Aug 10, 2020 City Commission Conference Agenda

[1. Call to Order]

[00:00:02]

>>MAYOR HUDSON: TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. IT'S MONDAY, TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.

[2. Pledge of Allegiance]

(PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE) CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE. (ROLL

[3. Roll Call]

[a. Presentation by FDOT consultant, Hardesty & Hanover, on progress of the replacement of North Causeway Bridge.]

>> FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE PRESENTATION BY FDOT, HARDESTY & HANOVER.

>>MAYOR HUDSON: BAYER MEMS. >> WE DO HAVE OUR CONSULTING REPRESENTATIVES REPRESENTED THE FDOT. I ASKED HIM TO COME UP AND INFORM US OF THE PLAN.

>>MAYOR HUDSON: WELCOME AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.

>>THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN A MASK AT THE MICROPHONE. PHONE.

>> MICHAEL SOLANO. . >>MAYOR HUDSON: SAY YOUR NAME

AGAIN. >> HENRY SIMPSON.

>>MAYOR HUDSON: PROCEED. YOU HAVE TWO PEOPLE APPEAR THAT SIT ON THE TPO. SO WE HAVE A

LITTLE BIT OF -- >> THEY PRESENTED ON APRIL 1 TO

THE TPO. >>MAYOR HUDSON: I'M NOT SAYING A REMEMBER TOTALLY. I'M GLAD TO HAVE THE REFRESHER.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE YOU CHANGED IT, TO.

>> A LITTLE BIT OF CHANGE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US THIS MORNING. I'M AN SELENIUM WITH HARDESTY & HANOVER. VER. I HAVE MR. SIMPSON WHO IS OUR PROJECT ENGINEER. HE REPRESENTS ENGINEERING GROUP. AS WE STATED, WE PRESENTED THE TPO ON APRIL 1. AND A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WE HAD THE PLEASURE TO HAVE A VIRTUAL MEETING WITH JACK ANDREWS AND MIKE REAL SEND WE ENCOURAGE -- WE INVITE -- SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.

THE NORTH CAUSEWAY BRIDGE, AS YOU STATED, IS BEING REPLACED. WE WILL GET INTO WHY IT'S BEING REPLACED. THERE IS A WEBSITE THAT'S ON THE SLIDE. IT HAS ALL THE PERTINENT INFORMATION.

THERE IS A STUDY THAT TOOK PLACE PRIOR TO THE DESIGN PHASE. IT TOOK A COUPLE OF YEARS AND DURING THE DESIGN PHASE. EXCEEDING THE MIDDLE OF THE DESIGN PHASE. WE HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO PRESENT TO CERTAIN GROUPS AND STAKEHOLDERS AND THAT'S OVERDOING TODAY AND WHAT WE DID BACK IN APRIL WITH MIKEY AND JACK.

NEXT SLIDE.

>> WE HAVE THE PROJECT LOCATION ON THE BORDER OF ST. LUCIE AND INDIAN COUNTY. IT'S THE NORTHERN CAUSEWAY CONNECTING TO HUTCHISON ISLAND AND IS AN EXTENSIVE PROJECT. IT CONNECTS JUST PAST THE CAUSEWAY PARK ON THE EAST SIDE, THAT'S A DETERMINATION.

I'M JUST GOING TO SPAN OVER OLD DIXIE HIGHWAY. AND AS YOU SEE -- THE NEW BRIDGE -- IS CONSIDERABLY HIGHER THAN THE EXISTING BRIDGE OR THE OTHER AREA. WE -- . THE EXISTING BRIDGE DOES HAVE A BRIDGE AT ITS CENTER AT THE MIDDLE OF THE CHANNEL. IT'S OVER 55 YEARS OLD AND IT'S BEING PLACED THE FACTORS THE ARE STRUCTURALLY DEFICIENT IT'S SAFE TO DRIVE OVER IT'S JUST IS WHERE REHABILITATION AND IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE ANYMORE. IT'S FUNCTIONALLY AND IT DOESN'T HAVE STANDARD UP TO DATE SIDEWALKS AND BIKE LANES. IT DOES -- WHEN IT DOES OPEN, IT DOES IMPACT THE COMMUNITY GOING OVER THE BRIDGE ESPECIALLY NEAR THE RAILROAD CROSSING AS WELL, AS SOON AS YOU CROSS THE BRIDGE.

NEXT SLIDE. SINCE IT'S A LONG PROJECT, IT'S HARD TO TALK ABOUT AT ONE TIME IN ONE SLIDE. WE BROKE IT UP INTO ZONES. AND WERE GOING TO PROCEED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE ZONES ARE AND WHAT THEY MEAN. AND THAT WE WILL GO INTO EACH HIS OWN BRIEFLY TO TALK ABOUT THE FEATURES.

>> GOOD MORNING. GOING ZONE -WISE AND ZOOMING IN AT THE BRIDGE ITSELF IS ONLY ONE.

[00:05:04]

MOVING WEST TO EAST, SO NUMBER TWO IS WHERE WE NOW HAVE TO DO ROADWAY WORK ON EXTENDING FROM U.S. ONE OVER TWO OLD DIXIE AND AT THE SOUTHERN END OF IT ADDING A LANE, ONE WAY ROAD FROM DIXIE WEST TO U.S. ONE. WE WILL EXPLAIN WHY THAT IS IMPORTANT BUT THAT ALLOWS MORE CONNECTIVITY TO THE PROPERTIES EAST OF DIXIE ALONG A 18 DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A ONE EIGHTH ITSELF. ZONE THREE IS WHERE THE BRIDGE APPROACHES AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON THERE WITH ABOUT -- ABOVE GRADE CROSSING.

THERE WILL BE A NEW DEDICATED PEDESTRIAN FACILITY FOR THE EAST COAST GREENWAY WHICH IS GOING TO BE CARRIED ACROSS THE INTERCOASTAL BUT IT WILL BREAK OFF OF THE BRIDGE AND HAVE ITS OWN STRUCTURE TYING INTO OLD DIXIE.

AND THEN, ALL THE WAY ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE PROJECT THERE IS ACCESS TO THE PARK, WHICH WILL BE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF A1A AND LOOPS BACK UNDER A1A ALSO WITH THE PEDESTRIAN CONNECTION TO THE PARK. WE WILL LOOK AT THOSE IN DETAIL.

BUT THE BRIDGE IS GOING TO BE OVER 4000 FOOT LONG IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.

SO ZONE 1 THE BRIDGE, YOU CAN SEE A 4100 FOOT BRIDGE MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THE LOW LEVEL NOW. IT WILL BE 85 FOOT CLEAR, BUT WHEN YOU'RE ON THE BRIDGE DECK YOU WILL BE CLOSER TO 95 FEET WHEN YOU ARE STANDING THERE.

THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE.

THE NAVIGATION FACILITY IS IMPROVING. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE 125 FOOT BETWEEN THE DEFENDERS, WHICH IS BETTER THAN A 90 FOOT NOW.

ONE THING SHOWN IN THE RENDERING THAT IS NOT QUITE RIGHT IS THERE IS A VENDOR SYSTEM IS WHAT WE ARE POSING A RUBBER REAL SYSTEM, NOT WITH THE BIG PLAYERS ON IT.

>> IN DOING CONSULTATION WITH THE COAST GUARD, THEY APPROVED NOT TO HAVE THE FULL FLARE SYSTEM WHICH IS BETTER FOR NAVIGATION. SO WHY IS IT 85 FEET DURING THAT STUDY THEY REFER TO, IT WAS THE DESIGN. WE DID AN EXTENSIVE SURVEY AND WE USE THE IN LAND -- TO THE AREA EXCEED THE WHAT TYPICALLY WOULD BE A 65 FOOT U.S. COAST GUARD VEHICLE CLEARANCE. BUT BECAUSE THESE SAILBOATS THAT EXCEED THAT, IT NEEDS TO GO TO 85 FEET IN THIS LOCATION.

>> ANNETTE HEIGHT, OBVIOUSLY, IS A MAJOR PROJECT DRIVER. YOU CAN SEE THE BRIDGE. ACTUALLY WE SPENT ALL THE WAY TO U.S. ONE. WE ARE SPANNING OVER U.S. ONE WHICH IS HIGHER THAN ALL DIXIE. IF YOU LOOK IN THE DISTANCE, IF YOU CAN SEE MY MOUTH -- YOU CAN KIND OF SEE WHERE THE EAST COAST GREENWAY IS BREAKING OFTEN THIS VIEW FROM THE MAIN STRUCTURE. YOU'LL GET A BETTER PICTURE ANOTHER SLIDE, BUT THIS PERSPECTIVE YOU CAN SEE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT THERE. AND BELOW THE BRIDGE, YOU GET A GLIMPSE OF THE NEW OBSERVATION DECK ALONG THE WEST BULKHEAD UNDERNEATH THE BRIDGE.

>> WRONG DIRECTION. >> OF THE NEW BRIDGE SECTION WILL HAVE UPGRADED FACILITIES. YOU WILL HAVE SEVEN FOOT BUFFER BICYCLE LANES. MANY OF PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES FROM THE TRAFFIC -- ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE BRIDGE IS THE SHARED USE PATHS BUFFERED WITH THE BUFFERS AND THAT THE EAST COAST GREENWAY WHICH IS CONNECTING THAT STRETCH THAT GOES FROM HERE TO MAINE, AND THAT IS WHAT'S GOING TO BREAK OFF. ON THE SOUTH SIDE YOU HAVE A PROTECTED BRIDGE ALSO.

SO LOOKING AT SOME 2, WHICH YOU CAN TURN YOUR HEAD A LITTLE BIT TO GET NOT CORRIDOR ALONG DIXIE AND U.S. ONE, THE WANITA IS NOW A TWO LANE ROAD EXTENDED FROM WHERE IT IS ON THE WEST AND IT WILL CONTINUE ACROSS TO THE EAST CONNECTING ALL THEIR -- CONNECTING ALL DIXIE. YOU CAN SEE THE RETENTION POND. AS YOU GO SOUTH DOWN DIXIE, THE SHARED USE PATHS WILL BE INSTALLED AND TIED IN. AND ALL THE WAY DOWN TO STAIRWAY A1A WHERE YOU HAVE ANOTHER RETENTION POND IN THE SOUTHWEST CORNER.

AS YOU GO FURTHER SOFTWARE DIXIE IS A ONE-WAY ROAD NORTH FROM U.S. ONE WITH RIGHT NOW

[00:10:06]

SO ONE OTHER FEATURE, YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE BRIDGE -- THE BRIDGE ABUTMENT IS JUST WHERE THAT POND IS. THAT IS A BRIDGE FROM THAT POINT EAST AND WEST OF THAT IS APPROACHING EMBANKMENT WITH WALLS WHICH IS NOW A DOWNHILL MELON IT WILL BECOME AN UPHILL FROM U.S. ONE.

SO ZONE 2 IS APPROACHING FROM EAST OF DIXIE APPROACHING THE EXISTING BULKHEAD. AND IT WILL BE OVER THE SEPARATOR WITH THE BRIDGE AND ORANGE AS YOU CROSS DIXIE FEC GOING EAST.

AND THAT WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED, IN THAT S SHAPE HERE, YOU HAVE THE EAST COAST GREENWAY RAMP WHICH BREAKS OFF AND GOES UNDER AND SPANS OVER EIGHT DRY RETENTION POND. IT WILL TOUCH DOWN ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF A1A. WHICH A1A WAS GOING TO BECOME A LOCAL ACCESS ROAD A GRADE TO THE MARINA. THOSE PROPERTIES THERE.

SO, THE SHARED USE PATHS WILL CONTINUE WEST ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF A1A AND THEN TURNED SOUTH TO TIE INTO OLD DIXIE, WHICH IS THE PLAN TO STAY ON THE EAST SIDE OF OLD DIXIE DOWN ACROSS TAYLOR CREEK CONTINUING DOWN THAT WAY.

>> QUICK QUESTION? >> SF.

>> ON THE LOWER ELEVATION THERE, THE EXISTING BRIDGE AND EXISTING THOROUGHFARE, IS THAT GOING T BE -- YOU HAVE DRAWN IN DRY RETENTION. IT'S ARE GOING TO BE PARKING AMENITY THEY ARE FOR FOLKS USING THE OBSERVATION DECK?

>> YES. WE HAVE PUT RIGHT NOW SIX MONTHS, TWO HANDICAP, SIX MONTHS TOTAL, A LITTLE BIT WEST OF THE RETENTION POND AND YOU CAN SEE, THERE IS A PATH TO THE OBSERVATION DECK, GOES ALONG THE TOP OF THE BERM OF THAT DRY POND OVER THE PEDESTRIAN PATH, TYING IN THERE. THAT'S THE CURRENT PLAN. YOU CAN ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT THE -- THE STATUS OF THE PLANS RIGHT NOW ARE WHAT WE CALL THE CONSTRUCTIBILITY SUBMITTAL.

IT'S ON THE WEBSITE AND AVAILABLE TO YOU IF YOU APPROVE THESE THINGS.

SO THIS IS ANOTHER RENDERING OF PART OF ZONE 3 AND 1 SHOWING THE EXISTING BRIDGE AND THE EXISTING FACILITIES. YOU CAN SEE THE DRY RETENTION POND. THIS IS IN PROGRESS PERFECT BUT IT TIES INTO THE OBSERVATION DECK. THE DEDICATED PEDESTRIAN RELATIVES UNDER AND KIND OF IN THE SHADOWS UNDER HERE IS WHERE THE PARKING WAS INTENDED.

>> THANK YOU. >> YOU CAN SEE THE SCALE OF THE STRUCTURE. ZONE 4, CROSSING OVER TO THE EAST SIDE, THIS IS WHERE THE BRIDGE BEGINS -- THE END BRIDGES. ENLARGES THE STRUCTURE, THE SPANNING OVER THIS PARKWAY. AND FROM THIS POINT ON YOU ARE ON WALLS AND EMBANKMENT COMING BACK DOWN TO GRADE FOR THE EAST AND THERE IS A OFFRAMP HERE TO ACCESS THE PARK. IT IS ALSO THE EAST COAST GREENWAY WILL HAVE Y HERE WHICH ALLOWS YOU TO HAVE PEDESTRIAN ACCESS TO THE PARK ALSO BEFORE THE EAST COAST GREENWAY CONTINUES OVER THE

BRIDGE. MY, BACK OVER TO. >> SO WHERE ARE WE IN THE SCHEDULE? WITH THE CONSTRUCTIBILITY STAGE, WHICH IS -- WE JUST SUBMITTED THIS PAST MAY. WE HAVE A SUBMITTAL WHICH IS ABOUT 90 PERCENT IN JANUARY AND PLANS COMPLETE LATER IN THE NEXT YEAR IN JUNE. OCTOBER 21 IS ABOUT A YEAR FROM NOW, THE CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN ABOUT OCTOBER 21 IS ABOUT A YEAR FROM NOW, THE CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN ABOUT JANUARY 22. IT'S ABOUT A 4 TO 5 YEAR CONSTRUCTION DURATION PERIOD. BUT WE'D LIKE TO BE CONSERVATIVE. WE HAVE A PUBLIC WORKSHOP TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED NEXT -- THAT'S INCORRECT. AUGUST. WE WERE HOPING WE WOULD PUT THIS TOGETHER THAT WILL BE IN AUGUST. THE NEW RULES OF ENGAGEMENT, WE JUST GOT NEW GUIDELINES FROM THE STATE, IT'S A HYBRID. VIRTUAL, IN PERSON THING THAT WE STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND YET. APPARENTLY A BE IN THE SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER. PROBABLY OCTOBER.

THE CURRENT ESTIMATE IS 76 MILLION.

[00:15:03]

>> YES, SIR. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. A LOT OF PUBLIC -- A LOT OF THE PUBLIC ASK ABOUT THESE QUESTIONS. AND SO WE ARE JUST TRYING TO ENGAGE THEM WHEN WE ROUTINELY HEAR THESE IDEAS AND ARE SAYING WHEN IS IT CAN HAPPEN? IS IT EVER GOING TO HAPPEN? IF YOU COULD GO BACK A SLIDE. THERE WAS A COMMUNICATION AT SOME POINT -- I DON'T SEE IT.

IT LOOKS LIKE YOU CHANGE THE DESIGN. THE LEFT-HAND TURNING MOVEMENTS.

UPON LEAVING THE PARK, ORIGINALLY, THAT WE TALKED ABOUT ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THIS, HAVING THE RIGHT TURN EXIT FROM THE PARK. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE JUST DOING A TWO WAY ENTRY AND EXIT OF THE SAME POINTS? IS THAT BECAUSE OF ENVIRONMENTAL OR DO WE HAVE TOO

MUCH IMPACT TO EXISTING? >> IT'S RIGHT-OF-WAY ISSUES AND THE BRIDGE. MAKING THE GEOMETRY WORK PROPERLY.

>> OKAY. THIS IS PART OF THE CITY. SO POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS TO BE A PART OF THIS, TOO.

>> THAT'S A GOOD POINT. WE WILL EVENTUALLY MEET WITH FIRST RESPONDERS AND TALK ABOUT THE INTENDED TRAFFIC. THAT'S IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE ACTUALLY DONE THE SLIDE PRESENTATION. SO SHOWING THE MARINA ACCESS ROAD LIKE WE DESCRIBED THE CONSTRUCTION OF ONE NIETZSCHE PRIOR THE EXISTING WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR TRAFFIC, BUT CONSTRUCTING OVER FEC AS YOU CAN IMAGINE IS CHALLENGING. WERE GOING TO WORK OUT -- IS FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD. IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A NIGHT CLOSURE ON THE WEEKENDS FOR ABOUT SEVEN WEEKENDS. IT DOESN'T ALL HAVE TO BE IN A ROW.

BUT DURING THE TIME THIS TEMPORARY ACCESS EXISTING BRIDGE WILL BE CLOSED TO RESIDENTS. HOWEVER, WE HAVE PUT IN A -- EMERGENCY CORRIDOR, JUST IN CASE. THAT WILL BE OPEN THE WHOLE TIME. WE COMMUNICATED, THEY ACCEPTED THE PLAN.

