[00:00:04]
[BACKGROUND] I ASK EVERYBODY TAKE A SEAT.
IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION, WE'D ASK YOU TO GO OUTSIDE THE DOOR INTO THE AREA BEHIND.
[Call to Order]
I'LL CALL TO ORDER THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING OF OCTOBER 3RD.WE BEGAN BY AN INVOCATION, FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE, AND THEN THE PLEDGE, YOU PLEASE STAND.
>> DEAR GOD GUIDE AS IN THE WAY OF JUSTICE AND PEACE THAT WE MAY HONOR ONE ANOTHER AND SERVE THE COMMON GOOD. AMEN.
>> MAYOR, CAN YOU LEAD US INTO THE MOMENT OF SILENCE?
>> YES, I WANT TO SHARE THAT BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD TONIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO REMEMBER FORMER MAYOR MARY HINTON WHO PASSED AWAY THIS PAST WEEK.
MARY WAS MAYOR OF JUPITER FROM 1980-1990.
MARY'S DAUGHTERS, CURLY AND KATIE ARE WITH US HERE TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER, WE EXTEND OUR CONDOLENCES TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY DURING THIS TIME, AND WE'LL PROCEED WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE TONIGHT, ESPECIALLY IN MEMORY OF FORMER MAYOR MARY HINTON [NOISE].
COULD YOU PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE.
>> MAY YOU CALL THE ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
[1. Installation and Swearing-in of Council Member Frank Fore by the Honorable Judge G. Joseph Curley.]
>> DO WE HAVE ELLENAH HERE WITH US? I TURN IT OVER TO MR. BAIRD.
WE ARE PLEASED AND HONORED TO ONCE AGAIN, YOU HAVE THE HONORABLE JUDGE JOSEPH CURLY HERE THIS EVENING.
JUDGE CURLY SERVES AS A CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE IN THE 15TH CIRCUIT FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY.
HE HAS BEEN HERE BEFORE AND SWORN IN ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS NOW SEATED AT THE DICE.
WE'VE GOT IT ONLY FITTING TO ASK HIM TO COME BACK AND SWEAR IN COUNSELOR ELECT FOR.
I WOULD GO INTO A LITTLE SOLILOQUY ABOUT JUDGE CURLY'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS A LAWYER, BUT IT WOULD EXCEED THE TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, SO WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING MORE, I'LL GIVE YOU A JUDGE CURLY.
>> THANK YOU. HE NEVER MENTIONED MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS WHEN WE WERE LITIGATING AGAINST EACH OTHER.
>> HOLD THAT, USE YOUR RIGHT HAND TO HOLD THAT PLEASE [OVERLAPPING] ANDY FORE I SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AND I HAVE REALLY QUALIFIED TO HOLD OFFICE ON THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE AND I'LL WORK FAITHFULLY TO PERFORM DUTIES OF COUNCIL MEMBER WHICH I AM NOW ABOUT TO ENTER TO ONLY WORK.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.[BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER]
>> IT HAVE BEEN OUR TRADITION.
[00:05:01]
IF YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE A FEW WORDS, FEEL FREE.>> YES, OBVIOUSLY, ENTERED INTO THIS POSITION ON A QUITE A CONTENTIOUS TIME.
I FULLY REALIZED, I WASN'T ELECTED BY THE GENERAL POPULATION TO BE HERE, SELECTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT I'VE BEEN A VERY LONG TIME RESIDENTS OF JUPITER.
JUPITER IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
THE PEOPLE OF JUPITER VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AND I HOPE I DON'T LET YOU DOWN.
I'M SURE I'M GOING TO UPSET SOME PEOPLE AND I'M PROBABLY GOING TO MAKE SOME PEOPLE HAPPY I'LL TRY MY BEST TO REPRESENT MOST OF YOU IT'S MY PLEDGE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, AND ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND OUR SINCEREST APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE TO THE HONORABLE JUDGE JOSEPH CURLY, AND AS A TOKEN OF THAT APPRECIATION, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO LEAVE ANYTIME.
>> I'LL STAY FOR A LITTLE WHILE [LAUGHTER]
[2. FlaWARN Certificate of Appreciation for Hurricane Ian Relief Efforts/Southeast Florida Utility Council Meeting Announcement.]
>> THE NEXT ITEM WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA IS A PRESENTATION AND I GUESS AMANDA TO READ OVER.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL.
AMANDA BONDS, DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES.
THIS EVENING, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE FLORIDA WATER AND WASTEWATER AGENCY RESPONSE NETWORK, COMMONLY KNOWN AS FLOWWARN, ARE HERE TO RECOGNIZE THE TOWN OF JUPITER AND ITS UTILITY EMPLOYEES WHO ASSISTED WITH RECOVERY EFFORTS IN CAPE CORAL AFTER HURRICANE IAN JUST A YEAR AGO.
FLAWARN IS A FORMALIZED MUTUAL AID RESPONSE NETWORK FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER UTILITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE IN NEED OF RECOVERY ASSISTANCE AFTER NATURAL OR MAN-MADE DISASTERS.
FLAWARN WAS FORMED IN 2005 AFTER FOUR HURRICANES HIT FLORIDA IN 2004 AND BEFORE THE FOUR HURRICANES HIT IN 2005.
FLAWARN COORDINATES, INITIAL COMMUNICATION BETWEEN MEMBER UTILITIES TO ENSURE THAT RESPONDING UTILITIES PROVIDE PROPERLY SKILLED PERSONNEL WITH THE APPROPRIATE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE IMPACT OF UTILITY.
RECOVERY TEAMS ASSIST WITH ASSESSING DAMAGE AND MAKING REPAIRS TO CRITICAL WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND ALSO PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED RELIEF TO IMPACTED UTILITY STAFF.
IN SIMPLE TERMS, FLAWARN IS A NETWORK OF UTILITIES, HELPING UTILITIES IN TIME OF NEED.
WHEN ONE UTILITY IN ONE PART OF THIS STATE, OR MULTIPLE UTILITIES IN ONE PART OF THE STATE ARE IMPACTED BY A NATURAL DISASTER OR MAN-MADE DISASTER.
UTILITIES AND OTHER REGIONS QUICKLY AND GRACIOUSLY RESPONDS SUPPLYING MANPOWER, MATERIALS, AND EQUIPMENT AS NEEDED TO RESTORE WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITIES AND THOSE COMMUNITIES OFTEN CONSIDER THESE RECOVERY WORKERS TO BE HEROES.
IN 2017, JUPITER UTILITIES PROVIDED HURRICANE RECOVERY ASSISTANCE TO THE FLORIDA KEYS AQUEDUCT AUTHORITY THROUGH FLORIDA WARN FOR RECOVERY EFFORTS FROM HURRICANE IRMA.
TONIGHT. KEVIN CARTER OF BROWARD COUNTY UTILITIES, THE NEWLY-ELECTED FLORIDA WARN STATE CHAIR AND FORMER SOUTHEAST REGIONAL COORDINATOR AND LISA WILSON DAVIS, OF THE CITY OF BOCA RATON, WHO SERVED AS AN ON-SITE COMMANDER LEAD FOR FLAWARN AT PINE ISLAND DURING HURRICANE IAN ARE HERE TO RECOGNIZE A TON OF JUPITER AND THE FOLLOWING EMPLOYEES WHO WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN RESTORING WATER SERVICE AND CAPE CORAL.
I'M JUST GOING TO NAME [NOISE] OUR UTILITY STAFF THAT ASSISTED, BUT KEVIN IS GOING TO COME UP AND SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS AND THEN IF WE'RE ABLE TO GET A PHOTO WITH THE TOWN COUNCIL AND SOME STAFF, WE'D APPRECIATE THAT.
CHRIS KRAFT, CHRIS JOHNSON, CHARLES MCCLELLAN, PAUL ROMERO, DANNY ADAMS, JODY PIDBOSEK, RODNEY CAROL, AND ALLISON FELDSBURG, SO KEVIN.
>> THANK YOU, AMANDA AND THANK YOU, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO REPRESENT YOUR WATER HEROES.
I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND GIVE THAT TEAM AROUND OF A CLAP.
[APPLAUSE] THEY JOINED OVER 300 UTILITY PERSONNEL FROM AROUND THE STATE.
THE CALL FOR DUTY TO RESTORE WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES FOR HUMAN HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.
I WANT YOU TO THINK FOR A MOMENT WHAT A HELP WANTED TO ADD LOOKS LIKE FOR FLOW ONE, LEAVE THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME FAMILY AND FRIENDS TRAVEL HALFWAY ACROSS THE STATE.
[00:10:01]
WORK 10, 12 HOURS, NO AIR CONDITIONING, NO ELECTRICITY, HELPING PEOPLE IN A COMPLETE STATE OF SHOCK AND ASSIST THEM YOU'VE NEVER BEEN.TAKES SPECIAL PEOPLE TO DO THAT.
WE'RE REALLY HAPPY THAT JUPITER THROUGH YOUR SUPPORT, WE'RE PART OF THAT EFFORT.
WE'RE ALSO HERE TO REMIND YOU THAT WE'RE STILL IN HURRICANE SEASON AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP YOUR COMMUNITIES VIGILANT.
WE KNOW AMANDA AND ALLISON, THE TEAM WE'LL BE READY TO GO IF THEY NEED TO COME AGAIN.
BUT I WANT TO LET LISA SAY JUST A COUPLE OF WORDS OF WHAT CONDITIONS WERE ON THE GROUND OVER THERE, AND THEN WE'LL GET THE PLAQUE.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
IT'S OUR HONOR TO BE HERE AND HAVING GONE OVER TO PINE ISLAND, WHICH WAS COMPLETELY DEVASTATED, I GOT THERE THE DAY AFTER YOU ACTUALLY COULD GET ON THE ISLAND WITH A CAR.
THOSE PEOPLE OVER THERE FOR A WEEK WERE SCROUNGING AND THEY STILL WORK 12 HOURS ENSURING THAT THEIR CUSTOMERS.
I WOULD DRIVE DOWN THE STREET IN ONE OF THEIR TRUCKS AND THE RESIDENTS WILL COME OUT AND STAND IN EVASION BECAUSE THEY KNEW THEY WERE DOING EVERYTHING.
IT'S BECAUSE OF TEAM MEMBERS YOUR TEAM HERE THAT DO IT.
WE SAY IT'S UTILITIES HELPING UTILITIES.
EXACTLY FRIENDS, HELPING FRIENDS.
WE HAVE ALL BECOME FRIENDS AND I AM HONORED TO BE A PART OF IT AND WANT TO JUST TAKE THE TIME TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
>> TAKE [INAUDIBLE] RIGHT HERE, AND THEN I'M GOING TO GO DIAGONAL TO GET EVERYBODY.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PHONES, SO JUST BE PATIENT.
EVERYONE LOOKING THIS WAY 1,2,3 THESE ONE.
COME ON EVERYONE [INAUDIBLE] 1,2,3 AND THEN THE LAST ONE, I PROMISE.
[CITIZEN COMMENTS]
AND THERE WERE SEATS OPEN UP IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THEM.WE NOW MOVE ON TO CITIZEN COMMENTS.
THIS IS A TIME FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS, LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES.
ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK IS ASKED TO STATE HIS OR HER NAME FOR THE RECORD PRIOR TO ADDRESS IN A TOWN COUNCIL.
DO WE HAVE ANY CITIZEN COMMENTS IN THIS SECTION?
>> YES, MAYOR. FIRST YOU HAVE ANTHONY AND NATTY AND THEN ERIC BRESLER.
>> GOOD EVENING YOU'LL. MY NAME IS ANTHONY MICHAEL I AND I LIVE AT 103 SIMS CREEK LANE.
I'M THE PROUD FATHER OF MY SON WHO IS EMPLOYED BY PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE.
BUT I'M HERE TO ASK A QUESTION OR MAYBE MAKE A STATEMENT.
I WANT TO START WITH COUNCILMAN FORE'S OPENING COMMENT, THAT HE'S A CITIZEN HERE, THAT HE LOVES THIS COMMUNITY.
HE LOVES THE PEOPLE IN HIS COMMUNITY, AND HE HOPES THAT HE WILL NOT LET US DOWN.
BUT YET I LOOK HERE AT A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO SEEM TO BE LETTING THE CITIZENS DOWN.
WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT THAT WHAT FOUR OR FIVE PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT YOU WON'T GIVE THE CITIZENS OF THIS TOWN THE RIGHT TO VOTE ON.
WHY? WHY JUST CAN'T YOU SAY, THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT SHOW UP AT THESE MEETINGS EVERY OTHER WEEK, WEEK IN, AND WEEK OUT OR MAYBE WE'RE NOT UP FOR RE-ELECTION.
I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT, BUT I DO KNOW THIS THAT THESE PEOPLE COME BACK AND FORTH EVERY DAY BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT.
[00:15:03]
THAT'S A CARE AND HEALTH ISSUE.IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT SPENDING MONEY BUYING A BRICK BUILDING.
CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT YOU REPRESENT.
I MADE A CLOSING STATEMENT LAST WEEK AND I'LL SAY THAT EARLY. WE DON'T WORK FOR YOU.
YOU WORK FOR US AND YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN POSSIBLY DO TO MAKE US HAPPY.
IF IT'S IMPOSSIBLE, THEN IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
HEAR THE PEOPLE AND WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.
MY SECOND COMMENT WOULD BE A LOT BRIEFER THAN THAT.
IF THE COST IS SUCH AND I'LL DO THE OLD QUOTATION MARKS.
IF IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE MILLAGE IS DROPPING AND EVERYTHING IS WORKING IN THE RIGHT WAY.
BUT IF THE EXPENSE IS WHAT YOU'RE SO WORRIED ABOUT, I'M JUST ASKING, AS A CITIZEN OF THIS COMMUNITY, IF IT'S THE EXPENSE, WHO PAYS THE EXPENSE? IS IT YOU, THESE PEOPLE RIGHT HERE, WE ARE THE CITIZENS, IF WE CHOOSE THAT IT'S GOING TO COST US A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY TO HAVE THAT PROFESSIONAL FIRE SERVICE REMAIN HERE, THEN LET US HAVE THAT RIGHT TO VOTE ON THAT.
I GO BACK TO MR. FORE, DON'T LET US DOWN.
IF THAT'S TRULY WHAT YOU'RE HERE FOR.
IF THAT'S TRULY WHAT YOU REPRESENT AS OUR CITY COUNCIL, THEN DON'T LET US DOWN.
GIVE US THE RIGHT TO SAY WHAT WE WANT, NOT NECESSARILY WHAT YOU WANT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MAYOR, THE COUNCILMAN, APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE TODAY.
AS A 50+ YEAR RESIDENT OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER INSIDE THE BOUNDARIES THE WHOLE YEAR, THE WHOLE TIME, I HAVE SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO SAY.
I THINK THAT THIS IDEA TO DO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS BEING RUSHED.
EVEN THOUGH YOU'VE BEEN STUDYING IT SINCE A LONG TIME, TODAY I SAT BACK AND LISTENED TO THE WHOLE MEETING IN JANUARY AND YOU GUYS NEARLY CONVINCED ME THAT IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA.
BUT SINCE THEN I'VE HEARD THAT YOU GUYS NEGOTIATED A GOOD DEAL WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY AND SIGNED A 10-YEAR CONTRACT AND THEN BACKED OUT OF IT.
WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT? THAT'S CRAZY.
THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN.
I WROTE LETTERS TO ALL OF YOU IN THE EMAIL FORM.
THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN THAT DON'T THINK THIS IS A GOOD IDEA.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE BROUGHT UP FOR A VOTE BUT IT MIGHT NOT BE A BAD IDEA.
I DON'T HAVE ANY PEOPLE IN MY FAMILY THAT WORK FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE, I'M LOOKING AT THIS AS A TOWN PERSON THAT LIVES HERE AND I THINK THAT YOU GUYS NEED TO RECONSIDER THIS DECISION.
NOT MOVE FORWARD AND SPEND 60 SOMETHING MILLION DOLLARS TO BUILD TWO FIRE STATIONS AND TAKE ONE BACK FROM PALM BEACH COUNTY AND YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE THE LOCATIONS DOWN YET.
YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE PROPERTY THAT SOME OTHER PARKS THAT WAS USED OR OTHER PARKS FOR THIS? THAT'S NOT WHAT IT WAS INTENDED FOR.
