SELF-SUFFICIENT. WE EXPECT THAT ELECTRIC AND WASTE WATER RATES WILL BE SUFFICIENT TO COVER COST.

I ALSO SUSPECT THAT WATER AND NATURAL GAS WILL BE A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN SUFFICIENT AND WILL PROBABLY NEED TO BE ADJUSTED BY THE PSE INDEX AND THAT'S 1.79% FOR 2020.

AND THE CURRENT COMBINED RATES FOR ELECTRIC WATER AND WASTE WATER ARE STILL LOWEST IN THE COUNTY.

I WANT TO TALK FOR TWO MINUTES ANT AMI.

AS ARGUE YOU ARE AWARE WE APPRD THAT CONTRACT BACK IN NOVEMBER.

WE STARTED THE PROCESS. THE PROCESS HERE IS TO START AN ADVANCED DEPLOYMENT AREA AND WE'VE WE'VE CONTRACTED AND GOT

[00:40:01]

METERS AND MODULES DELIVERED DEFEND.

THAT INCLUDES THE GATE KEEP AROUND REPEATERS WHICH ARE THE INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIRED FOR THE BACK HOLE INFORMATION FROM THE METERS. WE'VE SOME OF THAT HAS BEEN INSTALLED. HOPEFULLY JULY WE'LL HAVE A NEW CUSTOMER PORTAL GO LIVE. WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS AS PROOF IT'S GOING WORK. WHAT YOU CAN SEE IS THIS IS THE ADVANCED DEPLOYMENT AREA. WE PICKED THE TWO AREAS FURTHEST AWAY FROM THE CITY AND THAT INCLUDED HUTCHSON ISLAND.

SO FAR IT'S GOING WELL. WE HOPE TO HAVE THAT DONE LATE THEY ARE SIMILAR. I'M SURE YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE BENEFITS OF AMI. BUT I THINK ONE OF THE KEY THINGS IS WE'RE GOING TO BE VISITING OVER 53,000 LOCATIONS BETWEEN THE ELECTRIC METERS AND WATER METERS.

SOME OF THE LOCATIONS WE HAVEN'T BEEN TO IN YEARS.

UNLESS THE ELECTRIC METER WAS BAD, WE HAVEN'T BEEN THERE FOR YEARS. WHEN WE REPLACE THE ELECTRIC METERS WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO INSPECTION AND MAKE SURE THE CAN IS IN GOOD SHAPE AND WE'RE DOING THE SAME THING THE WATER METERS REPLACING THEM AS WE GOVERNMENT IF THERE ARE ANY MODIFICATIONS OR CORRECTIONS REQUIRED, FPA WILL TAKE CARE OF IT.

WE'RE NOT BILLING OUR CUSTOMERS FOR ANYTHING.

>> THE MOST COMPLAINING AREA, YOU HAVE OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS AND THE SECTION. AND THEY COMPLAIN EVERY DAY.

ARE WE TRYING TO IMPLEMENT ANY OF THIS INTO THAT AREA?

>> YES, WE'LL IMPLEMENT IT UP THERE.

THE ONLY REASON WE PICKED THESE TWO PARTICULAR AREAS BECAUSE IT WAS THE FURTHEST AWAY FROM THE CITY.

AFTER THAT WE'LL GO INTO A NORMAL REPLACEMENT CYCLE AND GET WHOLE CITY DONE. IT WILL TAKE FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.

THAT'S WHAT I DON'T WANT TO HEAR.

YOU TELL ME IT'S GOING TO BE FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.

THAT'S THE MAIN THING 20 YEARS. >> WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE. I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE IDENTIFIED WHICH AREAS WE'RE GOING AFTER FIRST.

>> DO I WANT TO KNOW. >> OK.

>> SOUR GOING TO GET AN APP FOR ALL OF THIS STUFF SO I CAN CLICK ON THE FPOA APP TO FIND OUT WHERE I'M AT ANY GIVEN TIME?

>> ABSOLUTELY. YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE YOUR USAGE AND BE ABLE TO CHECK WHEN YOUR USAGE IS HIGHEST.

YOU'LL BE ABLE TO KNOW FOR SURE. I THINK PEOPLE WILL UTILIZE IT AS MUCH AS THEY WANT TO UTILIZE IT FOR.

IT WILL BAY LOT OF INFORMATION THAT'S AVAILABLE.

>> REAL TIME INFORMATION. >> AND REAL TIME SERVICE TOO.

ESPECIALLY WITH LANDLORDS, IF THEY CALL UP ON A FRIDAY AND THEY SAY I'VE GOT A NEW TENANTED MOVING IN, WE'LL GET TO YOU ON MONDAY, THAT TYPE OF THING. NOW ON SOME OF THESE UTILITIES, YOU ARE ABLE TO TURN ON, TURN OFF REMOTELY RIGHT.

>> RIGHT. WE'LL BE ABLE TO TURN ON ELECTRIC REMOTELY. NOT GAS.

[00:45:17]

>> THIS IS WHERE WE GOT A GRANT. THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS THE SECOND STAGE WHICH WILL BE FINISHED NEXT YEAR WILL INCLUDE THE LIFT STATION AND ALL THE GRAVITY GRAPH MAIN REQUIRED FOR THE REST OF THE AREA. YOU CAN SEE THIS IS A FAIRLY LARGE GRANT WE GOT. WE ARE ANXIOUS TO PUT SHOVEL IN THE GROUND WHICH WILL HAPPEN SHORTLY.

>> THIS WAS IMPORTANT FOR US. >> YES.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT IN OUR EXPANSION PROJECTS IN THE CITY FLEETWOOD ACRES. THE WATER SERVICE IS IN AND WE'RE STARTING TO GET CUSTOMERS SIGNED UP.

SIGNED UP TO ZO FAR. WE'LL BE WORKING ON THE WASTE WATER IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE.

WE'LL DEVELOP A PLAN TO SUBMIT BEFORE WE CAN START.

THAT THAT WAS ABOUT $400,000 JOB TOTAL.

AND WE'RE LOOKING AT TWO ADDITIONAL AREAS.

ONE IS ROULETTE AND CUR STREET. THESE ARE AREAS THAT ARE SURROUNDED OR CONTIGUOUS. AS SOON AS WE HOOK THEM UP THEY WILL SIGN AN ANNEXATION AGREEMENT AND WILL BE ABLE TO BE ANNEXED INTO THE CITY. THIS PROJECT PLUS THE NEXT ONE IS ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT SAME SIZE AS FLEETWOOD ACRES.

IT'S NICE BECAUSE THERE IS NO MAJOR EXPANSION, NO MAJOR NEW MAINS THAT HAVE TO BE PUT IN. SO IT WILL BE FAIRLY QUICK AND PAINLESS AND THE OTHER ONE IS HARRISON WAY, SYLVIA EVERY SON PARKWAY. THESE ARE TWO PROJECTS.

THESE ARE ABOUT THE SAME COST AS FLEETWOOD ACRES.

WE ARE HOPING TO GET THESE FINISHED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> IT WOULDN'T BE A PRESENTATION WITHOUT A NOTE ON THE WRF RELOCATION. WE TALKED ABOUT PRODUCTS IN PROGRESS. ENGINEERING SHOULD START SHORTLY. WE PARTNERED WITH WHERE TO LOCATE THIS. THAT WAS A REPORT THAT RALPH TRELLIS PUT TOGETHER. WE RECEIVED A DRAFT IN MARCH.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE INITIAL SIZE OF THAT BEING FROM 8 MILLION GALS A DAY TO 10 MILLION. THEY GAVE A COST ESTIMATE ON BOTH SITES. WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE THERE GOING FORWARD. WE ALSO WANTED TO SHOW YOU ABOUT OUR OUTSTANDING DEBT. YOU CAN SEE THAT BY THE END OF

[00:50:10]

THIS DECADE, BY THE END OF THE DECADE WE'LL BE DEBT FREE WHICH I THINK WILL BE JUST WONDERFUL. AND OF COURSE THE DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE, I THINK YOU ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THIS RATIO.

ACTUALLY IT'S GONE DOWN A LITTLE BIT SINCE I PUT THE SLIDE TOGETHER BUT IT'S STILL VERY HEALTHY.

>> COULD YOU GO BACK TO THAT GRAPH , THE ONE SHOWING 1400 PEOPLE THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE DISCONNECTED.

>> I SUSPECT I PUT TOO MANY LINES ON THIS GRAPH.

THE TOP LINE AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WERE ELIGIBLE FOR DISCONNECTION , THE GREEN LINE IS THE ONES THAT TOOK CARE OF IT SO THAT THEY CAME OFF THE LIST THAT LEFT US WITH THE RED LINE.

>> THIS IS THE FIGURE THAT JUST REALLY MY ALLEGERS ARE BURNING AND MY PRESSURE GOING UP. THIS IS GOING TO KEEP ME UP ALL NIGHT WHICH DIDN'T SAY 100, YOU DIDN'T SAY 200.

YOU SAID 1400 PEOPLE SUBJECT TO GETTING THEIR ELECTRICITY CUT

OFF. >> IT'S ABOUT 1565, THAT'S

RIGHT. >> THEY ARE GOING TO GET THEIR

LIGHTS CUT OFF. >> THAT'S WHY WE DEVELOPED THE INTEREST FREE PAYMENT PLAN. AS I MENTIONED, I THINK THERE IS A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THESE FOLKS THAT CAN PAY AND WILL PAY

ONCE WE INCENTIVIZE THEM TO PAY. >> I COMMEND YOU AND I THINK YOU ARE DOING AS GOOD A JOB AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN.

SINCE I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH YOU, I WILL SAY THIS MUCH.

YOU PUT FORTH A LOT OF EFFORT AND PUT TIME INTO IT AND I DO BELIEVE YOU HAVE THE BEST INTEREST OF A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LESS FORTUNATE. BUT YOUR HAND ARE TIED WITH THIS BOARD. BUT SIR, PLEASE THIS WOULD BE DEVASTATING IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN.

AND I JUST HOPE THERE IS SOME PIPE OF PLAN IN PLACE TO ADDRESS POTENTIALLY. AND I KNOW YOU ARE TIRED.

YOU HAVE A BOARD. SIR PLEASE I'M REACHING OUT TO YOUR BOARD, I'M BEGGING ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS AND THE PATRONS OF FORT PIERCE, PLEASE DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN.