>> AND AGAIN, THAT IS JUST FOUR HOURS ONCE A WEEK IS THE ONLY TIME THAT WE ANTICIPATE.

BUT THESE ARE THINGS WE WANT TO TALK TO THE FIRST RESPONDERS. WE DO THAT EVERY PROJECT. WE ACTUALLY MEET WITH THE FIRST RESPONDERS SO THEY WAY IN AND KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING.

>> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER?

>> CONGRATULATIONS ON MAKING THIS PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY AND MULTIUSE. I'M SO HAPPY THAT WE ACTUALLY ARE BRIDGES IN THE LOCALE THAT YOU CAN WALK, RUN, RIGHT, WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO DO.

AND THAT IS WHAT THE WORLD IS ALL HAPPENING ABOUT.

I SAW THE TRAFFIC RAIL. YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT IS REMOVABLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY? WHAT IS YOUR EVACUATION PLAN JUST IN CASE THIS AREA GETS HIT BY A

HURRICANE? >> WE MEAN TO OPEN THIS EVEN

BEYOND THEIR. >> AS.

>> THESE TRAFFIC RAILS ARE CRASH TESTED TRAFFIC RAILS THAT ARE -- IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP THEM EXACTLY AS THEY ARE IN THE INTEGRITY FOR THE STRUCTURE FOR THE LOAD CAPACITY. THOSE ARE

NOT REMOVABLE. >> YOU HAVE TWO LANES.

>> TWO LANES IN THE SHOULDERS. >> YOU CAN ALWAYS OPEN THOSE UP JUST TO GO BEST ONLY. SO YOU HAVE A PLAN WITH THE BRIDGE. THAT IS GOOD.

>> WITH THE 1212+16, THAT CAN BE MADE THREE LANES EASY.

>> GOOD. MOVING ON, MY SPIES IN THE DOT TELL ME THERE IS OVER 100 BRIDGES IN FLORIDA THAT ARE IN QUESTION RIGHT NOW. THERE INTEGRITY, HOPEFULLY, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THE CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN OF THIS BRIDGE AS COMPARED TO ALL OF THESE OTHER ONES THAT SEEM TO BE FAILING AT THIS TIME ESPECIALLY IN THIS AREA. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT -- THIS IS CONVENTIONAL CONSTRUCTION. THIS IS NOT -- TRIED-AND-TRUE. IT'S VERY CONVENTIONAL.

>> I ASSUME BECAUSE 85 FEET THE EXPOSURE TO WIND ESPECIALLY COMING IN FROM -- IT'S A DIRECT HIT ON THE BRIDGE. SO WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ANYTHING ÃBUT WE WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THE BRIDGE AND 56 YEARS FROM NOW. WHEN IT STARTS TO FALL APART. BUT IN THE

MEANTIME. >>MAYOR HUDSON: HOPEFULLY NOT.

>> IT WAS A QUESTION MY HEAD. THE LAST QUESTION I HAVE IS JUANITA, IS AN INTENTION TO PUT A SIGNAL LIGHT AT JUANITA AT ALL? X YES. THERE WILL BE A SIGNAL AT 18 ALSO.

>> GOOD. >> WE WILL UPDATE THE SLIDE TO

SHOW A SIGNAL. >> I DID NOT SEE THEM THEY ARE.

[00:20:05]

>>MAYOR HUDSON: I WAS CAN ASK A QUESTION TO AND VERIFY THAT.

SO BACK TO THE HURRICANE EVACUATION, THIS IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE PLANNED VERY CAREFULLY. BECAUSE THIS BRIDGE IS MUCH HIGHER THAN THE 60 FOOT SOUTHBRIDGE AND SO, -- IT SEEMED TO ME THAT OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER IN OLIVER COUNTY NEEDS TO BE TUNED IN TO AND PEOPLE -- AT A CERTAIN TIME THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ALLOWED ON THE BRIDGE. IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT'S FOR ALL BRIDGES BY THE WAY. 49 MILE AN HOUR THRESHOLD. THAT'S A GOOD POINT. WE TEND ON EXPLORING THAT AND HOW THAT MAY CHANGE THE EVACUATION TIMING WITH THIS

BRIDGE VERSUS THE SOUTHBRIDGE. >>MAYOR HUDSON: YOU MIGHT TELL ME THE SAME BUT IN MY GUT, PROBABLY WON'T BELIEVE YOU -- THE DIFFERENCE.

>> PERCEPTION IS JUST AS IMPORTANT.

>> EXACTLY. >> DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING?

>> I DID. IF I AM WESTBOUND IN THE BIPLANE I'M GOING TO THE MAINLAND FROM THE ISLAND -- I THOUGHT IT WAS ON THE GREENWAY, BUT IT WASN'T BECAUSE THE SHARED USE PATH IS THE GREENWAY. IS THERE A BREAK IN THE CONCRETE BARRIER SO I CAN POP OVER AND RIDE DOWN THE

RAMP? >> THERE IS NOT. WE TRY TO AVOID THOSE BREAKS BECAUSE AND YOU HAVE THESE EDGES THAT YOU WANT TO -- YOU CAN HAVE BLUNT IMPACT INTO. THERE WILL BE DETAILS NEEDED. BUT THAT IS NOT TYPICAL TO DO THAT AT ALL.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN? WE CAN THINK ABOUT IT.

>> I'M THINKING ABOUT THE -- A BICYCLIST, IF THEY MAKE MISTAKEN OR LIKE I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE GREENWAY SO I CAN GET ON THE OFF RAMP AND GO DOWN BELOW JOEL DIXIE.

>> RIGHT. >> AND THEY MADE A MISTAKE IN THE BIPLANE. NOW THEY ARE GOING TO U.S. ONE.

>> IT SHOULD BE A SIGNAGE. >> AND I THINK THE STANDARD FOR THE GREENWAY IS THE GREEN RUBBERIZED OR PAINT MARKINGS OR WHATEVER IT IS.

>> THAT'S APPROVED FOR THESE PROJECTS.

>> THAT WILL HAVE TO BE SET UP AT THE BEGINNING.

>> IS GOING TO HELP PEOPLE KNOW WHICH DIRECTION YOU'RE GOING, BUT SIGNAGE IN THE PAINTING, AND THE MARKINGS SHOULD HELP A LOT. BUT ONCE YOU ARE UP ON THE BRIDGE.

>> YOU POP UP WITH A BARRIER BUT YOU REALLY DON'T WANT BREAKS IN THE BARRIER IF YOU

CAN AVOID THEM. >> BY THE TIME THE PUBLIC WORKSHOP, WE WILL HAVE ALL THAT WORKED OUT WE CAN SHOW THE MARKINGS IN THE SIGNAGE.

>> OKAY. >> WE EXPECT THERE TO BE SOME

INTEREST IN THAT. >> COMMISSIONER.

>> ARE WE GOING TO RETAIN THE THE BRIDGE -- SAUNDERS BRIDGE? THAT WAS YOUR STARTER. I WAS JUST LOOKING IT UP. THE GENERAL -- THE GENTLEMAN DIED IN 1980.

>> HE WAS A STATE LEGISLATOR, RIGHT.

>> YES. >> AND THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE

LEGISLATURE. >> MAY NOT BE BRIDGE DOWN, DO

YOU RETAIN THE NAME? >> WE WILL DEFINITELY TAKE YOUR INPUT ON THAT ONE. I DON'T THINK THE DOT WOULD MIND IF YOU HAVE A SUGGESTION.

>> IF THE LEGISLATURE DECIDE IT, THEY WOULD HAVE TO UNDECIDED I THINK.

>> ARE GOING TO HOLLOWAY THE OLD ONE.

>> YES, SIR. >> IN QUESTION. ARE WE -- WITH THESE DESIGNS I'M LOOKING AT, ARE THEY TAKING OUT THE FISHING ALTOGETHER? THERE'S NO FISHING

FROM EAST TO WEST BANK. >> SIR?

>> SO WITH THE HEIGHT OF THE BRIDGE, WE THINK FISHING WOULD BE MORE DIFFICULT THAN EXISTING. I THINK THAT'S A TRUE STATEMENT.

>>MAYOR HUDSON: I THINK HE'S MEANING THE OBSERVATION DECK OR ALONG THE BANKS?

>> YES. THE EXISTING BID NOW. WHY COULDN'T THEY LEAVE A PORTION OF THAT UP FOR THE

FISHING FOR THE COMMUNITY? >> SO THE CONDITION OF THE BRIDGE WOULD HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED WITH THE AGENCY WILLING TO MAINE ATTAINMENT SO, THAT'S THE ISSUE WITH THE EXISTING BRIDGE.

>> SO JUST TAKING FISHING AWAY FROM THE COMMUNITY ALTOGETHER, RIGHT? THEY SAY THEY CAN DO IT

ON THE OBSERVATION DECK. >> F DOT DOES NOT PROVIDE

FISHING FACILITIES. >> SO.

[00:25:08]

>>MAYOR HUDSON: MR. SESSIONS, ARE YOU THROUGH, COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER?

>> YES. COMMISSIONER SESSIONS?

>> THAT'S WHY I GOT IT ON MY CHAIR THERE AND HE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD IT'S LIKE PREMONITION. FORGIVE ME, BUT THOSE CHEERS ARE A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE AND THAT SCREEN IS A LOT BIGGER. SO HAD TO GET A BETTER VISION OF THINGS. I PROBABLY NEED TO START DOING THAT ON A REGULAR BASIS. BUT, BACK TO THE ISSUE AT HAND. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE AWARE OF IT -- AND IS NOT SO MUCH YOUR PROBLEM AS IT IS OUR PROBLEM, AT LEAST AFTER YOU HAVE GIVEN ME THE INFORMATION THAT YOU WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR. WOULD PUT FORT PIERCE ON THE MAP FOR THE MOST PART IS FISHING. AND THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF FISHING GOING ON THE PARTICULAR BRIDGE THROUGHOUT MY WHOLE ENTIRE LIFETIME. AND PROBABLY BEFORE ME, I'M SURE.

AND IT GOES BACK TO THE HERITAGE AND THE CULTURE OF THE CITY. AND SURE ENOUGH, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A BRAND-NEW BRIDGE, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE -- THEY COULD CARE LESS ABOUT THE BRIDGE IN THE PRESENT STATE, BUT IT IS GOING TO HIT THEM DETRIMENTALLY DO NOT BELIEVE KNOW ABLE TO FISH FROM THE BRIDGE. AND I'M JUST ECHOING WHAT COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER IS SAYING THAT'S NOT SO MUCH DIRECTED TOWARD YOU ARE THE COMMISSION OR WHOEVER CAN TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY TO TRY TO MAKE THIS A REALITY AND KEEP THE DREAM ALIVE. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? WITH REGARDS TO FISHING? IT'S NOT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY BUT IS THERE ANY ALTERNATIVE THAT WE HAVE SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO FISH OFF THE BRIDGE. WE JUST WENT THROUGH SOMETHING WITH THE SOUTHBRIDGE WHERE THE PHONES WERE RINGING OFF THE HOOK FOR PEOPLE NOT HAVING THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO FISH. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT LOVE FISHING ON THE BRIDGE AND WE ARE ABOUT TO DO THE SAME THING THIS ONE. IS THERE ANYTHING WE

CAN DO OR SUGGEST. >> THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE DEDICATED PAIR FOR FISHING. BUT THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE FUNDED OR MAINTAINED BY THE CITY OF THAT WAS TO HAPPEN. SO THAT'S THE ALTERNATIVE.

>> DO YOU KNOW THE PRICELINE OF THE IDEA WHAT IT WOULD COST OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?

>> I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK OF THE TOP OF MY HEAD BUT I CAN GET THAT INFORMATION TO YOU.

>> AND THEN, LET THIS COMMISSION DECIDE OR THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT DECIDE MAYBE JOINTLY WE CAN DO SOMETHING TOGETHER TO MAKE IT A REALITY. BECAUSE I WOULD HATE FOR THAT TO HAPPEN OR THE PUBLIC IS NOT ABLE TO CONTINUE TO FISH IN THE BRIDGE.

>> WE UNDERSTAND. >> ANOTHER THING, TOO, I WANTED TO ASK YOU. A LOT OF INCIDENTS TAKE PLACE ON BRIDGES, ACCIDENTS, WE HAD WENT TO HAPPEN ON OUR BRIDGE. THE -- THE SOUTHBRIDGE IT WAS. THINGS OCCUR. AND I' JUST WONDERING COMMENTS ARE GOING TO BE ANY TYPE OF CAMERA OR SECURITY SYSTEM IN PLACE TO COVER ANY FOOTAGE THAT MAY TAKE PLACE ONLY BRIDGE? IS THAT PART OF THE CONSTRUCTION I DIDN'T SEE

IF IT WAS. >> DURING CONSTRUCTION IS THAT

WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO? >> SINCE YOU BROUGHT IT UP, WE

WILL LOOK INTO IT. >> I THINK THAT IS VITAL, TOO.

WE HAD INCIDENTS TO OCCUR ON THE SOUTHBRIDGE WITH ME, PERSONALLY AND HAD BEEN FOR SECURITY SYSTEM, IT PROBABLY COULD'VE BEEN SOMETHING PUT IN PLACE TO KEEP IT FROM HAPPENING. SO THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS.

>> THANK YOU ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS? WE ARE GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH OF BRINGING THIS TO US. KEEP THIS POSTED AND HOW YOU ARE MEETING YOUR VIRTUAL MEETING AND HOW

AND WHEN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. >> WE WILL GET MEETING NOTES AND THINGS THAT WILL BROUGHT UP WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE ON RECORD.

>> APPRECIATED. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

[b. Sports Tourism Initiative]

>> THE NEXT ITEM IS THE SPORTS TOURISM INITIATIVE. MR. MIMS?

>> AS YOU ALL ARE AWARE, OUR SPORTS STARS TOURISM INITIATIVE IS ONE OF OUR OBJECTIVES. IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE TREASURE COAST SPORTS COMMISSION AS WELL AS OUR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE INDIAN HILLS GOLF COURSE AND THE CITY ARENA. I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MAKE -- MR. RICK HATCHER.

[00:30:03]

>> MORNING. MR. MANAGER, MAYOR .

>> WELCOME. >> RIDGE -- RICK HATCHER. I WAS ALERTED THE OTHER DAY THAT I HAVE BEEN IN THIS POSITION NOW FOR SIX YEARS. AND I'M EXCITED TO BE PART OF THE TREASURE COAST AND PART OF THE WORKING WITH ALL THREE COUNTIES INDIAN RIVER ST. LUCIE AND MARTIN COUNTY. AND I'M VERY FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE TWO OUTSTANDING STAFF MANAGERS RYAN, WHOSE DIRECTOR FOR BUSINESS AND MARKETING AND KEVIN GREENE, WHO IS THE ADVANCED MANAGER WHO WORKED VERY CLOSELY WHO WERE COMING INTO TOWN TO PUT ON TOURNAMENTS AND EVENTS. AND SO WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME FORWARD TO SHARE OTHER WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING OVER THE PAST YEAR AND WHAT WE SEE IN THE FUTURE AS WELL FOR THE TREASURE COAST AND THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE.

FIRST I'D LIKE TO GET STARTED WITH A LITTLE BIT OF VIDEO JUST HIGHLIGHTS EXACTLY WHAT OUR SPORTS COMMISSION DOES FOR THE AREA.

>> WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF SPORTS TOURISM. THE TREASURE COAST SPORTS COMMISSION IS A 501(C)(3) NOT-FOR-PROFIT FLORIDA CORPORATION FOCUSING ON SPORTS DEVELOPMENT ST. LUCIE

AND MARTIN COUNTIES. >> ALMOST 600 ATHLETES COMPETING PLUS ALL THE PARENTS AND FAMILY FRIENDS COMING ALONG. WILL HAVE OVER 800 PEOPLE ON THE DECK AT SOME POINT.

>> PARTIALLY FUNDED BY TAX REVENUE THE SPORTS COMMISSION SEEKS OUT EVENTS AND TOURNAMENTS THAT HAVE SHOWED TO BRING TRAVELING, THE SITTERS AND ATHLETES TO THE AREA FOR EXTENDED STAYS, WHILE COMPETING IN OUR LOCAL VENUES AND SPORTS FACILITIES.

>> WE HAVE ONE OF THE STRONGEST PROGRAMS AND REGIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE OVER 400 STUDENTS COMPETING TODAY IN THIS EVENT.

>> GAME DAY. >> THESE VISITORS, IN TURN, PROVIDE A LOCAL IMPACT. THEY STAY IN AREA HOTELS AND ENJOYING THE ENTERTAINMENT AND

OFFERINGS IN THE ATTRACTIONS. >> IS A FAMILY AFFAIR WHEN YOU SEE THE TEAMS COME IN EVERY YEAR FOR A WEEK OR TWO AND GET TO SPEND TIME FROM THEM.

>> MY TEAM IS FROM NEW JERSEY THEY ENJOY COMING TO THE TREASURE COAST AND GETTING

VACATION TIME AND. >> TEAMS ARE PLAYING IN TOURNAMENTS. IT'S A VACATION FOR THE FAMILIES. AND MOST OF THESE TEAMS ARE HERE FOR A MINIMUM OF FIVE NIGHTS. I BELIEVE THAT THEY'VE EARNED THE RIGHT TO BE HERE.

>> THE TREASURE COAST SPORTS COMMISSION IS ONLY RUN LINES WITHIN THE SPORTS INDUSTRY.

REPRESENTING THE ASSETS OUR AREA HAS TO OFFER TO EVENT OWNERS AND COORDINATORS, LOOKING TO BRING SPORTS EVENTS TO OUR AREA.

>> WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE OUR NAME ON THIS.

