[00:00:01]
>> GOOD EVENING. I'D ASK EVERYBODY TO PLEASE TAKE A SEAT AND IF
[Call to Order]
YOU WISH TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WE'D ASK YOU TO PLEASE GO OUT IN THE OPEN AREA BEHIND THERE.THE TIME IS NOW 7:00 P.M. AND I'LL CALL TO ORDER THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING OF TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH.
WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE INVOCATION, FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE, AND THEN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. IF YOU PLEASE RISE.
>>DEAR GOD, MAY YOU GRANT WISDOM FOR EACH DECISION MADE TO PROTECT AND SERVE THE CITIZENS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, AND GIVE HOPE AND GUIDANCE FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE.
AMEN. LET'S HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE?
WE BEGAN WITH PUBLIC HEARINGS.
[Items 1 - 3]
ORDINANCE ON FIRST READING ON THE MILLAGE RATE, THEN FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER ORDINANCE ON THE FISCAL YEAR COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM WITHOUT ULTIMATE OVER STAFF.>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
AS YOU JUST INDICATED, THIS IS THE FIRST BUDGET HEARING, PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE FY24 BUDGET.
THIS HAS BEEN A LONG PROCESS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.
WE STARTED IN JUNE WITH HAVING A BUDGET OPERATING WORKSHOP.
WE ALSO SET TRIM IN JULY, WHICH IS SETTING THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR TO BE ABLE TO NOTIFY THE PUBLIC ON WHAT MILLAGE RATE WILL BE.
ALSO, IN AUGUST, WE HAD ANOTHER WORKSHOP RELATING TO THE CIP BUDGET AND ALSO ANY UPDATES THAT WE HAD ON THE OPERATING BUDGET.
SO AN OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET OBJECTIVES AND THE ASSUMPTIONS.
WE HAVE A 3% REDUCTION IN TOWN MILLAGE.
WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AT THE CRA PRESENTATION JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO.
THE TOWN HAS REDUCED ITS OVERALL MILLAGE BY APPROXIMATELY 3%.
THE AD VALOREM REVENUES ARE HIGHER, BUT THAT'S PRIMARILY DUE TO THE FORECASTED INCREASES IN THE PROPERTY VALUES AND NEW CONSTRUCTION.
EXPENDITURES, THERE HAS BEEN A 5% INCREASE IN EMPLOYEE SALARIES.
ALSO, A MOVE FROM 80/20 SPLIT OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE TO A PROPOSED 90/10 SPLIT FOR THE HEALTHCARE COSTS BETWEEN THE TOWN AND THE EMPLOYEES AND ALSO TO MAINTAIN THE LEVEL OF CONTRIBUTION OF THE EMPLOYEE'S H.S.A ACCOUNTS, CONTINUED WITH THAT FUNDING.
THERE'S BEEN AN INCREASE IN FRS BENEFITS.
SO WE'RE ALL AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE FOR THAT.
PD UNION SALARY INCREASES AS PER THE ADOPTED UNION CONTRACT.
AND ALSO PROPOSED OUR PROJECTED INCREASES FOR PROPERTY AND LIABILITY COSTS.
PROPERTY PRIMARILY OF 40% AND 20% INCREASES IN LIABILITY INSURANCE.
YOU DO HAVE ON THE AGENDA THIS EVENING.
THE RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF FOR THE INSURANCE SO FAR OUR ESTIMATES HAVE HELD PRETTY ACCURATE.
BUT GOING INTO WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE PROPERTY VALUES, YOU CAN SEE IN THE FY24 VALUATION IS JUST OVER $15.8 BILLION WHEREAS IN 24, IT WAS JUST OVER $14 BILLION.
AN INCREASE OF 1.7 BILLION OVER FY23.
HOW THAT IS AGGREGATED OUT, YOU HAVE 1.7 IN NEW VALUES AND THEN $68 MILLION IN NEW CONSTRUCTION.
SO HALF A PERCENT IN NEW CONSTRUCTION OF THE TREND THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING.
WE TALK ABOUT IT EVERY YEAR, BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY STARTING TO REALLY SEE IT.
LAST YEAR WAS JUST OVER 1% FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION.
[00:05:03]
NOW WE'RE DOWN TO A HALF A PERCENT.SO THAT NEW CONSTRUCTION VALUE WILL STAY LOW GOING FORWARD.
UNLESS WE DO SOME ANNEXATION OF RAW LAND.
SO HOW DOES THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE COMPARED TO THE ROLLBACK BASED ON 95% OF TAXES COLLECTED, YOU CAN JUST SEE FOR THE FY24 PROPOSED RATE OF 2.3894, WHICH IS THE 3% REDUCTION OF WHAT WE'VE HISTORICALLY ADOPTED.
IF WE WERE TO ADOPT THE ROLLBACK RATE OF 2.2012, IT WOULD BE 33,171,680.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ROLLBACK RATE AND THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE IS $2,836,139.
THE PROPOSED MILLAGE RATE IS 8.55% OVER THE ROLLBACK RATE.
SO FOR THE BUDGETARY SNAPSHOT FOR THE TOWN AS A TOTAL, THE PROPOSED FY24 OPERATING BUDGETS REPRESENT A $7.4 MILLION INCREASE OVER FY23.
WITH THE MAJORITY OF THAT INCREASE IS IN THE GENERAL FUND OPERATING.
THIS IS PRIMARILY DUE TO SALARY AND BENEFIT INCREASES FOR EMPLOYEES.
PROPOSED NEW POSITIONS, PROPERTY LIABILITY INSURANCE.
THERE'S ALSO A PULL FROM FUND BALANCE.
WE DISCUSSED THIS DURING THE WORKSHOP FOR THE ROGER DEAN STADIUM PROJECT THAT WE'VE ALSO BUDGET IN THE GENERAL FUND OPERATING.
THERE'S ALSO AN INCREASE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE GENERAL FUND PORTION OF THE CIP, $691,000 INCREASE IN THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM.
THE WATER UTILITY IS ANTICIPATING OR REQUESTING A 7% INCREASE FOR RATE INDEXING DUE TO INFLATIONARY PRESSURES AND THE STORMWATER UTILITY, A 6.5 RATE INDEX AND A 0.5% ADJUSTMENT FOR INFLATION.
WE TALKED ABOUT ALL OF THOSE INCREASE REQUESTS DURING THE BUDGETARY WORKSHOPS.
SO LOOKING AT THE GENERAL FUND, SPECIFICALLY THE REVENUES, WE'VE HAD A NET INCREASE OF $7.3 MILLION.
INCREASE IN ASSESSED VALUES RESULTS IN 2.4 MILLION DOLLAR INCREASE OVER FY23 IN AD VALOREM DOLLARS, $1.2 MILLION INCREASE IN FRANCHISE REVENUE DUE TO FPL RATE INCREASES.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUES HAVE ALSO INCREASED $940,000 DUE TO SALES TAX REVENUE AND STATE-SHARED REVENUES.
THERE'S ALSO BEEN SOME INCREASES IN CHARGES FOR SERVICES PRIMARILY DUE TO SOLID WASTE SURCHARGE, REVENUE, AND ALLOCATION COST.
AN INCREASE OF $835,000 IN INTEREST EARNINGS DUE TO THE FED'S RAPID INCREASE IN THE INTEREST RATES.
AND THEN THE $750,000 USE OF RESERVES.
AGAIN FOR THE ROGER DEAN STADIUM AND IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE DISCUSSED EARLIER.
FOR EXPENDITURES, YOU CAN SEE HERE, WE HAD ADOPTED LAST YEAR THE INFLATIONARY SUBSIDY.
YOU CAN SEE THERE HAS BEEN A REDUCTION OF $475,000 DUE TO THAT LINE ITEM, BUT PRIMARILY THE DRIVERS, AS WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED, ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, IS OVERTIME AND SALARY BENEFIT INCREASES.
ALSO, THERE ARE SOME COSTS IN THERE FOR THE TOWN HALL GREEN, ADDITIONAL COSTS, AND THEN THE PALM BEACH COUNTY ROGER DEAN STADIUM CONTRIBUTION.
WE LOOKED AT THIS YEAR, JUST GOING BACK TO WHEN WE DISCUSSED THIS DURING THE WORKSHOPS.
WHEN WE WANT TO LOOK AT THE WATER UTILITY, WE START WITH A 3% INCREASE AS THE BASE.
WE ALWAYS START THAT AS A BASE NUMBER AND START LOOKING AT THE EXPENDITURES THAT ARE COMING IN AND WHAT THE UTILITY NEEDS TO OPERATE GOING FORWARD.
SO WE'VE LOOKED AT THAT RATE INDEX AT 3% PLUS AN ADDITIONAL ONE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT FOR A TOTAL OF 4.5%.
AND INFLATIONARY ADJUSTMENT AT 2.5.
TO RECAPTURE THE INFLATIONARY COSTS FOR REINVESTMENT A TOTAL OF 7%.
AND WE ALSO ARE ASSUMING A 0.5% FOR GROWTH AND CUSTOMERS AND A $442,000 USE OF RETAINED EARNINGS IN REGARDS TO THE FUNDING FOR THE WATER UTILITY PORTION.
ON THE EXPENSE SIDE, WHAT WE'VE ALREADY TOUCHED ON THE 5% INCREASES IS FOR SALARIES, THE 90/10 SPLIT FOR THE HEALTH INSURANCE.
THERE'S SOME NEW POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN BUDGETED IN THE UTILITY.
YOU CAN SEE THE COST BREAKDOWN THERE.
THERE HAS BEEN A REDUCTION IN THE DEBT SERVICE GOING FORWARD.
[00:10:01]
ALSO, THERE HAVE BEEN INCREASES IN UTILITY SERVICE COST DUE TO FPL RATE INCREASES.CHEMICAL COST REDUCTIONS, YOU JUST APPROVE THE BIDS ON THOSE.
SO YOU'VE SEEN THOSE REDUCTIONS GOING FORWARD, THE PROPERTY AND LIABILITY INSURANCE.
ALSO, WE'VE PROGRAMMED IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE COST INCREASES FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE CIP MANAGEMENT, AND ALSO AN INCREASE FOR LABORATORY TESTING SERVICES.
FOR THE STORMWATER FUND, 7% INCREASE FOR THE RATE INDEX, SIX-AND-A-HALF FOR INFLATIONARY IMPACTS, AND A HALF PERCENT FOR CAPITAL REINVESTMENT, ASSUMING A 0.2% CUSTOMER GROWTH AND ALSO A $440,000 USE OF RETAINED EARNINGS.
ON THE EXPENSE SIDE, AGAIN, 5% FOR THE SALARIES, THE 90/10 SPLIT ON THE INSURANCE, OUTSOURCING, CLEANING, AND VIDEO OF TOWN-OWNED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS INCREASE OF $130,000 OVER FY23.
PROPERTY AND LIABILITY INSURANCE AGAIN, AND THE USE OF ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL SERVICES THAT WE'RE BUDGETING FOR TO HELP MANAGE THE CIP PROJECTS OF THE UTILITY.
WE PUT INTO PLACE OR THE COUNCIL PUT INTO PLACE THE JUPITER RIVER ESTATES NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT.
WE HAD TOLD YOU LAST YEAR WHEN WE GOT READY TO APPROVE THIS ASSESSMENT, THAT YOU WOULD START TO SEE THIS EVERY YEAR AND THE BUDGETARY PROCESS.
WELL, THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR FOR THAT.
I WANTED TO CALL THE ATTENTION TO THE FIRST YEAR OF THE NON-AD VALOREM ASSESSMENT FUND FOR THE VEGETATIVE CLEANING.
THE BUILDING FUND, PERMIT REVENUE, STILL PRETTY STEADY.
WE HAVE THESE ONE-OFF PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING INTO TOWN THAT DRIVE UP SOME OF THESE PERMITS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
WE'RE ESTIMATING ABOUT A $200,000 INCREASE IN THE PROGRAM REVENUES.
ONE BIG ONE THAT WE KNOW WHAT'S COMING IS THE ROGER DEAN STADIUM, SO WE KNOW THAT THAT'S COMING HERE VERY SHORTLY.
ALSO INTEREST EARNINGS ARE UP JUST ALONG WITH THE OTHER FUNDS AND THERE'S A SMALL USE OF RETAINED EARNINGS TO HELP FUND THE BUILDING FUND.
THEN THE SAME DRIVERS AS THE OTHER FUNDS, WE HAVE SALARY INCREASES, HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASES, BUT IT'S AN OVERALL DECREASE FROM FY23 OF $126,000.
THIS IS PRIMARILY DUE TO THE ONETIME CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS THAT HAPPENED IN FY23 THAT WERE NOT RECOGNIZED IN AN FY24.
THE HEALTH INSURANCE FUND, VERY HEALTHY.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS DURING THE WORKSHOP TOO.
THE GOAL IS TO GET TO $10 MILLION IN RESERVE FUNDING FOR THE HEALTH INSURANCE FUND.
WE'RE MONITORING CLAIMS ON A MONTHLY BASIS AND REPORT THOSE OUT TO THE COUNCIL ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.
FEELING VERY COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING ON THE 90/10 SPLIT.
AGAIN, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT THE WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.
BUT AGAIN, FUND BALANCE GOAL TO 10 MILLION, I BELIEVE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS WILL BE THERE.
OVERALL, CIP FUNDING FOR THE TOWN, JUST OVER $88 MILLION, ALMOST $89 MILLION OVER THE FUNDING WINDOW.
$22.2 MILLION IN FY24, THAT'S FOR ALL THE FUNDS.
ONE OF THE THING I DID WANT TO POINT OUT FOR THE SECOND HEARING IS THERE WILL BE AN ADJUSTMENT.
WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT SOME OF THE CIPS AND ASSURING UP SOME OF THE NUMBERS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOOKED AT IS SOME OF THE WELLS THAT ARE CURRENTLY BEING BUDGETED.
IN FY26, WE WILL BE PUSHING OUT TO 2023, $5.3 MILLION WORTH OF NEW WELL CONSTRUCTION.
THAT'S PRIMARILY DUE TO SOME NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE COMING IN.
WE'RE GOING TO BE MONITORING THAT AS WE GO FORWARD, BUT RIGHT NOW WE FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH MOVING THOSE TWO WELLS OUT FROM FY26 TO 2031.
SO YOU WILL SEE THAT ON THE SECOND READING.
IT DOESN'T AFFECT THE FY24 NUMBER, BUT WE WANTED TO CALL THAT OUT.
IN SUMMARY, STAFF IS SEEKING APPROVAL ON FIRST READING, THE PROPOSED OPERATING MILLAGE RATE OF 2.3894, AND DEBT SERVICE RATE OF 0.1330 THROUGH ORDINANCE 16-23.
WE'RE ALSO SEEKING APPROVAL ON FIRST READING THE PROPOSED FY24 THROUGH '28 COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM AND THROUGH ORDINANCE 17-23.
ALSO, YOU'RE NOT ACTUALLY ADOPTING THE OPERATING BUDGET.
IT'S MORE FOR THE PUBLIC PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION AND QUESTIONS, IF YOU MAY HAVE ON THE OPERATING BUDGET.
[00:15:02]
WE'LL BE COMING BACK TO YOU IN SECOND READING TO SEEK ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 94-23, WHICH WILL ADOPT THE TOWN'S OPERATING BUDGET FOR FY24.>> ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL? SEEING NONE, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE BUDGET?
>> GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR, TOWN COUNCIL, STAFF.
THIS IS THE LITTLE FLYER THAT YOU GET FROM THE PROPERTY APPRAISER AND IT SHOWS HERE, THIS IS WHERE YOU APPROVE THE RATE REDUCTION.
I'M HERE TO SUGGEST THAT YOU GO BACK TO LAST YEAR'S RATE. I DID THE MATH.
MY TAXES GO UP $22 AND YOUR FUNDS WOULD GO UP A MILLION.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU HAVE IT.
YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS ON YOUR PLATE COMING UP THIS YEAR THAT YOU NEED A LITTLE EXTRA MONEY FOR AND I THINK THAT'LL BE A GOOD PLACE TO FIND THAT.
JUST REESTABLISH IT TO THE SAME RATE AS LAST YEAR. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
I THINK YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB AND I'LL BE BACK LATER.
I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE BIG THINGS THAT ARE COMING UP. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU. BACK TO COUNCIL.
WE'LL HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ORDINANCE 16-23 ON FIRST READING.
>> THERE'S TOWN ATTORNEY TO READ ORDINANCE 16-23, AND SHORT TITLE.