>> I THINK JUST A FINAL COMMENT. WE'RE HOPING THAT ONCE THE LOBBY REOPENS THAT WE CAN GET SOME OF THE CUSTOMERS TO COME IN AND TALK ABOUT ANY PARTICULAR PROBLEMS I HAVE OR WORK OUT A PAYMENT PLAN. WE MIGHT GET A BETTER FEEL FROM THAT POINT IN TIME WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE JULY 1 OR JULY 15. WE CAN ALWAYS ADJUST THAT DATE.

IT'S SNOG THAT DATE ISN'T LOCKED.

IT WAS JUST AN INITIAL THOUGHT. >> THE NEXT ITEM IS THE CONSENT

[11. CONSENT AGENDA]

AGENDA. >> ANY COMMISSIONER THAT WOULD LIKE TO PULL ANY ITEM? IF NOT I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

>> WHAT IS THE ITEM WE ADDED? >> THE MANATEE CENTER.

>> I'LL MOVE FOR THE APPROVAL. >> SECOND.

>> MOTION AND SECOND. CALL THE ROLL.

>> YES. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> YES, MA'AM. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> YES, MA'AM. >>

[a. Resolution 20-R23 reappointing Carlos Diaz to serve on the Police Officers Retirement Fund - 185 Board.]

>> NEXT WE HAVE RESOLUTION 20-R23, READING RESOLUTION.

[00:55:04]

THE ONLY APPLICATION WAS MR. CARLOS DIAZ ASKING TO BE

REAPPOINTED. >> I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

>> MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> SECOND.

>> CALL THE ROLL PLEASE. >> YES.

>> YES, MA'AM. >> YES, MA'AM.

[b. Resolution 20-R24 reappointing Mayor and Commission appointees to the Arts & Culture Advisory Board.]

WHOSE TERMS CAME TO AN END WHO WANT TO BE REAPPOINTED.

UNLESS YOU HAVE A CHANGE. WE'RE READY TO MOVE THIS IN

REGARD. >> MOVE TO APPROVE.

>> SECOND. >> CALL THE ROLL PLEASE.

>> YES. >> YES.

>> YES, MA'AM. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> YES, MA'AM. >> NEXT WE HAVE RESOLUTION

[c. Resolution No. 20-R25 appointing members to the Communitywide Council.]

20-R25. RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION CERTIFYING THE APPOINTMENT AND REAPPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE COMMUNITY WIDE COUNCIL AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. I WOULD HAVE BALLOTS I WOULD LIKE TO DISTRIBUTE. WE'RE AT A DISADVANTAGE WITH COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER. I'LL HAVE THEM COMPLETE THEIR BALLOTS AND I'LL ASK TO YOU TELL ME THE TWO CHOICES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT TO THE COMMUNITY WIDE COUNCIL.

THOSE ARE THE THREE PEOPLE THAT APPLIED TO THE BOARD.

I WOULD ASK THAT WE WAIT UNTIL THE REST OF THE COMMISSION GO AHEAD AND COMPLETE THEIR BALLOTS AND THEN SINCE YOU USUALLY GO FIRST ANYWAY YOU'LL GET TO GO FIRST.

>> COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER I'M READY FOR YOUR TWO CHOICES.

>> SO WE HAVE COMMISSIONER JOHNSON HAS CHOSEN HICKS.

AND CHARLIE. SHLAES AND CHARLIE.

>> COMMISSIONER SESSIONS CHOSE MS. WE'LLS AND HICKS.

>> MAYOR HUDSON -- [INAUDIBLE] WE HAVE A TIE BETWEEN CHARLIE AND LEILA BASEND TO POINT SYSTEM.

IT'S TWO POINT FOR YOUR FIRST CHOICE AND ONE POINT FOR I NEED EACH OF YOU TO CHOOSE BETWEEN CHARLIE AND LEILA.

[01:00:16]

>> SO THE NEW APPOINTEES WILL BE HICKS AND CHARLIE ALONG WITH SARAH SMITH. WE DO STILL HAVE AN OUTSTANDING OPEN SEAT FOR THE TARGET AREA AND I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH SCOTT WHO OVERSEES THIS COMMITTEE AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEEK APPLICATIONS FOR THOSE IN THE TARGET AREA.

>> I'M REALLY HAPPY ABOUT SARAH SMITH.

I THINK SHE WORKS WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL.

>> DO WE NEED A MOTION? >> YES, MA'AM.

>> MOVE APPROVAL. >> SECOND.

>> CALL THE ROLL PLEASE. >> YES.

>> YES, MA'AM. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> THE NEXT ITEM IS DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION REGARDING THE

[d. Discussion and direction regarding the ability of the City Commission to increase (or decrease) business tax receipt fees by up to 5% as allowed by Florida Statutes every other year.]

ABILITY OF THE CITY COMMISSION TO INCREASE OR DECREASE BUSINESS TAX RECEIPT FEES BY UP TO 5% AS ALLOWED BY FLORIDA STATUTES EVERY OTHER YEAR. THIS IS WHEN I COME TO YOU AND WE TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH BUSINESS TAX.

IN 2012, 10, 14 THE CITY I DID DOLLARS INCREASE THE FEE BY 5%.

IN 2016 WE LEFT IT AS IT IS. EVERY OTHER YEAR YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO INCREASE, DECREASE OR DO NOTHING.

TO THE BUSINESS TAX RECEIPT UP TO 5% AND IT HAS TO STAY MANY PLACE FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS. THEN WE REVISIT THIS EVERY TWO YEARS. IS FROM ANY COMMISSIONER THAT

HAS ANY THOUGHT ABOUT THIS. >> THE TOTAL REVENUE IS $270,000. BASICALLY A 5% INCREASE IS AN INCREASE IN REVENUE TO THE CITY OF $13,700 ROUGHLY.

THE DECREASE IS ABOUT THAT SAME NUMBER.

>> THAT'S THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT THE CITY WOULD GET.

IT'S ESTIMATED BECAUSE IT DEPENDS ON WHAT RENEWS.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR TO US STEP FORWARD AND WE'RE ALL TRYING TO HELP GET EVERYBODY BACK TO NORMAL.

EVEN IF IT SETS US BACK 5% AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE US YEARS TO

RECOVER THAT. >> I DON'T HAVE ANY INTEREST IN

INCREASING THIS AT THIS TIME. >> I AGREE.

I MENTIONED LAST MEETING HOW TO WORK WITH OUR BUSINESSES AND FOLKS THAT REGISTER WITH THE CITY.

WHATEVER WE CAN DO. >> DO YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN ON

THIS? >> I AGREE.

WITH THE 5% DECREASE. I AGREE WITH THAT.

>> I AGREE. WE NEED TO DO ALL THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN AS FAR AS A DECREASE.

I WISH WE COULD DECREASE IT MORE THAN THAT.

THAT'S A START. >> SO YOU WANT TO MAKE THAT

MOTION? >> I MAKE THE MOTION WE DECREASE

THE 5%. >> CALL THE ROLL.

>> YES. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> YES, MA'AM. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> YES, MA'AM. >> THIS HAS TO BE DONE FORMALLY BY TWO READINGS OF AN ORDINANCE SO THAT WILL COME BACK FOR A REGULAR PUBLIC HEARING AT THE NEXT MEETING.

>> ALL RIGHT. >> WE'RE NOT HAVING PUBLIC HEARINGS RIGHT NOW. WE'LL HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

>> THE PROBLEM IS I HAVE TO DO BILLING SO.

>> YOU HAVE A TIME CONSTRAINT. >> THIS IS ALREADY SETTING US

BACK A MONTH. >> GOT YOU.

>> THIS IS ONE WHERE IT'S NOT A QUASI JUDICIAL HEARING.

IT WILL JUST BE A PUBLIC HEARING.

WE CAN ALLOW PEOPLE TO SUBMIT THEIR COMMENTS IN ADVANCE IF

[01:05:03]

THEY HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT AT ALL.

[e. Discussion regarding police officer salaries at the request of Commissioner Alexander.]

>> NEXT ITEM IS DISCUSSION REGARDING POLICE OFFICER SALARIES AT THE REQUEST OF COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER.

>> I HOPE THE REQUEST. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT WE ARE AN EMBARRASSMENT TO THE PUBLIC. THAT WE TREAT OUR OFFICERS IN SUCH. EVERY OTHER AGENCY TREATS THEIR OFFICERS AS THOUGH THEY ARE FRONT LINE, I MEAN FRONT LINE TO DEFINE THAT. THAT IS RIGHT THERE ON THE FRONT LINE. WE AT WAR.

AND WE ARE PRETTY MUCH AT WAR WITH OURSELVES.

NOT TAKING CARE OF OUR OWN. MY FIRST QUESTION WOULD BE IS HOW MANY OFFICERS WE LOST IN THE LAST TWO YEARS?

DO WE HAVE A NUMBER ON THAT? >> SHE'S COMING TO THE MICROPHONE. SHE'S GOING TO COME WITH AN ANSWER COMMISSIONER. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC FOR US. I'M PULLING THIS INFORMATION UP AS WE SPEAK. WE LOST APPROXIMATELY 15 OFFICERS LAST YEAR AND THE SAME THING APPLIED.

I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBERS AS I LOOK THROUGH MY NOTES.

2019 TEN OFFICERS RESIGNED. 12 OFFICERS WERE HIRED AND TRAINED. IN 2018 WE HAD 7 OFFICERS RESIGN AND 8 OFFICERS WERE HIRED. AND AFTER WE DID OUR NUMBERS FROM THE MAY 201 PRESENTATION. WE LOST 1-15 OFFICERS AFTER THIS. THE OFFICERS WERE FILLED WITH HOPE THEY WOULD BE PLACED IN PROPER STEPS AN BE GIVEN AN ASAD IN PAY AND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. A LOT OF OFFICERS ARE DEDICATED TO THE CITY. THEY LOVE THE CITY AND THEY ARE FILLED WITH REGRET HAD HAVING TO LEAVE US.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY WHEN LIFE CHANGES, WHEN THEY HAVE FAMILIES AND HAVE MORTGAGES AND THINGS SUCH AS THAT, THEN THEY LOOK FOR OTHER WAYS. WE FOUND THAT 9% OF THE OFFICERS IN 2019 WORKED AN EXTRA DUTY JOB.