>> IT HAS AN IMPACT. OVER HALF $1 MILLION TO THE COMMUNITY. IT BRINGS IN A LOT OF MONEY TO THE COMMUNITY. WE WOULD LIKE TO HELP KIDS.

>> BY JOINING THE SPORTS COMMISSION TEAM, WE CAN BRING YOUR BRAND, PRODUCT OR SERVICE TO THIS DEMOGRAPHIC POPULATION IN THE PREPLANNING STAGES EVEN BEFORE THE TEAM SPOKE THEIR TRIP CLUSTERING THE EVENTS, WE CAN HELP BUILD YOUR BRAND, PRODUCT OR SERVICE AWARENESS THROUGH SPONSORSHIPS, ADVERTISING MESSAGES, EVENT PROGRAMS AND EXCLUSIVE POST LOCATION PROMOTIONS. THE TREASURE COAST SPORTS COMMISSION WEBSITES, IS THE TREASURE COAST GATEWAY TO THE ATHLETES AND PROMOTERS PLANNING A VISIT TO OUR AREA.

>> ALL SHAKE HANDS. >> I LIKE IT. I'M VERY

ORGANIZED. >> IS ADJACENT TO THE PARK PEOPLE ARE STAYING AND PLAYING HERE FOR A LONG WEEKEND.

>> DID YOU KNOW THAT EITHER WAY YOU CAN ATTRACT A LARGE DEMOGRAPHIC OF VISITORS EVEN BEFORE THEY ARRIVE. I GET YOUR SERVICE IN FRONT OF THESE POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS DURING THEIR DECISION-MAKING PROCESS AS THEY PLAN THEIR TRIP TO THE TREASURE COAST.

>> WE CAN DO AMAZING THINGS. >> TREASURE SPORTS, TREASURE

COAST. >> THANK YOU, RYAN.

>> AND THAT IS -- THAT IS UP ON OUR WEBSITE. AS PEOPLE COME AND WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE AREA OF WHAT WE DO, IT'S AN IMPORTANT HIGHLIGHT THAT WE GIVE FOR THEM TO EXPLAIN. AND WE ARE NOT JUST A BASEBALL, SOFTBALL, INDUSTRY. RIGHT NOW, I THINK YOU SAW THERE, YOU'VE

[00:35:08]

STATEMENT, THIS IS WHAT WE DO. >> I'VE GOT A QUESTION I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, THIS IS WHAT MOTIVATED ME TO COME HERE THIS MORNING. THERE'S A LOT GOING ON. BUT I'VE GOT A QUESTION FOR YOU BEFORE WE GET STARTED. AND YOU WERE JUST TO DO THIS FOR THE MOST PART NOT THAT EVERYTHING ELSE IS AN IMPORTANT BUT THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. THE SPORT OF BOXING, ESPECIALLY SCORCHED IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE THAT, IF IT WERE TO PROMOTED MORE, AND GET MORE INVOLVED, NOT ONLY WOULD IT ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION, BUT WOULD ALSO TAKE A LOT OF YOUNG MEN OFF THE STREETS IN TERMS OF CRIME PREVENTION. NSA ATTEND THESE DIFFERENT BOXING ARENAS AND I GO FROM TIME TO TIME TO WATCH AMATEUR BOXING, EVERYBODY THERE THAT IS PARTICIPATING IS FROM FORT PIERCE, FOR THE MOST PART IN ATHLETES FROM FORT PIERCE BUT IT'S AN PALM BEACH, MIAMI, MELBOURNE, ALL OVER THE PLACE. SO THE CHALLENGE IS HERE, BUT YOU HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE TO WATCH THE TALENT. AND WANTED TO ASK YOU WILL THE QUESTION, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO PUT SOME EMPHASIS ON OUR LOCAL AMATEUR BOXING BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY -- IS JUST LIKE OLD FOOTBALL. WE HAVE SO MANY ATHLETES THAT COME FROM FORT PIERCE, BUT WE ARE NEVER ON THE MAP FOR DOING ANYTHING. THEY GET THEIR EDUCATION AND TRAINING AND THEY GO ELSEWHERE. THAT'S THE END OF IT. BUT THIS IS A SPORT, BOXING, THAT IS SO VITAL, AT LEAST NOT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, BUT IN TERMS OF HOW IT WOULD HELP WITH CRIME PREVENTION BECAUSE HIM TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, A LOT OF THOSE YOUNG MEN THAT ARE INTERESTED BOXING ARE THE ONES THAT ARE HANGING OUT ON THE STREETS SHOOTING AND SELLING DOPE. AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GET THEM IN SOME FORM OF SUPERVISED RECREATION SO THAT WE CANNOT ONLY STOP A LOT OF CRIME, SAVE THE LIVES. SO, I SAID ALL THAT TO SAY THIS, WHAT ARE YOU ALL Ã MAKE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO TO START PROMOTING BOXING EVENTS HERE SO THAT OUR YOUNG MEN THAT ARE HERE CAN STOP RUNNING ALL OVER THE STATE OF FLORIDA -- I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE A MONEYMAKER, TO ESPECIALLY FROM A LOCAL STANDPOINT. IT WOULD BE A BIG MONEYMAKER. WHAT IS IT THAT WE CAN DO TO PROMOTE THE SPORT OF BOXING SO WE CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY, BOTH CRIME PREVENTION AS WELL AS MAKE MONEY.

>> THE POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE USED TO ONLY STATE BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP HERE IN FORT PIERCE. AND WHENEVER -- THE GENTLEMAN -- WHENEVER HE RETIRED, THAT PROGRAM WENT AWAY. HE WAS THE SYNERGY AROUND POLLING ALL THOSE INDIVIDUALS FROM AROUND THE STATE. YET HE BOXING CLUB TO COME IN HERE. AND WE SEE IT. WE HATE LOSING THE EVENT. IT WAS A STAPLE FOR THE FIRST THREE YEARS THAT WE WERE HERE AND IT TYPICALLY OCCURS IN NOVEMBER WHICH IS A PERFECT TIME FOR HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS. AND WE WOULD LOVE TO ENGAGE WITH ANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WOULD PROMOTE THIS. AS WE GET OUT THERE WE CAN PROVIDE GRANTED DOLLARS FOR THEM TO BRING THE EVENTS HERE. LIKE YOU SAID, INSTEAD OF HAVING OUR ATHLETES TRAVELING OUT OF TOWN SPENDING MONEY ELSEWHERE LET THEIR ATHLETES COME HERE IT'S LIKE WE'VE GOT THAT HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE THAT IS HERE.

>> RIGHT. >> I 100 PERCENT AGREE.

>> SO, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO -- IF I CAN DO ANYTHING TO HELP CHAMPION IT, YOU'VE GOT MY PHONE NUMBER. LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS A GREEN AREA AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY.

>> U.S. -- YES. WE THINK IT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD GO OVER WELL AND HAS PROVEN TO GO OVER WELL AND PROVIDED, BY OR MEASURES ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR THOSE WHO COME FOR THE EVENTS

[00:40:03]

ALREADY. >> YOU ARE RIGHT. PAUL PEARSON, KEPT THE DREAM ALIVE AND HE DID A LOT OF IT AND WHEN THAT SITUATION WENT SOUR THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I MISS PAUL IS BECAUSE OF THAT. BUT YOU ARE RIGHT. AS I THINK ABOUT IT. HE WAS THE ONE BEHIND A LOT OF IT. AND SINCE THAT PLA IS OUT OF THE QUESTION, BEYOND YOUR CONTROL IT IS WHAT IT IS. BUT WE NEED TO GET IT BACK UP AND RUNNING. AND PAUL IS GONE, BUT THE DREAM AND THE HOPE IS STILL ALIVE. SO THANK YOU, SIR.

>> THANK YOU. GREAT COMMENTS. >> IN TAKING A LOOK AT OUR MISSION STATEMENT, WE ARE -- THE ONLY RECOGNIZED SPORTS TOURISM MARKETING ORGANIZATION FOR THE TREASURE COAST AND REPRESENTED ALL THREE OF THE COUNTIES THAT COME IN HERE. WE ARE FORMALLY ESTABLISHED IN 1999. IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE IT'S BEEN 20 YEARS. ONLY OVER 20 YEARS IN THE AREA. WE ARE A PRIVATE NONPROFIT ENTITY THAT FOCUSES ON SPORTS DEVELOPMENT IN INDIAN RIVER BARTON ST. LUCIE COUNTY. OUR MISSION IS WE ARE SPORTS INDUSTRY PARTNERS WITH THE FLORIDA SPORTS FOUNDATION FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND THEN AS WELL AS SPORTS ETA, WHICH IS OUR NATIONAL ORGANIZATION. WE ARE ONE OF ALMOST 725 NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE PART OF A SPORTS ETA.

IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, THESE ARE OUR COMPETITORS. THESE ARE WHO WE ARE UP AGAINST. YOU CAN SEE -- WE DO NOT CONSIDER HERSELF AT ANY DISADVANTAGE BECAUSE WE GOT SMALLER COMMUNITIES BECAUSE WE HOLD OUR OWN WITH EVERY DESTINATION THAT IS THERE. WERE WE CSS AND ADVANTAGES A LOT OF TIMES, IF AN ATHLETE OR WHERE AN EVENT IS BEING PLAYED IN ORLANDO. WELL WANT TO GO TO ORLANDO ONCE, LIEUTENANT. BUT YOU CAN STAY HERE ON THE TREASURE COAST, COMPETE AND COME BACK BECAUSE THE TURNPIKE TEACHER RIGHT THERE. YOU'VE GOT WAYS TO GET TO WHEREVER YOU NEED TO GO 95 IS NORTH AND SOUTH. THE TURNPIKE TAKES YOU TO CENTRAL FLORIDA. YOU CAN SEE THE VOLUME OF SPORTS COMMISSIONS IN THE STATE AND THIS IS ACTUALLY ABOUT TWO YEARS OLD. THEY'VE ALREADY ADDED SIX MORE DESTINATIONS THAT ARE ON THIS AREA. FLORIDA BEING FLORIDA, THREE QUARTERS OF THE STATE -- EVERYBODY HAS BEACHES. AND SO, WE TRY TO MARKET AND PROMOTE OUR VENUES AND HOW CLOSE THEY ARE TO THE BEACHES, COMPARED TO DISNEY ORLANDO. BUT WE'D LIKE TO KNOW WHEN OUR EVENTS COME TO TOWN, IT'S THE EVENT THAT'S HERE. AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO COMPETE ABOUT -- WITH OTHER EVENTS.

>> OUR FUNDING MEASURES. AS WE WORK WITH ALL THREE COUNTIES, WE DO RECEIVE FUNDING FROM ALL THREE COUNTIES FROM THE TAX. AND THEIR CONTRACTS ARE UNIQUELY DIFFERENT IN WORKING WITH INDIAN RIVER COUNTY COMPARED TO ST. LUCIE COUNTY AND MARK AS WELL. I THINK EVERYBODY'S AWARE IN MARTIN COUNTY, THE TAX COLLECTION WAS AT FIVE PENNIES. INDIAN RIVER IS SET FOR PENNIES RIGHT NOW. AND THEY'RE ALL DIVVIED UP AND IT GOES IN THERE. BUT THEY'RE ALL BASICALLY THAT SAME WAY WHILE WE HAVE OUR BUDGET IS IN THE RANGE BETWEEN $600-$700,000, DEPENDING ON THE YEAR AND THE COLLECTION OF THE BED TAX AND OR PRIVATE CORPORATE DOLLARS THAT WE WORK WITH. WE DO RUN SEVERAL OF OUR EVENTS -- WHICH I'LL MENTION IN A MINUTE THAT HELPS PUT MONEY BACK INTO OUR BUDGET. TAKING A LOOK OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, AND WHAT SPORTS TOURISM MEANS TO THIS AREA. LET ME BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION. THIS IS THROUGH OUR GRANT DOLLARS. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE MATS. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S NOT PART OF IT. WE PROVIDE INCENTIVES BACK TO OUR TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS, ARE MADE TO DIRECTORS ON THE SWIMMING OR CYCLIST ENTHUSIAST IF THEY HAVE A EVENT, IF THEY TRACK THEIR ROOM NIGHTS, WE MAKE THEM RESPONSIBLE TO TURN THE BACK AND THEN THEY QUALIFY FOR A GRANT THAT COMES BACK FROM THE GRANT DOLLARS. AND DOES GRANT DOLLARS CAN BE UTILIZED TO OFFSET THE COST OF OFFICIALS, TO PLAY FOR ROOMS AND HOTEL ROOMS. FOR THEIR TEAMS AND SUCH. AND SO YOU CAN SEE THAT SPORTS TOURISM IS A STRONG ECONOMIC DRIVER HERE IN THE TREASURE COAST BETWEEN THE LEISURE AND SPORTS TOURISM MARKETING.

THESE ARE A FEW OF THE EVENTS SINCE OUR CALENDAR YEAR, OUR FISCAL YEAR STARTED. YOU NOTICE THE FIRST CHALLENGE, U.S. NATIONALS. WHAT AN EVENT. HELD IN DOWNTOWN FORT PIERCE

[00:45:19]

CITY AND WE ARE APPRECIATIVE. >> INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE AND AGAIN, NUMEROUS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS THAT THEY HAVE ONE SWIMMING. YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD -- DEMAND IS 45 OR 46 CONSECUTIVE YEARS. THE WOMEN ARE AT 42 -43. THEY DO HOST THEIR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS EVERY TWO YEARS ON CAMPUS AT THE INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE.

CAUSEWAY COVE, WE USE THE OPEN AREAS THERE. ANY BASEBALL. BASEBALL IS THE COUNTS OF WHAT WE DO HERE NOW BECAUSE OF THE VENUES THAT ARE IN PLACE. EVERYBODY HAS HEARD ABOUT VINNIE BALL TO BE ABLE TO BRING TEAMS OUT OF THE NORTHEAST AND HAVE SPRING TRAINING AND STUFF.

SO THAT'S A BIG STAPLE FOR THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE WORKING A BASKETBALL IT INDIAN RIVER STATE COLLEGE. IN THE THAT'S NOT A MISSPELLING COMMISSIONER PERRONE, CORRECT? WE HAVE CREATED THE SKIER'S CUTE 100 K, 50 K. IT'S NOT 10K AND 5K. IT'S THE 100 K THAT WE DID OUT AT THE SKEETER IMPOUND THE ASSISTANCE OF COMMISSIONER PERONA. WE HAD INDIVIDUALS FROM SIX OR SEVEN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES TO COME AND COMPETE. IT STARTED AT 6 AM AND WRAPPED UP AT 11 PM. THE FIRST YEAR WE DID THIS, OUR OLDEST COMPETITOR WAS A 75-YEAR-OLD FEMALE THAT DID THE WHOLE THING BY HERSELF. AND IT JUST SHOWS THE PASSION TO ALTER RUNNING. THAT'S WHAT IT'S CALLED. BUT I'LL BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH COMMISSIONER PERONA AND THE LOCAL RUNNERS IN THIS AREA TO DO THIS. AND SO, YOU GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT OF INSIGHT -- EXCUSE ME. THE HUNDRED K, THAT IS LIKE RUNNING FROM BEAR POINT TO THE AIRPORT IN WEST PALM BEACH. ALL RIGHT. SO THAT'S WHERE -- EVERYBODY SAYS 10K AND 5K, THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE USUALLY SEEN. 100 K 50 K. SO I DO NOT REQUIRE STAFF TO RUN THE EVENT. SO IT'S JUST -- IT'S INTERESTING. WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT IT IS LAST YEAR, WE HAD SO MUCH FUN WITH THE VOLUNTEER BASE. WE WORKED WITH THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS. THE ROTC CLUMPS.

WE HAD THE GROUP FROM CENTENNIAL -- THE MICRO LAB.

[00:50:04]

>> HIGH SCHOOL ROBOTICS. >> SO THEY CAME OUT AND MANNED THE STATION. AND THE KIDS WERE OUT THERE AND THERE IN THE MIDDLE IN THE DARK. IT'S DARK OUT THERE. AND COMMISSIONER PERONA SAID THAT'S WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO DO. IT CREATED THE EVENT FROM SCRATCH AND HIGHLIGHTS THE BEAUTIES OF WHAT YOU HAVE HERE ON THE TREASURE COAST. AS WELL AS -- YOU LOOK AT THE OTHER EVENTS THAT WILL BRING EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION TO THE PADDLE BATTLE. UTILIZING THE NATURAL RESOURCES. THIS IS ONE OF THE LAST EVENTS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO BEFORE COVID HAD THIS YEAR. AND RYAN AND KEVIN MET IN THE INDIVIDUAL WOULDN'T DO IT. AND THEY'RE TELLING US THAT YOU NEED TO GET SOME KIND OF EVENT THAT IS IN AND AROUND HERE. SO WE DID IT AND WE WERE HAPPY WITH IT. AND THEN, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE IN SPORTS IS NOT ABSENTEE WITH IT, COVETED HIT.

SO WE WENT TO A RECOVERY PLAN AND THERE IT IS.

>> YES. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE TAKE A LOOK -- THIS IS WHAT WE HAD TO ADJUST WITH. OUR SCHEDULE THAT WE HAD ON BOARD WAS BEFORE COVID, 17 EVENTS. THAT WAS GOING TO TAKE PLACE OVER THE PERIOD OF MARCH TO THE END OF JUNE. WE WERE ABLE TO QUICKLY RESCHEDULE 12 OF THOSE EVENTS, FIVE EVENTS ONLY CANCEL.

AND SO, AS WE GET INTO THIS, YOU CAN SEE THE IMPACT OF WHAT WE HAD TO DO. SO IN WORKING IN RESCHEDULE EVENTS TO THE FALL OF 2020, KEEPING THEM HERE IN THE AREA OF WORKING WITH THE HOTELS AND THEN, ENGAGING AND PUTTING STUFF ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND HIGHLIGHTING OUR PARTNERS AT HELPED US DO THIS ALL THE TIME. NEXT?

