[Call to Order] [00:00:09] >>> I BRING THIS MEETING OCTOBE. AT THIS TIME WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE OPENING PRAYER BY MS. ALICE AND WHILE SHE IS DOING THE PRAYER WE WILL STAND AND WE WILL DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> FROM PROVERBS THREE VERSES FIVE AND SIX. TRUST AND RELY CONFIDENTLY WITH ALL YOUR HEARTS AND DON'T RELY ON INSIDER UNDERSTANDING. ACKNOWLEDGE AND RECOGNIZE HIM AND HE WILL MAKE YOUR PATHS STRAIGHT AND SMOOTH. GRACIOUS AND LOVING GOD, THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY AS WE WELCOME A NEW BOARD MEMBER, CHRISTINA GIBBONS. MAY ALL OF YOUR TALENTS, VISIONS AND GOALS COME IN FRUITFUL WORK FOR THE GOOD OF THIS COMMUNITY. BLESS ALL BOARD MEMBERS SEND ALL THE LEADERS PRESENT WITH YOUR WISDOM, AND PATIENCE AND YOUR ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE YOUR DIVINE DIRECTION. MAY 3 DECISIONS TO BE STRAIGHT AND SMALL ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL. GOT A MERCIFUL FATHER, HELP RESTORE OUR COMMUNITY WITH HEALTH AND PROSPERITY AS WE TRUST AND RELY CONFIDENTLY WITH ALL OF OUR HEARTS ON YOU LORD, WE PRAISE IN YOUR ALMIGHTY NAME, AMEN. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> MADAM SECRETARY WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLE-PLAY. [Swearing in of new Board Member, Kristina Gibbons, by Linda Cox, City Clerk.] CITY CLERK AND SHE WILL BE SWEARING IN OUR NEW BOARD MEMBER AND THIS GIBBONS IS THE NEW BOARD MEMBER. KRISTINA GIBBONS. >> I'M GOING TO STAND ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE PODIUM AND HAVE MISSED GIBBONS STAND HERE. RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. REPEAT AFTER ME. I, KRISTINA GIBBONS. >> A CITIZEN OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. >> A CITIZEN OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. >> AND BEING EMPLOYED BY OR AN OFFICER OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. >> AND BEING EMPLOYED BY OR AN OFFICER OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE. >> AND A RECIPIENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS AS SUCH EMPLOYEE OR. >> AND A RECIPIENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS AS SUCH EMPLOYEE OR OFFICER. >> DO HEREBY SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM SOME I COULD DO HEREBY SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM. >> THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA. >> I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW APPOINTMENT. I WILL ASK YOU TO SIGN THE OATH AND I WILL SEAL IT AND GET IT BACK TO THE SECRETARY. >> MISSED GIBBONS, CONGRATULATIONS. IF YOU TURN, WE WILL COME AND GIVE YOU AN OFFICIAL WELCOME OF ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS. WE HAVE TWO THINGS TO TELL YOU, YOUR NAME AND WELCOME. WE JUST WANT TO GIVE A THUMBS UP AND AWAY, WE WE DON'T WANT TO VIOLATE ANY RULES. [APPLAUSE] >> WE ALL WELCOME YOU MISSED GIBBONS. BE KIND ENOUGH TO GIVE US ABOUT TWO MINUTES TO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT YOU AND THEN WE WILL CALL YOU OUR COLIC. >> I AM A BORN AND RAISED RESIDENTS OF FORCE FORT PIERCE. I WENT TO SCHOOL IN WEST VIRGINIA FOR FOUR YEARS AT SHEPHERD UNIVERSITY. [00:05:01] I CAME BACK AND WORKED FOR STAND CRIPPEN AND WORK MY WAY UP THE LADDER AND DECIDED I WANTED TO BE A PART OF FORT PIERCE AGAIN. ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AGO I BECAME A BUSINESS OWNER HERE AND A MOM AS WELL. I AM BACK INVESTED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND EXCITED TO BE HERE. I GOT TO DO THE TOUR ON FRIDAY. I STILL HAVE A LOT MORE TO LEARN BUT I AM THIRSTY FOR KNOWLEDGE. >> THANK YOU, MADAM SECRETARY WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLE. [A. SET THE AGENDA] DIRECTOR. >> ONE QUICK ITEM WE WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE I HAD THEM G NUMBER ONE AND WE WILL RESCHEDULE THE PRESENTATION IN THE FUTURE. >> I NEED A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE AGENDA EXCEPTION OF ITEM ON. >> MOVE APPROVAL WITH A CHANGE IN THE AGENDA. >> SECOND. >> CALL THE ROLE. [B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES] >> THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA WILL BE THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES IN THOSE MINUTES AS OF OCTOBER THE SIXTH. A MOTION TO APPROVE? >> MOVED TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE, CALL THE ROLE MADAM SECRETARY. [C. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC] OF THE PUBLIC WISHED TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME. THERE ARE TWO RULES, STAY WITHIN THE THREE MINUTES AND YOUR ADDRESS AND YOUR NAME AND YOUR DIFFERENCES TO THE BOARD. >> IF YOU WILL SIGN IN THERE, PLEASE. PRINT YOUR NAME THERE, PLEASE. >> YES, MA'AM. THEN STATED FOR THE RECORD. >> FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS MARIO WILCOX. CITY OF FORT PIERCE RESIDENT, COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS. MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS, EVERYONE ON THE BOARD, MY NAME IS MARIO VICTORIOUS WILCOX. I'M UPWARDS PIERCE CITY RESIDENT IN A CONCERNED CITIZEN. I WOULD LIKE TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY TO ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING CONCERN. WE HAD A PREVIOUS MEETING ABOUT THIS COVID PANDEMIC AND HOW IT AFFECTS A LOT OF THE MIDDLE, LOW, OR NO INCOME CITIZENS WITHIN OUR CITY. NOW WE ARE BACK AT THIS POINT AGAIN. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THERE IS MONEY AND FUNDS AVAILABLE WITHIN THE UTILITIES AUTHORITY AND FROM HAVING A FAIRLY TRAINED LOGISTICAL BACKGROUND, MY QUESTION IS, WHY ARE WE GIVEN MONEY TO MUSTARD SEED AS WELL AS -- TWO ENTITIES THAT RECEIVE MONEY WHEN EACH OF YOU HAD A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY OF FPU A. THAT IS MY FIRST QUESTION. SECOND, I HAVE A SUGGESTION. WITH ALL THE DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS, YOU HAVE THE FUNDING. IT IS MUCH EASIER TO HIRE YOUR ATTEMPTS OR CHANGE THE HOURS OF THE EMPLOYEES SO THAT SOME CAN ASSIST CUSTOMERS DURING THE DAY AND A COUPLE OF OTHERS COULD WORK ON DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS. USE THAT FUND TO PURGE THE ACCOUNTS. IF YOU GO TO DISCONNECT, A CITIZENS ACCOUNT, YOU DON'T KNOW THE HARM THAT YOU'RE REALLY CAUSING. YOU HAVE BABIES WITH DISABILITIES, YOU HAVE ELDERLY, YOU HAVE OTHER CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES, SOME DEPEND ON CPAP MACHINES COME IF YOU NOTICE CPAP MACHINE IS, THOSE REQUIRE ELECTRICITY. YOU WILL BE CAUSING GREAT HARM TO THEM. AND I SEE THAT ONE OF YOUR BOARD MEMBERS IS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, TOO. [00:10:05] IF YOU ARE REALLY TRULY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CITIZENS AS WHAT YOUR CAMPAIGN SIGN SAYS, YOU WOULD DO IT'S RIGHT. IF YOU DON'T DO IT'S RIGHT AND VOTE FOR WHAT'S RIGHT, THEN NOVEMBER THE THIRD WILL REFLECT. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME APPEAR. >> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC? SEEING NO INCOME THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. WE ARE ON ITEM D OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. I NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> THERE WAS ANOTHER PERSON OUT THERE -- I THINK THIS PERSON WAVED A LITTLE LATE HE WAS WANTING PUBLIC COMMENT. >> OKAY, DO YOU WISH TO SPEAK? OKAY, I DIDN'T SEE YOU. PERIOD SIGN, GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. >> JEANNIE MY ADDRESS? >> PLEASE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON TO THE BOARD. BASICALLY. >> STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. >> MY NAME IS GEORGE COLLEGE I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP FOR ST. LUCIA COUNTY. BASICALLY WHAT I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT IS THERE WILL BE HARDSHIP CREATED WITHIN ANY DISCONNECT. I DO NOT TAKE IT FOR GRANTED THAT YOU HAVE NOT DONE SOMETHING IN THE WAY OF TRYING TO EASE THESE PROBLEMS. BUT THE THING OF IT IS, THERE'S TOO MUCH MONEY LEFT OUT THERE. WE SPOKE ABOUT PREVIOUSLY ABOUT THE TWO ENTITIES YOU HAVE PASSING THE MONEY OUT AND IT WAS MENTIONED ON OTHER OCCASIONS THAT THERE HAD TO BE SOMETHING THAT WAS CAUSING THE SURPLUS OF FUNDS YOU HAVE LEFT HAVE WHAT I REALLY THINK NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WAS THOSE FUNDS THEN A WAY TO GET THEM THAT NEEDS THEM. THE PROBLEM THAT I SAW WAS THIS. THERE MAY BE TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS, WHATEVER THE PROBLEM IS WE HAD TIME TO ADDRESS IT IN THEIR FIRST ALLOCATION THAT WAS GIVEN, THE FIRST $100,000 THAT WAS GIVEN. ONE HAD DONE BETTER THAN THE OTHER BUT THE OTHER HAD NOT. WE NEED TO TRY TO FIND A WAY TO ADDRESS IT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE UP BIGGER PROBLEM ONCE YOU START THE DISCONNECTS. IF THERE IS SENT AWAY AT THIS TIME NOT TO MOVE FURTHER SO WE CAN WORK ON HOW TO GET THE FUNDS OUT THERE, THAT I BELIEVE WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS LOOK AT A PLAN WHEREAS ONCE YOU START DISCONNECTING, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE MAJORITY OR MAJORITY OF PEOPLE COMING IN WITH A PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE DISCONNECTS. WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT SOMETHING, SOMEHOW IF THOSE FUNDS ARE STILL AVAILABLE TO UTILIZE THEM FOR THE PURPOSE THEY WERE PUT IN THE FIRST PLACE. I DON'T GIVE A SUGGESTION, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS, LIKE I SUGGESTED TO THE MUSTARD SEED WHEN I SPOKE WITH THEM WAS THIS, IF YOU ARE HAVING A PROBLEM GETTING THE APPLICATION SOUND, THEN YOU NEED TO LOOK TO THE NONPROFITS AND OTHER ORGANIZATION THAT IS IN THE COUNTY AND TRY TO WORK WITH THEM TO SOMEHOW GET THE APPLICATIONS MORE AVAILABLE AND FILL IT OUT. IF WE CAN ASSUME THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS HOW TO FILL THEM OUT, WE CAN ASSUME THEY KNOW THE POSTING AND EVEN IF THEY DID KNOW AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL TO DO IT, IF THERE IS ANYWAY POSSIBLE WE NEED TO GET THE MONEY OUT THERE MAKE IT AVAILABLE SO WE DON'T HAVE CHILDREN IN THE DARK. WE DON'T HAVE ALL PEOPLE WITH MEDICAL PROBLEMS IN THE DARK WITH NO ELECTRICAL POWER. WE NEED TO WORK ON THAT. AS I SAID BEFORE, THE NAACP IS WILLING TO WORK WITH YOU AS MUCH AS WE CAN FOR THE RIGHTS OF THESE PEOPLE SO THAT THEY ARE MORE ABLE TO FUNCTION. BECAUSE ONE THING ABOUT IT, RETURNING CUSTOMERS ARE BETTER THAN THOSE CUSTOMERS IF THEY DO THEY CAN FOR THEM THEN YOU'LL [00:15:01] HAVE A A REPEAT CUSTOMER, THAT'S JUST GOOD BUSINESS. I APPRECIATE YOU LISTENING TO ME BUT IF YOU NEED ANY HELP LOOK TO THE COMMUNITY, YOU HAVE AN ORGANIZATION