SOME WERE WORKING 15,000 HOURS JUST IN EXTRA DUTY JUST TO MAKE ENDS MEET. ALTHOUGH THEY DO THAT TO MAKE THE ENDS MEET , WHAT OCCURS IS THAT IT TAKE AS WAY FROM THEIR FAMILY. AND WHEN WE HAVE OFFICERS LEAVE FORT PIERCE AND GO TO ANOTHER AGENCY AND MAKE $10,000 MORE RIGHT OFF THE TOP, IT SOMETHING THAT AS AN AGENCY WE CAN'T COMPETE WITH. OR WHEN THEY HAVE EQUIPMENT THAT IS OF AGE. FIRST OF ALL, THOSE OFFICE VERSE GIVEN THEIR HEARTS AND TIME OF DAY.

[01:10:06]

FOR THE OFFICERS THE FIGURE TO PUT THEM 2349 STEP IS APPROXIMATELY, IT WAS 200 SOME ODD THOUSANDS DOLLARS.

CAME CLOSE TO $400,000 TO MAKE THEM WHOLE.

WHAT I HEARD ME SAY I SUPPORT SUNRISE THEATER.

I SUPPORT THE GOLF COURSE. HERE I DEMAND THAT WE SUPPORT OUR POLICE OFFICERS. FOR US TO BE SPENDING MONEY, I'D RATHER SEE THAT SHUTDOWN THAN SEE MY POLICE OFFICERS LEAVE.

I SUPPORT THE THEATER. THE WHOLE API HAS BEEN HERE.

I'M NOT TAKING THIS PERSONALLY. SOME IS GOOD AND SOME IS BAD.

WE NEED TO STAND UP. I HEARD SOMEONE SPEAK EARLIER WHERE THEY SPEAK ABOUT CHOICE. IT'S A CHOICE ALL RIGHT.

IT'S OUR CHOICE. AND IT'S THE BOARD'S ALL RIGHT.

IT'S THE PEOPLE'S BOARD. GOT TO GET THIS DONE.

WE CAN'T LOSE NOT ONE OTHER OFFICER FOR A $10,000 RAISE.

WHY NOT PREVENT THEM FROM LEAVING.

THAT'S MY OPINION AND THOUGHTS. THEY ARE INDIVIDUALS.

WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING. >> CHIEF, FOR THE YEAR , THIS YEAR, HOW MANY DO WE HAVE THAT HAVE LEFT SO FAR? SINCE THE MAY 13 COMMISSION MEETING.

WE HAD A TOTAL OF 16 OFFICERS RESIGN AND TWO RETIRE.

>> 16? >> YES, SIR.

>> SINCE WHAT DATE? >> SINCE OUR MAY 19 WHEN WE DID

OUR PRESENTATION. >> IN 2019, A YEAR AGO.

>> WHAT IS THE BUDGET FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT RIGHT NOW?

IS IT 15 MILLION? >> YES, SIR.

IT'S CLOSE TO THAT. >> AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN THAT IS CLOSE TO WHAT WE PULL IN ON OUR AD VALOREM TAX AND NORMALLY

IT WAS PRETTY CLOSE? >> YES.

>> AND I WAS TRYING TO THINK OF THIS.

THIS ITEM HAD NO SUPPORTING INFORMATION.

SO THANKS TO YOU CHIEF, I WENT BACK TO MAY 13 OF LAST YEAR WHEN YOU GAVE THE REPORT TO US AND WENT THROUGH A VERY INTENSE AND INFORMATIVE REPORT WHICH INCLUDED HOW MUCH IF WE START TALKING ABOUT TAX MONEY. I'M ASSUMING THAT IT'S GOING TO BE CLOSE NO MATTER WHAT WITH YOU DO.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A TIME NOW WHERE THIS CITY IS EXPERIENCING LOWER REVENUES BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

WE HAVE A $42 MILLION BUDGET. I WAS GOING TO TELL YOU THAT I KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE MAKING MODIFICATIONS TO THAT BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. AND IN LIGHT OF THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN AND I'M ALL FOR IT.

[01:15:03]

I THINK IT'S DESERVING. I THINK WE NEED TO SUPPORT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN EVERY WAY. WE STARTED WITH EQUIPMENT.

BUT I WOULD LIKE THOSE FOLKS, OUR FAMILY TO BE ABLE TO BE WHOLE WHEN THAT HAPPENS. THERE IS A BUSINESS OF DOING THAT IN MY MIND. THERE IS A BIG BUSINESS OF DOING THAT. WE CAN SIT THERE AND SAY I WANT TO PAY EVERYBODY WHAT YOU ARE WORTH.

BUT IN THE SAME VAIN I'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. AND THAT IS WE'RE BALANCING SO MANY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE ONLY WAY I CAN DO THAT IS WE NEED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION.

ARE WE TALKING ABOUT RAISING TAXES TO BE ABLE TO FUND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN A WAY THAT WE NEED TO REALLY FUND IT? WE ARE ALREADY CUTTING DEPARTMENTS.

HE'S A CREATEDDIVE MAN AND GOING TO BE MORE CREATIVE BY THE TIME THIS YEAR IS OVER WITH. WE'RE GOING TO DEMAND THAT OF HIM. WE NEED TO START ASKING THE TOUGH QUESTIONS. WE NEED TO COME ONE SOLUTIONS THAT MAKE SENSE. I'M GOING TO TELL THAT YOU I'D LIKE Y'ALL TO HAVE MORE MONEY. I'D LIKE Y'ALL TO BE ABLE TO MAKE MORE MONEY AND HAVE BRAND NEW SHINY EQUIPMENT THAT ISN'T EMBARRASSING WHEN YOU SEE IT RUNNING DOWN THE ROAD.

I HAVE TO COME ONE A WAY TO FUND THAT AND THAT IS WHAT THE QUESTION, MOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

I WOULD RATHER GET TO THAT POINT THAN TALK ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BEING WORTHY OF A SALARY INCREASE AND BETTER EQUIPMENT. I'VE ALREADY GOT THERE.

I'VE BEEN THERE TWO YEARS. LAST YEAR YOU WON ME OVER LAST YEAR CHIEF. I'M ALL FOR IT.

WE NEED TO START HAVING THAT TOUGH DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE

ARE GOING TO FUND THAT. >> I APPRECIATE THAT.

WHEN WE LOSE OFFICERS WE SPEND 367,000 TRAIN A BRAND NEW OFFICER. THIS IS THE MONEY WE'RE TAKING OUT ANYWAY. IF WE SPONSOR AN OFFICER WHICH WE DO ON MANY OCCASIONS. NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT 60 SOMETHING THOUSAND DOLLARS. WE DID AN OVERVIEW OF THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS WE LOST IN APPROXIMATELY THE LAST TEN YEARS, WE'VE LOST OVER 100 OFFICERS WHICH IS THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE HEROES SITTING BEHIND ME. THEY RISK THEIR LIFE EVERY DAY.

WE'VE ASKED THIS LONG BEFORE THIS OCCURRED , THE VIRUS OCCURRED. WE'VE BEEN ASKING THIS FOR SOME TIME. I DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM ANYONE. I DON'T WANT TO SEE LAYS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. WHAT I'M SAYING IS WHEN WE TRAIN THEM TO BE THE BEST AND GIVE THEM STANDARDS THAT YOU HAVE ASKED OF US TO GIVE THESE OFFICERS, I WANT TO KEEP THEM.

NOT PREPARE THEM FOR ANOTHER AGENCY TO GO AND JUMP IN A CAR.

AT THE PAY SCALE WE'RE IN, I CAN'T ATTRACT EXPERIENCED OFFICERS. I CAN'T I. HAVE TO ATTRACT THE YOUNGER OFFICERS THAT ARE GRADUATING FROM THE COLLEGES AND SUCH. BUT WHAT IS OCCURRING BECAUSE THE COLLEGES ARE NO LONGER HAVING ACADEMY CLASSES, I HAVE NOWHERE TO PULL FROM. SO I'M TRYING TO MY BEST TO MAINTAIN WHAT WE HAVE. BECAUSE THESE OFFICERS ARE DEDICATED TO OUR CITY. THE THINGS THAT THEY DO , THE STORIES THAT GO UNTOLD IS ENDLESS.

I'M SO VERY PROUD OF THEM. AND I HATE TO HAVE THAT SKILL BASE, THAT LOVE OF COMMUNITY TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY WE ARE GOING TO PAY BECAUSE IT TAKES 36,000 THE ONE THAT'S LEAVING. WHY NOT DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO UP FRONT SO WE DON'T HAVE TO ULTIMATELY END UP SPENDING

[01:20:11]

36,000 UP FRONT OR IN THE BACK. IT'S STILL 36,000.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH ALL OF THIS IS THE REPLACEMENT.

THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER FROM A FIDUCIARY STANDPOINT. DO WE RAISE .2.

OR ENTERTAIN WHAT COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER SAYING.

START BY WAY OF A PROCESS OF ELIMINATION ON SOME THINGS THAT PERHAPS AREN'T AS NECESSARY AS OTHERS IN TERMS OF SERVICES.

BUT THERE HAS GOT TO BE A WAY TO STOP THE BLEEDING.

BECAUSE WE ARE EITHER GOING TO BE FORCED TO PAY IT OR VOLUNTARILY PAY IT. THAT'S NOT A GOOD CHOICE OF WORDS BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO COME ON THE BACKS OF THE TAXPAYERS.

BUT AT THE END $36,000 IS WHAT IT'S COSTING US TO REPLACE 100 OFFICERS. HOW MUCH MONEY IS THAT?

>> A LOT. THAT'S ALMOST 60,000.

>> I AGREE WITH YOU COMMISSIONERS.

THOSE ARE THE NOTES I WROTE DOWN TODAY IS WHAT IS THAT DARK NUMBER. IT'S NOT -- IT'S A REAL NUMBER.

IT'S NOT A FAKE NUMBER. BUT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT LIKE IT'S A REAL NUMBER. IT'S PART OF YOUR PROCESS.

WE GO THROUGH A PROCESS AND THEN THERE IS FRUSTRATION EXCITEMENT FOR THE JOB, FRUSTRATION WITH THE PAY.

TRYING TO FIGURE OUT LIFE, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THE FEED YOUR FAMILY AND THERE IS A CHANGE.

SO THEN WE START THE PROCESS ALL OVER AGAIN.

AND THAT'S A MAJOR ISSUE AS YOU HAVE DESCRIBED AND AS YOU'VE HEARD MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS TALK ABOUT.

THE OTHER ITEM THAT I WROTE DOWN WAS TAKE HOME.

WHAT IS THE ACTUAL TAKE HOME NUMBER.

