[Call to Order]
[00:00:59]
>> GOT ISSUE. >> BLESS IF YOUFPUA'S EMPLOYEES AND KEEP US IN YOUR CARE IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.
>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> (ROLL CALL).
[Item A]
>> IS THERE A MOTION TO SET THE AGENDA?
>> SO MOVED. >> CALL THE ROLL.
>> (ROLL CALL). >> I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE
[Item B]
>> I SECOND. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> MR. BAY -- (ROLL CALL). >> ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? SING ON, I BELIEVE MR. TOMPECK HAS SOMETHING HE WANTS TO SEND THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[Consent Agenda]
>> JUST ONE QUICK CORRECTION THAT THE EAGLE EYES OF MAYOR HUDSON PICKED UP IT HAS TO DO WITH ITEM D 4 TALKS ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE PLAN FOR THE PERIOD STARTING JUNE 30 FIFTH AND IT'S
ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO BE JUNE 3. >> THIRD OR 30TH?
>> 30. >> OKAY. WE JUST DON'T WANT
THAT TO GO ON AND ON. >> OKAY. ANY OTHER ITEMS ON
THE CONSENT AGENDA? >> SOME OF APPROVAL.
>> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> (ROLL CALL).
[Item E]
>> LETTERS OF APPRECIATION. A CUSTOMER SERVICE, CARD WAS RECEIVED FROM REBECCA ANDERSON STATING HER SATISFACTION WITH MR. RAUL BARRERA OF CUSTOMER SERVICE SAYING HE GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND HIS PATIENT, INTELLIGENT AND KIND. IN THE WATER DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT RECEIVED A CALL FROM LINDA O'QUINN WHO WANTED TO GIVE KUDOS TO OMAR FOOTE FOR THE SERVICE HE RENDERED AT 1007 W. STREET IN RESOLVING HER WATER ISSUE, HER LEAK ISSUE. EXCUSE
ME. >> THANK YOU. NEW BUSINESS,
[Item G1]
MR. TOMPECK HE. >> I WANTED TO GIVE THE BOARD A QUICK UPDATE ON COVID 19. FPUA IS CLOSELY MONITORING THE CASES IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY. OVER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS THE NUMBER OF CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY. WE'VE REINFORCED OUR IN HOUSE PROTOCOLS INCLUDING ISOLATION OF PERSONNEL. WE ARE ALLOWING SOME IN-STATE TRAVEL, BUT OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL IS SUSPENDED. WE CONTINUE TO STRESS SOCIAL DISTANCING AND THE USE OF MASKS WHERE SOCIAL DISTANCING IS NOT POSSIBLE.
WITH A HANDFUL OF EXCEPTIONS, ALL EMPLOYEES RETURNED TO WORK AS OF JUNE 8. FOR YOUR INFORMATION WE'VE EXPENDED APPROXIMATELY 270 HOURS RELATED TO THE FAMILIES FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE LOBBY REOPENED ON MAY 20. NEW TRAFFIC FLOW
[00:05:07]
THROUGH THE BUILDING IS WORKED WELL. A NUMBER OF PEOPLE USING THE LOBBY IS OFF ABOUT 80 PERCENT FROM THE VISITS PRIOR TO CLOSING THE LOBBY IN MARCH WHILE DRIVE-THROUGH VISITS ARE UP ABOUT 46 PERCENT WHICH OBVIOUSLY MAKES PRETTY GOOD SENSE. IT'S TOO EARLY TO PREDICT THAT THIS IS A LONG-TERM TREND, BUT WE WILL WATCH IT. YOU ALSO HAD A LOT MORE USE OF THE KIOSK OUTSIDE AND ALSO ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS.OUR LATEST COLLECTION STATUS SHOWS WE ARE RUNNING THREE PERCENT BEHIND THE SAME PERIOD FROM LAST YEAR WHICH EQUATES TO ABOUT $1,240,000. SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, WE WERE AS HIGH AS 1.7 MILLION BEHIND IN COLLECTIONS. THIS NUMBER SEEMS TO HAVE STABILIZED OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS AND WE ARE NOT LOSING MORE GROUND, WHICH IS A GOOD THING. AS YOU ARE AWARE, WE'VE OFFERED NO INTEREST PAYMENT PLANS FOR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS FOR 12 MONTHS AND SIX MONTHS FOR COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS. TO DATE 223 RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS HAVE APPROVED PAYMENT PLANS, WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT $105,000 AND 18 COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS HAVE PAYMENT PLANS WHICH AMOUNTS TO ABOUT $34,000. WE ARE ALSO OFFERING ASSISTANCE THROUGH MUSTARD SEED. SO FAR -- THESE NUMBERS ARE CHANGING ALMOST TO THE HOUR. SO FAR 36 VOUCHERS FOR $11,500 HAVE BEEN PROCESSED THROUGH MUSTARD SEED AND 15 DOCTORS HAVE BEEN PROCESSED THROUGH LB. APPROXIMATELY 80 APPLICATIONS ARE IN PROCESS. AS YOU KNOW WE PUT ASIDE OF A TOTAL OF $100,000 FOR THIS PROGRAM. AND WE'VE BEEN ACTIVELY PUSHING THE PROGRAMS TO HELP OUR CUSTOMERS. WE HAVE 56 RADIO SPOTS IN WQCS 88.9 AND W FML -- FLM ADVERTISING THESE PROGRAMS. WE PUSH THESE PROGRAMS ON FACEBOOK, FPUA.COM AND IN BILL INSERTS. TWO WEEKS AGO THE FITCH RATING SERVICE PERFORMED A STRESS TEST ON FPUA TO DETERMINE THE FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF COVID 19 OF THESE WOULD MODIFY OUR CREDIT RATING. THEY WERE PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON CONSUMPTION AND OUR CONSUMPTION REALLY HASN'T CHANGED. THE MODEL THEY DEVELOPED FOR FPUA DID NOT MODIFY OR LEVERAGE RATIO I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE PASSED THE STRESS TEST AND OUR RATING WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED.
>> THE LAST ITEM HAS TO DO WITH THE NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS ELIGIBLE FOR DISCONNECTION, THAT HAS RISEN TO ABOUT 1600. THE EXPOSURE ASSOCIATED WITH 1600 DISCONNECTIONS IS ABOUT $720,000. NOW, THAT IS $720,000 AND WE HAVE CASH OR BOND DEPOSITS THAT COVER 660,000 OF THAT AMOUNT. THAT ESSENTIALLY MEANS THAT OUR CURRENT EXPOSURE RIGHT NOW IS ABOUT $60,000, WHICH ISN'T TOO BAD. THAT NUMBER WILL INCREASE TO APPROXIMATELY 275,000 AS THE BALANCE OF DEPOSITS ARE EXHAUSTED THIS MONTH WE ARE ASSUMING THAT NO PAYMENTS WILL BE MADE. THAT NUMBER WILL INCREASE TO 323,000 EACH MONTH AFTER THAT, ASSUMING THAT THE PAYMENTS ARE MADE. SO, WE NEED TO THINK AND WE NEED TO START DISCONNECTING CUSTOMERS TO HOLD THESE NUMBERS IN CHECK. WE'VE LOOKED AT WHATEVER MUNICIPAL UTILITIES ARE DOING AROUND THE STATE WITH THE FOLLOWING RESULTS. GAINESVILLE WILL START DISCONNECTS ON JULY 17.
LAKELAND STARTED DISCONNECTS YESTERDAY. OCALA STARTED DISCONNECTS TODAY, JDA, WHICH HAS 24,000 DISCONNECTS ARE GOING TO START ON JULY 7 AND LAKE WORTH IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED TO START DISCONNECTS ON JULY 1.
