[00:00:02]
>> GOOD EVENING. I'D ASK EVERYBODY TO TAKE A SEAT.
[Call to Order]
THE TIME IS NOW 7:00 PM AND I CALL TO ORDER THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING OF WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH.WE'LL BEGIN WITH AN INVOCATION, FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE, AND THEN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND IF YOU'RE ALL PLEASE JOIN ME AND STAND.
>> DEAR GOD, HELP US COME TOGETHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR TOWN.
GIVE US SOUND JUDGMENT WHILE WE EXTEND OUR EFFORTS AND TIME FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AMEN. LET'S HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
>> I'D ASKED THAT RECOGNITION OF SATURDAY BE IN VETERANS DAY THAT AS PART OF OUR MOMENT OF SILENCE TO REFLECT ON MANY VETERANS THAT HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY FOR CENTURIES.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
>> ACTING TOWN ATTORNEY LEANING FRANCISCO.
>> WE'LL BEGIN WITH CITIZEN COMMENTS.
[CITIZEN COMMENTS]
THIS IS THE TIME FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS, ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ON THE TONIGHT'S MEETING AGENDA.WE ASK ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK TO STATE HIS OR HER NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD PRIOR TO ADDRESSING TOWN COUNCIL.
>> YES, MAYOR. FIRST, WE HAVE MARLYN GUNN AND JAMES GUNN.
>> IN CASE I NEED TO REFER TO SOMETHING.
GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS JAMES GUNN 1215 NORTH COMMUNITY, DRIVE JUPITER, FLORIDA 33458.
THREE MINUTES IS CLEARLY NOT ENOUGH TIME TO DISCUSS THE CONCERNS I HAVE THAT ABOUT YOU STARTING YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT HERE.
IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO TALK TO YOU INDIVIDUALLY LATER ON MY PHONE NUMBERS WITH THE CLERK, I'D BE GLAD TO DISCUSS ANYTHING WITH ANY ONE OF YOU.
SINCE I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES, I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT COST, WHICH IS THE REASON THAT WE'RE HERE.
FIRST, I'VE NOTICED ON THE TOWN'S WEBSITE AND WITH THE STUFF CPS, EMS PUTTING OUT THAT THE MILLAGE RATE THAT THE TOWN SEEMS TO HAVE ON ITS WEBSITE FOR CURRENT FIRE RESCUE IS 1.8713.
I ACTUALLY JUST GOT MY TAXABLE LIKE PROBABLY EVERYBODY ELSE AND IT'S FAR FROM THAT.
IT'S ACTUALLY 1.7879 AND WHILE THAT MIGHT SEEM INSIGNIFICANT, IT EQUATES TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS LESS FOR THE CURRENT FIRE SERVICE THAT WE RECEIVE.
NOW, I LIVE IN A HOME THAT I PAID OVER $500,000 FOR ITS HOMESTEAD AND I'M LOOKING AT THE LINE ITEM ON THE TAX BILL RIGHT HERE $186.41 CENTS.
THAT'S WHAT I'M PAYING FOR FIRE SERVICE TO HAVE A PREEMINENT FIRE DEPARTMENT WITH THE BEST SERVICE THAT YOU CAN GET ANYWHERE ON THE EASTERN SEABOARD.
NOW, WHEN YOU BREAK DOWN $186.41, IT ACTUALLY COMES OUT TO 51 CENTS A DAY.
THERE'S TWO PEOPLE IN MY HOUSE, SO I PAY 26 CENTS FOR SERVICE.
TWENTY SIX CENTS A DAY AND FOR SOME REASON I'M HEARING THAT THAT'S TOO MUCH MONEY TO PAY.
NOW, OF COURSE, THE REASON WE'RE HERE IS BECAUSE THE CHIEF HAS ASKED US TO PAY OUR FAIR SHARE.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, I SAID WHAT'S MY FAIR SHARE? THE MILLAGE THAT I'M READING ON THE TOWN'S WEBSITE IS 3.4581 FOR MY FAIR SHARE.
THAT EQUATES OUT TO $360.55 CENTS A YEAR FOR MY FAIR SHARE, STILL 99 CENTS A DAY FROM MY HOUSEHOLD, 49 CENTS A DAY FOR MYSELF, LESS THAN A CUP OF COFFEE.
IF I PAID MY FAIR SHARE, I'M STILL PAYING LESS THAN A CUP OF COFFEE PER DAY FOR THE CURRENT SERVICE THAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW.
[00:05:02]
NOBODY'S COMPLAINED ABOUT ANY OF THE SERVICES.I'VE NEVER HEARD THAT COMPLAINED ABOUT.
THE TOWN'S PROPOSAL IS UNBELIEVABLE.
CPSM I STARTED LOOKING AT THAT, THAT IS I HAVE TO SAY IT'S JUST A BUNCH OF SMOKE AND MIRRORS.
I HAVE SPENT HOURS TRYING TO RESEARCH NUMBERS AND THE NUMBERS ARE VERY EFFICIENTLY MOVED THROUGH THAT DOCUMENT.
SOMETHING I'M GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT IN JUST A LITTLE WHILE WILL ACTUALLY ADDRESS THAT, I'M ASKING YOU TONIGHT PLEASE DELAY SPENDING OUR TAX DOLLARS ANY FURTHER UNTIL THIS VOTE GOES THROUGH IN MARCH SO THAT WE, THE TAXPAYERS, CAN MAKE THE CHOICE. THANK YOU.
>> STEVE MASACIANO AND KAREN VINSON.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS STEVE MASACIANO, I LIVE AT 1005 SUE STREET ON JONES CREEK, BOUGHT MY HOME THERE IN 1981, USED TO SWIM THERE WITH MY KIDS.
THE REASON I'M HERE IS BECAUSE I JUST RECEIVED MY TAX BILL ALSO AND IT WENT UP $800.
I DO NOT HAVE TO DO ANY TRIMMING ONLINE.
I'VE KEPT MY MANGROVES TRIMMED PER EPA REGULATIONS YET NOW I'M BEING CHARGED FOR 10 YEARS, $800 EVERY YEAR TO HELP TRIM OTHER PEOPLE'S MANGROVES, THAT YOU SAY ARE NOW ON THEIR PRIVATE PROPERTY BECAUSE YOU'VE DETERMINED THAT THE PROPERTY OWNERS OWN TO THE MIDDLE OF THE CREEK NOW.
MY SURVEY SAYS THAT I GOT 1981, THAT I ALTERED A HIGH TIDE LINE AND A LOT OF OLD TIMERS THAT LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD SAY THE SAME THING.
BUT JUPITER HAS NOW SAID NO, YOU WANT TO MEDDLE IN CREEK.
THAT'S NOT FAIR, THE FAIR WAY TO HAVE DONE THIS WAS TO GET YOUR TREE TRIMMING COMPANY TO GIVE EACH INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNER AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT IS GOING TO CAUSE TO TRIM THEIR MANGROVES ON THEIR PROPERTY.
BUT YET NOW, ALL OF US THAT DON'T NEED TRIMMING HAVE TO HELP PAY TO TRIM THEIR TREES BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T DONE IT IN THE PAST 40 YEARS.
THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY FAIR WAY TO DO IT AND YOU COULD HAVE PUT THAT ESTIMATE OF WHAT IT WOULD HAVE COST ONTO THEIR INDIVIDUAL TAXES.
BUT YET NOW, THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD AND PEOPLE THAT DON'T NEED TRIMMING HAVE TO HELP PAY FOR EVERYBODY ELSE'S AND THIS IS ALL TO CLEAN THE CREEK.
YES, IT WILL HELP, THERE'S NO DOUBT.
THERE'S A MILLION MANGROVES TREES DROPPING A BILLION LEAVES.
IF I FELL OFF MY DOC, I WOULD SYNC UP TO MY CHEST IN THE MOC BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN DREDGED IN OVER 10 YEARS, THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
IT'S THE MOC ON THE BOTTOM THAT'S CAUSING THIS BACTERIA TO CAUSE THE POLLUTION.
I WISH SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP BEFORE THIS WENT ONTO OUR TAX BILLS BECAUSE NOW PEOPLE THAT DON'T NEED TRIMMING HAVE TO PAY FOR EVERYBODY ELSE'S TRIMMING.
THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION IS PER LOTSA HETCHY RIVER AUTHORITY AND THE JUPITER INLET DISTRICT, MY PROPERTY IS ON THE NATURAL PART OF THE CREEK.
HOW COULD JUPITER SAY I OWN TO THE MIDDLE OF THE CREEK WHEN IT'S ON THE NATURAL PART OF THE CREEK THAT IS GOVERNED BY STATE AND THE FEDS? NOBODY CAN GIVE ME AN ANSWER, THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING.
SOMEBODY NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THAT.
THE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY IS, TO ALL YOU VETERANS, I SALUTE YOU.
HAPPY VETERANS DAY WHEN YOU RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND SAID YOU WOULD DEFEND OUR COUNTRY AGAINST ALL ENEMIES FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC.
YOU WROTE A BLANK CHECK TO THE UNITED STATES UP AND INCLUDING YOUR LIFE.
>> KAREN VINSON, 1003 SOO STREET, WASN'T GOING TO SAY ANYTHING, BUT SINCE HE SAID IT, I LIVE RIGHT NEXT DOOR.
I AM ON THE NATURAL PART OF THE CREEK WHICH I WAS TOLD I WOULD NEVER BE TAXED ON.
THEY TOLD ME BASICALLY TO GET OUT OF.
BASICALLY DIDN'T HAVE TO BE INTO THE MEETINGS BECAUSE WE WERE ON THE NATURAL PART AND WE WOULD NOT BE ASSESSED.
TOWN OF JUPITER SMOKE AND MIRRORS.
NOTHING IS EVER THE WAY THAT YOU SAY THAT IT IS.
I'M GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE FIRE RESCUE.
ON FEBRUARY 24TH, 1976, THE TOWN OF JUPITER PASSED SPECIAL REFERENDUM ESTABLISHING ITS FORM OF GOVERNMENT, THE COUNCIL MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT FOR THE TOWNS CHARTER.
THE COUNCIL MANAGER SYSTEM OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMBINED STRONG LEADERSHIP, EFFECTIVE OFFICIALS WITH A STRONG MANAGERIAL EXPERIENCE OF AN APPOINTED MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT MANAGER.
THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE CITIZENS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT DEVELOP POLICY THAT IS RESPONSIVE TO THE COMMUNITY NEEDS AND WANTS.
[00:10:03]
AS SURELY DO NOT SEE THIS HAPPENING OR ELSE I WOULD NOT BE STANDING HERE TONIGHT OR ANY OTHER TUESDAY NIGHT, FIRST AND THIRD OF EVERY MONTH.RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COUNCIL, APPROVE THE BUDGET, DETERMINE THE TAX RATE PROOFS, CITY ORDINANCES DEVELOPS TOWNS STRATEGIC VISION AND GOALS.
FOCUSING ATTENTION ON ISSUES SUCH AS GROWTH, LAND USE, AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
AGAIN, I'M SO SORRY, BUT I DO NOT SEE THIS HAPPENING.
HE HAVE LOST YOUR FOCUS ON THE TOWNS ISSUES OF GROWTH AND LAND USE.
GOING SO FAR AS TO SUGGEST TAKING PART OR A DESIGNATED AREA OF THE GREEN SPACE FOR SYNC WEST PARK FOR A FIRE STATION.
YOUR FOCUS NEEDS TO BE ON THE TRAFFIC IN JUPITER, WHY DON'T YOU SPEND SOME TIME AND MONEY ON THAT PROBLEM.
THE TOWN IS INSTEAD TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SPEND OUR TAX MONEY ON A NEW FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THAT IS NOT WHAT THE TOWNSPEOPLE WANT QUITE OBVIOUSLY.
WHEN HAS THERE EVER BEEN THIS LARGE OF A GROUP OF PEOPLE REQUESTING A VOTE FOR ANYTHING IN THIS TOWN YOU OBVIOUSLY ARE NOT, "RESPONSIVE TO THE COMMUNITY NEEDS AND WANTS".
I TOOK THAT DEFINITION THAT I READ AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR WEBSITE.
WHILE I APPRECIATE THE ATTEMPT AT QUOTE "ANSWERING ALL MY QUESTIONS AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING THE OTHER DAY", I FIND IT ODD THAT YOU GUYS DIDN'T WANT TO ANSWER THEM IN PUBLIC THAT YOU CHOSE TO TAKE ME OUTSIDE TO TALK TO ME TO ANSWER ALL MY QUESTIONS.
WHY DID WE NEED TO STEP OUT OF THE MEETING? DID YOU NOT WANT TO ANSWER IT IN PUBLIC? DOES MAKE ONE WONDER.
WHEN DO YOU PLAN TO HAVE A MEETING THAT YOU LEGITIMATELY PLAN TO ANSWER QUESTIONS IN AN OPEN FORUM? WHY CAN YOU NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ASKED DURING OPEN COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE COUNCIL MEETING EACH MEETING TIME? DO YOU THINK THAT THIS WOULD HELP TO DISPEL THE FEELING THAT THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS GOING ON BEHIND CLOSED DOORS IF YOU'RE MORE PUBLICLY OPEN? I HAVE LISTENED TO SEVERAL RECORDED MEETINGS AND DISCOVERED MY OPINION THAT THE MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR HAD PRETTY WELL ALREADY DECIDED TO GO ON FOR THE NEW FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THAT MEETING ON JANUARY 17TH OF THIS YEAR.
I'VE GONE BACK AND LOOKED AT MORE RECORDINGS AND I SAW COUNCIL WOMAN SANDRA HAS CHANGED HER OPINION.
IT'S HARD FOR YOU TO TELL ME THAT YOU DID NOT TALK BEHIND THE SCENES.
PLEASE PUT THIS TO A VOTE AND LISTENED TO WHAT THE TAXPAYERS OF JUPITER SAID.
>> I'M HERE TONIGHT TO READ INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD THE EMAIL THAT I SENT THE TOWN ATTORNEY, TOM BAIRD, THE TOWN MANAGER, AND TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD.
I'M CALLING FOR A FREEZE ON ALL EXPENDITURES, INCLUDING THE HIRING OF STAFF FOR THE NEW JUPITER FIRE DEPARTMENT.
ON OCTOBER 25TH, PETITIONS TO AMEND THE TOWN CHARTER TO ALLOW VOTERS TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO CREATE A NEW FIRE DEPARTMENT, WERE DELIVERED TO THE TOWN OF JUPITER.
FOUR DAYS LATER, THE TOWN FINALLY TURN THAT OVER TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS TO VERIFY AND CERTIFY THAT THE SIGNERS OF THE PETITIONS ARE REGISTERED VOTERS IN THE TOWN OF JUPITER.
IN A PHONE CALL TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS OFFICE, THE NUMBER OF PARTITIONS IS SAID TO BE OVER 9,000 HAVE JUST BEEN UPDATED, BUT IT'S OVER 10,000.
FOR CONTEXTS, MORE VOTERS HAVE SIGNED THE PETITION TO AMEND THE CHARTER THAN VOTED FOR MAYOR CORRECT SKI AND COUNSELORS SYNDROME AND THE GENERAL AND SUBSEQUENT RUNOFF ELECTION, RESPECTIVELY.
THE NUMBERS OF VOTERS THAT HAVE SIGNED THE PETITION IS NEARLY THE SAME AS THE TOTAL NUMBER WHO VOTED IN THE LAST ELECTION AND I GUESS IT'S GETTING CLOSER TO THAT SINCE IT'S PAST 10,000 SIGNATURES NOW.
I KEEP HEARING THAT THERE'S A TIME CRUNCH TOWN IS UNDER NOW THAT THE NOTICE OF 36 MONTHS HAS BEEN GIVEN.
THAT TIME CRUNCHES IS PURELY SELF-INFLICTED.
THE TOWN HAD A TEN-YEAR AGREEMENT AND PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE AND A NOTICES AND NOTICE.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S TODAY TOMORROW, NEXT WEEK, NEXT MONTH, OR NEXT YEAR.
THE PETITIONS HAVE BEEN SERVED AND THERE'S A PROCESS NOW IN PLACE THAT DESERVES THE TIME IT TAKES TO PLAY ITSELF OUT.
THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS HAS UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH TO CERTIFY THE ELECTIONS.
THE NEXT ELECTION WILL BE THE PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE PRIMARY ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 19TH, 2024, AT WHICH TIME THE CHARTER AMENDMENT SHOULD BE ON THE BALLOT.
THAT THERE IS A REMEDY TO THIS SELF-INFLICTED TIME CRUNCH, AND THAT IS TO ASK PALM BEACH COUNTY FOR FIVE MONTHS EXTENSION, AT WHICH TIME THE AMENDMENT TO THE CHARTER CAN BE PLACED ON THE BALLOT AND THE RESIDENTS CAN VOTE ON WHETHER THEY WANT THE TOWN TO START ITS OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THREE COUNSELORS, NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE, SHOULD NOT HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE SUCH A MASSIVE MOVE WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE TAXPAYERS.
THEREFORE, A FREEZE ON ALL EXPENDITURES RELATED TO THE JUPITER FIRE DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED UNTIL MARCH 19TH, 2024 ELECTION DATE.
[00:15:01]
IT WOULD NOT MAKE SENSE TO CONTINUE TO SPEND MONEY ON A DEPARTMENT THAT VOTERS MAY DECIDE THEY DO NOT WANT.>> NO INTRODUCTION. GLENN TO CHICO, 3245, DON COMB DRIVE, MALLORY CREEK [INAUDIBLE] AND JUPITER, FLORIDA.
PAST FOUR-AND-A-HALF YEARS, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN A LAWSUIT WHICH NEVER SHOULD'VE STARTED.
IT BEGAN WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING WHERE SONS FROM SAD AND SHE ALL SNYDER AS WELL, ETC., OR MB HAGUE.
BUT ANYWAY, LET'S NOT MAKE IT ABOUT THAT.
LET'S LOOK AT ISSUE 14695133, 4264 WINDALE DRIVE.
THE MANAGER AND THE PEOPLE BENEATH THE EXECUTIVE PART OF THIS WORK IS CALLING ME A LIAR.
THEY'RE SAYING THAT THERE IS NO FENCE, THERE IS NO OBSTRUCTION IN EVERYTHING IS COPACETIC.
LET ME ISSUE 14695333, MALLORY CRITIQUE OST 29. YOU NEED TO FIX IT.
I'M FED UP AND BY THE WAY, WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER PREPARED, ACCEPTED, AND LITIGATING.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING IN 2019 WHERE THEY TIED A VOTE ON SOMETHING THAT COULD NOT BE DONE WITH THIS SOUNDS FROM SAID, HOW DO WE KNOW EVERYBODY IS HOA DOCUMENTS? NO. IT'S BOILERPLATE STUFF.
MR. BEAR IS HERE, HOW CONVENIENT? [APPLAUSE]
>> NEXT IS RYAN SWEENEY AND THEN REMAIN GONZALEZ.
>> HELLO. I'M RYAN SWEENEY THROUGH 19 HIBISCUS STREET, JUPITER, FLORIDA.
I'M THE CHAIR MEMBER OF JUPITER RESIDENT COALITION.
WHEN YOU GUYS FIRST ANNOUNCED THAT YOU WERE GOING TO START JUPITER FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT, HE DID SO WITHOUT ANY RESIDENTIAL KNOWLEDGE AND INPUT OF ANY KIND.
THREE PEOPLE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS MADE A DECISION TO SPEND $60 PLUS MILLION ON A TIGHT TIMEFRAME AND SOMETHING THAT WOULD AFFECT THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDED IN CASE OF EMERGENCY TO OUR FAMILIES.
EVEN WITH MULTIPLE RESONANCE STANDING HERE AS I AM NOW THROUGH THE PAST MONTH, TELLING YOU THEY DO NOT AGREE WITH YOUR DECISION AND TELLING YOU THAT YOU ARE WALKING HEADFIRST INTO A FINANCIAL DISASTER, YOU AGREE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS DECISION IGNORING THAT PEOPLE USE SWORE TO SERVE.
MULTIPLE PEOPLE, HAVE HAD THEIR WORDS FALL ON DEAF EARS.
ALL THEY'VE GOTTEN OUT OF VIEW ARE EMPTY GAZES AND TRANSPARENT FACEBOOK POSTS.
I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU TODAY THAT ONCE IT'S ON THE BALLOT, IT IS NO LONGER IN YOUR HANDS.
THERE IS IN THE RESIDENCE HANDS AND THE RESIDENT'S VOICE WILL BE HEARD.
I'M STANDING BEFORE YOU, MESSING UP ALL THE WORDS.
LITTLE NERVOUS. BUT THE WORDS I SAY, I KNOW YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT LISTENING TO.
FEEL FREE TO LOOK AWAY AS YOU'VE DONE FOR THE MANY BEFORE ME.
I DO ASK THAT ONE COUNCIL MEMBER HEAR ME, AND WITH RESPECT TO THE TOWN, RESIDENTS, START THE MOVEMENT TO HALT ALL FIRE RESCUE SPENDING UNTIL AFTER THE MARCH ELECTION.
POSSIBLY REACH OUT TO JUPITER PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE.
AS FOR START NEGOTIATIONS FOR FIVE MONTHS EXPENDITURE SO THAT THE ELECTION CAN FOLLOW AS PROCEEDED.
YOU MAY HAVE IGNORED THE RESIDENTS TO THIS POINT AND THAT'S OKAY.
BUT COME MARCH, THE RESIDENT'S VOICE WILL BE HEARD AND THE FINAL DECISION WILL COME DOWN TO THE RESIDENTS AS IT SHOULD HAVE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
[00:20:03]
>> RENEE GONZALEZ, 1830 MISS THE LEGDRIVE, THE ASSURANCE OF JUPITER.
HELLO, MY NAME IS RENEE GONZALEZ.
I LIVE IN THE SHORES OF JUPITER.
IN LIGHT OF THE 10,000 PLUS PETITION SIGNED BY JUPITER RESIDENT, I'D LIKE TO ASK THE COUNCIL TO STOP SPENDING OUR TAX DOLLARS ON A NEW DEPARTMENT UNTIL WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO VOTE ON THIS END MARCH.
MYSELF AND 10,000 PLUS RESIDENTS DON'T WANT THE DECISION ABOUT A NEW DEPARTMENT DECIDED FOR US.
WE WANT TO MAKE THE DECISION OURSELVES.
HOLD OFF SPENDING OUR MONEY UNTIL RESIDENTS VOICES HAVE BEEN HEARD.
>> NEXT WE HAVE CONNOR WALLACE FOLLOWED BY TAYLOR DAMIN.
>> CONNOR WALLACE 107 JEANETTE WAY, THE PRESERVE INSIDE THE SHORES.
DISCLOSURE. I'M A FIREFIGHTER.
I DON'T WORK FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE.
I'M NOT A PART OF THEIR UNION.
I'M NOT AFFILIATED STATES OF MATTER TO SOME PEOPLE APPARENTLY.
ORCAS MONUMENTALITY CONSISTS OF THREE STATIONS.
HOW BAD IS THIS SMALL DEPARTMENT? THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH SMALL DEPARTMENT.
PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE FOR YOU.
OUR DEPARTMENT IS APPROXIMATELY 50 COMBAT PERSONNEL, THAT'S FIREFIGHTERS THAT SHOW UP ON SHIFT FOR THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT, A, B, AND C SHIFT.
SINCE 2009, WE'VE ALSO WERE 42 FIREFIGHTERS TO OTHER NEIGHBORING DEPARTMENTS, 42.
THAT'S NOT INCLUDING RETIREMENTS.
THAT'S I'M QUOTING PEOPLE GO WITH LEAVING DOING IS IT'S DOING SOMETHING ELSE JUST TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
THAT'S THE COMPETITION THAT SMALL DEPARTMENTS CAN BE UP AGAINST.
A SMALL DEPARTMENT WE KILLED WAS NO, NEVER GO OUT OF SERVICE OR TRAINING.
WONDER WHY? BECAUSE WORRY ABOUT THE COUNTY COMING IN AND BUYING OUR CALLS.
HOW DO YOU EXPECT FIREFIGHTERS BE READY FOR YOUR AT THEIR JOBS? BE ABLE TO TRAIN AND PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THE CITIZENS IF THEY CAN'T GO OUT OF SERVICE AND YOUR TRAINING, BECAUSE COUNCIL SAYS, OH, WELL, WE DON'T WANT THE COUNTY RUN IN COST MORE MONEY.
THAT'S PROBLEMS THAT WE FACE IT OUR DEPARTMENT.
LASTLY, THE STUDY, FINALLY ADDRESSING 56 HOUR WORK WEEK WITH NO KELLY DAYS.
THERE'S A SINGLE DEPARTMENT ON THE TRI-COUNTY AREA INCLUDING THE TREASURE COAST.
I ONLY THINK EVEN INDIAN RIVER COUNTY THAT DOESN'T HAVE KELLY WEEKS OR FOR EACH HOUR WORKWEEK.
BUT FOR SOME REASON IT'S OKAY FOR THE TOWN OF JUPITER OF ALL PLACE TO HAVE.
YOU PAY FIREFIGHTERS LESS WORKING MORE HOURS AND YOU EXPECT THAT SOMEHOW RETAINED FIREFIGHTERS? YOU MIGHT APARTMENT AS A KELLY WE CAN WE STILL LOSE FIREFIGHTERS.
I LOOKING TO SEE WHAT'S OUT OF D SHIFT.
LIKE A LOT OF PROBLEMS ARE STARTING TO DO BUOYANT YOUR OTHER COASTAL DEPARTMENTS.
WELL, I GUESS HOW MUCH MORE MONEY THAN IT COSTS TO ADD A D SHIFT? IT'S 25 PERSONNEL.
IT'S ALMOST $2.5 MILLION MORE EXPENSIVE THAN JUST KEEPING PALM BEACH COUNTY AND THEN WASTING ANOTHER $68 MILLION ON CAPITAL INVESTMENTS.
>> DO I HAVE TO GIVE MY ADDRESS THEN?
>> YOU CAN JUST STATE YOUR NAME.
>> OKAY. I'LL TAKE THAT AS A NO.
I AM A JUPITER NATIVE OF 30 YEARS PLUS AN INACTIVE FULL-TIME REAL ESTATE BROKER ASSOCIATE SERVING PALM BEACH COUNTY SINCE 2017.
I'D LIKE TO OPEN AND CLOSE THIS DIALOGUE BY ASKING A QUESTION.
HAS THE TOWN COUNCIL CONSIDERED ALLOCATING FUNDS TOWARDS A DIFFERENT PROJECT LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING? THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TYPICALLY DEFINES THIS AS WHEN IT CONSUMES NO MORE THAN 30% OF THE HOUSEHOLDS INCOME.
I LOOKED ON THE MLS THIS AFTERNOON AT HOW MANY HOMES ARE FOR SALE UNDER $250,000 IN JUPITER FOR BUYERS LIKE ME AND MY PEERS.
THESE ARE NON 55 PLUS COMMUNITIES AND THE TOWN.
THERE ARE THREE ACTIVELY ON THE MARKET.
GUESS HOW MUCH THE MONTHLY HOA FEE IS? IT'S ABOUT A $1,000 A MONTH.
THAT'S BEFORE THE MORTGAGE, PROPERTY TAXES AND INSURANCE, WHICH AS WE ALL KNOW, THERE'S A CRISIS IN THE STATE RISING ABOUT 75% SINCE 2019.
THE MEDIAN INCOME IN FLORIDA, ACCORDING TO FLORIDA HEALTH CHARTS.GOV, IS ABOUT 62 GRAND A YEAR.
HOWEVER, JUPITER CENSUS SHOWS A MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME OF 94K BETWEEN THE AGES OF 25-44, THAT'S HOUSEHOLD INCOME.
IF YOU DO THE MATH, YOU ARRIVE AT ABOUT $30,000 A YEAR JUST TO OWN A HOME AND JUPITER, THAT'S ASSUMING NOTHING IN YOUR HOUSE BREAKS.
THAT'S NOT ACCOUNTING FOR GROCERIES, KIDS IN ANY OTHER LIVING EXPENSES.
AT $30,000 A YEAR, ROUGHLY HALF OF THE STATE'S AVERAGE INCOME.
HOW DOES THE JUPITER OR AVERAGE RESONANT AFFORD TO LIVE HERE?
[00:25:03]
THE ANSWER IS THEY DON'T.THEY BEEN FORCIBLY LIVE WITH THEIR PARENTS OR A ROOMMATE.
WHICH THAT MIGHT EXPLAIN WHY THE HOUSEHOLD INCOME AND JUPITER IS $94,000.
THESE ARE FULL-TIME, HARD-WORKING INDIVIDUALS WITH EXCELLENT CREDIT BY THE WAY, I'M HERE BECAUSE I LOVE WHAT JUPITER REPRESENTS TO ME.
THAT MEANS FIRST AND FOREMOST, ADVOCATING FOR COMMUNITY.
I'M TRADING FOR SINGLE MOMS WHO CAN'T GET ENOUGH IN ALIMONY TO BUY A HOME FOR HER AND HER KIDS.
MY PEERS AND ANY OTHERS WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE IN THIS TOWN.
I'M HERE TODAY TO FIGHT FOR KIDS OR YOUR GRANDKIDS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS THAT PRECEDED US.
I'M TRYING TO KEEP JUPITER JUPITER.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT SOME MEMBERS ON THE TOWN COUNCIL HAVE A BIGGER VESTED INTERESTS IN PUSHING THEIR OWN AGENDA, PERHAPS RATHER THAN PRIORITIZING THE WELL-BEING AND HAPPINESS OF ITS OWN RESIDENTS.
IF I'M WRONG, THEN LET US VOTE.
I HUMBLY ASK THOSE MEMBERS ARE FOR MENTIONED ON THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER WHEN YOU ALLOCATE THE 67 MILLION OF OUR HARD-EARNED TAX DOLLARS.
IF YOUR GOAL IS TO MAKE JUPITER A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE, DOES IT MEAN FIRE STATION REALLY DO THAT? BECAUSE IF IT DOESN'T, WHY DO IT? [APPLAUSE]
>> NEXT WE HAVE DILLON NEWQUEST AND ANDY WESTERN.
>> GOOD EVENING, TOWN COUNCIL.
I HAVE A COMMENT FOR LATER, SO I WANTED TO USE THIS TIME TO INTRODUCE WHO I AM.
REMIND YOU OF WHY I'M HERE TONIGHT AND THE HISTORY OF WHO I AM TO THIS MY FAMILY TO THIS TOWN.
BECAUSE THERE IS SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO SPEAK ON LATER AND I WANT TO HAVE THE TIME TO ELOQUENTLY PRESENT TO YOU THOSE FACTS.
I'M A MEMBER OF JUPITER SINCE BIRTH, 34 YEARS.
I'LL BE 35 THIS SATURDAY. HAPPY VETERANS DAY.
I WAS IN CHINA FOR SIX YEARS AND ALSO UF FOR FORCE.
I'D BEEN AWAY FROM THE TOWN FOR THAT LONG, BEEN BACK SINCE COVID HAPPENED AND ALLOW ME TO WORK REMOTELY TO BE HERE.
IF YOU DO REMEMBER ME, MR. KURETSKI, I WAS CLASS PRESIDENT OF 2007.
I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH YOUR DAUGHTER KATIE.
I REMEMBER YOU EXACT MEETINGS.
AT THE TIME, YOU MIGHT NOT REMEMBER ME RIGHT NOW BECAUSE AT THE TIME I HAD A HARD TIME GROWING FACIAL HAIR, BUT NOW I HAVE A HARD TIME KEEPING IT OFF.
BUT I'M HERE BECAUSE I'M HERE OUT OF LOVE.
MY NANA, EVELYN BATES, WHO PASSED LAST YEAR WITH A DAWSON FOR THE LIGHTHOUSE MUSEUM FOR 28 YEARS.
SHE BECAME THE BRICK LADY THAT LAID THE BRICKS ON THE ROAD OR THE PATH UP TO THE LIGHTHOUSE AND SHE WAS THE FIRST SECRETARY OF GTA.
MY POP-UP, WALLACE BATES, WAS ONE OF THE FIRST POSTMEN FOR THE TOWN WITH US POSTAL SERVICE.
THEY WERE BOTH BEACONS OF INTEGRITY, COMMUNITY, AND LOVE.
I AM BLESSED FOR THEIR EXAMPLE AND THE DIRECT RECIPIENT OF THEIR LOVE AND I HOPE TO SHARE THAT TONIGHT WITH YOU AND WITH THE PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT AND WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SPEAK ON AND PRESENT TO YOU LATER.
I LOVE THESE PEOPLE. I LOVE THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, EVEN THOUGH I DON'T KNOW THEM ALL.
I BELIEVE IN OUR SYSTEM OF FREE SPEECH AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, A CARRIER OF THAT LIGHT THAT MY GRANDPARENTS HAVE PASSED ON AND NO LONGER HERE TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
I FELT MOTIVATED BY THE LAB TO DO THE WORK THAT I DID THAT I WILL PRESENT LATER AND I FELT INSPIRED BY THE MANY VOICES WHO HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN BEFORE ME.
I DO WANT TO BREAK THAT ONE FACT AND PLEASE TAKE THIS AS CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM.
MAYOR, I RESPECT YOU FOR HOW I KNOW YOU AND YOUR DAUGHTERS.
OUT OF 18 COUNCIL MEETINGS, THERE HAVE BEEN PUBLIC COMMENTS AND I WATCHED THOSE.
ONE THING I NOTICED, IF YOU MOVE ON TO THE AGENDA ITEM VERY QUICKLY.
I DON'T REALLY HEAR YOU THINKING PEOPLE FOR THEIR VOICES AND PRACTICING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH TO COME HERE AND SPEND THEIR TIME TO SPEAK TO YOU, TO HELP EVERYBODY SITTING UP THERE TO DO THEIR JOB BETTER FOR THEM.
MAYBE NOT AN INSULT, IT'S A CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM IS TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THEIR VOICES AND TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR TIME AND THEIR VOICES BECAUSE THEY'RE TAKING TIME OUT OF THEIR DAY JUST LIKE YOU ALL HERE TO DO PUBLIC SERVICE.