WHAT ARE THE PARTS AND PIECES OF THE FORMULA THAT ARE REDUCING THE TAKE HOME NUMBER. THERE IS A BUNCH OF COMPONNTS TO THAT RIGHT? WE VOTED ON A MEMBER OF THE 185 RETIREMENT BOARD. WE JUST HAD AN OFFICE THEY'RE WENT TO ANOTHER AGENCY. AND THEY ARE PAYING $75 A MONTH FOR INSURANCE. AND THEN $100 FOR THE FAMILY PLAN. AND WHAT OCCURRED WHEN IT COMES TO THE RETIREMENT. THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST ATTRACT OR THES WE HAVE IN TRYING TO GET THE OFFICERS HERE.

BECAUSE THE RETIREMENT PROGRAM IS GOOD WHERE THEY CAN RETIRE AT 25 YEARS. IT'S AN EXCELLENT PROGRAM AND WE USE THAT TO OUR ADVANTAGE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

THAT IS A GREAT BENEFIT FOR THOSE OFFICERS.

IT A DREAM. IT'S THE OFFICIAL DREAM TO GET

STARTED IN LIFE. >> I HAVE TO RESULT BACK TO A NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD WITH MY OFFICERS.

ONE OFFICER THAT LEFT AND IT BROKE MY HEART BECAUSE HE PUT HIS LIFE ON THE LINE EVERY DAY AND BRING HOME $800 IS A SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS. WITH THIS OFFICER THAT HE COULD NOT AFFORD INSURANCE FOR HIS FAMILY.

AND TO HAVE AN OFFICER WHO DEFENDS HIS LIFE OR PUT HIS LIFE

[01:25:02]

ON THE LINE FOR HIS FAMILY, CAN'T INSURE THEM, THAT IS SOMETHING ELSE AS WELL. I'M ASKING WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR FAMILY AND THE RESPONSE WAS I TELL THEM THEY CAN'T GET SICK.

THAT IS NO WAY TO LIVE. IT'S NOT.

WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS A FAIR SHAKE HERE.

WHEN THE VIRUS CAME IN, I TALK ABOUT MY HEROES ALL THE TIME.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE. THEY COULDN'T STAY AT HOME.

THEY COULD NOT NOT GO TO CALLS. WE CHANGED SOME OF THE DYNAMICS BUT THEY STILL HAD TO GO WITHOUT QUESTION.

AND THE SAD PART IS A LOT OF THEM FELT IT WAS NOT OK TO FEEL IT WAS NOT OK. AND I SAW IT IN THEIR FACES BUT THEY STILL WENT. THEY STILL DID THE SERVICE AND

THE DEDICATION TO THE CITY. >> AND TO BUILD ON, THAT GOING BACK TO THE FORMULA, I WAS ASKING CITY MANAGER TODAY AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AND WE'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT BREAKING DOWN THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF ALL THESE PARTS AND PIECE. THE 185 IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, MY NUMBERS ARE GENERAL. 7% RIGHT.

AND THAT IS COMING OUT OF THEIR SALARY.

WE DON'T OFFER AN OPTION TO SAY I WANT TO USE THE 5.1 OR REDUCE THAT BECAUSE I'M A YOUNGER PERSON AND I WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE MY FORMULA BECAUSE I NEED EXTRA $20 FOR THE WEEK'S PAY.

THAT CHANGES THEIR RETIREMENT SIDE.

SO WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND ANALYZE WHAT THE SCENARIO HOW MANY SWORN OFFICERS DO YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW?

>> I HAVE 131. I HAVE ABOUT 15 VACANCIES.

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 140 PLUS, 146-1234.

>> YES. >> TOTAL.

>> I DON'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT BUT IT'S A REAL CONVERSATION.

IT'S PART OF THE FORM LOUISIANA IT'S PART OF THE EMAILS WE GOT AND THE EMAILS THAT ARE IN THE AGENDA ITEM EVEN.

>> I'M GOING TO SAY THIS WITHOUT SHOWING ANYBODY BUT I KNOW THE OFFICERS SITTING IN THIS ROOM, THEY ARE HERE FOR HOPE.

A LOT OF TIMES THEY LOSE HOPE. SOME OF THEM IN THIS ROOM I KNOW THEY HAVE APPLIED FOR OTHER AGENCIES.

I NEED TO GIVE THEM SOME TYPE OF HOPE IN OUR CITY.

WE HAVE TO. SO TALK TO ME AND YOU PRESENTED IT LAST YEAR I BELIEVE IN THE PRESENTATION.

I'VE GOT IT PULLED UP HERE. YOU SHOWED A GRAPH AND I DON'T THINK YOU'LL HAVE IT READY TONIGHT BUT YOU SHOWED A GRAPH

ABOUT STEP PLAN SYSTEM. >> YES, SIR.

>> WE'RE BEHIND THE CURVING IN THE STEP PLAN RIGHT? OUR AGREED UPON STEP PLAN THROUGH THE UNIONS NEGOTIATIONS, DOES THAT TALK IN THAT CONVERSATION COME UP EVERY SINGLE TIME IN THESE NEGOTIATIONS?

>> THE STEP PLAN IS A PART OF THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS.

AND WHAT WE'RE DOING BECAUSE AND I SPOKE TO THE UNION TODAY, A UNION REPRESENTATIVE BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS OF HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO PUT THE OFFICERS IN THE PROPER STEPS.

AND THEN WE WERE LOOKING AT A WAY, MAYBE A COMPROMISE THAT IS GRADUALLY DONE IN PHASES SO IT DOESN'T PUT SUCH A BURDEN ON THE CITY TO HOPEFULLY GET US THREW THROUGH AND GIVE THESE OFFICERS THE IDEA THAT SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND THAT THEY ARE A PART OF THIS GREAT FAMILY OF THE CITY OF FORT

PIERCE. >> OK.

>> LIKE A PHASE IN PLAN OF SOME SORT?

>> ARE YOU DONE? >> I WENT BACK TO THE AGENDA ITEM TONIGHT AND PULLED UP THE NEGOTIATIONS THAT IS HERE AT 8%.

8%, 4% FROM THE CITY AND 4% FROM MY BUDGET AND IT'S TAKEN OUT

[01:30:02]

EVERY YEAR. THAT WAS DONE AS A WAY OF GIVING BACK TO THE OFFICERS, I HAD TO MAKE THEIR SALARIES COMPETITIVE.

THAT WAS ONLY WAY I KNEW TO DO. THAT 4% COMES OUT EVERY SINGLE YEAR. IT'S MY BELIEF IN THEM.

AND THEIR BELIEF IN ME. WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE

THIS HAPPEN. >> AND YOU ALMOST TOOK THE WORDS OUT OF MY MOUTH. I'M GLAD YOU SAID IT.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU, WHEN WE GO THROUGH HAD PROCESS, I'M NOT SAYING THIS IS JUSTIFICATION.

I'M JUST READING THE FACT BOOK IN THE AGENDA ITEM.

HOW DETAILS ARE YOU IN YOUR BUDGET AND I KNOW YOU ARE DOING IT, BUT YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET TIGHTER WITH THE PEN ON CUTTING, SCRAPING AND PUSHING TOWARDS THAT NEXT STEP TO HELP THAT FORMULA THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT AND PULL OUT OPERATIONS TO MAKE SALARY BUDGET WORK RIGHT. AND THAT'S GOING TO TAKE CITY WIDE US LOOKING AT THAT AS A COMMISSION.

BUT IT ALSO TAKES THE DEPARTMENT HEADS WHICH THIS IS YOURS.

>> RIGHT. A'S SAID, I DID THAT.

THIS IS THE 4%. EVERY YEAR THE 4% GETS GREATER AND GREATER. AS TECHNOLOGY CHANGES, AS THINGS CHANGES, OUR CRIME LAB, ALL OF THESE FEES GO UP.

BUT WE HAVE TO MANAGE WITHIN THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE.

WE MOVE MONEY AROUND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MEETING THOSE NEEDS. SOMETIMES IT WILL BEES VERY DIFFICULT. ALL OF OUR OFFICE VERSE BODY CAMERAS AND CELL PHONES. WE'RE DOING ONLY STATE OF THE ART THINGS. WHEN WE GET THIS TECHNOLOGY, IT COMES WITH A PRICE. WE ARE STILL LIVING AND PAYING OUT OF THOSE SAME EXISTING BUDGET.

WE DIDN'T HAVE INCREASES IN THOSE ITEMS THAT HAVE GONE UP.

WE ARE MOVING THINGS AROUND AND GOING AWAY FROM THINGS WE WANT THIS YEAR TO TRY AND GET THEM MAYBE NEXT YEAR.

WE ARE DOING THAT. >> LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING --

>> >> YOU KNOW AS I SIT HERE AND LISTEN TO THE CHIEF AND LISTEN TO MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, I STILL COMES UP WITH THE SAME SOLUTION.

WE OUGHT TO BE SMART ABOUT THIS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW LAST FEW YEARS THEY GOT 3% AND 4%, HAS THAT BROUGHT THEM ANYWHERE CLOSE? IN ALL THESE PAST YEARS WHEN WE DID GIVE THEM THESE RAISES, DID THAT BRING THEM ANYWHERE CLOSE

TO THE STEP THAT THEY DESERVE? >> WHEN THE RAISES OCCURRED , THE RAISES WENT STRAIGHT ACROSS THE BOARD IN MOST CASES.

IT WAS NOT MOVEMENT INTO THE STEPS.

THE STEPS SHOULD OCCUR ANNUALLY THAT THEY WILL MOVE UP TO THAT VERY NEXT LEVEL. AND THIS IS WHY ONE OF OUR OFFICERS WHO RECENTLY LEFT WAS AT FOUR YEARS AND HE WAS ACCORDING TO THE STEP PLAN 7 YEARS.

BECAUSE OF THE CHILDREN IN PAY WE LOST HIM UNFORTUNATELY.

>> WE'RE NOT PAYING OUR OFFICERS WHAT THEY DESERVE.

I'M NOT GOING TO GET IN A DEBATE NOW ABOUT.

THIS THIS IS AN URGENT MATTER. WE NEED TO TAKE URGENCY AND SPECIAL MEETING OR WHATEVER IT IS TO RESOLVE SOME OF THIS.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE PAST YEARS THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET INTO STEP. WHO DOES HA? I DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE TO DO THAT.

I'M PART OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE.

SO I'M SPEAKING MY PEACE. I HOPE YOU DON'T RESENT IT BECAUSE I DON'T CARE. I'M GOING TO SPEAK MY PEACE ANYWHERE AND ANYTIME I FEEL. ALWAYS ACROSS THE BOARD.