>> THIS IS WHERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RESCHEDULING 12 OF THOSE EVENT. YOU CAN SEE PROJECTED ROOM NIGHTS 3500 ROOM NIGHTS OVER THAT PERIOD, BUT IT'S $2.6 MILLION AND WHAT IT MEANS TO THE AREA. AND THEN, THE FIVE EVENTS THAT WE COULD NOT RESCHEDULE BASED ON THE SANCTION BY THE USA GOVERNING BODIES THAT OVERSEE THE EVENTS. A LOT OF THOSE WERE SWIMMING EVENTS. USA SWIMMING HAS NOT SANCTIONED ANY EVENT AND WHAT WE HAVE HEARD, MAY NOT DO IT FOR THE BALANCE OF THE YEAR. BUT YOU CAN SEE THE HARDEST HIT RIGHT THERE. AND OUT OF THE 6800 ROOM NIGHTS YOU SEE THAT HAVE CANCELED, 5000 OF THOSE WERE VALUABLE. WHEN IT HIT, HE LOST FIVE WEEKS OF BASEBALL IN THE AREA. THAT'S A HUGE IMPACT, BUT WE ARE WORKING TO MAKE SURE IT CAN COME BACK. USING 21 WILL BE DIFFERENT UNTIL EVERYBODY GETS SOME CONFIDENCE OF TRAVELING AGAIN. THEN WE TURN BACK INTO RETURN TO PLAY. WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE OVER THE LAST SIX WEEKS, FIVE WEEKS, LONGWOOD AND LAKEWOOD HAS BEEN BUSY WITH BASEBALL. WE'VE DONE A TRIATHLON AT JC PARK.

LET'S SEE. YOU'VE GOT -- WE PICKED UP TWO NEW BASEBALL EVENTS THAT CANNOT TAKE PLACE.

THEY WERE SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY. THEY REACHED APPEARANCE AT THESE FOLKS ÃBUT THEY STILL HAVE THE TOURNAMENTS. TWO NEW EVENTS THERE. WE WILL PROBABLY CONTINUE TO PICK UP EVENTS UNTIL WE GET OTHER STUFF THAT IS COMING UP OUR WAY. AND THEN YOU LOOK AT THE UPCOMING HERE FOR THE END OF THE YEAR. 14 EVENTS. WE ARE EXCITED THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH IT. NOW, WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS OUT OF THE 14 EVENTS, ONE OF THOSE WAS THE SK NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS THAT WAS SCHEDULED TO BE IN APRIL. IT'S GOING TO BE AT CAUSEWAY COVE. WE MOVED IT TO THE END OF AUGUST AND THEN LAST FRIDAY, THEY MADE A DECISION WITH CONSULTING WITH THE SPORTS COMMISSION AND WITH THE APPETITE WITH SPONSORS AND EVERYTHING, THEY HAVE NOW DECIDED TO MOVE THIS TO APRIL. THEY FEEL SAFER WITH EVERYTHING. WE STILL HAVE THE MASS MANDATES -- THE MASK MANDATES. A LOT OF THE COMPETITORS TEAMS TRAVEL FROM NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, GEORGIA, TEXAS AND FLORIDA. AND WE DO NOT WANT THIS TO BE JUST A FLORIDA EVENT. IT'S A LITTLE LIKE IT WOULD BE BETTER TO PUSH THIS TO APRIL, NOT CANCEL, BUT PUSH IT. AND THEN YOU GOING TO DO THAT. AND SO WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE LOCAL OFFICIALS BECAUSE I THINK THE PRESS RELEASE WENT OUT ABOUT 11 O'CLOCK LAST FRIDAY

[00:55:03]

LIKE I SAID, FEW OF THE NATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT WE WORK WITH YOU HAVE SK AAA YOU, GAME ON IS THE GROUP THAT DOES THE TO TRIATHLONS, THE ONE IN DECEMBER IS DONE AT THE JETTIES AND THE ONE THAT JUST COMPLETED WAS DONE AT JC PARK IN WORKING WITH IT. PROSPECT WIRE, PROSPECT SELECT, THE PNS THAT JUST WRAPPED UP SATURDAY. WITH THEIR CHAMPIONSHIPS. THIS EVENT WAS ORIGINALLY FIVE YEARS AGO, SIX YEARS AGO. IT WAS CALLED THE VERO BEACH CLASSIC.

THEN IT OUTGREW A 200 TEAMS AND THEY PLAY AT DODGERTOWN AND THEY WILL PLAY HERE IN PORT ST.

LUCIE. THEY WENT SOUTH TO PALM BEACH AND CALL THAT THE PALM PALM BEACH CLASSIC AND THEY GREW TO 300 TEAMS. THEY UTILIZE LONGWOOD AND THEY PLAYED AT CLOVER PARK TRADITIONS FOR THEM. ALL RIGHT. DAN WAS COVID HITTING, THEY WENT NORTH TO VIEIRA AND PLAYED TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY THURSDAY THEY ARE. AND THEN ALL GAMES HERE WAS TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. THEY PLAYED THE CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR THE PALM BEACH CLASSIC HERE IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. KIDS DON'T MATTER WHAT IT'S CALLED. THEY JUST WANT TO PLAY. I WAS EXCITED TO BE PART OF IT.

I MENTIONED ABOUT THE FIREFIGHTER COMBAT CHALLENGE, HOSTING THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. AND WE DO HAVE A CLIP FROM THIS LAST ONE. BEFORE I RUN IT, I WILL ASK IF

THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS. >>MAYOR HUDSON: ANY QUESTIONS? NO? GO AHEAD.

>> HERE IS A NICE SHOT. FIVE DISCIPLINES. THE WORLD RECORD, 72 SECONDS DOING ALL THIS? IN THE TOP FIREFIGHTER THAT CAN DO THIS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS HERE IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. HE HOLDS THE STATE RECORD. THE HAVING MEN'S DIVISION AND A WOMEN'S DIVISION, A COED DIVISION, A RELAY, AND A KIDS SIDE HERE'S THE ICONIC BRIDGE. WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT ALL OF OUR PARTNERS.

>>MAYOR HUDSON: GREAT! I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. AND SO WHEN YOU HAVE AN EVENT IN ST.

LUCIE COUNTY, AND YOU PUT PEOPLE UP IN HOTELS AND WE WANT THE TOURIST TAX HERE, TO GO TO ST. LUCIE COUNTY HOTELS FIRST FOR HOSTING THEM SO WE GET THE TAX HERE OR HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO PROVIDE STRATEGICALLY PLACED THE CHOICES OF PROPERTIES TO THE VENUES. AND SOME OF THESE EVENTS ARE SO LARGE THAT OUR PRISON DIRECTOR SAID THAT ST.

[01:00:04]

>> THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO YOUR ORGANIZATION AND TO US TO HAVE MORE HOTELS IN ST. LUCIE

COUNTY? >> HOTELS WILL NOT HELP SELL

THIS. VENUES SELL. >> VENUES OKAY.

>> WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT THIS AND EVERYTHING, FOUR YEARS AGO, FIVE YEARS AGO, WHEN THEY ADDED TWO ADDITIONAL FIELDS HERE TO LONGWOOD, THAT INCREASED THE TRAINING. MY 30 TEAMS. WE NOW HAVE SIX FIELDS. OUTSIDE OF CLOVER IN THE MINOR LEAGUES, THIS IS THE MOST HEAVILY USED SPORTS COMPLEX THAT IS HERE AT LONGWOOD BECAUSE OF THE FIELDS. YOU CAN SPREAD OUT. IT COVID RIGHT NOW WE ARE NOT TOGETHER. WE'VE GOT IT COMING UP THIS WEEKEND IS GOING TO UTILIZE LIKE WHAT WE'VE GOT TO GO OUT THIS WEEK AND PUT UP SIGNAGE ABOUT SOCIAL DISTANCING TENTS. WE DO IT ALL. WE SPACE YOUR TENT 10 TO 15 FEET APART. ONE FAMILY PER TENT. THINGS OF THAT NATURE. WE TRY TO DO OUR BEST. IT'S NOT HOTELS. IT'S GOING TO BE VENUES THAT DRIVE THE NEED FOR IT. AND THEN THE LOCATION OF THOSE VENUES.

>> YOU MAY NOT BE AWARE BUT OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, ONE OF OUR GOALS IS TO INCREASE SPORTS TOURISM AND MAKE FORT PIERCE ONE OF THE PLACES TO REALLY UP OUR GAME.

>> I'VE TALKED WITH MIKE. I'VE TALKED WITH VARIOUS PEOPLE ABOUT THE VENUES AND EVERYTHING WE'VE GOT PICKED BALL. FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO PICK A BALL. YOU PRACTICE -- PICKLE BALL IS THE FASTEST GROWING SPORT IN AMERICA. WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND YOU SEE THE VALUE OF IT BECAUSE VERANO, THEY JUST MADE THEIR PICKLE BALL COURTS OVER THERE. 27 QUARTS. IN INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, THEY'VE GOT TO BASKETBALLS. THEY HAVE FOUR PICKLE BALL COURTS THAT ARE IN DOOR. AND SO INDOOR FACILITY, PICKLE BALL AND SO, WE'VE GOT GREAT VENUES. IT'S JUST ADDING OPPORTUNITY OR ADDING VENUES CREATES THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> COMMISSIONER PERRONE? >> THANK YOU. THESE ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITE FOLKS. THEY'RE LIKE LITTLE ANTS THAT SEEM TO GET EVERYTHING DONE. AND I APPRECIATE IT. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT ORLANDO, THEY DO A GREAT JOB WITH IT. AND IT'S AMAZING TO SEE THE MONEY THAT JUST FLOWS OUT. IT'S OFFER THEM COMMENTS FOR THEIR KIDS. SOME OF THOSE FOLKS IN ORLANDO SPEND AS MUCH MONEY ON THEIR KIDS SPORTS AS I DID ON MY KIDS EDUCATION. I MEAN, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO JOIN THE LEAGUE FOR $20,000 A YEAR AND HAVE THE HUNDRED DOLLAR AN HOUR LESSONS EVERYTHING ELSE GOING ON.

SO FORT PIERCE IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY, WE ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT. BUT SOME OF THE BIG DOLLAR AMOUNTS COME FROM VOLLEYBALL, DANCE AND CHEER AND EVEN ALL MEN'S SOFTBALL AND

[01:05:08]

>> WE JUST COMPLETED OUR STRATEGIC PLAN. IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S THINGS TO DO WHAT WE HAD OUR STRATEGIC PLAN DONE, THE NECESSARY NEED THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE HERE IS AN INDOOR SPORTS VENUE. IN THE SPENCE CENTER IS THE CLOSEST THING TO THAT BUT YOU CANNOT PLAY BASKETBALL INSIDE THE FIELD CENTER. THE FLOORING IS OLD. AND UNLESS YOU ARE YOUNGER THAN EIGHT THEN YOU CAN PLAY ON A RUBBERIZED FLOOR.

WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE IT WAS FACILITY BECAUSE OF AN INTERNATIONAL ROLLER HOCKEY EVENT THAT WAS GOING TO BE TWO LEAKS LONG THEY WERE GOING TO BRING THE LEAGUE IN FROM COLORADO TO DO THIS. ONE U.S. TEAM AND FOR INTERNATIONAL TEAMS FOR ROLLER HOCKEY. SO AGAIN, SAY VENUE. THEY TRIED TO DO IT OUTSIDE AND THEY SEMI-COVERED IT DID WORK. SO VENUES, GOES BACK THERE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE VENUE, AND DINNER TWO BASKETBALL COURTS.

TO DO THIS YOU NEED MORE THAN TWO YOU NEED TO LEGS. YOU GET COMPETITIONS. AND THEN YOU START SPREADING OUT AND SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO AND FOLLOW-UP. -- I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THAT IT TAKES A LOT OF EFFORT WILL GET 100 FOLKS THAT PARTICIPATE IT RINGS THROUGH. A LOT OF THESE FOLKS COME BACK HERE TO LIVE. THEY COME BACK AND EXPERIENCE ST. LUCIE COUNTY ANAGO, OH MY GOD. THEY'VE GOT WATER. THEY'VE GOT FACILITIES. THEY'VE GOT GOLF. THEY'VE GOT ALL THE STUFF HAPPENING HERE AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THIS -- YOU KNOW, THE BIG TRAFFIC -- SOUTHBRIDGE SOMETIMES ON A SATURDAY -- BUT THE BIG TRAFFIC GOING ON. I CAN LIVE IN MY FISHBOWL AND HAVE EVERYTHING AND MORE THAT YOU CAN GET IN THE BIG CITIES.

>> YOU ARE RIGHT. OUR JOB IS TO BRING THESE VISITORS HERE TO EXPERIENCE WHAT WE LIVE IN EVERY DAY. AND YOU SEE THE GROWTH. PEOPLE MORE MORE, BUILDINGS, MORE HOTELS, THAT WILL LEAD TO OTHER THINGS. BUT WHAT WE HAVE TOLD OUR HOTEL EARS IS THAT TYPICALLY THE FIRST TIME A TEAM COMES TO A TREASURE COAST, FLORIDA STATE HOTEL PROPERTY THAT IS ON 95.

WHY? THAT'S HOW THEY GOT HERE. THEY DROVE. THE GOING TO STAY ON 95.

IF YOU HAVE EVER HAD KIDS, LOOK -- THERE'S A COURTYARD RIGHT THERE. THERE'S TWO RESTAURANTS AND WE ARE STAYING RIGHT THERE.

>> CHICK-FIL-A. NOW WHAT THE FIELD IS ONLY 10 MINUTES AWAY, THEN THEY EXPERIENCE DRIVING BACK AND FORTH ON THE FIELD. WE MAY GET THEIR GAME RING DOWN SO THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON, SO LET'S GO TAKE A LOOK AT THE BEACH. LOOK AT THE BEACH.

THIS HOTEL IS OUT OF HERE. WILL WE COME BACK NEXT YEAR, WILL GO TO THE BEACH. WE CAN STILL GET TO THE VIEWS BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC IS NOT BAD. IT'S A LEARNING PROCESS THAT YOU CAN SEE AND WORK WITH. AND WE WORK WITH OUTSTANDING HOTEL PARTNERS. AND HAVING THE ABILITY TO USE THE NETWORKS THAT WE'VE GOT, I'VE GOT A STRONG NATIONAL NETWORK. RYAN

[01:10:09]

>> (LAUGHING) YEAH. EXACTLY. >> YOU BRING UP AN INTERESTING POINT WITH REGARDS TO VENUES BEING THE ANSWER AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE LACK HERE AND IF WE WERE TO ADD TO THAT, IT WOULD CERTAINLY PROMOTE THIS AND IT WOULD BRING IN MONIES.

IT'S A WIN -- WIN-WIN DOMINO EFFECT. AND I SIT HERE AND I THINK ABOUT THE PRIORITIES OF GOVERNMENT WHILE WE ARE GOING BACK AND FORTH ABOUT THE MEGA DOLLARS THAT IS GOING TO TAKE TO MOVE THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLAN AND, IF WE REALLY WERE TO GET OUR ACT TOGETHER, IF WE CAN PUT EFFORTS TOWARDS THAT, THEN WE CAN CERTAINLY PUT MONEY AND EFFORTS TOWARDS A BIG ENOUGH VENUE THAT WOULD FACILITATE A LOT OF WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IT WOULD BE A WIN-WIN AND A DOMINO EFFECT AND HOW WOULD IMPACT THE COUNTY IN THE CITY. IT WOULD BE A GREAT ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR THE COUNTY. SO THAT IS JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT AS FAR AS THIS GOVERNMENT IS CONCERNED. WE GOING TO INVEST IN A BIG ENOUGH VENUE SO WE CAN FACILITATE. IT WOULD HAVE A DOMINO EFFECT IN THE CITY AND COUNTY AT LARGE. THE STADIUM DOWN AND PORT ST.

LUCIE -- THERE ARE THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO AND I HAVE BEEN DOING THAT HAS HELPED THEM OUT ECONOMICALLY. URINE FORT PIERCE, WE LIKE IT BUT FOR -- PERHAPS THE STADIUM THAT MAKE IT A REALITY MAKE IT A REALITY.

>> WE WILL DO OUR BEST THAT WE HAD MORE TO PUT ON OUR VENUE TO SHOW OUR EVENT TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS AND EVERYTHING WE'VE GOT OPPORTUNITY TO DO, IT'S ALL ABOUT VENUES CREATE THE

OPPORTUNITIES. >> MR. JOHNSON?

>> THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DOING HARD WORK YOU PUT IN. IT'S AN IMPORTANT ASPECT. COMMISSIONER PERRONE TALKED ABOUT THREE OR FOUR ITEMS I THINK I CAN COME TO YOUR OFFICE AND TALK ABOUT THEM. ONE QUICK ONE, WE OWN PROPERTY. WE ARE READY TO GO, IN MY OPINION, FOR BEACHFRONT TYPE PROPERTY OR JC TYPE PROPERTIES WITH PARKING LOTS. THERE'S A LOT OF GREEN GRASS THERE. WE COULD EASILY TURN THAT GREEN GRASS INTO VOLLEYBALL COURTS AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT VENUES. SO FOR ME, I SEE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY. WE HAVE THE LAND, THE SPACE IN THE PARKING OPPORTUNITIES. AND YOU CAN STRATEGICALLY LAY OUT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ALONG A WHEN A THERE THAT PROVIDE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO BRING IN GROUPS. WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT THE CITY COULD CONTRIBUTE TO YOU AND THE OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW?

