[Call to Order] [00:00:04] >>> WE'RE CALLING TO ORDER THE FORT PIERCE UTILITIES AUTHORITY SPECIAL MEETING ON THIS DAY, OCTOBER 22, 2020. WE HAVE THE GENERAL BEFORE YOU. Y'ALL ARE WELCOME TO SAY WHATEVER. AT THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG. OF ALLEGIANCE] >>> AT THIS TIME MADAM SECRETARY, CALL THE ROLL. >> MISS CAV CON, BUILD FEE. >> PRESENT. >> MISS GIBBONS. >> PRESENT. >> MAYOR HUDSON? >> PRESENT. >> CHARLIE MATTHEWS. >> PRESENT. >> MAY I MAKE A MISSION TO EXCUSE MS. CAVALCANTI. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND TO EXCUSE MS. CAVALCANTI. >> CALL THE ROLE. >> MR. FEE, YES, MA'AM. >> KRISTINA GIBBONS. >> YES, MA'AM. >> LINDA HUDSON. >> YES, MA'AM. >> CHARLIE MATTHEWS. >> YES, MA'AM. [A. Comments from the Public.] >> IF ANYBODY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC COME FORWARD AND WANT TO SPEAK, YOU'RE WELCOME. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE ABOUT BOARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME AND YOU'LL HAVE A PLACE TO SIGN. WE WON'T START THE TIME UNTIL YOU FINISH SIGNING. >> GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE ON THE DAIS. I WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE Y'ALL COMING BACK TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THESE EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES THAT WE HAVE. >> AT THIS TIME WOULD YOU SIGN THE ROSTER AND GIVE ALL OF US YOUR NAME. >> CAN'T CHEAT, CAN I? PRESIDENT OF THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY NAACP. I THINK BECAUSE THE CONVERSATION IS NOT WHAT WE NEED. IT'S NECESSARY AND GOOD. COMMUNICATION IS A GREAT THING BUT ACTION IS BETTER. YOU SURPRISED ME, I QUICKLY CAME BACK. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR AGENDA IS OR WHAT YOU HAVE IN PLACE. I JUST HAVE A FEW SESSIONS FROM WHEN I WAS IN THE MEETING THE OTHER DAY. WHAT IT WAS, IT WAS WE HAVE TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX BECAUSE I'VE WILL BE HERE 71 YEARS AND THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I'VE EXPERIENCED SO I'M NOT SURE YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED IT SO WE HAVE TO THINK OUT OF BOX. A LOT OF TIMES CRITERIA FOR GETTING MONEY ARE PUT IN PLACE FOR PEOPLE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE SITUATION IN YOUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE PEOPLE GETTING PAID CASH PAYMENTS THAT'S NOT GOING TO SHOW UP, SOME OF THE CRITERIA, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO BRING THEM FORWARD. IF YOU CAN GIVE YOURSELF LEEWAY AND STAY WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO AS FAR AS RULES AND REGULATION, YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING SPECIAL. THIS IS NOT ANYTHING, ANY OF US IS FAMILIAR WITH. OKAY? I WAS THINKING A COUPLE OF THINGS. IF I'M STEPPING ON TOES, I'M SORRY. -- YOU CAN GET TRAINING FOR VOLUNTEERS. IF YOU WOULD TALK TO A NEIGHBOR QUICKER THAN YOU WILL TO AN OFFICIAL. IF YOU CAN GET THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED, COMMUNITY ACTION ORGANIZATION INVOLVED, AS MANY AS POSSIBLE THAT KNOW PEOPLE, TO TALK TO THEM AND TELL THEM YOU NEED TO DO THIS BEFORE YOU DISCONNECT. AFTER YOU GET DISCONNECTED, YOU HAVE EXTRA CHARGES. THE NEXT THING WAS TRANSPORTATION. IF THEY NEED TRANSPORTATION, FINDING EDUCATION WHERE POSSIBLE AND HANDS ON ASSISTANCE. NONPROFITS, CIVIC GROUPS, CHURCHES AND NEIGHBORS. THEY SAY WHO IS YOUR NEIGHBOR? RIGHT NOW, WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. NOT JUST IN THIS CITY, NOT JUST IN THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST IN THE STATE BUT GLOBALLY. WE HAVE TO THINK OF A NEIGHBORLY SOLUTION FOR EVERYBODY. YOUR PAYMENT PLANS IS A GOOD THING. IT'S TRUE. BUT ONCE THEY GET THEM, THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM. JOBS ARE -- YET WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT JOBS, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IT AS HOW MANY WAS LOST AS FAR AS WHEN GIVING JOBS, WE SAY WE DECREASED THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE. WHAT WAS THE RATE LAST YEAR BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, TWO YEARS AGO? HOW DOES THIS COMPARE TO IT? SO I'M ASKING SOMEONE IF POSSIBLE TO GET PENDING DISCONNECT LISTS FOR POSSIBLE, CONTACT COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS AND GROUPS SO THEY CAN GET IN CONTACT. THESE ARE JUST SUGGESTIONS, I'M NOT AN EXPERT BUT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO THINK A LITTLE BIT MORE OUTSIDE [00:05:04] OF THE BOX WHEN DEALING WITH THIS PANDEMIC. I THANK YOU ALL. YOU'LL BE BLESSED. >> ONE, PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. MR. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. [B. Discussion of Electric Service Disconnections.] >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. AT THE TUESDAY BOARD MEETING WE HAD AN EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION ON ELECTRIC SERVICE DISCONNECTIONS. ALL BOARD MEMBERS CONTRIBUTED GOOD IDEAS ON THE DISCONNECTION PROCESS AND STEPS TO TAKE TO LIMIT THE DISCONNECTIONS. STAFF SPENT YESTERDAY REVIEWING THE SUGGESTIONING AND EVALUATING HOW THE THEY FIT INTO THE PLAN AND RESULT IN THE FEWEST DISCONNECTIONS AS POSSIBLE. WE HAVE NOT YET DISCONNECTED ANY CUSTOMERS FOR NONPAYMENT AND WE HOPE THE INFORMATION WE'RE PROVIDING THIS AFTERNOON THAT FPUA IS DOING ALL WE CAN TO ASSIST CUSTOMERS DURING THE PANDEMIC. WE HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION WHICH DELINEATES THE PLAN AND CHANGES SINCE TUESDAY FOR YOUR REVIEW AND DISCUSSION. >> THANK YOU, MR. TOMPECK. GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I BELIEVE THAT THIS PRESENTATION WILL OUTLINE A VERY GOOD PLAN THAT WILL HELP US AVOID OUR CUSTOMERS FROM BEING DISCONNECTED. I THINK THIS IS -- THIS IS A GOOD PLAN. SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH THE EFFORTS WE'VE HAD TO DATE AND THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT OUTREACH. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE FACT WE'VE BEEN DOING OUTREACH SINCE MARCH. ONE OF THE THINGS WE FOCUSED ON AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD IS TO CALL EVERY SINGLE CUSTOMER. WE HAVE DONE THAT PRIOR TO THE AUTOMATIC PAYMENT PLAN. WE TRIED TO GET OUR CUSTOMERS ON A PAYMENT CLAN. WE HAD LIMITED SUCCESS BUT WE DID CONTACT ALL OF THEM AND AFTER WE INITIATED THE AUTOMATIC PAYMENT PLAN EVERYBODY WAS CURRENT. WE'VE BEEN ACTIVE ON RADIO, PRESS RELEASES, SOCIAL MEDIA, PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT THE MAYOR DID THROUGH THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE AND INDIVIDUAL LETTERS TO NOTIFY CUSTOMERS THERE ARE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PAY FOR -- HELP ASSIST WITH UTILITY BILLS. WE'VE WAIVED LATE AND PENALTY FEES FOR OVER $549,000 AND YOU'LL SEE WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR, TO HELP WITH ADDITIONAL RELIEF. THERE WAS A POWER COST ADJUSTMENT IN MAY AND IT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH OCTOBER, THROUGH THE END OF OCTOBER, FOR $2 PER THOUSAND KILOWATT HOURS, EVERY MONTH FOR EVERY THOUSAND KILOWATT HOURS. WE ALSO HAVE AN FPUA SPONSORSHIP WE DEVELOPED THIS YEAR SPECIFICALLY FOR COVID RELIEF FOR UTILITY ASSISTANCE FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. TO DATE, WE HAVE EXPENDD VOUCHERS FOR OVER $93,000 TO HELP OUR CUSTOMERS. ALL THOSE FUNDS HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED THROUGH ALPI AND MUSTARD SEED AND WE'LL GET INTO DETAILS ON THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS AND HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH HELPING OUR CUSTOMERS. WE HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH WITH THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY C.A.R.E.S. ACT TEAM AND WE'VE TAKEN THEIR LIST AND CROSS-REFERENCED THEIR LIST TO OUR LIST TO MAKE SURE ANYBODY ON THE LIST FOR ALPI, MUSTARD SEED OR THE C.A.R.E.S. ACT DOES NOT GET DISCONNECTED WHILE WAITING FOR DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS. WE'RE WORKING WITH THEY WILL ON A DAILY BASIS. THE AUTOMATIC PAYMENT PLAN. WE DID THIS IN AUGUST. THE AUTOMATIC PAYMENT PLAN WHEN WE NISHED THAT, THAT AVOIDED DISCONNECTS FOR AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. THAT WAS A BIG RELIEF IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER. ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF OCTOBER. SO THE OUTREACH, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? MOVING FORWARD AND AGAIN, SOME OF THESE IDEAS THAT YOU SEE HERE ARE THE -- ARE DERIVED FROM THE DISCUSSION WE HAD ON TUESDAY. HOW DO WE COMMUNICATE WITH OUR CUSTOMERS? THE FRIDAY BEFORE A CUSTOMER IS SCHEDULED FOR DISCONNECT WE'LL HAVE A DOOR HANGER SO THAT THEY HAVE A PHYSICAL PIECE OF PAPER THAT'S BEEN DELIVERED TO THEIR FRONT DOOR, SO WE'LL HAVE THAT THE FRIDAY BEFORE THE WEEK THEY'RE SCHEDULED FOR DISCONNECT. THEY'RE GOING TO GET AN AUTOMATED CALL THREE DAYS PRIOR TO THEIR SCHEDULED DISCONNECT DATE. TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THEIR SCHEDULED DIS CONNECT DATE THEY'LL GET A PERSONAL CALL FROM A FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT EMPLOYEE. IF WE DON'T TALK TO THEM TWO DAYS OUT WE'LL FOLLOW OUT ONE DAY OUT IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THEM [00:10:01] TWO DAYS OUT TO MAKE UP A PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT. >> THE PURPOSE OF THAT CALL IS NOT JUST TO SAY PAY YOUR BILL, THE PURPOSE IS TO TELL YOU, WE'VE GOT OTHER OPTIONS FOR YOU TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF. >> RIGHT, WE'LL GO THROUGH A SCRIPT AND SLIDES THAT TELLS YOU WHAT WE'LL TALK TO OUR CUSTOMERS ABOUT, NOT JUST PAY THE BILL BUT OPTIONS WE WORKED OUT YESTERDAY. AT THE RECOMMENDATION THAT MR. FEE MADE, WE WILL NOT DISCONNECT FIVE DAYS A WEEK, WE NARROWED THAT TO THREE DAYS. IF YOU'RE SCHEDULED FOR DISCONNECT TUESDAY, YOU'LL GET AN AUTOMATED CALL ON THURSDAY. FRIDAY YOU'LL GET A PERSONAL CALL AND A DOOR HANGER. ON MONDAY, YOU WOULD GET ANOTHER PERSONAL CALL IF WE WEREN'T ABLE TO TALK TO YOU. WE ARE TRYING TO ACTIVELY REACH OUT TO CUSTOMERS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. ON WEDNESDAY IF YOU'RE SCHEDULED FOR DISCONNECT WEDNESDAY, YOU'LL GET A DOOR HANGER THE FRIDAY BEFORE, YOU'LL GET A AUTOMATED CALL ON THIS FRIDAY. YOU'LL GET A PERSONAL CALL ON MONDAY. AND ON TUESDAY, ONE DAY PRIOR TO DISCONNECTION, IF WE WERE NOT ABLE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE CUSTOMER, WE WILL CALL THEM. AGAIN, THAT APPLIES TO THE -- SAME THING APPLIES TO THURSDAY. THEY GET A DOOR HANGER FRIDAY THE WEEK BEFORE. THEY'LL GET AN AUTOMATED CALL ON MONDAY, A PERSONAL CALL ON TUESDAY. IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO MAKE CONTACT, WE'LL CALL THEM ON WEDNESDAY. WE WILL NOT BE DOING ANY DISCONNECTS DURING THE HOLIDAYS, DURING THANKSGIVING OR CHRISTMAS. JUST TO BE VERY CLEAR. WE'VE INCREASED THE HOURS OF OUR CALL CENTER TO MAKE OURSELVES READILY AVAILABLE TO CUSTOMERS SO WE HAVE 12-HOUR SHIFT WHERE CUSTOMERS CAN GET IN CONTACT WITH US AND WE'LL TRY TO GET IN CONTACT WITH THEM. SO WE HAVE TWO SHIFTS, 8:00 TO 5:00 AND 10:00 TO 8:00 SHIFT. SO WHAT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ARE WE PROVIDING? AS MENTIONED EARLIER, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WAIVE LATE FEES AND PENALTIES. WE GO BACK AND REMOVE FEES AND WAIVE THOSE THROUGH THE ETCHED YEAR. GOOD FAITH PAYMENT IS AN ITEM WE -- WE FINALIZED YESTERDAY AND I THINK THAT THIS WILL BE A VERY GOOD SOLUTION FOR OUR CUSTOMERS, EFFECTIVE TOMORROW. WE'RE WORKING ON THE DETAILS WITH TRAINING OUR STAFF. AGAIN, THIS WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE END OF DECEMBER. THE FPUA COVID-19 ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THERE'S $200,000 THAT WE'VE ALLOCATED TO HELP OUR CUSTOMERS SPECIFICALLY WITH UTILITY ASSISTANCE. TO DATE WE HAVE VOUCHERS FOR OVER $93,000 THAT HAVE BEEN APPLIED TO A CUSTOMER'S ACCOUNT OR PENDING APPROVAL TO BE POSTED TO THEIR ACCOUNT. SO WE ALLOCATED 100 THOUSANDS TO MUSTARD SEED AND $50,000 TO ALPI. WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE REMAINING $50,000. THE IDEA WAS TO TAKE THE $50,000 AND GIVE IT TO ONE OF THOSE ORGANIZATION AS MONEY WAS DEPLETED. WE'RE GOING TO USE THAT MONEY INTERNALLY AND FOCUS ON TAKING THAT MONEY, APPLYING IT TO THOSE CUSTOMERS THAT MAKE THE CUTOFF LIST AND DEDICATE IT TO HELPING THOSE SPECIFIC CUSTOMERS TO AVOID DISCONNECTION. THAT IS THE OUR INTENT TO HELP AVOID ANY CUSTOMER FROM BEING DISCONNECTED. SO HOW DOES A CUSTOMER PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION? AS YOU MENTIONED, HOW DO WE HELP CUSTOMERS WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE PROOF? THROUGH THE RESIDENTIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HARDSHIP AFFIDAVIT. THAT WILL BE EFFECTIVE TOMORROW AND I'LL GO INTO MORE DETAIL IN A SECOND. A CUSTOMER CAN FILL OUT THE APPLICATION, DOWNLOAD IT FROM OUR WEBSITE, AND EMAIL IT TO US. THEY CAN -- WE'LL HAVE COPIES AVAILABLE HERE AT CITY HALL OR ANYWHERE THAT WE CAN PUT THEM THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY CAN FILL IT OUT, DROP IT OFF AT OUR LOBBY IN OUR DROPBOX AT 206 SOUTH SIXTH STREET. THEY CAN CALL FOR ASSISTANCE TO HELP FILL IT OUT. SIGN THE FORM AND PROVIDE VALID I.D.. THE IDEA IS TO MAKE SURE THEY PROVIDE VALID I.D. SO WE CAN APPLY IT -- THE FUNDING GOES TO THE ACCOUNT HOLDER. THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO VERIFY. WE ARE GOING TO DISTRIBUTE THIS FORM TO MUSTARD SEED SO THEY CAN USE THIS FORM FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO APPLY TO MUSTARD SEED OR ALPI THAT DID NOT QUALIFY FOR WHATEVER