BASED ON THE GROWING EXPOSURE FROM THE NUMBER OF DISCONNECTS, STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT WE START DISCONNECTIONS ON JULY 13. THIS STILL GIVES OUR CUSTOMERS ALMOST A MONTH TO WORK OUT A PAYMENT PLAN OR APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE FROM MUSTARD SEED OR LP. AND I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM IF THE BOARD WISHES TO WEIGH IN.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. IF WE DO JULY 13, WHAT WE START RIGHT AWAY TELLING PEOPLE THAT'S THE
DEADLINE. >> YES. AS SOON AS WE AGREE ON THE DATE. YES. WE WILL START TELLING THEM TOMORROW.
>> RIGHT. AND THEN AT SOME POINT, IF THEY DON'T DEAL WITH A -- WOULD THERE BE CALLS AND EVERYTHING LOGIN SO WE CAN PROVE THAT WE REALLY MADE A HUGE EFFORT TO REACH OUT TO THEM AND WORK SOMETHING OUT OR REMIND THEM, ETC.
>> YES, I WILL. >> MADAM CHAIR.
>> YES, SIR. >> I'M PROBABLY GOING TO DO MY COMMENTS AT THE END FOR THE BOARD, BUT I'LL MAKE A COMMENT NOW. IT'S A GOOD SENSE THING
[00:10:07]
THAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU GOT 1600 PERSONS OR CUSTOMERS IN DANGER OF GETTING THEIR LIGHTS CUT, SOMEONE FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE HOW TO BE GIVEN AN ASSIGNMENT TO MAKE THOSE WHO HAVE PHONE CALLS AND ALSO, TELL THEM THAT THEY NEED TO GO TO ONE OF THOSE TWO AGENCIES TO GET SOME ASSISTANCE. I MEAN, ON ONE AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE TRYING TO HELP THEM. ON THE OTHER HAND WE ARE LETTING THEM GET BOGGED DOWN IN DEEP FINANCIAL MUD.>> WILL I THINK WE WILL MAKE OUR -- WE WILL CERTAINLY DO OUR BEST TO CONTACT THE CUSTOMERS AND ONCE AGAIN, GO OVER THE OPTIONS. WE HAVE -- LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE ADVERTISED BOTH THE PROGRAMS PRETTY EXTENSIVELY AND I WILL CERTAINLY MAKE ONE MORE ATTEMPT TO GET WITH THEM
AND GET THEM TO COME ON IN. >> THE OTHER PART OF THAT, IS THAT WE WANT TO NOT HAVE A SAVINGS ACCOUNT AT THE END OF -- FOR WHATEVER DURATION OF TIME YOU'VE GOT YOU SAID SIX MONTHS, YEAR, WE DO WANT MUSTARD STEVE -- SEED TO COME TO A ZERO BALANCE. THE WAY YOU DO THAT IS DONE HOPPING MOVEMENT TO ENCOURAGE CUSTOMERS
TO GO SEE THEM. >> WE AGREE. AND I DON'T WANT THIS TO SOUND WRONG BUT ONE OF THE WAYS OF INCENTIVIZING THE PEOPLE TO GO TO MUSTARD SEED IS TO ANNOUNCE THEY WERE GOING TO CUT OFF CUSTOMERS AGAIN, UNFORTUNATELY.
>> YOU COULD PUT IT -- EXCUSE ME.
>> YOU COULD PUT IN THE SAME ANNOUNCEMENT IS THAT RIGHT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> WELL AND DON'T YOU ALSO SEND LIKE A PINK SLIP AND CORDED YOU PUT ON THAT PINK SLIP THAT THEY CAN SEE MUSTARD SEED OR ALFIE
FOR HELP? >> I THINK I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WORK THROUGH THE LOGISTICS BUT I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR WILL DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO ONCE AGAIN GO BACK AND REMIND THEM AGAIN AND GIVE THEM SOME OPTIONS.
>> EVEN IF YOU -- SO THAT YOU WOULD NOT HAVE TO REPRINT ALL THAT BECAUSE MAYBE IT'S GENERATED BY THE COMPUTER, BUT YOU COULD HAVE AN INSERT, OKAY, SOLEMN SAYING.
>> MADAM CHAIR? IS THERE -- MR. TOMPECK, THAT IS A MONDAY, THE 13TH. SO ME DID YOU CHOOSE
A MONDAY PARTICULARLY. >> I DID CHOOSE A MONDAY. WE
CAN -- THE DATES. >> DID YOU HAVE A REASON FOR
THAT. >> I DID NOT HAVE A REASON FOR THAT. WE TALKED TO OUR BOUND TOW BOND COUNSEL LITTLE BIT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, WE ARE ACTUALLY -- IT IS NOT A BIG DEAL BUT WE ARE IN VIOLATION OF OUR BOND COVENANTS BECAUSE THEY REQUIRE US TO CUT AFTER 60 DAYS. WE TALKED TO ABOUTBOND COUNSEL ABOUT THAT AND THEY SAID THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD BASED ON THE EMERGENCY ORDERS THAT ARE OUT THERE BY GOVERNOR DESANTIS THAT WE ARE OKAY BY DOING IT BECAUSE OF THOSE EXECUTIVE ORDERS. I THINK THE NEXT EXECUTIVE ORDER EXPIRES I THINK THE NEXT EXECUTIVE ORDER EXPIRES JULY 8 OR THEREABOUTS.
>> AND SO, WILL THINK ABOUT IT RIGHT AFTER THAT. AND THAT IS PRIMARILY WHY I VOTED JULY 13.
THERE WASN'T ANY OTHER DEEP RATIONALE FOR DOING IT.
>> THAT WOULD BE END OF DAY THAT DAY?
>> YES. >> WELL JUST -- WE CAN MAKE IT
INTO THE DAY. THAT'S FINE. >> THAT JUST MEANS THE DISCONNECTS WOULD NOT HAPPEN ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
>> NO. WE WOULDN'T DO THAT. >> MADAM CHAIR, LET'S MOVE WITH ANOTHER COMMON SENSE LOT. WE HAVE A CUSTOMER THAT THE LIGHT BILL IS SAY ROUGHLY $265. WERE GOING TO CUT THAT PERSON? WHEN WE CAN -- I THINK I HEARD SOMEWHERE THEY'LL PAY UP TO
$400 IN MY RIGHT? >> WELL THAT IS WHAT WE -- THOSE ARE THE GUIDELINES THAT WE GAVE MUSTARD SEED AND THAT WILL BE UP TO $400 THAT'S
RIGHT. >> YOU'RE TONING IT DOWN TO HUNDRED 50 OR WHATEVER, THOSE TO BE THE ONES CUSTOMER SERVICE WILL BE CALLED IN FIRST? SO YOU SEE THEY MET WHILE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT THAT DEEP.
>> I AGREE. YOU TAKE 1600 PEOPLE, YOU GROUP THEM IN ONE BARREL, BUT THERE'S A GOODHEARTED PERSON IN THAT ALL THEY NEED TO BE HELPED OUT ONE TIME. THERE'S ANOTHER ONE WHOSE LATE ALWAYS LADEN THOSE ARE THE ONES WHO PROBABLY NEED TO WORK ON A MOVEMENT. BUT I'M DISAGREEING WITH MUSTARD SEED HAVING ANY LEFTOVER MONIES WHEN YOU HAVE CUSTOMERS IN TROUBLE.
>> I AGREE. >> WE CAN WORK THAT OUT WITH SOME COMMUNICATION, PHONE CALL, I MEAN.
[00:15:15]
>> I AGREE WITH YOU. THE POINT IS THAT CUSTOMERS NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE ENOUGH TO COME IN AND WORK OUT A PAYMENT PLAN OR GO TO MUSTARD SEED AND LP.
>> AND MR. CHAIRMAN, MADAM CHAIR, I'M SORRY. YOU HAVE TO -- THEY HAVE CERTAIN
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. >> THEY DO.
>> SO WHOEVER GOES TO THEM FOR HELP NEEDS TO MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS WHICH ARE NOT STRICT OR ANYTHING. THEY ARE REQUIREMENTS. YOU HAVE TO BE A ST. LUCIE COUNTY RESIDENT. AND
THERE'S SOME OTHER THINGS. >> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> MR. TOMPECK, ARE THERE ANY OTHER STATE, LOCAL, FEDERAL PROGRAMS THAT YOU MAY BE OVERLOOKING THAT WE COULD DIRECT PEOPLE TO WHO MAY NOT -- THE BOTTOM LINE MAY BE THAT THEY HAVE TO BE DISCONNECTED BECAUSE THEY CAN'T PAY.
>> NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY GO BACK AND DO A LITTLE MORE RESEARCH AND SEE IF THERE'S ANOTHER AVENUE AVAILABLE.
>> EXCUSE ME, SIR. >> BECAUSE I -- WHEN I LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS AND I SAW THAT THERE WERE 1600 PEOPLE THAT WERE -- THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE DISCONNECTED, I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. THE LAST THING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE PERSONALLY 1600 OF OUR RATEPAYERS DISCONNECT -- A THOUSAND, 500, ANY NUMBER, IT'S TOO MANY. BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN, WE -- WE ARE RUNNING A BUSINESS. AND WE HAVE TO COLLECT. AND THE SAD PART ABOUT IT IS THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT WILL SUFFER. AND SO IF THERE'S ANY OTHER -- IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER OPTIONS OR ANY OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO ASSIST SOME OF OUR GREAT PAYERS, I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF DOING THAT RESEARCH.
>> WILL LOOK INTO IT. THANK YOU.
>> MADAM CHAIR, DO WANT TO GO AHEAD.
>> MADAM CHAIR MY CONCERN IS WHAT THE DIRECTORS SAID IN THE BOND REQUIREMENT, DOES THE BOND REQUIREMENT SAY WE PUNISH BY THOSE WHO DON'T PAY?
>> IT DOESN'T DIFFERENTIATE TO BUY THE HOUSE AND PAY FOR 60 DAYS IS SUPPOSED TO BE CUT OFF.
>> OKAY. >> I WANTED TO TELL YOU DARRELL THAT THE CITY HAD PROGRAMS FOR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES TO APPLY FOR AND THEY COULD USE IT FOR MORTGAGE PAYMENTS OR UTILITY PAYMENTS. WE DID HAVE SOME. AND THERE MIGHT BE A NEW ROUND OF THEM. I'M NOT SURE SHE GAVE A BRIEF REPORT LAST NIGHT AND I'M NOT SURE THE DETAILS. SO THE CITY DOES HAVE A PROGRAM AND I THINK THE COUNTY DOES, TOO. THERE ARE
LOCAL PROGRAMS. >> THERE ARE FEDERAL PROGRAMS.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WELL -- THE IDLE LOANS 25 PERCENT OF THAT CAN BE USED FOR UTILITY.
NOW IT GOES INTO THE BUSINESSES POT OF MONEY AND THAT IT'S UP TO THE BUSINESS TO SPEND IT APPROPRIATELY, TO BE USED FOR SALARIES AND FOR -- FOR UTILITIES. SO PAYROLL TAXES
ALSO. >> THAT WAS THE SAME WITH THE LOCAL -- THEY SAY THEY'RE GOING TO USE IT FOR THE UTILITIES BUT WE HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING IF THAT'S IN THE END WHAT THEY DO.
ALTHOUGH WE TELL THEM THERE IS AN AUDIT BECAUSE WERE USING FEDERAL FUNDS MONEY. THEY PROMISE THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT.
>> MADAM CHAIR? >> I KNOW IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'VE HAD AN ACTUAL PROBLEM TRYING TO ENTICE RATE PAYERS OR GET RATEPAYERS TO BE INVOLVED IN OUR WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM. AND I THINK WE MAY HAVE SOME FUNDS AVAILABLE. AND I WOULD BE IN FAVOR, AS A WAY OF TRYING TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CUTOFFS. WE HAVE THESE PEOPLE IN THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM. THEY'VE ALREADY BE QUALIFIED. WE'VE DONE ALL THE VETTING AND SO IF THERE ARE CUSTOMERS IN THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM THAT ARE HAVING A PROBLEM, THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR THE MONEY IF WE DECIDE AS A BOARD WE WOULD WANT TO DO THAT. I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF THAT.
>> BUT AGAIN, IT WOULD RUN THROUGH MUSTARD SEED OR SOMEBODY ELSE VETS THEM,
CORRECT? >> I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE
EASIEST WAY TO DO IT. >> BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE
STAFF OF THE QUALIFICATIONS. >> THEY'VE ALREADY DONE IT.
[00:20:02]
>> BUT I THOUGHT THAT ONCE THERE ANY, THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT.
>> EVERYBODY -- AND CORRECT ME IF I'M INCORRECT. EVERYONE IS INVOLVED IN THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM AND HAVE TO BE VETTED AND MEET A CERTAIN CRITERIA. THAT'S BEEN DONE ALREADY.
>> ARE YOU TALKING SPECIFICALLY FOR USING THOSE FUNDS FOR CUSTOMERS THAT ARE SUFFERING MORE IN GENERAL FOR ANYBODY THAT SUFFERING.
>> FOR WE OPT CUSTOMERS. BECAUSE WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT THAT. JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION, I THINK THERE'S ABOUT $90,000 AND WE HAVE MONEY THAT'S AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW.
PLUS ARM. >> SO IT WOULD BE PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THEIR HOMES WEATHERIZED. I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
>> WE NEED TO GET RID OF THE MONEY BECAUSE WE DON'T NEED TO --
>> I COULD HELP SOMEBODY. >> PLUS WE NEED TO GET MORE MONEY FOR THE PROGRAM GOING FORWARD. SO YOU'RE NOT GONNA WANT TO PUT THE MONEY BACK IF WE DON'T SPEND IT. LET'S SPEND THE MONEY WE CAN'T GIVE IT AWAY FOR WEATHERIZATION. LET'S GIVE
IT AWAY FOR UTILITY. >> MADAM CHAIR, HOW MUCH MONEY IS LEFT FOR MUSTARD SEED IN THE OTHER PROGRAMS?
>> IT LOOKS LIKE MUSTARD SEED WAS 80,000 IN THE ORIGINAL HUNDRED THOUSAND B1.
>> IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS WE'VE ONLY HAD ABOUT 20 PERCENT.
>> THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN OUT THERE QUITE THAT LONG. AND LIKE I MENTIONED, WE'VE GOT A BUNCH OF APPLICATIONS NOW IN PROCESS. THE MONEY SHOULD PICK UP PRETTY QUICKLY I WOULD
IMAGINE. >> AND ALSO, IF THEY REALIZE ARE ABOUT TO GET DISCONNECTED A LOT OF THEM WILL GO DOWN AND APPLY.
>> THAT'S MY NEXT FOLLOW-UP QUESTION. YOU MENTIONED WERE IN DEFAULT ON THE BOND REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE CORRUPT AND 60 DAYS; IS THAT CORRECT.
>> ARE BEING FLEXIBLE RIGHT NOW GIVEN THE CURRENT CLIMATE. BUT HOW FLEXIBLE DO YOU THINK OUR BOND LENDERS WILL BE IF LET'S SAY INSTEAD OF CUTTING THEM OFF, JULY I THINK YOU MENTIONED THE 13TH. WE WILL JUST GO TO JULY 30.
>> I DON'T THINK THAT WILL BE A PROBLEM FOR THE BOUNDBOND COUNSEL. YOU CAN SEE EVERYBODY ELSE HAS A SIMILAR REQUIREMENT AND THERE ARE BOND COVENANTS AND THERE DOING IT. THAT
WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM. >> PERSONALLY I PREFER THEM TO GET A FORMAL LETTER AT LEAST 30 DAYS OUT. WITH THE FOLLOW-UP OF AT LEAST 10 DAYS OUT. I THINK IT GIVES THEM PLENTY OF NOTICE TO RESPOND AND YOU ALSO HAVE SOMETHING IN THERE THAT DIRECTS THEM TO MUSTARD SEED OR SOME OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS. AND PERHAPS OF GIVE US ANOTHER TIME TO SEE IF WHETHER THE OTHER MONEY CAN BE ROLLED INTO HELP SUPPLEMENT THE MUSTARD SEED MONEY. IF POSSIBLE. I'M JUST SHOOTING FROM THE HIP.