>> WE WOULD LOVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. WE HAVE FLOWN AND THREE GROUPS TO TAKE A LOOK TO SEE IF THEY CAN ON A WEEKEND BEACH VOLLEYBALL. THE FIRST PLACE WE TOOK THEM WAS THE JETTY, THE FIRST THING WE LOOKED AT WAS GOING -- IT'S TO SHELLEY. SO TAKING A LOOK AT IT, THERE'S ONLY ONE SET UP IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY AND THAT IS AT CLUB MED. AND THE NATIONAL VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE IS RUNNING TOURNAMENTS OUT THERE. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE RUNNING TOURNAMENTS ANYMORE. BUT THE INVESTMENT, I THINK, WOULD BE WORTHWHILE BECAUSE IS IT DUAL-PURPOSE. WE WOULD HAVE LOCAL TAXPAYERS UTILIZE THIS, BUT ALSO, AGAIN, 1 TO 2 IS NEVER A GOOD NUMBER FOR TOURISM. YOU'RE PROBABLY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF FOUR TO BE

[01:15:06]

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN ADD FOUR MORE. AND I HAVE A COURT COMPLEX OVERLOOKING THE RIVER.

IT'S EASY TO GET TO. AND THEN AT SOME TIME IT ALLOWS OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL TAXPAYERS TO YOU SO SO WE DON'T HAVE TOURNAMENTS ON. THAT'S SOMETHING TO LOOK AT AND IT'S A GREAT LOCATION. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ON THE BEACH.

>> THAT'S THE POINT I WANTED TO MAKE. BRING IN THE BEACH SOUTH. AND KEEP IT WEST SIDE OF THE DUNES. THEN THE PEOPLE GET TO GO TO THE OCEANFRONT WHILE THEY'RE WAITING FOR THE NEXT PLAY. I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS FROM THIS AREA IN YOUNGER KIDS. THEY HAVE FOUR-PERSON TEAMS IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. AND TO SPECIFICALLY. BUT A LOT OF TEENAGERS ARE TRAVELING OUT OF THIS COMMUNITY TO TRAVEL AROUND. AND DURING THE BIG CIRCUIT.

>> YOU'RE INVESTING IN THE USE. AND I DID THOSE 5 AM DRIVE THROUGH CINCINNATI FOR A VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT AND THEN DROVE BACK BECAUSE I WAS TOO CHEAP TO STAY IN A HOTEL. I WAS ONE OF THOSE PARENTS. BUT YOU LOOK AT THE VOLUME OF IT AND ITS GROUND. AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF INTEREST HERE. AND WE CAN -- WOULD BE GLAD TO PUT TOGETHER MEETINGS. AND PICKLE BALL IS THE OTHER ONE. I KNOW THAT IS TOUGHER. WE HAVE OUR SHUFFLEBOARD ASSOCIATION. AND WE ARE CHANGING THE LOOK AND FEEL OF THE MUSEUM PARKING AREA AND RIVERWALK CENTER. BUT I'M JUST LOOKING FOR THAT LOW HANGING FRUIT, READY TO GO WITH A LITTLE EXTRA ROW WITH A

LITTLE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT. >> YOU CAN ADD A PIC OF ALL FACILITY RIGHT HERE AT THE CORNER OF 60 UP HERE AND THE PARKING LOT OF BIG -- WAS ILL -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS THERE ORIGINALLY. IT'S VACNT.

>> WHERE? >> AT VIRGINIA AVENUE AND U.S.

ONE? >> YES.

>> SO THAT ONE. >> THEY JUST NEED CONCRETE TO

RESURFACE IT. >> YOU'RE RIGHT. IT'S THERE.

AND YOU REPURPOSE IT. WE HAVE BEEN AROUND WHERE EVEN IN THE ELECTRONIC WORLD, THE EAGER GAMING. THEY REPURPOSE CONVENTION CENTERS TO PUTTING E GAMING CENTERS. TAKE A LOOK AT TIRED, KMART'S, IT'S GOT SPACE.

>> IN THE PARKING. >> IN THE PARKING.

>> AND IT'S INDOORS. IN THIS CLIMATE, INDOOR FACILITY, LIKE THAT WILL DRIVE THE INTEREST.

>> THE OTHER THING, AND YOU BRING UP AN INTERESTING PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE OUR USE COUNSEL BROUGHT THAT BOARD. I DON'T KNOW IF JOE IS HERE. HE'S HEADING THAT UP RIGHT NOW.

AND THEY TALKED ABOUT -- THERE'S A GROUP OF TEENAGERS AND ARE TALKING ABOUT -- AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH WE HAVE FOR BASE UTILITY SYSTEMS THAT OWN FIBER NETWORK. AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE HIGH CAPABILITIES AND WE HAVE THAT HERE. AND SO IT'S JUST A MATTER OF PUTTING THE PUZZLE PIECES TOGETHER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. NOT MANY COMMUNITIES HAVE THAT AVAILABLE TO THEIR LOCAL UTILITY OWNING THE SYSTEM.

>> REPURPOSE. REPURPOSE IT. >>MAYOR HUDSON: RIGHT LEFT

BACK. >> COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER.

>> I SERVED ON THE BOARD. FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS. AND IF YOU'RE NOT FROM FORT PIERCE IN MANY -- THINGS THAT HE DID TO FORT PIERCE, WE HAVEN'T GIVEN THEM THE WRECK -- THE RECOGNITION. BECAUSE PORT ST. LUCIE GETS A SMILE ON THEIR FACE WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON

[01:20:01]

-- I'M THANKFUL THAT YOU'RE PART OF FORT PIERCE.

>> THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. I APPRECIATE. I'M BLESSED TO HAVE A GREAT TEAM TO ALLOW ME TO DO THIS SO WE HAVE LINEMAN KEVIN WITH US AND THAT COMPLETES EVERYTHING FOR US.

IT REALLY DOES. >> COMMISSIONER SESSIONS?

>> WILL NOT WILL INCLUDE AN THANK YOU. I THINK THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE NEED TO BE A LITTLE MORE GRACIOUS WITH YOU WHEN YOU COME UP WITH AN IDEA. AND WERE ON TOP OF THE BALL. FINALLY

BUT NOT IN FRONT OF IT. >>MAYOR HUDSON: THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER SESSIONS? >> I HAVE A COUPLE THINGS TO ASK YOU BEFORE WE CLOSE OUT. AM I HEARING YOU CORRECTLY WHEN YOU MENTIONED THE KMART BUILDING? ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE PARKING LOT? CAN YOU BE MORE CLEAR ON THAT AND WHAT WE COULD USE THE BUILDING FOUR.

>> IT COULD BE USED FOR A NUMBER OF EVENTS THAT CAN BE DONE IN THERE. BUT THE MOST CONVENIENT AND EASIEST ONE FOR TRANSITION WAS PICKLE BALL COURTS. BECAUSE IT'S INDOOR.

THEY DO NOT HAVE -- AT THE IG CENTER, THAT'S FOR COURTS. THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY OPEN TIMES TO PLAY. AND KEVIN, THEY PLAY THREE OR FOUR DAYS A WEEK??

>> AS PROVIDING SOMETHING ELSE. WE KNOW FOLKS IN FORT PIERCE TRAVEL THERE BECAUSE IT'S NOT THAT FAR AWAY. BUT TO HAVE IT HERE, WE ARE GOING TO PLAY IN VERO ONE DAY THERE WERE GOING TO PLAY IN FORT PIERCE ONE DAY. BUT UTILIZING THAT VENUE AS A -- IS A VERY ACCEPTABLE AND

YOU. >> OKAY.

>> THE SECOND THING I WANT TO ASK YOU, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC IN TERMS OF KNOWING THEIR INVESTMENT, YOUR FUNDING SOURCE, HOW DO YOU RECEIVE YOUR FUNDS HOW DO YOU RECEIVE YOUR FUNDING IN TERMS OF OPERATING YOUR AGENCY.

>> I -- WE -- IT DEPENDS ON WHICH COUNTY ARE TALKING TO. THEY'RE ALL THREE UNIQUELY DIFFERENT COUNTIES. ST. LUCIE COUNTY, WE HAVE A CONTRACT AND WE GET A PERCENTAGE OF THE BED TAX FROM CHARLOTTE'S BUDGET. AND WE WORK WITHIN THAT AND THAT'S IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $200-$210,000. A PORTION OF THAT GOES FOR MARKETING AND A PORTION TO THE EVENT GRANTS.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, WE GO BEFORE THE TDC, MAKE A PRESENTATION AND THEY GET ONE PENNY FOR TOURISM, 70 PERCENT OF THAT ONE PENNY IS DIRECTLY TO THE TOURISM IN THE SEBASTIAN RIVER CHAMBER BOTH CHAMBERS AND THEN WE BATTLE WITH THE OTHER AGENCIES FOR THE BALANCE OF THE 30 PERCENT. WE CAN SHOW THE QUALITY EVENTS. CAN WE PULL THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF MONEY AT 200,000. AND WE GO TO MARTIN COUNTY. WE ARE WRITTEN INTO THEIR COUNTY STATUTE OF HOW BED TAX, WHEN THEY WENT TO FIVE PENNIES. AND SO THERE IS A PORTION SET ASIDE IN ORDER COUNTY THAT IS FOR OUR OPERATING CAPITAL.

>> YES. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO ASK, SPEAKING OF THAT, THE VIDEO THAT YOU SHOWED AT THE BEGINNING, IS THAT APPROPRIATE FOR OUR OWN CHANNEL 27? IT MAY ARTY BE ON THERE, BUT IT MAY BE

GREAT TO HAVE IT ON THEIR. >> WE COULD PUT BOTH THE FIREFIGHTERS AND THE -- ABOUT THE SPORTS COMMISSION.

>> AND I LIKE THE VIDEO. AND I GUARANTEE IF YOU PUT THE VIDEO THERE IN TERMS OF PR, THOSE

STANDS WILL BE OLD. >> WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR FORT PIERCE. WE

APPRECIATE YOU. >> NEXT THING ON THE AGENDA IS

[c. Annexation Strategies]

AN ANNEXATION. >> WE HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THE STRATEGIES MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR ANNEXATION. AS YOU KNOW, IT HAS BEEN DONE FOR THE

[01:25:01]

>> THANK YOU, MR. MIMS. MS. HOFMEISTER?

>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. >> THIS MORNING HAVE BEFORE YOU A PLANNING DEPARTMENT STRATEGY AN UPDATE ON OUR ANNEXATIONS. IT IS A THREE-PART PROCESS THAT WE ARE PROPOSING. OUR FIRST IS ANNEXING THE PROPERTIES THAT WE DO HAVE CURRENTLY ASSIGNED ANNEXATION AGREEMENTS. WE WERE SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT WE HAVE QUITE A FEW RIGHT NOW AND IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS WE'VE GATHERED QUITE A BIT AND WE RECEIVED THAT THROUGH OUR GRS LAYERS AND WILL BE PRESENTING HOW WE ARE GOING TO TACKLE THOSE. THAT IS A PROCESS AND I'VE EXPLAINED HERE JUST -- I TOUCHED UPON WITH BULLETS. IT'S A PROCESS THAT IS CONTIGUOUS TO A CITY PROPERTY, OBTAIN THE HARD COPY OF THE AGREEMENT FROM OUR UTILITY AUTHORITY, CONFIRM THAT THE LEGAL DESCRIPTION ACCESS ALL MATCH ONE ANOTHER. OBTAIN AND VERIFY OWNERSHIP OF THAT SUBJECT PROPERTY IS IDENTIFIED BY OUR APPRAISER'S OFFICE AND THE UTILITY AUTHORITY. MAIL LETTERS OF INTENT TO THE PROPERTY OWNER TO ANNEX THOSE PROPERTIES, PUBLISHED NOTIFICATION OF ANNEXATION IN THE NEWSPAPER, THAT IS REQUIRED BY OUR FLORIDA STATUTES. THE LETTER OF INTENT IS NOT REQUIRED BY FLORIDA STATUTES BUT WERE MAKING A PART OF THE PROCESS. SCHEDULE ANNEXATION FOR ALL OF OUR REVIEW BEGINNING WITH THE TECHNICAL REVIEW COMMITTEE THAN THE PLANNING BOARD AND THEN ULTIMATELY CITY COMMISSION FOR APPROVAL. AND THAT WE MAILED THE LETTER OF FINAL ANNEXATION WITH THE PROCEDURES TO THE PROPERTY OWNER. THE SECOND GROUP OF ANNEXATIONS COME THROUGH JUST TARGETED PROPERTIES THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AS STAFF, WHETHER REDEVELOPMENTS HAVE COME IN THROUGH THE COUNTY WILL REALIZE THAT THERE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY LIKE FOR INSTANCE MAGNOLIA SQUARE, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF POCKETS THAT ARE ADJACENT ON ALL SIDES BY THE CITY. WE'VE IDENTIFIED THOSE ALSO AND THE WAY WE ARE LOOKING AT BREAKING DOWN THE CITY -- I'LL SHOW YOU THE NEXT SLIDE, ARE THE FOUR QUADRANTS THAT WE HAVE, JUST GENERAL BOUNDARIES.

THAT GROUP, WE WOULD LIKE TO GROUP WITHIN THOSE DIFFERENT QUADRANTS THAT WE ARE GETTING -- WERE NOT JUST TARGETING ONE AREA. AND LASTLY, LOOKING INTO WHAT THE PROCESS WAS BEGUN IN 2019 THROUGH THE INTERLOCAL SERVICE BOUNDARY AGREEMENT WITH ST. LUCIE COUNTY. THIS WOULD REQUIRE TO AGREEING TO OUTSTANDING ISSUES WHICH, MY UNDERSTANDING ARE PRIMARILY INVOLVED WHO IS GOING TO TAKE OWNERSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITY OF ROADWAYS. AND THEN EXECUTING THAT AGREEMENT. SO AS I EXPLAINED, WE HAVE BROKEN DOWN OUR CITY INTO FOUR QUADRANTS. AND WITH THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THE SIGNED ANNEXATION AGREEMENTS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 561 PARCELS. AND THEY ARE WITHIN THESE FOUR QUADRANTS THAT ARE EXPLAINED HERE ON THIS SLIDE. WE HAVE THE MAJORITY IN OUR NORTHWEST QUADRANT THAT WE WILL BE TACKLING AND WHAT STAFF HAS BEEN -- PROCESSING CURRENTLY HAVE BEEN ROUGHLY 25 TO 30 PER QUARTER. AND SO JUST THESE THAT WE HAVE ANNEXATION AGREEMENTS, I COULD TAKE OVER FOUR YEARS TO COMPLETE. AND MORE WILL COME IN. SO WE SEE THOSE TO BE PART OF OUR PLANNING STRATEGY AND PART OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR YEARS TO COME.

>> CAN I SAY SOMETHING. >> COMMISSIONER SESSIONS.

>> AND IS NOT TO MINIMIZE DOWNPLAY HER POINT IS THAT YOU BECAUSE IT'S BIGGER THAN YOU.

I'VE BEEN HERE 20 YEARS. AT LEAST ANASTASI FOR 20 YEARS AND I WAS OUT FOR EIGHT YEARS. SO THAT'S PROBABLY ABOUT A TOTAL OF 28 YEARS. AND I CAN RECALL WHEN I FIRST BEGAN, THIS VENTURE IN TERMS OF BEING A PUBLIC SERVICE RUNNING FOR OFFICE, THIS HAS BEEN AN ITEM IN TERMS OF NORTHWEST ANNEXATION. AND HERE WE ARE, 28 YEARS AND WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING. I'M KIND OF DISAPPOINTED IN THE FACT THAT WE ARE -- AND I LIKE

[01:30:01]

LET'S GET SOMETHING GOING. LET'S STOP, FOR WHATEVER REASONS, WE HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE. LET'S DO SOMETHING, PLEASE. SO THAT IS MY SPIEL. THEY GIVE.

>> IF I MAY? >> I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS TO EVERYTHING. BUT OUR FOCUS IS ONLY NORTHWEST. YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE THE MAJORITY OF THOSE PARCELS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY THAT WE WANT TO BRING IN. I DON'T KNOW, PERHAPS SOME OF THE REASON FOR MORE OF THE ANNEXATION IS BEING OCCURRING IN THE SOUTHERN BECAUSE THOSE WERE LARGER COUNTY PROJECTS THAT CAME IN ONCE THE DEVELOPMENT WAS CONSTRUCTED, HE CAME INTO THE CITY AND THOSE WERE LARGER RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS. HOWEVER, PLANNING, STAFF, OUR APPROACH TO ANNEXATIONS I HOPE IS DIFFERENT. EVEN WHEN WE GET PHONE CALLS OR THERE ARE PROJECTS THAT MAY BE IN THE COUNTY WE ARE NOT SAYING ALL YEAR IN THE COUNTY. WE'RE SAYING, HEY, YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF PROJECT AND WHAT IS IN THE NORTHWEST. IT'S A SIMPLE PROCESS OF INDEXING. LET'S SEE IF IT'S POSSIBLE. WE ARE TRYING TO GET THE PROPERTIES IN SO THAT WE, AS STAFF, HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO THROUGH THE DESIGN REVIEW WITH THEM WHILE THEY ARE IN THE CITY RATHER THAN HAVING THEM GO THROUGH THE DESIGN REVIEW IN THE COUNTY ALONE ANNEXING. WE ARE HOPEFUL THE NEXT TIME WE COME BEFORE YOU ALL THAT WE DO HAVE MORE PROPERTIES WITHIN THE NORTHWEST BECAUSE YES, IT'S ADDING MORE TAX BASE, BUT IT'S ALSO -- WILL ALLOW FOR THIS RESIDENTS JOB BETTER SERVICE PROVIDED TO THEM BECAUSE THERE ARE --'S CONSISTENCY. THE RESCHEDULING OF GARBAGE COLLECTION.

EVERYTHING WILL BE MORE ORGANIZED 02 CITY COLLECTION TO LAURENS COUNTY BECAUSE ON THE SAME ROAD, THEIR HAVING BOTH THE COUNTY AND THE CITY. THAT GOES FOR POLICE FIRE AND EVERYTHING. SO OUR FOCUS IS THERE COMMISSIONER SESSIONS.