I HOPE THAT MEANS SOMETHING AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SPEAKING TO YOU ALL LATER.
>> WELL, THE FOLKS THAT ARE GLAD THAT YOU STARTED IN
[00:30:02]
A FIRE DEPARTMENT AREN'T COMING BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY VOTED YES.I DON'T KNOW ABOUT WHAT THE FOLKS WERE SAYING THAT EVERYBODY THAT WE'RE GETTING THESE PETITION, BUT I WAS ACCOSTED BY TWO AND I SENT YOU ALL AN EMAIL ABOUT THAT.
ONE ON A MONDAY, I WAS DELIVERING SOMETHING TO THE POST OFFICE AND I GOT ACCOSTED BY AND IT WAS MORE OF A HARASSMENT BY ONE OF THE PETITION GATHERS.
THERE WERE TABLES SET UP RIGHT BY THE DOORS.
TRIED TO CONVINCE ME TO SIGN A PETITION.
I SAID, WELL, I DON'T NEED TO BECAUSE I'M FOR IT AND YOU'VE ALREADY VOTED FOR IT.
SHE SAID, WELL, YOU SHOULD SIGN ANYWAY, AND THEN YOU CAN VOTE FOR IT.
THEN I WENT DOWN ON THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY, IN FRONT OF THE LIBRARY. THIS WAS FUN.
THIS IS ONE OF THE GUYS THAT WORKED FOR YOU ARE PAYING THESE PEOPLE, THE UNION, TO GET THESE PETITIONS.
I WAS HAVING A DISCUSSION WITH THEM AND HE DIDN'T SEE IT GOING VERY WELL.
THE NEXT THING I KNOW, THE GUY IS SCREAMING AT ME AND CHARGING ME.
I'M JUST LOOKING AT THIS GUY, LIKE I'M AFRAID? NO. I'M LOOKING AT THIS GUY AND GOING, HE MIGHT HURT HIMSELF IF HE RUNS INTO ME.
FINALLY, AFTER HE CHARGED ME ABOUT 3, 4 OR 5 TIMES, HE PICKED UP HIS STUFF AND LEFT. YOU'RE PAYING THAT GUY.
I THOUGHT, WELL, WHO SHOULD I GO SPEAK TO ABOUT THIS? SHOULD I SPEAK TO THE COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT? SHOULD I CALL THE FIREMAN'S UNION, OR SHOULD I COME TO THE TOWN COUNCIL? I SAID, WAIT A MINUTE, I CAN DO ONE-STOP SHOPPING HERE BECAUSE WE GOT THE GUY RIGHT HERE.
FIRST, VICE PRESIDENT, LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS FOR THE UNION.
HE WORKS FOR THE COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND HE IS ON THIS COUNCIL, AND HE SHOULD BE OPEN TO REDRESS THAT.
HERE I AM, I'M BRINGING IT UP.
NOW, I SAID EARLIER THAT I WAS NOT GOING TO START THE SLAM ON THE SERVICE.
DECEMBER 13TH, 2021, I MADE A CALL 911.
THEY SAID TURN THE LIGHTS ON, LEAVE THE DOOR UNLOCKED.
WELL, THEY WENT RIGHT BY MY HOUSE.
THIS IS A ONE WAY IN, ONE WAY OUT, GO ALL THE WAY TO THE END. YOU'RE IN A CUL-DE-SAC.
WENT RIGHT BY MY HOUSE IN CASE SCOTT WHO'S DOWN ARROW SINCE ALL THE LIGHTS.
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE HER TO SEE THE LIGHTS? WALKED OUT, WHAT'S UP? OH, HE'S DOWN THERE ON THE LEFT.
HERE'S MY WIFE LAYING ON THE FLOOR IN AGONY, AND THESE GUYS CAN'T FIND MY HOUSE BECAUSE THEY'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT THEIR GPS AND GPS DOESN'T WORK ALL THE TIME IN THE WAY IT SHOULD.
THERE ARE SOME SERVICE PROBLEMS WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW THE TOWN. THERE ARE.
MR. MALLORY MIGHT HAVE A STORY TO TELL ABOUT THE SONOMA ISLES WHERE HE LIVES.
IT'S 55 MINUTES FOR HIM TO RESPOND TO THE CALL OF MEDICAL EMERGENCY IN SONOMA ISLES.
THAT'S WHY WE NEED LOCAL PEOPLE.
WE NEED YOU GUYS, IF YOU'RE RESIDENTS, WE NEED YOU BECOME WORK FOR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT [LAUGHTER] AND NO SAY.
>> NEXT WE HAVE LINDA MCDERMOTT AND LISA FREELAND.
>> GOOD EVENING. LINDA MCDERMOTT, 107 CHADWICK DRIVE.
I REALLY NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE ADDRESSING THE COUNCIL OR ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY WITH SOME OF THE THINGS I'D LIKE TO SAY RIGHT NOW.
BUT IF I WAS TO DO A PERFORMANCE REVIEW FOR KURETSKI, DELANEY, AND [INAUDIBLE].
AS THEY SEEM TO BE A COMMITTEE OF THEIR OWN, THEY ARE NOT ENGAGED WITH THOSE YOU SERVE TO PROVIDE BETTER SERVICES AND STRENGTHEN TRUST TO CREATE A MORE CONNECTED COMMUNITY.
YOU'RE NOT MAKING BUDGET DECISIONS BASED ON PUBLIC NEEDS AND RESIDENT INSIGHT.
YOU'RE NOT INTERESTED IN COMMUNITY INSIGHT OR BUSINESS IMPACT, WHICH IS NECESSARY TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR THE PEOPLE YOU SERVE.
THIS IS NOT JUST THE FIRE ISSUE, THIS IS SUNNY SANDS ALSO.
YOU GUYS SEEM TO CHANGE YOUR MIND LATER ALL THE TIME.
YOU'RE NOT ALIGNING YOUR PRIORITIES WITH WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO THE PEOPLE YOU SERVE.
BEING REACTIVE INSTEAD OF PROACTIVE AND BRINGING INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC, HAVING COMMUNITY MEETINGS ABOUT CREATING A FIRE DEPARTMENT AFTER YOU ALREADY DECIDED TO USE TAXPAYER FUNDS TO DO SO.
IT'S LIKE ASKING IF I CAN BORROW A CAR, IF I ALREADY DROVE IT AND WRECKED IT.
MAYOR KURETSKI, PLEASE STOP INTERRUPTING, IGNORING, AND STATING YOUR WISHES WHEN STAFF OR OTHER COUNSEL ARE SPEAKING.
[00:35:02]
PAST COUNCIL MEETINGS, YOU CUT OFF COUNSELOR SNYDER, AND COUNSELOR MAY.WHEN THEY ASKED FOR MORE DETAILS AND DISCUSSION, YOU GO TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM OR YOU COMPLETELY TURN AWAY, AND DO NOT ALLOW THEM TO HAVE DISCUSSION.
WHEN YOU ASK FOR A VOTE ON BUDGET FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT, YOU IGNORED CAMERON MAY'S REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION.
THIS BEHAVIOR STATE WAS NECESSARY DISCUSSIONS FOR THE PEOPLE.
I AM SO SORRY TO GIVE YOU MY THOUGHTS LIKE THIS.
BUT THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT THING.
YOU CAN TURN THIS AROUND NOW AND SAVE THIS TOWN.
PLEASE DON'T MAKE US WAIT TOO MUCH, DO THE RIGHT THING NOW, STOP SPENDING MONEY.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LISA FREELAND AND I LIVE IN THE HEIGHTS.
I DON'T WORK FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE NOR AM I A MEMBER OF THE UNION.
I AM, HOWEVER, A MEMBER OF THE JUPITER RESIDENTS COALITION TO KEEP PALM BEACH COUNTY FIREFIGHTERS.
I'M QUITE APPALLED AT THE NEGATIVITY AND GASLIGHTING FOR MOST OF THIS COUNSEL TOWARDS A GRASSROOTS JUPITER RESIDENT INITIATIVE.
DID YOU FORGET WHO YOU SERVE AND REPRESENT? IN CASE YOU FORGOT, IT'S THE JUPITER RESIDENT.
THE EMAILS AND YOUR OFF THE CUFF SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS FROM YOUR PERSONAL PAGES THAT ARE VILLAINIZED A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE THAT WAS FORMED BY THE RESIDENTS TELL US EVERYTHING WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HOW MOST OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS VIEW US.
HONESTLY THOUGH, IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO BLAME ABOUT THE FORMATION OF THIS PACK, TAKE A GOOD LOOK IN THE MIRROR.
THE FORMATION OF THIS PACK IS A DIRECT RESULT OF YOU CONTINUING TO PLUG YOUR EARS AND IGNORING US.
WE HAVE CONTINUED TO SHOW UP TO THESE COUNCIL MEETINGS, EMAIL, AND CALL ONLY TO BE IGNORED.
WE CONTINUE TO BEG YOU TO STOP THIS INSANITY AND YOU DON'T LISTEN.
WHAT ELSE DO WE NEED TO DO TO GET YOUR ATTENTION? YOU LEFT US WITH NO CHOICE.
HAD YOU SHOWN US AN OUNCE OF RESPECT, MAYBE IT WOULDN'T HAVE COME TO THIS.
BUT HERE WE ARE NOW AND THIS IS ALL ON YOU, NOT US.
WE ARE OVER THE SMOKE AND MIRRORS SHOW, WE SEE RIGHT THROUGH IT.
YOU STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND TURN THIS AROUND AND SHOW YOUR CONSTITUENTS THAT ETHICS STILL EXIST.
IT SHOULDN'T TAKE NEARLY 10,000 REGISTERED VOTERS TO BEG YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
I'M HERE ONCE AGAIN ASKING YOU TO STOP THE SPENDING AND END THIS.
WE HAVE TAKEN THE NECESSARY STEPS TO GET THIS ON A BALLOT IN MARCH, YOU CONTINUE TO PREACH FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
THE FISCAL RESPONSIBLY THING TO DO IS TO PAUSE THIS UNTIL THE VOTERS CAN TELL YOU WHAT WE WANT.
WHAT WE WANT IS FOR YOU TO STOP SPENDING OUR TAX MONEY, LIKE IT'S YOUR PERSONAL DEBIT CARD.
WE ALSO WANT, IN SOME RESPECT TOWARDS US AND THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT CONTINUE TO SERVE US.
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO ASK FOR THIS AS IT'S PART OF YOUR BASIC DUTY TO WHICH YOU ARE ELECTED, TO TREAT PEOPLE WITH RESPECT.
SOME OF THE REMARKS AT A RECENT COMMUNITY MEETING IN WHICH YOU SAID SOME BASIC NECESSITIES SUCH AS THE SAFE BUILDING TO WORK AND LIVE IN, RECLINING CHAIRS IN A QUIET ROOM IN A FIRE STATION ARE WASTEFUL FOR SOME OF THE MOST DISRESPECTFUL THINGS I HAVE HEARD FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS TOWARDS OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
PERHAPS YOU SHOULD SPEND AN ENTIRE SHIFT AT ONE OF OUR STATIONS SO YOU CAN TRULY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDIC.
BUT INSTEAD, WE'LL GIVE YOU SOME PLASTIC LAWN CHAIRS TO SEE HOW UNCOMFORTABLE THAT IS TO SIT AND SLEEP ON.
HOW CAN WE TRUST THAT YOU CAN DEVELOP A SAFE AND WORLD-CLASS FIRE DEPARTMENT WHEN YOU DISREGARD THEM SO MUCH.
HOW CAN WE EVEN SAY THAT THE JUPITER FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT IS WORLD-CLASS WHEN IT DOESN'T EVEN EXIST.
THIS MEETING WAS RECORDED BY A RESIDENT, SINCE THIS MEETING WAS ONLY FOR SELECT NEIGHBORHOODS.
YET THIS INFORMATION AFFECTS US ALL.
IMAGINE THAT A RESIDENT HAS TO RECORD IT BECAUSE OUR FAITH AND TRUST IN YOU IS GONE.
DID THE TOWN RECORD THIS MEETING IN WHICH THREE OF YOU ATTENDED TO CONTINUE TO DISCUSS THE JUPITER FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT WERE VOTE ARE STILL HAPPENING? BECAUSE IT APPEARS THAT THE ONLY RECORDING OF IT AVAILABLE TO ANYONE WAS DONE BY A RESIDENT.
HOW CAN WE TRUST THE COUNCIL THAT ACT AS IF THE RULES DON'T APPLY TO THEM AND THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT WITH OUR POCKET BUCKS.
THERE ONCE WAS TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION, BUT HERE ITS REPRESENTATION WITHOUT CONSENT.
>> NEXT WE HAVE MASON TORRES AND KRISTIN HENRY.
>> GOOD EVENING, HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'D LIKE TO THANK MAYOR KURETSKI FOR SPEAKING WITH RESIDENTS AT THE RECENT CONSTRUCTION MEETING FOR THE INDIAN TOWN ROAD WIDENING PROJECT AT THE I95 JUNCTION, THANK YOU.
ENGINEERS AND PROJECT MANAGERS FROM FDOT, THE ENGINEERING CONSULTANT AND THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR WERE PRESENT TO
[00:40:04]
ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TRAFFIC STUDY AND THE PROJECT ITSELF, WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO DELAY THE PROJECT AT THIS POINT IN TIME.I FEEL THAT I MUST REITERATE THE TRUE COSTS.
WHILE FDOT PERSONNEL WERE ABLE TO EXPLAIN THE GEOMETRY OF THE INTERSECTION, THEY COULD NOT JUSTIFY THE ROAD WIDENING PROJECT ITSELF IN TERMS OF TURNING MOVEMENTS PER HOUR OR THROUGHPUT PER LANE PER HOUR.
THE GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS TO ALLEVIATE PEAK HOUR TRAFFIC FOR THE ROUGHLY 2000- 4,000 COMMUTERS THAT WORK IN JUPITER BUT CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.
IT DOESN'T ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION DURING PEAK HOURS.
THE TOTAL COST OF TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS IN THE WESTERN SECTION OF TOWN AS THOUGH IT'S ABOUT $6 MILLION.
IF SOMEBODY STOOD ON THE CORNER OF INDIAN TOWN ROAD AND CENTRAL BOULEVARD HAND IN HAND AND ASKED RESIDENTS FOR $100 TO IMPROVE COMMUTER THROUGHPUT, I DOUBT YOU WOULD COLLECT MUCH MONEY.
IF YOU ASK THE COMMUTERS FOR $2,000 EACH, YOU'D PROBABLY BE TOLD TO GO SOMEWHERE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT POLITICALLY THIS PROJECT IS A WIN BECAUSE THE MOST PROMINENT COMPLAINT FROM VOTERS UNTIL RECENTLY WAS TRAFFIC.
HOWEVER, TRAFFIC IS A SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY AND CONGESTION CANNOT BE SOLVED BY BUILDING MORE ROADS.
IF THE TOWN LOSES MONEY ON EVERY INVESTMENT, IT CAN'T MAKE UP THE LOSSES IN VOLUME.
LIKE TWO-THIRDS OF PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN REDUCE CONGESTION BY BUILDING MORE ROADS, AND MATHEMATICALLY THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
THERE'S LIKE 3,000 MUNICIPALITIES IN THE COUNTRY, AND MOST OF THESE MUNICIPALITIES ARE FUNCTIONALLY BANKRUPT AND LIVE ON DEBT.
YOU CAN'T BUILD YOUR WAY OUT OF TRAFFIC, IT JUST DOESN'T WORK.
IF YOU BUILD MORE ROADS, CONGESTION GOES AWAY FOR A LITTLE BIT, AND THEN PEOPLE DRIVE MORE AND THEN YOU'RE STUCK WITH THE SAME LEVEL OF CONGESTION YOU HAD BEFORE ONLY, YOU WASTED A BUNCH OF CAPITAL DOLLARS AND THEN YOU ALSO HAVE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OBLIGATIONS SO, AS ALWAYS, I RECOMMEND THAT PEOPLE READ THE BOOK, STRONG TOWNS READ THE BOOK, CONFESSIONS OF A RECOVERING ENGINEER.
READ THE BOOK, WALKABLE CITY, AND LEARN WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE PRUDENT INVESTMENTS.
[APPLAUSE] SORRY, MASON TOURISTS, LIMESTONE CREEK RESIDENT, 68 14 MITCHELL STREET.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, KRISTEN HENRY, 109 MILES AWAY, JUPITER, FLORIDA.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY AT THE PODIUM AS I RESPECTFULLY ADDRESS MY CONCERNS.
OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, AS WE'VE WATCHED, THE TOWN CONTINUES TO ROLL OUT THE BUSINESS OF CREATING THE JUPITER FIRE DEPARTMENT.
DESPITE THE OVERWHELMING OPPOSITION FOR THE RESONANCE, LOBBIED FOR THE RIGHT TO VOTE, I'VE ASKED MYSELF A QUESTION.
HAS ANYONE ACTUALLY ADDRESSED WHY THEY FEEL THE RESONANCE SHOULDN'T OR DO NOT DESERVE A VOTE IN THIS MATTER? JUST LAST MEETING, THERE WAS AN AGENDA ITEM TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR THE IDEA OF ASKING VOTERS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY TO EXTEND THE CURRENT ONES AND INFRASTRUCTURE SALES SURTAX FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST, 2036, 10 YEARS BEYOND THE CURRENT EXPLORATION.
THIS WASN'T MY OPINION, A BENEFICIAL TAX INCREASE, BUT ONE THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD PROBABLY NEVER WOULD HAVE NOTICED.
IT WAS A CHANGE LARGE ENOUGH TO WARRANT A PLACE ON THE BALLOT.
WHEN A RESIDENT ASKS WHY THE TOWN DOES NOT ANNEX AND INCORPORATED JUPITER MAYOR KURETSKI YOUR RESPONSE WAS THAT THE TOWN HAS ALWAYS EXPRESSED THE DESIRE TO ANNEX, BUT THE RESIDENTS WOULD HAVE TO VOTE.
IN FACT, WE KNOW THAT TO BE THE CASE WITH PALM BEACH GARDENS AS WE SPEAK.
I ASKED, WHY IS CREATING OUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT ANY DIFFERENT FROM THESE TWO MATTERS? VICE MAYOR DELANEY, GOING BACK TO 2016, YOU POSTED ABOUT A TEMPORARY BUILDING MORATORIUM.
YOU SAID IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE TOWN TO PAUSE AND LISTEN TO THE RESIDENTS CONCERNS.
YOU SAID IT'S TIME TO SLOW DOWN AND REASSESS.
ANOTHER POST FROM THE SAME YEAR REGARDING THE BRIGHT-LINE TAX-EXEMPT BOND, YOU SAID IT LOOKS LIKE THE LAWSUITS AND PUBLIC PRESSURE OR HAVING AN EFFECT, IT'S NOT OVER THOUGH.
YET IT FEELS AS THOUGH THE COUNSELORS THAT HAVE TURNED A BLIND EYE TO THE RESIDENTS CONCERNS AND OPPOSITION HAVE ONLY VILLAINIZED THE UNION, AND JUPITER RESONANCE WHO HAVE DAY AFTER DAY COME OUT TO FIGHT FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN.
I'M SURE YOU MISS THE DAYS OF NEARLY EMPTY CHAMBER WHEN
[00:45:01]
BUSINESS COULD GET DONE AND YOU'RE ALL BACK HOME TO YOUR FAMILIES.UP UNTIL THIS POINT 10,000 RESONANCE BEYOND THOSE THAT OFTEN STAND HERE, I'VE EXPRESSED THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT ISN'T ABOUT THE COST OF THEM, BUT ABOUT THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THEY CURRENTLY RECEIVE.
MUCH HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT JUPITER CREATING A GOOD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I'M SURE THEY CAN, BUT IT WILL TAKE SEVERAL YEARS AND A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN COSTS.
A MUNICIPAL BUDGET STILL CANNOT SUSTAIN WHAT THE RESIDENTS CURRENTLY GET FROM THE COUNTY.
YOU SEE, AND IN ITS INFANCY STAGE, IT'S MERELY SPECULATION. WHAT DO WE KNOW? WHAT DO WE DO KNOW IS THAT JUPITER IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE.
HOW SO MANY OF THEIR ADDITIONAL SERVICES HERE IN OUR TOWN THAT ARE NOT IN THEIR OTHER AREAS.
THIS DEPARTMENTS THAT HAS ESTABLISHED A RATING OF LESS THAN 1% OF THE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS HAVE, THEIR FIRST RESPONDERS HAVE ALMOST 100% RESIDENTIAL SATISFACTION, YEAR OVER YEAR.
WHY ARE WE GIVING UP WHAT WE KNOW TO BE TOP-NOTCH SERVICE FOR SOMETHING THAT MAY JUST BE GOOD ENOUGH.
I DID WANT TO ALSO POINT OUT ONE THING I DID LOOK AT A REASON WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LIKE, WHAT ARE WE PAYING FOR.
I DID LOOK AT A RECENT POSTING ON INCREASE OF CALLS, AND JUST IN FOUR YEARS ALONE, THE TOWN OF JUPITER HAS GONE UP 848 CALLS.
WHEN YOU ASK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE PAYING FOR, IT'S A LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT HAS INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY, SO THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE SCOTT BASS, MICHAEL RAYMOND AND CHELSEA GAS.
>> SCOTT BASS, 200S CIRCLE EAST.
I GREW UP IN JUPITER. I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE I WAS THREE YEARS OLD OR OVER 30 YEARS.
I JUST WANT THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
YOU SAID THAT WE VOTED YOU IN AND MAKE THESE DECISIONS FOR US AND AND WE DID, BUT I FEEL THAT YOU'RE FAILING US.
I'VE LOST CONFIDENCE IN YOU MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION FOR JUPITER.
I THINK THIS IS A STEP BACK FOR FIRE RESCUE, I THINK THERE'S A STEP BACK FOR OUR TOWN AND I'M JUST ASKING FOR THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
>> MICHAEL RAYMOND, 142 CRIMSON AISLES.
I SPOKE AT LAST MEETING AND AGAIN, I FEEL LIKE I WANT TO RESTATE THAT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE.
I THINK OUR TOWN COUNCIL IS EXTREMELY TRANSPARENT, EXTREMELY HONEST, EXTREMELY DILIGENT, AND A LOT OF WHAT I'M HEARING AND THE TONE OF WHAT I'M HEARING, IN MY OPINION IS COMPLETELY UNDESERVED.
I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR YOU AND BY THE WAY, LITTLE SIDELINE AS YOU'RE DOING SOME GOOD THINGS FOR THE VETERANS, I WAS A MARINE VETERAN MYSELF.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET A BRICK FOR MYSELF AND MY FATHER AS VETERANS SAY, YOU'RE DOING A LOT OF GOOD THINGS FOR THE TOWN.
THERE'S A LOT OF BIG DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE.
I LIKED THE WAY THAT YOU DO STUDY DESPITE WHAT I'M HEARING, I'LL USE AN EXAMPLE.
LAST MEETING, KIM BROUGHT UP THE ISSUE OF $2 VERSUS FORD OR AMBULANCE.
YOU WENT OFF AND YOU DID YOUR STUDY, YOU DID YOU EVALUATION, AND I THINK I SAW ON THE AGENDA THAT YOU'RE GOING WITH A FORD OR AMBULANCE.
HOWEVER, I'M SURE THAT WILL PROBABLY GET A NEGATIVE VOTE TONIGHT.
I THINK IT'S MORE THAN JUST THE SERVICE AND THE QUALITY OF SERVICE, WHICH NO ONE ARGUES THAT THE PALM BEACH FIREFIGHTERS DEPARTMENT ISN'T DOING A GOOD JOB, BUT YOU CAN DO A BETTER JOB, OBVIOUSLY, YOU COULD DO IT EQUAL OR BETTER JOB, I THINK AT A LOWER COST.
MY MESSAGE TO YOU IS TO STAY THE COURSE, CONTINUE TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
DON'T BE INTIMIDATED, DON'T BE BULLIED, DESPITE WHAT YOU'VE HEARD, THERE WAS NINE PUBLIC MEETINGS ON THIS TOPIC OF THE FIRE AND RESCUE BEFORE YOU MADE A DECISION TO GO FORWARD, NINE.
IT'S NOT LIKE THIS WAS A SURPRISE, MAYBE PEOPLE WEREN'T PAYING ATTENTION, BUT YOU'VE HAD A LOT OF TRANSPARENCY, AND LAST THING I WANT TO SAY AS I APPRECIATE ALL THE PERSONAL SACRIFICE THAT YOU HAVE MADE SINCE YOU CAME INTO OFFICE, THERE HAS BEEN MEET AND GREETS, THAT'S BEEN COFFEE TIMES WHERE YOU'VE MADE YOURSELF AVAILABLE.
RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE DOING COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO EDUCATE THEM ON THE FIRE AND RESCUE TOPIC.
THAT'S ALL ON YOUR OWN PERSONAL TIME AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, I THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TRANSPARENCY, AND I THINK YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB, AND MY ENCOURAGEMENT IS JUST TO STAY THE COURSE.
[00:50:17]
>> GOOD EVENING, CHELSEA GUESS, I LIVE AT REDWOOD NORTH.
ON OCTOBER 25TH, OVER 2,400 PETITIONS WERE TURNED IN TO THE TOWN, ON OCTOBER 30TH, THEY WERE FINALLY TURNED INTO THE SOE, WE ARE NOW UP TO OVER 10,000 SIGNED PETITIONS TO CHANGE OUR CHARTER, TO GIVE THE RESIDENTS A CHANCE TO VOTE, TO KEEP PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE SERVICE.
I'M STANDING UP HERE TONIGHT FOR MY FAMILY AND FOR MY FRIENDS THAT LIVE IN JUPITER, WE'RE ASKING YOU TO STOP SPENDING OUR MONEY, YOU ARE MAKING A HUGE MISTAKE AND THE RESONANCE OF JUPITER DESERVE A VOTE, LET OUR VOICES BE HEARD.
IF WE INTIMIDATE YOU, THAT'S BECAUSE DEEP DOWN, YOU KNOW YOU'RE MAKING THE WRONG CHOICE AND YOU'RE NOT LISTENING TO US.
>> OKAY. ON TO THE MINUTES CANCEL WE HAVE BEFORE US TWO MINUTES OF
[1. October 17, 2023 Town Council Meeting Minutes.]
THE OCTOBER 17TH MEETING AND THERE ANY CHANGES OR CORRECTIONS? SEEING NONE IF I CAN HAVE A MOTION?>> MOTION AND A SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVING ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA,
[CONSENT AGENDA]
THIS IS ITEM NUMBER 2 THROUGH 9 ON THE AGENDA, ANYBODY FROM THE PUBLIC CALVIN CONSENT AGENDA ITEM THEY WANT TO PULL?>> COUNCIL FOR HER? VICE MAYOR.
>> OKAY. WELL, WE HAVE A SHORTER CONSENT AGENDA, THIS IS ITEMS 8 AND 9.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION ON THE SHORTENED AGENDA?
>> MOTION AND A SECOND ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
[2. Resolution 83-23, Approving a contract award to Felix Associates of Florida, Inc. for Island Way Floridan Aquifer and Surficial Raw Watermain Extension (W2109) in an amount of $5,948,286.]
PULL BY THE VICE MAYOR, WHAT'S YOUR PLEASURE ON THAT?>> I HAVEN'T STOPPED JUST COME UP AND EXPLAIN THE PROJECTS, IT'S A FAIRLY HYDRAULIC PROJECTS AND IT'S BENEFICIAL TO THE TOWN, BUT PEOPLE MIGHT WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, AVOIDANCE DIRECTIVE UTILITIES, SO THE PROJECT OR THE CONTRACT BEFORE YOU IS A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO CONSTRUCT RHO WATER MAINS FOR FLORIDA AND AQUIFER WELLS AND SURFICIAL AQUIFER WELLS.
PREDOMINANTLY, THE WELLS ARE LOCATED NORTH OF INDIAN TOWN ROAD ALONG ISLAND WAY, ONE OF THE WELLS, ONE OF THE ROM IS LOCATED ON THE TA TEAM CANAL.
THE MAJORITY OF OUR EXISTING FLORIDAN AQUIFER WELLS ARE LOCATED ALONG THE CH IN CANAL IN THE 2022 CIP BUDGET, WE ADOPTED A PROJECT TO CONSTRUCT THREE ADDITIONAL FLORIDA KNACK FOR WELLS, TWO WOULD BE LOCATED.
ONE SAT ON THE SOUTH END OF GCP, JUPITER COMMUNITY PARK, THE OTHER ON THE NORTH END OF JUPITER COMMUNITY PARK, AND THEN THE LAST ONE ALONG THE CH IN CANAL, SO THE CONTRACT FOR YOU IS TO CONSTRUCT THE RAW WATER MAINS OR EXTEND THE RAW WATER MEANS TO THOSE FLORIDA KNACK FOR WELL'S.
RUNNING ADJACENT IN THE SAME TRENCH WITH THE FLORIDA NOT FOR WHAT RO WATER MAN WOULD BE THE SURFICIAL AQUIFER, RAW WATER MAINS, SO THERE ARE TOTAL OF SIX SURFICIAL WELLS PLAN TO BE CONSTRUCTED ALONG ISLAND WAY AND WE ARE CREATING THE NORTHERN WEALTH FIELD OR DEVELOPING THE NORTHERN WELL FIELD.
ALL OF OUR SUFFICIENT WELLS CURRENTLY ARE SOUTH OF INDIAN TOWN ROAD AND WE HAVE HYDRAULIC RESTRICTIONS IN THE RAW WATER MAINS,
[00:55:04]
THE WELLS WITHIN THE NEXT 10 YEARS, WE WILL HAVE 20 WELLS THAT WILL HAVE REACHED THEIR USEFUL LIFE THEY ARE 35-YEAR YEARS USEFUL LIFE.WHILE WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO WELL REHABILITATION, THERE COMES A POINT WHERE THE WELL CAPACITY AND YOU JUST CAN'T RESTORE THE WELL CAPACITY OR YOU RESTORED AND YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO KEEP THAT CAPACITY IT QUICKLY DEGRADES, SO THE CONTRACT BEFORE YOU IS TO CONSTRUCT THE RAW WATER MAINS.
AFTER THE RAW WATER MAINS ARE CONSTRUCTED, THE LAST PHASE OF WORK WILL BE TO CONSTRUCT THE ELECTRICAL EMERGENCY GENERATOR BUILDING, ELECTRICAL BUILDING THAT WILL SUPPORT THE WELLS ALONG ISLAND WAY AND THAT BUILDING WILL ALSO HAVE RESTROOMS, SHARED RESTROOMS FOR GCP, AND A STORAGE ROOM FOR GCP, THE SOUTH BEND, AND THEN WELL HEADS TO PLACE THE WELLS INTO SERVICE.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS?
>> HOW MANY REASON THE CIP? IT'S QUITE AWHILE.
>> THE LIMESTONE QUICK WELL, FIELD HAS BEEN IN THE CIP FOR SOME TIME, I WANT TO SAY SINCE 2011 WE'VE DRILLED TWO OF THE WELLS BACK AT THAT TIME AND WE WERE WAITING FOR DEVELOPMENT TO HAPPEN TO CONSTRUCT THE REST OF THE WELLS.
IN 2021, WE SECURED WELL SITES AT JUPITER COMMUNITY PARK AND THEN TWO OTHER ON TO OTHER PARCELS AT THE TOWN OWNS, SO WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE AHEAD WITH CONSTRUCTING THOSE WELLS.
WE HAVE ONE WELL THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DRILLED, I'M SORRY, THAT I CAN'T THINK OF THE NAME OF THE DEVELOPMENT THERE ISLAND WAY, SORRY THAT IT'S ESCAPED.
>> BUT I WANT TO SHOW THAT WELL.
>> IT'S A GOOD PLANNING, GOOD BUDGETING, AND WE BUDGETED THROUGH THE INDEXING OF THE WATER RATES, CORRECT, FOR MOST OF THESE PROJECTS?
>> THESE PROJECTS HAVE BEEN IN THE CIP SO WE BUDGETED THEM THROUGH OUR RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT ENTERPRISE.
>> THEN YOU JUST TIED IN WITH THE INJECTION? WELL, JUST TO EXPLAIN. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE DEEP INJECTION WELLS IS FOR DISPOSAL OF RO CONCENTRATE AND NANO FILTRATION CONCENTRATE.
CURRENTLY, FOR THE PAST 33-34 YEARS WE HAVE A SURFACE WATER DISCHARGE PERMIT FOR OUR RO CONCENTRATE.
IN JANUARY 2023 WE RENEW THAT PERMIT WITH FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND WE HAVE A CONDITION IN THAT PERMIT, REQUIRING US TO CEASE DISCHARGES TO THE CANAL TO THE RIVER BY SEPTEMBER 2025.
LET ME MAKE SURE I HAVE THAT DATE RIGHT, YEAH, SEPTEMBER 2025.
>> WHEN SHORTEN INSTEAD OF SENDING THE WASTE OF THE GROUNDWATER INTO [INAUDIBLE] RIVER, YOU DRIVE IT DEEP DOWN UNDER THE AQUIFERS MUCH BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?
>> RIGHT. IT'S A DEEP INJECTION WELL, WHICH IS COMMONLY HOW MOST MEMBRANE TREATMENT PLANTS DISPOSE OF THEIR CONCENTRATION AND WASTEWATER PLANTS, IT'LL BE 3,300 FEET DEEP BELOW THE SURFACE IT WON'T IMPACT ANY OF THE DRINKING WATER AQUIFERS.
>> IT'S A GREAT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT FOR THE RIVER AND ALL FALL?
>> IT WILL BE A VERY GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT FOR THE RIVER, ELIMINATING APPROXIMATELY 33,000 POUNDS OF NITROGEN FROM THE RIVER A YEAR.
>> WELL, THAT'S GREAT, THANK YOU APPRECIATE.
>> DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT OUR NEEDS WILL BE MET BY THIS FOR FUTURE LENGTH OF TIME AND THIS IS BEING DONE FOR THE FUTURE REQUIREMENTS AS WELL, WE'RE DOING THIS SO WE HAVE THE CAPACITY FOR GROWTH?
>> IT HAS THE THING TO DO WITH GROWTH ACTUALLY.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DEEP INJECTION WELLS?