WILLING TO HELP FILL OUT THE APPLICATION IN HELPING PEOPLE FINDING OUT THE RIGHT THINGS THEY NEED. [D. CONSENT AGENDA] I THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME WE ARE GOING BACK TO ITEM D. >> WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR AND A SECOND. >> TO HAVE A SECOND? >> A SECOND. LET'S APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. CALL ROLE PLEASE. >> IT THERE IS NO OLD BUSINESS. >> THANK YOU, MR. ITEM OF THE FIRST ITEM THIS AFTERNOON IS [G.2. POA 18-17: Approve the 2021 Employee Benefit Plan, as described in the 2021 Employee Benefit Plan Overview and Recommendations prepared by Relation Insurance Services of Florida, Inc., of Stuart, Florida, and authorize the Director of Utilities to sign the agreements necessary to fulfill FPUA’s obligations under the Plan, including the following:] RECENT APPROVING BOARD APPROVAL OF THE 2021 BOARD APPROVAL PLAN, LOIS AND KATHLEEN OF THE INSURANCE WILL BE MAKING THE PRESENTATION AND KATHLEEN WILL BE DOING IT VIRTUALLY. >> THANK YOU. >> MR. CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I AM HERE THIS EVENING TO PROVIDE TO YOU OUR 2021 BENEFIT PLAN OVERVIEW AS PREPARED BY RELATION INSURANCE SERVICES. KATHLEEN IS OUR EXECUTIVE CONSULTANT AND VP OF COMPLIANCE GENERALLY CAN KATHLEEN WOULD BE HERE BECAUSE OF THE PROTOCOLS PUT IN PLACE SHE COULD NOT BE HERE IN PERSON. SHE IS HERE ONLINE WITH US TODAY. SHE IS GOING TO GO OVER THE BENEFIT PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH CONSIST OF GENERALLY OUR APPROVAL OF ADMINISTRATIVE FEES, OUR STOPLOSS INSURANCE COVERAGE AS WELL AS FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM WHICH WILL RESULT IN SOME SMALL INCREASES IN PREMIUMS AS WELL AS APPROVAL OF OUR MEDICARE INSURANCE AGREEMENT FOR OUR RETIREES, RENEWAL OF OUR EAP EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND CHANGE ON OUR LONG-TERM DISABILITY COVERAGE. SO, I AM GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO KATHLEEN TO GO OVER THE RECOMMENDATIONS BY RELATION INSURANCE. >> THANK YOU, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE, THIS IS KATHLEEN WITH RELATION INSURANCE. I APPRECIATE YOU ALLOWING ME TO JOIN BY PHONE TODAY. IN YOUR BOARD PACKETS EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE THEIR 2021 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OVERVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION. I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE A SUMMARY OF EACH SECTION AND AT THE VERY END GO THROUGH THE ACTUAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD. SO, STARTING WITH THE FIRST SECTION WITH THE MEDICAL ADMINISTRATION, 2021 WILL BE THE LAST YEAR OF OUR FOUR YEAR FEE ARRANGEMENT WITH FLORIDA BLUE. THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE WILL REMAIN 65.05 A PER PER MONTH FOR MEDICAL AND -- FOR TELEMEDICINE WHICH WAS ADDED TO THE PROGRAM EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1 OF THIS YEAR. I WANT THIS CONTRIBUTION OF $15,000 WILL BE PROVIDED AS PART OF THE AGREEMENT FOR 2021. AS IT RELATES TO A STOP LOSS INCURRED INSURANCE COVERAGE WE SOLICITED PROPOSALS FROM SEVEN INSURANCE CARRIERS INCLUDING YOUR INCOMPETENT. ALL THINGS CONSIDERED THE MOST FAVORABLE OFFER IS FROM HM FLORIDA BLUE, THE RENEWAL. THE PRELIMINARY OFFER IS SUBJECT TO A REVIEW OF SEPTEMBER CLAIMS EXPERIENCE WHICH IS EXPECTED VERY SOON. CURRENTLY, THE OVERALL INCREASE IN EXPECTED COST IS 1.9%. THAT INCREASES INCLUSIVE OF YOUR STOPLOSS PREMIUM, YOUR EXPECTED CLAIMS FOR NEXT YEAR, AS WELL AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEES THROUGH FLORIDA BLUE. THIS IS AN EXCELLENT RENEWAL GIVEN MEDICAL TREND WHICH RIGHT NOW IN THE FLORIDA BLUE BOOK OF BUSINESS, MEDICAL TREND IS ABOUT 10% FOR NEXT YEAR. YOUR RENEWAL IS AT 1.9%. IN THE NEXT SECTION GOING THROUGH THE MEDICAL COST AND SPECIFICALLY THE FUNDING WHICH IS ON PAGE THREE, BASED ON THE CURRENT ENROLLMENT THE ANNUAL FUNDING OF THE PLAN IS $5,000,793. THAT IS ABOUT 5.3% BELOW THE EXPECTED COSTS FOR NEXT YEAR WHICH IS $6.1 MILLION. SO STAFF IS RECOMMENDING WE [00:20:02] CONTINUE THE INITIATIVE THAT WAS STARTED LAST YEAR TO MOVE TOWARDS FUNDING AT THE EXPECTED PLAN LEVEL. WE HAD SET OVER THE NEXT 1 - 3 YEARS AND SO NOW 1 - 2 YEARS THE IDEA WOULD BE TO FUND AT THE EXPECTED FUND COSTS. TO DO THIS WE ARE RECOMMENDING AN INCREASE OF THE 1.9% PLUS AN ADDITIONAL 2.1%, MAKING THE OVERALL FUNDING INCREASE FOR THE PLAN 4% FOR 2021. AS ALWAYS, BECAUSE YOU ARE SELF-INSURED AND YOUR CLAIMS AND EXPENSES ARE GOING TO FLUCTUATE FROM MONTH TO MONTH, WE CAUTION THAT THIS STILL MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT FUNDING BASED ON THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF CLAIMS AND COSTS IN THE FUTURE AND STAFF IN RELATION WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE TRENDS AND CONSIDER ADDITIONAL CHANGES IF AND WHEN WARRANTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS, AS I MENTIONED THE OVERALL INCREASE IF APPROVED WOULD BE 4% OF THE FUNDING RATE. IT'S RECOMMEND THE INCREASE BE SHARED BETWEEN THE EMPLOYEES AND THE UTILITY AUTHORITY AT THE SAME PERCENTAGE SPLIT AS IS CURRENTLY IN PLACE. THE INCREASE TO THE EMPLOYEES PER PAY IS OUTLINED IN THE FAR RIGHT COLUMN OF THE BOTTOM OF PAGE THREE. IF APPROVED, THE 4% IN CONTINUING THE CURRENT CONTRIBUTION SPLIT FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES ENROLLED, THE INCREASE WILL BE 67 CENTS PER PAY PERIOD EMPLOYEE PLUS SPOUSE AN INCREASE OF 564 PER PAY, EMPLOYEE PLUS CHILDREN, 554, AN EMPLOYEE PLUS FAMILY $9.44 PER PAY PERIOD AS IT RELATES TO YOUR OTHER COVERAGE STARTING WITH DENTAL, FLORIDA COMBINED LIFE CONTINUES TO BE OUR DENTAL CLAIMS ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE SELF-INSURED DENTAL PLAN IN THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE FEE IS GUARANTEED THROUGH DECEMBER 2021. WE ARE NOT RECOMMENDING A CHANGE TO THE DENTAL FUNDING RATE OR CONTRIBUTIONS THIS YEAR. THE RATES THAT WERE ESTABLISHED BACK ON JANUARY 1, 2018 ARE ANTICIPATED TO CONTINUE TO COVER THE DENTAL EXPENSES AND CLAIMS IN THE COMING YEAR. SEAN THERE IS THE CURRENT COST TOWARDS DENTAL COVERAGE FOR EMPLOYEE ONLY AN EMPLOYEE PLUS ONE, AND FAMILY. NO CHANGES RECOMMENDED. THE NEXT IS THE EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THROUGH AETNA RESOURCES FOR LIVING. OUR THREE YEAR RATE GUARANTEE WILL EXPIRE AT THE END OF THIS YEAR. DUE TO OUR UTILIZATION RATE WHICH IS FANTASTIC AT 15.6%, AND AVERAGE VISITS PER EPISODE OF 5.2 VISITS PER CASE AETNA WILL BE INCREASING OUR RATE THIS YEAR, IT IS GOING TO $2.25 PER EMPLOYEE PER MONTH AND IT WILL BE GUARANTEED FOR THREE YEARS THROUGH DECEMBER 2023. FOR THE FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS BOTH HEALTH AND DEPENDENT CARE FSA THERE IS NO CHANGE TO EITHER PROGRAM, SERVICES ARE ADMINISTERED THROUGH MED, AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEES ARE GUARANTEED THROUGH DECEMBER 2022. FOR THE LIFE INSURANCE ON LONG-TERM DISABILITY, LAST YEAR ALL POLICIES WERE TRANSITIONED FROM FLORIDA COMBINED LIFE TO THEIR SISTER COMPANY USA BALL, THAT TOOK EFFECT ON JANUARY 1. AND BECAUSE OF THIS CHANGE TO USA BILL AGREED TO EXTEND THE CURRENT PREMIUM RATES FOR ALL OF THE COVERAGES IN THE ADDITIONAL YEAR. WE ARE UNDER A RATE GUARANTEE FOR SUPPLEMENTAL LIFE, AND LONG-TERM DISABILITY. THE CURRENT LONG-TERM DISABILITY POLICY WHICH IS ANOTHER WAY OF THINKING ABOUT PAYCHECK PROTECTION FOR THE EMPLOYEES, IF THEY ARE DISABLED THE BENEFIT IS 50% OF SALARIES TO A MAXIMUM OF $2000 PER MONTH. THAT COVERAGE IS PAID FOR BY FPU A. UNDER THE CURRENT PROGRAM EMPLOYEES ARE ABLE TO BUY UP TO A 60% BENEFIT WITH THE MONTHLY MAXIMUM OF 3500. WE CURRENTLY HAVE 55 EMPLOYEES ENROLLED IN THE BUY UP WHICH MEANS THAT MOST EMPLOYEES ARE LIMITED TO THE CORE BENEFIT OF 50% TO A MAXIMUM OF 2000. FROM A SALARY PERSPECTIVE THAT ONLY PROVIDES A FULL BENEFIT FOR THE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE IN UP TO $48000 FOR THE YEAR. ANYONE EARNING ABOUT $48000 IS STILL CAPPED AT THAT SAME $2000 MAXIMUM PER MONTH. [00:25:01] THIS BENEFIT HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND HAS NOT BEEN CHANGED. WE WORK WITH U.S. ABLE TO LOOK AT POSSIBLY INCREASING THE BENEFIT TO PROVIDE MORE SALARY PROTECTION FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES AND U.S. ABLE HAS AGREED TO INCREASE THE LONG-TERM DISABILITY EMPLOYER PAID BENEFIT TO 60%, CURRENTLY IS 50% AND INCREASE THE MAXIMUM TO $4500 PER MONTH AND THAT BY DOING THAT WOULD PROVIDE A FULL BENEFIT FOR ALL EMPLOYEES EARNING UP TO $90000. THE PREMIUM PER $100 A BENEFIT BY DOING THIS WILL ACTUALLY DECREASE TO 37 CENTS PER $100 A BENEFIT, CURRENTLY IT IS 39 CENTS. THE OVERALL ESTIMATED ANNUAL INCREASE BY MAKING THIS CHANGE IS $8937 BASED ON CURRENT PAYROLL. THAT IS BECAUSE THE RATE IS GOING DOWN BUT THE AMOUNT OF COVERAGE IS INCREASING. THE PREMIUM HAS INCREASED BY $89.37. THEN RELATION AND STAFF ARE RECOMMENDED THIS BENEFIT BE UPDATED TO MAKE SURE ALL EMPLOYEES ARE RECEIVING FULL PAYCHECK PROTECTION UP TO $90000 IN ANNUAL EARNINGS WITH A 60% BENEFIT. THAT IS IF THEY BECOME DISABLED AND ARE UNABLE TO WORK. PROVISION COVERAGE, THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO THE EXISTING EYE MED VISION PROGRAM. WE ARE UNDER A PREMIUM RATE GUARANTEE THROUGH DECEMBER OF 2023. SEVERAL VOLUNTARY WORKSITE POLLEN TEAR ARE OFFERED. CHANGES TO THESE COVERAGES BOTH THE BENEFITS OF THE RATES ARE VERY RARE AND ONLY TAKE PLACE WHEN THE CARRIER ACTUALLY CHANGES THEIR FILING WITH THE FLORIDA OFFICE OF INSURANCE COMMISSION. THERE ARE NO CHANGES ANTICIPATED TO THESE BENEFITS FOR 2021. THE LAST ITEM IS THAT BLUE MEDICARE. BLUE MEDICARE IS A MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM AVAILABLE FOR YOUR RETIREES THAT ARE 65 AND OLDER. IT IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE MEDICARE PART C. IT PROVIDES OR ALL THREE PART AND, PART B, AND PART D PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS. SEVERAL CHANGES WILL OCCUR TO THESE PROGRAMS EFFECTIVE JANUARY ARE ALL AT THE DIRECTION OF CMS. OVERALL THE GOOD NEWS IS THE PLAN CHANGES ARE POSITIVE AND MOST CHANGES WILL GET A BETTER BENEFIT BUT THERE SOMEWHERE THE RETIREE WILL HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL COST SHARE. IN ADDITION TO THE PLAN CHANGES, THE PLAN NAMES ARE ALSO CHANGING. BUT THE GOOD NEWS HERE IS THE PREMIUMS ARE DECREASING FOR ALL PLANS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE RX ONLY PLAN. JUST TO GO OVER WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR THE RETIREES, THE ELITE PPL WHICH WAS THE PLAN FORMALLY KNOWN AS PPO WAND, RX WANT THE CURRENT PREMIUM IS $292.45 AND IT IS DECREASING TO $283.25. THE