>> THANK YOU. >> I KNOW THIS IS A RATHER -- IT'S HARD TO SEE, BUT WHAT THIS MAP SHOS YOU -- THIS IS OUR SECOND APPROACH OF OUR TARGETED AREAS OF ANNEXATION. THOSE WHO THAT WE DO NOT HAVE AGREEMENTS YET, BUT THE GRAY AREAS THE -- WITH THE UTILITY AUTHORITY CALLS A RETAIL SERVICE AREA. THAT'S WHERE THEY ARE GETTING BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES WHO GO OUT OF REACH OUT TO THE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE SIGNED ANNEXATION AGREEMENTS. THAT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY TO DO. THEY HAVE A LARGE AREA HERE. WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS WE ARE ABLE TO ZERO IN AND NOTE THOSE AREAS THAT ARE SURROUNDED. AND WHAT

[01:35:01]

WE DON'T WANT TO JUST FOCUS ON THESE SIGNED AGREEMENTS FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, BUT YOU ALSO GET THOSE AREAS THAT ARE ADJACENT TO THE CITY OR WE CAN -- WE NEED TO FOCUS ON BOTH.

THAT WILL BE OUR PROCESS. AND THEN LASTLY, THIS IS THE INTERLOCAL BOUNDARY SERVICE AGREEMENT FOR A DRAFT FORM. AND THEN I'LL PUT IT UP HERE JUST TO REFRESH EVERYONE'S MEMORY WHAT THE WHEREAS CLAUSE STATE THE POWERS OF ALL MORAL. WHAT THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE AND HOW THE CITY INVITED THE COUNTY TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS FOR THIS INTERLOCAL SERVICE AGREEMENT. THIS AGAIN WAS LAST YEAR AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED I DON'T KNOW IF CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN DONE BUT I WANTED TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT AGREEMENT, IF SIGNED WOULD ALLOW FOR. SO AGAIN, A LOT OF CITATIONS TO OUR FLORIDA STATUTES WHICH INQUIRE OR ENABLE US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AGREEMENT, AND LASTLY, WHAT HAVE SPOKEN OF EARLIER, I FEEL THAT -- AGAIN TO THE EXTENT -- OUTSTANDING ISSUES ARE WITH REGARD TO THE COUNTY ROADS AND THE CITY ROADS. I BELIEVE THERE ARE SOME STANDARD ROADS THAT ARE PAY FOR THAT AND WHO ULTIMATELY WOULD BE THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY.

AND THAT IS OUR UPDATED STRATEGY. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

>> ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF? >> WE'VE ALWAYS HAD AN ISSUE BECAUSE I THINK WHEN WE OPENED UP THE ANNEXATION CONVERSATION BACK ABOUT FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO WE FOUND OUT THAT A LOT OF OUR AGREEMENTS WERE EITHER THEY COULDN'T FIND THEM OR WHATEVER.

HAVE WE RESOLVED ALL THAT. IT'S GENUINE ENABLE TO BE SERVICEABLE. THOSE THAT WE IDENTIFY WE ARE COMFORTABLE BECAUSE -- THE HARDCOPIES ARE GOING TO BE TIME-CONSUMING TO FIND. WE HAVE SOME IN OUR CITY CLERK'S OFFICE BUT WERE GOING TO FOCUS ON OBTAINING THEM FROM THE AUTHORITY DIRECTLY. IT'S A MATTER OF TIME. IT TAKES -- WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS ESPECIALLY SINCE WE HAVE OVER 500. WE ARE FOCUSING ON THAT.

>> ALSO, I KNOW WE SEND A LETTER OF INTENT WE ARE GOING TO ANNEX. WE ALSO SENT A NICE LETTER OF WELCOME AND THE BENEFITS OF BEING PART OF THE CITY?

>> IT IS PART OF THAT. >> I KNOW WAY BACK WHEN, FOLKS ARE BEING ANNEXED AND THEY SAID WELL WHAT IS MY BENEFIT? AND I REALLY THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE A FUNCTION WHERE -- VOLUNTARILY BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE WORKING -- THERE IS A LOT OF BENEFIT TO IT. AND SOMETIMES THERE ARE SAVINGS ESPECIALLY IN UTILITY ENDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I JUST THINK WE NEED TO LEAD WITH THAT IF THERE IS A BENEFIT TO BECOMING -- COMING TO THE CITY FOR PEERS. I KNOW IS ALWAYS UP AGAINST THE DOLLAR WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT TAXES. THERE MAY BE A DIFFERENCE. WHAT THEY CAN SHOW WHAT THE VALUE IS, I BELIEVE THAT WE MAY END UP WITH SOME VOLUNTEERS -- I'M HAVING A HARD TEAR WITH THAT.

>> IS MONDAY MORNING. >> VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION.

>> I WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING TO FOLLOW UP WITH WHAT HE'S SAYING. WITH THE BENEFITS AND WHAT WOULD MAKE INDIVIDUALS BE PART OF THE CITY. I CAN'T SAY IT'S -- THE SERVICES. I WOULD LOVE TO SAY THAT IS PERHAPS THE POLICE AUTHORITY BUT YOU KNOW THE NUMBER ONE ITEM THAT WE HAVE, WATER. WATER. EVERYBODY WANTS OUR WATER. DEVELOPERS, THEY COME HERE JUST FOR OUR WATER. THAT'S THE GREATEST THING THAT WE HAVE IN TERMS OF ATTRACTION. AND WITH THAT

[01:40:04]

WHAT WE HAVE -- OTHER THAN THAT, I CAN'T SAY THAT IT'S MUCH WITH WHAT THEY WANT TO JOIN US WITH OTHER THAN WATER. AND IF WE COULD CAPITALIZE ON THAT, COMMISSIONER PERONA, I CAN ASSURE YOU, THAT WOULD BE A TOP SELLER WAS TRYING TO ATTRACT INDIVIDUALS OF THE PART OF THE CITY. THE GREATEST ASSET THAT WE HAVE IS WATER. THANK YOU.

>> MET AMIR, >> YES, SIR.

>> JUST GOING ON ABOUT THE ASSETS IN THE CITY FOR PEERS, YOU KNOW THOSE OUTSIDE THE CITY FOR PEERS, THEY SURCHARGE UNDERWATER AND ELECTRICAL. NO THAT WOULD -- AS FAR AS TAXES BEING HIGHER, RAISING TAXES AND SO FORTH, THEY HAVE THE ABILITY THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY 25 PERCENT SURCHARGE UNDERWATER 20 PERCENT ON ELECTRICAL OR STREETLIGHTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THAT'S THE SELLING POINT. IT SEEMS THAT WE ARE NOT TRYING TO SELL FOR PEERS.

AND I HAVE QUESTION IN PARTICULAR ABOUT -- STATES. I ASKED THIS -- I THINK IT'S A POP QUIZ FOR ME. I ASKED THIS.

>> I THINK IT'S COUNTY. ORANGE BLOSSOM ESTATES IS COUNTY. IT'S AN ENCLAVE, ACTUALLY.

>> AND -- THEY HAVE ALL THE SERVICES.

>> RIGHT. >> AND I ONE TIME JENSEN BEACH TALKED ABOUT THE LEGISLATION OF SQUARING OFF OUR CITY BOUNDARIES. WHATEVER HAPPENED

TO THAT IDEA? >> THAT IS WHAT THE INTENT IS BY ANNEXING IN THOSE PROPERTIES IS TO -- TO FILL IN THE MIDDLE BEFORE WE EXTEND FURTHER OUT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS CONSISTENCY INSIDE THE CITY. I THINK THAT WILL CREATE THIS -- IT WILL BE A SOLID SQUARE RATHER THAN --

>> THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING. WHAT'S THE INGREDIENTS? WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE TO SPREAD ITS WINGS? ÃYOU GOT A MAN IN FRONT OF US WITH THE SPORTS TOURISM. WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME AND VISIT US. AND THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE, THEY MOVE HERE. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TOO MANY NEEDED FOR PEERS IN THE CITY HALL. THEY WANT TO COME HERE. AND VISIT. BUT THAT'S A BLESSING. AGAIN, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR. I'VE BEEN HERE 18 YEARS. AND THAT WAS ONE OF OUR PRIMARY PURPOSES FOR BECOMING A COMMISSIONER. THE SERVICES THAT THE PEOPLE WILL GET IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. I THINK WE'VE DONE VERY LITTLE. YOU COULD COUNT ON BOTH YOUR HANDS. AND YOU SEE HOW MANY

ANNEXATIONS IN THE NORTH SIDE. >> I HAVE ONE MORE POINT, TO.

>> HE BRINGS UP AN INTERESTING POINT. AND THAT IS PEOPLE THAT ARE RECEIVING OUR ASSET OUR WATER AND NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THE TO THE ANNEXATION POLICIES WE ARE GIVING AWAY OUR ASSET BUT THEY ARE RECEIVING OUR ASSET BUT THEY'RE NOT BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO JOIN IN THE EFFORTS AND THAT IS A PROBLEM, TOO. WITH THE UTILITIES AUTHORITY WE TALKED ABOUT THE ANNEXATION AGREEMENTS AND PEOPLE THAT ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE RECEIVING WATER LIKE ORANGE BLOSSOM THAT'S PRIME EXAMPLE. THE RECEIVING OUR WATER BUT THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED TO BE AN EXTENT. AND WE SHOULD BE WORKING THESE AGREEMENTS TO

[01:45:08]

GET OUR WATER, THEN GUESS WHAT? YOU NEED TO BE A PART OF THE SOURCE THAT PROVIDES THE WATER.

WE WILL KEEP OUR WATER. >> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON? COMMISSIONER JOHNSON AND THAT MR. MIMS.

>> I DO NOT DISAGREE WITH ANYTHING THAT'S BEING SAID. JUST KEEP IN MIND WHEN I LOOK BACK AT THE CHARTER LANGUAGE, A LOOK AT WHAT'S BEING ESTABLISHED WHEN FOLKS SIGN UP FOR WATER, AS A UA EMPLOYEE BACK IN 2000 WHEN I WAS FIRST LEARNING ABOUT ALL THIS, I GOT EDUCATED ON THE SUBJECT. AND THEN PART OF THAT 25 PERCENT SURCHARGE IS BECAUSE WE WANTED TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO BE IN THE CITY LIMITS OF FORT PIERCE TO RECEIVE THE BENEFIT AND THE FULL BENEFIT OF THE CITY. THEN I GO BACK TO THE UA CHARTER AND I START TO TRY TWO TIE THAT IN THAT SAYS ANYTHING THAT'S EXTENDED OUTSIDE OF THE LIMITS OF FORT PIERCE SHOULD COME TO THIS COMMISSION SO THERE IS A STRATEGY AND PLAN ON PAPER THAT SAYS HOW WE ARE GOING TO GROW THE CITY. I WAS TALKING TO THE DIRECTOR AND HE SAID LOOK, WE HAVE URBAN SERVICES BOUNDARIES IF GROWING WITHIN THE URBAN SERVICE BOUNDARIES WHY DO WE NEED TO COME TO THE COMMISSION I DON'T DISAGREE WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING BECAUSE I AGREE THE BOUNDARIES WHERE WE WANT TO BE. THE CHALLENGE IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IN THIS ANNEXATION STRATEGY. HOW DO WE GROW THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE IN DIFFERENT QUADRANTS AND MAKE SURE THAT IT IS UP TO DATE? WITHOUT THIS COMMISSION KNOWING WHAT'S HAPPENING AS FAR AS THE ANNEXATION AGREEMENT EXTENSIONS OF WATER MEANS. WE, OVER TIME, LEARNED FIRSTHAND THAT WE HAVE LOST INFORMATION OR WE HAVE NOT GARNERED ALL THE INFORMATION OR WE HAVE CREATED, INADVERTENTLY CREATED AN ENCLAVE SUCH AS ORANGE BLOSSOM ESTATES WHICH I'M NOT SURE THAT ENCLAVE BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE ARE SURROUNDED THESE DAYS BUT WERE NOT QUITE THERE. BUT I TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS JUST TO SAY THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE WITH THIS AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR MINDS BRINGING BACK TO THE COMMISSION. HOW DOES UTILITY RELATE TO ANNEXATION. HOW DOES ROULAC TO THE GROWTH OF OUR CHIP TO BE. I'M LOOKING AT MY ANKLE ROAD MAP ON MY SCREEN. I NOTICED YOU DID NOT BREAK THEM DOWN PER GROUP. IF YOU GO BACK TO THE OVERALL MAP -- THIS ONE?

>> THE OTHER ONE IS ANKLE ROAD. THERE IS. SO I HAVE TO ASK MR. SWEENEY. YOU KNOW, TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR LEGISLATIVE ANNEXATION VERSUS THE ANNEXATION AGREEMENT. IF YOU TAKE A QUADRANT WHERE THE BLUE CITY FOR PEERS HANDS BORDERED BY EAGLE ROAD, WE HAVE ALL THE AGREEMENTS IN PLACE. IF WE WERE TO SAY WE WANT TO ANNEX THIS QUADRANT WHERE THIS TRIANGLE OF PROPERTY, DO WE INCLUDE ALL OF THE PARCELS ARE NOT THE PIECEMEAL OF PARCELS I MY RECOMMENDATION AS WELL. WITHOUT A DOUBT.

>> SO WHY WOULD WE DO THIS BY LEGISLATIVE ANNEXATION. WE ARTY HAVE 50+ PERCENT WRITING ORANGE OR PINK OR WHATEVER THE COLOR IS. IN MY OPINION. WE ARE READY HAVE A 50 PERCENT PLUS ONE. WE DIDN'T PUT OUT A REFERENDUM EITHER. SO AM I CROSSING OVER LINES OR INTO DIFFERENT TERRITORY? WHY WOULDN'T WE EVEN ASK WHY WOULDN'T YOU JUST WANT TO AND ASKED THE TRIANGLE THAT IS SHOWN ON THE SCREEN.

>> IT'S POSSIBLE IT'S ANOTHER PROCESS. WE HAVE TO PUT A REFERENDUM OUT. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE AGREEMENTS OF THESE AREAS, BUT THEY'RE NOT WITHIN THE CITY YET. WE HAVEN'T SENT

[01:50:04]

AREA DOES HAVE THE MAJORITY. >> ALONG WITH THAT PROCESS

TAKE? >> THE REFERENDUM?

>> IS A REFERENDUM OF THE PARCEL OWNERS.

>> IT IS. >> WE COULD DO IT A NUMBER OF WAYS. MAILINGS, LET THEM KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING THAT WAY. IT IS POSSIBLE. I COULD LOOK INTO IT. THAT WAY FOR THIS PARTICULAR QUADRANT.

>> I DO NOT WANT TO CREATE A LONGER PROCESS. BUT WHEN I BREAK THEM DOWN PER ZONE, I RECEIVED 50 PERCENT PLUS. I ALREADY SEE IT. YOU JUST SHADED IN THE AREA AND WE COULD HAVE A WHOLE TRIANGLE IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AS A COMPLETE SECTION.

>> WE HAD A SIMILAR KIND OF THING NORTH OF OUR.

>> PARADISE PARK. IT'S THE SAME THING.

>> 58 PERCENT IN THE LAST THERE ALREADY YOU NEXT. IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.

>> SO I JUST -- I AM JUST THROWING OUT IDEAS. I LOVE THIS METHOD. I DON'T WANT TO PUT DELAY INTO THE PROCESS BUT WHAT I WANT TO DO IS BRING THE HOLISTIC APPROACH THE UPPER LEVEL WERE LOOKING DOWN ON WHAT WE WANT TO DO. WHERE WE WANT TO BE, HOW WE KNOW HOW WE WANT TO GROW OUR CITY. MERGED TOGETHER SO WE ARE DECORATING AND -- WERE DOING BIG CHUNKS.

COMMISSIONER SESSIONS THAT IS BEEN AROUND LOOKING AT THIS FOR 20+ YEARS. AND I HAVE, TOO.

IT'S BEEN A PIECEMEAL. AND IT'S OKAY. OUR FOREFATHERS HAD THE FORETHOUGHT OF IF YOU SIGN UP FOR WATER YOU'VE GOT ASSIGNED AND ANNEXATION REMIT I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE. LET'S JUST LOOK AT THE EQUATION DIFFERENTLY. LET'S ADDRESS IT AT ONE TIME. BUT THIS IS A GOOD PROCESS. I DON'T WANT TO DEBUNK WHAT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE I LIKE IT A LOT.

>> THIS IS WHY WE ARE HERE. WE WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW WHAT OUR STRATEGY IS AND HOW WE CAN REFINE IT AND MAKE IT BETTER. I LIKE THE FACT THAT WERE LOOKING AT THIS THROUGH QUADRANTS. WE ARE FILLING IN MISSING PIECES WITH WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR URBAN SOUND -- BOUNDARY. IF WE CAN GET ALL OF THIS ARA IN ONE SCOOP RATHER THAN ONE HALF OF IT WHEN I DO

THAT THAT WAY? >> SO WE ARE WILLING TO LOOK AT THAT AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT PROCESS IS.

>> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON? >> THE OTHER THING -- THERE'S TWO THINGS. ONE FOR THE CITY IS LOOKING AT THE EVALUATION AND THE TAX BENEFITS. THAT'S ALWAYS PART OF THE EQUATION FOR OUR TAXES BECAUSE IN THE WHEREAS STATEMENTS A COUPLE SCREENS BEFORE THIS ONE, IT SAYS COUNTY SHALL MAINTAIN THOROUGHFARES CITY OF FORT PIERCE SHALL TAKE ALL AIDAN'S RESPONSIBILITIES OF ALL THE MINOR CONNECTORS STREETS INSIDE. AND THAT INCLUDES -- OF COURSE WE KNOW WERE GOING TO GET SOLID WASTE POLICE PROTECTION, STREETS. WE ARE NOW REQUIRED TO FUND THE MAINTENANCE OF THE STREETS AND DRAINAGE. SO THAT IS OUTSIDE OF STREETLIGHTS AND STANDARDS. THOSE ARE THE BASICS TO TAKE IT OVER TODAY. THAT'S OUR COST. THE OTHER THING I'D LIKE US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE -- MAYBE NOT PER RESIDENT BUT OFFER TO THE RESIDENTS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SIT WITH YOU AND TALK WITH YOU BECAUSE WE LIKE YOU IN THE CITY. IF YORTY HAVE UTILITIES WERE PAYING A SURCHARGE. IF YOU'RE ANNEXED HERE ARE THE BENEFITS. PROMOTE OUR CITY AND OH BY THE WAY, THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF DECREASE OR INCREASE IN YOUR OVERALL STRUCTURE BECAUSE YOU MIGHT BE PAYING 25 PERCENT ON YOUR UTILITIES. YOU'RE GOING TO PULL THAT OFF. HERE'S YOUR LAST 12 MONTHS OF UTILITY BILLS. WE'VE CALCULATED THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SAVE $200 EAR WHEN YOU'RE ANNEXING THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE WILL COST YOU $240 INCREASE IN TAXES. SO YOUR NET INCREASE IS $40. IF YOU SELL IT THAT WAY IT IS EASY. BUT YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO DO THAT INVITE PEOPLE TO COME OR JUST SAY AN AVERAGE BECAUSE -- IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT FOR EACH ONE.

>> THAT'S MY ONLY OTHER REQUEST. IT COMES BACK TO PROMOTING THE BENEFITS AND THE GAIN TO THE RESIDENT OF WHY TO BE IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE.

>> MR. MIMS DID YOU WANT TO CHIMEIN?

>> ABSOLUTELY. I'VE BEEN PART OF THIS PROCESS FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS. A LOT OF THIS

[01:55:01]

ALL OF THEM SAID REFERENDUM. WE HAVE TO A POSITIVE RESULTS AND THEN THEY WOULD SPONSOR IT.

SUBSEQUENTLY, WE DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH INTERLOCAL SERVICE BOUNDARY AGREEMENT.

THAT SEEMED TO BE THE MOST FEASIBLE AND THE EASIEST MECHANISM TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

UNFORTUNATELY AFTER OUR CITY ATTORNEY FOR THIS INFORMATION, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED A POSITIVE RESPONSE. HERE WE ARE, BACK TO SQUARE ONE THIS IS WHAT IS BEING PRESENTED TO YOU TODAY.

WE WILL CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS ON ALL FRONTS. WE HAVE VAST EXPERIENCE. I THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE MEANWHILE, STILL WE ARE ON PARALLEL PATHS TO GET DONE TO TAKE SWATHS IN SECTIONS OF OUR CITY TO EVEN OUT OUR CITY.

>> KIND OF A DUAL TRACK? >> YES.

>> I HATE TO SAY IT, BUT ANOTHER THING, TOO, IT APPEARS THAT IN THE UTILITIES AUTHORITY, THEY REMIND ME -- I SAY CITIZENS ON THE UTILITIES AUTHORITY -- THEY SAY CUSTOMERS. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED IT'S CITIZENS. BUT IF THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO USE THE APPROACH THAT THEY CAN GO OUT AND GIVE THE CITIZENS WATER AWAY AND JUST ATTACH A WORD CALLED SURCHARGE ONTO IT, TO KEEP US QUIET, THAT'S A NO-NO. SURCHARGE IS GOOD BUT NOTHING IS BETTER THAN TAX BASE. AND ACCORDING TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, CITY MANAGER, IT'S EVEN MORE FEASIBLE FOR THEM TO BE ANNEXED IN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SAVINGS. SO I JUST DON'T SEE WHERE THE PROBLEM IS. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF SOMEBODY PUTTING SOME RUBBER TO THE ROAD AND SELLING WHAT WE HAVE HERE AND MAKING SURE THAT THE UTILITIES AUTHORITY WORKS WITH US. AND I HEARD YOU MENTION THE FIRST OPTION. IF THEY DON'T WANT TO COME HOME, THEY DON'T WANT TO BE A PART OF WHAT WE HAVE, AND WILL CUT THE SERVICES OFF. SIMPLE AS THAT.

AND YOU'RE TELLING ME NOW WE HAVE THAT OPTION. IT MAY SOUND HARSH, BUT I GUARANTEE YOU EVERY INDIVIDUAL IN THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, THEY WOULD AGREE WITH ME. IF THEY'RE GOING TO RECEIVE OUR WATER, YOU'RE GOING TO RECEIVE THE BENEFIT OF OUR UTILITIES AUTHORITY OUTSIDE OF THE CITY. IF THEY CAN'T PAY THE COST, THEN GUESS WHAT. WE WILL CUT OFF THE BENEFIT.

>> WILL I THINK I CAN SPEAK FOR THE UTILITIES AUTHORITY IN TALKING WITH STAFF THAT WAS OVER THE WATER THAT THEY ARE KEENLY AWARE OF THE WATER BEING THE KEY TO HELP GROW THE CITY.

AND ACTUALLY, THAT IS THE MOST AGGRESSIVE UTILITY THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS THE WATER AND THE WASTEWATER, BUT THE WATER PRIMARILY. AND THERE THINKING IN TERMS OF GROWING THE CITY.

HOWEVER, I WOULD THINK THAT THIS QUADRANT, IS SOMETHING THAT -- I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU HAVE SHARED IT WITH ANYBODY AT UTILITIES AUTHORITY, BUT IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE VERY SMART TO DO WITH MR. HUTCHISON AND/OR MAYBE ANNA JOHNSON BECAUSE SHE IS THE --

[02:00:07]

ONE OF THE THINGS I SEE IN THE PROCESSES IT'S LABOR-INTENSIVE. IT SEEMS TO BE. SO,

COMMISSIONER PROGRAM -- CORONA. >> THANK YOU. FOR ME, THIS COMES DOWN TO A BUSINESS DECISION PRIMARILY. I LIKE TO GET ALL THE INFORMATION. IN THE FUTURE, WHEN YOU BRING US CHARTS, IF YOU CAN SHOW US WHAT UTILITIES ARE BEING SOLD FROM THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES IN THOSE AREAS WOULD BE HELPFUL TO US TO KNOW THAT IF SOME GET WATER SOME DON'T GET WATER AND SOME HAVE THEIR YOU KNOW ELECTRIC UTILITY FROM F P&L.

IT WOULD BE GOOD TO KNOW WAS GOING ON BECAUSE IS PART OF THE BUSINESS EQUATION. ALSO, WITH THE UTILITIES AUTHORITY, THEY ARE SELLING WATER TO THE COUNTY AND THE COUNTY IS ADDING A SURCHARGE ON IT AND SELLING IT BACK TO THEM. THAT NEEDS TO BE VISITED AND BECOME PART OF THE INCENTIVE. BECAUSE OF THAT PRICE RAISES UP THERE DRAWS PEOPLE -- SENDS PEOPLE TO WHY SHOULD I DO THAT WHEN I CAN GET ANNEXED INTO THE CITY AND SAVE MONEY IN MY WATER AND WASTEWATER IF IT'S AVAILABLE. SO THAT JUDGMENT CAN EVENTUALLY, I MEAN I'D LIKE TO KNOW NORMALLY I'LL FIGURE THAT OUT BECAUSE I'M FAMILIAR WITH THESE AREAS. ON THAT LAST LITTLE TRIANGLE I USED TO OWN PROPERTY IN THAT AREA AND CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT THE AVERAGE HOMESTEAD IS IN THAT PROPERTY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BENEFIT TO THE CITY WOULD BE. SO WE HAVE TO OFFSET THAT WITH SERVICES. WHEN YOU GET THESE CHECKERBOARD TYPE ANNEXATIONS AND YOU HAVE A POLICE FORCE EXPOSED TO GO -- AM I GOING TO THAT HOUSE IT WAS AT A SHERIFF ISSUE. YOU KNOW, IT'S BACK AND FORTH. AND THIS HAPPENS ALL OF THE BRIDGES, INDIAN RIVER DRIVE, IS HEARING -- YOU ARE IN, YOU ARE OUT. ONE OF MY FAVORITE STORIES IS WHEN ED BECK DECIDED TO RUN FOR OFFICE. WE HAD THE BIG MEDIA GOT ALL EXCITED ABOUT IT AND THEN I SAID, YOU DO LIVE IN THE CITY AND WE HAD TO SCURRY TO FIND OUT YOUR THE GUY NEXT TO HIM

DID NOT. >> WE HAD TO FIGURE IT OUT. SO SOME OF THIS STUFF GETS PRETTY FUNNY -- OR GETS A LITTLE UNUSUAL LAUGHTER. AND IT ADDS STRESS TO OUR SERVICE PROVIDERS TO HAVE TO GO OUT THERE AND RESPOND TO THESE THINGS.

I'M JUST SAYING THAT INFORMATION WILL BE HELPFUL TO ME. IT'S NOT ALL BUSINESS. I DON'T -- THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY CAN AFFORD OR NOT. IT HAS TO COME INTO THE EQUATION MUCH LIKE IT COMES WITH THE UTILITIES AUTHORITY.

>> AND THE MAYOR BRINGS OUT AN INTERESTING POINT IN TERMS OF ROOFTOPS, VERSUS COMMERCIAL.

ROOFTOPS LOOK GOOD, COMMERCIAL OVERWHELMING WHEN IT COMES TO THE TAX BASE AND THE REVENUE.

AND THAT IS THE REASON WHY -- AND I BELIEVE IT'S IN THE SERVICE AREA, THAT'S WHY I'M PUSHING SO HARD TO GET OUT TO AIRPORT ROAD, ST. LUCIE BOULEVARD, THEY'VE GOT SO MANY DIFFERENT NAMES. CAN YOU IMAGINE, WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THEIR. ONE OF THE GREATEST,

[02:05:02]

YOU'VE GOT A NEW TOW MOVE NORTH. AIRPORT ROAD, WERE ALL THOSE BOAT INDUSTRIES ARE POPPING UP EVERY DAY. THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING OUT THERE. THEY'RE EITHER ADDING A NEW BUILDING OR NEW BUSINESSES ARE COMING IN THEIR EXPANDING AREA. THAT'S GOING TO PUT ST. LUCIE COUNTY ON THE MAP. WE NEED TO BE A PART OF THAT GET MONEY TOO. BECAUSE THERE'S A TAX BASE THAT IS THEY ARE, IS COMMERCIAL. AND YOU ARE RIGHT. THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY IS.

RESIDENTIAL IS GOOD, BUT THERE'S A WHOLE LOT GOING OUT GOING ON OUT THERE. WE WANT TO REACH OUT AND TELL THEM WE WANT TO GET OUR SHARE. WE WANT TAXES.

>> IT IS INTERESTING THAT NOT ONLY ON AIRPORT ROAD, THAT I FOUND A LOT OF PROPERTIES ALONG U.S. ONE, SOUTH U.S. HIGHWAY ONE WITHIN THE COUNTY AND CITY. TO BE SEEING A LARGE PARCEL COMING BOARD IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS BUT THERE'S MORE COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS THAT ARE INCONSISTENT AND BEING ABLE TO AND EXAMINE.

>> I CAN RECALL WAS PORT ST. LUCIE WAS A DUMPING GROUND AND OKEECHOBEE, TAKING THEM ACROSS LINE. SO WE'RE WORKING WITH SMALL AREA. I CAN REMEMBER BRENDA CAME WEST OF OKEECHOBEE BUT THE BOTTOM DROPPED OUT OF THE INDUSTRY. WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE POTENTIAL OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, YOU JUST NEED TO HAVE THIS GROWTH. YOU NEED TO TAKE EVERYTHING INTO CONSIDERATION. OF WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE IN ANOTHER 20 YEARS FROM NOW. WE'VE JUST GOT TO GET OVER IT -- WITH THE GROWTH OF THE CITY.

>> RIGHT. I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

>> IF I MAY, JUST VERY QUICKLY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE COMMISSION ÃMY QUESTION TO COMMISSIONER JOHNSON RELATED TO THE REFERENDUM PROCESS, THERE'S A LOT OF TIMING INVOLVED. IT WOULD BE LIKE ANY OTHER ORDINANCE WE HAVE TO HAVE REQUIRED ADVERTISEMENT AND THEN THERE IS A REQUIREMENT THAT THE REFERENDUM BE NO SOONER THAN 30 DAYS AFTER YOUR SECOND READING SO THAT THERE IS ADEQUATE PUBLIC NOTICE. IT COULD BE HELD AT A GENERAL SPECIAL ELECTION. BUT IN ANY EVENT, THE COST ASSOCIATED HAS TO BE PAID BY THE MUNICIPALITY.

THERE'S ONE FINAL TWIST. IF MORE THAN 50 PERCENT VOTE FOR IT AND YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT IF THEIR ELECTORS BECAUSE THERE'S CORPORATIONS THAT OWN PROPERTY. THERE'S INDIVIDUALS

OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY. >> IS THE PROPERTY OWNERS.

>> SO THERE'S THAT ASPECT BUT THE FINAL PART IS YOU'LL HAVE TO WORRY TWO WAYS. FOR ANNEXATION FOR THE PROPERTY IS THE ANNEXATION OF THE PROPERTY IF 50 PERCENT OR FOR IT IT PASSES. BUT IF 50 PERCENT VOTE AGAINST IT THE LAW SAYS THE AREA SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT -- THE SUBJECT OF AN ANNEXATION ORDINANCE FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS FROM THE DATE OF THE

REFERENDUM. >> YOU HAVE TO WAIT.

>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING READING BECAUSE ARGUABLY IT SAYS -- YOU CAN ONLY BRING IN PROPERTY BY ANNEXATION. SO WOULD BE AN ARGUMENT TO BE MADE IF IT FAILED EVEN IF IT HAD AGREEMENTS FOR THE UA. WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BRING THOSE IN FOR TWO YEARS. ARGUABLY, THAT'S PART OF THE CALCULUS ON WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE A REFERENDUM. WHEN YOU ASKED ME THAT I WAS FLAT-FOOTED ON BEING ABLE TO PUT IT UP BECAUSE IT'S SEPARATE SECTION VERSUS WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. IT'S NOT REALLY VOLUNTARY.

>> YES, SIR. >> SINCE YOU BROUGHT THAT UP, MY QUESTION TO YOU IS HOW DO THEY HAVE THE ROOFTOPS IN THEIR TOWN PORT ST. LUCIE THEIR OWN WEIGHT OKEECHOBEE (INDISCERNIBLE) --

[02:10:09]

>> HOW DID THEY DO THAT. IT'S RIGHT THERE FOR US TO FOLLOW.

>> YOU HAVE ANY ROOFTOPS. BACK BEHIND THE MALL. IT'S UNBELIEVABLE. UNBELIEVABLE.

NOW WE JUST GOTTA GET OFF OUR HANDS AND DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THE CITIZENS.

>> FOR THE CITIZENS OF FORT PIERCE. THEY ARE TIRED OF PAYING ALL THAT.

>> COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER, UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. AS FAR AS THE CITY OF -- THE CITY OF VERO BEACH THEY MAY HAVE NOT MOVED WEST OF 50TH AVENUE ALL OF THOSE ROOFTOPS.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS IN THE COUNTY. THERE MAY BE A POSTAL CODE OF VERO BEACH MUCH LIKE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF FORT PIERCE. WHEN YOU SEND A LETTER AS FAR AS PORT ST. LUCIE THEY HAD DIFFERENT METHODOLOGIES THAT THEY'VE USED TO BRING IN PARCELS ESPECIALLY WEST OF TOWN. I WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT OF THE SEPARATE METHODOLOGIES TO BRING IN PROPERTIES ONE OF THEM WAS DISCUSSED WAS A REFERENDUM. THEY'RE COMING UP IN

APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS. >> WE CAN DO BY TUESDAY.

>> CORRECT. AT A CONFERENCE AGENDA IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO SHOW THAT THERE IS A LOT OF

TIMING THAT WE COME INTO THIS. >> CONSIDERATIONS, TOO. IT'S INTERESTING WHAT YOU SAY, IF IT GETS DISAPPROVED, WHAT DOES THAT DO TO THE AGREEMENTS THAT MIGHT BE PLACED IN THE TERRITORY?

>> YES. >> ANYTHING ELSE ON THE

SUBJECT? ANYTHING ELSE? >> YES.

>> GOOD JOB. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. IT'S AN EVOLVING SYSTEM THAT YOU HAVE TO KEEP AT THE FRONT MR. MIMS, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT BACK TO US. IT'S IMPORTANT. WE JUST CAN'T GIVE UP ON THE PROCESS. IF WE HAVE TO REDEFINE OUR PROCESS LET'S REDEFINE IT OR CHANGE THE

PROGRAM OR WHATEVER IT IS. >> FOLLOWING THIS MEETING, I WILL REACH OUT TO MR. HUTCHISON. WE HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM WITH REGARD TO ANNEXATIONS. AND I'LL LET THEM KNOW OUR NEW STRATEGY AND WE WILL MEET ON ALL OF THESE ISSUES THAT WERE RAISED TODAY.

>> AND IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WHERE YOU MAY GIVE A DUAL PRESENTATION ON WHAT THE UA STRATEGY IS AND HOW YOU WORK TOGETHER. AND THAT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA. I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS. WHAT I HEAR IS EVER GOING TO BE SEEING ANNEXATIONS AND THEY WERE GOING TO WORK ON

SOME OF THE BIGGER'S AREAS TO. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> NEXT ITEM IS COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.

>> ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION PLEASE COME FORWARD.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES? AND SEEING NO ONE? WE CLOSE THIS PART OF THE HEARING.

[6. City Commission Boards and Committees Updates]

>> NEXT IS THE TIME WHERE THE CITY COMMISSION PROVIDES UPDATES ON THEIR BOARDS AND

COMMITTEES. >> COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER,

WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO FIRST? >> YES, I CAN. WITH THE VIRUS GOING AROUND, WE ARE NOT PERMITTED, THAT I KNOW OF, -- (INDISCERNIBLE) -- THE COUNCIL ON AGING, THEY MET. THE LAST REPORT THAT I HAD IS THAT -- (INDISCERNIBLE) -- WITH THE COMPANY FROM ELSEWHERE. AND THAT'S WHAT THE CHOICE IS. THEY'RE CHOOSING THESE THINGS

AND SO, I HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT.- >> OKAY. THANK YOU.