YOU'RE GOING BACK AND CHANGING ALL THE RULES BECAUSE YOU THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA TO HAVE OUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WELL, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE WHO WILL RAISE THEIR HANDS WHO DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO START ON FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WELL, THERE YOU GO AND THAT'S JUST PART OF THEM.
THESE ARE ONLY THE PEOPLE THAT DECIDED TO SHOW UP.
I'M VERY EMOTIONAL BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S EMOTIONAL TO ME.
AGAIN, NOT BECAUSE I HAVE HAD SKIN IN THE GAME, EXCEPT THAT I'M A 50+ YEAR RESIDENT AND I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU GUYS AT LEAST ADDRESS THE CONCERNS.
THIS WHOLE THING THAT CHANGING THE MINING, CANCELING THE CONTRACT AFTER THE COUNTY RENEGOTIATED IN GOOD FAITH, I THINK THAT WAS HORRIBLE.
PLEASE DO WHAT THE RESIDENTS SAY, EVERYBODY'S PRACTICALLY ON THEIR KNEES BEGGING THE TOWN COUNCIL TO AT LEAST RECONSIDER, START THE PROCESS OVER.
I KNOW YOU DID A GOOD FEASIBILITY STUDY AND IT LOOKED GOOD BUT I STILL THINK THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ANSWERED AND DECIDE WHICH WAY WE GO BEFORE WE GO THAT WAY.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND PLEASE MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION FOR THE TOWN OF JUPITER.
>> WAYNE PLASMID THEN LINDA MCDERMOTT.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL, MAYOR.
WAYNE PLASMID, 315 CARINA DRIVE, GUESS WHERE? JUPITER. I WROTE THIS TODAY BECAUSE I CAN'T SPEAK FAST ENOUGH FROM MY HEAD SO I HAD WROTE SOMETHING DOWN FOR FIRST-TIME.
CONGRATULATIONS ANDY FRANK, FOR THE RECORD HE WAS MY PICK FOR P AND Z BACK IN 2018.
GOOD LUCK. I'VE RECEIVED A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST REGARDING ALL CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN MR.
[00:20:03]
CASTRO AND MR. KENNEDY REPRESENTING THE PBCFR AS WELL AS THE CONTRACT ORDER.THESE ARE FACTS, THESE ARE NOT EMOTIONS.
THE INFO RECEIVED CLEARLY INDICATES A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE DECISION MADE BY COUNSEL TO START OUR OWN FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT AS DID 80% OF OTHER TOWNS AND CITIES ALONG THE COAST OF PALM BEACH COUNTY.
MR. CASTRO HAS ALL THE CREDENTIALS TO MAKE A HUGE SUCCESS CREATING OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.
HE WAS A WONDERFUL CHIEF OF POLICE HERE AND HELPED FORM AN ACCREDITED SCHOOL BOARD POLICE FORCE.
SO FAR MR. CASTRO HAS PROVEN TO BE AN EXCELLENT TOWN MANAGER.
KIM, LET ME BE THE FIRST TO SUGGEST PUBLICLY, YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT BEING PART OF THIS HISTORIC MOMENT AND MAYBE SOMEDAY BE A JUPITER FIRE RESCUE LEADER KEEPING JUPITER JUPITER.
THANK YOU FOR DESIGNATING THE OLD TOWN HALL AND ITS ADJACENT PROPERTY HISTORIC.
WHILE KIM WAS GROWING UP, I RAISED A FAMILY THERE, AND IT CERTAINLY MEANS A LOT TO ALL OF US. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
SPEAKING OF LOCALS, WHAT CONSTITUTES A LOCAL? MOST OF US CAME FROM OTHER PLACES AND PLANTED ROOTS HERE.
NO DISRESPECT TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN BORN AND RAISED HERE BUT OUR TAXPAYER VOICES SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED.
I'M A 32-YEAR RESIDENT, JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS SHY OF MR. KIM'S TOTAL LIFE.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE WE MAKE A REAL EFFORT TO FIX DOLPHIN STREET, THEY GOT 7% RAISE, UTILITY COMPANY GOT 7%.
LET'S DO SOMETHING FOR THE PEOPLE AS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN HERE, THIS IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE.
THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY TAXES TO HAVE THEIR STREET FIXED.
THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR FIVE YEARS.
WE NEED TO GET THAT STREET FIXED.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND THANK YOU FOR BEING TOWN COUNCILMAN AND RESPONSIBLE.
>> LINDA MCDERMOTT THEN EMILY FLYNN.
LINDA MCDERMOTT, 107 CHADWICK DRIVE.
BEFORE I GO ON I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT TERI GROOMS HAS PUT AN AWFUL LOT OF EFFORT INTO THIS TOWN.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A MENTION OF THAT AND I'M GLAD SHE'S BEEN THERE FOR US AND HOPEFULLY WILL CONTINUE AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU.
ANYWAY, I KNOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY THE THINGS THAT I FEEL BUT I JUST WANT TO GET TO, STAFF HAS WORKED VERY HARD ON THIS AND BELIEVE ME, I UNDERSTAND THAT.
I'VE WORKED WITH FRANK FOR A LONG TIME WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT YEARS AGO.
IT'S NOT ABOUT, WE KNOW STAFF IS VERY CAPABLE, NOT THAT.
THIS IS ABOUT THE FACT THAT UP UNTIL JULY I ACTUALLY THOUGHT THE COUNCIL MIGHT DO THE RIGHT THING BECAUSE YOU DID A STUDY, YOU DID THE RIGHT THING.
SPENDING THE MONEY IS WORTH IT, IT'S ALWAYS WORTH DOING A FEASIBILITY STUDY.
BUT I TRULY BELIEVED THAT WHEN PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE CAME BACK, MAYBE THEY DIDN'T COME BACK IN TIMELINESS, BUT THEY DID COME BACK.
THEY UPDATED IN NOVEMBER SHOWING 38 MILLION.
STILL SOUND LIKE A LOT BUT FOR FIVE YEARS, IT'S NOT A LOT.
NOT WITH THE INCREASES THAT EMPLOYEES HAVE TO GET, THE COST OF CAPITAL AS WELL.
THEY CAME BACK AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND, IN THIS JULY.
IT MAY HAVE BEEN LATE, HOWEVER, THEY DID COME BACK.
JULY 18TH WAS THE FIRST HEARING.
GLAD TO SEE THAT IT WAS WRITTEN THAT COUNCIL IS PROVIDING THIS TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT.
I DIDN'T COME TO THIS MEETING, I WENT OFF TO LONDON.
I'M IN LONDON AND MY DAUGHTER SAYING, HEY, THEY DIDN'T DO THIS, THEY DIDN'T DO THAT.
I WAS APPALLED, I DIDN'T EXPECT THAT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
NO ONE IS SAYING THAT YOU GUYS DIDN'T DO SOME DUE DILIGENCE BUT WE DON'T WANT IT.
WE FEEL THAT PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE IS WHAT WE WANT.
YOU DIDN'T PUT IT OUT TO US AND ENOUGH, I DIDN'T HEAR A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT THIS, JUST GO ABOUT MY BUSINESS.
I WANT TO HEAR IT IN A SURVEY.
MY NEIGHBORS, THEY DON'T LOOK AT TOWN COUNCIL STUFF.
WE WANT SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE A BUZZ TO MAKE THE PUBLIC WHO DON'T USUALLY COME TO AN AGENDA LIKE THIS TO SAY, OH, I BETTER SAY SOMETHING.
IT DIDN'T HAPPEN, THAT'S WHAT WE ARE UPSET ABOUT.
LIKE MY GRANDDAUGHTER SAID THIS WEEKEND, SHE SAYS, GRANDMA, EXPLAIN YOURSELF.
I WISH YOU WOULD EXPLAIN YOURSELF BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT IT.
THE PUBLIC IS IN AN OUTCRY NOW BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T DO THE PROPER PUBLIC OUTREACH.
[00:25:01]
THAT'S IT FOR NOW BECAUSE THE REST OF THEM WILL SAY WHAT I WANT.>> EMILY FLEN, AND KAREN VINSON.
>> HI, MY NAME IS EMILY FLEN, 64-68 ROBINSON STREET.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN PALM BEACH COUNTY.
MY PARENTS HAVE LIVED IN THE SAME HOUSE IN WELLINGTON FOR OVER 40 YEARS.
WHY IS THIS SIGNIFICANT? WELL, I GREW UP KNOWING THAT PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE WAS ALWAYS THERE JUST IN CASE THERE IS AN UNFORTUNATE EVENT, I ACTUALLY HAD TO CALL THEM.
IT IS NICE TO KNOW THAT WE ALREADY HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND WE'LL HAVE THE BACKUP FROM THE OTHER CITIES JUST IN CASE THERE'S MULTIPLE CALLS THAT THE JUPITER FIRE RESCUE CAN'T HANDLE.
MY QUESTION REALLY IS, DO YOU HAVE A PLAN FOR WHEN WE HAVE SNOWBIRD SEASON AND THE TOWN DOUBLES IN SIZE? HOW ARE WE GOING TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE PEOPLE ALONG WITH THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE HERE AS WELL? THERE ARE JUST A LOT OF OBVIOUS QUESTIONS THAT YOU WILL NEED TO ANSWER BESIDES THE ISSUES WITH YOUR ETHICS AND HOW YOU BULLDOZED YOUR WAY TO END THE CONTRACT.
NOW, I COME TO YOU CLEARLY NINE MONTHS PREGNANT TO PLEAD WITH YOU TO KEEP PALM BEACH FIRE AND RESCUE.
BECAUSE WHAT IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN TO ME OR MY UNBORN CHILD AND THERE ARE CALLS AHEAD OF MINE? HOW WILL THE JUPITER FIRE AND RESCUE HANDLE MULTIPLE CALLS AT THE SAME TIME? THE TRUTH IS, THEY WONT.
LIKELY RESULTING IN HARM COMING TO WOMEN AND CHILDREN JUST LIKE ME.
THAT WOULD MEAN THE BLOOD WOULD BE ON YOUR HANDS.
PLEASE THINK OF THE ENGLISH YOU ARE PUTTING YOUR CURRENT AND FUTURE RESIDENTS IN.
>> KAREN VINSON, AND MASON TORRES.
>> OLD TOWN COUNCIL, HONORABLE MAYOR, I COME BEFORE YOU AGAIN TO REQUEST THAT YOU PUT THIS TO A VOTE TO THE PEOPLE.
JUST BECAUSE 80% OF THE COASTAL TOWNS HAVE THEIR OWN ESTABLISHED FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHY DOES THAT MEAN THAT JUPITER RESIDENTS NEED TO BE SUBJECTED TO A LESSER FIRE RESCUE WITH HIGHER TAXES.
IF A PERSON JUMPS OFF A BRIDGE, SHOULD EVERYONE FOLLOW? I WOULD THINK NOT.
OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE STARTED THEIR OWN DEPARTMENTS HAVE FOUND OUT THAT IT'S MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE THAN WHAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY PLANNED AND RECORDED.
YET WE'RE ALLOWING A COMPANY THAT PRESENTED A KNOWN ERRONEOUS REPORT IN THE FORM OF OVERESTIMATED PROJECTED COSTS FROM PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE AND A WAY UNDERESTIMATED STARTUP COSTS FOR NEW DEPARTMENT IN THE FORM OF LAND ACQUISITION, BUILDINGS, EQUIPMENTS, STARTUP COST, HIRING, TRAINING, RETENTION, RETIREMENT FUNDING, MANY MORE COSTS, TOO MANY TO LIST HERE.
WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO TRAIN? THAT'S STILL AN EXTRA COST.
THESE SO-CALLED ESTIMATES ARE JUST THAT, THEY'RE ESTIMATES.
THEY'RE NOT ACTUAL ACCURATE NUMBERS.
WHY WOULD THIS BE THE BEST OPTION WHEN WE ALREADY KNOW THAT WE HAVE PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE? PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE, MIAMI-DADE, ARE THE TWO MOST SOUGHT AFTER PLACES FOR EMPLOYMENT IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA WHEN YOU'RE A FIRE RESCUE PERSON.
IF YOU TALK TO PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE, THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE COMING IN AND PUTTING IN APPLICANTS, THERE IS A SHORTAGE.
HOW DO WE THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET EFFECTIVE PERSONNEL HERE AT JUPITER? WHY CAN'T THE PEOPLE OF JUPITER VOTE ON THIS? WHY IS THIS NOT PUT TO A VOTE? NOTORIOUSLY, SMALL FIRE DEPARTMENTS RELY HEAVILY ON MUTUAL AID AGREEMENTS.
HOW MUCH IS THAT GOING TO COST US? DID YOU TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE COST OF JUPITER FOR FUNDING YOUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT AND IN ADDITION TO THAT PAYING AN A LA CARTE PRICE EVERY TIME PALM BEACH COUNTY IS CALLED IN TO ASSIST JUPITER? YOU WILL THEN BE PAYING A PREMIUM PRICE, ESSENTIALLY PAYING TWICE FOR THE SERVICE WE PAY ONCE FOR NOW.
PRICE MAY GO UP, BUT WHY PAY TWICE? DID YOU ASK THE TOWN RESIDENTS THAT VOTED YOU INTO OFFICE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING OUT FOR THEIR BEST INTERESTS? NO, YOU DIDN'T.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO PUT FIRE STATIONS TO MEET THE REQUIRED RESPONSE TIMES? TOWN IS GOING TO HAVE TO BUY LAND TO DO THIS AT MORE COST.
ORIGINAL PROPOSALS WHERE THIS INQUEST PARK LAND THAT WAS BOUGHT WITH OPEN SPACE MONEY, THAT CHANGED REALLY QUICK AFTER A COUPLE OF MAINTENANCE AGO.
THE LAND I KNEW AS WON BY THE BURT REYNOLDS BOAT LAUNCH, YOU'RE GOING TO USE THAT TOO PROBABLY.
DOES THIS REALLY MAKE SENSE TO HAVE JUPITER FIRE STATION PRACTICALLY RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM COUNTY STAT FIRE STATION? HOW ARE YOU GOING TO SAVE MONEY AND BE COMPETITIVE WITH PAYS, BENEFITS, FROM PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU STATED THAT YOU ARE ONLY GOING TO BE PAYING 75% OF WHAT THE SURROUNDING FIRE DEPARTMENTS PAY.
THE COST OF LIVING IN JUPITER IS HIGHER THAN ANY MUNICIPALITY THAT'S IN THIS AREA AND YOU EXPECT TO PAY 75% LESS THAN WHAT THE REST OF THE MUNICIPALITIES ARE PAYING.
[00:30:01]
THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF THOUGHT.YOU'RE ALSO EXPECTING TO WORK ALONG A WORKWEEK.
WHAT WOULD MAKE SOMEONE GO INTO A SMALL DEPARTMENT FOR PAY AND LIMITED TRAINING WITH FAR LESS ADVANCED OPPORTUNITIES THAN PALM BEACH COUNTY CURRENTLY OFFERS.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO ENSURE THAT JUPITER FIRE DEPARTMENT IS ACTUALLY STAFFED QUALITY WORKFORCE? ALL THIS JUST TO HAVE CONTROL, REALLY? DO YOU EXPECT THE SAME LEVEL OF CARE? WHY WASN'T IT PUT A VOTE TO PEOPLE? [APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS MASON TORRES, ADDRESS 68-14 MITCHELL STREET.
I COME TO YOU THIS EVENING TO DISCUSS THE SLOWDOWN IN OUR TOWN CAMPAIGN.
IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD OF LIMESTONE CREEK, SIGNS WERE POSTED IN FRONT OF LIMESTONE CREEK ELEMENTARY WHERE MY SON WILL ATTEND IN THE FALL OF 2027.
THE WEBSITE ON SIGN LEADS YOU TO THE TOWN WEBPAGE AND SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE DANGERS OF SPEEDING.
IT IS SHOCKING TO KNOW THAT A PEDESTRIAN, IN THIS EXAMPLE, A SCHOOL-AGE CHILD, HAS LESS THAN A 50% CHANCE OF SURVIVAL AFTER BEING HIT BY A CAR TRAVELING AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.