>> AN ORDINANCE TO THE TOWN COUNCIL, TOWN OF JUPITER, FLORIDA ADAPTING MILLAGE RATE TO BE LEVIED BY THE TOWN OF JUPITER AND TAXABLE, REAL AND TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY WITHIN THE TOWN FROM THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2023 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2024.
STATING ROLLBACK MILLAGE RATE, STATING THE PERCENT BY WHICH THE MILLAGE RATE EXCEEDS FUE, THE ROLLBACK MILLAGE RATE AND LOVING AD VALOREM TAXES, AND ALL TAXABLE, REAL AND TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY IN THE TOWN OF JUPITER FOR THE THIRD FISCAL YEAR.
>> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND AND ORDINANCE 17-23 ON FIRST READING.
AGAIN, I ASK TO TOWN ATTORNEY TO READ ORDINANCE 17-23 ON SHORT TITLE.
>> AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF TOWN OF JUPITER, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE TOWN'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO UPDATE THE FIVE-YEAR COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM INCLUDED WITHIN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ELEMENT OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL LAWS AND CONFLICT, PROVIDING FOR SEPARABILITY AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[OVERLAPPING] AYE. THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU, STAFF. MOVING ON TO WE HAVE
[4. Florida League of Cities presenting the Florida Municipal Achievement Public Engagement Award to the Town for the Passport to Jupiter. (continued from 8/15/23) #]
A PRESENTATION TONIGHT FROM THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES.IS THE REPRESENTATIVE HERE [NOISE]?
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL, STAFF AND CITIZENS.
I AM THE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS SPECIALIST FROM THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES, WHICH IS LOCATED IN TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA.
JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF AUDIENCE MEMBERS WHO MAY BE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES, WE HAVE SERVED AS THE UNITED VOICE FOR FLORIDA'S 411 CITIES, TOWNS, AND VILLAGES SINCE 1922 AND OUR GOAL IS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR CITIES BY PROVIDING ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, RESOURCES AND OTHER SERVICES AND OF COURSE, ALWAYS STANDING UP FOR THE RIGHTS OF THE GOVERNMENT CLOSEST TO THE PEOPLE, INCLUDING GOVERNMENTS LIKE THE TOWN OF JUPITER.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING A DEDICATED MEMBER OF THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES.
THE LEAGUE HAS BEEN RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING CITIES, TOWNS, AND VILLAGES SINCE 2009 THROUGH OUT FLORIDA MUNICIPAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS PROGRAM.
WE HAVE FOUR PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT, LOCAL ACTION, AND THE AWARD THAT I'M HERE TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS EVENING, THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AWARD.
THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AWARD FOCUSES ON A CITY PROGRAM THAT BUILDS A MORE VITAL PARTICIPATIVE COMMUNITY.
THIS PROGRAM MAY DEVELOP CIVIC AWARENESS, INCREASE EDUCATION AND KNOWLEDGE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS, OR PROMOTE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION AMONGST YOUR RESIDENTS, YOUR BUSINESSES AND VISITORS.
[00:20:01]
THE TOWN OF JUPITER IS WINNING ENTRY.THE PASSPORT TO JUPITER ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO VISIT LOCATIONS IN THE JUPITER AREA TO DRIVE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
SITES WERE BROKEN INTO DIFFERENT CATEGORIES FOR THE PASSPORT, INCLUDING PARKS AND REC, HISTORIC LOCATIONS, ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE, AND THE JUPITER RIVER WALK.
AFTER VISITING 30 OF THE 71 LOCATIONS IN THE PASSPORT, RESIDENTS CAN COME TO TOWN HALL AND RECEIVE A PRIZE.
THIS PASSWORD IS AVAILABLE IN BOTH A BOOK FORM WHERE RESIDENTS CAN GO AND GET A PHYSICAL STAMP AND A MOBILE APP WHERE THEY CAN GET A DIGITAL PASSPORT STAMP.
THIS PROGRAM WHICH WAS LAUNCHED IN JANUARY OF 2022, WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH, OVER 1,000 PASSPORT BOOKS WERE HANDED OUT TO RESIDENTS.
AT THE TIME THAT THE SUBMISSION WAS WRITTEN FOR OUR PROGRAM, THE TOWN HAD DISTRIBUTED OVER 5,100 PASSPORT BOOKS, AND THE APP HAD BEEN DOWNLOADED OVER 1,600 TIMES.
THIS PROGRAM IS TRULY A TESTAMENT TO CITY LEADERSHIP AND THE EXCELLENT STAFF THAT YOU HAVE HERE.
I WANTED TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT-OUT TO THE STAFF THAT YOU HAVE HERE THIS EVENING THAT WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN THIS PROGRAM.
THAT INCLUDES SHAWN REED, COMMUNITY RELATIONS MANAGER AND PIO, SANDY MCCREADY, GRAPHIC DESIGNER, KATE POKORNY, COMMUNICATIONS PROJECTS COORDINATOR, OTTO SUAREZ, WEB AND MULTIMEDIA SPECIALIST AND JILL ALVAREZ, DIGITAL CONTENT COORDINATOR.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE STAFF THAT ARE HERE THIS EVENING.
[APPLAUSE] THE FLORIDA MUNICIPAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD IS THE HIGHEST AWARD THAT WE PRESENT TO OUR CITIES AND YOUR NOMINATION WAS EXCELLENT AND YOUR EFFORTS IN ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY ARE SEEN THROUGH THE RESULTS OF THIS PROGRAM.
IN ADDITION TO THE TROPHY THAT I'M HERE TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS EVENING, THE TOWN WILL BE FEATURED ON OUR WEBSITE, IN OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND IN OUR STATEWIDE QUALITY CITIES MAGAZINE.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE THE STAFF ABOUT THIS TIME SO I KNOW. COME ON, GUYS.
[LAUGHTER] THAT WAY I CAN SAY ON BEHALF OF THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES, I'M HONORED TO PRESENT YOU WITH THE 2023 FLORIDA MUNICIPAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.
[APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING HERE THIS EVENING AND FROM RECOGNIZING OUR STAFF.
WE'RE THRILLED WITH HIM OR HERSELF. THANK YOU.
>> YES SIR. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE].
[CITIZEN COMMENTS]
>> MOVING ON TO CITIZEN COMMENTS.
THIS IS FOR NON AGENDA ITEMS AND WE LIMIT TO THREE MINUTES A CITIZEN.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IS ASKED TO STATE HIS OR HER NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
THIRD, ADDRESSING THE TOWN COUNCIL.
COUNCIL WILL NOT BE DISCUSSING THESE ITEMS GENERALLY THIS EVENING, ANY ISSUES ARE EITHER REFERRED TO STAFF OR BASICALLY AT THE END OF THE MEETING UNDER COUNCIL REPORTS, WE SOMETIMES HAVE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE COMMENTS.
WITH THAT I ASK STAFF, HOW MANY COMMENTS DO WE HAVE?
>> WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 20 CITIZEN COMMENTS IN TOTAL.
FIRST ONE IS GOING TO BE ANDY WESTERN.
>> GOOD EVENING. ANDY WESTERN AGAIN, 949 DOLPHIN.
I SENT YOU ALL A RESOLUTION ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FORMATION AND I THINK THAT'S A FABULOUS THING THAT YOU-ALL HAVE DONE.
YOU'VE STUDIED IT FOR OVER A YEAR.
YOU'VE HIRED CONSULTANTS, YOU'VE DEVELOPED A FLATLINE ON WHAT IS GOING TO COST.
AND IF ANYBODY HAS A NEGATIVE TO THE BRING OUT ON IT, THEY SHOULD GO TALK TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION BECAUSE YOU'RE REACTING TO WHAT THE COUNTY COMMISSION IS LAID AT YOUR FEET AS SHE BE PAID AND YOU FOUND THAT YOU CAN DO IT CHEAPER.
AND I THINK IT'LL BE AT LEAST AS GOOD AND HOPEFULLY BETTER SIMILAR TO WHAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHY I'M HERE TONIGHT.
I SUBMITTED THAT RESOLUTION TO YOU AND I REALLY THINK FRANK WOULD NEED SOME HELP ON HAVING THAT RESOLUTION ADOPTED THAT HE CAN HOLD UP.
THIS IS MY AUTHORITY TO GET GOING WITH THE PLANNING AND BRINGING STUFF BACK TO YOU.
[00:25:04]
SO THE OTHER ISSUE THAT SOMEBODY HAS IDENTIFIED TO ME THAT IS MAYBE MORE IMPORTANT THAN A DOLPHIN DRIVE, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S STILL IMPORTANT TO ME.SUNNY SANDS. SO I WENT AND LOOKED AT WHAT A MIDDEN THIS WHICH SOMEONE SAYS WE'VE GOT TO PRESERVE THIS.
AND IT'S A BONE HILL, IT'S A TRASH DUMPS.
IT'S AN OLD DUMPED FOR DOMESTIC WASTE WHICH COULD INCLUDE BONE, HUMAN EXCREMENT, AND OTHER MATTERS.
AND FOLKS HAVE SAID TO ME, WELL, ISN'T THAT A SACRED BURIAL GROUND? WELL, IF IT IS, WE SHOULD EXCAVATE THAT BURIAL GROUND AND TREAT THOSE REMAINS PROPERLY INSTEAD OF HOW THEY'VE BEEN TREATED OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF HUNDRED YEARS.
AND THIS FELLOW HERE MODECAI PAID $16 MILLION FOR THIS PROPERTY.
DURING THAT PERIOD OF 10 YEARS, HE'S AT LEAST ACCUMULATED $2.7 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAXES.
THIS IS ALL FROM THE PUBLIC RECORDS.
THIS IS NOT A LIGHT NUMBER THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT AND SAY, WELL, MAYBE WE CAN BUY THIS ON THE CHEAP. I DON'T THINK SO.
IF HE WAS LOOKING FOR A 5% RETURN YOU'RE LOOKING AT A MINIMUM $26 MILLION PLUS ALL OF THESE COSTS.
AND IF YOU'D LOOK FOR A 10% INCREASE AND YOU KNOW THE PROPERTY VALUES HAVE BEEN GOING UP HERE 10, 12% A YEAR, THAT'D BE $40 MILLION.
JUST DIVIDE A PROPERTY PLUS ALL THOSE COSTS AND LEGAL BILLS.
AND I REALLY WOULD SAY, LET'S GET THIS GUY TO BE ABLE TO EXCAVATE THAT WHATEVER IT IS AND FIND OUT WHAT TOTALLY IT ISN'T IF THERE'S STUFF THAT NEEDS TO BE PRESERVED, GET IT OUT.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND LET'S TREAT IT PROPERLY.
SO PLEASE LET HIM GO GET THAT DONE.
I APPRECIATE IT. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK ON THE PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE BECAUSE I KNOW IT IS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND I DID WANT TO TAKE MY MOMENT TO SPEAK.
WE'VE BEEN REALLY BLESSED AND UNPRECEDENTED RISE AND ASSESS PROPERTY VALUES.
AND I APPRECIATE THE TOWN DOING THE RIGHT THING AND ADJUSTING THE MILLAGE RATE A LITTLE BIT.
AND WHEN I LOOK AT THE BUDGET, I'M PRETTY PLEASED WITH IT.
BUT THESE VALUES SUPPORT PAYING FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES AT THE SERVICE LEVELS THAT JUPITER HAS BEEN ACCUSTOMED TO AND THAT INCLUDES THE RESPONSE OF PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE.
OUR QUALITY OF LIFE INCLUDES KNOWING THAT IF WE NEED FIRE AND RESCUE, WE CAN COUNT ON THE RESPONSE OF FULLY TRAINED, AWARD-WINNING FIRST RESPONDERS WHO HAVE PROPER EQUIPMENT AND DISPATCHERS WHO CAN RELAY CPR OVER THE PHONE.
AND ONE-MINUTE CAN NAME LIKE THAT.
AGAIN, I POINT OUT THAT WE HAVE THAT WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE.
FROM MY MUNICIPALITY, 33 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC SAFETY, BUDGET AND FINANCE, I KNOW HOW COSTLY IT IS TO CONTINUALLY HIRE AND TRAIN WHEN YOU HAVE A REVOLVING DOOR BECAUSE FIRST RESPONDERS WITH AMBITION WILL COME TO US ONLY FOR EXPERIENCED AND THEN LOOK ELSEWHERE FOR PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
THAT'S THE REALITY WITH A SMALL TOWN DEPARTMENT.
HOW DO YOU COMPETE? HOW WILL WE BE ABLE TO GET THE NUMBER ONE RANKING TO BENEFIT OUR HEALTH OUTCOMES AND OUR INSURANCES? MANY OF US, I'M NOT WILLING TO TAKE A STEP BACK.
PLEASE RECONSIDER YOUR DECISION FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL CITIZENS WHO LIVE, WORK, PLAY, AND ENJOY OUR BEAUTIFUL TOWN.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT DOLLARS AND CENTS.
PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE IS HERE FOR ALL CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY AND THAT INCLUDES IF YOU GET INTO AN ACCIDENT OR NEED SERVICES WHEN YOU'RE OUTSIDE OF JUPITER.
I'VE HAD IT HAPPEN, MY FAMILIES HAD IT HAPPEN, AND I THANK GOD FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE.
YES, THIS IS WHY THE COST MAY BE A LITTLE HIGH, BUT YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.
IT'S ALL ABOUT DOLLARS AND SENSE.
I'M SORRY. I JUST FELT LIKE I NEEDED TO BE GRAPHIC HERE.
LET'S PLEASE GET BACK TO COLLABORATION AND TRANSPARENT DECISION-MAKING.
LET'S INVITE, LET'S ENCOURAGE, LET'S EMBRACE PARTICIPATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY WHICH MAKES MUTUAL TRUST POSSIBLE.
[00:30:02]
THAT'S ON US THE CITIZENS, THAT'S ON ME, THAT'S ON YOU, THAT'S ON YOU. THANK YOU [APPLAUSE].>> HELLO. MY NAME IS CHELSEA GAS.
I'M STANDING UP HERE BECAUSE OUR TOWN IS BEING MANAGED POORLY ONCE AGAIN.
THIS PAST JULY I STOOD UP HERE PLEADING FOR BETTER PARTS.
NOW I'M STANDING UP HERE TO SAVE THE COMMUNITY FROM YOUR CHOICE TO TAKE AWAY PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE SERVICES.
YOUR DECISION TO CANCEL OUR CONTRACT WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE IS SELFISH AND DISGRACEFUL TO THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE HERE.
A DECISION WITH THIS MUCH MAGNITUDE SHOULD BE LEFT UP TO THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE LIVING HERE, THAT ARE USING THE SERVICES, AND THAT ARE PAYING TAXES.
PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE HAS PROVIDED THE TOWN OF JUPITER EXCELLENT SERVICE FOR THE PAST 40 YEARS.
THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES AND EXPERIENCE THEY PROVIDE CANNOT BE REPLACED.
NOT ONLY DID YOU MAKE A DECISION TO TAKE AWAY EXCEPTIONAL LIFE-SAVING SERVICE, NOW YOU WANT TO TAKE AWAY LAND THAT WAS DESIGNATED FOR PARKS TO BUILD FIRE STATIONS RIGHT ACROSS FROM ALREADY EXISTING PALM BEACH COUNTY STATIONS.
BASED OFF THE NUMBERS YOU ARE PROVIDING US, YOU WANT TO START A FIRE DEPARTMENT TO SAVE OUR TOWN TAX DOLLAR MONEY BUT DOING SO, YOU WILL BE PUTTING THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE OWN PROPERTY HERE, AND THAT VACATION HERE AT A HIGHER RISK OF DANGER.
I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF ANOTHER LOCAL TOWN THAT IS NOW PAYING FOR THEIR MISTAKE.
COCONUT CREEK SEPARATED FROM MARGARET AND THEIR FIRE ASSESSMENT FEE HAS BEEN INCREASING BY 10% EACH YEAR SINCE THEY LEFT.
COCONUT CREEK ACTUALLY GOT TO KEEP ALL OF THEIR APPARATUS AND THE STATIONS THAT THEY HAD LEFT.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, SOME OF THE FIREFIGHTERS TRANSFERRED OVER SO THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO START FROM SCRATCH AND THEY ARE STILL ENDING UP PAYING MORE.
IT'S AN HONOR TO HAVE A SERVICE THAT HAS CLASS 1 ISO RATING.
PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE PROVIDES US WITH A SERVICE THAT IS UNBEATABLE.
PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE NOT ONLY PROTECTS AND SAVES THE PEOPLE IN JUPITER, THEY ARE ALSO A SAFE PLACE TO GO IF YOU NEED HELP.
THEY COME TO OUR SCHOOLS AND EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN.
THEY'RE OUT IN THE STREETS COLLECTING DONATIONS TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR TRAINED PROFESSIONALS THAT CONTINUED TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES TO BETTER THEIR PATIENTS.
PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE HAS MADE A LARGE IMPACT ON OUR TOWN AND TO LOSE THEM FOR POWER TO HAVE MORE CONTROL OVER THE TOWN IS A CHOICE YOU WILL REGRET.
YOUR DECISION TO CANCEL PALM BEACH COUNTY CONTRACT FOR THE TOWN OF JUPITER WAS MADE DURING A PRESENTATION ALONG WITH AN EMPTY COUNCIL MEMBER CHAIR IN ZERO INPUT FROM THE RESIDENTS.
I'M STANDING UP HERE TONIGHT WITH OVER 2000 SIGNATURES IN A COMMENT ON A PETITION I CREATED TO KEEP PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE SERVICE FOR THE TOWN OF JUPITER.
YOU WILL BE DOING US A DISHONOR IF YOU TAKE PALM BEACH COUNTY SERVICE AWAY [APPLAUSE].
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LISA [INAUDIBLE] AND I LIVE AT 6451 ROBINSON STREET IN THE HEIGHTS,.
I'VE BEEN THERE 11 YEARS, AND I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED WITH THE DECISION THAT THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE PUSHING THROUGH TO TERMINATE THE SERVICES PROVIDED TO OUR TOWN BY PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE.
THIS DECISION IS RECKLESS AND CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS THAT OUR VOICES DO NOT MATTER TO YOU.
FOR OVER 40 YEARS, PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE HAS PROVIDED EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE TO OUR TOWN.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU OR YOUR LOVED ONES HAVE EVER BEEN ON THE RECEIVING END OF SUCH TOP-NOTCH CARE.
BUT MANY OF US IN THIS ROOM HAVE.
THEY CAN TELL YOU THAT THE LEVEL OF LIFE-SAVING CARE CANNOT BE REPLICATED.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MR. MAY, HAVE EVER WORKED OR TRAINED WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE, BUT I HAVE.
I HAVE ALSO WORKED WITH MANY MUNICIPAL AND SMALLER COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENTS OVER THE COURSE OF MY CAREER AND I CAN TELL YOU FIRSTHAND THAT THESE FIREFIGHTERS TRAIN IN SMALLER AGENCIES AND LEAVE TO GO TO PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE.
WHY? BECAUSE THEY PAY BETTER, BECAUSE THEIR PENSION AND RETIREMENT IS BETTER, BECAUSE THEIR TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES ARE BETTER,
[00:35:03]
BECAUSE THEIR ADVANCEMENT ABILITY IS GREATER.FOR MANY, THE END GOAL IS TO HAVE A CAREER WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE, AND NO ASSESSMENT IS GOING TO TELL YOU THAT.
BUT DO YOU KNOW WHO CAN? THE FAMILIES OF THESE FIREFIGHTERS ALONG WITH PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH THEM EVERY SINGLE DAY.
BUT DID YOU ASK ANY OF US WHAT OUR THOUGHTS WERE? NO. YOU SLIT IT IN AS A PRESENTATION AND STUDY ITEM AND THEN VOTED ON IT WITH A COUNCIL THAT HAS A VACANCY.
YOU PROVIDED NO NOTICE, THEREFORE NO PUBLIC COMMENT COULD BE MADE.
YET, YOU HAD A FULL-SCALE SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN, UPDATED EMAILS AND PRESS RELEASES READY TO GO.
SINCE MOST OF YOU ARE ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, YOU WOULD SEE THAT OVER 2,000 PEOPLE ARE UPSET BY YOUR DECISION.
YOU WOULD ALSO SEE THE ENDLESS COMMENTS OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS THAT ARE UPSET THAT YOU DIDN'T SURVEY US, AND GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE FORTHCOMING WITH YOU ON OUR THOUGHTS.
YOU WILL ALSO SEE THAT MANY WANT THIS ON A BALLOT.
INSTEAD OF LISTENING, YOU DOUBLE DOWN AND YOU IGNORE US.
A DECISION OF THIS MAGNITUDE SHOULD NOT BE MADE BY THREE PEOPLE.
AS I CAN VIVIDLY RECALL, SOME OF YOU CAMPAIGNED ON THE SLOGAN OF KEEPING JUPITER JUPITER.
BUT IT IS CLEAR AS DAY THAT MOST OF YOU DON'T ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS.
KEEPING JUPITER JUPITER DOESN'T MEAN TERMINATING OUR FIRE RESCUE SERVICES THAT HAVE BEEN HERE LONGER THAN ANY OF YOU.
KEEPING JUPITER JUPITER DOESN'T MEAN VACATING TWO PERFECTLY GOOD FIRE STATIONS TO BUILD NEW ONES ON GREEN SPACE.
IT IS DISGRACEFUL THAT YOU HAVE TURNED YOUR BACK ON THE PEOPLE WHO TRUSTED YOUR WORD ONLY TO HAVE YOU TEAR UP OUR TOWN, BUT SAY IT'S IN THE NAME OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
IT IS CLEAR THAT MONEY IS THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS TO YOU.
>> WELL, I DON'T THINK I CAN TOP ANY OF THAT.
I'M GOING TO GO ON THE SAME LINES, BUT BACK IN 2004 WHEN THE MAYOR WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER, THERE WAS A $17 MILLION BOND THAT WAS INITIATED TO PRESERVE GREEN SPACE HERE AND JUPITER, IT WAS CALLED THE OPEN SPACE PROGRAM AND IT WAS LAND ACQUISITION BOND REFERENDUM THAT WAS PUT TO A VOTE TO THE RESIDENTS THAT WAS OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED BY THE RESIDENTS.
NOW YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE AWAY, NOW THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR WANT TO DISREGARD THE PUBLIC VOTE FROM 2004 AND THEY WANT TO USE THIS GREEN SPACE TO BUILD A NEW STATION WHEN WE ALREADY HAVE MULTIPLE STATIONS IN JUPITER.
HOW CAN THEY SAY ON ONE HAND WE'RE PRESERVING AND ON THE OTHER HAND, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT AWAY.
SOMETHING THAT ONLY THREE PEOPLE VOTED FOR.
THEY WAITED UNTIL THERE WAS AN EMPTY SEAT ON THE COUNCIL TO TRY AND PUSH THIS THROUGH ON A NIGHT WHEN IT WAS AN AGENDA FOR OUR PRESENTATION, NOT AN AGENDA TO BE VOTED ON.
THIS IS NOT WHAT I CALL BEING TRANSPARENT.
YOU'RE NOT ONE BIT CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THE JUPITER RESIDENTS WANT.
YOU'RE NOT REPRESENTING US, YOU'RE REPRESENTING THREE PEOPLE'S OPINION.
IF THE TOWN HAD TO VOTE ON $17 MILLION BOND FOR GREEN SPACE, WHY WOULD THIS NOT BE PUT TO A VOTE TO CHANGE THE USE OF THAT LAND, NUMBER ONE, AND NUMBER TWO, WHY WOULD IT NOT BE PUT TO A VOTE IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING FOR OVER $70 MILLION.
AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO PUT IT TO A VOTE FOR THE PEOPLE.
YOU DON'T THINK THAT THE PEOPLE WANT INPUT ON THAT? THREE PEOPLE CANNOT MAKE THAT DECISION.
I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WOULD NOT HAVE PUT A VOTE, AND WHY YOU WOULD HAVE STUCK IT THROUGH.
WHERE'S THE TOWN COUNCIL'S, THE MAYOR'S HEAD AND THEIR HEART.
THIS IS NOT WHAT JUPITER IS ABOUT.
PALM BEACH COUNTY HAS A CLASS ONE RATING, GIVES THE BUSINESSES AND THE RESIDENTS LOWER INSURANCE PREMIUM.
YOU'RE GOING TO CHANGE TO SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO GIVE US A HIGHER INSURANCE PREMIUM.
PROPERTY TAXES ARE ALREADY GOING UP.
MY INSURANCE DOUBLED THIS YEAR.
MY INSURANCE IS GOING TO GO UP AGAIN.
ANYBODY THAT OWNS A BUSINESS IS GOING TO PAY A HIGHER PREMIUM FOR INSURANCE.
PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE HAS SPECIAL ALPS LOCATED IN JUPITER.
YOU'RE GOING TO END UP DOING ALL OF THAT? HOW MUCH MONEY ARE YOU GOING TO PUT IN? $70 MILLION IS NOT GOING TO COVER BUYING ALL THE EQUIPMENT THAT YOU NEED AND HAVING THE PREMIUM SERVICE THAT WE HAVE.
PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE HAS MULTIPLE AWARDS FOR COMING IN NUMBER ONE ON THEIR HAZMAT AND ON THE RESCUES.
YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT AWAY AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING HERE ONLY AS THEY SAID, AS A STEPPING STONE TO GO INTO PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE, THAT'S JUST WHERE MOST PEOPLE WANT TO GO.
THE PRICE IS QUOTED OR SO FAR OUT OF THE REALM OF REALITY.
IT'S PURE INSANITY TO THINK IT CAN BE DONE FOR $70 MILLION.
I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A CHARTER REVIEW OF COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER ADDING THAT ANY CHANGE IN EMERGENCY SERVICES SHOULD BE PUT TO THE RESIDENTS OF JUPITER FOR A VOTE.
[00:40:09]
>> GOOD EVENING, IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH ONES TO FOLLOW HERE THOUGH.
MY NAME IS BRIAN WHITE 1070 LAKE SHORE, 25-YEAR RESIDENT OF JUPITER.
I'M ALSO A 31 YEAR VETERAN OF THE FIRE SERVICE.
I COME FROM A SMALL DEPARTMENT.
I CAN TELL YOU FIRSTHAND, WORKING IN A SMALL APARTMENT, WE RELY ON OUR COUNTY.
I WORKED DOWN IN BROWARD COUNTY.
WE RELY ON BSL CONSTANTLY BECAUSE WE ARE A SMALL DEPARTMENT WHERE AN EXTREMELY BUSY DEPARTMENT, WE RANK ON THE TOP 20 BUSIEST RESCUES IN THE COUNTRY YEAR AFTER YEAR.
THAT'S HOW BUSY WE ARE. WE'RE CONSTANTLY RELYING ON THE COUNTY TO COME IN AND SUPPLEMENT US IN THE BACK US UP.
A GOOD EXAMPLE IS ONE STRUCTURE FIRE IN THE CITY WOULD DEPLETE THE ENTIRE RESOURCES OF THIS WHOLE TOWN.
THREE ENGINES, TWO RESCUE, A LADDER, AND BATTALION.
IF SOMEONE HAS ONE STRUCTURE FIRE IN THE CITY, THE WHOLE CITY IS EMPTY.
THAT MEANS THAT ANOTHER 911 CALL COMES IN, THERE'S NO BETTER RESPONSE AND THAT'S GOING TO REQUIRE MUTUAL AID.
ANOTHER UNIT IS GOING TO HAVE TO COME FROM GARDENS OR MARTIN COUNTY TO CUESTA TO HELP THOSE RESIDENTS OUT.
WHAT HAPPENS IF WE GET A SHOOTING OR A TRAUMA ALERT OR STROKE, DO WE HAVE A HELICOPTER? CAN WE FLY TO ST. MARY'S? WHAT HAPPENS IF ONE OF OUR UNIT HAS TO TRANSPORT SOMEBODY TO ST.
MARY'S BECAUSE THEY'VE A TRAUMA ALERT OR A STROKE ALERT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO ONE UNIT IS GOING TO BE OUT OF SERVICE.
PALM BEACH COUNTY HAS OVER 50 STATIONS WHERE THEY CAN EASILY BACKFILL UNITS WHEN THERE ARE MAJOR INCIDENTS THAT HAPPEN IN THE CITY.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GET AN ACCIDENT ON 95, ARE YOU SENDING TWO ENGINES AND A RESCUE LIKE NFPA RECOMMENDS? WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TWO ENGINES AND A RESCUE COMMITTED TO 95 OR THE TURNPIKE WHERE THEY HAVE TO DRIVE NORTH 18 MILES TO TURN BACK AROUND SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE OUT OF SERVICE FOR A GOOD HOUR.
TWO ENGINES AND A RESCUE ARE GOING TO BE OUT OF SERVICE FOR AN HOUR, WHEREAS PALM BEACH COUNTY, THEY CAN BACKFILL UNITS TO COME IN THERE AND FILL THESE THINGS UP.
YOU GUYS HIRED A CONSULTANT TO COME UP WITH FUNDING FOR APPARATUS.
I DID A QUICK LOOK AT THE MATH.
I'M NOT THE GREATEST AT MATH THERE, BUT I DID SOME SIMPLE CALCULATIONS THERE.
NOW, YOUR APPARATUS IS $7.4 MILLION AND IT SAYS FOR 15 YEARS.
BASICALLY WE'RE GOING TO BUY APPARATUS AND THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO LAST 15 YEARS.
AGAIN, I WORK IN AN EXTREMELY BUSY SERVICE.
WE HAVE A RESCUE THAT'S A YEAR OLD AND IT ALREADY HAS 90,000 MILES ON IT.
TELL ME HOW THESE APPARATUS ARE GOING TO LAST 15 YEARS.
THEN THE MATH IS THAT YOU'RE DOING THREE ENGINES, THREE RESCUES A LADDER.
BUT THERE'S NO RESERVE APPARATUS, SO THAT USES UP ALL YOUR MONEY.
DO YOU THINK THERE'S THREE ENGINES, THESE THREE RESCUES, THESE LADDERS ARE NEVER GOING TO BREAK DOWN? I CAN TELL YOU IN THAT 31 YEARS OF DOING FIRE RESCUE SERVICE, THEY BREAK CONSTANTLY.
NOW WITH ALL THE ELECTRONICS AND PROBLEMS WITH THESE APPARATUS, THEY ARE NOT RELIABLE AT ALL.
RUNNING ASSIGNMENTS. NFPA RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A STRUCTURE [INAUDIBLE], THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.
I ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS TO PLEASE DON'T DO THIS AND CONTINUE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE.
I'M A RESIDENT, MY FAMILY LIVES HERE.
I KNOW THE SERVICES THAT THEY GIVE, THEY'RE AMAZING AND STARTING A NEW DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO BE A STEPPING STONE.
>> I WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW THIS. I'M NOT THAT PREPARED.
MY NAME IS ANTHONY MICHAEL LIONETTI, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE.
I LIKE TO SAY THAT I'M THE PROUD FATHER OF THE CAPTAIN OF PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE.
I CAN TELL YOU THIS, I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT HERE SINCE 1983, PROBABLY LONGER THAN ANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT HERE.
I'M PROBABLY OLDER THAN MOST OF YOU SITTING AT YOUR TABLES.
BUT I CAN SAY THIS, JUPITER WAS KNOWN AS A TRUCK STOP BACK THEN, A TRUCK STOP.
NOW WE GET PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE COMES IN 40 YEARS AGO, AND WE'RE 6,000 PEOPLE.
NOW WE'RE 62,000 PEOPLE, AND WE'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE MONEY THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR TO TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY? TO HELP US WHEN WE'RE IN NEED.
I DON'T THINK THAT THREE PEOPLE SHOULD MAKE THAT DECISION.
I REALLY BELIEVE THAT YOU WORK FOR US.
ASK THE COMMUNITY, ASK THE PEOPLE, WHAT DO YOU WANT? JUST DON'T MAKE A DECISION.
IF THE PEOPLE SAY, WE LIKE YOUR IDEA AND WE VOTE IT IN, PUT IT TO A VOTE, AND LET THAT HAPPEN.
BUT GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE WHAT WE FEEL, BECAUSE THIS ROOM WOULDN'T BE THIS FULL IF WE DIDN'T FEEL ANOTHER WAY THAN THE WAY YOU'RE SPEAKING.
WE GO ON WITH EMPLOYEES, CHIEFS,
[00:45:04]
AND THE ASSISTANT CHIEFS, AND CAPTAINS AND LIEUTENANTS AND FIRE RESCUE.WHO ARE WE GOING TO GET, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN? WHO ARE WE GETTING? WE'RE GETTING RETIREES THAT ARE LOOKING FOR A SECOND PENSION.
