Aug 18, 2020 Fort Pierce Utilities Authority

[Call to Order]

[00:00:04]

CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE AUGUST 18TH, 2020, FORT PIERCE MANY UTILITIES AUTHORITY, IF WE COULD PLEASE STAND FOR PRAYER

AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> PSALM, 746, MANY ARE SAYING OH THAT WE MAY SEE SOME GOOD, LIFT UP THE LIGHT OF YOUR FACE UPON US, O LORD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GOODNESS, FROIFERTIONS FOR THE PEOPLE OF FORT PIERCE AND THE TREASURE COAST. HELP US THE SEE GOOD, HELP US TO SEE THINGS NOT BY YOUR SIGHT BUT BY YOUR SPIRIT.

MAY YOUR FACE SHINE UPON YOUR LEADERS AND MAY PEACE BE PHENOMENON YOUR CITY IN YOUR MIGHTY AND PRECIOUS NAME AMEN.

>> MR. BEY, PRESENT. MR. FEE, PRESENT.

MR. MATTHEWS, PRESENT. MAYOR HUDSON, MISS CAVALCANTI.

PRESENT. ALSO WE NEED A MOTION TO SKIES

MAYOR HUDSON. >> MAKE A MOTION TO EXCUSE MAYOR

HUDSON. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL AGAIN

PLEASE. >> MR. BEY, MR. MATTHEWS,

[A. SET THE AGENDA]

MR. FEE, MS. CAVALCANTI. >> IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA OR ANY MOTIONS ON THE AGENDA?

>> MOVE TO APPROVE. >> CALL THE ROLL.

>> MR. BEY, MR. FEE, MR. MATTHEWS, MS. CAVALCANTI.

[B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

>> IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES?

>> MADAMLESS CHAIRMAN, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF AUGUST 4,

2020. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> MR. BEY, MR. FEE, MR. MATTHEWS, MS. CAVALCANTI.

[D. CONSENT AGENDA]

>> ANY COMMENTS? SEEING NINE, WE'LL MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. IF SOMEONE WANTS TO MAKE A

MOTION TO APPROVE. >> MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THAT WE

APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> IS THERE A SECOND?

>> SECOND. >> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> MR. BEY, YE YES, MA'AM, MR. , YES, MA'AM, MR. MATTHEWS, YES, MA'AM, MR. CAVALCANTI. YES.

[G.1. COVID-19 Report– For Information Only.]

NEW BUSINESS, NUMBER 1 IS COVID-19 REPORT.

>> YES MADAM CHAIR. >> THANK YOU, MR. TOMPECK.

THANK YOU, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. >> PULL THE MICROPHONE CLOSER.

>> DOES THIS WORK? >> THE THAT'S BETTER.

>> I'M HERE TO PRESENT AN AUGUST 18TH FP UPDATE, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO PROVIDE THE BOARD A REFRESHER BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO FOLLOW PROTOCOLS RELATED TO COVID-19.

SO I'LL START WITH STRICT CONTROL ROOM ISOLATION.

ONLY THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO WORK IN THOSE CONTROL ROOMS ARE ALLOWED IN THOSE CONTROL ROOMS. AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING I MENTIONED THAT WE HAD THREE, WE ACTUALLY HAVE FOUR CONTROL ROOMS, WATER TREATMENT PLANT, WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY, THE ELECTRICAL SCADA FACILITY AND THE TREASURE COAST ENERGY ROOM.

FOUR CONTROL ROOMS. WE CONTINUE TO TAKE THE DAILY TEMPERATURE OF OUR EMPLOYEES PRIOR TO ENTERING THE OFFICE.

IF THEIR TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 104.0, THEY'RE ALLOWED IN THE BUILDING. WE HAVE LIMITED IN-STATE TRAVEL FOR TRAINING BUT WE HAVE SUSPENDED OUT OF STATE TRAVEL AND THAT IS OBVIOUSLY TO PROTECT OUR EMPLOYEES.

WE CONTINUE TO REQUIRE MANDATORY MASKS IN ALL COMMON AREAS, HALLWAYS AND THOSE KIND OF BREAK ROOMS AND THOSE KIND OF AREAS.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WEAR ONE IN YOUR OFFICE BUT ANY COMMON AREA YOU ARE REQUIRED TO AWARE A FACEMASKS.

WE DO TRY TO HOLD AS MANY MEETINGS VIRTUALLY, IF POSSIBLE, THAT IS, PRETTY TOUGH. BECAUSE OF MULTITASKING BUT WHEN POSSIBLE WE DO TRY TO HOLD VIRTUAL MEETINGS.

WE TRY TO ADHERE TO SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES.

IF YOU'RE ABLE TO MAINTAIN SIX FEET OF DISTANCE WE TRY OUR BEST AND IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT SIX FEET YOU MUST

[00:05:02]

THE LOBBY DOES REMAIN CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC BUT THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO WERE WORKING IN THE LOBBY CONTINUE TO ASSIST CUSTOMERS OVER THE PHONE. I DIDN'T MENTION THIS DURING THE LAST BOARD MEETING BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

THE DRIVE THROUGH HAS NOT CLOSED.

IT CONTINUES TO REMAIN OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND IT STAYS PRETTY BUSY. MY OFFICE AND MR. TOMPECK'S OFFICE IS RIGHT ABOVE THE DRIVE THROUGH SO WE KNOW THAT IT STAYS BUSY. SO AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING WE TALKED ABOUT DISCONNECTS AND JUST FROITD A LITTLE REFRESHER ON WHERE WE WERE ON JULY 1ST AND WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

WE HIT A PEAK OF 2100 DISCONNECTS ON JULY 1ST AND YOU CAN SEE THAT NUMBER REDUCED OVER TIME AS WE APPROACHED THE CUTOFF DATE. AND YOU REQ CAN HE SEIZE THAT WT A LOW POINT AUGUST 21ST, BEFORE THE LAST BOARD MEETING JUST BELOW 1100 CUSTOMERS. THAT DID CREEP UP A BIT, I CAN ONLY ESTIMATE THAT IT IS PROBABLY RELATED TO OUR AUTOMATIC PAYMENT PLAN OR THAT THE DISCONNECT DATE WAS EXTENDED. THOSE ARE JUST GUESSES.

PAYMENT PLAN, THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP FOR APAYMENT PLAN AS OF TODAY, WE HAVE 757 THAT HAVE SIGNED UN, 757 RESIDENTIAL ACCOUNTS FOR APPROXIMATELY $475,000.

IF YOU COMPARE THAT TO AUGUST 4TH AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING WE HAD A 702 FOR 444,000. COMMERCIAL WE HAVE 53 ACCOUNTS.

FOR $58,000. COMPARE THAT TO AUGUST 4TH THAT'S 44 ACCOUNTS AT JUST UNDER 52,000.

I AM -- IN MY EXPERIENCE LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AROUND 2200 CUSTOMERS THAT WILL BE ON A PAYMENT PLAN BY THE TIME THIS IS ALL SAID AND DONE AND THAT'S JUST AN ESTIMATE AND THAT WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $1.4 MILLION. IT'S A PRETTY BIG NUMBER BUT I HOPE I'M WRONG, I HOPE IT'S MUCH LOWER THAN THAT.

AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING WE TALKED ABOUT HOW DO WE NOTIFY OUR CUSTOMERS ABOUT THE AUTOMATIC PAYMENT PLAN.

HERE IS A DRAFT LETTER THAT WE'LL BE SENDING TO OUR CUSTOMERS. THAT INFORMATION WILL INCLUDE THEIR PAST DUE AMOUNT, WHAT THEIR AUTOMATIC PAYMENT PLAN WILL BE PER MONTH, WHATEVER THE AMOUNT IS DIVIDED BY 12 AND THEN THEIR CURRENT YOU BILL ABOUT. JUST A REMINDER THAT THE AUTOMATIC PAYMENT PLAN BRINGS EVERY CUSTOMER CURRENT SO THERE IS NO PAST DUE AMOUNT. THEIR CURRENT BUILT WILL BE THEIR CURRENT BILL PLUS THEIR PAYMENT AMOUNT.