REASON AND THEY'RE ABLE TO USE THIS FORM AS A AFFIDAVIT TO TEST THAT THEY NEED THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT. AND THEN MUSTARD SEED AND ALPI CAN CONTINUE TO GO THROUGH THE FUNDING THEY HAVE REMAINING. MUSTARD SEED STILL HAS $36,000 AVAILABLE AND ALPI $20,000 AVAILABLE. JUST OVER $20,000. [00:15:03] WHAT IS THE ACTION PLAN? AS MR. TOMPECK MENTIONED, WE'RE GOING TO CALL OUR CUSTOMER AND TRY TO WORK WITH THEM TO GET A PAYMENT. IF THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO PAY THEIR CURRENT BILL, THEN WE WILL ASK FOR A GOOD FAITH PAYMENT FOR THEIR CURRENT BILL ONLY. AGAIN, THAT PROGRAM WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE END OF DECEMBER. FOR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS PAY UP TO 25% OF THE BILL, NO MORE THAN $100. SO IF THEY HAVE A $400 BILL, IF THEY PAY 100, THEN THEY'LL BE REMOVED FROM THE CUT LIST. SO FOR COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTS, WE'LL ASK FOR 25%. THAT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF THE COMMERCIAL -- EXERTION AREA IS MORE COMPLEX. FOR RESIDENTIAL WE CAN CERTAINLY TRY TO FOCUS ON MAKING SURE WE ADDRESS THE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS THAT CAN AVOID BEING ON THE DISCONNECT LIST. SO THE VOUCHER PROGRAM, IF THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE A GOOD FAITH PAYMENT, WE WILL WORK WITH THEM TO GO THROUGH FILLING OUT THE AFFIDAVIT FORM SO THEY CAN GO THROUGH THE VOUCHER PROGRAM TO GET UP IT A $400 ONE TIME ASSISTANCE FOR THEIR ACCOUNT. THEY MUST COMPLETE THE FORM SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE CUSTOMER TO CONTACT US. WE'VE -- WE'RE TRYING TO REACH OUT TO THE CUSTOMER, CALLING MULTIPLE TIMES AND WE NEED THEM TO CALL US BACK SO THEY CAN FILL OUT THE FORM. WE ARE READY TO WORK WITH THEM. WE WANT TO AVOID A CUSTOMER BEING DISCONNECTED. I THINK THIS PLAN WILL HELP AVOID DISCONNECTIONS. WE'RE ASKING FOUR CUSTOMERS TO CALL, 466-1600, EXTENSION 3900. THE AFFIDAVIT FORM. THIS IS THE FORM THEY WOULD HAVE TO COMPLETE. IT'S PRETTY BASIC INFORMATION. THE NAME, THEIR ADDRESS, THE ACCOUNT HOLDER'S NAME, AND WE HAVE OTHER INFORMATION THAT WE WILL WORK WITH THEM TO VERIFY. ACCOUNT NUMBER AND CUSTOMER NUMBER. ANY INFORMATION THEY HAVE FOR THEIR EMPLOYER, FOR EXAMPLE, IF THEY WERE PAID IN CASH, THEY WOULD ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME OF THAT INFORMATION BUT THEY HAVE TO BE AN FPUA ACCOUNT HOLDER. NO WAY AROUND THAT. THEY WOULD HAVE TO SIGN THE FORM. ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES WOULD VERIFY THE AMOUNT DUE SO THEY COULD GET UP TO 400 BUT ONLY PAYING WHAT IS CURRENTLY DUE TO AVOID BEING ON THE DISCONNECT LIST. >> THIS IN SUMMARY, THIS ACTION PLAN WE DO BELIEVE WILL HELP AVOID DISCONNECTS BUT WE NEED OUR CUSTOMERS TO CALL SO WE CAN WORK WITH THEM. ANY PENDING APPLICATION FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, THOSE INDIVIDUALS WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CUT LIST. WE WILL NOT CUT THEM. ANY CUSTOMER ON COVID-19 ASSISTANCE, MUSTARD SEED ALPI OR C.A.R.E.S. ACT WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE LIST. IT'S IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF CLARITY BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS SOMETIMES -- IT WAS CONFUSING, ESPECIALLY WITH THE MEDIA. BUT SPECIAL PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS DOES NOT EQUAL THE NUMBER OF DISCONNECTS. OKAY? THE -- THOSE SPECIAL PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS OF CUSTOMERS ON A SPECIAL PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT TO HELP THEM GET THROUGH PAYING THE UTILITY BILL. THAT'S NOT EQUAL TO THE NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS ELIGIBLE FOR DISCONNECT. AS I MENTIONED, WE ARE CALLING TO REACH OUT TO CUSTOMERS BUT THERE ARE SCAMS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW. SPECIFICALLY TARGETING FPUA CUSTOMERS BECAUSE THEY DO KNOW THE DATE NOW. SO WE WANT TO ADVISE OUR CUSTOMERS, IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBT, HANG UP, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE ASKING YOU TO PAY WITHIN 30 MINUTES OR ASKING YOU TO PAY BY GIFT CARD, HANG UP. IT'S A SCAM. CALL FPUA, HANG UP, CALL FPUA AND WHEN YOU CALL OUR NUMBER, YOU KNOW YOU'RE TALKING TO ONE OF OUR REPRESENTATIVES. THAT NUMBER IS 466-1600, EXTENSION 3900. I KIND OF WANT TO REITERATE THE FACT WE ARE READY, OUR STAFF IS READY TO TALK TO CUSTOMERS TO HELP THEM AND WE'RE -- WE HAVE MADE THE ADJUSTMENT IN OUR TIME FRAMES TO MAKE OUR STAFF AVAILABLE TO TALK TO OUR CUSTOMERS. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> I THINK IF I MIGHT MENTION ONE OTHER THING THAT THE GOOD FAITH PAYMENT THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED HERE IS REALLY I THINK THE LINCHPIN TO MAKING THIS WORK. AND IT'S NOT AN IDEA -- I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE CREDIT BUT WE TALKED TO LAKE WORTH ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE. THEY'RE SIMILAR IN TERMS OF THE SIZE OF UTILITY, DEMOGRAPHIC AND IN TERMS OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE THEY HAVE. IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO US. SO I TALKED TO THEM. THEY [00:20:02] STARTED CUTOFFS THE FIRST OF OCTOBER AND THEY HAD 84% OF THEIR CUSTOMERS PAID BEFORE THEY WERE DISCONNECTED. AND THEY'VE ONLY HAD 15 THAT THEY HAVEN'T RECONNECTED SINCE THE FIRST OF OCTOBER. PRETTY LOW CUSTOMER. WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE HERE WAS GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A GOOD FAITH PAYMENT, EVEN THOUGH IT DIDN'T REACH THE LEVEL OF MAKING A FULL PAYMENT, AT LAOS IT WAS A START HERE. THAT WORKED VERY WELL FOR THEM. THAT'S WHY WE ADDED IT TO OUR PROGRAM. >> BOARD MEMBERS? >> AS TO THE GOOD FAITH PAYMENT, AFTER YOU TENDER IT, WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THE CUSTOMER FOLLOWING? REGULAR MONTHLY PAYMENTS ON A PAYMENT PLAN? >> THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION. SO AFTER THEY'VE ISSUED A GOOD FAITH PAYMENT, WE WOULD, FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS, CREATE A NEW SPECIAL PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT. WE WOULD HAVE TO, THE WAY IT WORKS, WE WOULD GIVE THEM A NEW SPECIAL PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS. >> FOR THOSE WHO MADE A GOOD FAITH PAYMENT, YOU WOULD HAVE A MORE TAILORED PAYMENT OPTION TO THEM AS OPPOSED TO THOSE MAKING THE PAYMENT PLAN NOW, TO DECREASE THE BURDEN OF KEEPING TRACK OF PAYMENT PLANS. >> ONCE THEY MAKE A GOOD FAITH PAYMENT WE'LL ADJUST THE CURRENT PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT TO A NEW ONE. AFTER THAT, IT'S AUTOMATED. I MEAN IT'S SET UP IN THE COMPUTER. WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS TRYING TO GET IN CONTACT WITH THE CUSTOMERS AND HAVING THEM