IT IS EVEN MORE SHOCKING TO KNOW THAT THE MAJORITY OF ROADS SURROUNDING JUPITER SCHOOLS HAVE SPEED LIMITS AT OR ARE EXCEEDING 30 MILES AN HOUR, SOMETIMES EVEN 45 MILES AN HOUR.
LET'S CHANGE GEARS WITH A QUOTE BY STRONG TOWN'S FOUNDER, CHARLES MAROHN, FROM HIS BOOK, CONFESSIONS OF A RECOVERING ENGINEER.
IF YOU NEED A SIGN TO TELL PEOPLE TO SLOW DOWN, YOU DESIGNED THE STREET WRONG.
WIDE STREETS, WIDE SHOULDERS, WIDE, CLEAR ZONES, AND SMOOTH GENTLY CURVING ROADS ALL ENCOURAGE DRIVERS TO DRIVE FASTER.
THE TOWN OF JUPITER'S LEVEL OF SERVICE CALCULATIONS USE THESE EXACT PARAMETERS TO DETERMINE THE EXPECTED FREE FLOW SPEED ON TOWN STREETS.
TRAFFIC ENGINEERS WILL OFTEN BLAME SPEEDING AND A LACK OF POLICE ENFORCEMENT, BUT THAT IS SIMPLY NOT THE CASE.
HIGH SPEEDS ARE A RESULT OF ROAD DESIGN.
IF THE GOAL IS TO REDUCE VEHICLE SPEEDS, TOWN STREETS MUST BE REDESIGNED AND RECONSTRUCTED USING PROVEN AND EFFECTIVE TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM AND ASK THE FOLLOWING QUESTION.
HOW MUCH MONEY IS BUDGETED IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TO CREATE SAFER STREETS FOR OUR PEDESTRIANS? THE ANSWER IS EFFECTIVELY NOTHING.
THERE ARE NO SPECIFIC PLANS FOR STREET TREES OR LANE DIETS OR ROUNDABOUTS, OR RAISED PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS, OR COBBLESTONE INTERSECTIONS, OR PROTECTED BIKE LANES OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF TRAFFIC CALMING.
WHAT COULD THE ENGINEERING BUDGET OF FOUR MILLION A YEAR BY EACH YEAR FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? YOU COULD PLANT ABOUT 10,000 TREES EACH YEAR FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
YOU COULD CONVERT 12 HIGH-SPEED SIGNALIZED INTERSECTIONS TO ROUNDABOUTS EACH YEAR FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
YOU COULD BUILD 10 MILES OF DEDICATED PEDESTRIAN SHARED USE PATH EACH YEAR FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
I THANK THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR PUBLIC OUTREACH CAMPAIGN, AND I THINK IN THE SHORT-TERM WE WILL SEE A DECREASE IN VEHICLE SPEEDS AND AN INCREASE IN PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.
IN THE LONG TERM, WE NEED TOWN AND COUNTY PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND TOWN AND COUNTY PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS TO DO THE RESEARCH AND MAKE THE INVESTMENTS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO PREVENT UNNECESSARY VEHICLE COLLISIONS AND FATALITIES AS A PROMISED BY THE TOWN'S VISION ZERO COMMITMENT.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE SEE THE FREE ONE-HOUR BOOK SUMMARY ON THE STRONG TOWNS YOUTUBE CHANNEL.
IN ADDITION, THE 2023 FLORIDA FDOT GREENBOOK HAS ALSO BEEN UPDATED WITH THE CONTEXT ORIENTED DESIGN THAT I DISCUSSED TODAY.
>> KRISTEN HENRY, THEN MICHELLE CROWELL.
>> HELLO, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
KRISTEN HENRY, 109 MILWAUKEE WAY.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
I'M HERE ASKING YOU TO RECONSIDER CREATING JUPITER FIRE DEPARTMENT WITHOUT A RESIDENCE VOTE.
WITH RESPECT, I FEEL THAT TELLING RESIDENTS IT WILL SAVE TAXES AND CREATE THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE IS A ONE-SIDED BLANKET STATEMENT WITH MISSING INFORMATION AS MANY UNKNOWN STILL REMAIN.
THE MOST OBVIOUS BEING WHERE WILL THE NEW STATIONS WE BUILT? WITH INFLATION IN MATERIALS, LABOR AND PROPERTY VALUES, ANY DELAY SECURING LAND WILL ONLY INCREASE COST TO BUILD AND MAY PUSH OUT THE MINIMUM 36 MONTH TIMELINE.
ANOTHER CONSIDERATION DURING A LONG BILL IS UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS THE CURRENT AUTO WORKER STRIKE, COULD THAT CAUSE AN EVEN LONGER TURNAROUND TIME FOR TRUCKS AND INCREASED COSTS? SECOND AS MR. BOZO STATED IN THE JANUARY PRESENTATION, JUPITER IS THE LARGEST NORTHERN MUNICIPALITY AND RANKS IS A VERY BUSY EMS AREA.
HE STATED MANY CALLS REQUIRE MULTIPLE TRUCKS TO RESPOND,
[00:35:01]
THE PROPOSAL TO HAVE ONLY THREE STATIONS FOR A POPULATION OF OVER 61,000 ACCORDING TO THE 2020 CENSUS OR WITH A PROPOSAL, GARDENS HAS FIVE WITH A LONG ESTABLISHED DEPARTMENT FOR OVER 59,000 CITIZENS AND STILL RELIES ON USING MUTUAL AID.WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IN THE TOWN SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE AND SNOWBOARDS AND TOURISM RAMP UP? ON TOP OF THAT WITH A SHORTAGE OF MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS DELAYING PATIENTS TO WAIT MONTHS TO BE SEEN, WE SHOULD EXPECT THERE IS AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN INCREASE OF NON-EMERGENCY USE OF EMS SERVICES.
AGAIN, EXPECTING THAT THE TOWN WILL HAVE TO HEAVILY RELY ON MUTUAL AID, ANOTHER ADDITIONAL INCREASE IN COST, IT MAY ALSO MEAN DELAYED CRITICAL RESPONSE TIME DUE TO LONGER DISPATCH AND STATION DISTANCE.
IF YOUR LOVED ONE RELIED ON CRUCIAL SECONDS TO SAVE THEIR LIFE WHEN YOU WANT THE BEST POSSIBLE CHANCE FOR THEIR SURVIVAL.
LASTLY, AS MR. BOZO HIGHLIGHTED, WE ARE IN AN AREA WITH INCREASED RISK OF ENVIRONMENTAL FLOODING AND HURRICANES, WE'RE BUILDING MORE VERTICAL STRUCTURES THAT CREATE ISSUES TO GAIN ACCESS AND HAVE RAMPED UP TRANSPORTATION WITH THE ADDITION OF BRIGHT-LINE, WHICH HAS BEEN DUBBED THE DEADLIEST STRAIN IN THE US.
PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE SERVICE ARE EQUIPPED SPECIALIZE, AND FREQUENTLY TRAINED TO FACE THE MULTITUDE OF SCENARIOS THE CITIES CAN FACE.
SINCE JUPITER FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL NOT HAVE ALL THOSE SERVICES DUE TO PROHIBITED COSTS, THERE ARE LESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYEE ADVANCEMENT AND DIVERSIFICATION AND AN INCREASE IN RELYING ON THE COUNTY TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES AGAIN.
I ASK, HOW MUCH WILL IT REALLY SAVE TO SACRIFICE THE CURRENT LEVEL OF SERVICE FROM A DEPARTMENT THAT YEAR OVER YEAR IS IN THE 90TH PERCENTILE ACCORDING TO YOUR CITIZENS SATISFACTION SURVEY? WITH AN ESTABLISHED WHILE STAFF DEPARTMENT AND SERVICES, YOUR DEPARTMENTS AND LINK CANNOT OFFER.
>> MY NAME IS MICHELLE SELTZERGER, PLEASURE TO SPEAK WITH YOU ALL TONIGHT.
I'M ALSO I'M IN OPPOSITION OF GETTING RID OF ORANGE COUNTY FIRE RESCUE.
I'VE BEEN A TRAUMA NURSE AND AN ICU NURSE FOR MANY YEARS, AND I WANTED TO TELL YOU IT'S PIVOTAL THAT WE HAVE TRAINED EXPERT MEDICS THAT TAKE CARE OF OUR PATIENTS AND GET THEM THE MOST ACCURATE AND QUICK CARE FOR THEM TO HAVE A BETTER SURVIVAL RATE.
I'VE PERSONALLY HAD TO CALL FIRE RESCUE SEVERAL TIMES FOR MY MOTHER WHO'S ELDERLY WITH ALZHEIMER'S, AND THEIR RESPONSE TIMES HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL AND THEIR SERVICE HAS BEEN GREAT AND REALLY HELPED SAVE MY MOTHER'S LIFE.
I THINK THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT WE HAVE IS YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE THE FAITH OF PEOPLE IF YOU DON'T PUT THIS FOR THE PEOPLE TO VOTE ON, THIS IS OUR TOWN.
AS WE'VE SERVED ALREADY, YOU SERVE US.
WE VOTED YOU IN TO SERVE US AND TO HELP US ALL BE HAPPY IN THIS WONDERFUL COMMUNITY THAT WE LIVE IN, AND I DON'T THINK THAT JUST MAKING A DECISION LIKE THIS AND ROLLING IT OVER THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THIS DECISION IS GOING TO BENEFIT THE TOWN AT ALL.
>> ANDY WESTON AND LISA FREELAND
>> GOOD EVENING. HONORABLE MAYOR, TOWN COUNCIL, STAFF.
MY GRANDFATHER WAS A FORMER CHIEF OF POLICE IN CITY OF CORAL GABLES. DOES THAT COUNT? I THINK YOU GUYS MADE THE RIGHT DECISION.
THIS IS A TOWN GOVERNED BY THE CHARTER, I THINK THE CHARTER SAYS, THIS IS THE DECISION THAT YOU MAKE YOU DON'T RUN A GOVERNMENT BY REFERENDUM, YOU'D NEVER GET ANYTHING DONE.
YOU STUDIED THIS, I DON'T THINK IT WAS SIX MONTHS, 18 MONTHS YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS AND I'VE CHECKED IN EVERY NOW AND THEN AND SAW THAT IT WAS NOT GOING VERY WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE IMPRESSION CAME OUT BUT THEY THOUGHT THAT YOU WERE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THIS, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE PALM BEACH COUNTY COST CAN'T BE EXPLAINED IN MANY CASES.
WE'VE DONE AN AUDIT, FOUND A LOT OF NON RECORDS, CAN'T EXPLAIN IT.
THESE PRICES, AGAIN IS MY UNDERSTANDING, MAYBE AS MUCH AS FIVE MILLION DOLLARS MORE,
[00:40:02]
AND SO WHAT YOUR PLAN IS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO THIS? YOU CAN ALWAYS COMPLAIN ABOUT SERVICE, BUT WHAT'S THE POINT? YOU CAN TALK ABOUT MONEY, THAT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD, AND TO SAY THAT YOU CAN'T FIND PEOPLE THAT PROVIDE THE SAME QUALITY OF SERVICE BEFORE YOU'VE EVEN HAD A CHANCE TO FIND THEM, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT.MY BROTHER LIVES IN THE COMMUNITY IN PENNSYLVANIA, HAS ABOUT 150 VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS AND THESE GUYS ARE WORKING LIKE CLOCKWORK, THEY MAKE IT HAPPEN AND YOU CAN DO THE SAME THING HERE AND I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO YOU ALL DOING IT. THANK YOU.
>> LISA FREELAND. AFTER LISA IS JOHN BARTLETT.
>> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS LISA FREELAND AND I LIVE IN THE HEIGHTS.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE A BRIEF MOMENT TO CONGRATULATE YOU, MR. FORE ON YOUR RECENT APPOINTMENT TO THE COUNCIL.
AS WE'VE BEEN TOLD YOU'RE A LOCAL, AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER SOME WORDS OF ADVICE FROM ONE LOCAL TO ANOTHER AS YOU TAKE YOUR SEAT FOR THE NEXT 17 MONTHS.
LISTEN TO THE RESIDENTS, AFTER ALL WE'RE THE ONES WHO HAVE TO LIVE WITH YOUR DECISIONS AND FOOT THE BILL.
THE COUNCIL IS ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE RESIDENTS OF THIS TOWN, NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF THIS, IT SEEMS THAT OTHERS HAVE LOST THEIR WAY.
PLEASE DON'T ATTACK RESIDENTS WHEN THEY DISAGREE WITH YOU.
CALLING RESIDENTS OUT BECAUSE THEIR VIEWPOINT IS DIFFERENT THAN YOURS IS TACKY AND UNPROFESSIONAL.
PEOPLE WILL NOT WANT TO SPEAK WITH YOU IF YOU'RE CONDESCENDING AND RUDE.
DON'T BE AFRAID TO GO AGAINST THE GRAIN.
JUST BECAUSE YOU WERE NOMINATED BY THREE PEOPLE DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU OWE ANYTHING TO THEM, BE YOUR OWN COUNCILMAN AND THINK ABOUT WHAT THE RESIDENTS WANT.
I UNDERSTAND GOING WITH THE MAJORITY MAY MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER UP ON THE DYERS, BUT THE RESIDENTS ARE QUITE FED UP WITH US AS YOU CAN SEE HERE TONIGHT.
I TRULY DO WISH YOU LUCK IN YOUR POSITION AND I HOPE THAT AS A LOCAL YOU CAN BECOME ANOTHER TRUE VOICE FOR US.
NEXT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AROUND THIS ROOM AND SEE JUST HOW MANY PEOPLE HAD THE COURAGE TO COME OUT TONIGHT AND SPEAK OUT AGAINST YOUR CONTINUED DECISION TO FORCE A JUPITER FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT ON ALL OF US THAT NONE OF US WANT.
WHEN DID YOU LOSE SIGHT OF WHAT MATTERS TO THE RESIDENTS? OR DID IT EVEN MATTERED TO YOU IN THE FIRST PLACE? HOW CAN YOU SIT UP THERE AND CONTINUALLY CONGRATULATE EACH OTHER ON DOING THE RIGHT THING? I'VE GOTTEN BACK AND LISTEN TO SOME OF THE MEETINGS AND TO HEAR SOME OF YOU SAY, WELL, IT'S JUST TIME WE HAVE OUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT IS RIDICULOUS.
THAT'S NOT A VALID REASON TO MAKE A DECISION THAT AFFECTS ALL OF US.
THIS IS LIKE YOUR VERSION OF WHEN OUR PARENTS CHOOSES TO SAY, WELL, BECAUSE I SAID SO.
WHERE'S THE RATIONALE? YOU KEEP PREACHING COSTS BUT YOUR FINANCIALS MAKE NO SENSE.
YOU SAID THE FIRST-YEAR WON'T COST US ANYTHING, YET YOU'RE DRAWING 11 MILLION IN RESERVES FOR YEAR 1.
ASIDE FROM ALL OF THIS, THE RESIDENTS AREN'T BRINGING UP THE COST, YOU ARE.
WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HAPPY WITH THE SERVICE PROVIDED BY PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE, AND THAT SHOULD BE A GOOD ENOUGH REASON TO KEEP THEM.
>> GOOD EVENING. JOHN BARTLETT, 119 RIVER ROAD, JUPITER, RESIDENT OF THIS AREA SINCE 1977 AND A RESONANCE WITH JUPITER SINCE 1996.
BROTHER MAYOR, COUNSELORS, CHIEF, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
I WANT TO SPEAK TONIGHT FROM MY EXPERIENCE ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
OBVIOUSLY, I'M HERE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO STAY WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE.
MY FIRE RESCUE CAREER STARTED IN THIS AREA BACK WHEN MY DAD AND I JOINED SOUTH MARTIN COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT IN 1977.
HE WENT ON TO BE CHIEF AND I WENT ON TO BE AN OFFICER IN THAT DEPARTMENT.
I HEARD TERI GROOMS MENTIONED HERE TONIGHT.
I WAS HIRED IN 1982 BY HER FATHER, CHIEF DAVID GROOMS, AND I WORKED FOR JUPITER FIRE CONTROL HISTORY UNTIL THE TIME THAT THEY WERE CONSOLIDATED INTO PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE.
I RETIRED AFTER 32 YEARS OF SERVICE IN 2015.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, I ALSO HAD THE BLESSING OF ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE FIRE SERVICE.
I SAY THIS ONLY BECAUSE IT GOES TO SUPPORT MY MY OPINION HERE.