>> BACK TO THE FLORIDA NOT THE WELLS, SO CURRENTLY, OUR FLORIDA AQUIFER SUPPLY DOES NOT MEET THE DEMAND REQUIRED TO RUN THE ENTIRE PLAN, WE HAVE A SHORTFALL IN FLORIDA NATURAL RAW WATER, SO THAT COMBINED WITH THE SALINITY OF OUR FLORIDA KNACK FOR RO WATER HAS BEEN INCREASING.
DRILLING MORE WELLS IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO REDUCE OUR WELLS ARE OVER THEY'RE STRESSED, DRILLING MORE WELLS IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO REDUCE THE HOMEPAGE, IT'S GOING TO SPREAD OUT THE FOOTPRINT OF THE WELLS, ALLOW US TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT WE'RE PULLING FROM EACH WELL, WHICH WILL REDUCE THE STRESS ON THE AQUIFER AND DECREASE THAT RATE OF INCLINE.
WE'RE SEEING A RATE THAT TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS, WHICH IS WHAT YOU LOOK AT FOR REVERSE ESTIMATES AS WATER PLANTS, IT'S INCREASING AND IT'S NOT JUST JUPITER.
IT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE STATE OF FLORIDA, JUST UTILITIES NOW WE'RE HAVING TO COME UP WITH WAYS TO REDUCE THAT RATE BECAUSE AS THAT SALINITY CONTINUES TO INCREASE,
[01:00:05]
THAT'S GOING TO RESULT IN IMPROVEMENTS TO THE RO PLANT, TO THE REVERSE OSMOSIS PLANT TO ADDRESS TO HANDLE THAT HIGHER WATER.IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE MORE PRESSURE TO TREAT THAT WATER AND THERE'LL BE COSTLY IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PLANT.
>> YOU'RE PART OF THIS, OBVIOUSLY, THESE TWO ARE UNDERPERFORMING WELLS NOW, BUT ARE YOU PROJECTING THIS TO MEET OUR FUTURE NEEDS FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME?
>> APPROXIMATELY HOW LONG DO YOU SEE THIS AS BEING VIOLENT?
>> THAT'S A HARD QUESTION TOO.
I WOULD SAY AT LEAST 30 PLUS YEARS.
THE USEFUL LIFE THAT WE'VE PLACED ON WELLS IS 35 YEARS, IT'S PRETTY MUCH INDUSTRY STANDARDS AND WE HAVE A WELL REHABILITATION PROGRAM WHERE IF WE DO ROUTINE WELL REHABILITATION WILL BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THAT USEFUL LIFE AND HOPEFULLY SURPASS IT.
>> SOMEBODY PULLED THE OTHER ONE THAT I HAD.
>> IF I COULD JUST ASK A QUICK QUESTION, WHAT DOES THE USEFUL LIFE OF THE DEEP INJECTION WELL, I SAW THAT IT DIFFERED FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES AND THAT SIZE AND THEN JUST CURIOUS ABOUT, IS IT THE THIRD YEAR?
>> THAT SHOULD BE BECAUSE WE'RE NOT PULLING WATER OUT OF THAT WELL, WE'RE PUTTING WATER INTO THAT WELL.
I HAVE TO LOOK BECAUSE I DIDN'T LOOK LOOK INTO THAT, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT'S PROBABLY 50, 60 YEARS, I DON'T THINK THAT HAS THE SAME USEFUL LIFE, BUT I CAN GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT.
>> SOMEBODY PULLED ITEM THE VERMEER VACUUM EXCAVATOR TRAILER? NO. OKAY.
CAN I HAVE A MOTION ON RESOLUTION 83, 23?
ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING "AYE."
>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
[3. Resolution 96-23, Approving contract award to Youngquist Brothers, LLC for the Deep Injection Well Drilling contract in an amount of $21,975,000.]
ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING "AYE."
>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
VICE MAYOR, I THOUGHT YOU ALSO DID PULL FOUR.
[4. Approving a purchase order to Vermeer Southeast for fiscal year 2024 Utilities Vermeer Vacuum Excavator with Trailer in the amount of $108,006.92, utilizing the Florida Sheriff’s Association Cooperative Purchasing Program for equipment.]
>> I DIDN'T MEAN TO PULL FOUR.
>> WELL, THEN I'LL NEED A MOTION BECAUSE IT WAS PULLED.
>> DID YOU MEAN TO PULL FIVE AND SIX AS WELL. [OVERLAPPING]
>> MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING "AYE."
>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
[Items 5 & 6]
VICE MAYOR, WHICH YOU PULLED.>> YEAH. JUST LIKE A QUICK DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THE POLICE VEHICLE OF FITTING ENTAILS.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCIL.
ITEM NOTIFY SPECIFICALLY AS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REQUESTING PERMISSION TO PURCHASE THE EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THE 13 POLICE VEHICLES THAT WERE APPROVED FOR PURCHASE AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING LAST MONTH.
WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH ONE OF THE FOUR DEALERSHIPS WHO'S APPROVED THROUGH THE STATE CONTRACT TO PURCHASE 2023 VEHICLES UNDER THE 2023 PRICING DURING THE 2024 TIME PERIOD, THAT ULTIMATELY RESULTED IN A $40,000 SAVINGS BY PURCHASING NEW 2023 VEHICLES DURING 2024.
IN AN ORDER TO GET THOSE VEHICLES BEFORE THEY WERE SOLD TO SOMEBODY ELSE, WE MOVED THAT TO COUNCIL DURING THE FIRST COUNCIL AGENDA.
WE DID NOT HAVE TIME TO RETRIEVE ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT AND THE QUOTES ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE.
THIS ITEM IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THOSE VEHICLES THAT WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PURCHASE LAST COUNCIL MEETING.
THAT'S A GOOD MOVE. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. SIR.
>> YOU WANT TO ASK ON ITEM NUMBER 6 BECAUSE NOW WE CAN MOTION ON BOTH? IT'S YOUR CALL [OVERLAPPING].
>> THE FORD F150 BASE VEHICLES.
PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE A LITTLE BIT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THROUGH THE BUDGET THAT WAS ADOPTED BY COUNCIL, WE WERE APPROVED FOR THE PURCHASE OF 18 REPLACEMENT VEHICLES, 15 OF THOSE WERE POLICE EXPLORES, THREE OF THEM I'M SORRY, WERE FOR REPLACEMENT VEHICLES.
THREE OF THEM WERE FOR THE THREE NEW FTES THAT WERE APPROVED, COUNCIL.
THESE VEHICLES ARE TWO FROM THE REPLACEMENT AND THREE FOR THE NEW FTES.
WE DECIDED TO GO WITH THE F150S AS THEY WERE SIMILAR IN COST TO THE FORD EXPLORERS AND THEY GAVE US MORE CAPABILITIES WITH THOSE OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO THE BEACH AND THE MARINE UNIT FOR THE LARGER BULK ITEMS THAT DO NOT FIT WITHIN CLOSE SUVS.
>> QUICK QUESTION. ARE THESE FOUR-BY-FOUR F150 MACHINES
[01:05:02]
OR DO YOU NEED A FOUR-BY-FOUR F150?>> I APOLOGIZE. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK THROUGH THE PAPERWORK TO FIND THAT OUT.
I DO NOT KNOW OFFHAND, BUT [OVERLAPPING] THEY ARE 150S THOUGH THEY'RE NOT 250S.
>> I HAVE THE MAP AND THE CONTRACT, I DON'T BELIEVE I HAVE THE DESCRIPTION.
>> NOW LET'S SEE RIGHT HERE IT DOES SAY FOUR-BY-FOUR. YOU'RE GETTING-
>> THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE FOR BEACH VIEWS?
>> YEAH. I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T THINK THEY NECESSARILY WILL DRIVE ON THE BEACH, BUT FOR TOWING AND THINGS LIKE THAT, IF WE HAVE [OVERLAPPING] YES, SIR.
>> YEAH. I JUST SAW IT ON ONE OF THE PAGES IN WRITING, [OVERLAPPING].
>> BUT IT WOULDN'T NEED 250S ON THE BEACH, BUT THAT'S FINE.
>> FOUR BY FOUR IS A GOOD IDEA?
>> OTHERWISE YOU'RE DEFLATING TIME.
>> WELL, IT'S A GOOD IDEA IF YOU'VE GOT HURRICANE FLOODED STREETS. THAT'S GOOD.
>> THEY ARE A HIGHER PLATFORM-SPECIFIC ON THE SIDE WHERE WE TYPICALLY HAVE SOME HIGH WATERS NOT ONLY DURING HURRICANES BUT THE RAINY SEASON.
>> YES SIR. [OVERLAPPING] GENTLEMEN, MA'AM,
>> CAN I HAVE A MOTION ON ITEM 5 AND 6?
ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING "AYE.".
>> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
MOVING ON TO CONSENT AGENDA ITEM 7,
[7. Approving the purchase of four Quad Cab Braun ambulance/transport apparatuses and associated equipment in the amount of $2,101,424, under the Florida Sheriff’s Association Cooperative contract No. FSA23-VEF17.0 item #605.]
WHICH WAS TOLD BY THE PUBLIC AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.I THINK NORMALLY WE BEGIN BY A PRESENTATION BY STAFF SO THE PUBLIC CAN HEAR THAT BEFORE THEY PROVIDE YOUR COMMENTS.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCIL.
[INAUDIBLE] DIRECTOR OF FINANCE.
THIS ITEM DID COME BEFORE COUNCIL ON THE 17TH, BUT AS A DIFFERENT APPARATUS, IT WAS A TWO-DOOR AMBULANCE.
COUNCILOR MAY WAS QUESTIONING ABOUT THE QUAD CAB OR THE FOUR-DOOR VERSION.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WILL SAY AND IT WASN'T SAID AT THE LAST MEETING, BUT THAT WAS ACTUALLY THE FIRST OPTION WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING THE AMBULANCES.
BUT ONE OF THE CONCERNS WAS THE DELIVERY DATE OF THE CHASSIS.
I THINK SOME OF THAT CAME OUT DURING THE DISCUSSION AT THE LAST MEETING.
BUT WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE DEALER TO BE ABLE TO ALLEVIATE THOSE CONCERNS ON HOW WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET THOSE TRUSTEES AND TO BE CONSTRUCTED.
WE HAVE GOTTEN A QUOTE FOR THE QUAD AND WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT AS STAFF TO THE TUNE OF $2.1 MILLION, THAT IS ABOVE WHAT WAS BUDGETED.
I WILL STATE THAT OF WHAT WAS BUDGETED BACK IN JANUARY, $242,000 WILL COME FROM OUR CONTINGENCY BALANCE OF $800,000 AND LEAVE A BALANCE OF 557,000.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THE AMBULANCE, THERE'S ALSO THE ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT THAT WILL BE PURCHASED: THE STRIKER LOADING SYSTEM WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY PART OF WHAT WAS PRESENTED AT THE LAST MEETING.
I DO HAVE CHIEF POSE OVER HERE.
IF YOU HAVE DETAILED QUESTIONS ALONG WITH THE DEALER, WE HAVE THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF TENET HERE AS WELL.
IN CASE YOU HAVE ANY OTHER DETAILED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ORDERING OF THE EQUIPMENT,.
>> COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> YES. LORETTA YODICE AND ANDY WOODARD OR ANGIE WOODARD.
>> HELLO. MY ADDRESS IS 801 SYLVIA CIRCLE.
I'M NOT A FIREFIGHTER OR A MEMBER OF THE UNION, BUT I AM A RESIDENT OF JUPITER.
ALL I'M ASKING IS THAT YOU STOP SPENDING YOUR TAX DOLLARS UNTIL WE HAVE A VOTE IN MARCH FOR THE FIRE ESCAPE.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS ANGIE AND I LEAVE OUT 1502 BERKSHIRE.
AS THE GENTLEMAN JUST SAID, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE FULL TRANSPARENCY.
THE ORIGINAL BUDGET FOR THE TWO DOOR WAS NOT $2.1 MILLION.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT AND LET US VOTE ON IT AND STOP SPENDING MONEY THAT WE'RE NOT SURE HOW MUCH HAS BEEN AMOUNT TO.
>> KAREN BENSON, FOLLOWED BY JAMES GUNN.
THIS IS A CALL TO PAUSE THE MASSIVE SPENDING SPREE.
[01:10:03]
CAN YOU EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE RUSHING TO BUY WITH OUR TAXPAYER MONEY? WITHOUT US KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.YOU'RE SPENDING THIS MONEY, IT'S ABSOLUTELY LUDICROUS WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE VERY APPARENTLY OPPOSE IT.
PUT IT TO A VOTE, 10,000 PEOPLE SIGNED A PETITION TO HAVE THIS PUT ON A BALLOT.
YOU PEOPLE SIT UP HERE, I DON'T ENVY YOU.
I WOULD NOT WANT TO SIT UP THERE.
I WOULDN'T WANT TO LISTEN TO THIS.
CAN YOU LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE? CAN YOU JUST STOP? YOU'VE GOT YOUR FEET DUG IN THE SAND AND YOU WON'T COME OUT.
JUST LET THE PEOPLE VOTE ON IT.
COME UP WITH MORE INFORMATION.
WE ASKED YOU QUESTIONS WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT.
IS THERE EVER A QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION AT THE END OF THESE MEETINGS? NO. CAN YOU DO THAT IF YOU WANTED TO? YOU COULD.
COULD YOU JUST STRAIGHT UP ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE ASKED AT THE END OF THIS MEETING INSTEAD OF SAYING MEETING ADJOURNED.
PEACE OUT. WE WANT OUR VOICES HEARD.
YOU NEVER EVEN FINISHED NEGOTIATIONS WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE.
NEVER WENT BACK TO THE TABLE, NEVER SAID, WE'RE DEAD SERIOUS THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
I BELIEVE IT WAS JANUARY 17TH, ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS.
IT WAS VERY CLEAR, THE COUNCILMAN DELANEY AND THE MAYOR WERE VERY SET ONGOING WITH HAVING THEIR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
DID YOU NEGOTIATE IN BAD FAITH? BECAUSE THAT DECISION SOUNDED PRETTY SOLID AT THE TIME.
WE ARE NOW MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO THIS.
WHY CAN'T YOU JUST PAUSE THIS SPENDING SPREE, PUT THIS TO A VOTE.
WHY DON'T YOU JUST KEEP THE BEST? [APPLAUSE]
>> NOW BE SO QUICK ON IT. THREE MINUTES.
>> JAMES GLENN ABACOA AND I'D LIKE TO START OFF FIRST BY SAYING, THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
YOU'VE GOT A HARD JOB AND I KNOW THIS IS PROBABLY NOT FUN FOR YOU.
YOU HEAR A LOT OF NEGATIVE COMMENTS BUT THEIR COMMENTS THAT NEEDS TO BE SPOKEN NONETHELESS.
I HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A SCRIPT HERE AND I LOOKED OVER AND SEE CHIEF POZZO AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR 10-8 IS HERE.
ACTUALLY, A LOT OF MY QUESTIONS ARE RELATED TO THEM AND SOME OF WHAT I'M GOING TO ASK MIGHT SOUND A LITTLE BIT HARSH, BUT PLEASE UNDERSTAND MY SUSPICION.
I'VE ONLY BEEN LOOKING AT THE CPSM REPORT FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND AS MENTIONED, I'VE GOT A NUMBER OF CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS ABOUT.
WHICH OBVIOUSLY AREN'T GOING TO BE ANSWERED TONIGHT, AS WELL AS THE EMAILS MANAGER THAT YOU'VE BEEN PUTTING ON THE WEBSITE.
OF COURSE, WE'VE ALREADY HEARD THAT 16 MILLION WAS BUDGETED.
WE'RE ALREADY OVER BUDGET, 240-760, 15% OVER BUDGET JUST WITH THESE TRUCKS ALONE.
BUT THE QUESTION WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT TO CPSM STUFF WAS WHY 10-8AND WHY BRAUN AND I'VE NEVER READ A REPORT BEFORE FROM A CONSULTANT WHERE THEY ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY SUGGESTED AN EXACT TRUCK WITHOUT EVEN HAVING A CHIEF ERROR AND OF COURSE WE HAVE A CONSULTANT.
BOOM, A LIGHT WENT OFF AND I SAID, THIS REPORT REALLY LOOKS LIKE IT'S A PUSH TO START THEIR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT HERE.
THERE'S NOTHING THAT'S REALLY BOTH SIDES TOO MUCH.
I DO HAVE TO SAY KUDOS TO THE REPORT.
THAT WAS A VERY THOROUGH REPORT CHIEF POZZO.
BUT WHAT GOT ME STARTING TO THINK ABOUT IT WAS, WHO ACTUALLY ASKED FOR THE REPORT IN THE FIRST PLACE FROM THE TOWN AND THAT WAS YOU TOWN MANAGER KITZEROW.
I STARTED WONDERING IF THERE WAS A RELATIONSHIP OVER HERE.
I DID A LITTLE SEARCH AND ENSURE ENOUGH THERE'S A NICE RELATIONSHIP.
THEY'RE GOING BACK AT LEAST TWO DECADES THAT I CAN SEE.
THEN I WONDERED WHY THE TOWN ACTUALLY HIRED THE COMPANY IN THE FIRST PLACE WAS THERE AN RFP TO FIND THAT COMPANY OR A DIFFERENT COMPANY? WAS THERE A FRIENDSHIP INVOLVED IN AWARDING THAT TO CPSM? COULD YOU GO TO YOUR FRIEND AND JUST SIMPLY ASK HIM, HEY, I WANT TO REPORT.
IT SAYS LET'S START OUR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
MAYBE I DON'T KNOW IF THAT HAPPENS.
I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AND I'D LIKE YOU TO MAYBE ANSWER THOSE IF YOU COULD TONIGHT AND ON TOP OF THAT, GOING A LITTLE BIT DEEPER NOW, AGAIN, UNDERSTAND MY SUSPICION.
ARE THERE ANY CREDITS, ANY PAYMENTS, ANY GIFTS? ARE THERE ANY SORT OF TRIPS? IS SOMEBODY MADE PROMISES ABOUT SOMETHING BETWEEN KITZEROW, CHIEF POZZO, AND 10-8.
ARE THERE ANY ENTANGLEMENTS THERE? WAS ANYBODY EVER OFFERED ANY ENTICEMENTS TO USE 10-8 EQUIPMENT AND THEIR PEERS ENGINES AND BRAUN EQUIPMENT? I'M SERIOUSLY ASKING YOU FOLKS OVER THERE TONIGHT, PERHAPS YOU CAN STEP UP AND ANSWER THAT SO WE CAN GET ALL THAT ON THE RECORD.
[01:15:03]
NOW, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I KNOW CHIEF POZZO YOU'RE YOU'RE VERY ACCLAIMED CHIEF, I'VE READ YOUR BIO AND VERY IMPRESSIVE AND 10-8.I'M VERY IMPRESSED WITH YOUR EQUIPMENT.
I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH YOUR EQUIPMENT.
I'M JUST SIMPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS RELATIONSHIP AND HOW WE ARRIVED HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
I GOT A LOT MORE STUFF AND AGAIN, YOU'VE GOT MY NUMBER.
IF ANYBODY WANTS SOME INFORMATION I'D BE GLAD TO MEET WITH YOU.
>> TERI GROOMS, FOLLOWED BY DYLAN NEW QUEST.
>> I FIND IT VERY IRONIC THAT THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM FOR THAT TOTALED ALMOST $600,000 WAS PULLED.
IN A CONVERSATION WAS HAD ABOUT WHAT KIND OF CARS THE POLICE ARE GOING TO GET OR EQUIPMENT BUT IT WAS COUNSELOR MADE THAT HAD TO PULL A SEVEN MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT OFF THE LAST CONSENT AGENDA AND THE AUDIENCE TO PULL IT OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT KIND OF TRUCKS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS GOING TO GET.
NOW, WE SEE THAT WE'RE $250,000 OVER BUDGET BECAUSE WE DIDN'T LIKE THE CHASSIS OR I'M SORRY, IT'S GOT WHAT WAS IT? THE CHASSIS WAS WRONG OR YOU COULDN'T GET THE CHASSIS OR SO WERE BUYING EQUIPMENT BASED ON WHAT WE CAN GET IN A TIME CRUNCH THAT IS TOTALLY A FABRICATION OF A TIME CRUNCH THAT WE DON'T EVEN NEED.
BUT THE REAL POINT IS, THIS SHOULD BE TABLED UNTIL THE ELECTION IN MARCH OF 2024.
THERE SHOULD BE NO MORE SPENDING.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DYLAN NEW [INAUDIBLE].
I PRESENTED A REPORT TO YOU TONIGHT THAT I DID ON MY OWN.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE SPEAK AND ARE SPEAKING WITH EMOTION AND THEY'RE TRYING TO GIVE YOU ALL THE FACTS AND IT'S HARD TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER.
SO I THOUGHT BY PUTTING SOMETHING IN FRONT OF YOU THAT YOU COULD REVIEW AND I'LL SEND YOU AN EMAIL BY PDF TO HAVE A DIGITAL FILE, YOU'LL HAVE THAT AS WELL.
SPEAKING TONIGHT TO BRING ATTENTION, AWARENESS, AND CONCERN TO A POTENTIAL FINANCIAL MISTAKE.
TO ASSIST, I'M PROVIDING MORE INFORMATION TOWARD THE POTENTIAL MISTAKE REPORTED TO THE TECHNICAL REPORT ON AUGUST 15TH, 2003 REGARDING THE COST COMPARISON ANALYSIS TO AID IN THE DECISION BETWEEN PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE AND JFRD.
MR. POZZO CLOSE THAT PRESENTATION SAYING THAT THEIR DATA ESTIMATE IS 68 MILLION SAVING BETWEEN FISCAL YEAR '26 AND FISCAL YEAR '33, REPORTING NO EXTRA COSTS TO CITIZENS BETWEEN FISCAL YEAR '23 AND '25.
COUNSELOR MAY QUESTIONED THIS AND POZZO RESPONDED WITH DEBT SERVICE.
STAFF WAS CALLED ON FROM POZZO.
STAFF RESPONDED, FELT THEY WOULD PRUDENT TO SEE A WHOLE PICTURE.
THE ASSUMPTION OF DEBT SERVICE TO HELP WITH AN APPLE APPLES COMPARISON, THAT WAS THE RIGHT MOVE.
THEY'RE TRYING TO INCLUDE THE DEBT CLOCK INTO THE EXTENDED 10 YEARS OF THE ENTIRE DEAL.
MAY LATER MADE A STATEMENT DISAGREEING THAT COST WOULD BE ZERO DOLLAR FOR THREE YEARS.
STAFF REPLIED, I AGREE WITH YOU.
SOME DEBT SERVICE COST INCLUDED UPFRONT COSTS THAT WILL BE PAID FOR LATER WHEN THAT CUTOFF BETWEEN PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE MOVES OVER TO JUPITER FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT.
WITH SUCH A BIG, IMPORTANT QUESTION MET WITH VAGUE NUMERICAL RESPONSE, AS A DATA ANALYST, YES, SOMETIMES DATA IS MISREPRESENTED.
YOU CAN HAVE A PERSONAL ISSUE AND YOUR ANALYTICAL SKILLS ARE DRAWN OUT DEPLETED WITH WHAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH IN YOUR REAL LIFE, BUT I DECIDED TO GEEK OUT ON THE DATA TO UNDERSTAND IT FOR MYSELF AND TO PROVE MYSELF WRONG.
FOR JUST LIKE MATH CLASS, THEY SAY THE BEST PRACTICE IS TO SHOW YOUR WORK SO THAT IT CAN BE REVIEWED, WHICH DID NOT SEEM TO OCCUR.
THE FIRST KEY PIECE OF DATA I WOULD LIKE TO GET ON THE RECORD TO MAKE THE PUBLIC AWARE IS WHEN I DID MY OWN ANALYSIS, JFRD SAID WOULD BE COSTING THE TAXPAYERS $67,221,290.61 OVER THE COURSE OF THE 10 YEARS, YOU SAID IT WOULD SAVE 68.
THIS NUMBER BETWEEN THEIR NUMBER HAD THE DIFFERENCE OF $135,221,290.61.
THAT'S A BIG NUMBER TO NOT STOP RIGHT NOW AND LOOK AT.
THAT REPORT DID NOT INCLUDE THE START-UP COST
[01:20:04]
TO BE CARRIED OUT TO BE CLAIMED DIFFERED OVER THE NEXT YEAR, WHICH WAS 58 MILLION ONE-TIME COST IN BUILDING COSTS, 57 MILLION IN RECURRING OPERATION COST, AND INCLUDING THE INITIAL $81 MILLION CONTRACT WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE, WHAT THEY HAVE TO SERVICE FOR THREE YEARS.IN CLOSING, ONE THING THAT WAS NOT SHOWN WAS HOW MUCH TIME WILL IT TAKE TO RECUPERATE THE INVESTMENT? IF YOU WERE TO SAVE $5-$6 MILLION A YEAR IN RECURRING EXPENSES, THEN IT WILL TAKE YOU 19-32 YEARS TO BREAK EVEN ON THAT DECISION.
[APPLAUSE] THAT MEANS RESIDENTS, IN 32 YEARS FROM NOW, WILL BEGIN TO ACTUALLY BENEFIT FROM A BUDGET POINT OF VIEW.
THAT IS THE NUMBER YOU NEED TO LOOK AT AND YOU NEED TO RECONSIDER.
TONIGHT, PLEASE, THERE ARE THREE PEOPLE HERE THAT I BELIEVE HAVE SHOWN THAT THEY ARE OPEN TO DISCUSSION.
THEY ARE ON THE END OF THE TABLE.
VOTE, NO, [INAUDIBLE] TABLE THIS, SO THAT YOU CAN RE-LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS, DO A PROPER DATA ANALYSIS WHICH REQUIRES PEER REVIEW.
I HAVE 11 COPIES OF THAT REPORT IF ANYBODY WANTS IT, AND IF YOU WANT TO EMAIL ME, I WILL GIVE IT TO YOU AS WELL.
I DO WANT TO SAY THEY GOT EVERYBODY HERE TODAY TO LISTEN TO WATER PIPING.
THAT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE, SO GOOD FOR YOU GUYS.
>> NEXT WE HAVE LINDA MCDERMOTT FOLLOWED BY LISA VREELAND.
>> GOOD EVENING AGAIN. LINDA MCDERMOTT, 107 [INAUDIBLE].
REFERENCE TO EXHIBIT C OF THIS ISSUE.
THE 10-8 PROPOSALS SHOWS THE DATE OF OCTOBER 20TH, 2023, AND IT NOTES THE CUSTOMER AS JUPITER FIRE RESCUE.
THE ATTACHED PROPOSALS ADDRESS ONLY JUPITER FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT, WHICH DOES NOT EXIST.
WHAT DOES EXIST IS THE DREAM AND PARTIAL FUNDING AT THE WILL OF THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THIS TIME.
ALL OFFICIAL QUOTES, PURCHASE ORDERS, BUDGET, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS MUST SHOW THE TOWN OF JUPITER AS THE ENTITY AUTHORIZED TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT.
NOWHERE ON ANY OF THE QUOTES OR ANYTHING DOES IT SAY THE TOWN OF JUPITER, SO AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, THERE IS NO CONTRACT, THERE IS NO DEAL.
AT THE 10-8 QUOTE, THERE'S A QUOTATION SUMMARY FROM [INAUDIBLE] SHOWING A DATE OF SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2023.
THIS ATTACHMENT ONLY SHOWS THE LAST 24 PAGES OF WHAT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A 61-PAGE DOCUMENT.
THERE'S A TIGHT END NOTE REFERENCING BUDGET 1 ON PROPOSALS.
WERE THERE MULTIPLE OPTIONS AND PRICING LIST PROVIDED ON THE SEPTEMBER 11TH INITIAL PROPOSAL AND SUBSTANDARD EQUIPMENT SELECTED PREVIOUSLY TO MOLD INTO A DREAM BUDGET? WHAT IS TO COME? TWO BUDGET AMENDMENTS SINCE OCTOBER 1, AND THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF MANY UNTIL PUBLIC VOTE NO CONFIDENCE IN THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR NOT DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.
I'M SURE MUNICIPALITIES WILL BE READY TO PURCHASE THIS APPOINTMENT AT A DISCOUNT.
SO I URGE THE PUBLIC TO LET YOUR VOICES BE HEARD.
>> MY NAME IS LISA VREELAND AND I LIVE IN THE HEIGHTS.
I DON'T WORK FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE NOR AM I A MEMBER OF THE UNION.
I'M ONCE AGAIN ASKING YOU TO STOP THE SPENDING AND NOT APPROVE THE SPENDING OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON VEHICLES UNTIL THE RESIDENTS ARE ABLE TO VOTE ON THIS.
THE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T EXIST AND YOU STILL HAVEN'T IDENTIFIED ANY FEASIBLE LOCATIONS FOR WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP THESE TRUCKS.
WHY IS THIS EVEN ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? THIS IS SUCH WASTEFUL AND RECKLESS SPENDING.
DO YOU BUY FURNITURE WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO PUT IT? DO YOU BUY GAS FOR THE VEHICLE YOU DON'T HAVE YET? THE ANSWER IS NO.
SO WHY ARE YOU SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON VEHICLES AND HIRING A CHIEF WHEN THE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T EXIST AND YOU HAVE NO FEASIBLE PLAN,? IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
AS YOU ARE WELL AWARE, ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25TH, 2023, RESIDENTS TURNED IN MORE THAN 7,400 PETITIONS FROM REGISTERED VOTERS IN THE TOWN OF JUPITER.
THESE PETITIONS WERE SIGNED TO AMEND THE TOWN'S CHARTER FROM ESTABLISHING OR OPERATING A TOWN FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT OR PROVIDE FIRE PROTECTION EMERGENCY SERVICES WITHOUT THE VOTE OF THE RESIDENCE.
THE TOWN OF JUPITER SUBMITTED THESE PETITIONS ON OCTOBER 30TH TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS TO VALIDATE THE SIGNATURES,
[01:25:04]
AND THERE ARE MORE COMING.AT THIS POINT, IT IS EXCEPTIONALLY WASTEFUL FOR YOU TO CONTINUE TO APPROVE SPENDING OUR TAX DOLLARS UNTIL THE REGISTERED VOTERS HAVE THEIR DAY IN MARCH 2024.
MORE PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED THIS CHARTER AMENDMENT PETITION THAN THE AMOUNT OF VOTES YOU HAVE RECEIVED TO SIT IN YOUR ELECTED POSITIONS.
WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU? STOP SPENDING OUR MONEY AND DISRESPECTING THE RESIDENTS OF JUPITER.
>> TRACEY MOORE, MICHAEL KERTH, AND THEN LAUREN KERTH.
>> TRACEY MOORE, 1501 BERKSHIRE.
I'M JUST HERE TO SAY I'M ASKING THE COUNCIL TO STOP SPENDING THE MONEY ON THIS JUPITER FIRE DEPARTMENT UNTIL OUR VOICES ARE HEARD.
LET IT GO TO A VOTE. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MICHAEL KERTH.
I AM A 30-YEAR JUPITER RESIDENT.
I LIVE IN THE BLUFFS, 161 SAND PINE DRIVE.
I'D RATHER BE WATCHING HOCKEY, BUT I'M HERE.
[LAUGHTER] TRUTH BE TOLD, I WAS DRAGGED HERE BY MY WIFE.
WASN'T REAL EDUCATED ON WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON, GLAD I'M HEAR, HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY A LOT OF INTERESTING THINGS TONIGHT, AND I WAS DEEPLY MOVED BY SOME OF THE PRESENTATIONS.
PASSIONATE, THOROUGH, VERY PASSIONATE AND THOROUGH AND ALL THE OTHERS.
I'M GETTING EDUCATED FIRSTHAND.
IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME, CART BEFORE THE HORSE STUFF, LOT OF LONG FACES, I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE TAKING DAGGERS, BUT YOU SIGNED UP FOR IT.
I'VE BEEN IN PUBLIC SERVICE A GOOD PORTION OF MY LIFE AND TOOK PLENTY DAGGERS MYSELF, YOU JUST GOT TO KEEP GOING AND DO THE RIGHT THING.
BUT I'LL TELL YOU, THE ONLY THING YOU REALLY NEED TO MAKE A DECISION ON AT THIS POINT IS, WHAT'S THE HARM? WHAT'S THE HARM IN LETTING THIS GO TO VOTE? WE'VE ALREADY SPENT A BUNCH OF MONEY.
WHAT'S THE HARM? ANDY, RON, JIM, MALISE, I DON'T KNOW IF I PRONOUNCED THAT RIGHT, CAMERON.
I BET EVERYBODY DOES THAT THOUGH.
WHAT'S THE HARM? I'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME AND NEVER READ OUT THE ONE HE'S MEETINGS.
PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO COME BACK.
BUT I'M GOING TO LOOK MORE INTO THIS, I'M GOING TO TALK TO MORE PEOPLE, AND I'M GOING TO EDUCATE MYSELF.
I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND A LOT OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
IF YOU THINK THAT HAVING PUBLIC HEARINGS IS BEING TRANSPARENT WHEN YOU HAVE A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE SHOW UP IN A ROOM, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE KNOW THAT'S NOT TRANSPARENCY.
TECHNICALLY, YES, BY LAW, YES.
BUT IS THAT REALLY TRANSPARENCY? I JUST REALLY WOULD LIKE TO ASK EACH ONE OF YOU OR JUST DON'T BE AFRAID TO BE LEADERS.
YOU'RE LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY, BE LEADERS.
THERE'S A LOT OF PUSHBACK ON THIS.
WHAT'S THE HARM? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I LIVE AT 161 SAND PINE DRIVE IN THE BLUFFS.
I JUST WOULD LIKE YOU TO STOP SPENDING OUR TAX DOLLARS AS PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE FOR AN EXTENSION.
YOU LOVED THE CONTRACT AND JUST LET US VOTE IN MARCH.
>> ANN BANACHI, FOLLOWED BY DAVID HARRELL.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M ANN BANACHI, I LIVE IN THE MARINA IN THE BLUFFS IN JUPITER.
I DON'T HAVE A PREPARED STATEMENT.