CALL US BACK. ONCE WE GET IN TOUCH WITH THEM, THAT'S THE KEY. >> ANY REASON WE CAN'T PUT A PERSONAL KNOCK ON THE DOOR WHEN IT COMES TO ONE DAY OUT, BOOTS ON THE GROUND, TO REALLY BE MORE AGGRESSIVE AT THIS POINT? SINCE MARCH, WE'VE PUT THIS OFF. AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GIVE THEM AS MUCH LEEWAY AS POSSIBLE. I THINK WE'RE GETTING TO THE END OF THE ROPE NOW. AT SOME POINT IN TIME, WE'VE GOT TO TAKE ACTION. I WANT TO BE COMPASSIONATE WITH THE INDIVIDUALS TRULY SUFFERING. SOME OF THESE INDIVIDUALS MAY NOT BE PICKING UP THE PHONES AND HAVEN'T FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. IS THIS A WAY WE CAN WORK TOGETHER WITH THE UA AND PERHAPS THE CITY, SPLIT THE NUMBER OF CUTOFFS IN HALF, CITY TAKE HALF, WE TAKE HALF, ONE DAY BEFOREHAND, KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND REMIND THEM OF WHAT IS AVAILABLE AND REALLY DRIVE HOME THE POINT THAT YOUR CUTOFF IS LITERALLY THE NEXT DAY. YOU NEED TO MAKE A GOOD FAITH PAYMENT. IT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO DO IT. IS THERE ANY REASON WHY THAT WAS AVOIDED? NATURALLY IT'S GOING TO INCREASE THE BURDEN ON THE EMPLOYEES. >> I'M NOT SO MUCH WORRIED ABOUT THE BURDEN BUT MORE WORRIED ABOUT THE RESULTS. WE'LL HAVE SOMEBODY KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND EXPLAIN WHAT THEY NEED TO DO AND THEY HAVE TO TALK TO CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WE'VE LEFT THOSE KIND OF MESSAGES BEFORE AND HAVEN'T GOTTEN A POSITIVE RESPONSE. IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN PROBABLY DO BUT I'M NOT SURE IT WOULD GREATLY BENEFIT THE PROGRAM. >> I THINK THE DOOR HANGER WOULD BE VERY EFFECTIVE. ALSO WHEN YOA CUSTOMER'S FRONT DOOR, TYPICALLY YOU DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION YOU NEED IN FRONT MUCH YOU TO TELL THEM WHAT THEY NEED. TALKING TO A CUSTOMER OVER THE PHONE, OUR EMPLOYEES ARE THERE AND CAN LOOK AT THEIR ACCOUNT AND REALLY GET SPECIFIC. THAT'S THE PART WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON IS GETTING THEM ON THE PHONE OR HAVING THEM FILL OUT THE FORM AND COME IN. WE CAN REALLY -- THAT'S WHERE WE'RE REALLY EFFECTIVE. >> ANOTHER QUESTION THEN I'LL LET SOMEONE ELSE ASK. $50,000 THAT YOU SUGGEST WOULD BE FOCUSED ON THE CUTOFF LIST, THAT'S GOING TO OBVIOUSLY THE FIRST WAVE OF CUTOFFS, THAT AT A COULD POSSIBLY BE EXHAUSTED OR DO YOU THINK THAT 50,000 WILL LAST A WEEK, TWO WEEKS, BASED ON WHAT YOU'RE SEEING COMING UP ON THE HORIZON FOR CUTOFFS. >> A GOOD QUESTION. THE $50,000 COULD HELP A MAXIMUM OF 200 CUSTOMERS. THE IDEA THERE WOULD BE THOSE CUSTOMERS THAT ARE ON THE CUT LIST, IF THEY'RE A DAY BEFORE THE CUT LIST AND HOPEFULLY WE'RE ABLE TO TALK TO THEM TWO DAYS BEFORE, WE'RE ABLE TO WORK WITH THEM TO FILL OUT THE VOUCHER. >> IT IS REQUIRED THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE VOUCHER FILLED OUT BEFORE THEY CAN QUALIFY FOR ANY PORTION OF THAT. >> YES, SIR. THE VOUCHER IS VERY EASY TO FILL OUT. WE'LL HELP THEM FILL OUT THE VOUCHER. WE HAVE TO VERIFY IT'S THE ACCOUNT HOLDER FILLING IT OUT AND BEING APPLIED TO THE ACCOUNT SO WE REQUIRED I.D. FROM THEM. SO I THINK -- I BELIEVE THAT IF WE'RE ABLE TO GET THIS [00:25:03] LIST DOWN TO A VERY LOW NUMBER THAT THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED IT WILL BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THE $50,000 THROUGH THE VOUCHER AND WE'LL EXTEND IT OVER MULTIPLE WEEKS AS WE GO THROUGH ANOTHER SERIES OF DISCONNECTS. >> I'VE GOT A FEW MORE QUESTIONS BUT I'LL LET SOMEONE ELSE GO. >> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. SO ON THE DOOR HANGER, IS THERE A POSSIBILITY WE COULD GET THIS AFFIDAVIT ATTACHED TO IT SO THEY HAVE IT IN THEIR HANDS TO FILL OUT THE DAY THEY HAVE IT ON THEIR DOOR? >> WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK INTO THAT. I'M NOT SURE -- WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT FOR SURE. >> ON TOP OF THAT, I KNOW WHEN YOU GO TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE, YOU HAVE TO FILL OUT THE SAME FORM 100 TIMES. I JUST WISH IT WAS PREFILLED OUT. IS THERE SOME WAY TO PREFILL IT OUT FOR PEOPLE GETTING DOOR HANGERS? IT WILL HAVE THEIR CUSTOMER NUMBER INSERTED, THEIR ADDRESS PREINSERTED. THE PERSON. THAT WAY WHEN THE PERSON LOOKS AT IT, ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS BUT THE IN THEIR I.D., GIVE US A CALL AND COMMENTS AND MAYBE THAT WOULD ASSIST IN THE EASE OF FILLING OUT THE FORM. >> I CAN LOOK INTO THAT. IT WOULD BE AN AUTOMATED PROCESS THAT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE BUT I WOULD HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU. >> I ALSO HAVE MORE QUESTIONS BUT I KNOW MISS LINDA HAS SOME. >> YEAH. MORE OF A STATEMENT THAN A QUESTION. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS THIS -- FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS HARD WORK THAT YOU AND -- YOU TOOK SOME OF OUR SUGGESTIONS TO HEART AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. AND I AM APPRECIATIVE OF THE FCT YOU CLARIFIED THE NUMBERS. THE NUMBERS STARTED OFF THIS WEEK AND THAT HAS BEEN WHAT HAS BEEN OUT THERE AND THAT WAS NEVER INTENDED TO BE THAT MANY PEOPLE. IT JUST GOT -- I REALLY WANT IT CLARIFIED THAT WE WERE NEVER EVER TALKING ABOUT 2700 PEOPLE DISCONNECTED. WE WERE NEVER TALKING ABOUT IT BUT THAT'S HOW IT GOT PLAYED TO WE'RE PLAYING CATCH-UP AND I WANT THAT TO BE REALLY, REALLY CLEAR. THIS -- ALL OF THIS REALLY EXTRA EFFORT I THINK IS GOING TO BE WORTH WHILE. IT'S GOING TO MAKE OUR COMPANY SHINE AND MAKE US LOOK LIKE WHAT WE ARE, YOUR HOMETOWN UTILITY. THE PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE AND LIVE HERE AND ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS. SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST IS TAKING ALL THIS EFFORT AND THAT WE PUSH BACK ANY DISCONNECTS UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR BUT MAKE ALL OF THIS GOOD FAITH EFFORT, INCLUDING COLLECTING THE GOOD FAITH PAYMENTS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS. AND HERE'S WHY. I KNOW WE CAN'T KEEP PUSHING IT BACK. WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE OTHER CUSTOMERS WHO ARE PAYING THEIR BILLS. I RECOGNIZE THAT. I WANT TO SAY THAT CLEARLY. BUT WE DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE AT THE END OF THIS COVID THING OR NOT. WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE. WE THINK WE'RE EASING OUT OF IT. EVERY TIME WE THINK WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS WE HEAR OF NEW SPURTS AND INCREASES SO I'M THINKING THIS PANDEMIC, WHICH IS SO VERY UNUSUAL, THAT HOPEFULLY WE NEVER SEE AGAIN AND WE HAVEN'T HAD IN MY LIFETIME, MAYBE CALLS FOR THIS KIND OF EXTRA MEASURE. AND ALSO, ONE OF THE THINGS WE DIDN'T DO IS WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY STORMS THIS YEAR AT FORT PIERCE. WHEN WE HAVE