ADVANCED PLATINUM PPO IS THE FORMER PP OH TWO RX TWO AND THE LAND PREMIUM IS REDUCING TO $220.19. ADVANCE PPO WHICH IS THE FORMER PP OH TWO RX THREE IS REDUCING TO $185.20 A MONTH AND THE RX ONLY, THIS IS IF THE RETIREE ONLY WANTS THE PARTY COVERAGE, THE PREMIUM IS INCREASING FROM $141.97 TO $155.4. THESE PREMIUMS ARE 100% PAID FOR BY THE RETIREE. THEY ARE PER PERSON. SO IF THE RETIREE IS COVERING THEMSELVES AND THEIR SPOUSE YOU WOULD MULTIPLDY THOSE NUMBERS BY TWO INDIVIDUALS. THE LAST THING I WANTED TO DO IS THE SUMMARY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, I APOLOGIZE IF THEY ARE NOT IN THE SAME ORDER AS THE AGENDA BUT FIRST, WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR APPROVAL TO RENEW THE STOCKPOT COVERAGE ON -- WITH DEDUCTIBLE LEVELS, THAT LIMITS THE LIABILITY FOR F POA ON AN INDIVIDUAL CLAIMANT. ON ANYTHING OVER $1125 WOULD BE REIMBURSED BY HM. SECONDLY, WE ARE RECOMMENDING AN INCREASE TO THE MEDICAL FUNDING RATES OF 4% AND KEEPING THE CURRENT PERCENTAGE SPLIT BETWEEN WHAT THE EMPLOYEES PAY AND WHAT F PUA CONTRIBUTES WE ARE ASKING FOR APPROVAL TO MAINTAIN THE [00:30:06] CURRENT DENTAL PREMIUMS AND CONTRIBUTIONS WITH NO CHANGES FOR 2021. MODIFYING THEIR CURRENT LONG-TERM DISABILITY BENEFIT TO PROVIDE A 60% BENEFIT TO THE MAXIMUM OF MAXIMUM $4500 PER MONTH AND ELIMINATE THE BUY UP COVERAGE. LASTLY, EXCEPT THE THREE YEAR AGREEMENT TO RENEW THE EAP SERVICES THROUGH RESOURCES. WITH THAT, I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. >> I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. UNDERFUNDING ON PAGE THREE, THE FUNDING EMPLOYEE ONLY, IS THAT A MONTHLY AMOUNT? IS THAT A MONTHLY AMOUNT? >> YES, MA'AM. THAT IS CORRECT. >> BELOW THAT YOU GO PER PAY PERIOD IS THAT PER PAY PERIOD? SEMI- CORRECT. THE FUNDING WHICH IS THE OVERALL COST OF THE PLAN REPRESENTED AS A MONTHLY NUMBER AND THE EMPLOYEE PORTION IS REPRESENTED PER PAY SO THEY SEE WHAT IS COMING OUT OF THEIR CHECK. AND ON THE DISABILITY IS THERE A TIME LIMIT ON THE DISABILITY PAYMENTS? >> YES. IT IS UP TO SOCIAL SECURITY NORMAL RETIREMENT AGE. IF SOMEONE IS CLOSE TO SOCIAL SECURITY NORMAL RETIREMENT DATE REDUCING BENEFIT SCHEDULE SO THEY GET AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT OF TIME BE ON SOCIAL SECURITY TO RECEIVE BENEFITS. >> REFRESH MY MEMORY, RETIREES AND THE PROGRAM PAY THEIR OWN WAY, IS THAT RIGHT? >> YES. >> THEY PAY FOR THEIR MEDICAL CARE. >> YES, IF THE RETIREES CHOOSE TO STAY IN YOUR ACTIVE COMMERCIAL PLAN OR THE BLUE MEDICARE PLAN THEY ARE COVERING THE FULL COST. >> OKAY, THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN. >> I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS. FIRST OF ALL, WHAT IS THE INCREASE FROM THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS FROM LAST YEAR? >> THE INCREASE IN EXPECTED, EXPECTED COST AS SHOWN ON THE BOTTOM OF PAGE TWO. CURRENTLY THE EXPECTED COSTS ARE $5,000,907 TO IN THE 1.9% INCREASE IN DOLLARS IS 113,163 AND THAT IS IN EXPECTED COST AMOUNT. WITH CLAIMS THAT WILL VARY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. BUT THAT IS EXPECTED COSTS BASED ON ENROLLMENT ENROLLMENT AT THE RENEWAL. >> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT 4%, ARE WE TALKING ADDING THE INCREASE OF THAT TO -- >> ARE WE DOING 1.9? >> 1.9% IS THE TRUE INCREASE IN THE RENEWAL. BUT THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO INCREASE TO 4% BECAUSE THE CURRENT FUNDING INTO THE PLAN IS NOT $5,000,987. IT IS 500,000,093. WE ARE JUST ADDING A LITTLE BIT TO THE ACTUAL INCREASE TO HELP GET CLOSER TO FUNDING AT THE EXPECTED PLAN COST LEVEL. >> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE RETIREES AND I KNOW THE MAYOR BROUGHT IT UP, HOW MANY AND NUMBERS TO REHAB IN THAT CATEGORY? THAT IS PAIN INSURANCE? >> I CAN GET THAT FOR YOU COME I DON'T HAVE THAT READILY AT MY FINGERTIPS, BUT I CAN CERTAINLY HAVE THAT AS A TAKE AWAY TO LET YOU KNOW HOW MANY RETIREES ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE SELF-INSURED PLAN AND THE BLUE MEDICARE PLAN. >> I CAN ADD THAT THERE ARE MUCH FEWER THAT ARE STILL ENROLLED IN OUR SELF-INSURED PLAN, THOSE THAT HAVE NOT YET REACHED MEDICARE ELIGIBILITY BUT RETIRE BEFORE THAT REALLY HAVE NO OTHER OPTION OTHER THAN GETTING INSURANCE ON THEIR OWN, THEY HAVE TO STAY ON OUR PLANNED BUT THEY PAY THE FULL PREMIUM. THE MAJORITY OF THE OTHERS THAT ARE MEDICARE ELIGIBLE GO ON THE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN WHICH IS PAID DIRECTLY ALSO BUY THEM. >> MY OTHER CONCERN, WE PENALIZED BY AGE PENALTIES LIKE THOSE YOU TALK ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY COME AS WE HAVE ANY EMPLOYEES WHO ARE IN THE CATEGORY OF AGE BUT THEY ARE BEING PENALIZED BECAUSE THEY ARE IN THE AGE RATHER THAN THEY STILL HAVE GOOD ABILITIES, BUT [00:35:02] STILL THEY HAVE AN AGE TIME IS THAT ANY DIFFERENCE? >> ARE YOU REFERRING TO ACTIVE EMPLOYEES? >> YES. >> ACTIVE EMPLOYEES, THE ONLY COVERAGE THAT F POA HAS WHERE AGE IS A FACTOR IS LIFE INSURANCE. SO WHEN SOMEONE GOES TO GET SUPPLEMENTAL LIFE INSURANCE COVERAGE, WHEN THEY ARE BRAND-NEW HIGHER FOR THE FIRST TIME THEY CAN HAVE COVERAGE ON A GUARANTEED ISSUE BASIS AND EACH YEAR AT OPEN ENROLLMENT THEY ARE ALLOWED TO APPLY FOR INCREASES TO THAT COVERAGE. EVERY FIVE YEARS THE RATES ARE GOING TO CHANGE BASED ON THE AGE. THE SAME HOLDS TRUE WITH THE VOLUNTARY COVERAGE THROUGH TRUSTMARK WHICH IS PERMANENT UNIVERSAL LIFE. IT IS BASED ON THE AGE AT THE TIME OF ENROLLMENT. >> THAT BRINGS ME TO THE QUESTION OF THOSE THAT WE SOMETIMES DON'T PROTECT, THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE ON PROBATION STATUS, WHAT IS OUR PROBATIONARY STATUS? >> SIX MONTHS IS THE PROBATIONARY PERIOD BUT THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR OUR BENEFITS OF THE FIRST OF THE MONTH AFTER 30 DAYS. >> OKAY. ALL RIGHT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION. >> MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT THIS IS A VERY, VERY GENEROUS MEDICAL CARE PLAN FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AND I THINK IT IS A GREAT BENEFIT AND WE ALL KNOW HOW VALUABLE MEDICAL CARE IS AND I SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT AS PART OF COMPARING US TO OTHER UTILITIES OR TO OTHER EMPLOYEES OR EMPLOYERS, THIS IS A VERY ADEQUATE, MORE THAN ADEQUATE, EXTREMELY GOOD PLAN AND SHOULD BE FACTORED INTO ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR FPUA. I'M SURE WE THAT'S WHY WE GET ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO WORK. >> ABSOLUTELY. OUR MEDICAL BENEFIT PARTICULARLY AS WELL AS THE HOME GENERAL BENEFIT PACKAGE IS A TREMENDOUS RECRUITMENT TOOL FOR US. >> EXACTLY. ARE YOU LOOKING FOR RECOMMENDATION. >> A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> A MOVIE. >> SECOND. >> IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY THE MAYOR AND SECOND. ARE WE APPROVING THE FIRST THREE? OR ALL OF IT. >> WE ARE SEEKING THE APPROVAL OF ALL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS, THE OVERALL BENEFIT PLAN AS WELL AS FOR THE DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES TO SIGN THE AGREEMENTS, THE OBLIGATED AGREEMENTS TO THESE PROGRAMS. >> SECRETARY, CALLED THE ROLE PLEASE. >> ROLL CALL. [G.3. COVID-19 Report Update – For Information Only.] >> THE NEXT ITEM IS OUR COVID-19 REPORT UPDATE. TODAY MOST OF THAT DISCUSSION IS GOING TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SERVICE DISCONNECTIONS. OBVIOUSLY THE MAYOR WILL MAKE A PRESENTATION. >> IT THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. AS MR. -- MENTIONED I'M HERE TO PROVIDE A COVID-19 UPDATE FOR THE BOARD FOR OCTOBER 20, 2020. WE WILL MOST LEWDLY MOSTLY BE TALKING ABOUT SERVICE DISCONNECTS FOR ELECTRIC. I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE TIMELINE SO WE CAN PROVIDE A BOARD, THE BOARD TO A TIMELINE OF HOW WE TRY TO HELP OUR CUSTOMERS AS BEST WE COULD TO NAVIGATE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. SO, ON MARCH 18F POA SUSPENDED DISCONNECTS AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD. AT THAT TIME WE BEGAN TO WAVE LATE IN PENALTY FEES. UP UNTIL OCTOBER 5 WE HAD WAIVED THOSE FEES AND THAT WE DID NOT DISCONNECT ANY CUSTOMERS. THE TOTAL FOR LATE IN PENALTY FEES WERE $459,000, OVER $459,000. WE CONTINUED APRIL 22 THE POWER COST ADJUSTMENT THERE WAS A 2-DOLLAR POWER COST ADJUSTMENT FOR 1000-KILOWATT HOURS, ON MAY 6, F POA ANNOUNCED 0% INTEREST FOR RESIDENTIAL AND -- CUSTOMERS. WE WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT. AS WE TALK ABOUT THE AUTOMATIC PAYMENT PLAN. ON MAY 18F POA ANNOUNCED THE COVID-19 SPONSORSHIP OF $100,000. THERE IS SOME DISCUSSION LAST [00:40:03] NIGHT ABOUT THE $200,000. THAT IS TRUE WE HAVE $200,000 BUT THE INITIAL ALLOCATION FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WAS $100,000. THAT PROVIDES A CUSTOMER A ONE-TIME ASSISTANCE OF UP TO $400. WE DO WORK WITH LPN AND MUSTARD SEED TO HAVE THOSE VOUCHERS AND THAT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT DOES PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VETS TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE WHO NEEDED THE MOST ARE GETTING IT FIRST AND THEY ARE GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS. THAT IS AN IMPORTANT PROCESS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. WE ORIGINALLY ISSUED $50000 TO MUSTARD SEED AND -- THEY EACH RECEIVE $50000 OF THE INITIAL $100,000. WE DID ISSUE AN ADDITIONAL $100,000 AND WE WILL GO INTO THAT WITH MORE DETAIL. TODAY, I GOT THESE NUMBERS EARLIER TODAY COME A LITTLE BIT OF AN INCREASE FROM THE PRESENTATION DONE LAST NIGHT TO THE CITY COMMISSION, WE HAVE 185 VOUCHERS THAT HAVE BEEN PAID FROM MUSTARD SEED FOR A TOTAL OF JUST OVER $61000.7 PENDING VOUCHERS FOR JUST OVER $2500 FOR A TOTAL OF 63,000 DOLLARS, OVER 63,000 DOLLARS FOR MUSTARD SEED. WITH -- WE HAVE 84 VOUCHERS THAT HAVE BEEN PAID FOR JUST OVER $25000 AND THERE ARE 15 VOUCHERS PENDING FOR JUST OVER $4100 FOR A TOTAL OF 40 -- $29100. ANYONE WHO HAS A PENDING VOUCHER OR APPLICATION OR THROUGH THE CARES ACT WE WILL WORK WITH THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT IF THEY ARE ON THE CUTLASS THAT WE TAKE THEM OFF THE CUT LIST SO THEY HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET THE FUNDING FOR THE ORGANIZATIONS. I WILL MENTION THAT LATER BUT WE ARE WORKING WITH THEM TO TAKE THEM OFF THE LIST IF THEY ARE ON THE CUT LIST. ON JUNE 16 WE ALLOCATED AN ADDITIONAL $100,000 AND WE GOT THAT FUNDING FROM THE WHEAT UP A PROGRAM INPUTTED INTO THE COVID-19 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. JULY 10 LOTS OF ACTIVITY WITH A CARRY SACK TO SPECIFICALLY THE SOCIAL SERVICES PORTION OF THE CARES ACT. TO DATE THE