>> THE 30TH IS A THURSDAYS I WOULD YOU SAID THE 30TH?
>> 30TH. >> ARE MAY BE MOVING UP TO THE MONDAY. SO SOMEBODY THOUGHT -- OR MOVE IT UP. JULY 27. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
>> THE GONNA PIGGYBACK ON AN ALTERNATIVE FEE. I THINK IT'S GOOD. IN THAT LETTER, WE JUST NEED TO BE TELLING THEM YOU ARE -- YOU'RE GOING TO BE CUT OFF. HOWEVER, AND THEY'RE SUGGESTING PLEASE CALL THIS NUMBER GO SEE -- AND PLEASE DO THIS WITH FIVE DAYS OF THIS LETTER 10 DAYS OF
THE LETTER SOMETHING. >> GET YOUR APPLICATION PROCESSED OR MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ZERO PAY INTEREST LOAN OR MAKE SOME KIND OF ARRANGEMENTS.
>> WE CAN DO THAT. >> NOW LET'S DO SOME ARITHMETIC. WE'VE GOT ROUGHLY 90,000 OVER THE WEATHERIZATION. WE'VE GOT 80,000 OVER AND
WEATHERIZATION. >> THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE MONEY,
RIGHT? >> THE HUNDRED THOUSAND WE PUT IN A MUSTARD SEED NOW BEING WE SPENT 20 OF IT AND WE COULD USE THE 90,000 -- RIGHT.
>> SO, WE SHOULD NOT HAVE THAT MANY PERSONS IN DANGER IF WERE TRYING TO REALLY PUSH THEM. WE ARE TRYING TO PUSH THEM TO GET THE MONEY. THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE. AND TELL THEM IN THE LETTER THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY BACK. MAYBE THEY THINK THERE'S A TRICK IN THE CURVE THERE. MADAM CHAIR, ONE THING FOR SURE, IN AUGUST, NO ONE WANTS TO BE WITHOUT ELECTRICITY. I THINK THAT MIGHT SPELL IT OUT IN THE LETTER AS WELL. AUGUST IS
[00:25:07]
>> SO YOU'D LIKE TO GO WITH JULY 27?
>> I LIKE JULY 27.). >> HOW WE GET TO JULY 27.
>> THEY WANT TO FOUR MONTHS NOTICE. THAT GIVES TIME FOR THE LETTER AND ON MONDAY SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY DISCONNECTED ON A THURSDAY NIGHT THAT DOESN'T HAVE TIME TO GET RECONNECTED TO THE WEEKEND. IN AUGUST. ALL RIGHT. DOES THAT DO IT?
>> DO WE NEED A MOTION OR DO WE NEED TO VOTE ON THAT.
>> I DON'T BELIEVE SO. YOU TOLD ME WHAT YOU WANT, I'LL DO IT.
[Item G2]
>> WE HAVE CONSENSUS. >> OKAY MR. TOMPECK, ITEM
NUMBER TWO. >> REQUEST BOARD AUTHORIZATION FOR STAFF TO CONTINUING NEGOTIATION OF CONTRACTS FOR ELECTRIC AND GAS SYSTEMS. AND LARRY LAMBERT WILL MAKE THE PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU MR. TOMPECK. SO IN A FEW MOMENTS, LIKE JOHN JUST MENTIONED, WE ARE GOING TO BE ASKING FOR THE BOARD TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO ENTER NEGOTIATIONS WITH ENGINEERING FIRMS WHO WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE CONTINUE SERVICES CONTRACTS WITH. BUT BEFORE I GET THERE, I JUST WANT TO TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO DESCRIBE THE PROCESS THAT WE TRAVELED LONG TO GET TO THIS POINT. AND BASICALLY IT STARTED WHEN WE IDENTIFIED THAT ARE EXISTING CONTRA OR FIRMS TO BACK AS FAR AS 1986. SO IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE HAD SOME UPDATED CONTRACTS AND NOTE THAT THERE IS NECESSARILY ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT, BUT OUR GOAL IS TO GIVE THE BEST SERVICE WE CAN TO OUR CUSTOMERS. SO IN ORDER TO DO THAT, IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO GO OUT INTO THE INDUSTRY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT KIND OF SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS WE HAVEN'T TAPPED INTO YET. SO WE DID THAT AND IN MARCH WE RECEIVED BACK 14 RESPONSES FROM ENGINEERING FIRMS AND SURVEYORS. AND OUT OF THOSE 14, WE PUT THEM IN A SQUARE MATRIX AND DETERMINED THERE WAS POTENTIALLY 11 THAT WE COULD -- AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, USE FOR VARIOUS PROJECTS THAT WE MIGHT NEED ENGINEERING SERVICES ABOVE OUR EITHER EXPERTISE OR TIME THAT WOULD ALLOW IN-HOUSE ENGINEERING STAFF TO ACCOMPLISH SOME OF THOSE THINGS. SO THAT'S WHAT WE ARE HERE TO PRESENT TO YOU IS JUST TO GET YOUR PERMISSION TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH THOSE 11 DIFFERENT FIRMS AND BEFORE I ASK FOR OFFICIAL PERMISSION, I DO WANT TO SAY THAT WITHOUT THE HELP OF NANCY AND JOSH OVER IN OUR RISK MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT FOR THE ENGINEERING STAFF ALONE TO NAVIGATE ALL THE NUANCES ASSOCIATED WITH THE FLORIDA STATE STATUTES. SO WITH THAT ALL BEING SAID, THE STAFF WOULD LIKE PERMISSION TO NEGOTIATE CONTRACTS FOR CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING AND DESIGN BUILD SERVICES RELATED TO ELECTRIC AND GAS SYSTEMS WITH THE SELECTED FIRMS. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY.
>> QUESTIONS? IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> I SECOND.
>> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. >> (ROLL CALL).
>> THANK YOU. >> THE NEXT ITEM IS THE MARCH
[Item G3]
2020 QUARTERLY RESULTS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. AND BARBARA MIKA WILL MAKE THE PRESENTATIONMADAM CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS, GOOD AFTERNOON. I WILL BE PRESENTING FOR YOU TODAY THE FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR THE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2020. MARCH BROUGHT US HERE TODAY TO INCREASE IN OUR DEPOSITION AFTER THE ADJUSTMENT FOR THE DISTRIBUTION TO THE CITY OF
[00:30:07]
1,320,000. IT WAS -- THE NET POSITION CHANGE WAS 4 MILLION -- WE MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT FOR CITY DISTRIBUTION THAT HAVE NOT BEEN EXPENSED YET. WE HAD YEAR TO DATE OPERATING INCOME THAT WAS DOWN 1,718,000. PART OF THAT WAS DUE TO GUARANTEEING REVENUE CHARGES THAT WERE COLLECTED FOR THE CAPACITY REDUCTIONS IN 2019. IN ADDITION, WE HAD SOME INCREASE IN EXPENSES IN WE HAD SOME INCREASE IN EXPENSES IN 2024 -- WITH REGARD TO SALARIES AND WAGES. THE TYPICAL AREAS OF EMPLOYEES INSURANCE AND MAINTENANCE SERVICE CONTRACTS THESE EXPENSES RENTAL A BIT HIGHER FOR THE SIX MONTH YEAR TO DATE. HERE WE HAVE THE ELECTRIC OPERATING REVENUES LESS POWER COSTS IN COMPARISON TO THE CONSUMPTION. WE CAN SEE THE FOR 2019, THE REVENUES LESS POWER COSTS ARE UP TWO PERCENT. ABOUT HUNDRED $83,000 FROM 2018. AND THE CONSENT -- CONSUMPTION WAS UP ABOUT THREE PERCENT. MOVING FORWARD IN 2020, THE REVENUES WERE BACK DOWN TO WHERE THEY WERE NOW WERE DOWN ABOUT THREE PERCENT.$293,000 DOWN FROM 2018. IN THE CONSUMPTION ALSO FELL SO IT WAS CORRELATED TO THREE PERCENT DECREASE IN CONSUMPTION FOR THE SIX MONTHS TO DATE.