[01:35:34]

>> LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING. AN OFFICER THAT IS CLOSE TO RETIREMENT, THEM GOING ON RETIREMENT FREES UP YOUR BUDGET BECAUSE THEN THEY FALL ON THE PENSION AM I CORRECT? AND YOU HAVE MORE MONEY IN YOUR BUDGET WHERE AS YOU SAID EARLIER YOU WERE ONLY ABLE TO GIVE 4%, OFFICERS THAT ARE CLOSE TO RETIREMENT. FOR AN OFFICE TORE RETIRE, THAT

WOULD FREE UP YOUR BUDGET? >> YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE

ONES THAT GO INTO DROP? >> NO RETIREMENT.

>> ONCE THEY GO INTO RETIREMENT, BECAUSE OF THEIR PAY SCALE IS MUCH HIGHER THAN A BRAND NEW OFFICER SO IT CHANGES THOSE

DYNAMICS. >> DOES IT IMMATERIAL PACKET YOUR BUDGET ONCE THEY GO INTO RETIREMENT?

>> ONCE THEY GO INTO RETIREMENT WE HAVE TO PAY OUT ALL THOSE FEES LIKE THEIR SICK TIME AND ALL THOSE COMPS OUT OF MY

BUDGET. >> THAT'S A ONE TIME SNOW.

>> YES. AND SOMETIMES THAT'S A VERY

LARGE FEE. >> OK.

I WAS JUST WONDERING BECAUSE HOW ARE WE IN TERMS OF OFFICERS, SERGEANTS, LIEUTENANTS AND CAPTAINS AND ASSISTANT CHIEFS? HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT ON OUR BUDGET OR YOUR BUDGET IS THAT HAVING? AS OPPOSED TO BOOTS ON THE

GROUND? >> I'M GOING TO BE HONEST WITH YOU EVERY POSITION IN OUR DEPARTMENT IS BOOTS ON THE GROUND. IT'S PROBABLY UNHEARD OF AND WE'RE PROBABLY THE ONLY AGENCY THAT DOES THIS WHERE I HAVE TWO DEPUTY CHIEF ONE IS IN THE DAYTIME AND ONE IS WORKING EVENING SHIFT. WE ARE TRYING TO ASSURE THAT ALL OF OUR SHIFTS ARE RUNNING EFFICIENTLY.

THERE IS THAT IMPORTANT NEED FOR THOSE POSITIONS.

>> YOU ARE RIGHT. I UNDERSTAND.

>> THEY ARE OUT THERE RUNNING DRUG DEALERS DOWN TOO.

JUMPING FENCES AND DOING ALL OF THAT STUFF.

>> YOU WENT OUT THERE AND CHASED THEM TOO.

>> I'M NOT SCARED. >> I HEARD YOU AIN'T SCARED.

THAT'S A GOOD THING. LEAD MY BIEXAMPLE.

>> CHIEF, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A HALF MILLION DOLLARS OFF THE BAT TO MAKE EVERYBODY WHOLE. IT'S APPROXIMATE.

>> AND DO YOU KNOW IF THAT INCLUDES THE INCREASE IN THE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE RETIREMENT PLAN FROM THE EMPLOYER? DO YOU KNOW IF THAT DOES BECAUSE EVERY TIME THERE IS A WAGE INCREASE, THERE IS A COMMENSURATE INCREASE FROM THE

TAXPAYER, DO YOU KNOW. >> IT COULD BE POSSIBLY IT'S MORE THAN THAT BECAUSE OF THE INCREASES.

BECAUSE INCREASES IN SALARIES BRING THE WHOLE INCREASE OF THE EMPLOYER THEIR PORTION TO THE RETIREMENT PLAN.

>> RIGHT. AND WITH THE AMOUNT BECAUSE WE DID REVAMPED A NUMBER OF THINGS AND CAME TO A LITTLE OVER $400,000 AS WELL AS THE OFFICERS.

THEN WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF FAZING.

BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS OF THE CITY.

WE UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES THE CITY IS GOING THROUGH.

WE ARE SAYING THAT WE ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU.

AND AS LONG AS YOU ARE WORKING WITH US.

SO I'D LIKE TO GIVE HOPE BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M GOING TO GET A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS RIGHT OFF THE BAT.

AND SO TO ME WE HAVE TO TRY FIGURE OUT HOW THE TAKE THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE AND REPURPOSE IT BECAUSE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH MONEY IN THIS STATE TO DO THAT. I'D LIKE TO FINAL LIELY SOLVE

[01:40:03]

THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HERE FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. NO COMMISSION HAS BEEN ABLE TO SOLVE IT. PEOPLE COME THE FORT PIERCE AND WORK AND GET PLUCKED OFF BY SOME OTHER AGENCY.

THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. ONE OF THE TIMES SINCE I'VE BEEN MAYOR WE TRIED TO REDUCE THE MULTIPLIER FOR THE STAFF MEMBERS. NOT POLICE.

LEAVE THE POLICE AT 3%. IN 2011 THE CITY INCREASED THE MULTIPLIER FOR THE POLICE AND THEN RIGHT AFTER THAT FOR EVERY OTHER EMPLOYEE. SO THAT IMMEDIATELY, WAS THAT WAS AN $8 MILLION HIT IN ONE YEAR.

SO THAT IMMEDIATELY MADE THIS THE BEST RETIREMENT SYSTEM ON THE TREASURE COAST , THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE.

AND SO LIKE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND OTHER THEY ARE IN FRS.

THEY DON'T HAVE A 3% MULTIPLIER. IT'S 1 POINT SOMETHING MULTIPLIER. THERE ARE REASONS WHY WE PAY MORE FOR THAT. AND WE WERE TRYING TO THAT THE TIME FREE UP MONEY, NOT TOUCH THE POLICE, BUT FREE UP MONEY FROM THE REGULAR EMPLOYEES TO DO 2.5 OR 2.25 MULTIPLIER TO FREE UP SOME MONEY. AND THAT DEBT I WILL HAVE TO SAY BROUGHT OUT THE BIGGEST SHOW OF THE STAFF AGAINST IT.

IT WAS A NONSTARTER. IT WAS AS THEY SAY IN WASHINGTON DOA. AND SO WE GAVE THAT UP.

SO WE TRIED. WE HAVE TRIED SOME THINGS IN THE PAST THAT BUT NOBODY WANTS TO GIVE ANYTHING UP.

I DON'T BLAME THEM. I DON'T BLAME THEM.

I'M NOT JUDGING. SO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS COME UP WITH A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR FROM NOW ON OR AS YOU SAY PHASE IN AND FIND SOME WAY TO DO IT.

AND THAT IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH THING TO DO.

I'MING THERE TRY IT. I JUST I ALMOST FEEL LIKE I THINK WHERE COMMISSIONER JOHNSON WAS GOING ALMOST DOING 0 BASED BUDGETING. JUST STARTING OVER AND TAKING THAT POT OF MONEY THAT AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TAX , THE PROPERTY APRAISER IS GOING TO COME OUT WITH OUR APPRAISAL.

SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR BUDGET IS GOING TO BE NEXT YEAR.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE AD VALOREM IS GOING TO BE.

WE KNOW PEOPLE IN THE CITY ARE GOING TO HAVE A ROUGH TIME PAYING IT BECAUSE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T SEE A TAX INCREASE BEING SOMETHING THAT WILL BE PALATABLE OR DOABLE THIS YEAR. WE HAVE TO TAKE MONEY AWAY FROM SOMETHING ELSE. I WOULD LIKE ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WROTE ME THESE WONDERFUL EMAILS TO HELP ME LOOK AT THE BUDGET AND TELL ME WHERE I'M GOING TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM.

THAT'S MY PROBLEM. I WANT TO DO IT.

BUT I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A IT AWAY

FROM. >> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE DYNAMIC. WE TALK ABOUT FORCE PIERCE LIKE WE'RE A NORMAL CITY. WE'RE NOT.

THIS IS A WEIRD TOWN BECAUSE EVERYBODY COMES HERE.

WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF CALLS THAT WE DO IN A YEAR, IT'S GOT TO BE CLOSE TO 80,000 NOW.

YOU HAVE 130 SWORN OFFICERS ATTENDING TO 80,000 CALLS.

AND I'M GOING TO SAY THAT MOST OF THEM PROBABLY ARE FROM OUT OF TOWN. AT LEAST IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS THEY'VE BEEN THAT WAY, ESPECIALLY OUT ON HUTCHSON ISLAND. WHEN WE START TAKING A LOOK AT , THIS WE'RE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN EVERYTHING ELSE.

WE DEMAND MORE. THERE IS AN ACTIVITY LEVEL THAT IS HIGHER THAN ANY OTHER COMMUNITY THAT IS LIKE US BECAUSE OF OUR DYNAMIC. OUR DEMOGRAPHIC AND OUR LOCATION AND ALL OUR BEAUTIFUL ASSETS THAT ARE HERE, EVERYBODY WANTS TO COME TO FORT PIERCE AND PLAY. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE OUR RESIDENTS, BUSINESS OWNERS AND EVERYTHING REALIZE SAFE.

OUR CHILDREN ARE SAFE AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

YOU CAN'T DISCOUNT THAT. YOU JUST CAN'T DISCOUNT IT.

SO CHIEF YOU'VE BEEN AT THIS JOB I DON'T THINK ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT IT THROUGH EYES OF SOMEONE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE TO BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH LIKE BACK IN THE DEPRESSION.

[01:45:15]

I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW WE NEED TO START WITH WHAT WE NEED AND THEN WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO FUND IT.

AND THAT WAY MAYBE, I AGREE WITH YOU, WE NEED TO LOOK UNDER EVERY ROCK AND BE ABLE TO BALANCE THAT OUT.

IF NOT, THAT'S OUR JOB, WE NEED TO SAY CHIEF WE'RE GOING TO FIND A WAY TO GET THIS DONE. WE'RE GOING TO TASK OUR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO SAY FIND A WAY TO GET THIS THING OUT SO WE UNDERSTAND IT. AND WE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO GET THIS THING FUNDED. FUNDING IS THE WORST WORD I'VE EVER COME ACROSS AS A COMMISSIONER.

I HATE IT. BECAUSE IT DOESN'T LET ME DO THE THINGS I WANT TO DO. FUNDING IS A RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERYBODY SITTING UP HERE AND IT'S A BALANCE.