NUMBERS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, IT'S UP TO 312 BUT I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DOLLAR VALUE. AS OF OCTOBER 6 WE HAVE 274 APPLICANTS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR OVER $604,000 OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE CARES ACT. THAT FUNDING DIRECTLY GOES TO THE APPLICANTS AGAIN WE WILL GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO MAKE SURE WE WORK WITH THEM SO THAT AS THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE FUNDING I TALKED TO THE CARES ACT TO GROUP YESTERDAY AND THEY WILL BE ISSUING THOSE 274 APPLICANTS PAYMENTS ON FRIDAY. WE ARE GOING TO GIVE THEM ABOUT TEN WORKING DAYS TO MAKE SURE THEY GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF GETTING IT TO THEIR ACCOUNTS AND GETTING THE OPPORTUNITY TO THE PAYMENT WITH US. >> ON AUGUST 4 WE ANNOUNCE THE AUTOMATIC PAYMENT PLAN WHICH I WILL GET TO NEXT. >> THE AUTOMATIC PAYMENT PLAN AS MENTIONED WE DID ANNOUNCE THE AUTOMATIC PAYMENT PLAN ON MAY 6 THAN THAT DOES FOLLOW OUR RESOLUTION AND THAT GIVES THE CUSTOMER AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ANY PAST DUE BALANCE. ONCE IN A SIX-MONTH PERIOD. ON MAY 6, WE ANNOUNCE THAT UP UNTIL AUGUST 4 WE HAD LIMITED, WE HAD SOME SUCCESS BUT IT WAS LIMITED. WE HAD 746 CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP FOR AN AUTOMATIC PAYMENT PLAN. OBVIOUSLY WE WANTED THE PAYMENT PLAN TO BE MUCH MORE SUCCESSFUL. ON AUGUST 4 WE ANNOUNCE THE AUTOMATIC CLAIMANT PLAN. THAT MEANS ANY CUSTOMER WHO HAD A PAST DUE BALANCE OR A PREVIOUS PAYMENT PLAN EVERY PLAY BROUGHT UP TO THAT DATE WOULD GET A PAYMENT PLAN AND AUTOMATIC PAYMENT PLAN OR A NEW PAYMENT PLAN SO EVERY CUSTOMER STARTED WITH A BRAND-NEW BILL. THE CURRENT BILL WOULD BE THERE AND THAT'S THE ONLY BILL THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY. SO, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 2787 ACCOUNTS FOR $1.65 MILLION. LAST NIGHT THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT DISCONNECTING 2700 COUNTS THAT'S NOT THE CASE. THAT'S JUST THE NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS THAT ARE ON AN AUTOMATIC PAYMENT PLAN. WE ARE NOT DISCONNECTING 2700 CUSTOMERS THAT IS IMPORTANT. THAT IS JUST THE NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS THAT ARE ON AN AUTOMATIC PAYMENT PLAN. WE DID HAVE SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH DOCUMENTATION AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT IN JUST A SECOND. TO CONTINUE WITH THE AUTOMATIC PAYMENT PLAN WE DID SEND OUR [00:45:07] FIRST OUT ON AUGUST 18 AND THAT'S WHY HERE WE ARE ON OCTOBER 21 WHICH WE WILL TALK ABOUT. WHAT THAT MEANS IS THE PAYMENT LETTERS WENT OUT ON AUGUST 19 AND THAT WAS THE DATE WITH THE AUGUST 18 BEING THE DUE DATE OF THE PAYMENT. THAT GIVES THE CUSTOMER 30 DAYS SEPTEMBER 19 AND 60 DAYS , OVER 1. EFFECTIVELY THAT WOULD BE THE ELIGIBILITY FOR DISCONNECTION FOR THE RESOLUTION IF THERE IS NO PAYMENT ON YOUR ACCOUNT. SO, ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16 WE DID START THE AUTOMATIC CALLS AS WE HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE, THE CUSTOMER DOES GET A CALL TWO DAYS PRIOR TO A SCHEDULED DISCONNECT. WE ACTUALLY STARTED THAT A LITTLE EARLY LAST WEEK JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA TIME THERE TO WORK WITH OUR CUSTOMERS AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE'LL BE CONNECTING ANYWHERE FROM 240 TO 300 CUSTOMERS PER WEEK BECAUSE THAT IS PHYSICALLY WHAT WE CAN DO BUT ALSO WE THINK THAT NUMBER WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS BECAUSE AS OF ABOUT 230 THIS AFTERNOON WE HAD 450 CUSTOMERS THAT WERE SCHEDULED OR WERE SCHEDULED FOR DISCONNECT ON FRIDAY AND THAT NUMBER HAS COME DOWN TO 294. WE HOPE THAT NEVER CONTINUES TO COME DOWN AND WE EXPECT IT TO COME DOWN BEFORE FRIDAY. I WOULD LIKE TO SUMMARIZE THE COVID-19 RELIEF. I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT AS WE HAVE HEARD QUITE A BIT ABOUT IT AND HOW DO WE GET TO IT. AGAIN, MAY 18 WE MADE $100,000 AVAILABLE, ON JUNE 16 WE MADE AN ADDITIONAL $100,000 AVAILABLE. TODAY WE'VE ISSUED VOUCHERS FOR $93000 OF THE $200,000. WE DID NOT DEVELOP A PROCESS TO TAKE APPLICATIONS INTERNALLY BECAUSE IT IS INVOLVED. WE DID DEDICATE AN EMPLOYEE TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH MUSTARD SEED AND LP TO HELP EXPEDITE THEIR PROCESS AND WE HAVE WORKED WELL WITH THEM. THAT PROCESS IS WORKING WELL PART OF THE VERIFICATION PROCESS ARE PART OF THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT IS FOR THE APPLICANT TO VERIFY THAT THEY ARE AN FPU A CUSTOMER AND THAT THEY HAVE SOME TYPE OF LETTER OR JUSTIFICATION THAT CAN GIVE THEM THAT THEY CAN GIVE TO MUSTER CEDAR -- TO SEE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN FINANCIALLY IMPACTED BY COVID. EITHER A LETTER FROM THEIR EMPLOYER OR A PAY STUB. WE HAD HIS DISCUSSION WITH MUSTARD SEED TODAY. MUSTARD SEED REALLY DOES CALL THE APPLICANT, THEY WILL CALL THE EMPLOYER, THEY WILL DO WHATEVER THEY CAN TO REACH OUT TO VERIFY THAT INFORMATION WITH THE APPLICANTS EMPLOYER. THEY REALLY DO FOLLOW UP WITH THE APPLICANT. IF YOU CALL TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT IT TAKES ABOUT A WEEK FOR THEM TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU. AGAIN, ANYONE WHO HAS MADE IT, WHO HAS SCHEDULED FOR AN APPOINTMENT WE ARE GOING TO WORK WITH THEM SO WE CAN GIVE THEM THAT TIME. AFTER THEY HAVE MET WITH THOSE ORGANIZATION IT TAKES ABOUT A DAY OR TWO TO ISSUE A VOUCHER. AND THAT BOUCHER COMES TO US AND THAT PAYMENT IS ISSUED TO THE ACCOUNT. SO, WE DID TALK ABOUT WORKING WITH ANYBODY WHO HAS A PENDING APPLICATION FOR THE CARES ACT FOR EITHER SOCIAL SERVICES OR ECONOMIC RECOVERIES. THE SOCIAL SERVICES PORTION IS FOR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS IN THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY IS THROUGH BUSINESSES. ANYBODY ON THAT LIST WHO IS WAITING FOR PAYMENT WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THEM OFF THE DISCONNECT LIST AND WORK WITH THEM TO GIVE THEM TIME TO GET THE FUNDING FROM THE CARES ACT. >> TO RECAP, THIS IS SOME OF THE INFORMATION PRESENTED LAST NIGHT. WE ARE AS BEST WE ARE WHAT I BELIEVED TO BE ONE OF THE LAST UTILITIES TO ISSUE DISCONNECTS FOR NONPAYMENT IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. OTHER UTILITIES DO OFFER PAYMENT PLANS BUT AS FAR AS WE KNOW WE ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO OFFERED IT AND AUTOMATIC PAYMENT PLAN WHICH WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO WORK WITH CUSTOMERS TO PREVENT DISCONNECTS. OUR COLLECTIONS ARE RUNNING $3.8 MILLION BEHIND FROM THE SAME PERIOD AS LAST YEAR WHICH IS ABOUT 4% LESS THAN LAST YEAR. I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT TO MENTION BECAUSE WE HAVE GOT SOME FEEDBACK. THERE ARE SCAMMERS ALWAYS [00:50:02] WATCHING EVERYTHING THAT WE DO. WE JUST ISSUED A PRESS RELEASE BUT THERE THERE ARE SCAMMERS TELLING OUR CUSTOMERS TO MAKE A PAYMENT WITHIN 30 MINUTES OR THEY WILL BE DISCONNECTED. WE DO NOT DO THAT. WE DON'T ASK FOR A DATE GIFT CARD SO PLEASE BE CAREFUL, SCANS ARE HAPPENING BECAUSE THEY DO KNOW OUR DATE NOW AND IF THERE IS ANY DOUBT PLEASE HANG UP AND CALL POA AT 466 1,600 TO TALK TO A REPRESENTATIVE TO DISCUSS YOUR ACCOUNT. ONE THING I DID NOT MENTION EARLIER IS WE HAD A DISCUSSION WITH MUSTARD SEED AND WE LOOKED AT USING A FORM THAT THE APPLICANT CAN ATTEST THAT THEY HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY COVID SO THE VERIFICATION PROCESS CAN BE STREAMLINED. WE HOPE TO HAVE THAT FORM FINALIZED BY TOMORROW AND WE WILL WORK WITH MUSTARD SEED AND -- SO EFFECTIVELY IT IS THAT BASIC INFORMATION FROM THE APPLICANTS. THEY HAVE TO VERIFY THEY ARE AND AT POA CUSTOMER AND SIGN THE FORM AND GET SOME ASSISTANCE FROM THE COVID-19 ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. >> APPARENTLY THIS IS THE SAME FORM THE COUNTY HAS BEEN USING. >> YES. THANK YOU. THAT'S RIGHT. >> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. >> ANY BOARD MEMBER? >> I HAVE QUESTIONS. SO, TOMORROW IS THE FIRST SCHEDULED AND YOU ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THESE INDIVIDUALS AND BE ABLE TO MATCH THEM UP TO SOMETHING THING, RIGHT? >> AS OF RIGHT NOW THE INDIVIDUALS FOR TOMORROW HAVE NOT LINED UP WITH ANY ASSISTANCE , THEY ARE ON THE LIST. >> SO, YOU THINK THERE MIGHT BE 200 PEOPLE, PERHAPS? YOU DON'T KNOW. >> TOMORROW I BELIEVE THE LIST IS AROUND 41. >> SO, THEN THE NEXT DAY SOMETHING ELSE WILL HAPPEN. ONE THING I'M WONDERING IS HOW WE THOUGHT BEYOND IT DISCONNECTS OF WHAT THIS WILL CREATE? THIS CREATES A NEW PROBLEM. AND THE NEW PROBLEM IS 41 PEOPLE A DAY LET'S SAY ARE WITHOUT POWER AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY ARE GOING TO BE SCRAMBLING TO TRY TO GET RECONNECTED OR WHATEVER. AND SO I AM WONDERING, I KNOW WE THINK WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT DISCONNECTED AND WE HAVE DONE A LOT. BUT, I AM WONDERING IF THERE IS IN AT LEAST ONE MORE EFFORT WE CAN MAKE BECAUSE THAT MIGHT END UP BEING THE BETTER USE OF OUR TIME TRYING TO PREVENT THIS LAST DICONNECT AS OPPOSED TO DISCONNECTING AND THEN HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE PANIC THAT A FAMILY, WHAT THE FAMILY HAS TO GO THROUGH AND WHAT THE FPUA HAS TO DO TO GET IT BACK ON AND THEN THERE IS A $75 RECONNECT FEE AND ALL KINDS OF CRISIS THAT COULD BE AVOIDED IF WE CAN MAKE ONE MORE EFFORT. I THINK THAT EFFORT WOULD BE SOME KIND OF ACTUALLY MAKING SURE THAT YOU ACTUALLY TALK I KNOW YOU HAD ROBO CALLS AND LEFT MESSAGES. I KNOW FOR SOMEHOW PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING THE MESSAGE THAT THEY NEED TO DO THIS OR CONTACT US AND THAT WE CAN HELP THEM. YOU'RE JUST NOT GETTING CONTACT FROM PEOPLE, RIGHT? BECAUSE IF THEY GET CONTACT FROM PEOPLE THEN YOU SAY YOU GIVE THEM THE AVENUES THEY COULD TAKE TO BE HELPED. >> YES, MA'AM. WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO TALK TO THE CUSTOMER WE WERE ABLE TO TYPICALLY GET A PAYMENT. BUT WE HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY A CUSTOMER ANSWERING THE PHONE OR RETURNING OUR CALL. THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM. THE NUMBER DOES COME UP AS UTILITY. WE CAN CERTAINLY MAKE CALLS TOMORROW, I THINK. >> I'M WONDERING FOR INSTANCE LISTEN COME I LIVE WITH SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T CHECK YOUR MESSAGES OR DOESN'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO ACCESS THE MESSAGE BOX. I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T LISTEN TO MESSAGES ON THEIR PHONES FOR WHATEVER REASON THEY ARE NOT TECHNOLOGY EFFICIENT OR WHATEVER, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T