HERE WE HAVE WATER OPERATING REVENUES IN CONSUMPTION. FOUR 2019 THE OPERATING REVENUES ARE UP 10 PERCENT. THE PAST 780,000 FROM 2018. AND WE HAVE CONSUMPTION, WHICH WAS ALSO UP ABOUT SIX PERCENT FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. MOVING TO 2020, THE REVENUES AND CONSUMPTION WERE BOTH UP FROM 2019 REVENUES WERE UP AN ADDITIONAL THREE PERCENT. AND THE CONSUMPTION WAS UP BY TWO PERCENT FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
WASTE WATER OPERATING REVENUES IN THE GALLONS THAT WERE BILLED FOR 2019, THE OPERATING REVENUE SHOW A TWO PERCENT DECREASE OF ABOUT 153,000 FROM 2018. HAVING TO DO WITH THE CAPACITY REDUCTIONS THAT WERE IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. AND THE GALLONS BILL -- THE GALLONS BILLED WERE UP BY TWO PERCENT. PRETTY MUCH FLAT BUT FROM 2018 UP SLIGHTLY. IN 2020, OPERATING REVENUES WERE DOWN. 10 PERCENT. WHERE THE GALLONS BILLED WERE UP ONE PERCENT FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
NATURAL GAS OPERATING REVENUES LESS THE COST OF GAS AND IN COMPARISON TO OUR CONSUMPTION, FOR 2019, WE HAVE REVENUES THAT WERE UP THREE PERCENT FROM 2018 WHILE THE CONSUMPTION WAS PRETTY MUCH FLAT FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. GAS REVENUES IN 20IOUS YEAR. GAS REVENUES IN 2024 UP AN ADDITIONAL THREE PERCENT FROM 2019 AND THE CONSUMPTION ALSO HAS INCREASED SIX PERCENT FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.. THIS GRAPH SHOWS OUR OPERATING INCOME AND/OR DEBT SERVICE. OUR DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE RATIO FOR MARCH 2020, FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDED MARCH IS DOWN SLIGHTLY FROM SEPTEMBER AND AGAIN ALSO FROM DECEMBER. AT 2.66. TIMES. WE ARE -- VERSUS SEPTEMBER WE WERE AT 2.85. WE ARE STILL BETTER THAN DOUBLE THE REQUIRED 1.25 TIMES RATIO FOR OUR COVENANTS. AT THE END OF MARCH, WE WERE WELL WITHIN OUR CASH REQUIREMENTS FOR BOND COVENANTS FOR THE DAYS OF CASH.
AND THAT IS ALL THAT I HAVE ON MARCH. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. OR COMMENTS. I
WOULD HAPPY TO ADDRESS THEM. >> I HAVE A QUESTION, MR. TOMPECK, DIDN'T YOU AND I DISCUSS ONE DAY THAT THE COST TO RUN THIS UTILITY PER DAY IS 300 AND SOMETHING SOME ODD THOUSAND DOLLARS PER DAY.
>> I THINK IT'S CLOSER TO $270,000 A DAY, YES.
>> OKAY. THAT CASH CAN GO DOWN VERY QUICKLY.
>> YES. >> I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT.
[00:35:04]
>> I'M LOOKING AT PAGE 4 AT THE MONTHLY STATEMENT, FINANCIAL MONTHLY STATEMENT. IS IT NORMAL OR AN INDUSTRY-STANDARD RIGHT NOW -- I'M JUST LOOKING AT THE OPERATING REVENUES IN THE OPERATING EXPENSES. LOOKS LIKE WE ARE FLIRTING BETWEEN A BORN FIVE PERCENT RETURN BASED ON THE EXPENSES. IS THAT AN INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR RETURN MONTHLY? THAT'S YEAR TO DATE,
>> THE $4 MILLION. >> $4 MILLION THIS YEAR TO DATE
WORKS FOR THAT SIX. >> THAT'S FOR THIS QUARTER,
CORRECT. SIX MONTHS ENDING. >> YES. FOR THE SIX MONTHS PORTICO. IT'S NOT FOR THE QUARTER IS FOR HALF THE YEAR.
>> SORRY. THANKS FOR THE CORRECTION. SO DO WE STAY RIGHT AROUND FOUR OR FIVE
PERCENT RETURN? >> THEN WE GIVE IT OUT TO THE CITY. OKAY. YOU SEE THE DISTRIBUTION.
>> THAT MAKES SENSE A LITTLE BIT. THAT'S WHAT I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A FEEL FOR.
>> IT THEN WE TURN AROUND AND WE GIVE OUT 3 MILLION AND THAT IS NOT -- THEY WRITE A CHECK EACH TIME, BUT THEY ACCRUE IT BECAUSE THAT'S THE LIABILITY, ESSENTIALLY. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE MADE A MILLION FOR THE SIX-MONTH PERIOD. SO IT'S PRETTY COMMON FOR US TO SPEND ABOUT $0.96 TO MAKE A DOLLAR FOR THIS LEVEL OF A MUNICIPALITY? THAT'S A COMMON COST X I'M NOT SURE THE ACTUAL MATH. BUT I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY ABOUT RIGHT.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE A NONPROFIT.
>> CORRECT. AND ONE OF MY FIRST THOUGHT IS WHAT WE DO IF WE CAN LOWER THE EXPENSES A LITTLE BIT? CAN WE STILL KEEP THE 4 TO 6 PERCENT RATIO AND STILL PASS ON THE SAVINGS TO
THE CUSTOMER. >> IF WERE ABLE TO.
>> OUR TWO BIG EXPENSES, POWER COST -- WE CAN'T DO A LOT ABOUT THAT. OKAY BECAUSE THAT COMES FROM FMPA, CORRECT? IN SALARIES AND BENEFITS. SO.
>> WILL I THINK YOU WILL HEAR IN JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE ONAN BUDGET WHICH CONTAINS THOSE ITEMS THAT WE ARE REALLY LOOKING AT A VERY VERY MARGINAL INCREASE VIRTUALLY LESS THAN A PERCENT.
>> THE OTHER THING I THINK THAT'S WORTH MENTIONING IS THAT OVER THE LAST 2 TO 3 YEARS, WE'VE BEEN EMBARKING ON EXPANDING THE UTILITY. AND THAT COSTS MONEY. WHETHER IT BE A -- EXPANDING NFPA -- FPUA NOT OR EXPANDING INTO LEAWOOD ACRES FOR THE WATER WASTEWATER, WE'VE -- IN ORDER TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT MORE OF OUR CAPITAL BUDGET, WHICH HAS BEEN REQUESTED FROM US BY THE CITY, WE'VE HIRED ADDITIONAL ENGINEERS AND PEOPLE. SO THOSE COSTS HAVE GONE UP AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL RESULT IN SOME ADDITIONAL CUSTOMER GROWTH
OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS. >> ANYONE ELSE?
[Item G4]
>> OKAY. >> THE NEXT ITEM IS BILL COMPARISONS FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL. AND BARBARA WILL ALSO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN. ADAM SHARON BOARD MEMBERS, I HAVE REVIEWED TODAY THE MONTHLY UPDATE ON THE COMPARISONS OF THE MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC RATES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND THE LOCAL TREASURE COAST UTILITY BILLS FOR THE MONTH OF LOCAL TREASURE COAST UTILITY BILLS FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL 2020. IN THIS FIRST GRAPH THE COMPARISON OF THE RESIDENTIAL ELECTRIC RATES FOR 1000 KILOWATT HOURS OF CONSUMPTION IN THE MONTH OF APRIL FOR THE 13 MUNICIPAL REQUIREMENTS, IT'S -- IS RANKED BASED UPON THEIR BILL AMOUNT. AND YOU CAN SEE IN YELLOW THE FORT PIERCE 105 AND $0.84 WHERE WE RANK AMONGST THE PARTICIPANTS AND IN BLUE YOU CAN SEE THE MAY ADJUSTED RATE THAT WE WILL HAVE THAT'S IN EFFECT ON MAY 1. IT'S A TWO DOLLAR REDUCTION. THIS GRAPH DISPLAYS THE APRIL COMPARISON FOR THE SAME LEVEL OF CONSUMPTION BUT INCLUDES ALL THE UTILITIES IN THE STATE THE DATA FOR ALL THE GRAPHS THAT ARE BEING PRESENTED TODAY HAVE BEEN COMPILED BY THE FLORIDA MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION.