WHICH WILL BE FOR THE AVERAGE CUSTOMER ABOUT $50 A MONTH.

WE'LL GIVE THEM A DATE WHEN THAT'S DUE.

WE'RE TRYING TO LINE.YOU THEIR PAYMENT CYCLE OTHOUGH GET IT WITH THEIR BILL. THAT WON'T BE POSSIBILITY FOR EVERY CUSTOMER BUT WE HOPE THAT'S POSSIBLE.

THAT INFORMATION WILL ALSO INCLUDE INFORMATION RELATED TO COVID-19 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, MUSTARD SEED AND ALPE.

RECOVER ST. LUCIE ASSISTANCE ACT, SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO THOSE -- TO THAT ORGANIZATION.

AND IF THEY DON'T HAVE A COMPUTER THEY CAN CALL THE NUMBER AND I'VE TALKED TO THE COUNTY AND THEY WILL TRY THEIR BEST TO WORK WITH ANYBODY WHO CALLS TO TRY TO FILL OUT THE APPLICATION. SO WE ARE EXPECTING THE LETTERS, WE HOPE IT'S POSSIBLE THAT SOME OF THE LETTERS WILL GO OUT NEXT WEEK BUT WE'RE EXPECTING THE LETTERS WILL START GOING OUT THE FIRST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER AND YOU CAN SEE FROM THE SCREEN WE'LL HAVE ABOUT -- APPROXIMATELY 230 LETTERS THAT WILL GO OUT ON THE FIRST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER AND THE SECOND WEEK OF SEPTEMBER WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER 230, THIRD, WE'LL HAVE 430, THIRD WEEK WE'LL HAVE 405 AND ALL THE WAY UP TO THE FIRST WEEK IN OCTOBER, 430 LETTERS THAT WILL GO OUT TO THOSE CUSTOMERS ON THE LIST.

AND THAT WILL BE THE AUTOMATIC PAYMENT PLAN LETTER TO THOSE CUSTOMERS. AND MR. TOMPECK MENTIONED AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING THAT WE'RE EXPECTING TO CUT PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER POTENTIALLY. WE ACTUALLY BECAUSE OF OUR BILLING CYCLE AND OUR LETTER TO OUR CUSTOMERS, WITH THE PROPER NOTIFICATION, PROPER AMOUNT OF TIME TO NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS IT WILL PROBABLY BE ON OR AFTER THE OCTOBER 5TH.

SO THE DATE'S JUST A LITTLE BIT FURTHER OUT, COUPLE WEEKS OUT THAN WHAT WE DISCUSSED AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING.

ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE -- >> I HAVE ONE.

SORRY DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE A QUESTION?

>> I'LL WAIT. >> ARE THESE LETTERS GOING TO BE

IN CREOLE AND SPANISH AS WELL? >> NOM, WE DIDN'T PLAN TO DO IN CREOLE AND SPANISH AS WITH WELL. I CAN LOOK INTO THAT.

YES, SIR. >> LET ME GO BACK AND IN TERMS OF THE LETTER, THERE WILL BE THREE THINGS IN THE LETTER, BE

THEY CURRENT BLO, RIGHT? >> YES, SIR.

[00:10:03]

>> PAYMENT PLAN, WHAT'S THE THIRD ONE?

>> DATE. THE DATE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY PAY THEIR NEXT BILL.

>> OH. >> JUST LIKE YOU WOULD GET IN A NORMAL BILL, YOU HAVE YOUR AMOUNT AND THE DUE DATE.

IT MAY BE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN YOUR NORMAL BILL DATE JUST

BECAUSE -- >> ARE YOU PLANNING TO DO A LETTER OR ARE YOU PLANNING ON DOING A CARD?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE A LETTER. EXACTLY WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN IT WILL THAT BE LETTER TO EACH CUSTOMER, A PERNLTZED LETTER TO EACH CUSTOMER ON THE LIST.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> YES, SIR.

DURING THE LEAS BOARD MEETING I KNOW I HAVE A BUNCH OF NUMBERS UP HERE BUT THE SUMMARY OF THAT SLIDE IS THAT WE'VE CONTACTED ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS, EVERYBODY THAT WAS ON THE LIST WE'VE CALLED THEM. THERE IS A GOOD PORTION OF THE CUSTOMERS THAT WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN A RESPONSE FROM THOSE CUSTOMERS.

BUT WE CAN SEE THAT THE NUMBERS OF CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE IS PAID, PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS, AND PEOPLE THAT WE HAVEN'T GOT RESPONSES FROM, WELL, PEOPLE WE HAVEN'T GOT RESPONSES FROM EITHER BY E-MAIL OR PHONE CALL HAVE GONE UP.

BUT THE BIGGEST THING IS THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE PAID. THERE ARE ALSO PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE ON THE LIST THAT HAVE BEEN OFF THE LIST AND NOW BACK ON THE LIST. THAT'S WHY THE NUMBERS HAVE ALSO INCREASED SINCE THE LAST BOARD MEETING, BECAUSE OF THE

AUTOMATIC PAYMENT PLAN. >> YOU BELIEVE THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE EXTENSION OF THE DATE OR THAT COULD BE THE REASON, OKAY.

>> YOU CAN SEE THE TREND. THE ONE TH THING I WANT TO MENTN IS THE NONSUFFICIENT FUNDS, NSF. THE NUMBER IS A BRIT LARGER NOWN TODAY, THE CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE WRITTEN A BAD CHECK TO PAY THAT AMOUNT BEFORE BEFORE THEY COME ON A PAYMENT PLAN BECAUSE IT IS PART OF OUR RESOLUTION. IT IS NOT A VERY LARGE NUMBER BUT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE BOARD TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME FOLKS WHO DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY BUT THEY MADE A BAD PAYMENT, AND WE'RE ASKING THEM TO MAKE THAT SQUARE.

>> LEGALITY ME PUT MY BANKING CAP ON MADAM CHAIR.

PERSON WRITES A CHECK AND LET'S GO TO SOME COMMON, WRITES A CHECK OF $325 TO PAY A BILL, THAT SEEMS REASONABLE.

AND THE CHECK BOUNCE. >> AND THE CHECK BOUNCE, YES,

SIR. >> NOBODY HAVE TO PAY THAT MUCH?

>> NO THEY'D HAVE TO PAY WHATEVER AMOUNT THE CHECK WAS

WRITTEN FOR, TO SQUARE THAT UP. >> THE QUESTION I'M TRYING TO GET TO IS, WE DEAL WITH SURROUNDING WITH INSUFFICIENT FUNDS FEES FROM OUR SIDE PLUS THE BANK?

>> NO, SIR. WELL, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE HOW MUCH OUR FEES PR BUT THERE ARE -- THERE IS A BOUNCED CHECK FEE. I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT NUMBER IS, I WANT TO SAY IT'S FINALLY OR 20 OR 35 THAT WE CHARGE FOR CUSTOMER IF THEY WRITE A BAD CHECK.

DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? >> WELL, THE THING THAT I'M CONCERNED IS, HOW DO THEY CATCH UP? I'M INTERESTED IN THE CUSTOMER CATCHING UP WITH THEIR BILL.

AND I'M INTERESTED IN A SYSTEM THAT WOULD HELP THEM CATCH UP.

>> WELL -- >> I DON'T SAY WAIVE THE FEES, THE LATE FEES, WHATEVER INSUFFICIENT FUNDS YOU FEES, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND IF I NEEDED $100 TO PAY AND NOW I GOT A FEE OF 20 OR 25, YOU KNOW THAT ROLL IS GOING TO GET LONGER DOWN

THE LINE. >> YES, SIR, I UNDERSTAND.

WE'RE HOPING THAT WITH THIS PRESENTATION AND THE LETTERS THAT WE SEND OUT TO THESE CUSTOMERS THAT THEY CAN REACH OUT TO THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN PROVIDE SOME ASSISTANCE.

>> OKAY. >> GOOD QUESTION.

BUT I CAN'T ANSWER THAT, WE'RE HOPING THAT THEY CAN REACH OUT

TO THESE ORGANIZATIONS. >> WELL FIVE PEOPLE THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD AVERAGE OF THIS, IT'S VERY LOW.