I'VE BEEN LISTENING AND APPARENTLY, JUPITER HAS MANY ISSUES THAT HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED AND THEY WILL COST A LOT OF MONEY, AND THE TAXPAYER WILL ULTIMATELY BE SPENDING THAT MONEY HAVING TO PAY THAT MONEY.
WHEN I WAS ASKED TO SIGN A PETITION FOR JUPITER FIRE DEPARTMENT, I WAS SURPRISED BECAUSE I THOUGHT WE HAD A GREAT FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I HAD OCCASION MANY TIMES TO CALL ON THEM DURING MY HUSBAND'S ILLNESS AND THEY WERE ALWAYS THERE, ALWAYS AVAILABLE.
[01:30:04]
I'M SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS VERY HAPPY WITH WHAT WE HAVE.TO SPEND THIS MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS WORKING, WHY REPLACE SOMETHING THAT IS WORKING? I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A SIGN OF GOODWILL ON YOUR PART TO HAVE THE COMMUNITY VOTE ON THIS ISSUE IN MARCH, AND NOT TO SPEND ANYMORE OF OUR TAXPAYER MONEY UNTIL YOU HAVE A FEELING, A SENSE OF WHAT COMMUNITY REALLY WANTS AND NEEDS.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DAVE HARRELL.
I LIVE IN CANTERBURY IN ABACOA.
I COME BEFORE YOU TONIGHT AS A CAPTAIN IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AS MEDICAL CORE.
I HOLD THE DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE.
I KNOW EMERGENCY MEDICINE AND I KNOW EMERGENCY SERVICES.
I'VE DEDICATED MY ENTIRE LIFE TO IT.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, I COME TO YOU AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN.
FEW YEARS AGO AND ONE OF THE DARKEST HOURS OF MY LIFE, I CALLED 911 FOR A FAMILY MEMBER.
STATION 16 WAS THERE WITHIN MINUTES, AND OFF THAT RESCUE, STEPPED THREE MEN WITH OVER 30 YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE.
THOSE MEN WERE SOME OF THE BEST TRAINED IN THE COUNTRY WITH RESOURCES THAT ARE UNMATCHED.
THEY SAVED MY WIFE'S LIFE THAT DAY, THEY SAVED HER LIFE.
I DIDN'T COME HERE TO FIGHT OR BE DISRESPECTFUL.
I DO HOWEVER ASK THAT YOU DON'T TAKE AWAY THAT EXPERIENCE, AND THAT PROFESSIONALISM THAT THOSE MEN BROUGHT THAT DAY.
AT THE VERY LEAST, I ASK YOU TO JUST PAUSE THE PROCESS AND LET THE CITIZENS VOTE.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ALEX MERRICH, I LIVE IN 204 WEST, THAT'S PALM CIRCLE IN BOTANICA.
I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE TODAY, TONIGHT, SPEAKING OF A LOT OF DETAILS.
THE ONLY ONE THAT I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT IS MONEY.
SOME OF THEM GAVE IT AN EXCELLENT REPORT EVEN UP TO CENTS ON MONEY, THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M DOING.
MY GOAL TONIGHT IS TO SPEAK ABOUT BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.
THE REASON WHY YOU GUYS DECIDED TO GO FOR A NEW FIRE DEPARTMENT [NOISE] FOR THE TOWN IS BECAUSE YOU WANT TO SAVE MONEY.
BUT THAT'S BEING FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE.
AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT, WITH ALL THE PEOPLE SPEAKING AGAINST AND ALL THE SIGNATURES THAT HAVE BEEN TURNED IN, CONTINUING SPENDING MONEY IS NOT FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.
WE ASK AND I PERSONALLY ASK THAT YOU GUYS STOP SPECIFICALLY ON 0.7 AND ALL THE TRUCKS THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO APPROVE, HOPEFULLY NOT TONIGHT, THAT YOU STOP SPENDING THAT MONEY UNTIL WE DECIDE IF WE WANT YOU TO SPEND THAT MONEY BECAUSE IT IT IS OURS AT THE END OF THE DAY.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JEN CLAIRE.
I LIVE IN RIVERSIDE DRIVE PARK.
I'VE ATTENDED NUMEROUS MEETINGS AND HAVE WATCHED YOU SIT BACK WHILE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY STAND BEFORE YOU, EXPRESSING VALID CONCERNS ABOUT STARTING A NEW FIRE DEPARTMENT HERE IN JUPITER.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE SAME RESIDENCE OF USER VOICE TO GET YOU ELECTED.
HOWEVER, IT APPEARS TO ME THAT YOU DO NOT CARE WHAT ANYONE SAYS THAT DISAGREES WITH YOU.
OVER 10,000 RESIDENTS NOW HAVE SUBMITTED PETITIONS ASKING FOR A VOTE, AND THAT SHOULD SPEAK VOLUMES, ESPECIALLY TO AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
TODAY IS YOUR CHANCE TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT.
I'M ASKING FOR OUR TOWN COUNCIL TO STOP SPENDING MONEY ON ANYTHING RELATED TO STARTING A NEW FIRE DEPARTMENT UNTIL THE RESIDENTS HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
I ASKED YOU TONIGHT, ARE YOU GOING TO CONTINUE TO IGNORE OUR CONCERNS, OR ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE THIS RIGHT BY DOING THE RIGHT THING? THE CHOICE IS UP TO YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> OUR FIRST TURNOVER STAFF IS, WHETHER CHEAP PORTION OR A FINANCE DIRECTOR WANT TO PROVIDE ANY RESPONSES.
[01:35:04]
>> I KNOW I HAD ALREADY INITIATED AND SPOKE ABOUT THE CHANGES IN WHAT WE RECEIVED AS FAR AS THE QUOTE FROM A TWO-DOOR TO FOUR-DOOR.
AND YES, SO IT IS TRUE THAT THE BUDGET IS MORE THAN WHAT WE SAT BACK IN JANUARY, IT IS A TOTAL OF $242,000 MORE THAN WHAT WAS BACK IN JANUARY AND WHAT YOU ALL ACTUALLY APPROVED BACK IN THE FIRST PART OF OCTOBER AS FAR THE FY21 BUDGET AMENDMENT.
BUT AT LEAST THE CONTINGENCY, THAT'S WHY WE DO HAVE CONTINGENCY.
THE REMAINDER OF CONTINGENCY IS $557,000 FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
SO AGAIN, THIS IS OFF THE FLORIDA SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION CONTRACT.
IT IS A COMPETITIVE CONTRACT THAT IS PUT OUT FOR THE USE OF MUNICIPALS AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES TO PURCHASE, JUST LIKE WE DID THIS EVENING, TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE POLICE VEHICLES, OTHER APPARATUS SUCH AS THE FIRE ENGINES THAT WE PURCHASED A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND THE AMBULANCES.
SO IT DOES MEET STATE REQUIREMENTS.
BUT AGAIN, STAFF IS REQUESTING THE COUNCIL TO APPROVE THIS ITEM FOR THE QUAD CAPB THAT'S BEING REPRESENTED THIS EVENING.
>> IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE GOING WITH A FOUR-DOOR CHASSIS, AND YOU'RE ATTEMPTING TO PURCHASE IT NOW BECAUSE THE TIME FRAME FOR PURCHASING A FOUR-DOOR CHASSIS NOW BECAUSE THE MODEL IS BEING DISCONTINUED.
>> CORRECT. WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING IS WE WILL ACTUALLY PURCHASE THOSE CHASSIS EARLY.
WE WORKED IT OUT WITH 108 TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
THEN THOSE CHASSIS WILL BE AVAILABLE WHEN THE BOXES GET MADE.
THAT WAS THE WORKAROUND THAT WE HAD TO COME UP WITH TO BE ABLE TO MEET.
AGAIN LIKE I SAID, THE FIRST OPTION WAS THE FOUR DOOR OR THE QUAD CAB, BUT WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIME-FRAME OF THOSE CHASSIS AS YOU JUST ALLUDED TO.
BUT WHAT WE'RE WORKING WITH THE DEALER, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK OUT A SOLUTION TO BE ABLE TO GET THOSE QUAD CAPS.
>> THIS CHANGE WAS SPECIFICALLY DONE BECAUSE BEFORE DORA WAS DEEMED SAFER OR MORE APPROPRIATE FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE SITUATION.
>> WHAT SHE POSE, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE FOUR-DOOR OPTION A LITTLE BIT FURTHER ON THAT.
>> FIRST, THERE WAS THE CONCERN OF COUNSELOR MAY SNOW.
I ASKED THE STAFF TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS WOULDN'T WITH A FOUR-DOOR.
>> IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT'S TYPICALLY TO MAKE IT A SAFER VEHICLES MORE APPROPRIATE VEHICLE, EASIER FOR GUYS WITH EQUIPMENT TO GET IN AND OUT OF GUYS AND WOMEN AS WELL.
BUT IT'S A MATTER OF EXITING THE VEHICLE FOUR DOORS QUICKER, BOARD OR I THINK WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM NECESSARY FOR PEOPLE ON THE YEAR. THIS IS A
>> GLYCEROL THAT WE DISCUSSED LAST MEETING? YES, SIR. THAT'S WHAT WE CAME TO.
AS MR. REYNOLD'S CELL POINTED OUT, WE STARTED WITH A FOUR DOOR CHASSIS, IT'S THE MOTOR CUMMINGS.
THEY COME WITH CUMMINGS MOTORS, CUMMINGS DIESEL MOTORS, 2026, CUMMINGS IS MAKING A CHANGE SO THAT BIG BLOCK MODE OR THE L9 CUMMINGS IS BEING REPLACED.
THE CHALLENGE WAS, COULD WE GET THE CHASSIS IN THE QUAD CAB WITH THAT NEW MOTOR IN TIME FOR THE BOX TO FIT INTO THE ASSEMBLY WITH THE BOX.
WE TOOK COUNSELOR MAZE SUGGESTION AND IT ACTUALLY PROVIDED A BETTER SOLUTION.
WE CAN BUY THE CHASSIS EARLY OURSELVES AS A TOWN TO GO AHEAD AND DO THAT.
TYPICALLY THE DEALER, EXCUSE ME, THE MANUFACTURER, WHEN THEY'RE READY FOR THE PRODUCTION, THEY WILL ORDER THE CHASSIS.
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IT EARLY, AND THAT'S SCHEDULED NOW TO BE BUILT IF APPROVED THIS EVENING.
THE LAST QUARTER OF 2024 OR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2025, WHICH WILL BE WELL AHEAD OF THE FIRST QUARTER OF '26 WHEN THE PATIENT COMPARTMENT IS SCHEDULED TO BE BUILT.
>> BY PERSONALLY, I DON'T REALLY CARE SO MUCH ABOUT THE ENGINE.
MAYBE THERE IS A SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT.
BUT FOUR DOOR IS INTUITIVELY SOUND IN MY MIND.
I AGREE WITH YOU COUNCILOR MAY ON THAT FOUR-DOOR OR MAKES A LOT MORE SENSE.
I AGAIN, WE'RE FACED WITH DOING THIS TODAY BECAUSE OF THEY'RE GOING TO DISCONTINUE THE FOUR-DOOR MODEL. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THE MOTOR. THEY'RE MAKING A MOTOR CHANGE.
IT'S WHEN THAT'S IMPLEMENTED SOME TIME FIRST OF 2026,
[01:40:07]
AND NOT TO BORE YOU WITH ALL THOSE DETAILS, BUT IT HAS TO DO WITH ADMISSIONS AND THINGS SUCH AS THAT.THEY'RE PHASING OUT THE L9 AND GOING WITH THE NEXT 10, WHICH WOULD BE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BIG BLOCK TO POWER THE ADDITIONAL AIR CONDITIONING AND WEIGHT THAT COMES WITH A QUAD CAB.
>> I'M AN ENGINEER, SO THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS, SO I DON'T MIND DETAILS.
I THINK EVERYBODY OUT THERE WANTS YOUR DETAILS TO YOU.
>> I'M INTERESTED IN HEARING SOME OF THOSE DETAILS.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW THINGS IF I COULD PLEASE.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I'VE SEEN THREE PRIMARY GROUPS I NEED TO ADDRESS TODAY.
ONE IS THE VETERANS, ARE VETERANS IN THE ROOM.
[APPLAUSE] NOW, I'M GOING TO STAND TO SAY THIS.
THANK YOU [APPLAUSE] VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE [INAUDIBLE] .
[APPLAUSE] MY FATHER AND MY UNCLE AND MY GRANDFATHER ALL DEBTS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO TONIGHT WHAT WE'RE DOING BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU GUYS DO.
THANK YOU. NOW I'M GOING TO STAND UP.
>> WELL, THANK YOU. IT'S OUR PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU.
I WANT TO ALSO STAND WIDE THANKING THE FIREFIGHTERS.
[APPLAUSE] EVERY TIME YOU GO TO HAVE CALL, YOU MIGHT DIE IN THAT CALL AND THAT'S NOT LOST ON ME AT ALL.
THERE'S AN IMMENSE SACRIFICE ON YOUR PART AND YOUR FAMILIES PARK FOR DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
I THANK YOU FOR THAT AND I'LL SIT FOR THE REST.
BUT IF NOT ANY LESS IMPORTANT, I APPRECIATE GRASSROOTS EFFORTS.
I THINK THAT'S AN IMMENSELY IMPORTANT PART OF DEMOCRACY.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU ALL ARE HERE DISCUSSING THIS WITH US.
I DON'T SEE IT AS AN INTIMIDATION, I SEE IT AS A PRIVILEGED TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.
I'M LISTENING. I JUST WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE DON'T NECESSARILY VOTE, AND THE WAY YOU WANT IT TO DOES NOT MEAN I'M NOT LISTENING TO YOU, AND I'M NOT SAYING HOW I'M GOING TO VOTE ON ANY FUTURE THINGS IN GENERAL, BUT JUST PLEASE BE ASSURED THAT I AM LISTENING.
I'M TRYING MY BEST TO ACCOMMODATE AS MUCH AS I CAN.
WE ARE A REPRESENTATIVE FORM OF GOVERNMENT, AND WE ARE HERE AT THE BEQUEST OF THE CITIZENS.
YOU REPRESENT A SECTION OF THE CITIZENS.
I'VE HEARD A LOT FROM BOTH FIREFIGHTERS AND NON FIREFIGHTERS.
A LOT OF MY NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS OF TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THERE'S A LOT OF FEELINGS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.
WE'VE HEARD A FEW COMMENTS THAT ARE PRO STATION.
BUT MS. VINSON, AS YOU POINTED OUT, ELOQUENTLY, SO WITHOUT PASSION, YOU'RE JUST A STRAIGHT SHOOTER IT SEEMS LIKE.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS ALL OF US CAN BE DOING ON A TUESDAY NIGHT RATHER THAN SIT HERE.
BUT THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO JUPITER, AND I RECOGNIZE IT AS BEING VERY IMPORTANT TO JUPITER.
I WILL NOT MAKE HASTY DECISIONS, BUT I MIGHT NOT MAKE DECISION THAT YOU WILL ALWAYS BACK.
BUT I APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE, AND WELCOME YOU TO COME TO EVERY ONE OF OUR MEETINGS.
>> I'D LIKE TO ADD TO THAT. I THINK A GENTLEMAN NAMED JUSTIN, HE SAID, "WE NEVER THANK PEOPLE FOR COMING TO THE MEETINGS." WE KNOW FOR ME IT'S IMPLIED, OVER THE YEARS I'VE SAID IT, AND PEOPLE SAY, I'M CRAZY.
LIKE OUR SUNNY SANDS MEETING, I'D LOVE WHEN PEOPLE COME IN HERE.
I HATE WALKING THROUGH THAT DOOR AND THE PLACE IT'S EMPTY.
IT MIGHT BE TWO OR THREE PEOPLE SITTING THERE. I ENJOY THIS.
THIS IS A REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.
WE ARE ELECTED TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS, AND WE'VE BEEN IN NEGOTIATION WITH THE COUNTIES ALMOST A YEAR NOW, AND WE WERE HIT WITH BASICALLY A TAKE IT OR LEAVE OR CONTRACT, IT'S GOING TO TRIPLE OUR MILLAGE RATE FOR HOMEOWNERS AND JUPITER, A STEWARD OF THE TAXPAYERS MONEY.
TO ME COMES DOWN TO LOCAL CONTROL.
WELL, I DIGRESS BACK IN APRIL TO HIT IT A POINT, THE MAYOR AND I VOTED NO, WE NEVER VOTED FOR THE NEW CONTRACT, SO I DON'T KNOW WHY IT WAS SUCH A SURPRISE TO THE COUNTY THAT WE DECIDED TO EXECUTE THE,
[01:45:06]
WHAT IS THE CLOSET IS PROVISION 13.WE DIDN'T CANCEL THE CONTRACT.
WE EXECUTED A CLAUSE IN THE CONTRACT WHICH PALM BEACH FIRE PUT INTO THE CONTRACT.
WE'RE LISTENING TO EVERYBODY. I HEAR YOU.
I HEAR MY FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, MY CUSTOMERS.
I'M IN JUPITER ALL DAY LONG LISTENING TO PEOPLE.
IT'S NOT AS LOPSIDED AS YOU THINK IT IS.
I'M HEARING IT A LOT OF PRO OUT IN THE STREET AND ESPECIALLY WITH PEOPLE FIND OUT.
[BACKGROUND] IF WE PUT THIS UP FOR A VOTE THAN ANY MAJOR THING WE DO UP HERE.
WE HAVE TO PUT UP FOR A REFERENDUM.
[APPLAUSE] I SHOULDN'T CONVERGE ANYWAY.
THAT'S IT. I LOVE YOU GUYS BEING HERE.
WE'RE NOT STARTING CONVERSATION.
>> I ALSO WANT TO AGREE WITH COUNCIL FOR WE DO LIKE ENGAGEMENT.
THE NIGHT I WAS ELECTED, THERE WAS A HUGE ELECTION.
IT WAS ALSO VERY PASSIONATE, VERY EMOTIONAL, ROOMS WERE PACKED, A LOT OF ANGER, A LOT OF CONFUSION.
I FEEL IT'S ALL I KNOW [LAUGHTER] OF JUPITER POLITICS ALMOST.
BUT I WANT TO SAY THAT IT'S GOOD TO HAVE ENGAGEMENT.
THAT'S WHAT I SAID THE NIGHT THAT I WAS ELECTED.
THE ELECTION COULD HAVE BEEN CHARACTERIZED ANY NUMBER OF WAYS, BUT MY FAVORITE PART OF IT WAS THAT, IT WAS CHARACTERIZED BY HIGH LEVELS OF ENGAGEMENT.
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT, USAID WORKING IN COUNTRIES WHERE THERE WAS NO ENGAGEMENT.
THERE'S A VERY DIFFERENT STORY OUT THERE IN THE WORLD.
THE WAY THE US HANDLES, THE WAY DEMOCRACY IS ITERATION WITHOUT VIOLENCE IS INCREDIBLE.
I LOVE THAT WE [NOISE] CAN ALL GET TOGETHER, THAT WE CAN ALL LISTEN.
THIS COUNCIL MADE IT A STRATEGIC PRIORITY TO MAKE ACCESSIBILITY A PRIORITY.
WE TALKED ABOUT IT ON ELECTION NIGHT AND WE'VE CONTINUED TO FOLLOW IT.
THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED CONNECT WITH COUNCIL.
THE MOST RECENT ONE WE HAD WE HAD MR. BOZO THERE AT A TABLE FOR FIRE.
I THINK ALL OF US WERE THERE INCLUDING COUNSELOR [INAUDIBLE] WHO WAS RIGHT AFTER HIS APPOINTMENT TO MEET WITH RESIDENTS, TO CREATE A SPACE WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE VIDEO RECORDED AND COME TO A MEETING YOUR KIDS MIGHT BE NEEDING YOU.
WE UNDERSTAND THE SACRIFICE IT TAKES TO BE HERE TONIGHT, AND THE TIME THAT YOU'RE SPENDING WITH US [NOISE] AND WE DO LISTEN, AND I AM GRATEFUL, AND WE WANT TO CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET WITH YOU, TO LISTEN TO YOU.
OVER THE COURSE OF THIS, I'VE ONLY WANTED TO BECOME MORE RESPONSIVE.
I HOPE I ANSWERED EVERY EMAIL THAT CAME TO ME RECENTLY.
[BACKGROUND] I AM ALSO TRYING TO RESPOND ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE ARE ABSOLUTELY TRYING TO SHARE INFORMATION, WE'RE GOING TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, SO THAT THOSE COMMUNITIES CAN ASK QUESTIONS.
I KNOW STAFF WORK FROM 09:00-05:00 AND THEN TAKE THEIR TIME TO GO TO THESE MEETINGS, AND THEN STAY AFTER MEETINGS ANSWERING QUESTIONS.
I SAW [INAUDIBLE] MANAGERS STAY UNTIL 10:00 PM WHEN THE THING ANSWERING QUESTIONS FROM RESIDENTS.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO ANSWER, TO LISTEN, TO HAVE THAT DIALOGUE, AND I'M JUST AS ALWAYS IMPRESSED WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ON THIS COUNCIL ABOUT WANTING TO REALLY LISTEN AND MAKE IT ABOUT DIALOGUE.
THE REASON THAT WE HAVE THIS TONIGHT IS BECAUSE THE VOTE THAT WE TOOK IN AUGUST NOW, A FEW MONTHS AGO, AND WITH THE DEADLINE OF SEPTEMBER 30TH PASSING, WE HAVE A NEW DEADLINE.
WE HAVE UNTIL OCTOBER 1ST, 2026 TO STAND UP THE NEW DEPARTMENT.
THE PETITIONS ARE WITH THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS AND THEY ALL HAVE THEIR OWN PROCESS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ARE JUPITER RESIDENTS, OR HOW THAT WORKS? THAT WILL BE THEIR PROCESS THAT THEY WILL DO.
WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT WE HAVE A DEADLINE, AND WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT OVER THE COURSE OF OUR DISCUSSING FIRE RESCUE OVER THE NINE PUBLIC MEETINGS, IS THAT, THE VEHICLES HAVE A LONG LEAD TIME.
WE ALWAYS KNEW WE HAD TO ORDER THEM RIGHT AWAY TO BE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE SUCCESSFUL.
I VIEW IT AS BEING IRRESPONSIBLE TO NOT DO THAT, TO PUT US AT RISK OF NOT MEETING THAT COMMITMENT AND THAT DEADLINE THAT'S NOW ESTABLISHED.
THAT'S HOW I'VE COMMUNICATED IT IN THE EMAILS TO RESIDENTS.
THAT'S HOW I'VE COMMUNICATED IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
[01:50:03]
THAT'S MY COMMENT. THANK YOU.>> I JUST WANT TO GO AND SUPPORT MY RESIDENTS THAT ARE HERE, AND MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE AND THE EXPENDITURES RELATED TO JUPITER FIRE RESCUE, AND ENGAGE WITH THE COUNTY FOR A POSSIBLE FIVE MONTH EXTENSION OF THE CONTRACT THAT WE'RE IN, SO THAT IF THE VOTE WERE TO FAIL, WE CAN STILL BE COVERED BY PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE FOR THAT TIMEFRAME.
I'D LIKE TO ENGAGE WITH THE COUNTY TO SEE IF THEY'D BE AMICABLE [NOISE] AND SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I WOULD HOPE THEY WOULD, SO THAT WE CAN WORK WORK THROUGH THIS.
THAT WILL GIVE US THE TIME WE NEED TO TAKE A PAUSE ON EVERYTHING, AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THIS PETITION COULD DO.
I'LL SAY IT RIGHT NOW, IF THAT REFERENDUM GOES ON THE BALLOT AND THE RESONANCE COME OUT AND VOTE AND SAY THEY WANT THEIR OWN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AGAIN, I'LL BE THE FIRST PERSON TO STAND UP HERE AND SAY, "HOW CAN I HELP MAKE THIS THE BEST FIRE DEPARTMENT POSSIBLE?" I'M GOING TO MAKE THAT MOTION. [APPLAUSE]
>> COMPANIES MEETINGS, I GENERALLY [BACKGROUND] WHEREAS IN A SECOND.
I WANTED TO FINISH JUST LIKE WE WENT ROUND, EVERYBODY ON ACCOUNTS WILL GET A CHANCE TO COMMENT HERE.
>> AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE NOW IS IN ADDITION TO THE COLLEGE [INAUDIBLE].
BUT THERE'S A DEADLINE THAT HAS TO BE MET.
I NOTICE THAT SOME FIELDS IS AN ARTIFICIAL DEADLINE.
>> BUT THIS IS A REAL ANOMALY.
WHEN I'VE GOTTEN SOME FAIRLY GOOD REASSURANCES THAT THESE VEHICLES AND I'D ABSOLUTELY RESPECT ANY VOTE BY [INAUDIBLE].
AND I'LL TELL YOU THAT RIGHT NOW, BUT VEHICLES THAT WE WAIT UNTIL A LOAD FAIL, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO GET THESE VEHICLES [BACKGROUND] FROM MY RESEARCH.
IT'S NOT AN INCIDENT, I BELIEVE AT THIS POINT BEFORE HIS VEHICLES. THAT'S NOT A WDL.
THESE THINGS CAN BE SOLD AT NEARLY [BACKGROUND] BACK IN OURSELVES.
I THINK WE MIGHT LET THE [INAUDIBLE] VOTE IN THAT DIRECTION.
SLOW DOWN THAT VOTING PROCESS.
BUT THAT'S MY POSITION IN THAT.
AND I KNOW THAT'S GOING TO UPSET SOMEBODY AND I REGRET THAT.
>> I LIKE TO JUST RESPOND ALSO AS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE.
I THINK WE ALL GENERALLY HAVE BEEN LISTENING.
WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO USE WHAT WE BELIEVED TO BE THE BEST WAY TO RESPOND WITH INFORMATION IN A CONSISTENT MANNER.
THAT'S WHY OUR STAFF HAS REALLY SPENT A SIGNIFICANT EFFORT TRYING TO PUT OUT AN UPDATE INFORMATION.
IT HAS OUR STAFF AFTER ALL THAT DOES MUCH OF THE PLANNING AND WHATEVER.
SO IT WOULD BE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR US TO INDIVIDUALLY COMMENT ABOUT SOMETHING THAT THEIR BEST TO PROVIDE THE ANSWERS TO.
SO I THINK THE STAFF HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF TRYING TO PUT THAT INFORMATION OUT.
THE PERCEPTIONS THAT EXIST ABOUT DECISIONS BEING MADE IN JANUARY AND THINGS BEING OUTSIDE OF THE SUNSHINE.
THE WAY THE PROCESS WORKS IS LIKE WHEN WE WE'RE WORKING ON A CONTRACT, FIRST OF ALL WE HAD AT LEAST ONE MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL THAT WAS OKAY WITH THE TAX RATE DOUBLING.
IT WAS A DIFFERENCES OF OPINION ABOUT THAT.
FIRE RESCUE CHIEF WANTED TO MEET AND MET INDIVIDUALLY WITH EACH OF US.
WE WENT THROUGH ITEMS. I THOUGHT EARLY ON WAS EXPECTING TO GET ANSWERS TO I THINK VALID QUESTIONS THAT I HAD ON BEHALF OF RESONANCE, I TALKED ABOUT THIS IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS.
AND I WAS ASKING, FOR EXAMPLE, WELL IMPACT FEES HAVE BEEN COLLECTED IN THE TOWN AND THOSE COULD BE USED AND SHOULD BE USED FOR ANY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TOWN.
THIS LATEST CONTRACT IS THEY DEMANDED THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PUT A PROVISION IN THERE THAT THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO SWEEP IMPACT FEES TO USE ADDRESSED TO THE COUNTY.
I ASKED FOR, SHOW ME WHERE HISTORICAL UNSPENT ALLOCATED FUNDS ARE BEING USED TO OFFSET FUTURE COSTS.
[01:55:05]
THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT TO GET BACK. THEY NEVER DID.I ASKED ABOUT SEVERAL ITEMS IN THE FIVE MILLION DOLLARS IN ANNUAL OVERHEAD COSTS, INCLUSIVE OF ONE WHICH WAS PALM BEACH COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS.
THEY INDICATED THEY WOULDN'T GET BACK WITH ME, BUT THEY NEVER DID AS SUCH I NEED TO BE COMFORTABLE THAT WE'RE BEING TREATED FAIRLY.
I ASKED ABOUT THE RETENTION OF SURPLUS AD VALOREM TAX COLLECTIONS.
AND ARE THEY BEING USED TO OFFSET MSBU COSTS? NOT ONLY DID HE NOT GET BACK WITH ME BUT WHEN WE DID AN AUDIT, WE COULDN'T FIND IT, HOW IT WAS EVEN ADDRESSED.
SO ULTIMATELY, WHEN WE CAME DOWN TO A VOTE ON THE MSBU ORDINANCE, NEW CONTRACT AGREEMENT.
BASICALLY, THIS WAS IN THE STAFF REPORT.
THE COUNTY FIRE RESCUE SAID THIS IS IT.
DOES THAT SOUND LIKE NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH? NO. DOES IT SOUND LIKE I WAS ASKING UNREASONABLE QUESTIONS ON BEHALF OF OUR TAXPAYERS TO MAKE SURE THAT FUNDS THAT WE WERE PAYING ARE BEING PROPERLY ACCOUNTED FOR? SO WITH THAT I JUST WANTED TO SAY WE'LL MAKE THOSE COMMENTS TO HOPEFULLY CLEAR UP SOME MISPERCEPTIONS.
NEVER HAD MINE MADE UP WAS HOPING THAT DIDN'T KNOW WHY THE CONTRACT HAD TO CHANGE.
BUT BOY DID IT CHANGE, AND IT CHANGED TO ALLOW THE COUNTY TO BASICALLY COLLECT A LOT MORE TAXES WITHIN TOWN AND APPLY IT ELSEWHERE.
WITH THAT I WOULD TURN TO THE COUNCIL FOR A MOTION ON THE ITEM BEFORE US.
>> MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF THE FOUR QUAD K CAT BRAUN AMBULANCE.
MOTION IN A SECOND ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES FOUR TO ONE WITH COUNCILOR MAY DISSENTING.
[10. Discussion regarding the Abacoa Town Center zoning text amendment that incorporates workforce housing.]
ON TO ITEM NUMBER 10, THE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION.LET'S JUST RECESS FOR FIVE MINUTES, ALLOWING MEMBERS TO LEAVE.
WE'LL END OUR RECESS AND MOVING ON TO ROUNDTABLE ITEM 10 DISCUSSION.
>> NUMBER 10 THIS IS THE ROUNDTABLE.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. FOR THE RECORD, GARRETT WATSON WITH PLANNING AND ZONING.
BEFORE WE GET INTO THE MEET OF POWERPOINT TONIGHT, REAL QUICK, JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW YOU HAVE SOME UPDATES FROM THE APPLICANT AND IT WAS PART OF YOUR PACKAGE TONIGHT THAT INCLUDES A NARRATIVE WITH SOME ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT ALL THE WAY BACK IN MAY WHEN WE FIRST CAME TO YOU ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
AND IT ALSO INCLUDES GROUND FLOOR EXHIBIT WHICH YOU SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN.
IT'S CALLED EXHIBIT 4, AND THAT SHOWS THE APPLICANT'S WORK TO ADD SOME GROUND FLOOR OFFICE AS A RESPONSE TO WANTING SOME NON-RESIDENTIAL USES ON THE GROUND FLOOR IN THIS DISTRICT.
SO YOU SHOULD HAVE THAT AS PART OF YOUR PACKAGES TONIGHT.
SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND OH, I'M SORRY AND ONE LAST UPDATE I SHOULD NOTE IS THAT THEY HAVE PROVIDED AN EQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF UNITS ACROSS THE INCOME CATEGORIES AND I'LL GET INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE IN JUST A MINUTE.
REAL QUICK. ALL THE WAY BACK IN MAY 16TH.
WE WERE HERE FOR A DISCUSSION.
WE HEARD A FEW THINGS AND WE PROVIDED THREE KEY POINTS OF INFORMATION.
FIRST, THAT'S MORE INFORMATION ON WORKFORCE HOUSING, WHAT THE AFFORDABILITY RATES ARE, WHAT THE MARKET RATE UNITS RENTS ARE.
SECOND SOME INFORMATION ON THE TAX EXEMPTIONS THAT WERE PART OF THE LOCAL ACT THAT THE APPLICANT HAD NOTED THAT NIGHT THEY WERE GOING TO AVAIL THEMSELVES TO WHICH IS WHY THEY WERE ABLE TO DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF WORKFORCE HOUSING UNITS.
AS WELL AS SOME LESSONS LEARNED FROM OTHER WORKFORCE HOUSING PROJECTS,
[02:00:01]
MOST NOTABLY OF THE BARCELONA PROJECT.SO REAL QUICK, THIS SLIDE IS THE PROPOSED RENTS AS COMPARED FOR THIS PROJECT TO A FEW OTHER PROJECTS IN THE AREA.
THE BIG TAKEAWAY FROM THIS SLIDE IS THAT THEY'RE ROUGHLY COMPARABLE TO WHAT'S OUT THERE IN THE MARKET.
THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE IS A COMPARISON BETWEEN THOSE MARKET RATES AND WHAT OUR CURRENT WORKFORCE HOUSING RENTAL RATES ARE IN THE TOWN OF JUPITER.
THAT COLUMN ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE RIGHT IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT.
THAT IS THE MONTHLY SAVINGS TO RESIDENTS FOR ALL OF THOSE CATEGORIES.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE, SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS ARE QUITE CONSIDERABLE ON A MONTHLY BASIS FOR SAVINGS.
AND REALLY IN ALL OF THE INCOME CATEGORIES AT ALL OF THE NUMBER OF BEDROOMS, ONE, TWO AND THREE BEDROOMS, WORKFORCE HOUSING IS CONSIDERABLE SAVINGS OVER MARKET RATE.
AS PART OF SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAD THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, YOU WANTED TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT AFFORDABILITY AND THE WORKFORCE HOUSING INCOME CATEGORIES.
WE PREPARED A CHART BASED OFF OF SOME CRITICAL SECTORS THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT IN TERMS OF WORKFORCE HOUSING.
THAT'S FIREFIGHTERS, TEACHERS, GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, NURSES, POLICE OFFICERS.