I ALSO, AS A RESULT OF A FIRE THAT I IRONICALLY WENT TO HERE IN JUPITERS AND OFFICER MY CREW AND I, WE SAW THAT A DIAPER DIDN'T BURN AND A FIRE.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THE STORY HAPPENED HERE IN JUPITER.
I WENT ON AND I WAS PLAYED A ROLE IN DEVELOPING A NEW FIRE CHEMICAL.
AS A RESULT OF THAT EXPERIENCE SO I GOT TO TRAVEL NOT JUST THE UNITED STATES, BUT I'VE BEEN TO MANY PLACES IN THE WORLD TEACHING AND EXCUSE ME,
[00:45:04]
ANOTHER DIFFERENT FIRE DEPARTMENTS.I'VE SEEN THIS ISSUE NOT JUST IN THIS AREA OF ACTUALLY LIVED THROUGH THIS AND THIS AREA.
MY FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR, WAYNE AND I WERE WORKING MANY YEARS AGO WHEN THIS FIRE RESCUE ISSUE, WHEN IT CAME UP BEFORE.
I ALSO MY CONDOLENCES TO MAYOR HINTON'S FAMILY.
SHE WAS THE MAYOR WHEN I WAS HIRED HERE AND JUPITER WAY BACK WHEN.
IT'S FROM THAT BACKGROUND THAT I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO STAY WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE A SONG LINE COMES TO MIND, YOU DON T KNOW WHAT YOU GOT TILL IT'S GONE.
MY EXPERIENCE, I'VE BEEN ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS.
I STARTED OFF ACTUALLY WITH NORTH COUNTY VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE SERVICE WAS WITH SOUTH MARTIN COUNTY VOLUNTEER.
IT'S AS I SAID, SO MY DAD WAS A VOLUNTEER CHIEF HIS WHOLE CAREER, SO I'VE SEEN THAT SIDE.
I WENT ON, I SERVED FOR AWHILE AND MARTIN COUNTY COULDN'T HOLD A JOB DOWN THERE FOR AWHILE.
BUT ONCE I GOT DOWN HERE, I WAS ABLE TO STAY ON THE JOB.
I'VE SEEN A LOT OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS GO THROUGH THIS.
I WENT THROUGH THIS AND MY EXPERIENCE WAS I WENT FROM A SMALL DEPARTMENT.
ONE OF MY FIRST OFFICERS IS IN THE AUDIENCE OUT HERE ALSO, WE ARE WHAT WE CALL PRECAUTIONS IN THE DEPARTMENT WERE PRE CONSOLIDATED MEMBERS.
I GUESS THAT MEANS I GOT TO QUIT.
WITH THAT EXPERIENCE, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO STAY WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE.
AS I TRAVELED THE WORLD, WHEREVER I WENT, ALL I HAD TO DO WAS SAY I WAS A PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE EMPLOYEE AND THAT GAVE ME INSTANT MEANING IN THE CLASSES I WAS ABLE TO TEACH.
ALSO WANT TO OFFER MY SERVICES IF I CAN BE OF ANY HELP IN THE FUTURE.
CHIEF, YOU AND I GO BACK, BE HAPPY TO SERVE IN ANY WAY THAT I CAN.
>> LASTLY, WE HAVE ABBY DORIAN.
>> GOOD EVENING. ABBY DORIAN 200 CIRCLE EAST.
THERE ARE MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS WHEN LOOKING OVER THE PROVIDED INFORMATION.
THE BREAKDOWN OF EXPENSES HASN'T BEEN MADE CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC.
IF IT'S SO CLEAR TO THE THREE COUNCILMAN ON THIS DECISION, THEN CONVINCE US THAT WE WON'T LOSE QUALITY OF CARE AND YOU WON'T CHARGE MORE.
WHERE ARE THE ALLOCATIONS FOR TRAINING HEADQUARTERS AND FOR MUTUAL AID THAT IS HIGHLIGHTED AND RECOMMENDED IN THEIR CRMP FOR ALL RESOURCES, JUPITER WON'T BE ABLE TO PROVIDE.
PALM BEACH COUNTY OFFERS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CARE AND IS CONSTANTLY ADVANCING.
THEY'RE NOW GIVING BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS AND EVEN HAVE ULTRASOUND, ONE OF TWO DEPARTMENTS IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF FLORIDA TO DO SO.
WITH 73% OF THE CALLS BEING MEDICAL AND JUPITER, I DON'T WANT TO COMPROMISE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY RECEIVE.
HOW OFTEN DO YOU THINK YOU'LL HAVE TO RELY ON MUTUAL AID BECAUSE JUPITER WON'T HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES.
WHEN I ASK COUNCILMAN, THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS A COST FOR MUTUAL AID.
HOW OLD THE NEED FOR MUTUAL AID IMPACT RESPONSE TIMES AND HOW BUDGETED END.
I HIGHLIGHTED PORTION AND A CRMP RECOMMEND IS TRAINING FOR JUPITER AND WATER RESCUE.
WHILE PALM BEACH COUNTY JUST CREATED A WATER RESCUE.
AND I'M SURE THIS HAS NOT BEEN BUDGETED AND FOR JUPITER EITHER.
SOMETHING NO ONE HAS MENTIONED IS WHAT CARE WOULD DO THIRD, FIREFIGHTERS RECEIVE? PALM BEACH COUNTY PROVIDES A CLINIC WITH FAMILY PRACTITIONERS AND PSYCHOLOGIST, NOT JUST EAP PSYCHOLOGISTS.
WHAT CARE JUPITER BE PROVIDING FOR THEIR FIRST RESPONDERS, AND HAS THIS BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR IN THEIR BUDGET? COUNCILMAN ALSO DIDN'T HAVE THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS.
UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI HAS A FIREFIGHTER OCCUPATION ELEVATED TO THE HIGHEST CLASSIFICATION OF CANCER RISK.
IN FACT, MIAMI HAS A FIREFIGHTER CANCER INITIATIVE WHOSE MISSION IS TO UNDERSTAND THE ELEVATED CANCER RISKS AND ARE WORKING ON PREVENTION.
COUNTY WORKS WITH MIAMI PROVIDING DATA.
THE NATIONAL FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS FOUNDATION ESTIMATES THAT THERE ARE BETWEEN 100-200 FIRE DEATHS BY SUICIDE EACH YEAR, DOUBLE THE RATE OF THE GENERAL POPULATION.
I CAN TELL YOU PALM BEACH COUNTY AND THEIR CLINIC ARE WORKING TO HELP THEIR EMPLOYEES THEIR CONSTANT ADVANCEMENTS IN THE FIELD AND TREATMENT IN CLINIC.
WHAT WILL JUPITER BE DOING FOR THEIR FIREFIGHTERS AND HOW WILL THIS NEW DEPARTMENT BENEFIT THE PUBLIC OTHER THAN THE POSSIBILITY OF MAYBE SAVING A FEW DOLLARS? IT IS WORTH A FEW EXTRA DOLLARS TO TAKE CARE OF OUR RESPONDERS AND TO RECEIVE A QUALITY CARE AS RESIDENTS THAT PALM BEACH COUNTY PROVIDES.
RESIDENTS NEED TRANSPARENCY FROM YOU AND WE NEED TO HAVE A SAY IN DECISIONS OF THIS MAGNITUDE.
LEAVE THE CHOICE TO THE PEOPLE [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO THE MINUTES.
[3. September 19, 2023 Town Council Meeting Minutes.]
WE HAVE ON THE DIAS, SOME REVISIONS TO THE MATCH.EITHER REVISIONS MAY HAVE A MOTION.
[00:50:01]
>> MOTION, SECOND ONE FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVING ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
THIS IS ITEM 4-6, JOURNEY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WANTED TO PULL THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM?>> ANYBODY ON THE DIAS? SEEING THEM? CAN I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
>> MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVING ON TO THE REGULAR AGENDA ITEM RESOLUTION 101-23.
[7. Resolution 101-23, Approving an amendment request to establish fiscal year 2023/2024 funding for the Town of Jupiter Fire Rescue Department and amend the Town’s General Fund operating and Community Investment Plan.]
I GUESS I TURN IT OVER TO STAFF.>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THIS EVENING, WE HAVE BEFORE YOU RESOLUTION 101-23, WHICH IS TO ESTABLISH THE FISCAL YEAR '24 BUDGET FOR THE TOWN OF JUPITER FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THE TOWN COUNCIL IS GIVEN AND DIRECTED STAFF TO ESTABLISH THE JUPITER FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT.
THE PROCESS, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED IT OVER A NUMBER OF MEETINGS, IS GOING TO TRANSPIRE OVER THE 36-MONTH PERIOD, BUT IN THAT PROCESS, THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, THERE'S GOING TO BE EXPENDITURES RELATED TO THE DEPARTMENT THAT THE COUNTY COUNCIL NEEDS TO GO AHEAD AND SET A BUDGET FOR THOSE EXPENDITURES.
ONE OF THEM BEING THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED THE NUMBER OF TIMES THE APPARATUS, THE BUILD TIME, SOME OF THE PEOPLE THIS EVENING EVEN ALLUDED TO THAT.
THOSE ITEMS ARE GOING TO BE COMING BEFORE THE TOWN COUNCIL IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
WE NEED TO ESTABLISH THE HIRING OF SOME STAFF, WHICH CONSISTS OF THE FIRE CHIEF AND SOME SUPPORT STAFF FOR THAT PERSON, ALONG WITH GENERAL OPERATING EXPENDITURES, BUT BY FAR THE LARGEST PORTION OF THAT IS GOING TO BE THE APPARATUS.
WITH THAT, THE TOTAL THAT'S BEING REQUESTED TO SET FOR THIS AMENDMENT IS $11.4 MILLION.
THE MAJORITY OF THOSE EXPENSES, WHICH IS 8.8 MILLION IS THE FIRE APPARATUS AND THE TRANSPORT VEHICLES THAT WILL BE NECESSARY FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME CONTRACTUAL SERVICES THAT'S INCLUDED FOR THE FACILITY DESIGN AND ENGINEERING THAT'S GOING TO BE NECESSARY OVER THE NEXT YEAR.
THE HIRING OF A MEDICAL DIRECTOR, SPECIAL ASSESSMENT CONSULTING SERVICES, SOME FINANCIAL SERVICES THAT ARE GOING TO BE NECESSARY GOING FORWARD.
AGAIN, THE PERSONNEL SERVICES IN GENERAL OPERATING EXPENDITURES FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
THE BUDGET, AND HOW IS IT GOING TO BE FUNDED GOING FORWARD, WE ARE REQUESTING TO USE $1.4 MILLION FOR THE GENERAL FUND CONTINGENCY THAT'S AVAILABLE WITHIN FY24.
ALSO, WE HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS THAT WE HAD SET TO TRANSFER OVER TO THE THE TOWN CIP BUDGET FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THIS BUILDING ALONG WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TOWN GREEN.
WE HAVE RECEIVED SOME PUBLIC BENEFIT FUNDS THAT WE COULD UTILIZE INSTEAD OF THAT, WHICH FREES UP A MILLION DOLLARS THERE, PLUS WE HAVE ANOTHER JUST OVER $100,000 AVAILABLE FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR POSITION THAT'S NOT BEEN FILLED OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, WE CAN UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS.
BUT AS JUST MENTIONED, THE LARGEST PORTION OF THAT, THE $8.9 MILLION THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ESTIMATING TO BE USED, THAT WILL COME FROM OUR RESERVE BALANCE.
WE HAVE HAD A HEALTHY FUND BALANCE, SO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT OVER A NUMBER OF BUDGET CYCLES THAT THAT NUMBER HAS GROWN EVERY YEAR.
WE'RE REQUESTING TO USE 8.9 OF THAT, THAT COME FROM THE RESERVES WOULD LEAVE US WITH A BALANCE OF APPROXIMATELY $34 MILLION.
THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO BE STATIC GOING FORWARD.
THE GENERAL FUND IS OWED A NUMBER OF BRIDGE LOANS FROM OTHER FUNDS THAT ARE COMING DUE.
THOSE THINGS, WE COULD CALL THOSE AND BASICALLY BRING THE FUND RESERVES BACK TO EXACTLY WHERE THEY ARE TODAY OR CLOSE TO IT.
BUT EITHER WAY, STAFF IS REQUESTING THE COUNCIL ADOPT A RESOLUTION 101-23 TO GO AHEAD AND SET THAT OPERATING BUDGET AND THE MAJORITY OF THESE EXPENDITURES, ESPECIALLY APPARATUS, WILL BE COMING BACK BEFORE THE TOWN COUNCIL.
I WILL NOTE THAT THE NUMBERS THAT YOU'RE SEEING IN THE BUDGET AMENDMENT RELATING TO APPARATUS AND EVEN THE PERSONNEL COSTS,
[00:55:04]
THOSE WERE ACTUALLY SET BY THE CONSULTANT BACK IN JANUARY, THOSE WERE HIS ESTIMATES.WE'RE STICKING WITH THOSE ESTIMATES AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
WITH THAT, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS COMING FROM THE COUNCIL?
>> I'M GOING TO ASK IF COUNCIL HAS ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENTS?
>> SCOTT, REAL QUICK. AS FAR AS SAYING THE BIGGEST AMOUNT'S GOING TO BE APPARATUS AND STUFF, HAS THERE BEEN ANY ENGAGEMENT WITH ANY OF THE COMPANIES TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEIR ESTIMATED COSTS ARE AND WHICH COMPANIES WERE THOSE?
>> THE CONSULTANT HAS STARTED DOING THAT, STARTED LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT APPARATUSES AND IS PUTTING TOGETHER SOMETHING FOR THE TOWN TO BE ABLE TO JUDGE WHICH ONE THAT WE WOULD GO WITH.
BUT YES, THE CONSULTANT HAS BEEN DOING THAT, AND YES, WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH A DEALER.
>> IS THERE ANY FUNDING BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WITH THE PURCHASING OF THE APPARATUS AND ONGOING MAINTENANCE OF THOSE APPARATUS, IS THERE ANY FUNDING BEING PROPOSED FOR HIRING OF HEAVY DIESEL MECHANICS, FIRE PUMP MECHANICS, THINGS LIKE THAT TO WORK ON THESE TRUCKS?
>> THAT THAT'S NOT FOR YEAR 1 AT THIS POINT, BUT THOSE DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN HAD.
WE DO KNOW THAT ONE OF THE APPARATUS DEALERS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A MAINTENANCE FACILITY THAT'S RELATIVELY CLOSE TO JUPITER THAT WILL BE ABLE TO MAINTENANCE THOSE APPARATUS THAT WOULD BE PURCHASED.
BUT YES, THOSE ARE GOING TO BE FUTURE COSTS THAT WE'LL HAVE TO COME BACK BEFORE YOU.
>> WHAT'S THE REJECTED DELIVERY TIME ON SOME OF THE TRUCKS?
>> THAT'S PART OF OUR QUESTIONING OF THE DEALERS THAT WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING WITH.
WE'RE WITHIN THE 36-MONTH WINDOW.
WE FEEL VERY CONFIDENT FROM THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING THROUGH OUR CONSULTANT THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE APPARATUS AS WELL BEFORE THAT CUTOFF DATE WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE STAFF THAT WOULD BE HIRED TO DO SOME TRAINING ON THOSE VEHICLES, THEY WOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO STOP THOSE VEHICLES AND ALSO WORK WITH THE VEHICLES TO GET FAMILIAR WITH THEM.
>> THAT'S ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, SCOTT.
>> I'M LOOKING AT SOME OF THE NUMBERS IN HERE AND I SEE APPARATUS THROWN AROUND AS A CATCH-ALL TERM.
>> THERE WILL BE NO USED VEHICLES IN THIS.
THEY WERE ALL BE BRAND NEW MANUFACTURED.
ONE THING I'VE LEARNED A LOT IN RELATION TO FIRE APPARATUS JUST SO THE PUBLIC CAN HEAR THIS AS WELL, FIRE APPARATUS, IT ISN'T LIKE YOU GO DOWN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND JUST BUY A FIRE ENGINE.
THOSE ENGINES ARE CONSTRUCTED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE INDIVIDUAL FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THEY ARE BUILT SPECIFICALLY JUST FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF USES AND THEY'RE CONSTRUCTED AS NEEDED.