FPA -- FPUA SPELL HAS SHIFTED. HIS STANDING POSITION SINCE MARCH. SO WE ARE LIKE IN THE
[00:40:11]
14TH POSITION -- 14TH LOWEST RATE APRIL BROUGHT SOME REAL CHANGES FOR THE REQUIREMENTS.THERE WERE SEVEN OF THE 13 THAT HAD CHANGES IN MARCH. AND WHILE THERE WERE SEVERAL LARGE DECREASES, PEOPLE TRYING TO -- I GUESS MUNICIPALITIES TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF THE COVID, THERE WILL BE MANY MORE THAT WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE MAY COMPARISON. OBVIOUSLY FORT PIERCE ADJUSTMENT ISN'T HAPPENING UNTIL MAY. THE OVERALL IMPACT REDUCE THE REQUIREMENTS AVERAGE BY ALMOST 4 DOLLARS. FOR THE AVERAGE. AND OUR NUMBERS DID NOT MOVE.
THERE WERE ALSO ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE NON-REQUIREMENT PARTICIPANTS WHICH IMPACTED THE OVERALL AVERAGE BY ABOUT $2.50 EVERY -- FPUA HERE, WE ARE HOVERING AROUND THE -- AROUND THE MUNICIPAL AVERAGE FOR APRIL AT 105. THE NATION AVERAGES 106 AND $0.66. WE ARE WELL BELOW THAT. THIS GRAPH REPRESENTS A SIMILAR COMPARISON FOR THE 2500 KILOWATT HOUR OF CONSUMPTION. IN THIS COMPARISON, APRIL'S BILL I APRIL'S BILL I TWO 6730 SHOWN WITH THE YELLOW BAR WAS IMPACTED BY THOSE OF THE MUNICIPALITIES RATE REDUCTIONS AND HAS SHIFTED US AGAIN TO THE RIGHT. WE ARE 18TH IN THE RANKING OF ALL THESE MINNESOTA -- THE UTILITIES.
WE HAVE ANOTHER MONTH TO COMPARE DATA SO WE WILL SEE. WHERE WE STAND WITH ALL THE OTHER ADJUSTMENTS FROM THE OTHER UTILITIES IN MAY.
THIS TABLE IS THE APRIL COMPARISON OF THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL UTILITY BILLS ON THE TREASURE COAST. AND ONCE AGAIN, THERE'S NOT MUCH TO REPORT HERE. THIS IS THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE MONTH THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES TO THE LOCAL BILLS, WHICH INCLUDE WATER, -- ELECTRIC, WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES AND THE DIFFERENT TERRITORIES.
THIS INCLUDES ALL THE TAXES AND FEES AND TAXES FOR ALL THESE UTILITIES. A TYPICAL BILL FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE FOR THESE THREE SERVICES INCLUDE ALL TAXES AND FEES AT 202 95 IS LOWER FOR A HOME THAT WOULD BE IN PORT ST. LUCIE WERE IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY.
WE ARE STILL LOWER THAN A COUPLE OF THESE MUNICIPAL AREAS. SO THIS ITEM IS PRESENTED FOR YOUR INFORMATION. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS,
>> ONE OTHER QUICK COMMENT ON THIS. I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE HARD TO LOOK AT BILL COMPARISONS IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO BE ALL OVER THE PLACE.
A LOT OF THE UTILITIES DID ONE MONTH REDUCTIONS AND I THINK WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE THESE NUMBERS. THAT'S CORRECT.
[Item G5]
>> THE NEXT ITEM IS PRESENTATION OF THE O&M BUDGET FOR APPROVAL AND LORI WILL MAKE
THE PRESENTATION. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU MR. TOMPECK. MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, WE ARE HERE TODAY TO PRESENT AND REQUEST APPROVAL FOR THE FOLLOWING FISCAL YEAR 2020 AMENDED BUDGET AND FISCAL YEAR 2021 ORIGINAL BUDGET. THIS BUDGET IS CONSISTENT WITH THE O&M DRAFT THAT WAS PRESENTED ON THE MAY 15, 2020 BUDGET WORKSHOP. WE HAVE UPDATED REVENUES THAT WERE FORECASTED AND ALSO UPDATED THE RELATED DISTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. THE TOTAL FISCAL YEAR 2021 O&M BUDGET REQUEST IS 113,000,167 565,000 -- $500. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW FOLLOWING THE COMMENT THAT IS 8.9 PERCENT CHANGE FROM THE ORIGINAL BUDGET FOR 2020.
[00:45:03]
PURCHASES FOR RESALE REMAIN THE LARGEST EXPENSE BUDGET IN THE O&M BUDGET. WE'VE SEEN THIS LINE ITEM AS HIGH, 43.7 PERCENT. THE FISCAL YEAR 2021 ANTICIPATED EXPENSE IS RUNNING AT 41.3 PERCENT. PERSONAL HEADCOUNT IS ANTICIPATED TO INCREASE. THIS FISCAL YEAR BY 3 AND NEXT FISCAL YEARS FORECASTED FOR AN INCREASE OF FOUR. THE O&M BUDGET AND SALARIES AND WAGES INCLUDES A GENERAL PAY INCREASE OF TWO PERCENT, PLUS UP TO 1.5 PERCENT PERFORMANCE INCENTIVES WHICH WOULD ONLY BE PAID IF APPROVED BY THE BOARD. THE RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTION PAID TO THE CITY FORT PIERCE RETIREMENT BENEFITS SYSTEM WILL DECREASE FROM 70.58 PERCENT TO -- IN THIS PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 21 -- 416 POINT -- BASED ON COMPUTATION BY THE ACTUARY. THERE WAS ALSO A CONSERVATIVE APPROACH FOR HEALTHCARE EXPENSES BASED ON HISTORICAL TREND WITH AN INCREASE OF 12.6 PERCENT. THE DISTRIBUTION TO THE CITY FORT PIERCE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020 PAYABLE IN APRIL THE DISTRIBUTION TO THE CITY FORT PIERCE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020 PAYABLE IN APRIL 2021 IS ESTIMATED TO BE $6,393,844. TOTAL REVENUE OF $199,068,618 IS INCLUDED IN THIS FISCAL YEAR 2021 ORIGINAL BUDGET. IN OUR FOUR MAJOR SYSTEMS PROJECTED UNIT SALES AND CUSTOMER BILLINGS ARE UP SLIGHTLY IN ELECTRIC, PLANT AND WATER AND WASTEWATER AND DOWN SLIGHTLY AND NATURAL GAS. WE ARE OPENING UP FOR ANY QUESTIONS.>> MADAM CHAIR DID I UNDERSTAND YOU SAID -- MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THREE NEW HEADCOUNT TO TALK
ABOUT EMPLOYEES OR WHAT? >> YES. THE PERSONAL HEADCOUNT IS ANTICIPATED TO INCREASE THIS YEAR BY THREE AND FORECASTED FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021 BY FOUR.
>> TO HAVE A FIGURE ON HOW MUCH THAT WOULD COST AND -- TO ADD ON THREE EMPLOYEES? IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE POSITIONS ARE, RIGHT.
>> IT DOES, YES. AND I CANNOT ANSWER THAT QUESTION DIRECTLY RIGHT NOW, BUT I WOULD BE HAPPY
TO PROVIDE FOR YOU. >> IT'S GOT INCLUDE INSURANCE
AND. >> ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S OKAY.