OR ARE YOU GOING TO GET ROOKIES FRESH OUT OF THE ACADEMY THAT REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING? HERE YOU HAVE PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY? WHO ARE YOU GOING TO CALL FOR BACKUP? PALM BEACH GARDENS, YOUR CLOSEST? OR YOU ARE GOING TO CALL PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE? MOST LIKELY. WHO HAS APPARATUS, WHO HAVE FIRE TRUCKS AND PUMPERS AND RESCUES.
THEY HAVE EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO CALL ANYONE.
WHEN WE'RE GOING FROM 6,000-62,000 AND THERE'S A RAISE, I HEARD A GENTLEMAN STAND AT THAT BOOTH RIGHT THERE AND TALK ABOUT INCREASE AND INCREASE AND MORE MONEY AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S COSTING US.
IF THERE IS AN INCREASE FOR FIRE RESCUE, WOULDN'T YOU EXPECT? LOOK AT YOUR ECONOMY, DO YOU SEE ANY DECREASES IN ANYTHING? I DON'T THINK SO.
PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE SERVE THIS COMMUNITY WITH EXCELLENCE.
I WISH THAT I HAD ALL THE DETAILS THAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS, BUT I DIDN'T.
BUT THERE ARE ALWAYS QUICK TO RESPOND, THEY'RE ALWAYS PROFESSIONAL AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, THEY ALWAYS MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION.
I'VE WORKED IN THIS COUNTY FOR 30 YEARS AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.
I'VE BEEN AROUND PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE AND I KNOW WHAT THEY DO.
AT THE START OF SOMETHING NEW, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GETTING OR HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO LAST.
I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THIS, MOST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND MOST FIRE AGENCIES COME TO A SWEET LITTLE TOWN JUST LIKE THIS, FIREMEN AND ADMINISTRATORS, AND WHAT THEY DO IS, YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO GO TO BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS.
PLEASE DON'T DO THIS TO YOUR COMMUNITY.
DON'T DO THIS TO YOUR RESIDENTS.
DON'T DO THIS TO THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY LOVE THIS TOWN.
>> THIS IS BOBBY ROGERS AND AFTER IS NADINE BARNES.
>> I'M SORRY, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE THIS UP A LITTLE BIT.
I'VE LIVED THERE FOR 40 YEARS.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE PROPERTY DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM MY HOUSE.
IT'S NOW BEING USED FOR A STAGING AREA FOR TRUCKS AND TRACTORS.
I GUESS IT'S TO HELP SUPPORT THE UTILITY AND RESTORATION OF JUPITER.
THERE'S POLLUTION, NOISE, AND DUST AND DIRT.
I HAVE NEVER MADE ANY COMPLAINTS WHILE I'VE LIVED IN JUPITER FOR 40 YEARS, I'VE ALWAYS HAD STANDING WATER IN MY DRIVEWAY.
IT'S NOW THERE FOR 40 HOURS DUE TO ALL THIS SOOT AND DUST AND EVERYTHING THAT'S ACCUMULATED ON MY PROPERTY.
THE NOISE FROM 7:00 AM-5:00 AM IS HORRENDOUS.
THE SPEED OF THE TRACTORS, THEY'RE SPEEDING UP AND DOWN THE ROAD.
MY DOG HAS ALMOST BEEN HIT ONE OR TWO TIMES.
I'M HERE BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD SIX MONTHS, IT WENT TO A YEAR, NOW IT'S ALMOST TWO YEARS.
BUT I SEE THAT IT'S ON THE STAFF CONSIDERATION TO KEEP IT AS PERMANENT.
BEAUTIFUL PARK, CONSTRUCTION SITE.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] NADINE BARNES, THEN SUSAN BRANDT.
GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS. I'M NADINE BARNES, I LIVE AT 207 WOODLAKE DRIVE IN JUPITER.
AS A PAST HISTORY AS A COMMISSIONER IN A SMALL TOWN IN PALM BEACH COUNTY, WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT YOU BEING A TRAINING GROUND, THAT'S WHAT LAKE WORTH WAS FOR YEARS.
WE DO NOT WANT TO GO BACK THERE.
THIS LOOKS UP THERE AND SAYS JUPITER, QUALITY OF LIFE, HOME OF LIFE SCIENCES AND THIS HAS BEEN EVEN DISCUSSED.
MY HUSBAND CODED AT HOME AND I HAVE 28 YEARS HISTORY IN HEALTH CARE AND I'M PERFORMING CPR ON THE FLOOR.
I DID NOT WANT TO SEE A COMMISSIONER WALK INTO THE ROOM.
I WANTED TO SEE THOSE PROFESSIONALS COME TO MY DOOR AND COME TO MY ASSISTANCE.
THAT'S WHAT I WANT FOR MY FAMILY NOW, AS I HAD THEN.
THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS IS WHAT IT IS.
JUPITER HAS GROWN, I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY.
FROM THE LITTLE TRUCK STOP THAT THEY TALK, WE ARE A CITY OF SIZE, WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES WITH THAT TO A VAST NUMBER OF RESIDENTS.
[00:50:04]
NOT TO MENTION THE SENIOR POPULATION AS I AM NOW INCLUDED THAT WILL CONTINUE TO RISE, AND GUESS WHERE THOSE COSTS ARE GOING TO GO? I'M GOING TO COST THIS TOWN MORE BECAUSE AS I LIVE LONGER AND HAVE MY CHALLENGES, I'M PROBABLY GOING TO USE SOME OF THOSE SERVICES.THAT WAS OUR EXPERIENCE IN LAKE WORTH, OUR SENIOR POPULATION USED MUCH OF THE SERVICES THAT WERE PROVIDED.
I BEG YOU PLEASE TO RECONSIDER.
THE COST OF THIS IS GOING TO BE EXTREME.
THOSE NUMBERS ON PAPER ARE NUMBERS ON PAPER, THOUGH SO FAR FROM REALITY, IT'S NOT FUNNY.
TO THINK THAT WHEN WE CALL THREE, FOUR YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WHOEVER YOU COULD SCRAPE UP TO COME WORK HERE, SHOW UP AT OUR DOOR, DOESN'T GIVE ME CONFIDENCE IN THEM, AND IT GIVES ME ZERO CONFIDENCE IN ANY OF YOU THAT VOTE FOR THIS, SO PLEASE RECONSIDER.
>> SUSAN BRANT AND WAYNE POSNER.
I LIVE AT 148 FLORIDA AVENUE ACROSS FROM THE OLD TOWN HALL PARK AND I SPOKE TO YOU LAST MEETING ABOUT PRESERVING THE PARK AND KEEPING IT A HISTORICAL SITE, BUT ALSO TO DIRECT THE HRS IN REMOVING THE FOURTH ITEM ON THEIR STAFF CONSIDERATIONS WHERE YOU'RE ASKING TO MAKE THAT A PERMANENT OR EVEN IF IT WAS A TEMPORARY STAGING IN CONSTRUCTION AREA FOR THE TOWN OF JUPITER, AS BOBBY ROGERS WAS SAYING, THE NOISE IS CONTINUOUS.
I DID MY BEEP. I WOULDN'T RUIN YOUR EARS WITH THAT, BUT THAT'S GOING ON FROM EARLY IN THE MORNING TO LATE AFTERNOON.
THEY DID SAY REALLY WHEN I FIRST SPOKE TO ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WAS PUTTING A FENCING UP FOR THE SITE SO THAT THEY WOULD BE OUT OF THERE BY OCTOBER.
WHEN OCTOBER CAME, THEY SAID JANUARY.
WHEN JANUARY CAME THEY SAID APRIL AND WHEN APRIL CAME THEN THEY SAID JULY, AUGUST AT THE LATEST.
I JUST SPOKE ON THE 18TH OF AUGUST WITH THE OWNER OF THE COMPANY AND HIS LAST NAME WAS SCOT WITH ONE T, P IS HIS LAST NAME, I CAN'T PRONOUNCE IT CORRECTLY.
EXCUSE ME. ANYWAY, AND HE SAID THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT JANUARY, POSSIBLY FEBRUARY.
THE THING OF THE DAY IS IF YOU WANT TO MAKE SOMETHING A TEMPORARY SITE THAT'S JUST NOT GOING TO WORK, YOU WAIT IN A HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, IN A PUBLIC PARK WHERE CHILDREN USED TO PLAY IN THAT PARK ALL THE TIME AND THEN THEY WERE USING DEROGATORY LANGUAGE.
I WENT OVER THERE, I WAS RAKING IN MY FRONT YARD AND I SAID, EXCUSE ME, GUYS.
WE HAVE A CHILDREN'S PARK RIGHT ACROSS THE FENCE FROM WHERE YOU ARE, THIS LITTLE AREA THAT'S JUST GOT A CANVAS FENCING AROUND IT.
HE SAID, WELL, THERE'S NO CHILDREN IN THE PARK.
I SAID YES, THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE WAY YOU ARE SPEAKING AND YELLING AT EACH OTHER.
F THIS F THAT, THE CONTINUOUS OF DEROGATORY LANGUAGE.
THEN OF COURSE THERE'S JUST THE GARBAGE THAT'S ALL OVER THE PLACE ALL THE TIME.
WE'VE HAD TWO BREAK-INS THERE.
WHEN THEY FIRST CAME IN PROBABLY THE SECOND MONTH THEY WERE HERE AND THEN THE THIRD ONE AND THEY JUST BRINGING IN PEOPLE THAT I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET PEOPLE HIRED FOR THESE KIND OF JOBS, BUT THEY WERE HAVING ROBBERIES THERE AND IT JUST WAS A TERRIBLE SITUATION AND I REPORTED BOTH OF THOSE ROBBERIES.
I JUST DON'T WANT THE HISTORIC RESOURCES BOARD TO HAVE ANY PART AND ALL THE STAFF HAVE ANY PART IN RECOMMENDING THAT THIS BE A CONSTRUCTION STAGING AREA, WHETHER IT'S PERMANENT OR NOT, AND ALSO ABOUT USING TWO ACRES OF THE PARK TO ENLARGE THE RESERVOIR IS JUST OUT OF THE QUESTION ALSO, YOU NEED TO DREDGE THAT, IT'S DREDGED USUALLY EVERY 10 YEARS.
I'VE LIVED THERE FOR 33 YEARS.
IT'S BEEN DREDGED TWICE. IT NEEDS IT AGAIN.
THAT'S NOT A BIG THING BECAUSE THEN YOU DON'T NEED TO MAKE THE AREA BIGGER WITH ANY MORE RETENTION POND.
USE WHAT YOU HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> WAYNE POSNER THEN MICHAEL CULPEPPER.
>> WAYNE POSNER 315 CARINA DRIVE JUPITER, FLORIDA.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCILMAN, MANAGER, AND LAURA. OF COURSE, TOM.
TODAY I CAME HERE FOR A FEW ITEMS. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK OFFICER LUIS SANTANO.
HE ASSISTED ME ABOUT A WEEK AGO.
IT WAS JUST A BUSINESS MATTER, BUT HE WAS SUCH A NICE GUY AND HE'S A GREAT OFFICER AND WE DON'T GIVE ENOUGH CREDIT TO THE JUPITER POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE JUPITER POLICE DEPARTMENT, I THINK THEY HAVE 165 OFFICERS, SO THEY STARTED FROM SCRATCH AND WE NOW ARE NAMING A BUILDING AFTER THE GUY THAT STARTED IT FIRST,
[00:55:02]
WHICH WAS MR. GLYNN MAYO.MOVING ALONG, I HAD SOME PEOPLE THAT WORKED IN THE TOWN THAT I STILL SEE IN TOUCH WITH AND THEY'RE, ASKING ME TO REQUEST A SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE NEW TOWN HALL BUILDING.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S A BAD IDEA.
A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE TO STAY HEALTHY IN TODAY'S WORLD, THE HEALTHY WE ARE, THE BETTER WE ARE TO RESIST ANYTHING THAT COMES UP IN OUR HEALTH MATTER.
SUNNY SANDS, I WASN'T HERE WAS ON VACATION.
WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING TO THAT DEVELOPER.
POLITICALLY WE'RE IN DIFFERENT PARTIES ACTUALLY, THE DEVELOPER MYSELF.
HOWEVER, WHEN I WAS COUNCILMAN, HE BUILT SOME BEAUTIFUL PROJECTS.
LUCKY SHOTS WHERE SOME OF YOU I'VE SEEN THERE PARTICIPATING IN OR GOING TO HIS RESTAURANTS.
I THINK WE SHOULD SAVE THE MEDIAN FOR SURE.
I THINK WE SHOULD SAVE THE CELESTIAL RAILROAD AS WELL BUT I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE THE DEVELOPER PAY FOR THAT AS LONG AS HE CAN MAKE SOME PROFIT ON THE DEVELOPMENT THAT HE WANTS TO DO THERE, MAKE THE DEVELOPMENT SMALLER, USE SOME COMMON SENSE.
BUT LET HIM, IN PERPETUITY TAKE CARE OF THAT SACRED GROUND.
WHY SHOULD THE TAXPAYERS AND WE HAVE TO GO TO THE STATE AND GET MONEY.
HE'S GOING TO WANT WAY MORE THAN 35 MILLION FOR IT.
LET THE DEVELOPER TAKE CARE OF IT, AND THEN THIS WAY WE KEEP PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS AT THE SAME TIME.
THE TAXPAYERS DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT.
I'M ALWAYS IN FAVOR OF SAVING HISTORY.
I VOTED ON THAT MANY TIMES WHEN I WAS COUNCILMAN.
I GOT TO QUICKLY GO TO THE FIRE RESCUE.
I THINK THE DECISION IF IT WAS MADE ON COMMON SENSE AND THE WAY WE RUN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH HAS 165 OFFICERS WHEN THEY WERE PROBABLY BEST RATED POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE AREA.
I THINK WE CAN FORM A FIRE COMPANY THAT'S JUST AS GOOD.
NOW, THE MAN FROM HURLBURT FIRE BROUGHT UP SOME GOOD ISSUES ABOUT THE EQUIPMENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I ALSO THINK THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED SOMEWHAT.
I THINK AFTER THEY GET ALL THE INFORMATION, THEY MAY END UP AGREEING WITH THE TOWN COUNCIL AND YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED.
WE NEED TO GET THAT AIRED OUT A LITTLE BETTER AND MORE TRANSPARENT BUT I THINK WITH ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WAS OUT THERE AND ALL THE TIME THAT'S BEEN SPENT ON THIS SO FAR.
A LITTLE MORE TIME TO SATISFY THE RESIDENTS WOULD BE A GOOD THING, BUT I THINK WE'LL END UP WITH THE SAME DECISION. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE TOWN COUNCIL.
EXCITING NIGHT TONIGHT HERE AT THE JUPITER TOWN HALL, ISN'T IT? MY NAME IS MICHAEL CULPEPPER AND I CURRENTLY RESIDE AT 18937 129TH TERRACE NORTH.
AT YOUR AUGUST 15TH MEETING, THERE WAS AN ITEM REGARDING A HISTORICAL DESIGNATION FOR THE OLD TOWN HALL SITE.
YOU'VE HEARD A COUPLE OF PEOPLE SPEAK TO IT THIS EVENING.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK ABOUT THE OLD TOWN HALL, THAT HISTORIC DESIGNATION, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDUSTRIAL WASTE SITE ON THAT PROPERTY.
AN INDUSTRIAL WASTE SITE THAT IS DEGRADED BOTH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE TOWN HALL FOR OVER 425 DAYS.
EVERYONE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS SITE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES FOR ALLOWING THIS TO OCCUR AND NOT DOING ANYTHING TO STOP IT.
MY FAMILY HAS OWNED PROPERTY ADJACENT TO THE OLD TOWN HALL FOR ALMOST 75 YEARS.
WHEN I WAS BORN, I WAS BROUGHT FROM GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL TO THE HOUSE WHERE MY PARENTS STILL LIVE TODAY, OUR ADDRESS WAS NUMBER ONE SCHOOL ROAD, AND IT REMAINED NUMBER ONE SCHOOL ROAD UNTIL THE JUPITER JCS BUILT THAT KIDDIE PARK, AND THEN THE NAME OF THE ROAD WAS CHANGED TO PARK STREET, WHICH IS WHAT IT IS TODAY.
BOTH MY FATHER AND MY GRANDFATHER WERE MAYORS FOR THE TOWN OF JUPITER AND CHAIRED MANY OFFICIAL TOWN MEETINGS, AS WELL AS OTHER MEETINGS IN THAT OLD TOWN HALL.