>> DONE A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH IN THE LAST WEEKS SINCE I'M INVOLVED WITH ALL THIS, AND THERE ARE A MULTITUDE OF OPTIONS THAT GREATLY CHANGED.
>> ABSOLUTELY. I'M FINDING IT OUT AS WELL.
>> IS THE EQUIPMENT WE'RE LOOKING AT COMPARABLE TO WHAT'S IN THE TOWN RIGHT NOW?
>> THE EQUIPMENT WE'RE LOOKING AT, IS IT COMPARABLE TO WHAT'S IN THE TOWN NOW?
WILL THERE BE A BIG LEARNING CURVE FOR ANY OF THE NEW OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE OR IS IT SOMETHING OUR NEW STAFF COULD THEORETICALLY COME IN AND OPERATE RIGHT OFF THE BAT?
>> FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND AND SPEAKING WITH THE CONSULTANT, MOST OF THIS STUFF IS PRETTY STANDARD EQUIPMENT THAT THE FIREFIGHTERS ARE USED TO.
THERE'S NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO BE ON THE EQUIPMENT OR THE APPARATUS.
>> IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LADDER TRUCK WHERE WE DID NOT HAVE ONE BEFORE. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES, SIR. THAT WAS ACTUALLY PART OF THE ORIGINAL STUDY AND THE RECOMMENDATION COMING FROM THE CONSULTANT TO HAVE HAVE A LADDER COMPANY IN THE TOWN.
>> I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.
>> FIRST, WE HAVE WAYNE POSNER.
AFTER WAYNE POSNER IS LEMON MCDERMOTT.
>> GOOD THING AS SAYING, RIGHT THIS TIME.
GOOD EVENING COUNCIL ONCE AGAIN.
WE'VE BEEN PAUSING AT 3:15, KARINA, JUPITER RESIDENT FOR 32 YEARS AND FORMER TOWN COUNCILMAN.
I DON'T KNOW IF I MENTIONED THAT BEFORE.
THANK YOU, MR. BARTLETT FOR BEING SO KIND, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT ON THE SAME PAGE, SOMETIMES WE WERE GREAT NEIGHBORS, AND WE LOVED THIS TOWN.
I LOVE THIS TOWN. I'M NOT LEAVING THIS TOWN, I'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME.
I THINK AGAIN, WE MADE A GREAT DECISION LISTENING TO SCOTT FROM OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
HE SEEMS TO HAVE A PRETTY GOOD HANDLE ON THIS, AND I DON'T KNOW THIS, MAYBE THE COUNCIL CAN ANSWER THIS, BUT I ASSUME THE CONSULTANTS HAVE A GOOD RECORD ON ESTIMATING WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST TO PUT TOGETHER A FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I'M SURE THEY'D DONE THIS BEFORE.
[01:00:01]
AS FAR AS EQUIPMENT, I HEARD SOMEONE SAY WITH THE STRIKE, I KNOW THEY JUST SETTLED WITH MAC AND THE BIG TRUCKS.THEY SETTLED THOSE STRIKES, IF THERE'S ANY ENGINE PARTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, IT SHOULD BE VERY AVAILABLE NOW.
AGAIN, MR. KITZEROW CREATED ONE OF THE FINEST POLICE DEPARTMENTS WE'VE EVER HAD IN THE TOWN OF JUPITER.
THANK YOU, MR. KITZEROW, THANK YOU TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT I THINK IF HE'S ABLE TO DO THAT, IT'D BE EASILY ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ALSO HE'S MANAGING THE TOWN, WHICH SHE HASN'T DONE BEFORE.
NOW, LOOKING BACK AT HIS RECORD IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, HE'S DONE AN EXEMPLARY JOB.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THESE FACTS AND FIGURES COME FROM.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF EMOTION GOING ON HERE.
I KNOW I DON'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT LOSING A GREAT SERVICE THAT WE'VE HAD FOR OVER 25 YEARS FROM THE COUNTY.
ALL THE COUNTY FIREMEN THAT I'VE EVER MET AND SPOKE TO ARE REALLY GOOD PEOPLE.
THEY MEAN WELL AND THEY ALWAYS DO THEIR JOB WELL BUT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR JUPITER MOVE FORWARD LIKE 80% OF THE OTHER TOWNS ON THE EASTERN SEABOARD.
WE'VE GOT TO TAKE THAT IN CONSIDERATION.
THIS IS NOT AGAINST ANYONE IN THIS ROOM.
IT'S JUST A GOOD BUSINESS DECISION, A HEALTH DECISION FOR THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE.
I'M SURE WE'LL BE ABLE TO GIVE THE SERVICE THAT'S NECESSARY TO CONTINUE GOOD SERVICE IN THE TOWN OF JUPITER, LIKE WE HAVE WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO SEE EVERYBODY ON BOARD WITH THIS AND MAYBE WE CAN ALL COALESCE AND HOPEFULLY WE LIVE, I THINK IN THE BEST TOWN IN THE WHOLE ENTIRE UNITED STATES.
IF WE CAN'T GET PEOPLE TO COME HERE TO WORK FOR US, I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYONE ELSE COULD GET PEOPLE TO WORK FOR US.
WE HAVE GREAT POLICEMEN AGAIN, THEY COME FROM ALL OVER.
THEY LEAVE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TO COME TO WORK FOR THE TOWN OF JUPITER AND IN SOME CASES FOR LESS MONEY.
THERE IS A LOT TO BE SAID ABOUT THE PEOPLE.
AGAIN, I THANK THE COUNCIL FOR MAKING A HARD DECISION.
I KNOW YOU'RE GETTING A LOT OF DARTS THROWN AT YOU, BUT I THINK WHEN ALL THE SMOKE CLEARS, WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS AN HISTORIC MOMENT. THANK YOU.
>> HELLO. WELL, PART OF WHAT I WAS GOING TO SPEAK, I WANTED TO ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU HOW MUCH AN AERIAL AND A PUMPER AND AN EMS RESCUE COSTS.
$1.8 MILLION FOR THE AERIAL SO THAT'S JUST AS HIGH AS THAT YOU WANT, 887,000 I JUST PAID A BILL FOR WHERE I WORK FOR A PUMPER TRUCK.
$540,000, I JUST PAID FOR AN EMS RESCUE, AND $7,000 FOR EVERY FIREFIGHTER TO EQUIP THEM WITH THEIR GEAR.
THAT WAS THE PRICES OF A YEAR-AND-A-HALF AGO.
WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR THE AERIAL OR FOR THE PUMPER TRUCKS THAT WERE ORDERED JANUARY 2022.
NOW, I'LL GET BACK TO WHAT I WANT TO SAY.
THE RESOLUTION THAT'S BEFORE US TONIGHT IS A MAJOR CHANGE IN BUDGET FOR ONE SPECIFIC PURPOSE THAT HAS MONUMENTAL IMPACT ON RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.
WE ARE ONLY THREE DAYS INTO THE BUDGET YEAR.
THESE ACTIONS ARE FAR FROM ROUTINE CHANGES.
FLORIDA STATE STATUTES 166.041 STATES, THE PROCEDURES, PRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTION.
RESOLUTION SHALL EMBRACE BUT ONE SUBJECT MATTER PROPERLY CONNECTED THERE.
THE SUBJECT SHALL BE CLEARLY STATED IN THE TITLE.
THIS SUBJECT IS TO FORM A FIRE DEPARTMENT.
A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN IT'S BUDGET IS NOT JUST TO MAKE A BUDGET AMENDMENT.
SECTION 1 OF WHAT YOU'VE PRESENTED SAYS TO PROVIDE CERTAIN ADJUSTMENTS AND AMENDMENTS TO THE TOWN COUNCIL FISCAL POLICY, WHICH IT HAS MADE DURING THE COURSE OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
WE'RE THREE DAYS UNTIL THE FISCAL YEAR.
THAT IS TYPICALLY THE STATEMENT THAT IS MADE IN A FORMAL AT THE END OF THE YEAR WHEN YOU'RE DOING A BUDGET CLEANUP.
THIS RESOLUTION USES A WORDING THAT'S TYPICALLY USED TO PROVE MOVING OF BUDGET FOR ACTIONS ALREADY TAKEN WITHIN THE FISCAL YEAR FOR ROUTINE BUSINESS OR CLEAN UP THE BUDGET TO PROPERLY ALIGN BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS WITH THE ACTUAL REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES.
WHAT I REALLY WANT TO KNOW IS DID YOU ALREADY SPENT SOME MONEY ON THIS BEFORE THAT THIS WAS AGREED TO? AGAIN, I AM GETTING DOWN TO PARTICULARS THAT MAYBE I HAVE PROVEN TO, THAT NORMAL PERSON WOULD NOT KNOW BUT I WAS REALLY SHOCKED TO SEE THIS AMENDMENT COMES THREE DAYS AFTER THE BUDGET WAS ADOPTED AND THE LANGUAGE THAT IS NOT VERY CLEAR.
WHEN YOU DO A CAPTION IN A RESOLUTION, THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE VERY MUCH AWARE OF SUCH A HUGE CHANGE.
IT'S NOT STATED LIKE FLORIDA STATE STATUTE INTENDS.
ALL I'M SAYING IS THIS LANGUAGE, IT WAS TOO VAGUE, TOO LARGE OF A BUDGET CHANGE JUST THREE DAYS INTO THE BUDGET YEAR.
[01:05:03]
IT SAYS, COUNCIL HEREBY ADOPT THOSE BUDGET TRANSFERS RECORDED THROUGH ACT 03.>> CARRIEN VINSON AND MICHAEL GOAT? [NOISE]
>> CARRIEN VINSON, 1003 SOO STREET.
I LIVED IN JUPITER FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS.
I'VE BEEN HERE FOR THE MAJORITY OF MY LIFE.
THIS IS MY TOWN. THIS IS WHAT I CARE ABOUT.
I'D LIKE TO SAY TO ANDY FEEL WELCOME.
I HOPE YOU TAKE THAT OATH SERIOUSLY.
I FEEL LIKE THAT MAYBE THE REST OF THE TOWN COUNCIL MAY NEED TO REDO THEIR OATH JUST TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY HERE FOR.
YOU VOTED FOR A BUDGET LAST MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 19TH.
IT WAS TWO WEEKS AGO. NOW, TWO WEEKS LATER, ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU WANT TO CHANGE IT.
THERE WAS A LOT OF HOOPLA ABOUT HOW GREAT IT WAS BECAUSE YOU WERE LOWER IN THE MILLAGE AND EVERYTHING ELSE, VERY EXCITED, PATTING THEMSELVES ON THE BACK. THAT'S AWESOME.
TWO WEEKS LATER WE'RE GOING TO COME UP HERE AND WE'RE GOING TO AMEND IT BECAUSE NOW WE'RE GOING TO FUND FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE DOUBLE TAXED ON THIS FIRE DEPARTMENT.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ANY COSTS OUT OF YOUR POCKET UNTIL THIS FIRE DEPARTMENT OPENS UP THE 26TH, I BELIEVE NOT SURE ON THE DATE.
HOWEVER, WERE WON'T PAY PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
NOW YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THIS OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
WELL, THAT GENERAL FUND INCLUDES MY TAX PAYING MONEY, INCLUDES EVERYBODY ELSE'S TAX PAYING MONEY.
I GOING TO PAY FOR FIRE RESCUE TWICE.
ONE I'M GOING TO GET SERVICED, THE OTHER ONE I'M NOT FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS, BUT I'M GOING TO PAY FOR IT.
YOU WANT TO AMEND IT TO INCLUDE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THAT'S AWESOME. YOU DECREASE THE MILLAGE TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING.
THIS IS WHAT YOU GUYS ARE REFERRED TO AS TRANSPARENCY.
WE'VE BEEN BACK OVER THIS AGAIN AND I KNOW IF WE BEAT THIS DEAD HORSE, BUT ON REASON WHY I'M BEATING THIS DEAD HORSE IS BECAUSE THERE IS AN OPAQUE GLASS RIGHT THERE AND THERE IS NO TRANSPARENCY, I'M VERY SORRY TO SAY.
WHERE'S ALL THE MONEY GOING TO COME FROM? HOW MUCH ARE YOU GOING TO BE DRAINING FROM THE RESERVES? ELEVEN-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLARS BASICALLY, THERE'S GOING PULL OUT OF RESERVES, WHICH ARE OUR TAX MONEY.
WE'LL BE PAYING FOR IT TWICE LIKE I SAID.
WHAT'S OTHER PROJECTS ARE GOING TO BE DELAYED OR NOT FUNDED OR PUT ON HOLD ON THE BACK BURNER FOR THIS PET PROJECT FOR THE MAYOR.
ARE YOU GOING TO DRAIN THE WATER UTILITY FUND? YOU JUST VOTED A SIGNIFICANT FUND INCREASED TO THE WATER UTILITY AND TO THE STORMWATER 7% AND 6.5% RESPECTIVELY.
THIS WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO GO GET YOUR EXTRA MONEY WHEN YOU NEED IT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND THEN IT'S GOING TO COMPROMISE THE REST OF THE RESOURCES IN TOWN.
NOW THE RESIDENTS WOULD BE PAYING, AGAIN, DOUBLE TAXES FOR RESCUE BY THE TIME YOU GET IT ALL FROM THE GENERAL FUND OR THE RESIDENTS TAX MONEY.
WE'RE GOING TO BE PAYING PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE AND JUPITER TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT HOW THEY CAN FUND A DEPARTMENT AND IN THE END, PROBABLY IT'S GOING TO GO BACK TO PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE, WE'RE STILL REQUESTING A CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE FOR CHANGES REGARDING EMS CHANGES IN THE TOWN OF JUPITER.
>> LISA RALEIGH, AND THEN CRAIG MAORI.
>> LISA RALEIGH. I LIVE IN THE HEIGHTS.
HERE, WE ARE BARELY GOT STARTED AND WE'RE ALREADY MAKING BUDGET AMENDMENTS, DRAWING UP $11 MILLION IN OUR RESERVE MONEY FOR THE FIRST YEAR BUT YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO PUT THESE STATIONS.
I'M CURIOUS, DO YOU FLY ON AN AIRPLANE AS IT'S BEING BUILT? BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE.
RUSHING TO PUSH FOR THIS BUDGET, SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND HAVE NO PLACE TO PUT IT. WHAT'S THE RUSH? DO YOU JUST WANT TO SPEND AS MUCH AS YOU CAN, SO YOU CAN SAY THAT YOU HAVE TOO MUCH INVESTED IN THIS RIDICULOUS PROJECT TO WITHDRAW AND HOW IN THE WORLD DO YOU AGREE TO WHAT A CONSULTANT GIVES YOU WITH NO ROAD MAP TO GET THERE? YOU PAY THE $185,000 AND YOU JUST SAY YES, NOT ALL FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENTS ARE CREATED EQUAL.
GOING CHEAP IS NOT THE ANSWER HERE.
DO YOU GO TO THE CHEAPEST EYE SURGEON? DO YOU HIRE THE CHEAPEST CONTRACTOR TO WORK ON YOUR HOUSE? LIKELY NOT. WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT WITH FIRE RESCUE? I KNOW COUNCILOR DELANEY, YOU SAID THAT NO ONE'S DYING IN THE STREETS BUT IF YOU GET RID OF PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE AND IMPLEMENT A NICKEL AND DIME FIRE DEPARTMENT, THAT WILL LIKELY CHANGE.
YOU ALSO MENTIONED IN YOUR BUDGET AMENDMENT, YOU'LL ELIMINATE THE SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR POSITION AND THAT 8.9 MILLION FOR THE FIRST-YEAR COSTS WILL COME FROM THE UNRESERVED BALANCED IN A VARIETY OF OTHER SOURCES.
WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THOSE OTHER SOURCES ARE.
[01:10:03]
DO YOU JUST EXPECT US TO SAY THIS LOOKS GOOD AND AGREE WITH NO DETAILS.WHAT HAPPENED TO A YEAR ONE NOT COSTING US ANYTHING? [APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD EVENING, CRAIG MALLORY, 230 WALK AISLES LANE IN JUPITER.
JUNE 7TH, '22, NOVEMBER 1ST, '22, DECEMBER 6TH, '22, JANUARY 17TH, '23, MARCH 21ST, APRIL 18TH, JULY 11TH, JULY 18TH, AND AUGUST 15TH OF '23.