SOMETIMES IF WE DON'T FIND MONEY FOR IT, WE'RE TAKING IT FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE. I'D LIKE TO LEAVE THIS WITH A TASK TO STAFF TO BRING THAT FORWARD, ESPECIALLY BEFORE THE BUDGET. WE NEED TO START OUR BUDGET TALKS FIRST ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE NEED COME ONE AN IDEA OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GET FOR OUR MONEY AND GO SELL THIS TO THE COMMUNITY IN ANY WAY THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN. WE NEED TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO YOU AND YOUR FORCE THAT WE'RE GOING TO FIND A WAY TO GET THIS

THING FUNDED. >> DID YOU WANT TO SAY

SOMETHING? >> WE HAVE A GREAT TOWN, IT MAY WITH A SMALL TOWN. I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO ALLOW OUR CITY TO GROW. THAT WILL PAVE THE WAY WAY FOR OUR FUTURE. GIVING UP POLICE THAT WE NEED.

WE GIVE OUR OFFICERS UP TOO EASY.

WE CARE ABOUT THE OFFICERS. AND WE NEED TO FIND A WAY.

WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THE LAST YEAR HOW GREAT SUCCESS CITY OF FORT PIERCE IS. I FORTH THE AMOUNT.

I KNOW THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SPEND IT IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE HAD A CASH FLOW COME IN TO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE.

AND IF YOU DON'T THINK IT'S A USE FOR IT, THEN PUT IT IN THERE WITH THE REST OF IT AND LET IT COLLECT.

YOU JUST THINK ABOUT EVERY DAY GIVE IT UP FOR OUR OFFICERS.

AND THEY PUT THEIR BLOOD, SWEAT AND TIERS TO OUR CITY AND HE HAS TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE TO BE APPRECIATED.

THAT'S A SAD DAY. >> WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO CITY HERE A SMALL QUAINT TOWN WITHOUT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.

WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW HERE IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE IN THE PAST FOUR TO FIVE YEARS IS THAT WE HAVE COTTON MORE BUILDING PERMITS PULLED THAN WE HAVE IN NUMEROUS YEARS.

WHAT DOES HA MEAN? OUR CUSTOMER BASE HAS ELK PANNED. AND BY THAT OUR TAX BASE EXPANDS AND BY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO 53 SALARIES THAT ARE COMPATIBLE WITH CITIES OF OUR SIZE. WE HAVE MORE MONEY.

TO GIVE MORE TO OUR OFFICERS. THAT'S WHY I SIT HERE DAY AFTER DAY WHEN A DEVELOPER COMES IN HERE FIRST OF ALL I TRY TO CATER TO THEM. AND I'M TALKING TO STAFF NOW.

YOU TREAT THEM LIKE THEY HAVE SOMETHING THAT WE NEED.

THE CITY OF FORT THERE WAS NOT GOING TO BE DEVELOPMENT AND

[01:50:13]

LANDSCAPING AND IMPACT FEES, THINGS THAT ARE SO HIGHER THAN OTHER PLACES AND PEOPLE TAKE THEIR MONEY AND THEY DEVELOP THEM IN PLACES LIKE PORT ST. LOUISY.

TRYING TO ATTRACT DEVELOPMENT IN OUR CITY, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS GOING TO BE LIKE A RABBIT ON A RELATION TRACK.

AT LEAST WE CAN SLOW THE PROCESS DOWN.

WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THIS PLACE IS GOING TO HAVE TO EXPAND AND OUR TAX BASE IS GOING HAVE TO GROW.

DEVELOPERS THEY ARE COMING HERE FINALLY.

BUT STILL I SEE SO MUCH OPPOSITION THAT MAKES IT SO DIFFICULT FOR THEM THAT THEY TURN AWAY FROM HERE AND THEY DON'T WANT TO BE BOTHERED WITH THIS.

WE CAN TAKE OUR MONEY AND GO ELSEWHERE.

WE DON'T HAVE TO PUT ONE THIS CITY HALL.

WE GOT TO CHANGE THAT ATTITUDE. WE HAVE TO CHANGE THAT ATTITUDE AND WE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THIS WE NEED THEM JUST LIKE THEY NEED US. WE HAVE A VERY BEAUTIFUL ASSET AND THAT IS RIGHT OVER HERE BEHIND ME.

IT SITS OFF ABOUT 800 YARDS. THIS IS WHAT BRINGS PEOPLE HERE INSTEAD OF PORT ST. LOUISY. THIS IS WHAT BRINGS PEOPLE HERE.

WE HAVE WHAT THEY WANT. BUT IF WE DON'T MAKE OURSELVES MORE MARKETABLE AND CATER TO THESE INDIVIDUALS AND EVEN GO OUT AND RECRUIT THEM AND GIVE THEM SOMETHING THAT THEY NORMALLY WOULD NOT HAVE FORT SPEARS GOING TO BE JUST LIKE IT IS, UNEMPLOYMENT, PAYING OFFICERS, OFFICERS BEING RECRUITED GOING ELSEWHERE. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY PEOPLE.

LET'S DEVELOP OUR ASSET. LET'S DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

I'M TALKING TO STAFF PLANNING. BUILDING AND PERMITS.

WE GOT ALL THESE THINGS WE GOT TO FOLLOW ALL THESE RULES AND BY THE TIME WE GET FINISHED WITH ALL OF THAT WE RAN THEM AWAY.

THEY'VE GONE ELSEWHERE. I'M NOT SAYING CUT THINGS TO THE POINT THAT IT'S NOT LEGAL. BUT A LOT OF THESE THINGS WE CAN GET AROUND AND AVOID. AND WE HAVE WHAT THEY WANT.

WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

THERE IS A FUTURE OFFICERS. WE ARE GETTING BUILDING PERMITS PULLED. WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PAY YOU. IT'S COMING.

BUT WE'RE STILL NOT WHERE WE SHOULD P. UNTIL WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE GOT TO GROW, WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO BE THAT LITTLE SMALL TOWN BECAUSE TRUST ME, THEY ARE NOT COMMITTING SMALL TOWN CRIMES AROUND HERE. THEY ARE COMMITTING CRIMES LIKE MIAMI AND JACKSONVILLE WHICH AND THEY GOT PORTS OVER THERE.

THEY GOT DEVELOPMENTS GOING ON OVER THERE.

THEY GOT CONDOS GOING UP WITH NO HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS.

THINGS ARE HAPPENING. WE GOT TO CHANGE FORT PIERCE.

WE GOT ALL THESE RESTRICTIONS. WITH OUR CONDOS.

PEOPLE AREN'T INTERESTING IN BUILDING FOUR STORY CONDOS.

THAT IS NOT ON A RIVER. IT'S SO MUCH WE NEED TO GO BACK AND REVAMP IF WE WANT TO KEEP ONE THE TIMES.

OR WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO ROB PETE TORE PAY PAUL.

THAT'S MY SPILL. THANK YOU.

>> I HEAR YOU AND I THINK WE WERE HEADING THAT WAY.

I THINK WE'VE ALL -- FORT PIERCE HAS BEEN ON THE VERGE BEFORE.

WE WERE AND ARE ON THE VERGE COVID STOPPED US ALL.

WE ALL HOPE TEMPORARILY. BUT YOU CAN'T TRACT BUSINESSES AND HAVE GOOD JOBS IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SAFE CITY.

THAT'S OUR NUMBER ONE SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE THIS OUT. AND I WOULD LIKE TO BE THE COMMISSION THAT FIGURES THIS OUT FOR ONCE AND FOR ALL.

THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAS DOGGED FORT PIERCE FOR A LONG TIME. I HAD ALREADY HAD A CONVERSATION WITH MR. MINIMUMS LONG BEFORE COVID 19.

LAST BUDGET-YEAR AND I SAID I'M NOT GOING THROUGH ANOTHER BUDGET YEAR UNLESS WE FIGURE THIS OUT ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HAVE OUR PAY TO BE COMMENSURATE WITH SURROUNDING AGENCIES SO

[01:55:01]

THAT THEY ARE NOT LURE ADD WAY AND WE HAVEN'T FIGURED THAT OUT.

I THINK THIS IS THE TIME TO DO IT.

>> I AGREE WITH YOU. IT GOES TO THE FORMULA I WAS TALKING ABOUT. IT'S THE TAKE HOME PAY, IT'S THE BENEFIT PACKAGE. WHAT THE TAXPAYERS ARE SAYING LET'S SPEND THE MONEY BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT OUT THERE ON THE FRONT LINE.

THEY ARE DOING THEIR JOBS LIKE YOU SAID.

THEY ARE ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEES AND THEY DIDN'T STOP BECAUSE COVID 19 CAME HERE. THEY DIDN'T STOP.

YET THE SAME BILL CAME IN FOR HEALTH INSURANCE.

THE SAME PAYMENT , THE SAME TAKE HOME PAY.

THE LITTLE AMOUNT OF TAKE HOME PAY.

BY NO MEANS I'M NOT NEGATING THE STARTING SALARY , THE STEP PLAN.

I'M LOOKING AT THE OVERALL FORMULA.

THE OVERALL PACKAGE. BECAUSE WHEN YOU START DOING ALL THE COMPARABLES, YOU WRITE DOWN PERCENTAGES THAT COME OUT.

THAT CAFETERIA STYLE PLAN. IT'S GOT TO BE CREATIVE, IT'S GOT TO BE DIFFERENT. THE FOLKS THAT WANT IT THEY PICK A PACKAGE. THE FOLKS THAT THANKSGIVING DON'T WE HAVE TO CHANGE IT UP. I'M HEARING ALL OF THAT TONIGHT AND THE EMAILS BEING SENT THEY ARE TALK ABOUT THAT AND THEY ARE ASKING FOR TO US DO THAT. THE OTHER PARTS, NICK I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU. IT GOES TO THE BUDGET SIDE.

THE LIABILITIES WHEN A PERSON RETIRES S IT JUST THE ONE YEAR RIGHT THEN LIABILITY ON THE BOOKS?

THAT'S ONE QUESTION I HAVE. >> IS THERE I HUGE PAYOUT OF OVER TIME AND SICK LEVER AND VACATION.

AND IT'S A ONE TIME PAYOUT. AND I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER SOME IS CALCULATED IN THE LAST RETIREMENT BENEFIT AND SOME ISN'T. THOSE PIECES AFFECT YOUR BUDGET.

IT'S DYNAMIC. YOU DON'T KNOW.

>> YOU TOUCHED #-D ON WITH THE RADIO TIME.

IT USED TO BE 2.5% OF SERVICE. I LOST TRACK OF TIME.