>> IT'S ON PAGE 4 OF THE BOOK. >> I LOKED AT IT A WHILE AGO
AND I FORGOT WHERE I LOOKED. >> IT DOESN'T HAVE THE DOLLAR
AMOUNTS. >> THAT WILL START IN THE FISCAL YEAR OR JUST COME IN FOR THE HEADCOUNT.
>> PROJECTED OVER THIS YEAR, THE CURRENT YEAR WE ARE IN WOULD BE AN INCREASE OF THREE AND THEN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR WOULD BE AN INCREASE OF FOUR.
>> ALL RIGHT. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. DID YOU SAY THE HEALTHCARE WAS 12 POINT SOMETHING.
>> WE ARE BASING -- GOING BASED ON HISTORICAL TRENDS, NOT DOING WHAT WE -- WE WERE TAKING A CONSERVATIVE APPROACH ON THE NOT KNOWING WHAT THE IMPACT OF THIS YEAR WILL BE.
>> HAD SUBSTANTIAL. I HOPE IS LESS.
>> RIGHT. >> AND SO, ON PAGE 5 ITS PERSONNEL SERVICES. THAT'S SALARIES AND JUDGMENT WAS INCLUDED IN THAT?
>> BEYOND SALARIES? >> I'M TRYING TO FIND WHERE YOU
ARE AT ON PAGE 5. >> THE MIDDLE OF THE PAGE.
>> PERSONAL SERVICES, THAT INCLUDE SALARIES AND WAGES AND OVERTIME.
>> IN OVERTIME. OKAY THEN THE BENEFITS INCLUDE HEALTH AND WHAT ELSE?
>> RETIREMENT. >> HEALTH AND RETIREMENT ARE
>> AND TAXES. OKAY. >> I BELIEVE YOU CAN FIND DETAILS OF THAT IF YOU LOOK BACK YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND THAT QUICKLY FOR YOU.
ON PAGE 17. >> OKAY X THE BREAKOUT OF THAT.
>> THANK YOU. >> THIS IS PRETTY MUCH WHAT
WE'VE ALREADY LOOKED AT. >> ABSOLUTELY. THE MAIN CHANGE WAS THE REAL FORECASTING OF THE REVENUES IN THE CITY DISTRIBUTION PAYMENT.
>> FOR THE BENEFIT OF ANYBODY'S WATCHING IS NOT LIKE WERE GOING THROUGH -- WERE GOING TO PASS ON THE BUDGET THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE SEEN A. WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR MONTHS AND YOU
BEEN WORKING ON FOR MONTHS. >> WE ALL HAVE.
>> THERE'S BEEN NO SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES SINCE THE BUDGET WORKSHOP.
[00:50:05]
>> OKAY. SO I WOULD MOVE APPROVAL, MADAM CHAIR.
>> SECOND. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> (ROLL CALL). >> THE NEXT ITEM IS
[Item G6]
PRESENTATION ON THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR APPROVAL. MICHELLE HARRIS WILL MAKE THEPRESENTATION. >> THANK YOU MR. TOMPECK, MADAM CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS. I AM HERE TODAY TO PRESENT FPUA CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
>> COULD YOU PULL THE MIC A LITTLE BIT CLOSER?
>> I AM HERE TO PRESENT FPUA'S CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021 TO 2025. THE PROJECTS A PROPOSED AMOUNT TO 87 MILLION.
THE FIRST YEAR IS THE CAPITAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021. THE CAPITAL BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF 22 MILLION INCLUDES CONTINGENCY FUNDING OF 500,000. IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN CURRENT UTILITY RATES, THE AMOUNT OF THE PROPOSED CIP HAS BEEN REDUCED OVER $7 MILLION SINCE THE BOARD WORKSHOP ON MAY 15. THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR BUDGET WAS REDUCED BY 4 MILLION AND REDUCTIONS OF AN ADDITIONAL 3 MILLION WERE SPREAD OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. THE CURRENT YEAR -- THE CHART SHOWS THE ACTUAL AMOUNT SPENT ON CAPITAL VERSUS THE ORIGINAL BUDGET AMOUNT SINCE FISCAL YEAR 2015. IF YOU WILL NOTICE, YOU CAN SEE HOW MUCH LESS WE SPEND VERSUS THE ORIGINAL BUDGET YEAR AFTER YEAR. WE SEE HOW MUCH WE BUDGET AND IN THE ACTUAL IS ALMOST HALF. THIS TABLE BREAKS DOWN THE FISCAL 2021 CAPITAL BUDGET BY FUNDING SOURCE. REVENUE FROM UTILITY RATES IS PROJECTED TO FUND 74 PERCENT OF THE CAPITAL BUDGET, CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES SUCH AS CONTRIBUTIONS AND AIDING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT CHARGES ARE EXPECTED TO 18 PERCENT. FPUA INTENDS TO ISSUE DEBT TO FUND SIX PERCENT WHICH REMAINS THE LEADING TO PRESENT TO BE FUNDED BY THE CONTINGENCY FUND. THIS TABLE IS A LISTING OF THE TOP 10 CAPITAL PROJECTS IN THE UPCOMING YEAR. THESE REPRESENT 37 PERCENT OF THE NEXT YEAR'S CAPITAL BUDGET. MOST OF THESE PROJECTS WERE DISCUSSED IN THE WORKSHOP. I WILL BRIEFLY GO OVER THEM TO REMIND YOU. THE CONVERSION FROM AMR TO AMI IS CURRENTLY IN THE ADVANCED DEPLOYMENT PHASE. IT'S EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN JULY. THE TESTING AND FINAL APPROVAL IS EXPECTED TO BE THE SEPTEMBER. THE REMAINING DEPLOYMENT WILL BE SCHEDULED OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. SYSTEM EXPANSION PROJECTS CROSSOVER VARIOUS SYSTEMS, GASES IDENTIFY THREE AREAS WHILE WATER AND WASTEWATER HAVE IDENTIFIED TWO AREAS. FPUA NET WILL NEED TO BUILD MAIN THEATERS IN DISTRIBUTION LINES TO ACCOMPLISH A SMART AND CONNECTED CITY.
>> WATER MAIN R&R PROJECTS ARE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF FAILING WATER SYSTEM COMPONENTS TO REDUCE MAINTENANCE COSTS AND IMPROVE SYSTEM RELIABILITY. THE MONITORING WELL AT THE NORTHWEST RF NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS MONITOR IS THE FLOW THAT GOES DOWN THE DEEP INJECTION WELL AND MAKE SURE DOESN'T MIGRATE BACK UPWARD. THE DIGIORGIO ROAD SENATOR HAS BEEN IN OUR CRP SINCE 2018 IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN FISCAL YEAR 2021. THIS PROJECT WILL EXPAND WASTEWATER SERVICES TO REACH AN INDUSTRIAL AREA AND BOOST ECONOMIC GROWTH. FPUA IS BUDGET TO REPLACE SIX SUB STATION TRANSFORMERS. THE FIRST TRANSFORMER SHOULD BE INSTALLED AT THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR. THE LAWNWOOD WELL FIELD WITH GENERATOR IS NEEDED FOR BACKUP POWER TO MEET WATER DEMANDS DURING A POWER OUTAGE. THE CURRENT GENERATOR RUNS ON DIESEL WITH AN UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK AND THE GENERATOR WILL RUN ON NATURAL GAS. STAFF IS REQUESTING THREE THINGS, THE PROJECTS LISTED IN FPUA CIC FOR FISCAL 2021 TO FISCAL 25. THE
[00:55:08]
APPROVAL OF FISCAL YEAR 2020 CAPITAL BUDGET OF $22.2 MILLION AND TO AUTHORIZE STAFF TO CARRY OVER A BUDGET OF FUNDS FOR PARTIALLY COMPLETED PROJECTS THAT REMAIN AT THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 2020 AND SPEND THOSE FUNDS IN 2021 WITHOUT ADDITIONAL BOARD APPROVAL.I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> CHAIR? >> HOW MANY TRANSFORMERS ARE WE
GOING TO DO TOTAL? >> SIX. WERE GOING TO DO ONE A
HERE. >> OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION TO
APPROVE? >> MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> I SECOND. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> (ROLL CALL). >> COMMENTS FROM OUR DIRECTOR.