>> VERY LOW YES. >> ABOUT NORMAL FOR MONTH ANYWAY

RIGHT? >> THE NUMBER I GOT EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON WAS 20, SO WE'RE UP TO 20 BUT SOME OF THOSE FOLKS HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE WORK WITH THOSE FOLKS TO MAKE SURE.

BECAUSE A BAD CHECK IS A CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND WE TRY NOT TO DO THAT TO THOSE CUSTOMERS IF WE DON'T HAVE TO.

WE TRY TO SQUARE IT AWAY AS MUCH AS WE CAN SO WE TRY AND WO AVOID THAT. DURING THE LAST BOARD MEETING WE TALKED ABOUT WAIVE PENALTIES AND LATE FEES.

WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DID THAT UNTIL I BELIEVE THE END OF SEPTEMBER. RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT $349,000 OF WAIVED LATE FEES AND PENALTY FEES.

IT'S A BIG NUMBER. F UMPLETDA SPONSORSHIP, WE HAD ORIGINALSLY A $WHEUNTD,000 SPONSORSHIP THAT WE GAVE TO OMUSTARD SEED AND ALLB. ALTB.WE ARE STILL WORKING ON SOF

[00:15:04]

YOU CAN SEE THOSE NUMBERS WENT UP FROM AUGUST 4TH.

WE HAD 92 AT 28,000 AND 11 AT 4,000.

SO MUSTARD SEED CONTINUES TO DO A VERY GOOD JOB WITH PROCESSING THESE NUMBERS. ALTB, DURING THE LAST CAN PRESENTATION THAT WEEK OUR EMPLOYEE WAS WORKING IN THEIR OFFICE AND THAT SEEMS TO BE WORKING REALLY WELL.

YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBERS FOR ALTB HAVE GONE UP.

WE WENT FROM ON AUGUST 4TH WE HAD EIGHT VOUCHERS THAT WERE PAID FOR 2200. WE'VE GONE FROM EIGHT TO 28 AS OF YESTERDAY FOR 8700. PENDING ACKNOWLEDGE YOU CAN SEE, WE EFFECTIVELY, THE APPLICATION ARE GETTING PROCESSED A LITTLE BIT FASTER SO THE NUMBER OF PENDING APPLICATIONS EVEN THOUGH WE'VE PAID SOME THE PENDING APPLICATIONS HAVE CONTINUED TO BE AT THE SAME AMOUNT, WHICH MEANS WE STILL HAVE APPLICANTS COMING IN APPLYING. AND YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBERS THERE 10,000 PENDING, $10,000 WORTH OF PENDING VOUCHERS FOR ALTB. WE ORIGINALLY HAD THE EMPLOYEE WORKING THERE MONDAY, TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.

AND THE FOLLOWING DAY WE ACTUALLY HAD HER WORKING REMOTELY. SHE WAS NO LONGER OAN SITE BECAUSE IT WAS A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE FOR HER.

IT WAS REALLY TIGHT QUARTERS, A LOT OF PEOPLE SO SHE'S BEEN ABLE TO WORK REMOTELY AND SEEMS TO BE DOING REALLY WELL WITH PROVIDING THEM WITH THE DATA THAT THEY NEED.

SO JUST WANT TO MAKE MENTION OF THAT FOR THE BOARD.

ST. LEWISIE COUNTY CARES ACT, WE'VE TALKED TO THAT QUITE A BIT. IT'S GOING TO BE IN THE LETTER FOR THE CUSTOMERS AND FOR ANYBODY WATCHING ON TV AND FOR THE AUDIENCE. ST. LEWISIE COUNTY CARES ACT, 16.6 MILLION, IT PROVIDES UP TO A $4,000 ONE TIME ASSISTANCE TO INCLUDE PAYMENT OF UTILITY BILLS.

DURING THE LAST BRD MEETING WE TALKED ABOUT 56% OF THE APPLICANTS HAVE CITY OF FORT PIERCE ADDRESS.

I WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO DMAIR OWE THAT DOWN TO THE FPUA SERVICE AREA. THE COUNTY HAD 1800 APPLICATIONS, 32 HAVE BEEN PROCESSED FOR PAYMENT, OR APPROVED FOR PAYMENT. AND THOSE 32 OUT OF THE 1800 ARE FORT PIFORT PIERCE FPUA CUSTOME. SO THE NUMBER, THE 3188 AND THE 1800 ARE NOT APPROVED APPLICATIONS, THOSE ARE JUST THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS THAT IF SYSTH SYSTEM HAS TAKEN IN. SO THE COUNTY DOES HAVE AN ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS. AND IT IS -- I WAS ABLE TO REVIEW A PDF VERSION OF IT. IT IS NOT NECESSARILY INTIMIDATING BUT IT DOES REQUIRE FOR THE APPLICANT TO PROVIDE QUITE A BIT OF DATA FOR VERIFYING THAT THEY'VE HAD A LOSS OF INCOME, OR THAT THEY'VE BEEN AFFECTED BY COVID FINANCIAL. SO OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE TRYING TO ALLOCATE THE MONEY TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT THE MOST .

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT MR. TOMPECK MENTIONED TO ME EARLIER IN THE WEEK THAT MR. MATTHEWS BROUGHT UP IS WHAT IF SOMEBODY CAN'T GO TO THE WEBSITE.

THE NUMBER YOU CAN CALL THE NUMBER THAT'S ON THE SCREEN, 462-1705, 1705, AND THEY WILL WALKING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF THE APPLICATION. IF YOU ARE NEEDING TO PROVIDE THEM DATA YOU CAN SEND IT TO THEM VIA TEXT OOR MESSAGE.

>> THERE IS NO HARD PAPER APPLICATION?

>> IT'S ALL DIGITAL. >> OKAY.

>> WE WILL CONTINUE TO EVALUATE THE THE FPUA IS NOT GOOD AT THIS

BECAUSE WE'VE NEVER DONE AN. >> HOUSE EVALUATION OF QUALIFYING SOMEBODY FOR INCOME BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO EVALUATE WHAT THAT PROCESS WOULD LOOK LIKE INTERNALLY, WE DID GET SOME INFORMATION FROM THE COUNTY ON WHAT THEIR PROCESS IS, SO I'LL BE CLOSELY REVIEWING THAT AND WORKING WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HAVE SOME PROCESS IN PLACE FOR TAKING APPLICATIONS IN-HOUSE. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT -- THE TWO PRIMARY THINGS THAT THE COUNTY DOES, AND MUSTARD SEED AND ALTB DO OIS THEY WORK WITH THE APPLICANT TO VERIFY THAT THEY HAVE HAD A REDUCTION OR LOSS OFF INCOME AND THAT SEEMS TO BE THE TOUGHEST THING TO PROVE IN ANY OF THOSE

[00:20:01]

-- THAT WILL BE JUST AS TOUGH FOR US TO PROVE .

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS THERE BUT WE'RE STILL WORKING ON TRYING TO DEVELOP A PROCESS IN HOUSE TO DO THAT.

WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE QUITE A BIT OF OUTREACH FOR COVID SUPPORT. WE DO HAVE A COVID -- WE CONTINUES TO TALK ABOUT COVID-19 PAYMENT PROGRA.

EVEN THOUGH WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME FOLKS THAT ARE BEYOND THE AUTOMATIC PAYMENT PLAN, THOSE FOLKS MAY BE CURRENT WITH THEIR BILL NOW BUT BETWEEN NOW AND OCTOBER 5TH OR WHATEVER DAY WE L WITHIN THEIR BILLING CYCLE THEY MAY FALL WITHIN THAT 60 DAY REQUIREMENT FOR DISCONNECT. SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO OFFER THE PAYMENT PROGRAM FOR THEM. IT JUST WON'T BE AUTOMATIC BECAUSE WE WON'T KNOW HOW CLOSE THEY GET TO BEING DISCONNECTED.

BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THOSE FOLKS IF THEY DO FALL INTO FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. OUR COMMUNICATION CONTINUES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION FOR ALTB AND MUSTARD SEED AND THE ST. LUCIE COUNTY CARES ACT. WE ARE ACTIVE ON FACEBOOK, THE CITY'S WEBSITE, WHICH I APPRECIATE BECAUSE THEY HAVE US FRONT AND CENTER, AND THE ST. LUCIE COUNTY CARES ACT WHICH IS GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY. WE WILL BE DOING RADIO ADS WITH THAT TYPE OF INFORMATION FOR OPAYMENT PROGRAM, THE SPONSORSHIP AND THE CARES ACT AND THERE IS A LIST OF RADIO STATIONS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT DURING THE LAST BOARD MEETING AND SOME ADDITIONAL RADIO STATIONS THAT WE'VE ADDED.

WE'RE EXPECTING THAT TO RUN MAYBE LATER THIS WEEK OR MAYBE NEXT WEEK. I SEE JAN IN THE OFFICE, SHE MAY ABOUT BE ABLE TO SHAKE HER HEAD YES OR NO.

IT WILL BE GOING TWICE A DAY THROUGH THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

SO LOTS OF OUTREACH THERE. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR TODAY.

I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

>> MADAM CHAIR. >> YES, MONTH --

>> HAVING A REAL HEADACHE ON THE WAY THAT PERSONS THAT ARE BEING DEALT WITH, YOU CAN'T TELL ME WE CAN'T WORK SOMETHING OUT BETTER THAN WHAT WE GOT. WE ARE HAVING PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE SITE WHERE THEY KNOW THEY HEARD THEY CAN GET HELP. WHEN THEY GET THERE, THEY TELL THEM THAT THEY NEED TO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT.

NOW, THEY GOT TO GO BACK, PROBABLY HOP THE RIDE THAT WAY, THEY GOT TO GET BACK, THREE DAYS LATER ON AN AVERAGE THEY GET A CALL. HOW IS A PERSON, I MEAN SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE THE TWO SITES THAT WE GOT NEED TO BE TOLD, LET'S TRY TO WAIT ON THEM WHILE THEY GOT THEM THERE ON THE

PREMISES. >> SO THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I MEAN THE APPOINTMENT IS REQUIRED BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE

LIMITED STAFF. >> THEY SHOULD BE TOLD THAT BEFORE THEY GO ALL THE WAY DOWN THERE.

>> I HOPE FOLKS ARE WATCHING TODAY AND I HOPE THAT THEY -- YOU KNOW I HOPE FOLKS ARE WATCHING TODAY AND THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THEY DO NEED TO CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT, HOPE THE OUTREACH ON THE RADIO CAN GIVE THEM ADDITIONAL OUTREACH THAT TELLS THEM TO CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.

I HOPE THAT IS MORE -- PROVIDES THE OUTREACH THAT'S NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN CALL BEFORE THEY GET THERE.

>> OKAY, DMOW, THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS, WE SET AN APPROVAL FOR 94,000 SOME DOLLARS TO BE TRANSFERRED.

WHO IS FOUNDING THAT? >> THAT IS PART AOF THE EXTRA 100,000 WE WERE TALKING -- MR. CISNEROS TALKED ABOUT.

>> ARE WE GOING TO GIVE THE 94,000 PLUS TO THE SAME GROUP

THAT'S -- >> I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT. YOU KNOW, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO DO SOME OF THE EVALUATIONS IN-HOUSE. AND WANTS TO SEE HOW THE REST OF THE ALTB AND THE MUSTARD SEED GOES AND WE MAY OPEN UP FOR SOME FOLKS TO COME INTO OUR OFFERS AND FILL OUT SOME APPLICATIONS.

>> OKAY. >> MADAM CHAIR.

>> YES, SIR. >> I'VE GOT A QUESTION AND A COMMENT HARVEY. WOULD THIS CONNECTION START

AFTER OCTOBER 5TH? >> YES, SIR, IT WOULD, BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE BECOME CURRENT -- WHEN PEOPLE GET CURRENT WITH THEIR BILL WITH THE AUTOMATIC PAYMENT PLAN TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR DISCONNECT WOULD REQUIRE TWO MODIFIES PAST DUE BILLS.

SO THAT MEANS OCTOBER 5TH WOULD BE THE FIRST MONTH THAT THEY WOULD BE TWO MONTHS IF THEY HAVEN'T PAID.

>> DO WE ANTICIPATE DOING AN ADDITIONAL EXTENSION?

>> WE CAN CONSIDER POTENTIALLY DOING THAT.

ORIGINALLY NO, SIR WE DID NOT. >> THE COMMENT I WANT TO MAKE IS, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT.

[00:25:01]

EXTENDING THAT. >> THANK YOU.

A LOT OF IT COMES FROM THE LEADERSHIP GROUP.

>> THANK YOU. >> ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH IS JAVI, IT WAS GREAT .

[G.2. Bill Comparison for the Month of June 2020 – For Information Only.]

>> NEXT IS THE BILL COMPARISON FOR MONTH OF JUNE 2020.

AND BARBARA MICHAEL WILL MAKE THE PRESENTATION.

>> THANK YOU, MR. TOMPECK. MADAM CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS, GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM PRESENTING TO YOU THIS AFTERNOON THE MONTHLY UPDATE ON THE COMPARISON OF THE MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC RATES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND THE TREASURE COAST BILLS FOR JUNE OF 2020. THIS FIRST GRAPH SHOWS THE COMPARISON OF THE RESIDENTIAL ELECTRIC RATES FOR 1,000 KILOWATT HOURS OF CONSUMPTION FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE FOR THE 13 MUNICIPAL UTILITIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA THAT ARE MEMBERS OF THE ALL REQUIREMENTS PROJECT. THEY ARE DISPLAYED AND RANKED BASED UPON THEIR BASE BILL AMOUNT.

IN THIS GRAPH WE CAN SEE WHERE FPUA RANKS UPON THE 13 ALL REQUIREMENTS PARTICIPANTS, WE ARE FEATURED IN YELLOW, OUR RATE FOR JUNE IS 103.84. AND THIS PUTS US AS THE FOURTH LOWEST RATE AMONGST THIS GROUP IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

THIS GRAPH DISPLAYS THE JUNE COMPARISON OF THE FLORIDA RESIDENTIAL ELECTRIC RATES FOR THAT SAME LEVEL OF CONSUMPTION AND IT INCLUDES ALL OF THE MUNICIPAL UTILITIES IN THE STATE. THE DATA FOR ALL OF THE GRAPHS THAT ARE BEING PRESENTED TODAY HAVE BEEN COMPILED BY FLORIDA MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION. FPUA'S BILL FOR THIS LEVEL OF CONSUMPTION AGAIN AT 103.84 SHOWN IN YELLOW, WE RANK HERE IN THE NINTH LOWEST RATE COMPARISON AMONGST THE 31 MUNICIPAL UTILITIES IN THE SEDATE OF FLORIDA.

DPOOP IS IN THE TOP ONE-THIRD OF THE LOWEST RATES, FOR THE LOWEST RATES IN THE STATE FOR 1,000 KILOWATT HOURS.

IN JUNE, 16 OF THESE 31 MUNICIPAL UTILITIES IMPLEMENT CANNED RATE CHANGES FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS.

THE OVERALL IMPACT OF THESE ADJUSTMENTS ON THE MUNICIPAL AVERAGE WAS AN INCREASE, IN THE AVERAGE OF 3.68.

THE REASON FOR THAT OVERALL JUMP, BE THAT THERE WERE 16 CHANGES, THERE WERE SEVEN THAT WERE FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT.

RATE ADJUSTMENTS WHICH WERE $10 OR GREATER FROM LAST MONTH.

THE AVERAGE WAS A $16 AVERAGE INCREASE.

EIGHT OF THE ALL REQUIREMENTS PARTICIPANTS HAVE MADE ADJUSTMENTS WHICH IMPACTED THE OVERALL REQUIREMENTS AVERAGE WITH AN INCREASE OF $3.52 FROM LAST MONTH ON THE AVERAGE.

FPUA EIGHTH RATE FOR JUNE OF 2020 FALLS BELOW ALL THREE OF THESE AVERAGES FOR THIS LEVEL OF CONSUMPTION.