WHEN I WAS ABOUT 12 YEARS OLD, I WAS EMPLOYED BY THE TOWN OF JUPITER AND WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MOWING THE GRASS AROUND THE TOWN HALL AND INSIDE THE KIDDIE PARK.
I SUBMITTED A TIMESHEET TO THE TIME CLERK AND I RECEIVED A CHECK FOR MY LABORS.
DURING MY HIGH SCHOOL YEARS, I WAS A MEMBER OF THE JUPITER POLICE JUNIOR CADETS.
HEARD WAYNE MENTIONED THEY HAVE 165 POLICE OFFICERS TODAY.
WELL, IT WAS A LOT FEWER BACK IN THOSE DAYS.
I SPENT MANY HOURS DRIVING IN PATROL CARS AND IN THE POLICE STATION, WHICH WAS IN THE SOUTH END OF THE OLD TOWN HALL BUILDING.
IN THE 1960S, MY SISTER AND I PLAYED SHUFFLEBOARD ON THE COURTS BEHIND THE OLD TOWN HALL, THE SHUFFLEBOARDS WERE STILL THERE UNTIL 14 MONTHS AGO WHEN THE AREA BEHIND THE TOWN HALL BECAME AN INDUSTRIAL DUMP AND THE CONCRETE COURTS, WHICH HAD BEEN THERE FOR MORE THAN 70 YEARS WERE DESTROYED.
AS YOU CAN SEE, I AM QUITE FAMILIAR WITH THE OLD TOWN HALL.
ON MAY 15TH OF THIS YEAR, THE HISTORIC RESOURCES BOARD MET AND DISCUSSED DESIGNATING THE OLD TOWN HALL SITE AS HISTORIC.
EVERYONE WHO SPOKE AT THAT MEETING WAS IN FAVOR OF THIS DESIGNATION, INCLUDING MANY PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
MY FATHER AND I WERE BOTH IN ATTENDANCE AND WE SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION.
[01:00:02]
AS OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOU ALSO NEED TO KNOW THAT EVERYONE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHO SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THE HISTORIC DESIGNATION ALSO COMPLAINED VEHEMENTLY ABOUT THE INDUSTRIAL WASTE SITE WHICH HAS DEGRADED THIS PROPERTY AND WE ASK THE HRB TO PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.I HAVE A HECK OF A LOT MORE TO SAY, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, I'VE HAD TO CRAM THREE GENERATIONS OF JUPITER INTO THREE MINUTES OF DISCUSSION.
I CONCLUDE MY COMMENTS TONIGHT, BUT I DO PLAN TO RETURN AT YOUR NEXT MEETING AND SHARE SOME MORE THOUGHTS.
IN CLOSING, I'M GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH SOME PHOTOGRAPHS THAT I TOOK OF THE INDUSTRIAL WASTE SITE JUST SO YOU HAVE SOME VISUALS.
>> HI. THANK YOU. I GET TO FOLLOW MR. CULPEPPER.
WELL, MY FAMILY MOVED HERE IN 1911 AND MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER WAS PRINCIPAL OF THE JUPITER SCHOOL AND SCHOOL ROAD WAS FOR THAT SCHOOL.
WHEN THE SCHOOL WAS BUILT, THE CONTRACTOR THOUGHT IT WAS FANTASTIC THAT HE WAS SO CLOSE TO A SOURCE OF WATER, SO THEY MIX THE CONCRETE WITH WATER RIGHT FROM THE JUPITER RIVER.
THE PROBLEM WAS THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS SALT IN THE WATER, THE CONCRETE WASN'T STABLE AND THEY ENDED UP HAVING TO TEAR THE SCHOOL DOWN, AND THEN IT BECAME THE PARK.
LIVING THERE, I WALKED BY THE PARK EVERY DAY.
I FEED THE SQUIRRELS, MY DOGS COME PLAY, WALK BY.
THERE'S A CHURCH ACROSS THE STREET.
WHEN THE PROJECT STARTED, IT WAS SURPRISING BUT WE DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD LAST LONG.
I'M SURE YOU GUYS AREN'T AWARE OF IT, SO I'M GLAD TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION.
I THINK IT'S AN R1 DESIGNATION, AND TO HAVE INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT IN THERE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, IT'S REALLY NOT APPROPRIATE AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION IN THE MATTER TO LOOK AT RESOLVING THIS.
>> TJ DORNELL. AFTER TJ IS PATRICK KENNEDY.
>> PATRICK KENNEDY, PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE, FIRE CHIEF.
MAYOR, COUNSELORS, MANAGER [INAUDIBLE], AND RESIDENCE OF JUPITER. GOOD EVENING.
[NOISE] A NUMBER OF NOVEMBER 1ST, 2022, BASED ON COMMENTS FROM THIS COUNCIL, DIRECTION WAS GIVEN TO IDENTIFY ELEMENTS WERE NOT ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE CURRENT CONTRACT.
THE PROGRAM COSTS METHODOLOGY WAS EXAMINED AT LENGTH AND FOUR ELEMENTS WERE INCLUDED IN THIS CONTRACT PROPOSAL.
NUMBER 1, WAS AN INCREASE ON CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT COST TO COVER THE RISING CONSTRUCTION COSTS FROM 200,000 TO 400,000.
NUMBER 2, WAS UNBUDGETED COST OR NON REIMBURSEMENT COSTS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE TEMPORARY STATION THAT WAS STOOD UP DUE TO THE BRIDGE CLOSER RECENTLY.
NUMBER 3, WAS THE STATION BOT COST WHICH AFFECTS THE TOWN'S CALL VOLUME AND RESPONSE TIMES.
IN THE EVENT THAT THE COUNTY DECIDES THAT OPERATIONALLY WE NEED THE BUILD ANOTHER FIRE STATION.
NUMBER 4, WAS MOVE UP SITUATIONS WHERE UNITS, WHICH WAS MENTIONED HERE EARLIER, SITUATIONS WHERE UNITS ARE MOVED INTO THE TOWN AND PROVIDE COVERAGE.
FAST-FORWARD TO AUGUST 15TH, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM.
I WAS EXTREMELY SAD TO HEAR THE NEWS OF THE TOWN'S INTENT AND TERMINATE OUR AGREEMENT, WHICH IS SAID TO BE IN EFFECT IN LESS THAN 30 DAYS FROM TODAY.
I UNDERSTAND THIS COUNCIL HAS A HEAVY BURDEN TO PROTECT THEIR COMMUNITY AND MAKE DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF THE CONSTITUENTS YOU SERVE.
FOR FULL TRANSPARENCY, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THE FOLLOWING FACTS ON WHICH OUR DECISION WAS BASED.
THE CONSULTANT'S REPORT STATED THE TOTAL RE-OCCURRING COSTS FOR THE TOWN FOR FY 2024 IS APPROXIMATELY $28.7 MILLION.
THE ACTUAL AMOUNT FOR THE FY 2024 IS $26.9 MILLION.
THIS ACCOUNTS FOR $1.8 MILLION CREDITED TO THE TOWN FOR TRANSPORT REVENUES, WHICH HAS BEEN IN THE CURRENT CONTRACT AND THE FUTURE CONTRACT HAS BEEN THE STANDARD FOR THIS TOWN.
ON PAGE 4 OF THE CONSULTANT'S REPORT, FOUR ELEMENTS WERE LISTED AS TBD.
WHEN IN FACT THOSE ELEMENTS WERE ALREADY CAPTURED IN
[01:05:02]
THE FY 2024 COSTS TO THE TOWN OF JUPITER.WE'VE CALCULATED THE INCREASE FROM FISCAL YEAR 2023 TO 24 AS 4.09%.
AS YOU'VE HEARD TONIGHT, 5% WASN'T AN INCREASE AND A LOT OF THAT RAISES AND WHATNOT.
WE HELD AT 4.09%, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN CONSULTANTS REPORTED 11% INCREASE.
THE $68 MILLION SAVINGS WAS NOT BASED ON FACTUAL DATA CENTER TO TOWN.
THE SUPPORTED DATA AND FY 2024 PROJECTIONS WERE ACTUALLY EMAILED TO THE TOWN STAFF ON JULY 19, 2023.
I KNOW THE MEN AND WOMEN OF PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE WANT TO KEEP PROVIDING THE CLASS 1 SERVICE THAT JUPITER RESIDENTS AND VISITORS HAD BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO.
I ASK THIS COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THESE FACTS AND CONSIDER A 40 YEAR RELATIONSHIP AS TIME PERMITS.
>> I CAN'T READ THE FIRST NAME, BUT IT'S J.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS BERNARD VON.
I RESIDE AT THE BEACHCOMBER, 4161 SOUTH US HIGHWAY 1 IN JUPITER.
HERE AT THE REQUEST OF MY WIFE BECAUSE I ALWAYS DO WHAT SHE TELLS ME TO DO.
[LAUGHTER] SHE IS PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD AND SHE ASKED ME TO EXPRESS THE CONCERNS OF THE 57 RESIDENTS.
I WILL NOT REITERATE HERE FOR THE PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE.
I WILL NOT REITERATE WHAT THE OTHER CITIZENS HAVE SAID.
MAKE A COUPLE BRIEF COMMENTS, ALTHOUGH I DO JOIN IN WITH THE MOST OF THEIR COMMENTS, IF NOT ALL.
THERE'S AN OLD SAYING, IF IT ISN'T BROKEN, DON'T FIX IT.
IN TALKING TO MY FELLOW RESIDENTS, WE ARE UNIFORMLY PLEASED WITH THE QUALITY OF THE RESCUE SERVICES WE HAVE RECEIVED OVER THE YEARS.
AS A BUSINESSMAN, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE NUMBERS AND AS THE GENTLEMAN JUST SPOKE, I REALLY THINK IT IS ESSENTIAL AND I'VE BEEN IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE.
NUMBER 1, YOU WANT TRANSPARENCY.
NUMBER 2, YOU WANT GOOD DATA AND ACCURATE FIGURES AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
NUMBER 3, YOU WANT FULL PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND BUY-IN AND IT'S CLEAR YOU HAVEN'T ACCOMPLISHED THAT YET AND I THINK THAT'S ESSENTIAL FOR SUCH A CRITICAL DECISION.
I SUGGEST THAT YOU RECONSIDER THIS PROCESS.
NUMBER 4, ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE, AND THE COMPANIES I WAS RUNNING, WE HAD UNION AND NON-UNION LABOR AND I THOUGHT WE SHOULD GET STATE OR FEDERAL FUNDING TO BE A TRADE SCHOOL.
BECAUSE WE WERE PAYING IN THE NON-UNION SHOPS VERY, VERY GOOD WAGE TO SIX-FIGURE SALARY.
BUT COMPETITION WHERE THE LONGSHOREMAN'S AND WE'D BASICALLY IT WAS A REVOLVING DOOR THAT WE WOULD TRAIN THEM.
THEY WOULD GET THE SKILL SETS AND THEN THEY WOULD GO TO PORT NEWARK OR SAVANNAH OR CHARLESTON.
THEY'RE WELCOME TO DO AND GET SUBSTANTIAL RAISES AND I THINK YOU'VE MAY HAVE THAT REVOLVING DOORS STAFFING ISSUE THAT ONE OF THE OTHER RESONANCES REFERENCED TO AS MUCH MORE EXPERIENCED THAN I.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]
>> MY NAME IS STEVE FRENCH. I LIVED AT 146, LANDS IN WHICH IS OVER BY THE INDUSTRIAL TOXIC WASTES [LAUGHTER] SORRY TO KEEP FLIPPING BACK AND FORTH FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO THIS TERRIBLE ATROCITY THAT'S GOING INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
BUT ONE THING IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON THREAD HERE.
I'M SORRY, I NOTICED IS THERE'S [NOISE] THINGS ARE GETTING SLIPPED IN, SLIT IN, WITHOUT A WHOLE LOT OF PUBLIC INPUT. THIS IS TWO ITEMS. JUST A SECOND ONE ON THE LIST HERE AND WE'VE HAD ENDURED THE SINK FOR 500 DAYS.
A SIMPLE LITTLE ROAD CHANGE OUT WITH SOME PIPES, PUTTING BUTTS WAS WORKING FINE BEFORE IT CAME.
AT THIS POINT, IT'S A GREAT TIME TO REQUEST
[01:10:03]
DOCUMENT PRODUCTION ORDER OF THE CONTRACT THAT YOU PICKED FOR THIS JOB, HERE THE TOWN PICKED AND ALSO THE RFP THAT THEY USED TO HIRE THIS CONTRACT.FOR LAST FIVE DAYS THEY'VE BEEN MISSING, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT MAYBE WE'RE STARTING TO GET OUR VOICES HEARD HERE TO SHUT THIS INDUSTRIAL TOXIC WASTE SITE DOWN.
I'M SPEAKING THE SAME AS STEVE.
I RENT A HOUSE FROM HIM RIGHT ON THE CORNER OF ONE OF THOSE OLD DIXIE HIGHWAY, WHERE THEY'RE DOING THE WORK THERE.
WELL, SOMETIMES THEY'RE DOING THE WORK THERE.
THEY HAD A HOLE OPENED UP OVER THERE WITH LIKE HE SAYS, SEPTIC, THE SMELL IS ATROCIOUS.
THE EQUIPMENT WAS SITTING THERE, NOTHING WAS BEING MANNED.
YOU WALK AROUND THERE, EVERYTHING THAT THEY EAT LAYS ON THE GROUND.
THEIR WORK BOOTS ARE SITTING THERE OVERNIGHT TO DRY OUT.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE DOING OVER THERE.
THEY'RE DIGGING A HOLE LEAVING IT OPEN.
STEVE TALKED TO THEM AND THEY SAID, WE'LL FILL IT IN, THEY FILLED THE WHOLE LAND WITHIN THREE DAYS.
THE EQUIPMENT SAT THERE FOR ANOTHER WEEK.
ALL THE ROUTES THAT THEY DIG UP THEY PUT OVER ON MY PROPERTY AND IT'S STILL LIKE THAT TODAY.
THE CHURCHES RIGHT BEHIND ME WHERE THAT PARK IS RIGHT THERE WHERE THEY HAD COMPRESSORS WITH PUMPS, EVERYTHING ELSE OVER THERE.
SATURDAY THE SPANISH PEOPLE HAVE MASS THERE AND THEY HAVE LITTLE PICNICS FOR THE KIDS AND STUFF OVER ON THEIR PROPERTY, BIG GRASSY AREA, BEAUTIFUL OAK TREES THAT ARE HUNDREDS OF YEARS OLD AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
IT'S SO UNPROFESSIONAL, IT'S JUST A CHURCH THAT'S THE WAY IT'S BEING RUN.
SOMEBODY HAS TO LOOK AT IT AND SOMEBODY'S GOT TO TAKE CARE OF SOMETHING THERE.
I HAVE A WIFE AT STAGE 4 CANCER RIGHT NOW SHE'S IN THE HOUSE.
WHEN THEY DO RUN THE EQUIPMENT, I'M UP EARLY AT 05:00.
THEY'RE UP AT 05:00 RUNNING AIR COMPRESSOR OVER THERE, STARTING TO PUMP OUT WATER SO THEY CAN DIG A HOLE.
THEY'RE THERE AT 06:00 AT NIGHT, GIANT EQUIPMENT RUNNING UP AND DOWN THE STREET.
THOSE KIDS THERE, THEY'RE GOING 20 MILES AN HOUR, 30 MILES AN HOUR IN THESE GIANT PARK LIST.
SOMEBODY'S GOT TO LOOK AT SOMETHING THERE.
>> WE HAVE KENT BOBBITT AND THEN DANA ANDERSON.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS KENT BACHMAN.
I LIVE AT 142 LANDS END WAY, AND I'M HERE TO REITERATE SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT MY NEIGHBORS HAVE ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION SITE OF THE OLD TOWN HALL.
I WALK MY DOGS AROUND THAT PARK EVERY DAY, MY TWO MINOR CHILDREN RIDE THEIR BIKES ALL THROUGH THERE.
FAMILIES COME TO THAT PARK ON A DAILY BASIS WITH VERY SMALL CHILDREN.
THE MACHINERY IS GOING BACK AND FORTH AROUND THERE, 20-25 MILES AN HOUR.
IT'S BEEN THERE FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.
IT'S BACKED UP RIGHT TO OUR PUBLIC PARK.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TURNING THAT PLACE INTO A HISTORICAL SITE.