I WON'T GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE CHART, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE ARE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT ALL OF THESE CATEGORIES THAT WOULD BE HELPED BY THE PRESENCE OF WORKFORCE HOUSING.
>> CAN YOU JUST RUN BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO GET TO IT JUST AS WE'RE FIXATED ON THIS SUDDEN AGREE ON AFFORDABILITY.
TO THE DEGREE THAT WE'RE ALWAYS RANGES, AND I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO GET TO THIS BUT STILL WHILE WE LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER.
IT'S ALWAYS THE UPPER END OF THE RANGE, WHICH IS THE REAL NUMBER AND I WANTED TO JUST CONFIRM THAT SO REALLY NOT BEING MISLED AND KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT ANY INTENT, BUT THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S CLEAR.
WHILE WE'RE STILL HERE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE AN EQUAL DISTRIBUTION, LOW, MID-LOW, AND MEDIUM, AND LOW, MODERATE, HIGH, CORRECT?
>> BUT IT'S AT THE UPPER END OF THAT, CORRECT?
>> YES. IF YOU LOOK AT THE RANGES, THESE ARE ALL IN A RANGE OF INCOME, SO SOMEBODY WOULD FALL WITHIN THAT PARTICULAR RANGE AND THEN THE RENT THAT THEY ARE CHARGED IS AT THE HIGH END OF THAT RANGE.
>> RIGHT. FOR EXAMPLE, LOOKING AT THIS SHEET AT ONE BEDROOM, FOR THOSE THAT WOULD BE IN 80% CATEGORY, WHICH IS THE LOW, THEN BASICALLY THE ASSUMPTION IS 58,480, CORRECT?
>> CORRECT. THAT WOULD BE THE RATE IN WHICH THE 30 PERCENT IS BASED OFF OF FOR THE ACTUAL COSTS.
>> OKAY, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS SO WE'RE UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS THE RENTAL RATE AND WHAT WHAT IS THE INCOME RAGE AT THE UPPER END IN THOSE THREE CATEGORIES OF WHAT STAFF HAS AN EQUALLY DISTRIBUTED ROUGHLY, A THIRD, A THIRD, A THIRD? CORRECT.
>> THAT'S WHAT THE APPLICANTS PROPOSED, YEAH.
>> OKAY. I'M SORRY. I WANTED TO JUST.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
THE SECOND MAIN PART OF WHAT WE'RE ASKED IS TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE LIVE LOCAL ACT, THE TAX IMPLICATIONS.
WE'VE BOLDED THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS HERE.
THAT IS THAT THE PORTION OF THE PROPERTY, THOSE 71 UNITS THAT THEY PROPOSE, IT'S MORE THAN 70 AND WHOSE INCOME RANGE FALLS WITHIN 80 AND 120% WHICH THIS APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO MEET MUST RECEIVE AN AD VALOREM TAX EXEMPTION OF 75% THE ASSESSED VALUE.
WE'VE DONE SOME DIGGING ON THAT.
THE PREVAILING THOUGHT IS THAT THAT'S ONLY APPLICABLE TO THE NUMBER OF UNITS THAT ARE WORKFORCE HOUSING SO IT'S 71 UNITS.
THIS NEXT SLIDE HERE GOES INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THE TAX EXEMPTION.
THE FLORIDA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION THEY ACTUALLY REQUIRE AN APPLICATION.
IT'S AN APPLICATION, IT'S AFFIDAVITS.
THE DEVELOPER HAS TO ACTUALLY CERTIFY AND THAT CERTIFICATION AND APPROVAL FROM THAT ENTITY HAS TO BE GIVEN TO THE PROPERTY APPRAISERS OFFICE IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THAT TAX EXEMPTION.
BE CLEAR THAT TAX EXEMPTIONS NOT ON THE FULL AMOUNT OF TAXES, THERE'S DEBT SERVICE SCHOOL.
IT'S THE PREVENTATIVE THOUGHT THAT THAT'S NOT PART OF THAT CALCULATION BUT WE CAN WORK ON THAT MORE AS THINGS EVOLVE AND IT GETS YOU SOME MORE NUMBERS THERE ONCE WE GET TO A MORE PROJECTS SPECIFIC LEVEL.
THE LAST ITEM THAT WE WERE TO COVER WITH SOME LESSONS LEARNED FROM BARCELONA.
[02:05:05]
BARCELONA IS A REALLY UNIQUE PROJECT.IT WAS OUR VERY FIRST WORKFORCE HOUSING PROJECT IN THE TOWN.
IT WAS DONE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY THAN HOW WE WOULD HANDLE ONE TODAY.
BARCELONA'S RENTS ARE ACTUALLY CALCULATED EXACTLY BASED ON INCOME, AND IT'S ALSO REVIEWED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, SOME OF THE LESSONS THAT WE'VE LEARNED IS THAT IF YOU'RE CHECKING THE ONES ON AN ANNUAL BASIS ON SOMEBODY'S EXACT INCOME, THE LIKELIHOOD THAT YOU ARE EITHER OVERCHARGING THEM OR UNDERCHARGING THEM AT THE END OF THAT YEAR IT HAPPENS.
IT DOES HAPPEN. IN ORDER TO COMBAT THAT IN THE FUTURE, WE MADE A NUMBER OF CHANGES TO THE WORKFORCE HOUSING PROGRAM, NAMELY TO CHARGE AT THE HIGH END OF THAT CATEGORY.
IF YOU FALL WITHIN THE RANGE, YOU GET CHARGED THE HIGH-END THAT SIMPLIFIES THE PROCESS A LITTLE BIT.
IT GIVES DEVELOPERS A BETTER AND EASIER WAY TO FORECAST WHAT THOSE RENTS WOULD BE.
SECONDLY, IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO DO MORE THAN ANNUALLY SO WE CAN CATCH THESE ISSUES EARLIER.
QUARTERLY REPORTING TENDS TO BE WHAT THE COUNTY IS TRENDING TOWARDS AND THAT WAY THEY CAN CATCH THOSE ISSUES EARLIER, THEY CAN MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE AREN'T OVERCHARGED FOR A FULL YEAR BEFORE THEY'RE ABLE TO RECOUP SOME OF THOSE COSTS.
TO GO INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER, THAT WOULD BE A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT STAFF BURDEN TO LOOK AT PROJECTS, ESPECIALLY AS MORE COME ONLINE.
BUT PERHAPS A CONSULTING FIRM OR A THIRD PARTY COULD HELP OUT WITH THAT AS MORE CAME ONLINE.
THE OTHER ISSUE THAT WE'VE NOTICED WITH SPECIFICALLY WITH BARCELONA IS THAT GIG EMPLOYEES OR EMPLOYEES WE'RE OVERTIME IS A PORTION OF THEIR WORK.
THEY'RE TAKING A SMALL SNAPSHOT OF WHAT YOUR FINANCIALS ARE FOR THE YEAR BASED ON A MONTH OR TWO MONTHS WORTH OF INCOME, AND THEN EXTRAPOLATING THAT OUT FOR THE 12 MONTHS, AND EMPLOYEES WHO MAY HAVE MORE WORK AND MORE ONE MONTH OVER OTHER MONTHS CAN SOMETIMES BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED WHEN IN LATER MONTHS THEY MAY NOT HAVE THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT THEY TYPICALLY WOULD HAVE OR MAY NOT HAVE THE AMOUNT OF OVERTIME PAY THAT THEY WOULD TYPICALLY HAVE.
IF THEY'RE BEING CHARGED AND LOCKED IN AT THE HIGHER RATE, THEY CAN FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING CHARGED MORE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS A RESULT OF THAT.
USING THOSE RANGES HELPS OUT A LITTLE BIT WITH THAT, IT EVENS THINGS OUT AS INSTEAD OF THE WAY THE BARCELONA DOES IT.
THE LAST BULLET POINT ON THAT SLIDE, IT TALKS ABOUT CREATING A FIXED SET OF WORKFORCE HOUSING UNITS THAT CAN CAUSE ISSUES.
THERE WAS SOME THOUGHT EARLY ON IN THE PROCESS THAT YOU COULD USE A FIXED SET OF UNITS, THAT THERE WOULD BE PERHAPS AS LOW AS 80% OF THE TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE, THAT WAY THEY CAN BE MORE AFFORDABLE.
THE ISSUE THAT COMES UP WHEN YOU START USING A FIXED SET OF UNITS IS AS SOMEBODY MAY BE INCOME QUALIFIES OUT OF THAT WORKFORCE HOUSING PROGRAM BUT THEY WANT TO STAY IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD ARE SAYING THAT DEVELOPMENT.
THEY'D BE FORCED TO ACTUALLY MOVE OUT OF ONE OF THOSE UNITS INTO ANOTHER UNIT.
WHEREAS IF YOU HAD A FLOATING SET OF UNITS, BASICALLY JUST NUMBERS ON A SPREADSHEET THAT WOULD SAY, AS LONG AS WE HAVE THIS TOTAL NUMBER THAT'S BEING CHARGED THIS RATE WE'RE COMPLIANT.
IF YOU HAD AN INCOME THAT GETS YOU OUT OF THOSE CATEGORIES, YOU WOULD JUST BE BUMPED TO PAYING MARKET RATE BUT YOU'D BE ABLE TO STAY IN THE UNIT, BE ABLE TO STAY AROUND THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'VE LIVED WITH FOR THAT AMOUNT OF TIME.
FLOATING UNITS TENDS TO BE THE MORE BENEFICIAL OF THE UNITS OVER FIXED.
THIS LAST SLIDE IS JUST REALLY TO SHOW YOU THE EVOLUTION OF THE APPLICANT'S PROPOSAL.
WE STARTED WAY BACK ON THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL AT ABOUT 10 OF THE UNITS AND THE LION'S SHARE OF THEM BEING AT MODERATE HIGH.
THEN CAME TO MAY WHERE THE LIVE LOCAL ACT TAX EXEMPTION WAS BROUGHT UP.
THEY WERE ABLE TO DOUBLE IT TO 71 UNITS.
BUT STILL AGAIN, THE LION'S SHARE WAS AT THAT HIGH, MODERATE, HIGH AND TODAY THEIR LATEST PROPOSAL ACTUALLY IS AN EQUAL DISTRIBUTION.
THAT SAME 71 UNITS BUT AN EQUAL DISTRIBUTION WHICH MEETS THE TOWN CODE WHICH REQUIRES AN EQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF UNITS IN THOSE CATEGORIES.
WITH THAT, I WILL CONCLUDE I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> I REALLY LIKED THE IDEA OF FLOATING UNITS.
THAT'S A GOOD IDEA, BUT THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.
THERE'S DEED RESTRICTIONS THAT THESE UNITS HAVE TO REMAIN WORKFORCE HOUSING FOR 30 YEARS.
HOW DOES THAT WORK WITH FLOATING UNITS?
>> BARCELONA WORKS OFF OF THIS RIGHT NOW LIKE A FLOATING UNIT.
I'M NOT SURE, YOU'D HAVE TO MAYBE LOOK INTO THAT, BUT AS LONG AS YOU'RE MEETING THE MINIMUM NUMBER THAT'S REQUIRED AS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, YOU'RE MEETING OUR STANDARD, BUT WHAT WE WOULD PUT IT IN A DEVELOPED.
>> THE DEEDS HELD BY THE DEVELOPMENT NOT THE INDIVIDUAL. IT'S A RENTED APARTMENT?
>> THE DEED WON'T BE IN THEIR NAME, SO THE DEED IS AWARDED SUCH THAT SO MANY OF THESE UNITS,
[02:10:03]
WE DON'T KNOW WHICH, BUT SOMEBODY HAS TO BE WORTH 4,000?>> YES. BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ON A RENTAL BASIS, NOT ON A CONDO OWNERSHIP TYPE BASIS.
>> NOW ALSO THE OFFICE SUITES THAT ARE GOING IN, WHAT'S THE PERMISSIBLE USE FOR THOSE OFFICE SUITES? PUT CODE NOW.
>> THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAILED THAN WE'VE GOTTEN SO FAR.
THAT'S MORE OF A SITE PLAN ISSUE.
BASICALLY, WHAT THEY'VE BEEN OR WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY ARE A PORTION OF THEM ARE MICRO-SUITES LIKE A WEWORK TYPE OFFICE WHERE YOU MAY HAVE MULTIPLE PEOPLE SHARING OFFICES.
>> YEAH. NOT THAT COMPANY SPECIFICALLY ABOUT A CONCEPT SIMILAR TO THAT, AND THEN SECONDARY TO THAT THERE'S A PORTION THAT WOULD BE MORE TRADITIONAL OFFICE.
>> COULD YOU PUT A BODEGA IN SOMETHING THAT THE RESIDENTS OF THE UNIT COULD GO DOWN AND BUY STUFF?
>> YEAH. WE'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM SAYING THAT KEEP YOUR FLEXIBILITY AND YOUR OPTIONS OPEN, AND THEY HAD INDICATED THAT THEY WERE SUPPORTIVE OF DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT IF THE COUNCIL IS PLEASURE.
>> I EXPRESS THIS BEFORE, I PERSONALLY LIKE THE IDEA OF GIVING UP SOME OF THE UNITS FOR REVENUE STREAM THAT CAN HELP OFFSET SOME OF THOSE.
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. FOR THE UNITS TO BE CONVERTED INTO AN OFFICE OR RETAIL REVENUE STREAM AREA, AND THEY GET MORE BOND DEDUCTIBLE FOR THAT I THINK IS A GREAT IDEA.
>> IN TRANSITION, IT ACTUALLY TYPICALLY PRODUCES MORE UNITS.
BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY MOVES UP AND INCOME CATEGORY, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU STILL HAVE TO PROVIDE ANOTHER UNIT AT THAT LOWER CATEGORY.
>> THEY WOULD PHYSICALLY STAY IN THEIR UNIT.
BUT NOW THE DEVELOPER WOULD SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GONNA TAKE ANOTHER UNIT THAT MAY BE VACANT AND WE'RE GOING TO LEASE THAT [NOISE] AT THAT NEW RENTAL RATE.
YEAH. LIKE AT THE END OF IT'S COMPLETE GRIDLOCK.
WE HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED THAT QUITE YET.
THERE'S ENOUGH DEMAND AND ENOUGH PEOPLE MOVING IN AND OUT OF THE AREA.
>> THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT COULD THE, FIRST WALL LOOK LIKE IN THE CONTEXT OF MEETING THE COMMERCIAL CORE, WHICH IS A NON-RESIDENTIAL GROUND FLOOR COMPONENT TO THAT DISTRICT.
AS YOU RECALL, THE PREVIOUS PROPOSAL WAS PICKLEBALL COURTS ON THE GROUND FLOOR, AS WELL AS A LOT OF THE AMENITIES.
THOSE AMENITIES ARE STILL THERE.
THE PICKLEBALL COURTS HAVE BEEN EXCHANGED FOR AN OFFICE CONCEPT AND A LOT OF THE LIVE WORK UNITS THAT THEY WERE DOING BEFORE, WHICH IN THAT AREA, THE LOWER SPECIFICALLY, THEY ALSO BUILT LIVE WORK TYPE UNIT.
BUT THEY'RE PREDOMINANTLY RESIDENTIAL AT THE MOMENT.
THEY SWAP THOSE UNITS OUT FOR THOSE MICRO OFFICE SUITES THAT ARE MORE OF A DEDICATED GROUND FLOOR USE.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.
>> I DON'T THINK WE CAN HAVE [INAUDIBLE]
>> I THINK THAT A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO DRAW US BACK TO WHAT THE OUTCOME IS MEETING COULD BE.
I DO BELIEVE IT'S MISSING FROM THE SLIDES WHICH I HAD TO HAVE LOOKED AT IN THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS, AND THEN IT IS ADDRESSED IN THE MEMO, BUT THAT WE GOT BECAUSE ULTIMATELY
[02:15:01]
THE OUTCOME OF THIS LET ME SAY I APPRECIATE THE CHANGES THAT WERE OFFERED UP AS BEING RESPONSIVE TO FEEDBACK THAT WE GAVE ABOUT OUR CONCERN ABOUT HAVING SOME COMMERCIAL AND THEN THE CONCERN ABOUT THE NUMBER OF WORKFORCE HOUSING UNITS IN AND ALSO THE SPLIT IN THE AFFORDABILITY RANGES.THAT WAS ADDRESSED. I APPRECIATE THAT.
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO BE CONSISTENT AND SEND A CONSISTENT MESSAGE ON MY VIEWS.
WE REALLY HAVE APPROACHED BUILD-OUT AND I'M HEARING FROM THE RESONANCE LIKE, WELL, WHY WOULD WE BE ADDING MORE HOUSING IF IT'S NOT WORKFORCE HOUSING? WELL, THE PERCENT WENT UP TO 20%.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IN WHAT'S UNIQUE ON THIS TYPE OF PROJECT, AND IT'S NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS DONE IT THIS WAY IS IF WE WERE TO AGREE THAT WE LIKE WHAT WE SEE, THEN AS A MAJORITY, THEN STAFF IS GOING TO WORK WITH THE TOWN ATTORNEY AND WOKE UP AN ORDINANCE, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
THAT ORDINANCE, IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, WAS GOING TO ADDRESS TWO THINGS, WAS GOING TO REDUCE THE COMMERCIAL CORE AND THE TOWN CENTER FROM 30-25%.
SECONDLY, IT'S GOING TO INCREASE THE DENSITY WITHIN THE TOWN CENTER FROM 16-20 UNITS PER ACRE.
>> THE EFFECT OF THAT FOUR UNIT INCREASE FROM 16-20 IS AN INCREASE IN ALLOWABLE UNITS OF 281.
FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, THERE'S 997 UNITS BUILT WITHIN THE TOWN CENTER DISTRICT, SUB-DISTRICT, AND IT'S 104 UNITS REMAINING UNBUILT.
ULTIMATELY, THE PROJECT BEING PROPOSED IS 357 UNITS.
I'D SAY IF I MINUS 104 REMAINING UNITS, WHICH I CALL THE ENTITLEMENT, THE PROJECT IS ASKING FOR 253 BONUS UNITS.
I JUST WANT TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE HERE, SO IT'S DIFFERENT.
SOMETIMES WE ADDRESSED THE STUFFING A PUD DOESN'T REALLY, THERE IS REALLY NOT A PUD, YOU KNOW, AN APP COLA.
I JUST REALLY WANT TO REFLECT TO ALL OF US THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT.
IT DID A CALCULATION TWO WAYS.
THEY'RE ASKING FOR 240, 53 BONUS UNITS.
OR, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY WILL ALSO BY INCREASING THE DENSITY TO 20 UNITS OVER.
WE'RE BASICALLY WOULD BE ENABLING THAT TO HAPPEN BY ORDINANCE TO INCREASE DENSITY OVER THE 70 ACRE SUB-DISTRICT, NOT JUST THIS PROPERTY.
AT THIS POINT IN TIME, AGAIN, I SAID I WAS COMFORTABLE WITH THE DIRECTION WENT.
BUT THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE ADDING 253 MORE HOUSING UNITS AND ONLY 71% OF THOSE ARE WORKFORCE HOUSING UNITS.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT THAT WAY, I'M A LITTLE BIT DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE JUST AS A POLICY MATTER, WELL, IT'S AN IMPROVEMENT.
IT'S REALLY NOT MOVING THE NEEDLE AS MUCH AS I THINK WE NEED TO.
AT THIS POINT AND TIME, WITH THE TOWN BEING MOSTLY BUILT OUT AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE BONUS UNITS.
I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A UNIQUE PROJECT BECAUSE IT'S SADDLED WITH CAUTION FOR GUARD.
BUT THAT THE PROPERTY VACANT IS SADDLED WITH DEBT OBLIGATION, WHICH IS WHY IT COMES OUT AS A CONSTRUCTION COST COMPARISON.
I THINK THAT'S MISLEADING, IF YOU WILL, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T BURDEN THE PARKING STRUCTURE IN MY MIND WITH COSTUMERS UNITS WHEN PART OF IT IS REALLY INTENDED AS AN OBLIGATION.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT MY COLLEAGUES AND EVERYBODY HERE UNDERSTANDS THAT IF WE SAY WE LIKE WHAT WE WANT, WHAT WE SEE, THEN YOU'D BE SAYING YOU'RE OKAY WITH AN ORDINANCE THAT PROVIDES 253 MORE UNITS WITH WHAT THEY PLANNING TO BE BUILT.
WE'RE GOING TO GET 71 OF THOSE UNITS, WORKFORCE HOUSING, THAT'S 28%.
I'M NOT THERE YET PERSONALLY AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
BUT I WAS I'M GRATEFUL WITH THE DIRECTION IT WAS GOING.
[02:20:03]
>> CHANCELLOR, [INAUDIBLE] AND DELANEY, BOTH YOUR MICROPHONES, CAN YOU PUSH THE BUTTON, I THINK THERE ARE OFF. SORRY.
>> I THINK THIS IS [INAUDIBLE]
WELL, THEY SAID 71 OF THE 253 SO IT IS 28%.
>> I REALIZED THE EXPENSE OF THIS PROJECT BECAUSE OF THE GARAGE.
IT'S JUST THAT I'M TRYING TO BE IN MY MIND CONSISTENT WITH POLICY, AND JUST AS A GENERAL RULE, WOULDN'T ADD 253 BONUS UNITS OVER ENTITLEMENTS IN GETTING ONLY 28% WORKFORCE HOUSING.
PERSONALLY, I PREFER NOT TO BE MAKING THOSE DECISION.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE GAINING ENOUGH.
>> DOES THIS HAVE TO BE IN THE ORDINANCE ISSUE?
>> WELL, THE ORDINANCE IS WHAT'S REQUIRED TO ENABLE THE PROJECT YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN ORDINANCE.
>> CORRECT. THE ORDINANCE OF BE BEFORE A SITE PLAN.
>> BUT DO YOU HAVE TO PUT IT SEQUENTIALLY TO KENT? WHAT I HAD ASKED BEFORE WHEN I SPOKE WITH STAFF AS I'M, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THESE ROUNDTABLES BECAUSE IT'S BEEN HELPFUL TO TRY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WORKFORCE HOUSING THROUGH AN EXAMPLE AND NOT HAVE THE PRESSURE OF A VOTE FOR A SITE PLAN.
I'VE BEEN ASKING ABOUT THE SITE PLAN BECAUSE I LINK THEM, BUT WE HAVEN'T REVIEWED THE SITE PLAN.
THE SITE PLAN HASN'T GONE BEFORE PLANNING AND ZONING.
IT HASN'T COME TO US, I HAVEN'T SEEN IT.
I DON'T WANT TO KNOW A LOT MORE ABOUT IT.
THIS IS A QUESTION OF POLICY REGARDING TEXT AMENDMENTS FOR DENSITY AND FOR USES.
I DO I HAVE CONCERNS, I'M NOT PLEASED WITH GETTING RID OF COMMERCIAL CORE, REDUCING IT IN ANY WAY WHEN WE'RE SO HEAVILY RESIDENTIAL ALREADY, WHAT WE STRUGGLE WITH IS DIVERSIFYING OUR ECONOMY.
WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE AN 80, 20 RESIDENTS. THAT'S WHY I KEEP HEARING.
BUT YOU ONCE TOLD ME I THINK COMMERCIAL WAS WHAT, 7% OR I FORGET.
>> SOMEWHERE AROUND THAT NUMBER, COMMERCIAL.
>> SEVEN PERCENT, INDUSTRIAL AND TOWNS.
TO REDUCE COMMERCIALLY KNOW THAT, THAT IS A STRUGGLE.
WHAT I HAD ASKED WAS, DO WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH TEXT AMENDMENTS TO DO THIS BEFORE A SITE PLAN? I WOULD WANT THEM MARRIED BECAUSE, WHAT IF WE LOOK AT THIS SITE PLAN AND CONTINUE TO HAVE MORE DISCUSSIONS DOWN THE LINE, LEARN MORE ABOUT WORKFORCE HOUSING.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT WILL GO. I MAY NOT SUPPORT IT.
BUT IF THEY'RE TOGETHER, IF THEY'RE LINKED THEM OR AT LEAST WE KNOW WHERE THIS IS GOING VERSUS HAVING IT BE OPEN-ENDED POTENTIALLY.
I THINK IT'S TRICKY. IT'S REALLY TRICKY.
>> I THINK THAT THE PRACTICE HAS NORMALLY BEEN THAT YOU HAVE TO, AND USUALLY THE ORDINANCES AS SUCH THAT STAFF SOMEWHAT MAKES THE JUDGMENT AND IT COMES ALONG, WE ALWAYS HAVE THE PREROGATIVE WHEN WE'D SEE HIM TOGETHER, NOT TO VOTE FOR IT.
I THINK THE STAFF CAME INTO US UNIQUELY ON THIS ONE DUE TO THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IT. IT IS DIFFERENT.
I THINK WHY YOU THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR ROUNDTABLE, WHICH IS A GOOD PROCESS BECAUSE GENERALLY THEY WANTED TO KNOW IS IT LIKELY TO GO THROUGH.
BEFORE THEY GO THROUGH ALL THE EFFORT, THE SITE PLAN, WHICH IS WHY I THINK WE HAVE TO WEIGH IN SOMEWHAT ABOUT THIS, WHICH I DID IS I'M SENDING A MESSAGE, I'M NOT SURE I CAN SUPPORT IT.
I'M EXPLAINING WHAT I'M PONDERING ABOUT.
INEVITABLY IT DOES COME BACK TO US TOGETHER, BECAUSE WE NORMALLY DO THE ORDINANCE ON FIRST READING AND IN THE SECOND READING GOES IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SITE PLAN.
THEN FUNDAMENTALLY, THEY BOTH HAVE TO KNOW BEFORE YOU VOTING ON IT.
BUT I THINK THIS IS SUCH A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY WAY IN WHICH SOME DIRECTION. I THINK.
>> QUICK QUESTION. GARRETT OR JOHN, UNDER THE ORIGINAL ABACAVIR DRI WITH TRAFFIC COUNTS, WORKED INTO THIS PROPERTY BECAUSE IT'S ZONED COMMERCIAL INCORRECT.
WHAT'S THE WHAT'S THE ACTUAL SONY?
>> IT'S MIXED USE, ITS CENTER SUB-DISTRICT, SO IT HAS A MIX OF USES, THOSE DAILY TRIPS AND WORKED INTO THE ENTIRE AREA, CORRECT.
THEY HADN'T SUDDENLY COMES WITH EXISTING SIGNIFICANTLY BY RIGHT.
>> TRIPS THAT'S WHAT IS IT, TELL ME WHAT WOULD BE THERE EVENTUALLY. CORRECT.
>> THEY HAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF NON-RESIDENTIAL ENTITLEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SUB-DISTRICTS.
IT'S OVER 200,000 OF NON-RESIDENTIAL.
[02:25:04]
THEY'RE LOOKING AT DOING AN EXCHANGE AND PRESUMABLY THEY WILL COME OUT LESS WITH THEIR RESIDENTIAL.>> MY QUESTION WASN'T RESIDENTIAL LESS THAN WHAT WAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED.
>> THAT'S IT. THAT'S ALL I HAD FOR THAT.
>> LET ME THINK ONCE THE COUNSEL WANT TO DO HERE WITH THIS.
>> I THINK WE'VE ALWAYS STRUGGLED WITH WORKFORCE HOUSING.
I'VE REALLY ENJOYED LEARNING MORE ABOUT WORKFORCE HOUSING HERE, WE'VE LOOKED AT SCHOOLS.
THE ISLAND WAY PROPERTY IN THE 500 RESIDENTIAL EVENTS WAS JUST ABSOLUTELY UNWORKABLE.
THERE WAS NO ROOM IN THE SCHOOLS, THERE'S NO TRAFFIC.
IT'S THE WORST QUADRANT FOR TRAFFIC IN THE TOWN.
I DON'T KNOW IF I SUPPORT THIS OR NOT.
I THINK WE'RE VOICING SERIOUS CONCERNS AND FEEDBACK FOR THE APPLICANT.
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT TO STOP IT HERE EITHER BECAUSE MAYBE WE CAN GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND CONTINUE TO SEE WHERE THIS GOES OR WHAT WE CAN LEARN.
MY CONCERNS ARE COMMERCIAL CORE AND THE AMOUNT OF RESIDENTIAL WE'RE ADDING WHEN WE'RE ALREADY SO LOPSIDED THAT WAY ANYHOW.
THAT SAID, OUR CITIZEN SURVEY SAYS THAT WE HAVE AN AFFORDABILITY PROBLEM.
IT'S WHAT HAS LED TO OUR MILLAGE RATE CUT.
IT'S WHAT HAS LED TO OUR DECISION-MAKING AROUND JUPITER FIRE.
IT'S LED TO A NUMBER OF THINGS.
I JUST PAID THE SINGLE HIGHEST ENERGY BILL OF MY ADULT LIFE THE SUMMER.
IT'S NOT JUST THAT, IT'S INSURANCE, IT'S EVERYTHING ELSE.
WE'RE HEARING THAT ROUTINELY AND WE'RE SEEING THAT AND FEELING THAT FROM RESIDENTS.
JUST TO CONTINUE TO EXPLORE IT IS SOMETHING I'D BE OPEN TO POTENTIALLY.
I THINK A LOT OF THIS IS NOT WELL UNDERSTOOD.
THE PARKING GARAGE IS INTERESTING AND THAT'S AN INTERESTING ELEMENT IN THIS.
WE DON'T HAVE RESIDENTIAL AND AVOCADO THAT HAS ITS OWN DEDICATED PARKING GARAGE.
THE EXPENSE FOR THAT REQUIRES THIS DENSITY, THIS VALUATION OR LUXURY UNITS THAT SUPPORT THE WORKFORCE HOUSING.
IS IT ENOUGH? THOSE ARE ALL QUESTIONS THAT I STILL HAVE, I WOULD WANT THEM LINKED AND THEN FOR ANOTHER DAY.
BUT IT'S TRICKY LIKE WORKFORCE HOUSING REQUIRES SOME SUPPORT.
THAT'S BEEN REALLY TRICKY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT TO BE HONEST.
>> I THINK IT'S CRUCIAL. I THINK WORKFORCE HOUSING CRUCIAL.
FOR THE DOWNLOADS CRUCIAL, WE NEED WORKERS TO BE ABLE TO STAY IN DOWN.
FIREFIGHTERS, YOU CAN SEE THEY APPEAR IN SEVERAL COLUMNS.
THIS IS REGENERATIVE, TRIED TO PUT A FIRE DEPARTMENT TOGETHER OR ARE THEY GOING TO LIVE? I FEEL STRONGLY FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING, BUT I'M HEARING TWO THINGS.
THE TRAFFIC COUNT IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM.
WE ARE GOING TO ADD A LOT OF TRAFFIC.
WE ARE GOING TO LOSE COMMERCIAL.
BUT THIS AVOCADO IS UNIQUE AREA.
WHAT I'VE BEEN SEEING IN THE MEN LIVING THROUGH, I HAVEN'T SEEN IT BEEN HERE BEFORE IT WAS THERE.
THE COMMERCIAL AREA IS JUST FLAT.
I REMEMBER THE THE MOVIE THEATER LOVED TAKING MY CHILDREN TO THE MOVIE THEATER.
HOW DOES THE MOVIE THEATER FAIL? HOW DOES IT'S A STRANGE PLACE? FOR SOME REASON, COMMERCIAL DOESN'T REALLY SEEM TO WANT TO GRAB A HOLD OF APPLICABLE.
I DON'T KNOW WHY I CAN'T EXPLAIN THAT.
IT JUST SEEMS ANECDOTALLY TO ME THAT THEY'VE GOT A PROBLEM MAKING COMMERCIAL WORK IN THAT AREA.
I'VE JUST BEEN SEEING THAT FEEDBACK, AND I'VE NOT BEEN HEARING ANYBODY SAY DOS THINKING ABOUT IT THAT WE NEED MORE COMMERCIAL AREA.
SEEMS LIKE THE OPPOSITE IS HAPPENING THE PARADIGM OF GOING TO A PLACE TO SHOP SEEMS THOUGH, COMING TO AN END.
EVERYTHING HAS GONE TO INTERNET PURCHASING.
IN COMMERCIAL, I WOULD NOT WANT TO BE HOLDING A LOT OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTY RIGHT NOW I TELL YOU THAT.
>> I FEEL LIKE WE'RE IN A VERY DYNAMIC SITUATION, BUT WE HAVE TO PLAN VERY LONG TERM ONCE SOMETHING IS BUILT THAT CAN'T BE UNBUILT.
WE HAVE TO BE REALLY CAREFUL WITH THE WAY WE STRUCTURE THINGS AND THEY HAVE BEEN STRUCTURED.
THE WORKFORCE HOUSING, THAT'S TAX BASE, SO WE WOULDN'T BE THOSE WOULD BE, WE WOULDN'T GETTING APPLES FROM TAXES FROM THAT.
I WOULD SAY THAT THIS PART OF TOWN, SCHOOLS DO WORKOUTS, CIRCULATION, TRAFFIC, BUT THERE HAVEN'T BEEN SIGNS POSTED BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A SITE PLAN THAT WE'RE REVIEWING RIGHT NOW.
THERE ARE NO SIGNS POSTED ON THOSE PARCELS.
[02:30:02]
I WONDER IF WE MIGHT GET MORE INPUT FROM RESIDENTS IN THE AREA.IF THEY ARE, MORE TIME IS GIVEN.
ON THE ISSUE, NOT JUST OF THE SITE PLAN WHICH I HAVEN'T SEEN, DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD EVEN SUPPORT, BUT WOULD ENHANCE DIALOGUE AROUND WORKFORCE HOUSING
>> BUT IT'S NOT A PARIS ME THAT EPO NEEDS MORE COMMERCIAL.
RECENT HISTORY TO THE PRESENT.
IF ANYTHING, WE'VE HEARD FROM SOME OF THE MERCHANTS DOWN IN DOWNTOWN AND FOURTH, THEY WOULD LIKE MORE FOOT TRAFFIC AND THIS WILL BRING MORE OF THAT IN.
THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE CLEANER ENTRIES OF A GOOD CHUNK OF WORKFORCE HOUSING UNITS IN JUPITER THAT I'VE SEEN.