RETURN PHONE CALLS OR IF THEY DON'T RECOGNIZE THE NUMBER THERE COULD BE A LOT OF REASONS. THAT COULD BE AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO COMPUTERS, THEY WE JUST DON'T [00:55:02] KNOW WHAT THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE AND WE ARE STILL IN A COVID -- THANK GOODNESS UNEMPLOYMENT HAS DROPPED FROM 14% IN FEBRUARY TO 6.7 -- SIX-POINT SOMETHING% THIS MONTH. THEN WE HAVE ALSO HAD PEOPLE WHO ARE FAR BEHIND THEIR RENTS, THEIR MORTGAGE OR OTHER PAYMENTS OR WHATEVER THEY DID. IF THERE IS SOME OTHER WAY THAT WE COULD DO TO PREVENT THE DISCONNECTS. I WAS LISTENING TO OBVIOUSLY THE COMMISSION LAST NIGHT AND PARTICIPATING IN THAT DISCUSSION AND THEY BROUGHT UP SOME GOOD POINTS AND ONE OF THE GOOD POINTS I THOUGHT THE COMMISSIONER BROUGHT UP WAS WE ARE NOT AN INVESTOR OWNED COMPANY. WE ARE COMPANY WHERE THE RATEPAYERS OWN US AND WE ARE MORE OF A PUBLIC UTILITY, WE ARE ALMOST A FAMILY EVEN THOUGH WE ARE CORPORATION AND PROVIDING THE SERVICE AND WE WANT TO TREAT EVERYBODY EQUALLY AND THERE'S THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS OUT THERE WHO ARE PAYING THEIR BILLS. SO WE ARE NOT A CHARIT BECAUSE WE HAVE A SERVICE BUT WE ARE IN DIFFICULT TIMES. SO I THINK AS A COMPANY WE HAVE THE RECOGNIZE WE ARE IN DIFFICULT TIMES. I AM JUST MAKING THE PLEA FOR ONE MORE EFFORT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A LOT EASIER FOR THE COMPANY AS WELL AS THE CUSTOMER TO NOT HAVE THE DISCONNECTS AND TO PREVENT THE DISCONNECTS. AND MAYBE THERE IS ONE MORE EFFORT. I WOULD JUST THROW THAT OUT THERE. >> ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBER? >> WHEN YOU ALL GO OUT THERE AND INITIATE A DISCONNECT YOU DO THAT WHETHER THE HOMEOWNERS THERE OR NOT? DOES THAT MATTER? >> I'M NOT SURE. THE HOMEOWNER DOESN'T HAVE TO BE HOME TO DO THE DISCONNECT. >> I DON'T THINK SO NO, SIR. >> AND SOMETIMES HOMEOWNERS ARE NOT HOME WHENEVER WORKING HOURS ARE. SO, THERE MIGHT HAVE TO BE SOME ADJUSTMENT LIKE AT THE CITY CODE ENFORCEMENT NOW WORKS ON THE WEEKEND BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MONITOR JC PARK BECAUSE OF THE PARKING AND ALL OF THE ACTIVITY THERE. I AM SAYING THAT NOW THIS CITY WHEN IT HAS TO IT MODIFIES THE WORKING HOURS AND THIS IS TEMPORARY. I HOPE IS TEMPORARY. I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG COVID IS GOING TO LAST BUT THIS IS NOT ALWAYS GOING TO BE THE CASE. THIS IS A PANDEMIC OF PROPORTIONS WE HAVE NEVER SEEN AND I'M ASKING US TO MAKE SOME REALLY EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS. >> WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK INTO THAT. LIKE I SAID, WE COULD START CALLING CUSTOMERS ON THE LIST TOMORROW AND PLACE THEM AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE AND TRY TO MAKE CONTACT. TYPICALLY WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO TALK TO THE CUSTOMER WE ARE ABLE TO RECEIVE PAYMENT. THAT IS. >> YOU MAY HAVE TO DO THAT AFTER HOURS BECAUSE PEOPLE MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE DURING WORKING HOURS. >> AT THE ONSET OF ALL OF THIS I BELIEVE THAT YOU GUYS GAINED CONTACT WITH EVERY PROPERTY OWNER TO TALK ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET ON THE PAYMENT PLAN. ARE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE POTENTIALLY GOING TO BE TURNED OFF THE ONES THAT WERE CONTACTED TWO MONTHS AGO? OR THREE MONTHS AGO? >> I DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY OF THOSE CUSTOMERS WERE CONTACTED MONTHS AGO. I KNOW FOR WHEN WE WERE IN JULY WE MADE A BLITZ EFFORT TO CONTACT EVERY CUSTOMER PERSONALLY AND THAT CONTINUED ON THROUGH AUGUST BEFORE WE DID THE AUTOMATIC PAYMENT PLAN. WHEN WE DID THAT WE PUT OUR RESOURCES TO DEVELOPING THE AUTOMATIC PAYMENT PLAN AND SENDING THE LETTERS OUT. WE ACTUALLY GOT A REALLY GOOD RESPONSE IN AUGUST ABOUT THE PAYMENT PLAN FOR QUITE A BIT OF OUR CUSTOMERS. SO, I DON'T KNOW WE CAN CERTAINLY GO BACK AND LOOK AT THOSE CUSTOMERS ON THE LIST BECAUSE WE KEEP A LOG OF EVERY CONVERSATION WE HAVE WITH THE CUSTOMER. WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT THAT AND SEE WHEN WE TALK TO THEM AND HOW LONG AGO IT WAS. AGAIN, WE WILL MAKE AN EFFORT TO CONTACT THOSE CUSTOMERS. AS THE LIST GETS BIGGER AND BIGGER RESOURCES, WE WILL PUT AS MANY RESOURCES AS WE CAN. >> I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME FORM QUESTIONS MAY BE WHILE WE ARE MAKING THESE PHONE CALLS IF WE CAN HAVE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON SO IN CASE THERE IS EXTENUATING [01:00:04] CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARE TRULY COVID THAT WE HAVE SOME IDEA OF WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THEM. >> WE DID COLLECT SOME OF THAT INFORMATION WHEN WE TALK TO THE CUSTOMERS. WE ORIGINALLY DIDN'T GET INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE CUSTOMERS ACCOUNT BECAUSE SOME OF THAT INFORMATION WAS PERSONAL BUT WE JUST WANTED TO, WE DID START TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON IN PART OF THAT SCRIPT THAT WE DID IN JUNE AND JULY WAS TO GIVE THEM THE INFORMATION OF THE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE. WE ALSO GAVE INFORMATION ABOUT COVID RELIEF PROGRAM AND THE CARES ACTS. WE GAVE THEM THE INFORMATION INTO THAT THROUGH LETTERS WHEN WE SENT THEM THE PAYMENT PLAN. AGAIN, WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK AT THAT. >> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE SURE TO ASK THEM IF THEY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE MONIES THAT ARE OUT THERE, SO AT LEAST WE CAN FILTER THEM. >> BECAUSE, YOU OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO MATCH IT UP. >> YES, WE DO HAVE THE LIST FROM MUSTARD SEED AND -- THAT WE CAN COMPARE AND WE GET THE VOUCHERS SO THEY COME OF THEM IS LIST IMMEDIATELY BUT THE CARES ACT WE JUST RECEIVED THE LIST TODAY AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER IT WAS 312 SO THOUGH FOR SOME FOLKS WILL IMMEDIATELY COME OFF THE LIST AND THEN WE HAVE THE LIST OF APPLICANTS FROM MUSTARD SEED AND -- THAT THERE IS STILL EITHER THEY WERE DENIED AND NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT'S A FORM I MENTIONED MENTIONED EARLIER THAT WE WILL REVIEW AND FINALIZE TOMORROW SO WE CAN GET THAT BACK OUT TO THE CUSTOMERS WERE THOSE APPLICANTS CAN SIGN THE FORM AND THEN POTENTIALLY BE QUALIFIED TO GET THE ASSISTANCE. >> I HAVE ONE MORE. HAS THERE BEEN DISCUSSION ALSO I KNOW IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A ONE-TIME $400, HAS THERE BEEN A DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLY OPENING THAT UP FOR SECOND TIME IF WE FIND OUT THERE IS A NEED FOR IT? >> WE HAVE NOT HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DISCUSS AS THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD WE CAN DO THAT. I DON'T WE HAVEN'T HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT A SECOND ASSISTANCE FROM THE SAME PROGRAM FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS. >> IT IT'S ACTUALLY NOT MUCH OF A QUESTION BUT MORE OF A QUESTION AND A SUGGESTION. TOMORROW'S CUTOFFS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ABOUT 40 FAN OR 40 CUSTOMERS. >> YES, SIR. FORTY CUSTOMERS. >> AND THEN ON THURSDAY HOW MANY WERE SCHEDULED TO BE CUT OFF ON THAT DAY? >> ABOUT 77. >> LET ME GIVE YOU A BETTER NUMBER HERE. AROUND 69. >> AND ON FRIDAY, HOW MANY THEN? >> 284. FRIDAY WAS A BIG ROUTE. IF YOU REMEMBER THE LAST PRESENTATION THAT MS. MARTIN SAID SHE TALKED ABOUT BILLING ROUTES AND THAT WAS A BIG ROUND ON FRIDAY. >> 284 ADDITIONAL CUSTOMERS. >> YES. IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY TO SPACE OF THE CUTOFFS CUTOFFS? TO ALLOW AT LEAST 24 HOURS FOR AN POA REPRESENTATIVE TO KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND SAY, LISTEN, COME TOMORROW YOU ARE GOING TO BE SHUT OFF. THIS IS YOUR LAST EFFORT TO EITHER MAKE A PAYMENT, GET ON A PAYMENT PLAN, COME DOWN TO THE PUA SIGN THE FORM TO QUALIFY FOR SOME MONEY. I ONLY MENTION THAT BECAUSE TECHNOLOGY DOESN'T ALWAYS REACH EVERYBODY. BUT SOMEBODY KNOCKING ON THE DOOR AROUND 5:00 IN THE AFTERNOON OR EARLY MY GET THEIR ATTENTION. ALSO, IT TAILORS THE PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE WHEN PEOPLE RUSH BACK TO GET RECONNECTED. IF WE CAN GIVE ADEQUATE SPACE THAT DOES ADEQUATE SPACE ALLOW FOR MORE NOTICE COME IS NOT PROLONGING PROLONGING THE INEVITABLE, THE CUTOFFS ARE COMING AND I DON'T THINK WE CAN THINK FURTHER ON IT BUT WE COULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE STRATEGIC ABOUT HOW QUICK WE ARE GOING TO DO THEM. HOPEFULLY THE FIRST ONE OR TWO DAYS IT GETS OUT AND WE ACTUALLY START TO SEE PEOPLE COME IN AND GET TO THESE PROGRAMS. BUT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD SLOW DOWN BY ANY MEANS AND PROHIBIT THE CUTOFFS FROM OCCURRING. BUT I THINK WE CAN AT LEAST TAILOR HOW MANY WE ARE GOING TO DO A WEEK INSTEAD OF COMING IN AND HITTING SOMEWHAT CLOSE TO 300 CUSTOMERS BY THE END OF THIS WEEK. >> WE ARE PHYSICALLY GOING TO BE [01:05:02] ABLE TO DO BETWEEN 240 AND 320 WITH THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE. EVEN THOUGH THE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO BE PROBABLY IN THE LARGER, PROBABLY MORE THAN THAT SOME OF THOSE CUSTOMERS WILL PAY AND THEN WE WON'T BE ABLE TO PHYSICALLY GET TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CUSTOMERS ANYWAY. >> WITH THE CUTOFFS DOING CUTOFFS EVERY TWO DAYS MIGHT BE A GOOD EFFORT TO GET EVERYBODY ACCLIMATED TO WHAT'S GOING ON AND GIVE AT LEAST ADDITIONAL TIME TO MAKE A DOOR-TO-DOOR VISIT. >> I THINK THAT IS A GOOD IDEA. IF YOU CAN DO A PERSONAL, BECAUSE YOU SAY WHEN YOU TALK TO THEM YOU GET, YOU CAN HELP BUT YOU CAN'T HELP IF THEY'RE NOT RETURNING THE CALLS WERE IF YOU'RE NOT SPEAKING TO THEM. AND IF WE HAVE SOMEBODY THAT COULD GO OUT AND CUT IT OFF THEN WE HAVE SOMEBODY WHO IS PHYSICALLY AT THEIR RESIDENCE. SO, THEY MAY NOT BE HOME BUT THERE COULD BE SOME WAY OF LEAVING SOMETHING THAT GETS THEIR ATTENTION ON THE DOOR, DOOR HANGERS SOMETHING THAT GIVES THEM THE URGENCY THEY NEED TO CONTACT WITHOUT THE FEAR OF BECAUSE WE CAN HELP THEM, MOST EVERYBODY WE CAN HELP. THERE IS MONEY THERE TO HELP IF THEY WILL JUST ACCESS THE HELP AND I THINK THAT'S THE FRUSTRATION THE CITY COMMISSION WAS EXPRESSING LAST NIGHT. >> WHAT I CONSIDERED THE DUTY IS WE CAN DISCUSS IT AFTER THE BOARD MEETING AND WE CAN COME UP WITH AN ACTION PLAN THAT WE COULD SEND AND SEE WHAT WE COULD PRACTICALLY DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WERE ABLE TO DO THIS WITH THE SUGGESTION OF EVERY OTHER DAY IT MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE WE DISCUSSED THAT AND PROVIDE A RESPONSE TO THE BOARD. >> WE GENERALLY DON'T LIKE