I REMEMBER THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I REMEMBER THE STORY YOU TOLD. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE MAGIC

HAPPENED AND IT WAS 3%. >> EVERYONE KNOWS AND LOVES STAFF. WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT FOR REAL. I DON'T HEAR THE DEPARTMENTS IN CITY HALL UP HERE SAYING I HAVE AN ISSUE.

I HAVE AN ISSUE. I'M NOT GETTING EMAILS FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT FOR INSTANCE.

NOT SAYING THEY SHOULDN'T. >> OR PUBLIC WORKS.

WHATEVER IT IS. AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE ASKING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN WE'RE ASKING THE FOLKS THAT COME TO CITY HALL.

THEY COME TO WORK WITH A DIFFERENT UNIFORM.

THEY COME TO WORK WAY DIFFERENT MENTALITY.

NOW AM I NEGATING ANYBODY THAT WORKS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT? HECK NO. I'M ONE OF THOSE I. WORK ON THE OTHER SIDE AT VIRGINIA AVENUE. I GET IT.

BUT IT'S DIFFERENT. IT'S DIFFERENT.

YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF LENSES.

IT'S THE LIABILITIES OF RETIREMENT.

AN EMPLOYEE LEAVING AND RETIREMENT , WHAT IS THE LIABILITY TO THE BUDGET AND TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT

INFRASTRUCTURE. >> IT VARIES.

IT DEPENDS. WE PAY OUT ACCRUAL.

WHATEVER THE ACCRUAL IS ON THE BOOKS.

THERE IS A CAP ON IT. THERE IS 240 HOURS OF VACATION, 720 SICK. THAT'S MAX.

THAT'S PAID OUT ON THAT. THE OVERTIME IS CAPPED AS WELL.

ALL OF THAT IS A CAP. IT DEPENDS ON HOWEVER MUCH THEY WANT TO CASH IN. WE CARRY THE LIABILITY ON OUR BOOKS UNTIL THE EMPLOYEE RETIRES.

SO THERE IS A LIABILITY THAT THE CITY HAS ON ITS BOOKS THAT IS PAID OUT ONCE THE EMPLOYEE RETIRES.

IT HITS THE DEPARTMENT BUDGET ONCE THAT EMPLOYEE RETIRES.

[02:00:02]

>> IN FULL. HOW ABOUT THE 185 PLAN PAYOUT VERSUS CITY RETIREMENT PLAN PAYOUT.

THE 185 NEVER HITS OUR BUDGET AT ALL.

THAT'S A SEPARATE PLAN. THE STATE ONLY MAKES THIS CONTRIBUTION. IT'S A SEPARATE PLAN TO THEM.

THE PAYOUT TO THEM IS 100% OF WHAT THEY CONTRIBUTED BASED ON WHAT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THEY HAVE IN THE PLAN.

IT'S A TOTALLY SEPARATE PLAN THAT THE CITY HAS NO LIABILITY FOR AT ALL. ONLY THING WE WORK AS A THIRD PARTY FIDUCIARY TO PASS THE MONEY OVER WHOM EVER THEY CHOSE TO BE THE PERSONS WHO ADMINISTERED THAT PLAN FOR THEM.

>> LET'S SAY I'M AN EMPLOYEE AT ANOTHER AGENCY.

THOSE GROUPS VOTE ON THAT PERCENTAGE OR IS IT A CUMULATIVE

GROUP IN THE 185 PLAN? >> WELL THEY HAVE A BOARD AND THEY NOMINATE WHO THEIR REPRESENTATIVES ARE ON THIS BOARD. THEY DECIDE OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES DECIDE FOR THE BEST WHAT IS BEST FOR THE WHOLE AS TO HOW MUCH THAT THEY WERE GOING TO CONTRIBUTE AT THE TIME.

>> I APPRECIATE THAT INFORMATION.

I'M ASKING. I'M LEADING YOU WITH THE QUESTIONS. BUT THIS ONE IS DIFFERENT.

AND I'M LOOKING AT THIS FINAL FORMULA , THE TAKE HOME PAY , THE STARTING SALARY OR STEP INCREASE SALARIES.

HOW DO WE COMPARE WITH OUR RETIREMENT SYSTEM, THE 185, OUR RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND THEN THE TAKE HOME? THAT'S THE FORMULA. THOSE ARE THE PARTS AND PIECES.

X, Y AND Z CHANGING. >> IT'S 12.16%.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT OTHER AGENCIES LIKE FOR INSTANCE THE SHERIFF IS IN FRS SO THEY ONLY CONTRIBUTE 3% OF THEIR PAY.

CITY OF PORT ST. LUCY, THEY ONLY HAVE 195.

THEY HAVE THE GENERAL PLAN. NO MATTER WHAT THE ECONOMIC OR THE STOCK MARKET IS DOING, YOU GOT A GUARANTEED RETIREMENT AT THE END OF YOUR LIFE HERE AT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE.

>> THE TAXPAYER STILL HAS TO PAY.

THE TAX PAYER IS GOING TO PAY THE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO BRING THAT OFFICER OR THAT EMPLOYEE UP TO SAY THAT WHEN YOU RETIRE, WE ARE PROMISING YOU THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY BASED ON WHAT YOU ARE EARNING. AND THE EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTES 5.16% OF THEIR SALLIRY INTO THAT.

ARRIVESSERS HAVE THE 185 PLAN THAT IS A WHOLE ANOTHER RETIREMENT. YOU CAN LEAVE OUT WITH THIS GUARANTEED MONEY IN THE GENERAL. THEN YOU HAVE ALL THIS MONEY IN 185 THAT YOU'VE ACCUMULATED AS WELL.

IT'S JUST THEY'VE GOT THE TWO PLANS.

>> WE HAVE THE ONE. >> IT'STH IT'S DREAMY AT THE END OF 250 YEARS. IT HURTS FROM 0 TO 25.

>> THAT'S THE OPTION THEY CHOSE. THEY CHOSE THE TWO RETIREMENT

PLANS. >> YOU ARE SAYING THERE IS AN

OPTION? >> IF THEY WANT TO GIVE UP ONE,

YEAH? >> ON THAT SCENARIO, SO THE ONE THING YOU HAVE TO ADD INTO THAT IS BEING 25 YEARS OLD AND NOT CARING ABOUT YOUR RETIREMENT. I'VE BEEN THERE BEFORE.

NOW IT GETTING TO BE A BIG DEAL TO ME.

I'M SAYING THAT. WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS THAT I FEEL THAT WE ARE PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT FARTHER DOWN THE ROAD FROM WHERE WE WERE A YEAR AGO TALKING ABOUT THIS AND IDENTIFYING ALL THE ISSUES. I WANT TO GO ONE STEP FARTHER.

AND I WANT TO ASK THE CITY MANAGER HAVE YOU HEARD US AND CAN YOU COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT ENCOMPASSES EVERYTHING THAT WE DISCUSSED TODAY THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY LOOK AT AND ALL THESE

[02:05:02]

QUESTIONS THAT WE ARE ASKING ABOUT RETIREMENTS AND ABOUT HOSPITALIZATION, PASCALS AND STEP PLANS AND ALL OF THAT STUFF, CAN YOU COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT WE CAN WORK AT TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE IF WE CAN FUND HAD OR HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO FUND THIS. THAT'S THE NEXT STEP.

WE DIDN'T TAKE IT LAST YEAR. >> CAN I SAY IT IN ANOTHER WAY.

FIND A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS SIR.

>> EVERY YEAR. >> FIND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.

>> THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES, WE CAN COME UP WAY PLAN.

LET'S TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF STEPS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE.

I BELIEVE THIS FRIDAY I'VE BEEN NOTIFIED BY THE HR MANAGE THEY'RE WE HAVE SCHEDULED A NEGOTIATIONS WITH FLORIDA PBA.

THAT IS FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS. ALSO WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT WE'LL GET SOME SORT OF INDICATORS FROM THE COUNTY AND ALSO THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE WHERE WE'RE GOING TO STAND IN THE UP COMING FISCAL YEAR.

WE ANTICIPATE ANYWHERE FROM A TEN TO 15% REDUCTION IN REVENUES. SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO IDENTIFY HOW WE PERFORM AND PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT YOU ALL ARE EXPECTING OF US. AND AS YOU KNOW IN OUR STRATEGY PLAN THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS POLICE COMPENSATION AND RETAINING OUR OFFICERS. I BELIEVE I HEARD COMMISSIONER JOHNSON MENTION A 0 BASED BUDGET.

THAT MAY BE BENEFICIAL. I BELIEVE WE ARE TO LOOK AT A PERFORMANCE BASED BUDGET. YOU WENT THROUGH AN EXTENSIVE PRACTICE OF IDENTIFYING STRATEGIC GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.

IT'S UP TO US TO IDENTIFY FUNDING TO ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. IT GOING TO BE EXTRAORDINARILY TOUGH TO MEET ALL OF THOSE GOALS GOALS AND ACHIEVE THOSE MILESTONES THAT YOU VALUE SET. BUT THE ANSWER IS ABSOLUTELY WE CAN COME ONE A PLAN. IT MAY BE PAINFUL FOR SOME.

IF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT COMPENSATION IS THE PRIORITY AND YOU ARE TELLING US RIGHT NOW TO IDENTIFY THAT AND TO MOVE THESE OFFICERS IN THAT STEP, THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO.

YOU GIVE ME THAT DIRECTION, THAT'S WHAT WE'LL TAKE CARE OF.

>> COUNT ME IN. >> IF YOU WOULD DEFINE FOR US HOW WE IMPLEMENT THE CLEAN AND SAFE INITIATIVE IN THE CITY OF

FORT PIERCE. >> CLEAN AND SAFE INITIATIVE GENERATE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $300,000 ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.

I BELIEVE $1 ON THE UTILITY BILLS ON A MONTHLY BASIS.

WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS IDENTIFY SOME DEMOLITION AND SOME ABATEMENT THROUGH FORM OF LOT CLEARING THAT MONEY IS USED FOR.

ALSO I BELIEVE WE'RE USING IT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. IT IS NOT BASED FOR SALARIES.

IT IS FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TABLE CHIEF IDENTIFIED SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS FOR FACILITIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO UTILIZE THAT

FUNDING FOR. >> I ASK THAT AND I DIDN'T REMEMBER THE CAPITAL PART. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BUDGET FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WE SHOULD TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT AND MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT. THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING FOR AND WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH THE CHIEF EARLIER IS LOOKING AT THE BUDGETS. THE OTHER PARTS ARE JUST THE OVERALL CITY BUDGET. IF WE'RE INCREASING THE NEWNESS OF OUR FLEET. THEN WHAT OTHER CHANGES ARE ON THE BACKSIDE. MAINTENANCE COST CHANGE.