IT'S PROBABLY THE BEST SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL.
ROB AS YOU MIX IN WITH MIXED USE PUDS AND WHAT THEY READ IT IS IRRELEVANT.
DEVELOPER WRITES A CHECK TO THE TOWN FOR SOME FUTURE WORKFORCE HOUSING WHICH NEVER DEVELOPS AT ALL SO, I THINK FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATION, THIS CONCEPT IS THE BEST FIT.
JUST I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF MAYBE MASSAGE GETTING OVER THE FINISH LINE.
>> EITHER WAY, I THINK WE SHOULD, WHEN WE TALK COMMERCIAL, WE SHOULD, AMONG OURSELVES IN DIALOGUE DISTINGUISH RETAIL FROM WORKPLACE.
BECAUSE FOR THOSE THAT MAY NOT KNOW WHAT THIS LAST PHASE HERE WAS AT ONE TIME COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL.
LONG AGO WE BACKED OFF FROM THAT BUT WE STILL SAW IT AS OKAY.
APARTMENT WAS EXPECTING THIS LAST SITE WAS GOING TO BE TWO OFFICE BUILDINGS.
THEN WE HEAR, AND IT'S INTERESTING TO HEAR THIS ONE WAS OUR MARKET FOR THAT.
THEN TWO WEEKS LATER WE APPROVE A BIG CLASS 1 OFFICE BUILDING ON US 1.
THERE IS MARKETS [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT IN ANY EVENT, THIS IS WHAT'S BEFORE US.
I'M JUST SUGGESTING THAT IT ALREADY WHAT WOULD BE HERE WAS OFFICE, WHICH WAS WORKPLACE, WHICH I THINK I APPRECIATE THEY CAME BACK WITH THAT RATHER THAN LEAVE WORK.
THIS IS A MORE PRACTICAL OFFICE SUITES WHERE SOMEONE CAN GO AND WORK OUT OF THAT ENVIRONMENT.
THAT'S A DIFFERENT TYPE OF COMMERCIAL RATE, NOT COMPETING WITH PHASE 1 WHERE THE RETAIL IS IN THAT USE.
AGAIN, I THOUGHT IN GENERALLY RESPONDED WHAT WE ASKED.
THEY ADDED INSTEAD OF LIVE-WORK UNITS, THEY ADDED, I THINK A MORE PRACTICAL COMMERCIAL SPACE, MEANING OFFICE-TYPE SPACE.
THEY HEARD ABOUT WE NEEDED MORE WORKFORCE HOUSING UNITS.
WE NEEDED VARIATION AND PRICING.
IT'S NOT JUST EVERYBODY AT 120%.
IT WAS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
AGAIN, I KNOW THE NUMBERS HAVE TO WORK.
I'M STILL STRUGGLING WITH EFFECTIVELY, IT'S 253 BONUS UNITS.
I THINK WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR RESONANCE AND I'M CONSISTENT WHEN I HAVE BEEN ON OTHER ONES THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A HIGH RATIO OF WORKFORCE HOUSING IF WE'RE GOING TO ADD MORE RESIDENTIAL UNITS, THAT JUST MY OWN PERSONAL POLICY POSITION, SO I CAN'T OVERCOME THAT TONIGHT.
I'M NOT TRYING TO FORCE ANYBODY ELSE IN HAVING TO MAKE A PREMATURE DECISION.
IT'S JUST A ROUNDTABLE WHERE YOUR APPLICANT IS LISTENING AS THEY DID BEFORE.
OBVIOUSLY WANTS US TO GIVE US AS SPECIFIC AS WE INDIVIDUALLY CAN GIVE ALONG WITH STAFF SO THEY CAN HAVE SENSORS.
THERE ARE SOME TYPE OF CONSENSUS EMERGING.
CONSENSUS IS NOT A FIVE NOTHING.
IT'S A, QUITE FRANKLY, IT IS A 3-2.
>> CAN SOMEBODY EXPLAIN WHY IT HAS TO BE THROUGH AN ORDINANCE? I'M COMING FROM P&Z.
EVERYTHING IS SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
WHY DOES THIS HAVE TO BE TIED? [OVERLAPPING]
>> CODE HAS TO BE CHANGED TO ALLOW HIM TO DO IT.
>> WHY NOT A SPECIAL EXCEPTION?
>> WELL, A SPECIAL EXCEPTION IS JUST A USE THAT'S IDENTIFIED IN THE ZONING DISTRICT AS A USE THAT CAN BE PERMITTED IF YOU GO THROUGH THE PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS.
THOSE USES ARE TYPICALLY USES THAT HAVE IMPACTS THAT FLUCTUATE AND ARE NOT LIKE A STANDARD AS AN OFFICE USE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHERE YOU HAVE CLEAR EXPECTATION OF WHAT THE IMPACTS WILL BE.
A SPECIAL EXCEPTION IS TO BE EVALUATED ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS TO LOOK AT THE ACTUAL IMPACTS OF THE LOCATION WHERE IT'S BEING PROPOSED.
THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT REALM.
I WILL SAY THE WAY THAT WE'VE DONE THIS AND THE WAY IT WAS
[02:35:03]
DONE WITH BARCELONA WAS THEY PARTICIPATED AND USED THE TOWN'S HOUSING ELEMENT AND THE BONUSES FOR PRODUCING WORKFORCE HOUSING.THAT'S HOW THEY ACHIEVED 150% INCREASE IN THEIR DENSITY.
THEIR DENSITY ON THAT PROJECT, USING THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN HOUSING ELEMENT INCENTIVES FOR BONUSES FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING, THEY WENT FROM SIX UNITS PER ACRE TO 15 UNITS PER ACRE.
AS PART OF THAT, THEY WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE 75 UNITS OUT OF 351, WHICH HAS 21% OF THE TOTAL UNITS THAT THEY WERE DEVELOPING AS PART OF THAT PROJECT.
THE REASON WHY THIS APPLICANT ISN'T DOING THAT IS BECAUSE THE TOWN'S WORKFORCE HOUSING PROGRAM CAPS YOU AT 15 UNITS PER ACRE.
THEY ALREADY HAVE A ZONING DISTRICT THAT ALLOWS YOU TO GO TO 16.
THEY'RE ASKING FOR AN INCREASE TO GO FROM 16 DWELLING UNITS TO 20 DWELLING UNITS, WHICH IS THE 25% INCREASE.
BARCELONA GOT 150% INCREASE TO PRODUCE 21% OF THEIR UNITS AT WORKFORCE HOUSING LEVELS OF AFFORDABILITY.
THEY'RE ASKING FOR 25% INCREASE TO PROVIDE 28% OF THEIR UNITS, I BELIEVE WAS THE NUMBER WE CALCULATED, AS WORKFORCE HOUSING.
NOW AN ALTERNATIVE, WHICH I THINK WAS THE QUESTION THAT COUNSELOR SUNSTEIN CAME UP WITH OR ASKED A QUESTION AROUND, WE COULD GO BACK AND AMEND OUR HOUSING ELEMENT TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES THAT ARE BASED ON YOUR ACTUAL DENSITY PERHAPS, OR SOME OTHER CALCULATION THAT GIVES PEOPLE THAT ALREADY HAVE A DENSITY UP TO 15 UNITS PER ACRE A WAY TO GET AN INCREASE THAT'S INCREMENTAL IN ORDER TO PRODUCE WORKFORCE HOUSING UNITS.
BUT THEY'VE JUST CHOSEN, I WOULD SAY, PROBABLY THE MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD OR EASIER PATH AND THE SCHEME OF THINGS TO ASK FOR A ZONING CHANGE, AND THAT'S WHY IT WOULD BE AN ORDINANCE.
>> THE OTHER UNIQUE THING DID ADD JOHN, I THINK IT WAS IMPLIED BUT JUST FOR UNDERSTANDING, APPEARS THAT WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT THIS PROJECT BECAUSE IT'S WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT ABA COHEN TOWN CENTER IS THE DENSITY APPLIES UNTIL 70 ACRES.
WE'RE USED TO MOST OF THE TIMES WE'RE DEALING WITH AN APPLICATION WHERE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE DENSITY ON THE SITE ITSELF.
>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE NET DENSITY, I THINK THERE WERE IN THE 50S MAYBE.
>> I SAID I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR NET DENSITY ON THE PROPERTIES THAT ARE PROPOSING TO DEVELOP ON IT, MAYBE AROUND 50 UNITS PER ACRE.
BECAUSE IT'S SPREAD OVER THE 70 ACRES THAT HAS A MIX OF USES.
AND DON'T QUOTE ME ON THAT NUMBER, I WOULD HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE CALCULATE IT.
>> I UNDERSTAND. BUT IT'S JUST THE HIGHER NOW.
>> THERE'S A HIGHER NET DENSITY ON THE PROPERTIES THAN THE 20 UNITS THAT'S BEING DISCUSSED.
AND ONE OTHER THING JUST TO MAKE YOU AWARE, JUST AS IT RELATES TO PROVIDING WORKFORCE HOUSING, WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDIES, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND A DEVELOPER ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU A ONE FOR ONE UNIT WHERE THEY BUILD ONE UNIT MARKET RATE AND PROVIDE YOU WITH ONE UNIT THAT'S WORKFORCE OR EVERY BONUS UNIT, BEING A WORKFORCE HOUSING UNIT.
IT'S JUST IN ALL OF MY EXPERIENCE, YOU'D NEVER GET CLOSE TO THAT.
THAT'S WHY IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING LIKE 20% OR 30% MAYBE OF THE UNITS CAN ACTUALLY BE PRODUCED AT AN AFFORDABLE LEVEL BECAUSE IT'S AN ONGOING BURDEN.
>> WHICH BRINGS UP A QUESTION I HAD.
I I HEARD THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE ANNUAL REPORT.
>> YES, IT IS. BUT IF YOU COULD JUST TALK MORE THROUGHOUT SUFFERING FROM COVID LUNGS.
>> HAVE MY VOICE IS CRAP RIGHT NOW.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE ANNUAL REPORTING OF HOW IT'S GOING IF WE WERE TO APPROVE THIS IN THE FUTURE OR NOT NOW, BUT THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE ANNUAL REPORTING TO SHOW THAT THIS IS WORKING? THAT IT IS GOING TO BE IS THAT GOING TO BE CODIFIED? IT'S GOING TO BE AN ORDINANCE?
>> THAT THAT WILL BE IN THEIR SITE PLAN.
IF THEY GO FORWARD AND GET THE ORDINANCE CHANGE, THERE'LL BE A SITE PLAN ASSOCIATED WITH THE INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT, AND ALL OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS WILL BE ARTICULATED IN THAT RESOLUTION TO CONSISTENT WITH THE TOWN CODE REQUIREMENTS.
>> AND THAT COULD BE QUARTERLY.
THERE'S SO MANY VARIABLES HERE, SO MANY THINGS OUTSTANDING.
SO MANY THINGS, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE SITE PLAN OR WHAT WOULD GO FORWARD.
I THINK WHAT I MOSTLY WANT IS JUST TIME TO UNDERSTAND IT AND CONTINUE LOOKING AT IT.
AND WITH STAFF, I BELIEVE SEND THE REPORT OR EVEN IN THE PRESENTATION THAT THIS WOULD DOUBLE THE WORKFORCE HOUSING THAT THE TOWN HAS.
[02:40:05]
SO THAT IS A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY.AND IF IT'S QUARTERLY TRACKING, THAT COULD BE A BUDGET IMPACT IN TERMS OF MANAGING THAT RESPONSIBLY AND THERE COULD POTENTIALLY BE LAYERS OF SUBSIDY.
WE DIDN'T GET TO TALK ABOUT COUNTY, THE WORKFORCE HOUSING PLAN.
IT'S IT'S REALLY COMPLICATED SUBJECT, A LOT HAS BEEN DISTILLED INTO THIS PROJECT THAT MAKES IT MORE DIGESTIBLE, WHICH I'M GRATEFUL FOR.
I WANT TO SAY I HAVE AN OPEN MIND BECAUSE OF THE OVERWHELMING DEMAND FOR GREATER AFFORDABILITY IN THE TOWN ON BEHALF OF MANY RESIDENTS.
AND HOW THIS MIGHT BE AN OPTION CERTAINLY BETTER THAN THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT WERE BEING BROUGHT TO US ON ISLAND WAY.
SO BUT COUNSELOR MAY HASN'T, IF HE WANTS TO.
NOW, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN PRETTY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PROJECT COMING FORWARD.
I'VE WORKED, I'VE TALKED WITH THE DEVELOPER AND MET WITH THEM SEVERAL TIMES.
AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT I ASKED FOR WHEN THEY ORIGINALLY PROPOSED, I SAID, IF YOU WANT TO MOVE THE NEEDLE IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING WITH WORKFORCE HOUSING AND THEY CAME OUT OF THE GATE AND JUST DOUBLED IT OFF THE BAT.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THEM DOING THAT.
AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, THEN THEY SPREAD IT OUT EVENLY OVER THE THREE CATEGORIES WHICH I REALLY APPRECIATED.
AND AVALON OF COURSE, DEFINITELY A SPECIAL AREA BECAUSE IT'S SO FAR OFF ANY OF OUR MAIN ARTERIES THAT IT REALLY MAKES IT HARD FOR COMMERCIAL TO REALLY WORK THERE.
BECAUSE IT'S NOT RIGHT UP AGAINST DONALD ROSS OR MILITARY.
IT'S, IT'S TUCKED BACK IN THERE.
AND I'VE HEARD FROM THE BUSINESS OWNERS AND DOWNTOWN.
SO WE DON'T WANT ANY MORE COMMERCIAL RESTAURANTS, STUFF THAT THEY HAVE TO COMPETE AGAINST BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY STRUGGLING AS IT IS.
THEY'RE DOING A LOT BETTER NOW THAN THEY WERE.
BUT IT'S TAKEN A LOT OF TIME FOR THEM TO GET TO WHERE THEY ARE NOW.
SO I DON'T WANT TO BE BURDENING THEM WITH MORE COMPETITION IN THAT AREA.
AND I THINK ACTIVATING THIS AREA BY PROVIDING THIS TYPE OF PROJECT AND HAVING THE WORKFORCE HOUSING AND MAKING IT A WALKABLE AREAS, ESPECIALLY NOW THEY CHANGED A LISTEN, THEY WANTED TO CHANGE THE FIRST FLOOR UNITS TO MORE COMMERCIAL RETAIL THING WITH SOME OFFICE SPACE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I THINK IT HITS THE MARK FOR WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO, WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE DOWN THERE.
SO I THINK WE HAVE TO LET THE PROCESS PLAY OUT.
WE HAVE TO LET THEM GO THROUGH THE STAFF PROCESS AND P AND Z AND STUFF AND SEE HOW IT SHAPES OUT FOR US AND WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, IF WE DON'T LIKE IT WHEN IT COMES FOR US TO VOTE IT DOWN, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO LET THE PROCESS WORK AND START MOVING THE BALL DOWN THE ROAD SO THAT THEY'RE NOT GETTING HELD UP ANYMORE ON JUST VACANT PROPERTY THAT THEY'RE PAYING PROBABLY PRETTY GOOD TAXES ON RIGHT NOW.
>> THERE'S TWO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FROM STAFF.
NUMBER 1, I THINK WE SAW IN THE ORIGINAL PACKAGE A PRELIMINARY PLAN.
WASN'T IT THE CASE THAT THE BUILDING IS ONE STORY TALLER THAN ANYTHING ELSE AROUND IT?
>> I BELIEVE THEY'RE AT FIVE STORIES AND WE HAVE FIVE STORIES IN THE FIRST PHASE OF TOWN CENTER ALVALON BOROUGH DOWNTOWN, THERE ARE PORTIONS THAT ARE FIVE STORIES.
>> BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? WHEN I LOOKED AT THAT AREA WAS ONLY SEEING FOUR-STOREY.
SO IT GETS TO FIVE STOREYS OR FIVE STORY? ON TOWN CENTER DRIVE?
>> WHAT DO WE SELL? MORE UNITS IS WHAT YOU GO UP.
>> IT'S MORE INTERIOR TO THE FIRST PHASE OF TOWN CENTER.
>>THE OTHER THING IS, AND THIS IS ALL NEW HERE.
BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT OUR PARADIGM WAS ABOUT WHAT WORKFORCE HOUSING PERCENTAGES MAY HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST.
THIS LIVE LOCAL ORDINANCE OR WHATEVER BILL IS UNIQUE IN THE FACT THAT IT'S PROVIDING A 75% AVALON TAX PROPERTY ASSESSED VALUE EXEMPTION.
IS THAT ON ALL AVALON TAXES OR IS IT LIMITED?
>> IT'S LIMITED. I THINK IT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE DEBT SERVICE AND IT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT I THINK EVERYTHING ELSE IS INCLUDED.
>> THERE'S STILL A LITTLE BIT OF GRAY ABOUT ALL THESE ISSUES.
>> I KNOW IT IS I KNOW IT'S ALL GRAY.
THAT'S WHY IT PROBABLY WASN'T WRITTEN IN HERE.
>> THAT POTENTIALLY WHEN I THINK ABOUT SOMEBODY'S AD VALOREM TAXES, SO IS 75% OF EVERYTHING BUT SCHOOL AND DEBT IS ELIMINATED.
[02:45:03]
>> AND THAT'S FOR THE PROPORTION OF THE PROPERTY THAT'S DEDICATED TO THE WORKFORCE HOUSING UNITS AND NOT THE ENTIRE DEVELOPMENT.
>> BUT THAT LEGISLATIVE ENABLEMENT WHICH RESULTS IN GOVERNMENTS THEN GETTING LESS REVENUE WE SHOULD BE THEN BE EXPECTING A RETURN ON THAT WITH MORE WORKFORCE HOUSING.
>> THERE ARE OTHER DYNAMICS AS CONSTRUCTION COSTS ARE NOT WHAT THEY WERE WHEN BARCELONA WAS BUILT AS WELL.
INLAND VALUES. SO THERE'S THOSE DYNAMICS AND FACTORS AND VARIABLES THAT ALSO IMPACT THIS.
>> PROBABLY HARD TO UNDERSTAND RIGHT NOW. YOU DON'T KNOW BECAUSE I DON'T HIM.
I HAVE A VERY BROAD STROKES SKETCH OF IT ALL, SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT.
I THINK IT'S ADDRESSING BASEBALL PARKING AS WELL AND HOW THAT WORKS WITH PRIVATE PARKING AND PUBLIC PARKING [OVERLAPPING].
THEN THE COST OF THAT STRUCTURED PARKING INTO IT AND THERE'S JUST A LOT.
>> A LOT OF QUESTIONS, HOPKIN'S OFF THE TABLE NOW.
>> WAS THERE MORE PARKING PROVIDED IN THIS SITE PLAN? I HAVEN'T SEEN IT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH PARKING IS PROVIDED OR WHAT THE PLAN IS BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T BEEN LOOKING AT THAT.
WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS TEXT AMENDMENT.
>> THERE'S QUITE A FEW UNKNOWNS THAT COULD AFFECT THE SITE PLAN THAT WOULD MAKE IT A NO-GO.
>> THIS LAW WAS USED FOR OVERFLOW FOR BASEBALL, THE PARKING ISSUE IN BASEBALL, THAT'S NOT AN ISSUE ANYMORE, CORRECT?
>> WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL BASEBALL LOOKS AT THIS SPECIFIC PLAN, BUT THE INTENTION IS TO MAINTAIN ALL OF THE NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES.
ISSUES COME UP WHEN SITE PLANS GO FORWARD.
>> THE WHOLE BASEBALL THING WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT FOR YEARS.
>> I'M NOT SAYING IT'S A PROBLEM.
I'M JUST SAYING WE HAVEN'T ENGAGED THE COUNTY OR JUPITER STADIUM LIMITED ABOUT THE PROPOSAL AND THE SPECIFICS OF THE PROPOSAL.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE APPLICANT HAS DONE THAT AS OF YET, BUT THOSE ARE ISSUES THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE CLEARLY VETTED OUT JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS IN AGREEMENT.
WE'RE STILL MEETING A NUMBER OF REQUIRED SPACES ABOVE AND BEYOND THE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S PROPOSED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF BASEBALL AND THAT THEY'RE REASONABLY ACCESSIBLE AND ALL THAT.
>> CAN YOU PULL UP THIS AND CAN YOU POINT OUT ON? YOU CAN'T?
>> WELL, WE DON'T HAVE THAT FEATURE ANYMORE.
YOU CAN PUT THIS ON THE OVERALL.
WELL, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE LETTING US ALL KNOW [LAUGHTER] ACCORDING TO THE PUBLIC, WHERE THE BUILDINGS ARE GOING BECAUSE YOU LOOK AT THAT AND IT SHOWS AMENITIES.
I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHICH TOTALITY OF THE AREA THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DEVELOPING.
>> THAT'S ALSO ON THE TAB ON THE AGENDA.
IF YOU JUST WANTED TO PULL THE AGENDA ITEM UP ON THE COMPUTER.
>> YEAH, IT WAS IN THE AGENDA PACKAGE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHOW IT ON THE SCREEN.
>> I WAS JUST SAYING THE STUDY YOU GUYS HAVING TO DO THAT, JUST GO TO THE TOWN'S WEBSITE, PULL UP THE AGENDA ITEM, CLICK ON THE TAB, AND SCROLL DOWN IT'S IN THERE PRETTY FAR DOWN THE WAY.
[BACKGROUND] WELL, WHAT YOU FIND IN THE UPPER CORNER IS THE INITIAL ANALYSIS ENCOMPASS THIS.
>> FROM WHAT I UNDERSTOOD, THERE WAS A REDUCTION IN TRAFFIC BY SWITCHING THIS TO A HEAVIER RESIDENTIAL. YES.
>> OVERALL THE PROJECT WILL REDUCE THAT?
>> MR. MAYOR, DID YOU WANT ME TO POINT ANYTHING OUT ON THAT?
>> YEAH, I JUST WANTED YOU TO POINT OUT WHICH PARCELS IN BUILDINGS ARE PART OF THIS APPLICATION.
I THINK I KNOW, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ALL ARE GROUNDED IN WHAT THAT IS.
MAIN STREET RUNS UP HERE TO THE NORTH.
THIS IS THE ALLURE MULTI-FAMILY PROJECT HERE AND THIS IS THE LARGEST GARAGE IN TOWN CENTER THAT'S BEHIND THE MARRIOTT.
[02:50:04]
THE THREE PARCELS ARE THE ONE THAT USED TO BE THE CINEMA, AND THEN THE TWO VACANT PIECES THAT ARE THE REMAINING TEMPORARY GRASS PARKING AREAS THAT WERE ORIGINALLY PROVIDED TO MEET NEEDS FOR BASEBALL.>> EFFECTIVELY, THE LAST THREE PARCEL IS STILL THERE?
>> YES. THEN THE BLUE AREAS AT THE CORNERS HERE ARE THE OFFICE SUITES AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER SECTION OF OFFICE SUITES ACROSS FROM THE STADIUM.
THEN THE ORANGE HERE THAT'S CLOSER TO THE MARRIOTT WHERE YOU WALK BETWEEN THE STADIUM AND THE PARKING GARAGE A DEDICATED OFFICE TENANT COULD BE THERE, A LARGER TENANT.
LIKE WE HAD MENTIONED OR I THINK CARA HAD MENTIONED WE HAD TALKED TO THEM THE LAST TIME WE MET ABOUT RETAINING MAYBE SOME MORE INTENSE ENTITLEMENTS THAN JUST OFFICE SO THEY WOULD HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY FOR MEDICAL, FOR PERSONAL SERVICES, LIKE A HAIR SALON, NAIL, MASSAGE, WHATEVER, ALL THOSE THINGS.
IT COULD ALSO BE RETAIL AND OR RESTAURANT, BUT I THINK THAT'S THE USE THAT COUNSELLOR MAY HAD TALKED ABOUT THERE BEING SOME CONCERN FROM THE EXISTING TENANTS IN DOWNTOWN [INAUDIBLE] BUT THERE ARE A MYRIAD OF OTHER USES THAT COULD HELP THEM LIKE OFFICE TENANTS TYPICALLY HELP OTHER RETAIL TENANTS BECAUSE THEY BRING MORE FOOT TRAFFIC ON A DAILY BASIS.
THAT'S MORE OF A TURNOVER THAN JUST A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE OF RESIDENTS THAT MAY NOT GO TO THE SAME RESTAURANT AS FREQUENTLY.
>> THEN JUST ONE THING WHILE WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS TOO, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA.
THE YELLOW AREAS AND THE RED ARE AREAS THAT ARE DEDICATED TO THE RESIDENTIAL MULTIFAMILY USES THAT ARE PROPOSED HERE IN THESE AREAS, AND THEN ON TOP OF THE BLUE.
THE PARKING GARAGE PORTIONS ARE IN-BETWEEN THESE TWO BUILDINGS ON EACH OF THE TWO REMAINING GRASS PARKING LOTS AND THEN THE SAME JUST HERE.
THEN THIS BUILDING PRIMARILY WOULD SHARE WITH THE EXISTING GARAGE.
>> THEY'RE ALSO PROPOSING EXTENDING THAT EXISTING GARAGE OUT TO UNIVERSITY CORRECT?
>> ON THE SOUTH SIDE THEIR PURPOSE AND I THINK 200 SPACES OR SO TO NOTCH OUT THAT GARAGE AND EXPAND IT.
>> WELL, I WAS GOING TO SAY FROM WHAT I WAS TOLD IS THAT I WAS TO ADDRESS THE BASEBALL PARKING ISSUE BECAUSE THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY HAS ALREADY SPOKEN WITH BASEBALL ABOUT THAT AND THEY SAID THAT SEEMS INVESTED.
>> I DIDN'T MEAN TO SET UP ANY ALARMS WITH THAT, BUT UNTIL EVERYBODY HAS SIGNED OFF ON IT I DON'T LIKE TO ASSUME EVERYBODY IS OKAY.
BUT YEAH, AS FAR AS I KNOW, THEY ARE MEETING OR EXCEEDING THE REQUIREMENTS.
>> THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME AND I HOPE IT HAPPENS WHERE THE COUNTY DOESN'T COME OUT AND OBJECT.
>> YOU'LL NOTICE THE ALLURE IS SETBACK HEAVILY BY THE SURFACE PARKING.
TYPICALLY STRUCTURED PARKING ISN'T WITH RESIDENTIAL.
WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN STADIUM-DRIVE AND YOU SEE THAT SETBACK, THE ALLURE IS FOUR STORIES, BUT IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE QUITE SO TALL BECAUSE OF THE SETBACK, IT'S AT A DISTANCE.
WHEN YOU GO TO AND YOU TURN RIGHT AND YOU'RE GOING TOWARDS ROGER DEAN, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE 4,5 STORY BUILDINGS WITH THIS AND IT'S GOING TO HAVE A DIFFERENT CHARACTER.
THAT'S JUST SOMETHING TO NOTE AS WELL AS YOU LOOK AT THIS FROM GROUND LEVEL DRIVING THROUGH THE AREA.
>> IT'S LIKE STRIKING THE GARAGE.
>> CAN THEY MAKE THAT INVISIBLE?
>> ANY FINAL COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? STAFF FEELING TO HAVE SOME DIRECTION HERE?
>> THE QUESTION IS, DO YOU KNOW?
>> I KNEW HE WAS GOING TO SAY THAT BY THE WAY.
>> THEY HAVE AN APPLICATION IN PROCESS TO DO THE ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT THAT WENT THROUGH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND IT WAS PRESENTED TO COUNCIL, AND THAT'S WHERE WE TOOK THIS PAUSE AND INSTEAD OF THE COUNCIL VOTING ON THE ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT, WE'VE HAD THESE TWO ROUND TABLES TO DISCUSS THE SUBJECT.
NOW OUR DECISION WOULD BE TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW THEM OR TO TAKE THEIR APPLICATION AND RESCHEDULE IT BEFORE THE COUNCIL FOR AN ACTION THAT PASSES ON FIRST READING.
OR IF IT DOESN'T PASS ON FIRST READING IT'S SUBJECT OVER.
IF IT PASSES ON FIRST READING OR AT ANYTIME IF NOW YOU ASK
[02:55:04]
US TO GO AHEAD AND WORK ON THEIR ACTUAL SITE PLAN BECAUSE WE'VE PUT THAT TO THE SIDE UNTIL WE HAVE A LEGISLATIVE POLICY INPUT FROM THE COUNCIL ON THE INCREASE IN THE DENSITY AND THE AMENDMENTS TO THE COMMERCIAL CORE.WE HAVE NOT REVIEWED THEIR SITE PLAN, I'M GLAD THIS CAME UP BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T HAVE COME UP WITH THE SECOND READING UNLESS YOU ALL ASK US TO DO IT THAT WAY.
WE WOULD HAVE HAD THE ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT PASS, AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE WORKED ON THE SITE PLAN AND BROUGHT IT BACK TO YOU.
IF YOU WANT US TO MAKE SURE THAT'S DONE BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READINGS, WE JUST NEED DIRECTION TO MOVE FORWARD ON REVIEWING THEIR SITE PLAN IN TANDEM WITH YOUR CONSIDERATION OR CONCURRENTLY WITH YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THE ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT.
>> THIS COMES BEFORE US AS A FIRST, IT DOESN'T GO BACK TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING.
>> THE ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT DOES NOT NEED TO GO BACK TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION UNLESS THE COUNCIL DIRECTS US TO DO SO.
THE SUB-DISTRICT MASTER SITE PLAN, AND THE INDIVIDUAL SITE PLAN WILL NEED TO GO TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.
>> WELL, AND THEY NEED TO GO THROUGH YOUR PROCESS FIRSTLY.
>> THEN PLANNING AND ZONING IN VENICE AND I WOULD WANT THOSE TWO TOGETHER.
I DON'T WANT TO MAKE CHANGES TO OUR CODE TO ADD WHERE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT COULD HAPPEN THEN.
>> IS THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE?
>> I CERTAINLY AGREE WITH THAT BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY STATED, I'VE GOT RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE FIFTH FLOOR WHERE THIS IS LOCATED AND THEN, A NUMBER OF WORKFORCE HOUSING UNITS SO THAT CAN BE ADDRESSED TWO WAYS.
IT'S CUTTING UNITS DOWN A FLOOR DOWN AND KEEP THE 71 OR SO THAT'S STILL HAS TO RUN ITS COURSE.
BUT I WOULDN'T BE IN FAVOR OF I LIKING, AGAIN, I KNOW THIS IS DIFFERENT AND IT NEEDS TO BE DIFFERENT BECAUSE ALBUQUERQUE WAS DEVELOPED DIFFERENTLY.
BUT, IT'S LIKE SOMEWHAT I LIKE IT INTO A PUD IN A SITE PLAN.
IN THAT CASE, I GET THE RIGHT, WE ALL GET THE RIGHT TO JUDGE PUBLIC BENEFITS RIGHT.
WHICH IS WHY I WAS STATED IN CLARIFYING HERE THAT, I SURELY WOULD NEVER VOTE TO APPROVE THE INCREASE IN DENSITY WITHOUT A PROJECT THAT YOU'RE GETTING SOME BENEFIT FROM, EQUIVALENT BENEFIT, IF YOU WILL.
WHAT'S THE INCENTIVE TO DO IT IF IT WASN'T TO SATISFY INDIVIDUALLY WHAT YOU THINK THE TRADE FOR THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE.
WE ALL MAY BE DIFFERENT ON THAT, SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GOT ANY MORE DIRECTION HERE, BUT I GUESS THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AS A MINIMUM.
>> I HAVEN'T REALLY HEARD A CLEAR CONSENSUS OF WHETHER I MEAN, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE CLOSE TO A CONSENSUS OF HAVING AT LEAST THREE MEMBERS THAT ARE SUPPORTIVE OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THE INCREASED DENSITY AND A PROJECT AND THAT IF THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, YOU WANT TO HAVE THAT CONCURRENT WITH THEIR SITE PLAN APPLICATIONS WHERE THE SUB-DISTRICT AND FOR THE INDIVIDUAL SITE PLAN.
>> I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> WE HAVE FOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
>> BE HELPFUL TO HEAR FROM THEM IF THEY HAVE ENOUGH DIRECTION, THANKS.
>> TODD FEBRUARY AND GERARD MCCALLEN.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL, TODD FEBRUARY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING AT THIS FOR OVER A YEAR NOW AND AT THE LAST SESSION WE HAD WE GOT DIRECTION FROM YOU ALL AND WE WORKED REALLY HARD TO TRY TO ADDRESS ALL OF THOSE GOOD, CONCISE DIRECTION THAT WE GOT, WHICH WAS ACTIVATING THE GROUND FLOOR, DOING MORE ON THE WORKFORCE AND SPREADING OUT OVER THE THREE LEVELS SO WE WENT BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.
WE WORKED EXTREMELY HARD AND TRYING TO MEET ALL OF THOSE DIRECTIVES TO TRY AS BEST WE COULD TO MEET ALL THOSE DIRECTIVES AND I BELIEVE HAVE PUT FORTH WHAT IS A VERY STRONG PROPOSAL.
WE BELIEVE IN THE PROJECT, WE BELIEVE THAT IT'S A VERY GOOD WORTHY PROJECT AND IS IN THE RIGHT LOCATION FOR THE TOWN TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS INTENSITY IN DENSITY AS WELL AS THE RIGHT PLACE FOR THE WORKFORCE HOUSING.
[03:00:04]
FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT PREVIOUSLY, HELPING THE RETAIL THAT'S THERE NOW THAT STRUGGLES.ADDING THIS SORT OF HOUSING AND ALL THESE DIFFERENT LEVELS IS WE BELIEVE, A VERY WORTHY PROJECT.
WE PUT OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD TO TRY TO ADDRESS ALL THOSE ITEMS. I HOPE THAT YOU CAN AGREE THAT WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN.
WE DID UTILIZE THE LIVE, LOCAL AND SOME OTHER THINGS TRYING TO MAKE UP FOR THE REVENUE LOST WITH HAVING THE ADDITIONAL UNITS AT ALL THREE LEVELS.