>> I THINK THIS IS KIND OF WHAT WE ARE EXPECTING.

YOU RECALL THAT A LOT OF THE UTILITIES MADE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES, A ONE MONTH CHANGE TO MAY WHERE THEY DROPPED IT 10 BUCKS OR WHATEVER, WE DIDN'T DO THAT SO WE MOVED UP.

NOW THEY'VE RAISED THEIR RATES AND WE'RE BACK WHERE WE WERE

BEFORE. >> BETTER THAN WHERE WE WERE BEFORE. ACTUALLY.

>> ACTUALLY ARE. THE OTHER THING IF YOU LOOK AT IT HOW CLOSE WE ARE TO BEING IN THE TOP FOUR BECAUSE OCALK, LEESBURG, WE ARE IN THE DOLLAR OF BEING IN THE TOP FOUR OR FIVE HERE. .

>> THIS GRAPH PRESENTS A SIMILAR COMPARISON OF MUNICIPAL UTILITY BILLS FOR 2500 KILOWATT HOURS OF CONSUMPTION.

IN THIS CONSUMPTION FORT PIERCE UTILITY BILL FOR JUNE STANDS AT $262.30. IF. IMPACTED BY OTHER MUNICIPALITIES RATE REDUCTIONS WITH A FAVORABLE SHIFT TO THE LEFT SINCE MAY. WE ARE NOW IN THE 13TH

[00:30:01]

SO WE ARE MOVING TO THE LEFT WHICH IS THE DIRECTION WE WANT TO GO. SO WE HAVE THE 13TH LOWEST RATE AMONGST THIS GROUP, FORT PIERCE UTILITIES RATE FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE FALLS BELOW ALL THREE AVERAGES SHOWN.

WE HAVE MORE GOOD NEWS. THE TABLE DISPLAYED IS THE JUNE COMPARISON OF THE AVERAGE WITH UTILITY BILLS ON THE TREASURE COAST. IN THIS DPAIRN FORT PIERCE UTILITY BILL FOR ALL THREE SERVICES PROVIDED INSIDE CITY LIMITS IS SHOWN IN THE FIRST COLUMN IN BLUE.

ALL OTHER BILLS IN THIS TABLE HAVE ELECTRIC SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDE ARED BY FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT, AND WATER AND WASTE WATER SERVICES ARE ALL PROVIDED BY THE LOCALITY, THE LOCALITY'S PROVIDER. THE COMPARISON INCLUDES THE BILLS FOR THE AVERAGE CONSUMPTION OF ELECTRIC WATER AND WASTE WATER SERVICES FOR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS RESIDING IN THESE SERVICE TERRITORIES. THE TOTALS INCLUDE ALL THE APPLICABLE TAXES AND FEES AND STAFF HAS VERIFIED THESE TO ACTUAL BILLS. ELECTRIC RATE COMPARISON BROUGHT AN INCREASE TO THE FUEL COST FOR FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT CUSTOMERS WHICH INCREASED THEIR AVERAGE BILL FOR THE TREASURE COAST CUSTOMERS BY ABOUT $25. THIS IS THE SAME AMOUNT THAT FP AND L REDUCED THEIR BILL IN MAY. THOSE CUSTOMERS ARE BACK WHERE THEY WERE. ELECTRIC WILLS ARE UNCHANGED SINCE MAY. WATER AND WASTE WATER BILLS WERE IMPACT CANNED, WITH THEIR JANUARY PRICE INDEX ADJUSTMENT INCREASING THE AVERAGE BILL BY 2.4% FOR MARTIN COUNTY.

THERE WERE NO OTHER CHANGES ON WATER AND WASTE WAIRLT.

THIS ITEM IS PRESENTED FOR YOUR INFORMATION AND REQUIRES NO ACTION. HOWEVER, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS THEM.

>> OKAY NEXT ITEM. >> NEXT ITEM IS THE JUNE 2020

[G.3. Financial Operating Results for June 2020-For information only.]

>> THANK YOU AGAIN. MR. TOMPECK, MADAM CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS I WILL PRESENT TO YOU TODAY IF JUNE 2020 FINANCIAL OPERATING RESULTS. AFTER THE ADJUSTMENT FOR THE DISTRIBUTION TO THE CITY OUR JUNE YEAR-TO-DATE INCREASE IN OUR NET POSITION WAS JUST OVER $3 MILLION.

OUR OPERATING REVENUES ARE LOWER THAN THE PREVIOUS YEAR, TO DATE FIGURES, BY 3.2 MILLION. THE MAIN REASON IS FOR -- IS THE DECREASE IN GENERAL ELECTRIC -- ELECTRIC GENERAL SERVICE SALES OF ABOUT $600,000. AND THE 1.2 MILLION IN THE PCA BILL BECAUSE WE HAVE A NEGATIVE, THESE POWER COSTS.

FTC AND ABOUT $1 MILLION RELATES TO THE 2019 GUARANTY REVENUE CHARGES FOR WATER AND WASTE WATER THAT WERE RECORDED IN EXCHANGE FOR CAPACITY REDUCTIONS.

WE HAD A YEAR-TO-DECADES ARE OPERATING EXPENSES DOWN 1.8 MILLION FROM THE PRIOR YEAR AND THAT WAS MAINLY DUE TO THE DECREASED COST IN OUR PURCHASE POWER.

YOU HAVE IF ELECTRIC OPERATING REVENUES LESS THE COST OF PURCHASE POWER HAS BEEN FAIRLY CONSISTENT IN THIS THREE YEAR COMPARISON. FISCAL YEAR 19 BROUGHT A 3% INCREASE TO THE ADJUSTED OPERATING REVENUE WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH THE 4% INCREASE IN CONSUMPTION OVER 2018.

IN THE CURRENT YEAR-TO-DATE CONSUMPTION FOR 2020 REMAINS FLANTD WHEN COMPARED TO THE PERIOD IN FISCAL YEAR 19 WITH REVENUES DOWN 3%, WHICH BRINGS BOTH REVENUE AND CONSUMPTION BACK IN LINE WITH THE 2018 LEVELS.

WATER OPERATING REVENUES CONTINUE TO SHOW A CONSISTENCY UPWARD TREND, FISCAL YEAR 19 REVENUES INCREASED OVER THE SAME PERIOD IN FISCAL YEAR 18 AS A RESULT OF INCREASED RESIDENTIAL, AND GENERAL CONSUMPTION ABOUT 4%.

SCARLET 2020 INCREASES IN THE OPERATING REVENUE UP 7% WAS ACCOMPANIED BY AN INCREASE IN THE CONSUMPTION OF ABOUT 5% OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR. IN FISCAL YEAR 2020, CONTINUED INCREASES IN THE RESIDENTIAL AND GENERAL SERVICES CONSUMED HAD AN ADDED BOOST IN THE YEAR-TO-DATE BULK WATER SALES OF ABOUT

[00:35:07]

RESIDENTIAL AND GENERAL SERVICES SALES WERE FLAT, BUT THE FALL OFF FROM ARE REVENUES WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE GUARANTEED REVENUE CHARGES. NATURAL GAS OPERATING REVENUES LESS THE COST OF GAS PURCHASED AND CONSUMPTION SHOW AN UPWARD TREND IN BOTH REVENUES AND CONSUMPTION WHILE INCREASES IN THE ADJUSTED REVENUE AND CONSUMPTION ARE MOVING TOGETHER, FISCAL YEAR 2020 EXPERIENCED ONLY A 1% INCREASE AS A RESULT OF LEVEL-OFF GENERAL SERVICE SALES IN COMPARISON TO THE 2019.

THE SAVINGS IN COST OF PURCHASED GAS FROM 2019 WAS 8%.

A LITTLE OVER $300,000 YEAR-TO-DATE.

OOUR DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE RATIO IS THE RATIO OF THE 12 MONTH AVERAGE OF OUR NET AVAILABLE INCOME TO OUR CURRENT DEBT SERVICE. FOR THE 12TH MONTHS ENDING JUNE 2020, OUR DEBT SERVICE RATIO WAS 2.72.