TO DISCONNECT CUSTOMERS ON FRIDAY AFTERNOONS BECAUSE OF THE WEEKEND. >> WE DON'T LIKE TO DISCONNECT THEM AT ALL, RIGHT? >> AT ALL. >> BUT ESPECIALLY FRIDAY AFTERNOONS BECAUSE IN A LOT OF CASES THEY WILL CALL US ON THEY ARE READY TO PAY AND THEN WE WILL TRY TO GET OUT TO THEM BEFORE THE WEEKEND IS OVER. IT'S DIFFICULT. OBVIOUSLY WERE NOT GOING TO DO 280 CUTOFFS ON A FRIDAY. IT'S PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO DO THAT. >> I BELIEVE ON FRIDAY WE ONLY CUT OFF UNTIL MIDDAY BECAUSE THERE'S OTHER PAPERWORK THAT NEEDS TO BE PROCESSED AND PREPARED FOR THE FOLLOWING WEEK. WE WOULD NOT CUT OFF 284 PEOPLE ANYWAY. >> IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE CUTOFFS WHAT WE ARE DOING IS CREATING A PROBLEM FOR OURSELVES. I MEAN MAYBE TO INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE, BUT WE ARE ALSO CREATING A PROBLEM FOR OURSELVES THAT'S WHY I AM JUST, I WOULD LIKE TO NOT GO DOWN THIS ROAD MYSELF PERSONALLY. I THINK THAT WE THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE MORE COOPERATION BY NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE INTRODUCED A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO ATT. I KNOW WE HAVE TRIED TO KEEP COMING UP WITH WAYS TO ATTACK IT AND I THOUGHT WE MIGHT BE FURTHER ALONG AND I'M SO GLAD YOU CORRECTED THAT NUMBER BECAUSE LAST NIGHT EVERYBODY WALKED AWAY WITH 2700 PEOPLE ARE GOING TO EAT LOSE THEIR ELECTRICITY, THAT WAS A SCARY THOUGHT. >> ANY TELL US THE DELINQUENT L? YOU HAVE 200 HERE IN 67 OVER HERE, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY ON. >> IT IS A ROLLING TOTAL, WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL THEIR DUE DATE HAS PASSED AND THE SO, NEXT WEEK WHEN THEIR DUE DATE HITS OR WHEN THERE ARE PAST THE TEN DAY IF YOU REMEMBER THE LAST BOARD MEETING WE HAD THE 21 DAY TEN DAY PERIOD AFTER THE 21 DAY PERIOD FOR DISCONNECTS, THAT 31 DAY PERIOD WOULD BE SOMETIME NEXT WEEK. >> OKAY. EACH WEEK IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT FOR EACH CUSTOMER AS THEY COME UP WITH THEIR DUE DATE WOULD BE DIFFERENT. THEORETICALLY THIS PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT CUSTOMER WE ALREADY KNOW WE ARE BELOW THAT WE DO KNOW THAT IT IS LESS THAN THE HOW WELL IS THE PAYMENT PLAN THUS FAR WE ARE NOW AT THE BILLING CYCLE WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL PERHAPS NEXT WEEK BUT THUS FAR WHAT DOES THE TREND LOOK LIKE I'LL KNOW MORE IN THE [01:10:06] COMING WEEKS AS WE APPROACH THE 60 DAY MARK. I DO KNOW WE ARE IN THE 50% ARENA ONCE WE START DISCONNECTS WE HAVE A NUMBER BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. >> I DON'T WANT THEM THINKING WERE THROWING THEM UNDER THE BUS. >> WE WANT TO TAKE OUT THE POLITICS AND DEAL WITH COMMON SENSE, YOU HAVE ONE ITEM I DIDN'T EVEN PUT ON HERE. LITERALLY WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO INTO EVERYBODY'S ACCOUNTS AND ADD 100 OR $200. AND THEN SEND THAT CUSTOMER A NOTE TO SAY WE CREDIT YOUR ACCOUNT FOR WHATEVER THE AMOUNT CAN BE. BUT I WANT TO READ FOR THE COMMON SENSE PURPOSES OF THE FIVE-POINT PLAN, THE FIRST ONE IS, TO REARRANGE THE STAFF AND SCHEDULES TO CONCENTRATE ON THOSE DELINQUENT CUSTOMERS. THUS THE FIRST THING YOU HAVE TO REARRANGE THE STAFF, SOME COULD BE COMING TO WORK AT AIDS THEY MIGHT SAY SUSIE IS FOR TWO WEEKS AND WE NEED YOU TO COME TO WORK AT 10:00 AND WORK UNTIL SEVEN. YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING. THE SECOND PART OF THE PLAN IS TO SEPARATE THE ACCOUNTS IN GROUPS OF 50 TO HANDLE THE ACCOUNTS BY AREA. HERE'S WHAT WE ARE DOING, WE ARE TAKING THESE ACCOUNTS AND SEPARATING AND THAT'S AREA ONE, THAT'S ALL WERE DOING IS CONCENTRATING ON HOUSE NUMBER ONE TO HOUSE NUMBER 99. THAT'S THE SECOND, THE THIRD ONE IS THAT HARDSHIP CUSTOMERS THATD TO HAVE A STAFF ASSIGNMENT KNOCKING ON THEIR DOOR. YOU ALREADY HAVE A PERSON IN PLACE, NUMBER ONE YOU HAVE READ OR METERS. THEY'RE ALREADY GOING INTO THE COMMUNITY. I'M CERTAIN THEY WILL KNOCK ON THE DOOR. THEY DON'T HAVE TO SEE THE TV YOUR FURNITURE RANGE, THEY KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND SAM FROM THE UTILITY AUTHORITY NEED TO TO GET DOWN THERE BEFORE WE HAVE TO COME AND CUT IT. THE NEXT ONE IS THE SET UP, YOU HAD A SPEAKER TO TALK ABOUT THIS, TO SET UP THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM. WE JUST CALL THE CUSTOMER AND I KNOW YOU'RE CALLING BACK WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS ALSO TRYING TO GET ON THE PAYMENT PLAN. SO FOR TWO REASONS YOU CAN'T MAYBE CALL SOMEBODY AT 11:00 IN THE MORNING BUT YOU COULD CERTAINLY CALL SOMEONE AT 6:00 OR 7:00. THE COLLECTION LAWS STOP AROUND 9:00 AT NIGHT. WE AS AN AGENCY HAVE TO DO SOME THINGS TO BE INNOVATIVE BUT THE ONE THING I DID THE METER READERS CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE BECAUSE NOT ONLY ARE THEY READING, THEY CAN KNOCK ON THE DOOR. THEN WE SHOULD BE CONCENTRATING IN THE PERIOD OF TWO OR THREE WEEKS TO CLEAN THAT LIST UP. ONCE WE CLEAN UP THAT LIST UP WHEN THAT COMMON SENSE WE CAN HAVE MONEY SET ASIDE SOMEONE THEY HAVE TO HAVE BREATHING MACHINES, SOME OF THESE PEOPLE WOULD BE VERY OLD, THEY HAVE TO HAVE A WAY TO HELP THEM OUT, WE HAVE UNEMPLOYMENT IS HIGH IN THE AREA, WE HAVE KIDS WHO ARE TRYING TO STUDY, THEY CAN'T STUDY IN THE DARK, THERE'S A LOT OF COMMON THINGS THAT ARE BEING DISCUSSED AND I DON'T CARE HOW THIS POURED DANCE AROUNDS, WE HAVE TO MAKE AN EFFORT WILL BECAUSE I HAVE ALWAYS HEARD IT AS OUR BOSS WERE DOING GOOD TO DO. >> YES, SIR. THREE OF THE FIVE THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED WE ACTUALLY ARE DOING THAT. WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT TO WORK WITH THOSE CUSTOMERS. >> AND I WANT TO GO HOME AND DON'T HAVE NOBODY CALL ME AND TELL ME THE LIGHTS ARE GOING TO BE CAUGHT OFF SO YOU'RE GOING TO WORK ON THAT, TOO? WE NEED TO HAVE IT SET IN PLACE BUT NOT NOW. >> I DO WANT TO ASK A QUESTION. I MAY HAVE ASKED BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE, LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME WHAT IS OUR AVERAGE CUT OF TRADITIONALLY NOT IN COVID? >> NODDING COVID COME I WANT TO SAY IT'S IN THE 30 TO MAKE 50, BUT MR. CRAWFORD MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP WITH THAT TO GET THE EXACT NUMBER. [01:15:07] >> 30 TO MAKE 50, WHAT? A DAY? >> I BELIEVE IT IS A DAY. >> BUT THEY ROLL OVER QUICKLY. IT IS NOT LIKE AT THE END OF THE WEEK IT'S 210 OR 250. THAT NUMBER CHANGES ON A DAILY BASIS. IT'S USUALLY LESS. I WOULD THINK OVER THE COURSE OF A WEEK IT IS LESS THAN 100 AVERAGE. >> AND WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY HAVE TO SCRAMBLE AND GET RECONNECTED? >> YES, MA'AM. >> I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS. ANY OTHER THINGS YOU WANT TO SAY? >> I THINK I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING THE IF YOU GIVE US A DAY OR TWO TO PUT TOGETHER MAY BE A MODIFIED PROGRAM HERE TO COME UP WITH A WAY OF MAKING A LAST ATTEMPT TO CONTACT THE CUSTOMERS. MAYBE WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT ONLY DOING DISCONNECTS THREE DAYS A WEEK SO WE HAVE MORE TIME TO GET WITH THESE CUSTOMERS OR SOMETHIG LIKE THAT. WE NEED A LITTLE TIME TO COME UP WITH A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT WILL WORK. IT IS NOT QUITE AS SIMPLE AS HAVING SOMEBODY KNOCK ON THE DOOR. WE HAVE A LOT OF CUSTOMERS OUT THERE, I KNOW REREAD THEIR METERS BUT THEY DON'T KNOCK ON THE DOORS OR GET CLOSE TO THE METERS ANYMORE. LITERALLY DRIVE DOWN THE STREET AND TAKE METER READS. IT'S REALLY NOT THAT SIMPLE. >> BUT WE COULD. >> WE ONLY HAVE SIX OR 8-METER READERS. TO COVER 29000 CUSTOMERS, THAT IS A JOB. >> BUT IT'S NOT 29000 CUSTOMERS COME IT'S A LIMITED NUMBER. >> I JUST FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE WHAT WE'RE DOING TO THE CUSTOMER AND ALSO WHAT WE ARE DOING TO OURSELVES IF WE JUST GO INTO THE PLAN IS A NUMBERS GAME INSTEAD OF THINKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE. >> THANK YOU. [G.4. Approve Natural Gas Purchases for Resale from Florida Gas Utility (FGU), of Gainesville, Florida, in an amount not to exceed $1,725,000 for FY 2021.] >> THE NEXT ITEM IS TO APPROVE NATURAL GAS PURCHASES FOR RESALE FOR FLORIDA GAS UTILITY. BARBARA MICHAEL WILL MAKE THE PRESENTATION. >> THIS IS AN ANNUAL APPROVAL. THE NEXT ONE WILL ALSO BE FOR THE FN PA FOR THE RESALE OF ELECTRIC. >> THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN AND BOARD MEMBERS. IN THIS ITEM IS BEING BROUGHT TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL IS FOR NATURAL GAS PURCHASES FOR RESALE FROM FLORIDA GAS UTILITY OF GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA AND THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 1,007,125,000 PER FISCAL YEAR 2021. THE TABLE INCLUDED IN YOUR AGENDA PACKAGE SHOWS THE HISTORICAL AND ACTUAL PROJECTED NATURAL GAS COSTS. THE PROJECTIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020 AND 2021 WERE PREPARED BY STAFF. THIS REQUEST FOR THE APPROVED BUDGET IS FOR THE APPROVED BUDGET AND WILL BE SPENT FOR NET GAS PURCHASES ONLY AS BILLED. STAFF IS ASKING FOR APPROVAL FROM THE BOARD FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2021 NATURAL GAS PURCHASES FOR RESALE FROM FLORIDA GAS UTILITY OF GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,007,125,000. >> ANY QUESTIONS? >> IS THIS WHAT WE BUDGETED? >> EXACTLY WHAT WE BUDGETED. >> SO SOMETHING IT IN THE BUDGET. WE ARE NOT CHANGING ANYTHING, WE JUST HAVE TO APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION? >> YES, AND WE WILL ONLY PAY WHAT WE ARE BILLED. WE WILL THIS IS THE BUDGET BUT WE WILL ONLY PAY THE ACTUAL COST. >> WE ISSUE A PURCHASE ORDER SO THEY CAN BILL AGAINST PURCHASE ORDER. >> MOVED TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> THERE IT HAS BEEN A MOVE FOR APPROVAL AND A SECOND, SECRETARY, CALLED THE ROLE. [G.5. Approve Electric Purchases for Resale from Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA), of Orlando, Florida, in an amount not to exceed $45,000,000 for FY 2021] THE SAME THING EXCEPT FOR THE RESALE OF ELECTRIC FROM FMPA AND BARBER WILL ALSO MAKE THE PRESENTATION. >> THIS NEXT ITEM BEING PRESENTED WE ARE REQUESTING APPROVAL FOR THE ELECTRICAL PURPOSE OF RESALE FROM FLORIDA MUNICIPAL POWER AGENCY OF ORLANDO, FLORIDA IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $45 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021. THE TABLE INCLUDED IN YOUR AGENDA PACKAGE SHOW THE ACTUAL AND PROJECTED COSTS FOR ELECTRICAL PURCHASES FOR RESALE FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS. THEIR PROJECTION FOR FISCAL YEAR [01:20:07] 2021 IS BASED UPON PROJECTIONS FROM THE FINANCIAL CONSULTANTS WITH THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME. THE PROJECTED RATE PER MEGAWATT HOUR IS $77.59. KEEP IN MIND THIS REQUEST IS BASED UPON THE APPROVED BUDGET AND WILL ONLY BE SPENT FOR THE ELECTRICAL PURCHASES AS BILLED WE ARE ASKING FOR APPROVAL OF THE BOARD FOR ELECTRICAL PURCHASES FOR RESALE FROM THE FLORIDA MUNICIPAL POWER AGENCY OF ORLANDO, FLORIDA IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $45 MILLION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021. >> QUESTIONS BY THE BOARD? >> MOVE APPROVAL. >> SECOND. >> IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND THAT WE APPROVE THE $45 MILLION. CALL THE ROLE, MADAM SECRETARY. [G.6. Electric Reliability Update through August 2020 – For Information Only.] >> THANK YOU. >> THE NEXT ITEM IS THE ELECTRIC RELIABILITY UPDATE THROUGH AUGUST 2020. >> THANK YOU. MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I'M HAPPY TO PRESENT TO THE THIRD QUARTER RELIABILITY UPDATE THROUGH THE 12 MONTH ROLLING AVERAGE THROUGH AUGUST 2020. THE FIRST MEASURE WE ALWAYS LOOK AT IS THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF OUTAGES THAT A CUSTOMER CAN EXPERIENCE ON FPO WAISTLINE. WE ARE SITTING ABOUT 1.47 OUT OUTAGES PER CUSTOMER AND THAT IS HIGHER THAN WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO WILL LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION HERE. AS THAT YOU CAN SEE WE ARE ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK WITH THE REST OF THE AGENCY MUNICIPAL UTILITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE THAT OUR REPORTING. WE ARE SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN THE LARGE UTILITY AVERAGE BUT WE WANT TO BE AS BEST AS WE CAN SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON IMPROVEMENTS TO GET THE NUMBERS DOWN TO A MORE MANAGEABLE NUMBER. THE SECOND ONE WE LOOK AT IS THE AVERAGE AMOUNT OF TIME A CUSTOMER CAN EXPERIENCE WHAT WE DO HAVE AN OUTAGE HOW QUICKLY WE CAN GET THESE RESTORED. RIGHT NOW AT 52.7 MINUTES WHICH IS UNDER OUR 60 MINUTE GOAL WE HAVE FOR THE YEAR. THIS IS A GOOD THING AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO PROVE THIS DOUR. IN THE NEXT CHART WERE IN THE LOWER QUADRANTS BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO BE NEAR THE TOP OF IT. SO TAKE THAT AS WE LOOK AT BUDGETING AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO RE- IMPROVE OUR RELIABILITY. THE NEXT HOUR ON -- THE NUMBER WE LOOK LIKE IS AN AVERAGE DURATION AND WERE LOOKING AT 77.84 MINUTES. IT'S A DIFFERENT DENOMINATOR THAT WE ARE DIVIDING THE TOTAL OUTAGE MINUTES BY. A YOU CAN SEE HERE WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK AGAIN WHICH TO US WE WANT TO BE NEAR THE TOP. WE ARE SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE LARGE MUNICIPAL AVERAGE WHICH WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE TO GET BETTER. WE SAW THIS LAST TIME IN 2019 COMPARISON TO FPU WE MUNICIPAL AVERAGE, THE FP NL, DUKES AND ALL OF THOSE TOGETHER AND WE WILL SEE THIS AGAIN COME APRIL NEXT YEAR WHEN ALL OF THE RELIABILITY STATISTICS ARE DUE. THIS IS A CHART THAT WE LOOK AT THE STRATEGIC GOALS, THESE ARE THE GOALS WE SET FOR OURSELVES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THE BEST SERVICE WE CAN FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. IF YOU REMEMBER WE TALKED IN THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION THREE OR FOUR MONTHS AGO ABOUT HOW THESE ARE THE REASONS WHY SOME OF THEM ARE HIGHER THAN WHAT THEY NEED TO BE. IF WE REMEMBER RIGHT, MAY, JUNE AND JULY TIME FRAME WE HAD STORMS ROLL THROUGH WHICH HAD QUITE A FEW OUTAGES. BECAUSE IT IS A 12 MONTH ROLLING AVERAGE IT WILL ROLL OFF EVENTUALLY AND IF YOU START LOOKING AT SOME OF THE CHARTS AND YOU'LL SEE OUR NUMBERS ARE QUITE CONSIDERABLY LOWER IN MAY, JUNE AND JULY. IT WE ARE HOPING THESE NUMBERS WILL GO DOWN BASED ON RESTORATION TIMES. WITH THAT, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING THIS. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD [01:25:05] THERE ALWAYS AHEAD OF US, WITH ALL THE UTILITIES IS IT JUST ONE? WE HAVE WATER AND GAS,. >> IT BUSHNELL HAS ALL THREE AS WELL. THIS IS ALL BASED ON A LECTURE, THEIR TOTAL LOAD RIGHT NOW IS 2500 CUSTOMERS. ONE OF THE REASONS, LET ME TAKE A STEP BACK, BUSHNELL HAS JUST GONE THROUGH A PROCESS WHERE THEY BOUGHT 2000 CUSTOMERS FROM A NEIGHBORING CO-OP BECAUSE THEIR FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH THE CO-OP ENDED. SO NOW THEY PRETTY MUCH DOUBLED THEIR LOAD. IM NOT SURE FOR SURE HOW THE NUMBERS ARE ABOUT WHEN YOU HAVE A SMALL NUMBER OF OUTAGES WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS YOUR NUMBERS ARE GOING TO BE SMALLER. I'M NOT SURE IF THAT IS WHAT IS GOING ON BUT THEY RECENTLY HAD TO REBUILD AN INVESTOR QUITE A BIT OF MONEY WHICH THEY HAD TO BORROW IN ORDER TO GET THE ADDITIONAL CUSTOMERS AS WELL. I KNOW ONE OF THE UTILITIES WE LOOK AT IS WINTER PARK. WINTER PARK HAS GONE THROUGH AND PUT A LOT OF STUFF UNDERGROUND SO THAT IS WHY SOME OF THEIR OUTAGES AND OUTAGE TIMES ARE A LOT LESS THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE. THE ONLY CONCERN YOU HAVE THERE IS IF YOU HAVE ONE OUTAGE FOR AN UNDERGROUND SYSTEM THAT NORMALLY TAKES IT NORMALLY DOUBLES THE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR RESTORATION BECAUSE AFTER FIND OUT WHERE THE OUTAGE IS COMMITTED TO GET UP, SPLICE IT BACK TOGETHER IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO SWITCH THAT. >> ANY QUESTIONS? >> MR. CHAIRMAN, THE ONE ABOVE WHAT WE WILL SHOOT FOR, MY READING THAT RIGHT? THAT NUMBER? >> THE SAFETY NUMBER. WE ARE SHOOTING BETWEEN .5 AND ONE OUTAGE. WE ARE AT 1.47. SOME OF THE NUMBERS BETWEEN THE MAY, JUNE AND JULY TIMEFRAME WE ARE LOOKING AT ALMOST HALF AN OUTAGE, .3 - .4 OUTAGE PER CUSTOMER FOR THAT ONE MONTH PERIOD. WHEN YOU ADD THAT UP GOING ACROSS THE 12 MONTH IT REALLY AFFECTS THE 12 MONTH ROLLING AVERAGE. THIS PAST AUGUST FOR THIS STATISTIC I WANT TO SAY THAT WE ARE AT .03 OR .04. SO YOU TAKE THAT POINT OH FOUR AND YOU HAVE TO FACTOR IN. ONE BECAUSE OF THE INVESTMENT WE MADE INTO THE SYSTEM. >> IF WE HAD A STORM OR HURRICANE WE WOULD BE A DIFFERENT FIGURE. >> THE WAY THAT THEY WORK FOR SOME THIS IS A GOOD THING, WHEN THEY HAVE NAMED STORMS, HURRICANES OR LARGE EVENTS THEY TAKE THAT OUT OF THE NUMBERS THEY DON'T HAVE TO REPORT THOSE. THESE NUMBERS WILL NORMALLY REPORT THEM TO GIVE YOU A COMPARISON TO SHOW YOU HOW HIGH THE NUMBERS WERE COMPARED TO WHAT THEY NORMALLY ARE WHEN YOU ELIMINATE THAT WEATHER EVENT. >> IS THERE A TIME OF THE YEAR THIS SAFETY IS WORSE THAN OTHERS? >> IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE WEATHER. IT IS ALL WEATHER DRIVEN. SPRING, SUMMER STORMS ARE NORMALLY THE WORST ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GET TO THE LIGHTNING STORMS WHICH WE HAD A LOT OF LIGHTNING THIS SUMMER. >> THANK YOU. >> ANYBODY ELSE? >> THE NEXT ITEM IS THE REQUESTING APPROVAL OF AN [G.7. ITB 18-36B: Approve Amendment No. 1 to the Electric Distribution Pole Replacements-Phase 3 contract with SPE Utility Contractors FD, L.L.C., of Port Huron, Michigan, to increase the not-to-exceed contract amount by $28,722.75, from $487,734.00 to $516,456.75.] AMENDMENT TO THE ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION POLE REPLACEMENT CONTRACT WITH THE SPE UTILITY CONTRACTORS AND BILL CRAWFORD WILL MAKE THE PRESENTATION. >> THANK YOU. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I SAID, BILL CRAWFORD SUPERINTENDENT OF ELECTRIC, I'M ASKED TO HAVE APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE TO THE REPLACEMENT POLL CONTRACT WITH SPE OF PORT HURON, MICHIGAN NOT TO EXCEED $28722.75. THIS WILL INCREASE THE CONTACT CONTRACT TOTAL TO $516,000.45675. THIS ADDITIONAL WORK WHILE THEY WERE CHANGING OUT 222 DISTRIBUTION POLES HAD BEEN DAMAGED OVER THE YEARS DUE TO WEATHER AND STUFF LIKE THAT. MOST OF THE ADDITIONAL OF OPEN R SECONDARY CHANGE TO SHIELD THE DROP PLAQUES REINSTALLATION OF ADDITIONAL UNDERGROUND RISERS. THE WORK WILL WOULD PROVIDE BETTER RELIABILITY TO THE SYSTEM , I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> THE BOARD NOTES. . . . [01:30:26] >>>ARE THEY ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY? >>>YES, MA'AM. >>>WHAT YOU DO IS YOU EXAMINE THE POLES AND IF THEY ARE COMPROMISED IN SOME WAY THEY GET ON A LIST TO BE REPLACED. HAVE I GOT THAT RIGHT? >> YES, MA'AM. >> HOW MANY ARE THERE THROUGHOUT THE CITY, ABOUT? THIS IS NOT A TEST. >>>I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER RIGHT OFF. WE HAVE OVER 30 THOUSAND. >> THE THE SAME AS CUSTOMERS. >> MORE THAN THAT. >>>WHAT'S THE LIFE EXPECTANCY IN CASE WE GOT AROUND 30 THOUSAND? >>>OLDER POLES WE'VE GOTTEN 60 YEARS OUT OF. NEWER POLES BECAUSE OF TREATMENTS WE GET 30-40 YEARS OUT OF. >> I MOVE APPROVAL? >> WE HAVE A QUESTION. >> IF COMCAST ARE ON ANY OF THOSE POLES WE GAVE THEM THE NOTICE? >> WE DO HAVE SOMEBODY WITH ENGINEERING THAT IS GIVING NOTICE TO COMCAST AND AT&T. >> WHAT PART TO ASK HOW MANY COMCAST GOT? >> JUST ABOUT AS MANY. >> OKAY. >> I MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> I'LL SECOND. >> MOVE AND SECONDED FOR APPROVAL. CALL THE ROLL. (ROLL CALL) >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>>THANK YOU. [G.8. Bill Comparison for the Month of August 2020 – For Information Only.] >>>THE NEXT ITEM IS THE BILL COMPARISON FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST. MICHELLE HARRIS WILL MAKE THE PRESENTATION. >>>THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I AM PRESENTING TO YOU TODAY THE MONTHLY UPDATE ON THE COMPARISONS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND OF THE LOCAL TREASURE COAST UTILITY BILLS FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST. THIS FIRST GRAPH SHOWS THE COMPARISON OF RESIDENTIAL ELECTRIC RATES FOR A THOUSAND KILO WATT HOURS OF CON SIMGS FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST FOR THE 13 MUNICIPAL UTILITIES 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 RAVNGS AMONG THE 13 PARTICIPANTS. AUGUST RATES OF $103.84 IS SHOWN WITH THE YELLOW BAR RANKS WITH THE SECOND LOWEST IN THIS GROUP. THE DATA FOR ALL THE GRAPHS PRESENTED WITH COMPILED AND PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY FLORIDA MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION. THIS GRAPH DISPLAYS THE AUGUST COMPARISON FOR ELECTRIC RATES FOR THE SAME LEVEL OF CONSUMPTION A THOUSAND KILO WATT HOURS BUT INCLUDES ALL MU ANIES PILLTIES IN THE STATE. THE BILL RANKS FPUA WITH THE THE 8TH LOWEST RATE IN COMPARISON TO THE OTHER 31 COMBLU TILLTIES. THIS IS EXACTLY WHERE FPUA WAS LAST MONTH. THE BLUE BAR REPRESENTS WHERE FPUA WILL BE IN NOVEMBER AFTER THE ADJUSTMENTS. BUT THIS IS ALL BARING THERE'S