WE HAVE LESS IF WE'RE SPENDING $1,000 PER VEHICLE PER SIX MONTHS. WE'RE NOT SPENDING THAT ANYMORE.

>> THOSE HAVE BEEN USED TO PAY FOR THE FLEET LEASING PROGRAM.

>> SAVINGS USED TO FINANCE IT. >> IT'S KIND OF LIKE EVERY TIME YOU TRY TO TAKE SOMETHING AWAY IT'S LIKE NO NOW I NEED.

THIS GIVING DIRECTION AND RECEIVING DIRECTIONS.

[02:10:01]

ONE THING IS PRESENTATION. FOUR OR FIVE YEARS, OUR OFFICERS CAN'T WAIT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS. NOW THAT WE TALK ABOUT HOW BENEFICIAL WE WERE LAST YEAR. DOING OUR DAY-TO-DAY JOB TO RECRUIT THAT AND KEEP THE CITY GOING FORWARD.

I HEAR NUMBERS ARE 13 AND TWO RETIRED.

WHAT DO WE HAVE A CONTINGENT FUND FOR? WHAT IS THE PURPOSE FOR THAT? THAT IS NOT A WHOLE LOT.

>> YOU HAVE DECIDE WE SET ASIDE 10% OF OUR ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THAT YEAR. WE SET ASIDE 10% FOR EMERGENCY PURPOSES. WHEN WE ARE GOING OUT FOR DEBT OR RESTRUCTURING DEBT, IT'S PRUDENT PRACTICE FOR TO US MAKE SURE THAT WE IN THE EVENT THIS SOMETHING HAPPENS WE'VE GOT FUNDS THAT WE CAN PAY OUR DEBT BECAUSE THAT IS OUR FIRST RESPONSIBILITY WHEN WE'RE ANYTHING THAT IS ABOVE ANY SALARY OR ANYTHING. OUR FIRST THING WE BUDGET FOR IS DEBT REPAYMENT. WE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY THE DEBT AS WELL THAT IN THE EVENT SOMETHING

HAPPENS. >> I GOT ONE QUESTION IN YOUR TIME AT THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, HOW MANY YEARS YOU HAVE BEEN

HERE? >> HAS THE CITY EVER UTILIZED

BUDGET ON ANYTHING? >> NO, SIR, WE HAVE NOT.

>> I'M NOT TRYING TO FIND ANY FAULT IN THE CITY.

THAT'S A GREAT THING THAT THE CITY DOING.

YOU DIED HOW MUCH YOU WANT SET ASIDE FOR EMERGENCY PURPOSES.

I'M TRYING TO FIND AN AVENUE TODAY.

YOU GO NINE YEARS INSTEAD OF TEN, GOUDAING TO HAVE A CATASTROPHE. WE ARE IN ONE.

TALKING ABOUT THE CITY, IT GOING TO TOUCH EVERY HOUSEHOLD BEFORE IT'S OVER WITH. AND YOU SEND THESE OFFICERS OUT THERE ON THE FRONT LINE. TO PROTECT AN EVERYBODY IS.

[02:15:05]

I THINK WE NEED TO GET OUR PRIORITIES IN PLACE.

>> GOOD POINTS. GOOD POINTS.

I THINK WHAT COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER SAYING AND WE'RE ALL SAYING IS NOTHING IS SACK RED. AND SO I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THE HEALTH INSURANCE AND THE COST OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE AND SEE THAT HAS SEEMED TO BE SOMETHING BEYOND US TOUCHING IT, THE PROBING BROKER COMES AND SAYS THIS IS THE%. WE HAVE A MENU OF THINGS PEOPLE CAN CHOOSE F DIFFERENT PLANS AND THAT ALWAYS CREATED WITH THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. THAT'S ALL ON YOU ALL.

>> THE BROKER COMES AND GIVES US A PREMIUM COST.

I WILL SAY AS FAR AS OUR CURRENT PROVIDER, IT'S BEEN THE BEST WE COULD HAVE HOPED FOR. WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON AND WE'RE GETTING READY TO BUDGET, WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL NEXT WEEK WITH OUR ANNUAL CONFERENCE WHERE WE GET OUR RATE BY TELECONFERENCE OR ZOOM. WE'LL FIND THAT RATE.

IT'S GOING THE INCREASE. >> WILL YOU BRING TO US

PERCENTAGE? >> YES.

>> THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THAT IS ONE THING THAT MAKES THE PAY LESS. I KNOW THAT YOU ALL ANTICIPATE A CRISIS IN THE FUTURE. AS A RESULT OF WHAT IS GOING ON.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AS BAD AS WE THINK IT IS.

WHEN WE CAME TO A HALT THINGS WERE LOOKING VERY GOOD.

AND I GOT PEOPLE LIKE HOWARD AND STEVE BURNING MY PHONE OFF THE HOOK WANTING TO GET IN HERE AND START BUILDING STUFF ON THE BEACH. AVENUE D.

BRAND NEW BUILDINGS. THEY ARE JUST WAITING ON YOU ALL TO OPEN UP. THERE IS A TAX BASE THERE.

THERE IS SOME MONEY TO BE MADE. WE GOT TO GET THINGS BACK IN MOTION. START GETTING THE PERMITS SO THEY CAN START SIGNING SOME CHECKS OVER TO THAT YOUNG LOYD LADY OVER THERE IN ORANGE SO WE CAN PAY SOME OF THESE PEOPLE OUT HERE IN THE BLUE. IT NOT GOING TO BE AS BAD AS WE THINK IT IS. IT MAY BE A BLESSING IN DISGUISE. WATCH AND SEE.

WE WERE DOING WELL BEFORE IT HAPPENED.

WE GOT TO GET THAT MOMENTUM BACK UP.

I DON'T THINK IT GOING TO BE AS BAD AS WE ANTICIPATE.

TRY TO CONVINCE US TO KEEP MONEY ON RESERVE BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE MAY HOLD. WE DON'T WANT TO GO BANKRUPT.

IF WE DO, WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT YOU.

EVEN THOUGH WE MAKE THE DECISIONS.

I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AS BAD AS YOU THINK IT IS.

>> CAN'T SAY IT ANY CLEARER THAN THAT.

>> I'VE LEARNED THIS OVER THE YEARS.

CAN YOU GIVE US AN IDEA HOW LONG THIS IS GOING TO TAKE TO YOU MAKE A REPORT TO THIS COMMISSION SO WE CAN HAVE THAT LIVELY

DISCUSSION? >> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE MEETING WITH STAFF IS GOING TO BE MEETING WITH THE UNION ON FRIDAY. WE SHOULD HAVE PRELIMINARY NUMBERS OF THE COUNTY. BY MID JUNE AND BY THAT TIME HOPEFULLY WE CAN SIT DOWN AND CHURCH NUMBERS AND LOOK AT OUR PRIORITY OBJECTIVES AND DETERMINING HOW WE GET THERE.

WE'RE GOING TO BRING YOU AGAIN WE'RE GOING TO BRING YOU CHOICES. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A RECOMMENDATION THAT INCLUDES THIS COMPENSATION ADJUSTMENT IN EACH OF THE CHOICES. AND JUST A MATTER OF HOW WE GET THERE. I WOULD SAY PROBABLY MID TO LATE

JUNE. >> WE'RE IN OUR OWN BUDGET

PROCESS THEN ANYWAY. >> TYPICALLY WE HAVE A BUDGET WORKSHOP IN JULY. BUT I THINK THAT WE CAN HAVE SOMETHING REALISTICALLY CALCULATED AND DERIVED BY LATE

JUNE. >> BUT THIS IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE LOOKED AT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE WHOLE BUDGET.

>> ABSOLUTELY. >> IF I COULD ADD TO THAT.

THIS IS GOING TO PUT MORE WORK, MAYBE NOT.

MAYBE THE NUMBERS ARE THERE. I'M LOOKING AT LAST YEAR'S REPORT WHEN WE HAD OUR INFORMAL CONFERENCE AGENDA.

DON'T TAKE THIS NEGATIVELY. IT FELT LIKE THE MILL SARGE

[02:20:06]

INCREASE IT WAS ANSWER. I NEED THE IF THEN STATEMENTS FOR THIS COMMUNITY THAT SAYS IF WE KEEP THE MILLAGE THE SAME AND INCREASE THE PACKAGES FOR THE P.D. THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

IF WE DECREASE THE MILLAGE THIS YEAR AND WE START LOOKING AT ALL THE OTHER THINGS IN OUR BUDGET AND WE MAKE THE PD LET'S QUOTE IT WHOLE OR MAKE THE PACKAGE MORE ATTRACTIVE AND WE INCREASE THE SALARIES, THIS IS WHAT THE IF THEN STATEMENT S. AND THEN IF THERE IS A MILLAGE INCREASE OPTION.

THAT'S ALL I ASK. IF THEN STATEMENTS FOR ME.

>> SOUNDS GOOD. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT TOPIC.

IS THAT OK? >> ABSOLUTELY.

[14. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Any person who wishes to comment on any subject may be heard at this time. Please limit your comments to three (3) minutes or less, as directed by the Mayor, as this section of the Agenda is limited to thirty minutes. The City Commission will not be able to take any official actions under Comments from the Public. Speakers will address the Mayor, Commissioners, and the Public with respect. Inappropriate language will not be tolerated.]

>> NEXT ITEM IS COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.

THIS IS THE TIME FOR ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS US.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES AND YOU ARE GOING TO GET A WARNING.

THREE SECONDS. AND WELCOME.

>> WE'RE EXCITING YOU BROUGHT THIS AGAIN.

>> WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING OVER THE LAST YEAR YOU HAVE ANNEXED THE NORTH, SOUTH, EAST AND WEST. AND YET THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS EXPECTED TO. IT WAS A YEAR AGO.

AS I MENTIONED I WAS EXCITED. I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT TODAY THAT SOMETHING IS GOING TO BE DONE. BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT THE 25 YEAR RETIREMENT. AS IT LOOKED THEY ARE NOT MAKING IT TO FIVE YEAR RETIREMENT. I'M EXCITED AND I KNOW YOU ALL ARE GOING TO DO THE LIGHTNING HAVE THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT BE THE BEST IT CAN BE AND PAID THE BEST IN THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU MA'AM.

>> NEXT. GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

>> WOULD YOU SIGN IN FOR US PLEASE?

>> STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.

>> I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF FIRST RESPONDERS CELEBRATION WEEK.