WHICH MEANS THAT FOR EVERY DOLLAR AOF DEBT THAT WE HAVE, $2.72 IS AVAILABLE TO PAY THAT DEBT .

OUR BOND COVENANTS REQUIRED THAT WE HAD A RATIO OF 1.52 TIMES AND WE ARE WILL WITHIN THAT DEBT SERVICE.

THIS IS AN INFORMATION ONLY ITEM HOWEVER I WILL ADDRESS ANY

QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. >> ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE ONE BARBARA. LOOKING AT OUR COMBINED STATEMENTS BETWEEN 2020 AND 2019, THE DIFFERENCE IS ONLY ABOUT $216,000 OF NET INCOME THAT WERE LOWER THIS YEAR.

CORRECTLY? 3039 VERSUS 3255.

>> UH-HUH. >> I'M WONDERING IN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SURPRISE LATER. OKAY? SO I'M WONDERING, I'M ASSUMING ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE ARE UP

CONSIDERABLY, VERSUS A YEAR AGO. >> YES, THAT WOULD BE TRUE.

>> THAT'S STILL BOOKED INTO REVENUE.

>> YES. >> DID WE DO ANYTHING FOR BAD DEBT OR DO YOU HAVE THE AUDITORS DO IT OR WHAT DO YOU DO WITH

THAT? >> WE LOOK AT BAD DEBT, WE ADJUST OUR WRITEOFFS EACH MONTH SO WE TAKE A LOOK AT IT EACH MONTH AND AT THE END OF THE YEAR WE GO -- WE WAIT ACTUALLY THREE MONTHS INTO THE NEW YEAR OR SO TWO AND A HALF MONTHS AND THEN WE LOOK BACK. WE GET A ROLLING 12TH MONTH PICTURE OF HOW MUCH WE'VE COLLECTED GOING BACK.

SO IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PRETTY THIS YEAR WHEN WE CLOSE THE

BOOKS IN CEMENT. >> SEPTEMBER.

>> ARE WE ACCOUNTING FOR IT THOUGH? I'M ASKING IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BIG NUMBER AT YEAR

ENDING. >> I DON'T APE IT ANTICIPATE IG TOO BIG. BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL BE ON A PAYMENT PLAN. IT WILL PROBABLY BE, I THINK WE WERE A LITTLE BIT LOWER IN 2019 THAN WE WERE IN PREESKTS YEAR SO IT MAY BE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER, WE'VE ACCOUNTED FOR THAT IN THE

ADJUSTED BUDGET. >> JUST WONDERING.

>> I HAVE A B PART TO THAT QUESTION.

DO WE KEEP UP WITH THE THE LOSS IN THOSE SAME FIGURES SAY AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND THEN COMPARE THE PREVIOUS YEAR?

>> WELL, WE DON'T DO IT MONTH TO MONTH BECAUSE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS WE DO -- WE USE IT IN OUR BUDGETING PROCESS WHERE WE STOOD AND WE TAKE A MUCH CLOSER LOOK AT IT AT THE END OF THE YEAR TO SEE WHERE WE STAND BUT WE DO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS ON AN ONGOING BASIS BASED ON THE WRITEOFFS THAT HAPPEN.

>> THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO. THANK YOU BARBARA.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> NEXT ITEM IS AN APPROVAL ITEM

[G.4. Accept the renewal quote and proposal from Florida Municipal Insurance Trust through Florida League of Cities for property, workers' compensation, general liability, and automobile liability insurance coverage effective for October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021, and approve funding for the $790,598 premium.]

GANG WILL MAKE THE PRESENTATION. >> I WAS THINKING BARBARA, THINKING BACK TO HURRICANE FRANCIS AND JEANNE, I THINK THAT YEAR WE HOANL ABOUT $400,000 IN UNCOLLECT CANNIBLES, IN THAT CASE PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE A LOAM ANYMORE.

SO I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE NEARLY THAT BAD THIS TIME.

>> YOU KNOW THEY ALWAYS SAY YOU WANT TO BUY UTILITY BONDS.

BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN'T GO WITHOUT UTILITIES.

[00:40:01]

SO ... >> THANKS BARBARA.

>> THANK YOU MR. TOMPECK, GOOD EVENING MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. WITH THIS ITEM STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THE RENEWAL QUOTE FOR FMIT FOR OUR INSURANCE COVERAGE. TO POLICIES INCLUDED IN THIS QUOTE ARE PROPERTY, WORKERS COMPENSATION, AUTO, LIABILITY AND GENERAL LIABILITY COVERAGE AND AS A FOOTNOTE OUR GENERAL LIABILITY COVERAGE INCLUDES BOTH OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS LIABILITY AND ALSO OUR EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES LIABILITY.

OVERALL IS PREMIUMS INCREASED BY APPROXIMATELY 6.4% FOR THE YEAR WHICH ISN'T BAD, BUT IT IS DUE TO THE -- TO A NUMBER OF FACTORS. ON THE GOOD NEWS FRONT OUR WORKERS COMPENSATION WHICH A FEW YEARS AGO HAD INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY, HAS ACTUALLY DECREASED THIS YEAR, AND WENT DOWN BY 10% FOR THE YEAR. THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW WE'VE SEEN A DECREASE WHICH IS GOOD NEWS.

ON OUR WORKERS COMP RATES ARE BASED ON TWO THINGS.

ONE OF THEM IS OUR PERIL WHICH DPAYROLL WHICHDECREASEAND OUR LK PERIOD. OUR PROPERTY RATES INCREASED, FMIT INCREASED THEIR PROPERTY RATES BY 10% ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ALL ENTITIES THAT THEY ENSURE AND THIS IS DUE TO HIGHER COSTS OF THEIR REINSURANCE PROGRAM AND THAT'S RELATED TO HURRICANE DAMAGE FROM MICHAEL, IRMA AND DORIAN COMBINED AND THE RESHOOURCHES MARKET HAS DETERIORATED, CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE AS FAR AS THEM BEING ABLE TO BUY THEIR REINSURANCE AS THEIR STOP LOSS. MOVING ON, OUR GENERAL LIABILITY COVERAGE USES AN EXPERIENCE RATING FORMULA THAT LOOKS BACK FIVE YEARS AS OPPOSED TO ONLY THREE YEARS FOR WORKERS COMP AND THE OOUTD AND OUR GENERAL LIABILITY -- AUTO AND OUR GENERAL LIABILITY INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY, THAT IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE LARGE ESH INCREASES WE SAW AND IT HAS TO DO OUR RATINGS WENT ITCH BECAUSE OF, HIGHER DOLLAR CLAIMS. THERE ARE VERY FEW CLAIMS BUT THERE ARE A FEW HIGHER DOLLAR CLAIMS. I'M SURE THE BOARD WAS AWARE AWOE HAD AN EMPLOYMENT LIABILITY CLAIM THAT WAS SETTLE THEY HAD YEAR AND OTHER CASES SETTLE THEY HAD YEAR, WHEN THOSE GOT SETTLED AND FINALLED OUT THAT INCREASED THE FIVE YEAR EXPERIENCE.

ON THE GOOD NEWS SIDE OUR GO LOSSES FOR TO LAST TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN NEARLY ZERO SO WE HAVE BEEN DOING MUCH BETTER THAN WE WERE DOING THE PAST TWO YEARS THAN YEARS BEFORE, LIKE YEARS 1415, 1516, 1718, 1815, THAT PERIOD IS OCTOBER 12014 TO OCTOBER 1, 2019. THAT'S THE PERIOD THEY ARE LOOKING AT. AND FINALLY OUR AUTO LIABILITY, OUR COVERAGE INCREASED FIVE%, THAT IS ALSO DUE TO THE LOSS EXPERIENCE DURING THE THREE YEAR PERIOD USED FOR THAT AND THAT IS RELATED TO JUST ONE ACCIDENT THAT WE HAD WHICH WAS BACK IN 2017 I BELIEVE. AND SO AGAIN SINCE THEN WE'VE BEEN BETTER AND ONCE THAT FALLS OFF WE SHOULD SEE SOME DECREASES IN THESE RATES. TO SUM IT UP STAFF RECOMMENDS THE BOARD APPROVE, SORRY ACCEPT THE FMIT RENEWAL AND ACCEPT THE $797,500 FOR THE PLAN YEAR. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD HAS. I DID INCLUDE THE MEMO WHICH HAS

ADDITIONAL DETAIL. >> MADAM CHAIR.