THOSE ARE THE 10 TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS WHERE THIS HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT.
I KNOW I WAS AT EIGHT OF THOSE 10.
AT THE MARCH 21ST MEETING, THERE WAS DISCUSSION OF THE NEW PROPOSED INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT TO CONTINUE FIREFIGHTER RESCUE SERVICES FOR THE TOWN OF JUPITER FROM PALM BEACH FIRE FOR THE NEXT PERIOD, 5 YEARS, 10 YEARS, THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS DEBATED.
ONE OF THE REFERENCES IN THAT AGENDA ITEM WAS A LETTER FROM PALM BEACH FIRE RESCUE CHIEF, PATRICK KENNEDY TO TOWN MANAGER, FRANK KITZEROW.
IN THAT LETTER WAS AN ATTACHMENT.
THAT'S A LIST OF OVERHEAD COSTS.
I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT JUST TWO OF THOSE BECAUSE I CAN FIGURE OUT SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT THOSE ARE.
ONE IS CALLED FISCAL PLANNING.
ONE IS CALLED OVERHEAD AND BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS INDIRECT.
$1,215,000 FOR THOSE TWO LINE ITEMS. THOSE ARE TWO OF THE LINE ITEMS THAT WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS, $27,821,000 THIS FISCAL YEAR.
MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT WE DON'T YET KNOW WHAT PALM BEACH FIRE IS GOING TO CHARGE US FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
BECAUSE THERE WERE UNDISCLOSED COSTS EVEN CONTAINED IN THIS ONE, TBD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I RETURN TO COUNCIL.
DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCILOR MAY?
>> NO QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW. JUST SOME COMMENTS.
>> COUNCILOR SUNDSTROM, ANY QUESTIONS?
>> NO QUESTIONS, JUST COMMENTS.
>> NO QUESTIONS, JUST COMMENTS.
>> I HAVE NONE. I'LL START WITH COMMENTS.
>> YOU'RE GOING TO DUMP ME IN THE ACID RIGHT OFF THE BAT.
I WANT TO REITERATE, I DO FEEL LIKE I'M HERE FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE COMMUNITY, AND OBVIOUSLY, YOU ARE ALL CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY.
I LOOK OUT AND SEE THE MEN AND WOMEN HERE HAVE VERY PASSIONATE FEELINGS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.
PRIOR TO TWO WEEKS AGO, I HAD VERY LITTLE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
BUT I'VE JUST DONKED MYSELF INTO THIS AS BEST I CAN, AND I SEE THREE MAIN CATEGORIES OF CONCERN.
TOP OF THE LIST IS OBVIOUSLY A DEGRADATION SERVICE.
I'M PROBABLY GOING TO GET TO THAT LAST.
THE SECOND ONE WAS THE APPARATUS.
I HEARD A LITTLE BIT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THE APPARATUS, AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY LESS OF A WILDCARD THAN THE OTHER ONES.
THE THIRD WAS THE LOCATIONS AND THE COST OF THESE BUILDINGS.
I'VE BEEN IN CONSTRUCTION SINCE THE '70S, BUT I'VE BEEN A CONTRACTOR HERE IN JUPITER, CONTRACTOR ENGINEER, DESIGN-BUILD SINCE 1990.
I'VE DONE MANY DIFFERENT COMMERCIAL PROJECTS.
I'VE WORKED ON HOSPITALS, BULK GAS PLANTS.
I HAVE NOT WORKED ON A FIRE STATION, SO I WAS COMPLETELY IGNORANT OF WHAT A FIRE STATION COST.
I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND RESEARCHED IT AND FOUND THE COST OF MAYBE 10 OR SO FIRE STATIONS IN FLORIDA THAT HAD BEEN BUILT WITHIN THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS.
ONE IN RIVIERA BEACH, ONE IN KISSIMMEE, ONE IN MARTIN COUNTY, TWO IN NAPLES, ONE IN CLEARWATER, ONE IN MARCO ISLAND, ONE IN TAMPA.
THEY'RE AVERAGING ABOUT $10 MILLION A PIECE FOR THEIR SIZE, 2 AND 3 BASE SIZES.
THESE ARE FAIRLY COMPARABLE NUMBERS.
IF I WAS GOING TO BID ON THIS PROJECT, THIS IS WHAT I WOULD SEE AS SOMETHING BALLPARK FOR ME, WHERE I WOULD START.
PALM BEACH COUNTY, AS WE ALL KNOW, IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE PLACES IN FLORIDA TO LIVE AND TO BUILD, SO WE MIGHT HAVE TO ADJUST SOME OF THIS.
I THINK NAPLES MIGHT BE PROBABLY A BETTER ONE TO COMPARE.
THEY ARE BOTH CLOSE TO 10.5 AND NINE-AND-A-HALF MILLION
[01:15:02]
DOLLARS FOR ONE AND 10 MILLION FOR ANOTHER.I DID SEE A COUPLE OF REFURBISHMENT PROJECTS WHERE THEY COMPLETELY GUTTED A STATION FOR THREE-AND-A-HALF, $4 MILLION.
IF WE WERE TO SOMEHOW WRENCH ONE OF THESE FACILITIES OUT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY'S ENDS, WE CAN THEORETICALLY REFURBISH IT TO NEAR NEW CONDITION FOR THREE-AND-A-HALF, LITTLE LOOSER NUMBER BECAUSE WE'D HAVE TO INSPECT THE FACILITY TO SEE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I'M LOOKING AT THE CONSTRUCTION COST AS BEING LESS OF AN UNKNOWN NOW THAN I WAS BEFORE, SO THAT LEAVES ME WITH THE DEGRADATION OF SERVICE.
THERE'S TWO ASPECTS TO THAT IN MY MIND.
ONE IS JUST SIMPLE RESPONSE TIMES.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO RESPONSE TIMES? I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SIT THROUGH A PRESENTATION FROM THE CONSULTANT, AS HE'S BEING REFERRED TO, SHOWING THE PROPOSED SITES.
UNTIL WE KNOW THE EXACT SITE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO KNOW THE EXACT RESPONSE TIME CHANGES.
BUT THEY APPEAR TO BE COMPARABLE AND THE GOAL IS TO MAKE THEM COMPARABLE.
AS WITH ANY CHANGE IN SITES, SOME RESPONSE TIMES ARE GOING TO GET BETTER, SOME ARE GOING TO GET WORSE.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK ON OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK LEFT TO BE DONE ON THAT.
LOCATING THESE FACILITIES IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN PROBABLY MANAGE AND MAKE HAPPEN.
BUT NOW I'M LEFT WITH THE FINAL ONE WAS THE QUALITY OF SERVICE, THE QUALITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL COMING TO THE CALL.
I LOOK OUT AT YOU MEN AND WOMEN AND REALIZE YOU MIGHT BE ONE OF THE ONES COMING TO RESCUE ME OR MAYBE NOT, DEPENDING ON HOW THIS WORKS.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY LOSS OF QUALITY OF CARE.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE UP TO THIS POINT ABOUT QUALITY OF CARE.
THEN I HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT TOOK TO BECOME A FIREFIGHTER OR EMT IN PALM BEACH COUNTY, SO I WENT ON TO THE PALM BEACH COUNTY'S WEBSITE TO SEE WHAT THEY OFFERED AS FAR AS JOBS, AND SAW THE LIST OF CERTIFICATES THAT ARE REQUIRED.
THEY ALL APPEAR TO BE, I DON'T WANT TO BE CONDESCENDING, SOMEBODY MADE A POINT EARLIER ABOUT TOO MUCH CONDESCENSION FROM UP HERE, AND THAT IS NOT MY GOAL AT ALL, BUT IT APPEARS THAT THESE CERTIFICATIONS ARE STATE CERTIFICATIONS.
FOR INSTANCE, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT GARDENS HAS THEIR OWN FIRE RESCUE, WHEN I'M IN THE GARDENS' PARKING LOT, I'M NOT REALLY NERVOUS ABOUT AM I GOING TO GET THE GOOD QUALITY OF CARE IF I GET IN AN ACCIDENT IN GARDENS.
IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A STATEWIDE CERTIFICATION PROCESS AND I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE HOW THE DEGRADATION OF THE QUALITY OF CARE IS GOING TO CARRY THROUGH.
THAT'S NOT APPARENT TO ME YET.
BUT I'M STILL LEARNING AND I'M WILLING TO KEEP LEARNING ABOUT THIS.
BUT AT THIS POINT, I DO NOT SEE A MAJOR DEGRADATION AS LONG AS WE MAINTAIN THE TRACK OF INFORMATION THAT I'VE BEEN PROVIDED.
I'M MOST CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THIS WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE THAT'S EMOTIONAL ABOUT THIS.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS AS JUST A SIMPLE NUMBER ISSUE AND WE DON'T CARE ABOUT YOU.
IT DOESN'T SIT WELL WITH ME AND IT'S NOT COMFORTABLE.
YOU ARE ALL VERY IMPORTANT AND THAT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED, BUT I'M NOT SURE HOW IT WOULD ADVERSELY IMPACT YOU INDIVIDUALLY.
I'VE NOT HEARD ANY OF THOSE TYPES OF COMMENTS IN THE MANY, VERY GOOD COMMENTS WE'VE GOTTEN.
IT SEEMS THAT IT'S BEEN MORE IT'S GOING TO HURT THE INDIVIDUAL CITIZEN MORE THAN IT'S GOING TO HURT THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE HERE.
I HAVE TO BELIEVE THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN THAT, THAT THERE'S SOME KIND OF PERCEPTION THAT IT'S GOING TO INDIVIDUALLY HURT YOU.
I'M NOT SURE HOW AND I WOULD LIKE TO BE EDUCATED ON THAT.
I AS A COUNCILOR, I AM AVAILABLE IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO TALK TO ME AND CONTACT ME DIRECTLY AND EDUCATE ME.
BUT AT THIS POINT, IT LOOKS LIKE THAT THEY ARE AT LEAST ATTEMPTING TO MAKE SURE OUR QUALITY OF CARE IS AS GOOD OR BETTER.
I BELIEVE THAT'S BEEN A SINCERE ATTEMPT.
I'VE MISSED SOME OF THE MACHINATIONS OF WHAT'S GOING ON, SOME OF THE DEALINGS, THERE'S CLEARLY A LOT OF ANIMOSITY.
VINCENT, YOU'RE CLEARLY UPSET WITH A LOT OF THINGS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN.
I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT ALL THEY ARE.
I'LL LOOK INTO THAT A LITTLE MORE AND SEE IF I CAN GET SOME MORE BACK HISTORY ON THIS.
BUT TRANSPARENCY IS ESSENTIAL AND I DON'T IN ANY WAY WANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT'S NOT TRANSPARENT.
BUT HAVING SAID THAT AND BASED ON THE RESEARCH I'VE DONE, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO MAINTAIN OR BEAT THE QUALITY OF CARE WE HAVE NOW.
OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS THE CLOSEST ANALOGY I CAN THINK OF TO WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH NOW.
IF ANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE, WE KNOW WE HAD A PROBLEM, NOT TOO LONG AGO, A DECADE AGO WE WERE NOT IN A GOOD SPOT.
WE ARE NOW IN A FANTASTIC SPOT,
[01:20:02]
I THINK, WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE BEST IN THE STATE, PERHAPS.
I'M HOPING THAT WHAT WE DO WILL PROVIDE A HOME FOR MANY OF YOU FIREFIGHTERS OUT THERE TO STAY WITH THE JUPITER COMMUNITY.
MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR AT ONE TIME FOR 20 YEARS WAS A PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE EMPLOYEE, STATIONED IN THE [INAUDIBLE] BRANCH.
HE WOKE UP ONE DAY AND FOUND OUT HE WAS NOW STATIONED IN BOYNTON BEACH.
I LIVE NORTH OF THE RIVER, HE LIVES NORTH OF THE RIVER.
HE FOUND HIMSELF ALL OF A SUDDEN TRANSFERRED TO BOYNTON.
I WOULD SAY TO YOU, IF YOU'RE STATIONED IN JUPITER, THE WORST YOU'RE GOING TO BE DONE IS MAYBE BE STATIONED TWO MILES AWAY.
THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME PROS AND CONS WITH THIS, I THINK.
BUT I'M HOPING THAT THERE'LL BE SOME TYPE OF INCENTIVE TO BRING MOST, IF NOT ALL OF YOU WITH US.
IF YOU'RE A FIREFIGHTER AND YOU LIVE IN JUPITER, I'D HOPE TO WELCOME YOU IN.
I'M SEEING A LOT OF HEADS SHAKING NO ALREADY, AND I NEED TO FIND OUT WHY.
PLEASE CONTACT ME AND EXPLAIN IT TO ME BECAUSE I WILL LISTEN, I PROMISE.
>> WELL, THE NEW GUY THAT WAS THERE, THAT'S THE FIRST TIME STATEMENT HAD EVER SEEN.
I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAID, SO I WON'T REPEAT IT.
I'VE BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE. WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS.
WE KNEW THIS IS COMING FOR A LOT OF YEARS AND WE'VE BEEN TEARING IT APART FOR ABOUT 10 MONTHS OR SO.
WE'VE HAD ALL THE NINE OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS, BUT BEHIND THE SCENES, I'VE MET WITH A GOOD AMOUNT OF MEETINGS WITH REPS FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S JUST LIKE ANDY SAID, THIS IS NOTHING PERSONALLY AGAINST YOU FOLKS, BUT WE WERE HANDED A CONTRACT FROM PALM BEACH THAT IS JUST NOT SUSTAINABLE TO THE TOWN.
THERE'S TOO MANY OPEN-ENDED ASPECTS TO IT.
IT APPEARED TO ME THAT IT LOOKED LIKE THE COUNTY IS LOOKING FOR THE TOWN OF JUPITER TO SUBSIDIZE OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTY.
IT'S IN OUR CHARTER IS ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT THE TOWN COUNCIL DEVELOPS NEW DEPARTMENTS, AND WE DON'T PUT THINGS UP FOR REFERENDUM, SOMEBODY SAID TONIGHT WE WOULDN'T GET ANYTHING DONE.
THAT'S WHY WE TAKE THE TIME OUT OF OUR LIVES TO GO THROUGH ALL THESE MEETINGS AND STUDY ALL THE NUMBERS AND ALL THAT GOES ALONG WITH THIS.
IT BREAKS MY HEART TO SAY THAT WE'RE SAYING GOODBYE TO PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE BECAUSE I'VE HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH SOME OF THE FOLKS IN THERE.
BUT AS ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE TOWN OF JUPITER, WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY, WE HAVE TO BALANCE EVERYTHING.
WE HAVE OUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS THE LARGEST SEGMENT OF OUR BUDGET.
WE ALSO HAVE TO MAINTAIN SAFE ROADS, INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE ARE SUBJECTIVE TO THE COUNTY'S WHIMS OF, OKAY, THIS YEAR WE'RE GOING TO BUILD A STATION OUT IN THIS UNINCORPORATED POCKET HERE OR THERE.
THE COST, WE FEEL CONFIDENT AND OUR STAFF THAT WE CAN GET A HOLD OF THESE COSTS, DEVELOP A FIRE DEPARTMENT AND BRING IT UP TO THE STANDARDS OF PALM BEACH FIRE AND WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO EXCEED AND DRIVE FORWARD.
THIS IS NOTHING PERSONAL TO ANYBODY, AND I HATE TO SEE ALL THE ENEMIES OUT THERE AND I KNOW WE'RE GETTING SLINGS AND ARROWS THROWN AT US.
I GUESS THAT COMES WITH THE TERRITORY, BUT THIS IS JUST SOMETHING WE HAVE TO DO TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT PUT US IN THESE SEATS HERE. THAT'S IT.
>> I AGREE WITH WHAT BOTH OF THESE GENTLEMEN SAID AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND ADD THAT WE DID HAVE A NUMBER OF MEETINGS WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE, WITH THE FIRE UNION, WITH THE SENIOR FIRE ADMINISTRATION, WITH UNION LEADERSHIP.
I SPENT A WHOLE DAY WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE THROUGH A PROGRAM THEY HAVE FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU GO THROUGH, AND I BARELY SURVIVED IT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S REALLY HARD WORK AND I HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR THE WORK THAT ALL OF YOU DO.