STORMS WE HAVE TO TAKE A LOT OF EXTRA CASH AND DEAL WITH THE STORMS THEN TRY TO GET REIMBURSEMENT FROM FEMA, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST TO THIS BOARD IS THAT WE NOT HAVE ANY DISCONNECTS UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR AND THAT WE GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS EFFORT IN ORDER TO PREVENT THEM FROM HAPPENING EVEN THEN. EVEN THEN. SO -- I THINK THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO AS A COMPANY THAT PROVES WE REALLY ARE A HOMETOWN UTILITY. I WENT TO A VIRTUAL LUNCHEON TODAY FOR UNITED AGAINST POVERTY AND I WANT TO THANK THE FPUA BECAUSE WE WERE ONE OF THE SPONSORS. WE LEARNED HOW PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET THEMSELVES OUT OF POVERTY AND HOW POVERTY IS TRYING TO HELP THEM. SO I THINK THAT -- WE WERE SPONSORS OF IT AND BEYOND THAT, WE CAN DO THIS EXTRA EFFORT TO HELP PEOPLE -- AND MAYBE SOME OF THE PEOPLE ARE [00:30:01] JUST PERHAPS GAMING THE SYSTEM. BUT MANY OF THE PEOPLE ARE STILL STRUGGLING AND BECAUSE MANY -- YOU THINK ABOUT OUR COMPANY IS NOT FULLY OPENED. I DON'T THINK OUR LOBBY IS OPEN YET, IS THAT CORRECT? IT'S NOT OPEN YET. THE CITY IS NOT -- WE'RE -- YOU HAVY BY APPOINTMENT ONLY OR FOR A MEETING. SO WE'RE STILL NOT BACK TO NORMAL IN TERMS OF ALL OF OUD MANY RESTAURANTS AREN'T AND MANY OF OUR PEOPLE WHO WERE EMPLOYED, THAT ONLY GET PAID IF THEY WORK. IF THEY DON'T WORK, THEY DON'T GET PAID SO THEY HAVE NO SOURCE OF INCOME. I JUST FEEL LIKE THAT WE OUGHT TO MAKE THAT EXTRA EFFORT FOR THESE TWO MONTHS, EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE OUTLINED, WHICH IS EXCELLENT. I APPRECIATE YOU GIVING THIS THOUGHT TO THAT. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO EASE THE PEOPLE'S ANXIETY BUT YET THEY KNOW, BECAUSE WE'RE ACTUALLY TALKING PERSONALLY TO THEM AND FINALLY GETTING THEM, THAT THEY MUST PAY SOMETHING. THEY MUST PAY SOMETHING. WE DON'T -- WE ALSO DON'T WANT THEM TO GET TOO FAR BEHIND BECAUSE THAT'S A PROBLEM TOO. I UNDERSTAND IT'S A FINE LINE. BUT I'M -- THAT'S WHERE I'M AT IN TERMS OF WHAT I THINK SHOULD HAPPEN. >> I HAVE -- FIRST, I GOT TWO OR THREE QUESTIONS. DEFINITELY ONE FOR THE ATTORNEY AND ONE FOR THE DIRECTOR AND TWO FOR YOU. FIRST OF ALL LET'S CLEAR UP SOMETHING THAT WAS PRINTED. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT ONE BUT THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE. WHERE IS THE $115,000? WAS THAT JUST A FIGURE THAT -- THAT WAS A STATEMENT MADE TOO. >> $115,000 ACTUALLY I MISSPOKE, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN 106,000 ON TUESDAY. IT'S JUST THE 200,000 MINUS 93,000 SO IT'S $93,000 AND SOME CHANGE SO I MISSPOKE ON TUESDAY. IT'S 106 AND SOME CHANGE. >> YOU HAVE ANOTHER -- LOOKING AT TV EARLIER THIS MORNING TALKING ABOUT ST. LUCIE COVER PROGRAM, IT'S A GRANT. >> ST. LUCIE COUNTY C.A.R.E.S. ACT? >> NO, IT'S ANOTHER ONE. I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO ADD THAT TO THE LIST AND $20,000 GRANT AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY IT BACK. MAYBE THEY CAN'T GET THE 4,000 OR 1,000. >> IT'S ST. LUCIE RECOVERS. >> YEAH, RIGHT. >> YEP. >> IT NEEDS TO BE ADDED. NEW MONEY. NOW, MR. ATTORNEY FIRST. ON THE LEGAL SIDE, WHEN THEY SIGN THIS AFFIDAVIT, ARE WE -- JUST A PIECE OF PAPER, ARE WE GOING TO TAKE ACTION OR WHAT IS THE HIDDEN AGENDA? >> WHAT IS THE WHAT, SIR? >> AFFIDAVIT, GOOD FAITH, WHATEVER YOU CALL IT. YOU CALLED IT AFFIDAVIT? >> I'M NOT SURE I SHARED THAT WITH MR. KOBLEGARD. >> WE HAVE TO KNOW LEGALLY. THERE'S A HIDDEN AGENDA BEHIND EVERYTHING. PEOPLE ARE SO AFRAID TO SIGN, THOSE WITH LIMITED EDUCATION, THEY'RE AFRAID TO SIGN STUFF. I WAS GLAD TO HEAR THE NEW BOARD MEMBER TALKING ABOUT FILLING IT OUT AS FAR AS YOU CAN GO WITH IT. SO MAYBE WE WON'T WASTE A LOT OF TIME. THE OTHER LEGAL QUESTION -- YOU GOING TO ANSWER THE LEGAL QUESTION OR IS THE ATTORNEY GOING TO ANSWER? >> I'LL GIVE YOU A BRIEF BACKGROUND ON THE FORM. THE FORS THE SAME FORM THE ST. LUCIE IS USING FOR THE C.A.R.E.S. ACT. WE TOOK THEIR FORM, COPIED IT AND PUT THE LOGO ON AND CHANGED THE ACCOUNT AND CUSTOMER NUMBER SO W HAVE THE ABILITY TO TRACK THAT FORM IN OUR SYSTEM. >> SO YOU NEED TWO MINUTES TO TALK TO THE ATTORNEY OR JUST GO AHEAD AND ASK HIM AGAIN? >> SIR? >> TWO MINUTES? Y'ALL GO INTO A HUDDLE SOMEWHERE? IT'S A SERIOUS MATTER BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE SIGN, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AFFIDAVIT, THOSE OF US AROUND COURTS KNOW, THAT MEANS SOMETHING EXTRA. >> SO WE'RE ASKING THEM TO FILL IT OUT AND WHAT THEY'RE PUTTING ON THE FORM IS ACCURATE AS POSSIBLE. THERE'S -- THE IDEA HERE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD LIKELY NOT CONTACT THOSE -- YOU KNOW, IF THEY HAVE AN EMPLOYER, THAT IF IT'S HARD -- YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO GET IN CONTACT WITH THEM. THEY'RE SAYING THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO VERIFY THIS INFORMATION. THERE'S NO WAY FOR US TO VERIFY IT. IF THEY CAN'T VERIFY, IT'S DIFFICULT FOR US TO VERIFY. THEY'RE ATTESTING TO US [00:35:04] ON THE FORM. >> TO US, THE CUSTOMER IS WHO CAME IN AND OPENED UP THE ACCOUNT. >> THE ACCOUNT OWNER HAS TO FILL IT OUT. THEY CAN HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER HELP BUT WE HAVE TO VERIFY IT IS THE ACCOUNT HOLDER GETTING THE ASSISTANCE. >> TOMPECK, QUESTION TO YOU. WE NEED A LITTLE TEETH IN THIS. SHOULDN'T WEB IN PREPARATION AS A BOARD TO GIVE YOU GUYS SOME DIRECTION AS TO WHAT WE WANT TO HAPPEN WITH THE CUTOFF DISCONNECTS? >> ABSOLUTELY. >> SECOND PART OF THAT QUESTION IS, THE -- MAY I SUGGEST TO A POINT AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THAT CAN EASLEY BE TAKEN CARE OF IN A MOTION. >> YES, IT CAN. >> AS OF TODAY, BACK TO YOU, HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD BE ON THE DISCONNECT AS OF RIGHT TODAY. >> AS OF 1:30 THIS AFTERNOON, WE WOULD HAVE 271 CUSTOMERS ON THE DISCONNECT LIST RIGHT NOW. >> 270? >> 271. >> REMEMBER, BECAUSE WE STAGGERED THE PAYMENT PLAN LETTERS, THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO CHANGE WEEKLY. >> OKAY. >> WE SENT OUT -- WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 2800 PEOPLE ON THE PAYMENT PLAN, BUT THEY'RE STAGGERED SO THE CUT LIST WOULD BE CHANGING WEEK TWO-WEEK. >> SO ANOTHER THING I HEARD THE MAN -- I WANT THE FINE PINT CORRECTED. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY ON THE DANGER LIST FOR CUTOFFS? >> 271. >> OPPOSED TO ... 