AS I SAID, WE WENT AND WORKED VERY HARD AT TRYING TO STUDYING THE MARKET IN TERMS OF USES AND BELIEVE WE HAVE A PROJECT THAT IS VIABLE AND AGAIN, AND I THINK THE DIRECTION WE'VE GOTTEN, I THINK WE'RE SPEAKING ON THE OWNER'S BEHALF.
WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH GOING BACK AND LINKING THE SITE PLAN.
WE DID SUBMIT THE SITE PLAN ORIGINALLY AND THE STAFF SAID THAT THEY DECIDED NOT TO REVIEW THAT BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT GOTTEN ANY DIRECTION FROM YOU ALL WITH THE ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT.
BUT WE'RE HAPPY TOO IF THAT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNCIL, WE'RE HAPPY TO GO BACK AND AND LINK THE TWO TOGETHER, GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, GO THROUGH THE PLANNING AND ZONING WITH THE SITE PLAN, AND ULTIMATELY BRING BOTH TO YOU AND SO THAT YOU CAN I THINK IT MAKES COMPLETE SENSE TO BE ABLE TO CONSIDER THEM ALL TOGETHER AT THE SAME TIME, SO IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> I'M VERY INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS HAVE TO SAY SO MAKE THAT A STRONG EMPHASIS POINT FOR YOU IF YOU COULD, WHEN WE'RE STARTING TO REVIEW THIS, YOU CAN SAY WE'VE HELD SESSIONS WITHIN ALBUQUERQUE AND TALK WITH NEIGHBORS AND HERE'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE THINKING.
THEN MY ADVICE FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH LISTENING TO P AND Z WHEN THEY TELL YOU YOU NEED TO TWEAK YOUR SITE PLAN.
THEY'VE GOT A PRETTY GOOD FEEL FOR HOW WE THINK ABOUT STUFF SO TAKE AS MUCH ADVICE FROM THEM AS YOU CAN.
THE SITE PLAN, I THINK IS GOING TO MAKE OR BREAK IT.
>> I WILL ADD THE GARAGES THAT ARE BEING ADDED.
I THINK SOMEONE I'M NOT SURE WHO IT WAS MENTIONED CAN YOU MAKE THEM DISAPPEAR OR THAT WAS YOU? WE DO HAVE FENESTRATION, SO THAT FROM THE STREET-LEVEL, IT'S NOT APPARENT THAT IT'S JUST A GARAGE IN YOUR FACE THAT SO THERE ARE TREATMENTS THAT WE USE FOR THE FENESTRATION TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT MORE APPEALING AT GROUND LEVEL SO YOU'LL SEE THAT IF WE GET TO THAT POINT. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS GERRY MCALEER, AND I LIVE AT 185 FLORENCE DRIVE.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF TUSCANY HOA, AND WERE IMPACTED DIRECTLY BY THIS PROJECT.
I'VE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL MEMBERS OF MY COMMUNITY REGARDING IT.
I BELIEVE THAT DEVELOPMENT OF ABACOA WAS WELL-PLANNED, WELL-DESIGNED, AND WELL EXECUTED WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE LAW AND THE ORDINANCES THAT WERE IN PLACE AT THE TIME.
HOWEVER, RESIDENTS I'VE SPOKEN TO HAVE SEVERAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSED NEW DEVELOPMENT AT THE TOWN CENTER.
THEY INCLUDE INCREASED DENSITY, TRAFFIC VOLUME AND SAFETY, AND LOCAL SCHOOL ENROLLMENT INCREASES.
INCREASED VEHICULAR TRAFFIC IN MY COMMUNITY IS THE BIGGEST CONCERN TO MY FELLOW RESIDENTS.
UNFORTUNATELY, PARK SIDE AND GREENWAY DRIVES AND ABACOA NORTH AND SOUTH ROUTE.
WE'RE NOT DESIGNED TO BE COMMUTER PASSAGES THROUGH ABACOA, HOWEVER, TRAFFIC HAS INCREASED ON BOTH CENTRAL BOULEVARD AND PARKSIDE GREENWAY AS A RESULT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALT AND SOUTH OF DONALD ROSS.
THE ABACOA TOWN CENTER DEVELOPMENT WILL ONLY EXACERBATE THIS PROBLEM, AND WE'RE SEEKING TO MINIMIZE ITS IMPACT [NOISE] BY LIMITING THE DENSITY TO THE ORIGINAL ABACOA DEVELOPMENT LIMITS.
I'VE HEARD THAT TRAFFIC STUDY MAY HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED FOR THE PROJECT WHICH ONLY EXAMINED THE NORTH-SOUTH PARKWAY ROUTE, CENTRAL BOULEVARD, AND NOT THE NORTH-SOUTH RESIDENTIAL ROOT PARKSIDE GREENWAY.
THE NEW PROJECT ON THAT PARK SIDE DRIVE AND SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC WILL UTILIZE THAT ROUTE.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC ON PARKSIDE GREENWAY ROUTE MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT THE SAFETY OF STUDENTS ATTENDING INDEPENDENCE MIDDLE SCHOOL, PARTICULARLY DURING DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP TIMES, WHICH ARE PRIME COMMUTING TIMES.
NOW, I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY STUDY REGARDING THE IMPACT OF
[03:05:03]
ADDITIONAL HOUSING UNITS ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS, SUCH AS LIGHTHOUSE ELEMENTARY, BEACON COVE INTERMEDIATE AND INDEPENDENCE MIDDLE SCHOOL.I KNOW THAT IMS IS SHORT STAFFED, AND INCREASED ENROLLMENT MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT THOSE SCHOOLS OR ELIGIBILITY ZONES MAY HAVE TO BE REDRAWN CAUSING ISSUES FOR SOME PARENTS.
FINALLY, THERE APPEARS TO BE SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT INCREASING WORKFORCE HOUSING.
WHILE WORKFORCE HOUSING MAY BE A NOVEL AND DESIRABLE CONCEPT WHICH I SUPPORT, IT IS FRAUGHT WITH OVERSIGHT LIMITATIONS.
I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN MANHATTAN, AND GREW UP IN A RENT CONTROL DEPARTMENT, AND LATER LIVED IN A RENT STABILIZED APARTMENT, WHICH I WOULD CALL THE PREDECESSOR TO WORKFORCE HOUSING.
BOTH OF THESE SYSTEMS ARE WELL INTENDED, BUT THEY'RE OFTEN MANIPULATED BY BOTH TENANTS AND LANDLORDS.
STRINGENT OVERSIGHT IS CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF GOVERNMENT SUPERVISED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE FEASIBILITY OF THAT.
I ALSO ASKED YOU TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE LESSONS LEARNED NOT ONLY FROM JUPITER'S BARCELONA COMMUNITY, BUT TO OTHERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
EFFECTIVE OVERSIGHT OF THESE PROGRAMS IS ON US.
MORE WORKFORCE HOUSING WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR EXISTING STAFF TO OVERSEE, AND MAY REQUIRE AT GREATER COST TO THE TAXPAYER TO BE CONTRACTED OUT WHICH I BELIEVE IS NOTED BY THE STAFF.
ALSO, THE BARCELONA COMMUNITY IS SITUATED ON A MAJOR ROADWAY.
MILITARY TRAIL IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN PARK SIDE DRIVE.
FINALLY, RESIDENTS OF ABACOA FULLY EXPECTED THE EVENTUAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE PARK WITH THE ISSUE.
WE ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER OUR CONCERNS THAT I'VE PRESENTED.
ABACOA WAS DEVELOPED WITH A PARTICULAR DENSITY LIMITATION, AND THOSE LIMITATIONS SHOULD REMAIN IN EFFECT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
>> WE HAVE DAN HEARING, KAREN VINSON, AND THEN LINDA MCDERMOTT.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'LL BE BRIEF COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I KNOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME THE NIGHT.
IT'S BEEN AN EMOTIONAL MEETING, AND APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR SERVICE THAT YOU ALL PROVIDE TO US.
QUICK REMINDER THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY REDUCING DENSITY AND INTENSITY.
WE ARE ESTABLISHING A DENSITY FOR THE ABACOA TOWN CENTER, BUT WE'RE REDUCING DENSITY AND INTENSITY.
THE ABILITY TO DO THAT WAS APPROVED BY THIS COUNCIL WHEN WE RESCINDED THE DRI, AND BASICALLY, PROVIDED A PROVISION TO UTILIZE THE EXISTING ENTITLEMENTS TO CONVERT THEM TO OTHER USES.
THIS IS A SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION IN TRAFFIC, BECAUSE WE HEAR THE WORD TRAFFIC, SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION IN TRAFFIC.
THE TOWN CLAIMS THAT THEY EMBRACE WORKFORCE HOUSING.
HEARD THE TOWN SAY, "WELL, WE DON'T WANT IT HERE, WE DON'T WANT IT THERE." THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE IT MAKES SENSE.
I'D ASK YOU IF IT DOESN'T GO HERE, AND YOU ONLY HAVE 81 UNITS TODAY, HOW ARE YOU EVER GOING TO GET MORE UNITS? BECAUSE TOWN HAS BASICALLY INDICATED YOU ARE BUILT OUT.
THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE LOCATION BECAUSE THE ROADS THAT ARE THERE WERE BUILT TO ACCOMMODATE THE TRAFFIC THAT'S THERE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE WATER IN THE SEWER.
REMIND YOU THAT THIS SOLVES THE BASEBALL PROBLEM.
WE'RE HAVING TO BUILD STRUCTURED PARKING AT A [NOISE] VERY HIGH COST.
OTHER USES, IF WE BUILD OFFICE AND THERE IS NO OFFICE MARKET, OFFICE USES TOXIC TODAY IN OUR LOCAL ECONOMY, BUT NOT AT THIS LOCATION.
DOWNTOWN WEST PALM BEACH RELATED IS DOING THAT, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN HERE.
BUT OFFICE USE AND OTHER NON-RESIDENTIAL USES DIRECTLY COMPETES WITH BASEBALL.
EVEN IF YOU GAVE SOMEBODY THE LAND, THEY COULDN'T BUILD THE PARKING AND BUILD THE OFFICES, AND BE ABLE TO MAKE A FEASIBLE PROJECT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS IMPORTANT.
WE CALL THESE WORKFORCE HOUSING UNITS.
THESE ARE MARKET RATE UNITS, SO THEY'RE ALL INCLUSIONARY.
EVERY UNIT IS BUILT TO THE EXACT SAME STANDARD.
NOBODY KNOWS WHO LIVES IN A, "SUBSIDIZED UNIT, WORKFORCE UNIT, AND A NON-WORKFORCE UNIT".
THAT'S A VERY VERY IMPORTANT COMPONENT, BECAUSE WE'RE ACTUALLY PROVIDING A GREAT SERVICE. A GREAT BENEFIT.
THIS ISN'T A PROJECT OR A STANDALONE PROJECT.
COMMUNITIES THAT MOVE THE NEEDLE IN WORKFORCE HOUSING RECOGNIZE THAT DENSITY IS A FUNDAMENTAL COMPONENT OF BEING ABLE TO ACHIEVE WORKFORCE HOUSING.
[03:10:01]
I WOULD TELL YOU, IF DENSITY ISN'T INAPPROPRIATE HERE, IT IS INAPPROPRIATE ANYWHERE IN THE TOWN OF JUPITER.THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE LOCATION.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE WITH WORKING FORWARD WITH YOU.
A LOT OF GREAT DISCUSSION, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS.
>> KAREN VINSON AND THEN LINDA MCDERMOTT.
>> HI. I DON'T REALLY THINK I NEED TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AGAIN, DO I? I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE TIME TO SAY THAT THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT YOU GUYS HAVE JUST SPENT DEBATING THIS IS IMPRESSIVE AND THE AMOUNT OF THOUGHT GOING INTO IT IS VERY IMPRESSIVE.
WE DO NEED WORKFORCE HOUSING IN JUPITER BECAUSE IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE UNLESS YOU'VE LIVED HERE ALL YOUR LIFE.
I'VE LIVED HERE FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS NOW.
THAT'S THE ONLY REASON WHY I'M HERE. I COULDN'T AFFORD IT.
I APPRECIATE THAT. I APPRECIATE THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND THE EFFORT THAT WAS PUT INTO THIS.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH I WISH THAT THIS HAD BEEN PUT INTO ON THE FIRE RESCUE DEBATE.
THIS IS THE KIND OF DEBATE THAT YOU WANT TO SEE.
THIS IS THE KIND OF DEBATE THAT LETS YOU KNOW THAT YOU PEOPLE MIGHT ACTUALLY REALLY CARE AND LISTEN TO WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY.
MAYBE TAKE THAT WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE WHEN YOU'RE MAKING THESE REALLY BIG DECISIONS, THAT YOU SHOULD PROBABLY INCLUDE THE PEOPLE OF THE TOWN OF JUPITER, THEY'RE PAYING THE TAXES.
MAKE THE BEST DECISION. THANK YOU.
>> LINDA MCDERMOTT. VERY GOOD DISCUSSIONS HERE.
WE DO ABSOLUTELY NEED SOME WORKFORCE HOUSING.
ABACOA, I LOVE ABACOA I THINK IT'S A GREAT PLACE.
ORIGINALLY WAS CAPABLE OF HANDLING THE TYPE OF TRAFFIC WHEN THERE WAS THE MOVIE THEATER, THE BOWLING ALLEY, DIFFERENT THINGS.
IT IS CAPABLE OF HANDLING THIS.
WE TRULY NEED IT, BUT I HAVE HEARD NOTHING ABOUT WORKING WITH HUD.
WHERE I WORK, WE HAVE PARTNERSHIP THREE-WAY.
WE GET FEDERAL MONEY, WE GET THE COUNTY AND THE CITY, AND WE WORK TOGETHER.
I URGE YOU TO MAKE THIS WORK SOMEHOW WHERE WE CAN ALL AGREE.
ALL OF YOU HAD REALLY VERY GOOD DISCUSSION AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT.
EVERYBODY HAD VERY GOOD CONCERNS.
BUT I DON'T LIVE IN ABACOA AND I AGREE THAT CITIZENS WHO WORK THERE AND LIVE THERE SHOULD HAVE SOME INPUT, BUT WE NEED WORKFORCE HOUSING.
PLEASE TRY TO MAKE THIS WORK SOMEHOW.
I THINK YOU'RE ALREADY GIVING IT AN EFFORT. THANK YOU.
I DON'T REALLY EVEN KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY AGAIN, BUT I JUST WANTED TO, I GUESS THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR RESEARCH AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR INPUT REGARDING THIS.
SPEAKING PERSONALLY FROM EXPERIENCE, IT'S DEFINITELY A CRISIS, I WOULD SAY IN NOT ONLY THE STATE, BUT SPECIFICALLY JUPITER.
YOU SEE PROJECTS GOING UP LIKE BRIDGEWATER AND PRADO WAS ANOTHER ONE THAT WAS SOMEWHAT RECENT.
THOSE ARE, AGAIN, NOT REALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I JUST HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OF THAT REALLY OUTSIDE OF BARCELONA.
I'VE ONLY HEARD SNIPPETS OF IT.
I PERSONALLY HAVEN'T WORKED WITH ANY OF THOSE.
I DEFINITELY WOULD SAY WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT THIS KIND OF AN INITIATIVE IS NECESSARY JUST BASED ON MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE DOING THIS WHOLE TIME. THANK YOU.
>> I FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE ENOUGH NOW.
>> THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO REPORTS, TOWN ATTORNEY.
[TOWN ATTORNEY]
>> YES, I HAVE A REPORT FROM THE TOWN ATTORNEY, TOM BAIRD.
ON OCTOBER 31ST OF 2023 THE CANDIDATE COORDINATOR FOR THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS OFFICE CONTACTED THE TOWN CLERK TO INFORM HER THAT THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS HAS HAND COUNTED THE PETITIONS.
THE COUNT IS 9,034 SIGNATURES.
BASED ON THAT INCREASED NUMBER OF SIGNATURES, THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS DOES REQUIRE AN ADDITIONAL PAYMENT FROM THE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE IN THE AMOUNT OF $163.40.
THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS HAS ADVISED US THAT IT IS THE PROTOCOL TO HAVE THE TOWN REQUEST THAT MONEY FROM THE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE AND THAT IT'D BE PROVIDED VIA CHECK TO THE TOWN CLERK.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THAT PROTOCOL, TOWN ATTORNEY BAIRD DID REACH OUT TO THE ATTORNEY FOR THE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE ON
[03:15:02]
NOVEMBER 1ST OF 2023 TO ADVISE HER THAT HER CLIENTS SHOULD DELIVER THAT CHECK TO THE TOWN CLERK AT THEIR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE.ADDITIONALLY, OUR REVIEW OF THE APPLICABLE STATUTES, AS WELL AS OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS, HAS GIVEN US THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION OF THE TOWN, WHERE THE REFERENDUM QUESTION, ASSUMING THAT IT IS ILLEGAL QUESTION, COULD BE PLACED ON THE BALLOT IS MARCH OF 2025.
THAT CONCLUDES THE REPORT. THANK YOU.
[TOWN MANAGER]
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS REAL QUICK FROM THIS OFFICE.
FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO FOLLOW UP ON SOME THINGS THAT COUNCIL FORE SAID EARLIER TONIGHT.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL GROUP AND THE KUDOS DEPARTMENT IN TERMS OF SAFETY IN PUBLIC SERVICE.
MY COMMENTS WILL COME FROM A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE OF, FIRST OF ALL, AGREEING WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH AS EMOTIONAL AS IT IS ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
HAVING BEEN A FIREFIGHTER IN MY HOMETOWN, HAVING BEEN IN FIRES, HAVING BEEN A PARAMEDIC AND THE HELICOPTER UNIT, HAVING RUN LINE MEDIC UNIT, RESCUED CAPTAIN, I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE CHALLENGES AND HOW QUICKLY THINGS CAN CHANGE IN THE ENVIRONMENTS THAT THESE FIREMEN WORK IN.
REGARDLESS OF WHERE ANYBODY IS ON THE ISSUE, I DO WANT TO ECHO THOSE KUDOS.
NOW, I WILL SAY ALSO THAT OF COURSE, YOU KNOW MY BACKGROUND, 42 YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOU KNOW WHERE I'M PROBABLY GOING NEXT.
FORTY TWO YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND HAVING BEEN AT THE PENTAGON AND 9/11 AND COMMANDED TASK FORCES FOR THE INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION AT DC BELTWAY SNIPERS, HAVING BEEN A POLICE CHIEF FOR 18 YEARS, PAST PRESIDENT OF FLORIDA POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION, PAST PRESIDENT OF THE PALM BEACH COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE, AND A GRADUATE OF THE FBI NATIONAL ACADEMY, BY THE WAY, I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE AROUND MULTIPLE POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AROUND THE STATE AND IN THE COUNTRY.
WHAT I WANTED TO ADD TO THE LIST IS KUDOS TO OUR JUPITER POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THOSE FOLKS ARE JUST REMARKABLE EVEN DESPITE ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON, THERE'S A POLICE OFFICER IN THE CORNER RIGHT OVER THERE, AND HIS JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HERE IS SAFE, THAT THE MEETING IS CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW.
YOU SEE THE POLICE CHIEF HERE AT EVERY MEETING AND HE STAYS TO THE END.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE OUT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT ON THE KUDOS.
ON A WEEKEND WHEN WE CELEBRATE OUR VETERANS, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CELEBRATING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND WE'RE CELEBRATING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE JOB WELL DONE OVER THERE.
>> MY SON WAS A POLICE OFFICER.
>> I FELL EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAY.
>> YEAH, MY WHOLE FAMILY; FATHER, BROTHERS, BROTHER-IN-LAW, NEPHEWS, SONS.
I'M WITH YOU. JUST A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS REAL QUICK IF I COULD MAYOR.
FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE THE PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES MASTER PLAN KICKOFF MEETING.
THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR SUNDSTROM FOR BEING THERE.
ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD, WE CONDUCTED A FACILITY TOUR, WE WERE BEING INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS.
THAT'LL START COMING UP IN NEXT FEW WEEKS.
WE'LL HAVE A DRAFT MASTER PLAN WHICH IS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED BY MAY.
A REMINDER THAT VETERANS DAY CEREMONY MEMORIAL BRICKS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH, THIS SATURDAY AT 09:00 AM.
I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GIVE KUDOS TO OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, SHAWN, AND HIS TEAM, THOMAS DOWN ENGINEER, AND THOSE FOLKS THAT HAVE DONE SO MUCH WORK ON IT.
IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THEM, THE BRICKS LOOK AMAZING AND WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CEREMONY THIS WEEKEND.
I JUST WANT TO REPORT THAT THE HOLIDAY DECORATIONS HAVE BEEN GOING UP.
IF YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED THEY'VE BEEN GOING UP OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS AND OUR TOWN WILL GO LIVE ON THE EVENING OF THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE TREE.
AS WE KNOW WITH KRISTIN GEORGE AND THE PARKS, THEY DO A REMARKABLE JOB.
BUT THE SNOW PLACE LIKE JUPITER EVENT WHERE WE'LL BE WRITING THE 32 FOOT TREE BEGINNING FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1ST, FROM 5:30-8:30.
AGAIN, YOU'RE ONCE AGAIN INVITED TO HELP FLIP THE SWITCH TO WRITE THE TREE PROMPTLY AT 06:30 ON THAT EVENING WE'LL PULL THAT BIG LEVER THAT THE ENGINEERS WERE TOGETHER.
[03:20:03]
I DO WANT TO GIVE KUDOS OUT TO OUR EMPLOYEE OF THE QUARTER, ROBIN MCCLEARY FROM UTILITIES CUSTOMER SERVICE COORDINATOR.YOU JUST DON'T GET AWARDED THIS.
IT'S REALLY BIG THING TO GET SELECTED AS THE EMPLOYEE OF THE QUARTER.
TWO MORE THINGS IF YOU'LL INDULGE ME.
THE NEW TOWN HALL BUILDING, WE'RE GETTING EXCITED NOW. IT'S GETTING CLOSE.
IT'S COMING IN AHEAD OF TIME AND WITHIN BUDGET AND WE'LL BE MOVING INTO THAT NEW BUILDING.
WE GET THIS STOCKING PERMIT THE WEEK OF THANKSGIVING.
WE'RE PLANNING ON A DECEMBER 16TH, 17TH MOVE.
I KNOW WE SAID JANUARY 2024, IF ALL GOES WELL, WE SHOULD BE OPERATING WITH ALL OF OUR STAFF OUT OF TOWN HALL DECEMBER 18, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A RIBBON CUTTING ON JANUARY 16TH OF 2024.
WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT THAT WILL BE YOUR FIRST COUNCIL MEETING IN THE NEW COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
THEN FINALLY, GREAT NEWS, OUR TOWN CLERK, LAURA CAHILL, SHE GAVE BIRTH TO A HEALTHY BABY GIRL, 4:47 PM THIS AFTERNOON AND MOM AND THE BABY ARE DOING WELL, AND SO SO HAPPY FOR HER.
A LOT OF GREAT THINGS HAPPENING IN TOWN MAYOR AND I JUST THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE MY REPORT. THAT'S IT.
[TOWN COUNCIL – LIAISON REPORTS AND COMMENTS]
>> WELL, I'M CAUGHT OFF GUARD. AGREED WITH VETERANS DAY.
MY FATHER IS A VETERAN, MY BROTHER'S SERVING IN THE MARINE CORPS NOW.
WE JUST GOT THE GOOD NEWS AND I'LL JUST SAY THAT HE HAD HIS SECOND CHILD RECENTLY, SHE TURNS ONE MONTH TODAY BUT SHE HAD RSV, SO SHE WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
I THINK I WAS SCARED, BUT I THINK IT'S OKAY AND I THINK SHE'S COMING HOME SO IT'S GOOD.
THAT ASIDE, I DO WANT TO SAY THAT WE DID RECEIVE A NUMBER OF PUBLIC COMMENTS TODAY AND TALKING ABOUT JUST OUR PROCESS AND NOT RESPONDING AT THAT TIME THAT THEY'RE GIVEN.
WHAT I TYPICALLY DO AS A MATTER OF PROCESS IS I TYPICALLY RESPOND AT THIS TIME DURING COUNCIL COMMENTS.
NOW IT'S 10:30 AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE GONE.
I'VE SEEN I'VE WATCHED THE COUNTY COMMISSION, THEY DON'T RESPOND TO PRETTY COMMON THAT WE CAN RESPOND PRIVATELY OR FOLLOW-UP OR TAKE NOTE OF IT.
BUT WHAT I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO IS RESPOND IN COUNCIL COMMENTS.
I DO WANT TO ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, SO I'M ONLY ONE OF FIVE.
I AGREE WE HAD A GREAT DISCUSSION ON THE RECENT ROUNDTABLE THAT WE JUST HAD.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ITEMS THAT COME BEFORE US AND OVER THE COURSE OF THE 15 MONTHS, WHAT WE HAD WAS A CONTRACT NEGOTIATION.
IT'S REALLY TRICKY TO ENGAGE IN CONTRACT NEGOTIATION, NOT NECESSARILY NEGOTIATE AGAINST YOURSELF OR MANAGE THAT IN A PUBLIC SETTING, IT'S UNIQUELY CHALLENGING AS A PUBLIC BODY, I WOULD SAY.
WHEN I, BEING A NEW, REMEMBER, LOOK TO WHAT ARE THE RULES OF THIS GAME AS WE BEGIN THIS NEGOTIATION PROCESS.
OUR CHARTER, JUST SO THAT RESIDENTS KNOW WHAT I LOOK TO WHEN DOING THIS.
I LOOKED AT THE CONTRACT LANGUAGE AND THE ILA, AND I LOOK TO ARTICLE 5, SECTION 9 OF OUR CHARTER.
WHAT THAT PART OF OUR CHARTER SAYS IS THAT ON THE ELECTED BODY, THE COUNCIL HAS THE AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH DEPARTMENTS.
IT LISTS ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS, AND IT GIVES COUNCIL THE AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH DEPARTMENTS.
NOW, OCCASIONALLY WE HAVE A CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE, AND THAT'S A RESIDENT LED COMMITTEE IN THE TOWN.
THE LAST TIME THAT WE HAD TO CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE WAS 2019, AND THERE'S A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE CHARTER.
MANY LANGUAGE CHANGES WHEN THE CHARTER ADOPTED AN ORDINANCE 1919.
THIS SECTION WAS CHANGED AND UPDATED IN 2019 BY A RESIDENT LED COMMITTEE IN THE TOWN OF JUPITER, AND IT GIVES THE COUNCIL THE AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH DEPARTMENTS.
THAT'S WHEN WE BEGAN THE PROCESS SO LONG AGO NOW, EVEN THE VOTE IS STARTING TO LOOK TO BE IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR.
THESE WERE THE RULES ON THE BOOKS.
WE LOOKED AT THE CONTRACT LANGUAGE, THE CONTRACT SAYS TO EXIT THE OPTION, YOU NEED A LETTER.
YOU DON'T NEED A RESOLUTION OR GRANTS.
I SPOKE WITH OUR TOWN ATTORNEY ASKING WHAT THE RULES WERE, AND WE NEEDED TO GIVE DIRECTION FOR A LETTER, AND SO WE FOLLOWED THE INNER LOCAL AGREEMENT AND WE FOLLOWED OUR CHARTER AND THOSE WERE THE RULES ON THE BOOKS.
REGARDING THE CHARTER AMENDMENT PETITION FORM, I DID GET ONE MAILED BY THE POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE TO MY HOME.
I ALSO RAN INTO THEM AT THE LIBRARY ONE SUNDAY AND MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WAS
[03:25:03]
A YOUNG GENTLEMAN WHO SAID THAT THEY WERE GOING TO CLOSE ALL THE STATIONS IN THE TOWN OF JUPITER AND I NEED TO SIGN TO SAVE THE STATIONS.THAT WAS TROUBLING TO ME BECAUSE THAT'S NOT ACCURATE PER SE.
THE PEOPLE THAT I SAW SIGNING IT, WE'RE READING IT.
THEY WERE SIGNING SOMETHING AFTER SOMEONE WAS SAYING, PLEASE SAVE THE STATIONS.
THAT WAS MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT THE JUPITER LIBRARY.
THEN I LOOK BECAUSE THAT'S THE PROCESS OF COLLECTING THE SIGNATURES.
THE SIGNATURES ARE BEING VERIFIED BY THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS, BUT HOW THEY WERE GOTTEN ARE OBTAINED, WHAT WAS SAID TO RESIDENTS, WHAT WAS READ, WHAT DUE DILIGENCE WAS DONE.
WE'RE NOT SURE IF EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT'S HAPPENING AND WHAT THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN.
THE CHARTER AND THEN THE PETITION FORM THAT I RECEIVED, AND THIS THIS IS MY BEST GUESS BECAUSE I'M NOT A LEGAL EXPERT AND WE HAVEN'T REVIEWED ANY OF THIS.
BUT HERE'S WHAT I RECEIVED IN MY HOME.
THE LANGUAGE THAT IS IN THE CHARTER AMENDMENT IS THEY WANT TO ADD NOW, AFTER OUR JUPITER RESIDENT LED COMMITTEE IN 2019 GAVE THE COUNCIL THE AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH DEPARTMENTS.
NOW, I THINK A UNION SUPPORTED PACK IS WRITING A CHARTER AMENDMENT PETITION FORM THAT SAYS, THE TOWN MAY NOT ESTABLISH OR OPERATED A TOWN FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT OR PROVIDE FIRE PROTECTION AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.
THEY WOULD LIKE TO PUT THAT INTO OUR CONSTITUTION.
WHEN YOU'RE SIGNING THE PETITION FORM, YOU'RE SIGNING TO PUT THAT LANGUAGE INTO OUR CONSTITUTION.
SO THIS IS A COUNTY UNION BACKED PACK ASKING TO PUT IN THE TOWN CONSTITUTION THE LANGUAGE THAT THE TOWN MAY NOT ESTABLISH OR OPERATE A TOWN FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT OR PROVIDE FIRE PROTECTION AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.
SO THEN AFTER THAT'S PUT IN BY REFERENDUM, IF IT PASSES, IT WOULD REQUIRE ANOTHER MAJORITY VOTE REFERENDUM TO REMOVE IT.
I THINK A LOT OF RESIDENTS HAVE THE IDEA THAT THERE'S GONNA BE A VOTE WHERE YOU VOTE FOR THE COUNTY RATE THAT HAD BEEN NEGOTIATED.
THIS ILA OR JUPITER FIRE, THAT IS NOT WHAT IS BEING PRESENTED IN THE PETITION IN MY VIEW.
I THINK IT'S STILL IS BEING REVIEWED, BUT THERE ARE CHALLENGES AND I URGE EVERYONE TO READ THE PETITION LANGUAGE.
THAT'S WHERE I'M COMING FROM ON THAT, AND WE KNOW THAT IT IS SUPPORTED AND THAT THERE ARE CONNECTIONS WITH THE UNION, MOSTLY BECAUSE OF A LETTER THAT WAS SENT TO THE TOWN.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A SECOND TO READ A PART OF THAT.
THIS IS A LETTER FROM THE LOCAL 2928, AND IT SAYS, DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, AND THIS IS A PUBLIC RECORD.
THIS WAS SENT TO THE TOWN AND SHARED WITH ALL OF US.
BUT IT SAYS, I'M REACHING OUT TO YOU TODAY AS WE FACE A CRUCIAL MOMENT IN THE HISTORY OF LOCAL 2928, OUR REPUTATION AS A POLITICAL POWERHOUSE HAS BEEN WELL-ESTABLISHED AND NOW WE MUST COME TOGETHER TO PRESERVE THE FUTURE OF PALM BEACH COUNTY FIRE RESCUE AND JUPITER.
THE RECENT DECISION BY THE JUPITER TOWN COUNCIL THAT SEVER TIES WITH PBCFR AFTER NEARLY FOUR DECADES POSES A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO THE EXISTENCE OF OUR FIRE RESCUE SERVICES IN THE COUNTIES NORTH END.
THIS DECISION NOT ONLY AFFECTS EVERY EMPLOYEE, BUT ALSO HAS THE POTENTIAL TO SET A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT.
IF OTHER STUDIES FOLLOW SUIT, WE RISK OF FRAGMENTED COUNTIES SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'VE OBSERVED IN BROWARD.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE ACT SWIFTLY AND DECISIVELY.
WE NEED YOUR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE FIGHT TO SAVE PBCFR, AND JUPITER, THE TIME TO ACT AS NOW, WE ARE FACING A TIGHT TIMELINE TO GATHER PETITIONS, ENSURING THAT THE RESIDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE THE FUTURE OF OUR FIRE RESCUE SERVICES.
I WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT THIS LETTER TOGETHER WITH THE PETITION BALLOT OR THE PETITION LANGUAGE TO UNDERSTAND BETTER WHAT IS GOING FORTH THERE.
WHEN I VOTED ON THE AMBULANCES, IT'S BECAUSE OF WHAT I SAID IN E-MAILS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND NOW AND THAT IS, WE WE VOTED MONTHS AGO THE DEADLINE HAS PASSED.
THE CONFIRMED DEADLINE THAT WE HAVE IN OUR HANDS IS OCTOBER 1ST, 2026 TO SET UP THIS DEPARTMENT.
AND SO GIVEN THE LEAD TIMES ON VEHICLES, WE ABSOLUTELY HAD TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT, IT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE NOT TO.
TO RISK MISSING THAT DEADLINE AND NOT HAVING A FIRE SERVICE RESCUE IN PLACE FOR 2026, I COULDN'T IMAGINE WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN FOR THE RESIDENTS OF ALL OF JUPITER.
I'M WORKING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
I ACTUALLY WALK AROUND WITH A BLUE FOLDER EVERYWHERE I GO NOW BECAUSE AS A NEWER MEMBER, I DON'T EXPECT TRUST.
I HAVE TO EARN IT AND I'M NEW HERE.
[03:30:01]
I THINK WE LIVE IN AN AGE AND A POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT WHERE TRUST NO LONGER EXISTS ALMOST, YOU LOOK AT THE NATIONAL OR STATE OR COUNTY OR LOCAL SCENES.IT HAS TO BE EARNED AND SO WHAT I TRY TO DO IS POINT TO THE WORK THAT I'VE DONE, POINT TO THE EVIDENCE THAT I HAVE.