I ALSO TOOK A DAY AND I SPENT THAT DAY WITH PALM BEACH GARDENS FIRE RESCUE, BECAUSE WHAT I WAS LOOKING AT WAS THE BUSINESS MODEL AND THE BUSINESS DECISION.
I THINK WHAT WE KEEP COMING BACK TO IS JUST THAT BUSINESS MODEL.
WE DO HAVE JUPITER POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND WE'RE VERY CLOSE WITH THEM.
THEY'RE IN ALL OF OUR MEETINGS.
THEY'RE VERY TIGHTLY WOUND INTO THE FABRIC OF THE TOWN.
WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE, THERE'S BEEN A LAYER OF SEPARATION, AND I'VE SAID THIS IN A NUMBER OF MEETINGS.
IT'S BEEN HARD TO CONNECT, TO TRANSLATE.
THERE AREN'T REGULAR MEETINGS.
[01:25:02]
THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY INTERWOVEN WITH ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS. I WILL SAY THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING TONIGHT IS, THE DECISION WAS MADE A MONTH-AND-A-HALF AGO.WE MADE THE DECISION IN AUGUST AND THE DEADLINE PASSED.
WE HAD A DEADLINE TO MAKE THE DECISION BY THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR BECAUSE IN OUR LOCAL AGREEMENT ONLY ALLOWED US TO MAKE A DECISION BY THE END OF EACH FISCAL YEAR.
WE'RE DOING WHAT WE SAID WE WOULD DO.
WE'VE NOW GOT TO START BUILDING THIS.
THE DECISION POINT HAS PASSED, THE DEADLINE HAS PASSED.
I ASKED COUNTY FIRE, THEY CAME TO ME IN SEPTEMBER AND THEY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED IN AUGUST, AND I WANTED TO NEGOTIATE.
I SAID, IS THERE ANY INTEREST IN NEGOTIATING? THERE WAS NO INTEREST IN NEGOTIATING.
SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT WE HAD CONCERNS WITH, AS COUNCILOR DELANEY SAID, WERE ONE OF THE STATIONS IN UNINCORPORATED PALM BEACH COUNTY.
THE FIRE CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE, THE NEW CONTRACT THAT WE HAVE HAS A LINE ITEM, THE STATION, AN UNINCORPORATED PALM BEACH COUNTY.
IT'S LISTED AS TBD ON THE CONTRACT, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DESIGN WILL BE FOR THAT STATION, WHAT THE COST WILL BE FOR THAT STATION AND NONE OF THAT INFORMATION IS IN THE PROJECTIONS THAT THE COUNTY PROVIDED US.
ADDITIONALLY, WE DON'T HAVE INFORMATION ON OVERHEAD AND WE DID ASK FOR THAT IN A NUMBER OF MEETINGS.
WE'RE STILL LOOKING FOR THAT DETAIL ON SOME OF THE OVERHEAD COSTS FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY COMMISSION, FOR PROGRAM EXPENSES, OTHER THINGS.
THE AUDIT HAS BEEN MENTIONED MANY TIMES TONIGHT.
WHEN I SPOKE WITH SOME FROM FIRE THAT HAD MET WITH ME, THEY HAD NOT SEEN THE AUDIT.
I THINK THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT DOCUMENT.
I REALLY WANT TO JUST SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE.
BUT THROUGHOUT THE AUDIT, A COMMON QUOTE IS THE ORIGINAL DATA CANNOT BE LOCATED BY THE COUNTY.
IT SAID THAT THE COUNTY WAS RETAINING A DATABASE, WHICH IS DERIVED FROM VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE COUNTY.
WHEN DEPARTMENT LEADERS OR PERSONNEL LEFT, THE INFORMATION WAS NOT MAINTAINED OR NEW SYSTEMS OR SOFTWARE IT WAS IMPLEMENTED, AND PRIOR INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
THE LACK OF ORIGINAL INFORMATION OR CHANGES FOR NEW SYSTEMS OR SOFTWARE AND THE OTHER FACTORS DESCRIBED ABOVE COULD SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT THE COST CALCULATION.
AFTER THAT, IT GOES INTO PERCENTAGES USED BY THE COUNTY AND THE COST ALLOCATION, PERCENTAGE OF PERSONNEL, PERCENTAGE OF VEHICLES, PERCENTAGE OF BUILDINGS, PERCENTAGE OF INSPECTIONS.
IT SAYS THAT ALL OF THE PERCENTAGES IN THESE CATEGORIES HAD DIFFERENT PERCENTAGE AMOUNTS FROM THE ORIGINAL CALCULATION.
WE GOT THIS INFORMATION AFTER WE VOTED ON THE INNER LOCAL AGREEMENT.
THIS IS VERY CONCERNING BECAUSE IT HAS TO DO WITH CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION.
IF THERE ARE NO RECORDS AND THERE ARE NO INTERNAL CONTROLS, THAT RAISES CONCERNS, SO WE HAD TO ACT.
I WANTED TO SHARE THAT BECAUSE IT IS A PUBLIC DOCUMENT AND I DO HOPE THAT YOU'LL LOOK AT IT.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT COSTS, SOME OF THE CONCERNS, SOME OF THE LOCAL CONTROL THAT IMPACTS COSTS, LIKE THE DESIGN, WHAT TYPE OF STATION IN UNINCORPORATED PALM BEACH COUNTY WILL JUPITER RESIDENTS BE PAYING FOR.
WE'VE MADE THIS DECISION, WE MADE IT IN AUGUST.
THE DEADLINE HAS PASSED, SEPTEMBER 30TH.
WE HAD TO WAIT FOR THAT BECAUSE WE COULD HAVE NEGOTIATED FURTHER, WE COULD HAVE WORKED OUT A DEAL THAT BOTH SIDES COULD LIVE WITH, BUT WE COULDN'T, AND SEPTEMBER 30TH CAME AND WENT.
NOW WE'RE WORKING TO BUILD THE DEPARTMENT AND WE'VE GOT A NEW TIMELINE AND A NEW SERIES OF ITEMS THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS.
I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST OF THEM.
I HOPE THAT SOME OF THIS INFORMATION IS HELPFUL JUST ON WHAT SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAD.
MAYBE THIS INFORMATION HASN'T BEEN SHARED WITH YOU, BUT I HOPE YOU'LL GO AND LOOK AT IT.
>> YEAH. I DO WISH I WISH THOSE CONCERNS WERE ADDRESSED, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING I EVER WANT TO SEE.
BUT MY MAIN CONCERN WITH THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS ON AUGUST 15TH WHEN I HAD ASKED THE I THINK THE FINANCE DIRECTOR,
[01:30:01]
WHEN I LOOKED AT THE TABLE AND I SAW FIRST-YEAR, SECOND-YEAR, AND THIRD-YEAR OPERATING BEING ZERO.I SAID I DISAGREE WITH THAT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE COSTS WHICH IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.
I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WOULD BE ZERO COST FOR THE FIRST THREE YEARS BECAUSE WE HAVE BONDED OUT IN THAT BOND WILL START BEING PAID BACK UNTIL FISCAL YEAR 26 WHEN FIRE JUPITER FIRE RESCUE IS OPERATING IN PALM BEACH COUNTY, VIRUS Q IS NO LONGER IN THE TOWN OF JUPITER.
HERE WE ARE AMENDING OUR BUDGET WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO FUND THIS FIRST-YEAR OPERATING FOR FISCAL YEAR 24? I'M NOT SURE WHAT CHANGED.
I STILL DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE TAKING A BOND OUT FOR CAPITAL, IF THAT'S THE PLAN, I HAVE THAT I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT COME FORTH YET.
BUT WE'RE TAKING OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS THAT THEY'VE PUT INTO RESERVES TO FUND THIS WHEN IT WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE PAYING DOUBLE.
HERE WE ARE PAYING TWICE FOR A SERVICE AND I DON'T AGREE WITH IT.
I THINK WE'RE PUTTING THE CART SO FAR IN FRONT OF THE HORSE ON THIS.
WE'RE ORDERING EQUIPMENT AND STUFF AND I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE TO DO THAT.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LISTENED TO THE RESONANCE AND THEIR QUESTIONS OF WHERE THE STATION IS GONG TO BE BUILT, HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST? THINGS LIKE THAT? THERE'S NO ANSWER THERE.
I DON'T SEE WHERE THE STATIONS WOULD GO OTHER THAN WHERE ARE THE LOCATIONS THAT WERE ORIGINALLY PROPOSED, WHICH WE'RE BEING TOLD NOW THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO USE THOSE LOCATIONS.
NOW WE HAVE TO BUY LAND TO BUILD THE STATIONS.
THAT WASN'T PUTTING IN THIS STUDY.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
THE RESONANCE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT AREN'T BEING ANSWERED, AND I JUST DON'T FEEL RIGHT THROWING A BUNCH OF MONEY AT SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS FOR.
>> I WANTED TO PLAY IF THEY WOULD, JUST IN THE WAY OF EXPLANATION TO THE MEMBERS HERE AND TO RESIDENTS THAT MAYBE WATCHING ONLINE.
I THINK THERE'S VIDEO CAPTURES REALLY WHERE THIS STARTED.
THE DECISION THAT WE HAD TO MAKE.
>> JUPITER FIRE. CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME THE HISTORY OF JUPITER FIRES NUMBERS AND WHAT IS HAPPENING TO TRY AND EQUALIZE THAT NUMBER GOING FORWARD?
>> YES, PLEASE DO. [BACKGROUND].
>> LET ME TAKE IT. JUPITER HAS AN AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY TO ALLOCATE OUT THEIR COST.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ANNUALLY LOOKS AT THE CALLS THAT SPECIFICALLY TO JUPITER AND THEY BASE A MILLAGE RATE BASED ON THOSE CALLS.
IS THEIR CALLS FLUCTUATE, THEIR MILLAGE RATE MAY CHANGE.
>> THEY'RE ONE-HALF OF THE REST OF THE COUNTY?
>>CORRECT [OVERLAPPING] BE AROUND FOREVER.
>> IS THIS AN AGREEMENT THAT SUNSETS OR ARE WE MARRIED TO THIS FOREVER?
>>IN TWO YEARS, TWO YEARS. SORRY.
>> TWO YEARS. YOU WOULD CONTEMPLATE IN TWO YEARS, THEY WOULDN'T BE BROUGHT ON PAR WITH WHAT THE REST OF THE COUNTY IS PAYING.
>> IS THE REST OF THE COUNTY SUBSIDIZING THIS RATE OR IS THIS TRULY ISOLATED AND THIS IS ALL THAT THAT IS COSTING THE COUNTY?
>> IT IS TAKING THE VALUES WITHIN THE TOWN OF JUPITER AND BASING THAT ON WHAT THEY NEED FOR THE NUMBERS OF CALLS WITHIN THERE.
IT'S ONLY LOOKING AT THEIR VALUES.
>> I THINK WHAT YOU HEARD AND I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT WHAT YOU HEARD WAS THAT WE'RE PAYING HALF OF THE REST OF THE COUNTY WILL START THE REST OF THE COUNTY, ITS REST OF THE COUNTY SERVED BY PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE.
MUCH OF IT, WHICH IS RURAL AREAS, WHICH INHERENTLY HIRED TO SERVE, COST TO SERVE.
THE EXPLANATION WAS, WAS THEY WERE FOCUSED ON MILLAGE, NOT MONEY PAID. IT'S PRETTY CLEAR.
WE'VE BEEN PAYING WHEN THEY ASKED THE QUESTION, WE'VE BEEN, WE'VE BEEN PAYING A VERY FAIR VALUE.
ALL OF A SUDDEN IT PIVOTED TO A DECISION TO TRY TO DOUBLE OUR MILLAGE RATE SO THAT THE COLLECTIONS FROM THE TOWN WOULD BE DOUBLE WHAT IT HAS BEEN FAIR.
THAT'S WHEN WE BEGAN TO FEEL LIKE, HEY, IF WE'RE GOING TO NEGOTIATE A NEW CONTRACT, WE REALLY WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THE SAME FAIRWAY THAT WE HAD BEEN.
[01:35:04]
THE JUVENILE FIRE RESCUE SERVICE PROVIDER DECISION-MAKING PROCESS BEGAN ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO WHEN ONE TOWN COUNCIL MEMBER ANNOUNCED AT PALM BEACH COUNTY AD VALOREM, MILLAGE RATE ASSESSMENT WAS DESTINED TO EFFECTIVELY DOUBLE THE ANNUAL TAX PAYMENTS FROM THE TOWN.YOU HEARD WITH THAT CAME FROM THE COUNTY COMMISSION.
FROM THAT VERY PRONOUNCEMENT MOMENT, FIVE-MEMBER COUNCIL BECAME CONFLICTED ON THIS ONE SIGNIFICANT ISSUE.
ONE SIDE WAS COMMITTED TO STAY MARRIED TO PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE.
WHATEVER THE TAX CONSEQUENCES MAY BE.
THE OTHER SIDE DEEMED THE SKYROCKETING COST INCREASES IN PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE TAX ASSESSMENTS TO BE UNJUSTIFIED IN UNFAIR FINANCIAL BURDENS TO JUPITER RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.
JUPITER TOWN TAXPAYERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SUBSIDIZE THE COSTS OF PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE SERVICES TO RURAL AREAS, AGAIN, WHICH IT WON'T HURT ME, COSTLY TO SERVE.
WE PROCEEDED IN GOOD FAITH, NEGOTIATED CONTRACT.
I REQUESTED EXPLANATION ABOUT HISTORICAL FUTURE COSTS AND WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
EXTRA FUNDS THAT I KNOW WERE COLLECTED THAT I WASN'T SEEING COMING BACK IN AND NEVER RECEIVED THE REPLY FROM PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE LEADERSHIP WHEN WE GOT THE AUDIT FINDINGS, I THINK I REALIZED WHY THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY DOCUMENTS TO GIVE THE INFORMATION THAT WE WERE ASKING.
WE BELIEVE THAT MONEY IS BEING HAS BEEN SWEPT TO THE LARGER PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE DISTRICT.
THERE WERE IN REMAINS SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES OF COUNCIL POLICY POSSESSIONS AS HOW TO BEST SERVE TOWN OF JUPITER RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.
IN AUGUST, AS YOU'VE HEARD, WE PROVIDE THE OFFICIAL GOVERNMENTAL NOTIFICATIONS TO PALM BEACH COUNTY OF OUR INTENTION TO CREATE A JUPITER FIRE DEPARTMENT TO FULLY SERVE OUR CONSTITUENTS EFFECTIVE 10126.
TODAY, 80% OF PALM BEACH COUNTY'S COASTAL POPULATION IS REALLY SERVED BY MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
THE TOWN OF JUPITER HAS BEEN THE LARGEST EXCEPTION.
ON 10126 MORE THAN 90% OF THE COST OF POPULATION WILL BE SERVED BY MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
AT TONIGHT'S MEETING, WE ARE FULLY FUNDING THE YEAR 1 STARTUP COSTS, WHICH INCLUDE PURCHASING FIRE TRANSPORT VEHICLES.
THE TOWN IS ABLE TO DO SO FROM SAVINGS READILY AVAILABLE IN OUR GENERAL FUND UNRESERVED BALANCE ACCOUNT.
THE ANALYSIS THAT WE HAD WAS PRESUMING THAT OUR FIRST-YEAR COST WAS GOING TO INCLUDE ANNUAL PAYMENTS FOR THIS CAPITAL COSTS.
WE'RE NOT DOUBLE PAYING, IF IN FACT, WE CHOOSE TO TAKE IT OUT OF RESERVES AND NOT BORROW MONEY, THEN THAT A SET THAT BASICALLY ESTIMATED COSTS WILL GO DOWN IN THE FUTURE.
WE FEEL FORTUNATE THAT WE CAN MAKE SUCH A DECISION.
PLUS, WE'VE HEARD FROM MANY PEOPLE G, THREE YEARS TIME, YOU GOT TO GET EQUIPMENT ON WITH DOING THAT.
EACH DAY SINCE WE'VE GROWN MORE CONFIDENT IN CERTAIN ABOUT THE JUPITER FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT IS BEING CREATED THAT WILL ULTIMATELY MEET AND EXCEED THE OVERALL QUALITY OF FIRE RESCUE SERVICES COMMENDABLY PROVIDED BY PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE FOR SO MANY YEARS.
WE NEVER EVER SAID IT WAS A QUALITY ISSUE.