BETWEEN A HISTORICAL SITE AND A PARK THAT FAMILIES HANG OUT THERE, AND PICNIC THERE EVERY DAY.
PEELING APART OFF OF THAT AND TURNING IT INTO A CONSTRUCTION ZONE, IT'S WRONG FOR THE CITY, IT'S WRONG FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO I'M HOPING THAT SOMEBODY CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
>> AFTER DANA IS GOING TO BE BRADLEY OWNEY.
>> DANA ANDERSON. I'M AT 144 FLORIDA AVENUE.
MY RING DOORBELL IS RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE GATE TO THIS SITE.
I'LL MAKE SURE WE BRING PICTURES AND RECORDINGS OF THE FOUL LANGUAGE.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE A PORTLET LET THERE FOR THE FIRST MONTH OR TWO, SO YOU KNOW, THEY WERE TAKING THEIR DUMPED OUTSIDE THE FENCE NEXT TO THE PARK BECAUSE IT'S A CLASS COMPANY, I GUESS, NOT EVEN A PORTLET ON SITE.
THEY FINALLY BROUGHT A PORTLET AFTER MAYBE TWO MONTHS.
THE PEOPLE YELLING AND WIVES COMING UP AND YELLING AND CURSING AT THEIR HUSBANDS OR WHATEVER FROM WORK.
SOME GUY CAME OUT OF THE PORTLET, STARTED YELLING AGAINST HIM, FULLY NAKED.
FULLY NAKED YELLING AND SCREAMING.
IT'S NOT BEEN A VERY GOOD THING OUT THERE.
THIS IS PROBABLY LATE LAST YEAR.
THEY TOLD US IT WAS GOING TO BE ALL NIGHT.
YOU HAVE 3 OR 4 IN THE MORNING.
[NOISE] I'M RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET WHEN THEY BACK OUT.
[01:15:01]
THEY SWEPT THE ROAD TWICE.THEY DIDN'T SWEEP AT ALL IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS.
THEN THEY BOUGHT A SWEEPER AND THEY'VE SWEPT THE ROAD MAYBE ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS, SINCE THEN.
THE DUST AND THE NORTHERLY WINDS DURING THE WINTER AND I'M ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE PROPERTY, YOU HAVE AN IDEA WHAT MY HOUSE LOOKS LIKE? MY DRIVEWAY THAT HAVE TRIED TO KEEP MY WINDOWS, GET THEM CLEAN EVERY WHATEVER.
I HOPE YOU ALL ARE GOING TO CLEAN EVERYBODY'S HOUSES AND DO SOMETHING FOR THE PEOPLE.
BUT TO GET RID OF IT, I HAVE GRAND-KIDS, CAN'T GO PLAY IN THE PARK.
I DIDN'T WANT TO WALK AROUND THE FENCE.
NOBODY EVEN GETS TO THE PARK, BECAUSE THEY LEFT FIVE FEET BETWEEN THEIR FENCE AND THE OTHER FENCE.
I ASKED EARLY ON SOME JUPITER PEOPLE WHO IS IN CHARGE OF ANY OF THIS, AND THEY'RE GOOD EMPLOYEES.
THEY WOULDN'T GIVE ME ANY NAMES.
THEY SAY, CALL THE TOWN, SEE WHAT'S UP.
AGAIN, LIKE EVERYBODY SAID HERE.
BECAUSE IT HAS AFFECTED ME PERSONALLY, IT HAS AFFECTED ME PHYSICALLY.
IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU DID THIS? I'D LIKE TO ALSO KNOW WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING THE DECISION TO PUT IT THERE MAYBE IN THE NEXT MEETING.
>> BRADLEY OWNEY THEN CRAIG MAORI.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL, TOWN MANAGER, TOWN ATTORNEY, TOWN CLERK.
EXCITING NIGHT TONIGHT, PACKED HOUSE.
BUT I THOUGHT OF NO BETTER NIGHT TO COME OUT TONIGHT AND PUT MY NAME IN THE HAT FOR THAT OPEN SEAT RIGHT THERE FOR A LOT OF THE REASONS THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT.
THERE'S A LOT OF DECISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE IN THIS TOWN OVER THE YEARS.
I'VE GROWN UP HERE LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER MAY, I'VE SEEN THIS TOWN CHANGE OVER THE LAST 30-PLUS YEARS.
SOME FOR THE BETTER, SOME FOR THE WORSE.
I MOVED BACK HERE AFTER COLLEGE FOR ONE REASON, AND THAT WAS TO SERVE AND GIVE BACK TO MY TOWN.
GIVE BACK TO THE HOMETOWN THAT RAISED ME, MADE ME THE PERSON I AM.
FROM GROWING UP ON THE LOXAHATCHEE RIVER TO ENJOYING OUR BEACHES, TO ENJOYING JONATHAN DICKINSON RIVERBEND, AND ALL THE NATURAL AREAS AROUND US.
I'VE SERVED ON THE HISTORIC RESOURCES BOARD.
ONE OF MY PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS ACTUALLY IS HELPING TO PRESERVE THE 1924 SIMS HOUSE, AND CONVERTING THAT INTO AN ADAPTIVE REUSE PROJECT, SOMETHING THAT THE TOWN OF JUPITER HAS NEVER SEEN IN ITS ALMOST 100-YEAR HISTORY.
I'VE ALSO SERVED ON THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD AND BRING MY PROFESSIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL KNOWLEDGE TO THAT BOARD AS A PLANNER WITH ALMOST 10 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING HERE IN NORTHERN PALM BEACH COUNTY AND BRINGING MY CONNECTIONS AND MY KNOWLEDGE AND AGAIN, EXPERIENCE TO A BOARD THAT I ENJOYED SERVING ON THANKS TO COUNCIL MEMBER POSNER.
ONE OF THE REASONS I'M GOING TO THROW MY HAT IN THE RING AND I HAVE NOT SUBMITTED MY LETTER YET AS I'M DRAFTING IT, BUT IT'S TO INCREASE THE QUALITY OF LIFE.
LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND TONIGHT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THE QUALITY OF OUR PARKS.
I'M HAPPY TO SEE IN THE CIP PLAN, WHICH I'VE GONE THROUGH THOROUGHLY, THAT THERE IS MONEY PUT TOWARDS SOME OF THESE OLDER PARKS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT I GREW UP AT, THAT HAVE LOOKED THE SAME AS WHEN I GREW UP AND SO 30 YEARS LATER THEY DESERVE TO BE IMPROVED.
THERE'S NO BETTER FEELING THAN TO GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO SERVE YOUR HOMETOWN.
I'M SURE COUNCIL MEMBER MAY UNDERSTANDS.
I KNOW MAYOR KURETSKI, I GREW UP WITH YOUR CHILDREN AND I'M SURE YOU'RE PROUD OF SERVING YOUR HOMETOWN.
TO THE VICE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER SUNDSTROM AS NEWER RESIDENTS, I'VE ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU ALL TO MAKE JUPITER A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.
I DO BELIEVE THE FUTURE OF THIS TOWN IS BRIGHTER AND BETTER AND I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH YOU ALL IN THE FUTURE AND SIT ON THE DAIS WITH YOU ALL ONE DAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD EVENING. CRAIG MAORI, 230 BLOCK ISLES LANE IN JUPITER.
THERE WILL BE MORE TO SAY ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THING, AND I DON'T EXPECT ANY APPLAUSE FROM MY REMARKS, BUT I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY FOR ANY OF THE PAST 27 COUNCIL MEETINGS THAT I'VE ATTENDED.
I THOUGHT THIS WAS GOING TO COME UP TONIGHT.
I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE A LOT OF CITIZEN COMMENT.
I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT I THROW MY TWO SENSES AND I'LL SAY MY OPINION FOR THE TAIL END.
IT HASN'T BEEN DEVELOPED FROM ANYONE ELSE'S OPINION. THIS IS MY OWN.
BUT I THOUGHT A RELEVANT PIECE WAS WHAT WAS PRESENTED LAST MARCH BY THE TOWN STAFF FOR THE FIRST TIME THE INNER LOCAL AGREEMENT CAME UP.
I JUST WANT TO READ A COUPLE OF EXCERPTS FROM THAT.
FOR OVER A YEAR SINCE JANUARY 22, THE TOWN OF PALM BEACH COUNTY HAVE NEGOTIATED
[01:20:01]
RENEWAL OPTIONS FOR THIS CONTRACT THAT EXPIRES IN ABOUT THREE WEEKS.THE COUNTY WOULD LIKE TO INCREASE THE MILLAGE RATE FOR A FIRE DEPARTMENT FROM 1.8713 TO 3.4581.
AS PART OF THE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE TOWN STAFF AND THE COUNTY, THE TOWN STAFF IDENTIFIED SEVERAL ITEMS THAT THEY WOULD RECOMMEND, AND HERE ARE SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE TERM WITHIN AN INTER-LOCAL AGREEMENT, THE TOWN STAFF RECOMMENDED A FIVE-YEAR TEMESI ORDINANCE THAT YOU PASSED.
THE COUNTY REJECTED IT, MAKE IT 10. COSTS METHODOLOGY.
THE TOWN STAFF RECOMMENDED CONTINUING COST METHODOLOGY WE'VE USED FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS AND MOST OF THE TIME PRIOR TO THAT.
THE PERSONNEL AND APPARATUS ASSIGNED TO JUPITER.
TOWN RECOMMENDED THE LEVEL OF STAFFING AND EQUIPMENT ASSIGNED TO JUPITER THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT.
NOT A SINGLE ONE OF US HAD A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE QUALITY AND SERVED WELL.
I HAVE. I'LL COME BACK TO THAT IF I HAVE TIME, JUST ONE.
FIRE INSPECTION FEES, PLANNING REVIEW FEES, FALSE ALARM FEES, ETC.
THE TOWN PROPOSED THAT THE COUNTY REJECTED IT.
PERSONAL ASSIGNED COUNTY REJECTED TO TOWN'S PROPOSAL.
IMPACTS FEES. RECOMMENDED THE IMPACT FEES COLLECTIBLE IN THE TOWN TO THE OFFSET FUTURE CAPITAL EXPENSES.
COUNTY REJECTED IT. ANNUAL REPORTING.
THE TOWN STAFF WANTED ANNUAL REPORTING, SOME DETAILED FINANCIAL [NOISE] REPORTING FROM THE COUNTY.
THE TERMINATION OF THE AGREEMENT.
THE TOWN STAFF PROPOSED A 12-MONTH TERMINATION.
IN OTHER WORDS, ONCE YOU NOTIFY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHERE THEY TERMINATE IN 12 MONTHS AND COUNTY REJECTED IT TO MAKE IT TO 36 MONTHS.
THE AMENDMENT PROCESS THAT HAD BEEN USED FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS, AT LEAST, SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO CHANGE SOMETHING MAJOR COME BACK TO THE TOWN COUNCIL SO WE CAN REVIEW IT AND APPROVE IT.
[NOISE] MY TWO SENSE OF OPINION, I THINK YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING.
[5. August 10, 2023 Town Council Budget Workshop Minutes and August 15, 2023 Town Council Meeting Minutes.]
WE HAVE BEFORE US THE MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 10TH TOWN COUNCIL WORKSHOP AND AUGUST 15TH TOWN COUNCIL MEETING.THERE WAS ONE SET OF REVISIONS ON THE DAIS.
IS THERE ANY OTHER REVISIONS TO THE MINUTES?
>> MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED?
>> MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVING ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
THESE IS ITEMS 6 THROUGH 12 ON THE AGENDA.IS THERE ANYBODY FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WANTED TO PULL A CONSENT AGENDA ITEM?
>> YES, WE HAVE ITEMS 7, 8 AND 12.
>> ANYBODY ON THE DAIS WANT TO PULL ANY ITEMS?
>> I WAS GOING TO PULL NUMBER 12 AS WELL.
>> CAN I HAVE A MOTION, WE'LL PULL 7, 8, AND 12 FOR DISCUSSION AND THE REGULAR AGENDA.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTIONS 7023, 8823, 8923, AND 9523?
>> MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
[7. Resolution 81-23, Authorizing a 7% increase in Water Rates.]
MOVING ON TO RESOLUTION 8123 PULLED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.>> IS WAYNE STILL HERE? I THINK HE MIGHT HAVE LEFT.
[BACKGROUND] HE ALSO PULLED [INAUDIBLE].
WE CAN GO AHEAD UNLESS COUNCIL HAS ANY COMMENTS.
WE CAN TAKE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON RESOLUTION 81.23.
>> MOTION IS SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[01:25:01]
>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
[8. Resolution 82-23, Authorizing a 7% increase in Stormwater Utility Fees.]
>> MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 8223.
ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> AYE. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
[12. Resolution 97-23, Approving the contract award for contractual consulting services from the Center for Public Safety Management LLC (CPSM) to provide technical assistance to the Town in developing and implementing the Town of Jupiter Fire and Rescue Services Department.]
MOVING ON TO RESOLUTION 97.23, PULLED BY THE PUBLIC AND COUNCILOR MAY.THE STAFF HAS A BRIEF SUMMARY TO PROVIDE.
>> YES, BUT WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING OF THE TOWN COUNCIL IS TO APPROVE A CONTRACT WITH THE CURRENT CONTRACTOR THAT WE HAVE, CPSM, TO PROCEED FORWARD WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASES OF THE CONSULTING FOR THE JUPITER FIRE RESCUE.
THE BASE CONTRACT AS PRESENTED IS $152,000 FOR THE ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN LISTED IN THE CONTRACT PROPOSAL WITH ADDITIONAL ALLOCATION OF $33,000 FOR ADDITIONAL TRAVEL AND ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT MAY COME UP FROM THE TOWN COUNCIL FOR A TOTAL OF $185,000.
LOOKING AT THIS CONTRACT, ONE THING THAT WILL BE NECESSARY IF WE WERE TO BRING IN ANOTHER CONTRACTOR WOULD BE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO GATHER ALL THE BACKGROUND DATA THAT'S ALREADY BEEN ACCUMULATED OVER THE LAST YEAR, WHICH WOULD CREATE ADDITIONAL TIME AND MONEY.
YOU ALL HAVE MADE THAT QUITE CLEAR TO STAFF AND WE ARE REQUESTING THAT YOU GO AHEAD AND APPROVE THIS CONTRACT BASED ON THAT.
NUMBER 1 IS A SAVINGS OF MONEY THAT THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO BACK AND GATHER THE DATA FROM PALM BEACH COUNTY AND OTHER ENTITIES BASED ON THE CALL DATA.
EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO BE ABLE TO DO THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASES OF THE JUPITER FIRE RESCUE AND ALSO THE COST-SAVINGS GOING FORWARD.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING THE APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT WITH CPSM.
>> COUNCIL MAY, YOU HAD QUESTIONS.
>> YES, I ANSWERED IT, BUT ON PAGE 9 OF WHETHER TABLES ARE FOR STARTING WITH TABLE 1, WHERE IT SAYS, BETWEEN FIRE APPARATUS, EMS APPARATUS, FIRE AND EMS EQUIPMENT FOR APPARATUS, THE FEE OF 18,500, AND THEN 20,500.
ARE THOSE INCLUDED IN $185,000 CONTRACTS? [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT'S IN TOTAL THE BASE CONTRACT TO THE 155, THOSE NUMBERS ARE INCLUDED.
ANYTHING ABOVE THAT, THE $33,000 I'M SPEAKING TO IS IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL NEEDS.
NOW, WHAT I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THIS CONTRACT IS THAT AS WE PROCEED FORWARD OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THIS CONTRACT IS TO DO.
IF WE DON'T NEED CERTAIN ELEMENTS OF IT, THEN WE DON'T GET CHARGED FOR IT.
>> I KNOW I SPOKE TO YOU ABOUT THIS BEFORE, BUT I JUST WANT TO GET ON RECORD.
>> I HAD ASKED THAT THIS WAS A COMPLETELY NEW CONTRACT OR SEPARATE FROM THE ONE THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY IN.
IT WOULD SEEM I TRIED TO READ THE OTHER CONTRACT AND SEE IF THERE WAS A PROVISION FOR AN EXTENSION OF THE CONTRACT FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS. THERE'S NOT?
>> THIS IS AN ENTIRELY NEW CONTRACT?
>> IT IS ENTIRELY NEW CONTRACT.
>> GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THIS CONTRACT IS, I WOULD VERY MUCH REQUEST THAT WE DO AN RFP ON THIS BECAUSE OF $185,000 ON A BRAND NEW CONTRACT, TECHNICALLY IT'S NOT AN EXTENSION.