NO OTHER CHANGING WITH ANY OTHER RATES. IN AUGUST, WHILE FPUA MAINTAINED RATES FOR ANOTHER MONTH, ELEVEN OF THE OTHER 31 MUNICIPAL UTILITIES IMPLEMENTED RATE CHANGES. RESULTING IN AN INCREASE OF $0.93 FOR THE ARP AVERAGE AND MINIMAL DECREASE OF $0.12 FOR THE MUNICIPAL AVERAGE. EIGHT EXPERIENCED INCREASES FROM $0.22 TO $4.29. THIS GRAPH PRESENTS A SIMILAR COMPARISON FOR THE CON SUMPINGS. THE BILL AT $2.30 REMAINS THE TENTH LOWEST RATE AMONG THE GROUP. THE RATE FOR 2500 KILO WATT HOURS FOR AUGUST FALLS BELOW ALL THREE AVERAGES. THE ARP AVERAGE, MUNICIPAL AVERAGE AND IOU AVERAGE. [01:35:05] THIS TABLE DISPLAYS THE AUGUST COMPARISON OF THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL UTILITY BILLS ON THE TREASURE COAST. FPUA 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 PROVIDED BY FP AND L AND WATER AND WASTE WATER SERVICES PROVIDED BY LOCALITIES PROVIDER. THIS COMPARISON INCLUDES BILL FOR AVERAGE CON SUMPINGS OF WATER AND WASTE WATER SERVICES FOR CUSTOMERS RESIDING IN THESE SERVICE TERRITORIES INCLUDING ALL TAXES AND FEES AND VERIFIED BY STAFF TO ACTUAL OR HISTORICAL BILLS. THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES TO BILLS SINCE THE JULY COMPARISON. THIS ITEM HAS BEEN PRESENTED FOR YOUR INFORMATION AND REQUIRES NO ACTION. BUT I'LL BE GLAD TO ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. >> ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE A QUESTION? >> WHY IS THE BEACH SO MUCH LOWER IN THEIR WATER? >> VERO BEACH? BILLS. THAT'S JUST WHAT THEIR RATES ARE. I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY ARE LOWER. >> IT'S CRAZY THE WASTE WATER IS WHAT SEEMS PROPORTIONATE. >> BUT THE WATER? >> LIKE A VARIABLE IS WRONG OR SOMETHING. >> WE'LL LOOK AT THAT. WE DO VERIFY EMPLOYEES THAT GET THE BILLS AND WE CONFIRM EVERYTHING BUT IT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I'LL FOLLOW UP ON THAT. >> OKAY. ANYMORE QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU MA'AM. >>>NEXT ITEM FINANCIAL [G.9. Financial Operating Results for August 2020 – For Information Only.] OPERATING RESULTS FOR AUGUST 2020. BARBARA MICA WILL MAKE THE PRESENTATION. >>> >>>THANK YOUS CHAIRMAN AND BOARD MEMBERS. I PRESENT TODAY THE FINANCIAL OPERATING RESULTS FOR AUGUST FISCAL YEAR 2020. AFTER THE ADD JUSTMENT FOR THE DISTRIBUTION TO THE CITY OUR AUGUST YEAR TO DATE INCREASE IN NEP CIGS IS JUST OVER $4 MILLION. OUR OPERATING REVENUES ARE LOWER THAN PREVIOUS YEAR FIGURES BY 2.3 MILLION. THIS IS AN IMPROVEMENT FROM THE JULY YEAR TO DATE FIGURE THAT WAS THE MONTH OF AUGUST SHOWED AN INCREASE IN OPERATING REVENUES OF $900,000. THAT IMPACTED THE YEAR TO DATE IN A POSITIVE WAY. THE REASON FOR THE OVERALL YEAR DECREASE WAS ELECTRICAL GENERAL SERVICE SALES OF $476,000 AND THE PCA BUILD WAS JUST OVER $1.6 MILLION. AUGUST YEAR TO DATE OPERATING EXPENSES WERE DOWN 658 THOUSAND FROM THE PRIOR YEAR MAINLY DUE TO LOWER COST OF PURCHASE POWER IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2020. THERE WERE SOME OFFSETTING EXPENSES IN PERSONNEL SERVICES, MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS AND DEPRECIATION EXPENSE. IN REGARD TO ELECTRIC, OPERATING REVENUES LESS THAT COST OF THE PURCHASE POWER AND IN COMPARISON TO CONSUMPTION ELECTRIC OPERATING REVENUES LESS THE COST OF POWER CONSISTENT IN THE THREE YEAR COMPARISON. FISCAL YEAR 19 BROUGHT A 3% INCREASE IN ADJUSTING OPERATING REVENUE WITH 4% INCREASE IN CON SUMMINGS. IN THE CURRENT YEAR IT IS OFF SLIGHTLY WHEN COMPARED TO SAME PERIOD IN 2019 WITH REVENUES DOWN JUST 2%. FAIRLY CONSISTENT ON ELECTRIC SIDE. OUR WATER OPERATING REVENUES IN COMPARISON TO CON SUFRMS CONTINUE TO SHOW A CONSISTENT UPWARD TREND. [01:40:05] FISCAL YEAR REVENUES INCREASE OVER THE SAME PERIOD IN 2018 AS A RESULT OF INCREASED RESIDENTIAL AND GENERAL CON SUFRMS OF 5%. IN 2020 OPERATING REVENUES OF 7% AN INCREASE OF 7% WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE INCREASE IN CONSUMPTION OF 5% FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW. FISCAL YEAR 2020 CONTINUES TO SHOW YEAR OVER YEAR INCREASES, ALSO, IN THE BULK WATER SALES. WASTE WATER OPERATING REVENUES AND THE COMPARISON TO GALLONS THAT ARE BILLED. IN FISCAL YEAR 2018 AND 2019 WERE DUE TO CAPACITY REDUCTIONS WE DID NOT EXPERIENCE IN THE CURRENT YEAR 2020. IN FISCAL YEAR 19 AND 20 CONSUMPTION HAD A CONSISTENT INCREASE OF 3% EACH YEAR DESPITE THE DECLINE IN OPERATING REVENUES. RESIDENTIAL AND GENERAL SERVICE SALES REMAINED FLAT BRINGING WASTE WATER REVENUES IN 2020 BACK TO A MORE EXPECTED LEVEL WITHOUT THOSE CAPACITY REDUCTIONS. NATURAL GAS REVENUE LESS THE COST OF GAS PURCHASES IN COMPARISON TO CONSUMPTION FISCAL YEAR 19 NATURAL GAS OPERATING REVENUES LESS THE COST OF THE GAS PURCHASE ALONG WITH THE CONSUMPTION SHOWED AN OVERALL INCREASE OF 6% AND IN REVENUES AND 8% IN CONSUMPTION FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. CHANGES IN ADJUSTED REVENUE AND CONSUMPTION ARE MOVING TOGETHER FISCAL YEAR 20 REVENUE AND CONSUMPTION WERE FLAT AS LEVELS OFF GENERAL SERVICE SALES INCLUDING CONTRACT SALES IN COMPARISON TO 2019. WE EXPERIENCED A 9% SAVINGS IN THE COST OF PURCHASE GAS THIS YEAR 2020 COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD IN 2019. A SAVINGS OF A LITTLE OVER $370,000. OUR OPERATING INCOME AND DEBT SERVICE. OUR DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE RATIO IS THE RATIO OF THE 12 MONTH AVERAGE OF OUR NET AVAILABLE INCOME TO OUR CURRENT DEBT SERVICE. THAT'S PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST COMBINED. FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDING AUGUST 2020 OUR DEBT SERVICE RATIO WAS 2.68 TIMES WHICH MEANS FOR EVERY DOLLAR OF DEBT WE HAVE $2.68 AVAILABLE TO PAY THAT DEBT. BOND REQUIRES THAT WE HAVE A RATIO OF 1.25 TIMES. WE ARE WELL WITHIN THE COMFORT ZONE FOR OUR DEBT SERVICE. I HAVE ONE OTHER ITEM THAT I WANTED TO MENTION. THIS IS ALL INFORMATION ONLY. BUT I WANTED TO MENTION THAT WE ARE PREPARING A PROPOSAL FOR CHANGES TO RATES FOR WATER, WASTE WATER AND GAS THAT IS BASED UPON THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION INDEX PUBLISHED IN MARCH 20. THAT IS 1.79%. THE CHANGES DO NOT AFFECT ELECTRIC, JUST WATER, WASTE WATER AND GAS. THE NOTIFICATIONS OF THE HEARING WILL BE OUT BEFORE NOVEMBER 1ST. IT'LL BE ONLINE. IT'LL BE IN THE NOVEMBER CUSTOMER BILLS AS BILL INSERT. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 15TH WITH THE PROPOSED CHANGE DATE OF JANUARY 1, 2021. I JUST WANT TO MAKE MENTION OF THAT. THIS ITEM IS ALL FOR INFORMATION AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I'D BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS THEM. >> BOARD MEMBERS? >> THANK YOU MA'AM. MR. DIRECTOR. >> A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. [J. DIRECTOR] AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING THE PCA WAS INCREASED $3 FROM NEGATIVE ELEVEN TO NEGATIVE $8 AFFECTED. THE FIRST, AS WE MENTIONED DURING THE LAST MEETING FPA AND MODIFIED THE BILLING METHOD. WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE FORECAST WE KNOW IT WAS HIGHER THAEN EXPECTED RESULTING IN THE EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATION TO RAISE THE PCA. WE'VE BEEN ADVICED THAT FMPA FORECAST HAD ANNER ROR IN IT. A GOOD ERROR, AT LEAST FOR WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE. REVENUES THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN USED TO LOWER EXPENSES WERE ADDED TO EBBS PENCES BY ERROR. SO FMPA IS WORKING ON A REVISED PROJECTION WE'LL DISCUSS AT THE [01:45:06] NEXT BOARD MEETING. BASED ON THAT REVISED FORECAST WE MAY BE ABLE TO READJUST THE PCA OR LEAVE IT WHERE IT IS WHICH WILL GIVE MORE FLEXIBILITY TO MAKE A CHANGE BEFORE THE SUMMER. IT'S GOING TO BE A POSITIVE CHANGE. WE'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THAT IN THE NEXT MEETING. >>>THE SECOND ITEM IS WE'VE BEEN NOTIFIED THAT FPUA HAS, AGAIN, BEEN SELECTED AS ONE TO HAVE BEST PLACES TO WORK IN ST. LUCY COUNTY. WE'RE PROUD OF THAT. THE AWARDS CEREMONY IS NEXT WEEK. THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW WE RECEIVED THIS AWARD FROM THE ST. LUCY COUNTY CHAPTER. WE HAVE A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR AS AN ORGANIZATION THIS YEAR IN TERMS OF THE WAY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HANDLE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC SO FAR. WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF OUR PEOPLE AND REALLY PROUD OF OUR ORGANIZATION. LAST BUT NOT LEAST FPUA STAFF WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME THE NEWEST BOARD MEMBER, CHRISTINA GIBBONNS. CHRISTINA HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEND ALL DAY FRIDAY WITH US TOURING FPUA AND STILL CAME TO THE MEETING TODAY. WE'RE IMPRESSED BY THAT. ADDITIONAL INDOCTRINATION. SHE HAD A CHANCE TO GET WITH BEAU ON THE WATER AND WASTE WATER AND SEE MORE ELECTRIC INCLUDING THE ENERGY CENTER. WELCOME ABOARD. >> THANK YOU. >> THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >> OKAY. BOARD MEMBERS? >> I'M GOOD. >> YOU'RE GOOD. >> THANKS. >> I DO WANT TO REEMPHASIZE THAT MS. GIBBONS SERVED ON ANOTHER BOARD AND ATTENTION IS GOOD AND BRAIN IS GOOD. WE WELCOME HER. >> THANKS. >> NOTHING TO REPORT ON AT THIS TIME. [L. COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS] >> OKAY. MAYBE THE TIME IS NOT RIGHT FOR THIS ONE BUT I'M GOING MAKE IT RIGHT. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE WAY THE BOARD EXIT FROM HERE AFTER THE LONG TERM SERVICES. IN ALL OF MY RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THEY STATE THEIR TIME EARLY IN LIFE THERE WAS A SIX YEAR, THREE YEARS TERM. MANY STAY SIX YEARS. NOW EACH ONE GETS NOW BY THE COMMISSION IN THE MAIL A FOUR YEAR TERM. ONE BOARD MEMBER LEFT LAST YEAR THAT DID NOT GET ANY KIND OF RECOGNITION AND THAT PERSON DID STAY NINE YEARS. I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THE BOARD AS WE ARE NOW. THERE ARE THREE OF US THAT WERE NOT HERE AND HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE REASONS. I HOPE THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO THANK AND BRING THAT BACK IN TO REALITY AND GIVE THAT BOARD MEMBER AT LEAST A PLAQUE FOR NINE YEARS OF SERVICES. I DID THE RESEARCH ON ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT LEFT AND HE'S ONE THAT DID NOT GET ANYTHING. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BASIC REASONS BUT IT'S NOT, DOESN'T LOOK GOOD WHEN WE SAY YOU SERVE YOUR TIME BUT YOU LEAVE AND DON'T GET A GOOD THANKS. IF NOTHING ELSE I HOPE THAT BE AN ITEM TO REVOKE YES OR NO. I THINK WE NEED TO REVISIT THAT. NOT IN THIS MEETING BUT ONE IN OF THE OTHER MEETINGS. IF NOTHING ELSE THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.