THE ISSUE IS ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP WANTED TO HAVE US SUBSIDIZE THE COST FOR THE RURAL AREAS.
WE'RE GOING TO BE SAVING MILLIONS IN ANNUAL TAX ASSESSMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 27 AND BEYOND.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING THAT FOR A PUBLIC, THAT'S RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.
YEAR 1 SAVINGS, WE BELIEVE ARE GOING TO BE AT LEAST FIVE-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLARS, AND THAT EQUATES TO $85 FOR EVERY MAN, WOMAN IN TOWN IN THAT FIRST YEAR.
THE AMOUNT OF COST SAVINGS DROVE US TO THIS DECISION.
WE WERE DRIVEN HERE BY THE LEADERSHIP OF PALM BEACH COUNTY, WHICH SAID, HEY, WE WANT YOU TO SUBSIDIZE BEYOND YOUR AREA OF SERVICE.
WITH THAT, I JUST WANTED TO EXPLAIN IN MY MIND HOW I GOT HERE ON THIS.
WITH THAT, I RETURN TO THE COUNCIL FOR A MOTION ON RESOLUTION 101-23.
>> CAN I MAKE JUST A FEW MORE COMMENTS, PLEASE? AS A COUNSELOR FROM POINTED OUT THIS DECISION TO CREATE OUR DEPARTMENT HAS PRETTY MUCH BEEN MADE.
NOW WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
[01:40:01]
I'VE HEARD A FEW THINGS THAT SOUNDED CONCERNING SUICIDE RATE FOR FIREMANS DOUBLED NORMAL TO CANCER RATES ARE HUGELY PROBLEMATIC.COULD WE GET YOUR FEEDBACK AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT THAT YOU'RE PUTTING INTO THIS MEETING? THAT CONTINUE ON, YOU ALL HELP US BUILD THIS NEW DEPARTMENT THEY WERE CREATING.
YOU'LL OUR RESONANCE HERE, I BELIEVE SO THIS WILL ALL BENEFIT YOU ULTIMATELY, EVEN IF YOU'RE STILL STAY WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE, PLEASE HELP US BUILD US AND A WORLD-CLASS FACILITY AND WORLD-CLASS ORGANIZATION.
I PERSONALLY, AND I THINK ALL THE COUNSELORS WILL DO, WELCOME YOUR INPUT ON HOW WE CAN DO THINGS.
BUT FOR INSTANCE, PSYCHOLOGISTS, I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA.
I'M OPEN TO ALL GOOD IDEAS THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE TO HELP US MAKE THIS A WORLD-CLASS ORGANIZATION. THANK YOU.
>> YOU CAN APPROVE THE MOTION.
>> MOTION TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 101-23.
>> OBVIOUSLY A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES 4-1 WITH COUNCILOR MAY DISSENTING.
[TOWN MANAGER]
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, I KNOW WE STARTED OUT THE EVENING, TONIGHT THANKING THE UTILITIES TEAM THAT RESPONDED OVER TO THE WEST COAST AIDING HURRICANE RELIEF.
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT POLICE AND FIRE AND ALL THE TIMES THAT THEY RISKED THEIR LIVES AND THE THINGS THAT THEY DO.
JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNCIL IS AWARE THAT THIS TEAM IS NOT ONLY EXTRAORDINARY, BUT THE WORK THAT THEY DO OVER THERE, IT'S REALLY QUITE DANGEROUS AT TIMES.
THESE FOLKS ARE WILLING TO PUT THEMSELVES IN HARM'S WAY TO ACCOMMODATE AND HELP RESIDENTS THERE, SO TRULY PROUD OF THEM.
BUT I DON'T WANT THEIR COURAGE TO BE LOST, BECAUSE THEY DON'T WEAR A FIRE DEPARTMENT OR A POLICE DEPARTMENT IN UNIFORM, SO KUDOS TO THAT TEAM.
JUST A COUPLE OF FOLLOW-UPS, THE VETERANS MEMORIAL BRICKS.
I KNOW THAT'S COME UP. THE INITIAL ORDER HAS BEEN PLACED WITH THE VENDOR, BARRING AN ISSUE WITH THE VENDOR.
THE BRICKS WILL BE INSTALLED FOR THIS YEAR'S VETERANS DAY EVENT ON NOVEMBER 11TH, AND WE'LL REOPEN ORDERS AGAIN ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 16TH.
THE CITIZEN'S SURVEY THIS YEAR, CITIZEN SERVICE WHO WOULD GET ME OUT TO JUPITER HOUSEHOLDS IN THE NEXT MONTH.
AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SURVEY ALL OF YOU TO FIND OUT WHAT QUESTIONS YOU WANTED IN THERE.
THEN WE TOOK THE MAJORITY OF RESPONSE.
AS YOU SAW IN THE WEEKLY UPDATE.
THE TOWN HAS PARTNERED WITH POCO AND NATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE TO CONDUCT THE SCIENTIFIC SURVEY THAT BEFORE TOWN QUESTIONS IN THERE.
AGAIN, WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TAKE PART WHETHER BY RESPONDING TO THE MAILED SURVEY.
WE'RE TAKING THE ONLINE SURVEY, THE SURVEY THAT WILL BE LINKED TO THE TOWN WEBSITE.
ANOTHER, JUST A POINT FOR YOU TO CONSIDER MAYOR, THE FIRST MEETING SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 7, THAT IS THE ABACOA POA MEETING, THE SAME NIGHT THAT YOU'VE BEEN ASKED TO DO A PRESENTATION, PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON THE TOWN AT THAT MEETING, AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY INTEREST IN MOVING OR ADJUSTING THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING FOR THAT NIGHT?
>> WE SHARED, THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT.
>> JUST ON YOUR ITEM, ON THE VETERANS' BRICKS.
ACTUALLY, TO THE DEGREE THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT SIZE BEING THE CLAY, CRITICAL PATH IS ACTUALLY EVEN REPLACING MORE THAN THE ONES WE'RE ORDERING. IS THAT PLANNED?
>> WELL, I'M GOING TO DEFER TO THOMAS ON THAT, UNFORTUNATELY HE STARTED HIS VACATION TONIGHT AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS YES, BUT I'LL DOUBLE-CHECK THAT AND GET THAT INFORMATION BACK THERE.
>> BECAUSE I KNOW I HAD BEEN THE ONE THAT REALLY LOOKED INTO THIS AND THE BRICK SIZES BEING DIFFERENT.
YOU CAN'T SWITCH WITHOUT SWITCHING ALL THE BRICKS FROM A PRACTICAL MATTER.
THEN ONCE YOU DO AT ONE TIME, THEN YOU TAKE ONE OUT, YOU'RE PULLING BACK IN BUT THERE ARE DIFFERENT SIZE. THANK YOU.
I'D ASKED THE STAFF TO ON THE DAY TO COME BACK JUST PULL US ON ALTERNATIVE DATE.
[TOWN COUNCIL – LIAISON REPORTS AND COMMENTS]
NEWEST COUNCIL MEMBER, IF THERE'S ANY COMMENTS YOU WANT TO MAKE?>> NOT AT THIS TIME, NO, THANK YOU.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO JUST SAY ONE THING THOUGH.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH HURRICANE REPARATIONS AND RESTORATIONS AND HAVING LIVED IN FLORIDA,
[01:45:08]
MY HOUSE WAS DESTROYED BY HURRICANE.I'M ACUTELY AWARE OF THE TERRIBLE PROBLEMS THAT THEY FACE WHEN THEY WENT INTO THAT SITUATION.
I'M WITH YOU. I THINK THEY REALLY DID DESERVE OUR GOOD AS THANKS.
THE GREAT EFFORT. SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
>> THAT'S OKAY. JUST AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
MY APPOINTEE FOR PLANNING AND ZONING, TERI GROOMS RESIGNED FOLLOWING OUR LAST MEETING AND I WAS DISAPPOINTED.
TERI, SHE'S BEEN A GREAT ADVOCATE FOR THE TOWN, VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE.
SHE'S A REAL LOCAL, SHE'S BORN AND RAISED HERE.
SURELY GOING TO THE CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION, SHE REALLY HAD A WONDERFUL JOB. I HATE TO SEE HER LEAVE.
BUT ON THAT NOTE, MY NEW APPOINTEE HE'S GOING TO BE MR. DAVID THOMPSON SITTING AND THE BACKS, SHARP LOOKING GUY IN THE GLASSES AND HE'S GOING TO BE SWORN IN AT THE NEXT MEETING SAME AS WE DO HERE.
WHAT'S THAT? THEIR WORK IS SWORN.
ANYWAY, HE'S MY NEW P&Z APPOINTMENT.
>> I WANTED TO START BY SAYING THAT WE HAD A REALLY GOOD CONNECT WITH COUNCIL EVENT.
WE HAVE THESE QUARTERLY AND WE DO THAT.
WE ALTERNATE BETWEEN EVENING MEETINGS AND MORNING MEETINGS.
THIS ISN'T EVENING AND IT WAS OUR BEST ATTENDED YET.
I'M ACTUALLY REALLY PLEASED TO SEE SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE COME OUT.
IT'S GREAT BECAUSE WE HAVE DIRECTORS FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THERE.
WE ARE UNFORTUNATE TO HAVE OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR AND OUR FIRE CONSULTANT THERE TO ANSWER A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
I THOUGHT THE ATMOSPHERE OVERALL WAS REALLY POSITIVE.
I WAS AMAZED AT THE WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS.
I LOVED JUST BEING, OAK TREES, THIS TABLE AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND JUST HAVING EVERYONE THERE ALTOGETHER.
IT WAS, A ONE STOP SHOP FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, SNACKS, DRINKS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE COFFEE AT CRUX COFFEE COMING UP.
I DO HOPE THAT PEOPLE CONSIDER ATTENDING.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
THE ATMOSPHERE IS VERY POSITIVE.
I KNOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA IT CAN LOOK DIFFERENT.
I DO JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE ANYONE WITH QUESTIONS TO COME TO THESE MEETINGS OR TO ASK THEM AND WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO ANSWER THEM.
WE CONTINUE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AS THEY COME IN.
I'D ALSO REFER PEOPLE TO MY A FACEBOOK PAGE, NOT THAT I'M THE MOST ACTIVE, BUT I DID HAVE A POST THERE THAT I THINK HAS AGED VERY WELL AND CONTINUES TO ANSWER A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE STILL GETTING.
I DO ALSO JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT, WHEN PEOPLE SAY THAT MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS HAVE A LOWER LEVEL OF SERVICE.
I JUST DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT RINGS TRUE OR IS NECESSARILY FAIR TO ALL THE MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS IN THIS COUNTY OF WHICH THERE ARE MANY.
THERE ARE MUNICIPAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE AN ISO ONE RATING.
THERE ARE SEVERAL. THERE ARE ALSO FIRE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE ACCREDITED OR DULY ACCREDITED.
IF YOU DO A QUICK GOOGLE IN FLORIDA, PALM BEACH, THE TOWN OF PALM BEACH, STUART, KEY WEST, MELBOURNE, POMPANO, LAKELAND.
ALL OF THESE HAVE AN ISO RATING OF ONE.
I DO THINK WE CAN HAVE THAT GOAL GOING FORWARD.
I THINK, I ALSO WANT TO SAY WE DID GET AN EMAIL RECENTLY ABOUT A PACK.
THIS IS IN RECENT MEMORY FOR THE TOWN.
I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD A PACK REGISTER WITH THE TOWN.
THE AGENT IS BASED IN GAINESVILLE.
IT LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PACKS THAT THIS PERSON MANAGES.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO BECOME OF THAT.
ESPECIALLY SINCE THE VOTE HAS BEEN TAKEN AND WE'RE BEGINNING TO IMPLEMENT.
BUT I DO WANT TO JUST FLAG THAT, BECAUSE THERE IS DOCUMENTATION FILED, MONEY CAN BE SPENT FROM ANYWHERE FROM ANY SOURCE.
THE FIRST REPORT FOR THAT WILL BE OCTOBER 10TH.
>> JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK ITEMS. NUMBER 1, DID ALONG THE COMMENT ABOUT OUR STAFF BEING RECOGNIZED FOR VOLUNTEERING.
I NEVER REALIZED, YOU DON'T HAVE DONE SOME HURRICANE RESPONSE WORK IN MY DAY. QUITE A BIT OF IT.
I NEVER REALIZED, AND IT'S GREAT TO LEARN AFTER ALL THESE YEARS THAT UTILITIES GROUP TOGETHER AND 400, THAT'S PHENOMENAL.
I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR STAFF FOR PARTICIPATING IN THAT.
IT WAS INTERESTING TO HEAR THAT, WHICH STARTED UP.
BECAUSE I REMEMBER 2004, 2005, WHERE WE WERE GETTING BACK TO BACK HURRICANES HERE.
THEREFORE, IMAGINE IT STARTED UP REALIZING
[01:50:01]
WITH YOU COULD GET MULTIPLE AND HELP COMING IN.I DID WANT TO JUST BRING UP THAT ON PLANNING AND ZONING MEMBERSHIP AND MY COLLEAGUES CAN WEIGH IN ON THIS.
BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, IN ALL OF OUR COMMISSIONS, WE HAVE ALTERNATES.
WHEN SOMEONE DEPARTS, WE DON'T NECESSARILY FILL THAT, ALTHOUGH THAT IS THE PREROGATIVE OF THE COUNCIL.
IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE LIKE NOW WE'RE MORE THAN HALF A YEAR GONE.
THERE'S A LOT OF EMPHASIS WHEN YOU, COINCIDE WITH THE ANNUAL APPOINTMENTS OR WHATEVER.
I THINK OUR PRACTICE HAS BEEN THAT IF SOMEONE DEPARTED THAT AN ULTIMATE MOVES UP.
BUT THAT'S A DECISION, BECAUSE I WAS GIVEN HERE THAT BASICALLY THERE'S THREE COMMISSIONERS THAT COULD BE ADDRESSED.
WE'VE HEARD ONE. THE OTHER ONE IS THAT WITH COUNSELORS SCHNEIDER'S RESIGNATION, THAT HER APPOINTEE WAS ASHLYN HILL.
WHILE I DON'T KNOW, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY THE CASE.
YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO COME BACK INTO APPOINTS SOMEBODY.
I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S NOT IMPLIED THAT NECESSARILY SHE STEPS DOWN UNTIL YOU'RE COMFORTABLE TO APPOINT SOMEBODY.
I WOULD SUBMIT THAT YOUR VACANCY, IN AT LARGE OPENS UP.
DECISION COULD BE MADE THAT IF YOU APPOINT SOMEBODY AS WE ALL HAVE, LET'S SAY NEXT MEETING OR WHATEVER.
BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE CATCHING YOU OFF-GUARD.
THEN HER POSITION, SHE'S FEELING IN.
NOW YOU FILLED WITH AN ALTERNATE.
THEN THE OPTION IS EITHER, WE THINK ARE FOR SERVICE OR SHE MOVES INTO THE VACANT SPOT, UNTIL, THAT'S A COUNCIL DECISION.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE I APPRECIATE THE VICE MAYOR TAKING THAT ACTION.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT SEEMS TO ME THE ONLY ACTION TO BE TAKEN IN.
TAKE YOUR TIME TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION FOR YOU.
BUT UNTIL THEN, UNLESS ANYBODY HAS ANY OBJECTION, I THINK ASHLYN HILL CONTINUES TO SERVE UNTIL THE APPOINTMENT IS.
>> RIGHT NOW, I HAVE NO INTENTION OF MAKING ANY DECISION [INAUDIBLE]
>> NO, I UNDERSTAND. YOUR THE NEWEST MEMBER.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU HAVE THAT RIGHT.
BUT WE'RE NOT, WITH TWO YOU SERVE SO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW THAT PROCESS WORK THERE IS TO ALTERNATE.
WE WOULDN'T THAT'S WHY WE DON'T, YOU LOSE A MEMBER, YOU DON'T OWN A MAC.
THAT'S WHERE THE ALTERNATE STEP UP.
>> I JUST WANTED TO OFFER THAT. HE KNEW BECAUSE THIS WAS GIVEN TO ME ON THE DIETS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE A DECISION.
I THINK WE'VE MADE ONE DECISION TO BE MADE TONIGHT.
WITH THAT, I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS.
THE TIME IS NOW 08:53, AND WE ADJOURN THE MEETING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.