>> YES. >> THESE ARE THE STANDARD% COVERAGES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FROM YEAR TO YEAR?

>> RIGHT. >> DO YOU KNOW ABOUT WHAT KIND OF ESTIMATE THE DECREASE MIGHT HAPPEN OR WHEN IT MIGHT HAPPEN FOR NEXT YEAR? WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN JUNE OF

EVERY YEAR? >> I'M SORRY?

>> ARE WE PAYING AROUND JUNE, THIS IS AUGUST BUT --

>> WE PAY AIT QUARTERLY. >> OH, OKAY.

>> WE'LL PAY EACH QUARTER AROUND FIRST PAYMENT WILL BE DUE OCTOBER 1 AND THEN EACH QUARTER AFTER THAT.

IT'S HARD TO ESTIMATE THE AMOUNT OF THE DECREASE AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE ANOTHER COUPLE OF YEARS BECAUSE WE'RE IN SORT OF THE MIDDLE OF THAT PERIOD. NEXT YEAR, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PERIOD FOR WORKERS COMP AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PERIOD ALSO FOR THE AUTO BECAUSE THE HIGH CLAIM WAS -- IT'S A THREE YEAR PERIOD AND IT HAPPENED IN THE SECOND YEAR THAT THEY'RE TRACKING. FOR THE GENERAL LIABILITY IT IS A FIVE YEAR PERIOD, WE HAVE ONE SIGNIFICANT CLAIM THAT IS GOING TO DROP OFF FOR 2014 AND THEN WE'LL NEED ANOTHER YEAR TO LOSE THE BIG CHAIM WE HAD, ACTUALLY TWO YEARS AND THEN ONCE THAT

DROPS OFF. >> THE LARGEST ONE WE ATTACH IS

THE PROPERTY? >> THE LARGEST INCREASE WAS ACTUALLY THE GENERAL LIABILITY WHICH INCREASED ALMOST 20%.

[00:45:05]

>> OKAY. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVING?

>> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> I'LL SECOND.

>> THANK YOU. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> MR. BEY, YES, MA'AM. MR. FEES YES, MA'AM, MR. MATTHEWS, YES, MA'AM? MS. CAVALCANTI.

YES, MA'AM. JOSH I HAVE ONE QUESTION, IS THERE REALLY ANY COMPETITION FOR THIS.

WE DON'T COMPETITIVELY BID THIS DO WE?

>> THE CITY DID PUT OUT AN RFP FOR THEIR INSURANCE.

THEY ARE WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE RESULTS OF THAT ARE.

WE WILL LIKELY DO ONE NEXT YEAR, DEPENDING ON THOSE RESULTS.

>> OKAY. >> THERE'S SOMETHING GOOD REASONS THE STAY WITH FMIT, COVERAGE YEAR AND SOME OF THE

BENEFITS THEY PROVIDE. >> MAYBE SOME TAILS FOR OLD

CLAIMS TYPE THING? >> POTENTIALLY.

THEY WOULD HAVE TO COVER WHAT WAS IN THAT PERIOD, THAT THEY COVERED. BUT YES, IT WOULD HELP TOWARDS SETTLEMENT ANYTHING THAT'S LINGERING LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY.

>> RIGHT. >> BUT OF COURSE COMPETITION IS NEVER A BAD THING SO I ANTICIPATE WE WILL BE SEND YOUING IT OUT FOR AN RX NEXT YEAR.

>> MADAM CHAIR. >> YES, SIR POP.

>> TO ME, ONE DAY YOU AND WHOEVER HANDLES IT WITH THE CITY WOULD TRY TO SIT DOWN AND TOSS AROUND SOME TYPE OF AN ESTIMATE FIGURE AND IT MIGHT WORK OUT THAT THEY COME UNDER THE SAME

UMBRELLA. >> YES, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS ALLOWED UNDER THE CHARTER. IT IS PERMITTED.

IN TALKING BRIEFLY WITH OUR WEEKS AGO, IT'S NOT SOMETHING I WOULD RECOMMEND THE CITY HISTORICALLY AND INCLUDING THE FIVE YEAR PERIOD THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER LOSSES THAN WE DO. AND SO COMBINING THEM INTO ONE UMBRELLA MAY ACTUALLY PUSH OUR RATES HIGHER.

>> LOWER THEIRS AND PUSH OURS HIGHER.

>> YES. >> NOW WHAT YEAR -- WE HAD ONE ACCIDENT IN WHAT, THREE, FOUR YEARS?

>> WE -- FOR THE AUTO IT WAS ONE ACCIDENT IN 2017 THAT WAS SIGNIFICANT. THERE'S OTHER MINOR INCIDENTS OF COURSE, FENDER BENDERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT ONE

SIGNIFICANT ACCIDENT. >> IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO PUT US IN ANY 87 JEOPARDY WITH THE EXPERIENCE?

>> NOT AT ALL. SAME ACCIDENT IS ACTUALLY AFFECTING BOTH OUR WORKERS COMP AND OUR LIABILITY RATES.

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> DID WE VOTE? YES WE VOTED AND THEN I ASKED A QUESTION AND NOW I'M LOSING REPLY MINDS.

>> ME TOO FM. >> THE NEXT ITEM IS AN

[G.5. Efficiency of Electric Grid-Voltage/VAR management-For information only.]

>> THANK YOU MR. TOMPECK. MADAM CHAIR.

DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF OUR UTILITY BOARD.

SO ONE THING I'M KIND OF EXCITED ABOUT WITH THIS PRESENTATION IS IN CONTRAST TO WHEN ENGINEERING TYPICALLY COMES AND TALKS BEFORE YOU AND THE PUBLIC WHY MOST OF OUR PRESENTATIONS ARE ABOUT HOW WE CAN INCREASE OUR RELIABILITY, THIS ONE DOES AFFECT OUR -- THE QUALITY OF SERVICE, BUT THE MAIN IMPACT FOR THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC IS EFFICIENCY AND HOPEFULLY AT SOME POINT A REDUCTION IN RATES.

SO BEFORE I DIG INTO SOME OF THE TECHNICAL DETAILS ON HOW WE CAN IMPROVE OUR ELECTRICAL GRID EFFICIENCY AS A UTILITY I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT WE DEFINE SOME KEY TERMS. THE FIRST TWO ARE ENERGY AND POWER AND A LOT OF TIMES WE USE THOSE TWO TERMS INTERCHANGEABLY BUT THEY REALLY ARE DIFFERENT THINGS. SO THE TEXTBOOK DEFINITION OF ENERGY IS THE ABILITY TO DO WORK.

THAT DOESN'T REALLY MEAN A WHOLE LOT TO ME SO IN MY MIND I JUST THINK ABOUT ENERGY AS CHANGE. SO FOR US THE CHANGE IS HOW MANY ELECTRONS FLOW. SO THE MORE ELECTRONS FLOW THE MORE CHANGE YOU HAVE. AND IN OUR INDUSTRY WE MEASURE THAT IN KWH. CONTRAST THAT TO POWER, IS HOW THFAST WE USE ENERGY. YOU CAN HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF ENERGY USED BY ONE LIGHTBULB OVER THE COURSE OF AN HOUR OR TWO LIGHTBULBS OVER THE COURSE OF A ■HALF AN HOUR.

THEY'RE GOING TO USE EXACTLY THE SAME AMOUNT OF ENERGY BUT THEY USE DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF POWER. SO THOSE TWO LIGHTBULBS THAT PUT OUT IF SAME AMOUNT OF LIGHT AS THE ONE LIGHTBULB IN HALF THE

[00:50:01]

THOSE TWO LIGHTBULBS USE TWICE THE POWER, TWO LIGHTBULBS USE TWICE THE POWER AS ONE LIGHTBULB.