NORMALLY, THAT WOULD BE THE PROTOCOL.
BUT LOOKING AT THE AMOUNT OF DATA THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE GATHERED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THESE ASSUMPTIONS AND GUIDE THE TOWN, WE'VE ALREADY PAID THE CONSULTANT TO GATHER THAT DATA.
WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY A NEW CONSULTANT THAT, ALSO, FOR THE EXPEDITION OF TIME, SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE BRINGING IT BEFORE YOU BECAUSE [OVERLAPPING] SAVINGS.
>> I UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THAT.
HOWEVER, I LOOKED BACK AT WHEN WE WENT TO WASTE MANAGEMENT AND WE ARE LOOKING AT A NEW CONTRACT WITH THEM.
AT THE TIME, I WAS SAYING LET'S JUST GO WITH THE NEW CONTRACT FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT, AND I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE MORE PRUDENT TO GO OUT THE RFP FOR THIS BECAUSE IT'S A NEW CONTRACT.
WITH THAT PRECEDENT BEING SAID, I THINK THAT'S THE DIRECTION THAT WE NEED TO TAKE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILS? WE HAD SOME MEMBERS FROM THE PUBLIC THAT PULLED THIS, WE WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT.
>> LINDA MCDERMOTT. AFTER LINDA, IT WILL BE CAREN VINSON.
[01:30:02]
>> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU, KIM FOR TAKING UP THE TIME TO BRING UP THE CONTRACT SO I CAN USE MORE TIME TO SPEAK.
I'M NOT AGAINST THE COMPANY THAT YOU CHOSE FOR THE FEASIBILITY STUDY, I AGREE WITH DOING FEASIBILITY STUDIES ON MANY THINGS.
BUT WHEN I DID DO THE ANALYSIS BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT I DO, AS CHIEF KENNEDY EXPRESSED IN THE 2023 ANALYSIS, IT WAS INCLUDED IN THE EMS TRANSPORT REVENUE, IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE '24 ANALYSIS.
WHEN YOU DO ANY BUDGET OR FINANCIAL ANALYSIS, YOU DO APPLES TO APPLES.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN AMOUNT, YOU UTILIZE THE PRIOR HISTORY ONE JUST SO YOU CAN COME UP WITH APPLES TO APPLES.
MY ANALYSIS WAS ON PAGE 4 OF THE TECHNICAL REPORT OF 8/15/2023, IT'S STATED REVENUE IN 2023 OF 1,394,837, AND 2024 NONE, AND IT WAS TO BE DETERMINED.
THE EMS WRECK TRANSPORT REVENUE IS SOMETHING THAT COMES FROM THE STATE AND THERE IS A FORMULA THAT THEY DO BECAUSE I DO THIS WHERE I WORK.
IT IS PRUDENT TO GO AHEAD AND INCLUDE THE SAME AMOUNT IN EACH YEAR JUST SO YOU CAN COME UP WITH AN AVERAGE COMPARABLE PERCENTAGE.
PAGE 4 SAYS THAT THE DIFFERENCE IN THE COST TO THE TOWN AND YOU INCLUDED COST BY TAKING REVENUE MINUS EXPENDITURES.
THAT'S REALLY NOT THE WAY YOU DO REPORTING AND FINANCE.
THE TOWN REPORT SAYS 11.3% DIFFERENCE, AN ADDITIONAL COST.
IT'S REALLY 5.6% ACCORDING TO THE AUGUST 15.
BUT AS CHIEF KENNEDY SAID, 4.9%.
WE'RE STILL AROUND 5%, I GOT TO TELL YOU THAT WHERE I WORK, A LOT OF OUR FIREMEN TWO YEARS AGO, I'VE GOT 15% INCREASES TO BRING US UP TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE ANYMORE.
5.6% WHEN I'M LOOKING AT BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T INCLUDE REVENUE, I THINK THAT'S FAIR.
NOW, YES, THERE ARE OTHER EXPENDITURES.
YES. I THINK IT WOULD BE NICE FOR MY TOWN TO MAYBE HOVE THEIR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT IF WE DIDN'T HAVE A PREMIER SERVICE ALREADY.
NOW LOOK, IF YOU CHOOSE TO STILL DO THIS, AND THERE IS NO CHOICE ANYMORE OF THE PUBLIC, I WANT TO BE THE FIRST ONE TO SAY, CAN YOU PLEASE HAVE A CITIZENS COMMITTEE SO WE CAN HELP YOU DO.
WHATEVER WHICH WAY YOU GO, I THINK WE NEED A VOICE.
WE NEED ANOTHER COMMITTEE, AND I WILL HELP YOU WITH THIS.
I KNOW WHAT A COST FOR A FIRE TRUCK, I CAN TELL YOU TO THE PENNY, I'M NOT GOING TO GO THERE.
I DO THIS EVERY DAY, I DO GRANT WORK.
WE CAN LOOK FOR GRANTS IF YOU TRULY WANT TO DO YOUR OWN, WORK WITH US, BUT THAT WAS NOT A FAIR STUDY.
I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO WHAT I SAID BEFORE, THAT THERE WAS REALLY NO ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A VOTE ON AUGUST 15TH.
IT WAS TO BE A PRESENTATION ONLY.
I FEEL LIKE IT WAS A BACKROOM DECISION THAT WAS ALREADY MADE PRIOR TO THAT MEETING WITH THREE PEOPLE.
COUNCIL WOMAN, CHERYL SCHNEIDER'S SEAT IS EMPTY AND VACANT.
IT ONLY INVOLVES ONE CONTRACT COMPANY.
THEY "DID THE RESEARCH AND GAVE A LOWBALL PRICE".
IT'S ALREADY BEEN PROVEN BY WHAT THEY'VE SAID AND WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE QUOTED OFF THE STATEMENTS THAT THE PRICES AREN'T ACCURATE.
WHY NOT PUT A BID OUT FOR PEOPLE TO BID THIS JOB? WHY ARE YOU GOING TO GO BY WHAT ONE COMPANY SAYS? IF YOU GO BID A PROJECT FOR YOUR HOUSE, DO YOU TAKE THE FIRST PERSON THAT COMES THROUGH YOUR DOOR? YOU DON'T. YOU BID IT.
IF THEY HAVE TO SPEND MORE MONEY TO DO THE ANALYSIS, THEN MAYBE YOU'RE GOING TO GET AN ACCURATE ANALYSIS.
I'M SORRY, BUT SAYING THAT THEY DID THE RESEARCH AND THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE THE CONTRACT TO THE SAME COMPANY WITHOUT PUTTING PROJECT UP FOR A FAIR BIT.
AGAIN, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S NOT TRANSPARENCY AND IS BACKROOM TACTICS.
I'M SORRY TO SAY THAT, BUT THAT'S HOW I FEEL THAT THIS COUNCIL IS OPERATING AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME.
DON'T PRETEND THAT YOU'RE BEING TRANSPARENT BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE A NUMBER 1 RATED RESCUE CENTER THAT'S IN JUPITER AND WE'RE CHOOSING TO GO AND TAKE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T GET ONTO PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE OR TRY AND BUILD A TEAM.
BY THE TIME YOU SPENT THAT MONEY GETTING THAT EQUIPMENT, REBUILDING FIRE STATIONS, TAKING GREEN LAND AWAY THAT YOU PROMISED THE CITIZENS IN 2004,
[01:35:02]
YOU ARE SPENDING MONEY FOR GREEN SPACE.THAT NOW BECAUSE THE DIFFERENT SOMETHING HAS COME ON YOUR AGENDA, YOU'RE GOING TO CHOOSE TO WASTE THAT SPACE.
IT DOESN'T MATTER ANYMORE THAT THE PEOPLE VOTED FOR THAT, BUT YOU CHOSE TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS A BAZILLION TIMES MORE COSTLY THAN SAVING GREEN SPACE, AND YOU CHOSE TO DO IT WITHOUT ASKING THE VOTERS TO DO A VOTE.
HOW RIGHT IS THAT? IT'S MY MONEY. AGAIN, I'M GOING TO SAY SAME THING.
I WANT TO CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER ANY ADDITIONAL CHANGES ON EMERGENCY SERVICES SO THAT RESIDENTS CAN PUT STUFF TO VOTE.
>> BACK TO COUNCIL. WE HAVE BEFORE US RESOLUTION 9723.
>> MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 9723.
ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> OPPOSE. MOTION CARRIES 3-1 WITH COUNCILOR MAY DISSENTING.
MOVING ON TO REPORTS. TOWN ATTORNEY.
[TOWN ATTORNEY]
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST CONTRIBUTED TO COUNSEL REGARDING THE REQUEST FOR RELIEF FROM THE PROPERTY RIGHTS THAT WAS SUBMITTED WITH RESPECT TO THIS SUNNY SANDS PROPERTY.
THE MINIMAL OUTLINES FOR YOU, THE PROCESS THAT THE TOWN WE'LL GO THROUGH.
THE TOWN IS BEEN THROUGH THIS PROCESS BEFORE WITH RESPECT TO THE DDR PROPERTY, WHICH IS NOW THE CROSSROADS LLC PROPERTY.
THE PROCESS RATHER THE LITIGATION RESULTED IN A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT ALLOWED FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THAT PROPERTY IN SOME WAYS THAT WERE NOT CONTEMPLATED ORIGINALLY BY THE COUNCIL OR THE DEVELOPER.
WHAT I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PROCESS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH IS THAT IT'S REALLY A PROCESS TO MEET TO MEDIATE AND HOPEFULLY COME TO A RESOLUTION REGARDING THE PROPERTY, WHETHER IT'S YOUR PURCHASING THE PROPERTY, OR PRESERVING MORE OR LESS OF THE PROPERTY.
IF WE'RE ABLE TO REACH AGREEMENT IN THAT PROCESS, WHICH IS A PUBLIC PROCESS THAT REMAINS IN WHAT COULD BE SOME RATHER PROTRACTED AND COSTLY LITIGATION AGAINST IT.
IT'S WORTH THANKING THE LEGISLATURE FOR HAVING ENACTED THAT PARTICULAR PROVISION FOR THE LAW BECAUSE WE GET TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS THAT ALLOWS FOR A COMPLETE EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION OF THAT SITE AND HOW BEST TO PRESERVE THE RESOURCES ALONG WITH PRESERVING SOME PROPERTY RIGHTS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO IT, PLEASE JUST GIVE ME A CALL AND WE'RE ASKED TO MEET AND WE'LL SIT DOWN AND TAKE YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS.
I WANT YOU AND THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT THE MEDIATOR/MAGISTRATE THAT WE SELECTED HAS BEEN AN INDIVIDUAL THAT'S REALLY HIGHLY REGARDED THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
HE'S FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE FLORIDA MUNICIPAL ATTORNEY'S ASSOCIATION.
HE'S BEEN A CITY ATTORNEY IN BROWARD COUNTY FOR MULTIPLE CITIES FOR HIS ENTIRE CAREER, WHICH IS PROBABLY ABOUT 45 YEARS.
HE'S ALSO BEEN A LAND-USE ATTORNEY AND SPECIFICALLY AN IMMINENT DOMAIN ATTORNEY.
HE UNDERSTANDS ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT THE TOWN IS FACED WITH, AN A DEVELOPER'S FACED WITH.
I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO REACH AGREEMENT WITH DEVELOPERS ATTORNEY, IN TERMS OF SELECTING SAM GOLD TO BE THE MEDIATOR AND MAGISTRATE AT THIS PARTICULAR DISPUTE.
[TOWN MANAGER]
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. MY COMMENTS WILL BE VERY BRIEF.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY AGAIN TO THANK THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM; SEAN AND KATE AND THAT TEAM FOR THE PASSPORT TO JUPITER.
I KNOW TO WIN THAT AWARD IS VERY PRESTIGIOUS.
I KNOW WE'VE HAD A LOT ON THE TABLE TONIGHT, BUT I JUST DON'T WANT IT GETTING LOST IN THE SHUFFLE.
THE TOWN STAFF HAS PUT A GREAT DEAL OF WORK INTO THIS.
[01:40:02]
I'M EXTREMELY PROUD OF THEM, SO I WANT TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONGRATULATE THEM AGAIN ON THAT AWARD.THEN A SECOND SHORT THING I'LL HAVE IS I'M GOING TO GO DOWN TOMORROW AND VISIT THE OLD TOWN HALL SITE AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AND BRING SOME OF THE STAFF WITH ME AND WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN MEET UP IF ANY OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE STILL HERE, BUT IF THEY AREN'T, WE'LL REACH OUT TO THEM AND I'LL GO DOWN THERE TOMORROW AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON THERE. THAT'S MY REPORT, MAYOR.
>> JUST ON THAT ONE. I'M SURE I'M SPEAKING FOR ALL OF US.
IN ADDITION TO GOING DOWN THERE, I WOULD APPRECIATE YOU, OBVIOUSLY, WILL GIVE US A REPORT ON THAT, BUT ALSO WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT CONTRACT RIGHTS WE HAVE TO BASICALLY TELL HIM TO GET OUT OF THERE.
WE REALLY WANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT, SEEMS LIKE INTOLERABLE, THAT IT'S CONTINUED TO BE EXTENDED, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CONTRACT SAYS.
IF YOU COULD ADVISE US ABOUT THAT,I'D APPRECIATE THAT.
>> I WILL. ROGER HELD DOESN'T KNOW IT YET, BUT HE'S GOING TO GO WITH ME AND HE'S THE EXPERT ON THAT AND WE'LL GET SOMETHING BACK TO YOU.
>> ONE QUICK COMMENT ON THE ONGOING FIRE CONTRACT.
IN REGARDS TO TRANSPARENCY, WE'VE HAD NINE NOTICE PUBLIC MEETINGS OF THE ENTIRE CONTRACT FOR MONTHS NOW, AND THE 36 MONTHS ESCAPE CLAUSE WAS IN THERE AND NOBODY MENTIONED IT AND WE DIDN'T PUT IN THERE 36 MONTHS, THE COUNTY DID.
THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN ON THE TABLE AND WE'RE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO REPRESENT THE VOTERS OF JUPITER AND I PERSONALLY WORK FOR THE RESIDENTS OF JUPITER PROPER, THEY'RE MY BOSSES AND I'M HERE TO DO THAT WORK.
WE CAN'T GO OUT JUST PUT IT UP FOR A VOTE, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO, BUT THAT CLAUSE IS ALWAYS PUT IN THERE.
IT WAS NINE PUBLIC NOTICE MEETINGS.
JUST THIS WHOLE THING HAS BEEN FULLY TRANSPARENT.
I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT. THAT'S IT.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT, RON. I DO.
BUT THE FACT THAT WE TOOK A VOTE TO CANCEL THE CONTRACT AND START JUPITER FIRE RESCUE, THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACTUAL AGENDA ITEM.
THERE IS NO POINT IN THE NINE NOTICE MEETINGS WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT FIRE RESCUE, WAS IT INDICATED THAT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE AWAY FROM PALM BEACH COUNTY AND START OUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE TALKED TO ME AT PRESENTATIONS AND ROUND-TABLES, WE TOLD STAFF NEGOTIATE.
THEY NEGOTIATED, WE GOT THE CONTRACT.
IF WE TRULY WANTED TO MOVE AWAY AND THE RESIDENTS WANTED TO MOVE AWAY, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SUPPORT THAT.
BUT I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE IN A PROPERLY NOTICED AGENDA ITEM TO DO SO AND LET THE RESONANCE KNOW THAT THAT'S OUR PLAN.
I DO SOME WORK POTENTIALLY FORMING A CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE AND LETTING PUT IN FOR A VOTE TO BE ON A BALLOT.
IF WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE EMERGENCY SERVICES IN THE TOWN OF JUPITER, LET THE RESIDENTS HAVE A VOICE.
I'VE SEEN IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA LATELY.
WE HAVE A PETITION WITH OVER 2,000 SIGNATURES ON IT.
WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE PEOPLE SPEAK AT THE COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT ASKING US NOT TO DO THIS.
IF WE GET OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS SAY, YES, START JUPITER FIRE RESCUE, LOVE THE PLAN, I'LL BE THE FIRST ONE TO SAY, I'LL HELP.
BUT I'D RATHER SEE THE RESIDENTS COME OUT AND VOTE FOR THAT.
I GET THE EMAILS AND ALL THAT.
BUT MY PERSONAL ANECDOTE, RESIDENTS, WHEN I BRING IT UP TO THE RESIDENTS AND JUPITER, I KNOW A LOT, I'M IN CONTACT WITH THEM EVERY DAY.