I HOPE I HAVE A DOCUMENT FOR ALMOST EVERYTHING I SAY.
I HOPE I HAVE SOMETHING I CAN POINT TO FOR EVERYTHING I SAY.
THAT'S HOW I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GO FORWARD BECAUSE I HAVE TO EARN THAT TRUST AND I WILL TRY TO, SO THANKS.
>> JUST REAL QUICK. I HAD A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO ATTEND THE GRAND OPENING OF SELFISH ISLAND AND WITH PALM BEACH COUNTY ARM AND A COMPANY CALLED MANG WHERE THEY GROW SEEDLINGS FROM MAGAZINES AND STUFF TO PLAN ALL AROUND, AND A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT PARTNERS AS WELL.
WE HAD A BUNCH OF VOLUNTEERS COME OVER FROM BLUELINE, AND TOGETHER WE PLANTED 206 MANGROVE SEEDLINGS TODAY IN SELFISH ISLAND.
IT WAS A PRETTY COOL EVENT FROM THE SEA AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE HOW THAT ISLAND TAKE SHAPE WITH THE MANGROVES AND STUFF GROWN IN THERE, AND REALLY COOL AREA.
IF YOU GET A CHANCE AND YOU'RE ON A KAYAK OR PADDLE BOARD OR SOMETHING AND GET OVER THERE.
IT ACTUALLY TURNED OUT REALLY GOOD.
>> JUST A FEW ITEMS I HAVE BEEN GOING DOWN.
NUMBER 1, I APPRECIATE TECH COUNCILOR, SUNDSTROM, YOUR SUMMATION THERE FOR THE MOST PART I'M IN COMPLETE AGREEMENT.
THAT'S REPRESENTS MY PERSPECTIVE AS WELL SO THANK YOU FOR THAT THOUGHTFUL SHARE IF YOU WILL.
TWO OTHER ITEMS. ONE IS REGARDING THE BRIGHT LINE, JUST A COUPLE UPDATES.
ONE, IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW, THEY'VE DELAYED PUTTING IN THE FENCING.
IN PHASE ONE, I'M TRYING TO GET AN UPDATE ON THE SCHEDULE.
I THINK I MAY HAVE REPORTED THIS IN THE PAST, BUT BASICALLY THE FEC PUT THEM ON HOLD OVER SOME ISSUES WITH REGARD TO EASEMENTS FOR THE FENCING.
AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE AN UPDATE ON THAT.
HOWEVER, SOMEWHAT RELATED MATTER IS I'VE RECENTLY STARTED TO GET EMAILS ABOUT THE QUIET ZONE.
I DON'T WHO WHEN I GET THEM, WHETHER OTHERS ARE GETTING THEM BY ASSUMING SO, SO THAT'S WHY I WANT TO DISCUSS THIS.
WE HAD DISCUSSED THIS LONG TIME AGO.
THE PROCESS IS THAT STAFF WAS PROACTIVE, SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION.
BUT THE NEXT STEP THAT HAD TO HAPPEN WAS THAT BRIGHTLINE HAD, IN THEIR MINDS, SATISFACTORILY, COMPLETE OPERATIONAL TESTING.
THE POINT THAT THEY WERE COMFORTABLE WITH THEIR SYSTEM BEING ABLE TO OPERATE.
THAT THEY THEN WOULD SUPPORT THE APPLICATION TO GO TO A QUIET ZONE.
THAT IN MIND, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY'VE COMPLETED THAT.
I'M INCLINED TO THINK NOT, BUT I'VE ALSO REACHED OUT TO BRIGHTLINE TO ASK THAT QUESTION AND I'M GOING TO ASK STAFF TO DO LIKEWISE.
LET'S GET AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
ALSO, YOU MAY RECALL I HAD RENDERED AN OPINION THAT IT WAS BASED ON MY PERSONAL VALUE, BOTH AS A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER IN AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IN CONSIDERING PUBLIC SAFETY, THAT I WAS NOT INCLINED TO BE COMFORTABLE WITH A QUIET ZONE UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE FENCING WAS PUT UP TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC? I DON'T KNOW THAT OTHERS WAITING OR NOT, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT CAUGHT INCORPORATED AS STAFFS EXPECTATION.
AT THIS MOMENT AS IN BEFORE YOU, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S COMING BACK TO US FOR ACTION IS BEING HELD UP BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF FENCING OR BRIGHTLINE HASN'T COMPLETED ITS OPERATIONAL TESTING.
BUT THE REASON I'M BRINGING THIS UP AND THEN ONE LAST THING IS THAT I'VE UNDERSTAND THAT I'M NOT AN EXPERT IN THIS, BUT UNDERSTAND THAT THE NEWER TRAINS IN ORANGE ARE MORE CONCENTRATED.
ANYBODY NEAR THE TRAIN, I MEAN, I'VE HEARD THAT, IT'S HEARSAY, I HAVEN'T WITNESSED IT, TENDS TO HEAR IT LOUDER.
THE E-MAILS WE'RE GETTING PEOPLE WANT AN UPDATE.
[03:35:06]
I'LL BE WORKING WITH STAFF TO PROVIDE EVERYBODY AN UPDATE.BUT ONE E-MAIL THAT I GOT BOTHERED ME PUT A SUGGESTION THAT THE MAYOR IS HOLDING THIS UP UNTIL FENCING IS PUT IN WHILE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE NEAR THE TRAIN WHILE THE MAYOR DOESN'T HAVE TO SUFFER FROM THE NOISE.
I ALWAYS ACTED, IT'S THE DECISION OF THE COUNCIL, NOT ANY ONE INDIVIDUAL.
THAT'S THE WAY I HAVE ALWAYS SEEN.
I'M BASICALLY SHARING THAT STATUS NOW TONIGHT.
BECAUSE DESPITE WHAT MY OPINION WAS ABOUT THE FENCING AT THE TIME, I THINK THAT ONCE BRIGHTLINE WAS TO COMPLETE OPERATIONAL TESTING, WHICH IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST, THAT'S A REGULATORY REQUIREMENT, AND I ALSO TELL PEOPLE THAT JUST BECAUSE ITS DESIGNATED AS A QUIET ZONE, THAT DOESN'T STOP A BRIGHTLINE OPERATOR FROM STILL BLOWING THE HORN, IT JUST RELIEVES THEM OF THAT OBLIGATION.
I'VE BEEN SAYING THAT FOR YEARS BEFORE THEY EVEN WAS A BRIGHTLINE TO TEMPER EXPECTATIONS.
BUT NONETHELESS, WHEN STAFF AND I FIND OUT THAT BRIGHTLINE IS READY TO SUPPORT THE APPLICATION, I THINK IT SHOULD COME TO THE COUNCIL TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH PROCEEDING WITH THE QUIET ZONE SUBMITTAL OR I DON'T WANT TO BE THE ONE HAVING HELD IT UP.
IS THAT CLEAR? BETWEEN STAFF AND I, WE WILL FIND OUT, LIKE I SAID, I'VE REACHED OUT TO BRIGHTLINE TO CONFIRM AND AGAIN, I DON'T BELIEVE THEY'RE DONE YET, BUT I DON'T KNOW.
FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, BRIGHTLINE HAS THE HIGHEST FATALITY RATE OF ANY TRAIN AND PASSENGER TRAIN AND IN THE US OF A. I THINK THAT'S WHY THEY PROBABLY INCLINED TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT MAKING SURE THEY COMPLETE OPERATIONAL TESTING.
THAT TESTING IS TO GIVE THEM CONFIDENCE THAT CROSSINGS ARE WORKING CORRECTLY.
I REMEMBER THEM TELLING ME YOU HAD TO BE A FEW MONTHS WITH THEIR CONCEPTUAL THOUGHT ABOUT THAT UNTIL THE DEGREE THAT WE HEAR AND THEY HEAR REPORTS THAT SOMETHING'S NOT WORKING, RIGHT? THEY MAY BEGINNING SKITTISH.
I WILL ALSO SHARE IN THE WAY OF AN OBSERVATION BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME THAT ARMS WERE GOING DOWN ALMOST TOO LATE.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT THIS, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACK FROM WHERE CAR WOULD BE.
THAT'S THE LAST ARM THAT GOES DOWN BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE A CAR CAN GET OFF THE TRACK.
LET'S ALL BE MINDFUL AND SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC THAT IF YOU SEE AN ARM COMING DOWN AND IT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACK FROM THE DIRECTION THAT A TRAIN IS HEADING.
THAT'S INTENTIONAL TO BE DELAYED TO COME DOWN BECAUSE THE FIRST ARM IS ALREADY STOPPING ANY MORE VEHICLES FROM GOING ON THE TRACK AND SO IT IS VERY INTENTIONAL THAT IT'S ALLOWING FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN ISSUES LIKE IN WEST PALM AND OTHER AREAS, FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT WITH BEING IN DOWNTOWN OR WHATEVER, CORNERS CAN'T GET OFF.
IT'S PART OF THE DESIGN BUT PEOPLE NOT UNDERSTANDING THAT ARE THINKING THAT THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH WITH THAT.
ANYWAY, THAT'S THAT SAT ON THE QUIET ZONE DESIGNATION AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO SHARE A PERSONALLY, I'M A VETERANS MEMORIAL BRICKS.
STAFF EFFORTS HAVE BEEN EXTRAORDINARY ON THAT.
A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I'VE OBSERVED, NUMBER 1, WE'VE GOT 180 BRICKS IN AND STAFF LOOKED AT EACH BRICK AND IDENTIFIED 10 BRICKS THAT WERE DEFECTIVE THEY'RE GETTING AND MADE RIGHT AND TALKING TO STAFF AND IT WAS TOM.
HE SAID HE DIDN'T WANT THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO DISCOVER THAT.
THEY'RE IN PLACE FOR VETERANS DAY IN THE EVENT THAT THEY DON'T GET NEW ONES BUT THEY READY WENT STAFF PUSHING, LOOKED AT EACH AND EVERY ONE AND I THINK THAT'S COMMENDABLE.
SECONDLY, YOU WOULD NOTICE SO MUCH YOU PURCHASED ONE OR MORE MEMORIAL BRICKS, BUT STAFF WENT AHEAD AND FOR EACH MEMORIAL BRECK, THEY CREATED A PDF OF A CERTIFICATE OF THE BRICK AND THEY SENT THE INDIVIDUAL WHO PURCHASED THE BRICK.
THIS CERTIFICATE AND ALSO NOTIFICATION ABOUT
[03:40:02]
THE VETERAN'S DAY EVENT IN A LINK TO WATCH IT LIVE IF YOU COULDN'T MAKE IT.WE STARTED BRICK PROGRAM, BUT I THINK THAT'S JUST EXTRAORDINARILY COMMENDABLE BECAUSE IN ONE CASE I HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER ACTUALLY, HE'S OVERSEAS RIGHT NOW.
BUT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY PEOPLE CAN IN THE FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE ARMED SERVICES RIGHT NOW BUT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THEY CAN WATCH THE EVENT IN IT SO THAT'S REALLY SO SPECIAL IT MAKES IT A REAL SPECIAL EVENT AND THIS WAS ALL BECAUSE STAFF DID IT.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO SAY FOR THIS VETERANS DAY, ESPECIALLY THANK YOU AGAIN, ALL THE VETERANS, BUT THANK YOU FOR STAFF TO REALLY EMBRACING AND MAKING THIS VETERANS DAY EVENT POTENTIALLY MORE MEANINGFUL THAN IT WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING RECOGNIZED BY MEMORIAL BRICK SO I CAN'T COMMEND STAFF ENOUGH ABOUT THAT AND WITH THAT, I COUNT VICE MAYOR.
>> I ALSO ADDED A FEW RESIDENTS ASKED ME ABOUT HE WAS GONE WITH THE QUIET ZONES.
YOU ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF IT? IT'S ALWAYS GIVES ME POSITIVE THAT THOSE TRAINS CAN UNUSED SO QUICKLY.
I AGREE I WOULD WANT THE FENCES UP BEFORE WE HAD THE QUIET ZONES IN BECAUSE IT'S JUST THERE'S ALREADY BEEN SO MANY DEBTS BRIGHTLINE.. YOU SAID THEY HAVE THE WORST RECORD IN THE COUNTRY.
ALMOST SEEMS LIKE EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS SOMEONE'S ARE THEY REALLY IT'S A LOT.
SOMETIMES YOU WONDER LIKE IS THAT ANOTHER STORY CORRECT, BUT IT'S TRUE. IT'S TRUE.
I'M SHARING THIS BECAUSE OF BRAD, YOU'RE HEARING IT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE CONCERNING ABOUT THE NOISE.
WE WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT WE'LL EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET THAT TO HAPPEN.
>> IF THE FENCES GO UP AND THEY CAN GET THE GET THE TRACKS SYSTEM IS ALL WORKED OUT AND WE CAN HAVE A QUIET ZONE.
BUT I TELL PEOPLE IF THEY SEE SOMETHING ON THE TRACKER, A KID AND OLD MAN, A COW AND THEY'RE GOING TO BLOW THE HORN SO JUST HOPE THEY KNOW THAT.
I'M JUST BACK TO THE FIRE ISSUE.
I'VE BEEN HERE A WHILE AND I'VE NEVER HAD MORE PUBLIC MEETINGS ON ANY SUBJECTS THAN THIS ONE.
WE'VE VETTED THIS THING, AND NEGOTIATIONS, I WANT TO SAY THERE IN PRIVATE, BUT THEY'RE NOT USUALLY BASE.
[NOISE] I'VE MET WITH CHIEF DORM IN TOM MAYOR'S OFFICE A COUPLE OF TIMES, I THINK SO, AND THERE WAS BACK-AND-FORTH PHONE CONVERSATION.
SO WE DON'T REALLY DO NEGOTIATION HERE, WE GIVE PRESENTATIONS.
THERE'S A LITTLE GIVE-AND-TAKE, BUT THERE WASN'T ANY MOVEMENT ON THAT SIDE.
THE LAST THING I EVER THOUGHT I WOULD DO SITTING UP HERE IS HAVE TO CREATE A JUPITER FIRE DEPARTMENT.
NEVER CROSSED MY MIND, I DON'T WANT TO DO IT.
IT'S A HUGE LIFT, IT'S A BURDEN, IT'S AN EXPENSE, BUT WHAT YOU FOLKS NEED TO UNDERSTAND, THE COST HERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF I BROUGHT THIS UP EARLIER, I'M A LITTLE DELIRIOUS BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET MUCH SLEEP LAST NIGHT.
MY JUPITER TAXES FROM MY HOUSE ARE 660 DOLLARS, MY PALM BEACH FIRE TAX OF MSC RATE THIS YEAR WE'RE LIKE 480, IT'S FINE.
A YEAR OR TWO INTO THIS CONTRACT AND MAYBE NEXT YEAR IT TRIPLES.
ALSO WITH THE NEWER CONTRACT FROM 68 DOWN TO 46, IT'S OPEN-ENDED FOR BUILDINGS, PERSONNEL, AND EQUIPMENT, THAT'S THEIR COST.
I'D BE SUBJECTING JUPITER TAXPAYERS TO AN OPEN-ENDED CONTRACT TO SEND MONEY OUTSIDE OF JUPITER INTO THE COUNTY. I CAN'T DO THAT.
I THINK IF WE HAD SIGNED ON AND THREE, FOUR YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, PEOPLE GOT THEIR BILLS AND SAY, WHAT DID YOU DO? I THINK THAT WOULD GET US VOTED OUT OF OFFICE.
THAT'S HOW I LOOK AT IT. THIS IS NOTHING PERSONAL, WE LOVE JUPITER FIRE.
WE'VE HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP.
THEIR FORMER POLITICAL LIAISON WAS DREW RAYBURN, GREAT GUY.
THEY SUPPORTED ME IN MY ELECTIONS, NOW IT'S DJ, CORRECT? MAYBE TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE, BUT THIS IS THE LAST THING I EVER THOUGHT WE'D HAVE TO DO.
IN REGARDS TO THE POSITION YOU'RE MAKE AN FACES BACK THERE, BUT I'M TRYING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AND YOU SAY WE DON'T.
WE COMMUNICATE THEM, THIS IS WHERE WE DO IT.
WE DON'T SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE NEVER DID.
IT'S JUST THE MEETING WOULD NEVER RUN IF WE BECOME A CIRCUS.
THAT'S JUST HOW WE DO IT HERE, HOW THEY DO IT EVERYWHERE.
ANYWAY, I'M LOSING MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT.
[03:45:01]
THAT'S WHERE I AM ON JUPITER FIRE.TOWN ATTORNEY, WHAT WAS THE FIRST STATE THEY CAN GET ON THE BALLOT?
>> IT WOULD BE THE MARCH OF 2025 ELECTION IF THE TOWN ATTORNEY HAD COMPLETED THE LEGAL REVIEW, AND YOU ALL VOTE TO SEND IT TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS FOR THAT MARCH 2025 ELECTION.
>> TWENTY FIVE. SO THAT'S RIGHT.
>> THAT IS THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION PURSUANT TO THE STATUTE AND ACCORDING TO THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS.
>> TO FINISH MY THOUGHTS ON PUBLIC INPUT AND TRANSPARENCY, WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW.
THE TOWN ADVERTISES ON THE WEBSITE, PERIODICALLY, THE JUPITER NEWSLETTER, BUT PEOPLE JUST DON'T PAY ATTENTION.
WE'RE ELECTED TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS.
YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE. IT'S A LOT OF WORK.
IF WE HAD TO HAVE A REFERENDUM FOR ANY MAJOR SITUATION IN THE TOWN, THIS SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK.
IT'S LIKE A SMALL REPRESENTATIVE REPUBLIC.
IN CAMP, IF IT'S 25, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD TO HELP US WITH THIS/WHAT BETTER ASSET WE HAVE THAT A SITTING PALM BEACH FIREFIGHTER TO HELP US BUILD THIS THING. I DON'T KNOW.
>> AS I SAID, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO THAT.
THE PROBLEM IS, THERE'S THE ACTION THAT WAS TAKEN ON AUGUST 15TH, IT WAS NOT NOTIFIED TO THE PUBLIC THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE DOING.
IT IT WAS A PRESENTATION ITEM.
JUST BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE DOESN'T MEAN THAT THAT IS THE ISSUE.
THAT'S MY PROBLEM THAT I'VE HAD THE WHOLE TIME.
WE SHOULD HAVE DIRECTED STAFF AT THAT TIME TO BRING IT BACK TO A FUTURE AGENDA, TO SAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THE ACTION TO CREATE JUPITER FIRE RESCUE AND CANCEL THE CONTRACT.
THAT'S BEEN MY MESSAGE THE ENTIRE TIME.
>> I DISAGREE BECAUSE BACK IN APRIL, THE MAYOR AND I WE DIDN'T VOTE FOR THE CONTRACT.
COUNSELOR SAMSON DID, AND I THINK YOU HAD A RESERVATIONS.
TO ME RIGHT THERE THAT CONTRACT WAS ON LIFE SUPPORT.
IF TWO COUNSELORS DON'T WANT IT, AND IT'S EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE, WE JUST EXERCISE THAT CLAUSE IN THE CONTRACT.
WE DIDN'T KILL THE CONTRACT, WHICH IS EXERCISE A CLAUSE THAT CHIEF KENNEDY PUT INTO IT.
I PERSONALLY DIDN'T WANT TO PAY AN EXTRA YEAR OF THE EXORBITANT, EXTRA COST OF THAT CONTRACT FOR THE SERVICES IN REGARDS TO MY CONSTITUENTS.
THAT'S WHY IF YOU MOTION TO COMMENTS HERE, MAKE A MOTION TO FORM A HIDDEN TO BE MAYBE THE NEW TOWN HALL AFTER WE DO THAT STUFF ALL.
WE CAN MOTION ANYTHING ANYTIME, THERE'S NOTHING ILLEGITIMATE OR ILLEGAL OR UNDERHANDED ABOUT IT.
IF YOU THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE A COUPLE OF BOATS, YOU GO FOR IT AND THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT WORKS.
I'D LOVE TO HAVE ON BOARD, BUT WE'LL SEE.
I KNOW YOU'RE IN A TOUGH SPOT.
YOU'RE SWORN COUNSELOR TO THIS TOWN, YOU'RE ON THIS PANEL AND THEN YOU'RE A FIREFIGHTER WHICH I TRULY RESPECT.
NOW YOUR FIRST VICE PRESIDENT IN THE UNION, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU BALANCE.
I KNOW YOU GOT CLEARED BY ETHICS AND THEN YOUR SIDE OVER THERE, YOUR UNION IS BEHIND THE SCENES TRASHING US, HARMING OUR REPUTATIONS.
THERE'S INNUENDOS OF BACKROOM DEALS.
I'VE BEEN HOLDING THAT IN FOR A WHILE, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DO IT.
>> I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT THE UNION IS DOING, WITH ANY OF THAT.
>> DO YOU EVER SIGN IN THE FRONT YARD SAYING ST. PALM BEACH FIGHTS?
>> BECAUSE I SUPPORT IT. IT'S A RESIDENT LED COALITION, I SUPPORT IT.
>> BUT CAM, ALL MY YEARS IN THIS COUNCIL, WE'VE ALL BEEN ON THE LOSING END OF VOTES.
WHEN YOU LOSE A VOTE, MAYOR'S BEEN HERE, HE'S BEEN IN THE MINORITY FOREVER.
[LAUGHTER] YOU JUST SWALLOW IT.
YOU DON'T GO BEHIND THE SCENES AND UNDO IT AND TRASH PEOPLE. I'M NOT SAYING YOU TRASH PEOPLE.
>> ARE YOU ACCUSING ME OF GOING BEHIND THE SCENES AND TRASHING PEOPLE? I'VE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING THAT THEY ARE UP TO.
I'VE STAYED COMPLETELY CLEAR OF IT AND OUT OF IT.
>> ALL RIGHT. HERE YOU GO. YOUR ORGANIZATION, YOU WORK FOR IT.
IF I WERE YOU, I WOULD HAVE TURN TO THEM,
[03:50:02]
SAID, DON'T ATTACK THAT.I RESPECT THE VOTE OF THE OTHER COUNCIL I SIT ON.
I KNOW YOU GOT OKAY FROM ETHICS, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU BALANCE THIS.
>> BECAUSE I DON'T DISCUSS IT WITH THEM.
>> I GOT A LETTER FROM ITALIAN INTRODUCING YOU AS THE FIRST VICE PRESIDENT AND DJ AS A SECOND VICE PRESIDENT.
HE'S MY NEW POLITICAL LIAISON LIKE DREW WAS.
IF I SPEAK TO HIM, I VIOLATE SUNSHINE LAWS BECAUSE HE REPORTS TO YOU OR TALKS TO YOU IN THE SAME ORDER.
I REPORT TO PRESIDENT OF THE UNION. IN THAT POSITION.
[OVERLAPPING] THAT'S FINE, BUT ANYTHING THAT YOU SAY TO HIM DOES NOT COME BACK TO ME BECAUSE OF SUNSHINE.
I HANDLE STATE POLITICS, I DEAL WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVES, AND STATE SENATORS, AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
I ESPECIALLY DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING IN JUPITER.
>> YOU'RE SAYING THAT DJ REPORTS TO ME, AND HE BRINGS EVERYTHING YOU SAY TO ME.
>> WHEN YOU GET A LETTER SAYING [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT WAS IT WAS INTRODUCING MYSELF AND DJ AS THE NEW LEGISLATIVE VICE PRESIDENTS IN THE UNION.
>> THE OPTICS OF THAT LOOKED LIKE A VIOLATION OF SUNSHINE.
PLEASE, I'VE BEEN NEEDED TO TALK TO HIM FOR A LITTLE BIT.
>> MY WIFE WORKS THAT JUPITER MEDICAL CENTER.
WE HAVE A TEXT AMENDMENT VOTE ON JUPITER MEDICAL.
I'VE SEEN HER WALK OUT OF THAT ROW.
THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING, IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU PLAY BY DIFFERENT RULES.
>> WHEN I CONSULTED THE TOWN ATTORNEY ABOUT WHAT I SHOULD DO IN THIS SITUATION BEFORE EVEN NEGOTIATING THE CONTRACT, HE SAID LET'S TALK TO THE COMMISSIONER OF ETHICS AND SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY.
THEY GAVE THE OPINION, SO I'M ABIDING BY THE OPINION THAT THEY GAVE ME.
>> I KNOW, I STILL WOULD HAVE TO ABSTAIN.
>> I ALSO RESEARCHED THAT ETHICS AND THE COMMISSION ON ETHICS, I CALLED THEM AS WELL.
I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.
IN MY RESEARCH, I SAW THAT THERE IS A FLORIDA STATUTE; WELL, IT'S NOT FOR A STATUTE.
THERE'S AN OPINION THAT SAYS THAT MUNICIPALITIES CAN ADOPT THEIR OWN CODES OF ETHICS AND THEIR OWN HONOR CODES.
BOCA RATON HAS THEIR OWN CODE OF ETHICS, CORAL SPRINGS HAS THEIR OWN, CORAL GABLES HAS THEIR OWN.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF MUNICIPALITIES THAT HAVE THEIR OWN CODES OF ETHICS, AND THEY ARE MORE STRINGENT, SO THAT'S WHAT THE FLORIDA STATUTE TALKS ABOUT OR FLORIDA LAW TALKS ABOUT BEING MORE STRINGENT.
WHAT'S IN THAT, AND FROM MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSION ON ETHICS IS THAT IT DOESN'T ADDRESS EVERYTHING.
THE COUNTY COMMISSION ON ETHICS IS NECESSARY, ABSOLUTELY, BUT IT'S NOT SUFFICIENT.
SO FOR THAT REASON, MUNICIPALITIES OFTEN ADOPT THEIR OWN CODES OF ETHICS.
THAT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN GO TO THE CODES IN BOCA.
THESE ARE ALL PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE TO JUST LOOK AT.
ONE THING, FOR EXAMPLE, THE COUNTY COMMISSION ON ETHICS, WE ALL HAVE LENGTHY TRAININGS ON THIS EVERY YEAR.
I JUST HAD THE FOUR-HOUR TRAINING, AND THE CODE ON ETHICS SPEAKS ABOUT GIFTS, IT SPEAKS ABOUT SPECIAL FINANCIAL BENEFITS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT DOES NOT TALK ABOUT OR SPEAK TO IMPARTIALITY OR PERCEPTIONS OF BIAS.
THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT THE COUNTY COMMISSION ON ETHICS DOES NOT ADDRESS, AND SO THAT IS WHY THE STATE ALLOWS MUNICIPALITIES TO ADOPT MORE STRINGENT CODES OF ETHICS.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE NEED TO DO ONE, BUT IT IS WORTH LOOKING AT THOSE AND LOOKING AT THAT CONCEPT AND WHY IT EXISTS.
>> I'M GOING TO SAY WHAT, I'M NOT ACCUSING YOU OF ANYTHING, I LIKE YOU.
>> SIR, IT SEEMS LIKE A WRONG, IT REALLY DOES.
>> NO, IT'S THE OPTICS OF IT, AND WHAT'S REALLY BOTHERING ME ARE THE ACCUSATIONS SOCIAL MEDIA FROM RETIRED GUYS IN A UNION, AND THAT'S YOUR CREW, IT'S NOT YOU.
BUT THIS MAN HERE, IF HE WASN'T ON THIS COUNCIL, THIS TOWN WOULDN'T LOOK LIKE IT DOES RIGHT NOW.
HE'S PUT SO MUCH WORK IN, I'M SECOND OLDEST TENURE.
I'M OF SEVEN A PLUS YEARS, AND EVERYTHING I'VE DONE HERE IS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THIS TOWN, SO I DON'T LIKE THE SLANDER.
THAT'S IT. I'M DONE. I DID GET OFF MY CHEST.
>> I'LL TRY TO MAKE IT BRIEF. I THINK WE'VE HEARD AND I THINK SO THAT WE'RE NOT ADDRESSING SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE BEING ASKED OR COMMENTS.
CAN WE THINK ABOUT WAY TO MAYBE ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS, MAYBE CREATE A WEBSITE.
>> THAT'S WHAT STAFF HAS BEEN DOING EXTENSIVELY.
WE FELT IT WAS THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY YOU CAN GO AND YOU CAN CHECK ON.
THERE'S AN EMAIL BLITZ THAT GOES OUT.
I THINK WE HAVE 40,000 WHATEVER, A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF EMAILS.
>> SO MOST OF THESE PUBLIC COMMENTS, THEY'RE ALL ADDRESSING THE LESSONS WE'VE DONE TODAY?
[03:55:02]
>> ISSO DEDICATED PAGE, JUPITER FIRE PAGE, IT'S GOT ALL THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS, IT'S GOT ALL PRESENTATIONS, IT'S GOT THE AUDIT, IT'S GOT A FAQ THAT'S CONTINUALLY BEING UPDATED WITH NEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS THAT'S PUSHED OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA
>> CLEARLY, THE FILE HAS OTHER [INAUDIBLE] SOME QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS THAT WERE RAISED.
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS THE BEST THAT I KNOW.
THIS IS THE BEST APPROACH THAT A LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAN DO IS ITS STAFF TO MAKE A CONCENTRATED EFFORT.
DOES IT HAVE EVERYTHING? NO. SOME THINGS WE'RE STILL WORKING ON.
QUITE FRANKLY, I WISH THERE WAS A PLACE I COULD GO FROM THE PEOPLE THAT WENT AROUND WITH THE CHARTER AMENDMENT AND EXPLAINED TO ME THINGS.
SO I THINK THERE'S MORE MISINFORMATION ON THAT SIDE.
WE'RE, I BELIEVE, TRYING TO COMMUNICATE IS IT PERFECT? NO. DOES EVERYBODY GET ON THAT? NO. BUT IT IS THE VENUE AND IT'S MORE EFFICIENT, HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN EACH ONE OF US INDIVIDUALLY REACH? BUT STAFF AND THEN IT'S MORE CONSISTENT AND AGAIN, OUR STAFF WORKS FOR US, WORKS FOR THE TOWN MANAGER, WORKS FOR US.
THEY KNOW BETTER THAN WE KNOW.
>> I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
WE ARE EXCEPTIONALLY LUCKY TO HAVE THE STAFF WE HAVE [INAUDIBLE] SO I WOULD TRY LOOK INTO THAT AND SEE WHETHER SUGGESTIONS MIGHT BE DONE SEVERAL COMMENTS WOULD NOT RELATE TO FIRE RESCUE.
SO ONE OF THOSE ARE GOING TO BE ADDRESSED IN PUBLIC.
>> WHAT I'VE DONE IS SOMETIMES SOCIAL MEDIA POST ON THE JUPITER GOVERNMENT PAGE, I HAVE LEARNT ABOUT GAS PRICES ONE TIME AFTER A STORE.
IF I GET A QUESTION, SOMETIMES BECAUSE THEY HAVE FURTHER REACH, I'LL ASK FOR THEM TO ANSWER IT THAT WAY OR VIA EMAIL, OR TYPICALLY STAFF WILL ANSWER OR OR I WILL ANSWER.
IT'S HIT OR MISS, BUT WE TRY TO RESPOND TO THEM.
IT JUST MAY LOOK DIFFERENT FOR EACH ISSUE.
>> ANOTHER THING I WANTED TO BRING UP WAS THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GOING TO SERVE CITIZENS AND PUT.
BUT IN 2019, THEY GAVE THE COUNCIL'S SPECIFIC AUTHORITY TO DEPARTMENTS, SO THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING WHERE YOU'RE GOING AGAINST WHAT THE 2019 RESOLUTION OF THAT CITIZEN GROUP WAS.
>> ORDINANCE 1919 ON PAGE 2, IT WAS ALREADY THERE, SO COUNCIL HAD THE AUTHORITY, BUT IT HAD ACTUALLY BROUGHT UP BY ORDINANCE, SO IT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED VOTES.
THAT WAS BEFORE I CAME ON THE SCENE HERE.
IT WAS A CITIZEN SCRIPT BECAUSE I WAS INTERESTED IN CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEES BECAUSE IT WAS BROUGHT UP IN PUBLIC COMMENTS.
SO I WANTED TO RESEARCH THE HISTORY OF THAT, AND IT WAS A RESIDENT-LED COMMITTEE.
THAT REPORT CAME OUT, I WATCHED THE COUNCIL VIDEOS THAT WAS LATE 2019, SO RIGHT BEFORE COVID HIT, SO VERY RECENTLY, AND WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO FOLLOW THE RULES AROUND THE BOOKS AT THE TIME, YOU FOLLOW YOUR CHARTER, YOUR LOCAL CODE, AND YOU FOLLOW THE CONTRACT LANGUAGE.
>> DON'T WE APPOINT A COUNSELOR TO DO THAT ALSO? CHARTER WITH?
>> EACH COUNSELOR APPOINTED ONE PERSON.
>> WELL, THE PUBLIC OFTEN, THE ROUND TABLES IS SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY
>> ROUNDTABLES ARE DONE EFFECTIVELY.
IT CAN BE EITHER ASKED FOR BY COUNCIL OR BY STAFF OR A COMBINATION. THAT'S THE WAY IT IS.
THIS ONE, FOR EXAMPLE, HAD COME TO US BEFORE, AND THAT'S HOW IT GOT SCHEDULED AS A ROUNDTABLE, AND THEY WEREN'T EFFECTIVE WAY, BECAUSE WITH SUNSHINE, IT'S THE ONLY WAY, INSTEAD OF US EACH INDIVIDUALLY MEETING WITH A DEVELOPER, THE ROUNDTABLE ENABLES US TO HEAR EACH OTHER AND THEN REACT BASED ON AS OPPOSED TO WAITING LATER ON.
NOW, THE THING IS A LOT MORE MATURED, AND WHEN THE APPLICATION COMES FORTH FOR ACTION.
IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO USE PRETTY EFFECTIVELY.
>> NO, BUT IT IS FOR VETERANS DAY, THERE'S ALWAYS AN ORDER YOU CAN ORDER, BUT IT'S THE NEXT BATCH.
>> I MISSED OUT, TOO, I NEED TO GET ONE. MY DAD WAS IN THE NAVY.
[04:00:03]
>> THE TIME IS NOW 11:06 AND WE'LL ADJOURN THE MEETING.
>> THAT'S ENOUGH.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.