2,700. >> 2,700 WAS THE NUMBER OF AUTOMATIC PAYMENT PLANS THAT WAS NOT EQUAL TO THE DISCONNECT LIST. THAT WAS JUST THE PROGRAM WE DEVELOPED SO WE COULD GET THROUGH AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER TO HELP OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET ASSISTANCE FROM THE C.A.R.E.S. ACT. >> BACK TO THE DIRECTOR TALKING ABOUT LAKE WORTH. SAYING IT WAS 15 PEOPLE THEY COULDN'T FIND ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, MAYBE THEY MOVED OR DIED. WHAT CAN WE DO IF WE GET IN A SITUATION WHERE WE CAN'T FIND PEOPLE? YOU MIGHT FIND THEY MOVED OUT OF THE APARTMENT OR THE HOUSE. >> IF THEY MOVE OUT OF THE APARTMENT AND ABANDONED THE ACCOUNT, IT GOES OFF -- GOES TO WRITEOFFS AND IT GOES TO COLLECTIONS AND WRITEOFF. >> THEY'RE ESTIMATING ABOUT 40% OF THE PAYMENT PLAN PEOPLE EVENTUALLY BECOME UNCOLLECTIBLES. >> OUR BOARD MEMBERS TURN, WE TALKED ABOUT POSSIBLY THE CITY SHARING SOME HELP IN THIS. WILL YOU CALL THE CITY MANAGER AND SEE IF WE CAN GET THESE TWO PEOPLE SET ASIDE FOR WORKING ON THIS, IF NOTHING, NO MORE THAN FOUR HOURS A DAY. >> A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT WOULD BE A HELP BECAUSE THAT REACHES A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THAT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE ITEMS WE TALKED ABOUT HERE TODAY. A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT WOULD GO A LONG WAY. >> LET'S GO TO TWO THINGS YOU SAID. ONE IS THE SITUATION, 25%. LET'S BREAK THAT DOWN A LITTLE BIT. 25% FOR SMALL BUSINESS. SO IF THE BILL IS $5,000, THEY PAY 25% OF 5,000. >> YES, SIR. >> OKAY. HOW LONG WILL THEY HAVE TO PAY THAT? >> THEY WOULD PAY 25% OF THEIR BILL AND THEN THEY WOULD BE -- THEY WOULD GET ANOTHER SPECIAL PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT FOR THE BALANCE TO BE WORKED INTO THEIR NEXT BILL. >> THE RESIDENT PERSON, THAT 25%, BOTH ARE 25. >> 25 FOR RESIDENTIAL, UP TO $100. IF THE BILL IS $500, THEY WOULD ONLY -- THEY WOULDN'T PAY 125, THEY WOULD PAY 100. IN THEIR BILL IS LESS THAN 400, THEN THEY WOULD PAY LESS THAN 1 HAD HUNDRED DOLLARS. >> SAY THAT RESIDENT PERSON T COMES OUT OF THEIR POCKET AND WHEN THE MONEY IS AVAILABLE, THEY CAN APPLY FOR IT AND TAKE CARE OF ANYTHING DEEPER THAN THAT? >> YES, SIR, THEY CAN STILL APPLY FOR THE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. THEY COULD MAKE A GOOD FAITH PAYMENT AND STILL QUALIFY FOR THE -- FILL OUT THE FORM AND GET FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. IDEALLY WE WOULD WORK WITH THEM TO -- WE WORK WITH THEM THROUGH THE CONVERSATION TO SEE WHAT WOULD HELP THEM THE MOST. >> OKAY. MR. FEE, YOUR TIME AGAIN, I'LL YIELD A LITTLE BIT. >> OKAY. WHEN DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO START TO IMPLEMENT THIS PLAN? BECAUSE MY THOUGHT -- PERSONALLY I WOULD [00:40:02] LIKE TO SEE 20 DAYS OF ADVERTISING ABOUT THIS GOOD FAITH PAYMENT PLAN AND THE $50,000 TO GET THAT OUT IMMEDIATELY. AND HAVE THE PUBLIC HAVE SOME TIME TO REACT TO IT. IT WOULD ALSO GIVE MAY MORE TIME TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THESE PAYMENT PLANS. WE'VE ONLY GOTTEN TO ONE BILLING CYCLE WHERE WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THE DEFAULT RATE. I THINK WE WOULD HAVE A BETTER PICTURE MAYBE BY THE -- OUR SECOND MEETING, FIRST MEETING IN NOVEMBER, AS TO HOW WELL THIS PAYMENT PLAN IS PERFORMING. IF WE SEE THE PAYMENT PLAN IS NOT BEING PRODUCTIVE AT ALL, WE CAN DETERMINE WHETHER WE HAVE TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE. THIS IS A GOOD PLAN. I WOULD LIKE TO LIMIT THE CUTOFFS TO MAYBE TWO A WEEK TO REALLY -- THAT WAY WE CAN -- >> TWO DAYS A WEEK? TWO DAYS A WEEK SO WE CAN METABOLIZE IT. HOPEFULLY WE HAVE A GOOD TURNOUT OF PEOPLE MAKING A GOOD FAITH PAYMENT, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS -- I GUESS THE ASSISTANCE OF THE $50,000. BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR US TO BE ABLE TO ADVERTISE WHAT WE'RE DOING A LITTLE BIT LONGER BEFORE WE START IMPLEMENTING THIS DAY ONE. THAT'S MY PERSONAL PREFERENCE. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THE MANAGER. CAN CONSIDER. MORE TIME TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PAYMENT PLAN IS BETTER FOR ALL. WE MAY LOOK BACK AND SAY NOBODY IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS PAYMENT PLAN AND WE MAY HAVE TO SAY WE'RE GETTING FARTHER BEHIND IN OUR DISCONNECTS. IN FACT, IT'S STARTING TO GROW. SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THIS GETS OUT INTEREST AND SEE IF WE CAN GET PEOPLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT FIRST BEFORE WE START PUTTING NOTICES ON THE DOOR. DEFINITELY COMMUNITY OUTREACH GROUPS, IF WE HAVE CONNECTIONS WITH THE CITY, TO GET THOSE INDIVIDUALS MAYBE MEETING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND OUTLINING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. AT LEAST IT GIVES THEM AN ADVANCE NOTICE THAT THERE'S SOMETHING NEW IN THE WORKS. BEING A HOMETOWN UTILITY IS IMPORTANT, WE ALSO HAVE TO BE COMPASSIONATE BUT AT SOME POINT IN TIME, WE NEED TO START THE DISCONNECTS. WE CAN'T LET IT KEEP GROWING BUT WE NEED PERHAPS MORE TIME TO MARKET THIS VERY GOOD PLAN THAT YOU PUT IN. BUT I DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT IMPLEMENTED THIS YEAR BUT I THINK NOVEMBER GIVES US TIME TO EVALUATE WHAT'S BEEN DONE, GIVES YOU TIME TO MARKET THIS PLAN, AND THEN WE'RE READY TO GO. >> MS. GIBBONS? >> YES. WELL, I DO THINK THAT'S ACTUALLY A PRETTY DECENT IDEA. I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT GIVING IT TIME TO BE FULLY DIGESTED BUT I KNOW YOU'RE SAYING NO DOOR HANGERS BUT I ACTUALLY THINK THAT'S THE FIRST STEP. SO I THINK THAT YOU GUYS ARE ALREADY PLANNING TO PUT THOSE DOOR HANGERS OUT THERE. WHETHER WE CHANGE THE DATE OF THAT CUTOFF OR NOT, THOSE DOOR HANGERS STILL NEED TO BE HUNG WITH THIS AFFIDAVIT FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE. THAT'S THE FIRST COMMUNICATION WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WITH THESE PEOPLE OR POTENTIALLY, SINCE MARCH OR APRIL OR THE LAST TIME WE'VE SPOKEN TO THEM. I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT NOT DISCONNECTING UNTIL DECEMBER. I'M A LITTLE SCARED OF THAT. IF WE ARE THROWING THAT OUT THERE, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IF WE CAN GAIN SOME GOOD FAITH PAYMENTS ALONG THE WAY. I WOULD BE NERVOUS TO SAY THE LEAST AS A BUSINESS OWNER MYSELF TO SAY I'M JUST GOING TO EXTEND ANOTHER 90 DAYS WORTH OF CREDIT WHEN YOU'RE ALREADY SIX MONTHS BEHIND THEN EXPECT YOU TO BE ABLE TO WALK IN THE DOOR AND I HAVE TO ROLL UP EVERYTHING IN JANUARY YOU HAVEN'T PAID FOR SIX MONTHS. THAT I AM VERY HESITANT ABOUT. I THINK THAT IF WE CAN GET THEM OE PAYMENT PLAN IF THAT'S THE CASE AND DO A 25% THIS MONTH TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THEY HAVE TO PAY SOMETHING, THEN NEXT MONTH MAYBE INCREASE IT A LITTLE OR DO 25-25-50 TO GET THEM BACK ON TRACK. I WOULD BE NERVOUS TO JUST COMPLETELY WRITE THEM OFF FOR A COUPLE MORE MONTHS. >> WELL, BACK TO ME? >> WELL, NO, I -- THESE ARE ALL GOOD IDEAS. I JUST -- I KIND OF LIKE THE IDEA OF ALL OF THIS IS NOW NEW TO US, SOME OF IT IS NEW. SOME OF IT WE'VE BEEN DOING SINCE MARCH. WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET SOME PEOPLE TO PAY SINCE [00:45:02] MARCH. I LIKE THE IDEA OF CONCENTRATING ON THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST IN TROUBLE BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT WOULD BE MOST LIKELY TO BE DISCONNECTED. I LIKE THAT IDEA. I STILL WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GIVE THIS A CHANCE TO WORK AND NOT HAVE ANY DISCONNECTS. I WOULD PREFER UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR BUT THIS IS -- THIS IS A GROUP DECISION AND SO I JUST WOULD PREFER TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THE GOOD FAITH PROGRAM AND WITH THE DOOR HANGERS. I THINK THAT'S AN EXCELLENT IDEA, IF THEY CAN BE GENERATED BY OUR SYSTEM THAT THEY'RE ALL FILLED OUT FOR THE CUSTOMER NUMBER AND EVERYTHING SO THAT IS TAILORED. BECAUSE WE GET THINGS LIKE THAT IN THE MAIL ALL THE TIME. SO THAT MAKES IT HELPFUL TO COMPLY. AND THE AFFIDAVIT TO YOUR QUESTION, THE AFFIDAVIT, IF IT'S BEEN USED FOR THE C.A.R.E.S. ACT BY THE COUNTY, I THINK THAT WE CAN ASSUME THE COUNTY ATTORNEY REVIEWED THAT AND THAT'S A FORM THAT IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SO I THINK WE CAN ASSUME THAT IT'S A FORM THAT WILL STAND UP UNDER A SCRUTINY. SO -- AND IS THE C.A.R.E.S. ACT STILL -- ARE WE STILL -- ARE OUR CUSTOMERS STILL ABLE TO ACCESS THE C.A.R.E.S. ACT MONEY? >> SO THE C.A.R.E.S. ACT HAS -- C.A.R.E.S. ACT APPLICATION FOR INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN CLOSED AS OF I WANT TO SAY LATE LAST WEEK, MAYBE EARLIER THAN THAT. THE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS STILL PENDING ARE UNDER EVALUATION AND THEY BELIEVE THEY'LL BE ABOVE THE AMOUNT THEY HAVE AVAILABLE NOW TO DISTRIBUTE TO THE INDIVIDUALS. >> DO YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE APPLIED? >> YES, WE DO. AS A MATTER OF FACT, I RECEIVED THE ENTIRE LIST FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY EARLY TODAY. AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE GOING TO REVIEW ANYBODY WHO APPLIED AND WE WOULD COME OFF THE DISCONNECT LIST. >> THAT'S PART OF THAT REVIEW? >> YES, IT IS. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. >> ALL RIGHT. MR. CHAIRMAN? >> YES. >> COULD I SAY ONE THING? >> YES. MY ONLY THOUGHT ON PUTTING IT OFF UNTIL DECEMBER OR JANUARY IS A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE JUST GOING TO SAY I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THIS NOW. AND JUST PUT IT AWAY. WHAT YOU COULD CONSIDER, YOU MEET ON NOVEMBER 3RD AND NOVEMBER 17TH, YOU COULD POSTPONE IT UNTIL THE WEEK AFTER THE 17TH MEETING, REVIEW IT AGAIN THEN. IF YOU FEEL IT'S NECESSARY TO MAKE FURTHER CHANGES OR CONTINUE TO POSTPONE IT, YOU CAN DO IT AT THAT TIME. NOTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND THEN EXCEPT SOME OF THESE THINGS WILL GET STARTED NOW. BUT THE -- I JUST WONDER ABOUT PEOPLE SAYING, WELL, THAT'S A LONG WAY AWAY. I DON'T HAVE TO BOTHER WITH THIS NOW. YOU NEED TO KEEP PEOPLE THINKING ABOUT IT DAY-TO-DAY. THAT'S MY ONLY THOUGHT. >> SO WHATEVER THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD IS FOR TODAY, WE ARE STILL GOING TO IMPLEMENT THE ACTION ITEMS ON THIS LIST. SO WHETHER WE DECIDE TO CONTINUE WITH DISCONNECTS OR EXTEND THE DATE, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING STARTING TOMORROW. >> I WAS JUST GETTING READY TO SAY SOMETHING FOR THE ATTORNEY IN REFERENCE TO YOUR -- ON YOUR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, IN YOUR FIRST ONE, YOU GOT LATE AND PENALTIES WAIVED UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST. >> YES, SIR. >> ONLY THING I CAN SEE, IT GIVES YOU DIRECTION TO GO TO DECEMBER 31ST WITH YOUR OWN STAFF RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE YOU ALREADY GOT IT WRITTEN DOWN HERE. THEN ON DECEMBER 31 WE DO WHAT THE ATTORNEY IS TALKING ABOUT, REVIEW, SEE WHERE WE ARE. WE ARE ONLY TALKING ABOUT 300 PLUS PEOPLE, RIGHT. >> 271 AS OF TODAY. >> 271. >> I BELIEVE WE REALLY DO -- I DO REALLY BELIEVE WE CAN GET THAT NUMBER TO BE VERY, VERY LOW WITH OUR OUTREACH. >> ONLY THING I DON'T WANT IS A SURPRISE DISCONNECT. I DON'T KNOW WANT HOLLERING AND YELLING AND IN FORT PIERCE, IT'S ALWAYS ONE OF THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE HIGHLY UNEMPLOYED, EVEN BEFORE THIS VIRUS CAME ALONG. WE WAS ALWAYS ON THE LIST OF ONE OF THE MOST UNEMPLOYED COUNTIES, IT WAS, ST. LUCIE. AND SO WE KNOW THERE'S A SEASON. YOU KNOW. WHEN WE GOT THAT PARTICULAR CROP OR WHATEVER IS GOING ON, THERE'S GOING ON OTHERS. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T WORK FULL TIME, THEY'RE [00:50:01] WORKING PART TIME, 20-25 HOURS. THAT'S ABOUT IT. SO WE ALREADY GOT A HISTORY OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY. ALL WE NEED TO DO IS NOT MAKE IT MORE COMPLICATED. I THINK -- I LIKE THE WORD GOOD FAITH BUT I THINK THIS BOARD SHOULD MAKE A DIRECT -- TO GUIDE YOU EXACTLY WHAT WE UNDERSTAND TO BE DONE SO THERE WON'T BE ANY CURVES IN THE ROAD. NOT SAYING YOU WON'T DO THINGS IN GOOD FAITH BUT YOU KNOW YOU GOT A DIRECTION FROM THIS BOARD TO WORK ON THE 271 PEOPLE AND EVERYTHING ELSE. THAT'S WHY IT REALLY TAKES A MOTION FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS BECAUSE TODAY YOU DO IT, TOMORROW YOU GO OUT OF TOWN, SOMEBODY ELSE TAKES OVER AND EVERYTHING GETS WRONG. BUT WHEN WE GOT A DIRECTION GIVEN, YOU KNOW YOU NEED TO WORK UNDER THAT UMBRELLA. >> ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT, MR. DIRECTOR? >> NO, WE'RE WAITING ON YOUR DIRECTION. I THINK THE MAYOR MENTIONED I THINK ON MONDAY NIGHT THAT THE MEETING OR IT MAY HAVE BEEN LATER ON, THAT THERE IS -- IT DOES APPEAR TO BE SOME RECOVERY TAKING PLACE IN TERMS OF UNEMPLOYMENT. YOU MENTIONED UNEMPLOYMENT IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY HAD GONE DOWN TO 6%. THAT WAS LOWER THAN THE STATE AVERAGE AND LOWER THAN THE FEDERAL AVERAGE. SO THERE IS SOME RECOVERY TAKING PLACE. HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO GET US BACK TO PRECOVID DAYS, I HAVE NO IDEA BUT THERE IS SOME RECOVERY TAKING PLACE. IT DOES APPEAR TO BE MORE PEOPLE WORKING SO WE'RE HOPING THEY'LL USE SOME THAT HAVE MONEY TO PAY THEIR ELECTRIC BILL. >> I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE ONE MAJOR MOTION AND THEN INCLUDE TWO PARTS. THE FIRST PART SHOULD BE WE HAVE NO DISCONNECTS FOR A PERIOD OF -- TO THE END OF THE YEAR AND GIVE IT A DATE, NAME A DATE WHEN WE SAY THE END OF THE YEAR, WE'RE TALKING DECEMBER 31ST. THE OTHER MOTION IS TAKING WHAT THE ATTORNEYS HAVE SAID. ONE MOTION BUT TWO PARTS. THE OTHER ONE IS TO WE COME BACK AND DO A MIDTERM REVIEW AS TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH THE PLANS THAT WE HAVE LOOKED AT TODAY UNDER THIS DISCONNECT PLAN I CALL IT. WITH THAT, THE STAFF CAN GO TO WORK. >> I DON'T KNOW THAT I WANT TO STAY ALL THE WAY THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST. >> YOU DON'T WANT NOTHING CUT OFF TOMORROW. >> SO WE CAN SAY TODAY WE WILL REVIEW AGAIN IN FOUR WEEKS SO WHATEVER OUR TIMELINE IS. THEN WE CAN PUSH IT FROM THERE IF NEEDED. >> HOW ABOUT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING? >> THAT'S WHAT MY THOUGHT WOULD BE, WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT BOARD MEETING TO GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MARKET AND BEGIN THE DISCONNECTS ONE WEEK AFTER THAT BOARD MEETING. HAVE ANOTHER REVIEW OF HOW SUCCESSFUL WE ARE IN DECEMBER. THAT GIVES US A BETTER INCLINATION HOW CAN YOU FEEL WE'RE DOING. I LIKE THE PLAN. I JUST THINK IT NEEDS TO BE A LITTLE BIT -- JUST A CRITIQUE OF THE TIMING AND GET THE MESSAGE OUT. 20 DAYS IS NOT GOING HURT ANYBODY. 