AND THEN THE THIRD TERM THAT I WANT TO DEFINE IS EFFICIENT OR EFFICIENCY. AND THAT'S SIMPLY JUST PREVENTING WASTE. SO IF MAIN THREE IDEAS FOR THIS PRESENTATION IS THAT INHERENTLY THE ELECTRIC GRID HAS WASTE ASSOCIATED WITH IT. THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO STOP THE WASTE, ULTIMATELY THAT RESULTS IN US GIVING BETTER SERVICE AT A LOWER COST. WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT POWER IT CAN BE DESCRIBED IN THREE SEPARATE WAYS, REAM REACTIVE AND APPARENT. THERE IS A LOT GOING ON NO THIS SLIDE. MY MAIN POINT HERE IS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE ENGINEERS ON STAFF THAT DO REALLY GEEKY STUFF.

AND HOPEFULLY, AS WE CAN COME TO A CONCLUSION ON THIS PRESENTATION, IT RESULTS IN US GIVING LOWER PRICES TO OUR CUSTOMERS. SO A TYPICAL ANALOGY THAT'S OFTEN USED IN OUR INDUSTRY TO TALK ABOUT THESE THREE DYNAMICS OF THE ELECTRIC GRID IS BEER. A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN RELATE TO THAT. SO IF I GO OVER TO SELFISH BREWERY THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE ME A GLASS OR A MUG.

AND THERE'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SPACE IN THAT GLASS.

AND THAT REPRESENTS, FOR THE ELECTRIC GRID, THAT REPRESENTS THE CAPACITY OF OUR WIRES, OF OUR TRANSFORMERS, THINGS LIKE THAT. NOW, THE ELECTRICITY OR THE REAL POWER THAT WE -- THAT I SHOWED IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE IS REPRESENTED BY IF BEER. THATHE BEER.THAT'S THE STUFF WEY WANT, WHAT WE'RE PAYING OUR MONEY FOR.

IF REACTIVE POWER IS REPRESENTED BY THE FOAM.

SO THE BETTER BARTENDER YOU HAVE THE LESS FOAM THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU AND THE HAPPIER YOU ARE.

AND THAT'S THE SAME THING WITH FPUA AND RUNNING THE ELECTRIC GRID. THE MORE REAL POWER WE CAN GIVE TO OUR CUSTOMERS, THE MORE THEY CAN USE WHAT THEY PAY SNORE AND FOR ANDTHE HAPPIER THEY'LL BE. I WANT TO HIT ON A LITTLE BIT WHERE THIS REACTIVE POWER COMES FROM.

IT'S SOMETHING INHERENT BY ELECTRIC GRIDS AND MOSTLY PRODUCED BY MOTORS. THAT'S WHY I PUT THE IMAGE OF A MOTOR IN THERE, ENERGY GETS STORED AND RELEASED IN A MASSING NETTIC FIELD AND THAT CAUSES WASTE ON THE ELECTRIC GRID.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO TO COUNTERBALANCE THE INFACTORSED INEFFICIENCIES AND THAT IS USED BY CAPACITORS. YOU MAY SEE THESE HANGING UP ON POLES AS YOU DRIVE AROUND THE CITY.

THIS IS WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE WHEN THEY'RE DOWN ON THE GROUND AND OFTENTIMES YOU'LL SEE THESE INSTALLED INSIDE OF SUBSTATIONS.

ALL RIGHT ALL RIGHT SO WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND TO OUR UTILITY SPECIFICALLY AND ITS CUSTOMERS IS THAT A LARGE PORTION OF OUR YEARLY REVENUE GOES TOWARDS PURCHASE POWER. SO THE REVENUE IS A LITTLE OVER $100 MILLION, 42 OR NEARLY THAT PERCENTAGE GOES TOWARDS PURCHASE POWER. IT IS AN INDUSTRY HELD ASSUMPTION THAT A WELL CONDUCTED COMPASCAPACITOR PROGRAM CAN REDE YOUR POWER CONSUMPTION BY ANYWHERE FROM 1 TO 4%.

SO IF WE GO ON THE LOW END OF THAT INDUSTRY STANDARD ASSUMPTION, IT WILL BE $420,000 YEARLY THAT WE COULD SAVE OUR CUSTOMERS YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT. IS THERE'S A LOT OF TECHNICAL INFORMATION ON THIS SLIDE. IT WAS PRODUCED BY ONE OF OUR STAFF ENGINEERS, ERIC MEYER AND I DON'T KNOW IF SOME OF THE BOARD MEMBERS REMEMBER, WE HAD AN ENGINEERING STUDENT MADELINE SHEBAB GAVE A PRESENTATION TO YOU LAST YEAR AND THOSE GO PUT THIS IS PROGRAM TOGETHER, THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM THE USE EVER ONE OF THOSE CAPACITORS THAT I SHOWED YOU A CUSTOM SLIDES AGO PAP IN ENERGY SAVINGS ALONE AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE TYPES OF SAVINGS THAT CAPACITORS GIVE YOU BUT IN ENERGY SAVINGS ALONE THIS ONE LOCATION WOULD SAVE OUR CUSTOMERS $200,000 A YEAR.

SO AGAIN, THIS SLIDE IS JUST TO FURTHER REITERATE THE POINT THAT WE DO A LOT OF GEEKY STUFF. YOU GUYS REALLY DO HAVE SOME SMART ENGINEERING ON STAFF AND I KEEP THROWING MYSELF IN THAT EQUATION BUT REALLY IT'S THE OTHER GOOD PEOPLE I GET ANNAL OPPORTANOPPORTUNITY TO WORK WIT. TO SUM THIS WHOLE THING UP YOU

[00:55:03]

BECAUSE DID SYSTEM IS MORE EFFICIENT YOU DON'T HAVE TO UPGRADE EQUIPMENT AS OFTEN AS WE SEE LOAD GROWTH.

AND I FULLY PREDICT THAT FORT PIERCE WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AND GROW MORE RAPIDLY THAN EVEN WE'VE EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST.

SO AS THAT HAPPENS, IF WE IMPLEMENT A GOOD CAPACITOR REPLACEMENT PROGRAM WE WON'T HAVE TO UPGRADE EQUIPMENT AS QUICKLY. BECAUSE WE'LL ALLOW THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE TO SERVE MORE CUSTOMERS.

WE'LL SEE AN IMPROVEMENT IN VOLTAGE REGULATION, THAT'S A BIG DEAL FOR POWER QUALITY FOR ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT CUSTOMERS.

AND THEN LASTLY AND I HILT ON IT A LITTLE BIT, IS WE'LL HAVE REDUCED ELECTRICITY BILLS FROM PURCHASING POWER.

SO I JUST WANT DO REITERATE WANT TO REITERATETHOSE THREE TH.

ALL ELECTRIC GRIDS HAVE WASTE, RIGHT? AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO BETTER TO REDUCE THAT WASTE AND IT IS GOING TO RESULT IN BETTER SERVICE DO OUR CUSTOMERS AT A LOWER COST WHICH I KNOW IS SOMETHING WE ALL WANT.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE

BOARD AT THIS TIME. >> F

>> ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT WAS PROBABLY WELL ABOVE OUR LEVEL HERE OF ENGINEERING

SKILLS. >> WELL, THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE'LL GET TO SAVE THE CUSTOMERS MONEY.

>> THANK YOU. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> OKAY, MR. TOMPECK. >> I HAVE JUST TWO ITEMS.

[J. DIRECTOR]

AND WILL BE RESCHEDULED FOR A LATER DATE.

AND I GUESS THE SECOND ITEM IS BARBARA, MIKE AND I WILL BE TALKING WITH THE FINANCIAL ADVISOR ON FRIDAY, TALK ABOUT OUR BOND, POTENTIAL BOND REFUNDING OR OUR 2009 BONDS.

WE'RE ALSO LOOKING INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF INCORPORATING SOME OF OUR CAPITAL EXPANSION PROJECTS AND AMI INTO A BOND ISSUE AS WELL. AND OBVIOUSLY WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU WITH THE DETAILS AS SOON AS THEY HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >> MR. KOBLEGARD DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? (INAUDIBLE).

>> ANY B

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.