MOST PEOPLE LOOKED AT THE RATE INCREASES AND SAID, WE LOVE OUR FIRE SERVICES.
A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK WE ALREADY HAVE A JUPITER FIRE DEPARTMENT. DON'T EVEN KNOW IT'S PALM BEACH.
THAT'S HOW MUCH SOME PEOPLE ONLY PAY ATTENTION.
BUT WHEN IT CAME TO THE TRIPLING OF THE RATES OVER TIME, ORIGINALLY, PEOPLE WERE OUTRAGED THAT IT WAS TOO MUCH MONEY AND THEY SAID WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ELSE.
I'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS WITH PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE COUNSEL ABOUT THIS AND THAT WAS THE FEEDBACK THAT I WAS GETTING.
I'M NOT JUST SITTING UP HERE LIKE WE'RE GOING TO RUN IT.
>> NO. THERE IS NO ACCUSATION OF THAT.
>> I FORGOT, AND THE SITUATION WITH COUNSELOR SCHNEIDER WHO CHOOSE MY PLANNING AND ZONING APPOINTEE AND WE'RE FRIENDS AND WHEN SHE RESIGNED, I WAS OUT OF THE BLUE TO ME, IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DIRECTION WE WENT IN.
>> THE PRESENTATION WAS ASKED FOR BEFORE SHE RESIGNED, SO WE KNOW THAT.
>> YEAH. BUT THEN I DIDN'T AGREE WITH THAT. PUTTING THAT OUT [OVERLAPPING].
>> TO LET YOU KNOW, I SPOKE WITH PLENTY OF RESIDENTS AS WELL WHO TOLD ME, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE COSTS ARE GOING UP.
I WOULD RATHER PAY AN INCREASE IN COSTS TO RETAIN PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE THAN TO GO DOWN THIS ROAD BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE'RE RECEIVING IS THIS TOP RATED.
[01:45:01]
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE, THEY UNDERSTAND THE COSTS HAVE BEEN GOING UP.
THE COST OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT GOES UP EVERY YEAR TOO.
>> IT'S ESSENTIALLY THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS.
IF THERE'S A HUGE SAVINGS, I GET THAT.
BUT WHEN I LOOK AT SPENDING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'RE SPENDING TO BUILD THIS FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE SAVINGS THAT WE CAN POTENTIALLY HAVE, IT ALMOST NEUTRALIZES IT.
>> NOT WHAT I SEE, BUT WE DON'T GET DISCUSSED THIS OUTSIDE OF HERE.
>> WE ALL COME IN HERE NOT KNOWING WHAT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO DO.
>> [OVERLAPPING] IF WE'RE ESTIMATING SPENDING $68 MILLION FOR THE CONSULTANT TO BUILD THIS FIRE DEPARTMENT EQUIPMENT, STATIONS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THEN THE SAVINGS OVER 10 YEARS WOULD BE $68 MILLION AS WELL.
WE'RE ISSUING A BOND, TAKING GENERAL REVENUE MONEY, THINGS LIKE THAT TO PAY FOR THIS IN AN EFFORT TO SAVE IT.
TO ME, IT BECOMES NEUTRAL AT THAT POINT.
>> YEAH, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE GETTING REALLY CONFUSING REALLY QUICKLY AND IT'S HARD TOO BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT GOING ON IN SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT NOT EVERYONE IS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
I THINK THE BEST WAY STILL TO UNDERSTAND THE PERSPECTIVES ON COUNCIL IS TO ATTEND COUNCIL MEETINGS AND WATCH VIDEOS.
THE PRESS HAS CAPTURED SOME OF IT SOCIAL MEDIA, OTHERS.
I LOOK BACK TO JUNE 7TH, 2022.
THERE WAS A CONTRACT FOR CPSM TO DO AN EVALUATION.
IT REALLY WAS BECAUSE WE'RE NOW THREE WEEKS OUT TILL THE DEADLINE AND WE'RE JUST BARELY BANKING IT.
HAVE THERE BEEN ANY DELAY, I DON'T THINK WE WOULD HAVE.
THE CONTRACT PROVISION SAYS THAT WE HAVE ONLY UNTIL THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
SEPTEMBER 30TH, WE HAVE TO HAVE A DECISION OR WE WAIT A WHOLE YEAR.
NOW, YES, WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF PUBLIC MEETINGS.
WE'VE HAD NINE PUBLIC MEETINGS.
WE HAVE HAD 140 PAGE REPORT IN DETAIL ON FIRE RESCUE SERVICES.
WE'VE HAD PUBLIC COMMENT GIVEN ON FIRE RESCUE SERVICES OVER THE COURSE OF THE NINE MEETINGS.
THAT IS A LOT OF STAFF TIME, A LOT OF STAFF EFFORT, A LOT OF COUNSEL TIME AND EFFORT, WHERE IF WE DIDN'T GET THIS DONE BY THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR TO HAVE TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN TO WHAT? UPDATE THE ANALYSIS BECAUSE WE'D BE TOO FAR AWAY FROM IT TO COMMIT THAT MUCH STAFF TIME TO HAVE THAT MANY MORE MEETINGS DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME.
THE AGREEMENT FOR THAT AGENDA ITEM ON JUNE 7TH, FOR THE CONTRACT FOR CPSM MUCH LATE TONIGHT, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY AGREED TO BY ALL FIVE ON COUNCIL.
I SAID IT WAS NOT A SURPRISE TO ME THAT THREE HAD CONCERNS BECAUSE ON PUBLIC MEETINGS, IF YOU WATCH THE PUBLIC MEETINGS, AND PLEASE GO TO MY COUNSELOR FACEBOOK PAGE, I INCLUDED THE DATE, I INCLUDED THE HOUR, THE MINUTE, THE SECOND OF THE VIDEO WHERE I SAID THESE THINGS ON APRIL WHERE WE APPROVED IT, I SAID I STILL HAVE ENORMOUS CONCERNS.
THIS IS THE BEST POSSIBLE DEAL.
WE ABSOLUTELY HAD TO APPROVE AN AGREEMENT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT WE WANTED TO START A JUPITER FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I DON'T THINK ANYONE HEARD ME WHEN I SAID THAT.
THEN WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT OUR STRATEGIC PLAN TO ON THIS COUNCIL WANTED TO REMOVE THE FIRE RESCUE SERVICE COST ITEM FROM THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
THREE SAID NO, WE NEED MORE INFORMATION, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO EVALUATE THIS.
THEN AN AUDIT COMES OUT THAT NO ONE HAS SPEAKING SPOKEN OF YET.
THAT HAS EVEN MORE CONCERNS REGARDING DEFINITIONS, HOW VAGUE THE CONTRACT IS, NOT HAVING ANY OF THE ORIGINAL INFORMATION OR NUMBERS.
THERE'S INFORMATION THAT'S COME OUT SINCE THAT WHAT IS DICTATING THIS IS THE TIMELINE FOR THIS.
WE HAVE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30TH OR WERE ANOTHER YEAR OF ANALYSIS AND STAFF TIME, STAFF EFFORT, MORE MEETINGS AND I THINK WE'RE READY TO MAKE A DECISION BASED ON THE ANALYSIS OF OVER A YEAR THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH OUR PUBLIC MEETINGS.
IT HAS BEEN FRUSTRATING TRYING TO GET THAT OUT THERE.
WE DID TALK ON NOVEMBER 1ST ABOUT ISO RATINGS THAN IT WAS SAID THEN IT IS AN INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT. NO MISTAKE.
BUT NOT ALL INSURANCE CARRIERS ACCEPT IT AND IT IS NOT THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR FOR COASTAL COMMUNITIES LIKE OURS.
THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR WOULD BE OUR RISK OF STORMS AND FLOODING, WHICH YOU'RE SEEING IN THE NEWS WHEN YOU READ ABOUT THE COAST OF FLORIDA AND THE STORM SEASON.
I THINK I DID POST A LOT OF THIS, BUT I THINK I NEED TO SAY IT HERE IN THIS FORUM AND I WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO GET INFORMATION OUT.
[01:50:03]
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND READING THE 140 PAGE REPORT.I HIGHLY RECOMMEND WATCHING THOSE VIDEOS OR AT LEAST WHAT I'VE ISOLATED SO THAT YOU CAN SEE WHAT I SAID ON THE RECORD.
IT WAS NOT A SURPRISE BECAUSE MULTIPLE TIMES THREE ON THE RECORD EXPRESSED CONCERNS.
WE DID RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE DID HAVE A NUMBER OF MEETINGS AND NOW READ A DECISION POINT OR ELSE WE RISK WASTING ANOTHER YEAR AND SO MUCH STAFF TIME, EFFORT AND PUBLIC MEETING TIME.
I THINK IT'S TIME WE DO IT AND WE ALREADY DID IT.
WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD. THAT'S IT.
EIGHTY PERCENT OF COASTAL COMMUNITIES, NEARLY ALL OF THEM IN OUR SIZE.
IF YOU LOOK AT COMMUNITIES OVER 50,000 PEOPLE IN PALM BEACH COUNTY, ONLY TWO ARE STILL AT PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE, 80% OF COASTAL COMMUNITIES IN PALM BEACH COUNTY USE THEIR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
IT'S INTERESTING. IT'S A CITY THING.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS ON NOVEMBER 1ST.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND WATCHING THAT. IT WAS A GREAT MEETING.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER.
>> JUST TO ADD ON, JUST ANSWER THAT.
THIS IS A HEAVY LIFT WONDERING IS AND I'M VERY COMFORTABLE DOING IT BECAUSE WE HAVE A VERY CAPABLE, COMPETENT STAFF AND WITHIN THE BOARD THEY'VE CREATED A GREAT POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH THE SIZE WHERE WE'RE VERY FINANCIALLY STABLE.
NEW TOWN HALL DEBT-FREE, NEW POLICE STATION DEBT-FREE WERE IN THE PC.
I THINK IT'S JUST TIME THAT WE DO IT WITH OUR SIZE, OUR GROWTH, AND OUR MANAGEMENT GROUP THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE.
BUT THIS HAS BEEN A TOUGH ONE AND THIS HAS BEEN TOTALLY TRANSPARENT HERE.
HOW MANY MEETINGS AND THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE HARDEST DECISIONS I'VE HAD SINCE MY SEVEN YEARS ON THE COUNCIL.
LIKE I SAID, THE LAST MEETING WAS A VERY HEAVY HEART, WE STOPPED WORKING WITH THESE FOLKS, BUT IT COMES A TIME WHEN IT'S JUST A LOT OF MONEY AND NOW I THINK IT'S JUST TIME FOR THE REST OF THE JUPITER BE IN CHARGE OF THEIR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEIR FINANCES. THAT'S IT.
>> I HAVE TO AGREE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE.
I HAVE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS.
>> I KNOW THAT DURING THE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, I ACTUALLY SAW SIGNS FOR JUPITER FIRE RESCUE, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING.
I'VE ONLY RECEIVED A HANDFUL OF EMAILS ON THIS ITEM DESPITE ALL OF THE PUBLICITY, THAT WAS NOT THE CASE FOR SUNNY SANDS, THAT WASN'T THE CASE FOR SANTA CIRCLE, WHICH NEVER CAME FORWARD AND THEN RECEIVED 100 EMAILS ON THAT.
I COUNT THEM. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF EMAILS.
THE OPPOSITE HAS BEEN TRUE, EVER RECEIVED A LOT OF SUPPORT, WHICH IS INTERESTING.
>> I SAID THIS IN THE PAST AND WE WANT TO REINFORCE THIS.
THERE'S NEVER BEEN AN ISSUE OF CONCERN THAT WE'VE HAD WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES.
WE'VE BEEN VERY BLESSED AND GRATEFUL FOR THOSE SERVICES.
I THINK REALLY WHAT WE FACED WITH AND AGAIN, AS WAS MENTIONED, WE'VE BEEN HAVING BEEN VERY TRANSPARENT AND HAVING A NUMBER OF PUBLIC MEETINGS ABOUT THIS AND IT REALLY GOES BACK TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE IN 2022, WHICH I FOUND TO BE STUNNING.
WITH THE VERY FIRST OBJECTIVE THEY HAD WAS TO INCREASE REVENUE.
IF YOU GO BACK TO DIRECTION THAT HAD BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE COUNTY COMMISSION A FEW YEARS BACK, JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS BACK, THEY BASICALLY WANTED US TO DOUBLE THE MILLAGE RATES SO WE CAN HELP FINANCE THE COST OF SERVING THE UNINCORPORATED AREA, WHICH INHERENTLY IS MORE COSTLY.
THAT'S NOT FAIR TO JUPITER RESIDENTS.
WE SAID THAT IN DISCUSSIONS AND NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE LEADERSHIP.
IT REALLY CAME DOWN TO THAT WHEN YOU REALLY HAVE TO CONSIDER THE GOAL OF PALM BEACH COUNTY LEADERSHIP IS TO HAVE US PAY MORE FOR UNINCORPORATED AREA.
THAT'S NOT FAIR. WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE COLLECTING MONEY WITH THE TOWN FIRE DEPARTMENT TO SUBSIDIZE UNINCORPORATED AREAS.
I ASKED A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS CONCERNED ABOUT WHERE PLAYER FUNDING, WHAT AMOUNT OF RESERVES WERE THERE, ETC.
HOW COULD OVERHEADS BE GOING UP SO EXTRAORDINARILY HIGH? NEVER GOT AN ANSWER.
THEN WE RECEIVED AN AUDIT REPORT THAT BASICALLY SAID THERE REALLY WAS NO RECORDS, NO INTERNAL CONTROLS, AND COULDN'T FIND ANY EVIDENCE THAT THE UNRESERVED FUND BALANCE THAT CAME FROM COSTED JUPITER TAXPAYERS PAID IS STILL INACCESSIBLE TO PALM BEACH TO JUPITER TAXPAYER.
[01:55:08]
ALL SAID AND DONE, WE HAVE MADE A DECISION.I THINK UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY, REALLY WANTED TO COLLECT MORE REVENUES FROM THE TOWN TO DO NOTHING MORE THAN SUBSIDIZE THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS.
WE PLEADED THAT WASN'T A DEAL WE'VE BEEN WORKING UNDER.
WE'RE GOING IT ALONE AND STARTING AROUND FIRE DEPARTMENT, I THINK WE MADE A REALLY GOOD DECISION ON BEHALF OF OUR RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.
>> RESIDENTS DON'T FEEL THAT WAY.
I CAN SHOW YOU THE SOCIAL MEDIA THAT THEY DON'T.
I'VE GOTTEN SO MUCH FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS THAT SAID THIS IS A BAD DECISION.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WOULDN'T LISTEN TO WHAT THE RESIDENTS SAY.
GO BACK TO PALM BEACH COUNTY AND GET SOME ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS, MAYBE WE CAN CHANGE SOME THINGS IN THE CONTRACT.
THE CONTRACT THAT HASN'T EVEN STARTED YET, WE'RE CANCELING A CONTRACT THAT HASN'T EVEN STARTED YET.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW THAT'S LEGALLY POSSIBLE, TO BE HONEST.
THIS HAD BEEN COMPLETELY NOT TRANSPARENT WITH THE PUBLIC. [OVERLAPPING]
>> HOW MANY YEARS WE HAVE TO ASK QUESTIONS FOR YOUR INFORMATION? I DIDN'T GET ANY.
>> WE ASKED FOR THE FULL COST METHODOLOGY.
WE'RE THE ONES THAT ASK FOR THAT. HE GAVE IT TO US.
I DIDN'T GET TO SEE THAT THEY CHANGE THE CONTRACT ON US.
>> I DIDN'T ASK FOR THAT CONTRACT.
>> THEY SAID WE WEREN'T FULL COST METHODOLOGY, THAT WAS SAID FROM THIS DIETS.
THEY SUPPLIED IT AND THEY NOTICED FOUR THINGS AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS THAT WEREN'T BEING CAPTURED, SO WE WENT THAT DIRECTION.
BUT I HAVE MAJOR CONCERNS WITH ALL THIS BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT THE CPS REPORT THAT THEY SUBMITTED TO US AND WE VOTED ON AUGUST 15TH TO CANCEL THIS AND THEN THE DATE FOR THE CPS AND PROPOSALS, AUGUST 16.
THEY PUT A 22 PAGE PROPOSAL TOGETHER IN ONE DAY.
>> WE'RE DONE WITH COUNCIL COMMENTS.
WE WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.