[Items L & M]
>> NO FURTHER QUESTIONS -- COMMENTS THANK YOU.
>> ANY BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS. >> I HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION.
MR. TOPIC TO HAVE THE STUDY OF FROM ST. LUCIE COUNTY?
>> ONLY WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
>> WE DO. WE DO AND I THINK WE GOD THE -- I THINK WE GOT THE COMPLETE DRAFT. THERE WERE SOME TABLES THAT WERE MISSING FROM THE ORIGINAL DRAFT. AND YES. I'M NOT SURE. WE HAVEN'T BROUGHT THAT TO THE BOARD YET TO DISCUSS. I GUESS WE HAVE.
>> HAVE WEEK? AND I FORGOT (LAUGHING).
>> I THINK YOU MAY HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT DURING THE -- I'M SURE BO HUDSON TALKED ABOUT AT THE BUDGET WORKSHOP. BUT WE CERTAINLY CAN MAKE A MORE DETAILED PRESENTATION IF YOU'D LIKE TO HEAR IT. WE ARE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY ON THE REPORT, THE
FINALIZATION OF THE REPORT. >> OKAY. MR. MATTHEWS?
>> YES. MADAM CHAIR BOARD MEMBERS I HAVE THREE CONCERNS IN JUST A MATTER OF BRINGING THEM UP. FIRST OF ALL I PAID ATTENTION TO THE AMOUNT THAT WAS SENT TO THE STAFF ON JUNE 11 IN REFERENCE TO THE BASIC -- HERE OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY. I THOUGHT WAS A GOOD MEMO. I THOUGHT IT'S IT'S A GOOD EXAMPLE AND IT WAS SIGNED BY THE DIRECTOR. BECAUSE WE SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY EMPLOYEES WHO FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE OF BEING TREATED UNFAIRLY IN THE WORKPLACE. AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD MEMORANDUM THAT WAS SENT OUT. AND HE GAVE THE STEPS IN THAT. MY SECOND CONCERN WAS LOOKING AT THE NEWS ABOUT LAURA, IF WE GET ANOTHER DISASTER SURVIVAL HEALTH PROBLEM IN FLORIDA, WE SHOULD BE SETTING SOME TYPE OF PLAN OF ACTION CASE. SO OFTEN WE DO NOT DO PREVENTIVE PROGRAMS FAST ENOUGH IN GOVERNMENT. I THINK THIS IS ONE TIME DESPICABLE BUT THE NUMBERS KEEP GOING UP WHEN WE LOOK AT TV ABOUT SOME COUNTY GETTING THE VIRUS QUICK AND FAST. IT'S NOT TO DO TO SCARE, IT'S JUST COMMON SENSE. WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOME WAY IN CASE -- YOU SAID ALL THE EMPLOYEES ARE BACK TO WORK. THAT'S VERY GOOD. THE LAST CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE IN THESE DISASTROUS TIMES WHICH MAKE FINANCIAL ADJUSTMENTS. THIS TIME WE WERE ABLE TO GO THROUGH SOME PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. THAT OUGHT TO BE BUILT-IN AS A STANDARD THING FROM YEAR TO YEAR. WE TALKED ABOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA WE TALK ABOUT HURRICANES. THIS TIME WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE HEALTH ISSUE, BUT ALSO HURRICANES. I KNOW WE HAD THOSE CONTINGENT FUNDS BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT FROM THE EMERGENCY STANDPOINT, WE SHOULD BE -- HAVE A PLAN OF ACTION. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT FINANCING -- I'M TALKING ABOUT FINANCING AND NOT TALK ABOUT NOTHING ELSE AND THAT'S ALL.
>> IN LIGHT OF THE CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS IN OUR COUNTRY JOHN TOMPECK AND I WERE TALKING LAST WEEKEND I WANT TO COMMEND JOHN FOR THE LOVELY LETTER HE WROTE TO OUR STAFF AND OUR EMPLOYEES, REAFFIRMING OUR POSITION, FPUA ON WHERE WE STAND WITH REGARDS TO RACIAL BIAS AND DISCRIMINATION OF ANY KIND. I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY GOOD. IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS WELL RECEIVED AND I ALSO DID A LITTLE RESEARCH. AND I FOUND -- I TALKED WITH JACOB WILLIAMS FROM FMPA. JACOB WILLIAMS AND BARBARA PUT TOGETHER A STATEMENT THAT'S GOING TO BE POSTED ON FPUA'S WEBSITE, GIVING FMPA'S POSITION ON RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN ANY KIND OF BIAS BASED ON COLOR, SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR ANY THAT. AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE
[01:00:07]
THIS BOARD MAKE A STATEMENT WITH REGARD TO OUR POSITION AS A BOARD THAT MAY BE COULD BE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE. I THINK WHAT JOHN DID -- WHICH WAS VERY WELL -- WAS IN-HOUSE. BUT I THINK SOMETHING THAT'S ON OUR WEBSITE, IF THERE'S NOTHING ON THERE ALREADY, THAT STATES THAT, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE CONSIDER THAT. AND I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND SOME MODELS THAT I BE WILLING TO PASS ON FOR SOMEONE TO USE AS A GUIDE TO PUT THAT TOGETHER. I THINK PART OF THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN THAT THERE HAS BEEN SILENCE FOR TOO LONG AND WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THIS STUFF BECAUSE IT AIN'T GONNA GO AWAY.>> BUT DIDN'T -- THERE'S A STATEMENT ON FACEBOOK, IS THERE, FROM THE COMPANY?
>> YES. WE DID -- WE DID PUT A -- NOT -- YES. ONE OF THE SPECIFIC THINGS THAT MR. BAE ASKED ABOUT IS THE ONE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CUSTOMERS UNDERSTOOD THAT THEY WERE BEING TREATED EQUALLY WE DID PUT A STATEMENT ABOUT THAT ON FACEBOOK, YES.
>> I THOUGHT THAT WAS EXCELLENT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SEE THAT, BUT THAT WAS
EXCELLENT. TO OUR CUSTOMERS. >> YES.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> ARE YOU GOING TO TALK TO SOMEBODY ABOUT GETTING THIS TOGETHER AND THEN MAYBE WE VOTE ON IT LATER?
>> WELL I HAVE THE MODEL. I MADE THE SUGGESTION, IF THE BOARD THINKS THAT THEY LIKE TO MOVE FURTHER ON IT, DO WE NEED TO PUT INTO A VOTER WE NEED TO GET CONSENSUS?
>> WELL I WOULD SUGGEST THAT MAYBE WE HAVE SOMEBODY INSIDE FPUA DRAFTED FOR THE BOARD AND THEN WE GET IT CIRCULATED AMONGST US, SEE WHAT WE WANT TO ADD, SUBTRACT OR IS IT OKAY AND THEN WE VOTE ON IT THEN IS THAT ALL RIGHT?
>> MADAM CHAIR, THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. COULD THAT BE A PROJECT THAT OUR LEGAL TEAM COULD LOOK AT BECAUSE NORMALLY WHEN YOU GO TO COURT THAT'S IS ALWAYS GOT TO BE CALLED UPON TO HELP US
OUT. >> WE WANT TO LET JOSH START
>> (LAUGHING). >> I WANTED TO PUT YOU TO WORK.
>> THANK YOU. >> I AGREE. YOU COULD GIVE US THE MODEL AND WE CAN DRAFT UP SOMETHING CERTAINLY FOR YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT.
>> YES. I SAW PEOPLE LIKE APPLE CORPORATION, ALL THE BANK, CITIBANK, WELLS FARGO, NASCAR, THE NFL, THE NBA. I MEAN EVERYBODY -- SO WE NEED TO KEEP THIS -- WE NEED TO KEEP IT
>> THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.