>> COMMISSIONER PERONA? >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. TWO OF MY COMMITTEES NEED INCLUDING MY FIRST PORT AUTHORITY MEETING WHICH KEEPS GETTING POSTPONED.

I GAVE A PARKING UPDATE LAST TIME YOU WERE HAVING A WORKING MEETING ON WEDNESDAY. THE ONE -- ONE INTERESTING -- I DID ATTEND VIRTUALLY, THE FMPA MEETING. THE FMPA IS TRYING

[02:15:16]

LET ME SEE. THEY JOIN THE END OF LAST YEAR. DEPARTED WITH 12 OTHER MUNICIPAL UTILITIES.

THERE INITIATIVE AND SOLAR. IT'S 900,000 SOLAR PANELS PRODUCING 372 ONE -- THAT'S 500 FOOTBALL PANELS. TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA COMMENTS TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE 75,000 HOMES WITH SOLAR.

I'M HAPPY THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE IS LOOKING AT THE SOLAR PROGRAM.

>> 15 PERCENT ALREADY IN. >> YOU ARE ALREADY IN 15 PERCENT. I'M HAPPY ABOUT THAT. AS WE GO FORWARD. THERE ALSO LOOKING AT RELIABILITY IS A BIG NUMBER. DURING A TRAFFIC RECORD IS ONE OUTAGE YEAR. I DO NOT THINK THAT INCLUDES

HURRICANES. >> NO. RIGHT.

>> OF THE RELIABILITY HAS BEEN GOOD UP TO THIS POINT. OTHER -- OH, INTERESTING ENOUGH, THEY HAVE EXCESS CAPACITY. THEY ARE SELLING IT TO REEDY CREEK. DO YOU KNOW WHAT REALLY GREEK IS?

>> YES. >> DISNEY WORLD.

>> SO THE FMPE IS GOING TO BE A PROVIDER TO DISNEY WORLD.

>> DISNEY WORLD IS BETTER KNOWN THAN REEDY CREEK. SLIGHTLY (LAUGHING).

>> WILL I THINK THEY CREATED REEDY CREEK JUST TO NOT SAY DISNEY SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT MUNICIPAL HAPPENINGS. OTHER THAN THAT, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT I HAVE.

>> COMMISSIONER SESSIONS? >> AS FAR AS INPUT FOR MOST MY COMMITTEES, COVID-19 IS PRETTY MUCH BROUGHT A LOT OF ACTIVITY FROM SLOW TO NONE. HERE RECENTLY. AND I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH THAT BY SAYING OUR CITY Ã MAQUILADORA COUNTY FOR THAT MATTER IS GOING TO A VERY SERIOUS CRISIS RIGHT NOW. AND I CAN'T EMPHASIZE, REITERATE OR JUST IGNORE THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THE CURE, AT LEAST AN EFFORT ON THE PART OF THE CITY AND THE COUNTY IS WARRANTED BECAUSE IT'S A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, NORTHWEST FORT PIERCE HAD ABOUT 14 FILMS IN ONE DAY AND I WAS LIKE HISTORY WHEN TALKING TO MORTICIANS AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND HERE A LOT LONGER THAN ME.

LONGWOOD MEDICAL CENTER IS RUNNING OVER NOW AND NOT JUST COVID, BUT WITH THE REGULAR CROWD THAT THEY WOULD NORMALLY HAVE ESPECIALLY WITH ICU. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT HER FOUR DAYS AGO WHERE OUR COUNTY WAS NUMBER ONE FOR CAPITAL IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA WITH REGARDS TO CASES AND DEATHS. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT WARRANTS GOVERNMENT TAKING SOME OF.

COMMISSIONER ALEXANDER TALKED ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO THE EFFORT ON THE PART OF THE CITY TO DO SOME TESTING. I BELIEVE TESTING IS GOING TO HELP US IN TERMS OF TRACKING THE CASES DOWN AND MAKING SURE THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE ISOLATED SO THAT WE CAN STOP THE SPREAD RIGHT NOW THAT'S THE ONLY CURE TESTING, I BELIEVE WILL ONLY HELP THE COUNTY. FOR WHATEVER REASONS I BROUGHT THIS UP BEFORE, WITH HER TESTING ABILITY AND THE MONEY THAT THEY

[02:20:04]

PEOPLE ARE DYING. PEOPLE ARE SICK. HOW DARE THEY TALK ABOUT PUTTING OUR CHILDREN BACK IN SCHOOLS UNDER THESE CONDITIONS AS IF WE ARE JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE. WE ARE NOT LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE BECAUSE WE ARE NUMBER ONE.

>> PEOPLE THAT I KNOW ARE DYING. I'M GOING TO THE COUNTY. I'M GOING TO THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. YOU'RE GOING TO GET TIRED OF HEARING OF ME. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SAY AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT YOU DOING, SIR? BECAUSE I'M HERE WITH YOU ALL NOW. WE NEED TO GET SOMETHING GOING TO STOP THE SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS BECAUSE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE ARE A HOTSPOT RIGHT NOW. ALSO ON MY UPDATES, I BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION LAST TIME WITH HER ADAMANT ABOUT TAKING THE ITEM OF THE AGENDA. I BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION I'M GOING TO REACHREAD THE REQUEST AGAIN.

83.1 DATED 83.1 DATED JULY 1, 2017 ON PAGE 10, IT PROVIDES FOR BODY ONE CAMERA MONTHLY COMPLIANCE REPORTS. BEFORE GOING FORWARD WITH THE DISCUSSIONS ON MY PROPOSED ORDINANCE REQUESTING THE CITY MANAGER PROVIDE ME WITH THE LAST TWO YOUR BODY WORN CAMERA RECORDS TO BE ABLE TO BETTER ANALYZE THE PROPOSAL. BASED ON THIS REQUEST, I'M GOING TO RESET THIS MATTER LATER. ON THE AGENDA. I SAID THAT TO SAY THIS. I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE THAT INFORMATION. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M GOING TO GO UNDER THE PRESUMPTION THAT IT DOES NOT EXIST. MY CITY MANAGERS NOT PROVIDED ME. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HOLDUP IS.

I BELIEVE IT DOESN'T EXIST. IF IT DOES NOT EXIST BECAUSE I READ IN THEIR POLICY THAT IT WAS THEIR REQUIREMENT THAT HAVE YET TO RECEIVE THE INFORMATION. I'M GOING TO SIT HERE PATIENTLY AND BY THE TIME THIS MEETING COMES UP I WILL HAVE HAD COMMISSIONER JOHNSON ABLE

[02:25:09]

>> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON? WHAT YOU'RE NOT WAITING ON ME.

>> NO, SIR.. I'M JUST WAITING ON YOUR CITY MANAGER AND CHIEF OF POLICE. WHAT I SAID WAS HE WANTED ME TO BE -- YOU HAD THE ITEM TAKE IT OFF THE AGENDA AND IT APPEARED THAT I WAS NOT PREPARED BUT WHAT I DID WAS I POSTPONED IT SO THAT I COULD GET THAT INFORMATION. SO I'M JUST BRINGING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION THAT NOW -- I DO NOT WANT THAT TO HAPPEN NEXT MONDAY WHERE YOU SAY THE SAME THING. I'M GOING ON THE RECORD AND THAT'S WHY DID THAT. YOU ARE RIGHT. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU. AS WITH THE CHIEF OF POLICE SO THANK YOU. YOU ARE RIGHT. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU.

>> COMMISSIONER JOHNSON? >> SOME INSTRUMENTS, I'M ASSUMING YOU'RE WORKING ON THAT. I WILL TAKE IT THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON IT.

AS FAR AS BOARDS AND COMMITTEES, MAIN STREET WE FUND RAISE. WE ARE STRUGGLING AS EVERYONE IS WITH OPTIONS OF TRYING TO EVALUATE TECHNIQUES AND METHODS TO GO ONLINE OR VIRTUAL THIS PAST WEEKEND WE HAD THE CHILI COOKOFF AT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB. THEY DID AN EXCELLENT JOB AT A VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING. WE ARE REEVALUATING ALL THE ITEMS. WE ARE GUESSTIMATING WHEN EVENTS CAN BE SCHEDULED. THAT'S THE TOUGHEST THING. HOPEFULLY ONE DAY WE HAVE FRIDAY FASTBACK AND ALL IS AMENITIES WOULD LIKE TO ENJOY. TBL. A LOT IS HAPPENING IN THE TPO, DOT IS DOING IN I-95 STUDY -- THEY ARE EVALUATING WHAT IS HAPPENING. IF YOU WERE TO WRITE DOWN 95 NOW YOU WOULD KNOW THAT WHEN YOU HIT ST. LUCIE COUNTY THE ROAD CONDITIONS CHANGE. IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO PUT REQUESTS IN MORE PRESSURE -- OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT -- ON DOT TO MAKE HER QUARTERS NICER DO SO. IF YOU FEEL INCLINED TO DO THAT. THEY ARE WORKING ON IT. THEY ARE ALSO LOOKING AT THE LONG RANGE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SIX LANE, FOUR-LANE, AS IT EXISTS TODAY, EIGHT LANES INTERCHANGES. WE ARE LOOKING AT -- WE TALKED ABOUT THE REQUEST FOR ST. LUCIE BOULEVARD. WE ARE LOOKING AT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND HOW YOU CONNECT THE NORTH PART OF THE STORY TO THE INTERSTATES. NOT JUST ORANGE AVENUE, BUT SOMETHING IN BETWEEN TO CARRY CONNECTORS TO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND THE AIRPORT. WHAT ELSE? WE TALKED ABOUT MEMBERSHIP ON THE TPO BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A NEW TRANSPORTATION GROUP. IT'S ALLOWABLE THAT WE EXPAND OR CHANGE, BUT WE HAVE TO DO IT IN A CERTAIN STRATEGY. WE HAVE A SENSE IS HAPPENING SO WE ALWAYS CHANGE THE MEMBERSHIP OR EVALUATED CHANGE DURING CENSUS TIME. WE HAVE DEFERRED THE MEMBERSHIP STATUS UNTIL AFTER THE CENSUS. DO I HAVE THAT CORRECT, MADAM MAYOR?

>> THE IMPLICATION WAS TO HAVE TWO SEATS.

>> SO OUR COUNCIL ON AGING AND ALSO OUR NEW MV WHICH IS A PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ONLY TPO BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE MASS TRANSPORTATION. THAT'S WHY THE MEMBERSHIP WAS THERE.

>> ARE YOU GOING TO MENTION LEONARD ROAD.

>> YES, MA'AM. . SO INDIAN RIVER DRIVE HAS BEEN UNDER A LOT OF REVIEW AND SCRUTINY.

JACK HAS BEEN INVOLVED MR. ANDREWS HAS BEEN INVOLVED FOR MANY YEARS AS WE ALL KNOW.

WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED. WE'VE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS AND COUNTY RESIDENTS. COUNTY COMMISSION IS WORKING ON THE TPO IS WORKING ON INDIAN RIVER DRIVE. THERE WAS COMMENTS MADE ABOUT NORTH-SOUTH CONNECTORS WHICH WOULD IMPACT POTENTIALLY OR PROVIDE RELIEF FOR INDIAN RIVER DRIVE. ONE OF THOSE CONNECTORS IS LEONARD ROAD. LEONARD ROAD WAS SUPPOSED TO BE EXTENDED YEARS AGO UNDERDEVELOPMENT ORDER WITH SAVANNA CLUB. WHICH IS NORTH OF PORT ST. LUCIE HIGH SCHOOL. WHEN THEY REACHED THE THRESHOLD THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO EXTEND RIVER ROAD. THAT HAS SINCE BEEN CHANGED. THERE'S A NEW AGREEMENT. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE AGREEMENTS ARE. WE DON'T HAVE THOSE. WE ARE WELL AWARE. OUR PLAN IS U.S. ONE AND THAT ARE MAJOR NORTH-SOUTH

[02:30:03]

HELPING US OUT A LOT. >> HE'S TOTALLY DEVOTED TO THAT PROJECT. THE URBAN WATERWAY AND HE HAS A WHOLE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH THEM.

THEY ARE RECRUITING ALL THE NEIGHBORS. EVERYBODY IS GETTING AN INVESTMENT IN KEEPING MOORE'S CREEK AND A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH HIS DEDICATION. IS THAT IT?

>> SOUGHT THE LAST FOUR PEERS UTILITIES BUILDING MEETING, THE STAFF PRESENTED A NEW WAY TO HANDLE THE PAST DUE ACCOUNTS, WHICH WILL NOT INVOLVE MASSIVE DISCONNECTS. IT'S A PROCESS WHEREBY EVERYBODY GETS ON A PAYMENT PLAN AT ZERO INTEREST. WE WORK WITH EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNT HOLDER ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS WE HAVE HAD IS ACTUALLY TALKING TO THE ACCOUNT HOLDER BECAUSE WE: THE MESSAGES AND WE DON'T GET THE MESSAGE RETURNED. BUT THEY ARE WORKING -- AND THEY'VE ALSO SEEN -- PUT SOMEBODY IN PLACE TO HELP WITH THE APPLICATIONS FOR HELP, FINANCIAL HELP. AND MUSTARD SEED IS ON TOP OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND WE OFFER HELP TO THEM BUT THEY'VE GOT A PROCESS SET UP. AND THE MORE ALSO WORKING WITH THE COUNTY BECAUSE THE COUNTY HAS CARES ACT MONEY THAT CAN BE USED FOR UTILITY PAYMENTS AND SO THE FPUA ARE CLOSELY WORKING TOGETHER AND SHARING INFORMATION. WE ARE TRYING TO REACH EVERYBODY BECAUSE THERE'S MONEY TO PAY UTILITY BILLS. WE ARE TRYING TO REACH EVERY PERSON. WE'VE AVOIDED THE DISCONNECTS. AND WE PUT A CARING OPERATION IN PLACE. AND I'M PLEASED ABOUT THAT. THE ROUNDTABLE WE HAD -- WE BEEN HAVING VIRTUAL MEETINGS. AT THE LAST MEETING, JUST THIS PAST FRIDAY, WE HAD AN EVALUATION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE MODEL. IN ONE OF THESE STATISTICS -- IT'S A LITTLE UNBELIEVABLE. FROM 2014 TO 2018 VIOLENT CRIME IN FORT PIERCE HAS BEEN REDUCED 70 PERCENT. 70 PERCENT. WHEN I FIRST HEARD THAT NUMBER, I SAID, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GOING TO USE THE NUMBER UNTIL YOU SHOW ME. AND SO, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS FOR THAT. IT'S OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TENOR LAW ENFORCEMENT IN ALL THE COLLABORATION EFFORTS INCLUDING THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND ALL OF FEDERAL HELP THAT WE GET.

I THINK THAT'S -- UP ELSE FOR THAT TO BE SUPPLIED TO US. AND IT'S IMPRESSIVE. I'M VERY PLEASED TO HEAR THAT. AND SO THIS COMING THURSDAY AND FRIDAY WHAT'LL BAY CITY HAS HER ANNUAL

[02:35:10]

MR. MIMS, YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER.

>> WE'VE GOT SOMETHING GOING ON WITH FRIDAY, RIGHT WHAT IS THE LET'S TALK ABOUT IT. YOU DON'T

TALK ABOUT. >> YES, MA'AM. AUGUST 15 THE CITY FORT PIERCE WORKING WITH THE CHILDREN AND SERVICES COUNCIL. AND ALSO, WE MAY GET SOME OUTSIDE COMMUNITY SUPPORT. BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN FINALIZED. BUT WE ARE -- WE ARE WORKING TO PROVIDE SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR THE CHILDREN RETURNING TO CLASS. KNOWING THAT, THESE SUPPLIES ARE DIFFERENT. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE PAPER AND PENS AND GLUE AND ALL THAT. I'LL HAVE INDEPENDENT WATER BOTTLES. THEY WILL HAVE HAND SANITIZER ALL THESE THINGS ARE REQUIRED FOR THE STUDENTS. AS YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT LESS SHARING. I DON'T KNOW IF THE WATER FOUNTAINS WOULD BE AVAILABLE BUT I KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO PROVIDE AS MUCH AS WE CAN FOR OUR CHILDREN TO GET TO SCHOOL SAFELY. WE HAVE A THOUSAND BOOKBAGS THAT WE HAVE ASSEMBLED WITH EACH ONE OF THOSE ITEMS IN ANOTHER ONE OF OUR GREAT PARTNERS ARE TREASURE COAST FOOD BANKS. ALSO, FOR THOSE RECIPIENTS, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF FOOD AND MILK AND STARCH AND VEGETABLES AND ALSO SOME OTHER THINGS THAT'S GOING TO BE PROVIDING AS WELL. WE HAVE PARTNERS WHO CARE ABOUT KIDS AND GETTING THEM READY FOR THE RETURN FROM COVID. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL HELP OUR CHILDREN.

>> I BELIEVE THAT STARTS AT 10 AM I BELIEVE IT'S 9 AM. BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT EVENT.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. AND THAT WAY WE CAN HELP OUR PARENTS AND OUR SCHOOLCHILDREN BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE. WERE GOING TO HELP OUR FAMILIES AS MUCH AS

POSSIBLE. >> I PLAN TO BE THERE. BUT I THINK THAT THERE MIGHT BE A VOLUNTEER CLEANUP. WHAT TIME DOES IT START.

>> SO, WE WILL BE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. SO GO ON DOWN.

>> IS THAT IT. >> MS. COX, DO YOU HAVE

ANYTHING TO ADD X NOW. >> MR. SWEENEY?

>> MAY I SPEAK? >> SHALL WE ADJOURN?

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.