20, 15 DAYS. THAT'S JUST GOING TO HELP MATTERS. THEN GET IT IMPLEMENTED IN NOVEMBER, SEE WHERE WE ARE IN DECEMBER, AND MAYBE WE HAVE TO INCREASE IT TO THREE CUTOFFS A WEEK, THREE DAYS A WEEK INSTEAD OF TWO. WHO KNOWS WHERE WE'LL BE. MAYBE WE'LL HAVE GREAT SUCCESS THAT FIRST WEEK IN NOVEMBER AND WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TO HAVE A FURTHER CONVERSATION. >> MIGHT NOT BE NO CUTOFFS, YOU'RE PUSHING FOR THE GOOD. >> THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL. >> THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL, BUT SO I WOULD BE WILLING TO MAKE A MOTION TO IMPLEMENT THIS PLAN WITH SOME OF THE SUGGESTED CHANGES WE'VE MADE. AND NO DISCONNECTS UNTIL THE SECOND MEETING IN NOVEMBER WHEN WE REVIEW WHAT -- HOW THIS PLAN HAS WORKED SO FAR. AND THEN WE'LL EVALUATE IT AND SEE IF -- WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO GO FURTHER. >> I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION. >> YES. >> MOVED BY -- SECONDED BY THE ATTORNEY. CALL THE ROLL. >> MR. FEE. >> ARE YES, MA'AM. >> MISSOURI GIBBONS. >> YES, MA'AM. >> MAYOR HUDSON. >> YES, MA'AM. >> CHARLIE MATTHEWS. >> YES, MA'AM. >> NOW, I CAN'T FIND MY NOTES. I'M GOING TO SKIP THAT. I CERTAINLY WANT TO SUGGEST THAT YOU START WORKING ON HARDSHIP PLAN OF ACTION BECAUSE WE HAVE HURRICANES AND FLOODS AND EVERYTHING. WE CAN START WORKING ON IT SLOW. YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK IN THE NEXT TWO MEETINGS BUT SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE YOU NEED TO PUT TOGETHER CERTAIN SUGGESTIONS FROM ADMINISTRATION STANDPOINT WHAT TO DO IN THESE SITUATIONS. BECAUSE IT WOULD BE -- IF THIS [00:55:02] RECURS, WE'LL GO SIX MORE MONTHS, MAYBE. >> WE HAVE RESTRICTED FUNDS CURRENTLY IN THE BUDGET BUT THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH -- I BELIEVE IT'S THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION BUCKS FOR STORMS? BARBARA? >>> WE HAVE RESTRICTED MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR STORMS. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN STORMS, BUT IT COULD BE. WE CAN CHECK AND SEE IF THAT'S AVAILABLE. >> YOU MIGHT WANT TO ADD THIS COVID -- IF IT -- NATIONAL NEWS AND EVERYBODY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND EVERYBODY KEEPS SAYING IS MIGHT COME BACK. YOU LOOK AT STATISTICS, IN SOME COUNTIES IT'S PROBABLY COMING BACK. WE THINK WE SEE IT UNTIL THE END AND IT GOES SIX MORE MONTHS. I'M NOT WISHING FOR THAT BUT WE HAVE TO FACE REALITY. WE WERE LOOKING NOT TO HAVE A HURRICANE BUT THERE ARE OTHER DISASTERS OTHER THAN THAT. IT LOOKS LIKE SICKNESS IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THEM. I'M JUST TELLING YOU TO BE PREPARED. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WRESTLE AT A MEETING ABOUT BRINGING YOUR PLANS. WE VOTED UP AND DOWN. PUT SOMETHING ON PAPER THAT YOU KNOW -- YOU LIVE CLOSE BY. THAT WOULD CERTAINLY HELP. THAT IS JUST A SUGGESTION AS A BOARD MEMBER. THE OTHER ONE I HAVE, THE ATTORNEY, I WISH YOU WOULD RESEARCH AND GIVE US WHAT YOU THINK THIS AFFIDAVIT WOULD DO BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO TAKE OUR CUSTOMERS TO COURT. BUT YOU KNOW, THE WORDS AFFIDAVIT AND LEGAL MEANS YOU ARE HEADING THAT WAY. >> ARE YOU SPECIFICALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE POST-EVALUATION OR POST EVALUATION OF THE AFFIDAVIT, IN OTHER WORDS, GOING BACK AND US CHECKING TO SEE WHAT THEY SAID IS TRUE? >> BUT I'M ALSO CONCERNED THAT EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A CUSTOMER THAT JUST FOR SOME REASON THEY DIDN'T DO WHAT THEY SAID THEY'RE GOING TO DO AND THEY'RE UNEMPLOYED AND WE TAKE THEM TO COURT. I'M LOOKING AT HOW MUCH TEETH THIS HAS. I DON'T WANT TO PUT A CUSTOMER IN A BAD SITUATION. BUT EVERYBODY KNOW THEY NEED TO TRY TO WORK ON PAYING THEIR BILLS. BUT JUST RIGHT NOW THERE'S SOME HARD TIMES. >> MR. CHAIRMAN? >> YES. >> THERE'S NOTHING THAT REQUIRES US TO TAKE ANYONE TO COURT OVER THOSE AFFIDAVITS. THAT'S STRICTLY AN INTERNAL MATTER FOR US TO DECIDE AMONG OURSELVES. >> OKAY. >> THERE'S NO ISSUE THERE WHATSOEVER. >> OKAY. >> YOU COULD EVEN -- MR. KOBLEGARD, YOU COULD TALK TO DAN MCINTYRE, THE GUY WHO GENERATED THIS OR REVIEWED IT. >> THAT'S THE DECISION FOR THE UA TO MAKE. THERE'S NO COURT INVOLVED IN THIS. UNLESS THEY WANTED TO MAKE IT THAT WAY. AND I DON'T SEE THAT EVER HAPPENING. >> IT LOOKS PRETTY STRAIGHT FORWARD. I WAS REVIEWING IT. IT LOOKS LIKE NAME, ADDRESS, YOU VERIFY WHAT YOUR INCOME WAS BEFORE AND AFTER COVID AND THEN A BRIEF DESCRIPTION AND SIGNATURE. THERE'S NOT A LOT OF -- >> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. >> MR. CHAIRMAN. >> YES, MA'AM. >> SO I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE VERY WILLING TO HELP PEOPLE FILL OUT PAPERWORK, SPECIFICALLY ALPI AND AT ST. MARK'S CHURCH AT TENTH STREET AND ORANGE AVENUE. SO THEY'RE VERY WILLING TO HELP, VOLUNTEERS ARE WILLING TO HELP FILL OUT THE PAPERWORK, AS WOULD I BE IF NEEDED SO I'M OFFERING THAT IN TERMS OF TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE GET ACCESS TO THE MUSTARD SEED AND ALPI AS WELL AS GET ON THE PAYMENT PLAN AND GOOD FAITH PAYMENT. SO ... >> YOU MENTIONED HERE IN THE BOTTOM, THREE-DAY SCHEDULE. I KNOW WE'VE SCRAPPED SOME OF OF THE PLANS BUT YOU GOT HERE THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS. IN OUR MOTION WE TALKED ABOUT REVIEWING IT THE NEXT -- THE BOARD MEETING OF NOVEMBER. SO I DON'T WANT IT TO BE THIS THANKSGIVING TO BE IN CONFLICT BECAUSE YOU -- >> NO. >> NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TODAY, WE'RE COMMITTING TO NOT CUT DURING THANKSGIVING OR CHRISTMAS. THAT PART IS -- WILL BE FINALIZED TODAY. >> THE MOTION WAS FOR THE SECOND MEETING IN NOVEMBER, WHICH WOULD BE BEFORE THANKSGIVING. >> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. >> EFFECTIVELY IT MAKES IT SO YOU WON'T CUT ANYBODY BEFORE DECEMBER THE 1ST. THE NEXT WEEK AFTER THE 17TH, THE NEXT WEEK IS THANKSGIVING. >> RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT. >> ALL RIGHT, WITH THAT THE LAST * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.